lairdshipn.

1397 in J. Slater Early Scots Texts (Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Edinb.) (1952) No. 34 The Kyng sall gif hym for his mariage all the landis at the sayde Jorge has in Angus..with the tenandrys of the forsaydys lardschyppyis in to fre regalle erytabilly.

1422 in W. Fraser Stirlings of Keir (1858) 208 Landis..in the lardschip of..Gallystoun.

1616 Corshill Baron-Court Bk. in Archæol. & Hist. Coll. Ayr & Wigton (1884) IV. 72 Birlaymen in..pryseing of any thing poyndit within the lairdshipe.

a1676 H. Guthry Mem. (1702) 91 Mr. Andrew Murray of Ebdie, having been..preferr'd to the Lairdships of Balvaird.., was now made Lord Balvaird.

1693 T. Urquhart & P. A. Motteux tr. F. Rabelais 3rd Bk. Wks. ii. 26 The new Laird..wasted and dilapidated all the certain and uncertain Revenue of his Lairdship.

1723 J. Macky Journey through Scotl. i. 4 A Lairdship is a Tract of Land with a Mansion House upon it, where a Gentleman hath his Residence.

1794 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) II. 755 My Freedom's my Lairdship nae monarch dare touch.

1816 W. Scott Old Mortality xi, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. IV. 245 When ye tak up the lairdship, ye maun tak the auld name and designation again.

1864 J. H. Burton Scot Abroad II. ii. 182 An estate held directly of the crown was a lairdship.

1912 Sc. Hist. Rev. 9 298 Brux was a considerable Highland lairdship on the Don in Aberdeenshire.

1991 Sunday Times (Nexis) 2 June (Features section) He bought the local lairdship and Cromarty House in 1964.

1456–70 in C. Innes & P. Chalmers Liber Aberbrothoc (1856) II. 107 He was callit swa lard of Cauty quhoubeit it was bot for the derisioun owr predecessoris thynkand it onkyndle tyll thole ane nominatioun of lardschipe of sic ane man in the said Caute.

1580 in D. Forbes & C. Innes Acct. Familie Innes (1864) 138 The landis, leiving and lardscheip off Ines.

1816 Gentleman's Mag. Aug. 185/2 General Count L...succeeded to the Lairdship of Lee on failure of male issue in the posterity of the celebrated Sir William L.

1854 H. Miller My Schools & Schoolmasters xviii. 379 I sheltered beside some gentleman's seat, where the august shadow of lairdship lay heavy on society.

1867 E. B. Ramsay Reminisc. Sc. Life (ed. 14) Pref. p. xxii An example of a very plain and downright address of a laird has been recorded in the annals of ‘Forfarshire Lairdship’.

1914 Reg. Kentucky State Hist. Soc. 12 96/2 During his lairdship, the affairs of the family became much involved and their lands were adjudged from them by their creditors.

1998 Guardian 22 July (Society section) 5/1 If you personally think that your style of lairdship does communities a favour, then why not ask for a vote of confidence in secret ballot?

1715 A. Pennecuik Curious Coll. Scotish Poems in Geogr., Hist. Descr. Tweeddale App. 111 Quoth Conscience since it came here, It has gard sindrie Lairdships loup.

1780 ‘N. Ward Jr.’ Comforts Matrimony xxxix. 123 Thou kenst his Lairdship meek and mild is patron of each Northern Child.

1882 G. Halse Salad Stray Leaves 18 As I dinna ken your lairdship personally, aiblens yo wunna blame me?

1906 Macmillan's Mag. Sept. 840 The minister dines once a year with his lairdship in the grouse month.

1992 Times (Nexis) 28 Apr. They ring up from the office and say: ‘So sorry to disturb the rural idyll, your lairdship.’

2010 T. Spear Accidental Highland Hero 60 I have nay interest in His Lairdship, and he has none in me.