ˈstouthreif Sc. Obs. exc. arch.
Also 5 stowthrefe, 5–7 stouthreif, 6 stouthe reif, stowth reif, pl. stouthisreiffis, 7, 9 stouth-rife, 9 stouthreef, -rief.
[f. stouth + reif; perh. altered from stouth and reif.]
Theft with violence; robbery.
| 1493 in Pitcairn Crim. Trials I. *15 For Stouthreif of a bonnet & quhyngare from the s{supd} Robert. 1493 Reg. Privy Seal Scot. I. 5/1 For the stowthrefe of thre oxin and kye fra the larde of Howmend. 1566 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 489 Crymes of slauchtir, stowth reif, thift, resset of thift. a 1578 Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 177 Everie lord..was suorne..to cause stouthe reif and slaughter to be punished. 1578 Extracts Burgh Rec. Edin. (1882) IV. 91 Heivylie oppressit be the stouthisreiffis and vtheris enormiteis of the thevis. 1587 Sc. Acts Jas. VI (1814) III. 451/1 Only landit men..convict of þe crymes of commoun thift resett of thift or stouth reiff..sall incur the cryme and pane of tressoun. 1678 Sir G. Mackenzie Crim. Laws Scot. i. xix. §v. (1699) 99 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. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth ii, Thou canst frame locks and bars to defend the property of the weak against the stouthrief and oppression of the strong. [Frequently in Scott.] 1881 Blackw. Mag. Apr. 518 We love the old ballads of stouthrief and blood-feuds. |