An Eaglais / Ecclesiastical Terms

Informant(s)
Name
S.J. MacKinnon
Origin
([Canada], Inverness Co.) – Roman Catholic
Name
James MacKay
Origin
(Lochaber – [Canada], Inverness Co.) – Roman Catholic
Name
ADE MacKinnon
Origin
(Skye – [Canada], Inverness and Victoria? Co.’s) – Protestant
Location
Canada
Date
[1969]
Notes
  • [NOTES: second hand, which in most cases appears to be the same as the first hand.]
1. Various denominations
eaglais phrosta(nach)Protestant churches in general. [NOTES: originally ‘prostanach’. Corrected by second hand.]
eaglais chlèirePresbyterian Church. (Lochaber)
eaglais na chlèirePresbyterian Church. (Skye)
eaglais bhaisteachBaptist Church.
eaglais iontasUnited Church.
eaglais unaideUnited Church. [NOTES: ‘unaide’ added in second hand.]
eaglais choimhthionalCongregational Ch[urch].
eaglais “method”-achMethodist Ch[urch].
[eaglais] “dòigheil”Methodist Ch[urch] (“dòigheil” – probably a nonce-formation).
eaglais chatlaichCatholic Ch[urch].
eaglais phàpanachCatholic Ch[urch].
2. Member of each of these denominations
prostanachany Protestant.
pàpanachCatholic (occasionally catlaich).
catlaich[See pàpanach].
baisteachBaptist.
3. Different courts of the Presbyterian churches
cuirt na h-eaglaischurch court (prob. kirk session).
[deacon’s court](No deacon’s courts existed in N[ova] S[cotia].)
clèirpresbytery.
co-chruinneachadhassembly.
4. Members of the clergy and office-bearers with the Presbyterian churches
ministeirminister.
teachdairemissionary.
aoidearelder. [NOTES: ‘aoidear’ added by second hand.]
ceisdearcatechist (lay preacher).
5. Members of the clergy and office-bearers in the Roman Catholic church
esbuigbishop.
sacartpriest (in address always “Maighstir Dain” etc. or “Athair”).
gille-seirbhiseachaltar-boy.
ban-crachnun. [NOTES: a note added in second hand – (ban-chràic’) [from?] cràbhach.]
prìomh-dhiadhaircardinal.
6. Holy Orders within the Roman Catholic church
7. Articles of dress or adornment
còta aifhrionnalb.
lèine aifhrionnalb.
culaidh aifhrionnchasuble.
stalstole.
gòn dubhcassock (sometimes casag).
gùn dubhcassock (sometimes casag).
casagcassock.
8. Church building and churchyard
eaglaisbuilding of church [sic].
sèomar eaglais[sic] vestry. (RC)
sèomar na chlèire[sic] vestry. (Protestant)
[church building](Old churches never had back rooms; generally there was just a small entry-way and then the church proper; in Protestant Churches there was no centre aisle.)
cladhchurch-yard or burying-ground.
baile-phairistechurch farm. (Old R.C. Churches nearly always include some farm land, much of which is still in use.)
9. Church furniture and ornaments
cubaidpulpit.
cliabh “altar”altar-rail.
tobar baistebaptismal font. (RC)
mias baistichbaptismal bowl. (Presbyterian)
leun ( lian) “altar”[pron.] altar-cloths.
tubailtcover.
slighe na croiseStations of the Cross.
searrag bheagcruet.
iomhaidhstatues [sic].
bocsa tabhartascollection “box”.
suidheachanpews [sic].
cupangoblet (at least for Protestant communion).
uisge coisrigeholy water.
griogachanrosary.
ceusachcrucifix.
10. Different services during the week, feast days, sacraments, Sunday school etc.
ceisdeachcatechism class. (RC)
sgoil ShabaidSunday School. (Protestant)
coinneamh tighehouse-service. [NOTES: ‘coinneamh’ added in second hand.]
ullachadhpreparatory service (Prot) – Thurs-Sat.
comanachadhcommunion or communion service.
taingeaileachdthanksgiving service (Monday).
urnaighprayer.
trusach(togail an airgiod – sic!) collection. (RC)
togail an tabhartascollection. (Prot)
searmonsermon.
co-dhùnadhclosing. (Prot)
beannachadhbenediction. (RC)
sgriobtairscripture (reading).
salmpsalm.
11. God, the Lord, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, the Blessed Virgin, the angels, the apostles, Heaven, the Gospel, prayers etc.
diaGod.
a dhiaGod! (RC) as in Dhia nan gràs!
a dhéGod! (Prot)
tighearnaLord.
cruidhear (?)creator.
uile-cumachdachomnipotent.
slanaighearsavior.
CriosdChrist.
(Iosa Criosd) (Jesus Christ)
spiriod naomhHoly Spirit.
abstalapostle.
aingleanangels.
neamhHeaven.
(an) soisgeilthe Gospel.
Moire OighVirgin Mary.
12. Satan, Hell, Purgatory, Limbo, different kinds of sin etc.
sadanSatan.
diabholdevil (seldom used).
donasdevil (more popular).
ifrinnHell (RC – both ecclesiastical and swear-word, as ‘Bheir ifrinn ort!’ (go to hell) but generally ecclesiastical for Protestants).
iutharnhell (Protestant swear-word).
peacadhsin.

© DASG
^ Return To Top ^