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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Infangtheif, -thief, n. Also (in early use): infangen thef(e, infangand(e) thef(e, and the occas. later variants theiff, theyf. [ME. infangethef (c 1250), infangenthef (1292), OE. infangen þéof.] The right of the lord of a manor to take and try one committing a theft within his property.Used only in legal documents as one of the rights pertaining to the lord of the manor.(a) 1195 Lindores Chart. .
Cum sacca et socca, cum tol et tem, et infangenthefe 1225 Facs. Nat. MSS. I. 28.
Cum tol et them, et infangenthef(b) 1225 Soc. Ant. LX. 71.
Cum thole and theme, infangandthefe 1242 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 109.
Cum tol et theme et infangandthefe c 1320 Reg. Great S. 9/1.
Cum furca & fossa, soc & sac, thol & them & infangandthef 1390 Coll. Aberd. & B. 499.
Cum … sok et sak, tolle et them, infangandthef et outfangandthef 1441 Inchcolm Chart. 59.
Cum … tol et teem, infangand theif et outefangand theif 1450 Reg. Episc. Glasg. I. 376.
Cum … infangandthefe, outefangandthefe, hansokyn, cum tenandijs et tenandrijs 1490 Reg. Episc. Brechin II. 15.(c) 1476 Reg. Episc. Glasg. I. 431.
Cum … infangtheif, outfangtheif, hamesukkin, et precogitata felonia 1482 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 214.
Cum … infangtheif, outfangtheif, peyt et gallouce 1564 Ib. II. 91. 1636 Glasgow Chart. II. 599.
With … infang theif, outfang theif 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. xix. § 5.
This distinction hath, in my opinion, given occasion to the difference in our law, betwixt in-fang-thief, and out-fang-thief 1697 Dundee Chart. 119.