Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BAR(R)ON(R)Y, n.
(1) “A Barony is an estate created by direct grant from the Crown erecting . . . lands embraced by the grant . . . into a freehold barony. . . . A grant of barony carried with it both civil and criminal jurisdiction. . . . The extent of the jurisdiction [in ancient times] . . . was governed by the terms of his charter of erection” (Sc. 1927 Green's Encycl. Law Scot. II. 155). [′bɑrən(r)ɪ̢]Sc. 1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 13:
Johny Bell, as cliver a little fallow, as in a the barronry where he bides.
(2) Used also to indicate the freehold estate of a territorial baron. See Baron, quot. 1, and cf. quots. 3, 5, 6 under Bar(r)on-bail(l)ie.
[The -ry forms occur also in O.Sc.]
