Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

Informant(s)
Name
Peter Chisholm (Peter Dhonnchaidh)
Location
[Lewis], S. Lochs, Gravir
Date
September 1972
Notes
  • [NOTES: in IPA transcriptions, the fieldworker uses [w] for [ɯ].]
loch-bhlianQuot.: “dearg air a loch-bhlian dheas”, “dearg air a loch-bhlian cheàrr”. Note: the flank of sheep – used in marking.
crabhcanNote: earmark.
gearradh-lùdaigNote: earmark.
gearradhNote: earmark.
snàthad-lìnNote: earmark confined, according to P.C., to one crofter in Marvig. The ear is folded lengthwise and a cut like a “gearradh-lùdaig” [q.v.] made, leaving a tongue in the middle of the ear.
bàrrQuot.: bàrr is tri rubaidh. Note: earmark. (Put also under rubadh.)
rubadhNote: earmark. (Also known as sgoltadh.)
meurlan[mȷɤ:ʴɫɑṉ] Note: earmark. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
sùlag[su̜:ɫɑɡ] Note: earmark.
slisinnNote: earmark.
cnaimh-runnach[kɾɛ̃:rũ̜n̪ɑx] Note: horse-mackerel.
clàragNote: square frame on which fishing line is wound.
sgleòtagNote: (1) young lythe. (2) also applied to young, flighty girls.
troilleNote: torsk (fish).
sporan-na-crùbaigNote: spawn-pouch of the crab.
bor-tiachd[bɔʴt̪iɑxk] Note: P.C.’s pronunciation of “muirtiachd”, a jellyfish. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
tethNote: applied to a stinging jellyfish (adj.).
sgeolldair[sɡʹɤu̜ɫd̪əð] Note: long thin reddish jellyfish which stings. Buckie men called them “scalders”.
giobnach[ɡʹıbṉɔx] Note: a squid.
crosgagNote: starfish.
breallach[bðɑɫɔx] Note: shellfish found in the sand. Has a spout which it can retract.
làgaraidNote: a tidal wave, most noticeable in a shallow inlet. Doesn’t occur with every tide, or not noticeable. Often precedes bad weather.
tulchan[t̪u̜ɫu̜xɑṉ] Note: the part of the “mircean” nearer to the rock.
brisgean[bðiʃɡʹɑṉ] Note: edible root (silverweed?) found among potatoes.
feamainn-phlugachNote: seaweed with bubbles on it.
déisneag[dʹe:ʃnʹɑɡ] Note: a small, thin “portan”, not as rounded in the back as the ordinary one. Not as blue.
giomach-tuathalNote: hermit crab.
pronn-mhaorach[pɾɔ̃n̪ɔvw̃ɾɑx] Note: chewed “maorach” thrown out for bait to attract saithe.
ceannNote: rope between the “cruaidh” at the end of a fishing line and the buoy.
total[t̪ɔt̪ɑɫ] Quot.: “total fhaoileag”. Note: a flock of seagulls wheeling about near the surface of the sea where fish are.
puta-sàsNote: float perhaps 15 fathoms down tied to the “ceann” [q.v.] of the great-line or small line. Often made here of a circle of rope with corks on it right round. (Sometimes puta-sàs known as sàsair.)
gad-àrcNote: circle of cork floats strung together. Used as a “puta-sàs” (above).
sgràbadhQuot.: a’ sgràbadh. Note: working a grapnel. [Cf. sgràbair.]
sgràbairNote: grapnel, for picking up lost fishing lines from the bottom. [Cf. sgràbadh.]
bàcQuot.: am bàc. Note: the top rope from which a herring net is hung.
dafans[ḏɑfəṉs] Note: small lengths of line attaching herring net to the “bàc” [q.v.].
lion-chlachNote: herring net with stones as weights.
géibheil[ɡʹe:vəl] Note: the ends of the herring net.
cluaisNote: the top corner of a herring net where the “géibheil” [q.v.] was attached to the “bàc” [q.v.].
claigionn[kɫɑɡən̪] Note: wooden top on a sheepskin buoy.
stuidhe[sṯu̟ıə] Note: a kind of buoy made with a calf’s skin, the skin having been removed as whole as possible. The buoy had roughly the shape of the calf.
suirceanNote: spiked muzzle on a calf to prevent it suckling its mother.
laoisgeannNote: membrane, very thin covering.
itiach[ıtʹıɑx] Note: gullet.
snàithl[sn̪ɑ̃:l] Note: anal passage.
smior-cailleach[smĩɾkɑlʹɑx] Note: spinal marrow.
liabhach[lʹıɑvɔx] Note: applied to the colouring of a sheep’s face. Dirty white effect.
sgrogag[sɡɾɔ̃ɡɑɡ] Note: small stump of a horn on a sheep.
sgrogach[sɡɾɔ̃ɡɑx] Quot.: caora sgrogach. Note: sheep with small stumps of horns.
adhaircQuot.: caora le adhaircean chros. Note: sheep with horns curving in towards the face.
adhaircQuot.: caora le adhaircean sgaoilt. Note: a sheep with wide horns.
seirmige[ʃeðəmiɡʹə] Note: a ram in such poor condition that he’s not allowed near sheep.
ruige[ru̟ɡʹə] Note: [a ram which] has only one testicle in the sac. The other one up in its back (acc. to P.C.).
seirg[ʃeðeɡʹ] Note: a sheep in poor condition and because of some deficiency won’t fatten. (Pine in English.)
ceathramh-dubhNote: black-leg.
gonadhQuot.: “na gonaidhean”. Note: growths in the mouths of cattle which prevented them from eating properly. Usually cut with shears.
gallaNote: used here for bitch. “Saidh” not used.
buthaid[bu̟idʹ] Note: puffin.
eun-dubh[ɑ̃ṉd̪u̟] Note: guillemot.
ailean-bodadha[ɑlɑṉbɔd̪ˈɑə] Note: a sea-bird which forces seagulls to disgorge its [sic] food, and swallows it itself. Probably the skua.
gleannQuot.: “Tha’n fhairge na glinn.” “Ann an glinn na mara.” Note: Referring to troughs in a heavy swell.
claigionn[kɫɑɡən̪] Quot.: “Claigionn na Càbaig”. Note: Referring to the extremity of Kebock Head.
teilean-déNote: butterfly.
caisean-cumhach[kɑʃɑṉkũ̟ɑx] Quot.: “Caisean-cumhach na Bealltainn”. Note: spell of bad weather at the beginning of May.
faoileachQuot.: “na faoilich”. Note: spell of cold winds in January and into February.
tanaisg[t̪ɑ̃ṉiʃɡʹ] Note: spectre in the form of a person.
tàbhoradh[t̪ɑ:vɔɾəɣ] Note: ghostly resemblance of a person, usually connected with a future happening.
rainneach[rɛ̃ṉɔx] Note: bracken. (Pronunciation.)
grioban[ɡðibɔṉ] Note: applied to a person, usually a boy, who is not as developed as he should be physically at his age.
prothaisteach[pɾɔhɑʃtʹɑx] Quot.: “prothaisteach de bhalach”. Note: well-built young lad.
sgeil[sɡʹel] Quot.: “Tha sgeil uamhasach air an te sin.” Note: She has an awful lot to say.
farbhailteach[fɑɾɑvɑlʹtʹɑx] Quot.: “’S e boirionnach farbhailteach a th’innt.” Note: used of a person who makes a welcoming fuss when a person goes into her house.
siurraireachd[ʃurəðɑxk] Quot.: “Tha thu ann a’ sin a’ siurraireachd nan tighean fad an latha.” Note: used of a woman who is always in and out of houses.
siurrag[ʃu̜rɑɡ] Note: a woman who is always in and out of houses.
aimsirQuot.: “Bha mi aimsirean [ɑmɑʃəðəṉ] mas do chuimhnich mi air.” Note: I took ages before I remembered it.
pliutagNote: a light cuff or clip.
claimhreachd[kɫɑ̃ĩɾɑxk] Quot.: “cearc a’ claimhreachd as a’ ghainmich”. Note: used of a hen sgrabbling [sic] in sand.
ùilleagNote: liquid fat floating, e.g. on the surface of soup.

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