Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
RAE, n.2 Also ray; re (Jak.); rea (Sh. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis); erron. ¶ree (Sh. 1932 J. Saxby Trad. Lore 180); raa.
1. A sailyard (Sh. 1825 Jam.; Mry. 1911 Trans. Banffshire Field Club 109; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1967). Hence comb. raeband, reaband, the rope attaching the sail to the yard (Ruddiman; Sh., Cai. 1967). [re:]Sc. 1709 Compend of Securities 227:
Cables, Tows, Anchors, Sails, Masts, Raes.Edb. 1719 D. Robertson Bailies of Leith (1915) 86:
To take the anchors from the boughs and sails from their raes.Sc. 1833 Chambers's Jnl. (Dec.) 364:
The older fishermen used to call the yard (on the mast) the ray, and employed the term babord for larboard.Sh. 1892 Manson's Sh. Almanac:
Maansie proposes dat we sud close reef da rae, an lay da shaar's head ta da aestward.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 250:
Da wadder raebaands made up an' da sail töre.
2. A rod, a small branch of a tree (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.).
[O.Sc. ra, yardarm, from 1494, raband, from 1513; Mid. Du. ra(e), O.N. rá, id. For 2. cf. Norw. rå, straight, slender tree-stem.]
