Gàidhlig / English
Clisgeadh, Briosgadh agus Sgal

Clisgeadh, Briosgadh agus Sgal

Posted by Calum on 27th August, 2020
“I jumped with fear;” “I took a fright” “You frightened me!” We have been frightened before in our lives (don’t lie!) and the people of the bens,the glens and the heroes are exempt from this. It is interesting that we all have different words in Gaelic from many places and we shall have a look at them in this blog here.

In the western isles, starting in Lewis, “Broigheadh” can be found in Ness, the sentence “Chuir mi broigheadh air an each” [“He scared the horse”] can be read in Fieldwork. I would reccomend that you put a “broigheadh” on a horse in the first instance, but you all must have some common sense! To the south of Ness “Briosgadh” and “Miapadh” can be heard in Barvas. “Chaidh e air ’mhiapadh” is said when someone gets a fright. Further south of there “Priosgadh” can be heard in Crowlista.

We have an interesting variety to be found in Scalpay with “Sgaoim” when someone pulls someone else to scare them, and “Sgeannach”, a great adjective for describing the look of fear on someone’s face.

Over the kyle to North Uist “Clisgeadh,” can be heard in the sentence “Fhuair mi clisgeadh.” Interestingly the same word was found in Islay in Port Weymss as well.

Over the sea to the Isle of Skye “Farbhas” is found for fear and panic as well.

Coming down south to the mainland “Bò” and “Sgal” can be heard in Killin, Perthshire. “Chuir e sgal orm” is said and, apparently, “Tha bò ann” is said for “chuir e sgal orm!” To tell the truth if I was going about my business in my house and I found a cow [“Bò”] behind me I would be frightened too for sure! If you have cows or cattle perhaps you are fine with wandering cows following you!

I hope you enjoyed this blog and we would love to learn some of your local words or to hear your knowledge about the words above! Let us know on facebook, twitter and our own website!
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