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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RABIATOR, n. Also rabeatour, rabiawtor; rubiator; robiator. [′rɑbietər] A plunderer, a violent ruthless person (Ayr., Rxb. 1825 Jam.); a lout, boor, bully (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Kcb.3 1929). Also attrib.Sc. c.1745 in A. Wilson Poems (1844) 314:
The highland rabeatours are here; we're a' ruined and ravished.Ayr. 1822 Galt Entail li.:
It's no possible that Walter can be alloo't to riot and ravage in sic a most rabiator-like manner.Sc. 1829 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) II. 316:
Hoo — you wicked rabiawtor — do you keep casting a sheep's ee upon the cutties!Abd. 1882 W. Forsyth Writings 16:
To think that their auld richts shou'd fa', Aneath a robiator's feet.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr. Duguid 258:
“The auld rabiawtor!” quo he, . . . “my gear is traiket, there's a wadset on my lands, and my wine-casks are dung a' to staves.”

[The O.Sc. form is rubeatour, a scoundrel, ruffian, c.1500, of doubtful orig. but suggesting connection with Late Lat. rob(er)ator, rubator, Ital. rubatore, a thief, robber, the later -a- form being phs. altered under the influence of Late Lat. rabiare, to rave, rage, Eng.†rabiate, mad.]

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