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rief - What does it mean?

Definition of 'rief'

English

Noun

(-)
  • (robbery).
  • * 1567 July 19, Proclamation by the Earl of Bedford'', quoted in ''Calendar of State Papers, foreign series, of the Reign of Elizabeth, 1566-8 (1871), volume 10:
  • [The earl] commands all within his charge to abstain from reiving or stealing from the subjects of Scotland. For such riefs as have been made upon them, the Queen minds to have the same mended by justice.
  • * 1822 , Alexander Peterkin, Notes on Orkney and Zetland , page 61:
  • here the record is quite defaced and worn out, insomuch that only the words of the charge, viz. extortions, insolvencies, riefs , and oppressions, can be discovered
  • * (rfdate) James Taylor, The Pictorial History of Scotland , volume 2, page 133:
  • Murders, riefs , and spoliations became more common on the Borders after this raid than they had ever been before.

    References

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    Similar to 'rief'

    roof, ref, ruff, reef, riff, reif, reaf, raff, rowf