▪ I. reif Chiefly Sc.
(riːf)
Forms: 1 réaf, réof, 3 ræf, reue, 5 ref, 5–6 reiff, 6 rieff, reife, reyf, raif, reafe, 7 reaf, 5– reif.
[Common W.Germ.: OE. réaf = OFris. râf, OS. -rôf (Du. roof), MLG. rôf (hence Sw. rof, Da. rov), OHG. roub, roup (G. raub):—OTeut. *rauƀo{supm}: see reave v. The precise relationship of the OE. word to reaf, garment, is not certain.]
† 1. That which is taken by force or robbery; spoil, plunder, booty. Obs.
| c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Luke xi. 22 Alla woepeno his ᵹenimeð..& reafo [L. spolia] his todælde. c 1000 Ags. Ps. (Th.) cxviii. 162 Se þe beorna reaf maniᵹe [L. spolia multa] meteð. c 1205 Lay. 8612 [We scullen] ȝemen þes fehtes..& læten þa ræf liggen. 1375 Barbour Bruce v. 118 The King gert be departit then All haill the reif amang his men. a 1557 Diurn. Occurr. (Bannatyne Cl.) 12 The erle of Angus servandis maid ane prey and reif thairof. |
2. The act or practice of robbery; spoliation; reavery. Obs. exc. arch.
| a 1250 Owl & Night. 458 (Cotton), Ich fare hom & nime leue, Ne recche ich noȝt of winteres reue [Jesus MS. teone]. c 1400 Apol. Loll. 12 For þe sacrilege þat þei do in reif of goodis. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 134 Injure or violence.., as ar thift, ref, or sik thingis. c 1470 Henry Wallace xi. 840 Throuch cowatice gud Alexander was lost; And Julius als, for all his reiff and bost. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems ix. 121, I synnit als in reif and in oppressioun, In wranguss gudis taking and posseding. 1546 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 34 All maner of reiffis, spulȝeis, oppressionis, slauchteris, allegit to haue bene committit. 1585 Montgomerie Sonn. xiv. 14 Let richt, not reif, my pensioun bring agane. 1644 Articles Sc. Commiss. in Rushw. Hist. Coll. iii. (1692) I. 366 Whatsoever Thefts, Reifs, Hardships, Oppressions,..or Murther done or committed by them. 1786 Burns To James Smith i, The sleest, pawkie thief, That e'er attempted stealth or rief. 1815 Scott Guy M. iii, Saint Michael and his spear, Keep the house frae reif and wear. |
† b. of reif, esp. Sc. in fowl of reif, bird of prey or plunder. Obs.
| c 1400 Apol. Loll. 104 Þei are maad desseyuable ypocritis, & lurkyng woluis of ref under a schepis flees. c 1450 Holland Howlat 656 Thus assemblit..All that war fowlis of reif. 1457 Sc. Acts Jas. II, c. 32 (1814) II. 51/2 Anentis rukis, crawys and vþer foulys of reif. |
▪ II. reif, reifar, -er, reiffing
obs. Sc. ff. reave v.1, reeve n.1, reaver, reaving.