Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
GARTH, n., v. Also garthe. Obs. exc. in place-names.
I. n. 1. An enclosure, yard; “a small patch of enclosed cultivated ground, with waste land around it” (Ork. 1805 G. Barry Hist. Ork. 224); “enclosed pasture, esp. for cattle” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), garth s.v. gart); “sometimes it denotes the house and land attached to it” (Sh., Ork. 1866 Edm. Gl.), a homestead. Often found in the names of farms. Common in Eng. dial.Mry. 1726 in W. Cramond Grant Court Bk. (1897) 27:
Patrick Skinner in Dreggy and others fined £100 Sc. each for cutting birkwoods for garthes.Sc. 1737 Ramsay T.T.Misc. (1876) II. 215:
And left me in the garth my lane.Fif. 1998 Tom Hubbard Isolde's Luve-Daith 6:
Yit there's a luve that siccarlie growes caulder
Gin it canna rax ayont its guairdit garth.
2. A shallow part or stretch of shingle on a river which may be used as a ford; also used of the shingle itself. Hence garth-fishing (Abd. 1759 Abd. Journal (27 Nov.)). Found now only in place-names, e.g. Garthdee, Inchgarth (Abd.).Abd. 1798 Session Papers, Burnet v. Earl of Aberdeen State of Process 144:
There were laid upon the hirst some feal in the bottom, some garth, and some stones, which last were taken out of the river by the nets, and were laid down at the back, to keep the garth from shovelling down.ne.Sc. 1884 D. Grant Lays (1908) 102:
Intent to pass fae north to south, By ford, or garth, gin sic micht be, For brigs were scarcer then on Dee.Kcd. 1900 E.D.D.:
Below the ferry known as “the inch” at Maryculter there is a well-known ford, and whether the river was fordable or not was known by the appearance of a flat stretch of shingle. This shingle was called “the garth.”
II. v. To enclose, fence. Arch.Sc.(E) 1936 J. G. Horne Flooer o' Ling 55:
The fields wi gowd are gartht aroon.
