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 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/raverie>
