Àiteach / Agriculture

Informant(s)
Name
Neil MacDonald ( Niall Domhnallach )
Origin
Na Hearadh [Harris]
Location
[Glasgow], Bearsden
Date
[1987-88]
Fieldworker
A. O’Henley
Notes
  • [NOTES: some notes added (most probably by K. D. MacDonald?). See below for details.]
1. Na togalaichean: sobhal, bàthach is mar sin, agus ainm gach pàirt dhiubh
casan ceangail
gàth dromaridge.
muransea bent used for thatching.
sioman fraoichrope for tying down the thatch.
sioman thearlaichquire [sic] [coir?] yarn. A proper rope imported from the mainland. [NOTES: ‘thearlaich’ corrected to ‘theàrlaich’.]
frasachbox used for horse feed.
stallastalls.
taodrope put round the head of a cow or horse.
saidhbhairhollow trench in byre where excrement accumulated.
leac ardaraislintel.
starsachthreshold.
2. A’ mathachadh no a’ leasachadh na talmhainn
flagaismanure (horse, cattle). Mixed with seaweed and used for oats only. [Corca-flagais.]
feamainn shiabaidhseaweed left at high tide used as potato fertiliser.
tiurr a’ làinwhat was left after high tide.
corca-flagais[See flagais.]
3. A’ treabhadh no a’ ruamhar: an crann agus ainm gach pàirt dheth
sòc the nose of the plough which went under the soil. [NOTES: corrected to ‘soc’.]
bòrd ùrachlevelled off the dust/soil.
colltairthe part that actually cut the soil.
spòg a’ chruinnhandles of the plough.
treasaicheanchains.
[amull] Amull mór – used with one horse. Amull beag – used with two horses.
4. Innealan beaga leithid spaid, gràp, ràcan is mar sin
5. Acfhuinn an eich airson gach seòrsa obair
an t-srathairsaddle on a cart.
diallaidsaddle for a steed, charger.
coilairplaced round the neck.
briogaison the side of the horse, used when pulling a cart.
srianreins.
6. A’ cur an t-sìl
fàsgnadhwinnowing.
criathairsieve made with hardened sheep’s skin punctured by a white hot poker. Stretched over a wooden frame.
moullchaff. [NOTES: corrected to ‘moll’.]
cuinneagbucket for carrying seed.
7. A’ buain agus a’ tiormachadh an arbhair no an fheòir
spealscythe.
claiseanridges in the land being harvested.
corran mórused in this type of land.
spàdh (-an)the line which is visible once the hay has been cut. Lines between each row of freshly cut grass. [NOTES: corrected to ‘spadh’.]
sguabansheaves.
adagfour or six sheaves make an ‘adag’.
tòit (-ean)small rick of corn.
còcadhmaking small haystacks. Also used for haystacks in Harris. [NOTES: corrected to ‘cocadh’.]
tùghadhthatch used to keep the rain off haystacks. [NOTES: corrected to ‘tughadh’.]
cabhlachstraw. Could also be used for weatherproofing. [NOTES: note added – connlach.]
8. A’ togail a’ bhuntàta
seargadhwhen the potato leaves had withered.
a’ putadhpenetrating the ground with an iron dung fork so that it would be easier for the next process.
cròcana rounded piece of iron with a wooden handle used to lift potatoes.
ruidealadhshaking of the dust in a basket.
9. A’ tasgadh an arbhair agus a’ bhuntàta
10. A’ bualadh ’s a’ criathradh
suist
[NOTES: corrected to ‘sùist’.]
bualadhdescribes the work done with the ‘suist’ [q.v.], which was used to grind the corn, etc.
froiseadhoats stripped of their ears with the instrument below.
clach bhràthaquernstone.
cliathanmade of wood with iron prongs. Used for harrowing.
cliathadhharrowing.
11. A’ bleith an t-sìl
12. Ainmean a chleachdar ri earrainn fearainn
iomaireplot of potatoes, corn, etc.
feannaganlazy beds.
sreathandrills of potato.
cul ceinncommon grazing. [NOTES: corrected to ‘cùl-ceinn’.]
13. Faclan sam bith eile

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