| botrachan | a bit of wood under the tail of a horse. |
| stallan | male horse. [NOTES: note added – (from stallion).] |
| sioman ruadh | manila rope. [NOTES: ‘sioman’ corrected to ‘sìoman’.] |
| meallthìreach | submerged roots found in dry peaty soil especially in embankments. These roots were used to make ropes. |
| sgalla | a flat rock found on croft land. |
| snàthalain | a sort of ritual performed when an animal was ill. A woollen rope was made by a woman who was known to have mystical powers. As this rope was constructed, knots were tied in it, with the backdrop of prayers being shouted aloud. These women were known to have been physically sick during this ritual and many were known to have fainted. When completed this knotted rope was attached to the animal’s tail and thereafter the illness would be cured. This was fervently believed in, although you could never be one hundred percent sure it was actually responsible for the replenishment of health. |
| glasadh na latha | five in the morning. |
| an torraidh | stealing the milk from someone else’s cattle. Usually done in the early hours of the morning. |
| corp creadha | an effigy constructed with clay from a river and shaped just above the water of that river. Pins were stuck into this and left on the surface. When the river rose the effigy wore away. At that point the pain would be felt by the victim. |
| manaidhean | a premonition, always something that was heard. |
| taibhs | a premonition which was seen rather than heard. |
| brèide | bandage. |
| stràc bheoil | top layer of tummers in a boat. |
| na saighean | stems. |
| beul | gunnel. |
| ceannachraichean | seat supports in a boat (wooden). |
| cara | a trap for catching fish at high tide. Placed in the mouth of a river. See earlier description in previous notes. Difference in pronunciation between Uist (caraidh) and Eriskay (cara). |
| coire blianain | phosphorescence. |
| teine sionachain | will o’ the wisp. Variant on ‘teine biorach’. |
| claigeann buthta | the stock/head of a buoy. |
| calc | hemp. |
| ròsaid | sap from trees. |
| calcadh | hemp and sap mixed together and used for leaks in boats. |
| cnap eisg | shoal. |
| meall eisg | shoal. |
| fada-cruaidh | a black cloud in the north indicative of bad weather to come. |
| cliath sheanachair | iron tongs. [NOTES: note added above ‘sheanachair’ – (? teanchair).] |
| iarunn stiùreach | bits of iron associated with the rudder such as gudgeons and pintles. |
| dual | cable pattern in a jersey. |
| fiacaill sàibh | also a feature in Eriskay patterns. |
| crosgag | starfish. Also found in patterns. |
| a’ ghainmheach | an illness affecting the stomach of an animal. Arose from the animal eating docks (copagan), grass roots and sand. Animal would be in great pain and could not rise to its feet. Could only be cured by constant movement such as riding. Could affect cattle but mostly affected horses. |
| fainne pòsda | wedding rings were used to cure styes. Rubbed on the eye. |
| greim dubh | appendicitis. |
