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[bogadh]
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Bogadh feannaig an sud ’sa seo – a quick dipping action, e.g. a bird dipping for worms in soil.
Location: South Uist, Stilligarry
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[deoch]
-
“An deoch nach fhaighear an àm an tomadh, chan fhaighear idir an àm tràghadh.” The early bird catches the worm.
Location: South Uist, Stoneybridge
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[lionarag]
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udagag, an adagag, a ghobhar athar, a lionarag ’s a’ naoisg. (In Uist the various names of the one bird – the lionarag.)
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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[mianan]
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Théid am mianan o dhuine gu duine mar theid an t-eunan bho dhoire gu doire. – The yawn passes from one person to another as a dicky bird flies from one clump of trees to another.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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a keelip
-
young bird.
Location: Inverness
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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a spiorachadh air
-
as a cat coming in on a bird.
Location: Tiree
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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ailean-bodadha
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[ɑlɑṉbɔd̪ˈɑə] Note: a sea-bird which forces seagulls to disgorge its [sic] food, and swallows it itself. Probably the skua.
Location: [Lewis], S. Lochs, Gravir
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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an gearr
-
a speckled grey bird with a red beak seen on croft land. [NOTES: corrected to ‘an geàrr’.]
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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an gob
-
the beak of a bird.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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an t-snàthadag
-
little bird that accompanies cuckoo.
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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ana-ghuireag
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[ɑ̃nɑɣu̟ɾɑɡ] Note: this name is given to the snipe when heard making the bleating sound. The male bird makes the noise (acc. to J. N.).
Origin: Lewis, Uig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bad
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Quotation: Cha b’e do na h-eòin e mun a robh am bad air. Notes: bad: tuft on head of a bird. Say a person was forward in company. It was expected of him to be like that, he came from a forward family.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bana-choileach
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Notes: bird which isn’t either a hen or a cockerel properly.
Location: Ross-shire, Aultbea
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bid
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chirp, imitation of a bird note of music. Bha mi cluinntinn bid, bid, bid aige.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bidiridh
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(the bird) storm petrel.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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biogaireachd
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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
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bog-a-nid
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a tit bird, I think, but I am not able to identify it. [SLIP: A tit – may be some other species of bird – uncertain.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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boga-nid
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already referred to previously, is I think a tit bird not any particular one – I know for certain it’s a bird, a tit bird – very likely any tit bird or any of the tit bird family, a general term. I remember hearing the term used years back. This is my definition – perhaps someone else has some other or can have a further definition.
Location: Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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breac-an-t-sìl
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a little speckled bird with a long tail seen in spring when the ploughing was done.
Location: South Uist, Kildonan
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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broillean
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breast, throat, external part of the throat in a bird (hen) or animal.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bunabhuchaille
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Notes: says it’s a bird called the loon.
Location: Canada, Cape Breton, Boisdale
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bìceòin
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another name for glas-eun (bird). It could have derived from bìc-eòin – my own definition or of the chirping species. Very likely. [SLIP: Another name for ‘glas-eun’ (bird).]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bòthag
-
lark, bird. Bòthag-mhara – sea-lark.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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bùta
-
a young bird.
Location: Ross-shire, Muir-of-Ord
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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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
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cas-an-fhithich
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this is an old term, it’s out of use here now but it may have survived somewhere else. I think it means a mark of a scar on the face or hands, the scriabadh form as if a bird (raven) scratched the face with its claws. A permanent mark. If you haven’t any other definition, I think you are quite safe with this.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Coltas an Duine / Personal Appearance
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cathan
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of the wild duck grass-eating bird species. [SLIP: A grass-eating bird of the wild duck species!]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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chorra-ghlas
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corn-crake or of the corn-crake species. It may not be in the list of bird-names. I take it as we in Scalpay term it: the bird.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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chorra-ghlas
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bird (corn-crake). Co-dhiù tha t-ean fhathasd r’a fhaicinn againne air a bheil a chorra-ghlas; ged nach cluinn mi an t-ainm aig ginealach an la ’n diugh. [SLIP: Corncrake.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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clòimhiteach
-
the virgin growth of feathers on a bird.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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corrachriostag (f)
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Notes: a woman who is always busy, or always alert and on the move. A bird name orig.?
Location: Harris, Ardhasaig
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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corrghul
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the cooing of a bird, or even of a baby. [NOTES: note in the margin – (N. Uist). (black ink)]
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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crom-riabhach
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[ɡɾɤmriɤɤx] Notes: bird, may be a snipe. Has a long beak.
Origin: Elgol
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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ducair
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[ḏu̟kɑɾ] Notes: dooker (sea-bird).
Location: Romasdal
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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ealtainn
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[ɛəɫtẹnʹ] Notes: scissor or a bird flock, also razor.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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ean-athair
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winged bird, able to fly. ’S e ean-athair th’ann – ‘on a wing’.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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ean-turuis
-
migratory bird.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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eisean-an-t-sulaire
-
baby solan goose (bird).
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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eithid
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bird of prey.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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eun
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Quotation: Cha b’e do na h-eòin e mun a robh am bad air. Notes: bad: tuft on head of a bird. Say a person was forward in company. It was expected of him to be like that, he came from a forward family.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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eun-dubh
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sea-bird about the same size as a puffin with black short beak; black of course but for a white feather showing on its wing, its side. [NOTES: the slip is among the “Doubtful” words. Definition: Sea-bird (same size as puffin with black, short beak and white feathers on side).]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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eun-gur
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incubating bird sitting, incubating bird.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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eun-mara
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sea-bird.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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falcag-oidhche
-
night hawk. I don’t think this bird name [is?] among your list.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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falcaire
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a bird dipper; in general terms, his characteristics are he dips his head underwater.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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gealag-linn
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fish or bird? (I am not sure of this one.)
Location: [Harris], Scalpaigh [Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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gearcach
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young bird.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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geibein
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[j̊e:b̥ænʹ] crop of bird.
Location: Tummel and Rannoch
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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giolla phi
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root of bird, foot trefoil.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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glogan an ealachaig
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crop of bird.
Location: Glen Lyon
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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gobhachan
-
minute bird often seen on lochs.
Location: South Uist, Garrynamonie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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gobhlachan
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turnstone (bird).
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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gocaman
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Note: the bird which accompanies the cuckoo.
Location: Lewis, Uig, Crowlista
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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gocaman
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cuckoo follower. There is a bird often in partnership flight with the cuckoo bird to which [we] refer on Scalpay as an gocaman. [SLIP: “Cuckoo follower” – a bird which often flies with the cuckoo so called.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris,Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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gogag
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small bird seen with cuckoo.
Location: Harris, Leverburgh
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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graidleachan
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Tha ainmeannan eòin agaibh a cheana. Tha aon fhacail (ainm) agam ann an daimh ri eoin is e sin. It may have originated from graibheal – gravel. That is a bird confined to the gravel shore, where he disperses gravel with his feet (perhaps I have already noted same).
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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grailleachan
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fine gravel. (I am not sure of these two [i.e. graill and grailleachan]. I take it as a matter of guess – grailleachan could be the name of a bird? I haven’t traced their meaning. Perhaps you have the meanings yourself? It could be a bird associated with a gravel habitat?) [NOTES: the slip is among the “Doubtful” words. Definition: Fine gravel.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris,Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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gràillig
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[ɡɾɑ:lʹiɡʹ] Notes: turnstone (bird).
Origin: North Uist
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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gugas
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[See guga.] Words associated with St Kilda, Suilesgerry. Rock, off the Butt of Lewis, bird sanctuaries etc.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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guilpeanach
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oystercatcher bird.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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gurusglach
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haunched person or bird sitting in a ball shape.
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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guth-an-eòin
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voice of the bird. Biblical term, etc.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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gàmalan
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[ɡɑ̃:mᵊɫɑ̃ṉ] Notes: applied to a very young bird [?].
Location: Ross-shire, Achnahaird
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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gòisneachan
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Notes: part of snare where bird was actually caught.
Location: Lewis, Bernera
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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isean
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[iʃən] Notes: young rabbit or bird.
Location: Ross of Mull
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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isean-an-Fhulmair
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Fulmar petrel (bird).
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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isean-deiridh-linn
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the last bird to be hatched.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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laparsaich
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[ˈɫɑpɑʴsiç] Quot.: “Bho thonn gu tonn a’ laparsaich.” Note: a line from one of Bàrd Phabbaigh’s poems. Referring to a bird flying over the waves, flapping its wings. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
Origin: [Ness]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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lon duabh
-
[sic] black bird.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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luaireag-mhara
-
sea bird, sea teal duck.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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làmhaich
-
Note: a sea-bird of the guillemot family. “Falc” and “eun-dubh” very like it.
Origin: [Caversta]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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lòn-dubh
-
black-bird.
Category: Eòin / Birds
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min-eun
-
small bird.
Origin: [Strathglass]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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mulcaire
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(also) a rude angry (of little consideration towards his fellow men, etc.) person. Perhaps the same ‘symptoms’ could be noticeable towards a bird, for the name to be adopted. [SLIP: A person who is rude and generally inconsiderate towards his fellow human beings.]
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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mulcaire
-
(also) but I am not sure of this one also as the name of a sea-bird but I faintly think there is a sea-bird of this name, it may not be among those already listed bird species. [SLIP: Some sort of seabird.]
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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mulgaire
-
I think there is a bird of this name. It may not appear in the present lists of bird-names. It pushes, and digs, pushes other birds, it may be of the làmhaire or còin-dhubha species. You may come across it somewhere or other places may have the name for a bird or the word. [NOTES: the slip is among the “Doubtful” words. Definition: Some species of bird?]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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plabarsaich
-
bird wing movement.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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pollaran
-
a tiriat? A small, grey bird seen on the shore.
Location: South Uist, Iochdar, Baile Gharbhaidh [Balgarva]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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pùd, pùid
-
bird, birds.
Location: Tummel and Rannoch
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
pùdach
-
Notes: a young bird in a nest.
Location: Ross-shire, Gairloch
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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ribe-eòin
-
bird snare.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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ruideag
-
kittiwake. Sgeir-nan-Ruideag, in the Shiant Isles. And I am not sure if it’s the same bird as the Lesser Herring Gull / Faoileag Bheag a Sgadain.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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ruiteag
-
bird, kittiwake. Sgeir nan ruiteag – in the Shiant Isles.
Location: [Harris], Scalpaigh [Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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seabhag
-
hawk (bird).
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
sgiathag
-
small wing (bird).
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
sgollachan
-
a bird newly hatched. (Jura)
Location: Skye
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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sgorra mhór
-
Notes: bird – ?
Origin: Loch Rannoch
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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sgòlachan
-
[sɡɔ:ɫɑxɑṉ] Notes: young bird still in the nest.
Origin: Islay, Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
sgòlachan
-
[skɔ:ɫɑxɑ̃ṉ] Notes: young bird still in the nest.
Origin: Port Charlotte
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
siachaire-cladaich
-
shore (person) scroucher [sic] [scrounger?], also a bird species associated to the same term.
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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smuigeid-na-cuthaig
-
literally, the spit of the cuckoo bird, seen on the heather.
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
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snàthadag
-
Notes: bird accompanying the cuckoo.
Location: Sutherland, Lochinver, Culkein (Stoer)
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
snàthadag
-
Notes: the bird which accompanies the cuckoo.
Location: Ross-shire, Aultbea
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
snàthadag
-
Notes: the bird in whose nest the cuckoo lays its eggs. (acc. to A.C.)
Origin: Bunloit
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
snàthadag
-
[sṉɑ̃:t̪ɑɡ] Notes: the bird which accompanies the cuckoo.
Origin: Drumguish, by Kingussie
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
spionadh
-
Spionadh na circe – defeathering a bird.
Origin: Lochaber
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
stearnàg
-
(a slang form) tern (bird). Sometimes used to illustrate a chirpish, sharp movement, or ‘ternish’, (if I may use this term, my own invented word of my own inspiration, perhaps in connection with the meaning of such like) female. [NOTES: the slip has ‘stearnag’. Definition: Tern; also used to describe a chirpish, sharp movement.]
Location: Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris,Scalpay]
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
striochdag
-
wee line, a wee streak of coloured feathers, white, showing in a bird’s wing. Bha striochdag gheal air a sgiath aige, neo striachdag gheal de dh’itean air sgiath aige (bird).
Location: Harris, Scalpay
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous
-
trilleachan
-
small bird with shrill voice, found on sand beaches.
Location: South Uist, Bornish
Category: Measgaichte / Miscellaneous