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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.

Standan(d) stan(e, n. Also: -ande, -in(g)-, stannan(d)-, stanand- and -stayn, -stain(e, -steen, -ston(n)e. [ME standenstan (?c1200), standande stane (14th c.); Standand(e ppl. adj. and Stan(e n.]

1. A large block of stone set upright; a menhir; a monolith; freq. used as a landmark. b. specif. As a part of a boundary. c. specif. As a meeting place or place of assembly.Also as a farm name. 1477 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 114.
De viginti solidis domus David de Stannanstanis 1573 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 762.
Standandstanis 1592 Aberd. Trades 86.
Son to the goodman of Standing Steenes 1597–8 Misc. Spald. C. I 178.
So will I … cause thy purtie marie thé and mak the guidwyiff of the threid pairt of Standand Steanis c1475 Wall. v 298.
His houch sennownnis he cuttyt … And left him thus besyde the standand stanys 1563–4 Prot. Bk. Nicol Thounis 35.
Instrument of sasine in favour of James Robert in an acre of land lying in the territory of the burgh near the standandstane 1586 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 466.
Ane pece land bewest the standand stane toward Typperlin 1594 Dalyell Sc. Poems 16th Cent. II 350.
He said ere he should ceas The standing stonnes of Strathbolgie Schould be his palione place 1661 Justiciary Ct. Rec. in Murray Witch-cult 37.
The hous besyd the standing stane 1685 Wodrow Hist. IV (1830) 234.
John M^cGhie … being in arms in company with the rebels, at the standing stones in Torehouse, and in the town of Wigton 16… Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. III 251.
In several places of the countrey, there are long stones erected, called by the inhabitants standing stones, pitched as it is thought, upon the account of slaughter or murder committed in that individual placeb. (1) 1165–1214 Liber Melros 100.
Et de pot usque ad standande stan c1220 Liber Dryburgh 126.
Inter Standandestane et capud croftorum usque ad [etc.] c1350 Liber Dryburgh 231.
Standandstayn 1425 Liber Dryburgh 276.
Vsque the standandstaine et a stante petra deorsum the syke 1425 Liber Melros 545.
The marchys … passand wp … to the standand stain ?1446 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 246.
The stannand stain merkit lik a hors scho 1458 Liber Aberbr. II 104.
Begynnand at the crosstane apon the vard dyk of Drumnacalyowcht sowth owr the Lowth to the stannand stanis of the eist syd of Egnoch 1465 Liber Dryburgh 278.
All and haile our plew of land … bondand betuex Blaikburne and the stanand stane 1601 Reg. Great S. 391/2.
Thairfra to ane lang standand stane quhilk standis in direct lyne betuix the … sadill-stane and the utter merche stane(2) 1493 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 214.
To the red stan ascendand, and therfra to the tua standand gray stanys 1675 Cullen Kirk S. 5 Nov.
South from the standin stone marchc. 1380 Reg. Episc. Morav. 184.
Quod compareant coram nobis apud le standand stanys de le Rathe de Kyngucy estir … decimo die mensis Octobris proximo futuro 1560–1 Prot. Bk. Nicol Thounis 7.
Sasine given on the ground at the standing stane by the said bailiff 1580 Prot. Bk. W. Cumming 248b.
We haue subscruit this present with our hand … at the standan stanis of Ruddiche Findarge

2. ? A stepping-stone or, perhaps, merely a further instance of 1 b above. 1618 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 371.
Ascending to the standen wtherwayis steipping steanis on the wast syde of the Shank