Ploughgate

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A ploughgate was a Scottish land measurement, used in the south and the east of the country. It was supposed to be the area that eight oxen were said to be able to plough in one year. Because of the variable land quality in Scotland, this could be a number of different actual land areas. There were also regional discrepancies, but it was generally considered to be just over 100 Scottish acres on average.

Many sources say that four ploughgates made up a daugh, but in other places it would have appeared to have been the equivalent of one daugh exactly. Ploughgates were subdivided into oxgangs; the most common division appears to have been eight to a ploughgate.

[edit] See also

• Obsolete Scottish units of measurement
  • In the East Highlands:
    • Rood
    • Scottish acre = 4 roods
    • Oxgang (Damh-imir) = the area an ox could plow in a year (around 20 acres)
    • Ploughgate (?) = 8 oxgangs
    • Daugh (Dabhach) = 4 ploughgates
  • In the West Highlands:
    • Groatland - (Còta bàn) = basic unit
    • Pennyland (Peighinn) = 2 groatlands
    • Quarterland (Ceathramh) = 4 pennylands (8 groatlands)
    • Ounceland (Tir-unga) = 4 quarterlands (32 groatlands)
    • Markland (Marg-fhearann) = 8 Ouncelands (varied)