Tag Archives: Scottish Gaelic

Flora Scotica and Highland Dyes

Many plants used for the dyeing of yarn are referenced in Lightfoot’s Flora Scotica (1777). Continue reading

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Carthan Curaidh

Tha an lus seo aithnichte do lighichean luibheach air a’ Ghàidhealtachd agus tìrean cèin. Read in English Tha mi air sgrìobhadh mu-thràth mu dheidhinn an luis ris an canar Crios Chù Chulainn a tha aithnichte mar meadowsweet ann am Beurla. … Continue reading

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Stones of Inverness

Stones with special names and stories – in and around the Highland capital – are among the treasures highlighted in a new book published by NatureScot. Leugh ann an Gàidhlig As the author of the recently published ‘Place-Names of Inverness and … Continue reading

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Traille nam Banarach

Tha iasg a bhuineas don aiginn a’ nochdadh – gu h-annasach – ann an seann chrònan bleoghainn. Read in English Tha e fìor ri ràdh nach eil an traille – iasg-mara a bhuineas do theaghlach nan langannan agus ris an … Continue reading

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The Tusk of the Milking Maids

A deep-water fish appears – rather strangely and inexplicably –  in an old Gaelic milking song Leugh ann an Gàidhlig It is fair to say that the deep-water marine fish known in English as tusk or cusk – traille in … Continue reading

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An Calltainn – Craobh ar n-Annsachd

Tha àite sònraichte aig a’ chraoibh-challtainn ann an saoghal traidiseanta nan Gàidheal. Read in English Tha an calltainn (Corylus avellana) na craoibh shònraichte do na Gàidheil mar a tha e do shlòigh air feadh na Roinn Eòrpa agus taobh an … Continue reading

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The Beloved Hazel

Gaelic tradition affords the craobh-challtainn – the hazel tree – a special place in people’s affections. Leugh ann an Gàidhlig The hazel tree (Corylus avellana) is a special plant to the Gaels, as it is to many of the peoples … Continue reading

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The Robin ‘Redbreast’ – but which ‘red’?

Which Gaelic word for ‘red’ is more appropriate when naming the robin? Leugh ann an Gàidhlig What sort of ‘red’ colours the breast of one of our favourite birds – the European robin (Erithacus rubecula)? Perhaps the question is redundant … Continue reading

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Dè an dath – agus ainm ceart – a th’ air a’ Bhrù-dhearg?

An ann dearg no ruadh a tha broilleach a’ bhrù-dheirg (no an ruadhain mar a chanadh cuid!)? Read in English Dè an dath a th’ air broilleach – no brù – a’ bhrù-dheirg? Tha an fhreagairt follaiseach, nach eil – … Continue reading

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Bearing Down on Ursid Toponyms

Wild bears have long gone from Scotland’s landscape but echoes of them remain in our place-names … Read in Gaelic It’s far from clear when European brown bears became extinct in Scotland, but it wasn’t yesterday, and it is therefore … Continue reading

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