A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Rank, adj.1 Also: ranke, rang; Ramp. [ME and e.m.E. rannc (Orm), rank(e, also rang (once, c1300; rh. thank), OE ranc haughty, strong, full-grown, ON rakkr Rank adj.2 See also ronk.]
I. 1. Of steel: Not easily bent or distorted in shape; strong.1456 Hay II 58/8.
Fortitude … that will nocht falde no mare na rank stele, quhilk is sa ferme in itself a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 691.
Ryngis of rank steill
2. Strong; vigorous; sturdy.(1) 1531 Bell. Boece I 177.
Certane wicht and rank men [L. viribus … validiores] tuke him be the middill, and bure him, perforce, to ane quiet chalmer Ib. II 7.
Now ar rissin in Britane mony rank and forcy young men [L. egregia iuuentus] Id. Livy I 38/9.
Ane army of fers & rank weremen 1627 Justiciary Cases I 75.
Jon Ȝoung … ane ȝoung able rank man(2) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3515.
O rank rampand lyoun, to mischeif ever boun
b. Of a voice: Powerful, loud. Also in rank-vocit.c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 701.
Thus and siclike with rank voice rigorous He did proclame —1513 Doug. xi ix 29 (Ruddim.).
Rank [C., Sm. rawk] vocit swannys
3. Swift; forceful; impetuous.c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv 700.
The greit deidis that I tuik oft on hand … The rank riding and the greit turnament 1638 J. Row Red-Shankes Serm. 2.
The kirke was once a bonny nag … the bishops, those ranke riding lowns got on her back and then she trotted so hard as they could hardlie at the first well ride her
4. a. Noble of birth; grand; proud. b. Haughty; unbending.a1568 Scott i 188.
Rowtis of the rankest that in Europ ringis —a1568 Scott iii 44.
Be richt demvre & graif quhan ȝe ask grace Bot be ȝe rank quhen thay begin to relȝie
II. 5. Full-grown; physically mature.1531 Bell. Boece I lvii.
Al rank [L. aetate etiamnum florerent] madinnis and wiffis … yeid als weill to battall as the men Ib. II 189.
To bring all rank men [L. integris corporibus … puberes adulescentes virosque] … presoneris to him
6. Of a bog: ? Abounding in vegetation, or ? characterized by coarse vegetation.a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 30.
Montains and marresse, with mony rank myre
b. Of vegetation: Thickly or densely growing; abundant; luxuriant or vigorous in growth.a1500 Henr. Fab. 253.
In skugry ay throw rankest gers and corne … thay creip 1513 Doug. ii vi 13.
The flat of cornys rank Ib. iii iv 25.
Flokkis and herdis … Fat and tydy … In the rank gyrs pasturyng Ib. xii Prol. 97.
Ive levys rank [Ruthv. rang] ourspred the barmkyn wall Ib. vii 75.
Dittam, the herb sweit, Of levis rank, rypit and wondir fair [L. Puberibus … foliis] 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Georgics iii 385.
Pabula laeta, rank garsse 1596 Dalr. I 28/6.
Vpon thir water bankes appeiris … peise and beines to be ranker than in ony vther place
c. Of a tree, etc.: Bearing abundant growth.1513 Doug. vi iv 97.
A rank elm tre [L. Ulmus opaca] stude Ib. x xii 54.
The bustuus swyne weil fed, that bredis Amang the buskis rank of ryspe and redis Ib. xii Prol. 167.
Smaill fowlys wirkand crafty nestis, Endlang the heggeis thyk, and on rank akis
7. Abundant; copious. Also quasi-adv. = in plenty.a1500 Henr. Hasty Credence 1.
Fals titlaris now growis vp full rank 1589–90 Burntisland B. Ct. 27 Feb.
Four threwis off gud rank fresche stray
8. In rank at the rute, ?Appar. the name of a dance.1549 Compl. 66/23.
Thai dancit … Rank at the rute, baglap and al
9. Of poison: Strongly venemous, noxious.1513 Doug. ii iv 37.
Ful of vennom and rank poyson a1578 Pitsc. II 315/10.
He … boucht rank poysone and poysonit him sellff 1579 Atholl Mun. I No. 90.
The Erll of Athoill deit be rank vennom 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 193.
Thow commandet Loskie Loncart to mak ane pig-full of ranker poysoune 1596 Dalr. II 244/25.
In pestilent hæresie and destructioune thairof he was estemet an rank edder
10. Lustful, licentious.c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 431.
And sine to me lufe is sa amorous … I salbe ay baith rank and ryotous
III. 11. Out-and-out; gross; downright. Applied to classes or groups of persons of whom disapprobation was general. In later use, freq. of witches.(1) a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 483.
Quhill cauld and hounger sair Compellit hir to be ane rank beggair c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 242.
Rank beggar, … foule fleggar 1535 Stewart 1546.
He that is ane traitour or ane theif, Ane rank revar reddie till all mischeif c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 772. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv 263.
Desperance was found … Ane rank rebell a1568 Bann. MS I p. 45/20.
The rankest theif of this regioun Dar pertly peir vnto the sessioun a1585 Polwart Flyt. 800 (T).
Rank ruittour [H. ranke riatoure], scurliquitour c1650 Spalding I 92.
Ladie Petsligo … ane rank puritane 1671 Corshill Baron Ct. 98.
Calling him a rank chiter, a knaue [etc.](2) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5845.
Thare sall resorte, Of rank wycheis one sorrowfull sorte 1559–60 Inverness Rec. I 40. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3995.
This rank warlo witche 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 201.
Ane of the (maist) notorious and rank wichis in all this realme 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 170.
A manifest rank witche Ib. 175.
Thow ar indyttit as a rank witche be oppin voce and commoun fame 1616 Orkney & Zetl. Sheriff Ct. 61. 1644 Shetland Witch Trial in Hibbert Shetland Islands 594.
Quhilk ye rank witch cannot deny
