Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Glossary
Auld Old
Bairn Baby
Ben Hill or mountain
Blackhouse Thick-walled traditional dwelling
Bonnie Pretty
Bothy Primitive cottage, hut or mountain shelter
Brae Slope or hill
Brig Bridge
Broch Circular prehistoric stone fort
Burn Small stream or brook
Byre Shelter for cattle; cottage
Cairn Mound of stones
CalMac Caledonian MacBrayne ferry company
Ceilidh (pronounced “kay-lee”) Social gathering
involving dancing, drinking, singing and storytelling
Central belt Central Scotland between the Forth and
Clyde including Edinburgh and Glasgow
Clan Extended family
Clearances Evictions from the Highlands (see p.589)
Corbett A mountain between 2500ft and 3000ft high
Covenanters Supporters of the Presbyterian Church in
the seventeenth century
Crannog Celtic lake or bog dwelling
Croft Small plot of farmland with house, common in
the Highlands
Dirk A long dagger
Dolmen Grave chamber
Dram Literally, one-sixteenth of a fluid ounce. Usually
refers to any small measure of whisky
Dun Fortified mound
Firth A wide sea inlet or estuary
Gàidhealtachd Gaeldom, Highlands or Gaelic-
speaking area
Gillie Personal guide used on hunting or fishing trips
Glen Deep, narrow mountain valley
Harling Limestone and gravel mix used to
cover buildings
Hogmanay New Year's Eve
Howff Meeting place; pub
HS Historic Scotland, a government-funded
heritage organization
Jacobite Supporter of the Stewart claim to the throne,
most famously Bonnie Prince Charlie
Kilt Knee-length tartan skirt worn by Highland men
Kirk Church
Laird Landowner; aristocrat
Law Rounded hill
Links Grassy coastal land; coastal golf course
Loch Lake
Lochan Little loch
Mac/Mc These prefixes in Scottish surnames derive
from the Gaelic, meaning “son of”. In Scots “Mac” is
used for both sexes. In Gaelic “Nic” is used for women:
Donnchadh Mac Aoidh is Duncan MacKay, Iseabail
Nic Aoidh is Isabel MacKay
Machair Sandy, grassy, lime-rich coastal land, gener-
ally used for grazing
Manse O cial home of a Presbyterian minister
Mercat Cross lit. Market Cross
Munro A mountain over 3000ft high
Munro-bagging The sport of trying to climb as many
Munros as possible
NTS The National Trust for Scotland, a
heritage organization
Peel Fortified tower, built to withstand Border raids
Pend Archway or vaulted passage
Presbyterian The form of Church government used
in the o cial (Protestant) Church of Scotland, estab-
lished by John Knox during the Reformation
RIB Rigid inflatable boat
Runrig A common form of farming in which separate
ridges are cultivated by different occupiers under
joint agreement
Sassenach Derives from the Gaelic Sasunnach ,
meaning literally “Saxon”; used by Scots to describe
the English
Scottish Baronial Style of architecture favoured by the
Scottish land-owning class featuring stepped gables
and round turrets
Sheila na gig Female fertility symbol, usually a naked
woman displaying her vulva
Shinty Stick and ball game played in the Highlands,
with similarities to hockey
Smiddy Smithy
SNH Scottish Natural Heritage, a government-funded
conservation body
SNP Scottish National Party
Sporran Leather purse worn in front of, or at the side
of, a kilt
Tartan Check-patterned woollen cloth
Thane A landowner of high rank; the chief of a clan
Trews Tartan trousers
Wee Small
Wee Frees Followers of the Free Presbyterian or Free
Church of Scotland
Wynd Narrow lane
Yett Gate or door
 
 
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