Scotch marriage
noun
A marriage, formerly valid according to Scots law, effected solely by a mutual declaration of consent before two witnesses; this form of marriage.
- Chiefly applied to the runaway marriages (formerly frequent) of couples who crossed from England into Scotland in order to escape the restrictions imposed by English law on the marriage of minors without the consent of their guardians. Compare Gretna Green. This particular form of ‘irregular marriage’, also known as marriage by declaration, was abolished under the Marriage (Scotland) Act of 1939..
Origin
Mid 18th century; earliest use found in The London Magazine.