GLOSSARY OF UNUSUAL WORDS.
AL-THING, see Thing.
ANGEL, An English gold coin = 10s. sterling.
ARFF, AYRFFE, N. Erffd, hereditas, heredium, Heritage, succession.
AYNING, N. Eign, possessio, The Ownership of an Odaller.
BABIE, BAWBEE, A coin = 1/2d. sterling, but varying from 3d. to 6d. Scots.
BAILLIE, An official appointed by the Donatary to perform the functions of the ancient Under-fowd, especially in guarding the interests of the Crown.
BALLIATUS, A parochial assessment for the Baillie’s salary, in addition to the ancient Wattel, appropriated by the Donatary.
BARREL, N. Bariel, A measure of quantity = 15 Lispunds.
BERE, hordeum hexastichon, A species of Barley, of six rows of grains.
BERE PUNDLAR, see PUNDAR.
BOLMAN, N. Bu-madr, rusticus, inquilinus, A husbandman, a yearly tenant or tenant at will.
BONDER, N. Bondi, Bonde, paterfamilias, colonus, An Odaller.
BORD-LAND, N. Bord, mensa, cibus, The guest quarters of the King or Jarl, and therefore exempt from skatt.
Bota-Mali, (N.) Offences expiable by compensation or damages to the injured party, or by Mulcts shared between him and the Crown, which derived no small part of its revenue from this source and from the Obota-mali (quod vide).
BULL, N. Bol, Bu, prædium nobile, The principal farm of the Odalsjord; sometimes called HEAD BULL, N. Hofd-bu, or Chemisplace, Dan. Hjems, domus.
CAN, N. Kanna, A measure = 1
45 of a Barrel.
CHETTRY, Revenue arising from the Scottish Casualty of Escheit.
COMMONTY. Each Tun possessed its own Sœttur or Infield Common; each Skat-hald or Hrepp, its Hagi or Hill Pasture, shared exclusively by the Hreppismen of its Tuns; and each Herad its Moar, common to every Hrepp and Tun of that Vard Thing, but to none else.
COST, Grain Rent, generally commuted at ⅓ of Meal and ⅔ of Malt or of raw grain.
CUTTEL, ELL, N. Alin, ulna, A measuring rod of the length of a Scottish Ell, used in Zetland as the fundamental unit of Length and of Valuation. A Cuttel of Wadmæl long bore a Standard value of 6d. Scots—6 cuttels being equal to an Eyrie or “Ure” of Valuation; 20 Cuttels = to a sheep, and six score or a “Large Hundred” to an ox. The value of the cuttel was raised to 2 shillings by Earl Robert.
DOLLAR, A silver coin = 50d. sterling, but varying from 30s. to 40s. Scots.
DOMERA, DOMERAL, N. Dom-rof, mulcta eorum qui judicia contemnunt, A fine for contempt of court.
DONATARY, A grantee of the Crown’s Skatts, Males, and Duties.
EYSTERCOP, AUSTERCUP, N. Ey-settr-kaup, merces insulæ conducendæ, A fine paid every third year at each renewal of the Tack or Setting of the smaller islets—afterwards assumed to be equivalent to the Scottish Grassum; and still later both burdens were sometimes exacted in Zetland.
FATGUDE, a term used in Zetland for the Butter or Oil paid to the Donatary.
FLESH, Rent paid in Cattle, generally estimated by Weight, 15 Meils = an ox, 10 Meils = a cow, 4 Meils = a sheep. But this valuation rose and fell according to the caprice of the Donatary.
FLORIN OF THE RHINE, A German gold coin = 2 dollars, also a Money of account = 100d. sterling.
FORCOP, N. Thing-för-kaup, itineris forensis merces, The Lawman’s salary for the Thing circuits; afterwards charged by the Donatary, first against the Crown, and again against the parishes on various pretexts, sometimes of Odal usage, sometimes of feudal claim; but according to Dufresne, “Forcapium, Exactio, Tributum haud debitum, per vim et contra jus captum.”
FOUD, N. Fogeti, Dan. Fogud, quæstor Regius, Collector of the King’s Skatt, Skyllds, Mulcts, etc., afterwards Chief Judge, and ultimately Sheriff of the Foudries of Zetland.
GARTH, N. Gardr, prædium nobile, A portion of Odalsjord.
Gœdingr (N.) Locuples—Gofugr, nobilis, venerandus—Hofdingr, procer, magnas, terms applied in the Sagas to the Odaller, expressive of his superior wealth, dignity, and powers.
GRANDRIE, GRANDORIE, N. Grand-rof, noxarum castigatio, A septennial Court to abate nuisances and punish local abuses.
GUDLING, GULLION, A measure of quantity = 6 cuttels, or ⅒ of a pack of Wadmæl, but afterwards raised to 8 cuttels.
GUEST-QUARTERS, The occasional residence of the King or Jarl as guest of the Husbondi, whose Bordland was exempt from Skatt on that account.
Hagi, (N.) Dan. Grasmark, pascua, Hill pasture, common to a Tun HOG-LEAVE, N. Haga-leyfi, permissio pascuendi—Hag-ra, facultas pascuendi—RIDING THE HAGRA, perambulation of the Marches of the Hagi.
HAWK-HENS, A general parochial burden of “poultry to feed the King’s falcons” taken in the islands; first exacted by Bishop William Tulloch (in addition to the new Scottish burden of Kanefowls, exigible from tenants only), and still occasionally demanded by the Queen’s Falconer.
Herad, (N.) districtus montibus et mari terminatus, A district containing several Hrepps or Skathalds, with their several Tuns or Rooms, and a Moar common to them all.
Hirdman, (N.) Miles, aulicus. HIRDMAN STANE, N. Hirdman Stefn, congressus militum.
HOMER, HOEMOTHER, Sunfish, or Basking Shark.
Hrepp, (N.) tribus, The Community of Hreppmen, or Skatt brethren possessing a Skathald, with common pasture in the Moar, and a share of the Tulberskatt exacted from intruders not entitled to pasture there.
Huss-Bondi, (N.) paterfamilias—Huss-Karl, domesticus, operarius.
Jol, (N.) natalitia Christi, initium Aquarii, Yule or Christmas.
LANDSETTERCOP, N. Land-settr kaup, merces conductionis, A fee or fine on letting or reletting a farm.
LANDSKYLD, Dan. Land-skylld, N. Land-skulld, Scot. Landmale, debitum quod locator fundi debet domino præstare, locarium, redditus prædianus, The rent of a farm.
LAST, N. Læst, mensura oneris nautici, A measure = 12 Barrels; also a weight = 24 Meils.
LAW-BOOK, N. Lög-bok, codex legum, Book of Laws.
LAWMAN, N. Lög-madr, nomophylax, The President of the Althing, Keeper and Expounder of the Law-book, and Chief Judge of Orkney, anciently paid by the assessment of Förkaup, and afterwards by the Scottish Government, and ultimately abolished or merged in the office of Sheriff.
LAWRIGHTMAN, N. Lög-retta-madr, scabinus, An Official chosen by the Vard-Thing, and charged with the custody and application of the Standards of Weight and Measure, and the general interests of the Herad or Parish, especially in the Law-thing, where he acted as Assessor of the Lawman or Foud. The name was latterly given to the inferior local umpires of minor questions of Scandal, Marches, or breaches of the Sheep Acts, more correctly called RANCELMEN.
LÆANGER, N. Ledangr, contributio in præsidium patriæ, A Tax paid in Zetland.
Leigumadr, (N.) conductor prædii, A Tenant farmer under a formal Tack of Assedation, generally for three years, but renewable on payment of Grassum, Landsettr or Eysettr-cop.
LISPUND, LESPUND, LESCHPUND (idem ac SETTEEN q. vide), A Weight = 24 Marks, or ⅙ of a Meil, or 1
15 of a Barrel; gradually raised by the donataries from 12 to 18 ℔ Scots measure.
MARK, N. Mörk, bes, sonulibru, octo unciæ, A weight = 8 ounces or 1
24 of a Lispund or Setteen, gradually raised to 20 ounces; also a Land-Measure, not of extent, but of valuation proportioned to the taxation, and regulating both rights and burdens.
MEIL, N. Mælir, A Weight = 6 Lespunds, or 1
24 of a Last.
MERK, A Scottish coin = 13s. 4d. or ⅔ of a Pound Scots.
MŒLISCOP, A local Land-measure = ⅙ of a pennyland.
MUIR, Islandic Moar, ericetum, Heath pasture, common to all the Skathalds and Hrepps of a Herad.
MUIR STANE, N. Moar Stenn, The idol, afterwards (till lately) the Thingstod of a Herad, or Vard-Thing.
NOBLE, ANGEL-NOBLE, An English gold coin = 10 shillings sterling.
NONENTRY, A Scottish Feudal casualty.
O-bota-mali, (N.) crimen ære non expiabile, Crime inferring death, exile, or forfeiture to the King.
ODAL, N. Odal, allodium, prædium hereditarium, The estate of an Odaller; quasi Odh-al plena possessio.
ODAL-BORN, N. Odal-borinn, natus ad heredium avitum, viz., rectâ lineâ a primo occupante.
ODALRED, N. Odh-al-Rædi, jus plenæ possessionis a primo occupante.
ODALLER, Odalsmadr, dominus allodialis, The Free possessor of an Odalsjord.
Odalsjord, (N.) prædium hereditarium.
OX-MONEY and SHEEP-MONEY, Exactions in Zetland, grounded upon the provisions furnished to Bothwell.
PACK, N. Packi, A quantity of Wadmæl = 10 Gudlings.
PLOWK, Scot. A plug or pin.
PUNDLAR, N. Pundari, statera, An instrument of Weight of two kinds, viz., the Malt-pundlar for Lispunds, Meils, and Lasts of Malt—1 Last = 24 Meils = 144 Lispunds; and the Bere-pundlar for Bere only, but estimating the Last as containing 36 Meils, or one-third more than the Malt-pundlar, according to a conventional proportion of raw to dried grain.
PURPRESION, PURPRESTURE, A feudal casualty of forfeiture or fine for encroachment on the rights of the Overlord.
QUOY, N. Qui, area circumsepta, An enclosure.
RENTALS OF ORKNEY, Records of the Odaller’s Skatts, Tenants’ Males, Vassal’s Feu-duties, and Parish burdens, chargeable by the Donatary or Chamberlain.
ROOM, N. Rum, locus, The same in Zetland as Tun in Orkney.
ROTHE, ROYTH, N. Rœdi, dispensatio rei œconomicæ, The Odaller’s Conditions and Rights as master of his own house—ROITHISMEN and ROTHISMEN’S SONS, Odallers and Odalborn.
SAMYNG, N. Sœmd, honos, decus, An Odaller’s Rank and Dignity as a free-born Thingman.
SCHYND, SCHOIND, SCHOWND, N. Skynd, Dan. Skjon, ratio, An Inquest of Thingmen to examine, sanction, and confirm all procedure respecting the Succession, Impignoration, or Alienation of Heritage; anciently by a vivâ voce doom, but frequently (after the accession of the Scottish Jarls) by a Skynd-bref or “Schynd Bill.”
SCOULDING, N. Skulld, debitum, crimen, mulcta, A Thing for civil debts, damages, and fines for minor offences.
SET, N. Settr, pactio, An agreement, the letting of land.
SETTEEN, SETTING, N. Settungr, sextans, A weight = 24 marks, or ⅙ of a Meil, idem ac Lispund et Span.
SETTER, N. Sœttur, The infield pasture of a Tun.
SKAT, N. Skattr, vectigal, tributum, The Tax upon all land occupied by Odal-red, for the support of the Crown, and expense of government—SKATT-BRETHREN, N. Skat-brœdir, Members of the same Skathald, called also Hreppismen—Skat-fal, (N.) Failure for two years to pay Skatt, punished by confiscation, unless redeemed—SKATTALD, N. Skat-hald, A district or Hrepp containing several Tuns or Rooms, with an exclusive Hagi, and a share in the Moar of the Herad.
SKYLD, LAND-SKYLD, Dan. Land-Skyld, A Tenant’s Rent, as opposed to Skattr, Odaller’s Tax.
SKYLLING or QUHYT, A Danish coin = 1½d. Scots, afterwards raised to 6d. by Earl Robert.
Span, idem ac LESPUND.
Stefn, (N.) citatio, A Summons, afterwards a Court or Assembly.
STEMBOD, N. Stefn-bod, signum citationis, A symbol of citation, being a Staff for ordinary Meetings, an Arrow for matters of urgency or haste, an Axe for a Court of Justice, and a Cross for Ecclesiastical or Religious affairs.
STENT, N. Stend, stare, equivalere, The amount of Butter Skatt legally due by each Odal-Tun.
TACK, A Lease of a farm, sometimes of a considerable district, or sometimes even of the whole Earldom, or Bishopric—TACKSMAN, the holder of such a lease. The term is generally applied to the Farmers of the Crown Rents and Revenues.
Thing, (N.) comitia, An Assembly, Parliament, or Court of Freemen.
Al-Thing, forum universale, A general Assemblage of all Free-men.
Herads-Thing or Stefn, A district Meeting of Heradsmen.
Hirdmans-Thing or Stefn, A Council of Warriors.
Hof-Thing, consultatio de rebus sacris.
Huss-Thing, consultatio de rebus domesticis.
Law-Thing, A Court of Law—Leidar-Thing, A War Council.
Vard-Thing, Hreppamot or Hreppa Stefn, An Assembly of the Skatt-brethren of a Hrepp or Skathald.
Thing-Stod (N.) locus comitiorum.
Thræll, (N.) servus, A slave.
TOFT, N. Tomt, area domus vacua, Land once tilled but abandoned.
TOWN, N. Tun, viridarium, pratum, The original Odalsjord of a Primal Occupant or Land-nama-madr, possessing its own exclusive Sœttur, a share of the Hagi, and rights of commonty in the Moar.
TUMALE, Scot., Land enclosed from the common pasture, and tilled; but not included in the original Odal-Tun.
TULBERSKATT, N. Told-bœr-Skatt, A fine or rent exacted by the Vard-Thing from unentitled intruders on the Moar of its Herad.
Tun-gardr, (N.) sepimentum viridarii, Hill-dyke.
UMBOTHSMAN, N. Umbods madr, procurator, mandatarius, An agent, procurator, for-Speaker, or advocate.
UNDER-FOUD, An Official in every parish of Zetland, with local duties and powers similar to those of the Head Foud, especially in representing and watching the interest of the Government, latterly superseded by the Bailie.
URE ORE, N. Eyrir, uncia, An ounce, the fundamental unit of all Orkneyan mensuration, being 1/8th of a Mark. URISLAND, A denomination of Land Value = 1/8th of a Mark of Land, or 18 pennylands.
Vatn, (N.) aqua, lacus.
Vikingr, (N.) pirata. Viking (N.) piratica. Haust- or Vor-Viking, an Autumnal or Spring expedition.
Vœ-bond, (N.) sepimentum dicasterii, tutela pacis publicæ, Anciently the cord which encircled the Thing-stod, and the rupture of which dissolved the meeting—from its peculiar sanctity it came to signify an Asylum or Sanctuary.
Vœringr, (N.) miles Nordmannus Imperatoris Græci.
WARD HILL, WART HILL, N. Vardi, strues lapidum, The hill on which the beacon was lighted to give warning of approaching danger.
WATTEL, WATTLE, N. Vottr-tel, testes numerare, The ancient assessment for the salary of the Under-foud for summing up the evidence at the Vard-Thing, afterwards a perquisite of the Baillie, in addition to the Balliatus.
ZOPINDALE, YOWPINDAL, A silver coin = 15 shillings Scots in 1541, but raised by Earl Robert to 20 shillings in 1572.
ZOWISWORTH, YOWISWORTH, COWSWORTH, a proportion of Odal-land = 1/10th of a pennyland.