Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
FORFEIT, v, n. Also forfeet.
I. v. Sc. Law usage: to subject to forfeiture, to confiscate the estates and heritable property of, as a penalty for treason. Now mainly hist. Rare and obs. in Eng. See also Forfault. [fɔr′fit]Sc. 1726 A. Bruce Index Acts Parl. 34:
Children of forfeited Persons, to whom Grants are made, are to be educated in the Protestant Religion.Sc. 1773 Erskine Institute iv. iv. § 26:
The peerage [of Atholl] descended to Mr Murray, son to the attainted person, though he could not connect his propinquity to the Duke, his uncle, otherwise than through his father, who was forfeited.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality xxix.:
With the purpose of forfeiting and fining such men of property whom their principles might deter from joining the royal standard.Sc. 1890 Bell Dict. Law Scot. 468:
In the case of an heir of entail, the forfeiture on conviction of high treason, extends to the descendants of the forfeited person.
II. n. Sc. form forfeet (Edb. 1923 A. G. Leighton Tibbie's Yarns 153), a penalty in the game of forfeits.
