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

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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.

Law, n.² Also: lawe, lau(e, la. [North. and north midl. ME. lawe (Orm), lau (Cursor M.), midl. low(e, OE. hláw, hlǽw a grave-mound, also, a hill.Recorded in the chartularies and other early records as the second element of many place-names, as Raperlau (c 1150 Early Chart. 152), Raperes laue (1215–21 Inchaffray Reg. xxxvi); Wythelawe (1147–52 Liber Calchou 6); Grenlaw, Grenelau (a 1159 Liber Calchou 53, 12 … Coldstream Chart. 35); Xernwingeslawe (1165 Facs. Nat. MSS. I. 20); Harlauhill, Harlaw (c 1170 Liber Dryburgh 81, 12 … Coldstream Chart. 32), Langelau, Langlaw (c 1170 Liber Dryburgh 69); Lempedlawe (c 1190 Liber Calchou 128); Colilawe (a 1206 Ib. 202); Welpelaw, Todlaw (1222 Liber Dryburgh 62); Lenbukkislav, Lenbukeslav (c 1320 Reg. Great S. 22/1); Qwitlau, Quhytlaw (1327 Liber Calchou 361, 1333 Liber Dryburgh 256); Wardlaw (1364 Exch. R. II. 130).]

A hill.? Espec. one more or less round or conical in shape; often applied to isolated hills of this sort: 1684 Sibbald Scot. Illustr. 28.
Montes parvo intervallo circumscripti quidam singulares sunt qui nostratibus a Law dicuntur, quales varii per Scotiam universam, ut Northberwick-Law, Drumpender-Law, Largo-Law, Dundee Law(1) 1374 Reg. Great S. 180/1.
Cum insulis nostris iacentibus infra aquam de Tay, videlicet le lawe de Incheeret [etc.] 1388 Bamff Chart. 22.
Begynand on the west part of the Lowssy law c 1490 Reg. Panmure I. xxv.
He beine rydand at the hwntes neir to the Grein Lawe of Brechine 1494 Acta Conc. I. 368/2.
A quarter of the landis of Sanct Seruis law … liand within the barony of Abircorn 1537 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 17.
Frathin to the northeist part of the Woll law haldin under the bra as it is carnit to the well of the Woll law a1568 Gyre-carling 13.
The carling luche and lut fart North berwick law a1578 Pitsc. II. 80/2.
[A cloud] movit fordwart north wast … to Dumpender law and thair stude abone the law a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 74.
They debaitit valiantlie at part of the borrow mure callit the Lowsie Law 1611 Reg. Panmure I. xcv.
Fra the Croce the space of fourscor passes thear is ane lawe callit the Durlawe(2) 1399 Hist. Carnegies 500.
Toftam tritotam vulgo vocatam the Woll with the tre Lawis 1434 Ib. 512.
Cloquhokis denne, de propinque et iuxta ly Law a1500 Henr. Fab. 833.
Ane unicorne come lansand ouer ane law 1537 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 367.
Ascendand up the Hill of Findon on to the law upon the heicht of the same a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. iii. 33.]
[Ilk ane of thame hes ane to name, Will of the lawis [F. lais] Hab of the schawis 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 133.
[Witches' conventions] in kirk yeardis, corse gettis, lawis, hillis, kearnis and watters 1639 Baillie I. 210.
Both of them that night meets together at Dunce, and there they satt down on the head of that faire Law

b. 'A mound of earth and shingle on the bank of a river on to which salmon nets are drawin to be emptied' (SND, s.v. Law, n.² 2 (2)). 1562 (1585) Reg. Great S. 257/1.
To big scheillis and lawis on the hauchis of the saidis landis ... for resaweing of the fisch