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 7 of 8
| Modern Form | Older Scots Form | Etymology | PoS | Definition | Modern Examples | Historical Evidence  | SND Link | DOST Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| taft | toft | ON topt, OE toft | n | a homestead (and the attached land), the site of a house or buildings | Taft (Orkney); Easter Tofts (South Lanarkshire); Upper Tofts (Roxburghshire); Tofthill Plantation (Fife); Edgerston Tofts (Roxburghshire); Greentoft (Orkney); Lower Toft (Roxburghshire) | Eghetofft 1214-49; Braytoftis 1248-9; Godemannistoft c.1235; Toftes 1296; Tofts 1622 | taft n | toft n1 | See also DOST Tofting, Thoftyn, n |
| cleugh, cleuch | cleuch | OE *clōh | n | a (narrow) gorge or ravine with steep rocky sides, usually the course of a stream; the steep side of a ravine, a cliff; a crag, a rock | Byrecleugh (Berwickshire); Hare Cleugh (East Lothian); Cleugh Hill (Wigtownshire); Buccleuch (Selkirkshire); The Cleuch (Midlothian); Point of the Cleugh (Wigtownshire) | Edwardes-cloch c1190; Ernesclucht c1350; Westircluch-heuyd c1370; Corsclewch 1456 | cleugh, cleuch n; S2 cleugh n | cleuch n | |
| doocot | dowcot | ME dove + cot | n | a dovecot | Dovecothall (Berwickshire, Renfrewshire); Doocot (Aberdeenshire); Doo' cot Park (Perth); Doo' cot Hill (Clackmananshire); Dovecot Wood (Aberdeen); Dovecotwell (Dumfriesshire) | ducat burne 1592; doucott aiker 1593; dowcat wynde 1660; Dovecot Park 1781 | doocot n; S2 doocot n | dowcot, dowcat n | |
| dern | dern, darn | OE derne | a | secret, obscure, hidden; dark, dreary, lonely, desolate | Derncleugh (Aberdeen); Darnick (Roxburghshire); Darnrig Moss (Stirlingshire); Dernfurd (Aberdeenshire) | Dernewic c1136; Dernewick 1584; Dernfurd 1662; Derne Moss 1684 | dern adj; S2 dern adj | dern(e, darn(e a | |
| hirst | hirst | OE hyrst | n | a (hard or barren) hillock, knoll or ridge; the summit of a rocky hill; a bank of sand, shingle or gravel in a river or harbour | Brocklehirst (Dumfriesshire); Brackenhirst (North Lanarkshire); Ferniehirst (Midlothian, Roxburghshire); Sandy Hirst (East Lothian); South Nettlehirst (Ayrshire) | de Twa Hullyrhyrstis 1456; Brakanhirst 1475; Farnihirst 1524-25; Fairnyhirst 1599 | hirst n | hirst, hyrst n1 | |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| corse, cross | corse, croce, cros | OE cros, ON kross | n | a cross; a market cross, a market place, a boundary cross; a cairn, a pile of stones on a hill-top | Corseford (Renfrewshire); Corsehill (Kirkcudbrightshire); Corsewall (Wigtownshire); Coarse Hill (Fife); Tollcross (Edinburgh, Glasgow); Corseyard (Kirkcudbrightshire); Crossford (South Lanarkshire); Crossgates (Fife); Corsehope (Midlothian); Corseland (Kirkcudbrightshire) | Crossrigeflat c1220; Crosflatte c1320; Hakkerstane crose 1425; Crosdikis 1456 | corse, cors, kors n; croce n; cross n; S1 cross n; S2 cross n | cors, corce, corse n2; croce n1; cros, cross(e n1; croice, crois(e n; crose, croas 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 | |
| clint, klint | clynt | ODan klint | n | a cliff, a high crag, a precipice; a rock or large stone; a crevice in rocks; steep faces on a high hill | Clints of Drumore (Kirkcudbrightshire); Clintwood Castle (Roxburghshire); Oak Clints (Kirkcudbrightshire); Clints (Midlothian); Clints of the Buss (Kirkcudbrightshire); Clinthill (Dumfriesshire, Fife); Clints of the Spout (Kirkcudbrightshire); Sound Clint (Kirkcudbrightshire) | Clinkskaillis 1556; Klintwood 1654; Clints March 1781; Clintwood 1832 | clint, klint n; S2 clint n | clint, clynt 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 |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| cairter | carter, karter | ME cartare | n | a carter | Carterhaugh (Angus, Selkirkshire); Carter Bar (Roxburghshire); Carterhope Burn (Peeblesshire); Carter Fell (Roxburghshire) | Carterford c1250; Cartergate c1250; Cartarehauch 1489-90; Carteryards 1657 | cairter n | cartar(e, carter n1; karter, kairter, n | See also SND S1 cadger n |
| carse | kerse, cars | uncertain | n | low and fertile land along the bank of a river | Carse of Gowrie (Perthshire); The Carse (Inverness); Kinneil Kerse (West Lothian); Carse of Raddery (Ross and Cromarty); Carse Knowe (West Lothian); Kerse (Ayrshire); East Kerse Mains (West Lothian); Carsethorn (Kirkcudbright); Carseburn (Angus) | Cars 1292; Ferycars 1359; Cars de Buthkener 1359; Kars 1390; Kers 1392; Kerse de Kambus 1451; Carse of Gowrie 1564; Kersheid 1641 | carse n | cars, carse n; kars n; kers(e n1 | |
| 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 | |
| hause, hass | hals | OE hals, ON hals | n | a neck; a defile, a narrow passage between hills, the head of a pass; a narrow neck of water; a narrow connecting ridge between two heights on a watershed’ | Packman's Hass (Peeblesshire); Broomhass (Kirkcudbrightshire); Hass o' Ramna Geo (Orkney); Watchy Hass (Dumfriesshire); Peat Hass (Kirkcudbrightshire); The Hawse (Edinburgh); Mennock Hass (Dumfriesshire); Dub of Hass (Kirkcudbrightshire); West Hass (Orkney); Hass (Kirkcudbrightshire); Guile Hass (Dumfriesshire); Hause Burn (Kirkcudbrightshire) | Cairn-brae-hawse 1822; Hankhass 1832; The Hawse 1852; Broomhass 1852; Mennock-hass 1874 | hause n; S2 hause n | hals n; ADDS hals n | |
| bank | bank | ON bakki, *banki, ME banke | n | a bank, a river bank; a raised shelf or ridge of ground; steep cliffs or precipitous rocks (along the coast); a hill slope; a foot-path or walk; the place in a moss from which peats are cut; the boundary line of a farm | Clydebank (Dunbartonshire); Bankfoot (Perthshire); Scrogbank (Selkirkshire); Meadowbank (Edinburgh); Springbank (Wigtownshire); Bankend (Dumfriesshire); Greenbank (Aberdeenshire); Nessbank (Inverness) | Byrkebanke 13thC; Brerybankes 1367; Bankhede 1519; Bankend 1546 | bank n2, S1 bank n2, bakk n1 | bank n1 | |
| bourtree | bourtre | ME burtre | n | the elder tree | Bourtreebush (Angus); Bourtrees (Ayrshire); Bourtreehill North, Bourtreehill South (Ayrshire); Bourtree Bush Park (West Lothian); Bourtreebuss (Fife) | Burtrees c1320; Bourtriehill 1590; Bourtrees 1662; Bourtrie-mailing 1663 | bourtree n; S2 bourtree n | bourtré, bowtré n | see also SND bour n |
| know, knowe | know, knoll | OE cnoll | n | a small rounded hill, a hillock or mound (sometimes associated with fairies) | Acreknowe (Roxburghshire); Crowdieknowe (Dumfriesshire); Knowe of Grugar (Orkney); Mill Knowe (Argyllshire); Tappetknowe (Stirlingshire); Silver Knowe (Perthshire); Gallows Knowe (West Lothian); Knowe of Steeringlo (Orkney) Knowehead (Aberdeenshire, Angus); Broomknowe (Fife); Knowe of Burgarth (Shetland); Silverknowes (Edinburgh); Dam Knowe (Wigtownshire) | Brunecnolh 1165-1249; Knolestruthyr c1350; Lie widderitknow 1599; Clerks Know 1754 | know n; S1 know n; S2 know n | knoll n; know n | |
| brume, broom | brume, brome | OE brōm | n | the plant broom, bushes or stretches of broom | Broompark Farm (Glasgow); Broomhill (Ross and Cromarty); Broomhouse (East Lothian, Edinburgh, Roxburghshire); Broomridge (Stirling); Broomhall (Fife); Broomlands (Dumfriesshire, Midlothian, Roxburghshire); Broomknowes (Ayrshire) | Brumcrok c.1300; Bruymdyk 1490; Bromeparkis 1556; brumecroft c1567 | brume, brim n; S1 brume n; breem, breme n1; broom n1 | brume n; brome, browme n | |
| breckan, brechan | brakan | ME braken | n | bracken | Breckonside (Dumfriesshire); Breconrae (Dumfriesshire); Brackenhirst (North Lanarkshire); Brekenrig (Dumfriesshire); Bracken Falls (Wigtownshire); Brackenleys (Stirlingshire); Breconside (Kirkcudbrightshire); Breckenshank (Dumfriesshire) | Brakanwra c1270; Brakenrig 1428; Brakanhirst 1475; Brakanrig 1504 | brachan, brachen, brechan n; bracken n; breckan, brecken n | brakan, braikane n1 | |
| braid | brade | OE brād | a | broad or wide | Braidshaw (Midlothian); Braidley (Roxburghshire); Braidfield (Dunbartonshire); Broadhaugh (Roxburghshire); Broadleys (Fife); Braidwood (Midlothian) | Bradestrother c1200; Brademedwe c1200; Bradeforde c1230; Bradewude a1240 | braid adj; S1 braid adj; S2 braid adj | brade, braid a | |
| 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 | |
| blin | blind | OE blind | a | not patent to the sight, covered, hidden; obscure, dark; unfertile, unproductive, barren | The Blind Tunnel (Glasgow); Blindwells (Angus, Fife); Blind Capul (Fife); Blindhaugh Burn (Selkirkshire); Blindwell (Stirlingshire); Blindwalls (Wigtownshire) | Blyndewelle c1200; Blindethuayt c1218; Blindsyke c1350; Blyndle 1455; Blindley 1543 | blin, blind adj; S2 blin adj | blind, blynd a |
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.)
