Place JIames ■ J Itoi&^(^ '. t/...-.'^vr»i i^^ fc*: pfj BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME FROM THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF Benrs W. Sage 1891 /4..Va.'^3.H9^ .SL\..\..\\..a.D..W. Cornell University Library DA 880.R7W33 Place-names of Ross and Cromart' 3 1924 028 090 151 Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028090151 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY PLACENAMES ROSS AND CROMARTY W. J. WATSON M.A., ABEBD. ; B.A., OXON. RECTOR OP INVERNESS ROYAL ACADEMY THE NORTHERN COUNTIES PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMPANY, LIMITED EDINBURGH : NORMAN MACLEOD, 25 GEORGE IV. BRIDGE LONDON : DAVID NUTT, 57-59 LONGACRE 1904 PEEFACE. The uncertainty and lack of precision which have characterised so much of the work attempted in connection with the study of our Scottish names of places are due chiefly to defective or imperfectly ascertained data. In Lowland districts, where the sole data for names of Celtic origin consist of modern Anglicised forms and old spellings, this uncertainty is largely inevitable : the old Celtic pronunciation, the quantity of vowels, and the quality of consonants must often be matter of sheer conjecture. But wherever Gaelic is still vernacular, or when, as often, genuine Gaelic forms of names occurring in districts once Celtic but now English are procurable, these difficulties are im- mensely simplified. It will be found that modern Gaelic pronunciation as handed down by unbroken tradition is in the main intensely conservative, whether the names so transmitted are Pictish, Scandinavian, or purely Gaelic in origin. With the aid of these modern Gaelic forms, either alone or supplemented by old written forms, the investi- gator, given knowledge and experience, should in VI. PEEFACE. most cases be able to arrive at a high degree of accuracy in interpretation. The work is raised from the sphere of conjecture to that of solid scientific enquiry. In the present work, dealing with the Place Names of Ross and Cromarty, the method thus indicated has been followed throughout. In every case the genuine native Gaelic forms of names have been ascertained with absolute accuracy. In addition, the old spellings found in charters, etc., have been given wherever such were available. The result is that the interpretations offered can be criticised by Celtic scholars in the light of a fiill knowledge of the data. Incidentally a large number of new and important facts are offered for the con- sideration of philologists, both in the shape of obsolete Gaelic words rescued from oblivion, and in the treatment in Gaelic of Norse and Pictish names. An attempt has been made in the Introduction to focus the general results obtained. The opening historical sections, though necessarily much com- pressed, will, it is hoped, serve to lend perspective. The sections which deal with the formation of Gaelic names and with the Pictish and Norse elements, should afford some not unnecessary assist- ance to future investigators. The account given of the treatment in Gaelic of the Old Norse vowels PREFA.CK. Vll, and consonants is a pioneer piece of work which will, I hope, be found generally trustworthy, but may at least be amplified by further research. The collection of facts adduced with regard to traces of the old Celtic Church proves the strength of the hold which that Church took in the North, and indicates the wealth of material that awaits col- lection. As for the Pictish language, its remains in place names are only beginning to be scientifically considered. Everything so far goes to prove its close affinity to Cymric, but we still desiderate a thorough critical examination of the place names of Dalriada on the one hand and of the Central High- lands on the other, respectively the most Gaelic and the most Pictish of Scottish districts where Gaelic is still spoken. In collecting materials for this work I have personally traversed all parts of the County except Lewis, and therefore the number of those to whom I am indebted runs to hundreds. But I am under special obligation to Mr Kenneth Mackenzie, Shader, Barvas, both for general information on Lewis names and in particular for permission to make use of a valuable paper on that subject contributed by him to the Highland News. To that distinguished Celtic authority, Dr A. Macbain of Inverness, I owe much in friendly criticism and suggestions, especially VIU. PKEFACE, on the philological aspect of the names, and he has kindly read all my proofs. I have to acknowledge most valuable, and indeed indispensab' s assist- ance generously rendered by the Rev. Charles M. Robertson, who has freely placed at my dis- posal his unique knowledge of the Gaelic forms of Scottish names of places. The majority of the Gaelic forms contained in the following pages have been independently verified both by him and myself Valuable assistance has also been received from Mr Donald Mackenzie, Inland Revenue, Bonar- Bridge ; Mr John Whyte, Inverness ; and fi-om Mr J. Mathieson, H.M. Ordnance Survey, to whose pains- taking diligence we shall soon owe a map of Scot- land largely purged from those erroneous and mis- leading forms of names which render the existing O.S. maps useless to philologists. The complete Alphabetical Index of about 3000 names has been prepared by my colleague, Mi- H. F. Robson, with the help of our pupils, and revised by myself. W. J. WATSON. Inverness, May, 1904. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. Section I. — Histoeical. Page Physical Feature?.— Ptolemy's Account. — The Plots. — The Scots.- The Norsemen — in the Ieles--on the West Coast— on the East Coafit. — English Influence xi. Section II. — Divisions. Rosa — Original extent and meaning. — Erg.adia Borealis or North Argyle. — Cromarty. — Ardmeanach or Black Isle. — Ferindonald. Ferintosh. — The Five " Quarters." — Parishes. — Hebrides or Innse Gall xxi. Section III. — The Basis op Interpretation. Modern Pronunciations, English and Gaelic. — Old Written Forms. — Physical Characteristics. — Analogy ...... xxvii. Section IV. — The Formation of Gaelic Names. Simple or uncompounded names. — Simple words with extension. — Compounds. — Phrase Names. — Periods represented by such. — Prefixed Adjectives and Accent. — Prefixed Nouns and Accent. — Prepositions and Accent. — Accent in Simple Names. — Accent in Phrase-names. — The Article. — Case ...... xxxiii. Section V. — The Pictish Element. Terms used to denote " Piot." — P and Q Celts. — Pictish Names. — P-names. — Various. — Picto-Gaelic Hybrids. — Pictish Termina- tions. — Stream Names (a) in -n, (6) in -ie, (c) various. — Pictish prefixes xlv. Section VI. — The Norse Element. Distri'Dutiou of terms. — Composition of Norse names. —Quantity of first syllable. — Crasis. — Norse-Gaelic Hybrids. — Norse Gaelic Phonetics — {a) Vowels, (6) Consonants liii. X. CONTENTS, Section VII. — Church Names. Page Records of Applecrosa. — Sculptured Stones. — Ecclesiastical terms — neimhidh — annaid — cUl — claohan—tcampuU — eaglais—seipeU — manachainn — comrmch — cdtair — crois — canwnaich — ggir — manach — sagart — oliar — cUireach, mmistear. — Norse Church terms. — Dedications to Columba. — Moluag. — Donnan. — Colman. — Malruba.— lurnan or Iturnan. — Pillan.— Congan. — Kentigema. — Fionu. — Brigh. — Curitan. — Ferchar. — Dubhthach. — Cormac. — Roman Catholic Dedications Ix. Section VIII. — General. Terms for Streams. — Marshes. — Confluences. — Fords. — Sea terms. — Plats. — Hollows. — Heights. — Promontories. — Woods, trees, plants. — Animals. — Dwellings. — Cultivations and Enclosures. — Crops. — Occupations and Customs. — Land Measures. — Numerical Combinations. — Historical Events. — Miscellaneous . . . Ixxi. Page. Page. Parish of Kincardine . . 1 Parish of Cromarty . . 124 „ Edderton . . 23 „ Rosemsrkie . 128 „ Tain . . 32 ,, Avoch . 132 , Pearu . . 40 „ Knockbain . . 136 Tarbat . 45 „ Killearnan . . 142 Nigg . . 50 „ Con tin . 147 „ Logie Easter . 58 „ Qlenshiel . . 171 „ Kilmuir Easter . 63 „ Kintail . 178 „ Rosskeen . . 69 „ Lochalsh . . 184 ., Alness . 75 „ Lochcarron . . 192 ,, Kiltearn . 85 „ Applecross . . 201 „ Dingwall . . 93 „ Qairloch . . 220 „ Fodderty . . 96 „ Lochbroom . . 241 „ Urray . 104 Lewis .... . 26S „ Urquhart . . 113 Additions and Corrections . 273 „ Bcsolia . 120 Index .... . 285 INTRODUCTION. I. — Historical. The County of Ross and Cromarty, including Physical Lewis, the northern and larger part of the Long features. Island, is the third largest in Scotland. Its mainland part extends from sea to sea, and falls naturally into three divisions, Easter, Wester, and Mid Ross, each of which possesses a character of its own. Much of Easter Ross, between the Dornoch and Cromarty Firths, is distinctly Lowland or even English in type. Its great alluvial plain, Machair Rois, the plain of Ross, comprises some of the richest agri- cultural land in Scotland ; much of it stands only a few feet above the sea level, and the skeleton of a " cetaceous animal"^ found at Fearn proves that it was actually covered by the sea at no very remote period as geological time is reckoned. With it goes the large peninsula known as the Black Isle, between the Firths of Cromarty and Inverness, not level like the Machair, but sloping gently to both firths, and nowhere particularly Highland in aspect. Mid-Ross may be said to extend from the western watershed to the uplands of ' New Statistical Account. Xll. PLACE-NAMES OF BOSS AND CROMARTY. Alness and Kosskeen. It is a region of glens, straths, and streams, dominated by the massive bulk of Ben Wyvis, and drains through the Conon and its tributaries Orrin, Meig, Blackwater into the head of the Cromarty Firth. Wester Eoss is the long strip to the west of the watershed, between the latter and the sea, deeply indented by sea lochs and seldom far from sea influence. The great " hinterland " of Wester and Mid-Ross is wholly mountain and moor, with the exception of the beautiful valleys of the Kincardine Carron and its tributaries, and the Oykell and Kyleside Valley, the latter facing Sutherland. amy's Our earliest information about the inhabitants of unt. j^^Qgg comes from the geographer Ptolemy of Alex- andria, who lived about 120 A.D., and wrote an account of Britain, in which he locates a number of places and tribes, the position of which can be determined with more or less confidence. He states that from the Lemannonius Sinus (Loch Fyne) to the estuary of the Varar (Beauly Firth), and on the east side of Drumalban, lay the Caledonii ; westward of them were the Cerones or Creones. These, then, lay on the southern border of Boss. In the district corresponding to Ross were the Carnonacae on the west coast, the Decantae in Easter Ross from the Beauly to the neighbourhood of Edderton, and the Smertae, who may have occupied the valleys of the Carron, the Oykell, and the Shin. Northwards of these lay three tribes, the Caereni and Cornavii in north-west Sutherland and Caithness, and in the INTRODUCTION. XUl. east of Sutherland the Lugi. At a later period all The Picts the tribes to the north of the Roman wall between the Firths of Forth and Clyde were included under the general name of Picts, those north of the Grampians being referred to as Northern Picts, and tlie others as Southern Picts. The headquarters of the King of the Northern Picts at the time of Columba's visit in 565 were near Inverness ; his authority extended at least as far as the Orkneys, probably to the Shetlands. With regard to the Northern Picts, two questions arise which have to be kept separate, the question of race, and the question of language. On the latter point the place-names should throw some light ; here it is enough to say that most authorities now agree that the Picts spoke a Celtic languagefnot of the Gaelic but of the Welsh or Brittonic type. When this Celtic language was introduced into the North it is hard to say ; certainly it was there in the first century, for Ptolemy's names are Celtic. Good authorities place the coming of the Celts into Britain about 600 B.C., others much eai-lier. One thing is certain, that when they came they found in possession another people less highly civilised, of a different race, with different manners and customs. And, as Celtic influence would reach the north last, and would long be comparatively weak, it is reasonable to suppose that there these primitive people would survive longest and have most influence on the new-comers. In point of fact, the northern Picts show very distinct traces of non-Celtic XIV. PLACE-NAMES OP EOSS AND CROMARTY. institutions and customs in respect of their family relations and their mode of succession. It may be concluded, therefore, that the Picts were a mixed race, combining a Celtic strain with a strong dash of non-Celtic and probably non-Aryan blood. In very remote places such as Lewis this non-Celtic element would naturally be strongest, and, indeed, is probably still recognisable. )otsi In the early centuries of the Christian era Scots from Ireland began to settle among the Picts of the West Coast. The first colony on record was led in the second century by Cairbre Riada, whence the name Dal-Riada or Riada's lot.^ In 501 the coming of the sons of Ere with a strong following marks the establishment of Dalriada as a Scottish kingdom roughly co-extensive with the modern Argyle. The influence of the Gaelic-speaking Dalriadic Scots gradually spread northward along the coast and among the islands. When it reached the west coast of Ross we cannot say exactly, but it is significant that in 673 Malruba, an Irish priest and noble, founded the monastery of Applecross, and it is probably safe to assume that at that date Apple- cross was well within Dalriadic territory. There are at least two other indications of the rapid spread of the Gaels on the west. When the Norsemen came in 793, they called the Minch Skotland-fjiirbr. the firth of the land of the Scots ; the province of ' " Scoti, duce Reuda de Hibeniia egressi, auiicitia vel ferio sibimet inter Pictos sedes quas hacteuus habent Tindicaverunt." The Scots, led by Riada, left Ireland, and by friendship or force won for themselves among the Picts those territories which they still possess. — Bede, Ercl. Hist., L. i., c. 1. INTRODUCTION. XV. Argyle extended from the Clyde to Lochbroom, and Argyle (Gael. Earra-Ghaidheal, older Airer Goedel), means the bounds of the Gael or Scots from Ireland. Not the least difficult of the problems in early Scottish history is the manner in which the language of the Gaels supplanted that of the Picts. For the west coast the answer, as has been seen, is easy : it was settled by Scots at an early date. In the east various causes can be seen to have co-operated. In the first place, Gaelic was the language of the more highly civilised people, which made it a prion unlikely that it should give way to Pictish. Another factor, the importance of which can hardly be over-estimated, was the influence of the Celtic Church. Again, the advent of the Norse on the West Coast must have had the effect of driving the Gaelic-speaking settlers east- ward. Lastly, we cannot tell how long Pictish survived in Easter Koss. It is possible and even probable that, just as on the West there was a period when first Gaelic and Pictish, then Gaelic and Norse, were spoken side by side, so on the East Coast, Pictish, Gaelic, and Norse were spoken con- currently. Pictish has, in any case, left very strong traces in Easter Ross place-names. The Norsemen began to make plundering expedi- The tions on the coasts of Britain before the end of the Norseme eighth century. In 793 they sacked Lindisfarne 5 in 798 they plundered part of Man and the Hebrides ; in 802 they ravaged lona, and in 806 they slew sixty-eight of the monastic family there ; during XVI. PLACE-NAMES OF BOSS AND CROMARTY. the same period they made incursions on the Irish coasts also. Monasteries, being rich and defenceless, were special objects of attack, and there can be little doubt, though record is silent on the subject, that to them was due the destruction of Malruba's Monastery of Applecross. i. In the By degrees they began to settle both in Ireland ^^^®*- and in the Isles. In 872 Harold Harfagr, King of Norway, found it necessary to lead an expedition against the western Vikings, when he subjugated Orkney, Shetland, and the Sudreys (the Hebrides) as far south as Man. But as in Ireland settlement began in the first quarter of the ninth century, it is probable that the Hebrides, which lie on the way to Ireland, were occupied long before King Harold's expedition. What is known of the subsequent history of the Norse settlements in the Western Isles has been related too often to need repetition.^ The Isles were finally ceded by Norway in 1266, in consequence of the disastrous battle of Largs, having been more or less under Norse influence for about 470 years. For much of that time the Norse language must have been predominant ; the Isles were not felt to be part of Scotland ; mainland Gaels referred to them as Innse Gall, the Isles of the strangers. And if Norse was spoken in Lewis in 1266, as it doubtless was, it is not too much to suppose that it was not wholly extinct at the time of Bannockburn or even later. Hence at once the ' Gregory's History of the ^yeattl^n Uiijhlands ; llr A. Macbain in I'rans. of Jnixrness Qael. Soc., Tol. xix. INTRODUCTION. XVU. preponderance of Norse names and their remarkable freshness as preserved in common speech. The Norse occupation of the western mainland ii. On the probably began later, ended earlier, and, to judge WestCoast. from the place-names, was less continuous in extent. On the west of Ross they seem to have selected the parts most fertile and best adapted for grazing. Kintail and Glenshiel show very little Norse influ- ence ; it was stroug in Gairloch and round the shores of Loch Maree. But in no part of Wester Ross did the old Celtic nomenclature wholly give way ; from Loch Duich to Loch Broom not only old Gaelic but even Pictish names are well in evidence. On the eastern mainland, according to the Sagas, iii. On the Thorstein the Red, together with Sigurd of Orkney, ^^^ ^°^^- conquered and ruled over Caithness and Sutherland, Ross and Moray, and more than half of Scotland.^ Their exploits here referred to took place about 875, and the net result of them appears to have been that the Norsemen retained possession at least as far south as Dingwall. Over a hundred years later, circ. 980, Sigurd, Earl of Orkney, defeated Finlay, Mormaer of Moray, at Skida Myre in Caithness, and established his power over " dominions in Scotland, Ross and Moray, Sutherland and the Dales." Earl Sigurd fell at Clontarf, 1014, The Norse power on the mainland attained its highest point under his son Thorfinn, of whom the Sagas say that he held " nine Earldoms in Scotland, the whole of ^ Islands Landn^mabdk. XVm. PLACE-NAMES OF EOSS AND CROMARTY. the Sudreys, and a large territory in Ireland."^ He died in 1064, and after his time the Norse dominions gradually contracted to Caithness. "Many rikis which the Earl had subjected fell off, and the inhabitants sought the protection of those native chiefs who were territorially born to rule over them." ' At the beginning of the twelfth century Norse may still have been spoken in Easter Ross, but the power of the native chiefs was reviving, and by the middle of it we find Malcolm MacHeth in the position of Earl of Ross, The total duration of the Norse supremacy in Easter Ross was rather less than 200 years. The place-names are instructive. No name of Norse origin appears south of the Beauly valley. The centre of administration was Dingwall, Thing-voUr, plain of the Thing, the Norse court of justice. Some important valleys well inland bear Norse names, AUadale, Dibidale, Strathrusdale, Scatwell. The Black Isle shows only two or three ; elsewhere the proportion is about the same for the area as on the West Coast. To Norse influence per- haps may be due the curious fact that none of the larger streams that flow into the Cromarty Firth — Uarie, Averon, Conon — ^show an Inver or an Aber. Such Invers as exist belong to small streams, the largest being the Peffery, which gives Inver-feoran (Inbhir-pheofharain), the Gaelic name of Dingwall. In the Dingwall Charters, the estuary of the Conon appears as Stavek, plainly Norse, probably Staf-vik, ■ Orkueyinga Saga. - Orkueyiiiga Saga. INTRODUCTION. XIX. Staff-bay, a name which, it may be suggested, supplanted an old *Aberconon, to be in its turn forgotten. In Weeter Ross the Norsemen met the Gael ; on the eastern side they doubtless met both Gael and Pict. The twelfth century saw the triumph of Gaelic English over Pictish and Norse ; and probably this period " "^"f"^- (circ. 1100-1200) was the only one since the coming of the Gaels, in which one language and only one was spoken throughout the mainland of Ross. Under Pictish rule, Ross was governed from Inver- ness ; in the time of Norse supremacy its over-lords hailed from Orkney. The twelfth century was a transition stage ; at its close Ross was fast coming into touch with the south of Scotland, and to some extent with the language of the Lowland Scots. That English is of long standing in the north is proved by the place-name Wardlaw, near Beauly, which appears on record in 1210 Wardelaue, the hillock where watch and ward was kept by the retainers of the Norman Lord of the Aird, John Byset. No Norman baron, however, obtained a grant of land in Ross : Engflish was introduced there through the Royal Castles and the Church. Id 1179 William the Lion founded the Castles of Dunskaith in Nigg, and Eddirdover, now Redcastle. In the next century we find the Castles ot Cromarty and Dingwall upheld by the Crown and the Castle of Avoch belonging to the De Moravia family. In all of XX. PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. these the garrison was, doubtless, composed chiefly of Lowlanders. The seat of the Bishopric of Ross was at Rosemarkie; in 1227 the Chapter of Ross consists wholly, with one exception,^ of clerics bear- ing English names. So with the Bishops of Ross, all except the first, Macbeth. The other chief centre of ecclesiastical influence in Easter Ross at this period was the Abbey of Fearn, founded circ. 1225, whose Abbots as a rule came from Whithorn in Galloway, and may or may not have known Gaelic ; their names are usually English. The fame of St Duthac's shrine at Tain was also a factor of some importance in attracting Lowland pilgrims. In 1306 we actually find Walter, son of the Earl of Ross, a scholar at Cambridge. All this, of course, had little effect on the native Gaelic, but it shows that in the vicinity of Castle, Cathedral, and Abbey, as well as among the upper classes, there must have been some acquaintance with English. And at the present day we find that it is precisely in these places — Tain, Cromarty, Rosemarkie, Avoch, and, to a less extent, Dingwall — that Gaelic, except for importations, has practically died out. The Castles of the West Coast, Strome and EUandonan, were garrisoned not by King's men, but by Gaelic- speaking clansmen of native chiefs, and were oftener held against the King than for him. ' The exception is Donald, Vicar of Locunctheretli (Logie Wester). INTRODUCTIOK. XXI. II. — Divisions. The ancient district of Ross/ which gives its Koss. name to the modern county, originally extended from the Stockford on the river Beauly to Tarbat Ness, thus comprising Easter and Mid Ross, together with a slice of Inverness-shire. The name has been explained as from (1) Ir. and Gael, ros, a promontory; (2) Ir. ros, a wood ; (3) Welsh rhos, a moor ; Breton ros, a knoll, all equally possible phonetically. Ros, a wood, does not seem to occur elsewhere in Scottish topography ; ros, a promontory, when it occurs, is used with the article, e.g., an Ros Muileach, the Ross of Mull, but the article never appears with the county name ; for these and other reasons a Brythouic or Pictish origin seems most likely. The meaning of " moor " would have been appropriate in times antecedent to regular cultivation. The Pictish kingdom was divided into provinces — -traditionally seven — ruled by petty kings called Mormaers, who were subject to the head-king. Whether Ross ever possessed a Mormaer of its own does not appear ; in the records it goes with Moray. ^ Probably the earliest mention of Ross occurs in the Life of St Cadroe, ascribed to the 11th century. " The Ohoerisci " (wandering Celts from Asia Minor, according to the legend), crossed over from Ireland and peopled lona. Thereafter they coasted along the sea which adjoins Britain, and, through the valley of the river Rosis, entered Rossia (per Rosim amnem, Rossiam invaserunt), The river Rosis, according to Skene, is the Rasay, now called the Blackwater. The legend may be based on an eastward movement of the West Coast Saels. XXll. PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. The first Earl of Eoss was Malcolm MacHeth/ circ. 1157, son of Ed, Earl of Moray, and Malcolm, who succeeded his brother Angus slain in rebellion in 1130, appears to have received the Earldom of Boss on his reconciliation to King David I., as part of his ancestral dominions. The next Earl of Ross is the Count of Holland, of whom nothing is recorded. About 1220 the title was conferred by Alexander II. on Ferchar Mac-in- tagart (son of the priest), surnamed O'Beolan, who appears to be rightly regarded as the then repre- sentative of the lay Abbots of Applecross. The accession of Ferchar was fraught with important consequences, local and national. As loid of the Church lands of Applecross, he was already practically chief of the district from Kintail to Lochbroom, known then as North Argyle ; when, in addition, he became Earl of Ross, he was the leading man in the north. This power, loyally exercised as it was by Ferchar and his descendants, was largely instrumental in establishing the authority of the Scottish Crown in the Highlands at this critical period. Locally he brought the easter and the wester divisions together imder one strong hand, thus preparing the way for the modern county. Previous Earls were, of course. Earls of Eoss only, i.e., the district east of the central watershed. ' Heth, Head, Etii, Ed all repreneuted Gael. Aed, later Aodh, Hugh (still used aa a personal name iu Sutherland). MaoHeth in modern Gaelic is MacAoidh, Mackay. Skene's JtllrjlJanders of Scotland, ed. Dr A. Maobain. INTRODUCTION. XXlll. The western sea-board from Kintail to Lochbroom Ergadia "was, from the beghming of the Scottish Monarchy, ^•"^*'"'- known as North Argyle or Ergadia Borealis, a term of which the significance has been explained above. In 1292 WiUiam, Earl of Ross, grandson of Ferchar, ^ot his lands of " Skey, Lodoux, and North Argyle " «i'ected into the Sheriffdom of Skye by King John Balliol. The West Coast continues to appear under the name of North Argyll till the early part of the fifteenth century. The Sheriifdom of Cromarty, which appears to Cromarty, have been originally connected with the Royal Castle there, appears on record in 1266, when William de Monte Alto was " vicecomes de Crum- l)auchtyn." It was of very small extent, apparently not exceeding the bounds of the modern parish of Cromarty, yet under its hereditary Sherifis always continued separate, and when in 1661 the SheriflPdom of Ross was definitely disjoined from that of Inver- ness, Cromarty is specifically excepted. The first Earl of Cromarty was Sir George Mackenzie of Tarbat, grandson of the Tutor of Kintail (an Taoitear Taileach), who was made Earl in 1703, and obtained the privilege of having his various estates, large and small, throughout Ross erected into the new County of Cromarty, an arrangement extremely inconvenient, and now surviving only in the county name Ross and Cromarty. The Black Isle, Gael, an t-Eilean Dubh, a mis- The nomer which can be easily paralleled, is the name of , , Isle. • ^ 1 1 r" 1 /> /-( 1 Ardmeanacn the penmsula between the firths of Cromarty and Xxiv. PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Inverness. Peninsulas are frequently miscalled " islands ;" the classical instance is Peloponnesus, Pelops' Isle. The epithet "black" is sensibly- explained by the writers of the Old Stat. Ace, from the fact that even in their time four-fifths of it was black moor, uncultivated. Its old official name is Ardmanache or Ardmeanach, meaning the " mid height," midway, that is to say, between the firths, surviving in the farm of Ardmeanach, near Fortrose. A still older name is Eddirdail, now obsolete, meaning apparently Eadar-da-dhail, Between two dales. The Lordship of Ardmanach went with the fortalice of Redcastle, and included all the Black Isle, except the Sherifidom of Cromarty. idonald The district from the Averon or Alness River to the burn of AUt na Lkthaid, to the east of Ding- wall, was called of old Ferindonald, G. Fearaiuu D6mhnuill, Donald's land, a name still in use. It comprises the parishes of Alness and Kiltearn, and is the land of the Clan Munro. The Donald in question is the traditional founder of the house of Fowlis, and is supposed to have received this grant of land from Malcolm II. (1005-1034) for services rendered against Danish invaders. Though this account cannot be verified — the origin of the Munros is one of the problems of Clan history — -it may be substantially correct. The name Ferindonald is parallel to Dalriada and Ferintosh. rintosh. The Origin of the division of Ferintosh is explained at p. 114. It is expressly excluded from Ross in the INTRODUCTION XXV. Act of Parliament of 1661, and till recent times continued to form part of the county of Nairn. The " five quarters " of Ross appear in 1479 in The Five connection with the confiscated estates of John, last ''Q^*'*'^"- Earl of Ross. They are (l) Delney, extending from Tarbat Ness to the Alness River ; (2) Balkeny or Balcony, co-extensive with the bounds of Ferin- donald as given above ; (3) Kynnardy or Kinnairdie, including the valley of the Peff"er3', and the parts to the south and west of it, viz., Moy, Achilty, Scatwell Meikle, Brahan, Dunglust, Ussie ; (4) Kynnellane, modern Kinnellan, which included " Coul, Rogy, cum le Ess, Litill Scathole cum le Ess, Foreste de Rannach, Meyn in Straquhonane, the two Eskatellis, Innermany, Innerquhonray, Kinlochbenquherane ;" (5) Fyrnewer (a name now obsolete), from Fairburn round by the Beauly Firth to Kessock : " the Ferburnys, Auchansawle, Arcoyn, Balbrade, TJrra, Kynculadrum, le Orde, Belblaie, Balnagoun, Kynkell, Logyenreith, and the two Kessokis." Though this is the first appearance of the quarters as a whole, there appear on record the quarter of Petkenney in 1281 and the " maresium of Fernewyr " in 1350, from which it is a fair inference that the other " quarters " also existed long prior to 1479. They were evidently divisions of the Earldom of Ross, each under a "maor," or land steward, but they may have represented still older tribal divisions, or, possibly, the Norse organisation. xxvi. PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMABTY. ishes. The division into parishes must have been roughly- contemporary with the organisation of the Bishopric of Boss, circ. 1128. The Bishopric was co-extensive with the Earldom, and therefore it was only on the accession of Ferchar Mac-in-tagart, circ. 1220, that it came to include the churches of North Argyle. But little change seems to have taken place in the parochial organisation, the chief being the disjunction of Fearn from Tarbat in 1628, the union of Kiltearn and Lemlair, of Kinnettes and Fodderty, and of Urray and Gilchrist (date uncertain) ; of Kirkmichael and CuUicudden in 1662, of Urquhart and Logie Wester circ. 1669, and of Kilmuir Wester and Suddy in 1756, now Knockbain. Glenshiel is a new parish carved out of Kintail. Before the arrangement of 1661, the parish of Kilmorack belonged territorially to Ross, as it still does ecclesiastically. In dealing with parish names, it is important to bear in mind that the name of a parish is regularly taken either from the old parish church, e.g. Kilmuir, or from the spot where the old church stood, e.g. Logie. irides. The name Hebrides has arisen from a misreading of Pliny's Haebudes, which, he says were thirty in number. Ptolenay gives only five Aebudae. The word must be Pictish, or pre-Pictish ; its meaning is quite obscure, but it has been suggested with some probability t-hat its modern representative is Bute, Gael. B6d. During the Norse occupation they were called by the Gaels Innse-Gall, by the Norse themselves Sudreys, the south isles. INTRODUCTION. XXV 11. III.— The Basis of Interpretation. The study of names of places involves two pro- cesses, collection of facts and interpretation, and if the interpretation is to be sound, the facts on which it is based must be accurate and adequate. It is therefore proper at the outset to consider the nature of the facts at our disposal in dealing with the names encountered in Ross and Cromarty, names which fall, in respect of language, into four divisions — Pictish, Gaelic, Norse, and English. These facts or data are, in the main, of three kinds — (1) The names as they are now pronounced. (2) Old written forms. (3) Physical characteristics of the places denoted by the names. (l) At the present day both Gaelic and English Modem are spoken over the whole of the county, with this P^onuncia- Tn • • 1 T-1 T 1 • tions. quaimcation, that m the eastern part English is predominant, while Gaelic still prevails on the West Coast and in Lewis. The result is that to some extent over the whole, but especially in Easter Ross, we have a sort of double nomenclature ; on the one hand the names as they are pronounced by the Gaelic-speaking natives, on the other the Anglified forms used by English speakers, and by Gaelic natives, too, when speaking English. These latter are the " official " forms which appear in the Valuation Roll, the Post-Office Directory, and on XXviii. PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. s the .maps, and are often of considerable antiquity. The form Kaddery, for instance, must have come into vogue at a period when the d of the modern G. Radharaidh was still audible as a consonant. Culbokie dates from a time when the o sound had not yet become a, as it has in modern G. Cuil- bhaicidh. Strathpeffer shows in an unaspirated form the / of modern G. Srath-pheofhair. Cromarty and Drumderfit show old teminations lost in the modern G. forms Crornha and Druima-diar. Yet the practical value of modern English forms by themselves is small ; at their best they fail to indicate the quantity or the quality of vowels, and often they have undergone changes' that quite disguise the original. Modern Gaelic forms of Gaelic names which have been handed down by unbroken tradition have undergone only such changes as occur regularly within the language ; they are, in fact, Gaelic words, conforming to the rules of Gaelic phonetics, and form as good a starting point for the philologist as any other Gaelic words. There remains the question of the value of Gaelic forms of names originally Pictish or Norse. In the case of Norse names, the answer is easy. Gaelic has been, on the whole, wonderfully consistent in its treatment of the old Norse vowels and con- sonants, and it possesses the great advantage of clearly indicating the quantity of the vowel in the first syllable of Norse names, which is usually the important part. In one small class of such names, indeed, it fails us badly, but it is safe to say that INTRODUCTION. XXIX. very slight authority can be attached to any investi- gation of Norse names that fails to take careful account of the modern Gaelic forms. These forms are imitations, but they are only one degree removed from the original ; the English forms are imitations of an imitation. How Pictish names have fared in Gaelic mouths is the more difficult to determine, because practically no specimens of that language have come down to us. It may, however, be remarked that there is no reason to suppose that they were treated differently from the Norse names ; Gaelic may be expected to preserve the vowel quantity of accented syllables, and to be tolerably consistent in its phonetics. In both cases there was a bilingual period, which gave the Gaels ample time to become familiar with the names which they adopted from Pict and Norseman. The changes undergone subsequently have, of course, been in accordance with those of Gaelic. Examples of Pictish and Norse names as they appear in the modern forms will appear later in treating of these elements ; in the meantime some may be given to illustrate the comparative value of the modern Gaelic forms of Gaelic words as compared with their English equivalents — Pitnellie(s) Bail' an ianlaith. Tenafield Tigh na fidhle. Kindeace Cinn-deis. Ardroil Eadar dha fhaodhail. Bogbain am Bac Bkn. Locheye Loch na h-Uidhe. Kilcoy Cuil-challaidh. XXX. PLACE-NAMES OF BOSS AND CROMARTY. Pookandraw Bog an tsrath. Fowlis Folais. Kinrive Ceanna-ruigh. Fain na Feithean. Dochcarty Do'ach Gartaidh. Other examples will be found passim. Old (2) The forms of names preserved in ancient Written documents have been utilised vs^ith much success by Dr Joyce in dealing with Irish names of places. In Irish vsrritings, names have been transmitted with great care from very ancient times by scribes who were masters of the language, and from them the original forms can often be ascertained with immediate certainty. For Scotland, unfortunately, the case is different. The great bulk of our written forms date only from the period not earlier than the twelfth century, when charters came in under the sons of Margaret. Their authority, moreover, is largely discounted by the fact that they were written by scribes who knew no Gaelic, and consequently spelled at random. In the case of Highland names, it is obvious that charter forms must have been more or less phonetic attempts at reproducing Gaelic pronunciations, and their value is, therefore, greatest when they can be controlled and inter- preted by the modern Gaelic. This applies equally to all names not of English origin, whether they are Pictish, Norse, or Gaelic. Thus controlled, the charter forms are often helpful and suggestive ; as independent authorities, they are unreliable. A few examples are given in illustration ; others in abundance will be found elsewhere — INTRODUCTION. XXX Pitnellios Petnely 1512 Bail' an ianlaith. Pitkerrie Pitkeri 1529 Baile-cheiridh. Strath of Pitcalnic Culderare 1611 Cuilt-eararaidh. Rhives le Koyis 1479 Kuvis 1487 na Ruigheauuaii. Delny Alness Dalgeuy 1356 Aleues 1227 Deilgnidh. Alanais. Lemlair Lemnelar 1227 Luim na' Lar. Learuie Larny 1576 Leatharnaidh. Achterflow Ochtercloy 1456 Achtirflo 1560 Uachdar-chlo. Kilcoy Sanachan Culcolly 1294 Culcowy 1479 Tannachtan 1548 Safnachan 1583 Cuil-challaidh. Samhnachan. Perhaps the best example in Ross of a really helpful old spelling, which must take precedence of the- modern Gaelic, is Inverasdale, Inveraspidill 1566, &c. ; G. Inbhir-asdal. The oldest record forms for Ross names belong to the first half of the 13th century, and come from the Register of Moray. V\7'ritten forms antecedent to that date are very few. Ptolemy, the Alexandrian geographer, mentions two names of places which seem to be rightly located in Ross, Volsas Sinus, for which cf. Lochalsh, and High Bank, identified with Norse Ekkials-bakki, modern Oykell.^ In addition, he mentions three tribal names, already referred to. The Carnonacae, somewhere on the West Coast, are, doubtless, the men of the Cairns, or of the Rough Bounds, and we may com- pare the modern Carranaich, the Lochcarron men. In Easter R,oss were located the Decantae, but of their name no trace appears subsequently. So, too, " This identiiiccition is due to the Rev. Charles M. Robertson. with the Smertae, who may have dwelt from Kin- cardine northwards in the valleys of the Carron, Oykell, and Shin. In the interval of over a thousand years between Ptolemy and the record forms, we find only the old forms of Applecross, Lewis, and Ross itself sical (3) As the names of places are usually descrip- racter- ^ive, it is often useful, sometimes necessary, to see the place itself It is only by inspection and com- parison that one learns, for instance, to differentiate between the numerous words for hill, or to dis- tinguish between a strath, a glen, and a corry. Inspection is specially useful when names are applied in a metaphorical way, from likeness to some object, e.g., Meall an Tuirc, Boar-hill, from its striking resemblance, as viewed from a certain point, to a boar. Na Raihanan, the pulleys, require to be seen to be appreciated. Places involving obsolete names such as eirhhe, faithir, seolaid, eileag, have to be studied for confirmation of the meaning pro- posed. This applies specially to Pictish names such as Allan, Alness, Contin, Aradie, Orrin. But it is well to bear in mind that no amount of lookins: at a place can alter the phonetics of the name, and that inspirations derived from inspection must be received with caution. In the discussions that follow, I have availed myself wherever it has been possible of the three- fold data above indicated. In particular, the modern Gaelic forms, which, in the absence of reliable old spellings, must be regarded as by far INTRODUCTION. XXXIU. the most reliable basis of interpretation, have been ascertained with accuracy from reliable native sources. In addition, advantage has been taken largely of the analogy of names occurring elsewhere Analog} which are wholly or partly the same as the names under discussion, or which resemble them in assign- able respects. This is, of course, merely the method of comparative philology applied to place-names. The field fi-om which possible analogies may be ^awn is a wide one ; in practice it will be found that for Gaelic names one has to compare names occurring in Scotland and Ireland ; the pre- Gaelic or Pictish element involves, in addition, an acquain- tance with Welsh, Cornish, Old British, and Gaulish names ; while for names of Norse origin the best -auxiliaries are the names that occur in the Sagas, and especially the Landnama-b6k. IV. — The Formation oe Gaelic Names. Gaelic place-names may be divided into four •classes according as they are — (l) simple or uncom- pounded words without extension ; (2) simple words with extension ; (3) compounds ; (4) phrases. (1) Simple words without extension, e.g., crasg, a crossing ; magh, a plain (Moy) ; sr6n, a nose or point (Strone). The names belonging to this class are few, and present no difficulty. (2) Simple words with extension or extensions. This class is so important as to demand somewhat ■extended treatment. The following is a list of the extensions or ter- minations added on to primary Gaelic words in the names of Ross : -ach, -adh, -ag, -an, -ar, -dan, -I,, -lack, -lean, -t(d) or -id. Combinations of two of the above are ; -ach + an, -ach + ar, -ag + an, -an + ach, -ar + ach, -ar + adh,. -ar + an. Combinations of three are : -ar + an + ach, -ach + ar + an, -an + ach + an. -ach (Gaulish -dcus, abounding in ; -dcum, place of) ; in the locative case it appears as -aich ; the most common of Gaelic terminations. (a) With nouns : Crann-aich, place of trees ; Giuths-ach, place of fir ; C^rn-ach, place of stones: or cairns ; Capl-aich, place of horses ; Mias-ach, place of platters ; Soc-ach, place of the snout ; EHean-ach, place of islands ; Glaodh-aich, place of mire ; Av-och, place on the stream ; Sleagh-ach, ? spear-place ; Ceap-ach, tillage place. (6) With adjectives, less common : Breac-ach, dappled place ; Ard-och, high place ; Dian-aich,. steep place ; Liath-ach, grey place ; Leithe-ach,. half place. In old Gaelic, as is still the case in Irish, the dative or locative, and also the genitive case of nouns ending in -ach was formed in -aigh (pro- nounced nearly -ie), and this old formation survives in a considerable number of names. On the west coast we have Logie (twice), G. an Lagaidh ; Dornie (thrice), G. an D6irnidh (cf Dornoch, an accusative),. INTRODUCTION. XXXV. both used with the article as nouns feminine, after the model of nouns in -ach; e.g., Dtin na Lagaidh, the fort of Logie ; Ceannaiche na D6irnidh, the merchant of Dornie, as compared with Ian Dubh na Ckrnaich, &c. The other west coast instances are not found with the article, \iz., Duchary (as against an Dubhch'roch in Lochbroom, for Dubh-chatharach); lolly (twice) ; Arriecheirie, G. Airigh-chdiridh ; Ach- a-bhknaidh ; Coire-bhknaidb. In Easter Koss names with this ending are more common, and they never bave the article. Tbe following occur here : Logie, Tolly (twice), Pitkerrie (G. Baile-ch^iridh ; cf. Airigb-chdiridh above) ; Delny ; Muie-blairie (cf. Blairich in Sutherland ; a locative) ; Kinn-airdie (cf. Ardoch) ; Drynie (cf an Draighneach) ; Learnie (cf. Lernock in Stirlingshire) ; Comrie ; Garty ; Dounie ; Tarvie ; C^rn Sgolbaidh ; Cambuscurrie (cf. Cambuschurrich on Locbtay-side), Raddeiy (cf na Radharaichean in Perthshire) ; Cartomie (cf. Tomich) ; Culcraggie ; Culbokie ; Culvokie ; Duchary ; Balaldie ; Ouil-challaidh (Kilcoy) ; Bealach DoUaidh ; Creag lucharaidh ; Balcony. The above seem to be all tolerably certain cases )f survival. In one or two instances the usage varies as between Gaelic and English : Pitglassie is n G. Bad a' ghlasaich ; Glen Docharty is G. Gleann Dochartaich. Here the Gaelic forms may be due to a jrocess of levelling up to the modern -aich formation. In some other cases, especially in Easter Ross, ;his ending seems to have been introduced by malogy. It is difficult to account for otherwise in Pit-hoggarty, Fluchlady, Munlochy. Analogy may also account for Ehynie and Gany (now in plural Geanies), where the Gaelic is Rkthan and G^an or Gkthan. -aidh, diminutive : Indistinguishable in sound from the above is the diminutive ending -aidh found chiefly on the West Coast.^ In Easter Ross there are Strathy in Rosskeen, Creagaidh-th6m in Knockbain, and perhaps Aldie near Tain. On the west we have Lochaidh, a small loch, thrice at least ; Badaidh, a little clump, is common ; Camasaidh, a little bay ; Coiridh, a little corry ; Strathy, a little strath. In the spoken language perhaps the best instance is rudaidh heag, " a wee bittie ;" in Sutherland one hears beanaidh, wifie ; and I have heard eileanaidh heag, a little islet. This is an ending which does not seem to occur in Irish names of places, and may be com- pared with the common Scots diminutive seen in "wifie," "lassie," "Jamie," &c. -adh : this termination seems to occur only in con- junction with -ar, as -aradh. -ag (Irish -6c), now the diminutive termination for nouns feminine, but in the old language added to nouns masculine also. (a) With nouns : Breab-aig, a little start ; Glag-aig, a little noisy one ; Fearn-aig, the little place of alder. {h) With adjectives : Leisg-eig, the little lazy one, a well ; Dubh-ag, the little black one, a ' It ia also common in Sutherland. INTRODUCTION. XXXVIU common streamlet name ; Cas-aig, the little steep one, a rock. -an (It. -an ; Proto-Celtic -agnos) now the diminu- tive ending for nouns masculine. (a) With nouns : Creag-an, little rock ; Torr- an, little hillock ; PoU-an, little pool or hollow ; Loch-an, a little loch. (6) With adjectives : Arc-an, the little black place ; Riabhach-an, the little brindled place ; Garbh-an, the little rough place. (c) It is common in a collective sense : C6inneach-an, place of moss ; Dobhr-an, place of water ; Clach-an, place of stones (stone houses) ; Rathan (Rhynie), place of raths, or, of the rath ; Poll a' Mhuc-ainn, pool, or hollow, of the place of swine ; Druineach-an, place of ? Druids. -ar (cf Gaulish -aros), rarely used alone. Croch-ar, place of the gallows ; Salach-ar, place of willows. -dan, the diminutive or collective termination which Dr Joyce finds in Sailcheadain, &c., is probably seen in Ardoch-dainn ; possibly in Crumbauchtyn, the old form of Cromarty. -I -II (-lo-), probably in Srath-Chromb-ail, Poll- moral. -lach (Gaul. Catu-slogi, war-folk ; G. sluagh) ; a noun, sunk to a termination. (a) With nouns : Meagh-laich (mang-lach), place of fawns ; Muc-lach, place of pigs. (6) With adjectives : Breac-lach, spotted place ; Garbh-lach, rough place; Cuillich (cuing-laich), narrow place ; Fuara-lach, cold place. XXXviii. PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CEOMARTY. -lean : Reidh-lean, a little plain ; C^is-lein, a little sow (hill name). Very rare. t, d {-id), found in Ireland by Dr Joyce, and not uncommon with us. Se51-aid, place of (careful) sailing, or sailing mark ; Allt na Lath-aid, burn of the miry place ; R^th-t in Ratagan, from rkth, a round fort ; Meith-eid, Meddat ; Blaad. In Ireland this ending is specially common in stream names : Duinn-id, the brown stream, is the only example in Ross. -ach + an: & combination in which -an usually seems to have a collective force. Gitis-achan, place of fir ; Duchan, for Dubh-ach-an, black place ; Doire-achan, place of groves ; Ckis-eachan, place of cheese^ Achlorachan ; Fiacl-achan, place of teeth. Na Bothachan (Boath) and na Peit'chan are plural forms, though -an has in both the open sound. -ach + ar : PoU-ach-ar, place of pools, or hollows. -ag + an: in form a double diminutive, seen in Irish also. Coire Mhkil-eagan (twice), Rat-agan. -an + ach : a well-attested but rather uncommon combination. R^lth-anaich, place of raths ; Cip- eanoch, place of blocks ; Frianach for Friamh- anach, place of roots ; cf Bkid-eanach (Badenoch), drowned place. -ar + ach : with adjective ; Ruadh-ar-ach (Ruaroch), the red place. -ar + adh : Bog-aradh, soft place ; Fliuch-araidh, wet place ; possibly Gai'bh-araidh, rough place ; Loch a' Mhilgraidh, Loch of the place of pawing (or, of toads). INTRODUCTION. XXXIX. The Gaelic pronunciation renders the first of these examples certain. The others, so far as sound goes, might come from a nominative in -ach, with the old genitive formation in -aigh. -ar+an : Dos-muc-ar-an, clump of the place of swine ; Garbh-ar-an, rough place. -a7'+an+ach : Muc-ar-n-aich (Muckernich), place of pigs ; common ; Beith-ear-n-aich, place of birch : Ceap-ar-n-aich, place of blocks. -ach+ar+an : Loch Beann-ach-ar-an ; -n-ach-an : Samh-n-ach-an. isidh, seen in Camaisidh, Caoilisidh, Lianisidh, Cruaidhsidh ; a difiicult termination, possibly Pictish. It does not seem to occur in Ireland. (3) Compounds : — (a) Noun with noun ; an uncommon formation. Plucaird, lump promontory ; Ckrnasgeir, Cairn- skerry ; Eigintol, difficulty hole ; Mor'oich, sea plain, are the only examples met in Boss. (6) Adjective with noun : a much more com- mon formation. Fionn-alltan, white burns ; Dtigaraidh, black den ; Cam-allt, bent burn ; Gearr-choille, short wood ; Crom-loch, bent loch ; Du-chary, black rough ground ; Dii-loch, black- loch ; Seann-bhaile, Oldtown, and others. (c) Preposition with noun : Edderton, between duns : Eddracharran (New Kelso), between two Carrons ; Coneas, combined falls ; ContuUich, combined hillocks ; Conchra, combined weirs ; Conachreig, combination of rocks ; Araird, fore- promontory ; Ach-eadarsain ; Urray for air-rath or air-kth. xl. PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. (4) Phrases, of which the component parts stand in grammatical relation : — {a) Without the article ; these approximate to compounds, but have the principal accent on the second syllable. Beinn-damh, Stag-hill ; Suil- bk. Cows' eye (a well) ; Acharn, field of the cairns, and others. (6) With the article : Ckrn a' Bhreabadair, the weaver's cairn ; Tobar a' Chlaidheimh dhuibh, well of the black sword ; Sgiirr nan Conbhairean, peak of the dog-men. This is a class too common and well known to need further illustration. There is, however, a variety, specially common on the West Coast, which deserves special notice, where, contrary to modern usage, the article is prefixed : an L5n-roid, the meadow of bog-myrtle ; am Blkr-borraich, the moor of rough grass ; an t-Allt-giuthais, the fir-burn ; an Camas-raintich, the bracken bay. The modern Gaelic formation would be L5n ua roid, &c.; in the old formation L6n-roid is treated as one word. Brioda The different methods of formation indicated esented. above may be taken roughly to represent difierent stages or periods. The second class of names, com- prising those formed by extensions from a simple root, must have been given at a period when the language still retained its power of using those extensions and combinations of extensions to form fresh names, when, in other words, these were still living and active. When precisely or even approxi- mately they ceased to be such is hard to say, but it INTRODUCTION. xli. is significant that the Gaelic names of Lewis and of Skye are almost wholly of the fourth class, phrase names. Compounds like Ben Damh, PoU-cas- gaibhre, Suil-b^, and names involving prefixed adjectives, nouns, or prepositions, are also of an antique cast. Phrase names are not necessarily modern, for they are well in evidence in the Book of Deer (circ. 1085-1150), but as a rule they belong to the most recent stratum. The formation of Gaelic names is closely con- nected with questions of accent, the position of general and qualifying words, and the usage of the article. In modern Gaelic the adjective regularly follows the noun, except in the case of the adjectives deagh, good ; droch, bad ; sar, excellent ; seann, old, which always precede. The old language was freer in this Prefixed respect, and in the place-names adjectives are prefixed j^a*^'^^\ which modern usage would place after their nouns. The number of such is small, and they are all adjec- tives of one syllable relating to colour or some other physical feature. Among the adjectives thus occasionally prefixed in the names of Boss are the following : — dubh, black ; ? 16ch, black ; fionn, white ; ruadh, red ; liath, gray ; gias, green ; gorm, blue ; gearr, short ■ garbh, rough ; crom, bent ; cam, crooked ; meirbh, slender ; geur, sharp ; cruinn, round ; saobh, false (in saothair) ; mor, big. In all such cases the principal accent falls on the adjective, with the result that the noun following it tends to be pronounced indistinctly, e.g., Fuar-thoU xlii. PLACE-NAMES OP ROSS AND CROMARTY. becomes Fuarthol ; Garbh-allt becomes Garbhalt. The effect is most apparent when the noun is of more than one syllable, in which case the first syllable of it is apt to be "jumped," e.g., Dxlgraidh for Dubh-garaidh ; or slurred, e.g., Glaic nan Seann- innsean is pronounced Glaic na' Seanaisean ; so also Bog na Seannan is probably for Bog nan Seann- kthan ; Seann-tulaich becomes Seannt'laich. The adjective dubh, when placed first, is some- times lengthened to dti by the stress of the accent, as in Dtiloch, Dug(a)raidh. ifixed Sometimes, though rarely, the prefixed part is a us and j^Qun used as an adjective (see above 3 (a) ), in which case the results are exactly the same in respect of accent and effect on the word following. A special instance of this formation is the very small class of names represented by Maoil Cheanndearg, a' Chlach Cheannli' for ceann-dearg and ceann-liath respectively, meaning " head-red " and " head-gray," or "red, gray in respect of the head." This was a favourite type of combination in Irish, and is seen in Gaelic in caisionn for cas-fhionn, foot-white, speckled; earrgheal, tail-white, etc., and in the common terrier name Busdubh, muzzle-black. )8Jtions In compounds of which the first part is a pre- .ccent. poQi-f^ion ^hg principal accent falls on the preposition, with consequent indistinctness or slurring of the second part. Thus Con-tulaich becomes Cunnt'Iaich, Con-chrk is Conachra; Far-braoin becomes Fara- braoin. When the preposition eadar, between, is compounded with a dissyllabic noun, there are two INTRODUCTION. xliii. principal accents, one on preposition, one on noun, and eadar itself becomes ead'r, e.g., Eadar-dha- Charrann becomes Ead'ra-charrann ; Eadar-da- chaolas becomes Ead'ra-chaolas. But if the second part is a monosyllable the accent follows the usual rule, e.g., Ettridge in Badenoch, Gael. Eadrais for Eadar-da-ea8, between two falls ; cf Edderton. In phrase names the principal accent falls on the Accent ia qualifying part, whether adjective or noun, which ^'"'"^s^" regularly comes after the generic part. In con- sequence, the first part sometimes suffers, while the second part is preserved entire. Thus Achadh, a field, appears as achd in Achd-a-charn, Achtercairn, and many other names ; ach in Ach-na-seileach, Achnashellach ; acha in Acha-mor, Achmore ; while it retains its full form in Achadh-ghiiirain. Perhaps the best example is afforded by the treatment of neimhidh, church-land. Dalnavie is in Gaelic Dal-neimhidh ; so also Cnoc-navie and Inch -na vie ; here the strong accent has preserved the second part in full. But when neimhidh comes first, as the generic part, it sinks to neo' as in Neo' na Gill, Nonakiln ; an Neo-mhor, Newmore. This is, fortunately, an extreme case. In uncompounded names the accent is always on Accent in the first syllable, as in Deilgnidh, Delny ; a' ^^^^ Mhucarnaich, Muckernich. The usage of the article is noteworthy. As a The Article, rule it is used with Gaelic nouns wherever the grammatical structure admits, and the presence of the article is a sure sign that the word to which it xliv. PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CEOMARTY. is prefixed either is Gaelic or has been borrowed into Gaehc, and become naturahsed as a Gaelic word.^ In English we speak of Torran, TuUich, Boath ; in Gaelic these places are always an Torran, an Tulaich, na Bothachan. The absence of the article, however, does not necessarily prove a name to be non-Gaelic, though it does raise that presumption. Pictish names never have the article ; Norse names very seldom, and then only in Lewis, never on the mainland. But we have already noted above an important class of names, chiefly found in Easter Ross, which almost consistently reject it, though they may be regarded as Gaelic. The exact explan- ation of this curious phenomenon is difficult ; these names were apparently regarded as in some way unfamiliar or foreign. Perhaps it was because of their retaining the old locative form, though this seems hardly an adequate reason. Another class seldom found with the article consists of names in -achan, e.g. Giusachan. The only exception met in Ross is am Fiaclachan. Apart from these the principal case of an apparently genume Gaelic name without the article is Suddy, G. Suidhe, seat, see. ^ This perhaps requires some qualification in view of tlie usage of the article with names of countrio. Here it is sometimes capricious. Ireland is Eirin ; Scotland, Alba ; in Iralaud is " Ann an Eirinu ;" in Scotland, " Ann an Alba ;" yet the article appaars with the genitive ; " Coig ciSigimh na h-Eirinn ;" " Righreau na h-A.lba;" yot Braghad Albainu, Breadalbane. Rome, Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland, Greece, Egypt, Europe, Asia have the article in Gaelic — an R6imh, an Eivdailt, &o. But Scandinavia is Lochlanu. INTRODUCTION. xlv. Finally in this connexion we may note that Case, place-names seldom (if ever) appear in the nomin- ative case. They are usually in the dative or locative, the reason being that this w&s the case in most common use after a preposition ; there vsras seldom occasion to use the nominative, for a place- name rarely forms the subject of a sentence. Thus we get Tullich, Cill-duinu (Kildun), Cinn-d6is, where Cill-duinn,^ is dative of Oeall-dhonn, Cinn of Ceann, and so on. Not unfrequently a name appears in the accusative, as would arise in cases where the custom was to speak of " to such a place."^ Thus we have TuUoch, Dornoch, Ardoch, a' Chip- eanoch, Ceann-a-ruigh (Kinrive), and othei-s, all accusative. V. — The Pictish Element. The Picts of Alba' are sometimes called by the Terms used I denot Pict." Irish writers Cruithnig and Cruithne, genitive pi *° denote Cruithnech, dative Cruithniu, and their land appears as Cruithen-tuaith. From this form pro- bably come such names of places as an Carnan Cruithneachd in Kintail, Airigh nan Cruithneachd in Applecross and near Scourie (Sutherland), and Cruithneachan in Lochaber. More often they are called in the Irish Chronicles Picti, Pictores, Pictones, rendered into Irish by Piccardai or Picardaig, genitive pi. Piccardach, dative Picardachaib. Their country is Pictavia. In Latin also they are Picti. There were Pictones, ' Cf. Ad Candidam Casam, the old Latin form of Whithorn * Cf . Stamboul for «is T^v ttoAiv. * The Picts of Erin (immigrants thither) are always Gruitkne. xlvi. PLACE-NAMES OF BOSS AND OEOMARTY. later Pictavi, in Aquitanian Gaul, whose capital was Pictava. The old Norse word for a Pict is P^ttr, and the Norsemen called the channel between Caithness and Orkney (in G. an Gaol Arcach) Pettlands-iQorSr, now corrupted into Pentland Firth. In Shetland there still survive names such as Pettawater, Pettidale, Pettasmog, Pettigarthsfell.^ In a charter of Alexander II. granted to the Monastery of Kinloss m 1221 appears the phrase " ad Eune Pictorum," glossed " Rune Pictorum, the carne of the Pethis or the Pechts feildis " (rune = G. raon). This gloss shows the old Scottish form of the name. Modern philologists derive Cruithne from the root seen in G. cruth, a shape, "the pictured, tattoed men." The Welsh equivalent of cruth is pryd, and as the Welsh name for Britain and for Pict is Prydain,^ this makes it probable that the name Britain is derived from the Brit tonic form of Cruithne, and means the land of the Picts.^ The name Pict itself, in view of the Gaulish Pictones or Pictavi, cannot be connected with the Latin pictus, painted. It was evidently the name by which the northern Picts were known to the Norsemen, and by which they doubtless called themselves. The initial p indicates Cymric affinities, and the word has been equated with Ir. cicht, engraver, carver, thus again leading- to the notion of tattooing. ' J. Jakobsen Dialect and Place-names of ShcUand. "^ The best and oldest forms of Britain show j), Or. IIpeTTavoi, Yi.pina.viKi) ; our form is from the Latin Britannia. ' See further A. Maobain's Elym,. Oael. Diet., p. CTiS. INTRODUCTION. xlvii. Linguistic evidence goes to show that the Pictish P and Q language was Celtic, and belonged to the Cymric '® **"■ branch represented now by Welsh and Breton, and until recent times by Cornish. One outstanding difference between the Brittonic and Gadelic branches of Celtic is their treatment of the primitive Indo-Germanic qu sound. In Gaelic and Irish this primitive qu invariably becomes c hard ; in Welsh, Breton, and Cornish it is represented by p. Thus a primitive maquo-s, son, becomes Gael. mac, Old Welsh map. As for the primitive p sound, it never appears in Gaelic. Initially and between vowels it has dropped entirely, e.g., Lat. pater, piscis as against G. athair, iasg. Elsewhere it is not wholly lost, but leaves some trace either by way of compensatory lengthening or by a new com- bination.^ It follows that no genuine Gaelic word contains a p, except as the result of some late com- bination of consonants. Initial^ is seen in the names involving Pii,^ to Non-Gaeli© be compared with Welsh peth, a part, Gael, cuid, j p.^^gg a share portion, O. Ir. cuit, English piece ; in Book of Deer pett. For the usage we may compare d^l, a share, lot, in DM-riada. The Pictish pett was borrowed by Gaelic, and treated as a Gaelic word, e.g., na Peit'chan, the places of Pits ; Petty, G. Peitidh, a locative of Peiteach, place of Pits. For reasons that will occur to Gaelic scholars, Gaels have usually translated it, most frequently into haile, a ^ For examples, of. A. Maebain's Etym. Gad. Diet., ixxv. ^ V. Index. xlviii. PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. stead, e.g., Pitkerrie, G. Baile-chdiridh ; sometimes into innis, a meadow, e.g., Innis-fitir, formerly Pit- fuir, or had, a clump, e.g., Pitglassie, G. Bad a' ghlasaich. Sometimes it is left untranslated, as in the Black Isle Pitfuir, G. Pit-iiir ; Pitmaduthy, G. Pit-'ic Dhuibh, also Baile-'ic-Dhuibh. The Pits are mostly confined to Easter Ross, where Pictish influence was most lasting, but Peitneane appears on record in Lochcarron, and Pitalmit in Glenelg. Other names with initial p are PefFer, Porin, Loch Prille, Peallaig, and those involving preas. In addition to these p names, which are obviously non-Gaelic, the following are non-Gaelic either in whole or in part : — ■ Achilty (2) Aohterneed Allan (4) Alness Balkeith Blairwhyte Contin Dallas Drumderfit Fannich Fodderty Kinnettes Kincardine Loohalsh Lundy (3) Multovy Monar Navity Oykell Pitcalnie Tarlogie Udais Urquhart With the exception of Lochalsh and that Lundy and perhaps Achilty are repeated on the West Coast, all the above occur in Easter and Mid Ross. The explanation of Multovy offered in the text requires qualification ; the termination is better compared with the Old Welsh suffix -ma} (Ir. mag, a plain), the whole representing a primitive Moltomagos, Wedder-plain. bo with Mucovie, Migovie, Inver- ' Zeues Oranvm. Celt, i, 890. INTRODUCTION. xlix. ness, and probably Rinavie, G. Roinnibhldh in Sutherland. It will be observed that Balkeith, Blairwhyte, I''^*°^^^^«l'° Kinnettes, and Kincardine are hybrids, i.e., part Oaelic, part Pictish. The change from Pit into Baile has been already noted. That Pictish pen, head, has been translated into Gael, cinn is proved by names such as Kinneil and Kirkintilloch of old Pen-fahel and Caer Pen-taloch respectively. On this analogy we should have had also at one time Pencardine, Penettes. Blairwhyte is different ; it means the Blair (moor) of Whyte, just as we say the Moor of Rannoch. The non-Gaelic termination -ais (open a), found Termina- only on Pictish ground, and referred to a proto- J?*^' Celtic vostis, a dwelling, appears in Alness, G. Alanais ; Dallas, G. Dalais ; Farness, G. Fearnais ; Kinnettes, G. Cinn-it-'ais or Cinn-iteais ; Cnoc- iidais. The most northerly instance known to me is Altas, G. AUtais, in Sutherland ; elsewhere it appears in Forres, G. Farais ; Geddes, G. Geadais. Another termination occurring only in Pictland -tidh. is seen in Navity, G. Neamhaitidh or Neamhaididh {from neimhidh, Gaulish nemeton), Fodderty, Buchanty (as against Buchan) and others. Stream names are usually old, and probably most iii. Stream Ross-shire streams of any consequence possess names ^^™*^- imposed in Pictish times, This, of course, applies only to the mainland ; the names of Lewis streams, when they are not Norse, are unmistakably Gaelic and modern. The majority of the mainland streams 1. PLACE-NAMES OF E0S8 AND OROMARTY. — apart from mere burns, which are usually pure Gaelic — admit of being classified by terminations, one class, numerically small but comprising the most important rivers, ending in -n, the other much larger, consisting of relatively secondary streams, ending in -ie. 1 -v. The -n group includes the two Carrons, Conon, -ona. Qyviu, Crossan, all of which in the text have been treated as showing the Gaulish river ending -ona, -onna, -ana, as in Matrona, Saogonna, Sequana. To them should probably be added Averon and Daan/ With these may be compared the Don, G. Dian, proto-Celtic Divona ; Almond from Ambona (Gaulish ambis, river) ; Spean, Spesona, from root as in Spey cognate with Ir. sceim, vomo. -idh. -ios. -ia. io the -ze group belo: Allt Gowrie ng the foUowmg : — Grudie (2) -etd. Allt Kapaidh Aradie Ard-essie Inver-breakie Inver-many Inver-markie Balgaidh Coire-bhacaidh Inver-riavenic Loch-calvie Coire-chrubaidh Polly Coire Liridh Kaonaidh Eathie (2) Glen-calvie Glen-marxie Eogie Uarie (Strathrory) Ussie One or two of these, e.g., Breakie and perhaps Bacaidh, may be regarded as diminutives of Gaelic origin ; cf p. xxxvi. sup. The majority, however, ' At p. 26 Daan is treated aa a place-name. I hava aineo found that the littl* glen through which the stream passes near its source is called Qleanu. Da'an, thus suggesting Daan to be a stream uaiue. INTRODUCTION. li. seem to be of very old type, showing the terniination -ios seen in Ptolemy's Libn-ios, Tob-ios, Nov-ios, or perhaps rather -id, common in Gaulish rivers. The Gaulish ending -eta is also possible.' The geographical distribution of these -ie stream names points to a Pictish origin or strong Pictish influence. Few or none are found in Dalriada, the oldest Gaelic settlement. Of the above list nine are in Wester Ross as against fifteen in the eastern parts. In Sutherland, where Norse influence was strong, fewer are found ; there are, however, two Grudies. But their great habitat is east of Drumalban in the central Highlands, where Gaelic came latest ; e.g.. Feshie, Tromie, Mashie, Markie, Geldie, Nethy. There remain some stream names which fall (c) Various, under neither of the above categories, viz., Goran, G. C6rainn, older Conrainn ; Meig, G. Mlg ; Shell, G. Seile, Adamnan's Sale ; Dourag, G. Dobhrag, from dobur, water. The first two are diflBcult names, of which the explanations given must be regarded as tentative ; in any case they are obviously pre-Gaelic. The river Ewe, G. lu, I have taken, with hesitation, from Ir. eo, yew tree ; the fact that Tobar na h-Iii in Nigg shows the article is practically decisive in favour of iii being there at least a Gaelic word. No Pictish name is accompanied by the Gaelic article. But the river Ewe may be a Pictish name from the same root, or from a totally different »ne. ^ Gaulish Albeta, White rirer ; Gabreta, Goat-wood ; cf. Gowrie ; " flumen Qobriat in PiotaTia." Hi. PLACE-NAMES OE ROSS AND CROMARTY. foter. Of prefixes usually regarded as Pictish, thei uac ar. ^^^^^ j^ j^^^g foter, in Fodderty ; and uachdar, i Achterneed, Achterflo, Achtertyre. The former : undoubtedly Pictish ; the latter is good Irisl though in point of fact in Scotland it is confined i Pictish ground, and may therefore be of Pictis origin. To these may probably be added the pre air. positions ur, Gaelic air, Gaulish are, as seen i "J"- Urray, G. Urra', on the Ford (ath), or possibly net the Fort (rath). The ur of Urquhart is certainl Pictish. In view of the number of Ross-shire rivers < fair size, it is remarkable that we can show only or abair. Aber, and that in a corrupt form, Apple-cros This may be ascribed partly to strong Nors influence on the coast, partly to the Gaelic habit < translating abair into inbhir. To Norse influenc may be due the singular circumstance that r important stream flowing into the Cromarty Firt has either abair or inbhir at its mouth ; translatic accounts for Invercarron, Inveraithie. In dealing with the Pictish element in detail, tl following Welsh words have been compared in tl text : — araf, slow : Aradie, Inver-arity ; Gaul. Arar, Ai-abus. cardden, brake or thicket : Kin-cai-dine, Ur-qiihart. dol, plateau : Dallas, Dal-keith ; dol-men. gwaneg, a wave : Loch Fannioh. gwydd, wood : Bal-keith. nant, valley : Achter-need. pawr, pasture : Porin ; Inoh-f uir ; Pit-fuir ; Bal-four ; Doc four. INTRODUCTION. liii. jpefr, bright : Strath-peffer. ptih, portion : Pit-calnie, Pit-kerrie, &c. 'prill, streamlet : Loch Prill. rhoi, moor : Koss. tal, forehead : Tarlogie. uchd, high : Achilty, Oykel ; Ochil ; Oohil-tree. vd, a yell, blast : Cnoc-udais. To these should be added the word preas, borrowed from Pictish into Gaelic ; cf. W. prys. In modern Gaelic preas means " bush ;" in place- names, however, it has rather the meaning of " clump " or " thicket," which echoes the Welsh prys, brushwood, covert. In the above there is a distinct Brittonic element, which cannot be referred to Gaelic. Many other names show roots common to both branches, and are therefore difficult to classify. Thus Delny, G. Deilgnidh, might be referred to G. dealg or Cornish dele ; Lainn a' Choirc, Oat-flat, may show the rare G. lann or the common Welsh llan. VI. The Norse Element. While the list of Norse names given in the text may be regarded as exhaustive for the mainland part of the county, it is not so in respect of Lewis. Lewis and Harris are more Norse in nomen- clature than any other part of Scotland, and it would be possible from Lewis alone to add a thousand names, more or less. The great majority of Lewis names are wonderfully well preserved, and liv. PLACE-NAMES?!OP ROSS AND CROMARTY. once the Gaelic pronunciation is heard, presen little difficulty. But there also, as on the mainland there is a residue difficult of explanation, to som extent no doubt involving old Norse words curren in common speech, but not preserved in Icelandi literature. B61sta3r. On the mainland the distribution of the tern h6lsta°Sr is analogous to that of G. haile. No nam( involving holsta'Sr is found on the West Coast ; oi the east there are ArboU, Cadboll, Carbisdell, anc Culbo. On the other hand, we have a parallel t( erg. the distribution of G. achadh in the Norse eri shieling (borrowed at an early stage from G. airigh 0. Ir. dirge), which appears on the west in Smirsary Kernsary, Blaghasary, Aundrary, but is not founc in the east. Composition The composition of Norse names differs from thai of Gaelic names, in that the specific or qualifying part, which in Gaelic comes after the generic term is in Norse invariably prefixed to it. Thus N dalr, a dale, comes at the end of names, after th( descriptive epithet, e.g., Slattadale, Attadale, Scama dale. G. dal, a dale, regularly stands first, e.g. Dalmore, Dalbreck, Dalnacloich. In this respee Norse resembles English ; Gaelic resembles Latin The accent in Norse names, as in Gaelic names. Ml! on the qualifying part, that is, in this case, on th( first syllable. Quantity In Norse names transmitted through Gaelic th( °\l^\ qu^^'^tity of the first syllable — which is the importan' one — can always be ascertained from native Gaeli( of Norse Names. INTRODUCTION. Iv. pronunciation. The quantity of the following unaccented syllable or syllables {i.e., of the generic part) is lost ; long vowels are shortened, e.g., vik, bay, terminally becomes -aig. Further, in the case of polysyllabic names, or in the case of compounds consisting of three words — triple-barrelled — there is, under certain circumstances, a tendency to "telescope," i.e., to slur or even wholly jump the Crasis. middle part of the name. Thus Askary in Caith- ness is historically known to represent Asgrims- ergin, Asgrim's Shielings ; the old spelling of Inver-asdale is Inver-aspedell, G. Inbhir-ksdal. This affects only a small number of names, but where it has taken place there must, in the absence of record forms, be considerable uncertainty in restoring the part suppressed. Apart from this, the modern Gaelic pronunciation is extremely con- servative in resisting corruption. A good example is Skibberscross in Sutherland, G. Siobarscaig; in 1360, Sibyrs(k)oc ; 1562, Syborskeg, Schiberskek. The hybrids that occur between Norse and Norse-Gaeli* Gaelic are of a nature easily intelligible. Examples yonds. are Inver-kirkaig, Glen-dibidale, Strath-rusdale, Ard-shieldaig, Eilean Thannara. Here the Gaels accepted the legacy of the Norsemen, and finding such names as Kirkaig, Dibidale, &c., added on further Gaelic descriptive terms as they found occasion. The result is frequently unconscious tautology, as in Glen-dibidale, Glen-deepdale ; Strathrusdale, Strath-ram's-dale ; Ard-shilldinish, Cape of herring-cape, and so on. What is not found Ivi. PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. is the conscious blending of Gaelic and Norse, e.g., it would be wholly impossible to find Norse a, river, bolsta'Sr, stead, dalr, dale, ey, island, vik, bay, qualified by a Gaelic adjective or noun. What we do find is the full-fledged Norse name further described by a Gaelic epithet or generic term, often unconsciously pleonastic. This is exactly parallel to the usage as between English and Celtic, e.g., the Eiver Avon, the Moor of Eannoch, the Strath- peffer Valley. There is, however, a very small class of names where the Norse fjall, hill, has been translated into Gaelic heinn ; the instances known being Goatfell, G. Gaota-bheinn, Goathill ; Blaven, G. Blabheinn, Blue-fell ; Sulven, G. Stiil-bheinn, Pillar-fell, and Badhais-bheinn in Gairloch. These must be regarded as the exceptions that prove the rule. Many Norse terms, of course, have been borrowed by Gaelic, the outward and visible sign of annexation being the prefixing of the definite article. On the mainland one of the names so borrowed was apparently taSa, an in-field, of which we have a plural diminutive in Taagan, G. na Tathagan ; the singular nominative is shewn in Fear nan Tathag (the genitive plural being in Gaelic identical with the nominative singular). In Lewis ordinary Norse names are sometimes found with the article, e.g., Cnoc a' Mhiasaid : the inference is that there the meaning of these Norse names continued to be understood down to a late date. INTRODUCTION. Ivii. Reliable interpretation of Norse names as pre- Norse-GaelU served in Gaelic depends on an investigation of "'^o'l^*'*^*- Norse-Gaelic phonetics. A complete account of the interchanges between Norse and Gaelic has never so far been attempted, and that subjoined must be regarded as subject to amplification and alteration on subsequent enquiry. In the main I hope it is correct. Vowels. Norse. Gaelic. a a bakki, bac ; staS'r, stadh ; stafr, Staffa. a a a, amat ; mar, Masgeir ; skari, Scarista ; gas, Gasacleit ; grar, Grhdail ; gjA, geodh, geodha. e e, ea klettr, cleit ; hesl, Ard-heslaig ; hestr, Hestaval ; melr, Mealabhaig ; ger&i, gearraidh ; hellir, Thealasvaigh. e e slettr, Sleiteadal. i i gil, gil ; fit, fid ; skip, sgioha ; rif, Biof ; timbr, Teamradal. Final i is dropped : bakki, skiki. i i hris, Rlsadal ; sild, Sildeag ; iss, hlivig ; Tin, Llnish ; gnipa, Gnlha ; griss, Grisamal. o o hross, Rosay ; kollr, Golabol ; ormr, Ormiscaig. 6 6 h611, toll ; h6p, 06 ; 6ss, bs ; stj6rn, Stebmahhadh ; h61mr, Tolm {-tuilm). u u kuml, Trciigh Chumil ; hund, Hundagro ; tunga, Tvngavat ; hlunnr, lunn. li II hnitr, Srath-rusdail; has, Bisabost; siili, Siilbheinn, ; muli, mitl (also maoil). myrkr, Mircabat ; kjn; Kirivich ; hryssa, Biseil ; byrS'ingr, birlinn. dy'r, Diurinish. y'r, Uadal. grsen, Griinatot. mol, mol ; sttif?, stoth ; 6rfiris-ey, Orasay. y / 86 lU ei o Norse. Gaelic, au 6 ei ao ei «y ao ei eu ja J6 eo kv cu 8V su Ivlii, PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. straumr, Strbm, ; haugr, T6gh ; eau&r, Sbap ; hraun, Blina. geit, Gaota-bheinn, ; eid', uidh{aoidh). brei^r, Breidhvat ; beit, heid ; steinn, Steinn. reynis-d, Raonasa (Ranza) ; dreyr-vfk, Draoraig. reyrr, Reireig. ey-fjortfr, Euord ; ey-f jail, Euval ; ey-fjorclt, Eiiport. but, eyland, eilean. ja tjorn gen. tjarnar, (Loch an) tigheama ; hjortr gen. hjartar, Thartahhat. gja, geodh, geodha. Lj6tr, Mac-Leoid; flj6t, Srath-Flebid (Strath Fleet) ; but, grj6t-a, Gride. kvi, Cuidhshader ; svortTr, Suardal ; sveinn, Suainahost. Kvaran, Cuaran. hv f hvar es, /ar-as 1 (where is'?); hyitv, fiuit.^ bh, V hvalr, Valasay. ch hyammr, Chamasord. Consonants [N on- Initial). Norse. Gaelic. k g skip, sgioba ; thorskr, trosg ; vik, -aig ; skiki, -sgaig (scaig) ; skata, sgat, sgait; sker, sgeir. After a consonant remains c : myrkr, Mirckabat ; but Arkb61, Arbol. kk c stokkr, Stocanish ; bakki, bac ; stakki, stac ; bekkr, Becamir. g gh haugr, Thgh ; hagi, Tad' tidal (Taghadal) ; vagr> -bhaigh; SigurS'-haugr = (SwardAocA 1160; fugl, Fulasgeir. But ng stands : Tungavat, Stangarty. gg g Skeggi, Sgiogarsta ; egg, Aignish, tig. 1 Vfar of the Oad and the GaU, p. 174. ^ Book of Leinster, 172a 7 ; 206b 48. To these may be added HTitern (Whithorn), Futeme, evidently a Gaelic form. INTRODUCTION. lix. Norse, Gaelic. t d, t fit, fid ; beit, beid ; grjot, GrUe ; setr, Siadar (Shader); flatr, Plaid; holt, Nead-alt ; hrutr, ruta. tn final become.s t : -vatn, Mat ; t before s is dropped ; hriitsdalr, Eusdal ; after a consonant remains t. tt t klettr, cleit ; slettr, Sleit ; .skattr, Scatail (Sgatail) ; brattr, Brataig, Bratanish. P b gnipa, «A. For -rd"- in the body of a word, cf. ger&'i, gearraidh ; -rd' final becomes -rd, -rt, fjord'r, Siphort, Cliamasord. d d hund, Hundagro ; -nd final b:;comes -id in Miasaid for mj6-sund ; remains in Assynt for ass-endi ; elsewhere remains ; saudr, Bandabhaig. dd d oddi, Tvddin {the point). 1 1 melr, Mealabhaig ; but Is becomes 6- ; hals, Thais. m n hamarr, Puthar-hamiar ; timbr, Teamradail. ormr, Ormiscaig. n n always except in terminal -nd, which is sometimes -id ; gn initial becomes gr in Griba from gnipa. f f, bh klif, cliof; rif, riof; scarf, scarhh ; vol, Robhanis; gYyllUjGlobhwr {alstO ? Gleadhair) ; 6rfiris-ey becomes Orasay ; f before s is dropped : klifsgro, Clisgro. Initial / is apt to become p ; flatr, Plaid (being mistaken for ph) ; fn becomes mn, nn ; hofn, gen. hafnar, Thamnabhaigh, Tannara. th (initial) t throskp, trosg ; thari, Tarigeo ; Th6rir, Tbrasdal. b (initial) b reg-ularly ; but, biia; genitive buS'ar, Putharol, Putharhamar. Initial h frequently developes t in Gaelic, being naturally mistaken for th, i.e., aspirated t ; thus hafnar-ey becomes Tannara ; Ix. PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. haga-dalr, Taghadal ; Mlmr, Tolm and -tuilm ; hjalli-dalr, Tealladal ; h611, Tdll. In one important name at least hj becomes m : Hjaltland, Sealtainn (Shetland), or, in Reay, Seoltain. VII. Church Names. Columba, the great Apostle of the Northen^ Picts, arrived in lona from Ireland in 563, and ywo years later visited the Pictish King Brude at Axis palace near Inverness. The Irish monks were/fufll of mission- ary zeal. On the occasion of Colum^'-i^ visit to King Brude, incidental mention is mady oft? a proposal by one of his brethren to seek " a a^ert in the sea " somevrhere about the Orkneys. /.^By the end of the eighth century, as we know on^the reliable authority of the Irish monk Dicu '.; as at^^go from other sources, the missionaries of the Celt^^g Church had reached even Iceland, which, ho(«^ever, they abandoned before the arrival of the . Pao-an Norsemen in 875. There is therefore no reaF«??on ^o doubt that before the year 800 the Christian i>eligion had spread to Lewis also, though about th: /^^ ^^^3 [^ must have received a severe check from t'^^ie influx of the invaders. The direct proofs of Celtio^ church influence are three :— (1) records, (2) scutjip^ured stones, (3) dedications and ecclesiastical ter • „g preserved in place-names. ■ds. Of records we b-^^^^ ^^ly those relating to the Monastery of Appier 'J^j^ogg^ as follows :— A.D. ?> 671 Ma«lruba in Britar\,^,^i^^^ navigavit (Tig. Ann.) 673 Maelruba fundavit .^^cclesiam Aporcrossan (ib.). INTRODUCTION. Ixi. A.D. 722 Maelruba in Apercrossan, anno lxxx. aetatis Buae et tribus mensibus et xix. diebus peractis in xi. kl. Mai, tortiae feriae die, pausat (ib.). 737 Failbe mc Guaire, Maelrubai eiris .i. Apuorcrosain .i. prof undo Pelagi dimersus est cum suis nautis numero XXII. (ib.).i From other sources we learn that Malruba before he left Ireland was Abbot of Bangor, and that, like Columba, he was of noble birth. ^ His name has been derived from mael, tonsured, and ruha, peace or patience ; another quite feasible explanation is from ruha (now rudha), a promontory ; Mal-ruba = GiUe an Rudha, the Lad of the Point. Names were often given from the accident of place or time of birth. ^ Dedications to him are extremely common, and his name assumes a variety of forms. In Ross we have Comhrich Mulruy, i.e., Comraich Maol- ruibh, Malruba's sanctuary, to wit, Applecross. On Eilean Ma-Ruibh, Isle Maree, is a burying-ground and sacred well, whose waters used to cure insanity. In honour of him the finest of our northern lakes has changed its name from Loch Ewe to Loch Maree. Near Jamestown in Coutin is Preas Ma- A.D. 1 671 Malruba sailed to Britain. 673 Malruba fouuded the Church of Apororossan. 722 Malruba died at Apercrossan at the age of eighty years three months and nineteen days, on the 21st day of April, being a Tuesday. 737 Failbe, son of Guaire, successor of Malruba in Apuorcrosain, was drowned in the open sea with his sailors to the number of twenty- two. '' Practically all that can be gathered about St Malruba is to be found in Dr Reeves' article (Proc. Soc. Scott. Antiq. toI. III.) 2 Cf. Mael-Mooheirigh, Slave of Early-rising ; Lat. Manius. Ixii. PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Ruihh, Malruba's Grove, long a place of sanctity, and now the burial-place of the family of Coul. An autumn fair, FMl Ma-Ruihh, was long held at Contin, later at Dingwall, where it died out within living memory. Two or three places are said to be called Suidh Ma-Ruihh, Malruba's seat, where he was wont to rest on his journeys, but I have been so far unable to verify them. One is said to be marked by a low pillar stone in a field at Bad a' Mhanaich, Monk's Clump, at the west (md of Loch Rosque. p- Sculptured stones belonging to the Celtic Church '"^'^ have been found at Applecross, Rosemarkie, Nigg, Tarbat, Edderton, and Kincardine. The presence of such, most of them indicating a very high degree of skill in workmanship, is in itself a conclusive proof of strong Church influence, lias- For convenience, it will be well to include all the ^^- ecclesiastical terms found, distinguishing those peculiar to the early Church from later ones, li- The word neimhidh, church-land ; O. Ir. nemed, sacellum, chapel ; Gaulish nemeton or nemeton, a shrine in a grove, is a pagan term grafted on to Christian usage. It is a common element in Gaulish names, e.g., Nemetomarus, great shrine ; Augiis- tonemeton, shrine of Augustus ; Vememetis, fanum ingens, very great shrine. Zeuss quotes " de sacris silvarum quae nimidas vocant," concerning shrines in woods which they call nimidae ; " silva quae vocatur nemet," the wood which is called ncinet. The root is seen in Latin nem-us, ;i grove ; Gael. INTBODUCTION. Jxiii. n^amh, heaven. It is quite possible that the places in which the word occurs with us were originally- sacred to the pagan deities of the Picts ; later they were church-land. In Rosskeen are DalnaviSr Onocnavie, and Inchnavie, Dale, Hill, and Haugh of the Church-land ; all adjacent to Nonakiln, G. Neo' na Cille, in 1563 Newnakle, Glebe of the Church, viz., the ancient chapel whose ruins still exist.^ The N. Stat. Ace. mentions that in Rosskeen there were at the time of writing two glebes, one " at Noinikil, the cell or chapel of St Ninian," a derivation obviously impossible, for it would require Cill- Ninian. With this goes also the assumed dedi- cation to Ninian, who is nowhere commemorated in Ross. Eastwards of Nonakiln is Newmore, G. Neo'-mhor, of old Nevyn Meikle, Great-glebe, the exact representative of Nemetomarus above. It was church-land before the Reformation. All these names occur together. The only other instance in Ross is Navity, near Cromarty, also church-land, G. Neamhaitidh, the formation of which makes it very doubtful whether it was ever given by the Celtic Church, and strongly suggests Pictish origin.^ It recurs in Fife as Navaty^ in 1477 Nevody. Rosneath, G. Ros-neo'idh, in 1199 Neveth, 1477 Rosneveth may mean Promontory of the Nemet. Nevay occurs as a parish name in W. Forfar. ^In 1275 we haTe "Nevoth et Koskevene " (Theiuer, Yet. Mm.), i.e.^ Navie and Rosskeen. It is probable that at this date " Nevoth " included both Nonakiln and Newmore. 2 The well-known legend *at the final Judgment is to take place on the. i»»or of Navitjr may have its root in some pagan superstition. Ixiv. PLACE-NAMES OF BOSS AND CROMARTY. Annat. Annat, G. annaid or annait, Ir. ann6id, O. Ii Annaid. and6id, is a very old term, peculiarly and decisively characteristic of the Celtic Church. It appears ti come from late Lat. antas, antat-is, glossed senatm council of the ancients or elders. In Irish usage th( anndid was the church in which the patron saint o the monastery or monastic district was educated, oi in which his relics were kept. The Book of Armagl (c. 800) relates that St Patrick left Iserninus oi larnan at a certain place to found his monaster] (manche) and his patron saint's church (andooit) The exact position of the Scottish Annats is not sc clear ; they are at anyrate of great antiquity, indi- cating doubtless the earliest Christian settlements in their particular districts. We have Ach-na- h- Annaid in Kincardine ; Annat and Loch no h- Annaid in Nigg ; Annat and Clach na h- Annaid beyond Clachuil on the way to Strathconon ; Annat opposite Invermany ; Annat at Torridon ; and Annat at Kildonan, Lochbroom — six in all, on the main- la'nd of Ross. In the Island of Crowlin, off Apple- cross, is Port na h- Annaid. In Lewis there is na h-Annaidean, the Annats at Shader ; there is also an Annat in the Shiant Isles, G. na h-Eileanan Sianta, the Charmed Isles. These names must have survived through the Norse occupation from the time of the early missionaries. Ciil. cm is the locative case of O.I. cell, a church, from Lat. cella, a cell. In place-names it always means church, in modern G. churchyard. As a rule cill stands first in compounds, followed by the name INTRODUCTION. Ixv. of the saint commemorated by the dedication. Sometimes, but rarely, the specific part of the com- pound is not a saint's name, e.g., Kildun, G. Cill- duinn, appears to be the locative of Cell-dhonn, Brown Church. The Gill's of the Geltic Church may be distinguished by their dedications to Geltic saints, e.g., Kilmachalmag ; names such as Kilmuir and Kilchrist are of Roman Catholic origin. In English spelling and pronunciation, but not in Gaelic, cill is apt to be confused with ciiil, corner, e.g., Kilcoy ; caol, narrow, e.g., Kildary ; coille, wood, e.g., Kinkell, G. Ceann na Coille, Woodhead. For the Ross Gill's see index under Kil-, Gill-. Clachan, a stone church, Ir. clochdn, a stone Clachan. bee-hive monastic hut. On the mainland of Ross clachan is practically confined to the West Coast : on the east the only instance known to me is Beinn a' Chlachain, not far from the Parish Church of Kincardine. On the west, as a reference to the index will show, it is common. TeampuU, a church, borrowed from Lat. templum, TeampuU. a temple, occurs only twice on the mainland, and in both cases it seems likely that the term applied not to a "temple made with hands," but to places naturally adapted to shelter a few worshippers. In the Isles it means simply church, and is regularly followed by a saint's name. Eaglais, from Lat. ecclesia, the modern G. forEaglais. church, occurs seldom in place-names. Beinn na h-Eaglaise above Annat, Torridon, is one of the few .examples with us. Ixvi. PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Seipeil. Seipeil is a late word from Eng. chapel, as is shown by initial s ; a direct loan from Lat. capella. would give caiheal. lachaiun Manachainn, a monastery, abbey, priory, from manach, a monk. From the Abbey of Fearn the parish is in G. Sgir na Manachainn. The other northern example is Beauly Priory, G. Manachainn 'ic Shimidh, v. Fearn. omiiiich. There were in Ross two girths or sanctuaries^ that of St Malruba in Applecross, and of St Duthac at Tain. The memory of the former is preserved in the G. name for Applecrnss, a' Chomraich, and of the latter by Clais na Comraich, on the Scotsburii road, two miles from Tain. The limits of both were- marked by stone crosses. Reference to the Tain girth-crosses is made in the text ; in Applecross one was to be seen just opposite the U.F. Church Manse till recent times, when the zeal of a Pro- testant mason smashed it. The most notable personages who sought to the sanctuary of St Duthac were the queen and daughter of King Robert Bruce (1306); "but that travele they mad in vane," for the influence of the English King was sufficient to induce William, then Earl of Ross, to violate the ffirth and surrender the futjitives. The last occasion of public importance in this connection was in 1483, when William, Lord Crichton, on a charge of treason, took refuge in the girth of Tain. -Celtair. Celtair, an Irish word for church, is perhaps seen in Kildermorie, Alness, though in the absence of the Gaelic form we can have no certainty. Natives INTRODUCTION. Ixvii. speak only of Gleanna-MIioire, Mary's Glen. Per- haps Kildermorie is to be regarded as a reversed form of Maryculter, a name which, with Peterculter, has never been satisfactorily explained. Crois, a cross, appears in Crois Catrion, near Crois. Tain ; probably also in Crosshills, and Corslet. A' Chananaich, the place of Canons, Chanonry, Cananaioh. is the Gael, name of Fortrose. A Roman Catholic term. Sg%r, a parish, is a loan from Ang. Sax. scir, a Sgir. county, now shire. Other ecclesiastical terms occasionally found in Manach. place names are manach, a monk ; sagart, a priest ; ^^f^^ ' cliar, clergy ; cleireach, a cleric ; ministir, a minister Cleireaoh. — the last a presbyterian term. Cf. Ard-mhanaidh, ''"'i'^'''''- Priesthill, Dochnaclear, Dalnaclerach, Clach Airigh a' Mhinistir. Traces of ecclesiastical establishments found by Norse the Norsemen on their arrival are Inverkirkaig, ^^^^ from kirhju-vik, Church Bay ; Mungasdale, Monk- dale, both in Lochbroom ; Pabay, Pope or Priest Isle ; Bayble, Priest-stead ; Mungarsta, Monk- stead, m Lewis. The saints commemorated in Eoss are Columba, Dedications. Moluag, Donnan (contemporaries of Columba), Colma,n, lurnan, Malruba (already mentioned), Fillan, Congan, Kentigerna, Fionn, Brigh, Curitan, Ferchar, Dubhthach or Duthac, and perhi.ps Cormac. No dedication to St Columba appears on the Columba. mainland of Rc>s,s. In Lewis the old church of Lochs, on Eilean Chalum-Cille (St Columba's Isle), was dedicated to him. Ixviii. PLACE-NAMES OF BOSS AND CROMABTY. Moluag. Moluag shows the honorific prefix mo, my, coir mon with saints' names. Lu-6c itself is a pet fori of Lugaid, root loug, win, whence the Celtic sur god Lugos. The saint was Bishop and Abbot ( Lismore, and tradition says that he was buried a Rosemarkie.-' His name survives in Davach-Moluaj Fodderty. Donnan. Donnan of Eigg (from donn, brown), has hi name preserved in Kildonan on Little Lochbroon Seipeil Donnain or St Donan's Chapel in Kishori and probably in Eilean Donnain, Donnan's IsL Kintail. Colman. Colman, " little dove," was a favourite nam among the Irish clerics, and in the multitude c Colmans it is impossible to be sure of the particula saint who is commemorated in the names Kilmach almag, G. Cill-mo-Chalmaig, and Portmahomacl! G. Port-mo-Cholmaig, and to whom the paris church of Tarbat was dedicated. In Portm.ahomac is Tohair Mo-Cholmaig, St Colman's Well. A Kilmach almag, near the right bank of the burn no far from its mouth, there are still traces of a ver small chapel adjoining a disused and sadly neglecte burying-ground. East of it is Achnahannet, not© above, lurnan. j^qj. lurnan v. under Killearnan. Fillan Fillan, G. Faolan, little wolf, was the son c Kentigerna. Hence Kilillan, G. Cill-Fhaolain, i Kintail. ^ Aberdeen Breviai-y. INTRODUCTION. Ixix. Congan, brother of Keritigerna, Is the patron Congan. saint of Lochalsh, and appears also in Kilchoan, now Mountrich, in Kiltearn. Kentigema, Ir. Caintigerna, kind lady, crossed Kentigerna. from Ireland to Lochalsh, according to the legend, c. 615, accompanied by her son, Fillan, and her brother, Congan. Her name is kept in Cill- Chaointeort (Glenshiel), in 1543 Kilkinterne, 1727 Kilchintorn, 1719 Killiwhinton. It will be seen that the place-names support the legend. The existence of St Fionn is guaranteed by the Fionn. name Killin, G. Cill-Fhinn, at Garve, taken together Vi'ith Loch Maol-Fhinn, Loch of the shaveling of Fionn, which is the G. for Loch Garve. Brigh, a female saint ; Cladh mo-Bhrigh is a Brigh. small burial place with remains of chapel between the public road and the sea, two miles east of Ding- wall. Curitan, G. Curadan, Latinised Queretinus, and Curitan. sometimes called Boniface, was a native of Scotland, for he is referred to as Albanus Queretinus {i.e., Curadan Albanach), c£ St Duthac. Curitan was an important personage, who flourished c. 700, a con- temporary of Nechtan, son of Derili, that King of the Northern Picts who promulgated the edict of conformity to Rome in the matters of Easter and the tonsure. It is probable that Curitan was of the Romanising party, and was Nechtan's adviser in things spiritual. In Ross we have Cladh Ohur- adain, St Curitan's graveyard, a small rectangular burying-ground north of the farmhouse of Assynt, Ixx. PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Novar, used within living memory, and stated to have contained stones with inscriptions and car- vings.^ Cnoc Ghuradair, north of Ardoch, Alness, is St Curitan's Hill (the n of Cladh Churadain is sometimes heard as r) ; as the place is thickly wooded, it would be difficult to search for remains of a chapel, and I have heard no tradition. Other traces of Curitan are Cladh Churadain and Suidh C%Mrac?am at Lochend, Inverness; Cladh Churadain at Struy, Strathglass ; Cladh Churadain, Tobair Churadain and Croit Churadain in Glen-Urquhart. The old church of Fearnua, in Kirkhill paiish, was dedicated to " Corridon." Ferchar. Ferchar (Ver-caros, very dear), is known only by a small deserted burial-place opposite Shiel School, called Cill-Fhearchair. )ubhthach. Dubhthach or Dubtach (Dubotacos), from Dubh, black, was a name not uncommon. Dubhthach, contemporary with St Patrick (432), was one of the nine compilers of the Seanchus Mor ; another was Abbot of lona (850-870), and there were others besides. It is generally agreed, however, that St Duthac of Tain is the one whose death is thus recorded in the Annals of Ulster under date 1065: — Dubtach Albanuach, prim Anmchara Erinn agus Albain in Ardmacha quievit. Dubtach of Alba, chief soul-friend of Erin and of Alba rested in Armagh. St Duthac is the patron saint of Tain, where may be seen the ancient chapel " quhair he was borne," ' This vtnerable spot was inadvertently planted, but is now cleared and tended by order of NoTar. INTRODUCTION. Ixxi. and Tain in G. is Baile-Dhuhhthaich, Duthac's Town. Hugh Miller notes St Duthus' well near Cromarty. In Kintail there are Clachan Duhhthaich on Loch Duich, and Cadha Dhubhthaich, the name of the Becdach leading into Glen Affric. The name of St Cormac may be commemorated Cormac. in Tobair Cormaig, Nige:. A Tain fair was also named after him {v. Tain). Cormac was the name of the brother for whom Columba sought the pro- tection of King Brude, and who reached Orkney in his voyaging. All the saints above mentioned belong to the Roman Celtic Church, though by Duthac's time relations Dedications, with Rome were closer. To the subsequent period, when under the influence of Queen Margaret and her sons the Scottish Church was made in all respects to conform to the Church of Rome, belong such dedications as Kil-muir, Kirh-michael, Kil- christ, and names like Tobair Eadhain Bhaist, Port Eadhain Bhaist, Weil and Port of St John the Baptist. St Cowstan's Chapel, on the Eye Penin- sula, shows a dedication to St Constantine. VIII. It may be useful to add a short analysis of the principal terms connected with natural features, artificial structures, old occupations, plants, animals, etc., found in the names of Ross. As the Norse names of Lewis are so arranged in 'he text, it will be unnecessary to include them here. Ixxii. PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. treams. The general name for a river is abhainn, applied to all relatively large streams, and often to smaller ones, whose course is tolerably smooth. The obsolete ■word abh, stream, is seen in Av-och, stream place, Allt, in Irish means a wooded valley or glen, a cliff ; in Welsh, a wooded cliff ; connected with Lat. alius, high. Our meaning of " stream, burn," is peculiar to Scottish Gaelic, and is probably of Pictish origin. The original meaning appears in the common Leth-allt„ half-burn, really half-height, applied to a burn with one steep side. Caochan, from caoch, blind, is applied to a small stream which is sometimes almost hiddea by the heather. Another term for stream is glais, more common in Ireland than in Scotland. With us it occurs in Glen-glass, in Fowlis G. Folais for fo-ghlais, and in Allt Folais on Loch Maree. A slender rivulet is feadan. The very general term uisge, water, is met in Uisge Bhearnais, water of the cleft, Kintail. A still, narrow channel between two waters is uidh, a water isthmus, from Norse eiS. The nearest Gaelic equivalent is eileach. Feith,. literally a vein, is applied to a bog channel. The 0. Ir. word hir, denoting water, well, is seen in Poll a' Bhior, in the Applecross river. O.G. and Pictish dobur, water, gives Dbbhrau, Dourag, Eddirdover. A fall is eas ; a combination of two or more is coneas. Cuingleum, Coylum, narrow leap, gut, larshes. The Pictish name for a marsh appears to be Allan, from the root seen in Lat. pal-us. Alness,, G. Alanais, means ' the place of the marsh.' Riasg means a boggy place, where dirk grass grows. Bogradh is a soft place ; glaodhaich, a miry, gluey INTEODUCTION. Ixxiii. place ; cathar, a place of broken, mossy ground. A damp meadow is Ion usually ; once we find cala. The Pictish for confluence is Contin, in G. Confluences. Cunndainn, cf. Gaulish Condate, Contion-acum. Another Pictish term is ohair, for od-ber, out-put, out-flow, corresponding to the Gael, inbhir for m- ber, in-put, in-flow. The real term for a junction is comar, from con-ber, joint-flow ; also, though rarely, comunn. In Lewis the regular term for a river mouth is btm, bottom. The Norse for confluence is dr-mot or d-mot, river-meet, appearing as Amat. A ford is dth ; a ford-mouth, beul-atha, pro- Fords. nounced quickly apt to be confounded with baile. A place where crossing was wont to be made on planks sometimes involves clar, a board, e.g., Poll nan Clar. A place for crossing on stones is clacharan, in Lewis starran. Camas means a bay, bend ; oh from Norse hop is Sea Terms. the same ; also hagli, a late word not much used in place-names. A sound, firth, or narrow is caolas or simply caol, e.g., Caolas Chromba', the Cromarty Firth; an Caol Arcach, the Orkney Narrow, i.e., the Pentland Firth. A tide race is sruth, e.g., Sruth na Lagaidh ; or strom, from Norse straumr. Parts of the Minch are called linne, pool, e.g., an linne Sgith- eanach, an linne Rarsach. The Minch itself is a' Mhaoil, the Moyle ; also an Cuan Sgith, the sea of Skye ; Cuan Uidhist, the Little Minch. A shore is cladach ; & stony heskch, faoilinn ; a sea bank, scaup, oitir ; port means a harbour on the west coast ; on the east a ferry, usually ; aiseig, a ferry. Feadhail Ixxiv. PLACE-NAMES OF EOSS AND CROMARTY. is an extensive beach, or a place between islands uncovered at low tide ; pi. feadhlaichean. Bodha, Norse bo'Si, is a sunken reef; iolla, a fishing rock, usually covered at high tide. Saoihair, from saobh- thir, false-land or side-land, is a low promontory covered at high water, or the similar bank between an Eilean Tioram and the mainland. The shelving slope between the old raised beach and the present beach is on the west coast caWeAfaithir, probably ivo\x\ fo-thir ; Tairbeart is a portage, isthmus. Flats. The level land by a river side is srath, a strath. Norse dalr, dale. The term srath is much commoner in Scotland than in Ireland, and may be rathei Pictish than Gaelic. A narroAv strath is gleann, a glen ; a rounded glen is coire, a cauldron, corry often narrow at the mouth. Tunis, primarily eb island, means commonly a haugh, river-side meadow fan is a level place or a gentle slope ; hence fanaich place of the fiat. Dail is a dale, usually by a rivei side ; it is to be compared with Pictish dol dal, dul, plateau. A plain is magh ; a sea-plair is Tiioroich, from mur-magh ; a mossy fiat is hlar Machair is an extensive low-lying fertile plain monadh, tolerably level hill ground. In Lewis th( land between machair and monadh, the strip wher< the houses stand, is the gearraidh, from Norsf ger'^i, an enclosure. Another word for a plain ii clar, primarily a board. A little plain is rtidhleau a wet plain or lea, leana, diminutive Uanag, o with us Uanag, e.g., Lianagan a' Chuil-bhkicidh Faithche means a lawn ; ai!ea,v. a green ; cluan meadow. INTRODUCTION. Ixxv. In dealing with names of lochs, straths, glens, and corries, it is well to remember that the Celtic custom is to name each after the stream that flows through it. A gap or pass between hills is healach ; a cleft is Hollows. hearn or heat-nas. A chasm is glom, e.g., Eas na G15maich, Falls of Glomach. Eag is a sharp notch ; lag, a rounded hollow ; slacan, a circular depression like a kiln ; poll, a wet miry hollow, also, a pool ; sloe, a pit, slough ; cos, a nook ; dais, a narrow shallow ravine. Beinn (an oblique case of heann) with us means Heights. a high hill ; in Ireland applied only to hills of medium size. Its primary meaning is pinnacle, horn, which is still kept in Eilean na Binne and in the adjective heannach, pointed. Sliabh, applied in Ireland to mountains, is vexy rare with us, and means rather a mountain moor. A hill of medium height is cnoc ; sgurr is a high sharp pointed hill ; sgm% a peak. A low smooth hill or ridge is tulach ; the highest tulach is Tulach Arcl or Arcl-tulach iu Kintail. Tom is a rounded knoll, with diminutive toman ; a one-sided torn or toman is a tiompan. A great shapeless hill is meall, a lump ; sgo7in is similar, but rare ; maol, m,aoil, means a great bare rounded hill. Aonach is (]) market place, (2) high moor ; aoineadh, a very steep hill side. A broad slope is leathad ; leacainn and leitir have much the same meaning. A level shelf in a hill side where one would natui-ally rest is spardan, a roost, or suidhe, a seat. Pait, a hump, sometimes a ford. Ixxvi. PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CEOMAETY. Two words remain : slthean and cathair. Sithean means a fairy mound ; in some of the very few cases in which it occurs with us it applies to a big rounded hill. The fairy mound is always called cathair on the West Coast, and conversely almost every cathair is a fairy mound. The following parts of the body are found used to denote shape, position, and appearance : — Ceann, head ; claigionn, skull ; aodann, face ; sron, nose ; heul, mouth ; teanga, tongue ; fiacail, tooth ; hile, lip ; siiil, eye ; feusag, beard ; hraghad, neck, upper part of the chest ; uchd, breast, with its diminutive uchdan ; cioch, mam, a pap ; druim, a back ; gualann, shoulder ; achlais, arm-pit ; ruigh, fore- arm ; meoir, fingers ; ionga, nail ; c?orn, fist, cf. Dornie ; mas, buttock ; amhach, neck ; ton, rump ; slios, side. ods. The generic term for wood is coille ; doire means ^^g a grove, primarily of oaks ; had, diminutive hadan and hadaidh, is a clump ; gar, a thicket, is rare ; preas, in modern G. a bush, is in place-names better translated clump. The Pictish cardden, a brake, occurs in Kincardine, Urquhart, and Glen-Urquhart. A tree is crann, whence Crannich. Of individual trees we have call, hazel (the modern calltuinn never appears), darach, oak ; o^ala, oak ; beithe, birch ; caorunn, rowan ; giuthas, fir ; cuilionn, holly ; Jiodhag, bird cherry ; fearna, alder ; sgiach, haw- thorn ; draigheann, blackthorn ; seileach, willow ; uinnsin, ash, is rare ; leamh, elm, also rare and somewhat doubtful. From Jiodh, wood, comes INTRODUCTION. Ixxvii. Achnegie, G. Achd-an-fhiodhaidh, with which may be compared the Pictish Balkeith. Among the smaller plants are aitionn, juniper ; bealaidh, broom ; eidheann, ivy ; void, bog myrtle ; rcdneach, also rainteach, bracken ; fraoch, heather ; luachair, rushes ; creamh, wild garlic ; borrach, rough hill grass ; giuran, cow parsnip ; suihhean, raspberry ; dris, bramble ; samh, sorrel ; feartag, sea-pink ; carrachan, wild liquoi'ice. The regular words for promontory are rudha and Promon- ard or dird, corresponding to Norse 7iess. Ros, a to^^^s. point, occurs in Rosemarkie and Rosskeen. Some- times, chiefly in Lewis, gob, a beak, occurs. A little promontory at the end of a rounded bay is corran, very common on the west coast. Floe is a lumpish promontory. Maoil, a loan from Norse miili, is rare, cf. the Mull of Cantyre. The various names for horse are each, marc. Animals. capull ; a mare is ldo% and is often difficult to dis- tinguish from Idr, floor, low ground ; and Zar, middle. Tarbh is a bull ; bo, a cow ; laogh, a calf (of cow or hind) ; gamhainn, stirk ; gabhar, a goat ; boc, buck ; meann, kid. Caor, a sheep, does not occur, though mult, wedder, appears as applied figuratively to sea rocks ; also in the Pictish Multovy ; Norse, sau6a, sheep, hriitr, ram, give Syal and Strath-rusdale ; muc, pig, is common ; tore, boar, is applied some- times to hills from their appearance, e.g., Meall an Tuirc ; sometimes from the wild boar ; eat, a cat, indicates haunts of wild cats ; broe, badger, is rare ; cii, dog ; cu odhar, otter, appears ia Altchonier, G. Ixxviii. PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. AUt a' choin uidhir ; madadh may mean either fox or wolf. Of the deer tribe, we have damh, stag ; eilid, hind ; agh, hind ; mang, fawn ; earh, roe. Moigheach, a hare, occurs once. The following names of birds are found : — Coileach, a grouse conk ; clamhan and clamhag, a kite ; sjieireag, a sparrow-hawk ; seahhag, a hawk ; Jitheach, a raven, also the old word bran, raven ; iolair, an eagle ; feadag, a plover ; druid, a thrush ; corr, a crane ; lack, tunnag, a duck ; leirg, black throated diver ; geadh, a goose ; caiman, a pigeon ; eala, a swan ; sgarbh, a cormorant. igs- A house is tigh. The regular word for a home- stead is baile, so common in Ireland. The distri- bution of this term in Ross is remarkable. In Easter and Mid Ross it is extremely common, occurring over eighty times. On the west there are only four instances, Balmacarra in Lochalsh, Baile Shios, Baile Shuas, and am Baile Mor ( = Flower- dale) in Gairloch ; in Lewis there is only Balallan. The absence of baile in Lewis is natural : the town- ships are denoted by the Norse bol-sta'Sr and sta'Sr. On the West Coast its place is taken by achadh, a cultivated field, which is correspondingly rare in the east. The distribution of achadh is over forty in the west, to about twelve in the east. The Pictish ^^cW so common in Easter Ross has already been noted. Both, a booth, hut, occurs only in na BofhaeJiaii, Boath, and perhaps in Claonabo in Kintail. This is another term the distribution of which throughout the Highlands deserves investigation. It is very INTRODUCTION. Ixx IX. common along the valley of the Caledonian Canal, also in certain regions of Perth and Stirling, extremely rare north of Inverness. The obsolete fasadh^ a dwelling, is frequent ; outside of Ross it occurs in such names as Fassiefearn, Teanassie, Foss. Another much less common term of the same meaning is astail. A shieling hut was called long- phort,^ which appears in Loch-luichart, and in the form of Longard, Lungard. Treahhar, as a collective noun in common use in Easter Ross, meaning farm buildings, is found once only in Tornapress, G. Treabhar nan Preas. The ancient fortified places are represented by dim, rath, lios. The site of a ruined house is larach ; a ruin with walls standing and roof fallen in is tohhta. A cultivated field is achadh (shortened into ach, Cultivation acha, achd), the distribution of which has been Endogures. noted above. Another word in common use for field is 7-aon ; a lea field is glasaich ; a park is pairc, an early loan from English ; hard, very common in Mid Ross, means, usually, enclosed meadow. lomair is a ridge or rig ; feannag, a lazy-bed ; gead, a narrow strip of land. Gart is enclosed corn-land ; diminutive goirtean ; ceapach, a tillage plot. Terms connected with enclosures are eirhhe, now obsolete, a fence, or wall ; dig, a moat ; cro, a sheep fold, with its variant era, a cruive ; huaile, a cattle fold ; fang, a fank ; geata, a gate ; cachaileith, a field gate, or hurdle. A tidal weir for catching fish is cairidh ; an arrangement for catching fish in a stream by ' Taylor, the Water Poet, who travelled iii Scutlaud in 1618 and saw a hunting in Marr, mentiona the " amall cottages, built ou purpose to lodge in, which they call Lonquhards." IXXX. PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. means of the cahhuil is eileach, applied also to a narrow shallow stream joining two lochs, or to a mill-lade. Eileag, now obsolete, appears to have been a V-shaped structure, wide at one end, narrow at the other, into which deer were driven and shot with arrows as they came out.^ Together with the general term arhh, corn, Crops, which occurs thrice, there are several names involving seagail, rye ; Lainn a' Choir c is the Oat- flat ; lion, flax, occurs twice. In connection with the preparation of corn for coupatioiis food are ath, a kiln ; eararadh, the process of Customs parching ; muileann, a mill. Sabhal, a barn, is fairly common, as also baitheach, a cow house. Onagan na Leathrach, and possibly the Sutors, are connected with tanning. Allt and Muileann Luathaidh commemorate the fulling of cloth. Gobha, a smith, occurs in Balnagown and Led- gowan. Ceardach, a forge, smithy, has sometimes reference to ancient smelting works. The seven- teenth century works on Loch Maree side give a' Cheardach Ruadh, the red smithy, Fuirneis, Furnace, and Abhainn na Filirneis, River of the Furnace. The old practice of making peat char- coal gives rise to Meall a' Ghuail. The shieling custom gives the numerous names involving airigh. Flax was steeped at the Lint-pools and Tobair nam Puill Lin, and linen was bleached at Balintore. Balleigh means Leech's or Physi- cian's stead. Baronies with power of pit ' Another name, not found in Ross, for a similar ai-rangement, but not necessarily artiScial, is Elriy, Q. lolairig. INTRODUCTION. Ixxxi. and gallows have left traces in the not uncommon Cnoc na Croiche, where men were hanged, and Poll a' Bhaihaidh, where women were drowned. The old standard measure of land in Pictland was Land the dabhach, originally a measure of capacity, ' vat.' ^®**"'®'- The extent of the dahhach varied according to the land and the locality. It is usually given as four ploughgates, but must have been often less. Many names involving dabhach are found all over the mainland part of Ross. Lewis was divided into fifteen davachs. The word usually appears in English as Doch ; in E. Ross the Gaelic form is do'ach. A half-davach is leith-do'ch, Englished Lettoch; or sometimes Ilalfdavach, whence Haddach, Haddo. Further divisions of the davach appear to have been the ceathramh, fourth part, and the ochdamh, eighth part, whence Balcherry, Ochto or Ochtow. The old Gaelic practice of division into fifths survives in the name Coigach, Place of fifths. The oxgate appears doubtfully in Midoxgate ; the rental of 1727 gives Mickle Oxgate and Middle Oxgate as divisions of Ruarach in Kintail. The merkland survives in Drumnamarg in the Black Isle, and in 1538 appear "the four merklands of Eschadillis" (Eskadale, Ashdale), somewhere in Strathconon. But apart from the davach and its divisions, the representation in place-names of these old land measures is trifling. Aon, one, is found in Leathad an aon Bhothain, ^"^^"j^.^* Hillside of the one hut. Names involving tlie ations. numerical da, two, are not uncommon on the West Ixxxii. PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Coast, e.g., Achadh dk Tearnaidh, Field of two Descents ; Cnoc d^ Choimhead, Hill of two pros- pects ; Ach' dk D6mhnuill, Field of two Donalds; Ach' dk Sgalllt, Field of two bare places ; Poll dk Ruigh, Wet hollow of two slopes. In the eastern part the only examples met are Cnoc Dubh eadar da AUt a' Chlaiginn, Black hill between the two burns of the Skull, and Ach' dk Bhannag, Field of two Cakes. Tri, three, is found in Sgeir an Trith- inn. Trinity Skerry, a sea rock with three humps. Coig, five, is the base of Ooigach, Place of Fifths. Seachd, seven, occurs in Fuaran seachd Goil, Well of seven Boilings. Leth, half, is frequently prefixed to denote one-sidedness. Lethallt, half-burn, reaUy half-height, describes the valley of a stream with one steep side ; leth-ghleann, half-glen, is of similar meaning. Leth-chreag is a one-sided rock ; leiih- each, a one-sided place, half-place, e.g., the narrow strip of land between loch and hill ; Norse skiki. So lethoir, half-border, similar in meaning to Welsh lledymyl = Q. letli-iomall, border near the edge, which exactly describes Learnie, on the south side of the Black Isle, sloping down to the sea-clifis. The very common leitir is probably for leth-tir, half-land, sloping hill-side. Historical Fights of olden times are commemorated in such i^T™"*fn!!"5 names as Blkr nan Ceann, Knocknacean, Ath nan Ceann, Moor, Hill, and Ford of the Heads ; AUt nan Cnuimheag, Burn of Worms ; Bealach nam Br6g, Pass of the Brogues; a more recent battle (1719) has left its mark in Sgi\rr nan Spkinteach, Peak of ersonages. INTRODUCTION. Ixxxili. the Spaniards. Cadha na Mine, Path of the Meal, and other names near it, are connected with the '45. Leac na Saighid and Sgiirr na Saighid recall old feats of archery. One of the most interesting names is Scotsburn, G. AUt nan Albanach, in connection with which are C^rn nam Marbh, Dead men's Cairn ; Lochan a' Chlaidheimh and Bearnas a' Chlaidheimh, Sword Lochlet and Sword Cleft. That a consider- able battle was fought here is practically certain ; also that Alhanaich, " Scotfcis men," were engaged in it. The curious thing is that the burn should have been named from the Alhanaich, Scots, and not from their opponents, as might have been expected. It looks as if from the standpoint of the namers the Alhanaich were regarded as strangers. They may have been Lowland Scots. The great Pictish name Nectan appears in the obsolete Dalvanachtan, i.e., Nectan's davach, also in Cadha Neachdain, Nectan's Path. The latter is one of the many steep paths in Nigg Rocks, and from the fact that near it is a cave called Uamh an Righ, the King's Cave, one is inclined to connect it with the Pictish King Nectan, son of Derili, who flourished circ. 715. This king had a remarkable and chequered career, one of the incidents in which was his joining the Church or becoming a recluse. The scene of his clericatus is unknown, but it may be plausibly conjectured that he spent some part of it in Uamh an Righ. The great forest or hunting ground of Freevater, G. Frith Bh^tair, Walter's Forest, in which Leabaidh Ixxxiv. PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Bh^tair, Walter's Bed, occurs twice, most probably derives its name from Walter, that son of the fourth Earl of Boss who fell at Bannockburn, v. p. 12. Glaic an Righ Chonanaich, Hollow of the Strath- conon King, is a somewhat surprising name, for which V. p. 249, The West Coast names are rich in references to local men and events of note. Of legendary heroes we have Fionn, Diarmad, and Oscar, all of the Fenian cycle. The widely spread story of Diarmad's tragic death is located with con- siderable circumstance in Kintail. A reference to Fionn seems to be contained iu Suidheachan Fhinn. Fenian legends are attached to Ffeith Chuilisg, Loch Lurgainn, Cnoc Farrel, Clach nan Con Fionn, Ooulin, but several of these have obviously been invented to explain the names. The Fenians appear in Coire na Fe'inne, and legends of their huntings are connected with Sgiirr nan Conhhaio-ean. The hero Oscar's name is found in Buillean Osgair, Oscar's Strokes — certain claisean or gaps on Little Lochbroom. From the great battles of modern time we get Camperdown, Waterloo (near Dingwall), and Balaclava (or Balnuig). Maryburgh, near Dingwall, was named from Queen Marj', wife of WiUiam of Orange, A good deal of fancy nomenclature has arisen in Easter Ross within the last centuiy and a half, e.g., Mountgerald, Mountrich, Petley, Arabella, Invergordon, and others, in English — not to the same extent in Gaelic — displacing the old names. Under this head may be noted our one certain instance of druidh, a Druid, viz., Foi't an Druidh, INTRODUCTION. IxxxV. the Druid's Port, with Cadha Port an Druidh, the Druid's path near it, both in Nigg, old names doubt- less. The term druineach, which occurs with us in Airigh nan Druineach, Cladh nan Druineach, Druineachan, Poll and Drochaid Druineachan is frequent elsewhere, e.g., Cam nan Seachd Druin- eachan in Glen Fintag, Inistrynich is Lochawe, Cladh nan Druineach in lona, Tigh Talmhaidh nan Druineach (Earth House of the D.), a round house or broch in Assynt. The word is sometimes equated with druidh; it is based on O. Ir., druin, glossed glicc, wise, clever ; and druinech in Ir. means an em- broideress. The exact significance of it in our place names is far from clear. Logan^ takes it to mean cultivators of the soil as opposed to hunters, which may represent a genuine tradition. Martin makes mention of little round stone houses in Skye capable only of containing one person, and called " Tey-nin- druinich, i.e., Druids' House." Druineach, says Martin, signifies a retired person much devoted to contemplation. Some miscellaneous terms omitted above follow. Croit, a croft, with its variants creit, crait, cruit, is common in Easter Ross. The Exchequer Rolls supply an interesting record of the crofts held by the minor oflacials of a great castle, v. p. 146. Linne, besides meaning a pool in a river, is used to denote a part of the sea near the shore, also a bay.^ Crasg, a crossing, generally, if not always, applies to a 1 Scottish Gael, II., 72 (ed., Dr Stewart). 2 The Greek equivalent Xljiv-q has exactly the same meaningii iu Hom»r. Ixxxvi. PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND fIROMARTY. crossing over a ridge. Gasg, diminutive gasgan, is explained at p. 208. Cadha is usually a steep, narrow path, but is sometimes applied to steep parts of a regular road, e.g., an Cadha Beag and an Cadha M6r, near Gruinard. By Bac we mean in E. Ross a peat moss ; in the west the primary sense of bank, ridge, is preserved ; Norse bakki. Grianan means a sunny hillock, or a place, e.g., good for drying peats. Roinn, a point, occurs in Roinn an Fhaing Mhoir. Botag is a wet or soft channel in a peat moss. Rabhan, after much search, I took to mean water lily, and from one description of it that seemed correct. But another and better authority had no hesitation in defining it as a long grass growing in shallow, muddy parts of lochs or pools, and formerly used for feeding cattle, an account of it which I have had since confirmed beyond doubt. The word is almost certainly a Pictish loan, to be compared with Welsh rhafu, to spread ; rhafon, berries growing in clusters. It occurs frequently in Suther- land place-names. A similar kind of grass growing in pools and lochs is barranach, from harr, top. PLACE NAMES EOSS AND CROMAETY PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. KINCAEDINE. Kincardine— Kyncaixlyn 1275— G. Cinn-chardain ; ' cinn' is the locative case of ' ceann,' head ; cardain is of common occurrence in names on Pictish ground, c£ Adamnan's Airchartdan, now Glen-Urquhart, Plus-carden, Carden-den, and the various Kin- cardines and Urquharts. Though not found in Gaelic, it appears in Welsh as ' cardden,' a wood, brake, whence Kin-cardine means Wood-head or Wood-end. The name originally no doubt applied only to the immediate neighbourhood of the church ; whence it extended to the district served by the church, i.e., the parish. Such is the origin of most parish names. The parish falls into two divisions : the part drained by the Carron and its feeders, and the part beyond the watershed, toward Sutherland. We shall begin with the former. Carron — There are two rivers Carron in Ross, and some half-dozen elsewhere in Scotland, all char- acterised by roughness of channel. The root is kars, rough, and, on the analogy of Gaulish rivers 1 PLACE-NAMES OF BOSS AND CROMARTY. such as the Matrona, the primitive form of Canon would have been Carsona. It is doubtless pre- Gaelic, that is to say, Pictish ; cf. Carseoli in Italy. Pools in Oarron are : Poll na muic, sow's pool, opposite Gledfield ; poll a chapuill, horse pool, near BraelangweU ; linne sgairnw, pool of the burst, a large dam-like pool opposite Dounie ; poll an donnaidh, pool of the mishap ; jjoU an t-slugaid, pool of the gulp or swallow. With the last named we may connect Braghlugudi, which appears in 1529 as belonging to the Abbey of Fearn, and no doubt refers to the braighe or brae- face above the pool. In 1623 appears " part of Carron called Polmorral," still known as Poll- moral. Mr Macdonald (Place-names of West Aberdeenshire) collects the following instances of this name : Balmoral, Polmorral on Dee near Banchory, Morall in Stratherne, Drummorrell in Wigtown, Morall and Lynn of Morall in the lord- ship of Urquhart, Morall m6r and Morall beag on Findhorn. Mr Macdonald suggests mor choille, great wood, which is far from suiting the phonetics. The examples collected above ma>' not all be of the same origin (Morel at Tomatin. for instance, is in Gaelic Moirl), but the second part of Poll-m6raI above can hardl}^ be other than mbral, majestic, noble. The pool in question is one of the largest on the river. Craigpolskavaiie appears on record in 1619, and appears to refer to a pool somewhere below Craigs, near Amat. There is a Loch Sgamhain in Strathbran. KINCARDINE. 3 Esbolg — Waterfall of bubbles, appears on record in 1657. On one of T. Font's maps it is located on the river now known as the Blackwater, M^hich joins the Carron at Amat, but on the old map called Ayneck (perhaps from confusion Avith the Eunag, a tributary of the Oykell). There is a large Avaterfall on this stream near Croick, now Eas a' mhuilinn. Perhaps, therefore, Esbolg is the "Big Fall" on Carron. Balgaidh, bubbly stream, is the name of a river in Applecross ; cf also the better known Strathbhalgaidh, Strathbogy. Working from the eastern part of the parish along the south side of Carron, we have Ardchronie, G. ard-chr6naidh, an obscure name ; ard, of course, means height or promontory ; cronaidh may be from either cron, dark brown, or cron, a hollow, both found in Irish names. Dr Joyce gives Ardcrone in Kerry as meaning brown height, and Ardcrony appears in the " Four Masters." Gradal — G. Gradal, Norse Grd,-dalr, gray dale ; now usually called Badvoon. Allt Eiteachan — (O.S.M. AUt na h-eiteig), probably from eiteach, root of burnt heather. Hence ' an fheill eiteachan,' the Kincardine market.^ ^ The old-established Feill Eiteachan, the winter market still held at Ardgay, is said to owe its name to a certain quartz stone (clach fiteag), the old custom being that the market was held wherever this stone happened to be at the time. The stone was sometimes shifted west by the Assynt men, and east by the men of Ross, but finally it was built into the wall of the pre- sent Balnagown Arms Hotel at Ardgay, and so the market has ever since been held there. I give the story for what it is worth. Ma 's breug bhuam e, is breug thugam e. But diteachan cannot be based on eiteag, which is a loan word from English hectic (Macbaiu). 4 PLACE-NAMES OF BOSS AND CKOMABTY. . Tigh'mhadaidh — Dog's (or wolf's) house. An garbh choille — The rough wood. Ardgay — G. ard gaoith, windy height. A deed, granted in 1686 to erect it into a burgh of barony, was never carried into effect. Near it is Gam Z)eas^a», apparently the remains of a broch. There are numerous mounds near it. Less than half-a-mile away is Cnoc ruigh griay, hill of the pebbly slope. It bears marks of forti- fication on its western brow, and this side is studded with tumuli. Badavoon — G. bad a' mhun (' n ' long). This is the highest lying place with tracfes of cultivation in the locality. ' Mun,' with long ' n,' seems to be a dialectic form of ' muine,' just as ' dun,' with long ' n,' is heard for ' duine ;' muine means, according to O'Reilly, thorn, brake, mountain, and the last, if it can be relied on, would suit the situation — mountain clump, Joyce, however, gives muine only in the sense of ' brake,' and Lhuyd has it ' thorn-tree ;' cf Bad a' mhuin bheag and Bad a' mhuin mhor in Coigach. Grledfield — A translation of G. leth'-chlamhaig, half {i.e., half-strath) of the buzzard. The word is usually clamhan, a masculine diminutive, while clamhag is of feminine form. The place is known also as '16n na speireig,' sparrow-hawk mead, but the other form is supported by the records: Lachelawak, 1529; Lawchclawethe, 1501, as belonging to the Abbey of Fearn ; Lachcla^^y, 1606 ; Lachclaveig, 1643. A third form given me KINCARDINE. 5 is Leac 'chlamhaig, which also satisfies the written forms. An t-sean bhaile — Old town, a very common name. Clais a' bhaid choille — Wood-clump dell. Lon dialtaig — Bat-meadow (Upper Gledfield). Dounie — Dun, fort, with extension. There are traces of an ancient fort. Ruigh na meinn — Ore-slope. The epithet ' na mfeinn,' literally * of ore,' is usually applied to places where the water shows signs of oxide of iron. An airigh fhliuch — The wet shieling. AUtan Domhnuill — Donald's burn. Gruinard or Greenyards, Croinzneorth 1450, Gruin- yord 1528 ; Norse grunnfjorSr, shallow firth; cf. Gruinard in Lochbroom and Grviineart in Islay. Na h-6rdan — The heights, from ard, high. The common tendency to change ' a ' into ' o ' is par- ticularly strong in Strathcarron. An fhanaich — The declivity ; fknach, of which fanaich is locative, is a derivative of f^n, a gentle slope, which is itself a common element in place- names, e.g., Balnain (but Balnain in Badenoch is })eul an athain, ford-mouth) ; cf also na fkna, the Fendom, Tain. Bun an fhuarain — Well-foot. Croit na caillich — Old wife's croft. Dal na era — Dale of the (sheep) fold, or, possibly, cruive ; cr£l is a variant of cr5, and is here feminine, if, indeed, it is not, as it may well be, for dal nan era (gen. pi.) G PLACE-NAMES OF KOSS AND CKOMAETY. Grianbhad — ? Sun clump ; but it may be Norse grunn-vatn, shallow loch. Dalbhearnaidh — Dale of the cleft. Bail' an achaidh — Town (i.e., homestead) of the cultivated field. Amat — Amayde 1429 ; Almet 1643, G. amait, ft-om Norse A-raot, river-meet, confluence, to wit, of the Carron and the Blackwater rivers. There are also Amat in Strath-Oykel and Amat in Strath-na- sealg, Brora, while the records show an Amot in North Kintyre 1643 (Eeg. Mag. Sig.), in Islay 1614. Amat in Strathcarron is in two divisions, Amat na' tuath (of the husbandmen) to the south of the Carron, and Amat na h-eaglais (of the church) on the north side. There is still a tradition of a church having once stood on the ' claigionn,' above the present Lodge, and in 1609 there appears ' Amott Abbot under the barony of Ganyes, called of old the Abbacy of Fearn ' ; also in 1611 Ammoteglis, and Amad Heglis, T. Pont. 1608. The spelling Almet is of no significance beyond that the ' 1 ' shows that the initial vowel is long. Bail' an fhraoich — Heather-stead. Baile Chaluim — Malcolm's-stead. Bail' an dounie — G. bail' an donnaidli, town of tlie mishap. Near it is a pool in Carron, poll an donnaidh, so called, doubtless, fi-om some drowning accident. Bail' an 16in — Town of the damp meadow. Baile mheadhonach — Mid-town. KiiNOARDlNE. 7 Bail' uachdarach — Upper-town. Dal-ghiuthais — Fir dale. An garbh allt — The rough burn. Gar nan aighean — Thicket of hinds; from gar comes the diminutive garan, thicket. On it is Drochaid chaolaig, bridge of the httle narrow place, ovei' the Carron. The green place (lub) on the Glencalvie side was known as bail' bean an dro'idich, town of the bridge-Avife, but a still older name for it is said to have been Tuitim- tairbheach. There may be here a confusion with the well-known place of that name at Oykell : my informant was born and bred at Gar nan aighean. Also Coylwn. i.e., cumhang-leum, narrow leap ; cf Cuilich in Rosskeeu. Glencalvie — G. Gleann Cailbhidh, cf Loch Cail- bhidh in Lochalsh. A Glencalvie man (there are still such, but not in the Glen), is known as a ' Cailbheach.' Glencalvie was, and is, noted for its herbage, and so are the shores of Loch Oalvie : the root may therefore be calbh, colbh, plant- stalk ; Ir. colba, wand ; Latin culmus, stalk, calamus, reed. Coire mhaileagan — V. Glenshiel. The waterfall at the mouth of the Corry was given by two informants, both natives of Glencalvie, as Eas caraidh and Eas cadaidh. Dibidale — 'The half-davach of Debadaill ' 1623, G. Diobadal, from Norse djiipr, deep ; dalr, dale, djupidalr, ' deep-dale,' which accurately describes this beautiful, but now solitary, glen. There is a PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Glen Dibidil in Eum, Mull, Skye, and Lewis ; cf. also Diabaig, Gairloch. Sallachy — Salki 1529, on record as pasture land of the Abbey of Fearn ; from saileach, the old form of ' seileach,' willow ; Ir. sail, saileog, with meaning ' place of willows.' For formation cf Lat. salictum, from salicetum, a willow copse, cf Sallachy on Loch Shin, Sallachy in Lochalsh, Sauchie-burn ; also Salachar in Applecross, Salacharaidh, Loch Nevis. At the head of Strathcarron, forking off to the right, is AUadale — G. Aladal, probably All's dale, from Ali, a Norse personal name. Glenmore — Glenmoir, 1619 ; great glen. Deanich — G. an dianaich, the steep place ; a locative of dianach from dian, steep, a name which well fits the place. Meaghlaich — A place where the road crosses by a ford to Dianich ; locative of mang-lach, place of favvTis ; cf. coire na meagh, between Dibidale and Lochan a' Ch^irn. On one of Font's maps it is marked Meuloch. Above it is srdn 'n iigaidh. Near it is An giuthais mosach — Font's Gewish Moussach ; Gyrissmissachie 1619, Reg. Mag. Sig. (where the transcriber is surely at fault), the nasty fir wood. Tor6igean : 5igean, from bg, young, is used as a sort of nick-name ; the name therefore means Oigean's torr, or the youth's knoll. On the north side of the Oarron we have Invercarron — Estuary of the Carron. KINCARDINE. 9 Baile na COite — Boat-town ; cf. Sr5n iia coite on Loch Maree. Langwell — Norse, lang-voUr, long-field. Cornhill — G. Cnoc an airbh ; Knokinarrow, 164ii : 0. Ir. arbe, corn ; later Ir. arbar, genitive arba, whence our modern Gaelic arbhar. The form ■ arbh " occurs also in Cnoc an airbh, Urray, and in Ard-arbha, Lochalsh. Syal— SeoU 1578, Soyall 1642 ; G. saoidheal ; locally explained as ' suidhe fala,' seat of blood ; but it is Norse sauSa-vollr, sheep-meadow. Culvokie — G. culbhocaidh ; hobgoblin's nook ; it has an uncanny reputation ; so has Poil-bhocaidh at the foot of Glenmore ; cf. Culboky in Ferintosh. Cadearg — G. an cadha dearg, the red steep path. Culeave — G. Cul-liabh, apparently for ctil-shliabh, back (or nook) of the mountain moor ; cf. for formation Cul-ch^rn, Culcairn. Balnacurach — Town of the curachs or hide boats ; cf. Balnacoit above. Hilton — Bail' a chnuic. Corvest — G. coire-bheist (accented on first syllable), locally explained as ' the monster's corry.' There is a very deep gully at the place, which gives colour to this, but the accent is against it. An t-allt domhainn — Deep burn, flowing through the corry just mentioned. Braelangwell — G. br^igh-langail, upper part of Langwell. Bard an asairidh — Asair, or fasair, good pasture ; bk,rd is a somewhat uncommon word, but known 10 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMAKTY. ill Badeiioch in the sense of ' meadow.' In Boath, Alness is Bkrd nan laogh, and in Glen-Urquhart is a meadow called ' the Bkrd.' The present name therefore means ' the meadow of good pasture.' Near B^rd nan laogh in Boath there is curiously enough ' an asaireadh,' the Assarow. Bkrd seems borrowed from Norse bar's, meaning first, beard, then fringe, edge (cf a hill, etc.,) hence appUed to the land on the edge of a river, which is the situation of the Strath carron, Boath, and Glen- Urquhart ' bards.' Scuitchal — Scuittechaell 1642, Skuittichaill 1657, ? Skatwell 1584, Skuddachall, Pont, G. Sguit- chathail. Scuit is a locative of sgot, a piece of land cut off from another, a small farm ; cf. the Scottish ' shot,' a spot or plot of ground. The second part of the compound is most probably the personal name Cathal, Cathel, the meaning of this being Gathel's section or croft. CraigS — G. Tigh na creige, Rock-house, from the rocky hill behind it. Font's map shows Kreig- skawen about this spot, and in 1619 we have Craigpolskavane. Glaschoille — Green wood ; Glaischaill 1619. Lub-COnich — Mossy bend. Lub-na-meinn — Bend of the ore (irony water). Letters — Na leitrichean, the hill slopes. Croick — G. a chr6ic ; ' gillean na cr6ic ' occurs in a Strathcarron song ; the M^ord is thus feminine. It may be a locative of cr6c, an antler, thus meaning ' a branching glen, or side glen,' which KINCARDINE. 1 1 ■\Aould suit the localit}^ ; a locative of crog, paw, hand, is also possible, in which sense the common ' glaic might be compared. The latter meaning- suits the Croick in Glencasley, Sutherland. A diminutive of cro, sheep-fold, has been suggested, but the difficulty here is that cio, being masculme, would give cro-an, unless, indeed, Ave may sup- pose cro to have been dialectically feminine. Strathcuillionach means as it stands, ' holly strath :" there is, however, a strong local tradition that the older Gaelic was ' srath cuireanach,' from " car ' a turn ; hence, winding strath. The stream which flows through it is certainly very winding, and the change from ' r ' to ' 1' is quite possible. In its upper reaches this stream is called Allt a ghlais atha, burn of the wan ford. In the high ground adjoining Strathcarron are G-arvary — G. garbhairigh, rough shieling. The termination -ary is usually best regarded as an extension of the adjective, but as there actually were .shielings at Garvar}?-, it may be taken as airigh. Meall na CUachaige — Cuckoo hill ; possibly hill of the little ' cuach,' or cup-shaped hoUow. Meall Bhenneit — Apparently Bennet's Hill; cf Bemretfield in the Black Isle, G. Baile Bhenneit. Coire bog — The wet or soft cony. Sron na saobhaidhe — Point of the den; usually called sron saobhaidhe. Cam Bhren — So often in Gaelic, but a Glen- calvie man, who ought to know, called it Carn I 2 HI.ACE-NAMKS OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Bhreathainn. There is a legend connecting it with Fingal's dog Bran. He entered a cairn there, and was never seen again. It means Raven's Cairn. Cam Salach — ' Dii'ty ' cairn, from the broken and boggy nature of its surface. Carn an liath-bhaid — Hill of the grey clump. Creag na ceapaich — Kock of the tillage plot. Ceapach (Keppoch) is one of the commonest names in the Highlands. Cnoc na Tuppat — Locally derived from the Englisli tippet, from the appearance of the vegetation on its I'ounded top ; but it is more likely ft-om ' tap,' a rounded mass oi' lump, which gives in Ireland Topped, Tapachan, Toppan, &c. (Joyce). Creag Riaraidh — So the O.S.M., but G. creag(a)- raoiridh, the rocky termination of the ridge behind the old lodge of Glendibidale. There is in Tarbat a famous cave called toU-raoiridh, and beloM' Achtercairn, Gairloch, is Leac raoiridh. This somewhat difficult name mav be from roithreini (O'.R.) a rushing (ro, very, and retliim, run), and may have reference to the ^'ery stormy nature of the place. Leaba Bhaltair — Always called Leabaidh Bhfltair. Walter's Bed, is on a hill on the south side of Glendibidale. There is another siiiiilar place bearing the same uanu' on AUadale ground. Who the Walter in (question was mav be con- sidered doul)tfiil ; l)ut in auv case the name must be connected with Frivater. ' iVidh Bhiitaii',' or Walter's forest. The probabilltv is, and I kincajidinp:. 1 3 believe there is a tradition to the effect, that the Walter whose name we find among these w'Ad hills was one of the early Rosses of the line of Ferchar Mac an t-sagairt. The name is old, for it is stated in the Chronicle of the Earls of Ross that Paul Mactyre (fl. circ. 1360) acquired inter alia Friewatter. Sir Walter Ross, son of William, the fourth Earl, fell at Bannockburn, and, as he was evidently a noted man, being recorded as the dear friend of Edward Bruce, he may be the eponymus of Walter's Bed and Walter's Forest. The next choice would be Sir Walter de Lesley, who married Euphemia, daughter of William, the sixth Earl, and regarding whom William, in 1371, addresses a 'querimonia' to King Robert II., complaining of the way in which his lands had been given to Lesley. But the reference in the Chronicle of the Earls of Ross, though perhaps not decisive, points to the existence of the name before Sir Walter de Lesley's time. With regard to Paul Mactyre, I may say in passing that tradi- tion makes him a freebooter. He may have been, and probably was, a man of his hands, but he is said to have been a great-grandson of the King of Denmark, and he certainly married the niece of Hugh of Ross, Lord of Fylorth, and obtained the lands of Gairloch by grant of William, Earl of Ross, in 1366 ; and in 1365, by grant of Hugh of Ross, the lands of ' Tutumtarvok, Turnok, Amot and Langvale in Strathokel.' His pedigree, as given by Skene, connects him closely with the 14 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Ttosses or Clan Anrias, for it makes him fourth in descent fi'om Gilleanris (modern Gillanders). He was therefore highly connected, and held a respectable position, and his descendants, the Poisons, have no reason to feel ashamed of him. Creag lUie — G. Creag-illidh. ' Illie ' has exactly the same sound as in Bun-illigh, Helmsdale, where it represents Ila, the Ptolemaic name of the Helms- dale river. Creag Illie stands just about the west end of Glendibidale, not far from the source of the stream, now nameless, which runs through the glen, and though, of course, the case does not admit of certainty, 'Illie' may here also be the old river name ; cf. the rivers Isla, and for root German ' eilen,' to hurry. Cf. also G. ' ealadh ' (Macbain's Diet.). Oreag Ruadh — The red rock ; near Creag Illie. Dunach liath — The grey place of dtms ; Leac Gorm, the green hillside ; and the Dtman liath, grey little dun, are beyond Coire Mhalagan. Carn Speireig — The sparrow-hawk's cairn. Leab' a' Bhruic — The badger's lair. Beinn Tarsuinn — ' The cross hill,' which bars the head of Dibidale and of Coire Mhalagan. Feur mor — The big grass. Ordm Loch — The bent loch — descriptive of its semi- circular shape. Lochan Sgeireach — The little rocky loch. Meall na Raineich — Hill of bracken. An Socach — The snouted hill. Srdn gun aran^Bread-less point — a quaint name. KINCARDINE. 1 5 Allt a mheirbh ghiuthais— (O.S.M., allt a mh6r ghiuthais). T. Pont, phonetically but accurately, has it ' alt very gewish,' ' burn of the slender pine-wood.' Mearbh is a variant of meanbh. Loch Sruban — G. Loch Struaban. ' Lochen Strom- annach so cald from great golden beared trowts ' (Pont). AAHiat 'beared' means I cannot conjecture; the letter rendered h is doubtful, otherwise the MS. is perfectly clear. It is interesting, however, to know that ' struabanach math brie ' is still locally used to denote a good-sized trout, such as are the trout of Loch Struaban. The root may be sruab, to make a paddling noise in water (H.S. Diet. ) ; a ' sruabanach ' would thus mean a fish that lashes the water. Coire mor — The great corry. Meall am luadadh : prop. Meall a' Mhadaidh — Dog's, or perhaps wolf's, hill. Bodach mor and Bodach beag — The big and the little old man. Meall nam fuaran — Hill of springs. Allt a' chlaiginn — Skull burn. A ' claigionn ' is usually a skull-shaped hill ; but sometimes it means the best field of a farm. An Sgaothach — 'Sgaoth,' swarm ; place of swarms ; c£ ' sguabach,' place of ' sweeps ' (of wind). Allt a' ghuail — Coal burn ; what the coal is, I have not learned ; but c£ meall a' ghuail. Creagloisgte — Burnt rock. Carn a' choin deirg — Cairn of the red dog. lb PLAOE-XAMES OF ROSS AND CROMAHTY. Sithean rtiarach — Sithean, a round hill, diminutive of sith, a fairy seat ; rtiarach, an extension of ruadh, red ; cf. Ruarach in Kintail. Coir' an t-seilich — Willow corry. Cnoc an tubaist — Hill of the mischance. Corriemulzie — G. coire mtiiUidh, mill-corry ; c£ Corriemulzie in Contin and in W. Aberdeenshire, Mulzie in Kiltarlity. Mr J. Macdonald suggests ' maoile,' corry of the hill brow, but the Gaelic pronunciation at once negatives this. In Corrie- mulzie, it appears from local information, there were at one time or other no fewer than seven mills, the sites of five of which can still be pointed out. The Garve Corriemulzie is also a place of old habitation, where there were, doubtless, mills. Muileann, a mill, has a genitive muilne, which readily becomes muille. Abhainn dubhach — Sad river. Mullach a' chadha bhuidhe — Stop of the steep yellow path. AUt rappach — Noisy or dirty burn. Creag Eabhain — Gladsome rock ; c£ Beinn Eibhinn in Badenoch, which is a hill with good outlook. AUt Tarsuinn — Cross burn, from loch na Uthe, pitch loch (from pine wood) ; cf Blarnabee in Strathconon. Allt coir an riichain — Probably from rtichan, throat, gullet ; corry of the throat, a narrow opening. Strath Seasgaich — Probably a derivative of ' seise,' reed, seasgach, loc. seasgaich, reedy place. There is also seasgach, a yeld cow, but this ought to •rive srath na(n) seasgach. KINOABDINE. XT' Allt Ealag— Ealag, ^^roperly eileag, is puzzling ; it looks like a diminutive of the feminine proper name Eilidh, only in point of fact this diminutive does not seem to be found. It may well be from ail, stone, meaning ' the little stony burn.' There is also Mointeach Eileag, a dreary stretch of moor on the Lairg and Lochinver road. Sgonnan mor — The great lumps : sgonn, block, lump. Loch coir' na meidhe — There is meidh, a balance, and meidhe, a stem, stock, trunk, the latter of which is more likely to be in point here. Coir' a' chonachair— Conachar means uproar ; also, a sick person who gets neither better or worse. It may be the proper name Conachar ; there is really no means of determining ; cf Badach- onachair in Kilmuir Easter. Lubcroy — G. an liib-chruaidh, the hard bend ; cruaidh is applied to hard, stony ground, or to firm ground as opposed to bog. Oykell has been happily identified with Ptolemy's Ripa Alta, High Bank, the exact location of which has long been matter of dispute. It must also be identified with the Norse Ekkjals-bakki, i.e., Oykell Bank, which Skene strangely makes out to be the Grampians. Oykell represents the Gaulish uxellos, high, seen in UxeUo-dunum, high fort. The word appears in Celtic in two forms — ^(l) Welsh uchel, high, which gives the Ochil Hills and Ochil-tree, high town ; (2) Gaelic uasal, high, and, without the -Uo- sufiix, uaise, height, majesty, 2 18 PLACE-NAMKS OP BOSS AND CROMARTY. whence Beiiin Uaise, Wyvis. Oykell follows the Welsh form. It will thus be seen that Ptolemy's E,ipa Alta is a part translation of Oykel, which is echoed by the Norse Ekkjalsbakki. The word for bank is gone, but it evidently existed in Ptolemy's time, and it looks as if it survived to the time of the Norse occupation, and was translated by the Norsemen into bakki. It is worth noting that the high ground on the Sutherland side of the OykeU estuary is Altas, G. AUt-ais, an extension of alt, eminence ; cf. Welsh allt, wooded cliff, hillside ; also O. Ir. alltar, heights. luveroykell is the confluence of the rivers Oykell and Casley. Einig — A tributary of the Oykell ; G. Eunag. Pont makes Avon Ayneck flow into the Carron at Amat. Dr Joyce gives ean, water, as the basis of eaiiach, a marsh. The streams falling into the Eunag are — Allt Eappach, noisy or ' dirty ' bui-u Abhainn Poihlidh, river of the booth, pubuU Ahhainn Coire Muillidh, the Corriemulzie river Abhainn Dubhach, the sad or gloomy river. Amat — At the junction of Eunag and OykeU ; cf Amat in Strathcarron above. The OykeU Amat was distinguished as Amat na guUan, i.e.. na ncuilean, of the whelps. Lochan Phoil — Paul's lochlet, is probably a remini- scence of Paul Mactyre, who held these lands, as above stated. Langwell — Cf Langwell, Strathcarron. Beinn Ulamhie — Cf ulbh (Sutherland), a term of reproach, from Norse lilfr, wolf KINCARDINE. 19 Meoir Langwell— The 'branches' of Langwell; i.e., hill streams that converge there. Loch Mhic Mharsaill probably contains the name of a son of ' William Mareschal, armiger to Hugh of Ross,' who was granted by the said Hugh, between 1350 and 1372, the lands of ' Dachynbeg in Westray' (Edderton) for good and faithful services. He received also lands in Tarbat and elsewhere ; but he could hardly have held lands in the Oykell district, for it was held by Paul Mac- tyre. This, however, does not necessarily aifect the argiunent. Brae — G. a bhraigh. Doune — Downe, 1657 ; a township on the Oykell ; dim, fort. Oape — 6b, creek ; Norse hop ; it is near a bend in the river ; cf. Oban. Innis nan damh — Ox, or stag, meadow ; cf the other well-known Inshindamff. OchtOW — G. an t-ochdamh, the eighth-part, to wit, of Davach-carbisdale (1623), which included most of this district. Birchfield — Formerly Ach na h-uamhach, field of the cave, probably firom the chambers of the broch, now miuch broken down, a little to the west of the farm-house. Kilmachalmag — Sic 1548, CoLman's cell ; v. Church names. Within a short distance of it, on the edge of the wood, is the foundation of what seems to have been a broch of rather small diameter. Achnahannet — G. achadh na h-annait, field of the ' mother church,' v. Church names. 20 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CEOMARTY. An ruigh cruaidh — The hard slope. Meall Deargaidh— G. Meall dheirgidh, from dear- gadh, redness ; Hill of redness. Badandaraich — Oak copse. Achnagart — Field^bf the corn enclosure ; cf. Garty, Goirtean. Creag 'Chait — Cat's rock. Lamentation Hill (O.S.M.) — G. creag a ch6inn- eachan, rock of the mossy place. Cf. the continu- ation of the "History of the Earldom of Suther- land " with reference to the defeat of Montrose, which took place,' here in 1650 : — 'This miraculous victor ie hapned the twentie seaventh of Apiill one thousand six hundreth fiftie years at Craig- choynechan, besides CarbesdelL' As this is a contemporary account, it effectually disposes of the populai- notion, officially adopted on the O.S. Map as above, that the place m.eant Rock of Lamentation (C5ineadh). The name was given long before the battle took place. Poll cas gaibhre. Goat's foot pool, is a deep rounded hollow situated near the Kyle between Stamag and Riantyre (ruigh an t-saoir, the carpenter's slope). There is another of the same kind near the Church of Dunlichity, Inverness. These curious cup-like depressions are explained as the result of swallow-holes in glaciers. Culrain— Of old Carbisdale ; Carbustell, 1548. The modern name *[ is said to have been imposed from Coleraine in Ireland. Carbisdale is Norse kjarr- bolsta'Sr, copse-stead, with the suffix dalr, dale. KINCARDINE. 21 Rhilonie — G. ruigh an 16in, slope of the wet meadow. Balnahinsh — Town of the meadow ; near it is the site of Carn nan Conach (O.S.M. Cam nan Conacht). Achagilliosa — Gillies' field ; Sithean an Iladhairc, Prospect Hill. From a retour of 1623 it appears that at that date Strathkyle (Slios a' Chaolais) as far west as Ochtow was included under the term Davoch- carbistell. We have ' the lands of Achnagart, belonging to Davoch-carbistell,' also ' the western bovate of Davoch-carbistell, called Ochtow, with the croft and arable land lying near the Meikill Caii-ne, called Cairne Croft, above the east side of the burn called Auldualeckach under the Barony of Kilmachalmag.' The names of burn and croft have now disappeared. The Meikill Cairne perhaps refers to the Birchfield broch. In 1657 we have 'the lands of Dal- vanachtan [i.e., Davach-nachtan] and Downe, extending to six davach lands, whereof four davach lands lye benorthe the water of Oichill and two davach lands on the south side.' Davach- nachtan is also gone. Nachtan is, of course, the personal name Nectan, so common among the Picts, still surviving in the surname Macnaughton. In 1619 (Reg. Mag. Sic.) we have the lands of Auchnagullane, Glaischaill, and Tormichaell ; the forest of Frawatter, adjacent to them ; the lands of Glenmoir, Glenbeg, Drumvaiche, Brynletter, Correvulzie, KnokdaiU, Dovaik ; the lands called 22 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. ' the thrie Letteris,' viz., Letterinay, Letternaiche, Letterneteane, and Corremoir under the said forest of Frewatter ; the scheillings of Mullach, Craigpolskavane, Gyrissmissachie, Tokach, Laik- garny, Alladul moir, Straithfairne, AUadill na nathrach, and Cairnehondrig. Pont marks Acha- naguUann on Avon Ayneck, near Esbulg, above noted. Tormichaell is somewhere in Strathcarron. The three Letters may, perhaps, be Letters noted above ; they appear to stand for Leitir an fheidh, Leitir 'n eich, and Leitir na teine. Mullach is Meaghlaich noted above. Craigpolskavane seems to be the present Craigs. Gyrissmissachie is An giuthais mosach above noted. Alladul moir and Alladul na nathrach are clear. Cairnehondi'ig is Carn S6nraichte. Brynletter, Tokach, Laikgarny, Drumvaiche I do not know. The fishing of Acheferne and Stogok 1341 ; Achnafearne and Sloggake 1657. Downlairne 1604 appears on Font's map as DownUaern, a little west of Lavd Clamag (Gledfield). EDDERTON. 23 EDDERTON. Edderton — Ederthayn 1275 ; Eddirtane 1532 ; Eddirthane 1561 ; G. Eadardan, with accent on eadar. The traditional explanation is eadar-dtin, between forts. In confirmation of , this view may be adduced the various brochs referred to below and the hill fort of Strathrory. The name applies especially to the part near the old church, now the U.F. Church, which stands on the left bank of Edderton Burn, and it would seem that the old name for the district as a whole was Westray ; cf. below ' Dachynbeg in Westray ' and Blaeu's Dunivastra. An luachar mhor — ' The big rashes ' (rushes), a large swampy tract of moor. Onoc an t-sabhail — Barn-hill ; in the face of it, above Raanich, is clach meadhon latlia, mid-day stone. There are two stones, some distance apart, and which of the two is the real mid-day stone is hard to say. The position is such that the sun shines on them about noon. Raanich — G. an rathanaich ; the root is rath, a circular enclosure or fort, the rest being exten- sions (-n-ach), meaning ' place of raths.' South of Raanich is haile nam fuaran, well-town. Ramore — G. an rath m6r, the great rath. These raths were, probably, simply farm-houses fortified 24 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMAETY. for security in troublous times. Behind Raniore is an linne bhreac, the dappled pool. Near it is Galanaich, from gallan, a standing-stone. There is a striking perched block ]iot far off ; cf. Gallanaich, Argyll ; Achagallon in Arran. An t-uisge dubh — Black water. Gadha nan damh (O.S.M. Casandamft') — Stags' pass. Gluich (Meikle and Little) — G. an glaodhaich ; Glaodhaich ard agus Glaodhaich iosal ; from glaodh, glue, E. Ir. glaed, with -ach suffix ; hence the soft, sticky, miry place, which applies well to the lower Gluich. There is another Gluich in Altas, Sutherland, also wet, and a third in Glen- convinth. Local tradition ascribes the name to the ' glaodhaich ' or lamentation of the Edderton women on occasion of a battle with the Danes, and a similar origin is assigned to Raanich (bha iad a' r^nail an sin). Bailecharn — G. beul-atha charn, ford-mouth of the cairns, a ford on the Edderton Burn, above Eas an tairhh, the bull's waterfall, which latter is reputed to be the haunt of a tavbh-uisge, water- bull. Inchintaury — The Gaelic hesitates between iimis an t-samhraidh and innis an t-sea'raigh, but the latter seems to be the common local form, pro- bably for seann ruigh, old shieling. Imiis an t-samhraidh means summer-mead, i.i'., a grassy meadow on which cows grazed in summer. Rhibreac — G. an ruigh breac, the dappled slope. KDDEUTON, 25 Bogrow — G. am bogaradh, a derivative of bog, soft, wet — wet place ; it is a soft place by the water side. Also leathad a hliogaraidh, broad slope of the soft place. In 1634 appears on record (Reg. Mag. Sig.) ' magnus limes lapideus vocatus Clachnabogarie,' the great march stone called, etc., to the east of Eddertoii Burn. The stone is still there, and known by the same name, but it is no longer a march stone, the burn being now the march. CambuSCUrrie — G. camus-curaidh, bay of the curach, coracle ; possibly currach, marsh. The Gaelic has certainly been affected by the modern English . form. Locally said to have been the landing place of Curry or Carius (v. N. Stat. Ace), the Danish prince whose prowess caused the ' glaodhaich ' and ' ranail ' above referred to. Cf. Cambuschurrich on Lochtayside. Carrieblair — G. blkr a' charaidh ; the farm-stead is bail' a charaidh ; caraidh means ' grave-plot.' C£ clach 'charaidh, the name of the fine sculptured stone at Shandmck, Nigg (see Nigg). There is a sculptured stone on Carrieblair also, still standing and depicted in Dr Stuart's ' Sculptured Stones of Scotland,' near which ancient graves have been excavated. According to local tradition, this stone marks the gfrave of Carius referred to above. Edderton Farm — G. baile na fbitheachan (final ' a ' open). The formation of ' foitheachan ' seems parallel with that of Guisachan, etc., and suggests as the base ' faidh,' a beech, which in Scottish 26 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Gaelic is ' faidhbhile,' beech-tree. The name would thus mean Place of beeches. Balleigh — Ballinleich 1550, Ballinleich, alias Litchstoune 1666 ; G. bail' an lighe (also lighich), Leech's or physician's town. Locally said to have been the place where the wounded were treated after the battle of Carrieblair. Ardmors — G. an t-ard m6r, great promontory. Rudha nan Sgarbh — Cormorants' point ; here is a large round cairn, ' cam mMhaidh,' where mathaidh is perhaps a proper name, near loch nan tunnag, duck loch. Requill — G. ruigh Dhiighaill, Dugald's slope. Pollagharry — G. poll a' ghearraidh, pool of the ' gearraidh.' There is no pool here now, but there was once, according to local evidence, a small loch. Gearraidh is Norse gerSi, a fenced field, borrowed, very common in Lewis, and meaning the strip of land between machair and monadh, plain and upland moor. Garbad — G. an garbh-bad, the rough chump ; also, coille a' gharbh-bhaid, Garbad wood. Meikle and Little Daan — G. Dathan mh6r and Dathan bhig ; ' Dachynbeg in Vestr-ay ' was granted circ. 1350 by Hugh of Ross to his armiger, William Marescal ; Daane 1429 ; Little Dovane 1578. These forms may possibly point to its being a diminutive of ' dabhach,' the old Celtic measure of land, and at the Reformation Dathan Meikle was three-fourths of a davach, and Dathan Lytle one-fourth— a davach in EDDERTON. 27 all. The place, however, stands at the con- fluence of two streams, and as there is an 0. Ir. word ' an,' water, the name may really be d^-an, two waters. The joint stream is called the T)aan burn, and the traditional explanation of Daan is da-kthan, two fords, which is quite possibly right. Near Daan is Torr a' bhil, edge- hill. Also, ' an dbhliran,' which seems to be a derivative of O.G. dobur, water, meaning ' the wet place.' Ba>lblair — G. bail' a' bhlair, plain-town ; near it is ' an ruigh hhreac,' spotted slope ; and east of it, ' leac an duine,' man's flat stone ; and ' ard mhanaidh,' monk's point. Little and Meikle Dallas — Doles 1560; G. Dalais mhor and Dalais bhig. It is never used with the article. The old form, as compared with the modern Gaelic, shows the common transition fi-om ' o ' to ' a '; cf Culboky, G. cul-bhaicidh ; -ais is the Pictish ending seen in Allt-ais, etc. (v. Introd.), and the first syllable is to be equated with ' dol ' in dolmen, used in place-names in the sense of ' plateau.' Dallas is thus a Pictish word, meaning ' place of the plateau,' which describes its situation ; cf Dallas, Elgin ; perhaps also Dal- keith. Dounie — from dtm, fort. Hilton — G. Bail' a' chnuic. Craigroy — a chreag ruadh, red rock. Cartomie — G. c^thar-tomaidh ; cslthar, a moss or bog, and torn, hillock ; compounded on the same principle as Balaldie, etc. (v. Introd.) 28 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Polinturk — G. poll an tuirc, boar's pool. Cnocan na goibhnidh — (O.S.M. Cnoc al na gamhainn), smithy-hillock, near Polinturk. Muieblairie — Moyzeblary 1429. G. muigh- bhlkraidh, spotted plain ; locative of magh, com- pounded with blitr, spotted, with the -idh ending so common in Easter Ross. Blar is not nearly so frequent in place-names as its synonyms riabhach. breac, ballach. Alltnamain — G. allt na me inn, burn of ore, with reference to its irony water. There are strong traces of iron in most of the Edderton burns and wells, and there are even said to have been iron- workings in Edderton burn. Struie — G. an t-srtiidh ; rathad na Strtiidh, the load from Alness to Bonar, which attains its highest point at Cnoc na Strtiidh. Before rail- ways this was the usual route from the south, so John Munro of Creich in his ' Oran Ducha,' on leaving Glasgow to visit his native place, says — theid sinu, theid sinii le siiigoart agus aoidh, theid sinn, theid sinn gu deouach, theid sinn, theid sinn thairis air an t-Sriiidh Gu muinntir ar daimh, is ar n-eolais. Struidli appears to be best regai'ded as a con- tracted form of sruth-aidh, an extension of the root of sruth, stream ('t' euphonic). From the base of Cnoc na Strilidh streams flow in all directions ; cf Struy in Strathglass, which is also a place of streams. At Lbii ua Sti'/in/h. moist flat of Struie, \h fnarfi^ii. 'in. oir, a well strongly impreg- EDDERTON. 29 nated with iron, and reckoned to possess healing properties, but it has been insulted (chaidh tkm;iilt a chur air), and is not what it once Avas ; so called from a gold ring having been lost in it in course of cleaning. Lechanich — G. an leachanaich (Leachanaich ard and L. iosal) ; locally interpreted as leth Choinnich, Kenneth's half, but the presence of the article does not countenance this. The place is a sloping hill-side, and the name is, most likely, Leacanaich (with 'c' aspkated), from leac, a sloping hill-face ; V. Macbain's Diet., s.v. lethcheanii. Cnoclady — G. cnoc leathadaidh, hill of the 'leathad' or slope ; formed like Bal-aldie. Near it is hadan binn ('w) eoin, where ' eoin,' as in other cases where it occurs, seems to be the genitive singular of euu, bird. Craggan — G. an creagan, the little rock ; behind it is allt na corrach, burn of the places of corries ; there are three small corries drained by it. Beyond this again, leading towards Fearn, is ' an cadha iosal,' the low pass, over Struie. Cnoc an liath bhaid — Hill of the grey clump. Beinn clach an fheadain — Hill of the whistle stone or of the spout (of water). Can Dubh — G. an cathar dubh, a hill ; cathar, usually a moss or bog, is here used to mean ' a rough, broken surface.' Cnoc Bad a' bhacaidh — Hill of the moss-clump. Cnoc an Ruigh ruaidh — Hill of the red slope. Chulash — A' chtilais, the recess. 30 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Cnoc Thorcaill— Torquil's hill. Cnoc 'Chlachain — Hill of the clachan, with reference to the Monastery of Fearn, the original site of which was not far off. Meall ua siorramachd — (O.S.M. Cnoc Leathado na siorramachd) ? Shire-hill, on the Kincardine boundary. Beinn nan oighreagan — Hill of the cloud-berries ; the usual plural is oighrean, implying a singular oighre, ot which oighreag is diminutive. Easter, Western, and Mid Fearn — Fe^rn' £i,rd, Feftoi' iochdarach, literally High Fearn and Lower Fearn, and Fekrna meadhonach. Blaeu's Atlas has Faern lera, Faern Meanach, Faern Ocra ; from Fe^rna, alder. The Monastery of Fearn was originally founded ' near Kintarue, in Stxath- charron ' (Chron. of Earls of Ross), probably, therefore, at Wester Fearn, about 1225, and about twenty years later, in the founder's life- time, ' for the more tranquillitie, peace and quietnes thereof translated ' to the spot it still occupies, where it was called at first Nova Farina, New Fearn, then simply Fearn. AUt Grtlgaig — The little surly one, the bui-n of Wester Fearn. According to the New Stat. Ace. (1840), " there is a complete chain of those round towers called Dunes surrounding this parish ; none of them, however, in a state of even tolerable preservation. One of these, situated at Easter Fearn, and known by the name of Dune-AUiscaig EDDERTON. 3 1 (from Dtin-fair-loisgeadh, or the beacon watc U- tower), was about fourteen feet in height within the last thirty years, and had vaults and a spiral staircase within the wall." It was destroyed for dykes, etc., about 1818. The site is still to be seen, and the name is still current in Gaelic as Dtm Alaisgaig. Falaisg, moor-burning, which seems hinted at in the derivation offered above, suits the phonetics exactly, but the word is probably Norse. Blaeu has it Dun AUiscaig. East of it he marks Dunivastra, i.e., Dounie of Westray, now Dounie, where there are also the ruins of a broch still known as the ' ckrn liath.' There is a third, nameless, at Lechanich, said to have been six or seven feet high, with chambers, within living memory. Carn m&,thaidh, on E,udha nan sgarbh, may have been another. There are no Norse names in Edderton, except the obsolete Westray, and possibly Dun Alaisgaig. 32 pla(;k-nami<;,s of ross and cromarty. TAIN. Tain— Tene 1227; Thane 1483. The Gaelic form IS not available, as Baile Dhubhaich, St Duthac's town, has in Gaelic displaced Tain. The existence of another Tain, near the head of Dunnet Bay in Caithness, suggests the name to be Norse, but it is difficult to offer a satisfactoiy etymology. The guesses of Rev. W. Taylor and others need not be repeated, nor have I arrived at anythmg certain. In Reg. Mag. Sig., under date 1612, the annual markets of Tain are given as follows : — Midsomer or St John's, 26 June ; S. Barquhani, 4 August ; [St Berchan] S. Duthosi, 30 December, 6 March ; S. Makharboch, 20 November. The Calendar of Fearn gives only three fairs, on 18 March, 9 August, and 20 December, the last being ' Mak- carmochis day.' (St Cormac ; cf Tobar Cormaic in Nigg). The girth of Tain, marked out by four crosses (Charter of James II., 1457), appears to have been roughly co-extensive with the bounds of the parish. In 1616 (Reg. Mag. Sig.) appears ' the girth croce dividing the common lands of the Burgh of Tayne from UUadil,' and Rev. W. Taylor notes dais na comraich,^ hollow of the girth or sanctuary, on the southern boundary of ' It 18 at " The Canary." TAIN. 33 the parish, towards Scotsburn (of old UUadale). Crois Caiirion, Catherine's Cross, to the north of Loch Eye, may have been another girth cross. The revenues of the Collegiate Church of Tain, which dates from 1487, were derived from the lands of Tain, Innerathy, Newmore, Dunskaith, Morynchy, Tallirky, and Cambuscurry. Of these places, the last five were chaplainries, and the last three were within the girth of Tain. Meikle Ferry — G. am port mor, of old Portin- coulter. The Little Ferry is at the mouth of Loch Fleet, between the parishes of Dornoch and Golspie. Ardjachie — G. aird-achaidh, promontory of the cultivated field. Tarlogie— Tallirky 1487 ; Tarlogy 1529 ; Tallarky 1559 ; Talreky 1580 ; G. Tarlogaidh. Talorg, diminutive Talorgan, was a Pictish proper name, from tal, brow, and the root arg, white, seen in argentum, airgiod, Argos. The Gaulish proper name Argiotalus shews the same elements. The name of a Pictish saint Talorgan survives in Kil- tarlity, G. Cill-Taraghlain. As a place-name, white brow is, of course, quite appropriate. PitneUies — Petnely 1512 ; G. Bail' an ianlaith. Birds' town. The plural form has arisen from the division of Pitnely into two — north and south. The English form is an instructive corruption. Balcherry — G. Bail' a' cheathraimh, town of the quarter (davach), cf. Balcherry, near Invergordon, also Ochto. 3 34 PLACE-NAMES OF BOSS AND CROMARTY. Pithogarty — Petogarfche 1548 ; Pettogarty 1560 ; Betagartie 1574 ; G. Bail' shogartaidh, Priest's town. The true Gaelic form would be BaU' an t-sagairt or Baile nan sagart ; cf. Pitentagart and Balhaggarty in Aberdeenshire. The Fendom — G. na f^na (fanoo), from fan, a gentle slope, or, usually in Scottish topography, a flat, low-lying place, the Scots ' Laigh.' Fan is seen as an adjective in Rob Donn, ' an rtim a's fhkine fo 'n iiir,' the lowest room beneath the earth, i.e., the grave. The English form is a curious cor- ruption. Balkeith or Balkil— Ballecuth 1548; G. Baile na coille, town of the wood ; keith looks like Welsh gwydd, wood, which would make the modern Gaelic Baile na coille a direct translation of an original Pictish Pit-kelth. Similarly Dal-keith, which is on a flat-backed ridge, may mean ' plateau of the wood.' Plaids — Plaiddes 1560 ; G. a Phlaid, from Norse flatr, the flat or low land. The plural form is English ; c£ Pladday, Flat Isle. Fladay, oft* Barra, retains the Norse form. Near Plaids is said to have been a court-hill of Paul Mactyre. Morangie— Morinchy 1487, Morinch 1507, Morhi- schie 1618; G. Mor(a)istidh. The 't' of the modern Gaelic form is, doubtless, developed after ' s ' (c£ (in drasd for an trath sa ; cidaist for culais), and from the old forms it may be inferred to be of fiiirly recent origin. This leaves us with M6r(a)iHidh, where- 'is' is the reduced form of TAIN. 35 ' innis,' haugh, and the rest is termination, the whole meaning Big-haugh. Kirksheaf— Kerskeith 1560, Kirkskeith 1607; Cros- kyth, Pont ; now in G. a chroit mhor, the big croft. The old forms suggest cathair, seat or fort, and either sgath, dread (cf. DunskaiLh in Nigg), or sgeith, ha^\i;horn. The place is close to the ancient Chapel of St Duthus. Cnoc nan aingeal, or Angels' Hill — The small hill, now cut through by the railway, north-east of the old chapel. The road to Inver crosses the cutting by a bridge. Cf. Cnoc nan aingeal at Kirkton of Lochalsh. The name may equally well mean knoll of fires, from G. aingeal, light, fire. Knockbreck — G. an cnoc breac, the spotted hill. Cnocanmealbhain — Knoll of the white lump. Aldie — G. AUtaidh, burn place, from allt, with extension. Grarrick Burn — Muirs and Moss of Garrack, 1690 ; also Ben Garrick, Beindyarrok 1632, and drochaid Gharaig, Garrick Bridge. Knocknacean — G. cnoc nan ceann, hill of heads, with probable reference to a battle. GlastuUich — Green hillock ; locative of tulach. Blarleath — G. am blar liath, the gray plain. Ardival — Height of the home-stead. Loch Lapagial — A tiny lochlet in the heights, the Gaelic form of which I have failed to verify. Loch Uanaidh — (O.S.M. Lochan Uaine) ; Loch Owany, Pont ; perhaps from uan, lamb, but there is also 0. Ir. uan, foam. 36 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. An t-allt clachach — The stony burn. Beinn na gearran— of O.S.M. should be Binn Garaig, the hill of Tain. Lairg — ' The Lairgs of Tain ' ; G. lairig, a sloping hill, moor. KingSCauseway — G. cabhsair an righ ; but, accord- ing to Rev. W. Taylor, rathad an righ ; probably the road by which James IV. so often rode to St Duthac's shrine. Balnagall — Balnagaw 1560, town of the strangers ; scarcely likely to be a reminiscence of the Norse- man. Bogbain — G. am bac bh,n, white moss. Hunting Hill — G. druim na sealg. Morrich more — G. a mhoraich mhor, a large, low- lying sandy flat by the sea shore. Moraich, l)etter mor(mh)oich or mor'oich, is from Ir. mur- magh, sea plain ; cf. a mhor'oich, the (Jaelic of Lovat ; Morvich, Kintail, &c. It is usually applied to a plain by the sea shore, yet we have a moor so called in Badenoch. A sand bank off the coast, accessible only at low tides, is called ' an aideal' from Norse va'Sill, ford. Loch Preas an uisge. Loch na Muic, Loch nan Tunnag, Loch of the Water-bush, Sow Loch, and Duck Loch are small lochs in the i\Iorrich More. An innis mh6r, big isle, and an innis bheag, small isle, off the coast. Whiteness— Apparently Norse, wliite point. TAIN. 37 The Gizzen BriggS^ — A dangerous sandy bar guard- ing the entrance to the Dornoch Firth. G, drochaid an obh (ow). Taylor, however, gives drochaid an aobh, and says he had also heard drochaid an naomh, with a nasal sound. The local explanation connects with baobh, or baogh, hag, in Easter Ross called ' a vow,' and specialised into the meaning of water-sprite, or possibly mermaid ; in any case, a malicious spirit. Gizzen Briggs is connected by Taylor with Norse Geyser, a boiling spring, which suits neither the sense nor the phonetics. Brig, for bridge, is so utterly foreign to the English of Ross that it is most reasonable to regard it as a Norse survival, as also the ' meikle,' so common in Easter Ross farm names. The name is, doubtless, the Norse ' gisnar bryggja,' leaky bridge. In Easter Ross the term ' gizzeued,' leaky, is still commonly applied to tubs or barrels that have shrunk in the sun. Inveraithie — Now practically obsolete ; in a Retour of 1652 appears as 'within the liberty of Tain, and having salmon fishings and stells.' ' The tradition is that the town of Tain was once built much nearer than it is at present to the mouth of the river, on land that has been in great part swept away by the sea, but that was called in old charters and is sometimes remembered still as ' " Moat of the Norwegian fiords are partially obstructed at their entrance by the remains of old moraines, which in the north are called havbroen, sea bridges" {Reclus, Univ. Geog.). 38 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTV. Inver-Eathie, or in Gaelic Inbhir-h,thai ' (Taylor). The Caelic form here given, though it cannot now be verified, is doubtless right, for Eathie Burn in the Black Isle is Allt ^thaidh. Evidently iithaidh was also the old name lof the Tain river. The word is probably based on ath, a ford. Inver — G. an in'ir (inbhir), the confluence, or mouth of a stream. Rev. W. Taylor says that it appears in old documents as Inverlochslin, which would imply that Lochslin, now drained, sent its waters in this direction. Na h-oitrichean — The mussel scalps, from G. oitii', sea bank. Culpleasant — A hybrid of comparatively recent origin ; ctiil, nook. Near it is Fuaran Dhaidh, St David's well, the principal source of the Tain water supply. The Canary — So called, it is said, from a drinking place which once existed here. Queebec — Bridge and Brae, on the Scotsburu road about two miles from Tain ; the name arose from the fact that a gentleman who had made money in Quebec settled near. The Gaelic name is Muileann Luaidh, Fulling Mill, and the burn is Allt L/aaidh. Gommonty — Once the common lands of the burgh of Tain. The following names appeal- to be obsolete : — The two Thesklaris (on west side of Tain), Enycht, Croftmatak, Poltak, Neclacanalych, Bal- natouch, Petgerello, Skardy witli its mill, Auley TAIN. 39 (? Aldie), the Buttis, Gorlinges, Clerk Island, and Priest Island, the last three ' belonging to the Burgh from time immemorial (confirmation of 1612 by King James VI.) 40 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. FEARN. Fearn was until 1628 included in the parish of Tarbat. The name was transferred with the mon- astery from Fearn, Edderton. The monastery, on its new site, was styled Nova Farina, New Fearn, but in Gaelic the parish is Sgir na Manachainn, Parish of the Monastery, also simply A' Mhan- achainn. As distinguished from Beauly (Manach- ainn 'Ic Shimidh), it is called Manachainn Rois, the Monastery of Ross. CadboU — Cathabul 1529 ; Norse kattar-bol, cat- stead ; from this and similar names in Tarbat it appears that the rocks facing the Moray Firth were of old a haunt of wild cats. Cf. Cattadale, Islay. Below CadboU are Tobar a' bhaile duihh, Well of the black town, and Tobar Suardalain, Well of Suardalan ; also Creag na baintigheama, the Lady's rock. CadboU Mount — The curious story of CadboU Mount is told by Bishop Forbes. The Laird of CadboU was on bad terms with his cousin, Macleod of Geanies, and built the 'mount' to look down on his lands. Geanies replied by planting a belt of trees which In time shut out the view. The mound, which still exists, Avas made quadrangular, built in steps like a pyramid, and about 60 feet high. FEAKN. 4 1- Hilton — Balnaknok 1610 ; G. bail' a' chnuic. Balintore — G. bail' an todhair, bleaching-town ; cfl Balintore in Abriachan and in Kirkhill. The name goes back to the time when flax was culti- vated in the north. The old name of Balintore- is given locally as Port an Ab, Abbot's Port, and Blaeu shows Abbotshaven here. TuUich— TuUoch 1606; G. an tulaich (locative), at the hillock. Clasnamuiack — Glasnamoyache 1647 ; G. Clais na maigheach. Hares' hollow. Balmuchy — Balmochi 1529 ; Balmoch 1561 ; G. Baile mhuchaidh. The meaning is uncertain ; muc, pig, is out of the question ; perhaps Ir. much, mist, or mucha, owl. Pendicles of Balmuchy were Bellewallie (Broomtown), Ballin- reich {Bail' an fhraoicli. Heather-stead, between Fearn U.F. Church and Manse, north of the road), and Glasnamoyache above. Pitkerrie — Pitkeri 1529 ; G. Baile-cheiridh ; not the same as Balcherry, Tain, which has short e. The local derivation is ceir, wax : the place was covered with whins, from which the bees made only wax. This is quite possible, though it looks somewhat fanciful. But at least equally possible is a derivation from ciar, dark, whence ceiread, duskiness, hoariness. Behind it is Waterton, G. BaUe nam fuaran. Well-town. Rhynie — Rathne 1529 ; G. rathan (mhor and bheag, meikle and little) ; a derivative from rath, circular enclosure or fort. Rhynie in Aberdeenshire is. 42 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CKOMARTY. of different origin — Ryny 1224, Rynyn 1226 ; from roinneaii, diminutive of roinn, headland, as Mr James Macdonald thinks (Place-names of West Aberdeenshire). Poulfock — G. poll a' phoca, pool of the bag. Locheye — G. loch na h-uidhe ; uidh, from Norse eith, isthmus, is common in place-names, where it may mean (i.) isthmus, cf. the Eye peninsula at Stornoway, or (ii. ) according to some, slow running water between two lochs. Here, from the fact that we have ' an uidh ' (see below) near the outlet of the loch, uidh seems to be used with the second meaning. Mounteagle — G. cnoc na h-iolaire, also, an uidh, as above, but the ' uidh ' is strictly the western part of Mounteagle, near the outlet of Loch Eye. liOChslin — G. Loch-slinn, from slinn, a weavers sleye. Lochslin, as a loch, has disappeared, and survives only in the names Lochslin Farm and the ancient ruin of Lochslin Castle. It must have been a small loch, at the eastern end of Loch Eye, V. Inver. Knocknahar — G. cnoc na h-aire, watch -hill. Loandhu — G. an Ibn dubh, black ' loan ' or -w'et meadow. Balnagore, probably baile nan gobhar, Goats' town, which is confirmed by a well, Tobar nan gobhar, Goats' well, noted by Eev. Mr Taylor, and appearing on record as Tobarnayngor. Formerly a number of small crofts. The Talich — Dallachie, in the barony of Geanies, IG76 ; G. loch an di\ilich, ?loch of the meetino-. FEARN. 43 Allan— Allan Meikle 1479 ; G. Alan inlioi- (broad ' 1 '). In the parish of Knockbain there are three Allans, Allan-grange, Allan nan clach, and Allan fhraoich ; there is also Alan-ais, the Gaelic of Alness, all pronounced alike in Gaelic, v. Alness. Ballinroich — Munro's town. William Munro, son of Andrew Munro of Milntown, obtained the lands of Meikle Allan about 1570. Balblair — G. bail' a' bhlair, town of the plain. BaliHdruni — G. bail an druim, toviii of the ridge. Muldearg — G. a' mhuil dearg (locative), the red rounded eminence. Midoxgate — G. an (t-)uchd meadhonach, the mid hillock or terrace. In view of the Gaelic it would be unsafe to regard this interesting name as a genuine survival of the bovate or oxgate, the old land measure. The place is on the 100 foot ridge between Hill of Fearn and Loch Eye, and ' uchd meadhonach ' is therefore quite applicable. In the absence of old forms, it seems more reasonable to suppose Midoxgate to be an ingenious mis- translation of the Gaelic by some one of anti- quarian tastes, than to regard ' uchd ' as a Gaelic attempt at ' ox.' At Hilton of Cadboll stood a chapel, dedicated to the Virgin 'Our Ladyis Chapell ' 1610, in con- nection with which appears in 1610 (Reg. Mag. Sig.) Litill Kilmure, Toir of Kilmuir, a well called Oure-Lady-well, situated near the angle of the kailyard dyke occupied by And. Denune of Bal- naknok ; also the heavin called Our-Lady-heavin 44 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMAHTY. of Kilmure. Some of these names survive : Creag na baintighearna, Lady's Rock, is under Cadboll ; Tobar na baintighearna, Lady's Well, is (or was) near a small graveyard east of Hilton used for unbaptized children ; Port na bain- tighearna, Lady's haven. The name Kilmuir, curiously enough, seems to have gone, but there is Bard Mhoire, Mary's meadow or enclosure. I have met with no other clear instance of ban- tighearna in the above sense of ' Our Lady.' TARE AT. 45 TARBAT. Tarbat— Arterbert 1227 ; Terbert 1529 ; Tarbat 1561-66 ; G Tairbeart, a crossing, portage, isthmus. The land of Estirterbate stands first in the. list of lands given in the Exchequer Rolls as belonging to John, last Earl of Ross, which passed to the Crown on his resignation in 1479. Tarbat Ness — G. rudha Thairbeirt, of Arterbert above, where Ar(t) is for airde, promontory. Cairns near the lighthouse are named Bodach an rudha, the old man of the point ; an Cailleach, the old wife ; a' Bhean-mhuinntir, the servant lass. A rock in the sea is called SteoUaidh, Norse stagl-ey, rock-island. Port a' chait — Cat's port ; cf CadboU. There is also Got nan cat, hole or cavern of the cats, from Norse gat, hole ; English gate. Near it is Got nan caiman, hole of the pigeons. Port Buckie — G. Port nam faochag. Wilkhaven — A translation of Port nam faochag. Near it is na h-athan salach, the nasty fords, a small burn, which appears on record as AUan- sallach, with a chapel dedicated to St Bride. Blar a' chath — The battlefield. Brucefield — G. cnoc an tighearna, the laird's hill, probably from Robert Bruce Macleod, a former proprietor. North Brucefield is in Gaelic Loch 4G PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Si7-)\ Near it was Loch nan cuigeal ; cuigeal, a (listatf, is also the name of a water plant. Port Uilleam — ^William's port. Hilton — G. Bail' a' chnuic ; near it is Cnoc heall- aidh, broom-hill. Bindal — G. Bindeil ; Norse bind-dalr, sheaf-dale, The name occurs in Norway. Near it is Stiana Bleadar or stoney-hlather, Norse stein-blettr, stone-spot. Portmahomack — Portmaholmag N.S.A. ; G. Port ma Cholmag, Colman's port. Tohar ma CJialmag, Colman's well, is near the Library. Behind it is Pitfaed, G. Baile Ph^ididh, of doubtful meaning. Gaza — So called (i.) because it is desert, being mostly sand-hills (cf Acts viii. 26), or (ii.) because a minister of Taibat once referred to its people as " muinntii- Ghaza," men of Gaza, i.e., Philistines, because of their irregular attendance at church. Such are the local explanations. Balnabruach — Town of the banks. Rockfield — G. a' Chreag, or Creag Tarail beag. Castle Corbet — G. an Caisteal dearg. Red-castle. In 1534 James Dunbar of Tarbat sold one-third of the lands of Arboll to John Corbet of Estir Ard, and the Cor bets appear on record thereafter as proprietors in Tarbet. Balachladich — Shore town ; further inland is Seafield. Drumancroy-— G. an druin[i(a) cruaidh (locative), the hard ridge. TARBAT. 47 Petley — So called in the first decade of last century by Sheriff Macleod of Geanies, who married Miss Jane Petley. The old name was Mulbuie, yellow height; Mulboyeid 1535. Tarrel— John of Tarale 1373, Tarall 1561 ; G. Tarail. Probably ' tar,' across, over, and ' ail,' rock — Over-cliff". There are high cliffs at Tarrel and at Rocktown (Little Tarrel), as there are at Geanies. Gaelic has ' Tarail mhor, is Tarail bheag, is Tarail fo na chreag.' Meikle Tarrel included in 1529 Royeindavoir, Renmasrycshe, Creitnacloyithegeill, Creitmantae, Kilpottis, Rownakarne, Rownaknoksenidis, and near it were CallechumetuUe, Kandig, Kilstaae. Geanies — Gathenn 1529 ; Eistir Gany, Wastir Gany, Midilgany 1561-1566 ; G. Gaan. The modern form is thus an English plural. Gaan is most probably a Gaelic plural of Norse ' gja,' a chasm, from the precipitous rocks on the coast. From the same root we have also ' gaw,' a furrow or small trench ; cf ' yawn,' Ger. ' gahnen,' Scot- tish ' gant.' Balaldie — ' Baile,' town ; ' alt,' burn, with -ie ending — Burn-town. Balnuig — G. bail' an aoig, town of death ; Baile na h-d,tha, Kiln-town, is part of it. Toulvaddie — G. toll a' mhadaidh, dog-hole. Loch Clais na ere — Loch of the clay hollow. ArboU— ArkboU 1463 and 1535 ; Norse ork-bol, ark-stead, but possibly from orkn, seal, which in Skye gives Or-bost. Near ArboU were Knokan- 48 PLACE-NAMES OF BOSS AND CROMAKTY. girrach, on the coast, 1633 ; also Lochanteny and Loanteanaquhatt, i.e., L6n tigh nan cat, Cats'- house mead. Gallow Hill — G. cnoc na croiche, about a mile from Balloan Castle. Skinnertown — G. baile nan Scinnearach. Skinner is a surname very common in the coast villages of Easter Ross. Innis Bheag — Small Isle — off the north coast. A' Chreag Mhaol — Bare or blunt rock, below Tarrel. Teampall Earach — Easter Temple, a cave on the south coast, east of Bindal, opposite a moor now- cultivated between Bindal and Wilkhaven, called Blar-Earach ; there is also Cruit Earach, easter •croft ; c£ ctiil earach, easter recess, in Islav. There is a tradition that the cave, which is but small, was once used for purposes of worship. Bev. Mr Taylor quotes a description, which applies not to it but to a much more imposing cave near it. Balloan Castle — Two causeways lead to it. Cahh- sair an righ. King's causeway, and an cahhsav mbr, the big causeway. Near it is Cnoc Duhli, Black Hill, where stone coffins have been fomid, also Cnoc druim(a) lamjaidh,. Port a' Chaisteil— Castle-haven, whence the title in the Cromarty family of A^iscount Castlehaven. In a rock to the west of it is Cot a choiic. hole of the cauldron. TAEBAT. 49 Toll Raoiridh is a cave on the north-east side of Tarbat Ness. Its mouth is now blocked, but soma cattle which entered it long ago came out in Caithness ! Cf. Creag Eaoiridh in Kincardine and Leac Raoiridh below Achtercairn, Gairloch. KilpotS, which appears as Kilpotis, is a sea-mark ; there is also oir na poit, edge of the pot. Cillean Helpak is a fishing bank in the Moray Firth, called in Cromarty Geelyum Melpak. There is another ' Geelyum ' nearer Cromarty. Helpak is said to have been a witch. The following names, probably belonging to Fearn or Tarbat appear to be obsolete : — Hard- nanen and Ardnadoler, Port na cloiche. Port nagrigack, Portnawest^ alias St John's port — all described as small ports, and the last three near Arboll ; Innerladour, Eochani, Knokydaff, Arth- reis, Coillen, Kandig, Rownaknoksenidis, Elvie more, Ballinsirach, and, near Arboll, a port called Camray. ^ This is probably Port a' hhaist, still known. 50 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CEOMARTY. NIGG. Nig — Nig 1227 ; G. 'n eig, the notch (locative of eag). The notch in question may be that cut by the bay of Nigg ; but it is noteworthy that the parish church, which has always apparently occu- pied the same site, stands on the edge of a V-shaped gully, and on the analogy of other parish names it is perhaps safer to regard this guUy as the notch which gave its name first to the church and then to the parish ; cf. Eigg, and Nigg near Aberdeen. Broomtown — Ballewallie ; G. bail' a' bhealaidh. Between it and Balintore is Dorus nafm) ba, door, or pass, of the kine. Shandwick — G. seannduaig, from Norse sand-vik, sand-bay. In Islay the same combination gives Sanaig. A plan of the land about Shandwick, dated 1786, shews the following : — Tobar na slainte, well of health ; Stronmore, the big point ; Walter's Seat. ; Craggan, the little rock ; Cull lish, back or nook of the enclosure ; Crot kerl. Hens' Croft ; Crot Ganich, Sandy Croft ; Crot Oich; Fisher Crofts; Ballnamorich, Fisher-town; Cromlet, the bent slope ; Leatcatnn, the bent hill- side ; Clasinore, ? Ckdsean mora, the big furrows ; Rildndow,\A-Ack slopes; Cocli khn'ch (i.e., Cach- alleith Coiniiich), Kenneth's gate. NIGG. 51 Rarichie (Easter and Wester) — Rarechys 1333, Raricheis 1368 ; G. Rath-riachaidh shios agus R. shuas. Fort of scratching (as by brambles), satis- fies the phonetics. The foundations of a circular fort still exist on a hillock, with well-marked fosse at foot, near the farmhouse of Easter Rarichie. The former existence of wood is proved by its name, Cnoc coille na toharach, Well-wood Hill. Cf Dunriachie, a hill fort in the parish of Dores, Inverness. The latter part of the compound may, however, be riabhach, dappled, with -idh exten- sion. The local derivation is as follows : — The Picts lived at Cadha 'n ruigh, and in spring-time they would say, ' tiugamaid 'bh^ln 'dheanamh rotha riachagan,' ' let us go down to make rows of scratches ' (to sow seed in). Easter Rarichie includes Cnoc Coinnich, Ken- neth's Hill ; an Torran shuas and an Torran shios, the wester and the easter hillock. Lower Rarichie — G. Bail' a' phuill. Pool-town. Drumdil — G. Druim(a) daol. Beetle-ridge, west of Wester Rarichie. Below it is Croit Bhreunan, the little rotten croft. Pitcalnie — Pitcahan 1662; G. Baile-chailnidh ; '1' silent in English ; an obscure name. Pitculzean — Revived as the name of Westfield, which was of old Meikle Pitcalzean ; Pitcalzeane 1581, Pitcalzean 1598 ; G. Bail' a' choillean, town of the little wood, as is proved by Tobar na coille, well of the wood, on the place. Culnaha — -Oulnahaw 1611 ; G. Cul-na-h-ktha, Kilu- nook or Kiln-back, for it is practically impossible 52 PLACE-NAMES OF BOSS AND CROMARTY. in such cases to distinguish cxlil, recess, from ctil, back. With it goes Cadh! a' hhreacaich, path of the spotted place. Culinald — Culnald cum ustrina lie kill die Nig, 1634 (Culnald with the kiln, called the kiln of Nigg) ; Burn-nook, now part of Nigg Farm. The streamlet in question flows through the gully at Nigg Church. Strath of Pitcalnie— Culderare I6II ; G. Srath chuilt-eararaidh ; eararadh is the process of parching corn ; cuilt occurs passim in Perthshire and elsewhere, e.g., a chuilt rainich, the ferny ' cuilt ' ; doubtless the Aberdeenshire Cult-s. The meaning of this obsolete word seems to be some- thing like ' nook ' ; it may be ctiil, 0. Ir. cuil, with excrescent ' t.' Cuilt-eararaidh would thus mean the nook of parching. In this Strath is Cnoc Ghaisgeach. From a loch in the hill above it flows Allt an damhain (O.S.M. Aultandown), burn of the little ox. Balnabruach — Kindeis Wester, within the barony of Ballinbreich, 1650 Ret.; Bank-town. Near it is Cnoc na h-iolaire, Eagle-hill. Balnapaliag — A hybrid. Paling-town ; there were a number of small plots of land separated by ' palings.' Castlecraig — G. Caisteal Chrag {sie) ; now the name of a farm, on which may yet be traced the lines of the castle built by William the Lion in 1179. Its name was Dan Sgath, fort of dread, uow English Dunskaith. The form of Castlecraig includes several holdings formerly distinct : an NIGG. 53 Annaid, the A.nnat (Arxnot 1611 ; Rhidorach, the dark slope ; Culhinn, back (or nook) of the hill, and Dimsgath, Dunskaith. Bayfield — Formerly Meikle Kindeace ; G. Cinndeis mhor, or Cinndeis Rob' son shuas, Wester Kin- deace of Robertson, from William Robertson, a burgess of Inverness, who bought it and the fol- lowing in 1629. The name was changed to Bayfield by John Mackenzie, commander of the ' Prince Kaunitz,' who bought the estate about I7m (v. Nevile Reid's 'Earls of Ross."). Ankerville — G. Cinn-deis bhig. Little Kindeace ; also Easter Kindeace ; bought in 1721 by Alex- ander Ross (locally known as Polander Ross), late merchant at Cracow, who changed the name (v. 'Earls of Ross' and N.S.A.) — v. Kindeace in Kilmuir Easter. Carse of Bayfield — G. Mor'oich Cinndeis, Carse of Kindeace, or simply, a Mhor'oich. CuUiss— Culisse 1296 ; Culuys 1351 ; CuUiss alias Cullenderie, 1642 ; G. Ctil an lios, back of the ' lios ;' lios, now garden, formerly meant an enclosure or fort with an earthen wall ; cf. Lis- more. Rare in northern place-names. Near CuUiss was Muileann Ach-rkilean, AchraQean Mill, cf. Badrallich in Lochbroom. Blackhill — G. an cnoc dubh. Hill of Nigg— G. Binn Nig ; of old ' the Bishop's Forest.' Big Audle — A channel in the bay, from Norse vaSill, a ford. There is also an oitir, the sea- bank. 54 I'L ACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. The Three Kings — G. Creag Harail, Harold's Eock. This skerry off the Nigg coast Is called in the N.S.A. The King's Sons. The story goes that three sons of a Danish prince, sailing to avenge their sister's wrongs, were wrecked here. Their graves were marked by the sculptured stones ©f Hilton, Shandwick, and Nigg. Another legend of their burial is given below. Of all Ross-shire parishes, Nigg is, in proportion to its size, the richest in wells. Most have names, but some that appear in the following list no longer rise to the surface at their proper place : — Tobar Cormaig — Cormac's well, at Shandwick farm- house. Tobar Cnoc Coinnich — Well of Kenneth's hill, i.e., the hill above Easter Rarichie. (xiagaig — Now closed, to the south of the road at Torran shuas, ' the little noisy one ;' cf. glagan, the clapper of a mill ; glagar, a prating fellow. Sul ba — Cows' eye, i.e., well-eye at which cattle came to drink ; in front of the old curate's house at Easter Rarichie. Tobar na h-iti — At the wester side of Cnoc coille na tobarach, Well-wood hill, which is the Gaelic name of the so-called Fairyhill or Danish fort, really a Celtic hill fort, at Easter Rarichie. Hard by this well once stood a tree whose branches bent over the water, and while the tree stood, the well cured ' white swelling.' The tree was cut, and the well struck. The following NIGG. 55 rhyme in connection with this tale shows the sort of feeling with which such wells were regarded : — Tobar na h-ii, Tobar na h-iu, 's ann duit bu chumha bhi uasal ; tha leabaidh deis ann an iuthairnn do 'n fhear a ghearr a' ohraobh mu d' chluasan.i Well of the yew, Well of the yew ! 2 to thee it is that honour is due ; a bed in hell is prepared for him who cut the tree about thine ears. Tobar nam puill linn — Well of the Hnt pools, above Wester Rarichie. Tobar nan geala (or deala) mora — Well of the big leeches, between Wester Rarichie and CuUiss. This well was insulted and is not what it was. Tobar Sein Sutharlain — Jane Sutherland's well, at Drumdil. Tobar a* bhaistidh — Baptismal well, at Ankerville, just above the old U.P. Church. Otherwise, tobair Eapaig Ghearr, Eppy Gair's well. Tobar Badhain Bhaist— John Baptist's well, beside ChapelhiU Church. Tobar a' Oh6irneil— The Colonel's well (Colonel Boss), at Nigg Farm. Tobar na coille — At Pitcalzean ; G. Bail' a choillean. Tobar Alaidh Bhodhsa — Sandy Vass's well, sup- plies Westfield house. ' The two last linea would be rendered less rugged by reading tha leabaidh deis an iuthairnn do'n fhear a ghear a' ohraobh mu d' chluasan. ^ThiB translation supposes "iii" to represent Ir. e6, a yew tree. 56 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Tobar Dun-Sg^th — Dunskaith well. Tobar na h-6iteachan — On the top of Nigg hill, famous water, used by the Nigg smugglers. Tobar cadha 'n ruigh — Oa'an ruigh well. Tobar na slainte — Well of health, near Shand- wick Village, and noted for its healing powers. Tobar na' muc — Pigs' well, by the shore, west of Shandwick. Leisgeig — The little lazy one, near Shandwick; its water comes in very small quantity. Tobar a' Chlaidheimh duibh an Eirinn, 's i air aghaidh na greine an port an Druidh (al. a dh-^irich an Port an Druidh) — Well of the black sword in Erin, facing the sun in the Druid's port (or, that rose in the Druid's port). It does not rise, but gushes out of the rock, and is excellent water. Port an Druidh is west of Shandwick. Besides the old churchyard at the Church of Nigg, there are, or were, four other places of burial in the parish. At Nigg Rocks, below Cadha Neachdain, there is a graveyard, now covered with shingle. Here the Danish princes were buried. Their grave- stones came from Denmark, and had iron rings fastened in them to facilitate their landing. So local tradition. This most unlikely spot for a graveyard was not selected without some good reason, the most probable being that hermits once lived in the caves, whence the place was reckoned holy ground. At Clach' Charaidh, the sculptured stone near Shandwick, all unbaptized infants of the parish NIGG. 57 were buried up till fairly recent times. It is now cultivated. At Easter Rarichie — Here the curate of Nigg lived, and the field behind his house is called ' raon a chlaidh,' the graveyard field. The plough goes over it now, and formerly used to strike the gravestones, but these are now removed. Near Shandwick Farm-house, to the south-west, between the sea and the rock was a graveyard, the name of which I failed to find. Some of the stones are still visible. The following are the paths (cadha) leading to the shore beneath the rocks : — Cadha nan eaorach, sheeps' path ; Cadha sgriodaidh, shingly path ; Cadha nan suihhean, path of rasp-berries ; Cadh a' bhodaich, the old man's path ; Cadha a' hhreacaich, pass of the speckled place ; Cadha Neachdain, Nectan's path ; Cadha 'n ruigh, path of the slope ; Cadha cul losaidh ; Cadha togail toinn, a path with one difficult part where a push from behind is requisite ; Cadha port an druidh, west of Shandwick, path of the Druid's port ; Spardan nan gobhar, goats' roost. 58 PLACE-NAMES OP ROSS AND CROMARTY. LOGIE EASTER Logic — Logy 1270; G. Lagaidh ; 'lag,' a hollow, with -aidh ending. The O.S.A. correctly says that the name is derived from the little hollow iu which the old church at Marybank stands. That church is probably pre-Reformation, but there must have been a still older church or churches on the same site. The old grave-yard around it was used within living memory, and has some fine stones, but is unenclosed and disgrace- fully neglected. On the Kilmuir side of the river is Cadha an t-sagairt, the priest's path. Calrossie (accented on first syllable) — Glossary 1476, Oalrosse 1479, Calrossie 1586. The 1476 record (Reg. Mag. Sig.) runs: — 'The lands of Mekle Meithaute, Drumgill, Glossery, Mekle Alane,' &c. The 1479 record (Ex. Rolls) is— 'Alane Mekle, Calrosse, Drummethat,' &c., so that there need be no doubt that Glossery and Calrossie are one and the same. Glossery has the advantage of being intelligible — ' glasaraidh,' green place, or, possibly, green shieling ; but, if we assume this to be the true original form, the change to Calrossie involves a double metathesis, explicable perhaps in itself (cf Kiltarlity from Cilltalorgain), but startling as involving a change from a well-known and signifi- cant combination to an obscure one. Of course, LOGIE EASTER. 59 Glossery may be an error of the scribe. Galrossie, as it stands, is extremely difficult, especially in view of its accent on the first syllable, which debars any explanation such as ' Coille Rois,' Wood of Ross, or ' Coille Rhois,' Wood of the Moor. Arabella — Formerly 'the Bog.' It was reclaimed in the earlier half of the nineteenth century by Hugh Rose of Calrossie, &c., who named it after his wife, Arabella Phips. Hence also Phipsfield, near it. Glastullich — Glastollich 1479; ' glas,' green, ' tul- aich,' hillock. It is west of Calrossie, and the ' glas ' may be an argument in favour of Glossery. Pitmaduthy — Pitmadwy 1370, PettecoAvy 1578 ; G. Pit ic Dhuibh, also Baile 'ic Dhuibh, Mac- duif's stead. Here, and also in the case of the Black Isle Belmaduthy, the modern Gaelic form is decisive against the common, and, at first sight, plausible, connection with St Duthac ; c£ Pett mal-duib (Book of Deer). Near it is Baile na toin, Auchownatone 1623, " the part of Pitmaduthy commonly called Auchnaton," 1691. Next Auch- naton was Drumgill, now obsolete. Lochan nan tunnag — Duck-loch. Brenachie — G. Breanagaich (long ' n ') ; cf Brink- nach 1610. The 1610 reference (Reg. Mag. Sig.) runs : — " The house and lands of Logie, with the fields called Riharrald, Auldmuiramoir, Achim- moir, and the Bus of Preischachleif, and the mosses of Brinknach and Derrileane with the 60 PLACE-NAMES OF KOSS AND CEOMARTY. shielings and grassums bounded by the cairn of stones called cairnne na marrow alias Deidmannis- cairne, and the burn (torrente) called Aldainal- banache alias Scottismenisburne, in the barony of Nig." Riharrald is ' ruighe-Harrald,' Harold's slope, evidently from Norse times. It is a strip of land near the river, towards the western extremity of Marybank Farm, under the Heather Park, still known as Ri-horral. There is ako E.i-horral Well, and, in the river, Ei-horral Pool. The two following places may also have been part of Marybank. The ' Bus ' in its G. form means ' the bush of the gate ' — ' preas 'chachaileith,' a word intelligible to few Easter Ross people now. Derrileane is modern Torelean, G. Torr leathan, broad eminence. The cairn must be that in the wood north of Torelean. The burn, ' Scotsburn,' is to the west of Marybank Farm, and is now practically dried up. There are local traditions of a battle fought here by the ' Scots,' supported by cairns in Scotsburn Wood and by the names Loclian a CJilaidheimh, Sword Loch, and Beams a' Chlaidheimh, Sword Cleft (bearnas). Marybank— G. Lagaidh (no article), from the ' lag,' or hollow, which gives its name to the parish. The modern name is from Lady Mary Ross of Balnagown. Ballachraggan — Rock-town ; otherwise L6n nam ban, the women's mead. In the wood near it is the Clootie Well, or Fuaran bean Mhuiristeau, much frequented on the first Sabbath of May. LOGIE EASTER. 61 Creag a' Chait— Cat-rock. Leinster Wood — So called, it is said, in honour of a Duchess of Leinster. Loch Buidhe — Yellow loch. Badnaguin — G. Bad na' gaoithean, windy copse. It is near the top of Scotsburn Hill. An Dim — The Dtin, at east end of Strathrory. Old people know it as Dtin-gobha], Fork-fort. They will have it, however, to mean Fort of GoU, the Fenian hero ; but ' gobhal ' is distinctly two syllables, and, besides, there is a typical fork at the spot, formed by two deep ravines. The name appears as Dungowill 1616 (v. Scotsburn), Dun- gald 1674. The dim, or fort, is the second largest in Scotland (Christison's 'Hill-forts'), and was in its time an awkward place to tackle. Its forti- fications are well worth examination (v. Trans, of Inverness Field Club, Vol. V.). Coag — G. An Cumhag ; ' cumhang,' narrow — the narrow place where the river enters Scotsburn ravine. Garbh Leitir — The rough slope, just beyond the ' Cumhag.' Dalrannich. — Dale of bracken. Scotsburn — The name has now shifted from the burn to the farm of Scotsburn, apparently of old called in part Cabrach, Cabreithe 1571, and in part UUadale. In 1616 appear on record (Reg. Mag. Sig.) ' the church lands of UUadill with their crofts called Rifleuche and Riddorache alias the Glen of UUadill, the wood called Dungowill 62 PLACE-NAMES OF BOSS AND CROMARTY. between the Girthcroce dividing the common lands of the Burgh of Tayne from UUadill," &c. The Glen is now called the Glen of Scotsburn. " The Commonty " is still well known. Parkhill — Site of the post-office near Balnagowan Bridge. The name was transferred along with the P.O. from the real Parkhill, two miles further west. Poll a' Bhathaidh — Drowning pool, near the Free Church Manse. This was the drowning pool of the barony of Nigg. The hanging hill is near it, G. Cnoc na croiche. Further south, near the railway, is Cnoc a' mhbid, the Moot-hill. Meddat — Drummethat and Mekle Methat 1479 ; (Kilmure) Madath 1541, (Kilmure) Meddett 1575. Local pronunciation has a tendency to Merret ; G. Meitheid. For the terminal suffix cf B,kt from rkth-d, Bialaid from beul, Caolaid from caol, Croaghat from cruach. This leaves a root 'meith,' which is probably connected v/ith maoth, soft ; mfeith, sappy ; meath, fail,^ giving the meaning, which is appropriate, of soft or spongy place ; c£ Muthil, Shandwick — Transferred from Shandwick, Nigg. ^ 'Na h-alltaichean a' fis, agus na h-aiblinichaan a' meath,' 'the burns growing and the rivers failing,' is a proverb applied to the growth ot" new families and the decay of old ones. KILMUIR EASTER. 63 KILMUIR EASTER Kilmor 1296, Kilmure Madath 1541, Kilmure Meddett 1575— G. Cni-Mhoir, Mary's Church. MilntOWn — ' Myltoun of Methat with its two mills ' 1479 ; G. Baile-mhuilin or Baile-mhuilin Anndra, from Andrew Munro, who built Milntown Castle, c. 1500, or his son, Black Andrew Munro. Now officially known as Milntown of New Tarbat. New Tarbat — So called by the Cromartie family, from Tarbat, where their former seat was (v. Castlehaven). Kildary — G. Caoldaraidh, based on caol, narrov,% and analysed caol-d-ar-aidh, " d " being euphonic. The ' narrow place ' in question is doubtless the river gorge between Kildary Farm and the parish of Logie. Apitauld (pron. Abijald) — G. Ath-pit-allt ; ' ath,' ford, ' pet,' baile, ' allt,' burn. The place is close to Balnagown Bridge. ' Pit ' has survived here owing to the prefixing of ' kth,' ford, which caused the sense of ' pit ' to be obscured. Were it not for this, the name would no doubt have become Balnault. Balnagown — ^Balnegovne 1375, Smith's town ; the modern Gaelic is as the English form. Near the castle is a steep old bridge over the river, still in good order, known as ' the King's Bridge,' and 64 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY, traditionally associated with James IV. It leads to the King's Causeway — the old road to Tain. Polnicol — Poll Neacail, Nicol's pool. Between the farms of Polnicol and Garty, on the north side of the road is a narrow strip called the Lint-pools. Garty — Gorty 1368; ' gart,' standing corn; ' goirtean,' small field of corn, W. ' garth.' Also Knockgarty. Rhives — G. Na Ruigheannan ; le Royis 1479, le Ruvis 1487, later Ruffis ; ' ruigh,' land sloping up to a hill in ridges. The G. form is peculiar, and looks like the pi. of a diminutive ' rulghean,' but the pronunciation does not countenance this. It is probably to be compared with such plurals as ainmeannan, Idumannan, etc. Of. Kin-rive. The present farm of Rhives contains, in addition to the ancient le Royis, three other tracts whose names appear in record and are not yet wholly lost : — Auchoyle, the northern part of the farm, partly a slope once heavily wooded, now rough pasture. Achawyle 1351, Achenwyl 1368, Achagyle 1619 ; ' achadh,' field, and ' gall,' stranger. Near it was Badferne, now obsolete. Knoknapark 1527 and passim in E.R. This was the hillocky part to the N.E. of Delny Station, where the P.O., ' Parkhill,' formerly stood. The P.O. and the name have now been shifted two miles east, just beyond Balnagown Bridge. Badehaa 1587, etc.; also Badebay. This is the part of Rhives lying south of the railway, still known locally as 'the Batty- bay.' Before being reclaimed, it was dotted with birch clumps ; hence ' bad a' bheith,' birch copse. KILMUIR, EASTER. 65 Delny — Dalgeny 1356 ; G. Deilgnidh, based on dealg, prickle, whence deilgne, thorns ; deilgneach, prickly ; ' place of prickles.' Here stood a castle of the Eails of Ross. Tornabrock— G. Torr na' broc, Mound of the badgers. Balvack — Bail a' bhac, Moss-town ; between Delny Station and the U.F.C. Manse. Barbaraville — G. an cladach, the shore ; its east end is Portlich, G. port fhlich (loc), the wet port — there being no proper place for landing. Polio — G. Am PoUan ; Estir Polga and Westir Polga 1479 ; diminutive of ' poll,' pool, or hole. Balintraid — Balandrade 1479, Balnatraid 1507 ; ' baile ' and ' traigh,' sea-shore, genitive, traghad. Priesthill — Cnoc an t-sagairt ; the pre-Reformation manse and glebe were here. Somewhere to the west of it is said to have been a drowning pool. Poll a' bh^thaidh, but its site can hardly be identified. John the Baptist's Well is, or was, west of Priesthill, near the burn. Broomhill — BromehiU 1634 appears to represent Ardunagage 1479, Ardnagag 1487, Ardnagaag 1586; ' g^g,' cleft, chink; hence, Height of the cleft. C£ Gaick. Inchfuir — Inchfure 1463,Petfure 1479,Inchfure alias Pitfure 1539, G. I's-fiur (i's = innis) ; interesting as showing the unique, or at least very rare, change of ' pit ' to ' inch ' (innis) ; c£ Pitfure in Black Isle and in Rogart, Porin in Strathconan, Dochfour, Balfour, etc. In the " Book of Deer " 5 66 PLACE-NAMES OP ROSS AND CROMARTY. 'here occurs " nice furene," unto Furene, which appears to be an aspirated Porin ; '-fure ' is from the root seen in Welsh ' pori,' to pasture, and ' poriant,' pasture. Thus ' Inchfuir ' means pasture meadow. Ejndeace, G. Oinn-d^is, has been transferred from Nigg. William Robertson, of Inverness, acquired the estate of Kindeace, in Nigg, in 1629. The Nigg estate was subsequently disposed of, and the family acquired the estate now known as Kindeace, in Kilmuir, of old Inchfure, retaining the style " of Kindeace." ' Cinn,' locative of ' ceann ;' ' dels,' perhaps loc. of ' dias,' an ear of corn ; ' corn-head ;' suitable, but doubtful. Lonevine — G. L6n a' bhinn ; ' Ion,' marsh, or low damp ground ; ' binn,' gen. of ' beann,' hiU. Tullich — G. An Tulaich, locative of ' tulach,' hillock. Burrack'=l — G. Na btlraich ; ' btirach,' digging ; ' the diggings '—for peat and turf The place is a rough peat-moss. Dorachan- — Extension of ' doire,' copse. Cf for formation Giuthsachan, place of fir. Driminault — Druim (n) an allt, ' ridge of the burns,' one of -which flows into the Balnaguvvn Water. Claisdhu — ' Clais,' furrow, narrow and shallow valley ; ' dubh,' bkck. Torran — G. An Torran, diminutive of ' torr,' heap ; of old Torran Hath, grey hillock. Badachonacliar — Baddiequhoncar,Baddiequhonchar lo71 ; ' bad,' copse ; ' conachair, (l) uproar, (2) a sick person who neither gels worse nor better KILMUIR EASTER, 67 (Macbain's G. Diet.); a large peat -moss in the upper part of the parish. In this case it may be from the proper name Conachar. Cf. Coir' a' Chonachair ( Kincardine). Dalnaclerach — ' Dail,' dale, meadow ; ' clerach,' cleric ; clerics' dale. It appears to have formed part of the church lands of Kilmuir, and is pro- bably included in the grant made in 1541 by " Master David Dunbar, chaplain of the chaplainry of the Virgin Mary in the parish of Kilmure Madath to Thomas Ross of Balintrait, etc., of the church-lands called Priestishill and UUadule, reserving to himself and his successors one acre of the lands of Priestishill, lying near the manse on the south side for a manse and garden to be there constructed." Ulladule (v. Logie Easter) was the old name of Scotsburn, which is adjacent to Dalnaclerach. Kinrive — G. Ceann-ruigh, Kennachrowe 1362, Gandenrew 1547, Canderwiff' 1549, Kenroy 1556 ; ' ceann,' head, ' ruigh,' ridgy slope. Kenrive is the hUl to which the land slopes up from the sea in a succession of terraces. The various spellings are suggestive of the way in which the G. ' ruigh ' became Anglicised — ' rive ' (pron. riv). Rhives, in the low part of the parish, shows the plural form in Gaelic and in English. CnOC-Still (west of Inchfure) — Hill of the strip, i.e., strip of grass. ' Still ' is genitive of ' steall,' which in 0. Ir. is ' stiall,' and means a belt, girdle, strip, piece of anything. Cf. Loch Still ; Caisteal Still (now Castlehill), Inverness. 68 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Cam Totaig (north of Cnoc-still) — Diminutive of ' tobhta,' knoll. The cairn has disappeared, but the place is still counted uncanny. Heathfield— G. Cal-fhraochaidh ; Kalruquhy 1479, Calrechy 1586, Calrichie 1616, from cala, a wet meadow (which exactly describes it), and fraoch, heather. Of Calatruim, hollow of the elder (Joyce) ; Freuchie, now Castle-Grant. Strathrory — G. Srath-uaraidh ; Strathury 1362, Straithworie 1563, Strathworie 1628, but Strath- rowrie 1571. The modern English form is due to the false analogy of the personal name ' Ruaraidh,' Rory, which sometimes affects even the Gaelic. The Old Stat. Ace. of Logie states (referring to the Rory or Balnagown Water) ; " The only river in the parish goes generally by the name of Abhor or river," and in accordance with a custom so general as to be almost a rule, the Strath should take its name from the river. ' Srath-abharaidh ' might yield Srath-uaraidh ; cf the dialectic change of famhair, giant, into fua'r, e.g. Tigh 'n fhua'r, Novar. The New Stat. Ace. suggests uar, water- spout, which is worth considering. The river is liable to sudden spates. Druim na gaoith — Windy ridge ; a hill in the extreme north-west of the parish. Craskag — The name, now obsolete, of the burn issuing from Achnacloich loch, and running at the foot of Kinrive hill — the little cross (burn) ; cf AUt Tarsuinn (Kincardine). AUt Rapaidh— -Noisy burn ; north side of Strath- rory; boundary between Balnagown and Kindeace. BOSSKEEN. 69 EOSSKEEN. Rosskeen — Eoskeu 1270, Koscuyu 1640; G. Ros- cuithnidh ; ' ros,' headland, referring most pro- bably to the promontory on which Invergordon stands, now called ' An Rudha.' The latter part is rather difficult. Dr Joyce notes in Ireland such names as Quinhie and Feaghquinny, from Ir. cuinche, pronounced nearly queenha, the arbutus tree. This suits the phonetics of Ros- cuithnidh, which would thus mean arbutus head. In a field by the roadside, near the Parish Church, is Clach a' Mheirlich, the thief's stone. Saltbum — G. Alltan an t-saluinn. Explained from the tradition that cargoes of salt were hid here in the times when there was a duty payable on that article. Ord — ' Ord,' hammer, in root connected with ' ard,' high ; secondary meaning, ' rounded hill ' ; but the eminence in this case is very slight. Inverbrekie — Inchbreky 1475, Innachbreky 1511, Uvachbrekie 1608, Innerbreky, 1512, Innerbreke, 1533. The name is now applied to the farm lying north of Invergordon, but formerly included the site of the town. The ' inver ' implies a stream, which must have been called the ' Breakie,' from ' breac,' dappled, and is probably that which enters the firth near Rosskeen church. The surface has 70 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMAHTY. been much changed by cultivation and draining. Inchbreky is ' the meadow of the Breaky.' Invergordon appears in Pocock's Tour in 1760. So called by a former proprietor, Sir Alexander Gordon. The Cromlet — The slope behind Invergordon ; ' orom-leathad,' sloping hill-side. Edncraig — Kynnacrege 1479 ; G. Ceann na creige, Rock-end. Achintoul — G. Ach an t-sabhail, Barn-field. Achnagarron — Probably 'ach,' field, and 'carran,' spurrey ; Ir. ' carran,' scurvy grass. Locally from ' gearran,' a gelding, but the phonetics do not suit. Rosebank — A modern name ; ancient Culquhnze 1477, Culkenzie 1586; 'ciiil,' nook, ' Coinneach,' Kenneth ? Newmore — G. An ne' mh6r, the great glebe (v. Church names). Stoneyfield probably represents Feauchlath 1479, Feachclathy 1487, Feauchclachy 1507 — Faich nan clach, or, F^ith nan clach. Coillymore — Kellymmoir 1571 ; G. A' ChoUlemhor, Big wood. Rhicullen — ' Buigh,' land sloping up to a hill, and ' cuileann,' holly. There is a remarkably fine holly bush, which must be of great age. Riaskmore — 'Riasg,' morass with sedge or dirk- grass ; ' m6r,' big. Tomich — ' T6m,' conical hillock, with collective suffix ' ach,' in locative — Place of hillocks. Inchindown — Inchedown 1571 ; G. I's an dtiin, Meadow of the Dun, innis, as often, being reduced ROSSKEEN. 71 to i's. There is no trace of a fort, but Kinrive hill in the part immediately behind the farm is precipitous, and covered with stones. Many large cairns were removed when the fkrm was extended about forty years ago. Achnacloich and Dalnacloich — Fie'd and dale of stones ; from the large cairn on the hiUside, north- east of the loch. Dalnavie, Cnocnavie, Nonakiln, Inchnavie — (See Church-names). Millcraig — Craigemylne 1479, Cragmyln 1507; also molendinum de Crag ; G. Muileann na creige — Rock-mill. Badcall — Badkall 1571 and passim; G. Bad-call, hazel-clump ; to the east of Millcraig, and fast becoming obsolete. Mulnafaa — ' Fuath,' spectre — Goblin-mill. Gaplich — ' Capull,' horse, mare — Place of horses. The name is fairly common. Obsdale — ObstuiU 1548 ; Norse hops-dalr, bay dale ; from the small bay near it. Culcairn — G. Cul-chkirn ; Culcarne 1571 ; 'back of the cairn,' i.e., Carn na Croiche, the hanging cairn, on the hill behind it. Crossbills — Perhaps, in view of the nearness of Nonakiln, the name may be ecclesiastical. Balnaguisich — Fir-wood stead. Ardross — ' Ard-rois,' height of Ross. Blaeu's Ard- ross is the water-shed between Easter and Wester Ross, which may have been correct in his day. In any case, Fear Ard-rois was in use to denote 72 PLACK-NAMES OF KOSS AND CROMARTY. Laird of Ardross (in Rosskeen) before Sir A. Matheson's time. Cuillich — Culyeoth Mekle and Culyeoch Manach (Mid) 1479, Chwleauchmeanach and Chwyulaich- mor 1571, Cunlich (Retours and Reg. Mag. Sig. passim), ' CmTtihang-lach,' the place of the ' cumh- ang' or narrow passage, with reference to the gorge of the river on which it is situated. Cf. Coy-lum, Badenoch ; Cuag, in Kilmuir ; ' cunglach' still means a narrow defile in modern Gaelic. Dalneich — Horse-dale. Cf. Caplich. Grlaick — Locative of ' glac,' grip ; it is, as it were, in the grip of the hills. Very common. Loanreoch — ' L6n,' low meadow ; ' riabhach,' brindled — from copse alternating with grass and heather. Balanrishallaich — Fraser's town. Stittenham seems modern, as it does not occur on record. Gaelic accents the last syllable. Strathy — G. an t-srathaidh — with -aidh ending. Crannich. — Locative of Orannach, place of trees, or abounding in trees ; G. a' Chrannaich. Srath-na-Frarjgach — ? Tansy Strath, from Franga- lus or lus na frang. It was the abode of the noted cattle-thief, " Seileachan," the site of whose house is said to be still distinguishable. Near it is AUt na fiiaralaich, burn of the cold place ; Aldnaquhorolache 1571. Coire-ghoibhnidh — Corryzewynie 1571, ?corry of the smithy ; at the west end of Kinrive Hill ; c£ Ard na goibhne in Tanera. But possibly, Corry of the wintry stream, 0. Ir. gam, winter ; cf the Goineag, Badenoch. BOSSKEEN. 73 Tolly— G. ToUaidh, probably here from ' toll,' bole ; 'place of holes.' ToUie-mylne, alias mylne- chaggane appears on record. The lands of Tolly were part of the patrimony of the Chapel of Kildermorie. Above Tolly are Coire Thollaidh and Braigh Thollaidh. Baldoon — G. Bail' an duin, town of the dun. There is a hill fort in the wood near. Inchlumpie — G. I's-lombaidh ; ' innis/ meadow, ' lorn/ bare, with -aidh ending. The ' b ' is euphonic. The place is a narrow level strip by the river-side. Above it is am Breacradh, the spotted place ; cf. am bog'radh. The ground rises up to Cnoc an t-seilich. Willow-hill. Strathrusdale — Strathrustell 1691 ; G. Srath- rusdail ; Norse ' hruts-dalr,' ram's dale, with G. srath prefixed. This name is interesting, and suggestive as to the extent and the character of the Norse occupation of Easter Ross. Aultanfearn — Alder-brooklet. This and the four following are in Strathrusdale. Balnacraig — Rock-town . Dalreoich — Spotted dale ; cf Dal break Balanlochan — Loch- to w n . Braeantra — Brkighe an t-sraith. Head of the strath. Cnoc an t-sitheaa beag and Cnoc an t-sithean. m6r are hills north of Strathrusdale. ' Siti i ,' • sithean,' hill, usually grassy ; especially a green fairy hill ; but often (as here) applied to high hills with rounded tops. C£ Schiehallion. Sithean a' choin bhain — Hill of the white dog. Doire leathan — Broad copse. 74 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Beinn Tarsuinn— doss hill. Very common. Garraran — G. an gar(bh)aran, the rough place ; from garbh, with double suffix ; cf. Cloch-ar-aai, Giuths-ar-an, &c G4rn Cuinneag — ' Cuiuneag,' a milking pail. The Cairn (3000 ft.) is double peaked, and I am informed that the ' Cuinneag ' proper is the western and higher peak, the other being called Carn Mairi, from the name of a girl who perished there while crossing from Strathcarron to Kilder- morie. In a rock on the Cuinneag there ate several clean-cut hollows, one or more of which is tub or pail-shaped. They are really pot-holes caused by wind action. From these the hill is said to have got its name ; but it may be from the fact that, when viewed from a distance, the peaks may be considered, with the help of a little goodwill, to represent a gigantic cuinneag with its ' lug.' This is the explanation of the Sutherland Cuinneag. The following names, belonging either to Kil- muir or to the border of Rosskeen, are obsolete : — Rawsnye or Risaurie, Knokderruthoill, Ardachath (a cultivated field on Newmore), Glascarne (a cairn), Knocknasteraa, Abianemoir (a wood), Kirkchaistull or Pollograyscheak (a hill), Alda- naherar (burn), Tobirinteir (well in Kinrive), Brakach, Rawcharrache, Rewchlaschenabaa, Chau- deraig, Binebreychst, Correbruoch, Almaddow. All these are taken from the marches of Newmore as given in the " Origines Parochiales' for 1571. ALNESS. ALNESS. Alness — Alenes 122/ ; G. Alanais. Local tradition has it that the name Alness applies primarily to the spot where the Parish Church stands, which is at once probable from analogy, and confirmed by old maps and by the fact that south of the church is Pkirc Alanais, Alness Park.' The name, there- fore, has nothing to do with Norse ness, a point. Its ending -ais is that seen in Dallas, etc. , and the first part is identical with Allan in E. Ross and the Black Isle Allans. There are at least three Scottish rivers called Allan, and this is supposed to be the modern form of the Alaunos of Ptolemy, who also mentions Alauna as a town of the Damnonii. Two roots seem possible ; ail, a rock, and that seen in Latin pal-us, a marsh, which in Celtic would drop initial ^. Culcraggie and Balachraggan (below), which adjoin the Church of Alness, favour ail ; one of the other Allans is Allan nan clach. But another is Bog Allan. Further, Allan in E. Ross, while far from stony, lies low, and was once, doubtless, marshy, while close by Alness Church is a burn and a low damp meadow. Local evidence therefore suggests the meaning of Allan to be ' the bog,' and of Alness, ^ Seawards of this park is a marshy place called An Inbhir, the estuary, where the burn which flows by Alness Church enters the Cromarty Firth. It is quite possible that this burn was once an " Allan Water." 76 PLACE-NAMES OF EOSS AND CROMARTY, ' place of the Allan, or wet place.' Cf. the Welsh and Cornish rivers Alun. Ardroy — ' Aird,' promontory ; ' ruadh,' red ; a point west of Alness point. The ' stell,' or fishing station of Ardroy is mentioned in 1479 ; also "the Flukaris croft." Teaninich — G. Tigh 'n aonaich, Moor-house, or Market-house. The name appears in the Retours, but not in the Ex. E,., where the modern Teaninich appears as " the two Culmelathquhyis " (th = ch), 1479 and passim; Culmelloquhy 1526, Culmalochie 1586, Ovir-culmalochie 1526. The two Culmalochies were thus Over- and Nether- Gulmalochy. Coulhill — G. Cnoc na cilil ; the higher part of the village, in rear of the main street. Balnacoule 1583. Culcraggie — Culcragy 1479 ; G. Cuil-chreagaidh, Rocky-nook, creagaidh being the old locative of creagach. The banks of the burn which adjoins the farm are steep, but not rocky. The reference is rather to large boulders with which part of the farm near the present house was once strewn. Ballachraggan — Town of the little rock. Baluacraig — G. Bail' na creige. Rocktown, so called from the precipitous banks of the Alness River close by. Contullich — G. Cuuutulaich ; ' con,' together ; ' tulach,' hillock ; ' congeries of liillocks,' accurately descriptive. Cf Conachreig, Coneas, Contin, etc. A park at the east side of tlie Boath road, near ALNESS. T] the ContuUich farm-servants' cottages, is called An Triuhhais, the Trews, probably because of a resemblance to that article of dress at a time when the field was only partly reclaimed. Glashnabuiac — Cleft of the yellow flowers. TallySOW (always with the article both in English and Gaelic, which latter is sounded as the Eng.), referred to in the New Stat. Ace. as Novar Inn. The name appears in Jamieson's Scottish Diet, as TilKesoul, " a place at some distance from a gentle- man's mansion-house, where the servants and horses of his guests are sent when he does not choose to entertain the former at his own expense." He gives also the form 'tilliesow.' Derived by Jamieson from French ' tous les souls,' the place where all the drunkards congregate, or ' tillet les soulds,' soldiers' billet, a place where soldiers are quartered out with money to pay for lodging ; or, G. ' tulach an t-sabhail,' barn- hHlock. The last is out of the question. The Tallysow is by the roadside, near Novar House, and there is another Tallysow near Maryburgh. Novar — Tenuer, Blaeu. G. Tigh 'n fhu.9mhair, Giant's house. Fjnrish (farm and hill) — G. Foireis ; Fyrehisch 1479, Feris 1539; the spelling varies almost with each appearance, and sometimes becomes even Fischerie ; probably fi?om Norse ' fura ' or ' fyri,' pine-tree. Fyrish is and was noted for its wood. To the back of Fyrish hill, tov/ards Ardoch, is Poll a Mhucainn, Poll of the place of swine. 78 PLACE-NAMES OF EOSS AND CROMARTY. Here, according to local tradition, was concluded the Communion service held at Obsdale in 1675, which was broken up on the approach of a party of soldiers sent to apprehend the minister. Ballavoulin — Bail' a' mhuilinn. Mill-town. Assynt — G. Asaint ; Norse ' dss,' rocky ridge ; ' endi,' end. Cf Assynt in Sutherland. Aultgrande — G. an t-allt-grannda, the ' ugly burn ' which Hows through the famous Black Rock. Cladh Churadain (see Church names). Druim nan Damh — Stag ridge. Redburn — G. an t-allt dearg. Uig — G. an iiig, ' vik,' bay, but it is well inland, and so is an extension of the primary meaning. Sockach — G. an t-socaich, a locative from 'see,' snout, fore part of anything, with the suffix -ach. Common as a name for places that project. An Lainn — Loc. of lann, enclosure ; very rare in Scottish names, but cf Lhanbryde ; an Garbhlainn (Anglicised Caroline) on the farm of Tullich, Strathnairn. Part of Lainn is am blar borraich ; borrach is a species of rough grass. Near Glen- glass School. Lorgbuie — G. an lorg bhuidhe, the yellow track. Achnagoul — ' Gobhal,' fork ; ' field of the fork.' Bainard — Town of the height. Eilean na Cabhaig — (In Val. Roll EUancavie). Island of the hurry. With it goes Bruach dian. steep bank. Loch a' Chapuill — ' CapuU,' horse ; Horse Looh. Meall an Tuirc— ' Tore,' boar ; Boar's Hill. ALNESS. 79 Bendeallt (BdnnjuUt), on O.S.M. Beinne na diollaide ; an un-Gaelic-lookiiig name ; possibly corrupt. CnOC L6ith Bhaid or, Cnoc an liath bhaid, hill of the grey clump. (O.S.M. Cnoc Liath Fad). Cnoc Coille Bhrianain— (O.S.M. Cnoc a' Ghille Bhi-6naich), now often simply ' Brianan ;' Hill of Brendan's wood ; but ' coille ' is almost certainly a recent corruption of ' giUe,' servant, follower. Loch a' Mhagraidh — From m^g, pawing, paw ; also toal, Loch of the place of toads (possibly of pawing) ; cf Mucarach, from muc, pig. Sgor a' Chaoruinn — Kowan-tree rock. Meall nam bo— Cow-hill. Kildermorie (see Church names). Above the old chapel is- Creag na Cille, Church-rock, below which is Glaic nan Clerach, where the parson of Kilmuir was killed by the parson of Kildermorie (or vice versa) ; near the chapel is Tobar MJioire, Mary's Well. A market, Feill Mhoire, was once held here. The waters of Loch Moir, G. Loch Mhoire, are locally reputed to have an under- ground outlet to Loch Glass, a tradition noted by Macfarlane (c. 1750), who says that its waters sanctify those of L. Glass. Between Kilder- morie and Teaninich, on the north side of Loch Moir, is Allt na Fuirrid, Ir. furbaide, a cutting out ? Leathad Riabhach— The ' brindled hill-side,' north of Loch Moir— a precipitous rocky face. Am Mam — ' Mkm,' large round hill ; M.Ir. ' mamm,' breast. Cf ' Cioch ' as a hill name 80 PLACE-NAMES OF KOSS AND CROMARTY. Kinloch — Loch-end ; at the end of Loch Moir. Boath — Bothmore 1583 ; G. na Bothachan, the places of booths or huts. The name appHes to the spacious strath, or rather half-strath, from Gnoc a' Bhoth, Hill of the booth, which runs north and south at its western end, to Cnoc 'Chroisg, Hill of the crossing. In Cnoc a' Bhoth is Creag a' Bhoth, Rock of the Booth, and under it, Both-hhig, with a field, am Blaran Odhar, the dun field, at the top of which is a sloping piece of grass called am Bard, the meadow, a name common in the district ; not yet obsolete in Badenoch speech. Both-mhor is next to Glaick. The great cairns of Boath are noted below. There are hut circles and numerous tumuh on Cnoc Alasdair, and on the highest of the hillocks to the east of Strone are the ruins of a hill-fort or broch with many tumuli on its south-east side, and a hut circle to the west. Poll na Cuilc — Reedy pool, in the river east of Kinloch. Strone — Nose ; Cnoc na Srbiu, the hill running to a point which separates Boath from Strathrusdale. West of the Strone peat road is Druim ?!« Ceardaich, Smithy Ridge, with a curious circular ruin, said to have been a smithy. East of it An Ruigh Dreighean, Thorn-slope, with a small cairn. €rlaick — G. a' ghlaic, the hollow ; part of the farm so called is the highest cultivated land in Boath. Near it is an t-Uchdan, the terrace, breast-let. Duchan — Probably based on dubh, black ; the little Mack place. ALNESS. 81 Ballone — Bail' an 15in, town of the loan, or wet meadow. Above the farm-house is Am Bard, the meadow. AUt na' Onuimheag — Bum of worms ; explained locally by reference to a skirmish with cattle- lifters which took place near it, after which the dead were left unburied. MilltOWn — G. Baile-mhuilinn. Cnoclea — G. An Cnoc-liath, grey hill, from the grey appearance given by the two great cairns on the moor. One of these has an oval megalithic chamber, once vaulted, and still over eight feet deep. The other is much destroyed. Acharn — ' Ach,' field ; ' earn,' cairn. It is adjacent to the cairns ; ' field of the cairns.' Clais na' mial — A small winding glen opposite the road leading to Acharn ; ' saltus pediculorum,' locally explained (l) from its convenient privacy, (2) from the poverty of its grass and consequent effect on cattle. But ' mial ' is used here in its old general sense of ' animal ' ; ' beasts' hollow.' Balnagrotchen — Bail' nan croitean, croft-township ; the hill to the south west is Cnoc na Leacachan, Flag-stone hill ; corruptly, Cnoc ar Leacachan. (O.S.M. Cnoc liath na h-Acain). Balmainach — G. Bad' meadhonach, Middle-town ; between Acharn and Loanroidge. Loanroidge — G. An L6n-roid, wet meadow of bog- myrtle, which is very plentiful here. East of the farm-house is a pretty meadow by the river-side, called Bard nan Laogh, calves' meadow. Further 6 82 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CBOMARTY. along Is The Assarow, G. an asaradh, a stretch of pasture sloping up from the river, based on fasair or asair, pasturage. It has no connection with Ir. Assaroe. Below the Assarow is Am Poll Rvxidh, the red pool, the deepest in the Boath part of the river. Pollag Aitionn — Juniper pool ; in the river below Loanroidge Farm. Known also as Poll nam, morbh, Pool of the fish speai's. It is a good pool for salmon and sea-trout. East of it is Poll na' Clar — As this is a good place for crossing by leaping from stone to stone, the meaning may well be that seen in many similar Irish names, Pool of the Boards, i.e., planks to facilitate crossing. Cnoc 'Ohroisg — ' Crasg,' a crossing ; the hill over which the road crosses into Boath. The old road crossed rather to the west of the present road. Lealty— Lealdy 1622; G. Lethalltaidh ; 'leth-allt,' half-burn, i.e., the sloping land on one side of the . burn, common as Leault, but here it shews the -ie termination. A ' Leault ' is usually a ' one- sided ' burn, and is so here. East of Lealty and north of Ardoch is a wooded hUl, Cnoc Churadair, a name which looks like " hiU of the sower," but it really stands for Cnoc Churadain, St Curitan's hill. An Corran — Dimin. of ' coire,' corry. Ardoch — G. An h,rdach, the high place. Below it, north of the present road, is An Cahlisair Jliuch, the wet causeway, part of the old road. ALNESS. 83 Baddans — G. Na Badanan, the little copses. A. little south of the farm-house and east of the road is Am Bard, a nice flat field. Clais druim bhathaich — Cleft of the byre-ridge. Auchvaich and Ardache appear in 1608 as pen- dicles of Contullich. MultOVy — Multowy 1490 ; G. Multabhaidh, an ext 3nsion of ' mult,' wedder ; place of wedders. Cf. Muckovie, place of swine. The termination repre- sents an early -ab-, -ob-, -ub-. Cf. Cen-abum, Or-obis, Es-ubii. Cnoc Duchary — Probably ' dubh-chktbraidh,' the black-m.oss-place. A great cairn containing cists stood on its easter slope. Cnoc C6islein — Hill at back of Fyrish ; a derivative of Ir. ' ceis/ sow. It is a broad-backed hill, and faces Meall an Tuirc (Boar's Hill) on the west. Cf the Boar of Badenoch and the Sow of Atholl. East of it is Poll a' Mhucainn, noted above. Averon — The local name of the Alness River. The local derivation is worth recording. Once on a time there lived at Kinloch a widow with two sons. One died suddenly, and not long there- after the second was drowned in crossing the ford above Poll na Cuilc. When the sad news was brought to the mother, she exclaimed, " M' ath bhroD ! " (My second sorrow !), whence the river is called Averon to this day. A similar derivation is locally given for Carn-averon in Aberdeenshire. The name is best regarded as an extension of O. Ir. ab, river, -with diminutive termination — 84 PLj^CE-NAMES of ROSS AND CROMARTY. Abh-ar-an. Strictly it is said to apply only to the part from L. Moir to the junction at Strath- rusdale. An equation with the Gaulish Avara, though tempting, would be rash. Of. Strathrory, Avoch. Ceann-uachdarach : " lands of Candwachterach with its brewhouse (cum brasina)," 1642 — upper- head ; beyond Kildermorie, but of old evidently a less lonely place than it is now. It was near the drove road from the north to Dingwall. Carn Sonraichte — Oairnehondrig 1619; 'notable cairn,' north of Kildermorie. Loch Bad-a-bhathaich — Loch of the byre-clump. About a mile to the east of it is Olach kirigh a' Mhinistir, Stone of the Minister's shieling. Creachainn nan Sgadan — Bare hill-top of the herring. There is a local tradition of a shower of herring, which may be founded on fact ; for inland places in Ireland similarly named, see Joyce II., 312. Bad-Sgalaidh — (Also Bothan Bad-sgalaidh), about five miles beyond Kildermorie, and noted for ghosts ; Ir. sc^, spectre ; " Spectre-clump." In this direction, near the river, is Braonan, the little wet place ; v. Fairburn. KILTEARN. 85 KILTEARN. Kiltearn— Kiltierny 1227, Keltyern 1296 ; G. Oill- tighearn. Usually explained as ' Lord's Kirk, either in the sense of ' Church dedicated to the Lord,' or from some early chief of the Munros having been buried there. As for the first of these explanations, there seems to be no parallel for such a dedication, though we find indeed CiU Chriosd. As to the second, the burying-place of the family of Fowlis, firom the earliest times of which we have any record, was in the Chanonry of Ross, and it is in any case extremely improb- able that the church should receive its designation from the burial of a chief A third theory is a dedication to St Ternan, who is supposed to have been a contemporary and pupil of Palladius. This also is unsatisfactory, for though Ternan's name is preserved in Banchory- Ternan, dedica- tions to him are extremely rare, and, moreover, it is difficult to see how Ternan would suit the phonetics, for the last syllable, ' -an,' could hardly have been dropped. The most feasible explan- ation is a dedication to Tighernach. C£ Kiltierny in Ireland with Kiltierny 1227. The parish includes in its western part the old parish of Lumlair ; Lemnelar 1227, Lymnolar and 86 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Lumlar 1548 ; G. Luim na Ikr ; luim, locative of 15m, a bare surface ; Ikr is most probably genitive plural of Ikir, mare ; Ikr, the ground, not being suitable in respect of meaning and gender. Names from the various words for ' horse ' — each, capuU, marc — are very common, arising from the old practice of keeping the horses on a pasture by themselves ; cf. Glenmark, Glenmarkie, Ardin- caple, Kincaple, Caplich, Dalneich. The church of Lumlair, according to the Old Statistical Account dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and in modern times known as St Mary's Chapel, stood at Lumlair near the sea-shore. The site referred to is close by the roadside, about two and a-half miles east of Dingwall. The foundations of the chapel are still visible, with an ancient and now disused burying-ground, called Cladh ma-Bhri (Kilmabryd, Blaeu). This burying-ground is doubtless called after the saint to whom the chapel was dedicated, and who, moreover, from the above well-known modern Gaelic form of the name, could not have been Mary. Blaeu's Kil- mabryd suggests Bridget, but her name in Gaelic is always Brid, never Bri. The only name that satisfies the phonetics is Brig, later Brigh. There were at least two Irish female saints so called. Fowlis — G. F61ais (narrow o) ; cf Allt F61ais in Gairloch (Loch Maree), Foulis in Aberdeen (G. F61ais), Fowlis in Perth, Fowlis in Forfar. The oldest forms of all are similar to the modern. KILTEABN. 87 The phonetics indicate a lost ' g ' or ' d ' before ' 1,' which suggests fo-glais, foghlais, from fo, under, and O.G. glas, water, ' Sub- water,' or ' Streamlet ' ; cf for meaning Welsh ' goflFrwd,' streamlet, the philological G. equivalent of which is ' fo-sruth.' (For the phonetic process involved, cf. ' foghnadh,' sufficiency, from O. Ir. fognam). A small burn, AUt Folais, runs through the Glen of Fowlis, and there are burns near all the other places of the same name. Drummond — G. Druimein, locative of drum, ridge ; cf Drymen, in Stirling. Balconie — Balkenny 1333 and 1341 ; ^ G. Bailcnidh, based on bailc, strong ; Welsh balch, proud ; for the extensions of the root cf. Delny. The Gaelic form is decisive against baile, a town or stead, and compels me regretfully to give up a former identification (by myself) of Balkenny of 1333 with Petkenny of 1281.^ The traditional explan- ation is Baile Comhnuidh, dwelling place, to wit, of the Earls of Boss ; but the meaning cannot be other than ' the strong place.' Teanord — G. Tigh 'n uird, Ord-house. Katewell— CatoU 1479 ; KeatoU 1608 ; G. Cladail; Norse kvi, fold ; dalr, dale ; cf. kvia-bolr, milking place ; kvia-bekkr, fold-beck. Swordale — Sweredull 1479 ; G. Suardal ; Norse svorSr, sward ; dalr, dale. ' Charters granted at Balkenny by Hugh, Earl of Ross, and by William, Zarl of Ross. * In 1281 WiUiam, Earl of Ross, granted a quarter of land, which was <:alled Petkenny, to the Bishop of Moray. Petkenny cannot be located. 88 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMAHTY. Balachladich — Shore-town. Ardullie — G. Aird-ilidh ; the latter part may repre- sent ' ileach,' variegated, in which sense may be compared the uses of breac, riabhach, ballach, blkr ; ' speckled height.' Dilinn, as in leac dhilinn, natural rock, will not suit, as the i of Aird-ilidh is short. Pelaig— Pollock 1583 ; G. Peallaig. Eob Donn uses ' peallag ' in the sense of ' rough garment ' — dimin. of ' peall,' hairy skin, borrowed from Latin pellis, hide. But the meaning is not satisfactory as a place-name, and the word may be non- Gaelic — as is indeed suggested by the initial ' p.' ' Peallaidh ' is a Pictish river-name, seen in Obair- pheallaidh, Aberfeldy. Peallaidh is used in Lewis as the name of a water-sprite. (Of German quell, a spring). Clachan Biorach — ' Pointed ' or ' standing stones : they consist of two equal ovals joined to each other, and are described minutely by the late Mr Roderick Maclean in his " Notes on the Parish of Kiltearn" (Gaelic Society Transactions XV.) North of the Clachan Biorach is Cnoc an Teampuill, Temple Hill. There are also Clachan Biorach at the head of Clare. Fluchlady — Fliuch leathad, wet hillside, with -aidh ending. Bogandurie— Bogginduiry 1696 ; G. Bog an dtibh- raidh, gloomy bog. Gulbin — Back of the hill. KILTEABN. 89 Octobeg — G. An t-ochdamh beag, the small octave, i.e., eighth part of a davach ; cf. Ochto, Kin- cardine. Cnoc Vabin — G. Cnoc Mhkbairn, a name showing the good Celtic termination -ernos, but other- wise obscure ; perhaps a personal name. Fuaranbuy — Yellow-well. Strongarve — Rough nose or point. Skiach (water) — Scraiskeith 1479 ; G. AUt na sgitheach ; O. Ir. see, G. sgeach, hawthorn ; a common element in names ; cf. Altnaskiach, near Inverness. Culnaskiach — Culnaskeath 1546; nook of the Skiach, or, of the hawthorn. Teachatt (so, 1608)— G. Tigh-chait, Oat-house ; cf. CadboU. Knockancuirn — Cnocan, dimin. of cnoc ; caorunn, rowan. Rhidorach — E-uigh, slope ; dorach, dark ; dark slope. Clare — Clearmoir 1608 ; G. An Clar ; but also, anns na Clar ; clar, board, hence a flat place. But cf. Poll na' Clar in Alness. Gortan — G. Goirtean, small field of corn. KnockantOUl — Barn-hill. Druim— Eidge. Achleach— Achlich 1608 ; Achleich 1633 ; G. Ach- leitheich, locative of " ach-leitheach," half-field, i.e., field on a hill side. A cold sunless place. Sgorr a' Chl6i' — ^Creel peak ; an exceedingly steep piece of land, where, according to tradition, manure, etc., had to be carried in creels. 90 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Gleann and Meall na Speireig — Glen and Hill of the Sparrow-hawk — ' speireag.' An Socach— The Snouted Hill ; a spur of Wyvis. Gabar Fuais — The Antler of Wyvis. Allt nan Oaorach — ^Altnagerrack 1608 ; sheep- burn ; its precipitous sides are dangerous for sheep. Loch Glass and Glen Glass — O.G. glas, water ; cf E,. Glass in Strathglass ; Douglas Water, where Eng. ' water ' is a translation of ' glas ;' Glenfin- glas (fionn-glas, white-water). Findglais and Dubglas appear in a list of ' healing waters ' in Ireland (O'Curry, M. and C. HI. 97). Dubglas (Blackwater) is somewhat disguised in Inver- uglas (L. Lomond). The river flowing through Glenglass is called in its lower reaches, where it passes through the famous chasm of the Black Hock, the AUt-grannda, Ugly Burn. The old name, at least of the upper part, must have been Glass. The river flowing into Loch Glass is now kiiown as Abhainn nan feun. Bird-river (O.S.M.) Corrievachie — G. Coire-bhacaidh, an old locative of Coire-bhacach, bent corry. Cuilishie — G. Caolaisidh, the narrows. "The narrow passage at the lower end of Loch Glass. Here is the ford of the old drove road that passed that way." — Mr R. Maclean. Cf Lienassie. Kinloch — At the eastern end of Loch Glass. Eileanach — Place of islands ; it lies low by the river side, and is liable to be flooded. KILTEARN. 91 AUt na Cailce — Chalk Burn ; on its right bank is considerable deposit of lime, which is constantly added to by a tiny rivulet. Cnoc a* Mhargadaidh — Market Hill. There is a tradition of a market, which is probably correct, in view of the nearness of the old drove road from Sutherland. Certain enclosures near the foot of the hill may be explained as connected with this market, or they may be very much older. There are numerous small cairns and some fine hut circles. There are traces of a road leading to the top, and on the top is black earth with charcoal fragments. At least one flint has been found on the top. Ooneas — The remaikable double waterfall below Eileanach. Con, together ; eas, waterfall : 'com- bination of falls' ; cf Conachreig, ContuUich, Contin, Conval, Conchra, Conglas, Conaglen. Clyne— Clon 1231, Clonys, 1264, Clyne 1350-1372 ; G. an Claon, the slope ; now Mountgerald. ' Amadan a' Chlaoin ' (the Fool of Clyne) was a well-known character in the earlier half of the 19th centmy. Kilchoan — Church of St. Congan, now Mountrich. Loch nan Amhaichean — Loch of the Necks ; Loch Gobhlach (O.S.M. Loch nan Gobhlag), Forked Loch ; Loch Coire Feuchain (?) ; Feur Lochan, Grassy Lochlet ; Loch Bealach nan Cuilean ; Loch na' Druidean (O.S.M. Lochan Driogan), Loch of the Starlings ; Loch Mhiosaraidh (O.S.M. Loch Measach), Loch of dairy produce, are all in the uplands of the parish. 92 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Allt Dubhag — The small black burn. Ath a' bhealaich eidheannaich — Ford of the ivy- pass. Balnacrae — G. baile na crfe, clay-town. Culcairn — G. Cul-chtlirn, behind the cairn ; the cairn exists no longer. Dun-ruadh — Red fort. Teandallan — Explained by Mr Maclean as " house of swingle-trees or plough-yokes." " A carpenter lived here, who made a trade of them." Dalian also means a winnowing-fan. Altnalait^G. allt na lathaid, burn of the miry place ; near Tulloch, and at the western boundary of Kiltearn. Based on root of Ikthach, mire, with ending seen in Bialid, &c. Modern names are : — Evanton — G. Bail' Eoghainn, or am bail' tx, New- town, as opposed to the old village of Drummond on the west side of the river. Evanton dates from about 1800. Fannyfield — Part of Swordale ; formerly am Bog- riabhach, brindled bog. Mountgerald, formerly Clyne, so called, says Mr Maclean, by a Mackenzie who owned the place about the middle of the 18th century, in honour of the supposed Fitzgerald descent of the Mac- kenzies. Obsolete are : — -Arbisak, 1608, and Badnagarne, a pertinent of KeatoU. DINGWALL. 93 DINGWALL. Dingwall — Dingwell in Eoss 1227, Dignewall 1263, Dingwal 1308, Dingwall 1382. Norse, Thing- voUr, Field of the Thing, the Norse general court of justice. Dingwall was therefore the centre of the Norse administration in Ross. The most southerly- Norse place-name in this direction is Eskadale (Beauly), but Norse influence doubtless extended further. A mound, supposed to have been the actual meeting place of the Thing, is referred to about 1503, when James, Duke of Ross, resigned the earldom, and reserved to himself for life the moot-hill (montem) of Dingwall beside the town, in order to preserve his title as Duke. Dingwall is in Gaelic In'ir-pheofharan, Inver-peffray, and Liverferan appears in a Bull of Pope Alexander IV., 1256 (Theiner Vet. Mon.). Another term applied in a more or less familiar way to the ancient town is Bail' a' chail. Kail- town, but of the antiquity or origin of this term we cannot speak with confidence. Under date 1526 appear the following names connected with the burgh of Dingwall : — Blakcaris-land, Gray Stane, Mill of Brigend, Acris Scotte, Schortaker, march of Fesallich (dirty bog channel), Thombane (white-hillock). In 1655 we have the Boig of 94 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CB.OMAKTY. Dingwall within the Burgh thereof, called Boig- moir, including Boigmoir or Westerboig, the Mid- boig and the Eister Boig, within the parish of Dingwall. TuUoch 1507, Tulch 1563; G. tulach, hillock; common also in locative case as Tullich. Kildun — Thomas Dingwell of Kildon 1506, Kildun 1527 ; G. Cill-duinn, locative of CeaU-donn, brown church. C£ Kill in, from CiU-fhinn, white church ; Seipeil Odhar, dun chapel ; An Eaglais Bhreac, the spotted church (Falkirk). Humberston — Formerly Upper KUdun. Major William Mackenzie, of the family of Seaforth, married Mary Humberston.^ Pitglassie — Petglasse 1526 ; G. Bad a' ghlasaich, Lea-town; the change from 'pit' into 'bad' is very rare ; but c£ Pitenglassie, G. Bad an glais tir. Kinnairdie — Kynnardy 1479 ; G. Cinn-krdaidh, head of the high ground ; " the four Glakkis quhilkis are the ferd quarter of Kynnarde," 1539 ; " the demesne lands commonly called Kynnairdie, and the lands of Glakkis, a fourth part of the said demesne lands," 1584. Drynie — Wester Dry nee 1479 ; G. Droighnidh (no article) ; droigheann, thorns, with -aidh ending. Other names in the lower part of the parish explain themselves : — Bakerhill, Blackwells, Knockbain, AUanfield, Croftandrum, Baddamh- roy (copse of the red stag or ox). ' 1'. A. Mackenzie's " History of the MaekenzieB," p. 831. DINGWALL. 95 In the uplands are Cnoc a' Bhreacaich (O.S.M. Cnoc a Bhreacachaldh), hill of the spotted place ; Leathad a' chruthaich (O.S.M. Leidchruich), hill- side of the quaking bog ; cf suil-chruthaich ; Meall a' ghuail, Coal Hill, noted for excellent peats used for smithy charcoal, as was the regular custom before coals became available. Meall na speireig (hill of the sparrow-hawk, at the junction of Dingwall, Fodderty, and Kiltearn). 96 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. FODDERTY. Fodderty — Ecclesia de Fotherdino 1238, Fotherdyn 1275, Fothirdy 1350, Fothartye 1548, Fedderdy 1561 ; G. Fodhraitidh (close ' o '). The spellings of 1350 and 1548 still represent the common English pronunciation. Fodder or fother, as a prefix, is well known on Pictish ground. Fod- derty itself is the most northerly instance ; in Inverness-shire is Fodderletter (Tomintoul) ; in Aberdeenshire, Fetterangus, Fetternear, and Fedderat (Fedreth 1205, Feddereth 1265) ; in Kincardine, Fetteresso (Fodresach, Pict, Chron.), and Fordun, which in St Berchan's Prophecy is Fothardun ; also Fettercairn (Fotherkern, Pict. Chron.) ; and in Perthshire, Forteviot, the Foth- uirtabaicht of the Pictish Chronicle. As a sufllx it appears in the Annals of Ulster, under date 680 A.D., " obsessio Duin Foithir," and again, 694, "obsessio Duin Foter" — siege of Dunottar. The change to ' Fetter,' seen in the Aberdeen and Kincardine names, is curious, but mostly late, and perhaps a matter of umlaut in Scots dialect. Fodder, early Foter and Fother (in modern Gaelic 'for' with close 'o'), is best regarded as a comparative of ' fo,' under, and may be com- pared with ' uachdar,' upper, from the root seen FODDERTY. 97 in ' uasal,' high. Tlie strong accent on Fodder, G. For, may have helped to obscure the second part of the compound. The ending -ty(n) is not uncommon on Pictish ground, and is always troublesome ; cf. Cromarty, Navity, Auchter- muchty, Buchanty. It is, however, probably safe to say that the meaning of Fodderty must be something like ' Lower place,' in contrast to Achterneed. The modern parish of Fodderty includes the ancient parish of Kinnettes — Kenneythes 1256, Kennetis 1561, Kynattas 1574; Gael. Cinn-it'ais, ' t' soft. The name is now applied to the farm on the high ground to the west of the Spa. ' Cinn ' is the locative case of ' ceann,' head. The ending, ' ais,' is seen in AUt-ais (Altas), Fearn-ais (Famess), Forres, Durrais (Dores), Dallas, Geddes, being practically a local suffix. The middle part -it- is obscure, but may possibly be referred to Welsh ' yd,' corn ; 0. I. ith ; giving a meaning ' place of corn ; ' Kinnettes, head of the corn-land. Achterneed — Wethimyde 1476, Ouctirnede 1479 ; G. Uachdar-niad, the high ground rising up from the plain of Fodderty, Uachdar means ' upland' ; niad can hardly be explained from any Gaelic or Irish source, but it would very well represent Welsh ' nant,' valley ; cf Welsh cant, Gael, ceud, W. dant, G. deud. Achterneed would thus mean, ' The land above the valley.' Above Achterneed is a cup-marked stone called ajihiach phollach, the stone full of holes. 7 98 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY, Strathpeffer — G. Srath-pheofhair, 'Strath of the Peffer.' Peffer occurs as a burn name in Inver- peffray (Crieff), and there are two Peffer burns in Athelstaneford (Haddington), also a Peffer MUl at Duddingston. The initial ' p ' indicates a non- Gaelic origin. Dr Skene, misled by the resem- blance of Inchaffray (Insula Missarum, Mass Isle), has referred Inverpeffray and Strath-peffer to Ir. ' aifrend,' a mass, which is quite out of the question. The various Peffer streams are more likely to be connected with the root seen in Welsh ' pefr,' beautiful, fair ; ' pefrin,' radiant ; ' pefru,' to radiate. Knockfarrel— G. Cnoc-farralaidh ; ' far ' in com- position denotes ' projecting ' or ' high ' ; e.g., ' far-bhonn,' fore-sole ; Ir. ' for-dorus,' porch ; G. ' far-dorus,' lintel ; ' for-all,' high cliff. In fairalaidh, a of ' farr ' is indefinite in quality, indicating that it has been affected by a succeed- ing slender vowel, which has become broadened in its turn. This gives an original far-eileach, in locative far-eiligh, ' high ' or ' projecting stone- house,' or ' stone-place,' with reference to the important vitrified fort which crowns the hill. For ' eileach ' in this sense, cf na h-Eileachan Naomha or Garvelloch Isles, Jura ; also the great Irish Ailech. C£ also Farrlaraidh, Eogart, from far-laraigh, old locative of lh,rach ; ' projecting site.' Castle Leod— Contaneloid 1507, Kandinloid 1534, Cultenloid 1547, Cwltelloid and Cultaloid 1556, FODDERTY. 99 Oultalode 1575, Cultelloud, 1609, Culterloud 1618. From these old forms it appears that Castle Leod is a corruption, facilitated doubtless l)y the presence of the ' castle,' which bears date 1616. Contaneloid and Kandinlold represent ' Ceann an leothaid,' Head of the sloping hill- side ; the other forms point to ' Ciil da leothad,' At the back of two slopes, to wit, the slope of Achterneed and that immediately to the west of the castle. Ardival — Ardovale 1479, Le Tympane de Ardovale 1487, Ardwaill with its mill called Tympane Myln^ 1586, half davach of Ardauell 1655; G. Aird a' bhail'. Height of the town or farm-stead. JKinnellan — Kynellane 1479; G. Cinn-eilein, Island- head, from the small artificial island in Loch Kinnellan, " resting upon logs of oak, on which the family of Seaforth had at one period a house of strength" — New Stat. Ace. ^ The site of the old mill is still well known, a little to the west of the present railway station, and just behind the stables. In 1681 it is mentioned as " Tympane miU, near Claoh an Tiompan," the stone in the grounds of Nutwood near the pubUc road, inscribed with an eagle and " horse-shoe" ornament. There seems now to be a tendency to the absurd corruption ' Muileann tiunndain ' and ' Claoh an tiunndain ' — ' turning mill ' and ' stone of the turning,' a corruption arising from ' tiompan ' not being understood in this connection. ' Tiompan ' hat two quite distinct meanings — (1) a musical instrument ; (2) a rounded, one-sided knoU. In this sense it is common in place-names, and may be compared in point of derivation with English ' tump,' •Greek ' tumbos,' Lat. ' tumeo,' Gael. ' tulach,' Welsh ' twmp,' a mound. In this particular case the ' tiompan ' is the knoll on which the house of Nutwood stands, and which is exactly all that an orthodox ' tiompan ' should be. I have been told that ' tiompan ' is used in a third sense — viz., a narrow gully, or even the nozzle of a bellows ; and in support of this was quoted the proverb : " Tha a' ghaoth cho fuar 's ged a bhiodh i tighinn a tiompan " — The wind is as cold as if it were blomng out of a bellows' mouth. 100 PLACE-NAMES OF BOSS AJSTD CROMARTY. UUadale— Elodil 1476, UUadall 1479 ; G. Ulladal is Norse, and probably means UUi's dale. Cnoc Ulladail is the hill above Castle Leod. Cf. UUa- dale in Logie Easter, Ullapool, etc. Park— Park 1476, le Park 1479 ; G. a' Phku-c. The battle of Park, Blkr na Pkirce, between the Mackenzies and the Macdonalds, took place about 1490. Dochcarty — Dalcarty and Davachcarty 1541 ; G. Do'ach-gartaidh : dabhach of the corn-enclosure. Davochcarn — Dalfcarne 1479 ; G. Do'ach a' chkim, davach of the cairn. Davochpollo — Dalfpoldach 1479, Dauchauchpollo 1526 ; G. Do'ach a' phollain, Davach of the pool. Davochmaluag — Dalfmalawage 1497, Dalmalook 1584 ; G. Do'ach Mo-luaig, St Moluag's davoch. These three were included in the farm of Brae, 1777. On the moor to the west of the Heights of Dochcarty, G. Brfeigh Doch-gartaidh, are five stone slabs, heavy, broad, and pointed, marking an oval of about ten to twelve feet axis. They are called Na Clachan Gdrach, the silly stones, and are evidently part of what was once the central chamber of a large round cairn, now almost quite removed. They may be compared with the chambered cairn near Acharn, Alness. Inchvannie — Inchevaynel, Enchewany 1554, Inch- vandie 1584 ; G. I's-mheannaidh, probably from meann, a kid. These inshes were places frequented by cattle. FODDERTY. 101 Blarninich — G. Blkr an aonaich, Plain of the meet- ing, or, of the moor. It is near the church of Fodderty. Inchrory — Chapel of the Virgin Mary of Inchrory 1349, Inchrory 1583, Inchrorie 1609. G. I's Euaraidh. On the right bank of the Peffery, immediately opposite the old burying-ground of Fodderty. Here stood the chapel of Inchrory. To the north of the burying-ground was ' Croit an Teampuil,' Temple Croft, where stone coffins have been found (O.S.A.). " Eory's Mead." Dochnaclear — Dauachnacleir with the mill 1533, Davachnacleir 1533 ; G. Do'ach nan cliar, davach of the "cliar" ; cliar here has probably its old meaning of clergy ; in modern Gaelic it means poet or hero. The place is above the farm of Fodderty. Keppoch — G. a' cheapaich, the tillage plot. Com- mon. Bottacks — G. na botagan (close ' o ') ; botag in place-names means a sun-dried crack, or narrow channel. Creag an Fhithich — Eaven's Rock. Bogie — le Rew 1476, Eewgy cum le Ess (with the waterfall) 1472, Eewy 1527, Eowe, Rowy 1575, Eowj 1614 ; G. Eoagaidh, name of burn and district ; ? Norse rok-d,, splashing, foaming river ; c£ Loch Eoag, Lewis. Doubtful ; of Errogie, Inverness. Strathrannoch — Foreste de Eannach 1479, Strath- rannoch 1 542 ; strath of bracken. Cf Eannoch and Loch Eannoch in Perthshire. 102 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CliOMABTY. AUt a' Choire ranaich — Burn of the bracken corry^ in Strathrannoch. Lilb a' chlaiginn — Skull bend ; ' claigeann ' is common in place-names, and is usually applied to a bare rounded knoll. When applied to a farm or field, it is said to mean the best arable land (New Guide to May, p. 42). Allt coir a' chfindrain — I have failed to verify this name. Meall a' ghrianain— Hill of the sunny knoll. Beinn a' Chaisteil — Castle Hill ; cf Beinn a' Chaisteil, at the head of Glen Bosa, Arran. Carn nan aighean — Hinds' cairn. An leathad cartach — ' Cartach ' may come from ' cairt,' bark of a tree, but in this particular con- nection it is, I think, more likely to come from ' cairt,' cleanse or scour ; whence ' cairteadh,' muck. Thus the ' leathad cartach ' would mean the ' scoury ' hillside, i.e., liable to be scoured by water. ' Cairt ' scour, is seen also in Glen Do- charty, and Glendochart ; cf. the rivers Cart. Allt an eilein ghuirm — Burn of the green island • Meall nan sac, hill of burdens or loads. Inchbae — G. I's-beith, Birch-haugh Allt na Bana-Mhorair — Lady's bum. Gleann Sgathaich — Doubtful ; ' sgathach ' means- lopped branches, brushwood, from 'sgath,' lop. The ' a ' is short, otherwise we may think of a derivative from ' sgilth,' fear — ' uncanny place,' Ben Wyvis— G. Beinn Uais (but prosthetic ' f ' seen in Cabar Fuais) ; High Hill ; ' uais,' from the FODDERTY. 103 root seen in ' uas-al,' high, noble ; Gaulish ux-ellos ; Gaulish 'x' becomes 's' in Gaelic, but in Welsh it becomes ' ch.' Thus ' ux-ellos ' gives in Welsh 'uch-el,' high, whence Ochil, Oykel, Achilty. The height of Wyvis is perhaps best appreciated from the higher parts of Inver- ness and neighbourhood. Bealach CoUaidh — An ancient drove road to the west of Wyvis ; hazel-gap or pass ; an extension of ' coll,' the old form of ' call,' hazel, representing a primitive Coslacum. The forest of Colly, in Kincardine, appears in 1375, modern Cowie ; cf. Kilcoy, and Duncow in Dumfriesshire. 104 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. UERAY. TJrray — Owra 1476, Urra 1479, Kingis Urray c. 1560 ; G. Urrath. The ISIew Stat. Ace, suggests ur-^th, new ford, from the tendency of the rapid Orrin, near which the church and churchyard are situated, to shift its fords. This, however, does not satisfy the phonetics either in respect of the quantity of the ' u ' or the quality of the ' r.' The first syllable is rather the preposition ' air,' 0. Ir. ar, air, Gaulish are-, meaning ' before,' and cognate with the English 'fore.' In Gael, com- pounds it appears as ' ur- ' in ' ur-chair,' a shot {i.e., something cast forward), ' ur-sainn,' a door- post {i.e., something standing forward), 'ear-ball' or ' ur-ball,' a tail. It is seen in such Gaulish names as Are-brignus {'brig,' hill) and Are-morica (' mor,' sea). The second part may possibly be ' h,th,' a ford, which would give the not very satis- factory sense of ' projecting ford ' ; more probably it is ' rkth,' a circular enclosure or fort, ' fore-fort,' or, ' fort on a projecting place.' For phonetics c£ urradh, person, security, = air -frith (Macbain). Brahan — Browen 1479, Bron 1487, Branmore 1526, Brain 1561 ; G. Brathainn, as if loc. of brkth, a quern. W. brenan, handmill) ; " place of the quern " is the local tradition, which may be correct. URRAY. 105 ToUie— G. ToUaidh, from ' toll,' hole. There was a chapel and also a burying-ground at ToUie. Cf. Tollie, Ardross, and ToUie, Gairloch. Jamestown — G. Baile Shiamais. Bealach nan Corr — Cranes' pass. Moy— Half davach of Moy 1370, le Moye 1479, Moymore 1542; G. a' mhuaigh, locative case of magh, a plain. Moy Bridge is Drockaid ^Uiuaigh, and the ferry which existed before the bridge was Port Mhuaiyh. (Moy, Inverness, is a' Mhoigh). Ussie (loch and district) — Usuy 1463, Ouse 1476, Housy 1527, Lytill Usui and Mekill Usui 1583 ; G. usaidh : an obscure name, Pictish or pre- Pictish. Balnain — G. Baile 'n fhain, from ' fan,' a low-lying place or gentle slope, not uncommon in place- names ; cf. na fana, the Fendom (Tain) ; am fain Braonach (Aultbea), Forsinain (Sutherland). Fairburn^ — The two Ferburnys 1476, Fairburneglis 1527, Eistir Farbrawne 1538, Kirkferbrune 1542, Farabren 1555, Avon Forbarin (Orrin Biver), Blaeu ; G. Farabraoin, or simply Braoin ; from ' far,' over, as in Cnoc Farrail, and braon, water, which in place-names is used to denote a wet spot, e.g. Brin, Daviot, G. Braoin ; cf Lochbroom. ' Local tradition connects the burning of the women of the Finn by Garry with the fort on Cnoc Farrail, and it is curious to find several old Gaelic poems on that subject, entitled " Losgadh Brugh Farbruin," the Burning of Fairburn Fort. A fragment of one is printed in " Reliquiae Geltiquae," I. 226. Another version with same title is printed in Campbell's " Leabhar na Feinne," p. 176. 106 PLACE-NAMES OP ROSS AND CROMARTY. Arcan — Arcoyn 1479, Arckyne 1561, Arcan 1584 ; from Old Gael. ' arc,' black ; Welsh ' erch,' dusky. In a West Highland Fingalian tale, one of the characters is Arc dubh, where ' dubh ' is a trans- lation of ' arc' Cf Loch Arklet, in Stirling ; Loch Arkaig, in Inverness-shire ; and Arkendeith, in Black Isle. Clachandhu — Black stones. Achtabannock — G. Ach-da-bhannag, field of two cakes. Aultgowrie — G. AUt-gobhraidh, Goat-burn. The regular Gaelic form would of course be AUt nan gobhar ; but the formation seen here is not uncommon in Easter Ross ; cf Invergowrie, identi- fied by Dr Reeves with " flumen Gobriat in Pictavia," Acta SS. Mart. II., p. 449. Balloan — G. Bail' an 16in, town of the low damp place. Teanafruioh — Tigh 'n fhraoich, Heather-house. Achnasoull — Auchansowle 1479, AuchnasoiU 1538, Auchnasowle 1542 — Barnfield. Blackdyke — G. An Gkradh dubh, of which the English is a translation. Clachuil — G. Clach-thuill, Hollowed stone. The name comes fi:"om a stone hollowed out as if for ' crocking ' barley — ' clach an eorna,' the barley stone — which may still be seen at the Inn of Clachuil. Cf Clach-toll in Assvnt. Cornhill — G. Cnoc an airbh ; cf. Cornhill in Strath- carron (Ardgay), formerly Knockinarrow. Anchederson — G. Achd-eadarsan ; it lies between the Gowrie burn and the Orrln, not far from their UBRAY. 107 junction. The meaning is obviously ' the field between ' (eadar), but the last syllable is puzzling. Perhaps with the extension of ' eadar ' shown in Auohederson, we may compare ' tarsuinn,' from ' tar,' across, and ' ur-sainn,' from ' air,' before, in both of which the ending represents a primitive ' -stan,' from root ' sta,' to stand. StronachrO — Point of the fold or enclosure ; on the opposite side of the Orrin is Cnoc an oir — Gold hill. Auchonachie — Ach Dhonnachaidh, Duncan's field. In the birch wood south east of it is Cnocan nam B7'at, hillock of the mort-cloths, near a very small burying-ground, now disused and nameless. Cabaan — Cadha ban, white steep path. Rheindown — Euigh an diiin : Slope or stretch of Dun ; adjacent to Dunmore. Teandalloch — G. Tigh an dalach, House of the dale ; cf Ballindalloch. Aultvaich — Byre-burn. Aradie (in Glenorrin) — G. Aradaidh. It is at the junction with the Orrin of a stream flowing fi'om a loch marked on the O.S.M. Loch Annraidh, but which is locally called Loch Aradaidh, The stream is also Allt Aradaidh, Aradie is thus a stream name, and we are safe in comparing it with Inverarity (Inuerarethin 1250), in Forfar, now the name of a parish, but primarily the junction of the Arity streamlet with a small burn. There is also Arity Den, in Fife. The various streams Arity are piobably to be connected with the Gaulish river Arar, of which Csesar says that 108 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMABTY. its current is so extremely slow that the eye can hardly distinguish in which direction it flows. This again points to the root seen in the Welsh 'araf.' slow, still. Another Gaulish stream, apparently from same root, is the Arabo, and there is a personal name Arabus. The ending -ty is not uncommon on Pictish ground. Dunmore — Great fort ; there is a hill fort, of the usual type. Tarradale— Taruedal 1240, 1278 ; Constable of Taruedale 1278 ; Ouchterwaddale and Onachter- vadale 1275-94 ; Taruedelle 1309, Tarridil 1372, Tarredill 1479 ; Norse ' tarfr-dalr,' bull-dale. Balvatie — Bail' a' mhadaidh. Dog's or Wolfs town. Hughstown — from Hugh Baillie, son of a former proprietor; formerly ' Cnocan cruaidh.' Hilton — Hiltoun 1456, Balnoknok and Hiltoun of Tarradaill 1586 ; G. Baile-'chnuic. Gilchrist— Kylchri Stan 1569 : ' Christ's Kirk.' Balnagown — Ballingovnie 1476, Balngoun 1479 ; Smith's town. Blair— Balhblare 1475, Belblare 1479; G. Bail' a' bhl^ir, town on the plain. Carnaclasser— Cf. Kinkell Clairsair 1527 ; G. Cam a' Chlarsair, the Harper's cairn. ^ ' The cairn is now gone, and its site matter of some uncertainty, but the oldest tradition available to me places it in the garden of the present school- house of Tarradale. The clarsair, according to the story, was slain by Iain Dubh Ghiuthais to prevent disclosure of a theft of mill-stones, of which he was unfortunate enough to be the spectator. But as this gentleman's father died about 1619 (Hist, of the Mackeuzies), and we have seen the term ' clarsair ' attached to Kinkell in 1527, it follows that, whoever killed the clarKiiir, if indeed he was killed, Black Fir John must be held innocent. Perhaps the origin of the name is, like the cairn, gone beyond recovery. URRA.Y. 109 Fiddlefield — Recent and English. Ardnagrask — Height of the crossings. ' Crasg ' is usually applied to a crossing place in the hills ; cf. Cnoc chroisg, Boath, Alness. Here, however, it is locally explained as from the old system, practised in Ardnagrask up to comparatively recent times, of cross rigs. On this system the arable land of the township was held in common, and allotments of rigs made at fixed periods in such a way that no two adjacent rigs fell to the same man, the idea being that so every man got his fair share of good and bad land. This is likely to be correct, and is favoured by the fact that in Ardnagrask ' crasg' is genitive plural, not singular as is usual elsewhere. Broomhill — G. Cnoc a' bhealaidh, or An cnoc bealaidh. Caplich — G, Caiplich ; from ' capull,' horse, or mare — ' place of the horses ' ; a name of frequent occurrence, Croftnallan — G. Croit an kiJein, croft of the green flat. Balavullich — Bail' a' mhullaich, town of the sum- mit. Torris Trean— A pathetic attempt at G. torr a' phris draigheann, hillock of the thorn-bush. Culach — The back place. Highfield — G. Ciamaig ; a word of doubtful mean- ing, which may perhaps be compared with Achiarnaig (Aviemore), 110 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Glaickerduack— G. Gkic an dubhaig, hollow of the small black burn ; ' dubhag ' is a fairly- common burn name. Cbapeltown— G. Bail' an t-seipeil. Dreim — The farm of Dreim (ridge) has swallowed up some small holdings such as Culblair, where some friends of Ewen Maclachlan's once lived, while modestly curtailing its own ancient name to a monosyllable. A reference to Blaeu's and Font's maps shows it to be identical with Hil- culdrum 1476, Kynculadrum 1479, Kilquhill- adrum 1707. With the old forms may be compared Kincaldrum, in Inverarity, Forfar ; Kingoldrum, Forfar. Balvraid — Ballibrahede 1476, Belbrade 1479, Esche (waterfall) of Balbrait 1527, Ballivraid 1648 ; G. Bail' a' bhraghaid, town of the upper part. Tormuick — Swine's hill. Febait — G. an thfeitb bhkite, drowned, or wet bog. Balno — Am baile nodha, new-town. Ord— Le Ord 1479 ; G. An t-Ord ; Muir of Ord is Am Bldr Dubh. Near it are standing stones called 'na clachan seasaidh.' Milton— G. Bail' a' mhuilinn. Teanacriech — G. Tigh na criche, march-house. Corriehallie — G. Coire shaiUidh, fat corry ; noted for its grass ; cf Coire fe5il, Contin. In Corrie- hallie Forest is Creag a' Bhainne, Milking-rock. Droitham — Anglicised form of Drochaid riabhan, or Drochaid cheann a' riabhain, connected with UREAY. 1 1 1 Canreayan — G. Ceann a' riabhain ; ' riabhain ' is a derivative from root of 'riabbach,' meaning ' dappled, speckled place.' Lettoch — G. an Leitbdach, i.e., leith dabbach, balf davach. Tbere are several Lettocbs. Cf Haddo, in Aberdeen, from Half-davacb ; Lettocb, Knock- bain. Teanalick — G. Tigh an t-sluic, bog-bouse ; also given as Tigh-an-luig, house of tbe ' lag ' or hollow. Claisdarran — G. Clais an torrain, hollow of the hillock. Tenafield — G. Tigh na fidhle, Fiddle-house. Derrivorehie — G. Doire Mhurchaidh, Murdoch's copse. Sron na saobhaidh — Point of the den. Cnoc-ildais — A hill at the entrance to Glen Orrin, with a large cairn on top, locally asserted to mark the grave of Judas ! The ending -ais (open ' a ') is that noted above in Kinnettes, and means ' place of.' The meaning of the root ud- must be conjectural ; but cf Welsh ' ud,' howl, blast, which suggests ' place of blasts ' — appropriate in point of sense. Cuthaill Bheag and Cuthaill Mhor. ? N. kua- ^all, cow-fell. Hills near Onoc-iidais. Orrin River — G. Abhainn Orthainn, which would point to a primitive Orofconna or perhaps Orsonna. We may perhaps compare the Orrin with such names as the Fifeshire Ore, with which has been connected Ptolemy's Orrea, a town of the Verni- cones ; and with Or-obis, a river of Gallia 1 1 2 PLACE-NAMES OP ROSS AND CROMARTY. Narbonensis ; there was also a Gaulish highland tribe called the Orobii. The root syllable in all seems to be ' or,' which may or may not be the same as Latin ' or-ior,' start. The Orrin is notorious for shifting its channel during the sudden spates to which it is liable. The junction of the Orrin and the Conon is Poll a' choire, kettle-pool. Cf Joyce 11., 432. URQUHART. 113 URQUHART. Urqwhart — Utherchain 1275, Urquhard 1498, Wrchart (Blaeu) ; G. Urchadain, from the pre- position ' air,' on, in front of, which in composition frequently becomes ' ur-'; and ' cardden,' a wood, brake ; a word not found in Gaelic or Irish, but preserved in Welsh as above — Urquhart thus meaning ' wood-side.' The Pictish name Urquhart is closely paralleled by the Gaelic Kinkell (wood- head), which appears below as occurring in this parish. ' Cardden ' is a frequent element in names of places on Pictish ground, especially in the com- pounds Kincardine passim (wood-head), and in Urquhart ; cf. Glen-Urquhart, Inverness, Adam- nan's Airchartdan ; Glen-Urquhart in the parish of Cromarty (though this has been connected ■with the Urquharts of Cromarty), and the parish of Urquhart in Elgin. We have also Pluscarden in Elgin, and Carden-den in Fife. The modern parish of Urquhart includes the old parish of Logie Wester (united about 1669) ; Logy 1498, Logy Westir 1569, Logwreid 1600. In 1238 it seems to appear as Longibride ^Theiner's Yet. Mon.) and again in Baiamund's Roll we have Dunthard and Logynbrid, 1275. Logy, G. lagaidh, is from ' lag,' a hoUow, with 114 PLACE-NAMES OP EOSS AND CROMARTY. the ' -aidh ' ending. It forms the south-west portion of the united parish, and the name still appears in Logieside, half-a-mile or so north-east of Highfield Home Farm. In 1430 the King confirmed to Donald, Thane of Caldore (Cawdor in Nairnshire), the lands of Estirkynkelle and the mill of Alcok in the county of Ross. In 1476 the King united and incorporated into the one complete thanage of Caldor (unum et integrum thanagium de Caldor), having the liberties and privileges of a barony, certain lands in Nairn and Forres, as also the two Kinkells, Kindeis. Invermarky, Mulquhaich, and Drumvoourny in the county of Ross, all which he granted to his faithful William, Thane of Caldor. This explains the origin of Ferintosh, G. An T6isigheachd, or an T6is'eachd, ' The Thaneship,' fi'om ' t6iseach,' the ancient Celtic dignitary ranking next to the ' mormaer,' who, in the language of feudalism, was translated into thane, while the mormaer became ' Comes,' or Earl. Ferintosh, ' land of the Toiseach,' is still the popular designation of the parish in English, as ' An T6isigheachd ' is in Gaelic. Of the places mentioned in the grant of 1476, the two Kinkells, Mulcaich, and Dunvorny are in Urquhart ; Inver- marky, now obsolete, was near Rosemarky. If there was a Kindeis in the Black Isle, I have failed to identify it, the onlj'- Kindeis known to me having been in Nigg, where it has now become o})solete, and whence it has been transferred to Kindeace in Kilniuir Easter. URQUHART. 115 Kinkell — Kynkell 1479, Kinkell Clarsair 1527, Kinkell Clarshac 1542, Kinkell Clairsheoch 1556 ; G. ceann na coille, wood-head. The similarity in meaning to the name Urquhart is worth noting. There are two Kinkells — Easter Kinkell and Wester or Bishop's Kinkell ; and Kinkell Clarsair of the records is doubtless the wester one, which is nearer Muir of Ord, or Ckrn a' Chlarsair. Mulchaich— Mulcach 1456, Mulquhaich 1476, Mul- quhaisch 1507 ; G. Mul-caich ; fk-om ' mul,' rounded eminence ; the ' -caich,' or ' cathaich,' is doubtful. Alcaig— Mill of Alcok 1430 ; " the Alcaikis with their pendicles, viz., Crostnahauin, and Bogboy, with the miD of Alcaik and the yare of Alcaik called Corrinagale," 1611 ; G. Alcaig; from Norse Alka-vik, auk's bay. Bogboy is modern Bogbuie, yellow bog, two miles from Alcaig, beyond Easter Kinkell. Crostnahauin, River-croft, is probably repre- sented by the modern Teanahaun, a farm at the mouth of the Conon. Corrinagale, from its description as a ' yare,' appears to be from Ir. ' cora,' or ' coradh,' a weir across a river ; cf. the Irish Kincora and Tikincor, and, in Scotland, Achnacarry ; Norsemens' Weir ? Dunvornie — Drumwarny 1456, Drumwerny 1458 ; Drumworny 1507; G. Dun-bhoirinidh ; 'drum' and ' dun ' frequently interchange, in some cases at least because there was both a drum or ridge, and a dun or fort, and this is the case with Dun- vornie. The name seems to be from Ir. ' boireann,' 116 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. a rock, or a stony, rocky district — ' Stony Eidge,' which would suit a locality where, as here, the rock frequently appears above the surface. In Ireland we have Rathborney, Knockanemorney, and many other names of the same origin. Findon— Fyndoun 1456, Mekle Findon 1574, Little Findon 1587 ; G. Fionndun, white fort. We have in 1608 " Baddrean and Teazet, pertinents of Mekle Findon." Baddrean, now Badrain, thorny copse ; Teazet is a phonetic spelling of Tigh 'gheata. Gatehouse ; it is now obsolete, but Knockgate is still part of Findon farm. Another pertinent of Findon, 1608, is Ballegyle, now Balgoil, Stranger's town. The Querrel, near the shore, appears 1503; obviously G. An Coireall, the quarry. Culbokie — Culboky 1456 and 1542 ; Eistir and Westir Culboky 1563; G. Cuil-bhkicidh. The old form, retained in English, goes to prove that the original Gaelic was Cuil-bhbcaidh, the modern Gaelic showing the common change of ' o ' to ' a.' This is confirmed by comparison with the less know Cuil-bh6caidh in Strathcarron, parish of Kincardine. The second part of the compound appears to be from ' b6can,' hobgoblin, Scottish bogie, the meaning being ' the haunted nook.' The name would, on this supposition, have been originally applied to the hollow near the ancient ruin, near the village, which is noted below, and which could hardly fail to have had uncanny associations. UEQUHART. 117 Balgalkin — G. Bail' galcainn, from ' gale,' to thicken cloth, by a process akin to fulling — ' Fuller-town.' Leanaig — G. Lianaig, diminutive of ' liana,' a meadow, swampy plain. This is a case of a feminine diminutive being formed from a mascu- line noun. Cornton — G. Bail' an loch, Loch-town. West of it is Cononbrae — G. Bog domhain, deep bog. Ryefield — G. Ach an t-seagail. Drummonreach — Speckled ridge. Teandore — House of the grove ; it was once a drinking place, but the name has no sinister implication. Balnabeen — G. Bail' na binn ; locally explained as Town of judgment, which is doubtless correct, seeing that near it is Gallows Hill — G. Cnoc a' chrochaidh. Also Crochair — G. Crochar, place of hanging ; from ' croch,' gallows, modern ' croich.' Teanagairn, House of the cairn, and Glascaim, G. Clais 'chkirn, are so called from the remarkable ruin in the wood about a quarter of a mile south of the west end of Culbokie. In Gaelic it is called Caisteal Cuil-bhkicidh, and also Caisteal Bhkicidh. It is circular, with two concentric walls, the inner of stone, and is surrounded by a ditch, now partly filled up. Some bones were found there about forty years ago, in the course 118 PLACE-NAMES OF KOSS AND CROMARTY. of removing stones for dykes, since when it has remained untouched. Close by it is a small loch. Duncanston — A quite modem name — its eponymus is still with us — the Gaelic of which is Bog a' mhiodair. Local tradition says that the place was so named from the loss of a mitre there by the Bishop of Ross as he was going from his residence of Castle Craig to Chauonry. But it is much more likely to come from ' miodar,' pasture ground, or, possibly, ' miodar,' a round vessel of wood. Greenleonachs — G. Lianagan a' Chuil-bhkicidh, wet meadows of Culbokie. Baluachrach — G. Bail' uachdarach, Upper town. Balmenach — G. Bail' meadhonach, Mid-town. Baliachrach — G. Bail' iochdarach, Lower town. Balachladaich — Shore town. Badenerb — Eoe-clump. Tore— G. T6rr, rounded hill. Crask of Findon — Crasg, a crossing place. It includes Boggiewell, G. Bog an fhuail, palus urinae. Balreillan — ' Bfeidhlean,' a green, or level plain ; a derivative of ' rfeidh,' level. Some graves wei'e found in the neighbourhood. Loch Sheriff— G. Loch an t-Siorra. Bracklach — G. Breaclach, spotted place ; cf ' garbh- lach,' rough place. Knockandultaig — G. Cnoc an dialtaig, bat's hillock. Balloan — G. Bail' an 16in ; town of the low, damp meadow. URQUHABT. 119 Coulnagour — Goats' nook. Balavil — G. Bail' a' bhile, town on the brae-edge. Cocked-Hat Wood — A small plantation, so named by the late Sir James Mackenzie. Mossend — G. Ceann a' mhonaidh. Sunny Brae — A euphemistic rendering of G. ' am braighead mosach,' nasty upland. Cnoc na fanaig — G. Cnoc na' feannag ; probably from ' feannag,' a ' lazy-bed,' but of course ' feannag,' a hoodie-crow, is quite possible. Cnoc an araid, a mile or more west of Culbokie, most likely from ' anart,' linen, which in E. Ross becomes ' arad.' Logieside, at the west end of the parish, preserves the old name of Logy. Dugaraidh, on Ord. Sur. map Dungary, near the border of Urray — Dubh-garaidh, black den or thicket ; the lengthening of ' dubh ' is owing to the stress of the accent ; cf. Dtiloch and diilan, also, Dougrie in Arran. Balvaird — Bail' a bhkird, Bard's town. Or it may be from ' bkrd,' a meadow, paddock ; in Badenoch still used in the sense of ' meadow ' in common speech. Tigh na h-innse — Meadow-house — near Alcaig Ferry. Cnoc 'chois — Hill of the recess. 120 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. RESOLIS. Resolis — G. Ruigh-sholuis, slope of light, or bright slope. In 1662 the Commissioners for the plantation of Kirks united the parishes of CuUicudden and Kirkmichaell into one parish church, to be called the Parish Church of Kirk- michael, and to be built at Reisolace. As the site of the parish church has not been shifted since, it is clear that the name Resolis originall}^ applied only to that slope on which the church now stands, a spot with a bright south-easterly exposure. The New Stat. Ace, written hj Rev. Donald Sage in 1836, records that Resolis rather than Kirkmichael was then the name in popular usage. It has now practically become the official designation also. CuUicudden included the western portion of the united parish. In addition to the early mention of it noted below, it appears as Cultudyn in 1275 among the churches taxed by the Holy See for relief of the Holy Land. The church was dedicated to St Martin of Tours, and the name of the parish in Gaelic was regularly Sgire Mhartuinn. Hence such names as Kilmartin (where the old church of CuUicudden stood, with its burying-ground), Achmartin, St Martins. In RESOLIS. 121 1641 Charles I. granted to Inverness the fair of 10th November, " quhilk was haldin of auld at Sanct Martenis Kirk in Ardmannoche now lyand waist." Kirkmichael is the eastern portion of the united parish. The church was known in Gaelic as Cill Mhicheil, and the parish itself as Sgire Mhicheil. The site of the church was at the east end of the parish, close to the firth ; and Hugh Miller, in his " Scenes and Legends," gives a wild legend bearing on its churchyard. The same legend is current with regard to the churchyards of Dala- rossie and of Petty, in Inverness-shire. Culbo — Eistir Culbo 1557, Eistir and Wastir Culboll 1560; G. Curabol ; fi:om Norse ' kula,' a ball or knob, and ' bol,' a farm-stead. Kula is applied in place-names to a rounded hill ; cf. de Kool o', Fladabister in Shetland (Jacobsen). Gaelic ' r ' is due to dissimilation. Balblair— Belblair 1551, Eistir Belblair 1557; G. Bail' a bhlair, town of the plain. Kinbeachy — Kynbarch 1561-66, Kinbeachie 1565- 71 ; G. Cinn a' bheathchaidh, head of the birch wood (beitheach). Of. Kinveachy, Aviemore. It is to be taken in connection with Birkis 1551 ; G. a Bheithearnaich, stiU known as ' The Birks ' ; beith-ar-n-aich ; for the formation c£ Muc-ar-n-aich, from ' muc,' pig ; preas-ar-n-ach, from ' preas,' bush ; etc. Drumcudden— Drumcudyn 1528 and 1546; Drum- cudden 1458 ; G. Druimchudainn, also 122 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. CuUicudden— Culicuden 1227 ; G. Ctiila' chudainn, or, as a variant, according to the New. Stat. Ace, ' CouU a Chuddegin.' The N.S.A. makes it " the Cuddie Creek — that species of fish being formerly, though not now, caught in great abundance in a small creek on the shore of CuUicudden, and a little to the west of the old church." G. ' cudainn,' or ' cudaig,' a cuddy. Braelaugwell — Braelangwell 1577 ; a hybrid ; G. ' brkigh,' an up-land, and Norse ' langvoUr,' long- field. There is Langwell in Strathcarron ; also Langwell, Oykell. Balliskilly — Bowskaly 1551, Ballaiskaillie 1580; G. Baile sgeulaidh, story-town, or town of the story-teller. Brae — Brey 1533 ; town of Braire c. 1560 ; braigh,' up-land. Woodhead — The Wodheid c. 1560 ; near it is am Bard Oobhlach, the forked meadow. Castle Craig — Craighouse c. 1560; G. Tigh na creige. Tighninnich — Tawninich (Blaeu), east of Balblair ; G. Tigh 'n ^onaich, town of the market ; there was a market at Jemimaville until recent times. Badgriuan — Copse of the sunny hillock. Chapelton — G. Bail' an t-seipeU. Kirkton : Drumdyre — G. Druim(a)doighr ; doubtful ; Daighre was an Irish personal name ; Maclruanaidh ua Daighre occurs in the Four Masters ; but it does not seem to occur in Scotland. RESOLIS. 123 BruichglaSS — Green brae. Poyntzfield of old Ardoch, the high place. Ballicherry — G. Bail' a' cheathraimh, town of the quarter (davach). Cavin — Smooth pass. Toberchurn — Well of the cairn. Capernich — G. Ceaparnaich, or ' a' Cheaparnaich,' an extension of ' ceap,' a block, whence ' ceapach,' tillage plot ; cf. for formation ' a' Bheithearnaich ' above. Fleucherries — G. Fliuchairidh, the wet place ; a locative of ' fliuch-ar-adh,' from 'flinch,' wet. The ' 's ' is the English plural, as in Geanies, Pitnel- lies, &c. Jamima'/ille : a modern name. Am Bard Loisgte — The burnt meadow, near St Martins. Burnside — G. Tigh an daimh, ox-house. Camperdown — G. form not found ; named after the battle of 1797. Obsolete are : — Rostabrichty, situated, according to Blaeu's map, a little to the north-west of Braelangwell ; later Eosabrighty, 1740. Auchnintyne 1580, a pendicle of ' BallaskaUlie.' Wester Ballano 1580, mentioned in connection with the same. MiUtoun (Blaeu), on the ' burn of Milltoun,' appar- ently now Allt Dubhach (O.S.M.) 124 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CKOMARTY. CEOMARTY. Cromarty — Crumbathyn 1263, Crumbauchtyn 1264, Crumbhartyn 1296, Crombathie 1349, Cromady and Crombathie 1349-1370, Cromardy 1398, Cromaty and Crumbaty 1479.^ G. Cromba'. From an inspection of the old forms two things are clear — first, that the modern English form, Cromarty, is the descendant and representative of the ancient Crumbauchtyn (with accent on first syllable) ; and, secondly, that the second ' r ' of Cromarty is not radical, but was developed at an early stage through sympathy with the 'r' of the first syllable ; of Eng. bride-groom, from A.S. brid-guma, literally 'bride-man.' Further, these forms, as weU as other considerations, negative the derivation Crom-bkgh, bent bay. The base is doubtless crom, bent ; the question is whether we are to regard the b of Cromba' as radical or as developed. Developed b after m is seen in lombar, from lorn ; Ir. crompan, a sea inlet, from crom ; and in the common Crombie applied to bent streams and to places at a bend, e.g., Crombie in Fife ; also Dal- crombie, G. Dul-chrombaidh, a place on a bend of ' Hugh Miller (Scenes and Legends," p. 49), mentions an ancient custom seal or oocket, supposed to belong to the reign of Robert II., and then in the Inverness Museum, bearing the legend ' Crombhte.' CROMAKTY. 125 L. Euthven, Inverness. On this theory we have (1) crom as base, (2) developed b, (3) termin- ations -ach, place of, and -dan or -tan, diminutive, all meaning Little place of the bend ; of Loch Saileach in Ireland, called by the Four Masters Loch Sailcheaddrin,^ also Ardochdainn, Lochcarron. On the other theory it vpould be possible to suggest crom-bath, with extension, bath being an O. Ir. word glossed skile and muir, sea. Cromarty Firth — G. Caolas Chromba'. Navity — Navitie 1578 ; G. Neamhaididh. The lands of Navity formed the endowment of a chapel in the Cathedral of Fortrose. Hence from 'neimhidh,' church-land; Gaul, 'nemeton.' There is another Nevity in Fife ; Nevody 1477, Navety 1531, which was also church -land. Davidston — Dauidstoun 1529 and 1578 ; G. Baile Dhk' idh. WilliamstOUn appears on Font's map east and north of Davidston. Peddieston — Peddistoun 1578 ; the proper name Peddie occurs frequently in the session records. Famess — Fames 1576, Eistir Fames and Litill Farness 1578 ; G. Feamais, place of alders ; from ' fearn,' with termination ' -ais,' for which see Kin- nettes in Fodderty. For the meaning cf AUerton. Cf Glenferness, near Forres. Udale— Yddall 1578 ; G. Uadal, from Norse ' y-dalr, yew-dale. ^ Joyce, Irish Barnes of Places II., 36. 126 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. The Souters — " Craiges callit the Sowteris" appears in an Act of Par., 1593; G. na Sildraichean. Various theories have been offered in explanation of the name, the favourite being ' sutor/ a shoe- maker. The Gaelic form favours a derivation from stidaire, a tanner, which gives rise to many- names in Ireland. Na Stidraichean would thus mean the place of tanners, or the tanneries. " The Souter" is a hill in Strathglass, G. an t-titar, Mullach an titair, and there is Souter Head between Aberdeen and Cove. Banans — The Gaelic is not forthcoming, but it is probably an English plural of ' beannan,' a hillock. Ardevall — Height of the township. " Castlehill of Cromarty, called the MothiU of the same," 1599, Glen-Urquhart is supposed to have been so named by or from the Urquharts of Cromarty ; but cf. the parish of Urquhart. Rosefarm, originally Greenhill ; so called after Mr Rose of Tarlogie. Easter Ardmeanach, on the summit of the ridge, retains the old official name of the Black Isle — Mid-height. English names for which no Gaelic has been found are : — Newton, Neilston, Allerton, Wood- side, Muirtown, Whitebog, Lambton, Blackstand, Colony, Gallow hill. Obsolete is Arnoche 1644, ' place of sloes.' CROMARTY. 127 Ghaplainry of St Regule 1561 is located by Hugh Miller, as also the Chapel of St Bennet and St Duthus Well. He also mentions a curious spring called Sludach. 128 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS ASD CROMARTY. EOSEMARKIE. Rosemarkie — Rosmarkensis Episcopus c. 1228; Rosmarky 1510. G. Ros-maircnidh or Ros- marcanaidh ; also Ros-mharcanaidh ; in Book of Clanranald Ros-mhaircni. Invermarky 1476 Reg. Mag. Sig. proves that we are dealing with a stream name ; cf. Marknie Burn flowing into L. KiUin, Whitebridge. Marcnaidh, or by regressive assimilation Maircnidh, is based on marc, horse, and might well be the old genitive of marcnach, place of horses ; for formation cf Muc-an-ach, place of swine ; Clach-an-ach, place of stones. Here, however, it is better regarded as showing the -ie ending so common in stream names, e.g., Feshie, Mashie, Tromie, representing an old -ios. Ros may mean (1) cape, point ; (2) wood, but as Rosemarkie is situated at the base of Fortrose point, the whole name means Point of the horse- burn rather than wood of the same.^ Fortrose — Forterose 1455. G. a' Chananaich, the Chanonry, lit. Place of Canons, which has eclipsed the true Gaelic form of Fortrose just as that of Tain is eclipsed by Baile Dhubhthaich. The ' Dr Reeves (Ouldees p. 45) quotes the Martyrology of Tamlacht— " 16 March : Curitau epscoip ocua abb Ruis niio baireud," and amends to Eosmbairoend, yielding " Curitan bishop and abbot of Rosmarky." The Martyrology of Donegal has Curitan of Ros-meinn. ROSEMARKIE. 129 strong accent on the first syllable of Fortrose shows Fort to be prepositional or adjectival ; pro- bably it is foter, a comparative of fo, under. The second part may be ros, promontory ; and the name may have been given to a part of the pro- montory in contradistinction to Rosemarky. Balmungie — " The lands of Balmongie vrith the mill of Rosmarky" 1567. G. Baile-Mhungaidh, possibly Mungo's stead, but more probably from mong, mongach, a plant name ; mongach measca glosses " simprionica," and is rendered mugwort by O'Reilly ; mong mhear is explained as hemlock.^ Platcock — " Platcok within the bounds of the college of the Chanonry " 1615 ; an obscure name of which the Gaelic form cannot be recovered. Plotcok appears in Kyle, and near Beauly is Platchaig, G. Plat-chathaig, Jackdaw Flat. On the West Coast Platach is fairly common. Eathie — Ethie 1593 ; G. athaidh ; a stream name, applying here primarily to the Eathie Burn ; cf Inveraithie, Tain ; athaidh represents a primitive Celtic atia or atios, in root identical with ^th, a ford. The name, like other stream names in -ie, is doubtless Pictish. Learnie — Larny 1576 ; G. Leatharnaidh, locative of leatharnach, from lethoir, side, meaning ' place on the side of the slope.' Lernock, Stirling, may be regarded as an accusative, Leatharnach, c£ Dornie as against Dornoch and Dornock. Near 1 Arch e. Celt. Lex. I. 3, pp. 336, 344. 130 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Inverness is a farm Castle Heather, formerly Castle Leather, i.e., lethoir, Lordship of Leffare, 1460. Kincurdy — Kincowrdrie 1591 ; chapel of Kincurdie 1615 and 1641 ; G. Cinn-chiirdaidh. With it goes Cnoc-gille-chilrdaidh, Avoch, Englished Hurdyhill, and probably Kincurdy on Speyside, G. Cinn-chaordaidh, where the difference in vowel sound may be dialectic. This very difficult -word might be compared with Ctirr in Duthil, G. ciirr, corner or pit, Welsh cwr, corner, but for the fact that the formation Cnoc-gille-chilrdaidh strongly suggests some proper name. Raddery — Ratherie and Wester Ratherie 1576 ; G. Radharaidh from radhar ' an arable field not in tillage' (H.S.D.), pasture ground, with -ach suffix, giving radharach, place of pasture, old locative radharaigh. In Perthshire we have " na radharaichean,' the places of pasture. 'Daimh mh5r Radharaidh,' the big oxen of Raddery, is part of a local saw, which may, however, be really aimed at the people of Raddery. Broomhill— ' The Inche and Bromehill,' 1576. Ardmeanach — Mid-height, i.e., between the Crom- arty and Moray Firths ; interesting as retaining the old official designation of the Black Isle. Boggiewell— G. Bog an fhuarain; there is a fine spring just below the farmhouse. Corslet — Probably Crois-leathad, cross-slope ; it is by the road just above Rosemarkie, and may commemorate the site of one of the sculptured crosses. EOSEMARKIE. 131 Flowerburn — No Gaelic has been found for this modern name, but Kinnock of Blaeu and records appears to be now Flowerburn Mains. No Gaelic has been found for Hillock, Feddenhill, The Gamrock, Berryhill, Ryeflat, Muiryden, Weston, Claypots ; while Pettyslanis or Petslaw of the records is obsolete ; its latest form is Piddslaw, and it seems to have been near Petconnoquhy, now Rosehaugh. 132 PLACE-NAMES OP ROSS AND CROMARTY. AVOCH. Avoch — Baronia de Auach 1328 ; Auauch 1338 (Reg. Mor.) ; Alvauh 1493 ; Awoch 1558 ; G. Obh'ch (for Abhach with change of a to o), from 0. Ir. ab, later abb, a river, with -ach suffix : River-place. C£ Loch Awe, Gael. Loch Obha^ described by Adamnan as " stagnum fluminis Abae," the loch of the river Aba. The stream on which Avoch stands is called in its upper reaches the Goosehurn, G. Allt nan geadh, and appears in 1676 as "the Goossburn" in connection with " the Goosswell of Killeane." Rosehaugh — A name imposed by Sir George Mac- kenzie towards the end of the 17th century. The old name was Petconachy 1456, Petquhonochty 1458 ; Pettenochy 1526 ; Petconnoquhy 1527 (with a mill), i.e., Pit Dhonnachaidh, Duncan's stead. The spot where the gardens of Rosehaugh house now stand is still known as Pairc an Leothaid, Hill-side Park. Castleton — Castletoun 1456 ; G. Bail' a' Chaisteil, from Ormond Castle hard by. The ruins of this once great and important seat may still be seen on Ormond Hill, also known as Ladyhill, from the fact that there was a chapel on or near it dedi- cated to the Virgin Mary (Eeg. Sec. Sig. 1528). AVOCH. 133 The Castle of Ormond appears to have belonged to the De Moravia or Moray family from thirteenth century times, but there is little mention of it in records subsequent to the middle of the fourteenth. Frequent mention, however, is found of the Moot-hill (mons) of Ormond, in connection with the titles of Earl, Marquis, and Duke of Ormond. Muiralehouse — Muirailhouse 1611 explains itself. Halloch— G. ? (S)halach ; doubtful. Lochala — G. Loch-kla, an obscure name, but c£ Welsh ' alaw,' water-lily. Bennetsfield — Bennatfeld 1456 ; Bennatisfelde 1458; Bannathfield 1527; Bannagefield 1541; Bennetisfield 1548 ; G. Baile Bhenneit, Town of Bennet, i.e., St Benedict. Near it is Clach Bhenneit, Bennet's stone, immediately below which is the holy well called Tobar Chragag, well of the little rock, still frequented on the first Sabbath of May. BalionB — G. Bail an loin, town of the wet meadow. Corrachie — G. Corrachaidh, from corrach, steep. Arcandeith — Arkyndwycht 1586; Auchindeuch 1611 ; Arcanduth 1641 ; G. Arcan-duibh, Black Arcan ; c£ Arcan, Urray. Here ' duibh ' is obviously a translation of Arcan, the black place. On the place are the ruins of a small fortalice, whence the local explanation, Mrc-Eoin-dhuibh, Black John's ark, or fortress. A Highland reaver, Black John has been evolved to l&nd colour to this piece of popular etymology, but the phonetics do not suit. 134 PLACE-NAMES OF E0S8 AND CROMARTY. Newton — ? Newton 1458 ; G. am baile nodha. Insch— The Inch 1576 ; G. an i's, the meadow (innis). Rhives — G. given as (1) na Ruighean, the slopes ; (2) (ann an) Ruigheas. The latter may be a Gaelic pronunciation of the English form. Rhives in Kilmuir is ' na Ruigheannan ;' Rhives, Golspie, na Ruigheach. CoulnagOUr — G. Ctiil nan gobhar, goats' nook. Killen— Kyllayn circ. 1338, Killan 1456 ; Killane 1524 ; G. Cill-Annaidh or Oill-Fhannaidh. The Gaelic form puts Cill-fhinn, White-church, or Church of St Fionn out of the question, and there seems to be no saint whose name will suit the dedication. St Anne, which would suit the phonetics, is hardly to be thought of on Celtic ground. Near Killen is Cnoc-an-teampuill, Temple-hill. Auchterflow — Ochtercloy 1456, Achtirflo 1560, Ochtercloy 1568 ; G. U"achdar-chl6. C16 is glossed by O'Mulconry 'gaoth,' wind. In the Psalms we have ' cl5 codail,' ' vapour ' of sleep. The word appears to be obsolete in spoken Gaelic, but ' windy upland ' gives good sense. Buntata proinnt' is bainne leo Biadh bodaicli Uaclidar-chlo ! Pookandraw — G. bog an t-strath, Strath-bog, in the Strath of Auchterflow. Blairfoid (really pron. Blairwhyte) — Blairfoyde 1627; G. Bl^r-choighde, Moor of Coit, with AVOCH. 135 which may be compared Erchite, Dores, G. Airchoighd.' This spelling represents the Gaelic pronunciation of this doubtless Pictish name, which may, perhaps, be compared with Teutonic hag, hedge. Shawpark — G. Pairc an t-sfeadh ; doubtful. Ordhill — G. Cnoc an tiird. Templand — Tempilland 1586 ; no Gaelic found. Geddeston — G. Baile na' geadas ; ? Town of the tufty heads. Pitfuir— Pethfouyr circ. 1338, Petfure 1456 ; Pet- fuyr, with its mill called Denemylne, 1526 ; G. Pit-fhuir, Pasture-stead, a Pictish name ; cf Dochfour, Balfour, Pitfure (Eogart), Inchfuir, and Porin. The mill is now called the Mill of Den. LochlaicMey — G. Loch Ligh, spate-loch ; cf. Loch Ligh in Con tin. Achalee appears in 1458. Bog of Shannon — Boigschangie 1586 ; G. Bog na' seannan, ? seann kthan, bog of the old fords. No Gaelic has been found for the following : — Crossbill, Tourie-lum, Gracefield, Knockmuir, Coldhome, Limekilns. 136 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. KNOCKBAIN. Knockbain — G. An Cnoc-bkn, white-hill, is now the name of the joint parishes of Kilmuir Wester and Suddy (united 1756). Kilmuir— Kilmowir 1561 ; G. Gill Mhoire, Mary's Church. The old church stands near the sea- shore. The graveyard contains many stones of considerable antiquity, with late Celtic carving similar to that seen on the stones in KUlianan at Abriachan and at Glenconvinth Chapel. Suddy— Sudy 1227; Suthy 1476. G. Suidhe (bheag is Suidhe mhor). Seat ; the absence of the article in Gaelic is noteworthy. Kessock Ferry — Land and ferry of Estir Kessok 1437. G. Aiseig Cheiseig, generally connected with St Kessock ; the Gaelic use, however, shows no sign of Kessock being regarded here as a per- sonal name. Bellfield includes what is known in Gaelic as Ceiseig uachdarach. Upper Kessock ; also partly covers the old Do'ach Cheiseig, Davach of Kessock. Near the firth is Ticfh a mhuilinn. Mill-house. Redfield — G. an raon dearg. Broomhill, G. an cnoc bealaidh, is now part of it. Arpafeelie— G. Arpa-philidh, also Arpa-phihch, an obscure name. The first part may be 'alp,' an KNOCKBAIN. 137 eminence. In it is included Glaickmore, G. a' ghlaic mh6r, the big hollow. Cotterton — G. Achadh nan coitear. AUanbank — G. an Eeim, ' the course ' ; O. Ir. reim Near it is Quarryfield, G. Tigh an rothaid, Hoad-house. Teablair — G. Tigh a' bhlkir, House of the moor. Near it is Teaivig, G. Tigh a' bhuic, Buck- house. Teandore — G. Tigh an todhair, Bleaching-house. There is another near Drynie. AUangrange — AUangrange 1574. G. Alan (no article) ; a Pictish name for which v. Alness. Part of it is Bog Alain, the Bog of Allan. AUanglack — G. Alan nan clach, Stony Allan. Allanrich — G. Alan an fhraoich, Heathery Allan. Whitegate — G. An geat ban — modern name. Belmaduthy — Balmaduthy 1456, Bowmalduthy 1538 ; G. Baile mac Duibh, Stead of Duff's sons ; cf. Pitmaduthy. This disposes of the idea that the old Church of Suddy was dedicated to St Duthac of Tain, if, as the Editor of the Orig. Paroch. states, " the sole ground for conjecturing this is the local name Belmaduthy, interchanged in old writs of Tain with Balleguith^ or Baile- dhuich." Balnakyle — G. Baile na coille. Wood-town. Balnaguie — G. Baile na gaoith. Windy town ; c£ Ardgay, without the article — an older formation. ■" Balleguith stands rather for Balkeith, q.v. 138 PLACE-NAMES OF BOSS AND CROMARTY. Muirends or MuirtOWn — ?Merane 1456; Muren 1458 ; Meran 1478 ; G. M6rdiin, Great Fort ; the strong accent on m6r has shortened dtin to dun ; cf. Findon, G. Fionndun. There is a stone circle in a wood in this place. Roskhill — G. An Roisgeil. Belton — G. not known. Shantullich — G. An t-seann tulaich, Old-hillock. Braevil — G. Brfeigh a' bhaile, Upland of the stead. Drumderfit — Drumdafurde 1456; Drumdervate 1539 ; Drumdarwecht 1564 ; G. Druim(a)diar. Locally explained as " ridge of tears." Its former name was Druim dubh, but it became the scene of a battle so sanguinary that of the beaten party only one survived. Hence it was said " Bu druim dubh an d6 thu, ach 's druima diar an diugh," Black ridge wert thou yesterday, but ridge of tears to-day.^ The legend as to the change of name is significant in view of the double form in Gaelic and English. The probability is that we are dealing with a word of Pictish origin, of which the Gaelic speakers took the part that seemed to them intelligible, dropping the rest which appears in English as -fit, and in the records as -vate, etc. Drynie— Dryne 1586 ; G. Droighnidh (no article), place of thorns. Above it is Creagaidh thorn, little rock of hillocks or humps. Drynie includes ^ With this may be compared the legend givea in the Book of Deer as to the origin cf the name Deer : " tdngator d^ara droatitn arsoarthilin fri coUum- cille ; rolaboir oolumoille, bediSar dnim <3htou imaic " ; Drostan's tears came on parting with Columoille ; Oolumoille said : " Be Dear its name from hence forth." KNOCKS AIN. 139 Ceann an achaidh, head of the cultivated field ; Bail' a' hhlair, Muirtown ; Srath fhliuchaidh, strath of wetness ; Tigh an t-sluic, house of the pit ; An Lainnsear, Englished Lancer, a doubtful word perhaps, based on lainn, an enclosure. Yairhead — G. a' cheir-eud, on Munlochy bay ; the G. form, if it is not the English form taken over, is beyond me. Slagaham — G. Slac a' chtlrn, Hollow or Slack of the cairn. Near it is Muileann an t-sail, Salt-water mill, once a tidal mill. Drumsmittal — G. Druima-smiotail, probably by dissimilation for Druim-spiteil, ridge of the Spital, or hostelry. The Spittal wood is well to the west. On the ridge are : — An Cam Glas, the grey cairn ; also Am, Blar Liath, the hoary moor, with many tumuli. Isteane — G. I's-dian ; ' i's ' is the reduced form of innis, haugh ; ' dian ' from the lie of the land cannot mean ' steep ' ; it must, therefore, mean 'sheltered.' Coldwells — G. am Bealaidh, the broom. Charleston — G. baile Thearlaich, after Sir Charles Mackenzie of Kilcoy. The first house here was built 1812. Craigbreck — G. a' chreag bhreac, the dappled rock. Glaickarduich — G. a' ghlaic, the hollow ; also Glaic ar dubhaig, hollow of the little black stream or place, ar being a corruption of an, the article. Of. Glaic an dubhaig in Urray. 140 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Croftnacreich — G. Creit nan Orioch, boundary croft. Pitlundie— Petlundy 1456; G. Pit-lunndaidh, the stead of Lundy. Lundy, G. Lunndaidh, adjoins, and is very marshy. Also Loch Lundy, an ugly, dark loch, reputed of great depth, and the haunt of a ' tairbh uisge,' water bull, whose herd may be heard in winter bellowing beneath the ice. For meaning v. Maoil Lunndaidh, Contin. SligO— Slego 1579. G. Sligeach, (the) shelly place. It is on the south shore of Munlochy Bay. Bayfield, formerly Creit Seocaidh, Jockey's croft. Craigiehow — G. creag a' chobh, rock of the cave. Cobh is doubtless to be compared with the Ir. diminutive cabhdn, a hollow, "Welsh cau, Lat. cavea. In this cave lie the Feinn, awaiting the blowing of the horn which is to rouse them from their sleep. It is, or was, believed to extend to Loch Lundy. A dropping well at the mouth of the cave was resorted to until quite recently to cure deafness. " Ged is mbr Creag a' Chobh, is beag a feum " ; though big is Craigiehow, small is its use. Arrie — G. an ^irigh, the shieling, on the top of Craigiehow. Tigh na h-irich, locally connected with 'fii-each,' a hill, or steep declivity, which suits the place ; but this would require tigh an fhirich, Teandore — G. Tigh an todhair, Bleaching-house. Near it is an Raoid'as, an obscure name. Also Creit a' chlobha, Tongs-croft ; but perhaps clobha (N. klofi) is here used in its primary meaning of ' fork.' KNOCKBAIN. 141 Faulfield — G. am Bard, the meadow. TuUich— G. An Tulaich, the hillock. Munlochy— Munlochy 1328, MuUochie 1605 ; G. PoU-lochaidh. Both the English and the Gaelic forms are corruptions of Bun-lochaidh, root or inner end of the loch, i.e., Munlochy Bay, which in Gaelic is Ob PoU-lochaidh. Hurdyhill — G. Cnoc-gille-chiirdaidh, cf Kincurdy. This hillock is famous for fairies, and possesses a holy well once in great vogue and still visited. James Temple — G. Cnoc-Seumas-Chaisteil, as if ' Hill of James of the Castle.' There is on it what may be the remains of a prehistoric fort. Ord Hill — G. Cnoc an Uird, with remains of a large fort, with extensive vitrifaction. Blar na Coi — G. Blar na Cuinge, Field of the yoke, with tradition of a battle in which, as at Lun- carty, the event was decided by a plough-yoke. 142 PLACE-NAMES OP ROSS Ai^D CBOMAETY. KILLEARNAN. Killearnan — Kilernane 1561 ; G. Cill-iurnain ; there is also C^rn-itirnain in this parish. In Kildonan, Sutherland, is another Killearnan, the Gaelic form of which is exactly the same. lurnan is, of course, the name of the saint who founded the ' cill,' or to whom it was dedicated. Ernan, St Columba's nephew, does not suit the Gaelic phonetics, but we find exactly what we want in Iturnan, of whom the Chronicle of the Scots records, under date 665, ' Iturnan et Corinda apud Pictones defuncti sunt.' A fragment of Tighernac's Annals reads— '668 Itharnan et Corindu apud Pictores defuincti sunt.' The name of Iturnan, who died among the Picts circ. 665, will, with the regular aspiration of intervocalic t, become I(th)urnan. Ckrn-itirnain, lurnan's cairn, suggests the possi- bility of the saint having been buried there. Local tradition, as recorded in the new Stat. Ace, con- nects the name with Irenan, a supposed ' Danish prince.' Sedcastle — G. an Caisteal ruadh. It is now agreed that the modern Redcastle represents the ancient castle of Edirdovar, founded by William the Lion in 1179.'' Edirdovar is from eadar, between, and O.G. dobur, water, between the waters, from 1 Or. Par. Sent. II. 2, Killearnan. KILLEAENAN. 143 its position between the Beauly and Cromarty Firths. Kilcoy— CulcoUy 1294 and 1456, Culcowy 1479 and 1511 ; G. Cul-challaidh. Cul is perhaps ctiil, nook, rather than ctil, back ; callaidh is to be compared with Bealach CoUaidh, between Wyvis and Inchbae, both being based on coll, Welsh and O.I. for hazel, with -ach suffix, representing a primitive Coslacon. Kilcoy thus means nook (possibly back) of the hazel wood. ' The wood (bosco) of CulcoUy' appears in record in 1294. Drynie Park — Drynys 1579 ; G. Pairce Dhroigh- nidh, park of the thorn-place. Muckernich — G. a' Mhucamaich, the swine-place, common. Tore — G. an Todhar, the bleaching spot ; cf Balin- tore; at Tore is Cnoc-an-acrais, Hunger-hill, where a market used to be held called Feill Cnoc-an-acrais. Croftcrunie — G. Creit a' Chrtmaidh ; can hardly mean Crowner's croft, though such appears on record somewhere between this and Avoch ; per- haps a Pictish word based on root seen in W. crwn, round, Ir. cron, a circular hollow. What appears to be the article a! may be only the com- mon ' sporadic vowel,' as in Cill(e) Mhoire. Drumiianiarg — Drumnamarg 1456, Drumnamergy 1458, Drumnamarge 1511 ; G. Druim-nam-marg, merk-ridge, or ridge of the merk-lands. Teanahuig — G. Tigh na h-tiige, House of the nook, a term often applied on the West Coast to a small inn or shebeen.. 144 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Ryefield — G. Ach an t-seagail. Colington — G. Baile Chailein, after Sir Colin Mac- kenzie. Whitewells — G. am Fuaran bkn, includes the small farm of AlU-an-dlgeadair, Dyker's burn. Spittal — G. Spiteil, from hospital, a place of enter- tainment. GargUSton — Gargastoun 1456 ; G. Baile-ghargaidh. The form Gargastoun points to a personal name, or rather nickname, garg, fierce ; garg, however, seems to occur in genuine place-names ; cf Lilb a' ghargain in Contin. Blairdow — G. am Blar dubh, the black moor. Milton — G. Bail a' mhuilinn. Fettes — Called after Sir William Fettes ; includes An Claran, the little flat ; Am Baile Nodha, Newtown ; A' Cheapaich, the tillage plot ; Bum- town, Bunchairn, Barntown, and Drumore, most of them holdings of fair size. Near it is na Peit'chan, an interesting formation from the Pictish pett, a stead, formed on the same principle as na Bothachan, Boath. The formation shows how thoroughly the Pictish ■pett became a Gaelic word. Chapelton — ^G. Bail' an t-seipeil, now part of Fettes. Parktown — G. Baile na pairce. Coulmore — Culmor 1394 ; G. A' Chiiil-mhor, the big nook, which describes it. Balguneirie — G. Baile gun iarraidh, town without asking ; perhaps to be compared with the English Untbank, the name of three places in Cumberland and two in Northumberland, which, Canon Taylor KILLS ARN AN. 145 says, denotes a piece of ground on which some squatter had settled ' without leave ' of the lord. Balgunloune — G. Baile gun lionn, town without beer ; perhaps modelled humorously on the pre- ceding. There are local tales, too pointless to relate, as to the origin of both names. Ploverfield — G. Blkr nam feadag. Lettoch — Westir and Estir Haldach 1527, half the lands of Dawaucht 1530, lands of Haldacht with the kiln of the [same called Toldegormok 1580, Wester Half Daokis 1586 ; Haddoch and Torgar- noche 1611, Leadanach and Torgormack 1639 ; G. An Leithda'ch, the half-davach. The record forms quoted show clearly the transition from the Gaelic Leith-dabhach to the hybrid Haddo. Part of Lettoch is Bog na li-eileig and Loch na h-eileig ; eileag is doubtful, but may, perhaps, be a formation from ail, rock, used in the sense of eileach, a contrivance for catching fish ; cf A lit, EHeag. Seawards of this loch is Torgorm, green knoll, referred to in the record as Toldegormok, Torgarnoche, and Torgormack. Corgraiu — G. Coir' a' ghrMn. Wellhouse — G. Tigh an fhuarain. Linnie — G. An linne, the pool ; also Linn' a' bhuic bhain, pool of the white buck. Linne Mac Vain in old rental. Gallowhill— G. Cnocj na croiche. Cnoc-an-eireach — Hill of the assemblies or meet- ings (eireachd). 10 146 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Artafaillie— Ardirfalie 1526, Arthirfairthlie 1584; G. Airt-a-f^illidh. From the old spellings and the t of Airt in Gaelic it appears that a word ending in r and beginning with d, or better t, has been curtailed to a in the middle of the name, thus giving Ard-tir-fkillidh or Ard-dor-:^illidh. Fkillidh is probably genitive of fklach, place of sods, falaigh, with regressive assimilation. The whole word would thus mean ' High land of the place of sods'; 'High water of,' &c., does not suit the place. With Fkillidh of Drochaid F^illidh, Faillie Bridge and farm of Faillie in Daviot, and for meaning Fadoch in Kintail. In 1456 appear on record the Smithy croft, the Forestercroft, the Portarecroft, the Marecroft, the Sergandcrofft, the Crownarecroft ; and in 1479 the Currourecroft — probably connected with Redcastle. CONTIN. 147 CONTIN. Contin — Conten 1227, Contan 1510 ; G. Cunndainn. Contin is primarily the district at the con- fluence of the rivers Conon and Blackwater ; from this the name has been extended to cover the extensive Highland parish which stretches from Contin proper to the neighbour- hood of Kinlochewe. The Old Stat. Ace. sug- gests as a derivation ' con-tuinn,' from ' con,' together, and ' tonn,' wave, meaning ' meeting of the waves,' an explanation which satisfies the phonetics ; cf. ContuUich, from ' con ' and ' tulach.' The question, however, is whether ' tonn ' would be naturally applied to the water of a river, and it wiU, I think, be agreed that such a usage would be very difficult to parallel, ' tonn ' being, except in the language of poetic metaphor, confined to the waves of the sea. The first syllable is cer- tainly ' con,' together, and the meaning is doubtless something like ' confluence.' If we turn to Gaul, we find that the stock name for a confluence is Condate, represented in modern French by Conde. This name appears often on the map of ancient Gaul at the junction of streams, and we find also Condatomagus, plain of the confluence, as well as Condatisco. In ancient Britain, Condate appears once, at the junction of 148 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. the ? Weaver (Cheshire) with a small stream. The word is analysed into ' con,' and the root ' dhe,' set, a root familiar in Latin and Greek, the etymological equivalent of Condate being in Greek ' syn-thesis,' and in late Latin ' con-ditio,' from ' condo,' a setting together. It is tolerably certain that in Contin we have the representative of some such word as ' Condationn-,' an extension of Con- date. As a Scottish place-name, Contin, though rare, is not unique. Dr Macbain, in his Badenoch Place-names, notes that KUliehuntly in Badenoch is in Gaelic ' Coille Chunndainn,' the Wood of Contin, and refers also to Coutuinn in Ireland, on the borders of Meath and Cavan. There is also Bohuntin in Glenroy, Gaelic Both-chunndainn. Both these Scottish names apply to confluences. Cf also Confluentes, now Coblenz. Achilty — Auchquhilye 1479, Hechely (Easter and Wester) 1528, the two Achelies 1529, AucheUe 1539, Achillie 1681; G. Achillidh. The 't' of the English form is late and euphonic, and appears also in Achiltybuy, in Coigach. Achilty is a Pictish name, of the same origin as Welsh ' uchel,' high, seen in the Ochil Hills and in Oykel, Ptolemy's High Bank. The variation between ' o ' and ' a ' is common ; cf. Scone, old Gaelic Scoan, genitive Sc5ine ; modern Gaelic Sgkin. Coul— Cwyl 1476, alehouse of Coul 1576 ; Essy CouU and the mill of the same 1586; Escoule (Waterfall of Coull) 1669 ; G. a' Chtiil, the corner, recess. CONTIN. 149 Comrie — Cumre 1479, Cumerley 1528, Cumry 1529 ; G. Comraidh, from 'comar,' confluence, meaning Place of the confluence. The confluence is that of the Conon from Lochluichart, and the Meig from Strathconan. Cf. Comar in Strathglass, Comrie in Perthshire, and elsewhere. It appears also in Cumbernauld, i.e., ' comar-nan-allt,' where it has developed a ' b,' just like the English 'number' from Latin ' numerus.' There is a Combaristum in Gaul, on a tributary of the Liger. Scatwell— Litill Scathole, Scathole Mekle 1479; the two Scatellis 1529 ; G. Scatail beag and ScataU mor ; from Norse scat-voUr, i.e., common grazmg land, the holders of which paid scat or tax for the grazing privileges. Strathconon — ? Strathconon 1309, Strquhonane 1479, Strachonane 1538 ; G. Srath-chonuinn. The initial difiiculty about Strathconon is that its river, which by all analogy ought to be the Conon, is the Meig. There is a local saying — Abhainn Mig tre Srath-chouuinn, Abhainn Conuinn tre Srath-bbrainn, Abhainn Dubh-chuileagacli tre Srath-ghairbh ; Tri abhnaichean gun tairbh iad sin. The Eiver Meig through Strathconan, The Eiver Conon through Strathbrau, The Eiver of black nooks ^ through Strathgarve ; Three rivers without profit these. ' Possibly ' River of black flies.' 150 PLACE-NAMES OF BOSS . AND CROMARTY. The omission of the two last words of the fourth line would be an improvement ; but I give it as I got it, and it is a hard saying at best. In the first place, Strathbran has a river of its own, the Bran, which, as is proper, gives its name to its strath. The head waters of the Bran come from the watershed west of Loch Chroisg (Loch Rosque), and the river is called Bran the moment it leaves that loch. Thence it flows through Strathbran, widening out to form Loch Achanalt, Loch a' Chuilinn, and finally Loch Luichart. Issuing from Loch Luichart, it has a course of a little over a mile before it joins the Meig above Comrie, and it is in this last short stretch that it is called the Conon. Thenceforward the Conon is the name of the joint stream. The solution of the difficulty that occurs to me is that the name Conon applies properly only to the stream below the junction with the Meig. On this supposition Strathconon would originally have been restricted to the valley of the joint stream, but in time extended to the valley of the Meig, of which it is a continuation. This would be natural enough, and it would also be natural to extend the name of Conon to the short stretch of river from Loch- luichart, though, as this latter valley is a continuation of Strathbran, the original name of its stream most probably was the Bran, and the name Strathbran would have covered the whole valley down to the junction. Such a change of name would be helped by the size of Loch CONTIN. 151 Luichart, and the increased volume of water issuing from it. A somewhat similar difficulty is presented by Stratherrick (Inverness) and the river Faragaig. The Faragaig ought to be in Stratherrick, G. Srath-fharagaig, but in point of fact it flows through a neighbouring glen. As to derivation, it is natural to connect Strath- conon with the personal name Conan. Conan was the name of a Fenian hero ; also of a Celtic missionary, whose name appears in Killachonan, Fortingall, Perth, and perhaps in the E.. Conon, Uig, Skye, G. Abhainn Chonnain, where Con- nan is a diminutive of Conn, a proper name. There is, however, no authority for the connection of either hero or saint with Strathconon, nor will either Conan or Connan suit the phonetics of Srath-chonuinn. I should suggest that Conon represents a primitive Conona ; -ona is a good Gaulish river termination, and Endlicher's glossary (in a 9th century MS.) actually explains onno as Jlumen, river. For co7i we have three choices — con, together ; con from Gaulish kunos, high ; con, stem of cu, dog, giving respectively joint- stream, high-stream, dog-stream. If we could be certain that onno was a genuine Gaulish name, and not merely a termination raised to the standing of an independent word, it would be natural to render Conon as ' Joint-stream." This, however, is uncertain ; ' Dog-stream ' is unob- jectionable ; ' High-stream ' does not suit the 152 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSB AND CROMARTY. physical requirements. The tidal part of the Conon appears in the Dingwall charters as Stavek, which may be N. staf-vik, staff-bay ; cf. Staf^, Staff-river ; and Stafa-holt, Staffwood, in Iceland ; Staffa, the isle, is N. Staf-ey, Staff-isle, from the columnar formation of its rocks. Loch Beannacharan — Kenlochbenquharene 1479, Kinlochbanquhare 1538, Kinlochbeancharan 1571; G. Loch Beannacharan ; 'beann,' a top, horn, peak, gives adjective ' beannach,' peaked, pinnacled ; whence ' beannachar,' place of peaks, of which ' beannacharan ' is a collective form. The classical representative of ' beannach ' is probably seen in Lake Benacus, the ' horned lake,' in Cisalpine Gaul, now Lago di Garda. Loch Beannach, horned loch (from the shape), is a common High- land name. The best known Beannachar is Bangof in Ireland, whence the Welsh Bangor. Another well-known Irish form is Banagher. A locative formation from ' beannachar ' is seen in Banchory Devenick and Banchory Ternan. Loch Beannacharan, then (for which the Ord. Survey Beannachan is a mistake) means ' the loch of the place of the peaks,' a name appropriate and descriptive. On the north side is Allt an Fliasaidh, Burn of the dwelling, O.G. fasadh, at a green place with signs of old habitation. On the south side is Allt na Faic', Burn of the lair or hiding-place, half-way up the hillside from which is Bac an Airigh, doubtful ; ? shieling. At the west side is Cnoc a' Mhinistir, Parson's Hill, and CONTIN. 153 near it a small graveyard. A large rock on the loch side is called 7ia Caidhean, perhaps from caid, a rock, summit (O'Reilly). At the outlet of the loch is Carnoch — G. a' Chkrnaich, from ' ckrn,' a cairn, place of cairns ; to be taken in connection with Beannachar as far as meaning is concerned. Invercoran — Innerquhonray 14T9 and 1538, Inner- chonray 1571, Inverchonran 1633 ; G. Inbhir ch5rauin (o nasal). The ' inver ' is the confluence of the stream flowing through Glencoran with another small burn just before it reaches the Meig. The old form shows 'n,' which has disap- peared, but has left its influence on the nasal 'o.' Goran is a stream name, and its old form, Quhon- ray, or rather Conray, is paralleled by the stream Conrie, flowing through Glenconrie in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, into the Don. Both are high-lying streams, which suggests the first syllable to be the Gaulish ' kunos,' high ; it can hardly be ' con,' together. The second part may be the root seen in ' drudhadh,' oozing ; cf. the stream Druie in Strathspey ; Gaulish Druentia. This would give ' con-druent-,' which, with assimilation of ' d ' to ' n,' would become ' connruent-,' resulting in ' cor- i^ainn,' high oozing stream. Opposite Invercoran, on the river, is Creag lucharaidh, probably based on iuchair, flsh spawn, whence iucharach, place of spawn. Main and Glenmeanie — Meyn in Strquhonane 1479, Innermany 1479 and 1539, Meyn in 154 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Strachonane 1538, Maneye 1543, Mainzie 1633; Gaelic Gleann m^innidh ; Leithdach Mfeinn (half davach of Main) ; from ' mfeinn,' ore ; cf Allt na mfeinn in Edderton, Lub na mfeinn in Kincardine. The term is applied usually where the water is marked by the rust of oxidized iron. Innermany is the junction of the stream Meinnidh flowing through Glenmeanie with the Meig. Opposite iti and west of Bails na Creige, Rocktown, is an Annaid, The Annat, or early church, a triangular piece of ground. Teanacallich — Old woman's house. Craigdarroch — Oak rock ; there are still oaks. Drumandarroch — Oak ridge. Carn na buaile — Cairn of the cattle fold. Glascharn — Grey cairn ; common name. Carn Sgolbaidh and Loch Sgolbaidh— Cairn and loch of splinters ; showing old locative of sgolbach. Curin — G. Caoruinn, place of rowans ; in Old Irish we have Caerthend, dative Caerthiund, fi-om which latter comes our name Caoruinn. Loch a' mhuilinn — Loch of the mill. Allt na Fainich — Burn of the flat place, from fkn ; also Poll na Fainich, in the river. O.S.M. Allt tuill an fhaire coise ! Carn na cloiche mor — Cairn of the big stone. Loch na larach blaire — Loch of the white-faced mare. Loch an uillt ghiuthais-— Loch of the fir burn. Balnault— G. Bail' 'n uillt, Burn-town. CONTIN. 155 Cam na h-Annaid — Cairn of the Annat. Anriat has been already explained. We have here also Allt na h-Annaid, Cladh na h-Annaid, Clach na h-Annaid, so that there is strong place-name evidence of an early Celtic religious settlement. Glacour — G. a' Ghlaic odhar, dun hollow (among hills). There is another Glacour in Kilmuir- Easter. Achlorachan — From the root seen in ' loirean,' a bedraggled or bemired person ; ' loireachan ' thus means a boggy or wet place, which applies exactly. Loireag means a water-sprite. Drumanriach — Druimeinn riabhach, brindled Drum- mond, ' druimeinn ' being the locative of ' drum,' ridge. Cnaigean na leathrach — Leather knoll ; a knoll east of the bridge over the Meig, not far from the U.F. Church of Strathconon. When the river is high, this knoll is surrounded by water, and it was used of old in connection with the process of tanning leather. Dalnacroich — Hanging or gallows plain. There is also a hillock called Cnoc na croiche, where male- factors are supposed to have been buried. Cnoc na h-uige — Hill of the recess, or retired place. Cnoc na carrachan — Hill of wild liquorice. Porin — G. P6rainn. This is one of the best pre- served examples in Scotland of the Pictish word so common in the aspirated form — 'four,' e.g., Pit-four, Doch-four. The root is that seen in the Welsh ' pori,' to graze, eat ; and ' poriant,' 156 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CEOMAKTY. pasture. The Strathcoiion Porin is a flat piece of land by the river side. Cladh Phorainn, Porin graveyard, was formerly Cladh Mdinn, Main graveyard, and one good authority says that he has heard it called Cladh Ceann-loch- Beannacharan, but this is probably a confusion with the graveyard at the west end of that loch, noted above. Milltown — G. Bail' a' mhuilinn ; close by is Allt a' mhuilinn, Mill-burn. Dalbreac — Speckled dale. Crannich — G. a' Chrannaich, place of trees ; common. Blarnabee — G. Bl^r na bith ; ' bith ' means resin, pitch ; the name having doubtless arisen from the presence of fat fir-wood in olden times, either as growing trees, or more probably as ' stocks ' in the moss. Allt a' choir' aluinn — Burn of the beautiful corry. Carn Uilleim — William's cairn ; Loch Gruamach, gloomy loch ; Creag ghaineamhach, sandy rock ; Loch an spardain, from ' spkrdan,' a roost, but also, metaphorically, a level shelf or resting-place in a hill-side ; cf suidhe in this sense ; Meall Giuthais, Fir-hill ; Corry sleuch and Allt coire na sleaghaich, cf Slioch, Gairloch. Scardroy — G. Sgard-ruaidh. 'Sgard,' a scree, is in common use, as is also its diminutive sgardan. Scardroy means ' red scree.' Popular etymology has explained it from a circumstance connected with the over-driving of cattle by CONTIN. 15 7 Lochaber raiders, who had lifted a ' creach ' from the Strathconon direction, and were being hotly pursued. The tale appears in Mr Dixon's " Gairloch." Corriewick— G. Coir' a' bhuic, buck's corry. (Jlenuag, Gleniak, or Glenevaig— Gleneak (in Kintail) 1542 ; G. Gleann fhiodhaig, glen of the bird cherry tree. Of Loch fhiodhaig in Lairg. Meig — The Meig is the river of Strathconon. Its source is at the head of Gleniak, and, after a course of about ten miles, it widens out into Loch Beannacharan. After the junction with the stream from Loch Luichart, it is merged in the Conon. The Gaelic is Mig {i long and nasal). The long vowel before ' g ' points to compensatory lengthening from the dropping of an original ' n,' while the ' g' itself is reduced from an original 'c' This gives a primitive ' mine,' with which we may compare the Mincius, the streana of Cisalpine Gaul which flows by Virgil's birth-place, Mantus. It is a curious coincidence that our Meig flows through Loch Beannacharan, while the Mincius comes from the lake Benacus. The root I take to be that seen in Latin mingo, mic-turio ; Old English migan ; Lithuanian migl^, mist ; Welsh, migen, a bog ; the root in aU cases being ' mic-,' and the notion mvolved, that of 'pouring forth.' C£ the Fife Strathmiglo, with its river, the Miglo, known also as the Eden ; perhaps also Loch Meiklie in Glen- Urquhart, G. Loch Miachdlaidh ; Meigle in 158 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Perthshire, which appears in the legend of St Andrew as Migdele ; and Maikle. Sr6n na Frianaich — Frianach occurs in Loch na Frianaich, far up the R. Orrin, and in several other places ; meaning doubtful, but it may possibly be friamhnach, place of roots. (In Ross freumh is, of course, pronounced yWam^). Maoil Lunndaidh (3294) — 'Maoil' as a hill name is common, and is to be compared with G. maol, bald, and Welsh moel, a conical hill. It is applied to bare, rounded hills. Lunndaidh is Englished Lundy, a name of very frequent occur- rence, always in connection with lochs or bogs. We have lochs of this name in Lochalsh, Apple- cross, Knockbain, Golspie, near Invergarry, and in Forfarshire. There is also Lundin in the parish of Largo, Fife, but these are sufficient to show the frequency and area of its occurrence. In certain parts there may still be heard in common speech the word ' lunndan,' meaning a green spot, but apparently primarily a green wet place.^ From all this it is clear that Lunndaidh or Lundy means a wet place, a boggy loch or stream. As to derivation, it may be regarded as a na,salised form of ' lod,' a puddle, the root of which is seen in Latin lutum, mud. Hence, most probably, London, Latin Londinium ; and we may compare Lutetia Parisiorum, the muddy town of the Parisii, now ' For thiB, as for much more information, I am indebted to the Rev. Charles M. Robertson. CONTIN. 159 Paris, if, indeed, the reading Lutetia can be accepted as correct. South of Maoil Lnnndaidh is Maoil Choinnrmas — Candlemas Bare-hill, a very curious term. Sgurr nan Conbhair — Conbhair (l) dog-kennel (H.S. Diet.) ; (2) greedy person (E. Eoss) ; (3) dog-man, attendant on dogs (W. Koss). ' Peak of the dog-men ' is most likely to be the meaning here. There are legends of Fingalian hunters attached. Sgtirr a' Chaoruinn (3452 ft.)—' Sgiirr ' is locative of ' sgor,' a sharp rock, and is applied to sharp- pointed rocky hills. ' Rowan Peak.' Sgiirr nan ceannaichean — Merchants' Peak. I do not know the legend annexed, if there is one. Cam Eiteige — Quartz Caim. An Crom-allt — The bent burn at head of Gleniak. Loch Coireag na* mang— Loch of the little corry of the fawns. Cnoc an t-Sithein — Hill of the sithean, or small fairy mound. Carn Mhartuinn, Loch Carn Mhartuinn, and AUt Cam Mhartuinn — Cairn, loch, burn of Martin. Leanaidh — Locative of leanach, based on Ifean, a swampy plain. Cam Chaominn — Rowan cairn ; Allt na criche, Boundary burn. Caiuasie — G. Camaisidh, a stream name, also applied to the sheep farm ; from ' cam,' bent. 160 PLACE-NAMES OF BOSS AND CROMARTY. The stream is very winding. Cf. for ending Lienassie, and for meaning Crombie. Caiseachan — Apparently a collective from 'ckiseach,' abounding in cheese, a reminiscence of shieling times. Carn na Feith-rabhain — Rabhan is said to mean refuse left by the tide or by a stream in flood ; cf Bad-a-rabhain, Dunrobin Glen. Badanluchie — G. Bad-a-fhliuchaidh, clump of wetness. Achanalt — Auchnanald 1682 ; G. Ach'-an-allt, Field of the burns. Sgurr a' ghlas-leathaid — Peak of the grey hill-side. Sgurr a' mhuilinn — Mill-peak. Sgiirr ronnaich — ' Ronnach,' of which ' ronnaich ' is locative, means ' abounding in saliva.' There is a cliif over which there is a continual drip of water. Loch Rosque — G. Loch 'Chroisg, loch of the crossing ; from ' crasg,' a crossing. The crossing referred to is that from Kinlochewe through Glen Docharty, and so on to the low lands. Around Loch Rosque are the three following : — Bad a' mhanaich — Monk's clump ; not so strange a situation for a church-name when it is considered that it lay in the regular track from Kinlochewe to the east. Lillib — Locative of liib, a bend, ' loop '; distinguished also as Ltib a' Ghargain, bend of the rough place. The old inn of Luib was once a welcome stage CONTIN. 161 between Achnasheen and Kinlochewe, and thus appears in song : — 'S e tigh-6sda Chailein Dh' fhig mo phocaid falamh ; 'S ioma stop is glainne 'Chiiir jui 'n tarruing aiin. L^anach — Place of swamp meadows, on the south side of the loch. Loch Grann, tree loch ; Lochan Sgeireach, skerry lochlet. AUt Ducharaidh — Cf. Cnoc Ducharaidh, Alness, locative of dubh-chath'rach, a place of black broken ground. An Cabar — The antler. Ledgowan — Leathad 'ghohhainn, hillside of the smith ; also Loch Gowan. Dosmuckaran — G. Dos-mhucarain, clump of the place of swine ; mucaran is from mucar, place of swine ; cf. Crochar, Beannachar. Achnasheen — Auchownosein 1633 ; G. Ach-na-sin', field of storm ; sian, stormy weather, gen. sine. Oarve — G. Gairbh, rough (place) ; cf. B. Garry ; probably here also a river name, since we have Strathgarve, The river is now the Blackwater. The N. Stat. Ace. says it was known as the Rasay, but if that was so, the name has completely gone. Yet the Life of St Cadroe mentions the river Hosis in these parts, and it might well be Norse hro8s-a, horse-river. 11 162 PLACE-NAMES OF BOSS AND CROMARTY. Garbat — Garrowbat 1633; rough clump — garbh bad. Gorstan of Garve — G. Goirtean Gairbh, or simply ' an Goirtean,' the small corn-enclosure, from ' gort,' cognate with ' garth,' garden, hortus. The old ' in-town ' of Garve. Loch Garve — In G. Loch Maol-Fhinn, Loch of the shaveling or follower of St Fionn, to be connected with Killin, G. Cill-Fhinn, at the west end of the loch. Taken together these names are conclusive as to the existence of a saint named Fionn, to whom the Garve Killin, and probably other places of the same name, were dedicated. " Cill-Fhinn 's Cill-duinn, 's Oill-Donnain, na tri cilltean is sine an Albainn " ; Killin, Kildun, and Kildonan, the three oldest churches in Alba. Dirriemore — G. An Diridh mbr, ' the great ascent' ; the highest part of the road between Garve and Ullapool. Strath Terry, Straintirie 1635 ; G. Srath an Diridh, Strath of the ascent. Tarvie — G. Tairbhidh, from ' tarbh,' bull ; ' place of bulls.' C£ Tarvie and Tarvie Burn in Glen Brerachan ; Tarvie Burn in Banff ; Tarves, Aber- deenshire. Here may be noted the local saw : daoine beaga Roagaidh, 's crogaichean Thairbh- idh, buic Srath-Ghairbh, meanbhlach Srath- bhrainn, fithich dhubh Loch-Carrainn, 's clamhanaii Loch Bhraoin ; the little men of Rogie, the crogs {i.e., worn-out sheep) of Tarvie; the bucks of Strathgarve ; the slender folk of Strathbran ; the black ravens of Lochcarron, and CONTIN. 163 the kites of Lochbroom : names descriptive of the people of these districts. Loch na croic — Antler loch ; it is shaped like the tine of an antler. Achnaclerach, on the road from Garve to Ullapool, Clerics' field, probably identical with Auchina- glerach 1479 ; to be connected with KUlin. Loch an Droma — Ridge-loch, between Loch Garve and Loch Achilty. Am Fireach — ' Fireach ' is a mountain acclivity or hill ground ; ' fireach an f heidh,' hill of the deer. This is the mountain-side along the left bank of the stream from Loch Luichart. Grleimiarksie — G. Gleann-marcasaidh ; there are also Sgurr Marcasaidh and Sail Marcasaidh, Peak of Marxie and Heel of Marxie. Marcasaidh is based on marc, horse ; c£ Rosemarky ; -asaidh is difficult. It may be regarded as a double exten- sion of the root, and compared with Lienassie, G. Lianisidh, and Livisie, G. Libhisidh, Glen- Urquhart, but might here be the locative of fasadh, dwelling ; marc-fhasaidh, horse-stead. As coupled with glen, we should expect it to be a stream name, but Sail Marcasaidh and Sgiirr Marcasaidh rather point to its being primarily here the name of a place. Some easy names follow : — Strone, near Loch Achilty ; Altnabreac, trout-burn ; Loch an eich bhain, Grey-horse loch ; Loch a' chlkrain, Loch of the small flat place ; Loch ruigh a' phuill. Loch of the marshy stretch ; Creag a' chaoruinn. Rowan 164 PLACE-NAMES OF EOSS AND CROMAKTY. rock ; Cad ha fliuch, wet pass : Loch nan eilid, hinds' loch ; Loch na' sgarbh, cormorant loch ; Loch a' chairn dhuibh, black-cairn loch ; Loch a' bhealaich (thrice), Loch of the gap ; Loch nan dearcag, berry loch ; Loch a' choire Mith, grey corry loch ; Loch Bhaid ghaineamhaich, sandy- clump loch ; Loch a' Chuilinn, Holly loch ; Dubhchlais, black hollow ; Loch an alltain bheithe, Loch of the birch burnlet ; Carn na Cro, Clay cairn. Lochluichart — Locative case of ' longphort,' an encampment, or simply shieling, in which sense it is used here. Longphort is primarily a harbour, from ' long,' ship, and ' port,' harbour, but passes into other derivative meanings. From it come ' liichairt,' palace ; and the place-names, Camus- loncart on Loch Long, bay of the encampment ; Lungard and Loch Lungard in Kintail ; Luncarty. Ardachulish — G. Aird' a' chaolais. Height of the Kyles, or narrows, where Loch Luichart contracts at its lower end. Cnoc na h-iolaire— Eagle hill, on north-east side of Loch Luichart. Corriemuillie— Mill-corry ; G. Coire mhuillidh, v. Corriemulzie in Kincardine. Dorrygorrie— Doire Goraidh, Godfrey's grove ; Gorry, from God frid, God's peace, was a favourite name among the Macdonalds (Mac- bain). Strathvaich— Strathwaith 1635; from ' bkthach,' cow-house, a frequent element in place-names. CONTIN. 165 Lubfearn — Alder bend, or angle. Druimbuidhe— Yellow ridge ; Lubriach, brindled bend ; Sr5n gorm, green point ; Meall an torcain, hill of the young boar ; Drumanguish, fir-ridge ; Tombkn, white hillock ; Coire nan laogh, Calves' corry ; Meallan donn, brown hillock ; Coir' a ghrianain, corry of the sunny hillock ; AUt coir a' chliabhain, Corry of the little creel ; Meall na glaic bkine, hill of the pale hollow ; AUt beithe, birch burn ; AUt a' ghlastuill mh5ir, burn of the great green hollow ; Creag Rainich, bracken rock ; Creag mholach, shaggy rock ; Carn gormloch, green-loch cairn ; Creag chlachach, stony rock ; ToU-muic, sow hollow ; Clach sgoilte, split stone (at the meeting point of three estates) ; Glenbeg, small glen. Kirkan — G. na Cearcan, the hens ; there are numerous boulders, whence apparently the name. Glascamoch — G. Clais-charoaich, cleft of the Carnach, or stony place. Aultguish — G. an t-Allt giuthais, Fir burn. Meall Mhic lomhair — Maciver's HiU. Strathbran and River Bran — 'Bran' is an obsolete word meaning raven. As applied to a river, the reference is not very clear, but it may have been given simply from ravens having haunted some parts of it. It is possible to suppose the name to have been given from the black colour of the water ; most probably, however, there is a mythological reference. The Ross-shire Bran must be carefully distinguished from the Perth- shire Bran, the Gaelic of which is Breamhainn. 166 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Loch Fannich — G. Loch Fainich. In spite of its Gaelic ring, Fanaich is rather an obscure and difficult word. Assuming that the 'f is radical and does not represent an aspirated ' p,' we may compare with Welsh ' gwaneg,' a surge, ' gwan- egu,' to rise in waves, Welsh ' gw ' corresponding to Gaelic ' f,' as in W. gwern, G. fearn, alder. Another step backward would lead us to an early Celtic 'van-' or 'ven-,' which suggests a com- parison with the Gaulish Lacus Ven-etus, now Lake of Constance, and the two Gaulish tribes of Veneti, both maritime. But the name is one on which it is unsafe to be positive. In point of fact, when stormy winds from Strathcromble and from Cabuie meet at the nose of Beinn Ramh, the effect on the loch is said to be tremendous. Grudie, G. Gruididh, is the river from Loch Fannich falling into the Bran half-way between Loch-a- Chuilinn and Loch Luichart. There is an AEt Grilididh on the south side of Loch Maree, and an Abhainn Grtiididh in Durness, Sutherland, also Gruids, near Lairg, so named from AUt Grilididh from Loch na Caillich and Lochan na fuaralaich which flows at the back of it. I am not aware of any to be found further south, but the examples given above go to show that we are dealing with a river-name. The root is most likely ' ghru,' gritty, which is at the bottom of such words as ' grothlach,' a gravel pit ; ' grtidair,' a brewer ; ' grtiid,' lees ; ' grtithan,' the liver ; allied with Eng. grit, Welsh grut, grit or fossil. The notion coNTm. 167 involved may be either ' gravelly,' or ' full of sediment.' Near the end of the wood on the Fannich road is Leum Ruaraidh, Rorie's leap, close to a fine fall on the river. Further up is an t-Eilean Crithinn, aspen isle, in the river, with many aspen trees. Eiginn — The Hill Difficulty, a hill with bare ribs of rock at the north-east end of Loch Fannich. Near its west end is Beinn Ramh, hill of oars or of rowing ; it is at a very stormy part of the loch. An t-Alltan Mailis— The sweet burn, at Eiginn ; its water is good ; mailis is a variant of meilis, the usual Ross form of milis, sweet. Aultdearg — G. an t-AUt Dearg, Redburn ; on the way to Fannich. Aultchonier — G. Allt a' Choin uidhir, burn of the dun dog, i.e., the otter ; Otterburn. Nedd — G. an Nead, the nest ; the finest of the magnificent corries of Fannich forest.^ In it is Comunn nan Caochan, meeting of the streamlets, a point where five small burns meet. Other cor- ries are an Coire Mor, the big corry, with Cadh' a' Bhoicionn, Path of the goat-skin, at its upper end at the west ; an Coire Riahhach, the brindled corry ; an Coire Beag, the little corry, with, at its top, Coire nam Mang, Fawns' Corry. At the east side of Coire Beag is Goh d CJmirn, Beak ^ In 1542 appear " the waste lands of lie Ned, between Loohboyne on the north, Lochtresk on the south, lie Ballach on the west an 1 Dawelach on the ■east." Lochboyne is either Lochivraoin (Lochaidh Bhraoin) or Loch Broom ; Lochtresk (? Loch-cresk) is Loch Chroisg ; which Bealach or Gap is referred to as the western boundary, is hard to say. Dawelach I c.innot identify. 168 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. of the Cairn, a remarkable projecting mass, with broad top almost perfectly flat and grassy. Meall nam Peithirean — Lump {i.e. shapeless hill) of the foresters ; origin unknown ; also Cadh' cH Bhaillidh, the bailiff's path ; both behind Fannich Lodge. Sgiirr nan Glach — Stony skerry ; on its side, very high up, is eigintoll, difficulty hole, a small corry dangerous and difficult of access. Sgurr Mor 3637 — Great skerry ; a peak from which on a clear day may be seen practically all Scotland north of the Grampians. FuartlioU Mor and Fuartholl Beag— Little and big cold-hole ; wild corries adjacent to each other. Loch Ligh — Spate loch ; above it is Toll Ligh, spate-hole, a deep and narrow corry ; from it goes Allt Gus-Ugh, probably for Giuthais, fir-wood of Li. A' Bhiacaich — The place of bellowing ; also Cadha na Biacaich, path of the same ; a place Avhere stags roar. An Ooileachan 3015 — ' The cockerel ' ; the applica- tion is difficult, but we say ' tha an coileachan air siubhal an diugh ' of a fall when spray is seen rising off it ; ' tha coileachan math air a' ghaoith ' of a gale ; ' tha coileachan air an loch ' of waves. On the other hand the name may mean literally ' Place of grouse cocks,' which is the accepted meaning of Kyllachy, G. Coileachai(bh). Meallan Rairigidh— (O.S.M.) Is not known in Fannich. CONTIN. 16& Oabuie — G. an Cadha Buidhe, the yellow path. Behind Cabuie Lodge is an Sgaoman, the stack, from its sharp conical shape. Strathcromble — G. Srath chrombail, ' winding strath.' ' Crom,' bent, here develops a ' b' before the suffix, as it does in Aber-crombie, Dalcrombie. Similarly from ' lom ' we get Innis-lombaidh (Eiosskeen), and ' lombar,' a bare place. The last example suggests that the form ' crombail ' may have arisen by dissimilation from 'crombair,' parallel to ' lombar.' The Gaelic for Grantown- on-Spey is the same. Loch Droma — Ridge Loch ; the ridge on which it lies is the great ridge of Drumalban, which forms the natural division between the east and west of Scotland, running from Argyllshire northwards. Loch a' Gharbharain — Loch of the rough place, is the first of a series of five lochlets, connected by a stream running almost due south. Into this, the largest of the five, flows also AUt Mhucarnaich, Burn of the place of swine. Loch Coire Lair, north of the last mentioned loch. Into it flows AUt Lair. Here lar is used in the sense of ' low place,' or ' place at the foot" ; e.g., Ikv a' ghlinn, lower part of the glen ; cf Lair, Loch- carron. Loch na Still — Loch of the Spout ; from ' steall,' a spout of water, or long narrow strip of anything, e.g., grass, ribbons. Loch Prille, a curious word, suggesting comparison with Welsh prill, a little brook or rill ; c£ Lacus Prilius in Etruria. 170 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Loch Tuath— North Loch ; the most northerly of five small lochs. Seann Bhraigh' — Old upland. Fionn Bheinn (3060)— White Hill, south-west of Loch Fannich. Airiecheirie and Allt Airiecheiridh — G. Airigh- ch^iridh, waxen shieling, from c^ireach, waxen. The local explanation, which seems sensible enough, is that in summer, in walking through the grass, one's boots get a yellow waxen coating, testifying, as was thought, to the excellence of the pasture. GLENSHIEL. 1 7 I GLENSHIEL. Glenshiel — Glenselle 1509, Innerselle 1571, Glen- schall 1574 ; G. Gleami-seile, named, as usual, after its river, Abhainn Seile. The Moidart Shiel, which is the same word, appears in Adamnan's Life of Columba as Sale, and again in the Dean of Lismore's Book as ' selli.' The root is ' sal-,' flow ; cf. ' seile,' saliva ; ' sil,' to drop ; ' seileach,' willow ; and the Continental rivers Sala. Shiel is doubtless a Pictish word. Morvich — G. A mhor'oich (mormhoich), the sea plain (Ir. ' mur-magh ') ; a very common name. Cf. a Mhor'oich, the Gaelic of Lovat ; the Mor- richmore at Tain ; Mor'oich Cinn-deis, the Carse of Bayfield. In Badenoch there is a moor called ' a Mhor'oich,' an instance of its use away from the sea. Eilean nan Gall — Lowlanders' isle. XJchd an t-sabhail— Barn-knoll. Achadh-ghiiirain — Auchewrane 1543, field of gitiran. The ' giiiran ' is a tall umbelliferous plant closely resembling the wild hemlock, and of the same family. It grows plentifully here, and in E. Boss. O.S.M., Achadhinrain. Torrluinnsich — Torlouisicht 1543, Torloiford (Blaeu), lounging knoU, from 'luinnse,' a loafer, which comes from the obsolete English word ' lungis,' lounger. 172 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. The natives say that it is a knoll where lazy people used to lie to the sun ; and it is very suitable for the purpose. O.S.M., Torrlaoighseach. Ach-nan-gart — Achnangart, Auchnagart 1543, Achengart (Blaeu), field of the corn enclosures. Rsttagan and Bealach Ratagain — ^The Kateganis 1543. A diminutive of ii^tag, which again is diminutive of Rkt, i.e., ' rath,' with excrescent or strengthening ' t.' In Badenoch we have Raitts, G. R^t. The Irish ' rkih ' was a fortified enclosure, usually circular ; c£ Mkileagan, below. Along the south side of Loch Duich we have Cill-Chaointeort — To be identified with Kil- kinterne 1543, Kentigerna's cell. Kentigerna is in Irish ' Caintigerna,' kind lady (Cain, G. caoin), and the slight corruption at the end of the Gaelic form, Cill-chaointeort, is due to the strong accent on ' chaoin,' which caused the final part of the compound to be pronounced indistinctly. There, is an old burying-ground here, now disused. The last burial took place some thirty years ago. Eaglais Siabhachain — Church of the brindled place, is the parish church of Glenshiel, just west of the last-named. Saraig — Norse Saur-vik, muddy bay. Leacachan — Lakachane 1543, place of flagstones. Letterfearn — Alder slope. Ach na Taghart — Achniterd in rental of 1727 ; difficult; taghart may be for ' taobh-ghart,' side- cornfield, which suits the place ; ' Field of the side-cornfields.' GLENSHIEL. 173 Druideig— The little shut-in place ; G. druid, to close. Totaig — G. an Tobhtaig ; also Collie na tobhtaig ; tobhta means the remains of a ruined house. Aoinidh — Eunich (Blaeu), the steep place ; also Aoineadh, which is nom. or ace. case. Ard an t-Sabhail — Barn promontory. Camus nan gall — Lowlanders' bay. An Garbhan Cosach — The little rough place of caves or fissures. The "five sisters" at the head of Loch Duich are given on the ground as — Sgtirr na mor'oich (2870) (O.S.M., Sgurr na m5raica) — Peak of Morvich. SgiUT nan Saighead (2750) — Arrow peak. Sgiirr U(dll)ran (3505)—? Gran's peak ; Gran, G. Odhran, from ' odhar, dun, is in the Dean of Lismore's Book written phonetically ' ooran.' Equally possible, however, is odharan, the plant cow-parsnip. The O.S.M. has Sgiirr Fhuaran, as if Well-peak, but the local pronunciation is quite against this. Sgiirr nan Carnach — Peak of the stony places, or place of cairns ; not on O.S.M. Sgiirr nan cisteachan dubh (3370) — Peak of the black kists. Under it, but not marked in O.S.M., is Sgiirr na' Spainnteach — Peak of the Spaniards, just above the site of the battle of Glenshiel, 1719. 174 PLACE-NAMES OP ROSS AND CROMARTY. Beinn Fhada (3383), best known as Ben Attow, the long hill. Sgurr a' bhealaich dheirg (3378) — Peak of the red gap. Carn na Fuaralaich (3378) — Calm of the cold place ; cf Lochan na fuaralaich, Rosehall, Suther- land. A' Chraileag (3673) (O.S.M., Garbh-leac), appears to be a variant of ' cr5ileag,' a circular place. Sgurr nan conbhairean (3634) — Peak of the dog- men ; i.e., attendants of hunters ; this is the local explanation, which seems right. It may, how- ever, mean "' Peak of the dog-kennels,' in allusion to some feature known to hunters. Cam Ghluasaid (3000) — Cairn of moving — from its screes. Druim nan cnaimh — Hill of bones. Na Paiteachan — The humps, on Loch Loyne. Creag a' mhaim (3103)— Breast rock. Aonadh air chrith (3342) — Shaking precipice ; 'airson gu bheil e cho biorach,' because it is so sharp-pointed and dangerous a ridge. Maol cheann-dearg (3214) — Eed-headed brow (accent on ' cheann '). Sgurr coire na F6inne — Peak of the Fenians' cony. Sgurr an lochain (3282)— Peak of the lochlet. Sgtirr beag (2750) — Small peak ; Creag nan damh (3012), stag rock ; Sgtirr a Bhac Caolas, not known in Glenshiel ; Sgtirr na sgine (3098), knife peak, from its sharpness ; An DioUaid (3317), the saddle ; Sgilrr na creige (3082), rock GLENSHIBL. 175 peak ; Sgtirr leac nan each (3013), peak of the flat rock of horses ; Sgtirr a' ghairg gharaidh, peak of the rough den. Sgfirr 'ic Mharrais (O.S.M., Sgtirr Mhic Bharraich), appears to mean peak of the son of Maurice. It is near Shiel Inn. AUt Undalain — Near Shiel; probably a Norse compound involving dalr, ? with suffixed article. The burn flows into the river Shiel through a small flat. Opposite Shiel Schoolhouse is a disused burying-ground, called Cill Fhearchair, Farquhar's Cell or Church. St Ferchar does not seem to be otherwise known. AUt Coire Mhaileagain — Malegane 1543. We have Coire Mh^ileagan in the parish of Kin- cardine ; Loch and AUt Valican in Glen Girnag, Perth ; Cnoc Malagan, Sleat. These again cannot be separated from such names as the River Maillie and Invermaillie, Kilmaillie in Inverness, Cul- maillie in Sutherland, and Dalmally, Oban, all of which have the ' -maillie ' alike ' maili ' in Gaelic. The root is ' m^l,' probably identical with Ir. 'mal,' noble (from a primitive 'mag-lo-s'), of which Lhuyd has a feminine ' an mhal,' the queen. This latter agrees well with the form ' mal-ag-an,' meaning ' little queenly one ' ; cf. for meaning Glen-elg, noble glen. Phonetically ' mhl' could come equally well from ' mad-lo,' wet, Latin 'mad-eo,' but though the root 'mad-' is found in Celtic, we have no instance of it with this particular suffix. 176 PLACE-NAMES OE ROSS AND CROMARTY. Allt Coire Lair into Loch Cluanie — Burn of the low corry ; possibly Mares' Corry, or Mid Corry. Near it, but in Inverness, is Loch Lundie. Gleann Lie — Glenlik 1509; Glenlic 1633; from ' leac,' a flag-stone, not leac, a cheek ; the j^len is narrow, with steep sides reaching a height of about 3000 feet. At its head is Coire dhomhain, deep corry. In Glenlik, at the foot of Ben Attow, is Ach-a-dhachd, where, according to local legend, Diarmid died. At his dying wish for water a well burst forth, which is still well known as Tobar an Tuirc, the Boar's Well. Diarmid was buried at Dtinan Diarmaid, near the manse of Kintail. The stream through Glenlik is called Abhainn a Chrd, from the Cro of Kintail at its mouth. The first deep pool is called Fianntag, heath- beiTy. There is also Innis aJ chrd, meadow of the Cro. The famous Cro of Kintail is a fine hill- girt circular flat. Abhainn Conag — The river Conag joins the Cro river. The local account is that a man was drowned therein in presence of his wife, whence the river was called Conag — ' airson gun do ghoa bks a fir i.' With this may be compared the derivation of Averon from ' ath bhr6n.' The name is probably connected with ' con,' from ' cu,' dog. Just beyond the head of this glen is Loch a' Bhealaich, loch of the gap or pass, to wit, the well-known pass leading into Glen Aftric, appear- ing in 1542 as ' lie ballach.' It is interesting to know that it is also known as Cadha Dkuhhthaich, GLENSHIEL. 177 St Duthac's pass, a name which implies that it was by the Bealach the saint travelled from Easter Ross to Loch Duich. Dorusduan, at the junction of Connag and a burn called Alltan leothaid ghaineamhaich, burn of the sandy hillside. The Gaelic is Dorus-dubhain. Dubhain is very distinctly two syllables, and therefore may be regarded as from ' dubh-an,' black-water ; ' an,' genitive ' aine,' being an 0. Ir. word for water. Dorusduau thus means Black- water door. There is here a ford over the Connag, in crossing which Donnachadh nam Pios was drowned on a Friday. Loch Loyne — G. Loch Loinn, Loch of shimmer or o-litter ; this seems better than to take loinn as genitive of lann, an enclosure. Cf. Loch Neimhe in Applecross. 12 178 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. KINTAIL. Kintail— Kyntale 1342, Kyntaill 1535 ; G. Cinn t-skile, 'head of the salt water.' The parish of Tongue in Sutherland is Cinn t-skile 'ic Aoidh. Cinn t-skile nam bodach 's nam bo ; Kintail of carles and cows. Cf Ir. Kinsale. liienassie — G. Lianisidh ; based on Ifean, a moist meadow ; for terminations cf. Caoilisidh, Camaisidh. Dfinan Diarmaid — Diarmid's little fort ; " Dounan Diarmod, a circular stone building, 20 feet hiorh and 20 feet wide, near the manse of Kintail " (O.S.A. 1790). Ruarach — Eoroch 157l ; G. an Buadhrach, the red place, from the screes immediately behind the farm house. In 1727 divided into Mickle Oxgate, Middle Oxgate and Culmuiln. Tigh a' mholain — House of the little sea-beach (of shingle), mol. Loch nan Coir — Loch of the cranes. Achadh an droighean — Achadrein 1543, Achidren 1727, field of thorns; where the manse is. Behind it is Sgurr an Airgid, silver peak, otherwise Tulach krd or Ard-tulach, Artullich 1727, high hillock. " Tulach-krd " was the rallying cry of the Mackenzies. KINTAIL. 179 Clachan Dubhthaich — St Duthac's Kirktown ; the old chapel and burying-ground. Torr Chuilinn — Hazel Tore, above Kintail Church. Inverinate — Innerenede 1571 ; G. In'ir-ionaid, applied now to the district from west of Clachan Dubhthaich to the burn from Coire Dhuinnid, called in G. Leitir Choill, Hazel slope ; Letterchall 1509, LettirchouU 1586, 1633. The only " inver " is that formed by the burn referred to, where it enters Loch Duich, and though the phonetics are not all that could be wished, In'ir-ionaid can hardly be dissociated from Coire Dhuinnid, Corry of the '' Duinnid.' Duinnid might be the genitive of an abstract noun meaning ' brownness,' but it is better regarded as a river-name formed from donn, brown, after the model of the Irish river-names Dianaid,-' dian, swift ; Buanid, buan, lasting. Part of the corry is an Lethallt, Half-burn ; cf. Lealty. Keppoch — Water of Keppach 1509, Keppach 1571 ; G. a' Cheapaich, the tillage plot. Carr — Creag Charr, Carr rock ; carr means a rocky shelf, or projecting part of a rock ; from the root hars, rough, seen in carraig, carrach. Near it is Creag a' Chriabaill {a nasal), Rock of the Garter. Claonaboth — Climbo 1571, Clunabol, Blaeu ; Clin- bow 1727, claon-both, awry or inclining booth ; the intervening a is the 'sporadic' vowel. Claon- abol is also heard with Z developed through sympathy. ^ There is a stream Deinaid in Strathardle. 180 PLACE-NAMES OE ROSS AND CROMABTY. Dornie — G. an D6irnidh, the pebbly place, an old locative of Dbrnach, pebbly, from d5rn, fist. This will be found descriptive of all the places of the name Dornie, Dornoch or Dornock, Durno. Mr J. Macdonald (Place-names in Strathbogie, p. 112), mentions Craigdornie, and near it Beldornie ; Drumdurno, formerly Drumdomach ; Mindumo, formerly Mondomach ; and Edindur- nach, in all which d6rnach is adjectival, pebbly. He thinks it is doirionnach, stormy. As applied to the village, Dornie is modern. The old name was Bun dk loch, foot of two lochs, to wit, Loch Long and Loch Duich, but this is applied now to the ' east end ' of the village only. The original Dornie was at Castle Donan, and applied primarily to the passage from the shore to the castle, easily fordable at low water, and strewn with rounded stones. Between Dornie and Bundalloch is Cam dubh, black cairn, a part of the village. Beyond BundaUoch is Tollaidh, place of the holes, at the narrowest part of Loch Long. EUandonan — Alanedonane 1503 ; G. Eilean Donnain, (? St) Donan's Isle. It is an island only at high water. EUandonan was a place of strength from 13th century times, until its castle was battered by cannon in 1719. But there are clear indications that even before the days of castles it was the site of a vitrified fort. Cnoc an Tuairneil — Near Dornie, ? hiU of dizzinees. Perhaps rather a variant of tuairnean, a mallet, beetle ; mallet-hill. Cf Ord. KINTAIL. 181 Creag a' Chaisil— Rock of the bulwark or wall ; cf Coiir a' nahtiiridh in Applecross. Camuslinnie — G. Camas luinge, Bight of L. Long. Killilan— G. CiU Fhaolain, St FiUan's Church. Here is the site of a chapel, and a burying- ground still used, regarding which there is a tradition current that funerals come to it in threes. Some seven miles beyond is Maol Buidhe, yellow rounded hill. Camaslongart — Bight of the encampment or shieling. Fadoch — Nadoch, Blaeu ; G. an FhMaich, place of fad, turf or sod. In Ireland f6d, sod, gives rise to many names. It applies to a smooth grassy place ; cf. Swordale ; Artafaillie. Coiile-righ— So spelled means King's wood ; but it is really Coille-ruigh', Wood of the slope. Glen Elchaig — G. Gleann Eilcheig, so named from its river Abhainn Eilcheig, a diminutive of eileach, meaning in modern G. a mill lade, but based on ail, rock or boulder, and therefore prim- arily rocky or place of rocks ; cf Craig-ellachie, the Irish Ailech, and Alesia, better Alixia, the Gaulish rock fortress. Thus Eilcheig is ' the little rocky one.' In its upper reaches it widens into Loch na LeitreacU, loch of the hill slope, with Carnach, G. a' Chkrnaich, rough place, or place of cairns, at its head. It rises in Loch Muireagan. Grldmach and Allt na Glomaich, place of the chasm, from glbm, a gloomy hollow or chasm, gorge, applied in Lochcarron to the chasm or 182 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. gorge of the river Taodal, which on a smaller scale resembles the terrific gorge of Glomach ; cf. the Gloume or Castle Gloom, Dollar ; now Castle Campbell. Abhainn Gaorsaig, also Loch Gaorsaig, Sgfirr Gaorsaig ; doubtful ; ? gaorr, a thrill. On the river is Loch thuill easaidh, loch of the waterfall hole ; easaidh being old genitive of easach ; cf Essich, G. Easaich, near Inverness. Gleanii Shiaghaidh and Abhainn Siaghaidh— possibly from O. Ir. segda, stately, handsome. The river flows east into Loch Lungard, loch of the encampment or shieling, whose waters go to Maol-krdaich (Loch MuUardoch). C^rnan Cruithneachd 2386— The little cairn of the Cruithne, or Picts ; the meaning of wheat seems impossible. The article is prefixed, but that sometimes happens when the sense of the second part being a proper noun is lost, e.g., an Fheill- Dubhthaich, St Duthac's Fair. Riochan — G. Riabhachan, the brindled place ; deei- forest. Carn-6ite 3877 — Cf Carn-^it in Contin ; Allt- ^iteachan in Kincardine parish ; Tobar na h-^iteachan in Nigg ; Loch-^ite and Gleann-^ite, Loch Etive and Glen Etive ; AUt Chill-^iteachan near Ullapool. Whether the base in all these cases is the same is doubtful. The dite of Gleann- 6ite applies no doubt primarily to the stream of that glen, and the accepted etymology is firom the root seen in Lat. i-re, to go, with extensions, KINTAIL. 183 with which may perhaps be compared Gael. 4ite, eiteadh, stretching, extending. The connection in Carn-^ite is not clear. Mam Sabhal 3862— Rounded hill of barns ; noted for grass. Cam-eite nan gobhar, 's Mam-sabhal an fheoir. Carn-6ite of goats, and M^m-sabhal of grass. Gleann Choilich and Abhainn Coilich — Glen and river of the rapid ; coileach is applied to the crests of broken water. Coileach is Siaghaidh is Briigh Ghlinne-ghriabhaidh. Mamag — The little mkm, or rounded hill ; beyond Coille righ, opposite Oarnoch. Carn na Breabaig — Beyond Camoch ; ' cairn of the little kick or start ' ; the term ' breabag ' is applied to a hill in which there i's a cleft such as might be supposed to have been caused by a sudden start ; cf Breabag adjoining Ben More in Sutherland. Ach-a-ghargain — Field of the rough place, near Kilillan ; cf. Gargastoun. Lochaidh Mhuireagain — (O.S.M., Loch Muir- ichinn), Muireagan's Lochlet. The proper name Muireagan means ' mariner,' based on muir, the sea. An Creachal Beag 2854 ; perhaps a variant of ' creachan,' a bare hill top. River Ling — Abhainn Luinge, Ship's river. Loch Long — Ship loch. 184 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. LOCHA.LSH. Lochalsh — Lochalsche 1464; Lochalch 1472; Lochelch 1510 ; Lochalse 1576 ; G. Loch-aillse or Loch-ki'se (with I dropped before s, as usual) ; undoubtedly the Volsas or Volas Bay of Ptolemy, the geographer of the early part of the second century. The modern Gaelic favours an origin from Volsas, and Dr A. Macbain would connect with a root vol, to roll, as a wave ; Eng. well, Lat. volvo. Loch Alsh, in Sutherland, is the same in Gaelic. ArdnarfiT — Ardnanarf 1554 ; Ardenarra 1574; Ardonarrow 1607 ; G. Ard-an-arbha, Promontory of the corn. Inchnairn — Inchenarne 1548, 1554, and 1607; Inchnairnie 1574 ; G. Innis an fhearna, Alder- haugh. Femaig — Fairnmoir and Fayrineagveg (big and little Fearnaig) 1495 ; Fayrnagmore and Favrin- aegveg 1527 ; G. Fearnaig, place of alders. Achmore — Achmoir 1495, 1527; Auchmoir 1548; G. Acha-mor, Big Field ; with it went Killochir 1548, 1607, or Cuylohir, 1527 ? ciiil odhar, dun nook ; seemingly obsolete. Achachonleich — Achechoynleith 1495; Achchon- elyth 1527 ; Auchachondlig 1633 ; G. Ach-a- chonalaich. There is a confluence at the spot, and LOCHALSH. 185 the name seems to be based on coingeall, a whirl- pool, ' Field of the place of the Whirlpool ' ; cf. Connal Ferry. Braeintra — Brayeintraye 1495 ; Brayeintrahe 1548; Breaintread 1633 ; G. Braigh' an t-sratha : Upper part of the strath. Craig — Cragy etHarsa 1548 ; 1554 lie Craig ; Craig et Harsa 1607 ; G. a' Chreag, the Eock ; with it goes Duncraig, the old name of which was am Fasadh, the dwelling, otherwise am Fasadh ahiinn, the lovely dwelling. Harsa seems obsolete. Achandaracll — Achenadariache 1495 ; Achendar- iach 1527 ; Auchnadarrach 1548 ; G. Achadh nan darach, Field of the oaks. Achnahinich — Auchnahowgych 1548; Auchna- henych 1554 ; Auchinnahynneych 1574 ; Auchna- hinginche 1607 ; Auchnahenginche 1633 ; G. Achadh na h-inich. Duncan Matheson, a Matheson historian, spells it Acha na Shinich, and he says that at Achadh da Tearnaidh (Field of two descents) here, the Mathesons used to rally as to a rendezvous when they took the field. They drank of the sacred stream of Alltan- rabhraidh (Burn of the murmuring) and started. Achnahinich is for Achadh na h-iongnaich (h-inich), Field of the Nail-place, i.e., of the point ; ionga, a nail, is common in Irish names in this sense. Balmacarra — Ballimacroy 1548 ; Ballamaccarra 1554, 1607, and 1653 ; Ballemakcarrane 1574 ; G. Baile mac Carra, or possibly Baile mac Ara, 186 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Township of the sons of Carra or Ara. MacAra or MacCarra is a Perthshire name. For the foimation cf Belmaduthy, G. Baile mac Duibh. Auchtertyre— Wochterory 1495 ; Ochtertere 1527 ; Ochbertirie 1548 ; G. uchd-a-rire, or Uachdar- thke, Upper part of the land ; c£ lochdar-thire or lochdar-rire, Englished Eastertyre, in Strath- tay. Achtaytoralan — Auchtatorlyne 1548 ; Auchtator- lane 1554; Auchridtidorillane 1574; Auchtator- rellan 1607 ; G. Achadh-da-torralan ; a doubtful word ; perhaps ' Field of two descents,' from torluinn ; perhaps a derivative of torrau, hillock, from t5rr. With Achtaytoralan went Ardach 1548, Ardache 1607, Ardacht 1574, High-field. Wostie— Nostie 1548, 1574; Noyste 1554; Nostie 1607, 1633; G. Nosdaidh for 'n osd-thigh, the inn, with the article in the dative or locative prefixed as in Nonach. There is tradition of an inn here. Ardelve— Ardelly 1548 ; Ardelf, 1554 ; Ardillie 1574 ; Ardelleive 1607 ; Ardelve 1633 ; Ardhill 1691 ; G. Ard-eilbh or Aird-il' (locally cf. 1691 spelling) ; F^ill na h-kirde, Ardelve market ; most probably for Aird-eilghidh, Height of the fallow land. Gonchra — Connachry 1548 ; Concry 1554 ; Conchra 1574 and 1633 ; Conchara 1607 ; G. Conchra, Place of Cruives, from con, together, and ci;i, which is a variant of cr6, fold, but specialised in the sense of cruive. LOCHALSH. 187 Sallachy— Sallach 1548; Salche 1554; Sallachie 1574, 1633 ; G. Salacliaidh, Place of Willows ; O.G. sailech, willow, uow seileach ; Scottish saucb for salch, O.E. salt ; c£ Sauchieburn for older Salchie (Stirling), where possibly the word is Scottish ; also Salachar, Applecross. Port a' Chuilinn— Holly Port. Plockton — G. am Ploc, the Lump, applied to the humpy promontory which ends in Ruemore, Gaelic E,udha-m6r, Big-cape. Duart — G. Dubh-aird, black point. Strathy — G. an t-Srathaidh ; abhainn an t-Srath- aidh, Strathy river ; these G. forms prove Srathaidh to be singular number, and I take it to be a diminutive, meaning Little Strath. It is very small for a strath. Seann-chreag — Old rock. Port-an-eorna — Barley Port ; Port-na-doiche, Port of the stone. Badicaul — G. Bada-call, Hazel Clump. Kyle of Lochalsh — G. an Gaol, the narrow. Glen Udalan — Udalan is a derivative of G. udail, to be unsteady, to rock ; ' the rocker ' ; applied primarily to the stream. Udalan in common speech means a swivel or swingle-tree, with same notion. C£ Ben Udlamain, east of Loch Ericht, a different formation from the same word ; and, for meaning, Aonadh air Chrith in Glenshiel. TJUava — An islet near Duncraig ; N. ulf-ey, Wolfs Isle ; probably Ulf was a person's name. On the mainland is Uaimh Ulabha, Cave of Ulva ; of Ulva near Mull. 188 PLACE-NAMES OF EOSS AND CROMARTY. Duirinish — Durrls 1548, Durness 1554, Dowrnes, Durinlsche 1607; N. dyra-nes, Deer's headland; cf. Duirinish in Skye and Durness in Sutherland. Erbusaig— Arbesak 1554, Erbissok 1633 ; G. Ear- barsaig, with developed r, for which cf. Cromarty. It appears to mean Erp's bay, Erp being a personal name borrowed by the Norse from the Picts. The Gaelic form of Erp is Ere, e.g. Fergus MacErc, the first King of Dalriada. Stromeferry — A hybrid ; ferry is English ; Strome, N. straumr, current, stream, common in the Ork- neys and Norse regions generally ; G. Port an t-Sroim, where the presence of the article with Sroim shows it to have come to be felt a Gaelic word. The Castles of Strome and EUandonan were of old the chief fortresses of the West Coast. Pladaig — N. flatr, flat ; aig is either vik, bay, or possibly a G. diminutive terminative. Scalpaidh — N. sk41p-a, ship-river ; Scalpa, Skye, is Ship-isle, and in the Orkneys it is for Ship- isthmus (ev8) ; G. Scalpa 'Chaoil, Scalpa of the Sound, i.e., Kyleakin. Reraig — Rowrag 1548, Rerek 1554, Rerag 1607 ; G. Rfearaig, N. reyr-vik, Reed-bay. There is another Reraig in Lochcarron. Avernish — Avernis 1495, Awnarnys 1527, Avar- rynis 1548, Evernische 1607, Averneis 1633; G. Abhairnis ; probably N. afar-nes, Big or Bulky Ness. Ceann-an-oba — G. Ceann an 6ib, head of the bay ; N. h6p, borrowed into Gaelic ; cf Oban, Obbe in LOCHALSH. 189 Harris, Ben Hope in Sutherland. Oh an duine, Man's bay, is In Plockton. Palascaig — G. Palascaig, but Loch Fealascaig ; N. fjalla-skiki. Hill-strip ; of. Pladda from N. flatr. Strathasgag — G. Srath-ksgaig, a hybrid ; G. srath, strath ; N. d-skiki, river-strip ; cf. Arscaig on Loch Shin. Lundie — Lunde 1495, Lundy 1527; G. Lunndaidh V. Maoil Lunndaidh, Contin. There is also here Loch Lundy. The name is Pictish. It is a marshy place. Kirkton — G. an Clachan Aillseach, the stone church of Lochalsh ; dedicated to St Congan. Near the burying-ground is Cnoc nan Aingeal, Angels' knoll ; possibly knoll of beacon fires. Kinnamoine — G. Ceann na m5ine, Moss-head. Eilean Tioram — Dry Island (a common name), at the entrance to Loch Long. Between it and the mainland is an t-saothair, where the rising tide rushes with great speed. AultnaSOU — Auldinssie 1691 ; G. Allt nan subh, Raspberry burn. Nonach — G. 'Nonach ; Loch na h-6naich, not far off, shows that we have here the article an with onach; cf Onich, near Ballachulish, from Omh- anach (locative omhanaich). Place of foam. Poll-an-tarie — G. Poll an tairbh. Bull's pool, where a legendary battle between the Mathesons and Sutherland men took place. Patt — G. a' Phait Mhonarach, Hump of Monar. liJO PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Loch Calvie— G. Loch Cailbhidh, Loch of shoots • there is good grass here ; G. cailbh, shoot, twig ; cf. Glencalvie. Coire na soma — Corry of the furnace, or furnace- shaped gully, interesting as giving a fern, genitive to G. sorn, but the word was both mas. and fern. in early Irish. We have the correct genitive in Loch Hourn, G. Loch Shuirn, c£ the Dean of Lismore's Book — Leggit derri di wurn eddir selli is sowyrmi an end of merriment is made between Shiel and Hourn. i.e., in the Clan Ranald country. Loch Monar — Monare 1542^; G. Loch Mhonair ; G. ' monar ' means a trifle ; a trifling thing ; but the place-name is probably quite difierent. It applies primarily to the place ; Loch Mhonair is the Loch of Monar, and Monar may be a Pictish name based on root of monadh, viz., men, high, and meaning ' the High Land.' Near it is Innis-loicheil : Ir. lochall or lochuU is explained as ' the plant called broomlime ' ; the o iu the place-name is, however, long, and may be the old adjective 15ch, black, which would give 15ch-choille, Black- wood ; Blackwood-haugh. ' In 1542 appears : " the waste lands of Mouare, between the water of Gleneak on the north, the ridge of Laudovir on the south, the bum of Towmik and InchelochUl on the east, and the water of Bei-nia running into the watar of Long on the west." Gleneak is Gleann-fhiodhaig in Contin ; Laudovir I cannot identify ; burn of Towmik is Allt-ToUna muioe, east of Loch Monar ; the water of Bernia is still called Uieg' a' Bhearnais, water of tlic Cleft. LOCHALSH. 191 Beinn Dronaig — Probably from the root seen in G. drolneacb, ragged ; for meaning cf. Beinn F^usaig. Loch Cruoshie — G. Loch Cru'oisidh ; Loch of the hard place, based on cruaidh, hard, with the extensions seen in Caolisidh. An Ruigh breac — The dappled reach (O.S.M. Carn an R^idh bhric). Loch Anna — G. Loch an aini'. Creag nan Garrag ( = garradh) — ^Rock of the dens ,": O.S.M. Creag na Cairge. An Fhrith-ard — Freeard 1691, the small height; G. frith, small. Cam nan Dobhran — Otter-cairn. Drochaid Cnoc-a-chrochaire — Hangman's Hill Bridge. Apparently obsolete are : — Fadamine 1495, Fynimain 1527, Fineman 1548, Acheache 1495, Acheachy 1527, and Auchcroy 1548, 1607, Auchnacroy 1611, mentioned in connection with Fernaigbeg. The two mei-klands of Culthnok, Achnacloich, Blaregarwe, and Acheae appear in 1495 and 1527. With Achtertyre goes Achich 1548, Achiche 1607. Fuday (a Teiroung) 1627, Idiu 1691, Innershinak 1691, Auchowlosk 1633, Auchanloisk, Auchinleisk 1669, Auchalloch 1699. 192 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. LOCHCAKRON. Lochcarron — Loghcarn 1275 (Theiner Vet. Men.) ; Lochcarryn 1474 ; G. Loch-carrann, from the river Carron, which enters the sea loch after a course through Glen-carron and Strath-carron. There are in Scotland some half-dozen or more rivers Carron, all with rough and rocky beds. The root is ' kars-,' rough, seen also in ' carraig,' a rock, and ' ckrn,' a heap of stones. Ptolemy's Carnonacae, on the west coast of Ross, are the ' men of the cairns ' or of ' the rough bounds.' Ob the analogy of such Gaulish river names as Matrona, the primitive form of Carron, which is doubtless a Pictish word, would be Carsona ; cf Carseoli in Italy ; and for Gaelic ' rr ' arising from ' rs,' cf Marr and the Italian tribe Marsi. But cf also the G. words barr and earr.^ The old graveyard at the old parish church is Cladh a' Chlachain. Kishorn — Kischernis 1464 ; Kissurine 1633 ; G. Cis-orn, Norse 'keis-horn,' bulky cape. Blaeu's Atlas put Combrich at the head of Loch Kishorn, confusing with Applecross. Tornapreas — G. Treabhar nam preas, bush-stead. The English form is deceptive. ' A. Mai^bain's Gaelic Dictionary. LOCHCARKON. 193 Courthill — Cnoc a' mh6id : the moot-hill in question is close to the north side of the burying-ground below Courthill House. Behind the house again is Cnoc na croiche, Gallowhill. At the burying- ground ■ was a chapel called Seipeil Donnain, St Donan's Chapel. The Dun: quarter of Doun 1495, Doune 1633, near Cnoc na croiche, was evidently once a township. The hill-fort from which it took its name is still traceable, though much broken. G. Lag an Duin, Hollow of the Fort. Ach-a-bhanaidh — Auchvanie 1633 ; probably based on ban, white, yielding bknach, white place, or untilled field. (Also Achbane 1548, Davach of Achwanye 1583). Seafield — G. An rudha, the point ; also Rudha Nois ; perhaps Rudha 'n ois, stream-mouth point ; it is right opposite Russell Burn, on the other side of the loch. Sanachan — Tannachtan 1548; Safnachan, 1583; G. Samhnachan ; G. samh, sorrel, with extensions ; Little place of Sorrel. Arddarroch — Oak-promontory ; south-east of it is Ardochdainn, Little Highfield. Achintraid — Auchnatrait 1623, shore-field ; cf Balintraid in Kilmuir Easter. The stream which enters Loch Kishorn at this point is commonly called the Kishorn river ; O.S.M., Amhainn Cuag a' Ghlinne. ^oirtean na h-Airde — The small corn enclosure of the point. 13 194 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMAHTY. Camusdonn— Brown bay ; Meall na h-airde, hill of the promontory. Loch Reraig — G. Efearaig, Norse ' reyrr-vik,' reed bay. There is another Reraig in Lochalsh. Eerok 1583. Eilean na beinne — Island of the peak. Beann is here used in its primary meaning. Ardnaniaskin — G. Aird an fhiasgain, mussel pro- montory. Strome — Strome Carranache 1495 ; Norse 'stt'aumr,' a stream, current, race. There are Str6m mor, Str6m meadhonach, and Str6m Carranach. Bad a' Chreamha — Clump of the wild garlic ; behind Strome Castle. Slumbay— Slomba 1495 ; Slumba 1633 ; G. Slumba ; probably Norse ' slaemr-vdgr,' slim or small bay. Lochcarron Village, or Janetown, formerly Torr nan clkr, Torr of the staves or boards. Refer ring^ to its change of name and improved houses, there is a local rhyme, ascribed to the Rev. LachJan Mackenzie — Faire faire, Torr-nan-clar ! Baile Sein" th' ort an drast, Chan 'eil tigh air an teid fad [air teine], Nach bi siniilear air no dha. Out upon thee, Tornaclar ! Town of Jane thou now art called ; Not a house on which goes sod, That has not chimneys one or two. Behind Janetown is An Teaiiga Fhiadhaich, the wild tongue ; a very rugged piece of land. LOCHCARRON. 195 Achintes — Achintee, 1633 ; Achnanty (Blaeu) ; G. Aclui an t-sithidh, as if from sitheadh, force ; sith, an onset ; I ' Field of the blast ' ; cf. Achna- sheen. Eas an teampuill — Temple waterfall, a very fine and wild double fall, fifteen minutes' walk firom Strathcarron Station. The ' temple ' is said to have stood near it on the right bank of the burn, where there are some ruins. A further ecclesi- astical trace is found in Alltan an t-sagairt, priest's burnlet, a little to the west, near Achintee. Both are no doubt to be connected with the Clachan at Lochcarron. Blaeu places Clachan Mulruy near Achintee, but west of it. The Temple fall is on the river of Tao'udal, Englished Tweedle ; the birch and fir copses fi.-ingirig its banks are called ' doire Thao- tidail,' copse of Taodail ; ? Norse haga-dalr, pasture-field, with the usual prefixed t. The dale is of course on the lower reaches of the stream. Attadale — I N. at-dalr, fight dale ; the Norsemen were fond of horse-fights, hesta-at, and this fine level strath would have been a suitable place for that purpose ; cf Attadale in Applecross. Camallt — Bent burn. Strathan — Little strath. , Immer — G. An t-iomaire, the rig, or ridge of land ; also Carn an iomair, Cairn of the ridge. Cnoc nam mult — Wedder hill. CoulagS — G. Na Cifileagan, the little nooks, or back places. Sgardan nan Chileag, Scree of the little nooks, is a brae on the road near. 196 PLACE-NAMES OF KOSS AND CBOMAETY. Balnacra — G. Beul kth nan cr^, Ford-mouth of the cruives. Arinackaig — Arimachlag 1543 ; G. Airigh-neacaig ; ' neacaig ' looks like the genitive of Neachdag, feminine of Neachdan, Nectan. Loch Dughall — L. Dowill (Blaeu) ; Dougald's loch- Achnashelloch — Auchinsellach 1584; Auchna- shelloch 1633— Willowfield. River Lair, Coire Laire, and Farm of Lair : from Lar in the sense of a low place, bottom. Gorstan — G. an Goirtean fraoich, the small corn enclosure among the heather. Lon Coire Chrubaidh — Moist flat of the bent corry. Loch Sgamhain— ' Sgamhan' means (l) lungs or lights, (2) corn or hay built up in a barn. Local authority connects the name of the loch with the former : when the water-horse devoured a man, the victim's lungs or liver usuall}?^ floated to the shore. But the more peaceful alternative is preferable. Beinn F6usaig — Beard-hill ; it is bare on one side, and has long heather on the other. Coulin,^ Loch Coulin, River Coulin — CouUin 1633; G. Cillainn ('u' strongly nasal). The word can hardly be other than a locative of ' con- lann,' meaning either ' high enclosure ' (' kimos,' high), or ' collection of enclosures ' (' con, ' " Coulin (or Connlin) is from Counlach, a Kiugalian hero, who was buried on a promontory in the loch. The site of liis grave is still pointed out "—Mr J. H. Dixon's Oairloch. LOCHCARRON. 197" together). ' Lann,' enclosure, is found alone, as An loinn, the enclosure ; and in composition as An garbhlainn, near Loch Ruthven (Inverness), which appears on the O.S. map as Caroline. The Kinlochewe tenants of old had their shielings where Coulin Lodge now stands. The old name of the spot is still remembered, and appears in the couplet — Cumain is snathain is im'ideil ^ Oeithir thimchioll Lub Theamradail. Milk pails and threads and coverings All round the bend of Temradal. Teamradal, N. Timbr-dalr, timber-dale. Torran CUilinn — Holly knoll ; at the east end of Loch Coulin. Loch Clair — G-. Loch Cl^ir, loch of the level place. Loch a' Bharranaich (O.S.M. Loch Maireannach), Loch of ' barranach,' very long and strong grass with broad leaves like corn, growing in lochs. Fionnaltan, Whiteburns, is at its head ; Lochan an iasgaich, lochlet of (good) fishing ; Lochan gobhlach, forked lochlet (has a fork at either end), Sgtirr Ruadh (3141) — Red peak ; Maol cheann dearg (accented on ' cheann ') (3060), red-headed brow; Ruadh stac (2919), red 'stack,' or steep hill, are aU of the red Torridon rock. Na cinn liath, the grey heads, are quartzite. Carn breac, spotted cairn ; Fuar thoU, cold hole ; Cnoc na ' Im'idea.1 ; this was a vessel for carrying cream and milk home from th« shielings. Its mouth was covered with a piece of skin (called in the Eteay country idUvmam), tied below the brim with thread (snJlthan). The word is doubtless imihtmleal. — Rev. C. M. Rdbertaon. 198 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CKOMARTY. h-kihan, kiln-hill ; Torr na h-iolaire, eagle torr ; Glas bheinn, green hill. Blaad—Bleyat, 1548 ; Blaad 1633 ; G. Blathald ; O. Ir. bla, glossed faithche, a green ; bl&,, a place, glossed baile (both apparently the same word) ; with the suffix seen in Bial-id, Caol-id, &c. ' Place of the green.' The place is noted for its pasture. New Kelso — G. Eadar dha Charrainn, between two Carrons. The river Carron makes a large bend round it. Edira-carrain, Blaeu. Dail Mhartuinn — Delmartyne 1633 ; Martin's dale, marching with Balnacra. Dail Charmaig — Cormac's dale. Revochan — Where the smithy is, a mile west of New Kelso. Ruboachane 1546 ; G. Ruigh- Bhuadhchain ; near it is Abhainn Bhuadhchaig (O.S.M. Abhainn Bhuidheach) ; also Buadhchaig ; Buadhchain is genitive of Buadhchan, probably Buadh-ach-an, place of victory, or place of virtue (i.e., efficacy) ; Buadhchaig is merely a variant with feminine termination. The ' virtue ' may have been in the place itself, i.e., in producing herbs of worth ; or in the water of its river. Abhainn Bhuadhchaig, however, means ' River of Buadhchag,' the inference being that Buadhchag is primarily the name of the place, not of the river. Of. however Ir. river name Buaidnech. Tullich— G. an Tulaich, the liillock ; but of old an Tulchainn. Brecklach — -G. a' Bhraclach, the dappled place. LOCHCAREON. 199 Goire Fionnarach — May be a formation from fionnar, cool (Ir. fioiin-fhuar, white-cold), or it may come directl)'^ from fionn, white ; of. ruadh'- rach, from ruadh, red ; ' Cool Corry,' or ' Corry of the white places (or white water).' The river from Loch Coire Fionnaraich is Fionn Abhainn, white river, from the clearness of its water. About midway between the loch and Allt nan Ceapairean is Clach nan Con Fionn, Stone of the White Dogs ; a tapering stone about 10 feet high, to which local legend says the hero Fionn used to fasten his dogs. It is all worn by their chains. Probably a trysting place for hunters and their dog-men. Allt an ruigh' shleaghaich— (O.S M. Allt reidh sleighich). C£ Slioch in Gairloch. It rises in 2Idin' a' Chreathair, sieve moss. Allt Doir-ithigean — West of Cnoc na h-athan ; obscure ; perhaps contains a proper name. Allt a' Chonais — Bum of Coneas ; G. an Conais ; this was a homestead by the burn. For Coneas c£ Coneas in Kiltearn, and na Coineasan, in English ' the Rockies,' a series of pools and falls in the Gruinard Hiver. Goire Ldridh — Lu-idh is doubtless connected with G. Lirean, meaning the green slimy stuff that forms in quiet water ; cf. the Liris, a river of Italy ; Liriope, a fountain nymph. Liridh is probably a Pictish stream name, primitive Lirios ; root U, smooth, polished, seen in Lat. limo, polish; G. liobh ; cf. Glenlyon, G. Li'un, primitive Livona. 200 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Sgurr nam Feartag — 'Peak of the sea-pinks,' which grow there (O.S.M. Sgilrr na Fiantag). From it comes Coire Bhanaidh, cf. Achvanie. Eagon (2260) — A hill ; probably a formation from eag, a notch ; ' Place of the Notch, or, of Notches." Moruisg (3026) — G. M6rusg ; first part is mor, great, the strong accent on which has reduced the second part to obscurity. Poll Druineachain — On the stream that twice crosses the Dingwall road, near the junction with it of the road from Strathcarron Station. The more easterly of the bridges is Drochaid Poll Druineachain ; the other is Drochaid na h- Uamh- ach, Cave-Bridge. Between that and the head of the loch is Ciadh nan Druineach, Burial-place of the ? Druids, where cists are said to have been found. Peitneane 1563 — Now obsolete, shows Pictish influence. There is still Pitalmit in Glenelg, G. Bail' an Ailm. APPLECROSS. 201 APPLECROSS. Applecross — "Malruba fundavit ecclesiam Apor- crosan 673" (Tighernac's Annals). This is also the form which occurs in the Aberdeen Breviary ; but Ablecross 1275 (Theiner Vet. Mon.). The old forms show the meaning to be ' estuary of the Crosan,' and the best native authority available to me gave the name of the Applecross river as Abhainn Crosan. There is also a field by the river side known as Crosan, and entered under that name in the valuation roll. Crosan may be a genuine old river name, Crosona, with which cf. the River Crosa, now Creuse, a tributary of the Vienne, which again is a tributary of the Loire.^ The parish, how- ever, in Gaelic, is always spoken of as ' a' Ghomraich,' the girth, from the right of sanctuary, extending, it is said, for six miles in all directions, possessed by the monastery founded by Malruba. ' In Applecross ' is idiomatically ' air [not anns] a' Ghomraich." The minister of Applecross is, however, not ' Ministir na Comraich," but, logi- call}'- enough, ' Ministir a' Chlachain ' (Minister of the Clachan), and the hill behind the church and ' The usual explanation of Crosan is " Place of Crosses." This would, of course, imply that the name was given subsequent to the arrival of the Ofariatian settlers, a rather difficult supposition in view of the Pictish ' aber.* The word is more likely to be Pictish throughout. 202 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMABTY. manse is Beinn a' Chlachain, the 'clachan' denoting primarily the cell or the church of stone used by the early missionaries. Ecclesiastically there is no spot in Ross, nor, indeed, with the exception of lona, in Scotland, more venerable than the churchyard of Applecross, which con- tains, according to Dr Reeves, the site of that monastic settlement which was founded by Malruba, and from which he laboured as the Apostle of the North. Malruba's grave is still pointed out, marked by two low round pillar stones, and within a yard or two of the spot so marked there was excavated, in the incumbency of the late minister, what appears from the present indications to have been a cist burial. Nor has the belief, mentioned by Dr Reeves, died out, that the possession of some earth from the saint's tomb ensures safety in travelling, and a return to Applecross. The sculptured stone on the left as one enters the graveyard, know^n as ' Clach Ruairidh mh6ir Mbic Caoigean,' has been described by Dr Reeves ; but he did not see the beautifully carved fragments of a cross shaft which are built into the wall of the small chapel- like building at the east side, showing spiral, fret, and interlaced ornament. It is said that when the present church was built several carved stones were buried under the gravel path near the south wall. The Strath of Applecross is ' Srath Maol- chaluim' — Strath of Malcolm. This, which is APPLECROSS. 203 the name given by the oldest inhabitants, is being corrupted into ' Srath Maor-chaluim,' or, worse still, ' Cul-chaluim.' The holy well by the roadside, west of Apple- cross House, is unfortunately nameless. Near it are the four trees in the form of an oblong, which, with a (supposed) crab-apple tree in the centre, were absurdly propounded as the origin of the name Applecross. This is the supposed site of Malruba's cell, and is called Lagan na Comraich, the little hollow of the sanctuary. Budha nan Uamhag — Promontory of the hollows, or the small caves, the most southerly point of Applecross ; named from UagS — G. Na h-Uamhagan, the hollows. It is a tiny township. Toscaig — Toskag 1662 ; G. Toghscaig (close o) ; ' t-hauga-skiki,' how-strip ; ' hauga,' a cairn, bar- row, how. There is also Abhainn Thoghscaig, the river -if Toscaig, and Loch Thoghscaig, the loch of Toscaig. Coillegillie— G. Coille-ghillidh, GiUi's wood. An Airde Bhau — The white promontory ; also Sron na h-airde bhan, nose of the same. Culduie — -G. Cuil-duibh (locative), the black nook. Am Poll Creadhaich (O.S.M. Poll creadha)— Clay pool. Gamusterach — G. Camas-teirach ; am Macau earach, north of it, on the shore, is a rock column. Probably Camas{t)-earach, Easter bay, with developed t ; cf. an drast for an tr^th-s'. 204 PLACE-NAMES OP EOSS AND CROMARTY. Camusteel — G. Camas-teile ; ? Linden Bay, from G. telle, borrowed from Latin tilia, a linden tree. Milton — G. Bail' a' mhuilinn ; also Loch a' mhuilinn. An Fhaoilinn — The beach-field, opposite the manse of Applecross. Behind it is Cadha na Faoilinn, pass of the ' faoilinn.' Applecross Mains — Of old Borrodale, from N. borgr, a burg or stronghold, and dalr, a dale ; ' Fort-dale ' ; Gaelic curiously accents the second syllable, which suggests that some third element, e.g. d, river, has to be reckoned with. Near this appears to have been Sardale, muddy dale. A third Norse name in dale is Coive Sgamadail, Corry of Scamadale, from N. Skam-dalr, Short-dale. It is west from Coire nan dradh, Ladder Corry. Langwell, Longfield. Hartfieid— G. Coille-mhtiiridh, wood cf the bul- wark ; murach, place of the m^r, or rampart, bulwark, which here would serve to keep the river to its channel. A local song has ' Coille- mhtiiridh da thaobh na h-aibhn' ' — on both sides of the river. DrRee ves takes it to be ' Coille Mhourie,' Malruba's wood, but accent and quantity combine to make this impossible. Neai- the keeper's house is a pool called Poll a' hhior or a' Bhior-pholl ; bior is an old Ir. word glossed 'water' and 'well'; 'Well-pool.' An t-allt M6r, big burn, comes down opposite. Its head branches are Allt a chhirn dheirg, from Carn APPLECROSS. 205 Dearg, Red Cairn (2119), and An f-allt granda, ugly burn. Maol an uillt mhoir — Bare hill of the big burn. Coire Attadale — Corry of Attadale. Attadale seems to have been the Norse name of what is now called Srath-Mhaol-Chaluim. It is a very wild corrv, branching off at right angles from the head of Srath-Maol-Chaluim. G. Coire Atadail ; cf Attadale, in Lochcarron. An Crua'ruigh — Hard slope, west of the manse. Rudha na guaille — Shoulder-promontory ; also AUt na guaille. Allt na mucarachd — Bum of the piggery. AUt Tausamhaig (O.S.M. Allt sabhsach) — Norse ' t-hausa-vik,' skull bay. Cruinn-leum, the round leap, is a narrow, rounded bay ; cf. the common Cuing-leum, narrow leap, in English Coylum. Sand — G. ' sannd,' Norse ' sand.' Behind it is Am meall gaineamhach— Sandy hill. Salachar (final ' a' open), on a small burn ; an extension of ' sailech,' willow ; with meaning ' place of willows ' ; c£ Croch-ar, place of the gallows ; also the common Sallachy. There are, I am told, no willows now. Ard na claise moire — Point of the big gully. Lonban — G. An L5n bkn, white damp meadow ; near it are Rudha na moine, peat point ; and Allt na moine, peat burn. Near Lonban is a cave on the sea shore called an Eiginn {^), perhaps meaning ' the place of resort in danger.' 206 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Calnakil — Culnakle 1662 — ^Harbour of the cell; an old church name. G. Cal na cilia. Ctiaig — Norse ' kua-vik,' cow bay ; the bay is now ' 6b Chuaig.' There are, besides tho bay and township, rudha Chtiaig, abhainn Chtiaig (the latter from Loch gaineanahach), and eilean Chuaig. Rudha na fearna — Alder point. Ob na h-Uamha — Cave bay ; also Greag na h- Uamha, rock of the cave. The cave in question is on the east side of the headland, facings the north-eastern bight of Ob na h-Uamha, and is called an Uaimh Shiannta, the charmed or tabooed cave. The most northerly point of Apple- cross, Sron an larruinn, Iron point, wrongly siven on the O.S.M. as Rudha na h-Uamha, which latter name belongs to the headland that projects north-westward into Ob na h-Uamha. Fearnmore and Fearnbeg — "The Farnacks Litill and Meikil " (Ret. ) : big and little Fearn ; from ' fearna,' alder. The two places are commonly called na Fearnan. Faingmore, and Roinn an fhaing mhoir — Big fank and big fank point. Rudh' a' chamais ruaidh — Red bay point. Sgeir an e6in (O.S.M., Sgeir neonach) — Bird skerry. Airigh nan Cruineachd (O.S.M., Arrin-a-chruin- ach) — ' Cruineachd,' wheat, as the writer of the Old. Stat. Ace. saw, is out of the question ; and we can hardly escape the conclusion that here we have to do with the Cruithne, the Gaelic name of APPLECROSS. 207" the Picts. Cf. An Carnan Criiineachd, in Kintail. The Old Stat. Ace. says " Arenacrionuic, literally, shelling of wheat, is clearly a corruption of ■ arenan Druinich,' of the Druids," which is still the popular notion. There is another place of this name near Scourie. Camas an eilein — Island bay ; the island is Art garhh eilean, the rough island, called in O.S.M. Eilean mor. Further on is Glas sgeir, grey skerry. Kenmore — G. a' Cheannmhor ; ceannmhor (Ir. cend-mor or cendmar) means ' big-headed ' ; cf ceanndearg, red-headed. This adjective seems to be here used as a noun fern. The G. of Kenmore in Perthshire is the same, and both are accented on the first syllable. Sron na Ceannmhoir, Ken- more Point. Loch Craiceach, or Loch a' chraicich (O.S.M., Loch Creageach) — ' Craiceach ' or ' croiceach ' means (1) rising into foam ; (2) fuU of cast sea- weed (H.S.D.) ; and the latter meaning suits very well here. At the head of the loch is an Craiceach, the place where the sea-weed collects. Ardheslaig — ? Ardestag 1662; G. Ard-heisleag ; Norse ' hesla-vik,' hazel bay ; thus, with Gaelic ' ard ' prefixed, meaning point of the hazel bay. Sron a' mhais — Point of the buttock ; mas Aird- heisleig and mas Diabaig or mks na h-Araird opposite it, two great ice-smoothed and rounded rock)'^ promontories, are known as An da mhus^ the two buttocks. 208 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMAKTY. Ob na h-acairseid — Bay of the anchorage; a narrow cleft in the eastern side of Ardheslaig. Inverbane — G. an In'ir-b^n, white estuary ; the outlet of the Abhainn Dhubh from Loch Lundie. Rhur6in — Seal point. Doire-aonar — Lonely copse ; and Ceann locha, loch head, at head of Loch Shieldaig. Shieldaig — G. Sildeag, Norse ' sfld-vik,' herring bay ; the herrings are not now as numerous as they were. There is another Shieldaig in Gair- loch. In Shieldaig Bay is Eilean Shildeig, with Clach na h-Annaid, Stone of the mother-church, facing the village, the name of a mass of rock which fell from the cliff above, and said to be modern. Behind the village is Gascan, G. an Gasgan, the little tail, extremity ; applied to a place where a plateau ends in an acute angle and narrows down to the vanishing point ; cf. Gask. On the north side of Ben Shieldaig is Creag Challdris, or rather Challdarais, rock of the gloomy hazel wood ; G. call, hazel, and dubhras, a dark wood. An Corran, the Point. Bail' a' Mhinistir — Minister's town ; Camas an leum, Bay of the leap ; Camas ruadli, Red bay ; all on east side of Loch Shieldaig. Badcall — Hazel-chump ; inside the narrows (O.S.M.. Badcallda). Casaig — On east side of Loch Shieldaig, is a per- pendicular rock ; from cas, steep, ' the little steep one.' Eilean a' Chaoil — Strait isle, at entrance to Loch Torridon. APPLECROSS. 209 Doir' a' Chlaiginn — Skull copse; the 'claigionn' is an ice-rounded hill. Ob 'mheallaidh — Deceitful bay ; it is dangerous owing to large boulders. Its south-west angle is Camas dk Phkidein, Bay of two Patons or Patricks. Camas a' chlarsair — Harper's bay. Balgy— Balgy 1624 ; G. Balgaidh ; a township near the mouth of the river Balgy, from Loch Damh ; ' bubbly stream.' Cf. Strathbogy, G. Srath- bhalgaidh. Balgy is a fairly common stream name. Badan Vugie (Mhiigaidh) — As the article is not prefixed, the second part is probably a proper name ; perhaps Mungo's little clump. Ob gorm beag and Ob gorm mor — Little and big green bay ; two pretty inlets, near Dubh-airde (Duart), black point. Camas Drol — Rather Camas Trol ; the burn falling into it rises in Coire Rol, and is called Allt Coire Rol ; G. rol, a roaring; noise ; the burn runs a very steep course over numerous boulders. The name of the bay, Camas Trol, probably contains the same word with t developed between s and r. Annat — G. an Annaid, ' the mother chtu-ch,' with an ancient grave-yard and chapel ; dedication unknown. Behind it is Beinn na h-Eaglaise, Church-hiU. An t-Ath Darach — The oak ford; below Annat Bridge. 14 'W 210 PLACE-NAMES OP BOSS AND CROMAETY. Loch Neimhe — (O.S.M. Loch nam Fiadh) ; from its situation can hardly be connected with neimhidh, seen in Dalnavie, &c. Lhuyd gives neimh, brightness (dealradh), which would give good sense : ' Gleaming Loch ' ; cf. Loch Loyne. From it comes Abhainn Traill— Cf. Poll Trkill, Monar ; this rather obscure name may be from traill, a trough (Lhuyd), a loan from Lat. truUa. ' Trough pool ' is good sense, nor is ' Trough river ' inappropriate. Torridon — Torvirtayne 1464 ; Torrerdone 1584 ; G. Toir(bh)eartan ; cf. Ir. tairbhert, to transfer, carry over, the infinitive of tairbrim ; this would give the meaning of ' Place of transference,' with reference to the portage from the head of Loch Torridon through Glen Torridon to Loch Maree. It can hardly come direct from G. tairbeart, a portage, as the h of ' tairbeart ' never aspirates. The name applies specially to the strip of land at the head of the loch. Liathach (3456), pronounced Liathghach, the gh developing naturally; 'the hoary place.' The name is more appropriate to Beinn Eighe, which, except for the deep gash separating the two, is a continuation of Liathach towards Kinlochewe, and, enveloped in hoary gray screes, forms a striking contrast to the ruddy tiers and buttresses of its neighbour. A common derivation is Liaghach, place of the ladle or ladles, but this seems merely absurd. An Rathan, 'the pulley,' designates two jagged stumps of rock near the APPLECROSS. 211 top of the mountain, and seen from the sky-line from the head of Loch Torridon. ' Rathan ' is the local name for the grooved pulley at the end of the spindle of a spinning wheel which receives the driving cord. Another place-name at Torridon contains the word. The ridge falling eastwards from the highest point of Ben AUigin is deeply notched three times, so that it presents a serrated outline of three peaks and notches, and these are named na Rathanan, ' the pulleys.' Liathach 's a mac air a muin. Liathach with her son on her back. Spidean a' Choire L6ith, Pinnacle of the gray corry, is the highest peak of Liathach. Sgorr a' Chadail — Sleep scaur. Fasag — G. Am fasag, a hardened form of the O. Gael. ' fasadh,' a dwelling ; cf. An Crom- fhasag (Cromasag), near Kinlochewe ; Fasnakyle, Fassiefern, Dochanassie, the Perthshire Foss, Teanassie, etc. Am ploc, or Ploc an Doire — The lump, or lump of the grove, a small rounded projection with narrow neck extending into the loch. It has an arrange- ment of stone seats, once used for open air services. Cf Plockton. Ooire mhic Cromuil, also Coire mhic N6bmll. Corrivicromble 1793 ; Corrivicknobill 1633, 1672, Corrivicknoble 1668, 1672, 1741 ; these forms go to prove Coire mhic N6buill to be the older form of the name. MacNoble was a common surname, though now only Noble. 212 PLACE-NAMES OP ROSS AND CROMARTY. Beinn Dearg (2995) — Eed Hill ; west of which is Beinn Ailiginn (3232) — Ben of AUigin ; there is also the township of Alligin and Inveralligin — G. Inbhir- Ailiginn, which proves AUigin to be a stream name. It is usually connected with killeag, a jewel, a pretty woman, which may possibly be correct ; but the single I in kiliginn is a serious difficulty. An t-AUtan Labhar — The loud little burn, from Loch na Beiste, the Monster's Loch. O.S.M. AUt Lair. An Lagaidh dhubh (O.S.M., Lagan dubh)— The black hollow, a patch of land among the rocks, facing seawards. North of it is Port Laire — Port of Lair ; Lair is the name of the place, meaning probably here ' low place.' An Araird — The Fore-headland ; G. air, aird ; c£ Urard at Killieerankie, at the junction of Tummel and Garry. Oreag nan caolan — Gut-rock, between Araird and Port Lair, so called from pegmatite veins in it. Diabaig — Norse ' djup-vik,' deep bay ; cf. the numerous Dibidales. The bay itself is deep, and is surrounded by hills. Its remoteness and security are indicated by the saying — " 'S fhada bho 'n lagh Diabaig, 's fhaide na sin sios Mealabhaig " — Far from the law is Diabaig, yet farther is Melvaig. " A far cry to Lochow." We shall now take the principal names of the interior of Applecross, which have not yet been mentioned. APPLECROSS. 213 A' Bhinn Bhan (2936)— The white hill ; the highest in Applecross proper. The corries on the north side of A' Bhinn Bh£ln are — Coire Each, Horse corry ; Coire na Febla, Flesh corry ; Coire na Poite, Caldron corry ; Coire an Fhamhair, Giant's corry ; all magnificent corries. Sgiirr a' Chaorachain (2539)— (O.S.M., Sgorr na Caorach). Based on ' caoir,' a blaze of fire, with the secondary meaning of torrent. The mountain is extremely steep on the Kishorn side. Meall Aoghaireachaidh (O.S.M., Meall an fhir- eachan) — ' Hill of shepherding.' It is N.E. of Beinn a' Chlachain, and marks the spot where the green plain of Srath Maol-chaluim changes into the bleak uplands of Applecross. Near it is Meall nan doireachan, hill of the copses. Eas nan cuinneag — Waterfall of the buckets, in a dangerous gorge beside the path at the head of Applecross Glen. The buckets are pot-holes. Cf. Carn Cuinneag, in Rosskeen. Fuaid, or an Fhuaid (O.S.M. Meall na h-uaidne) — ' Fuat ' appears in the Lecan glossary as ' bier.' There is a Sliabh Fuait in Ireland. At its foot, not far from the path, is Uamh an righ, the king's cave. Groic bheinn — Antler-hiU. Staonag — The bent or crooked hill, E. of Loch Lundie ; a fem. diminutive from staon, bent. Loch Lundie — G. Loch Lunndaidh, a Pictish name ; V. Maoil Lunndaidh, Contin. 21.4 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CBOMARTY. Loch Gobach (O.S.M. Loch Ce6pach)— Snouted loch. Loch na maola fraochaich (O.S.M. Loch Meall an fhraoich) — Loch of the heathery brow. Loch na h-oidhche (O.S.M. Loch na h-eangaicb) — Night loch. The name is common, and is applied to lochs that fish best at night. It is near the bigger of the two lochs Gaineamheach. Coire nan aradh (' dh' hardened to 'g')— O.S.M. Coire nam farMh ; ladder corry. Through it there was once, before the Bealach road was formed, a ladder-like path ascending by tiers of steps in the rocky face. Bealach an t-SUidhe — Pass of sitting or resting; the route of pedestrians between Applecross and Shieldaig. Am Bealach — The gap or pass, or Bealach nam B5, Pass of Kine, is the name of that remarkable road, rising among barren rocks and frowning precipices to a height of 2054 feet, which affords the only means of entrance to Applecross by land. Loch an loin — Loch of the damp meadow. It is really part of the larger Loch Coultrie — G. Loch Caoltraidh, Loch of the narrow place, an extension of ' caol,' narrow, with developed ' t ' ; ' caolt-ar-adh.' Cf ' bog-ar-adh,' ; Kildary. Caoltraidh is at the south end of the loch. Loch Damh and Beinn Damh— Stag loch and hill. Beinn Damh gives its name to the deer forest. Also Doire Damh, Stag thicket. APPLECROSS. 215 Srath a' Bhathaich — Byre-strath, opening on to Loch Damh. Cf. Strathvaich, in Contin. Na Mulcanan, innumerable hillocks filling part of Strathvaich, exactly resembling the Coire Ceud Chnoc formation in Glen Torridon. Mulcan is used in common speech as equivalent to bucaid, a pustule ; hence na inulcanan means the little mounds. Loch Dilghall — Dougald's Loch, in Glen Shieldaig. Sgurr na bana-mhorair — The Lady's scaur ; the lady was placed on the top of it by her cruel lord, and fed with shell-fish. The shells may still be seen ! Loch Uaill — Proud loch ; above it is Meall Loch Uaill, in O.S.M. Meall a' Ghuail, Coal or Charcoal hill — a very natural mistake, which is corrected with certainty only from the name of the loch. Na Botagan and Creag nam Botag — There are three little flats, terraced one above the other, at the foot of the rock (creag). The natives assert the meaning to be ' the little flats ' ; but hota locally means a wet or soft channel in a peat moss. Cf Bottacks at Achterneed. Loch na(m) Frianach — Loch of the place of roots ; also Cadha na Frianach, Path of the same ; cf Sr6n na Frianaich in Contin. Airigh nan Druineach— Shieling of the ? Druids ; cf C^rn nan seachd Druineachan in Glenfintaig, and Poll Druineachan, etc., in Lochcarron. Loch an Turaraich— (O.S.M. , Loch an Treudaich), also Creag an Turaraich, Loch and Rock of the rumbling or rattling noise. 216 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMAKTY. Rassal— Rassor 1583 ; RassoU 1633 ; G. Rasal ; N. hross-vdllr, Horse-field ; cf. Eossal in Sutherland. Russel — Ressor 1583; G. Riseail ; N. hryssa-vollr, Mare-field. Aridrishaig — G. an ^irigh dhriseach, thorny shieling. Crowlin Islands — G. Cr61aig, but also Crolainn ; An lAnne Chrolaigeach, the pool of Crowlin, between these islands and Scalpay. Coire Ceud Chnoc — Corry of a hundred knolls, on the road between Kinlochewe and Torridon. The corry is literally packed with small rounded hillocks, a formation seen often elsewhere in the Highlands, but nowhere perhaps in such per- fection. Cf. Na Mulcanan. Allt nan Corp — A tributary of Abhainn Trkill ; Burn of the Bodies, to wit, bodies of clay, placed there for evil purposes of magic. Cadha nan Sgadan — The part of the path leading to Strathcarron on the slopes of Meall Loch Uaill. "Path of the herrings"; cf Creachann nan Sgadan. Sgeir an t-Salainn — Skerry of the salt. A rock, uncovered at low water only, where formerly, it is said, the fat of seals and porpoises used to be melted down. Port an t-Saoir — Wright's haven. Torr Fhionnlaidh — Finlay's rock, where a Kintail man, Finlay Macrae, who hanged himself, is buried. Creag Raonailt — Rachel's rock ; N. Ragnhildr, APPLECROSS. 217 Cds Dubh Bean a' Ghranndaich— The black nook of Grant's wife ; where the original owner of the famed Annat skull drowned herself Carn an t-Suidhe — Cairn of the sitting, about half a mile west of Ben Damph Lodge, said by local tradition to have been a resting-place of Malruba's body on its way to Applecross. Port 'ic-ghille-Chaluim Rarsaidh— The landing place of Macgilliecallum of Raasay. This is the little bay where the Hon. Capt. Lionel F. King- Noel's boathouse is. There seems to have been a skirmish here once with the Raasay men. An Annat man, whose son and house had been burnt hy the Raasay band, is said to have performed some destructive archery practice from Sgeir na Saighid, killing a whole boat-load by himself! Am Mol Mor — The great shingle bank, between Annat and mouth of Torrid on river. Also called Faoilinn na h-Annaite, sea beach of Annat. Na Campaichean — The Camps ; two narrow dells running from Pert an t-Seohhaic, Hawk's port, and Ob na Caillich, Old Woman's Bay (or Nun's Bay). This bay is also called an t-ob Lagliaich, the muddy bay (for latliaicli). Cadha na Mine, path of the meal, is to be taken along with Glac dhubh a Chais, the dark hollow of the cheese, and Bac nan Cisteachan, the ridge of the chests, all just above Annat. After the Rebellion of 1745 a Government vessel entered Loch Torridon, and the people, though they are said to have been neutral, thought it wise to 218 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. remove themselves and their gear from harm's way. Hence these names. Airigh nam B^rd — ShieUng of the Bards, possibly of the meadows ; but it is high up. Tunna Beag — The little cask, a small rock on Sail na Beinne Bige, a spur of Ben Damh, from which a spring rises, making a noise as of water working about in a cask. Garaidh nam Broc — The badgers' den. Toll nam Biast — Hole of the monsters, also Spidean and Stuc Toll nam Biast on Ben Damh. AUt an Turaraich — This bum makes a great rumbling noise. Creag an Dath — The dyeing rock. Criathrach Buidhe — The yellow marsh, from criathar, a sieve ; hence a boggy place. Oob nan Uisgeachan— The point (beak) between the waters ; a confluence. Achadh Cul-a-mhill— The flat field at the back of the hill ; at Lochan Neimhe ; the reputed scene of a battle between the Macleods and the Mac- kenzies. Spuic nighean Thormaid— The peak of Norman's daughter. Meall Grorm or Green Dasses — A steep green pass on Ruadh-stac. The latter name, which is regu- larly used, was given by Lowland shepherds ; dass means a hayrick. Loch na Cabhaig— Loch of the hurry ; it lies in a hollow where the wind is always \msteady, and blows the water from side to side. APPLECROSS. 219 Leathad an aon Bhothain — The slope of the one bothy. Meall na Teanga Fhiadhaich— The hill of the wild point. The Stirrup Mark — A peculiar mark on the S.E. slope of Ben Damh below the hiffh top, and a well-known landmark. Doire-mhaol-laothaich — Under Liathach by the roadside ; also called Doirbhe-la(gh)aich, popu- larly said to be for Doire Bheul Bhaothaich. A curiosity of uncertainty. Doire nam Fuaran — Derrinafoiran IG68 ; Spring- copse. An Doirneag — ' The little pebbly one,' a field con- taining many rounded pebbles, at the N.W. end of an Fhaoilinn, the beach-field, which latter is next the shore between Torridon Mains and the 'Ploc' Mormhoich a' Choire — Sea plain of the Corry, west of mouth of Corry River. 220 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. GAIELOCH. Gairloch— Gerloth 1275, Garloch 1574 ; G. aa Gearr-loch, the Short Loch ; cf. Gareloch. A well by the roadside at the mouth of Ahhainn Ghlas, Gray River, is affirmed to have been the original Gairloch. Dibaig — Debak 1638 ; G. Diabaig ; N. djiip-vik, deep bay. Oirthir Dhiabaig, Coast of Dibaig. Craig — G. a' Chreag, or Creag Ruigh Mhorgain ; the Rock, or the Rock of Morgan's slope. Morgan is a Pictish name ; Old British, Morcant, ' sea- bright ;' Gaulish Moricantos. The Craig river runs through Braigli-Thaithisgil, upper part of Taisgil. In Taithisgil the latter part is N. gil, a ravine ; the first part is perhaps genitive of haf, sea, with prefixed t, giving t-hafs-gil, sea-ravine. Allt, Meall and Loch na h-Uamhach — Burn, Hill and Loch of the Cave. Between the burn and Allt na CHche, Boundary Burn, is a stone pillar called An Nighean Liath, the gray girl. Near the mouth of the little burn is Oirthir an Rudha, Coast of the point, ofif which is Sgeir an Trithinn, Trinity Skerry, a rock in the sea with three humps. Allt Saraig — Burn of Saraig; N. saur-vik, mud-bay. Red Point — G. an Rudha dearg ; but sometimes called an Rudha lachdunn, the dun or swarthy point. GATRLOCH. 221 Port an Fhaithir Mhoir— Harbour of the great shelving slope. Faithir, a sharp slope with a flat place at top, is in very common use in Gairloch and Lochbroom ; ? Ir. fachair, a shelf in a cliff ; cf. Foyers, Inverness, G. Foithir, the same word.-' On the West Coast faithir is applied typically to the steep slope between the old raised beach, about 30 feet high, and the present shore. The north-west point of this peninsula is a' Chreag Luathann, Rock of Ashes, with a peculiar genitive form, seen also in Cnoc na h-athan (single n) in Lochcarron ; Tom na h-athainn, Strathnairn ; MuUach na h-Eagann (eag, a notch), the highest point of Ben Alligin. Bailesios — G. am Baile Shios, the Lower township, as opposed to atn Baile Shuas, the Upper town- ship. AUt a' Chaol-doire — Burn of the narrow copse. An Tarbh — The Bull, primarily the name of a knoU, but extended to designate the coastland from Bailesios to Erradale. South Erradale — Erredell 1638 ; G. Ekrradal Shuas or Ekrradal a Deas ; N. eyrar-dalr, gravel- beach dale. Great banks of gravel extend from here to Bailesios. Allt Uamh a' Chl6ibh— Burn of the Creel-cave ; also Creag Uamh a' Chleihh and Achadh Uamh a' ChUihh, Rock and Field of the same. An t-Seolaid — A skerry north of the mouth of Ahhainn Ruadh, Red river. There is another ' Foyers is the name o£ the place ; the famous fall is in G. Eaa na Smiiid, Fall of Smoke, i.e., spray. 222 PLACE-NAMES OP ROBS AND CROMARTY. Seblaid near Fearnmore, Applecross. Based on se61, sail, with extension as in Bial-id ; Place of sailing, i.e., requiring careful navigation ; or, Sailing mark. On the shore adjacent are am Faithir M6r and am Faithir Beag, the big and the little shelving declivities. Openham — G. na h-6bainean, the little bays ; G. 6b, borrowed from N. h6p. Creagan na Mi-chomhairle— Little rock of bad counsel. Two men quarrelled and fought here. One wished to stop fighting, but the other would not, and both were killed. Cnoc nan Carrachan — Hill of wild liquorice. Sroin a' Charr — Nose of the projecting rock ; cf. Carr Rock in Kintail. Camas nam Ploc — Bay of the lumpish promon- tories. Uamh Fhreacadain — Cave of the watch. An Camas Raintich — Fern Bay ; by-form of raineach. An Sguman — The stack ; the northernmost point west of Port Henderson. Port Henderson — Galled by natives Portigil, N. port-gil, gate-gully ; by others Port an Sgtmaain, Haven of the Stack. A' Chathair Dhubh— The black fairy knoll; between the above and Loch nan Eun, Bird Loch. N.E. of Port Henderson is Cnoc an Sgath, Hill of the fright. Sron nam Mult— Nose or point of the wedders ; Na Muilt, the wedders, are three skerries that appear at ebb off the coast. G AIRLOCK. 223 Badantionail — Gr. Bad an Inneil ; Clump of the tackle, or instrument. Badachro— G. Bad a' Chr5tlia, Clump of the Fold. Also Caolas, Meall, Abhamn, Eas and Loch Bad a' Chr5tha, Sound, Hill, River, Waterfall, and Loch of the same. An Uidh — The outlet to the sea of Loch Bad na h-Achlaise, Loch of the arm-pit ; achlais is very common in place-names. An Caochan Fearna — The alder brooklet ; caochan, from caoch, blind, denotes a stream so small as to be almost covered by the heather. It is common in Gairloch. Loch nam Breac-Athar — Loch of the sky-trout, i.e., trout that were supposed to have fallen in a shower; cf Creachann nan Sgadan. (O.S.M., Loch nam Breac Odhar). Badaidh nan Ramh— Little clump of the oars. Badaidh, which must be a diminutive of bad, is common. Ramh, a root (Arran), long root as of a tree (Perthshire) ; not so used in Ross. Loch Clair — Loch of the flat. Loch Sguata Beag and Loch Sguata Mor; of Sguataig. Grlac na Senshesen, which appears on some maps,. is Glac nan seani(nn)sean, hollow of the old haughs or inches ; c£ Loch na Shanish, Inverness. Doir' an Eala — Swan copse ; also L6n Dhoir' an Eala, Marsh of the same, and Abhainn Dhoir' an Eala. 224 PLACE-NAMES OP BOSS AND CROMARTY. An t-AUt Giuthas— Fir burn ; the formation is the regular one on the west coast here. Doireachan nan Gad— The copses of withes. Braigh Thoiriosdal — Upper part of Horrisdale, i.e., N. Thorir's dale. Also Loch and River of the same. Beinn Bhric — Dappled hill. Bus-bheinn — G. Badhais-bhinn (or baoghais-bhinn, ao short). The phonetics do not admit the popu- lar explanation ' Forehead Hill,' G. bathdis. The name is probably a hybrid of the same type as Suilven, Blaven, Goatfell, G. Gaota-bheinn, where Norse ye?^, a wild hill, has been translated into G. beinn, the first part being left untranslated. The G. of Loch Boisdale is Loch Bhaoghasdail, or, Loch Baoghasdail. Nead an Eoin — Bird's nest ; a safe anchorage. Camas na h-Eirbhe— Bay of the fence or wall. Eirbhe is in O. Ir. airbe, meaning (1) ribs (2) fence. It occurs often in Ross and Sutherland, e.g., Altnaharra is G. Allt na h-Eirbhe, burn of the wall. Further examples will occur later. On examination it will be found that wherever this name occurs there are traces of an old wall stretching through the moor ; some of these walls are of great length. Leac nan Saighead — Flat rock of the arrows. The story of the destructive archery practice made from it is to be found in Mr Dixon's ' Gairloch.' Oamasaidh— The little bay ; cf badaidh above. An Cobhan — The little recess ; it is a sea nook ; cf Cavan, in Ireland. GAIKLOCH. 225 Shieldaig — G. Sildeag ; N. Sfld-vik, herring-bay ; cf. Shieldaig, in Applecross. Also the hybrid name Aird-shildeig, Promontory of Shieldaig. Kerry River — River Kerrie 1638 ; G. Abhainn Chearraidh, N. kjarr-d, copse river, still as descriptive as ever. Also Inverkerry, G. Inbhir- Chearraidh, and Loch Kerry. But Kerrysdale is in G. a' Chathair Bheag, the little fairy knoU or seat. Loch Bad na' Sgalag — Loch of the clump of the farm-vs^orkers. Loch na h-Oidhche— Night loch, with large trout w^hich take only at night. Beinn an Eoin — Bird-hill ; common. An Uidh Phlubach— The 'plumping channel,' between Loch Bad na Sgalag and Feur-Loch, grassy loch. Loeh nam Buaineachan (also Buannachan), Loch of the Reapers. Meall Aundrary — G. Meall Andrairigh ; a Norse formation ; possibly Andrew's shieling, Andres- erg {erg borrowed from Gaelic airigh). But this should give Andrasairigh. Charlestown— G. Baile Thearlaich. Ob Cheann an t-Saile— Kintail Bay. This Kintail is a tiny estuary, and at the bridge there was formerly a change-house. Flowerdale— G, am Baile M6r, Big-stead. Flowerdale House— The old house of Gairloch was called an Tigh Dige, Moat House, from its having been surrounded by a ditch. The present house 15 226 PLACE-NAMES OF KOSS AND CEOMAETY. is called Tigh Dige nan Gorm Leac, Moat House of the blue flags, i.e., slates. Dialectically Tigh Gige. Port na h-6ile ; ^ile is most probably Nibble, genitive of dibheal, a live coal ; ' Port of tbe Ember J ' the reference is lost. An Dtin — The Fort ; there are traces of such. Caisteil na Cloinne — The Children's Castle ; a rock full of holes in which children play. An Crasg — The crossing ; a ridge crossed by the road. Gairloch Hotel — Its site is in G. Achadh Deu- thasdal, Field of D^uthasdal, an obscure N. word. An Cachaileath Dearg — The red gate. Oreagan nan Oudaigean — Cuddies' Eock. Achtercairn — Auchitcairne 1638; G. Achd-a'- chkrn, Field of the Cairn ; with hardening of -adh to -ag in achadh, and contraction. Leac Roithridh — Eyrie's flag-stone ; in the bay. Eoithridh is a personal name still in use, and stories are told of Coinneach mac-Eoithridh. Cf Creag-Eoithridh and Toll-Eoithridh.^ The MacEyries were a sept of the Macdonalds. Poll an Doirbh— Pool of the hand line ; a deep pool at the mouth of the stream here. N. dorg. Loch Airidh Mhic Criadh — G. Loch Airigh Mac- Griadh, Loch of the shieling of the sons of Griadh. Strath — G. an Srath. Mial— Meall 1566 ; Meoll with the mill 1638 ; G. Miall (two syllables) ; Norse mjo-vollr, narrow ' These h»Te been wronglj explained at p. 12. GAIRLOCH. 227 field. It is the higher ground of which Strath is the lower ; cf. Miavaig, Lewis. Smithstown — G. Bail' a' ghobha. Lonemore — G. an L5n M6r, the great damp meadow. Big Sand and Little Sand— The two Sandis 1638 ; G. Sannda Mhor agus Sannda Bheag ; N. Sand ; cf. the common Shandwick or Sandaig. Near Big Sand is Cathair a' Phuirt, Fairy Knoll of the harbour. Longa Island — Lunga (Blaeu) ; N. lung-ey, ship- isle. The passage between it and the mainland is An Caol Beag, the little narrow. North Erradale^G. Earradal Shios or Earradal a Tuath. For the usage of sios, cf Bailesios above, and for meaning, South Erradale. Na Feannagan Glasa — The Green Eigs. Feannag, from G. feann, flay, was a ' lazy-bed.' (O.S.M., Fannachain glas). Senabhaile — G. an Sean-bhaile, old-town. Peterburn — G. Alltan Phkdraig. Camas nan Sanndag — Sand-eel Bay. A' Chipeanoch — The name of the shore lands from Peterburn (or perhaps from N. Erradale) to Altgreshan ; a derivative of G. Ceap, a block, a piece of ground. Altgreshan — Auldgressan 1638 ; G. Allt Ghrisean, i.e., grisionn, or gris-fhionn ; ' Brindled Burn ;' cf. Inverbreakie. Melvaig — Malefage 1566; G. Mealabhaig; N. melar-vik ; melr denotes bent grass, or a sandy 228 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. hillock overgrown with bent grass ; vlk, bay. From melr we get the G. Mealbhan, sandy dunes with bent grass, common on the west. In Port- mahomack ' mealbhan ' means bent grass. Also G. mealach, full of bent grass ; cf Lochan Mealaich between Strathy and Armadale, in Sutherland. Port nan Amall — Harbour of the yokes. An Rudha R6idh — The smooth point ; the north- westerly point of the peninsula. An t-Seann Sgeir — Old Skerry, is the north point of Rudha Rdidh. The sound of the sea on this rock is sometimes heard, it is said, in Glen Docharty, Kinlochewe. Camustrolvaig — A hybrid ; N. troU-vik, goblin bay, with G. Camas, a bay, prefixed. It is still counted a most uncanny place. Abhainn nan Leumannan— Hiver of the leaps. Abhainn, river, is often applied to quite a small stream if its course is comparatively smooth. Locha Bring — (O.S.M. Loch an Draing) ; Toh(w Dringaig, at its south end, points to the name being Gaelic ; perhaps a personal name or nick- name. Achadh nan Uirighean — Field of the couches or beds. There is, I think, a Fingalian tale attached. Bac an Leith-choin — Moss of the Lurcher. Fura Island — G. Eilean Futhara; Filra also heard ; final -a is Norse ey, island ; first part obscure. GAIRLOCH. 229 Sgeir Mhaoil-Mhoire — Myles' skerry. Am Bodha Ruadh — The red sunken rock, a very dangerous shoal skerry. Rudha an t-Sasain — A wild promontory just as one enters the Minch. Sksan is from s^s, a hold or grip, and means metaphorically ' a place or thing that grips,' i.e., a point difficult to get past ; or, where lines get entangled. Cove — G. an Uaghaidh ; the north part of Cove is Achadh na h-Uaghach, meaning ' Place of the Cave ' and Field of the Cave respectively. Smiilthaig — N. Smuga-vik, Cave bay. Am Faithir Mot and am Faithir Beag, the big and little shelving declivity ; also Gaineamhach Smiiithaig, Sands of Smiiithaig. An t-Eilean Tioram — Dry Island, off the latter. Creag Bean an Tighe — Housewife's Rock ; a good place for fishing. Sguataig — To be connected with Loch Sguata, which is inland from it. There are three lochs of this name in Gairloch, all of which have tail-like ends or promontories, which suggests N. Skilti, to project. Sguataig is Sguat-bay. A' Chathair Rnadh — The red fairy knoll. Stirkhill — G. Meallan a' ghamhna, the Stirk ; an Gamhainn is a rock. Inverasdale — Inveraspidill 1566; Inverassedall 1569 ; Inveraspedell 1638 ; Inner-absdill (Blaeu) ; G. Inbhir-asdal, a hybrid ; G. inbhir, estuary ; N. aspi-dalr, Aspen-dale, from osp, the aspen tree. The old forms, together with the independent 230 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. authority of Blaeu, prove that the modern Gaelic is a contraction with compensatory lengthening of the vowel a. Coast — G. an t-Eirthire. Faithir an R6in — Shelving declivity of the seal. F6ith Ohuilisg — Bog of Cuilisg. Cuilisg was a witch who ran off with the kettle of the F^inne. Caoilte caught her here, and the kettle spilled in the struggle, causing the ' feith.' The Fenian ' coire ' was kept in the Feadan mor, the big runnel. Brae — A' Bhruthaich ; behind it is an Leith-ehreig, half-rock ; also Creag Chdmhaidh. Loch a' Bhadaidh Shamhraidh — Loch of the little summer clump. An Gead Duhh, the black rig, is near Brae ; also Gead a' Chois, Rig of the nook. Naast— The Nastis 1638 ; G. N^st ; doubtful. We may compare the Irish Naas, derived from nas, a fair ; t would easily develop. Norse naust, a boat-place, would land in G. nost, hardly ntlst, unless we could suppose a change from o to a. Also Platach Nasi, the flat place of Naast ; and Dun Nast, Fort of Naast. Boor — G. Biira; N. biir-a, bower-stream. Also Loch Bhiira, from which comes AUt a' Chuingleim, Burn of the narrow leap (Coylum) ; Sgeir Bhura, Boor skerry. Torran na Cle, 1 Hillock of the Hurdle ; it is haunted. Above Boor is Torr a' Bhiod, Torr of the Point. Poolewe— G. Poll-iti ; the village is called by the natives Abhainn lu, Ewe River. That Loch GAIBLOCH. 231 Maree was formeily called Loch Ewe is clear from the facts that the Eiver Ewe issues from it, that Kinlochewe stands at its upper end, and Letter- ewe on its north side. Blaeu's map makes it Loch Ew, yet Lochmaroy 1638. Iti is difficult, but may be Ir. eo, Welsh yw, a yew tree ; cf. Tobar na h-iu in Nigg. ToUie— Tolly 1638 ; G. Tollaidh, Place of the Holes ; there are the farm, bay, rock, burn, and loch of Tolly. Common ; this Tolly is a place of knolls and hollows. Slattadale— G. Sl^iteadal; N. Slettr-dalr, Even- dale. Talladale — Alydyll 1494 ; AUawdill 1566 ; Telbadell 1638 ; G. Tealladal ; N. hjalU-dalr, ledge-dale ; hjalli is a shelf or ledge in a mountain side. Beinn a' Chearcaill — Hill of the circle, from the lines of stratification running round it like hoops. Grudie River — G. Abhainn Grtiididh ; cf Grudie, in Con tin. Ru Noa — G. Rudh' 'n Fhomhair, Giant's point. Tagan — Taag 1633; G. na Tathagan ; Fear nan Tathag, the goodman of Tagan. The singular nom. is thus Tathag, as in the 1633 spelling, a diminutive in form, which I take to be a loan from N. ta^i, fem., an in-field, homefield, Tathag thus means the small in-field ; na Tathagan, the small in-fields. Anancaun — G. kth-nan-ceann, ford of the heads. Cromasag — G. an Cromasag for Crom-fhasadh, bent or crooked dwelling. 232 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMAJRTY. Beinn Eigbe — File peak, from its serrated outline as seen from Kinlochewe. The upstanding rocks which form the teeth of the file are called Bodaich Dhuhh Binn Eighe, the black Carls of Ben Eay. The sides of this wild mountain are one mass of shingly screes, ever slipping, whence it was said 'S i mo riin Beinu Eighe, Dh'fhalbhadh i learn is dh'fhalbliainn leatha. My love is Ben Eay, She with me and I Trith her would go. A' Ghairbhe — The Garry ; the river from Loch Coulin ; G. gairbhe, roughness, which describes it. The Inverness Garry is in Gaelic Garadh. An Giuthas mc«: — The great fir wood ; a rehc of the indigenous forest. Also Mmn a' Ghiuthais, Breast or round Hill of the Fir- wood. Bruachaig — Little bank, locative of bruachag. Also Ahhainn Bruachaig, Bruachaig River. Opposite Bruachaig is Cruchoille, Horse-shoe wood, where the stream makes a complete bend like a horse- shoe. Also Catliair CJiruchoille, Fairy knoll of the same. Eilean a' Ghobhainn — The Smith's isle, with a burying-ground. Adjacent is the farm of Culin- ellan, Back of the Island. Am Preas Mor — The big thicket ; here preas, which usually means ' bush,' must mean ' thicket.' It is a loan from Pictish, and in Welsh means brush- wood, covert. GAIRLOCH. 233 Beinn a' Mhuinidh— So called from a waterfall in its face, called Steall a' Mhtiinidh ; c£ the Con- tinental Piss-vache. Fasag — G. am Fasag for fasadh, the dwelling. Also Ahhainn an Fhasaidh, Eiver of the dwelling. Site of old ironworks. Claona — G. an claon-ath, the wry ford ; the vowel of kth is shortened by the strong accent on the prefixed adjective. Beinn Lair — To be taken in connection with Ard- Ikir ; there are two rocks near this promontory in L. Maree called an Lair, the mare, and an Searrach, the foal. The meaning is thus Mare- hill, and Mare-promontory. Slioch — -G. an Sleaghach ; the adjective ' sleaghach ' is common, in conjunction with ' coire,' a corry ; and ' ruigh,' a sloping stretch. Here ' sleaghach ' is a noun. The base can hardly be other than sleagh, a spear, but the application is far from clear. Slioch is a truncated cone, almost void of vegetation, with many Avater-worn gullies on its steep slopes. Smiorasair — So in G., where a final -igh has been dropped ; Blaeu writes Smirsary, and cf. Smeari- sary, Moidart. Smior is the N. smjor, butter ; ary is N. erg, shieling, borrowed from G. kirigh at an early stage. The as after smior is all that remains of some Norse word, which can only be guessed at. Norse compounds of this type (with three parts) are specially liable to " telescoping " in Gaelic. 234 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. RigoUachy — G. Kuigli-ghobhlachaidh, sloping reach of the forked field. Coppachy — G. Copachaidh ; cop means knob, foam ; probably ' foam-field,' as it is on the shore of Loch Maree. Furness — G. an Fhtiirneis, the Furnace. There were extensive smelting works here. Also Ahhainn na Fidrneis, River of the Furnace. Folais — For fo-ghlais, sub-stream, small stream ; also Allt Folais, Burn of Fowlis, a reduplication or tautology which shows that the name Folais has long ceased to be significant. Of Fowlis. Inishglass — G. an Innis-ghlas, the green haugh. Meall Bheithinnidh — Probably based on G. beithe, birch ; also Bealach Bheithinnidli, Gap of the Birch -place. Binn Airigh a' Charr — Pronounced quickly with accent on first and last syllables, and shortening of a of airigh ; hill of the shieling of the pro- jecting rock or rock shelf Ardlair — G. Ard-15.ir v. Beinn Lkir above. Poll Uidhe a' Chro — Pool of the water-isthmus of the fold ,• joined to Loch Kernsary by a narrow neck. Kernsary — Kernsery 1548 ; G. Cearnai'sar ; of same formation as Smiorasair, above. The last part is N. erg, shieling, borrowed from Gaelic ; the first part may be kjarni, kernel, denoting also ' the best part of the land ;' or it may be kjarr, copse. In the former case the s has to be explained as in Smiorasair ; the latter theory leaves nas to be accounted for. GAIKLOCH. 235 Innisabhaird — G. Innis a' bhkird, the poet's mead. The poet in question was the ' B^rd Sasunnach,' a descendant of one of the Enghsh-speaking iron- workers on Loch Maree side. Loch Ghiuragairtaidh also Achadh-ghiuragair- tidh — Probably from giuran, a plant resembling the wild hemlock, and gart, an enclosure ; cf. Achadh-ghiiirain in Glenshiel. Inveran — G. Inbhirean, the little ' inver,' or estuarj, where the water of Loch Kernsary falls into the lower end of Loch Maree. It does not seem to have the article prefixed in Gaelic, and this is the case also with the Sutherland Inveran, on R. Shin. A' Phlucaird — The Lump-promontory, a locative of ploc-aird. Inverewe House, which stands in its lee, is called Tigh na Plucaird. Loch nan Dailthean — Loch of the Dales. Coille-6agaSCaig • — Wood of Eagascaig, which is Norse eikir-skiki or eiki-skiki, oak-strip. A Ghlac Dharach, the oak dell, is in it, or at least very near it. Tuiraaig — Towrnek 1548; G. Turnaig; a difficult name ; -aig looks like N. vik, bay ; but Ttirnaig in Strath Oykell, far inland, is seriously against it ; and the first part tiirn is not readily explained fi:"om N. sources. Perhaps locative of G. tuairneag, a rounded thing ; boss, hillock ; which would suit the places. Platacli Tliuirneig, flat of Tuirnaig, is the stretch of moor between Sidl Mill a' Chrdtha, Bog-eye of the hill of the fold, and Loch a' 236 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Bhaid Laachraich, Loch of the Rush-clump. There are also Loch, Burn, and Point of Tuirnaig. Cois Mhic 'lUe Riabhaich — Nook or recess of the son of the brindled lad. Also, Eile CROMARTY. which cut their way through peat, cf. m6-grof, a peat trench ; Allagro, eels' stream ; Clisgro, klifs-gro, stream of the cliff; Hallagro, hallr, a slope, stream of the slope ; Hundagro, stream of the dogs ; Molagro, stream of the pebbly beach ; Fidigro, the stream of the meadow land ; Jit means meadow land by the seaside or by a river ; Allt Miagro, narrow stream, allt being pleonastic. Hals, neck, becomes in Gaelic hais, I being dropped before s ; Gob Hais, point of the neck, at North Tolsta, where there is a neck between a rock and the land. Hla'Sa, to load — Lathamur, hla'S-hamarr, loading rock, a projecting rock where ships could be loaded. It is also applied to steep rocks on the moor. HoU, a hill — Toll, the hill, in Barvas and elsewhere ; Tollar, a ridge at Laimishader, shows the plural hollar, the hills. Holmr, a holm, islet, appears in Gaelic as Tolm, whence Duntuilm, in Skye ; terminally it shrinks to (a)m. Craigeam, kraku-holmr, crow-isle ; Greinam, green isle ; Lingam, heather-isle. Holt, rough hill ground — Erisolt, Erik's rough pasture or outrun ; Neidalt, neyt-hok, the rough cattle outrun ; Sgianailt, skj6na-holt, the holt of the dappled horse. Hross, a horse — Rossay, hross-ey, horse-island, cf. Eilean nan Each ; Rosnish, horse point, both at Marvig ; Rossol, hross-hoU, horse-hill, at Gress ; Rosnavat, loch of the horses, on Laxdale Moor, with the article suffixed ; Rosmul, hrossa-miili. LEWIS. 269 the ridge of the horses ; Rosgil, at back of Cross- bost, the guUey of the horse. Klettr, a rock, gIiW— Loch Rahadeit, rauSr-klettr, red-cliff ; Breacleit, from breiSr, broad-cliff ; Breasclete, breiS-ass-klettr, broad-ridge cliff; Enaclete, enni-klettr, brow-cliff; Loch Mheatha- cleit, mjo-klettr, narrow-cliff; Sgiohacleit, skipa- klettr, ship-cliff; Eacleit, ey-klettr, island cliff; Haclete and Taclete, ha-klettr, high-cliff. Kuml, a mound, burial place (Lat. cumulus) — Traigh Chumil, beach of the cairn. Mjo, from mjor, narrow — Miagro, G. Meathagro, narrow stream ; Meathadal, or Miadal, the narrow dale ; Meathanish, or Mianish, the narrow ness ; Meathacleit, the narrow cliff; Miasaid, at Loch Langavat and Loch Skibacleit, is for mjo-sund, narrow sound ; also Cnoc a' Mhiasaid at Raanish. Myrh, dark — Mircavat, dark loch, cf. Gael. Dubh- loch ; Mircol, dark hill, at Valtos ; Uamha Mhircol, cave of the dark hill, at Uig. Nes, a ness, cape — Sliilldinish, silda-nes, herring- point; Steinish, stone - point ; Roishnish, hross- nes, horse-point; Aignish, egg- nes, ridge or edge point ; Stathanis, stodvar-nes, harbour- point ; Callanish or Callernish, derived by Captain Thomas from kjalar-nes, keel-ness ; but as there is no trace of the hj sound in the Gaelic pronoun- ciation, this must be regarded doubtful ; Aird Thoranish, Thori's point ; Dim Bhorranish. from Borgar-nes, fort-promontory ; Breidhnis, broad ness ; Ra7iish, roe ness ; Linish, flax ness ; Phenish, f^-nes, sheep-ness ; Griamanais, Grim's 270 PLACE-NAMES OF BOSS AND CROMAETY. ness ; Arnish, eagle-ness ; Drohhinish, from drofn, spotted ness ; Bratanish, from brattr, steep ness ; Altanish, from alft, svi^an, swan-ness ; Rudha Jiobhanish (the Butt of Lewis), from rof, an opening, Hole-ness — with reference to the "Eye of the Butt." Neyti, from naut, cattle — Neidelan, neyti-land, cattle land, at Shader, Barvas, and Mealista ; Neadavat, neyti-vatn, cattle loch ; Naidaval, cattle hill; Neadaclif, the cattle's cliff; Neidal, at North Tolsta, cattle dale. Papi, priest — Pabhay, priest's isle ; Bayhle, priest's town. Sandr, sand — Sandwich, G. Sandabhaig, sandy bay ; Sandavat, sandy loch. Sau'Sr, a sheep — Soval, sau'Sa-fjall, sheep-hill, thrice in Lochs ; (Gearraidh) Shoais, sauSa-ass, ridge of the sheep ; Soray, one of the Flannan isles, sau^ar-ey, sheep isle. Setr, a residence, mountain pasture, dairyland — Shader, G. Siadair ; Sheshader, sja-setr, sea- stead ; Cuidha-seadar, kvia-setr, fold stead ; Laimishader, lamb-stead ; Linshader, G. Lisea- dair {i nasal), flax-stead, cf. Linside, G. Lionasaid, in Sutherland ; Kershader. kjoir-setr, copse-stead ; Ungashader, Ung's stead ; Carishader, Kari's stead ; Grimshader, Grim's-stead ; Hamarshader, liammer stead ; hamarr means a hammer-shaped crag, or a crag standing out like an anvil ; Suli- shader, pillar stead, or solan -gesse stead ; Earshader, G; lar-seadair, ? beach-stead ; Hor- shader, Thori's stead. LEWIS. 271 Sild, a herrmg—Shildmish, herring point ; Sildam, sfld-holm, herring-isle. Skdli, a shieling, plural skdlar — Scailleir, the shielings, two hills south of Valtos, Uig. Sker, a skerry or rock — Vatisker, vatns-sker, water- skerry, covered at high tide ; Mas-sgeir, sea mew skerry ; Sgarbh-sgeir, Skarfs-sker, Cormorant skerry ; Hiinisgeir, huna-sker, young bear skerry ; but Hiinn may be a proper name ; Cleibisgeir, ?from kleppr, a plummet, lump ; Cohha-sgeir, kofa eker, young puffin skerry. Skip, a ship — Sgiohadal, ship dale ; Sgioba-geodha in Rona, ship cove. Sta'Sr, a farm, stead, appears terminally as -sta. Tolsta, ToUosta (Blaeu), Toll's stead; Mealasta, Link's stead, from melr ; Scarasta, Skara-staSr, from skari, a yoxmg sea-mew ; Eirasta, beach- stead ; Grimersta, Grim's stead ; Sgiogarsta , Skeggi's stead ; Mangarsta, munka-sta'Sr, Monks' stead ; Torastaigh, Thori's stead ; Cabharstaigh, ? kafa-staSr, diving-stead. Sto^, a harbour — Stathanis, near the Butt ; Po7^t a' Stoth, south of it. a tautology. Sund, a sound — Miasaid, a name recurring several times, mjo-sund, narrow sound. Tjom, a small lake, tarn— (Loch an) Tighearna in Bernera. UrS, a heap of stones on the sea beach, or from a landslip — Urranan, at Barvas Moor, with Gaelic plural ; Loch Urradhag or Ourahag, urS-vlk, the bay of the heap of stones, near Arnol ; another place of the same name is at the Carloway shore. 272 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Vdgr, a creek, bay, appears as -way, -ay, ; Gael. -bhaidh, -aidh. Carloway, Karl's bay ; Storno- way, G. Ste6rnabhadh, stj6rnar-vagr, steerage bay or rudder bay ; cf. Loch Steornua in Argyle ; Loch Thealashhaigh, hellis-vd-gr, cave-bay ; Leir- avay, G. Lfeurabhaigh, muddy bay ; leir, mud ; Loch Thamnahhaigh, hafnar-vdgr, harbour-bay ; cf. Hamnavoe and Hamnadale in Shetland ; Tarravay, Thara-vagr, seaweed bay. Vatn, water, a lake, appears terminally as -vat, Gael. -hhat. Grinnavat, green loch ; Sandavat, sandy loch ; Ullavat, UUi's loch ; Langavat, long loch ; Baccavat, ridge loch ; Tarstavat, t-hjarta- vatn, stag loch ; Lingavat, heather loch ; Gros- avat, grassy loch ; Allavat, eels' loch; Raoinavat, reyni-vatn, rowan loch ; Scaravat, young sea-mew loch ; Breivat, broad loch ; Maravat, gull loch ; Drollavat, from troll, haunted loch ; Laxavat, salmon river loch ; Tungavat, tongue-shaped loch ; Seavat, sjd-vatn, sea loch ; Strandavat, strand loch ; Loch Mhileavat (from milli, between), between (the) lochs ; Stacsavat, stakks-d-vatn, stack-river loch. Vik, bay, appears terminally as -uig, -hhic ; hence the parish of Uig. Miavaig, mj6-vik, narrow bay ; Kiriwick, from kyrr, quiet bay ; Ssilihhig, seal bay ; Breivig, broad bay ; Earavick, G. lara- bhaig, beach bay ; Fivig, G. Fiabhaig, fjdr-vik, sheep bay ; Smiuig, Cave bay ; Brataig, steep bay ; Maravaig, sea-gull bay ; Nasabhig, nose bay ; Glumaig, Glumr's bay ; Islivig, Is-hliS-vik, ice-slope bay. ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. Kincardine. Gleann a' Gkraig, between Strathcarroii and Cam Bhreu. The large flat rock where tinkers camp by the roadside between Ardgay and Feam is Leac a' Ghraig. Eileag Bada Challaidh (also eileag Bad-cailidh), the Eileag of the Hazel Clump (near Amat). For eileag see Sian na h-Eileig. With eallaidh cf. Beal.ach CoLlaidh. There nsed to be a saying in Kincardine that the people of old could never be starved into submission so long as they held Eileag Bada Challaidh and Cairidh Cinn-ehd,rdain, the weir of Kincardine. This famous salmon weir was near the Parish Church, and its name survives in Eilean na Cairidh, Isle of the Weir, now a nice field reclaimed from the sea. Leac a' Ghlamhain— Flagstone of the Kite, is a flat stone near the U.F.C. Manse ; cf. Gledfield. P. 4. AlUan nam Fuaih — Burnlet of the Spectres, comes through the Gearrchmll, Short Wood, not Garbh Choille. Conackreig — Combination of rocks ; cf. Cona Glen, G. Conaghleann, etc. Allt a' Bhramain — the Devil's Burn, flows through Ard- chrouie. Caoilisidh — the Place of the Narrow. An Glaigionn — the Skull, is a hillock near Caolaig Bridge. Also, Ach-a-Chlaiginn, Field of the Skull ; An Cragan Soilleir, the bright little rock ; Poll nan Gohhxtr, Goats' Slack ; Creag Ghlas, Gray Rock. P. 5. Clais a' £haid-choiU—Ha.ze\ Clump Dell. P. 6. Crianhhad — Small Clump or Withered Clump, not Griau- bhad of O.S.M. 18 p. 11. p. 12. p. 15. p. 15. p. 16. 274 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. P. 7. Goylum, better from cuing-leum : same meaning. P. 9. Bard, common in the Eeay Country, and derived from English ward ; not Norse. Asaireadh or asaradh is elsewhere faaanadh, good hill pasture. P. 11. Meall na h-4i,gaig, not Meall na Cuaohaige. The latter is the O.S.M. form, which I was wrongly informed to be correct. ? cf. Sron 'n iigaidh. Coire Bhenneit — Near Meall Bhenneit. Creag(a) Raoiridh means Ryrie's Rock; cf. LeoA: Roithridh. Loch Struaban. The MS. referred to is in the Adrocates' Library, Edinburgh. On last line read dheirg. Abhainn dubhach — Unverified and doubtful. „ Allt Goire Ruchain, not AUt coir an Ruchain (O.S.M. ). P. 17. Allt Eileag — Doubtless means Bum of Eileag's ; for eileag, V. p. 237, and cf. Eileag Bada-Challaidh. „ Oykell, G. Oiceil. P. 20. Achnagart — read I'lidomres. Eddkrton. Altnamain — the Inn is called Tigh a' Jfhviaidh, Meor House ; also often " the Half-way House." Cnoc a' Ghlaiginn — Skull Hill, a little to the south of Easter Fearn ; otherwise called Cnoc Duhh eadarda Allt a' Ghlaiginn — Black Hill between two burns of the Skull. Here tradition locates a Scan- dinavian treasure. P. 25. Baile na' Foitheachan means Stead of the places of lawns or greens ; faithche has come to be sounded foi' ; cf. Foy Lodge. P. 26. Pollaghixrry — Pool of the Cutting; a thunderbolt once fell here, and made a cutting in the soil. Gearraidh in the other sense, N. gerdi, is not found on the Mainland. P. 27. 1. 8, for " seems to he " read " is." „ Baan, cf. Introduction, p. 1. V. 28. Cnocan na GoiOhnidb should probably be Gnocan na' Gaimhne, Hillock of the Stirks. ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. 275 P. 29. Allt na Corraoli read AUt na' Goireach. P. 30. Cnoc Thonuill (O.S.M.), read Gaoe Ohorcaill ; also Ooire Ghorcaill. „ Gnoc a' Chlachain : the clachan in questioa was rather the old church of Kincardine. P. 31. Dun Alaisgaig means the Fort of Ali's Strip, N. Ali-skiki. Tain. P. 32. Baile-Dhubhthaich boidheach, Dornoch na goirt, Sciobul nan ubhlan, 's Bil an arain choirc ; Eiribul nan coileagan, Duu-Robain a' chail, Goillspidh nan sligean dubh, 's Drum-muigh a' bharr. This, one of our best known topographical rimes, charac- terises Tain, Dornoch, Skibo, Bil, Embo, Dunrobin, Drummuie. Translation spoils it. P. 35. Cnoc nan Aingeal is the small hill, now cut through by the railway, north-west of the old chapel ; the road to the cemetery crosses the cutting by a bridge. „ Cnocanmealbhain : read Cnocan Mealbhain, Hillock of the best grass. P. 36. An aideal cannot come from N. vatlrill ; Norse tS would here disappear in Gaelic. P. 37. 1. 3, drochaid an ohli : bh is here sounded long ; pronounced ow, with a lingering emphasis on lu. P. 38. Muileann and Allt Luaidh : better Luathaidh. P. 40. 1. 14, read dlmibh. Fbarn. P. 41. Balmuchy : muchaidh may be Pictish, cf. Welsh mochyn, a pig. If so the old form would have been Pitmuchy, with which cf. Pitmachie in Strathbogie. P. 43. Allan : Clay of Allan is in G. Griadhach Alain Mhoir, C\a,yej Place of Meikle Allan. The criadhach is a Gaelic echo of Piotish Allan, meaning apparently " a swampy place." Cf. the Pictish Lovat, root loi', wash ; translated into Gaelic as «' Mhor'oich, the sea plain. P. 45. 1. 10, read a' chailleach. 1. 14, read Got ; so also in 1. 16, and p. 48, 1. 29. P. 47. 1. 8, read Rockfield. 276 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. NiGG. P. 51. Pitcalnie, G. Baile-ohailnidh : tliis difficult name may be from the root seen in Gaulish, caleto-, hard, representingf a primitive Calgtoniacon. P. 53. Big Audle : derivation possible but doubtful. G. not found. P. 54. Sul Ba, read Suil Bk. P. 56. 1. 11, readdhuibh. „ 11. 12, 13, for an port read am port. P. 57. 1. 20, read t6in. LOGIB. At Shandwick Farm is a tiny burn called Dawrag, the Little Water, from O.G., dobur ; cf. Aldourie, Dores, in G. Dobhrag. KiLMUIR. P. 63. 1. 23, read Smiths'. Apitauld : the first syllable is aih, a kiln. There was of old a kiln close to the site of the present smithy, and the name applies only to that spot. The old ford on the Balnagown Water was lower down. High up on the hill above Inchandown Farm is Claxh Seipeil Odhair, Stone of the Duu Chapel ; a large granite boulder, which is now near the Newmore march, and of old probably formed part of it. P 68. Strathrory : uar in the Reay Country means a landslip, as well as a torrent of rain ; near the Coag there are great slides of boulder clay on the steep banks of the river. Cf. Allt Uaraidh, behind Abriachan, Inverness. Pluhag, the little " plumping " place ; from a tiny gurgling burn ; cf . an Uidh Phlubach. ROSSKBEN. P. 70. Invergordon : in G. an Rvdha, the Point ; " I was in Invergorden," bha mi air an Rudha. I have also heard Rudha Nach-hreacaidh. Port Nach-hreacaidh, Invergor- don Ferry. P. 71. Achnadoich : G. Ach' na Cloi', Field of the Stone. There must have been one stone in some way remarkable. In point of fact, there are some very large travelled boulders of granite in the place. ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. 277 P. 72. Above Cuillich is Bail' a' Mhullaich, Summit Stead. Cuillich itself, 6., Cuinglioh, is better taken as cuing- latch, from ciiinge, narrowness. Tlve meaiiing is in any case the same. „ Coire-ghoibhnidli : better Coire Ghaimhne, Stirk Corry. P. 73. 1. 2. Mylne-cliaggane of the record is still remembered as Midleann a' Chlagain, Mill of the Clapper. It was on the Strathrusdale river (or Black Eiver), about 200 yards fiom its junction with the Averoii. The straight, steep road, a quarter of a mile west of Tolly Farm, between the public road and the White Bridge on Averou was of old, " before it was made," called Gadha Fionntain, Finntan's Path, obviously an ancient name. Neai-ly a mile east of Dalnacloich Farm, in the march between Newmore and Ardross, and close to the south side of the public road, is a big granite block called now Clack Ceann-a-mhedir, as if Stone of the Finger-tip. The story goes that here a lad's finger point was cut off to ensure his recollecting the position of the march. In 1571 it appears in an account of the marches of New- more as " the marchstone called Clachinnumoir," which suggests the real name to be Glach an Neo' MhCir, Stone of Newmore, of which the modern form is a corruption. Alness. P. 75. Alness ; cf. also Alauna, Alaunos, and Alaunium in Gaul (Holder : Alt-Celtischer Sprachshatz). P. 76. Balnacraig : pai'ts of Balnacraig Farm, north of the public road, are called Gaoilisidh, the narrow place or stripe ; and the Stab ; cf. siaban, a sand drift. Dalgheal is locally pronounced in G. Dail-ghil, a locative form meaning " at the white dale." In English it is pronounced Dal-yil, thus proving its identity with the common Dalziel. P. 77 Fyrish: the spelling Foireis is inadequate: rather Faoighris. I fear that tlie name is Pictish. 278 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. P. 78. A'li Lainn: also called Lainn a' Choirc, the Oat-flat or enclosure. The Blar Borraich is a somewhat extensive moor, and covers more than is contained in l^ainn. The narrow spit of land between Allt nan Caorach and the Allt Granda at their junction is an t-Eilean Dubh, the Black Isle — a peninsula. „ Meall an Tuirc : from some points near Glenglass School this hill is the perfect picture of a colossal boar. P. 79. Cnoo Coille Bhrianain I have now got as Cnoc Gille Mo- Bhrianaig, Hill of the follower of St Brendan. This is doubtless the genuine form. On Cnocan, the Hillock, in Glenglass, are Blar nan Gcann and Fuaran Blar nan Ceann, Moor of the Heads and Well of the Moor of the Heads, with legend of a combat. At Tigh na Creige moss is Fuaran Bod-muice. Fuaran Dhruim Dhvihh Buigh Bhannaich, Well of the Black Eidge of the Bannock-slope, is behind Cnoc na Mbine, Moss-Hill, in Glenglass. Fuaran Seachd-goil, Well of seven Boilings, is at Ruigh '» Fhuarain, Well-slope, between Boath and Glenglass, It is said to bubble up through the sand in seven distinct jets. Tdrr a' Bholcain is a knoll near the path between B. and G. as one comes in sight of Swordale. Torran Dubh Gob na Coille, Black knoll (at the) Point of the Wood, is near the same path where the burn bends at right angles near the Boath peat-mosses. There is not a vestige of wood anywhere near it. Glach nam Ban, The Women's Stone, is north of Kilder- morie ; so called from some women having perished there in a snowstorm while crossing from Strathoarron. A' Chlach Ooil, the Boiling Stone, is on the drove road between Strathrusdale and Ardgay. Those who used the road boiled water there. P. 83. Multovy, better Piotish Moltomagos, wedder plain. The original Multovy was the level part ; west of it, now part of the farm, was Baile nan Seohhag, Hawks' Stead. The long Glais at the back was reclaimed within the last thirty years or so. AUDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. 279 P. 83. Geislein : there are two, viz., Ceide.in a' Choire Dhuihh and Ce'islein a' Choire Bhreac (sic). For meaning of. Oils Coraind, Sow of Corann, tlie name of a hill in Ireland. „ Averon : the termination -on more probably represents primitive -ona ; Pictish. On the Averon below the intake to Dalmcre is Poll a' Charrackaidh. KiLTBARN. South of Loch Glass is a rocky place called an Fhiaclaich, the Place of Teeth (O.S.M. Feaohdach) ; also Beul na Findaich, Mouth of the Tooth-place, and Coire Granda na Fiadaich, Ugly Corry of, etc. Near this is Meall a' Ghrimeig (long m). At west end of Caoilisidh, above the Lodge, is Meall-a-Bheithinnidh (? Mheithinnidh) — close ei ; cf. Bealach Bheithinnidh. West of it is an Toman Cdinnich, the Mossy Knoll, and between the two is Greag 'ic Gille CMir, Kook of the son of the Swarthy Lad. P. 87. Balcony : the narrow flat between the Allt Granda and Allt-na^Sgiach to the south of the public road is known in Gaelic as Innis a! Choltair, Coulter Mead. There is also Sgorr a' Choltair, Point of the Coulter, in Glenglass. Coltar is an early Irish loan from Lat. culter, and seems to have been applied to places from their shape, as it was to the razorbill (coltraich), from the form of his bill. Cf. Portincoulter, the old name for the Meikle Ferry, where there is a coulter-shaped point on the Ross side. The various Culters and Coulters, popularly derived from ciil-tir, back land — a rather harsh and doubtful formation — may be compared. They are now pronounced Couter, in early spelling Cultyr, which phonetically represents the Scottish pronunciation before I became silent. P. 91. Claon Uachdarach, Upper Clyne, is now Woodlands. P. 92. On Allt na Lathaid is Drodiaid na Lhihaid, otherwise Drodiaid Chrabart. Feith Dhuhh 'ic Gillandrais, Gil- landers' Black Hag, is said to be on the march between Tulloch, Kildermorie, and Dianaich. 280 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. P. 93. Bealach GoUaidh is the gap between Inchbae and Coire- bhaoaldh. Near it is Bealach nam Brbg, Gap of the Brogues, the scene of a famous fight between the Munros and the Mackenzics. KiLLEARNAN. p. 146. 1. 8, read f^illigh. 1. 12, for "of "read "of." Cos TIN. Clach Vnd(a)rain (possibly Chund(a)rain) is at the head of Strathconon. 1 Cf. Coire Chundrain. P. 154. Main, G. M6inn, is at the present day understood to denote the district of which Porin is part. This is about three miles east of Invermany. In view of its being a district name it is difficult to connect with G. meinn, ore ; more probably Pictish ; 1 root seen in G. meith, sappy ; Welsh mwydo, soften. Conon Bridge is in G. Drochaid Sguideil. KiKTAIL. P. 179. Inverinate. For the dropping of dhm. Inbhir-dhuinnid, of. Inver-uglas for Inbhir-dhubhghlais ; Aberdeen, G. Obair-eathain for Obair-dheathain. The possibility of this dropping of dh is always worth considering in cases where Inver or Aber is immediately followed by a vowel in Gaelic pronunciation, e.g., Abriachan, G. Ob'r- itheachan. LOCHCARKON. P. 199. Coire Fionnaraich — flonnar, cool is from fionn- or ionn- to, against, and /war ; M. Ir. indfhuar. Applbcross. About a mile west of Airigh-Dhriseach, Bramble Shieling, is Draoraig, N. dreyr-vik. Blood Bay. Gairloch. P. 221. 1. 4, faithir is probably /o-th\r, under-lund ; it can hardly bo the Irish fachair. ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. 281 P. 229. Eudha an t-Sisain : the Scisan is a rock on the lee side of which boats ride by the painter, which affords the most satisfactory explanation of the name. P. 239. Loch na Fideil : the Fideal, whose hamit was in this loch, was at last encountered by a strong man named Eoghainn. " Bha comhrag eadar Eoghainn agus an Fhideal. ' Ceum air do cheum, Eoghainn,' ars' an Fhideal, 's i teanuadh air an duine. ' Ceum air do cheum, a Fhideil,' ars' E6ghainn, 's e teannadh air an Fhideil a rithist. Mharbh Eoghainn an Fhideal, agus mharbh an Fhideal Eoghainn." There was a combat between Ewen and the Fideal. " A step on your step, Ewen," said the Fideal, pressing on the man. " A step on your step, Fideal," said Ewen, pressing hard in turn. Ewen killed the Fideal, and the Fideal killed Ewen. (It is worth noting that the Fideal is feminine.) LOCHBROOM. P. 255. Glutan, G. Glotan. Badra-Chrhnaidh and Clais Bad-a-Ghrhnaidh are at Bad- rallach ; cf. Ardchronie. INDEX. INDEX. Note. — The stress •ccent is indicated by a full stop placed before the accented syllable ; e.g. Ach.duart is accented on the second syllable, .Achilty on the first. In the case of obsolete names the accent is usually left unmarked. Abbey of Feam, xix., 40 Abhainn a' Chro, 176 Abhainn an .Fhasaigh, 233 Abhainn an .Fhorsa, 267 — .Bhuadhchaig, 198 — .Bruachaig, 232 — .Chonnain, 151 — .Coilich, 183 — .Conag, 176 — .Orosan, 201 — .Gaorsaig, 182 — .Dhroma, 252 — Ghlas, 220 — Gleann na Muice, 24-2 — Griiididh, 166 — lix, 230 — na Fiimeis, 234 — nan Eun, 90 — nan .Leumaiiuan, 228 — .Poiblidh, 18 — .Baonaidh. 256 — Rnadh, 221 — .Seile, 171 — .Siaghaidh, 182 — Srath na Sealg, 243 — Traill, 210 Abiauemoir, 74 .Acairseid .Ghiuthais, 224 Ach-a^bhAnaidh, 193 Ach-a-bhraigh, 258 Ach-a-.chonalaich, 184 Ach-a-dhaclid, 176 Aehadh an Droighean, 178 — Cul-a-Mhill, 218 — da .Teamaidh, 185 — Ghill-Iosa, 21 — ghiirain, 171 — nan .Uirighean, 228 Ach' a' .Ghargain, 185 Achau.ault, 160 Achan.darach, 185 Ach. am, 81 Ach.duart, 258 Achen.drean, 256 Achen.inver, 258 Ach.iamaig, 109 Achilti.buie, 259 .Achilty, 148 Achimmoir, 59 Achin.drean, 252 Achin.tee, 195 Achin.toul, 70 Acbin.traid, 193 Ach. leach, 89 Ach.lochan, 258 Ach.lorachan, 155 Ach.luuachan, 252 Ach. martin, 120 Ach.more, 184, 250 Ach' nan .Cairidhean, 256 Achna. carry, 115 Achna.clerach, 163 Achua.cloich, 71 Achna. garron, 70 Achna. gart, 20, 172 Achna. goul, 78 Ach' na Fiirneia, 234 Ach' na h-Airde, 261 Achna.hamiet, 19 Achna. hinich, 185 Ach na h-Uamhach, 19 Achna. sheen, 161 Achna.shelloch, 196 Achna.soul, 106 Achna.taghart, 172 Ach-negie, 243 Ach-riilean, 53 Ach - ruigh-'n - fheadhail, 239 Achta.bannock, 106 Achtay.toralau, 186 Achter. cairn, 226 Aohter.need, 97 Ach.vanie, 200 Aideal, 36 .Aignish, 269 .Airceal, 247 Aird of .Coigach, 261 Aird .Thoranieh, 269 Airde BhAn, 203 Airie.cheirie, 170 Airigh Fhliuch, 5 — nam Bird, 217 — nan .Cmineachd, 206, xlv. — nan .Druineach, 215 .Alcaig, 115 Aldain.albanache, 60 Aldanaherar, 74 .Aldie, 35 .AUadale, 8, 22 .AUagro, 272 .Allan, 43, 75 Allan. bank, 137 .AUaiifield, 94 Allanglack, 137 Allan. grange, 137 Allan. rich, 137 .AUavat, 272 .Allerton, 126 Allt a' Bhaid-choill, 245 — a' Bhaid.Rabhain, 244 — a' Bhealaich Eidh- eannaich, 92 — a' .Bhramain, 273 — a' .Chaoldoire, 221 — - a' Chlaiginn, 15 — a' Choir' Aluinn, 156 — a' Choire Eainich, 102 — a' .Chonais, 199 — a' .Chuingleiim, 230 286 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Allka' ChiiimDheirg, 204 — a' Ghlais-Mha, 11 — a' Ghlastuil Mh6ir, 165 — a' Ghuail, 15 — a' Mheirbh - ghiuthais, 15 — a' Mhuilinn, 246 — an t-Sagairt, 195 — an Damhain, 52 — an Bilein Ghuirm, 102 — an .Fhasaidh, 152 — an .Leotliaid .Ghain- eamhaich, 177 — an Leth-ghliune, 248 — an Ruigh Shleagh- aich, 199 — an t-Srathain, 255 — an .Turaraich, 218 — an Uisge Mhath, 248 — Beithe, 165 — Chill .Eiteachan, 255 — .Clachaoh, 36 — Coir' a' .Chliabhain, 165 — Coir a' Chundrain, 102 — Coire Lair, 176 — .Coire Mhiileagain, 175 — Coire Bol, 209 — Coire .Euchain, 274 — Doir-.ithigean, 199 — .Domhain, 9 — .Dubliach, 123 — .Dubhag, 92 — .Duoliaraidh, 161 — .Ealag, 17 — .Eiginn, 246 — .Eiteachan, 3 — .Polais, 86, 87, 243 — Giuthas, 224 — .Granda, 90, 205 — Grigaig, 30 — Gus-ligh, 168 — LAir, 169 — .Luathaidh, 38 — .Mhucarnaich, 169 — .Miagro, 268 — nan .Albauach, 60 — na Bana-mhorair, 102 — na Cailce, 91 — na Faic, 152 — nan Cuuimheag, 81 — nan Coisichean, 258 — na FiVinioh, 154 — na .Fuaralaioh, 72 — na .Fuirrid, 79 — na Glomaioh, 181 Allt na Guaille, 205 — na h-Annaid, 155 — na Moine, 205 — na h-Uamhach, 220 Alltua.maiu, 28 Allt nam Blast, 218 — na .Muoaraohd, 205 — nan Caoraoh, 90 — uau Corp, 216 — .Ormaidh, 238 — .Bapach, 16 — .Rapaidh, 68 — .Ruisteil, 260 — .Saraig, 220 — Tarsuiun, 16, 68 — .Tausamhaig, 205 — Toll an .Lochain, 246 — Uamh' a' Chleibh, 221 — .Undalain, 175 AUtan Domhnuil, 5 — Labhar, 212 — Mailis, 167 — Rabhraidh, 185 Almaddow, 74 Almond, 1. .Alness, 75 Altan.dcw, 260 .Altanish, 270 .Altas, 18 Alt.greshau, 227 Altna.breao, 163 Altna.harra, 224 Alt-na-.harrie, 250 Altna.lait, 92 Altna.skiach, 89 Alun, 76 .Amat, 6, 18 An Airceal, 247 An D4 Mhis, 207 Auan.caun, 231 .Ankerville, 53 Annat, 53, 154, 155, 209, 249, Ixiv. Aoineadh air chrith, 174 Aoinidh, 173 Apit.auld, 63, 276 .Applecross, 201, xiv., Ix. Applecross Mains, 204 Arabella, 59 .Aradie, 107 Araird, 212 Arar, 107 .Arboll, 47 .Arcan, 106 Arcau.deith, 106, 133 .Ardaoh, 186 Ardachath, 74 Arda.chulish, 164 Ard an t-Sabhail, 173 Ard.chamaich, 253 Ard. chronic, 3, 281 Ard.darroch, 193 Ar.delve, 186 Ard.essie, 245 Arde.vall, 126 Ard.gay, 4 Ard.heslaig, 207 Ardin.oaple, 85, 86. Ardindrean, 251 Ardi.val, 35, 99 Ard.jachie, 33 Ard.lair, 234 Argyle, xv. Ard.mair, 255 Ard.meanach, 126, 130, xxiii. Ard.mhanaidh, 27 Ard. more, 26 Ard na Claise Moire, 205 Ardnadoler, 49 Ardnagaag, 68 Ardna.goine, 260 Ardna.grask, 109 Ard na h-.Eigheamh, 255 Ardnau.iaskin, 194 Ard nan Long, 253 Ard.narff, 184 .Ardoch, 82 .Ardochdaimi, 125, 193 Ard. rose, 71 Ard.roy, 76 Ard-tulach, 178 Ar.dullie, 88 Ari.drishaig, 216 Ari.nackaig, 196 .Arity, 107 .Arkaig, 106 Arklet, 106 .Arnish, 270 Arnoche, 126 .Arpa.feelic, 136 Arrie, 140 .Arscaig, 189 .Arta.faillie, 146 Arthreis, 49 .Assarrow, 82 .Assyut, 78 Ath Darach, 209 .Athan .Salach, 45 .Attadale, 195, 205 Auch.ederson, 106 Auchua.gullaue, 21 Auchnen.tyue, 123 Aucli.ouacUie, 107 INDEX. •287 Audh.oyle, 6* Auohta.soailt, 246 Auchter.flow, 134 Auchter.tyre, 186 Auldmuiramoir, 59 Auldualeckach, 21 Auley, 38 Aultan.tearn, 73 | Ault.bea, 236 Aultchon.ier, 167 Ault.dearg, 167 Ault.gowrie, 106 Ault.granda, 78 Ault.guish, 165 Aultna.sow, 189 Ault.vaich, 107 .Avemish, 188 .Averon, 83, 1. .Avio, 264 .Avooh, 132 Avon .Chalascaig, 254 Bac an .Airigh, 152 Bac an Aorigh, 243 Bao an Leith-Choin, 228 Bac nan .Cisteaohau, 217 -Bacavat, 262, 272 Back, 264 Bada.chonachar, 66 Bada.chro, 223 Bada.crain, 250 Bad a' Chreamha, 194 Badaidh nan Ramb, 223 Bad a* Mhanaich, 160 Badan.daraich, 20 Badan.tional, 223 Badan.luchie, 160 Badan Binn-eoin, 29 Badan .Vugie, 209 Bada.voon, 4- Bad.bea, 245 Bad.call, 71, 208, 245 Baddamhroy, 94 ■ Baddans, 83 .Badebay, 64 Baden.erb, 118 Baden.scallie, 258 Baden.tarbet, 259 Bad.fearn, 236 Bad.grianan, 122 Badi.caul, 187 Bad.luachrach, 245 Badna.guin, 61 Bad .Ormaidh, 238 Bad Eabhain, 244 Bad.rain, 116 Bad.rallaeh, 248 Bad-sgilaidh, 84 Bail' a' Bhliir, 139 Bail' a' .Mhinistir, 208 — an Achaidh, 6 — an .Donnaidh, 6 — an Fhraoioh, 6, 41 — an Loin, 6 — a' Phuill, 51 — Bean an Droidich, 7 Baile Chaluim, 6 Baile.charn, 24 Baile .Meadhonach, 6 — na h-4tha, 47 — na Creige, 154 — nam .Foitheachan, 25, 274 — nam .Fuaran, 23, 41 — nan .Seobhag, 278 — .Nodha, 144 — na Toin, 59 Baile. sios, 221 Bail' .Uachdarach, 7 — na Coite, 9 Bakerhill, 94 Bakki, 264 Bala.chladich, 46, 88, 118 Bal.aldie, 47 Balan.lochan, 73 Balan.rishallich, 72 Bala.vil, 119 Bala.vullich, 109 Bal.blair, 27, 43, 121 .Balconie, 87, xxv. Bal. cherry, 33 Bal.doon, 73 Bal. four, 65 Bal.galkin, 117 Bal.goil, 116 Balgun.eirie, 144 Balgun.loune, 145 .Balgy, 209 Bal.iachrach, 118 Balin.drum, 43 Balin.tore, 41, 143 Balin.traid, 65 Bal.keith, 34, xlviii. Bal.kil, 34 Wester Ballano, 123 Balla.cbraggan, 60, 76 Balla.vouUn, 78 Bal.leigh, 26 Balli. cherry, 12ii Ballin.dalloch, 107 Ballin.roich, 43 Ballinsirach, 49 Balli-skilly, 12z Ballna.morich, 50 Bal.loan, 48, 81, 118 Bal.lone, 133, 215 Balma.carra, 185 Bal.mainaoh, 81 Bal.menach, 118 Bal.moral, 41 Bal.muchy, 41, 275 Bal.mungie, 129 Balna.been, 117 Balna.bruach, 46, 52 Balna.curach, 9 Balna.cra, 196 Balna.crae, 92 Balna.craig, 73, 76 Balna.gall, 36 Balna.gore, 42 Balna.gown, 63, 108 Balna.grotchen, 81 Balna.guie, 137 Balna.guisich, 71 Balna.binsh, 21 Bal.nain, 5, 105 Balna.kyle, 137 Balna. paling, 52 Bal.nard, 78 Balna. touch, 38 Bal.nault, 154 Bal.no, 110 Bal.nuig, 47 Bal.reillan, 118 Bal.uachrach, 118 Bal.vack, 65 Bal.vaird, 119 Bal.vatie, 108 Bal.vraid, 110, xxv. .Banaus, 126 .Banchory, 152 .Bangor, 152 Barbara. ville, 65 .Bamtown, 144 Bird, 8, 80, 81, 83 — an Asairidh, 9 — .Gobhlach, 122 — Loisgte, 123 — Mhoire, 44 — nan Laogh, 81 Bayble, 270 .Bayfield, 53, 140 .Bealach, 214 Bealach an t-Suidhe, 214 — Bheithinuidh, 234 — nan Corr, 105 — .Ratagain, 172 Loch .Beannacharan, 152 -Beannauan .Beaga, i57 Bearnas a' Chlaidh- eimh, 60 288 PLACE-NAMES OF EOSS AND CROMARTY. Beauly, 40 .Becamir, 264 .Beidic, 264 •Beidicean, 264 Beinn a' Chiisgein, 241 — a' Ohaisteil, 102 — a' Chearcaill, 231 — a' .Chlaohain, 202 — a' Chlaidheimh, 243 — .Ailiginn, 212 — a' Mhiiinidh, 233 — an Eoin, 225, 261 — Bhin, 213 — Bhric, 224 — Claeh an Fheadain, 29 — Damh, 214 — Dearg, 212 — .Dronaig, 191 — Eighe, 232 — .Eildeach, 254 — .Eunacleit, 252 — .Feusaig, 196 — Fhada, 174 — .Garaig, 36 — .Ghobhlach, 248 — Lair, 237 _ na h-Eaglaise, 209 — nan .Oighreagan, 30 — Kamh, 167 — Tarsuinn, 14, 74 — Ulamhie, 18 Beit, 264 Bekkr, 264 Bel.domie, 180 .Bellfield, 136 Belraa.duthy, 137 Belton, 138 Benacus, 152 Bennetefield, 9, 133 Ben .Attow, 174 — .Garrick, 35 — Hope, 189 — .Udlaraain, 187 — .Wyvis, 102 .Bendeallt, 79 .Berisay, 266 .Bernera, 266 Bennetfield, 11 Berry.hill, 131 A' Bhean-mhuinntir, 45 A' .Bhiacaich. 168 .Blughasary, 256 Big Audio, 53 Big Sand, 227 .Bindal, 46 Binebrejchst, 74 Binn Airigh a' Charr, 234 .Birohfield, 19 Birlcis, 121 Bishop's Kin.kell, 115 Blaad, 198 Blaclt.dylce, 106 Blaok.hill, 53 Black Isle, xziii. Black. stand, 126 Black.wells, 94 Blair, 108 Blair.dow, 144 Blair.foid, 134, xlviii. Blair.leath, 35, 139 Blir a' Chatb, 43 — Earach, 48 — Liath, 35 — nam .Feadag, 145 Blama.bee, 156 Blama.coi, 141 Blarna.levoch, 251 Blar.ninich, 101 .Blaven, 224 Boar of Badenoch, 83 Boath, 80 .Bodach a' .Chleirich, 249 — an .Rudha, 45 — Beag, 15 — M6r, 15 Bodaich Dhubh Binn Eighe, 232 Bodha a' Bhiiraioh, 260 Am Bodha Ruadh, 228 Bog, The, 59 Bogan.durie, 88 Bog. bain, 36 Bog.buie, 115 Bog na h-.Eileig, 145 Bog of Shannon, 135 Boggie.well, 130 Bog.riabhach, 92 .Bogrow, 25 Bo.huntin, 148 Boisdale, 224 Boor, 230 .Boranish, 265 .Boreray, 265 Borve, 265 .Bosta, 264 Botagan, 215 Both Bhig, 80 Both Mhor, 80 .Bottacks, 101 Bottle. Island, 260 .Braelaoh, 118 Brae, 19, 122, 230 Braean.tra, 73, 185 Brae.langwell, 9, 122 Brae. more, 252 Brae.vil, 138 Braes of .Ullapool, 254 .Brahan, 104, xxv. Briigh .Thoiriosdal, 224 — ThoUaidh, 73 Brakach, 74 Bran (River), 165 .Braonan, 84, 241 .Brataig, 272 .Bratanish, 270 .Breabag, 183 .Breacleit, 269 -Breac' radh, 73 .Breasclete, 269 .Brecklach, 198 .Breidhnis, 269 .Breivat, 272 .Breivig, 272 .Brenachie, 59 Brin, 105, 241 Broom.hill, 65, 109, 139 .Broomtown, 50 .Bruachaig, 232 .Bruadale, 265 .Brucefield, 45 Bruich.glass, 123 .Bruthach na Cliubha, 240 — na .Gearrachoille, 247 Brynletter, 22 .Buadhchaig, 198 Buailna.luib, 236 Bun au Fhuarain, 5 Bun.chairn, 144 Bunda.Uoch, 180 Bum.side, 123 .Burntown, 144 .Burracks, 66 .Busbheinn, 224 Buttis, 39 Ca.baan, 107 .Cabar, 161 .Cabar Fuais, 90 Cabharstaigh, 271 .Cabhsair an High, 48 .Cabhsair Fliuch, 82 .Cabhsair Mor, 48 .Cabrach, 61 Ca.buie, 169 .Cachaileath Dearg, 226 .CadboU, 40, 89 — Mount, 40 Ca. dearg, 9 INDEX. 289 Cadh' a' Bhaillidh, 168 — a' Bhreacaich, 52 — an Buigh, 57 — an t-.Sagairt, 58 Cadha a' .Bhodaich, 57 — cuilJoEaidh, 57 — .Dhubbthaich, 176 — .Konntain, 277 — Flinch, 164 — .losal, 29 — ua .Biacaich, 168 — na FaoiHun, 204 — na Mine, 217 — nan .Caorach, 57 — nan Damb, 24 — nan .Sgadan, 216 — nan .Suibbean, 57 — .Neachdain, 56, 57 — Port an Druidh, 57 — .Sgriodaidh, 57 — Togail toin, 57 .Caidhean, 153 .Cailleacb, 45, 249, 252 .Cailleach Head, 249 Cairidh Cinn - chardain, 273 Csimne na Marrow, 60 .Caiseaehan, 160 Caisteal Cail-bhaicidh,117 Caisteil iia Cloinne, 2 :j .Calabost, 265 .Calascaig, 254 Calatrnim, 68 .Callanish, 269 .Calldarais, 208 Callecbumetulle, 47 .Callemisb, 269 Cabia.kil, 206 .Calrossie, 58 .Camalt, 195 Camas a' Charr, 237 — a' .Chlarsair, 209 .Camasaidh, 224 Camas a' .Mhaoraicb, 250 an .Eilein, 207 — an Fbiodh, 244 — an Leum, 208 Camas .coille, 261 — Dro), 209 .Camasie, 159 Camas .longart, 181 — na .Faocbaige, 251 — na .ga»l, 245 — na h-Eirbhe, 224 — nam PIoc, 222 — nan .Dornag, 233 Camas nan Gall, 173 — Euadb, 208 nan .Saimdag, 227 — nan .Buadbag, 249 — .Kaintich, 222 Cambus.currie, 25, 33 .Caochan .Fearua, 223 Gaol .Arcacb, Ixxiii. — Beag, 227 .Campaicbean, 217 Camper.down, 123 Camray, 49 Camus.donn, 194 Camus.teel, 204 Camus.terach, 203 Camus.linnie, 181 Camus.trolraig, 228 Can.ary, 38 Can.reayan, 111 Caolas a' Mbuill.ghairbh, 260 .Capadal, 265 .Capemich, 123 .Caplicb, 71, 86, 109 .Carbisdale, 20 -Carisbader, 270 .Carloway, 272 Carr, 179 C4rn a' .Bhioraiii, 217 — a' -Bhreabadair, 246 .Carnach, 248 Carna.classar, 108 Cam &' Choin Dheirg, 15 — a' Choiridb, 243 Caman Cruithueacbd 182, xlv. C4m an .lomair, 195 — an Liath.bhaid, 12 — an t'-Suidhe, 217 .CArnaageir, 249 Carn.averon, 83 C4m Beag, 237 — Bhren, 11 — Breac, 197 — Chaoruinn, 159 — .Cuinueag, 74 — Deas, 260 — .Deasgan, 4 — Dubb, 29, 180 — .eite,182 — .Gbluasaid, 174 — Glas, 139 — Gorm-Ioch, 165 — lar, 260 — limain, 142 — Miiri, 74. — Mithaidh, 26 Carn Mhartuinn, 159 — na Beiste, 243 — na Breabaig, 183 — na Buaile, 153 — na Cloiche Moire, 154 j — na Cre, 164 — na FAith .rabhain, 160 — na Fir Fr^ig, 249 — na .Fuaralaiob, 174 — na b-Annaid, 155 — nan Aigbean, 102 — nan Dobbran, 191 .Camocb, 153 — .Sgolbaidb, 153 — Sonraiobte, 83 — .Speireig, 14 Carn.totaig, 68 Cirn Uilleim. 156 — .Salacb, 12 Carr, 179 Carr Mor, 237 Carrie.blair, 25 Carron, 1, 192, xxxi. Carse of Bayfield, 53 Car.tomie, 27 .Casaig, 208 Castle Campbell, 182 Castle .Corbet, 46 — Craig, 52, 122 — Gloom, 182 — Grant, 68 — Hill, 67 — Hill of Cromarty, 126 — Leod, 98 Castle of .Avoch, xviii 132 — — -Cromarty, xviii., xxiii. — — .DingTvall, xviii. — — EUan.donan, 180, xix. — — Strome, xix. .Castleton, 132 .Cathair a' Phuirt, 227 — BhAn, 247 — Bheag, 225 — .Chruoboille, 232 — Ruadb, 229 CAtbar Dubh, 29 Ca.vin, 123 Ceanu an .Aebaidh, 139 — .Loeha, 208 — an oba, 188 — .Uachdarach, 83 Ceanna.cbruinn, 255 .Geapaicb, 144 A' Chailleacb, 45, 2-;3 19 290 PLACE-NAMES OP ROSS AND CROMARTY. A' Chathair Dhubh, 222, 246 Chanderaig, 74 .Chanonry, liio .Chapelton, 122, 124 .Chapeltown, 110, 144 Chaplainry of St Eegiile, 127 .Charleston, 139 .Charlestown, 225 A' Chathair Bhin, 247 A' Cihathair Dhubh, 246 A' Chipeanoch, 227 A' Chraileag, 174 •Chulash, 29 Gill .Chaointeort, 172 Gill .Fhearchair, 175 Cillean .Helpak, 49 Cinn Liath, 197 Olaoh Airigh a' Mhin- istir, 84 — a' Mh^irlicb, 69 — an .Fheadain, 29 — an .Tiompain, 99 — .Bhenneit, 133 — Ceann-.a-Mheoir, 278 — .Oharaidh, 56 — .Oheanuli, 248 — Goil, 277 — Meadhon .Latha, 33 — na .bogairie, 25 — na -Comhalach, 258 — na h-Annaid, 155 — nam Ban, 278 — nan Con Fionn, 199 — Ruaraidh Mh6ir 'io Caoipean, 202 — Seipeil Odhair, 276 — .Sgoilte, 165 — toll, 106 Clach.uil, 106 .Clachan .Bioraoh, 88 — Dhu, 106 — Dubhthaich, 179 — Loch Bhraoin, 241 Cladh a' Bhord Bhuidhe, 248 — a' Chlachain, 192 — Ceann Loch .Beann- aoharan, 156 — Chill Donnain, 248 — .Churadain, 78 — Bilein Mhartainn, 255 — Ma-Bhri, 86 — MAinn, 156 — Inbhir-shannda, 238 — na h-Annait, 155, 249 Cladh nan.Druinesich, 200 — Ph6rainn, 156 — Phris, 244 Clais a' Bhaid Clioille, 5 Clais.darran, 111 Clais.dhu, 66 Clais Druim Bh^thaich,83 Clais na .Gomraich, 32 — nam Mial, 81 .Claona, 233 .Claonaboth, 179 CUran, 144 Clare, 89 Clashna.buiac, 77 Clasin.ore, 50 Clasna.muiach, 41 Clay.pots, 131 .Cleibisgeir, 271 .Cleitshal, 267 Clerk Island, 39 Cliff, 240 Cliff House, 240 .Clisgro, 268 Clootie Well, 60 Clyne, 91 Cnaigean na Leathrach, 155 Cnoc a' Bhoth, 80 — a' Bhreacaich, 95 — .Alasdair, 80 — a' .Mhargadaidh, 91 — a' .Mhiuistir, 152 — a' Mh6id, 62 — an .Araid, 119 — an .Eireach, 145 — an .Liathbhaid, 29 Cnocau .Mealbhain, 35 Cnoc an oir, 107 — an Euigh Ruaidh, 29 — an Sg4th, 222 — an Teampuill, 88 — an t-Sabhail, 23 — an t-Seilich, 73 — an t-Sithean, 73, 159 — an .Tuairneil, 180 — an .Tubaist, 16 — Bad a' Bhacaidh, 29 — .Bealaidh, 46 — C^islein, 83, 279 — Chlachain, 30 — Ch6ig, 119 — Chroisg, 80 — .Chuireadair, 82 — Coille .Bhrianain, 79, 278 — Coille na .Tobarach, 51, 54 Cnoo .Coinnioh, 51 — Druima.langaidh, 48 — Dubh, 48 — .Duchary, 83 — .Ghai8geach, 52 — Gille-.churdaidh, 130 — Lady, 29 — .lea, 81 — L6ith Bhaid, 79 — na Croiche, 62, 193, 254, 257 — nan .Carrachan, 155, 222 — na .Panaig, 119 — na h-4than, 197 — na h-Iolaire, 164 — na h-tiige, 155 — nan Aingeal, 35, 189, 275 — nan .Culaidhean, 236 — nan .Lcacschan, 81 — nam Mult, 195 — na Striidh, 28 — na .Tuppat, 12 Cnoc.navie, 71, liii. Cnoc Buigh Griag, 4 — StiU, 67 — Thorcaill, 30 — idais, 111. — .Vabin, 89 Coag, 61 Coast, 230 Cobhan, 224 .Cobhasgeir, 271 Cocked Hat Wood, 119 Cocklikiuich, 50 .Coigach, 257 .Coileachan, 168 Coille .Eagascaig, 235 Coille-gillie, 203 Coille-righ, 181 Coillen, 49 Coilly.morc, 70 Na .Coineasan, 242 Coir' a" Chonachair, 17 Coir' au t-Seilioh, 16 — a' .Ghrianain, 165 Coire Attadale, 205 — an Fhamhair, 215 — Bhinaidh, 200 — Bheag, 167 — Bog, 11 — Ceud Chnoc, 215, 216 — .Dhomhain, 176 — .Dhuinnid, 179 — Fe6il, 110 — .Fiouuarach, 199 INDEX. 291 Coire .Grboibhnidh, 72 — Lair, 196 — .Mhiileagan, 7, 175 — Mhio Cromuill, 211 — Mhio Nobuill, 211 — Mor, 15, 167 — nam Meagh, 8 — na Soma, 190 — nan .Aradh, 214 — nan Laogh, 165 — Riabhach, 167 — Rol, 209 — Liridh, 199 — .Sgamadail, 204 — .Thollaidh, 73 — na Feola, 213 — na Poite, 213 — nam Mang, 167 — nan Each, 213 Cois Mhio' ille Kiabhaich, 256 Cois na .PoUacharaoh, 238 Cold.home, 135 Cold, wells, 139 .CoUngton, 144 Colly, Cowie, 103 Colony, 126 .Comar, 149 -Commonty, 38 -Comrie, 149 Comunn nan Caoohan, 167 .Conachreig, 91, 76 .Conaglen, 91 .Conaghleann, 91 -Conchra, 91, 186 Condate, 147 .Coneas, 91, 199, 242 -Conglass, 91 Connel Ferry, 185 .Conon, 149, xviii. Conon.brae, 117 .Contullich, 76, 91 -Contin, 91, 147 .Conval, 91 .Coppaohy, 234 Cor. grain, 145 Com.hiII, 9, 106 -Comton, 117 .Corrachie, 133 An .Corran, 208 Corran, 82 — a' Bhaid.riilleaoh, 248 .Corran Chill .Donnain, 248 Correbruoch, 74 Corrie.hallie, 110 Corrie.muillie, 16, 164 Corrie.vachie, 90 Corrie.wick, 157 Corrina.gale, 115 Corry, 254 Corry.hallie, 246 Corry.halloch, 252, 257 .Corslet, 130 .Corvest, 9 Cos Du bh Bean a' Ghrann- daioh, 217 .Colterton, 137 Coul, 148, XXV. .Coulags, 195 Coul.hill, 76 .Coulin, 196 Coul. more, 144 Coulna.craig, 258 Coulna.gour, 13, 119, 134 Courthill, 193 Cove, 229 .Coylum, 7 .Cracabhal, 267 .Craggan, 29, 50 .Craiceach, 207 Craig, 185, 220 Craig.breck, 139 Craig. darroch, 153 .Craigeam, 268 Craigie.how, 140 Craigpol.skavaiie, 22 Craig.roy, 27 Craigs, 10 .Crannich, 72, 156 An Crasg, 226 Crask of .Findon, 118 Craskag, 68 An .Creachal Beag, 183 .Creachann nan .Sgadan, 84 Creag a' Bhainne, 110 — a' Bhoth, 80 — a' .Chaisil, 181 — a' Chait, 20, 61 — a' .Chaoruinn, 183 — a' Choinneaohan, 30 — a' .Chriabaill, 179 — a' Mhaim, 174 — an Dath, 218 — an .Fhithich, 101 — nan .Culaidhean, 225 — Bean an Tigh, 229 — .Challdris, 208 — .Chlachach, 165 — Chomhaidh, 230 — Babhain, 16 Creag .Ghiuthsachau, 242 — .Harail, 54 — lUie, 14 — lucharaidh, 153 — Loisgte, 15 — .Luathann, 221 — Mhaol, 48 — .Mholach, 165 — Mhbr na Coigich, 258 — ua.Baintighearna, 40 — na Ceapaich, 12, 248 — na Cille, 79 — na .Corcurach, 247 — na h-TJamha, 206 — nam Bord, 242 — nam .Botag, 218 — nan .Caolan, 212 — nan .Garraig, 191 — .Rainich, 165 — .Raoiridh, 12 — .Eaonailt, 216 — Ruadh, 14 — Ruigh .Mhorgain, 220 Creagaidh-thom, 138 Creagan na .Michomb- airle, 222 Creagan nan Cudaigean, 226 .Criadhach .Alain Mhoir, 275 .Criathrach Buidhe, 218 Creed, 264 Creit a' .CMobha, 140 Creitmantae, 47 Creitnacloyithegeill, 47 Cro of Kintail, 176 .Crochair, 117 Croftan.drmn, 94 Croft.crunie, 143 Croftmatak, 38 Groftna.creich, 140 Croft.nallan, 109 Croftown, 252 Croio Bheinn, 213 Croick, 10 Crois Cat.rion, 33 Croit .Bhreunan, 51 — na .Caillich, 5 .Cromalt, 159 .Cromarty, 124, xxiii. — Firth, 125 .Cromasag, 231 .Crombie, 125 .Cromlet, 50, 70 Crom Loch, 14 .Crosan, 201 .Crossbost, 2G5 292 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Oroas.hill, 135 Cross.hills, 71 Crostna.hauin, 115 Crownareoroft, 14-6 Crot Ganich, 50 — Kerk, 50 — Oich, 50 .Crowlin Islands, 216 .Crua'ruigh, 205 .Cruinn-leiim, 205 Cruit Earach, 48 .Crumby, 264 Ciaig, 206 Cuan Sgitb, Ixxiii. — .Uidhist, Ixxiii. Cuidha.seadar, 270 Ciil a' Bhodha, 255 Ciil na .Bioraich, 262 .Cuilishie, 90 .Cuillich, 72 .Culach, 109 • Cul.bin, 88 Cul.biun, 53 .Culbo, 121 Cul.bokie, 116, xxviii. Cul.caim, 71, 92 Cul.chonich, 236 Cul.craggie, 76 Cul.duie, 203 Cul.eave, 9 Culin.ald, 52 Culin.ellan, 232 CuUi.cudden, 122, xivi .Cullish, 50 Cul.liss, 53 Cul.muiln, 178 Culna.ha, 51 Culua.skiach, 89 Cul. pleasant, 38 Cul.raiu, 20 Cul.vokie, 9 An Cumhag, 2*6 .Curin, 153 Cun-oureoroft, 146 .Cuthaill Bkeag. Ill, 262 — Mhor, 111, 262 Cuyl.ohir, 184 Daaii, 26, I. .Dabliach .Ghruiuneai-a n ■■ Dal.breac, 156 Dal.crcmbie, 124 Dahia.croioh, 155 i^aina.cloich, 71 Dal.navie, 71, liii. ]>al.neich, 72, 86 Dal.rannioh, 61 Dail .Charmaig, 198 Dail .Mhartuinn, 198 Dal-.Bhearnaidh, 6 Dal-.Ghiuthais, 7 .Dallas, 27 Dalna.clerach, 67 Dal.reoich, 73 Dal.riada, xiy., xxiv. Dal.ziel, 277 Davach .Nachtane, 21 .Davach of .Kessook, 136 .Davidston, 125 Davoch .Carbistell, 21 .Davoch .Cam, 100 Davochma.luag, 100 Davoch. polio, 100 .Deanich, 8 Decantae, xii., x.™. Deidmanniscairue, 60 Dell, 265 .Delny, 65, xxv. .Diabaig, 212, 220 .Dibidale, 7, 265 .Dingwall, 93, xx. .Diollaid a' Mhill Bhric, 253 Dirrie.more, 252 .Diurinish, 188 Dobhran, 27 Doch.oarty, 100 Dooh.four, 65 Doohna. clear, 101 Doir' a' .Chlaiginn, 209 — an Eala, 223 — .Aonar, 208 Doire Damh, 214- Doire .Leathann, 73 Doire Mhaol.laothaich, 219 Doire nam Fuarau, 219 — .Thao'udail, 195 Doireachan nan Gad, 224 .Doirneag, 219 Don, 1. .Dorachan, 66 Dores, 135 Domey, 259 .Dornie, 180, 259 .Dornoch, 180 Dorri.vorchie, 111 Dorry.gorrie, 164 Dorus.duan, 177 Dorus nam B4, 50 Dos.niuckaran, 161 .Douchary, 255 .Douglas Water, 90 Douue, 19 Dounie, 5, 27 .Dourag, 276 Dovaik, 21 Downilaem, 22 .Draoraig, 280 Dreim, 110 .Drienach, 256 Drimin.ault, 66 .Drobhauis, 270 Drochaid Chaolaig, 7 — FMlUdh, 146 — .Gharaig, 35 — na h-TJamhach, aX) — Poll .Druineachain, 200 — Cnoc a' .Chrochaire. 191 .Droitham, 110 .Drollavat, 272 Druentia, 153 .Dmideig, 173 Druie, 153 Druim na .Ceardaich, 81- — na Gaoith, 68 — na h-Eige' 2S6 — nan Damh, 78 — uau Cnaimh, 174 Druim, 89 Drum.Taiche, 21, 83 Druman.croy, 4G Druman.darroch, 154 Druman.guish, 165 Druman.riach, 155 Drum.buidhe, 135 Drum.cudden, ;2i Drum.dil, 51 Drum.derfit, 138 Drum.dyre, 122 Drum.gill, 59 .Drummond, 87 Drummon.reaeh, 117 Drumna.marg, 143 Drum. ore, 144 Drum.runie, 256 Drum.smittal, 139 .Drymen, 87 .Drynie, 94, 138 Drynie Park, 143 .Duart, 187 .Duasdale, 256 An Dubh Loch, 239 Dubglas, 90 .Dubhag, 252 .Dubhchlais, 16+ .Duchan, 80 INDEX. 293 .Dugaraidh, 119 .Duioh, Loch, 179 An Dim, 61, 226 The Dun, 61, 193 Din .Alaisgaig, 31, 275 Dun an Ruigh Ruaidh, 251 Diinaoh Liath, 14 Bun. cow, 103 .Di\i>an Diarmid, 178 — Liath, 14 Dim .Bhommish, 269 — .Jhuirgh, 265 — Canna, 256 Duu.riachie, 51 Duu.tuilm, 268 .Dr.r.canston, 118 Dun.donell, 247 Diin.gobhal, 61 — ua Lagaidh, 251 Dun.more, 108 Dun.raadh, 92 Dun.skaith, 33, 52 Dun.vornie, 115 Duma.muck, 245 .Durness, 188 .Eacleit, 269 .Eaglais .Riabhachain, 172 .Eagon, 200 .Baravick, 272 .Eirrabhig, 266 .Barshader, 266, 270 Eas an Tairbh, 24 Eas an .Teampuill, 195 Eas nan .Cuinneag, 213 .Eassm ua .Miasaich, 252 Easter Fearn, 20 — Kin.kell, 115 Easter.tyre, 186 .Eathie, 129 .Edderton, 23 — Farm, 25 Eddirdail, xsiv. Eddirdover, 142, xviii. Eigg, 50 .Eiginn, 167, 205 .Eigintol, 168 Eig.bheag, 266 Eig.mhdr, 266 Sileag Bada .Challaidh, 273 .Eileanach, 90 Eileau na .Cabhaig, 78 — a' Chaoil, 208 — a' Ghobhainn, 232 Eilcan .Crithinu, 167 — .Daraich, 247 — Druim Briste, 260 — .Euord, 267 — na Beinne, 194 — na .Cairidh, 273 — nan Ceap, 245 — nan Gall, 171 — .Shildeig, 208 — .Thorraidh, 266 — Tioram, 189, 229 — Tioram, 228 Eilid, 244 Einig, 18 .Eirthire Douu, 236 .Eirasta, 271 .Eirera, 264, 266 Ekkjalsbakki, 18 EUan.donau, 180 Elviemore, 49 .Euaolete, 269 Enycht, 38 .Eoradale, 265 .Eoropie, 264, 266 .Erbusaig, 188 .Erchite, 135 Ergadia Borealis, xv., xxiii. .Erisolt, 268 .Erradale, 227 .Errogie, 101 .Essich, 182 .Etive, 182 .Evantou, 92 Ewe, li. .Fadoch, 181 FsiUlidh, 146 Fain, 247 Fiin .Braonach, 105 Faing.more, 206 .Fairbum, 105 Fairy.hill, 54 Faithche, 237 .Fadthir an Boin, 230 Faithir Beag, 222, 229 Fftithir M6r, 222, 229 Faithir .Mnngasdale, 245 Na .Faithrichean, 248 .F&naioh, 5 .Fannich (Loch), 166 .Faunyfield, 92 .Faochag, 261 Faoilinn, 204 .Famess, 125 .Farrlaraidh, 98 .Fasadh, 185 Fasag, 211, 233 Fasa.grianach, 253 Feadan Mor, 230 .readh' laichean, 260 Fearn, 30, 40 .Feauuagau-Glasa, 227 Fearn. beg, 206 Fearn.more, 206 Fe.bait, 110 Fedden.hill, 131 Fedderat, 96 F^ith .Rabhain, 237 — .Ch.'iisgein, 241 — .Chuilisg, 230 .Fendom, 5, 34 Feodhail, 237 .Feoriseadar, 267 Ferin.donald, sxiv. Feriu.tosh, 114, xxiv. .Fernewyr, Fyruewer, zxv. .Fernaig, 185 .Feshie, 128 Fetter.angus, 96 .Fettes, 144 .Feur-loohan, 91 Feur'iMor, 14 Fiaclaich, 279 .Fiaclachan, 238, xliv. .Fiddlefield, 109 .Fidegro, 268 .Fidigearraidh, 266 .Fidigeodha, 266 .Findglas, 89 .Fiudon, 116 .Fiyig, 268 Fioim Abhainn, 199 .Fionnaltau, 197 Fiouu Bheinn, 170 Fionu Loch, 239 Fireach, 163 First Coast, 238 Fisher Croft, 50 Fisherfield, 242 .Fleucherries, 123 .Flowerburn, 131 .Flowerdale, 225 — House, 225 .Flodday, 266 .Fluchlady, 88 Fodderletter, 96 .Fodderty, 96 .Foiais, 234 .Fordon, 96 Foreste de Raiuiach, xxv. Forestercroft, 146 Forsin.ain, 105 294 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. .Forsnavat, 267 For.teviot, 96 .Fortrose, 128 .Foulis, 86 .Fowlis, 86 Foy Lodge, 237, 253 .Foyers, 221 Fra.wa.tter, 21 Freuohie, 68 .Frithard, 191 Fri.vater, 12, 21 Fuaid, 213 I"uaran an oir, 28 Fuaran Bean .Mhuir- isteau, 60 Fuaran Bod-muice, 278 Fuaran. buy, 89 — DhiV id!i, 38 — Seachd-goil, 278 .Fuar-tholl, 197 .Fuartholl Beag, 168 — mor, 168 .Fura Island, 228 Furene, 66 .Furness, 23* .Fyrish, 77, 277 Gad.oaiscaig, 254 Gaineamhach Smifithaig, 229 Gairbhe, 232 .Gairloch, 220 — Hotel, 226 .Galanaich, 24 GallowHill, 48, 126,145 Gallows Hill, 117 .Gamhnaichean, 244 .Gamrock, 131 Gar nan Aighean, 7 .Garaidh nam Broc, 218 Garbat, 26, 162 .Garbhalt, 7 .Garbhleitir, 61 .G-arbhan Cosach, 173 .Garbhlaiim, 197 Gareloch, 220 .Garguston, 144, 183 .Garraboat, 264 .Garraran, 74 .Garriok Burn, 35 .Garty, 64 .Garvan, 252 .Garvary, 11 Garve, 161, 162 .Garvie Bay, 261 .Gaaaval, 267 .Gascan, 208 GAsoleite, 267 Gaa-sker, 267 .Gaza, 46 Gead a' Ch6is, 230 Gead Dubh, 230 .Geanies, 47 .Gearraidh .Phutharol, 265 .Gearrchoille, 4, 274 .Geddeston, 135 .Geelyum .Melpak, 49 a' Ghairbhe, 232 Gidhurol, 267 Gil.christ, 108 Glrthcroce, 62, Ixvi. .Gisla, 264 .Giiisachan, 242 .Giuthais .Mosach, 8 Giuthas M6r, 232 Giithsach, 66 Gizzen Brigs, 37 Glao Dhubh a' Chiis, 217 Glac na Senshesen, 223 Glack.our, 253 Glacour, 155 .Glagaig, 54 Glaic an .Dubhaig, 139 Glaio an Eigh .Chonau- aich, 249 — nan Cleireaoh, 79 Glaick, 72, 80, 83 Glaickar.duich, 139 Glaicker.duack, 110 Glaick.more, 137 .Glaischoille, 21 .Glasbheinn, 198 .Glascarne, 74 Glas.carnoch, 165 .Glascharn, 154 .Glaschoille, 10 .Glascairu, 117 .Glas-sgeir, 217 Glass River, 90 .Glashillich, 35, 59, 255 Gleann 'a Ghriig, 273 — Choaieb, 183 — Coire .Chaorachain, 246 — .Ghleadharau, 267 — Loch Ach.alla, 254 — Lie, 176 — na Speireig, 90 — na Sguab, 263 — Shiaghaidh, 182 — .Sgathaich, 102 .GleoJina Garbh, 242 .Gletiaeld, 4 Glen .AUadale, 61 — Beg, 21, 165 — .Calvie, 7 — .Gourie, 152 — .Docharty, 239 — Dubh, 230 — .Elchaig, 181 — .Evaig, 137 — .Finglas, 90 — Glass, 90 — .Grivie, 183 Gleu.iak, 107 Glen .Lyon, 199 — Mark, 86 Glen.markie, 86 — Marxie, 163 Glen.meanie, 153 Glen.moir, 21 Glen.more, 8 Glen.muick, 242 Glen of Scotsbum, 61, 62 Glen.shiel, 171 Glen.uag, 157 Glen.udalan, 187 Glen .Urquhai-t, :?.6 Globhur, 267 Glomach, 181 Gloume, The, 182 Gluich, 24 .Glumaig, 272 .Glutaa, 255, 281 Goatfell, 224 Gob-a-ChiiirD, 167 Gob Hais, 268 — naji .Uisgeachan, 218 Goirteannah-Airde, ;93 Gooseburn, 132 Gorlinges, 39 .Gorstan, 196 — of Garve, 162 Gortan, 89 Gt)t a' choire, 48 — nan Colman, 45 — nan Cat, 45 Gowrie, li. Graoefield, 135 .Greeba, Ivii. Ivix. Green Dasses, 218 Green.hill, 126 Green.leonach«, 118 .Greinam, 268 .Griaraanais, 269 Grianbhad, 6, 274 .Grimersta, Zll .Grimshader, 270 .Grinnabhal, 267 .Grinuavat, 272 INDEX. 295 .Grosavat, 272 Grudie, 166, 251 Gruids, 166 .Gniiuard, 5 .Habost, £65 .Haolete, 269 .Haddo, 111 .Hallagro, 268 .Halloch, 133 .Hamarshader, 270 Harduaueu, 49 .Harris, 264 .Hartfield, 111, 204 .Heatheeld, 68 .Hebrides, xxvi. .Hestaval, 267 .Highfleld, 109 Hill of Nigg, 53 .Hillock, 131 .Hilton, 9, 27, 41, 46, 108 Horse Island, 258 — Sound, 258 .Horshader, 270 .Hughstown, 108 .Humberston, 94 .Hundagro, 268 .Hunisger, 2ii Hunting Hill, 36 Hurdy Hill, 141 .Immer, 195 -lubhir, 75 Inch.bae, 102 Inch.breky, 70 Inch. coulter, 279 Inch.fuir, 65 Inchin.a, 244 Inchin.down, 70 Inchin.taury, 24 Inch.lumpie, 73 Inch.naim, 184 Inch.navie, 71 luch.rory, 101 Inoh.vannie, 100 Inish. glass, 234 Inner.athy, 33, 37 Innerladour, 49 Inner.many, 153 Innis a' Bh^ird, 235 — a' Chrd, 176 — Bheag, 48 — Loicheil, 190 — Mh6r. 36 — nan Damh, 19 Insch, 134 Inver, 38, 75 Inver.aithie, 129 luver.alligin, 212 .Inveran, 255 Inver.arity, 107 Inver.asdale, 229, Iv. Inver.bane, 208 Inver.breakie, 69 Inver.broom Lodge, 252 Inver.carron, 8 Inver.ooran, 153 Inver. gordon, 70 Inver. iavenie River, 241 Inver.inate, 179 Inver. lael, 253 Inverlochslin, 38 luver.many, 153 luver.oykell, 18 Inver. polly, 261 loohdar-thire, 186 loUa Bheag, 258 loUa Mhor, 258 Isle Ma.ree, 239 Isle Martin, 255 Isle .EisLol, 260 .Islivig, 272 Is.teane, 139 James Temple, 141 Jamestown, 105 Jamimaville, 123 .Jauetown, 194 John Baptist's Well, 65 Kandig, 47, 49 .Katewell, 87 Kean.chilish, 255 .Kenmore, 207 .Keppooh, 101, 179, 248 .Kemsary, 234 Kerry River, 225 .Kerrysdale, 225 .Kershader, 270 .Kessook Ferry, 136 Kil.ohoan, 91 Kil.coy, 143 .Kildary, 63 Kilder.morie, 79, 84 Kil.donan, 248 Kil.dun, 94 Kill.earnan, 142 Kill.en, 134 Killie.huntly, 148 Kill.ilan, 181 Kill.in, 94 Killochir, 184 Kilma.chalmag, 19 Kil. martin, 120 Kil.niuir, 136 — Easter, 63 Kilpottis, 47, 49 Kilstane, 47 Kil.tarlity, 58 Kil.tearn, 85 Kin.beachie, 121 Kincaldrum, 100 Kin.caple, 86 Kin.cardine, 1 Kin.cora, 115 Kin.craig, 70 Kin.ourdy, 130 Kiu.deace, 53, 66 Kin.ellan, 99 King's Bridge, 63 — Causeway, 36 Kin.kell, 115 Kin.loch, 80, 90 Kinn.airdie, 94, xxv. Kinna.moiu, 189 Kinn.eil, xliv. Kin.nettes, 97, 111 Kin. rive, 67 Kin. sale, 178 Kin.tail, 178 Kin.veachy, 121 .Kiriwick, 272 .Kirkan, 165 KirkchaistuU, 74 Kirkiu.tilloch, xlix. Kirk.michael, 121 Kirk.sheaf, 35 .Kirkton, 122, 189 .Kishorn, 192 Knockan.dialtaig, 118 Knockan.toul, 89 Knockan.cuim, 89 Knock.bain, 94, 136 Knock.breac, 35 Knock.farrel, 98 Knock. muir, 13>" Knockna.cean, ?i5 Knockna.har, 42 Knokangirrach, 47 Knokdaill, 21 Knokderruthoill, 74 Knoknapark, 64 Knoknasteraa, 74 Kyle of Loch.alsh, 187 Lag an DUn, 193 .Lagaidh Dhubh, 212 .Lagan na .Comraioh, 203 Laid, 238 Laikgamy, 22 Lainn, 78 .Lainnsear, 139 296 PLACE-NAMES OF BOSS AND CBOI^ARTY. Xaimishader, 270 An Liir, 233 Lair, 196, 212 Lairg, 36 Lambton, 126 Lamentation Hill, 20 .Langadale, 266 .Langavat, 272 .Langwell, 9, 18, 20+, 256 Laraehanti.vore, 2'J2 .Lathamur, 268 .Laxavat, 272 .Laxay, 264 .Laxdale, 265 Leaba Bhitair, 12 Leab' a' Bhruic, 14 Leac an Duine, 27 leao Dhonn, 249 — Mhor na Cl^, 254 — nan Saighead, Z24 — .Roithridh, 226 .Leacachan, 172 .Lealty, 82 .Leanaidh, 159 .Leanaig, 117 .L^anach, 161 .Leamie, 129 Leat.caum, 50 .Leathad a' .Bhogaraidh, 25 — .Cartaoh, 102 .Leathad a' Chruthaich. 95 — .Chalascaig, 254 — an aon Bhothain, 219 — .Leacachain, 252 — .Riabhach, 79 .Leault, 82 .Lechanioh, 29 Leck.melm, 254 Led.gowan, 161 Leinster Wood, 61 ■Leirayay, 272 ■Leisgeig, 56 Leith Chreig, 230 I-eithdach M^inn, 154 .Lernock, 129 ■Leth Ailt, 179 Letteray, 22 Letter.feam, 172 Letternaiohe, 22 Lettemeteane, 22 Letters, 10, 251 .Lettooh, 111, 145 Leum .Ruaraidh, 167 .Leurbost, 265 Lewis, 263 .Liathach, 210 .Lienasaie, 90, 178 Lime.kilns, 135 .Lingam, 268 .Lingavat, 27 .Liuish, 269 Linne na h-Annaid, 249 — Riraaoh, Ixxiii. — SgMnne, 2 — Sgitheanaoh, Ixxiii. .Linnie, 145 .Linshader, 270 Lint Pools, 64 Little .Daan, 26 — .Dallas, 27 — Looh Broom, 245 — Minch, Ixxiii. Little Sand, 227 Loan.dhu, 42 Loan.reoch, 72 Loan.roidge, 81 Loanteanaquhatt, 48 Looh Ach.all, 254 — .Achilty, 163 — Airigh 'io Criadh, 226 — .Ala, 133 — Alsh, 184 — Anna, — a' .Bhadaidh .Shamh- raidh, 230 — a' .Bharranaich, 197 — a' .Bhealaich, 176 — a' Bhraghad, 242 — a' .Chapuill, 78 — a' OhUrain, 163 — a' Chrdioioh, 207 — a' Chroisg, 256 — a' Chuilinn, 150 — a' .Gharbharain, 169 — a' Mhigraidh, 79 — a' .Mhuilinn, 154, 204 — an .Airceil, 247 — an .Arbhair, 262 — an Droma, 163 — an Eioh Bhain, 163 — an Eilioh, 244 — an Loin, 214 — an Turaraioh, 215 Looh Bad a' Bhithaioh, 84 a' Ghaill, 261 na h-Achlaise, 223 na Sgalag, 225 — Battachan, 261 — Bealach nan Guilean, 91 — .Beanuacharan, 152 — Bhira, 230 — Broom, 241 — Buidhe, 61 Looh Call nan TTidbean, 262 — Calvie, 190 — Carron, 192 — Carron Village, 194 — a' .Chlaiginn, 257 — Oair, 197, 223 — Clais na Cre, 47 — Cluaine, 176 — .Coireag nam Mang, 159 — Coire .Feuohain, 91 — Coire Fionnaraich, 199 — Coire Lair, 169 — Coir' na Meidhe, 17 — .Coulin, 196 — .Coultrie, 214 — Criiceach, 207 — Gran, 161 — .Cruoshie, 191 — Damh, 214 — Doire na h-Eirbhe, 239, 262 — Bring, 228 — .Droma, 169 — .Dughall, 196, 215 — Eadar da Bheinn, 257 — .Eiginn, 246 — Eye, 42 — .Fanuioh, 166 — Feadhal Feas, 239 — Fyne, xii. — .Gaorsaig, 182 — GarT«, 162 — Ghiiiragartaidh, 235 — a' .Ghlobhuir, 267 — Glass, 90 — .Gobach, 214 — .Gobhlach, 91 — .Hamasord, 26? — .Kanaird, 256 — Laichlay. 135 — Lapagial, 35 — Ligh, 135, 163 — Long, 183 — Loyne, 177 — .Luiohart, 164 — .Lundie, 213 — .Lungard, 182 — .Lui^tainn, 257 — Maoil aa h-.Eileis, 239 — Ma.ree, 239 — .Meiklie, 157 — .Mheathacleit, 219 — Mhio .Mharsaill, 19 — .Mhileavat, 272 INDEX, 297 Loch .Mhiosaraidh, 91 — Moir, 84 — .rJonar, 190 — na .Cabhaig, 218 — na .Cathrach Duibhe, 238 — ua Cleire, 244 — na .Coireig, 248 — na Croio, 163 — na .Pideil, 239 — na h-Airbhe, 250 — nah-Oidhehe,214,225 — ua h-Uidhe, 42, 248 — na .Lagaidh, 247 — na Lirach Blaire, 154 — ua .Leitreach, 181 — na .Maola .Fraoch- aich, 214 — raSilile, 261 — na Sealg, 2« — na .Shanish, 223 — na StiU, 169 — nam Breao Athair, 223 — nam Buaineachan, 225 — nam .Frianacli, 215 — nan Amhaichean, 91 — nan Corr, 178 — ■ nan .Cuigeal, 46 — nan Dailthe.au, 235 — nau .Druideau, 91 — nan Eun, 22 — nau .Tunnag, 26 — Neimhe, 210 — .Osgaig, 261 — .PriUe, 169 — Raa, 261 — .Raiaoleit, 269 — .Seraig, 194 — Kosque, 160 — -Seaforth, 267 — .Sgamhain, 196 — .Sgolbaidh, 154 — .Sguata Beag, 223 — .Sheriff, 118 — .Sianascaig, 261 — Slin, 42 — Still, 67 — .Struaban, 15 — .Thamnabhaigh, 272 — .Thealasbhaigh, 272 — .Totaig, 261 — Tuath, 170 — Uaill, 215 — .TJauaidh, 35 — .Urradhag, 271 — .Veyatie, 262 Lochaidh Bhraoin, 241 — .Mhuireagain, 183 — Nid, 243 Lochan a' Chlaidheimh, 60 — an Diabhaidb, 243 — an. .lasgaich, 197 — Giuthais, 242 — Gobhlach, 197 — .Mealaioh, 228 — na Bearta, 242 — na .Caoirilt, 244 — na .Fuaralaich, 174 — nan .Tunuag, 57 — Phoil, 18 — .Sgeireach, 14 .Logie, 58, 251 Logie.side, 119 Lou.bau, 205 Lon Coirs .Chribaidh, 196 — Dialtaig, 5 Lone. more, 227 Lone. vine, 65 Lou nam Ban^ 60 Lonteaua.quhatt, 48 Louga Island, 227 Lorg.buie, 78 .Luachar Mhor, 25 Lib a' .Chlaigiun, 102 Lib a' .Ghargainn, 144 Lub .Coiunioh, 10 Lub.croy, 17 Lub.fearn, 165 Lub.riach, 165 Lugi, xii. Liib, 160 Lum.Iair, 81, 85 .Lundale, 265 .Lundie, 158, 189 .Lundin, 158 Mac us .Mathair, 246 .Macan .Eara<;h, 203 .Machair Rois, xi. Miileagan, 172 Main, 153 Mam, 153 Mal.ruba, M. Mimag, 183 Mam a' .GLiuthais, 232 .Mulcanau, 215 Mim .Sabhal, 183 .Mauachainn Ross, 110 — 'Ic .Shimidh, 40 .Mangarsta, 271 Maoil, Ixxiii. Maoil .Choinnl'maB, 159 — .Lunudaidli, 153 Maol an Uillt ivlhoir, 205 — Buidhe, 181 —i .Chalascaig, 254 — .Cheanndearg, 174, 197 .Maravaig, 272 .Maravat, 272 Marecroft, 146- .Marybank, 60 M£ia Aird.hesleig, 207 — .Diabaig, 207 — na h-.Araird, 207 M^3 .Phutharol, 265 Maoil an .Tiompain, 247 — na h-Eirbhe, 250 .Mashie, 128 .Mas-sgeir, 271 .Meaghlaich, 8 .Mealasbhal, 267 .Mealasta, 271 .Mealbhan .Mungasdail, 245 .Meathaoleit, 269 .Meathadal, 269 .Meathanish, 269 Meall na h-Airde, 194 — a' Bhiirich, 256 — a' .Chaisteil, 102 — a' .Chaoruinn, 249 — a' .Chrasgaidh, 252 — a' .Chrimeig, 279 — a' .Uhriauain, 102 — a' Ghuail, Ho — nam .Madadh, 15 — an t-.Sithidh, 246 — an .Torcain, 165 .Meallan .Udrigle, 233 Meall an Tuirc, 78, 83, xxxii. — .Aoghaireaohaidh, 213 — .Aundrary, 225 — .Bheithinnidh, 234 — .Bhenneit, 11 — .Dheirgidh, 20 — .Gaiumheach, 205 — Gorm, 218 — Leacachain, 252 — Loch Uaill, 215 — Mhic .lomhair, 165 — na .Cliubha, 240 — na Cuachaige, 11, 274 — nan .Doireachan, 213 — nam B6, 79 — na .Mocheirigh, 255 — nam .Fuaran, 15 — nam .Peithirean, 168 — na .Rainieh, 14 298 PLACE-NAMES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. Meall na .Sgriodan, 259 — na .Siorramachd, 30 — na .Speireig, 90, 95 — na .Teanga .Fiadh- aich, 219 — nan Laogh, 165 — nan Sac, 102 .Meddat, 62 Meig, 156 Meikle .Allan, 43 — .Daan, 26 — .Dallas, 27 — Perry, 33 — .Gluich, 2* — Kin.deace, 53 — Pit.calzeau, 51 — .Ehynie, 41 — .Tarrel, 47 Mekle .Methat, 62 .Melbost, 264 .Mellon Charles, 236 ' .Melvaig, 227 Meoir -Langwell, 19 A' .Mhaighdean, 239 A' .Mhullagraich, 260 .Miagro, 269 .Mial, 226 .Miasaid, 269, 271 .Miavaig, 272 Mickle Oxgate, 178 Mid Fearn, 30 Mid Boss, xi. Mid. oxgate, 43 Mill.craig, 71 .Milltoim, 123 .Milltown, 81,123,156 .Milntown, 63 .Milton, 110, 144, 204 Minoh, xiv., Ixxiji. Mincius, 157 .Miotag, 244 .Mircavat, 269 .Mircol, 269 Moin' a' Chr^athair, 199 Mointeach Eileag, 17 Mol M6r, 217 Mol .Scoraig, 249 .Molagro, 268 Moothill of Cromarty, 126 — .Dingwall, 93 — .Ormond, 133 .Morall, 2 .Morangie, 34 .Morefield, 255 .Morel, 2 .Mormboioli a' Choire, 219 Mor'oioh Cinn-d^is. 53,171 Morrioh.more, 36 .Moruisg, 200 .Morvich, 171 Moss.end, 119 Mount. eagle, 42 Mount.gerald, 92 Mount.rich, 91 Moy, 105 .Muckernich, 143 .Muckovie, 83 Muie.blaire, 28 Huileann Acb-r4ilein, 55 — a' .Chlagain, 277 — an t-Siil, 139 .Muileann .Luathaidh, 38 Muilt, 222 Muir.alebouse, 133 Muir.ends, 138 .Muirtown, 115, 126, 138 Muiry.den, 131 Mul.buie, 47 .Mulcanan, 215 Mul.chaioh, 115 Mul.dearg, 43 .Mullaoh, 22 .MuUach a' Cbadha Bbuidbe, 16 Mulna.fua, 71 .Multovy, 83, xlviii. .Mungasdale, 245 Mun.lochy, 141 Mureu, 138 .Naast, 230 .Naidaval, 270 .Nasabhig, 272 .Navity, 125, Ixiii. Nead an Eoin, 224 .Neadaclit, 270 .Nsadavat, 270 Neolacanalyoh, 38 Nedd, 167 .Neidalt, 268 .Neidelan, 270 .Neidal, 270 .Neilston, 126 Neimhidh, Ixii. Nemetomarus, Ixiii. New Tarbat, 63 New.more, 70, Ixiii. .Newton, 126, 134 New Kelso, 198 .Nighean Liath, 220 Nigg, 50, 66 Nigg Rocks, 56, 71 Nona.kiln, 70 .Nonach, 189 North .Erradale, 227 .NoBtie, 186 No.var, 77 Oape, 19 Ob an Duine, 189 Ob Cheann an, t-Saile, 2iit) Ob.gorm beag, 209 — L4ghaich, 217 — mor, 209 Ob na h-.acairseid, 208 — na .Caillich, 217 — na h-.uamha, 206 — .mheallaidh, 209 .Oban, 188 Obbe, 188 .Obbenin, 237 .Obsdale, 71, 78 .Ochil, 103, 148 Ochto.beg, 89 .Ochtow, 19, 89 Oir na Poit, 49 .Oirthir an .Rudha, 220 — .Dhiabaig, 220 .Oitir, 53 .Oitrichean, 38 .Onich, 189 .Openham, 222 .Orasay, 266 Ord, 69, 110 .Ordan, 5 Ord.hill, 135, 141 Ore, R., Ill .Ormiscaig, 236 .Orrin River, 111 Oure Lady Heavin, 43 Oure Lady Well, 43 Our Ladyie Chapell, 43 .Oykell, 17, 103 .Pabay, 266 .Pabbay, 270 Piiro .Alanais, 75 — a' Bhord Bhuidhe, 24S — an .Leothaid, 132 .Paiteachan, 174 .Palascaig, 189 Parishes, xxvi. Park, 100 Park.hm, 62 .Parktown, 144 Patt, 189 .Paulfield, 141 .Feallaidh, 88 .Peddieston, 125 .Peiteachan, 144 Peitneaue, 200 .Pelaig, 88 Peloponnesus, xxiv. Pentlaud Firth, xlvi. .Peterburn, 227 Petgerello, 38 Petkenuey, 87, xxv. .Petley, 47 Petty, xlvii. Pettyslauis, Petslaw, Piddslaw, 131 .Phenish, ^69 .Phipsjeld, 59 Picts, xlv. Pit.almjt, 200 Pit.calnie. 51, 276 Pit.connoquliy, 131 Pit.culzean, 51 Piteng.lassie, 94 Pit.faed, 46 Pit.fuir, 65, 135 Pit.glassie, 94 Pit.hogarty, 34 Pit.kerrie, 41 Pit.ltmdie, 140 Pitma.dutliy, 59 Pit. nellies, 33 .Pladaig, 188 .Pladda, 189 Plaids, 34 PUtach-Nfct, 230 Platach Thiiirneig, 235 Plat.chaig, 129 .Plateock, 129 Ploc, 211 Ploc an Doire, 211 .Plocktoa, 187 Plotcok, 129 .Ploverfiekl, 145 .Plubag, 276 .Plucaird, 235 Pol.bain, 259 Pol.glass, 258 Poliu.turk, 28 .PoUachar Mor, 238 — Beag, 238 Poll a' .Bhathaidh, 62 — a' Bhior, 204 — a' Chapiiill, 2 — a' Choire, 112, 256 — a' .Mhucainn, 77, 83 — an Doirbh, 226 — an .Donnaidh, 2 an-.tarie, 189 — an 1>Sliigaid, 2 — Bhocaidh, 9 — Cas.gaibhre, 20 INDEX. Poll .Chreadhaioh, 20S — .Druineachen, 200 — Da.ruigh, 254 — na Olir, 82, 89 — na Cuilc, 80, 83 — na Muio, 2 — nam iyiorbh, 82 .PoUag .Aitionn, 82 Polla.gharry, 26, 274 .Polio, 65 PoUograysolieak, 74 Poll Huadh, 82 Poll Uiflhe .i' Ghro, 234 Pol.niool, 64 Poltak, 33 Pookan.draw, 134 Pool.ewe, 230 .Porin, 155 Port a' .Cliaisteil, 48 — a' Bhaist, 49 — a' Chait, 45 — a' Chuilinn, 187 — an Ab, 41 — an Druidh, 57 — an Eorna, 187 — an.FhaithirMh6ir,221 — an t-Saoir, 216 — an t-.Seobhaig, 217 — Buckie, 45 — .Henderson, 222 — 'ic Grhille Ohaluim Rirsaidh, 210 — na .Baintigbeama, 44 — Lair, 212 Portin.coulter, 279 Port.lich, 65 Portma.homack, 46 Port na Cloicbe, 49 — na h-Bile, 226 — Nach.breacaidh, 276 Portna.grigack, 49 — nan Amall, 228 Portareoroft, 146 Portnawest, 49 Port TTilleim, 46 Poul.fock, 42 .Poyntzfield, 123 Preas, liii. Preas Ma-.Kuibh, Ixi. Preas Mor, 232, 247 — nam Bodach, 247 Preis.chacbleif, 59 Priest.hill, 65 Priest Island, 39, 260 .Putharam, 265 .Putharamar, 265 .Putbarol, 265 299 Quarryfield, 139 .Queebec, 38 .Eaanicb, 23 .Raddery, 130 Eaitts, 173 Ra.more, 23 .Banish, 269 .itannoch, 101 .Raoideas, 140 -Raoinavat, 272 Kaon a' Chlaidh, 248 Baona.chroLsg, 253 .Raonadail, 265 Raou na .Ceapaich, 248 .Rapag, 256 Ra.richie, 51 .Rasay, 161 •Eassel, 216 .Ratagan, 172 .Rathan, 210 .Rathanan, 211, xxxii. Rawoharrache, 74 .Redburn, 78 Red. castle, 142, xviii. .Redfield, 136 Red Point, 220 Reiff, 260 Renmasrycshe, 47 Re.cuill, 26 .Reraig, 188 Re.solis, 120 Re.vochan, 198 Rewchlaschenabad, 74- Rhi.dorroch, 254 Rhein.down, 107 Rhi.reavach, 248 Rhi.cullen, 70 Rhi.breac, 24 Rhi.dorach, 53, 61, 89 Rhi.Ionie, 21 Rhi.roy, 251 Rhives, 64, 134 Rhu.roin, 208 .Rhynie, 41 Biask.more, 70 Ri.fleuche, 61 Righ an .Talla Dheirg, 250 Ri.gollachy, 234 Ri.harrald, 59, 60 Rihindow, 50 .Rinavie, xlviii. -Riochan, 182 Ri.sauris, 74 .Risay, 266 River Bran, 165 300 PLACE-NA>rES OF ROSS AND CROMARTY. River Creed, 261 — Lair, 196 — Ling, 183 — .Kirkaig, 262 — Polly, 261 Rochani, 49 .'Eookfield, 46 .Eogie, 101, 1. .Eoineval, 267 Roinn an Fhaing Mh6ir, 206 .Boishnish, 269 .Eona, 266 Bos .Muileach, xx. Rose. bank, 70 Rose.farm, 126 Rose.haugh, 131 E.ose.ma.rkie, 128 .Eosgil, 269 Rosje, 161 .Roskill, 138 Ross.keen, 69 Rostabrichty, 123 .Eosaidh, 266 .Eosmul, 268 .Rosnavat, 268 Kos.neath, Ixiii. .Rosnish, 268 Ross, xxi. .Rossay, 258 .Rossol, 268 Rowna.kanie, 47 Rownaknoksenidis, 47, 49 Royeindavoir, 47 .Ruadh-stao, 197 .Ruaracli, 178 Rudh' Ard a' .Chadail, 255 — a' .Chamais Ruaidh, 206 — an Diinain, 258 Rudha an t-9isain, 229, 280 — .Dubhard, 258 — na Coigich, 261 — iia Peama, 206 — ua Guaille, 205 — na Moine, 205, 245 — na Sgarbh, 26 — nan .Uamhag, 203 — N6ifl — R^idh, 228 — .Robhanish, 270 Rue. more, 187 Ruigh Breao, 27, 191 Ruigh Cruaidb, 20 Ruigh .Dreighean, 80 — na M^inn, 5 Ruigh.grianach, 262 Eu.noa, 231 .Russel, 216 .Ryefield, 117, 144 Rye.flat, 131 S4il Liath, 243 — .Maroaaaidb, 163 — na Beinne Bige, 218 St Duthus' Well, 127 St John's Port, 49 St Martins, 120 .Salachar, 187, 205 Sale, 171 .Sallachy, 8, 187 .Saltburn, 69 .Sauachan, 193 Sand, 205, 238 .Sandavat, 272 .Sandwick, 270 .Saothair, 238, 255 .Sardale, 204 .Saraig, 172, 220 S^an, 229 .Sauchiebum, 8 .Scailleir, 271 .Scalpaidh, 188 .Scaravat, 272 .Scardroy, 156 .Scarista, 271 .Scatwell, 149 Scone, 148 .Scotsburn, 67 .Seafield, 46, 193 .Seanaohreag, 187, 244 .Sean-bhaile, 227, 243 Seaim Bhraigh, 170 .Seausgeir, 228 .Searrach, 233 .Seavat, 272 Second Coast, 238 .Seilibhig, 272 .Seipeil .Donnain, 193 — .Odhar, 94 Seolaid, 221 Sergandoroft, 146 .Sgaoman, 169 .Sgaothach, 15 .Sgarbh-sgeir, 271 SgArdan nan OWleaif, 195 Sgeir an Eoin, 206 — an t-Salainn, 216 — an .Trithinn, 220 — Bhira, 230 — Mhaoil Mhoiro, 228 Sgeir Neo.ghluasadacb, 260 — .Ribhinn, 260 .Sgianalt, 268 .Sgiobacleit, 268 .Sgiobadal, 271 .SgioBa-geodha, 271 .Sgiogarsta, 271 ^gire Mhirtuinn, 120 .Sguataig, 229 .Sgonnau Mor, 17 Sgor a' .Chaoruinn, 79 .Sgoraig, 249 Sgorr a' .Chadail, 211 — a' Chlei', 89 Sgiiman, 222 Sgurr a' .Ehealaich Dheirg, 174 Sgiirra' .Chaorachain,213 — a' .Chaoruinn, 159 — a' Ghlas .Leathaid, 160 — a' .Mhuilinn, 160 — an .Airgiod, 178 — an .Lochaiu, 174 — Beag, 174 — nan .Cisteacbau Dubh, 173 — Coire na F^inne, 174 — .Gaorsaig, 182 — 'Ic .Mharrais, 175 — .Marcasaidh, 163 — Mor, 168 — Ruadh, 197 — nam .Feartag, 200 — na .Bana-mhorair, 215 — na .Mor'oich, 173 — nan C4rnaoh, 175 — nan .Ceauniiichean, 159 — nan .Gisteaclian Dubh, 173 — nan .Conbhair, 159 — nan .Saighead, 173 — na' Hp^innteach, 173 — nan .Coubhairean, 174 — nan Clach, 168 — Ouran, 173 — .Ronuaioh, 160 — Udhran, 173 Sgurra .Fiona, 243 — Ruadh, 243 .Shadir, 270 .ShantuUich, 138 .Shandwick, 50, 62 Shaw Park, 135 .Shawbost, 264 INDEX. 301 .Shenavall, 243 .Shetland, Ix. .Sheshader, 270 .Shiaat Isles, Ixiv. .Shildimsh, 271 .Shieldaig, 208, 225 .Shoais, 270 Slau na h-Eileig, 237 .Sildam, 271 .Sithean .Ruarach, 16 — a' Choin Bhain, 73 Skardy, 38 .Skiach, 89 .Skibberscross, Iv. .Skinnertown, 48 Skotlandfjordr, xit. Slaga.harn, 139 .Slaggan, 237 .Slattadale, 231 .Sligo, 140 .Slioch, 233 Sloggake, 22 Sludach, 127 .Slugan .Domhain, 136 .Slumbay, 194 Smertae, xii. .Smithstowii, 227 Smithycroft, 146 .Smiuig, 272 .Siniuthaig, 229 .Smiorsair, 233 .Sooach, 14, 78, 90 .Soray, 270 .Souter Head, 126 .Souters, 126 South .Erradale, 221 .Soval, 270 .Sovat, 270 Sow of Athole, 83 .Spardau nan Gobhar, 57 .Spean, 1. Spey, 1. .Spidean a' Choire Leith, 211 .Spideau a Ghlais-tuill, 243 .Spittal, 144 Spuic .Nighean .Thor- maid, 218 Srath-.cuillionach, 11 .aiiuchaidh, 139 — Maol-.Chaluim, 202 — n?. .Frangach, 72 — nR. Seals, 243 — .Phollaidh, 261 — .Seasgaich, 16 Sron a' Charr, 222 — a' MhAis, 207 — an .larrmnn, 206 — -gorra, 165 — Gun .Aran, 14 — na .Ceannmhoir, 207 — na Coite, 9 — na .Frianaich, 158 — nam Mult, 222 — na .Saobhaidhe, 11, 111 — 'n .i\gaidb, 8 Sruth na .Lagaidh, 251 .Stacsavat, 272 .Stattio Point, 245 .Stangraidh, 266 .Staonag, 213 .Stathanis, 269, 271 Stavek, xviii. .Steinish, 269 .Steollaidh, 45 Stirk.hill, 229 Stirrup Mark, 219 .Stittenham, 72 Stockford, xx. Stoney. blather, 46 .Stoney&eld, 70 .Stornoway, 272 Stao .Chaoruinu, 249 Straith.faime 22 .Strandavat, 272 Strath, 226 — a' .Bhathaich, 215 .Strathan, 195 Strathan.more, 236 Strath, asgag, 189 Strath.beg, 246 dtrath.bogie, 209 Strath Bran, 165 — Conon, 149 — Gromble, 169 — .miglo, 157 — More, 251 — na Sealg, 243 Strath.peffer, 98 Strath of Pit.calnie, 52 — .Rannoch, 101 Strath.rory, 68,84 Strath.rusdale, 73, 84 — .Terry, 162 — .vaioh, 164 .Strathy, 72, 187 Strome, 194, xix. Stroma. ferry, 188 Strona.chro, 107 Strone, 80, 163 Strone.more, 50 Stron.garve, 89 Struie, 28 .Suaineagadail, 265 .Suainebhal, 267 .Suardal, 265 .Suddy, 136, xliv. Suidh Ma-.RuJbh, Ixii. .Sulven, Ivi. .Suidheachau Fhinii, 243 Siiil.BA, 54 — Mill a' Chro, 235 .Sulishader, 270 Sulven, Ivi. Summer Isles, 259 Sunny Brae, 119 .Swanibost, 265 .Swordale, 87, 269 .Syal, 9 .Tabac, 264 .TaboBt, 265 .Taclete, 269 .Tagan, 231, Ivi. Tain, 32 .Talich, 42 .Talla, 250 .Talladale, 231 Tally.sow, 77 .Tanera, 259. 2^:8 .Tannray, 259, 256 .Tao'udal, 195 .Tarbat, 45 — Ness,, 45 Tarbh, 221 .Tarlogie, 33 .Tarradale, 103 .Tarravay, 272 .Tarrel, 47 .Tarstavat, 272 .Tarvie, 162 Tea.blair, 137 Tea.chatt, 89 .Teallach, 243 .Teampall .Eai-ach, 48 .Teamradal, 197 Teaua.callich, 154 Teana.criech, 110 Teana.fruich, 106 Teana.gaim, 117 Teana.huig, 143. Teana.lick, HI Tean.dallan, 92 Tean.dalloch, 107 Tean.dore, 117,137,141 .Teanga .Fhiadhaich, 194 I Tean.ord, 87 Tean.inich, 76 302 PLACE-NAJIES OF BOSS AND CROMARTY Tea.wig, 137 Tea.zet, 116 Templand, 135 Tena.field, 111 Thesklaria, 38 Three Kings, 54 Tigh a' .Mholain, 178 — a' Mhuilinn, 136 — an t-Sluic, 139 .Tighearua, 271 Tighernaoh, 85 Tigh.mhadaidh, 4 Tighna.fUine, 236 Tigh na h-.Irioh, 140 Tighn.innieh, 122 Tigh na h-Innse, 119 — na .Plucaiid, 235 .Tobar a' Bhaile Dhuibh, 40 — a' Bhaistidh, 55 — a' .Chlaidheimh, 56 — a' Choirneil, 55 — .Alaidh .Bhodhsa, 55 — an Tuirc, 176 — Cadh' an Ruigh, 56 — .Chragag, 133 — .Cormaig. 54 — Cnoo .Coinnich, 54 — .Dringaig, 228 — Din Sgith, 56 — .Eathain Bhaist, 55 — Mo-.Chalmaig, 46 — Mhoire, 79 — na .Baiutigheama, 44 — na Coille, 51, 55 — na h-eiteachan, 56 — na h-Iii, 54 — nan Geala mora, 55 — nan .Gobhar, 42 Tobarnayn.gor, 42 .Tobar na' Muc, 56 — nam Puill Lin, 55 — na S14inte, 50, 56 — S^in .Sotharlain, 55 — .Suardalain, 40 Tober.chum, 123 Tob«rinteir, 74 Tokach, 22 Toll, 268 -Tollaidh, 73, 105, 180, 231 ■Tollar, 268 .Tollie, 73, 105, 180, 231 Toll Ligh, 168 Toll Muic, 165 Toll nam Blast, 218 Toll .Raoiridh, 49 Tollie Mylnj, 73 Tolly, 73, 105, 180, 231 .Tolsta, 271 Tom.ban, 165 Tom .Phutharol, 265 .Tomieh, 70 .Torastaigh, 271 Tore, 118, 143 Tore.lean, 60 Tor.muiek, 111 Toma.brook, 65 Torna.preas, 192 Torr a' Bhil, 27 — a' Bhiod, 230 — na h-.Iolaire, 198 — nan Clar, 194 Terra CAdaidb, 244 .Torran, bb Torran .Cuilinn, 197 — na Cl^, 230 — Shios, 51 — Shuas, 51 Torray, 264 .Torridon, 210 Torr.luimxsich, 171 Torr.miohaell, 21 Torr na .Cathrach, 247 — .Fhionnlaidh, 216 Torr .Oigean, 8 Torris .Trean, 109 .Toseaig, 203 .Totaig, 173 Toul.vaddie, 47 .Tourie.lum, 135 Traigh .Chumil, 269 .Triubhais, 77 .Tromie, 128 Tulach .Ard, 178 .Tulchainn, 198 .Tullich, 41, 66, 141, 198 .Tulloch, 94 .Tunna Bheag, 218 .Tungavat, 272 .Turnaig, 235 .Tympaue Myln, 99 .Uags, 203 Uaimh .Shianta, 206 Uaimh .Ulabha, 187 Uamh .Fhreacadain, 222 Uchdan, 80 Uohdanl^.Safc^ail, 171 .Udale, 125 .TJdrigle, 238 Uidh, 223 Uidh .Phlubach, 225 Uig, 78 Uisge Dubh, 24 -Ulladale, 61, 67, 100, 265 .Ullapool, 254 .UUava, 187 .Ullavat, 272 .Ungashader, 270 .Urard, 212 .Urquhart, 113 .Urranan, 271 .Urray, 104 .Ussie, 105 .Valasay, 266 Varar, xii. .Vatersay, 266 .Vatisker, 271 Vernemetis, Ixii. .Vuya, 266 Walter's Seat, 50 Wardlaw, xix. .Wellhouse, 145 Wester Ballano, 123 Wester Pearn, 30 Wester Eoss, xi. .Weston, 131 Westray, 23 White.bog, 126 Whitegate, 137 Whiteness, 36 White.wells, 144 Wilk. haven, 45 Williamstown, 125 VVood.head, 122 .Woodlands, 279 Wood.side, 131 Yair.head, 139