The Your Scottish Archives Glossary defines archaic words and phrases, mostly Scots law terminology, commonly found in documents and records in Scotland’s archives. If you think a word or phrase should be added to the glossary, or an existing entry could be defined better, please contact us at your@scottisharchives.org.uk.
You can also use the Dictionary of the Scots Language as a further resource at https://dsl.ac.uk/ for Scots words and phrases (including legal terminology).
To find a term within the glossary, click on the initial letter of the word you are looking for, then select the relevant syllable segment displayed below.
Example: to find the term “roup” select section “R” then sub-section “Ro”
A deed by which the legal course of succession to lands could be altered and another one substituted, or by which the descent of the lands could be secured to a specified succession of heirs and substitutes. The Entail (Scotland) Act 1914 prevented the creation of new entails after that date.
interest or concern in a property or in some matters; can also mean interest in a sum of money.
acceptance of an heir to landed property by the feudal superior of the property.