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.
Do you have any more examples of place-names which use these words? If so, tell us about them!
Page 6 of 8
| Modern Form | Older Scots Form | Etymology | PoS | Definition | Modern Examples | Historical Evidence  | SND Link | DOST Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| bog | bog, boig | Gael bog, bogach | n | a bog, a mire | Bogton (North Lanarskhire); Bogside (Stirlingshire); Bogwells (Fife); Boghead (Dunbartonshire); Bogtown (Stirlingshire); Bogleys (Fife); Boghall (Angus) | Harebogge 1359; Blakeboggys 1359; Lochlebogsyd 1374; bogside 1417; Boighaw 1478 | bog, boag n3 | bog n; ADDS bog n | |
| 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 | |
| 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? |
| 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 | |
| toun | toun | OE tūn | n | a farm (and farm buildings); a hamlet inhabited by estate tenants; a villlage, a burgh, a town; (in Shetland) the enclosed arable ground of a farm | Anderston (Glasgow); Edgerston (Roxburghshire); Mertoun (Berwickshire); Ferryton (Ross and Cromarty); Beckton (Dumfriesshire); Smithton (Inverness); Westerton (Glasgow); Templeton (Angus); Synton (Selkirkshire) | Hadyton 1098; Sprostona 1119-24; Clerchetun c1141; Kyrchetune c1145; Hadingtoun a1150; Langtune c1150 | toun n; S1 toun n; S2 toun n | toun, town(e, ton(e n | See also DOST toun end n and toun heid 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 | |
| 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 |
| 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 | |
| rig, rigg | ryg | ON hryggr, OE hrycg | n | a ridge of high ground, a long narrow hill, a hill-crest; a strip of ploughed land (raised in the middle and sloping towards the sides), a measure of land; a strip of land leased for building in a Scottish burgh (usually with a narrow street frontage and a considerable extension backwards); a chain of hills, rocks or islands | Broomrigg (Dumfriesshire); Rigghouse (West Lothian); Rigghead (Dumfriesshire); Oatrigg (West Lothian) | Gret rigesmedue c1170; Todholerig 1165-82; Mosiburnerig 1195-96; Burnerig 1165-1214 | rig n1; S1 rig n1; S2 rig n1 | rig, ryg(g n | |
| 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 | |
| cot | cot, cote | OE cot | n | a small house, a humble dwelling, a cottage; a sheep-house | Saltcoats (Ayrshire, East Lothian); Cotts of Innes (Morayshire); Cauldcoats (Midlothian); Gatehousecote (Roxburghshire); Lochcote (West Lothian); Banks Cott (Kirkcudbrightshire); Butchercoat (Berwickshire); Coates (Midlothian) | Grenhilcotis c1320; Saltcotis 1368; Lochcot(t)is 1471; Coitcroft 1576 | cot n; S2 cot n | cot, cott n3; cote, coit n2 | See also DOST cotland n and cote-, coit-, coatland, n; and DOST cot-toun 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 | |
| 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 |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| east, aist | est, eist | OE ēast | a | situated in the east, eastern | Eastfield (Glasgow); East Craigs (Edinburgh); East Kilbride (South Lanarkshire); Eastgate (Inverness); East Neuk (Fife); East Grain (Aberdeenshire); East Voe of Quarff (Shetland) | Estfulhope c1240; Estcrag 1278; Est Nesebit 1296; Estschelys 1359; Estwod 1373 | east adj; S2 east adj; aist adj | est, eist a | |
| easter | ester, eister | OE ēasterra | a | eastern, lying towards the east, the more easterly of two places or buildings (in contrast with wester) | Easterhouse (Glasgow); Easter Ross (Ross and Cromarty); Easterton (Aberdeenshire); Easter Quarff (Shetland); Easter Cash (Fife); Easter Tofts (South Lanarkshire); Easter Knock (Aberdeenshire) | Esterhathou a1200; Estyr Fenton c1224; Eister Vemis 1556; Eistyr Drakie 1562 | easter adj | ester, eister, easter a | |
| fell | fell | ON fjall | n | a (rocky) hill, a mountain; a tract of hill-moor | Campsie Fells (Stirlingshire); Long Fell (Kirkcudbrightshire); Fellcleugh (Berwickshire); Round Fell (Kirkcudbrightshire); Dodd Fell (Roxburghshire); Fell Hill (Wigtownshire); Dryden Fell (Roxburghshire); Abbey Fell (Kirkcudbrightshire); Fellend (Dumfriesshire); Fell of Fleet (Kirkcudbrightshire); Capell Fell (Dumfriesshire); Thorter Fell (Kirkcudbrightshire) | Erniltoun fell 1654; Ellemsyde of Felcleuch 1665; Campsie Fells 1795; Fell of Fleet 1832 | fell n2 | fell 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.)
