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Scots word?

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Pete65 | 10:53 Tue 15th Mar 2011 | Phrases & Sayings
10 Answers
I would like to know what the word "rieshel" means? It appeared in the Dundee Courier yesterday. I cant find it in any dictionary.
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Can you provide us with the full sentence?
It's a proper noun/name
Question Author
The article was about tin openers! The sentence is, "It is an ugly, battered old rieshel of a thing, but it does the job."
This is obviously just a variant spelling of reestle or reesle. It means something rickety which clatters and rattles and may well collapse.
QM seems to have the gist of it.
It can be Noun and Verb and as well as QM's meanings it can also be a blow or a shaking.
Question Author
I am not convinced of the previous answers. Could you refer me to a dictionary please that can define the word that I have enquired about?
I cannot locate the precise spelling you give but I agree with the consensus of meaning given here. Scots is not a precisely defined language and if the spelling you have does not seem an unreasonable variant to me.

This from OED

reesle, reeshle, n. Sc. Also reestle.
[Of onomatop_ic origin.]
A loud clatter; a rattling blow.
_1774 Fergusson Tron Kirk Bell Poems (1845) 44 I'd bring ye wi' a reesle down.
_1810 Tannahill Come hame Poems (1846) 145 I'll lend you a reestle wi' this, owre your back.
1880 J. E. Watt Poet. Sketches 52 A reeshle like thunder was heard at the door.
^^^^^^^

If you want you can also look up 'The Concise Scots Dialect Dictionary' which has some more info.
reeshle [risl, riʃl]
v. To make a crisp, crackling, rattling or rustling noise. To clatter, rattle. To bustle about noisily.
pt. pp. reeshelt

n. A rustling sound. A loud, clattering, knocking or banging noise, a resounding noise, a crash, thud.
Question Author
Thank you for your help.

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