Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
GERSTY, GORSTIE, -Y, n. Also gerdsti, gerste (Jak.), giresta (Edm.), gairsty; gordsti, -sta, -stu (Jak.), gor- (Angus), †goresta, †garsty. A ridge of earth, stones, etc. covered with coarse grass (the remains of an old dyke) which was left unploughed and acted as a boundary between two pieces of arable land (Sh., Ork. 1825 Jam.; Sh.10, gorstie, Ork.5, gairsty, 1954); “name applied practically everywhere in Ork. to certain prehistoric earthen dikes or ridges found in every district” (Ork. 1929 Marw.). Cf. Gerbick. [s.Sh., Ork. ′gɛrsti, ′gær-, -ste; n.Sh. ′gɔrsti, -stɑ, -stu:]Sh. 1771 in Old-Lore Misc. IV. ii. 93:
A heap of stones just at the east end of an old gorsta or dyke steeth which runs out of Scattawater eastward.Sh. 1888 B. R. Anderson Broken Lights 80:
When Betty Bunt 'at bedd in Virse Wis riskin reeds an' gorsty-girse.Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 42:
I wis begun ta paek aboot da broos an' gorsties, bit I hed ta gie hit up an' try me auld Shetlan' sye.
