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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| water | wattir, watter | OE wæter | n | a large stream (between a burn and a river in size), a tributary of a river; a river valley; a lake, a sheet of water | Howe Water (Aberdeenshire); Water of Luce (Wigtownshire); Whiteadder Water (Berwickshire); Water of Leith (Edinburgh); Markie Water (Aberdeenshire); Waterside (Dumfriesshire, Wigtownshire); Eye Water (Berwickshire); Water of Tarf (Angus) | Blacwater 13thC; Watirtoun 1342; watir of Dee 15thC; Wattirheid 1649 | water n; S1 water n; S2 water n | wa(t)tir n | |
| hungry | hungry | OE hungrig | a | (of soil) poor, unproductive; a piece of enchanted ground | Hungry Hill (Dunbartonshire, Fife, West Lothian); Hungryside Bridge (Stirlingshire); Hungry Stone (Kirkcudbrightshire); Hungry Kerse (Stirlingshire) | Hungrehill 1566-67; Hungriehill 1628; Hungry Hill 1755; Hungry Kerse 1849 | hungry adj | hungry, houngrye a | |
| hunter | huntar | OE hunta | n | a huntsman, a hunter | Hunterland (Midlothian); Hunters Hill (Kirkcudbrightshire); Hunterfield (Midlothian); Hunter Hill (Selkirkshire); Hunterlees (South Lanarkshire) | Hunterisford c1220; Ormehunterisland 1359; Hunterhill 1541; Huntarseit 1543; Hunterland 1591 | hunt v | huntar, hunter n1 | |
| hill | hill, hyll | OE hyll | n | a hill or (low) mountain; a hillock, a mound; a common moor where rough grazing rights are enjoyed jointly by neighbouring farmers; a piece of rough moorland where peats are cut, a peat-moss | Kaim Hill (Ayrshire); Hill of Gairney (Aberdeenshire); Sighthill (Edinburgh, Glasgow); Kinnen Hill (West Lothian); Hillhead (Glasgow); Hill of the Taing (Shetland); Hillfoot (Dunbartonshire); Hilton (Inverness); Raehills (Dumfriesshire) | Herishille a1166; Urilhille c1220; Lamby hill c1220; Buttiris hyll 1552 | hill n; S1 hill n; S2 hill n | hill, hyll n; ADDS hill n | |
| kame | kame | OE camb | n | a long, narrow, steep-sided mound or ridge, a hill-ridge; a small peninsula, a narrow isthmus | Kame of Isbister (Shetland); Kaimflat (Roxburghshire); Kame of Hoy (Orkney); Easter Kame (Shetland); Kaimes (Fife); Kaimhill (Aberdeenshire); Kaim Head (Edinburgh); Kaimend (Roxburghshire); Kame of Riven Noup (Shetland) | Camis 1533; Kems 1654; Kaims Hill 1773; Kaimes 1781 | kame n; S1 kame n; S2 kame n | kame n; came n; kem, keme n | |
| side | side, syde | OE sīde | n | a side, a slope or hillside; the edge of a forest; a bank or shore of a river or sea, the lands adjacent to a waterway; an area lying adjacent to or at the side of a particular building, place or route; a seashore | Kelvinside (Glasgow); Morningside (Edinburgh); Mosside of Kirkbuddo (Angus); Braeside of Cults (Fife); Myreside (Angus); Thickside (Roxburghshire); Bemersyde (Berwickshire); Gateside (Angus); Breckonside (Dumfriesshire) | Cirnside c1098; Galtunesside a1153; Birchinsyde 12thC; Fausydde a1199; Bemersyd c1220; Grenesid c1220 | side n; S2 side n | sid(e n | See also DOST gat(e-syd(e n, water-side n and bra-side 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 | |
| king | king | OE cyning | n | a king, the king | Kingsknowe (Edinburgh); King's Park (Stirling); Kingsmills (Inverness); Kingslinks (Aberdeen); Kingsbarns (Fife); Kingsmuir (Angus); Kingston Grange (Midlothian) | Kingeswell c1200; Kingessete c1200; Kyngeston 1221; Kynggesside a1300; Kynggewell a1300; Kyngestrete c1330 | king n; S1 king n; S2 king n | king n; ADDS king n | |
| cuningar | cuningar, cunnigar | OF conninière, ME conynger | n | a rabbit warren | Kinningars Park (West Lothian); Cunningar Wood (Aberdeenshire); The Cuningar (West Lothian); Cunningar (Midlothian) | Cunyngare 1491; Cunneger hill 1496; Cunnynger hillis1514; Cunnyngayrland 1543 | cuningar n | cuningar, cunningair n; (cunigar), cunnigare n; conyngar(e n; *cuneinyaird n; kunynʒare n | see also DOST cunnygarth n |
| 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 | |
| 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 |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| raw | raw | OE rāw | n | a row of houses, of a uniform design and with common gables; cottages for miners or farm-servants; a street comprising such a line of houses | Langraw (Fife, Roxburghshire); Angelrow (Berwickshire); Fisherrow (Midlothian); Dykeraw (Roxburghshire); Rottenrow (Glasgow); Potterrow (Edinburgh); Westraw (South Lanarkshire) | Mukeraw c1248; Bagraw 14thC; Kirkraw 1364; Curquhewraw 1375 | raw n1; S2 raw n1 | raw, rau(e n; row n3 | See also DOST Rat(t)o(u)n raw and DOST Routton raw |
| 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 | |
| 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 |
| linn | linn | OE hlynn, Gael linn(e) | n | a waterfall, a cateract; a precipice, ravine, a deep narrow gorge; a pool in a river; a pool below a waterfall | Linn o' Dee (Aberdeenshire); Lin Mill (Stirlingshire); Lindean (Selkirkshire); Linn of Muick (Aberdeenshire); Colislinn (Roxburghshire); Lynn (Fife); Bell's Linn (Roxburghshire); Linhouse (Midlothian) | Lynden 1153-45; Lynnesden 1228; Clydis Lin 1649; Lintoun Linn 17thC; Corra Linn 1825 | linn n; S1 linn n; S2 linn n | lin, linn(e, lyn(n n | |
| 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 |
| mouth | mouth, mow | OE mūða | n | a mouth; the mouth, outfall or lower end of a stream, river, estuary, or inland sea; the entrance to a harbour | Lossiemouth (Morayshire); Grangemouth (Stirlingshire); Powmouth (Angus); Eyemouth (Berwickshire); Burnmouth (Angus, Ayrshire); Fordmouth (Angus) | Cramesmude 1097-1107; Brockesmuth 1165-1214; Twedemud 1217-27; Salwildmuthe 1214-49 | mouth n; S1 mouth n; S2 mouth n | mouth n; mow n2 | |
| 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 |
| meedow | medow | OE mǣdwe | n | a meadow, (marshy) grassland which is mown for use as hay | Meadowfield (Edinburgh); Greenmeadow (Shetland); Meadowgreens (Stirlingshire); Broadmeadows (Selkirkshire); Meadowbank (Edinburgh); Fostermeadow (Dumfriesshire); Meadowhead (Fife); The Meadows (Edinburgh) | Gretrigesmedue c1170; Meduflat a1200; Brademedue 1200-02; Hollemedu a1250; medowschott of Restalrig 1579; The Medowburne 1632 | meedow n | medow n | See also DOST medow-skift n and medow-ward n |
| midden | middin, midding | ON *myki-dyngja, ME mydding | n | a dunghill, a refuse heap; a boggy place | Midden Craig (Kirkcudbrightshire); Black Midden (Aberdeenshire); The Middens (Fife); Carsehope Middens (South Lanarkshire) | Blakmiddingis 1508; Mydynnes 1517; Middendub 1781; The Middens 1855 (OS Fife v3) | midden n, S1 midden n, S2 midden n | mid(d)in(g n | |
| mill | miln, mylne | OE myln | n | a mill, a corn-mill | Millburn (Inverness); Mill of Gairn (Aberdeenshire); Waulkmill (Morayshire); Kingsmills (Inverness); Milnquarter (Stirlingshire); Loch Mill (West Lothian); Little Mill (Aberdeenshire); Mill Knowe (Argyllshire); Milnthird (Kirkcudbrightshire) | mulneburne 1165-1214; Milnehalech c 1200; milnecroft 1227; Le mylne crofte 1428; the mylne of Kynnabir 1467 | mill n; S1 milln | miln, mill 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.)
