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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| forest | forest, forrest | OF forest | n | a forest, a large wood; (in law) a large tract of ground, not necessarily wooded, and commonly bare and mountainous, originally reserved for the hunting of deer and, as such, belonging to the Crown | Ettrick Forest (Selkirkshire); Forest Lodge (Roxburghshire); Forest Muir (Angus); Stonedge Forest (Roxburghshire); Glendoll Forest (Angus); Foresthall (Glasgow); Devilla Forest (Fife); Wauchope Forest (Roxburghshire) | A foresto de Seleschirche a1153; Etryke forest 1384; Forrest burne 1648; The forest of Alyth 1724 | forest n | forest, forrest n | |
| fairnie | farny | OE fearnig | a | ferny | Fairnieside (Berwickshire); Ferniebrae (Aberdeenshire, Kincardineshire); Fairnielee (Selkirkshire); Ferniehill (Edinburgh); Ferniehirst (Midlothian, Roxburghshire); Ferniegair (South Lanarkshire); Fernieflatt (Kincardineshire); Fernyrig (Berwickshire); Fernie Grain (Midlothian) | Farniacres 13thC; Farenyacredene c1320; Farnydoune 1372; Farnyle 1456 | fern n | farny a | |
| flush, flash | flosche, flusch | OE *flæsc, ON flask | n | a piece of boggy ground (where the water frequently lies on the surface), a swampy place, a pool of water in a field | Flush Hill (Wigtownshire); Flosh (Dumfriesshire); Flass (Berwickshire, Fife); The Flashes (Midlothian); Floshend Loch (Dumfriesshire); Flesh Glen (Fife); The Floss (Selkirkshire); Foulflush (Wigtownshire); Flass Well (Berwickshire); Isle of Flosh (Dumfriesshire); Flesh Cleugh (Midlothian); Flask Wood (Dumfriesshire); Flosh Burn (Roxburghshire); Floshknowe (Dumfriesshire) | Flas 1388-89; Flashill 1531; Flasche 1550-51; The Flass 1569; Floshe 1569; Flask 1653; Flass 1654; Flash 1808 | flush n; flash n1 | flosche n; flusch, fluche n, flus, flous, n | |
| shiel | schele | ME schele | n | a rude (wooden) hut, a temporary building for seasonal accommodation or storage, a bothy; a shed; an outhouse; a small cottage, a hovel; a piece of pasturage on which a hut has been built, a summer pasturage; a shelter used by fishermen; a sheepcot; a summer or country retreat in the hills occupied by the gentry | Foulshiels (Roxburghshire); Shiels of Glendui (Aberdeenshire); Ketlleshiel (Berwickshire); North Shiel (West Lothian); Shielhill (Aberdeenshire, Angus); Cauldshiel (East Lothian); Galashiels (Selkirkshire); Shielwalls (Stirlingshire) | Bothkillscheles a1159; Windicheles c1200 Schotteschales 1202-8; Mayschelis a1214 | shiel n; S1 shiel n | schele, s(c)heil(l n | |
| gallow, galla | gallow | OE galga | n | a gallows, a place of execution | Gallowgate (Glasgow); Gallatown (Fife); Gallowhill (Aberdeenshire, Ross and Cromarty, Perthshire, West Dunbartonshire, Wigtownshire); Gallowfauld (Angus); Galalaw (Roxburghshire); Gallowdykes (Edinburgh); Gallowhills (Aberdeenshire); Gallows Knowe (West Lothian) | Galuraw c1250; Galowhille 1315; Galugat 1317; Gallowmore 1488 | gallows n | gallo(w, galow- n; gallow(i)s, gallous n | See also DOST gallowgate n and gallowhill n |
| 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 |
| gled | gled | OE glida | n | the common kite; a hawk | Gladswood (Berwickshire); Gledsnest (Roxburghshire); Gladhouse (Midlothian); Gledehills (Fife); Gled Hill (West Lothian); Gladsmoor (Wigtownshire); Glede Knowe (Midlothian); Gladgate (Fife); Glede Bog (Kirkcudbrightshire) | Gledehus 1140-53; Gleddiswod c1200; Gledstanes c1354; Gledhous 1563 | gled n1 | gled n | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| guse | guse | OE gōs | n | a goose | Goosedubs (Edinburgh, Glasgow); High and Laigh Gooseloan (Ayrshire); Goose Loch (Selkirkshire); Goosecroft Road (Stirling); Goosefauld (Glasgow) | Gwis croft 1538; the guis hawch of Kynmynty 1554; Gusdubbis 1563; Goos Dubb 1721 | guse n; S1 guse n; S2 guse n; geese n | guse, guis n1 | |
| great, gret | gret, grete | OE grēat | a | great | Greatmoor (Roxburghshire); Great Knock (Peeblesshire); Great Brow (Dumfriesshire); Great Law (Midlothian); Great Hill (Peeblesshire) | Gretrigesmedue c1170; Gretryg c1214; Gretlau a1300; Grittmoore 1654 | great adj; S2 great adj | gret, grett a; grete, greit a | |
| green | grene | OE grēne | a | grassy, green-coloured; covered in grass or greenery | Greenlaw (Angus, Berwickshire, Midlothian); Greenhill (Sutherland); Greenwood (Berwickshire); Greenside (Midlothian); Green Nap (Fife); Greenhead (Roxburghshire); Green Shields (Stirlingshire) | Grenlaw a1159; Grenerig c1220; Grenesyd(e) 1256-59; Greneheved 1296; Grenhil(cotis) 1317; Grenelaw 1492 | green adj; S1 green adj; S2 green adj | grene, grein a | |
| 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 |
| hair | hare, hore | OE hār | a | hoary, grey or white (with age); covered with mould or rime; (of a stone) marking a boundary | Harestanes (Dunbartonshire); Harcarse (Berwickshire); Haregills (Dumfriesshire); Harelawhill (West Lothian); Harestanes Heights (Dumfriesshire) | Hares(ch)awes a1240; Harestan c1320; Hairstaines 1673; Harestone 1753 | hair adj | hare, hair a; hore, hoir a | |
| hawk | hauk, halk | OE hafoc | n | a hawk | Hawkhill (Angus, Ayrshire, Fife); Hawkslaw (Berwickshire); Hawksnest (Roxburghshire); Halk Law (Midlothian); Hawknest Rig (Dumfriesshire); Hagbrae (Midlothian); Hawkshole (Dumfriesshire) | Hawkeschaws c1320; Haucsland 1379; Haukheid 1405; Haukhirst 1457 | hawk n | hawk, hauk n; halk n | |
| heather | hether, hedder, hather, hadder | ME hathir | n | heather | Hedderwick (Angus, East Lothian); Heatherinch (Fife); Heatherbriggs (Aberdeenshire); Heatherstacks (Angus); Heatherwick (Fife); Heathercroft (Sutherland) | Hatheruuich 1094; Hathyr brig a1300; Hatherwik 1509 Hetheruik 1654 | heather n; S1 heather n; S2 heather n | hether, heather n; ADDS hether n, heather n; hed(d)er, heddir n; had(d)ir, had(d)er n; hather, hathir n | |
| heid | hede, hevid | OE hēafod | n | the head; the top or principal extremity; the summit or upper part of a hill or rising ground; the upper end of a town, street or passage, the end next to the main street; the head of a river or valley; a headland, cape or promontory; a jetty or pier at the entrance to a harbour’ | Hillhead (Glasgow); Kinnaird Head (Aberdeenshire); Townhead (Glasgow); Causewayhead (Stirling); Peterhead (Aberdeenshire); Pathhead (Midlothian); St Abb's Head (Berwickshire); Knowehead (Angus); Cleuchheads (Dumfriesshire); Deanhead (Fife); Greenhead (Roxburghshire); Hazelhead (Aberdeen) | Akin-hede 1260; Hertishede a1300; the hevid of Dedryg 1431; Sancte Albis Hede 1461; Petyrheid 1544; Kynardis heid 1570 | heid n; S1 heid n; S2 heid n | hede, heid n1; ADDS hede n1; hevid, heved n; ADDS hevid n1' hade, haed n; haid n | See also DOST toun heid n |
| loch | loch | Gael loch | n | an expanse of standing water, a lake or pond; a narrow or land-locked arm of the sea | Hogganfield Loch (Glasgow) Lochfauld (Dunbartonshire); Loch of Brockan (Orkney); Corby Loch (Aberdeen); Loch of Aithsness (Shetland); Loch Mill (West Lothian); Lochend (Argyllshire, Inverness-shire); Loch of Mey (Caithness); Duddingston Loch (Edinburgh); Lochshot (West Lothian) | Blaklouch a1325; louch medow 1439; Louchside 1451; Burro Lowch 1561-62; North Loch 1569 | loch n; S2 loch n | loch, louche n | See also DOST locheid n |
| hollin | holine | OE holegn | n | a holly bush | Hollandbush (Stirlingshire); Hollinhirst (Dumfriesshire); Hollin Burn (Aberdeenshire); Holland Isle (Kirkcudbrightshire); Hollings (Stirlingshire); Hollen Bush (Wigtownshire) | Holenbus 1620; Hollinbusch 1644; Hollings 1742; Hollinheartston 1755 | hollin n | holin(e, holyn(e n | |
| holm (2) | holm | ON holmr | n | an islet, a small (grassy) island (in a loch or off a larger island) often used for pasturage | Holm of Grimbister (Orkney); Holm of Rendall (Orkney); Holm of Califf (Shetland); Holms of Vatsland (Shetland); Holm of Cruester (Shetland) | Holm a1688; Holms of Spurness 1832; Holm of Huip 1832; Holm of Houss 1887 | holm n; S1 holm n | holm n; ADDS holm n | See also DOST ting holm n |
| halie | haly | OE hālig | a | holy | Holyrood (Edinburgh); Hallidean (Roxburghshire); Holywood (Dumfriesshire); Holywell (Aberdeenshire) | Haliwelburn a1230; Halistane 1329; Halywell 1398; Helliman Rig 1881 | halie adj; S2 halie adj | haly a; holy, holly a | |
| ruid, rood | rud, ruid | OE rōd | n | a cross, a religious symbol, a chapel or church of the Holy Rood; a plot or unit of land; a piece of ground apportioned from the land belonging to a burgh to anyone wishing to set up house thereon and to cultivate the remainder | Holyrood (Edinburgh); Roodlands (East Lothian); Shortroods (Renfrewshire); Roodyards (Angus); Roodland (Ayrshire) | de Huntrodes apud Eccles 13thC; Rauphysrohd c1350; Stokrude 1413; Borrow Roods 1764 | ruid n | rud(e, ruid n1; reed n | See also DOST (rede), reid n6; DOST Burrow rudis n and DOSTBorow ruidis n |
| holm (1), howm | holm | OE holm, ON holmr | n | a stretch of low-lying land beside a river (liable to flooding), a water meadow; a mound, a hollow | Homehead (Aberdeenshire); Bearholms (Dumfriesshire); Demainholm (Roxburghshire); Cockholm (Midlothian); Broomholm (Dumfriesshire) | Kerlyngholm c1240; Mikylholmesyd c1320; Le holme de Wardmedow 1490; Clydis Holm 1553 | howm n; S1 howm n | holm n; ADDS holm 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.)
