Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1772-1822
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SETTER, n.2 Also s(a)eter, seater, setr, -ster. A piece of pasture-land, a meadow, esp. summer pasture for cattle in the outfield of a farm (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 191), now surviving chiefly in place-names, as Seter, Hestinseter, Swinister (Sh. 1901 J. Jakobsen Place-Names Sh. (1936) 94). Comb. setter-land (see 1772 quot.).Sh. 1772 A. C. O'Dell Hist. Geog. Sh. Isl. (1939) 242:
Setter-lands, . . . which are numerous and at different periods enclosed from or upon the Scattalds already paying Scatt, never paid Scatt to the Crown, but very often pay a subsideary Scatt to the dominant tenant called a Tulbert Scatt.Sh. 1822 S. Hibbert Descr. Sh. 427:
In the ancient Shetland language, the green pasturage attached to a dwelling was named a Setter or Seater.
