| [əst̪ɔ̃ṉxle:] | Notes: warm tub or condenser in distillery. Also called [əst̪ɛ̃ṉdʹȝxle:] (A. MacEachern, Ballygrant). |
| [ɛʔvəɫ] | Quotation: Cha do ghabh sinn [ɛʔvəɫ] dheth. Notes: We took no heed of it. |
| [fju̟ʔəs] | Quotation: Na biodh [fju̟ʔəs] agad ri [fɛfəɾ] a nead dròlan. Notes: Don’t expect a giant out of a wren’s nest. |
| [st̪ɤ] | Quotation: a’ spealadh air a’ [st̪ɤ]. Notes: cutting with the swathe clear of the standing corn. If women were binding after the mower, the corn was cut so that the swathe was next to the standing corn, making it easier to lift. |
| [vɑt̪] | Quotation: [vɑt̪əspju̟ɾɑdʹȝ]. Notes: spirit vat. |
| là | Quotation: Cha b’e an là am fear nach tigeadh. |
| là | Quotation: Chan e là marbhadh na féidh là biathadh nan coin. |
| là | Quotation: ’S e nach reiceadh a’ chearc air là fliuch. |
| là | Quotation: La [sic] ribeach, robach, citheach, ceothach, gun ghaoith, gun thioradh, gun uisge. Notes: heavy day with low cloud. |
| ladhar | [ɫɣ'ɣɾ] [sic] Notes: claw bar. |
| ladhar | Quotation: glannaire ladhrach. Notes: claw hammer. |
| laigh | Quotation: Chuir mi umhal gun robh an aois a’ laighe air. |
| làmh | Quotation: S’ fhada làmh an fheumanaich. |
| làn | Quotation: Bha làn a chota mhóir orm. Notes: drunk. |
| làn | Quotation: Bha e cho làn ri muc. Notes: drunk. |
| làn | Quotation: àirde làin. Notes: high tide. |
| lànainn | [əṉ ɫɛ̃:ṉɛ̃nʹ] Notes: rafter. |
| langa | Notes: ling. |
| lann | Quotation: lann a’ speal. Notes: blade of the scythe. |
| lann | [d̪ɛ̃n:] Notes: scale of a fish. |
| laodagan | [lw:d̪əɡɑ̃ṉ] Notes: small hinge. |
| làr | Notes: the ground outside. (ùrlar for floor) |
| làrach | Quotation: làrach na cruach (sic). Notes: foundation area of stack. |
| làthach | Notes: mud on bottom of a pond or loch. |
| leabag | [lʹɛ:bɑɡ] Quotation: lion leabag. Notes: flounder net. |
| leag | Quotation: a’ leagail a’ bhuntàta. Notes: planting the potatoes – the act of laying them down at intervals in the furrows. |
| leann | Quotation: leann loisgte. Notes: deposit left in big still after distilling. |
| leasachadh | Quotation: a’ cur a mach a’ leasachadh; a’ sgaoileadh a’ leasachadh. |
| leasaichte | Quotation: talamh leasaichte. Notes: 3rd year in crop rotation. Ploughed. Hay seed and clover sown. |
| leathann | Quotation: an deireadh leathann. Notes: transom in a boat. |
| leithsgeul | Quotation: ’S beag a’ leisgeul a bheireadh a’ chailleach do’n chill. Notes: when a person wants very much to go somewhere, given half a chance he will go. |
| leòsan | [lʹo:sɑ̃ṉ] Notes: window pane. Pl. (na) leòsain [lʹo:sɑ̃ṉ]. |
| leth | Quotation: leth lionadh. Notes: half-flow. |
| leth | Quotation: leth tràghadh. Notes: half-ebb. |
| leth-bhodach | Notes: colloquial for ¼ bottle. |
| liabag | Quotation: liabag uisge. Notes: black plaice – check. |
| liabag | [lʹɛ:bɑɡ] Notes: plaice (with red spots). |
| liantach | [lʹĩɑ̃n̪t̪ɑx] Notes: hoar frost (liath-eigheantach?). |
| lias | [lʹɛ:s] Notes: oil on the surface of the water, after the dogfish have been eating the herring. [NOTES: note in second hand above the catchword – leus?] |
| lias | [lʹɛ:s] Notes: gloss (as on furniture). [NOTES: note in second hand above the catchword – leus?] |
| liath | [lʹiɑ] Notes: the blade of the oar. |
| liath-chearc | Notes: the grey-hen, female of the black-cock. |
| liobhag | [lʹi:vɑɡ] Notes: grows on rocks (sea) like grass? |
| lion | Quotation: a’ lionadh. Notes: the filling of the casks in the distillery. |
| lion | Quotation: Tha ’n airde ’n iar a’ lionadh. Notes: clouds are gathering in the west. |
| lìon | Quotation: “Tha ’n àirde ’n iar a’ lìonadh.” Notes: threatening clouds gathering in the west. |
| lion | Quotation: struth lionadh. Notes: flowing tide. |
| lion | Quotation: lion leabag [lʹəṉ lʹe:bɑɡ]. Notes: flounder net. |
| lion-dhubhan | Notes: long line. |
| lion-mogul | Notes: mesh net. |
| lion mòr | Notes: long line. |
| lionadh | Quotation: leth lionadh. Notes: half-flow. |
| lionadh | Quotation: (a) toiseachd lionadh. (b) leth lionadh. (c) àirde làin. Notes: (a) beginning of flood-tide. (b) half-flood. (c) full flood, high tide. |
| lionadh | Quotation: a cheud spùt de’n lionadh. Notes: first surge of the flood tide. |
| lipinn | [lʹiçpĩnʹ] Notes: a small box 8"-10" sq. at the top tapered to 6" sq. at the base. It was used as a measure for grain when feeding horses. |
| locair | Quotation: locair droma. Notes: half-round plane with a rounded steel bottom – used by wheelwrights. |
| locair | Quotation: (1) locair dùirn: hand plane. (2) locair mheadhonach: jack plane. (3) locair mhór: trying plane or half-long. Notes: plane. |
| locair | Quotation: locair gròbaidh [ɡɾɔ:bi]. Notes: embraces moulding planes of all kinds. |
| locair | Quotation: locair iaruinn. Notes: iron plane. |
| locraich | Quotation: a’ locrachadh. Notes: plane. |
| lòdachadh | Quotation: a’ lòdachadh an àth. Notes: loading the kiln with grain. |
| lodan | [ɫɔd̪ɑ̃ṉ] Quotation: reothadh an lodain làin. Notes: something that won’t last. Pool full of water, small crust of ice. |
| long | Quotation: Am fear a ghleidheas an long, gheibh e là seòlaidh. |
| luachair | Notes: used to cover potatoes in the pit where it was available. |
| luaidh | [ɫu̜əi] Quotation: an luaidh. Notes: sinker. |
| lùb | Quotation: a lùbadh an fhiodh. Notes: bend wood (as in boatbuilding). |
| luga, pl. lugaichean | Notes: sandworms used for bait. |
| luibhre | Quotation: an luibhre. Notes: leprosy. |
| luideagach | Notes: Na d’thoir breith air gille luideagach neo mart chleideagach. |
| lù(i)m | [ɫũ̜:m] Quotation: Tha an [ɫũ̜m] [sic] o’n deas. Notes: a swell from the south. |
| Lùnasdadh | [ɫũ̟:ṉɑsd̪əɣ] Quotation: an Lùnasdadh. Notes: Lammas. |
| Mac an Aba | Quotation: An òrdag, a’ cholbhag, Fionnladh fada, Mac an Aba, [u̜i:dʹʒɑɡ]. |
| maide | Quotation: ’S duilich an car a thoirt as an t-seana mhaide. |
| mala | Quotation: Cha b’e sin mala na gruaim. Notes: That was not the surly countenance. |
| maodhair | [mɣʔəɾ] [sic] Notes: fly for fishing. |
| maorach | Notes: limpet – used for bait. |
| mar | Quotation: Tha iad mar nach olc. Notes: They are well. |
| Màrt | Quotation: Olc air mhath an tig an tìd, cuir do shiol ’s an fhìor Mhàrt. Notes: (1) the soil must be in the same condition each year when the seed is planted, irrespective of the date. (2) the seed should be sown on the same date in March, irrespective of the weather. (See Dw.) G.C. favours former explanation. |
| math | Quotation: Olc air mhath. Notes: Whether or not. |
| mealg | Notes: milt. |
| mear | Quotation: iasg mear. Notes: mullet. |
| measgadh | Quotation: tigh a’ mheasgaidh. Notes: (distillery) the mixing room, where the grist was put into a big metal tin and scalded with hot water. |
| measgaich | Quotation: Bha e air a’ mheasgachadh. Notes: in the distillery, the crushed meal was mixed in the mixing room. |
| meataich | Quotation: Tha e air meatachadh leis an fhuachd. Notes: chilled, numbed. |
| meud | Quotation: meud mhór. “Tha e làn meud mhór.” Notes: haughtiness. |
| meur | [mɛ̃:ɾ] Quotation: am meur. Notes: blade of the peat spade. |
| min-shaibh | [mĩṉhɑiv] Notes: sawdust. |
| minidh | [mĩṉĩ] Notes: small awl, cobbler’s awl, also used by joiners for fine work. |
| modh | Quotation: Am fear a tha gun mhodh, saoilidh e gur e am mi-mhodh am modh. |
| modh | Quotation: Millidh dànadas modh. |
| moglaich | Quotation: “Tha e air a’ mhoglachadh.” Notes: (the fish) has been enmeshed. |
| mogul | Notes: mesh. |
| mogul | Quotation: lion mogul. Notes: mesh net. |
| mòine | Quotation: mòine bhargain [vɑɾɑɡɑ̃nʹ]. Notes: peats cut on piece – work for the distilleries or farms. |
| mòine | Quotation: mòine cheòsach [çɔ:sɑx]. Notes: spongy peat. |
| mòine | Quotation: mòine chìb. Notes: top stringy layer of peat. |
| mòine | Quotation: mòine ghaothaich. Notes: where there is only a thin layer of turf and peat (i.e. in an area where peat was cut before), it is almost dry when it is cut. |
| móine | Quotation: móine gnìomh [ɡɾĩ:v]. Notes: peats suitable for putting in the outside shell of the peatstack. |
| moll | Quotation: Chaneil air fhàgail ach am moll agus an ceannach-ruilleadh. Notes: only the chaff and small grains are left, i.e. the weaklings, etc. |
| muc | Quotation: Bha e cho làn ri muc. Notes: drunk. |
| muc | Quotation: Chan e a’ mhuc shàmhach as moth a dh’itheas. |
| muileann | Quotation: A h-uile duine a tarraing uisge dha mhuileann fhéin. Notes: every man for himself. |
| muillear | [mũ̜ʔlʹɑɾ] [?] Notes: miller (distillery). |
| muir | Quotation: an tinneas mara. Notes: seasickness (Jura). |
| muir-chlach | Notes: see under clach. |
| mulan | [mu̜ɫɑ̃ṉ] Notes: big stack of corn in the yard. |
| muran | [mũ̟ɫɑṉ] [?] Notes: 1. sea bent. 2. warren of sand dunes. |
| mùrdach | [mu̜:rd̪ɑx] Notes: kingfish. (Not sure what fish this is – check.) |
| rachdan | [rɑxkɑ̃ṉ] Quotation: pl. rachdainn. Notes: remains of tree stumps found at the bottom of the lower layer of peat. |
| ràmh | Notes: oar. |
| rath | Quotation: (1) Cha robh móran rath ann. (2) duine gun rath. Notes: (1) There wasn’t much substance in it. (2) man of no consequence. |
| rathad | Quotation: rathad nan caorach. Notes: sheep track. |
| rathad | Quotation: Bha dà thaobh a’ rathaid mhor [sic] leis. Notes: drunk. |
| reasp | Notes: rasp. |
| reic | Quotation: ’S e nach reiceadh a’ chearc air là fliuch. |
| réidh | Quotation: Dean gu réidh. Notes: Take it easy. |
| reothadh | Quotation: reothadh an lodain làin. Notes: a thing that doesn’t last. Pool full of water, small crust of ice. |
| reothart | Quotation: [rɑvɑrtʹ] (rabhairt). Notes: spring tide. |
| ri | Quotation: Bha iad a cladhach eadar na sreathan agus a’ cur ris a bhuntàta. Notes: building up the earth on each side of the potato shaws. |
| riabhag | Notes: lark. “Uiseag” also used. |
| ribeach | Quotation: Là ribeach, robach, citheach, ceothach, gun ghaoith, gun thioradh, gun uisge. Notes: heavy day with low cloud. |
| ribeach | Quotation: là ribeach. Notes: squally day. |
| riomball | [rĩmbɑɫ] Quotation: Tha riomball ma bheul. Notes: ring left round mouth after drinking, say, milk. |
| roc | [rɔxk] Notes: seaweed. |
| roill | [r[ɔi]l] Quotation: a’ [r[ɔi]l] a’ bhàrr dhearg. Notes: said by G.C. to be abbreviation for ‘ruaimleadh’ – the effect the ground swell had on the tangle at the time of the Equinox. It stirred it up. (Heard in Tiree as roill.) [NOTES: the note in brackets in second hand.] |
| roll | Quotation: Bha am fochann air a [ɾɤu̟ləɣ]. Notes: with a roller. |
| ròn | Quotation: sgeith ròin. Notes: jellyfish. |
| rotach | Notes: untidy. |
| roth | Quotation: roth mu’n ghrian. Notes: circle round the sun – a sign of the weather breaking. |
| ruadh-bhord | Notes: second plank from keel. |
| ruamhair | Quotation: a’ ruamhair a’ ghàradh (sic). Notes: digging up the enclosed plot near the house. |
| ruamhar | Quotation: Nuair a bhios Ruairidh ’na thàmh, bi [sic] e a ruamhair. Notes: when he is not engaged in paid work he always finds something to do. |
| rùchdadh | Quotation: a’ rùchdadh a mhòine. Notes: gathering together the “curracagan” – perhaps about 20. |
| rùchdan | Notes: about a cartful of peats heaped together – c. 20 “curracagan”. Size depended on how dry the peats were going into them: “rùchdan beag” or “rùchdan mór”. |
| rudha | Notes: headland (wide and flat). |
| runnach | [rũ̜n̪ɑx] Notes: mackerel. |
| atharrachadh | Quotation: ag atharrachadh nan adagan. Notes: shifting the stooks. |
| sir | Quotation: Na tri nithean a thig gun shireadh: an gaol, [ənʹtʹʃe:d̪ɑx] agus an [tʹʃɛɾəɣ]. |
| siubhal | Quotation: Pòs an Éirinn, agus siubhail an Ìle. Notes: “Alba” usually instead of “Ìle”. Local version. |
| siuch | [ʃu̜x] Notes: small drain opened round the stack to keep the water from seeping underneath. |
| slabhacan | [sɫɑvɑxkɑ̃ṉ] Notes: seaweed – used to make a pudding. |
| dol-air-aghaidh | Quotation: Nach fiathaich an dol air aghaidh seo. Notes: What a carry-on this is! |
| adag | Notes: haddock. |
| adagachadh | Notes: making stooks. |
| abhag | Notes: small dog of any kind. |
| air | Quotation: Nach fiathaich an dol air aghaidh seo! Notes: What a carry-on this is! |
| iarunn | Quotation: an t-iarunn. Notes: iron strip to protect the keel of a boat. |
| iarunn | Quotation: iaruinn [sic] stiùireach. Notes: iron rudder fittings. |
| iasg | Quotation: iasg mear. Notes: mullet. |
| iasg | Quotation: iasg [pɾɛ̃n̪:tʹʃə]. Notes: fish cut up into small pieces. In Port Charlotte/Porthaven fish and potatoes cut up into small pieces and mixed with butter. |
| ìlse-mara (sic) | [i:lʃəmɑɾə] Quotation: A’ gearradh an fheamainn le corran aige [sic] ìlse-mara. Notes: low tide. |
| innealaich | Quotation: Tha mo làmhan air innealachadh leis an fhuachd. Notes: numbed. |
| ioma-ghaoith | Notes: eddying wind, wind coming round a corner. |
| iomair | Quotation: Bha iad a’ tilgeil nan iomairean le sluasaid le cas fhada. Notes: a ridge. |
| iteag | Notes: feather. Iteag maodhair (q.v.): black-backed seagull’s tail feather used [as a fly for fishing]. |
| ith | Quotation: Chan e a’ mhuc shàmhach as moth a dh’itheas. |
| Iuchar | Quotation: “Trì làithean de’n Fhaoileach ’san Iuchair, is trì làithean de’n Iuchair ’san Fhaoileach.” |
| neul | Quotation: Tha neul a’ bhais ’na aodann. |
| noigean | Quotation: [n̪ɔ̃ʔɡʹɛ̃nʹ], sometimes [n̪ɛ̃ʔɡʹɛ̃ṉ]. Notes: a wooden communal dish for holding potatoes, porridge, etc. |
| Nollaig | Quotation: “Am fear nach dean Nollaig le deòin, ni e trasg a dh’aindeoin.” |
| Nollaig | Quotation: “Nollaig air Di-ciadain, iargain air fir an domhain.” |
| òirleach | Notes: inch. |
| oiteag | Quotation: Coltach ris a’ chailleach a thug seachd bliadhna ’ga garadh fhéin; nuair a chaidh i a mach thug aon oiteag air falbh i. Notes: puff of wind. (A man who had painstakingly amassed a fortune and blew it at one go, or who died and his sons squandered it.) |
| oiteag | Notes: puff, light gust of wind in summer that dies out quickly. |
| oitir | Notes: underwater shelf or bank. Can be rocky ledge or gravel/sand bank. |
| olc | Quotation: olc air mhath. Notes: whether or not. |
| olc | Quotation: Tha iad mar nach olc. Notes: They are well. |
| òrd | Notes: Òrd-laimheadh: small round headed hammer used for making holes in walls, etc. Òrd-mór: long-handled heavy hammer with a hexagonal face. Òrd-dùirn: small hammer. |
| òrd | Quotation: òrd clachair. Notes: mason’s hammer. |
| òrdag | Quotation: an òrdag, a’ cholbhag, Fionnladh fada, Mac an Aba, [u̜i:dʹʒɑɡ]. |
| osan | [ɔsɑ̃ṉ] Notes: trouser turnup. |
| partan | [pɑrt̪ɑ̃ṉ] Notes: see meaning 2. in Dw. Out among the flounder nets. |
| peallag | Quotation: doormat (made of heather). |
| peatraid | [pet̪əɾɑdʹʒ] Notes: partridge. |
| pige | [piʔɡʹə] Notes: piggy. |
| pill | Quotation: a’ cur as a’ phill. Notes: a cloth slung over the shoulder and used for carrying the seed while sowing. Sower walked in a straight line. A boy replenished the “pill” from a sack in the middle of the field. |
| pinne, pl. pinneachan | Quotation: pinne fiodh. Notes: wooden pins joining ties and rafters. |
| piocaid | [pjwxkɑdʹ] Quotation: a’ phiocaid. Notes: pick. |
| piochdach | Quotation: piochdach cruaidh. Notes: dried saithe or stenlock. |
| piochdach beag | [pjwkɑx] Notes: saithe – stage after the “céitinneach”. |
| poca-stobaidh | Quotation: poca-stobaidh làn sgoltainnean [sɡoɫt̪ɛ̃nʹəṉ]. Notes: a bag slung round the shoulders with slices of seed potatoes for planting. See stob (Islay). |
| poite | Quotation: a phoite ghlaodhaidh. Notes: glue-pot. |
| pòs | Quotation: Pòs an Éirinn, agus siubhail an Ìle. Notes: “Alba” usually instead of “Ìle”. Local version. |
| posta | Quotation: (1) am posta deiridh. (2) am posta toisich. Notes: (1) sternpost (boat). (2) stempost (boat). |
| pranndan | [pɾɛ̃n̪:d̪ɑ̃ṉ] Notes: crushed crab, limpet, potato for bait. |
| pùireadh | Quotation: Tha e a’ pùireadh uisge. Notes: it is pouring rain (local). |
| putag | Quotation: am putag. Notes: rowlock. |
| sàbh | Quotation: sàbh-beag. Note: tenon saw with brass back for fine work. Quotation: sàbh-trasda. Note: cross-cut saw. Quotation: sàbh-sgoltaidh. Note: rip-saw. Quotation: sàbh-cruinn. Note: very small saw used for curves. Quotation: sàbh-mór. Note: two-handed saw. Used in sawing logs in the sawpit – one person on top of the pit, the other on the ground. |
| sàbh | Quotation: a’ sàbh caol. Notes: home-made fret saw. Piece of band-saw fitted in a wooden frame. |
| sàbh | Quotation: sabh [sic] dà-laimheadh. Notes: two handed saw. |
| sabh | [sɛv] Notes: aroma, e.g. of herring at sea when the oil comes to the surface after the dogfish have been at them. |
| sàbhadh | Quotation: a’ sàbhadh. Notes: saw. |
| sabhal | Quotation: sabhal brachaidh [sɑvəɫ bɾɑxi]. Notes: malt barn in distilleries. (see sheets) |
| sadharcan | Quotation: a’ sadharcan. Notes: peewit. (from “adharcan”) |
| sàil | Quotation: an t-sàil. Notes: heel part fitting onto shoemaker’s last. |
| saill | Notes: salt (vb). |
| sàmhach | Quotation: duine sàmhach. Notes: a quiet man. |
| sàmhach | Quotation: Chan e a mhuc shàmhach as moth a dh’itheas. |
| samhradh | Quotation: Is samhradh gach geamhradh gu Nollaig, ’s chan earrach e gu Féill Phàdruig. Notes: Portnahaven: Féill Phàruig. (Neil Ferguson) |
| sanndaich | Quotation: Chan fhac’ a shùil nì a riamh nach do shanndaich e. Notes: covet. |
| saoghal | Quotation: Cha bhi a shaoghal buan. Notes: He will not last long. |
| saor | Quotation: Far am bi saor bi sliseagan, far am bith mnathan bi giosragan. |
| seana-chearc | Quotation: eun seana-chearc. Notes: the offspring of aged parents. |
| seiche | Quotation: “Sin agad an toll a mhill an t-seiche.” Notes: “That is the rock on which we perished.” |
| seisreach | Notes: used for a pair of horses. |
| seòl | Quotation: “Tha seòl-mara [ʃɔɫmɑɾə] math ann.” Notes: (It is a favourable time for fishing, owing to the state of the tide.) |
| seusdair | [ʃe:sd̪əɾ] Quotation: seusdair sruth reothairt. Notes: spring tide at the height of its power – surge. |
| sgadan | Notes: herring. |
| sgaileartaich | [sɡɑlɑrt̪i] Quotation: a’ sgaileartaich. Notes: bawling. |
| sgairt | [sɡɑrtʹ] Quotation: “sgairt shoirbheas” sometimes. Notes: dry wind. |
| sgàl | Quotation: Bha a’ maorach air a sgàladh. Notes: scald, put in v. hot water. |
| sgar | Notes: joint in woodwork, or where two planks join in a boat. |
| sgar | Quotation: sgar an t-slait. Notes: middle part of fishing rod. |
| sgarbh | Quotation: A h-uile duine a’ toirt sgarbh a creag dha fhéin. |
| sgat | Notes: skate. |
| sgealb | Notes: splinter of wood. |
| sgeir | Notes: rock above the tide at low water. |
| sgeir-mhòine | Notes: peat-bank. |
| sgeith | Quotation: sgeth [sic] ròin. Notes: jellyfish. |
| sgian | Quotation: sgian tharraing. Notes: the draw knife – predecessor of the spoke-shave. |
| sgian | Quotation: sgian sgleàta [sɡw̃ṉsɡlɛ:t̪ə]. Notes: slater’s knife. |
| sgiath | Notes: fin of a fish. |
| sgiath | Quotation: Sgaoil e a’ sgiathan cho fada gus an sgàinn [sɡɛ̃:nʹ] e. Notes: He tried to take on too much at the one time. |
| sgiath | Quotation: Dh’fhalbh an ùin’ [ũ:nʹ] air sgiath na cabhaig. Notes: quotation? |
| sgioba | Quotation: (peat) 1. A h-aon a’ buain. 2. A h-aon a’ sgoradh. 3. A h-aon a’ socrachadh (putting the peats in place). Notes: Two on the second peat and two on the third. It was usually a boy for 3. socrachadh. |
| sgliùrach | Notes: a half-grown seagull. |
| sgoiltean | Notes: the seed slice of a potato. |
| sgòlachan | [sɡɔ:ɫɑxɑṉ] Notes: young bird still in the nest. |
| sgolladh | Quotation: a’ sgolladh [əsɡoʔɫəɣ]. Notes: propelling with one oar at the stern (sculling?). |
| sgolt | Quotation: Nam bitheadh am bàta a’ sgoltadh leis a’ ghrian chuireadh iad siabunn neo cris oirre. Notes: crack. |
| sgolt | Notes: split (fish). Dogfish, mackerel, cod, ling, saithe, etc. – from the tail down. Flat fish. Cut in the fish, when salting. |
| sgor | Quotation: a’ sgoradh a mhóine. Notes: forking the peats out further on the bank to make space. A special job for one of the crew. “A’ sgoradh as an fhàil” – all the crew working on the third peat with an iron each. |
| sgòrdan | [sɡɔ:rd̪ɑ̃ṉ] Notes: throat. |
| sgrath | Notes: turf divot under the thatch. |
| sgrèachail | [sɡɾɛ:xəl] Quotation: a’ sgrèachail. Notes: screeching, yelling in a high-pitched voice. |
| sgrìob | Notes: furrow. |
| sgrìoban | Notes: square wooden frame on which the “sgrìoban” is wound. |
| sgroth | Quotation: sgroth barraidh. Notes: divot of top turf layer in a peat-bank. |
| sgroth | Quotation: sgrothan mòine. Notes: turf divot as used to cover potatoes. |
| sguta | Quotation: a’ sguta deiridh. Notes: loose board used as a seat at the stern, rested on the “taobh-shlat”. |
| siab | Notes: light shower. |
| siab | Quotation: “Bha e a’ siabadh.” Notes: He was casting with a rod. |
| siobhag | Notes: blade of grass. |
| sioblaich | Quotation: a’ sioblachadh. Notes: rowing forward with three rods extended over the stern. Flies on each rod. |
| sìolag | [ʃi:ɫɑɡ] Notes: sand-eel. Eaten or used for bait. |
| siolaich | Quotation: Nach e th’air siolachadh sios. Notes: sea or day quietened down. |
| siolaich | Quotation: a’ siolachadh. Notes: straining. |
| siolla | Notes: gill or ¼ bot. |
| siotal | Quotation: siotal a’ chiste. Notes: small compartment to one side of chest under the lid. |
| slaodach | Notes: long tangle, narrow stalk with thicker crop of seaweed growing on it. Used for potato manure. |
| slat | Quotation: slat iasgaich. Notes: fishing rod. See: bun, bàrr, sgar. |
| slat | Quotation: Ma chi thu slat ’s a choill bheir leat e. Notes: seize the opportunity when presented. |
| slat | Notes: yard. |
| slat-thomhais | Notes: rule. |
| sliseag | [ʃlʹiʃɑɡ] Notes: wood-shaving. |
| sliseag | Quotation: Far am bi saor bi sliseagan, far am bi mnathan bi giosragan. |
| sloc-sàbhaidh | Notes: saw-pit. |
| sluasaid | Quotation: Bha iad a’ tilgeil nan iomairean le sluasaid le cas fhada. |
| sluasaid | Quotation: an t-sluasaid bhrachaidh. Notes: long-handled wooden shovel used to shift the grain on the malt floors. |
| smùdan | Notes: smoke. |
| snaigheagan | [sn̪ɛ̃əɡɑ̃ṉ] Notes: slow, lazy man. A’ snaigheagan: creeping up on something. |
| snaighichean | Quotation: snaighichean an fhiodh. Notes: with hard wood if a splinter is pulled it runs straight. Thread in wood. |
| snaighichean | [sn̪ɛ̃ĩçɑ̃nʹ] Quotation: snaighichean cailc. Notes: chalk line made by a piece of string with chalk on it. |
| sneic | [sn̪ɛ̃çc] Notes: thumb sneck on a door. |
| snèicear | [ʃnʹe:çcɑɾ] Notes: deceitful, sneaky person. |
| snighe | Quotation: an t-snighe dhubh. Notes: drip through the roof in thatched houses. |
| snòd | [sn̪ɔ̃:d̪] Notes: gut (fishing). |
| snog | Notes: nice. Used for something small, e.g. small girl or small object. |
| snòt | [sn̪ɔ:t̪] Notes: a long horse hair. |
| socraich | Quotation: a’ socrachadh na fòid. Notes: there were usually two men and a boy on the first peat (see SGIOBA). The boy did the “socrachadh” on the top of the bank, i.e. putting in place the peats thrown by the one who was forking. |
| soirbheas | [sɔɾɑs] Notes: wind. |
| sop | Notes: single stack of corn. (bad – a few stalks, a bunch) |
| spad-mhór | Notes: spade used for lining turf on peat-bank. |
| spàin | Quotation: a’ spain [sic] bheag. Notes: small trowel for filling in. |
| spàin | Quotation: spàin aoil. Notes: trowel (normal size). |
| sparradh (?) | Quotation: a’ sparradh [əspɑrə]; pl. na sparrannan. Notes: |
| spionnadh | Quotation: a’ gabhail an spionnadh. Notes: testing the strength of the spirit (whisky). Done by excisemen. |
| spiucaid | [spjwxkɑdʹ] Notes: bung (boat). Toll a’ spiucaid: bunghole. |
| spùt | Quotation: spùt uisge. Notes: torrential rain. |
| spùt | Quotation: a cheud spùt de’n lionadh. Notes: the first surge of the flood tide. |
| srac-bheòil | Notes: gunwale plank or strake. |
| sròn | Quotation: Bheir do shròn fhéin comhairle ort. Notes: “If you won’t take advice, you’ll find out for yourself.” |
| sron-chòra | [sic] [sɾɔ̃:ṉxɔ:ɾə] Notes: waterspout caused by a whirlwind at sea. (sròn-chobhaire?) |
| sruth | Notes: tidal flow. |
| sruth | Quotation: an taobh-shruth. Notes: current near the shore running opposite to the “cuilsean” q.v. |
| sruth | Quotation: sruth lionadh (not lionaidh). Notes: flowing tide. |
| sruth | Quotation: sruth tràghadh. Notes: ebbing tide. |
| stac | [st̪ɑxk] Notes: made up of several “adagan” when rain was imminent. |
| stail | [sṯɤl] Quotation: [sṯɤlvo:ɾ] or [sṯɤləxw:xɑ̃nʹ]. Notes: wash still. |
| stail | [sṯɤl] Quotation: [sṯɤləspju̟ɾɑdʹʒ] also called [əsṯɤlveɡ]. Notes: spirit still. |
| starsach | Quotation: Is sleamhainn starsach an tigh mhóir. |
| starsach | Notes: piece of wood along the bottom of the door. |
| steàrnal | [ʃtʹʃɑ:ɾnʹɑl] [?] Notes: tern. |
| stigh | Quotation: a’ cur a stigh druim. Notes: the start of the ploughing – putting in a “back” or “ridge” down the middle of the field. |
| stìp | [ʃtʹi:p] Quotation: na stìpean [nəʃtʹi:pəṉ]. Notes: big tanks in the distilleries which could hold about 25 tons of barley where the barley was steeped for about 60 hours. |
| stiùir | Notes: rudder. |
| stob | Quotation: “Bha am buntàta air an stobadh le cas-chaibe.” Notes: holes were made at regular intervals and the potatoes dropped in. |
| [st̪o:dʹʒə] | Quotation: buntàta [st̪o:dʹʒə]. Notes: potatoes when fish was boiled along with them. [NOTES: slipped under ‘stóide’.] |
| stràc | Notes: plank in a boat. |
| struthaiseach | [st̪ɾu̜əʃɑx] Quotation: duine struthaiseach. Notes: extravagant person. D.M.D. – [st̪ɾu̜ʔəsɑx]. |
| stuaidh | [st̪u̟əi] Notes: harbour bar, caused by the sand going out with the current and forming a mound. |
| stuth | Quotation: “An cuimhnich thu air stuth tuilleadh?” Notes: “stuth” commonly used in Islay for “anything”. |
| sùgan | Quotation: sùgan fraoch. Notes: heather-rope. |
| sùganaich | Quotation: Bha am mulan air a thughadh agus air a shùganachadh. Notes: lashed. |
| sùghadh | Quotation: Cho fad ’s a bhios sùghadh am bun càil, bi foill air Macphàil. |
| sùil | Notes: eye of the lobster pot. |
| suilbheag | Notes: small patch put on a boat if it was damaged. |
| tacaid | Notes: tacket. |
| tàirneach | Notes: thunder. |
| tàirnich | Quotation: a’ tairneachadh [sic]. Notes: nail. |
| tàl | [t̪ɑ:ɫ] Notes: joiner’s adze. |
| tàl | Quotation: a’ tàladh an fhiodh. Notes: working with the adze. |
| talamh | Quotation: talamh leasaichte. Notes: year three in crop rotation. Ploughed. Hay seed and clover sown. |
| tallachan-tollaidh | Notes: split or fissure on the surface of the ground where water seeps down. Cattle can get into difficulties here. |
| tàmh | Quotation: Nuair a bhios Ruairidh ’na thàmh, bi e a’ ruamhair. Notes: If he is not engaged in paid work, he’ll always find something to keep him occupied. |
| tanalach | Quotation: [ən̪t̪ɛ̃ṉəɫɑx]. Notes: the shallows in a stretch of water. Can also be applied to shallow ground when ploughing. |
| taobh | Quotation: Bha dà thaobh a’ rathaid mhór leis. Notes: drunk. |
| taobh | Quotation: an taobh-shruth. Notes: current near the shore running opposite to the “cuilsean” (q.v.). |
| taobh-shlat | Quotation: an taobh-shlat. Notes: the thwart-strap. |
| taoman | Quotation: an taoman. Notes: baler in a boat. |
| tap | [t̪ɑp] Quotation: a’ tapadh nan dubhain. Notes: fixing the hooks on to the horsehair. |
| tap | Quotation: a’ tapadh. Notes: put the hook on the gut. |
| tarann | Notes: nail. |
| tarbh | Quotation: Cuir tarbh a dh’Éirinn agus thig e ’na tharbh as. Notes: a number of similar sayings, e.g. “Cuir cù a Shasainn,” “Cuir cat do’n Fhraing…” etc. |
| tarraing | Quotation: a’ tarraing nan iomairean. Notes: making ridges. Originally done with a spade. |
| tarraing | Quotation: Tha tarraing a tighinn a stigh as a chuan. Notes: ground swell at sea. A ground swell coming in indicated a change of weather. |
| tarraing | Quotation: tarraing an uinneag. Notes: loop attached to bottom of window for lifting it. |
| tarslan | Quotation: tarslan an fhàradh. (pl. tarslainn [t̪ɑrʰlɑ̃nʹ] [?]) Notes: rung of a ladder. |
| tarsuinn | Quotation: fiodhrach tarsuinn. Notes: wooden straps placed horizontally over the rafters. |
| teanga | Quotation: an teanga. Notes: the plane for making the tongue in floorboards. |
| teanga | Quotation: Am fear a ghleidheas a theanga, gleidhidh e a chàirdean. |
| [tɛ:ləṉṯ] | Notes: rope running from the “cruaidh” to the “bolla” (lobster creel). [NOTES: slipped under ‘tèilant’.] |
| te-theallaich | Quotation: an te-theallaich [tʹʃeʔɑɫi]. Notes: tapered burning iron used for cleaning ragged holes in wood left by auger. |
| thairis | Quotation: Chaidh e thairis. Notes: He went abroad. |
| thar | Quotation: thar an loch. Notes: over the loch. Tarsuinn rarely used except in compounds, e.g. fiodh-tarsuinn. |
| thar | Quotation: fiodh thar an t-sàbh. Notes: wood straight from the saw. |
| tigh | Quotation: tigh a’ mheasgaidh. Notes: the Mixing Room in the distillery where the crushed meal was scalded with hot water (see sheets). |
| tigh | Quotation: tigh na braiche. Notes: the Malt Deposit in the distillery. |
| tigh | Quotation: tigh an eòrna. Notes: the grain loft in distilleries. |
| tinneas | Quotation: an tinneas mara. Notes: seasickness (Jura). [NOTES: slipped under ‘tinneas-mara’.] |
| tiughad | [tʹʃıvəd̪] Notes: thickness. |
| tobar | Quotation: Chan ionndrainnear an uisge gus an tiormaich an tobar. |
| tobhta | Quotation: tobhta-toisich, tobhta-meadhon, tobhta-deiridh. Notes: thwarts. |
| tobhta | Quotation: an tobhta togalaich. Notes: plank put across the gunwhales as a seat for fishing. |
| tog | Quotation: a’ togail a’ mhòine. Notes: lifting the peats. |
| togail | Quotation: Ghabh sinn togail ar cuirp. Notes: We ate our fill. |
| tòin | Quotation: Tha tòin oirre. Notes: said of a tough peat. |
| toire | [t̪ɔɾə] Quotation: toire, na toireachan. Notes: auger for boring holes in wood. Before bit and brace. |
| toit | Quotation: ’S fheàrr toit a’ fhraoich na gaoth a’ reothaidh. Notes: said of one going into a house full of peat smoke from the cold. |
| toll | Quotation: toll bhuntàta. Notes: potato pit. |
| toll | Quotation: “Sin agad an toll a mhill an t-seiche.” Notes: That is the rock on which we perished. |
| toll | Quotation: toll a’ spiucaid [spjwxkɑdʹ]. Notes: bung-hole in a boat. |
| toll | Quotation: a’ tolladh an fhiodh. Notes: making the mortice. |
| tollainn | [t̪ɔɫĩnʹ] Quotation: aimsir thollainneach. Notes: sultry weather. Caused blight in potatoes. |
| tòn | Quotation: tòn na fidean. Notes: blunt point of the tidal flats. |
| tonn | Notes: (pl. tonnan) wave. |
| tonnag | Quotation: Tonnag mhonaidh: eider duck. Tonnag Lochlannach: mallard duck. |
| torranach | Notes: a small white worm which eats the roots of the oats in spring. |
| tosgaid | Notes: barrel, hogshead. |
| tràigh | Quotation: (a) ceud tràghadh. (b) leth tràghadh. (c) àirde tràghadh. Notes: (a) first ebb of tide. (b) half-ebb of tide. (c) low tide. |
| tràigh | Quotation: sruth tràghadh. |
| tràigh | Quotation: àirde tràghadh. Notes: high tide. |
| tràigh | Quotation: leth-tràghadh. Notes: half ebb. |
| treothadh | Quotation: “’S fheàrr treothadh anmoch na gun treothadh idir.” [NOTES: slipped under ‘treobhadh’.] |
| triubhas | Notes: cod roe. |
| troigh | Notes: foot. (dist.) |
| trosg | Notes: cod. |
| tuagh | Notes: axe. |
| tuagh | Quotation: tuagh coille, tuagh saor. Notes: wood axe, joiner’s axe. |
| tuairm | Quotation: comhradh gun tuairm. Notes: senseless talk. |
| tuban | Notes: small tub. |
| tuban | Notes: tub into which fish were put and covered with brine. Left for a week before putting on the rocks to dry. |
| tughadh | Notes: thatch. |
| tuil | Notes: flood. |
| tunna | [tɤ̃ṉə] Quotation: “na tunnachachan” [sic] or “tunnachan a’ chaochain”. Notes: See p. 49. |
| turcais | Notes: nippers. An turcais bheag: cutting copper wire etc. An turcais mhór: for rough work, blunt. |
| uachdar | Quotation: a’ fòid uachdar. Notes: top peat. |
| uachdar | Quotation: uachdar a’ bhac. Notes: top of the peat bank. |
| ubh | Quotation: “A’ chearc air ’s gun an ubh ann.” Notes: see cearc. |
| ucsa | Notes: mature saithe. |
| ùilleadh | Quotation: a’ chlach ùilleadh. Notes: small hone, oiled. |
| ùine | Quotation: Dh’fhalbh an uine [sic] [ũ̟:nʹ] air sgiath na cabhaig. Notes: quotation? |
| uisge | Quotation: tri uisgeachan. Notes: three waters usually poured on the grist (distillery). |
| uisge | Quotation: Cha d’ thainig gaoth mhór a riamh gun uisge ’na deidh. |
| uisge | Quotation: ceòbanach uisge. Notes: drizzle rain. |
| uisge | Quotation: cifeir uisge. Notes: drizzly rain. |
| ùmaiche | [u̜:mĩçə] Notes: taciturn person, quiet person. |
| umhal | Quotation: Chuir mi umhal gu robh an aois a laighe air. |
| ùpraid | Notes: turmoil. |
| ùrlar | Notes: floor. In joiner’s shop had to be “ùrlar fiodh” for making furniture. |
| ùrlar | Quotation: ùrlar brachaidh. Notes: malt floor. |
| ùrlar | Quotation: ùrlar clàraidh. Notes: wooden floor of a loft. |
| ursann | Notes: doorpost. |
| acfhuinn | Quotation: acfhuinn saorsainneachd. Notes: joiner’s tools. |
| acair | Quotation: Bha i cosmhail ri acair an aranach. Notes: He was so careful that he always kept his anchor ashore even when he put to sea. When the storm came, he had none to save him. |
| acras | Quotation: Nuair a thig an acras a steach air an dorus theid an gaol a mach air an uinneig. |
| ailbheag | [ɑləvɑɡ] Notes: ring in the bow of a boat or in a rock for tying a rope. |
| ailm | [ɑləm] Quotation: an ailm. Notes: the tiller. |
| aindeoin | Quotation: “Am fear nach dean Nollaig le deòin, ni e trasg a dh’aindeoin.” |
| àirde | Quotation: àirde làin. Notes: high tide. |
| àirde | Quotation: àirde tràghadh. Notes: high tide. |
| àirde | Quotation: àirde traghad. Notes: low tide. |
| àird-an-iar | Quotation: Tha dorchadas ’san àirde n’ iar. Tha ’n àirde ’n iar a’ lionadh. |
| aithne | Quotation: [əmɛ̃ṉḏu̟] a’ [jɛ̃:ṉəɣ]? Notes: Couldn’t you do it? |
| àithne | [ɛ̃:nʹə] Notes: (roe or liver) of the saithe used for lamp oil. Prob. liver. |
| amsan | [ɛ̃mmsəṉ] Notes: solan goose. |
| anainn | [ɛ̃ṉĩnʹ] Notes: eaves of a house or cornstack. |
| anmoch | Quotation: ’S fheàrr treothadh anmoch na gun treothadh idir. |
| aoidein | [w:dʹʒɛ̃nʹ] Quotation: adj. aoideinneach. Notes: leak. See also ao-dion, eu-dionach. |
| aois | Quotation: Chuir mi umhal gu robh an aois a’ laigh’ air. |
| aparan | Notes: Keelson (board on top of the keel). |
| àrcan | Notes: (sing) cork. |
| àrd | Quotation: an àrd bhrachadair. Notes: head maltman. [NOTES: slipped under ‘àrd-bhrachadair’.] |
| àrd-dorus | Notes: lintel. |
| asglan | [ɑsɡɫɑ̃ṉ] Quotation: an asglan toisich, dà asglan deiridh. Notes: |
| ath-ghoirid | Notes: shortcut. |
| bac-mòine | Notes: peat bank. |
| bacach | Quotation: bacach ceàrr. Notes: halibut. (Perhaps this should be “turbot” – see “bradan leathann”.) |
| bacan | Notes: part of door hinge. |
| bad | Quotation: Cha b’e do na h-eòin e mun a robh am bad air. Notes: bad: tuft on head of a bird. Say a person was forward in company. It was expected of him to be like that, he came from a forward family. |
| bad | Notes: a handful of corn. |
| baideal | Notes: cloud. |
| bailc | [bɑlc] Notes: heavy shower. |
| bàl | Quotation: bàl a staidhr’. Notes: newel post in the middle of the stair with usually a ball on top. |
| ball | Quotation: am ball [bɑɫ:]. Notes: rope. |
| balt | Quotation: Balt Bealltainn. Notes: short heavy shower in May. |
| banais | Quotation: “’S fheàrr aon bhanais na dà chomanachadh dheug.” |
| bann | Notes: part of door, hinge attached to door or gate. |
| baraille | Notes: barrel. |
| bara-thòirneap | Notes: used for planting turnip seed. |
| bargan | Quotation: mòine bhargain [vɑɾɑɡɑ̃nʹ]. Notes: peats cut on piece-work for the distilleries or farms. |
| bàrr | Quotation: bàrr an t-slait. Notes: tip of the rod. |
| bàrr | Quotation: a’ barradh. Notes: skimming the top turf layer (peat). |
| barradh | Quotation: “Dean barradh leathan – sia fòidean is cùlag.” Notes: the width that has been turfed in order to be cut. |
| barradh | Quotation: am barradh. Notes: the top layer of turf in the peat-bank. |
| barradh | Quotation: sgroth barraidh. Notes: divot of top layer of turf in peat bank. |
| barra-leathad | [bɑrəlʹɛʔəd̪] Notes: camber in the road at a bend. |
| bàrr-dearg | Quotation: am bàrr-dearg. Notes: “tangle” growing on the “doire”. This was used as manure on the land. The collection was done about mid-November. (Equinox?) |
| bean | Quotation: Far am bi saor bi sliseagan, far am bi mnathan bi giosragan. |
| bearradair | Notes: barber. |
| beart | Notes: lathe. |
| beò | Quotation: Bheir an aire nach cuir thu an tarann ’s a’ bheò. Notes: when shoeing a horse. |
| beul | Quotation: beul a’ bhac. Notes: the face of the peat-bank. |
| beul | Quotation: am beul. Notes: the gunwhale. |
| beul-shlat | Notes: rubbing strake, made of iron, round the gunwhale. |
| beum | Quotation: “Mur aithne dhuit a’ beum.” Notes: pedigree or stock. Said to be words of an old song. |
| beum-seic | Quotation: a’ bheum-seic [əve:mʃiçc]. Notes: rupture. [NOTES: slipped under ‘beum-sice’.] |
| biadh | Notes: bait. Bait in order of preference: 1. Luga. 2. Conachag (buckie). 3. Feusgan. 4. Maorach. 5. Gobhrachan Breac (snail). |
| bil | Quotation: bil nan creag. Notes: edge of the cliffs. |
| bilearach | Notes: a green sea-grass growing in the sand. This was used at Bridgend to cover the potatoes in the pit as “luachair” was scarce there. |
| blàr-mòine | Notes: peat bank or ground where peat is dug. |
| blàthdaich | Quotation: Mar a tha sinn air [bɫɑ:dʹɑxəɣ] ris. Notes: “Seeing we are warmed up to it” e.g. a topic of conversation. Pron. blàidich. |
| bleith | Notes: mill. |
| bochdainn | Quotation: am bochdainn fairge. Notes: seasickness. |
| bogha | Notes: rock that is completely submerged. |
| bogha | Quotation: na boghachan. Notes: bent wooden frame of lobster pot. |
| boidhchead | Quotation: Chan e a boidhchead a bheir goil air a phoite. |
| boil | Quotation: a’ boilich. Notes: useless talk. |
| boitein | [botʹʃɑ̃nʹ] Quotation: pl. “boiteinnean”. Notes: large bundles into which threshed corn was made. |
| bolla | Quotation: pl. bollachan. Notes: herring buoys. |
| bonn | Quotation: bonn a’ bhac. Notes: lower level of the peat bank. |
| bòrd | Quotation: bòrd obair. Notes: work bench. |
| botul | Quotation: botul bodaich. Notes: bottle (of whisky). Colloquial. |
| brachadair | Notes: maltman in distilleries. An àrd bhrachadair – head maltman. |
| bradan | Notes: salmon. |
| bradan | Quotation: bradan leathann [bɾɑd̪ɑ̃ṉ lʹɛʔən̪]. Notes: turbot. (Perhaps this should be halibut – see bacach ceàrr.) |
| braich | Notes: malt. |
| braich | Quotation: a’ braicheadh. Notes: malting. |
| bralais | Notes: extract of malt. |
| braon | Notes: warm shower in the summer. |
| brat | Quotation: brat na h-àthadh. Notes: wire mesh floor of the kiln in distillery. Had to be kept oiled, glossy and clean. |
| brat | Quotation: brat leathrach. Notes: leather apron on cobbler or blacksmith. |
| bratag | Notes: caterpillar. |
| brath | Quotation: a’ gabhail a’ bhrath. Notes: taking advantage. |
| breac | Notes: trout. |
| breac | Quotation: gobhrachan breac. Notes: snail. |
| breac-ghleannach | [bɾwxkɣɫɛ̃n̪ɑx] Notes: (noun) speckled glen – heather patches, grass patches, etc. |
| bridean | Quotation: Bha e cho eòlach ’s a bha ’m bridean ’s an tràigh. |
| brist | Quotation: na piochdaich a’ bristeadh. Notes: the saithe breaking the surface (in the autumn). |
| bristeadh | Quotation: na bristidh [bɾiʃtʹi]. Notes: the breakers or big waves breaking on the reef. “Tha ’m bogha a bristeadh” – the waves are breaking on the reef. |
| brochan | Quotation: brochan càith. Notes: the husks were boiled and strained. Like pease broth and considered an excellent dish. |
| bròdail | Notes: full of pride, haughty. |
| bròg | Quotation: a bhròg bheag, a bhròg mhòr – parts fitting onto shoemaker’s last. |
| brogh | [bɾoɣ] Quotation: am brogh. Notes: bradawl. |
| brot | Quotation: Tha e nas fhasa seana bhrot a theasachadh na brot ùr a dheanadh. |
| bruthas | Quotation: am bruthas. Notes: the still house. (Brew-house?) |
| buachaill-mara | Notes: the Great Northern Diver. |
| buaic | Notes: wick. |
| buain | Quotation: a’ buain a’ mhòine. Notes: cutting peats. |
| buan | Quotation: Cha bhi a’ shaoghal buan. Notes: He will not last long. |
| builg | Quotation: “Tha an t-iasg a’ builgeadh.” Notes: fish at play, breaking the surface and causing bubbles to form but not biting. |
| builg | Notes: a bubble. |
| bun | Quotation: bun an t-slait. Notes: handle of rod. |
| buntàta | Quotation: buntàta [pɾɛ̃n̪:tʹʃə]. Notes: potatoes cut up into small pieces. In Portnahaven and Port Charlotte fish and potatoes cut up into small pieces and mixed with butter. |
| buntàta | Quotation: buntàta [st̪o:dʹʒə]. Notes: potatoes when cut up and pieces of fish boiled along with them. |
| burrachlach | [bu̜ɾəxɫɑx] Notes: large boulders in the sand. |
| cà | Quotation: Cà robh grunnd [kɾe:] bhitheadh e glé mhath mun a faigheadh e bailc neo tart. Notes: where. |
| cabh | [kɑf] Quotation: cabh moine. Notes: peat dust. |
| cabhachan | Quotation: an cabhachan. Notes: the titlark (cuckoo’s attendant). |
| cabhag | Quotation: Dh’fhalbh an ùin’ [ũ:nʹ] air sgiath na cabhaig. Notes: quotation. |
| cachaileith | [kɑxələ] Notes: opening or gate. |
| caigeann | Notes: a pair, e.g. always used of a pair of fish hung up to dry (Port Charlotte). |
| cailc | Quotation: a’ chailc. Notes: chalk. |
| cailc | Notes: see snaighichean. |
| caileadair | [kɑɫəd̪ɑɾ] Notes: weather forecaster. Said by GC to have been used by the older Islay people. |
| cailleach | Quotation: cailleach ghriasaich. Notes: old woman who stays by the fire all the time. |
| cailleach | Quotation: cailleach na h-àthadh. Notes: the funnel of the kiln (distillery). |
| cailleach-fiunndrain | [kɑlʹɑx fjũ̜n̪d̪ɾɑ̃nʹ] Notes: shellfish like the winkle but white. |
| cailleag | [kɑlʹɑɡ] Notes: cockle. |
| càir | Quotation: “Tha càir-gheal air an oitir.” Notes: foam on the sea, caused by the spring tide going over the edge of the oitir (q.v.). |
| càith | Quotation: a’ chàith [əxɑ:i]. Notes: the husks. See brochan càith. |
| callaidh | Quotation: a’ challaidh [əxɑɫɑi]. Notes: partition. [NOTES: slipped under ‘càlaidh’.] |
| calamór | [kɑɫɑmo:ɾ] Notes: hake. |
| calc | Quotation: a’ calcadh. Notes: caulk. |
| calcadh | Notes: tough (dead) vegetable matter met with half way down when cutting peat. Have to take it off the blade with the fingers. |
| calman-coille | Notes: wood pigeon. |
| calman-creige | Notes: rock pigeon. |
| caochan | Notes: see p. 49. |
| caoidh | Quotation: “A’ caoidh an gàir a rinn thu ’n uiridh.” |
| caoran | Notes: broken bit of peat. |
| capull | Quotation: cas capull. Notes: edible shellfish similar to clam found in deep water. [NOTES: slipped under ‘capall’.] |
| car | Quotation: ’S duilich an car a thoirt as an t-seana mhaide. |
| càraid | Notes: a wedded pair. |
| carbhanach | Notes: bream. |
| càrdadh | Quotation: An ann a dol a dh’ionnsachadh càrdadh do’d sheanamhair? Notes: telling me something I know already. |
| carraig | Notes: rock above water, even at high tide. “Carraig-iasgach”. |
| cairgein | [kɑɾəcĩṉ] Notes: Irish moss. [NOTES: slipped under ‘carraigean’.] |
| casadh | Quotation: a’ casadh. Notes: twisting. |
| cas | Quotation: cas capull. Notes: edible shellfish similar to clam found in deep water. [NOTES: slipped under ‘cas-capull’.] |
| cas-chaibe | Quotation: Bha am buntàta air an stobadh le cas-chaibe. Notes: flauchter spade. Holes were made at regular intervals and the potatoes dropped in. |
| cat | [ku̟t̪] Quotation: ’S ann dhith fhèin a nì an cat crònan. Notes: selfish, self-centred. |
| ceangal | Notes: tee (on the roof of a house). No ridge-pole in thatched houses in Islay. |
| ceann | Quotation: ceann toscaid. Notes: top of the barrel. |
| ceann | Quotation: ceann tobhta. Notes: seat bracket. |
| ceann | Quotation: “Cha deach ceann riamh air clab-sgàinn [kɫɑbsɡɛ̃:nʹ].” Notes: No end to a garrulous person’s talk. |
| ceannaich | Quotation: a’ ceannach a’ ghruinnd. Notes: buying the portion of land. Custom in Nerebus of throwing a silver coin into the open grave unnoticed. Said to be an old Irish Catholic custom. Used to be a chapel there – a branch of Londonderry seminary. [NOTES: slipped under ‘ceannach’.] |
| ceannach-ruilleadh | Quotation: Chaneil air fhàgail ach am moll agus an ceannach-ruilleadh. Notes: only the chaff and small grains are left, i.e. the weaklings, etc. Ceannach-ruilleadh – in threshing, the mixture which went through the riddle into the second bag. Was put again through the riddles and the best part was put to the mill for meal. [NOTES: slipped under ‘ceannach’.] |
| ceannach | Quotation: “Chan e a cheannach a rinn e air.” Notes: said of a trait in a person’s character. |
| ceanna-chabair | Notes: rafter. |
| ceann-iomaire | Quotation: an ceann-iomaire. Notes: the area used by a horse for turning. At the end of the day these would also be ploughed. One acre a day was considered good work for two horses and a man. |
| ceap | Quotation: an ceap. Notes: shoemaker’s last. |
| cearc | Quotation: A’ chearc air ’s gun an ubh ann. Notes: cocky with no foundation for cockiness. Big ideas but no money behind it. |
| cearc | Quotation: ’S e nach reiceadh a’ chearc air là fliuch. |
| cearc-uisge | Notes: water hen. |
| ceasach | [cɛsɑx] Notes: wooden bridge at the peat bank. |
| céitinneach | [ce:tʹʃĩnʹɑx] Notes: saithe – next stage after “cuddy”. |
| ceò | Quotation: ceò dual. Notes: heavy mist. |
| ceò | Quotation: ceò fairge. Notes: sea mist. |
| ceòbanach | Quotation: ceòbanach uisge. Notes: drizzle. |
| ceòl | Quotation: Cha d’thoir a’ cheòl a cuideachd e. Notes: He wouldn’t stand out in company because of shyness. |
| ceòsach | [cɔ:sɑx] Quotation: mòine cheòsach. Notes: spongy peat. |
| cha ?lughde | [xɑɫw:dʹʒə] Notes: perhaps. [NOTES: cha ?lughde added in second hand.] |
| cha mhòide | [xɑvɔ:dʹʒə] Notes: maybe not. |
| ciaradh | Quotation: ciaradh an fheasgair. Notes: darkening. |
| cìb | [cı:b] Quotation: mòine chìb. Notes: top stringy layer of peat. |
| cìbhrinn | [civəɾĩŋ] Notes: bed cover. |
| cifeir | Quotation: cifeir uisge. Notes: drizzly rain. |
| cill | Quotation: ’S beag a leisgeul a bheireadh a’ chailleach do’n chill. Notes: When a person wants very much to go somewhere, given half a chance he will go. |
| cion-biadh (sic) | Notes: malnutrition. |
| cireagach | Quotation: feamainn chireagach. Notes: ? |
| ciste | Quotation: ciste acfhuinn. Notes: tool chest. |
| citheach | Quotation: La [sic] ribeach, robach, citheach, ceothach, gun ghaoith, gun thioradh, gun uisge. Notes: heavy day with low cloud. Citheach: sultry (possibly) or damp. |
| claba-dubh | [kɫɑbɑd̪u̟] Notes: overgrown mussel. |
| clab-sgàinn | [kɫɑbsɡɛ̃:nʹ] Quotation: “Cha deach ceann riamh air clab-sgàinn.” Notes: No end to a garrulous person’s talk. |
| clach | Quotation: a’ mhuir-chlach. Notes: (1) shingle thrown up by the sea. (2) raised beach. |
| clach | Quotation: an clach fhaobhrachaidh. Notes: joiner’s grindstone. Had to be turned sunwise (superstition). [NOTES: slipped under ‘clach fhaobhair’.] |
| clach | Quotation: clach speal. Notes: stone for sharpening scythe. |
| clach | Quotation: a’ chlach ùilleadh. Notes: small hone, oiled. |
| cladach | Quotation: A h-uile duine a’ toirt eun a cladach dha fhéin. Notes: Everyman for himself. |
| cladach | Quotation: Faoileann an droch chladaich. Notes: see “faoileann”. |
| clàdan | Quotation: pl. clàdain. Notes: snowflake. |
| cladhaich | Quotation: a’ cladhach a’ bhuntàta le gràp. Notes: when lifting potatoes, one person worked two drills simultaneously as he went, leaving the potatoes lying for an hour or two until they dried. |
| claidheamh | Notes: pin at the end of a roof ladder to keep it up. |
| claimhean | Quotation: an claimhean. Notes: the buzzard. |
| clais | Quotation: a’ chlais. Notes: plane used for making the groove in floorboards to admit the tongue. |
| clais | Notes: the bottom of a furrow. |
| clàr | Quotation: ùrlar claraidh [sic]. Notes: the wooden floor of a loft, etc. |
| clàr | Notes: platform on a boat for standing on. |
| clàr | Quotation: clàr leabhair. Notes: book cover. |
| cleideagach | Quotation: Na d’thoir breith air gille luideagach neo mart chleideagach. |
| cleit | Notes: pinnacle of rock standing on its own. |
| cliabh | Quotation: cliabh ghiomach. Notes: lobster pot. |
| cliath | Quotation: a’ chliath chrom. Notes: this implement consisted of two small harrows chained together each with a handle and both held by a man as if ploughing. They were pulled by one horse and eased the tops of the drills to let the “barran” through. |
| clibean | Quotation: an clibean. Notes: a piece cut out of the breast of the stenlock to imitate small herring. Used as bait in cod and stenlock fishing – P. Charlotte and Portnahaven. |
| clip | [kliʰp] Quotation: an clip. Notes: gaff. |
| clobha | [kɫoʔo] Quotation: an clobha. Notes: used as a clamp, e.g. when building a boat, to keep two planks tightly together. |
| cluich | Quotation: a’ sgadan a’ cluich. Notes: when the herring break the surface. |
| cnag | [kɾɛɡ] Notes: wooden pin formerly used to nail a slate on to the roof. |
| cnag | Notes: knot in wood. |
| cnead | [kɾɛd̪] Quotation: Dh’ith a bhó gus a robh [kɾɛd̪] aice. Notes: The cow ate till she couldn’t take any more. Possibly more likely “gus nach robh cnead aice” – until she could not utter a sigh. |
| cnòdan | [kɾɔ̃:d̪ɑ̃ṉ] Notes: gurnard. |
| coileach | Quotation: Tha a h-uile coileach làidir air a dhùnan fhéin. |
| coileach | Quotation: Cuir coileach air do ghuth! Notes: Speak more loudly! |
| coille | Quotation: tuagh [t̪u̟ə] coilleadh. Notes: wood axe. |
| coinneal | Quotation: Cha robh e soirbh da marsainn agus a’ choinneal a’ gabhail aig an dà cheann. |
| coirce | Quotation: coirce feur [fiɑɾ]. Notes: the corn that grew in the first year of the five year rotation. |
| coirce | Quotation: coirce leasaichte. Notes: the corn that grew in the third year of the five year crop rotation. The farmers or those with big crofts usually fed the “coirce feur” to the horses and the “coirce leasaichte” to the cows, the latter being much better feeding because of other grasses in among it. The small crofters had to use the “coirce feur” as well to feed the cattle. |
| colbhag | Quotation: an òrdag, a’ cholbhag, Fionnladh fada, Mac an Aba, [u̜i:dʹʒɑɡ]. |
| coltach | Notes: like. |
| comain | Quotation: Chan ann gun dùil comain a nì an croman fead. Notes: croman – chough. |
| comanachadh | Quotation: “’S fheàrr aon bhanais na dà chomanachadh dheug.” |
| comhairle | Quotation: “Bheir do shròn fhéin comhairle ort.” Notes: “If you won’t take advice, you’ll find out for yourself.” |
| comhtharraich | Quotation: Tha iad a comhtharrachadh. Notes: chickens tapping on the inside of the shell and beginning to crack them. |
| comhtharran | Quotation: [ṉəkɔ:ɾəṉ]. Notes: marker buoys. Pronounced as above but suggested that “comhtharran” was the original. |
| comhstadh (sic) | [kɔsdəɣ] Quotation: airson [kɔsd̪əɣ]. Notes: for an obligement. |
| conachag-ghiomach | Notes: shellfish with a creature like a small lobster inside the shell. |
| conachag | Notes: buckie (white). |
| conntraigh | Notes: neap tide. |
| corp | Quotation: Ghabh sinn togail ar cuirp. Notes: We ate our fill. |
| corran | Quotation: corran greasaidh [kɔrɑṉ ɡɾɛ:si]. Notes: cobbler. |
| coslach | Quotation: Tha e nas [kɔsd̪ıçə] ris. Notes: It is more like it. |
| coslas | Quotation: a rèir [kɔsd̪ɑs]. Notes: seemingly, apparently. |
| cosmhail | [kɔsɑl] Quotation: Bha i cosmhail ri acair an aranach. Notes: He was so careful that he kept his anchor ashore even when he went out in his boat. When he was caught in a storm, he had none to save him. |
| còta | Quotation: Bha làn a chòta mhóir orm. Notes: drunk. |
| còt | Quotation: còt uisge. Notes: oilskin coat. |
| cothromach | Quotation: a’ deanamh an fhiodh cothromach. Notes: having the same thickness all along. |
| cràbhairneach | [kɾɛ:vəɾnʹɑ̃x] Notes: horse mackerel. |
| craimp | [kɾɛ̃mp] Quotation: craimp-dùirn – small clamp; craimp-mhór – big clamp. Notes: for joinery work. |
| crann | Quotation: crann a’ speal. Notes: the handle of the scythe. |
| crann | Quotation: an crann. Notes: slip bolt at the bottom of the door – vertical and going into a hole in the floor. |
| crann | Quotation: an crann. Notes: implement used to plough the grain on the malt flour. Rulled [sic] along behind. |
| crann-dùbailte | Quotation: a’ drileadh leis a’ chrann-dùbailte. Notes: double-sided plough. |
| creag | Quotation: a’ chreag dhubh. Notes: fish with a big head – ? |
| creagag | Notes: rock cod. |
| creath | [kɾe:] Quotation: urlar [kɾe:əɣ]. Notes: clay floor. |
| cripidh | [kɾiʰpi] Notes: three-legged stool. |
| croman | Quotation: Chan ann gun dùil comain a ni an croman fead. Notes: croman – chough. |
| crònan | Quotation: ’S ann dhith fhéin a ni an cat crònan. Notes: selfish, self-centred. |
| crùban | Notes: crab. |
| cù | Quotation: Chan e là marbhadh na féidh là biadhadh nan coin. |
| crotach | Quotation: an crotach. Notes: the curlew. |
| cruach | Quotation: cruach mhóine. Notes: stack at the roadside or at home. |
| cruadhaich | Notes: dry (fish). |
| cruaidh | Quotation: a’ chruaidh. Notes: weight used in lobster pot. |
| cùbair | Notes: cooper – in charge of the casks at the distillery. |
| cudainn | Notes: cuddy. |
| cuideachd | Quotation: Cha d’thoir a’ cheòl a cuideachd e. Notes: Because of his shyness he would not stand out in a company. |
| cuillein (?) | [ku̟lʹ:ɛ̃nʹ] Notes: 2nd year of five-year crop rotation. Ploughed and root crop planted – usually 2/3 potatoes and 1/3 turnips. |
| cuilse | [ku̟lʃə] Notes: stream or current flowing where there is a channel. (From “cuisil” – vein?) |
| cuir | Quotation: a’ cuir a mach a’ mhóine. Notes: putting the peats to the roadside. |
| cuir | Quotation: a’ cur a stigh druim. Notes: the start of the ploughing – putting in a “back” or “ridge” down the middle of the field. |
| cuir | Quotation: An deidh dhaibh a bhi air an gartlan bha iad a cladhach eadar na sreathan agus a’ cur ris a’ bhuntàta. Notes: building up the earth on each side of the potato shaws. |
| cuir | Quotation: cuir sneachd. Notes: snowdrifts. |
| cuireag | [ku̟ɾɑɡ] Notes: eddy in a strong tide. |
| cuiseag | Quotation: “cuiseag luachair”. Notes: single stalk of a plant. |
| cul-cheangail | [ku̜:ɫce:l] Notes: hinge. |
| cùlag | Notes: first peat cut (weatherbeaten on one side). Used for the rounded corners of the stack. |
| cùlthaobh | Quotation: Ma chunnaic thu rud riamh ’s a’ chùlthaobh riut. Notes: (or cùlaibh) You should have known what to expect. |
| cuir | Quotation: “Tha cuir mhór air a’ chuain.” Notes: The sea is in turmoil. [NOTES: slipped under ‘cur’.] |
| cuir | Quotation: “Tha cuir na gaoth deas air an fhairge cheana.” Notes: even if the wind was coming from the north, one could predict that it was going to swing to the south if the swell was from that direction. [NOTES: slipped under ‘cur’.] |
| cuir | Quotation: cuir na gaoith. Notes: small waves caused by the wind. [NOTES: slipped under ‘cur’.] |
| currac | Quotation: “Bha currac gheal air an tarruing.” Notes: the ground swell curling up at the top and threatening to break. |
| curracag | [ku̜rɑxkɑɡ] Quotation: curracag mhòine. Notes: usually six or seven peats on end leaning against each other to dry. |
| dà | Quotation: Bha dà thaobh a’ rathaid mhór leis. Notes: drunk. |
| dafach | Quotation: an dafach. Notes: mash tin (distillery). [NOTES: slipped under ‘dabhach’.] |
| dàil | Quotation: Far an tig dàil, thig dearmad. Notes: Where there’s delay, there’s forgetfulness. |
| dànadas | Quotation: Millidh dànadas modh. |
| dàrna | Quotation: an dàrna [d̪ɑ:ṉɑ] fòid. Notes: the second peat (second layer). |
| dealanach | Notes: lightning. |
| dean | Quotation: Dean gu réith. Notes: Take it easy. [NOTES: slipped under ‘dean gu réidh’.] |
| deanadach | Quotation: duine deanadach. Notes: prudent man, always making things for himself. |
| deargan-donna | [dʹʒɛɾɑɡɑ̃ṉd̪on̪ə] Notes: small rainbow, usually a sign of change of weather. (donna < doinneann?) |
| dearmad | Quotation: “Far an tig dàil, thig dearmad.” Notes: Where there’s delay, there’s forgetfulness. |
| deas | Quotation: Tha e deas a dh’fhalbh. Notes: He is ready to go. |
| deifir | [dʹʒefəɾ] Quotation: Nach ann ort a tha an deifir. Notes: What a hurry you are in. |
| dèim | Quotation: [ən̪ɛ̃:m]. Notes: the lade of the mill, which carries the water to the wheel. |
| deireadh | Quotation: an deireadh leathann [lʹɛʔən̪]. Notes: transom in a boat. |
| deòin | Quotation: “Am fear nach dean Nollaig le deòin, ni e trasg a dh’aindeoin.” |
| deur | Quotation: “Bha deur math air.” Notes: He had a good drink in him. |
| dian-mara | Notes: free-board. |
| dian-ròstadh | Quotation: Bithidh iad a’ cainnt air teas ach ’s e a bha sud an dian-ròstadh. |
| dias | Quotation: Tha ’n coirce tighinn fo dhéis. Notes: “dias” also used of straws left behind on the fields after binding. |
| dìg | Notes: ditch. |
| diomhainneach | [di:vɑ̃nʹɑx] Quotation: “Chan e ’n duine diomhainneach as fhaide mhaireas.” |
| dìosgadh | Quotation: Chaidh a’ bhó ’n dìosgadh. Notes: The cow went dry. |
| dìrich | Quotation: a’ dìreachadh an fhiodh. Notes: make straight (planing). |
| doire | Quotation: pl. doireachan. Notes: tangle. Thick stalk with the “bàrr-dearg” growing on it. Used for manure. |
| dòirneag | [d̪ɔ:rnʹɑɡ] Notes: handle of oar. |
| dol | Quotation: “Nach fiathaich an dol air aghaidh seo!” Notes: What a carry on this is! |
| domhainneachd | [d̪oĩnʹɑxk] Notes: depth. |
| donnag | [d̪oʔn̪ɑɡ] Notes: young ling? |
| dorchadas | Quotation: Tha dorchadas ’san àirde ’n iar. Notes: The west is filling up with dark, heavy clouds. |
| dorsach | Quotation: Tha ’n àite cho dorsach. Notes: open, full of eddying winds. |
| dorus | Notes: door. |
| dorus | Quotation: Am fear a bhios ag éisdeachd cùl an doruis cha chluinn e nì math mu thimchioll féin. |
| draf | [d̪ɾɑf] Notes: the substance left in the mash tin after the hot water had been poured on the grist. |
| dreas | Quotation: “O’n dreas gus an droigheann.” Notes: from bad to worse. |
| drileadh | Quotation: a’ drileadh leis a’ chrann-dùbailte. Notes: making drills. |
| droch | Quotation: faoileann an droch chladaich. Notes: see faoileann. |
| drogh | [d̪ɾo] Notes: handline. |
| droigheann | Quotation: “O’n dreas gus an droigheann.” Notes: from bad to worse. |
| dròlan | Notes: wren. |
| drothanach | [d̪ɾɔʔɑ̃ṉɑx] Notes: light breeze. |
| druideag | Quotation: an druideag. Notes: starling. |
| druim | Quotation: an druim. Notes: backbone of the long line. |
| druim | Quotation: faradh droma. Notes: roof ladder. |
| druim | Notes: keel of a boat. |
| druim | Quotation: druim na cruach. (sic) Notes: top of the stack. |
| druim | Quotation: a’ cur a stigh druim. Notes: the start of the ploughing – putting in a “ridge” down the middle of the field. |
| dual | Quotation: ceò dual. Notes: heavy mist. [NOTES: in different hand – (? dùmhail).] |
| dubh | Quotation: a’ chreag dhubh. Notes: fish with a big head – ? |
| dubhaireachd | [d̪u̜ʔəɾɑxk] Notes: shade. |
| dùil | Quotation: Chan ann gun dùil comain a ni an croman fead. Notes: hope of reward. Croman – chough. |
| dùil | Quotation: Ged tha dùil ris, chan eil gealladh air. Notes: tomorrow. (Quotation?) |
| dùil | Quotation: na [du̟:ləṉ]. Notes: the elements. |
| duilich | Quotation: ’S duilich an car a’ thoirt as an t-seana mhaide. |
| duilisg | Notes: dulse. |
| dùnan | Quotation: Tha a h-uile coileach làidir air a dhùnan fhéin. |
| eadar-dà-long (?) | Quotation: Tha ’m bàta [ed̪əɾʔɑɫũ̟ŋɡ]. Notes: common saying in the past. The boat would be almost full of water but still floating. [NOTES: slipped under ‘eadar-dà-liunn’ and ‘eadar (dh)a lung’.] |
| eadar-sholus | Notes: twilight. |
| eallag | [jɑɫɑɡ] Notes: joiner’s block, usually a sawn-off piece of tree-trunk. |
| ealtainn | Quotation: ealtainn bearradair. Notes: barber’s scissors. |
| ealtuinn | See ealtainn. |
| earball | [u̟ɾəbəɫ] Notes: tail. |
| easg | [ɛsɡ] Notes: a fissure in the ground. |
| easg | [ɛsk] Notes: crack or fissure on the face of the peat-bank. When cutting, water spouts out from them. |
| easgach | Quotation: àite easgach. Notes: rugged, broken ground. Easg: a fissure in the ground. |
| easgann | Notes: eel. |
| éideag | Quotation: an éideag dhubh. Notes: whinstone. |
| eighe | [ʔeʔə] Notes: file. |
| eighe | [ʔeʔə] Quotation: eighe sàbh. Notes: saw-file (triangular cross-section). |
| eigheantach | [eən̪t̪ɑx] Notes: ice. |
| éirich | Quotation: ag éireach. Notes: getting up. |
| éisd | Quotation: Am fear a bhios ag éisdeachd cùl an doruis cha chluinn e ni math mu thimchioll féin. |
| eisir | Notes: oyster. |
| eòlach | Quotation: Bha e cho eòlach ’s a bha ’m brìdean ’s an tràigh. |
| eòlas | Quotation: “eòlas fairge”. Notes: sea experience. |
| eòrna | Quotation: eòrna Albannach (Scottish); eòrna Lochlannach (Scandinavian, Danish); eòrna Insinneach (Indian). Notes: barley used in whisky making. The Scottish barley was considered the best. The Danish barley was also good. The Indian, although cheaper, was not considered to be as good as the Scottish and Danish. |
| eòrna | Quotation: tigh an eòrna. Notes: the grain loft in distilleries. |
| eun | Quotation: A h-uile duine a’ toirt eun a cladach dha fhéin. Notes: Everyman for himself. |
| eun | Quotation: Cha b’e do na h-eòin e mun a robh am bad air. Notes: bad: tuft on head of a bird. Say a person was forward in company. It was expected of him to be like that, he came from a forward family. |
| eun | Quotation: Chan e eun gob dé (sic) a bh’ann, thainig e mach glé thràth ’san Earrach. Notes: He was no chicken. (A’ gobachadh: breaking the shells, hatching.) |
| eun | Quotation: eun seana-chearc. Notes: the offspring of aged parents. |
| fadal | [fɑd̪ɑɫ] Quotation: Bha mi a’ gabhail fadal nach robh e tighinn. |
| faic | Quotation: “Ma chunnaic [hɛ̃n̪ic] thu rud riamh ’s a chùlthaobh riut.” Notes: “You should have known what to expect.” |
| fàil | [fɑ:l] Quotation: fàil mhòine. Notes: peat spade operated by one man (cutting and throwing). (Aon fhàil, dà fhàil, tri fàldan.) |
| fairge | Quotation: am bochdainn fairge. Notes: seasickness. |
| falaisg | [fɑɫıʃɡʹ] Notes: heather blaze, usually in sprintime. |
| falaisg | Quotation: gaois falaisg. Notes: broom (usually birch) about 8ft long for extinguishing heather fires. |
| faobhraich | Quotation: a’ chlach fhaobhrachaidh. Notes: joiner’s grindstone. |
| faochag | Notes: wrinkle. |
| faodhar | [fɤʔɤɾ] Quotation: Bhuail mi [fɤʔɤɾ] air. Notes: I dealt him a good blow. |
| faoileach | Quotation: “Trì làithean de’n Fhaoileach ’san Iuchair, is trì làithean de’n Iuchair ’san Fhaoileach.” |
| faoileann | Quotation: faoileann a’ sgadain. Notes: herring gull. |
| faoileann | Quotation: faoileann mhór a’ sgiath dhubh. Notes: black-backed gull. |
| faoileann | Quotation: faoileann an droch chladaich. Notes: no matter how poor the place in which a person is born and bred, he will always return to it. |
| farachan | [fɑɾɑxɑ̃ṉ] Notes: wooden mallet. |
| faradh | Quotation: faradh droma. Notes: roof ladder. |
| fara-dhruim | [fɑrɑɣɾĩm] Notes: false keel. |
| fàsgadair | Notes: the skua. |
| fasgnag | Notes: riddle (criathar). |
| fead | Quotation: Tha fead aig a’ ghaoith. |
| feadag | Notes: the golden plover. |
| feamainn | Quotation: feamainn chireagach. Notes: ? [NOTES: slipped under ‘feamainn chireag’.] |
| feamainn | Quotation: an fheamainn dubh. Notes: black seaweed with bubbles on it. |
| feann | Quotation: “Tha e cho fuar ’s gu feannadh e leóghann [lʹɔ:ɡənʹ].” “Tha feannadh fuachd ann a tha garbh.” |
| fear | Quotation: Am fear a bhios ag éisdeachd cùl an doruis cha chluinn e nì math mu thimchioll féin. |
| fear | Quotation: Am fear a tha gun mhodh, saoilidh e gur e am mi-mhodh am modh. |
| féill | Quotation: Is samhradh gach geamhradh gu Nollaig agus chan earrach e gu Féill Phàdruig. Notes: Portnahaven: Phàruig. (Neil Ferguson) [NOTES: slipped under ‘Féill Pàdruig’.] |
| féisean | [fe:ʃɑṉ] Notes: pheasant. |
| feòirneag | Notes: ferret. |
| feumanach | Quotation: ’S fhada làmh an fheumanaich. |
| feur | [fıɑɾ] Quotation: [fıɑɾ] as opposed to [fɛ:ɾ]: grass. Notes: No 1 field in five year rotation system. Had been fallow for two years. Now ploughed and sown with oats. |
| feur-dubh | Notes: meadow or natural grass, usually cut in the late autumn. |
| feur-lòn | Notes: grass growing in damp spots. On big farms with a lot of fallow ground this was cut for hay. |
| fiabhrus | Quotation: am fiabhras [sic] dubh. Notes: typhus. |
| fiadh | Quotation: Chan e là marbhadh na féidh là biadhadh nan coin. |
| fiasgan | [fɛ:skɑ̃ṉ] Notes: mussel. |
| fiath | Quotation: Fiath, is gaoth ’n ear. Notes: two opposites. |
| fiathaich | Quotation: “Nach fiathaich an dol air agaidh [sic] seo.” Notes: “What a carry-on this is.” |
| fidean | [fidʹʒəṉ] Quotation: na fidean. Notes: tidal flats. |
| fiodh | Quotation: fiodh thar an t-sàbh. Notes: wood straight from the saw. |
| fiodh-garbh | Notes: unplaned wood. |
| fiodhrach | Quotation: fiodhrach tarsuinn. Notes: the ribs of a boat. |
| fiodhrach | Quotation: fiodhrach tarsuinn. Notes: wooden straps placed horizontally over the rafters. |
| fiodh-trasda | Notes: cross-grain wood. |
| fionnag | [fjũ̜n̪ɑɡ] Notes: whiting. |
| Fionnladh | Quotation: an òrdag, a’ cholbhag, Fionnladh fada, Mac an Aba, [u̜i:dʒʹɑɡ]. |
| flineachd | Quotation: -shneachd. Notes: sleet. |
| fliuch | Quotation: ’S e nach reiceadh a’ chearc air là fliuch. |
| fliuch-bhord | Notes: plank next to keel. |
| fòid | [fɔ:dʹ] Notes: a peat. |
| fòid | Quotation: a’ fòid uachdar. Notes: top peat. |
| fòid | Quotation: an dàrna [d̪ɑ:ṉɑ] fòid. Notes: the second peat. |
| fòid | Quotation: a’ fòid gruinnd. Notes: the bottom layer of peat. |
| foill | Quotation: Cho fad’s a bhios sùghadh am bun càil, bi foill air Macphàil. |
| forca | Notes: 4-pronged fork used to throw peats further out on the bank to allow space for more. |
| fosgladh | Notes: opening in heavy, dark clouds. |
| frafonn | [fɾɑfɔn̪] Notes: “Of the rush family but with a bushy head. Sometimes used instead of “luachair” to cover potatoes in the pit.” |
| fraoch | Quotation: sùgan fraoch. Notes: heather-rope. |
| frith-rathad | Notes: foot-path. |
| froiseadh | Quotation: a’ froiseadh coirce. Notes: threshing corn. |
| froiseadh | Quotation: froiseadh stocainn. Notes: (verb and noun) running thread pulled from a stocking. |
| frudhan | [fɾu̟ʔɑn] Quotation: pl. [fɾu̟ʔɑ̃nʹ] or [nəfɾu̟ʔəṉəṉ]. Notes: washer on rivets. Cooper “rooves” used as washers on nails in boats. |
| fuaidreag | [fu̟ədʹʒɾɑɡ] Notes: imitation eel as bait for lythe. Often made of crab and wrapped in wool to keep it together. |
| fuar | Quotation: Tha e cho fuar ’s gu feannadh e leòghann. |
| fuaradh-froise | Notes: cold breeze preceding a shower. |
| fuinneadair | Notes: baker, person engaged in baking. |
| furm | Quotation: fuirm [sic] greusaiche. Notes: cobbler’s seat – a long broad seat with compartments on each side of the cobbler holding tacks etc. |
| gabh | Quotation: a’ gabhail a’ spionnadh. Notes: testing the strength of spirit in the spirit vat. |
| gabh | Quotation: a’ gabhail a’ bhrath. Notes: taking advantage. |
| gad | Quotation: Cha robh air fhàgail agam ach an gad air an robh an t-iasg. |
| gàir | Quotation: A’ caoidh an gàir a rinn thu ’n uiridh. |
| gaois | Quotation: gaois falaisg. Notes: broom (birch) about 8ft long for extinguishing heather fires. |
| gaois | Quotation: gaois iaruinn. Notes: iron brush. |
| gaois-fraoich | Notes: heather brush used to wash the fish in sea-water, before being put in a “tuban” of brine and left for a week. |
| gaol | Quotation: Nuair a thig an acras a steach air an dorus, theid an gaol a mach air an uinneig. |
| gaosaid | Quotation: gaosaid each. Notes: horsehair. Used in making long lines, the part to which the hook was attached. |
| gaoth | Quotation: Na trì nithean as fuar ’s an domhainn, gaoth [ɡw:ç] roimh tholl, gaoth fo sheòl, agus gaoth fhuar an àiteamh [ɑtʹʃəv]. |
| gaoth | Quotation: Tha fead aig a’ ghaoith. |
| gaoth | Quotation: cuir na gaoith. Notes: small waves caused by the wind. |
| gaoth | Quotation: Fiath, is gaoth ’n ear. Notes: two opposites. |
| gaoth | Quotation: ’S fheàrr toit a’ fhraoich na gaoth a’ reothaidh. Notes: said of one entering a house full of peat smoke from the outside cold. |
| gaoth | Quotation: “Cha d’thainig gaoth mhór a riamh gun uisge ’na déidh.” |
| gaothach | Quotation: moine ghaothaich. Notes: where there is only a thin layer of turf and peat (i.e. in an area where peat was cut before), it is almost dry when cut. |
| gaothail | Quotation: là gaothail. Notes: windy day, boisterous day. |
| gàradh | Quotation: an gàradh. Notes: a small enclosed plot near the house in which early potatoes and a variety of vegetables such as kail, cabbage, turnip, carrot were planted. (Stone wall.) |
| garadh | Quotation: Coltach ris a’ chailleach a thug seachd bliadhna ga garadh fhein, nuair a chaidh i a mach thug aon oiteag air falbh i. Notes: toasting oneself at the fire. See oiteag. |
| garadh | [ɡɑɾəɣ] Quotation: an garadh. Notes: otter’s lair. |
| gàradh | Quotation: an gàradh cloiche (pl. gàraidean). Notes: dry-stone dyke. |
| garbhag | Notes: flounder (no red spots). |
| gartlan | Quotation: (1) a’ gartlan a bhuntàt (verb). (2) gus am biodh iad deas airson a’ ghartlan (noun). (3) gartlan (noun). Notes: (1) weeding the potatoes. (2) a’ ghartlan – “the process of weeding”. (2) weeds (in general). |
| geadh | Quotation: Ged a chuireadh tu geadh mu chuairt an t-shaoghal air fad, ’s ann ’na gheadh a thilleadh e. |
| gealach | Quotation: Tha reul ro fhaisg air a’ ghealach. Notes: bad weather sign. |
| gealach | Quotation: An croch thu do cheap air a’ ghealaich. Notes: if you could, bad weather was supposedly imminent (first and last quarter). |
| gealladh | Quotation: Ged tha dùil ris, chaneil gealladh air. Notes: tomorrow (quotation?). |
| geallag | Notes: sea trout. |
| geamhradh | Quotation: Is samhradh gach geamhradh gu Nollaig, ’s chan earrach e gu Feill Phàdruig. Notes: Portnahaven: Phàruig (Neil Ferguson). |
| geannaire | [ɡɛ̃n̪əɾə] Notes: hammer. |
| geannaire | Quotation: geannaire ladhrach. Notes: claw hammer. |
| geannaire | Quotation: geannaire sgleata. Notes: slater’s hammer. |
| geannaireachd | Quotation: a’ geannaireachd. Notes: hammering. |
| geàrr | Quotation: an geàrr. Notes: slot in the staves of a barrel into which the top fits. |
| gearradh | Quotation: a’ cheud ghearradh, an dàrna gearradh. Notes: 4th and 5th years in crop rotation. Not ploughed. Rye grass cut in July and meadow or natural grass (not sown) cut in late autumn. |
| gearra-phiochdach | Notes: saithe – stage after the “piochdach beag”. |
| géidse | Quotation: singilte, dubailte (for mortice work). Notes: guage [sic]. |
| gèidsear | Notes: exciseman. |
| geinn | Notes: wedge. |
| geinn | Quotation: an geinn. Notes: square wooden pin at the end of the joiner’s bench. Close-fitting but could be hammered up and down to suit the thickness of the wood being planed or chiselled. |
| geothastan | [ɡʹoʔəsd̪ɑṉ] Notes: large plant similar to bulrushes. |
| gilb | Quotation: a’ ghilb fhiodh: wood chisel; a’ ghilb chruadhach [xɾu̟əx]: heavy iron chisel. Notes: chisel. |
| gilb | Quotation: gilb chruinn. Notes: curved chisel. |
| gilb-tollaidh | Notes: morticing chisel. |
| gilm | [ɡʹiləm] Notes: rebate plane, used when flooring for getting into corners. |
| giomach | Notes: lobster. |
| giosrag | Quotation: Far am bi saor bi sliseagan, far am bi mnathan bi giosragan [ɡʹısɾɑɡəṉ]. Notes: meaning given for giosragan – charms. |
| glamas | Quotation: glamas shaoir (wooden); glamas gobha (iron). Notes: vice. |
| glan | Quotation: a’ glanadh. Notes: cleaning the surface of the first layer of peat. |
| glaodh | Quotation: “Bha iad air an glaodhaich.” Notes: Their wedding banns were proclaimed. |
| glaodhadh | Quotation: an glaodhadh. Notes: glue. |
| glas | Quotation: a’ ghlas. Notes: window snib. |
| glas | Quotation: an glas cruinn. Notes: semi-circle cut out of stem thwart of a boat to admit the mast. |
| glèas | [ɡlɛ:s] Notes: glaze (furniture). |
| gléidh | [sic] Quotation: Am fear a ghleidheas a theanga, gleidhidh e a chàirdean. |
| glodhas | [ɡɫoʔəs] Notes: fissure among rocks, where the tide surges in and out. |
| glòmanachadh | Quotation: glòmanachadh an latha. Notes: daybreak. |
| glug | Quotation: Thug e glug. Notes: plop. As the noise made when a stone is dropped in water. |
| glùin | Quotation: a’ ghlùin thoisich – foreknee (?); a’ ghlùin dheiridh – stern knee (?). |
| glùn | [ɡɫũ̜:ṉ] Notes: knee. |
| gnìomh | Quotation: a’ gnìomh [ɡɾĩ:v] a’ chruach. Notes: building the outside shell of the peatstack. |
| gnìomh | Quotation: móine gnìomh [ɡɾĩ:v]. Notes: peats suitable for building the outside shell of the stack. |
| gob | Notes: point or headland. |
| gob | Quotation: “Chan e eun gob dé a (sic) bh’ann, thainig e mach glé thràth ’san Earrach.” Notes: He was no chicken. (A’ gobachadh: breaking the shells, hatching.) |
| gobag | [ɡoʔbɑɡ] Notes: dogfish. |
| gobaich | Quotation: Tha iad a’ gobachadh. Notes: chickens breaking the shells, hatching. |
| gobhar | Quotation: an gobhar breac. Notes: snail with shell. |
| góblaid | [ɡo:bəɫɑdʹ] Notes: flat-bottomed pot. |
| gogan | Quotation: Na luing mhór air crionadh ’s na gogain a’ seòladh. Notes: talking of some one who has been in the limelight but who has now been ousted by the younger set. |
| goil | Quotation: Tha ’n coir’ a’ goileadh. Notes: The kettle is boiling. |
| gorraide-cràg | [ɡɔrıdʹʒə kɾɑ:ɡ] Notes: starfish. |
| gràinean | Quotation: an gràinean. Notes: the grain in wood. Gràinean dlùth/teann – close (trees in cool climate). Gràinean fosgailte – open (trees in hot climate). |
| gràp | Quotation: na gràpaichean. Notes: revolving grapes in mash tins (distillery). |
| grian | Quotation: “Mar chlach a ruith le gleann, tha ghrian ’na deann, feasgar fann fogharadh.” |
| grianan | Quotation: grianan math. Notes: good dry spot for drying peats. |
| gròb | Quotation: a’ gròbadh an fhiodh. Notes: mould. |
| grobhail | Quotation: Tha a’ mhuc a’ grobhail [ɡɾɔfəl]. Notes: grunting. |
| gruaim | Quotation: Tha gruaim air a’ mhara. |
| grubair | [ɡɾɤbɑɾ] Notes: The “grubber”. Used to weed between potato shaws. Angle could be altered. |
| grunn | Quotation: “na grunnan”. Notes: if it was stormy outside, the fishermen would come up the loch to fish codling in a sheltered spot, “na grunnan”. |
| grunnd | Quotation: a’ ceannach a’ ghruinnd. Notes: buying the portion of land. A custom, which may yet be carried on in Nerebus, of throwing a silver coin into the open grave unnoticed. Said to be an old Irish Catholic custom. There used to be a chapel there which was a branch of Londonderry seminary. G. C. |
| grunnd | Quotation: a foid gruinnd [ɡɾũ̟:nʹdʹʒ]. Notes: the bottom layer of peat. |
| grunnd | Quotation: grunnd a’ bhac. Notes: lower level of the peat-bank. |
