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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ruban, -en(e, n. Also: rubb-, robb-, rob-, rab- and -and, -ane, -ain, -in, -on; (Rowbour). [F. ruban (c1268 in Larousse), e.m.E. rubande (Palsgrave, 1530). See also Ribban n., Reban n.] Ribbon, or a ribbon. = Ribban n.Chiefly pl. See the note to Ribban n.pl. (1) 1474 Treas. Acc. I 21.
v elne of rubanis for his doublat 1490 Acta Conc. I 158/1.
A li of rubanis 1496 Treas. Acc. I 259.
ij vnce of rubanis to be poyntis and lasis 1512 Ib. IV 347.
For bindin of it [sc. a psalter] in breddis of papir with rubanis 1516 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 71.
Ane certane of rubenis and sewing silk 1534 Treas. Acc. VI 193.
For rubanis to the buttoun holis of it 1541 Ib. VII 441.
For rubennis to horn the goun of blak velvet 1556–7 Edinb. Old Acc. II 72.
Rubbonis Ib.
Rubonnis 1584 Edinb. Test. XIV 133b.
Thrie dosane ane half of boultis rubbanes for fauouris 1614 Rec. Earld. Orkney 382.
To William to his hat and schone ij ell half el rubinis 1668 Stirling Common Good 46b.
For burgess-ticketis wax and rubbandis £90 19 s. 9 d.(b) 1548 Treas. Acc. IX 222.
vj quarterris robanis to hir hat(2) 1509 Edinb. Hammermen 67.
Worset rubanis 1538–9 Treas. Acc. VII 144.
iij boltis of Parys rubanis … for sark collaris and handis 1549 Ib. IX 359.
Silk robanis 1550–1 Ib. 467.
Foure elnis Florence rubanis to this froig 1586 Edinb. Test. XV 64b (see Floren).
Rubbennis 1588–9 Cal. Sc. P. IX 673.
xl dozen Floran rubains cost xxvj s. dozen 1589 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii 104.
Worsat rubans to the taillis of the goune 1668 Orkney Antiq. Soc. V 39.
Broad philamort robbonssing. (1) 1614 1st Rep. Hist. MSS 135.
For rubane to the hois … for taftie and rubane to lyne the collor 1652 Fam. Rose 349.
8 ell of greine and skarlett rubene(2) 1497 Treas. Acc. I 379.
To Jame Dog to by ane rabene to the kingis cors(b) 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. 5.
Here hings an auncient mantua bannet, There hings a robin and a jannet 1696 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 191.
For a ruban to a staf

b. attrib. 1549 Treas. Acc. IX 351.
vj elnis and ane half robane sylk to bynde on the saidis muchis on the nycht

c. St. Johnston(is) ruban, a hangman's noose or rope.See SND, s.v. Saint n. 7 (2) quot. 1845 for a suggested origin for this phrase. 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 173.
One thing yit restis that sould their [sc. the McGregors'] armes befit, If with Sanct Johnstounis rubenis thai war knit 1653 Blairs P. 81.
He [sc. an imprisoned priest] fears … that they will only banish him, & not honour him … with a St. Johnston ruban