vbl. sb. Orig. a technical term in Sc. law. [f. FIRE sb. + RAISING vbl. sb., f. RAISE.] The action or crime of kindling an incendiary fire; arson, incendiarism.
1685. in Lond. Gaz., No. 2032/3. We hereby fully Pardon and Indemnifie them for ever, of all Slaughter, Blood, Mutilation, Fire-raising, burning of Ships.
1754. Erskine, Princ. Sc. Law (1809), 31. The crimes of robbery, rape, murder, and wilful fire-raising (the four pleas of the crown), are said to be reserved to the King’s Court of Justiciary.
1820. Scott, Monast., ix. Doest thou menace the holy Church’s patrimony with waste and fire-raising?
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. xvii. 113. There were indeed outrages, robberies, fireraisings, assassinations.
So Fire-raiser, an incendiary.
1891. Daily News, 1 Dec., 5/3. The exemplary sentences passed … at the Central Criminal Court on two fire-raisers.
