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.
Ref(e, Reif(f, n.1 Also: reff(e; reife, reyf(f; reaf(e, reaff(e; reeff; rieff, riefe; raif(f; riff; Reft. [ME ræf (c1205), reue (a1250), ref, reif (both c1400), thereafter only Sc., OE réaf.]
1. That which is taken by force or robbery; booty, plunder.1375 Barb. v 118 (E).
The king gert be departyt then All hale the reff [C. reif; 1571 spraith] amang the men ?1438 Alex. ii 634.
Massones … Tuke in this land baith reif and stede 1513 Doug. xi Prol. 24.
Wrangis to reddres suld wer be vndertane, For na conquest, reif, skat, nor pensioun a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 297.
Attoure the great reaf and spulye that thay tuik away
2. The act or practice of robbery; spoliation, depredation.Also personified.See also Stouthrefe n.There is some ambiguity with 3 below, to which some of the following examples may properly belong.(1) 1386 Rot. Sc. II 85/2.
That nane of outher syde of the bondes forseid for thift murthir treson or ref sal change fays or be receptit in others bondys 14.. Acts I 6/2.
Gif ony man appelis an othir of reff or of thyft [etc.] 1456 Hay II 88/26.
Quhilk engenderis infidelitee mystraistnes and unlautee, and unlautee engenderis outhir ref, stouth, pillery or rubbery 1490 Irland Mir. I 13/20.
Horribile synnis, as adultery … , reff slauchtir and mony wtheris 1509 Reg. Privy S. I 271/2.
Refe(b) 1449 Acts II 36/2.
For the eschewing of grete & masterful thift & reife 1471 Banff Ann. I 20.
For the tyme of reife and quhill the spooliatioune be restorit a1500 Henr. Fab. 2694.
Thou wald intruse ressoun Quhair wrang and reif suld duell in propertie c1475 Wall. vi 386. 1490 Irland Mir. MS fol. 313.
Reiff a1500 Bk. Chess 22.
Wynnyng be the dycis chance As thift or reif it askis restorans 1501 Exch. R. XII 236 n.
Bot gif thar cum heirschip or reif in the land 1501 Reg. Privy S. I 100/1.
A respitt to … oppressioun, reif and thift except c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 19/121.
I have synnit also in reif and opprecioun 1513 Doug. x ii 82 (Sm.).
Reyf 1523 Carnwath Baron Ct. (S.H.S.) 4.
My lord to proced considerand at it was stowth & reif 1530 Aberd. B. Rec. I 136.
That it be haldin as reif and blak mail 1533 Boece 168b.
Plane reif 1535 Stewart 2041. a1538 Abell 70a.
This wis of reif pestilant mot be tane out of this kinrik 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I 146.
Mynding to continew in thair reif and piracie bayth aganis the subjectis of this realm a1568 Bann. MS 86b/58.
Sic rugrie reif ryngis in this regioun a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 304/38. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 34.
Quhilk … sufferis … thir purspykaris … to exercise thift and reif as ane craft c1575 Balfour Pract. 508. 1578 Glenartney Doc.
Be scorning reif oppressioun and vther wyse 1585 Reg. Privy C. IV 29. 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Reif.
Reife is ane greater crime than thieft, because reife is committed baith in the gudes and in the person of the possessour theirof; thieft is of the gudes and gear allanerlie a1605 Montg. Sonn. xiv 14.
Let richt, not reif, my pensioun bring agane 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 95b (Table).
Reif or roborie is ane of the foure poynts and pleyes of the crone 1622-6 Bisset I 50/25.(c) 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 529.
Quhat stouith, quhat raif, quhat murthur and myschance 1568 Cal. Sc. P. II 532.
Quhat thift and raiff 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 754.
Th'other savage sort To rapine prone and raif [: chaife](d) 1558-66 Knox II 292.
Reaf 1602 Colquhoun Chart. 185.
To continew in thair said stouth and reaff 1623 Crim. Trials III 548.
His accustomet thevische trade of thift, reaffe, and oppressioun 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 187/688.
The sacriledge, uaite lying, murther & reafe that prayes doth seik c1650 Spalding II 5.(e) a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 148.
Sum border men, quhais myndis … are … only givin to rieff and spuilȝie(f) 1606 Reg. Privy C. VII 720.
For repressing of reffe, spoilyie and peikrie in thay nookis of the countrey —1590 Welwod 77.
The criminalls of bludstouth, raiff &c.(2) 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 140.
The crym … of reff(3) 1572 Reg. Privy C. II 146.
Mynding by sic tirrany to continew thair reif of uther mennis guidis 1585 Acts III 379/1.
Subiectis that sall ressaue ony harme … throw stowth and maisterfull reiff of thair guidis 1603 Moysie 54.
Great reaf of horsse and guidis —?1546 Crawford Mun. Invent. I 92.
Gif he … commit exhorbitant reiff or spuilȝie of his landis or tenantis —a1578 Pitsc. I 92/23.
This wickit man … cuild na wayis be stenchit fra reffe and oppressioun and slauchtar baith of gret men and small(4) 1600 Coll. Rebus Alban. 105.
Thair said schip lyand at the fischeing … lippyning for na reiff nor violence of ony personis(5) c1420 Wynt. vi 1134.
For be thyfft, Oppyn reffe, or wrangwys gyft, … I wan The gud, that I dyspendyd than c1475 Wall. ix 328.
The king consauit … Quhat wermen oysyt be reyff in thar passage c1490 Irland Asl. MS 70/11.
I haue synnit … be … takand … beneficis be fraude reif stouth or ony vther waye 1513 Doug. iv v 81.
And now that secund Parys, … By reif mantemys hir suld owris be 1533 Boece 65.
Be reif he persewit the commounis a1538 Abell 44b.
The gentill men at oppressit thame be stowth or reif 1578–9 Reg. Privy C. III 82.
The cattell within the realme … tane furth of it be stouth and reif 1588 King Cat. in Cath. Tr. 214/18 (see Ok(k)er n. a (b)). 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 9.
Swa that he sall liue vpon his awne expenses, and nocht be reaf of other mens gudes —1509 Reg. Privy S. I 278/1.
A remitt … to James Traill [etc.] … for all actioun and crime … , evyn be way of deforcement, refe, or utherwayes c1580 Maxwell Mem. II 146.
Be the wey of stowthe or reiff(b) 1549 Breadalbane Doc. No. 69.
Be slauchter … raiff mutelatioun and oppressioun 1590 Sc. Ant. VIII 86.
Testifeand the parents undirwritten … to be in necessitie be raif of thair gair be thevis(6) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 755 (C).
All thare ryches preciouse … They exponyt in reffe and praye a1500 Henr. Fab. 822 (Bann.).
That samin lyife to lede, In stouth and reif a1570-86 Maitl. F. 342/3.
Quhone … riches is in reif [etc.] … Than sall sorrow sit vpone seill 1572 Bann. Memor. 239.
Giff ony … happnis to make ony ryding in reiff(7) c1490 Irland Asl. MS 34/4.
And … thai may lefully geve in almous bot nocht of reif na stouth bot thow restore it agane a1538 Abell 73a.
It helpit me nocht for it wes of reif(8) 1397 Acts I 208/1.
That na man vse sik destruccons slachtir reif na bryning in tyme tocum 1529 Rec. Earld. Orkney 59.
Quhat reif oppressioun, and extortioun the said James … has usit 1571 Bann. Memor. 161.
What crueltie, reif, hearschipis, … he and his factione hes vsit 1617 Acts IV 537/1.
It sall not be licenced to any hostler to recept ony maisterles men … or vther persounes … vseing stouth or reafe —1596 Dalr. II 345/17.
Sum … bordouris, in vse of reif he sies dryueng a pray of scheip, fra the Inglis bordorispersonified 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 151.
Reif [was] my stewart that cairit of na wrang
b. The act of carrying off, or abducting, (a prisoner taken and held by another).1448 Acts I 351/1.
Ony man beand plaintys of reif of his presoner … sall [etc.]
c. The carrying off, and devouring, of a bird or animal by another bird or animal.(Bird, or beast) of reif, a bird (or animal) of prey.(1) 1494 Loutfut MS 18a.
The wolf is a rauisant best … and for the wodnes of reiff & rapacite he deuouris & voris ony best that he findis 1531 Bell. Boece I xlii.
Of fowlis, sic as leiffis of reif ar sindry kindis in Scotland, as ernis, falconis [etc.](2) c1450-2 Howlat 239 (A).
Thir ar na fowlis of reif nor of richnes [B. rethnas] 1457 Acts II 51/2.
Anentis rukis, crawys and vther foulys of reif c1500 Fyve Bestes 398.
No beist of reif suld in his court remane a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1019.
O cruell Ded, … Thow foull of reif c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. vii 15.
Bot within thai ar as wolues of reif 1533 Boece 90b.
With hundis and rachis chais the dere and beistis of reif 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Schireff.
Quha schuttis with culvering … at … cunning, dowe, herron, or fowle of riefe
3. Rapacity; greedy desire for plunder.See the note at 2 above.?1438 Alex. ii 9607.
Pride, inuy and skarsite, Couatyce, reif and succudry c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xxiii 25.
Bot within ye ar ful of reiff [P. raueyne] and vnclennes 1533 Boece 46b.
Quhare reif is mare estymyit than sincere lawtie(b) c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke xi 39.
Bot that thing that is within of you is full of reeff and wickitnes
4. A particular instance of robbery or spoliation. Also pl.Const. of (the thing stolen, or the place robbed), and without const.(1) c1420 Bute MS fol. 141.
Chalaynge of transgression … And thar thu had arte & part of the felon ref of … to the valw of … doand hym in that felon refe schame and scath 1495 Acta Conc. I 426/2.
For art & part of the reff of ane hors c1500 Justiciary Rec. I 143.
Rauf Ker was put in bill for the refe of the kingis lettres 1501 Acta Conc. III 10.
Becaus the said Bernard was made qwyt of the reff of the sade corne in the justice are of Perth 1508 Reg. Privy S. I 243/1.
A letter of remit … for the ref, oppressioun, or wrang done be thaim … to the constable of Dunde … in taking of ane keling fra the said constable Ib. 253/2. 1511 Ib. 333/2.
That the said Patrikis hed suld be strikin fra his body for the reif and stouth of xx oxen and ky 1568–9 Ib. VI 108/1.
For airt and pairt of the thiftious stouth and reif of certane … nolt 1579 Reg. Privy C. III 237.
The stouth, reif, and awaytaking of lii ky and oxin(2) 1456 Hay I 207/25.
Gif thai lordis of the justice defendis maliciously the ref [etc.] 1531 Carnwath Baron Ct. (S.H.S.) 138.
Of the quhilk reif & deforsment he brak his wand 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 190.
Anent the reif, spulye, ressait and intromissioun of his caussing 1588 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 23 May.
Ypone the quhilk reif & oppressione the said Mariory requirit instrumentis 1596 Dalr. II 132/16. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 72.
Of him qvha is takin be reifers, and escapes. … within the schirefdome quhere the reif is committed(3) 1526–7 Reg. Privy S. I 548/2.
For the reiff, spuilȝeing and herying of the said toun of Towgh 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 47.
The reaff and spoliatioun of ane Dens schipe(4) 1559–60 Soc. Ant. XI 522.
[Gold, etc.] sua put in keping … quhair it suld best eschapit the reif and spulyie of vtheris 1599 Reg. Privy C. VI 44.
That the bipast stouthis and reiffis of … brokin men … be not … ouersene(5) pl. 1442 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 307.
And at gret … reffys wasting of owr liegis & commone & vther mony evyll ar lyk til folow thair vpon 1493 Crim. Trials I i 14.
For ony crimez, offensis, reffis, herschippis, slauchteris, birnyngis, murthir, tresonis, or uthir trespassis quhatsumevir committit or done 1525 St. A. Formulare I 269.
The … murthuris and reyffis that tha committ daylie and nychtlye 1531 Bell. Boece I 20. Id. Livy II 24/25.
Gevand his mynde fra his abhominabil reiffis and slauchteris to … vnbridillit lust 1539 Rec. Earld. Orkney 61. 1575 Digest Justiciary Proc. I 47.
Our realme … now trublit … be diuers stouthis, reiffis [etc.] 1585 Acts III 385/2. 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Iter.
Riefes 1603 Moysie 135.
The haill skeathes and reafes committed be thame … sould be redrest 1611 Reg. Privy C. IX 205.
They not only commit reifs and other villanies, but even [etc.] Ib. 222.
Ailhoussis … ar the cheifest occasioun of the stouthis, reiffis, and pykrie committit … upoun hes majesteis goode subjectis 1616 Ib. X 656. 1635 Justiciary Cases I 245.
For dyuers grit hearschips reafes [etc.] … committit aganis the Laird of Frendraucht 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i xxxiv 7 (1678) 325.
Reiffs
5. In to mak … refe, in sense 2 above. b. To mak (a) refe, to carry out an act of spoliation; ? to make a depredatory raid on (of): cf. 4 above.(1) 14.. Acts I 107/2.
He … that … makis manslachter reff or thyft in othir manis land [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece II 187.
Gif ony thevis of Ingland mak thift or reif within the landis of Scottis [etc.] 1535 Stewart 34454.
Gif thift or reif wes maid vpon the bordour(2) 1456 Hay I 207/16.
The Duk of Savoye gerris spere and inquere straytly quha has maid this ref or distres, and fyndis the doaris and punysis thame … tharfore 1483 Acta Conc. II cxxxi.
[They are] to underly the law for the felone refe made apone our soverane lordis liegis(b) 1570 Leslie 139.
For stancheing of the greit thift and riff made be the thevis of the bordourisb. 1490 Acta Conc. I 168/1.
Gif ony herschipis reffis or spuilȝeis be maid be ony of the saidis rebellis 1531 Bell. Boece I 83.
He nurist opinle … theiffis, to mak reiffis and heirschippis in the cuntre Id. Livy II 147/6.
I say the Veanis … has maid jm sindri reiffis in oure landis 1551 Reg. Privy C. I 119.
Quha … continualie rydis and makis quotidiane reiffis 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 12.
Ane schip … brak besyid Innerwick ladynit full of precious merchandices; and the Erle of Angus servandis maid ane prey and reif thairof and straik the merchandis thairin c1615 Chron. Kings 69.
The Yrlandmen heaffing maid mony grit hairscheppis and reaffis on the border of Galloway [etc.]
