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acarsaid n.: ‘harbour’: acarsaid [ɑʰkəɽʂat ́]
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, North Shore, Wreck Cove
Category: Wreck Cove, North Shore wordlist
achadh n.: ‘field’: ron[= tron] achaidh ud [r( ́)ɔn axi at]
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Iona, Barra Glen
Category: Barra Glen, Iona wordlist
beir vb.: ‘seize; bear’: beiridh iad [peji at]; rug i [r ́uk i]
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Iona, Barra Glen
Category: Barra Glen, Iona wordlist
ri prep.: ‘to, at, by’: ris an t-sionnach [r ́iʃ ə ɲt ́hụnəx]; thuirt e rium [huʈ ɑ r ́˻ɔu˼m]
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Victoria Co., North Shore, Tarbot
Category: Tarbot, North Shore wordlist
ro[= tro] prep.: ‘through’: roimh[= ro] thrioblaid [rɛ̃ r̥ ipʁ̫ at ́]; ron achaidh ud [r( ́)ɔn axi at]
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Iona, Barra Glen
Category: Barra Glen, Iona wordlist
(colas) duine air mullach nan teud: [?] at the height of his jollity or enjoyment.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
1. Am mathair-shioman: [NOTES: see the illustrations under ‘Some ropework terms’, ‘Ropework at hip with chimney’ and ‘Ropework at hip without chimney’.]
Location: [Tiree, Scarinish]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
1. Gluta (dh): Rarely, if ever, does this word have a ‘g’ sound at the end. [NOTE: see the illustration under ‘Old Tiree house’.]
Location: [Tiree, Scarinish]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
2. Na criosan: About every sixth horizontal rope had a rope twisted round it after the vertical ones were in place on top of them, so as to keep the vertical ones equally spaced from one another. [NOTES: see the illustrations under ‘Some ropework terms’, ‘Ropework at hip with chimney’ and ‘Ropework at hip without chimney’.]
Location: [Tiree, Scarinish]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
3. Sioman gualainn: Rope going round chimney and weighted down at both ends by extra large anchor stones. [NOTES: see the illustrations under ‘Some ropework terms’ and ‘Ropework at hip with chimney’.]
Location: [Tiree, Scarinish]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
4. An sioman dróma: This rope was usually double and went longitudinally from one hip-end to the other. It was always the first rope to be laid on the roof as all the horizontal ropes (except ones at a chimney which are made fast to the ‘sioman guallain’ [sic]) were made fast to it as also were the hip vertical ropes which were passed through loops on it. [NOTES: see the illustrations under ‘Some ropework terms’, ‘Ropework at hip with chimney’ and ‘Ropework at hip without chimney’.]
Location: [Tiree, Scarinish]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
5. Na lùban: Loops formed by a length of rope tied at the top of the hip to the ‘sioman dróma’ [q.v.], through which the hip vertical ropes passed. [NOTES: see the illustration under ‘Ropework at hip without chimney’.]
Location: [Tiree, Scarinish]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
7. Bùna-baca: (‘Bonnacha-bac’ in Dwelly’s.) If draughts were entering the house or rain was getting in at this low part of the roof then sacks of sand were sometimes placed at the ‘bùna-baca’. [NOTES: see the illustrations under ‘Some ropework terms’, ‘Ropework at hip with chimney’ and ‘Ropework at hip without chimney’.]
Location: [Tiree, Scarinish]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
7. Word-list. (‘Vocabulary. Not in alphabetical order at present.’): Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Bhuaill e bas ri crann: a variant phrase meaning to knock at the door. [NOTES: ‘bhuaill’ corrected to ‘bhuail’.]
Location: South Uist, Peninerine
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Cearghal: informant is not sure whether this means Carl or Gerald. Arises at the southmost point of Baleshare in North Uist as ‘tobhta Chearghail’. Thought to have Norse origin.
Location: North Uist, Iollaraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Chaidh a’ chreag na faireachadh: this would be said in connection with people looking for a dog straying among sheep. When the owner of the dog heard of such a party, he kept the dog at home, hence “Chaidh a chreag na faireachadh.”
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Dail nan ubhal: a field at Keppoch, Lochaber.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Di-luain: Quot.: Di-luain traoidht [t̪ɾ[ɤi]tʹ]. Note: the first Monday after the New Year (old reckoning). (The direction of the wind at midnight that night supposed to be the prevailing wind for the rest of the year.)
Origin: [Ness]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Iain-nam-bròg: (slang, common with fishermen) wasn’t there a name used for this boot extractor. I think there was another name in the term of a word. Perhaps you remember. I cannot recall it at the moment. [NOTES: slipped under Iain-nam-brog. Definition: Name for piece of wood so shaped to help fishermen out of their boots.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris,Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Innse-Gall: Orkney and Shetland Islands (since 13th century); not a fixed place-name, but a descriptive term, the extent of which varied as the power of the Norse waxed or waned. At height of Norse power, Innse-Gall = all islands from Shetlands to the Isle of Man; after Somhairle Mac Giolla Bride’s first victory Innse Gall = islands north of Ardnamurchan; after Somhairle’s 2nd victory Innse Gall = Orkneys and Shetlands only. NE Highl. C. S. – Innse Gall but more commonly Innsean Gallach, Eileana [?] Gallach = Orkney, Shetland. Innse Gaidheal(ach) – Western Isles (Lewis to Islay) + Arran, Bute. Innse-Gall not applied to any Gaelic-speaking islands. Bardic usage: Innse Gall = Western Isles (Lewis to Islay) regardless of fact that they had ceased to be Innse-Gall in 13th century and had become Gaelic. As long as the Bards had comharda, uaithne, uaim, and the other obair-ghréis of their trade, they didn’t bother about truth. Modern literary, artificial – imitation of Bardic usage, above. Incorrect.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Peilistairean: Righ, Banrigh. A set of seven stones erected by opposing teams. Team: 1, 2 or 3 players who in turn hurled stones at the opposition’s peilistairean. The King and Queen were usually the first victims and the subjects behind might fall with the Royal family. All Peilistairean down first were declared winners.
Location: Leodhas [Lewis], an taobh siar
Category: Cur-seachadan: Dèideagan, Geamaichean is Farpaisean / Recreation: Toys, Games, Contests
Ropework at hip with chimney: 1. Am mathair-shioman. 2. Na criosan. 3. Sioman gualainn. 4. An sioman dróma. 7. Bùna-baca. [NOTES: see below for definitions.]
Location: [Tiree, Scarinish]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
Ropework at hip without chimney: 1. Am mathair-shioman. 2. Na criosan. 4. An sioman dróma. 5. Na lùban. 7. Bùna-baca. [NOTES: see below for definitions.]
Location: [Tiree, Scarinish]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
Ròthart nan Eun: same as ‘Ròthart na h-Éill Pàdruig’. ‘Ròthart’ pronounced without the ‘e’ in both North and South Uist. ‘Ròthart nan Eun’ so called since the tide would [sic] higher in the following months, therefore making it safe for birds to nest at the highest mark left by the tide.
Location: North Uist, Carinish, Cnoc Cuidhein [Knockquien]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
Sgeir-an-Teambuill: now under water but at one time not surrounded by water. One hundred yards from the water’s edge at Kildonan. In the sixteenth and seventeenth century people used to come from the neighbouring Ben Mor once a year at Halloween.
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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
Tha i air dàil: cow at the bull (in heat).
Origin: Mull, Bunessan, Ardtun or Mull, Tobermory
Category: Crodh / Cattle
Vessels and measures used at milking time:: Origin: [Arran]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
[Caisg]: “Anail Dhè ’sa ghaoith Di-Domhnaich Casg.” Older generation swear to there being something different about the weather on Easter Sunday. Different from the weather during the rest of the year. Similarly cattle are always standing upright at midnight on Christmas Eve as a sign of respect.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[Friday]: Tradition that was kept regarding Good Friday. Whether or not the potato crop had been planted before that day it was considered that at least two or three potatoes had to be planted on that day to ensure a good crop. Similarly peats were not cut on a Friday as it was thought this might bring death to the family concerned.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[Gaoth na Seicean]: Being on the subject of sheep I will add a phrase which I have heard here in connection with the cold north east winds we get here often in March. This wind was known as Gaoth na Seicean, the reason being that the grass, the little that is on the fields at that time of year, was all brown and withered as it is usually a frosty wind; the sheep would become very poor in condition and giving the appearance that there was nothing left but the skin.
Origin: Inverness-shire, Nethy Bridge
Category: Caoraich / Sheep
[June]: Following verse said at the onset of better weather at the beginning of June. In the context of June speaking, addressing the previous months. “Càit an do dh’fhag thu gamhnain bochd?” “Leag mi air a ghlùinein e ’s chuir mi shùil ris an t-sòp.” “Ma bheireas mise air agus anail air barr nan cluas cuiridh mi earball air feadh nan cnoc.”
Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[Oidhche Shamhna]: saying: Oidhche Shamhna canar gamhna ris na laoigh. (male or female calf born at least 3 months before O. Sh. becomes stirk on O. Sh.)
Origin: [Barra]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
[alt]: Air na h-uile alt. At all events.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[ana-cainnt]: Thug e ana cainnt dha. He railed at him.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[at]: abscess, infestation (at). Fuar-lit choirce, fuar-lit loaf, ’s ’n uair a thig an t-at gu àirde ’n uair sin a’ leigeal (as termed) air le snàthaid.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
[a’ gèadhadaireach]: “Am balach a’ gèadhadaireach air tobhta an tighe.” – The boy playing at fishing with a rod.
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[a’ leigeal air an at]: Note 9: ‘A’ leigeal air an at’. An infested wound being pricked to enable the fester to discharge. A lance, a needle or the cut throat razor was used in the olden days, as we say. A lance was the professional way of doing it, or the doctor’s, the qualified doctor’s way of doing it, while it was done amateurish by a razor or a sewing needle, showing the same results, to a certain extent if not to the same technique. Before this operation was done, first of all the wound was brought to the point of a burst, say, that is with poultices, and after the fester being abstracted to the point again of having the collection of fester released.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[baile]: Bheil duine aig baile? – Is there anyone at home?
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[beul]: Bith dùil ri beul cuain ach cha bhith dùil ri beul uaghach. If a person was lost at sea you would expect the body to be washed ashore. This is not the case with the conventional burial.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[boils]: Note 2: boils were brought to a point with poultices applied. When at the point of its height, so to speak, they were sometimes pierced through with an ordinary sewing needle for the collection of the pus or matter to discharge and the boil to heal.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[burial on Harris]: Note: at a burial on Harris. When the coffined remains are lowered into the grave, and the coffin set on the bottom (of the grave), the tasselled cords are thrown on the coffin, and the grave ready for to shovel the soil back in place or its contents, or part of its contents, placed with spade or shovel on the top of the coffin. Before this is done I have noticed someone of a funeral party likewise throwing a handful of sand or soil, or a sprinkle, on the coffin lid. It is a custom. For what reason is it done – luck, superstition… At the first funeral I ever attended I saw it done and I was wondering why.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[co-dhiù]: Dean sin co dhiu. Do that at any rate.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[coileir]: [collar worn by ministers of the Protestant churches; it is worn in reverse to ordinary collars with the stud at the back.]
Location: Arran, Pirnmill
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
[corra-mhàg]: ‘A chorra-mhàg, a chorra-mhàg, Bheil e tràth diathad? Ma tha, mùin air mo bhois.’ The corra-mhàg was placed in the palm of the left hand, the right palm was closed loosely over it and the above rhyme repeated with the mouth close to a small aperture left between the top and bottom thumbs, breathing softly on the corra-mhàg at the same time. It was thought that the insect often responded but any moisture there was probably condensation from the breath!
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[cron]: Tha a chron sin ort. The blame is at your door.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[cudag]: Others are scart = scarbh = parkin = partan = pickie = young saithe, also piteuchty (Girvan). This fish is the cudag – cudaige – cudann at the sprat stage and living in the harbour. We called the larger ones blockan (léiteanach? [?]). Larger still stemlet = grey fish. Could picky be from pioc nibble? Or from a totem name piocach – Pict?
Location: Prestwick
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[cuideachd]: Bheir e e fein as gach cuideachd, le ceol is conaltradh. He would acquit himself well in any company in music or conversation. Ged tha e math ga thoirt fhein a cuid [sic] tha e motha ’s math ga churann [sic]. Though he can acquit himself well in any company, he is better at getting himself invited.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[cur dheth]: Bha e a cur dheth aig taobh na h-amhna. – He was talking his head off at the riverside. Note the peculiar genitive pronounced há-oo-na. [The following note copied from the letter dated 24/03/1977:] I have drawn your attention to the fact that the genitive of ‘amhuinn’ (river) in Lochaber was considered to be ‘amhna’, e.g. taobh na h-amhna. Elsewhere it is considered to be ‘aimhne’ as in Garrynahine.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[cure for colds]: Note 5: Another cure for colds was a dip in the sea and then off to bed for sometime, an interval, etc. A gentleman on the Island of Scalpay years back was under a dose of cold. While he was engaged in mooring a boat he had, he fell accidentally into the sea at the point of disembarkation, this was by the shore. The place by the shore was shallow, he pulled himself over the seaweed on to the rocks, he had his clothes on, of course. On arriving home he immediately changed into fresh dry clothing again, of course, and found its [sic] ordeal so refreshing, and the cold none the worse, and by next day the cold ‘was gone’.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[dachaidh]: Tha e aig a dhachaidh (marbh). – At his rest.
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[dearg]: A dhearg lathair – at this very moment. A dhearg mheurlaich – you very thief. A dhearg rascail – you real rascal.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[duslach]: Mar an duslach – a shoal of herring showing black in daylight or at evening.
Location: [Harris], Scalpay
Category: Iasgach an Sgadain / Herring-Fishing
[dòigh]: Air an doigh sin. At that rate.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[eagal]: Chuir e eagail air an dearg mheirleach – ‘at seeing him, his face, a stealer, a ‘real stealer’, would collapse’ (putting it this way to make it more easily understood), one rendering.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
[faillinn, coileir, bann]: Ministers of the Protestant Churches wear a ‘faillinn’ (robe) and ‘coileir’ in reverse to ordinary collars with the stud at the back. The minister’s tie, ‘bann’, is of white linen.
Location: Arran, Pirnmill
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
[fiacaill]: Chas e fhiaclan rium. He gnashed his teeth at me.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[fiataidh]: Dh’fhalbh i gu fiataidh, falachaidh. – carefully and stealthily making your way somewhere. In this case at night time.
Location: South Uist, Stilligarry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[fois]: Am fois: an tàmh. At ease.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[foretelling bad weather 2]: When no surf at all on beach – like a loch.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Sìde / Weather
[foretelling good weather 3]: Deep red sky at night.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Sìde / Weather
[fro-stick]: Another thing that was used in connection with milk, I do not know the Gaelic name for it but in English it is called a fro-stick. In fact we used to have one here though I have not seen it for some time. I’ll try and make a drawing of one which will give you an idea what it looked like. It was used for what we called a ‘fuarag’. This was some cream in the bottom of a flat dish or any vessel with a flat bottom, you put the fro-stick in it and kept the handle tight between the palms of the hands and made a rubbing movement causing the fro-stick to go one way then the other continuing this for about five minutes, depending on the quality of the cream, until it almost reached the stage what we called the ‘bainne-briste’ stage. ‘Bainne-briste’ was when the milk was starting to change from milk to buttermilk. The ‘fuarag’ was the stage before that when the cream went sour and this was often taken. The material which went round the four spokes was the long hard hair at the end of a cow’s tail like a rope. It didn’t fall off as the ends of the spokes were scouped out cup shaped.
Origin: Inverness-shire, Nethy Bridge
Category: Crodh / Cattle
[féil-beag]: The word I’ve heard here for the ordinary kilt was the ‘féil-beag’ though anytime I’ve come across the word in Gairm or Sruth it is just written as ‘féileadh’ but I think ‘féil-beag beag’ [sic] would be a more descriptive word by what we see worn by some of the female sex at the present day.
Origin: Inverness-shire, Nethy Bridge
Category: Crodh / Cattle
[gabh]: “Is i a ghabh a h-uile duine a fhuair Dòmhnull.” – It was she who was midwife at the birth of everyone of Donald’s family.]
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[gabhail]: Tha e a’ gabhail air. – He beats him at fighting.
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[gaire]: Rinn mi gaire rithe. – I laughed at her.
Origin: Tiriodh [Tiree]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
[gar]: Thig is gar thu fhein. – Come and get warm at the fire.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[grian]: Aig àm dol sios na gréine – at sunset. Aig àm éirigh na gréine – at sunrise.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[ig]: Ig, aige, na uaithe – to it, at it, or from it.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[iuchair]: “Feuch nach caill thu iuchraichean do chloinne.” – said to a woman if she endangered or put herself at risk by lifting a heavy object.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[leig]: Leig e air an at. – Lanced it.
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[leisg]: Is leisg le leisgein dol laidhe is seachd leisg leis eiridh. Slow is the sluggard at bedtime but seven times slower to rise. [NOTE in second hand: … dol a laighe … eirigh.]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[luach]: Cha deanainn air mhor luach e. I wouldn’t do it at any price.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[làmh]: Ge be nach smachdaich làmh ris a ghlùin, cha smachdaich làmh ris an uilinn. If you do not reprimand children when they are at knee height you will be too late when they are up to your elbow.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[làmh]: Aig laimh. At hand. In readiness.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[meudachd]: Is ioghnadh leam fein a mheudachd. I am surprised at its bulk.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[mionaid]: Ní mi sin ’s a mhionaid. – I shall do that at once!
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[neart]: Bha e an treun a neirt. – he was at his peak.
Location: South Uist, West Kilbride
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]: “I have heard nearly all of above. Some are still heard with older people who use such expressions as “evernow” – at the present time. “Slamp” – agile, is a word not heard much now as are “fludding the school” – truanting and “rooicking” [?] – staying out late without permission. These would lead to a “plooking”! “Scoolan” – a receptacle for potatoes, etc. “Bualla” was formerly heard for a shinty club – the game was not played much in the town but rather by boys in the surrounding parts.”
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[note]: (This incidentally is in our district the final operation, at the crofter’s house.)
Origin: Leódhas, An Rudha [Lewis, Rudha]
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
[ospag]: Air an ospag dheireannach. At the last gasp.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[partan]: Is fhearr am partan na bhi gun fhear. Better to have some kind of husband than none at all.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[prevention of flies]: a mixture of urine and dipping liquid was a popular mixture for the prevention of flies, to keep the flies at a distance from the animal.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[ruith]: Is iomadh uair a thug mi ruith air. Many a time I made him run. [NOTE in second hand: had a turn at it.]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[ruith]: Air an ruith cheudna (air a cheart ruith). At precisely the same rate.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[réidh]: Tha iad reidh a nis. They are at peace now.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[seòl]: Air an t-seol sin. At that rate.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[sgrogag]: Sgrogag dheiridh, sgrogag thoisich – bits of wood protruding at front and rear of a cart. Rear ones prevented the cart from tipping too far.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay, Cnoc Cuidhein [Knockquien]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[sheep grazing]: a) Sheep stop grazing in early afternoon and seek shelter, even if weather good at the time.
Origin: [Barra]
Category: Sìde / Weather
[siorruidheachd]: Anns an t-Siorruidheachd. “Dh’aithnichinn Calum agus Tormod agus Eighrig agus Coinneach. Ach c’àit am bheil Tormod?” “Thà anns an t-Siorruidheachd.” (At his rest, marbh.)
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[slachdadh]: Fhuair iad slachdadh aig an sgoil. – They got a beating at school.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[sonas]: Aig a shonas. – At his rest. Marbh. Mu dhuine diadhaidh. Mu dhuine cumanta ’se ‘aig a dhachaidh’ a chanadh iad.
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[spàigean]: By the way, “spàigean” one might say, was a derivative of “spàgach” and described a baby at the stage when he or she walked with legs well apart in order to balance.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[steall]: Bhuail sinn pliu’ an acair air a bial, ’s chitheadh tu e a’ falbh na steall anns a cholbh-bianain. – the striking of anchor on boat’s rail, forward at the bow, to cause herring to ‘show’ in the phosphorescence.
Location: [Harris], Scalpay
Category: Iasgach an Sgadain / Herring-Fishing
[subhachas]: Is mairg a dheanadh subhachas ri dubhachas fir eile. Woe to him who mocks at another’s grief.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[suidh]: Shuidh e a mach mi. He outs at me.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[sàil]: An t-sàil dheiridh. An t-sàil bhrollaich. Cross beams at both ends of a cart.
Location: North Uist, Iollaraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[tachair]: Tachairidh mi ris airson so. I shall be at him for this.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[teine]: An taca an teine. – At the fireside. By the fireside.
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[tobhta]: Various seats in a boat: – tobhta stiùraidh – tobhta a’ chruinn – tobhta iomraidh – tobhta bheag (at rear).
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[triuirean]: Aig iomairt air triuiarean [sic]. Playing at marbles.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[tuaiream]: Bruidhinn air thuaiream. Speaking at random.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[tòir]: Thig mi air do thòir aig aon uair. – I shall call for you at 1pm.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[uair]: Gach uair. At all times.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[uilear]: Cha b’uilear dhaibh tighinn aig aon uair. They would require to come at one o’clock.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[uilleir?]: Tha’n (?)/Cha’n (?) uilleir [?] dhut sin a dheanamh gun dàil. – You had better do that at once.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[ɛ̜i vɔ̃:nʹ]: Notes: cf. Harris ‘iarunn mòine’. Spade for cutting peat. Long, broad blade, turned at point.
Origin: Glenlyon
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
[“croman”]: the “croman” was the most popular implement for lifting potatoes. Constructed like a small pick – broad blade with handle at right angle.
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
a cuir làmh na’d bheatha: putting yourself at risk.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
a fuxer: used by boys when their lines become entangled at fishing.
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
acair: Notes: stone weight at the end of the “sioman” going over the top of the roof. Placed just above the top of the wall.
Location: North Uist, Bayhead, Kylis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
adagachadh: Notes: making stooks of corn. There would often be as little as six sheaves in it – two pairs side by side and one at each end.
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
adhaircean: ‘horns’ on either side of the top piece of the stem of the boat to which the bow strip hook is ‘clipped’. I cannot say also at the moment. [NOTES: the slip is among the “Doubtful” words. Catch-word: adhairc.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
adhlaic: Quotation: (a) chaidh [[ɑ̃ũ]ɫɑk]. (b) aig an [[ɑ̃ũ]ɫɑk]. Notes: (a) he was buried. (b) at the funeral. [NOTES: slipped under ‘adhlac’.]
Location: Perthshire, Killin
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
aghachoimheach: false face (spelt colloquially), what children use as marauders at Halloween, in Scotland. [SLIP: Mask (as said in Scalpay).]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
aig: prep. ‘at, to’: aig: aig an geamhradh [sic] tha iad geal; agam: ‘well,’ thuirt mi agam fhìn; aice: ach bhiodh aicese ri bhith còmhla ris, co-dhiù [FMM]; bhiodh e aice ris a’ bhainne ‘ chur dhan chreamery
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Broadcove
Category: Field Notebooks of Seosamh Watson June-August 1983
air: Notes: Air a mhór-thir. Air Bràighe Steornabhaigh. Air an taobh-siar. Air na Lochan – at the Parish of Lochs.
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
air fhiaradh: looking at something with a squint.
Origin: [South Uist]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
air mo pheacnachadh: due to antagonism a normally placid person gets involved in a torrent of criticism directed at his opponent. Then says that person is the cause of his sinfulness.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
air muradh: at large on pleasure bent.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
aird-an-fhiarais: at the height of the fever, high temperature.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
aire: nn f. [= faire] ‘wake (at funeral)’: bha iad a’ dol dh’ionns’ na h-aire; bha ~ mhòr a’ dol a bhith ann; pl. bhith na bòst gàbhaidh air na h-aireachan
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Broadcove
Category: Field Notebooks of Seosamh Watson June-August 1983
alainn: [ɑɫĩnʹ] Note: his pronunciation. Whisky and tobacco given out at a funeral. Did not see it himself. “Alainn an duine a bhasaich.”
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
alaire: [ɑɫɑɾə] Notes: whisky, biscuits and cheese taken at a funeral.
Location: Skye, Sleat, Calligary
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
alaire: [ɑɫəɾə] Quotation: an alaire. Notes: whisky, biscuits and cheese given at a funeral.
Location: Ross-shire, Dornie, Morvich
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
alaire: Provisions for a funeral especially whisky. Also bread and cheese. Before the funeral party set off for the cemetery, they lined up in front of the house of mourning while men went round serving glasses of whisky on trays, followed by women who served biscuits and cheese. Whisky and cheese were served in the churchyard after the burial. In early times so much whisky was consumed at funerals that fighting was a common occurrence, especially if two funeral parties met (one going north and the other south) and each claimed the “right of way”. Fighting too broke out in the churchyard. The last caber on the ancient Cille Mhartainn church in Staffin, Skye, was hauled down and used as a weapon in a melée. This happened nearly two centuries ago when that church was in ruins and long abandoned. [SLIP: Provisions for a funeral. (See Quest.)]
Origin: Skye
Category: Bàs is Adhlacadh / Death and Burial
alairidh: [ɑɫəɾi] Note: whisky given at funerals, usually at the cemetery.
Origin: Scarista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
alaraidh: [ɑɫɑɾi] Notes: whisky, biscuits and cheese at a funeral.
Location: Skye, Stein
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
alt: Quotation: Bha alt aca air tughadh. Notes: They were skilful at thatching.
Location: Ross-shire, Gairloch, Strath
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
alt, allt (m): cliff, steep rocky slope (burn at foot).
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
amhaich a’ chuain: a narrow inlet, inland. Example in question being the ford at Benbecula over which a bridge runs.
Location: South Uist, Stilligarry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
an airidh: I am not sure what or where this was. I heard this expression ‘Shuas air an airidh’. Could have been a boarding or platform among the rafters. [NOTES: the following comment added later at the bottom of the page.] Have discovered that the ‘airidh’ was not part of the dwelling house – it was a broad shelf or suspended loft in the barn.
Origin: Eileanaich [natives of Lewis]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
an cliabh fodair: some cows (as a result of bad habit) did not yield their milk without being given a small quantity of succulent grass, turnip leaves etc. This was carried to them in a creel. Dried backbones of fish, such as cod, also served the same purpose. This saved carrying ‘fodder’ when the cows were at the shielings miles away from the villages.
Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Crodh / Cattle
an dreasair: (in living room) The dresser, the high back of which held various dishes: plates, bowls, cups and saucers, stood against the other wall (of living room) opposite ‘séis’ [q.v.]. At one end of the dresser there was a table, at the other end two barrels, one of which held oatmeal and the other flour.
Origin: Skye
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
an druim: the heavier rope at the bottom of a net.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
an dùnadh: wooden supports at a boat’s stern.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay, Ceannaraigh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
an fhaire chlaidh: a guard posted at a cemetery when bodies were being stolen.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
an fhuilm: a bit of wood found at a boat’s helm. About two feet long and used for steering.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
an ruaidh: hard udder at calving (mastitis). [NOTES: slipped under ‘ruaidh’ with ‘an ruaidh’ as the quotation.]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
an sluagh: This refers to a belief, not common nowadays, which people observed. It referred to the souls of the deceased rising from their graves in the dead of night, between twelve midnight and three in the morning. Apparently they visited their former dwellings. Moreover and also anyone who was walking at this time of morning bore this in mind and it was the custom to warn such a person that these souls could uplift him whilst on his journey. The phrase “Feuch na glac an sluagh thu” reflects this belief. Unlike the fairies these souls would return you to the original lifting point by three in the morning.
Location: South Uist, Peninerine
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
an t-at busach: mumps.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
an taca ’sa bhliadhna: at this time of year.
Location: North Uist, Iollathraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
an tinntein: stand at each side of the fire for holding pots etc.
Origin: Barra
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
an tòc: This is a mystery somewhat akin to the King’s Evil, only in this instance, animals are the sufferers. An operation is performed on the eye of the animal (sheep or cow). The eyelid is turned outwards and by means of a darning needle and a piece of thread, some particular part surrounding the eye is manipulated so that it can be cut off. This gives immediate relief to the animal. Veterinary surgeons do not believe in it. An instance was quoted to me last summer. The man telling the story told me he had been to a village in Lochs. There was a cow, very far through, stretched out on the ground practically at its last gasp when my friend arrived. The vet had been called and had given her up as hopeless. My friend asked, “Na dh’fhiach sibh bheil an tòc oirr?” “Chan eil fhios againne dé th’ann an tòc.” “Uill bheir mise an tòc bhair na bà agus mur a dèan e feum, cha dèan e cron ’sam bith oirre co dhiubh.” He performed the operation and in ten minutes’ time the cow was on its feet and eating the grass. The amazing thing is that the people of Lochs had never heard of this most effective operation which is still regularly performed in Uig.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
an-àm: Quot.: ’S e cadal-ceàrnach cadal ann an an-àm. Note: at the wrong time.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
analachadh: aspiration, lenition of consonants, also séimheachadh; ? but there seems to have been a difference (at times). Mo cheann – analachadh air “c” also d, t, b, p, m, s. Mo làmh – séimheachadh air “l” also n (and f?).
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
annsporag: [[ɑ̃ũ̜]spɔɾɑɡ] Note: J. N. understands it to mean the ox tongue and what naturally attaches to it at the back when it is removed to be cooked.
Origin: Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
aparan: a wooden partition extending from the stern of the boat to the back seat – ‘tobhta bhig’. Strengthened the rear of the boat. Steering equipment would be connected to this. In Eriskay a bottle of holy water would be attached to this bit of wood as it was thought this kept supernatural forces at bay and generally kept the crew and boat safe.
Location: Eriskay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
aran crì: Notes: ‘gingerbread’ (sold esp. at Là na Dròbh). Cf. Irish arán cróich. Cf. Welsh bara croyw ‘unleavened bread’. ?? Not in Dw.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
argannan: floats, [made of] cork, at head (ceann shuas), aig gach sia treathan.
Location: Harris, Sgarastamhor
Category: Iasgach a’ Ghiomaich / Lobster-Fishing
artag: Quotation: artag cladaich. Notes: ground which is under water at high tide but on which short grass grows.
Location: Skye, Kyleakin
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
artag: Quotation: artag cladaich. Notes: area at the shore where grass grows but is covered at high tide. Grass is always short but liked by beasts. Frost doesn’t affect it. See “ceap artaig” or “ceap cladaich”.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
as: Quotation: as t-oidhch’. Notes: at night.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ashadh: storm tossed, rough passage as at sea. Fhuair iad ashadh a dol tarsainn a’ chuain an dé. (Harris)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
astar-chas-an: (pronounced asterchassan, the ‘an’ at the end is open like sgadan, herring) a path trampled down by feet, usually where this was not welcome. ‘Tha a chlann air astarchasan a dheanamh troimh ’n choirc.’
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
at: Quotation: an cuan ag at. Notes: heavy swell appearing on the sea.
Location: Ross-shire, Aultbea
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
at: Quotation: at-buinn. Notes: swelling on the sole of the foot due to walking barefoot. [NOTES: slipped under ‘at-buinn’.]
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
at: gate.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
at: Quot.: “at caoich”. Note: a septic swelling that appears and comes to a head very quickly. (Put also under caoch.)
Origin: Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
at: Quotation: an at busach. Notes: mumps.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
at: swelling.
Origin: [Islay, Ballygrant]
Category: Crodh / Cattle
at (m): swelling.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Crodh / Cattle
at braghad: tonsillitis.
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
at-amhach: sore throat.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Horgabost
Category: Faireachdain / Senses
at-buinn: Notes: swelling on the sole or heel of the foot from going about barefoot.
Location: Skye, Harlosh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
at-bàn: Notes: T.B. in the hip-joint.
Location: Ross-shire, Polbain
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
at-góbhlach: Note: carbuncle (says that its foundation radiates in different directions).
Origin: Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
at-sclopan: (throat).
Origin: Barra
Category: Caoraich / Sheep
ath-storadh: Quotation: ag ath-storadh a’ mhóine. Notes: making larger heaps of peats than when at first lifting. (ath-storagan)
Location: Sutherland, Portskerra
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
a’ breacadh: picking at or roughening, e.g. breacadh na brathainn, i.e. roughening the grinding side of the quern stone.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
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’ coiseachd deiseal: walking in a clockwise direction. This happened at funerals before the coffin was brought into the graveyard, i.e. the procession walked round the outside of the graveyard in a clockwise direction before entering the graveyard.
Location: [South Uist], Daliburgh (Schoolhouse)
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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’ gearradh phuirt: process of making drains at the roadside so as to drain excess water off the road.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
a’ ghiùlain: Was the phrase applied to the remains while being carried to the grave. At walking funerals in Glenelg, my former charge, the coffin is borne in the rear of a procession instead of in front. It is believed that this tradition had its origin in military funerals from Bernera Barracks, nearby, which were erected very soon after the first Jacobite rising of 1715. I have never seen this custom except in Glenelg. [NOTES: slipped under ‘giùlan’ with ‘a’ ghiùlan’ as the quotation. Definition: See Quest.]
Origin: Skye
Category: Bàs is Adhlacadh / Death and Burial
a’ spoth nam fàdan: cutting lower edge of peats at an angle – mòine bhàn chiefly – to make it easier for thrower to lift peats away from ‘carcair’ [q.v.].
Location: Lewis, Lochs, Leurbost
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
a’ steidheadh: here the outside peats were placed on edge at a steep angle in a more or less level layer.
Origin: Sgìre na Pàirc an Leódhas [Lewis, the Park district]
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
a’ tighinn a staigh a dh’iarraidh athainn: this could mean that a person was only dropping in and could not stay for long. Reflects the custom of stopping at a house for an ember to use as a torch.
Location: South Uist, South Boisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
babhstlair: Quotation: Geda [sic] bha Gàidhlig aig na [b[ɑu]stɫirən], cha robh iad ’ga teagasg idir. Notes: speaking of Gaelic at school.
Origin: Arisaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bad: Quotation: “’Bheil e ga iarraidh anns a bhad?” – at once. Bad corc – sheaf of oats. Bad luachrach – the place (portion) of rushes.
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bad a muigh: covering the body with heavy sheaves at the same time making secure with coir rope or heather rope.
Origin: Ross and Cromarty, Lewis
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
baile: Farm over 50 acres arable – leased in olden days by periods of 19 years. Renewed at end of such period if approved by landlord or factor.
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
baile: Quot.: “Tha’n crodh a stigh air feadh a bhaile.” Note: before fences were introduced the cattle, sheep, horses wandered at will on any of the crofts.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
baisteadh: Quot.: a’ baisteadh. Note: practice at one time of dipping newly-made clay vessels in milk. Milk called “boinne-baist”.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bal guailleadh: rope used for tying up. Located at front stem.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay, Ceannaraigh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
balach-bog: a boy prone to fright and cry at the least disturbance, etc.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
balg: Quotation: Tha a’ bho ’n deidh a’ bhalg a bhreith. Notes: at calving.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
balg: Quotation: balg-uisge. Notes: water bag expelled at the birth of a calf.
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Boisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
balgan-feòir: Quot.: “Cha teid thu mach mas beir am balgan-feòir agus an ceithir-chasach ort!” Note: said to young children if they wanted to go out at night.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ball bùird: a fool in the company, someone to laugh at.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
banais: Quotation: banais-chullaich. Notes: a collection of wailing cats at night (Kilmuir).
Location: Raasay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
banais-nan-cearc: Notes: held the night before a wedding when the womenfolk collected at the bride’s house to pluck and cook the hens.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bann (m), bannan (pl): bands for sheaves. 8, but more usually 10 sheaves in each stook (adag) in Tiree. Reef knot for sguaban-coirce. Bann-eòrna (at sguab centre) for sguaban-eòrna.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
bannag: Quotation: “Thoir a bhiadh do fhear-an-tighe, ’S thoir a bhannag dhomhsa.” – New Year’s cake. Notes: part of a Rhyme used by children visiting at New Year time – supposed to date back to the time of the Druids!
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bara: [bɑɾə] Notes: a kind of “nest” made at the top of the beach to accommodate a boat.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bara: [bɑɾə] Notes: channel made for a boat at the top of the shore. Boat left in it when not in use.
Location: Ross-shire, Aultbea
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
barp: an accumulation of stones beside lochs. Examples found locally at Milton and Lochboisdale. People are supposed to be buried underneath these rocks. Associated with the distant past.
Location: South Uist, Milton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
barra-leathad: [bɑrəlʹɛʔəd̪] Notes: camber in the road at a bend.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
barran-tarsain: irregular crop of potatoes; showing its appearance between the drills, ‘tops’ appearing between the drill spaces, at hoeing time.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
beag-umhail: Note: said of a person who was at ease in any company.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bean-nighe: Note: comhtharradh bàis. If she was seen washing at a loch.
Origin: [Caversta]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bean-uisa: this expression is equivalent to ‘mo thogair’. The lady who gave these three words [i.e. cudthrom shiudan, bean-uisa and cuilidh] is a native of Laggan. Her father was born in that parish about 1871 and lived for a few years at Dalchully and nearly all his life within a few miles of it and had heard that that was the meaning of ‘cuilidh’. I have not heard the word with my father but doubtless he would have been familiar with it and with ‘bean uisa’. He knew the lady and her father very well.
Location: Inverness
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
bearnan-brìde: flower, dandelion, at the point of the flower giving way to withering, the seed is left which parachute off by the wind. Children used to blow off the seed themselves and counting how many times they had to blow before the final seed was blown, which indicated what time of day it was. The flower itself does the re-seeding. The seed is disposed likewise from its down, ‘choimhiteach’ [sic].
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bearradh: cutting the tips of the wool off year-old lambs at shearing-time.
Location: Harris, Ardhasaig
Category: Obair na Clòimhe / Wool-Working
beartachadh: Quotation: am beartachadh; snath beartaich; a’ beartachadh a’ lion. Notes: thick twine used to fasten the net itself at intervals to the line across the top.
Location: Skye?, Braes, Baile Meadhonach
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
beith: birch tree. There is only one birch tree I know of growing within a distance of Scalpay. It’s on another adjacent island to Scalpay (Scotisay Island), and again as far as I gather, there isn’t one growing on Scalpay, Harris. The one that grows on Scotisay is the ‘silver birch’. If there is a special name for the ‘silver birch’ remains a question with me at the moment.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
beul: Quotation: ann am beul an latha. Notes: at daybreak.
Location: Tiree, Cornaigbeg
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
beul cuain: in the context of the sea delivering the body of someone lost at sea.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
biast: Quot.: “Chaidh mi na mo bhéist ris.” Note: I went wild at him.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
biastan-a-chruidh: little ‘red ticks’ nibbling the flesh. Cure: ‘achduinn-ghorm’ – blue ointment applied usually at the back of horns to avoid it being licked. Sheep dip was also used as a destroyer.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
bigeireachd: Quotation: a’ bigeireachd ri rud. Notes: “picking” at something, e.g. when doing a job, not working at it consistently.
Location: Skye, Harlosh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bilearach: Notes: a green sea-grass growing in the sand. This was used at Bridgend to cover the potatoes in the pit as “luachair” was scarce there.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
biogaireachd: Quotation: a’ biogaireachd air. Notes: said of hunter waiting to get good shot at bird. Conveys the idea of teasing a cross person or animal.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
biorach: Quotation: a’ bhiorach [əvıɾɑx]. Notes: cow at first calving (2½ years).
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
biorr chrith: a length of iron, pointed at one end and used for holing corrugated iron. [NOTES: ‘biorr’ corrected to ‘bior’.]
Location: South Uist, South Lochboisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bith-aighe: (? sounds like eye) an earthworm. (at Melness)
Origin: Applecross [mother]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
blar mona: Peat bank. There were held for a period of ten years. At the end of that time peat banks were reallocated by casting lots. [NOTES: spelled ‘blàr mòna’ on the slip.]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
blian-geal: Quotation: Chaidh e air a’ bhlian-gheal. Notes: used of salmon when it turns over because of lack of water or casting a stone at it.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bloigh: Quotation: Chaneil, na bloigh! Notes: in answer to a question. “Not at all, not in the least!”
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bocsa roighdaidh: a large wooden box 15" x 12" used for keeping lobsters fresh for a fortnight. This was floated inshore at a time when lobster collections did not take place so often.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bocsa-na-gocaid: cornered (in a box) in a situation wherein the subject or person is in difficulty, and at the same time hopeful of recovery, or having access from a jumping up and down, or movement up and down, as the toy movent [sic] [moving?] on a spring in a box. (Harris) Tha thu ’m bocsa-na-gocaid. (Harris)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bodach-sàbhaidh: Note: the figure of a man, its hands stretched out in front of it holding a stick which came down at an angle and passed under its feet. A potato, for balance, was stuck on its lower end. The man then was put standing on a line and it swayed backwards and forwards without toppling.
Origin: Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bodachan: Bodachan taois – oatmeal and water mixed and made into a ball, usually for feeding sheep. Bodachan siùcair – small bodachan of oatmeal was squeezed in the left hand and the portion which exuded at the top was flattened and sprinkled with sugar. It was then somewhat shaped like a mushroom and was given to the children.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
boga-sùgain: the state of material at a point being ‘over-softened’, soil etc. [SLIP: When a material is on the point of being over-softened.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bogha: Notes: reef submerged at high tide.
Location: Raasay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bogha: Notes: reef, submerged at high tide.
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bogha-froiseadh: (Tiree gen. with -adh at end.)
Origin: Tiree
Category: Sìde / Weather
bogha-làir: ‘ground rock’ on the sea-bed which doesn’t show at ebb time, a rock getting its name through rising ‘bow’ shape slightly from the bottom of the sea. [SLIP: Rock on the sea-bed which doesn’t show at ebb-tide.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bogh’-an-t-salachair: permanent underwater (or ‘submarine’) rock, its name signifying reef seaweed, etc. at its proximity.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
boinne-taige: Quot.: “Tha boinne-taig’ aice.” Note: said if one felt a few drops of rain. Also used for sweat. “Tha boinne-taige dheth le fallus.” or “Tha boinne-taige fon an t-sròin aige gun abhsadh” – drip at the end of his nose.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bois: Quot.: “bois an dubhain”. Note: the flat part at the end of a hook.
Origin: Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
boitean connlach: corn etc. given at feeding time.
Origin: [Arran]
Category: Caoraich / Sheep
bollaid: bollard for tying or fastening ropes on (boat) at a pier.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bonnach grùthainn: a saithe’s liver mixed with flour. Boiled in the same pot as the saithe but separated by being placed on a plate at the top of the pot.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bradan: 28 [Salmon] breac (iasg geal; descending to sea) > guilse (at [?] sea and growing) > bradan.
Location: Mull [see below for details]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
braighdeachd: a game played by boys in which some were held in captivity at one stage. (Badenoch)
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
brangas: [bɾɛ̃ŋɡəs] Notes: headpiece put on horses when tethered. It consisted of a piece of wood coming down each of the horse’s cheeks, with a rope joining them underneath. The tether rope was attached in such a way that when the horse pulled at the tether the pieces of wood tightened on its cheeks and forced it to stop pulling.
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
branndair: [bɾɛ̃n̪d̪ɑɾ] Notes: iron grille used for making bannocks at the fire. “Bonnach branndair”.
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
branndair: Note: grate put on top of the hearthstone when the fire was in the middle of the floor. Considered at the time to be a big advance.
Origin: Kershader
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
breacadh: ‘fire-prints on the feet’ caused by continually sitting by a large fire and the feet bare, gradually the fire impression sets in. I cannot think of an English word for it at the moment. [SLIP: “Fire-prints” on feet.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris,Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
breithe: common grazing at the foot of a mountain on the eastern side of the village. [NOTES: note added above ‘breithe’ – bràighe.]
Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
briogais: [bɾwɡiʃ] Notes: breeches, tied just below the knee. Not used for “trousers”. Wearing the “briogais” at one time was considered a cut above the ordinary. “Tha i ’n deidh an fhear ud a phòsadh – tha briogais air.”
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
briogais: [bɾıɡıʃ] Notes: breeches, tied at the knee.
Origin: Glenurquhart
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
briscean, pl. briscein: roots. (I know the vegetable or ground eatable produce but I am afraid I cannot give you the very word for it in English at the moment. They can be rooted from the ground. I have already noted the word on a previous page.)
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
brod: a gaff with a hook used to draw out lobsters. This could only be used at spring tide.
Location: Milngavie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
broilleach: [bɾɔlʹɑx] Quotation: am broilleach or am maide broillich. Notes: Bracket at joint between stempost and keel.
Location: Skye, Glasnakille
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bràigh: Quot.: “am bràigh”. Note: the rope from the “cruaidh” to the “put” at the end of a small- or great-line.
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bràinndean: small grinding stones which would be kept at home for small scale grinding.
Location: South Uist, Milton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
brùic (f), brùca (gen): rotted sea-weed, at high-tide mark (N.E.).
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bu tu a lann sùla: There was the term used: bu tu a lann sùla. I am not quite certain if this meant (eye-attraction) at the moment.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buachaille-bliadhna: Note: shepherd employed by a township to look after the sheep. Method of payment was to give him a certain amount for each beast delivered safely at the end of his term of employment. (N.C. thinks it was about 6d.)
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buailltain: a wooden club rounded at one end with a hollow right through it. A strip of sheepskin was put through this hollow which you gripped in your hand instead of a rope. A flail used to strike corn.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bualta: I am not quite sure of the meaning of this word at present – but the word is an authentic, Gaelic. Camus-a-bhualta (Harris). [NOTES: the slip is among the “Doubtful” words.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buathrach: a fetter placed on a cow at milking time. Hind legs were tied. [NOTES: corrected to ‘buarach’.]
Origin: Uibhist a Tuath [North Uist]
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
bucall: (m) Hook or buckle thro’ which strap for tying hames (at top) passes. [NOTES: spelled ‘bucal’ on the slip.]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
builg: Quotation: “Tha an t-iasg a’ builgeadh.” Notes: fish at play, breaking the surface and causing bubbles to form but not biting.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buill-slaodaidh: the bridle ropes at the end of the net.
Location: [Harris], Scalpay
Category: Iasgach an Sgadain / Herring-Fishing
buinne: Notes: whirlpool created at the meeting of the tides.
Location: BBC
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buinneagan: garden produce, of the leek ‘family’? ’S toigh leis an duin’ agam buinneagan, duilleagan ’s toigh leis ’n duin’ agam duilleagan càil? I am not, I am afraid, at the moment prepared to say what is the English equivalent?
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bun dubh: refers to corn that is black at the roots.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bun na h-ursainn: cross piece at the bottom. Suirighe fad air falbh ’s posadh am bun na h-ursainn. – Courting miles away then marrying a next door neighbour.
Origin: Barra
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
bun-a-chroinn: a lug sail in a boat hooked at the bottom of the mast.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bun-bac: lying at anchor. Na raimh ri bun-bac. They had this saying in Scalpay in former days. Perhaps you have another meaning yourself for this term?
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bun-bac: Note: described as the point at which the “ceangail” and the top of the wall come together. (Usually described as being two or three feet up from the wall.)
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bun-dubh: refers to corn that is black at the root.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bun-luachair: remains, roots of rushes after being cut left in the ground and being approached with a spade, and difficult to uproot is spoken of at one instance as bun-luachair.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
busach: Quotation: an at busach. Notes: mumps.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
buthaman: bowman potatoes. So called after a ship ran aground at Paible with a cargo of this potato. The captain of the ship was called Bowman.
Location: North Uist, Iollathraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bàl stòcainn: modern equivalent would be a pyjama party. Everyone had to bring socks for the person they would leave with at the end of the night. If they did not have this they would be refused entry. [NOTES: ‘stòcainn’ corrected to ‘stocainn’.]
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bàsdair: [bɑ:sd̪ɑð] Note: a soft boggy place with grass growing on it. Sheep would try to get at the grass and get stuck, or sink in it.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bàthach: When the cows occupied one end of the “tigh dubh” that end had no stalls. A short post was driven into the wall and a cow was tied to it by a strong rope. Earlier still, instead of the wooden post, two stones in the shape of two horns meeting each other at their extremities and forming a sort of circle were built into the wall. The end of the rope which tied the cow was fixed to this circle. As many of these circles as were deemed necessary were built into the wall on each side of byre.
Origin: Skye
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
bò Shamhna: a cow demanded by the chief at Halloween.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bòrd: Quotation: obair a’ bhùird. Notes: serving at tables in a hotel.
Origin: Arisaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bòrd-slios: Notes: board at the side of the bed.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bùileasg: [bu̜:lʹəsɡ] Notes: pot handle, split at top and hooked.
Location: Romasdal
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bùlasg: Quotation: bùlasg poiteadh. Notes: handle of a pot in two parts, hooked at the top.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
bùth: stall for selling at fair. (Shop is [ʃɔxp].)
Location: Glen Lyon
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cabhadh phloc: two sides throwing clods of earth at each other.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cabhail: [kɑu̜əl] Notes: a stone wall built at the mouth of a river or head of a loch or inlet to catch fish when the tide recedes.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cabhal: a device for catching fish in a burn. A semi-circular opening was made by means of a flat piece of wood and the ends of a piece of willow inserted in a hole at each end of the piece of wood. This held open the mouth of a bag-net which was put into the burn at a place prepared for it so that the fish could not swim past.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
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
cadal: Quotation: cadal nan con ’s a’ mhuilinn. Notes: as if sleeping but at the same time on the alert for the oatmeal to appear.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cadal: Quotation: cadal-ceàrnach. Notes: a sleep at the wrong time.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cadal-ceàrnach: Note: a sleep at the wrong time.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cadalan-tràghad: sleep before the ebb, wee sleep. I am not sure of this compound word either. Does it mean the nap, wee nap people used to do before the ebb tide when engaged at sea-weed cutting in the Highlands of Scotland, or is it the name of a bird or shell-fish, but if you do not find any other definition, I think you will be ‘safe’ in noting the meaning I have here, see the bottom of page 5 [i.e. above] and thus: ’S ann a tha e cuimhneachadh dhomhsa an cadalan-tràghad. – reference to a ‘slow or easy going’ person. [SLIP: Sleep before the ebb; ref. to a slow and easy-going person.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris,Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cadha: a rocky gap at side or foot of a mountain.
Location: Na Hearadh, Gòbhaig [Harris, Gobhaig]
Category: Cruth na Tìre / Landscape Features
cadhalaid: when people gather together. The word hints at a noisy atmosphere as well. “Bidh cadhalaid ’san taigh sin ’nuair a thig iad uileag dhachaidh.”
Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
caighinn: Quotation: Chuir iad caighinn air aig a Chùirt. – He was fined at the Court.
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cailleach-bhuaineadh: [kɑlʹɑxvu̟ɤṉəɣ] Notes: the last handful of corn at harvest-time was taken in, made into a St. Andrew’s Cross, decorated with ribbon and hung inside the house on a nail. The two horses got a half-share each of this before they started the ploughing in spring.
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cainneas: talking attraction. 1. definition. Perhaps the etym. is cainnt. (Isn’t there a word cainnteas also: at this point I am not certain, I am not fully certain, rather.)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cairidh: a wall built in the river estuary at low tide designed to capture fish at high tide. This would [sic] they remained upstream.
Origin: [Note: From North Uist, information from Alex O’Henley / RÓM 4 Dec 2023]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cairt na cosgais: Notes: at funerals, in the islands, cart which took victuals/provisions – when long distance had to be covered.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
caise Calluinn: a special cheese made at Christmas period.
Location: Barra, Ard Mhinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
caisean ochd: skin on breast, a tit-bit at killing time. Skin was cut off, with wool still on, a red hot cinder put inside and left to cook!
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Caoraich / Sheep
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
camaidealach: [kɑmədʹəɫɑx] Quotation: àite camaidealach. Notes: a place through which it is difficult to make a clear passage. One has to zig-zag to avoid obstacles, e.g. harbour with a lot of rocks at the entrance.
Location: South Uist, Lochboisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
caog: Quotation: Chaog e rium. Notes: He winked at me.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
caog (verb): wink. Chaog mi rithe. – I winked at her.
Origin: Tiriodh [Tiree]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
caoibean: [kɤıbɑṉ] Quot.: “Có thig air mo chaoibean?” Note: at end of waulking, this question would be asked as a girl would pull a strand at the end of the cloth. Referring to which boy would come at the time. (Not too clear about this.) (“cuibean” in Dw.)
Origin: Kershader
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
caoibean (E): [The first five or six inches of warp uncrossed by the weft at the beginning of the web.] Feuch caoibean. Nuair a bhiodh na mnathan a luadh agus a thigeadh firionnach a steach do an chuideachd chanadh iad: “Nì e caoibean dhuinn.” “Nì Tormod caoibean dhuinn.” (Cha b’ann leis a’ ghruaim a chanadh iad seo.) (Fuaimnich: caoidh' agus bean.)
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig an Iar
Category: Obair na Clòimhe / Wool-Working
caol-druim: (one example) I have the most rare usage of meaning on the page previous [caoldrama?]. A common word in the physical sense. I have heard it used colloquially in the past days in the previous sense. There are the variations in meanings, as you will no doubt understand yourself that I only give the one meaning or sometimes two in my [?] collection, omitting the gender and tense, nouns, adj., and all the terms denoting cases etc., etc., grammatical ‘abbreviations’ and so on and so forth. Anyway, I am leaving this to yourself, and all the material I have here is the present words found in the speech of the people on Scalpay, but perhaps a few words of former days. I haven’t approached a dictionary so far, but what I am trying to recall from memory, but a word or two I have defined as ‘documented’ from the ‘passing peep’ in a phrase, or a passing look so to speak. This is the way I am trying to expand on at the moment. DRM
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
caora chàraidh: sheep taken from tenants by proprietor at Halloween.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
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
car-shùgan: an instrument used for making rope. Consisted of a bit of cylindrical wood with a hook at one end for twisting the heather, mane or whatever. [NOTES: a question mark added in the margin.]
Location: South Uist, Milton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cara: a trap for catching fish at high tide. Placed in the mouth of a river. See earlier description in previous notes. Difference in pronunciation between Uist (caraidh) and Eriskay (cara).
Location: Eriskay, Taobh na Mara
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
carameal: vetch. Plant with bitter taste, one explanation. ‘Bitter’ rather clashes with ‘meala’? Wild peas. It’s difficult to observe its growth in this area at the moment if at all grows on Lewis or Harris? (I’ll make further enquiries.)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
carbad: Quotation: a’ charbad. Notes: base for a coffin with two shafts, one at the head and one at the rear, protruding from the sides. Four people carried it.
Location: Ross-shire, Dornie, Morvich
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
carbad: Quotation: casan-coirpte. Notes: shafts of light under the sun – indicates rain – usually at sunrise.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
carrag: Notes: the lump at the end of a piece of tangle where it sticks to the rock.
Location: Tiree, Caolis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
carraichgean: [kɑrɑçɡʹɑṉ] Note: the lump at the base of tangle, attaching it to the rock.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
carraig: Notes: rock above water, even at high tide. “Carraig-iasgach”.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
carraigeann: found on rocks at low tide. Used to make a sort of pudding which was said to be replenishing.
Origin: [Barra]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cart: Quotation: Cart na cosgais. Notes: (Uist) the cart which contained the spirits, biscuits and cheese, and tobacco, and which followed the remains at a funeral. [NOTES: slipped under ‘cairt na cosgais’.]
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cas mar theach: when sheaves of corn were improperly constructed. This refers to a sheaf that has ears at both ends instead of being at one end.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cas-chaibe: Quotation: Bha am buntàta air an stobadh le cas-chaibe. Notes: flauchter spade. Holes were made at regular intervals and the potatoes dropped in.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cas-ladhrach: [kɑsɫɤ:ɾɑx] Note: covering on the hooves of a calf when born. At one time they were taken off, boiled and eaten.
Origin: Ness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
casachan: the parts of a loom worked by the feet. Casachain mhora – the actual pedal. Casachain mheadhain – the connecting rods by which the further end of these is bound to the loom itself. Casachain bheaga – the parts of the loom at the top which are directly connected to the bottom ‘casachain’.
Location: Harris, Ardhasaig
Category: Obair na Clòimhe / Wool-Working
casan ladhrach: Quotation: casan ladhrach [ɫɤ:ɾɑx]. Notes: covering on calf’s leg when born. Soon lost. At one time taken off at birth.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
casan-ceangail: rafters, tied together at the top with rope.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
casan-coirpte: Notes: shafts of light under the sun – indicates rain – usually at sunrise.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceamaidealach: crooked, at least not straightforward.
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceanghal: [masc.] a pair of sloping roof joists meeting at the ‘gad-droma’ [q.v.]. The size or length of a house was given by the number of ‘ceanghail’. Thus – Tigh och [sic] ceanghail or Tigh mór nan deich ceanghail.
Origin: Eileanaich [natives of Lewis]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
ceanglachan: sling. (I am not quite sure again at the moment. I think I am right.)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris,Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceann: Quotation: ceanna-cuir. Notes: the rope, at both ends of a small line or great line, to which the “bolla” and “cruaidh” are attached.
Location: Ross-shire, Aultbea
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceann: Note: rope between the “cruaidh” at the end of a fishing line and the buoy.
Location: [Lewis], S. Lochs, Gravir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceann, an ~: prep. ‘engaged with, stuck into’’: bidh iad an ~ a chèile, an dà cheann aca [FMM]; ‘after, at the end of’: cha robh gin orm an ~ latha no dhà; chuimhnich mi air an ~ co’là deug
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Broadcove
Category: Field Notebooks of Seosamh Watson June-August 1983
ceann-cuiligean: [cɑn̪ku̟liɡʹɑ̃ṉ] Notes: heard this for the sheaf put at the very tip of a stack to make it pointed.
Location: Glendale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceann-iomair: edge of field left to be ploughed at finish.
Location: Tummel and Rannoch
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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
ceann-mara: buoy marker, marker on the surface of the sea, as in the case of long-lines or small lines set in the sea for fishing, the ends of the set of lines are kept indicated on the surface by a ‘ceann-mara’, also serving their original [?] purpose as floats tied to the line on the surface, the other fastened to the fishing line or lines at the bottom of the sea.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceann-maradh: Notes: the buoy at the end of a small-line.
Location: Skye, Sleat, Calligary
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceann-sguire: [cɑ̃n̪sɡu̟ɾə] Note: area at the end of a ploughed field where horses turned.
Origin: Ness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceann-sguire: Note: at the ends of a ploughed field where the plough can’t reach.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceann-snaidhm: Note: a cloud formation usually above the horizon. Strips of cloud coming together at one focal point. Could expect rain from this direction.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceann-tobht: Notes: wooden brackets at the end of the slats of a boat. Pl. “cinn-tobht”.
Origin: Strontian
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceann-tobhtadh: Notes: brackets at the ends of thwarts of a boat.
Location: Tiree, Caolis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceanna-chnag: Quotation: bracket at end of seat in a boat.
Location: Raasay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceanna-chnag: Notes: knee-piece at the ends of the seats in a boat.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceanna-chnag: Note: wooden bracket at ends of thwarts.
Location: Harris, Quidinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceanna-chnag: Notes: braces at the ends of the seats of a boat.
Location: Skye, Harlosh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceanna-chnag: Notes: bracket at ends of boat seats.
Origin: Skye, Torrin
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceanna-chnaigh: [cɑ̃n̪ɑ̃xɾɑ̃ĩ] Note: the brackets at the ends of the thwarts.
Location: [Lewis], S. Lochs, Lemreway
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceannachran: a strong support pole running from the top of the wall to the highest point of the gables. At both ends of a house.
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceannag: a bundle of straw thrown to cattle at feeding time.
Location: North Uist, Sollas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceannard: [cɑ̃n̪ɑʴḏ] Notes: where the horses turn at the end of the field when ploughing. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
Origin: Skye, Torrin
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceannmhaigh: [cɑ̃n̪ɑvɑi] Quotation: Na [cɑ̃n̪ɑvɑiəṉ] a bh’againn bho chionn fhada. Notes: the person at the head of the household.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceap: Quotation: ceap artaig or ceap cladaich. “A’ bhliadhna a thiodhlaic sinn Mairi Uilleim, b’eudar dhuinn ceap cladaich a chuir oirre.” – indication of what the weather was like. Notes: in severe frost a “ceap artaig” or “ceap cladaich” would [be] cut to cover a grave. Artag – grass covered area at the shore, covered at high tide. (See artag.)
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceap: turf, cut sometimes where it is thin with some peat attached to it and cured for burning at the back of the fire to save the peats during the winter.
Origin: Lewis, Back or Lewis, Back
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
ceap starra: a cross piece of wood at the door as one came in. It was underfoot.
Location: Cinntire, An Ceann a Deas [Kintyre, Southend by Campbeltown]
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
ceartuair, an ~: advb ‘presently, at once’: tha mi ‘ creidsinn gu bheil iad seo a’ tighinn mun cuairt an ~
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Broadcove
Category: Field Notebooks of Seosamh Watson June-August 1983
ceasach: [cɛsɑx] Notes: wooden bridge at the peat bank.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceathramh: used in weather forecasting terms. If someone went out to look at the sky, he would be said to be: “A’ coimhead air a’ cheathramh”.
Location: Barra, Castlebay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceithir-chasach: Quot.: “Cha teid thu mach mas beir am balgan-feòir agus an ceithir-chasach ort!” Note: said to young children if they wanted to go out at night.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ceutabh: [cıɤt̪əv] Quot.: “Cha do ghabh mi ceutabh idir dheth.” Note: I didn’t take a fancy to it at all.
Origin: Kershader
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
chaneil lan suil ann: [sic] it is not up to standard, not worth looking at.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Horgabost
Category: Faireachdain / Senses
cidsin-dubh: additional small room at the end of a house where meal was stored.
Location: North Uist, Carinish, Trianaid House
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ciste-chliabh: a wooden box [?] for keeping milk with a basket front of woven willow used at shieling.
Location: Tummel and Rannoch
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ciubharan: Quotation: a’ togail a ciubharain ris. Notes: phrase used of a woman ‘setting her cap’ at a man. Source: Catriona MacKay, Harris. Date: 1988.
Location: [see below]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ciutha: hair of a female made into a ball at the back of the head with hair pins inserted.
Location: [Harris], Scalpaigh [Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clach: Quotation: na clacha-cinn (sic). Notes: two stones on which the maide-droma rests, at opposite sides of the sorn (kiln). [NOTES: slipped under ‘clach chinn’.]
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clach: Quot.: clach-bheag-a-doc [ḏɔk]. Note: game played by children. Seems to have been a simple game involving putting a small stone on top of another one and trying to knock it off by firing another one at it.
Origin: [Caversta]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clach ghlagain: an unevenly balanced stone found at the mouth of a cave, so placed that it tilted whenever it was trodden on, thus warning the occupants of the cave. (There were one or two examples in Uig.)
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clach shiomain: Notes: stone on which the rope was tied at the side of the house.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clach stradaig: this was the name given to the bended part of the channel which heated the seed – ‘sorrag’. Had a fire at one end and the seeds at the other end.
Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clach-bhoinne: Notes: lingering drops of rain at close of heavy shower.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clachan peileastair: [pɛ̜liʃtʹər] like 9 pins – one big one you threw small ones at it to knock it down. [SLIP: A game. Similar to 9 pins. A big stone is placed on its side and smaller stones thrown to knock it down.]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
claidheamh: Notes: pin at the end of a roof ladder to keep it up.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
claidheamh: Notes: bar across a door to lock it at night.
Origin: Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
claidhean: a latch or bolt at the top of a door.
Location: South Uist, South Lochboisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
claimheag: Notes: a small eel found at the mouth of a river.
Location: Glendale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
claimheag (clèimheag): Notes: small fish – often found under rocks at low tide.
Location: Harris, Ardhasaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clais: Trench or furrow for potatoes; tha last furrow in centre, if iomaire was split; the last furrow usually at outer edge of furrow [sic].
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
clais: Quotation: a’ cuir a stigh claiseadh. Notes: finishing off the last furrow at the edge of a field.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
claise: Trench or furrow for potatoes; tha last furrow in centre, if iomaire was split; the last furrow usually at outer edge of furrow [sic]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
claise: Trench or furrow for potatoes; tha last furrow in centre, if iomaire was split; the last furrow usually at outer edge of furrow [sic].
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
cleas na Féille air an Fhadhail: prior to a bridge at Benbecula this referred to the cattle having to swim across the ford to cattle sales.
Location: South Uist, Stilligarry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cleas-na-sgithinn: a speed trick involving a knife with three bits of paper on one side. The person performing this moved his hand so quickly that at times he would only have one bit of paper on the knife or two, three pieces.
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cliath: [kliɤ] Quot.: “Dean cliathan beag.” Note: in weaving, the amount of cloth woven at the one time without releasing the tension and pulling the cloth back to allow room for the sley-board to go back and fore.
Location: Harris
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cliath: Note: when weaving with a wooden loom, the amount woven at the one time before the tension was released and the cloth pulled back a little to allow the sleay-board to move back and fore.
Location: [Lewis], South Lochs, Caversta
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cliath: three large waves that occur at intervals at sea.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cliath drilich: Harrow – rounded at top. It covered two drills at a time. [NOTES: spelled ‘cliath dhrilich’ on the slip.]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
cliseam: Quot.: an cliseam. Note: applied to the three pegs at the top of the “beart-dheilbh” for fixing the “alt”.
Location: [Lewis], South Lochs, Caversta
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clisgeartaich: trembling. A hound indicates likewise at the hunt through bodily emotion. [SLIP: The emotionally caused trembling a hound makes at the hunt.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clogaid: [kɫɔɡidʹ] Note: a sheaf of corn with the band pushed up towards the head and the bottom opened out; then put upside down on a corn-rick at the very top to make the water run off.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clogs: Quotation: na “clogs”. Notes: wooden block about 9" deep and 2ft long resting on the axle at each end (to raise the box of the cart).
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cluaran: [kɫũ̜ɑ̃ɾɛ̃nʹ] Notes: piece of wood fixed at one end to the door by a nail and dropping into a slot on doorpost when closed. It could be opened from the outside by a rope going through a hole in the door.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cluasag: Quot.: “cluasagan na cuibhle”. Note: rests of leather at the ends of “snàthad a’ bhiùirne”.
Location: Harris, Quidinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clàbhaist: a noisy conversation, everyone talking at once.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clàp-sgàin: someone who had eaten so much he was at bursting point. [NOTES: ‘clàp’ corrected to ‘clap’.]
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
clàrach: the planking at the stern.
Origin: [Kintyre, Tarbert]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cnagan: bits of wood that were part of the tether on a horse. The bits of wood were on each side of the horse’s face and when the horse tugged at the tether the wood tightened on each side.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cnoidhain (n – R sound): at the bottom of a cow’s foot.
Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cnuaic: heap. [NOTES: already quoted at the beginning.]
Location: Harris, Sgarastamhor
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cnàimh: Quotation: cnàmhan glas [kɾɑ̃:əṉɡɫɑs]. Notes: potato patch. (1) Furrow turned with a spade, potato placed and the divot put upside down on top of it (fertiliser put in with potato). (2) Left unturned until the shaws grew. Then at the time of “togail uime” the strip left unturned was dug up and the earth put round the shaws for support.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cnòtag: a cylindrical object which tapered towards its bottom. Inside this there was a bit of wood with a handle at the top which manoeuvred the wood inside the cylinder. It was used for taking the chaff off corn. For small scale use, e.g. when making breakfast.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cochall: Quotation: an cochall [koxəɫ] or cochull. Notes: covering on lamb at birth.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
coigreach: crozier of St. Fillan, custodians of which were Dewars of Glendochart also called “Fearachd”, see “Deoraich na Fearachd”. The relic was present at Bannockburn. Found in Canada where taken by custody 1870. Now in Edinburgh.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
coile-bianan: [kɤləbĩɤ̃ṉɑṉ] Notes: phosphorescence at sea.
Location: Raasay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
coileach-gaoitheadh: Notes: said by them to be a mock sun, seen above the horizon. Could be seen at sunset or sunrise. Said to indicate a change of weather.
Location: Romasdal
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
coilleach-cràigean (sic): [kɤlʹɔxkɾɑ:ɡʹɑ̃ṉ] Notes: sheaf put at the very top of a cornstack to make it pointed.
Location: Glendale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
coinneamh: Quotation: coinneamh uaircneach. Notes: meeting held on the night of the “Coinneamh Mhios”, which was held [at] midday, and to which only members could come (Free Church).
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
coinneamh-uaigneach: Notes: church meeting at which only communicant members are present. Still held monthly in some Free Churches in Lewis. Source: Calum Matheson. Date: 1980.
Location: [see below]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
coirbte: Quotation: casan-coirpte. Notes: shafts of light under the sun, usually at sunrise – indicates rain.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
coirce-madaidh: [kɔɾkəmɑ̃d̪iç] Notes: corn which had turned black due to disease. Sterilisation process (boiling water poured over seed) carried out to prevent it. ([iç] very often for idh at end of word.)
Location: Tiree, Heylipool [sic]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
coire bliannain: a glittering, scaly substance visible on seaweed at night.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
coireathallan: [kɔðɔhəɫɑṉ] Note: a piece of wood with a hole at each end which served as a swivel on sheep tethers.
Location: [Lewis], South Lochs, Caversta
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
collas: Quot.: “Bha mi far an robh an collas.” Note: hustle and bustle, e.g. at a wedding. Also: “Abair gu robh collas air a’ dol suas a’ rathad.” – in a hurry.
Origin: Caversta
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
comha-thràth: Quotation: Thig a steach mas beir an comha-thràth [ɡõ:rɑ:] ort. Notes: belief among us when young that this was a sort of “bogeyman” who came out at nightfall.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
comha-thràth: [kõərɑ:] Quot.: “am beul a’ chomha-thràth”. Note: at nightfall.
Origin: Kershader
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
comharsba(dh): Quotation: Na bithibh a’ comharsba riumsa idir. Notes: ? Competing, striving. Could be used by host who has finished eating, but still urges the others at the table to carry on.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
comhfhailteachadh: Quotation: Có tha comhailteachadh [sic] cò’ (?) riut (?)? Notes: attendant at wedding – male or female.
Location: Harris, Ardhasaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
comhtharr(adh): Quotation: “Dé ’n comhtharr’ a bha thu air?” Notes: What was your position (at sea)?
Location: Islay, Port Wemyss
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
comhtharradh: Quotation: “a’ gabhail comhtharran”. Notes: taking bearings at sea.
Location: Islay, Port Wemyss
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cona-mheur: [kɔ̃ṉɑvĩɑ̃ɾ] Notes: the point at the base of an otherwise “unpointed” antler (see cabar-slait).
Location: Ross-shire, Dornie, Morvich
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
coradh: deeping [sic] [dipping?]; moving the head up and down as a swan on a loch. I coradh ri faileas. (An old word if at all used now?)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
corp: Quotation: Dh’éirich i agus dh’fhalbh i ann an corp na h-oidhche. Notes: at dead of night.
Origin: Applecross
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
corp creadha: an effigy constructed with clay from a river and shaped just above the water of that river. Pins were stuck into this and left on the surface. When the river rose the effigy wore away. At that point the pain would be felt by the victim.
Location: Eriskay, Taobh na Mara
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
corr thulachain: in the construction of a thatched house this wooden plank or pole extended from the joint at the top of gables, down to the wall.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
corr-fhàd: the first peat that is cut at the outside of each row. More rugged that other peats due to the crust being exposed to the elements.
Location: Lewis, Back
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
corradaireachd: peeping over the side of a boat at sea. Bha e corradaireachd tha [sic] a cliathaich.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
corran: [kɔrɑṉ] Notes: narrow bank as a promontory, submerged at high tide.
Location: Ross-shire, Aultbea
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
corrfhad: the peat at the face of the bank.
Location: Lewis, Lochs, Leurbost
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
cosgais: Notes: whisky, cheese and biscuits served at funerals.
Location: North Uist, Bayhead, Kylis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cosgais: Notes: whisky, biscuits and cheese at a funeral.
Location: Coll, Ben Meadhonach
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cosgais: Quotation: cart na cosgais. Notes: the cart which contained the spirits, biscuits and cheese, and tobacco, and which followed the remains at a funeral. (Uist)
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cosgais: Notes: whisky, cheese and oatcakes or biscuits given at a funeral.
Origin: Tiree
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
cotan: [kɔt̪ɑṉ] Quot.: cotan a’ laoigh. Note: a small enclosure at the shieling for a young calf born there.
Location: Lewis, Uig, Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cotan: Notes: ‘a hole in the bruthach, for the calf to lie in, if born at the shieling. Dwelly has cotan ‘small fold for a calf’. (MMcL, Uig, Lewis)
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cotan: Notes: small turf enclosure made at the shieling to accommodate a young calf. Usually a semicircle was dug into the face of the bank an closed in with turf divots.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cotan: [kɔt̪ɑṉ] Note: small turf enclosure for a young calf at the shieling. Usually built into a bank and enclosed with turf divots.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
coth roisainn: the tying of a heather rope round the two gables at the top of the house.
Location: North Uist, Tigharry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cothannach: [kɔhən̪ɑx] Quotation: “Bhiodh e a’ cunntadh naoi stuadhannan agus a’ [xɔhən̪ɑx] a thigeadh bhon an naoidheamh stuadh bhitheadh e na chuir ann am botul agus na chrathadh air fear air an robh ‘barr a’ chinn’.” Notes: a Donald Sinclair from Tiree who is supposed to be able to cure “barr a’ chinn” – a lump or lumps which appear at the back of the throat.
Location: Tiree, Caolis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cragan feannaig: [kɾɑ̃ɡɑ̃ṉ fjɑ̃ṉɑ̃ɡʹ] Notes: sea urchin found at very low tide.
Location: Harris
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
craic fuilt: mop of hair. [NOTES: already quoted at the beginning.]
Location: Harris, Sgarastamhor
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
crainnseag: the thick, rubbery fat left at the bottom of a pan after melting.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
crann: Quotation: an crann. Notes: slip bolt at the bottom of the door – vertical and going into a hole in the floor.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
crann ceille: at helm.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
crannag: a party at Halloween.
Origin: Lewis and Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
crathadh làimh fada bhon taigh: applied to people who were content to wave to you at a distance but who would not welcome you into their household.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
creedle; croick: 2. Creedle for holding line. Made of cane rounded at one end and sloped at other for shooting line. And for easy storing on wooden croick when left after baiting ling prior to going to sea.
Category: Iasgach / Fishing
crimeadh: Quotation: a’ crimeadh cnaimh. Notes: nibbling, picking at.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
criochail: staying constant bordering at or in the one area.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
crodh breac: Holstein at al.
Origin: ([Canada], Inverness Co.) or ([Canada], Inverness Co.) or ([Canada], Victoria Co.)
Category: Crodh / Cattle
croinn Charinish: Iron plough made at Carinish. [NOTES: spelled ‘crann Chairinis’ on the slip.]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
crois iarna: held in the hand: hand at centre of shaft. Function: to make hanks from balls of wool.
Location: [Lewis], Arnol, Bragar and Uigen
Category: Obair na Clòimhe / Wool-Working
crois sgeir: in Frobost, South Uist. At low tide a rock formation is visible which forms the sign of the cross.
Location: South Uist, Milton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
croisean: [kɾɔʃɛ̃ṉ] Quotation: croisean na spaideadh. Notes: cross-piece at the top of the shaft.
Location: Skye, Elgol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
croisean: Quot.: an croisean. Note: on a warping frame, there are two pairs of pegs which are opposite each other (one, I think, at the top right hand corner, the other at the bottom left hand corner), whose purpose is to separate each bunch of threads as they are warped on the frame. The first bunch goes over the first peg, under the second, round it, under the first peg and back on the same route etc. This is the croisean:
Location: Harris, Quidinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
croisean: (part of gràpa) Cross bit at top (cnag).
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
cromag: Notes: the hook at the end of the “slabhraidh”.
Origin: Locheport
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
crosgagan: gusts of wind from a north easterly direction. Occurred at the beginning of summer.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
crot a’ raimh: the re-inforced part (at the fulcrum) which slips backwards and forwards between the tholepins.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cruach: Quotation: cruach mhóine. Notes: stack at the roadside or at home.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cruach tighe: peat stack at home.
Location: Lewis, Carloway
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
cruachadh: a huge stack was made at the house.
Location: Harris, Bernera
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
cruinn-leum: Quotation: Bha an t-each na chruinn-leum. Notes: at the gallop.
Location: Tiree, Caolis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cruisgean: Primitive oil lamp. Consisted of two open shells, an upper and a lower. The lower shell was a trifle larger and longer in spout to catch the drop of oil which at intervals fell from the wick (which terminated in spout of upper shell) when lit.
Origin: Skye
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
cràgair: [kɾɑ:ɡɑɾ] Notes: the bits at the two ends of a horseshoe which are turned down.
Location: Tiree, Cornaigbeg
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cràgair: [kɾɑ:ɡɑɾ] Notes: the part at the back of the horseshoe which is turned down.
Location: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cràgaisge: [kɾɑ:ɡiʃɡʹə] Note: two of these, one at each end of the ridge of the blackhouse roof. Protruded so that the “sioman” could be anchored round them. Two protruding sticks.
Location: Harris, Quidinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cràigisgean: a stick protruding at each end of the roof. Heather ropes fixed to these to secure thatch.
Location: Skye, Bernisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cràigisgean: [kɾɑ:ɡʹıʃɡʹɑ̃ṉ] Notes: piece of wood jutting out at the end of the thatch round which the rope keeping down the end thatch was wound.
Location: Skye, Portree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cràigisgean: Notes: MMK says it is the spot at both ends of the ridge-pole where the roof begins to slope to the wall.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cródaich: Quot.: a’ chródaich [xɾo:d̪iç] (not nasal). Note: illness said to be in sheep. They weakened at the “knees” and went about on them. Front legs.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
crùisgainn: Miss M. MacKay, Geirinish and Mr R. O’Henley use the word ‘lòchran’ when referring [to] the cylindrical object which is lit beside the tabernacle in a Roman Catholic church. The word ‘cruisgainn’ [sic] to me at least is not so original unless different types of lamp are used. English term is ‘sanctuary lamp’.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cuairt: [ku̜ɤʴsṯ] Quot.: a’ chuairt. Note: angled piece of wood at stern and stem of a boat for strength. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
Origin: [Lewis], Uig, Valtos
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cudthrom shiudan: pendulum. The lady who gave these three words [i.e. cudthrom shiudan, bean-uisa and cuilidh] is a native of Laggan. Her father was born in that parish about 1871 and lived for a few years at Dalchully and nearly all his life within a few miles of it and had heard that that was the meaning of ‘cuilidh’. I have not heard the word with my father but doubtless he would have been familiar with it and with ‘bean uisa’. He knew the lady and her father very well.
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cuibhteas: nn ‘freedom [from]’: bhiodh na foinneachan aige ‘s bha sibhse ~ iad [at]; faighinn ~ fear dha na coin
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Broadcove
Category: Field Notebooks of Seosamh Watson June-August 1983
cuilean (): [masc.] a small addition to the main stack – like a ‘lean-to’ or ‘porch’ at the end or side.
Origin: Eileanaich [natives of Lewis]
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
cuilidh: a good pasture; a pasture on which cattle or sheep “come on”. Dr Alex. MacBain, who was from Glenfeshie, gives the meaning of Dalchully, Laggan as “dale of the hollow or recess” (T.G.S.I. Vol. 16. p. 194). The lady who gave these three words [i.e. cudthrom shiudan, bean-uisa and cuilidh] is a native of Laggan. Her father was born in that parish about 1871 and lived for a few years at Dalchully and nearly all his life within a few miles of it and had heard that that was the meaning of ‘cuilidh’. I have not heard the word with my father but doubtless he would have been familiar with it and with ‘bean uisa’. He knew the lady and her father very well.
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cuimseach: Notes: good at aiming.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cuiseag: wild mustard. The stem of this plant, when at the stage, the withered stage, was used as a final top pinnacle, point, in the corn-stacks.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
cula bhruidhne: talking point, i.e. regarding someone who had made a fool or embarrassment of himself. [NOTES: note added at the end of ‘cula’ – (idh).]
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cullach: Quotation: banais-chullaich. Notes: a collection of cats wailing at night. (Kilmuir)
Location: Raasay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cunnabhalach: working at a steady pace. “Obair chunnabhalachd [sic] fad an latha.”
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cunntair: [kũ̟n̪t̪ɑɾ] Quotation: an cunntair. Notes: reinforcing piece inside the shoe at the back.
Location: Islay, Port Wemyss
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cunntas sleamhnain: a rhyme was said whilst a sharp object, usually a knife, was pointed at the eye. Apparently this removed the stye.
Location: Benbecula, Muir of Aird
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cupan: goblet (at least for Protestant communion).
Origin: ([Canada], Inverness Co.) – Roman Catholic or (Lochaber – [Canada], Inverness Co.) – Roman Catholic or (Skye – [Canada], Inverness and Victoria? Co.’s) – Protestant
Category: An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms
curgaigeadh: coupling. ’S math a tha sibh a’ curgaigeadh – some or a couple referred to as looking well matched. At a wedding procession, the bride and bridegroom were followed to church by couples, of male and female partners.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
curra-thulchainn: [ku̜rəhu̜ɫuxĩnʹ] Note: the stick jutting up from the thatch at the end of a blackhouse (màs an tighe).
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
currac: Quotation: “Bha currac gheal air an tarruing.” Notes: the ground swell curling up at the top and threatening to break.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cusp: a cut at root of toe.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
càbhail: Quotation: càbhail [ˈkɑ:vəl] air. Notes: having a chew at.
Location: Lewis, Bernera
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
càraich: Quotation: Chàraich e am biodag air. Notes: to aim at.
Location: Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
càrdadh: carding the wool. ‘Eòlan’ [q.v.] – oil added to the wool at this stage.
Location: Harris, Ardhasaig
Category: Obair na Clòimhe / Wool-Working
càrn nam mollachd: a small stone cairn built by Hogmanay boys at any house where no provisions or gift had been given to them.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
càrnadh: heaping. A’ càrnadh dha fhéin, airgead agus òr. – ‘safing [sic] [saving?] up’. Càrnain air an t-shlighe [sic] – cairns on the way. A brief note: at one time in Harris when a burial was to take place in the churchyard of Luskentyre, the burial party used to build cairns (‘càrnain’) while resting with the coffined remains, denoting ‘càrnain air an t-slighe’.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cèinean: [cɛ̃:ṉɑṉ] Note: a game like “falach-fead” played at night.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
còir: Quotation: Còir gu robh Màiri aig a’ chèilidh. Notes: ‘So Mary was at the cèilidh.’
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
còta-cutaidh: an oilskin coat used by women gutters, at the herring gutting.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
có: Quotation: Có chuireadh dris no droigheann romhad. Notes: Rev. Morrison, of Baile na Cille, at a communion service in Garrabost.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cùbair: Notes: cooper – in charge of the casks at the distillery.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cùl: Quotation: an cùl. Notes: strip at the back of a shoe.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cùl: Quotation: Cùl an doruis – the outside. Air béul-thaobh an doruis – on the outside of the door. Air taobh muigh an doruis – on the outside … Aig an dorus – at the outside.
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cùl: Quot.: “cùl na speal”. Note: the thick iron part at the back of the scythe blade.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cùlag: [ku̜:ɫɑɡ] Notes: turf divot, the bottom part of which was usually peat, dried and used as fuel at the back of the fire.
Location: Invergarry, North Laggan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cùlag: [ku̜:ɑɡ] Notes: turf divot cut when skinning peat. Put at the back of the fire when dry. [ɫ] not sounded. Probably [u̜] takes its place.
Origin: Drumguish, by Kingussie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cùlag: Notes: divot usually placed at the back of the fire when dry.
Origin: Glenurquhart
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cùlum: dust at bottom of bucket, i.e. of peats.
Origin: Lewis and Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
cùpa tì na’d laimh: having tea without sitting at a table, e.g. “An gabh thu tì na’d laimh.”
Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dais: Quotation: a’ daiseadh a’ mhoine. Notes: some time after the first lifting the peat would be shifted and put in long narrow strips to allow the wind to get at it.
Origin: Glenurquhart
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
daolan-carghuis: larger than the usual beetle and had wings, which were speckled. Only seen at the later [?] season. If killed its insides had an obnoxious smell. [NOTES: ‘carghuis’ corrected to ‘carghais’.]
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dath: Quotation: Tha dath maith air a ceann. Notes: said of a beast’s head at shows, etc.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dealagan: at one time when houses were being thatched the first layer was a layer of turfs. These turfs were knitted together with small bits of wood called ‘dealagan’.
Location: North Uist, Carinish, Trianaid House
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
deireadh: Quotation: an deireadh. Notes: the board at the back of the cart.
Origin: Islay
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
deireadh leathainn: the square end at the stern of a boat.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay, Ceannaraigh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
deoch porstar: stout or porter. Each house used to get a firkin at harvest.
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Biadh is Deoch / Food and Drink
deoch-sgleap: drinking at another’s expense.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
deò: end, rear; deò-là – evening; gu deò (till the end) – for ever; fa-dheòi, mu dheòi – at last, ultimately.
Origin: [Strathglass]
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
dileadh: [dʹıləɣ] Note: a drain dug down the centre of the house floor and covered with flat stones. The outlet was at the end of the byre.
Location: [Lewis], S. Lochs, Lemreway
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dithean-mara: sea-pink. I think there was another name for this flower besides dìthean-mara [sic]. I have only this as thinking of it termed like-wise. I am [not?] able to recollect further at the moment. [NOTES: slipped under ‘dithean-mara’. Definition: Sea-pink.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris,Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
diuluch: [dʹu̜ɫu̜x] Note: growths on the stem of the “mircean” [q.v.] at the base of the leaf.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
donnag: Notes: small fish – often under rocks at low tide. Edible.
Location: Harris, Ardhasaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dorus màs an tighe: a door at the lower end of the house.
Location: [Lewis], Siabost
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
draghganta: [dɾɤ:ɡɑn̪t̪ə] Note: dogged, persevering, determined. Often used of a good worker, someone who is always at something.
Location: Harris, Quidinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
driamlaichean-liunn: na driamlaichean a chi sibh a seòladh eadar da ‘lionn’ neo ‘liunn’. Faic an càirdeas [?]. See at ebb tide. Saoilidh mi cuideachd gu robh na facail dorchan-liunn air a chleachdadh. [SLIP: (Driamlach-liunn) Fishing lines on ebb tide.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
drongaireachd: used as part of an expression indicating disbelief and amusement at what was being talked about. “O dhrongaireachd.”
Location: South Uist, Milton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
druideadh: moving towards. Sneaking out element hinted at.
Location: South Uist, South Lochboisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
druim a’ phuill: top of the bank, to which the ‘face’ is at right angles.
Location: Harris, Tarbert
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
drumag: this was a bigger load than above [i.e. sgùird] – the apron was filled and worn behind with the two bottom corners pinned or knotted at the neck. Had to be stronger and bigger than these of the present day (the aprons).
Origin: Eileanaich [natives of Lewis]
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
drumanach: elder tree (already noted). When in winter the branches became sapless, children (as already noted) scrabbed [sic] [scrubbed?] the branches with a pocket knife and used the branch as fishing rods. It (the common elder) is a common tree, ‘easy to grow’ in places like the Isles of Scotland where the climate is damp and cold. It is noticeable on Harris growing without or within little distances of houses, or close to a house. If this signifies anything, I am not able to say at the moment. Seemingly it could? … In the ‘superstitious stories of the Isles’.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
drun: ro dhrun ris – at a particular job too long causing tiredness.
Origin: Applecross [mother]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dubh-thalamh: Land on which there are cattle but which can be cultivated at any time. See: talamh trom (Tiree).
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
dubhan: Quotation: dubhan dùint. Notes: hook with a closed loop at the end.
Location: Ross-shire, Aultbea
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
duine crainntidh: a temperamental man likely to snap at the slightest intimidation.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
duine doigheil: a good tradesman, someone who is good at his job.
Origin: Barra
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
duine foilleach: an impatient, hurried person. Always trying [to] do things at great speed. [NOTES: ‘foilleach’ corrected to ‘foileach’.]
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dunalaich: Quot.: “cù a’ dunalaich”. Note: usually used of the howling of a dog (e.g. at the moon).
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dà stiùir as a dheidh: at a lobster’s rear.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
déile: Air an déile. After being washed and dressed a dead body was stretched (righeadh) on long planks of wood draped in white linen sheets, pending the arrival of the coffin. At this early stage the corpse was referred to as being “air an déile”.
Origin: Skye
Category: Bàs is Adhlacadh / Death and Burial
déisbeid: [dʹe:ʃbɑdʹ] Note: a fester at the root of the nail. Can come up very quickly and perhaps come to a head the same day.
Origin: Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dìdearachd: Quotation: Bha e dìdearachd aig an dorus. Notes: peeping in at the door. Also spying, “Bha e dìdearachd orra.” – he was spying on them.
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dòrlinn: [d̪ɔ:ɾlʹĩnʹ] Notes: ridge formed by gravel, sand, e.g. between islands. Can walk over it at low tide.
Location: Tiree, Caolis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dòrn-fhuar: Quot.: a’ toirt a mach an dòrn-fhuar. Note: trial of strength involving the twisting off with the bare hands of the lower part of the cow’s leg at the knee.
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dòrnais: Notes: a torch made from a stick covered with rags at one end and dipped in oil. (Also used for a peat lighted at one end and used for the same purpose.)
Location: Ross-shire, Aultbea
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
dùn: peat piled at the road preparatory to being hauled home.
Origin: Lewis, Back or Lewis, Back
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
eabar: mire, i.e. that left by cows gathering at a gate.
Location: Harris, Sgarastamhor
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
eadradh: Quotation: Nach ann aig a’ bhó a tha ’n eadradh. Notes: meaning the quantity of milk yielded at the one milking.
Location: Skye, Camustianavaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
eadradh: milking time at twelve o’clock.
Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
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
easgaich: danger spot in the ground not showing, boglach. [SLIP: Danger spot in a bog which is not at first apparent.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
eileamaid: Quotation: Na h-eileamaidean. Notes: cup and plates at a Communion service.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
eilghidh: [elei] Quot.: ag eilghidh na talmhainn. Note: first ploughing where barley was to be sown – to ease the earth. Then ploughed again later on at sowing time.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
eilteachdainn: [elʹtʹɑxkĩnʹ] Quotation: “’S mi rinn an eilteachdainn ris.” Notes: showing great pleasure at seeing somebody.
Location: Ross-shire, Polbain
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
eisdeachd: Quotation: Bha iad a’s an eisdeachd. – They were (hearing sermon) in Church. Notes: apparently this word was the one used in the R. C. Church for attendance at Confession. Probably after the Reformation it continued to be used in the Gaelic area to describe a Protestant Service.
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
eitneach: burnt roots of heather or dried roots. I could check as at the moment I am not quite certain – doesn’t it ‘associate’ with heather or pertain to heather. [SLIP: Burnt or dried roots of heather – unsure.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
eolas-an-déididh: prior to the era of dentists a certain member of the community would write some words on a small bit of paper. Thereafter the afflicted person was not to look at this paper but to secretly place it under a rock. As the elements eroded the paper the toothache was supposed to wither away simultaneously.
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
errair: (droch errair) heavy surf on the shore. (Stoer, Assynt) Tha fuiam [sic] mor aig a’ “errair” – when the sound of the swell on the shore was heard at a distance. I understand the word is derived from oir a’ tir – the edge of the land. I never heard it anywhere else except in Durness where it is called “ellair” – “Tha a h-ellair olc.”
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Biadh is Deoch / Food and Drink
eun-ghuireag: Note: seems to be applied to the snipe on the wing from the description of the sound it makes at night.
Origin: Scarista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
facal: Quotation: Bha facal aige. Notes: applied to a witty person, good at repartee.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fad: Quotation: Bha mi aige fad, fìnn, foinneach [fonʹɑx] an latha. Notes: I was at it the whole day.
Origin: Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
faiche: inlets near the shore where lobsters could be caught at low tide. Caught with the aid of a ‘croman’.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
failbheag: a ring at the end of a rope or a metal hook at the end of a chain.
Location: South Uist, Stilligarry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
faileadh: Quot.: “Faileadh ortsa!” Note: exclamation of displeasure at someone.
Origin: [Ness]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
faircean: crevices under rocks on the shore. Lobsters, crabs can be obtained in these. The word ‘fairc’ is different from ‘faiche’ which is used at the south end of South Uist.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
falaraidh: applied to refreshments after a burial whether it be at the cemetery, in the deceased’s house or at an [sic] hotel.
Location: South Uist, Peninerine
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
faraire: Quotation: Pige na farairidh. Notes: whisky for use at wakes.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
feadan: a small opening at the back of the kiln through which the wind blows for winnowing.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
feadraigeadh: at the height of having steam up in the old fishing drifters. The old fishing drifters with boilers being fed by coal fuel. When the fire-men had the boilers well fed with coal and the water in the boiler at the height of boiling point and force of steam, it showed on a dial by what was indicated as a feather – thus feadraigeadh.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
feallag: making fun at someone. “Bha mi a’ deanamh feallag air.”
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
feamainn chìreanach: small curly sea-weed. This used to be boiled and given to cows. They were very fond of it and often went to the shore to eat it of their own accord. Sheep did the same. Each of the above sea-weeds is to be found at a certain level of low-water. Feamainn chìreanach is nearest high-water mark.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
feamainn shiabaidh: seaweed left at high tide used as potato fertiliser.
Origin: Na Hearadh [Harris]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
fearail: Quot.: boirionnach fearail. Note: a woman who is good at men’s work.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
feisd: rope, made of heather at one time, for tying a cow while grazing. The end was fixed to a stick driven into the ground.
Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Crodh / Cattle
fiabhras na siulla: women dying at childbirth. [NOTES: note added above ‘siulla’ – siubhla.]
Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fideach: low lying land near the shore which is covered by the tide at times. Salt marsh.
Location: Lewis, Back
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fidealadh: Note: used of the tying together of two beams with rope. Also for the arrangement of the “sioman” at the end of a house.
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fidean: [fidʹəṉ] Notes: (usually na fidean) ground on which grass grows and is covered at high tide.
Location: BBC
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fiughair: Quotation: (1) Bha fiughair agam ris an raoir. (2) Dé a bha fiughair agad ris? Notes: (1) I expected him last night. (2) What were you expecting? (H. Meek) Also Rinn e fiughair ris: He showed pleasure at seeing him.
Location: Tiree, Cornaigbeg
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fleasgach: a bachelor (best man at a marriage).
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fleasgach: Notes: best man at a wedding.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fleòdar: this was the old name in Point, Lewis for tin. A tin pail or basin used for milk would be ‘peile fleòdair’ and ‘mios fleòdair’. (Is it conceivable that at one time they had pewter utensils?) I do not hear the word now – if there are any tin pails, etc. – it is ‘peile tiona’, ‘mios tiona’.
Origin: Eileanaich [natives of Lewis]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
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
foinneach: [fonʹɑx] Quotation: Bha mi aige fad, fìnn, foinneach an latha. Notes: I was at it the whole day.
Origin: Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
folmadh: when working with clay this was the process whereby clay was slowly put into the mould for shaping purposes. Had to be careful not to put too much clay in at any one time.
Location: North Uist, Iollathraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fo’n t-sùil: looking at something with a squint.
Origin: [South Uist]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
fraigh a’ bhalla: this refers to the outside wall at the top of a wall [sic]. [NOTES: ‘fraigh’ corrected to ‘fràigh’.]
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fraochan: Notes: said it was the toecap of a shoe but more likely the perforated strip put across the shoe at the toecap.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
frasach: This was fixed on the wall and filled with hay which the sheep pulled through narrow slats and so avoiding waste. Set at an angle to the wall.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Caoraich / Sheep
frasachan: A wooden implement with serrated edge used for threshing one sheaf at a time. See diag. [NOTES: probably refers to a diagram provided by the informant.]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
froigh-shnighe: Notes: water seeping in at the top of the wall.
Location: Skye, Staffin
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
froiseachan: [fɾɔʃɑxɑṉ] Quotation: “Chaneil sinn ach air an fhroiseachan an diugh.” Notes: (froiseachan: tied bundle of threshed corn) Said to a visitor who happened to come in at a mealtime when there wasn’t much to eat.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fruis: [fɾu̟ʃ] Quotation: Chaidh e seachad le fruis. Notes: He went by at great speed.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fruis: [fɾu̟ʃ] Quot.: “Chaidh e suas an rathad le fruis.” Note: at great speed.
Origin: [Ness]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fràig: children at play causing annoyance.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fròin: embroidery? This could be one explanation. Bha fròin ri na cùirteirean-leabadh, froineas. (I am afraid it’s seldom used if at all.)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fuarag: given to children at Halloween. Consisted of cream and oatmeal. The last treat of the year since cream would not be readily available thereafter.
Origin: [Barra]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fuidheag: Note: piece at the beginning of a tweed and the end of the one in the loom previous to it, where the ends of the yarn are tied. Removed when the new warp is taken through and a piece of it woven.
Origin: Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fuigheag: [fu̜iɑɡ] Note: piece of waste cloth at the end of a tweed where the next tweed is tied in.
Location: Harris, Quidinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fuigheag: Notes: piece cut off at the end of a tweed when taken out of the loom.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fuigheagan: threads which were left over at the end of a bit of cloth.
Location: South Uist, South Glendale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fàd: depth of peat bog. Thig ceithir foidean as – 4 peat length deep. If so, 1st and 2nd layer on top, 3rd layer as gàradh, 4th layer at bottom.
Origin: Barra
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
fàd a choimheadaidh: this refers to the thinnest peat that was cut at the end of each row. Quickest to dry and was used by the grass keeper in his shieling.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fàireachadh: “Bha mi a fàireachadh air.” - I was seeing [sic] [looking?] at him without him seeing me.
Location: Harris, Sgarastamhor
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fàireachas: Notes: peering furtively at a person or thing.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fàldair: scythe. (Strathspey) Mr John M. Matheson gave me this word which he heard when living at Nethy Bridge.
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fìleadh: Quot.: “’S ann air a tha a’ fìleadh.” Note: said of somebody full of go, working on something at a rapid rate. Same as “duine le collas air”.
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fìnn: [sic] Quotation: Bha mi aige fad, fìnn, foinneach [fonʹɑx] an latha. Notes: I was at it the whole day.
Origin: Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fòidh: [f[ɔı]] Quot.: “a’ fòidh air feadh nan taighean”. Note: the poor people went round the houses at one time with a small bag collecting food, etc.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
fòlag: a word used in the north end of South Uist which means a pin used to hold the wheel on an axle. Same word as ‘sgiofair’ which is used at south end of South Uist.
Location: South Uist, Peninerine
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gabh: Quotation: a’ gabhail comhtharran. Notes: taking bearings at sea.
Location: Islay, Port Wemyss
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gabh: Quotation: a’ gabhail mu’n teine. Notes: banking up the fire at night.
Location: Sutherland, Portskerra
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gabh: Quot.: “Gabh m’a cheann an dràsda.” Note: if one was doing a job (e.g. building a wall) and was finishing off for the day; rounding off whatever one was doing at the time.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gabhdanach: poking at something.
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
galar-nan-coig-oidhche: Notes: fatal illness in newly born children. Died usually about 5 days after birth. Probably due to lack of hygiene at birth – perhaps poison in the navel.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
garadh: Quotation: Coltach ris a’ chailleach a thug seachd bliadhna ga garadh fhein, nuair a chaidh i a mach thug aon oiteag air falbh i. Notes: toasting oneself at the fire. See oiteag.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
garstan: (gartan) Part of shore where sea-grass grows and is exposed at low tide: pasture attractive to cattle.
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
gathan gainnisg: dried sedge which was used as a lighted torch which was carried at Halloween.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gathan gainnisg: dried sedge. Carried as a lighted torch at Halloween.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gathan gannaisg: a kind of rough grass with a wheat-like ear. Personally I have not seen this in Uist. Must be present in Skye since Halloween boys gathered bunches of this and threw it at each other saying “Mo shaighead air do shaighead sa”. This was thought to prevent fairies from doing harm during the year.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gearradh: cutting the surround of a hole ‘on the leg’, that is at an angle, when shaping netting for repair, so reducing wastage.
Location: [Harris], Scalpay
Category: Iasgach an Sgadain / Herring-Fishing
geilidh: [ɡʹɛli] Quot.: “’S ann air a tha ’n geilidh.” Note: said of a person in a great hurry or doing something at a fast rate.
Origin: [Ness]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
geimh-air-geimh: term associated with two unagreeable [sic] [disagreeable? disagreeing?] persons, under a slight effect of anger, irritable, retaliating at one another in a snorting unpleasant conversation. Tha iad ann an shiod [sic] geimh air geimh. – reference to two or more persons.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
geinn: Quotation: an geinn. Notes: square wooden pin at the end of the joiner’s bench. Close-fitting but could be hammered up and down to suit the thickness of the wood being planed or chiselled.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
geobadaich: at a loss for words. Not speechless as such. Not finding sufficient words which are required.
Location: South Uist, South Boisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
geugaire: [ɡʹe:ɡəðə] Note: something to which a boat-rope is tied at a landing place. Could be a stone or between two stones where they are in contact.
Origin: Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
geuraich: Quotation: Bha mi ’ga gheurach [jıɑɾɑx]. Notes: no “-adh” at the end.
Origin: Drumguish, by Kingussie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ghabh e anns an Dàil: he was hired at Dall.
Location: Tummel and Rannoch
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gille: Quotation: gille pliobair [plıbiɾ]. Notes: a person who was at everybody’s beck and call.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gille: Quotation: an gille. Notes: best man at a wedding.
Origin: Glenurquhart
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gille ceann beinnge: someone providing moral support at a ‘reiteach’.
Origin: [South Uist]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
gille pliobair: an underling, to be distinguished from a message boy who had a higher status. The word hints at backwardness and gullibility regarding this person.
Location: South Uist, Peninerine
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gille-mirean: Quotation: Tha thu na do ghille-mirean aige. Notes: Spinning top. Said of someone who is being used by another, always at his beck and call.
Location: Ross-shire, Aultbea
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gille-nam-fud: ? (at the moment)
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gille-nan-sad: runaway? (at the moment)
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gille-plibire: [ɡʹilʹəplıbıðə] Notes: a person who is at everybody’s beck and call and gets nothing in return.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
giort: Quot.: “Dh’fhalbh e air a’ ghiort [ɣwʴsṯ] fhéin.” Note: doing a thing at one’s own behest. (Is it “giort” or “diort”?) [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
Origin: Ness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
glagan: Note: a stick attached at one end to the “bròg” [q.v.] in a grinding mill. The other end lay on the upper grindstone. As the stone turned it caused the “bròg” to vibrate, thus releasing the seed gradually into the “sùil” [q.v.].
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
glaisean clumhag na Bealltainn: birds huddling together at Beltane.
Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
glamhadh: Quotation: “Thug an cù glamhadh air a’ chat.” Notes: “The dog snapped at the cat.” The meaning of glamhadh is usually the snapping of a dog’s jaws, accompanied by a growl. Sometimes it implies a lunge.
Location: Tiree, [Caolas? – one slip]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
glaodhain: potatoes with roots growing out of them at the beginning of summer.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
glas: Quot.: an glas mhór. Note: part of a sheep’s stomach. Thin at one end, getting wider towards the other end.
Location: Lewis, Uig, Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gloine na bliadhn’ ùire: prior to the proliferation of alcohol in people’s homes, a small glass was kept which was only taken out at New Year since this was one of the few occasions when alcohol was consumed, the other occasion being cattle sale day.
Location: North Uist, Locheport
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gobhar: Quotation: gobhar-chinn; a’ cur gobhar-chinn air cruach. Notes: a sheaf of corn opened out at the bottom and put at the top of a stack the ears underneath.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gobhar: Quotation: an gobhar-bhacach. Notes: the last sheaf of corn bound at harvest time. It used to be adorned.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
goigean: [ɡɔɡʹɑṉ] Notes: woollen wrap (knitted or crochet) coming to a point at each end and tasselled.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
goigean: [ɡɔɡʹɑṉ] Note: sort of knitted pixie with long tails which were crossed at the front and tied behind.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
goileach-gaoith (beag): made with a small potato and strong feathers. The feathers were stuck in at all angles and it was thrown in a fairly strong wind.
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Cur-seachadan: Dèideagan, Geamaichean is Farpaisean / Recreation: Toys, Games, Contests
goinigear: Quotation: an goinigear [ə ɡɔ̣̈nʹiɡʹər]. Notes: the supernumerary digits at the back of a cow’s hoof.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gralag, na greallagan: a strong piece of wood with a strong iron band at each end to which the traces are linked. Another of the same in the centre facing backwards and to which the plough or harrow is fixed.
Origin: Ross and Cromarty, Lewis
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
grapa-crom: Notes: grape with prongs set at right angles to the handle for pulling manure, seaweed etc. out of carts.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
greathan latha: usually heard at dusk. “Tha greathan latha ann fhathast.”
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
greimichean: Quotation: na greimichean [ɡɾɤmiçəṉ]. Notes: the large holes at the mouth of a creel where the “ithris” was tied. Source: D. A. MacQueen, Balgarva, Eochdar, South Uist [?]. Date: 02/1969.
Location: [see below]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
griobadh: fish ‘communication’ at the end of a line in the fishing operation, (putting it this way) nibbling. Cha do dh’fhairich mi griobadh. [SLIP: Nibbling of fish at hook.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
grioban: [ɡðibɔṉ] Note: applied to a person, usually a boy, who is not as developed as he should be physically at his age.
Location: [Lewis], S. Lochs, Gravir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
grobaire: someone who was not good at knitting.
Origin: Skye
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
grobhail: Quotation: “Dhia, nach iad tha grànda grobhail” – Catriona Mhór, on hearing Murdag Mhór’s description of the airmen at Broad Bay. Notes: Dw. has grabhail ‘horrible, causing horror, aversion or strong dislike’.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gròbadh: makeshift repair of nets whilst at sea.
Location: Eriskay, Na Hann [Haun]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gròbadh ri cheile: temporary repair of nets at sea.
Location: [South Uist], South Glendale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
guidhe: Quotation: “Bha e guidheachan ris a chù.” Notes: He was cursing/swearing at the dog.
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
guilemanas: not losing control, your cool when at the mercy of a superior force. “Cha do chaill e a ghuileamanas.”
Location: North Uist, Grimsay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
guite: a circular wooden scoop. Had an oblong addition at one end. Used as a scoop to put seed in bags. [NOTES: note added – = sgùirt.]
Location: South Uist, South Boisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gunna-crip: Notes: toy made from bamboo rod cut in half length-wise. Paper pellet at one end, stick lying in the groove, jutting out at the other end. Clapped in with the hand, pellet ejected.
Location: Ross-shire, Achiltibuie, Alltan Dubh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gurach: a St Kildian word, but if it’s the same meaning [as garach q.v.] I am not prepared at the moment to say.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gurradh air a cheile: bickering at each other.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gàg: slit at the top of a trenail. Wedge placed here so that the nail expanded like a modern day rawlplug.
Location: South Uist, South Lochboisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gàin’-an-latha: daybreak, (or at) sunrise. [See làr-an-latha.] Perhaps the two terms originated from one another. (Unheard now in Scalpay, old terms.) [SLIP: Prob. < gainnead an latha – ‘scarcity of day’. > daybreak, sunrise.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gàradh: peats laid half on top of each other at inner edge of bank.
Location: Lewis, Lochs, Leurbost
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
gàradh: rows of peats on top of each other at front edge of bank.
Location: Lewis, Shawbost
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
gèugaire: a very narrow cleft in a rock where a boat could be tied by slipping the rope down through this cleft and a knot tied in the rope at the back, where it came through – same idea as Paddy had when he tied a knot in his pig’s tail to stop it from going through a crack in the fence!
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
gìogan: [ɡʹı:ɡɑṉ] Note: thistle. (very near dʹ at the beginning)
Origin: Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
iarrtas: Air m’ iarrtas. At my request.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ibe: pollution, dirt which accumulates at the bottom of the sea and which when disturbed floats up just beneath the sea’s surface. Thereafter occupies a position called ‘eadar dha lionn’, neither sinking nor floating.
Location: North Uist, Iollathraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
idir: advb ‘at all’ : cha robh e air a dhòigh ~, ~, ~; cha robh e dona ~ air a dhèanamh
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Broadcove
Category: Field Notebooks of Seosamh Watson June-August 1983
imrich: [ĩməðiç] Quot.: “Na chuir sibh a mach an imrich fhathast?” “An d’thug sibh dhachaidh an imrich fhathast.” Note: the clothing, utensils, etc. which were taken to the shieling at the beginning of summer and brought back at the end of the season.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
innsireachd: tale bearing, e.g. grassing on your mates at school.
Location: Lewis, Back
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
iochdar: Quotation: iochdar na h-àthadh. Notes: the end of the kiln at which the corn was put in.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
iomaire ceannachaidh neo bòrdairean: part of a field characterised by wet, soggy conditions in which grass flourished. Usually found at one end of the field.
Location: North Uist, Iollaraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
iosgaid do chois: this is directly behind the knee at the back of the leg. Exactly where the knee is bent.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
iris (): [fem.] the creel strap – a two or three inch width of plaited twine with a worked loop at each end. A ‘de-luxe’ one would be of ‘gaoisde’ (horsehair) for the last word in comfort across the chest! Straps of leather or of sacking (iris poca) were inferior makeshifts.
Origin: Eileanaich [natives of Lewis]
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
iteach: Quotation: an iteach. Notes: first row put on the creel, at the mouth.
Location: Islay, Port Wemyss
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
iuchair na cuibhle: knob at opposite end to wheel.
Location: [Harris], Leverburgh, Kintulavaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
iulla: [ȷu̜ɫə] Quot.: “Bha sinn ag iulla an raoir.” Note: fly-fishing from a boat, the rod itself pointing downwards into the water, the tip being at the required depth.
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ladarn: [ɫɑtərn] forward, demanding. [NOTES: the slip has [ɫatərṉ].]
Origin: Kill-Fhinn
Category: Crodh / Cattle
lag-na-sleisde: hollow at the back of the thigh.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
laghadh: [ˈɫɤəɣ] Quot.: “leth-bhotul agus e cruinn air an dàrna taobh agus laghadh ann air an taobh eile”. Note: also used of slight bend at the end of a boat plank where it fits on to the stem.
Origin: Caversta
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
laimhsich: Quotation: Tha i a’ laimhseachadh gu maith. Notes: said of a beast that had good points at shows, etc.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
laingear: [ɫɑ̃ĩɡʹɑð] Quot.: laingear Bhràgair, laingear Arnol, laingear Bharabhais. Note: understood as being the area uncovered at low tide, where shellfish were collected, etc.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lamraigeach: abounding in landing places by the sea-shore. From ‘lamaraig’ – a pier, jetty, or an appropriate place by or at the sea-shore where a boat could discharge material, anything. (Harris term, hardly used if ever now.)
Location: [Harris], Scalpaigh [Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
laogh-coiseadh: Notes: calf at foot.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
laoidh: Quot.: “Laoidh nan cóig rann.” Note: doesn’t know much about it except that it was recited when the cloth was put on the roll. The person reciting it would slap down his hand at the end of the recitation and say “agus mar sin, agus mar sin”. Supposed to ward off evil spirits from the cloth.
Origin: Caversta
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
latha dubh (m): Quotation: Thug mi latha dubh air ‘excerteadh’ an dé. Notes: worked very hard at it.
Location: Harris, Ardhasaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leaba laoigh: this refers to an old belief whereby people buried the matrix at a stream. This was thought to result in female calves being born.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leabag-an-eithir: a wee bed or lair on the shore for to hold a boat on at ebb tide, a space or ‘bed’ on the shore above water level, just to hold a boat on.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leabaidh-an-laoigh: Notes: enfolding membrane round calf at birth.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leac struan: a special slab on which the ‘struan’ was baked at St. Michael’s.
Location: Barra, Ard Mhinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leac-doruis: flax [sic] stone [flagstone?], at a door.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leac-sheisreach: [lʹɛkheʃəɾɑx] Note: pl. [lʹɛkəṉʃeʃəɾɑx]. Flat stones put under the cattle to prevent them from getting stuck in the manure. (At a time when earth wasn’t allowed to be taken in to put under them.)
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leac-thachais: Note: upright stone at a shieling for cows to scratch themselves.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leag: Quotation: Cha do leag mi mo shúil air idir. Notes: I didn’t happen to see it at all.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leag: Quotation: a’ leagail a’ bhuntàta. Notes: planting the potatoes – the act of laying them down at intervals in the furrows.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
leum-nan-ceithir: Quotation: Bha an t-each aig leum-nan-ceithir. Notes: at the gallop.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
liaghra ?: 1. revolving on floor, 4 arms with holes (2 or more) and pegs on which hank was spread revolving to make a ball for the warping frame. 2. hand ‘crois-iarna’ shape, 24 inches with a cross stick at either end (12 inches long) set at opposite angles; purpose to make hank of the yarn on the pearna (reel) of spinning [wheel?]. [NOTES: it is not clear if the above explanation refers to ‘liaghra’ (blue ink) or ‘crois-iarna’ (black ink) or both.]
Location: [Lewis], Arnol, Bragar and Uigen
Category: Obair na Clòimhe / Wool-Working
liaradh: used for winding the spun yarn. It had 3 spokes underneath a roundish piece of wood with a spike at the top where two long bits of wood were laid crossways with holes in them and with wooden pins in the holes to keep the hank until it was wound into a ball.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lias: [lʹiɑs] Notes: torch made from a stick with a cloth at the end, dipped in oil and lit.
Location: Ross-shire, Gairloch
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
liathag: the leafy seaweed part at one end of a tangle.
Location: South Uist, South Boisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
liathas: an item received free like wood on the shore (say) and set aside for to be taken some other time: thence someone else coming and taking it. [SLIP: When an item has been in a place freely for the taking (eg. wood on the shore) and set aside to be picked up at a later date – and then someone else comes along and takes it!]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
linne: Quotation: linne thuathal. Notes: whirlpool, as at the bottom of a waterfall.
Location: Ross-shire, Dornie, Morvich
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lion-aoig: colour of death or something of death. I am not too sure of its meaning. Tha lion-aoig air. The expression is rare if at all heard or documented?
Location: [Harris], Scalpaigh [Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lionadh: support at the front of a boat attached to the keel.
Location: South Uist, South Lochboisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lionn- or liùnn-na-biast: this word or term came across my mind at the moment, but at the same time I cannot remember the equivalent in English or the meaning in English. [NOTES: the slip is among the “Doubtful” words. Catch-word: lionn-na-biast.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lipinn: [lʹiçpĩnʹ] Notes: a small box 8"-10" sq. at the top tapered to 6" sq. at the base. It was used as a measure for grain when feeding horses.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lodair: [ɫɔd̪əɾ] Notes: a wooden collecting ladle used in church. (Seen in church at Aird, Sleat.)
Location: Skye, Sleat, Calligary
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
loidhneachan: ropes that were tied to the bit in a horse’s mouth. Held by the ploughman at the plough’s handles. Used to steer and turn the horse in the necessary direction.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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
longag: I am not quite sure of this one either. I know it refers to wood, a ship-model, or a piece of rail-wood, in some wooden implement, a handle part, perhaps of a churn (crannachan). I cannot at the moment say exactly. I have the word: it was used or common in past years. [SLIP: ‘Possibly refers to something made of wood – a ship-model or the handle of a churn’ – informant unsure.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
losaid: [ɫoswdʹʒ] Notes: a round wooden ashet for holding potatoes at mealtimes.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
losgadh: phosphorescence. (Burning, the burning in Tarbert English.) This reveals the presence of herring at night, hence ‘Gheobh sinn iad ’san losgadh.’
Origin: [Kintyre, Tarbert]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lothach: bedraggled. (Pronounced with English ‘th’ sound, i.e. ‘loth’ as in English ‘cloth’ but with the Gaelic double ‘l’ sound at the beginning of the word.)
Origin: Leodhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Crodh / Cattle
luamhgha: [ɫũɑ̃ɣə] Note: part of sheep’s entrails used in the making of marags. A part closed at the narrow end, opening out to a wide mouth. This mouth is stitched across. (This is not a’ ghlas mhór or a’ ghlas bheag. [See glas.])
Location: Lewis, Uig, Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
luicheannan (sic): [ɫu̜çən̪əṉ] Quotation: àm bristeadh na luicheannan. Notes: at the time of budding.
Location: Tiree, Heylipool [sic]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
luid: [ɫu̟tʃ] Notes: a woman who was bad at housework.
Location: Perthshire, Killin
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
luidhainn: a wooden board to which a rod would be attached. Situated near the vent at the top of an old house which had a fire in the centre of the room. The board would be adjusted according to wind direction so that the smoke would be carried away. [NOTES: note added above ‘luidhainn’ – luidhein.]
Location: South Uist, South Lochboisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lunn: air a lunn fàgail – at the point of leaving. [NOTES: the slip has ‘air a’ lunn fàgail’. Definition: ‘On the point of leaving’.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lunn (pl. lunnan): Notes: a support for carrying coffin. One fixed at each end. Source: Tiree. Date: 1974.
Location: [see below]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lurga-lom: [ɫu̜ɾəɡə ɫ[ɤu̟]m] Quot.: a’ toirt a mach a’ lurga-lom. Note: when a beast (cow) was killed there was a test of strength only the strongest could attempt – that of severing the leg at the knee by twisting the lower part of the leg with the hands. (In Uig known as “a’ toirt a mach an dòrn bhuar”.) There is some confusion as to whether the knee joint or the “ankle” joint was the one severed – some say one, others the other. Puilean says definitely the knee joint.
Origin: [Ness]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lus a’ chorracha-mille: Notes: not in Dw. A fern-like plant with long roots, and globules or nodules on the ends of the roots. Those were dug up, scraped and eaten – or stored and eaten later, like nuts. Found, e.g. at the Ard Fhalasgair, Keose. Cf. MacBain, sub carra-meille (in Dwelly).
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
là-iasad: [ɫɑ·iɤsd̪] Quot.: “O, ’s e là-iasad a bh’ann an diugh!” Note: if one got a fine day in a spell of bad weather. Would say this if it looked threatening again at the end of the fine day.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
làn siubhal: a vessel travelling at full speed.
Location: South Uist, Stilligarry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
làr-an-latha: daybreak, (or at) sunrise.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
làrach-at-a-bhuinn-duibh: a mark left after the disappearance of the swelling, festering wound.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
lìte: taken at supper time. Made with oatmeal or Indian meal.
Origin: Uibhist a’ Deas [South Uist]
Category: Biadh is Deoch / Food and Drink
lòchran: located in Roman Catholic chapels. Usually located beside the tabernacle. A red coloured glass cylinder with a candle burning inside at night.
Location: South Uist, Geirinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lùbach: hinge at bottom of a door.
Location: South Uist, South Lochboisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
lùthag: [ɫu̜:ɑɡ] Note: a device put on a sheep or lamb to slow it down – a tight piece of rope round the leg at the upper joint. Also applied to pieces of string of [sic] [or?] rope tied by some round the trouser legs just below the knee to keep them up.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
madadh: Notes: clam. Collected only at very low tides in the spring.
Location: Harris
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
magaireachd: poking fun at someone.
Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
maide eich: a twitch used for controlling a horse when it was being shod. Made of a wooden handle with a rope at one end attached to the horse’s face. When it was twisted, it tightened so as to hurt the horse.
Location: South Uist, South Glendale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
maide mairt: at the end of a stall in a byre. Once the beast had entered the stall this wooden door was lowered to prevent straying out of the stall.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
maide suidhe: wooden seat at front of a cart.
Location: North Uist, Iollaraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
maide-broillich: Quotation: am maide-broillich or am broilleach. Notes: bracket at joint between stempost and keel.
Location: Skye, Elgol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
maide-eàrraidh: [mɑ̃dʹəȷɑ:ri] Note: a stick with prongs sticking out at either end for keeping tweed stretched from side to side while in the loom.
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
maide-feannaig: Notes: stick which projects at the end of the ridgepole to secure the rope tying down the thatch.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
maide-feannaig: Note: the piece of wood protruding from the thatch at the end of the “gath-droma”, round which the thatching rope went to cover the end of the house.
Location: [Lewis], S. Lochs, Lemreway
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
maide-fithich: stick running through thatch at either end.
Location: [Lewis], Siabost
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
maide-fithich: Note: the stick jutting up from the thatch at the end of a blackhouse (ceann an tighe).
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
maide-starraig: at each end of the roof of a thatched cottage.
Origin: [Harris]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
maide-starraig: Note: stick jutting up at the end of a black-house. Thatching rope put round it.
Origin: [Lewis], Uig, Valtos
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mairt: I’ve heard this word used in connection with cattle and rather think it was a cow with calf at food but would not be quite sure.
Origin: Inverness-shire, Nethy Bridge
Category: Crodh / Cattle
manaig: wooden handle of ‘cas chròm’. Also used in the context of an old gate ready to fall apart. Former definition is prevalent at the north end of South Uist, esp. Lochcarnan, whilst the latter definition is found at southern end of the island.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
maothan: the tender bit at the bottom of a horse’s foot. Could be painful if a horse was badly shod.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
marann (-an): looking at the darker side of things, e.g. “Tha i dol a shileadh a maireach Iain.” “Och eisd tha thusa làn de na marannan.”
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
marbhadh a’ bhodaich: a game for boys. The player stretched face downwards on the floor and put his two clenched fists, one beyond and touching the other at his own head, thus measuring his own length plus the breadth of two fists. This was marked – one mark at his toes and the other at the second fist. A wooden peg was set up at the ‘fist’ mark and the player took up position at the other mark (where his toes had been). He was given two short pointed pegs – one in each hand – shaped like the ‘dealgan’ used for twisting yarn [see illustration below] and balancing his body forwards on these lifting one at a time, he had to stretch his full length and knock the ‘bodach’ down, without overbalancing and collapsing on the floor. The crucial point came when he was about fully stretched. He was asked “Càite bheil thu dol?” He replied, “Tha mi dol a mharbhadh a bhodaich.” “De fhads’ a tha thu dol a ruighinn?” and balancing on one peg the poor player had to lift the other one and point to one ear, and putting that one down and balancing on it, he had to do the same with the other peg. While he was doing this he replied, “Tha gu na cluais ud, agus gu na cluais ud.” Not many could finish the game!
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Cur-seachadan: Dèideagan, Geamaichean is Farpaisean / Recreation: Toys, Games, Contests
mart: Quotation: mart gamhnach. Notes: a farrow cow – may have had a calf at one stage.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mathair shiomain: a thick rope made of heather circulated round the wall of a thatched house. Secured at the bottom of the thatch. Other ropes were attached to this which went across the back of the house.
Location: North Uist, Iollaraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
meacharan: wee cuddies (old reference occasionally heard today: if heard at all). [SLIP: Small cuddies – old-fashioned word, seldom used now.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris,Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
meadal: Quotation: Rinn an cù meadal rium. Notes: showed pleasure at seeing me, e.g. wagging tail.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
meadalach: [mɛ̃d̪ɑɫɑx] Quotation: Bha e a meadalaich rium. Notes: showing pleasure e.g. at meeting somebody (usually used of a dog).
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mein-àridh: two small boards with steel [?] pins at each end laid across the woven tweed on the ‘gorm-an-ìuchd’ [q.v.] to keep the tweed edges straight.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
meurlan: [mjɤ:ɫɑṉ] Quotation: meurlan iarach, meurlan uarach or àrd. Notes: right-angled piece cut off at the tip of a sheep’s ear.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
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
miaraide: [mĩɑ̃ridʹə] Quot.: “Ith do bhiadh, a’ mhiaraide bhochd.” Note: someone who lacks appetite, picks at his food. Poor specimen.
Origin: [Caversta]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
miarsam: [m[ĩɑ̃]ʴsəm] Quot.: “pìob mhiarsam”. Note: a pipe made of meerschaum (a creamy clay used especially for pipe bowls (Dict.)). Commonly used at one time. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mih [sic]: a balance used for measuring amounts of wool. A simple bit of wood with a hook at each end placed on a wooden stand.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mill-eàrraidh: [mĩlʹɑ:ɾi] Note: two pieces of wood separate but tied together with string, can be arched at the point where string is attached, the nails at each end put through edges of cloth in loom, then pieces of wood flattened. To keep cloth stretched. “Mìr-earraidh” in S. Lochs.
Location: Harris
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ming: pronunciation of miùg (whey) at Melness.
Origin: Applecross [mother]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mionaid: nn ‘minute’ : ‘at once’: chuir sinn às dha sa mh.
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Broadcove
Category: Field Notebooks of Seosamh Watson June-August 1983
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
mo dhiombach agad: I am annoyed at you.
Location: Na Hearadh [Harris], Cluer
Category: Nàdur an Duine / Personality
mogain: socks which were open at the front.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
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
mu dheireadh is mo dhiù: at long last.
Location: Barra, Eoligarry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mullach làn àrd: moon at its height.
Category: Sìde / Weather
musal: [mũ̜səɫ] Notes: muzzle at the head of the plough.
Origin: Skye, Torrin
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
màdh: trumps at cards.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
màm: Note: (1) a swollen gland, e.g. under the armpit or at the top of the thigh. (2) also used for rounded hills on the moor.
Origin: Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mànran: alone, at own will, retired, on holiday.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
màrlspàic: an iron spike tapering at one end. Used for splicing wire. Also had wooden equivalent for splicing rope.
Location: South Uist, South Lochboisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mìr-eàrraidh: [mĩðȷɑ:ri] Note: sticks (2) with nails stuck in them at either end to keep the cloth stretched broadways as it was woven.
Location: [Lewis], South Lochs, Caversta
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
mùig: Quotation: a’ coimhead air fo na mùigean [mũ̟:ɡʹəṉ]. Notes: looking at a person from under lowered eyebrows, with head lowered.
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
na géibheals: ropes at end of net.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
na h-iomalan: piston like instruments in a loom. Wooden at the top and bottom with the rest consisting of wire. These kept the colours apart when weaving.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
na hems: hames (tied at top with hemp).
Origin: Tiree
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
na ruifeanaich: Quotation: frayed skin at cuticle-edge on fingers. Source: Lewis usage recalled. Date: noted 14/05/1983.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
na sgrathan: These were square pieces of green sod or turf thinly cut with a sharp kind of spade called a ‘caibe-làir’. There was an art in the cutting of a ‘sgrath’ and an ordinary spade would not do. The ‘sgrathan’ were laid on top of the rafters, ‘taobhain’ [q.v.] and ‘maidean-ceangail’ [q.v.] in a very methodical way, so that every inch of wood was covered. Finally the thatch, rushes or heather, was carefully spread on top of ‘sgrathan’ and held down by heather ropes, ‘sioman fraoich’, in criss-cross pattern. To the ends of these ropes, which dangled over the top of wall below, heavy stones called ‘acraichean’ were attached to keep thatch secure in place in time of storm. If the least flaw was detected in a ‘sgrath’ after it was cut, it was at once discarded as unsuitable for the roof of a building.
Origin: Skye
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
na séistir: at their peak. Referring to the prosperity of the kelp industry.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
nad dheannruith: at full speed.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
nòs: [nɔ:s] Quotation: Tha ’m bata [sic] as a’ nòs. Notes: the channel at the top of a beach into which a boat was hauled. [ɔ̃:s] in Skye. George MacKenzie connects it with Norse “noust”.
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
obraich: vb ‘work’ : vbl nn: bha i ’n deoghaidh obrachadh cruaidh [‘hard at it’]
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Broadcove
Category: Field Notebooks of Seosamh Watson June-August 1983
ochdnar: Quotation: “Deanamaid ùrnaigh, is gabhaidh Dòmhnall Aonghuis Bhig òran, is bidh rìdhl’ againn, ’s bidh ochdnar againn.” The Rev. Donald MacCallum, presiding at a concert in Keose. Notes: eightsome reel. Not in Dw.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ocstar: supports under seats at stern and stem. In older boats this extended right round the boat.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay, Ceannaraigh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
oidhche: Quotation: as t-oidhch’. Notes: at night.
Location: Skye, Kilmuir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
oidhche na h-imrich: Notes: the final night at the shieling, the eve of returning home, a night of feasting, singing, dancing, courting (e.g. the youth of Achmore and Luerbost would gather at the Keose shielings, between Soval and Cliascro.) Not in Dw.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
oiteag: Quotation: Coltach ris a’ chailleach a thug seachd bliadhna ’ga garadh fhéin; nuair a chaidh i a mach thug aon oiteag air falbh i. Notes: puff of wind. (A man who had painstakingly amassed a fortune and blew it at one go, or who died and his sons squandered it.)
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
oiteag (f): could also be a whirlwind as experienced at springtime and harvest-time.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Sìde / Weather
orasda: another word I am not certain of; I heard [it] being spoken but I am not at the moment prepared to say what is its true definition, but I suggest (to me) it’s the place on which dung is placed when discharged from the byre or shed, or material put aside for convenience or some other reason. (It was pronounced with the [?] long accent?) As hear [sic] I note it to be oir aisde – air a chuir air an oir aisde. I am afraid the word is not used now with us.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
os-cionn-nam-bòrd: deck cargo. This was a term in connection with sailors of the schooner days at sea, which became obsolete, yes, the term. Na bha os cionn nam bòrd – the hull.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
osann: a door at one end of a creel which is opened to remove the lobster. [NOTES: corrected to ‘osan’.]
Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
paidhrigeadh: a term in road building. Refers to the gravel and debris that would accumulate at the side of a road as traffic passed through. Workmen used to shovel this gravel back into the middle of the known [sic]. Maybe this is a borrowing from ‘repair’ in English.
Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
peabladh (-aich): as in a person being messed up, e.g. being subjected to having mud thrown at him – “Bha mi air mo pheabladh.” A useful word in connection with traditional activities at ‘stag’ nights.
Location: South Uist, Milton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
peallan: Notes: home-made tar brush, made from a piece of stick with layers of cloth wrapped round it at the end.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
peilear: [pelɑð] Quot.: “Tha e ag obair aig peilear a’ bheatha.” Note: He is working at full steam.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
peileastar: a game of marksmanship. A flat stone was put up in a prominent position, perhaps on a boulder. The competitors lined up at an agreed upon range, with so many stones apiece. Each in turn tried to hit the target, known as ‘geal’. This game usually took place on the shore where there was plenty of ammunition!
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Cur-seachadan: Dèideagan, Geamaichean is Farpaisean / Recreation: Toys, Games, Contests
phónadh: phoning (Scalpay). New word, while I termed others as old words if you will accept such terms at the moment. [NOTES: slipped under ‘phón’ with ‘a’ phónadh’ as the quotation.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
pige: Quotation: pige na farairidh. Notes: “piggy” of whisky for use at a wake.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
piorsa: The iron band at ends of swingle trees. See diag [NOTES: probably refers to a diagram provided by the informant.]
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
piorsa: [pjwrsə] [sic] Notes: the iron band with the loop on it at the end of the swingle-tree.
Location: Tiree, Caolis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
plibire: Quotation: gille-plibire. Notes: a person who is at everyone’s beck and call and gets nothing in return, a “dogsbody”.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
pliobair: [plibiɾ] Notes: a person who was at everybody’s beck and call.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
plùmair: the large buoy which was at the end of the creel rope.
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
poit: Quotation: poit a’ roth. Notes: the water channel at the bottom of the mill wheel.
Location: North Uist, Bayhead, Kylis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
poll: Quotation: poll-buirean [p[ɤu]ɫbu͎:ɾɑṉ]. Notes: a patch of ground churned into mud by the stamping of deer at the rutting season.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
poll uachdar: is the bog opened at a higher level to ‘poll iochdar’ [q.v.].
Location: North Uist, Grimsay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
pollag na Samhna: at Halloween a hole was dug in the ground by which your future fortune could be judged. If on the next day a worm was found in the said hole this indicated good luck. However, if the hole was empty this was a sign of bad luck.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
port marghain: a gravel, shingle bank at one end of a loch.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
post: Quotation: a’ cadal ris a’ phost. Notes: sleeping at the outer edge of the best [?]. Same as “a’ cadal ris a’ bhòrd”.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
preasa nan luch: an inferior type of grass considered to be of poor weatherproof quality. Therefore it was always put at the bottom of a haystack and never at its top.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
pronnastan: sulphur. Used to make a poultice. Applied to humans as well as animals. Used for rashes, boils, warts. Also given to young people to keep potential diseases at bay.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
pràisde: sea bent rope tied round the thatched house at horizontal intervals. “Thig còmhla rium a chuir pràisd(e) air an taigh.”
Location: North Uist, Grèinatobht [Grenitote]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
puta-suab: Note: marker buoy on fishing lines. Always floating. “Puta-sàs”, the one at the end of the “bràighe”, might be underwater.
Location: Harris, Quidinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
puta-sàs: Quot.: am puta-sàs. Note: small buoy at the end of the “braighe” [sic – cf. bràighe above], or rope from the end of the small- or great-line, keeping as directly above the “cruaidh” as possible. Sometimes underwater. “Puta suab” larger, a marker-buoy.
Location: Harris, Quidinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
pùnntadh: kept in an enclosure. I have heard an old lady referring to her hens: Iad air a punntadh ann a shid (enclosure) ’s nach iad a mach – at seed-planting time. [NOTES: slipped under ‘pùnndadh’.] [SLIP: Kept in an enclosure.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
rachdan: [rɑxkɑ̃ṉ] Quotation: pl. rachdainn. Notes: remains of tree stumps found at the bottom of the lower layer of peat.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ramh-sgollaidh: having lost one oar the remaining oar was placed in a V shaped indentation at a boat’s rear. The oar would be moved from side to side bringing the boat to shore. [NOTES: corrected to ‘ràmh-sgolaidh’.]
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ramhaic: Quotation: “Bha e a’ ramhaicheadh [rɛ̃viçci] rium.” Notes: He was bawling at me.
Origin: Port Wemyss
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
rath-dorch: Note: period consisting of the last few days of the moon’s wane and the first few days of its return plus the time it is not seen at all.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
rathad: Quotation: Cha deidheadh e ’na rathad idir. Notes: He wouldn’t go near him at all.
Location: Sutherland, Lochinver, Culkein (Stoer)
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ri: prep. ‘to; at;: bhiodh esan ~ uinneagan, dhèanadh e uinneag; cha bhiodh fhios agam-as fo Dhia na Glòrach dè an dòigh a rachainn ris; tha sin ri dhèanamh aige fhathast
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Inverness Co., Dunvegan
Category: Word List
ri mir an uisge: at the height of the rain.
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
riabhach: Quotation: Tha iad cho riabhach. Notes: ‘at daggers drawn’.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
riaghladh: Quot.: “a’ riaghladh a’ bhùird leis an uisge-bheath”. Note: serving drink at a wedding.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
riarachadh: Notes: bread or biscuits, cheese and whisky given to mourners at a funeral.
Origin: Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
riarachadh: Notes: serving out drinks at weddings, funerals, etc.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
riaraich: Quotation: a riarachadh [riɤɾɑxu̜] nam bùird. Notes: serving at the Communion tables.
Location: Sutherland, Durness, Balvoolich
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
riaraichte: Served up at table.
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
riochdachadh an tobair: at Easter different flowers placed round the well for the purpose of keeping evil spirits at bay.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ris: Notes: Thubhairt mise ris. – to him. Leig e ris dha. – he revealed to him. Tha e ris an deoch. – addicted to drink. Co bha ris? – Who was at him? (injuring him, words or blows) Tha an talamh ris. – seen (in time of snow). Leig e e féin ris. – he unclothed himself (e.g. when going to swim). Chan eil math a bhi ris. – There is no use arguing with him. Bha dùil aige ris. – he was expecting it. Bha càirdeas aige ris. – he was related to him. Bha e ag radh rithe. – he was saying to her. Feuchaidh e ris. – he will attempt to do it. Chuir e ’n t-aodach ris an teine. – at the fire. ’S math a chaidh e ris. – he dealt with him in a becoming manner! Cha bhi gnothuich agam ris. – I will take nothing to do with it.
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
rodhanaich na Samhna: the calm period at the end of autumn.
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
roidire: taking a run and a jump at something, e.g. jumping into a large load of hay.
Location: South Uist, West Kilbride
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
roill: Notes: used of strong-smelling ooze from fish which has been lying for a time (even a few hours). Also of thick spittle at cow’s mouth. Hence roilleach. Dw. has ròil ‘slaver’ (from DMy, Lewis). Also roille-chraos ‘slavering mouth’. Source: heard in conversation with Murdo Ferguson of Portvoller, Lewis. Date: 10/05/1969. (Also John MacArthur, Bayble – October 1970)
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
roill: [r[ɔi]l] Quotation: a’ [r[ɔi]l] a’ bhàrr dhearg. Notes: said by G.C. to be abbreviation for ‘ruaimleadh’ – the effect the ground swell had on the tangle at the time of the Equinox. It stirred it up. (Heard in Tiree as roill.) [NOTES: the note in brackets in second hand.]
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
roilleach: Notes: slavering at the mouth.
Origin: Applecross
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
rooch: to strip of money. Applied to winning at marbles, etc. ‘Rùisg’.
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
rotach: Quotation: Thàinig e le rotach. Notes: He came at speed.
Location: Skye?, Braes, Baile Meadhonach
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ruaimleachadh: A ribald ‘oran basaidh’ recorded at a luadhadh in Uist in 1951: Hug hoireann ó, ’s e m’aighear i (ABA refrain) / ’S e Raghnall théid a laighe leat / ’S e … C. a fhuair thu / ’S e Iain Nill Mhoir a nì do ruaimleachadh (as far as I can make out). Have you instances of ‘ruaimleachadh’ in this sense?
Location: Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ruinnse: [rɤ̃ĩʃ] Note: the projection at the end of the spine.
Origin: Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ruisealachadh: rushing, haste in housework. Bha mi ruisealachadh a stigh, leis an obair – ref. from a female at home.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ròdhanaich na Samhna: have described this previously. In addition to that, sea bent (muran) was ripe at this time of year and large amounts of this would be cut and taken home.
Location: North Uist, Iollaraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ròmach: rough. (Aird) A building at Belladrum, with very jagged stones, was known as “an taigh ròmach”.
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ròmhanaich: [sic] Quotation: Romhanaich na Samhna. Notes: applied to quiet period at the end of autumn.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ròpa trom: the rope at the bottom of the net.
Location: Eriskay, Na Hann [Haun]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
rùsg: Quotation: Bha mi aig an rùsg. A’ rùsg nan caorach. Notes: at the clipping of the sheep (no ‘adh’ at the end).
Origin: Drumguish, by Kingussie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
rùsgadh: removing the turf to get at the soft peat.
Location: Lewis, Shawbost
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
sabh: [sɛv] Notes: aroma, e.g. of herring at sea when the oil comes to the surface after the dogfish have been at them.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sacan: a strip cutting from a sack. (I am not quite sure of this one at the moment.) [SLIP: Uncertain – but probably a strip cut from a sack.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
salamantars: giving unruly blows. Thug i na salamantars sin oirre – referring to two boats in collision, the one or the stoutest coming at speed and giving the other na salamantars.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
samhnag: a bonfire which was lit at Halloween. Not sure as regards its purpose.
Location: Barra, Ard Mhinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sbàrr , sparra-ghaoith: [?] cross-piece at the top of the casan-ceangail [q.v.].
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
scobhsa: Notes: stones at side of fire, sometimes whitened with lime.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
scuidsaireachd: messing about almost, similar to ‘luidreadh’. Heard this being used in the context of women making tea at a whist drive – “Bha mi a’ scuidsaireachd aig tì.” [NOTES: there is (g) added above ‘c’ in ‘scuidsaireachd’. Not clear if this refers to a variant spelling or pronunciation.]
Location: North Uist, Hoghagearraidh [Hougharry]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
scumar: (scoo-mar) a small net on a circular piece of wire at the end of a long pole for lifting clams.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
scummar(n): an instrument used for catching clams. Long wooden handle with net at end giving a bag effect. [NOTES: note added in pencil: sgumair.]
Location: Barra, Castlebay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
seacanaich: Quot.: seacanaich na Samhna. Note: a calm spell of weather in November. Houses were thatched at this time. (Put also under Samhainn.)
Origin: Kershader
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
searmon-traisg: fast day sermon at a communion festival.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
seot: [ʃɔt̪] Quotation: Bha an saoghal aige air a sheot. Notes: He had everything at his disposal.
Location: Ross-shire, Aultbea
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
seotal: [ʃɔt̪əɫ] Quotation: seotal na ciste. Notes: a small compartment at one end of a chest under the lid. It was about 6" deep for keeping jewellery, etc. in it.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
seusdair: [ʃe:sd̪əɾ] Quotation: seusdair sruth reothairt. Notes: spring tide at the height of its power – surge.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
seusdar: at its peak, e.g. a business venture. “Bha e aig a sheusdar.”
Location: South Uist, South Lochboisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
seòl na speal: piece of canvas mounted on a wire behind blade at snathe to ensure that all grass was swept forward.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
seòlaid: harbour. (Very seldom heard if at all in conversation now.)
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgairteal: Quotation: duine sgairteal. Notes: nimble, quick at doing things.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgaolan: [sɡw̃:ɫɑṉ] Notes: “skull” – a basket made of wire with a handle at each end. Used for turnips, potatoes, etc. “sgùlan” in other parts.
Origin: Nethy Bridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgeap: [sɡʹɑp] Note: bag of woven straw, slung at one’s side, for cuddy-fishing.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgeimheadh: [sɡɛ̃fəɣ] Quot.: Thug an cù sgeimheadh thuige. Note: lunged at him, snarling.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgeir: Notes: rock above the tide at low water.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgeir-nicDhuinn: place-name, name of a sea rock at Scalpay (MacQueen’s rock). (I have given an example of place-names at Scalpay, hereon, to show how words came to be applied likewise, which is attributable generally, and perhaps could point to some findings that could lead us to understand the variety of ways words were used.) [NOTES: slipped under ‘sgeir’ with ‘Sgeir Nic Dhuinn’ as the quotation. Definition: MacQueen’s Rock (Scalpay).]
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgeir-reamhar: ‘fat rock’?; place-name, a sea rock at Scalpay.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgeir-thràghad: Notes: rock which is sunken at high tide.
Location: Skye, Camustianavaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgeith runnaig: a shooting star indicating bad weather. Could be seen in the late afternoon or at night. A shower of bright sparks would follow this star.
Location: South Uist, South Boisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgeoilm: story. From ‘sgeòil’ perhaps ‘sgeul am’. (Seldom used if at all now in Harris.)
Location: [Harris], Scalpaigh [Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgialag: small short story. (Seldom used if at all now in Harris.)
Location: [Harris], Scalpaigh [Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgian: the cutting blade, the lower edge (faobhar) of which cuts the inner and larger plane of the individual peat, while the ‘sàil’ [q.v.] (at right angles to the ‘sgian’) cuts the narrower edge.
Location: Harris, Tarbert
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
sgian cubaireachd: used for cleaning out the gaps between the wooden straps in a barrel. For example salt would be removed from barrels used for curing fish by this implement. Sharp circular blade at one end with a wooden handle. [NOTES: ‘cubaireachd’ corrected to ‘cùbaireachd’.]
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgiath: Quotation: Sgaoil e a’ sgiathan cho fada gus an sgàinn [sɡɛ̃:nʹ] e. Notes: He tried to take on too much at the one time.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgiathachadh: Quot.: “Tha sgiathachadh turaidh ann.” Note: rain progressively lessening to no rain at all.
Origin: [Caversta]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgileid: [sɡʹilɑdʹʒ] Notes: tin mug sold by tinkers. Used for drinking tea and for filling the “bucaid” at the well.
Origin: Islay, Ballygrant
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgileil: [sɡilɔl] Quotation: Tha e sgileil air… Notes: He is good at…
Location: Ross-shire, Aultbea
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgilin: a shilling; but sgilin Albannach = peighinn Breatannach (is Sasunnach); tastan Albannach = sgilin Sasunnach (is Breatannach); but “shilling” is the meaning of the word sgilin at all times; when applied to British “penny”, it does not mean “penny” but “Scots shilling”.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgiomalair: [sɡʹw̃məlɑð] Quot.: Bhiodh ceithir sgiomalairean anns a’ bheart. Note: the four arms activated by the tappets at one end and attached to the bottom of the heddles, pulling them down.
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgitheal: Notes: used of demountable units at Portree High School. Cf. sgritheal. (Heard in Broadford.)
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgiurrghail: [sɡʹu̜ru̜ɣəl] Note: applied to the noise of a lot of people talking at once (babble) or, e.g. the cackling of hens.
Origin: [Ness]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgiurrulaich: [sɡʹu̜ru̜ɫiç] Note: applied to the noise of a lot of people talking at once (babble) or, e.g. the cackling of hens.
Origin: [Ness]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgliurach: unworthy woman. Perhaps hinting at moral depravity.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sglobaire: a person who is always foaming at the mouth.
Origin: [Note: From North Uist, information from Alex O’Henley / RÓM 4 Dec 2023]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgobadh: Notes: nibbling of fish at hook.
Location: Applecross
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgollabaichean: a plywood overlap at the top of a dresser had these wavy designs running across it. Also applied to a similar design at the bottom of dresses.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgolladh: a large groove at rear of a boat. ‘Ramh sgollaidh’ placed here.
Location: Barra, Castlebay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgolladh: Quotation: a’ sgolladh [əsɡoʔɫəɣ]. Notes: propelling with one oar at the stern (sculling?).
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgriabadh: scratch, at the moment but eventually the mark disappears.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
sgriob-pòig: in connection with romance. Thàinig sgrìob [sic] pòig orm. (I am afraid the expression isn’t used at all at all now in Harris.)
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgrìoban: [sɡɾı:bɑṉ] Note: pole with three hooks in triangular fashion at one end, used to recover fishing lines or nets.
Location: Lewis, Uig, Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sguaid: [sɡu̟ədʹ] Quotation: duine a’ dol seachad le sguaid. Notes: someone walking past in a hurry; at a good pace.
Origin: North Uist
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
sguta: Quotation: a’ sguta deiridh. Notes: loose board used as a seat at the stern, rested on the “taobh-shlat”.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgàileadh de fhodar: when hardening seeds on a kiln a covering of fodder was placed on the wooden straps (ciuillan [sic]), which stretched halfway across the circle at the top of a kiln. This prevented the seed from being burnt.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgàir: a large, wide bay. Example at Stoneybridge.
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sgòd: a rope at the lower end of the sail. Tied round one of the seats and loosened accordingly when the wind rose.
Location: Eriskay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sheafaraidh: horses tied on a tether in this bit of land which could be on the croft. Would be tethered here at night. [NOTES: corrected to ‘seafaraidh’.]
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
shit: sheet, (sail of a boat), the ‘stern’ rope of a sail at the point where it is pulled in in the stern to tighten the sail, 1. or at the point of the bottom edge of the sail in the stern of the boat, 2. at the point between the outer edge of the sail and the bottom edge in the stern of the boat.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
shó: chew piece of tobacco. Tobacco chewing was common among the islanders of the Scottish, or the Outer Isles of Scotland, from the, or at about the beginning of the present century, or the late 19th century.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sian-gréinidh: Note: a very light warm shower of rain falling with the sun out at the same time.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
siladh: a wooden seat at the rear of a boat which could be removed when it was being baled (taomadh).
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sile: Notes: piece of flooring at the stem of a boat.
Location: Coll, Sorrisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
silidh: an extra seat at the back or front of a boat.
Location: South Uist, Daliburgh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
similear-crochaidh (m): canopy over fire (on floor at end of room).
Origin: [Skye, Camus Chroise]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
siocaire: [ʃıkəðə] Quot.: Chaneil ann dheth ach siocaire grannda. Note: a person who is lazy, good for nothing but impertinent at the same time.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
siol-mholl: Notes: refuse of grain/chaff at first winnowing. Might be put through the riddle again to extract all the seed.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
siollachan: Notes: muzzle at the head of the plough.
Origin: Skye, Torrin
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sireap: syrup. Syrup and hot water mixed was used for cold, drinking it before retiring at night.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sitheadh: [ʃiəɣ] Quotation: a’ dol seachad le/aig sitheadh. Notes: going past at a good speed.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
siubhal: Quotation: Bha siubhal sith aice. Notes: some were supposed to have this power. If one glanced away for a very short time from looking at such a person and then looked again, they seemed to have covered an incredible distance for such a short time.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
skooking at: staring at one.
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
slabhraidh: [fem.] the hanging chain above the fire on which pots were suspended. I think it was also the name for the elongated iron hook at the end of the chain.
Origin: Eileanaich [natives of Lewis]
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
slachdan: a type of rolling pin rounded at the bottom for mashing potatoes. Slachdan an laimh òinsich – any dangerous instrument.
Origin: Barra
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
slaic: [sɫɑiçc] Quotation: Tha sinn aig slaic. Notes: heavy work. We are being kept at it.
Origin: Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
slat: Quotation: cabar-slait. Notes: his name for a stag which had antlers with no points on them, except, perhaps, for one at the base.
Location: Ross-shire, Dornie, Morvich
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sluaisreadh: the movement of the sand on the ebb-in heavy seas; or the action of the sea on the sand – the heavy seas, the waves curling over it, ‘shovelling’ it back and fore? (My own definition at the moment.) [SLIP: Movement of sand by sea.]
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
slupranaich: e.g. slupranaich air bainne gort. ‘Slocking at sour milk.’
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
slìs: bit of wood widening at its foot and used for stirring porridge. [NOTES: corrected to ‘slis’.]
Location: South Uist, Milton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
slògag: [sɫɔ:ɡɑɡ] Notes: “slates” made up of small sheaves of corn. The seed was removed and the sheaf tied at the top of the stalks. The bottom part was then spread out like a fan. This was done in autumn. They were then laid in “bundles” of a dozen over the winter. By spring they were placed flat. Put on roof like slates.
Location: Skye, Staffin
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
smellig: Quotation: Cha do smellig e i [?]. Notes: of a good goal [?] at football.
Location: Harris, Ardhasaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
smiag (pronounced smeeag): a piece of wood with three holes, one at each end and one in the middle. The rope forming the lamb’s collar went through the two outer holes and were fixed by means of a knot. The tether went through the centre hole and [was] kept from running through by a knot on the end.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Caoraich / Sheep
smàglach: an amount of seaweed which you can lift on a graip (gràpa). Could also mean an amount of hay lifted on a pitch fork used at harvest time – “Cuir smàglach neo dhà eile air a’ chairt.”
Location: North Uist, Grimsay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
smàl: Quotation: a’ smàladh an teine. Notes: bank up the fire at night. Barvas: “a’ tasgadh an teine” or “a’ cuir tasgadh dhan an teine”.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
smèileabanachd: [smɛ̃:ləbɑnɑxk] Quot.: “Tha iad a’ smèileabanachd air a chèile.” Note: interfering with each other, at cross purposes.
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
smìgleadh: reference to cattle nibbling at their fodder. “Dh’ith i smìgleadh dheth.”
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
smùid: at an extra working pace as: Smùid aige le sùist air an arbhar.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
smùr: fragments of peat at the bottom of creel.
Origin: Barra
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
sneic: [sṉɛ̃c] Note: for opening a door by pressing a lever down with the thumb outside making a length of flat iron, hinged at the inner end, to lift from a slot on the doorpost.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
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
snighe-dubh: Notes: water coming in at the chimney.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
snàthad: Quot.: snàthad a’ bhiùirne. Note: axle through pirn with hole at the end. (spinning wheel)
Location: Harris, Quidinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
snòthdachadh: sniffing at something with your nose touching the commodity, e.g. a cow sniffing at water.
Origin: Glasgow/South Uist? or South Uist, Kildonan or South Uist, Garrynamonie or South Uist or Skye, Bernisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sobhrach: Primrose. Disease: infested heel wound (at a bhuinn duibh). Part used: the leaves only. How prepared: the leaves placed on the wound with poultice of oatmeal, placed as hot as the patient could accept. Sources of information: my mother doing it.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Blàthan-Leighis / Medicinal Plants
sogh: air sogh – for joy; fa shogh – at ease, in comfort.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
soirbhean: [sɔɾɑṉ] Notes: a small door at the back of a barn used for creating a draught for winnowing.
Location: Tiree, Cornaigbeg
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
sonc: direct. Chaidh e sios sonc. – when anything falls into the sea, the remark is made, in other words without a ‘slither’. Pronounced like the word ‘song’ in English but for the ‘c’ at the end which gives a ‘hard’ sound. It’s not obsolete – still in current use.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sooan: sowans: made from the sids after corn was at the mill.
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Biadh is Deoch / Food and Drink
sop-suiridhe: Quot.: “Ach, ’s ann a bha e sadail sop-suiridhe ort!” Note: said by my grandfather to my mother when she’d come home from home [sic] complaining that a boy had been throwing clods of earth at her.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sorachan: a pile of peats on which the people sat at any interval.
Origin: Lewis, Back or Lewis, Back
Category: Mòine / Peat-Working
sorrag: the grain was placed in this channel which stemmed from the centre of the ‘sorn’ [q.v.]. The fire was at one end of the ‘sorrag’. However there was a sufficient gap between the fire and the grain to ensure it did not burn.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sothadh: having a good go at something, belly full.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spainneadh: Quotation: Thug i spainneadh orm. Notes: She snapped at me (verbally).
Location: Applecross
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spar-deiridh: Notes: cross-piece at rear end of cart.
Origin: Coigach
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spar-feannaig: wooden spar at each end with the ropes going round it.
Origin: Barra
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
spar-gaoitheadh: Notes: the “ceangal” at the end of a black-house which protruded.
Location: Harris
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spar-toisich: Notes: cross-piece at front of cart.
Origin: Coigach
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sparchas: (also) feet spars, wooden support to the feet in rowing a boat. The wooden 2x2 or 3x3… was crosswise putting your feet against it while pulling at the oars.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spealadairean: wee boats in the 20 feet keel sizes, were termed as ‘spealadairean’ when engaged in the herring fishing at Scalpay, in Harris.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
speil: taking a turn at anything.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
speileabhais (?): [speləvɑʃ] Quotation: “Dé a’ [speləvɑʃ] a th’ort?” “Na bith [speləvɑʃ] ris.” Nach ann annad a tha a’ [speləvɑʃ]. Notes: said to a person picking at his food, having very little appetite.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
speilean: [spelɑ̃ṉ] Quot.: “a’ cluich speilean”. Note: A game somewhat akin to rounders. A small hollow was made in the ground and a line drawn about 15 yards from it. The apparatus consisted of a ball or cork float (usually the latter), a stick about 9" long (speilean) and a bat like a putter bat (caman) – a flat board about 1 ft long and about 5" wide with a handle attached. Two opposing teams were chosen by two captains. The first side to “bat” was chosen by drawing lots (a’ cur crann). The other team was spread out behind the line, as “fielders”. The “speilean” was put into the hollow at an angle with one end sticking up and the cork float lying on the end in the hollow. The first to bat would shout “Ready?” The other team would say “Tha” and the batter would strike down the protruding end of the “speilean”, causing the cork to be ejected into the air. The batter would then hit it as far as he could. If the cork was caught by a member of the opposing team before it hit the ground, he was out and the next member of the team batted until all were out. If it is not caught the first fielder to reach it gives the batter a “fair” [fɛ:əɾ], throwing it to him so that he can strike it again. If it is caught, he is out. If not, the first fielder to get it rolls it from that spot trying to get it into the hole or as near as possible. This is called “a’ spìocadh” [spi:kəɣ]. If it is holed or comes to rest within a bat’s length of the hole, the batter is out. If it is outside this range, the distance from the hole is measured in bat lengths, the number of lengths being the number of points scored by that player. He carries on until he’s out, then the rest of the team bat in turn until all are out. The other team then bat and all the points totted up, the winner being the side with the highest points.
Location: Harris, Quidinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spiorachcadh: swearing at.
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spliachd: a big spread, e.g. a large spread of food at a wedding or other social function. Also used for extensive news coverage of an incident.
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spliachdadh: to stare or gaze at something or other. “Bha e a’ spliachdadh ùine mhór ’san uinneag.”
Location: Barra, Northbay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
splòic: mumps. Traditional word instead of ‘at busach’.
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spuadag: [shinty] A hit at the ball. It also meant a blow given to a person. “Thug mi spuadag air.” – ‘I gave him a blow.’
Origin: Leòdhas [Lewis], Uig
Category: Cur-seachadan: Dèideagan, Geamaichean is Farpaisean / Recreation: Toys, Games, Contests
spuir-eòin: I am not sure of this as being a birthmark at the moment. I think you could be quite safe in noting likewise, that is if you haven’t any other definition.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
spàigean: applied to a baby whose early attempts at walking. [sic] [Cf. spàgach.]
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spèic: spoke; spoke in a wheel, as an old salt used to put it: Bu mhath a nis a bhi air spèic bhuidhe – it would now be good to be at a yellow spoke, literally, etc. meaning in other words, or wishing being at sea steering a vessel.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
spèicean: [spɛ:çcəṉ] Notes: device for securing cattle inside the byre. Two upright posts, one fixed, the other hinged at the base to allow the head and horns to pass through. It was then put upright and fixed so as to lock the head in.
Origin: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sreannachan: propeller, disc revolving at a fast rate.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sron-chòra: [sic] [sɾɔ̃:ṉxɔ:ɾə] Notes: waterspout caused by a whirlwind at sea. (sròn-chobhaire?)
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stang: a narrow, shallow ditch opened at the end of a field to drain of [sic] excess water.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
staull: in a house with animals at one end this refers to the threshold between the two ends of the house. [NOTES: corrected to ‘stall’.]
Location: South Uist, Peninerine
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
step: [?] bit where mast is fixed at bottom.
Location: Harris, Kyles Stockinish
Category: Togail Bhàtaichean / Boat-Building
stialladh: repeatedly hammering at something.
Location: North Uist, Iollaraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stilcher: [?] bit where mast is fixed at bottom for bigger boats
Location: Harris, Kyles Stockinish
Category: Togail Bhàtaichean / Boat-Building
stiuir a’ choilich: the large feather at a cockerel’s rear.
Location: South Uist, South Boisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stob: Quotation: “Bha am buntàta air an stobadh le cas-chaibe.” Notes: holes were made at regular intervals and the potatoes dropped in.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stol-phòsda: marriage stool, at the altar.
Location: Killearn
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stol-smùraidh: stool on which a person engaged at smearing sheep sat.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
strannachan: [st̪ɾɑ̃n̪ɑxɑṉ] Note: circular piece of leather 2"-3" diam. Two holes, with string through each hole and then knotted. String cork-screwed and then pulled at each end. Disc revolves backwards and forwards as the two ends are pulled and then slackened.
Location: Lewis, Uig, Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stràic: One of the cane or strap at school.
Origin: [Lewis, Uig an Iar]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stròinean: Note: piece of rope over the bridge of a cow’s nose, passing under the ears and attached to the rope round its neck. When the cow strained at the tethering pin, this tightened and hurt the cow, making it slacken the rope.
Location: Harris, Grosebay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stròm(e): (noun) enclosure where the sea enters at a narrow inlet, the entrance ebbing at low spring tides. [Cf. stròmach.]
Location: [Harris], Scalpaigh [Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
strùlachan: [st̪ɾu̜:ɫɑxɑṉ] Note: the thread attached to the “osanan” [q.v.] at the front and round the toes to keep the “osanan” in position. Down between big toe and first smaller toe and between the smallest toe and the next one.
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
strùpag: tea drank at tea-break. [NOTES: I could not find the slip. There is one dated 1976 with definition ‘balgam’.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris,Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stàrn: Notes: A kind of reed growing in soft places. About the height of corn. Has some leaves at the top.
Location: Ross-shire, Achnahaird
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stàrr: Notes: rough grass found growing on the moor, usually at the edge of a river or loch.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stòl-smiùraidh: Note: a bench on which sheep were put for smearing. Some had wooden slats so that the sheep’s legs could be lowered through them, thus rendering it powerless to struggle. The sides were wider apart at one end, rather like the shape of a wheel-barrow.
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
stòrag: [st̪ɔ:ɾɑɡ] Notes: small stack of peats built at first lifting. Also ath-stòrag.
Location: Sutherland, Portskerra
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
suathalas: [su̜ɤhɑɫəs] Quot.: “Thug mi suathalas thuige ceart gu leòir.” Note: I made some attempt at identifying him (e.g. if you [sic] [met? saw?] someone and he either looked like somebody you knew or you had seen him before at some time although you didn’t quite remember who he was).
Origin: [Barvas]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sugan: jug; was also used as an interj. in calling a milking cow for to arouse the cow’s interest for to give her milk at milking time, perhaps.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
suidheachan: applied to four or six shocks of corn stood together. This word is more prevalent in North Uist whereas the word ‘adag (-an)’ is used in South Uist. Similarly ‘sguabag’ can be heard more often in North Uist whereas ‘raoid’ is used for an individual shock of corn in South Uist. Therefore the above words cannot be confined to an individual island due to a certain degree of overlapping most noted at northern end of South Uist.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
suil a’ leis: socket joint at hip.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Caoraich / Sheep
sunnag: (in living room) A chair made from a barrel. On one side the staves were sawn off to the middle of barrel, with two arm rests (one on each side) left at the proper height. The back side of barrel was left intact to support back of sitter. The lid of barrel served as seat, nailed down of course. On top of seat a cushion was placed.
Origin: Skye
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
sàbh beairte: a square wooden case with a blade in the middle. Handle at the top of the saw. Pulled by two people.
Location: North Uist, Iollaraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sàbh mór: used for larger bits of wood, e.g. beams. Wider blade as opposed to above [i.e. sàbh beairte (q.v.)]. Handgrip at top and one added below for second person.
Location: North Uist, Iollaraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
séis: (in living room) A long, plain, wooden bench with high back and an arm at each end. It was placed alongside the wall and could hold from four to six people. There were in addition one or more ordinary chairs (without arms) in the living room.
Origin: Skye
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
sìth: Quotation: Bha siubhal sìth aice. Notes: some were supposed to have this power. If one glanced away for a very short time from looking at such a person and then looked again, they seemed to have covered an incredible distance for such a short time.
Location: Skye, Breakish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sòla toisich, deiridh: small platform at stem or stern.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sòrn: raised platform at a kiln.
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sòrnach: Notes: open (outdoor) fire built round with stones. Dwelly has sòrnach ‘great heap of boulders at the foot of a precipice’; and sòrnag ‘a little kiln’.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sòrnach coire cailleach co lìn: located in the neighbouring hill at Milton and elsewhere. This was a circular stone wall which had rich, fertile soil inside. Women used to look after sheep in this ring.
Location: South Uist, Milton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sùgan: Quotation: sugan [sic] àrd. Notes: high horse collar. Built up high at the top and dressed.
Origin: Islay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sùgan òrdaig: making a rope from a rick which you have just constructed. Starting at the side of a rick until you reach the required length. Then tied round the rick to secure it.
Location: North Uist, Iollathraigh [Illeray]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sùil na h-atha: the hole at the top of a kiln.
Location: South Uist, Frobost
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
sùlairean: boats built at the time of the Zulu War. Characterised by having an obtusely angled rear stem.
Location: South Uist, South Lochboisdale
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
súil: Quotation: Cha do leag mi mo shúil air idir. Notes: I didn’t see it at all.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
taigh bainne: pantry at the kitchen end of a house where pails of milk were stored. Usually the coolest room in the house.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tairgeadaireachd: [t̪ɑɾɑɡʹəd̪əðɑk] Note: passing remarks designed to incite the person at whom they are aimed.
Origin: Kershader
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
talamh trom: Land on which there are cattle but which can be cultivated at any time.
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture
tamar (m): Notes: a strong blow or kick (at a football). (hammer?)
Location: Harris, Ardhasaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
taomadh: Notes: (Murdo Murray, Back) in sense of shovelling the earth at the sides of the feannagan and in the claisean, on top of the feannagan. Murdo Murray recalls an old woman telling him how she got 1/-6d a day for peat-cutting, but only 1/- a day for taomadh. Dwelly has this sense, without as much detail as above.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tarraing: Quotation: Tha tarraing a tighinn a stigh as a chuan. Notes: ground swell at sea. A ground swell coming in indicated a change of weather.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tasgadh-oidhche: a night banking of the fire. In the old black-house the peat fire was banked before retiring at night.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tearbadh: separating the lambs at the end of August. Lambs would be placed in the fold (cotan [q.v.]).
Origin: [Note: From North Uist, information from Alex O’Henley / RÓM 4 Dec 2023]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
teine-sionnachain: Notes: phosphorescence at sea.
Location: Skye, Broadford
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
teine-sionnachain: Note: phosphorescence at sea.
Origin: Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
teiris: [tʹeɾiʃ] Quotation: Teiris a nis! or Teiris a mireag! Notes: said to a cow to soothe her at milking time.
Origin: Applecross
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
thar a cheile: At variance. Confused.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
theagamh: [heɡu̟] Notes: “Right enough, …” Used at the beginning of statements.
Origin: Bunloit
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tighinn-fodha: [tʹĩṉfoə] Notes: water seeping in at floor level.
Location: Tiree, Cornaigbeg
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tighinn-fodha: [tʹĩṉˈfɔə] Note: water seeping into a house at floor level.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tinneas-air-ais: Quot.: “an tinneas-air-ais”. Note: epilepsy. Cure: a black cock with no white feathers was killed and buried at the spot where the fits had first taken place. The patient then had to sleep there for one night.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tioma-taisein: I am not sure of the meaning of this word at the moment (I am sure you have the word already).
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris,Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tionachdnadh: perhaps it means, perhaps salvation, as I am not quite certain at the moment… or testament… Perhaps you have the meaning yourselves. If not, I do not think the tiomnadh access to it is inappropriate. [SLIP: ‘Salvation’ or ‘testament’ – informant uncertain.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tiùrr: Notes: deposit of seaweed etc. left at high tide.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tobhta-bhràghad: the penultimate seat at the back of a boat.
Location: South Uist, West Kilbride
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
toirbheart: Quotation: “Tha mi air mo thoirbheart.” (e.g. said by a person exhausted working at peats). Notes: (father and mother) oi as in soirbh. Not in Dw.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
toiteal: smoke rising from a vessel at sea, or from a house. Tha e air toiteal a chuir an àird.
Location: [Harris], Scalpaigh [Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
toll-dilidh: [t̪oɫdʹili] Note: opening at the end of the byre to allow water from the drain under the floor to pass out.
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
toll-each: [t̪oˈɫɛx] Note: the opening at the end of a byre to allow a horse and cart to back in for manure.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
toll-gilidh: [t̪ɤu̜ɫɡʹili] Note: pronounced with a [ɡʹ] instead of [dʹ]. Opening at end of byre to let the water out.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
toll-lodain: [t̪oɫɔd̪ɑ̃nʹ] Note: the outlet in the wall at the end of the byre from the “dileadh” [q.v.], the drain down through the house.
Location: [Lewis], S. Lochs, Lemreway
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
toll-lodain: [t̪oɫˈɔd̪ɑ̃nʹ] Note: exit at “màs an tighe” to allow passage of cattle urine and any other seepage.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
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
tonnag: [t̪on̪ɑɡ] Quot.: tonnag langainn. Note: small fish found inshore – probably the young ling. Got under stones at very low tide.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
torcadh: chipping at rocks with pickaxes.
Location: South Uist, Milton
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
torr dubh: seaweed gathered at end of year and stacked on machair land left to rot and used as fertiliser for potatoes in spring.
Location: North Uist, Knockintorran
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
treoth: [t̪ɾɔ] Quotation: Chan fhaca mi dha’n treoth ud idir e. Notes: I didn’t see him that time at all, e.g. talking about somebody home on holiday.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
treun: Quotation: Nuair a bha e ’na threun. Notes: When he was in his prime, at his peak physically.
Location: Skye, Sleat, Calligary
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
triallabhaid: [t̪ɾıɤɫəvɑdʹ] Quot.: “Tha i ’na triallabhaid aig a h-uile rud a th’ann.” Note: could be said of a housewife with a hundred-and-one household chores to attend to at the one time. “In a ‘trachle’.”
Origin: [Ness]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
truinnse: [t̪ɾĩ:ʃə] Notes: lock put on the mill canal to stop the water when the mill was at a standstill.
Location: North Uist, Bayhead, Kylis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tràbach: soaking (as of a day – used at Melness).
Origin: Applecross [mother]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tràth: advb ‘at one time’ : ìnnsidh mi rud eile a bhithinn a’ faicinn ~
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Broadcove
Category: Field Notebooks of Seosamh Watson June-August 1983
trògh: a home-made rope, made from sea bent. Used for securing hay and corn stacks. Also used when thatching. Prior to thatching this rope would be tied across the rafters from one end to the other so that the thatch would not simply fall through the rafters. Have to remember wood was not so plentiful at that time.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay, Cnoc Cuidhein [Knockquien]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tuagal: goal. Subsequently called “hail” when shinty was played to modern shinty rules. (Stoer, Assynt) Shinty was always played on New Year’s Day, “Latha na Callain”. Two townships would compete, and after the match was finished the visiting team would try and dribble the “creg” out of the township. I saw old boddich of 70 running out with walking sticks to prevent the “creg” being taken out of the township, which was considered a great disgrace! So long as the numbers were equal there appeared to be no limit to the number on each side for the actual match. I played for Caberfeidh Shinty Team, but it was child’s play in comparison to those New Year’s Games! At half time – the match was usually two hours – whisky was distributed – not lemons! Incidentally, if a visiting township managed to get the creg away, they had the privilege of having the match in their township next New Year.
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Cur-seachadan: Dèideagan, Geamaichean is Farpaisean / Recreation: Toys, Games, Contests
tuairmeas: (at) random.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tuim ghrod: this noxious excess water was sometimes stored if there were sharks in the area. The substance was thrown at them which supposedly kept them at bay.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tutanadh: ill at ease, moved irregularly. [SLIP: Irregular movement of one ill-at-ease.]
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tàl: a carpenter’s tool for cutting away surface wood. Like an axe with an arched blade at right angles to the handle.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tìdeil: Notes: (used of a lamb) born at the right time, i.e. that had gone its full time. Not in Dw.
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tìr bhuana: celebration feast at the end of harvesting.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tòthadh: [t̪o:əɣ] Quot.: “Na bi a tòthadh sin riumsa idir!” Note: pointing something at a person, e.g. a stick. (Also: “a’ tomhadh [ˈt̪õəɣ] dhòrn” in Barvas – putting up one’s fists.)
Origin: Carloway, Doune
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
tòthan: we have also: air mullaich an tòthain. Likely, it’s the same word [as tothan q.v.], but at one instance it’s spoken unaccented.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ubh: Quot.: ubh-mille-fithich. Note: very small egg a hen might lay at the end of the laying season or if it had been injured in some way.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ubhalabhiocuis: Quotation: Ciod e an ubhalabhiocuis a tha’gad anns a phrais? Notes: used only in reference to food. Some mysterious mixture! No idea at all what the origin of the word is. It was widely used all the same.
Origin: West Lewis [the location given on the slips]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ugan: throats. “Bha iad an ugain a chéile.” – they were at each other’s throats.
Location: South Uist, Lochcarnan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
uinneag nan cearc: A square open hole at top of the gable wall of a byre, convenient to ‘faradh [q.v.] nan cearc’ on the inside. The hens’ roost is pronounced ‘fairidh’ in Skye.
Origin: Skye
Category: Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings
uisge-beatha: whisky. Was used also for toothache – leaving some whisky in the mouth for a while. Whisky and oatmeal was considered as tonic, as was rum and eggs mixed. Whisky was recommended for faints, weaknesses. Whisky and hot water being retiring [sic] at night was a stimulating [sic], recommended stimulant for colds, that is for counteracting colds. Whisky and hot water, so hot as the patient could accept: it was known as ‘totaidh’.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
uisgeachan an fhoghair: autumn rains which can greatly vary within a small area, e.g. in a village – could be raining at one end and [be] dry, sunny at the other end.
Location: South Uist, South Lochboisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
urdean: wine token at birth.
Origin: Lewis and Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ursainn chatha: someone who is a source of comfort and strength at times of distress.
Location: North Uist, Carinish, Trianaid House
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
uthagraich: Notes: ‘hooching’ at a dance.
Origin: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
àite suidhe: seat at the back of a boat. Elsewhere called ‘sileadh’.
Location: North Uist, Grimsay, Ceannaraigh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
àmhailte: [ɑ̃:ılʹtʹə] Quot.: “Cuir thuige àmhailte dha!” Note: a peat, half of it burning, used as a torch, e.g. when going home at night from a céilidh.
Location: Harris, Quidinish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
àth: Quotation: iochdar na h-àthadh. Notes: the end of the kiln at which the corn was put in.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ìm an iuchair: butter that would be available at the end of July. Generally held to be the best. The cream would be saved from April.
Location: South Uist, West Kilbride
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ìoc: [i:k] Notes: a triangular piece of clothing inserted at the sides of garments to make them wider at the bottom.
Location: Lewis, Barvas
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
òpair: [ɔ:pəɾ] Notes: a small bowl-like structure fixed at the mouth of the plunger-hole to catch the milk coming out when the plunger was drawn up.
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ùrtan/òrtan/nòrtan: Quotation: Ma fhuair thu nòrtan man càch / Chan fhaca ban-nabaidh càil: / Carson nach tug thu gloine làn / Ga b’ann dh’an an fhaoileig. Notes: At this ‘ceremony’, after the birth of a child, it was customary to offer whisky and e.g. biscuits and cheese. Dw. has urstan ‘feast when a child is born – Lewis.’
Location: Lewis
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
ùs: [ũ̟:s] Note: applied to the covering on a lamb’s fleece at birth.
Origin: [Lewis], Arnol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
‘Stigh e’: ‘after it’, i.e. encouraging the dog to chase harder, not at all in the sense of taking an animal to an enclosure, in fact the opposite.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Caoraich / Sheep
‘fàile an t-saibh’: the smell of the sea, quite distinct on a calm day, at low ebb-tide.
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
“Cha tainig a leithid seo a shìde bho’n a thilg an tràigh na lugachan.”: associated with extreme weather conditions when the shore was churned up and all its contents piled up at the high water mark.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
“keppar”: a “piece” to a boy or girl. (Stoer, Assynt) The “keppar” always consisted of a scone (flour) for preference or an oatcake with fresh butter and at least an inch of crowdie. “Hor ‘keppar’ dhan a bhallach!” – usually if the housewife was baking.
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Biadh is Deoch / Food and Drink
“laigadal”: the red tangle with long red fronds only obtained at spring tides – ( traigh “laingadal” [sic]). Generally used for turnip manure.
Origin: Assynt, Stoer
Category: Àiteach / Agriculture

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