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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Westland, -lande, n. Also: vest-, wast-, vast-, wes-, was- and -land. [West adj. and Land n.¹] The western part of Scotland, chiefly referring to the south-west. Also ellipt. b. attrib.and comb. c. The western part of some lands or estates or ? a further example of b above.(a) 1489 Treas. Acc. I 107.
To pas with letteres of the Kingis for the Lordis of the Westlande … x s. c1515 Asl. MS I 227/23.
The schiref of Air with vther syndry gentillis of the westland 1542–3 Treas. Acc. VIII 178.
Gevin to Bute persewant, passing witht siclyke writtingis to the lordis and baronis in Monteitht, Strivelingschyre, Levinex, Carryk, and uther partis in the westland iij li. a1578 Pitsc. II 200/2.
Thair was ane conventioun of the Hammiltownis and vther lordis of the westland in Glascow 1581 Treas. Acc. MS 72b.
Quhen he tuke his jornay to the westland and Glasgw 1588–9 Cal. Sc. P. IX 697.
He hath bine ever since in the westlande and I feare that his shippe shall departe before wee shall heare from him(b) 1540 Treas. Acc. VII 309.
For passing … to all the partis of the wastland and southland to warn the lordis … to cum to the baptyme of my lord prince iij li. a1578 Pitsc. I 204/17.
Bot pairtlie come fordward with all the northt of Scottland, that is to say, Rose, Sutherland, Caitnes, Mar and Murray, Buchan and Meirnes, Angus, Gowrie, Fyfe, Stretheirne, Stirlingschyre Atholl and Argyle witht sum of the lordis of Wastland that fawored him a1578 Pitsc. I 291/11.
He passit fordwart to Dumfries and to the toune of Air and to the pairtis of the wastland a1578 Pitsc. II 201/3.
Vastland(c) 1540 Treas. Acc. VII 323.
Gevin to Alexander Hutoun for inbringin of dettis furtht of the wasland xxij s.ellipt. 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 417.
Ane uthir officiar to pas in the west and southland with the said lettresb. (1) c1475 Wall. vii 776.
A hundyr fyrst till him selff he has tayne, Off westland men c1515 Asl. MS I 243/21.
James the secund … past till Glasqw and gaderit the westland men … and passit to Lanerik and to Douglas & syne brynt all Douglasdale and all Awendale and all the Lord Hammiltonnis landis 1514 Irvine Mun. I 33.
We have direct our uthiris lettres to oure cousingis and counsallouris the westland lordis to pas for the resisting of our untrew liegis of the Ilis 1531 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 117.
David Brydin is condempnit dettour to Jok Freir for the thre bollis of beir that he saulde to the vest land men 1570 Leslie 102.
Johne duik of Albany, tutour and governour of the realme of Scotland, arryvit at the town of Air … with aucht schippis … and fra that salit to Dumbartane … and one the nixt day passit to Glasgw and all the westland lordis with him 1576 Bann. Trans. 487.
Thair was one wastland man standand … at the fyre … he was newlingis cum out of Lochinwar, or send be Lochinwar a1578 Pitsc. I 292/16.
Thair was na wastland men away except the Earle of Lennox and the Lord Erskine 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 234.
[He] wes havelie tormentit with wichcraft and diseis, laid on him be ane Westlande warlach, quhene he wes in Dumfreis 1651 Johnston Diary II 98.
His defeating and dissipating the westland forces at Hamilton 1652 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII 289.
Thes aikeris of land at the lipper hous destroyed be the westland armie 1657 Balfour Ann. IV 330.
The ministers of the west … sett out … a pamphlett called … Discouery … printed … by the brethren of the presbytery of Kilmarnock. Thir westland renters of the churche held a meitting at Edinbrughe(b) 1529 Misc. Maitl. C. II 97.
Wesland cadgearis … byis the meill 1633 Maxwell Mem. II 232.
Nane of our wesland comissioneris ar thairvpone(2) 1650 Nicoll Diary 30 (see West cuntrey n.).
Westland schyres(3) 1581 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 224.
Lettres of arreisting of westland heiring and vther fisches transportit be westland men to Leyth for careing out of the realme in schipis 1608 Irvine Mun. II 47.
That the westland hogit be xv gallownis 1616 Edinb. Test. XLIX 168b.
Sex dosone of westland bonnettis(4) 1615 Melrose P. 612*.
Maister Robert … grantand his great oversicht, and declairand the same to have proceidit of the westland woyaige whilk he maid with Maister Robert Bruce 1638 Baillie I 35.
Two formes were presented to the nobles. Our westland one was receaved, and … subscryved by some 24 earles and lords 1650 Johnston Diary II 30.
They censured the westland remonstrance mor nor northland bandc. 1667 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 13.
Claim … against John Aikin in Cornihill for £10 resting of the wastlandis crop 1660 for the maill and duty of the said lands