pilferyn.

1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan Bk. Fayttes of Armes i. xiv, sig. Cij^v They toke all the proyes as pylfreys and riche harnoys gold siluer and plate & cast all to gyder in the said ryuere.

1589 T. Nashe To Students in R. Greene Menaphon Epist. sig. xx^v The Italionate pen, that of a packet of pilfries, affoordeth the presse a pamphlet or two in an age.

1626 T. Hawkins tr. N. Caussin Holy Court I. 301 As one should pull a pilfry out of a theeues coffer.

1678 J. Leanerd Rambling Justice ii. 15 A plump and lovely Goose, or dainty Sow pig..they call 'em Vanities and trifling Pilfries, oh they are the Wittiest Thieves.

1782 T. Simes Portable Mil. Libr. IV. 146 If any [soldier] be found with any pilfery, or to have taken any man's cattle or goods, it shall be lawful for the country people to lay hands upon them.

a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. ccvi To vacabondy and other that lokyd for pylfry & ryfflynge.

1577 W. Harrison Hist. Descr. Islande Brit. iii. v. f. 107/2, in R. Holinshed Chron. I What notable roberies, pilferies, murders..they doe vse..I nede not to rehearse.

1633 R. Plumleigh Let. 12 Oct. in Earl of Strafforde's Lett. & Dispatches (1739) I. 122 Had they not been nipped in the Bud, they would have done more Pilferies upon this Coast than all the Rabble of Biscay.

1789 Solitary Castle I. 147 He had instructed a chosen troop in the noble science of plunder and pilfery.

1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 6^v To folow profit earnestly, but medle not with pilfery.

1579–80 T. North tr. Plutarch Lives (1595) 1069 Lucius Pella..was accused and conuicted of robbery, and pilferie in his office.

1628 R. Le Grys tr. J. Barclay Argenis ii. 148 A seruant had done a pilfery; he fled, and was pursued by his Master.

1630 J. Taylor Arrant Thiefe in Wks. 122 Common Burglaries, Pick-pockets, Highway-Thieues, and Pilferies, And all that thus felloniously doe Thieue.

1720 J. Strype Stow's Surv. of London (rev. ed.) I. ii. ii. 10/1 For the restraining of which Naughtiness and Pilferies, the said John had again purchased it.

1797 D. Hume Comm. Laws Scotl. I. ii. 108 A mere pilfery, or less considerable theft.

1875 Ladies' Repository Apr. 309/1 His talons are too strong to permit the escape of his prey by unaided means or the pilfery of an enemy.

2001 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 9 Sept. 15/1 I believe it was carelessness that allowed me to catch you in the act of pilfery.