| corraiche fiach | similar to ‘caora bhiagan’. Brambles that grew on heather that could be eaten. [NOTES: corrected to ‘corracha fiach’.] |
| braonainean | brambles found in ditches beside the road. [NOTES: note added above ‘braonainean’ – ‘braoineanan’.] |
| mogull eun mointich | not sure about this but thinks it could be bog cotton. [NOTES: ‘mointich’ corrected to ‘mòintich’.] |
| dobhran | another word for an otter. |
| feadag | golden plover. |
| driamlach | applied to an accumulation of hooks, gut used for fishing. |
| golan gaoithe | a potato with swan’s feathers sticking out from it. In connection with Halloween but not sure of exact role it played. |
| uisge dùbhchaidh | water that did not run. Prohibited from drinking such water. |
| strannan | whirligig. |
| preasa nan luch | an inferior type of grass considered to be of poor weatherproof quality. Therefore it was always put at the bottom of a haystack and never at its top. |
| giurnlair | a large meal chest lined with lead to keep the meal fresh. ‘Maragan’ would sometimes be placed among the meal which would keep them fresh for a longer period of time. [NOTES: corrected to ‘giurnalair’.] |
| gràma | in some regions of Skye especially this was a variant word for ‘gràpa’. For example this is the word used in Bernisdale although in the next village, Flaisaidair, the word ‘gràpa’ is used. (K.C. MacKinnon, Bernisdale.) |
| meall chaorach | lice found in sheep’s wool. |
| dearsach | associated was [sic] [with?] vast quantities of rain. “Bha an dìle ’s an dearsach ann.” |
| doirean | ankle berries [?]. Found on the back, shoulders of cattle. |
| dorgh | handline for fishing. |
| seile | sheep’s afterbirth. |
| boganach | tall grass that grew in marshy land. Used for thatching. |
| sprògan | a lump on the body of cattle, caused by a cold in the udder, which followed calving. [NOTES: corrected to ‘sprogan’.] |
| tuainnaire | one who makes spinning wheels. |
| bàl luaidh | a dance/ceilidh held after the completion of waulking. |
| biast dhubh | otterboard. Used for fishing trout. Illegal. |
| slisnean | potato cut in two and used for seed. |
| buille thuig | when you stubbed your toe against a rock. In Skye this means the bare flesh that is visible after a cut or graze. |
| drìnganaich | someone who would never finish what he was doing. [NOTES: corrected to ‘drionganaich’.] |
| càbrais | chattering. |
| crosgagan | gusts of wind from a north easterly direction. Occurred at the beginning of summer. |
| a’ gabhail a cotach | means that the sea will absorb all rain water. [NOTES: ‘cotach’ corrected to ‘codach’.] |
| sgeilp | foot rest on a dibble or peat iron. |
| sàil na speal | where the iron part joins the wood. |
| subh fheanndagan | nettle juice. Nettle was boiled and the juice was drunk. [NOTES: ‘subh’ corrected to ‘sùgh’.] |
| sguaid | a squad of men. |
| muaraladh | this would be applied to the splinters that would fly about after a blast had been let off. “Nach e a rinn a’ muaraladh.” Similar to spruilleadh – smattering. |
| spriodail | when an animal was upside down, its legs would be kicking rapidly trying to regain its balance. “Bha e a’ spriodail air an làr.” |
| cnoigheag (‘n’ – R sound) | maggot. |
| coltas aognuidh air an talamh | applied to land that was barren in appearance. |
| toranach | round, grey insects like ‘fèaslaichean’ in cattle, which ate seed. Deterred by a red powder (serecen) which was mixed with the seed. [NOTES: corrected to ‘torranach’.] |
| fìdeag dhubh neo gàth dubh | affected small oats. The seed would literally disintegrate into black dust. [NOTES: ‘gàth’ corrected to ‘gath’.] |
| gnìomhadh | dressing the outside of a peatstack. |
| rubhainn | after lifting the peats, they were then made into bigger heaps known as ‘rubhainn’. |
| sgònn aran | a large sandwich. |
| sgònnan nighean | applied to big, lazy girls. [NOTES: ‘sgònnan’ corrected to ‘sgonnan’.] |
| sloc sàbhaidh | this was the place where two men would cut large beams of wood. The wood would be placed across a stone wall. Then on each side there was an indentation in the ground where each made [sic] [man?] stood, so as not to move when they were sawing the wood. Ensured that it was a reasonably straight cut. |
| currachd rath | the extra skin on the head of a new born child. A rare occurrence. |
| sgaoiman [sic] | applied to a horse that was unwilling to pull a cart. A horse that always wanted to break loose. |
| trotan | trot. |
| dais fheoir, dais staimh | a large oblong accumulation of hay or dry tangles. Like a peat stack but much higher. |
| claignean bhòtunn | wellies with the leg cut off to form shoes. |
| caora bheannach | a sheep with three horns. |
| stàpal | an iron locking mechanism on the outside of a barn door. |
| slamhuic | the marrow on the inside of a horn. |
| mosgan | a rotten bit of wood. “Tha am fiodh làn mosgan.” |
| sgarbh air tìr | if a cormorant is ever sighted inland this is an indication of forthcoming bad weather. |
| ceannadach | a cap or other form of headgear. [NOTES: note added above ‘ceannadach’ – ‘ceann + aodach’.] |
| a cuir an ire dhut | lying, but not in a devious manner. |
| a cuir an [sic] fiachadh dhut | lying, but not in a devious manner. |
| faolais | the spokes in a cartwheel. [NOTES: note added above ‘faolais’ – ‘fadhleis’.] |
| sniginn | white lice in someone’s head, hair. Same as dandruff. |
| shèil [?] | shawl. [NOTES: corrected to ‘sèil’.] |
| claban | the head of a dead animal or human. |
| sail | a beam of wood. |
| sùil bheag | a wink. |
| glasadh an latha | dawn. ‘Soilleirachadh [sic] an latha’. |
| cadal a’ gheòidh | half asleep. Goose sleeps with one eye open. |
| streathadaich | sneezing. |
| snaoisain | snuff. |
| aodanan | false face. [NOTES: corrected to ‘aodan’.] |
| lasagaich | sobbing. |
| donnalaich | sobbing. “A’ donalaich [sic] ’sa rànaich.” |
| Trian iarraidh nan caorach, suidhe | a standing ploughman and a running shepherd is of no use to anyone. This means that a shepherd, when looking for a stray sheep, needs to stop and look about him, rather than run haphazardly here and there. |
| lùb cheart | plain. |
| lùb cheàrr | purl. |
| dual | cable pattern on a jersey. Crosses over like a pigtail. |
| muilachinn | a sleeve. |
| riopair | a towel made of canvas and hung in the byre or the house. Used by men after coming in from a day’s work. [NOTES: note added above ‘riopair’ – ‘riobair’.] |
| deilbh | casting on. |
| breacadh an teine | this was the reddening effect the fire had on your legs. |
| corran | a reef, jutting out to sea. |
| plàpadh | to pamper someone. [NOTES: corrected to ‘plapadh’.] |
| cagailte reòta | applied to a house which rarely or never had a fire going. |
| glomaradh | a wooden vice used for repairing horses’ equipment. |
| glag othaisg | a ewe that would not follow the rest of the flock. |
| Chuir e an gonadh air | to cast a spell on someone. |
| ùgh air a bhualadh | switched egg. Given with milk and a tablespoonful of brandy to someone who had a poor appetite. |
| abhsag | a canvas bag carried by a mason where he put his tools. |
| apsag | [See abhsag.] |
| cèabhar [sic] | a blast of smoke. “Sheall i sin thall, ’s ceabhar aice a cigarette.” |
| àrsair | a mischievous person. |
| amaidealach | applied to a child who was a bit frivolous, harum scarum. |
| amaisealach | [See amaidealach.] |
| ailleagan na cluais | that part where the ear joins the head. |
| airne Móire | a kidney shaped stone, brown/purple in colour, which was found on the machair. Not sure of the connection with the Virgin Mary. Maybe this was taken from statues, images of the Virgin Mary which depict the heart clearly. However this does not explain the reference to the ‘airne’. [NOTES: ‘Móire’ corrected to ‘Moire’.] |
| spliùcan | tobacco pouch. |
| iosgaid do chois | this is directly behind the knee at the back of the leg. Exactly where the knee is bent. |
| càirainn | gum. [NOTES: note added above ‘càirainn’ – ‘càirean’.] |
| gleanndanas | a family relationship that has run its full term. “Nach iad sin a chum an gleanndanas.” |
| cuidhlain | nasal passage. [NOTES: note added above ‘cuidhlain’ – ‘cuinnlain’.] |
| carramhoiltain | somersault. |
| brìc | a pile of potatoes kept in the barn and used for eating. |
| crann dùbailte | a double furrowed plough. |
| paisde a’ cnàmhanaich | girning, fretting. |
| call do shuim | wasting your time. |
| gurradh air a cheile | bickering at each other. |
| dramalaich | a badly made song. |
| cois ceum coillich | this refers to the action of a cockerel on New Year’s day whereby he takes the hens a further step from the house. |
| uair a’ ghille chonnaich | this refers to ‘latha nan trì righean’ when the day began to get longer. This phrase meant that the peat boy (gille conna [sic]) could take longer to get the peats. |
| creamh pòsda | wishbone. [NOTES: note added above ‘creamh’ – ‘cnàimh’.] |
| cromadh tombaca | ½ an ounce. |
| miogadaich | giggling. |
| deireadh chrodh | meant that the harvest had been gathered and the potatoes lifted. [NOTES: ‘chrodh’ corrected to ‘chrò’.] |
| Thug e lòn fada dhith | applied to someone who had left home for foreign countries. [NOTES: ‘lòn’ corrected to ‘lon’.] |
| iomairt chàirtean | playing cards. |
| ditheart | vomiting. |
| glamhadh | snarl. |
| mathach | to put seaweed on the ground (North Uist phrase). |
| mathachadh | when someone was maintaining that he was always right, even though he might be wrong. “Tha an duine sin cho math air mathachadh.” |
| guisaid | a gusset. A tailor would split the waistband of a trouser that was too tight. Would then place an extra bit of cloth in this space thereby widening the waist. Shaped like this. [NOTES: corrected to ‘gusaid’.] |
| cnoiseagan (‘n’ – R sound) | acne, spots, pimples. |
| buntàta cnoiseagach | craggy potatoes, resulting from too much fertiliser. |
| Dia na thoiseach | God willing. |
| loidhneachan | ropes that were tied to the bit in a horse’s mouth. Held by the ploughman at the plough’s handles. Used to steer and turn the horse in the necessary direction. |
| iomaillaich mairt | literally what the cow could lick. This was a term used when planting large oats. The seed had to be so thickly laid that the cows could lick it off the ground. |
| ’Se deagh mharaiche a bha ’sa chorca bheag | rain would not delay the crop’s progress. |
| ’Se duine a bh’ann nach creichdeadh a chearc ’sa latha fliuch | a saying applied to a thrifty, careful person. [NOTES: note added above ‘creichdeadh’ – ‘creiceadh’.] |
| Cha d’fhuair thu ach muc am pòca | a bad bargain. |
| cnàmhan | a little of something. “Bha cnàmhan cogaidh anns na h-Innsean a bhliadhna sin.” |
| sùmachadh (‘ù’ – oo) | a soum. Could graze so many cattle or sheep on this bit of land. Would keep about eight sheep. |
| stàull mònadh | a good place on moorland, suitable for starting a peat bog. [NOTES: ‘stàull’ corrected to ‘stàll’.] |
| Bha e na chor-shuidhe | squatting. |
| fliuch bhòrd | in a boat this was the first layer of wood after the keel. |
| fuidhainn | a blister on the inside of the leg, gained as a result of horse-riding. |
| uair mharbh na h-oidhche | the dead of night, between 12 and 3 in the morning. |
| falamhanaiche na h-oidhche | someone who liked to wonder alone during the night. |
| fios na hionaid | did you get word of what you were to receive. [NOTES: note above ‘h’ in ‘hionaid’ – (th?).] |
| lethreisg | someone who was not fully fit. |
| cathadh làir | wind driven snow. Would accumulate on walls, cars, etc. |
| breac thalamh | soil consisting of peat and sand. |
| daorach | drunk. |
| bealathach | a place on the machair for grazing sheep and cattle in winter. Littered with little glens and shelter spots. |
| an èis | cattle suffering from hunger. |
| meuran | thimble. |
| gearnalair | gardener. |
| gròcach air | picking on someone. [NOTES: ‘gròcach’ corrected to ‘grògach’.] |
| trampsaichean làir shearrach | shafts needed to be bigger to accommodate the mare in this condition. |
| tàthadh | welding. |
| leasachadh | welding. |
| buideal | a large man. |
| garbhagan | red spotted flounders. |
| smìgleadh | reference to cattle nibbling at their fodder. “Dh’ith i smìgleadh dheth.” |
| brèinain | a crabbit, quick tempered, angry person. To the extent that he might be unapproachable. |
| dùgan | a loch full of mud, weeds. |
| puighdeadh | a makeshift repair. [NOTES: corrected to ‘poighdeadh’.] |
| soudraigeadh | to solder, weld. |
| dàth ceann caora | singeing a sheep’s head with a red hot iron prong. [NOTES: ‘dàth’ corrected to ‘dath’.] |
| fochann | when the corn begins to burst through the soil. |
| an t-arbhar a’ bristeadh as | the stem begins to come through more clearly. |
| an sgarr | this describes the line between two furrows; the space between each furrow as they fall over each other. The seed would only grow here to its full potential. [NOTES: ‘sgarr’ corrected to ‘sgar’.] |
| gunna cnagainn (‘n’ – r sound) | this was achieved by sticking the tubed part of a feather into a potato. When you pulled this out a cylinder of potato would be caught in the feather. This was then let off with the aid of a bit of wood. A toy for children. |
| cneapailte (-an) (‘n’ – R sound) | garter. |
| bradach | someone who inherited something by underhand tactics. |
| goilainn | a bit of paper which was lit to light a fire. [NOTES: note above ‘goilainn’ – ‘goilein’.] |
| saitheamh | gentle, quiet. “Nach e a’ paisde a tha saitheamh.” |
| grùisgainn | a fire which was lit outdoors and used for heating sheep brands or for washing. |
| lùban | stitches. |
| du(bh)chonadh (‘bh’ not pronounced) | soil that was neither peat nor mud. |
| muirte | oppressive heat. |
| meidhleag | peat that disintegrated when it was thrown from hand. “Cha robh innte ach meidhleag.” [NOTES: note above ‘meidhleag’ – ‘maidhleag’.] |
| a’ gearradh phuirt | process of making drains at the roadside so as to drain excess water off the road. |
| [imprig] | “Imprig sathurna gu tuath, imprig luan gu deas; ged nach biodh agam ach an t-uan ’s ann Diluain a dh’fhalbhainn leis.” Considered unlucky to set off on a journey on a Saturday. |
| spridh | another word for a bout of drinking. |
| na thull tamh | going somewhere or doing something without someone else’s knowledge. |
| mabach | slurred speech. |
| caora spàinneach | cheviot. |
| caora pheallagach | untidy, straggly sheep. |
| ann an teabadaich | when someone was undecided. |
| cnoidhainean (‘n’ – R sound) | hooves. |
| Na bidh gun chù, ’s na beathaich cuillain | in other words buy a dog that is old enough to work. |
| a’ cuir shiotaichean air todhar | process of stretching out sheets on the ground outside. Left for two or three days and then washed again. |
| briogais moisglinn | corduroy trousers. |
| còta drògaid | skirts that reached down to the ankles. Made of serge material – ‘drògaid’. |
| briobadh | flutter, dipped headlights. |
| crath do churrachd air | this would be said when the potato leaves looked like promising a poor crop. |
| spidheag | a stone wedge used by a stonemason. |
| spainn aoil | trowel. |
| ord clachaireachd | mash hammer. |
| sgagadh | crack of any kind. |
| gàgan | a crack on the hand, fingers. Brought on by working excessively with one particular implement such as a ‘cròcan’. Could also be brought on by working with dry seaweed or tangles. |
| iughrag | a drop. “Cha robh iughrag air tonn a’ bhòtuil.” [NOTES: ‘tonn’ corrected to ‘tòn’.] |
| sgiathag | a wooden lid for a water tub. |
| struidhlag | a small measure similar in meaning to ‘iughrag’ above. |
| duine foilleach | an impatient, hurried person. Always trying [to] do things at great speed. [NOTES: ‘foilleach’ corrected to ‘foileach’.] |
| iorraghail | shouting. |
| oglamhaidh | an awkward person. [NOTES: corrected to ‘òglamhaidh’.] |
| glògais | a glove. Larger than the ones we’re used to in modern times. More like a motorcyclist’s glove. |
| obair shaoghalta, mhi riatanach | work that could be done on another day. Applied to work done on a Sunday. |
| droch chomhlaiche | an envious person. |
| leaca na spàide | that bit of iron extending from the foot rest and wrapped round the spade’s leg. [NOTES: corrected to ‘spaide’.] |
| canntaireachd | mouth music. |
| bonnach boise | |
| coiteachadh | forcing something on somebody else. |
| talamh leumrach | soil that is difficult to plough. Tends to bounce away from the soil board of the plough. |
| goilaraich | bawling. |
| cròtach | bent over, stooped. [NOTES: corrected to ‘crotach’.] |
| slaoidaire | someone who could not be trusted. [NOTES: corrected to ‘slaoideire’.] |
| mór a muigh is beag a staigh | someone who was generous enough in the eyes of the public but not so as regards his own household. |
| àt bhràghad | swelling on the inside of the neck. |
| tùbhailt | tablecloth. [NOTES: corrected to ‘tubhailt’.] |
| cuibhrig | a bedspread. Also used in the sense of a tablecloth. |
| latha eadar ath thighinn | describes a day which could be sunny in the morning, but would be blowing a gale or raining by the afternoon. |
| Cha robh ann ach peata de latha | same meaning as previous saying [i.e. latha eadar ath thighinn]. |
| eadar ath leann | something that would not sink. |
| rèiteach | a party held in the week prior to a wedding. Distinct from the ‘rèiteach’ where the groom asked his father in law for his daughter’s hand in marriage. |
| searadair | towel. |
| Chuir mi uighreachd air | I noticed a change in him. |
| grineal | the sea’s bottom. |
| muthach | sense. “De a bha air ach gin a’ mhuthaich.” [NOTES: ‘gin’ corrected to ‘cion’.] |
| dùiseal | dozing, not fully asleep. |
| Thug mi spèis dh’an àite | I liked the place. |
| a’ chro-chàil | rubbish tip. |
| meuran de ghlaine | a small measure. |
| [taigh] | “Taigh gun chù gun leanabh beag, taigh gun sunnd gun ghàire.” |
| [cù] | “Dh’fhàg thu e na leth cheann coin is chait.” – something that had been left unfinished. |
| Bheirinn a’ cnàmhan as an uir | applied to a dear or well liked person. |
| foillair | applied to someone who could not be trusted. [NOTES: note above ‘foillair’ – ‘foilleir’.] |
| ugh nide | a single egg left in a nest so that hens would still frequent that nest. |
| fàs-nead | a nest with no eggs in it. |
| sgreab | scab, crust. |
| [sìn] | “Sìn a mach a dh’iarraidh na mònadh.” – go out and get some peat. ‘Sìn’ in the sense of going out. |
| alag | hiccup. [NOTES: corrected to ‘aileag’.] |
| bàrr moullainn | an ear mark with an L shape out in the sheep’s ear. [NOTES: note above ‘moullainn’ – ‘mobhllainn’.] |
| stiupach | uneven. [NOTES: note above ‘stiupach’ – ‘stiubach’.] |
| ioncair | puss. |
| leibideach | careless talk. |
| air mo sgunndraigeadh | scunnered, fed up. |
| teibideach | deciding whether or not to do something. |
| sgeamhadaich | severe coughing. |
| sgreamhachadh | frightened. |
| oillteachadh | frightened. |
| Math an aghaidh an uilc | no matter the crime or offence righteousness will triumph. |
| taigh bainne | pantry at the kitchen end of a house where pails of milk were stored. Usually the coolest room in the house. |
| [sitig] | “Cha b’fiach e fhaighneachd as an t-sitig.” – an ill regarded fellow. |
| Cho sean ri ceò nam beann | |
| sùghanaich | deceptive patches of sand which could collapse beneath you. |
| raceit a’ bhàis | light-hearted name given to the pension. |
| air mo sgrios | stoney broke. |
| turpaireachd | banging noise. |
| sgloungaid | a yellowy spit, usually produced first thing in the morning. Phlegm. |
| isean deireadh linn | denotes the youngest member of a family. |
| cùpa an strainnsair | literally the stranger’s cup. Teapot instead of containing 3 cups for a family of 3 would instead contain 4 cups. |
| striutan | that form of cough associated with whooping cough. |
| an driuthach | whooping cough. |
| broilain | a tube connected with a sheep or cow’s stomach. |
| deisginn | another word for ‘leaba n’uain’, the womb. [NOTES: corrected to ‘deasgainn’.] |
| an leabhar | equivalent of ‘currachda righ’ in sheep. This was the name given to the pleated intestine of cattle. |
| caolain dhubha | smaller intestines which were cut up and made into tripe. |
| a’ calcadh | describes process where boats were made watertight with the aid of wool and tar. Wool would be stuffed into a leak and tar would be poured onto this to seal it off. |
| mathair uisge | a large ditch which carried the water of other drains/ditches towards the sea. |
| A’ chiad steall a thig as a’ mharaig is teotha | this was a saying used for someone who started a day’s work with great vigour but by afternoon the zest had diminished. |
| biorach | another word for ‘dallag’, dogfish. |
| gad gharradh fhein | warming yourself beside a fire. |
| beatadh | to knock. |
| cadal coileachan | this was a phrase used when putting a cockerel to sleep. His head was put under one of its wings and this phrase was repeated 2 or 3 times – ‘cadal, cadal coileachan’. Have seen this being done myself. |
| tosgaireachd | applied to someone who was in and out of a place. |
| làmpa eolain | a lamp lit with the aid of seal oil or any other fat. |
| a’ butaigeadh | deciding whether or not to do something. “Bha mi a’ butaigeadh air sgriobhadh thuige.” [NOTES: corrected to ‘buttaigeadh’.] |
| Gealltanas math is droch phaigheadh | promises of great rewards which do not materialise. |
| foradh | when you obtained something unexpectedly. “Nach tu a fhuair a foradh.” |
