Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

Informant(s)
Name
Calum and Peggy MacDonald
Location
Lewis, Uig, Crowlista
Date
May 1972
Notes
  • [NOTES: in IPA transcriptions, the fieldworker uses [w] for [ɯ].]
suathQuot.: a’ suathadh an eòrna. Note: grain removed from barley by rolling the heat [?] of the sheaf (opened) under foot.
toll-fhasgnaidhNote: low door in the barn, opened to create a draught for winnowing.
moighlean[m[ɔ̃ĩ]lʹɑṉ] Quot.: “moighlean coirc” or “moighlean fodair”. Note: a bundle, as given to a cow.
ciomball[c[ɤ̃ũ̟]mbəɫ] Quot.: “ciomball fraoich”. Note: a bundle, an armful.
teinne[tʹenʹə] Note: one link of chain in “strabhlaidh” [q.v.].
strabhlaidh[st̪ɾɑu̜ɫi] Note: pronunciation for [sɫɑu̟ɾi].
dorusQuot.: an dorus iadht [iɤt̪]. Note: one of two doors in a shieling.
ceapQuot.: “ceap na h-àirigh”. Note: shieling seat. Built of stones with a turf divot on top, then curtain cloth on top and front to hide it.
fianach[fĩɤ̃ṉɑx] Note: a type of moor grass.
fideanQuot.: na fidean. Note: tidal flats, with a short grass growing on them. Sheep often caught by tide when grazing on them.
stiall[ʃtʹıɤɫ] Note: the wooden post in the byre to which the cow was tied.
smidheag[ˈsmĩɑɡ] Note: the piece of rope round the cow’s neck in the byre. (“Dòrnan” [q.v.] – the part attached to the “stiall” [q.v.].)
dòrnanNote: the piece of rope round the “stiall” [q.v.] in the byre, for tying cattle. (“Smidheag” [q.v.] – the part round the beast’s neck.)
bual[bu̜ɤɫ] Quot.: “bual na bà”. Note: where the cow was tied in the byre. Its stance, before stalls were built.
corrathann[kɔrɑhən̪] Note: a wooden home-made swivel put on an animal’s tether rope.
caigeannNote: two animals on the one tether.
ciora[ciɾə] Note: motherless lamb brought up with a bottle. Also [ciɾə] [ciɾə] – call to a sheep.
piatan[pıɑt̪ɑṉ] Note: a young calf reared on the bottle or given milk in some way other than by suckling.
cotan[kɔt̪ɑṉ] Quot.: cotan a’ laoigh. Note: a small enclosure at the shieling for a young calf born there.
cas-ladhrachNote: usually in the plural “casan-ladhrach”. On the hooves of calves when born.
tiarainneach[tʹiɑɾĩnʹɑx] Note: sheep 1-2 years old.
uan-reith[ũ̜ɑ̃rɛ] Note: a tup lamb.
croga[kɾɔɡə] Note: old sheep, past bearing stage.
liabhach[lʹıɑvɑx] Quot.: “caora liabhach” [kw:ɾəliɑvɑx]. Note: a sheep whose horns sweep out away from the head.
niùlach[nʹũ̜:ɫɑx] Quot.: “caora niùlach”. Note: a sheep with very short stumps of horns.
spreodach[spɾɔd̪ɑx] Quot.: “caora spreodach”. Note: a sheep with short straight horns (but not as short as these of a “caora niùlach” [q.v.]).
drola (sic)[d̪ɾɔlə] Quot.: Na chuir thu drola dha na h-osanan? Note: the loop under two of the middle toes to keep the “osanan” down on the feet.
bachailiu[bɑxəlu̟] Note: a small size of creel for a teenager using one for the first time. (No idea where word came from.)
spriot[spɾit̪] Note: “na spriotan” are the ends of the wands round the mouth of the creel.
cabar[kɑbəɾ] Quot.: “cabair a’ chléibh”. Note: the main (vertical) wands in a creel.
ceap[cɛp] Quot.: “ceap chliabh”. Note: wooden frame with holes in it for creel-making.
cuire[ku̟ɾə] Note: the “weft” of thin willow wands in creel-making.
dubhcheannachQuot.: “caora dhubhcheannach”. Note: “blackface sheep”.
cìleach[cı:lɑx] Quot.: “caora chìleach” or “bó chìleach”. Note: greyish effect due to a mixture of black and white hairs.
calg[kɑɫɑɡ] Quot.: “calg mairt”. Note: hair on cattle.
ar-chloimhNote: layer of new wool in sheep.
ruige[riɡʹə] Note: male sheep with only one testicle.
cuthaigeadh[ku̟hıɡʹəɣ] Note: the mixing of different coloured wools together after carding.
peàrd[pjɑ:ʴḏ] Note: strip of carded wool. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
stòl-coisNote: spinning-wheel treadle.
maide-siubhailNote: the arm between the treadle of the spinning-wheel and the hook on the wheel axle.
eachQuot.: “na h-eich”. Note: the two uprights on a spinning-wheel on which the wheel axle rests.
tèic[ṯɛ:c] Note: the spinning-wheel flyer.
cluasagQuot.: “na cluasagan”. Note: where the two ends of the flyer axle in a spinning-wheel rest.
piurna[pȷu̜ʴṉə] Note: the pirn in a spinning-wheel. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
roileagan[rɔləɡɑṉ] Note: the small wheel on which runs the “bann beag” [q.v.].
bannQuot.: (1) am bann mór. (2) am bann beag. Note: (1) big band on a spinning-wheel. (2) small band on a spinning-wheel.
casQuot.: casan-gòrach. Note: stilts.
luadh-chasNote: waulking with the feet.
lampQuot.: “lamp a’ cheàrd”. Note:
lugaNote: lugworm. Used for bait on small-lines.
siolNote: sand-eel.
iongna[ĩ:ṉə] Note: a crab or lobster’s claw.
snòt[sn̪ɔ̃:t̪] Note: the piece of line attaching the hook to the “druim” of the small-line or great-line.
troilleNote: torsk.
tàbh[t̪ɑ:v] Note: a hand-net.
sollNote: bait thrown out to attract cuddies when rock fishing. Boiled potatoes, mashed, often used.
botag[ˈbɔṯɑɡ] Note: landing hook. (Boat-hook?)
bradanNote: halibut.
leóbagNote: used generally for plaice, lemons, etc.
sòrnanNote: small skate.
sporanNote: mermaid’s purse.
buirtiachd[bu̜ʴˈṯiɑk] Note: jellyfish. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
ciochQuot.: cioch-na-gruagaich. Note: sea anemone.
stamhQuot.: “stamh dubh nan each”. Note: black and not as thick as ordinary tangle. Edible.
earball-sàile[wɾwbəɫsɑ:lə] Note: the part of the “muircean” nearest the rock. End part. Not so good for eating.
brùchdNote: seaweed driven ashore.
tiùrrQuot.: “Tha tiùrrachan brùchd [q.v.] air a’ chladach.”
feamainnQuot.: feamainn-bhulgach [vu̜ɫu̜ɡɑx]. Note: seaweed with bubbles on it.
feamainnQuot.: “feamainn chìreanach”.
feamainnQuot.: “feamainn charraichgeach”. Note: seaweed used as manure.
gàilleachQuot.: a’ ghàilleach. Note: gills of a fish.
triubhais[t̪ɾuiʃ] Note: cod roe.
breacNote: a salmon.
balg-snàimh[bɑɫɑɡsn̪ɑ̃:v] Note: air-sac inside a fish.
meilg[meleɡʹ] Note: milt.
niuchar[nʹu̜xəð] Note: herring roe.
goile[ɡɤlə] Note: fish’s stomach, entrails.
sgiathQuot.: sgiath éisg. Note: fish’s fin.
ceann-cropaicNote: mixture of fish’s liver, oatmeal, onions and seasoning boiled in the fish’s head.
smeachan[smɛ̃xɑṉ] Note: foot rest of the peat-cutting iron.
carcaire[kɑɾkəðə] Note: the width of peatbank turfed for cutting.
barr-fhad[bɑrɑd̪] Note: the top peat.
corr-fhad[kɔrɑd̪] Note: the outside, weathered, peat in a bank.
rùbhadh[ru̜:əɣ] Note: first lifting of peats. [NOTES: corrected to ‘rùghan’ on the slip.]
rùbhan[ru̜:ɑṉ] Note: 4-5 peats lifted into the one small structure.
ath-rubhadhNote: shifting the peats after the first lifting for further drying.
maodalQuot.: a’ mhaodal mhór; a’ mhaodal bheag. Note: stomachs in a sheep.
ceap[cɛp] Quot.: an ceap. Note: small round piece of a sheep’s stomach.
brailein (sic)[bɾɑlɛ̃ṉ] Note: sheep’s stomach with flaps in it.
glasQuot.: an glas mhór. Note: part of a sheep’s stomach. Thin at one end, getting wider towards the other end.
snàithle[sn̪ɑ̃:lə] Note: the anal passage in a sheep.
dubh-liathNote: spleen or pancreas. (?)
smiorQuot.: smior-cailleach. Note: used in connection with the backbone.
splang[spɫɑ̃ŋɡ] Note: flank.
loch-bhlianNote: flank.
lòineachanQuot.: “na lòineachan”. Note: the suet round the kidneys in a sheep.
dubhagNote: kidney.
adhaNote: liver.
dumalasNote: gall-bladder.
sgarrachNote: the inner skin covering the entrails of a beast, according to C. The peritoneum.
feannadh-builg[fȷɑ̃n̪əɣbu̟liɡʹ] Note: method of skinning a rabbit by cutting the skin on the leg and blowing through the hole. The skin separates from the flesh.
fidig[fidʹiɡʹ] Quot.: “Gheibh thu ma na fidigean e.” Note: the backs of the thighs.
buidheachQuot.: a’ bhuidheach. Note: jaundice.
piocas[pıkəs] Quot.: am piocas. Note: chickenpox.
grùlachQuot.: a’ ghrùlach.
teasach-dheargNote: scarlet fever.
triuthachNote: whooping cough.
glacaich-bhràghadQuot.: “an glacaich-bhràghad”.
glacaichQuot.: “na glacaichean-cléibh”. Note: something out of position round about the collarbone. Put right by placing one hand under the person’s chin, the other behind his head, just above the neck and thus lifting him off his feet.
uga[u̟ɡə] Note: collarbone.
teine-déNote: shingles.
broth[bɾɔ] Note: rash.
losgadh-bràghadNote: heartburn.
sàileagan[sɑ:ləɡɑṉ] Note: waterbrash.
mialan-crion[mȷɑɫəṉkɾĩɤ̃ṉ] Note: chilblains.
cadal-deilgneachNote: pins and needles.
trom-laighe[t̪ɾɤ̃mɫɑiə] Note: nightmare.
ball-dóbhrainn[bɑɫd̪o:ɾĩnʹ] Note: mole (on the skin).
leamhnagan[lʹɛu̟ṉəɡɑṉ] Note: sty.
fuinne[fũ̟nʹə] Note: wart.
fàireag[fɑ:ðɑɡ] Note: gland under the armpit (usually referred to when swollen).
bonnan-cnàmhQuot.: “Bha e na shuidhe air a bhonnan-cnàmh.” Note: sitting on one’s heels (in a crouching position).
niosgaid[nʹw̃sɡɑdʹ] Note: a boil.
felemean[fɛlɛmɑṉ] Note: kneecap.
sùilQuot.: “sùil na leis”. Note: hip joint.
uilinnQuot.: “Chaidh e as uilinn.” Note: elbow out of joint.
gualainnQuot.: Chaidh e as a ghualainn. Note: dislocated shoulder.
mobhsgaideach[mɤu̟sɡɑdʹɑx] Quot.: duine mobhsgaideach. Note: a person who doesn’t take his responsibilities seriously. Tends to try and evade them.
màirnealach[mɑ̃ʴnʹɑɫɑx] Quot.: duine màirnealach. Note: as above for “mobhsgaideach”. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
copanQuot.: “An gabh thu tea?” “Gabhaidh mi copan falamh.” Note: commonly for a cup of tea with nothing to eat with it.
strùpan[st̪ɾu̟:pɑ̃ṉ] Note: cockle.
dallag[d̪ɑɫɑɡ] Note: type of dogfish smaller than the “biorach”.
gocamanNote: the bird which accompanies the cuckoo.
starragNote: hoodie crow.
ùs[ũ̟:s] Note: cow’s first milk after calving.

© DASG
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