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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| thorn | thorne | OE þorn, ON þorn | n | a thorn tree or bush, a hedge of thorn bushes | Thornholme (South Lanarkshire); Thornhill (Aberdeen); Thornton (Fife, Midlothian); Nenthorn (Berwickshire); Hawthorn (Selkirkshire); Thornbank (Fife); Thornloan (Stirlingshire); Thorn Isle (Argyllshire) | Hardingesthorn 1133-47; Neithanesthyrn 1159; Thornton c1230; Thorneburht 1214-49; Thornedich c1250; Thornle 1403 | thorn n1 | thorn(e n | |
| 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 | |
| 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 |
| 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 | ||
| swire | swyre | OE swīra, ON svíri | n | a hollow or declivity between hills (through which a road runs); a hollow or level place near the top of a hill; a neck (of land) | Redeswire Fray (Roxburghshire); Roughsware (Midlothian); Swyre (Dumfriesshire); Sware Brae (Kirkcudbrightshire); Swire Knowe (Roxburghshire); Dewar Swire (Midlothian); Sware Burn (Dumfriesshire); Sware Head (Kirkcudbrightshire); Sware Knowe (Dumfriesshire); Swire Syke (Roxburghshire); Ludsgill Sware (Dumfriesshire) | Hethouswyre 1214-49; Buchswyre 1327; Reid Swyre 1575; Hardhaugh swire c1800 | swire n | swire, swyr(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 | |
| stoddert, strother | srother | OE *strōðer, ME strother | n | a marshy place | Stockstrother (Roxburghshire); Bellstruther (Berwickshire); Yellowstruther (Midlothian); Williestrother Loch (Roxburghshire); Westruther (Berwickshire); Strutherhill (South Lanarkshire) | Harastrodar a1159; Kyrnestroder c1160; Strotherflat 13thC; Westsrother c1300 | stoddert n | strother n | Dodgy? |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| stank | stank | OF estanc | n | a pool, a pond, a fish pond (on an estate); the area of ground around a pond; a small semi-stagnant (overgrown) sheet of water, a stretch of slow-moving water, a sluggish stream; a ditch, an open watercourse; a gutter, a drainage channel | Black Stank (Wigtownshire); Stankards (West Lothian); Fivestanks (West Lothian); Gowan Stank (West Lothian) | Castilstank 13thC; Hawedenstank 1397; Houden Stank 1398; Stank of Fowles 1590 | stank n1; S2 stank n1 | stank n1 | |
| 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 | |
| spout | spout | ME spowte | n | a well, a forceful movement or discharge of water; a spring of water (issuing from the ground or a rock); a waterfall, a cascade, a cataract; a narrow enclosed defile or pathway, a gully in the face of cliffs; a narrow lane between houses; a pipe or conduit | The Red Spout (Aberdeenshire); Lynn Spout (Ayrshire); Spout Wells (Perthshire, Wigtownshire); Lochspouts (Ayrshire); Black Spout (Aberdeenshire, Perthshire); Spout Park (West Lothian); Corrie Spout (Stirlingshire); Garnock Spout (Renfrewshire); Spout of Ballagan (Stirlingshire) | Sanct Mwngowis Spowtis 1558; Spoutwellis 1585-6; Spoutwells 1662; The Spout of Welltrees 1807 | spout n; S2 spout n | spout n | |
| 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 |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| slack | slak | ON slakki | n | hollow or depression in the ground; a valley between hills; a low-lying waterlogged depression in the ground, a marsh, a morass, boggy ground on a valley floor | Slackhead (Banffshire); Gateslack (Dumfriesshire); Aikie Slack (Kirkcudbrightshire); Slacks of Glencarvie (Aberdeenshire); Windy Slack (Midlothian); Mitchellslacks (Dumfriesshire); Beeslack (Midlothian) | Catslak 1456; How Slak 1458-59; Grene-slak 1540; Broom Slack 1565; Chamar Slack 1719; St Ethernens Slack 1723 | slack n2; S2 slack n2 | slak 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 |
| 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 |
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.)
