DASG Blog

Litir bho Neach-rannsachaidh

A few months ago, I was contacted by a researcher who had examined a large number of words that he thought had come from Gaelic into American English, and he had sent pieces of this research in a letter to me. He had been trying to find the roots of some words that had come from Gaelic into American speech, when the Gael travelled abroad. I decided to do a bit of research on DASG, so I could see for myself what he meant.

Are you familiar with the word “spread,” for “ranch?” Well, this man was of the opinion that the word “spread” had come from “sprèidh,” and as Facal bhon t-Sluagh tells us, the word “sprèidh” could be used in order to explain a collection of animals, rather than just cattle, as I had myself thought. Perhaps, also, from what that this man wrote to me, that Americans, Scots speakers and indeed Gaelic speakers have the same name for a young, perhaps quite naughty boy. This is: “scallywag,” “scallaig” and “scallag.” And if an American was to ask you to come forward with some information, he might say to you “shoot!” Maybe this came from “siuthad!” This man wrote to me that the word “snazzy” had come from “snàsmhòr” or “snàsail.” Others are not of this opinion but indeed, the meaning of both words is very close.

It appears from what the researcher wrote that he is very interested in the similarity between words in other languages.

To give yet another example, you have certainly heard people cursing when they say “bleeder” or “bleeding.” Well there is a connection with the Gaelic word “bleidir,” as in a beggar, an impertinent fellow, or even a coward. It comes to us in the form of a proverb in A Collection of Gaelic Proverbs…

”tarruing am bleidir ort agus bithidh e oidhche agad,” or “let a beggar into your house, and he will stay the night.”

Indeed, Rob Donn Mackay used this word in his songs:

“Bharbara nighean Iain,/cia àrd thu, Cha do shaoil leam gu’n d’ fhàs thu cho baoth,/’S gu’m biodh bleidireachd mholaidh…”

“Barbara daughter of Iain, how tall you are,/I never thought you would grow so foolish,/and that begging would be so praised...”

I would like to thank this researcher very much for sending us such interesting information. If you suspect a connection with a certain word in English or Gaelic, perhaps you would like to use DASG to further your research. We hope that you continue with this discussion on either Facebook or Twitter.