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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.

Rub(b)ry, Rub(b)ery, Robry, Robbery, n. Also: rub(b)rie, rub(b)erie, rubré, -ii; roub-, rowbry; robor-, -er(r)-; roober-; robbr- and -i(e, -ye, -é. [ME and e.m.E. roberie (a1200), robberie (c1290), robrie (c1330), OF roberie (late 11th c. in Greimas), AF also roberye (OED), med. L. robaria (c1115 in Latham); Rub v.]

1. The act of committing theft with violence; spoliation, depredation; brigandage; robbery.(a) 14.. Acts I 84*/2.
Gif ony mysdoar duellis in Scotland … has mysdone by rubry … thift or manslauchter c1475 Wall. iv 44.
Off sic rubry war suffisance to ces 1515 Douglas Corr. 70.
The pepyll of this realme ar sa oppressyt … by thevys, rubry, and other extortiones that [etc.] 1533 Boece 125b.
Eftirwart followit ithand iupartyis and maist in sorte of rubry in woddis and mossis 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 194.
The vnmercifull rubrie and oppressioun committit vpoun the saidis personis be the said men of weir, it wald maid ane stane hartit man to greit and bevail 1578–9 Reg. Privy C. III 80.
This greit innocent bluidsheid and oppin avowit rubbrie in this his cuntrie 1596 Dalr. II 165/21.
Sum that tha war the only authoris of thift, rubrie and rinning of forrayis 1598–9 Reg. Privy C. V 769.
[The] violent reiff and rubry [committed by him](b) c1475 Wall. ix 222.
Her I gyff our roubry for euirmar 1542 Crawford Mun. Invent. II 52.
[Agreement] for stanchin rowbry in the cuntre and rest to be had thairintill(c) 1456 Hay II 88/26.
And unlautee engenderis outhir ref, stouth, pillery or rubbery c1520-c1535 Nisbet Philippians ii 6.
That quhen he was in the forme of God, demyt nocht rubberie [L. rapinam; P. raueyn], that him self war euen to God 1531 Bell. Boece I 272.
He kest him to invad the cuntre, mair be rubbery than be honest weir 1533 Boece 55.
He defendit rubery, slauchter, hereschip and maist of all commoun thift Ib. 189b.
He returnit to the Ilis to mak ruberie at his plesere 1562-3 Winȝet I 106/15.
Rubberie … nocht only of monasteriis quhilkis ȝe imaginat to hef bene idolatrical, bot also of … paroche kirkis 1566 Reg. Privy S. V ii 202/2.
Inclynit to all wickitnes, rubberie, piracie, pilleing and uthir enormiteis on the sey 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 61.
Ȝit distrusting to prevaill be trew manheid, thay fall to rubberie 1594 Charteris Wall. Pref. 174.
Constrainit to go to the sey, quhair he usit greit rubberie and cruelty(d) c1500 Barounis Lawis fol. 10.
In the court of robory [Quon. Attach. (Skene c. 13) In the schiref court anent roborie] 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 6.
Manslauchter, roborie … and all other trespasses 1615 Misc. Maitl. C. II 178.
Roberrie 1639 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 214.
Ane nightlie watche quhairby everie inhabitant … may be frie and safe from roborie(e) 1596 Dalr. II 83/30.
He had left taknes quhair he had beine in robrie, spoylȝie, and waisting of the kirkes 1664 Old Ross-shire II 16.
Robri 1685 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XI 47.
Tuo vaging persones who have been committing robry and hemmsucken(f) c1575 Balfour Pract. 508.
The four pointis of the crown [are] … murther, … burning, robberie or reif, and ravisching … of women a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 540.
Fair shifts na robberie 1673 Argyll Justic. Rec. I 30.
Accused … for the crime of theift robberie and hamesuckine contained in his dittay 1678 Dunkeld Presb. I 213.
That I have riotously dispossessed him of his right and possession, that I am manifestly guilty of theft, or, at least, robbery(g) 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 70.
They that commits any pitty roobery or theifte

b. ? (A time of) depredation and deprivation. 1570 Misc. Bann. C. I 49*.
Better it is to content ourselfis with him of quhais modestie we have rycht guid experience, baith in welthe and rubre [v.r. (supra p. 42) truble]

2. A particular instance of 1 above, an act of depredation or brigandage.(a) c1420 Wynt. vii 2730 (W).
This Alexander … chastyit rubbryis and rewryis 1523 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 185.
Thar was throw misordour … divers rubryis and spulȝeis committit 1527 Ib. 258.
[Angus is determined] to refrene, dant, and stanche sic thevis, rubbryis and mischevis 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 42.
Ansuer was gevin be Britonis, schewing thame neuer inhantid with sik corruppit dedis of thift or rubberris 1587 Reg. Privy C. IV 195.
[The king and council] considering the monyfauld heirschippis, spoilis, and oppin rubbaries committit be … pyrattis 1605 Ib. VII 130.
Rubreis 1651 Milne-Home MSS 102.
Be hir ladyship for ane rubrii cumitit upon Foulldham Muir(b) c1575 Balfour Pract. 511.
Declarand and makand manifest the robberie committit aganis him to the baron c1590 Fowler II 116/22.
Which geveth … grond to infinit murders and robberyeis 1610 Reg. Privy C. IX 19.
[They] haveing keipit the seyis this lang tyme bigane committing divers piracyis and robreis 1616 Ib. X 656. 1661 Bk. Arran II 104.
The violent wrongous and masterfull depradation and roberie after specifit committed be the saids defenders 1668 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II 533.
A militia in the northern shyres … would conduce much … for restraining and crubing of robries 1671–2 Lauder Jrnl. 211.
A forrest … wheirin their was many robbries and murders committed

3. Goods seized by robbery; stolen goods; swag. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 85¹.
That is, gif he [sc. a thief] is takin … with the fang, or in hand hauand thift or roborie