stane

Stane is the Scots language word for stone, used in Scottish English to refer to a rock or mineral mass, often of notable size or significance. In everyday speech, it functions much like the English word stone, but carries distinct Scots pronunciation and orthography.

Etymology and related terms: Stane derives from the same roots as Old English stan and the modern English stone. The Scots form preserves a longer vowel and a spelling characteristic of Scots orthography. The word is widely recognized in Scotland and appears in historical and literary texts written in or about Scots language and culture.

Usage and cultural context: In Scotland, stane is common in toponymy and folklore. It is often found in names for rock formations, cairns, or boundary markers, and is sometimes used in poetry and prose to evoke Scots heritage. The term also appears in place names and local landmarks, where it helps signal a connection to traditional landscape features.

Modern usage: In contemporary Scottish English, stane is primarily used in dialectal or literary contexts. Standard English speakers may use stone, but stane remains a familiar element of Scottish regional speech and identity, especially in rural areas or when conveying a Scots ambience in writing.

See also: Stone, megalith, cairn, Scots language.