slabustar | a large amount, e.g. “Seall thusa an slabustar a dh’ith an duine sin.” Usually associated with avarice and greed. |
drointeadh | a ticking off. “Thug mi drointeadh air.” |
dorsaireachd | literally walking between doors. Not going further than your house. Would be used on a rainy day when outdoor work was cancelled. “Cha robh mi ach a dorsaireachd mun taigh fad an latha.” |
ràp | a fragment, small portion. Would be heard as – “Cha phaighinn ràp dhe’n airgiod sin gus an tig an gnothach gu cuirt.” |
breagha (-chan) | ropes attached to lobster creels. |
sgréitheadh | when the tummers of a boat come apart and begin to leak it is said to be ‘sgréitheadh’. |
snagadaich | gnashing of teeth. |
leibideach | of a calamitous person. |
gleodhrais | wasting your time. “Dè a ghleodhrais a tha ort an diugh.” |
sgriob drama | an itch just above your upper lip. Indicates that you are about to receive a drink from someone. |
tormoileadh | aimless wandering. “Dè an tormoileadh a tha ort mur sin.” |
closnach | applied to a scrawny, poorly looking person. |
clàtair | a gadget used for pulling out ashes from a stove. |
mean fhàs | evolution. |
connragan | consonants. |
slùpraich | slurping. |
tinneas cleith | an extreme cold. “Plùpadaich ’s tinneas cleith.” |
sgiùd | excessive excrement in cattle which resulted from having consumed too much cold water. |
trollais | applied to someone who spoke too fast and whom you could not understand. “Dè trollais bruidhne a bha air an duine ud?” |
tàthadh | puffing and panting. “Nach ann air a tha tàthadh.” |
cuibheasach | not feasable. “Chan eil e cuibheasach na rudan sin a cheannach an diugh.” |
greadadh gréine | sun rays. |
taghanaich | moaning. |
gothail | panting. Previous two words [i.e. gothail and taghanaich] also applied to cattle who experience difficulty. |
strùladh | tide swishing gently against pier ramp, rocks, etc. |
sgeallan | yellow plant which spoiled crops. Wild mustard? |
sgalla | a large, predominantly flat rock. |
gloudhr | similar to Scots word ‘glower’, a deafening, steady noise. |
fàireag | swollen gland. |
diomaid | a bit of wood for beating flax. |
deachamh | lost or missing. |
caibhleachadh | herding cattle. |
brimill | a bull seal. Also used of a fat, chubby man. |
brimadaich | farting. |
glag gàire | hearty laugh. |
airigh iasgaich | an onshore shieling made of turfs and used by fisherman. Located near the sea. |
sgritheil | makeshift. |
ailis (-ean) | as in casting up something from someone’s past to stir trouble. “A’ tilgeadh ailisean.” |
uaineachadh | humbled. |
minichneag | a skin hide put over a barrel to protect the contents. |
manaig | a ramshackle, makeshift implement, e.g. gate. |
ludonda | clumsy. |
liunn tàth | a sort of cement made from shells. Not lime. |
sliagaireachd | sneakiness. |
suaimhneach | in the context of all day long. “Fad mhinn shuaimhneach an latha.” |
laosbagan | home-made shoes. |
brògan tionndaidh | brogues. |
lomadal [? iomadal?] | a hanger on. |
geodail | gossip, malicious rumours. |
coileachadh an uisge | beating the water to confuse trout, making them more vulnerable. |
clàbhaist | a noisy conversation, number of people talking simultaneously. |
ciorachan | a man who does a woman’s work. |
plinn | a wide grin. “Bha plinn air.” |
air chialainn | going out in the morning without having eaten something. “Chaidh e mach air chialainn.” |
crèidheach | a hermit. Religious person. |
Di Ciadaoin a bhrath | Wednesday of Holy Week. |
dùgan | dark, peaty soil. Also ‘dùgan a’ gheamhraidh’ – darkest time of winter. |
an earrarais | the day after the day after tomorrow. |
an earradhubh | when the moon begins to darken. |
fàin an latha | the brightest part of the day. |
greathan latha | usually heard at dusk. “Tha greathan latha ann fhathast.” |
mochran | from early morning. “Tha e air a bhith a muigh air a’ mhonadh o mhochran.” |
falaid | flour sprinkled over the baking that was to be put in the oven. |
gannaisg | rough grass with ears. More durable and tougher than ordinary grass. |
turrag (-an) | troubles. |
crosadh | to disapprove of some habit or other, e.g. whistling on a Sunday. |
pollag na Samhna | at Halloween a hole was dug in the ground by which your future fortune could be judged. If on the next day a worm was found in the said hole this indicated good luck. However, if the hole was empty this was a sign of bad luck. |
àibheis | large, clumsy person. |
bonnanach | large well-built person. |
buigleag | chubby and rather soft person. |
glaisnig | thin, gaunt looking person. |
pìceir | mischievous rascal. |
stiorraideach | long, thin, lanky, untidy looking person. |
cùrachan | an infant. |
lolag (-an) [? iolag?] | links in a chain. |
geilemaid | two or three women noisily conversing. |
ràfard | nonsensical talk. “Dè an ràfard a tha ort?” |
fàlan | a children’s tea party. Also in the sense of a hiding place. “Dè fàlan a tha agad thall an sin?” |
spalpadh piob | playing bagpipes with great zeal and enthusiasm. |
giofalais | doing small odd jobs. |
oinnid | a woman who is not quite the full shilling. |
lungaidh | a dogsbody. |
siugan | a call to a calf. |
sgliurach | unworthy woman. Perhaps hinting at moral depravity. |
làbrach | untidy person. |
droll | hump backed. |
gille mìse | someone who is forever crawling to superiors. |
nimheil fuar | nippy, biting weather. |
logaidh bheag | fringe of your hair. |
luidreadh | messing about as in a child playing in soap suds. Also in sense of being tossed about whilst on a boat. “Bha mi air mo luidreadh a’ tighinn air a’ bhàta.” |
balgam | a sip. |
fionnairidh | night watching. |
rìomhadh | ornate. |
còmhal | transport. “Bha sinn a’ falbh air an aon chòmhal a’ dol dhan sgoil.” |
déideag | a doll. |
sgiobag | game of tig. |
cairtean bàite | two cards found facing each other when dealing. |
spliutail | spluttering. |
aineamhail | proud flesh. |
baltag | protruding stomach. “Nach ann air a tha a bhaltag.” |
a’ bhanachdach | smallpox. |
dreamasg | skin being shrivelled up in appearance due to skin being burnt in the past. |
gùcag | an eye shaped lens onto which drops would be placed and from this put into your eye. |