This volume serves as a comprehensive lexicographical record, documenting the evolution and usage of the Scots language from the twelfth century through the end of the seventeenth century. The editorial team, led by experts in historical linguistics and Scottish studies, utilizes an extensive corpus of primary source documents to provide a definitive account of vocabulary, syntax, and semantic shifts. By cataloging words from 'Stra' to '3ere', the work establishes a rigorous framework for understanding the linguistic transition that occurred as Scots integrated with standard English.

Scholars and historians regard this dictionary as the definitive reference for the study of Older Scots, often comparing its depth and methodology to the Oxford English Dictionary. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is designed primarily for researchers and specialists in historical linguistics and Scottish history.