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manadh n.
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‘forerunner’: manadh [manəɣ]; pl. manaidhean [mani·-ən].
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Iona, Barra Glen
Category: Barra Glen, Iona wordlist
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(also) cnàmharnach
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well-built man, of strong proportions. ’S e cnàmharnach de dhuine tapaidh th’ann. (Scalpay) May have originated from cnàmh.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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2. Am Fear a th’air an t-slabhruidh
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the man hung on a chain.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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3. Am Fear Mór
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the Big Man.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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A BAD MAN
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Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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A GOOD MAN
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Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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A SUCCESSFUL MAN
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Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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A WISE MAN
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Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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A good man / A bad man
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Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Cluer
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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A good man / A bad man
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Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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A good man / A bad man
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Origin: Barra
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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A good man / A bad man
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Origin: Skye
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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A good man / A bad man
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Origin: [Ross-shire]
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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A successful man / A failure
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Location: Harris, Sgarastamhor
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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A successful man / A failure
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Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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A successful man / A failure
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Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Cluer
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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A successful man / A failure
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Origin: Barra
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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A successful man / A failure
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Origin: Skye
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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A successful man / A failure
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Origin: [Ross-shire]
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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A wise man / Foolish
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Location: Glasgow
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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A wise man / Foolish
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Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Cluer
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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A wise man / Foolish
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Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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A wise man / Foolish
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Location: Harris, Sgarastamhor
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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A wise man / Foolish
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Origin: Barra
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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A wise man / Foolish
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Origin: Skye
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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A wise man / Foolish
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Origin: [Ross-shire]
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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Fleasgach
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Best man.
Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
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Iainagan
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for Iain. An Aird man heard this in Glenmoriston many years ago.
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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Innse-Gall
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Orkney and Shetland Islands (since 13th century); not a fixed place-name, but a descriptive term, the extent of which varied as the power of the Norse waxed or waned. At height of Norse power, Innse-Gall = all islands from Shetlands to the Isle of Man; after Somhairle Mac Giolla Bride’s first victory Innse Gall = islands north of Ardnamurchan; after Somhairle’s 2nd victory Innse Gall = Orkneys and Shetlands only. NE Highl. C. S. – Innse Gall but more commonly Innsean Gallach, Eileana [?] Gallach = Orkney, Shetland. Innse Gaidheal(ach) – Western Isles (Lewis to Islay) + Arran, Bute. Innse-Gall not applied to any Gaelic-speaking islands. Bardic usage: Innse Gall = Western Isles (Lewis to Islay) regardless of fact that they had ceased to be Innse-Gall in 13th century and had become Gaelic. As long as the Bards had comharda, uaithne, uaim, and the other obair-ghréis of their trade, they didn’t bother about truth. Modern literary, artificial – imitation of Bardic usage, above. Incorrect.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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Sgaire
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Zachariah or Sachariah (Lewis)? Not on Scalpay. I think there was a gentle[man?] on Harris in the past with the name or it may have been adapted to the gentleman as a nickname.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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Theid do chuin ris na talabardean
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Keep a man to his promise. [NOTES: originally ‘n a’, corrected to ‘na’.]
Location: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[Aodh]
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Ag eigheach air Aodh – this is what the Uist people say when a man is sea-sick and vomiting.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[amadan]
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A, amadain bhradaich! – You fool you! You silly man!
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[beag]
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Chan fheairrd duine bhi cho beag sud. It ill becomes a man to be so niggardly as that.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[beud]
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Bu mhór am beud gu’n tigeadh an t-uisge oirbh! – response by a man in Barra to a friend and me when I remarked “Tha’n t-eagal orm nach eil an t-uisge fad as!”
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[blank]
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Big head, a wise man / Hen’s head on a fool.
Origin: [Ross-shire]
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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[blank]
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a good man.
Origin: [Ross-shire]
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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[blank]
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wise man.
Origin: [Ross-shire]
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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[blank]
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large bumbling man.
Origin: [Ross-shire]
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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[boirionn]
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Feminine (used of a man). “Tha e cho boirionn.”
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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[bàsaich]
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Bhàsaich an cú. – The dog died. But: Chaochail an duine. – The man died.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[caochail]
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Chaochail an duine. – The man died. But: Bhàsaich an cú. – The dog died.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[ceann]
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Ceann mór air duine glic, is ceann circ air amadan!! – A large head on a wise man, a “chicken’s” head on a fool.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[coibhneas]
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Còm a choibhneis. (Kind man!)
Origin: [North Uist?]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[coimpire]
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Fear a bu cho-impire dhomh fhein. A man who was my equal.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[complete]
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’S e duine complete a th’ann. – He’s a grand gentleman. He’s a grand man.
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[cruchaill]
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Cruchaill mhor duine. Big gaunt man.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[daga mhuirteir]
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Man daga ’mhuirteir, e.g. ‘Na dh ith thu gu leòr?’ ‘Dh ith. Tha mi cho teann ri daga mhuirteir.’
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[duine]
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B’e sin a rinn duine dheth. That made a man of him.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[dèanta]
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Duine deas deanta. Full grown man.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[fuisteach]
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I have often heard an old Black Isle man who used many Gaelic words in his English use the word “fuisteach”, meaning restlessly impatient or in a “stew”. He used to say “he gets into an awful f.” I recently came across, with a Glenurquhart man, “fuideag uamhasach air” with the same meaning.
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[fɔıdʹɑx]
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Notes: man-made channel, canal. [NOTES: slipped under ‘faighdeach’.]
Location: North Uist, Bayhead
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[gasda]
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Thuirt mi roimhe gu bheil againn mu dhuine diadhaidh – duine stòlda diadhaidh, ged nach bitheadh e air leth soilleir mar an fheadhainn chomharraichte – gasda. “’Se gille gasd a th’ann.” ’Se ‘gille’ a chanadh iad ged a bhiodh an duine pòsda agus ’na sheanair. [SLIP: A religious man – irrespective of age.]
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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[gràsda]
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Duine gràsda – Rough-featured, ugly-featured man.
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[lideag]
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Am fear a theid lideag am mearachd. The man who goes the least bit wrong.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[lɛsɡax]
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best man. [NOTES: slipped under ‘fleasgach’. Definition: Possibly ‘leasgach’ (i.e. without f-) used. ‘Best man’.]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
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[meal]
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Gu meal ’s gun caith thu e. – May you enjoy it and wear it. This is said when a man puts on a new suit.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[meann]
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An Aird man says he heard ‘meann’ pronounced “myan” in Easter Ross.
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[meas]
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Tha e air a mheas ’na dhuine coir. He is considered an honest man.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[note]
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Againne “an easily led man”:
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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[sagart]
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Question: Sannd na seachd sagart? Answer: Fear gun mhac gun nighean. Just as greedy as a man with a large family.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[seargadh]
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Tha an duine a’ seargadh air falbh. Tha man is fading away.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[seasmhach]
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Duine seasmhach. A man of his word.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[sitig]
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Nuair a thig nas fhearr gheibh an tràill an t-sitig. When important visitors come, the man of the house recedes in stature in the eyes of his family.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[sleamhuinn]
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“Sleamhuinn an greim air an easguinn an t-earball.” A saying which means that a boy/man who has been jilted will always find another girl.
Location: South Uist, Peninerine
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[slinnean]
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Fear slinnean leathan. Large broad shouldered man.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[smioralas]
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Duine gun smioralas. Man with no guts.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[smùid]
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Tha smúid [sic] air a’ bhodach. – The old man is dead drunk.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[spaideil]
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Duine spaideil – a smart “flashy” man.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[sradanta]
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Duine sradanta. Quick tempered man.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[stuama]
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Duine stuama – a righteous man.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[tigh-aire]
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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
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[toimhseachan]
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Duine ag aire ann an taigh. Chaidh e mach as an taigh. Chunnaic e an t-sianar a bha seo a’ dol seachad agus an ceann greis chunnaic e an ath shianar, agus an uairsin chunnaic e an treas sianar agus bha boireannach agus fireannach a’ tighinn comhla as an deidh, agus bhruidhinn am boireannach agus dh’fhaighneachd i dha dè a chunnaic e bho’n a bha e a muigh, agus dh’innis e dhi mar a chunnaic e sianar a’ dol seachad agus an ceann greis chaidh sianar eile agus an uairsin an t-sianar eile chaidh seachad bha i fhein a’ tighinn comhla agus an deidh. Ars ise: A’ chiad shianar, sin sia bràithrean athair [sic] dhomh, agus an ath shianar, sia bràithrean mathair [sic] dhomh agus an t-sianar a chaidh seachad ’s mi fhein comhla riubha ’sin mo shia mhic fhìn, ’s an duine a tha seo na athair dh’an h-uile duin’ aca. ’S dean thusa a mach an toimhseachan. This riddle is taken in the context of this man coming out from a wake. The man appearing with the woman has been married three times. His first wife had a daughter prior to their marriage. When she died he married his second wife who had had a boy prior to this marriage. Thereafter the boy and girl previously mentioned married. Subsequently the man who had been married twice married the daughter of the boy and girl thereby becoming his third wife.
Location: South Uist, Peninerine
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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a bhogabh
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equivalent of the English exclamatory phrase, man, man, e.g. That was some game, man.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay, Gearradh Dubh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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aigeannach
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active man.
Location: [Harris], Leverburgh
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
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ainichech
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big foolish man
Origin: [Ross-shire]
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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ainmhinn
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Quotation: duine ainmhinn. Notes: a frail man, a man constantly in ill-health.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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airean (m)
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ploughman; the man who actually did the work. Treabhaiche – the homesteader, or farmer, whether he himself, or servant, did the actual work.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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alaich
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Bheil thu ’tuigsinn, [aɫ̱iç]? - like ‘laochain’, from man to man. [NOTES: definition on the slip: Like ‘a laochain’ etc., used from man to man. Prob. shortened form of ‘a bhalaich’.]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
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altachadh
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Notes: blessing. The accepted word used in W. Lewis for Grace before meals. Not used regarding dealings between men – only of dealings between man and God.
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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am bioraiche
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a young animal, possibly a horse. In my young days, a young man bore that nickname.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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am burraidh!
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the stupid man!
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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amadan
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Notes: foolish man.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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amaiseach
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Quotation: duine amaiseach. Notes: perceptive, witty man.
Location: Skye, Sleat, Calligary
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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an tòc
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This is a mystery somewhat akin to the King’s Evil, only in this instance, animals are the sufferers. An operation is performed on the eye of the animal (sheep or cow). The eyelid is turned outwards and by means of a darning needle and a piece of thread, some particular part surrounding the eye is manipulated so that it can be cut off. This gives immediate relief to the animal. Veterinary surgeons do not believe in it. An instance was quoted to me last summer. The man telling the story told me he had been to a village in Lochs. There was a cow, very far through, stretched out on the ground practically at its last gasp when my friend arrived. The vet had been called and had given her up as hopeless. My friend asked, “Na dh’fhiach sibh bheil an tòc oirr?” “Chan eil fhios againne dé th’ann an tòc.” “Uill bheir mise an tòc bhair na bà agus mur a dèan e feum, cha dèan e cron ’sam bith oirre co dhiubh.” He performed the operation and in ten minutes’ time the cow was on its feet and eating the grass. The amazing thing is that the people of Lochs had never heard of this most effective operation which is still regularly performed in Uig.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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ara de dhuine
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effeminate man.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Cluer
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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a’ chuidhe
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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
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bacach
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Quotation: duine bacach. Notes: a man with an irregular step due to some disability.
Location: Ross-shire, Aultbea
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bachaill
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clumsy, untidy, unkempt man – ’Se sàr bhachall [sic] a th’ann.
Origin: [South Uist]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
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bainne-teth
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cure for cholera (used in Hellisay, according to old man who lived in Bruernish).
Origin: [Barra]
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
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balgaire
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dog. Balgaire duine – a dog of a man.
Location: Harris, Borisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bas na cas
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stick thrown in the air for choosing which way to play, or who had the first choice in picking sides. If the head (bas) came down first the man who shouted that word “won the toss”. (Stoer, Assynt)
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Cur-seachadan: Dèideagan, Geamaichean is Farpaisean / Recreation: Toys, Games, Contests
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bas-bhualadh
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clapping. We have in Scalpay a word I don’t know if you could spell it as above or basbhaladh. We say: Dé a basbhaladh air an duin’ ud – when a man walks continually here and there.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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beul-bòidheach
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[bıɑɫbɔ:ɑx] Quotation: Chuir mi beul-bòidheach air an duine. Notes: I flattered the man.
Location: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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beul-man-ruadh
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[bɛ̜ɫ məṉ ruə] Notes: type of hawk.
Location: Arran, Pirnmill
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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beuladair
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a gossipy man.
Location: Harris, Finsbay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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beàrna
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Note: used of narrow opening made in a stone dyke to admit a man through without letting animals through. Instead of a gate.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bho
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Quotation: De man a tha sibh? Chaneil mi ach thuige ’s bhuaithe. Notes: off and on.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bioda
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Notes: Mr MacDonald supports that this is euphemism for bod. Bioda an Stòir is known as Bod an Stòir. Bioda an Stòir, Old Man of Starr, Skye. Bioda a’ Chuirn below Culnacnock rocks east side of Staffin, Skye.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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biorgadaich
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[bwɾwɡwd̪iç] Quot.: “Na bi a’ biorgadaich man a tha thu.” Note: said to a person fidgeting about and on edge. Air bhiorgadaich – on edge.
Origin: [Ness]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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biosgalach
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two faced man.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Cluer
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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biulbhan
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[bȷu̜ɫəvɑṉ] Quot.: “Tha sibh cruinn man a’ bhiulbhan.” Note: a small fire.
Origin: Ness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bloigh-eodha
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Notes: a fool of a man. Rev. N. MacDonald explained it as bloigh-sheadha, half-wit.
Location: Tiree, Caolis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bochdag
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Quotation: a’ bhochdaig. Notes: used as a form of address to a woman. Also a’ bhochdan [sic] to a man.
Origin: Coigach
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bod
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old man.
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bodach
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old man, codling fish.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bodach-sàbhaidh
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Note: the figure of a man, its hands stretched out in front of it holding a stick which came down at an angle and passed under its feet. A potato, for balance, was stuck on its lower end. The man then was put standing on a line and it swayed backwards and forwards without toppling.
Origin: Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bodach-sìde
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weather man; a pillar, concrete or brick pillar, on which dial is set to record the amount of sunshine; (can be) accessed to a day.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bodachan
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wee old man; also fish, codling.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bodachan-sàbhaidh
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Notes: a pivotal toy, consisting of a potato which was attached to an angular piece of wood with serrated lower edge. When placed on a fulcrum, and set in motion, the bodachan-sàbhaidh (“the little old saw-man”, lit. “of sawing”) would continue to swing backwards and forwards for an indefinite period if properly balanced. This balancing was considered to be something of an art.
Location: Tiree, [Caolas? – one slip]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bodaroisean
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Quotation: Có fear agaibh bha ’na bhodaroisean aig a’ chéilidh. Notes: pawky old man (?). Not in Dw. (cf. roisean ‘tail of a cow’ ??)
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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boirionn
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Quot.: duine boirionn. Note: a man with feminine traits.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bola (m), bolaichean (pl) (l – glottal stop)
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wee fat man (derogatory).
Origin: Tiriodh [Tiree]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
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bolgach
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Quotation: duine bolgach. Notes: corpulent man.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bonncharach
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[bon̪əxɑɾɑx] Note: stable (man, object). “Duine bonncharach” – a solid, stable man.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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borisgeach
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(Uist) A man who is unable to conceal a thing. Duine nach urrain sìon a chleith.
Origin: [Skye]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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brabhadach
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Quotation: duine brabhadach. Notes: bandy-legged man.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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brac
-
[brɑk] Notes: a fine form of sea-weed growth that attached itself to lines and nets in the early summer and was a great trial to the fishermen. Common to Golspie, and Embo (probably also to Brora, although the old couple I asked didn’t remember it – the man only fished for one season and wasn’t so well up on his fishing terminology as the Embo and Golspie men). Source: Sandy MacKay, 8 Hall St., Embo. Date: spring 1968.
Location: Sutherland [see below]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
brag-a-bhaile
-
an upstart of a man.
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
braisiche
-
Notes: a man past middle age but still lively and virile.
Origin: Applecross
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
brimill
-
a bull seal. Also used of a fat, chubby man.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
brogach
-
spry old man.
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
brogach
-
Note: small stout man or child.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
broiceach
-
[bɾɔıcɑx] Quot.: duine broiceach. Note: a fat man with a large waistline.
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
broillein
-
a sore throat, affecting man and animal.
Location: Barra, Ard Mhinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
brotsach
-
a big sturdy man – a bit fat. Used for a child as well.
Location: Glasgow
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
buabastair
-
Notes: a rough man.
Origin: Glenlyon
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
buamastair
-
[bu̜ɤməst̪ɑɾ] Notes: uncouth man.
Location: Skye, Elgol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
buamastair
-
an ill-natured, rude man.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
buamastair
-
Note: a big bungling man.
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
buideal
-
a large man.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
buis
-
[bɤ̈ʃ] Quotation: agus buis ann far a robh an roth a’ dol man cuairt air ceann na h asaill.
Location: Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
bumailear
-
[bũ̟məlɑɾ] Notes: bungler, big stupid man.
Location: Skye, Kyleakin
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
bun
-
Quotation: a’ chluas man a’ bhun. Notes: sheep’s ear cut off.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
bun-cluaise
-
Quotation: ’S iomadh fear a b’àirde bun-cluaise. Notes: Many a man came from a better background.
Origin: [North Uist?]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
busach
-
Quotation: duine busach. Notes: man with a dour expression or having a long face.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
busach
-
Quotation: duine busach. Notes: man with fat cheeks.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
bàn
-
Quotation: “Leig e bàn am fearann.” (fallow – uncultivated) “Gearr a bhalaich, gearr, / Do mhòine fada bàn (pale) / ’S tu as deigh chàich.” Song of a fairy who came to help an old man. Bó bhan [sic] – white cow. Grunn de chearcan bàna – a flock (number) of white hens. An talamh bàn – the virgin soil, uncultivated ground, untouched, clean.
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
bàsadair
-
[bɑ̀səd̪ɑð] Note: can be used of any place, natural or man made (e.g. the inside of a peat-bank) which is dangerous for animals.
Location: Harris, Grosebay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
bòrd-preise
-
a lid for a pot. Cha deanadh e bòrd-preise. – decrying the qualities of an ‘amature [sic] [amateur?] joiner’ or a handy man.
Location: [Harris], Scalpaigh [Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
bùthair
-
a cow-man, a cattle-dealer.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
caidhleant
-
Quotation: (cainnleant?, but no noticeable nasality in my mother’s pron.) It would be difficult (for a man with an artificial limb) to take two buses, ged a bhiodh e caidhleant. Notes: complete, able-bodied (?). (I think I heard Rev. Murdoch Campbell, Resolis – of Ness origin – use a form that suggested a variation of coimhliont, with a long -oi- diphthong.)
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cailleach
-
Quotation: “Cuiridh mi a’ chailleach ort!” Notes: “I’ll beat you!” – said when competing to be the first finished in any work. (D.A.’s father maintained that formerly if there was, say, an old cripple of no fixed abode in the village then the last man to get the harvest in had to keep her for the winter.)
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cailleach de dhuine
-
clumsy man, scary.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
cainnean (E)
-
Duine dìreach mar a shaoileadh sibh a rèir an ainm. Aithghearr, aithghearr anns an nàdur agus a théid ’n a theine airson rudan glé bheag. ’S mar sin. [NOTES: slipped under ‘cainean’. Definition: An upright man.]
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
caisean-coimheach
-
[kɑʃɑṉkɛ̃ɑx] Quot.: “’S e fìor chaisean-coimheach a th’ann.” Note: used of a short-tempered, aggressive man. (“Caisean-coimheach” primarily [?] a “rotach”.)
Location: Harris, Northton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
caran
-
used of an unsurly [sic] [surly?], unpleasant man especially when drinking. The word has this drink association.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay, Cnoc Cuidhein [Knockquien]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
carghas
-
Quotation: “Tha carghas air Fear-an-tighe ’nochd.” Notes: “The Man of the house lacks tobacco tonight.” Carghas, lack of tobacco. Developed meaning from Carghas, Lent.
Location: Tiree, [Caolas? – one slip]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
carran (E)
-
Duine buaireanta. Duine nach leigeadh móran seachad gun na h-uibhir de bhuaireadh a dheanamh m’a dheidhinn. ’S mar sin. [SLIP: An annoying man.]
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
ceann-iomaire
-
Quotation: an ceann-iomaire. Notes: the area used by a horse for turning. At the end of the day these would also be ploughed. One acre a day was considered good work for two horses and a man.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
ceannagaich
-
[cɛ̃n̪ɑɡiç] Quotation: a’ ceannagachadh na connlaich man a bheireadh iad dheth a’ siol. Notes: making it into bundles.
Location: Tiree, Cornaigbeg
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
ceard
-
a man who does not deal honourably with women.
Origin: Barra
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
cearnach
-
B’ e cearnach e ’na latha. – He was a big man (stature) in his day.
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
-
ceatharnach
-
Notes: a big, powerfully-built man.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
ceàrnag
-
[cɑ:ʴṉɑɡ] Quot.: “ceàrnag de dhuine”. Note: a square-built, stocky man. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
ceàrnag
-
Note: says it is applied to a squarely built man.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
ciabhadair
-
[cıəvəd̪ɑɾ] Notes: the man who lifted the peats in a tough spot; usually employed in the distillery squads when a lot of peat was being cut.
Location: Islay, Bowmore
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
ciall
-
Quotation: “… Chuala mi chuthag, a chiallan, S dh’fhaighnich mi nach deigheadh a bhliadhna leam.” – I heard the cuckoo, my dear, and I knew that this year I would not prosper. (Part of an old rhyme.) Notes: also wisdom – duine ciallach: a wise man. Sense – rud gun chiall: a thing without sense. A chiall, a chiall! ciod e so? Dear, dear! What’s this?
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cianail
-
a sad man, destructive to cause sadness.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
cifeanach
-
[cifɑṉɔx] Note: a small, stocky, sturdy man.
Origin: [Ness]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
ciorachan
-
a man who does a woman’s work.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
ciorachan
-
a man who does woman’s work.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
ciorachan
-
a man who does a woman’s work.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
ciorram
-
[cwrəm] Quotation: duine le ciorram air. Notes: a man with a deformity, e.g. lack of hearing, hand, etc.
Location: Ross-shire, Aultbea
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
-
ciuthach
-
a monster taking the shop [sic] [shape?] of a man. “Chan eil ann ach ciuthach de dhuine.”
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
clabadaich
-
Quotation: Nach iongantach man a bhios na boireannaich a’ clabadaich … Notes: Not in Dw., though related forms are (clab, clabaireachd). Source: My uncle Willie (in conversation with DST). Date: June 1975.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
claidsear
-
[kɫɑḏʃɑð] Notes: a big, clumsy man.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
claidsear
-
[kɫɑdʹʃoð] Note: a big, heavy man.
Origin: Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
claidsear
-
[kɫɑdʹʃɑð] Note: big clumsy, ungainly man.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cliath
-
Quotation: a’ chliath chrom. Notes: this implement consisted of two small harrows chained together each with a handle and both held by a man as if ploughing. They were pulled by one horse and eased the tops of the drills to let the “barran” through.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cliath bheag
-
a man drawn harrow very suitable for small plots of arable.
Origin: Ross and Cromarty, Lewis
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
-
cliobaire, cliobairean (pl)
-
a clumsy man, clot.
Origin: Tiriodh [Tiree]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
clistear
-
big person, big male. Tha clistear ann dhe. [NOTES: the slip has ‘…dheth’. Definition: Big man.]
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
clister
-
a tall man, person.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cliutag
-
[klu̟t̪ɑɡ] Quotation: Thug mi dha cliutag man a’ chluais. Notes: a light cuff with the back of the fingers.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
clostair
-
[kɫɔst̪əɾ] Quot.: “clostair” de dhuine. Note: big hulking man. Can also be used of a beast.
Location: Harris
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cluas
-
Quotation: a’ cluas man a’ bhun. Notes: sheep’s ear cut off.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cluasaire (m)
-
a big-eared man.
Origin: Tiriodh [Tiree]
Category: Faireachdain / Senses
-
clìobach
-
clumsy. Duine clìobach – a clumsy man.
Origin: Muile (ceann a tuath) [Mull (the north side)]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
cnaganach
-
hard nut of a man.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cnàmhalach
-
a big bony man.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cnàmhalach
-
[kɾɑ̃:vəɫɑx] Note: a large-boned man.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cnàmhlach
-
Quotation: Cnàmhlach mór duine. Notes: a big raw-boned man. Date: 1972.
Location: [see below]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cnàmhlach
-
[kɾɑ̃:u̜ɫɑx] Notes: large-boned man.
Location: Coll, Sorrisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cnàmhlach
-
[kɾɑ̃:u̜ɫɑx] Notes: a big-boned man.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
craidhneach
-
Notes: (alt. cruidhneach) a bony man or cow. (Cf. MacLeod and Dewar ‘skeleton, collection of bones, gaunt figure, etc.’) Dw. gives craidhneach ‘… skeleton; collection of bones; … lean, gaunt figure …’.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
craoiceall
-
an old, craggy featured man.
Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
creamasach
-
long-faced or surly looking person (male). [SLIP: Surly looking man.]
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
creamhal
-
a carelessly dressed man.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Cluer
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
creideas
-
Quotation: duine gun chreideas. Notes: unreliable, undependable man.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
criamhal
-
slow moving man.
Location: Harris, Finsbay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
criamhal mor de dhuine
-
a clumsy big man.
Location: Harris, Sgarastamhor
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
cromadh
-
Quotation: ’Se man a thug thu orm cromadh chon na h-ùireach.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cromaisg
-
[kɾɔ̃miʃɡʹ] Quotation: cromaisg bodaich. Notes: about old man.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
crosd
-
’Se seo a chanas sinn mu chloinn a thà crosd. Cuideachd ‘crosd’ mu dhuine a bhiodh dona gu sabaid, ’s mar sin. “Bha e crosd.” “Duine crosd.” (Bha fear thall againne an Uig ri linn mo sheanar ris an canadh iad “Dòmhnull Bàn Crosd”. Duine tough nuair a bha e òg.) [SLIP: Mischievous (of children). Also (of man) tough, bad-tempered, spoiling for a fight.]
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
crosda
-
Quotation: duine crosda. Notes: cross man.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cruadalach
-
[kɾuɤd̪ɑɫɑx] Notes: a hardy man.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cruinn bhallach [sic]
-
used for meaning a muscular, well-developed man.
Location: North Uist, [Carinish], Cnoc Cuidhein [Knockquien]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cràgaire
-
a male of extra large hands. [SLIP: ‘Man with extra large hands’.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cràigean
-
Notes: a peppery old man.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cuibhle
-
Quot.: “cuibhle man ghealaich”. Note: denoted bad weather.
Origin: Ness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cuir
-
Quotation: uaisle gun chur leis. Notes: a man ostensibly of considerable means but who in fact had little.
Location: Tiree, Heylipool [sic]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cuir fùdar oirre
-
I have heard this used by an old man once (Powder).
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
cuir-ri-chùl (sic)
-
[ku̟ɾıxu̜:ɫ] Quotation: Tha cuir-ri-chùl aige. Notes: He is a man of substance.
Location: Skye, Portree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cullach duine
-
applied to a cumbersome, rather ignorant man.
Location: South Uist, South Boisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cur am fiadhachadh
-
starting a courtship between man and woman.
Location: Skye, Bernisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cusg
-
(coosg) people in the village of Carishader call the artificial insemination man ‘Bodach na cusg’. I never heard the word until last summer.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
còir
-
Quotation: duine còir. Notes: quiet, gentle man.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cù
-
Quotation: cù cruinnichidh. Notes: a “weirer”. A dog which gathers sheep towards the man. Cf. “cù fuadaich”.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
d eudmhor
-
[uine] jealous man.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Cluer
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
d faoin
-
[uine] an easily led man.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Cluer
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
d ladurna
-
[uine] an arrogant, forthright man.
Location: Harris, Borisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
d lan rispars
-
[uine] proud man.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Cluer
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
d rabhardach
-
[uine] man who tells tall tales.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Cluer
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
d slac
-
[uine] an easily led man.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Cluer
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
dannarran (E)
-
Duine a dheadh an airde [?] gu buaireadh ’s droch nàdur ’s mar sin gu math aithghearr. ’S a bhiodh mar sin an còmhnuidh. [SLIP: A man with an annoyingly bad temper.]
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
dealaman-dé
-
[dʹəɫəman dʹɛ̜:] butterfly. [NOTES: slipped under ‘dealman-dé’. No pronunciation.]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
-
dealbh
-
Quotation: duine gun dealbh. Notes: unskilful, useless man.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
deanadach
-
Quotation: duine deanadach. Notes: prudent man, always making things for himself.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
deanadach
-
[dʹĩɑ̃ṉɑd̪ɑx] Quotation: duine deanadach. Notes: a thrifty, careful man.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
dearg
-
[dʹɛɾɑɡ] Quot.: “Cha dearg càil air an duine sin.” Note: Nothing will make an impression on that man.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
deò
-
of a deaf man – Cha chluinn e deò.
Origin: [Kintyre, Tarbert]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
deòidige
-
[dʹɔ:dʹiɡʹə] Quot.: Chaneil ann dheth ach deòidige beag. Note: small specimen (man or beast).
Origin: [Caversta]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
diamant
-
nn ‘diamond’: ged a bheireadh an doctor a dh. [jiəman̪t]
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Broadcove
Category: Field Notebooks of Seosamh Watson June-August 1983
-
do
-
Quotation: “Mar a thubhairt glag-Sgáinn / Rud nach buin dhuit / Na buin dhá. Notes: the W. Lewis saying attributed to the Bell-man of Scone.
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
drabhach
-
[d̪ɾɑfɑx] Quotation: duine drabhach; àite drabhach. Notes: dirty, untidy, foulmouthed of a man.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
draghairne
-
[d̪ɾɤɤʴnʹə] Quotation: ’S fheàrr am beag seadhach na draghairne mi-ghniomhach. Notes: lazy, unproductive man, drudge. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
Location: Skye, Portree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
druganta
-
an old man walking with an admirable pace for his age. Nach e tha druganta.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
dualtach
-
Quotation: Bithidh e dualtach man a bi e ann. – He’ll probably be there. Notes: probable.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
dubh-sheanair
-
great grandfather. (Urq.) This summer a Glenurquhart man spoke of his mother’s great grandfather (who was one of the Seven Men of Glenmoriston, 1746) as “dubh sheanair mo mhàthair”. He gave the names of the fingers as: “ordag, mac an ab’, ceanna fad’, ludag, bhideag”. A near neighbour and contemporary (both families in the district for generations) gave them as: “ordag, bhordag, gille fada, mac an aba, bhideag”.
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
duine aincheardach
-
[NOTES: slipped under ‘aincheardach’. Definition: Funny man.]
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
duine anamhin
-
an unfit man.
Origin: Muile (ceann a tuath) [Mull (the north side)]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
duine bacach
-
a lame man (permanent).
Origin: Tiriodh [Tiree]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
duine cam
-
a one eyed man.
Location: [Harris], Leverburgh, Kintulavaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
duine carrach
-
a difficult, obstinate man who is easy to incite.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
duine cloinne
-
Man child. [NOTE in second hand: also used as one single child i.e. A bheil (chan ’eil) duine cloinne aca.]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
duine cluasach
-
man with big ears.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Horgabost
Category: Faireachdain / Senses
-
duine coingais air mùir neo tìr
-
describes a capable and fit man. A fit person is more accurate. [NOTES: ‘coingais’ underlined and a question mark added in the margin.]
Location: South Uist, Milton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
duine comasach
-
fit, able man.
Origin: Tiriodh [Tiree]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
duine crainntidh
-
a temperamental man likely to snap at the slightest intimidation.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
duine crotach
-
hunchbacked man.
Location: [Harris], Leverburgh
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
duine crubach
-
a lame man (temporary).
Origin: Tiriodh [Tiree]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
duine deas
-
handsome man.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Horgabost
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
duine dibhearsaineach
-
[NOTES: slipped under ‘dibhearsaineach’. Definition: Funny man.]
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
duine foghaineach
-
a strong, well-built man.
Origin: Tiriodh [Tiree]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
duine foirmeil
-
a pompous man.
Location: Harris, Borisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
duine glan
-
handsome man.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
duine glic
-
a wise man.
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
duine greimeil
-
a strong man.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Horgabost
Category: Faireachdain / Senses
-
duine grìnn
-
well dressed man.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Horgabost
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
duine iargalta
-
ugly man.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Horgabost
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
duine mar na faoileagan
-
a daft man.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Horgabost
Category: Faireachdain / Senses
-
duine meabach
-
deceitful man.
Location: [Harris], Leverburgh, Kintulavaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
duine non
-
applied to an extremely competent and pleasant man. (Word supplied by Mr K. C. MacKinnon, Bernisdale, Isle of Skye.)
Origin: Glasgow/South Uist? or South Uist, Kildonan or South Uist, Garrynamonie or South Uist or Skye, Bernisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
duine prosail
-
proud man.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Cluer
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
duine rag
-
stubborn man.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Cluer
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
duine raibhearteach
-
a placid man.
Origin: [Note: From North Uist, information from Alex O’Henley / RÓM 4 Dec 2023]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
duine rocalach
-
a tall but stocky, chubby man. [NOTES: ‘rocalach’ corrected to ‘rogalach’.]
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
duine sgairteil
-
a fit man.
Origin: Muile (ceann a tuath) [Mull (the north side)]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
duine sligeach
-
sneering man.
Location: Harris, Sgarastamhor
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
duine somalta
-
an easy going man.
Location: Harris, Finsbay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
duine spagach
-
a clumsy, gangly man.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Horgabost
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
duine spàrdalach
-
a well-built man who when standing seems to be looking afar. Element of superiority attached to this word.
Location: North Uist, [Carinish], Cnoc Cuidhein [Knockquien]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
duine suairc
-
handsome man.
Origin: Skye
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
duine suairce
-
to us would be a friendly, gentle, kind man.
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
duine suairce
-
quiet man. [NOTES: this phrase was supplied by the authors of the questionnaire with a question ‘what does it mean?’.]
Origin: [Ross-shire]
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
duine subailte
-
flexible man.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
duine suirce
-
[sic] quiet man.
Origin: [Ross-shire]
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
duine sunndach
-
happy man. [NOTES: slipped under ‘sunndach’ with ‘duine sunndach’ as the quotation. Definition: Happy.]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
-
duine sèimh
-
reserved, quiet and peaceful man.
Origin: Tiriodh [Tiree]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
duine sòidealta
-
ignorant man.
Location: Harris, Borisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
duine uileasach
-
a stiff man.
Origin: Tiriodh [Tiree]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
duine-eigin
-
[dunʹəɡɑ̣nʹ] Notes: some man or other.
Location: Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
duin’-an-t-saoghail
-
man of the world.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
eigeir
-
a poor mean man.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
eireachdail
-
Notes: magnificent. Of man – well-built, usually ruddy features, healthy and strong. Sometimes suitor of girls.
Location: Harris, Ardhasaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
eislig
-
Quotation: Cha robh ann dheth ach [eʃlʹiɡʹ]. Notes: A very thin, gaunt man or beast.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
fairichte
-
[fɑɾıtʹə] Quotation: fairichte man a’ choire. Notes: on the alert, watching. Watching for the kettle to boil.
Location: Ross-shire, Dornie, Kilillan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
famhair
-
a big man (stature). [NOTES: the slip gives a quotation ‘B’ e famhair e ‘na latha’. Definition: ‘A big man (in stature)’.]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
-
fannlag (I)
-
Duine gun mhóran neart ann, duine beag an cumantas. “Cha robh dad a dh’fheum unnda idir. Fannlagan a bh’unnda.” [SLIP: Usually a small, weak man.]
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
farumach
-
Quotation: bodach farumach. Notes: spry old man.
Origin: Glenlyon
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
feadan
-
[fed̪ɑ̃ṉ] Notes: man-made culvert. Also feadan na h-àthadh: opening in wall opposite the door to create draught for winnowing.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
fear
-
Quotation: an fhear [än ɛ̜r]. Notes: the one, the man.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
fear an iaruinn (fear air an iaruinn)
-
man operating the cutter.
Location: Harris, Tarbert
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
-
fear a’ phuill (fear anns a’ pholl)
-
man taking and throwing out peat as cut.
Location: Harris, Tarbert
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
-
fear bruidhneach
-
a talkative man.
Origin: Muile (ceann a tuath) [Mull (the north side)]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
fear sgodail
-
[sɡɔˈdɑɫ] proud man. [NOTES: slipped under ‘sgodail’ with ‘fear sgodail’ as the quotation. Pronunciation: [sɡɔdal].]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
-
fer man sin fhein
-
He was a bit of a lad [?].
Origin: [Ross-shire]
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
feòclan
-
[fjɔ:xkɫɑ̃ṉ] Notes: sometimes used for a small old man who shuffles along.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
fireannach
-
n. ‘man; male’: bhiodh iad a’ dèanamh còtaichean fh.; cha robh na fireannaich [içə]; cha do chleachd iad figheadaireachd; cha chuala mise duine a thàinig a-nall ’-riamh, fireannaich
a’ fighe
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Mira Co., Marion Bridge
Category: Word List
-
fleasgach
-
a bachelor (best man at a marriage).
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
fleasgach
-
Notes: best man at a wedding.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
foghainteach
-
Quotation: duine f. Notes: good-looking, strapping man.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
frucant
-
[fɾu̟kɑn̪t̪] Quot.: “Tha e a’ cumail gu frucant.” Note: usually used of an old man who is in reasonably good trim.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
fuasgailteach
-
Notes: Duine fuasgailteach. Notes: a lithe man.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
fàil
-
[fɑ:l] Quotation: fàil mhòine. Notes: peat spade operated by one man (cutting and throwing). (Aon fhàil, dà fhàil, tri fàldan.)
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
fàilligeach
-
Quot.: duine fàilligeach. Note: a man who is physically ailing.
Origin: Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
gabh
-
Quotation: Feumaidh sinn gabhail man a’ chruaich mas tig an uisge or Feumaidh sinn gabhail uimpe. Notes: We’ll have to get the stack properly completed and secured before the rain comes.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
gabh
-
Quot.: “a’ gabhail man a chruaich” or “a’ gabhail uimpe”. Note: finishing off the stack so that it is sufficiently secure.
Origin: Ness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
gadhar
-
similar word to ‘gaiseadh’ as in a weakness or failing affecting an old man/woman.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
gaisgeach
-
brave man.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Cluer
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
gasag
-
horrible wee man / woman.
Origin: Barra
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
gasda
-
Quotation: duine gasda. Notes: nice man.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
gealbhan
-
Quotation: ’S e cheud duine thog gealbhan ’s a bhaile seo. Notes: He was the first man to set up home in the place.
Origin: Port Wemyss
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
gearraiseach
-
[ɡʹɑɾɑʃɑx] Quot.: “duine gearraiseach”. Note: an argumentative man.
Origin: Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
giamanach
-
a well built, chubby man.
Location: South Uist, South Lochboisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
giamanach
-
a big, strong man. Also used of a large fish.
Location: North Uist, Iollaraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
giamhadaich
-
pilfering. A giamhadaich timchioll – moving slowly about as an old man. (Harris)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
gibean
-
Notes: a small, poorly built man.
Location: Ross-shire, Aultbea
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
gille
-
Quotation: an gille. Notes: best man at a wedding.
Origin: Glenurquhart
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
gille
-
Quotation: gille-ceann-séiseadh. Notes: a flunky in a household, e.g. an unmarried man staying with his married brother.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
gille
-
Quot.: “gille para-man-tóin” [pɑɾəmɑ̃n̪ʰõ:nʹ] or “Tha e aige ’na ghille para-man-tóin”. Note: no idea what it means literally. Used of a person who is always hanging about and following people, keen to oblige, possibly in the hope of getting reward of some kind.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
gille mirean
-
spry old man.
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
gille-cheann-doill
-
A guide for a blind man. Bha na seann saighdearan a chaidh a dhalladh anns na cogannan a’ faighinn na h-uibhir a bharrachd ’s a’ pheusion airson gille-cheann-doill. (1804 agus as a dheidh.) Mo shinn-seanair fear de na seann saighdearan-sa.
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
gille-comhailteachd
-
Note: best man.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
gille-suirgheach
-
Best man.
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
gingeach
-
in a shooting party this was the first man to jump ashore with the rope for tying up.
Location: Barra, Eoligarry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
giofair
-
an officious man.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
gleidreaman (E)
-
Rudeigin mar peitealan [q.v.]. Duine a bhiodh a’ deanamh móran á rud gle bheag. Gu math tric a’ deanamh dragha mu chuspairean beaga ’s mar sin, eadhon gu ìre a bhith deanamh miothlachd. [SLIP: A man who makes a mountain out of a molehill, making small matters seem large.]
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
gliogaid (I)
-
Duine mór, gliogach. Faic MacGhillfh. “a thin clumsy man”. 6' suas agus sìos [?]:
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
gliogradh
-
Quotation: “Well, well, tha iad ag innse dhòmhsa nach eil càil ann an tarbh Hàboist ach g’ eil e gliogradh.” Notes: (Habost) Story of the Habost bull-man, on his death-bed, breaking into the comforting and exhortation of two visitors. (A story of Uncle Neil’s, relayed by my mother.) Dw. has gliogradh, See gliongadh, and for the latter ‘tinkling, act of tinkling, clinking or rattling’.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
glug
-
Quotation: Tha glug ann. Notes: sound of liquid inside anything. Sometimes said of a man full of drink.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
grannda
-
Quotation: duine grannda. Notes: nasty man.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
greannan
-
Notes: a short-tempered man.
Location: Skye, Kyleakin
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
guitear
-
[ɡu̜tʹɛɾ] Notes: man-made culvert.
Origin: Strontian
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
gàir
-
Quotation: Tha an duin’ [ɡɑ:ɾɑxk]. Notes: The man is laughing.
Location: Achlyness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
innseadh
-
Quot.: “Tha sin a’ toirt innseadh dhuit man a bha.” Note: That lets you know how things were.
Origin: Kershader
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
inntrig
-
[ĩ:nʹtʹɾiɡʹ] Quot.: “Na thòisich sibh air a mhóine?” “Tha sinn dìreach air inntrigeadh innt.” Note: just started. Heard this used by just one man locally.
Origin: Caversta
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
iomair
-
portion of field ploughed by one man.
Location: Glen Lyon
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
iosgaideach (E)
-
Duine, mór an cumantas, agus iosgaidean móra, fada aige. Biodh e trom no caol. [SLIP: A big man with large thighs.]
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
laghsach
-
[ɫɤ:sɔx] Quot.: duine laghsach. Note: a splay-footed man.
Origin: [Ness]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
lamaiseagan
-
a man drinking a bowl of thick milk, putting it to his mouth. ‘Chuir e air a chlaigeann e agus thug e na lamaiseagan ud as.’
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
lann
-
hero, a hard man. ’S e lann th’ann.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
laosbagan
-
brogues made by the people of their own leather and sewn with thongs. I have never heard of this word out of Benbecula. I have seen in North Uist a man wearing what were known as ‘brògan tionndaidh’.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
le
-
Quotation: “Duine leis am bu leis Tanera.” Notes: a man to whom Tanera belonged.
Location: Ross-shire, Polbain
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
le
-
Quotation: uaisle gun chur leis. Notes: a man ostensibly of considerable means but who in fact had little.
Location: Tiree, Heylipool [sic]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
leam-leat
-
Quot.: “duine leam-leat”. Note: a yes-man.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
leannan-òinsich
-
[lʹɑ̃n̪ɑṉɔ̃:ʃiç] Notes: applied to a man who would go with any woman who came his way. In general “an easily-led man”.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
leisgeadair
-
lazy man.
Location: Harris, Sgarastamhor
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
leus
-
of a blind or shortsighted man – Cha n-fhaic e leus.
Origin: [Kintyre, Tarbert]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
lige
-
a man-made canal.
Origin: [Note: From North Uist, information from Alex O’Henley / RÓM 4 Dec 2023]
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
-
losgann
-
Notes: sledge – could be drawn by man or horse.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
lugais
-
Quotation: lugais de dhuine. Notes: a clumsy, ungainly man.
Location: Skye, Sleat, Calligary
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
lungaid
-
Quotation: lungaid (Tong); lungag (Lochs). Notes: Dw. has neither but quotes longadh (Armstrong) in sense of ‘casting, throwing’. Habost man who was displeased with small son-in-law: “Chunna sinn’ a là a chuireadh sinn le lungag a-null a Bhaltos e.”
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
lòdraig
-
[ɫɔ:d̪əɾiɡʹ] Quot.: Tha a’ soitheach sin man a lòdraigeas e.” Note: as full as possible, almost brimming over.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
maganach
-
a very big heavy built man. I don’t think this word was applied to a woman. The first syllable had slightly more emphasis.
Origin: [Inverness-shire, Nethy Bridge]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
maide-sparraidh
-
a decent size log of wood man-handled to force a thing apart or open, perhaps wedge?
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris,Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
malcaid (I)
-
Duine mór, trom a rithist. Agus leisg ’s mar sin. Agus gun e deanamh móran feuma. [SLIP: A big, heavy man – also lazy.]
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
man sìthean an eòrna
-
Quotation: Bha e dìreach man sìthean an eòrna. (Catriona Mhór – of fair-haired person (?)/handsome.)
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
maolasach
-
Notes: a man with a high brow, growing bald. Not in Dw.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
maruisg
-
an ogre, man-eating monster.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
maslaich
-
Quot.: “Seall air a’ chù agad a’ maslachadh nan òthaisgean.” Note: worrying sheep. (Heard an Uig man say this.)
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
mastaige
-
Duine grànda, ’na dhòigh. Duine a nì rudan grànda, agus glé ghrànda. Chan eil fhios ’am an ann bho mastiff masluidh [?] (cù) a tha seo. Faic Dwelly. [SLIP: A man who would “do the dirty” on other people.]
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
miaraitteadh
-
[sic] a weakling of a man.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
milleadh fine
-
a small useless man.
Location: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
moganach
-
[mɔ̃ɡɑṉɔx] Quotation: moganach beag. Notes: a small, tubby man.
Location: Ross-shire, Aultbea
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
muileann
-
Quotation: A h-uile duine a tarraing uisge dha mhuileann fhéin. Notes: every man for himself.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
mullin da laive
-
hand threshing mill with handle on each side turned by two men. One man fed the sheaves into the mill.
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
-
màgail
-
Notes: walking slowly like an old man.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
mùgach
-
Quotation: (1) solus mùgach. (2) duine mùgach. Notes: (1) a dim light. (2) a sullen-faced, frowning man.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
na casan ceangail
-
placed on the inside of the wall. When finished a grown man could walk round the outside of the wall.
Origin: Na Hearadh [Harris]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
-
oiteag
-
Quotation: Coltach ris a’ chailleach a thug seachd bliadhna ’ga garadh fhéin; nuair a chaidh i a mach thug aon oiteag air falbh i. Notes: puff of wind. (A man who had painstakingly amassed a fortune and blew it at one go, or who died and his sons squandered it.)
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
onfhais
-
[[ɔ̃nɔ̃]hɑʃ] Quotation: Cha mhór nach do leig e ’bhean leis an onfhais a bh’air. Notes: agitated motion. Used above of a man praying in public.
Location: Applecross
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
oslaig (I)
-
Duine mór, mór, trom. [SLIP: A big, heavily-built man.]
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
-
othar
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[ˈɔhəɾ] Quot.: “Tha droch othar air.” Note: used of a boil or similar lump on man or beast.
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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peallag (I)
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Rudeigin an ceart aghaidh oslaig [q.v.]. Duine beag, sunndach, ’s mar sin. Mar bu trice cha b’ann a’ claonadh gu taobh a bhith cur onair air a chanadh tu ‘peallag’. [SLIP: Positive term for a small, lively man.]
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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peitealan (E)
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Duine gun chonn. A bhios a’ leum bho rud gu rud ’s mu shròn dhaoine. ’S a’ miodal ’s a’ brosgul ’s mar sin mar a shaoileadh sibh. [SLIP: A senseless man who jumps from one thing to the other, annoying people. Also ingratiating.]
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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piosdal
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a useless young man.
Origin: [Harris]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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plaite
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[See plangaid.] In the form of describing a human characteristic movement, as: Plaite de dhuine – a bedcover of a man or a man covered trying to move etc, etc.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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pleabain
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(used of a man) a skinny, miserable, useless looking character with no obvious personality.
Origin: [South Uist]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
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plosg de dhuine
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a wobbly fat man.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
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pongail
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Quotation: duine pongail. Notes: handy, knacky man.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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proitseach
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a gallant looking young man. ‘Protch’ is the word used in Uist for brooch. The young man would have been ornamented with a shoulder brooch. The Chief of the Gunns was known as Am Bràisteach Mór.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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préasant
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Quotation: Nach i fhuair am préasant! Notes: said of woman who gets a worthless husband. Can also be used of man in similar situation.
Location: Tiree, [Caolas? – one slip]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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puilbhear
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[pu̟lu̟vɑð] Quot.: puilbhear mór de dhuine. Note: big heavily-built man.
Location: [Lewis], S. Lochs, Lemreway
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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pulaidh
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bully. Pulaidh ghrannda – Harris term denoting the man of exceptional size and strength, in Strond, Harris in previous years. [SLIP: ‘Man of exceptional size’. Eng. ‘bully’.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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purp
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[pu̟ɾp] Quotation: Cha robh am purp sin innt. Notes: heard a Balemartin man use this for “gumption”.
Location: Tiree, Caolis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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pàileid
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[pɑ:lɑdʹ] Quot.: “sgleog na pàileid”, “buille man a phàileid”, “pàileid gun nàire”. Note: the brow.
Origin: [Ness]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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pìle stamh
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a man-made garden on which tangles were dried. Garden could be made of turfs or hogsheads supported by wooden poles.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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pòsda
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Quotation: an t-òganach pòsda. Notes: the best man.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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rapaire
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a man who makes a bad job of something, untidy.
Location: Harris, Finsbay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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rath
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Quotation: (1) Cha robh móran rath ann. (2) duine gun rath. Notes: (1) There wasn’t much substance in it. (2) man of no consequence.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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rathad
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Quotation: Cha ghleidh an rathad e. Notes: “The road will not hold him.” Said of drunk man.
Location: Tiree, [Caolas? – one slip]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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rathadach
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Quotation: duine rathadach. Notes: a man of substance. (?)
Location: North Uist, Bayhead, Kylis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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righinn
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[ˈrĩəṉ] Quot.: “Cho righinn ris a’ bhìth amh.” Note: also “duine righinn” – a tough, inflexible man.
Origin: [Ness]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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rusgadh
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Air tus gearradh a’ bhlair le spaid, agus na dheidh sin a to’airt air falbh nam plocan uachdrach le cablair. Turfing – first cutting long ways and crossways by spade, after which the turf is removed by flatter-spade, sketch of which is shown. Tha nis an t-ullachadh deanta arirson buain na moine le taraisgil – aon fhear a’ gearradh is fear eile a’ sgaoiladh [sic] mach na moine air a’ bhlar. The way is now prepared for cutting and casting the peat by tusk – one man cutting and another spreading out the peat on the moss.
Origin: Cataobh [Sutherland – probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
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ròmhan
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[rɔ̃:ɑṉ] Quotation: Leig e ròmhan as. Notes: “ròmhanaich” used of the roaring of a bull. Above used of a man.
Origin: Kinlochourn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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rùtas-bodaich
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nasty old man (N. Ins.).
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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saigeannach
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Notes: a stockily-built man. Also duine saigeanta.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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saigeanta
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Quotation: duine saigeanta. Notes: a stockily-built man.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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salbhair
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[sɑlɑvɑð] Note: a very big man; a very big object or animal – “salbhair de chlach, de throsg”.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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scràbadh
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Quotation: “Nuair a bha iad a’ scràbadh airson d’athair bha thusa fiachainn seotal na ciste” (to the son of a drowned man). Notes: (Keose) The grappling irons were called scràban (?). Not in Dw.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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sean chramail
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an old man. [NOTES: ‘sean’ corrected to ‘seann’.]
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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seanacheann
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a wise old man.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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searrastair
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Note: a very tall man.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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seibheilteach
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tall man.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris,Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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seideanta
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in reference to old, chubby, contented man – “Bodach seideanta”.
Location: South Uist, Milton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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seodulach
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large wooden spade shod with iron. Used by man who laid and smoothed furrows in days of first ploughs.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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sgailc
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Quotation: “Man a tha na mnathan-luaidh sin gu bhith fàgail duine ann a sgailc” – reported by my mother (1961) as the sort of remark her mother would sometimes make about the waulking women, if they did not turn up in time. Notes: (Keose) quandary. Not in Dw. in this sense.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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sgairt
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Quot.: “Duine leis a sgairt brist.” Note: a man with hernia.
Location: Harris, Grosebay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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sgealb
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an active, good-looking man. Similar to ‘pìos’ used in Lewis.
Location: North Uist, Carinish, Trianaid House
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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sgrìob
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[sɡriib̥] Quotation: air sgrìob man cuairt. Notes: a trip to somewhere.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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sguidealar (na duthcha)
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person never in one place, loose living man.
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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sibeal
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tall man.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
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sifeir
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a tall thin man.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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sigeann
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[ʃiɡʹən̪] Quotation: duine gun sigeann. Notes: an unpleasant man.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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sileadh
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a small seat in the back of a boat which was used by the man who baited the creels.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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singilte
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Duine singilte. – A tall man and very, very slender.
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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siochaire
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a wretch of a man.
Location: Harris, Borisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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siofair
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a tall man.
Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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sloc sàbhaidh
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this was the place where two men would cut large beams of wood. The wood would be placed across a stone wall. Then on each side there was an indentation in the ground where each made [sic] [man?] stood, so as not to move when they were sawing the wood. Ensured that it was a reasonably straight cut.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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sluaist
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worked by one man in cutting and spreading out.
Origin: Cataobh [Sutherland – probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
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smeursaich
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[sm[ĩɑ̃]ʴsiç] Quot.: “Thug e dhà na smeursaich man a bhus.” Note: a belting. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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smodaig
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used of an attractive, handsome man.
Location: Barra, Eoligarry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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snaigheagan
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[sn̪ɛ̃əɡɑ̃ṉ] Notes: slow, lazy man. A’ snaigheagan: creeping up on something.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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snoigiseach
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[sn̪ɔ̃ɡʹiʃɑx] Quotation: duine snoigiseach. Notes: huffy, touchy man.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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socharach
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Quotation: Is miosa an t-socharach na mheàrla. Notes: The man who is easily led would be liable to give everything away.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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socrach
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Quotation: duine ciùin, socrach. Notes: a quiet man.
Location: Perthshire, Killin
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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soideanach
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a big sturdy man or a creature of more than the ordinary size. Nach b’e soideanach e.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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soideanach
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a good, honest (?) man.
Origin: Lewis and Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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spallp
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a strong man.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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spatogha
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a well-dressed man, a ‘swell’.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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speirbhiseach
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[spɤðɤviʃɔx] Quot.: duine speirbhiseach. Note: a dapper man (neat and tidy).
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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speisealta
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applied to a young man approaching full manhood. Also ‘spealta’.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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splioghaire
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[splwɣəðə] Note: a tall, bony man.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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spliongaire
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[splw̃ŋɡəðə] Notes: a tall thin man.
Location: Ross-shire, Aultbea
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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spliongan
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a man of small slender frame.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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spàgach
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Quotation: duine spàgach. Notes: splay-footed man.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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sradagach
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applies to a man whose temper is easily roused.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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staghan
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a man with his head back and stomach forward is said to have a ‘staghan’.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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staileann
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stockily built man.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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starachdach
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Quotation: duine starachdach. Notes: a perverse man; a man not easy to get on with.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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steall
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Quotation: steall-bainnseadh [ʃtʹɑu̜ɫbɑ̃ĩʃəɣ]. Notes: a man who would go to a wedding without being asked. [NOTES: slipped under ‘steall-bainnseadh’.]
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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steàrrsach
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Quot.: “Fhuair e na steàrrsaich man an tóin.” Note: a severe skelp.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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strolamus
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a mixture. (Urquhart) (brolamus) When the drover asked the Glenurquhart man what he fed the stirk on he said “striolamus, strolamus, plaoisg batàt’ is a h-uile mosgal”.
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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stuaidh
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Quotation: duine gun stuaidh. Notes: a passive man, a man without forcefulness, drive.
Location: Ross-shire, Aultbea
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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suap
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[su̜ɑp] Quot.: “suap de dhuine mór”. Note: a big ungainly man.
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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suarach
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Quotation: duine suarach. Notes: worthless, paltry man.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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sàileach
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Notes: a Kintail man.
Origin: Camusluanie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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sàmhach
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Quotation: duine sàmhach. Notes: a quiet man.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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sár
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Quotation: Na tabhair do t-sár fhacal. Notes: cf. A wise man holdeth his tongue till afterwards.
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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séis
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Quotation: gille-ceann-séiseadh. Notes: a flunky in a household, e.g. an unmarried man staying with his married brother.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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sógh
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[so:ɣ] Quot.: “bodach air shógh”. Note: a contented old man.
Origin: [Ness]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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sùrdail
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[su̜:rt̪ɑl] Quotation: duine sùrdail. Notes: bright and entertaining man.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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tacharra
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a small, grey man.
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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taghairm
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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
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taibhs
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Quotation: Tha taibhs aig an duine sin. Notes: That man has the second sight.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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talmhag
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man-made cave used as hiding place or for shelter.
Origin: ‘Islay connections’
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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taraisgil
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tusk – one man cutting, and another spreading out the peats on the moss.
Origin: Cataobh [Sutherland – probably meant as the county not origin]
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
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thig
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Quotation: duine a’ tighinn ris fhéin. Thàinig i rithe fhéin. Notes: a man committing suicide.
Location: Skye?, Braes, Baile Meadhonach
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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thuige
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Quotation: Dé man a tha sibh? Chaneil mi ach thuige ’s bhuaithe. Notes: off and on.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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tog
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Quotation: Tha mi a dol a thogail uime. Na thog thu man a bhuntàta? Notes: building up on either side of the potato shaws with earth.
Location: Skye, Glasnakille
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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toinndean
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Quot.: “toinndean cloimh”. Note: a tuft of wool. (Old man said of a sheep he had been looking for but couldn’t find: “Chan fhaca mi toinndean a bha ’na druim.”)
Origin: [Caversta]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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tom-uragaidh
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Notes: disgruntled, surly man (main stress on ‘ura’, with svarabhakti trill). Not in Dw.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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tonaisg
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[t̪ɔ̃ṉeʃɡʹ] Quotation: duine gun tonaisg. Notes: a man without sense.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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toraisgean-ghallach
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[t̪ɔɾɑʃɡʹəṉɣɑɫɑx] Notes: Caithness tusker, worked by one man.
Origin: Coigach
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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torclosach
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man with big ears.
Location: [Harris], Leverburgh, Kintulavaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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tuaireabach
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Quotation: duine tuaireabach. Notes: a man inclined to cause dissension.
Location: Skye?, Braes, Baile Meadhonach
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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tuileanach
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(?) Polish man __ ’ fuireachd aig an eaglais againne __ ò tha ~ a th’ ann
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Broadcove
Category: Field Notebooks of Seosamh Watson June-August 1983
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tuilear
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[ṯu̟lɔɾ] Quot.: duine tuilear. Note: overweight man.
Origin: [Caversta]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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tàbharneach de dhuine
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apparition or ghost of a man.
Location: Harris, Borisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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tóiseal
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[to:ʃɑl] Quotation: duine tóiseal. Notes: tidy man. P. Wemyss localism.
Origin: Port Wemyss
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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tùir
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Quotation: duine gun tùir. Notes: unskilful man.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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tùr
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Quotation: Duine gun tùr – a man without inventiveness.
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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uaisle
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Quotation: uaisle gun chur leis. Notes: a man ostensibly of considerable means but who in fact had little.
Location: Tiree, Heylipool [sic]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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àth
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Quotation: “Bath m’ath’s bhathainn’s i nam bu t-ath’s i.” Notes: supposed to be a test of strangers: if he thought you were talking double-Dutch, he evidently had no Gaelic. It was meant to be said as one long word, which a man used to call for help from his neighbour when his KILN was on fire.
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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èispal
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a silly man.
Location: Glasgow
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
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òganach
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Quotation: an t-òganach pòsda. Notes: best-man.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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ùrtan/òrtan/nòrtan
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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
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‘gille ceann beinge’
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some man that takes up residence in his bride’s home. Supposedly, always an outsider thus not getting near the fire but sitting on the ‘beinge’ as when he was a mere suitor.
Location: Na Hearadh, Gòbhaig [Harris, Gobhaig]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
