Phrase (as printed): sark
Phrase (if revised):
Phonetic transcription:
Book: FC
pb: 21
hc: 16
Language: Lowland Scots
Translation: Shirt.
Phrase (as printed): Sassenach
Phrase (if revised):
Phonetic transcription: /SASSənəch/
Book: FC
pb: 7
hc: 7
Language: Lowland Scots
Translation: English person. The classic Jamie-to-Claire nickname. Interestingly, what we have here is actually the Scots spelling of the Gaelic word Sasannach, but this is perfectly appropriate given that he is addressing her not in Gaelic but in Scots/English. Were he speaking Gaelic, it would actually be quite different, as use of the feminine prefix ban would be necessary, and the vocative (when addressing people) case would come into play: a bhan-Shasannaich/ə van-HASSəneech/.
Phrase (as printed): Scots
Phrase (if revised):
Phonetic transcription:
Book:
pb:
hc:
Language:
Translation: Lowland Anglic. Gaelic once held the national moniker in Scotland, known simply as “Scottish” in English. When the English border was settled in 1237, there existed in Scotland a large minority of Anglic (English) speakers who had long been “caught on the wrong side,” for want of a better phrase. They spoke a northern dialect of Old English and, over time, began to exert greater influence on politics in Scotland. They managed to wrestle control from the Gaels through various means but mostly by way of association with southern English ways and culture, in comparison with which Gaelic manners and customs were seen as crude, barbaric, and at the very least old-fashioned. And so Gaelic ceased to be referred to as Scottish and became known as “Erse,” because it was seen by Anglic-speaking Scots as an Irish—i.e., foreign—language. The Old English of the Lowlands then took on the national moniker of “Scots” to distinguish itself from “Inglis”—the name with which it had previously self-referred but which now came to mean exclusively that particular brand of Anglic speech south of the Scottish border. But to cut this rather long and confusing story short…Scottish Gaelic was once spoken throughout Scotland, having given birth to most everything we now associate with Scottishness, from kilt to pipes, whereas Scots—as much as I love it—has in truth only ever been a regional language of Scotland and so falls a little short in my opinion of being deserving of the national moniker, which is why I note it here as “Lowland Scots.” Either way, however, it is never a bad thing to have both one of the most beautiful, musical tongues in the world and the language of the world’s most famous poet as your two native speech forms, a situation of some linguistic luxury if only we Scots could actually bring ourselves to speak the darn things! In terms of language families, Gaelic is Celtic, related distantly to Welsh, Cornish, and Breton, while Scots is Germanic and related quite closely to Norwegian, Dutch, and, most closely, English.
Phrase (as printed): sealg
Phrase (if revised):
Phonetic transcription: /SHELLak/
Book: OLC Vol. I
pb:
hc: 239
Language: Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Translation: “Hunting.”
Phrase (as printed): seas!
Phrase (if revised):
Phonetic transcription: /shace/
Book: FC
pb: 247
hc: 167
Language: Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Translation: “Stand!”
Phrase (as printed): seas ri mo lâmh, a mhic mo thaighe
Phrase (if revised): seas ri mo làmh, a mhic mo thaighe
Phonetic transcription: /SHACE ree-mo-LAAV, ə VEECHk mo haiyə/
Book: FC
pb: 1440
hc: 976
Language: Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Translation: “Stand at my side (hand), son of my house.”
Phrase (as printed): seas ri mo lâmh, Roger an t’oranaiche, mac Jeremiah mac Choinneich
Phrase (if revised): seas ri mo làmh, a Ròideir an t-òranaiche, mhic Iaraimìa MhicChoinnich
Phonetic transcription: /SHACE ri mo laav, ə Roger ən TAWranichə, veechk yarraMEEa veech CONyich/
Book: FC
pb: 1440
hc: 976
Language: Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Translation: “Stand at my side (hand), oh, Roger the songsmith, son of Jeremiah MacKenzie.”
Phrase (as printed): seas…ciamar a tha thu, a ghille mhoir?
Phrase (if revised): seas…ciamar a tha u, a ghille mhóir?
Phonetic transcription: /shace…KIMerə HAOW, ə YEELə VORE/
Book: FC
pb: 730
hc: 493
Language: Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Translation: “Stand…how are you, oh, great laddie?”
Phrase (as printed): Seaumais mac Brian
Phrase (if revised): Seumas mac Bhriain
Phonetic transcription: /SHAMEuss machk VREEaiyn/
Book: ABOSA
pb: 235
hc: 163
Language: Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Translation: “James, son of Brian.”
Phrase (as printed): Seaumais Ruaidh
Phrase (if revised): Seumas ruadh
Phonetic transcription: /SHAMEuss rooaɣ/
Book: EITB
pb: 791
hc: 560
Language: Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Translation: “Red James.”
Phrase (as printed): Senga
Phrase (if revised):
Phonetic transcription: /SENGga/
Book: ABOSA
pb: 27
hc: 20
Language: Lowland Scots
Translation: A girl’s name, playfully spoken of as being “Agnes” spelled backward. As to the truth of this, I can neither confirm nor deny, but the name has always been associated—in Glasgow, certainly—with that singular breed of person we call the ned, young lads and lassies who hang around bus stops in groups and go out of their way to cause trouble for anyone passing by. A senga is the female variety of the aforementioned demographic, and during my youth they were known for their scraped-back ponytails, tight red jeans, ten-packs of “Club” cigarettes, and wickedly sharp tongues as you walked by minding your own business: “Here you! Whit ye gawkin at? A’ll boot your baws!” (“I say! What is it you’re looking at? I shall kick you in the testicles!”) Those were definitely not “the days.”
Phrase (as printed): seo mac na muice a thàinig na bu thràithe gad shiubhal
Phrase (if revised):
Phonetic transcription: /shaw machk nə mooichkə ə HAHnik nəboo RAIYə gad hyool/
Book: EITB
pb: 854
hc: 604
Language: Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Translation: “This is the son of a pig who came earlier looking for you”: it is interesting that I have never heard siubhal used in this context. In Dalriada we would say gad rùrachamh/gad ROOrəchəv/. Dialects are fascinating!
Phrase (as printed): sgaogan
Phrase (if revised):
Phonetic transcription: /SKÖgan/
Book: FC
pb: 489
hc: 330
Language: Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Translation: “Giddy youth”: here meant in the sense of a “changeling.” The babies who had allegedly been left by the fairies in place of the genuine article were known by their discontented nature, constant crying, and distorted-looking person. If certain experiences with my four were anything to go by, a rather more simple explanation could be the key—namely, colic!
Phrase (as printed): sgian dhu
Phrase (if revised): sgian dubh
Phonetic transcription: /SKEEan doo/
Book: ABOSA
pb: 1143
hc: 780
Language: Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Translation: “Black
knife”: like the one Claire receives for training with Angus in episode 8, “Both Sides Now,” of the Outlander TV show. This knife was secreted about the person in whichever place made sense in order to keep it hidden. It later came to be associated with modern Highland dress due to the practice of wearing it in the sock, a thing the Highlander of days gone by rarely had! The /oo/ in dubh is pronounced very short, almost like the word “do” in “do it!”
Phrase (as printed): sguir
Phrase (if revised):
Phonetic transcription: /skoor/
Book: OLC Vol. I
pb:
hc: 239
Language: Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Translation: “Desist”: remember to roll that r at the end—or at least try! Go on, it’s fun!
Phrase (as printed): sheas!
Phrase (if revised): seas!
Phonetic transcription: /shace/
Book: ABOSA
pb: 513
hc: 352
Language: Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Translation: “Stand!”
Phrase (as printed): sheas, a nighean
Phrase (if revised): seas, a nighean
Phonetic transcription: /SHACE ə NYEEin/
Book: EITB
pb: 807
hc: 571
Language: Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Translation: “Stand, oh lass.”
Phrase (as printed): sìdheanach
Phrase (if revised): sìtheanach
Phonetic transcription: /SHEEanəch/
Book: FC
pb: 1431
hc: 817
Language: Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Translation: “Fairy.”
Phrase (as printed): silkie
Phrase (if revised): selkie
Phonetic transcription:
Book: OLC Vol. I
pb:
hc: 240
Language: Lowland Scots
Translation: Seal. Also the name by which the mythical “seal people” are known.
Phrase (as printed): sionnach
Phrase (if revised):
Phonetic transcription: /SHOOnəch/
Book: OLC Vol. I
pb:
hc: 249
Language: Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Translation: “Fox”: in Dalriada, we say seannach/SHAnach/.
Phrase (as printed): skelloch
Phrase (if revised):
Phonetic transcription:
Book: OLC Vol. I
pb:
hc: 242
Language: Lowland Scots
Translation: A shout, scream, or cry of alarm.
Phrase (as printed): skirlie
Phrase (if revised):
Phonetic transcription:
Book: FC
pb: 1410
hc: 956
Language: Lowland Scots
Translation: Fried oatmeal.
Phrase (as printed): skrae-shankit skoot
Phrase (if revised): skrae-shankit skout
Phonetic transcription:
Book: OLC Vol. I
pb:
hc: 246
Language: Lowland Scots
Translation: “A spindle-legged braggart” : a term of contempt. Perhaps the braggart comes originally from “brag-hard” somewhat similar to “blow-hard.”
Phrase (as printed): slàinte
Phrase (if revised):
Phonetic transcription: /SLAANtchə/
Book: FC
pb: 228
hc: 153
Language: Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Translation: “Health”: the quick version of slàinte mhath/SLANtchə va/”good health”/ or, where I come from in East Argyll, slàinte mhór/SLANtchə VORE/“great health”!
Phrase (as printed): slan leat, a charaid choir
Phrase (if revised): slàn leat, a charaid chòir
Phonetic transcription: /SLAAN leht ə CHAridge chaur/
Book: OLC Vol. I
pb:
hc: 252
Language: Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Translation: “Farewell, kind friend.”
Phrase (as printed): sluire
Phrase (if revised): sluit
Phonetic transcription:
Book: OLC Vol. I
pb:
hc: 245
Language: Lowland Scots
Translation: A sloven or slut.
Phrase (as printed): small cairn
Phrase (if revised):
Phonetic transcription:
Book: ABOSA
pb: 16
hc: 12
Language:
Translation: This practice still remains in the phrase cuiridh mi clach air a chàrn/koorie-mi CLACH aira CHARN/“I shall place a stone on his cairn”/, said in condolence to the bereaved on the passing of a loved one. I can only imagine it worked just as well the other way—clach air do chàrn!/“a stone on your cairn!”—to someone on whom misfortune was wished!
Phrase (as printed): smoor
Phrase (if revised): smour
Phonetic transcription: /smoor/
Book: OLC Vol. I
pb:
hc: 244
Language: Lowland Scots
Translation: To smother, specifically to bank a fire.
Phrase (as printed): snark
Phrase (if revised):
Phonetic transcription:
Book: OLC Vol. I
pb:
hc: 241
Language: Lowland Scots
Translation: To snore, to fret, or to find fault.
Phrase (as printed): snuff mull
Phrase (if revised):
Phonetic transcription:
Book: OLC Vol. I
pb:
hc: 241
Language: Lowland Scots
Translation: A container for snuff, often made from a sheep’s horn.
Phrase (as printed): soghan
Phrase (if revised): sòghainn
Phonetic transcription: /SAWain/
Book: FC
pb: 18
hc: 13
Language: Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Translation: “Pleasant, agreeable, cheerful.”
Phrase (as printed): spalpeen
Phrase (if revised): spailpín
Phonetic transcription: /spaLPEEN/
Book: OLC Vol. I
pb:
hc: 246
Language: Gaelic (Gaeilge)
Translation: “A low fellow, a scamp or rascal.”
Phrase (as printed): spiorad
Phrase (if revised):
Phonetic transcription: /SPEErət/
Book: FC
pb: 391
hc: 265
Language: Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Translation: “Spirit” : an ainm an Athair, a Mhic ‘s an Spiorad Naoimh /ən enyəm ən Ahər, ə VEEchk, sən SPEErət NÖiyv/ (in the name of the father, the son and the Holy Ghost).
Phrase (as printed): sporran
Phrase (if revised):
Phonetic transcription:
Book: FC
pb: 54
hc: 37
Language: Lowland Scots
Translation: Purse. Although the Scots word sporran has come to refer to the reworked hanging pouch for modern Highland dress, its meaning in the original Gaelic sporan covers the “dewlap” of a cow, the English sense of a “purse” or “wallet,” and also the sense of the “public purse”: an sporan poblach/ən spawran POPEləch/. Whichever way, infinitely cooler than the fanny pack!
Phrase (as printed): St. Kilda
Phrase (if revised): Hiort
Phonetic transcription: /hyoorst/
Book: FC
pb: 103
hc: 70
Language:
Translation: The name in its current form was given by the Vikings, and Hiort is identifiable as such by the initial H, which is not found in native Gaelic language but seen throughout the area of former Norse influence. The group of tiny islands collectively known in English as St. Kilda is the
farthest-flung archipelago in the Hebrides and was inhabited until the 1930s. So remote was it from the everyday lives of even most Gaels that a dismissive phrase arose for use when wishing rid of irritating company. You hear it from Jamie to the MacDonald boys in Outlander the TV show, episode 10, “By the Pricking of my Thumbs”: thalla gu Hiort!/HULLə g’HYOORST/“away to St. Kilda (with you)!”/. Even worse is the phrase b’ fheàrr gum bithinn ann an Hiort am broinn mairt/BYARləm gəm BEEin aownin HYOORST əm broin MARSHt/“I’d rather be in St. Kilda in the belly of a cow than (insert intolerably disagreeable alternative)!”/.
Phrase (as printed): stad, mo dhu
Phrase (if revised): stad, mo charaid dhubh
Phonetic transcription: /stat mo CHAridge ɣu/
Book: OLC Vol. I
pb:
hc: 239
Language: Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Translation: “Stay, my black one”: I have offered here the possibility, given Jamie is talking to his horse, that he might well say something along the lines of stad, mo charaid dhubh/“stop, my black friend”/, as the usage in the book is not quite grammatically correct.
Phrase (as printed): stramash
Phrase (if revised):
Phonetic transcription: /straMASH/
Book: FC
pb: 25
hc: 18
Language: Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Translation: “Uproar, chaos, conflict”: the etymology is uncertain, but this is a fantastically onomatopoeic word meaning “a situation caused by unchecked Scottish aggression”!
Phrase (as printed): taing
Phrase (if revised): taing dhut/dhuibh
Phonetic transcription: /tang ɣOOCHT/ ɣOOIY/
Book: FC
pb: 59
hc: 40
Language: Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Translation: “Thanks”: not normally used (until relatively recently) by itself, this has become a common way of saying a brief “thank you.” In the TV show, we used taing dhut/dhuibh/“thanks to you”/, the form current in much of northern mainland Scotland and correct for the Ross-shire Gaelic of the MacKenzie clan. I have my suspicions that its use comes originally from contact with Vikings, as the Swedes and Norwegians today still use the similar word tack/takk, which is clearly cognate with “thank.” However, southern dialects of Gaelic, including my own, use the same form as in Irish, which I believe to be closer to early Gaelic usage: gu robh math agad/agaibh.
The Companion to the Fiery Cross, a Breath of Snow and Ashes, an Echo in the Bone, and Written in My Own Heart's Blood Page 79