clarsach celtic harp
codroche house house of idle, slovenly people of low class and ill-repute
feu right to the use of a property in return for a fixed yearly payment
furth of away from; beyond the confines of
haar sea mist
iron gad iron bar to which prisoners’ feet were shackled
kirk session governing body of a parish, consisting of minister and elders, with spiritual authority, disciplinary powers and social welfare responsibilities
kist chest
links sandy, grassy ground near the shoreline
litster dyer
lykewake gathering at the night watch over someone who has died
mortcloth cloth used to cover the bodies of the dead before burial
pend an arched passageway
precentor person who leads the congregation in psalm-singing
presbytery church court/gathering made up of ministers from each parish in its area (superior to kirk session)
provost civic head of burgh – equivalent to mayor
rebec lute-shaped, violin-like instrument
regent university teacher who took one class through the entire four years of their master of arts (philosophy) course. [verb: to regent]
tabor small drum
tack lease
toft site of house; homestead
trials a series of active tests for aspirants for the ministry
uisge beatha whisky [Gaelic]
vague to roam, wander
vennel narrow alleyway or lane
wynd narrow, winding alley
Note: ‘Mistress Youngson’; ‘Geleis Guild’ etc. – Scottish women of the period did not take their husband’s name on marriage, but kept their own.
The Redemption of Alexander Seaton Page 37
