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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†DEPREDATION, n. Sc. law: “the offence of driving away numbers of cattle or other bestial, by the masterful force of armed persons. This crime, although now almost unknown in this country, was at one time very prevalent. The punishment was capital” (Sc. 1890 Bell Dict. Law Scot. 317; also 1797 D. Hume Commentaries 148, 1946 A. D. Gibb Legal Terms 28, obs.).

[Fr. déprédation, Lat. depraedatio, pillage, plundering.]

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