scots
scots Lexical Profile
scots Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Natives or inhabitants of Scotland, or people of Scottish descent.
"Thousands of Scots emigrated to North America during the nineteenth century."
A West Germanic language variety spoken in Lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster, closely related to English.
"Many of Robert Burns's most famous poems are written in Scots rather than standard English."
Historical taxes, assessments, or financial contributions paid according to one's ability, surviving chiefly in the phrase 'scot and lot'.
"All burghers who paid their local scots were entitled to vote in the municipal elections."
• adjective
Of or relating to Scotland, its people, its legal and institutional systems, or the Scots language.
"The university offers a specialized degree in Scots law alongside international legal studies."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the people or language of Scotland, 'Scots' and 'Scottish' are preferred in modern usage; 'Scotch' is now restricted almost exclusively to whisky and certain food products (such as Scotch eggs or Scotch broth).
• Rhymes for scots
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Middle English Scottis, a northern contracted form of Scottish (from Old English Scottisc), ultimately from Late Latin Scoti, a name originally applied to Gaelic-speaking people from Ireland who settled in northwestern Britain.