Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1707, 1773, 1845-1927
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DEFORCE, v. Sc. law: to prevent by force an officer of the law (or body of officials) from carrying out his duty. Vbl.n. deforcing.Sc. 1903 J. Erskine Princ. Law Scot. iv. iv. 16:
The requisites of the crime [of deforcement] are that the act or acts must be forcible . . . that the person deforced was a proper executor of the warrant.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xviii.:
I noo claim the protection o' the shirra, the Presbytery bein' deforc't in its duty.m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood xvi.:
“Wad ye deforce the session?” Mirehope shouted.Hdg. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 II. 380:
Deforcing sheriff-officers.Rnf. 1707 W. Hector Judicial Rec. (1876) 70:
But also to be found to have Committed ane violent deed of Deforcing of the said Matthew Crauford.
Hence deforcer, deforcement.Sc. 1773 Erskine Instit. iv. iv. 34:
The statute 1592 requires blood to be spilt in the deforcement, in order to found an action against the deforcer.Ayr. 1868 J. K. Hunter Artist's Life 69:
Orr was . . . in jail for the deforcement of the gaugers.
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"Deforce v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/deforce>
