Taigh Gàidhealach / House and Furnishings

Informant(s)
Name
John MacLean ( Iain Mac ’Illeathain )
Age
48
Origin
Barra
Location
Dunoon
1. An stéidh is am balla
am balla muighouter wall.
am balla stighinner wall.
an glutadhstuffing between wall [sic]. Chan’eil e muigh ’s chan’eil e stigh ’s cha tig an tigh as aonais. – toimhseachan.
tobhtabare wall.
air an tobhtaidhon top of the wall.
gleurach na tobhtadhvirago, woman sitting on top of the wall laying forth.
an starsachthe path in front of the house.
clachaireachdbuilding with stone.
2. Am mullach ’s an tughadh
tughadhthatch.
spar-feannaigwooden spar at each end with the ropes going round it.
clachan-acairestones, all round with the ropes tied to them.
an cabar saoidhsooty rafter.
na cabairthe rafters.
ceangal or maide ceangailthe rafters.
Chaidh e broinn a cheilethe roof fell in.
sgrathanthe flat pieces of turf under the thatch.
siomanrope.
sùganlength of rope used for thatch or carrying bundle of thatch or hay. Cf. ‘soogan’ – rope used by western cowboys.
3. Dorsan is uinneagan
am dorus a muighouter door.
an dorus a stighinner door.
còmhlaa door not yet in position (usually). Gabh an taobh is boidche de’n chomhlaidh. – Get out.
an ard-dorustop cross piece or lintel. Cluinnidh luchagan an aird doruis e. – All will hear it.
na h-ursannandoorposts.
bun na h-ursainncross piece at the bottom. Suirighe fad air falbh ’s posadh am bun na h-ursainn. – Courting miles away then marrying a next door neighbour.
uinneaga window.
céisthe window case or frame.
lòsan (soft l)pane of glass.
botaidhputty.
an glòdhan (clòdhan)the latch.
cùl cheallaichhinge.
sneicsneck.
snéiceara peeping Tom or a keyhole Kate.
4. An broinn an taighe: na sèamraichean
uachdar an tighekitchen.
an ceann shuaskitchen.
iochdar an tighethe room.
an ceann shiosthe room.
an rùmthe room.
a chlòsaidthe small room.
calbhapartition or wooden wall.
cul an doruispassage between kitchen and the large room behind the main door.
ùlar[sic] floor.
5. An t-àite-teine
an teinethe fire.
an t-aite teinefireplace.
an tinnteinstand at each side of the fire for holding pots etc.
slabhraidhthe pot hook attached to the chain.
a ghriosachthe embers or the hearth. Tha e ’n comhnaidh ’sa ghriosaich. – He is aye sitting by the fire.
a smàladhsmooring the fire.
luathash.
a chagailtethe hearth-stone.
eibhleagan ember.
an teine biorachwill o’ the wisp.
an simileirthe chimney.
an ceann simileirchimney head.
tarruingvent. Tha deagh tharruing aige (aice). – It’s a good vent (used with smoking pipe).
saoidhsoot.
snighesooty water from the roof.
tinn fodhawater oozing from the floor.
6. Airneis an taighe
bordtable.
beingebench.
leababed.
leaba dhùbailtedouble bed.
càradh na leapadhmaking the bed.
cathairchair.
sedharchair.
an giurnaileirmeal chest.
cistechest.
seotal na cistidhsmall apartment in chest.
furamstool.
tarsanan na beingeadhcross stick on bench.
an clàrwooden tray for potatoes or fish.
an clàr fuinnebaking board.
greidealgirdle [sic].
badagnumber of strong feather [sic] or outer part of wing used to dust the griddle after each fill.
clobhatongs.
bucaideanbuckets.
paileachanpails.
miosanbasins.
cupannancups.
coirekettle.
poiteanpots.
sasaireansaucers.
trisearanplates.
sgeinneanknives.
spàineanspoons.
boulabowl.
mios feodairpewter basin – cooler for milk.
crannachanchurn.
loinidpart of the churn.
fiodhansmall cheese press.
preasapress.
tubaa tub.
ballana tub.
slachdana type of rolling pin rounded at the bottom for mashing potatoes. Slachdan an laimh òinsich – any dangerous instrument.
sioltagstrainer for milk.
crag (cnag)made from a piece of tree trunk shaped like a modern pouffe but smaller and used for sitting by the fire.
7. Sobhal, bàthach, no bothanan sam bith eile
bàthachbyre.
’n tigh beagbyre.
tigh nan cearchenhouse.
bothag nan cearchenhouse.
bothag an tairbhthe bull’s house.
iodhlannstackyard.
bùthagpotatoes placed on ground in stackyard, covered with dry bracken and then turf – not in a pit.

© DASG
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