Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
RATH, n. Also raith. A circular earthwork, a hill-fort. Chiefly in archaeol. usage, referring esp. to Irish examples and borrowed from Ir. rather than Sc. Gael. Freq. in place-names.Sc. 1807 G. Chalmers Caledonia I. 306:
The chieftains ruled their territories, and their raths, or fortified villages, upon the same principles.Sc. 1863 Edb. Review (July) 59:
Geology has been encroaching on Archaeology by asserting possession over the curious earthen mounds, called raths and borrows.Gall. 1901 Gallovidian III. 71:
He begood tae mak' a raith roon the cairn wi' the stanes, like a wee bruch or a sheep-ree.
