# abigei

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abigei
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

a person who steals or kills animals, especially horses. This is an old word from the 1600s that you will rarely see in modern books.

For teachers: a person who commits the crime of abetting or assisting in the theft or destruction of livestock. An archaic term primarily found in historical legal texts.

## Examples

- The old law punished abigei with heavy fines.
- In the seventeenth century, the term abigei was used to describe those who helped others steal cattle.
- Legal historians note that the term abigei was often used in early modern statutes to distinguish between the principal thief and the secondary accomplice who provided logistical support.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.