SOUTH ARAN IRISH.

An Alphabetical List of Words and
Phrases collected in Aranmore in June,
1895, chiefly in the village of Craig na
Cúra, by Riocaird Ó'Murchadha.

Authorities:—

Dreoilín, a local “character,” Killeany village,
author of Amhrán Cheallaigh.
Miss Folan, N. Teacher, Craiga keereen, a native of
Inis Meadhoin.
Máirtín, a travelling flute-player and sgeulaidhe from
Connemara.
Micheál, Mike Scofield, Craig na Cúra.
O'C., Mr. David Callaghan, N. Teacher, fearann
A'Choirve.
Páidín, Patsy Kinealy(Ó Cinn-fhaeladh?), Craig na
Cúra.
Peigí, Margaret, wife of John Durrane(Ó Dioráin?)
called Seaghán na Craige, of Craig na Cúra.
Seaghán, the said John Durrane.
Tam, the messenger who carries the post to the light-
house.

A.

1. Aithghiorra, pr. aiciorra, a short cut. g unaspi-
rated. [Proverb: má's cam díreach an bealach, 'sé
an bóthar mór an t-aithghiorra. Noun from
aithghearr, short, ath intensive, and gearr]
2. Ann, in it, etc., pr. ohn. [In this dialect, vowels
are lengthened before ll, nn, m, except in the
middle of a word with a vowel following.]
3. Air: agus poll air a taoibh, and a hole in her
(the boat's) side. Poll pr. powL, pouL. [The
usual idiom with poll: Tá poll ar an tigh, there's
a hole in the house, “walls have ears.”
4. Aitioll, cessation(of rain, for example).
5. Ainne, pl. ainneachaidhe, little morsel of fire.
See smeachaid. [This is aithinne, a live ember.

B.
1. Bolgán béic, fuzzball(dry, not growin), O'C.
2. Bog a' cliabhán, rock the cradle.
3. Buairín, fetter for sheep, asses and goats, See
buarach, crudh-mhasg.
4. Buarach, milking fetter to link a cow's hind feet
together. Seaghán na Craige had one of horsehair
caught together with a wooden toggle. See buai-
rín, crúdh-mhasg.
5. Balla, wall of a building, whether of dry masonary
or not. See sgúnsa, cloidhe, bannaigh.
6. Beanna: ceithre beanna tighe, four corners of a
house. Páidín. See bannaigh [See the story, Och
gan mé thiar, in Dr. Hyde's Leabhar Sgeulaidheachta.]
7. Bollán beannuighthe, a hollowed stone in fence
right above Mary Durrane's house, Cowrook,
credited (as holy well) with healing powers.
Páidín. [The word is etymologically ballán, and
is well known to Irish archaeologists, being their
technical name for such stones. The vowel a often
changes when the syllable -án follow, as in
sgadán, bradán, allán (a ledge of rock), &c., pr.
sgodán, &c,]
8. Bualtrach, cowdung. [It is used as fuel.] B.
capaill, horsedung.
9. Bruacha-nóna, for tráthnóna [pr. here trannóna],
heard from a Kilkenny man by Páidín, who con-
siders it a very good word.

10. Brúigh isteach é, shove it ( the door) in.
11. Bail ó Dhia ort! Response, go mb'amhla'
dhuit! may it be likewise to you.
12. Ballach, rockfish, connor.
13. Bioróg, a pointed float to mark the position of a net.
14. burra ayn gay, he grew as quickly as a gosling.
Máirtín, in story of Carolan's courtship. [ Borradh éin
ghé, the swelling of a goose's bird.]

C.
1. Cáirde: tabhair dam c., give me time.
2.Caora: a lamb of the third year. See uan and
uasgán.
3. Coilléir, a horse's collar. [From English]
4. Cúntar: air chúntar dá bhfághainn (waun). Sup-
pose I got it, O'C. [Ar chuntabhairt, on chance.]
5. Crúdh-mhasg, rope by which a horse's head is fettered
to the forefeet. Bee buairín, buarach . [For crúdh-
nasg, or cróbh-nasg, a hoof-fastening.]
6.Cloidhe, (klei) an ordinary stone-fence, dry-built and
one stone thick. See sgúnsa, bannaigh, balla.
7. Cnagaire, the sixteenth part of a townland.
8. Cnaigín, a noggin. In Clare, cnagaire is a noggin
or naggin, the 16th part of a poule = 2 quarts.
O'C.
9. Carcair, a slope up from you. Páidín. See
fána. [As well as I could gather, c. means a steep
bank of earth, a terrace, as distinct from aill, a
face of rock.
10.Cnódán, a gurnet (fish). [Or cnúdán. No doubht
onamatopaeic. The fish often utters a kind of grunt
when caught, whence, no doubt, the English name.
It is called “nowd” in many places (= cnúd,
Knoud?)]
11. Corróg, hip (of a man). See gorún.
12. Committee: giving out c. = distributing public
relief.
13. Codalach: nach codalach atá siad! Are they not
"contrairy" or cantankerous. If a boat is moored
where the sea is tossing her about, then the place or
sea is codalach. [The old word for “contrary,
opposite,” was codarsnach.]
14. Caislín, caislín cloch, the wagtail, which appears
in Aranmore about St. Patricks Day. See Seven
Sleepers.
15. Cuasnóg mheach, a bees nest. [Corcóg is the
word for beehive. I heard both meach and smeach,
but not beach, = a bee, in Inis Meadhoin.]
16. Creannach, dilisk (seaweed).
17. Crúm, see Domhnach
18. Canamhaint: & níl c. air, and he has no
localisms or obscure words(but speaks Irish just like our
own). [The ordinary word for dialect.]
19. Cárla, a card for carding wool. [Also Cárda.]
20. Croch, the fixed book over a fire. See Lúb.
21. Ciseán, handbasket, ordinary basket with handles
and lid.
22. Ciseóg, basket for straining potatoes.
23. Cliabh, basket for back of man or horse.
24. Cliabhán, a cradle.
25. Ceud-fheuchaint: mo grádh ag an cheud fh. thú, my
love at first sight! Máirtín.
26. Cinneann an fhoidhid ar chinneamhaint, patience
overcomes fate, O'C. Tá mé cinnte ort, you are
too many for me, I am not able for you. Chinn sé
orm, it was too much for me. Tam.
27. Chuma, see leath-chuma.
28. Ciall: a chóimh-chiall féin, his own sense (as man,
though changed by magic int a wolf). Story of
Prince Agav. Tam.
29. Céim: (1) a style with steps; (2) a style without
teps, two upright stones being placed close together
so that a man can just squeeze his legs through.
The céim is made by building up, the beárna by
throwing down.
(to be continued).