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.
ROSS, prop.n. A common place-name in Scot., esp. of a county in the northern Highlands, in 1. below referring to the village of Ross near Burnmouth in Bwk.
Combs.: 1. Ross cockle, the shell, Cardium edule; 2. Ross Herald, one of the former six Scottish heralds. The office of Ross Herald is now vacant. See Rothesay, 2.; 3. Ross-shire Buffs, a name given to the Seaforth Highlanders, orig. raised in 1778 by the Earl of Seaforth in his Ross-shire estates.1. e.Lth. 1809 Wernerian Soc. Mem. I. 380:
The variety known by the name of the Ross Cockle is to be met with near Tyningham Sands occasionally.2. Sc. 1710 J. Chamberlayne Present State 414:
There are six Heralds, Albany, Rothesay, Snadoun, Marchmont, Yla, and Ross.Sc. 1742 A. Nisbet System of Heraldry II. 171:
Rosse Herald, so named from the County of Ross, which was of old an Appendage of the Crown.3. Sc. 1794 J. Macveigh Hist. Rec. 78th. Highlanders (1887) 23:
In July [1794] his Majesty authorised the regiment to adopt the name of “The Ross-shire Buffs” as a distinctive title.Sc. 1954 Abd. Press and Jnl. (15 May):
The Ross-shire Buffs, as the Seaforths are sometimes called.
