List of English words of Scottish Gaelic origin
Encyclopedia
This is a list of English
words borrowed from Scottish Gaelic
. Some of these are common in Scottish English
and Scots
but less so in other varieties of English.
Bard
: The word's earliest appearance in English is in 15th century Scotland with the meaning "vagabond minstrel". The modern literary meaning, which began in the 17th century, is heavily influenced by the presence of the word in ancient Greek (bardos) and ancient Latin (bardus) writings (e.g. used by the poet Lucan
, 1st century AD), which in turn took the word from the Gaulish language
.
Ben
: From beinn peiɲ, mountain.
Bodach : Old man.
Bog
: From bog pok, soft (related to boglach swamp), from Old Irish bocc. 14th century.
Bothan : a hut, often an illegal drinking den. (cf Bothy)
Cailleach : An old woman, a hag, or a particular ancient goddess.
Cairn
: From càirn kʰɛːrˠn, the plural of càrn. The word's meaning is much broader in Gaelic, and is also used for certain types of rocky mountains.
Capercaillie
: From capall-coille kʰapʰəlˠ̪ˈkʰɤʎə, meaning "horse of the woods"
Ceilidh
: A 'Social gathering' or, more recently, a formal evening of traditional Scottish Social Dancing.
Clan
: From the compound form clann kʰlˠ̪an̪ˠ, from clann, children or family. Old Irish cland.
Claymore
: A large broadsword, from claidheamh mór kʰlˠ̪ajəv moːɾ, great sword.
Coire
: literally a "kettle", meaning a corrie
, from the same root.
Craig : From creag kʲʰɾʲekʲ, a cliff.
Deoch-an-dorus (various spellings) : meaning a "drink at the door". Translated as "one for the road", i.e. "one more drink before you leave".
Fear an taighe: an MC (master of ceremonies), Gaelic lit. "the man of the house"
Galore : From gu leor, enough.
Ghillie : a type of servant, from gille kʲiʎə, boy or servant.
Glen
: From gleann klaunˠ̪, a valley.
Gob : From gob, beak or bill.
Kyle or Kyles : Straits from Gaelic Caol & Caolais.
Loch
: From loch lˠ̪ɔx.
Lochaber axe
: From Loch Abar lˠ̪ɔxˈapəɾ, Lochaber
+ axe.
Mackintosh
: After Charles Macintosh who invented it. From Mac an Tòisich makʰ ən̪ˠ t̪ʰɔːʃiç, son of the chieftain.
Mod
: A Gaelic festival, from mòd mɔːt̪, assembly, court.
Pet
: From peata, tame animal.
Pibroch : From pìobaireachd pʰiːpəɾʲəxk, piping.
Pillion
: From pillean pʰiʎan, pack-saddle, cushion.
Plaid
: From plaide pʰlˠ̪atʲə, blanket. Alternatively a Lowland Scots loanword http://www.dsl.ac.uk/dsl/getent4.php?plen=17774&startset=29929824&query=PLAID&fhit=plaid&dregion=form&dtext=snd#fhit, from the past participle of ply, to fold, giving plied then plaid after the Scots pronunciation.
Ptarmigan : From tàrmachan tʰaːɾməxan. 16th Century.
Slogan
: From sluagh-ghairm s̪lˠ̪uəɣɤɾʲɤm, battle-cry
Sporran
: Via sporan s̪pʰɔɾan from Old Irish sboran and ultimately Latin bursa, purse.
Spunk : From spong s̪pʰɔŋɡ, tinder and also sponge. From Early Irish sponge, from Latin spongia, from Greek σπογγιά, a sponge.
Strontium
: from Sròn an t-Sìthein
s̪t̪ɾɔːn əɲ tʲʰiːɛɲ meaning "the point at the fairy hill", name of a mountain, near which the element was discovered.
Tack & Tacksman
Trousers
: from triubhas t̪ʰɾu.əs̪, via "trews".
Whisky
: Short form of whiskybae, from uisge-beatha ɯʃkʲəˈpɛhə, water of life.
Brogue
: An accent, Irish, or Scottish Gaelic bròg pɾɔːk, shoe (of a particular kind worn by Irish and Gaelic peasants), Early Irish bróc, from Norse brókr
Hubbub : Irish, or Scottish Gaelic ubub upup, an exclamation of disapproval.
Shanty : Irish, or Scottish Gaelic sean taigh ʃan tī, an old house
Smidgen : Irish, or Scottish Gaelic smidean s̪mitʲan, a very small bit (connected to Irish smidirín, smithereen), from smid, syllable or a small bit.
Strath
: Irish, or Scottish Gaelic srath s̪t̪ɾah, a wide valley.
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Because of the wide overlap of Scottish English
and Lowland Scots
, it can be difficult to ascertain if a word should be considered Lowland Scots or Scottish English. These words tend to be more closely associated with Lowland Scots but can occur in Scottish English too.
Airt : Point of the compass, from àird, aːrˠtʲ, a point.
Bothy
: A hut, from bothan pɔhan, a hut, cf.Norse būð, Eng. booth.
Caird
: A tinker, from ceaird kʲlˠ̪ɛrˠtʲ, the plural of ceàrd, tinkers.
Caber : From cabar kʰapəɾ, pole.
Cailleach : From cailleach kʰaʎəx, old woman.
Cairngorm : From An Càrn Gorm əŋ kʰaːrˠŋ kɔɾɔm, after Cairn Gorm
, a mountain in the area where these stones are found.
Caman : From caman kʰaman, shinty stick. Also in use in Scotland the derived camanachd, shinty.
Cateran
: From ceatharn kʲʰɛhərˠn, fighting troop.
Ceilidh
: From céilidh kʲʰeːli, a social gathering.
Clachan
: From clachan kʰlˠ̪axan, a small settlement.
Clarsach
: A harp, from clàrsach kʰlˠ̪aːrˠs̪əx, a harp.
Corrie
: From coire kʰɤɾʲə, kettle.
Doch-an-doris
: Stirrup cup, from deoch an dorais tʲɔx ən̪ˠ t̪ɔɾəʃ, drink of the door.
Fillibeg : A kilt, from féileadh beag feːləɣ pek, small kilt.
Ingle : From aingeal aiŋʲɡʲəlˠ̪, a now obsolete word for fire.
Kyle : From caol kʰɯːlˠ̪, narrow.
Lochan : From lochan lˠ̪ɔxan, a small loch.
Machair : From machair maxəɾʲ, the fertile land behind dunes.
Quaich
: From cuach kʰuəx, a cup.
Skean
: From sgian s̪kʲian, a knife.
Slughorn
: Also from sluagh-ghairm, but erroneously believed by Thomas Chatterton
and Robert Browning
to refer (apparently) to some kind of trumpet
.
Inch : And island, from Irish and Scottish Gaelic innis ˈiɲiʃ.
Och : Irish and Scottish Gaelic och ɔx, exclamation of regret.
Oe : Grandchild, Irish and Scottish Gaelic ogha oə, grandchild.
Samhain
: Irish and Scottish Gaelic Samhain s̪auɛɲ, November and related to Oidhche Shamhna, Halloween
.
Shennachie : Irish and Scottish Gaelic seannachaidh ʃɛn̪ˠəxi, storyteller.
Sassenach
: Irish and Scottish Gaelic Sasannach s̪as̪ən̪ˠəx, An Englishman, a Saxon.
Abthen (or Abthan) : jurisdiction and territory of pre-Benedictine Scottish monastery , from †
abdhaine ˈapɣəɲə, abbacy.
Airie : shieling
, from àiridh ˈaːɾʲi, shieling.
Aiten : juniper, from aiteann ˈaʰtʲən̪ˠ, juniper.
Bourach : A mess, from bùrach ˈpuːɾəx, a mess.
Car, ker : Left-handed, from cearr kʲʰaːrˠ, wrong, left.
Crine : To shrink, from crìon kʰɾʲiən, to shrink.
Crottle : A type of lichen
used as a dye
, from crìon kʰɾɔʰt̪əlˠ̪, lichen.
Golack : An insect, from gobhlag ˈkoːlˠ̪ak, an earwig.
Keelie : A tough urban male, from gille ˈkʲiːʎə, a lad, a young man.
Ketach : The left hand, from ciotach ˈkʲʰiʰt̪əx, left-handed.
Sonse : From sonas s̪ɔnəs̪, happiness, good fortune. Also the related sonsy.
Spleuchan : A pouch, from spliùchan ˈs̪pljuːxan, a pouch, purse.
Toshach : Head of a clan, from toiseach ˈt̪ʰɔʃəx, beginning, front.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
words borrowed from Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
. Some of these are common in Scottish English
Scottish English
Scottish English refers to the varieties of English spoken in Scotland. It may or may not be considered distinct from the Scots language. It is always considered distinct from Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic language....
and Scots
Scots language
Scots is the Germanic language variety spoken in Lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster . It is sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from Scottish Gaelic, the Celtic language variety spoken in most of the western Highlands and in the Hebrides.Since there are no universally accepted...
but less so in other varieties of English.
Word of Scottish Gaelic origin
Bard
In medieval Gaelic and British culture a bard was a professional poet, employed by a patron, such as a monarch or nobleman, to commemorate the patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own activities.Originally a specific class of poet, contrasting with another class known as fili in Ireland...
: The word's earliest appearance in English is in 15th century Scotland with the meaning "vagabond minstrel". The modern literary meaning, which began in the 17th century, is heavily influenced by the presence of the word in ancient Greek (bardos) and ancient Latin (bardus) writings (e.g. used by the poet Lucan
Lucan
Lucan is the common English name of the Roman poet Marcus Annaeus Lucanus.Lucan may also refer to:-People:*Arthur Lucan , English actor*Sir Lucan the Butler, Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian legend...
, 1st century AD), which in turn took the word from the Gaulish language
Gaulish language
The Gaulish language is an extinct Celtic language that was spoken by the Gauls, a people who inhabited the region known as Gaul from the Iron Age through the Roman period...
.
Ben
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
: From beinn peiɲ, mountain.
Bodach : Old man.
Bog
Bog
A bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens....
: From bog pok, soft (related to boglach swamp), from Old Irish bocc. 14th century.
Bothan : a hut, often an illegal drinking den. (cf Bothy)
Cailleach : An old woman, a hag, or a particular ancient goddess.
Cairn
Cairn
Cairn is a term used mainly in the English-speaking world for a man-made pile of stones. It comes from the or . Cairns are found all over the world in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, near waterways and on sea cliffs, and also in barren desert and tundra areas...
: From càirn kʰɛːrˠn, the plural of càrn. The word's meaning is much broader in Gaelic, and is also used for certain types of rocky mountains.
Capercaillie
Capercaillie
The Western Capercaillie , also known as the Wood Grouse, Heather Cock or Capercaillie , is the largest member of the grouse family, reaching over 100 cm in length and 6.7 kg in weight. The largest one ever recorded in captivity had a weight of 7.2 kg....
: From capall-coille kʰapʰəlˠ̪ˈkʰɤʎə, meaning "horse of the woods"
Ceilidh
Céilidh
In modern usage, a céilidh or ceilidh is a traditional Gaelic social gathering, which usually involves playing Gaelic folk music and dancing. It originated in Ireland, but is now common throughout the Irish and Scottish diasporas...
: A 'Social gathering' or, more recently, a formal evening of traditional Scottish Social Dancing.
Clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
: From the compound form clann kʰlˠ̪an̪ˠ, from clann, children or family. Old Irish cland.
Claymore
Claymore
The term claymore refers to the Scottish variant of the late medieval longsword, two-handed swords with a cross hilt, of which the guards were in use during the 15th and 16th centuries.-Terminology:...
: A large broadsword, from claidheamh mór kʰlˠ̪ajəv moːɾ, great sword.
Coire
Corrie (disambiguation)
-Geography:* Cirque, also called a corrie or a cwm, is a terrain feature created by glaciation in high mountains* Corrie, Arran, is a village on the Isle of Arran, Scotland-People:Surname...
: literally a "kettle", meaning a corrie
Cirque
Cirque may refer to:* Cirque, a geological formation* Makhtesh, an erosional landform found in the Negev desert of Israel and Sinai of Egypt*Cirque , an album by Biosphere* Cirque Corporation, a company that makes touchpads...
, from the same root.
Craig : From creag kʲʰɾʲekʲ, a cliff.
Deoch-an-dorus (various spellings) : meaning a "drink at the door". Translated as "one for the road", i.e. "one more drink before you leave".
Fear an taighe: an MC (master of ceremonies), Gaelic lit. "the man of the house"
Galore : From gu leor, enough.
Ghillie : a type of servant, from gille kʲiʎə, boy or servant.
Glen
Glen
A glen is a valley, typically one that is long, deep, and often glacially U-shaped; or one with a watercourse running through such a valley. Whittow defines it as a "Scottish term for a deep valley in the Highlands" that is "narrower than a strath."...
: From gleann klaunˠ̪, a valley.
Gob : From gob, beak or bill.
Kyle or Kyles : Straits from Gaelic Caol & Caolais.
Loch
Loch
Loch is the Irish and Scottish Gaelic word for a lake or a sea inlet. It has been anglicised as lough, although this is pronounced the same way as loch. Some lochs could also be called a firth, fjord, estuary, strait or bay...
: From loch lˠ̪ɔx.
Lochaber axe
Lochaber axe
The Lochaber axe was a halberd that came into use in Scotland around 1300. The name of the weapon derives from Lochaber, an area in the western Scottish Highlands, as the weapon was employed principally by the Scottish highlanders, who required armament against cavalry.The axe itself is similar to...
: From Loch Abar lˠ̪ɔxˈapəɾ, Lochaber
Lochaber
District of Lochaber 1975 to 1996Highland council area shown as one of the council areas of ScotlandLochaber is one of the 16 ward management areas of the Highland Council of Scotland and one of eight former local government districts of the two-tier Highland region...
+ axe.
Mackintosh
Mackintosh
The Mackintosh or Macintosh is a form of waterproof raincoat, first sold in 1824, made out of rubberised fabric...
: After Charles Macintosh who invented it. From Mac an Tòisich makʰ ən̪ˠ t̪ʰɔːʃiç, son of the chieftain.
Mod
Mod (Scotland)
A mod is a festival of Scottish Gaelic song, arts and culture. Historically, the Gaelic word mòd refers to any kind of assembly. There are both local mods, and an annual national mod, the Royal National Mod...
: A Gaelic festival, from mòd mɔːt̪, assembly, court.
Pet
Pet
A pet is a household animal kept for companionship and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful...
: From peata, tame animal.
Pibroch : From pìobaireachd pʰiːpəɾʲəxk, piping.
Pillion
Pillion
A pillion is a mostly British English term for a secondary pad, cushion, or seat behind the main seat or saddle on a horse, motorcycle, bicycle or moped...
: From pillean pʰiʎan, pack-saddle, cushion.
Plaid
Plaid (pattern)
For other meanings, see plaid.A plaid is a pattern consisting of crossed horizontal and vertical bands in two or more colors in woven cloth.Common examples of plaid patterns include:*Tartan, the pattern most commonly associated with plaid....
: From plaide pʰlˠ̪atʲə, blanket. Alternatively a Lowland Scots loanword http://www.dsl.ac.uk/dsl/getent4.php?plen=17774&startset=29929824&query=PLAID&fhit=plaid&dregion=form&dtext=snd#fhit, from the past participle of ply, to fold, giving plied then plaid after the Scots pronunciation.
Ptarmigan : From tàrmachan tʰaːɾməxan. 16th Century.
Slogan
Slogan
A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a political, commercial, religious and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose. The word slogan is derived from slogorn which was an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic sluagh-ghairm . Slogans vary from the written and the...
: From sluagh-ghairm s̪lˠ̪uəɣɤɾʲɤm, battle-cry
Sporran
Sporran
The Sporran is a traditional part of male Scottish Highland dress. It is a pouch that performs the same function as pockets on the pocketless Scottish kilt....
: Via sporan s̪pʰɔɾan from Old Irish sboran and ultimately Latin bursa, purse.
Spunk : From spong s̪pʰɔŋɡ, tinder and also sponge. From Early Irish sponge, from Latin spongia, from Greek σπογγιά, a sponge.
Strontium
Strontium
Strontium is a chemical element with the symbol Sr and the atomic number 38. An alkaline earth metal, strontium is a soft silver-white or yellowish metallic element that is highly reactive chemically. The metal turns yellow when exposed to air. It occurs naturally in the minerals celestine and...
: from Sròn an t-Sìthein
Strontian
Strontian is the main village in Sunart, an area in western Lochaber, Highland, Scotland, on the A861 road. It lies on the north shore of Loch Sunart, close to the head of the loch...
s̪t̪ɾɔːn əɲ tʲʰiːɛɲ meaning "the point at the fairy hill", name of a mountain, near which the element was discovered.
Tack & Tacksman
Tacksman
A tacksman was a land-holder of intermediate legal and social status in Scottish Highland society.-Tenant and landlord:...
Trousers
Trousers
Trousers are an item of clothing worn on the lower part of the body from the waist to the ankles, covering both legs separately...
: from triubhas t̪ʰɾu.əs̪, via "trews".
Whisky
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
: Short form of whiskybae, from uisge-beatha ɯʃkʲəˈpɛhə, water of life.
Words of Scottish or Irish Gaelic origin
The following words are of Goidelic origin but it cannot be ascertained whether the source language was Old Irish or one of the modern Goidelic languages.Brogue
Brogue
A brogue is a strong accent, notably in Irish dialects of English. For example, in the folksong "Finnegan's Wake", the character of the song, Tim Finnegan, was said to have a "beautiful brogue so rich and sweet"....
: An accent, Irish, or Scottish Gaelic bròg pɾɔːk, shoe (of a particular kind worn by Irish and Gaelic peasants), Early Irish bróc, from Norse brókr
Hubbub : Irish, or Scottish Gaelic ubub upup, an exclamation of disapproval.
Shanty : Irish, or Scottish Gaelic sean taigh ʃan tī, an old house
Smidgen : Irish, or Scottish Gaelic smidean s̪mitʲan, a very small bit (connected to Irish smidirín, smithereen), from smid, syllable or a small bit.
Strath
Strath
A strath is a large valley, typically a river valley that is wide and shallow .An anglicisation of the Gaelic word srath, it is one of many that have been absorbed into common use in the English language...
: Irish, or Scottish Gaelic srath s̪t̪ɾah, a wide valley.
Gaelic words mostly used in Lowland Scots
Scottish English
Scottish English refers to the varieties of English spoken in Scotland. It may or may not be considered distinct from the Scots language. It is always considered distinct from Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic language....
and Lowland Scots
Scots language
Scots is the Germanic language variety spoken in Lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster . It is sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from Scottish Gaelic, the Celtic language variety spoken in most of the western Highlands and in the Hebrides.Since there are no universally accepted...
, it can be difficult to ascertain if a word should be considered Lowland Scots or Scottish English. These words tend to be more closely associated with Lowland Scots but can occur in Scottish English too.
Airt : Point of the compass, from àird, aːrˠtʲ, a point.
Bothy
Bothy
A bothy is a basic shelter, usually left unlocked and available for anyone to use free of charge. It was also a term for basic accommodation, usually for gardeners or other workers on an estate. Bothies are to be found in remote, mountainous areas of Scotland, northern England, Ireland, and Wales....
: A hut, from bothan pɔhan, a hut, cf.Norse būð, Eng. booth.
Caird
Caird
Caird is a surname, and may refer to:* Edward Caird, Scottish philosopher* G. B. Caird, Biblical scholar* James Caird * John Caird * Maureen Caird, Australian athlete-See also:...
: A tinker, from ceaird kʲlˠ̪ɛrˠtʲ, the plural of ceàrd, tinkers.
Caber : From cabar kʰapəɾ, pole.
Cailleach : From cailleach kʰaʎəx, old woman.
Cairngorm : From An Càrn Gorm əŋ kʰaːrˠŋ kɔɾɔm, after Cairn Gorm
Cairn Gorm
Cairn Gorm is a mountain in the Scottish Highlands overlooking Strathspey and the town of Aviemore. At 1245 metres it is the sixth highest mountain in the United Kingdom...
, a mountain in the area where these stones are found.
Caman : From caman kʰaman, shinty stick. Also in use in Scotland the derived camanachd, shinty.
Cateran
Cateran
The term cateran historically referred to a band of fighting men of a Scotland Highland clan; hence the term applied to the Highland, and later to any, marauders or cattle-lifters....
: From ceatharn kʲʰɛhərˠn, fighting troop.
Ceilidh
Céilidh
In modern usage, a céilidh or ceilidh is a traditional Gaelic social gathering, which usually involves playing Gaelic folk music and dancing. It originated in Ireland, but is now common throughout the Irish and Scottish diasporas...
: From céilidh kʲʰeːli, a social gathering.
Clachan
Clachan
A clachan is a type of small traditional settlement common in Ireland and Scotland until the middle of the 20th century. It is usually defined as a small village lacking a church, post office, or other formal building. Their origin is unknown, but it is likely that they are of a very ancient...
: From clachan kʰlˠ̪axan, a small settlement.
Clarsach
Clàrsach
Clàrsach or Cláirseach , is the generic Gaelic word for 'a harp', as derived from Middle Irish...
: A harp, from clàrsach kʰlˠ̪aːrˠs̪əx, a harp.
Corrie
Cirque
Cirque may refer to:* Cirque, a geological formation* Makhtesh, an erosional landform found in the Negev desert of Israel and Sinai of Egypt*Cirque , an album by Biosphere* Cirque Corporation, a company that makes touchpads...
: From coire kʰɤɾʲə, kettle.
Doch-an-doris
Stirrup Cup
A stirrup cup is a "parting cup" given to guests, especially when they are leaving and have their feet in the stirrups. It is also the traditional drink served at the meet, prior to a traditional foxhunt...
: Stirrup cup, from deoch an dorais tʲɔx ən̪ˠ t̪ɔɾəʃ, drink of the door.
Fillibeg : A kilt, from féileadh beag feːləɣ pek, small kilt.
Ingle : From aingeal aiŋʲɡʲəlˠ̪, a now obsolete word for fire.
Kyle : From caol kʰɯːlˠ̪, narrow.
Lochan : From lochan lˠ̪ɔxan, a small loch.
Machair : From machair maxəɾʲ, the fertile land behind dunes.
Quaich
Quaich
A quaich , archaically quaigh, is a special kind of shallow two-handled drinking cup or bowl in Scotland. It derives from the Scottish Gaelic cuach meaning a cup....
: From cuach kʰuəx, a cup.
Skean
Sgian Dubh
The sgian-dubh is a small, singled-edged knife worn as part of traditional Scottish Highland dress along with the kilt. It is worn tucked into the top of the kilt hose with only the upper portion of the hilt visible...
: From sgian s̪kʲian, a knife.
Slughorn
Slughorn
Slughorn can refer to several things and one person.* It is an obsolete form of the word slogan, closer to its derivation from the Scots Gaelic sluagh-ghairm ....
: Also from sluagh-ghairm, but erroneously believed by Thomas Chatterton
Thomas Chatterton
Thomas Chatterton was an English poet and forger of pseudo-medieval poetry. He died of arsenic poisoning, either from a suicide attempt or self-medication for a venereal disease.-Childhood:...
and Robert Browning
Robert Browning
Robert Browning was an English poet and playwright whose mastery of dramatic verse, especially dramatic monologues, made him one of the foremost Victorian poets.-Early years:...
to refer (apparently) to some kind of trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
.
Inch : And island, from Irish and Scottish Gaelic innis ˈiɲiʃ.
Och : Irish and Scottish Gaelic och ɔx, exclamation of regret.
Oe : Grandchild, Irish and Scottish Gaelic ogha oə, grandchild.
Samhain
Samhain
Samhain is a Gaelic harvest festival held on October 31–November 1. It was linked to festivals held around the same time in other Celtic cultures, and was popularised as the "Celtic New Year" from the late 19th century, following Sir John Rhys and Sir James Frazer...
: Irish and Scottish Gaelic Samhain s̪auɛɲ, November and related to Oidhche Shamhna, Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
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Shennachie : Irish and Scottish Gaelic seannachaidh ʃɛn̪ˠəxi, storyteller.
Sassenach
Sassenach
Sassenach is a word used chiefly by the Scots to designate an Englishman. It derives from the Scottish Gaelic Sasunnach meaning, originally, "Saxon", from the Latin "Saxones"; it was also formerly applied by Highlanders to Lowlanders. As employed by Scots or Scottish English-speakers today it is...
: Irish and Scottish Gaelic Sasannach s̪as̪ən̪ˠəx, An Englishman, a Saxon.
Abthen (or Abthan) : jurisdiction and territory of pre-Benedictine Scottish monastery , from †
Dagger (typography)
A dagger, or obelisk. is a typographical symbol or glyph. The term "obelisk" derives from Greek , which means "little obelus"; from meaning "roasting spit"...
abdhaine ˈapɣəɲə, abbacy.
Airie : shieling
Shieling
A shieling is a small house or hut once common in the hills and mountains of Scotland and northern England. Farmers and their families lived there during the summer, when their livestock were grazing common land in the hills...
, from àiridh ˈaːɾʲi, shieling.
Aiten : juniper, from aiteann ˈaʰtʲən̪ˠ, juniper.
Bourach : A mess, from bùrach ˈpuːɾəx, a mess.
Car, ker : Left-handed, from cearr kʲʰaːrˠ, wrong, left.
Crine : To shrink, from crìon kʰɾʲiən, to shrink.
Crottle : A type of lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
used as a dye
Dye
A dye is a colored substance that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is being applied. The dye is generally applied in an aqueous solution, and requires a mordant to improve the fastness of the dye on the fiber....
, from crìon kʰɾɔʰt̪əlˠ̪, lichen.
Golack : An insect, from gobhlag ˈkoːlˠ̪ak, an earwig.
Keelie : A tough urban male, from gille ˈkʲiːʎə, a lad, a young man.
Ketach : The left hand, from ciotach ˈkʲʰiʰt̪əx, left-handed.
Sonse : From sonas s̪ɔnəs̪, happiness, good fortune. Also the related sonsy.
Spleuchan : A pouch, from spliùchan ˈs̪pljuːxan, a pouch, purse.
Toshach : Head of a clan, from toiseach ˈt̪ʰɔʃəx, beginning, front.
Place-name terminology
There are numerous additional place-name elements in Scotland which are derived from Gaelic, but the majority of these has not entered the English or Scots language as productive nouns and often remain opaque to the average Scot. A few examples of such elements are:- a(u)ch- from Gaelic achadh, a field; hence AuchentoshanAuchentoshanAuchentoshan Distillery is a Single Malt whisky distillery in the west of Scotland. The name Auchentoshan is gaelic and translates as "The corner of the field", the distillery is also known as "Glasgow's Malt Whisky" due to its close proximity to Glasgow and "the breakfast whisky" due to its sweet...
, AuchinleckAuchinleckAuchinleck ; is a village five miles south-east of Mauchline, and a couple of miles north-west of Cumnock in East Ayrshire, Scotland.Near the village is Auchinleck House, past home of the lawyer, diarist and biographer James Boswell, 9th Laird of Auchinleck.Auchinleck has much been associated... - ard- from Gaelic àird, a height or promontory; hence ArdnamurchanArdnamurchanArdnamurchan is a peninsula in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland, noted for being very unspoilt and undisturbed. Its remoteness is accentuated by the main access route being a single track road for much of its length.-Geography:...
, etc. - bal- from Gaelic baile, a town; hence BalgowanBalgowan, DundeeBalgowan is an area of Dundee, Scotland. The name derives from the Scottish Gaelic Baile Ghobhainn, meaning "blacksmith's stead" ....
, BalgayBalgayBalgay is a suburb in the west end of Dundee, Scotland. The name, derived from Gaelic, seems to mean 'stead of the marsh/wind' . During the 17th century, Balgay House was built and now this has become incorporated into Royal Victoria Hospital. Balgay Hill and Victoria Park were acquired by Dundee...
etc. - dal- from Gaelic dail, a meadow (not to be confused with "dale", from the Norse dalr meaning a valley); hence Dalry
- drum- from Gaelic druim, a ridge; hence DrumchapelDrumchapelDrumchapel , known to locals and residents as 'The Drum', is part of the city of Glasgow, Scotland, having been annexed from Dunbartonshire in 1938. It borders Bearsden to the east and Clydebank to the west . The area is bordered by Knightswood and Yoker in Glasgow. The name derives from the...
, DrumnadrochitDrumnadrochitDrumnadrochit is a village inthe Highland local government council area of Scotland, lying on the west shore of Loch Ness, at the foot of Glen Urquhart.-History:...
etc. - dun- from Gaelic dun, a fort; hence DundeeDundeeDundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, Dumbarton, Dunedin/EdinburghEdinburghEdinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area... - inver- from Gaelic inbhir, a river mouth or confluence; hence InverclydeInverclydeInverclyde is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Together with the Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire council areas, Inverclyde forms part of the historic county of Renfrewshire - which current exists as a registration county and lieutenancy area - located in the west...
, InverleithInverleithInverleith is an inner suburb in the northern part of Edinburgh, Scotland, on the fringes of the central region of the city. It is an affluent suburb. Its neighbours include Trinity to the north and the New Town to the south, with Canonmills at the south-east and Stockbridge at the south-west... - kil- from Gaelic cill, a churchyard; hence KilmarnockKilmarnockKilmarnock is a large burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of 44,734. It is the second largest town in Ayrshire. The River Irvine runs through its eastern section, and the Kilmarnock Water passes through it, giving rise to the name 'Bank Street'...
, Kilbride etc. - kin- from Gaelic ceann, a head; hence KinlochlevenKinlochlevenKinlochleven is a village in Lochaber, in the Scottish Highlands and lies at the eastern end of Loch Leven, a sea loch cutting into the western Scottish Highlands. To the north lie the Mamores ridge; to the south lie the mountains flanking Glen Coe...
, KinlossKinlossKinloss is a village in Moray, Scotland. It is located near the shore of Findhorn Bay, around 3 miles from Findhorn and 2.5 miles from Forres. RAF Kinloss is located northeast of the village, and is transitioning to an Army barracks.The Cistercian Kinloss Abbey was created in 1150 by King David...
etc.