Scotus
/ˈskoʊtəs/noun
A Latin term meaning a Scot or a native of Scotland; also used historically as a surname and scholarly byname.
Did you know?In medieval Latin, *Scotus* was used so broadly for “a Scot” that it became attached to famous thinkers like John Duns Scotus, whose name still echoes through philosophy and theology.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Celtic
P-Celt
skot(t)os
“A member of the Scoti, an ancient people associated with Ireland and later Scotland.”
Late Latin
Latin
Scotus
“A Scot; a person from the Scoti.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
Scotus
“A Scot, especially in scholarly and ecclesiastical usage as a byname or ethnic label.”
Middle English
English
Scot
“A person from Scotland.”
Modern English
English
Scot
“A native or inhabitant of Scotland.”