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.
Rus(e, Ruis, v. Also: rws; ruise, ruys; roose; rouze; reus(e. [ME and e.m.E. rosenn (Orm), roys (1460), ruse(n (14th c.), ruysse (c1400), rowse (c1440), ruze (1677), ON hrósa to boast of, praise.]
1. reflex., or with reflex. object. a. To boast; to feel pride. b. To praise (oneself).Also const. clause object, or of something.(1) ?1438 Alex. i 2487.
And efter win, now sone at hame Thay sall perchance ruse thame c1460 Thewis Wysmen 371.
Thai rus thaim-self & prisis euir, And vthir folk thai honor neuir c1460 Consail Vys Man 339.
Rus nocht thi-self na … wanglore to thé tak 1540 Lynd. Sat. Proclam. 181.
Thay ar not sonsy that so dois ruse thame sell a1568 Scott iii 21.
Reuse nocht ȝour self, latt vthiris preis ȝour rentis 1644 Baillie II 191.
The Independents … shall not ruise themselfe in the end of their oppositions(2) ?1438 Alex. ii 7363.
Thay rusit thame [F. se vanta] that ane houndreth thousand Of scheildis sould about thame stand Ib. 7493.
To se Him that sua rusis my sword to reif … out of my neif(3) c1460 Thewis Wysmen 159.
Thai rus thaim nocht of done foly Thai dyd in ȝouthed c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 194.
He … makis repet with ryatus wordis Ay rusing him of his … rageing in chalmer 1533 Gau 75/19.
Mony spekis mekil and rwsis thayme of faith a1538 Abell 124b.
Bot als thai rus thame of sic miserite 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv 615.
But he may ruse him of his ryding a1650 Row 476.
Alledging that honest ministers that went to the bishop roosed themselves little of it c1650 Red Bk. Grandtully II 144.
Ȝour brother … will no reus him self much of the voyage a1658 Durham Subtile Self 79.
It hath no reward following but such as they will ruse themselves little of
2. tr. To commend, praise or extol (a person or thing).(1) ?1438 Alex. ii 1796.
Wist the Bauderane how Ideas Him rusit, … His hardement suld doubled be 1460 Hay Alex. 5388.
Seand that his awne men rusit him sa c1460 Consail Vys Man 211.
Thow knawis thi-self thocht men thé rus Far bettir than the rusare dois a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 573. 1513 Doug. i ix 84.
This ilk Tewcer hys ennemys of Troy Rusyt and lovit c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 389.
Scho can not mak sic caus hir for to rus[e] Id. Seven S. Prol. 103.
I hard sum say that ȝe war greitlie rusit a1568 Scott xxx 30.
That man but ressoun may be rusit 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xl 159.
Sa prudently this propheit thair did vse him … That all the haill nobilitie did ruse him a1578 Pitsc. I 39/7.
All thair freindis … begane to extoll and ruis [ed. ruif] them a1689 Cleland 59.
Their did haunt the nymphs and muses Which old wives fables so much ruses(2) 1513 Doug. xi ix 37.
Citeȝanys, … Carpys of paix, and ruys it now 1535 Stewart 15781.
Vnsufficient I am this tyme to ruis His greit vertew and his nobilitie(b) 15.. Clar. v 594.
The king … it [sc. the gift] [weill] can ruse and praise 1560 Rolland Seven S. Prol. 181.
Beseiking ȝow … Not to detract, nor ȝit ouir hie to ruse it a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1059 (Wr.).
Our reasons had beene as well rusde 1603 Philotus 272.
Bot be it gude ȝe do not spair As royallie to ruse it(c) 1635 Dickson Wr. 36.
As if one brought into a shop of curious … wares, should roose all that he saw(d) a1700 Hay Geneal. Sainteclaires 31.
To rouze their roots and how they sprung, See how antiquity time's triumph sungproverb. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5817.
Euin as ȝe find the furde sa ruse it a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 732.
Ruse the fair day at evin a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 1155.
Ruis the foord as ye find it a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1138.
Manie men ruses the fuird as they fand it
b. Also, in infin., equivalent to adj. (= praiseworthy) or adjective clause.Only in verse.?1438 Alex. ii 5415.
Thocht [he] to ruse haue na beute a1500 Rauf C. 80.
For I haue seruit thé ȝit of lytill thing to ruse c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 124/37.
Thocht I … have few vertewis for to ruse 1535 Stewart 46618.
Alexander sum tyme that wes to ruse, His greit wisdome that tyme he did abuse
3. intr. To feel (? excessive) pride (in (of) a thing); to indulge in boasting; to give (? extravagant) praise.a1500 Rauf C. 481.
Rauf rusit in his hart of that ryall thing 1535 Stewart 163.
And lak me nocht suppois ȝe can nocht ruse Ib. 57230.
And thocht thow do als far as thow hes rusit, Ȝit for ane vanter ay thow wilbe vsit 1581 Sempill Sat. P. xliii 91.
Quha was mair worthie, gif I wald ruse, … nor hardy Hanniball? c1590 J. Stewart 161/10.
Ruse may I not as he deserwes nor nane
