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There were 1068 hits for cat

caith vb.: ‘throw’: ‘ cathamh chlachan [kʰæ̃ hu xʁ̫ axən]
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Iona, Barra Glen
Category: Barra Glen, Iona wordlist
clach n.: ‘stone’: ’ cathamh chlachan [kʰæ̃ hu xʁ̫ axən]
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Iona, Barra Glen
Category: Barra Glen, Iona wordlist
crodh n.: ‘cattle’: an crodh [ə ŋr̥uʰ]
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Victoria Co., North Shore, Tarbot
Category: Tarbot, North Shore wordlist
daorach n.: ‘intoxication’: an daorach [ndø:rəx]; tha ’n daorach air [hɑ nø:rəx ər]
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Victoria Co., North Shore, Tarbot
Category: Tarbot, North Shore wordlist
(Cath M): Location: Harris, Ardvey
Category: Biadh is Deoch / Food and Drink
(Tha e) cùrsa cabhadh: [NOTES: note in the margin – RÓM: a’ cur is a’ cathamh?]
Origin: Mull, Tobermory
Category: Sìde / Weather
(c) Actual dividing and allocating of land, e.g. casting lots: Location: [Arran? see the comment under 3]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
(c) Actual dividing and allocating of land, e.g. casting lots: Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
(c) Actual dividing and allocating of land, e.g. casting lots: Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
(c) Actual dividing and allocating of land, e.g. casting lots: Origin: Ross and Cromarty, Lewis
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
(c) Actual dividing and allocating of land, e.g. casting lots: Origin: Tiree
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
1. Different stages in the growth of cattle: Category: Crodh / Cattle
1. Different stages in the growth of cattle: Location: Lewis, Arnol
Category: Crodh / Cattle
1. Different stages in the growth of cattle: Location: Na Hearadh, Gòbhaig [Harris, Gobhaig]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
1. Different stages in the growth of cattle: Origin: ([Canada], Inverness Co.) or ([Canada], Inverness Co.) or ([Canada], Victoria Co.)
Category: Crodh / Cattle
1. Different stages in the growth of cattle: Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Crodh / Cattle
1. Different stages in the growth of cattle: Origin: Barra
Category: Crodh / Cattle
1. Different stages in the growth of cattle: Origin: Geàrrloch [Gairloch]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
1. Different stages in the growth of cattle: Origin: Inverness-shire, Nethy Bridge
Category: Crodh / Cattle
1. Different stages in the growth of cattle: Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
1. Different stages in the growth of cattle: Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Crodh / Cattle
1. Different stages in the growth of cattle: Origin: Mull, Bunessan, Ardtun or Mull, Tobermory
Category: Crodh / Cattle
1. Different stages in the growth of cattle: Origin: Tiree
Category: Crodh / Cattle
1. Different stages in the growth of cattle: Origin: [Arran]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
1. Different stages in the growth of cattle: Origin: [Islay, Ballygrant]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
1. Different stages in the growth of cattle: Origin: [Skye, Camus Chroise]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
1. Different stages in the growth of cattle: Origin: [the questionnaire gives Ross-shire but it is most probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
1. Different stages in the growth of cattle – male and female and castrated: Origin: [Barra]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
1. Fish location by natural means: Location: Harris, Kyles Stockinish
Category: Iasgach an Sgadain / Herring-Fishing
1. Fish location by natural means: Location: [Harris], Scalpay
Category: Iasgach an Sgadain / Herring-Fishing
1. Land division and allocation: Location: [Arran? see the comment under 3]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
1. Land division and allocation: Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
1. Land division and allocation: Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
1. Land division and allocation: Origin: Ross and Cromarty, Lewis
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
1. Land division and allocation: Origin: Tiree
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
2. Breeds of cattle: Location: Na Hearadh, Gòbhaig [Harris, Gobhaig]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
2. Breeds of cattle: Location: Lewis, Arnol
Category: Crodh / Cattle
2. Breeds of cattle: Category: Crodh / Cattle
2. Breeds of cattle: Origin: ([Canada], Inverness Co.) or ([Canada], Inverness Co.) or ([Canada], Victoria Co.)
Category: Crodh / Cattle
2. Breeds of cattle: Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Crodh / Cattle
2. Breeds of cattle: Origin: Barra
Category: Crodh / Cattle
2. Breeds of cattle: Origin: Geàrrloch [Gairloch]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
2. Breeds of cattle: Origin: Inverness-shire, Nethy Bridge
Category: Crodh / Cattle
2. Breeds of cattle: Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
2. Breeds of cattle: Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Crodh / Cattle
2. Breeds of cattle: Origin: Mull, Bunessan, Ardtun or Mull, Tobermory
Category: Crodh / Cattle
2. Breeds of cattle: Origin: Tiree
Category: Crodh / Cattle
2. Breeds of cattle: Origin: [Arran]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
2. Breeds of cattle: Origin: [Barra]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
2. Breeds of cattle: Origin: [Islay, Ballygrant]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
2. Breeds of cattle: Origin: [Skye, Camus Chroise]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
2. Breeds of cattle: Origin: [the questionnaire gives Ross-shire but it is most probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
3. Outward appearance of cattle: Location: Na Hearadh, Gòbhaig [Harris, Gobhaig]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
3. Outward appearance of cattle: Location: Lewis, Arnol
Category: Crodh / Cattle
3. Outward appearance of cattle: Category: Crodh / Cattle
3. Outward appearance of cattle: Origin: ([Canada], Inverness Co.) or ([Canada], Inverness Co.) or ([Canada], Victoria Co.)
Category: Crodh / Cattle
3. Outward appearance of cattle: Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Crodh / Cattle
3. Outward appearance of cattle: Origin: Barra
Category: Crodh / Cattle
3. Outward appearance of cattle: Origin: Geàrrloch [Gairloch]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
3. Outward appearance of cattle: Origin: Inverness-shire, Nethy Bridge
Category: Crodh / Cattle
3. Outward appearance of cattle: Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
3. Outward appearance of cattle: Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Crodh / Cattle
3. Outward appearance of cattle: Origin: Mull, Bunessan, Ardtun or Mull, Tobermory
Category: Crodh / Cattle
3. Outward appearance of cattle: Origin: Tiree
Category: Crodh / Cattle
3. Outward appearance of cattle: Origin: [Arran]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
3. Outward appearance of cattle: Origin: [Barra]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
3. Outward appearance of cattle: Origin: [Islay, Ballygrant]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
3. Outward appearance of cattle: Origin: [Skye, Camus Chroise]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
3. Outward appearance of cattle: Origin: [the questionnaire gives Ross-shire but it is most probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
5. Members of the clergy and office-bearers in the Roman Catholic church: Location: Arran, Pirnmill
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
5. Members of the clergy and office-bearers in the Roman Catholic church: Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
5. Members of the clergy and office-bearers in the Roman Catholic church: Origin: ([Canada], Inverness Co.) – Roman Catholic or (Lochaber – [Canada], Inverness Co.) – Roman Catholic or (Skye – [Canada], Inverness and Victoria? Co.’s) – Protestant
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
5. Members of the clergy and office-bearers in the Roman Catholic church: Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
5. Members of the clergy and office-bearers in the Roman Catholic church: Origin: Barra
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
5. Members of the clergy and office-bearers in the Roman Catholic church: Origin: Barra
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
5. Members of the clergy and office-bearers in the Roman Catholic church: Origin: Inverness-shire, Nethy Bridge
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
5. Members of the clergy and office-bearers in the Roman Catholic church: Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
5. Members of the clergy and office-bearers in the Roman Catholic church: Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
5. Members of the clergy and office-bearers in the Roman Catholic church: Origin: [Skye, Camus Chroise]
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
5. Members of the clergy and office-bearers in the Roman Catholic church: Origin: [Skye], Gleanndail [Glendale]
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
5. Members of the clergy and office-bearers in the Roman Catholic church: Origin: [in the card index: Islay, Ballygrant] [the questionnaire gives Earraghaidhiell but it is most probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
5. Members of the clergy and office-bearers in the Roman Catholic church: Origin: [the questionnaire gives Ross-shire but it is most probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
6. Holy Orders within the Roman Catholic church: Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
6. Holy Orders within the Roman Catholic church: Location: Arran, Pirnmill
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
6. Holy Orders within the Roman Catholic church: Origin: ([Canada], Inverness Co.) – Roman Catholic or (Lochaber – [Canada], Inverness Co.) – Roman Catholic or (Skye – [Canada], Inverness and Victoria? Co.’s) – Protestant
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
6. Holy Orders within the Roman Catholic church: Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
6. Holy Orders within the Roman Catholic church: Origin: Barra
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
6. Holy Orders within the Roman Catholic church: Origin: Barra
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
6. Holy Orders within the Roman Catholic church: Origin: Inverness-shire, Nethy Bridge
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
6. Holy Orders within the Roman Catholic church: Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
6. Holy Orders within the Roman Catholic church: Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
6. Holy Orders within the Roman Catholic church: Origin: [Skye, Camus Chroise]
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
6. Holy Orders within the Roman Catholic church: Origin: [Skye], Gleanndail [Glendale]
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
6. Holy Orders within the Roman Catholic church: Origin: [in the card index: Islay, Ballygrant] [the questionnaire gives Earraghaidhiell but it is most probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
6. Holy Orders within the Roman Catholic church: Origin: [the questionnaire gives Ross-shire but it is most probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
Aird-a’-Sculapraig: a place-name near Kildonan. The word ‘sculapraig’ came about since stolen cattle were gathered on this bit of ground.
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
An Eaglais Phapanach: Roman Catholic Church.
Origin: [the questionnaire gives Ross-shire but it is most probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
An Eaglais Phàpanach: R. Catholic.
Origin: [Skye], Gleanndail [Glendale]
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
An Socach: Sorry, I have forgotten its location. [NOTES: crossed out.]
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Caitir; Catriona: Name: Catherine. Equivalents: Kit, Kitty and Katrine (Zetland); Kate and Katrina (Lewis); Ketty (N. Harris B 41/1928); Catriona (Skye).
Category: Ainmean Pearsanta Bhoireannach / Female Personal Names
Calum sgoileir: Malcolm the scholar; personal name and the adjective word indicating the person’s occupation, etc.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Cathlic: in Benbecula.
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
Catlaigich no Papanaich: Origin: Barra
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
Cattle: Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
Cattle (continued): Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
Ceasnachadh: Quotation: an Ceasnachadh. Notes: once a year people met in one house and were questioned on the Shorter Catechism by the minister.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Ceasnachdainn: [cesn̪ɔxkĩnʹ] Quotation: an Ceasnachdainn. Notes: examination of knowledge of the Shorter Catechism held every year in one of the houses.
Origin: Glenurquhart
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Ceisdear: Catechist.
Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
Ceit: Name: Kate. Equivalents: Kitty (Zetland). (See Catherine).
Category: Ainmean Pearsanta Bhoireannach / Female Personal Names
Crodh Beag: Highland cattle, also those of no special breed.
Origin: [the questionnaire gives Ross-shire but it is most probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
Dleasanas Caisge: Easter confession and Communion for Catholics.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Fear-cathrach Comhairle nan Easbuigean: President of Episcopal Conference.
Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
Iamhar-a-chaolais: Ivor or Edward of the sound or channel, signifying where Ivor lives, whereas the top [i.e. Calum-nan-gobhar] indicates Calum’s occupation or ‘trade’ if you wish: a ‘goat herd’s man’.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Ionnlad na Cailise: Purification of Chalice.
Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
Ola a’ Bhaistidh: Baptismal oil; Oil of Catechumens.
Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
Pàpanach: Roman Catholic.
Origin: [Skye], Gleanndail [Glendale]
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
Tha ceanghal sìde orra: this phrase meant there was good weather in store. Usually indicated by sheep climbing to higher ground.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Tha iad sin ann an deagh thruim: the opposite of the above [i.e. caoilteach (q.v.)] meaning that the cattle were well fed.
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Tha sùil gle mhath agam air crodh: I have a good eye for cattle.
Origin: Tiriodh [Tiree]
Category: Faireachdain / Senses
[Caisg]: “Anail Dhè ’sa ghaoith Di-Domhnaich Casg.” Older generation swear to there being something different about the weather on Easter Sunday. Different from the weather during the rest of the year. Similarly cattle are always standing upright at midnight on Christmas Eve as a sign of respect.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[Katrina]: Name: Katrina, Katrine, Ketty. Equivalents: (See Catherine).
Category: Ainmean Pearsanta Bhoireannach / Female Personal Names
[Kit]: Name: Kit, Kitty. Equivalents: (See Catherine and Kate).
Category: Ainmean Pearsanta Bhoireannach / Female Personal Names
[Moire]: Bha sibh ag iasgach an diugh. An d’fhuair sibh tòrr/mòran? Moire, fhuair! Fhuair sinn an t-Agh. ‘Moire!’ is used quite regularly in Uig, although it is very far from Catholic influences.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
[Seanfhacal 11]: Cur is cathadh ’s gaoth ’ga reothadh.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[Seanfhacal 24]: Ceò geamhraidh; cathadh earraich.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[Seanfhacal 88]: Na cuir ’s na seachain an cath.
Location: North Uist, Carinish, Cnoc Cuidhein [Knockquien]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[antiseptics]: Note 8 (series): Antiseptics. 1. A cut being licked by a dog, that is letting the dog lick the cut with his tongue meant an antiseptic method. 2. Epsom salts – washed in or with water in which Epsom salts is diluted – the cut. 3. Hot water as hot as the patient could bear. 4. Coarse salt diluted in water, hot or cold, was used as a mouthwash in connection with decayed teeth, etc. 5. Tar smoke, or smoke from burning tar, coal tar or archangel tar, whiffs from it if inhaled lightly were a relief for bronchitis, congestion, catarrh. 6. Whisky and brandy were used as stimulants. As in faints. Rum and raw eggs, rum mixed with beaten raw eggs served as tonic. I remember seeing a gentleman using the first draft of undistilled whisky, a ‘gharbh-ghucag’ as a ‘liquid ointment’ for rheumatics, by rubbing it to the affected part.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[baking soda]: Baking soda – taken in water, for stomach complaints (and bladder trouble of cattle).
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
[briathrach]: Cho briathrach ris a’ charran-mac-fithill. – As blithe as an oyster catcher. (Chan eil mi cinnteach mu’n charran-mac-fithill, co a bh’ann. Faodaidh sinn comhradh mu an chuis uaireigin.)
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[bràth]: “Is fheairde bràth a’ bhreacadh gun a bristeadh.” Grinding stones must have been quite fragile requiring delicate handling. In wider sense better to damage something slightly rather than break it irrevocably.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[buachailleachd]: “Deireadh is toiseach Mhic an Duine, a’ bhuachailleachd.” In your youth you looked after cattle and then again when you retired.
Location: South Uist, South Boisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[buidheagan]: Too much of buttercups (‘buidheagan’) (flowers) or variety improper in the feeding caused sickness to cattle. Empoms [sic] [Epsom?] salts were recommended, doses up to as was termed 6 packets were (recommended) as a dose, etc.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
[caileach ribeach]: soft food was the cause of the ‘caileach ribeach’ in the mouth of cattle. The organs, in connection with the chewing process, were inflaming to a state that it was necessary to operate on them with scissors, etc. (See other reference Glossary, the first or second number of pages I posted to you. I think it’s mentioned something to this effect?)
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[caora]: An uncompleted proverb: “A chaora, na loisg mo chnamhan, ’s na sgàin mo sheice ars an t-each.” There was also a section dealing with cattle. As regards the horse, his skin could not be easily repaired if it was torn.
Location: South Uist, West Kilbride
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[cat]: “S ann dhut a rug an cat an cuilean” – good luck has come to you.
Location: Harris, Sgarastamhor
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[cat]: Cha d’fhuair mi a chuireadh neul bharr cait. I didn’t get what would relieve a cat’s faintness. [NOTE in second hand: Cha d’fhuair mi na…]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[cat]: Miann a’ chait a choinnebhaineadh.
Location: North Uist, Tigharry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[cat]: “Miann a’ chait ’san traigh, ’s cha toir e fhein as e.” Applied to someone who desired something but was not prepared to get it himself. Literally, although the cat likes fish it does not hunt it himself.
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[cat]: Chan ’eil a an còrr ann / ’S chaidh na cait a dhanns. / ’Se ’m fear a b’fhearr a bh’ann / Cat Dhomhnuill ’ic Dhubhagain.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[cat]: “Gleidhidh tu thu fhéin bho an chat.” – Nuair a thigeadh tu dhachaidh bho iasgach agus na h-uibhir de dh’iasg agad, ged nach bitheadh móran, chanadh sinn seo.
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[cat]: Miann a chait ’s an traigh, ’s cha toir e fhein as e.
Origin: [North Uist?]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[cath]: Chuir iad cath ris. They struggled against him.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[cath]: Chuir e deagh chath. He put up a good fight.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[catrach]: catrach math gaoithe – strong wind (Arran, Bute, Cowal, Kintyre).
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[cattle]: Following verse would be said by people tending cattle: “Bogha fhrois, bogha fhrois, tarr as, tarr as, trì stràcan dhe’n chrios cuir an t-uisg as, na buachaillean bochd air sgàth nan cnoc ag iarraidh air Dia an t-uisge a chuir as.”
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[ceangail]: Ceangail ri chéile – a meanbh bhristeadh (etc.). The running along a split to search for and ‘catch’ together broken meshes which correspond, so enabling as many fishermen as possible to start mending on a single tear, and so hasten completion of the task.
Location: [Harris], Scalpay
Category: Iasgach an Sgadain / Herring-Fishing
[crodh]: Gabh mu chul do chruidh. Get to the rear of your cattle, i.e. stick to the point.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[càrn]: “B’fhearr dhuit a bhith ann an càrn cladaich na a leithid sin.” – Chanadh iad seo mu dog and cat life.
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[deargadh]: Cha d’fhuair sinn deargadh eisg. – ‘deargadh’ refers to a very small catch of fish.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[deoch]: “An deoch nach fhaighear an àm an tomadh, chan fhaighear idir an àm tràghadh.” The early bird catches the worm.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[deur]: “Chan eil an sin ach an deur ga iarraidh air a’ chàt.” – used about someone who would not share or give what was his own to anyone else like the saying says the cat does not leave a drop for anyone else.
Location: North Uist, Lochportan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[dorus]: Ruigidh dàil dorus. Your debts will catch up with you.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[dìol]: Quotation: B’e siud an dìol dubh air a’ ghruth gheal. Notes: Catriona Mhór’s response to Murdag’s news that the missionary had to leave his house to make way for the officer. She added: “Is an duine bochd a’ dìogadh a mhionaich ach a faigh e còmhradh a ni e ri na daoine.”
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[faochagan]: faochagan beaga glas gam pronnadh – for constipation in cattle.
Origin: [Barra]
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
[fead]: Bheir e fead ort. – would be said prior to someone undertaking a difficult task indicating that it would be achieved easily.
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[fear]: Beir thusa air an dara fear is beiridh mi air an fhear eile. You catch one and I shall catch the other.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[fionnadh a chait]: Note 4: (also) ‘Fionnadh a chait’ was a remedy for cuts on the Island of Scalpay, Harris fifty years ago. An informant told me that the remedy was applied to a cut on her forehead by her father, and that was about 50 years ago (from 1978). Her father cut some of the cats [sic] hair with the scissors and spread the hair on a bandage and then on to the cut, it was believed that it had healing properties beside effective in the case of bleeding and seemingly a ‘disinfectant’ advantage. My informant again showed me where the cut was on her forehead. You could hardly believe there was a cut there, it healed that well, by very close observation you could discover there was something not of a mark very distinguishable.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[frithealadh]: A’ frithealadh do an nì. – Attending to stock. Cattle, sheep, etc.
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[frìde]: “Is lugha na frìde mathair argumaid” A saying which indicates how easy it is to start an arument.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[fual]: bronchitis – fual (poultice) of chewed oatmeal, sugar and soap, also application of bread and hot water, and also peat.
Location: Harris, Rodel
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[galar?]: Galar caused by intestinal worms known as ‘dathagan’ (f) ‘dathag’. [NOTES: ‘galar’ seems to be the catchword.]
Origin: Tiree
Category: Crodh / Cattle
[geur]: “’S geur fiacaill a fraoch ’sa cladach feamad.” A proverb indicating the hunger which such treks would arouse.
Location: North Uist, Lochportan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[gille-Brìghde]: [ɡilʹə bri:dʹ] oyster-catcher.
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
[glaodh]: “An glaodh a tha nam chluais, mi chuala ’s nach mi a chaoineas, nach ann as mo dhaoine fhein.” – according to the informant this verse was said after an indication of impending death in the community had been experienced. This indication came in the form of a heavy, mournful musical note which rang repeatedly in a person’s ear. Thereafter the above phrase was repeated so as the impending death would fall outside his/her own family. Informant recently experienced this.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[greim]: Dean greim air sin! – Catch that!
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[greim]: Dean greim air sin. – Catch or hold that.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[greim]: Dean greim air sin. – Hold or catch that.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[gualann]: Chaidh e as a ghualainn. – Dislocated his shoulder.
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[leanabh]: A leanabh a bhaistear ’s ann air a bhitheas an t-ainm. Despite a nickname the original name on the birth certificate is the one that counts.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay, Gearradh Dubh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[lion]: lion gu bhi cruinneachadh ’na phoca – bag net. Perhaps the cod-end of a trawl could be considered poc(a)-a-linn. Yes! this is the way it’s termed, isn’t it? [SLIP: Catch-word - Poca-linn. Definition: ‘Cod-end of a trawl.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[losaid]: ‘Chaidh a bho as a losaid.’ The cow’s hip was dislocated.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[manadh]: “Manadh troimhn bhàs ’s troimhn bheò.” Events being preceded by noises indicating something was to happen.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[manure]: Note: algae composition was used as manure for crofts, still is, and so his [sic] [is?] hen droppings, also cattle dung, seaweed of various species, tangle being popular for the growth of corn. Algae in powder form or kelp was, and is, used as a reinforcement for manure, that is algae can be used with other manure contribution or contributions, rotten fish, guano, etc. (Harris)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[marag]: marag-fhala, marag-dheocaidh, marag-fhlùir – “of the Puddin’ race” or of the Haggis family. [NOTES: all three phrases slipped under one catch-word – ‘marag’. Definition: All similar to haggis.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[moladh]: Did not want to praise their own cattle too much in case they might suffer loss of them: Air eagal ’s gu mìll moladh i.
Origin: Barra
Category: Crodh / Cattle
[mèogail]: Tha an cat a mèogail.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[note]: Many of the Equivalents appearing in these lists are doubtless already well-known, but I have endeavoured, from personal inquiries made mainly in Zetland and other insular parts of Northern Scotland, to furnish some fresh information on the matter. For facility of reference the English Christian names are set down in alphabetical order; and against them are shown (1) the Gaelic equivalents and (2) the English equivalents, including those which are in use in certain specified regions – together with occasional explanatory notes. In the list “Male Personal Names” the patronymics are also given – not that they may serve much useful, practical purpose, but because patronymics figure largely in our Scottish nomenclature and are interesting as derivatives from our common Christian names. From a close survey of the lists certain main inferences may be drawn: 1. The correctness of the Registrar-General’s surmise “that some names have no doubt a significance differing according to locality” is demonstrated by the following examples:– (a) Ewen and Hugh. In Lewis these two names are distinct and have separate Gaelic equivalents. (Ewen = G. Eòghann; Hugh = G. Uisdean). But in the South Isles of the Outer Hebrides the two names are interchangeable and have a common Gaelic equivalent, (both Ewen and Hugh = G. Eòghann). This fact was first brought to my notice in South Uist and I subsequently got verification of it elsewhere; one instance being that of a boy from Uist attending school at Dornie, who was known as “Hugh” at home and as “Ewen” in school. (b) Effie and Henrietta. So far as the mainland of Scotland is concerned there is, I think, no connection between these two names; yet I find in Lewis they are interchangeable, the common Gaelic equivalent being “Eighrig”. I have corroboration of this from two schoolmasters who are natives of Lewis; and I found a practical example in the case of a Lewis lady resident in Skye, whose husband calls her “Effie” but who signs her name as “Henrietta”. 2. Many of our Personal Names are merely Anglicised forms of Gaelic Names, for example: Gillespie = Archibald (from G. Gill-easbuig), Donachie = Duncan (from G. Donnchadh), Murachie = Murdoch (from G. Muireach), Ailie = Helen (from G. Eilidh), etc. etc. 3. Some of the other names are not what might be termed exact equivalents, but are distorted forms given to foreign names by Ministers who were unacquainted with the foreign language. In this class is the name “Haki” or “Hakon” which has been transformed into “Hercules”; just as “Osla” has been twisted into “Ursula” and thence into “Cecilia”. It should be understood that my inquiries have been comparatively limited and that consequently the information given here cannot be anything like exhaustive on the subject of name equivalents. But the examples given are sufficient to illustrate that many odd equivalents do exist, and that the identity of a person with whose name we are furnished may be found under an alternative name.
Category: Ainmean Pearsanta Bhoireannach / Female Personal Names
[note]: [NOTES: it is not clear if the last two words are variants. The second seems to be a later addition (different ink) and may be a clarification of the first, which is illegible.]
Location: Harris, Kyles Stockinish
Category: Iasgach an Sgadain / Herring-Fishing
[note]: (same as cattle) [NOTES: see point 5 in the Crodh / Cattle questionnaire by the same informants.]
Origin: ([Canada], Inverness Co., Lochaber) or ([Canada], Inverness Co., Lochaber dialect) or ([Canada], Inverness Co., Lochaber dialect)
Category: Caoraich / Sheep
[note]: (same as cattle) [NOTES: see point 9 in the Crodh / Cattle questionnaire by the same informants.]
Origin: ([Canada], Inverness Co., Lochaber) or ([Canada], Inverness Co., Lochaber dialect) or ([Canada], Inverness Co., Lochaber dialect)
Category: Caoraich / Sheep
[note]: (Numerous others listed in Gaelic Catechism, as uamhar, sannd etc. etc.)
Origin: Barra
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
[note]: as in cattle. [NOTES: the following list copied from Mr Fraser’s ‘cattle’ questionnaire.]
Origin: Geàrrloch [Gairloch]
Category: Caoraich / Sheep
[note]: This brings to my memory question six on the front of this paper. [NOTES: this seems to be a misunderstanding. ‘Question six’ asks the informants to use a word like ‘beag’ to show the gender of the noun. Mr Smith just provides us with two terms containing ‘beag’ but not connected with cattle in any way.]
Origin: Inverness-shire, Nethy Bridge
Category: Crodh / Cattle
[oatmeal]: Oatmeal in hot water (mixed) also was observed as a beverage to cattle.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
[pɾi:jo:]: Notes: call for cattle.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[roundelay]: We repeated the following roundelay: Thugainn a mach. C’àite mach? A thigh Ian Bhalla. De ’m balla? Balla mór. Dè mor? Mor am bidean. De ’m bidean? Bidean Uilleam. De an t-Uilleam? Uilleam Màn. De Màn? Màn a siorraidh. De an siorraidh? Siorraidh Leodhais. De Leodhas? Leodhas Uig? De an Uig? Uig dhromannan. De na dromannan? Dromannan chaorach. De na caoraich? Caoraich chloimheach. De a chloimh? Cloimh airson aodach. De an t-aodach? Tha aodach airson a chur mu do dhruim. Also: ‘Co sud thallud?’ ‘Mise, Starrag.’ ‘De th’agad ann a hen [sic]?’ ‘Bo mhaol, odhar, mharbh.’ ‘An toir thu rud dhomh fhin dhi?’ ‘Cha toir mi fhìn gu dearbh. Ca-ubh, ca-ubh, ca-ubh.’ And: ‘Dorra-mhèamh’ ars an cat. ‘De mheurlaich a th’ oirt?’ ‘Loisg mi mo spòg toirt na feoladh as a phrais.’
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[sad]: Sad Sasunnach. “Cuiridh mise sad Sasunnach as. Agus asda.” Bha cat aig Màiri agus bha i a’ saoilsinn tòrr dheth. Chuireadh e na crùidhean ann an duine uair sam bith, ach bha Màiri a’ smaoineachadh gu’m bu chòir seo a leigeil leis. An latha-sa thuirt an duine aig Màiri: “Cuireadh casan na crùidhean annam-sa agus cuiridh mise sad Sasunnach as an deireadh aige.”
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[strathair]: An strathair an àite na diollaid – when a young wife had moved into a croft replacing her spouse’s mother this would be said to indicate the inexperience and inadequacies of the young wife.
Location: North Uist, Tigharry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[taisead]: A’ dol an taisead. Getting softer and more delicate.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[tigh-aire]: In my childhood, Lochaber, i.e. the Braes of Lochaber, was 95% Catholic. When a death occurred in a house, people flocked to pay their respects and remained to pray. It was customary to lay one’s hand on the forehead of the dead for a moment (the head was normally covered by the sheet but the sheet was turned down momentarily to allow the hand to be laid on the forehead). People took it in turn to remain in the room “’s an tigh-aire” where prayers and litanies were said night and day till the day of the funeral – food was provided for people. On the day of the funeral, the coffin was carried shoulder-high on a bier for the few miles to Cill-a-Chaorail. The ancient church of St. Cyril of Alexandria has been restored of recent times and I understand the burial-service is held there now. [NOTES: the following comment copied from the letter dated 24/03/1977:] In my remarks about funeral practices in a previous letter, I had intended to mention the custom of building cairns. I have understood that when the mourners stopped for a rest and possibly refreshment, each man looked around for a sizeable stone and a cairn was built and was called the deceased’s cairn. With the widening of the roads, I fear the cairns have disappeared on the main roads.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[toch]: Thoch iad an crodh. They have stringed the cattle. [NOTE in second hand: ?]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[tàintean]: Bithidh do sgoil na taintean dhuit ri d’bheo. Your education will prove an accomplishment all your life.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[ùmhal]: Cho umhal ri luch fo spoig a’ chait. It’s submissive as a mouse beneath a cat’s paw.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[ʃi:d̪ɑx]: Notes: call to cats (repeated).
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
a cathadh: Winnowing. [NOTES: spelled ‘càthadh’ on the slip.]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
a ionaltradh spreidh na crodh: grazing cattle.
Origin: [Arran]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
a spiorachadh air: as a cat coming in on a bird.
Location: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
abidil: Quot.: an illness which affected cattle. Thinks it was fits, but not sure. Cure: “Bha sioman connlach air fhighe ceàrr air a chur timchioll air druim agus mionach a’ bheathaich”.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
acladh (m): fishing, fishing catch; acal (Strathglass), acadail (Lewis).
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
adag-chruaidh: a fragment of a rainbow seen in the morning. Indicative of bad weather. [NOTES: note added – (= fadadh-cruaidh).]
Location: South Uist, South Lochboisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
adhaircean: ‘horns’ on either side of the top piece of the stem of the boat to which the bow strip hook is ‘clipped’. I cannot say also at the moment. [NOTES: the slip is among the “Doubtful” words. Catch-word: adhairc.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
adhru(bh): something that was passed on hereditarily. “Bha e na adhru(bh) dha na daoine sin.” Adhra – singular, adhru – collectively. [NOTES: the catch-word seems to have been crossed out by Mr O’Henley. A note added in second hand – ? aoraibh.]
Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ag ithealadh: approaching something in a sly, covert way. “Cat ag ithealadh air luch” – a cat stalking a mouse.
Location: Harris, Sgarastamhor
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ag uisgachadh a chruidh: [watering cattle.]
Origin: [Islay, Ballygrant]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
ai! ai!: showing interest, or indication [of] appreciation from what is heard.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ailseag: caterpillar.
Location: South Uist, South Boisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ainmhidh: [ɛ̃nʹəvi] Notes: cattle (beasts).
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
air a’ chòrn: this phrase indicated that the wool had been wrapped round this wooden hogshead (còrn). This was done after waulking.
Location: South Uist, South Glendale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
airb: a fortification consisting of a wall with turrets.
Location: North Uist, Iollathraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
airigh iasgaich: an onshore shieling made of turfs and used by fisherman. Located near the sea.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
am ploc: a disease in cattle, noticeable by a lump on the throat.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
amhach a’ ghiomach: that part of a lobster used as a propellant. Located in front of the lobster and is the most tasty part to eat.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
amhain: [ɑhĩnʹ] Quotation: Chaidh a’ bhó ann an [ɑhĩnʹ]. Notes: Amhain – sp. in Dwelly (from MacAlpine). An awkward position into which a beast gets itself and cannot extricate itself from it. [ɑfɔ̃nʹ] – Lewis.
Origin: Bunloit
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
an crodh dùbh: the hardy small black cattle of the Highlands, Kyloes. Hebrides 1700-1850.
Location: Lewis, Arnol
Category: Crodh / Cattle
an leabhar: equivalent of ‘currachda righ’ in sheep. This was the name given to the pleated intestine of cattle.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
an spreidh: [herd or any collection of cattle.]
Origin: Barra
Category: Crodh / Cattle
an sàbh: another claw used for catching fish.
Origin: [Note: From North Uist, information from Alex O’Henley / RÓM 4 Dec 2023]
Category: Iasgach a’ Ghiomaich / Lobster-Fishing
an t-each bàn: little white eddies on the sea surface. Indicating gales and high winds.
Location: South Uist, South Glendale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
an t-èasbal: a delicate person, always prone to illness.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
an torraidh: stealing the milk from someone else’s cattle. Usually done in the early hours of the morning.
Location: Eriskay, Taobh na Mara
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
an tuaindeal: sturdy. Affected the brain of cattle and sheep. Cyst on the brain.
Location: North Uist, Scolpaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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 èis: cattle suffering from hunger.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
anagladh: [ɑ̃ṉɑɡɫəɣ] Quotation: ag anagladh a chruidh. Notes: shifting cattle from one grazing spot to another without harrying them.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ansporag: part of a cow located near the throat. Considered a great delicacy.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ascall: loss of cattle in the spring.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ath-bhoinn: [ɑfɔnʹ] Quot.: caora ann an ath-bhoinn. Note: in a position from which it could not extricate itself.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
athainn: Notes: (with nasal vowel in 1st syll.) A catch-word or phrase, e.g. ‘Tog seo orm, ’s gheibh thu stamp’. Source: Prof. D.S. Thomson, Lewis. Date: 1983.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
athainn: [ɑhĩnʹ] Quotation: Chaidh am beathach ann an athainn. Notes: getting into a position from which it could not extricate itself.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
a’ cath: throwing out and spreading the peat.
Location: Harris, Tarbert
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
a’ cath na slige: shell-cast.
Origin: Taransay
Category: Iasgach a’ Ghiomaich / Lobster-Fishing
a’ chaingeis: Whitsunday (28th May). From this date you had to keep your cattle to yourself. It was at this time of year that cattle watching began. Until Martinmas (28th November) had to tend the cattle.
Location: North Uist, Iollaraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
a’ chestair: catechist. (Stoer, Assynt)
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
a’ chuidhe: a field surrounded by a man-made earthen wall. Cattle were kept here after grazing. This field was on the machair land.
Origin: Uibhist a Tuath [North Uist]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
a’ cuir an uain: a sheep that has miscarried with the lamb dead in its womb. Has to be delivered by hand. Similarly this is applied to cattle ‘cuir an laoigh’.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
a’ dùsgadh chlach: this would be the term used when rocks were being cut out of a rock face. Could also mean as I have indicated previously that the rocks could be lifted from soil.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
a’ ghainmheach: an illness affecting the stomach of an animal. Arose from the animal eating docks (copagan), grass roots and sand. Animal would be in great pain and could not rise to its feet. Could only be cured by constant movement such as riding. Could affect cattle but mostly affected horses.
Location: Eriskay, Taobh na Mara
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
a’ glanadh a’ bhaile: driving all the cattle to the common grazing.
Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Crodh / Cattle
a’ glanadh a’ chùil: driving all the cattle from the common grazing, usually sending them to the moor.
Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Crodh / Cattle
a’ sgeith: vomiting (cattle).
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
a’ smòcadh an taighe: this procedure would be carried out by a sanitary officer in the event of a plague or disease being in the district. A soap-like substance was burnt filling the house with smoke. This was to prevent strangers from catching the epidemic. Bar of disinfectant (carbolic) soap left for everyone in the household. [NOTES: ‘smòcadh’ corrected to ‘smocadh’.]
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
a’ spìocadh: Note: after the batter has struck the ball in the game “speilean” (q.v.), the first fielder to reach the ball, if unable to catch the batter out, rolls the ball to try to deposit it in the hole. This is “spìocadh”.
Location: Harris, Quidinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
baclag: snead looped round the hook so the hook cannot catch.
Origin: Barra
Category: Acfhuinn Iasgaich / Fishing Tackle
baidhr: sheep and cattle’s afterbirth.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
baile: Quot.: “Tha’n crodh a stigh air feadh a bhaile.” Note: before fences were introduced the cattle, sheep, horses wandered at will on any of the crofts.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bainne gamhnaich: a drink given to young men which supposedly enhanced their strength. Consisted of the milk of black Highland cattle without calf, mixed with oatmeal. Moreover the oatmeal had to be taken from the north end of a field.
Location: North Uist, Tigharry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bal guailleadh: rope used for tying up. Located at front stem.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay, Ceannaraigh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
balla: Quotation: am balla tarsainn. Notes: the partition or wall in the blackhouse dividing humans and cattle.
Location: North Uist, Bayhead, Kylis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ballan: Notes: barrel for catching water from roof.
Location: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ban-sgoileir: nn ‘female schoolteacher’ : ~-ean Catlaigeach a chur [DAG]
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Broadcove
Category: Field Notebooks of Seosamh Watson June-August 1983
banais: Quotation: banais-chullaich. Notes: a collection of wailing cats at night (Kilmuir).
Location: Raasay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bathach: cattle.
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
bathair: placenta of cattle.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
beagan: a poor catch of herring.
Location: [Harris], Scalpay
Category: Iasgach an Sgadain / Herring-Fishing
bealathach: a place on the machair for grazing sheep and cattle in winter. Littered with little glens and shelter spots.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
beannachadh cruidh: would be said when you met a herd of cattle. “Buachaille Chalum Cille a bhith mur casan ’s gum a slàn a thig sibh dhachaidh.”
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bearnan-brìde: flower, dandelion, at the point of the flower giving way to withering, the seed is left which parachute off by the wind. Children used to blow off the seed themselves and counting how many times they had to blow before the final seed was blown, which indicated what time of day it was. The flower itself does the re-seeding. The seed is disposed likewise from its down, ‘choimhiteach’ [sic].
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
beathach: Quotation: beathach cruidh [be̜u̜xkr̥u̜˖ç]. Notes: cattle beast.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
beir: Quotation: a breith air [ə bɾe̜ eɾ]. Notes: catching hold of.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
beir: Quot.: “Bha i gos [sic] beireachdainn [beðɑxkĩnʹ] orm.” Note: She was almost catching me.
Origin: Kershader
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bharr: Quotation: Chaidh e bharr (far) na guallainn. Notes: dislocated.
Location: Harris, Ardhasaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
biadh: [bi̜əɣ] Notes: food of any classification.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
biadh a chruidh: [feeding cattle.]
Origin: [Islay, Ballygrant]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
biast: Quotation: biast a’ chàil. Notes: caterpillar.
Origin: Harris
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
biast-bhreac: Notes: caterpillar.
Location: Sutherland, Kinlochbervie, Oldshoremore
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bidean-mara: sea-perch, a perch on a rock in the sea for identification.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bideanach: Quotation: Tha e cho bideanach. Notes: fidgety, unsettled. Source: Mrs Catherine MacLeod, Ness, Lewis. Date: 1982.
Location: [see below]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
binndeal: Notes: snare for catching birds. Hoops made from horsehair.
Location: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
binndeal: [bɤ̃ĩnʹdʹɑɫ] Notes: snare for catching birds by the feet.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bith: Quotation: Nach ann ann a bha bith an deamhain nuair a chaidh e a phòsadh, a’ streap ris a’ cheithir-fichead bliadhna. (Catriona Mhór of Billie Og Og in Stornoway) Notes: In Dw., in senses of ‘life, existence, being, living’. But above usage is more positive and explosive.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bith: existence. Seachd bitheanan ann an cat. Cha téid ann am bith.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
blar mona: Peat bank. There were held for a period of ten years. At the end of that time peat banks were reallocated by casting lots. [NOTES: spelled ‘blàr mòna’ on the slip.]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
blasagraich: Quotation: cat a’ blasagraich mu bheul. Notes: licking his chops.
Location: Harris, Ardhasaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bliam: Quotation: “Tha iad a sin gun bhliam aca an tigh Cairstiona ’an Tàilleir. Tha iad sin a-mach a rathad gun scot a dh’òrdaich an Tighearna beannaichte aca.” (Catriona Mhór) Notes: Not in Dw.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
blodhain a chruidh: milking the cattle.
Location: Lewis, Arnol
Category: Crodh / Cattle
blàrag: name given to cattle.
Location: South Uist, South Boisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
blòcaichean: located under the floor of a cart. Determined the height of the cartbox.
Location: North Uist, Iollaraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
boca-na-buisrichean: ‘witches’ bag’. To me the term sounded as indicated. It may be a variation from the buidseachd form. Perhaps it is also found in various ways. We also use buidseachd or were using it here in Scalpay.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris,Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bochdainn: Quotation: meud mhór is bochdainn. Notes: applied to someone who had little money but who tried to keep up appearances or boasting without justification.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bonn: an iron board located behind the plough sock. Ensured the plough ran smoothly and even when ploughing.
Location: North Uist, Iollaraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
branndair: frame of a cart located beneath the cart box. The cart box was secured on this frame.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay, Cnoc Cuidhein [Knockquien]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bratag: Notes: (1) caterpillar. (2) worm found in potatoes.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bratag: a brown and black beast found in grass. Similar to a caterpillar in shape.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bratag: furry caterpillar.
Location: South Uist, South Boisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bratag: Quotation: bratag-thomhais. Notes: brown caterpillar found on the moor. (Exclusive to this?) [NOTES: slipped under ‘bratag-thomhais’.]
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bratag: Note: caterpillar.
Location: Harris, Quidinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bratag: [b̥ɾɑ˖htɑ˖ɡ] Notes: large black hairy caterpillar.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bratag: Notes: caterpillar.
Location: Coll, Arinagour
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bratag: Note: applied to greenish brown hairy caterpillar found on the moor.
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bratag: Notes: caterpillar.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bratag: Notes: caterpillar.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bratag: Notes: cabbage caterpillar.
Origin: Strontian
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bratag-fhraoich: ‘heather caterpillar’.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bratag-thomhais: Notes: brown caterpillar.
Location: Skye, Kyleakin
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
breac a’ mhuiltean: Notes: “wispy scattering of white clouds.”
Origin: Strontian
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
breacadh a’ runnaich: scaly appearance of the clouds indicating rain. Usually seen in the evening. Like a mackerel’s back.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
breacain: breed [of cattle?] named after their colour.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
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
breachd: seize, catch. “An do bhreac thu air?” (T.G.S.I., 29)
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
breallach: [bðɛɫɑx] Notes: bigger and darker than “coilleagan” but not so coruscated.
Location: Harris
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
breith: Quotation: Bha e [bɾɛxk] air. Notes: He was catching it. (As if an abbrev. of “breitheachd”.)
Origin: Glenurquhart
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
breoite: an all round frailty as opposed to the one frailty indicated by the word ‘gaiseach’ [q.v.]. “Duine breoite” – a frail, fragile person. [NOTES: corrected to ‘breòite’.]
Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
breòite: delicate.
Location: North Uist, Lochmaddy, Crombagh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bridean: oyster catcher.
Location: Argyll, Tarbert, Muasdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
brig-brag: indicator words to denote sound like the sound of drops of water falling from the roof into a tin basin. [SLIP: Denotes sound like the sound of drops of water falling from the roof into a tin basin.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
brod-liabag: Notes: a spear used for catching flatfish.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
brudag: [bɾu̟d̪ɑɡ] Notes: caterpillar.
Location: Sutherland, Embo
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
brutag: Quotation: Brutag a’ fhraoich; Brutag a’ chàil. Notes: caterpillar.
Location: Ross-shire, Achiltibuie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
brutag: Notes: brownish caterpillar found on the moor.
Location: Sutherland, Kinlochbervie, Oldshoremore
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
brutag: Notes: caterpillar (yellow and brown variety).
Location: Sutherland, Bettyhill, Swordly
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
brutag: Notes: brownish caterpillar found among heather.
Location: Sutherland, Kinlochbervie, Blairmore
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bràidean: Notes: a kind of wooden collar made from willow or hazel for tying cattle.
Origin: Camusluanie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bràtag: caterpillar.
Location: North Uist, Tigharry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bràtag a’ chàil: caterpillar.
Location: South Uist, South Boisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bràtagan: caterpillars. If eaten by cows their stomach would swell. Cured by eating snails. [NOTES: ‘bràtagan’ corrected to ‘bratagan’.]
Location: South Uist, South Lochboisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
brìdean: Notes: oyster-catcher.
Location: Ross-shire, Aultbea
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
brìdean: oyster-catcher.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
brìdean: Notes: oyster-catcher. (Kenmore)
Origin: Harris
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
brìdein: oystercatcher. [NOTES: corrected to ‘brìghdein’.]
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
brògach: Quotation: caora bhrògach. Catriona Mhór: “Hitler! b’e sin an Dia brògach!” Notes: shabby, etc. Special kind of sheep? Not in Dw.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buachailachd: [tending of cattle.]
Origin: [Islay, Ballygrant]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
buachaileachd: tending the cattle.
Location: Lewis, Arnol
Category: Crodh / Cattle
buachaillachd: tending of cattle.
Origin: [Arran]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
buachailleachd (f): tending of cattle. Buachailleachd a’ chruidh.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Crodh / Cattle
buaigheall: cattle stall(s). “Chaidh iad na buaigheall fhéin.”
Location: Barra, Earsharry [Earsary]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buaile: Notes: a fold for stock. In the old Highlands, a fold for stock was always circular in form so that the beasts would keep on walking: a scientific fact of animal Psychology, with which stockmen are now catching up as a new discovery. These folds had no roof; and in times of heavy snow-fall, the continuous movement of stock was necessary for their survival. Fanks were also circular.
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buaile (f), buai: [sic] herd or collection of cattle. Buaile de chrodh.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Crodh / Cattle
buaile mhart: any herd of cattle.
Origin: [Barra]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
buaile thodhair: cattle kept here overnight to prevent them from straying into growing crops.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buaille: an enclosed area on croft land where cattle could be pastured. [NOTES: corrected to ‘buaile’.]
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Ardivachar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buaille mu’n gheallaich: a circle round the moon indicating bad weather. [NOTES: ‘buaille’ corrected to ‘buaile’.]
Location: South Uist, South Lochboisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buailtean: a flail for thrashing the corn, etc. Cha robh cuip a bh’air an cùlabh nach deanadh a chùis ’na bhuailtean; orra mo dhùirn orra a thopan, ’s mo sheachd mollachd aig an cluasan. – song (Harris), (a Harris song). Reference to rats; here ‘cuip’ indicates their tail(s).
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bualadh: a term associated with cattle, they attack human beings in an impulse causing them to rouse into a fighting fashion with their heads. Tha ’m bualadh ann. Tha e bualadh. Tha nàdur bualaidh ann.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
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
buarblach: Notes: cattle-pasture.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bun-dearg: if these yellow like pansies were eaten by cattle they would pass blood instead of urine.
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bun-na-cusaig-ruaidh: root of bulrush. Stewed in water, then squeezed and given to cattle for diarrhoea.
Location: South Uist, West Kilbride
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buras: a caterpillar.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
burgaid: [bu̟ɾu̟ɡɑdʹ] Notes: a laxative as formerly given to cattle.
Location: Skye, Harlosh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
burrach: caterpillar.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
burrach: [bu̜rɔx] Notes: caterpillar.
Location: Tiree, Caolis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
burrach: [bu̜rɔx] Notes: brown, woolly caterpillar found in the grass.
Origin: Strontian
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
burras: caterpillar.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
burras: a caterpillar.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
burras (-ais): caterpillar.
Origin: Baleshare
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bàrdainn: advice. Fo bhàrdainn – under an advice given to leave a house, as say eviction. [SLIP: Advice; (example) – having been ‘advised’ to vacate a house – equivalent of an eviction order.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bàrr-an-eòrna: giving [sic] to cattle in the event of, as termed in Gaelic, ‘glasadh uisge’.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
bàsadair: Note: used of any place which could be dangerous to sheep or cattle – e.g. soft, boggy place.
Location: Harris, Northton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bó: Quotation: Tha na bà a stigh. Notes: The cattle are in.
Location: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bùird-an-tuill: dividing boards in skiffs’ holds, for distributing catch.
Location: [Harris], Scalpay
Category: Iasgach an Sgadain / Herring-Fishing
bùthag: potatoes stored underground, usually located in stackyard.
Location: North Uist, Tigharry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bùthair: a cow-man, a cattle-dealer.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cabhail: creel for catching fish.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cabhail: [kɑu̜əl] Notes: a stone wall built at the mouth of a river or head of a loch or inlet to catch fish when the tide recedes.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cabhal: a device for catching fish in a burn. A semi-circular opening was made by means of a flat piece of wood and the ends of a piece of willow inserted in a hole at each end of the piece of wood. This held open the mouth of a bag-net which was put into the burn at a place prepared for it so that the fish could not swim past.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cabhull: a creel for catching fish.
Location: [Lewis], Siabost
Category: Acfhuinn Iasgaich / Fishing Tackle
cachailean: [kɑxəlɑ̃ṉ] Notes: (1) an opening in a stone dyke through which cattle passed. (2) wooden gate with wooden hinges on it. (cachaileith usually)
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cachaileith: Quotation: cachaileir [kɑxəlɛɾ]. Notes: Gate for cattle, between crofts and cùl-cinn.
Location: Skye, Staffin
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cadal cearnach: cat nap.
Origin: Lewis and Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cadhag: [kɑɑɡ] Notes: jackdaw. [NOTES: slipped under ‘cathag’.]
Location: Sutherland, Embo
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
caf: [kɑf] Quot.: “Abair caf!” Note: a strong smell that catches one’s breath.
Origin: Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cafan: [kɑfɑṉ] Notes: a smell that catches the breath.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cafan: Note: a strong smell, usually bad, which catches one’s breath. “Tha cafan bhon an fheòil sin. Sad as i.”
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
caibhleachadh: herding cattle.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
caigeann: [kɑɡʹən̪] Notes: arrangement for tying cattle.
Location: Skye, Portree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cailleach-ribeach: Note: growths in the mouth of cattle. Cut off. Quot.: “a’ chailleach-ribeach air a’ bhó”.
Origin: Harris, Leverburgh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
calg: [kɑɫɑɡ] Quot.: “calg mairt”. Note: hair on cattle.
Location: Lewis, Uig, Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
caolas: name for cattle which had come from the mainland.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
caonnag: Quotation: an crodh a’ [kw̃:n̪ɑɡ] (sic). Notes: cattle gently butting and pushing but not fighting in earnest.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
caora tinn air uan: confinement. When in the case of a sheep giving, on the point of giving birth to a lamb, it was discovered that the discharge didn’t give the elasticity necessary (uterus, etc.), thus while under this complication tea mixed with whisky and thin gruel of oatmeal also mixed with whisky, a glassful of whisky, this given successively proved successful, and the mother gave birth to a fine healthy baby lamb. In some other instances an operation was necessary, the side of the animal, or rather the appropriate place considered was cut open by a knife, an ordinary (pocket) knife, and the baby lamb was received, and of course the wound stitched. The baby lamb normal – and the operation successful, just, perhaps, like a ceserea [sic] [Caesarean?] female operation, or again as ceserea [sic] [Caesarean?] operation on a woman. This as above noted instances was observed on the island of Scalpay in Harris. F.S. [?] [P.S.?] Bha na màthraichean beò – cha do rinn e càil oirre [sic].
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
cara: a trap for catching fish at high tide. Placed in the mouth of a river. See earlier description in previous notes. Difference in pronunciation between Uist (caraidh) and Eriskay (cara).
Location: Eriskay, Taobh na Mara
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
carbad: Quotation: casan-coirpte. Notes: shafts of light under the sun – indicates rain – usually at sunrise.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
carran creige: Lump fish or sea porcupine. Thig e so gu biadhadh ’sam bith ged nach fhiach e fhein itheadh. Gheibh thu cloimheag [q.v.], cat dubh [q.v.], is carran creige ann an luin gle fhaisg air tir.
Location: Lewis, Port of Ness, Lionel
Category: Maorach / Shellfish
casan cainnaba: an indication of bad weather. Took the form of rays descending from the rain clouds and going past through the sun.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
casan cainnbe: if the rays pointed down from the sun this indicated rain. If on the other hand they pointed upwards, strong winds would follow.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
casan-coirpte: Notes: shafts of light under the sun – indicates rain – usually at sunrise.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cat: cat.
Location: Argyll, Tarbert, Muasdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cat: Quotation: isean cat. Notes: kitten.
Location: Sutherland, Durness, Sangomore
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cat: [ku̟t̪] Quotation: ’S ann dhith fhèin a nì an cat crònan. Notes: selfish, self-centred.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cat criadhaich: balla-tarsuing air a dhèanamh de mhaidean ’nan seasamh, siamain fodair air am fighe eatorra agus sin air a chòmhdach le criadhach (cré). (Thàinig seo bho sheann duine á Mealabhaig.)
Origin: Geàrrloch (Loch Iubh) [Gairloch (Loch Ewe)]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
cat dubh: Blenny – inedible.
Location: Lewis, Port of Ness, Lionel
Category: Maorach / Shellfish
cat mara: Location: Harris, Ardhasaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cat-criadha: clay cat (ornament).
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cat-càrn: Quot.: “Chaidh e na chat-càrn rium.” Note: He went into a rage.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cat-dubh: Note: fish similar to the “garran-creige” [q.v.] but larger. Prominent teeth. (Variety called “cat-dearg” also found.)
Location: [Lewis], [S.] Lochs, Gravir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cat-griasaich: Notes: one who seldom moves from the house.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cat-griosaich: fear a bha glé dhéidheil air a bhith ’ga gharadh.
Origin: Geàrrloch (Loch Iubh) [Gairloch (Loch Ewe)]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
cat-luathaidh: Quot.: ’S e fìor chat-luathaidh. Note: a person who is never away from the fire.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cat-mara: species of fish, of the ling family.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cat-tràghad: [kɑt̪ɾɑ:ɣəd̪] Notes: sea-urchin.
Location: Sutherland, Durness, Laide, Portnacon
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
catachan: petted youth. ’S e catachan beag th’ann. Old expression, I do not think it’s quite obsolete.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
catachan: sprinkle. Cuir catachan salainn air.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris,Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
catadh: attracting. (Perhaps from other sources: tatadh.)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
catapurca: “Cho ruighinn ris a chatapurca.”
Location: Harris, Sgarastamhor
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cataraids: catarage [sic]. (new word)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
catarus (m): contention, arguments.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cath a’ chuain: Origin: Tiree
Category: Sìde / Weather
cath bhualadh: threshing with flails.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cath-choileach: cock-fight.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cath-choileach: cockfighting (sport).
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cath-droma: ridge pole.
Origin: Geàrrloch (Loch Iubh) [Gairloch (Loch Ewe)]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
cath-ghoil: Quotation: Tha an coire a’ cath-ghoil. Notes: boiling over.
Origin: [North Uist?]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cath-làthair: battle-field.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
catha: brae. [NOTES: slipped under ‘cadha’.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
catha-briste: broken bray [sic] [brae?]; irregular, broken, uneven bray [sic] [brae?].
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathach (m), cathaich (pl): barnacle goose.
Origin: [Tiree]
Category: Eòin Thiriodh / Birds of Tiree
cathachadh: fighting. A’ cathachadh an aghaidh an uilc.
Location: [Harris], Scalpaigh [Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathadh: nn ‘drifting snow’: 's an cur 's an ~ ann
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Broadcove
Category: Field Notebooks of Seosamh Watson June-August 1983
cathadh: Winnowing. [NOTES: spelled ‘càthadh’ on the slip.]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
cathadh: drifting snow.
Origin: [Note: From North Uist, information from Alex O’Henley / RÓM 4 Dec 2023]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathadh làir: nn ‘snow in drifts’: bha latha sneachda gàbhaidh agus ~
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Broadcove
Category: Field Notebooks of Seosamh Watson June-August 1983
cathadh làir: wind driven snow. Would accumulate on walls, cars, etc.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathadh làir: wind driven snow. Not a blizzard but driven along the ground.
Location: South Uist, Milton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathadh làir: wind driven powdery snow.
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathadh làir: powdery snow.
Origin: [Note: From North Uist, information from Alex O’Henley / RÓM 4 Dec 2023]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathadh mara: spindrift.
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathadh mara: froth flying off the waves.
Origin: [Note: From North Uist, information from Alex O’Henley / RÓM 4 Dec 2023]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathadh-mara: Notes: spindrift.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathadh-mhara: [kɑhu̜vɑɾ] Notes: spindrift.
Location: Sutherland, Portskerra
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathadh-shneachda: Origin: Tiree
Category: Sìde / Weather
cathag: Location: Mull [see below for details]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathag: [kɑ̟ʔɑ̟ɡ]
Location: North Argyll
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathag dhearg chasach: chough.
Origin: Glasgow/South Uist? or South Uist, Kildonan or South Uist, Garrynamonie or South Uist or Skye, Bernisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathain: barnacle geese.
Location: Harris, Leverburgh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathain a’ dol gu deas: bad weather follows the sighting of the barnacle goose flying southwards.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathair: fairy knoll. (W. Ross)
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathair: Quotation: pl. cathraichean. Notes: ‘seathair’ not used.
Location: Perthshire, Killin
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathair: Quotation: cathair-shìomain. Notes: chair with wooden frame covered on back and seat by plaited sea-bent.
Location: North Uist, Bayhead, Kylis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathair: chair.
Origin: Barra
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
cathair-murrain: a wooden chair with a seat woven of morran grass.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathalaich: [ˈkəhəLıç] Notes: babble of talk.
Origin: Back
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathall-dubh: [kɑhəɫd̪u̟] Notes: blackbird.
Location: Sutherland, Bettyhill, Swordly
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathalladh: trouble, burden especially in rearing children.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathalleach: hot and bothered, flustered.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathalt: tame.
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathan: of the wild duck grass-eating bird species. [SLIP: A grass-eating bird of the wild duck species!]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathan: Canadian goose.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathan: Notes: barnacle goose.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathan: barnacle goose.
Origin: Taransay
Category: Maorach / Shellfish
cathan-dubh: Note: barnacle goose.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathraichean: chairs.
Location: [Lewis], Siabost
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
cathris-oidhche: [sic] [See caithris-na-oidhche.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cathtag: small amount between the fingers as oatmeal. Cuir cathtag mhineadh air. When fish or something boiling in a pot to make it or the water more to the thickness or solidity required, a cathtag mhineadh is suggested but perhaps this is it also: yes! when something in the mixture of gruel is too much of a liquid form, an additional small amount of oatmeal is recommended.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
catlaich: [See pàpanach].
Origin: ([Canada], Inverness Co.) – Roman Catholic or (Lochaber – [Canada], Inverness Co.) – Roman Catholic or (Skye – [Canada], Inverness and Victoria? Co.’s) – Protestant
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
ceann ( kèoon): [pron.] head. [NOTES: there is a slip with ‘ceann’ as the catch-word and Ellie Walker as the source but it gives a phrase - Ceann mór aig duine glic, Ceann circ air amadan.]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
ceann deargain: part of a rainbow which was an indication of poor weather. Same as ‘adag chruaidh’ previously described.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay, Cnoc Cuidhein [Knockquien]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceann snamadh: tree like cloud formation, indicating bad weather to follow.
Origin: Lewis and Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceann-cat-mara: [cɤ̃ũ̜n̪kɑt̪mɑɾ] Notes: sea urchin.
Location: Sutherland, Kinlochbervie, Oldshoremore
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceann-cat-tràghad: Notes: sea-urchin.
Location: Sutherland, Portskerra
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceann-mara: buoy marker, marker on the surface of the sea, as in the case of long-lines or small lines set in the sea for fishing, the ends of the set of lines are kept indicated on the surface by a ‘ceann-mara’, also serving their original [?] purpose as floats tied to the line on the surface, the other fastened to the fishing line or lines at the bottom of the sea.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceann-snaidhm: Quotation: Tha ceann-snaidhm anns an adhair. Bha a’ ghaoth ann am bun a’ cheann-snaidhm. Notes: long strips of cloud, probably parallel but apparently coming together over the horizon (as if boat shaped with the planks coming together). Usually indicates a change in weather – heat haze in summer. [NOTES: slipped under ‘ceann-snaim’.]
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceannachragan: wooden supports above the seats (tobhtaichean). In previous notes I have indicated that these supports were beneath the seats, so obviously this was a preference on the craftsman’s behalf.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceannachraidhean: this extended from the gunnel down underneath the seats and acted both as a support for those seats and as a strengthening for the boat itself. In this diagram these wooden supports are indicated by the dotted lines:
Location: Eriskay, Na Hann [Haun]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceannag: a bundle of straw thrown to cattle at feeding time.
Location: North Uist, Sollas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceannaich: Quotation: a’ ceannach a’ ghruinnd. Notes: buying the portion of land. Custom in Nerebus of throwing a silver coin into the open grave unnoticed. Said to be an old Irish Catholic custom. Used to be a chapel there – a branch of Londonderry seminary. [NOTES: slipped under ‘ceannach’.]
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceap: Quotation: ceap artaig or ceap cladaich. “A’ bhliadhna a thiodhlaic sinn Mairi Uilleim, b’eudar dhuinn ceap cladaich a chuir oirre.” – indication of what the weather was like. Notes: in severe frost a “ceap artaig” or “ceap cladaich” would [be] cut to cover a grave. Artag – grass covered area at the shore, covered at high tide. (See artag.)
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceap an gadaiche: catch the thief. A game played by the informant in his younger years.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceathra: quadrupeds, from “ceithir”; usually “cattle”.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceathramh-dubh: [cɛɾu̜d̪u̜] Notes: “blackleg”, in sheep or cattle.
Location: Sutherland, Kinlochbervie, Oldshoremore
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceathramh-dubh: Notes: “Blackleg” in cattle. Would have to burn the carcase and bury it.
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Antigonish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceathramh-gorm: Quotation: an ceathramh-gorm. Notes: blackleg in cattle.
Location: Canada, Christmas Island
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceillidh an taigh sheingse: relatively big occasions in days gone when men gathered in the pub after the cattle sale, one of the few days when they did enter a pub. Stories, anecdotes would be swapped.
Location: North Uist, Iollathraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceisdeach: catechism class. (RC)
Origin: ([Canada], Inverness Co.) – Roman Catholic or (Lochaber – [Canada], Inverness Co.) – Roman Catholic or (Skye – [Canada], Inverness and Victoria? Co.’s) – Protestant
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
ceisdear: catechist (lay preacher).
Origin: ([Canada], Inverness Co.) – Roman Catholic or (Lochaber – [Canada], Inverness Co.) – Roman Catholic or (Skye – [Canada], Inverness and Victoria? Co.’s) – Protestant
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
ceisteachan: Quotation: na ceisteachan. Notes: pl. of “ceist”, in general and for questions in Shorter Catechism.
Location: Ross-shire, Polbain
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceo bàn an t-soluis ùir: an indication of bad weather, when mist and a full moon were visible simultaneously.
Location: South Uist, South Lochboisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceò bàn an t-soluis ùir: mist and full moon coinciding. Taken as an indication of bad weather to follow.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cheepick: part of a line, where hook is attached. Put it in ‘heepick’ – to wind hook into line so it won’t catch. E.g. for storing.
Category: Togail Bhàtaichean / Boat-Building
cialla: clew. We have it in this form, I am not sure of my spelling here. I’ll try phonetically, thus: caidhlea? [NOTES: the slip is among the “Doubtful” words. Catch-word: caidhlea. Definition: Clew.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ciliorum: Quotation: Ciod e na ciliorums a tha air a leanaibh? or Abair ciliorums! Notes: an old minister told me that the word was from the Latin used in the R. C. Church Service; and was probably a survival from pre-Reformation times. Indicating something that no one could understand!
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ciubharan: Quotation: a’ togail a ciubharain ris. Notes: phrase used of a woman ‘setting her cap’ at a man. Source: Catriona MacKay, Harris. Date: 1988.
Location: [see below]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clach-dhearg: marking stone for sheep, colouring the wool of sheep for identification, marking the wool red. [Cf. clach-liath.]
Location: [Harris], Scalpaigh [Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clach-ghearraich: [klax jɛ̜riç] whetting stone. [NOTES: there are two slips giving Mrs MacDermid as the source and ‘whetting-stone’ as the definition – one has ‘clach-ghearraich [jɛ̜riç]’ as the catch-word and the other ‘clach-gheuraidh [jɛ̜:ri]’.]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
clach-liath: marking stone for sheep, colouring the wool of sheep for identification, in blue colour. [Cf. clach-dhearg.]
Location: [Harris], Scalpaigh [Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cleas na Féille air an Fhadhail: prior to a bridge at Benbecula this referred to the cattle having to swim across the ford to cattle sales.
Location: South Uist, Stilligarry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cliabh-àbhach: Notes: creel put into a stream to catch fish. Slats would be opened by fish, closed after it.
Origin: Coigach
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clioba: a box which held straw for horses and cattle.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
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
clisgeartaich: trembling. A hound indicates likewise at the hunt through bodily emotion. [SLIP: The emotionally caused trembling a hound makes at the hunt.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clupad: [kɫu̜pəd̪] Notes: fluke disease in cattle or sheep. Swollen throat.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clupad: Notes: fluke disease in cattle and sheep.
Location: Glendale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clupaid: Quotation: a’ chlupaid [əxɫu̜ʰpidʹʒ]. Notes: swelling of the neck in sheep and cattle (liver fluke?).
Location: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clupaid: Quotation: a’ chlupaid [əxɫu̜ʰpidʹʒ]. Notes: swelling of the neck in sheep and cattle (liver fluke?).
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clupaid: Quotation: a’ chlupaid [əxɫu̜ʰpidʹʒ]. Notes: swelling of the neck in sheep and cattle (liver fluke?).
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clupaid: Quotation: a’ chlupaid [əxɫu̜ʰpidʹʒ]. Notes: swelling of the neck in sheep and cattle (liver fluke?).
Origin: Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clòbhar: clover. An exemptional [sic] [exceptional?] nutriment, nourishment, in connection with the feeding of cattle.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
cnòsan (m): sound in chest denoting catarrh.
Origin: Tiriodh [Tiree]
Category: Faireachdain / Senses
coileach-gaoitheadh: Notes: said by them to be a mock sun, seen above the horizon. Could be seen at sunset or sunrise. Said to indicate a change of weather.
Location: Romasdal
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
coilleach-gòthan: Notes: a potato with feathers stuck into it. This was allowed to go with the wind, and children tried to catch it.
Location: Tiree, [Caolas? – one slip]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
coimhead: Quotation: Bha e ris a’ choimhead. Notes: He was attending the cattle (on the common grazings). Tolsta.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
coinneabhaineadh: teasing, e.g. as in children teasing a cat or puppy.
Location: North Uist, Locheport
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
coirbte: Quotation: casan-coirpte. Notes: shafts of light under the sun, usually at sunrise – indicates rain.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
coirce: Quotation: coirce leasaichte. Notes: the corn that grew in the third year of the five year crop rotation. The farmers or those with big crofts usually fed the “coirce feur” to the horses and the “coirce leasaichte” to the cows, the latter being much better feeding because of other grasses in among it. The small crofters had to use the “coirce feur” as well to feed the cattle.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
comharradh: ears being marked. The tip cut off or a hole cut through the ear, etc. for identification in sheep.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
corrachasan: breed of cattle that were good driving cattle. Had a quality of enduring long distances.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
corran ag eigheach: two of these points can be seen from the Middle District of Uist: one to the south and one to the north. If the north point is roaring then good weather can be expected, whereas the roar of the southern point indicates bad weather.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
corran shìolag: a sickle-shaped instrument used to catch sand eels.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
craicinneach: [kɾɑkĩnʹɑx] Quotation: a’ chraicinneach. Notes: “hidebound” in cattle. Very dry skin. Often occurred in cattle after a poor wintering.
Location: Sutherland, Kinlochbervie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
crann nan cat: Notes: constellation like The Plough. Position varies, sometimes standing – sign of bad weather.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
craobhag: name given to cattle.
Location: South Uist, South Boisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
creach: Quotation: togail-creicheadh. Notes: cattle rieving.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
crimeagan arain, buntata bruich: scraps [fed to cattle].
Origin: [Arran]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
crith: Quotation: a’ chrith. Notes: trembling disease in cattle and sheep.
Location: Invergarry, North Laggan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
crith: Quotation: a’ chrith. Notes: trembling disease in sheep and cattle.
Origin: Strontian
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
critheamh gorm: an illness affecting cattle, especially heifers.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
critheanach: Quotation: a’ chritheanach. Notes: in both cattle and sheep. Water on the brain. The animal went blind and went round in circles. (Cf. an critheanach – AMI, Islay.)
Location: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cro Ghaidhealach: Highland cattle (now very rare in Assynt). (Stoer, Assynt)
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Crodh / Cattle
cro duith: black cattle. (Stoer, Assynt)
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Crodh / Cattle
cro ruadh: red cattle. (Stoer, Assynt)
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Crodh / Cattle
crobhdan: disease of cattle hoofs.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
crochadh a’ chruinn: two blocks of wood, again on each side of the boat and located beside the mast seat. Sail ropes were wrapped round this and not tied or knotted so as to enable the quick adjustment or lowering of the sail.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
crodh: nn 'cattle': air a' bheathadhach cruidh [vɛ-ux kʰr̻ui̯ç]
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Broadcove
Category: Field Notebooks of Seosamh Watson June-August 1983
crodh Gaidhealach: Highland cattle.
Origin: Geàrrloch [Gairloch]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
crodh Gaidhealach: Highland cattle, molach anns a chalg.
Origin: [Arran]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
crodh Gallda: Ayrshire cattle.
Origin: Mull, Bunessan, Ardtun or Mull, Tobermory
Category: Crodh / Cattle
crodh Gàidhealach: Highland cattle.
Origin: Mull, Bunessan, Ardtun or Mull, Tobermory
Category: Crodh / Cattle
crodh Gàidhealach: Highland cattle.
Origin: [Barra]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
crodh breac: black and white or black and red coated cattle.
Origin: [the questionnaire gives Ross-shire but it is most probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
crodh dubh: black coated cattle.
Origin: [the questionnaire gives Ross-shire but it is most probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
crodh maol: polled cattle.
Origin: Geàrrloch [Gairloch]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
crodh odhar: grey coated cattle.
Origin: [the questionnaire gives Ross-shire but it is most probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
crodh-Gaidhealach: Highland cattle.
Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Crodh / Cattle
crodhadh: getting the cattle housed for the winter, and also getting the harvest in, hence deireadh chrodhaidh.
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
croisealach: awkward. ’S e rud croisealach th’ann. (Scalpay) Perhaps ‘crisscross form of application’ (etym.), inconvenient.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cruimh càil: caterpillar.
Location: South Uist, South Boisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cruisgean: Primitive oil lamp. Consisted of two open shells, an upper and a lower. The lower shell was a trifle larger and longer in spout to catch the drop of oil which at intervals fell from the wick (which terminated in spout of upper shell) when lit.
Origin: Skye
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
crumha-cait: Notes: when the tips of the fingers and thumb are brought together, and placed on a soft or dusty suface, they form the imprint of a cat’s paw. This is known as crumha-cait.
Location: Tiree, [Caolas? – one slip]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cròdach: Quotation: a’ chròdach. Notes: animal rheumatism – sheep, cattle.
Origin: Uig, Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cròdhadh: housing of cattle in winter.
Location: Killearnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cròdhadh: [kɾɔ:əɣ] Quotation: Chuir iad ann an cròdhadh iad. Notes: putting cattle in for the first time in winter. Also applied to the penning of sheep.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
crònan: Quotation: ’S ann dhith fhéin a ni an cat crònan. Notes: selfish, self-centred.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cródach: Note: illness in cattle involving soreness in the bones. Usually among young animals in bad weather. [Cf. mulachd.]
Origin: Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
crùban: Quotation: an crùban. Notes: illness in sheep and cattle said to be caused by cold and damp. Rendered them almost immobile.
Location: Invergarry, North Laggan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
crùisgainn: Miss M. MacKay, Geirinish and Mr R. O’Henley use the word ‘lòchran’ when referring [to] the cylindrical object which is lit beside the tabernacle in a Roman Catholic church. The word ‘cruisgainn’ [sic] to me at least is not so original unless different types of lamp are used. English term is ‘sanctuary lamp’.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cuaichean: Quotation: Tha ’n cat na chuaichean aig an teine. Notes: a ball.
Location: Skye, Harlosh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cuartag shionnachain: little eddies on the water which fan out when you are rowing. The latter word adds a bright, gleaming flavour to the word indicating the colour of the water.
Location: South Uist, South Lochboisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cudht: an expression used to scare off a cat. “Cudht a chait.”
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cuidhbhil: a sheltered recess for cattle.
Location: Skye, Bernisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cuidhe: A walled enclosure on the ‘common’ where cattle were put before milking time.
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
cuidhe: enclosure for a township’s cattle. (Supposed to be Norse.)
Origin: [North Uist?]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cuige?: Quotation: Back elder to Catriona Mhór: “Cuige, a bhana-rascail, a thaine tusa a seo gu òrduighean?” Notes: Why? Not in Dw.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cuilidh: a good pasture; a pasture on which cattle or sheep “come on”. Dr Alex. MacBain, who was from Glenfeshie, gives the meaning of Dalchully, Laggan as “dale of the hollow or recess” (T.G.S.I. Vol. 16. p. 194). The lady who gave these three words [i.e. cudthrom shiudan, bean-uisa and cuilidh] is a native of Laggan. Her father was born in that parish about 1871 and lived for a few years at Dalchully and nearly all his life within a few miles of it and had heard that that was the meaning of ‘cuilidh’. I have not heard the word with my father but doubtless he would have been familiar with it and with ‘bean uisa’. He knew the lady and her father very well.
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cuilthionn: name given to cattle which came from Skye. Characterised by having large horns – ‘adhaircean fada air a’ chrodh a tha ’sa cheò’.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cuinnag: [pail used to water cattle.]
Origin: [Islay, Ballygrant]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
cuir: Quotation: Cha chuirinn ite ás. Notes: I couldn’t catch up with him.
Origin: [North Uist?]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cuir a mach a chruidh: [driving cattle to grazing.]
Origin: [Islay, Ballygrant]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
cuir is cathabh: mist and snow supported by a strong wind.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cullach: Quotation: banais-chullaich. Notes: a collection of cats wailing at night. (Kilmuir)
Location: Raasay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cullach: Notes: a male cat.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cullach: Notes: tom-cat.
Origin: North Uist, Grimsay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cur is cathadh: nn ‘drifting snow’: an àm a' gheamhraidh 's an ~ 's an cathadh ann
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Broadcove
Category: Field Notebooks of Seosamh Watson June-August 1983
càth: battle tunes. [NOTES: corrected to ‘cath’.]
Origin: Uibhisteach [Uist]
Category: Pìobaireachd / Piping
céise-bal: [ce:ʃəbɑɫ] Note: ball as used in the game of Cat and Bat (speileaban [q.v.]); sometimes made with rags, sometimes made with the shed hair of cattle in early summer. This was scraped off the beast and made gradually with spits, rolling hair on till it was of the required size. Céise-bal-ghaoisd [ce:ʃəbɑɫɣw:ʃdʹ].
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
còmhla: Quotation: còmhl’ a bhigein. Notes: trap for catching birds.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
còracha-catha: battle-array.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cù leth choilair: when half the dog’s collar is white. Supposed to be an indication of a good working dog.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cùl-cinn: out-run; cathair a’ chùl-chinn – watch-knoll of out-run.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cùlainn doireann: the equivalent of ‘adag chruaidh’. Part of a rainbow. Indicated bad weather. [NOTES: note added above ‘cùlainn’ – cuilean.]
Location: South Uist, West Kilbride
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dalladh: blinding. Treated with ground glass which was put in sheep’s eye. Broke up the film or cataract on the eye.
Location: Barra, Ard Mhinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dalladh: blinding – cataract. Cure: – salt-peter – glaoine air a phronnadh – tobacco spat.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Caoraich / Sheep
dealan: Notes: wooden pin put through loop when securing cattle in stall.
Location: Sutherland, Durness, Laide, Portnacon
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dealan (m): door-catch, sneck.
Origin: [Skye, Camus Chroise]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
dealanach: nn f. ‘lightning’: an ~, teine-adhair, their iad; bha i air e ‘ èillteachadh bhon~ ; teine-adhair: an~,~, their iad; shoillsicheadh an ~ air an druim aige; ò, tha ‘n ~ a’ ruith nan cat
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Broadcove
Category: Field Notebooks of Seosamh Watson June-August 1983
deannan sgadan: a reasonable catch.
Location: Eriskay, Na Hann [Haun]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
deanntag: nettle. Nettles were boiled and given to cattle in their feeding contribution. The boiling process meant for one reason the abstraction of the sting, and for another reason moistening and softening the plant.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dearg: Quotation: an uisge dearg. Notes: redwater in cattle. Caused by the “cartain” which carried it.
Origin: Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
deargadh: press? Cha deargadh fhiacail air dad. (I find words indicating meaning likewise. Don’t you?)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
deargann doininn: spot of red, indicating storm to follow.
Location: Skye, Bernisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
deimhis: [dʹɛ̜̃ˈwiʃ] [SLIP: shears, N.B. pron.] [NOTES: there is another slip with ‘deimhis’ as the catch-word, Mrs MacDermid as the source and ‘shears’ as the definition but it gives different pronunciation - [dʒɑ̃ũˈis].]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
diorras: provoke. Diorrasach – provocative.
Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
disearr: Notes: chilly (with wet feel in air). Dw. has disear m. ‘susceptibility to cold, delicateness’ (Lewis).
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dogan speil (E): (Fuaimnich ‘dog’ mar ‘dog’ (Beurla) + ‘speil’. ‘Speil’ fuaimnich mar ‘ceil’ (Gàidhlig).) Ri linn m’ athair bhiodh gèim (E) aca a muigh le caman is ball (E). B’ e seo ‘cat and bat’ tha mi deanamh a mach. No faisg air co dhiù. Mur a biodh ball aca air dhòigh eile, dheanadh iad ball le fionnadh a’ chruidh.
Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Cur-seachadan: Dèideagan, Geamaichean is Farpaisean / Recreation: Toys, Games, Contests
doille: eye disease in sheep. As ‘sgiath air a sùil’ (cataract). The cure was glass broken into powder and inserted in the eye or eyes.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
doille nan caorach: cataract; applied ground glass to remove it.
Location: Harris, Rodel
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
doire: [d̪ɤɾə] Notes: a large wart growing on cattle (also found on horses). Removed by tying a silk thread round its base.
Location: Ross-shire, Achiltibuie, Alltan Dubh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
doire: [d̪ɤðə] Quotation: pl. doireachan. Notes: large warts growing on the underside of cattle.
Location: Ross-shire, Aultbea
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
doirean: ankle berries [?]. Found on the back, shoulders of cattle.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
don-gnothaich: Quotation: Don-gnothaich ort! Notes: imprecation.
Location: Harris, Gobhaig (Govig on the slips)
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
donnach: name given to cattle.
Location: South Uist, South Boisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
donnach: pet name for cattle.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dorgh: Quotation: Thug e a dhorgh as. Notes: He extricated himself.
Location: Lewis, Balallan.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dorus: Quotation: an dorus catha. Notes: the door leading into the living room.
Origin: Applecross
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dorus catha: [dɔ̪ɾəs kɑ̟ʔɑ̟]
Location: North Argyll
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
draibh (v): scatter, dissolve (Arg.); dol gu draibh – go to ruin (N.W.).
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
drannadh: [d̪ɾɑ̃n̪əɣ] Quotation: Chaneil drannadh de sgoil aige. Cha ghabh drannadh a chuir ann. Notes: He doesn’t have a whit of education or schooling. (Seems to be confined to knowledge or education.)
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
drobhaireachd: ‘drover work’, work in connection with cattle, selling and buying cattle.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
drobhan: droves, as of cattle. [NOTES: slipped under ‘drobh’ with ‘pl. drobhan’ as the quotation. Definition: Drove (of cattle).]
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
droch ghabhail air iasg: if a hook caught the fish anywhere other than in the mouth, this was also considered as signifying bad weather. [NOTES: note added – gabhail (probably meant to be the catch-word).]
Location: South Uist, West Kilbride
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dromanach (caol): slatan caola seilich ùr no calltuinn mu 3' am fad. Bha thu ’gan dèanamh biorach air an dà cheann, ’gan dathadh ’sa’ mheadhon le dreiseag air an teine, ’gan lùbadh gu cumadh prine-fuilt, ’gan cur eadar rungas cathrach ’gan cumail crom. Bha iad aig an tughdair ag cumail an fhraoich ’na àite. Thogadh e gus an ath bhreth iad mar a bha e ag obair. Rachadh am fagail ’sa’ mhullach. Bha thu ’gan dathadh is ’gan toinneamh an seo [see the arrow in the picture] mus bristeadh iad anns an lùbadh.
Origin: Geàrrloch (Loch Iubh) [Gairloch (Loch Ewe)]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
drongaireachd: used as part of an expression indicating disbelief and amusement at what was being talked about. “O dhrongaireachd.”
Location: South Uist, Milton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
druaip: a catch of rubbishy, unmarketable fish.
Location: [Harris], Scalpay
Category: Iasgach an Sgadain / Herring-Fishing
drumannach: wood (us. cattail) which can be cored to make bobbin.
Origin: ([Canada], Inverness Co., Lochaber) or ([Canada], Inverness Co., Lochaber dialect) or ([Canada], Inverness Co., Lochaber)
Category: Obair na Clòimhe / Wool-Working
dròag: a cat.
Location: South Uist, South Boisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dròbh: [herd or any collection of cattle.]
Origin: Barra
Category: Crodh / Cattle
dròbh (m), dròbhan (pl): herd or collection of cattle.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Crodh / Cattle
dubh-thalamh: Land on which there are cattle but which can be cultivated at any time. See: talamh trom (Tiree).
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
dubhan: hook. Same word used for a cat’s nail.
Origin: Barra
Category: Acfhuinn Iasgaich / Fishing Tackle
dubhcholl: to describe severe loss of cattle stock.
Origin: Lewis and Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dugan: [du̟ɡan] pole cat. (croit an dugain [?]) [SLIP: Pole cat. Also found in place-name ‘Croftintygane’ near Lawers, Loch Tay.]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
duine meadhte: thin, delicate person.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Horgabost
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
dul: Notes: loop of rope used to tether cattle. Also used of smaller [?] loop.
Location: Tiree, [Caolas? – one slip]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dòrnan: Note: the piece of rope round the “stiall” [q.v.] in the byre, for tying cattle. (“Smidheag” [q.v.] – the part round the beast’s neck.)
Location: Lewis, Uig, Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
eaglais chatlaich: Catholic Ch[urch].
Origin: ([Canada], Inverness Co.) – Roman Catholic or (Lochaber – [Canada], Inverness Co.) – Roman Catholic or (Skye – [Canada], Inverness and Victoria? Co.’s) – Protestant
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
eaglais phàpanach: Catholic Ch[urch].
Origin: ([Canada], Inverness Co.) – Roman Catholic or (Lochaber – [Canada], Inverness Co.) – Roman Catholic or (Skye – [Canada], Inverness and Victoria? Co.’s) – Protestant
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
eallach: cattle.
Location: Skye
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
eas: a cataract on a river. (?)
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
easlainte-cham: Note: malady in cattle involving a twist in the neck. Blood let for this.
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
easlainte-cham: Quot.: an easlainte-cham. Note: disease in cattle and sheep causing a twist in the neck.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
eileach: Note: low wall built across a stream or river with a gap left in the middle where a “cabhall” was put to catch fish.
Origin: Caversta
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
eolas an déididh: mentioned in previous notes. Should be added that it was a prayer that was written and not a bit of prose as I previously indicated.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
eòlan: [ɛɔ:ɫɑṉ] Notes: fish oil put on wool before it was teazed in order to lubricate it.
Location: Harris
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
eòlan: [ȷɔ:ɫɑṉ] Note: lubricating oil put on wool.
Origin: Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fada-cruaidh: a black cloud in the north indicative of bad weather to come.
Location: Eriskay, Taobh na Mara
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
faireachdainn: detecting fish, herring by wire dragged by the boat; the herring or fish coming against the wire caused a feel of their presence. Bha sinn dha fhaireachdainn. Now through the meter indicator in the wheel house (boat). [NOTES: the quotation on the slip reads ‘Bha sinn ’ga fhaireachdainn.’ Definition: Detecting herring by means of a wire dragged by the fishing boat.]
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
faireachduinn: detection (fish) with a wire indicator after a vessel.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
faireagan: an insect which lodged in the back of cattle. Could be ringworm? [NOTES: corrected to ‘fàireagan’.]
Origin: Uibhist a Tuath [North Uist]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fang: Quotation: fang-glacaidh. Notes: a small enclosure within a fank for catching sheep.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fang ghlacaidh: catching fank.
Origin: Geàrrloch [Gairloch]
Category: Caoraich / Sheep
faochag: area in forehead of cattle where they can be killed by a blow.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
faradh: [ɸɑ˖rəɣ] Notes: a small platform usually reserved for hens above the cattle, in a thatched byre.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
feadan: a narrow passage between two truncated spurs.
Location: Na Hearadh, Gòbhaig [Harris, Gobhaig]
Category: Cruth na Tìre / Landscape Features
feadraigeadh: at the height of having steam up in the old fishing drifters. The old fishing drifters with boilers being fed by coal fuel. When the fire-men had the boilers well fed with coal and the water in the boiler at the height of boiling point and force of steam, it showed on a dial by what was indicated as a feather – thus feadraigeadh.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
feamainn chìrean: boiled and mixed with Indian meal. Given to cattle and horses to prevent illness and disease.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
feamainn-chìrein: this seaweed ‘plant’ was boiled and the voluminous part and liquid from it, the water in which [it] was boiled, the intermixture and the solid parts of it in other words, was given to cattle in spring. The liquid has tonic attribution [sic] plus the seaweed part or parts boiled counteract the effects of the dry straw and hay, which can be ‘administered’ too frequently.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
feamainn-dhearg: red seaweed (‘mircean’) or ‘gruaigean’ of this species. A variety of seaweed comes into the category of medicinally essence [sic] towards cattle (feeding), etc.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
fear cachalaidh: a gatekeeper who ensured animals did not stray into prohibited areas. Prior to the era of crofts when cattle were either kept in the village or on the tack (machair).
Location: North Uist, Iollaraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
feath ( fè): [pron.] vein. [NOTES: both ‘feith’ and ‘feath’ slipped under ‘fèith’. Definition: Muscle (cattle). Also: vein.]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
feisde: [feʃdʹə] Note: tether for cattle. (Dw. [fe:ʃdʹə] – Lewis.)
Origin: Balallan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fersunnan: worril [sic], on cattle on or in the skin. An ointment of soothing effect was applied. (Already noted.)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
feudalach: n.‘beast’ : feudalaich, they’re young cattle, cows and horses;bidh gu leòr agaibh air an t-sím seo bliadhna dha na feudalaich?
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Inverness Co., Dunvegan
Category: Word List
feurlannaich: Notes: growths on cattle.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
feursaid: [fiɑʴsɑdʹ] Quot.: na feursaidean. Note: warble fly (in cattle). [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
Origin: Ness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
feurslan: [fe:sᵊɫɑ̃nʹ] Notes: warble-fly (in cattle).
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Antigonish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
feurtan: [fe:ʴst̪ə̃ṉ] Notes: “worms found in the hide of cattle said to be from the warble fly.”
Origin: Strontian
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
feusag: Quotation: feusagan cat [fɛ:sɑɡəṉ kwxt̪]. Notes: cat’s whiskers.
Origin: Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
feusalan (pl. -ain): worm in cattle.
Origin: [Barra]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
feòclan: [fjɔ:kəɫɑ̟ṉ] pole-cat.
Location: North Argyll
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
feòclan: [fjɔ:kɫɑ̃ṉ] Notes: polecat.
Origin: Strontian
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fiacail: [fıɤxkılʹ] Quotation: Tha fiacail anns an àirde tuath. Notes: a short length of rainbow said to indicate an imminent storm. (Usually seen to the north – DMM.)
Origin: Glenurquhart
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fiacaill-bàird: a child born with a tooth, indicating him as a future ‘bàrd’.
Location: [Harris], Scalpaigh [Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fianach: [fĩɤ̃ṉɑx] Note: tall grass growing on the moor. Cattle eat it.
Origin: Ness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fianach: [fĩɤ̃ṉɑx] Note: tall moorland grass, usually growing in soft places. Liked by cattle.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fiasag nan gobhar: a weather indicator similar to ‘breacadh an runnaich’ previously described. Followed by rainy weather.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fideach: [fidʹɑx] Note: tidal flats. (Covered by very high tides. Short, very green grass grows on it and is very good for sheep and cattle.)
Origin: Harris, Bays
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fidean: sea plantain [?], choice pasture for cattle and sheep.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fireach: Quotation: Tha fireach air. Notes: said of a person showing excitement indicating that something is in the offing.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
flagais: manure (horse, cattle). Mixed with seaweed and used for oats only. [Corca-flagais.]
Origin: Na Hearadh [Harris]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
fliodh: it grows in potatoes and corn, thickly in potato lazy-beds with emerald leaves, perhaps lighter than emerald leaves with pinkish small flower. ‘Fliodh-a-bhuntàta’, given to cattle for food, not for medicinal factors, purposely.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
fochann: Quotation: “Bha fochann a’ bhàis ’na aodann.” (Catriona Mhór) Notes: cf. Silva Gad. 234 “bad fochonn báis doib” – it would be an occasion of death to them. Any connection between these usages? Not in Dw.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
foiteag foiteag!: exclamation to indicate cold.
Origin: Leódhas, An Rudha [Lewis, Rudha]
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
foodlan: swivel. (Stoer, Assynt) The “foodlan” is usually an oblong piece of hard wood 4" x 2" x ½" (bigger for cattle) with two holes. The tether threaded through each hole from different side with an overhand knot on each rope, thus revolving in the “foodlan”. The modern iron swivel was merely called “sweevil”.
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Caoraich / Sheep
fothallan: [fɔhwɫɑṉ] Notes: a polecat.
Location: Ross-shire, Torridon, Alligin
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fraoill: intoxication.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fruis: Quot.: “a’ fruiseadh nan cearcan”. Note: driving hens away, scattering them.
Origin: [Ness]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fuadrag: Notes: used to catch lythe, made of rubber.
Location: Harris
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fuaireas: irritability and stampeding of cattle due to cold weather.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fuar-lit: Quotation: pron. fuailit. Notes: poultice. Dw. has fuar-lite ‘cataplasm, poultice’.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fuidhear, fuidhir: a fugitive, from one clan, who got sanctuary and livelihood (cattle, etc.) in territory of another clan. Unlike the saor-chlanna, who had rights that even the chief could not over-rule, he had no rights (daor-chlanna). Mac an fhuidhir (Macnair, Weir, etc.) sometimes made into Mac Iain Uidhir for reasons of snobbery.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fàs-fuilt: hair growing well indicates the health and growth of the body. Fàs fuilt fàs cuirp.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fàsach: Quotation: fàsach chruidh. Notes: place where cattle were put out to graze in May.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
féithe: [fe:hə] Notes: very soft, boggy ground where cattle or sheep would be liable to get stuck.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fìlainn: leaves which were found in a loch. Gathered and given to cattle to prevent illnesses. [NOTES: corrected to ‘fìlein’.]
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fòdhlach: a soft grass that grew on the machair, especially in the cattle fold (cuidhe). Of poorer quality than normal grass.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fóthannan: [fo:hən̪ɑ̃ṉ] Notes: polecat.
Location: Ross-shire, Poolewe, Londubh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ga mharbh thu i: Notes: (Catriona Mhór) ‘though you should kill her’.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gabhann: (1) gossip (Perthshire); gabhannach. (2) a particular herd (fold) of cattle, etc.; gabhann gearr-adharcaich aig Morair Sìm.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
galair cearr: caused by the tick and which caused the cattle to limp badly. [NOTES: ‘cearr’ corrected to ‘ceàrr’.]
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
galar nan gamhna: ringworm in cattle, 6-18 months.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Caoraich / Sheep
galar-fuail: Note: same as “glasadh-uisge”. Children and animals affected by it (sheep, cattle). “Liath-lus” used as a cure for it.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
galar-gragh: [ɡɑɫəɾɡɾɤ] Notes: “strangles” in cattle. (Could it be in horses?) Runny nose, septic throat. Like a bad cold.
Origin: Bunloit
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gaoirean: dry dung of cattle.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gaosaid an fhéidh: wispy, pointed clouds pointing away from the sun. Indicative of mild weather. For a couple of days. [NOTES: word supplied by R. O’Henley, Garrynamonie, S. Uist.]
Location: North Uist, Lochportan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
garran-creige: Notes: ‘of cat-fish family’.
Location: Harris, Ardhasaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
garstan: (gartan) Part of shore where sea-grass grows and is exposed at low tide: pasture attractive to cattle.
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
gathan: thick bits of wood which came ashore. Not as thick as ‘sailthean’. [NOTES: ‘sailthean’ corrected to ‘sailean’ and underlined, probably to indicate that it should be a separate entry.]
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
geamhrach: wintering. [SLIP: Wintering the cattle.]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
gearr-radharcach: short-sighted; confused with gearr-adharcach – short-horned (cattle), hence gearr-dhearcach and various other terms.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gearra-breac: [ɡʹɑrəbɾɛk] Notes: oyster-catcher.
Location: Sutherland, Bettyhill, Swordly
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gearradh dubh: swelling and inflammation of cattle’s abdomen caused by consuming too many potatoes.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
geir laith: rotted fat. Stored and given to relieve constipation in cattle.
Location: North Uist, Tigharry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gille Brìghde: oystercatcher.
Origin: Glasgow/South Uist? or South Uist, Kildonan or South Uist, Garrynamonie or South Uist or Skye, Bernisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gille brighde (m), gillean brighde (pl): oyster catcher.
Origin: [Tiree]
Category: Eòin Thiriodh / Birds of Tiree
gillidh-òrams: complicated delicate machinery parts. Reference to it is: Abair gillidh-òrams – numerous gadgets.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
glagan: Quotation: glagan a’ mhuilinn. Notes: an arm inside the mill which was hit by a wheel, making a sound which indicated that everything was going smoothly.
Location: North Uist, Bayhead, Kylis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
glais-ceap: bits of turf placed on the top of house wall on a thatched house. Prevented drip from thatch entering through the wall. Through time grass would grow through the turf which would be eaten by sheep and cattle if they could reach.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
glamhadh: Quotation: “Thug an cù glamhadh air a’ chat.” Notes: “The dog snapped at the cat.” The meaning of glamhadh is usually the snapping of a dog’s jaws, accompanied by a growl. Sometimes it implies a lunge.
Location: Tiree, [Caolas? – one slip]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
glaodhain: The part of potato left after ‘eyes’ have been removed for this. These were boiled and fed to cattle. [NOTES: ‘glaodhan’ on the slip.]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
glas-fheur: green grass, thinly, pale, growing in sand by the seaside. Also the green short grass on which cattle feed on the hills, etc.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
glas-fheur: green, a (palish) pale green grass, on which cattle feed, of a more pithy essence than ‘sliabh’. ‘Sliabh’ is longer, not so juicy in other words.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
gloc: [ɡɫɔk] Notes: for “glac” – catch. (Also och for ach – but.)
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gloine na bliadhn’ ùire: prior to the proliferation of alcohol in people’s homes, a small glass was kept which was only taken out at New Year since this was one of the few occasions when alcohol was consumed, the other occasion being cattle sale day.
Location: North Uist, Locheport
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gluan: part rejected – used for feeding sheep and cattle and sometimes used for the table if potatoes were scarce. (Stoer, Assynt)
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
glugan: sound indication of a wee drop of liquid in a bottle, diminutive. [SLIP: Sound of water coming out of a bottle.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gnos: Quotation: gnos muice. Notes: sow-mouth: in sheep, cattle, horses, where the lower jaw is short.
Location: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gnos: Quotation: gnos muice. Notes: sow-mouth: in sheep, cattle, horses, where the lower jaw is short.
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gnos: Quotation: gnos muice. Notes: sow-mouth: in sheep, cattle, horses, where the lower jaw is short.
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gnos: Quotation: gnos muice. Notes: sow-mouth: in sheep, cattle, horses, where the lower jaw is short.
Origin: Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gnos-muic: Notes: sow-mouth. In sheep, cattle, horses, where the lower jaw is short.
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gnàthladh: small collection, as in the event of collecting berries and asked ‘an t’fhuair sibh gin?’ The answer: ‘Fhuair sinn gnàthladh.’ Still used on Scalpay, Harris in connection with fishing: gnàthladh sgadain – scatter, small scatter.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
gobaidh: [ɡobi] Notes: the oyster-catcher.
Location: Sutherland, Embo
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
goicein (-ein): torches consisting of cloth and wooden handles which were lit around Castlebay bay when fishing boats came in with their catch. This was in the gutting era when all of the bay was taken up by the trade.
Location: Barra, Castlebay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gonadh: Quot.: “na gonaidhean”. Note: growths in the mouths of cattle which prevented them from eating properly. Usually cut with shears.
Location: [Lewis], S. Lochs, Gravir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gonadh: Quot.: “Gonadh ort!” Note: mild imprecation.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gothail: panting. Previous two words [i.e. gothail and taghanaich] also applied to cattle who experience difficulty.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
grian is fara ghrian: when two suns were visible. Indicated bad weather.
Location: South Uist, South Lochboisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
griasach: Quotation: cat-griasaich. Notes: one who seldom moves away from the house.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
griobadh: fish ‘communication’ at the end of a line in the fishing operation, (putting it this way) nibbling. Cha do dh’fhairich mi griobadh. [SLIP: Nibbling of fish at hook.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
grobhail: Quotation: “Dhia, nach iad tha grànda grobhail” – Catriona Mhór, on hearing Murdag Mhór’s description of the airmen at Broad Bay. Notes: Dw. has grabhail ‘horrible, causing horror, aversion or strong dislike’.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gruaigainean: a particular type of cattle noted for their shagginess, hairiness.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gruidheam: a meal something like black pudding. When cattle had come down from shieling there was a custom of extracting blood since the cattle were healthy enough after their summer pasturage on the shieling land. This blood was boiled and then salted in a container and set aside as an ‘aindeal geamhraidh’. When it was needed it was put in a pot with fat and onions. Eaten with bread like a black pudding.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
grunnd: Quotation: a’ ceannach a’ ghruinnd. Notes: buying the portion of land. A custom, which may yet be carried on in Nerebus, of throwing a silver coin into the open grave unnoticed. Said to be an old Irish Catholic custom. There used to be a chapel there which was a branch of Londonderry seminary. G. C.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gualainn: Quot.: Chaidh e as a ghualainn. Note: dislocated shoulder.
Location: Lewis, Uig, Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gugalaghù no fiog-falach-fead: hide and seek. The player who had to ‘seek’ the others had the following to recite after he had finished counting up to the previously agreed upon number: “Gugalaghù air a chathair / Ma tha duine air mo chùlthaobh / No air mo bheulthaobh, / Sgiob air a shon, tha mise ri ’g eiridh.” Anyone trying to take an unfair advantage by staying too close to the ‘cathair’ was thus automatically counted out.
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Cur-seachadan: Dèideagan, Geamaichean is Farpaisean / Recreation: Toys, Games, Contests
guilpeanach: oystercatcher bird.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gulm (-an): a cataract, film on eye.
Location: Barra, Northbay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gulm, an: cataract on eye. Also in sense of a dark spot in corn ears.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gulmal: [ɡu̜ɫu̜məɫ] Note: a disease of the eyes (human). Not heard of now as such. (Cataract?)
Location: Harris, Quidinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gulman: [ɡu̜ɫumɑṉ] Note: cataract on the eye.
Origin: Scarista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gulmann: [ɡu̜ɫu̜mən̪] Note: cataract on the eye. Previously supposed to be cured by “eòlas”.
Location: Harris, Grosebay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gumal (m): a large vehicle of any kind (such as big bus, or cattle-float, etc.).
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gà: [ɡʹɑ:] Note: (note pronunciation) a long pole with a loop attached to the end for catching gugas.
Origin: Ness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gàbart: [ɡɑ:bəʴsṯ] Notes: a flat-bottomed wide boat used principally for transporting sheep and cattle. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
Origin: Applecross
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gàilleach: Quotation: an gàilleach. Notes: growths in the mouth in cattle; stream of saliva coming from the mouth.
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gàilleas: [ɡɑ:lʹəs] Quotation: a’ ghàilleas. Notes: septic gums in cattle. Weren’t able to eat when they had this disease.
Origin: Bunloit
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gàradh-cruidh: a structure to prevent cattle from coming on an unauthorised portion of grassland.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gàrradh an t-slamain: Notes: Not in Dwelly. The turf wall, within which the cattle must not go for a certain time after returning from the shieling. Slaman ‘curdled milk’ – the milk would have had to be carried home a considerable distance, thus tending to become curdled (?).
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
góbhlag: Notes: catapult.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
i làn: a good or extremely good catch of herring.
Location: [Harris], Scalpay
Category: Iasgach an Sgadain / Herring-Fishing
iasg drioman: a fish that could not be caught by hook. Instead it was caught by holding a net in the air thereby catching the fish when it leapt up. It could jump about 24". A red mullet.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
imegidh: Area belonging to each holder after division of ‘scat’.
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
ingheilt: Notes: (Keose) grazing or pasture. Not in Dw. Dwelly gives inghilt as obsolete, ref. to ingilt and inilt (Armstrong), ‘feeding, grazing, pasture’. The word leasair used in Arran for cattle-grazings, according to my Uncle Angie, who lived most of his life there.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ioman: driving the cattle.
Location: Lewis, Arnol
Category: Crodh / Cattle
isean: Quotation: isean cat [sic]. Notes: kitten.
Location: Sutherland, Durness, Sangomore
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
iteag-iteag!: exclamation to indicate heat (e.g. fingers in hot water, on embers, etc.)
Origin: Leódhas, An Rudha [Lewis, Rudha]
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
kúrst an dècon: [NOTES: ‘d’ is circled possibly to indicate pronunciation – (nasalisation?).]
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
lanaig: [ɫɑṉiɡʹ] Quot.: “lanaig a’ chruidh”. Note: a path used by cattle in the township.
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lasd: [ɫɑsd̪] Quot.: “Chaidh a’ bhó as a lasd.” Note: it dislocated its hip-joint.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lasd: Quot.: Bó a’ dol as a’ lasd. Note: dislocating the hip-joint.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leabaidh laighe: night quarters, sheltered dell for cattle to spend the night, sheiling.
Location: Lewis, Arnol
Category: Crodh / Cattle
leabaidh-na-gréighe: the resting place of deer, sheep and cattle, an roinn dhe’n talamh air a bi ’ad laighe.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leabhar fiosrachaidh: catalogue.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leabhar-phaipeirean: a ‘catalogue’, a collection of wallpaper cut patterns inserted between hardback covers, in book form, displaying in wise the individual paper wished to be chosen.
Location: [Harris], Scalpaigh [Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leac-sheisreach: [lʹɛkheʃəɾɑx] Note: pl. [lʹɛkəṉʃeʃəɾɑx]. Flat stones put under the cattle to prevent them from getting stuck in the manure. (At a time when earth wasn’t allowed to be taken in to put under them.)
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leac-uirealach: [lʹɛkˈu̟ɾɑɫɑx] Note: an upright stone just inside the front door, between it and the door leading to the living quarters to direct cattle to go their own way.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leas: dirt on haunches of housed cattle.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leigeas: [lʹeɡʹɑs] Quot.: “Bó a’ cumail leigeas ri t’éile.” Note: “leigeas” – the side of the face. Cattle standing like this, one side of the face towards the other beast, when threatening to fight. Can also be used of the human face. “’S e do leigeas a tha odhar.” – to someone who doesn’t look too healthy.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leth-laimh: Quotation: ag iasgach air leth-laimh. Notes: going 50-50 with the catch.
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Framboise
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leum: Quotation: Thainig leum caoich ann! Notes: he burst into a fit of temper. [NOTES: the catch-word corrected to ‘leum caothaich’.]
Location: Ross-shire, Aultbea
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leum-drama: Note: dislocation in the spine – slipped disc?
Origin: Stockinish
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
leus: cataract on the eye.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
liabag: Quotation: brod-liabag. Notes: a spear used for catching flatfish.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
liabag chear: a flounder which is deformed in that its mouth is not in the usual location. [NOTES: ‘chear’ corrected to ‘cheàrr’.]
Location: South Uist, Smerclete
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
liabhach: a word used to indicate coldness of weather. “Latha liabhach fuar.”
Location: Lewis, Back
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lias: [lʹɛ:s] Notes: gloss (as on furniture). [NOTES: note in second hand above the catchword – leus?]
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lias: [lʹɛ:s] Notes: oil on the surface of the water, after the dogfish have been eating the herring. [NOTES: note in second hand above the catchword – leus?]
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
liathan: pet name for cattle.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lideadh: Quotation: (1) Chaneil lideadh de sgoil aige. (2) Chuala mi a h-uile lideadh dheth. Notes: He doesn’t have a whit of schooling. Same meaning as “drannadh” q.v. (confined to knowledge, education).
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lingeach: lynx. Type of cat found in Northern hemisphere.
Origin: Baleshare
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lion an daiman allaidh: usually seen in the late afternoon. A pattern of light lines is visible on the grass. Indicative of rain to follow.
Location: South Uist, Milton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lion suas is sios: a long ‘steep’ in catch solution.
Location: [Harris], Scalpay
Category: Iasgach an Sgadain / Herring-Fishing
lionn- or liùnn-na-biast: this word or term came across my mind at the moment, but at the same time I cannot remember the equivalent in English or the meaning in English. [NOTES: the slip is among the “Doubtful” words. Catch-word: lionn-na-biast.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lithseag: cataract. Film on the eye.
Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lodag: [ɫɔd̪ɑɡ] Notes: soft, reddish-brown fish a bit like the catfish but with two barbels. Found sometimes in lobster creels.
Location: Sutherland, Kinlochbervie, Oldshoremore
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
logais: I’m sorry I can’t identify this one. I remember an old fisherman making reference to it. He spoke about ‘na logaisean muigh as a chuan’ when he went there with the great lines in his youth. Whatever they were, they had a voracious appetite! This summer I heard the phrase ‘Dhitheadh e man logais.’ Perhaps they were a kind of slug – anyway, if the great lines were left too long, the whole catch was eaten.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
loin: healthy, fluffy coat of hair on cattle as a result of being fed by the above meal [i.e. min laogh (q.v.)].
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
loinidh: rheumatics – in old cattle after having been inside all winter.
Origin: Mull, Bunessan, Ardtun or Mull, Tobermory
Category: Crodh / Cattle
lomadair: applied to someone who sheared sheep. Also used in a wider sense indicating that the majority of people in a village were involved in crofting.
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lonaid: Notes: lane for cattle. Dw. has lònaid ‘lane’ (from the Kilmonivaig District).
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lonaig: Notes: footpath through the croft. (According to MMK it was on the boundary between crofts with a wall on each side to allow passage for cattle without letting them into the corn, etc.)
Location: Skye, Portree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lonaig: [ɫɔ̃ṉeɡʹ] Notes: the right of way for cattle going to the “cul-cinn”.
Location: Skye?, Braes, Baile Meadhonach
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
losaid: [ɫɔsidʹ] Quot.: “bó a’ dol as a losaid”. Note: dislocating the hip-joint.
Origin: Ness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
losaid: Quot.: “a’ dol as a losaid”. Note: dislocation of the hip-joint.
Origin: Stockinish
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
làdhadh: rutting in cats.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
làmhach[d]: (làmhthuagh) [ˈɫ̫ɑvˌux ] ‘tongs’: bha ~ aige, a bheireadh air a sin (‘an instrument for catching’, tongs); shin agad an ~ a bh’ agad (‘anything you have to catch in your hand to do something else with’)
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Inverness Co., Dunvegan
Category: Word List
lìbhrig: gave up. Librig [sic] e’n deò. He gave up the ghost. [NOTES: the slip has ‘lìbhrig’ as the catch-word, with the quotation: ‘Lìbhrig e’n deò’ and explanation: ‘He gave up the ghost’.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lìgh: an oily surface indicating the presence of herring. [NOTES: corrected to ‘lìth’.]
Location: [South Uist], South Glendale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lìthseag: a skin like covering on cattle’s excrement. Indicates that the beast is not in good health.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lìthseag: black stripes appearing in cattle’s excrement. Taken as a sign of impending poor health and especially as a sign of constipation.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lòchran: located in Roman Catholic chapels. Usually located beside the tabernacle. A red coloured glass cylinder with a candle burning inside at night.
Location: South Uist, Geirinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
madadh: dog. Nach b’e madadh e. – as in the case of a person acting in a rude, unsophisticated way.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
madhair: [məəɾ] Notes: hook with a piece of wool attached for catching mackerel or lythe. Had to be the right size. Sometimes a very small piece of red thread was added to attract the lythe.
Location: Harris
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
maide-mairt: Notes: wooden arrangement for tying Highland cattle – a V-shaped piece of wood below the neck and a V-shaped piece coming down from above to lock the head and horns in.
Location: South Uist, Eochdar, Balgarva
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
maide-ri-froigh: [mɑ̃dʹəɾifɾɤi] Notes: a length of wood on the wall in front of the cattle. It ran the length of the stalls. Cattle tied to it.
Location: Ross-shire, Achiltibuie, Alltan Dubh
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
mall: Quotation: Mall ort! Notes: mild imprecation.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
man sìthean an eòrna: Quotation: Bha e dìreach man sìthean an eòrna. (Catriona Mhór – of fair-haired person (?)/handsome.)
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
maol: I’ve heard this term applied either to a sheep or a cattle beast without horns.
Origin: Inverness-shire, Nethy Bridge
Category: Caoraich / Sheep
mar-a-bhitheadh: here as noted to me indicates: flawless.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
marbh: Quotation: “Chan fhac e (a) mharbh ’s cha do dh’fhàiltich e (a) bheò.” (Catriona Mhór) Notes: He did not see him dead and he did not welcome him alive.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mart: cattle in general.
Origin: Mull, Bunessan, Ardtun or Mull, Tobermory
Category: Crodh / Cattle
mart trì foil: Bog bean. Cattle – constipation. Boiled and then strained. Known as ‘tribhealach’ (also taken as tonic by people when mixed with lucozade and/or shandy, etc.)
Origin: Mull, Bunessan, Ardtun, Knockan or Mull, Burg or Mull, Tobermory or Mull, Bunessan, Taoslainn
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
meadharra-theach (?): Quotation: Ged nach eil mi ’m Beàrnaraigh Bheag / Na creid nach eil e air m’ ùidh, / B’fheàrr leam na meadharra-theach / Bhi faicinn nan clach air an Stùidh. Notes: explained by Catriona Mhór as ‘stòras’ or ‘saidhbhreas’. Source: Catriona Mhór, from her telling of the story of the Norse Princess.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
meanbh-chrodh: [mɛ̃ṉɑxɾəv] Notes: small stock. Used of cattle or sheep.
Origin: Kinlochourn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
meanbh-chroinn: shrubbery. Perhaps similar to meanbh-chrodh, of the lighter series of growth and cattle distinction.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
meanbh-lusan: termed likewise are a more delicate species.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
meud: Quotation: meud mhór is bochdainn. Notes: applied to someone who had little money but tried to keep up appearances. Or boasting without justification.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
miabhail: [m[ĩɑ̃]vilʹ] Quotation: Tha ’n cat a’ miabhail. Notes: mewing.
Location: Achlyness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
miagail: as in a cat mewing.
Location: North Uist, Blàsheabhal [Blashaval]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
miagail: [mĩɑɡəl] Quotation: a’ miagail. Notes: cat mewing.
Origin: Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
miamhail: [m[ĩɑ̃]vilʹ] Quotation: an cat a miamhail. Notes: mewing.
Location: Ross-shire, Achiltibuie, Alltan Dubh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mios crochadh nan cliabh: a saying indicative of bad weather at the beginning of May. As a result the creels were not used and subsequently hung in rows.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
moighlean: [m[ɔ̃ĩ]lʹɑṉ] Notes: bundle of hay or fodder given to beasts. “Cuiridh seo sgillinn air a’ mhoighlean” – a saying used when snow came: cattle would need more feeding.
Location: Skye, Broadford
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mointeag (-an): a name applied to cattle that came from Mull.
Location: South Uist, Geirinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
monasg: Quotation: Bha fon a’ bhial aige ’na mhonasg (of cat hit by car). Notes: pulp, mash. Source: John MacRae. Date: 1967.
Location: Applecross
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
morghath: [mɔrɔ] Notes: morghath in Dw. for fishing spear, trident. D.R. says it is a triple hook for catching salmon.
Location: Invergarry, North Laggan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
moth: male; moth-chat – tom-cat.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
muadhalaich: lowing of cattle.
Origin: Uibhist a Tuath [North Uist]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
muadhlanaich: the lowing sound of cattle.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
muallan: lowing of cattle. [See nuallan.] An attentive hear [sic] [ear?] could also find this pronunciation with some.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
muc: Quotation: gnos muice. Notes: sow-mouth. In sheep, cattle and horses where the lower jaw is short.
Location: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
muc: Quotation: gnos muice. Notes: sow-mouth. In sheep, cattle and horses where the lower jaw is short.
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
muc: Quotation: gnos muice. Notes: sow-mouth. In sheep, cattle and horses where the lower jaw is short.
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
muc: Quotation: gnos muice. Notes: sow-mouth. In sheep, cattle and horses where the lower jaw is short.
Origin: Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mulachd: [mũɫɑxk] Note: another term for soreness of bones among young animals (cattle) in bad weather. [Cf. cródach.]
Origin: Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mulcadh: Note: a’ mulcadh also used when a person is so wrapped up in clothes that one gets the feeling he is about to suffocate. Quot.: Bha e air a’ mhulcadh le aodach.
Origin: Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mullaich: (verb) lowing of cattle.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mèaruid: Notes: a small insignificant creature, usually a girl. Dw. has meuranda ‘weakly, delicate, tender; tiny’.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mòinteag: name given to cattle.
Location: South Uist, South Boisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mórchuisean: another type of cattle renowned for yielding milk in great quantities.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mún-dearg: Notes: redwater in cattle.
Location: Glendale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
na Chestin: the Shorter Catechism. (Stoer, Assynt)
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
na beathaichean: [herd or any collection of cattle.]
Origin: Barra
Category: Crodh / Cattle
na féithean: flat boggy land from which cattle had to be extricated from time to time.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
nasgan: tie rope for cattle.
Location: South Uist, Smerclete
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
neasg: [n̪ɛ̃sɡ] Notes: rope of rushes for tying cattle inside. (nasg)
Location: Islay, Port Wemyss
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
nith: Quotation: na nith. Notes: cattle (old usage).
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
nualaich: (verb) lowing of cattle.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
nuallan: lowing of cattle.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
nì: Quot.: “Theirig a dh’iarrraidh a’ nì.” Note: used formerly of cattle. Says that the form [nʹıç] was also used in certain instances. Not too clear about it but he thinks one would say “aig a’ nich”, “chon a’ nich”.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
obair-lion: [sic] net work, associated with nets, or a sort of woven process in like mesh form, communicating likewise or associating.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
obh obh: denotes a mourning implication.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
och: Notes: for ach – but. (Also gloc for glac – catch.)
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
oitir: a good fishing location.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ola-min-fhras-linn: linseed oil. Given to cattle for its beneficial products [sic] in giving the animal a shiny coat.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
ola-nan-einseans: engine oil, lubricating oils.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
othannach: said of cattle lacking inclination for food.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
othannach: used of cattle who lose their appetite.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
paileirìn: (Morvern) Dh’ith e iomadh rud nach inns [?] mi / Bh’air an ròpa aig Catrìona / Aodach anairt a bha prìseil / Dh’ith e trì dhiubh, is paileirìn.
Location: [various]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
peighinn: pennyland. Peighinn-na-h-Aoire – place-name, perhaps comes into this definition of the pennyland system of the tacksmen [see peighinn-fearainn]. The island of Scalpay, Harris, was recognised as coming into the category of a pennyland, etc.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
peile zinc: [pail used for] watering [cattle] inside.
Origin: [the questionnaire gives Ross-shire but it is most probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
peilicean: particular type of cattle. Short backed and stout.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
peindeal: a trap made of rope for catching birds.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
peinnteall: a snare made by horse hair on a frame to catch small birds.
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
peinteall: trap for catching birds, made with horse hair in a frame.
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
piob-uisge is tuba airson a chruidh: water tap and tub for the cattle.
Origin: Bràigh-Lochabar [Brae Lochaber]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
pis-eù-is-ù: (interjection) for calling a kitten or cat.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
piscuit!: (interj.) as in the case of frightening a cat from some mischief.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
piunndadh: to confiscate, or to steal. I think ‘steal’ is a bit strong. Perhaps the word ‘pound’ might be more accurate?
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
plabag: a baby girl indicating; ‘plabadh’ and perhaps ‘plabadaich’ in the form of movement of hands.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
pollag na Samhna: at Halloween a hole was dug in the ground by which your future fortune could be judged. If on the next day a worm was found in the said hole this indicated good luck. However, if the hole was empty this was a sign of bad luck.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
port: Quot.: “port an daruis”. Note: when boys would start to get noisy in a céilidh house one might say “’S e port an daruis a th’agaibh a nis!” indicating they would have to leave.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
port-Eoghainn: port; beach ref[erence?] to Ewen or any personal name indicating some connection for identification. With us (Scalpay) it’s common.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
potag: [pɔt̪ɑɡ] Quotation: potag mhine. Notes: a ball made from oatmeal rolled with a little water – given to cattle and sheep.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
priach: [pðiɑx] Note: his pronunciation of the word we have as “briachd” [bɾiɑxk]. A soft place on the moor where sheep or cattle are apt to get stuck.
Origin: Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
pràig: scatter of children.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
pròisichean: another breed [of cattle] so called due to their proud, posturing appearance.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
punndadh: pounding straying cattle.
Location: South Uist, South Lochboisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
pàpanach: Catholic (occasionally catlaich).
Origin: ([Canada], Inverness Co.) – Roman Catholic or (Lochaber – [Canada], Inverness Co.) – Roman Catholic or (Skye – [Canada], Inverness and Victoria? Co.’s) – Protestant
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
pìc e: in the game ‘speilain’ this phrase meant to catch the loose ball and hit it back as close as possible to the stumps, or more accurately the hole in this case.
Location: North Uist, Iollathraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
pùnnd: Quotation: Cuir ann am pùnnd. Notes: ‘pound’ (of cattle). Cf. Anglo-Saxon pund ‘fold’. Dw. has punnd ‘fold to confine cattle that trespass’.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
raide: [rɑdʹə] Notes: small, broad-leafed plant which cattle won’t eat.
Location: Ross-shire, Achnahaird
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
rannaire: songster, a person applicable to verses, singing verses, verse or two of different song not having the complete song. Rannaire uamhasach h-ann. Something like duanaire, perhaps similar but not quite. Duanaire is a most adjustable and a more stationary in this musical category.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
rollaisteach: confused, mixture. [NOTES: the slip is among the “Doubtful” words. Catch-word: rolaisteach.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
rot: sickness in cattle due to overfeeding.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ruaidh: illness affecting the flow of milk in cattle. Cured by heating a pebble (mollag). Milk from the cow’s udder was splashed on to the stone. This was done accompanied by a prayer. Could only be done by a particular person. Also affected mares when they had given birth. Whisky was rubbed into the udder. Its heat relieved the blockage.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Ardivachar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
rughan Frangach: “Rughan Frangach” is more complicated. It would seem to be the “learner’s” or “stranger’s” or “foreigner’s” way of making a “rughan”. These amateurs would use the easy method of laying the peat lengthwise instead of on end as in the proper “rughan”. So a child might be told when his “rughan” keeps falling in – “Dean rughan Frangach”. The name is not in common use now however. (I find the local staff know it – delete last sentence.) [NOTES: again, the term appears in the above-mentioned peat questionnaire.]
Location: Ross-shire, Gairloch, Achtercairn School
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ruigh: a run or sloping piece of moorland ground for cattle. In shieling era.
Location: North Uist, Blàsheabhal [Blashaval]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ruith: vb ‘run’ : vbl nn: ò, tha ‘n dealanach a’ ~ nan cat ‘s nan con; tha i [= a’ Bheinn] a’ ~ a- mach caol [FMM]
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Broadcove
Category: Field Notebooks of Seosamh Watson June-August 1983
rumach (adj): Notes: muddy, miry as a place where cattle have been churning the ground to mud with their stamping.
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
rumball ( roomble): [pron.] rump. [NOTES: slipped under ‘rùmball’. Pronunciation: [ruˈmbəɫ]. Definition: Rump of cattle.]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
ràth: Quotation: ràth móine. Notes: long line of peats lifted to dry. [NOTES: note added in second hand above the catch-word – (ragh).]
Location: Skye, Portree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
rósaidh: cattle quite often came under the name ‘rósaidh’. When called upon, they would answer to the name, and make their way home, etc.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
salpiodair: saltpetre. Given to cattle to alleviate bladder disorder.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
saodadh: driving cattle to and from grazing.
Origin: [Arran]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
saodaich (v): drive cattle, etc. (N.E.); drive a car; O.G. sétugad carpait.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
scat: The area of ground to be divided among the holders in the township.
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
scolag: cat’s wash. Feumaidh mi scolag.
Location: [Harris], Scalpaigh [Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
scummar(n): an instrument used for catching clams. Long wooden handle with net at end giving a bag effect. [NOTES: note added in pencil: sgumair.]
Location: Barra, Castlebay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sealltanas cruidh: cattle show.
Origin: ‘Islay connections’
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
seannas: Like honeysuckle. For constipation in cattle and other stomach upsets. Leaves and roots boiled and then strained.
Origin: Mull, Bunessan, Ardtun, Knockan or Mull, Burg or Mull, Tobermory or Mull, Bunessan, Taoslainn
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
searrachan-taois: [ʃɑrɑxɑṉt̪w:ʃ] Notes: oval bannock, made from oatmeal, hot water and salt, and given to cattle.
Origin: Camusluanie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
seathan: spitting as in a wild cat or fox. (Skye)
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
seid de chabhlaich: a bed of straw used by dogs and cattle.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
seilbh: [ʃeli] Notes: cattle (collect.).
Origin: Camusluanie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
seilcheag: [ʃɛ̜:liçək] snail. Chunnaic mi seilcheag air an lice lom; chual mi chuthag gam miar mo bhroinn; chunnaic mi an t-searrach ’s a chùlaobh rium, is dh’aithnich mi nach robh bhliadhn’ dol leam. [NOTES: the saying was slipped under the catch-word ‘seilcheag’ so it has been placed here. The slip gives only the phonetic transcription of the word spelled ‘miar’ in the questionnaire: [iər].]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
seile: [ʃelə] Quotation: Cha do rug i an t-seile fhathast. Notes: afterbirth (cattle or sheep).
Location: Skye?, Braes, Baile Meadhonach
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgabaisteachadh: scattering, breaking apart. ’G a sgabaisteachadh ás a chéile.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgabaisteadh: scattering.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgadan: was given to cattle. Cooked herring, fish-meal.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
sgadaradh: scattering.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgaid: a good catch. “Nach tu a rinn a sgaid a raoir aig an iasgach.”
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgairt a’ falaich: used for a hiding place. Especially used in the sense of straying cattle. “Chaidh a bhò sgairt a’ falaich orm.” [NOTES: corrected to ‘sgairt-a’-falaich’.]
Location: South Uist, West Kilbride
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgallachan a’ dearrsadh anns a’ ghrein: indicative of rainy weather. In this instance the rocks were called ‘sgàthain’ glistening in the sun. [NOTES: ‘dearrsadh’ corrected to ‘deàrrsadh’ and ‘ghrein’ to ‘ghrèin’.]
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgaoilteach: peats thrown out on top of upper bank and scattered round the ‘garadh’ [q.v.].
Location: North Uist, Grimsay
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
sgapaisteachadh: scattering.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgarbh air tìr: if a cormorant is ever sighted inland this is an indication of forthcoming bad weather.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgatraigeadh: scattering.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgeith runnaig: a shooting star indicating bad weather. Could be seen in the late afternoon or at night. A shower of bright sparks would follow this star.
Location: South Uist, South Boisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgiath: cataract. Sgiath air a shùil.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgiathan: pet name for cattle.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgiter-sgatar: skitter scatter. Formation or deriving (sgitrigeadh).
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgiùd: excessive excrement in cattle which resulted from having consumed too much cold water.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sglamhadh: [sɡɫɑ̃fəɣ] Quot.: “Thug e sglamhadh thuige.” Note: a voracious lunge, as a dog after a cat, without actually touching it.
Origin: Caversta
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgliungaide: Notes: catarrhal mucus.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sglòpan: a lump underneath a sheep’s chin. Indicative of fluke. [NOTES: ‘sglòpan’ corrected to ‘sglopan’.]
Location: South Uist, Milton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgobadh gàillich: cutting off protuberances on gums of cattle.
Location: Skye, Bernisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgoil: nn f. ‘education’, schooling’ : cha robh cus ~ eadh aice; chan eil guth ~eadh agam; cha robh aon fhacal ~eadh aige; cha robh greim ~eadh aige
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Broadcove
Category: Field Notebooks of Seosamh Watson June-August 1983
sgolag: a little wash. Cuir sgolag air t’ aodann. [SLIP: Cat’s lick – little wash.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris,Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgolag: (as already referred to) cat’s wash.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgoultair: shellfish. It has a stingy [sic] effect on the skin when handled, it leaves an after effect of sting. Fishermen use lubricating oil on their hands for a soothing formula when after having contact with them from their nets. As an emergency, engine oil is used by the fishermen, when any other oil isn’t available.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgramh de dhuine: a disgusting person. [NOTES: there is (M) next to this item possibly to indicate that it was provided by Morag MacLennan.]
Location: Harris, Sgarastamhor
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
sgrath-sùla: cataract.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgriob drama: an itch just above your upper lip. Indicates that you are about to receive a drink from someone.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sguab-leis-an-t-siol: reference to nutrition for cattle.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
sguch (v): move; hence ‘sguich’ – movable property (cattle, etc.).
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgudal: oatmeal, herring, salted herring or fresh herring or both kinds, bread, cheese, a composition of a variety of eatables for cattle.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
shemigeadh: shemming. [?] [NOTES: the slip is among the “Doubtful” words. Catch-word: seimigeadh [SE:m].]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris,Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
shiolaidh: quietly. Shiolaidh e air falbh. He quietly passed. Also sieving. [NOTES: the slip has ‘sìolaidh’ as the catch-word, with the quotation: ‘Shìolaidh e air falbh’ and explanation: ‘He passed away quietly. Also “to sieve”.’]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
siogan: [ʃiɔɡɑṉ] Note: call to cattle in general.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
siolmhol: barley chaff which was not free of grain and could be used for cattle feeding.
Origin: Eileanaich [natives of Lewis]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
siubhal sith fo thiodhlagadh: difficult to catch up with a funeral procession.
Origin: Barra
Category: Bàs is Adhlacadh / Death and Burial
slacan: Notes: Wooden board fixed to the horns of Highland cattle to prevent them from fighting. Fixed over the forehead. When they started to run, the board would start flapping, making the animal stop.
Location: Ross-shire, Achiltibuie, Alltan Dubh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sliabh: Rocky an stony ground where cattle graze. “Common grazing”.
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
sligean baintighearna: small delicate shells like clam shells.
Location: Barra, Earsharry [Earsary]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
slip: a slippery sort of a character, who gets away, slips out of trouble, etc. unscathed, gets away with things as termed, locally.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sléiteach: Quot.: “Tha an coirce ’na shléitich.” Note: flat on the ground. “Sléiteach” also said to be an illness in cattle. Not sure what it was.
Origin: Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
slìom: slime. Slìom na seilcheig – the slime left by a snail in her trail indicates her direction, her detection as the other leaving her belly-marks on the grass. I am rather hazy in informing you that the snail’s slime had the potential qualities of medicine, or curable influences – I can’t say if it was for burns. All I can say is having heard of it having some purpose towards a remedy for some subject, that is again hazy…
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
smeadhag: [ˈsmɛ̃ɑɡ] Note: arrangement for tying cattle indoors.
Location: Harris, Grosebay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
smeallamus: a good thing of any description. “An cat a’ glanadh aodann is duil aige ri smeallamus.”
Location: Harris, Sgarastamhor
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
smiotadh: [smĩt̪əɣ] Quot.: an cat a’ smiotadh. Note: blowing through its nose. Can also be used of humans doing the same.
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
smìgleadh: reference to cattle nibbling at their fodder. “Dh’ith i smìgleadh dheth.”
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
smùid: intoxication.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
smùid: (also) drunk, intoxicated. Ghabh e smùid ann an dé. (Scalpay)
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
snaoisean: snuff. Considered valid for catarrh, that is the taking of snuff. 2. tobacco dried a little to the point of breaking it into powder when dry; the Highland bogie roll quality, then a little quantity of it inhaled into the nose, or a bit of tobacco injected, caused the sufferer of catarrh in a little while to sneeze, etc. etc. (one way)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
snòthaid: a trap for catching birds.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spainn adhairc: a spoon made from cattle’s horn.
Location: North Uist, Locheport
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sparran: four of these were attached to both sides of the cart frame. A small frame was then secured to these – beul na cairt [? – ‘beul na cairt’ appears as the next catch-word but it seems to follow from this definition.]
Location: North Uist, Iollaraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spearrach: Notes: hobble on sheep and cattle.
Origin: [?]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spearreach: This was a piece of rope tied round ‘iosgaid’, what we called the hough, this was put on a sheep for three or four days to stop it from jumping into corn or going where she should not go. I’ve never seen anything put on cattle. The string or whatever was used could not be left on too long as it would cut into the leg, I’ve often seen that happen.
Origin: Inverness-shire, Nethy Bridge
Category: Crodh / Cattle
speileaban: [speləbɑṉ] Note: game of “Cat and Bat”. See speilean (Dw.).
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
speilean: game played with bat and stick which hoisted ball from hollow (cat and bat?). I have forgotten the rules.
Origin: [Skye, Camus Chroise]
Category: Cur-seachadan: Dèideagan, Geamaichean is Farpaisean / Recreation: Toys, Games, Contests
speilipan: See attached slip. [NOTES: the following copied from the attached piece of paper.] L – Lever, which was hit with a bat, cromag [?] stave etc., which flung the ball into the air. From then the game was similar to cluich air house i.e. rounders. When the players were few, the catcher had the privilege of wielding the bat. There was quite an art in playing the ball in the hole: central, or to the left slightly or to the right slightly depending on how the field was set. Also the wielding of the bat gave room for the display of skill. Hit for 4, hit for 6 or interval for trot.
Location: Leodhas [Lewis], an taobh siar
Category: Cur-seachadan: Dèideagan, Geamaichean is Farpaisean / Recreation: Toys, Games, Contests
spideag: a delicate or slender creature. “Tha spideag air.” – Tha an deoch air.
Location: Harris, Borisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spiorad: Quotation: spiorad air a thilgeil air. Notes: Mgr. Moraidh’s (Garrabost minister) theory that every blade of grass between midnight and 3am had a “spiorad air a thilgeil air,” acc. to Catriona Mhór.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spiùnn: [spiũ̜:n̪] Quotation: Cho tioram ris a’ spiùnn. Notes: a tinderbox for catching sparks.
Origin: Applecross
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
splòcan: [spɫɔ:kɑṉ] Notes: swollen throat in cattle.
Origin: Arisaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spreidh: herd or any collection of cattle.
Origin: [Arran]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
spriullag: [spðiu̜ɫəɡ] Notes: broken crockery. “A’ spriullag”: breaking crockery. O! [spðiu̜ɫəɡ] ort: mild imprecation.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spriullag: [spðiu̜ɫəɡ] Quotation: Spriullag ort! Notes: mild imprecation. Used e.g. when a person was given a sudden fright.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spréidheach: Having a number of cattle.
Origin: Inverness-shire, Nethy Bridge
Category: Crodh / Cattle
sprògan: a lump on the body of cattle, caused by a cold in the udder, which followed calving. [NOTES: corrected to ‘sprogan’.]
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spèicean: [spɛ:çcəṉ] Notes: device for securing cattle inside the byre. Two upright posts, one fixed, the other hinged at the base to allow the head and horns to pass through. It was then put upright and fixed so as to lock the head in.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spòg a’ chait: the cat’s paw.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spùilleadh: [spu̜:lʹəɣ] Quotation: “Mo chreach ’s mo spùilleadh.” Notes: a spoiling, a scattering.
Location: Vatersay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spùt: Notes: “scouring” in cattle or sheep.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spùt: Notes: ‘diarrhoea’. Dòmhnall Iseabail to Màiri Bheag: “An aon uan a th’agad-sa a’ dol dh’an t-sloc leis a spùt, ’s cha toir thu beathachadh dha le do làimh.” Dw. has spùt ‘diarrhoea in cattle or sheep’.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sradadh: Quotation: Tha sradadh sneachd ann. Notes: a “scattering” of snow.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sreud: [srɛɛd̥] Notes: cattle, sheep, farm animals in general.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stacach: stiff. As in an old wheel which needs lubrication.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay, Cnoc Cuidhein [Knockquien]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stadhar: [ˈstɑəɾ] Quot.: stadhar chruich. Note: usually means here an area of churned mud caused by the passage of cattle.
Origin: Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stiadhag: [ʃtʹiɑɑɡ] Note: call to a cat.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stiom-fhuail: incantation method of a cure for cattle. (Bhithte cur snàth timchioll oirre ’s a’ gabhal [sic] duan.)…
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
stop-churn: butter. (Ardnamurchan) [NOTES: ‘stop-churn’ is underlined indicating that it is the catch-word. Was only ‘stop’ meant to be underlined?]
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stragaidh: scattered amount, thin scattered evenly distributed.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stragaidh: a goodly scattering of herring in the nets.
Origin: Barra
Category: Acfhuinn Iasgaich / Fishing Tackle
stragaidh (n.): Notes: used of the catch of fish in a net.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
straulaich: equally scattered amount as fish in a net.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
streanganan móra: prior to fishing nets, trawlers, etc. people fished in sailing boats using long fishing lines to catch flounders, cod, ling and so on.
Location: Eriskay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
striongalair: severe coughing affecting cattle.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
striteagan: finest components of water. [NOTES: the slip has ‘striteag’ as the catch-word with ‘pl. striteagan’. Definition: “Finest components of water” > globules?]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris,Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stroinain: a tie rope for cattle.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stràbh: Notes: trail or scatter of hay on the field after bulk had been removed.
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Antigonish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stàile: [sṯɑ:lə] Notes: cattle stall.
Location: Skye, Glasnakille
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stàrr is feamainn chirean: [sic] given to cattle with ‘is-sproillean’ [q.v.] and ‘nis-sproillean’, I have discovered the two pronunciations, perhaps there are the two words, seemingly. I shall make more investigation. Stàrr (coarse grass) is feamainn chìrean air a chuir cuide ris, ’s air an goil, ’s an sin leigeil leis gu fuarachadh, ’s a h-uile cail a bh’ann a thoirt dh’an bhoin, sùgh is eile…
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
stéilleag: Notes: (Skye word) ‘catch’ of lock, or ‘tongue’ of shoe.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stìdeag: Notes: The name of Crawford’s cat, which he usually had in school with him. Crawford was the Keose (Cnoc Ian Duibh?) schoolmaster in the time of Rev. Reid – married Reid’s niece. He came from about Forres, and was a Gaelic speaker. Dwelly has stidean ‘cat; call for a cat (Badenoch)’.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stìod: Quotation: Air Latha Féill Brìghde théid na stìodan do’n choille chonnaidh. Notes: Latha Féill Bhrìghde [sic] supposed to change the weather. Noticeably milder. So mild that a creature as fond of fireside as cat is not afraid to go to wood. (stìod: cat)
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stùr neo stùrs: stoor. Cuiridh mis’ a stùrs ás. [NOTES: the slip is among the “Doubtful” words. Catch-word: stùr (or: stùrs).]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
suab: [su̟ɤb] Note: usually used in the plural “na suaban”. Growths on the inside of cheek in cattle. Could not eat properly until they were removed.
Origin: Ness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
suidh: soot. Used mixed with water as a detergent [sic] [deterrent?] on cabbage against flies laying their eggs, and caterpillars. It was poured on the leaves, if not used in powder form.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
suileagan: Very small potatoes – often given to cattle. [NOTES: spelled ‘sùileagan’ on the slip.]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
séisne: muscle or flesh on the inside of a thigh. When buying cattle, the purchaser would feel this part to determine the quality of the beast.
Location: North Uist, Tigharry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sìoman: Quotation: cathair-shìomain. Notes: chair with wooden frame, covered on back and seat by plaited sea-bent.
Location: North Uist, Bayhead, Kylis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sòlan: Bhiodh na seann daoine a’ cuir am facal ‘sòlan’ gu buil nuair a bhiodh an t-side garbh no ànradh ann. Bha e a’ ciallachadh fèath no beagan uine rè an là nuair nach robh cur is cathadh ann. Bhiodh iad a’ guidhe gun tig sòlan a chum ’s gum bith cothrom aig na caoraich a’ criomadh air na cnocan far an robh an sneachd air sguabadh air falamh leis a’ ghaoith. ‘Sòlan’ a’ fuaimneachadh mar a tha e anns an fhacal ‘sònraichte’. [SLIP: A lull in a stormy day. Compares pronunciation with sònraichte – nasal 1st syll?]
Origin: [Inverness-shire, Nethy Bridge]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sòrnach coire cailleach co lìn: located in the neighbouring hill at Milton and elsewhere. This was a circular stone wall which had rich, fertile soil inside. Women used to look after sheep in this ring.
Location: South Uist, Milton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sùmachadh (‘ù’ – oo): a soum. Could graze so many cattle or sheep on this bit of land. Would keep about eight sheep.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tabhoinn: [t̪ɑfɔ̃nʹ] Quot.: “beathach ann an tabhoinn”. Note: a beast stuck in such a position that it cannot extricate itself.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tadhan: Notes: pole-cat.
Origin: Coigach
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
taghairm: Notes: consulting invisible oracle. Offering of cats to devil in return for prosperity or worldly wealth. A reality, 3 forms: 1. taghairm nan cat, where cats offered; 2. taghairm nan radan, where rats used; 3. if people wanted to know the future, rolled up man in hide. Left between waterfall and rock, given the problem and left alone all night when he was supposed to have exact answer from friend in the Otherworld. See Occult Elements Common to Celtic and Oriental Folklore. Parallels in Classical lore.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
taghan: [t̪ɤɣɑ̃ṉ] Notes: pole-cat.
Origin: Kinlochourn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
taigh bainne: an outdoor building in which dairy produce was stored. Would only be found on a steading with a great number of cattle.
Location: North Uist, Iollathraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
taigh cathraiseach: refers to a house built on an exposed hill which in time of storms keeps the occupants on their toes.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
taighean earraich: (Ness) moor, shieling, cattle under cover.
Location: Lewis, Arnol
Category: Crodh / Cattle
tairt: Quotation: an tairt. Notes: thirst. Also used for the disease (?) brought on in cattle by lack of good water supply.
Origin: Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
taistealach: a strong stout fellow. In Ossian parlance, a champion. It appears in “Cath Fionntraigh”.
Location: Killearnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
talamh trom: Land on which there are cattle but which can be cultivated at any time.
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
tallachan-tollaidh: Notes: split or fissure on the surface of the ground where water seeps down. Cattle can get into difficulties here.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tarbh: Quotation: Cuir tarbh a dh’Éirinn agus thig e ’na tharbh as. Notes: a number of similar sayings, e.g. “Cuir cù a Shasainn,” “Cuir cat do’n Fhraing…” etc.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tarraing: Quotation: Tha tarraing a tighinn a stigh as a chuan. Notes: ground swell at sea. A ground swell coming in indicated a change of weather.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tarsainn: Quotation: am balla tarsainn. Notes: the wall between humans and cattle in the blackhouse.
Location: North Uist, Bayhead, Kylis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tart: Quotation: an tart. Notes: disease in cattle. The skin became dry and the beast shed some of its hair.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
te-theotha: [tʹehiˈɔə] Note: hemlock? Plant that was supposed to be poisonous and fatal if cattle ate it.
Location: Harris, Grosebay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
teacs: this is used to indicate a short account of a certain topic. “Thug e teacs air a’ bhainnis.”
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
teamain chirein: short type of seaweed boiled and given to cattle.
Origin: Barra
Category: Crodh / Cattle
teas a’ bhroilein: [tʹʃɛsəvɾɛlɑṉ] Notes: dryness in cattle.
Location: Sutherland, Kinlochbervie, Oldshoremore
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
teas-broilein: cattle disease, about the stomach.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
teastas: certificate.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
teine de: ringworm. There is a tradition which says that this can be cured by the application of the blood of a black cockerel. Similarly toothache can be relieved by the application of fish oil and whisky. [NOTES: note added – shingles?]
Location: South Uist, Smerclete
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
teàrr-an-fhiodh: archangel tar. Archangel tar was the most accepted tar in connection with ointment treatment for cattle and sheep.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
teàrr-an-fhiodh: archangel tar was used as an ointment for strains, sprains relative to cattle.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
teàrr-a’-ghuail: used for tarring boats, tarring rooftops. I do not think it was ever used as ointment for cattle or sheep even in emergency.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tigh-thàbhaidh: [t̪ɔıhɑ:vi] Notes: hand-net. Used in Barvas for catching cuddies.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tioram: Quotation: Cho tioram ris a’ spiùnn. Notes: spiùnn – tinderbox for catching sparks.
Origin: Applecross
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tiormachd: Notes: “dryness” in cattle and sheep.
Location: Invergarry, North Laggan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tiormachd: [tʹu̜rumɔxk] Notes: “dryness” in cattle.
Origin: Strontian
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tiorramachd: deficiency in cattle which resulted in them drying up. Would deteriorate physically leading to a reduction in size. Castor oil was used as a cure.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
toak: cataract on eyes. (Stoer, Assynt)
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Caoraich / Sheep
togail-creicheadh: Notes: cattle rieving.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
toirt dhachaigh a cruidh: [driving cattle from grazing.]
Origin: [Islay, Ballygrant]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
toll a’ choltair: located directly above the coulter. Iron pin put through this connecting with the coulter itself.
Location: North Uist, Iollaraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
toll-lodain: [t̪oɫˈɔd̪ɑ̃nʹ] Note: exit at “màs an tighe” to allow passage of cattle urine and any other seepage.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
toranach: round, grey insects like ‘fèaslaichean’ in cattle, which ate seed. Deterred by a red powder (serecen) which was mixed with the seed. [NOTES: corrected to ‘torranach’.]
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
torr buntata: usually located in stackyards. Pile of potatoes covered by turfs. Had small vents to keep the potatoes dry.
Location: South Uist, Milton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
traodadh: Quotation: Mana d’fhuair àsan traodadh (ref. to the cats when we were away on holiday). Notes: treaghdadh ‘tormenting’ (Duan. Finn, II, 168, St. 3). Not in Dw.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
treabhaire: householder. Beannachadh treabhaire dhuibh. Here in the tenement form where treabhaire in some cases could be indicated and the individual usage of it.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
treallaich-catha: aftermath, ni de’n h-uile rud air fhagail a deighidh sabaist neo cath ’s a bith.
Location: Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
treanaidh: Quotation: Càit a bheil an treanaidh? Notes: a group of three – can be applied to humans, animals, or inanimate objects. First heard it applied to 3 cats!
Location: Tiree, [Caolas? – one slip]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
treud: herd of cattle. (Stoer, Assynt)
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Crodh / Cattle
treòlair: Quotation: An d’fhuair thu an treòlair ud a tha air falbh. Notes: epidemic, contagious sickness. Did you catch that disease that is going around?
Location: Canada, Christmas Island
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tridealaich: intricate parts in a machinery. Abair tridealaich.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
trilleachan: oyster catcher.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
trodag: intoxication.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
trogail: Quot.: “crodh air throgail” [hɾoɡɑl]. Note: when winter feeding was finished cattle sent out to graze on new grass.
Location: Harris, Northton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tromach: pet name for cattle.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tràigh: Quotation: cat-tràghad [kɑt̪ɾɑ:ɣəd̪]. Notes: sea-urchin.
Location: Sutherland, Durness, Laide, Portnacon
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
trìleachan: [t̪ɾi:lʹɑxɑṉ] Note: oyster-catcher.
Location: Harris, Quidinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
trìlleachan: oystercatcher.
Origin: Glasgow/South Uist? or South Uist, Kildonan or South Uist, Garrynamonie or South Uist or Skye, Bernisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
trìlleachan: Notes: oyster catcher.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
trìlleachan: [t̪ɾı:lʹɑxɑṉ] Note: oystercatcher.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tuab: an tuab, an t-uab – cattle disease, about the mouth (spelled by sound only).
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tualadh: scatter.
Location: Glen Lyon
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tuineap: turnip. Cattle and sheep feed on turnip. Tuineap a’ chruidh.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
tuiteanadh: being sent to and frò [sic] (referring to a person). Air a thuiteanadh a nùll ’s a nall. [SLIP: Of a person, being sent here and there.] [NOTES: it seems that the catch-word was corrected to ‘tutanadh’.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tunnag: domesticated duck.
Location: Harris, Leverburgh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tàbh: [t̪ɑ:v] Notes: net bag suspended from circular frame with a long handle used for catching “cudaigean”.
Location: Harris
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tàbh: Note: large net hung from an iron rim, with wooden slats inside it running down the sides of the net, for catching cuddies. Handle attached to it.
Location: Harris, Quidinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tàbhoradh: [t̪ɑ:vɔɾəɣ] Quot.: “Chunnaic mi a thàbhoradh.” Note: the ghost of a person – indicating that the person concerned was to die soon.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tàradh: to creep up unexpectedly behind something and catch it unawares. This is used especially of catching a sheep but could also be applied to humans.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tàragh: sneaking up on a sheep, trying to catch hold of it unawares.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tòc: Notes: A growth that comes over a cow’s eye. Apparently a cataract. There were people (with a steady hand etc.) who were in regular demand for removing this (e.g. a bodach in Achmor). Dw. has tòc ‘Disease of the eyes, mostly peculiar to sheep – Rob Donn; “pink-eye” in horses.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tòc: Quot.: “a’ toirt diùbh an tòc”. Note: hard swelling under the upper eye-lid in cattle. Needle and thread passed through the upper eyelid, pulled up and lump cut off with a knife. (Also said to be in horses.)
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tòrr-buachair: heap of cattle dung.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ughdaraid: a track or path used by cattle. [NOTES: note added – ùtraid.]
Location: South Uist, South Lochboisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
uisge: Quotation: an uisge dearg. Notes: redwater in cattle. Caused by “cartain” which carried it.
Origin: Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
àd bhioraid: made with rushes with a braid / brim. Made for children and worn when they were tending cattle.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
àl: Quotation: A’ bheil àl math aic’? Notes: can be used of the offspring of sheep, cattle, horses.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
àrach (vn.): Quotation: Bha mi ga àrach. (– used by Catriona Mhór of the doctor, apparently in sense of reproaching or blaming). Notes: Not in Dw.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
èibheis éisg: a welcome catch of fish.
Origin: Eileanaich [natives of Lewis]
Category: Acfhuinn Iasgaich / Fishing Tackle
òla ròin: seal oil; given to cattle as a laxative.
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
òpair: [ɔ:pəɾ] Notes: a small bowl-like structure fixed at the mouth of the plunger-hole to catch the milk coming out when the plunger was drawn up.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ùtraid: [u̟:t̪ɾɑdʹ] Notes: track to permit the passage of cattle to the common grazings, between crofts or townships.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
‘gaothch!’: [See gaoch!] Pronounced as indicated between the inverted commas. Also as previous, perhaps according to the individual. gaoch! gaoch! gaoch! or gaothch! gaothch! gaothch! etc.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
’cur a mach: a togal na fàd o’n tairisgeir ’sgan cath a mach as a pholl.
Origin: [Taransay]
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
’sgaoileadh: a togal na fàd o’n tairisgeir ’sgan cath a mach as a pholl.
Origin: [Taransay]
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
“tha do bheul a’ dol an uachdar ort”: meaning “tha do chridhe a’ mireag riut” – a cluinntin leanabh a gàireachdainn. [NOTES: there is F next to this item possibly to indicate that it was provided by Flora MacLeod.]
Location: Harris, Sgarastamhor
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality

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