† scaffery Sc. Obs.
Also 6 skafrie, skaif(f)ry, 7 scafferie.
[f. scaff v.1 or scaffer: see -ery.]
Extortion; extortionate taking of perquisites.
| 1555 Sc. Acts Mary (1814) II. 500/1 The wemen perturbatouris for skafrie of money or otherwyse salbe [etc.]. 1561 Aberd. Reg. (1844) I. 335 Na skaiffry, sic as sampill and scheit schakin, to be tane thairof. 1606 Act of Council in Sc. Acts Jas. VI (1816) IV. 616/2 The with-gait and libertie grantit vnto Suche shamefull scafferie and extortioun. 1634 Reg. Privy Council Scot. Ser. ii. (1904) V. 186 For componing..with nombers of thame and taking of compositions frome thame..quilk is a foule coosening scafferie. a 1651 Calderwood Hist. Kirk Scot. (Wodrow Soc.) III. 662 Lyke as the poorer sort in the burrowes sould not have escaped the importable scafferie intended. |