Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1711-1781
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TENANT, n. Also †tennant, -ent; tenan (Abd. 1888 D. Grant Keckleton 111, Abd. 1972). Sc. forms and usages in combs.: †1. tenant-ste(a)d, -steed, occupied by (a) tenant(s), let. See Steid, v., 1.; †2. tenant('s) toun, a small hamlet of tenants who lease land as a group, a township.1. Sc. 1711 Fountainhall Decisions (1759) II. 695:
Forced to pay its proportion of cess to the general receivers, though he has no access to the ground, it not being tenant-sted.Abd. 1751 Caled. Mercury (1 June):
The Lands and Estate of Parcock and Skelmuir, the Rent well paid and well Tenant stead.Abd. 1781 Aberdeen Jnl. (5 March):
The House . . . being a complete new House of easy Access, can never fail to be well tenant-stead.2. Sc. 1726 W. Macfarlane Geog. Coll. (S.H.S.) I. 184:
Shabster, a great tennent toun of about 30 families.w.Sc. 1775 S. Johnson Journey 203:
Land is sometimes leased to a small fellowship, who live in a cluster of huts, called a Tenants' Town, and are bound jointly and separately for the payment of their rent.
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"Tenant n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/tenant>
