Gàidhlig / English
Breacadh an Teine

Breacadh an Teine

Posted by Abi on 28th January 2016

Last week we had some proper winter weather at last and, for that reason, this week we are taking a look at words connected with keeping warm by the fire.

Our saying of the week is Breacadh an Teine [Fire Tartan]. It was collected in South Uist and means ‘the reddening effect the fire had on your legs.’ The word breacadh was also collected in Harris and the contributor wrote that it meant ‘fire-prints on the feet’ caused by continually sitting by a large fire and the feet bare, gradually the fire impression sets in.’ The contributor wrote there was no available word in English to describe it.

Breacadh was collected in the Isle of Lewis as well: ‘e.g. breacadh an teine. Known in some places as ‘Breacan Mairi Ùisdean.’ ‘Breacan Màiri Ùisdein’ is a song about a special white, blue and scarlet tartan. Colours that are connected to cold feet beside the fire in our opinion.

If you know any other words or sayings with the same meaning as Breacadh an Teine, or if you have an English word for it, why not let us know through Facebook or Twitter? We would be very interested to hear from you.

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