A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Refbost, n. (? Erron. for ref-bote. Cf. Refe n.1, also ME (13th c.) thefbote theft-boot, ‘the taking of some payment from a thief to secure him from legal prosecution, either the receiving back by the owner of the stolen goods or of some compensation, or the taking of a bribe’ (etc.).) —14.. Acts I 386/1.
Et plegii erunt in omnibus pro bone nisi in duobus casibus scilicet de ferand dede et theff stollyn si faciat eum refbost habere [gif he be rymbrossyn, s.v. Rimburse v.]
