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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Rud(e)-day, Ruid-day, n. Also: rwde-, rwid-, rwyd-; rood- and -daye; Rede-day. [e.m.E. roode day (1597). Cf. ME and e.m.E. (holi) rode dei (in heruest) (Ancr. R.), (holi) rode day (1297); Rud(e n.¹ I and Day n.¹]Sometimes written as one word.

a. The Exaltation of the Cross (14th September).Also, rude day in harvest and (once) halie rudeday.(1) 1496 Treas. Acc. I 296.
The xiiij day of September, wes the Rudeday, in Halyrudhous, to the kingis offerand 1510 Reg. Privy S. I 323/1.
To haif fre fairis … ȝerely on the Rude day, the xiiii day of September 1531 Bell. Boece II 297.
Now wes the Rude Day cumin, callit the Exaltation of the Croce 1562–3 Inverness Rec. I 100.
The fest of the Exaltation of the Croce callit the Rud day, being the xiiij day of September 1581 Acts III 239/2.
Thair hes bene twa dayis grantit to thame [sc. people of Stirling] for haldin of fairis … in the moneth of September … the letter Ladie Day … and … the Ruid Day 1607 Ib. IV 376/1.
The ordinarie fair yearlie haldin within … Craill … wes … keipit vpoun the fourtene day of September callit Rudday(2) 1533 Boece 623b.
This battell … was stricken on the Rude-day in harvest 1591 Reg. Great S. 679/1.
Cum octo … lie frie fairis in anno … quarta die S. Crucis in autumno vocato Rud-day in hairvest lie Ruid-fair 1597–8 Misc. Spald. C. I 121.
Vpon the Ruidday in harvest … thow confessis and affermis thow saw Christsonday cum owt of the snaw in liknes of a staig(3) 1588 King Cat. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. 193.
The exaltatione of the halie croce be Heraclius callit Halie Rudeday

b. The Invention of the Cross (3rd May). Freq. mentioned as a term-day or quarter-day. See also Beltane n. 1 b.(1) 1551 Dundee B. Ct. II fol. 55 (30 April).
To be payet at the Rwyd Day nixt to cum 1552 Ib. fol. 187b (26 Sept.).
At the Rwde Day the thrid day of Maij 1559 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 185.
Betuix the feist of the Pureficatioun of Our Lady callit Candilmes and the Rude Day callit the Inuentioun of the Haly Croce 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 239.
[He] arryved at Dundei … at the Rud-day in Maije last wes 1567–8 Crail B. Ct. 27 Feb.
xij poundis … to be payt betuix this and the Rud Day nixt to cum quhilk is the iij day of Maij 1574 Anal. Scot. II 325.
At four termes in the yeir, Candilmes, the Ruid day, Lammes day, and Alhallow day 1578 Prot. Bk. J. Scott 60.
The Ruid Day callit Beltane 1588 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 349.
Quhilk entres … began at the Feist of Rudeday callit the Inventioun of the Cross alias Beltyn 1588 St. A. Kirk S. 617.
Aucht dayis befoir the thrid day of Maii; viz., the Ruid day, 1587 1593 Breadalbane Lett. (Reg. H.) 18 March.
That I may … hawe the twa thovsand merkis ȝe ar detbund to me … agane the Rudday nixt the third of Maij 1643 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 5.
The first quarters payment beginning at Ruid Day nixt 1662 Soc. Ant. XXII 257.
They [sc. witches] met with him [sc. the devil] every quarter at Candlemas Roodday Lambsmas and Hallow[mas] 1671 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 270.
The scollars comeing at the Rude Day and Lambmes cannot be so far advanceit as thay that come at Hallowday and Candlemes(2) 1650 Rec. Old Aberd. II 43.
That the poore of the paroch conveine … and receawe ther Ruddayes wages, quhilk order hes bene niglected thes severall quarters bygone

c. = Either a or b above. 1587 Kinnaird Farm Bk. fol. 64.
Ane wadder slane at the Rwid Day 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 134.
Quhilk words thow spak immediatlle befoir the Ruidday last 1636 Kirkcaldy Presb. 108.
She affirms that James Law lay thryse with hir, the last time about aught dayes befoir the Rude day 1688 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II 325 (see Lady day n.).

d. Put for Rude day fare. = Rud(e)-fair(e n. 1632 Prognostication.
Rood day in Carrayle, Jedburgh [etc.], 14 day Ib.
The Rood day a faire in Montrose