Etymology From Middle English hy laund, holond (“highland, upland”), from Old English hēahland (“highland”), from Proto-West Germanic *hauhaland, *hauhalandī; equivalent to high + land. Cognate with Scots hieland (“highland”), Dutch hoogland (“highland”), German Hochland (“highland”), Danish højland (“highland”), Swedish högland (“highland”).
1
A high area; land that is higher than surrounding areas.
Near-synonyms: upland, upcountry
The highlands of the Swiss Alps are home to many unique flowers.
Derived terms
Addington Highlands, Atlantic Highlands, Cameron Highlands, Central Highlands, Grey Highlands, Highland County, highland dance, highlander, Highland fling, Highland, Highlands, highlandman, Highland Mills, Highland Papua, Highland Park, Highland Peak, Highland Range, highland tinamou, Lanark Highlands, Newton Highlands, Southern Highlands, St Minver Highlands
A merchant has been convicted in Glasgow for adulterating the meal to the Highland poor.1847, editorial staff, “(untitled Adulterated Food)”, in Scientific American, series 1, Volume 3, Issue 9, page 68: