English Reference

Word

mcleod

Phoneticsmcleod

/məˈkɫaʊd/

Definition

n. a common family name from Scotland. It is often used to name places or businesses founded by people with this name.

n. a Scottish surname of Gaelic origin, specifically associated with the Highlands and Islands. When capitalised, it functions as a proper name for individuals, clans, or geographic locations.

Examples

“Professor McLeod is teaching the history class today.”

“The local library was named after the McLeod family, who donated the land over a century ago.”

“While the McLeod clan historically held vast territories in the Inner Hebrides, modern descendants of the lineage are now scattered across the global Scottish diaspora.”

Examples

simple

“Professor McLeod is teaching the history class today.”

contextual

“The local library was named after the McLeod family, who donated the land over a century ago.”

complex

“While the McLeod clan historically held vast territories in the Inner Hebrides, modern descendants of the lineage are now scattered across the global Scottish diaspora.”

Usage

As a proper noun, it is always capitalised; the plural form 'McLeods' refers to a family or group sharing the name.

Etymology

From Scottish Gaelic MacLeòid (“son of Leòd”), from Old Norse Liótr (“the Ugly (one)”), from Old Norse ljótr (“ugly, scary”). The combination tool was created in 1905 by Malcolm McLeod, a US Forest Service ranger.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

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