frachd | [fɾɑk] Note: says this was grain given in part payment for rent long ago. |
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. |
fuigheag | Quot.: “a’ leigeil fuigheag is caoibean le rud”. Note: letting something go completely, abandoning a thing altogether. (Put also under caoibean or cuibean [kɤıbɑṉ].) |
raingis | [rɑ̃ĩɡʹiʃ] Note: a fish, resembling an oopah [opah?], caught inshore. P. Chisholm, Gravir, says it has a red spot on its shoulder. In Barvas – “Cho ruighinn ri craicionn raingis.” |
bla-laoghan | [bɫɑɫɤɣ:ɑṉ] Note: a small fish, rainbow coloured, about 6"-9" long, found inshore. Reddish overall with black stripes near tail. Term also applied to a person without refinement, a boor. |
gille-gorm | Note: scabious, with a blue flower on it. |
claimheag | Note: small, eel-like fish found in the “traigh”. |
làmhaich | Note: a sea-bird of the guillemot family. “Falc” and “eun-dubh” very like it. |
grùdair | Quot.: “Cha do rinn an grùdair a’ leann sin.” Note: “I won’t be bought.” Used by someone when he sees someone trying to get one over him or fool him in some way. As if to say “Cha teid mo thoirt a thaobh.” |
stealladair | Note: applied locally to the cow parsnip as children used to make toy pumps from the stem. |
fuilmean | [fu̟ləmɑṉ] Quot.: “Is lugha na fuilmean, màthair a bhuairidh.” Note: fuilmean – a small blood spot under the skin. |
taod | Note: length of rope for a “eallach” of hay or corn. |
cuid | Quot.: “Cuid an t-searraich dhan an treothadh”. Note: The easiest part of a job. The foal followed its mother. (Put also under searrach and treothadh.) |
feusag-nan-gobhar | Note: wiry greenish-grey growth, very often found on stones in a dyke. A bit like “feamainn chìrean”. |
reithe | Note: used for a fully grown ram. “Rùda” not used. |
suaineadair | Note: a creeping plant growing among potatoes. Travels and puts its roots down here and there. |
staon | [st̪w̃:ṉ] Note: a plant rather like “lus na corracha-mhidheag” [q.v.] found in dry areas. Has a wooden root. |
corra-mhidheag | Note: blaeberry. |
geàlaban | [ɡʹɑ:ləbɑṉ] Note: minnow. (Barvas – [ɡʹɔ:ləbɑṉ].) |
conachdag | Note: dogwhelk. |
dealbhrach | Note: smooth, oval-shaped seashell. Very fragile. |
cragan-starraig | Note: sea-urchin. |
cluasag | Quot.: “slig’ a’ chluasaig”. Note: very like the clam in shape but much smaller. One side flat, the other oval. Curved part serrated like a cockle-shell. |
faochag | Quot.: faochag bhan, faochag dhubh. |
maois | [mw:ʃ] Quot.: “maois feamainn”. Note: a quantity of seaweed with ropes round it and under it towed behind a boat. (Cf. ràth.) |
ràth | Quot.: ràth feamainn. Note: a quantity of seaweed with a rope round the sides but not under it, towed behind a boat. (Cf. maois.) |
labanaich | Quot.: “Fhuair thu do labanachadh.” Note: said to a person coming in wet and dirty. |
sgaoth | [sɡw:] Quot.: “sgaoth dha na druidean dubha”. |
druid | Note: used for blackbird. |
druid-dhubh | Note: used for starling. |
glaisean | Note: meadow pipit. |
seasgach | Quot.: an dòrn, an t-seasgach, a’ liadh. Note: three parts of the oar. “Seasgach” – the mid-part. Same length in the three parts. |
gliuthach | [ˈɡlu̟ɑx] Note: young seagull. |
feòlagan | [fȷɔ:ɫəɡɑṉ] Note: shrew. |
domail | [d̪omɑl] Quot.: “Cha deach mìr an domail [ən̪omɑl] dheth.” Note: Cha deach càil a dhìth dheth. |
ràth | Quot.: Bha ràth de chloimh air a’ fhraoich. Note: wool spread out. |
fabhtas | [fɑu̟t̪əs] Quot.: “Tha fabhtas as an fhiodh sin.” Note: fault, debility. |
seacaid | [ʃɛkɑdʹ] Quot.: “Rinn mi mo sheacaid air an fheòil.” Note: used by someone who has eaten a lot of a particular food. Filled himself up with it. |
deireadh | Quot.: Deireadh long a bathadh, deireadh àth a losgadh. |
sabhaidh | Quot.: “Tha sin sabhaidh.” Note: word used today for “exceedingly good”. |
sabhtag | [sɑu̟t̪ɑɡ] Quot.: “Thug mi sabhtag dha.” Note: a cutting remark intended to take one down a peg or two. |
bideag | [biḏɑɡ] Quot.: “Bha bideag mhath air.” Note: he had a good drink in him. |
diorra-mheig | [dʹwrəvɛ̃ɡʹ] Quot.: “Cha chuala mi diorra-mheig as a cheann.” Note: “I didn’t hear a cheep from him.” |
baganaich | Quot.: “Bhaganaich e e fhéin, agus dh’fhalbh e amach.” Note: He covered himself well with clothes, and went out. |
sìliche | [ʃı:lıçə] Quot.: “’S e sìliche grannda a th’ann dheth.” Note: a bad stick. |
buannaich | Quot.: “Bha mi gu math sgìth mas d’fhuair mi air buannachd.” |
cìosanaich | [cı:sɑṉiç] Quot.: “Bha an gamhainn uamhasach duilich a chìosanachadh.” Note: “The heifer was terribly difficult to bring under control, to tame.” |
bachailiuth | [bɑxəlu̟] Note: a young person’s creel. |
peileastaireachd | [peləst̪əðɑk] Quot.: “Bhiodh na balaich a’ peileastaireachd timchioll air Oidhche Shamhna.” Note: up to mischief. |
meadhon-latha | Quot.: “Tha mi a’ dol a null a Steòrnabhagh as a mheadhon-latha.” Note: about midday. |
sgeir | [sɡʹeɾ] Quot.: “Chaneil sgeir air na cnàmhan aige.” Note: said of a very skinny person. |
cruthaidheachd | Quot.: “A chruthaidheachd bheannaicht!” Note: a common exclamation. |
fiach | Quot.: “Bha i aig na b’fhiach i a’ cumail a’ char air a’ rathad”. Note: it took her all her time to keep the car on the road. |
treothair | Quot.: a piece of wood used as a standard measure for mesh. |
fuar | Quot.: “Cho fuar ri biadh gobha.” |
leóbag-cham | Note: a flatfish (DJMK says it is a witch) which has its mouth and eyes the opposite way to the normal. Yellowish-brown colour. |
sgiullagas | [sɡʹu̜ɫəɡəs] Note: a fish of the “leóbag” variety. Long with irregular dark blotches. |
leóbag-bhrathann | [lʹo:bɑɡˈvɾɑən̪] Note: turbot. |
turbaid | [t̪u̟ɾu̟bɑdʹ] Note: halibut. |
pribid | [pðibidʹ] Quot.: “Phàigh thu pribid air.” “Tha mi a’ creidsinn gu robh sin pribid.” Note: high price. |
miaraide | [mĩɑ̃ridʹə] Quot.: “Ith do bhiadh, a’ mhiaraide bhochd.” Note: someone who lacks appetite, picks at his food. Poor specimen. |
deòidige | [dʹɔ:dʹiɡʹə] Quot.: Chaneil ann dheth ach deòidige beag. Note: small specimen (man or beast). |
cloighd | [kɫɤidʹ] Quot.: Bha cloighd feòil aige na laimh. Note: a good portion. Word usually applied to meat. |
priach | Note: a dangerous spot where beasts are lost. |
saibhle | [sɤılə] Quot.: “Saibhl’ ort!” Note: “A plague on you!” also “Sguir dhan a’ sin mas cuir mi saibhl’ ort!” (“Saibhle” used on West Side for keel on sheep.) |
cannspogan | [kɑ̃ũ̟spɔɡəṉ] Quot.: “Tha e a’ falbh air a’ channspogan.” Note: on all fours. |
lugaisd | [ɫu̜ɡɑʃdʹ] Quot.: “lugaisd de theatha”. Note: used of tea or any liquid which is not very palatable. |
spiullag | [spȷu̜ɫɑɡ] Quot.: spiullag tombaca. Note: sliver. Used here for tobacco. |
drulainn | [d̪ɾu̜ɫĩnʹ] Quot.: “Chaidh e drulainn orm.” Note: It went awry on me. |
friulasg | [fðu̜ɫəsɡ] Quot.: “Dh’éirich friulasg dha.” Note: accident, mishap. |
ùirisg | [u̟:ðiʃɡʹ] Note: a supernatural beast which could assume any shape. |
bean-nighe | Note: comhtharradh bàis. If she was seen washing at a loch. |
gruagach | Note: supernatural being – could assume any form. Loch a’ Ghruagaich in the locality. |
bodaraisean | [bɔd̪əɾɑʃɑṉ] Note: a supernatural beast of some kind seen on lochs. Perhaps something akin to an “each-uisge”. |
saighead-sìth | [sɤıdʹʃı:] Note: flint arrowheads found in locality formerly known as “saigheadan-sìth”. |
fàir | [fɑ:ɾ] Quot.: “Fàir a nall an t-slige-chreachain sin.” Note: bring over that clam-shell. |
cuir | Quot.: “bó a’ cur foidhpe”. Note: udder filling with milk just before the birth of a calf. |
cruimseach | [kɾw̃miʃɑx] Quot.: “cruimseach mór de bhoirionnach”. Note: large, stout woman. Word can also be used of a beast. |
croighneach | [kɾɤıṉɑx] Note: cow for slaughter. Might go to the Féill to buy one for this purpose. |
eubhais | [e:fɑʃ] Note: an uncommonly good thing. |
cliath | Quot.: cliath-chudaig. Note: shoal. |
buicealair | [buicəlɑð] Note: local word for butter. |
tairbheart | Quot.: Bha e air a thairbheart [hɤðɤfəʴḏ]. Note: wearied, harassed (not sure of spelling). [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.] |
brailis | [bɾɑliʃ] Quot.: “’S olc a’ bhrailis nach bi a cheud steall gu math dhith.” |
trìsligeadh | [t̪ɾi:ʃlʹiɡʹəɣ] Quot.: “Abair gun rinn mi trìsligeadh air a shon mas d’fhuair mi e.” Note: rummaging. |
faobhag | [fɤ:vɑɡ] Note: a type of squid. Edible. Different from “giobnach” [q.v.] (or giobarnach). DJ has caught on [sic] [one?] up to 20lbs weight. Flaps on head which open and shut. |
giobnach | [ɡʹıbṉɔx] Note: a type of squid. Different from “faobhag” (q.v.). |
inigil | Quot.: Tha sin [fɛ:ɾ] inigil. Note: exact. |
blas | Quot.: Ghabh mi blas a’ chnagain dheth. Note: It scunnered me. |
sgeòtallach | Note: giddy, flighty. |
sùil-òir | [su̟:lɔ:ð] Note: cuddy-sized fish found near the shore. Golden-pink colouring. D.J. says they look like Norwegian pout from the Book on Fishes. |
grunn | Quot.: grunn tràigh. Note: low tide. |
mart-fheoil | Quot.: “Langa – mart-fheoil a’ chuain.” |
teaghm | [tʹɤ:m] Quot.: duine teaghm. Note: cunning, shrewd person. |
crabhladh | [kɾɤ:ɫəɣ] Quot.: Bhiodh iad a’ crabhladh rudan an sud ’s an seo. Note: gleaning, gathering when there is little to gather. |
lathaist | [ɫɑiʃtʹ] Note: lathe in plaster. (Strips of wood laid across walls to hold plaster.) |
grabhag | Quot.: grabhag mhónach. Note: a small, shallow peat-bank. |
lusgainn | [ɫu̜sɡĩnʹ] Quot.: “Cho geur ris a’ lusgainn.” Note: could be said of a knife. Doesn’t know what “lusgainn” is or was. |
ciora | [ciɾə] Note: a pet sheep or lamb. |
maide | Quot.: “Cha chuireadh e maide na phàirt.” Note: same as “Cha shealladh e ann an uisge na stiùir aige.” (Put also under cuir and pàirt.) |
raodan | [rɤ:d̪ɑṉ] Note: the worm which eats holes in wood floating on the sea. |
siabhan | [ʃiɑvɑṉ] Quot.: caora air siabhan. Note: a sheep which has strayed from one’s pasture. |
culaidh-sheachant | [ku̜ɫihɛxən̪t̪] Note: a person not to be taken too seriously. Rather than go against what he says, one should let him be. (This is DJMK’s interpretation of it.) |
smàig | Quot.: a’ cumail duine fo smàig. Note: keeping a person under one’s control. |
còir | Quot.: “Cho còir ris an fhaoileig.” (Put also under faoileag). |
tog | Quot.: “Bhiodh iad a’ togail rudan air.” Note: e.g. when someone relates an outrageous story, attributing it to someone already notorious for telling them. Making things up and passing them on as being from someone else. Could also be a story about a person’s actions which would be in keeping with what he might do, but often exaggerated. |
leig | Quot.: a’ leigeil air niosgaid le snàthad. Note: lancing a boil with a needle. |
toinndean | Quot.: “toinndean cloimh”. Note: a tuft of wool. (Old man said of a sheep he had been looking for but couldn’t find: “Chan fhaca mi toinndean a bha ’na druim.”) |
turraban | Quot.: “a’ chailleach a’ turraban”. Note: habit of old women of swaying from side to side when sitting. |
gurraban | Quot.: “Tha e na ghurraban as a’ chòrnair.” Note: in a crouched position. |
tuilear | [ṯu̟lɔɾ] Quot.: duine tuilear. Note: overweight man. |
dreamaisg | [d̪ɾɛ̃miʃɡʹ] Note: duine greannach. |
dreugant | [d̪ɾe:ɡɑn̪t̪] Note: determined, resilient, tenacious. |
cèimhearan | [cɛ̃:vəɾɑṉ] Quot.: Tha cèimhearan gaoith ann. Note: a gentle breeze. |
fathamhan | [ˈfɑəvɑṉ] Quot.: fathamhan gaoith. Note: a gentle breeze. |
deòdhag | [dʹɔ:ɑɡ] Quot.: deòdhag bheag gaoith. Note: a very slight movement of air. |
soirbheas | Quot.: “Tha leannan soirbheis ann.” Note: chanadh iad seo nuair a bhiodh soirbheas chothromach ann. |
sgiathachadh | Quot.: “Tha sgiathachadh turaidh ann.” Note: rain progressively lessening to no rain at all. |
piulbhan | [pȷu̜ɫu̜vɑṉ] Quot.: “piulbhan de theine”, “piulbhan de cheò”. Note: a sudden spurt. |
biorgadaich | [bwɾwɡəd̪iç] Quot.: teine a’ biorgadaich. Note: flickering. |