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There were 329 hits for cow

(132) geamhnach: [ɡ̊ɛ̣̃ũ̟n̪əx] cow without calf for a year.
Location: North Argyll
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Dia gad ghleidheadh.: Anyone passing a person milking a cow always said “Dia gad ghleidheadh” and milker responded “Dia dhut fhein”. This to ward off the evil eye.
Origin: Barra
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
Rug a bho: The cow calfed.
Origin: Barra
Category: Crodh / Cattle
Tha a bho ann am fèidh: term used when a cow gets into a position which renders her useless [sic: the questionnaire has ‘helpless’], e.g. stuck in a bog.
Origin: [Arran]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
Tha a bho ann am poll moine: term used when a cow gets into a position which renders her useless [sic: the questionnaire has ‘helpless’], e.g. stuck in a bog.
Origin: [Arran]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
Tha bho dol a bhreith: The cow is going to calf.
Origin: [the questionnaire gives Ross-shire but it is most probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
Tha i air dàil: cow at the bull (in heat).
Origin: Mull, Bunessan, Ardtun or Mull, Tobermory
Category: Crodh / Cattle
Thuith i anns an suil chrith: cow stuck in bog.
Category: Crodh / Cattle
[Expressions used when a cow is taken to the bull:]: Origin: Barra
Category: Crodh / Cattle
[buidheachan]: ’Se buidheachan a rinn i – cow losing milk.
Origin: Mull, Bunessan, Ardtun or Mull, Tobermory
Category: Crodh / Cattle
[bu̜əbəɫ]: Notes: cow stall.
Location: North Uist, Bayhead, Kylis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[bò]: “’S ann as a cheann a bhligheas a’ bhò.” A cow needs to be well fed to produce milk.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[bò]: Tòmhseachan: “Ceithir a ruidh, ceithir air chrith, ’s dithis a’ deanamh an rathaid, ’s fear ag éigheach.” Refers to different parts of a cow – legs, teats, eyes and mouth.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[cow]: An observation first mentioned to me by my father, R. O’Henley, was confirmed during this interview. This observation regards the appearance of a cow a few days after being serviced by a bull. If there are a few spots of blood on the cow’s tail the sex of the calf can be determined as female. However, if there is more bleeding then it can be taken that the cow has not been impregnated and needs to be serviced again.
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[fuasgladh]: Bò air fuasgladh – a cow in the process of delivering a calf.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[snàthla]: “’S fhada snàthla a sniomhas bò.” An expression which says that a cow covers a lot of ground in a day.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
abidil: Quot.: “Tha thu leis an abidil.” Note: said to people who wouldn’t stand still. (“Abidil” said by D.M. to be cholic. With this illness a cow would be restless and try to climb up the wall with its front legs.)
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
adaigh: a cow which needs to be taken to the bull a second time.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
adharc: horn; fog-horn. Séid an adhairc. A horn of a dead cow was used by fishermen when in fog to denote their presence. (Scalpay)
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
agh: [cow] bearing the first calf.
Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Crodh / Cattle
am bogadh: [cow] in a bog.
Origin: Barra
Category: Crodh / Cattle
am mart (pron. meart): the cow.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
an aifeinn: [about a cow] usually on back with tether caught about the animal.
Origin: Barra
Category: Crodh / Cattle
an dair: cow on heat.
Location: Na Hearadh, Gòbhaig [Harris, Gobhaig]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
an tòc: affecting the whole animal but located in the eye. “Thug e an tòc dhi.” He performed this particular operation to the eye of the cow. (Peculiar to West Uig, Lewis – not believed in by Vets.)
Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Crodh / Cattle
an tòc: This is a mystery somewhat akin to the King’s Evil, only in this instance, animals are the sufferers. An operation is performed on the eye of the animal (sheep or cow). The eyelid is turned outwards and by means of a darning needle and a piece of thread, some particular part surrounding the eye is manipulated so that it can be cut off. This gives immediate relief to the animal. Veterinary surgeons do not believe in it. An instance was quoted to me last summer. The man telling the story told me he had been to a village in Lochs. There was a cow, very far through, stretched out on the ground practically at its last gasp when my friend arrived. The vet had been called and had given her up as hopeless. My friend asked, “Na dh’fhiach sibh bheil an tòc oirr?” “Chan eil fhios againne dé th’ann an tòc.” “Uill bheir mise an tòc bhair na bà agus mur a dèan e feum, cha dèan e cron ’sam bith oirre co dhiubh.” He performed the operation and in ten minutes’ time the cow was on its feet and eating the grass. The amazing thing is that the people of Lochs had never heard of this most effective operation which is still regularly performed in Uig.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
an àrc: a hollow near a cow’s tail by which you can judge when the cow is likely to calve. Also called ‘sloc an airich’.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ann a’ sàs: [cow] stuck in a bog.
Origin: [the questionnaire gives Ross-shire but it is most probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
annsporag: [ɑ̃ũ̟spɔɾɑɡ] Note: tongue and attachments of a cow, usually given to the person killing the beast.
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ann’ a’ athbhunn: [cow] stuck in a bog.
Origin: [the questionnaire gives Ross-shire but it is most probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
ansporag: part of a cow located near the throat. Considered a great delicacy.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
arcuinn (f): cow-udder (Perthshire).
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
asgraidh: Quotation: an asgraidh [ən ɑsɡrẹj]. Notes: to tie a cow, equivalent of “ceangal”.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
a’ chuisle: a vein near a cow’s tail by which you can judge when a cow is about to calve.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
a’ leigeil: [əlʹikʹɑ̣˖lʹ] Notes: milking a cow.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bacan: Notes: tethering pin usually for a horse or cow (cf. cipean).
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bainne: Quotation: Thog i ’m bainne. Notes: when the cow lifts her milk and refuses to give it.
Location: Ross-shire, Aultbea
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ballan: Quot.: “a’ cur nam ballain”. Note: a method of removing fluid from the joints of a cow to alleviate a rheumatic condition. Carried out by placing a horn with a hole in the end of it to the joint, and sucking. A cut was made, and the fluid was removed. (Put also under cuir.)
Origin: Balallan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
beathach: Quot.: beathach caorach, beathach mart. Note: a sheep, a cow.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
beilc: big belly, as cow (N.E.); peilc (Arran, S.W. gen.), peilicean (Uist). ? seemed in Perths to be a variant of builg, gen. of bolg – a bag, etc.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
biorach: Quotation: a’ bhiorach [əvıɾɑx]. Notes: cow at first calving (2½ years).
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bleoghain: Quotation: a’ bleoghain [ə blʹẹəʔẹnʹ]. Notes: milking a cow, sheep or horse.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bliochd: Notes: the smallest possible quantity of milk, as when cow is about to go dry.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
blodhan na bá: milking the cow.
Location: Lewis, Arnol
Category: Crodh / Cattle
blàr: nn [ ‘cow] with blaze on forehead’: leum mart ~ a-mach
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Broadcove
Category: Field Notebooks of Seosamh Watson June-August 1983
blàrag: pet name for a cow with a white patch on its forehead.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
blàrag: nn f. ‘cow with blaze on forehead’: ~ a’ dol dhan choillidh [iç] ‘s a h-aghaidh [-iç] air an taigh? tuagh
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Broadcove
Category: Field Notebooks of Seosamh Watson June-August 1983
bo: cow.
Location: Argyll, Tarbert, Muasdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bo: cow. [NOTES: slip not found.]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
bo bhainne: a milk cow.
Origin: [Arran]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
bo bhainne: cow in milk.
Origin: [the questionnaire gives Ross-shire but it is most probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
bo bhreck: speckled cow, usually Ayrshire. (Stoer, Assynt)
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Crodh / Cattle
bo chrom: [cow with a] crooked horn.
Origin: Barra
Category: Crodh / Cattle
bo dhonn: brown cow.
Origin: Barra
Category: Crodh / Cattle
bo dhubh: black [cow].
Origin: Barra
Category: Crodh / Cattle
bo duith: black cow. (Stoer, Assynt)
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Crodh / Cattle
bo fodh ghair: bulling cow.
Origin: Geàrrloch [Gairloch]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
bo mhaol: dehorned or hornless cow. [NOTES: slip not found.]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
bo odhar: dun cow. (Stoer, Assynt)
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Crodh / Cattle
bo riabhach: brindled [cow].
Origin: Barra
Category: Crodh / Cattle
bo ruadh: red cow. (Stoer, Assynt)
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Crodh / Cattle
bo sheasg: dry [cow].
Origin: Barra
Category: Crodh / Cattle
bonnach luirg: expression which asks whether a cow has calved. “An robh bonnach luirg aice fhathast.”
Location: North Uist, Grimsay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bonnach-iomanach: Notes: when cow was calving, the person in attendance was given the “bonnach iomanach”.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bonnach-iomanach: Note: given to the person who first saw a cow with the “mulad” before the birth of a calf.
Origin: Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bonnach-iomanach: a special bannock given to the person who found a cow after calving.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bonnach-luirgeadh: Notes: said to be the reward given to a person by a witch for telling her when someone’s cow had calved. She would then put a spell on the cow to render it dry.
Location: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bonnach-thumanach: [bɔ̃n̪ɑxhũ̟mɑṉɔx] Note: his pronunciation of “bonnach-iomanach”. A “bonnach” with plenty of “ùs” (cheese made with first milk) on it given as a reward to the first person to notice a cow was about to calf (leis a’ mhulad).
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
braighdean: halter on cow all of time.
Origin: [Barra]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
breabadaich: Notes: kicking action of the cow.
Location: Harris
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
breacan dàr: this was a phrase used in conjunction with a successfully serviced cow. Indicated that there would be plenty of produce to follow.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
breacan-dàir: Note: in Berneray, Harris. Oatmeal and cream, not baked. Given to person who took cow to bull.
Origin: Ness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
briachd: [bɾiɑxk] Quotation: Tha a’ bhó ann am briachd. Notes: The cow is in difficulties, e.g. stuck in soft ground.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
broighdean (?): [bɾɔidʹɛ̃nʹ] Notes: rope for tying cow in a stall.
Location: North Uist, Bayhead, Kylis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
brolain: Quotation: a’ bhrolain [əveɾɔ̣̈lʹha̱nʹ] [?]. Notes: 2nd stomach of cow.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
brèidean: rope placed round the neck of a cow or a sheep.
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
buaball: Notes: cow-stall. Source: Uist. Date: 20c.
Location: [see below]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buabhall: [bu̜ɑu̜ɫ] Notes: a cow-stall.
Origin: Strontian
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buabull: a cow stall.
Location: South Uist, Stilligarry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buacan: Quotation: buacan or buachdan [bu̜əxkɑṉ]. Notes: stuffed calf skin used to induce cow to give milk when calf dies.
Location: Vatersay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buachair: Quotation: “Tha a’ bhó a’ buachair.” Notes: (noun and verb) The cow is dropping dung.
Location: Islay, Port Wemyss
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buachair: cow dung.
Origin: [the questionnaire gives Ross-shire but it is most probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
buachair a chruidh: cow dung.
Location: Lewis, Arnol
Category: Crodh / Cattle
buachair na ba: cow dung.
Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Crodh / Cattle
buachar: Dung (esp. of cow).
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
buachar: cow dung.
Origin: Barra
Category: Crodh / Cattle
buachar: cow dung.
Origin: Geàrrloch [Gairloch]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
buachar ( booachar): [pron.] cow dung.
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
buachar no leasachadh: [cow dung.]
Origin: [Islay, Ballygrant]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
buachar-mairt: cow pat.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buail: [buɑlʹ] Notes: stall for one cow.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buairich: [bu̟ɤɾiç] Quot: “Buairich do chas.” Note: said to a cow to make it take its two hind legs together for tying.
Origin: Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bual: [bu̜ɤɫ] Quot.: “bual na bà”. Note: where the cow was tied in the byre. Its stance, before stalls were built.
Location: Lewis, Uig, Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buala: [bu̜ɤɫə] Quotation: buala a’ chruidh. Notes: cow-stall. [NOTES: slipped under ‘buaile’.]
Location: Raasay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bualaidh: [bu̜ɤɫi] Notes: cow stall.
Origin: Camusluanie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bualaidh: Quotation: bualaidh Galld. Notes: fixture for securing Highland cattle in the byre. Two upright posts, one fixed, the other moveable. The horns of the cow were put in with moveable post to the side, post then put upright and fixed.
Origin: Camusluanie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buarach: cow fetter.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris,Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buarach: Notes: cow-fetter.
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buarach: leg-rope. [NOTES: ‘heard “dung”’ added in second hand (most probably the fieldworker).] [SLIP: Leg-rope for cow. Once heard used for ‘dung’. Also fetter for milking.]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
buarach: cow fetter tying the hind legs together when milking.
Origin: [the questionnaire gives Ross-shire but it is most probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
buathrach: a fetter placed on a cow at milking time. Hind legs were tied. [NOTES: corrected to ‘buarach’.]
Origin: Uibhist a Tuath [North Uist]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bàn: Quotation: “Leig e bàn am fearann.” (fallow – uncultivated) “Gearr a bhalaich, gearr, / Do mhòine fada bàn (pale) / ’S tu as deigh chàich.” Song of a fairy who came to help an old man. Bó bhan [sic] – white cow. Grunn de chearcan bàna – a flock (number) of white hens. An talamh bàn – the virgin soil, uncultivated ground, untouched, clean.
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bàthach: When the cows occupied one end of the “tigh dubh” that end had no stalls. A short post was driven into the wall and a cow was tied to it by a strong rope. Earlier still, instead of the wooden post, two stones in the shape of two horns meeting each other at their extremities and forming a sort of circle were built into the wall. The end of the rope which tied the cow was fixed to this circle. As many of these circles as were deemed necessary were built into the wall on each side of byre.
Origin: Skye
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
bàthach: Notes: cow-house.
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bò: cow.
Origin: Geàrrloch [Gairloch]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
bò Shamhna: a cow demanded by the chief at Halloween.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bò làmhaidh: a cow killed by a blow to the head.
Location: Barra, Earsharry [Earsary]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bò ursainn: cow demanded by lord on death of a vassal.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bó: Quotation: bó odhar. Notes: dun cow.
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bó: Quotation: bó chleideagach. Notes: when a cow has been in all year and her coat is hanging tasselled with dirt.
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bó: Quotation: bó riabhach. Notes: brindled cow.
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bó: Quotation: bó ghibeach. Notes: shaggy cow.
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bó: milking cow having given birth.
Origin: Mull, Bunessan, Ardtun or Mull, Tobermory
Category: Crodh / Cattle
bó bhloghainn: a milking cow (actually in milk, any age).
Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Crodh / Cattle
bó bhoinne: a milch cow, any age.
Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Crodh / Cattle
bó ghannach: cow not in calf.
Origin: Mull, Bunessan, Ardtun or Mull, Tobermory
Category: Crodh / Cattle
bó laoigh: a cow of calving age, older than agh [q.v.].
Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Crodh / Cattle
bùthair: a cow-man, a cattle-dealer.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cachd: [Cow dung.] The ‘achd’ is the same as the ‘aca’ in ‘aca’ (at them). ‘Caca’ may be a better way of spelling it.
Origin: Inverness-shire, Nethy Bridge
Category: Crodh / Cattle
cachd-cruidh: cow dung.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Crodh / Cattle
cachd-mairt: cow dung.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Crodh / Cattle
caileap: base of souming, i.e. 1/8 cow.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cailleach-ribeach: growth in the mouth of a cow. (Harris)
Location: [various]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
caislich: Notes: (1) process of putting layer of soft manure covered by soft earth under the cow. (2) easing of straw in beds to make them more comfortable.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
caoilteach: would be applied to a thin cow or calf. Could also be applied to humans.
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
caolag: a thin cow or female.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceangal: [cɑ̃ɑɫ] Notes: the rope tying the cow in the byre.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceangal (ceangailtean pl.): [kʹɛ̃:əl] rope or chain to tie cow in byre.
Origin: [Barra]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
ceapach: cow with weaned calf.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceud bhainne: first milk after a cow has calved.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ciad-bhainne: the first milked ‘quantity’, flow ‘amount’ from the udder of the cow after calving, being of thicker form until the ordinary flow comes into a more liquid strain than the first setting.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cipein: part for tying cow in field.
Origin: [Barra]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
clar-aodain: forehead. [NOTES: slipped under ‘clàr-aodann’. Definition: Forehead (of cow).] [NOTES: the spelling on the slip – clàr-aodann.]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
cleideagach: Quotation: bó chleideagach. Notes: when a cow has been inside all year and her coat is hanging tasselled with dirt.
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cliseach: Quot.: “Bheir mis’ air do chliseach!” Note: warning given to children. The back. MML, Uig has it for the back of a cow. Sometimes, he says, it is called “cliseach an droma” so it may be a certain part of the back. (Also used in Barvas for cattle.)
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cnaimh: Quotation: Tha na cnàmhan aic’ a tuiteam. Notes: said of a cow about to calf.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cnead: [kɾɛd̪] Quotation: Dh’ith a bhó gus a robh [kɾɛd̪] aice. Notes: The cow ate till she couldn’t take any more. Possibly more likely “gus nach robh cnead aice” – until she could not utter a sigh.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cnàmh-a-cire: chewing her cud, in the case of a cow.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cnàmh-mhulad: [kɾɑ̃:vəɫɑd̪] Quot.: “Tha a’ bhó air a bhi leis a’ chnàmh-mhulad ud o chionn seachdainn.” Note: a cow showing signs a while before the birth of a calf. Might be slightly ill. Grumbling illness.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
craidhneach: Notes: (alt. cruidhneach) a bony man or cow. (Cf. MacLeod and Dewar ‘skeleton, collection of bones, gaunt figure, etc.’) Dw. gives craidhneach ‘… skeleton; collection of bones; … lean, gaunt figure …’.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
craobh gharabhaigs (Harris): (Sprig of a) rowan tree. Also termed in Gaelic as undernoted – craobh chaorunn (?). Disease: earache (greim cluaise – ola chroinn, ola theth), eye-diseases (gulamail – incantation in some cases (cure)). Part used: ** To keep evil influences (as a charm) from the door, a spring [sic] [sprig?] set in a cow’s tail did the job likewise to prevent the cow coming under the spell of evil. Sources of information: my mother. ** traditional noted by Martin Martin (?), etc.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
criathar: a riddle made of dried cow hide.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
crodh-dàil: cow taken to the bull.
Origin: ([Canada], Inverness Co.) or ([Canada], Inverness Co.) or ([Canada], Victoria Co.)
Category: Crodh / Cattle
croighneach: [kɾɤıṉɑx] Note: cow for slaughter. Might go to the Féill to buy one for this purpose.
Origin: [Caversta]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cuileagan-buachair: the pale brown back, flies on a cow pat.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cuir chrann: drawing lots to see who would hold the hind legs when a cow was being slaughtered. Hind legs considered to be the most awkward.
Origin: Uibhist a Tuath [North Uist]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cuir-laoigh: Quotation: Tha cuir-laoigh air a bhó or Tha toiseach cuir-laoigh air a bhó. Notes: The cow is showing, or beginning to show, signs of calving.
Location: Ross-shire, Achiltibuie, Alltan Dubh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cuiseag: Notes: a switch, e.g. of birch as used for hurrying a cow.
Origin: Applecross
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cur: Quotation: Tha am mart a’ cur. Notes: “The cow is in labour.” In fact, “pushing” out the calf.
Location: Tiree, [Caolas? – one slip]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cur laogh: cow calving. (Stoer, Assynt)
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Crodh / Cattle
curachd a’ Rìgh: [kʊɾəxk ə rʹɪɪ] Notes: 3rd stomach of cow. [NOTES: slipped under ‘currac-a-rìgh’.]
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dol-a-dhàir: a cow taking [sic] to a calf, mating.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dunnaltas: dirt and slime attached to an expectant cow. [NOTES: corrected to ‘dunaltas’.]
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dà-bhliadhnach: [d̪ɑ:vɫw̃n̪ɑx] Notes: two-year-old cow before calving.
Location: Skye, Glasnakille
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dàir: “Tha an dàir air a bhoin.” The cow is abulling. “Chaidh a bho a dhàir.” “Dhàir an tarbh a bhó.” The cow was bulled (successfully).
Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Crodh / Cattle
dàir air a bhò: [cow] on heat or in season.
Location: Lewis, Arnol
Category: Crodh / Cattle
dìosg: Quotation: an diosgadh [sic] [dʹiiəsɡəɣ]. Notes: going farrow (of a cow).
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dìosgadh: Quotation: Chaidh a’ bhó ’n dìosgadh. Notes: The cow went dry.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dòrn: Quotation: a’ toirt a mach an dòrn fhuar. Notes: feat of strength tried when a cow was killed. One of the legs was caught near the hoof and twisted till it broke from the knee, then twisting was continued till the skin broke.
Origin: Uig, Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dòrn-bhuar: [d̪ɔ:ʴṉvu̟ɤɾ] Quot.: “a’ toirt a mach an dòrn-bhuar”. Note: a competition or test of strength tried when a cow had been killed. This consisted of trying to take the hoof off by twisting it until the first joint gave way and then the skin. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
Origin: Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
earachaol: I am not definitely sure of this word. I haven’t heard the word now since years. I take it to mean leanness of spring. I remember hearing it something thus: anns an earachaol – in the leanness of spring, referring to cattle or cow or sheep, beasts in particular.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
feamainn chìrean: short and thin seaweed, used to boil it for cow.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Cluer
Category: Cruth na Tìre / Landscape Features
feisd: rope, made of heather at one time, for tying a cow while grazing. The end was fixed to a stick driven into the ground.
Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Crodh / Cattle
feisd: Quotation: “Leig e bhó bh’air an fheisd.” – He let the cow of the tether. Feisd na bà buidhe. – The tether of the yellow cow.
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fiadhaichean: seen hanging from the genital organs of the cow, usually a sign that she needs the bull.
Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Crodh / Cattle
fiarrsannan (), pl. fiarrsannanan: [masc.] worm in skin, usually of a cow.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Caoraich / Sheep
fiùran: [fȷu̟:ɾɑṉ] Note: cow parsnip.
Origin: Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
flagishg: a pit where the cow manure was kept.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fuar: Quotation: a’ toirt a mach an dòrn fhuar. Notes: feat of strength tried when a cow was killed. One of the legs was caught near the hoof and twisted till it broke from the knee, then twisting was continued till the skin broke.
Origin: Uig, Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gabh: Quotation: Na ghabh i tarbh? Notes: Has (the cow) been to the bull?
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gamhainn: cow just after calving.
Origin: ([Canada], Inverness Co.) or ([Canada], Inverness Co.) or ([Canada], Victoria Co.)
Category: Crodh / Cattle
gamhnach: a cow without calf.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gamhnach: Notes: cow with milk and not in calf.
Location: Ross-shire, Achiltibuie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gamhnach: Notes: farrow cow.
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Antigonish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gamhnach: farrow cow.
Origin: Geàrrloch [Gairloch]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
gamhnach: Note: a cow which hasn’t calved for a year.
Origin: Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gamhnach: Notes: a cow which hasn’t calved for over a year.
Origin: Uig, Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gamhnach: a farrow cow.
Origin: [Arran]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
garrabhuic-mairt: a cow pad [sic] [pat?] of a soft composition through the influence of dysentery.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
geugair: [ɡʹe:ɡəð] Note: sometimes, when a wooden post wasn’t available, the rope tying the cow in the byre was passed between two stones in the wall which had a space between them.
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
geumnaich: [ɡʹe:mɑ̃ṉi] Quotation: a’ geumnaich. Notes: cow lowing.
Origin: Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
geumraich: [ɡe:məɾıç] Notes: the lowing of a cow.
Origin: Kinlochourn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gibeach: Quotation: bó ghibeach. Notes: shaggy cow.
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
giuran: [ɡʹiu:rɑn] hemlock? cow parsley?
Location: Mull [see below for details]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
giùran: cow parsnip.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
glan: Quotation: Ghlan a’ bhó. Notes: The cow expelled its placenta.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
glanadh-mairt: the ‘aftermath’ of a birth, a cow after having a calf. (Perhaps I have noted this term already. It does not matter.)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gleodhan: seen hanging from the genital organs of the cow, usually a sign that she needs the bull.
Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Crodh / Cattle
gnòmhan: [ɡɾɔ̃:ɑ̃ṉ] Notes: grunt, as made by a cow.
Origin: Bunloit
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gnòsd: [ɡɾɔ̃:səd̪] Notes: grunt as of a cow or pig.
Location: Skye, Sleat, Calligary
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gàmhnach: a cow without calf.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Ardivachar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
iarr: Quotation: Tha i ag iarraidh tairbh. Notes: cow in heat.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
inbhidh (?): Notes: time of cow to calve. Dwelly has inbhidh (from MacAlpine) with ref. to inbheach ‘mature, ripe’, etc.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
innear-cruidh: cow manure. (Chan e …-chruidh.) The best manure was that in a 2-3 year old “Dùnan” on which grass would be growing.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
inneir: dung (horse, cow or sheep dung).
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
inner: cow dung.
Origin: [Arran]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
iomaillaich mairt: literally what the cow could lick. This was a term used when planting large oats. The seed had to be so thickly laid that the cows could lick it off the ground.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ladhar (f), ladhran (pl): hoof (cow).
Origin: Tiree
Category: Crodh / Cattle
ladhraigneachan: rope between swivel and leg of cow.
Origin: [Barra]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
laogh: [ɫɤ:ɣ] Notes: calf of a cow or deer.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
laosgainn: [ɫw:sɡĩnʹ] Note: the peritoneum in a sheep. (Probably also in a cow.)
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
las: [ɫɑs] Quotation: Tha na cnàmhan aice a’ fàs las. Notes: said of a cow when her hip-bones become wider apart soon before calving.
Origin: Bunloit
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lasaich: [ɫɑsiç] Quotation: Lasaichidh na cnàmhan [kɾɛ̃:əṉ] aice. Notes: the hip bones of a cow become wider apart just before calving. Pr. pt. a’ lasachdainn. See las.
Origin: Bunloit
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leaba a’ laoidh: [lɛɑbəɫɤ̈ɤ̈ç] Notes: womb of a cow.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leas: [lʹes] Notes: a covering of dirt or mud, e.g. on the rump of a cow after lying in a dirty stall or on the hem of a garment which has been trailing in the mud.
Location: Skye, Harlosh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leig: Quotation: Tha a’ bhó a’ leigeil. Notes: said before a cow calves. Is [?] it the udder being let down, or the milk being let down into the udder. Barvas: “Tha i leigeil fòidhpe.”
Origin: Bunloit
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leig: Quotation: Tha i a leigeil foidhpe. Notes: cow about to calf (letting down the milk?).
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leum-dàir: cow mating, and taken to the indication of the necessary results.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
losaid: [ɫɔsidʹ] Quot.: “Bó air a dhol as a losaid.” Note: cow with a dislocated hip joint.
Origin: Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
luairchean: calf-skin stuffed, to induce the cow to give milk.
Origin: Mull, Bunessan, Ardtun or Mull, Tobermory
Category: Crodh / Cattle
luamhgha: [ɫũ̜ɑ̃ɣə] Note: the stomach (with flaps inside it) of a cow.
Origin: Balallan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
luba-dubh: Quot.: “Ceithir lùban-dubha [sic] fichead agus da ìsbean dheug.” Note: what the entrails (other than the stomachs) of a cow consisted of.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lurga-lom: [ɫu̜ɾəɡə ɫ[ɤu̟]m] Quot.: a’ toirt a mach a’ lurga-lom. Note: when a beast (cow) was killed there was a test of strength only the strongest could attempt – that of severing the leg at the knee by twisting the lower part of the leg with the hands. (In Uig known as “a’ toirt a mach an dòrn bhuar”.) There is some confusion as to whether the knee joint or the “ankle” joint was the one severed – some say one, others the other. Puilean says definitely the knee joint.
Origin: [Ness]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mairt: I’ve heard this word used in connection with cattle and rather think it was a cow with calf at food but would not be quite sure.
Origin: Inverness-shire, Nethy Bridge
Category: Crodh / Cattle
maodal: [vɤ̈:d̥əɫ] Notes: first stomach of a cow.
Location: Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
maoilein: hornless cow.
Origin: Barra
Category: Crodh / Cattle
mart: Quotation: mart gamhnach. Notes: a farrow cow – may have had a calf at one stage.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mart ( marst): [pron.] cow. [NOTES: slip not found.]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
mart (m), mairt (pl): cow (which has calved).
Origin: Tiree
Category: Crodh / Cattle
mart air t-easgach: a cow who yields no milk.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Ardivachar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mart ann a(n) laogh: cow in calf.
Origin: Mull, Bunessan, Ardtun or Mull, Tobermory
Category: Crodh / Cattle
mart bainne: milk-cow (in Victoria sometimes -laoigh).
Origin: ([Canada], Inverness Co.) or ([Canada], Inverness Co.) or ([Canada], Victoria Co.)
Category: Crodh / Cattle
mart bochd: an unwell cow.
Origin: Mull, Bunessan, Ardtun or Mull, Tobermory
Category: Crodh / Cattle
mart gamhnach: a cow not in calf.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Crodh / Cattle
mart laoigh: breeding or pregnant cow .
Origin: ([Canada], Inverness Co.) or ([Canada], Inverness Co.) or ([Canada], Victoria Co.)
Category: Crodh / Cattle
mart làmhaig: a cow which was to be slaughtered.
Location: North Uist, Tigharry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mart maol: [mɑʂt mɤɤɫ] Notes: hornless cow.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mart seasg: dry cow (also sometimes in Victoria, one that hasn’t yet calved).
Origin: ([Canada], Inverness Co.) or ([Canada], Inverness Co.) or ([Canada], Victoria Co.)
Category: Crodh / Cattle
mart seasg: a cow not in calf.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Crodh / Cattle
mart tana: a thin cow.
Origin: Mull, Bunessan, Ardtun or Mull, Tobermory
Category: Crodh / Cattle
mart-lamhaig: a cow that was fit for killing. [NOTES: ‘lamhaig’ corrected to ‘làmhaig’.]
Origin: Uibhist a Tuath [North Uist]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mart-làmhaidh: a cow fattened for slaughter.
Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Crodh / Cattle
mart-làmhaig: a cow for the slaughter, or a cow for slaughtering.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mart-marbhaidh: beef-cow.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mathair na cuainne: a cow that was renowned for bearing female calves. Therefore held to be the mother of all the stock.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mealladh-nathrach: Notes: a piece of round perforated jet dipped in water, and water applied to udder of cow when stung by an adder. Made to Celtic measures.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
minichgeag: [mĩṉiçɡʹɑɡ] Notes: skin taken from newly born calf, stuffed with straw and put under the cow to induce it to give milk.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
moighlean: [m[ɔ̃ĩ]lʹɑṉ] Quot.: “moighlean coirc” or “moighlean fodair”. Note: a bundle, as given to a cow.
Location: Lewis, Uig, Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
muighlean: [m[u̟i]lʹɛ̃ṉ] Quotation: muighlean feòir. Notes: a bundle of hay for a cow.
Location: Skye, Glasnakille
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mullag: cow killed for the winter.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
màrach: used of a cow that cannot be satiated, satisfied.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
màrach: this would be said of a cow that could never get her fill of food or water.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
nasg: Notes: neck-rope on a cow for tying in stall.
Location: Sutherland, Durness, Balvoolich
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
nasg: [n̪ɑ̃sɡ] Notes: rope securing a cow in a stall.
Origin: Assynt (Mr MacRae) and Achiltibuie (Mrs MacRae)
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
nead bramaige bleoghain: cow pat.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
peata (m), peatachan (pl): pet cow.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Crodh / Cattle
peile-sgudail: pail in which ‘leftovers’ are, from whence a cow eats.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
preeleo no preebheag: [call to a cow.]
Origin: [Islay, Ballygrant]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
prodhan: Notes: any kind of ‘mash’ fed to a cow.
Location: Applecross
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
pruch: call to a cow. (Urq.)
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
pruidh (: [pron.] prooee) [prui] call to cow. [NOTES: phonetic transcription added most probably by the fieldworker. The slip has [pruˈi].]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
raoineach: scraggy cow.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
roidhne (-each): lean, farrow cow.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
roighnidh (f): barren-cow. (Or. Luaidh. p. 6.)
Location: ? [Eriskay – see below]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sabhtag: Note: a blow to the side as given by a cow with its horns.
Origin: Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sabhtag: [s[ɑu̟]t̪ɑɡ] Note: usually a blow of the head or horns given by one cow to another.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
seachlach: Note: a cow in its second year without calf.
Origin: Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
seamlach: [ʃɛ̃məɫɑx] Note: a cow which has calved this year.
Origin: Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
seasg: dry, as cow not giving milk.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
seasgach: dry cow (also sometimes in Victoria, one that hasn’t yet calved).
Origin: ([Canada], Inverness Co.) or ([Canada], Inverness Co.) or ([Canada], Victoria Co.)
Category: Crodh / Cattle
seice-mairt: cow hind. Brògan de sheice mairt.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
seisg: a cow that is not in calf. Can also be applied to sheep. [NOTES: corrected to ‘seasg’.]
Origin: [Note: From North Uist, information from Alex O’Henley / RÓM 4 Dec 2023]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
seolaid: nervous moving. “Gu de seolaid th’ort.” – could be said to a cow being milked.
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgrogag: an old done cow.
Origin: Geàrrloch [Gairloch]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
sgroidhleag: [sɡɾɤilɑɡ] Notes: an old cow ready to be killed.
Location: North Uist, Bayhead, Kylis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sguaic: plaster. Sguaic buachair – a large cow pad [sic] [pat?].
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sguaic: plaster amount, as cow pat.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sguaic-buachair: cow pats.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgàinteag: Notes: of ‘pats’ of cow-dung, used in Tiree for fuel for fires. Source: Mrs Mabel MacArthur (of Tiree origin). Date: 1971.
Location: [see below]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgàinteag: [sɡɑ̃:nʹtʹɑɡ] Notes: dried cow dung used for fuel.
Location: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sineachan ( sheenachan): [pron.] teats. [SLIP: (pl.) Teats of cow.]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
slaghacan: Notes: inner horn of cow.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
slathag: Notes: small horns inside main covering [?] of horn of cow. Pl. – slathagan.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
slathug: Notes: the base of the horn where it enters the skull of a cow.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
slòcan: medicine for cow disease using seaweed.
Location: Harris, Finsbay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
smethag: toggle on rope for tying up cow.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Finsbay
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
smidheag: [ˈsmĩɑɡ] Note: rope round the neck of a cow when tied inside the byre.
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
snòthdachadh: sniffing at something with your nose touching the commodity, e.g. a cow sniffing at water.
Origin: Glasgow/South Uist? or South Uist, Kildonan or South Uist, Garrynamonie or South Uist or Skye, Bernisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sogho: This was the word used for calling a cow. The word is pronounced exactly the same as the fifth note in the music scale but the ‘o’ sound was slightly longer.
Origin: Inverness-shire, Nethy Bridge
Category: Crodh / Cattle
soitheamh: [sɔ̃hi] Notes: well-behaved, tame as e.g. a cow.
Origin: Harris
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spag ( spaak): [pron.] hindquarter. [NOTES: slipped under ‘spàg’. Definition: Hindquarter of cow.]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
sprogan: loose flesh between the two front legs of a cow extending down from its throat.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Ardivachar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
staght: [st̪ɤtʹ] Quot.: “Staght, a nis!” Note: word used when trying to persuade a cow to stand still.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stealladair: Note: applied locally to the cow parsnip as children used to make toy pumps from the stem.
Origin: [Caversta]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stiall: [ʃtʹıɤɫ] Note: wooden post in a byre to which cow is tied.
Location: Harris
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stiall: Note: the wooden post in a cow-stall to which the cow is tied.
Location: Harris, Grosebay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stiall: Quotation: Tha a’ bhó air a stéill (: géill). Nom. stiall heard from John MacArthur, Bayble (Oct. 1970). Notes: (Keose) The rope used to tie a cow when in the byre (the teadhair applied to the tethering rope used outside). Dwelly gives ‘head-post in a byre’ as a sense of stiall f. (Also ‘a piece of leather or cloth’.)
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stiall: [ʃtʹıɤɫ] Note: the wooden post in the byre to which the cow was tied.
Location: Lewis, Uig, Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stiall: indoor post for tying a cow to.
Location: Na Hearadh, Gòbhaig [Harris, Gobhaig]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
stiall: Notes: tethering place of cow in byre.
Location: Skye, Portree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stiall: the short tether by which the cow was secured in the stall.
Origin: Eileanaich [natives of Lewis]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
stiall: Tha a’ mart air a stéill. I think this was the post to which the cow was tied.
Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Crodh / Cattle
stiall: Note: the post(s) in the byre to which a cow was tied.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
streighleag: This was little bits of jelly stuff which starts coming away from a cow a week or about ten days before she calves and also the little bits which fall away for two or three days after she calves but not the afterbirth or the cleaning as we call it here, which is the English word we give to it hereabout. ‘ei’ as in ‘feidh’ (genitive of deer).
Origin: Inverness-shire, Nethy Bridge
Category: Crodh / Cattle
stròineachan: Note: a device put on tethered cows. The rope was attached to it and when the cow strained on the tethering pin this device put on the nose of the cow tightened and made it stop pulling.
Location: [Lewis], South Lochs, Caversta
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stròinean: Note: piece of rope over the bridge of a cow’s nose, passing under the ears and attached to the rope round its neck. When the cow strained at the tethering pin, this tightened and hurt the cow, making it slacken the rope.
Location: Harris, Grosebay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
strònan: [st̪ɾɔ:ṉɑṉ] Notes: term sometimes used for a cow halter.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stàile: [sṯɑ:lə] Note: cow-stall.
Location: Harris, Quidinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stèic: Quotation: na stèicean [ʃtʹʃɛ:çcəṉ] [?]. Notes: Two posts, curved near the bottom and almost coming together. One could be swung out to admit the head and horns of a Highland cow. The post was then restored to its upright position and a loop of rope, one end of which was attached to the top of the freed post, was slipped over it. Usually found on big farms.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stèidhear: [ʃtʹɛ:əɾ] Note: a stroke of the hand, a belt, etc. on a person. Also giving the cow a “stèidhear” with a stick or wand.
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sugan: jug; was also used as an interj. in calling a milking cow for to arouse the cow’s interest for to give her milk at milking time, perhaps.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
taod: Notes: halter for cow or horse.
Location: Sutherland, Kinlochbervie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
taod: rope put round the head of a cow or horse.
Origin: Na Hearadh [Harris]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
taorais: stop call to a cow.
Origin: [Skye, Camus Chroise]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
tarbh: Quotation: Na ghabh i tarbh? Notes: Has the cow been to the bull?
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tarbh: Quotation: Tha i ag iarraidh tairbh. Notes: cow in heat.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
teagnadh: [tʹɤɡṉəɣ] Quot.: “Tha a’ bhó a teagnadh.” “Tha teagnadh air chor-eigin air a bhoin. – tha rudeigin ceàrr oirr’.” Note: cow grinding its teeth when something is wrong with it.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
teiris: [tʹeɾiʃ] Quotation: Teiris a nis! or Teiris a mireag! Notes: said to a cow to soothe her at milking time.
Origin: Applecross
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tha bho fo gar: cow bulling. (Stoer, Assynt)
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Crodh / Cattle
tha bhò ann an sàs: [cow] stuck in mire or bog.
Location: Lewis, Arnol
Category: Crodh / Cattle
tha bhò ann an tabhainn: cow in distress.
Location: Lewis, Arnol
Category: Crodh / Cattle
tha dar air a’ bho: cow bulling. (Stoer, Assynt)
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Crodh / Cattle
tobhar: cow dung.
Origin: [Arran]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
todhar: cow dung.
Origin: [the questionnaire gives Ross-shire but it is most probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
tog: Quotation: Thog i ’m bainne. Notes: when the cow lifts her milk and refuses to give it.
Location: Ross-shire, Aultbea
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
torp, tuirp: big belly (as cow, etc.).
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
traghan: a three year old beast (cow).
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
trao ghamhnach: a cow without calf for two years.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
treadh-dhàir: [t̪ɾɤɣɑ:ð] Note: (spelling?) this was when a cow was taken to the bull a week after having been already. Some people didn’t believe in doing this but others maintained that if this was done, there would be no need of the bull’s service again.
Origin: Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
treadhan: [t̪ɾɤɣɑṉ] Note: cow farrow for three years, before its first calf.
Origin: Balallan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
treaghanach: [t̪ɾɤɣɑ̃ṉɔx] Notes: a cow which hasn’t calved for over three years.
Origin: Uig, Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tri-ghamhnach: [ˈt̪ɾɤɣɑṉɑx] Note: a cow in its third year without calf.
Origin: Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
trobhad “merag”: calling a cow. (Stoer, Assynt)
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Crodh / Cattle
trobhad, trobhad, trobhad: call to a cow.
Origin: [Arran]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
tuab: Quotation: an tuab. Notes: (Tong) a growth on the gum of a cow, a hard swelling or ridge, which made eating difficult. It was cauterized in the old days with a red-hot iron. If this were not done, the cow would die for lack of nourishment. (ua as in fuaim, fuar) Not in Dw.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tulachan: stuffed calf [used to induce the cow to give milk].
Origin: Geàrrloch [Gairloch]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
tulchan: [calf-skin stuffed, to induce the cow to give milk.] [NOTES: the definition copied from the list of terms suggested by the authors of the questionnaire (the informant wrote the word next to it).]
Location: Na Hearadh, Gòbhaig [Harris, Gobhaig]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
ìsbean: [ı:ʃbɑṉ] Quot.: “Ceithir lùban-dubha fichead agus da ìsbean dheug.” Note: what the entrails (other than the stomachs) of a cow consisted of.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
“trobhad, siugan, siugan, siugan beag”: call to a cow.
Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Crodh / Cattle

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