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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RELIEVE, v. Also †releve.

1. To release from a legal obligation, esp. to refund the payment of a Cautioner or guarantor. See Relief, n., 1. (2).Sc. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xxii.:
If you can find caution judicio sisti, that is, that ye winna flee the country, but appear and relieve your caution when ca'd for in our legal courts.Sc. 1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 845:
If one of two co-obligants bound only pro rata, pay the whole debt, he is entitled to be relieved to the extent of the other's share.

†2. To release from captivity, rescue. Rare in Eng.Sc. 1774 J. MacLaurin Decisions 33:
A tuilzie or rixa, in which they mixed themselves to relieve a youth in the defunct's grip.Uls. a.1908 Traynor (1953):
I relieved a duck from the dog.

3. Deriv. reliever, (1) a member of the Relief Church (see Relief, n., 2.); (2) a game of tig, in which an uncaught player can release those touched by the catcher (Inv., Slg., Rnf. 1968). Mainly in pl. (Dmb. 1940s; Edb. 1960s; Ayr. 2000s). Cf. Eng. dial. relievo, id., and Relief, 3.(1) Sc. 1895 British Weekly (7 Feb.) 258:
In this life of yesterday the seceders and “relievers” were great, though plain.Sc. 1897 Mem. Jubilee Synod U.P. Church 100:
Seceders were soon followed by Relievers, and organised Churches grew up.

4. To restore, re-establish, re-enact (an order or regulation). Obs. in Eng.Lnk. 1710 Minutes J.P.s (S.H.S.) 96:
The saids Justices of the Peace releves and reneus their forsaid act and intimatione.