A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Katherane, Katrane, n. [Med. L. katheranus, Gael. ceatharn : see Ketharan and cf. Catherane.] A band of Highland marauders, or one of such a band; a Highland reiver, a cateran. 1384 Acts I. 186/2.
[Qui transierint ut katherani … consumendo bona comitatum & capiendo per vim & violenciam bona & victualia a1447 Bower Scotichron. i. xix. 19.]
Inter Scotos transalpinos et silvestres, quos Catervanos seu Katheranos vocamus c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 145 (B).
Ersch Katherane, with thy polk breik and rilling 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. Table. ii. 83 b.
Katheranes, that is, sorneris, sould be taken and may be lesomlie slaine 16.. Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II. 39.
Upon any incursions, the Highland katranes (for so those highland robbers are called) the Laird can … raise a good number of weell armed prattie men
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"Katherane n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 3 Jan 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/katherane>
