Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

ROO, n.¹, v.² Also ru, rue, and dim. form rooag (Cai.).

I. n. A small heap or pile, specif. a small stack of peats set up to dry before being carted home (Ork. 1825 Jam.; Sh., Ork. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork., Cai. 1968).Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 139:
An' there sheu flet, an there I woo'd, The muckle roo's amang.Ork. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. vi. 222:
'E bigged a lock o' stanes taegither i' a roo tae rest 'is casie api'.Ork. 1920 J. Firth Reminisc. 108:
The drying process was continued by putting these raisings into “roos” and finally before being taken home in carts or caisies, by turning the “roos” into “bullans”.Ork. 1950 Scotsman (18 March):
I judged it to be a rue of feathers showing up so white on the green turf.Ork. 1995 Orcadian 28 Sep 16:
Our dry peats were stacked in the hill. We had a little lochan, out of which my dad cut small black peats. As soon as the rains came the loch was flooded, leaving only the tops of the roos in sight.

II. v. To pile up in heaps (Ork. 1825 Jam.; Sh., Ork. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork. 1968).Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 139:
Cut an' roo, cut an' roo, cut an' roo the tang.Ork. 1904 W. T. Dennison Sketches 29:
I saw abeun the Banks o' Voy A lassie rooan' tang.