Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

Informant(s)
Name
D. W. MacDonald
Location
South Uist, Peninerine
Date
[1987-88]
Fieldworker
A. O’Henley
Notes
  • [NOTES: some notes added (most probably by K. D. MacDonald?). See below for details.]
aicaida sharp pain.
eimlisgeacha badly behaved youngster. Can also mean confused but without the ‘each’ ending. “Bha e ann an eimlisg.”
airceaspoverty.
aiteal [?]a break or a lull in a storm.
athaismode of transport.
bagantaa descriptive word applied to a neat, tidy person.
fòlaga word used in the north end of South Uist which means a pin used to hold the wheel on an axle. Same word as ‘sgiofair’ which is used at south end of South Uist.
bannala crowd or band of people.
barranheadsquare.
bleadraichblethering.
fàladha racehorse.
buillisga wooden lid on a pot. Some take this to mean a pot hook but former definition is more accurate according to D. W. [NOTES: corrected to ‘bùillisg’ and note added – cf. Lewis pùlais.]
càbraidconfusion. Have also heard this myself in the context of the crying sound of seals.
caraiga rock jutting out to sea which could be used as a landing place for fishing boats.
càidsaira person who was always asking for money, provisions etc. A bum.
cleith sheanachairan implement which was ready to fall apart.
failmeanknee cap.
deathachsteam as in ‘bàta deathach’.
conobhair [?]a person who ate his food hurriedly.
cramaillsomeone with a deformity. D. W. recalls someone who was called by this name since she was not 100% mentally fit.
cuilltaira sulker. [NOTES: corrected to ‘cùillteir’.]
diorrasacha stubborn person.
drointeadhusually applied to someone who has misbehaved. Can vary regarding the seriousness of the incident. This word would be said by someone trying to counsel the offender. “Thug mi drointeadh air.” [NOTES: note added – ‘dressing down’.]
duraghaidha surly, sour person.
falaraidhapplied to refreshments after a burial whether it be at the cemetery, in the deceased’s house or at an [sic] hotel.
fearaghasachangry.
iorsga rabble.
iudhracha special type of sailboat. Made from timber originating from yew trees? [NOTES: note added above ‘iudhrach’ – iùbhrach.]
fuidheaganend threads.
a’ ghalathaddarling.
gille pliobairan underling, to be distinguished from a message boy who had a higher status. The word hints at backwardness and gullibility regarding this person.
goillestomach. [NOTES: corrected to ‘goile’.]
guilleagnote made by swans known as whoopers who arrive in this country from Norway during snow and frosty weather conditions. Makes a trumpet like sound.
làthaisa big stick. “Bhuaill mi làthais air.”
liagha brave fellow.
òtracha dunghill.
lòpaisgwould be applied to long, straggly, dirty, unwashed hair. [NOTES: note above ‘lòpaisg’ – lòbaisg.]
miapaidhwhen someone was worried or concerned about something. [NOTES: note added – Bha miapaidh orm.]
peithairmessage boy. [NOTES: corrected to ‘peitheir’.]
piorraida conicle [sic] [conical?] shaped hat.
praoidhligeadhfrying something.
raoitaira drunkard. [NOTES: corrected to ‘raoiteir’.]
rusladha quick going over, i.e. as in a job completed with haste.
sgagaidheanchapped hands.
sgaoimailapplied to a horse that was excitable, frightened. [NOTES: corrected to ‘sgaoimeil’.]
sglàmhaira greedy person.
similidhcowardly, feeble person.
siutalana person who went from house to house.
Thug mi snag airto give someone a blow.
sparr gaoithea small beam between both couples in a thatched house. This small beam was almost next to the ridge.
sgrìob a’ chobaira term applied to the Campbells referring to their eviction policies. This depicts the gables being tied to the carts and pulled along leaving a distinct mark.
splaidsea bald patch.
sporraghailrustling noise as made by mice.
staullin a house with animals at one end this refers to the threshold between the two ends of the house. [NOTES: corrected to ‘stall’.]
sumhailclosely packed.
ulaghoist? My own experience tells me this is also used for an eye to which a hook is attached.
tiopa-teapconfusion.
truidhtearanrags.
trogbhailgrumbling. “Bha e a’ trogbhail ris fhein.” [NOTES: corrected to ‘trògbhail’.]
ulla-thruisturmoil, confusion.
Bhuaill e bas ri cranna variant phrase meaning to knock at the door. [NOTES: ‘bhuaill’ corrected to ‘bhuail’.]
teachdaire teinteachfiery messenger. Used in the sense of electricity.
gathan nan teachdairean teinteachelectricity poles. Whilst on this subject D. W. alludes to a superstition which is rarely heard nowadays. In the days when people were dependent on embers for torchlight, an ember would not be given to a visitor if there was a baby in the house. It was feared that the child would not have any teeth if this was given.
meabalaisfoolish, rubbish conversation.
riomhanachsomeone doing a job in fits and starts. “Dè an riomhanaich obair a tha ort.”

© DASG
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