Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

Informant(s)
Name
Kenneth Nicolson
Origin
Crowlista
Location
[Lewis], Uig, Crowlista
Date
May 1972
Notes
  • [NOTES: in IPA transcriptions, the fieldworker uses [w] for [ɯ].]
iarunn-cómhtallach[ıɤrən̪kõ:hɑɫɑx] Note: landing hook for fish.
geadagNote: grilse (young salmon on its first trip back from the sea).
bànagNote: sea trout.
poighleag[p[ɤı]lɑɡ] Note: porpoise.
tonnag-langainnNote: young ling.
sgleòtag[sɡlɔ:t̪ɑɡ] Note: a young lythe.
cudaigNote: cuddy, young saithe.
smallagNote: year-old saithe.
soitheanNote: saithe in its second year.
ucasNote: fully-grown saithe.
cnódanNote: gurnard.
cragan-tràghadNote: sea-urchin.
crosgagNote: starfish.
buirtiachdNote: jellyfish [bu̜ʴˈṯıɑk] [?]. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
muirsig[mũ̜ʴsiɡʹ] Note: razor-fish. Plural [mu̜ʴsıɡʹəṉ]. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
sporan-fithichNote: “mermaid’s pouch”.
sporanQuot.: sporan na crùbaig. Note: crab’s “apron” (flaps on its belly).
cruaidhNote: stone weighting down one end of the “lion-bheag” or great-line.
put[pu̟t̪] Note: the buoy marking the end of the small-line or great-line.
ceann-bhall[cɑ̃n̪vɑu̜ɫ] Note: the rope between the “cruaidh” [q.v.] and the “puta” [q.v.] on a great-line or small-line.
tulch[t̪u̜ɫu̜x] Note: a clump on the seaweed “mircean” just where the leaf begins.
both[bɔ] Note: a beehive dwelling found on the moor.
bonnach-bois[bɔ̃n̪ɑxbɔʃ] Note: an oatmeal cake made with the hands (not using a “clàr-fuinne”) about 1" thick and stood beside the fire to bake.
ceapaire-tàilleach[cɛpəðət̪ɑ:lʹɑx] Note: sandwich made of two slices of cheese with butter between them.
bonnach-iomanachNote: given to the person who first saw a cow with the “mulad” before the birth of a calf.
smiùradh[smȷũ̟:ɾəɣ] Quot.: “a’ smiùradh nan caorach”. Note: smearing sheep with archangel tar, before dipping was introduced.
stòlQuot.: stòl-smiùraidh [st̪ɔɫsmȷũ̟:ɾi]. Note: trestle on which sheep was laid when being smeared with tar.
treadh-dhàir[t̪ɾɤɣɑ:ð] Note: (spelling?) this was when a cow was taken to the bull a week after having been already. Some people didn’t believe in doing this but others maintained that if this was done, there would be no need of the bull’s service again.
dòrn-bhuar[d̪ɔ:ʴṉvu̟ɤɾ] Quot.: “a’ toirt a mach an dòrn-bhuar”. Note: a competition or test of strength tried when a cow had been killed. This consisted of trying to take the hoof off by twisting it until the first joint gave way and then the skin. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
sgonnan[sɡon̪ɑṉ] Note: the wooden handle on the top stone of a quern for putting it round.
sùilNote: the “eye” of the quern – the hole in the centre.
mialaire[mĩɔ̃ɫəðə] Note: the pivot on which the top stone rests in a quern.
òrd-breacaidhNote: hammer used to roughen the faces of the two quern-stones.
eibhleagNote: ember. Pronounced: [ȷɤu̟lɑɡ].
sgairt[sɡɑʴsṯ] Note: peritoneum. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
streabhainn[st̪ɾɛvĩnʹ] Note: membrane of any kind – e.g. the lining inside an eggshell.
claimhean[kɫ[ɑ̃ĩ]vɑṉ] Note: bolt on a door.
sgairtQuot.: “sgairt gaoith”. Note: a strong cold wind.
sgairteilQuot.: duine sgairteil. Note: eloquent.
priosgadh[pðısɡəɣ] Note: a sudden start, fright.
priosg[pðısɡ] Quot.: “Phriosg e.” Note: He gave a sudden start.
cuglaidh[ku̜ɡəɫi] Note: unstable.
claimhearachd[kɫ[ɑ̃ĩ]vɑðɑxk] Quot.: “Tha an crodh a’ claimhearachd.” Note: sparring with their horns but not actually fighting.
claimhreachd[kɫ[ɑ̃ĩ]ɾɑxk] Same as claimhearachd [q.v.].
rabhlagach[rɑu̜ɫɑɡɑx] Note: ragged, untidy.
taod[t̪w:d̪] Quot.: “a’ deanamh taod a ròineag.” Note: grossly exaggerating; making a mountain out of a molehill.
ròineagas above [i.e. taod].
peithir[pɛhəð] Note: thunderbolt.
seana-chumail[ʃw̃ṉəxw̃mɑl] Note: a child who speaks older than his years.
cumailtiche[kũ̟mɑlʹtʹiçə] Note: an old person who is active and young-looking for his years.
annsporag[ɑ̃ũ̟spɔɾɑɡ] Note: the part (including the “sgòrnan”) that came out attached to a cow’s tongue when removed from a carcase. Mostly made up of fat.
ubh-mille-fithich[u̟mĩlʹəfiiç] Note: a very small egg laid by a hen – usually when coming to the end of her laying life.
maothallan[mw̃:həɫɑṉ] Note: cartilage in a joint.
màmNote: (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.
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.
atQuot.: “at caoich”. Note: a septic swelling that appears and comes to a head very quickly. (Put also under caoch.)
màthair-ghuireNote: core of a boil or carbuncle.
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.
seipean[ʃepɑṉ] Note: a quart.
ailbhe[ɛlɛvə] Quot.: “Fhuair thu ’n [ɛlɛvə].” Note: a thing so small one can hardly see it. Above said if a person was given a very small amount of something.
eòlan[ȷɔ:ɫɑṉ] Note: lubricating oil put on wool.
ùradh[u̟:ɾəɣ] Quot.: “a’ toirt na stocainnean as an ùradh”. Note: washing them to take the oil out.
fuidheagNote: 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.
cothromQuot.: “na cothroman”. Note: weights behind the loom to keep a tension on the warp.
lunnt[ɫ[ɤ̃ũ̜]n̪t̪] Quot.: “lunnt a’ ghuirmein”. Note: dye solution.
linneQuot.: “linne a’ ghuirmein”. Note: sometimes used for dye solution.
smàgNote: the open hand.
smàglachNote: a handful.
cròglachNote: a handful.
ballQuot.: “ball cainb”. Note: hemp rope.
còcrachQuot.: “ball còcrach”. Note: jute?
driamlach[d̪ɾĩɤ̃məɫɑx] Quot.: “driamlach-slait”. Note: fishing line.
friodhan[fðwɣɑ̃ṉ] Note: (1) barb of hook. (2) pig’s bristle used as tip for “sreangan” when stitching shoes.
boisQuot.: “bois an dubhain”. Note: the flat part at the end of a hook.
rèileadhNote: the part of the “snòt” tied round the hook.
tràsg[t̪ɾɑ:sɡ] Quot.: “Cho tioram ris an tràsg.” Note: the straw in the kiln on which seed was put for drying.
tìreadhQuot.: “a’ tìreadh a’ ghràin”. Note: drying the grain in the kiln.
eiteal[etʹɑɫ] Note: probably “aiteal” pronounced like this. A dry spell between two showers.
breaca-siananNote: freckles.
miolan-crionNote: KN says eczema.
bad-seircNote: beauty spot on the face. (Heard it used once.)
einneach[enʹɑx] Quot.: “einneach fraoich”. Note: the stumps of heather in a burnt area.
suagraidQuot.: “suagraid de lit, etc.” Note: a very thick mixture.
blèiream[blɛ:ɾəm] Note: jargon.
ruinnse[rɤ̃ĩʃ] Note: the projection at the end of the spine.
ullanaichQuot.: “ag ullanachadh duine ann a’ leabaidh”. Note: shifting a person’s position in bed to make him more comfortable.
anasgair[ɑ̃nɑsɡəð] Quot.: “àite anasgair”. Note: “an-sheasgair”. An exposed place.
drith-thothainn[d̪ɾıhɔhĩnʹ] Quot.: “Chaidh e na [ɣɾıhɔhĩnʹ].” “Tha mi na mo [ɣɾıhɔhĩnʹ].” Note: in a flat spin. Equivalent of “treathail” in Barvas.
seanntaich[ʃw̃:n̪t̪iç] Quot.: “Tha am biadh a [ʃw̃:n̪t̪ɑxəɣ] air an teine.” Note: food spoiling on the fire from being left too long. (spelling?)
monaiseach[mɔ̃ṉɑʃɑx] Note: having a couldn’t-care-less attitude.
mulcachNote: bulky.
lanaicneadh[ɫɑ̃ṉɑcṉəɣ] Quot.: “Bha ’n air e fhéin a lanaicneadh as a pholl.” Note: had covered himself in mud by rolling in it.
ceum-lethaQuot.: “Thug e ceum-letha nuair a bha e a feuchainn an dòrnaig.” Note: stepping over the line. Also exaggerating when telling a story. “Leig e ceum-letha.”
[lʹi:] Note: a film on the surface of liquid.
stiam[ʃtʹĩɑ̃m] Quot.: “Tha stiam as an ùth aig a bhoin an deidh dhith breith.” Note: some kind of matter in the udder of cows that have newly calved, causing a certain blockage of the milk ducts. Udder felt lumpy.
luidsear[ɫudʹʃɑð] Note: a clumsy person who is always dropping things.
pliutagNote: a light cuff with the back of the hand.
leób[lʹo:b] Note: a piece of cultivated ground. “Feannag” understood here as being narrower than the “leób”.
triaill[t̪ɾıɑlʹ] Quot.: “Chaidh e feir a thriaill.” Note: He lost his balance.
gibearnachNote: cuttle-fish.
cnaimh-rionnach[kɾɛ̃:vrũ̜n̪ɑx] Note: horse-mackerel.
seursag[ʃiɑʴsɑɡ] Note: grilse. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
càpraidNote: hustle and bustle, turmoil.
rasantaNote: bold, brash.
gurruban[ɡu̜rubɑṉ] Quot.: “Bha i na gurruban as a’ chòrnair.” Note: in a hunched position.
claidsear[kɫɑdʹʃoð] Note: a big, heavy man.
smobagNote: light cuff.
sabhtagNote: a blow to the side as given by a cow with its horns.
rath-dorchNote: the dark period in the moon’s cycle.
spùisil[spu̟:ʃilʹ] Note: “Pòcaid ann an cliathaich còta drògaid.”
iung[ȷɛ̃ɣ] Quot.: “Bheir mise ort gu sìn thu d’iungan [d̪ȷɛ̃ɣəṉ].” Note: “I’ll make you get a move on.” Seems to be synonymous with “casan” here but “iung” is used as the triangular piece of cloth sewn into a garment (e.g. a skirt) to let it out. Also used of a horse kicking – “Leig e [ȷɛ̃ɣ].”
iungarra[ȷɛ̃ɣɑrə] Note: Also “duine iungarra” – a crabbit person.
buairich[bu̟ɤɾiç] Quot: “Buairich do chas.” Note: said to a cow to make it take its two hind legs together for tying.
eilghidh[elei] Quot.: “ag eilghidh na talmhainn ann an dùmhlachd na bliadhna”. Note: first ploughing in winter to break up the soil. Turned in the spring for sowing.
talamhQuot.: “talamh eilghidh”. Note: ground which has been ploughed for the first time in winter. (To be turned again later for sowing.)
sabhachQuot.: “sabhach an taireisgeir”. Note: the wooden shaft of the peat-cutting iron.
osanQuot.: “osan an taireisgeir”. Note: the iron socket into which the wooden shaft fits.
atachQuot.: “Chunna mi an atach aice.” Note: the useless remains of anything.
geallabhall[ɡʹɑɫəvɑɫ] Note: name given to a fairly thin layer of peat on stony ground. Hard and dry and can be taken directly home to be burnt. Common in Uig.
eileabanachdNote: mischief, trickery.
peiricleadh[pɛɾicləɣ] Quot.: “Tha na [pɛɾicləṉ] air.” Note: death throes.
poca-buidheNote: tripe (usually of deer).
ireasglach[ˈiðəsɡɫɑx] Quot.: “Ireasglaich bhradaich!” Note: term of contempt. Thought of as having something to do with disfigurement of the legs.
fosglanNote: structure like a porch in front of a blackhouse or shieling.
monagnaidh[mɔ̃ṉɑɡṉi] Quot.: “Tha an fheòil seo monagnaidh.” Note: beginning to deteriorate.
ceannabheairtNote: (1) headgear. (2) sails and masts of a boat.
guailleachan[ɡu̟ɤlʹɑxɑṉ] Note: shoulder plaid.
breacan-guailleNote: shoulder plaid.
fargnaich[fɑɾɑɡṉĩç] Quot.: “Dh’fhargnaich iad an grunn eisge.” Note: empty, clear out.
an-furais[ɑ̃ṉfu̟ɾɑʃ] Quot.: “’S tu a tha ’s an an-furais.” Note: impatience, restlessness.
fritheir[fðıhəð] Note: weak, fragile. Could say of a person: “Tha e fritheir air a chasan ’n deidh tinneas.”
gàdag[ɡɑ:d̪ɑɡ] Quot.: “gàdag coirce”, “gadag eòrna”, “gàdag feòir”. Note: a measure for a quantity of oats, barley or hay. Also applied to the rope itself of length “dà aitheamh ’s dà dhòrn”.
pullastair[pu̜ɫəst̪ɑð] Note: fulmar.
sgafant[sɡɑfɑn̪t̪] Note: lively.
polla[poɫə] Quot.: “Bha mi aig an tigh polla.” Note: a spell.
amhlaidhQuot.: “air an amhlaidh cheudna”. Note: in like manner.
sléiteachQuot.: “Tha an coirce ’na shléitich.” Note: flat on the ground. “Sléiteach” also said to be an illness in cattle. Not sure what it was.
cródachNote: illness in cattle involving soreness in the bones. Usually among young animals in bad weather. [Cf. mulachd.]
mulachd[mũɫɑxk] Note: another term for soreness of bones among young animals (cattle) in bad weather. [Cf. cródach.]
gearraiseach[ɡʹɑɾɑʃɑx] Quot.: “duine gearraiseach”. Note: an argumentative man.
punnt-bànNote: a grass like rye-grass. Seen often in a fallow field where oats had been planted.
buillig[bu̟lʹiɡ] Note: wild oats.
bigearram[biɡʹərəm] Note: the death watch beetle.
grobhaichNote: dirty (vb).
grobhail[ɡɾɔvɑl] Note: dirty (adj.).
drobhsadh[d̪ɾɤu̟səɣ] Note: grilling, toasting.
teóthadh[tʹo:əɣ] Quot.: “Chaneil teóthadh air a’ bhuntàta seo.” Note: “These potatoes haven’t warmed.”
an-cheardach[ɑ̃ṉçəʴḏɑx] Note: witty, funny. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
ailleanach[ɑlʹɑṉɑx] Note: shy.
sgiomalagach[sɡʹw̃mɑɫɑɡɑx] Note: not keeping to the truth.
uisgeal[u̟ʃɡʹɑɫ] Quot.: “Thàinig i le uisgeal.” Note: tale of woe.
tafoinnich[t̪ɑfɔ̃nʹiç] Quot.: “Tha mi air mo thafoinneachadh.” Note: wearied, harassed.
manntachNote: backward in speech.
siulla[ʃu̜ɫə] Note: male sperm in fish.
giùiride[ɡʹu̟:ɾidʹə] Note: the shellfish encrusted on the underside of boats or on wood that has been afloat for a time.
reudan[re:d̪ɑṉ] Note: the insect which bores holes in wood which floats on the sea.
buail-an-t-òrdNote: a kind of beetle which, if its head is kept down, lifts and drops its body hammer-fashion.
leumrach-uaineNote: grass-hopper.
ath-rusg[ˈɑɾu̟sɡ] Quot.: “a’ tilgeil ath-rusg”. Note: old skin peeling off.
rubadh[ru̜bəɣ] Note: earmark. A single cut down the tip of the ear. “Dà rubadh”, in Crowlista, unlike the West Side, is applied to two parallel cuts down the tip of the ear. (Trí rubaidh in Barvas.)
gearradh-crabhcanNote: earmark.
sùlag[su̜:ɫɑɡ] Note: earmark.
geugan[ɡʹe:ɡɑn] Note: earmark.
gearradh-snàit[ɡʹɑrəɣsn̪ɑ̃:tʹ] Note: earmark. Not clear as to what it was. (Ask Murdo MacLeod.)

© DASG
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