Disputatio Formulae:Praefecturae Scotiae

In medieval Latin in Scotland there is a distinction between a comitatus (earldom) and a vicecomitatus (sheriffdom). In Scotland unlike England earldoms and sheriffdoms have completely seperate origins, and must be distinguished. Schira is also used early for sheriffdom, but it also means 'parish' (as in Scottish Gaelic, sgìre = parish). The units here should be described by vicecomitatus, though doubtless one could find more recent instances of English-speaking writers confusing the two also. Mar= comitatus, Schira de Aberdeen = vicecomitatus ; Carrick = comitatus; Schira de Ayr=Vicecomitatus; and so on ... Deacon of Pndapetzim 00:34, 7 Octobris 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I'm sorry to have delayed all this time, but that's Vicipaedia. I am now going to create articles for the remaining pre-1975 Scottish shires/sheriffdoms/etc. and move the existing ones. I have Latin names for them all. I think they were all eventually sheriffdoms except perhaps Nairn [and Shetland? and Kirkcudbright?], and I agree that the best term for most of them is vicecomitatus (= sheriffdom). If we need to fudge that issue, an alternative vaguer term is praefectura (= shire, perhaps). If anyone wants to watch my new pages and correct my names (or add alternatives), that's fine! I will also revise this formula ... Andrew Dalby (disputatio) 14:16, 30 Aprilis 2012 (UTC)[reply]