Scottish Words and Phrases

Scottish words and phrases that could be found in deeds, wills other documents

ABBACY, abbey, or abbot's office

ABOLEIST, abolished

ABSOLVITOR, Judgement for the defender in a civil action

ABULZEAMENTIS (abulziements, abilyementis, abuilyiement, bulyament), clothes

ACCIDENTS, the payment incidental to admission as a burgess.  

ACCRETION, The enlargement of an inheritance or legacy following the failure of a co-heir to prove their share.  

ACQUIET, guarantee undisturbed possession of land.  

ACTIS acts, legal documents recording what has been done

ACTORNEY, attorney

ADJUGE, sentence to pay a fine

ADJUDICATION. CHARTER OF, charter granted by the crown to a creditor of the estate of his debtor in satisfaction of the debt.

ADMINICLE, Supporting documentary evidence

ADMONEIS, admonish 

ADNUL, vb. annul, p. adnullit, annulled

ADOES (adois), business.

ADVISE,look to, see after.  

ADVOCATE bring a judgment before a higher tribunal for review. or second opinion

AE, only (e.g. son) ae coo's meat; enough land to raise one cow.

AFOIR, before

AGANIS, against

AGNATE, one related on the father's side.

AIK, oak.

AIR, heir;

AIRE, circuit court

AIRMY, army

AIRTH, quarter from which the wind blows

AISLE, the covered burial place annexed to a church 

AITSEED,  the season for the sowing of oats

AIXIES, ague, fever

ALEUIN, eleven

ALHALLOW, Allhallowtide. All Saints Day

ALLEGEANCE,  allegations

ALLEKAY, a bridegroom's attendant or a footman or lackey

ALIMENT, process of, legal process for the maintenance of children, wife, or parent.

ALLYE, kinship,  allies, friends  or associate.

ALMERAL, admiral

AMAND compensation or  fine.  

AMAROLD, emerald.  

AMERCIAT fined, a fine

AMRIE (aumrie), cupboard either moveable or fixed and taken from the French word  armoire  

ANDERMESS,  St Andrew's Day (November 30th)

ANE, One.

ANENT, about, concerning;

ANIS, once.  

ANNALZIE, transfer of ownership to another

ANNAT, initial six months or year's income due in payment to executors of an estate

ANNESIS, appurtenances, annexed to land.  

ANNEX, a minor property subsidiary to one that is more important

ANNUAL RENT interest on money, or mortgage ; literally, the yearly rent.  

ANNUALLAR  someone in receipt of a yearly rent

ANSUER, answer

ANTECESSOUR,  ancestor

ANTIANT, ancient

ANTICIPET, anticipated

APAYN OF, under penalty of

APPARENT  whereby the succession process has begun for someone following the death of a predecessor but is yet incomplete  (not to be confused with heir-apparent).

APPELL, appeal

APPOINT, order the destination of property (in court).  

APPREHEND, seize in the name of the law, either goods or a person

APPRISE, to place and value on and sell the land of a debtor in order to pay off the debt

APPURTENANCE, often a small portion of land that is hung on to - not let go of - not sold or given as a gift

AQUA, whisky

ARAGE, feudal service with draught-cattle

ARAND, ploughing, tilling

ARBITER, anarbitrator (chosen voluntarily by the parties concerned to settle a dispute)

ARK,  a chest or trunk, suitable for storing grain, etc 

ARLE, take into service on payment of a sum of money

ARRELS  earnest money given to servants to bind an engagement

ARREST, to apprehend or seize property of a debtor which is being held by a third party.  

ARRESTEE, the person from whom a third party's assets are removed.

ARRESTMENTS, loosing, relaxing attachment for debt.  

ARTAILZERIE, artillery.  

AS ACCORDS (of law), agreeable to law.  

ASHET, a large, usually oval but occasionally round, serving plate, sometimes lavishly decorated could be taken from the assiette, mening a plate

ASIAMENT, convenience, an advantage.

ASSEDATION, a tack or letting of land for a term.

ASSIGNATION, deed assigning debts or rights to another,

ASSIZE, jury, or inquest.

ASSOILZIE, acquit, hold not liable

ASSUME, to levy a tax on church property 

ASSURANCE, guarantee

ASSYTH, compensation, indemnification, reparation

ASTRENZE, place under obligation

AS WODINSDAY,  Ash Wednesday

ATENTIC, authentic

ATHILL, noble

ATTINGENT, close, near -  in terms of age or relationship

ATTOUR, besides

AUCHT, This can mean "eight," or "eighth", or sometimes " owned" or "owed", as well as meaning a possession.  

AUEN, own

AUNTIE, an unmarried woman keeping a tavern

AUSTRAL, southern

AUTHOR, the individual from whom a title or ownership is originated either  by sale or as a gift

AVER  a draught horse, old horse.

AWAND  owing.

AWARD  ground ploughed after the first crop

AWBLASTER, crossbow

AWNER, shipowner

AY, always

AYE AND WHILE, until

AYR - IS, heir, -s

BACKMAN, supporter in time of war

BACK UP,  endorse

BACKSEATS subleases of land

BAGINET bayonet.

BAICK BREAD  kneading trough or baking board.

BAILIE magistrate in a burgh or in a barony, officer employed to give seisine  or formal possession of land.

BAILIE-COURT, a court presided over by a bailie as magistrate.

BAIRN, barne, a young person, youth (as opposed to modern day useage, child or infant), could also describe a schoolboy or chorister

BAIRNTIME, bairnteme, offspring, brood of children also used to describe a group of animals

BAITH, baitht, bath, batht, bayth, both

BAIT WRICHT, shipwright, a boat-builder

BAJAN, first year university student

BALLANCE, flat dish, plate 

BALLANDIS  balances or scales for madder, a kind of dye stuff or a measure.

BALULALOW, lullaby.

BAND, bond, contract.

BANDIS, marriage banns

BANERMAN,   a bearer of army standard - a standard bearer

BANIS,  banish.

BANKET, banquet 

BANNES, banish or banned

BAPTIST, christened, named

BAREMAN, a bankrupt individual, or a person iwith debts

BARGAIN,  dispute

BARON BAILLIE, a baron's deputy

BARON COURT, within a barony, a tribunal presided over by the baron or his deputy  a bailie

BARONY free, an estate holding of the crown, and erected by crown charter into a barony, with power to hold courts, inflict penalties, etc.

BARRIKIN, small barrel

BASAR, an executioner

BASTION,  cudgel.

BATEL, battel, battle

BATOUN, baton

BATTARD, small cannon

BAUCHILL, to denounce or disgrace  in public

BAUDKIN, a cloth, lavishly embroidered and decorated

BAXTER, baker. Baxtarie, baxtrey; the craft of baking

BAYRN,  bayrns, or barne,  bairnis, child orchildren

BAYTHT, both

BE, (prep.) by

BEAND, being.  

BEAR, bere, barley.

BEARER, coal carrier, often a girl or woman, who carried the coals in baskets from the face to the shaft

BEDDAL, peddel, 1. church/kirk officer but could also be used to describe a University officer

BEDHOUS, BEDE HOUS, hospital or almshouse

BEE-SCAIFS (or bee-skeps), bee-hives.

BEET,  a bundle of flax

BEETYACH, bittoch, bittock, small sword or dagger, a knife

BEIR, bear, i.e. barley.

BEITTING, building.  

BEKEN, admit as possessor

BELL PENNY, money saved for funeral costs

BENIS, beans.

BENT SILVER, financial contribution from children at school to pay for 'bent grass' to be used as a floor covering

BEREANS, Protestant sect

BERE FRA, to dispossess someone of land or property

BERIS, place of burial

BERN,  barn

BERS, very small cannon

BESCHOP, bishop

BEST AUCHT, the most valuable possession including animals and  articles that could  be claimed by a superior on the death of his tenant

BETUIX, between

BEUK, book

BIBIL, a bible

BIG, build

BIGGEN, with child

BIGGING  building.

BILGET, billiet, military order in document form

BIND, bin standard barrel measure for packing goods

BING, funeral pile

BIRD ALANE, only child 

BIRLAW COURT, local court for lesser disputes.

BIRLIN, birling,  a large  rowing boat, or a galley from the Western Highlands

BIRL QUHEIL, spinning wheel

BIRNING, a punishment by branding

BIRNY, byrne, coat of mail

BIRTH, crop, produce

BIRTHFUL, fertile, usually with reference to farm animals

BLAC, black

BLACK HOUS, thatched Highland hut of stone and turf, with a central fireplace on sn earthen floor

BLANTER, oat-based food, could be used to describe porridge

BLASON, King or Queen's messenger's badge of authority

BLEEZE SILVER, gift of money to a schoolteacher at Candlemas

BLENCH FERME (also blench-duty), mode of land-tenure, a nominal or peppercorn rent

BLEW, blue.

BLOKIT, bargain.  

BLUDE ROLL, list of those accused of bloodshed.

BLUE, a spirit, usually whisky

BOCHT, bought.

BODAY, a scarlet dye 

BODDOCH, a  liquid measure equivalent to three-quarters of a pint

BODILY, a solemn oath personally given.

BODOM, bottom.

BOID, bid.  

BOIRDOURS, borders

BOLL, the heaped measure of that name, most commonly equivalent to six bushels,

BONDAGE, service owed and performed by a farm worker for the farmer

BOND OF PROVISION, bond by a father, providing for his children.

BOND OF TAILLIE, entail.  

BONDELSOURE, bonelesew, pasturage linked to bond service

BONE WARK, bonday wark, service, unremunerated work as part of tenant service, bone/bonday plewis, unpaid ploughing as part of tenant service, bone/bonday silver money paid in lieu of service

BONNET, bannet, protective metal helmet

BONNET LAIRD, small farmer who owns and tends his land

BORDER WARRANT, a warrant for the seizure of the effects and person of a man in England for debts owed in Scotland. 

BOREAUS, borreaus, executioners, hangmen

BORDEL, brothel Bordeler; brothel-keeper, can also be used to describe a person who frequents brothels

BOREING, borrowing.

BOROW, borrow, stand surety, usually for bail

BOS, leather wine container

BOT (butt), without.

BOTE, wine cask

BOTHYN, a lordship

BOTISMAN, boitisman, boitman, botman, boatman

BOUND COURT, district tribunal

BOUNTY, extra sum paid to fishermen at end of season's fishing

BOUTHOUS, mill building for the sifting of the flour

BOW, a herd of cattle, cattle-stock, more often than not cows

BOW HOUS cow shed

BOX MASTER, treasurer, keeper of the cashbox.

BOX PENNY, market duty

BOYART, small single mast vessel

BOYIS, leg-irons

BRABONER, weaver

BRAE, salmon trap

BRAIG, large knife

BRANKS, iron bridle/gag, for the public punishment for the likes of abusive language or for a wife's nagging's

BRED, measurement unit for skins

BREEK BROTHER, rival in love

BREVE  a writ from chancery authorizing an inquest or service.

BREW TALLOUN, duty paid for the rights to brew

BRIDLE SILVER, tip given to servant for leading a horse

BRIEVE BAUCK, a ridge of land left unploughed

BRIGANTINE, form of armour

BRIM, stream, burn

BROD, yound child, often the youngest in a family

BRODER (brodir, broder, broyr, brudir, brethyr, bredther, brither), brother. 

BRODER BARN, brother's offspring Broderdochter, brother's daughter; broderson, brother's son

BRODMAL, brood 

BROGGIT STAFF, a pike

BROKEN, without a feudal chief, outlawed

BROKIN ship-wrecked, or stranded

BROWD, embroider,

BRUGHT, burgh.  

BRUSERY, embroidery.

BUGGIS, lamb's wool.

BUIRDE, board.  

BUIT, payment  of compensation

BUITIS, torture instrument

BULGIT, a bag

BULLAX, type of axe

BULL'S HEAD, symbol of the death penalty, indicating imminent execution

BUN, small barrel

BUNSUCKEN,  bound in service to a pre-designated mill

BURCHT, burght, burgh

BURD CLOTH, a  table cloth.  

BURDINER, guarantor assuming financial responsibility for another

BURDING, burden.

BURGAGE, burgh law. a form of tenure under which land in a royal burgh is held by the king or Queen (or the land itself)

BURGESS AIR, the heir of a burgess.

BURGESS TICKET, the document conferring the freedom of a burgh to an individual.

BURGH COURT, town or burgh tribunal

BURGH LAW, town law, based on the early 15th system

BURGH RUDIS, land under cultivation belonging to the town

BURNIS, brooks, streams, or burns

BURNLEDER,  a water-carrier

BUROUSTOUNIS borough-towns

BURRYMAN, scapegoat for all the ills befalling a community

BUSH, vessel used to carry cargo, or occasionally for fishing

BUTTERMAN, one who trades in butter 

BY, apart from

BYER cow shed

BYGOTTIN, illegitimate

BYRONIS, arrears.

CADDIE, a military cadet 

CADUCIAR, subject to, by means of

CAIBE, cabinet maker

CAIRD, tinker, pot-mender, one who travels the country

CAIRT, cart, a ship's chart or a cart.

CAIRTER, carter

CALLAN, girl

CALSAY, causeway, street

CANDAVAIG, type of salmon 

CANDLEMAS, 2nd of February, a Scottish quarter day  The days on which farm contracts, leases, rents began and ended.

CANNONAR, cannoneer, one who fires a cannon

CANNY, canvas

CANOUS, grey-haired

CAPE, a privateer. Caping, capring, privateering

CAPELLANE, cheplaine, a chaplain

CAPER, bread or oatcake with butter and cheese , on the other hand could be used as a term for a Pirate's vessel, privateer

CAPITANRY, captaincy

CAPPER, copper 

CAPTION, arrest. Captour; a court-appointed official or person  to apprehend criminals

CARAGE, carraige, a form of servitude by which a tenant was bound to carry for the proprietor a stipulated quantity of coals, grain, etc., or to serve him with men and horses a certain number of days in the year.  This could also be done as a payment in kind

CARDOW, work illegally in a  trade without being a freeman,

CARDOWER, an illegal worker in trade or a travelling tinker or tradesman could also describe a travelling tailor

CARECAKE, small cake eaten on Shrove Tuesday

CARE SONDAY, Passion Sunday

CARRY, weir

CARTOW, quarter cannon, a cannonball weighing a quarter of a hundredweight - 28 lbs

CAST, repeal as illegal, to cancel out

CASTELLAW, flour or cheese measure

CASTELLWARD, payment in lieu of the required feudal service of guarding a castle

CASTING UP THE HERETAGE, to do a deed that is against the history of the land

CASUALTY, miscellaneous item of revenue due from a tenant under certain circumstances

CATERAN, an outlaw or group of outlaws

CATHEAD, poor quality ironstone 

CAUSEY PAIKER, prostitute

CAUTIONER, surety

CAVEL, a division, share of property, assigned by lot

CEDENT, an individual who assigns property to another

CERTIORAT(E), certified

CESSIO BONORUM, legal process enabling a debtor to avoid prison by surrendering all his means, on the assumption that he was not guilty of fraud

CESSIONER, an individual who is in receipt of property that has been ceded by another

CHAKKERAW, the Exchequer Row ; and also a chequered cloth or chess board.

CHALDER, a measure of sixteen bolls.

CHALLENDER, maker of coverlets

CHALLOP, large boat

CHAMBER IRON CHIMNEY, an iron grate for a room.  

CHAMBERLAIN,  a principal officer of the Scottish Royal household also describes the circuit court presided over by the chamberlain.

CHAMLET, light cloak, garment

CHAMPART, the share of produce due under the feudal system a tythe

CHAPLAINRY, chaplaincy

CHAPTANE, captain

CHARGER, plaintiff

CHARPENTEIR, carpenter

CHARTER, a document of title, grant from the crown, the conveyance of an estate.

CHARTEROUR, a Carthusian

CHAUMER, chalmirleir, chambermaid.  Chaumercheild, valet

CHECK WHEEL, a wheel for spinning lint,

CHEIFFIS, chiefs

CHEKKER,  official auditor appointed to hear court cases relating to royal revenues

CHESTON, chestnut 

CHETERY, land reverting to the feudal lord when the tenant died intestate

CHILDER, ordinary sailors, hands on ship or  people in general

CHILDIR, cheldyr, children 

CHIMNEY CREWKES, hooks for hanging pots over the fire.

CHIMNEY GALLOWES, projecting beam on which to hang pots and pans

CHIMNEY SPEEL, a spit for roasting.

CHIRURGEON,  a surgeon. taken from the  Greek, meaning a worker with the hand.

CHOPIN  a quart measure.

CHOPIS BAK, back shops.  

CHRISTIN,   a Christian. also used to describe Christmas

CHYMNA, chimney.

CINQUEFOIL, a charge in heraldry, consisting of five leaves.  

CIRURGYEN, surgeon.

CISTEUS, a Cistercian

CITAT, cited

CITE, city.

CITINAR, citinares, citizen(s), people

CLAG  claim against property

CLAIS, claiths,   clothes.

CLAMANT, demand for redress

CLAP DYKE, wall for drainage, usually turf or earth

CLAYTH  cloth

CLEARANCES, the practice of removing tenants from land, mainly to enlarge and improve farming efficiency (Highlands Clearences), when many of the families went to the new worlds

CLED, provided

CLEIT, small stone construction for drying peat

CLEME, claim

CLEPE AND CALL, a court summons

CLOUT, small piece of land

CLUB, an apprentice, usually in shoemaking, who is not yet a freeman

COAD (cod), pillow or cushion; COADWAIR  pillow slip or cushion cover.

COAL FAULD, coal yard. Coll bearer; a woman who carryies the coal on her back from the coal face to the surface. Coll heuch, a mine. Collever, coal-carrying horse

COBLE a small craft or fishing boat ; or of a kiln, a vessel for steeping malt.

COCKET , a certificate under the seal of the proper officer that the customs have been paid on goods exported from such and such a post. Clerk of cocquet, or coqueter, is the officer who grants the certificates.  

COFE, an exchange

COFT, bought

COGNITION, the magisterial act of recognizing an heir, as entitled to be seized in property. Thus to be "cognosced heir " is to be formally recognised as such.

COGSTER, flax dresser

COLLAR, hay sheaf maker

COLLEP, a type of drinking vessel

COLLUM, ship

COMBURGES, co-burgess, fellow-burgess.

COMMISSARIOT, local registry for confirmation or probate of wills and for grants of administration, a commissary, is the officer making the confirmation or grant.