Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1788-1815, 1927
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NORTHERN, adj. Also nordern (Kcb. 1901 R. Trotter Galt. Gossip 284); noardren, -in (Sh.). Sc. usages in combs.: 1. northern hareld, the long-tailed duck, Clangula hiemalis (Abd. 1885 C. Swainson Brit. Birds 162). Cf. Harle; 2. Northern Meeting, the name given to the annual social meeting and Highland Games held at Inverness.2. Inv. 1788 Orig. Prospectus of Northern Meeting (11 June):
An Annual Meeting of Gentlemen, Ladies, and their Families shall hold in this Place for the space of One Week . . . for the Purpose of promoting a Social Intercourse. . . . The Meeting shall be named the Northern Meeting.Sc. 1815 C. I. Johnstone Clan-Albin I. xvii.:
For some weeks past, previous to his debut at the "Northern Meeting", at which I expect he will be able to dance a decent minuet.Sc. 1927 Colquhoun and Machell Highl. Gatherings 117:
The Northern Meeting in the first years of the Nineteenth century was the culminatory point of the Highland season. And so it is to-day.
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"Northern adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 31 May 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/northern>
