-
[boc]
-
Aon air buicean / Dhà air buicean / Maide sùirn / Cul an duirn / Cearc bheag / Bhiorach bhàn / Rug an t-ubh / Air a’ spàr / Bhrist’ e mus an ruig e làr / Cunnt romhaid s ’as do dheigh / Cia mheud adharc th’ air a Bhoc. A game played by two: ‘tormentor’ sits in a chair, ‘tormented’ sits on the floor between the tormentor’s knees. Tormentor, while repeating the refrain, sustains a constant knocking with his knuckles on the tormented’s head. Whenever the refrain is finished, the tormentor’s hand is placed on the tormented’s head. The tormented has to guess how many horns the Buck may have. A clenched fist – maol am boc. One finger – one horn, aon arc. Two fingers – two horns, da. Three fingers – three horns, trì. Four fingers – four horns, ceithir. Five fingers – five horns, coig arcan. The game continues until the tormented guesses the number of horns correctly. The players then change places. Tormentor v tormented or king v subject or officer v soldier or uachdran v iochdran.
Location: Leodhas [Lewis], an taobh siar
Category: Cur-seachadan: Dèideagan, Geamaichean is Farpaisean / Recreation: Toys, Games, Contests
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[burns]
-
Burns: cold water – by simply dipping the burnt finger
immediately in cold water.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
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[fingers]
-
Thumb and four fingers: ordag, meurag (miarag), gille fada, mac an aba, gircean.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[fingers]
-
Ordag, miarag, gille fada, macanaba, ’s girgean – the five fingers.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
[fingers]
-
The fingers: òrdag, miarag, gille fada, macanAba, girgean (?), ludag (?).
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[fingers]
-
Òrdag, miarag, gille fada, mac-an-aba, girgean – the five fingers.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[lorg]
-
Lorgan chorrag. Finger prints. [NOTE in second hand: not correct; lorg is mark of foot or hoof – only.]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[sigeach]
-
A’ gearradh nan sigeachan. – Snapping the fingers.
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[òrdag]
-
The fingers of a hand: òrdag, miarag, gille fada, macanAba, girgean.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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alltair
-
movement of the fingers.
Origin: Uibhisteach [Uist]
Category: Pìobaireachd / Piping
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a’ stalag
-
to snap your fingers.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bibli, bibli, boan (interj.)
-
term used to draw, introduce, the attention of a baby by touching the entertainer’s lips, thence touching the baby with the fingers to revive him to humour.
Location: [Harris], Scalpaigh [Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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builgeag-fhola
-
Notes: a small bubble of blood that forms when one hits one’s finger with a heavy object.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
bàrr
-
Quotation: na barran. Notes: lumps which appeared inside the throat – could be cured by some people with their finger (cf. bàrr a’ chinn, Tiree).
Location: Canada, Christmas Island
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bàrr-a-chorragan
-
on his fingertips.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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calcadh
-
Notes: tough (dead) vegetable matter met with half way down when cutting peat. Have to take it off the blade with the fingers.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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cathtag
-
small amount between the fingers as oatmeal. Cuir cathtag mhineadh air. When fish or something boiling in a pot to make it or the water more to the thickness or solidity required, a cathtag mhineadh is suggested but perhaps this is it also: yes! when something in the mixture of gruel is too much of a liquid form, an additional small amount of oatmeal is recommended.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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cearrag
-
Notes: the first finger after thumb.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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cliath luth
-
nine fingers on the chanter.
Location: Barra, Eoligarry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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cliut
-
a person void of the full use of a hand with a couple of fingers missing. Cliutach – the handicap effects.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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cliutag
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[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
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cnothag
-
Snapping of the fingers.
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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coch-theinnich
-
[koxˈhĩnʹiç] Notes: steel grip which went over the back of the fingers for striking flint.
Location: Tiree, Cornaigbeg
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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corag
-
[kɔɾɑɡ] Notes: finger.
Origin: Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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corra-chamag
-
locking your finger in order to cast a shadow on the wall. Used by children to taunt each other.
Location: Barra, Earsharry [Earsary]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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corrag
-
[kɔrɑɡ] Notes: finger.
Origin: Drumguish, by Kingussie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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corrag
-
Quotation: An òrdag, ’S a chorrag, ’S a mheur-fhada, ’S nic-an-t-sraididh, ’S lughdag bheag an airgid! Notes: the fingers. Probably the lughdag had the rings of silver before Marriage. Nic-an-t-sraididh – fireworks (!) looking for a ring?
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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crionag
-
little finger. ‘Crìon’, small.
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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crionag
-
[kɾĩɤ̃ṉɑɡ] Quotation: a’ chrionag. Notes: little finger. “Lùdag” also used.
Origin: Glenurquhart
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cromadh
-
measurement of tweed usually from the tip of the middle finger to the knuckle joint.
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cromadh
-
a measurement of tobacco, about four inches long. Usually measured by using your middle finger, taking the length between the knuckle and the fingertip as measuring four inches. Women used this measurement when knitting socks.
Location: North Uist, Iollaraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cromadh
-
a measurement in waulking tradition. Part of or all of index finger used to measure the amount which the wool had to contract. Informant not sure as regards exact measurement. Would it be the same type of measurement as was used in measuring tobacco?
Location: Barra, Eoligarry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
cromadh
-
[kɾoməɣ] Note: measure used for measuring the width of tweed when waulking. From the tip of the finger (middle) to the knuckle.
Location: Harris, Quidinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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cromadh
-
Note: the length of the middle finger, used in measuring a length of cloth.
Location: [Lewis], South Lochs, Caversta
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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cromadh
-
Notes: A unit for measuring cloth – middle finger from tip to knuckle.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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cromadh
-
Note: length from the tip of the middle finger to the knuckle.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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cruaidh
-
tips of fingers pressed together with thumb as test of cold. Ma ni thu cruaidh chan-eil do làmh fuar.
Location: ? [Eriskay – see below]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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cruimhean
-
[kɾũ̟ĩɑṉ] Quot.: “Feuch an dean thu cruimhean.” Note: bringing the tips of the fingers and the thumb together. Very difficult to do if the hands are cold.
Location: Lewis, Uig, Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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crumha-cait
-
Notes: when the tips of the fingers and thumb are brought together, and placed on a soft or dusty suface, they form the imprint of a cat’s paw. This is known as crumha-cait.
Location: Tiree, [Caolas? – one slip]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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crumhagan
-
[kɾũ̟əɡɑ̃ṉ] Quot.: “Feuch an dean thu crumhagan.” Note: This was a test carried out by children on a very cold day to see who was the hardiest. One tried to get all the tips of fingers and the thumb together – very difficult if the hand is benumbed with the cold.
Origin: Ness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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crumhagan
-
[ˈkɾũ̟əɡɑṉ] Quot.: “Feuch an dean thu crumhagan.” Note: bring the tips of the fingers and thumb together – difficult if hand is cold. Also: “crumhagan min”, “crumhagan siùcair” – the amount one would lift between the tips of the fingers and thumb.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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crùdan
-
Quotation: Nach ann oirbh a tha na crùdanan [kɾu̜:d̪ɑṉəṉ]. Notes: used of fingers which are up to mischief, e.g. children’s.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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crùgan
-
an amount of flour for example which you can lift with your fingers closed together.
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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cuaran
-
Notes: leather covering on a finger – like the finger of a glove.
Location: Canada, Christmas Island
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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cuaran
-
a leather stookie for an injured finger. Like the finger of a glove and tied behind the wrist with a leather strap.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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cuaran
-
a shoe of untanned hide. Have personally not heard this previously in this sense, only in the sense of a lint or leather bandage tied to a damaged finger.
Location: South Uist, Smerclete
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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cuaran
-
finger bandage. Could also be applied as the term for a small slipper or light shoe.
Origin: [Note: From North Uist, information from Alex O’Henley / RÓM 4 Dec 2023]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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daorach
-
drunkenness. Try to make the drunken person vomit by giving him cold tea. If mortal drunk, by pouring cold water on his face, getting the drunken person to put his fingers into his gullet, the two fingers, the pointer and adjacent finger, to make him vomit and get the contents, the liquid, the whisky off his stomach. Salt water, water mixed with salt, was also recommended (this was a past cure of earlier, former days).
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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deisleam
-
infection on the fingertip. Whittle. [NOTES: corrected to ‘dèisleam’.]
Origin: [Note: From North Uist, information from Alex O’Henley / RÓM 4 Dec 2023]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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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
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duilleag-druisidh
-
bramble leaves. Used as a poultice to take thorns out of fingers, skin.
Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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dà lùth
-
2-fingered movement.
Origin: Uibhisteach [Uist]
Category: Pìobaireachd / Piping
-
dèirceinn
-
blister or lump between the fingers.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
feadan
-
[ɸẹẹdɑ˖n] Notes: chanter on which fingers produce music.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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figeann
-
[fıɡən̪] Quotation: an fhigeann. Notes: fingernail. [fĩ:nʹə] also used. Pl. [fıɡən̪əṉ]; [fĩ:nʹəṉ].
Location: Tiree, Heylipool [sic]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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fliopar
-
Quotation: Thug mi dha fliopar. Notes: “I gave him a flap with my hand.” A type of blow formed by flipping one’s fingers across, for example, a dog’s nose.
Location: Tiree, [Caolas? – one slip]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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forc
-
cramp (as in fingers, etc.).
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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frìdeag
-
[fɾı:dʹɑɡ] Quotation: An òrdag, a’ sgròbag, Mairi fada, Mac an Aba, frìdeag. Notes: the little finger.
Location: Ross-shire, Achiltibuie, Alltan Dubh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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frìsligeadh
-
Notes: probing with the fingers.
Location: Lewis, Swainbost
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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fàinne
-
Quot.: a’ deanamh fàinne a’ cholair. Note: straw part collar made by winding “sioman” round a core of straw, [kɑ̃ũ̜ɫɑx]. When it was long enough, the two ends were brought together so that it formed the shape of the collar. It was judged to be of the right size if the arm fitted into it with fingers outstretched, the elbow resting inside the base and the tips of the fingers touching the top where the two ends met. Probably the core of the collar.
Origin: Scarista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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fìogna
-
[fĩ:nʹə] Notes: fingernail. Pl. [fĩ:nʹəṉ]. [fıɡən̪], [fıɡən̪əṉ] also used.
Location: Tiree, Heylipool [sic]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
glas lùth
-
[tick] locking your finger.
Origin: Uibhisteach [Uist]
Category: Pìobaireachd / Piping
-
gàgan
-
a crack on the hand, fingers. Brought on by working excessively with one particular implement such as a ‘cròcan’. Could also be brought on by working with dry seaweed or tangles.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
géideadh (pronounced)
-
biting, pricking. Bha e dha ghéideadh. – when two youngsters or [sic] [are?] out of tune, say, one retaliates by a ‘finger stabbing’ approach or movement.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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ionghainn
-
[jw̃ɣĩnʹ] Notes: a fingernail.
Origin: Glenurquhart
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
ionglach
-
pain in fingers from cold (N.E.); Lewis: é alaich; Uist: è alaich (spelt from sound); péileadh (Perths.).
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
iongna
-
[jw̃:ṉə] Notes: fingernail.
Origin: Drumguish, by Kingussie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
iongna
-
[jũ̜ĩnʹ] Quotation: pl. [jũ̜:nʹəṉ]. Notes: fingernail.
Origin: Sutherland, Embo
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
iteag-iteag!
-
exclamation to indicate heat (e.g. fingers in hot water, on embers, etc.)
Origin: Leódhas, An Rudha [Lewis, Rudha]
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
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leum luath
-
finger pulses. These terms derive from harp music, some of which were adopted into piping in the 17th c. [?].
Origin: Uibhisteach [Uist]
Category: Pìobaireachd / Piping
-
liacradh
-
Quotation: liacradh an ime, ‘spreading … with finger’; ìm air a liacradh air. Notes: liacradh rather than sliacradh in 2nd instance, since no initial breathing seemed present. Not in Dw. but he gives liacadh ‘besmearing’.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
lungag (bheag)
-
sling made from a piece of leather, to hold a stone, and two strings, one looped to go on the forefinger and the end of the other knotted to hold between forefinger and thumb. It was swung round the head until sufficient momentum was obtained and then the knotted end was released allowing the stone to fly off.
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Cur-seachadan: Dèideagan, Geamaichean is Farpaisean / Recreation: Toys, Games, Contests
-
lùdag
-
possibly the little finger. (?)
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
lùdan
-
Notes: the little finger.
Location: Ross-shire, Achiltibuie, Alltan Dubh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
martainnaich
-
hacks on your fingers. I would refer to these as ‘gàgan’.
Location: North Uist, Sollas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
meur
-
[mɛ̃:r] Quotation: pl. [mjɔ̃:ɾəṉ]. Notes: a finger.
Location: Sutherland, Embo
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
meur
-
[mɛ̃:ɾ] Notes: finger.
Origin: Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
meòirean
-
points of fingers.
Location: Glen Lyon
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
mùdan
-
fingers feeling in dark.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
na ruifeanaich
-
Quotation: frayed skin at cuticle-edge on fingers. Source: Lewis usage recalled. Date: noted 14/05/1983.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
neathalaich
-
pins and needles (cold fingers placed on something hot).
Location: Na Hearadh, Gòbhaig [Harris, Gobhaig]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
port-an-aillean
-
[pɔʴsṯəṉˈɑlʹɑṉ] Note: also used (as well as gìbean (pl.) [q.v.]) for hollow under the ear. Could hurt a person badly by pressing fingers and thumb into both. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
richeanach
-
ragnails, ragged skin at base of finger-nails (N.E.); rifeineach (Uist); righinneach (Arran, Kintyre, etc.). Slender “ch” commonly reduced to gh.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
riofanaich
-
[rwfɑṉiç] Note: broken skin behind fingernails.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
riofanaich (na)
-
Notes: loose ends of skin about base of fingernails (especially common in boys!). Not in Dw. Source: Lewis usage recalled (D.S.T.). Date: 1974.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
ràis
-
Notes: from the tip of the middle finger to the thumb, stretched.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
ràis
-
[rɑ:ʃ] Note: a measure. Length between tip of the thumb and the tip of the index finger.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
rèis
-
this was the measurement by which the wool had to contract during waulking. Approx. the length of the middle finger.
Location: South Uist, South Glendale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
sgaileag
-
[sɡɑlɑɡ] Notes: nail of the middle finger on inside of thumb and released.
Location: North Uist, Bayhead, Kylis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
sgroileag
-
[sɡɾɔilɑɡ] Notes: word used for twine wound as as [sic] round fingers.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
sgròbag
-
Quotation: An òrdag, a’ sgròbag, Mairi fada, Mac an Aba, frìdeag. Notes: the index finger.
Location: Ross-shire, Achiltibuie, Alltan Dubh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
struichdain srùichdain
-
[?] oir [or?] gàgan [q.v.], crevices or breakings between the fingers.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
-
tafann
-
chase (as hounds); swift play of fingers (as piper); a’ tafann air – urging on.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
toinndean
-
[t̪[ɤ̃ĩ]dʹɑ̃ṉ] Quot.: “toinndean cloimh”. Note: as much as one could lift between the fingers. Tuft of wool, etc.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
tomhadh
-
Quotation: Airson rud a thomhadh dhut; na bi tomhadh do chorraig ris (pointing your finger at him). Notes: a’ tomhadh rud air duine – pressing something on someone.
Location: Raasay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
trì lùth
-
3-fingered movement corrupted into ‘taor luath’.
Origin: Uibhisteach [Uist]
Category: Pìobaireachd / Piping
-
òdagan
-
fingers.
Location: Harris, Sgarastamhor
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
òdanan
-
fingers.
Location: [Harris], Leverburgh, Kintulavaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
ódan
-
Note: “ódanan” understood as the backs of the fingers. Usually used when hurting was involved. “Gheibh thu mu na-ódanan i.”
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous