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Reive is a Scots language word meaning to plunder or to rob, also spelt Reave in English, which comes from the Old English reafian.
In the History of Scotland the word reive has been used particularly to refer to the theft of livestock, especially cattle. The Border reivers were groups of raiders in the Scottish Borders with a reputation for forays into the north of England.
The Scottish Highlands clans carried out reiving between clans as the creach, a rite of passage for groups of young men often including the future chieftain, but by the 17th century this had declined and most reiving was the spreidh where up to 10 men raided the adjoining Lowlands, the livestock taken usually being recoverable on payment of tascal (information money) and guarantee of no prosecution.
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