Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

Informant(s)
Name
Calum Laing
Location
South Uist, Stilligarry
Date
[1987-88]
Fieldworker
A. O’Henley
iarguillskirmish.
tàrmaganmountain ptarmigan.
[meachain]Chan eil meachain annta. – no sympathy or pity.
cuilbheartantrickery.
spràiceilharshly.
talachcomplaining.
sòradhno limit. “’S nach biodh sòradh air rud a thoilicheadh thu.”
othailldelight.
éireburden.
faoineisvanity.
an impisin danger of doing something as in “Bha iad an impis a cainnt ’sa suim a chall.” Some people do not pronounce the ‘p’ and therefore it sounds like ‘immis’.
taigh athadhailmodest.
claidsdailClydesdale (horse).
fairtleachadhfailing.
an fhearas mhórconceited person.
air an earalason the off chance.
luchdaraa vessel or vehicle able to carry a large load.
cirbedge, flap, e.g. of a sheet of canvas. “Cirb a chanabhais.”
culabhuirda simpleton who was always left behind.
treachaidto plough.
snodha gàiresimilar to ‘fiamh a’ ghàire’.
[earball]Cha robh agam ach an t-earball a leigeil ris a chraiceann. – letting things deteriorate or accepting the inevitable.
an t-iomlanhaving something spare, excess.
iomalaidexchange.
failbheaga ring at the end of a rope or a metal hook at the end of a chain.
[mosgain]Dath breagha air maide mosgain – applied to a businessman making out that his product is better than it actually is.
earailearnest desire, e.g. Bha mi le earail is urnaigh gu biodh e sabhailte.
làn siubhala vessel travelling at full speed.
baideilfor a group of mountains, e.g. the Cullins.
stàireachdtumult, uproar.
caranachturning, twisting.
uillean eisgoil coming off fish and seen on the sea’s surface.
[dorus]Eadar dha bhi ’san dorus – not being [sic] or out of the house. On the threshold.
an t-inneadhwhat was needed, required.
àm na h-airctime of need, affliction.
[seachnadh]Chan eil sian air an t-saoghal cho saor ri rud a dh’fhaodar a sheachnadh.
[cùramach]Is math a bhi cùramach ach seachain a bhi farmadach.
dh’fharraid miI asked.
sad na marathe venom of the sea.
sollairproviding.
callanas nam bannot sure of exact meaning but thinks it refers to the heroic effort of women who worked when their husbands went off to the fishing or to a war.
cladairsimilar to a croman and used to take seaweed ashore.
[calpa]A’ cheud chalpa de’n mhinistrealachd – the first term of his ministry.
[talamh]Talamh air a chuir gu buil is buanachd.
bathairprovisions, food.
na fathanto be left in poverty, e.g. “Nuair a bhitheas an gràn uladh bith sinn aig na fathan.”
athadha change, e.g. “Thainig athadh air.”
sal tàimha quiet, calm stretch of sea, usually good as a fishing ground.
crois fhèillidhkilt girdle.
[bogadh]Bogadh feannaig an sud ’sa seo – a quick dipping action, e.g. a bird dipping for worms in soil.
bòrd an lochaedge of a loch.
[buille-trod]B’fheudar dhomh falbh air mo bhuille-trod. – having to do something against your wishes.
sìneadh na h-oidhchenightfall.
[corra-cnàmh]Shuidh e air a chorra-cnàmh. – a sitting position for a dog.
soimheamhpeaceful.
[ealla]Gabhail ealla ri rud – eagerly anticipating something.
buabulla cow stall.
an droch shùilin connection with the ‘snàthla’. Another phrase for ‘gonadh’ – to be cast under a spell.
[dìle]Cha tig an dìle. – that time will not come.
[fiataidh]Dh’fhalbh i gu fiataidh, falachaidh. – carefully and stealthily making your way somewhere. In this case at night time.
alltabadha mishap, accident.
sliseag a mach a àiteslipped disc.
bò air thogaila poorly, thin animal. Also in human context – “Duine a tha air thogail”.
tàmhaidh am broilleach marta blockage affecting an animal’s health.
seilbh na h-oighreachdthe traditions of an estate. “Bha clann Mhic Ic Ailein a’ leantail seilbh na h-oighreachd gus an do cheannaich coigreach i anns a naoidheamh linn deug.”
cleamhnasfriendship.
[talamh]Breac thalamh, dubh thalamh – different type of soil.
connadhpeat, fuel for the winter.
òla gruthainplace[d] in pan and heated. Excess oil, fat used as fuel for ‘cruisgain’.
[coingheallach]Coingheallach iasgaich gus a bhith a’ cuideachadh a cheile – frequently fishing as a means of fostering community spirit.
coimhleigeadhcompeting.
[anfhuinn]Daoine a bha anfhuinn le aois – weak, feeble people.
uidealachundulating, hilly. General reference to Uist as being ‘uidealach’.
amhaich a’ chuaina narrow inlet, inland. Example in question being the ford at Benbecula over which a bridge runs.
seòlaida calm stretch of water between two land points.
cleas na Féille air an Fhadhailprior to a bridge at Benbecula this referred to the cattle having to swim across the ford to cattle sales.

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