Abigeatus

A particular kind of larceny, which is committed not by taking and carrying away the property from one place to another, but by driving a living thing away with an intention of feloniously appropriating the same. ABIGEATUS (Lat.) In the civil law. The offense of stealing or driving away cattle.

Dig. 47, 14, 2.

See "Abigeus." ABIGEUS {li Sit. abigere). One who steals cattle in numbers. This is the common word used to denote a stealer of cattle in large numbers, which latter circumstance distinguishes the abigeus from the /ttr, who was simply a thief. He who steals a single animal may be called fur; he who steals a flock or herd is an abigeus- The word is derived from a Mgere, to lead or drive away, and is the same in signification as abactor, abigeatores, abigatores, abigei.

Du Cange; Guyot, Rep. Univ.; 4 Bl. Comm. 239.

A distinction is also taken by some writers depending upon the place whence the cattle are taken; thus, one who takes cattle from a stable is called fur. Calv. Lex, "Abigei."