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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Thift-bute, n. Also: thifte-, thyft-, theift-, thieft-, thieeft-, theft-, -but, -bot(e, -boot, theifebot. [ME and e.m.E. thefbote (a1284), 17th c. Eng. theeftboot; Thift n. (Thef(e n.) and Bute n.¹ 2.] A bribe given by a thief to secure him from prosecution or punishment; the taking of such a bribe.(a) 14.. Acts I 109/2.
That nane tak meyd of a theyff [or thyftbute] and quha sa dois and thar apon be convickyt [etc.] … he sal ȝeld to the king the meyd … gif he that tuk the thyftbute hes nocht to pay he sal be punyst be sar prisounyng 14.. Acts I 342/1.
Thiftbute 1509 Justiciary Rec. (Reg. H.) II 145.
Thift but 1515 Acts II 282/2.
Gif this complenar efter that he haue attachit this theif or deliuerit him as said is wald concord with the said theif and tak thiftbute and put him fra the law in that caice he sall vnderly the law 1530 Crim. Trials I i 144.
[To underly the law for setting to liberty a thief called Stobhill out of his prison after having taken] thift-bute [from him] 1563 Crim. Trials I i 427.
[Sir William Bruce of Erlishall … to underly the law] for taking of thift-bute and compositioune fra Andro Cusnye ane theif 1593 Acts IV 22/2.
Thiftebute(b) 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 21a, b.
Na man sall take theifebot for theift. … And he quha gaue the theiftbote sall suffer the like judgment as ane proven theif. And gif he quha receaved the theiftbote [etc.](c) 1436 Acts (1597) i 22b.
Of thieeft-bute … it is statute … that nouther lord of regalitie, schireffe, barronne, nor vtheris, sell onie thiefe, or fine with him of thieftdome done, nor to be done 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Bote.
Thieft-bote, is quhen ony man agries with ane thiefe, & puttis him fra the law 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. (Latin) ii 115.
Vergelt, id est, Thieft-bute furis, est 30 vacca & vna juvenca(d) 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i xx 1 (1699) 106.
Theft-boot is committed by securing a thief against the punishment due by law 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i xx 1 (1699) 107.
Angus Mackintosh, being pursued by the Sheriff-Depute of Inverness, for theft boot, as he who had componed with a thief who had stolen some meal from him; the Lords of Session did advocat this pursuit to themselves 1687 Fountainhall Decis. I 477.
Allan and Grierson … had componed with him and each of them had taken from him a bond of £1000 Scots.—This was threatened against them as theft-boot; whereas it was their own goods, and they had not then a full discovery and probation, as they have now 1686 Mackenzie Observ. (1687) 30.
It was lately doubted, whether theft-boot, which is the transacting with thieves, by a judge, for freeing them from punishment, be in desuetude; and it was found a crime yet punishable