the term "shieling" is mainly scottish, originally denoting a summer dwelling on a seasonal pasture high in the hills, particularly for shepherds and later coming to mean a more substantial and permanent small farm building in stone. the first recorded use of the term is from 1568. the term is from shiel, from the northern dialect middle english forms schele or shale, probably akin to old frisian skul meaning 'hiding place' and to old norse skjol meaning 'shelter' and skali meaning 'hut'.