Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

Informant(s)
Name
Donald R. Morrison
Age
[55]
Location
Na Hearadh, Scalpaigh [Harris, Scalpay]
Date
1975
Notes
  • [NOTES: the words have been slipped and therefore, apart from the definitions provided by Mr Morrison, the definitions as they appear on the slips have also been included (unless the two were the same).]
Word-list (‘Cruinneachadh de dh’fhaclan’)
coileach-dubhdown for the count. Rinn e coileach-dubh dhe. [NOTES: the slip has ‘Rinn e coileach-dubh dheth.’]
deabhaldoll.
cabmouth.
broitseadhpilfered. [SLIP: Pilfer.]
teud-slabhraidha hooked iron rod attached to a chain.
sgaoidhlearflighty female.
monaidsmoorings boat. [SLIP: Boat mooring.]
flùransfloorings boat [boat floorings?].
dabhdailstaggering, stepping irregularly.
coran feòirsickle for cutting hay, smaller.
coran mor[sickle] for cutting corn, bigger size.
coran-na-feamainnthe cutting face of the blade is notched or toothed, same as the coran feòir [q.v.] but for cutting side of the blade.
càbhailpanting.
càbhadhcaving. Bha ’n dà thaobh a’ càbhadh a stigh. [SLIP: Cave in.]
sgaoilteach-lionfishing nets spread one on the top of the other on the ground.
lus-analachshort-breathed. [SLIP: Short of breath.]
casanwooden poles, or wooden uprights to keep a boat on a beach, on even keel.
Cliamhainn or CliamhanClement, personal name. St Clement. St Clement Church, Rodel, Harris.
àbhacasjovial. [NOTES: the slip has ‘jovial’ corrected to ‘joviality’.]
aonairtco-operated. An an [sic] aonairt. [NOTES: the slip has ‘ann an aonairt’. Definition: Agreement, co-operation.]
peihire[?] thunder bolt (colloquially spelt).
aimridunfruitful.
farraid(also) enquiring. A’ foighneachd ’s a’ farraid. (Scalpay)
sacansmall bag.
torcadhforking. Faodadh [sic] tu toiseachadh air torcadh tuilleadh – in connection with the potatoes, when in flower, digging the potatoes. [NOTES: the slip has ‘Faodaidh…’ Definition: Forking the potatoes when in flower.]
diogadaichticking. [SLIP: To tick.]
diog(also) void of motion. Cha’n eil diog agad!
diogachadhimmovable.
miashlàinteunhealth [sic] (colloquially spelt). [SLIP: Ill-health.]
aileorthalyard, rope for hoisting a sail (boat).
fàireachaspeeping.
tuireannachbleared (eyes). [SLIP: Bleary (of eyes).]
tùm-tamcomplete repose.
tum-tàmhcomplete repose.
thùm-thàmhcomplete silence. I take this to be the same word [as ‘tùm-tam’ and ‘tum-tàmh’?] but of a different rendering without hum ha. Versions vary.
lunn-lanneasy-going person.
deargan-tràghad‘ebb flea(s)’. Perhaps this is not the right English for them. They jump in the same way (I know you have seen them) on removing a stone and among seaweed, they belong to the marine species. [SLIP: Fleas [sic] which are found among seaweed.]
sgreapscab.
acuinn-suathaidhrubbing ointment.
drug[See dreig] (spelt colloquially, Scalpay).
dreigmeteor. Denoting the approach of death, according to legends of the superstitious nature, or relative to the like subjects. [SLIP: Meteor denoting the approach of death.]
crotanacha wee bent ‘man’.
stiallagsmall strip.
t(h)illtinreturn(ed). E tilltin. [sic] [NOTES: Slipped under ‘tilltin’. No quotation. Definition: Return.]
còineachmoss. Nach e chuir a chòinneach [sic] ort – didn’t it make you rich. [NOTES: slipped under ‘coinneach’.]
coigleadhfondling.
curacheadgear. Thàinig e air o chùl a’ churaic – blows towards the use of a sledgehammer. [SLIP: a. Headgear. b. [i.e. the quote] blows from the use of a sledgehammer.]
curaidh[See curac.]
magaidfalse thought.
striochdanlines.
stragalairean‘stragglers’, visitors, tourists. [NOTES: the slip has ‘stragalairean (plural)’.]
crotachana wee bent male.
sgurabhaidhscurvy.
francasfrank talk. I heard the word used, I cannot say now if there is another meaning. I can vaguely remember it being used thus: abair thusa francas.
corra-chnàmhsitting on the fully bent knees and the torso etc. in a straight posture. [SLIP: Crouched position, sitting on fully bent knees.]
meigeachnot exactly stable, putting his chin out, his voice or cry not causing interest, his personality or features. Duine meigeach.
neo-scrùbailliberal.
stugstab, post (‘stook’). ’Na do sheasamh ann a fhein [sic] ’na do stug.
stengeirstancher boat.
bhòichnichswelled. [NOTES: slipped under ‘bòichnich’. Definition: Swell.]
cùmhlachadhclose.

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