A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Stouthreif, n. Also: stouth(e)-, stoueth-, stouthis-, stout-, (stouf-), stowth-, stuth- and -reiff, -reife, -refe, -reff, -rief(f, -reaffe, -raiff, -rife. [Stouth n. and Ref(e n.1] Violent theft, robbery.(a) 1495 Acta Conc. I 426/2.
For the stouthe reff of certane gudis … of the … schippis quhilkis brek beside Kynneff 1498 Crim. Trials I i 25.
Stouthreif 1511 Paterson Ayr & Wigton III 22.
Stouthreif of pots and pannis and plattis and pewdir weschell 1515 Acts II 282/2.
The cryme of thift and stouthreif is … commounlie vsit amang the kingis liegis 1515 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 156.
Stouthreif, invasioun be way of murthure [etc.] … ar pvnist to deid 1537 Crim. Trials I i 182.
The stouthreif and detention from … Lady Sinclair of the rents of her lands and lordship of Scheitland 1549 Breadalbane Doc. No. 69.
That quhair thai belevit to have levit vnder Goddis grace … on harmyt [etc.] … be slauchter stouf raiff mutelaction and oppressioun 1578 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 97.
The peciable … subiectis of this realme inhabiting the cuntreis ewest the bordouris wer hawelie vppressit be the stouthisreiffis and vtheris enormiteis of the thevis and brokin men duelland vpoun the saidis bordouris 1583–4 Reg. Privy C. III 638.
Sindrie greit and enorme attemptatis of stouthreif 1590–1 Bk. Islay 96.
Forsamekill as he … hes … committit manifest thift, stouth-reiff of cattell, insycht and plenissing 1604 Hist. Clan Gregor I 318.
Be way of maisterfull stouthreif staw, reft, and away tuik sax hundreth ky and oxin [etc.] 1607 Stewart Mem. 117.
For the thiftious steilling & reving be way of maisterfull stoutreif, fra … [gap] Donaldson chapman of his pak 1623 Melrose P. 532.
This violent and maisterfull stouthe, … will fall vnder the compas of stouthe reaffe 1631 Grant Chart. 227.
Committing depredatiouns, stouthreaffes, and vthers oppressiouns 1643 Hist. Clan Gregor II 90.
Stouethreiff 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i xix 5 (1678) 195.
Theft may be divided into common theft (which is theft so properly called, or stouth-rife, which is violent theft) and is a complex of theft and robbery 1697 Proclam. 3 August.
Stouth-rieff 1698 Misc. 3 Spald. C. II 100.
Stouth reife(b) 1493 Reg. Privy S. I 5/1.
For the stowthrefe of thre oxin and kye fra the larde of Howmend 1566 Reg. Privy C. I 489.
Crymes of slauchtir stowth reif thift [etc.](c) 1604 Acts IV 267/2.
The said Williame Borthuik … hes done treassoun in the committing of stuth reiff in maner specefeit
