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 sd 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. Ony 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. [Frequent in Scott.]
1881. Blackw. Mag., April, 518. We love the old ballads of stouthrief and blood-feuds.
