Shapes and general appearance |
luireach (m), luirichean (pl) | a large clumsy person. |
garbh | brawny, muscular. |
àrd | tall and slim. |
troich (m), troicheanan (pl) | dwarf. |
bola (m), bolaichean (pl) (l – glottal stop) | wee fat man (derogatory). |
crotaire (m), crotairean (pl) | hunchback. |
crotach (adj) | [hunchbacked.] |
duine bacach | a lame man (permanent). |
duine crubach | a lame man (temporary). |
pleadhach (adj) | splay feet. |
cama-chasach (adj) | either splayed feet or hen-toed. |
craiceann circe | goose pimples. |
Deformities, blemishes, scars |
breacadh an teinidh | fireside tartan. (‘teinidh’ – Tiree nom. gen. and dative of ‘teine’.) |
breacan-sian | freckles. |
milleadh-moigheaich | hair lip [sic]. [NOTES: note in the margin – [harelip] RÓM.] |
corr-chluasach | deformed ears. |
fiar-shùileach | squint (eyes). |
duine bearnach | one with gaps in teeth. |
duine gagach | stutterer. |
balbhan (m), balbhain (pl) | dummy. |
dall | blind person. |
ball-dobhran (m), buill-d. | [pl] mole. |
triubhas (m), triubhais (pl) | birthmark. |
foinne (m), foinneachan (pl) | wart. |
a’ bhreac | (breac – adj) the pox (smallpox). |
neasgaid (f), neasgaidean (pl) | boil. |
màthair-ghuir, màthraichean-ghir (pl) | abscess. |
cnaiseag (f), -an | [pl] pimple. |
an galar-sploiceadh | mumps. |
an anachdar uasal | V.D. |
an clap | |
crùban (m), crùbain | [pl] crabs. |
Beauty and ugliness |
boidhchead | |
maise | |
Beauty |
feuchdag or féachdag, féachdagan (pl) | a beautiful girl. |
bòdhach | pretty (girl). (Tiree for ‘bòidheach’.) |
maiseach | handsome (male or female). |
briagha | nice (with reference to a girl’s figure). |
eireachdail | handsome (male or female). |
grinn | beautiful, nice (girl). |
laghach | nice in character, kindly (male or female). |
lurach | really handsome (girl), more extreme than ‘grinn’ [q.v.], the ultimate! |
Ugliness |
granna | ugly. |
mi-mhaiseach | ugly (not so extreme as ‘granna’ [q.v.]). |
Insults |
cullach (m), cullaich (pl) | a boar – ugly in character. Cullach-cachda. |
galla | both male and female. Mac na galla. Ni’n na galla. |
trusdair (m), trusdairean (pl) | a cheap rascal. |
siùrsach! | |
bugair, bugairean | |
diobhal de dhuine | |
duine diobhalta | |
a mhic a’ diobhail | |
icheannach (m), icheannaich (pl) | hellyon. |
icheann | hell. (Not ‘ifrinn’ in Tiree.) |
Strength, fitness and the opposite |
duine làidir | |
duine lag | |
duine comasach | fit, able man. |
luige | weakness. |
neart | strength. |
duine foghaineach | a strong, well-built man. |
smearail | able, diligent. |
truaghan, truaghain (pl) | weakling (and wretch). |
duine uileasach | a stiff man. |
Ways of walking, sitting, lying |
coiseachd làidir | walking smartly. |
coiseachd slaodach | walking slovenly. |
coiseachd gu réidh | walking slowly. |
a’ sraideamachd | walking aimlessly. |
[sraid] | Ghabh mi sraid. – I took a walk. |
cliobach | clumsy. |
neo-shocarach | fidgety. |
cliobaire, cliobairean (pl) | a clumsy man, clot. |
socarach | relaxed. |
[latha] | Tha e ’na latha. – He is lying. (Instead of ‘laighe’ in Tiree.) |
[socair] | Gabh air do shocair. – Relax. |
Pulling faces, frowns, other expressions |
draoin | making faces. Chuir mi draoin orm. – I made an ugly face. |
[gruaim] | Bha gruaim orm. – I had a frown. |
caog (verb) | wink. Chaog mi rithe. – I winked at her. |
briobail (verb) (a’ briobal) | blink. |
fiamh a’ ghaire | smile. |
[gaire] | Rinn mi gaire rithe. – I laughed at her. |
geanail | friendly, smiley. |
gruamach | gloomy. |
Clean and untidy |
glan | tidy. |
sgiobalta | tidy. |
snasar | tidy. |
snasmhór | tidy. |
ròpach | untidy. |
ròpag | untidy female. |
ròpan | untidy male. |
duine sèimh | reserved, quiet and peaceful man. |
diùid | shy. |