puhekieltä To make a vigorous and thoroughsearch of (a place, person) with a view to stealing something, especially when leaving behind a state of disarray.
Thenne came there an olde monke whiche somtyme had ben a knyghte & behelde syre Melyas / And anone he ransakyd hym / & thenne he saide vnto syr Galahad I shal hele hym of this woūde by the grace of god within the terme of seuen wekes