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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Scat(t)ald, Skattall, -ell, n. Also: scattill, scathald. [Only Shetland; Scat(t n. 4. The second syllable, OED et alia conjecture, may be f. hald, here = Halding vbl. n. 2, but this ‘presents difficulties, both as regards form and semantic development’ (SND, s.v. Skatt n., v.). Also in the mod. dial. of Shetland, only in reference to common grazing.] a. A group of inhabited townships and the lands pertaining to them. b. The lands, in some instances specif. the pasture-land or outfield, of such a township. c. The members of such a community, collectively.In Orkney Oppress., twice equated with scatland, see Scat(t)land n. c, and in sense c appar. equated with Parochin n. 3 (= the body of parishioners).See Brian Smith ‘What is a Scattald?’ in Barbara E. Crawford (ed.) Essays in Shetland History (1984), W. P. L. Thomson ‘Ouncelands and Pennylands in Orkney and Shetland’ in L. J. Macgregor and Barbara E. Crawford (eds.) Ouncelands and Pennylands (Univ. of St. Andrews St. John's House Papers No. 3) and A. Fenton The Northern Isles (1978), Index s.v. Scattald.a., b. 1576 Orkney Oppress. 47.
For ellevin scathaldis that is within that yle [sc. Yell] Ib. 48.
For in uther parochinis and yles he tuik bot for everie scathald thre dolors, bot in this parochin [sc. Dunrossness] he gart everie man particularlie pay thre dolors Ib. 49.
Amangis nichtbouris that dwellis within ane scathald 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 24.
In name and behalff of the haill scattilmen of Gulberweik and Quarff that thay salbe all hermeles and skaythles of the said Magnus and all utheris within the said skattell in thair girse and cornis Ib. 34.
Magnus Daile, officiar, is fund to halfe riddin ane mere … without leive over foure scatellis of land 1603 Ib. 70.
The stowth of ane lamb … tane away afe the scattell of Colvadaile Ib. 88.
Magnus Clerkis guid sone hes riddin ane horse … ovir the twa skattallis of Scatnes and Lie 1604 Ib. 137.
The ryding of … [a] horse throche the skattell 1615 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bks. 67.
It sall not be lesum to ony persone … to go throuch his nychtbouris scattell or comontie with ane sheip dog except [etc.] Ib. 96.
Thay offirit thame to prove that the scattellis and comounties of Hildiswick and Urafirth ar severall scattellis and devydit be meithis and merche stanes 1616 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.)5 165.
Quhatsumever persone … sal happin to slay ane earne and delyver the samen to the bailyie of the parochin within the quhilk scho sal be slaine, the said bailyie sall caus the persones indwelleris within the scattell quharin sche beis slaine to give the slayer thairof ane scheip or pryce thairof 1652 Shetland Archives MS GD. 150/2015/B/1.
The dewties receavit at Laxfirth … for the crope 1652 payable 1653 … scattill of Stenswale, receavit from the tenants per money £11 9 s. Rests Chene's aires 5 s., which makis upe the scattill 1667 Old-lore Misc. IX 140.
The description of the marches of the several [i.e. 11] scattalds in the island of Yell Ib. 141, etc.
Houlland Scattald. Being the first northmost scattald, is bounded to the west and north with the sea, to the east and south with Brugh Scattald and the sea. The first march mark dividing these scattalds stands upon the … hillock be-east the little piece of dyke a1733 Shetl. Country Acts in Soc. Ant. XXVI 201.
That every scatald have a sufficient pund, under the pain of ten pounds Scots Ib.
That none contemptuously pasture upon, … cut floss, or cast peats in their neighbour's scatald … nor … cut floss before Lammas-day in their own scatald without due advertising of their neighbours belonging to the said scataldc. 1576 Orkney Oppress. 46.
Quhair the use was that the haill parochin, callit ane scathald, payit for the unlaw of swyne worting … xl babeis Ib. 47.
The lairdis awin man … decernit ilk scathald within the said yle [sc. Unst] to pay to the laird thre dolors for the swyne ruting Ib. 49.
Quhairas be the auld custome of our said cuntrie that for breiking of nichtbourheid, the haill parochin, callit the scattald, payit fyve gudlingis