a mountainous region of northern Scotland famous for its rugged beauty; known for the style of dress (the kilt and tartan) and the clan system (now in disuse)
"The tourists drove through the Scottish highlands, captivated by their rugged beauty and imagining the clansmen who once wore kilts and tartans there."
An area of high land.
"The hikers climbed into the Scottish highlands to enjoy the vast, rugged scenery."
A mountainous area of Scotland.
"The highlanders gathered in the Scottish highlands to celebrate their cultural heritage."
The word highlands is a straightforward combination of the words high and lands, used specifically to describe elevated regions. It entered English as a direct compound phrase rather than evolving from an older root with a different meaning.