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There were 78 hits for whisky

[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

[blank]

whisky.

Origin: [Ross-shire]
Category: Biadh is Deoch / Food and Drink

[bodach]

Is e a chuireadh am bodach a fear a bhiodh teann. It would drive the meanness out of a miser (Whisky).

Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

[bogadh]

Nuair a bhogadh an dram air. When the Whisky excited him.

Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

alainn

[ɑɫĩnʹ] Note: his pronunciation. Whisky and tobacco given out at a funeral. Did not see it himself. “Alainn an duine a bhasaich.”

Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

alaire

[ɑɫɑɾə] Notes: whisky, biscuits and cheese taken at a funeral.

Location: Skye, Sleat, Calligary
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

alaire

[ɑɫəɾə] Quotation: an alaire. Notes: whisky, biscuits and cheese given at a funeral.

Location: Ross-shire, Dornie, Morvich
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

alaire

Provisions for a funeral especially whisky. Also bread and cheese. Before the funeral party set off for the cemetery, they lined up in front of the house of mourning while men went round serving glasses of whisky on trays, followed by women who served biscuits and cheese. Whisky and cheese were served in the churchyard after the burial. In early times so much whisky was consumed at funerals that fighting was a common occurrence, especially if two funeral parties met (one going north and the other south) and each claimed the “right of way”. Fighting too broke out in the churchyard. The last caber on the ancient Cille Mhartainn church in Staffin, Skye, was hauled down and used as a weapon in a melée. This happened nearly two centuries ago when that church was in ruins and long abandoned. [SLIP: Provisions for a funeral. (See Quest.)]

Origin: Skye
Category: Bàs is Adhlacadh / Death and Burial

alairidh

[ɑɫəɾi] Note: whisky given at funerals, usually at the cemetery.

Origin: Scarista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

alaraidh

[ɑɫɑɾi] Notes: whisky, biscuits and cheese at a funeral.

Location: Skye, Stein
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

ancar

a measurement consisting of eight gallons of whisky.

Location: North Uist, Iollathraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

baisteadh

not in the sense of baptising but of distillation of whisky, e.g. “Uisge beatha gun bhaisteadh.”

Location: North Uist, Iollaraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

bodach

a bottle of whisky. Leth bodach – a half bottle.

Location: South Uist, South Lochboisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

botul

Quotation: botul bodaich. Notes: bottle (of whisky). Colloquial.

Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

botul-uisge-bheatha

whisky bottle.

Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

bruthas

[bɾu̟əs] Quotation: Bha bruthas aige ’s a’ mhonadh. Notes: a bothy for making illicit whisky.

Origin: Glenurquhart
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

chiad-tarrain

first draft [sic]. [See ciad-tarrain.] A term used in Harris in connection with the distilling of whisky, in particular on the Island of Pabbay off the west coast of Harris. [NOTES: slipped under ‘ceud-tarraing’. Definition: ‘First draught’ in whisky distilling.]

Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

cliongair

a large measure of whisky or other. [NOTES: note added above ‘cliongair’ – clinceir.]

Location: South Uist, Frobost
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

cosgais

Notes: whisky, cheese and biscuits served at funerals.

Location: North Uist, Bayhead, Kylis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

cosgais

Notes: whisky, biscuits and cheese at a funeral.

Location: Coll, Ben Meadhonach
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

cosgais

Notes: whisky, cheese and oatcakes or biscuits given at a funeral.

Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

creutair

Quotation: O chreutair! – O My dear! O My darling! Notes: Is it from this that a drop of whisky is referred to as Bonnaig dhe’n chreutair? Also used as a term of contempt: Na creutairean a tha sud!

Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

cuirm

a feast. MacCodrum has ‘cuilm’. Dioscorides says that the ancestors of the Britons drank a strong liquor made of barley which they call ‘curmi’. So the word has come down to our time and whisky now so called is an ancient beverage.

Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

daorach

drunkenness. Try to make the drunken person vomit by giving him cold tea. If mortal drunk, by pouring cold water on his face, getting the drunken person to put his fingers into his gullet, the two fingers, the pointer and adjacent finger, to make him vomit and get the contents, the liquid, the whisky off his stomach. Salt water, water mixed with salt, was also recommended (this was a past cure of earlier, former days).

Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

deoch sgléipidh

getting drunk on someone else’s whisky.

Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

diascain

dregs left after making whisky – very strong coarse stuff.

Location: Harris, Leverburgh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

dothach

[d̪ɔɔx] Notes: wooden vat which contained the mash in whisky distilling.

Location: Ross-shire, Torridon, Alligin
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

dàdsair

of over ordinary size as a wave; or taking an excessive drink from a bottle of whisky. Thug e na dàdsairean od as. (Harris)

Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

eòrna

Quotation: eòrna Albannach (Scottish); eòrna Lochlannach (Scandinavian, Danish); eòrna Insinneach (Indian). Notes: barley used in whisky making. The Scottish barley was considered the best. The Danish barley was also good. The Indian, although cheaper, was not considered to be as good as the Scottish and Danish.

Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

falchan

a hidden article, as half bottle of whisky also referred to such subject: Tha falchan agad a badeiginn. (Scalpay) [NOTES: the quotation on the slip has ‘…bad-eigin’.]

Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

falchan

whisky in hiding.

Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance

faraire

Quotation: Pige na farairidh. Notes: whisky for use at wakes.

Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

flasg-uisge-bheatha

half bottle [of] whisky.

Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

garbh ghùcag

undistilled whisky.

Location: North Uist, Tigharry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

garbh-ghucag

[ɡɑɾɑɣu̜xkɑɡ] Notes: the first distilling of the whisky. “Foreshot”. Very strong (?). See Dw.

Origin: Glenurquhart
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

glainne droma

Notes: (Keose) A dram glass, a whisky glass (usually just one in a house). Not in Dw.

Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

gròmag

Notes: oatmeal, whisky and sugar.

Location: Ross-shire, Dornie, Morvich
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

gròmag

Notes: mixture of oatmeal, whisky and sugar. (Kenmore)

Origin: Harris
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

grùdaire

Notes: whisky distiller.

Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

gu-leòir

galore, plenty, Whisky Galore.

Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

leth bhodach

equivalent of two glasses of whisky.

Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

leth-bhodach

Notes: ½ bottle of whisky.

Location: Skye, Elgol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

leth-bhodach

Notes: ½ bottle of whisky.

Location: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

ligear

[lʹiɡʹɑɾ] Quotation: glaine ligear. Notes: whisky.

Origin: Drumguish, by Kingussie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

mac na cleithe

whisky.

Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

meanbh

neat, i.e. after drinking a small whisky: “Bha sud dìreach meanbh.”

Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

murrag

[mũ̜rɑɡ] Notes: flotsam of some value or use, e.g. timber, cask of whisky, which is cast up by the sea on the shore.

Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

murrag (-an)

driftwood or indeed anything that might be found on the shore. It is a tribute to the wiliness of Hebridean people that they always refer to such a find as a ‘murrag’, even when it was a crate of whisky or rum. No one elaborated on what they had found except to say that they had found a ‘murrag’.

Location: North Uist, Grimsay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

pige

Quotation: pige na farairidh. Notes: “piggy” of whisky for use at a wake.

Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

placaid

[pɫɑxkədʹ] Notes: a half-bottle of whisky, shaped to fit into a back pocket.

Location: Tiree, [Caolas? – one slip]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

poit-dhubh

still towards the production of whisky.

Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

preis-dhubh

still for whisky distilling. [NOTES: slipped under ‘prais-dhubh’. Definition: Whisky still.]

Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

riarachadh

Notes: bread or biscuits, cheese and whisky given to mourners at a funeral.

Origin: Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

riarachdainn

Quotation: an riarachdainn. Notes: biscuits, cheese and whisky given to those who attended a funeral.

Origin: Glenurquhart
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

romag

Atholl brose. (Stoer, Assynt) Romag was usually made by mixing a handful of oatmeal with about ½ pint thick cream and then 1 gill of whisky, preferably malt whisky. I heard of honey being in the recipe but I never saw that. Honey was not common in the west coast.

Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Biadh is Deoch / Food and Drink

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

ròmag

Notes: whisky, oatmeal and sugar.

Location: Sutherland, Stoer, Culkein
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

ròmag

Notes: mixture of oatmeal, whisky and sugar. (Harris)

Origin: Harris
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

sacanach

[sɑxkɑṉɑx] Notes: ½ bottle of whisky.

Location: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

searrag

Note: a glass, e.g. used for whisky.

Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

sgarbh

half bottle of whisky.

Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance

sglepire

a person receive [sic] helpings free as drinks, whisky. From ‘sglèip’, ‘deoch sglèip’.

Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

sgrìob

Quotation: 1. sgrìob pòige. 2. sgrìob drama. Notes: 1. an itching about the lip portending meeting somebody. 2. a dram of whisky.

Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

siolag

a small measurement of whisky. Leth-bhodach, siola, siolag. Dim. form.

Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

spionnadh

Quotation: a’ gabhail an spionnadh. Notes: testing the strength of the spirit (whisky). Done by excisemen.

Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

staile

[st̪ɑlə] Note: whisky-still.

Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

suagan

overdose of (liquor results) whisky effects of light. [?] [SLIP: ‘Overdose of liquor’.]

Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

sug

suck. Bheir dhomh sug as. – when a person asks for a ‘sup’ out of a flask (whisky). (Harris)

Location: [Harris], Scalpaigh [Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

séilear

seller [sic] [cellar?] where whisky is stored in barrels.

Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
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

tigh-dubh

Notes: house where whisky was made illegally.

Location: Ross-shire, Achiltibuie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

toitidh

whisky diluted in lukewarm water.

Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

treasg

Notes: the draff in whisky distilling.

Location: Ross-shire, Torridon, Alligin
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

tuagal

goal. Subsequently called “hail” when shinty was played to modern shinty rules. (Stoer, Assynt) Shinty was always played on New Year’s Day, “Latha na Callain”. Two townships would compete, and after the match was finished the visiting team would try and dribble the “creg” out of the township. I saw old boddich of  70 running out with walking sticks to prevent the “creg” being taken out of the township, which was considered a great disgrace! So long as the numbers were equal there appeared to be no limit to the number on each side for the actual match. I played for Caberfeidh Shinty Team, but it was child’s play in comparison to those New Year’s Games! At half time – the match was usually two hours – whisky was distributed – not lemons! Incidentally, if a visiting township managed to get the creg away, they had the privilege of having the match in their township next New Year.

Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Cur-seachadan: Dèideagan, Geamaichean is Farpaisean / Recreation: Toys, Games, Contests

uisge-beatha

whisky. Was used also for toothache – leaving some whisky in the mouth for a while. Whisky and oatmeal was considered as tonic, as was rum and eggs mixed. Whisky was recommended for faints, weaknesses. Whisky and hot water being retiring [sic] at night was a stimulating [sic], recommended stimulant for colds, that is for counteracting colds. Whisky and hot water, so hot as the patient could accept: it was known as ‘totaidh’.

Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

òiseach

(also) effects of drink e.g. ’S e ’n òiseach tha bruidheann – perhaps (metaphorical) it’s the drink in him ‘that speaks’, the effect of whisky, or the drink itself, if you wish. [NOTES: slipped under ‘òi(n)seach’. Definition: Phrase used of person under influence of drink.]

Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

ùrtan/òrtan/nòrtan

Quotation: Ma fhuair thu nòrtan man càch / Chan fhaca ban-nabaidh càil: / Carson nach tug thu gloine làn / Ga b’ann dh’an an fhaoileig. Notes: At this ‘ceremony’, after the birth of a child, it was customary to offer whisky and e.g. biscuits and cheese. Dw. has urstan ‘feast when a child is born – Lewis.’

Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous