▪ I. raith Sc. († and north.)
(reːθ)
Also 4 rath(t, raþe, 4, 8 rathe, 8 reath.
[a. OIr. ráthe, ráithe, or Gael. ráith in same sense (cf. quidrathe). The appearance of the word in the Cursor M. is remarkable.]
A quarter of a year; three months.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 16166 (Gött.) Herodes had grenid him to se, þar forwid mani ratht. Ibid. 23833 Said it es gane mani rath [etc.]. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xl. (Ninian) 772 Men fastis it..thryse ilke rath of þe ȝere. 1768 Ross Helenore i. 6 Howsoon as the jimp three raiths was gane. a 1774 Fergusson Rising of Session Poems (1807) 277 Little mair than half a reath. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb (1873) 57, I wuntit him to gie Sawney a raith at lan' mizzourin'. |
▪ II. raith
obs. Sc. f. rathe a. and adv.