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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Southland, n. Also: southt-, sowth-. [ME and e.m.E. suð lond (Layamon), south loond (Wyclif), south-land (1611), OE súðland, ON suðrland.]

1. The southern part of Scotland, chiefly from south of the Forth to the Borders. c1475 Wall. ix 1308.
Till the south land with glaid hartis thai socht 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 347.
To pas with the Erle Bothwele in the southland 1512 Reg. Privy S. I 371/2.
The kingis assise hering of the eist seys of the realm in all partis, baith northland and southland 1517 Treas. Acc. V 118.
Southt land 1574 Acts III 87/2.
All personis … allegeing to haue bene hereit in the sowthland brint in the lait troubles about Edinburgh and Leith a1578 Pitsc. I 352/25.
To bring the southland and the bordararis of Scottland to the same stabilietie a1578 Pitsc. II 21/26.
The haill name of Douglassis witht mony wther wastland men and clans of the southtland

b. The southlands, ? the southern part of a specific area. 1679 Fawside Coal Compt 38.
For the minde in the southlands

2. attrib. From or belonging to the south of Scotland. c1475 Wall. i 442.
Thir Southland hors latt se gif I can ride a1538 Abell 116a.
The sowthland men com to Edinburgh and tuke down the lord Hwmenis [= Hume's] heid of … the towbuth a1578 Pitsc. I 348/5.
Thair was money southland men that appeillit wther in barras to fight in singular battell 1627 Orkney & Shetl. Test. I 170b.
Thrie elne … gross southland gray 1639 Aberd. B. Rec. III 159.
At the late heir being of the southland armie 1639 Baillie I 192.
To hinder the gathering … of any partie for the King in these Southland quarters c1650 Spalding I 153.
The south land covenanteris 1666 Wodrow Hist. II (1829) 54.
When the business of being executioner to some southland men in Ayr came to my door [etc.]

b. Southern English. 1570 Leslie 222.
The most parte of his [sc. Huntly's] keparis wer southland men and no borduraris, and so none of thame wes so perfyt a gyd in that cuntrey [sc. around Morpeth]