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Liosta-Ainmean-Bàta

Liosta-Ainmean-Bàta

Posted by Calum on 6mh Am Màrt 2018

Richard A.V. Cox wrote a transaction in Scottish Gaelic Studies, earann XXIV, about the names of different boats, noting the Norse roots of the different names of boats and their differences. We will go through some of them in this blog:
  1. “Bàta” – tha most common word we have today, according to Cox there is controversy about the root of the word; it is not completely likely that the word comes from Old Norse, from “Bát” but perhaps it is from Scots or English influence.
  2. “Bìrlinn” – (Barge, bark of state, galley) perhaps it is from the word “Bior-linn” (pool-log) that Bìrlinn originates. According to Cox it is from Old Norse, the word “byrðingr”, and the word is very similar to the Norwegian word today “Berling” (“short pole or beam under the hatches of the vessel.”) It came to be in the Western Isles with influence of the Vikings and their craft they brought with them.
  3. “Carbh” – ((“ship”, “boat”. [Dwelly – Cairb] Ship, [Irish Gaelic.] ship, bier, carriage [not in the same way that carriage means]).
  4. “Càrbhair” – (boat with grooved planks, from Lewis. Henderson - “it is built differently to other boats, for the planks do not overlap but fit closely”). Cox recognises that it is similar to “carvel, carver” in English and the difference between something “carvel-built” and “clinker-built”.
  5. “Cnarra” – old norse for “Ship”.
  6. “Geòla” – (“yawl,” “ship’s boat,  small barge,” [Irish Gaelic] “yawl,” “fishing boat”). There is a debate on which language itself but it is likely from Scandinavia, with examples of “Jula” in Norwegian, “Julla” in Swedish and “Jole” in Danish. According to the roots of the word “Yawl” it is from the Netherlands with “Jol” and “Jollyboat”! The word “yole” is common in Orkney meaning “small, undecked sailing ship; gen[erally] wide and shallow in build. It was rigged with two masts – each of which had a fore-and-aft sail, in addition, it had a jib.”
  7. “Sgoth” – (“boat,” “skiff,” “large winter fishing-boat,” “yacht”;... “boat with stem and stern vertical” [Dwelly]). There are norse roots here, with “Skúta” in old Norse meaning “cutter or small craft” and it’s “Skuda/skude” in Danish.
There is “Coit” as well that is common in Easter Ross and the parishes on the River Spey, therefore there is a town called “Coit Ghartain” on the River Spey. It means “Cat, cot, Cargo Boat”.

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  • Iain MacIlleChiar

    Tha seòrsa de chuimhne agam gun do leugh mi an àiteigin gur e a bha ann an 'coit'an toiseach ach bàta a bha air a chladhach slàn às an aon chraoibh, mar a gheibhear corr'uair air a thìodhlacadh ann an abhainn, loch no boglach. Ach dh'fhaodainn a bhith ceàrr.
    Nuair a bha mi ann an Dùthaich MhicAoidh, ged a b'aithne dhaibh am facal 'bàta', cha chanadh duine sam bith e. 'S e 'culaidh'a bha aca.

    2018-03-06 11:27:13