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.
SITHEAN, n. A mound, natural or artificial, freq. constituting a prehistoric burial place or barrow, in the Highlands associated with a dwelling- or meeting-place of the fairies, a fairy hill or mound. See L. Spence Fairy Tradition (1948) 123 sqq. Gael. [′ʃiən]Sc. 1887 Scotsman (21 Dec.):
Sith, and its diminutive sithean, ‘a fairy mound', is to be met with in every Highland parish.Sc. 1932 S. P. B. Mais High Lands Brit. 67:
A sithean or fairy mound where unbaptised children were buried.Arg. 1950 Scots Mag. (May) 133:
The Fairy Bridge you passed on the way, the sitheans or the fairy dwellings of the surrounding countryside.
