Etymology From Middle English rei, reh, reoh, from Old English hrēoh (“rough, fierce, wild, angry, disturbed, troubled, stormy, tempestuous”), from Proto-Germanic *hreuhaz (“bad, wild”), from Proto-Indo-European *krewh₂- (“raw meat, fresh blood”). Cognate with Scots ree, rae, ray (“ree”), Old Saxon hrē (“evil, bad, angry”), Gothic 𐌹𐌽𐍂𐌰𐌿𐌷𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽 (inrauhtjan, “to become angry, rage against”). Related to Old English hrēaw (“raw, uncooked”). More at raw.
"I saw,", says I, "he was a ree-brained divell, but thought nothing of it, as all the British are so when they come abroad."1756, Margaret Calderwood, “Mrs Calderwood's Journey”, in The Coltness Collections: MDCVIII-MDCCCXL, The Maitland Club, published 1842, page 222:
2
Dialectal Befuddled with liquor; half-drunk; tipsy.
One of the witnesses speaks of having seen this sober judge "upon the bench, when he appeared to be ree, and as if he had been drunk the night before."1839, Joseph Robertson, The Book of Bon-Accord: or, A Guide to the City of Aberdeen, footnote, page 94:
Etymology From Middle English rei, reh, reoh, from Old English hrēoh (“rough, fierce, wild, angry, disturbed, troubled, stormy, tempestuous”), from Proto-Germanic *hreuhaz (“bad, wild”), from Proto-Indo-European *krewh₂- (“raw meat, fresh blood”). Cognate with Scots ree, rae, ray (“ree”), Old Saxon hrē (“evil, bad, angry”), Gothic 𐌹𐌽𐍂𐌰𐌿𐌷𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽 (inrauhtjan, “to become angry, rage against”). Related to Old English hrēaw (“raw, uncooked”). More at raw.
Etymology From Middle English rei, reh, reoh, from Old English hrēoh (“rough, fierce, wild, angry, disturbed, troubled, stormy, tempestuous”), from Proto-Germanic *hreuhaz (“bad, wild”), from Proto-Indo-European *krewh₂- (“raw meat, fresh blood”). Cognate with Scots ree, rae, ray (“ree”), Old Saxon hrē (“evil, bad, angry”), Gothic 𐌹𐌽𐍂𐌰𐌿𐌷𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽 (inrauhtjan, “to become angry, rage against”). Related to Old English hrēaw (“raw, uncooked”). More at raw.
1
Dialectal To become extremely excited; fly into a rage.
2
Dialectal To drive into a state of excitement; fire with enthusiasm.
After it is well rubbed and winnowed, you must then Ree it over in a fine Sieve , and if any of the Malt be uncleansed , then rub it again into the Sieve , 'till it be pure , and the rubbings will ariſe on the Top of the Sieve1707, J[ohn] Mortimer, The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land. […], London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for H[enry] Mortlock […], and J[onathan] Robinson […], →OCLC:
ree
noun
Etymology Of obscure origin. Perhaps from a rebracketing of ea with Old English þære, i.e. þære ēa becoming the ree. Alternatively, perhaps a variant (like rye, found in the placename Rye) of rith.
The church of this pariſh, vulgarly called St. Mary Overy, from its dedication to the virgin Mary, and ſituation over the Ree or river, in reſpect of London, is a ſtately Gothic ſtructure, in the form of a cathedral.1768-9, Tobias George Smollett, The Present State of all Nations
ree
noun
Etymology From Old Norse hríð (“storm”), whence also Norwegian Nynorsk ri (“period with harsh weather”).
1
Scotland, Shetland, Especially A period of stormy or unsettled weather, especially one occurring somewhat predictably at a particular time of year.
To my surprise he took our caustic remarks about the climate very calmly, even cheerfully. "Och, man, it's only the Beltane ree," he said with a lively twinkle, enjoying our bewilderment. Evidently, the Shetland weather was merely putting on a scheduled performance and he for one was very well satisfied with its achievement - but the Beltane ree . . . ?1952, Ursula Venables, Tempestuous Eden, page 147:
There were three "Rees" (wild tempests), Buggle Ree, Beltane Ree, and Simmer-mill Ree.1974, Jessie Margaret Edmondston Saxby, Shetland Traditional Lore:
1 more example
[…] rees. There were four rees in the first half of the year – the Bogel ree in March, the Simmermill ree in April, the Beltane ree about the beginning of May, and the Johnsmas ree which brought a short spell of unsettled weather in the latter half of June.1981, James R. Nicolson, Shetland Folklore, Robert Hale, page 55: