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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.

Lardschip, Lairds(c)hip(e, n. Also: lardschipe, -schyp, -scheip. [Lard n.¹: cf. Laverdscape and Lordschip.]

1. A barony or lordship; from an early date, the estate or territory under the jurisdiction of a laird or small baron or freeholder (Lard n.¹ 3).(a) 1397 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 34. (also Douglas Chart. 38.)
And ovre lord the Kyng sall gif hym for his mariage all the landis at the sayde Jorge has in Angus, the baronyis of Abirnethy & Bonkyll with the tenandrys of the forsaydys lardschyppyis in to fre regalle erytabilly 1422 Stirlings of Keir 208.
Landis … in the lardschip of … Gallystoun 1460 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 56.
Landis … lyand in my lardschip of Brankysholm 1496–7 Acta Conc. II. 66.
The warde of the landis and lardschip of Petslego 1580 Fam. Innes 138.
The landis, leiving and lardscheip off Ines(b) 1552 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 635.
De firmis … baronie seu dominij vulgo lie lairdschip de Chremond 1597 Edinb. Test. MS. XXX. 41.
I will my sone William to haif all rycht that I haif to the lairdschip of Lamyngtoun 1633 Rutherford Christ's Napkin 21.
Here a mealline, there a lairdschip 1637 Baillie I. 6.
He … is speaking of dimitting his ministrie, and retireing to his own lairdshipe 1643 Ib. II. 91.
A minister … had conquished a lairdship and, as a laird, had come to the meeting Urquhart Rabelais ii. 214 (J).
I will give thee the chastelleine or lairdship of Salmigondin Ib. iii. ii. 26.
He wasted … the … revenue of his lairdship a1676 Guthry Mem. 105.
Mr Andrew Murray, minister of Ebdie, having been by David, Viscount Stormont, preferred to the lairdship of Balvaird 1666 Corshill Baron Ct. 72.
Birlaymen in … pryseing of any thing poyndit within the lairdschip 1685 Ib. 169.
Andro Puidȝane … persued the haill tennentis of the lairdship 1660–90 J. Walwood in P. Gillespie Rulers Sins (1718) 17.
Ye see lordships and lairdships cooped from hand to hand 1681 Letter D. Cargill to Barony Kirk 9.
Our gentils … that saw nothing to the lairdships and estates [etc.] Defoe Journey through Scotl. 4 (J).]
[A lairdship is a tract of land with a mansion house upon it, where a gentleman hath his residence; and the name of the house he is distinguished by

2. The dignity of a baron or freeholder; lairdship. 1456–70 Liber Aberbr. 107.
Becaus he was callit swa lard of Cauty quhoubeit it was bot for the derisioun owr predecessoris thynkand it onkyndle tyll thole ane nominatioun of lardschipe of sic ane man in the said Caute [etc.]