Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Rich(e, adj., adv. and n. Also: rych(e, ritch(e, richt; rech(e; reich; rach(e, ratch. Superl. also: (richesest). [ME and e.m.E. ri(h)che, ric(c)he, OE ríce. See also Rik adj. and n.²‘In ME the use of the word may have been reinforced by F. riche … itself of Teutonic origin. This would help to explain the early disappearance of the northern form rik.’ (OED).]

I. adj. 1. Of a person: Mighty; great; noble; exalted. Passing into 2 below. b. Of a thing, also of a horse: Strong; powerful.Chiefly in early verse. ?1438 Alex. ii 2757.
Ane riche man that worth is ocht Suld nocht be moued in dede na thocht Ib. 3238.
That is … ferly That sa riche and sa mychty As he, amendit sic ane thing c1450-2 Howlat 298 (A).
Letteris … Quhilk the riche emprioure … Ressauit with honour a1500 Colk. Sow i 461.
The rich King of Sydon And his knychtis a1568 Wedderburn Bann. MS 240a/23.
Penthesillie That riche tryvmphand quene of Amasone c1590 Fowler I 109/140.
He … maid hir to our brawe Triumphe a rechar pray be sene Ib. II 131/13.
Whether they be of the gretest, the richesest sort, or suddartsb. c1400 Troy-bk. i 217.
A fare cite, baith ryche & witht 1456 Hay II 94/29.
For that is the caus quhy that the Yndis ar sa mychty sa ryche and sa publyd c1475 Wall. vi 547.
With rych hors the Scottis befor thaim raid

2. Wealthy, opulent. b. Also, in weakened sense: Well-off, substantial. Also fig. and transf.See also Ground-riche adj. and Richeman n.(a) a1400 Leg. S. v 202.
That riche man is thril alway To … riches c1420 Ratis R. 633.
A rich man gyf that thow bee, Luk one thi almous thou be free 1460 Hay Alex. MS 9484, 9485.
Ane king may neuer be pure of riche cuntrie The mare it riche the richer ever is he 1469 Ayr B. Ct. 16 Oct.
That na common gudis be giffin tyll ony man pure na richt 1490 Irland Mir. I 45/9. 1513 Doug. i vi 68.
Ane husband … Rychast in all the grond of Phenyce 1533 Gau 17/7.
The rich men of this vardel curis this litel a1568 Bann. MS 81a/34.
Quhill I wes riche and had anewch About mefreindis anew I gatt a1568 Pedder C. 57.
Ane cathedrall coff he is ovir riche 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii 255.
Thay ar sa riche that thay do vs misknaw 1604-9 Grahame Anat. Hum. 14b.
So ideots, stoyicks, and parasites are ritch, when princes and gallants are poore 1623 Perth Kirk S. MS 26 May.
Foutye pennyis, that is pennyis to caus men thryff and becum rich(b) 1549 Compl. 127/4.
Amang the staitis of reche men, Job vas gude, and Nabal was euil 1565 Aberd. B. Rec. I 361.
And for making of gravis of the buriall xviij penneis of reche and honest folkis and xii d. of the sobir estait(c) 1527–8 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 93.
All maner of man pouir and reich induellaris within the burch(d) 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 142.
For na man is rache or vyse becaus he assuris him self to be sik ane man 1584 St. A. Kirk S. 544.
All parteis, baith rache and puir 1596 Dalr. I 96/18.
Rache 15.. Wyf Awcht. 2 (K).
An honest man A rach husband I heard men taldproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 722.
He that lichtlies litle, lang or he be ritch Ib. No. 1791.
Young lairds and gray freirs are alyke ritchfig. c1460 Dietary 13 (Makc.).
Glaid in pouerte, Rych with litill c1460 Regim. Princ. 148 (Marchm.).
Justice makis riche … Bath king and knaif c1590 Fowler I 60/72.
And by his songs … Messina makis to grow More fatt in praise, and ratcher more and more in brawer showtransf. a1586 Kamington in a1586 Maitland Geneal. Setoun 39.
Quhairof thair riche estait ȝit beirs the sings

c. Of a place: Wealthy, prosperous. 1596 Dalr. I 22/30.
A myle distante from Edinburghe is … a rach toune, to wit Leith Ib. 53/5.
Abeit it [sc. Dundee] be nocht esteimed the richest, it may weil be esteimed the neist riche

d. Const. of, also in (the thing or quality possessed).(1) 1375 Barb. v 275.
A man … ryche off mobleis & off cateill a1500 Colk. Sow iii 72.
Besyd this Colkelby Thair duelt a man was rich of stoir and fie c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 361.
He wes … of gudis riche(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 186/22.
Be rich in patiens gife thoue in gudis be pur 1596 Dalr. I 49/14.
In lenth it extendes to Badȝenot … lx myles rache in store, and pastural

3. Of great worth; valuable. a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 190.
With goldine clathis & perre The riche[s]t that mycht fundyne be c1400 Troy-bk. i 233.
Lordis … Had thar thare habitacioune With mony ryche rentis & feis ?1438 Alex. ii 1934.
Ane ryng of rych stane 1456 Hay I 282/19.
Be the nature of gold it is clere and schynand riche vertuous and confortand 1513 Doug. vi Prol. 69.
Virgil sawis … Ful riche tresour thai bene and precius graith 1531 Bell. 1531 Boece I 110.
First wer schawin his hors, harnes, barding, and riche spulyeis c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 377.
The riche rewaird … of thame that ar ingrauit In to Christ Jesus 1596 Dalr. II 7/28.
Thay war ladne with a fatt pray, a rych buteng [etc.] Ib. 144/6.
A rache pray 1676 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 235.
Certain rich metall such as gold [etc.]

4. Of an artefact, etc.: Costly; splendid; elaborately made or decorated.(1) a1400 Leg. S. vi 310. 1456 Hay II 121/15.
A riche clethinge Id. ?1438 Alex. (S.T.S.) 1351.
The cheriottis with thair ryche aray a1500 Rauf C. 576.
In ane rob [he] him arrayit richest of ane a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 680.
Thair riche birnys c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 88.
A goune Rich to behald Ib. (O.U.P.) 106/11.
Reche 1513 Doug. iv vii 62.
Apon rych carpettis spred 1531 Bell. 1531 Boece II 227.
This toure was apparalit inwith with riche tapestreis of gold and silk 1533 Boece 629.
Syndry riche & precious hangaris 15.. Clar. v 1787.
Quenis … Whois radious rich apparrall brightlie schone 1640 Tailor's Acc. Bk. B 41.
Ane black clock lynd with reche wellvit c1650 Spalding I 34.
Ane ritche sadill(2) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 982 (C).
The corps … of Achilles Gevin … To a ryche and nobile sepulture a1500 Bernardus 269.
Thow may se Off tenementis and biggynis ryche agane

b. Of a funeral: Performed with all due pomp; lavish. c1475 Wall. (1570) ix 1544.
With riche entrie the corps thay put in graif

5. Of wine, oil, gum, etc.: Of excellent or superior quality; choice, powerful in their stimulating or other effects. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 35.
With ryalle cowpis … full of ryche wynis 1513 Doug. i xi 85.
The cowpe with the rich wyne … All owt he drank Ib. vi iii 122.
The cald ded corps is … Enbalmyt with rich gummys euery iunct 1535 Stewart 35782.
As men wald keip balme riche in ane bois

b. Of colour: Strong, deep (of hue). a1568 Bann. MS 81b/1.
I saw ane rob riche of hew

6. Of natural features: Fine, magnificent; impressive. Cf. sense 7 below. c1450-2 Howlat 14 (A).
This riche rever dovn ran … Throwe ane forest a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 238.
Reirdit on ane riche roche beside ane riveir Ib. 248.
Apone that riche river, randonit full evin, The side-wallis war set

7. Giving abundant yield; fertile; well-stocked (with, of something); flourishing. Also fig. c1515 Asl. MS I 308/25.
With riche fludis & ryveris as Forth, Tay, Tweid [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 30.
Arrayit ryallie about with mony riche vardour 1513 Doug. ii xii 41.
Quhar … Tybris … Rynnys throu the rych feldis Ib. v Prol. 4.
Gladys … The falconeyr rych ryver onto fleyn 1528 Lynd. Dreme 820.
The ryche ryueris plesand and proffitabyll 1531 Bell. 1531 Boece I xxxix.
Ane riche mine of gold … won but ony laubour 1610 Reg. Privy C. IX 37.
[The said river was] verie ritche and plentifull of fischeisfig. a1568 Bann. MS 92a/1.
The rich fontane of hailfull sapience Wyse Salamone

b. Of a mind: Well-stored, well-endowed. 1562-3 Winȝet I 5/8.
Ȝour nurissing of pure studentis of ryche ingynis able efter to reull the Kirk of God in helthfull teachement

c. Of a ewe: Fertile, as opposed to barren. 1622 Galloway P. 6 March.
Reserving … tenscoir ruche sheip being all ȝowis half rych half ȝell … as steilbow guids

II. adv. 8. Richly; fully. = Rich(e)ly adv. a1400 Leg. S. xiii Prol. 82.
Sa Sancte Johnne … to Godis godhed rycheste rekis a1500 Prestis of Peblis 78.
Syne in ane hall … He herberit all his burgesis riche & bene

III. absol. or as noun. 9. a. Rich people, collectively; those who are rich. Also, once, of a town. b. A rich person.a. (1) 1375 Barb. iv 606.
The folk … baith rich & pur c1420 Wynt. v 3971.
Bathe pure and rych in thare degre He luwyd c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 217.
The rich and the pure, the glorius & mek c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 178/19.
One to the ded gois all estatis, … Baith riche & pur of al degre Abell 82a. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1029 (Ch.).
He kepit iustice baith to pure and riche 1560 Rolland Seven S. 905. a1568 Scott vi 10.
The grace of God to na man is obstant As to the riche, euin siclyke to the pure 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 149.
They doe not justice equallie to the pure and the ritch(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (S.T.S.) lxxxxviii 13.
Pryncesse of townes, … A richer restith under no Christen royb. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1265.
Yone riche cummis arait in riche robbing