Bothy
/ˈbɒθi/noun
A small, simple shelter or hut, especially on a farm or in the Scottish Highlands.
Did you know?Bothy is ultimately linked to Old Norse búð, a word for a booth, hut, or temporary dwelling, showing how Viking settlement left everyday traces in Scottish English.
Etymological Timeline
Old Norse
ON
búð
“A booth, hut, temporary shelter, or dwelling place”
Middle English
ME
bothe
“A hut or booth”
Early Scots
Scots
bothie
“A small cottage or hut, especially for laborers or on a farm”
19th Century
English
bothy
“A simple shelter or cottage, especially in Scotland”
Modern English
English
bothy
“A small, simple shelter or hut, especially on a farm or in the Scottish Highlands”