| uileasach | in suffering. “Bha mi uileasach le’m làimh.” |
| cuibhreachadh | to lose your reason. |
| muir uisge | salt water. |
| mo chompraich | my belief, fate. Not sure of this. On tape. Could mean protection. |
| a’ bhoill | disease in horses caused by the ragwort (buathalan). [NOTES: corrected to ‘a’ bhoil’.] |
| galair an domalais | fluke. |
| galair cearr | caused by the tick and which caused the cattle to limp badly. [NOTES: ‘cearr’ corrected to ‘ceàrr’.] |
| fiarsnain | a beast / fly that came from the soil and entered the cow’s hoof surfacing in its back. Had to be squeezed out. |
| pronnastan | sulphur. Used to make a poultice. Applied to humans as well as animals. Used for rashes, boils, warts. Also given to young people to keep potential diseases at bay. |
| cnoiseagan | acne. [NOTES: corrected to ‘cnòiseagan’.] |
| claigeann-ròpa | rope bridle. |
| mìreannach | horse’s bit. |
| siollachan | hames. |
| [strathair] | Different types of saddle: – strathair cartach – strathair gige [?] – strathair plàta (used when the horse was carrying baskets). |
| briogais cartach | breeches. |
| strian bheag | martingale rein. |
| bocsa cartach | loading area of a cart. |
| maide aiseil | depending on the horse’s height, a block of wood would be placed on the axle to make up the difference. |
| fòlag | a pin used to keep the wheel on the axle. Similar to the word ‘sgiofair’. |
| cuishal | penis. [NOTES: note added above ‘cuishal’ – cuiseal.] |
| biorach | dogfish. |
| blian | the stomach of a fish. |
| cruadhachadh | drying fish to preserve them. Could be dried inside or out depending on the suitability of the weather. |
| connadh | dry peat sods which could be used immediately. |
| spaid fhiodh | wood spade. Similar to modern spade without the iron blade. Had a foot rest on one side of the handle to preserve the wooden cutter. |
| baidhr | afterbirth. [NOTES: note added above ‘baidhr’ – (f)baidhir [?]. Another note added in the margin: seile – afterbirth of sheep.] |
| boireannach a’ dealachadh | to deliver, give birth. Prior to modern gynaecology, women blew into a bottle to facilitate delivery. |
| an deach i an darna taobh | Did she give birth? |
| a’ tearnadh | to give birth. |
| anacair mhóir | venereal disease. |
| fiurag (-ach) | warm, clammy weather with mist on the hills. [NOTES: corrected to ‘fiùrag’.] |
| gigili blàth | similar to above [i.e. fiurag/fiùrag]. |
| gàir cladaich | roar of the sea. |
| bristeadh cladaich | roar of the sea. |
| iasg driuman | red and grey mullet. |
| cnògain | large whelk. |
| maorach Moire | similar to scallops. |
| faoideag | cowlie [sic] [cowry?] shellfish. |
| còpran | grew on large tangles. Yellow, brown in colour and used as decorative beads. |
| speal bheoil | old style razor. |
| cochull | covering of cloth. |
| druid romhad | to move forward quickly. |
| dh’aoslaich mi | I welcomed. |
| deugbhail bàis | on deathbed. [NOTES: note added above ‘d’ in ‘deugbhail’ – an t-.] |
| dleasanas bàis | last rites. |
| deiseil airson anail a thilgeil | last breath. |
| sìde air a dhol a bhouta làir | expression associated with a period of time in which every conceivable aspect of poor weather conditions were [sic] experienced. [NOTES: note added above ‘u’ in ‘bhouta’ – bh.] |
| faircean | crevices under rocks on the shore. Lobsters, crabs can be obtained in these. The word ‘fairc’ is different from ‘faiche’ which is used at the south end of South Uist. |
| lìopain | a third of a peck (péice). |
| banachag | milkmaid. |
| baineach | weaveress. |
| breabadair | weaver. |
| duine leipideach | a clumsy person. |
| “Cha tainig a leithid seo a shìde bho’n a thilg an tràigh na lugachan.” | associated with extreme weather conditions when the shore was churned up and all its contents piled up at the high water mark. |
| muir tiachd | jellyfish. |
| teine mór | will o’ the wisp. |
| air lochadh le falas | dripping with sweat. [NOTES: ‘lochadh’ corrected to ‘lòchadh’.] |
| [slàt] | Slàt druime, slàtan taobh (two of these, one on each shoulder). Terms used for parts of spoon net or ‘tàbh’ as it is called in Gaelic. |
| bàcan iomraidh | rowlocks. [NOTES: ‘bàcan’ corrected to ‘bacan’.] |
| bròg a’ chruinn | where the mast was lodged in the floor of a boat. |
| ceannachragan | wooden supports above the seats (tobhtaichean). In previous notes I have indicated that these supports were beneath the seats, so obviously this was a preference on the craftsman’s behalf. |
| siladh | a wooden seat at the rear of a boat which could be removed when it was being baled (taomadh). |
| [tobhta] | Various seats in a boat: – tobhta stiùraidh – tobhta a’ chruinn – tobhta iomraidh – tobhta bheag (at rear). |
| spor iomraidh | a wooden block in front of the rowing seat which served as a support for the person who was rowing. |
| fàsag | the bung. |
| tuim ghrod | this noxious excess water was sometimes stored if there were sharks in the area. The substance was thrown at them which supposedly kept them at bay. |
| ràc | traveller running up and down the sail mast. |
| cuairtean | variant name for ‘stràc’ or tummers. So far I have not come across this in South Uist or Eriskay, so it must be peculiar to the Iochdar area. Therefore you have ‘cuairt bheoil’ instead of ‘stràc bheoil’. ‘Fliuch bhòrd’ is used as in the aforementioned areas. |
| gualainn | literally the shoulders of a boat, i.e. where the boat widens out in the middle. |
| plìuchcan | flukes on an anchor. |
| stòc an acair | a metal rod forming part of an anchor which props up the anchor so as not to fall flat, e.g. [NOTES: ‘stòc’ corrected to ‘stoc’.] |
| stòc na bàta | gunwale? [NOTES: ‘stòc’ corrected to ‘stoc’.] |
| dà shùil a’ chruinn | two hooks, one on each side of the boat to which the sail ropes were attached. |
| crochadh a’ chruinn | two blocks of wood, again on each side of the boat and located beside the mast seat. Sail ropes were wrapped round this and not tied or knotted so as to enable the quick adjustment or lowering of the sail. |
| an druim | the heavier rope at the bottom of a net. |
| druim àrca | float rope. |
| sealasdair | iris. The leaf of this gave a green colour. |
| fraoch | heather gave a green colour. |
| cairt locha | these roots were boiled and mixed with butter. Used for weatherproofing fishing nets. |
| dùthchasach | hereditary. |
| na slinn | on a weaver’s loom these were gaps through which two threads would come. Informant cannot be more specific. |
| na h-iomalan | piston like instruments in a loom. Wooden at the top and bottom with the rest consisting of wire. These kept the colours apart when weaving. |
| uirchrichean | this was the term applied to count the number of times a certain colour had appeared in the pattern, e.g. ‘fichead uirchir de dhearg’. |
| ceithir ma seach | four different colours being used to make a garment. The number would vary according to the number of colours used. |
| clòmh fiachlach | a cloth made using two different colours. |
| beairt Ghaidhealach | different from the looms that came from the mainland since they did not keep an automatic tally of the number of times a colour was used. |
| fighe craobh a’ sgadain | herringbone pattern. |
| biurne | bobbin. |
| ìteachan | this was loaded prior to the wool going into the shuttle (spàl). [NOTES: corrected to ‘iteachan’.] |
| cuibheal ìteachan | the ‘ìteachan’ [q.v.] was loaded by this wooden instrument upon which the informant cannot elaborate. |
| clòmh | this was the term applied to 110 yards of cloth. |
| slàt figheadair | equivalent of eight feet. |
| leum droma | slipped disc. There is a tradition which says that a child who was born feet first has a healing power for this complaint. By walking on the afflicted person’s back the complaint is healed. |
| pollaran | a tiriat? A small, grey bird seen on the shore. |
| cearcan tomain | partridge. |
| cruadhlaich | for a tight fisted, mean person. |
| rùp | an auction of a deceased person’s property. [NOTES: note added – radhp (S. Uist).] |
| feucagan | pheasants. |
| gadhar | similar word to ‘gaiseadh’ as in a weakness or failing affecting an old man/woman. |
| coilleach coille | woodcock. [NOTES: ‘coilleach’ corrected to ‘coileach’.] |
| siulla | a quarter bottle. |
| ga loradh le deoch | drunk. [NOTES: ‘loradh’ corrected to ‘lòradh’.] |
| bàl stòcainn | modern equivalent would be a pyjama party. Everyone had to bring socks for the person they would leave with at the end of the night. If they did not have this they would be refused entry. [NOTES: ‘stòcainn’ corrected to ‘stocainn’.] |
| piunndadh | to confiscate, or to steal. I think ‘steal’ is a bit strong. Perhaps the word ‘pound’ might be more accurate? |
| beul ionnsachaidh | to give directions, e.g. “Thug mi beul ionnsachaidh dha a dhol an rathad eile.” |
| rannaghal | to reel off a number of verses or curses, swears. |
| breacain | breed [of cattle?] named after their colour. |
| corrachasan | breed of cattle that were good driving cattle. Had a quality of enduring long distances. |
| pròisichean | another breed [of cattle] so called due to their proud, posturing appearance. |
| mórchuisean | another type of cattle renowned for yielding milk in great quantities. |
| crùisgainn | Miss M. MacKay, Geirinish and Mr R. O’Henley use the word ‘lòchran’ when referring [to] the cylindrical object which is lit beside the tabernacle in a Roman Catholic church. The word ‘cruisgainn’ [sic] to me at least is not so original unless different types of lamp are used. English term is ‘sanctuary lamp’. |
| a’ bhuaic | this refers to the string/wick inside a candle. |
| òla na h-eaglais | informant refers to the burning of oil in the sanctuary lamp. [NOTES: ‘òla’ corrected to ‘ola’.] |
| seòmar na sàcramaid | the tabernacle. |
| seòmar na h-eisdeachd | confessional. [NOTES: ‘eisdeachd’ corrected to ‘èisdeachd’.] |
| tùis | incense. |
| stòl | stole. |
| culaidh | priest’s vestments. |
| slighe na croise | stations of the cross. |
| pears’ anama | a prayer said immediately after a person had died. |
| iudhrais | evil. |
| gonnathalan | a strong, valorous person renowned for heroic feats. This word comes from ‘Duan Na Ceardaich’. |
| a cuir làmh na’d bheatha | putting yourself at risk. |
| ciutaichean | home-made socks. |
| seacaid tonn giomaich | swallow-tailed coat. |
| siosacalt | sleeveless waistcoat. |
| péiteag mhuilichinneach | waistcoat with sleeves. |
| cliùrair | chisel like instrument used in stonemasonry. |
| bouta balla | this must have been the crookie by which you could raise a rock to enable wedges to be placed beneath it, thereby bringing it to the level required. Could also manoeuvre the rock in or out with this instrument. [NOTES: note added above ‘u’ in ‘bouta’ – bh.] |
| bòrd balla | prior to the modern spirit level a board of wood, square in shape was used. A v shape was cut in its middle. A string with a lead weight came down past this v and swung like a pendulum. If it came to rest in the middle of the v, then it was on the level. |
| siumpair | used for boring rocks. |
| òrdair | applied to the person who hit the hammer. |
| a’ dùsgadh chlach | this would be the term used when rocks were being cut out of a rock face. Could also mean as I have indicated previously that the rocks could be lifted from soil. |
| a’ buinnig chlach | means the same as aforementioned word [i.e. a’ dùsgadh chlach]. |
| goinneal | a type of rock that was brown in colour and liable to shatter easily. |
| clach liaghraidh | sharpening stone. Made from ‘goinneal’ [q.v.] type rock. [NOTES: note added above ‘gh’ in ‘liaghraidh’ – mh.] |
| clach loisgte | volcanic rock. Difficult to break. |
| a mhoin dè | the day prior to yesterday. |
| an eirthir | the day after tomorrow. |
| téip (téib) | a gap as in a gap in a child’s upbringing. [NOTES: corrected to ‘tèip’.] |
| [druid] | Druid romhad e – push the door open ahead of you. Druid an dorus – ‘druid’ in this case means to close the door. |
| duine deisinneach | person who could meet any task, fit for anything. |
| fuinn | variation on ‘suinn’ meaning ‘heroes’. |
| sgliùrach | an unpleasant person. |
