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2. The actual work performed, e.g. transporting seaweed/manure to field

Location: [Arran? see the comment under 3]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

2. The actual work performed, e.g. transporting seaweed/manure to field

Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

2. The actual work performed, e.g. transporting seaweed/manure to field

Origin: Ross and Cromarty, Lewis
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

2. The actual work performed, e.g. transporting seaweed/manure to field

Origin: Tiree
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

2. The actual work performed, e.g. transporting seaweed/manure to field [NOTES: changed to (b) by Mr MacDonald, who must have missed (1) above.]

Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

6. Spring work

Location: [Arran? see the comment under 3]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

6. Spring work

Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

6. Spring work

Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

6. Spring work

Origin: Ross and Cromarty, Lewis
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

6. Spring work

Origin: Tiree
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

7. Summer work

Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

7. Summer work

Location: [Arran? see the comment under 3]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

7. Summer work

Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

7. Summer work

Origin: Ross and Cromarty, Lewis
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

7. Summer work

Origin: Tiree
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

8. Autumn work

Location: [Arran? see the comment under 3]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

8. Autumn work

Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

8. Autumn work

Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

8. Autumn work

Origin: Ross and Cromarty, Lewis
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

8. Autumn work

Origin: Tiree
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

9. Winter work

Location: [Arran? see the comment under 3]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

9. Winter work

Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

9. Winter work

Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

9. Winter work

Origin: Ross and Cromarty, Lewis
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

9. Winter work

Origin: Tiree
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

A’ chiad steall a thig as a’ mharaig is teotha

this was a saying used for someone who started a day’s work with great vigour but by afternoon the zest had diminished.

Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

Mios crochadh nan cliabh

February as opposed to previous contribution which said this month was May. Little or no work done due to the severity of the weather conditions. February also known as the ‘Mios Mharbh’.

Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

Na bidh gun chù, ’s na beathaich cuillain

in other words buy a dog that is old enough to work.

Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

[bladh]

Obair gun bhladh – useless work.

Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

[buadhchar]

Buadhchar an deireadh a’ bhainne. Literally dirt getting into the milk when you had filled the pail, therefore spoiling all the contents. Like the above saying [cf. cleibideag] it could mean undoing the good work done up till then.

Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

[buidseachd]

Tha buidseachd air an obair. – The work is cursed, going awry.

Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

[cleasachd]

Droch chleasachd. Dirty work.

Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

[cleibideag]

“Millidh aon chleibideag a’ chuinneag” Literally one speck of dirt will spoil the rest of the milk in the pail. In a wider sense one mistake will undo the good work done by others. N.B. I think ‘cleibideag’ should mean a mishap and therefore could lead to the whole pail being spilt.

Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

[feannadh]

Anns an Earrach bithidh sinn a feannadh na monadh. Cuid a bhios toirt barrach feantachd air cuid eile. Ann a bitheantas da throidh air son ochd foid. Aon uair bhiodh deichnear de sgipe a buain fat latha ach se siath a bhios ann an nis. Ma bhios an tide tioram bi sinn a togail na monadh ann an da sheachuin. Bidh sinn a ris ga rudhadh agus a ris a cruachadh. Mar is trice bidhidh sinn a tathadh nan cruach mur a bidh sinn ga toirt dhachaidh. Se an taisig is smiosa le torr opair chruidh nuair nach eil a tide math. Cutting off the top turf. Some cut the turf wider than others. Usually it is 24" wide giving 8 peat per cutting. Once there used to be ten 5 irons with two to each but now it’s usually 3 irons 6. If the weather is dry we lift the peats into small stacks in two weeks then bigger stacks and then again the bigger stacks for the winter. We thatch the stacks to keep them dry, that’s unless we are ferrying it home right away as some now do. The ferrying is hard work when the weather is not favourable.

Origin: Inbhirnis [Inverness – most probably meant as the county]
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working

[funeral custom]

When a death occurred in a village, all work was suspended until after the funeral. It was strictly forbidden to delve in soil, or even to turn a sod over.

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

[làmh]

Cha deacha làmh a thoirt air fhathast. – No work has started on it yet.

Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

[obair]

Chaidh mi bho obair, bho fheum. I was past work and useless.

Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

[obair]

Obair is ath obair. Useless repetition of work.

Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

[peircean]

“Cuiridh peircean na caorach an crann air an fharadh.” A saying which predicts that sheep rearing will lead to the demise of traditional croft work due to the minimal amount of labour involved.

Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

[sannt]

Chan ’eil sannt gniomha orm. I am not inclined to work.

Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

[slabhraidh]

Stioman dh’obair shlabhraidh. Wreaths of chain work.

Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

[uaibhreachas]

Lan uaibhreachais nad shaothair. Full of pride in thy work.

Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

[uaibhreachas]

Lan uaibhreachais nad Shaothair. Full of pride in their work.

Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

[éirich]

Dh’eirich e air an obair. He started the work. [NOTE in second hand: (in earnest).]

Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

a cuir a dath a cheile

to work something out. [NOTES: ‘a dath’ corrected to ‘an dath’.]

Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

acfhuinneach

Notes: energetic; having a capacity for hard work.

Location: Applecross
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

aig a’ mhòine

engaged in peat work.

Location: An t-Eilean Sgiathanach, Portrigh [Skye, Portree]
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working

air mhithairt

leaving someone dissatisfied, e.g. with work which was not completed properly. “Bha e air fhàgail air mhithairt.”

Location: Barra, Ard Mhinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

air mhuinntearas

refers to the practice of young women going to work in big houses on mainland. “Bha iad air mhuinntearas aig a leithid seo a theaghlach.”

Location: North Uist, Carinish, Trianaid House
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

aireag

skilled hand-work; Old Gael. airecc, airice.

Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

airean (m)

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

an ceum toisich

being ahead of your neighbours in doing work around the croft. “Na biodh an ceum toisich agad idir.”

Location: North Uist, Tigharry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

an treabhadh

spring work. Common term for this district.

Origin: Ross and Cromarty, Lewis
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

an àiteach

spring work.

Origin: Ross and Cromarty, Lewis
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

anns a’ mhòine

engaged in peat work.

Location: An t-Eilean Sgiathanach, Portrigh [Skye, Portree]
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working

a’ caoineachdainn

Work involved in ‘ripening’ of hay.

Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

a’ cruachadh

building into seven foot ‘beehive structures’; this will be brought home at the woman’s leisure during good days in Autumn, Winter and Spring; few do this nowadays. Their work on the ‘sliabh’ halts at ‘tòrr’ [q.v.] at which stage the tractor is called into action.

Origin: Leódhas, An Rudha [Lewis, Rudha]
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working

a’ deanamh sobhail

this meant the winter’s work in the barn – preparing the barley and oats for milling.

Origin: Eileanaich [natives of Lewis]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings

banais taighe

this word supplied by Mrs C. O’Henley, Garrynamonie, South Uist. The night after a wedding reception celebrants invite those friends who could not attend the wedding due to work commitments to a house wedding. Also other friends and favourites invited.

Location: North Uist, Blàsheabhal [Blashaval]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

bargan

Quotation: mòine bhargain [vɑɾɑɡɑ̃nʹ]. Notes: peats cut on piece-work for the distilleries or farms.

Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

beannhnag

[?] a piece of cotton cloth wound round the head to keep the hair tidy when at work. Resembling the head-scarves of today but much smaller.

Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

bord tuarnair

the dining table – joiner-made with turned legs and drawer – as opposed to the home-made work table. I think I also heard ‘leabaidh tuarnair’.

Origin: Eileanaich [natives of Lewis]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings

brath

Quotation: “Bheil brath aige air obair?” – has he any word (information) about work. “Bha iad ag radh gur h-esan a bhrath air…” – acted the traitor. Brath – treachery.

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

bridheagan

(of cliabh) The gaps left in the wicker-work.

Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

bualadh

describes the work done with the ‘suist’ [q.v.], which was used to grind the corn, etc.

Origin: Na Hearadh [Harris]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

bun

Quot.: “’S ann agad a tha’m bun obair a’ deanamh sin.” Note: work that will not come to any fruition.

Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

bòrd

Quotation: bòrd obair. Notes: work bench.

Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

bòrd an dreasair

the top or work surface of the dresser.

Origin: Eileanaich [natives of Lewis]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings

cabair a’ chleibh

(creel) Stakes forming frame work.

Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

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

cairbhist

work undertaken for the benefit of the landlord.

Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

calanadh

preparation of tweed making, from the first stage in the work until the final finished cloth. Nì i cìreadh ’s nì i calanadh.

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

car

Quotation: “Chan eil e deanamh car.” Notes: ‘Car’ in the sense of work.

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

car obair

A turn of work – performance.

Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

car-seicidh

[kɑɾseci] Notes: coarse jacket for everyday work made of canvas-like material. Often used at threshing time.

Origin: Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

carcair

width of cut. It was never more than an average person’s throw. This was a strong tradition as it was communal work.

Location: Lewis, Carloway
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working

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

ciorachan

a man who does a woman’s work.

Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
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

clach ghlas

as opposed to ‘clachan goinneal [q.v.]’, these rocks were not so dark, nor were they so difficult to work with.

Location: South Uist, Milton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

cliabh

wicker-work basket supported by a rope or band round the chest and shoulders.

Origin: Lewis, Back or Lewis, Back
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working

conochdag

[kɔ̃nɔxkɑɡ] Quot.: “a’ seinn na conochdag”, “a’ séideadh na conochdag”. Note: a village horn was used in Bragar and Arnol until comparatively recently (prob. before the war) for a cessation of work outside. Could be for a death or before the weekly prayer-meeting or early on Saturday evening.

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

craimp

[kɾɛ̃mp] Quotation: craimp-dùirn – small clamp; craimp-mhór – big clamp. Notes: for joinery work.

Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

cuibhleir

machine for coiling ropes in a boat especially in a fishing boat; can also be applied to a youth engaged in the work of coiling the length of rope to which nets are fastened, in the process of hauling fishing nets.

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

cuir

vb ‘put’: past: ch. iad mun cuairt; ch. sinn às dha sa mhionaid; cond.: dhèanainn rud sam bith anns an ~inn mo làmh; vbl nn.: bha seo a’ cur air uamhasach;bha e ’ cur sìos air an àite ‘denegrate’;  bha e ‘ cur air nach d’fhuair e an tuagh a chur dhachaigh; cha toigh leamsa cur sìos air duine; chaidh an surgery work sin a chur ormsa aig naoi uairean a dh’ oidhche; tha mi ‘ dol a chur a’ chinn dhiubh; chaidh an ceann a chur dhith

Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Broadcove
Category: Field Notebooks of Seosamh Watson June-August 1983

dealbh

Notes: a photo or picture. Also applied to the weaver’s work: “Dhealbh e an clódh.”

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

deireadh bhuainn

refers to the custom of having a few drinks at the local inn after the harvest work had been done.

Location: North Uist, Grimsay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

dorsaireachd

literally walking between doors. Not going further than your house. Would be used on a rainy day when outdoor work was cancelled. “Cha robh mi ach a dorsaireachd mun taigh fad an latha.”

Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

drobhaireachd

‘drover work’, work in connection with cattle, selling and buying cattle.

Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

drungan

easy. Drugan [sic] oibreach – little work, in a slow motion. [NOTES: Slipped under ‘drungan/drugan’ with a comment ‘has both – which correct?’ Definition: Easy; little work – “in a slow motion”.]

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

drup (m)

sound of work in house (N.E.).

Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

drèibh

[d̪ɾɛ:v] Notes: a sluggard, slow-coach; e.g. someone who is always behind with spring work, autumn work.

Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

earball-sàile

Quotation: Bidh ’n còmhnaidh earball-sàile air a’ chuid obrach. Notes: His work is always unfinished.

Origin: [North Uist?]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

earraig

difficult job of work (Lewis).

Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

eideis

pointless. Would be said of pointless work. “’Se eideis obrach a bh’ann.” [NOTES: ‘supplied by Torcuil MacRae, North Lochs, Lewis.’]

Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

eàrrlais

[ȷɑ:ʴliʃ] Quot.: “Bhiodh clann-nighean a’ sgadain a’ faighinn eàrrlais mas tòisicheadh iad ag obair.” Note: an advance payment, say 10/-, before starting work on the herring. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]

Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

fearail

Quot.: boirionnach fearail. Note: a woman who is good at men’s work.

Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

feitheamh-na-h-uaireach

attending the hours, as workmen, etc.; work-a-day hours, etc.

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

feur air ghréitheadh

hay that was well dried, and thereby easy to work with.

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

fifeanach

[ɸiɸɑ˖nɑx] Notes: idle work; unsettled, restless.

Location: Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

foileadh

[ɸɔ̣lʹəɣ] Quotation: foileadh de dh obair. Notes: useless work. [NOTES: slipped under ‘(f)eocladh’.]

Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

fùidearachd

senseless, pointless work.

Location: Benbecula, Muir of Aird
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

gearran

Notes: 2 yr old male, before it matures. “’S math an gearran a chumas a’ bhraim gu feasgar.” He wouldn’t start to play about until the work was finished.

Origin: Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

gifealais

[ɡʹiɸɛlʹɑ̣˖ʃ] Quotation: “Chan ’eil e ach a’ gifealais co dhiubh.” Notes: trifling work, work of little or no importance.

Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

gnachdail

knacky [sic], able to do things, work, in handyman fashion.

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

gobhlag

The confusion over “gobhlag” seems to have arisen through a wrong spelling. Did I really have “goblag” in the paper? It is in fact the “graip” of every Highland croft. I was surprised to find it included among the implements used locally because farther north it would be considered “sloppy” work to have to resort to this. (‘o’ as in ‘bó’) [NOTES: the paper Mr MacLeod refers to is most probably the peat questionnaire of Sgoil Achadh a’ Chairn (Auchtercairn School).]

Location: Ross-shire, Gairloch, Achtercairn School
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

goinneal

large, heavy rocks, black in appearance. These rocks were extremely difficult to work with.

Location: South Uist, Milton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

greiseadh

fine art work.

Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

grògach

flimsy; work as stitching canvas, etc. showing untidiness.

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

grùgach

person set aside for a special work, person doing certain work in preparatory work. In St Kildian chores such person was known as grugach [sic], in each case a female. I think myself it’s simply another pronunciation of gruagach, it derived I think from the word or words of a gruagach [q.v.].

Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

gàgach

reluctant or lazy to do work.

Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

gàgan

hacks, especially with people who work with kelp.

Origin: [South Uist]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance

géidse

Quotation: singilte, dubailte (for mortice work). Notes: guage [sic].

Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

lonrac (-an) [ionrac?]

a malingering person, pretending to be ill in order to dodge work.

Location: Skye, Bernisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

lòin

a place of work.

Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

minidh

[mĩṉĩ] Notes: small awl, cobbler’s awl, also used by joiners for fine work.

Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

mòine

Quotation: mòine bhargain [vɑɾɑɡɑ̃nʹ]. Notes: peats cut on piece – work for the distilleries or farms.

Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

obadh-oibre

a strike (cease work).

Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

obair

Quot.: “’S e obair gun bhiadh gun thuarasdal a th’agad.” Note: useless, pointless work.

Origin: Kershader
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

obair an’ earraich

spring work.

Origin: Ross and Cromarty, Lewis
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

obair eallaich

work that involved carrying heavy weights on your shoulders.

Location: South Uist, Milton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

obair iaruinn

amount of work expected of a team of two people in a day, or a certain number of yards which had to be cut before wages could be claimed.

Location: Harris, Tarbert
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working

obair inntinneach

interesting work, a work which kept the mind happy.

Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

obair is ath obair

double the work.

Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

obair seasmhach

permanent work.

Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

obair shaoghalta, mhi riatanach

work that could be done on another day. Applied to work done on a Sunday.

Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

obair-lion

[sic] net work, associated with nets, or a sort of woven process in like mesh form, communicating likewise or associating.

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

obair-na-h-ola

oil work(s).

Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

phéilipeanachadh

pilferating [sic], not full heartedly involved in doing work, only meddling. [SLIP: Not wholeheartedly engaged in doing work.]

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

piullidh

Quotation: “Se obair phiullidh a tha sud.” Notes: It is the work of Satan that it is.

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

pleidhigeadh

to be plagued with work.

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

posdaireachd

postman’s work.

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

pràbladh

probing into work.

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

pàirt

Quot.: “Tha iad ag obair ann am pàirt.” Note: said of people sharing work, e.g. communal work such as peat cutting, sheep-shearing, fishing, etc.

Location: [Lewis], South Lochs, Caversta
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

rabaireachd

untidy work.

Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

ri g’éilaidh, leagal na’ h’éilaidh

beginning of spring work; rough turning of soil with spade preparatory to sowing with barley seed. When manured, turned or ploughed again and then sown. The last crop put down in the season except perhaps veg., cabbage etc.

Origin: Ross and Cromarty, Lewis
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

riasladh

hotch potch work.

Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

riopair

a towel made of canvas and hung in the byre or the house. Used by men after coming in from a day’s work. [NOTES: note added above ‘riopair’ – ‘riobair’.]

Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

ris a’ mhòine

engaged in peat work.

Location: An t-Eilean Sgiathanach, Portrigh [Skye, Portree]
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working

ruamhar

Quotation: Nuair a bhios Ruairidh ’na thàmh, bi [sic] e a ruamhair. Notes: when he is not engaged in paid work he always finds something to do.

Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

sag

sack, dismissed out of work or sacked out of work. Fhuair e sag.

Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

saidhseadh

[s[ɤı]sɑɣ] Quotation: Nach ann ann a tha/bha ’n saidhseadh. Notes: also pronounced [sɣsɑɣ] [sic]. “Wasn’t/Isn’t there a lot of hard work or pulling and pushing.” The word seems originally to have meant the process of removing turf from the sides of ditches.

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

sean-mhaor-eòlach

(Gaelic term, Scalpay) ‘old acquaintance’ with work, or well acquainted with work, noticeable with a person approaching some work, with which people don’t know what until he shows he can master it: thus described in this.

Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

sgaid

to destroy, spoil. “Nach tu rinn a sgaid an diugh.” Also in sense of doing a great deal of work. “Nach tu rinn a sgaid obrach an diugh.”

Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

sgrotadh

[sɡɾɔt̪əɣ] Quotation: a’ sgrotadh. Notes: taking shelter. (“Chaneil iad a’ deanamh càil ach a’ sgrotadh” – said of people who avoid work – shirking.)

Location: Skye, Harlosh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

sguitlireachd

scullery work.

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

sgìos

Quot.: “Sgìos airsneulach!” Note: expression used, e.g. when a person came in from a heavy day’s work in autumn.

Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

slaic

[sɫɑiçc] Quotation: Tha sinn aig slaic. Notes: heavy work. We are being kept at it.

Origin: Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

slaidsair

someone who was not willing to do much work. A dodger, similar in meaning to ‘seotaire’.

Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

slaitseagadh

throwing about in an any old way fashion items or move about work by throwing things all over the place. [SLIP: To throw things about in haphazard fashion.]

Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

slaoid

slovenly person, inactive, slow in work and movement. Tha e falbh ann a shid ’na shlaoid.

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

slibhag

attached to peddle to work wheel.

Location: [Harris], Leverburgh, Kintulavaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

sluisearachd

dirty work of farm.

Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

smùid

pithy constant effort toward work, etc. Smùid aca air seinn, neo smùid aca air iomaradh.

Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

solaraich

Quotation: Feumaidh an duine ud solaradh airson a theaghlach. Notes: earn, procure by hard work.

Location: Skye, Portree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

srathair

[sra:ər] pad on back of work-horse, saddle. [SLIP: pannier-saddle on work-horse.]

Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle

sàbh

Quotation: sàbh-beag. Note: tenon saw with brass back for fine work. Quotation: sàbh-trasda. Note: cross-cut saw. Quotation: sàbh-sgoltaidh. Note: rip-saw. Quotation: sàbh-cruinn. Note: very small saw used for curves. Quotation: sàbh-mór. Note: two-handed saw. Used in sawing logs in the sawpit – one person on top of the pit, the other on the ground.

Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

sàbh

Quotation: a’ sàbh mór. Notes: two handed saw for rough work.

Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

sìaban bog

a jelly like substance obtained from mainland. Worked into the cloth during waulking. Made it more supple and easier to work.

Location: Barra, Eoligarry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

sìlich

[ʃi:liç] Note: a person who dodges work as much as possible.

Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

sùsagh (a phùil)

marking out, with a spade, on the turf the area of peat to be cut. [NOTES: two second hands at work. In black ink: the grave accent in ‘sùsagh’ circled and ‘susadh’ added underneath; in red: ‘phuill’ written above ‘phùil’.]

Location: Harris, Bernera
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working

tarrachd

[t̪ɑrɔxk] Quot.: “Chaneil ann dheth ach tarrachd duine.” “Chaneil ann dheth ach tarrachd.” Note: a good-for-nothing sort of person. A lazy person who won’t work.

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

thuipeireachd

work done as building or joinery in a crude form.

Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

trùilleach

[t̪ɾu̟:lʹɑx] Quot.: “Nach bu sibh na trùillich.” Note: applied to a person engaged in dirty work, e.g. working on a messy job as in a drain, etc.

Origin: Caversta
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

tud

[t̪u̟d̪] Quot.: “Chaill mi mo thud ’s mo thad.” Note: I lost all interest, e.g. in work, or even interest in living. (Put also under tad [t̪ɑd̪].)

Origin: [Ness]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

turcais

Notes: nippers. An turcais bheag: cutting copper wire etc. An turcais mhór: for rough work, blunt.

Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

tàmh

Quotation: Nuair a bhios Ruairidh ’na thàmh, bi e a’ ruamhair. Notes: If he is not engaged in paid work, he’ll always find something to keep him occupied.

Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

tàrlaid

a female of male characteristics in work. ’S e tàrlaid th’innte (fearail ann an obair).

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

ìm smiaraidh

added to the wool so that it would be easier to work with. This was done prior to carding.

Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous