A randan is a boat rowed by three persons, stern and bow using a single oar each and the central person a pair of sculls. The word is of unknown origin, and can hardly be connected with a slang term for a row or spree, which is found as early as the beginning of the 18th century and is generally taken as a variation of random, haphazard.
Additionally, in Scotland, the term out on the randan describes a night of drinking and/or socialising. From Old French Randon.[1]
For example, "Awright boys, gaun oot on the randan the night?"
Is the "random night out (carousing?)" definition related to the English "randy"?
References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Randan". Encyclopædia Britannica. 22 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 885.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the