Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1767, 1835, 1927-1929
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BACKLAND, n. A house built behind others. [′bɑk′lɑn(d)]Sc. 1927 G. M. Thomson Caledonia 20:
In a backland (a tenement built on what was originally the drying green behind an older tenement) a family of eight people sleep in one bed.Abd. 1767 Abd. Journal (23 Feb.):
These Tenements of Foreland, Inland and Backland, lying upon the South-side of the Castlestreet of Aberdeen, commonly called Marishalls Lodging.Edb. 1929 (per Edb.1):
Back-land. Tenements built behind others — e.g. in various parts of Central Edinburgh.wm.Sc. 1835 The Laird of Logan (1868) 415:
Supping in a back land in the Trongate . . . on minced collops, black-puddings, and whisky toddy.
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"Backland n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/backland>
