| Slip |
| [mùn] | Quotation: Faodaidh i mùn an aghaidh na gaoth tuath air mo shon-sa. (Forgive me! if this is rather distasteful.) Source: Traditional. Notes: Reference to a girl who jilted a gentleman, him saying she may do likewise in coldness for him. |
| Coltas an duine (Personal Appearance) |
| duine le ra-spars | [?] showy. |
| susbainteach | purposeful, substance, of substance. |
| purpasach | purposeful, business character. |
| greannach | irritable, unpleasant. |
| spàgach | splayfooted. |
| magail | scoffing. |
| cuireideach | entertaining. |
| borb | wild, fierce. |
| fiadhaich | wild, distant. |
| upraideach | busy character. |
| ceannsgalach | authoritative. |
| carach | fly, ... |
| saoghalta | worldly. |
| duin’-an-t-saoghail | man of the world. |
| còmhraiteach | talkative. |
| cianail | a sad man, destructive to cause sadness. |
| cùbach | hiding in a crouching way. |
| ballaisteach | solid. |
| grùnndail | well-founded, of stability. |
| faiceallach | careful. |
| dibhearsaineach | jokingly. |
| taingeil | thankful. |
| diorrasach | obstinate. |
| dealasach | loyal. |
| cumhachdach | powerful. |
| grànnda | ugly, distasteful. |
| lagail | [sic] lawful, lawful in speech. |
| neo-àbhaisdeach | uncommon, no ordinary, unique. |
| duilich | causing grievances. |
| cacach | difficult to keep up with. |
| uamhasach | terrible. |
| sturaicheachd | sulky. |
| staoin | shallow. |
| mhialachd | (uncommon word) harmless. |
| caraideach | industrious. |
| graingealach | complainer, ‘especially in the way of sickness’. |
| drabhag | hardly a drop. |
| druthag | wee drop. |
| siochaire-builg | pithless puffed up character. |
| fail | untidy female, dirty female. |
| maide-ramasagaidh | (yes) battering ram. |
| fiolcadh | tampering. |
| sgeileid | talkative female. |
| plunndraigeadh | foundered. |
| sainnsearachd | whispering. |
| pliob, pliob | sop, sop [sic] [sob, sob?]. |
| pliobail | sobbing. |
| bliob, bliob | soft second motion rhythm noise of the satellite on its journey (in) to space. |
| diog, diog | sound of the clock. |
| falchan | whisky in hiding. |
| sgarbh | half bottle of whisky. |
| sgarbh | cormorant. |
| casan-cloimhe | pussy-foot – reference to the softness of death. |
| sgriogal | old character, oldish appearance. |
| sgiolagadh | ‘withdrawing food from whelks’. |
| sùilean | tubers (potatoes). |
| claoidhean | [?] part of the potato. Claodhan – sing. Plural – claodhain. |
| callan | continuity. |
| singealadh | setting the tubers (potatoes) in the drill. |
| cothachadh | pacing against a gale of wind. |
| spitheid | plug pin, or wooden pin from a wooden cask or bottle. |
| sgulgaireachd | skulling [sic], loafing. |
| muc-bhreac | Roqual [sic] [Rorqual?] whale. |
| cuiteag-ghorm | blue whiting. |
| sgìlleagan | plaster from the contents of an egg, breaking an egg, spilling. |
| ròic | roast (mutton). |
| rothlag | rowlock; roll of wool. |
| sleightig | slither, sliding. |
| liuthraig | delivered. |
| sgailc | broken apart. |
| lion-sgriobaidh | trawl. |
| gràn-innseanach | maize (meal) grain. They used to give such to hens (Scalpay). |
| moglachadh | meshed. |
| aghaidh | cheeky. |
| cliong | clink. |
| cleitreach | female exhibiting unwanted talk, unmannerly female. |
| deiseag | crab. |
| crabhag | miniature peat bank. |
| sùil-chruthaich | quagmire. |
| sibeal | tall man. |
| gorradaireachd | peeping. |
| goradh | sudden jerk. |
| smuglaigeadh | smuggling. |
| sumanadh | unusual dress, unusual clothes, coat (also summons). C’a ’n d’fhuair thu sumanadh. Still in use, etc. |
| craiteachan | (also) sprinkle. |
| spoileagadh | operation. |
| cnàmhaire | bony, bony character. |
| ringealadh | delay, delaying. |
| stuttara | on your wits. Bi air do stuttara – be on your wits, intact. |
| sguitlireachd | scullery work. |
| Shapes and general appearance |
| cho fada ri gu siorruidh | as long as ‘for ever’. |
| cho caol ri minidh | as thin as an augaur [sic] [auger?]. |
| cho grànnda ris a’ pheacadh | as ugly as sin. |
| deanta | well-built. |
| piollagach | shabby, in tattered clothes. |
| cho reamhar ri ròin | as fat as a seal. |
| plosg de dhuine | a wobbly fat man. |
| cailleach de dhuine | clumsy man, scary. |
| duine subailte | flexible man. |
| le craiceann gairtidh | with a withering look of a skin. |
| dearg bhusach | ruddy cheeks. |
| dearg air an aghaidh | fresh-complexioned. |
| cha ’eil eanchainn circe aige | void of ‘brains’, intelligence. |
| miaraitteadh | [sic] a weakling of a man. |
| colas a bhidhidh | [sic] well-fed. |
| cù duine | unpopular character. |
| nach b’e ’n cù e | mean, careless behaviour. |
| mac-na-striopaich | [?] personifying. |
| colas a’ chealgaire dhubh | black deceiver. |
| colas a’ chealgaire | the appearance of a deceiver. |
| colas na muice | the appearance (snout) of a sow. |
| colas an t-sàtain | the appearance of Satan. |
| cha robh colas a chaochlaidh air | there was no variation. |
| duine ceòlmhor | of musical talent. |
| mar muc le feòil | as fat as a pig. |
| sùilean cam | squint-eyed. |
| le bial a’ tuiteam | the bottom lip giving this impression. |
| (colas) duine air mullach nan teud | [?] at the height of his jollity or enjoyment. |
| duine cròcach | having big hand [sic]. |
| duine meiteadh e meata | [?] [no?] |
| sliomaire de dhuine | slimy. |
| casan camachdach | bow [sic] legs. |
| Deformities, blemishes, scars |
| foine ribeach air a sròin | a ... wart on her nose. |
| ball-dorain | mole. |
| spuir-eòin | I am not sure of this as being a birthmark at the moment. I think you could be quite safe in noting likewise, that is if you haven’t any other definition. |
| breac-sianain | freckles. |
| bial-cam | a twist in the mouth. |
| suil-bheag | one eye smaller than the other. |
| làrach-at-a-bhuinn-duibh | a mark left after the disappearance of the swelling, festering wound. |
| fearstan | a small wart of a blackish nature on the skin. (The word is not in use on Scalpay today, but perhaps in other places?) |
| rùsgadh | parched skin. |
| marteannan | dried skin in the wind, and effected through the movement of cloth next to the skin. |
| struichdain srùichdain | [?] oir [or?] gàgan [q.v.], crevices or breakings between the fingers. |
| gàgan | ‘skin breaks’. |
| làrach-na-banachaig | mark left after inoculation. |
| cas-an-fhithich | this is an old term, it’s out of use here now but it may have survived somewhere else. I think it means a mark of a scar on the face or hands, the scriabadh form as if a bird (raven) scratched the face with its claws. A permanent mark. If you haven’t any other definition, I think you are quite safe with this. |
| sgriabadh | scratch, at the moment but eventually the mark disappears. |
| cailin fiar-shùileach | a squint-eyed girl. |
| spot-tachais | itch spot. |
| Beauty and ugliness |
| sliobadh | stroking as of a gentleman combing (continually) his hair. |
| dha phonaigeadh | perhaps from the word padding, a lady powdering herself. It may have derived from the old folk’s attempt at describing the first recollection of Powder. |
| bruisigeadh | brushing. |
| cuir fùdar oirre | I have heard this used by an old man once (Powder). |
| sgnodadh a’ bhoineid | doffing his bonnet. |
| ite-na-h-aid | feather in her cap (literally) and (mentally). |
| [diachainn] | rud-a-dh’fhagad[sic]-a-muir leis-an-diachainn – what the sea unobserved to carry as not considered valid... and still sorry in doing [?] so when we have: diachainn = dichuimhn’ [?] – forgetfulness. |
| bu tu ’n diachainn | a lady causing illusionment [sic]. |
| cur sgolapaigeadh | putting embroidery on cloth. Cus sgolapaigeadh – too much embroidery. |
| sgioblachadh | tidying. |
| dha teannachadh fhéin | tightening herself her clothes being too loose. |
| s dha truimmigeadh | trimming. |
| dha smonaigeadh | putting up exemptional [sic] [exceptional?] smoke. |
| Strength, fitness and the opposite |
| cho làidir ris an leomhainn | as strong as a lion. |
| cho fallain ri fiadh | healthy as a deer. |
| mar fiadh na beinne | healthy as deer, as healthy as the deer of the hill. |
| cho làidir ri Samson | as strong as Samson. |
| cho ruighinn ris an teàrr | as tough as tar. |
| cho lag ris a’ chuileig | as weak as a fly. |
| marbh ri sgadan | an dead as a herring. |
| geal ri sneachda | as white as snow. |
| cho fuar ris a’ bhàs | as cold as death. |
| luath ris an neas | as fast as weasel. |
| luath ri geàrr | as fast as a hare. |
| dubh mar am fitheach | black as the raven. |
| cho buan ris an darach | as lasting as the oak. |
| cho balbh ris an uaigh | as quiet as the grave. |
| cho sona ris an rìgh | as happy as the king. |
| cho fada ris an t-siorruidheachd | as long as eternity. |
| cho carach ris a’ mhadadh ruadh | as cunning as a fox. |
| cho amaideach ri na h-eòin | as ‘foolish’ as the birds. |
| [note] | (I am not sure if this is the way you want it done? I’ll better leave this as it is until I hear from you again.) |
| Ways of walking, sitting, lying; words for ‘clumsy’, ‘fidgety’ and so on |
| air a chorra-bid | tip-toe. |
| na shuidh air a leth-tharsainn | sitting half-sided. |
| calleachail | clumsy. |
| luaiseanach | [sic] fidgety. |
| critheanach | shaky. |
| coiseachd spàgaire | a splay-footed walk. |
| coiseachd slaodach | a drawling walk. |
| coiseachd aotram | light walk. |
| coiseachd sgiobalta | tidy walk. |
| coiseachd throm | throbbing movement. |
| coiseachd spliadhach | splay-footed walk. |
| a’ coiseachd air a chorra-bid | walking tip-toed. |
| a’ coiseachd cho stopach | straight and perpendicular (army fashion). |
| a’ stabhdail | slithering, or ‘stamping’ slightly. |
| a’ slaodadh a chasan | pulling his feet. |
| a’ coiseachd caran stadach | irregular walk. |
| a’ coiseachd critheanach | a shaky walk. |
| a’ stampadh | stampeding. |
| a’ stalcadh a chas(an) | putting pressure on his feet in a striking movement. |
| coiseachd-bheò | lively steps. |
| coiseachd thuige is bhuaithe | backwards and forward. |
| e beiteadh an rathaid | [sic] a drunkard’s walk. |
| siubhail air astar | fast on a journey. |
| le mall cheum | with a slow step. |
| trotan | slow carefree movement. |
| trotan | small steps. |
| le ceumannan mora fada | long big steps. |
| na shuidh air a mhàs | sitting on his buttock. |
| coiseachd dhion | a continual pace. |
| Pulling faces, frowns, other expressions; also gestures |
| slugadh an t-sùlaire | the swallowing of the solan goose (lit.). |
| aodann-fada | long-faced. |
| scraing | frown. |
| dùr | obstinate. |
| aodann-seimh | peaceful face. |
| aghaidh-aingil | angel-faced. |
| mar aingeal | like an angel, comeliness, innocence. |
| mar an easgann | as pliable as an eel, wriggles himself like an eel. |
| nàrach | modest, shy. |
| banail | womanly. |
| aghaidh neo aodann sgreabach | scabby. |
| aodann claiseach | furrowed face. |
| [craiceann] | Tha ’n craiceann th’air aodann a’ coimhead aosda – the skin of his face depicts age. |
| sùilean-biorach | staring eyes. |
| sùilean-ciùin | mild eyes, eyes of endearment. |
| droch-shiùil | [sic] evil eye. |
| colas-millidh | look of destruction. |
| mullach-na-leisge | the height of laziness. |
| colas-an-uilc | the appearance of evil. |
| tha ’m bhochdainn na h-aodann | there is the ‘poorness’ in his face (literally), showing sign of illness, etc. etc. |
| nach ann air a tha tuar eagallach | off colour, frightful look. |
| aodann air mar puta | swelled [sic]. |
| ghearradh a leth-cheann an càis | the thinness of his cheeks, cheek bones could cut cheese (literally). |
| [eagal] | Chuir e eagail air an dearg mheirleach – ‘at seeing him, his face, a stealer, a ‘real stealer’, would collapse’ (putting it this way to make it more easily understood), one rendering. |
| [tachais] | Cha mhor nach ’eil e dha thachais fhéin le fhiaclan – expressing his ignorance. |
| cur charan dhe air an ùrlar | somersaulting. |
| dath a’ bhàis air | colour of death. |
| dol timchioll ’na charan | going round in circles. |
| nach b’e’n craoisire e | glutton. |
| a cholas le fallais | sweating freely. |
| [leac] | Leac fo mo mhiaran [sic], cha toigh leam sud idir – a person feeling such says it depicts the disease of cancer, in some instances. |
| cnap fo mo mheòir | lump under my thumb, a character denoting some unusual diagnosis. |
| tha craiceann odhar air | a dun skin (colour). |
| [sùil] | a shùilean a’ dearg lasadh ’na cheann – his eyes show signs of extremity of anger or perhaps pain. |
| [each-uisge] | Cha chreid or [?] chunnaic mi na fhac e t’each-uisge – phantom fright or unusual fright, etc. |
| [greannach] | cho greannach ri biast-dhubh ann an càrn – as irritable as an otter in a ‘cairn’. |
| t’eile chait ach feòil | what else but luxury, etc. |
| leig an dorgha leis | let him to his own. |
| Clean and untidy |
| loireach | drab, murky, muddy, discoloured. |
| faileach | of a smelly filth. |
| drabhach | leaving the scrubbing process partly undried. |
| aon-mhàl | one mess, complete mess. |
| mar fail-mhuc | like the (smelly) filth of pigs. (See the word faileach = fàile -ach.) (drabhach = drabh (dregs) -ach.) etc. etc. |
| drabhas | segs, dirt. |
| drabhag | ‘little drop’. |
| a ghiadh! | interjection in the event of approaching putrified substance. |
| trusdaireachd | filthy language. |
| salachaireachd | dirtiness. |
| luideireachd | shabbiness. |
| druaip | lees. |
| drabasdachd | filthy language, filthy talk. |
| foileach | another form of faileach [q.v.]. |
| suaitheanta | ridiqilous [sic] [ridiculous?]. |
| mar an t-uabhal | clean [?] like an apple. |
| mar chnaimh | white as a bone. |
| mar sneachd | [white?] as snow. |
| mar cailc | [white?] as chalk. |
| cho soilleir ris a’ ghréin | |
| tigh càilmhor or càlor | some say thus or use this form in the material sense. |
| mar an daoimean | like diomand [sic] [diamond?]. |
| [poit-mhùin] | (uile càil na àite fhéin ’s a’ phoit mhùin air an dreasair – have you ever heard it?) |
| [glanadh] | a’ sior ghlanadh a rud a tha glan mar a tha – cleaning what is clean already, in other words a daily routine. |
| glan mar an t-òr | clean as gold. |
