A Scottish legal term for a fine or penalty paid to a local authority or landowner, especially in medieval Scottish towns.
From Middle English/Scots borough (town) + law (regulation), literally 'borough law' or 'town law.' The term reflects Scotland's unique feudal and burghal legal systems that developed differently from England.
Bourlaw reveals how Scottish towns had independent legal authority to fine citizens—making medieval Scotland remarkably democratic compared to England, where the crown controlled justice.
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