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: 1529-1598
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Leg, Lig, Lieg, n.2 [? Transf. use of Leg n.1: ? the idea being that the possessor of this amount of land contributed one horse's leg, i.e. a sixteenth part of the price of the four-horse team to work the ploughgate (see Pleuchgate n.): cf. the later Sc. horse's-foot, SND, s.v. Horse n.1 2 (46).] (Recorded of certain places in southern Scotland): A measure of land; ? a sixteenth part of a ploughgate or quarter of a horsegang, SND, s.v. Horse n.1 2 (16) (a). — 1529 Reg. Greats. 189/2.
Necnon toftam et 3 lie liegis terrarum infra territorium ville de Sanquhare pro mansione dict. capellani 1579 Reg. Privy C. III. 212.
[The Sheriff of Dumfries to enter Patrik McCrerik burgess of Wigton into certain specified] leggis [of land lying near the burgh of Sanquhar] 1587 Reg. Great S. 429/1.
Tres lie liggis ville et terrarum de Rowmannos (per eos occupat.) 1587 Ib. 429/2.
Reservando liberum tenementum terrarum dominicalium de R[owmannos] … et unius lie lig ejusdem (per Mich. Huntar occupat.) dicto Wil. seniori 1597–8 Ib. 219/1.
Rex … ad feudifirmam dimisit Davidi Hay … decimamsextam partem (unum lie lig) ville et terrarum de West Barnes in dominio de Dunbar
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"Leg n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/leg_n_2>
