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 census or valuation of all the lands in Scotland for tax purposes. The ‘auld (old) extent’ was probably made in the 13th century. Under the Act 1474 it was replaced by the ‘new extent’ (which was often just the auld extent multiplied by 4,5 or 6). Lands continued to be described in terms of these extents long after either were made as e.g. ‘the ten-shilling lands of ….. of auld extent’
the physical quantity of archives. This may be shown in linear metres (the amount of shelf space used), cubic metres (the total space occupied), or, for smaller quantities, in the number of items, volumes or pages.
the authenticated copy of a deed, taken from one of the public registers.