ceap mallaidh | when turfing peat, this is the first strip of turf which is taken off. Turfing consists of two such strips along the peat bog. |
poll iochdar | after about forty years or so a new peat bog can be opened on the original site of a prior bog. This is on a lower level than the original bog. |
poll uachdar | is the bog opened at a higher level to ‘poll iochdar’ [q.v.]. |
smiarach(d) | rummaging about when looking for something. |
smàglach | an amount of seaweed which you can lift on a graip (gràpa). Could also mean an amount of hay lifted on a pitch fork used at harvest time – “Cuir smàglach neo dhà eile air a’ chairt.” |
smìgleadh | a thin covering. |
cullaidh uamhais | something out of the ordinary. |
sgiob | to swipe, steal. “Bochd nach do sgiob mi e.” |
cnodhan | hoofs of a horse. |
murrag (-an) | driftwood or indeed anything that might be found on the shore. It is a tribute to the wiliness of Hebridean people that they always refer to such a find as a ‘murrag’, even when it was a crate of whisky or rum. No one elaborated on what they had found except to say that they had found a ‘murrag’. |
deireadh bhuainn | refers to the custom of having a few drinks at the local inn after the harvest work had been done. |
lìrigeadh | to give, pass on. |
lantruig | instruction, command. |
liurasta | precious, valuable. |
risteal | a type of plough used for ploughing notoriously tough land. |
sliuchdnadh | cutting, slicing through. Also used in ploughing context. |
tuinnich (-eachadh) | to settle. |
fuarasg | damp, wet land. |
fiadhaire | fallow land. |
draoinich | farmers. “Chaidh mi dìreach gu na draoinich a bha a cuir [sic] an t-sìl.” |
a’ sitheadh | sloping land. Inclining. |
priomhain | a religious office. Pre-Reformation era. Prior? |
firsginn | a strong body of soldiers. |
uileasg | a marker used to define boundaries between fields. |
ceann snaodh | head chief. |
umadair | person who is appealing against a charge. Appealer. |
iosantas | to give judgement. |
arrad | heavy beams of wood. |
stòc cadhagach | in old days these were wooden pins which were used for securing and fastening. |
tàireil | contemptuously [sic]. “Fhreagair e gu tàireil.” |
muinighinn | trust. |
fiuranta | active. |
tuinnse | a fatal blow. |
fraide | in days gone this was a stockade made with wooden stakes. |
a’ bearradh | competing with each other. |
agiolta(ir) | skilful, skilful person. |
guilemanas | not losing control, your cool when at the mercy of a superior force. “Cha do chaill e a ghuileamanas.” |
cionasgaradh | arguments. |