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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.

Rar(e, Rair, v. Also: raire, rayr. [ME rarin (a1225), north. ME and e.m.E. rar (Cursor M.), rare (1483), midl. and south. rore, OE rárian. See also Rore v.]

1. intr. To shout aloud or cry, as in pain, anger, grief or fear. Also transf. 1375 Barb. viii 304.
Men mycht her … The voundit so cry and rar Ib. v 97, etc. a1400 Leg. S. ix 171.
The feynde … Rayrit wele lowd Ib. xxxix 248.
Paynis … That gert hyme roydly rare & ȝel c1420 Wynt. ii 342. Ib. iii 935. a1500 Henr. Fab. 954 (Bann.).
Ryvand his hair he rarit with a reird 1513 Doug. v xi 26.
And al togiddir gan to weip and rair 1535 Stewart 19327.
Thai … had no rewth to heir the wyffis rair a1568 Weddirburne Bann. MS 287b/32.
Rarand lyk ane ȝung barne or ane seik wyfe 1588 King Cat. 92b.
I rarit for the disquietnes of my hart 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 24.
They … skreem'd and raird beyond all aymetransf. ?1661-5 M. Bruce Soul-Confirmation 12.
God gave them upon the finger ends, while all their ribs rared again

b. Const. on (a person): To call or cry to or against. a1400 Leg. S. xxviii 438.
& he one hyr can rudly rare & sad [etc.] Ib. xxxvii 249.
Thane Dacyane lud cane rare One his tormentouris thare: ‘Werchis, ȝe falȝe alowte’

c. In comparisons between the sound uttered and the cry of an animal or bird. 1375 Barb. iv 418 (E).
Thai, that dredand war to dey, Rycht as bestis gan rar [C. rair] c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 236.
Oule, rare and ȝowle Ib. (O.U.P.) 164/114.
And he … Sa lang as any ravin did rair

2. Of animals or birds: To utter a (loud, deep or raucous) cry.See also c above. 1513 Doug. ii iv 41.
Lyke as a bull doith rummysing and rayr Quhen he eschapis hurt from the altair Ib. vi vi h. of ch.
Quhou that Ene … Cerberus in cave hard ȝell and rayr Ib. viii iv 73.
The catal gan to rowtyng, cry and rar 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 696.
The reukis sall rair, that men sall on thame rew 1540 Id. Sat. Proclam. 30.
Thocht all the nolt sowld rair 1549 Compl. 39/7.
The suyne began to quhryne quhen thai herd the asse rair c1500-50 Pleugh-Song in 1662 Forbes Cantus (1666).
I shal brod him while he rair c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5468.
Gret quhalis sall rummeis, rowte and rair, Quhose sound redound sall in the air a1605 Montg. Flyt. 521 (T).
Quhill the ky … rairing ran rid wood, rowtand in a rane 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 87/57.
For lyons young at night beginnis to raire

3. Of inanimate things: To make a loud noise or din. 1513 Doug. iv ix 36.
Kan scho mak … Vndir thi feyt the erd rayr and trymmyll Ib. v iii 78.
From thar forstammys the bullyr brays and raris Ib. vi iii 46.
Smyte with the ax dyd rayr the akis hie Ib. viii xii 38, etc. 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 170.
Fair weill Stratherne … I ruggit thy ribbis quhill yet I gart them rair 15.. Clar. i 723.
The raschis of speiris did as the thunder rare Ib. 970.
Rared euerie rock 1570 Sat. P. xvii 170.
Our cair may moue the stonis And hauie rockis to rair c1590 J. Stewart 27/449.
At his reuolts the rockis raird and dind 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 210/178.
Raire