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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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 |
| 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 | |
| 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 |
| muir | mure | OE mōr | n | barren open country, uncultivated heathery land considered part of an estate; a tract or expanse of heath; a peat moor; a tract of unenclosed common land held by a town or village; a market green | Muirhouse (Edinburgh); Nethermuir (Ayrshire); Muircroft (Argyllshire); Lammermuir (Berwickshire); Muiredge (Fife); Haughmuir (Angus); Clynelish Muir (Sutherland); Skaithmuir (Berwickshire); Muirhead (Fife) | Morthuweit a1153; Inter Lambremor et Tay 1153; De mora de Edenham 1160; Pilemor c1170 | muir n, S2 muir n | mure, muir, mor(e, moir n | See also DOST mur(e)-, muirland n |
| moss | mos | OE mos | n | a marsh, a bog, a tract of soft wet ground; a bog from which peats are dug, a moorland on an estate allocated to the tenants for cutting fuel | Mosspark (Glasgow); Moss of Cruan (Orkney); Moss of Wester (Caithness); Moss Croft (Aberdeenshire); Red Moss (Caithness); Hallmoss (Aberdeenshire) | Mosplat c 1220; Byermos 1219-33; Grenemos c1300-30; Ridhalchis Mowse 1475 | moss n; S2 moss n | mos 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 | |
| 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 | |
| milton | milntoun | OE myln + tūn | n | the buildings comprising a mill; the farm adjacent to a mill and tenanted by the miller; a hamlet which has grown up around a mill | Milton of Campsie (Dunbartonshire); Milton of Balgonie (Fife); Waulkmilton (Stirlingshire); Milton of Whitehouse (Aberdeenshire); Milton of Tullich (Aberdeenshire); Milltown of Phingask (Aberdeenshire); Milton (Dumfriesshire, Fife, Glasgow, Inverness); Miltongreen (Fife); Milton of Ogilvie (Angus); Milton of Leyes (Inverness) | milnetun 13thC; Mylnetoun c1240; myltoune of Concragy 1491; myllnetoun of Dunblane 1601; milltun of Lausie 1708 | mill n | miln-toun, myltoune n | |
| nether | nether, nedder | OE neoþerra | a | lower, under; the lower-sited of two places (of the same name) | Netherglen (Morayshire); Nethergate (Dundee); Netherburn (South Lanarkshire); Nether Pitcastle (Perthshire); Netherthird (Kirkcudbright); Netherton of Pittendrum (Aberdeenshire); Netherbyre (Morayshire); Netherwood (Dunbartonshire) | Nethirmerkhill 1363; Nethir Lebertoun 1387; Nethirkirkgate 1407; Nedyr Kyrk gate 1453; Neddirardis 1458; Nedder Pollok 1494-5 | nether adj | nether, nather a1; ned(d)er a | |
| north | north | OE norþ | a | situated in the north, northerly | Northfaulds (South Lanarkshire); North Haven (Aberdeenshire); North Berwick (Berwickshire); North Queensferry (Fife); North Shiel (West Lothian); North Mains (Angus); Norton (Midlothian); North Kessock (Ross and Cromarty); North Grain (Angus) | Northberwic c1211; Northflat 13thC; Northlandis 1306; Northbarnis 1328; Norbernys 1358; Northgat 1400 | north adj; S2 north adj | north adj | |
| orchard, wortchat | orchat | OE ortgeard | n | an enclosure for the cultivation of fruit-trees | Orchardton (Kirkcudbrightshire); Orchardfield (Fife); Orchardhead (Stirlingshire); Lugton Orchard (Midlothian); Orchard (Roxburghshire, Dumfriesshire); Orchard Rig (Peeblesshire) | Orchidiardstrother c1320; Orchardcroft 1451; Orchardfelde 1470; the orchet of Carslo 1498-99; Orchartfeild 1522; Boyellis hortchet 1571; Oarchyeardtoune 1694 | wortchat n | orchard n; orchat n | |
| otter, witter | otter | OE oter | n | an otter | Otter Isle (Kirkcudbrightshire); Otter Burn (Midlothian, Roxburghshire); Otter Strand (Kirkcudbrightshire); Otters Pool (Orkney); Otter Ayre (Shetland) | Otyrburn a1300; Otirburne 1373; Otterburne 1593; Oatters Pool 1765 | otter n; witter n4 | otter n, notyr n | |
| pike | pyke | OE pīc, ON pík | n | a sharp pointed hill; a pointed pile of stones, a cairn; a pointed tip, a tapering horn-like projection | Unthank Pikes (Roxburghshire); Pikeham (Midlothian); Pike Hole (West Lothian); Pike Fell (Roxburghshire); Pikestone Rig (Selkirkshire) | Pike 1785; Pyke 1801; Pike Fell 1832; Rone Fell 1832 | pike n | pik(e, pyk(e n1 | |
| puil | pule | OE pōl, OE pyll | n | a pool, a pond, a small expanse of standing water; a pool in a river; (in Shetland) a small marsh, a patch of swampy ground | Cockpool (Dumfriesshire); Boretree Pool (Kirkcudbrightshire); Piperpool (Fife); Alder Pool (Kirkcudbrightshire); Stirkpool (Dumfriesshire); Washing Pool (Kirkcudbrightshire) | Hum Pulles 1198-1214; Blakepol c1190; le Pulle 1359; Sloypule 1456; the pwll of Monboy 1458; Foull Poull 1557-78 | puil n; S2 puil n | pule, puil(l n | |
| patter | pottar | OE pottere | n | a potter, a maker or vendor of pots | Potter Row (Edinburgh); Potterhill (Ayrshire); Potterton (Aberdeenshire); Potterland (Kirkcudbrightshire); Potterston (Ayrshire) | Pottermedow 1333; Pottartoune 1457; Pottarraw 1561; Potter raw a1568 | pot n | pottar n | |
| priest | prest | OE prēost | n | a priest, a clergyman of the Roman Catholic church | Priesthill (Glasgow); Prestwick (Ayrshire); Prieston (Roxburghshire); Priestfield (Angus); Priest's Well (Aberdeenshire); Priestside (Dumfriesshire); Preston (Kirkcudbrightshire, Midlothian); Priestlands (Kirkcudbrightshire); Priest's Knowe (Aberdeenshire) | Prestbrige 1153-61; Preston 1165-1214; Prestmunethburne 1214-49; Prestfeld 1327 | priest n, S1 priest n | prest(e n | |
| rae, ray | ra, ro | OE rā | n | the roe deer | Raehills (Dumfriesshire); Raeshaw (Midlothian); Raeburn (Dumfriesshire); Rawburn (Berwickshire); Roebuck's Seat (Perthshire); Raegill (Dumfriesshire) | Rasawe 1208; Le Raahill 1456; Raa loch 1510-11; Reyschaw 1627 | rae n1 | ra, ray n1; ro, roe n2 | |
| 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 |
| reid | rede, rid | OE rēad | a | red or reddish in colour | Redhouse (Fife); Redhall (Midlothian); Redpath (Berwickshire); Red Road (Glasgow); Redkirk (Dumfriesshire); Redwells (Fife); Red Liggat (Wigtownshire); Redheugh (Ayrshire, Roxburghshire); Red Moss (Caithness); Redhall (Dumfriesshire) | Redford 12thC; Redinch 1198-9; Reidfurde 1214-29; Rydnure 1348; Ridhalchis Mowse 1475 | reid adj; S1 reid adj; S2 reid adj | red(e, reid adj; rid, redd(e adj | |
| 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 |
| sand, saun | sand | OE sand | n | sand, sandy ground, the sea-shore, a beach | Sandend (Banffshire); Sandhead (Wigtownshire); Seton Sands (East Lothian); Sandgreen (Kirkcudbrightshire); Sands of Luce (Wigtownshire); Sand Brae (Aberdeenshire); Silver Sands (Morayshire); Sand Mill (Wigtownshire); Sands (Fife) | Joymersandes c1240; Burch-in-the-sand la14thC; Sand halch 1435; Sandfurde 1449; the sandis of Mussilburghe 1561; sandhalff c1616 | sand n; S2 sand n | sand n | |
| sandy | sandy | OE sandig | a | consisting of, or covered in sand; sandy | Sandy Hirst (East Lothian); Sandyford (Dunbartonshire); Sandystones (Roxburghshire); Sandyhill (Fife); Sandy Knowes (North Lanarkshire); Sandilands (South Lanarkshire); Sandydub (Fife) | Sandilandis 1348; Sandystanis 1499-1500; Sande Knowis 1550; Sandieburne 1632 | sandy adj | sandy adj; S2 sandy adj | |
| shank | schank | OE scanga | n | a downward spur or projection of a hill, a descending ridge which joins a hill summit to the plain | Shankfoot (Kirkcudbright); Shank (Midlothian); Shankend (Roxburghshire); Shank of Inchgrundle (Angus); Shank Cleugh (Midlothian); Meg's Shank (Dumfriesshire); Shankend Wood (Midlothian) | Schanke c1320; Cammo Schaunkis 1507 Bowshank 1593; The Shankfot croft 1690 | shank n | s(c)hank n | |
| shaw | schaw | OE sceaga, scaga, ON skagi | n | a small (natural) wood, a copse, a thicket, a grove; a bank of narrow ground at the top which broadens out towards the foot | Pollokshaws (Glasgow); Shawhead (North Lanarkshire); Shaw Brae (Kirkcudbrightshire); Kirkshaws (North Lanarkshire); Shaw Hill (Wigtownshire); Shaw Fell (Kirkcudbrightshire) | Haresawes a1240; Crennescawe 1214-49; Swynschawis 1265; Langesawe 1294; Hawkeschaws 1315-21 | shaw n2 | s(c)haw n1 |
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.)
