Comhdhail facts for kids

A comhdhail (pronounced "kom-dahl") was a special kind of court in medieval Scotland. It was like a local meeting or assembly. Unlike the king's courts, these were run by ordinary people. They helped solve problems within their own communities.

What Was a Comhdhail?

A comhdhail was a type of local court in Scotland during the Middle Ages. The word comes from an old Scottish Gaelic word, comdal. This word means "tryst" or "assembly." These courts were different from those run by the king or powerful lords. Instead, they were organized by groups of farmers and villagers themselves. They were probably similar to local courts in England, like the "hundred" or "tithing" courts.

How Did Comhdhails Work?

We don't know all the details about how comhdhails worked. But we have enough clues to know they were important. For example, in 1329, an important church leader named Geoffrey, the abbot of Arbroath, made an agreement. He leased land to a man named Fergus mac Donnchaidh. The agreement said that Fergus and his family could have a "couthal" court. This court was for the people living on their land. It could deal with problems that came up among them. The court could also keep any fines collected.

Another record from 1317 also mentions a comhdhail. A man named Robert granted land to Donnchadh. The document said the land came "with court and comhdhail." This shows how important these local courts were.

What Did the Word "Comhdhail" Mean?

Historians have looked at old writings to understand the word "comhdhail." One writer, Andrew of Wyntoun, seemed to use "kwthlys" to mean "groves" or wooded areas. Another writer, Gavin Douglas, used "cythyll" and "cuthyll." This suggests the word might have meant both a woodland clearing and a meeting place. So, a comhdhail might have been an assembly held in a clearing.

Where Can We Find Comhdhail Today?

Records of these old assemblies can still be found in place-names. More than thirty modern place-names come from the word comhdhail. You can find them on maps today. Many more were recorded in old documents but are now lost.

Most of these names are in eastern and lowland Scotland. They stretch from Peeblesshire to Sutherland. Examples include places called "Cothill," "Cuttyhill," and "Cuthill." Other names like Glenquithle and Cuttieshillock also come from this old word. These names help us remember where these important local meetings once took place.