Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings

Informant(s)
Name
Neil MacDonald ( Niall Domhnallach )
Origin
Na Hearadh [Harris]
Location
[Glasgow, Bearsden]
Date
[1987-88]
Fieldworker
A. O’Henley
1. An stéidh is am balla
criathclay foundation. Also black soil was used.
snaidheadhdressing the stones.
a’ ghlaicthe space between the outer and inner walls.
clachan meanbh
glutraigeadhsmall stones and clay mixed and thereafter placed between the two walls.
2. Am mullach ’s an tughadh
tughadhthatch.
muransea bent used for thatch.
sioman fraoichheather rope used to tie down the thatch.
ciadhàirquire (choir?) yarn brought from mainland. Also called sioman Thearlaich.
na casan ceangailplaced on the inside of the wall. When finished a grown man could walk round the outside of the wall.
na sparran
luidhearchimney.
maide starraigprotruded from the end of the house.
bòrdan fiodhput across the beams under the thatch.
3. Dorsan is uinneagan
dorus a’ muigh
lùdaganhinges.
ursunnandoor frame.
sneacused to close the door. A small block of wood.
socrachadhword used for positioning the ‘sneac’ [q.v.] on the inside of the door.
clòsaidcloset. Also called ‘cùlaiste’.
[cùlaiste][See clòsaid.]
trannsalobby.
mòtused for a fireplace not in the centre of the floor.
mòit[See mòt.]
busanon each side of the fire. Made of clay and stone. Flat on top and were useful for keeping pans near the fire.
leac an teineanstone slab in front of the fire.
4. An broinn an taighe: na sèamraichean
beinge fiodhbench capable of sitting six.
dreasairused to store china, silverware etc.
creathallcradle. Also a table that would sit about eight people.
cluinneagan uisgewater containers, usually buckets to be found in the lobby or ‘trannsa’.
sguab fhraoicha brush made of heather used to sweep the sand of the floor every Saturday night to be replaced by new sand. On having done this the house was then said to be – “air a dhreasaigeadh”.
5. An t-àite-teine
6. Airneis an taighe
7. Sobhal, bàthach, no bothanan sam bith eile
balla cloichebetween the house and the ‘sobhal’.
bothag chearcfaisg air an taigh.
taigh sgàileextension to the house.
làr creatha

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