A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
(Scaffery,) Scaffry, Scaff(e)rie, n. Also: scaffiré; skaf(f)rie; skaiffry. [Scaff v.] The action of obtaining improperly money, goods or benefits, as by wheedling, importuning, threatening or cheating. b. An instance of this. c. Something so obtained.(1) 1551 Dundee B. Ct. II fol. 85 (11 Aug.).
Certane nychtbouris … vsit sic ane scaffire vpon estrangieris & nychtbouris that thai micht nocht gudlie resort to this merkat without … exhorbitant expensis 1582 in Calderwood III 662.
Lyke as the poorer sort in the burrowes sould not have escaped the importable scafferie intended 1600 Glasgow B. Rec. I 203.
Being accusit … for ganging to vther townes and brydellis be waye of scaffry [ed. staffry] and begging 1606 Reg. Privy C. VII 165.
Against the libertie … grantit to sic schamefull scafferie and extortion [supra the great extorsion used be the … clerks of all judicatores … in extorting … exorbitant pryces for the wreatis] 1612 Ib. IX 323.
The former abuse, scaffrie, and extortioun not onlie renewit bot rissin to a fer griter heicht Ib. 365.
Thay daylie committ schamefull extortionis, oppressionis, and scafferie upoun his majesteis good people 1629 Ib. 2 Ser. III 354.
The native poor … ar prejudged of thair almous by the scafferie and oppressioun of thir … beggars(b) a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 327/10.
Of men a weir the bandis Quhilk fra all kynd of skafrie can not ceis 1575 Glasgow Chart. I ii 165.
And als be maner of skafrie and mere extortioun … takis furth of euerie laid of cornis brocht in the said cietie … ane ladill full of cornis 1576 Orkney Oppress. 87.
The said Laurence … with … armit men cummis to the housses of us … and remanis thairintill quhill our … provisiounis be speindit compelling us to furneis him … for feir of grittar oppressiouns; and swa depairtis but paiment … and that in maner of sorning and skafrie 1616 Melrose P. 260.
The man is … a deboschit drunkard, and … goes about to get sustenance by unlawfull skafrie and malitious informationis(2) 1555 Acts II 500/1.
The wemen perturbatouris for skafrie of money or vtherwyse salbe … put vpone the cukstulisb. 1622 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 110.
Sundrie vther incommoditeis and skaffries fallis out be this abusec. 1561 Aberd. B. Rec. I 335.
That the malt and meill … sall be … mesourit in the gray freiris place, and nocht put in na wther houssis, nor na skaiffry, sic as sampill and scheit schakin, to be tane thairof
