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There were 171 hits for may

(also) cnàmharnach: 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
(aoirchdan) (phonetic): horns. [NOTES: slipped under ‘adharc’ with ‘pl. [[œi]rçkən]’ as the quotation but there is a wavy line in pencil going across the latter possibly to show that the transcription may be wrong.]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
An deomhan gu spad thu.: May the devil finish you.
Origin: Barra
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
An diobhall gad ithe.: May the devil devour you.
Origin: Barra
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
Feòraidh: another personal name. Could this be Florence – name of a girl or female, or it may have come into existence from the child’s rendering of Flòraidh? In other words invented? (All the other words I noted here are not invented words.) (On Scalpay, there is Tobair Fheòraidh.) [SLIP: Name. Child’s corruption of Flòraidh? Above is Scalpay place-name [i.e. Tobar Fheòraidh].]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Lèathad Mo Lèis: polite way of saying ‘mo mhàs’ or ‘tón’. An old lady who was brought up in Braenish, Uig, near the Black-Nuns’ House, often used this expression. Could it have any connection with Mo Leis, Irish saint, who may have visited Tigh nan Cailleachan Dubha. (It was the same lady who used the word ‘lamaiseagan’ [q.v.].)
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Mairi: Name: Mary. Equivalents: Mally, Maisie and May (Zetland).
Category: Ainmean Pearsanta Bhoireannach / Female Personal Names
Marsali: Name: Marjory. Equivalents: May and Maejie (Zetland); Marcella (Strath, Skye).
Category: Ainmean Pearsanta Bhoireannach / Female Personal Names
May, 1970. blue diary: Location: South Uist, Bornish
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
Màireag: personal name for a female, diminutive for Mary. May have derived from the children source of pronunciation.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Nullaig: [n̪u̜ɫiɡʹ] Note: for Nollaig. Thinks they used to talk of Nullaig Bheag and Nullaig Mhór but doesn’t know much about it. Surmises that Nullaig Bheag may have been Christmas and Nullaig Mhór the New Year.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Sealbh: Quotation: “Gu sealladh Sealbh ort...” Notes: May Providence have mercy on you...
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Seocan: personal name (male). Perhaps derived from Jock, common on Harris, there is one on Scalpay. May have been invented in a nickname.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Sgaire: 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
Sileas: Name: Cecilia. Equivalents: Celie, Osla and Ursula (Zetland). (See Julia). Note: In Zetland a woman may begin life as “Ursula” and end as “Cecilia”. In the old days Ursula was Osla and these two became Cecilia. Osla was the old Norse name Aslaug: the Scots ministers did not know Osla and changed it to Ursula.
Category: Ainmean Pearsanta Bhoireannach / Female Personal Names
Sine: Name: Jane. Equivalents: Jean; Janie and Janet or Jessie (Zetland); Sheena (Lewis and Skye). Note: In Zetland Janie may mean Jane, Jean, Janet or Jessie. An old woman “Janie” may have been either Jane or Janet at birth.
Category: Ainmean Pearsanta Bhoireannach / Female Personal Names
Words which may be of interest: Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[May]: Name: May. Equivalents: (See Marjory and Mary).
Category: Ainmean Pearsanta Bhoireannach / Female Personal Names
[Samhuinn]: O Bhealtuinn gu Samhuinn. From May Day to Hogmanay. [NOTE in second hand: Hogmanay corrected to Halloween.]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[abaichead]: Air abaichead ’s gum bi e. However ripe it may be. [NOTE in second hand: ’gum corrected to ’gam.]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[blank]: Aye, indeed. [NOTES: this may have been meant as an illustration of the adjective ‘sarcastic’, which appears among the words suggested by the authors of the questionnaire.]
Origin: [Ross-shire]
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
[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
[buachailleachd]: “Buachailleachd Chalum Chill’ oirre.” (May St Columba keep watch over her.)
Origin: Barra
Category: Crodh / Cattle
[buaidh]: Gun bhuaidh ort! – May you not be victorious. This is an old saying, a survival from ancient times.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[caramel]: Note: I’ll make enquiries as to the possibility of an answer to your query towards the plant, etc. ‘caramel’. Corra meile… it may have derived from ‘càir meala’? I am afraid it’s not of Lewis and Harris? Anyway, I’ll enquire!
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[cor]: Air chor is gun d’thig thu. On condition that you came. [NOTE in second hand: So thay you may come.]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[dosgainn]: If a beast died, a person on hearing it said: “Dosgainn na bliadhna gu robh leatha (leis).” (May the years loss be gone with it.)
Origin: Barra
Category: Crodh / Cattle
[fealla-dhà]: Theid an fhealla dha gu fealla tri. Fun may turn to deadly earnest.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[feàrr]: ‘Gu mu feàrr leat an gnothuch a dhèanamh mar so.’ May it please you to do the job this way, or, this is a better way of doing the job.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[fuachd]: “Cha laigh fuachd air uallach.” People can be so preoccupied with their worries that an illness may not seem so worrying.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[meal]: Gu meal thu do naidheachd. – May you enjoy your news.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[meal]: 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
[meal]: Gu’m meal is gu’n caith thu e, is gum faidh thu duine ri linn. – May you enjoy and wear (say, a new coat) and get a husband while it lasts.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[motha]: Gu ma mo a ni sibh. May you do more.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[mùn]: Quotation: Faodaidh i mùn an aghaidh na gaoth tuath air mo shon-sa. (Forgive me! if this is rather distasteful.) Source: Traditional. Notes: Reference to a girl who jilted a gentleman, him saying she may do likewise in coldness for him.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
[note]: “I enclose a further list containing several words. My copy of those previously sent may not be complete so you may have one or two here already sent. ‘Buaic’, sent in May, was given as ‘stupid, clumsy’. I recently came across it as enclosed. Quite a few of those given here are not common to both districts but I have not checked all.”
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[note]: Note: some of the words I have collected may be ‘obsolete’, etc. in the sense being not in current use in speech.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[note]: (I may have noted these two already.)
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[note]: (Common enough. I noted them. It may help you someway!)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[note]: Many of the Equivalents appearing in these lists are doubtless already well-known, but I have endeavoured, from personal inquiries made mainly in Zetland and other insular parts of Northern Scotland, to furnish some fresh information on the matter. For facility of reference the English Christian names are set down in alphabetical order; and against them are shown (1) the Gaelic equivalents and (2) the English equivalents, including those which are in use in certain specified regions – together with occasional explanatory notes. In the list “Male Personal Names” the patronymics are also given – not that they may serve much useful, practical purpose, but because patronymics figure largely in our Scottish nomenclature and are interesting as derivatives from our common Christian names. From a close survey of the lists certain main inferences may be drawn: 1. The correctness of the Registrar-General’s surmise “that some names have no doubt a significance differing according to locality” is demonstrated by the following examples:– (a) Ewen and Hugh. In Lewis these two names are distinct and have separate Gaelic equivalents. (Ewen = G. Eòghann; Hugh = G. Uisdean). But in the South Isles of the Outer Hebrides the two names are interchangeable and have a common Gaelic equivalent, (both Ewen and Hugh = G. Eòghann). This fact was first brought to my notice in South Uist and I subsequently got verification of it elsewhere; one instance being that of a boy from Uist attending school at Dornie, who was known as “Hugh” at home and as “Ewen” in school. (b) Effie and Henrietta. So far as the mainland of Scotland is concerned there is, I think, no connection between these two names; yet I find in Lewis they are interchangeable, the common Gaelic equivalent being “Eighrig”. I have corroboration of this from two schoolmasters who are natives of Lewis; and I found a practical example in the case of a Lewis lady resident in Skye, whose husband calls her “Effie” but who signs her name as “Henrietta”. 2. Many of our Personal Names are merely Anglicised forms of Gaelic Names, for example: Gillespie = Archibald (from G. Gill-easbuig), Donachie = Duncan (from G. Donnchadh), Murachie = Murdoch (from G. Muireach), Ailie = Helen (from G. Eilidh), etc. etc. 3. Some of the other names are not what might be termed exact equivalents, but are distorted forms given to foreign names by Ministers who were unacquainted with the foreign language. In this class is the name “Haki” or “Hakon” which has been transformed into “Hercules”; just as “Osla” has been twisted into “Ursula” and thence into “Cecilia”. It should be understood that my inquiries have been comparatively limited and that consequently the information given here cannot be anything like exhaustive on the subject of name equivalents. But the examples given are sufficient to illustrate that many odd equivalents do exist, and that the identity of a person with whose name we are furnished may be found under an alternative name.
Category: Ainmean Pearsanta Bhoireannach / Female Personal Names
[note]: “I am sorry I am rather vague about some of these at present but they may be of some use.”
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[note]: (As some words escape my memory for a while may again be remembered…)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[note]: [NOTES: it is not clear if the last two words are variants. The second seems to be a later addition (different ink) and may be a clarification of the first, which is illegible.]
Location: Harris, Kyles Stockinish
Category: Iasgach an Sgadain / Herring-Fishing
[note]: [NOTES: the following appears on an additional slip of paper stapled between 5. and 7. It may be a part of the missing page.] Bha tiuighead mhór anns na ballachan aig 1. 2. 3. Grunn mór, mór throighean. Bhiodh fosgalan aig dorus feadhainn de na seann thighean airson fasgaidh agus airson ruma. Cha chreid mi nach ann anns an fhosgalan a bhiodh a’ bhrà aca air an taobh siar ’s an eilean. Aig feadhainn dhiubh có dhiù.
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
[roghnach]: Co is roghnaiche leat. Whenever you may choose.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[rùn]: Run do chridhe air do chuisle. May you attain your earnest will.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[siola-na-h-easgainn]: Note: ‘siola-na-h-easgainn’ as mentioned towards a cure for rheumatics. May I again note that any species of an eel was considered appropriate, generally the conger eel when the spawning part was prepared as a plaster aid. Medicinally, herbal remedies was [sic] a recommendation in some cases.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[sion]: Chan eil sion. – There is nothing. It may be from ‘sian’, the beard of barley.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[slàn]: Gu ma slan gu’n till thu. May you be well until you return.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[teachd]: Is iomadh rud a thachaireas an teachd mu’n cuairt na bliadhna. Much may happen before the expiry of a year.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
acraichean: fastenings on thatch. ‘May have derived from chains used’. [NOTES: slipped under ‘acair (pl. acraichean)’.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
aisinn: description. Thug e aisinn sin air. Or report (Scalpay). There may be more interpretation to this word from other sources?
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
a’ chaingeis: Whitsunday (28th May). From this date you had to keep your cattle to yourself. It was at this time of year that cattle watching began. Until Martinmas (28th November) had to tend the cattle.
Location: North Uist, Iollaraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
a’ cruachadh: making medium-sized stacks on the banks and ‘slating’ the peats to throw off the rain, if the peats are being left on the banks for some time. Such stacks may sometimes be ‘thatched’ (air an tughadh) with turf (‘sgrathan’).
Location: Harris, Tarbert
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
bacan: Note: a grassy ledge on a cliff face; sheep may get stranded on one.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
badan-ùrach: soil on a patch of cloth was recognised as a cure for a scalding, to ease off the effects. Again, I can only say this much until I may find further recognition.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
balt: Quotation: Balt Bealltainn. Notes: short heavy shower in May.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
barr dearg: top or flower of tangle (Laminaria digitata). Separates from the actual tangle-stock (stamh) in April/May. Then it comes ashore and commences rotting in the sun. Rotting forms it into a jellied mass known as “bruig”.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
barr-dearg: [bɑɑ˖r dɛrɡ] Notes: rochd which comes ashore in May time.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
blaith-bròige: I have heard of an individual on Scalpay using this term for a shoe – the shoe coming to Scalpay after the boot fashion and may have caused the individual to term or describe the shoe or shoes likewise.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
boca-na-buisrichean: ‘witches’ bag’. To me the term sounded as indicated. It may be a variation from the buidseachd form. Perhaps it is also found in various ways. We also use buidseachd or were using it here in Scalpay.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris,Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bodach: wee cod. Not referred to in Scalpay as the cod species, but that’s does [sic] mean it’s wrong to use it solely, as the adjective come with it in Scalpay, perhaps there are some who use it when referring to fish. ’S docha gu faigh sinn bodach. – I think this phrase is more attributable to ‘Skye’? Rèbeanach [q.v.] may have originated from reip ris a bhial aige?
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bog-a-nid: a tit bird, I think, but I am not able to identify it. [SLIP: A tit – may be some other species of bird – uncertain.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
brucach: ruddy, fattish. May have derived from the brù form of description.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
brùgh-ghoirt: Quotation: Bhual am brùgh-ghoirt e. [NOTES: the quotation is unclear – it may be ‘Bhual am bhrùgh-ghoirt e.’]
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Boisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bubaid: button or plug. It may have originated from ‘button’ in English. Seldom heard today if at all. The word could be used in connection with the electric switch to-day, it was or to a likewise ‘wart’ say it was used – also materially [?]. [SLIP: Button; used also of ‘electric switch’. Seldom used nowadays.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
burasach: (also) surly looking person (with swollen like cheeks as denoting more of the meaning of the word). Burasach grànnda. It may have originated from buralaich or burralaich (wailing, crying).
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bò bò: (interj.) to denote a turning away from what is prohibited by a parent or adult for a child to do, as attempting to run into an unsafe place, in particular into the night if he may find a door opened, etc. etc.; to frighten him.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bòineid-béin: Russian headdress. Bha bòinneid béin air Eoghainn. (People on Scalpay 60 year back had some of these headgear: they may have been found through sailors.)
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cachd: [Cow dung.] The ‘achd’ is the same as the ‘aca’ in ‘aca’ (at them). ‘Caca’ may be a better way of spelling it.
Origin: Inverness-shire, Nethy Bridge
Category: Crodh / Cattle
cadsair: [See gadsair.] (Perhaps word used like for customs, as I may have noted previous.)
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
caisean-cumhach: [kɑʃɑṉkũ̟ɑx] Quot.: “Caisean-cumhach na Bealltainn”. Note: spell of bad weather at the beginning of May.
Location: [Lewis], S. Lochs, Gravir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
caisean-cumhach: [kɑʃɑnkũ̟ɑx] Quot.: “caisean-cumhach na Bealltainn”. Note: a “rotach”, spell of bad weather at the beginning of May.
Origin: Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
caraibhiag: rowanberry, perhaps a form of caorainn-mhiath. Pronounced likewise on Scalpay or may have been abbreviated likewise.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cas: Quot.: “O, b’e sin cas bheag a lodain!” Note: endearing remark made to a small child who may have come in with feet wet, etc. (Put also under lodan.)
Origin: [Ness]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cas-an-fhithich: this is an old term, it’s out of use here now but it may have survived somewhere else. I think it means a mark of a scar on the face or hands, the scriabadh form as if a bird (raven) scratched the face with its claws. A permanent mark. If you haven’t any other definition, I think you are quite safe with this.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
ceapaire: Quotation: ceapaire-Sàileach. Notes: slice of cheese with a spread of butter. [NOTES: unclear – it may be ‘ceapaire-Tàileach’.]
Origin: Camusluanie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceilinn: conceal. *Cia uime a ceilinn neo có mu ceilinn. The underlined words [i.e. có mu ceilinn] are the Scalpay version. * [i.e. Cia uime a ceilinn?] may have been an earlier version on Harris.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
chorra-ghlas: corn-crake or of the corn-crake species. It may not be in the list of bird-names. I take it as we in Scalpay term it: the bird.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ciochan-sàil: you will find them sticking to rocks, of a jelly substance. I have a vague recognition of the term used… You may have another word or term likewise.
Location: [Harris], Scalpaigh [Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ciutharan: light rain. (Same word [as ciurachan above? not clear], spelling corruption.) Of a more heavier nature but ciùin [sic] – it may have developed from ciùin.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clach-starsaich: [kɫɑxst̪ɑʴsiç] Notes: said to be used for a step outside the door. [NOTES: I use the turned r for the symbol which is unclear in the original. It may be an h.]
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cleit: (also) wooden piece nailed to the inside part of a gunwale of a boat for fastening rope to – wooden rope fastener. In English – cleat. I may have given this definition of it somewhere else but it doesn’t matter. [SLIP: A piece of wood nailed to the inside of the gunwale of a boat – to which a rope is fastened. A cleat.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cliseach: Note: “cliseach” understood by J.N.MD as the side of a beast – down from the ridge of the back. (May be wrong).
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cliseach: Quot.: “Bheir mis’ air do chliseach!” Note: warning given to children. The back. MML, Uig has it for the back of a cow. Sometimes, he says, it is called “cliseach an droma” so it may be a certain part of the back. (Also used in Barvas for cattle.)
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cnocan: a hillock. (The above [i.e. cnuachdan] may have originated from the other [i.e. cnocan].)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
coilag liann: [sic] earwig. (I haven’t a clue about spelling of last. An afterthought came to me that it may well be ‘cuileag leathann’, an earwig having a broad flat body.)
Location: Argyll, Tarbert, Muasdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cota-ruadh: great coat, soldier’s great coat. “Cha mhor nach do rinn mi gluasad le mo chota-ruadh dh’an arm”. Perhaps also fishermen in the past have worn such a coat. The above couplet by a fisherman may refer to his own coat, or the coat received at the outfit, ‘soldier’s enlistment depot’. [NOTES: slipped under ‘còta-ruadh’. Quotation has ‘...mhór...’ and ‘…chòta-ruadh…’]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cracain: cream crackers (biscuits). (A word I discovered recently from an old lady: it may be her own invented word… if you will accept it?)
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
craicte: cracked, broken, touched, ‘crackers’. (Seldom used on Scalpay if at all. I have heard it from other sources, perhaps visitor coming on the island: it may be used in other places generally.)
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cran: [masc.] may have been ‘crann’ but it was always pronounced like an English word. It was an iron bar across the chimney from which hooks (as above [meaning slabhraidh]) were suspended – if there was no ‘slabhraidh’ [q.v.].
Origin: Eileanaich [natives of Lewis]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
crom-riabhach: [ɡɾɤmriɤɤx] Notes: bird, may be a snipe. Has a long beak.
Origin: Elgol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dallag-fhraoich: some form of creature associated with the heather; it could be luch fheòir species of animal. I am afraid I cannot say exactly in this instance, it could be a bat, it could be a creature newly born in the heather – my nearest definition to it. You may have the word already?
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dha phonaigeadh: perhaps from the word padding, a lady powdering herself. It may have derived from the old folk’s attempt at describing the first recollection of Powder.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
drèip: drip, as treacle dripping from a container or a child’s mouth. May have an equivalent to reap or rèip.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dubhchonnadh: where the unused peat bog has cracked and you pull off lumps of it by hand. As the lumps are nearly dry they may be used soon after.
Origin: Barra
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
dùraigeadh: desire. I have heard it used: Tha ’n dùraigheadh air? – not in Scalpay, not from a Scalpach but there may be another meaning? [SLIP: Desire. Example given was heard by informant, but not from a native of Scalpay.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
eaglais: This is the word I have always heard for a church but it may be interesting to note that there are three farms in this district called Achnahannet. Not very long ago looking through the dictionary I came on the word ‘annaid’ meaning a church, which may suggest that that word was used in the district at one time.
Origin: Inverness-shire, Nethy Bridge
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
eoin-bhealltain: young curlews seen in May. [NOTES: corrected to ‘eòin-Bhealltainn’.]
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fheusaidh ?: see the song Ailein Duinn o hi shiublainn leat in ‘Sinclars’ [sic] [Sinclair’s?] Oranaiche, attributed to Nighean fear Scalpaigh: the song, or a line in the song says Cha b’e call a’ chruidh ’s an fheusaidh? I am wondering is it a corruption? Or should it be Cha b’e call a’ chruidh ’s a’ chéiteinn. I haven’t heard the word being used on Scalpay, and I am wondering… When you’ll get time to look it up, perhaps you may be able to have a definition for it?
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fiaras-a-ghualta: black fever (?) (Harris). (I remember hearing the term. You may have, or understand the meaning, or have the term already.)
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
fo laidh: safe under cover. This may be a Lewis expression. It rhymes with ‘tigh’ as pronounced in Lewis. The ‘l’ is single as in ‘loch’. I’m not at all sure of the spelling.
Location: Cinntire, An Ceann a Deas [Kintyre, Southend by Campbeltown]
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
fàsach: Quotation: fàsach chruidh. Notes: place where cattle were put out to graze in May.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gibilish: gabbling. I have heard this word from an individual not on Scalpay, and I am not prepared to say in what place the word was used or if [is] still used, probably, but I think it may have been used on Skye, according to my recollection of hearing it.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
graidleachan: Tha ainmeannan eòin agaibh a cheana. Tha aon fhacail (ainm) agam ann an daimh ri eoin is e sin. It may have originated from graibheal – gravel. That is a bird confined to the gravel shore, where he disperses gravel with his feet (perhaps I have already noted same).
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gruag: crop of hair. Gruagach [q.v.] may have derived in this sense from a reference to have a crop of hair, etc.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
grunnd: Quotation: a’ ceannach a’ ghruinnd. Notes: buying the portion of land. A custom, which may yet be carried on in Nerebus, of throwing a silver coin into the open grave unnoticed. Said to be an old Irish Catholic custom. There used to be a chapel there which was a branch of Londonderry seminary. G. C.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gréim: Quotation: an gréim mór. Notes: An old name for what may have been appendicitis. Dw. gives greim-mór ‘pleurisy’ (from DMy, Lewis).
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
guth-shàmh: Quotation: Thuirt e/i anns a’ ghuth-shàmh. Notes: He/She said pawkily (used of a witty remark; the idea of detachment may also be present). Not in Dw.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leabaidh-ròs: rose-bed, it may have originated from a gardening version.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lianranaich: a thin layer of a plant, if I may say a plant, on water, a pool, or on a shallow part of a freshwater loch. To my mind it’s something like green moss.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
loireag: female; a female also attributed to Celtic mythology considered a supernatural agent present at various domestic works: at the waulking of tweed etc. It may have derived from loireach – word used on Scalpay still is [sic] thus: Nach e tha loireach – unclean or rather partly cleaned.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
loirean: untidy baby. A baby when crawling into some mess is referred to as a ‘loirein bhig’. May have derived from ‘loireach’. [NOTES: the quotation on the slip reads ‘a loirein bhig’. Definition: A baby is referred to as such when it crawls into some mess.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lonaid (cuman, cuach etc.): [?] wooden spoon, of the wooden form of ‘utensils’. [NOTES: it is slipped under ‘ionaid’. Definition: “Wooden spoon. Informant’s spelling ‘yonaid’.” The spelling is unclear. It may be ‘lonaid’. See also lonaid below.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lus-nan-laogh: it may not be referred to in a vocabulary but it was once orally, as a medical cure for skin eruption, or skin disease, boils etc. [SLIP: Old medical cure for ailments of the skin (boils, etc.).]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
làd: a number of ‘full‘ bobbins. The number may vary in different places, but may be roughly taken as being 1 gross.
Location: Lewis, Keose
Category: Obair na Clòimhe / Wool-Working
làmh chàrteach: aptly handed as in the case of a handyman, who is readily capable of turning his hand to a job he can master in a tidy order, passable although unskilled may account as coming near the mark, so to speak. [NOTES: the slip has ‘làmh-cheartach (?)’. Definition: Used of person able to turn his hand capably to a variety of jobs.]
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ma dh’fhaodas e: It may well be.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
maoileas: incoperating [sic] [incorporating?] friendship, or my friendship with you or for you. Bu tu maoileas. It may have come through the ‘channel’: m’ aoigh leatsa… I think so. Perhaps it’s occasionally heard on Scalpay yet.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mart: Quotation: mart gamhnach. Notes: a farrow cow – may have had a calf at one stage.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mial-chraogais: used on Scalpay, but not now. I am not prepared at the moment to say what it means. Of the louse species? Perhaps. You may have a clue yourself. I have heard it ‘as a boy’. I may have noted its meaning years back. I think it’s one of the compound words of which I haven’t discovered a meaning or its meaning rather. [SLIP: Not used any longer. Uncertain at to precise meaning but some kind of louse.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mios crochadh nan cliabh: May. Weather would be so poor that horses had to be kept indoors and the large carrying baskets hung up.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mios crochadh nan cliabh: a saying indicative of bad weather at the beginning of May. As a result the creels were not used and subsequently hung in rows.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
moine-bhàn: mòine dhomain gun móran teas agus dualach an t-uisge ghabhail an deigh an tiormachadh. [NOTES: “mhoine-bhàn” and its definition appear at the bottom of page 3 and “moine-bhàn” and its definition at the top of page 4; they may be meant to be just one item.]
Origin: [Taransay]
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
mulachag Bealltuinn: a portion of cheese made on the first day of May and kept in the house till the same debt [sic] [date?] next year. Old people believed this would prevent the dairy produce (toradh) being bewitched.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mulcaire: (also) but I am not sure of this one also as the name of a sea-bird but I faintly think there is a sea-bird of this name, it may not be among those already listed bird species. [SLIP: Some sort of seabird.]
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mulgaire: I think there is a bird of this name. It may not appear in the present lists of bird-names. It pushes, and digs, pushes other birds, it may be of the làmhaire or còin-dhubha species. You may come across it somewhere or other places may have the name for a bird or the word. [NOTES: the slip is among the “Doubtful” words. Definition: Some species of bird?]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
pineadh: on a sharp or pointed seat. May have originated the root from ‘pin’ in English. E na shuidh’ air pineadh. (Scalpay) (‘not so often heard now’)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
pioc: pick. Cha d’ fhuair mi pioc. (I may have already noted?)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
piochd: [See fiochd] but perhaps not quite, as fiochd may have developed from fiach etc. Piochd of the nibbling portion, morsel size. [SLIP: See ‘fiochd’. Also nibble, morsel, portion.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
poca: swelling. Tha poca fo do shùil. (May have come likewise as bòc, blister, swelling, air bocadh, etc.)
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
preasan: a wonderful person if I may say as a word of unappreciated sense. The two words [i.e. peasan and preasan] meaning something similar perhaps, pessimists. [SLIP: A wonderful person “of unappreciated sense”. Also: pessimist (?).]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
riobag shonais: refers to the hair growing on a woman’s chin. Alternately it may be called ‘riobag chonais’ – hair of temperament.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
rùisean: [See roisean.] But here ‘gnùis’ may be the etymological embryo while the former word (written above) as above could be from ‘do shròin sa’.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
rùsg (I): Fleece; wool or fleece when shorn off in May. (’Se ì a th’innte: “rùsg bheag”.) “Caora air a rùsgadh.” “Rusgadh nan caorach.”
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Obair na Clòimhe / Wool-Working
salbhasdadh: salvaging. (Invented? I heard it once or twice. ‘Salbhasdadh’ – you may have…?)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sclànrachd: a battle of words. ‘Trod’. It may be a form of the Scottish “Sclander”.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
scròcail: croaking. I think this word was adopted years back, could be from ‘rocail’ and formed from the conjunction ‘agus…’ thus ‘is rocail’, something to this effect. It may again be a matter of pronunciation, but it’s obsolete, I am afraid. I am rather vague on this one. It’s a corruption? If you have the word, or a word like it, it may lead you to understand if it’s quite appropriate to use it?
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgeileichdan: [sic] reduced an item, an article by breaking it against a stone to the condition of ‘sgeilèichdan’, to a diminutive form, or breakage. Diminutive form of the word ‘sgeilèichd’ [q.v.], may have originated from ‘sgailc’.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgleòraichean: see ‘sgùrraichean’ or ‘sglùraichean’. They may have generated [sic] from one another.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgriogal: (also) shabby, oldish. (I may have noted this word formerly.)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgràbair: scraper; associated with a person continually of [sic] collecting anything he may lay hands on.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgurral: squirrel (animal). English abstraction and English from? [sic] or vice versa, etc. etc. The species as such is not to be seen, perhaps seldom (if at all) in Harris. The word may have its etym.?
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgèimp: unpopular female, as a sort of a carefree scanty character. (Etym. may have the English equivalent scamp.) Nach b’e sgeimp [sic] i. (Scalpay expression)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
smèiteadh: waving to a person (colloquially spelt). Perhaps you may spell it smèideadh. I spelt it here the way it is pronounced on Scalpay. [SLIP: Phonetic spelling of ‘smèideadh’ – waving.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
smòt: fine broken down seaweed found in April or May.
Location: [South Uist], Daliburgh (Schoolhouse)
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
snigean: … snigean air. A person used to pat someone on the shoulder and interj. or it was perhaps? and he would say ‘snigean air’? It’s obsolete, the word. I have not the meaning at the moment. You may have it?
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
solus-slàn: reference to the full moon. [See solus-làn.] The term, I am afraid, is hardly used, if at all, now, if I may say, anywhere?
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spearrach: the weavers’ nightmare! Sometimes some of the yarn in the loom may twist together, usually causing breakages. This is known as a ‘spearrach’.
Location: Lewis, Keose
Category: Obair na Clòimhe / Wool-Working
spidean-spaidean: prim and neat person. Now I am not sure of this term: but I think you may use it as noted above. Vaguely, I presume this to be as such reference dispense: Nach bu tu ’n spidean-spaidean? (old usage)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spiontagan: (also) ‘flakes’ or particles from wool. (I may have noted this word also.) [NOTES: slipped under ‘spiontag’ – pl. spiontagan.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
splungag: sling, crann-tabhail. Splungag is how we pronounce the word in Scalpay. (I may have noted this word already.)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spochadh: a retort. Leig mi spochadh thuige. – an abrupt shout to frighten a person who may [be] doing something or attempting to do something he shouldn’t do.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spurtadh: waulking of tweed (St Kilda); or the word was something as here noted [i.e. spurtu], more nearer I think? One of the women folk throwing a folding across the bench, would recall (spurtu), ‘their colloquial’ [sic]. They had another pronunciation: Do mhangair – it was nothing less than their pronunciation for Do mhathair (Your mother). Cia mar a tha do mhangair, which was their pronunciation of mathair. You may have the word more correctly yourself, as I am only trying to recall it from memory or to memory.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stamhaireachd: [st[ɑu̜]ʴəɾɑxk] Notes: hesitating, indecisiveness. [NOTES: I use the turned r for the symbol which is unclear in the original. It may be an h.]
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stapag: stapag uachdair. For softening hard skin, caused by sea-spray drying on the skin. A primitive form, the ointment form of procedure serving as ointment. Consisting of crowdie mixed with cream, cream, [sic] say, snow-fire may have originated likewise.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
stearnàg: (a slang form) tern (bird). Sometimes used to illustrate a chirpish, sharp movement, or ‘ternish’, (if I may use this term, my own invented word of my own inspiration, perhaps in connection with the meaning of such like) female. [NOTES: the slip has ‘stearnag’. Definition: Tern; also used to describe a chirpish, sharp movement.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris,Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
steonc: good. Tha e steonc. – it is good. This is an unfamiliar word in vocabulary list or lists, or if at all listed or noted. It’s a modern word (Harris). It may be an invented word.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
striteag: (also) an emotional female (may have derived from stratag).
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
studarra: (on) alertness. Feumaidh tu bhiodh air do studarra. (In the case of having conversation or approaching a touchy person, he may retaliate.)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tarraing: Quotation: an tarraing air éigin. Notes: root of tough grass or weed growing in the peat. Tough in April/May. Not so bad in March.
Location: Islay, Bowmore
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tearrachail: a h-iomaghain tearrchail [sic] – of a dun colour (female), not the same as earachol already noted. I do not think it’s the very same although there may be slight connections.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tiorraghais: I am not sure of this one. Cho fada ris an tiorraghais. Unless it means t-shiorruidhachd fàis – a matter of guess? Perhaps some other place may have the definition.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
truaghag: poor female. Truaghag bhochd. Very seldom used on Scalpay by the natives of Scalpay. I think the word may have been used on Lewis. We say ‘truaghan’ (male) on Scalpay. It (truaghag) may have been spoken or used years and years back on Scalpay, but I am afraid not now.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tùrnair: turner. Sometimes heard in the past denoting a lever or some convenient wooden lever to act in turning a capstan in a boat, etc. This is only one explanation. There may be another explanation?
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
uaireadair-gréine: the head of the flower dandelion. I think when the bloom is gone and the white ‘fluff’ of the germinating seed on the point of being cast by the wind. As children we used to pick one and blow on the head: 1-2-3 thus telling the time when the ‘fluff’ was all blown off. There may be other references from other places. There may be another few meanings. ‘Sun-dial’.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris,Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
àmhuilt: temperature. Another word I remember hearing but as to its true definition, I am afraid I cannot tell but with one definition as noted above, I think you may insert likewise unless you will find a contrary version, or you may have the meaning already. Doesn’t it show or sound to the effect of words or the word or one of the word groups of the ember family – but in this case Tha e fo àmhuilt, when referring to the sick person or patient.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ùtarais: Quotation: “Nach ann air tha’n ùtarais.” – What a hurry he’s in, what a commotion he’s making. Notes: (Murdo Murray and my mother – May, 1962) Norse derivation? Dw. has ùtrais f. ‘confused mass of anything; … restlessness, fidgeting’.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
‘torradhanach’: I am not sure of this word. Is it from torraghan… As I go along I may be able… (It’s old.)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
’cur a mach ant-sùith: [sic] on a sunny, dry day the thatch was removed and the soot collected and stored for use as fertiliser or it may have been taken straight to the croft (not sure of this point).
Origin: Ross and Cromarty, Lewis
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

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