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.
Quotation dates: 1596-1597, 1685
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Rust, Ruist, Rouste, Roost, n. (ME rooste (Trevisa) a perch for domestic fowls, OE hróst = MDu. roest, OS hrōst. Also in the later dial. as roost = ‘the open cross-joists of the living room of a rural cottage … freq. used … earlier on as roosts for the poultry’ (SND, s.v. Roost n.1 1).) Also attrib. — 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 92, 93.
Ane dozen fowllis sittand on the ruist … fell deid at thi feitt owt of the ruist 1597 Ib. 105.
Quhen the foullis flaw to the rouste ower him [etc.] 1685 Sinclair Satan's Inv. World 88.
Ther's a witch sitting upon the ruist, take her away: he meant a hen sitting upon the balk of the houseattrib. 1685 Inverness Customs MS 5, 13.
2 doozen single rust spars. Fourtie eight double roost spars
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"Rust n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/rust>
