Gretna Green

American  

noun

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

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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)

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Example Sentences

New plans have been submitted for a giant landmark artwork - the Star of Caledonia - to be built on the Scotland-England border near Gretna Green.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2025

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

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

In 1812, while still a minor, he made a runaway match with Henrietta, natural daughter of Lord Cholmondeley, whom he married at Gretna Green, and who died in 1815.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 8 "Dubner" to "Dyeing" by Various