Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BARON, n. Used in Sc. to indicate the owner of a freehold estate even though he is only a simple commoner.Sc. 1909 Green's Encycl. Law Scot. II. 19:
The mere territorial baron has no title of dignity appropriated to him. He is not necessarily even an esquire. In formal documents he is described as “ —, lord of the barony of —.” He may not sign himself in these by his surname alone or by the name of his lands, but with his Christian name, or the initial letter thereof with his surname.Peb. 1710 Records Burgh Peebles (1872) 404:
The magistrates . . . considering that the provosts of this burgh have allwayes been in use as barronis and freeholders of Sheilgreen . . . appoint John Brown . . . as baron of Sheillgreen.