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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| geo | geo | ON gjá | n | a creek or inlet of the sea with steep rocky sides, a cleft with deep water among rocks; a ravine | Geo of the Ward (Shetland); Peat Geo (Orkney); Millburn Geo (Shetland); Geo of Dykesend (Orkney); Geo of Sclaites (Caithness); Geo of Pass (Orkney); Geo of Markamouth (Shetland) | the geo of Nes 1617; the gew callit Howelay 1636; the Wolf's geo 1795; Mill-gue 1894 | geo n | geo, gio, gew n | Compare SND duo n |
| connie, coney, kinnen, kunno | coning, cuning | OF conin, conil, ME conyng | n | a rabbit | Coney Park (Stirlingshire); Coneyhatch (Kincardineshire); Kinnen Hill (West Lothian); Cuninghowes (Edinburgh) | The Cunyshill c.1540; Cunninghills 1688; Cuninboigs 1688; Kinningbrae 1698 | connie n; kinnen n; S1 kinnen n, kunno n | coning, conyng n; cuning, cunning n; qwneing n; kinning n | |
| 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 | |
| tail | tail | n | a tail; a long, narrow strip of ground, generally adjoining and stretching backwards from the site or garden of a house or croft; a small division of land attached to a larger division like a tail; the lower end or hindmost part of a piece of land or watercourse; the tail-race of a mill; the end of a sandbank | Milltail (Fife); Tails of Stow (Orkney); Tail of the Skerry (Orkney) | Thailbog 1219-33; the taill of Quoybankis 1578; the taills of Auld Aberden 1608; the Tail End 1611; the tail of the bank 1822 | tail n; S2 tail n | tail, tale n | ||
| dale, deel, daal | dale, dail | OE dæl, ON dalr | n | a dale, a valley | Teviotdale (Roxburghshire); Lauderdale (Berwickshire); Butterdales (Dumfriesshire); Tweeddale (Roxburghshire); Nithsdale (Dumfriesshire) | Teviettedale c1100; Drivesdale 1116; Teuidall c1154; Tvededale 1159; Lawederdale c1200 | dale n3; deel n; daal, dal(l n | dale, dail(l n1 | |
| scrog, scrogg | scrog | ME skrogg | n | brushwood or scrub, thickets of bushes or small trees; an area or piece of land covered with scrub or brushwood; a stunted or crooked bush or low tree, a stump or root of a tree, a crabapple tree | Scroghill (Aberdeenshire); Scrogs of Drumruck (Kirkcudbrightshire); Scroggs (Dumfriesshire); Scrogbank (Selkirkshire); Crossford Scroggs (Dumfriesshire) | terram de Scrogges c1208; Scrogisston 1476; Scrogbank 1595; Priesthaugh Scrogg 1805 | scrog n1; S2 scrog n1; scrag n | scrog(g, skrog(g n | |
| temple-land | tempillland | OE templ, OF temple + OE land | n | land given or belonging to the Knights Templar and as such not subject to teinds | Templeland (Angus, Fife); Templeland Road (Edinburgh, Glasgow); Templeland Cottage (South Lanarkshire); Templeland Farm (Aberdeenshire) | Tempylland 1376-77; Tempilland 1446; tempilland of Dalgernow 1454-55; tempilland of Henderstoun 1611; temple land of St. Johns 1694 | temple n1 | tempil(l)land n | See also DOSTtempil(l, temple n1 |
| temple | tempil | OE templ, OF temple | n | property or lands in the possession of the order of the Knights Templar or later the Hospitalers | Templandmuir (Ayrshire); Temple (Midlothian); Templehall (Angus, Berwickshire, Fife); Temple of Boclair (Dunbartonshire); Temple Park (Midlothian) | Templeacre c1190; Tempilhalle 1368-69; Tempilhil 1446; Tempil Liston 1464 | temple n1 | tempil(l, temple n1 | See also DOST tempil(l)land n |
| souter | soutar | OE sūtere | n | a shoemaker, a cobbler | The Sutors (Ross and Cromarty); Souterhill (Aberdeenshire); Souterhouse (North Lanarkshire); Souterland (Midlothian); Sutor Stacks (Ross and Cromarty); Souterford (Aberdeenshire) | swtercrophtdyk a1325; Sutergate 1337; Sowttergait 1563; Soutarland 1696; The Cromarty Sutors 1854 | souter n; S2 souter n | soutar n | |
| wuid | wode | OE wudu | n | an area of trees (smaller than a forest), a stretch or piece of woodland; (of a place) wooded, consisting of trees | Woodlands (Glasgow); Legerwood (Berwickshire); Holywood (Dumfriesshire); Woodend (Aberdeen); Williamwood (Glasgow); Woodneuk (Renfrewshire); Harwood (Roxburghshire); Woodinch (Perthshire); Woodmill (Fife) | Swinewde 1097-1107; Wudehorn 1152; Ringwude 1153-65; Ledgerdwode 1165-73; Wudeschirche c1180 | wuid n: S1 wuid n; S2 wuid n | wod(e n | |
| swine | swyne | OE swīn | n | a pig, pigs | Swinewaird (Kincardineshire); Swinewood (Berwickshire); Swineside Hall (Roxburghshire); Swineford (Midlothian); Soonhope (Berwickshire); Swine's Cleugh (Midlothian); Swinedrum (Kirkcudbrightshire); Swine Fell (Wigtownshire) | swhynhope c1200; Swineshales 1230; Swineford 1258; Swynschawis 1265 | swine n | swine, swyn(e n | |
| south | south | OE sūþ | a | situated in, or belonging to, the south; southern, southerly | South Inch (Aberdeenshire); South Queensferry (West Lothian); South Nettlehirst (Ayrshire); South Mains (Angus); South Kessock (Inverness); Southfield (Midlothian); South Glen (Stirlingshire) | Suthberwik c1170; Sutblan 1236; Suthtun de Laynal c1248; Suthebuttes 13thC; Southgate 1449-50; Southfelde 1450 | south a; S2 south a | south a | |
| star | star | ON stǫrr | n | a species of grass or sedge (growing on moorish or boggy ground); land covered in sedges | Starlaw (West Lothian); Starcleuch Edge (Roxburghshire); Star Wood (East Lothian); Star Burn (South Lanarkshire); Starhill (Banffshire) | star of Kelle 1471; (le) Starlaw 1468 the stare myr 1549; Sterlaw 1618 | star n2 | star(e n3 | |
| stanie | stany | OE stānig | a | abundant in stones; characterised by stone or stones | Staney Hill (Roxburghshire); Stoneywood (Stirlingshire); Stanygill (Roxburghshire); Stoneyhill Wood (Aberdeen); Stoneyport (Midlothian); Stonyford (Angus); Stoneyflat (Midlothian); Stonywynd (Fife); Stoneyhill (Midlothian) | Staniford 1165-82; Stanyacre c1250; Stanyburne 1597; Stanie Mailing 1660 (1663) | stane n; stane S2 | stany adj | |
| stane | stane | OE stān, ON steinn | n | a stone; a rock, a boundary stone, a landmark, a stone used as a meeting place | Thirlestane (Berwickshire, Selkirkshire); Harestanes (Dunbartonshire, Fife, Roxburghshire); Stanerig (Stirlingshire); Shoestanes (Midlothian); Stenton (Fife); Brigstanes (Kincardineshire); Stenhouse (Dumfriesshire, Edinburgh, Fife); Brotherstone (Berwickshire, Midlothian) | Staincros 1165-1214; Steinreise bech 1194-1214; Stanhus 1214-49; Thirlestan c1260; Stenhyve 1607; Steanhous 1666 | stane n; S1 stane n; S2 stane n; stone n1 | stan(e n | |
| hive, hythe | hive | OE hӯð | n | a harbour, a haven, a landing place, an inlet among rocks | Steenhive (Kincardineshire); Redhythe (Morayshire); Thornyhive Bay (Kincardineshire); Cowhythe (Morayshire); Broad Hive (Aberdeenshire) | Stain-hyve 1600; Salt-coat-hive c1680; Guthrie’s hyth 1723; Thorn-hive 1825 | hive n; hythe n | hive, hyve n | Compare SND hine n and DOST havin n1 and hane |
| spital | spittal | ME spitel | n | a hospice or shelter for travellers (in mountainous country); a house or place of refuge for the sick or destitute; land whose revenue supported a hospital; the hospital itself | Spital (Dunbartonshire); The Spittal Haugh (Aberdeenshire); Spittalburn (Angus); Spittal of Glenmuick (Aberdeenshire); Spittalrig (East Lothian); Spital Shore (Ross and Cromarty); Spittal (East Lothian); Port of Spittal (Wigtownshire) | Spetelcrag 1208-14; Spyttalhillis 1310; Spittaltoun 1565-6; Spittellis Hospitell 1641; Spittall Haugh 1721 | spital n | spit(t)al(l, spit(t)ell n | See also DOST hospitale n |
| edge | ege | OE ecg | n | an edge; the crest of a sharp ridge | Windy Edge (Fife, West Lothian); Edgeface (Stirlingshire); Muiredge (Fife); Edgefield (Midlothian); Lamblair Edge (Roxburghshire); Edgefauld Road (Glasgow); Cairn Edge (Midlothian) | Soltray ege 1455; Windiaige 1596; Eadestoun eadge 1603; Edgeberry 1773 | edge n | ege, egge n | |
| smiddie | smiddy | OE smiþþe, ON smiðja | n | a smithy, the workshop of a smith, a blacksmith’s shop, a forge | Smiddyhill (Aberdeenshire); Smiddyboyne (Banffshire); Buchanan Smithy (Stirlingshire); Smiddiecroft (Aberdeenshire); Smithy Hill (Wigtownshire); Smithyhillock (Aberdeenshire) | Smythyhill 1379; Smethy Barr 1426; Smethycrofft 1456; Smedebar 1540-41 | smiddie n; S2 smiddie n | smithy n | See also DOST (Smiddy-land,) Smid(d)ieland, n |
| smith | smyth, smeth | OE smið, ON smiðr | n | one who works in metal, a smith | Smithfield (Aberdeen, Fife); Smeaton (Fife, Midlothian); Smith's Lands (Midlothain); Smithton (Inverness) | Smithetun 12thC; Smythishalch 1321; Smethwod 1327; Smeithfield 1329-71 | smith n | smith(e, smyth(t n | |
| steid | stede | OE stede | n | an inhabited place, a hamlet or village; an area of land, a landed property or estate, a farm; a dwelling-place; the site of a building, the piece of land on which a building stands | Newstead (Roxburghshire); Kirkstead (Selkirkshire); Millstead (Dumfriesshire); Castle Steads (Midlothian); Middlestead (Selkirkshire) | Selestede 1165-1214; Castilsted 13thC; le stede de Kynewarde 1509; Hannykyn kill steid 1560 | steid n; S2 steid n | sted(e, steid n1 | |
| skerrie | skerry | ON sker | n | a skerry, an isolated reef or rocky islet in the sea | Skerry of the Sound (Orkney); Covsea Skerries (Morayshire); Seal Skerry (Orkney); Skerries of Fuglaness (Shetland); Little Skerries (Morayshire) | Selchiskerrie; 1634; Skerrie of Burrafirth 164; Selchskerrie 1655; Inner Skerry 1887 | skerrie n; S2 skerrie n | skerry n | Compare DOST skelly n and SND skerrie n2; see also DOST skirrach n |
| 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 | |
| sheep | schepe, chepe | OE scēap, scēp | n | (a) sheep | Sheepbridge (Fife); Sheep Lairs (Kirkcudbrightshire); Sheep House (Midlothian); Sheep Hill (Kirkcudbrightshire) | Scypwel c1143-47; Schipwell 1165-1214; Schepehinche 1261; Schypinche 1262; Shepwell 1337; Schephalche 1374-75 | sheep n1; S2 sheep n2 | s(c)hep(e, s(c)heip, s(c)hip n; chep(e, cheip n2 | |
| green | grene | OE grēne | n | grassy ground, a grassy place; an open piece of grassy ground (in the grounds of a manor or castle); a town or village green | Glasgow Green (Glasgow); Parson's Green (Edinburgh); Magdalen Green (Dundee); Gunsgreen (Berwickshire); Greens of Gardyne (Angus); Schilgreen (Roxburghshire); Gretna Green (Dumfriesshire); Blairsgreen (Fife) | Schelgrene c1320; Wodgrenystoun 1359; Gownisgrein 1580; Smiddiegrein 1652 | green n; S1 green n; S2 green n | grene, grein 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.)
