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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.

Rede, Reid, v.² Also: reyd, reed, read. P.t. and p.p. -it, etc., also rede, reid, reedde, raid. [ME (c1330) rede(n (p.t. redde), rare OE rǽdan wk. v., MDu. and MLG rêden, reiden to make ready, set in order. (Cf. OE gerǽdan Graith v.) See also Red v.², Rede n.⁵ and Rede ppl. adj.Etymologically, the p.t. and p.p. forms would have a short vowel. The forms with the long vowel shown here may be due to assimilation of the short vowel of the p.t. and p.p. to the long vowel of the infin. Forms with a short vowel are shown only under Red v.²]

1. tr. To clear (a space or passage). = Red v.² 1. c1420 Wynt. v 5179 (C) (see Red v.² 1 a).
To rede 1513 Doug. vii xi 86 (Sm.) (see Red v.² 1 c).
Reyd

2. To clear a. (a piece of ground, waterway or passage) of encumbrances (= Red v.² 2) or b. land of growth (= Red v.² 2 b).a. 1507 Aberd. B. Rec. I 76.
To help to rede the common loche 1524–5 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 75.
Jhone Freir and Jhone Thomsone to reid thair rigis heiddis siclyk as Robert Chepman and Jhone Keyne dois 1657 Misc. Hist. Soc. VII 33.
Wedensday: reded the closeb. 1456 Liber Aberbr. II 89.
The said commoun … sal nocht be … occupyit with casting off petis faile na dwuate na nane othir thing that mai rede the erde or skaith the pasture 1659 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I 10 (see Rede ppl. adj. a (1)). 1674 Forbes Baron Ct. 297.
They sall hav no beniffiet of any rig that sall not be reidit conform to thair nighbour

3. To quit or vacate (land or a house) (in favour of (to) another person). = Red v.² 4 b. 1470 Aberd. B. Rec. I 29.
That … ye ger rede and wode the said tenement to the said Jamys Ib. 30. 1519 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 51.
That said Thomas to reid the said hous wythin xv dayis 1562–3 Waus Corr. 32.
The said erle bindis … him … to reid and maik void the said aucht merk land … swa that the said M. Patrik may occupy the samen

4. To fix, or verify, (marches); to establish the extent of a piece of land. = Red v.² 7.(1) 1415 Inv. Pitfirrane Writs 2.
A letter of Sr Jamys … dyrekit tyl … [the] bailȝe tyl rede the landymeris betwen the landis of Gartmor and … of Lumphenane 1451 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 176.
To conserue and keipe certane marchis rede and declarit to the commone off Brechine 1551 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 21.
[They] hes ratified the foresaid marches … and the said gate reid(2) 1636 Urie Baron Ct. 79.
The haill tennents … ar ordeanit to conveine and pairt the mainse of Wrie, and reid the samen equalie amongest thame

5. To clear up or set in order (a room or building). = Red v.² 8. 1514–15 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 30.
The saidis gudis to remayn with the executour quhill the kyrk be reid 1568 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. App. 318.
The persons that hes ony stuff lyand in the wolt beneth the tolboith to cum and tak the same furth thairof; in the menetyme ordanyng the bailyeis to rede the wolt

6. To remove (a person) furth and fra occupation or possession of (a place). = Red v.² 5. 1638 Boyd Fam. P. No. 168 (20 July).
To flitt remowe outputte woyd and read the said James Lockairt and his foirsaids … furth and fra the foirsaids houses

7. To settle (a quarrel or affray); to sort out (a person's difficulties). = Red v.² 9. 1638 Johnston Diary I 359.
That the Lord wald read thir difficulties 1638 Baillie I 63.
The pley I thinke shall be shortly reedde

8. To pay (a person) an amount due. = Red v.² 10 c (2). 1525 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 76.
Jhone Persone to reid and paye Androu Braidfut becaus [etc.]

9. To separate combatants. = Red v.² 11. 1571 Inverness Rec. I 208.
Katte Hendre … lape in my face [etc.] … ; and … scho raiff Williame Donaldsonis beyrd … because he reid hir fray me 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 195.
Hade nocht the toun of Edinburgh raid thame, thair haid bene greit slauchter done 1667 Ellon Par. 128.
George Sym … delated for … strugling with Walter Milne … and for sheding of Isobel Davidson's blood … , she being reding them

10. To disentangle. = Red v.² 13 b. In fig. context. 1640 Bk. Pasquils (1868) 105.
They left ther children and ther wyffes, To reed thare reuelit ȝairne