A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1500, 1576, 1628-1700+
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Leanger, n. Also: langer. [ON. leiðangr (OSw. lethunger) a naval force or levy, also, in early Scand. law, a perpetual duty payable to the King in place of naval service.] In Shetland: A form of scat or tax payable to the Crown by udal proprietors. — c 1500 Goudie Shetl. Antiq. 173.
Skat, Dunrosnes, … Item, Oxinsta, ij s. vadmell iij d. leanger; Item, Oxniabo iiij s. vadmell viij ellis silver and vadmell viij d. leanger; etc. 1576 Orkney Oppres. 52.
Thair is ane dewitie, callit leanger, quhilk the comownis of Ȝetland payis ȝeirlie, followand thair wadmell, quhilk extendis to four Dence quhytis, or ane calff skin, with everie xxiiij cutteill of wadmell 1628 Goudie Shetl. Antiq. 178.
Ane lea[nge]r is payable be a calf skin or half cuttell wodmell, or pryce thairof 2 s. 1628 Ib. 179.
Dunrosness Scat Wodmell Butter and Oyllie. Scatnes viij s. viij d. lea[nge]r, … Scowsburgh vj s. viij d. lea[nge]r c1650-1700 Descr. Zetl. 19.
By scatt, wattell, langer, ox-silver [etc.]1716–17 Goudie Shetl. Antiq. 184.
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"Leanger n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/leanger>
