Quoy

Quoy is a term that can refer to several different things, primarily in historical contexts related to land ownership and island names. In Scottish history, "quoy" or "quoiy" was a term used to describe a piece of land, often a small farm or croft. These were typically leased from a larger landowner and worked by a tenant. The exact nature of a quoy could vary, but it generally implied a self-sufficient unit of cultivation.

The term "quoy" also appears in the names of islands, particularly in the Orkney and Shetland Islands of Scotland. For example, there is a small island called Quoy Holm. This usage likely derives from the Old Norse word "kví" meaning a fold or pen for livestock, which was a common feature of early settlements and land division. Therefore, "quoy" in an island context might originally have indicated a place where animals were kept or a settlement associated with such a place.

In contemporary usage, the term "quoy" is less common, though it persists in place names and historical documents. Understanding its meaning often requires historical context, distinguishing between its agricultural and geographical applications. The etymology points towards Old Norse roots related to land division and the establishment of settlements.