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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.

Reuling, Rul(e)ing, vbl. n.¹ Also: reull-, rewl-, rowl(l)-, rull-, ruill- and -in. [ME and e.m.E. riwlunge (Ancr. R.), rewlyng (Piers Plowman), ruling (c1560); Reul(e v.] The action of ruling, in various senses of Reul(e v.

1. Guidance, control (of a person or his actions, also of an animal). 1475 Edinb. B. Rec. I 31.
Certane statutis and reullis … for reuling governyng of the saidis twa craftis 1505 Treas. Acc. III 169.
To Robert Douglas for reuling of the doggis 1553 Aberd. B. Rec. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 128.
Anent the rewling and ordouring of the passage of craftismen in the processioun 1595 Brechin Test. I 131b.
Andro Mwreson … tutour testamentar to Isobell Mwrdo … sall haue the cure gyding & rewling of hir

2. The action or fact of governing or wielding authority.Also, const. over a community.(1) 1460 Ayr Chart. 89.
That … the said burges has nocht na keping, rewling, nor govirnance of the said fare 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 457.
Stryk nane rudelie in reuling of thine ost 1563 Reg. Privy C. I 240.
[He] shall … do the best service he can … anent the rewling of Liddisdale and the Bordouris c1580 Sc. Ant. XIII 3.
Also to be armit with godlie laws for reulling of his subjects(b) ?1661 Kirkwall Chart. 89.
They over quait the ruilling of the brugh to the ould maiastrats(2) a1578 Pitsc. I 131/22.
Gif our … prince haue the rulling ower ane realme

3. Gude reuling, good order or behaviour. = Reule n.¹ 8 b. 1517 Reg. Privy S. I 454/2.
To … the clannis and surnaimis of Armstrang and Tailȝour … that will deliver … sufficient plegis to remane for gude reuling quhare thai salbe assignit

4. The action of taking charge of care of a material thing; the action of adjusting or regulating. See also Reul(e v. 5 b.(1) 1546–7 Reg. Privy S. III 339/2.
Tua servandis for rewling and dressing of the saidis yardis, gif neid be 1556 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 3 Aug.
Mathow Bowe … has undertayne the kepin, gydin, and rewlin, of the knok 1571 Thirds of Benefices 267.
For keiping and rewling of the kirk and knok of Glasgow 1598–9 Whitelaw Sc. Arms Makers 37.
To … gunmaker for his fie in rewling of the knockis of this burght 1624 Banff Ann. I 53.
[For] reuling of the knok daylie(b) 1583 Glasgow B. Rec. I 100 (see Reul(e v. 5 b (2)).
Rowlling 1626 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II 304.
For rowling guyding and governing of hir lands [etc.](c) 1645 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 49.
Imployit for ruleing of the clokis and bells within this burghe 1662–3 Peebles B. Rec. II 203.
Ruling 1675 Boharm Kirk S. 18 April.
For … ruleing the bellhouse 1679 Ib. 9 Nov.
For ruleing the stock of the bell(2) 1657 Glasgow B. Rec. II 359.
That Androw Purdoune have the knockis in rewling

5. The action of drawing straight lines on paper as a guide for writing. See also Reule n.¹ 11. 1581–2 Misc. Stair Soc. I 120.
The defendaris seis na appeirance of rewling in the auld instrument other betuix or in the lynis