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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mire | myre | ON mýrr, ME mire | n | a piece of swampy ground, a bog, a morass; a peat bog | Craigmire (Aberdeenshire); Myreside (Angus, East Lothian, Moray); Black Myre (Aberdeenshire); Halymyres (Kincardinechaire); Hartwoodmyres (Selkirkshire); Whitemyres (Aberdeen); Greenmyre (Aberdeenshire); Myreton (Angus) | Wytteriggemyre c1200; Falumireside 13thC; Seggymir 1302; Hwytemyr c1320; Red(e)myre 1348; ly Futyis myre 1463 | mire n1 | myr(e, mir(e n | |
| 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 | |
| field | feld, field | OE feld | n | a field | Eastfield (Glasgow); Linksfield (Aberdeen); Bruntsfield (Edinburgh); Priestfield (Angus); Field of Noss (Caithness); Bellfield Park (Inverness); Hogganfield (Glasgow); Smithfield (Aberdeen) | Wytefeld c1200; Lyllochefylde 1293; Westfeld 1294; Prestfeld 1327; Hwytfyld 1333 | field n; S1 field n | feld(e, feild n; ADDS feld(e n | see also DOST feld(e) land, feild land n |
| wricht | wricht | OE wyrhta | n | a wright, a wood-worker or carpenter | Wrightshouses (Midlothian); Wright's Knowe (Kirkcudbrightshire); Wrighthill (Ayrshire); Wrights Croft (Aberdeenshire); Wrightfield (Ross and Cromarty) | Wrychtyshousis 1382; Wrichtishouse(s) 1458; Wrychtland 1531-32; Wreuchtsland 1630 | wricht n | wricht, wrycht, wrech(t 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| wedder | wedder | OE weðer | n | a (castrated) male sheep | Wedderlie (Berwickshire); Weddersbie (Fife); Wether Law (Berwickshire); Wedder Hill (Ayrshire); Wedderlairs (Berwickshire); Wedderburn (Berwickshire) | Wedyrburne 1198-1214; Wederleye c1250; Wedderlee 1494; Weddergang 1609 (1610); Wetherlairis 1628 | wedder n | weddir, woddir, wadder, wether n2 | |
| 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 | |
| voe | voe, wo | ON vágr | n | an inlet of the sea, a deep bay or long creek, a fjord | Voe of Sound (Shetland); East Voe of Quarff (Shetland); West Voe of Sumburgh (Shetland); Voe of Clousta (Shetland) | Voe of Sara 1733; North Voe 1832; South Voe 1832; East Voe of Scalloway 1887 | voe n; S2 voe n | vo(e, wo n | |
| teuchit, teewheet | tuchet | ME tuchet | n | the lapwing | Teuchat Knowe (Fife); Teuchatcroft (Angus); Teuchathead (Fife); Teuchatmuir (Perthshire) | Tyhwitemore c1320; Tuquhyt Myre 1475; Tauchieflattes 1666; Tuewheet Law 1810 | teuchit n; teewheet n | tuchet, tuquheit n | Compare SND teeock n |
| tron | trone | OF trone | n | the public steelyard or weighing-machine in a burgh, set up in or near the market-place for the weighing of various types of heavy or coarse goods; the district around the tron | Trongate (Glasgow); Tron Kirk (Edinburgh); St George's-Tron Church (Glasgow); Tron (Edinburgh); Tron Knowe (North Lanarkshire) | Tronum de Edinburgh 1446; Troyne Gait 1545; Troingait 1553; Tron kirk 1689; Tron-knowe 1880 | tron n | tron(e n | See also SNDS1 trouan n |
| toll | tol | OE toll | n | a tax or duty; a checkpoint on a turnpike road where tolls were collected, a toll-bar; (a collection point for) tolls on imported or exported goods, or the privelege of selling goods in a market | Eglington Toll (Glasgow); Cameron Toll (Edinburgh); Barnhill Tollhouse (Perth); Tollcross (Edinburgh, Glasgow); Toll Bar Cott (Kirkcudbright); Clushford Toll (Fife); Bonnybridge Toll (Stirlingshire) | tolbotha de Suthbervyc 1283-98; le Tolcorse 1458; Towcross 1662; Cairntows 1773 | toll n1 | tol(l n | See also DOST tolbuth(e, towbuth(e n and SND tolbooth n |
| tod | tod | ME tod | n | a fox | Todhills (Angus, Midlothian); Todrig (Berwickshire); Todrigs Burn (Ayrshire); Todholes (Caithness, Dumfriesshire); Todlhole Knowe (Midlothian); Todhillock (Aberdeenshire); Todhead Point (Kincardineshire) | Todholerig 1165-82; Thodholesid 1214-49; Todlaw 1222; Todhillis 1587; Todhoillis 1621 | tod n1 | tod n1 | |
| thorter | thortour | ME þwertouer | a | slanted, squint, awry; running across or at an oblique angle | Thorterdykes (Roxburghshire); Thorter Fell (Kirkcudbrightshire); Thorter Row (Dundee); Thorter Burn (East Lothian) | Thwortour-Raw 1489-90; thuorter land 1490; thortyrland 1535; thuortour gaittis of Korstoun 1569; thorter raw 1720 | thorter adj | thorto(u)r, thwortour, thwartour adj | |
| threap | threpe, threip | ME Þrepe | n | a dispute, a quarrel (with regard to ownership of land) | Thriepland (Banffshire); Threaprig (North Lanarkshire); Threepwood (South Lanarkshire); Threapmuir (Kinross-shire); Threipmuir Reservoir (Midlothian) | Threpland c1200; Hafthrepland 1383; Threpleche 1425; threpfelde 1463 | threap n, S2 threap n | threp(e, threip n | |
| thorny, toarny | thorny, thornie | OE þornig | a | filled with or composed of thorn trees or bushes | Thornybank (Banffshire); Thorniethwaite (Dumfriesshire); Thornyside (Ayrshire); Turniedykes (Midlothian); Thornyhaw (Fife); Thornyhills (South Lanarkshire); Thornyhive Bay (Kincardineshire); Thornycrook (Midlothian) | Thorniflat 1272-1316; Thornidyk a1300; Thornyle a1390; Thornydykis 1406 | toarny adj | thorny adj | |
| thief | thefe | OE þīof, þēof ON þiófr | n | one who steals, a robber or thief | Thief Sike (Roxburghshire); Thiefs Cave (Perthshire); Thieves Knowes (Shetland); Thief's Hill (Dunbartonshire) | Theuisford 1147-60; Theuisbrig 1493; theiffis brig 1501-2; Theiffis-port 1574-75 | thief n; S1 thief n | thef(e, theif(e, thief n | |
| skellie | skelly | ? OIr sceillec | n | a skerry, a ridge of rock on a seashore (covered at high water) | Maw Skelly (Angus); Skellies Rocks (Fife); The Skellies (Aberdeenshire); Mary's Skelly (Fife); Longskelly Point (East Lothian); Corskelly (Aberdeenshire); Cuttyskelly (Fife) | the quheit skellie 1577; Mill Skelly 1855; Westland Skelly 1855; Skelly Rocks 1864 | skellie n2 | skelly n | Compare DOST skerry n and SND skerrie n |
| neuk | newk, nuke | ME noke | n | a corner, a nook, a projecting corner of land; a small (triangular) piece of land; a projecting point of land, a headland or promontory; a street corner; a remote or outlying place; the angle of a stream, an inlet | Craigneuk (North Lanarkshire); East Neuk of Fife (Fife); Woodneuk (Renfrewshire); Millersneuk (Dunbartonshire); Bare Neuk (West Lothian); Dykeneuk Moss (Ayrshire); Millstone Neuk (East Lothian); Mossneuk (North Lanarkshire) | the Nuke 1607; the catchpeull newik 1614; the walneuk of Paislaye 1620; the east nook of Fife 1676 | neuk n; S2 neuk n | neuk, newk n; nuk(e, nuik, nok n | |
| loan | lone | OE lane | n | a grassy strip leading to a pasture or open ground, beginning at or near a farm, village or burgh as a green where the cattle were milked; a cattle-track through arable land which links to common grazing; the part of a farm ground which leads to or adjoins the house; a street or roadway, a lane | Dobbie’s Loan (Glasgow); The Tinks’ Loan (St Andrews); Langloan (North Lanarkshire); Byresloan (Fife); Loan Knowes (Wigtownshire); Blackloanhead (Banffshire); Loanhead (Angus, Fife, Midlothian); Fairloans (Roxburghshire); Loanfoot (Fife); Loanburn (Kirkcudbrightshire) | the lone of Alanhauch 1535-36; Brochtoun lon heid 1587; Dalry lone 1591; Carcart lone heid 1664 | loan n1; S2 loan n1 | lone n1 | Compare SND loanin n and DOST loning n |
| kill | kill, kilne | OE cylene | n | a kiln; a kiln-shaped chasm in the rocks (linked to the sea by a tunnel) | Kiln Knowe (Kirkcudbrightshire); Kilnhill (Angus, South Lanarkshire); Kiln Rocks (Fife); Kiln Croft (Kirkcudbrightshire); Kill Burn (Midlothian); Kiln Plantation (Kirkcudbrightshire); Kilburns (Fife); Halflawkiln (Midlothian); Kiln Strand (Kirkcudbrightshire) | the Kill-croft 1627; Halfflakill 1627; Lilmkiln 1773; Halfla Kill 1839 | kill n1; S2 kill n1 | kill n1; kiln(e n; ADDS kiln(e 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.)
