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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.

Irland, Ireland, Yr(i)land, n. and adj. Also: -lande, Iyr(e)land. [ME. Irland and Ireland, OE. Írland, Íraland, ON. Írland.For references to early forms in personal names, as Robert de Irland. (1296), John de Yrelande (1336), see G. F. Black Surnames of Scotland s.v. Ireland.]

1. Ireland, the name of the country.(a) 1375 Barb. xiv. 298.
Thai of Irland war cummyrrit swa a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 35.
A king quhyle was in Irland c1475 Wall. i. 123.
Quhen Iber Scot fyrst in till Irland come c1500 Crying of Play 66.
In Irland quhen scho blewe behynd 1534 Treas. Acc. VI. 223.
To Hoge … to pas with writingis … in the Ilis of Irland 1623–4 Ayr B. Acc. 280.
Concerning the stouthis betwix Irland and Scotland 1691 Misc. Hist. Soc. I. 349.
Minister at Belfast in Irland(b) c1420 Wynt. ii. 765.
Hybernia … That Yrland we ws to calle 1425 Acts II. 11/1.
The Kingis notour rebellouris ar reset in Erschry of Yrlande 1528 Lynd. Dreme 796.
Be west Ingland, Yriland doith stand 1549 Compl. 85 h.
Ane crafty dissait contrar Valis and Yrland 1596 Dalr. I. 229/20.
Quhen S. Columba … cam frome Yrland til Albione(c) 1375 Barb. i. 100.
Till occupy … Walis … and als Ireland 1513 Treas. Acc. IV. 434.
Ane goune to Odoneill of Ireland 1540 Ib. vii. 339.
The men of gud of Ireland 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 28.
In Egipt, Ireland [etc.] 1570 Leslie 67.
[He] departit … in Ireland(d) 1632 Sutherland Corr. 155.
I mak away to Iyrland

2. Attrib. or adj. Of, belonging to, or characteristic of, Ireland; Irish. See also Irland-man.Unlike the partly synonymous adj., Irisch, etc., this appar. refers only to Ireland proper and excludes the ‘Erse’ districts of Scotland.With the usage, which appears to be confined to Sc., cf. Heland n. 2.(1) c1450-2 Howlat 801.
Thir ar his Irland kingis of the Irischerye c1475 Wall. vii. 847.
The Irland folk than maid thaim for the flicht, … Born Scottis men baid still in to the feild 1497 Treas. Acc. I. 333.
To vj Irland freris in almus 1500 Ib. II. 97.
Giffen to the Ireland leich c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxiii. 43.
Innopportoun askaris of Yrland kind 1511 Treas. Acc. IV. 180.
To tua Yrland freris studentis in Sanctandrois 1533 Ib. VI. 207.
To ane Irland clairsochtar 1572 Bann. Memor. 234.
Thair come to Dundie ane Irland bischope 1595–6 Colville Lett. 191.
Ane Irland preist, laitlie cum home by sea ?1549 Monro W. Isles 9.
The tomb of the Irland kingis … , thair wes four Irland kingis eirdit into the said tomb 1696 Penninghame Par. Rec. I. 2.
Mr. Thomas Cobham, an Irland minister(2) 1532–3 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS. II. 91.
Fra the midstreme of the watter of Cree west to the Ireland see c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 93.
As thay passit be Ireland coist 1576–86 Ayr B. Acc. 152.
Anent the taxatioun of the … fyve west burrowis for the defence of the Irland custumes ?1549 Monro W. Isles 13.
In the Ireland seas(3) c1475 Wall. vii. 342.
Great purwians be se to thaim was brocht, With Irland ayle — 1506 Treas. Acc. III. 297.
For j^c Irland burdis to the schip in Dunbertane 1586 Edinb. Test. XV. 262 b.
xvij dissone of Irland burdes at xl s. the dissone 1617–18 M. Works Acc. XIV. 12.
For sex Ireland buirdis to be pannelling to the windowes c 1656 Irvine Mun. II. 260.
Seven dossen of Irland bords als brod as dealls — 1519 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II. 174.
Ane quhyt Irlande playd corsyt 1546 Acta Conc. & Sess. XXI. 55 b.
Ane Ireland mantill 1580 Edinb. Test. VIII. 274.
Fyve daker of Irland ky hydis, … foure daker Lawland ky hydis 1601 Reg. Privy C. VI. 280.
In the wardrobe … ane Ireland cada 1634 Edinb. Test. LVI. 367 b.
Thrie schage Irland coveringes — 1575 Glasgow B. Rec. (M.C.) 36 (see Inthrow prep.).
Irland knyfe (4) 1489 Treas. Acc. I. 129.
Givin to a man for brydil siluer of ane Irlande hors

3. As the designation of heraldic officers.(1) 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 67.
Gevin to Irelande king of armis of Inglande(2) 1496 Exch. R. X. 577.
Super Patricium Leich, nunc Irland signiferum nuncupatum. [Cf. Patricio Leich, Hibernico; 1488 Ib. 11] 1499 Ib. XI. 217.
Patricio Leich, nunc heraldo Irelande nuncupato 1501 Treas. Acc. II. 32.
To Irland pursewant for iiij Irland hors