Dictionary

lairdship en · NOUN

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle Scots lairdschip (modern Scots lairdship), from Early Scots lardschip, from Old English hlāfordsċipe; by surface analysis, laird + -ship and a doublet of lordship.

Meanings

1. (Scotland, countable, uncountable) The state or condition of being a laird.
   • They talked of affairs, particular and general, of Ian's late proceedings and the lairdship of Alexander, of men and places that they knew away from this countryside. 1918, Mary Johnston, Foes:
   • He would as soon have thought of wearing a white linen shirt or having the lairdship of a barony, as of getting ham to his breakfast. 1715, S.R. Crockett, Bog-Myrtle and Peat:
   • II. I whyles claw the elbow o' troublesome thought; But man is a sodger, and life is a faught: My mirth and guid humour are coin in my pouch, And my freedom's my lairdship nae monarch dare touch. 1855, Robert Burns, Allan Cunningham, The Complete Works of Robert Burns= Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence.:
2. (countable, uncountable) The area of land owned by a laird.
   • 'Laird,' said she (for so she always called him, though his lairdship was of the smallest), 'will ye tell them to bury me whaur I'll lie across at your feet?' 1874, Edward Bannerman Ramsay, Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character:

Forms