A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
(Schepe-thefe,) Scheipe-theife, n. Also: sheep-theif, sheip-teiff. [S(c)hep(e n. and Thefe n.] One who steals sheep; ? a thieving rascal. — 1604 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 126.
Magnus Wischert hes sclanderit … Osie Scott of stowth saying that he wes ane commoun scheipe theife 1670 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 71 (22 Nov.).
[James … challenged Glen for stealing of the king's cow saying] false sheep theif get ws the king's cow againe 1673 Deerness Baillie Ct. 15 Oct.
The wrong don to him … in calling him a sheip teiff
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"Schepe-thefe n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/schepe_thefe>
