Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

Informant(s)
Name
Donald MacKinnon
Location
Eriskay, Na Hann [Haun]
Date
[1987-88]
Fieldworker
A. O’Henley
Notes
  • [NOTES: some notes added (most probably by K. D. MacDonald?). See below for details.]
beulgunnel.
stém toisich
stém deiridh
stràc bheòilthe top layer of tummers.
fluich [sic] bhòrdthe lower layer of tummers next to the keel.
lanna galvanised washer.
barradhonce the tummers had been riveted together with the nails, their ends were cut off and what was left of the nails was flattened against the timber. This flattening of the nail was called ‘a barradh nan tàirnean’. Had to be careful not to be too over zealous in this task and indeed if the nails were too tightly clenched against the tummers the boat could come apart on being put in water. There had to be a certain breathing space between the timber and the nail.
lunnthat part of the oar which you gripped with your hands.
am bacthat part of the oar which was between the rowlocks.
liaththe blade of the oar. [NOTES: note added under ‘liath’ – = liagh.]
ceannachraidheanthis extended from the gunnel down underneath the seats and acted both as a support for those seats and as a strengthening for the boat itself. In this diagram these wooden supports are indicated by the dotted lines:
tobhta bhràghadthe seat closest to the rear of the boat.
maide chasa wooden block in front of the rowing seat and used as a support when rowing.
[saod]“Cha robh saod agad sin a dheanamh.” You had no way of doing that.
ròp toisichfor tying a boat to the pier.
ròp acairanchor rope.
luirgeadh an acairthe anchor’s stem, foot.
pliuchcanthe pronged (flukes) parts of an anchor which grip in the sand. [NOTES: note added above ‘pliuchcan’ – (pl.).]
stòcthe crown of the anchor between the two flukes. [NOTES: corrected to ‘stoc’.]
sgadan a’ cluichherring would be seen jumping especially when the tide was ebbing.
cnapa shoal of herring.
coire blianainphosphorescence.
muir tiachdjellywish [sic] [jellyfish?]. Would burn you if touched.
cearbanbasking shark.
sìollplankton. [NOTES: corrected to ‘sìol’ and a question mark added in the margin.]
samhany smell but in this case used of the distinct smell of herring.
bìgeilherring would be heard squeaking in the nets or on deck having been hauled aboard.
fiathe ‘mh’ is not pronounced as in ‘fiamh’. Means the oil on the sea’s surface coming of the herring below.
sgiuchadhapplied to the skimming dive of a gannet ‘sùlaire’. “A’ sgiuchadh an uisge.”
geibhalan end of a drift net. [NOTES: corrected to ‘gèibheil’.]
druimthe upper rope to which the floats were attached.
lìnn chlachnets with stone weights attached to the bottom rope.
a’ tarrainghauling.
ròpa tromthe rope at the bottom of the net.
leth chaswhen repairing a net a ‘leth chas’ was one side of a square – mogull, i.e.
snathad lìnnneedle for mending nets.
gròbadhmakeshift repair of nets whilst at sea.
a’ cairteadh lìnnweatherproofing nets using bark. As well as giving protection against the elements this protected the nets from the destructive effect the fish’s natural oil could have.
bocsa snàthtwine box.
clach fhaoirsharpening stone. [NOTES: note added above ‘fhaoir’ – = fhaobhair.]
lìnn a’ teisgeadhthis describes the nets smouldering due to the corrosive effect of the herring’s oil. Nowadays nylon nets are not so prone to this compared to the older cotton variety.
deannan sgadana reasonable catch.
cnapadh nan lìnnnets getting tangled up.
stroiceadha split in the net. [NOTES: corrected to ‘stròiceadh’.]
am buidhe-ròpthe buoy rope.
duin-iarruinnused for the iron hauler used for pulling in nets. [Cf. a’ chailleach]
a’ chailleachused for the iron hauler used for pulling in nets. [Cf. duin-iarruinn]
lìnn a’ dol an sàsnets stuck fast on the seabed.
goilleachgutpoke herring. [NOTES: corrected to ‘goileach’.]
snàthlusa thin leaf boiled with fresh butter and wax to give it a solidified state. Used as an ointment for cuts.
croilleaga wicker basket used to carry fishing nets. ‘Linn chaoile.’
a’ geibeal mun cuairtglancing around. [NOTES: ‘geibeal’ corrected to ‘geibeil’.]
duine gabhaidha greedy person. [NOTES: corrected to ‘gàbhaidh’.]

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