Definition of "reif"

The opposition, which, as we shall see, was headed by Archbishop Beaton, protested against the "daily slaughters, murders, reifs, thefts, depredations, and heavy attemptates, that are daily and hourly committed within this realm in fault of justice."

c. 1524, a letter, recorded in The History of Scotland (John Hill Burton, 1873), volume 3, page 109

[…] meaning to live by reif of other mennes goodes, wherein they have no manner of propertie.

c. 1577-1587, Raphael Holinshed, Chronicles

[…] the lawless thieves, limmers, and broken men of the Highlands, had been in fellowship together by reason of their surnames for the committing of divers thefts, reifs, and herships.

1814, Walter Scott, Waverley

In the year 1567, in the first Parliament of James VI., an important Act was passed, entitled "Anent Theft and Receipt of Theft, Taking of Prisoners by Thieves, or Bands for Ransoms, and Punishment of the same." It relates especially to the […] "other inhabitants of the remanent Shires of the Realm," bearing that it is not unknown of the continual theft, reif, and oppression committed within the bounds of the said Sheriffdoms, by […] thieves and "broken men" [who] commit daily "thefts, reifs, herschips, murders, and fire raisings" upon the peaceable subjects of the country.

1898, Robert Borland, Border Raids and Reivers, page 42