Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

Informant(s)
Name
Finlay MacKenzie
Origin
Scarista
Location
Harris, Scarista
Date
June 1970
Notes
  • [NOTES: in IPA transcriptions, the fieldworker uses [w] for [ɯ].]
friasg[fðiɑsk] Note: bait thrown out when cuddy-fishing and working with a hand-net.
tàbhNote: hand-net.
suaplais[su̜ɤpɫɑʃ] Note: an unappetizing mixture of food.
ucsaNote: fully grown saithe.
cudaigNote: cuddy.
smallagNote: next stage of the saithe after the cuddy (1 year old?).
soitheanNote: bigger than the “smallag” [q.v.] (2-year old saithe?).
liugha[lʹu̜ə] Note: lythe.
sgeit[sɡɛtʹ] Note: skate.
dallagNote: a spotted dogfish.
glupa[ɡɫu̜pə] Note: a pool left after the tide recedes.
bànagNote: sea-trout.
mot[mɔ̃t] Note: canopy over the fire in a blackhouse.
luidhearNote: hole in roof of blackhouse through which the smoke escaped.
guitear[ɡu̜tʹɑð] Note: a drain dug just inside the wall in a blackhouse, covered with flat stones, to collect any seepage through the wall.
glut-lionadh[ɡɫu̜t̪lw̃ṉəɣ] Note: earth packing between double walls of blackhouse.
ceangalQuot.: “na ceangail”. Note: the couples in a roof.
taobhanQuot.: “na taobhain”. Note: Pieces of timber laid across the couples in a blackhouse roof binding the couples together. Usually one near the ridge, one in the middle and one near the top of the wall.
maide-feannaigNote: stick protruding from the thatch serving as a peg round which the “sioman” is put.
ceairrle[cɑʴlʹə] Quot.: ceairrle shiomain. Note: a round ball. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
gath-dramaNote: ridge-pole.
spar-ghaoitheadhNote: stick put across the couples, under the ridge, to strengthen them.
dragh[d̪ɾɤɣ] Note: rope round the thatch about two feet above the top of the wall. The weights were hung on this rope and also the rope going over the top was looped round this anchor rope.
gulman[ɡu̜ɫumɑṉ] Note: cataract on the eye.
sleamhnaganNote: sty on the eye.
smugrachQuot.: “smugrach uisge”. Note: drizzle.
ciùchranNote: drizzle
fadQuot.: “Fad bhìnn uaineach a’ latha” [fɑd̪vĩ:nʹũ̜ɑ̃nʹɑx]. Note: all day long.
caisean-coimheach[kɑʃɑ̃ṉkɛ̃ɑx] Note: a “rotach” – annual spell of very bad weather.
flion[flw̃ṉ] Note: sleet.
siolagNote: sand-eel.
eun-ghuireagNote: seems to be applied to the snipe on the wing from the description of the sound it makes at night.
feannadhQuot.: a’ feannadh na mónach. Note: turfing.
carcaire[kɑɾkəðə] Note: width of peat turfed for cutting.
barr-fhad[bɑrɑd̪] Note: the top peat.
corr-fhad[kɔrɑd̪] Note: the second peat.
caoran[kw:ɾɑṉ] Note: the third peat.
iarunn-móineadhNote: peat-cutting iron.
sgaoilteachNote: area on higher level where peats are spread to dry.
fàd-iomaill[fɑ:dĩmilʹ] Quot.: a’ fàd-iomaill. Note: the outer peat.
gàradh-gréineadhNote: peat wall on the edge of the bank (2nd peat).
coilleag[kɤlʹɑɡ] Note: when first lifted 4-5 peats are made into a “coilleag”.
coilleagachadhQuot.: a’ coilleagachadh. Note: making “coilleagan” [q.v.] of peats when lifted.
rùbhan[ru̜:ɑṉ] Note: several “coilleagan” [q.v.] of peats put together to form a “rùbhan”. [NOTES: corrected to ‘rùghan’ on the slip.]
irisNote: creel-band.
breuganNote: gap left in the weaving of the creel a few inches from the top. (Plural breugan.)
staingNote: main wand in a creel.
gniomhadh[ɡðĩɤ̃vəɣ] Note: the outer shell of the peatstack, built to a brickwork pattern.
sgàindeach[sɡɑ̃:nʹdʹɑx] Note: uncut peat which is dry enough for burning. Also applied to a dried cow’s dropping used for fuel.
ceumQuot.: “an ceum”. Note: the “step” of the ‘cas-chrom’.
raoin[rw̃:nʹ] Note: a field.
ceann-iomaireNote: end-rig, where horses turned when ploughing.
sgrìllig[sɡɾı:lʹiɡʹ] Note: very small potato.
sìleanNote: very small potato.
cipean-tochail[cıpɑṉt̪ɔxəl] Note: trial of strength similar to the ‘maide-leisg’.
spungag[spũ̜ŋɡɑɡ] Note: sling (for firing stones).
leumQuot.: “leum a’ bhradain”. Note: twisting oneself into the air from a position flat on one’s back on the ground or floor.
leum-sùrdag[lemsu̜:ʴsd̪ɑɡ] Note: jumping with both feet together. [NOTES: the turned r used for the symbol which is unclear in the original.]
roidNote: sprint.
leum-roidNote: a running jump.
fàinneQuot.: a’ deanamh fàinne a’ cholair. Note: straw part collar made by winding “sioman” round a core of straw, [kɑ̃ũ̜ɫɑx]. When it was long enough, the two ends were brought together so that it formed the shape of the collar. It was judged to be of the right size if the arm fitted into it with fingers outstretched, the elbow resting inside the base and the tips of the fingers touching the top where the two ends met. Probably the core of the collar.
muiseal[mũ̜ʃɑɫ] Quot.: “muiseal a’ chruinn”. Note: the “muzzle” of the plough.
plàta[pɫɑ:d̪ə] Note: blanket put under saddle.
spògQuot.: spògan a’ chruinn. Note: the arms of the plough.
gobhalQuot. “gobhal a’ chruinn”. Note: in between the two arms of the plough.
muing[mũ̜ɲɡʹ] Note: horse’s mane.
sguabQuot.: sguab coirc, sguab eòrna.
beumNote: the amount one would cut with one stroke of the scythe.
spagh[spɤɣ] Note: swathe.
adagQuot.: adag eòrna, adag coirc.
toit[t̪ɔtʹ] Quot.: toit coirc, toit eòrna. Note: “hut”, containing aobut twenty stooks.
tùisde[t̪u̟:ʃdʹə] Note: flail.
doid[d̪ɔdʹ] Note: a very small, low haycock. Might have 12 of these in a proper-sized haycock.
coc[kɔxk] Quot.: coc fheòir. Note: haycock.
dais[d̪ɑʃ] Quot.: dais fheòir. Note: haystack (loaf-shaped).
bachallagNote: potato shoot.
dìtheanQuot.: dìthean a’ bhuntàta. Note: the flower on the potato shaw.
slocQuot.: sloc bhuntàta. Note: potato pit.
gaiseadhNote: blight in potatoes.
cròcan[kɾɔ:xkɑṉ] Note: iron hook with a long wooden handle used for digging up potatoes. Person using it on his knees.
eileatromNote: wood on which corpse was stretched.
alairidh[ɑɫəɾi] Note: whisky given at funerals, usually at the cemetery.
tammersQuot.: Thug e na tammers air. Note: used generally in Harris for blows, punishment. [NOTES: the word corrected to ‘tammars’ most probably by the person preparing the slips.]

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