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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HIELANDER, n. Also Heelander. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. highlander. [′hiləndər]

1. A native or inhabitant of the Scottish Highlands. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1703 Acts Gen. Assembly 6:
We likeways recommend to you the placeing of well qualified Ministers amongst the Remoter Highlanders and Islanders.Sc. 1750 W. MacFarlane Geneal. Coll. (S.H.S.) II. 160:
It hath been long a Custom amongst the Highlanders to give Agnames or By Names to Persons either from Colour or Complexion, as Ban, Roy, Dow, etc.Sc. 1827 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) II. 41:
A' the Heelanders want is but better schulin, and some mair kirks.Fif. 1872 Mrs Cupples Tappy's Chicks 58:
They'll believe onything, thae Heelanders.Abd. 1877 W. Alexander Rural Life 185:
The whisky the Highlanders made seems to have had a more distinctive reputation than that made in the Lowlands.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 23:
You've no forgot what spullye the Heelanders wrought at Melsetter?Sc. 1937 J. Macdonald Highland Ponies 187:
Highlanders, although much attached to their ponies, would on no account use them for funeral purposes as it was considered a slight on the dead to carry his corpse by any other means than by relays of friends and neighbours.

2. A soldier in one of the Highland regiments (see Hieland, II. 7. (17)). Combs. Glasgow Highlanders, the Highland Light Infantry (see Ib. (11)); Royal Highlanders, the Black Watch. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1725 Caled. Mercury (20 July):
A Troop of the Gray Horse, together with the Independent Highlanders now in this Place, march'd to the Grassmarket.Sc. 1742 Culloden Papers (1815) 362:
These Highlanders [the Black Watch], now regimented, were at first independent companys.Sc. 1815 D. Stewart Sk. Highlanders (1822) II. 250:
When he [Napoleon] saw the Greys cut down his best troops; and when the small body of Highlanders forced one of his chosen columns to fly in terror and confusion, the feelings of a gallant soldier overcame his disappointment.Sc. 1855 Scotsman (10 Sept.):
Donald Bain, who played the Highlanders up the steeps of Alma.Sc. 1916 I. Hay First 100,000 339:
Then he passed the order “Highlanders, retire to the trenches behind by Companies, beginning from the right.”wm.Sc. 1917 H. Foulis Jimmy Swan 309:
The idea that the Black Watch and the Gordon Highlanders at a shilling or two a day per man were enough to keep us safe . . . was a slight mistake.Gsw. 1950 H. W. Pryde McFlannel Family Affairs 2:
Ah wore it when Ah wis in the Glasgow Highlanders in the last war.Sc. 1952 Abd. Press and Jnl. (8 Sept.) 6:
The new commanding officer of the Depot, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Stirling Castle, . . . commanded the 6th Seaforth Highlanders for eighteen months.

3. One of the Highland breed of cattle. Gen.Sc.Fif. 1771 Caled. Mercury (17 Aug.):
One Hundred Cows, mostly Highlanders, laid early on the grass in the spring to fatten.Slg. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ XV. 348:
There are few cattle grazed with us but Highlanders, and we prefer those from Argyleshire, and the isles.Dmf. 1827 J. M. Corrie Droving Days (1915) 84:
There were about 200 Galloway cattle, 150 Highlanders, half a score of eild or grazing cows in the market to-day.Abd. 1877 W. Alexander Rural Life 74:
The master, plaided and bonneted, riding his hairy pony . . . keeping the small drove of shaggy Highlanders jogging leisurely along.Sc. 1900 Trans. Highl. Soc. XII. 180:
The greatest Highlander of the line, however, is . . . Laoich . . . a bull built on the large scale of other days.Dmf. 1956 Dmf. and Gall. Standard (14 April):
Cattleman Wanted for Auchenbrack from 21st April; cross Highlanders and Ayrshires.