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.
RENT, v., n. Sc. usages:
I. v. 1. tr. and intr. To rend, tear. crack, split (Abd., Per., Fif., Lnk., Kcb., Slk. 1968). Also fig. Obs. in Eng. exc. dial.Sc. 1717 D. Brown Sermons 31:
I defie all the Hypocrites of the Creation to Rent or Fear them.Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 175:
Then cease, Great James, thy flowing Tears, Nor rent thy Soul in vain.Per. c.1760 Jacobite Relics (1821) II. 9:
Then each Whig saint wad soon repent, And straight recant his covenant, And rent it at the news, man.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 258:
The bell not renting, the priests were disgraced as impostors.Rnf. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 II. 119:
It stood the strongest heat without renting.m.Lth. 1812 P. Forbes Poems 24:
My poor head's just rentin'.Sh. 1898 Shetland News (30 April):
Da skurm o' da egg was rentid, an' I wis tryin' ta be carefil i' da takkin' o' him oot.Per.4 1950:
Lend me your gullie till I rent this stick.
2. To belch, retch.Gsw. 1863 J. Young Ingle Nook 99:
It sets them pechin', rentin', bockin,. While sickness at their hearts keeps knockin,.
II. n. A breach or dissension between persons. Rare and obs. in Eng. Phr. a rent and a rive, id.Sc. 1719 R. Wodrow Corresp. (1843) II. 456:
Lest our miserable rents be heightened, and unruly passions be provoked.Ayr. 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie lxxxviii.:
No to mak' a rent and a rive o't a'thegither between us.
