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.
Quotation dates: 1703-1730, 1787, 1866-1958
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RAVERIE, n., v. Also rav(e)ry (Sc. 1707 R. Wodrow Analecta (M.C.) I. 94), raiverie, -y; reverie.
I. n. 1. Raving, furious or deranged speech, delirium (Sc. 1818 Sawers; Bnff. 1882 Francisque-Michel Lang. 387); nonsense, foolish talk (Abd. 1967).Sc. 1703 A Stone returning upon him that Roll'd it 3:
I have no mind to trudge after him through his many pitifull Raveries.Sc. 1730 R. Wodrow Analecta (M.C.) IV. 155:
And being acquaint with the raverys sometimes the King fell into.Kcd. 1958 Mearns Leader (14 Feb.):
Yon raiverie aboot a young man's fancy turnin' lichtly tae thochts o' love.
2. A rumour, an ill-founded story, a piece of gossip (ne.Sc. 1921 T.S.D.C.; Bnff., Kcd. 1967). Cf. Rave, n., 2.Bnff. 1787 W. Taylor Poems 59:
This rev'rie spread about the Cummer.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 143:
There's a reverie it the doctor's gain' awa.Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 129:
The Herds wull pit oot a reverie if I socht Jean tull the ball.Mry. 1925:
A bit of gossip of which one is not certain — “O, it's only a raverie”.Bnff.6 c.1930:
A raverie gaed oot 'at the laird wis gyaan te raise a' oor rents.
II. v. To report, to rumour (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 143).
[O.Sc. rever(a)y, din, 1513, raverie, fantasy, foolish fable, 1594; O.Fr. raverie, delirium, foolhardiness, rage, rare variant of Eng. reverie.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Raverie n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 May 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/raverie>
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