Place-Name Glossary
This is a glossary of Scots words which are used in place-names. Each entry gives the meaning of the word, alongside linguistic notes (discussed below) and modern and historical examples of the word in actual place-names in Scotland.
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| Modern Form | Older Scots Form | Etymology | PoS  | Definition | Modern Examples | Historical Evidence | SND Link | DOST Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| wast, west | west, wast | OE west | a | situated in, or belonging to, the west; westerly | West Craigs (West Lothian); West Barns (East Lothian); West Inch (Aberdeenshire); Westraw (South Lanarkshire); West Grange (Stirling); West Haven (Aberdeenshire); Westhill (Inverness) | Westfulhope 1165-1214; Westlillisclive 1214-49; Westfeld 1294; Wasthall 1544 | wast adj; S2 wast adj | west, wast adj | See also DOST west side n and DOST west end n |
| waster, wester | wester | OE westerra | a | western, lying to the west; the more westerly of two places (in contrast with easter) | Wester Hailes (Edinburgh); Westerton (Angus, Glasgow); Wester Ross (Ross and Cromarty); Westerwood (Dunbartonshire); Wester Inshes (Inverness); Wester Pitlour (Fife); Wester Causewayend (Midlothian) | Westercaledoure 1170-72; Westircarne 13thC; Wastirker 1309; Vaster Leochel 1524-25 | waster a | wester a; ouster a | |
| watery | wattiry | OE wæterig | a | full of water, well watered, watery | Easter Watery Knowe (Angus); Wester Watery Knowe (Angus); Wateryslack (Aberdeenshire); Waterybutts (Perthshire) | Wattridike c1230; Watryraw 1405; Wetterybuttis 1567; Watrielawes 1664 | water n; S1 water n; S2 water n | wattiry, wat(t)(e)ry adj | |
| weet, wat | weit | OE wǣt, ON vátr | a | wet, boggy, waterlogged | Weetfoot Bog (Berwickshire); Weetfit (Fife); Wetlands (Aberdeenshire); Wetshaw (Kincardineshire); Witholm (Midlothian) | Weteflatwel 1300-31; Weitschaw 1540; Weitlandis 1552-3; Vitfute 1567; Weetlands 1687 | weet adj; S2 weet adj; wat adj | weit adj | |
| whinnie | whinnie | ME whinny | a | covered with whins | Whinnieliggate (Kirkcudbrightshire); Whinnyfold (Aberdeenshire); Whinny Hill (Edinburgh); Whinnie Knowes (Wigtownshire); Whinnyhall (Fife); Whinnydrums (Angus); Whinny Brae (Midlothian); Whinnyrig (Dumfriesshire) | Whinnie-Know 1652; Whinnie Grain 1700; the whinnie park 1715; Whinny Hill 1896 | whin n2 | whinnie adj | |
| white, fite | quhite | OE hwīt | a | white; (of arable land) fallow, unploughed; (of hill land) covered with bent grass rather than bracken or heather | Whitelinks (Aberdeenshire); Whiteinch (Glasgow); Whitebaulks (West Lothian); Whitehill (Glasgow, Wigtownshire); Whitekirk (East Lothian); Whitehill (Argyllshire); Whitefaulds (Ayrshire); White Craig (Stirlingshire) | Wythelawe1147-52; Vithemer c1150; Witehou c1165; Whiteslade 1165-85; Whiteshopes c1200 | white adj; S1 white adj; S2 white adj; fite adj; S1 fite adj | whit(e, whyt adj; quhite adj; fyte a | |
| windy | wyndy | OE windig | a | exposed to the wind, frequently windy | Windyhill (Dunbartonshire); Windyrise (Ayrshire); Windie Edge (North Lanarkshire); Windyshields (South Lanarkshire); Windy Yett (Stirlingshire); Windywa's (West Lothian); Windy Mill (Angus); Windydoors (Midlothian) | Windeshoure 1165-1214; windilawes 1260-8; Windiduris 13thC; Wynderigz 1327-28; Wyndiduris 1456; Wyndeedge 1561 | windy adj | wyndy, -ie adj | |
| seggy | segy | ME seggy | adj | sedgy, covered in or bordered with sedge or sedges; (marshy) | Seggieden (Angus, Fife); Seggiecrook (Banffshire); Seggy Neuk (Kirkcudbrightshire); Seggiehill (Fife); Seggy Gut (Kirkcudbrightshire) | Segyden 12thC; Seggymir 1302; Seggywellisheuid c1318; Segidene 1466 | seg n1; seggy adj | seg(g)y adj | |
| aik | ake | OE āc | n | oak, an oak tree | Aikrig (Dumfriesshire); Oakwood (Selkirkshire); Oakbank (Midlothian); Oakfield (Fife) | Akedene c1204; Aikwod 1567-68; Aikrig 1662; Oak Wood 1684 | aik n; S2 aik n; oak n | ake, aik n; ADDS ake, aik n; (oke) ock(e n | |
| air, ayre, ire | ayr | ON eyrr | n | a gravelly beach, a gravel bank, a bed of gravel | Ayre of Breiwick (Shetland); Woodcock Air (Dumfriesshire); Ayre of Deepdale (Shetland); Ayre of Cara (Orkney); Ayre Dyke (Shetland); Ayre of Westermill (Orkney) | Wodecok Heyr 1333-34; Wodecokheir 1360; the ayr of Kyrkwall 1539; Stour-air 1809 | air n4; ire n2 | ayr n | |
| bank | bank | ON bakki, *banki, ME banke | n | a bank, a river bank; a raised shelf or ridge of ground; steep cliffs or precipitous rocks (along the coast); a hill slope; a foot-path or walk; the place in a moss from which peats are cut; the boundary line of a farm | Clydebank (Dunbartonshire); Bankfoot (Perthshire); Scrogbank (Selkirkshire); Meadowbank (Edinburgh); Springbank (Wigtownshire); Bankend (Dumfriesshire); Greenbank (Aberdeenshire); Nessbank (Inverness) | Byrkebanke 13thC; Brerybankes 1367; Bankhede 1519; Bankend 1546 | bank n2, S1 bank n2, bakk n1 | bank n1 | |
| bent | bent | OE beonet | n | a strong coarse variety of grass of a reedy or rush-like character (found on moorland or links); a place where such grass grows; a sandy hillock or a stretch of open ground covered with bent grass; a (grassy) slope or hillside | Benthead (Ayrshire, West Lothian); Gullane Bents (East Lothian); Bentfoot (North Lanarkshire); The Bents (West Lothian); White Bents (Angus) | The Bentis 1586; Bents of Balruddie 1662; Broadbents 1773; Southbent 1755 | bent n1; S1 bent n1; bent n2 | bent n | |
| bern | bern, barn | OE berern | n | a barn | Barnhill (Glasgow, Inverness) Kingsbarns (Fife); West Barns (East Lothian); Barnhead (Angus); Barnton (Edinburgh); Barn Hills (Wigtownshire); Barns Ness (East Lothian); Barns of Craig (Angus) | Northbernis 1328; Suthbarne 1373; Berntoun 1390-1406; le Barnis 1490; bornestede 1560 | S1 bern n2; S2 bern n2 | bern n1; barn, barne n; ADDS barn n; born(e n | |
| biggin, bigging | bigging, byggyng | ME bigging | n | a building, a cottage; a cluster of houses, a hamlet | Newbigging (Abderdeenshire, Angus, Dumfriesshire, Fife, Kincardineshire, Midlothian, Morayshire, Roxburghshire, South Lanarkshire, West Lothian); Lower Bigging(s) Upper Bigging(s) (Orkney) | Newbigginghe 1153; Neubiggyng 1315; Shirrefbyggyng 1374; Neubiging 1569 | biggin(g), biggen', biggan n2; S2 biggin(g) n2 | biggin(g, byggyn(g n | |
| bog | bog, boig | Gael bog, bogach | n | a bog, a mire | Bogton (North Lanarskhire); Bogside (Stirlingshire); Bogwells (Fife); Boghead (Dunbartonshire); Bogtown (Stirlingshire); Bogleys (Fife); Boghall (Angus) | Harebogge 1359; Blakeboggys 1359; Lochlebogsyd 1374; bogside 1417; Boighaw 1478 | bog, boag n3 | bog n; ADDS bog n | |
| bourtree | bourtre | ME burtre | n | the elder tree | Bourtreebush (Angus); Bourtrees (Ayrshire); Bourtreehill North, Bourtreehill South (Ayrshire); Bourtree Bush Park (West Lothian); Bourtreebuss (Fife) | Burtrees c1320; Bourtriehill 1590; Bourtrees 1662; Bourtrie-mailing 1663 | bourtree n; S2 bourtree n | bourtré, bowtré n | see also SND bour n |
| brae | bra, bray | ON brá, ME bra | n | the steep or sloping bank of a river or lake or seashore, a steep slope rising from water; a bank or stretch of ground rising with a fairly steep slope, the face of a hill; a road which has a steep gradient; an upland, mountainous district | Braes of Enzie (Morayshire); Stephen's Brae (Inverness); Ethie Brae (Perthshire); Pan Braes (West Lothian); Braehead (Renfrewshire); Links Brae (West Lothian); Brae of Yetts (Dunbartonshire); Willowbrae (Edinburgh); Braeside (Stirling) | le Bra de Bochquhopill 1451; bra of Cammys 1528; Hammildone bray 1556; bra of Mar 1587; South Bray 1592 | brae, bray(e), brea n1; S1 brae n1; S2 brae n2 | bra, bray, brae n | See also DOST bra-hede n |
| breckan, brechan | brakan | ME braken | n | bracken | Breckonside (Dumfriesshire); Breconrae (Dumfriesshire); Brackenhirst (North Lanarkshire); Brekenrig (Dumfriesshire); Bracken Falls (Wigtownshire); Brackenleys (Stirlingshire); Breconside (Kirkcudbrightshire); Breckenshank (Dumfriesshire) | Brakanwra c1270; Brakenrig 1428; Brakanhirst 1475; Brakanrig 1504 | brachan, brachen, brechan n; bracken n; breckan, brecken n | brakan, braikane n1 | |
| brig, brigg | brig | OE brycg, ON bryggja | n | a bridge; a reef, a long low ridge of sea-rocks; a large flat stone, a flagstone | Blackbriggs (Ayrshire, Kirkcudbrightshire); Birgham (Berwickshire); Gorebridge (Edinburgh); The Brig o Ballater; (Abderdeenshire); Brighouse (Kirkcudbrightshire); Brig o' Doon (Ayrshire); Fisherbriggs (Aberdeenshire); Briggait (Glasgow); Brigstanes (Kincardineshire); Stonebriggs (Aberdeenshire) | Prestesbrige c1150; Hatherbrig c1190; Risibrigg c1240; Briggate c1266; Brighous 1337; Bryghend 1359 | brig n1; S1 brig n1; S2 brig n1 | brig, bryg n | |
| brume, broom | brume, brome | OE brōm | n | the plant broom, bushes or stretches of broom | Broompark Farm (Glasgow); Broomhill (Ross and Cromarty); Broomhouse (East Lothian, Edinburgh, Roxburghshire); Broomridge (Stirling); Broomhall (Fife); Broomlands (Dumfriesshire, Midlothian, Roxburghshire); Broomknowes (Ayrshire) | Brumcrok c.1300; Bruymdyk 1490; Bromeparkis 1556; brumecroft c1567 | brume, brim n; S1 brume n; breem, breme n1; broom n1 | brume n; brome, browme n | |
| burn | burn | OE burna | n | a brook or stream; water (from a fountain or well) | Blackburn (West Lothian); Springburn (Glasgow); Netherburn (South Lanarkshire); Burn of Cruan (Orkney); Den Burn (Aberdeenshire); Burnbank (North Lanarkshire); Millburn (Inverness); Burn of Whilk (Caithness); Dryburn (Morayshire); Burnside (Fife); Burnfoot (Wigtownshire) | Merburne c1170; Triernburn c1200; Bradestrothirburne c1220; Kyrkeburne 1229; le Burnhedis 1505; Burneside 1548 | burn n; S1 burn n; S2 burn n | burn n | See also SND brin n1 |
| cairter | carter, karter | ME cartare | n | a carter | Carterhaugh (Angus, Selkirkshire); Carter Bar (Roxburghshire); Carterhope Burn (Peeblesshire); Carter Fell (Roxburghshire) | Carterford c1250; Cartergate c1250; Cartarehauch 1489-90; Carteryards 1657 | cairter n | cartar(e, carter n1; karter, kairter, n | See also SND S1 cadger n |
| carse | kerse, cars | uncertain | n | low and fertile land along the bank of a river | Carse of Gowrie (Perthshire); The Carse (Inverness); Kinneil Kerse (West Lothian); Carse of Raddery (Ross and Cromarty); Carse Knowe (West Lothian); Kerse (Ayrshire); East Kerse Mains (West Lothian); Carsethorn (Kirkcudbright); Carseburn (Angus) | Cars 1292; Ferycars 1359; Cars de Buthkener 1359; Kars 1390; Kers 1392; Kerse de Kambus 1451; Carse of Gowrie 1564; Kersheid 1641 | carse n | cars, carse n; kars n; kers(e n1 | |
| cleugh, cleuch | cleuch | OE *clōh | n | a (narrow) gorge or ravine with steep rocky sides, usually the course of a stream; the steep side of a ravine, a cliff; a crag, a rock | Byrecleugh (Berwickshire); Hare Cleugh (East Lothian); Cleugh Hill (Wigtownshire); Buccleuch (Selkirkshire); The Cleuch (Midlothian); Point of the Cleugh (Wigtownshire) | Edwardes-cloch c1190; Ernesclucht c1350; Westircluch-heuyd c1370; Corsclewch 1456 | cleugh, cleuch n; S2 cleugh n | cleuch n | |
| clint, klint | clynt | ODan klint | n | a cliff, a high crag, a precipice; a rock or large stone; a crevice in rocks; steep faces on a high hill | Clints of Drumore (Kirkcudbrightshire); Clintwood Castle (Roxburghshire); Oak Clints (Kirkcudbrightshire); Clints (Midlothian); Clints of the Buss (Kirkcudbrightshire); Clinthill (Dumfriesshire, Fife); Clints of the Spout (Kirkcudbrightshire); Sound Clint (Kirkcudbrightshire) | Clinkskaillis 1556; Klintwood 1654; Clints March 1781; Clintwood 1832 | clint, klint n; S2 clint n | clint, clynt n |
Glossary compiled by Dr Alison Grant of Scottish Language Dictionaries and the Scottish Place-Name Society.
Linguistic Notes
The glossary provides the Modern Scots form of each place-name element, and then traces the word back through the Older Scots form to its etymological root. Illustration of the development of each element is found in the historical forms, and modern usage is illustrated by the current place-name examples provided. The glossary also provides references to the two major Scots dictionaries, the Scottish National Dictionary (SND) and the Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (DOST) together with any relevant supplementary material (the first SND supplement is marked S1, and the second S2, and the additions to DOST are marked ADDS). These dictionaries can be accessed online at www.dsl.ac.uk. Further supplementary material has been added from two 1940s Ph. D. theses, The Non-Celtic Place-Names of the Scottish Border Counties by May Williamson and The Place Name of Midlothian by Norman Dixon, both of which are available for consultation in the ‘resources’ section of the Scottish Place-Name Society website. The glossary contains Scots words derived from Old English, Old Norse, Middle Dutch, Anglo-Norman French and Latin, together with more recent loan-words from Gaelic and Insular Norn. For example, the whilst ‘glen’ is primarily a Gaelic place-name element, occurring in names such as Glen Affric and Glenmore, the word was also borrowed into Scots, where it was used to form names such as Glenhead and Glens of Foudland. Similarly, although names in ‘geo’ are often from Old Norse gjá, including Ramnageo and Papilgeo, the word was also borrowed into Scots from Norn, and used to coin names such as Millburn Geo and Geo of Dykesend.Counties (where given) are pre-1975 local government reorganisation.
PoS = Part of Speech (noun, adjective, etc.)
