DASG Blog

Buaidh na Gàidhlig air Dualchainnt Beurla Ghallda Rois is Chrombaigh

Years ago an exceptional book was published called “The Cromarty Fisherfolk Dialect” (that can be seen on “https://www.ambaile.org.uk/”). It was an incredibly interesting and particular dialect: it comes from Scots spoken at the time that was spoken in the area with the arrival of Scots speakers in the sixteenth century. It is said that there was three different sub-dialects of the dialect itself that the country folk, the townsfolk and the sailors would speak respectively, as can be read in “East Sutherland Gaelic”, by Nancy Dorian, where the farmers would speak a different dialect then the sailors.

There is many things that can be read about it in “Litir Bheag 215”, and there is a great facility with “Cromarty Courthouse Museum”, where they have a “Fishertoun Dictionary” that is really handy and helpful.

With Gaelic being the main language of the area before the arrival of then Scots speakers a mixture of the two languages and that is clear to hear and read in the vocabulary of the dialect. We’ll have a look at particular words where the influence of Gaelic is clear to see and hear, despite the differences that have occured regarding the meaning or the pronunciation of the word.

Nouns
Amitan – fool – amadan
Beouch/byoch – dear – Beathach!
Binnen – binding – bann
Blairack – bee – Blàrag. “Blàrag” is said to a cow with a stripe on their face.
Blether-bus – chatterbox – bus
Boddach – man, an odd or old – Bodach
Boorie – heap – bùrach
Borack – bradawl (sharp tool for making holes) – Bodhradh.
Brachtan – chaffinch, a young – Breacan-beithe
Brackwast – breakfast – Bracaist (but “bracbhaist” can be heard too).
Bronyach – poor creature – Brònach, but the word “brònag” is more likely.
Bubba – grandfather/Devil – Boban.
Bullat – large stone – Bulbhag
Callach, culyach – woman, old – Cailleach
Coolan – youngest in a breed – Cuilean
Cootyach/coutyach/kutyach – family group, company or clan – Cuideachd
Cosfeet/cosfit/cosset/cossit/kosfeet – starfish – Crasgan-tràghaid
Cosie – small tub – Cuireasan
Crotyach – person, small and stout – Crotach
Culla – seagull – There is “guille” for a seagull's gullet, but “guileag” is the song of the swan. It must be that their song is more likely.
Duffie – chimney – Dubh (as someone would be after cleaning a chimney).
Faucon – sun-dog – Fara-ghrian
Gullachan – ear-wig – Gobhlachan
Kai/kye – brown crab – “Caoidheag” can be found in East Sutherland in the book “East Sutherland Gaelic”, by Nancy Dorian.
Keelin craft – croft or small farm whose annual rent is a cod – The word “Cìlig” can be heard in MacKay Country for pollach or trosg.
Laroch/lyaroch – mussel-bed (a bed to which mussels are transported from the scaup where they’re grown) – Làrach
Lyeerin – green slime – Lìrean
Moolachie/moolie – treasure, darling – M’ ulaidh!
Mettal/Muttal – friend – M’eudail!
Nyarroch – cold or sharp extreme weather – Nàireach
Partan/parton – small, green crab – Partan
Peevick – lapwing or peewit – Pìbhinn
Potie/potye/potyie – pig/farmyard animal – Boitidh! (You can read more about it in Gairmean do Bheathaichean, a blog we have done).
Pyock – bag or poke – Poca
Sachie – willow – Seilleach
Scalder – jellyfish – Sgalldair
Scarf – cormorant – Sgarbh
Speeach – small stick – Spitheag
Smoorach – fire ash – Smùrach
 
Adjectives
Ablach – odd-looking – Ablach
Brocht – surfeit, excess of drink – Bruchd
Daintyoch – nice, particular – Dèantach
Doochint/dyuchint – obstinate – Duaichnidh
Druntyach – bad-tempered – Drèin
Fyown – squeemish, queasy after drinking – Fann
Gargi(e) – bitter – Garg
Greesoch – shivery, shuddery – Grìseach
Meenyach – greedy for dainty fare, fond of delicacies – Miannach
Moppach – dirty or drunk – Mabach
Pyalach – pale, sickly looking – Peallach
Reenock – firm to the touch – Righinn
Ringan – energetic or boisterous – Rong
Ropach – untidy – Ropach
Spatyel – grand or well-dressed – spaideil
 
Verbs
Cown – weep, to – Caoidh
Creish – persuade into action – Creist (as can be read in Easter Ross Gaelic, by Seòsamh Watson).
Devail/devall – stop, cease – Dìomhain
Droog-droogle – wet, heavy work, to do – Trog
Futyuch – bustle – Fuiteach
Preen – pin to – Prìne
Scawl/skyaul/skyawl – bawl – Sgal
Smeech – made a sound – Smid

There are many more words in the dialect with the influence of Gaelic but we shall stop where we are today. However, do you recognise any of the words above? Do you have a different recollection or meaning for any one word above in particular? What are the words you know in the dialect that are your favourite? Let us know on facebook, twitter and our own website!