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  The Glossary

The Scottish Archive Network (SCAN) Glossary defines archaic words and phrases, mostly Scots law terminology, commonly found in documents and records in Scotland's archives. If you think a word or phrase should be added to the glossary, or an existing entry could be defined better, please contact us. Since the SCAN project ended, the Dictionary of the Scots Language has gone online at http://www.dsl.ac.uk/, and this should be consulted for Scots words and phrases (including legal terms).

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U

 
udal right
a method of holding lands in Orkney and Shetland which did not require the holder to have sasine, or even to have a charter to the lands, but only to have evidence of his undisturbed occupation of the lands; such lands were held direct from the Crown for a payment called "skat"
 
ultimus haeres
"last heir"; the right of the Crown to succeed to all heritable property where no other heir, successor or assignee to the property can be identified
 
umquhile
late, deceased

unforisfamiliat, unforisfamiliate, on[e]forisfamiliat
not separated from the father's family, still living at home

usucapio, or usucaption
the Latin legal terms for long, uninterrupted and unchallenged possession of a thing or a right, which conferred an entitlement to that property or right.
 
utencilis & domiceillis
household goods
 
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