DASG Blog

Bòcan gu Tathasg: Faclan Ionadail airson 'Ghost'

It wont be long until Halloween and people will be prepared and ready to tell ghost stories and spooky stories to all their poor friends. There isn’t anyone more fond of spooky stories than tha Gaels. The start of Halloween is an important time in the world of the Gaels. It is at the time of Halloween that the boundary between this world and the supernatural world is at it’s weakest, and so many spirits, hobgoblins and beasts come to this world from the other world. There are many times throughout the year where creatures and ghosts will come to this world, such as “Oie Noo Markys” in Mann, and Bealltainn . We wont look at every kind of Tathasg [ghost] and their varieties, such as the bean-nighe, but we shall have a look at their different names.

We have many different names from every part of Scotland for “taibhse” and thankfully we have many names at DASG in “Fieldwork”: In Scalpay there are many words recorded: there is Manadh, Samhladh, Taibhs, Tanasg, Tannasg, Tathaich and Tathasg recorded, showing just how haunted the island is! What are the locals of the island up to with the amount of ghosts they have? But don’t worry, the Isle of Harris is just as haunted as Scalpay! The words Tamhasg can be found in Barra and Ardhashaig, and Tàbhairneach de dhuine can be found as well. Tathasgan can be found in Lewis as well, the word Tàbhoradh is found in Arnol. The word Taibhse is very common throughout the Highlands and there are many mentions of taibhsean in “Folksongs and Folklore of South Uist” by Margaret Fay Shaw.

To the north of the mainland in MacKay Country Tàsg is found in Swordly, Bettyhill. In the book “The Gaelic of MacKay Country” by Seumas Grannd, the word “tathasg” is recorded and Tàsg can be heard in Stoer and Deilbhinn in Wester Ross. In Roy Wentworths Dictionary, “Words and Phrases of Wester Ross both Tàsg and Taibhs are recorded. In Easter Ross Neachd is recorded. This word must have come from the word “riochd.” In the Isle of Skye a variety of words can be found: one will find Cruchull, Tàbharnach and Mana in Kilmuir alone. Bòcan can be found in Lochaber and Dornie respectively. In the book “Seanchas Ìle” by Comunn na Gàidhlig Ìle, manadh is the common word for tathasg. There are many meanings for the same word, have a look at “Manadh,” a blog we did at DASG. Have a look at “Tàcharan”  as well that we have too.

There are many meanings to the names above and we ought to tearraideachadh (closely examine). The word taibhse according to “An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language,” by Alexander MacBain, is explained as “apparition, ghost, vision” ach tha tamhasg agus tannasg is explained as “blockhead, brownie” and “apparition, ghost.” There is a mention of “Tàimh” meaning “death, mortality.” The word taibhse must have come from this word. There is a different meaning to the word bòcan although; although the word is used for taibhse it actually means “hobgoblin. MacBain is of the opinion that the work is somewhat similar to the word “púca” in Irish (which comes from “Puka” in Old Norse apparently.) Even though the “púca” is a different creature to the taibhse there are many meanings according to the Rev. John MacGregor Campbell in “The Gaelic Otherworld.” It can mean “bugbears, ghosts, apparitions, hobgoblins, etc.” A Manadh means “an omen, luck.”

Uath, fuath and fuathach can be found as well in stories and placename-folklore of Scotland, with “Leathad Leacanta nam Fuath” close to Ullapool. In Gaelic folklore there is mention of a fuath in “Duain na Muildheartaich”:

“’S gum b’ ainm don fhuath nach robh tìom
A’ Mhuildheartach mhaol, ruadh, mhuing-fhionn;
Bha aodann dubh-ghlas, air dhreach guail,
Bha deud a carbaid claon-ruadh.”

Fuath could mean “anger or aversion” or “apparition, spectre” in certain dialects.

I hope that none of you are “Cho bàn ris an anart-mhairbh” or “cho bàn ris an liathag” discussing tathasgan throughout this blog and that you haven't had a "briosgadh, clisgeadh agus sgal." Do you have any words for tathasg? Let us know on facebook, twitter and our own website!