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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.

Rit(e, Ryt(e, n. Also: ryit(t; reit(t, reyt(t; ritt(e, rytt(e. [ME and e.m.E. ryte (c1315), ryyt (1426), L. rītus, F. rit, rite (c1395 and 1676 in Larousse).]

1. An act, or set pattern of procedure, performed in a formal or solemn manner on specific occasions, usu. of a religious nature; a ceremony.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxvi 260.
In quhais worschipe carlis had tan A mekil tre with branchis brad, & syndry ritis vndir mad As of payaȝn[i]s custummance 1513 Doug. iii vi 31.
Helenus than, eftir the rytis and gyis, The ȝong bestis slew in sacryfys Ib. xii xiii 108.
The fassonys and the ritis … Of sacrifice to thame statute I sall 1533 Bell. Livy I 73/20.
The rite and cerymonis of divine religioun was neclectit Ib. II 93/32. 1558–9 Statut. Sc. Ch. 160.
That na manner of persons … attempt ony thing … for deforming or innovating the louable ceremonies and rites tharof usit in Haly Kirk 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 177/23.
Nocht withstanding that the lorde be Moyses had appoinctit the ryte and ordour of making of sacrifices 1566 St. A. Kirk S. 289.
Accordyng to the papisticall ryt usit for that tym 1580–1 King's Confession in Dickinson Source Bk. III 34.
We detest all his vane allegories, ritis, signes [etc.] 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (S.T.S.) 11/38.
The action of the conjuration; the wordes and rites vsed to that effect(b) c1590 J. Stewart 40/377.
The reyttis done, the oracle than rang This subsequent respons apertlie plaine 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 148.
Be taking of ane womanis sleiff and putting ane threid thair about, quhilk is ane of the speciall reittis and seremoneis of thy wichecraft 1629 Justiciary Cases I 138.
Sua the said article of dittay may weill contene ane superstitious reit bot no witchcraft at all to infer the conclusioun lybellit c1682 Louis de France Music Bk. 32.
You Muses … celebrat Apollo's reitts [: delight] with himms and sweet melodious layes(c) a1578 Pitsc. II 66/11.
All that is thair [sc. at the altar] done is bot suppestitious rytte aganis the commandement of God 1600-1610 Melvill 160.
With the simplicitie of ryttes in ministration of the sacraments 1638 Wemyss in Sc. Diaries 122.
[Laud's] service buok [was] … so filthy polutted with the treue rittes and radgs of Rome that [etc.]

b. A custom or practice of a formal kind. 1505–6 Aberd. B. Rec. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 119.
The prouest ballies & counsale … ratifeit ande approuit the said rit [sc. the Candlemas procession] 1513 Doug. xi iv 10.
And euery wyght in handis hynt … Ane hait fyre broynd efter the ald ryte 1531 Bell. Boece I 49.
Thay persavit the samin ritis [etc.] … and the same habit and cerimonyis as was usit amang the Egyptianis 1533 Boece 40.
This naccoun [sc. the Picts] … be lawis and honest ritis garnist the pepill 1570 Sat. P. xviii 109.
In vaine ȝe reid the Scripture as ane ryte 1579 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 431.
Anent the buriall … of the Erle of Athoill … the brute was of some superstitious rites … as a whyt crosse in the mort claith(b) 1618 Elgin Rec. II 158.
That the superstitious obseruation of auld reitis and ceremoneis … during … Yooll … be … eschewit 1619 Ib. 159.
The actis maid anent discharging of dansing and auld reittis wsit at thir festuall dayis callit Yooll

c. Formal procedure; ‘protocol’. c1590 Fowler II 159/19.
For gif that he … had abidden vpon ryte and advysed declaratioun and resolutioun of newe … he suld never have brought that state to his obedience

2. A system of related beliefs and ceremonies; a religion. a1400 Leg. S. xli 232.
Of thame that tuk the Cristine fay & fra thar ryt went away Ib. xliii 518.
I spere, womane, of thi ryte Ib. xxxii 100.
Ryte a1538 Abell 5b.
Jetro Moyses gudfadir quhilk conuertit to the rit of the pepill of Israel Ib. 42b.
The Saxonis … wes tholit in Britane to ws thair rit of ydolatrie 1567 G. Ball. 190.
This wind sa keine that I of meine, It is the ryte of auld

3. The general practice (of a group or community of people, also of an individual); the accepted way of doing something; a usage.Freq. in collocation with consuetude, use, etc., in official references to traditional procedures.(1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 215.
I keip the ryte and custome off my dame 1531 Bell. Boece I 8.
[They] maid lawis effering to the rite of thay dayis Ib. (M) II 176.
Ryittis c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 720.
Inclinand law … , Weill preparit as thair vse was and rite 1561–2 Dumfries B. Ct. 54b.
To preiff the said Dauid bastard within the term of law as rite & term of the realme(b) 1535 Stewart 15713.
Putting away all superstitioun Of gentill ryit(2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 54 (Makc.).
Lust & appetyt Quhilk, throw custum & the dayly ryt, Syne in the mynd is sa fast radicat That [etc.] 1513 Doug. xiii x 127.
Baith pepill of Troy and folk Italian, All of a ryte, manerys, and vsans(3) 1501 Aberd. B. Rec. I 70.
Conforming to the alde lovabile rite, constitud and vyse of the said burghe 1504 Ib. in Banks Sc. Cal. Customs III 192.
For the uphald of the auld rit and laudabile consuetud usit in this burght past memorie of man 1522 Ib. (Sp. C.) I 99.
Eftir the auld rit and constitutioun of the guyd town 1555–6 Peebles B. Rec. I 226.
Conforme to the rite vse and consuetude of the burgh of Edinburgh 1561 Carte Northberwic 81.
Conforme to the vse and ritt of the towne

b. (An individual's) habitual practice. a1500 Henr. Fab. 782.
Sum bene also throw consuetude and ryte Vincust with carnall sensualitie