Sc. and north. Obs. Forms: 4 stulth, stulþ, 5 stouth, stoutht, stuth, 6 stouith, 6, 9 stowth. [Northern ME. stulþ, a. ON. stulþ-r (Icel. stulð-r, stuld-r), f. OTeut. *stul- ablaut-var. of *stel-: see STEAL v.]
1. Theft. Often coupled with reif: cf. STOUTHREIF.
c. 1300. Cursor M., 28461. Stulth o mete and drink did i.
1429. in Cal. Doc. rel. Scot. (1888), 405. Gif … he knew never of the stoutht of the hale gude no[r] of that pert that is fundin with him.
1456. Sir G. Hay, Gov. Princes, Wks. (S.T.S.), II. 88. Unlautee engenderis outhir ref, stouth, pillery or rubbery.
1497. Reg. Privy Seal Scot., I. 12/1. For the reif and stuth of the gudis and insicht being in the sammyn.
1530. Lyndesay, Test. Papyngo, 529. Quhat stouith, quhat raif, quhat murther, & myschance!
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), III. 101. With reif and stouth, spulȝe and oppressioun.
1589–90. Reg. Privy Council Scot., iv. 453. Manifest reiffis and stouthis committit upoun his Hienes peceable and gude subjectis.
1610. Extracts Aberd. Reg. (1848), II. 304. The frequent pykrie and stouthis in the cuntrie.
1652. in Cromwellian Union (S.H.S., 1902), 61. The vnsufferable robberies and stouthis daylie committit on both sydes of the border.
1701. in W. R. Mackintosh, Cur. Incid. Rec. Kirkwall (1892), 110. The crymes of thift, reiff, stouth, and ressate of thift are punishable by death.
1791. Learmont, Poems 46 (E.D.D.). Great geer by stouth and rief, He’s filcht frae mony Indian chief.
2. Stealth, clandestine transaction. (Jam.)
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XII. Prol. 212. Sum rownys to hys fallow, thame betwene, Hys mery stouth and pastans lait ȝistrene.
