Language

Vocabulary note written by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula about 'Lonachain' that it is the rope from the steps of the loom coming from the Old Gaelic 'Lonan' a rope. Text has been scored through in pencil.

Vocabulary note written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula about the word 'Bralosgadh' describing it as 'a great heap of every sort of fuel or combustibles collected on an eminence on marriage occasions or on the coming of age of Chiefs'. He states that 'bonfire' is the closest word to it he knows and as an example of its use gives a saying and a poem, which begins 'Nuair a chaidh iad do'n ghleann, 'sa leag iad damh sheang'.

Vocabulary note which reads 'Cnoc na droch comhairle, Caoineachas = Bean Nighe' and accompanying story fragment about 'Nighinn donn na sithich[e]an' that she was sad about the daughters of the kingdom. The text has been scored through in ink as if transcribed elsewhere.

Vocabulary note and note about architectural terms which reads 'Bugar = Foot of couples = lan-ain in a house. The upright that stands in the wall of the house. Generally of oak. This is the term used at Overcroy, Cumbernauld 5th Aug[ust] 1891. Here on that date with Archaeological Association'.

Vocabulary note and story written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula about the name Craidsag, stating that it is a name for a bad joiner or 'timber-spoiler' from the word cnag meaning a short cutting of timber. He adds that 'A man in North Uist [Uibhist a Tuath] is known as Craidsag and a joiner of the most primitive style.'

Vocabulary note and story written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula about the name Cruaicean. He states that it is 'applied to a short thick stout man of considerable strength. Cruaic a short stump of a tree or a course (sic) piece of timber'. A man from Rona, North Uist [Rònaigh/Ronay, Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist] who was known as Cruaicean emigrated to America with his family about sixty years before [c1835] where they are known as 'Clann Chruaicean'.

Vocabulary note and story written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula about the name Fideadh that is it used for a 'bad cooper'. MacRury says he remembers a Benbecula man who was given the name Fideadh for that very reason and adds that some say that the surname Fiddes comes from Fideadh. He also states 'In olden times country cooper[s] were numerous but a good tradesman was known as Cuipear - Cooper.'

Vocabulary note written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Al & Fual' including 'Al is generally one of the old Celtic names for water' citing examples such as 'Algeal an old decease common to young people if weak spine which generally follows after too much running in hot weather.' Text has been scored through in pencil as if transcribed elsewhere.