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.
REEB, n., v. Also rieb, rib; reb; reep (Ork.). Dim. forms rib(b)ek, rebbick, deriv. reebin. [Sh. ri:b, rɛb; Ork. + ri:p]
I. n. A narrow strip, a “ribbon”, of land, wood, cloth, colour, etc. (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl., rieb; I.Sc., Cai. 1968); in dim., a narrow strip of uncultivated land along the side of a field (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), ribek). Adj. reebie, in strips, streaked (Sh. 1968).Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
To rive a rib o' onyting. A rib o' wood. In names of strips of ground, e.g. de Ribs o' Rainadal.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 23:
I tink hit wis eggs. . . . Dey wir a yallow reeb it cam frae da baskit aa daa wye up ower da pier.Sh. 1952 J. Hunter Taen Wi Da Trow 189:
Dey aa noo rin wi reebs o steam Snifterin in guffs fae each behint.
II. v. 1. To run in streams, to drip in a continuous flow; of marled woollen material: to have an unattractive streaky appearance because the different colours have not been adequately blended (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.). Pa.p. reebed, streaked.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Used of very slimy tangles — “just reepan wi' slaver”.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 116:
Da broon watter aff o' wir keps, reebin' doon ower wir faces an' sweein ata wir een.Sh. 1964 Nordern Lichts 15:
Whaar dayset in a glöd Hings ower da far haaf's wastern rim Reeb'd red as yatlin blöd.
2. Vbl.n. deriv. reebin, -en, in boatbuilding: the uppermost plank in the side of a boat to which the gunwale is fixed, the sheerstrake (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1950 Viking Congress (Simpson) 290).Sh. 1963 New Shetlander No. 67. 25:
But, as the Shetland boat of his time had more planks a side than her ancestors, there were several planks between the “swills” and the “reebing” for which he had no name.
