shieling

[ shee-ling ]

noun

, Scot.

1. a pasture or grazing ground.
2. a shepherd's or herdsman's hut or rough shelter on or near a grazing ground.

shieling

/ ˈʃiːlɪŋ; ʃiːl /

noun

1. a rough, sometimes temporary, hut or shelter used by people tending cattle on high or remote ground
2. pasture land for the grazing of cattle in summer

Word History and Origins

Origin of shieling¹

First recorded in 1560–70; shiel + -ing ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of shieling¹

C16: from Middle English shale hut, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

In the Highlands, the overnight stops will be called Àirigh - the Gaelic word for shieling, which is a rough shelter traditionally used by shepherds while tending flocks at summer pastures.

From BBC

In 2011, local historians successfully campaigned against a hydro scheme that threatened to disturb the shieling.

From The Guardian

This weekend, at Samhain, the Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season, according to a modest local custom that may span centuries, the figures will be returned to their quartz-studded shieling – a basic shepherd’s hut – to spend the winter months undercover.

From The Guardian

"We have been able to see how densely settled parts of Arran were, and the medieval and post-medieval shieling sites that were discovered have told us how upland areas were used by shepherds."

From BBC

Zak, who turned 20 in October, had to leave special needs school The Shieling, in Thornbury, about 12 miles from Bristol, this summer because it only takes students aged up to 19 at the start of an academic year.

From BBC