Name/Term
Pronunciation
Definition/Explanation
Acharacle
A-har’-a-kl
From the Gaelic meaning
Torquil’s ford
Argyll
Ar-gile’
From the old Gaelic Airer
Gàidel (modern Gaelic
Earra-Ghàidheal) meaning
‘coastland of the Gaels’.
Caibre
Riata
Kah’-bruh
Ree-ah’-tuh
The leader of the family
after whom Dal Riata
(meaning ‘Riata’s share’) is
said to be named.
ceilidh
kay’lee
Gaelic/Celtic social
gathering or celebration with
music and dancing. In
ancient times also could be
a literary festival or
recitation of clan history etc.
Clan Cholla
Clan Cah’-luh
Said to be the clan from
which Somerled’s clan
descended centuries earlier.
curragh
Kuh’-rukh
(the’kh’ is a
soft k as in the
Scottish loch
or Irish lough)
Also called a coracle, a
curragh is a lightweight boat
of hide over a wicker frame,
still in use today but
constructed from modern
materials. Used on rivers,
lakes and, the bigger ones,
in coastal waters.
Dal Riata
Dal Ree-ah’-
tuh
That area of south west
Scotland that was colonised
by Gaels beginning around
the 3rd century AD, roughly
equivalent to modern Argyll
(from the Gaelic meaning
“coast of the Gaels”).
Gilleadamn
an
gil-a-ad-ov’-
nan
Anglicised form of
GiollaÁdhamhnán, meaning
servant of Saint Adamnan.
Gillebhride
Gil’-a-vrij
Anglicised form of
GiollaBrighde, meaning
servant of Saint Brigid.
Gillecallum
Gil’-a-callum
Anglicised form of
GiollaCaluim meaning
servant of Saint Columba
Keava
Kee’-vuh
Anglicised form of Caoimhe,
meaning beauty or grace.
loch
“ch” is
pronounced at
the back of the
throat as a soft
“k”
A lake or sea inlet.
lough
It’s arguable as
to whether to
pronounce it
as the Scottish
“loch” or as the
English “lock”.
A lake or sea inlet. “Lough”
is an anglicised version of
“loch”, hence you will hear
the loch and lock versions
being used in Ireland.
Mormaer
Mor’-mer
A regional or provincial ruler
(Gaelic: Rí), second in rank
to the king (Gaelic: Ard Rí).
There would be several
clans, and therefore clan
chiefs, under his rule. The
rank is equivalent to an
English earl or continental
Count. In Scotland, they
were responsible for
electing the tanist who
would replace the current
king when he died. This
system (tanistry) was
replaced by the Norman
system of primogeniture.
plaid
plad
A blanket about 5ft x 18ft
(1.5m x 5.5m) plain colour
or patterned, worn as a
wrap-around coat in cold
weather.
Ragnhilde
Rahn-hild
Norse name, meaning
counsel, advice; or battle,
fight.
seannachie
shaw’-na-kee
A “story-teller” or bard,
historian, and genealogist
who carried the tribe’s
history from one generation
to the next.
Sorley
Sor’-lee, soar-
lee or Sor’ luh
Anglicised form of the
Gaelic name Somhairle
which itself is the Gaelic
form of a Norse name which
is rendered in English as
Somerled.