Gretna Green

American  

noun

1. a village in S Scotland, near the English border, to which many English couples formerly eloped to be married.

---

Gretna Green British  

/ ˈɡrɛtnə /

noun

1. a village in S Scotland, in Dumfries and Galloway on the border with England: famous smithy where eloping couples were married by the blacksmith from 1754 until 1940, when such marriages became illegal. Pop: 2705 (2001)

---

Example Sentences

The Tory MP Rory Stewart devised what he called a cairn of friendship or “auld acquaintance” at Gretna Green, where people from both sides of the border were invited to lay a stone.

From The Guardian • Oct. 28, 2017

Our last frontier was at Gretna Green on our drive to Edinburgh.

From Washington Post • Dec. 15, 2016

A memorial service for the victims of Britain's worst rail disaster will be held at Gretna Green later.

From BBC • May 21, 2015

Brentwood Farmers Market: Every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Brentwood farmers market takes over Gretna Green Way.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2015

Parson Flagg, of Chester, Vermont, made his home a sort of Yankee Gretna Green; the old stage-drivers could tell plenty of stories of elopers on saddle and pillion who rode to his door.

From Stage-coach and Tavern Days by Earle, Alice Morse