Wiktionary
n. (context historical English) An anti-Ottoman insurgent living in the mountains when Greece was a part of the Ottoman Empire.
Wikipedia
Klephts ( Greek κλέφτης, kléftis, pl. κλέφτες, kléftes, which means "thief" and perhaps originally meant just "brigand") were highwaymen turned self-appointed armatoloi, anti-Ottoman insurgents, and warlike mountain-folk who lived in the countryside when Greece was a part of the Ottoman Empire. They were the descendants of Greeks who retreated into the mountains during the 15th century in order to avoid Ottoman rule. They carried on a continuous war against Ottoman rule and remained active as brigands until the 19th century.
The terms kleptomania and kleptocracy are derived from the same Greek root, κλέπτειν (kléptein), "to steal".
Usage examples of "klepht".
Robin is an idealized bandit, reiver, or Klepht, as in modern Romaic ballads, and his adventures are precisely such as popular fancy everywhere attaches to such popular heroes.
Command my life--in what can the mountain Klepht aid the son of the wealthy Ziani?
Two wrecks before, an Arnaoot, vell known to them as Dmitri of the Evil Eye, a famous Klepht of Korvo, and a Moreot, arrived, bringing with them a child, a bold, spirited, beautiful boy, who, with firmness beyond his years, claimed the protection of the Caloyers, and accused his companions of having carried him off by force from his parents.
The Caloyers refused to give it up, and the Klepht, roused to mad indignation, was now besieging and battering the monastery, to obtain by force this object of his newly-awakened affections.
With assurances of sincere regret for having disturbed them, the Klepht quitted the chapel with his followers, taking his prize with him.
They assembled in a gallant troop, and taking Katusthius with them, hastened to drive the insolent Klephts back to their ruder fastnesses.
The eighteenth-century Klephts used exactly the same tactics to raise the passive peasantry against the Turks.
Robin is an idealized bandit, reiver, or Klepht, as in modern Romaic ballads, and his adventures are precisely such as popular fancy everywhere attaches to such popular heroes.