[f. LAIRD + -SHIP.]

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  1.  The condition or dignity of a laird. Also quasi-concr. Lairds as a whole.

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1854.  H. Miller, Sch. & Schm. (1858), 395. The august shadow of lairdship lay heavy on society.

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1870.  Ramsay, Remin. (ed. 18), p. xxviii. The annals of ‘Forfarshire Lairdship.’

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  2.  The estate of a laird.

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1649.  Bp. Guthrie, Mem. (1702), 91. Mr. A. M. … having been … preferr’d to the Lairdship of Balvaird.

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a. 1693.  Urquhart’s Rabelais, III. ii. 26. He wasted … the … Revenue of his Lairdship.

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1725.  De Foe, Journey thro’ Scotl. (1729), 4 (Jam.). A lairdship is a tract of land with a mansion house upon it, where a gentleman hath his residence.

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1816.  Scott, Old Mort., xl. When ye tak up the lairdship, ye maun tak the auld name and designation again.

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1864.  Burton, Scot Abr., II. ii. 182. An estate held directly of the crown was a lairdship.

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  fig.  1794.  Burns, Contented wi’ Little, ii. My Freedom’s my lairdship nae monarch dare touch.

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