Gàidhlig / English
Breunlach

Breunlach

Posted by Abi on 25 May 2017

The word breunlach ([bɾ[ĩɑ̃]ɫɑx] no [bɾĩɑ̃ɫɑx]) was collected in Barvas, Uig and Strathglass. In Barvas it meant boggy soft moorland that was dry after a period of warm weather in the summer months but it was also collected in Uig for  for a wet and boggy area. An informant from Strathglass suggested that it meant a place that was rotting. The word is in Dwelly’s dictionary meaning ‘sinking bog (green/grassy or open water but with steep sides, dangerous)’.

The word bàthasdair came from the Isle of Lewis and it means:

‘dangerous bog. It is to be avoided for stock safety. It is dangerous because it is situated in a place where the water cannot be drained off it.’

The word bàsadair was collected in Harris for ‘any place which could be dangerous to sheep or cattle – e.g. soft, boggy place.’ On the Isle of Lewis drochaid air feith was collected, and this is a bridge of turfing over a dangerous boggy area to use if you don’t want to take a detour.

Do you have any words or sayings about boggy places? We would be interested to hear from you, let us know on Facebook or Twitter.
 
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