A Scottish feudal superior or landowner, equivalent to an English lord of the manor. The owner of a large estate in Scotland.
From Scots, a variant of 'lord', from Old English 'hlāford' (bread-keeper, master of the house). The Scottish form preserved the older pronunciation while English 'lord' underwent sound changes.
In modern Scotland, you can actually buy tiny plots of land and legally call yourself a laird - though this is more of a novelty than actual feudal lordship! Traditional lairds often had clan responsibilities and served as judges in local disputes.
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