gioslainteach | a superstitious person. |
balgan buarach | mushrooms. |
[Latha Fheill Padruig] | “Latha Fheill Padruig, leth an earraich, thig an niomhair as an talamh, cha bhith mise ris an niomhair, ’s cha mhotha bhios an niomhair ruim [sic].” The reference to the serpent is unclear to me and the informant cannot shed light on its significance. |
[sgarbh] | “Biodh gach neach a’ toirt sgairbh a creagan dha fhein.” – let everyone fend for themselves. |
cùpa tì na’d laimh | having tea without sitting at a table, e.g. “An gabh thu tì na’d laimh.” |
gàmhran | a mischievous child who does not heed advice or censure. |
bàs gun sgread | death without blemish. |
Latha Naomh Steaphain | not sure of exact date but arises between Christmas and New Year. |
[laogh] | “’S ioma rud a tha an cois a’ laoigh nach saoill a mhàthair.” – a proverb which refers to the unpredictability of someone you might trust implicitly. |
[ministear] | “Nuair a bhios a’ pobull gann ni an gille càm ministear.” |
[ni] | “’S fhearr duine gun ni na ni gun duine.” |
[comhairle] | “Nuair a thig latha thig comhairle.” |
taigh pobuill | a church. |
aran cuagach | a bannock that was not properly shaped, not rounded. |
[gabhail] | “Fhuair e gabhail aige.” – he was well treated. |
[crois] | “’S fhearr suathadh ri crois na fuathal ri crois.” |
[cù] | “’S fhearr an cù a dh’fhalbhas na an cù a dh’fhuiricheas.” – the more versatile you are the better chance you have of survival. |
[ròn] | “’S leatha na ròn tònn eadar a thaigh.” – refers to the obesity which might strike someone who was eternally visiting houses. [NOTES: ‘tònn’ corrected to ‘tòn’.] |
[bean taighe] | “’S math a bhean taighe a bheir a nuas a rud nach eil shuas.” |
snàth dearg | according to the informant red wool was needed to make a successful ‘snàthla’. For description of ‘snàthla’ see earlier notes. |
eadar dà phort am beoil | corner of the mouth. [NOTES: ‘beoil’ corrected to ‘beòil’.] |
comhachachadh | to conquer. [NOTES: corrected to ‘cothach(ach)adh’.] |
frialadh | throwing people off as in a skirmish. |
talamh toll | a quagmire of mud and dirt which could pull you down. |
dìaulum | an old word which referred to strong liquer [sic] [liquor?] of any kind. Informant has a song on this. [NOTES: note added above – Di-abhlam.] |
déasbhalach | knowledgeable, skilful. |
fuidh | noise, shouting, consternation. |
[fuine] | “’S fhearr fuine thana na bhi uile falamh.” |
builliartaich | a witch. [NOTES: a note added above – muileartach.] |
cabhalaids’ | something that is cumbersome and difficult to operate. Actually this was in reference to my recording machine! |
strùthan milleagach | a rich, opulent stream. [NOTES: ‘strùthan’ corrected to ‘struthan’.] |
seilair | a cellar. |
[aodach] | “Cha be daoine an t-aodach, ’s cha be a cholunn bhreugach.” – a proverb which refers to the outward artificial appearance of someone. It is his inner personality which counts. |
[bò] | Tòmhseachan: “Ceithir a ruidh, ceithir air chrith, ’s dithis a’ deanamh an rathaid, ’s fear ag éigheach.” Refers to different parts of a cow – legs, teats, eyes and mouth. |
muadhlanaich | the lowing sound of cattle. |
tàpan | a small bundle, in this instance a small bundle of wool. [NOTES: corrected to ‘tapan’.] |
peardachan | when carding this was the amount of wool laid flat on the card. |
lus nan laogh | black roots were boiled. Wool steeped in this to give a black colour. |
ìm smiaraidh | added to the wool so that it would be easier to work with. This was done prior to carding. |
gu dìlum | forever. [NOTES: note added above ‘um’ in ‘dìlum’ – eann.] |
feàirdean | debts. Could also be interpreted as sins. |
gam iathadh | surrounding. |
ag uaineachadh | particular type of humiliation as a result of intimidation by your oppressors. |