Gàidhlig / English
Glagadaich

Glagadaich

Posted by Abi on 7 September 2017

Our word of the week for you this time is glagadaich [gLagədɪç], an excellent, descriptive word. Glagadaich was used in Lochaber for a loud laugh, but also in Benbecula for the ‘continuous barking of a dog’. Glagadaich is also in Dwelly’s Dictionary meaning ‘1 crashing, clashing 2 clacking 3 clucking 4 cry of seagulls’.  The saying ‘Glagadaich nam faoileag’ refers to the noise of seagulls, which is a noise everyone knows well, especially if you have ever tried to eat chips outside on the beach!

According to our fieldwork archive, it’s clear that there are many interesting words across Scotland for laughter. On Scalpay, Harris, somebody had the word lasganaich meaning an ‘outburst of laughter’ and the word used was lachan in Glen Urquhart. The word glocadaich was found in Tiree for a silly laugh and glag-gàire was collected in Lochaber. Clearly, folk from Lochaber are very funny as the phrase ‘chaill mi mo lús a gàireachdaich’  [‘I became weak with laughter.’] was also collected in 1977 from a man who had been raised in the area.

What’s your favourite word for glagadaich or laughter? Send us a message on Facebook, Twitter or below in our comments section.
 
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