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.
Quotation dates: 1560-1615
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Knaverie, Knaifrie, n. Also: knavery, knavrie; knaifré, knaiffry, knaiferie; cneifrei. [e.m.E. knavery (1528), f. Knave n.] Knavish behaviour, dishonest and crafty dealing, knavery.(a) 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 10694.
We giue on hir rebald sentence For his knaifrie, and his peruerst offence 1567 Sempill Sat. P. viii. 47.
Palȝart! war nocht our faith defendit, Oure commoun weill and knaifrie endit [etc.] 1571 Sempill Sat. P. xxviii. 47.
I was coequall with Achitophall Or subtill Sinone, knaifrie to discriue1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 40. 1586 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) I. 252.
[A letter] quhair you may sie the knaifrie of the man ye vat of 1591-2 Rob Stene 21.
His vers his knaiffry sall expres 1590 Burel Pilgr. ii. 364.
Knaifre 1604 Wallwood Corr. (Montrose Town H.) No. 8 (6 June).
That cneifrei may be kend 1609 Glasgow Weavers 53.
Be thair knaiferie the craft is sclanderit(b) 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. Pref. 71.
Thair clocked knaverie culd no moir be hid 1584 Ib. 502. 1584 Ib. 871.
Ye ken his knaverie [v.r. knavrie] weill aneuche a1585 Polwart Flyt. 776.
Nane quicker in knavery 1615 Criminal Trials III. 355.
The verritie of the quhilk knaverie and dissaitfull deilling of the said Robert being detectit
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"Knaverie n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/knaverie>
