Measgaichte / Miscellaneous

Informant(s)
Name
Mary MacLean
Location
South Uist, West Kilbride
Date
[1987-88]
Fieldworker
A. O’Henley
Notes
  • [NOTES: some notes added (most probably by K. D. MacDonald?). See below for details.]
siochantwisted ankle. [NOTES: corrected to ‘sìochan’.]
lògaidhthe top of a hay or corn stack.
guitaira drain around the house to drain off excess water.
uachdar an taighesleeping chamber. [Cf. clòsaid.]
clòsaidanother sleeping chamber. [Cf. uachdar an taighe.]
trannsalobby.
ùrlar mhollagana floor made with pebbles which were stuck down by clay. When the floor had been finished it was said to be ‘air a’ chàsaigeadh’.
ceann shimileirwhere the chimney joins the thatch.
snighewater seeping down walls.
froidhnighdampness.
sglàmhairean over zealous worker.
snìsairnot sure of meaning but had something to do with boats. [NOTES: corrected to ‘snisair’.]
an tròma weight for a fishing line. First the shape of the weight was cut out of a peat. The lead was then melted and poured into this mould and left to set. A nail was pushed through each side so that the gut could be attached. [NOTES: ‘tròm’ corrected to ‘trom’.]
[caora]An uncompleted proverb: “A chaora, na loisg mo chnamhan, ’s na sgàin mo sheice ars an t-each.” There was also a section dealing with cattle. As regards the horse, his skin could not be easily repaired if it was torn.
griasachlittle embers found in the ashes.
smàladhsmooring.
mòine chiopachsoft peat. Same as ‘mòine chòsach’. [NOTES: ‘chiopach’ corrected to ‘chìbeach’.]
sgriosadhprior to cutting but after turfing a thin layer was taken off the surface so that the peat would be softer and easier to cut.
barr fhàdtop layer [of peat].
goladthe first peat in every line. On the outside of the line.
atharachadhafter lifting the peats could then be shifted another bit and turned round so that the damp side can be dried.
rùbhanconsisted of five peats.
connochrachanlittle peat stacks.
sgliatadh cruach mhònadharranging peats on the top of a peat stack so that it looks as though it has been tiled.
currachdansmall haystack. Smaller than a ‘còca’.
a’ bearradh a’ bhaccutting the peat.
bac mònadhpeat bog. Variant for ‘poll mònadh’.
tuica large, obese person. [NOTES: corrected to ‘tùic’.]
turraghanaichmoaning.
leopa arbhaira field of corn. [NOTES: ‘leopa’ corrected to ‘leòba’.]
clachan iomaireboundary rocks.
pinnteachadhthe act of putting salt in butter. Was then left to mature in a crock ‘cròga ruadh’.]
[cròga ruadh][a crock. Cf. pinnteachadh.]
ìm an iuchairbutter that would be available at the end of July. Generally held to be the best. The cream would be saved from April.
mullachag chaisethis was the name given to the cheese once it had been taken out of the cheese press (fiodhan).
[fiodhan][cheese press. Cf. mullachag chaise.]
spainnean iomawooden spoons, used for shaping and designing butter.
ball na sgòthaidhthe rope that tied the boat to the pier. Hosar? [sic] [hawser?] [NOTES: ‘sgòthaidh’ corrected to ‘sgothaidh’.]
crois iarnaa wooden cross with hooks. Used to make ropes.
eathannanfathoms.
druim lìnthe rope that runs along the top of the net.
strioncastring.
cearraigeachapplied to someone who is always looking for trouble.
ròghanaich na Samhnacalm, dull, hazy weather. Usually have a period of such weather before the onset of winter.

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