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

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
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Ref(e, Reif(f, Rev(e, v.¹ Also: rew(e; reife, reyff, reiv(e, reav(e; rieve; rive; raif(f, rave. P.t. and p.p. reffit, revyd, etc.; reft; raft; Reit [Early ME ræven, reafen (c 1154), ræfen (Layamon), ME ref(e)(n (a 1225–c 1400) ME and e.m.E. reave(n (c 1175), reve(n (Cursor M.), p.t. and p.p. also reft, raft(e, OE réafian. Cf. Refev.², also Rif(e v.]

1. intr. To plunder or pillage; to commit robbery or spoliation. Also proverb. Also to rug (and) (to) refe (refe … rug). (Cf. Rif(e v. 16.)(1) 1375 Barb. xvi 551 (see Rive v.)
Thai … Tuk land, and fast begouth to reif [: schirreff] ?1438 Alex. ii 6729.
Ȝe … Bot reiffis, forout agane-geuing 1456 Hay 281/4.
Gif the Franche knycht past in Burgone … and brynt and slewe and reft [etc.] c1490 Irland Asl. MS 68/4.
I haue synnit … doand evill werkis, … strikand or hurtand, slaand, steland, refand c1490 Porteous Noblenes 174/6 (Asl.).
Noblis … ar nocht sa hie set … for to reif or tak be force in ony way 1494 Loutfut MS 17a.
A thef and brigand … peilland & revand a1500 Bk. Chess 1977.
Quhat will he syne Bot reif or steile c1515 Asl. MS I 211/15.
Thair chiftanis spulȝeit reft & slew our all Yngland 1525 St. A. Formulare I 268.
Part slane utheris mutilate brynt heriit spulyeit and reft oppinlie 1533 Boece 58b.
To se lymmaris … oppres the cuntre, reif and stouth planely without punycioun 1567 Acts III 30/2.
Ane artickle for theuis taine reifand a1570-86 Maitland Maitland F. 301/3.
Off Liddisdaill the commoun thevis Sa peirtlie stelis now and revis That [etc.] a1605 Montg. Flyt. 538 (T).
To teich that theif to steill & rave [H. reaue; L. reiue] 1593 Acts (1597) ii 136b.
Rieuis 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Praedor, latrocinor, to spoile, to reaue … Rapio, per vim tollo, to reaue 1596 Dalr. II 187/24.
Reifeproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 544.
It that God will give, the Devil can not reave(2) a1603 Anc. Prophecy in a1500 Bernardus 20/81.
Then sall vakne vp a were, … When the bernys of the rawme ruggis & revys … And the pure pepill salbe spoyled full nere a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 404.
It cumis of kynde to thé to be a traytoure, To ryde on nycht, to rug [Bann. rin], to reve, and stele 1513 Doug. ix x 53.
Best likis ws all tyme to rug and reif To dryve away the spreth and thar on leif Ib. x i 34.
Than war the tyme to rug and reif thus gait 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6355.
Be commoun thift sum makis thair schift … Sum reifis and ruggis, sum drawis and druggis a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. 43/13.
Heroid … now … hes ane thowsand feiris … To rug and reif and tak vp rentis The poure peopill oppressand clein

b. ? In weakened sense: To steal (from another person).(a) c1460 Thewis Wysmen 238.
Thai rich deland thar riches Quhar vtheris rewis and euir has les(b) a1603 Tract. Leg. Naval. 64.
Luggage is not pluck up fare, for everie on rives from another

2. tr. To take away, as by force or superior power, (a material thing or animal, or an immaterial thing); to strip or deprive (a person) of (something). a. With double obj., chiefly with the person or thing deprived as indirect obj. Chiefly in verse.(1) 1375 Barb. v 12 (E).
The treis begouth … To wyn the helyng off thar hewid That wykkyt wynter had thaim rewid [C. revede, 1571 rewit] ?1438 Alex. ii 1848.
Thay wald reif vs our landis all c1420 Wynt. v 5054.
Bath tow and yharne he suld hyr rewe Ib. viii 6268.
The kyng twa teth … Wyth a dynt off a knyff hym revyd [C. rewide] c1460 Regim. Princ. 217 (Maitl.).
Cryand vengeance … Off … thame that reiffis thame thair gude 1461 Liber Plusc. 382.
Quhilk has ws reft so ryal a riches a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 500.
Yit sal I … reve thame thair rentis a1500 Henr. Fab. 2572.
Blissit be the busk that reft ȝow ȝour array 1510 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. II 361.
Ȝe may refe ws all at we haue, an ȝe will 1513 Doug. ii x 77.
Not the bewte of Helene … nor Parys … this ryches has ȝou reft 1570 Sat. P. xv 72.
To seik the maner how To reif the king his crowne(2) 1375 Barb. xv 192 (E).
And with a knyff … reft him the liff a1400 Leg. S. xliv 302.
Bot that hire refit nocht the speking c1400 Troy-bk. ii 752 (C).
They felly reft hem the lyffes c1420 Wynt. vi 1930.
Rewe Ib. viii 4458.
Refft a1500 Henr. Robene & M. 49.
Thow reivis me roif and rest c1475 Wall. v 632.
Luff … may reiff men bathe witt and stedfastnes a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1010.
Ded … me hes rewit all my conforting c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 180/73.
He has reft Merseir his endite 1535 Stewart 50038.
Forlane lownis … cumin heir for to reif ws oure richt 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6524.
Suld I for gold reif ony man his life?

b. Const. fra (from) a person or out of (his) hand(is. Also absol. Also, ? const. of (= from) a person (see (5) below). This may, however, be an example of c below.(1) 1398 Fœdera VIII 57/2.
Fredome to follow thair gudis, that beis stollin, or reft fra thaim ?1438 Alex. ii 8853.
Or it [sc. your sword] be reft far ȝow fra [etc.] c1420 Wynt. vi 304.
Fra the kyrk the tendis then He refft wyth mycht c1420 Bute MS fol. 141.
To the valw of swa mykyl reft fra J. de l. 1456 Hay I 29/32.
And sum thai revit jowellis fra 1491 Treas. Acc. I 180. c1500 Harl. MS 4700 262a.
Quhat euir he be that revis fra ony man presoner hors or gudis … he sall restor thame agane 1513 Doug. v xi 117.
Thai … from the hallowyt ingill reft the fyre 1535 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 158.
The hors … vas reft fra Quhyntyne … vnder silens of nycht 1556 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 7 Jan.
Poynd … quhilk he maisterfully and contempnandly reft fra the saidis officiaris 1569 Crim. Trials I ii 8. 1575–6 Reg. Privy C. II 481.
The said lard and his servandis reft the saidis letters fra him 1577 Ib. 657.
Quhair in piracie he … reft fra the said David his haill schippis ladynning of fischeis 1587 Orkney Oppress. 95.
The said Lord Robert wranguslie and masterfullie reft fra the saids complenaris thair … landis and heritage 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I 27. 1599 Reg. Privy C. VI 64.
[He] preist violentlie to have reft fra him … certane lynning claith Ib. 2.(b) c1475 Wall. x 484.
Thocht I mycht reiff … Fra thé thi crowne 1531 Bell. Boece I 73.
To reif fra yow Scottis and Pichtis your landis, lawis, and liberteis a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. 8/52.
Clementis Hob Fra ilk puire wyfe reiffis thair wob 1642 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II 144.(c) c1590 Fowler I 73/181.
And reaving from that froward lord his quaiver … and dartsabsol. 1533 Gau 16/27.
Thay sine aganis this command that … reffis fra oders c1575 Balfour Pract. 524.
Gif ony man steill or reive fra ony man of religioun, clerkis, wedowis, or fra ony uther persoun [etc.](2) 1375 Barb. xiii 23 (E).
The Scottis men … fra sa fele the lyvis rewyt That [etc.] 1456 Hay II 30/16.
For he that stelis or revis honour fra ony persone bringis him hame … evill renoune Id. Alex. (S.T.S.) 1686.
The lyf fra him he revit a1500 Henr. Orph. 584. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 70/14.
Than pansing of penuritie Revis that fra my remembrance 1513 Doug. iii iii 95.
The rayn and royk reft from ws sycht of hevin 1528 Lynd. Dreme 104.
Janeuar … Reiffis frome vs all pastyme and plesoure 1533 Boece 142. 1533 Bell. Livy II 17/24.
The pepill … reft that … auctorite fra oure predecessouris a1578 Pitsc. I 10/16.
How queine regent Reft frome the duik the authoritie a1599 Rollock Wks. II 73.
An enemy to Cæsar, who would reave the kingdom from him(3) c1420 Ratis R. 802.
That resone is al reft thé fra a1500 Seven S. 1580.
Speche and sicht ar fra me reft 1513 Doug. ix viii 34.(4) ?1438 Alex. ii 8850.
Ȝone man … mananses that my suerd salbe Reft … out of myne hand! 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (S.T.S.) 77/36.
How much lesse may the subjects reaue out of the princes hand that superiority which [etc.] a1599 Rollock Wks. I 426.
Hes thou power to reif it [sc. the body] out of the handis of the Lord?(5) c1490 Porteous Noblenes 177/29 (Asl.).
Thai … that takis & revis the … substance of pure commonis and lauboraris

c. Without compl.(1) pres. 1456 Hay I 155/11.
Gif the thef wald reve my hors and my gere [etc.] a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1314.
Thoght I myght reif thame [sc. rents] with right, rath to my handis 1494 Loutfut MS 18b.
The louetre … is of the sammyn natur reffand fische as the wolf dois the flesch and sekis nocht his pra bot in watter c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 166.
Nor ȝit na sillie ratchis raif 1547 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) No. vi.
Quhy reif the puir mens geir c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 403.
Quhat thow ressauis, thryis als mekle scho reuis 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 33 (see Bribe v.). 1571 Bann. Memor. 130.
Thir men … pretendis nocht elis … but to rug and reive vther menis livingis and to enriche thaim selues with vther menis geir c1590 Fowler I 57/258.
How that he revis and spuilȝeis all his pillage but remorce 1674 Forbes Baron Ct. 297.
That … they doe not raiff thair ky in out feidle 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 33.
They'll reave his geuds if they can find 'emp.t. ?1438 Alex. ii 9587.
That he … reft our gude agane our will 1523 Treas. Acc. V 227. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 761.
I reft anis a freiris cowll 1557 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 154.
And … reft spulȝeit and away tuk the … geir vnder specifeit 1595–6 Crim. Trials I ii 354.
Violentlie and perforce reft the same letteris 1596 Dalr. I 79/13.
Thair … hope was in this opinione quhairfore thay reft it [sc. Stone of Destiny] 1604 Hist. Clan Gregor I 318.
Be way of maisterfull stouthreif staw, reft, and away tuik sax hundreth ky and oxinp.p. a1400 Leg. S. xxiii 311.
Thu telis ws … quhare that thu has stowine this tresoure or reft that sume emperoure has here left c1475 Wall. xi 1329.
All the land and gud at thow has refyd 1513 Doug. viii vi 21.
Into this land Saturnus com, fleand gret Jovis brand, Hys realmys reft ?1523 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 71.
This hors … is bot reffit and nocht stawit 1549 Compl. 179/2.
Thai haue spulȝeit and reft grit multiplie of mouiabil gudis 1567 in Tytler Hist. Scotland (1864) III 249.
The rest [sc. of the money] is to be reft and borrowed of … the men of Lothian 1572 Sat. P. xxxii 27.
Our hors is reft, our selfis ar doung 1572 Digest Justiciary Proc. G 51.
Four pakkaldis of scheip skinis reft … be … theves 1575 Orkney Oppress. 5.
Goods and gear reft in the piracy 1591 Crim. Trials I ii 264.
And hes … reft and takin away ane grit pray of guidis 1651 Canongate Hammermen in Bk. Old Edinb. C. XX 92.
Thair lockit book … being reft spoiled and all lost(2) 1375 Barb. iii 715.
For, ay amang, The wawys reft thar sycht of land a1400 Leg. S. xl 1140.
Sone sal I ref his lyfe ?1438 Alex. ii 7950.
For couatyse vpon this wyse Reiffis haly that to honour lyis c1475 Wall. vi 294.
Crystyne thai ar, ȝone is thar heretage, To reyff that croune that is a gret owtrage 1535 Stewart 5790. 1549 Compl. 73/33.
My mortal enemeis purchessis to raif my liberte, ande to hald me in ane miserabil subiectione 1558 Knox IV 453.
And after your husband raft, as it were, by violence, from life and honour a1568 Scott xxxiv 12.
Quhat is ȝour lufe bot lust? … Ane beistly game robust To reif ȝour ressoun quyte c1590 J. Stewart 13/31.
Of France to raif the sceptor and the croune a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxiii 9.
If rigour reiv not reuth 1604-31 Craig ii 43.
Were it not wrong, if I should proudlie prease To raue thy right?

d. Const. of, out of or furth of its proper or usual place. Also without compl.(1) c1515 Asl. MS I 323/11.
The goldin weschell reft out of … Jerusalem 1513 Doug. ii xii 9.
Riches of Troy … Reft from all partis 1533 Bell. Livy I 188/32.
Lat the pepill reif now the frutis of oure landis [L. ex agris nostris] 1535 Stewart 49645.
Baith scheip and nolt … Out of Scotland war drevin awa and reft 1554 Irons Leith II 41.
Reiving and spoiling furth of a hulk … a kabel … , pistolettes [etc.] 1559–60 Soc. Ant. XI 522.
Thay … thairof reft spulyeit and away tuik … all gudis 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 55.
Certane men … reft the schip … furth of the said raid of Leith 1592 Rogers Social Life III 383.
Reiving and takeing away our naigs out of our taiks and occupations 1625 Justiciary Cases I 27.
As also reft … furth of the said schip … malt and beir 1639 Justiciary Cases 380.
Staw, reft [ed. rest] and away tuik furth thairof … the haill guidis [etc.] ? 1698 Old Ross-shire I 89.(2) 1604-31 Craig i 21.
Shal sunn, moone, fixed & those smal erratic stars be reft

e. In weakened sense: To take (something) without permission. f. fig. To take (time) properly devoted to some other activity.e. a1500 Seven S. 1399.
The lady reft fra me my bill And hewit it [sc. the tree] dovne agane my will a1605 Montg. Sonn. xli 1.
So suete a kis … fra thee I reft … That [etc.]f. 1631 Sel. Biog. I 362.
I have reft this tyme from my sleip

3. To carry (a person) off; to remove by force from the care or custody of another; to separate from (fra); to rescue. Also, once, const. me (= from me).(1) 14.. Acts I 350/1.
Of thame that revis presonaris fra Scotismen c1515 Asl. MS I 223/19.
And dispytfully reft fra him the forsaid master Hercules 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 6.
This cruell tyrane hes reft furth of this land The flour of France 1550 Reg. Privy C. I 97.
The said Capitane Skenestoun … reft the said Schir Robert fra thaim efter that thai had takin him 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 15.
Quhairby few ar preseruit & reft out of the handis of sic ane tirane 1570 Sat. P. x 183.
Than come ȝour king and sum lords … And reft him [sc. Riccio] from hir 1570 St. A. Kirk S. 343.
Sche was ravissed and violentlie reft fra hir fathir and mother a1585 Maitl. Q. 279/15.
Sen thow [sc. Death] that perle [sc. Richard Maitland] hes cruellie from vs reuin a1599 Rollock Wks. II 322.
That … love … could not suffer them to be reaved from the Lord a1649 Drummond Wks. (1711) 56.
If found guilty, they should not be reft from justice by strong hand(2) c1420 Wynt. ii 1045.
How Tantalus … This Ganymede on this wys reft, … and held hym lang thare-eft 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1847.
How that Ganamedes Was reft till heuin 1512 Crim. Trials I i 81.
Gif ony … frendis … being rebell … wald reif the said rebell … being at the horne 1513 Doug. ii xi 100.
Nor neuer abak, fra scho was lost or reft, Blent I agane Ib. xii v 110.
And … defend … Ȝour Kyng Turnus he be nocht reft and slane 1533 Gau 71/3.
Sal we … be reft to gider with thaime and meit our Lord in the air a1538 Abell 8b.
Helias wes reft in a fire chark in Paradis erdlie Ib. 69b.
Hwirmaistiris and wile personis at reft wirginis with wiolence 1567 Sat. P. vii 51.
To se the quene … Reft lyke ane huire with ruffians shamefullie c1590 J. Stewart 20/209.(b) 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. ii 66.
Quhill death I wish'd, lyf then refuised to liue me, Liue quhill I wold, death then propon'd to riue me(3) a1400 Leg. S. xxix 492.
& my barnis ar reft me als

b. With the soul or spirit as obj. Also fig. 1513 Doug. iv vii 46.
Fra the cald ded Reif from my membris this sawle [etc.] Id. Direct. 106.
My spreit was reft half deill in extasy 1540 Lynd. Sat. 866.
My spreit was reft fra my body, Now heich abone the Trinitie a1568 Bann. MS 245a/5.
Hir bewty and hir maikles maik Dois reif my spreit me fro

c. fig. To refe up, to lift up, to catch up. 1553–4 Knox III 148.
Till, by operatioun of the Halie Gaist, we ar ravischeit and reft up to the contemplatioun of our God, so that our myndis ar fixit onlie upon Godis infinit gudnes 1562-3 Winȝet I 8/22.
Gospellaris and cunning in Scripture … reft up in hie curiositie of questionis

4. To deprive (a person) of (chiefly, an immaterial thing, also a material thing, animal or comrade).(1) 1375 Barb. iii 720.
That off the wawys the weltrand hycht Wald refe thaim oft off thar sycht a1400 Leg. S. xix 658.
Ane arow … rewyt the king of ane ee-sycht 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4336.
Ȝone sow, Quhilk … Had maist have reft me of my lyf 1582 Conv. Burghs I 135.
Certan gentilmen … quha wald reve thame of thair richttis c1590 Fowler I 32/146.
And reft him of his lyiff Ib. 233/4.
Alas, to think vpon the pains which reaves me off my rest! a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxvii 12.
No richt can reiv him of my rhetorie(2) 1581 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 503.
As concerning thair rentis and possessionis that thay be not defraudit, revit, nor spoilȝet thairof a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 77.
[The soldiers] reft sindrie carears baith of horse and laiddis without any restitutioun 1610 Reg. Privy C. IX 567.
One of Caithnes, who in his passing home was revit of all that he had(3) a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1175 (E).
Ȝour grips aft … reivs them [men] Of thy companȝions to

5. To rob or despoil (a person); to deprive of property, etc. by force.(a) c1420 Wynt. v 3962.
A gentill-man to rewe a preyst 1449 Acts II 34/1.
The helande men the quhilkis … commonly reft & slew ilk ane vtheris 1456 Hay I 154/29.
A thef that has reft him, or wald have reft him be the way 1471 Banff Ann. I 20.
Gif it sal happyn thame to be distrublit … or maisterfulli reft be ony parti a1500 Henr. Fab. 2279.
Schir, reif me not, bot go and seik the lau a1500 K. Hart 900.
Thus aucht thair none of reassoun hir to reve a1500 Bk. Chess 123.
Iniust thow art that reiffis thi counsall And giffis me that suld be tharis 1525 St. A. Formulare I 268.
The kingis … liegis … ar … spulyeit and reft oppinlie on day lycht 1535 Stewart 60057.
Quhois [sc. God's] reward quhen thow hes … No man in erth hes power thé to reif Ib. 9201.
Revit a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 46/6.
Sum … with grit wrang ar planelie reft With dewillis lymmis Ib. 313/25. 1570 Leslie 64.
Thame quha wes unjustely reft and spoilyeit … of Yngland 1572 Sat. P. xxxii 14.
Now we, allace! but reuth, ar reft with theif 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 195.
The said men of weare depairtit … to … raif the … duks tennentis a1578 Pitsc. II 35/16.
I sall rather die … nor to be reft of our auld enemeis Ib. I 42/16. 1588 Events Q. Mary & Jas. VI 46.
Reav 1606 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 30 Jan.
Thair coburgess, being reft and pilleit be piratts 1622-6 Bisset I 51/2.
Quha revis thame revis ws 1631 Fraser Sir-Name of Baird 69.
I will give my geir, but will not be reft(b) 1610 Conv. Burghs II 305.
Certain pirattis … spoiling and riving all persons be sieproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 1365.
The water wil never reave the widdie

6. To rob or plunder (a place); to pillage (a ship). c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 191/37.
Quha can reive uthir menis rowmis … Is now ane active man and wyice 1525 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 233.
The Cristofre … bownand in the partis of this realme, [was] reft and spulȝeit 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 143.
He brint and reft the places of Mangerstoun and Quhittak, with diuerse vtheris houssis

7. tr. and intr. To refe … awa (away), to carry off; to take away; to remove.Cf. 2 and 3 above. a1400 Leg. S. vi 464.
Than cumys ded … & rewis thame al [a]-wa 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1595.
Quhair the Centauris reft away the bride Id. Æn. iii iv 35.
Our mesis and our mete thai reft away 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 197.
Ane nowmer of suddartis … perforce reft away the said James Flemyng to the said castell 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Diripio, to reaue away, a rapio

8. To refe at (good reputation), to diminish or detract from. 1456 Hay II 30/14.
For a … thef or revare knycht, he is alssua thef, traytour, and revare till his order that revis at the worschip and the honour that appertenis till it, mare na to reve othir mennis gudis