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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| knock | knok | Gael cnoc | n | a small hill or hillock, especially one in isolation | Knock of Formal (Angus); Knock Hill (Aberdeenshire); Easter Knock (Aberdeenshire); West Knock (Angus); East Knock (Angus) | Knokis 1330; Knok 1364; Heslisid Knok 1525; Knokhill 1541 | knock n3 | knok, knock n3 | |
| fauld | fald | OE falod | n | an enclosure for animals; an enclosed piece of ground used for cultivation, a small field; the part of the outfield which was manured by folding cattle upon it | Lochfauld (Dunbartonshire) Whitefauld (Stirlingshire); Edgefauld Road (Glasgow); Langfaulds (Dunbartonshire); Clayfaulds (Stirlingshire); Muiryfaulds (Angus); Linen Faulds (West Lothian); Scabbit Fauld (Aberdeenshire); Whitefaulds (Ayrshire); Bowriefauld (Angus) | Kochilfaulde 1407; Morefaulde 1407; the faldis of Cabrastone 1595-96; Firth Faldis 1611 | fauld n2; S2 fauld n2; fold n; S1 fold n | fald, fauld n1 | See also SNDS barnfauld n and DOST stand fa(u)ld n, shepe-fald n, fald-dyke n, fold-dyke n, nowt-fald n |
| craig | crag | Gael creag, ME crag | n | a cliff on the sea or mountain-side, a projecting spur of rock; (in plural) rocky ground; sea-rocks, cliffs | Eastcraigs (Edinburgh); Craigmire (Aberdeenshire); White Craig (Stirlingshire); Williamcraigs (West Lothian); Little Craigs (Ayrshire); Craigend (Angus); Westcraigs (West Lothian); Maw Craig (Aberdeenshire); Craighead (Ayrshire) | Krag 1278; Villamis Craigis c.1335; White Cragg 1370; Westecrage of Egilsface 1392 | craig, crag n1; S1 craig n1; S2 craig n1 | crag, crage, craig n1 | |
| kyle | kyle | Gael caol | n | a strait or sound; a narrow arm of the sea; a narrow part of a river | Kyles of Bute (Argyllshire); Kyle of Lochalsh (Inverness-shire); Kyle of Sutherland (Sutherland); Kyle of Tongue (Sutherland) | Kyle of Aran 1549; Kyle de Glenalmond 1624; Kyll of Glenamount 1641; Kyle of Shuna 1730 | kyle n1 | kyle, kyll n | |
| kirkton | kirktoun | ON kirkja, OE kirke + OE tūn | n | a town or village situated by a church, the hamlet in which the parish church of a rural parish is located; a farm adjacent to a church | Kirkton of Bourtie (Aberdeenshire); Kirkton (Fife, Midlothian, Roxburghshire); Kirktonbridge Cottages (Aberdeenshire); Kirkton of Cults (Fife); Kirkton of Tough (Aberdeenshire); Kirkton Muir (Kincardineshire); Nether Kirkton (Aberdeenshire); Kirktonhill (Dumfriesshire) | Kyrchetune c1145; Kirketun 1206; Kirketun super Stryvelin 1319; kyrktoune 1403 | kirk n1; S2 kirk n1 | kirk-, kyrktoun n | See also DOST kirk-clachan n |
| kirk | kyrk | ON kirkja, OE kirke | n | a church | New Kirk (Aberdeenshire); Hobkirk (Roxburghshire); Ladykirk (Berwickshire); Kirk o' Field (Midllothian]; Kirkford (Fife); Kirkmuir (Kirkcudbrightshire) | Kyrckeburne c1160; Selekirke 1165-1214; Askirke 1214-49; Kyrkhop a1300 | kirk n1; S1 kirk n1; S2 kirk n1 | kirk n; ADDS kirk n | |
| strath | strath | Gael srath | n | a wide river valley, a stretch of relatively flat, fertile land bounded by hills | Wester Strath (West Lothian); Strath of Kildonan (Sutherland); Strath Mill (West Lothian); Strath of Menteith (Perthshire); Strathloanhead (West Lothian) | La Strath de Ogilface 1386; the Strath of Menteth 1507-8; Easter Strayth 1588; Strath-loan 1682; Straith(h)ill 1698 | strath n, S2 strath n | strath(e, straith(e n | |
| lamb | lam | OE lamb | n | a lamb, a young sheep | Lambhill (Glasgow); Lambden (Berwickshire); Lamblair Edge (Roxburghshire); Lamb Island (Perthshire); Lamb Rig (Dumfriesshire); (The) Lamb (Firth of Forth); Lamblair Hill (Roxburghshire); Lamblair Knowe (Dumfriesshire) | Lambremore c1160; Lambedene 1214-49; Lambhilles 1666; Lamb-Croft 1667 | lamb n1 | lam, lamb(e n | |
| hillock | hillok | ME hilloc | n | a mound, a small hill | Todhillock (Aberdeenshire); Doghillock (Stirlingshire); Smithyhillock (Aberdeenshire); Cutty Hillock (Fife); Peat Hillock (Aberdeenshire); Burnthillock (Aberdeenshire); Roundhillock (Aberdeenshire) | Lammyrhillok 1499; Gallow hillok 1594; Hillok 1600; Sleipie Hillok 1628 | hill n | hillok n; ADDS hillok n | |
| lang | lang | OE lang | a | long | Langholm (Dumfriesshire); Langlands (Stirlingshire); Langton (Berwickshire); Langbank (Stirlingshire); Langside (Dumfriesshire, Roxburghshire); Langfauld (Fife); Langhill (Stirlingshire); Langhaugh (Angus) | Langelaw c1170; Langelandes c1200; Langeside c1225; Langefelle c1270 | lang adj; S1 lang adj; S2 lang adj | lang adj1; ADDS lang adj1; long adj | |
| yett | ʒet | OE geat | n | a gate, a gateway or entrance to a town or building; a natural pass or defile between hills | Kirk Yetholm (Roxburghshire); Brae of Yetts (Dunbartonshire); Broadyetts (West Lothian); Rashlieyett (Ayrshire); Moatyett (South Lanarkshire); Wateryett (Ayrshire) | le Barres ʒeth 1487; Sanct Leonards yettis 1553-54; Rodin Yett 1568; Mekill Yet 1590; Yetts of Keppel 1828; Yetts of Muckart 1845 | yett n1; S2 yett n1 | ʒet(t, yet(t n | |
| hine, haven | hane, havin | OE hæfen | n | a haven, a (natural) harbour | East Hain (Fife); Buckhine (Fife); Longhaven (Aberdeenshire); Broad Haven (Caithness); Sandhaven (Aberdeenshire); North Haven (Aberdeenshire); West Haven (Aberdeenshire) | le Bellehauen 1369; the hayne of Wigtoun 1517; the hewin of Sterling 1598-99; Bucky-hine a1779 | hine n | havin, hevin, heavin n1; ADDS hane, hayne; | Compare SND hive n and hythe n, and DOST (, hyve 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 |
| glen | glen | Gael glenn, gleann | n | a hollow or valley (traversed by a stream or river); a steep narrow-sided valley; the mountain reaches of a mountain valley; a dell, a ravine | Glenhead (Stirlingshire); The Great Glen (Inverness-shire); Glenburn (Fife, Renfrewshire); Glens of Foudland (Aberdeenshire); Rouken Glen (Glasgow); The Sma' Glen (Perthshire); The Fairy Glen (Ross and Cromarty) | le Glen 1292; the Glen 1502; Glenshott 1656; Glenheid 1662; Glenhead 1665 | glen n | glen n | |
| haugh | hauch, halch | OE halh | n | a piece of level alluvial ground on the banks of a river, river- meadow land | Carterhaugh (Angus); Haughend (Perthshire); The Spittal Haugh (Aberdeenshire); Rosehaugh (Morayshire, Ross and Cromarty); Haugh of Ballechin (Perthshire); The Haugh (Inverness); Haughhead (South Lanarkshire) | le Haulch 1373; le Quenys Hauche 1457; the halch of Tannadys 1494; Hervis Haucht 1546; Barhaugh 1596 | haugh n; S1 haugh n; S2 haugh n | hauch n1; ADDS hauch n1; halch n | |
| haining | haning | ON hegning, ME haining | n | a fence, hedge or wall forming the boundary of an enclosure; a piece or stretch of ground enclosed in this way (originally to protect a hay crop from cattle) | The Haining (Selkirkshire); Haining (Stirlingshire); North Haining Farm (West Lothian); Haining Brae (Edinburgh); Haining Valley (Stirlingshire); Haining Moss (Selkirkshire) | le Hayning 1298-99; Hayny[n]gschaw 1348; Hayninghil 1413; Haynyng 1423; haningis of Vrie 1636 | hain v; S1 hain v; S2 hain v | haining, haning vbl n | |
| loanin, loaning | loning | ME lonyng | n | An enclosed track for animals through cultivated or park land; a grassy strip serving as a milking place: a common road or green of this sort | Greenloaning (Perthshire); Loaningfoot (Kirkcudbrightshire); Loaninghill (West Lothain); Loaningside (Stirlingshire); Loaninghead (Kirkcudbrightshire) | le lonyngdyke 1348; The lonyng of the land of Greneforde 1402; Lie grene lonyng 1565; westirloaning 1641 | loanin n; S2 loanin n | loning n | Compare SND loan n1 and DOST lone n1 |
| links | linkis | OE hlincas | n | the sandy undulating open ground covered with turf, bent grass or gorse along the sea shore on a flat part of the coast, often including sand-dunes (which is often common ground belonging to the nearest town) | Links of Dunnet (Caithness); Linksfield (Aberdeen, Morayshire); Innes Links (Morayshire); Monifieth Links (Angus); Whitelinks (Aberdeenshire); Links Wood (Fife); Leith Links (Edinburgh); Links of Montrose (Angus) | le lynkis de Leith 1453; le linkis de Dirltoun 1512; the eist and west linxis of Dunbar 1598-99; Leith linx 1673; Bruntsfield links 1684 | links n.pl.; S2 links n.pl. | linkis, lynkis n. plu; ADDS linkis n. plu | See also SNDS1 links market |
| ness | nes | ON nes, OE næs(s) | n | a promontory or headland | Ness of Clousta (Shetland); Ness of Quoys (Caithness); Kirkness (Fife); Blackness (Dundee); Ness of Culsetter (Shetland); Bo'Ness (West Lothian); Ness of Burravoe (Shetland); Bridgeness (West Lothian); Scurdie Ness (Angus) | le nesse 1150; le Nys 1292; Blaknis 1330; Blacnes 1330 | ness n; S2 ness n | nes, nesse n | |
| quarter, wharter | quarter | OF quartier, quarter | n | a fourth part (of a territory, sherrifdom, burgh, estate or land) | North Quarter (Fife); Millquarter (Kirkcudbrightshire); Forresterquarter (Stirlingshire); South Quarter (Fife); Milnquarter (Stirlingshire); Quarterland (Kirkcudbrightshire); Westquarter (Stirlingshire); Quarter Wood (Peeblesshire) | le Quarter 1512; Wol-Quarter 1620; Mayne-Quarter 1620; Wastquarter 1631 | quarter n; S1 quarter n; S2 quarter n; wharter n | quarter, quartar(e n | Compare SND corter n and SND S2 corter n |
| tarnty, taranty | trinité | OF trinite | n | the trinity, the three aspects of the Godhead collectively | Trinity Gask (Perthshire); Trinity (Angus, Edinburgh); Trinity College (Glasgow); Trinity Hall (Aberdeen); Trinity Church (Glasgow) | le Trinite burn 1488; College of Trynite 1498-99; Trinity Mure 1692; Auld Tarrnty Ha' 1887; Taranty Muir 1892 | tarnty n; S1 tar(a)nty n | trinité, trinity n | |
| liggat | liggat | OE hlidgeat | n | a self-closing gate, to prevent cattle from straying | Liggat Syke (West Lothian); Whinnieliggate (Kirkcudbrightshire); Liggatt Hill (Wigtownshire); Ludgate Lodge (Edinburgh); Liggat Cheek (Kirkcudbrightshire); Luggate Burn (East Lothian); Fumart Liggat (Kirkcudbrightshire); Doddiesliggat (Dumfriesshire); Red Liggat (Wigtownshire); Stubliggat (Kirkcudbrightshire) | lidyate 1170; Lidgai 1540-41; Liggate 1746; Liggat Syke 1890 | liggat n; S2 liggat n | liggat n; lidgait n; lidyate n | |
| slap | slop | Middle Dutch slop | n | a gap, breach or hole (in a wall), an entrance or exit, an opening; a narrow lane running between houses; a pass or shallow valley between hills; a gate | Slap of Quoybeezie (Orkney); Waterslap (Stirlingshire); Slap of Faravill (Orkney); Coldstone Slap (Midlothian); Kirkslap (Stirlingshire); Slap of Warth (Orkney); Mote Slap (Wigtownshire); Slap of Grindela (Orkney) | Liggʒet Slappe 1561; Claysclope 1635; Barkerland slop 1707; Coldstaine Slap 1715 | slap n2; S2 slap n2 | slop, slap n1 | |
| hope (2), hoob | hope | ON hóp | n | a small bay or haven | St Margaret's Hope (Fife, Orkney); The Houb (Shetland); Chalmers Hope (Orkney); St Andrews Hope (Fife); Houb of Scatsta (Shetland); Pan Hope (Orkney) | Lovnan houp 17thC; St Margaret’s Hope a1688; Kirk-hope a1688; North-hope 1700; Pan Houp 1795 | hope n2; hoob n | hope, houp n5 | See also SND ob n |
| den, dean | den, dene | OE denu | n | a hollow with sloping sides (often with a rivulet), a narrow (wooded) ravine or valley, a dingle | Den Burn (Aberdeenshire); Blakedean (Roxburghshire); Cardenden (Fife); Dean Village (Edinburgh); Denholm (Roxburghshire); Lambden (Berwickshire); Aikendean (Midlothian); Milldeans (Fife); Hassendean (Roxburghshire) | Lummesdene c1100; Botheldene 1159; Ellesdene 1218; Strikerden 1275; Denside 1304 | den n1 | den n1; dene n1 |
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.)
