Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
ROGUE, n. Also Sc. dim. forms roguie, roggie (Rnf. 1804 R. Tannahill Poems (1900) 243; Edb. 1856 J. Ballantine Poems 186).
Sc. comb. rogue-money, a popular name for a tax levied in counties and burghs for the expenses of arrest and detention of criminals, authorised by Act of Parliament in 1725 and abolished in 1868, though the name survived arch. in various public accounts till recent times.Sc. 1750 in A. Lang Highl. Scot. (1898) 150:
That to Answer the Expence of such prosecutions Rogue money be imposed upon the Respective Shires as usual.Ags. 1774 Arbroath T.C. Minutes MS. (19 May):
Two pounds five shillings & eight pence Sterling Charged in the accompt of Incidents against the Town said to be for maintenance of James Milne who was prosecuted as a Thief before the Sheriff in this place, at the instance of the Fiscal of the County, which sum the Committee think ought not to be Charged against the Town, But recovered from the Rogue Money of the County.Sh. 1811 J. Shirreff Agric. Sh. 18:
The tenant also pays one half the cess or land-tax, and rogue-money.Sc. 1868 Acts 31 & 32 Vict. c. 82 Title:
An Act to abolish the Power of levying the Assessment known as “Rogue Money”, and in lieu thereof to confer on the Commissioners of Supply of Counties in Scotland the Powers of levying a “County General Assessment”.Sc. 1942 J. E. Shaw Local Govt. 9:
By Act of 11 George I c. 25 the freeholders were authorised to levy an assessment to defray the cost of apprehending criminals, and of the subsisting of them in prison until prosecution. This was commonly known as the “rogue money” fund.
