CELTIC PLACE-NAMES
IN ABERDEENSHIRE
JOHN MILNE, M.A., LL.D.
Gc
941.2501
M63c
1740468
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PJJBU C LIBRARY
3 1833 00855 4864
GENEALOGY
941.2501
M63C
CELTIC PLACE-NAMES
CELTIC PLACE-NAMES
IN ABERDEENSHIRE
WITH A VOCABULARY OF GAELIC WORDS
NOT IN DICTIONARIES
THE MEANING AND ETYMOLOGY OF THE
GAELIC NAMES OF PLACES
IN ABERDEENSHIRE
WRITTEN FOR THE COMMITTEE OF THE
CARNEGIE TRUST
BY
JOHN MILNE, M.A., LL.D.
Author of
" Aberdeen" and " Plaee-Names of the Lothians "
ABERDEEN
ABERDEEN DAILY JOURNAL*' OFFICE
1912
1740468
INTRODUCTION.
The Aim of the Book.
This book is intended to give the meaning and the ety-
mology, so far as they can be discovered, of all the Gaelic
names of the places on the six-inch Ordnance Survey maps
of Aberdeenshire. Some names have been added from old
books and maps. It was necessary to examine all the names
on the Ordnance Survey maps, because many names which
appear to be Scotch or English prove to be Gaelic in disguise.
Here are a few disguised names with their original forms
and true meanings: — Gateside, Gaothach Suidhe, windy
place; The Ladder, An Leitir, the hillside; Ladysford, Ath
Leathan, broad ford; Dicken's Well, Tobar Deochan, well
of drinks; Bull Well, Buaile Bhaile, town at a cattle-
fold; Tom Anthon, Tom an Chona, hill of the cotton grass;
Oily Pig, Uileann Pic, turning at a pointed rock in the sea;
Skirl Naked, Sgeir Naigheachd, rock at which news was
signalled.
Spelling.
The spelling given on the Ordnance Survey maps has
been followed because it is in general use and because many
of the Highland names are not found anywhere but on these
maps, having been first conferred by the officers of the
survey. The spelling is, however, often inaccurate. There
are such errors as Derr for Derry, Fiatach for Fiaclach,
Shenral for Shenval, Beinn a Bhuird for Beinn a' Bhuird,
Ladie's for Lady's, Stonny Burn for Stony Burn. The
word ivitter, meaning a surveyor's mark, has been made The
Witter in a way indicating that it was thought to be the
name of a place. The word Sqreuchaig, on Sheet 98, is not
Gaelic, for the letter q is not in the Gaelic alphabet, and it
is not English otherwise q would have been followed by u.
vi Introduction.
There is a want of uniformity in the spelling of names for
the same objects. On Sheet 105 there are three ways of
spelling a name meaning " hill of kids." It is made Craig
Veann, Creag Mheann, and Craig Meann. In West Aber-
deenshire the names are Gaelic, and they would be under-
stood by Gaelic-speaking people if spelled in the Gaelic way,
and this would make it easy to discover the etymology and
meaning of a name. The names might be spelled phon-
etically, and this would facilitate their pronunciation by
those who do not understand Gaelic. Either way has its
advantage, but some definite plan should be adopted and
adhered to. In the second edition of the maps changes of
spelling have been introduced, some of which are not
improvements. Bunnsach has been made Bunzeach, which
is equally meaningless and introduces z, a letter not in the
Gaelic alphabet. The name means " bottom of a howe,"
and it should have been made either Buniochd as a Gaelic
name, or Buneoch as a Scotch name. Several names are
not appropriate to the objects near which they are placed.
Ca means an unmade hill road for droves of cattle. By some
person ignorant of Gaelic it has been placed on the top of
hills instead of near roads along the side. Ben Uarn was
the phonetic way of spelling Ben Bhearn, meaning " moun-
tain of the gap," and it was appropriate for a mountain
with two tops and a great gap between them. It has been
made Ben Iutharn, mountain of hell, to the perplexity of
those who have a personal knowledge of the mountain.
In East Aberdeenshire the names had been corrupted
almost beyond recognition of their original form, hundreds
of years before the Ordnance Survey was begun, and the
officers of the survey are not responsible for mistakes in
Gaelic names in that part of the country. They must, how-
ever, get the credit of placing on the top of Dunnideer Hill
a residence for the spurious Pictish king Grig, alias Gregory
the Great, alias St Cyrus. They seem not to be aware that
His Majesty the King has a Historiographer who would keep
them right in matters of this sort if consulted. If Grig
really was a king he had been in his grave two hundred years
before the castle of Dunnideer was built. Sheet 19 S.W.
shows " The Bloody Butts of Lendrum," in Turriff, as the
Introduction. vii
site of a conflict between Donald of the Isles and the Thane
of Buchan in the 11th century. In Aberdeen we know some-
thing of Donald, for he was the death of a provost of Aber-
deen at Harlaw in 1411 ; but the Thane of Buchan we never
heard of.
Language.
There are many stone circles round graves in Aberdeen-
shire without traces of metal tools, and there is none on the
great sepulchral circles at Stonehenge. Hence wTe may
infer that these circles were set up before 2000 B.C., when
the use of metal tools began in Britain. The first inhabitants
of the British Isles were called Celts by the Greeks, and we
give the name Celtic to the language which they spoke.
In process of time the language had broken up into six or
seven dialects, differing in the pronunciation and the use
of words. Three of these, called the Gaelic group — spoken
in England, Scotland, and Ireland — closely resembled one
another. The Celtic language is still spoken in some parts
of Scotland. Though it is always called Gaelic the ancient
languages of England and Ireland had an equal right to the
name. The names of places in the three countries had been
given before the language of the Gaelic group began to break
up, and I have used Gaelic to denote the ancient language
of Great Britain and Ireland.
Originally the names of places in Aberdeenshire had all
been Gaelic, and the following coast names show that it was
spoken to the very lip of the sea: — Leak Willie, flat rock
at a bend in the shore line; Dundarg, red high promontory;
Hole an Dirkie, hole leading into a cave; Inverallochy,
mouth of the little burn ; Kirk Lakes, smooth flat rocks near
a church; Craig Ewen, rock frequented by birds; Baby
Gowan, cattle-fold; Boddam, ox house; King's Links, head
of the Links; Nigg, the bay. The names Collyhill, Mor-
mond, Bowl Boad, Delnadamph, Cam a' Mhaim, show
resemblance in form and meaning to the Latin words coUis,
mons, bovile, dama, mamma, and show that Gaelic and
Latin had a common ancestor. Knockespock. hill of the
bishop, and others, show that Gaelic was still spoken when
Christianity was introduced in the twelfth centurv, but there
viii Introduction.
is hardly a trace of its earlier introduction by Columba.
Idlestone, priest's stone or prayer stone, in Kincardineshire,
indicates that prayers had been made at a stone erected at
the grave of a Columban priest.
In East Aberdeenshire there are, of course, many place-
names of Scotch and English origin, and the number is
increasing. Sometimes names of Gaelic origin gave place to
English names because their meaning in Gaelic had been
lost. Coldhome has been abandoned in the mistaken belief
that it meant a cold place. The displacement of Gaelic by
Saxon began in England and the Lothians, and probably
farther north also, immediately after the departure of the
Eomans, but there had been a recurrence to Gaelic when
Scotland north of the Forth became a kingdom. With the
accession of Malcolm Canmore, Gaelic had begun to give
place to English. Probably neither he nor his children spoke
Gaelic. He was brought up in England. His first wife was
a Norwegian, and his second wife, Margaret, was born in
Hungary and brought up in England. The language of the
court in her time had been English, and after her death her
sons were taken to England and probably never learned
Gaelic. A lingering fondness for the ancient language of
the country is shown by place and personal names which
had originally been Gaelic but having been corrupted into
English forms had been retranslated into Gaeli^ with no
resemblance either in meaning or in form to their Gaelic
originals. The personal name Duncan had originally been
Chuitail, cattle-fold, which had been corrupted into White-
hill and subsequently translated into Gaelic by dun, hill,
and can, white. These had coalesced and produced Duncan.
There are also some names which though clearly of Gaelic
origin are not in classical Gaelic form and are probably late.
Aboriginal Population of Scotland.
It is impossible to estimate the date at which Scotland
began to be inhabited. The sculptured stones of the North-
East bear Christian symbols and must be post-Columban.
Some of the sepulchral stone circles have cups for making
meal, which had been formed to propitiate the ghosts of the
Introduction. *x
deceased occupants of the graves in the centre of the circles,
and there are many small cups on the door stone of the circle
at Sunhoney. These cups had been made with metal
chisels. They are probably older than the coming of St
Columba, in 563 a.d., the graves being pagan. But there are
many circles with no marks of metal tools on the stones, and
stone ploughshares are sometimes found in the ground
which bear no traces of metal tools upon them. These carry
us back some hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years before
Christ. The same language was spoken originally in Scot-
land and Ireland, and though the difference between Gaelic
and Irish is not great, it must have taken a very long time
to develop. The aboriginal language of England was also
Gaelic, and many of its place-names are of Gaelic origin.
The examination of the names for etymological purposes
has not brought out the least indication of the Pictish
language which some philologists and etymologists imagine
has left traces of its existence among Gaelic names. A
critical examination has been made of what the ancient
Greek and Eoman writers have put on record regarding the
people of Scotland and their language during the Eoman
occupation of Britain ; and it shows that no historian has
said that there were Picts in Scotland north of the Forth,
or that there were Scots in Ireland. The origin of the
Pictish myth is shown in the Appendix to the Introduction.
Formation of Gaelic Names.
The name of a place may be a simple noun in the
nominative, and the noun may be preceded by the article.
Names may consist of two nouns in apposition and
therefore in the same case. Horse beast, spring well, flesh
meat, might be given as English examples of this construc-
tion, which is not common in Gaelic.
The commonest form of a Gaelic name is a noun in the
nominative followed by another in the genitive qualifying
the first. The qualifying noun is nearly always last, and
it is accented.
In East Aberdeenshire, after the meaning of Gaelic
names had been nearly lost, additions were made to explain
x Introduction.
them. These were very often words almost identical in
meaning with the original name, and they ought to have
been in apposition to the words which they explained. If
the addition was a translation into English of the original
name it agreed with it. Craighill may be given as an
example of this. If the addition was a Gaelic word it might
be in the nominative, but the letter h might be inserted
after the first letter of the addition to show that it qualified
the first part and was in a dependent position. Lamh-bheinn
is an example of this. Both parts mean " hill," and both
are in the nominative, but beinn had been made bheinn to
show that it was supposed to qualify the first.
Much more frequently the second part was turned into
the genitive. This was ungrammatical, and it would not
have been done unless the meaning of the first part had
been lost. Hardweird, for Ard Uird, in Aberdeen, is an
example of this. Ard means hill, and uird means of hill ;
but both parts together mean hill.
When a name is made up of one noun qualified by
another, the second noun may have before it the article.
Sometimes from the meaning and the spelling of the second
noun it can be seen that the article had once preceded it
but had afterwards been omitted.
When a name is made up of three nouns — the second
qualifying the first and the third the second — both the second
and third ought to be in the genitive, but the second is
usually in the nominative.
When a name is a compound noun made up of two
nouns, one in the nominative and the other in the genitive,
the first may be declined, but the second remains in the
genitive always.
Many names are composed of a noun and a qualifying
adjective agreeing with the noun in gender, number, and
case. A few short adjectives usually precede the noun, and
in this case they remain invariably in the nominative form,
but the nouns may be declined. Wliether the adjective
precedes or follows its noun it is always accented, and in a
much corrupted name the position of the accent may help
to indicate the qualifying word, even when it has been
transposed from the end to the beginning of the name.
Introduction. xi
Aspiration.
This is an intricate subject, and the difficulty of under-
standing it is increased by the term being used in two
different senses. With regard to vowels it means that they
are to be sounded while the breath is expelled from the
chest. In Greek, aspiration of an initial vowel is indicated
by the mark (') above the line. In Latin and English it is
shown by prefixing the letter h, which in Gaelic is made Ji-.
The letter li is called the aspirate, and the vowel is said to
be aspirated.
For certain purposes the nine consonants b, c, d, f, g,
m, s, t, cease to have their ordinary normal sound and either
acquire a second sound or become silent. To indicate that
they have undergone this change the letter h is affixed to
them, and they are said to be aspirated, because li is called
the aspirate when prefixed to a vowel. In Irish, aspiration
of a consonant is marked by a dot (■) over the letter. When
a consonant is aspirated no attempt should be made to
sound h in combination with it, for h is not really a letter
but simply a mark like the (•) in Irish.
Bh and mh are both sounded v, which was formerly inter-
changeable with u and w, and modern corrupt forms of old
Gaelic names beginning with any of these three letters may
originally have begun with bh or mh. Hence also in some
modern names m represents a Gaelic b. The burn name
Marno represents the Gaelic word bearna, gap, and Ram-
stone had originally been Clach Eiabhach, grey stone, bh
having become first mh and then m by dropping the
aspirate h.
Ch is sounded h, roughly, with no sound of c, and in
many corrupt forms it is omitted. Hay and Hythie come
from chuith, the aspirated form of cuith, a cattle-fold.
Dh and gh both sound y. In dh the sound of d is not
heard, but g may be faintly heard in gh before a, o, or u.
Modern names beginning with y may have begun with gh
in Gaelic. Clachan Yell was in Gaelic Clachan Glical, white
stones.
Ph is sounded as /, and hence in modern names ph may
be represented by f, as in Blairfowl for Blar Phuill, moor of
the pool.
xii Introduction.
F, having itself the sound of an aspirated letter, cannot
be further aspirated, but h is added to / to show that it is
not to be sounded. Sometimes the h is sounded, but not
often. The name Meenlicht represents Moine Fhliuchach,
wet moor, fh being silent; but in Old Hangy, for Allt Fhaing,
burn of the fank, though / has been lost h has been left.
In sh and th, s and t are silent, but h may be heard.
The use of the second sound of consonants arose from
the fact that while in other languages inflexions of nouns,
adjectives, pronouns, and verbs are made by terminal
changes Gaelic does not admit of many terminal changes,
and some changes are made in the body of words and others
at the beginning. In mor and beag, m and b have their
normal sound, but the genitives of both begin with the sound
of v, and if they had been spelled phonetically they would
have become vor and veg. This would have prevented a
person who saw them from knowing their original initial
letters, which are a great help to find their meaning. To
get over this difficulty m and b were preserved and h was
inserted after them to show that they had their second
sound. This ingenious contrivance enabled people to read
the Gaelic Bible and books with which they were familiar
without the help of dictionaries, which had not been begun
to be compiled a hundred years ago. It has its disad-
vantages, however. A person needs to have a good know-
ledge of Gaelic grammar before he can make much use of
a dictionary. He cannot find words unless he knows their
etymological spelling. It is well for the etymologist of
place-names that he has only to deal with the second sound
of the initial consonants of nouns and adjectives, almost
the only parts of speech which occur in place-names. The
names in East Aberdeenshire are now much corrupted and
they are spelled phonetically, so that there may be a great
difficulty in discovering their original forms.
The following Rules and the Table give the positions and
the circumstances in which the initial consonants of the
nominatives and genitives of nouns and adjectives have the
second sound, if they are capable of being aspirated. The
other cases of nouns and adjectives are hardly found in
names.
Introduction.
Rules for Aspiration.
1. — Proper nouns masculine in the genitive singular, and
common nouns masculine in the genitive plural, are aspi-
rated when preceded by another noun.
2. — Nouns masculine in the genitive singular, and nouns
feminine in the nominative singular, aspirate adjectives
following them.
3. — Masculine nouns of the second declension in the
genitive singular and in the nominative plural aspirate
adjectives following them.
4. — A noun is aspirated if it follows its adjective.
5. — The article aspirates masculine nouns in the geni-
tive singular, and feminine nouns in the nominative singular.
G. — An adjective is aspirated when it follows and qualifies
a noun aspirated by the article.
7. — In a compound name made up of two nouns the
second, if masculine, is aspirated in the genitive singular
and in the nominative and genitive plural. If feminine, it
is aspirated in the nominative singular and in the nominative
and genitive plural.
8. — In a compound name consisting of two adjectives
the second is aspirated in all cases.
9. — In a compound name consisting of a noun and an
adjective the adjective is always aspirated.
Table.
Rule.
Masculine.
Feminine.
Singular. Plural.
Singular.
Plural.
N. G. l N. G.
N. G.
N. G.
1
Noun .
X
X
2
Adj. .
X
X
3
Adj. .
X
X
4
Noun .
X X
X
X
X X
X X
5
Noun .
X
X
(5
Adj. .
X
X
7
Noun .
...
X
X
X
X
X X
8
Adj. .
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
9
Adj. .
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
When a name is made up of two parts the second is some-
times aspirated abnormally if it qualifies the first.
xiv Introduction.
Interchange of Aspirated Letters.
The second sounds of aspirated consonants are softer and
more like vowels than the first, and hence they are liable
to be mistaken for one another. This happened in Gaelic
but oftener when Gaelic passed into English or Scotch.
This was partly because some consonants closely resemble
one another after aspiration, and partly because in English '
and Scotch interchange of aspirated consonants has been
frequent. As already mentioned, bh and mh are both
equivalent to v, and hence in writing the words there was a
risk of using the one combination for the other, and when
the aspirate was dropped of substituting b for m or m
for b.
Dh and gh, being both equivalent to y, were liable to be
interchanged in writing, and hence also / and g, both in
writing and in speaking, after the loss of the aspirate h.
The name Foggymill probably means a mill built of mossy
sods, and the first part had been foideacli, which passing
through the forms foidlieach and foiglieach had become
foigeach and foggy. Gh never has its proper sound in
English. It has become / in laugh and it is silent in
daughter. In Scotch gh has usually the sound of ch , as in
dauchter for daughter. In magh, a maggot under the hide
of cattle, the true sound of gh is heard, but this word is of
local usage.
C is not really heard in ch, and its place has often been
taken by w or qu, and sometimes by p, which with It is
equivalent to /. Hence wh becomes / in some parts of
Scotland, especially in Aberdeenshire. Ch may become dh
or gh, which are equivalent to y, and thus arose clay in
Clayfords and Clay stiles, where it represents clach, a stone.
Ch in Kochford represents gh in ruigh, the side of a hill.
In Scotch th becomes ch in moch for mothj and in chree for
three.
The etymologist must be prepared for finding any
aspirated letter changed into any other aspirated letter, and
as a letter may lose the aspirate any aspirable simple letter
may be changed into any other aspirable letter.
Introduction. xv
Interchange of Liquid Letters.
The liquid letters I, n, r, are often interchanged in the
combinations cl, en, cr, gl, gn, gr. They are all pro-
nounced with the point of the tongue at the back of the
teeth in the lower jaw, and the}- can all be pronounced
without great change on the position of the body of the
tongue. This has given rise to many variants of the same
name. The word cnoc means a hill. In the Highlands it
still retains its original spelling, but in the Lowlands it has
normally become knock. In Gaelic cnoc is generally pro-
nounced crochg, n being changed to r, and final c to chg.
Both these changes are of frequent occurrence in Gaelic.
From crochg we have the personal names Crockart, Croker,
and Crookes, and the place-names Crookmore, Hattoncrook,
and Crookednook. When r is dropped we get Cook Hill and
Cookston. From cnoc, by dropping n, we get Cock, Cock-
law, Cockardy, etc. By change of n to another liquid, I,
we have the forms Clockhill and Cloak, and by further
change of final c to g we get Clog, Cloghill, Clognie, and
Clagan or Claggan. By change of g to d we get Clodhill and
the plant-name Cloudberry. By substitution of g for initial
c we have Gloag, Glog, Goach, Goak, Gookhill, and Gowk-
stone.
Translation of the Gaelic Termination " an " into
Scotch and English.
The termination an added to a Gaelic noun converts it
into its diminutive. In the genitive an becomes ain. The
Scotch diminutive termination is ie or y, and in most Gaelic
names an or ain is represented by ie or y in Scotch names.
Ardan, Logan, Torran, Ouran, have become Ardie, Logie,
Torry, Ury. This had been done by dropping final n and
changing the obscure a into ie or y, because Scotch words
rarely end in a in spelling. In some cases the final a has
become o or och in spelling, but the sound of o is not
distinctly audible in pronunciation. In some words a and
n have been transposed, and then n has been preserved
while a has become ie or y, or sometimes ey, as in Bogan,
Cluan, Cuithan, which have become Bognie, Cluny, Keithny
xvi Introduction.
or Keithney. The letter d is inserted unwarrantably in some
English words after n, as in sound, thunder. This is seen
in the names Brindy, Findy, Lundy or Lundie, which in
their simpler form would have been Briny, Finy, Luny or
Lunie, as representing braonan, finan, lonan. No satisfactory
etymology has been offered for the name Dundee. Prob-
ably the second d is intrusive, and the local pronunciation,
which lays the accent on the first syllable, suggests that
final ee ought to be ie. This would reduce Dundee to Dunie,
which would represent dunan, a little hill — an etymology
appropriate for the place.
After the meaning of Gaelic names had been forgotten
the terminations an, ann, eann, unn, etc., were, on passing
into Scotch, made ie or y though not diminutives. Uileann,
Gamhann, Pouran, Babhunn, have become Willie, Gownie,
Powrie, Baby and Bawbee.
An is also a plural termination and has frequently been
translated into s, the English plural termination. Cairnan,
Leacan, Cnapan, have become Cairns, Lakes, Knaps.
Sometimes s has been added to an instead of being sub-
stituted for it, making it doubly plural, and, as with the
diminutive, some names ending in n preceded by a vowel
have been made to end in s though not plural. Knox (for
cnocs) represents cnocan, a little hill.
Another very late terminal form derived from an is ies.
Bac, peat-moss, became Backies by passing through the
forms bacan and bade. Cort, circle, became Cortes by
passing through cortan and cortie. Paties in Patiesmill
comes from pett, passing through pettan, pettie, and petties.
The termination ies almost always represents a diminutive
ending in an with s improperly added.
Transposition of the Parts of a Name.
Most Gaelic names consist of a noun in the nominative
followed by an adjective or a noun in the possessive. On
passing into Scotch no change was made on the order of the
parts of the name so long as they retained the Gaelic forms;
but if the last part was translated it was often put first to
comply with Scotch and English usage, which puts the
Introduction. xvii
qualifying word first. The translation might be right or
wrong, but a word in the qualifying place in Gaelic was
usually put into the qualifying place in English. The
genitive in Gaelic represents the possessive in English, and
s was frequently added to the first part in the belief that it
must be in the possessive, unless it was evidently an
adjective.
Moine Reidh means level moss, coming from moine,
moss, and reidli, level. When moine was translated the
name became in one place Red Moss, and in another Reid's
Moss. Allt Beag means small burn, coming from allt, burn,
and beag, small. It has now become Beg's Burn. Kings-
crown is accented on the last part, which is an indication
that the order of the parts has not been changed.
The name was originally Cinn Cruinn, round head,
from cinn for ceann, head, and cruinn, round. The
resemblance between cinn and king had led to the
insertion of s to convert the name to the English
form which it now bears, though it is quite inap-
propriate. The history of the common name Lady's
Bridge illustrates some of the processes referred to. The
original form of the name had been Ath Leathan, meaning
broad ford, from ath, ford, and leathan, broad. Ath was
translated and put last, giving Leathanford. An being
erroneously supposed to be the diminutive termination, was
translated into y, giving Leathyford. Th often becomes d
in Scotch, as in ledder for leather, which gives Leadyford.
Dropping e and inserting s gives Ladysford. When a bridge
was erected at the ford it was called Lady's Bridge. Lady's
retains the accent because it represents an adjective, but
King's in names seldom has the accent because it repre-
sents a noun in the nominative.
Tracing the Etymology of Names.
In working out the etymology of names an endeavour
has been made to give the reader every possible help to
ascertain the meaning of a name and the exact form of the
word or words entering into its composition. The name has
been given as on the Ordnance Survey map, but where this
xviii Introduction.
differs much from the original form this also is given. Next
the meaning of the name is given in English. If a name
consists of only one Gaelic word it is given with its correct
spelling in Gaelic, followed by its meaning. If the name
consists of more than one Gaelic word each part with its
meaning is given separately. If a Gaelic word is a noun
not in the nominative, or not in the singular, its case and
number are stated and the nominative singular is given.
If the noun has its initial consonant aspirated the simple
form of the nominative is also stated. If the Gaelic word
is an adjective not in the nominative, or not in the singular
or not masculine, its case, number, and gender are stated,
and the simple form of the nominative singular masculine
is given. The object of this is to enable a student to find in
a Gaelic dictionary the word he is dealing with, so that he
can see for himself all its meanings and cognate words, and
thus be able to judge whether the meaning and etymology
offered are correct.
Dictionaries.
The early Gaelic dictionaries, published in 1825 and 1828,
were based upon the Gaelic translation of the New Testa-
ment, published in 1767, the Gaelic translation of the Old
Testament in four volumes, published 1783-1801, and James
Macpherson's " Ossian," published in Gaelic in 1818. The
dictionaries were supplemented from the personal know-
ledge of their authors; but this, of course, was limited,
and many words escaped their notice. Some of these have
since been gathered up, and there are still many to be
gleaned.
There are words in the common speech of the country
where Gaelic is still spoken which cannot be found in
dictionaries, and still more are found in the place-names.
Some of these may not be found in literary Gaelic and ought
not to be admitted into dictionaries without a distinguishing
mark. In an appendix are given words found in Gaelic
names of places in Aberdeenshire which are not in Macleod
and Dewar's dictionary at all, -or not found with the requisite
meaning. Those of them to which the word Irish is added
are in O'Eeilly's Irish dictionary.
Introduction. xix
Obsolete Customs in Farming.
Many names signifying cattle-folds refer to a long-extinct
practice which was formerly universal in the cultivated parts
of Scotland. From the earliest time at which Scotland had
been inhabited, down to the suppression of the last Jacobite
insurrection, it had been customary for the people of a district
to construct large and substantially walled folds in which
their cattle — their only wealth — were placed at night to
prevent them from being stolen or from straying and de-
stroying growing crops. The fields were not fenced, and the
cattle roamed over a large area of uncultivated pasture-
ground in charge of herdsmen who folded and guarded them
at night. The country began to be divided into parishes
about 1100, and every parish church had become the nucleus
of a hamlet; but in pre-Christian times the cattle-fold was
the most important place in a district, and around it were
clustered the houses of the farmers and the cottages of the
agricultural labourers and the grass men, whose duty it was
to cut grass in the meadows on the burn banks and to make
hay for food for the live stock in winter. There seem to have
been no dwelling-houses scattered over the country as at
present, but all the people had lived at the cattle-fold in
which they were interested. A very large number of cattle-
fold names have been preserved, and when we learn that the
names Gordon, Keith, Hay, Duncan, and many more be-
sides, mean cattle-fold, we need not wonder at finding
different families of these names spread all over Scotland,
since it was the custom in early times to name individuals
from the place where they lived. After the introduction of
the feudal system every proprietor of land had provided one
or more folds for the tenants on his land. Castle Eoy at
Abernethy is a good specimen of an ancient cattle-fold. It
is 83 feet long and 53 feet wide, and the walls are 30 feet
high. x\t two diagonally opposite corners there were towers
for the accommodation of guardsmen, who could have
manned the walls to ward off attacks of thieves. It has
been so long out of use that the purpose for which it had
been erected is now quite forgotten, and it is called a castle
as if it had been a proprietor's residence. The poems titled
xx Introduction.
Helenore, or the Fortunate Shepherdess," and " Douglas,
a Tragedy," tell of fierce barbarians from the west who came
in armed bands and swept the peaceful cultivated vales and
plains of their flocks and herds.
Some of the cattle-folds were constructed of stones fused
together by heat with the aid of salt or seaweed. Such are
the vitrifactions on Craig Phadrig and those on Tap o' Noth,
Dumhdeer, and Finhaven. Most of the structures called
hill forts were cattle-folds. The works on the top of Barra
Hill and Bennachie and the Barmekins of Echt and Keig
and the Peel of Lumphanan were cattle-folds. So also were
some peninsulas along the coast. The still luxuriant grass
on Downie, to the south of the Bay of Nigg, tells that it had
long been a cattle-fold, and the castles at Dunnottar, Peter-
head, and Dundarg had been built to protect cattle-folds.
The names of some inland castles indicate that they had
been erected not only as residences for proprietors but also-
as guardhouses for the folds of the cattle belonging to the
tenants on their estates.
A remark in the diary of James Melvill, the eminent
Scotch reformer, shows that the great cattle-folds were still
in use shortly after the Keformation in 1560. Writing of
the state of the parish churches, he says: — "By the in-
satiable sacrilegious avarice of earls, lords, and gentlemen,
the kirks lie like sheep- and cattle-folds rather than places
for Christian congregations to assemble in." They seem to
have begun to go out of use in the seventeenth century.
This was caused by the increase of cultivated land and a
higher style of farming, which led to the abolition of the
system by which several tenants held a large farm under a
joint lease and worked it in common. The proportion of rent
which each tenant paid and the number of oxen which he
provided for the common plough determined the share which
he received of the produce of the farm and the part which he
had to pay of the wages of the common servants on the
farm. This system came to an end in Scotland after the
disastrous year 1782. Among the Aberdeenshire names
there are more than a hundred different forms for cattle-
folds, and there are also English cattle-fold names of the
same origin and meaning as the Scotch, which helps to prove
Introduction . xxi
that the ancient people of Scotland and England spoke the
same Celtic language.
Shiels and Shielings.
Many names refer to a now extinct custom of migrating
in summer to distant hills and glens with the whole live
stock of a farm, except work oxen and a few milk cows.
Summer pastures are indicated by names beginning with
airie, airy, arric, hairy, liar, hare, harrow, earl, and early.
These are corruptions of the Gaelic word airidh meaning a
shiel or temporary summer residence for persons in charge
of cattle at summer pasture, and it means also the pasture
itself, which is called a shieling. When there were milk
cows among the cattle, mothers of families with their
children and servants went to the shieling to milk the cows
and make butter and cheese. If the shieling was not fai
away the cream was carried home in a jar slung on a
woman's back, but if it was at a great distance all the dairy
work had to be done at the shiels. The shiels were huts
built with mossy sods, and as cows from several farms went
to the same shieling there was usually a group of huts in
one place, forming a solitary hamlet. The shiels required
repairs annually before the summer migration, and this led
to the construction of permanent underground houses to
serve as residences and dairies. On the Ordnance Survey
maps these places are called Earth Houses or Erd Houses.
They could be constructed only where there were long ice-
trailed stones to form the roof. The houses had been formed
by digging a deep trench in the ground. The trench, which
was sometimes straight and sometimes curved, was lined
with substantial stone walls at the sides and ends and covered
with long stones left on the surface of the ground by the
ice-sheet of the glacial epoch. The length of the stones
determined the width of the house ; but the walls could be
slightly inclined inwards, so that the houses were wider at
the floor than at the roof. Above the roof-stones was laid a
tbick coat of earth covered with turf, and when the hole in
the roof which served as a door was covered with turf there
was no outward indication of the house underground. Such
xxii Introduction.
houses are of various dimensions but a common size is six
to eight feet wide, six feet high, and twenty feet or upwards
in length. In some houses there is a low-roofed chamber
entered by a square hole in the side, three or four feet up
from the floor. The chamber might have been used for
holding dairy produce or as a sleeping-place. There is
seldom a hole in the inner end of a house to let out smoke,
and perhaps the underground houses had been chiefly used
as dairies. In holes in the walls, or on the floor, or in places
in the immediate neighbourhood of the houses, various
stone articles have been found which give a clue to the time
when they were in use. Stuck into the wall of one was
found a small slab with a cup-like hollow on one side. This
had been filled with dry grain, which had been pounded with
a pestle and made into meal. Such cups are found on rocks
and on the underside of the covers of stone-lined graves.
Some are seen on one of the stones of megalithic circles
round graves, cists, and urns. Whorls, three or four ounces
in weight, found at underground houses, would have been
usef ul in keeping tight a few threads each in a simple upright
loom, or in spinning yarn without a wheel.
Near the sites of shiels and underground houses have been
found many stone balls with knobs and grooves upon them.
Probably a ball had been attached to a rope by thongs of
cowhide let into the grooves, and the rope and ball had
been used to catch domestic animals which would not allow
a person to get hold of them. In sketches of carvings and
paintings on Egyptian tombs showing rural scenes we see
this use of a rope and a ball. In breaking up virgin pasture
in Argentina single balls are found with a groove round
them for a cord by which they had been thrown at guanacos
by Peruvian Indians long ago. They had struck animals
and had coiled round them but had not brought them to
the ground, and they had been carried off too far to be
recovered.
Kude stone ladles have also been found near the under-
ground houses. These and ail the other finds indicate that
the system of summer migration to distant hill pastures
must have been followed for a very long time. It has been
unknown in the lowland part of Aberdeenshire for more than
Introduction. XXU1
-a hundred years, but in the Highlands old shiels were to be
seen about 1850.
The Picts and Scots.
The language to which the ancient place-names of
Northern Scotland belong is Gaelic, one of the modern
representatives of the Celtic language which the natives of
the British Isles spoke when Julius Caesar came amongst
them, 55 b.c Other Celtic languages developed from a
common ancestor with Gaelic are Irish, Manx, Welsh, and
Cornish. Some philologists have imagined that there was
in Scotland during the Koman occupation another language
called Pictish. They think that at that time the Scots
•occupied Ireland and the Picts Scotland, and that the Picts
in the eastern slope of Scotland north of the Forth were
supplanted by Scots from Ireland. This leads them to
think that there may yet remain in the ancient place-names
of that part of Scotland some traces of an extinct Pictish
language. The names of places in Aberdeenshire give no
support to this idea; and a critical examination of ancient
Greek and Roman writers shows that it is useless to look
for Pictish words among Gaelic place-names. No Greek or
Roman historian says that there were Scots in Ireland or
Picts in the North-East of Scotland.
Skene has discussed this subject in " Celtic Scotland,"
and in the Introduction he blames preceding historians for
not using discrimination in regard to the relative values of
the statements of ancient authors on the subject. The
same complaint has to be made against Skene himself.
If he had examined critically the writings of Greek and
Roman authors who have treated of ancient Britain and its
inhabitants he would have seen that some of them wrote
history and some of them panegyrics. What the historians
say seems to be true and impartial, but what the panegyrists
say is palpably inaccurate and exaggerated.
The historians say that when the Romans came to
Britain they were informed by the inhabitants that they
were of the same race as the aborigines of the country, with
the exception of the coast population, who had come over
xxiv Introduction.
from Belgium. The inhabitants tattooed their bodies with
woad and might therefore have been called Picti or coloured
people ; but this term is not given to any of them till after
a period of more than four hundred years, and then only to
the people north of the Tyne and south of the firths of the
Forth and the Clyde.
In the first century after Christ, Augustus, before he
became emperor, visited Britain and carried some of the
inhabitants captives to Borne to grace his triumphal entry
into the city ; and the citizens had then and subsequently
seen the strangely ornamented faces of the Britons. To-
wards the end of this century the Bomans invaded Scotland.
The country on the eastern slope and north of the Forth
was at that time called Caledonia and its inhabitants
Caledonian Britons.
In the second century Ptolemy made tables of latitudes
and longitudes, from which rude maps could be constructed,
but as the Bomans had not then gone beyond the Gram-
pians Ptolemy had no knowledge of the North of Scotland.
His positions of places are seriously in fault, and the names
which he gives to many of them are fictitious. None of
them have any meaning in Gaelic. One has z in it, the
sound of which is not in the Gaelic language.
In this century the part of England conquered by the
Bomans was erected into a province and a row of great
camps was constructed on the north side of the Tyne to
protect it. The camps were connected by a great stone
wall, apparently a later construction than the camps. An
attempt was made to conquer the South of Scotland, and
to keep out the Caledonians another line of forts with a
wall was made from the Firth of Forth to the Firth of
Clyde. Tattooing the face and body had probably been put
down within the Boman province as being a sign of defiance,
but it continued to be practised in Scotland.
In the beginning of the third century the Britons be-
tween the two walls were called Maeatae, while those to
the north of the Scotch wall continued to be called Cale-
donians. Both peoples were regarded by the historians as
of the same race, and they acted in concert against the
Bomans. They both tattooed themselves with instruments
Introduction. xxv
made of iron or steel. These they had got from the
Romans, who got steel from Noricum for making swords,
surgical instruments, cutting and puncturing tools. The
inhabitants of Noricum used charcoal in smelting iron and
thus produced steel without knowing how it was done.
In this century the Romans advanced beyond the
Grampians and constructed a fort at Burghead on the
Moray Firth, evidently with the intention of making a
permanent settlement there; but the death of Severus in
211 caused them to relinquish all their settlements in
Scotland, and for a hundred and fifty years the pages of the
history of Scotland are blank.
We next hear of Scotland after the middle of the fourth
century. The historians have dropped the names Cale-
donians and Maeatae, and the aggressors of Rornan Britain
are called Scots and Picts. They are said to have been
making incessant plundering incursions into the places near
the English wall and to have kept the Romanised Britons
in constant terror. When the authentic credible history of
Scotland begins (about 889) we find the people of the dis-
trict formerly called Caledonia now termed Scots, and we
may therefore conclude that Scots is a new name for the
Caledonians, and Picts for the Maeatae. In what way or
for what purpose the Romans distinguished the Scots from
the Picts we are not told. It might have been by their
clothing, the style of tattooing, the method of making
attacks — whether by land or by sea — and what they carried
away with them. A few years ago a bit of red glass with a
faun carved upon it was found in a small sepulchral cist
under a cairn at Monquhitter. The engraving was beauti-
fully done and the bit of glass had been set in a signet ring.
Though it might have been got by purchase more likely it
had been taken in a plundering expedition into the north
of England.
The Scots and Picts are not represented as being dis-
tant transmarine nations but as the near neighbours of the
provincial Britons. Skene, however, says the Scots came
over from Irerand when making their incursions. No-
historian says this and the statement is most improbable.
The might of the Roman empire began to wane and
^xvi Introduction.
soldiers were called in from the frontiers to defend the home
country against attacks of barbarians. A find of gold coins
at Corbridge on the Tyne in 1908 indicates that before the
end of the fourth century the garrisons on the Eoman Wall
had been withdrawn and transferred to the towns. In 410
the Eoman authority in Britain came to an end, and nothing
written after that date concerning Eoman Britain is of any
historical importance, for it can only be a restatement of
what had been written before the Eomans departed.
Let us now see what the panegyrists say. There are
two of them, Claudian and Eumenius. Claudian was a
poet, who wrote 397-400. In recounting the great deeds of
the illustrious general Theodosius he says his hero pitched
his camp among the snows of Caledonia, watered the Ork-
neys with Saxon blood, warmed Thule with the blood of the
Picts, and made Ireland weep over heaps of slain Scots. He
couples places and peoples so as to produce a pleasant
jingle and to satisfy the metre of his lines, without regard to
historical or geographical accuracy.
In " The Praises of Stilicho " he represents Britannia as
telling what he had done for her. He had freed her from
the terror of three enemies — the Scots, who inhabited all
Ireland and came over the sea against her, the Picts, and
the Saxons, who made attacks along the whole coast — that
is of the North Sea. She says nothing of the Picts but
merely gives their name, and we presume that Claudian
left it to be understood that they were the inhabitants of the
country north of Hadrian's Wall and made their attacks
by land.
The other panegyrist is Eumenius, a prose writer who
wrote about 310. In 297 Constantius Chlorus, who had
been created Caesar, recovered Britain which had been lost
to the Eoman empire by a revolt. For this he was lauded in
a panegyric by Eumenius, who says that before Caesar's
arrival among them the Britons had no more formidable
enemies than the Picts and Hibernians, whom they con-
quered, but he soon made them yield to the Eoman power.
But the most important passage in Eumenius as far as
regards Scotland is in his panegyric upon Constantine, in
which he says that he is not going to mention the dangers
Introduction. xxvii
Constantine underwent in the woods and marshes of the
Caledonians and other Picts. This is identifying the Cale-
donians not with the Scots but with the Picts. It may be
noted that the historians do not mention the Caledonians or
Caledonia after the death of Severus in 211, and that the
two panegyrists alone mention them.
As Claudian is the only authority for putting the Scots in
Ireland so Eumenius is the only authority for putting Picts
in Caledonia.
Following the panegyrists has had a malign influence on
the history of Scotland. It made Bede (673-735) in his
ecclesiastical history go out of Scotland for the original home
of the Scots. Not quite satisfied with Claudian's early seat
for them in Ireland, he made Scythia their primal home
and said they were only sojourners in Ireland. It also
deceived the writer of the life of St Columba and made
him say that the Scots came from Scotia — meaning Ireland
— into Britain. But the biographer of St Columba could
not have been Adamnan, for he was contemporary with
persons who knew Columba, and he would have known
something of his great enterprise, which the biographer
seems not to have done. The " Life of St Columba " was
probably written a long time after his death. Following the
panegyrists also gave rise to the compilation of spurious
lists of kings of the Picts and Scots in the tenth and eleventh
centuries. One of these goes back to Noah ; another, less
ambitious, goes no further back than the departure of the
Romans from Britain ; and a third, keeping better within
the bounds of moderation, begins with Kenneth Mac Alpine;
but even his date is too early, for the four succeeding kings
in the list are still called kings of the fictitious Picts.
None of the chronicles of the Picts and Scots makes a
good job of transforming the Picts into the Scots. In
" Celtic Scotland " the curtain falls on the Picts in 877,
when Constantine, king of the Picts, is reported to have
fallen in a battle between the Danes and the Scots !
Following the historians we identify the Caledonians with
the aboriginal Britons and the Scots with the Caledonians.
We restrict the Picts to the area between the two walls and
are thus quit of the insuperable difficulty of accounting for
xxviii Introduction.
the suppression of the Picts and their language in Scotland
north of the Forth.
The sum of the matter is that the Pictish story is a myth,
and that traces of the Pictish language need not be looked
for in the Celtic place-names of Aberdeenshire.
APPENDIX.
The Pictish Question.
The question is — " Was there in the east of Scotland
north of the Firth of Forth, within the period of the Pioman
occupation of Britain, a people called Picts different in race
and language from the Britons whom Caesar found in the
country in his two expeditions to Britain in 55 and 54 B.C. ? "
In discussing the question of the Picts and their language
it is necessary to attend to three things — (1) What the
ancient writers meant by the term Picti or Picts ; (2) what
they have told us about the Picts ; (3) what they have said
about the Caledonians and Scots, who are usually asso-
ciated with the Picts.
We need take notice only of what was written before the
departure of the Piomans from Britain in 410. Nothing in
late Roman authors or in Gildas, Bede, Nennius, Adamnan,
the Chronicles of the Picts and Scots, or modern historians
is of any importance in this question. It can only be a re-
statement of what had already been written, or the writers'
inferences from what they had found in early books. We
must also use some discrimination in trusting to the ancient
writers. Some of them wrote history meant to instruct
posterity, others wrote poetry meant to please and interest
their readers, and some wrote panegyrics intended to gain
the favour of the persons whom they belauded.
Caesar (54 B.C.) sa3rs that the Britons coloured their
bodies with woad, and Ovid (a.d. 9) speaks of the green or
blue coloured Britons ; but it is hard to decide whether they
meant to say that they stained their whole bodies or
tattooed upon them figures of animals and designs. Caesar
says their object was to give them a terrific appearance in
war. Herodian (238) distinctly says that the Britons
tattooed their bodies with figures of animals with an iron
instrument, and that it was done as an ornament. Mackay
(" Ency. Brit.") says Dion Cassius makes this statement,
which is a mistake. Jornandes (552) says the Britons made
xxx Appendix.
designs on their bodies by means of an iron instrument ; and
Isodorus (600) makes the ridiculous statement that the
Scots got their name from the practice of tattooing them-
selves. Both the two last writers are too late to be con-
sidered as authorities, but Isodorus evidently thought that
the name of a tribe had originated in the practice of
tattooing. It might be inferred from Virgil (" Georg." III.
24, 25) that he had seen in a triumphal procession in Rome
captive Britons with tattooed or stained bodies, carrying
sheets embroidered with a representation of a battle between
them and the Romans. It is clear that there had been
something very striking in the appearance of the barbarous
Britons.
It seems likely that the ancient Britanni had tattooed
their bodies with designs and figures of animals for the pur-
pose of indicating to one another the tribes to which they
belonged, and that tattooing, being a mark of barbarism
and hostility to the conquerors, had been put down within
the Roman province, though it continued to be practised
north of the Roman Wall in England. Picti had primarily
meant tattooed and had afterwards been applied first as an
epithet and secondly as a tribal name for those beyond the
wall, either to distinguish them from the Romanised Britons
or from other Britanni who did not tattoo themselves.
Caesar informs us that the natives of Britain believed
that they were the aborigines of the island, and that they
were all of the same race (and spoke the same language),
except the coast population on the south-east, who had
come over from Belgium. These statements are not con-
tradicted by any subsequent reliable historian. Though.
Tacitus says that after Caesar's second expedition the
Romans forgot or ignored Britain till the reign of Claudius,
both Dion Cassius and Servius state that Augustus made an
expedition into Britain. This is supposed to have been
in 27 B.C. From Virgil and Horace it would seem that on
his return to Rome he had obtained a triumph (" Archaeo-
logia," Vol. XLIV., pp. 65-92). The emperor Claudius
sent an expedition to Britain (a.d. 43), and in seven years
England was subdued as far north as the Humber and
formed into a province, within which tattooing had not
Appendix. xxxi
been allowed. In 65 Lucan mentions the Caledonians for
the first time, but they are not spoken of as a different race
from the Britons of the south. He calls them Caledonian
Britons.
The emperor Vespasian in 78 sent to Britain Agricola as
governor of the province. His life was written by his son-
in-law, Tacitus, who, however, was never in Britain and
shows great ignorance of its early history and geography.
He is not to be relied upon except in his account of Agricola's
campaigns. One thing which he makes clear is that the
Caledonians dwelt on the north side of the Forth, but his
remarks are so indefinite that Ptolemy placed them on the
west side of the Moray Firth. In the year 80 Agricola
entered Scotland, and having conquered new tribes he
secured his conquests by a line of forts on the isthmus
between the Forth and the Clyde. In 86 after three cam-
paigns between the Forth and the Tay in which he did
not cross the Grampians, Agricola fought a battle with the
Britons at a place which Tacitus calls Mons Grampius.
The Britons were defeated and withdrew to the north.
Tacitus gives a minute account of the battle and a verbatim
report of the speech of Galgacus, the commander of the
Britons. The account which Tacitus gives of the battle
must be fictitious and it damages his character as a trust-
worthy historian.
Tacitus says that the language of the Britons did not
differ much from that of the Gauls. On this subject the
opinion of Tacitus is of no value. Agricola was recalled by
Domitian, and after 86 the Roman authority ceased at the
line of forts.
In 120 Hadrian began the construction of a vast forti-
fication between the Tyne and the Solway for the protection
of the province. It consisted of a series of great camps
connected by a wall and a ditch. Apparently the camps
had been constructed and finished before the wall and the
ditch were begun to be made.
In 139 a wall made of earth faced with grassy sods laid
upside down was made between the Forth and the Clyde,
probably on the line of Agricola's forts. The wall had not
been so strong as the English wall, but the forts along it
xxxii Appendix.
were more numerous. A great trench protected it on the
north side. The Koman authority was established between
the two walls and the extended province was afterwards
divided into two governments.
Ptolemy, a Greek geographer who flourished about 150,
constructed lines of longitude and latitude for maps and
gave the positions of places. By connecting these positions
rude maps of countries could be formed. He gave a table of
places for Scotland, but as the Eomans in his time had not
gone beyond the Grampians a map formed by joining the
positions of the places has no resemblance to the North of
Scotland. Moreover, the names of the places are mani-
festly fictitious.
In the first .year of the third century, as Xiphiline the
epitomist of Dion Cassius informs us, the Caledonians and
the Maeatae became aggressive against the Eomans. The
only information given regarding the Maeatae is that they
lived near the Scotch wall, probably on both sides because
having been made on the narrowest and lowest part of the
isthmus it had not likely been on the boundary line
between two tribes. Xiphiline is the only early historian
who mentions the Maeatae, and we do not know how far
south their territory extended. They were an amalgamation
of several tribes, and probably the name Maeatae compre-
hended all the inhabitants between the two walls and
also those between the north wall and the hills north
of the Forth. Severus, hearing of the insurrection,
advanced into Caledonia and held on till he reached
almost the extremity of the island. Eecent explorations at
Burghead on the Moray Firth discovered a Boman fort,
evidently intended to be permanently held. On his return
he exacted from the Britons a considerable part of their
territory, and having completed or restored the earthen
wall he withdrew to England. Seme parts of the trench
on the north side of the wall show that it had ultimately
been abandoned before being completed. The Caledonians
joined the Maeatae in another revolt and Severus prepared
to go against them, but he died at York (211) before he
could set out.
Herodian, who wrote about 238, also records Severus's
Appendix. xxxiii
expedition into Scotland. He says Severus was glad on
hearing of the insurrection because he hoped to gain a
trophy from a successful expedition into Britain. He tells
us that the Britons punctured their bodies with pictured
forms of every sort of animals, and wore no clothing because
they wished these to be seen. He mentions this in his
account of the people whom Severus was going to attack,
and afterwards he says that he passed beyond the rivers
and fortresses which defended the Roman territory. Hence
it may be inferred that tattooing was practised by the
Britons already known to the Romans, whether also by the
remote Caledonians or not. The aquatic habits described by
Herodian would have been particularly appropriate to
dwellers by the Solway Firth, and in a less degree to those
on the estuaries of the Forth and Clyde, but not at all to
the people of Scotland generally.
After the death of Severus his son Caracalla made peace
with the Britons and withdrew from Scotland, and then the
northern wall and its forts had been abandoned. From 211
till 380 Scotland and its peoples are not mentioned by his-
torians, and when they are again introduced we find that
the Caledonians and Maeatae have disappeared and that
the Scots and Picts have taken their place. These were
possibly the same peoples under new names for they be-
haved in the same way — attacking the Romanised Britons
south of Hadrian's wall.
Ammianus, a trustworthy authority, writing about 380
says that ten times in the reign of Constantius (353-361)
and three times in the reign of Julian (361-363) incursions
of fierce Scots and Picts laid waste places near the boundary
and kept in terror the people harassed by attacks and de-
feats. This implies that there had been previous inroads
and plunderings and shows that the garrisons on the wall
had not been maintained in full strength. In the single year
of Jovian 's reign (363-364) the attacks of the Scots and Picts
continued and a new enemy, the Saxons, came over from
the Continent. The Attacotti also are mentioned among the
invaders but nothing is told of them. Neither do we learn
anything definite regarding the Picts when Ammianus tells
us that thev comprehended two nations, the Dicalidones
xxxiv Appendix.
and the Vecturiones. If Dicalidones suggests that they were
the Caledonians on the other hand what Herodian says of
tattooing applies better to the Maeatae than to the Cale-
donians and suggests that they were the Picts.
Of the Scots' place of residence Ammianus tells us no-
thing, but they did not live near the wall. About 889, when
the later history of Scotland begins to be genuine, we find
that the region north of the Forth, formerly occupied by
Caledonians, was then occupied by Scots, and it is safer to
infer that they were the representatives of the Caledonians
rather than of the Picts.
The incursions of the Picts and Scots continued during
the reign of Valentinian (364-375), and he sent Theodosius
to assist the Britons against these cannibals. To prevent
the incursions he restored the camps along the wall of
Hadrian and placed guards and outposts along the Scotch
wall. These precautions indicate that the aggressive parties
came from the country between the two walls and on the
north of the Scotch wall. The area between the two walls
was made a province with the name Valentia, conferred
in honour of the reigning emperor Valentinian.
During the reign of Valentinian 's successor Gratian (375-
383), one of Theodosius's generals, Maximus, excited the
army in Britain to revolt and got himself proclaimed
emperor (383). It is recorded of him by Prosper Aquitanus
that he vigorously restrained the incursions of the Picts and
Scots. Prosper wrote after the Eomans abandoned Britain
but his chronicle may be accepted as reliable, because it
was written at Borne in the year 431, where he might have
met with persons who had been in Britain before the de-
parture. Gratian had to go to the Continent to maintain
his position as emperor, and he took away with him the
army which guarded the wall. A find of gold coins at Cor-
bridge in 1908 indicates that the army did not guard the
wall after 384, and as a consequence the incursions of the
Picts and Scots were renewed, the country having been
drained of its young men as well as its defensive army.
The incursions continued till 396 when Stilicho was ap-
pointed guardian of the State for the emperor Honorius,
who was but twelve years old. Stilicho went to Britain,
Appendix. xxxv
taking with him a legion, which repelled the invaders and
garrisoned the north wall. The Britons had a quiet time
till 403, when Stilicho had to withdraw the legion for the
urgent service of the empire. Then the barbarians of the
north renewed their attacks but nothing could be done for
the Britons. In 409 they were informed by Honorius that
they must defend themselves, but still the Roman authority
was maintained. In 410 the Roman rule in Britain entirely
ceased, and from that time till the advent of Columba in
563 the history of the North of Scotland is enveloped in
impenetrable darkness.
In what has been related there is no indication that the
part of Scotland north of the Forth was ever occupied by a
people called Picts. It seems rather that the Picts occupied
the country between the two walls and that the Scots intro-
duced to our notice by Ammianus in 380 were the descend-
ants of the Caledonian Britons who occupied Scotland north
of the Forth in the time of Agricola and the ancestors of the
Scots who occupied it in the ninth century.
We have still to consider what is said by Eumenius and
Claudian, two panegyrists who mention Britain. Eumenius
was a prose author who flourished about 300. He wrote a
panegyric in praise of Constantius Chlorus — styled Caesar —
for recovering Britain to the Boman empire in 297. For
seven years it had been separated, having been held by
usurping emperors. In his panegyric he begins by referring
to Julius Caesar and says that till he came the Britons had
no more formidable enemies to contend against than the
Picti and Hiberni. By Picti he must mean stained or tat-
tooed people, for no historian had at that time called any
race or tribe by that name. He also says that Caesar wrote
home that Britain was so large that it rather comprehended
the ocean than was surrounded by it. All these statements
are manifestly inventions of the panegyrist. In another
panegyric on the emperor Constantine the Great, son of
Constantius Chlorus, he introduces the emperor's father
and says he is not to mention what he did in Hibernia, nor
Thule, nor the Fortunate Isles, nor the woods and marshes
of the Caledonians and other Picts. Here again Picti must
mean painted or coloured people, for in 310, the date ascribed
xxxvi Appendix.
to the panegyric, the Picts were still unknown to the his-
torians. As Eumenius does not tell us anything about these
brave deeds of Constantius and no historian mentions them
we must remain for ever ignorant of them. It is, however,
of importance to note that the Pictish myth has no other
foundation to rest upon than Eumenius's phrase " The
Caledonians and other Picts." It is known that the Cale-
donians lived on the north of the Forth, and if they were
Picts then there were Picts north of the Forth; but there
is no evidence that Constantius was ever in Scotland.
Eumenius does not even say that he was though he wished
to produce the belief that he had been.
The other panegyrist is the poet Claudian, who flourished
about 400. In sounding the praises of the Roman general
Theodosius, who, according to Ammianus, repelled the Picts
and Scots (368, 369), he says Theodosius tamed the Picts,
whose appearance justified their name, and in chasing the
wandering Scots sailed over the Hyperborean seas. In
another passage he says that Theodosius pitched his camp
among the snows of Caledonia, watered the Orcades with
Saxon blood, caused Thule to grow warm with the blood of
the Picts and made icy Ireland weep over heaps of slain
Scots. He takes a poet's licence and couples peoples and
places so as to give a pleasant jingle and satisfy the metre
of his lines, but he pays no regard to geographical accuracy.
It is incredible that Theodosius was ever in Thule, Orkney,
or Ireland. No Eoman soldier ever set a foot in any of
these places. Yet there is no other contemporary authority
than Claudian for asserting that in the time of the Roman
occupation Ireland was the home of the Scots. In a pane-
gyric on Stilicho, who in 396 repelled the Picts and Scots,
he represents Britannia as telling what Stilicho had done
for her. He came to Britain, she said, and led his legion
against the most remote Britons. It bridled the cruel Scot
and the tattooed Picts, so that she no longer feared the Scot
nor the Pict and the Saxon came not to her shores. Instead
of going to the extremity of Britain Stilicho probably con-
tented himself with freeing of its invaders the part of
England south of the Roman wall, and at the most did not
go beyond the Scotch wall.
Appendix. xxxvii
Rejecting as unhistorical the unsupported absurd state-
ments of the panegyrists and following the contemporary
Greek and Roman historians we may with confidence con-
clude that ancient Britain was peopled by a Celtic race all
speaking the same language ; that the Scots were identical
with the Caledonians of the north of Scotland; and that the
Picts were the tattooed inhabitants of the south. No writer
living within the period of the Roman occupation of Britain
said that the languages spoken by the Picts and Scots were
different from that of the Britons. But Bede (673-735),
writing four hundred .years after the departure of the
Romans from Britain, says that in his time five nations —
the Angles, Britons, Scots, Picts, and Latins — each, in its
own language studied the doctrines of Christianity, and that
from its use in religious worship Latin was known by all.
This baseless statement, incredible now, was long accepted
as true, and during the next four hundred years much
fictitious Scotch history was written. The Pictish myth had,
however, dissipated before the death of Henry of Hunt-
ingdon about 1154. Nobody in his time, he says, knew
anything about the Picts.
CELTIC PLACE-NAMES
IN ABERDEENSHIRE.
A' Chailleach. The old woman. A', the; chailleach,
cailleach asp., old woman. This is the name of a stone
supposed to be like an old woman.
A' Chioch. The pap. A', the; chioch, cioch asp., pap.
Aad Braes. Aod, brae. Perhaps aad had originally
been aodan, plural of aod, and an had become s, which had
been added to brae.
Abbey. In Gaelic Abaid, Abbey.
Abbotshaugh. Haugh once belonging to the abbot of
Deer.
Aberarder. Infall of a hill-land burn. Aber, infall;
ard, hill ; tir, land.
Aberdeen. Infall of the Den burn. Aber, infall; Dein,
burn of the valley on the west of the city. The Den burn
joined the Dee at Point Law before its course was altered
by man. It was the harbour of the ancient town, and ships
came up to the end of Market Street. Den is treated in
Scotch names as if it had been a Gaelic word, and, if so, its
nom. would have been dein, pronounced den. The form
Aberdeen is quite recent.
Aberdon. This was the name for Old Aberdeen prior to
the suppression of the Catholic form of religion in 1560.
Aber, infall; Don, river name. See Don.
Aberdour. Infall of the burn. Aber, infall; dobhair,
gen. of dobhar, water.
Abergairn. Infall of the Gairn into the Dee. Aber,
infall of a river into another or into the sea. See Gairn.
Abergeldie. Infall of the Geldie into the Dee. Aberf
infall. See Geldie.
Abersnithock. Infall of the small burn into the Don.
Aber, infall; nithaig, gen. of nithag, dim. of nith, burn.
S is a euphonic insertion. The little burn is now the Burn
of Blairdaff. See " Collections," p. 585.
Aboyne. Water. Abhainn, river, water.
Achadh na Creige. Field of the hill. Achadh, field;
na, of the; creige, gen. of creag, rock, steep place, hill.
Achath. Field near a stream or a ford. Achadh, cul-
tivated land; ath, stream, ford.
2 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Achorach Burn. Burn of the place where sheep were
pastured. Achadh, place; chaorach, gen. plural of caora,
a sheep. Initial A might represent ath, ford.
Achquath. Place near a main highway. Achadh,
place; chath, cath asp., road.
Achronie (for Achadh Bonnach). Place of oozing water.
Achadh, place; ronnach, dripping.
Acrestripe. Streamlet from high ground. Ard-thir,
high land. Ard, high; thir, tir asp., ground; stripe, small
streamlet on a hillside.
Adam's Bock, Adam's Tack, Adam's Well, Adamston.
The first part of these names represents aodann, brae.
Aden (old forms — Alneden, Aldene, Alden). Probably
7, was inserted to show that initial a was long. Aden may
represent aodann, brae.
Adziel. White brae. Aod, brae; geal, white. Geal is
probably a translation into Gaelic of the word white, a cor-
ruption of chuit, cuit asp., cattle-fold.
Affleck. Place of the stone. Achadh, place ; leac, stone.
Ch and dh in achadh had both become ph, equivalent to /.
Affloch. Wet place. Achadh, field, place; fliuch, wet,
oozy.
Afforsk. Place of crossing. Achadh, place; chraisg,
gen. asp. of crasg, crossing.
Aghaidh Garbh. Bough field. Achadh, field; garbh,
rough.
Aikenhead (Cuid Aighean). Pumphal for heifers. Guid,
fold; aighean, gen. plural of aighe, heifer. Cuid had been
aspirated and put last. Chuid lost c and became head.
Aikenshill. Hill where heifers grazed. Aighean. gen.
plural of aighe, heifer, hind.
Aiky Brae. It is a mistake to give this name to a
market stance in the belief that it was formerly covered
with oak trees. The original Aiky Fair was held in the
village of Old Deer, and it may have taken its name from
men wearing in their coat an oak leaf with a gall on it, to
show loyalty to Charles II.
Air, Airlie. Shieling. Airidh, shieling.
Airdlin. Level place on a hill. Lean, level place: aird,
gen. of ard, hill. The parts of the name had been
transposed.
Airyhillock. Shieling hillock. Airidh, shiel. This
place is near an ancient cattle-fold on the hill of Barra, and
it might have been the residence of dairywomen.
Aisirbharr Stripe. Streamlet from the point of a hill.
Barr, point, top; aisre, gen. of aisir, hill. Barr had been
asp. when the parts of the name were transposed.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 3
Aisle, The. An addition to the side of a church. Ala
{ Latin), wing. The name is also given to a chapel con-
taining a tomb.
Aitionn Hill. Juniper hill. Aitionn, etnach, juniper.
Aldachuie. Burn of the cattle-fold. Allt, burn; a', of
the; chuith (th silent), gen. asp. of cuith, fold.
Aldamh. Burn of oxen. Allt, burn; damh, gen. plural
of damh, ox.
Aldararie. Same as Allt Darrarie.
Aldie. Small burn. Alltan, small burn.
Aldvaid. Burn of the wood. Allt, burn; bhaid, gen.
asp. of bad, bush. This name is in old maps on the Cairn-
well road.
Alehousewells. Wells at an alehouse. But wells
may be a corruption of bhaile, baile asp., town. Bh is
equivalent to u, v, or w, and bhaile has sometimes become
well, and sometimes wells.
Alford (for Ath All). Ford of the river. Ath, ford;
■all, river. The parts of the name had been transposed
when ath was translated.
Allach. Water, burn.
Allach Bridge. Bridge over Tarland burn.
Allachaller. Burn of the hill of the shieling. Allach,
burn; al, hill; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling.
Allachan. Small burn. It is the dim. of allach, burn.
It occurs in names as allachie, allachy, allochie, ellachie,
ellachy, allathan, with the meanings of river and small
stream.
Allachfern. Burn of the alder. Allach, burn, stream;
fearna, gen. of fearna, alder.
ALLAcnROWAN (for Allach Chaorruinn). Burn of the
rowan. Allach, burn; chaoruinn, gen. asp. of caorunn,
rowan. This part of the name had been translated, while
the first part remained a Gaelic word.
Allachy. Little burn. Allachan, little burn.
Allalees (for Allach na Lise). Burn of the cattle-fold.
Allach, burn; na, of the; lise, gen. of lios, cattle-fold, small
round enclosure of any sort. See Allach. The cattle-fold
is between two branches of a burn.
Allalogie. Burn of the little howe. Allach, water;
lagain, gen. of lagan, little hollow. See Allach.
Allamuc Burn of the boar. All, burn; a', of the;
muic, gen. of muc, boar.
Allan. Stream. Allan is not in Gaelic dictionaries,
but its meaning is obvious from the names Allanaquoich,
Allanmore, Water of Allan, Bridge of Allan, Clay of Allan.
4 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Allan aquoich (for Allan na Cuaiche). Burn of the
round hollow. Allan, water; na, of the; cuaiche, gen. of
cuach, cup.
Allancreich (for Allan na Criche). Burn of the
boundary. Allan, burn; na, of the (suppressed); criche, gen.
of crioch, boundary.
Allanmore. Great burn. Allan, burn; mor, big.
Allans, North and South. Place near a small burn.
Allan, small burn. An had erroneously been regarded as a
plural termination.
Allansack. Burn of willows. Allan, burn; seileach,
gen. plural of seileach, willow. Willow in Scotch is saugh
or sauch, in English sallow, in French, saule, in Latin salix,
gen. salicis. Willows grow far up the highest mountains in
Scotland as well as near burns in the Lowlands.
Allanshill. Hill beside a burn. Allan, small burn.
Allanstank. Both parts mean flowing water. Allan,
burn; stank, ditch with running water.
Allantersie. Cross burn. Allan, small burn; tarsuinn,
cross. Final ie arose from wrongly regarding inn as a dim.
termination.
Allargue. Hill of the hill slope. Al, hill; leirg, gen.
of learg, slope of a hill. Formerly the name was Allerg,
which represents the second part of the name closely.
Allathan (for Allachan). Small stream. Allachan,
dim. of allach, stream. Ch had been changed to th.
Allathumpach Burn (for Allan Thomach). Burn of the
humpy place. Allan, dim. of all, burn; thomach, humpy.
P is a euphonic insertion.
Allnaharvy. Burn of the shieling. All, burn; na, of
the; h (euphonic); airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling. Prob-
ably the personal name Harvey or Harvy means a resident
at a shieling.
Allrick (for Buigh Ail). Slope of the hill. Ruigh,
slope; ail, gen. of al, hill. The parts of the name had been
transposed.
Allt a' Bhealaich Bhuidhe. Burn of the yellow road.
Allt, burn; a', of the; bhealaich, gen. asp. of bealach, pass,
road; bhuidhe, gen. of buidhe, yellow. See Bealaich
Bhuidhe and Moine Bhealaich Bhuidhe.
Allt a' Bho (for Allt nam Bo). Burn of the cows.
Allt, burn; nam, of the; bo, gen. piural of bo, cow.
Allt a' Bhreabair. The weaver's burn. Allt, burn;
a', oE the; bhreabadair, gen. asp. of breabadair, weaver.
Allt a' Chaorruinn. Burn of the rowan. Allt, burn;
a', of the; chaorruinn, gen. asp. of caorunn or caorrunn,.
rowan.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 5
Allt a' Chlaiginn. Burn of the skull. Allt, burn; a',
of the; chlaiginn, gen. asp. of claigionn, skull, skull-shaped
hill.
Allt a' Chlair. Burn of the open space. Allt, burn;
a' , of the; chlair, gen. asp. of clar, open place.
Allt a' Choire Bhoidheach. Burn of the beautiful
corry. Allt, burn; a', of the; choire, gen. asp. of coire,
corry; bhoidhich, gen. asp. of boidheach, beautiful.
Allt a' Choire Chlachaich. Burn of the stony corry.
Allt, burn; a', of the; choire, gen. asp. of coire, corry;
chlachaich, gen. asp. of clachach, stony.
Allt a' Choire Dhuibh. Burn of the black corry. Allt,
burn; a', of the; choire, gen. asp. of coire, corry; dhuibh,
gen. of dubh, black.
Allt a' Choire Ghuirm. Burn of the green corry. Allt,
burn; a', of the; choire, gen. asp. of coire, corry; ghuirm,
gen. of gorm, green.
Allt a' Choire Mhoir. Burn of the great corry. Allt,
burn; a', of the; choire, gen. asp. of coire, corry; mhoir,
gen. of mor, great.
Allt a' Choire Odhair. Burn of the dun corry. Allt,
burn; a', of the; choire, gen. asp. of coire, corry; odhair,
gen. of odhar, dun, dark yellow.
Allt a' Choire Yaltie. Burn of the corry frequented
by gregarious animals. Allt, burn; a', of the; choire, gen.
asp. of coire, corry; ealtaich, gen. of ealtach, frequented by
gregarious animals.
Allt a' Chreachainn. Burn of the mountain. Allt,
burn; a', of the; chreachainn, gen. asp. of creachann,
mountain.
Allt a' Chuil Eiabhaich. Burn of the grey back.
Allt, burn; a', of the; chuil, gen. asp. of cul, back, back
of a hill; riabhaich, gen. of riabhach, grey.
Allt a' Chdirn Dheirg. Burn of the red cairn or hill.
Allt, burn; a', of the; chuirn, gen. asp. of cam, hill, cairn;
dheirg, gen. of dearg, red.
Allt a' Gaothain (for Allt a' Ghabhainn). Burn of the
fold. Allt, burn; a', of the; ghabhainn, gen. asp. of
gabhann, fold.
Allt a' Gharbh Coire (for Allt a' Garbh-choire). Burn
of the rough corry. Allt, burn; a', of the; garbh, rough;
choire, gen. asp. of coire, corry.
Allt a' Ghlas-Choire (for Allt a' Glas-choire). Burn of
the green corry. Allt, burn; a', of the; glas, green; choire,
gen. asp. of coire, corry.
Allt a' Mhadaidh. Burn of the fox. Allt, burn; a',
of the; mhadaidh, gen. asp. of madadh, fox, wolf.
6 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Allt a' Mhaidh. Burn of the plain. Allt, burn; a', of
the; mhaidh, gen. asp. of madh, plain.
Allt a' Mheoir Ghrianaich. Burn of the sunny branch.
Allt, burn; a', of the; mheoir, gen. asp. of meur, finger,
branch of a burn; ghrianaich, gen. of grianach, sunny.
Allt an Aghaidh Mhilis. Burn of the pleasant place.
Allt, burn; an, of the; achaidh, gen. of achadh, place;
mhilis, gen. of milis, sweet, pleasant. AgJiaidh is a mistake
for achaidh.
Allt an Aitinn. Burn of the juniper. Allt, burn; an,
of the; aitinn, gen. of aitionn, juniper.
Allt an Da Chraobh Bheath (for Allt an Da Craoibh-
bheath). Burn of the two birch trees. Allt, burn; an, of
the; da, two; craoibh-bheath, gen. of craobh-bheath, birch
tree. Da takes the singular of a noun.
Allt an Droighnean. Burn of the sloe • thicket. Allt,
burn; an, of the; droighnein, thicket of thorns, sloes.
Allt an Dubh-choire. Burn of the black corry. Allt,
burn; an, of the; dubh, black; choire, gen. asp. of coire,
corry.
Allt an Dubh-ghlinne. Burn of the black glen. Allt,
burn; an, of the; dubh, black; ghlinne, gen. asp. of gleann,
glen.
Allt an Dubh-loch. Burn of the black loch. Allt,
burn; an, of the; dubh, black; loch, loch.
Allt an Dubh-lochain. Burn of the black little loch.
Allt, burn; an, of the; dubh, black; lochain, gen. of lochan,
little loch.
Allt an Eas Bhig and Allt an Eas Mhoir. Burn of
the little waterfall and burn of the big waterfall. Allt,
burn; an, of the; eas, waterfall, burn; bhig, gen. of beag,
little ; mhoir, gen. of mor, big.
Allt an Laoigh. Burn of the calf. Allt, burn; an, of
the; laoigh, gen. of laogh, calf. Calves had been sent to
pasture in summer near this burn.
Allt an Leathaid. Burn of the hillside. Allt, burn;
an, of the; leathaid, gen. of leathad, hillside.
Allt an Loch. Burn of the loch. Allt, burn; an, of
the ; loch, loch.
Allt an Lochain Uaine. Burn of the green little loch.
Allt, burn; an, of the; lochain, gen. of lochan, small loch;
uaine, green.
Allt an Stuic Ghiubhais. Burn of the fir hill. Allt,
burn; an, of the; stuic, gen. of stiic, pointed hill; ghiubhais,
gen. asp. of giubhas, fir-tree.
Allt an Tuim Bhain. Burn of the white hill. Allt,
burn; an, of the; tuim, gen. of torn, hill; bhain, gen. of
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. ?
ban, white. Tom Ban is a late translation into Gaelic of
white hill, which is a corruption of chuithail, cattle-fold.
Allt an Uisge. Burn of the water. Allt, burn; an, oi
the; uisge, water. Perhaps beatha, life, is to be understood
after uisge, and, if so, the name would mean burn on which
whisky was made.
Allt an t-Seilich. Burn of the willow. Allt, burn;
an t-, of the; seilich, gen. o/ seileach, willow.
Allt an t-Sionnaich. Burn of the fox. Allt, burn;
an t-, of the; sionnaich, gen. of sionnach, fox.
Allt an t-Slugain. Burn of the little slug. Allt, burn;
an t-, of the; slugain, gen. of slugan, little slug, gorge,
hollow.
Allt an t-Sluich Leith. Burn of the grey gorge.
Allt, burn; an t-, of the; sluichd, gen. of slochd, gorge;
leith, gen. of Hath, grey.
Allt an t-Sluichd Mhoir. Burn of the great gorge.
Allt, burn; an t-, of the; sluichd, gen. of slochd, den, gorge;
mhoir, gen. of mor, great.
Allt an t-Sneachda. Burn of the snow. Allt, burn;
an t-, of the; sneachda, gen. of sneachd, snow.
Allt Bad a' Choilich. Burn of the bush of the
streamlet. Allt, burn; bad, bush; a', of the; choilich, gen.
asp. of coileach, streamlet, hill burn.
Allt Bad a' Chuirn. Burn of the bush on the hill.
Allt, burn; bad, bush; a', of the; chuirn, gen. asp. of earn,
hill.
Allt Bad a' Mhonaidh. Burn of the thicket on the
moor. Allt, burn; bad, thicket, grove; a', of the; mhonaidh,
gen. asp. of monadh, mountain, moor.
Allt Bad Leana. Burn of the thicket on the plain.
Allt, burn; bad, thicket; leana, plain.
Allt Bad Mhic Griogair. Burn of Macgregor's bush.
Allt, burn; bad, bush, hiding-place; mhic, gen. asp. of mac.
son; Ghriogair, gen. asp. of Griogair, Gregor.
Allt Beinn Iutharn. Burn of Beinn Iutharn; which
see. Allt, burn; beinn, hill; iuthairn, gen. of iutharn, hell.
Allt Bhronn (for Allt a' Bhraoin). Both parts mean
burn. Allt, burn; a', of the; bhraoin, gen. asp. of braon,
mountain burn.
Allt Boruiche. Burn of mountain grass. Allt, burn;
borraich, gen. of borrach, mountain grass.
Allt Cac Dubh. Burn of black mire. The substance
meant is wet comminuted peat-moss. Allt, burn; caca.
gen. of cac, filth; dhuibh, gen. of dubh, black.
Allt Caochain Eoibidh (for Allt Caochain Boibeich).
Burn of the miry streamlet. Allt, burn; caochain, gen. of
caochan, streamlet; roibeich, gen. of roibeach, miry.
8 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Allt Carn a' Mhaim. Burn of the breast-shaped hill.
Allt, burn; carn, hill; a', of the; mhaim, gen. asp. of mam,
something in shape like a woman's breast.
Allt Carn Bhathaich (for Allt Carn a' Bhathaich).
Burn of the hill of the cow-byre. Allt, burn; carn, hill; a',
of the; bhathaich, gen. asp. of bathach, cow-byre.
Allt Chernie (for Allt Carnach). Stony burn. Allt,
burn; carnach, stony.
Allt Choire Dhuibh. Burn of the black corry. Allt,
burn; choire, gen. asp. of coire, corry; dhuibh, gen. asp. of
dubh, black.
Allt Cholige. Burn with a loud, cheerful sound.
Allt, burn; choilleig, gen. asp. of coilleag, loud, cheerful
note, rural song.
Allt Chuil. Burn of the back. Allt, burn; chuil, gen.
asp. of cul, back, back of a mountain ridge.
Allt Chuil Biabhaich. See Allt a' Chuil Biabhaich.
Allt Chuirn Deirg. Burn of the red hill. Chuirn, gen.
asp. of carn, hill; dheirg, gen. asp. of dearg, red.
Allt Clach nan Taillear. Burn of the stone of the
tailors. Allt, burn; clach, stone; nan, of the; taillear, gen.
plural of taillear, tailor.
Allt Clais an t-Sabhail. Burn of the hollow of the
barn. Allt, burn; clais, hollow; an t-, of the; sabhail, gen.
of sabhal, barn. The name had originally been Allt Clais
a' Bheirn. Burn of the hollow of the gap in the skyline.
Bheirn had been supposed to be barn, and had been trans-
lated into sabhal, barn, after the meaning of the Gaelic
name had been forgotten.
Allt Clais Mhadaidh. Burn of the hollow of the fox.
Allt, burn; clais, hollow; mhadaidh, gen. asp. of madadh,
fox.
Allt Clais nam Balgair. Burn of the hollow of the
foxes. Allt, burn; clais, trench; nam, of the; balgair, gen.
plural of balgair, fox.
Allt Coire an Fhir Bhogha. Burn of the corry of the
archer. Allt, burn; coire, corry; an, of the; fhir-bhogha,
gen. asp. of fear-bogha, bowman, archer, soldier.
Allt Coire an t-Sagairt. Burn of the priest's corry.
Allt, burn; coire, corry; an t-, of the; sagairt, gen. of sagart,
priest.
Allt Coire an t-Saighdeir. Burn of the corry of the
arrower. Allt, burn; an t-, of the; saighdeir, gen. of saigh-
dear, arrower, soldier.
Allt Coire an t-Seilich. Burn of the corry of the
willow copse. Allt, burn; coire, corry; an t-, of the; seilich,
gen. of seileach, willow copse.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 9
Allt Coire an t-Slugain. Burn of the corry of the little
slug. Allt, burn; coire, corry; an t-, of the; slugain, gen. of
slugan, little gorge.
Allt Coire Bhearnaist (for Allt a' Choire Bhearnaich).
Burn of the corry having gaps round the edge. Allt, burn;
a', of the (suppressed); choire, gen. asp. of coire, corry;
bhearnaich, gen. of bearnach, having gaps.
Allt Coire Cath nam Fionn. Burn of the corry of the
way of the Fingalians. Allt, burn; coire, corry; nam, of
the; Fionn, Fingalians. This name must have been intro-
duced after the publication of Ossian's poems, or perhaps
Fionn is a mistake for fin, hill, mountain.
Allt Coire Chrid (for Allt a' Choire Chreidhmte). Burn
of the eroded corry. Allt, burn; a', of the (suppressed);
choire, gen. asp. of coire, corry; chreidhmte, past part. asp.
of creidhm, to erode.
Allt Coire Domhain. Burn of the deep corry. Allt,
burn; coire, gen. of coire, corry; dhomhain, gen. asp. of
domhan, depth.
Allt Coire Fhearneasg (for Allt a' Choire Fhearnaich).
Burn of the corry where alders grow. Allt, burn; a', of the;
choire, coire asp., corry; fhearnaich, gen. of fearnach,
growing alders.
Allt Coire Fionn (for Allt Coire an Fhin). Burn of the
corry of the hill. Allt, burn; coire, corry; an, of the; fhin,
gen. asp. of fin, hill.
Allt Coire Ghiubhais (for Allt Coire a' Ghiubhais).
Burn of the corry of the fir tree. Allt, burn; coire, corry;
a', of the; ghiubhais, gen. asp. of giubhas, fir tree.
Allt Coire Loch Kander. Burn of the corry of Loch
Kander. Allt, burn; coire, corry; loch, loch; canta, lake.
Allt Coire na Ciche. Burn of the corry of the pap-
shaped hill. Allt, burn; coire, corry; na, of the; ciche, gen.
of cioch, woman's breast.
Allt Coire na Cloiche. Burn of the corry of the stone.
Allt, burn; coire, corry; na, of the; cloiche, gen. of clach,
stone.
Allt Coire na Meanneasg (for Allt Coire na Meannaich).
Burn of the young kid's corry. Allt, burn; coire, corry; na,
of the; meannaich, gen. of meannach, place suitable for
young kids.
Allt Coire na Saobhaidhe. Burn of Coire na Saob-
haidhe. Allt, burn. See Coire na Saobhaidhe.
Allt Coire na Sqreuchaig. Burn of the corry fre-
quented by jackdaws. Allt, burn; coire, corry; na, of the:
sgreuchaig, gen. of sgreuchag, jackdaw, screeching.
io Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Allt Coire nam Freumh. Burn of the tree-root corry.
Allt, burn; coire, corry; nam, of the; freumh, gen. plural of
freumh, tree-root.
Allt Coire nan Imireachan. Burn of the corry of the
flittings. Allt, burn; nan, of the; coire, corry; imrichean,
gen. plural of imrich, flitting, migration to shiels in summer.
Allt Coire Euairidh. Burn of Eoderick's corry. Allt,
burn; coire, corry; Ruairidh, Roderick.
Allt Coire Uilleim Mhoir. Burn of the corry of
William the great. Allt, burn; coire, corry; Uilleim, gen. of
Uilleam, William; mhoir, gen. of mor, great.
Allt Connachty. Burn met by another. Allt, burn;
coinnichte, past part, of coinnich, to meet.
Allt Connie. Burn of meeting. Allt, burn; coinne,
gen. of coinne, meeting.
Allt Coultain. Burn of the little nook. Allt, burn;
cuiltein, gen. of cuiltean, little nook.
Allt Craig Meann. Burn of the mountain of kids.
Allt, burn; creag, mountain; meann, gen. plural of meann,
kid.
Allt Creag Phadruig. Burn of Patrick's hill. Allt,
burn; creag, hill; Phadruig, gen. asp. of Padruig, Patrick.
Allt Cristie Beag, Allt Cristie Mor. Little swift
burn, and Big swift burn. Allt, burn; criosda, swift;
beag, little; mor, big.
Allt Cul (for Allt Cuil). Back burn. Allt, burn; cuil,
gen. of cul, back of a hill.
Allt Dachaidh. Burn at a dwelling-place. Allt, burn;
dachaidh. dwelling-place.
Allt Damh. Burn of oxen. Allt, burn; damh, gen.
plural of damh, ox, stag. Damh may have the gen. plural
like the nom. sing, or like the nom. plural.
Allt Darrarie. Burn of loud rattling sounds. Allt,
burn; dairirich, gen. of dairireach, loud stunning noise,
rattling of stones.
Allt Dearg. Red burn. Allt, burn; dearg, red.
Allt Deas. South burn. Allt, burn; deas, south.
Allt Deglaven. Burn of the good little hill. Allt,
burn; degh, good; lamhain, gen. of lamhan, small hill.
The burn issues from a bit of cultivated ground on a hill
in Glenbucket.
Allt Devanach. Slow burn. Allt, burn; diomhanach,
slow, lazy.
Allt Dhaidh Beag, Allt Dhaidh Mor. Little burn of
David, and Big burn of David. Allt, burn; Dhaidh, gen.
asp. of Daidh, David; beag, little; mor, big. Dhaidh may
be a mistake for daimh, gen. plural of damh, ox.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. li
Allt Dobhrain, Allt Dorie, Allt Dourie, Allt
Dowrie. Burn of flowing water. Allt, burn; dobhrain.
gen. of dobhran, stream. Bh is equivalent to u, and ain is
equivalent to ie. Thus the first name would readily have
assumed the same sound as the other three.
Allt Domhain. Deep burn. Allt, burn; domhain, gen.
of domhan, depth.
Allt Duch (for Allt Dubh). Black burn. Allt, burn;
dubh. black. Ch had taken the place of bh.
Allt Duibhre. Gloomy burn. Allt, burn; duibhre,
gloom .
Allt Duisgan. Little brawling burn. Duisg, to rouse;
an, diminutive termination.
Allt Duxie. Burn of the little hill. Allt, burn:
dunain, gen. of dunan, small hill.
Allt Earse (for Allt Aird). Burn of the hill. Allt,
burn : aird, gen. of ard, hill, height. The sound of s results
from pronouncing final d forcibly.
Allt Easain, Alltessan. Burn of the small stream.
Allt, burn; easain, gen. of easan, small burn, small water-
fall.
Allt Fileachaidh (for Allt Feill Achaidb). Burn of the
market-place. Allt, burn; feill, market; achaidh, gen. of
achadh, place. Feill is pronounced with a sound like e or
y at the end, which partly accounts for the mis-spelling of
the name.
Allt Fuaranach. Burn receiving many springs. Allt,
burn; fuaranach, abounding in springs.
Allt Garbh. Rough burn. Allt, bum ; garbh, rough,
rushing.
Allt Geal Charn. Burn of the white hill. Allt, burn:
geal, white; charn, cam asp., mountain.
Allt Glas. Green burn. Allt, burn; glas, green, grey.
Allt Glas-choille. Burn of the green hill. Allt, burn:
glas, green; choille, gen. asp. of coille, hill.
Allt Glas-neulach. Burn above which is seen a grey
cloud. Allt, burn; glas, grey; neulach, cloudy. Vapour
rises from running streams, and sometimes when it enters
a cold stratum of air it is condensed and forms a long line
of cloud above the course of the stream.
Allt Gille Morair. Burn of the landlord's servant.
Allt, burn; gille, servant; moraire, gen. of morair, great
man, landlord.
Allt Iarnaidh. Burn tinged red with iron oxide. Allt,
burn: iarnaidh, chalybeate, tasting of iron.
Allt Leum an Easain. Burn of the leap of the water.
Allt, burn; leum, leap, fall; an, of the; easain, gen. of
easan, little burn, small waterfall. In dictionaries eas and
12 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
easan have only the meanings of waterfalls, but in the
Lowlands of Scotland they are burns without falls, and so
also sometimes in the Highlands.
Allt Liath-choire Mhor. Burn of the big grey corry.
Allt, burn; liath, grey; choire, gen. asp. of coire, corry;
rahoir, gen. of mor, big.
Allt Loch Vrotachan (for Allt Loch a' Bhrotachaidh).
Burn of the loch at which cattle fed well. Allt, burn; loch,
loch; a', of the; bhrotachaidh, gen. asp. of brotachadh,
feeding, fattening.
Allt Lochan nan Eun. Burn of the loch of the birds.
Allt, burn; lochan, small loch; nan, of the; eun, gen.
plural of eun, bird.
Allt Meirleach. Burn of the thieves. Allt, burn;
meirleach, gen. plural of meirleach, thief. This had been a
burn in which thieves were drowned.
Allt na Beinne Brice. Burn of the spotted hill. Allt,
burn; na, of the; beinne, gen. of beinn, hill; brice, gen. fern,
of breac, spotted.
Allt na Beithe. Burn of the birch-tree. Allt, burn;
na, of the; beithe, gen. of beith, birch.
Allt na Bruaich Kuaidhe. Burn of the red bank.
Allt, bum; na, of the; bruaich, gen. of bruach, bank;
ruaidhe, gen. fern, of ruadh, red.
Allt na Caillich. Burn of the old woman. Allt,
burn; na, of the; caillich, gen. of cailleach, old woman.
The original form of the name might have been Alltan
Coileach, in which both parts mean small burn.
Allt na Chlaiginn. Burn of the skull. Allt, burn;
na, of the; chlaiginn, gen. asp. of clagionn, skull, hill shaped
like a skull.
Allt na Ciste. Burn of the cist. Allt, burn; na, of
the; ciste, gen. of ciste, chest, cist, kist.
Allt na Claise Moire. Burn of the big gorge. Allt,
burn; na, of the; claise, gen. of dais, trench-like gorge;
moire, gen. fern, of mor, big.
Allt na Cloch. Burn of the stone. Allt, burn; na, of
the; cloiche, gen. of clach, stone.
Allt na Coille. Burn of the wood. Allt, burn; na, of
the; coille, wood, hill.
Allt na Comhnuid. Burn of the dwelling-place. Allt,
burn; na, of the; comhnuidhe, gen. of comhnuidh, house.
Probably there had been a shiel in early times on this burn.
Allt na Connair. Burn of the road. Allt, burn; na, of
the; conair, road, path.
Allt na Craige. Burn of the hill. Allt, burn; na, of
the; craige, gen. of creag, hill.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 13
Allt na Creige Leith. Burn of the grey hill. Allt,
burn; na, of the; creige, gen. of creag, hill; leithe, gen.
fern, of Hath, grey.
Allt na Duibhre. Gloomy burn. Allt, burn; na, of
the; duibhre, darkness.
Allt na Gaobhain, Allt na Gaothain, (for Allt na
Gabhainn). Burn of the cattle-fold. Allt, burn; na, of the;
gabhainn, gen. of gabhann, cattle-fold.
Allt na Giubhsaich. Burn of the fir-wood. Allt, burn;
na, of the; giubhsaicli, gen. of giubhsach, fir-wood.
Allt na Glaic. Burn of the hollow. Allt, burn; na,
of the; glaic, gen. of glac, hollow.
Allt na Greine. Sunny burn. Allt, burn; na, of the;
greine, gen. of grian, sun.
Allt na h-Earba. Burn of the roe. Allt, burn; na, of
the; h (euphonic); earba, gen. of earb, roe.
Allt na Lairig Ghru (for Allt na Lairige Grue). Burn
of the gloomy pass. Allt, burn; na, of the; lairige, gen of
lairig, hillside road, pass; grue, gloomy. The burn of the
Lairig Ghru is sometimes held to be the infant Dee, though
it is not the longest or the largest head-water of the river.
Allt na Leitire Hill Hill of the burn of the hillside.
Allt, burn; na, of the; leitire, gen. of leitir, hillside.
Allt na Moine. Moss burn. Allt, burn; na, of the;
moine, moss.
Allt na Slaite. Burn of the rod. Allt, burn; na, of
the; slaite, gen. of slat, rod. At a ford in a burn stems of
trees are laid in the bottom longitudinally to facilitate
crossing the stream with horses. Such a crossing-place is
called Slateford.
Allt na Tulach. Burn of the hill. Allt, burn; na, of
the; tulaich, gen. of tulach, hill.
Allt na Vackie (for Allt a' Bhacain). Burn of the
peat-moss. Allt, burn; a', of the; bhacain, gen. asp. of
bacaiyi, small peat-moss
Allt nan Aighean. Burn of the heifers. Allt, burn;
nan, of the; aighean, gen. plural of aighe, heifer, fawn, hind.
Allt nan Caber Burn. Burn with many branches.
Allt, burn; nan, of the; cabar, gen. plural of cabar, antler,
branch of a burn.
Allt nan Clach Geala. Burn of the white stones.
Allt, burn; nan, of the; clach, gen. plural of clach, stone:
geala, gen. plural of geal, white.
Allt nan Leum Esain. Burn of the wraterfalls. Allt,
burn; nan, of the; leum, gen. plural of leum, fall; easain.
gen. of eas, burn, waterfall.
Allt Phadruig. Patrick's burn. Allt, burn; Phadruig,
gen. asp. of Padruig, Patrick.
14 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Allt Phouple (for Allt a' Phubuill). Burn of the tent.
Allt, burn; a', of the (suppressed); -phubuill, gen. asp. of
pubull, tent.
Allt Preas nam Meirleach. Burn of the bush of the
thieves. Allt, burn; preas, bush; nam, of the; meirleach,
gen. plural of meirleach, thief, A thieves' bush was a
lurking place among trees, where robbers watched for
solitary travellers.
Allt Eeppachie. Burn of the rough places. Allt, burn;
ribeacha, plural of ribeach, rough place.
Allt Roy. Red burn. Allt, burn; ruadh, red.
Allt Euigh na Cuileige. Burn of the slope of the nook.
Allt, burn; na, of the; cuileige — mistake for cuilteige, gen.
of cuilteag, corner, nook.
Allt Salach. Dirty burn. Allt, burn; salach, dirty.
Perhaps for Allt Seileach. Burn of the willows. Allt,
burn; seileach, gen. plural of seileach, willow.
Allt Seileach. Burn of the willows. Allt, burn;
seileach, gen. plural of seileach, willow.
Allt Slochd a' Bheithe. Burn of the gorge of the
birch. Allt, burn; slochd, gorge; a', of the; bheithe, gen.
asp. of beith, birch.
Allt Slochd Chaimbeil. Burn of Campbell's den. Allt,
burn; slochd, gorge, den; Chaimbeil, gen. asp. of Caimbeul,
Campbell.
Allt Sowan. Burn of sowans. Allt, burn; sughan,
gen. plural of sughan, juice, drainings from mealy sids.
The burn may have taken its name from the colour of its
water after rain, or from receiving water oozing from the
ground near it. The Scotch word sowans is a corruption of
sughan, juice. Final s had been added in the belief that
an represented the plural termination in Gaelic.
Allt Sron nam Fiadh. Burn of the point of the deer.
Allt, burn; sron, point; nam, of the; fiadh, gen. plural of
fiadh, deer.
Allt Tarsuinn. Cross burn. Allt, burn; tarsuinn,
cross.
Allt Thronach. Burn of the ridge. Allt, burn; dron-
naige, gen. of dronnag, ridge. Allt ends in t, which had
caused change of d to t in dronnag.
Allt Tobair Fhuair. Burn of the cold spring. Allt,
burn; tobair, gen. of tobar, well; fhuair, gen. of fuar, cold.
Allt Tom a' Bhealuidh. Broomhill burn. Allt, burn;
torn, hill; a', of the; bhealuidh, gen. asp. of bealuidh,
broom.
Allt Ton na Gaoithe. Burn at the back of the wind.
Allt, burn; ton, backside; na, of the; gaoithe, gen. of gaoth,
wind.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 15
Allt Tuileach. Burn full of holes. Allt, burn; tollach,
full of holes.
Allt Veannaich. Burn whose banks gave pasture to
kids. Allt, burn; mheannach, suitable for kids.
Allt Vitch (for Allt Bheith). Burn of birch trees. Allt,
burn; bheith, gen. plural of beith, birch tree. Th has become
tch.
Alltachlair. Burn of the level ground. Allt, urn;
a', of the; chlair, gen. asp. of clar, level plain.
Alltamhait. Burn of the wood. Allt, burn; a', ot the;
bhaid, gen. asp. of bad, bush, wood.
Alltan Beal (probably for Alltan Beag). Small
streamlet. Alltan, small burn; beag, little.
Alltan Dearg. Bed little burn. Alltan, little burn;
dearg, red with iron oxide.
Alltan Mhicheil (for Alltan Bheiceil). Jumping little
burn. Alltan, little burn; bheiceil, beiceil asp., jumping,
bobbing. The Alltan Mhicheil is the infant Don. It de-
scends the steep face of Geal Charn.
Alltan na Beinne. Little burn from the hill. Alltan,
little burn; na, of the; beinne, gen. of beinn, hill.
Alltan Odhar. Dun burn. Alltan, little burn; odhar,
dun, yellowish grey. The colour refers to the vegetation on
its banks — Sphagnum moss.
Alltan Roy. Bed little burn. Alltan, small burn;
ruadh, red.
Alltan Seileach. Burn of willows. Alltan, little burn;
seileach, gen. plural of seileach, willow.
Alltan Sleibh. Little mountain burn. Alltan, little
burn; sleibh, gen. of sliabh, mountain of great extent.
Alltan Tarsuinn. Little cross burn. Alltan, small
burn; tarsuinn, cross.
Alltcailleach (probably for Allt Coileach). Burn.
Allt, burn; coileach, hill burn. Both parts mean burn
and are in apposition, but often the second noun in such
names is put in the genitive, as if it were governed by the
first.
Alltessan Burn. Burn of the small waterfall. Allt,
burn; easain, gen. of easan, burn, waterfall.
Alltmore. Big burn. Allt, burn; mor, big.
Alltnakebbuck Burn. Burn of the erosion. Allt, burn;
na, of the; caobaidh, gen. of caobadh, biting, eroding by
running water.
Alma Cottage. Alma is the name of a stream in the
Crimea, where a battle was fought in 1854.
Almanethy Creek (Ahnanethy on the O.S. map). Creek
at the rock of the little burn. Al, rock; an, of the; nethain,
"en. of nethan, little stream.
16 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Altanour. Small burn. Alltan, small burn; our, burn.
Altanree. Burn of the circle. Alltan, small burn;
rath, circle. Th being silent was lost, and a became ee.
Altdachie. Same as Allt Dachaidh.
Altdargue. Eed burn. Allt, burn; dearg, red.
Altnacraig. Burn of the hill. Allt, burn; na, of the;
craige, gen. of creag, hill.
Altnahasach Burn (for Allt na Chasaich). Burn of the
steep place. Allt, burn: na, of the; chasaich, gen. asp. of
casach, ascent.
Alton (Drumoak) (for Baile Allt). Town on a burn.
Baile, town (translated and transposed); allt, burn.
Alton Brae. Brae of a town above a burn (Muchalls
burn). Allt, burn.
Alton of Coynach (for Baile Alt). High town. Baile,
town (translated and transposed); alt, high. See Coynach.
Altonrea (for Allt an Eeidhe). Burn of the plain. Allt,
burn; an, of the; reidhe, gen. of reidh, level place.
Altons. High place. Altan, dim. of alt (Irish), high.
Final s is due to the belief that an was a plural termination.
Am Mullach. The summit of a hill. Am, the; mul-
lach, top, eminence.
An Car. The winding stream. An, the; car, winding
stream. Perhaps the name was originally An Carr, the
rock. An, the; carr, projecting rock, monumental stone.
An Creagan. The little hill. An, the ; creagan, little
hill.
An Diollaid. The saddle. An, the; diollaid, saddle.
An Garbh Choire. The rough corry. An, the; garbh,
rough; choire, coire asp., corry.
An Scarsoch. The hill with a pointed rock like a snout
on the summit. An, the; sgor, pointed rock; socach,
snouted.
An Slugan. The little slug. An, the ; slugan, little
slug, small ravine.
An Socach. The snout. An, the ; socach, snout, pointed
rock on mountain range.
An t-Sron. The steep projecting point. An t-, the;
sron, nose, long hill ending in a steep brae.
Anderson's Wards (for Cuitan Sithean an Treid).
Small fold on a hill where cattle fed. Cuitan, dim. of cuit,
fold, ward, enclosure, had erroneously been regarded as a
plural and made wards and had been put last. Sithean
(pronounced shean), small hill, had erroneously been re-
garded as a plural and made sons. An treid (corrupted into
Ander), of the herd, is composed of an, the, and treid, gen.
of trend, herd. See Andrewsford.
Celtic Place-Na7nes in Aberdeenshire. 17
Andet. The warm place. The original form of the name
may have been An Teth Achadh, the warm place. An, the ;
teth, warm; achadh (suppressed), place.
Andrew sford (for Ath an Treid). Ford of the drove of
cattle, place where droves crossed a burn. Ath, ford; an, of
the; treid, gen. of trend, drove. When ath was trans-
lated into ford it had been placed last. A hill whose name
in Gaelic was Cam an Treid is now called Cairn Andrew.
Anetswell (for Aonach Bhaile). High town. Aonach,
high, far up; bhaile, baile asp., town. Bh is equivalent to
u. v, or w, and hence bhaile frequently became well or wells.
Angels Burn. Burn, burn of lights. Ainglean, gen.
plural of aingeal, fire, light.
Angus Stank. Narrow piece of ground between two
burns. Aonachadh, space between streams; tana, slender.
Anguston. If this is not Angus's town it means place
between two streams. Aonachadh, junction of two rivers,
space between two branches of a river.
Annachie, Annochie. Place at the junction of two
burns. Aonachadh, junction.
Anne's Park. Enclosed ground. Innis, enclosed graz-
ing ground; pairc, park.
Annesley (formerly Achinsley, for Achadh na Innse,
with ley — Scotch). Field of the enclosed grassy place.
Achadh, field; na, of the; innse, gen. of innis, island, en-
closure, cattle-fold; ley, grassy place.
Annie Fyvie's Knap (for Cnap Innis Chuithain). Knoll
of the enclosure for a fold. Cnap, knoll; innis, enclosure;
chuithain, gen. asp. of cuithan, small fold. Ch had become
ph, equivalent to /; and th had become bh, equivalent to v.
Ain had been made ie and afterwards also s.
Annie's Well, Annieswell. Well at a cattle-fold.
Innis, enclosed area, fold.
Annisland Park. Enclosure on a hill for a park. Innis,
enclosure; lamhan, dim. of lamh, hill; pairc, park.
Ann's Forest. Enclosure for a forest. Innis, enclosure.
Antshillock. Aonach, height, hillock.
Apolinaris's Chapel. Chapel supposed to have been
dedicated to a saint named Apolinaris. The first part of the
name may be pre-Christian and may represent Poll na
h-Airidhe. Pot in the Don at the shiel. Poll, pool, pot;
na, of the; h (euphonic); airidhe, gen. of airidh, summer
residence, shiel.
Aqueduct. Channel made to convey water. The name
is frequently given to a channel on arches conveying water
across a hollow. Aqua (Latin), water; ductum, to lead.
18 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Aquhadlie (for Achadh Leithe). Field of greyness, or
grey field. Achadh, place, field; leithe (the silent), grey-
cess.
Aquherton. (In the " Register of the Great Seal," 1592,
Auquhortin.) Field of the small circle. Achadh, field;
chortain, gen. asp. of cortain, small circle, sepulchral stone
circle.
Aquhorsk. Place of the crossing. Achadh, place;
chraisg, gen. asp. of crasg, crossing.
Aquhorthies. Field of the small circle. Achadh, field;
chortain, gen. asp. of corthan, small circle, sepulchral stone
circle. S had been added because chorthain was supposed
to be plural.
Aquhythie. Field of the cattle-fold. Achadh, place,
field; chuithan, small cattle-fold.
Arachie Burn (for Allt Arachain). Burn of the small
field. Allt, burn; arachain, gen of arachan, dim. of arach,
ploughed field, field of battle. The Gaelic word ar, cultiva-
tion, is cognate with the Latin word aro, I plough.
Archballoch (for Bealach Aird). Pass over a hill.
Bealach, pass; aird, gen. of ard, hill.
Ard an Damh. Hill of the stag. Ard, hill; an, of the;
daimh, gen. of damh, stag, ox.
Ardallie (for Ard Allain). Hill of the burn. Ard,
height; allain, gen. of allan, water, burn.
Ardan Breac. Speckled little height. Ardan, small
height; breac, spotted, dappled.
Ardarg, Arderg. Bed hill. Ard, hill; dearg, red.
Ardbeck (for Ardbeag). Little height. Ard, height;
beag, little.
Ardbuck. Hill of the he-goat. Ard, hill; buic, gen. of
boc, he-goat, roe-buck.
Ardchattan. Hill of the drove roads. Ard, height;
chatan, gen. plural asp. of cat, hill road.
Ardconnan, Ardconnon. Hill where Eriophorum vag-
inatum (cotton grass) grew. Ard, hill; conan, gen. plural
of cona, catstail grass, cotton grass.
Ardendraught. Hill of the pulling. Ard, hill; an, of
the; draghaidh, gen. of draghadh, dragging, pulling. The
name indicates a place where loads were pulled up a brae
with difficulty.
Ardeneret (for Ardan Airidhe). Hill of the shieling.
Ardan, dim. of ard, hill; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling,
summer pasture.
Ardennan (perhaps for Ard Dunan, in which both parts
mean hill). Ard, hill; dunan, little hill.
Ardevin (for Ard a' Bheinne). Summit of the hill. Ard,
height; a', of the; bheinne, gen. asp. of beinn, bill.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 19
Ardfork. Oat hill. Ard, hill; choirc, gen. asp. of core,
oats.
Ardgallie. Hill of the little rock. Ard, hill; gallain,
gen. of gallan, small rock.
Ardganty (for Ard Tigh Gabhainn). Hill of the house
at a cattle-fold. Ard, hill; tigh, house; gabhainn, gen. of
gabhann, cattle-fold. Tigh had been put last, but gabhainn
is the qualifying word.
Ardgathen. Windy height. Ard, height, hill; gaothan-
ach, windy.
Ardgeith. Windy height. Ard, height; gaoith, gen. of
gaoth, wind.
Ardgill. White hill. Ard, hill; geal, white. White
hill is a corruption of chuitail, cattle-fold; and white hill
had been turned into Gaelic by ardgeal.
Ardglessie. Hill of the little burn. Ard, height; glaise,
small burn.
Ardgowse. Fir-hill. Ard, hill; giuthais, gen. of
giuthas, fir-tree.
Ardgrain. Sunny hill. Ard, hill; greine, gen. of grian,
sun.
Ardhuncart. Hill of the enclosure. Ard, height, hill;
luncart, enclosure, circle. L had been aspirated and then
dropped, while h remained. Luncart is a common word in
Scotch for a circle of stones for holding a fire for an outdoors
washing; and it is used as a place name— Luncarty. It is
the same word as the Irish long-phort, a fortress.
Ardidacker. Hillock of the messenger. Ardan, height;
ieachdaire, messenger.
Ardiebrown (for Ardan Braoin). Hill of the mountain
burn. Ard, hill; an, of the; braoin, gen. of braon, mountain
burn.
Ardieknows (for Ardan Cnapan). Small knoll. Ardan,
small hill; cnapan, small knoll. Both parts of the name
have the same meaning. An of ardan became ie, and an of
cnapan should have also become ie, but being regarded as a
plural termination it was changed to s.
Ardiffery (for Ard Dubh Airidhe). Black hill of the
shieling. Ard, hill; dubh, black; airidhe, gen. of airidh,
shieling, summer pasture.
Ardin (for Ard Dun). Hill. Ard, hill; dun, hill.
Ardiraar. Small hill with level ground on the top.
Ardan, small hill; reidh, level; ar, land.
Ardlair, Ardler. High land. Ard, high; lar, land.
Ardlawt, Artlaw. Hill. Both parts of the names have
the same meaning. Ard, hill; lamh, hill.
Ardlethen. Broad hill. Ard, hill; leathan, broad.
20 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Ardlogie. Hill of the little howe. Ard, height; lagain,
gen. of lagan, dim. of lag, howe.
Ardmachron (for Ard Machairain). Hill of the small
plain. Ard, hill; machairain, gen of machairan, small
plain.
Ardmeanach. Middle hill. Ard, hill; meadhonach,
middle.
Ardmedden. Hill of the middle, or middle hill. Ard,
hill; meadhoin, gen. of meadhon, middle.
Ardmiddle (for Ard Meadhoin). Hill of the middle,
hill; meadhoin, gen. of meadhon, middle.
Ardmore. Big hill. Ard, hill; mor, big.
Ardmurdo (for Ard Mor Dubh). Big black hill. Ard,
hill; mor, big; dubh, black.
Ardneidly. Hill with a semi-circular hollow on the side.
Ard, height, hill; neid, gen. of nead, nest, hollow like a nest;
leth (th silent), side, half.
Ardo, Ardoch. Small hill. Ardan, small hill.
Ardonald (for Ard Donn Allt). Hill of the brown burn.
Ard, hill; donn, brown; allt, burn.
Ardoyne. Hill at the burn — Shevock. Ard, height,
hill; abhann, gen. of abhainn, burn, river.
Ardtannes. Hill of the ghost. Ard, height; tannais,
gen. of tannas, apparition.
Ark Stone. Perhaps Stone believed to commemorate a
hero. Arc, hero.
Arks, The. (In Gaelic, Na h-Uircean.) The young
pigs. Na, the; h (euphonic); uircean, plural of uircean,
small pig. The Arks are bare round stones on a hilltop.
Arn Hill. Hill growing alder-trees. Fhearna, fearna
asp., alder. Fh is silent.
Arnage (for Aod Fhearna). Brae of alders. Aod, brae;
fhearna, gen. plural asp. of fearna, alder, arn. Fh is silent
and had been lost. Aod has become edge in Edgehill and
Windy Edge. The parts of the name had been transposed.
In the name Mains of Arnage e has been made h on the
O.S. map.
Arngrove. Cluster of alder trees. Fhearna, fearna asp.,
alder-tree, arn (Scotch).
Arnhall. Farm-town where alders grew. Fhearna,
fearna, asp., alder-tree; hall (Scotch), farm-kitchen, public
room in a house.
Arnhash (for Fhearnach Chas, asp. form of Fearnach
Cas). Brae growing alders. Fhearnach, abounding in alders ;
chas, ascent, brae. Fh, being silent, had been lost; ach also
had been lost, and s of cas had been aspirated.
Arnhead. Cattle-fold at alder-trees. Fhearna, fearna
asp., plural of fearna, alder tree; chuid, gen. asp. of cuid,
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 21
cattle -fold. F after aspiration had become silent and had
been lost, and so also had been c of chuid.
Arntilly. Pebbly hill. Artan, pebble; tulach, hill.
The t of artan had been aspirated and had subsequently
become silent. Am might represent fearna, alder, but
alders thrive best in wet places.
Arntilly Craig. Same as Arntilly. Craig, hill.
Arntilly Hard. Hill of Arntilly. Artan, pebble;
tulach, hill; ard, height. This is the name of a farm on a
tableland 700 feet up.
Arnwood. The wood of alder-trees. Fhearna, fearna
asp., alder. Fh is silent and had been rmitted.
Arnybogs (for Fhearnach Bogan). Alder Bog. Fhear-
nach, growing alders; bogan, bog. An had been made s
in the mistaken belief that it was a plural termination.
Arnyburn. Burn of alders. Fhearnach, fearnach asp.,
place of alders.
Artamford. Pebbly ford. Artan, pebble.
Arthrath (for Ard Katha). Hill of the circle. Ard, hill;
ratha, gen. of rath, circle, stone circle round a grave,
cattle-fold.
Arthurseat (for Suidhe Ard-Thir). Place on high
ground. Suidhe, seat, place; ard, high; thir, tir asp., land.
The parts of the name had been transposed.
Artloch. Hill of the loch. Ard, height; loch, pool.
Artrochie (for Ard Troiche). Hill of the little person.
Ard, hill; troiche, dwarf, fairy.
Aryburn. Burn near which there had been a shiel.
Airidh, shiel, shieling.
Ashalloch, Ashallow. Sheltered place. Asgallach,
(derivative from asgall, shelter), sheltered place.
Ashogle (for Aiseag-lach). Place of a ferry. Aiseag,
ferry; lach, place of. Ais is pronounced ash.
Ashtown. If this is an English name it means town
at an ash tree. If it is Gaelic it means water town. Eas,
water; ton (English), town.
Ashyfolds (locally Aisyfaulds). Small enclosed mossy
fields, ploughed and burned to increase their fertility.
Asleid (for Eas Leoid). River of breadth, or broad river.
Eas, water, waterfall; leoid, gen. of leud, breadth.
Asloun. Burn of the meadow. Eas, burn; loin, gen.
of Ion, meadow, moss, lawn, grassy place.
Aswanley. Wet grassy field. Achadh, field; sugh-
anach, wet, watery; ley, grass land.
Atherb (for Ath Earb). Ford of the roe. Ath, ford;
earba, gen. of earb, roe. But perhaps the original form had
been Allt a' Thearbaidh, burn of division. Allt, burn; a',
of the; thearbaidh, gen. asp. of tearbadh, division. In
22 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
the " Poll Book," 1696, the name is Aucherb, which means
place of the roe. Achadh, place; earba, gen of earb, roe.
Atholhill. Limekiln hill. Ath, kiln; aoil, gen. of aol,
lime.
Atnach Wood. Wood in which there are junipers.
Aitionnach, abounding in junipers.
Auburn. Both parts mean water. Abh, water, stream;
burn, flowing water. Auburn is a name imported from
Goldsmith's " Deserted Village."
Auchaballa. Field of the town. Achadh, field, a', of
the; baile, town, village, farm.
Auchaber (for Achadh Aber). Place of the ford.
Achadh, field, place; aber, infall of a river, ford, outfall of
a lake into a river -
Auchabrack. Field of the hill. Achadh, field; braghad,
gen. of braigh, hill.
Auchairn (for Achadh Chairn). Field of the hill.
Achadh, place; chairn, gen. asp. of cam, hill.
Auchallater (for Achadh a' Calla-Tire). Place of the
meadow-land. Achadh, field, place; a', of the; calla,
meadow; tire [e silent), gen of tir, land.
Auchanachy. Place between two branches of a burn.
Achadh, place; aonachaidh, gen. of aonachadh, confluence
of streams.
Aucharnie (for Achadh Charnach). Stony field.
Achadh, place, field; charnach, carnach asp., stony. C of
charnach had become silent and had been lost.
Auchavaich. Field of the cow-house. Achadh, field,
place; bhathaich, gen. asp. of bathaich, cow-house. Bh
became v, and th being silent was dropped.
Auchedlie (for Achadh Liath). Grey place. Achadh,
place; liath, grey.
Auchelie (for Achadh a' Choille). Place in a wood.
Achadh, place, field; a', of the: choille, gen. asp. of coille,
hill, wood.
Auchencleith. Place of the concealment. Achadh,
place; an, of the; cleith, concealment.
Auchencruive. Place where a dead body had been
found. Achadh, place; an, of the; creubh (bh equivalent
to v), dead body.
Auchenhandock. Place of the black head. Achadh,
place; an, of the; cheann, ceann asp., head; dubh, black.
The name is descriptive of the place, which rises from the
Deveron to a hill.
Auchenten (for Achadh na Taine). Place of the cattle,
or of the burn. Achadh, place; na, of the; taine, gen. of
tain, cattle, burn.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 23
Auchentoul, Auchintoul. Place of the howe. Achadh
place; an, of the; tuill, gen. of toll, howe, pool.
Auchentrade. Place of the herd of cattle. Achadh,
place; an, of the; treid, gen. of trend, drove, herd.
Auchentumb. Place on a hill. Achadh, place; an, of
the; tuim, gen of torn, hill.
Aucheoch. Place in a howe. Achadh, place; iocfed,
howe.
Auchernach. Place of sloes. Achadh, place, field;
airneach, producing sloes.
Auchinbo (for Achadh na Bo). Place of the cow.
Achadh, place; na, of the; bo (for hoin, gen. of bo), cow.
Auchinbradie. Place of judgment. Achadh, place; na,
of the; 6reaf/i, judgment, Th had been changed to dh in
passing into Scotch.
Auchinclech. Same as Auchencleith.
Auchindarg (for Achadh na Deirge). Place of redness,
or red place. Achadh, place; na, of the; deirge, redness.
Auchindellan (for Achadh an Dailain). Field of the
meadow. Achadh, field; an, of the; dailain, gen. of dailan,
dim. of dail, meadow.
_ AuchindixNnie. Place of the little hill. Achadh, place,
held ; an, of the ; dunain, gen. of dunan, little hill.
Auchindoir. Place of the grove. Achadh, place; an, of
the; doire, thicket, clump of trees.
Auchindroin, Auchindryne. Place of the thorn. Ach-
adh, place; an, of the; droighinn, gen. of droigheann, thorn,
hawthorn.
_ Auchinhove, Auchinhuive, (for Achadh an Chuith).
Field of the cattle-fold. Achadh, field; an, of the; chuith,
gen. asp. of cuith, cattle-fold. An had originally been a'\
but when c of ch had been lost through softening a' had
become an. Final th of chuith had become bk— equivalent
to v. This change is very common in East London at the
present day, where feather is pronounced fever and mother
muver. Faobhar (pronounced fa-ver), edge of a tool, has
become feather in Scotch.
Auchinleith. Field of the half side. When a burn has
a hill-face on one side and a flat space on the other the
flat part is called the half side. Achadh, field, place; na, of
the; leith, side, half.
Auchintarph. Place of the bull. Achadh, place; an, of
the; tairbh, gen. of tarbh, bull.
Auchintender (for Achadh Taine Airidhe). Place of the
cattle pasture. _ Achadh, place; na, of the; taine, gen. of
tain, cattle; airidhe, gen. of airidh, summer pasture among
hills. D is a needless insertion made after n.
24 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Auchinyell. Field of the fold. Achadh, field; an, of
the; ghil, gen. of geal, white. White was a corruption of
chuith, cuit asp., fold, and it had been turned into Gaelic
by ghil.
Auchiries. Place of the shieling. Achadh, place;
airidhe, gen. of airidh. Final s arises from pronouncing
dh forcibly.
Auchlaws. Place on a small hill. Achadh, field, place;
lamhain, gen. of lamhan, small hill. Mh is equivalent to
w. An should normally have become ie, but it had been
made s.
Auchlee. Grassy place. Achadh, field, place; lee (form
of lea or ley), grass land. Lee might represent Hath, grey.
Auchlethen. Broad place. Achadh, place; leathan,
broad.
Auchleuchries (for Achadh Fliuch Airidhean). Place
of the wet pastures. Achadh, place; fliuch, wet; airidhean,
gen. plural of airidh, hill pasture. The local pronunciation
of the name is afleuchries.
Auchleven. Level place. Achadh, field; liomhanach
(mh sounded v and ach silent), smooth, even.
Auchlin, Auchline. Place of the pool. Achadh,
place; linne, pool, waterfall. Or, Place of the swampy
plain. Achadh, place; lein, gen. of lean, plain, corn-land,
meadow.
Auchloon. Wet place. Achadh, place; fhliuchain, gen.
asp. of fliuchan, wetness. Fh is silent and had been
dropped; so also had ch, which left liuain, lapsing into loon.
Auchlossan. Place near a small river. Achadh, place;
lossan, small river.
Auchmachar. Place of a level plain. Achadh, place;
machair, plain, level country.
Auchmacleddie (for Achadh na Clidhe). Place of the
assembly. Achadh, place; na, of the; clidhe, gen. of clidh,
assembly.
Auchmacoy (for Achadh na Cuith). Place of the cattle-
fold. Achadh, place; na, of the; cuith (th silent), cattle-fold.
Qui had at first been pronounced coo-ie.
Auchmade (for Achadh Moid). Place of the seat of a
barony court. Achadh, place; moid, gen. of mod, seat of
a court of justice.
Auchmaliddie (for Achadh an Leathaid). Place on the
slope of a hill. Achadh, place; an, of the; leathaid, gen. of
leathad, side, hill slope.
Auchmar. Place of the officer of justice. Achadh,
place ; maoir, gen. of maor, bailiff, messenger of a court.
Auchmedden (for Achadh Meadhonach). Middle field.
Achadh, field; meadhonach, middle.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 25
Auchmenzie. Place reserved for heifers. Achadh,
place; mangan, gen. plural of mang, heifer, fawn.
Auchmill, Auchmull. Place on a hill. Achadh, place,
field; mill, gen. of meall, hill.
Auchmore. Big field. Achadh, field, place; mor, big.
Auchmullen. Place of the mill. Achadh, place, field;
muillinn, gen. of muilleann, mill.
Auchmunziel. Place of the white hill. Achadh, place;
munaidh, gen. of munadh, hill; ghil, gen. of geal, white.
See Whitehill.
Auchnabo. Field of the cow. Achadh, field; na, of the;
bo (for boin), gen. of bo, cow. The name indicates a place
to which cows were sent to graze by themselves.
Auchnacant. Place of the pool. Achadh, place; na, of
the; canta, lake, puddle.
Auchnaclach. Field of the stone. Achadh, field; na,
of the; cloiche, gen. of clach, stone.
Auchnacraig Hill. Hill of the field of the mountain.
Achadh, field; na, of the; craige, gen. of creag, rocky moun-
tain, hill.
Auchnafoy, Auchnahoy, (for Achadh an Chuith). Place
of the fold. Achadh, place; an, of the; chuith, gen. asp. of
cuith, fold. Ch had become fh; and th, being silent, had
been lost. In Auchnafoy h had become silent and had
been lost, and in Auchnahoy / had been silent and had been
lost.
Auchnagathee. Place of the windy hill. Achadh,
place, field; an, of the; gaothach, windy; aill, gen. of aill,
hill, rocky hill.
Auchnagatt. Place of the roads. Achadh, place; nan,
of the; cat, gen. plural of cat, road, drove road. Two im-
portant roads cross at Auchnagatt.
Auchnagorth (for Achadh na Corth). Field of the stone
circle. Achadh, field; na, of the; corth, stone circle.
Auchnamoon. Place in a moss. Achadh, place; na, of
the; moine, moss.
Auchnapady. Field of the hummock. Achadh, field;
na, of the; paite, gen. of pait, hump.
Auchnarie. Place of the shieling. Acliadh, place; na,
of the; airidhe, gen. of airidh, summer pasture among bills.
Auchnarran, Achnaran (1696). Place on the hill.
Achadh, place; na, of the; arain, gen. of aran, hill.
Auchnashag (for Achadh na Aiseig). Place of the ferry.
Achadh, place; na, of the; aiseig, gen. of aiseag, ferry.
Auchnashinn. Place on a hill. Achadh, place; an, of
the; sithein, gen. of sithean (pronounced she an), hill.
Auchnavaird. Place at a meadow. Achadh, place,
field; a', of the; bhaird, gen. asp. of bard, meadow.
26 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Auchnave. Place at a loch. Achadh, place; an, of the;
abh, water.
Auchnavenie. Field of the hill. Achadh, field; na,
of the; bheinne, gen. asp. of beinn, hill.
Aucholzie. Place in a wood. Achadh, field, place;
choille, gen. asp. of coille, wood, forest, hill.
Auchorie. Place near a stream. Achadh, place ; ourain,
gen. of ouran, small stream. Ain normally became ie.
Auchorthie. Place of the stone circle. Achadh, place;
chortain, gen. asp. of cortan, sepulchral stone circle.
Auchquhath. Place on a main road. Achadh, place;
chath, gen. asp. of cath, road.
Auchravie. Woody place. Achadh, place; chraobhach,
craobhach asp., woody.
Auchreddachie. Keddish place. Achadh, place;
ruadhach, expansion of ruadh, red.
Auchreddie. Place of levelness, or level place. Achadh,
place; reidhe, gen. of reidhe, levelness.
Auchronie. Place rising to a sharp point. Achadh,
place; roinneach, pointed.
Auchrora Burn. Bed field burn. Achadh, field;
ruarach, expansion of ruadh, red.
Auchry. Place on a slope. Achadh, place; ruigh, slope.
Auchrynie. Ferny place. Achadh, place; raineach,
ferny.
Auchtavan. Small permanent dwelling-place. Achadh,
place; tamhan, dim. of tamh, residence.
Auchterellon. Upper island in the Ythan. Uachdar,
upper; eilean, island.
Auchterless. Upper circle. Uachdar, upper; lios (o
silent), circle of stones guarding a grave.
Auchterlownie (for Uachdar Fhliuchanach). Upper
wet place. Uachdar, upper; fhliuchanach, abounding in wet
places. Fh and ch, having become silent, had been dropped.
Ach had become ie.
Auchterwhaile (for Uachdar Bhaile). Upper town.
Uachdar, upper; bhaile, baile asp., town. Bh is equivalent
to u, v, or xv.
Auchtidonald (for Achadh a' Donn Uillt). Place of the
brown burn. Achadh, field; a', of the; donn, brown; uillt,
gen. of allt, burn.
Auchtydore. Place of the wood. Achadh, place; na,
of the; doire, wood, grove.
Auchtygall. Place of the rock. Achadh, place; a', of
the ; gall (Irish), rock, stone.
Auchtygills (for Uachdar Chuitan). Upper little fold.
Uachdar, upper; chuitan, small fold. Chuitan became
whitean, which was turned into gealan (geal, white; an,
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 27
dim. termination). An by mistake was made s, and geals
lapsed into gills.
Auchtylair. Upper land. Uachdar, upper; lar, land.
Auld Auchindoir. Burn of Auchindoir. Allt, burn.
See Auchindoir.
Aulu Fouchie Burn. Burn of the little fold. Allt,
burn; chuidan, cuidan asp., small fold. Ch became ph or /,
th became ch, and an became ie.
Auld Guid Wife's Cairn. Boundary pile of stones near
a burn passing a fold. Cairn is earn, pile. Auld is allt,
burn. Guid is cuid, fold, which had been prefixed to wife's
to explain it when its meaning had almost been forgotten.
Wife's represents cuitan, dim. of cuit, fold, which had
successively been chuitan, ivhiphan, wifan, wife's. Asp.
c had become asp. w and had afterwards lost the aspirate.
Asp. t had become asp. p, which is equivalent to /. An had
become s instead of ie.
Auld Kirk of Tough. Ancient stone circle round a grave
in Tough.
Auld Mill Bay. Mill-burn bay. Allt, burn.
Auld Warrachie Burn. Burn near which there is a
cottage. Allt, burn; bharrachaid, gen. asp. of barrachad,
hut, cottage. Bit is equivalent to w.
Auld Water. Burn. Allt, burn. Both parts of the
name have the same meaning.
Auldenachie (for Alltan a' Chuith). Small burn at a
fold. Alltan, small burn; a', of the: chuith (th silent), gen.
asp. of cuith, fold.
Auldfrushoch Burn. (In Gaelic, Allt Fraochach).
Burn from a heathery place. Allt, burn; fraochach,
heathery. Here ch has changed into sh — one asp. letter
into another.
Auldgarney. Bough bum. Allt, bum; garbhanach,
rough.
Auldlaithers. Burn of the hillside. Allt, burn; leitre,
gen. of leitir, hillside.
Auldmad. Burn of the level place. Allt, burn; maidh,
gen. of madh, a variant of magh, plain, level place among
hills.
Auldmaling (for Allt Meallain). Burn of the little hill.
Allt, burn; meallain, gen. of meallan, little hill.
Auldmuck. Burn of pigs. Allt, burn; muc, gen. plural
of muc, pig. Where there were cows on a shieling pigs
were kept to consume whey and buttermilk.
Auldton, Auldtown. Old town. Auld might be a
corruption of allt, burn, and then the name would mean
burn town.
28 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Auldyoch (for Allt Iochd). Burn of the howe. Allt,
burn; iochd, howe, low place.
Aultan Burn (for Alltan Burn). Small burn. Alltan,
dim. of allt, burn.
Aultdavie. Burn of oxen. Allt, burn; damhan, gen.
plural of damh, ox. Mh is equvalent to u, v, or w. The
usual gen. plural of damh is like the nom. sing.
Aultnapaddock (for Allt na Paiteig). Burn of the
little hump. Allt, burn; paiteig, gen. of paiteag, little
hump.
Auquhadlie. Grey field. Achadh, place, field; Hath,
grey.
Auquharney. Same as Acharnie.
Auquhorthies (for Achadh a' Chorthain). Place of the
small stone circle. Achadh, place; a', of the (suppressed);
chorthain, gen. asp. of corthan, for cortan, small stone
circle. Ain had been translated both by ie and s, having
been regarded first as a dim. and secondly as a plural
termination.
Aven. Kiver. Abhainn, river.
Avendow. Black water. Abhainn, water; diibh, black.
Avenue. Approach to a house. Latin through French.
Ad, to; venire, to come.
Aver Hill. Goat hill. Eibhir, castrated goat.
Avochie (for Abh a' Chuith). Water of the fold. Abh,
water, stream; a', of the; chuith, gen. asp. of cuith, fold.
Final th is almost always silent.
Ba' Hill. Hill on which there was a byre for cows at
summer pasture. Ba'iche, cow-byre.
Ba Muir. Muir of the cow-byre. See Ba' Hill.
Baad Brae. Wooded brae. Bad, thicket, wood.
Baads (for Badan). Thicket, small bushy place. An in
badan is a dim. termination, being singular, but it had been
represented by s in the belief that it was plural.
Baby Gowan. Both parts mean a cattle-fold. Babh-
unn, fold where cows were milked; gabhann, cattle-fold. In
babhunn bh lost the aspirate, and unn, being supposed to
be the dim. termination, was changed to y. In gabhann,
bh was equivalent to u, v, or w.
Back Bog. Moss bog. Bac, peat-moss; bog, bog.
Back Burn, Backburn. Moss burn, or burn on the
north or remote side of a hill. Bac, peat-moss.
Back Drum. Moss hill. Bac, moss; druim, long ridge.
Back Moss, Backmoss. Both parts of the name mean
the same thing. Bac, peat-moss.
Back of Mare. This name may mean moss at the
edge of the sea. Bac, moss; mara, gen. of muir, sea.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 2&
Back Styles. Back entrance. Styles means the pillars
of a gate.
Back Well. Moss well. Bac, peat-moss.
Backcammie Burn. Burn of the moss at a bend in the
boundary between Aberdeen and Forfar. Bac, peat-moss;
camaidh, gen. of camadh, crook, bend.
Backfold. Moss fold. Bac, peat-moss.
Backfolds. Folds for sheep or cattle on the north side
of a hill.
Backgarrach. Dirty little moss. Bac, moss; garrach,
small and dirty.
Backgreens. Green places in a moss. Bac, peat-moss.
Backiescroft. Croft at a small peat-moss. Bacan,
small moss. An, the dim. termination, had been made
first ie and subsequently s.
Backley. Mossy ley growing grass. Bac, peat-moss.
Backstone. Moss stone. Bac, peat-moss.
Backstrath. Back valley. Srath, alluvial river valley.
Backstripes. Small moss burns. Bac, moss.
Backwall, Back Wall, (for Bhaile Bac). Town of the
moss. Bhaile, baile asp., town; bac, peat-moss.
Backward, Backwaird. Enclosed field for beasts on
the north or remote side of a hill. Ward, place of protection
for live stock.
Backweird. Moss of the hill. Bac, moss; uird, gen. of
ard, hill.
Bad an Teachdaire. Bush of the messenger. Bad,
bushy place; an, of the; teachdaire, messenger. There are
rocks on the summit of the Bad, on which signals by fire
could be made.
Bad Leana. Bushy plain. Bad, bush; leana, level
ground.
Bad Mhic Griogair. See Allt Bad Mhic Griogair.
Bad na Ban (for Bad nam Ban). Bush of the women.
Bad, bush, wood; nam, of the; ban, gen. plural of ban,
woman. The name would have been appropriate for a
wooded place in which there was a hut for women in charge
of cows at hill-pasture in summer.
Bad na Beinne. Wood of the hill. Bad, bush, grove;
na, of the; beinne, gen. of beinn, hill.
Bad na Cuaiche. Bushy cup-shaped hollow. Badr
bush; na, of the; cuaiche, gen. of cuach, cup.
Bad na Imireach. Thicket of the migration. Bad,
thicket; na, of the; imriche, gen. of imrich, migration.
Bad na Moin, Bad na Moine. Thicket of the moor.
Bad, wood, clump of trees; na, of the; moine, moor.
Bad na Muic Bushy place to which swine were sent
30 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
to feed, away from cultivated ground. Bad, bush, place of
small trees; na, of the; muic, gen. of muc, sow.
Bad nan Cuileag. Wood of the flies. As the wood is
within a deep bend of a hill road, the name should perhaps
be Bad na Cuilteige, wood of the nook. Bad, wood, bushy
place; na, of the; cuilteige, gen. of ciiilteag, nook.
Bad nan Dearcag. Place where small berries grow.
Bad, bush; nan, of the; dearcag, gen. plural of dearcag,
little berry, cranberry, blaeberry.
Badanseanach, Burn of. Burn of the little hilly bushy
^lace. Badan, dim. of bad, bush; sitheanach (th silent),
hilly.
Baddoch (for Badach). Place where there are clumps
of trees. Badach, abounding in groves or small groups of
trees.
Badanhall Burn (for Bad an Choill Burn). Burn of
the bush on the hill. Bad, bushy place ; an, of the ; choill,
gen. asp. of coill, hill. C in choill is silent, and hoill be-
comes sometimes hole and sometimes hall.
Badenlea Hill (for Bad an Liath Choill). Thicket on
the grey hill. Bad, bush; an, of the; liath, grey; choill,
gen. asp. of coill, hill.
Badens. Small wood. Badan, thicket, small group of
trees. An, the dim. termination, had been supposed to be
plural, wherefore s was affixed to Badan.
Badenscoth (for Bad an Eas Cuith). Bush of the
burn at a fold. Bad, bush; an, of the; eas, burn; cuith,
fold. Bush means in Scotch a few trees. Burns says that
when he visited the famous Bush of Traquair it consisted of
eight or nine birch trees.
Badenshilloch (for Bad an Seilich). Bush of the willow.
Bad, bush; an, of the; seilich, gen. of seileach, willow.
Badenshore. Bush of the wild pea. Bad, thicket; an,
of the; siorr, vetches, wild pea.
Badanstone (for Baile Badain). Town at a bushy place.
Baile, town; badain, gen. of badan, small bushy place.
Town had become ton, and this had been corrupted into
stone.
Badentyre. Bushy place of the land. Bad, bush; an,
of the; tire, gen. of tir, land.
Badenyon (for Badan Iain). John's town. Badan,
house with trees round it, bushy place, grove; Iain, John.
Baderonach (for Badan Eoinneach). Eough bushy
place. Badan, thicket, bushy place; roinneach, shaggy,
rough.
Badgers' Hill. In Gaelic this name might have been
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 31
Tom nam Broc. Tom, hill; nam, of the; broc, gen. plural
of broc, badger.
Badiebath. Grove of birch trees. Badan, clump of
trees; beath, gen. plural of beath, birch tree.
Badiechell. Wood of the hill. Bad, bush, thicket,
wood; a', of the; choill, gen. asp. of coill, hill.
Badifoor. Shrubby place where there is grass. Badan,
small bushy place; feoir, gen. of feur, grass.
Badilaughter (for Badan Lamh-thire). Thicket of the
hill land. Badan, thicket; lamh-thire, gen of lamh-thir, hill
land.
Badingair Hill (for Coille Badain Ghairbh). Hill of
the rough bush. Coill, hill; badai?i, gen. of badan, bush;
ghairbh, gen. of garbh, rough.
Baditimmer (for Badan Tuim Airidhe). Thicket of the
hill of the shieling. Badan, thicket; tuim, gen. of torn,
hillock; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling.
. Badlean Burn. Burn of the level wooded plain. Bad,
grove ; lean, level ground.
Badnabein. Bush of the hill. Bad, bush, wood; na. of
the; beinne, gen. of beinn, hill.
Badnacauner. Bushy place on a level plain on a shiel-
ing. Bad, bush; na, of the; cabhain-airidhe, gen. of
cabhan-airidlie, plain on a shieling. Bh is equivalent to u.
Badnachraskie. Thicket of the crossing. Badan,
grove; na, of the; chrasgain, gen. asp. of crasgan, little
crossing.
Badnagoach. Bushy place on a hill. Bad, bush; an,
of the; chnuic, gen. asp. of cnoc, hill. Goach is pronounced
with the vocal organs in nearly the same positions as for
cnoc.
Badnayarrib (for Bad na h-Earba). Thicket of the roe.
Bad, wood, thicket; na, of the; h (euphonic); earba, gen. of
earb, roe.
Badnyrieves (for Badan Bathain). Bush at a small
circle. Badan, dim. of bad, thicket (a and n transposed);
rathain, gen. of rathan, small circle of stones round a grave,
small cattle-fold. Ain had been thought to be a plural
termination and had been changed to s.
Badochurn (for Bad a' Chuirn). Bush of the hill.
Bad, bush, bushy place; a', of the; chuirn, gen. asp. of
cam, hill.
Badychark (for Badan Fare). Clump of oaks. Badan,
clump; fare, gen. plural of fare, oak.
Badythrochar Well (for Tobar Badan Cnoc Airidhe).
Well of the thicket on the hill of the shieling. Tobar, well;
badan, dim. of bad, bush; cnoc, hill; airidhe, gen. of airidh,
32 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
shieling. Cnoc had become croc, and both the first and the
last letters had been asp. Then initial ch had been made th.
Baggageford. Ford at a bushy place. Badach, bushy.
Bagra (for Beag Bath). Small circle. Beag, small;
rath, circle of stones round a grave, fold for cattle or sheep.
Bahill. Same as Ba' Hill.
Baikie Burn. Burn of the moss. Bacain, gen. of bacan,
dim. of bac, peat-moss.
Baikiehill. Hill of the small peat-moss. Bacain, gen.
of bacan, dim. of bac, peat-moss.
Baikiehowe (for Toll Bacain). Howe of the moss. Toll,
howe (translated); bacain, gen. of bacan, dim. of bac, peat-
moss. Ain became ie in Scotch.
Baile na Coil. Town of the wood. Baile, town; na, of
the; colli, gen. of colli, wood, hill.
Bailiff's Skelly (for Baoghail Sgeilg). Bock of danger.
Baoghall {gh silent), gen. of baoghal, danger; sgeilg, rock.
The parts of the name had been transposed when baoghail
became bailiffs.
Baillie's Lair. Town land. Baile, town; lair, for lar,
land (transposed).
Bailliesward. Town at an enclosure for cattle. Baile,
town; ward, enclosure.
Baine Slack. Milk slack. Balnne, milk; slochd, slack,
gorge (transposed). Cows had been milked at this hollow.
Bainshole. White hill. Ban, white; choill, colli asp.,
hill. Coill is asp. because its adjective precedes it. In
choill c is silent and it had been dropped. S had been in-
serted to make Bain possessive. See Whitehill.
Bairnie. Gap. Bearna, gap, cleft, deep gorge between
hills.
Bairnie Hill. Hill with a gap. Bearna, gap, low place
in the horizon.
Bairnies Bocks. Bocks with a gap in them. Bearnas,
gap.
Bairn's Hill. Hill with a gap in it. JBearnas, gap.
From bearnas come also Barns, Barnes, Bairns, Bairnies,
Birness, Birns, and Burns.
Bairnsdale. Field in a gap or long hollow. Bearnas,
gap in a hillside, long hollow in level ground.
Bakebare. Point of land projecting into the Dee at a
bend. Bac, crook; barra, gen. of barr, point.
Balbithan. Town of birches. Baile, town; belthan,
gen. plural of belth, birch-tree.
Balblair. Town in an open moor. Baile, town; blair,
gen. of blar, open plain, moor.
Balblyth. Warm town. Baile, town; blath, warm.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 33
Balcairn. Town of the hill. Baile, town; cairn, gen.
of cam, hill.
Balohellach, Balachailach. Town of the kiln. Baile,
town; a', of the; chealaich, gen. asp. of cealach, limekiln,
kiln for drying oats, smith's forge.
Balchers (for Baile Chroise). Farm-town at cross-roads.
Baile, town; chroise, gen. asp. of crois, cross.
Balchimmy. Town of combing wool. Baile, town;
ciomaidh, gen. of ciomadh, combing wool.
Balcraig. Hill town. Baile, town; craige, gen. of
creag, hill, rock.
Baldyfash (for Baile a' Chais). Town on the brae.
Baile, town; a', of the; chais, gen. asp. of cas, ascent. D is
an intrusion. Ch had become ph, equivalent to /. 8 after i
sounds sh.
Baldyvin. Town on the hill. Baile, town; a', of the;
bheinne, gen. asp. of beinn, hill. D is an intrusion and y
represents a'.
Balearn (for Baile Fhearna). Town at the alder. Baile,
town; fhearna (fh silent), alder, arn.
Balfextaig. Nettle town. Baile, town; feanntaige,
gen. of feanntag, nettle.
Balfiddy (for Baile a' Chuidh). Town of the cattle-fold.
Baile, town; a', of the; chuidh, gen. asp. of cuidh, cattle-
fold. In Aberdeenshire ch frequently became ph or / in
passing into Scotch.
Balfluig. Wet town. Baile, town; fluich, wet.
Balfour. Town of grass. Baile, town; feoir, gen. of
feur, grass.
Balgairn. Town on the Gairn Burn. Baile, town. See
Gatrx.
Balgavexy. Town at a cattle-fold. Baile, town; gab-
haiyin, gen. of gabhann, cattle-fold. Ai and nn had been
transposed. This had frequently taken place, and hence
many names end in nay, ney, nie, or ny. Bh is equivalent
to u, v, or w.
Balgosie. Town of the fir-wood. Baile, town; giuth-
saich, gen. of giuthsach, fir-forest.
Balgove. Town of the smith. Baile, town; gobhainn,
gen. of gobha, smith. Gobhainn is also the gen. of gob-
hann, a cattle-fold.
Balgowax. Town of the cattle-fold. Baile, town;
gabhainn, gen. of gabhann. cattle-fold. Bh is equivalent to
u, v, or w.
Balgowxie (for Baile Gabhainn). Town of the cattle-
fold. Baile, town; gabhainn, gen. of gabhann, cattle-fold.
Ai and nn had been transposed. Bh is equivalent to u, v,
or w. See Balgavexy.
c
34 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Balgreen, Balgrennie. Sunny town. Baile, town;
greine, gen. of grian, sun.
Balhaggardy. Town with a yard for hay and stacks of
corn. Baile, town; haggard, cornyard. Haggard is the
common term in Ireland for an enclosed yard for stacks of
hay and corn. Much hay was needed in Scotland in ancient
times for winter food for cattle.
Balhandy. Town at a fank. Baile, town; fhangain,
gen. asp. of fangan, small fank. F had been aspirated, then
it had been dropped, leaving the aspirating h. D had been
inserted for euphony, and ain had become y.
Balhennie, Balhinny. Town of assembly. Baile, town;
ehoinne, gen. asp. of coinne, meeting.
Balintuim. Town at the hillock. Baile, town; an, of
the; titim, gen. of torn, hillock, knoll.
Ballabeg (for Bhaile Beag). Small town. Baile, town;
beag, small.
Ballachlaggan. Pass of the little howe. Bealach,
pass, road; lagain, gen. of lagan, little howe.
Ballamore. Big town. Baile, town; mor, big.
Ballater. Town at the hillside. Baile, town; leitire,
gen. of leitir, hillside. The accent ought to be on the
syllable lei; but doubling the I of baile had thrown it upon
the first syllable.
Ballaterich (common form Ballaterach). Town on
a hillside. Baile, town; leitrach, gen. of leitir, hillside. In
the " Eegister of the Great Seal " the name is Balnatrich.
Town on the river side. Baile, town; na, of the; traighe,
gen. of traigh, river side. This is probably the original form,
though both are appropriate.
Ballhill. Town of the hill. Baile, town.
Baluntober. Town at the well. Baile, town; an, of
the ; tobair, gen. of tobar, well. Tobar often became tipper.
Balloch. Pass between hills. Bealach, pass, moun-
tain gorge.
Ballochan. Pioad by a burn side. Bealach, way;
abhunn, gen. of abhainn, river.
Ballochbuie. Yellow road. Bealach, hill road; buidhe,
yellow. On the Ordnance Survey maps there are mistakes
in the use of bealach, a hill road, and bealaidh, broom. To
determine which should be used the circumstances of soil,
altitude, and convenience in travel have to be attended to.
Here bealach, a road, is selected because a yellow road
means one in which the subsoil appears yellow, as dis-
tinguished from a black, mossy, unsafe route.
Ballochburn. Burn of the pass. Bealaich, gen. of
bealach, pass over or between hills.
1740468
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 35
Ballochduie. Black road. Bcalach, hill road; dubh,
black.
Ballogie. Town in a little howe. Baile, town; lagain,
gen. of lagan, howe.
Balmacassie. Town at a brae. Baile, town; casaich,
gen. of casach, ascent.
Balmannocks. Middle town. Baile, farm-town; mea-
dhonach, middle. Aspirated d is silent. Final s is super-
fluous.
Balmaud. Town which was the seat of a barony court.
Baile, town; moid, gen. of mod, court of justice.
Balmedie. Town in the middle. Baile, town; mead-
hoin, gen. of meadhon, middle. Oin of meadhoin had been
regarded as the dim. termination, and it had been turned
into ie, the Scotch dim. termination.
Balmellie. Town of the little hill. Baile, town; mel-
Jain, gen. of meallan, dim. of meall, hill.
Balmenach. Middle town. Baile, town; meadhonach,
middle. The dh is silent.
Balmoor, Balmuir. Town of the moor or muir. Baile,
town; muir (Scotch), moor.
Balmoral. Big town. Baile, town; moral, majestic,
large. Moral might represent mor, big, and aill, gen. of aill,
hill.
Balmore. Big town Baile, town; mor, big.
Balnaan. Town at the river. Baile, town; na, of the;
■abhunn, gen. of abhainn, river.
Balnaboth. Town at a mansion. Baile, town, farm-
town; na, of the; both, house, mansion.
Balnacoil. Town of the wood. Baile, town; na, of the;
coill, wood, hill. Same as Baile na Coil.
Balnacraig. Town of the hill. Baile, town; na, of the;
craige, gen of crcag, hill, rock, cliff.
Balnacroft. Town at a level grassy place. Baile,
town; na, of the; croite, gen. of croit, croft.
Balnagarth. Town of the enclosure. Baile, town; na,
of the; garth, enclosed space, stone circle round a grave,
island in a river, fold, garden. Garth is the same as gorth.
Balnagowan (for Baile na Gabhainn). Town of the
cattle-fold. Baile, town; na, of the; gabhainn, gen. of
gabhann, cattle-fold, pumphal.
Balnagower. Town of the goats. Baile, town; na, for
nan, of the; gobhar, gen. plural of gobhar, goat.
Balnahard. Hill town. Baile, farm-town; na, of the;
h (euphonic); ard, height, hill.
Balnakelly. Town of the hill. Baile, town; na, of
the; coille, hill.
36 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Balnakettle (for Baile na Cuitail). Town at the-
cattle-fold. Baile, town; na, of the; cuitail, cattle-fold.
Balnalan. Town of the green plain. Baile, town; na,
of the; ailein, gen. of ailean, green plain.
Balnamoon. Town of the moor. Baile, town; na, of
the; mona, gen. of moine, moor.
Balnault. Town at the burn. Baile, town; na, of the;
uillt, gen. of allt, burn.
Balno, Balnoe. New town. Baile, town; nomlia, new
(mh silent).
Baloch Quarry. Quarry at the pass between Glen
Nochty and Glenbucket. Bealach, pass, road between two
hills. '
Balquhain. Town of assembly. Baile, town; choinne,
gen. asp. of coinne, meeting. There is at Balquhain a stone
circle round a grave, which had been a place appointed for
meetings because it had been well known.
Balquharn. Town of the hill. Baile, town; chairn,
gen. asp. of earn, hill.
Balquhindachy. Town of the place of meeting. Baile,
farm-town; choinne, gen. asp. of choinne, assembly; achadh,
place. The place of meeting had been on the Hill of Bal-
quhindachy, where cists, urns, and flint implements were
found in 1835. D is a phonetic insertion, but it is not
usually sounded.
Balquholly. Town of the hill. Baile, town; choille,
gen. asp. of coille, hill wood. Balquholly was formerly
the name of the place now called Hatton Castle. It is now
the name of a place in the Den of Kingsford,
Balring (for Baile Kuighein). Town on the slope of a
hill. Baile, town; raighein, gen. of ruighean, dim. of ruigh,
hill slope.
Balronald. Bonald's town. Baile, town; Raonull,
Ronald.
Balthangie (for Baile Fangain). Town of the sheep-
fold. Baile, town; fangain, gen. of fangan, dim. of fang,
fank, sheep-fold. F or ph became th, and ain became ie.
Baluss. Town on the water. Baile, town; uisge, water.
Balvack. Town of the moss. Baile, town; bhac, gen.
asp. of bac, moss.
Balvenie. Town of the hill. Baile, town; bheinne,
gen. asp. of beinn, hill.
Balwearie, Balweirie. Town at the seat of judgment.
Baile, town'; a', of the (suppressed); bhearachd, bearachd
asp., judgment.
Ban-Car. A modern name in which Ban represents
Bannerman, and Car represents Carnegie.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 37
Bandeen (originally Chuithail). Fold. Chuithail, cui-
thail asp., fold, corrupted into white hill and turned again
into Gaelic by ban, white; dun, hill.
Bandley (originally Chuit Liath). Grey fold. Chuit,
cuit asp., fold, corrupted into white and turned again into
Gaelic by ban, white, with d added for euphony; liath, grey.
Bandodle (originally Chuit Dubh Dail). Fold in a black
field. Chuit, cuit asp., fold, corrupted into white and turned
again into Gaelic by ban, white; dubh, black; dail, field.
Bandory (originally Chuit Doire). Field at a wrocd. Chuit,
cuit asp., fold, corrupted into white and turned again into
Gaelic by ban, white; doire, wood.
Bangalore. The chief town of Mysore. This must be
an imported Indian name.
Bank (originally Chuit). Fold. Chuit, cuit asp., fold,
corrupted into white and turned again into Gaelic by ban,
white, with k added for euphony. In the " Poll Book," 1696,
this place is called Bank Behitch. Behitch is beithach,
growing birches.
Bankhead (originally Chuit, to which chuid was added).
Both words mean fold. Chuit, cuit asp., fold, corrupted
into white and turned again into Gaelic by ban, white, with
k added for euphony; chuid, cuid asp., fold, corrupted into
head.
Bankie's Loup (originally Chuit Chuid Luib). Fold at
a nook. Chuit, cuit asp., fold, corrupted into white and
turned again into Gaelic by ban, white; chuid, cuid asp., fold,
corrupted into head and turned again into Gaelic by ceann,
head; luib, bend, nook. Chuid had been added to chuit to
explain it after being corrupted. C of ceann had been changed
to k, and eann had been made ie by some and s by others,
and both had been added to k.
Banking (originally Chuit Chuid). Fold. Chuit, cuit,
asp., fold, corrupted into tchite and turned again into Gaelic
by ban, white; chuid, cuid asp., fold, corrupted into head and
turned into Gaelic by ceann, head. Ceann had afterwards
become cinn, and this had been corrupted into king.
Banks. The same as Bank with s added, ban being
regarded as plural.
Bannoch (originally Chuitan). Small fold. Chuitan,
cuitan asp., small fold, corrupted into white an and turned
again into Gaelic by banan, dim, of bayi, white. Final an
had become na, and banan had become banna, now bannoch.
Banshed Moss (originally Bac Chuit Chuid). Moss at a
fold. Bac, moss; chuit, cuit asp., fold, corrupted into tchite
and turned again into Gaelic by ban, white, with s added
for euphony; chuid, cuid asp., fold, corrupted into head,
now hed.
38 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Ban stickle Burn. Burn draining the Links of Aber-
deen. Small fishes called banstickles were caught in it.
The Links are now drained.
Banteith (for Teach Chuit). House at a fold. Teach,
house, corrupted into teith; chuit, cuit asp., fold, corrupted
into ivhite and turned again into Gaelic by ban, white.
Bar Pot. Pot in the river Ythaa at a projecting point.
Barr, point.
Barbara's Hillock. Knoll of the barberry bush. Bar-
brag, barbery.
Bardock Eiver. Biver formed by a great dam. Bard,
dam, dyke; och, termination meaning great.
Bareflat, Barefold, Barehillock. Places destitute of
soil. By the ancient method of farming cattle were penned
at mid-day and at night in an enclosure or fold. For litter
to keep the fold dry thin turf sods were taken off waste
ground and carried into the fold. When wet and dirty the
earth was carried out and spread on a field constantly
cropped. Outlying parts of a farm were impoverished to
improve infield parts.
Barhaugh Pot. Pot at a point in a haugh. Barr, point.
Barmekin of Echt. An ancient cattle-fold on the sum-
mit of a hill in Echt. There are two rings of stones with
ditches. Barmekin is for barbican, the outermost ward or
enclosure of a castle, within which cattle were kept.
Barmkyn of Keig. An ancient cattle-fold on the summit
of a hill in Keig, surrounded by a single dyke.
Barn Door. Gap between two rocks. Bearna, gap.
Barn Yards. The place where the crop of the pro-
prietor's farm and his live stock were kept.
Barnes, Barns. Gap in high ground. Beam as, gap.
Barnoch Hill. Hill with a gap. Bearna, gap.
Baronet's Cairn. Cairn erected in honour of Sir Charles
Forbes, created a baronet in 1823.
Baron's Gate. If not English this name represents
Bearnas Gaothach, windy gap. Bearnas, gap; gaothach,
windy.
Baron's Hotel. Formerly the seat of barony courts
and probably an inn at the time. The baron was the holder
of the barony, which was hereditary.
Barr Hill, Barhill, Bar Hill. Pointed hill. Barr,
point.
Barra Hill. Hill of the point. Barr a, gen. form of barr,
point. On Barra there is a large enclosure which had been
a cattle-fold, though it is 'usually supposed to have been a
fort.
Barrack. High place. Barrachd, pre-eminence, place
raised up above others.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 39
Barreldykes (for Blairdykes). Dykes on an open moor.
Blair, gen. form of blar, open space. By transposition of
I and r, blair had become barrel, and sometimes burrel, as in
Honeybarrel, Burreldales.
Barrowsgate. Gate at a point of a wood. Barra, gen.
of barr, point.
Barry. Point. Barra, gen. form of barr, point, pro-
jecting end of a hill.
Bartle Muir. Muir on which a fair was held on St
Bartholomew's Bay.
Barthol Chapel. Chapel dedicated to St Bartholomew.
Basilhall. Farm-town named after a person whose
name was Basil, a derivative from basilcus (Greek), king.
Bass, The. The place of execution for the burgh of
Inverurie. Bas, death.
Bastion Lodge. Gatekeeper's house in the style of a
fortified entrance to Glentanar House. Bastione (Italian),
fortification.
Battle Fauld. Fauld supposed to have been the site of
a battle.
Battlehill. Hill on which a battle was said to have
been fought. Of this there is no evidence on record. Battle
might represent Bad Tulaich, bushy round-topped hillock.
Bad, bush; tulaich, gen. of tulach, hillock.
Baudnacauner. See Badnacauxer.
Baudy Meg. Bushy hill of great extent. Badan, bushy
place; mead, greatness of size and extent. Dh and gh are
pronounced alike, and thus d and g are interchanged.
Baudygaun. Thicket at a cattle-fold. Badan, thicket;
gabhainn, gen. of gabhann, cattle-fold.
Baudyground (for Badan Cruinn). Bound clump of
trees. Badan, clump; cruinn, round.
Baudylace Burn. Burn of a bushy place where there
was a cattle- or sheep-fold. Badan, bushy place, thicket;
Use, gen. of lias, enclosed place, cattle-fold, sheep-fold.
Baulus. Same as Baads; which see. After the letter a,
especially if long and broad, I is inserted.
Bawbee Loch. Milking-fold loch. Babhunn, cow-fold.
Babhunn having been thought to be a diminutive unn had
been made ee for ie.
Bawdley (for Bad Ley). Bushy grass land. Bad, bush;
ley (Scotch), grass land.
Beadshallock. Grove of willows. Bad, wood, grove;
seileach, gen. plural of seileach, willow.
Bealach Buidhe. Yellow pass. Bealach, pass; buidhe,
yellow. The reference must be to the colour of the subsoil.
Bealach Dearg. Bed pass. Bealach, pass, mountain
gorge ; dearg, red.
40 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Bealachodhar. Yellow pass. Bealach, pass; odhar,
dun, reddish yellow, with reference to the colour of the
subsoil.
Bean's Hill. Hill. Beinn, hill.
Beardie Wood. Trees and bushes with their tops look-
ing as if they had been shorn off. Bearrte, past part, of
bearr, to shear.
Bearhill. Top of the hill. Beur, top.
Bearnie. Place in a gap in a range of high ground.
Bearna, gap.
Bear's Den. Den where the bear-berry grew. Bear-
berry is in Gaelic grainnseag.
Beaulah Hall. Beaulah may be a mis-spelling of
Beulah, a place named in " The Pilgrim's Progress," where
the sun shone by night as well as by day.
Beauty Hill (for Buidhe Choill). Yellow hill. Buidhe,
yellow; choill, gen. asp. of coill, hill.
Beaver Crags. Kocks where beavers had made dams
in a burn. The Beaver Craigs are at the place where the
Macduff railway crosses the Gorrachie burn.
Bedehouse. House of prayer. The bedehouse was a
hospital for infirm old men, who were bound to say prayers
for the souls of the founder, his ancestors, and successors,
etc. Biddan (Anglo-Saxon), to pray.
Bedlaithen, Burn of. Broad wood burn. Bad, wood;
leathan, broad.
Bedlam. Thicket on a hill. Bad, bushy place; laimh,
gen. of lamh, hill. An old form is Bedlain, which would
mean thicket of the plain. Bad, bushy place; lean, meadow,
level place.
Begarry. Little rough place. Beag, small; garbli,
rough.
Beg's Burn. Little burn. Beag, little.
Begshill (for Coill Beag). Little hill. Coill, hill ;
beag, small. Beag having been supposed to be a personal
name 's had been added to it, and it had been put first in
the English way.
Begsley. Small piece of grass land near Beg's Burn.
Beag, small; ley, grass land.
Behinties. Thriving birch-wood. Beith, birch; chin-
tinn, pres. part. asp. of cinn, to thrive. Final inn had been
regarded first as the dim. termination, and afterwards as
the plural.
Beidlestown. Town at the thicket of the enclosure.
Bad, thicket; Use, gen. of lios, circle, stone circle, fold.
Beinn a' Bhuird. Table mountain. Beinn, mountain;
a', of the; bhuird, gen. asp. of bord, table. There is an
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 41
accent instead of an apostrophe on a on the Ordnance Survey
map.
Beinn a' Chaokruinn, Beinn a' Chaorruinn Bheag.
Mountain of the rowan tree, and Little mountain of the
rowan tree. Beinn, mountain; a', of the; chaorruinn, gen.
asp. of caorrunn, rowan tree; bheag, gen. of beag, little.
Beinn a' Chruinnich. Hill of the roundness, round hill.
Beinn, mountain; a', of the; cruinne, roundness.
Beinn Bhreac. Spotted hill. Beinn, hill; blireac, fern,
of brcac, spotted, dappled.
Beinn Bhrotain. The meaning of the name is uncertain.
Perhaps mountain of the veil. Blirotain, gen. asp. of brotan,
dim. of brot, veil, envelope. If this is correct the name indi-
cates that the summit of the hill is enveloped in cloud. Or
the name may be a derivative from brot, to fatten, which
would indicate that when cattle were pastured on it they
fed well.
Beinn Iutharn Bheag and Beinn Iutharn Mhor.
Little mountain of hell, and Big mountain of hell. These
absurd meanings are the results of ignorantly altering Lara
to Iutharn in the new edition of the Ordnance Survey maps
for the purpose of putting sense into the names. But Uarn
was correct and gave appropriate names to the two moun-
tains. The correct forms of the names would have been
Beinn a' Bheirn Bheag and Beinn a' Bheirn Mhor. Little
mountain of the gap and Big mountain of the gap. Beinn,
mountain; a', of the; bheirn, gen. asp. of beam, gap; bheag,
gen. asp. of beag, small; mhor, gen. asp. of mor, big. The
heights of the two mountains are 3424 and 3096 feet, and
their tops are a mile apart, with a deep gap between them.
Bh is sounded ;/, v, or iv, so that bhearn would have been
pronounced uarn, varn, or warn, indifferently, by the same
person.
Beinn Mheadhoin. Middle mountain. Beinn, moun-
tain; mheadhoin, gen. asp. of mcadhon, middle.
Bekiebutts. Small tails or bits of moss. Bacain, gen.
of bacan, small peat-moss; biitts, ends.
Belbo. Cow-fold. Buaile, milking-fold; bo, gen. plural
of bo, cow.
Beld Craig. Bald hill. Crcag, hill.
Beldorney. Stony town. Baile, town; dornach,
abounding in small stones.
Belfatton. Town of the small fold. Baile, town;
chuitain, gen. asp. of cuitan, small fold. Ch had become
ph, equivalent to /.
Belhangie. Town at a small fold. Baile, town; fhan-
gain, gen asp. of fangan, small fold. F silent had been lost.
Belhelvie (for Baile Shealbhain). Town of cattle.
42 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Baile, town; shealbhain, gen. asp. of sealbhan, cattle. After
being aspirated s had become silent, and it had been lost.
Bell Knowe. Knoll on which there was a church-bell.
Bell Wood. See Belwade.
Bellabeg. Small town. Baile, town; beag, little.
Bellamore. Big town. Baile, town; mor, big.
Bellamore Craig. Cliff on the hill above Bellamore.
Baile, town; mor, big; creag, rock, cliff, hill.
Bellastrade (for Baile na Sraide). Town at the road-
side. Baile, town; na, of the; sraide, gen. of sraid, road.
Bellevue. Beautiful prospect. Belle (French), beau-
tiful; vue (French), prospect.
Bellmuir. Town on the moor. Baile, towu. Or, Fold
on the moor. Buaile, cattle-fold.
Bellsfold (for Baile Cuith). Town at a cattle-fold.
Baile, town; cuith, cattle-fold (translated).
Bellyhack (for Baile Acha). Town on a burn. Baile,
town; acha, burn.
Bellys wells, Bellieswell. Little town. Baile,
town; suail, small. Final s is a needless addition.
Belnabodach. Town of the spectre. Baile, town; na,
of the; bodaich, gen. of bodach, spectre.
Belnaboth. Town at the mansion-house. Baile, town;
na, of the; both, hut, house, mansion.
Belnacraig. Town on a hill. Baile, town; na, of the;
craige, gen. of creag, hill.
Belnagauld (for Baile na Gabhail Allt). Town at the
fork of a burn. Baile, town; na, at the; gabhail, fork;
allt, burn.
Belnaglack. Town of the howe. Baile, town; na, of
the; glaic, gen. of glac, hollow.
Belnagoak (for Beinn a' Chnoic). Hill. Both parts
have the same meaning, and the first had been added to
explain the last. Beinn, hill; a', of the; chnoic, gen. asp.
of cnoc, hill. The first syllable is sometimes made ben and
sometimes bel, as in Belrinnes or Benrinnes. See Cnoc.
Belneaden. Town on a brae. Baile, town; na, of the;
aodainn, gen. of aodann, face, brae. Aodann becomes eden
or edin in place-names when it is a prefix.
Belnoe. New town. Baile, town; nomha, new. Mh
represents the sound of v, but it readily becomes silent.
Belrorie. Bed hill. Beinn, hill; ruarach, expansion of
ruadh, red. Beinn sometimes becomes bel before r.
Belscamphie. Bellscamphie, Belskavie, (for Baile
Sgamhain). Farm town of a barn stored with hay or grain.
Baile, town; sgamhain, gen. of sgamhan, barn for hay or
grain. Mh is equivalent to u, v, or w; and ain became ie
in passing into Scotch.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 43
Beltamore (for Baile Teach Mor). Town at <the big
house. Baile, town; teach, house; mor, big.
Beltie. Farm towns. Bailte, plural of baile, farm
town, village.
Beltimb. Town of the hill. Baile, town; tuim, gen. of
torn, hill.
Belvidere. Beautiful view. Belvidere (Italian), to have
a beautiful prospect.
Belwade (for Baile a' Bhaid). Town of the wood.
Baile, town; a', of the; bhaid, gen. asp. of bad, wood, bush.
Bh is equivalent to u, v, or iv.
Ben Avon. Mountain near the Avon. Beinn, moun
tain; abhunn, gen. of abhainn, river.
Ben Macdhui (for Beinn na Muiche Duibhe). Mountain
of the black cloud. Beinn, mountain; na, of the (sup-
pressed); muiche, gen. of mulch, fog.
Ben na Flog (for Beinn a' Chnuic). Hill of the hill.
Beinn, hill; a', of the; chnuic, gen. asp. of cnoc; which see.
Ben Newe. Hill of Newe. Beinn, hill. See Newe.
Benaquhallie. Hill of the herding. Beinn, hill; a', of
the: cliuallaich, gen. asp. of cuallach, herding.
Bendauch. Hill farm. Beinn, hill; davoch, farm.
Bennachie (old form, Bennochkey). Hill of the cattle-
fold. Beinn, hill; na, of the; chuith (tli silent), gen. asp. of
cuitli, cattle-fold. The so-called fort on the hilltop was a
cattle-fold. Ciche, gen. of cioch, pap, has also been sug-
gested as the root of the last part of the name, but it is an
objection to this etymology that the last part is always a
monosyllable.
Bennet's Love. Hills at a crook. Beanntan, plural of
beimi, hill; luib, bend. An had normally become s.
Benstill Brae (for Beinn na Still Brae). Brae of the
hill of the spring. Beinn, hill; na, of the; still, gen. of
steall, gushing spring. Brae may represent the Gaelic word
braighe, hill.
Benthoul (for Beinn Choill). Both parts of the name
mean hill, and it must be post-Gaelic. Beinn, hill; choill,
gen. asp. of coill, hill. Ch had become th.
Bents. Hills. Beanntan, plural of beinn, hill. An had
been translated into s, the English plural termination.
Ben wells. Hill town. Originally the name had been
Baile Beinne, town of the hill. Baile, town; beinne, gen.
of beinn, hill. The order of the parts had been changed
to get the accented part first in the English way, and then
baile became bhaile, pronounced ivale, which had lapsed
into wall and then well. Final s is an improper addition.
Berefold. Fold near a stream. Bior, water, stream.
Berefold is near Dudwick burn.
44 Celtic Place-N ames in Aberdeenshire.
Berrybrae. Brae where small berries grow.
Berryden (for Biorach Den). Watery hollow. Biorach,
watery, marshy. In its natural state a stream of water ran
along the den, and there were several pools in it.
Berryhill. Watery hill. Biorach, watery. Or, Hill
whereon berries grow.
Berryleys. Wet grassy places. Biorach, watery; leys
(Scotch), grassy places.
Berrymill. Watery hill. Biorach, watery; meall, hill.
Berrymoss. Wet moss. Biorach, watery.
Berry's Burn. Both parts of the name refer to water.
Biorach, watery.
Berry's Loup. Bend with a sharp point. Biorach,
pointed; luib, bend.
Berryslack, Berryslacks, Berrysloch, (for Biorach
Slochd). Watery slack. Biorach, watery; slochd, ravine.
Final s is unnecessary.
Berrywell. Watery town. Biorach, watery; bhaile,
baile asp., town. Bh is equal to u, v, or iv ; and bhaile be-
came wale, then ivall and well.
Bervie. End of cattle-fold. Bear, top end; chuidh,
gen. asp. of cuiclh, cattle-fold. See Cuid and Fyvie.
Berwick. Head of a nook. Beur, end, head; uige, gen.
of uig, nook, solitary hollow.
Bethelnie (for Beith Ailein).. Birch growing in a level
place. Beith, birch tree; ailein, gen. of ailean, plain. Ei
and n had been transposed.
Bethlin. Birch-wood in a plain. Beath, birch-wood;
lean, plain, level ground.
Betteral Well. Well at a byre for cows on a shieling
on a hill. Betteral may represent Bo-thigh Airidh Ail. Bo-
thigh, cow-house; airidh, shieling; aill, gen. of aill, hill.
Bhonich (for Tir a' Mhonaich). Land of the mountain.
Tir, land; a', of the; mhonaich, gen. asp. of monach, a
variant of monadh, mountain. Bh and mh are both sounded
v, hence they are sometimes interchanged.
Bicker Moss. Moss of the shieling. Bac, moss; airidhe,
gen. of airidh, shieling.
Bickerhard. Moss on a shieling hill. Bac, moss;
airidh, shieling; ard, hill, height.
Bield. Place full of farm-towns. Bailte, plural of baile,
town, house, home.
Bieldside. Site of farm-towns. Bailte, plural of baile,
farm-house; suidhe, seat, site, place.
Biffie (Bidben in the " Book of Deer "). Yellow hill.
Buidhe, yellow; bheinn, hill.
Bilbo, Bilboa. Cow-fold. Buaile, milking-fold ; bo,
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 45
gen. plural of bo, cow. Buaile is equivalent to Latin bovile,
cattle-fold.
Bilbopark. Park at an ancient cattle-fold. See Bilbo.
Poire, park.
Bin, The. The hill. Beinn, hill.
Bin Moss. Hill moss. Beinn, hill.
Binghill. Hill of judgment, seat of barony courts.
Binn, judgment, sentence.
Binhall, Binhill. Both parts mean hill. Beinn, hill.
Bink of Whiteshin (originally Beinn a' Chuithail). Hill
of the fold. Beinn, hill, with euphonic 7; added; a', of the;
chuithail, cuithail asp., fold, corrupted into white hill. Hill
had afterwards been turned into Gaelic by sithean (pro-
nounced she-an), hill.
Binside. Hillside. Beinn, hill.
Birkenbkewl (for Bior an Bruillidh). Burn of a mill.
Bior, water, burn: an, of the; bruillidh (idh silent), gen. of
bruillcadli, thrashing, crushing.
Birkford. Ford of birches. Fords on rapid streams
were made safe to cross by laying stems of trees in the
channel, side by side, close together, to prevent excavation
of holes. For this purpose birches were used. Such a ford
was called Slateford, from slat, rod, stem of a tree.
Birkhall. Mansion-house among birch trees. For-
merly a farm-house with a large kitchen open to all about
the farm was called by a name ending in hall.
Birkie Wood. Birch wood. Birhen (Scotch), birchen.
Birks. Birch-trees.
Birks Burn. Burn bordered with birches. Birks
(Scotch), birch-trees.
Birlie Cottage. The accented syllable of Birlie is now
first, but originally it had been last, and the name may have
been Leth Bior. Side of the water. Leth (th silent), side:
bior, water.
Birness, Mill of. Mill in a gap between two heights.
Bcarnas, gap.
Birnie Wood. Wood of the gap or hollow. Bearna, gap.
Birns. Gap. Beam as, gap. There is a gap between
two knolls on the south side of the house called Birns.
Birsack (for Barr Samhach). Pleasant point. Barr.
point; samhach. quiet, pleasant.
Birse. Hilly places. Braigh, high part of a district,
with s, the sign of the plural in English. An old spelling is
Brass. In the modern form r and i have been transposed.
Birsebeg. Little Birse. Bcag, little. See Birse.
Birselasie (for Braigh Lasaidh). Hill of flame,
Braigh, hill; lasaidh, gen. of lasadh. fire, flame.
Birsemore. Big Birse. Mor, bin. See Birse.
46 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Bishop's Loch. Loch belonging to the Bishop of Aber-
deen.
Bisset. Detached place. Pioste, past part, of pios, to
cut off.
Bisset Moss. Detached piece of moss. Pioste, past
part, of pios, to cut off.
Bissetscross (for Crios Piosaidh). Cross of division.
Crios, cross; piosaidh, gen. of piosadh, dividing.
Bithnie (for Beithan). Birches. Beithan, plural of
•beith, birch. A and n had been transposed.
Blachrie, Blackrigg. Milking-fold on a hillside.
Bleogliann, milking; ruigh, slope.
Black Banks. Black fold. See Banks.
Black Bothy. A hut made of black sods. Bothan,
small hut. In smuggling times whisky was made in bothies
among the hills, so situated that they could not be seen
from a distance.
Black Dog, Blackdog. Bock like a black dog. If
the last part of the name has the accent it must be an
adjective, and it may be a corruption of dubh, black. Both
parts of Black Dog may have the same meaning.
Black Hill of Mark. Black hill beside Glen Mark.
See Glen Mark. *
Black Sneck, Blacksnake. Black slow-running burn.
Snaig, to creep, crawl.
Black Spout. Black watercourse. Sput, small waterfall
clearing the rock from which the water falls, watercourse.
Black Stob. Black pointed hillock.
Blackbaulk. Black band of division between two farms.
Baulk, the strip of uncultivated ground between two ridges.
There was no soil on the baulks, and stones of the fields
were laid on them.
Blackblair. Open black moor. Blar, open place. Per-
haps for Blar Bleoghainn. Moor on which cows were
milked when at summer pasture. Blar, open moor; bleogh-
ainn, gen. of bleogliann, milking.
Blackchambers. This name is corrupted, and the
original form cannot with certainty be restored. Perhaps it
had been Sean Airidhean Dubha. Old black shieling huts.
Sean, old (pronounced shan); airidhean, plural of airidh, hut
on a shieling; dubha, black. Sean has become sham in
some names ; b is a needless insertion ; final s shows that a
part of the name had ended in an — the Gaelic plural
termination.
Blackfolds. Fold built of black mossy sods. In the
inside of the wall there might have been a row of trunks
•of trees let into the ground. The wall gave shelter from
wind and rain.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 47
Blackgutter. Black water channel. Guitear, conduit,
•drain, sewer.
Blackhall. Hall may represent choill, coill asp., hill,
after loss of initial c, as in Hallhill, where both parts mean
the same thing. A large mansion-house has often a name
ending in hall, perhaps because it has taken the place of the
castle of old times, and it is often spoken of as The Hall.
Blackhouse. Dairy house. Bliochd, milk.
Blacklatch Well. Black hollow well. Lathacli, mire.
Latch means a hollow crossing a road. It is usually wet
and muddy.
Blacklinn Burn. Black pool burn. Linne, pool, pond,
waterfall.
Blacklug. Black projecting high ground. Lug
(Scotch), ear, projection from the head. At Blacklug Norrie
hill projects from a large mass of high ground.
Blackmiddens. Black middle town. Meadhon, middle.
Final s represents on.
Blackness (for An Eas Bleoghainn). The burn of the
milking. .4/*, the; eas, burn; bleoghainn, gen. of blcogltann,
milking. There had been a fold for cows near the burn.
Blackpots, Bleckpots (1696). Small pool at a place
where cows were folded and milked. Poitean, small pot or
pool; bleoghainn, gen. of bleoghann, milking. An had
wrongly been made s.
Blackrigg. Same as Blachrie.
Blackscrath. Place where the green sod had been
removed, leaving bare black soil. Sgrath, turf, sod.
Blackshiel Burn. Burn near a summer hut built of
mossy sods. Seal (pronounced shyal), shiel, shieling.
Blackstock, Blackstocks. Black, steep, pointed hill.
Stoc, steep, sharp hill.
Blackstrath. Burn valley where cows were fed and
milked. Bliochd, milk; strath, burn valley.
Blackton. Town of the milking, place where cows had
been penned and milked. Baile, town; bleoghainn, gen. of
bleoghann, milking.
Black well Head (for Tobar Chuid Bleoghainn). Well
of the milking-fold. Tobar, well; chuid, cuid asp., fold;
bleoghainn, gen. of bleoghann, milking. Chuid had become
first huid and afterwards head.
Blaikie Well. Well at a milking-fold. Bleoghann,
milking.
Blair, Blairs. Open place. Blair, for blar, open
place, moor, heath. Final s is an improper addition, made
because Blair is the gen. form and was supposed to be a
personal name.
48 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Blair Glas, Blairglas. Green open moor. Blarr
open moor; glas, green, grey green.
Blair Hussey (for Blar Choise). Open place at the
foot of a hill. Blair, for blar, open place; choise, gen. asp.
of cos, foot.
Blairbowie. Yellow open place. Blair, for blar, open
place; bvidhe, 37ellow.
Blairdaff. Open moor of the oxen. Blar, open place,,
moor; damh, gen. plural of damh, ox. Blair, the gen. form,
is often used for blar.
Blairdubh, Blairduff. Black open moor. Blair, for
blar, open moor; dubh, black.
Blairfad, Blairfads. Moor of the fold, and Moor of
the small fold. Blar, open moor; chuid, gen. asp. of
cuid, fold; chuidan, gen. asp. of cuidan, small fold. Asp.
c had become asp. p, which is /. Ain had been made s
instead of ie.
Blairfowl. Open place where there was a pool. Blair,
for blar, open place; ph/uill, gen. asp. of poll, pool, marsh.
Blairhead. Open muir of the cattle-fold. Blair, for
blar, open moor; chuid, gen. asp. of cuid, cattle-fold.
After being asp. c had become silent.
Blairindinny. Open space at a small hill. Blair, for
blar, open place; an, of the; dunain, gen. of dunan, small
hill.
Blairmore. Large open space. Blair, for blar, expanse;
mor, big.
Blairmormond. Big moor. Blair, moor; mor, big;
monadh, moor.
Blairnamuick. Field of the sow. Blar, open place,
green field; na, of the; mine, gen. of muc, sow, pig.
Blairordens. Open place of the little hill. Blair, for
blar, open place ; ordain, gen. of ordan, small hill. Ain had
been mistaken for the plural termination, and s had been
added to ordain.
Blairour. Open moor between two burns. Blar, moor,
open place; our, gen plural of our, water, burn.
Blairton. Town in an open place. Blar, open moor,
heath. In names, the gen. form blair is generally used.
Blairwick of Cults. Wide part of the Glen of Cults.
Blair, wide, open place; uig, gen. of uig, nook.
Blairythan. Open space beside a stream. Blair, open
place; ithan, stream. See Ythan, Ythanside, Itenheade.
Blakeshouse (for Teach Bleoghainn). Milking-house.
Teach, house (translated); bleoghainn, gen. of blcoghann,
milking. Ainn had erroneously been supposed to be the
plural termination and had been translated into s. At
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 49
Blakeshouse there had been a byre for cows on summer
pasture and a dairy for butter and cheese.
Blankets (for Cuitan Bleoghainn). Fold of milking.
Cuitan, dim. of cuit, fold; bleogliainn, gen. of bleoghann,
milking. An of cuitan having been supposed to be a plural
termination had been changed into s.
Blar Dubh. Black open moor. Blar, open place; dubli,
black.
Blar Ime. Field of butter. Blar, plain, open place;
ime, gen. of im, butter.
Blashbeans (for Blath Bheann). Warm hill. Blatli ,
warm; bheann, beann asp., hill. Th had become sh, and
ann had been erroneously regarded as a plural termination
and s had therefore been added to bheann.
Blelack. Smooth stone. Blaith-leac, smooth stone.
The stone referred to is St Wolack's stone at Kirkton, nearly
a mile south of Blelack House.
Blethery Well. Warm shieling well. Blath, warm;
airidhc, gen. of airidh, shieling.
Blind Burn, Blindburn, Blind Stripe, Blindstripe.
There is in Gaelic a word caoch, blind, and there had once
been another meaning burn, with its dim. caochan, small
burn. Blind here seems to be a translation of the first
caoch instead of the second, whose meaning had been
forgotten. In Blind Burn both parts of the name mean
the same thing.
Blind Well. Town near a burn. Caoch, burn (trans-
lated); bhaile, baile asp., town. Bh is equivalent to u, v,
or w, and baile asp. has frequently become well. See
Blind Burn.
Blindmills. Mills on a burn. See Blind Burn.
Blinkbonny. This name is probably taken from the
words "blink bonny" in Motherwell's song " Craigielea."
If it is Gaelic it might be a corruption of Bleoghann Boine,
the milking of a cow. Bleoghann, milking; boine, gen. of
bo, cow.
Blockiehead (for Cuid Bleoghainn). Fold of milking.
Cuid, fold; bleoghainn, gen. of bleoghann, milking. Bleoch-
ainn had become blockie, which had been put first. Cuid had
been asp. and put last, and c being silent had been lost.
Bloody Burn. (In Gaelic Allt Bleodhainn). Milk
burn, burn where cows were pastured and milked. Allt,
burn (translated); bleodhainn, gen. of bleodhann, milking.
Ainn had been changed into y.
Bloody Butts of Lendrum. See Lendrum. Bloody
Butts had originally been Buthan Bleodhainn, houses for
milking cows. Buthan, plural of buth, booth; bleodhainn,
gen. of bleodhann, milking.
D
50 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Bloody Faulds. Milking folds. Bleodhann, milking.
Ann had been thought to be the dim. termination and had
been changed to y.
Bloody Hole (for Bleodhann Choill). Milking of trip
hill. Bleodhann, milking; choill, coill asp., hill. C had
been lost, being silent. Originally the name had been Coill
Bleodhainn, hill of milking. Coill, hill; bleodhainn, gen.
of bleodhann.
Blue Bog. Bog at a milking-foid. Bleoghann, milking-
place.
Blue Cairn. Perhaps this name means hill on which
there was a cow-fold where cows were milked. Bleoghainn,
gen. of bleoghann, milking; cam, hill. Cam had once been
first. The O.S. map shows the site of a cairn, but the
officials did not know that cam meant a hill.
Blue Corrie. Corry where cows were milked. Bleogh-
ann, milking of cows; coire, corry. Blue Corry may be a
translation of Coire Gorm, which might have been better
rendered Green Corry. Gorm means both blue and green.
Blue Hill, Bluehill. Hill where cows were milked
when at summer pasture. Bleoghann, milking of cows.
There are many Blue Hills, all indicating old dairying places.
Blue Stone. Bock at which there was a milking-fold
on a shieling. Bliochd, milk.
Blue Well. Well at a milking-place. Bleoghann,
milking-place.
Bluecraig Hill. Hill seen from a great distance, at
which it has a blue colour. Creag, hill.
Bluefield. Milking-field, or field whose pasture yields
much milk. Bliochd, milk.
Bluefold. Milking-fold. Bleoghann, milking-place.
Unless when part of the name of a lofty hill blue generally
means milk or milking-place in a place-name.
Blueley. Grassy place productive of milk. Bliochd,
milk; ley, grassy place.
Bluemill (for Meall Bleoghainn). Hill of the milking.
Meall, hill; bleoghainn, gen. of bleoghann, milking. Gh is
silent and ainn had become ie, which produced bleoie, and
this had become blue.
Bluemoor Hill. Hill on which cows were pastured and
milked. Bleogliann, milking-place.
Blythehillock. Milking-place at a hillock. Bliochd,
milk.
Bo (for Achadh Bo). Place of cows. Achadh, place
(suppressed); bo, gen. plural of bo, cow.
Boar's Stone. Big stone. Borr, big.
Boarshead, Boar's Head. Big fold. Borr, big, with s
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 51
added to get an English possessive; chaid, cuid asp., fold.
By loss of c silent clniid had become head.
Boat Craig. Kock where a boat could be entered or
left. Creag, rock.
Boatleys. Grassy places at a boat. Ley, grassy land.
Bockie Burn. Burn of the bog. Allt, burn (translated);
bogain, gen. of bogan, quagmire. Ain had been translated
into ie in Scotch.
Bodachra. Fold-house. Both, house; a', of the; chra,
gen. asp. of era, fold.
Boddam, Boddum. Oxen-house. Both, hut, house;
damh, gen. plural of damh, ox.
Boddomend (for Both Damhan). House for oxen.
Both, house; damhan, gen. plural of damh, ox.
Bodychell (for Badan Choill). Thicket of a hill. Badan,
bush ; choill, gen. asp. of coill, hill.
Bodylair (for Bothan Lair). House of the land.
Bothan, dim. of both, house; lair, gen. of lar, land.
Bog Brannie. Bog of the little burn. Bog, marsh;
branain, gen. of branan, little mountain stream. Ain be-
came ie.
Bog Loch, Bogloch. Bog of the loch.
Bog Luchray. See Luchray.
Bog of Culsh. Bog in a retired place. Bog, bog; cuil-
teach, private, secluded.
Bog of Saughs. Willow bog. Seileach, saugh, Scotch
for willow. See Saughs.
Bog of Gothie. See Gothie.
Bog Sluey (for Bog Sluic). Bog of the den. Bog, bog;
sluic, gen. of slochd, pit, gorge, ravine, slug.
Bog Wartle. Bog beside a hill where cattle at summer
pasture were guarded at night to prevent them from straying
and from being stolen by Highland thieves. See " Historical
Papers," Vol. I. (New Spalding Club). Wartle, ward hill.
Bogancaller. Bog of the marsh Bog, bog; an, of the;
calla, marsh.
Bogandacker. Bog of the water. Bog, bog; an t-, of
the ; acha, water.
Bogandy. Black bog. Bogan, bog; dubh, black.
Boganglaik. Bog of the hollow. Bog, bog; an, of the;
glaic, gen. of glac, hollow between two heights.
Boganloch. Bog of the loch. Bog, marsh; an, of the;
loch, lake.
Bogansourie. Bog of wetness. Bogan, bog; sugh-
mhorachd, wetness. The asp. letters and final d had been
lost.
Bogbraidy. Bog of the hill. Bog, bog; braighe (for
52 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
braghad, gen. of braighe), hill. As gh and dft are pronounced
alike the one is often used for the other.
Bogbuie. Yellow bog. Bog, bog; buidhe, yellow.
Bogcoup. Bog of the hill. Bog, bog; coip, gen. of cop,
hill.
Bogdavie. Bog of oxen. Bog, bog; daimh, gen. of
damh, ox. Mh is equivalent to u, v, or w.
Bogenchapel. Bog at the chapel. Bog, bog; an, of the ;
chaibeil, gen. asp. of caibeal, chapel, family burying-ground.
Before 1560 there were many small chapels with burying-
grounds in Scotland.
Bogendinny. Bog of the little hill. Bog, bog; an, of
the; dunain, gen. of dunan, little hill.
Bogengarrie. Rough bog. Bogan, bog; garbh, rough.
Bogenjohn. Bog at a hill. Bogan, wet place; duin, gen.
of dun, hill.
Bogenjoss. Bog of the fir. Bogan, bog; giuthais, gen.
of giuthas, fir.
Bogenlea. Bog of the grassy place. Bog, bog; an, of
the; ley (Scotch), grassy place.
Bogenspro. Meadow where cattle fed. Bogan, bog,
meadow; spreidhe, gen. of spreidh, cattle.
Bogentassie (for Bog an t-Easain). Bog of the little
burn. Bog, bog; an £-, of the; easain, gen. of easan, small
burn, little cataract.
Bogerduch (for Bog Airidhe Duibhe). Bog of the black
shieling. Bog, marsh; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling;
duibhe, gen. fem. of dubh, black.
Bogerfoul (for Bog Airidh Phuill). Bog of a shieling
at a pool. Bog, bog; airidh, shieling; phuill, gen. asp. of
poll, pool.
Bogfearn, Bogfern. Alder bog. Bog, bog; fearna,
alder.
Bogfechil. Bog near a watching-place. Bog, bog;
faicille, gen. of faicill, watch, guard.
Bogfennan (for Bogfinain). Bog of the little hill. Bog,
wet place, meadow; finain, gen. of finan, dim. of fin, hill.
Bogforgue. Bog consisting of a semi-liquid mixture of
earth and water. Bog, bog; fuaraig, gen. of fuarag, mix-
ture of earth and water.
Bogforlea. Bog at a grassy place outside of a farm.
Bog, bog; for-ley, grassy place at the front.
Bogforth (perhaps for Bog Chorth). Marsh at an
enclosed space. Bog, marsh; chorth, corth asp., circle,
stone ring round a grave, fold for cattle or sheep.
Bogfossie (for Bog a' Chosain). Bog of the little
hollow. Bog, bog; chosain, gen. asp. of cosan, dim. of cos,
Celtic Place-Namcs in Aberdeenshire. 53
hollow. No Gaelic word in / yields fossie ; but /, being an
asp. letter, may represent ch, another asp. letter.
Bogfouton (for Bog Chothain). Bog covered with a
frothy scum. Bog, bog; chothain, gen. asp. of cothan, froth.
Ch had become ph, equivalent to /; and h of th had become
silent and had been lost. Fouton may represent chuitan,
small fold.
Bogfur. Bog of grass. Bog, bog; feoir, gen. of feur,
grass.
Boggach. Boggy place. Bog, bog; and ach, abounding
in.
Boggerie Burn. Burn from a shieling bog. Bog, bog;
airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling.
Boggiefern. Bog in which alders grow. Bogan, bog;
feama, alder-tree.
Boggiehinach Burn. Burn from a bog of vegetable
growth. Bogain, gen. of bogan, bog; chinneachaidh, gen.
of cinneachadh, growth.
Boggy Stripes. Streamlets causing the formation of
a bog. Bogan, bog.
Boggyshiels. Summer huts at a bog. Bogan, bog;
scalan, plural of seal, summer residence. S before e
sounds sh.
Boghead. Farm at the upper end of a bog. Head may
represent chuid, gen. asp. of cuid, fold.
Bogie. Bog. Bogan, bog. Bogan is not a diminutive
and an should not have been made ie. Bogie is also the
name of the stream draining the great bog on the east side of
The Buck.
Bogieneuk. Corner of the bog. Bogain, gen. of bogan,
wet place.
Bogie's Hole. Sea cave supposed to be inhabited by
a spectre. Bodach, spectre, boodie (Scotch).
Bogiesavock. Willow bog. Bogan, bog; samhach
(pronounced sauch, and supposed to mean willow). The
proper meaning, however, of samhach is quiet, peaceful.
Bogieshalloch, Boggieshalloch. Willow bog. Bogan,
bog; seileach, gen. plural of seileach, willow.
BOGIESHEAL, BOGIESHIEL, BoGIESHIELS. Bog at a hut
on summer pasture. Bogan, bog; seal, hut, shiel. Shiels
represents sealan, which might be either the plural of seal,
or sealan, shieling, summer pasture.
Bogindhu. Black bog. Bogan, bog; dubh, black.
Bogixgore. Bog of the mud, filth. Bogan, bog; gaorra,
gen. of gaorr, mud, gore.
Bogingoss (for Bogan Giuthais). Bog of fir. Bogan,
bog; giuthais, gen. of giuthas, fir.
Bogixthort. Bog of the circular enclosure. Bog, bog;
54 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
an, of the; choirt, gen. asp. of cort, circle, cattle-fold, stone
circle.
Bogintorry. Bog of the little hill. Bog, bog; an, of
the ; torraxn, gen. of torran, little hill, hillock.
Boglach Gorm. Green marsh. Boglach, quagmire, bog;
gorm, green.
Boglash. Bog where lights were said to have been seen.
Bog, marsh; lais, gen. of las (Irish), flame, light.
Bogle Den. Den of the ghost. Bogle (English), spectre.
Boglea. Bog at a grassy place. Bog, bog; ley (Scotch),
grass land.
Bogless. Bog at a cattle-fold. Bog, bog; Use, gen.
of lios, enclosure, cattle-fold, sheep-fold.
Bogloch. Loch in a bog.
Boglouster. Shaking bog, quagmire. Bog, bog;
gluasdach, moving.
Bogmeinneach, Burn of. Middle bog burn. A4ead-
honach, middle.
Bogmoon. Bog of the moss. Bog, bog; mona, gen. of
moine, moss, moor.
Bogmore. Big bog. Bog, marsh, bog; mor, big.
Bognamoon. Bog of the moss. Bog, bog; na, of the;
mona, gen. of moine, moss, moor.
Bogneish Hillock. Hillock at the bog of the burn.
Bogan, marsh; eas, burn.
Bognieboll (for Bogan Buaile). Bog of the cattle-fold.
Bogan, bog (with transposition of a and n) ; buaile, cattle-
fold.
Bogniebrae (for Bogan Brae). Bog of the hill. Bogan,
bog; braigh (for braghad), gen. of braigh, hill. A and n had
been transposed in passing into Scotch.
Bogranda. Ugly bog. Bog, bog; granda, ugly.
Bogbaxie, Bog of ducks. Bog, bog; trachd, gen. plural
of trachd, drake.
Bogree William. Cattle-fold at the angle where two
roads meet. Bog, bog; rath (th silent), circle; uilinn, gen.
of uileann, elbow, angle. Uileann usually becomes William
in Scotch, as in Cairn William, mountain at the turn.
Bogriffe (for Bog Buighe). Bog at the base of a hill.
Bog, bog; ruighe, slope of a hill, the highest cultivated
ground at the base of a hill.
Bogrotten. Bog at a round hill. Bog, bog; rotain,
gen. of rotan, round hill, mound, cognate with Latin rotundus,
round.
Bogs. Bog. Bogan, soft wet place.
Bogskeathy. "Vomiting bog. Bog, bog; sgeitheach,
vomiting. When water enters at the top of a bed of clay on
a brae and finds vent lower down it sometimes pours out
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 55
steadily in winter a mixture of water and clay, which comes
up out of the ground as if it were vomited.
Bogsley. Bog of the hill. Bog, hog; sleibhe, gen. of
sliabli, hill.
Bogsowie. Wet bog. Bog, bog; sughain, gen. of
sughan wetness, oozing water.
Bogston. Town near a bog. Bogan, bog. An had
been made s.
Bogtamma. Bog full of tufts. Bog, bog; tomach, full
of tufts.
Bogturk. Bog of the boar. Bog, bog; tuirc, gen. of
tore, hog, boar.
Bohill. Cow-hill. Bo, cow.
Boich Head. Head curved like a bow. Bogha, bow.
Boilmore (for Buaile Mhor). Big cattle-fold. Buaile,
cattle-fold; -mhor, fern, of mor, big.
Bolting Stone (for Clach Buailtein). Stone at a small
fold. Clach, stone; buailtein, gen. of buailtean, dim. of
buaile, fold.
Bomahoy (for Both na Chuith). House at the fold.
Both, hut, house; na, of the; chuith, gen. asp. of cuith,
fold. C being silent had been lost. Th final is silent and
is readily lost. Hui had been pronounced hoo-ie, which had
become hoy.
Bonlee. Grassy hollow. Bonn, bottom; ley, grassy
piace.
Bonnykelly (for Coille Bainneach). Hill producing milk.
Bainneach, abounding in milk; coille, hill.
Bonnymuir. Moor productive of milk. Bainneach,
abounding in milk; muir (Scotch), heath, uncultivated
ground.
Bonnyside. Place productive of milk. Bainneach
abounding in milk; suidhe, place, seat.
Bonnyton (for Baile Bainneach). Farm-town abounding
in milk. Baile, town (translated); bainneach, productive of
milk.
Boonie, Burn of. Kapid burn. Buinne, rapid current.
Borestoke. Big stone. Borr, great. See Boar's Stone.
Borrowhill. Hill. Bruch, hill. The second part is a
translation of the first.
Borrowston, Borrowstone. Hill town. Bruch, hill;
ton, for English town.
Botany. This name in full is Botany Bay, so named
from a place in Australia to which convicts were first sent.
Residence at Botany was regarded as banishment.
Botary (for Both Airidhe). Hut of the shieling. Both,
hut; airidhe, gen. of airidh , shieling.
56 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Both Hill. Hill of the hut. Both, but, house where
women in charge of cows on summer pasture lived.
Bothy. A house built of sods. In the Highlands it
usually meant a house built of sods among the hills, where
smuggled whisky was made. In the Lowlands it was a
house in which farm-servants lived and prepared their own
food. Both kinds of bothies have nearly gone out of use.
Both an, small house, hut, cottage.
Bothwellseat. Farm-town at the place of the man-
sion. Bhaile, baile asp., town; both, house, mansion;
suidhe, seat, place. Bli is equivalent to w and bhaile has
become well.
Bottomend. Same as Boddomend.
Bottomhead. Ox-house at a cattle-fold. Both, house;
damh, ox; chuid, cuid asp., cattle-fold.
Boudiestone. Stone of the ghost. Bodach, ghost,
spectre.
Bourtie. Fortified place for cattle. Buar, cattle; dun,
hill, fort. Boverdyn, 1195. See " Chartulary of Abbey of
Lindores." Bourtie might represent buar-thigh, cattle-
house. Buar, cattle; thigh, tigh asp., house.
Bourtree Well. Well with an elder-tree to mark its
position in a snowstorm.
Bourieman's Well. Well of the man in charge of a
milking-fold. He had to put fetters on the legs of cows before
they were milked. Buarach, cow-fetter.
Bovaglie (for Both Faicille). Guard-house. Both,
house; faicille, gen. of faicill, watch, guard. The house
had been occupied by persons guarding cattle in a glen
against thieves. F and v, and c and g are interchangeable.
Bow, The. Bend inward in the coast-line. Bogha,
bow, bend.
Bowbutts. Places near a parish church where people
practised shooting with bows and arrows on Sunday. This
was enjoined by Act of the Scots Parliament, to train men for
the national defence. Yews were planted in churchyards to
provide bows.
Bower Well (for Tobar Buair). Cattle well, lobar,
well; buair, gen. of buar, cattle.
Bowie Hillock. Yellow hillock. Buidhe, yellow.
Bowiebank. Yellow bank on the east side of the
Deveron. Buidhe, yellow. The place named Bowiebank
would have been suitable for growing broom.
Bowl Boad, Bowlroad. Way from Aberdeen to the
town cattle-fold. It is now called Albion Street. Buaile,
cattle-fold, milking-fold. It was very likely on the Bowl
Croft, which was on the north side of the street and on the
west of the railway. The cowts of the citizens had been
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 5?
folded in the Buaile at mid-day, and women had gone there
to milk them. There are, or were, Bowl Roads in Tarves,
Strachan, and Edinburgh as well as in Aberdeen.
Bowman Stone (for Bellman Stone). Stone on which
the bellman stood when making announcements at a church.
Boyndlie (for Ley Buinn). Grassy place at the bottom
of a howe. Ley (Scotch), grassy place; buinn, gen. of bonn,
bottom.
Boynds. Quarry. Buidhinn, quarry. S had been
affixed in the mistaken belief that inn here represented the
Gaelic plural termination.
Boynsmill (for Muileann Buinn). Mill at the bottom
of the howe. Muileann, mill; buinn, gen. of bonn, bottom.
Brackans (for Braighan). Little hill. Braighun, dim.
of braigh, hill. An, the dim. termination, had been regarded
as plural, and it had been translated into s, which had been
added though an remained.
Brackenbraes. Ferny braes. Bracken is an English
word of Anglo-Saxon origin.
Brackenstake. Pointed mountain. Braigh, mountain,
bill; an, of the; stuic, gen. of stuc, pointed hill.
Brackley. Grey hill. Braigh, hill; Hath, grey.
Brackloch Cratg. The three parts of the name mean
hill. Braigh, hill; lamh, hill; creag, hill.
Braclamore. Big grey hill. Bracach, grey, black and
white; lamh, hill; mor, big.
Braco, Bracco. Grey place. Bracach, grey.
Brae of Biffie. Hill of Biffie. See Biffie. Braigh, hill.
Braegarie. Rough hill. Braigh, hill, upper part of a
district; garbh, rough.
Braelea. Grey hill. Braigh, hill; Hath, grey.
Braeloine. Bralyne in 1696. Hill or brae above a
meadow. Braigh, hill, brae; loin, gen. of Ion, marsh.
Braeinjohn, Brainjohn. Burn of the hill. Braon, burn ;
duin, gen. of dun, hill.
Braemar. The meaning of mar is uncertain. Brae
represents braigh, hill.
Braemar (Cruden) represents Braigh Bharr. Hill of the
point. Braigh, hill; bharr, barr asp., point. Bh is liable
to become mh, which by loss of the asp. becomes m.
Probably the name had originally been Barr Bhraigh, point
of the hill.
Braenaloin. Hill of the moss. Braigh, hill; na, of the;
loin, gen. of Ion, moss, marsh.
Braeneach. Hill of the spectre. Braigh, hill: neach,
ghost, apparition.
Braeneil (for Braigh an Aill). Hill. Braigh, hill; an,
of the; aill, gen. of aill, hill, rocky hill.
58 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Braeriach. Grey mountain. Braigh, mountain;
riabhach, grey.
Braeroddach. Hill abounding in Myrica gale, bog
myrtle, a somewhat rare plant. Braigh, hill; roid, bog
myrtle; ach, place of.
Braes of Begarry. Hill of the little shieling. Braigh,
hill; beag, small; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling.
Braes of Gight. Windy braes. Gaothach, windy.
Braeside. Hillside. Braigh, hill.
Braestairie. Place on a bill where a causeway or a road-
formed of tree stems had been made to cross a wet place.
Braigh, hill, brae; staire, gen. of stair, causeway, stepping-
stones at a wet place.
Braid Bog (for Bog Braigh). Marsh at a hill. Bog, wet
place; braigh, hill. If the name is Scotch it means broad
bog.
Braid Cairn. Cairn on the summit of a hill. Braid,
summit; cam, cairn, hill. The hill is on the boundary
between Aberdeen and Forfar.
Braidshaw. Broad wood. Shaw (English), thicket,
wood. Braid may mean hill, as in Braid Cairn.
Braigh Coire Caochan nan Laogh. Mountain of the
burn of the calves. Coire, corry ; caochan, burn; nan, of the;
laogh, gen. plural of laogh, calf.
Braigie. Hill. Braighe, brae, top of a brae, hill.
Braigiewell. Hill town. Braighe, hill; bhaile, baile
asp., town. Bh is equivalent to u, v, or w.
Braiklay (for Breac Lamh). Dappled hill. Breac,
variegated; lamh, hill.
Braikley (perhaps for Braigh Liath). Grey hill. Braigh,
hill ; liath, grey.
Braiks Burn. Places of various colours near a burn.
Breacan, spotted places. Breac had been supposed to be a
personal name, and an had therefore been changed to s to
be in the possessive.
Brain Loan (for Lon Braoin). Moss of the hill burn.
Lon, moss, bog; braoin, gen. of braon, hill stream.
Brainley (for Ley Braoin). Grassy place near a burn.
Ley (Scotch), grassy place; braoin, gen. of braon, hill burn.
Brainjohn. See Braeinjohn.
Brakeshill. Hill. Braigh, hill. The second part of
the name is a translation of the first.
Brakies Croft. Croft on a hillock. Braighean, dim.
of braighe, hill. An had been made both ie and s.
Brandsbutt (for Buth Braoin). House at a burn. Buth,
house, hut; braoin, gen. of braon, hill burn. When the
parts of the name were transposed s had been added to
braoin to make it the English possessive.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
59
Brandyie (for Branan). Small hill burn. Branan, dim.
of bran, hill burn. An had become yie.
Brankanentum, Brankinentum. Burn of the little fold
on the hill. Bran, burn; cuithan, dim of cuith, fold; an,
of the; tuim, gen. of torn, hill.
Braneholm, Brankholme. Burn of the hill. Bran, hill
burn; thvim, gen. asp. of torn, hill. T being silent before h
had been lost, and k and I had been inserted for euphony,
but I is seldom heard.
Brankie (originally Braon Cuith). Burn at a fold.
Braon, mountain burn; cuith (th silent), fold. Cut had be-
come hie.
Brankston. Town at a mountain burn. Bran, mountain
burn.
Brawland Knowes (for Braigh Lamhan Cnocan). lhe
three parts of the name all mean hill. Braigh, hill, higher
part; lamhan, dim. of lamh, hill; cnocan, dim. of cnoc, hill.
An had been translated into s, in the belief that it was a
plural termination.
Brawnsbog (for Bog an Braoin). Bog of the mountain
burn. Bog, wet place; an, of the; braoin, gen. of braon
mountain burn. When the parts of the name were trans-
posed s had been inserted in the belief that braoin was a
personal name in the genitive in Gaelic.
Breac Leitir. Spotted hillside. Breac, dappled; leitir,
hillside.
Breacan Hillocks (for Toman Breaca). Spotted hill-
ocks. Toman, hillocks (translated); breaca, spotted.
Breagach Hill. Dappled hill. Breacach, spotted,
party-coloured.
Breda. Broadhaugh in "Poll Book," 1696.
Breda Hill. Here Breda seems to be a corruption of
braighe, hill. Dh and gh are both pronounced like y, and
hence g was sometimes changed into d in passing into Scotch.
Breedie's Haugh. Haugh where a court of justice was
held. Breith, judgment. Bretus in the name of the chief
magistrate of the Aedui (Caesar, " De Bell. Gall.," III., 16)
is probably cognate with breith, judgment.
Bressachoil. Bush of the hill. Prcas, bush; a', of
the; choill, gen. asp. of coill, hill.
Brewthin. Fairy knowe. Bruighinn, fairy knoll. The
knolls at which barony courts were held are now often sup-
posed to have been regarded as abodes of fairies.
Brickfield (for Burghfield). This is near the site of
the Burgh of Battray.
Bride's Well, Brideswell. Well dedicated to St
Bridget, an Irish saint venerated also in Scotland.
60 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Bride stonefold. Fold at a stone where courts of justice
were held. Breith, judgment.
Bridge o' Ess. Bridge over the Tanar Water. Eas,
water.
Bridge of Don. There are two bridges of this name.
The upper, at Balgownie, is very old and its builder is
uncertain. It may have been built by the Earl of Mar at
the same time as Kildrummy Castle was built. It is some-
times attributed to Bobert Bruce. The lower bridge was
built 1831-3.
Bridge of Leid. Broad bridge. Leoid, gen. of leud,
breadth.
Bridle Boad. Poad along which a traveller on horse-
back may pass.
Bridlefold. Substantial fold. Brigheil, efficacious.
Gh and dh are pronounced in the same way and are mis-
taken the one for the other.
Bridlies (for Breith Lios). Judgment circle. Breith,
judgment; lios, circle. The place had been the seat of a
barony court, which had been held within an enclosed place.
Brierfield (for Achadh Braigh Airidhe). Field of the
hill of the shieling. Achadh, field; braigh (pronounced
briye), hill; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling.
Briggs. Places where water rushes through with force.
Bruchdan, plural of bruchd, openings in sea rocks through
which the tide rushes.
Brimmond Hill. All the three parts of this name mean
hill. Braigh, hill; monadh, hill or moor of great extent.
The Brimmond is more than a mile broad, and it is 870
feet high.
Brindy Burn. Small burn. Branan, dim. of bran, hill
burn. Brindy is locally pronounced breeny.
Broad Cairn. Hill. Braid, hill; earn, hill, mountain.
Broad-Gate, Broad Street. A wide street in Aber-
deen, originally extending from the west side of Guestrow
to the east side of .Broad Street. Gate was formerly a
common name in towns for a street leading to any important
place, as Castlegate, Gallowgate.
Broad Hill. The hill is only about 300 yards wide and
hardly deserves to be called broad. Apparently, however,
it had been called leathan in Gaelic, which means broad,
for about the end of the Catholic period it was sometimes
called the Lady Hill, lady being erroneously supposed to
refer to the Virgin Mary. See Ladysford.
Broad Place. Hilly place. Braid, hill.
Broad Shade. Broad extent of gently sloping ground.
Shed, slope, separation, division.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 61
Broad Ward. Hilly enclosed place for calves or other
farm animals. Braid, hill; tvard, enclosed, protected place.
Broadgate. Place near a turnpike road.
Broadgreens (perhaps for Ailean Braghead). Green
place of a hill. Ailean, green level place; braghad (gh
silent), gen. of braigh, hill. The s in Broadgreens represents
an in ailean, which had been supposed to be plural.
Broadland. Both broad and land mean hill. Braigh,
hill; lamhan, dim. of lamli, hill. Bh is liable to become
mh, which by loss of the aspirate becomes m. Mh in
lamhan is usually equivalent to v, but it may become silent
and be lost. Final d is euphonic.
Broadley. Broad grassy place. Perhaps the name had
at first been Braidley, meaning hilly, grassy place, from
braid, hill, and ley, grassy place.
Broad straik (for Strioch Braid). Hill stripe. Strioch,
stripe; braid, hill.
Broback, The. The hill of the moss. Brucli, hill; bac,
moss.
Brochdhu. Black hill. Bruch, hill; dubh, black.
Brock Ness. Badgers' point. Broc, badger; ness
(English), promontory.
Brockholes. Badgers' holes. Broc, badger. But brock
may be bruch, hill, and holes may be choill, coill asp., hill,
with s added.
Brockie Burn, Brocky Burn. Burn of the steep brae.
Bruchaich, gen. of bruchach, steep ascent. Same as Burn
of Brooky.
Brock's Brae. Badger's brae. Broc, badger.
Broclach. Badger's den.
Brodiach. Broad howe. Iochd, howe.
Brodie Brae, Brodies Braes. The Gaelic form of
Brodie had been brodan, but the meaning of this word is
uncertain. It sometimes seems to mean a projecting point
or a narrow piece of ground, and sometimes a level place.
In Brodies an has been made both ie and s.
Brodies Burn. Perhaps Burn in a narrow strip of land.
Brogan. Small hill. Bruchan, dim. of bruch, hill.
Broken Grip (for Groban Bruchain). Top of the small
hill. Groban, summit; bruchain, gen. of bruchan, small
hill. The parts of the name had been transposed when
bruchain was made an English word.
Broken wind (for Bruchan Bheinn). Hill. Bruchan,
dim. of bruch, hill; bheinn, beinn asp. and pronounced
loeinn, hill.
Bronie Burn. Small burn. Braonan, dim. of braon,
burn.
■62 Celtic Place-Na7nes in Aberdeenshire.
Broom Hill, Broomhill. In old leases it was some-
times stipulated that farmers should sow a few acres of
broom, to provide thatch for buildings on a farm. Hence
broom is found on some high hills and only in a few places
in a district, instead of being generally distributed.
Broom Inch. Eiver island clothed with broom. Innis,
island.
Broomhead. Broomy place at a fold. Chuid, gen. asp.
of cuid, fold. G had been lost, being silent.
Broomielaw. Broom hill. Lamh, hill.
Broomies Burn. Small burn. Braonan, dim. of braon,
hill burn. An had been rendered by both ie as a dim. and
s as a plural termination.
Brooms. Small hill burn. Braonan, dim. of braon, hill
burn. Medial n became m, and an became s instead of ie.
Broomy Lea. Level grassy place growing broom. In
Scotch, lea means land level enough to be cultivated.
Brotherfield (for Achadh Bruch Airidhe). Field of the
hill of the shieling. Achadh, field; bruch, hill; airidhe,
gen. of airidh, shieling. C asp. had become t asp., and dh
becoming silent had been omitted.
Brothers, The. Kocks resembling a family of children.
Brown Cow (for Braon Cuith). Burn of the cattle-fold.
Braon, mountain burn; cuith (th silent), cattle-fold. Cui
had been pronounced coo-ie.
Brown Cow" Hill. Hill from which flows a burn passing
a cattle-fold. See Brown Cow.
Brown Hill. Hill of the mountain burn. Braon, hill
burn.
Brownhills, Brownieshill. Both names mean hill
from which flowed a little burn. Braonan, dim. of braon,
burn. In Brownhills an had been made s and put after
hill. In Brownieshill an had been made both ie and s.
Brownside. Burn side. Braon, burn.
Bruach Dhubh. Black bank. Bruach, bank; dhubh,
fern, of dubh, black.
Bruach Mhor. Big bank. Bruach, bank; mhor, fern,
of mor, big.
Bruach Euadh. Red bank. Bruacli, bank; ruadh, red.
Bruach in Bruach Dhubh, Bruach Mhor, Bruach Ruadh,
Tighnabruaich, etc., is probably a late translation into
Gaelic of Banks or Bankhead, both of which mean cattle-
fold. See Bankhead and Banks.
Bruce Hill, Brucehill. Hill. Bruch, hill. The name
had originated in a mistaken belief that King Robert Bruce
had halted on it in his pursuit of Comyn, Earl of Buchan.
Bruce 's Camp. Place locally fancied to have been a
■camp of King Robert Bruce; but this idea must have origi-
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 63
Bated in the likeness of bruch, a Gaelic word for a hill, to
the name Bruce. The supposed camp had been a cattle-fold.
Bruce's Haven. Bruce is a corruption of brugh, forti-
fied stronghold.
Bruckhills. Both parts of the name mean the same
thing. Bruch, hill.
Brucklay. Both parts mean hill. Bruch, hill; lamh,
hill.
Bruckleseat. Place where bruckles grow. Bruckle
(Scotch), stalk of carex, used for cleaning out oil-holes of
spinning-wheels, stems of tobacco-pipes, etc.
Bructor Hill. Bruch, hill; torr, steep hill with flat top.
Brughs. Mansion. Brugh, mansion-house, fortified
place. Final s is an improper addition.
Bruness (perhaps for Bruchd Ness). Cape where water
rushes through openings among rocks. Bruchd, rush; ness
(English), nose.
Brunt Heugh, Bruntbrae. Brunt in these names
represents bruchan, dim. of bruch, hill. Ch being silent
had been lost, and t had been added for euphony and to
convert bruan into a Scotch word.
Bruntcowes (for Bruchan Cuithain). Little hill with
a small fold. Bruchan, little hill; cuithain, gen. of cuithan,
small fold. Bruclian lost asp. c and took on t to become
the Scotch word brunt. Cuith lost asp. t, and ain by mis-
take was made es instead of ie.
Brunthall. Hill. Bruchan, small hill; choill, coill
asp., hill. The second part had been added to explain the
first, after it had lost ch and taken on t to become the
Scotch word brunt. Choill had lost c, which was silent,
and oi had become a to form hall, an English word.
Bruntland, Bruntlan. Both parts of the name mean
small hill. Bruchan, small hill; lamhan, small hill. The
name had passed through the following forms: — Bruchan
Lamhan, Bruan Laan, Brun Lan, Bruntland.
Bruntstane. Stone on a hill. Bruchan, small hill.
Ch had been lost, being silent, and t had been added for
euphony and to convert the Gaelic word into a Scotch.
Bruthaichanluig. Steep side of the howe. Bruthach,
steep hillside; an, of the; luig, gen. of lag, hollow.
Brux. Hill. Bruch, hill. Perhaps for bruchan, small
hill, in which an had been mistaken for the plural termina-
tion and had been translated by s. This would have pro-
duced bruchs, equivalent to brux.
Bruxfin. Both parts mean hill. Bruchan, small hill;
fin, hill. An had been made s.
Bruxie (for Bruchan). Small hill. An had been
regarded as a plural termination, and s had been inserted
64 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
before an, making bruchsan. Afterwards an was changed
to ie, which produces bruchsie, and this lapsed into bruxie.
Buchaam (for Bogha Cham). Curved bend. Boghar
bend; cham, cam asp., crooked.
Buachaille Breige (for Brig Buachaille). Shepherd's
cairn. Brig, cairn, pile; buachaille, shepherd.
Buachaille Mor's Grave. The grave of the big herd,
who was killed accidentally. Buachaille, shepherd; mor,
big.
Buailteach. House at a cattle-fold. Buaile, cattle-fold,
milking-fold ; teach, house. Buaile is the same as Latin
bovile, cattle-fold.
Buchan. The district in the angle between the North
Sea and the Moray Firth. Boghan, small bend, curve.
Buchan Ness. East point of Buchan. This is Petrie's
Loup on Keith Inch. An old map has " Buchan Ness " in
the middle of Peterhead Bay, and on subsequent maps it
was put at Boddam Ness by mistake. Boghan, little bend;
ness (English), nose.
Buchanhaven. Harbour near Buchan Ness, which name
was formerly given to the east point at Peterhead.
Bucharn. Hut on a hill. Buth, hut, temporary resi-
dence of people in charge of cattle on summer pasture ;
chaim, gen. asp. of cam, hill.
Buchts. Houses for sheep when on hill pasture.
Buthan, plural of buth, hut, house, th having become ch,
and an becoming s.
Buck, The. The big mountain. Buchd, bigness. The
Buck is the biggest mountain in the ridge between the
Deveron and the Bogie. Perhaps from bulge, wetness. The
sides of the hill are wet in many places.
Buckering Well (for Tobar Bac Airidhe). Well of the
moss shieling. Tobar, well (translated); bac, moss; airidhe,
gen. of airidh, shieling.
Bucket. See Glenbucket.
Bucket Mill. Mill for sawing wood to be made into
buckets.
Buckie. Bend. Bogha, bow, bosom, place in a curve
between two heights, or in a bend of a 'river or in the sea
coast.
Buckie Burn. Burn at a curve in a hillside. Bogha,
bow, curve.
Buckler Burn. Cowherd's burn. Buachaille, shep-
herd, cowherd, protector of cattle or sheep.
Buxburn, Boxburn, (for Allt Bocan). Burn of jumps.
Allt, burn; bocan, gen. plural of boc, jump, leap. In
passing into Scotch an became s, and bocs is equivalent to
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 65
box, which accounts for the local form of the name, Box-
burn. The burn falls rapidly in the last mile of its course.
Buffle (for Buth Choill). House on a hill. Buth,
house; choill, coill asp., hill. Ch had become /, and th had
also become / by attraction. But Buffle might be a corrup-
tion of Buthlaw; which see.
Buglehole (for Coille Buachaille). Hill of the shepherd
or cowherd. Coille, hill; buachaille, gen. of buacliaille,
shepherd, herdsman.
Buidheanach. Hill summit commanding a good view.
Buidhneach, commanding an extensive prospect.
Bull Well. Town at a cattle-fold. Buaile, cattle-fold;
bhaile, baile asp., town. The name had originally been
Baile Buaile.
Bullers of Buchan. Fold at a small shieling. Buailey
fold; airidhean, dim. of airidhe, shieling. Dh with the flank-
ing vowels had been lost, and an had become s instead of
ie. The name is now given to a village at an inlet between
high rocks, the end of which had served as a fold where cows
were milked. It is also given, improperly, to a pot sur-
rounded by steep rocks and communicating with the sea by
a short tunnel. It had been a sea cave, the inner end of
which had fallen in.
Bull's Slack (for Buaile Sluic). Milking-fold in the
gorge. Buaile, cattle-fold, cow-fold; sluic, gen. of sloe,
gorge, trench-like hollow.
Bulwark (for Buaile Mhart). Fold where cows were
milked. Buaile, cow-fold; mhart, gen. plural asp. of mart,
cow. Mh is equivalent to u, v, or iv.
Bulwark, The — King-Edward — (for An Buaile Mhart).
The fold of the cows. An, the; buaile, milking-fold; mhart,
gen. plural asp. of mart, cow.
Bum Stripe. Streamlet in the bottom of a valley. Bun,
bottom.
Bunzeach (for Buneoch). Bottom of the howe. Other
forms are Bunzeoch, Bunyeoch, Bunnyach, Bonzeoch.
Bun, bottom; iochd, howe. In Strathdon Bunzeach is the
name of a long, narrow, trench-like gorge on the south border
of the parish. The west end is called Glac of Bunzeach —
glac meaning howe, the same as iochd; near it is Loch of
Bunzeach; farther north is Forest of Bunzeach; and, still
farther, Craig of Bunzeach.
Burgh Muir. Uncultivated ground near a royal burgh,
where the cows of the burgesses were pastured.
Buried Men's Leys. Places growing grass, where dead
men were said to have been buried. The O.S. map says
this was the site of a conflict in 1411. There is no evidence
of this conflict on record.
E
66 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Burn Hervie. Burn of division. Thearbaidh, gen. asp.
of tearbadli, division, bounding. Th had become silent, and
b had been aspirated, becoming equivalent to v.
Burn of Allantersie. Cross burn. Allan, small
stream; tarsuinn, cross.
Burn of Angels (for Burn of Lights). Aingle, plural
of aingeal, fire, light. The reference may be to the use of a
blaze in catching trout or salmon at night.
Burn of Auldenachie. See Auldenachie.
Burn of Auldgarney. Burn of the rough burn. Allt,
'burn; garbh, rough; abhainn, water.
Burn of Auldmad. Burn passing the seat of a court of
justice. Allt, burn; moid, gen. of mod, court of justice. In
this word o is frequently changed to a. Bum and auld mean
the same thing, and " Burn of " is redundant.
Burn of Auldmuck. Gloomy burn. Allt, burn; muige,
gen. of muig, gloom.
Burn of Backcammie. Burn of Cammie moss. Bac,
peat-moss; camaidh, gen. of camadh, bend. This refers to
the hill at the bend in the boundary between Forfar and
Kincardine.
Burn of Benglack. Burn of the hollow of the hill.
Beinn, hill; glaic, gen. of glac, narrow hollow between two
heights.
Burn of Bogturk. Burn of the boar's bog. Bog, bog;
tuirc, gen. of tore, boar. Wild boars delight to feed on the
juicy roots and stems of plants growing in lakes and bogs,
which their recurved tusks enable them to pull up.
Burn of Boonie. Bapid burn. Buinne, rapid stream.
Burn of Buck. Burn of the big mountain. Buchd,
bigness, size. The Buck is the biggest mountain in its
district.
Burn of Cake. Both parts of the name mean stream.
Caoich, gen. of caoch, burn, howe.
Burn of Clachanyell. Burn of the white stones.
Clachan, plural of clach, stone; ghil, gen. plural fern, of
geal, white.
Burn of Contlach. Burn at a place where hills at the
sides approach one another. Con, with, together; tulach,
hill.
Burn of Corbus. Burn of the fold. Corbus is for
chuitail, fold, corrupted into whitehill and turned into Gaelic
by corban (cor. hill; ban, white). An was abnormally made
s, producing corbs, now corbus. See Forbes.
Burn of Corn. Burn of the hill. Cairn, gen. of cam,
hill.
Burn of Corrie. Burn from a hollow in a hillside.
Coire, caldron, hollow like a cup cut slantingly so as to leave
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 67
in the lower half only a small portion of the lip but nearly
all the bottom.
Burn of Craig. Burn of the hill. Crcag, hill.
Burn of Duchery. Burn of the black corry. Dubh,
black; choirc, coire asp., corry.
Burn of Dunriggs. Burn of the slope of the hill.
Ruigliean, dim. of ruigh, slope; duin, gen. of dun, hill. An
had become s instead of ie.
Burn of Easaiche. Burn of waterfalls. Easach,
abounding in waterfalls.
Burn of Ellanduan. Burn of the green plain beside the
black water. Ailean, green meadow; duibhe, gen. fern, of
dubh, black; abhann, gen. of abhainn, stream.
Burn of Fathie. Burn of the green level place. Fatha,
gen. of fath, plain, green place.
Burn of Glaaick. Burn of the hollow. Glaic, gen. of
glac, hollow.
Burn of Fuie. Burn of the cattle-fold. Chuith, gen.
asp. of cuith, cattle-fold. Ch had become ph, which is
equivalent to /; and th had become silent and had been lost.
Burn of Glenny. Burn of the glen. Glinne, gen. of
gleann, glen.
Burn of Granney. Burn of sand. Grainne, sand.
Burn of Grennoch. Rough burn. Greannach, rough.
Burn of Kelly. Burn of the hill. Coille, hill.
Burn of Millwaddoch. Burn of the bushy hill. Mill,
gen. of meall, hill; bhadaich. gen. of badach, woody. Bh
is equivalent to u, v, or w.
Burn of Pots. Burn with deep holes. Poitean, gen.
plural of poit, pot.
Burn of Raibet. Burn whose channel had been eroded
by water. Riabaidh, gen. of riabadh, eroding, tearing.
Burn of Sheals, Burn of Shiels. Burn passing
summer residences for dairywomen. Sealan, plural of seal,
temporary summer residence. Sealan might also mean
shieling, and in this case s would be an improper addition.
Burn of Shield. Burn of the summer pasture. Seal
(pronounced shyal), temporary summer hut. See Shiel.
Burn of Slacks. Burn of the little hollow between two
heights. Slugan, small hollow between hills. The termina-
tion an is here the diminutive, but it had been supposed to
be the plural termination and had been translated by s.
Burn of Skinna (for Allt Skinna). Rushing burn. Allt,
burn; sginnidh, gen. of sginneadh, gushing out.
Burn of Tarsan. Cross burn. Tarsuinn, cross.
Burn of Tonburn. Burn of the bottom. Ton, bottom
of a hollow.
68 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Burn of Wood. Burn of a bushy place. Bhaid, gen.
asp. of bad, bushy place. Bhaid is pronounced vaid or waid,
and this in Scotch would readily lapse into wood.
Burnbeg. Small burn. Beag, small.
Burncruinach. Bound howe. B earna, gap; oruinneach,
round.
Burnfoot Cottages. Cottages where a burn runs into
a river.
Burngarnie (for Allt Garbhanach). Bough burn. Allt,
burn (translated); garbhanach, rough, rugged.
Burngrains. Branches of a burn. Grain is the same as
groin and should mean the space between the two branches,
but grains is now put for the branches themselves.
Burnhead. Cattle-fold at a burn. Chuid, cuid asp.,
cattle-fold. 0 became silent after aspiration. Some places
called Burnhead are near the sources of burns.
Burns, Hill of. Hill in which there is a gap. Bearnas,
gap. See Barns.
Burnshangie (for Bearnas Fhangain). Hollow of the
sheep-fold. Bearnas, hollow; fhangain, gen. asp. of fangan,
dim. of fang, fold. F being silent had been lost.
Burnt Burns. Mountain burns. Braon, mountain
burn. The place called Burnt Burns had been an enclosure
for cattle. It has streams on three sides.
Burnthouse (for Braon Chuith). Burn of the fold.
Braon, hill burn; chuith, gen. asp. of cuith, fold. Subse-
quent forms of the name had been: — Braonhuith, Braon-
huish, Braonhuis, Brunthouse. See Husband Hillock.
Burrel Ley. Open grassy place. Blar (by transposition
of letters made burrel), open place; ley, grassy place.
Burreldales, Burrel Dale, (for Dail Blair). Field of
the open place. Dail, for dalach, gen. of dail, meadow, level
field; blair, gen. of blar, open place. S is not represented
in the Gaelic name.
Burrowley (for Bruch Ley). Hill with a grassy place.
Bruch, hill.
Burryhillock (for Bruchan Hillock). Both parts have
the same meaning, the second having been added to explain
the first. Bruchan, dim. of bruch, hill.
Bush. Thicket of trees or bushes, thieves' lurking-place
at a roadside.
Bushelgreens. Green places at a shepherd's house.
Buachaille. shepherd.
Busk, Busks, Busk Craig, Busks of Coral. Nothing
is known of the meaning of these names. They are names
of rocks on the coast of Cruden. The rocks are round and
possibly the names might be derivatives from bus, snout,,
with euphonic h added.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 69
Butiilaw. House on a hill. Buth, hut, house; laimh,
gen. of lamh, hill.
Butt. Mark. Buta, mark, conspicuous object.
Butter Ford (for Ath Buth Airidhe). Ford of the hut
on a shieling. Ath, ford (translated and put last); buth,
hut; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling.
Butterwards. Enclosed places for cattle at a hut on
a shieling. Ward, enclosure for live stock; buth, hut;
airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling.
Butterybrae. Brae of the shieling hut. Buth, hut;
airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling.
Butterywells (for Bhaile Buthan Airidhe). Town of
huts on a summer shieling. Bhaile, baile asp., town;
buthan, plural of buth, hut; airidhe, gen. of airidh, summer
pasture. Baile had been aspirated when it was put to the
end of the name. It has become well or wells in several
names, bh being equivalent to u, v, or w. Butter was made
at the summer shiels, and this may have influenced the
form which the name assumed when it passed out of Gaelic
into Scotch.
Byebush. Birch bush. Beith (th silent), birch; bush
(Scotch), wood, clump of trees, thicket.
Byesnuik, Burn of. Burn of a nook where birches grew.
Beithan, gen. plural of beith, birch. Th is silent, and an
had been translated into s.
Bylands (for Lamhan Beith). Little hill of birches.
Lamhan, dim. of lamh, hill; beith, gen. plural of beith,
birch. An of lamhan had been translated by s instead of ie.
D is euphonic.
Bynack Burn. Clear water burn. Baine, white; acha,
water. One of the head waters of the Bynack Burn is Feith
Mhor Bhan, big clear burn.
Bynack Lodge. Summer residence for sportsmen on the
Bynack Burn.
Byreleask. Land at a burn. Bior, water, burn; leasg,
piece of land.
Byresfold. Cattle-fold at byres for dairy cows when on
hill pasture.
Bysantrach. Small piece of ground by the side of a
river. Piosan, little bit; tragha, gen. of traigli, riverside.
This was the name of a holding in 1696 on Heade of Inch,
now Headinsch.
Byth. Birch trees. Beath, plural of beath, birch tree.
Ca, Cath, Catha, Cadha — all pronounced ca. Drove road,
hill road. Local names are: — The Ca, The Ca Boad, The
Cadha, Cat, Catt, Cattie, Catto, and Gatt in Auchnagatt.
■Ca simply means road, and Boad should not be added to
70 Celtic Place- Navies in Aberdeenshire.
The Ca. On the Ordnance Survey maps The Ca and The
Cadha are put on hilltops, showing that these terms were
supposed to mean hills.
Ca Dubh. Black road. The ca roads were merely
tracks. A Ca Dubh (black road) was, partly at least, on
moss and good in dry weather, but almost impassable in
wet weather. A Ca Buidhe (yellow road) was on the hard
stony clay commonly forming the sub-soil, and it was rough
and stony but safe.
Ca Road, The. Ca means a hill road, and the addition
of road shows that the meaning of ca was forgotten. Lat-
terly it was supposed to be the same as the Scotch ca, to
drive. See Ca.
Cable Shore (perhaps for Coble Shore). Place where
flat-bottomed boats are hauled to land.
Cabra, Cabrach. Thicket. Cabrach, thicket, peat-
moss containing trunks of trees.
Cac Carn Beag, Cac Carn Mor. Little dirty moun-
tain, and Big dirty mountain. Caca, dirty, miry, covered
with black wet peat-moss; cam, mountain; beag, little; mor,
big.
Cacherlicyme Burn (for Cathair-leac-ighe). Circle of
stones at a burn. Cathair, circle; leac, gen. plural of leac,
stone; ighe, gen. of igh, burn. By change of asp. letters
Cathair-leac-ighe became Cachair-leac-imhe, which lapsed
into the present strange form.
Caciinaminniegawn, Burn of. Burn polluted by filth
from a fold for kids. Cach, for cac, filth; na, of the; mean-
nan, gen. plural of meannan, young kid; gabhainn, gen. of
gabhann, penfold.
Cadger Well. Roadside well. Cadha, road. This and
some subsequent names show that the sound of dh was
liable to be mistaken for that of dg.
Cadgerford, Cadgers' Ford. Ford on an old main road
to Aberdeen. Cadha, road, path, hill road, drove road.
Cadgerhill. Hill of the road. Cadha, drove road, main
road between two distant places.
Cadgers' Road. Drove road. Cadha, hill road, drove
road.
Cadhach Burn. Burn near a public road. Cadha, hill
road, road.
Caiesmill, Caiesmills. Mill at a cattle-fold. Cuith,
cattle-fold.
Cailleachrennie. Burn among ferns. Cailleach, old
woman, is frequently introduced into names improperly.
When it occurs in a name referring to a stream, as here, it
is used instead of coileach, a small rill. Coileach, small
rill; rainich, gen. of raineach, fern.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 71
Caillevar, Callievar Hill. Hill of the projecting
point. Coille, hill; bharra, gen. asp. of barr, point. Bit is
equivalent to u, v, or w.
Caird Hill, Cairdhillock, Cairo's Hillock. Knoll
where travelling tinsmiths encamped. Ceard, caird
(Scotch), tinsmith, tinker — formerly tinkler.
Caird 's Well. Well near place where travelling tin-
smiths encamped on Cot Hill.
Cairdseat. Smith's place. Ceard, smith, tradesman
working at smith- work of any kind.
Cairn. Pile of stones. Cam, cairn, hill. Cairns are
frequently seen on mountains. Some are memorials of
persons and events. Others mark the summits of mountains
to make them conspicuous. Many are boundary marks be-
tween counties, parishes, estates, and these are necessary
to prevent misunderstandings regarding the respective rights
of parties. Shepherds need cairns to let them know the
boundaries of their pastures. Many small cairns have been
made on sunny braes to allow more grass to grow early in
spring, when it is scarce. Cairns are numerous at junctions
of glens, where funeral parties wait and rest. Some large
cairns have been formed of stones gathered off the surface
of the ground or taken out in cultivating the land.
Cairn, Blue. Rocky mountain summit seen from a
distance. Cam, mountain, especially one with a con-
spicuous summit. Distant mountains are blue.
Cairn Bad a' Ghuail. Mountain having bushes on the
shoulder. Cam, mountain; bad, bush; a', of the; guailne,
gen. of gualann, shoulder.
Cairn Bannoch. Pointed mountain. Cairn, mountain;
beannach, pointed, horned.
Cairn Cash. Steep hill. Cam, hill; cais, gen. of cas,
ascent.
Cairn Cassie. Steep hill. Cam, hill; casaich, gen. of
casach, steep ascent.
Cairn Cat. Heap of stones near a drove road. Cam,
cairn, hill; cath, drove road.
Cairn Culchavie. Hill of Culchavie. Cam, hill. See
CULCHAVIE.
Cairn Cummer. Cairn between two branches of a burn.
Cam, cairn; comair, gen. of comar, confluence of waters.
Cairn Deuchrie. Hill of the black corry. Cam, hill;
dubh, black; choire, gen. asp. of coire, corry.
Cairn Etchachan. Pile of stones on a hill near Loch
Etchachan. Cam, cairn. See Loch Etchachan.
Cairn Fenny. Hill of flaying. Cam, hill; feannaidh,
gen. of feannadh, flaying, removing the surface, casting
divots.
72 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Cairn Ficklie. Hill of the watch. Gam, hill, cairn;
faicille, gen. of faicill, guard. The proper name of the hill
and the cairn on it is Fichlie.
Cairn Gaidley. Cairn raised in a grassy place over per-
sons who had died of disease. Cam, cairn; gaoide, gen. of
gaoid, disease; ley, grassy place.
Cairn Geldie. Hill near the Geldie Burn. Cam, hill.
See Geldie.
Cairn Gow. Cairn at a cattle-fold. Cam, cairn; cuith,
cattle-fold. G very often became c when Gaelic passed into
Scotch, and c sometimes became g, as in Glasgow, for Glas
Cuith.
Cairn Head. Hill of the fold. Cam, hill; chuid, gen.
asp. of cuid, fold. Asp. c is silent and had been lost.
Cairn Hill. The second part of the name is a trans-
lation of the first. Cam, hill.
Cairn Hillock. Mountain of the hillock. Cam, moun-
tain, hill.
Cairn Leuchan. Hill of wetness. Cam, hill; fhliuchain,
gen. asp. of fliuchan, wetness. Fh is silent and had been
lost.
Cairn Ley. Grassy place on a hill. Cam, hill; ley,
grassy place.
Carn Liath. Grey mountain. Cam, mountain; Hath,
grey.
Cairn Mor, Carn More. Big mountain. Cam, hill;
■tnor, big.
Cairn Mude. Hill of the court of justice. Carn, hill;
moid, gen. of mod, court of justice. On the hill there is an
enclosure, probably surrounding an ancient stone circle,
which had afterwards been selected as the seat of a barony
court.
Cairn na Hilt. Hill of the steep cliff. Carn, hill; na,
of the; h (euphonic); uilt, gen. of alt (Irish), steep place.
Cairn na Wink (for Carn na Bheinne). Hill. Cam, hill ;
na, of the; bheinne, gen. asp. of beinn, hill. The last part
has the same meaning as the first.
Cairn Nairvie (for Carn a' Thearbaidh). Hill of the
division. Cam, hill; a', of the (suppressed); thearbaidh. (th
silent), gen. asp. of tearbadh, separation. Cattle travelling
from Aboyne over Mount Keen were rested and sorted on
Cairn Nairvie.
Cairn o' Neil. Cairn of the hill. Cam, cairn; an, of
the; aill, gen. of aill, hill.
Cairn of Claise. Hill of the gorge. Cam, hill: claise,
gen. of dais, trench-like gorge.
Cairn of Gilderoy. Cairn supposed to commemorate
Patrick Gilroy, who was hanged at the Market Cross of
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 73
Edinburgh, July 30, 1636, for slaughter, theft, pillaging,
etc. Many of his haunts were in the upper districts of West
Aberdeenshire. Gilroy, red lad. Gille, lad; ruadh, red.
Cairn of Gowal (for Cam na Gobhail). Hill of the prop
of stones marking a boundary. Cam, hill; na, of the;
gobhail, gen. of gohhal, tapering pile of stones, gable of a
house.
Cairn of Maule's Ha' (for Carn an Maol Choill). Cairn
of the bare hill. Cam, cairn; an, of the; maol, bald,
smooth; choill, gen. asp. of colli, hill. Choill had become
hall, which had been shortened to ha'.
Cairn of Memsie (for Carn Maim Sithe). Cairn of the
pap-like hillock. Carn, cairn; maim, gen. of mam, pap;
sithe, gen. of sith, hillock, heap. Sithe is pronounced she.
The Cairn of Memsie is a great heap of stones gathered
from the land.
Cairn of Milduan (for Carn Meall Dubh Abhann).
Cairn of the hill of the black water. Carn, cairn, hill ;
meall, hill; dubh, black; abhann, gen. of abhainn, water.
Cairn Sawvie. Hill of the fox's den. Cam, hill;
saobhaidhe, gen. of saobhadh, den of a fox.
Cairn Toul. Mountain with a pool on summit. Carn,
mountain; tuill, gen. of toll, hole. Loch Uaine is near the
top.
Cairn Trumpet. Hill on which signals were made by a
trumpet. Cam, hill; triombaide, gen. of triombaid,
trumpet.
Cairn Vaich, Cairn Vachich. Hill of the cow-byre.
Carn, hill; bhathaich, gen. asp. of bathach, cow-house. Bh
is equivalent to u, v, or iv. Th has become ch.
Cairn Well. Well of the mountain. Cam, mountain.
The Cairn Well is near the summit level of the road from
Braemar to Blairgowrie.
Cairn William. Hill at a turn in a range. Cam, moun-
tain; uilinn, gen. of uileann, corner, angle, bend.
Cairnadilly. 'Hill of the whortleberry. Carn, hill; a',
of the; dile, whortleberry — a berry like the blaeberry but
darker in colour.
Cairnagour Hill. Hill of the goat. Cam, hill; na, of
the; gobhair, gen. of gobhar. goat.
Cairn aquheen. See Carn na Cuimhne.
Cairnargat. Hill of silver. Carn, hill; airgid, gen. of
airgiod, silver, wealth. Perhaps by silver mica had been
meant, which is called sheep's silver. Some granites shine
brilliantly in sunlight.
Cairnballoch. Hill near a road. Cam, hill; bealaich,
gen. of bealach. way, road.
74 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Cairnbanno. White hill. Cam, hill; baine, white.
White hill is a corruption of chuithail, fold.
Cairnbathie. Hill of the cow-house. Cam, hill;
baihaich, gen. of bathach, cow-house. The name might
mean hill of the birches, and this meaning should be
adopted if the hill abounds in birches. Cam, hill; beathach,
abounding in birches.
Cairnbeg. Little hill. Cam, hill; beag, little.
Cairnborrow. Both parts of the name mean hill.
Cam, hill; brnch, hill.
Cairnbrogie. Grey cairn. Cam, cairn; brocach, grey,
speckled. The cairn had been a memorial. On its site
urns and gold coins were found.
Cairnbulg. Hill of the small fold. Cam, hill; buaileag,
dim. of buaile, fold.
Cairncake. Hill of the burn. Cam, hill; caoich, gen.
of caoch, burn, rivulet, howe. Caoch, burn, is not in
Gaelic dictionaries; but its diminutive, caochan, is given.
Caochan is a very common word in place-names in West
Aberdeenshire.
Cairncatto. Cairn on a main long road. Cam, cairn,
hill; cadha, road, drove road, thoroughfare. The cairn is
a great unshapely mound of stones, probably covering
ancient interments.
Cairnchina. White hill. Cam, hill; caine, gen. of
caine, whiteness. White hill is a corruption of chuithail,
fold.
Cairncosh. Hill of the ravine. Cam, hill; cois (pro-
nounced cosh), gen. of cos, ravine.
Cairncoullie. Hill of the retired place. Cam, hill;
cuile, gen. of cuil, nook, secluded place.
Cairncry. Hill of the boundary. Cam, hill, cairn;
criche, gen. of crioch, boundary. Cairncry hill is on the
inner side of the freedom boundary of Aberdeen.
Cairndaie. Hill of the ox. Cam, hill; daimh, gen. of
damh, ox, stag. Plough oxen were in former times usually
put to pasture on some place near the farm, to be at hand
when required.
Cairndale. Hill of the field. Cam, cairn; dail, for
dalach, gen. of dail, riverside field.
Cairndard (for Carn an t-Aird). Cairn of the hill. Cam,
cairn; an t-, of the; ard, for aird, gen. of ard, height, hill.
Cairndenity (for Carn Dam Netain). Cairn of judgment
at a small stream. Carn, cairn; dain, gen. of dan, judg-
ment; netain, gen. of netan, small burn. The name indi-
cates a place where barony courts were held.
Cairndoor Hill. Hill of the grove. Cam, hill; doire,
gen. of doire, grove.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 75
Cairness. Hill near a burn. Cam, hill; eas, burn.
Cairneve. Hill of the fold. Cam, hill; chuith, gen.
asp. of cuith, fold. Ch had been lost, and th had become
bh, sounded v.
Cairneylaw. Hill. Carnan, small hill; lamli, hill. An
became ey .
Cairnfall Wood. Wood of the hill. Cam, hill; choill,
coill asp., hill. Ch of choill had become ph, equivalent
to /.
Cairnfechel. Cairn where a watch was kept. Cam,
cairn, hill; fuicille, gen. of faicill, watch, guard.
Cairnferg. Stormy hill. Cam, hill; feirge, gen. of
fearg, anger, rage.
Cairnfield. Field containing a cairn. Cam, cairn, hill.
Cairnfold. Hill fold. Cam, hill.
Cairnford Bridge. Hill ford bridge. Cam, hill.
Cairngall, Cairngauld. Hill of the rock. Cam, hill;
gall, rock, pillar.
Catrnglass. Green hill. Cairn, hill; glas, green, grey
green.
Cairngorm. Blue mountain. Cairn, mountain; gorm,
blue, green. Besides the Cairngorm on the north side of
Glenavon there is another on the east side of Ben Macdhui,
between the Derry and Lui burns. Great mountains are
named by those who see them from a distance, hence the
meaning blue must be assigned to gorm here.
Cairnhall. Both cairn and hall mean hill. Cam, hill;
choill, gen. asp. of coill, hill. C had been lost and oi had
been changed to a to produce an English word.
Cairnhead. Hill of the cattle-fold. Cam, hill; chuid,
cuid asp., cattle-fold. C had become silent and had been
lost.
Cairnhigh (for Cam Chuith). Hill of the cattle-fold.
Cam, hill; chuith, gen. asp. of cuith, cattle-fold.
[C]/i[w]/[f/i] lost the letters within brackets after being
aspirated.
Cairnhill. The second part is a translation of the first.
Cam, hill.
Cairnie. Place abounding in hills. Carnach, full of
hills.
Cairniehillock. Hillock. Carnan, little hill.
Cairnlea, Cairnley. Grey hill. Cam, hill; JiatJi (tli
silent), grey.
Cairnleith. Grey hill. Cam, hill; Hath, grey.
Cairnlob. Hill of the bend. Cam, hill; luib, bend. At
Cairnlob there is a bend in a high road.
Cairnmore. Big hill. Cam, hill; mor, big.
76 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Cairnmurnan. Cairn in memory of a dearly beloved
person. Cam, cairn; muimean, beloved person.
Cairnmuir. Muir of the cairns.
Cairnmyre. Bog on a hill. Cairn, hill; mire, bog where
water oozes out of the ground.
Cairnorchies. Hill of charity. Cam, hill; oircheis,
gen. of oircheas, charity. There might have been a hospice
for travellers on the main road crossing the hill. It was near
the abbey of Deer.
Cairxorrie. Cairn of the song. Cam, cairn; orain, gen.
of oran, song, poem. Urns were found near the site of the
cairn, and the name indicates that songs had been sung or
poems had been recited annually at the cairn in memory
and honour of some person. An, the dim. termination in
Gaelic, became ie in passing into Scotch. Oran was prob-
ably cognate with Latin oro, I pray, the primary meaning of
which is I speak.
Cairns. Heaps of stones. There are many springs near
the cairns, and this is an indication that the hill had been
good pasture ground. Probably the cairns had been made
of stones gathered to let more grass grow. The O.S. map
states that a fight took place there in 1411, an improbable
statement.
Cairnsleed. Both parts of the name mean hill. Cam,
hill; sleibh, hill.
Cairnstockie. Hill with a fold made by a circle of
trunks of trees stuck into the ground. Cam, hill; stocach,
having posts.
Cairxtack. Hill croft. Cairn, gen. of cam, hill; tack
(Scotch), holding, croft. Or, Hill of the house. Gran, hill;
taigh, house.
Cairntaw^ie. Hill of the village. Cam, hill; tamhain,
gen. of tamhan, permanent residence, village.
Cairnton. Hill town. Cam, hill.
Cairntradlin, Cairntrodlie (for Cam an Treid Leithne).
Hill of the broad drove of cattle. Cam, hill; an, of the
(suppressed); treid, gen. of trend, drove; leithne (th silent),
gen. of Icathan, broad. In a Gamrie name an treid has
become andrew; and so also, perhaps, in the Fyvie name
Andre wsford.
Cairntulloch, Cairntough. Hill. Cam, cairn, hill;
tulach, hill. Both parts of the name mean hill.
Cairnwell. Hill of the town. Cam, mountain; bhaile,
gen. asp. of baile, town. Bhaile, pronounced waile, had
lapsed into well.
Cairnwhelp (for Carn "a' Choilp). Hill of the heifer.
Cam, hill; a', of the; choilp, gen. asp. of colp, heifer.
Heifers were kept apart from other cattle.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 77
Cairnycroch (for Cam a' Chnuic). Hill. Both parts of
the name mean hill. Cam, hill; a', of the; chnuic, gen. asp.
of cnoc, hill. Cnoc in some places is pronounced crochg.
Cairnyfarrach. Cairn commemorating an act of viol-
ence. Cam, cairn; a', of the; farraich, gen. of farrach,
violence, pestilence.
Cairnywhing (for Cam a' Choinne). Hill of the meet-
ing. Gam, hill; a', of the; choinne, gen. asp. of coinne,
meeting.
Caisteal na Caillich. Castle of the old woman. Cais-
teal, castle; na, of the; cailliche, gen. of cailleach, old
woman. This is the name of a solitary high rock in Braemar
Forest. Perhaps for Caisteal na Cailliche Oidhche, owl's
castle. Literally — Castle of the old woman of the night.
Oidhche, night.
Caistealhungry (for Caisteal Fhang Airidhe). Fort at a
fank on a shieling. Caisteal, strong place; fhang, fang asp.,
sheep-fold; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling. F is silent and
had been omitted.
Cake, Burn of (for Allt Caoich). Bum of the howe.
Allt, burn; caoich, gen. of caoch, howe, burn.
Cake Well (for Tobar Caoich). Well of the howe.
Tobar, well; caoich, gen. of caoch, howe. Well might be a
corruption of bhaile, baile asp., town.
Calf-fold. Fold on a farm for calves, to prevent them
from straying and damaging growing corn. Formerly calves
were allowed to go on cornfields till the crop began to shoot.
Calfward. Enclosed field on a farm, to which calves
were sent to pasture.
Callamalish. Marsh of the cattle-fold. Calla, marsh;
na, of the; Use, gen. of lios, cattle-fold, circle, enclosed
place.
Callater. Meadow land. Calla, wet meadow; tir,
land. Callater is the name of a glen, a river, and a loch.
Calliebrae. Hill. Coille, hill; braigh, hill. Both parts
mean the same thing.
Calnecreich (for Calla na Creiche). Marsh of the hill.
Calla, marsh; na, of the; creiche, gen. of creach, hill.
Calsay, Calsie, Casay, Causey. Road shod with stems
of trees, stones, etc. Calceata (Latin), shod.
Calton Hill. Hill of hazel trees. Calltuinn, gen. plural
of calltuinn, hazel. Calton might represent coilltean, a
variant of coillean, dim. of coille, hill.
Calurg Wood. Wood of the hillside. Goill, wood;
luirg, gen. of lurg, hillside. When the knowledge of Gaelic
was declining nouns in the genitive were put in the simple
nominative form.
Camalynes. Crook of the level ground. Camag, crook;
78 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
lein, gen of lean, plain. Ein had erroneously been supposed
to be a plural termination, hence s had been added to the
name.
Cambus o' May (for Camas a' Mhaigh). Bend of the
river Dee at a level haugh. Camas, bend; a', of the;
mhaigh, gen. asp. of magh, level plain.
Camies' Grave. Place supposed to be the grave of a
person named Camus.
Camiestone. Stone supposed to mark the grave of a
person named Camus. But the stone may have been set
up to mark a turn in a boundary line. Camadh, crook.
Camlet. Curved side. Cam, crooked; leathad, side.
Cammaloun. Crook of the wet place. Camadh, crook;
fhliucliain, gen. asp. of fliuchan, wetness. Fh had been
lost, and ch had also become silent and had been lost.
Cammack's How (for Toll Camaig). How of the bend
in Culsh Burn. Toll, howe ; camaig, gen. of camag, curve.
Camock Hill. Hill with a crook in its high ridge.
Camag, crook, bend.
Camock Road. Boad over Camock Hill.
Camore. Great road. This is the name of a ridge on
the north of Strathdon, which had formerly been crossed by
a hill road from Blairnamarrow to Loinherry. Cath, road;
mor, big. See Ca.
Camp Hill, Camphill. Hill supposed to have been the
site of a camp. The supposed camp had been a fold.
Camp Howe. The supposed camp was a cattle-fold.
Campla Hill (for Camp Law Hill). Lamh, hill. The
supposed camp was an ancient cattle-fold.
Campfield (for Cam Choill). Crooked hill. Cam,
crooked; choill, coill asp., hill. Ch had become /, equivalent
to ph.
Cample. Crooked turn. Cam, crooked; pill, to turn.
Candacraig, Candycraig. Head of the craig. Ceann,
head; a , of the; craige, gen. of creag, rock, craig, hill.
Candle Hill, Candlehillock. Candle (for Ceann Dail).
Head of the field. Ceann, head; dail, field.
Candle Stone. Stone at the head of a field. Candle
(for Ceann Dail). Ceann, head; dail, field.
Candleland. (perhaps for Ceann Dail Lamhan). Hill at
the head of a field. Ceann, head; dail, for dalach, gen. of
dail, field, meadow; lamhan, dim. of lamh, hill.
Candy (for Ceann Dubh). Black head. Ceann, head,
knoll; dubh, black.
Candyglirach (for Ceann a' Chleirich). Head of the
clergyman. Ceann, head; a', of the; cldeirich, gen. asp. of
cleireach, clergyman. D is a euphonic insertion.
Cannachars (for Airidh Cannaich). Shieling of the bog
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. "9
■myrtle. AiridJi, shieling; cannaich, gen. of cannach, bog
myrtle. Final s represents the sound of dh in airidh.
Cannie Burn, Canny Burn. Burn near which bog
myrtle grows. Cannach, sweet willow (Myrica gale).
Cannies Well. Well at the head of a hill. Ceann,
head. Ann had been made ie as a dim. termination and s
as a plural termination, though it is neither the one nor
the other.
Cannon Braes (for Ceann an Bhraighe). Head of the
hill. Ceann, head; an, of the; braighe, for braghad, gen.
.asp. of braigh, hill.
Cannonhills (for Ceann an Choill). Head of the hill.
Ceann, head; an, of the; choill, gen. asp. of coill, hill.
Canny Sweet Pots. Pools at the head of the place.
Ceann, head, end; an, of the; suidhe, settlement, place;
pots (Scotch), pools. An had been regarded as the dim.
termination of ceann, and had been translated into y.
Suidhe becomes in names suie, side, sweet, and siveetie.
The settlement was at the Cowhillock, a name which means
cattle-fold, where there had been houses for the men and
women in charge of cows.
Can up (perhaps for Cnap). Hillock.
Caochan. Small rapid stream, dim. of caoch, burn. It
is apparently supposed to mean a stream partially hidden by
vegetation, or which runs underground for a short distance
in a gravelly place. Hence, in turning it into English it is
made Blind burn; but this arises from confusing caoch,
burn, with caoch, blind.
Caochan a' Bhutha. Burn of the bothy. Probably a
house in which whisky was made is indicated. Caochan,
burn; a , of the; bhutha, gen. asp. of buth, cot, temporary
house.
Caochan Aighean. Burn of the heifers. Caochan,
streamlet; aighean, gen. plural of agh, fawn, heifer.
Caochan an Tc Duibhe. Devil's burn. Caochan, burn;
an, of the; 'ic, for mhic, gen. asp. of mac, son; duibhe,
blackness, devil.
Caochan an t-Sluichd Mhoir. Small burn from the
great slug. Caochan, streamlet; an t-, of the; sluichd, gen.
of slochd, gap, gorge, slug; mhoir, gen. of mor, big.
Caochan Bheithe. Streamlet of the birch-tree.
Caochan, streamlet; bheithe, gen. asp. of beith, birch-tree.
Caochan Cam. Crooked burn. Caochan, burn; cam,
crooked.
Caochan Claise. Burn of the hollow. Caochan, burn-
claise, gen. of clais, trench
Caochan Crom. Crooked burn. Caochan, small stream;
■crom, crooked.
80 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Caochan Dearg. Red little stream. Caochan, stream-
let; dearg, red with iron oxide.
Caochan Deochry. Burn of the black corry. Caochan,
burn; dubh, black; choire, coire asp., corry.
Caochan Dubh Beag, Caochan Dubh Mor. Little and
Big black burn. Caochan, burn; dubh, black; beag, little;
mor, big.
Caochan Luachair. Burn of rushes. Caochan, burn ;
luachair, gen. of luachar, rush, bulrush.
Caochan Meanna Ghobhair. Stream frequented by kids
of the goat. Caochan, streamlet; meannach, abounding in
kids; ghobhair, gen. asp. of gobhar, goat.
Caochan na Cothaiche. Frothy burn. Caochan, burn ;
na, of the; cothaiclie, for cothanaiche, froth.
Caochan na Cuairte. Burn of the circle. Caochan,
burn; na, of the; cuairte, gen. of cuairt, circle. The upper
part of the burn forms a semicircle.
Caochan nan Laoigh. Burn of the calves. Caochan,
burn ; nan, of the ; laoigh, gen. plural of Jaogh, calf.
Caochan Odhar. Dun streamlet. Caochan, burn;
odhar, dun, yellow. In some instances odhar, yellow, seems
to refer to the vegetation on the sides of the burn, such as
Sphagnum moss.
Caochan Raineach Beag, Caochan Baineach Mor.
Little ferny burn, and Big ferny burn. Caochan, burn;
raineach, ferny; beag, little; mor, big.
Caochan Seileach. Stream bordered by willows. Cao-
chan, streamlet; seileach, gen. plural of seileach, willow.
Caochan Tarsuinn. Cross burn. Caochan, burn; tar-
suinn, cross.
Caochanan Bana. White little burn. Caochanan, dim.
of caochan, burn; baine, white, clear.
Caochanan Buadha. Bed streamlets. Caochanan,.
dim. of caochan, streamlet; ruadha, plural of ruadh, red.
Caoohandye Hill. Hill at the black burn. Caochan,
burn; dubh, black.
Capel Pass. Horse track over the Grampians from Glen-
muick to Clova. Capull, horse.
Capelstones. Stones like horses. Capidl, horse. There
are more stones than one, and one is regarded as like a
lying horse.
Caperneuk. Nook where a turner of caps and wooden
bowls lived. Capper, turner of caps. Caps were made of
alder and birch, and till the middle of the nineteenth cen-
tury they were in general use for holding food and drink.
Capul Ford. Horse ford. Capull, horse; in dictionaries
said to mean mare.
Carden. Seat of judgment. Cathair (th silent), seat,.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 81
place; dain, gen. of dan, judgment. The name indicates a
place where barony courts were held.
Carden Well, Carden's Well. Well at a place where a
barony court was held. Cathair, seat of a court; dain, gen.
of dan, judgment. S had been added to Carden because it
was supposed to be in the possessive.
Garden's Knowe, Cardensbrae, Cardenstone, Carding
Hill. Places where barony courts were held. Cathair (th
silent), seat, place; dain, gen. of dan, judgment.
Cardlunchart Hill. Hill of the circular enclosure.
Cathair (th silent), seat, fort; luncart, stone circle, cattle-
fold. D is a needless insertion.
Cardno. Seat of judgment. Cathair, seat; dain, gen. of
dan, judgment. Ai and n had been transposed, and ai had
then become o.
Cardrum. Curve of a hill ridge. Car, twist, bend;
droma, gen. of druim, ridge, hill.
Carewe Hill. Curving hill slope. Car, bend; ruigh,
slope of a hill.
Cargeddie. Rock of danger. Carr, rock; gaidh, gen. of
gadJi (Irish), danger.
Carl Well. Wizard's well. Carl (Scotch), wizard.
Carlin Craig, Carlin's Craig, Carlin Den, Carlin Hill,
Carlin Pot. In these names carZm means witch.
Carlogie. Enclosure in a little hollow. Cathair, circle
for defence or penning cattle; lagain, gen. of lagan, little
howe.
Carn a' Bhacain. Hill of the little peat-moss. Cam,
hill; a' , of the; bhacain, gen. asp. of bacan, little peat-moss.
Carn a' Bhealaidh. Mountain with a road over it.
Cam, mountain; a', of the; bhealaich, gen. asp. of bealach,
pass. Bhealaidh is the gen. of bealaidh, broom, which does
not grow on high hills.
Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach. Mountain of the beautiful
corry. Cam, mountain; a', of the; choire, gen. asp. of
voire, corry ; bhoidhich, gen. of boidheach, pretty.
Carn a' Gheoidh. Mountain of the goose. Cam, moun-
tain; a', of the; gheoidh, gen. asp. of geadh, goose. Prob-
ably geese had bred on this hill at a remote time.
Carn a' Mhaim. Mountain of the breast. Carn, moun-
tain; a', of the; mhaim, gen. asp. of mam, breast, large
round hill. Mam is cognate with the Latin word mamma,
the breast of a woman.
Carn Allt an Aitinn. Mountain of the juniper burn.
Carn, mountain; allt, burn; an, of the; aitinn, gen. of
aitionn, juniper.
Carn Allt na Beinne. Hill of the mountain burn.
F
82 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Cam, hill; allt, burn; na, of the; beinne, gen. of beinn,
mountain.
Carn an Daimh. Mountain of the stag. Cam, moun-
tain; an, of the; daimh, gen. of damh, stag.
Carn an Fhidhleir. Mountain of the fiddler. Cam,
mountain ; an, of the; fhidhleir, gen. asp. of fidhlear, fiddler.
Fh and dh are silent, and the remnant Heir has some re-
semblance to the other name of the hill — Carn Ealar. This
name is a modern invention.
Carn an Fhir Bhogha. The archer's cairn. Cam,
cairn; an, of the; fhir, gen. asp. of fear, man; bhoga, gen.
asp. of bogha, bow.
Carn an Tc Duibhe. Mountain of the devil. Cam,
mountain; an, of the; 'ic, for mhic, gen. asp. of mac, son;
duibhe, blackness.
Carn an Leth-allt. Mountain of the burnside. Cam,
mountain; an, of the; leith-uillt, gen. of leth-uillt, burnside.
Carn an t-Sagairt Beag, Carn an t-Sagairt Mor.
Little hill of the priest and Big hill of the priest. Cam, hill ;
an t-, of the; sagairt, gen. of sagart, priest; beag, little;
mor, big.
Carn an Tuirc. Hill of the boar. Cam, hill; an, of the;
tuirc, gen. of tore, boar. Formerly live stock were sent to
the hills in summer to be away from growing crops, and
when it was time to bring them home in autumn straying
animals had to be left behind.
Carn Aosda. Hill of the inn. Cam, hill; osde, gen. of
osda, inn. There had once been an inn or hospice on the
road in the Clunie valley.
Carn Bad a' Ghuail. Hill with a bushy place on the
shoulder. Cam, mountain; bad, bush; a', of the; ghuailne,
gen. asp. of gualan, shoulder. Ghuail, on the O.S. map, is
the gen. asp. of guail, coals.
Carn Beag. Little mountain. Cam, mountain : beag,
little.
Carn Bhac (for Carn a' Bhac). Mountain of the peat-
moss. Cam, mountain; a', of the ; bhac, gen. asp. of bac,
peat-moss.
Carn Bhither (for Carn a' Bhither). Mountain of the
wild beast. Carn, mountain; a', of the; bhithir, gen. asp. of
beithir, bear, serpent, any wild beast.
Carn Chrionaidh (for Carn Crionaiche). Mountain
growing brushwood. Cam, mountain; crionaiche, gen. of
crionach, brushwood.
Carn Cloich-mhuilinn. Millstone hill. Carn, hill,
mountain; cloich-mhuilinn, gen. of clach-mhuilinn, mill-
stone. Hand mills were usually made of granite or of
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 83
knotted schist; but large millstones are commonly made of
sandstone.
Carn Creagach. Mountain with steep rocks. Cam,
mountain; creagach, abounding in steep rocks.
Carn Crom. Crooked mountain. Carn, mountain; crom,
crooked.
Carn Cruinn. Round mountain. Carn, mountain;
cruinn, round-
Carn Daimh. Hill of oxen. Cam, hill; daimh, gen. of
damh , ox.
Carn Damhaireach (perhaps for Carn Damhaire).
Mountain of rutting of deer. Cam, mountain; damhaire,
gen. of damhair, rutting of deer. Damhaireach means keen.
Carn Dearg. Red mountain. Carn, mountain; dearg,
red.
Carn Deuchrie. Hill of the black corry. Cam, hill ;
dubh, black; choire, gen. asp. of coire, corry.
Carn Drochaid. Mountain of the bridge. Cam, moun-
tain; drochaide, gen. of drochaid, bridge.
Carn Dubh, Carndubh. Black mountain. Carn, moun-
tain; dubh, black.
Carn Dubh Clach Choutsaich. Black hill of Clach
Choutsaich. Cam, hill; dubh, black. See Clach Chout-
saich.
Carn Eag Dhubh. Hill of the black nick. Cam, hill;
eag, nick; dhubh, fern, of dubh, black. Eag Dhubh should
have been Eige Duibhe in the gen.
Carn Ealar. Mountain of the cul de sac for catching
deer. Cam, mountain; eilear, place for catching deer. See
Carn an Fhtdhleir.
Carn Eat.asaid. Mount Elizabeth. The local pronuncia-
tion of the name suggests that it should be Carn Aillsichte,
exaggerated mountain, meaning that it is very great. It is
2600 feet high and the biggest mountain on the north side
of Strathdon.
Carn Eas. Mountain beside a burn. Cam, mountain;
eas, burn, waterfall.
Carn Elrig Beag, Carn Elrig Mor, (for Carn Aill-
Ruigh Beag and Carn Aill-Ruigh Mor). Little hill with a
rocky slope, and Big hill with a rocky slope. Cam, hill; aill,
gen. of aill, rock; ruigh, slope at the base of a hill; beag,
little; mor, big. Originally Aill-Ruigh had been Ruigh-Aill.
See Carnrickle.
Carn Fiaclach, Carn Fiaclach Beag. Mountain with a
jagged summit, and Little mountain with a jagged summit.
Cam, mountain; fiaclach, toothed, jagged; beag, little.
Carn Ghriogair. Gregor's cairn. Carn, cairn; Ghrio-
gair, gen. asp. of Griogair, Gregor.
84 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Carn Greannach. Rough mountain. Cam, mountain;.
greannach, rough, shaggy.
Carn Iain. John's hill. Cam, hill; Iain, John.
Carn Leac Saighdeir. Hill of the stone of the soldier.
Cam, hill; leac, monumental stone; saighdeir, gen. of saigh-
dear, arrower, soldier.
Carn Leitir na Cloiche. Hill of the slope where there
was a stone. Carn, hill; leitir, slope, hillside; na, of the;
cloiche, gen. of clach, stone.
Carn Liath. Grey mountain. Cam, mountain, cairn;
Hath, grey.
Carn Luachair. Hill of rushes. Carn, hill; luachair,
rushes.
Carn Meadhonach. Middle mountain — between two
burns. Carn, mountain; meadhonach, middle.
Carn Mhic an Toisich. Cairn Macintosh. Cam, hill,
cairn; mhic, gen. asp. of mac, son; toisiche, gen. of toiseach,
leader.
Carn Moine an Tighearn. Mountain of the moss of the
laird. Carn, mountain; moine, moss; an, of the; tighearn,
laird, landlord.
Carn Mor. Big mountain. Cam, mountain; mor, big.
Carn na Craoibhe Seileich. Mountain of the willow
tree. Cam, mountain; na, of the; craoibhe, gen. of craobh,
tree; seileich. gen. of seileach,, willow.
Carn na Criche. Mountain of the boundary. Cam,
mountain; na, of the; criche, gen. of crioch, boundary,
division. At the north-east side there is a watershed
between two burns.
Carn na Cuimhne. Cairn of remembrance. Carn, cairn;
na, of the; cuimhne, remembrance, memory.
Carn na Drochaide. Mountain of the bridge. Cam,
mountain; na, of the; drochaide, gen. of drochaid, bridge.
Carn na Gobhair. Hill of the goat. Carn, hill; na, of
the; gobhair, gen. of gobhar, goat.
Carn na Greine. Sunny mountain. Cam, mountain;
na, of the; greine, gen. of grian, sun.
Carn na Moine. Mountain of the moss. Cam, moun-
tain; na, of the; moine, moss, moor.
Carn nan Sac. Hill of willows. Cam, hill; nan, of
the; sac, sauchs (Scotch), translation of seileach, gen.
plural of seileach, willow.
Carn nan Seileach. Mountain of the willows. Cam,
mountain; nan, of the; seileach, gen. plural of seileach,
willow.
Carn nan Sgliat. Hill of the slates. Carn, hill; nan,
of the; sgliat, gen. plural of sgliat, slate.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 85
Carn Oighreig. Mountain of the cloudberry. Cam,
mountain; oiglireig, gen. of oiglireag, mountain strawberry.
Carn Tiekeiver. Mountain of the house for goats. Cam,
mountain; taigh, house; eibhre, castrated goat.
Carn Ulie. Mountain at a turn in a long range. Carn,
mountain; uille, gen. of uileann, elbow, angle. Willings in
New Byth, Woolman Hill in Aberdeen, and Cairnwilliam in
Monymusk come from uileann, angle.
Carnagour. Hill of the goat. Cam, hill; a', of the;
ghobhair, gen. asp. of gobhar, goat. Bh is equivalent to u.
Carnaquheen. Same as Carn na Cuimhne.
Carnaveron. Hill of the weeping. Cam, hill ; a', of the;
bhronn, gen. asp. of bronn, lamenation. The hill had been
a place of interment.
Carndubh. Black hill. Cam, hill; dubh, black.
Carnfearg. Hill of storms. Cam, hill; fearg, gen.
plural of fearg, storm.
Carnichal (for Carn a' Choill). Hill of the hill. Both
parts mean hill. Carn, hill; a', of the; choill, gen. asp. of
coill, hill. The latter part had been added to explain the
first.
Carnieston. Town of the little hill. Carnan, little hill.
Carnoch Burn. Stony burn. Carnach, stony.
Carnstockie. Hill of a place surrounded with trunks of
trees to form a cattle-fold. Carn, hill; stocach, having posts.
A place of this sort near Aberdeen was called The Stocket
Head.
Carntawie. Hill of the small dwelling-place. Cam,
hill ; tamliain, gen. of tamhan, dim. of tamli, habitation,
hamlet. Mh is equivalent to u, v, or iv ; and an is equivalent
to ie in Scotch.
Carr Cottage. Cottage at a projecting part of a hill.
Carr, projecting part.
Carrue. Curve in the slope of a hill. Car, turn; ruigh,
lower slope of a hill.
Carsluiche. Fen of the pool. Car, mossy plain, fen;
sluichd, gen. of slochd, pool.
Cartars (for Carr Tarsuinn). Lateral projection from a
hill. Carr, projection from a hill; tarsuinn, lateral, oblique,
cross. Uinn of Tarsuinn had been regarded as a plural ter-
mination equivalent to s, which had been conjoined with
the preceding s.
Cartle, Drum of (for Druim Carr Tulaich). Bidge of a
projecting hill. Druim, ridge; carr, projecting hill; tulaich,
gen. of tulach, hill.
Cartlehaugh. Haugh beside a hill on which there was a
monumental stone. Carr, sepulchral stone; tulaich, gen. of
86 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
tulach, knoll. Anciently there was a stone circle near
Cartlehaugh.
Carvichen. Eock of fire. Carr, rock; bheochain, gen.
asp. of beochan, small fire. Probably a fire had anciently
been made on this rock on certain occasions.
Carvie Water. Burn of Glen Carvie — the rough glen.
See Glen Carvie.
Casaiche Burn. Burn of the brae. Casaich, gen. of
casach, ascent.
Caskie Ben, Caskieben. Wooded hill. Gasach, bushy;
beinn, hill.
Cassiegills (for Casach Chuitan). Brae of the little
fold. Casach, brae; chuitan, little fold. Chuitan had been
corrupted into whitean and this had been turned into gealan,
little white place. An had been changed into s, and gealan
had become gills.
Cassielands. Pieces of arable land on a brae. Casach,
brae, steep place.
Castle Dale. Waterside field at Fyvie Castle. Bail,
field near a river.
Castle Forbes. Castle Forbes was formerly at Drum-
minor in Kearn. The new castle in Keig was at first called
Putachy.
Castle Maud. Small castle where barony courts were
held. Mod, court of justice.
Castle Wilson. A precipitous rock with a cave in it, on
the east side of the Slacks of Glen Carvie. It was the haunt
of a freebooter named Wilson.
Cat Cairn, Cat's Cairn. Cairn beside a hill road. Cath,
drove road, hill road; earn, pile of stones, mountain.
Cat Craig, Catcraig, Cat Craigs, Cat's Craig, Catto
Hill. Most of these names are supposed to mean rocks
haunted by wild cats. Probably the order of the parts of
the names has been changed and all of them refer to roads
crossing hills or passing alongside them. Cath, catlia, road,
drove road, thoroughfare; creag, rock, hill; creagan, rocks,
hills.
Cat, Hill of. Hill of the road between Glentanner and
Glentarf. Cat same as cath. See Ca.
Cat Loup. Bend of the road. Cath, drove road; luib,
bend.
Cat's Slack. Gorge through which a road passes. Or,
perhaps, gorge frequented by wild cats. Cath, road; cat,
wild cat; slochd, gorge.
Catden. Den near a road. Cath, road. Or, Den fre-
quented by wild cats.
Caterans' Howe. Hollow in which Highland cattle
thieves lurked. Ceatharn, fighting band of thieves.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 87
Catherine's Dub, St. Pool in which the St Catherine,
a ship of the Spanish Armada, sank. Dub, pool.
Cattens. Foot track. Cathan, dim. of cath, road. An
had been regarded as the plural termination and had been
changed into s.
Catterloch. Loch at which there is boggy ground.
Cathar, mossy, boggy ground.
Cattie. Eoad. CatJia, thoroughfare, drove road over
hills.
Cattie Burn. Burn of the drove road. Catha, gen. of
cath, hill road. It goes along the side of the Cattie burn,
and crosses Hill of Cat. See Ca.
Cattie Knowes. Knolls at a roadside.
Catties Haugh. Boadside haugh.
Caudron Howe. Caudron is a translation of the Gaelic
word coire, corry, which is an appropriate description of the
place.
Caudyknowes (for Cnapan Cuidh). Knoll at a cattle-
fold. Cnapan, dim. of cnap, knoll, knowe ; cuidh, gen. of
cuidh, cattle-fold. An had been regarded as a plural ter-
mination and had been changed to s, which had been added
to knowe.
Cauldhame (for Cul a' Thuim). Back of the hill. Cul,
back; a', of the (suppressed); thuim, gen. asp. of torn, hill.
The article a' was necessary to aspirate t of tuim.
Cauldsowens. Cold and Cauld, in names of places in
Aberdeenshire usually represent cul, the back or north side
of a hill, and sowans is a corruption of the Gaelic word
sughan, moisture, drainings. Gh is silent, and an being
erroneously regarded as a plural termination s had been
added. The name might mean wet place on the north side
of a hill.
Causeway, Causey. See Calsay.
Causewayend, Causeyend. Place where a made road
ended.
Causewayfold. Fold with a hard road leading to it.
Causeyhill. Hill crossed by a made road.
Causeyton. Town on a made road.
Cave Arthur. Cave of the high land. Ard-thir, high
land.
Cave o' Meackie. Cave of plants. Meacan, gen. plural
of meacan, root, plant with a fleshy root. Asplenium
marinum grows in the roof of sea-caves.
Cave of Coffin. Cave of the hollow. Cobhain, gen. of
cobhan, hollow.
Cavil, Mill of. Mill at a place where salmon were
caught in a stationary net or fish basket. Cabhuil, creel for
catching fish, hose net.
88 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Ceann" a' Chuirn. Head of the hill. Ceann, head; a',
of the chuirn, gen. asp. of earn, hill.
Ceann Crion Carn a' Mhaim. The small head of Cam
a' Mhaim. Ceann, head; crion, diminutive; Carn a' Mhaim,
hill name; which see.
Ceard's Cove. Tinker's shelter. Cove, sheltered bay
or opening among rocks.
Cemetery. Burying-ground. Koimeterion (Greek),
sleeping-place, cemetery.
Cessnie Burn. Burn of the pleasant little place.
Seisean, dim. from seis, pleasant, delightful. Ea and n had
been transposed.
Chalybeate Spring. Spring discharging water impreg-
nated with iron. Chalybs (Latin), steel.
Chance Inn. Inn with a fold for cattle or sheep on a
journey. Fang, fank, fold. F is equivalent to ph, and it had
been changed into eh.
Changehill. Fank hill. Fang, fank. F, being an
aspirated letter, had been changed into ch, hard at first but
now soft.
Channeller. Bellowing ground. Place frequented by
deer at rutting time. Sianail (pronounced shanail), bellow-
ing; lar, ground.
Chanonry Knap (for Cnap Sean Bath). Knoll of the old
stone circle. Cnap, knoll; sean, old; ratli (th silent), stone
circle round a grave. There is no trace of the circle now.
Chanryhill (for Sean Bath Hill). Hill of the old stone
circle. Sean, old; rath, stone circle.
Chapel. Small place of worship. Capella (Latin),
chapel, shrine for relics.
Chapel Belts. Strips of wood near the old church of
Newhills, which was at first a chapel or subsidiary place of
worship in Old Machar parish. Capella (Latin), shrine, place
of worship.
Chapel Hill. Hill to which horses were sent to feed in
summer. Capull, gen. plural of captdl, horse, mare.
Chapel o' Sink (for Caibeal a' Sithein). Chapel on the
hill. Caibeal, chapel; a , of the; sithein, gen. of sithean,
hill, with k added for euphony. Th is silent. The chapel is
a ring of stones round a grave.
Chapel of Garioch. This was originally the name of a
chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It afterwards became
the site of the church of the parish of Logie-Durno, and
subsequently the parish came to be called Chapel of Garioch.
Chapel of Seggat. Chapel dedicated to the Virgin
Mary. It continued to be visited for religious worship after
15G0, and sick and infirm persons visited the chapel well
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 89
on the first Sunday of May. They drank of the well and
dropped coins into it. See Seggat.
Chapel Ronald. Chapel dedicated to St Ronald.
Capella, chapel, shrine; Raonvll, Ronald, Ranald.
Chapel Stripe. Streamlet of the horses. Capull, gen.
plural of capull, a horse, mare.
Chapelton. Town at the site of a chapel. Capella
(Latin), shrine; ton (English), town. In Gaelic, Ionad
Naomh. Holy place. Ionad, place; naomh, holy. In one
case Ionad has become Ennets and naomh has been dropped.
Charlie's Howff. An underground chamber on an
ancient shieling, which afterwards became the hiding-place
of a robber called Charlie.
Charsk Hill. Hill of the crossing. Chraisg, gen. asp.
of crasg, crossing.
Chest Craigs. Steep rocks near the Ythan at place in
the river like a chest.
Chest Fauld. Small enclosed field in which a stone
coffin had been found. Ciste, kist, stone coffin.
Chest of Dee. Place where the channel of the Dee is
like the lock of a canal.
Choral Howe (for Toll Coireill). Howe of the quarry.
Toll, howe (translated); choireill, gen. asp. of coireall, quarry.
The upper part of the walls of the old church of Turriff had
been built long after the building of the church itself, out of
a quarry made in a hollow near it.
Christianhall. Farm name.
Christ's Kirk. Church of Rathmuriel, dedicated to
Christ. It was annexed to Kennethmont, probably after
1560.
Churter's Chest. This name is said to have been given
to a place in which charters were hidden in a time of danger.
A better form of the name would be Charters Chest.
Ciach Lodge (for Crioch Lodge). Residence for sports-
men on the watershed between the heads of two burns.
Crioch, boundary, division.
Cist, Chest. Stone chamber for the body or calcined
bones of a dead person. Cistc, chest, kist, coffin.
Cistern. Reservoir for water. Gista and cisterna
(Latin), chest, reservoir.
City Hillock (for Sithe Hillock). Fairy hillock. Sithc,
gen. of stilt, fairy.
Cividly. Grassy place. Suidhe, place, seat; ley, grass
land. U, v, and w were interchangeable about the year 1700.
Clach a' Chleirich. Stone of the bellman. Clacli.
stone; a', of the: chleirich, gen. asp. of cleircach, bellman,
clerk.
Clach Choutsaich, Clachchoutsaich. Stone at an old
90 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
fold. Clach, stone; chuit, cuit asp., fold; seic, gen. of seac,
decayed, deserted.
Clach Mheann. Stone of the kids. Clach, stone;
mlieann, gen. plural asp. of meann, kid.
Clach Mhor Bad a' Chabair. Big stone of Bad a'
Chabair. Clach, stone; mhor, fem. of mor, big; bad, clump
of trees ; a' , of the ; chabair, gen. asp. of cabar, fork of a burn.
Clach nan Taillear. Stone of the tailors. Clach, stone ;
nan, of the; taillear, gen. plural of taillear, tailor.
Clachan Burn. Village burn, or Stepping-stones burn.
Clachan, village, stepping-stones.
Clachan Lochan. Stones beside a small loch. Clachan,
stones; lo chain, gen. of lochan, small loch.
Clachan Yell. White stones. Clachan, plural of clach,
stone; geala, white. There are many loose stones on the
hilltop. The name might be a late translation into Gaelic of
Whitestones, in which white is a corruption of cuit, cattle-
fold. See Cuit.
Clachanturn (for Clach an Chuirn). Stone of the hill.
Clach, stone; an, of the; chuirn, gen. asp. of cam, hill. Ch
had become th because both have only the sound of h.
Clachbeg. Little stone. Clach, stone; beag, little.
Clachcurr (for Clach Carr). Monolith, monumental'
stone. Clach, stone; carr, monumental pillar. Clachcurr
would mean stone at a pool or fountain.
Clachdu, Clachdubh. Black stone. Clach, stone; dubh,
black.
Clachie Burn. Stony burn. Clachach, stony, pebbly.
Clachmaddy Hill. Wolfstone hill. Clach, stone;
madaidh, gen. of madadh, wolf, dog.
Clackriach. Grey stone. Clach, stone; riabhach, grey.
Clagganghoul. Bell of the post. Clag, bell; an, of the;
gobhail, gen. of gobhal, post, pillar, fort.
Clais (pronounced clash). Hollow like a trench.
Clais Choal. Gorge of the meeting-place. Clais, gorge;
choailc, gen. asp. of coail, meeting.
Clais Fhearnaig. Alder hollow. Clais, trench-like
hollow; fheamach, fearnach asp., abounding in alders.
Clais Garbh. Kough trench-like hollow. Clais, trench;.
garbh, rough.
Clais Liath. Grey gorge. Clais, trench-like hollow;
Hath, grey.
Clais Meirleach. Thieves' hole, drowning-place for
thieves. Clais, trench, hole, howe; meirleach, gen. plural of
meirleach, thief. See Meikle Knowe.
Clais Mhadaidh. Gorge of the wolf. Clais, gorge;
mhadaidh, gen. asp. of madadh, wolf.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 91
Clais Mhor. Big trench-like gorge. Clais, trench,
gorge; mhor, fern, of mor, great.
Clais nam Balgair. Gorge of the foxes. Clais, gorge;
nam, of the; balgair, gen. plural of balgair, fox.
Clais nam Bo. Gorge of the cows. Clais, trench-like
hollow; nam, of the; bo, gen. plural of bo, cow. This had
been a place where cows at hill pasture were folded at night.
Clais nan Cat. Hollow of wild cats. Clais, trench-like
hollow; nan, of the; cat, gen. plural of cat, cat, wild cat.
Clais nan Gad. Gorge of the twists. Clais, trench;
nan, of the; gad, gen. plural of gad, curve, twist. The name
implies that the gorge is crooked.
Clais Bathadan. Ditch of the little road. Clais, ditch;
rathadain, gen. of rathadan, little road.
Clais Toul (for Clais Tuill). Gorge of the howe. Clais,
trench; tuill, gen. of toll, hollow, howe.
Claisansgannaig, Burn of. Burn of the gorge of the
little drove. This is a small gorge like a trench, where a
small drove of cattle crossing the Ca Dubh Hill could be
penned at night. Clais, trench; an, of the; sgannaige, gen.
of sgannag, little drove.
Claisdhu Hill. Hill of the black trench-like hollow.
Clais, trench; dhubh, fern, of dubh, black.
Claise an Toul (for Clais an Tuill). Gorge of the hollow.
Clais, trench-like hollow; an, of the; tuill, gen. of toll,
hollow.
Claisnean. Hollow of the girls. Clais, trench-like
hollow; nan, of the; nigheaji, gen. plural of nighean, girl,
young woman. Young women were employed in milking
cows on hill pasture in summer. Nean might represent
nigheachan, washing.
Claivers Howe. Howe named in honour of James
Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee, who passed
through Aberdeenshire in 1689.
Clamandswells (perhaps for Tobar Clamhain). Well
of the kite. Tobar, well; clamhain, gen. of clamhan, kite.
Clarack. Bare place. Clarach, bare.
Clasachdhu. Black little howe. Claiseag, little howe;
dhubh, fem. of dubh, black.
Clash Wood. Wood in a hollow. Clais, trench-like
hollow.
Clashancape. Trench-like hollow on the top of a hill.
Clais, trench; an, of the; cip, gen. of ceap, plot of cultivated
ground, hilltop.
Clashandail. Trench of the level place. Clais, trench-
like hollow; an, of the; dail, for dalach, gen. of dail, field,
meadow, level ground.
92 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Clashbog Well. Well at a stripe running from a bog.
Clais, stripe, gutter, ditch; bog, marsh, wet grassy place.
Clashburn. Burn of the gorge. Clais, trench-like gorge.
The Clash burn becomes the Strathie burn.
Clashenloan. Trench-like hollow in a grassy place.
Clais, long hollow; an, of the; loin, gen. of Ion, moss,
meadow, lawn.
Clashenteple Hill (for Clais an t-Seipel Hill). Hill of
the chapel howe. Clais, hollow; an t-, of the; seipel, gen.
of seipeal, chapel. After t the s of seipel becomes silent
and is lost, and t takes its place, making it teipeil. The
howe extends from Invernettie to Glenbucket, and the
chapel is now a church.
Clashholm. Trench-like hollow on a hillside. Clais,
trench; holm, for thuim (t silent), gen. asp. of torn, hill.
Clashie Well (for Tobar na Claise). Well in a trench-
like hollow. Tobar, well (translated); na, of the; claise, gen.
of clais, trench, long narrow howe.
Clashindarroch. Hollow of the oak. Clais, trench,
gorge; an, of the; daraich, gen. of darach, oak-tree.
Clashinruich. Hollow at the foot of a hill slope. Clais,
trench-like hollow; an, of the; ruigh, slope at the foot of a
hill.
Clashmach Hill. Hill at level plain with a trench-like
hollow. Clais, trench; maigh, gen. of magh, plain.
Clashmarket (for Clais Mor Chuit). Hollow of the big
fold. Clais, trench-like hollow; mor, big; chuit, gen. asp. of
cuit, fold.
Clashmore. Big gorge. Clais, trench; mor, big.
Clashnachree. Hollow of the boundary. Clais, trench-
like hollow; na, of the; criche, gen. of crioch, boundary.
Clashnarae Hill. Hill of the trench-like hollow of the
plain. Clais, long, narrow hollow; an, of the; reidhe, gen.
of reidh, plain. Rae may represent ratli, stone circle, fold.
Clashnearby. Hollow of the division. Clash, trench-
like hollow ; an, of the; thearbaidh, gen. asp. of tearbadh,
separation. Th in thearbaidh, is silent. The hollow is near
the boundary between Towie and Kildrummy.
Clashneen. Hollow of the young women. Clais, gorge,
deep hollow; nighean, gen. plural of nighean, damsel. The
young women had been employed as dairymaids on a shieling.
Clashnettie. Gorge of the little burn. Clais, gorge;
netain, gen. of netan, little burn.
Clashwalloch Burn. Burn in deep trench-like gorge.
Clais, trench; bhealaich, gen. asp. of bealach, gorge, pass,
way. Bh is equivalent to u, v, or w.
Clashwell. Spring in a deep hollow. Clais, trench-like
hollow ; well, spring.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 93
Clatt. Rocky height. Chit, rocky hill. The local pro-
nunciation of Clatt is clet.
Clatterin Brig, Clatterin Briggs, Clattering Bridge.
Bridge which took the place of a row of stepping-stones.
Clacharan, stepping-stones. Ch became th, and then h be-
came silent and was lost. Final s in Briggs is due to an, a
plural termination. There were six places of this name in
Aberdeenshire but in some cases the name is now obsolete.
Clatterin Kist. Grave made of stones placed on edge
round the sides and ends. Clacharan, pavement, stepping-
stones, stones arranged for some purpose; ciste, chest, kist,
grave.
Clatterns. Stepping-stones. Clacharan, stepping-
stones over a burn or at a wet place in a road. An had been
contracted into n, but it had also been made s.
Clattie Burn. Burn which had excavated a deep bed.
CJadhaichte, dug out. Dli and ch had become silent, and
with the intermediate vowels had been omitted.
Claverhouse. Place named by Sir Charles Forbes in
honour of James Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee,
who passed through Aberdeenshire in 1689.
Claybokie. Stone of the spectre. Clach, stone; bocain,
gen. of bocan, ghost.
Claydikes. This name may mean clay dikes. More
likely, however, it means stone dikes. Clach, stone. Ch
is often silent in names, as in Clay of Allan, for Clach of
Allan.
Clayford (for Ath Clachach). Stony ford. Ath, ford
(translated); clachach, stony. The asp. letters in clachach
had become silent and had been lost. After ath had been
translated the order of the parts had been changed.
Clayfords (for Athan Clachach). Small stony ford.
Athan, dim. of ath, ford; clachach, stony. An is a dim.
termination, but it has become s, the plural termination.
See Clayford.
Clayhtlls (for Clachach Choillean). Stony little hill.
Clachach, stony; choillean, coillean asp., little hill. In
clachach chach had been lost, and in choillean can had be-
come s instead of ie. In Aberdeen Clayhills meant hills of
clay.
Clayhooter (for Clach Chuit Airidhe). Stone of the
cattle-fold on a shieling. Clach, stone; chuit, gen. asp. of
cuit, cattle-fold; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling. After
aspiration, c of chuit had become silent and had been lost.
Claylands (for Clachach Lamhan). Stony hill. Clach-
ach, stony; lamhan, dim. of lamh, hill. An had wrongly
been made s, and d had been inserted for euphony.
94 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Claylatch. Wet clayey place where a road crosses a
howe. Lathach, latch, miry hollow crossed by a road.
Claymill. If Gaelic, this name had originally been
Clachach Meall. Stony hill. Clachach, stony; meall, hill.
C in ch is silent.
Claymires. Place where a thin mixture of clay and
water oozes out of the ground in wet weather.
Clayshot. Little howe. Claiseag, small hollow in the
side of a hill.
Claystiles. Farm-house with stone pillars at the gate.
Clack {ch silent), stone; style (English), gate-pillar.
Clean. Valley. Cluain, meadow, valley. In Ireland
cluain has become clon, in Scotland cluny is the usual form.
Clean, The. Level green pasture. Cluain, meadow,
green valley, pasture on flat ground.
Cleanhill. Hill above a burn valley. Cluain, valley,
meadow.
Clearfield. Bare level field. Clar, bare, level.
Cleftbog, Cliftbog. Bog at which baskets were made.
Cleibh, plural of cliabh, basket, hamper, creel. Baskets
and creels were formerly much used for carrying farm
produce and fish.
Cleik-him-in Pgt. Pot where salmon were caught with a
cleek.
Clerack. Bare place. Clarach, bare.
Clerkhill. This place is said to have taken its name
from a proprietor named Clerk ; but clerk may represent
clarach, bare.
Cline Burn. Burn of the valley. Cluain, river valley,
meadow.
Clinkie's Well (for Tobar Cluan Cuith). Well of the
cattle-fold meadow. Tobar, well; cluan, meadow; cuith (th
silent), fold.
Clinkstone. Stone of the meadow. Cluain, gen. of
cluan, meadow, burn valley. K had been added for euphony.
Clinter. Meadow land. Cluain, meadow; tir, land.
Clinterty (for Tirtean Cluain). Lands of the meadow.
Tirtean, plural of tir, land; cluain, gen. of cluan, meadow.
An had been made y, as if tirtean were a dim., but it is
plural. The order of the parts of the name had been
changed.
Cloads (for Cnocan). Cnocan, dim. of cnoc, hill.
Cloak (for Cnoc). Hill. In Gaelic cnoc is often pro-
nounced crochg or croghg.
Cloak Burn. Hill burn. Cnoc, hill.
Cloak Crofts. Hill crofts. Cnuic, gen. of cnoc, hill.
The liquids n and I had been interchanged.
Cloch Diius (for Cloch Giuthais). Stone at a fir. Cloch,
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 95
stone; giuthais, gen. of giuthas, fir. Th had become silent,
and had been omitted.
Clocii Maluidh. Stone on the brow of a hill. Clock,
stone; maluidhe, gen. of maluidh, brow of a hill.
Clochcan. White stone. Cloch, stone; can, white.
White quartz stones abound at Clochcan.
Clochforbie, Clochorby (1369). Stone at a fold. Cloch,
stone. The original form of the second part had been
cuitail, fold, which had afterwards been successively White-
hill, Corban (cor, hill; ban, white), Chorban, Forban, Forbie.
In Clochorby ch had become silent and had been lost. The
stone is now called The Grey Stone of Clochforbie.
Clochran. Stepping-stones at a wet place in a road or
over a burn.
Clochren Bridge (for Clochran Bridge). Bridge which
took the place of a row of stepping-stones. Clochran, step-
ping-stones.
Clochter Pot. Land stone pot. Cloch, stone; iir, land.
Clochter Stone. Stone in the land. Cloch, stone;
tir, land.
Clociitow. Stone in a howe. Cloch, stone; tuill, gen.
of toll, howe. Oil at the end of a word is sometimes sounded
•oull, and the 11 is sometimes silent.
Clockhill, Clodhill, Cloghill. The second part of
these names is a translation of the first, which is in all the
three a corruption of cnoc, hill; which see.
Clocksters. Stepping-stones for crossing a bog or a
burn. Clachan, plural of clach, stone; stair, passage through
a wet place or a stream.
Clofferickford (for Ath Euigh Cnuic). Ford of the
slope of the hill. Ath, ford; ruigh, slope ; cnuic, gen. of cnoc,
hill. When the first part of a name was translated it was
usually put last, and the last part assumed the nom. form
and was put first. Ruigh Cnuic, slope of the hill, became
Cnoc Ruigh, hill of the slope. Cnoc had afterwards become
successively Cnoch, Cloch, Cloffe, and ruigh had become
Rick.
Clognie Burn. Burn of the little hill. The original
form of the name had been Allt Cnocain. Allt, burn:
cnocain, gen. of cnocan, little hill. In cnocain ai and n had
been transposed, producing Cnocnai, which had passed into
Clognie.
Cloiche Dubh. Black rock. Cloch, rock, stone; dhubh,
fern, of dubh, black.
Cloichedubh Hill (for Creag Cloiche Duibhe). Hill of
the black stone. Creag, hill; cloiche, gen. of cloch, stone;
duibhe, gen. fern, of dubh, black.
Cloisterseat. Site of an ancient convent, probably of
96 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
the Columban class. Claustrum (Latin), enclosure; suidhe,
seat, site.
Clola (for Clo[chach] La[mh]). Stony hill. Clochach,
stony; lamh, hill. The letters within brackets, being aspi-
rated, had become soft and had ultimately been lost.
Clonheugh. Steep bank at the edge of a meadow or
strath. Cluain, meadow, flat river valley; heugh, steep
bank above a low level place.
Clova. Eough place. Clvmhach, rough, uneven, bushy.
Mh is sounded u, v, or w.
Clova Hill. Eough, shaggy hill. Clumhach, hairy,
rough.
Cloven Craig. Split rock. Creag, rock.
Cloven Stone (for Cloch Clamhain). Stone of the kite.
Clock, stone; clamhain, gen. of clamhau, kite. Mh is
equivalent to u, v, or w; and clamhan (pronounced clauan)
is like the Scotch clouen for cloven.
Cloverfield, Cloverhill, Cloverycrook. In these
names clover and clovery represent clocharra, stony. Crook
is a corruption of cnoc, hill; which see.
Clubbie Craig (for Creag Clamhain). Rock of the kite.
Creag, rock, cliff; clamhain, gen. of clamhan, kite. Mh is
equivalent to bh, and hence, by dropping h after interchange,
m is sometimes changed to b.
Clubscross (for Clobhsa Craisg). Passage across a hill.
Clobhsa, passage, entry; craisg, gen. of crasg, crossing over
a hill or high ground.
Clune, Cline, Clyne. Meadow. Cluan, meadow, flat
river valley.
Clunie, Cluny. Meadow. Cluain, meadow, flat river
valley. Ai and n had been transposed, producing clunai,
which had become clunie and cluny.
Clunie' s Well. Well in a valley. Cluain, river valley,
meadow.
Cluny Leys Wood. Wood of the grassy places in the
river valley. Cluain, gen. of cluan, meadow; leys, grassy
places.
Clyan's Dam. Dam where a creel was placed to catch
fish. Cliabhan or cliathan, small basket or breast of wicker-
work for catching salmon at a wTeir or dam. S is an improper
addition to clyan.
Clystie Burn. Rapid burn. Cliste, swift.
Cnap a' Chleirich. The bellman's hillock. Cnap,
hillock; a', of the; chleirich, gen. asp. of cleireach, beadle,
bellman.
Cnap a' Choire Bhuidhe. Hillock of the yellow corry.
Cnap, hillock; a', of the; choire, gen. asp. of coire, corry ;_
bhuidhe, gen. of buidhe, yellow.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 97
Cnap na Clais Giubhais. Hillock near the fir-tree
hollow. Cnap, hillock; na, of the; claise, trench-like hollow;
giubhais, gen. of giubhas, fir.
Cnap na Cuile. Hillock of the nook. Cnap, hillock; na,
of the; cuilc, gen. of cuil, nook.
Cnapan an Laoigh. Little knoll of the calf. Cnapan,
little knoll; an, of the; laoigh, gen. of Jaogh, calf.
Cnapan Beag. Little hillock. Cnapan, hillock; beag,
little.
Cnapan Garbh. Rough knoll. Cnapan, hillock; garbh,
rough.
Cnapan Loch Tilt. Knoll of Loch Tilt. Cnapan, knoll.
See Loch Tilt.
Cnapan Mor. Big hillock. Cnapan, hillock; mor, big.
The Cnapan Beag and Cnapan Mor are humps on the high
watershed on the west of Braemar.
Cnapan nan Clach. Hillock of the stones. Cnapan,
hillock; nan, of the; clach, gen. plural of clach, stone.
Cnapan Nathraichean. Hillock frequented by adders.
Cnapan, hillock; nathraichean, gen. plural of nathair, adder,
serpent.
Cnapan Or. Yellow knoll. Cnapan, little knoll; ora,
golden, yellow. Cnapan Or is a hump on the summit of
Cairn Geldie.
Cnoc. Hill. In Aberdeen and Kincardine cnoc has some-
times become Cload, Cloak, Clock, Clod, Cloud, Clog, Coch,
Cock, Cook, Crock, Crook, Cruick, Goak, Gook, Gowk, Knox,
Knock.
Cnoc Cailliche. Hill of the owl. Cnoc, hill; cailliche,
gen. of cailleach, owl, old woman. On Cnoc Cailliche is the
site of an old cattle-fold, marked on the O.S. map Camp.
Cnoc Chalmac. Thick hill. Cnoc, hill: chalmachd,
calmachd asp., thickness.
Cnoc Dubh. Black hill. Cnoc, hill; dubh, black.
Cnoc Guibneach. Hill of the curlew. Cnoc, hill;
guilbnich, gen. of guilbneach, curlew.
Cnoc na h-Iolaire. Hill of the eagle. Cnoc, hill; na,
of the; h (euphonic); iolaire, gen. of iolair, eagle.
Cnocan Mor. The bigger of two small hills. Cnocan,
small hill; mor, big.
Coachford. Ford of the burn. Caoch, burn, howe.
Coalford, Coalmoss. Hill ford, Hill moss. Coill, hill.
Coatmore. Big cattle-fold. Cuit, cattle-fold; mor, big.
Coatown (for Baile Cuit). Town at a fold. Baile, town
(translated and put last); cuit, fold. Coatown in New Byth
has become Woodtown.
Cobairdy (for Cop Airde). Top of the height. Cop, hill,
G
98 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
head of a hill; airde, gen. of aird, height. P had become b
by passing through the forms ph and bh.
Cobban's Well (for Tobar Cobhain). Well of the
hollow. Tobar, well (translated and transposed); cobhain,
gen. of cobhan, hollow.
Cobbles, The. Perhaps The enclosures. Cobhailan,
dim. of cobhail, enclosure. Final an might erroneously have
been supposed to be the plural termination and have been
translated into s in passing into Scotch.
Cobleheugh. Level place at the foot of a steep bank,
where a flat-bottomed fishing boat was stationed. Coble,
flat-bottomed boat; heugh, steep bank.
Coblestock. Tree to which a salmon coble was tethered.
Coble, flat-bottomed river boat; stoc, trunk of a tree.
Cobrigdale (perhaps for Dail Cabraiche). Field of the
thicket. Dail, meadow, riverside field; cabraiche, gen. of
cabrach, thicket.
Coburty (for Cop Tigh Buair). Hill of the house for
cattle. Cop, hill; tigh, house; buair, gen. of buar, cattle.
The accent is on the second syllable, which had originally
been at the end.
Cochran (for Kann Cnuic). Point of the hill. Rann,
point; cnuic, gen. of cnoc, hill. The position of the accent
indicates that the parts of the name had afterwards been
transposed, when cnuic lost the gen. form and became cnoc,
subsequently made Cnoch and Coch. See Cnoc.
Cock, The. Farm-town at the Cock Bridge.
Cock Bridge. Bridge over the Cock burn; which see.
Cock Burn. Hill burn. Coileach, burn, cock.
Cock Cairn, Cockcairn, (for Cnoc Cam). Cnoc, hill;
cam, hill, cairn. The second part of the name has the same
meaning as the first. This shows that cam means hill,
though this meaning is not given to it in dictionaries.
Cockardie (for Cnoc Ardan). Small hill. Cnoc, hill;
ardan, small hill. The second part explains the first.
Cockersmyres (for Bogan Cnoc Airidhe). Mire of the
hill of the shieling. Bogan, mire; cnoc, hill; airidhe, gen.
of airidh, shieling. An of bogan having been regarded as a
plural termination s had been added to myre.
Cocklarachy. Hill of the site of a building. Cnoc, hill;
laraiche, gen. of larach, ruin, field of battle, site of a
building or important work.
Cocklaw, Cockhill. Both parts of these names mean
the same thing. Cnoc, hill; lamh, hill. See Cnoc.
Cockmuir. Muir of the hill. Cock is a corruption of
cnoc, hill.
Cock's Stripe. Small hill burn. Coileach, burn, cock.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 09
Cockston (for Baile Chnuic). Town of the hill. Baile,
town (translated); chnuic, gen. asp. of cnoc, hill.
Coilacreich. Gallows hill. Coille, hill; croiche, gen.
•of croich, gallows.
Coill Chamshronaich Hill. Crooked-nosed hill.
■Coill, hill; cJiam-sronaich, gen. asp. of cam-sronach, hook-
nosed.
Coilsmore. Big hill. Coill, hill; mor, big. S is an
unwarrantable insertion.
Coinlach Burn. Burn running in a defile. Cunglaich,
gen. of cunglach, defile.
Coire. Corry. A corry is a hollow on a hillside, such
as would be made by cutting off half of a cup and leaving
on the other half a small part of the lip and a large part of
the bottom. Corries are usually eroded by small streams
descending a hillside where the rock is decayed.
Coire Allt a' Chlair. Corry of the burn of the clear
place. Coire, corry; allt, burn; a', of the; chlair, gen. asp.
of clar, open place clear of trees.
Coire Allt an Aitinn. Juniper burn corry. Coire,
corry; allt, burn; an, of the; aitinn, gen. of aitionn, juniper.
Coire Allt an Droighnean. Corry of the burn of the
thicket of blackthorn. Coire, corry; allt, burn; an, of the;
droighnein, gen. of droighnean, sloe, blackthorn.
Coire an Dubh Lochain. Corry of the black little loch.
Coire, corry; an, of the; dubh, black; lochain, gen. of lochan,
small loch.
Coire an Daimh Moile. Corry of the hornless stag.
Coire, corry; an, of the; daimh, stag; mhaoil, gen. of maol,
bald, hornless.
Coire an Feidh, Coire an Fheidh. Corry of the deer.
Coire, corry; an, of the; feidh, gen. of fiadh, deer; fheidh,
gen. asp. of fiadh, deer.
Coire an Fhir-Bhogha. Corry of the man of the bow.
Coire, corry; an, of the; fhir-bhoga, gen. asp. of fear-bogha,
man of the bow, soldier.
Coire an Laoigh. Calf corry. Coire, corry; an, of the;
laoigh, gen. of laogh, calf.
Coire an Loch. Corry of the loch. Coire, corry; an,
of the; luich, gen. of loch, lake, loch.
Coire an Loch Bhuidhe. Corry of the yellow loch.
Coire, corry; an, of the; loch, loch; bhuidhe, gen. asp. of
buidhe, yellow.
Coire an Lochain Uaine. Corry of the little green loch.
Coire, corry ; an, of the ; lochain, gen. of lochan, a small loch ;
uaine, green.
Coire an Tobair. Corry of the well. Coire, corry; an,
of the; tobair, gen. of tobar, well.
100 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Coire an t-Sabhail. Corry of the barn. Coire, corry;
an t-, of the; sabhail, gen. of sabhal, barn. There is a
ludicrous mistake in this name. Sabhal means a storehouse,
but it has been used as a translation of barns, a corruption
of bearnas, a gap in a mountain range, or a trench-like hollow
in level ground. It is in common use and rightly applied in
most cases, as in Barns in Premnay and Towie; but since
Gaelic ceased to be understood among the mountains round
the sources of the Dee and Don it has been given to promi-
nent rocks near the summits of high mountains from their
faint resemblance to buildings, in the belief that Barns could
only mean storehouses. The " barn " giving its name to
the corry is a mass of rock near the summit of Cairn Toul,
4200 feet above the sea.
Coire an t-Sagairt. Priest's corry. Coire, corry; an t-,
of the; sagairt, gen. of sagairt, priest.
Coire an t-Saighdeir. Corry of the soldier. Coire,
corry; an t-, of the; saighdeir, gen. of saighdear, arrower,
bowman, soldier — because the fighting man had a bow and
arrows.
Coire an t-Seilich. Corry of the willow. Coire, corry;
an t-, of the; seilich, gen. of seileach, willow.
Coire an t-Slugain. Corry of the little slug. Coire,
corry; an t-, of the; slugain, gen. of slugan, a little gorge,
slug.
Coire an t-Sneachda. Snowy corry. Coire, corry; an t-,
of the; sneachda, gen. of sneachd, snow.
Coire Bhearnaist (for Coire Bearnach). Corry with
gaps in the upper edge. Coire, corry; bearnach, having gaps.
Coire Bhrochain. Corry of porridge. Coire, corry;
bhrochain, gen. asp. of brochan, porridge, gruel. Perhaps
the name ought to be Coire a' Bhrotachaidh, fattening
corry. Coire, corry; a', of the; bhrotachaidh, gen. asp. of
brotachadh, fattening.
Coire Bhronn. Corry like a deep round valley. Coire,
corry; bhronn, gen. asp. of bru, belly.
Coire Boidheach. Pretty corry. Coire, corry; boid-
heach, pretty.
Coire Buidhe. Yellow corrie. Coire, corry; buidhe,
yellow.
Coire Caochan Eoibidh (for Coire a' Chaochain Eobaich).
Corry of the dirty streamlet. Coire, corry; a', of the;
chaochain, gen. asp. of caochan, streamlet; robaich, gen. of
robach, dirty.
Coire Chrid. Heart-shaped corry. Coire, corry; chridhe,
gen. asp. of cridhe, heart. Probably the name should be
Coire Chreidhmte. Eroded corry. Coire, corry; chreidhmte,
past part. asp. of crcidhvi, to erode, gnaw.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 101
Coire Chuil. Corry of the nook. Coire, corner; chuile,
gen. asp. of cuil, nook. It is at a bend in the boundary of
Aberdeenshire.
Coire Clach nan Taillear. Corry of the stone of the
tailors. Coire, corry; clach, stone; nan, of the; taillear, gen.
plural of taillear, tailor.
Coire Clachach. Stony corry. Coire, corry; clachach,
stony. .
Coire Craobh an Oir. Corry of the yellow foam. Coire,
corry; craoibhe, gen. of craobh, foam; an, of the; oir, gen. of
or, gold. Craoibhe is also the genitive of craobh, tree.
' Coire Creagach. Rocky corry. Coire, corry; creagach,
abounding in rocks.
Coire Dhomhain. Corry of depth. Coire, corry;
domain, gen. of dornhan, depth.
Coire Dhonnachaidh Taillear. Corry of Duncan the
tailor. Coire, corry; Dhonnachaidh, gen. asp. of Don-
nachadh, Duncan; tailleir, gen. of taillear, tailor.
Coire Dubh. Black corry. Coire, corry; dubh, black.
Coire Etchachan. Corry of the Etchachan burn. Coire,
corry. See Etchachan.
Coire Fhearneasg (for Coire Fearnach). Corry of the
alders. Coire, corry; fearnach, growing alders.
Coire Fionn. Pleasant corry. Coire, corry; fionn,
pleasant, white.
Coire Gharbh Uillt. Corry of the rough burn. Coire,
corrv; garbh, rough; uillt, gen. of allt, burn.
Coire Ghiubhais. Fir-tree corry. Coire, corry; giubhais,
gen. of giubhas, fir-tree.
Coire Glas. Green corry. Coire, corry; glas, green.
Coire Gorm. Green corry. Coire, corry; gorm, green
when applied to things at hand, blue when applied to distant
hills.
Coire Loch Kander. Corry of Loch Kander. Coire,
corry; locli, loch; canta, lake.
Coire Lochan nan Eun. Corry of the little loch fre-
quented by birds. Coire, corry; lochan, small loch; nan, of
the; eun, gen. plural of eun, bird.
Coire Meacan. Corry of plants with tieshy roots. Coire,
corry; meacan, gen. plural of meacan, plant like a parsnip.
Coire Mor. Great corry. Coire, corry; mor, great.
Coire Murean. Corry of fox-gloves. Coire, corry;
meuran, gen. plural of meuran, fox-glove.
Coire na Caillich. Corry of the old woman. Coire,
corry; na, of the; caillich, gen. of cailleach, old woman.
Coire na Ciche. Corry of the pap. Coire, corry; na, of
the; ciche, gen. of cioch, pap, woman's breast.
102 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Coire na Cloiche. Corry of the stone. Coire, corry; nar
of the; cloiche, gen. of clach, stone.
Coire na h-Oisink. Corry at the corner. Coire, corry;
na, of the; h (euphonic); oisinn, gen. of oiseann, corner,
nook.
Coire na Lairige, Coirenalarig. Corry of the hillside.
Coire, corry; na, of the; lairige, gen. of lairig, hillside.
Coire na Meanneasg (for Coire Meannach). Corry suit-
able for kids. Coire, corry; meannach, suitable for kids.
Coire na Poite. Pot-shaped corry. Coire, corry; na, of
the; poite, gen. of poit, pot.
Coire na Saobhaidh, Coire na Saobhaidhe. Corry of
the fox's den. Coire, corry; na, of the; saobhaidhe, gen. of
saobhaidh, fox's den.
Coire na Sqreuchaig. Corry of the jackdaw. Coire,
corry; na, of the; sgreuchaig, gen. of sgreucliag, screeching,
jackdaw, kae.
Coire nam Freumh. Corry of the tree stumps. Coire,
corry; nam, of the; freumh, gen. plural of freumh, tree root,
stump of tree cut down.
Coire nam Muc. Corry to which pigs were sent to feed
in summer. Coire, corry; nam, of the; muc, gen. plural of
muc, pig.
Coire nan Clach. Com- of the stones. Coire, corry;
nan, of the; clach, gen. plural of clach, stone.
Coire nan Imireachan. Corry of the Sittings. Coire,
corry; nan, of the; imrichean, gen. plural of imrich, flitting,
migration. This corry may have been a place to which herds
and dairymaids went in summer to pasture cows and make
butter and cheese for winter use.
Coire Odhar. Dun corry. Coire, corry; odhar, dun,
£rab.
Coire Poll Eandaidh (for Coire Poll Eanndair). Corry
of the murmuring pool. Coire, corry; poll, pool; ranndair,
gen. of ranndar, murmuring.
Coire Bjabhach. Grey corry. Coire, corry; riabhach,
grey.
Coire Euadh. Eed corry. Coire, corry; ruadh, red.
Coire Euairidh. Eoderick's corry. Coire, corry;
Euairidh, Eoderick.
Coire Sputan Dearg (for Coire Sputain Dheirg). Corry
of the red little gushing spring. Coire, corry; sputain, gen.
of sputan, gushing spring; dheirg, gen. of dearg, red, rusty.
Coire Uilleim Mhoir. Corry of great William. Coire,
corry; Uilleim, gen. of Uilleam, William; mhoir, gen. of
mor, great. From the situation of the place, it is likely that
the name is a corruption of Coire Uilinn Moire, corry of the
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 103
big corner. Coire, corry; uilinn, gen. of uileann, corner;
moire, gen. fern, of mor, great.
Coire Yaltie, Coireyaltie (for Coire Ealtach). Corry
where birds or other gregarious animals congregate. Coire,
corry; ealtach, gregarious.
Coireachan Dubha. Black corries. Coireachan, plural
of coire, corry; dubha, plural of dubh, black.
Coirebhruach. Corry on the bank of the Tanner. Coire,
corry; bhruaich, gen. asp. of bruach, bank.
Cold Well, Cold Wells, Coldwells. The original
form of this name had been Baile Cuil. Town at the back of
a hill. Baile, town; cuil, gen. of cut, back, north side.
After the meaning of the parts had been lost their
order was changed and baile was asp., the name becoming
Cul Bhaile. Bh is equivalent to u, v, or w, and the name
became first Cul Well, and afterwards Cold Well or Cold
Wells. But the name may in some cases be English.
Coldhome (for Cul Tuim). Back of the hill. Cul, back;
tuim, gen. of torn, hill. In some instances Coldhome has
been corrupted into Cauldhame, showing that the meaning
of the name had been lost.
Coldrach. Hough corner. Cul, corner; dorrach, rugged,
rough.
Coldstone. Stone marking a place of assembly.
Codaile, gen. of codail, assembly.
Coldstream. Corruption of Culstruphan; which see.
Coldwellshaw. Wood of the cold well. Shaw (Eng-
lish), wood, thicket. See Cold Well.
Collemmie (for Coill Lamhain). Both parts mean hill.
Coill, hill; lamhain, gen. of lamhan, small hill. Ain became
ie on passing into Scotch.
Collie Burn. Hill burn. Coille, hill.
Collie Burn, Collie Hill, Collie Law, Collieford,
Colliehill, Colly Stripe, Collyhill, Colehill. In these
names the first part is coill or coille, hill. Laiv is lamh, hill,
in which mh is equivalent to w.
Collieston, Colliestown. Hill town. Coille, hill. S
had been inserted after the meaning of coille had been lost,
and it had come to be regarded as a personal name.
Collithie (for Coill Leathan). Broad hill. Coill, hill;
leathan, broad. An had been regarded as a dim. termina-
tion and changed into ie, as in Drumlithie, which also means
broad hill.
Collmuir. Muir of the hill. Coill, hill.
Collonach. Wet hill. Coill, hill; lonach, wet, marshy.
Collordon. Both parts mean hill. Coill, hill; ordan,
little hill.
Colly Rigs (for Buighean Choille). Slopes of the hill.
104 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Ruighean, plural of ruigh, slope at the base of a hill; coille,
hill, wood. But ruighean may be the dim. of ruigh, and
mean little slope.
Colly Stripe. Hill burn. Coille, hill; stripe (Scotch),
small burn.
Collynie, Colyne. Hill of the corn land. Coill, hill ;
leana, level arable ground.
Colnabaichin. Hill of the cow-byre. Coill, hill; na, of
the; baichin, gen. of baichean, dim. of baiche, cow-house.
Colonel's Cave and Colonel's Bed. The person re-
ferred to was John Farquharson of Inverey.
Colp, Colpy. These names may represent colpach,
heifer, and mean land reserved for heifers, which were
usually pastured by themselves. But Colp is locally pro-
nounced coup, and Z may be a euphonic intrusion. If so,
Colp had been at first cop, hill, and Colpy had been copan,
small hill. Cop, hill, head of a hill; copan, dim. of cop, hill.
Colquhonny. Hill of assembly. Coill, hill; choinne,
gen. asp. of coinne, meeting.
Colquhrookie Stone (for Clach Coill Chnocain). Stone
of the hill of the hillock. ' Clach, stone (translated) ; coill,
hill; chnocain, gen. asp. of cnocain, dim. of cnoc, hill. The
last part had been added to explain the second. Quit repre-
sents ch, noc has become rook, and ain has become ie. See
Cnoc.
Comalegy (for Cobh na Leigidh). Howe of the milking.
Cobh, howe; na, of the; leigidh, gen. of leigeadh, milking.
Combsburn. St Columba's burn. Columan, dove.
CoxMbscauseway. Combs may be a corruption of
Columba; causey, through French chaussee, from Latin
calceata, shod. A causey is a road protected by stones,
gravel, etc.
Comers. Meeting of two burns. Comar, confluence.
S had been added because there were two burns.
Comisty. Joint valuation. Comh, together; measte,
past part, of meas, to value, attribute. Apparently the hill
of Comisty had been held jointly as a shieling.
Commonty. Pasture free to all the tenants of proprietors
whose lands were contiguous to the pasture-ground. In
Aberdeen the Links were a commonty for all the burgh. A
proprietor might have a commonty for his own tenants.
Communitas (Latin), community.
Conachcraig. Cotton-grass hill. Conach, cotton-grass;
creag, rock, hill.
Concraig, Concraigs. Hill frequented by small quadru-
peds. Con, gen. plural of cu, small quadruped, dog, squirrel,
rabbit, water-rat, hedgehog; creag, hill; creagan, little hill.
Confunderland (for Comh-fin Airidhe Lamhan). Hill
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 105
held jointly as a shieling. Comh, together; fin, hill; airidhe,
gen. of airidh, shieling. Lamhan (mh silent), had been
added as an explanation when the meaning of the preceding
part had almost been forgotten. D had been added for
euphony to both fin and lamhan.
Congalton. Holding. Congbhail, keeping, holding.
Bh is equivalent to u, v, or w, and it is often silent, as it is
here.
Conglas. Narrow valley. Cunglach, narrow river valley.
Coniecleugh. Steep bank tenanted by rabbits.
Coinean, from Latin cuniculus, rabbit, coney.
Oonland. Assembly. Conlan (Irish), meeting, assembly.
Connachal Burn (for Allt Aill Connaidh). Burn of the
hill of firewood. Allt, burn; aill, hill; connaidh, gen. of con-
nadh, fuel, firewood. When allt was translated the other
two parts had been transposed.
Connachat Burn. Meeting-place burn. Coinneachadh,
meeting, assembly. Perhaps the name ought to be Con-
nachal Burn; which see.
Conn's Quarry. Quarry named after a person named
Conn.
Conrie Water. See Glen Conrie.
Contlach, Contlaw, (for Tulach Coinne). Hill of meet-
ing. Tulach, hill; coinne, meeting, assembly.
Conyng Hillock. Babbit hillock. Cuniculvs (Latin),
rabbit.
Conzie Castle. Castle of the meeting-place. Coinne,
meeting. Z is not in the Gaelic language, and here it is
intruded to indicate the sound of y after n.
Cook (for Cnoc). Hill. N had become silent, and had
been omitted. See Cnoc.
Cookies-shiel Loch. Loch of the shiel on a small hill.
Cnocan, small hill; seal, shiel, summer residence on hill
pasture; loch, lake. Cnocan became cookan; and an was
by some regarded as a dim. and translated into ie, and by
others as a plural and translated into s.
Cook's Cairn (for Cnoc Cam). Both parts have the
same meaning. Cnoc, hill; cam, hill.
Cook's Beeves (for Bathan Cnuic). Circular enclosure
on a hill. Rathan, small circle, sheep-fold, cattle-fold ;
cnuic, gen. of cnoc, hill. In rathan th became bh, which
is equivalent to v; and an, the dim. termination, was sup-
posed to be the plural and translated into s. Cnuic lost n,
and being in the gen. was made to end in 's in English.
Cookshill, Cookston. Cooks is a corruption of cnocan,
small hill. An ought to have been changed to ie and not to s.
Coolah, The. The back part. Culaobh, back part. The
Coolah is on the southern boundarv of Aberdeenshire.
106 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Coombs Well. Well dedicated to St Columba. Coin-
man, dove.
Cooper's Croft. A man named Cooper lived at this
place.
Cooper's Slack (for Sliochd Cop Airidhe). Slack of the
hill of the shieling. Sliochd, long howe ; cop, hill; airidhe,
gen. of airidh, shieling.
Coplandhill. The three parts of the name mean the
same thing. Cop, hill; lamhan, dim. of lamh, hill. Mh is
silent here, and d had been added to an for euphony.
Coral. Bound hill. Cor, round hill; aill, hill.
Coralea. Steep-sided hill. It rises 310 feet in 1000 on
the east side. Corra, steep; leth (th silent), side.
Coralhill (for Coireall Hill). Quarryhill. Coireall,
quarry.
Corbanchory (originally Chuithail Choire). Fold in a
corry. Chuithail, cuithail asp., fold, corrupted into White-
hill and turned back into Gaelic by Corban (cor, hill; ban,
white); choire, coire asp., corry.
Corbie Craig, Corbie Den, Corbie Hill, Corbie Knowe,
Corbies Hole, Corbies' Nest, Corbshill, Corbsmill, Corby
Loch. Corbie, etc., had originally been chuithail, cuithail
asp., fold, corrupted into Whitehall and turned into Gaelic
by Corban (cor, hill; ban, white). In Corbie an of corban had
become ie, in Corby it had become y, in Corbies it had
become both ie and s. Craig is creag, hill; Hole is choill,
coill asp., with c lost; and Nest is an eas, the burn, with t
added for euphony. Corbies' Nest may, however, mean
Ravens' Nest. Corvus (Latin), crow, rook, raven, through
French corbeau, crow, raven. The raven nests on rocks;
the hooded crow in trees, solitarily; the rook is gregarious
and builds in trees, but before trees became abundant in
Scotland it probably built on the ground. It uses small sods
in making a nest. Jackdaws build in steep rocky places.
Corbiestongue. Piece of ground in shape like a crow's
tongue, long bit of land tapering to a point.
Corblelack. Hill of the smooth flagstone. Cor, round
hill; blaith-lic, gen. of blaith-leac, smooth stone. The
smooth flagstone referred to must be St Wolock's Stone,
which is nearly a mile to the north.
Corbouies Wood. Yellow hill wood. Cor, hill; buidhe,
yellow. S is an addition made in the belief that buidhe was
a personal name.
Corbuie, Little and Meikle. Yellow corry, little and
big. Coire, corry; buidhe, yellow.
Corbus Burn, Burn of the fold. Corbus had originally
been chuithail, cuithail asp., fold, and subsequently White-
hill, Cor Ban, Corban, Corbie, Corbies, Corbus.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 107
Corby Hall. House with trees in which crows build.
Corbeau (French), from Latin corvus, crow, raven; hall,
large house, farm-house.
Corchinnan (for Corcheannan). Bold-faced hill. Cor,
hill; cheannan, asp. form of ceannan, bold-faced. Ccannan
is a derivative from ceann, head; and it also forms part of
the name Benchinnans, bold-faced hills.
Corcraig. Hill. Cor, hill; creag, hill.
Cordach. The name may be a corruption of Cor Damh.
Hill of oxen or deer. Cor, hill; damh, gen. plural of damh,
ox, stag. See Cordamph.
Cordamph. Hill of oxen. Cor, hill; damh, gen. plural
of damh, ox, stag.
Cordie Hillock (for Cordain Hillock). Hillock where
barony courts were held. .Cor, round hill; dain, gen. of dan,
judgment. An had become ie.
Core, The. The hill. Cor or corr, hill, round hill.
Core Burn. Burn of the round hill. Cor or corr, round
hill.
Corfhouse. Place where salmon were formerly pickled
with vinegar and prepared for export.
Corfiedly (for" Cor Chuid Leith). Hill of the grey fold.
Cor, hill; chuid, gen. asp. of cuid, fold; leith, gen. of Hath,
grey. Th final is silent. Some folds had a ring of posts or
a stone wall inside and a bank of earth or peat-moss outside
for shelter; hence some folds were green or grey and others
were black. C asp. had become p asp., which is /.
Corgarff. Bough corry. Coire, corry; garbh, rough.
Corhill, Corehill. Hill. Cor or corr, hill, round hill.
The second part of the name is a translation of the first.
Corklie. Hill of assembly. Cor, hill; clithe, gen. of clith
(th silent), meeting.
Corlich. Hill. Both parts of the name have the same
meaning, and the second part had been added to explain
the first. Cor, hill; lamh, hill.
Cormalet (for Cor Meallaidh). Hill of riches, meaning
good pasture. Cor, hill; meallaidh, gen. of mealladh, goods,
wealth in cattle.
Cormech. Hill of the level plain. Cor, round hill,
usually a small hill; maigh, gen. of magh, plain.
Cormoir. Big hill. Cor, hill; mor, big.
Corn, Burn of. Burn of the hill. Cam, hill.
Corn Arn (for Cam Fhearna). Hill of the alder tree.
Cam, hill; fhearna, fearna asp., alder tree. Am, for fhearna,
is the Scotch word for alder. On this hill are Coire Corn
Arn, the corry of the hill of the alder; and Shank of Corn
Arn, in which Shank is sithean (th silent), hill, with euphonic
k added.
na, of
the;
of the
; bo,
Cam,
hill ;
Cam,
hill ;
108 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Cornabae. Birch hill burn. Cor, hill;
beithe (th silent), gen. of beith, birch.
Cornabo. Hill of the cow. Cam, hill; na.
for boin, gen. of bo, cow.
Corncatterach. Boggy hill ground.
catharach, mossy, wet.
Corncloch Burn. Hill of the stone burn.
cloiche, gen. of clock, stone.
Corncraig. Both parts of the name mean hill. Cam,
hill ; creag, hill.
Corndavon (for Cam Da Abhann). Hill of the two rivers.
Cam, hill; da, two; abhann, gen. of abhainn.
Cornhill. Hill. Cam, hill. The two parts of the name
have the same meaDing.
Corniehaugh, Cornyhaugh (for Dail Carnain). Haugh
of the little hill. Dail, riverside field; carnain, gen. of car-
nan, small hill. A of carnain had become o, and ain had
become ie in Scotch.
Cornival. Hill of the farm-town. Cam, hill; «', of the;
bhaile, gen. asp. of baile, town.
Corntulloch. Hill. Cam, hill; tidach, hill. Both
parts of the name have the same meaning.
Corquhar. Hill of the arable land. Cor, round hill ; far,
land.
Corquhittachie. Hill beside a field where there was a
cattle-fold. Cor, round hill; cuit, cattle-fold; achaidh, gen.
of achadh, field. See Cuit.
Corr Buidhe. Yellow hill. Corr, round hill; buidlie,
yellow.
Corr Eiabhach. Grey round hill. Corr, round hill;
riabhach, grey.
Corr Stone (for Carr Stone). Monumental pillar.
Carr, erect stone. The Corr Stone is part of a sepulchral
stone circle.
Corrach. A precipitous cliff on Mount Keen. Corrach,
steep, precipitous.
Corrachree. Sheep-fold. Chaorach, gen. plural of
caora, sheep; rath, circle. Th of Eath became bh, equiva-
lent to v. Eav lapsed into Eieve, and it into Eee.
Correen Hills. Hills of the little corry. Coirein, small
corry.
Correen Quarry. Quarry in a little corry. Coirein, dim.
of coire, corry.
Corrennie. Corry of ferns. Coire, corry; raineach,
gen. plural of raineach, fern.
Corrie Burn. Burn from a corry. Coire, corry.
Corrie Cairn. Corrie of the hill. Coire, corry; cairn,
gen. of cam, hill.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 109-
Corrie Cn.\su. Steep corry. Coire, corry; chais (pron.
hash), gen. asp. of cas, difficulty, steepness.
Corrie Cula. Corrie of the back of a hill. Coire, corry;
cida, secondary form of the gen. of cul, back.
Corrie Don. Corry of the Don. A grassy marsh near
the source of the Don.
Corrie Feragie. Squirrel corry. Coire, corry; feoraige,
gen. of feorag, squirrel.
Corrie of Allt nan Aighean. Corry of the burn of the
heifers. Coire, corry; allt, burn; nan, of the; aighean, gen.
plural of agli, heifer, hind.
Corrie of Allt Keppachte. See Coire and Allt Eep-
pachie.
Corrie of Creag Mheann. Corry of the hill of kids.
Coire, corry; creag, mountain; mheann, gen. plural asp. of
meann, kid.
Corrie of Morlich. Corry of the big hill. Coire, corry;
mhor, gen. of mor, big; laimh, gen. of lamh, hill. Lich
might represent lice, gen. of leac, flagstone, sepulchral stone,
big stone.
Corrie of Slochd Mor, East and West. Corry of the
great den. See Coire and Slochd Mor.
Corrie Hill. Hill with a cup-shaped hollow in one side.
Coire, corry.
Corriebreck. Spotted corry. Coire, corry; breac,
spotted.
Corriehoul (for Coire a' Thuill). Corry of the howe.
Coire, corry; a', of the (suppressed); thuill, gen. asp. of toll,
howe. T had been lost after aspiration.
Corriemore. Big corry. Coire, corry; mor, big.
Corriemulzie. Corry of the mill. Coire, corry; muilinn,
gen. of muileann, mill.
Corrienearn (for Coire na Fhearna). Corry of the alder.
Coire, corry; na, of the; fhearna, gen. asp. of fearna, alder.
Fh is silent.
Corrienewe. Corry of Newe. See Coire and Newe.
Corrybeg and Corybeg. Small corry. Coire, corry;
beag, small.
Corrydown. Corry of the hill. Coire, corry; duin, gen.
of dun, hill.
Corrylair. Land in a corry. Coire, corry; lair, gen. of
lar, land.
Corry's Howe. Hollow of the corry. Coire, corry. S
is added because coire is in the gen.
Corse. Crossing. Crasa, highest part of a road over a
hill.
Corse Burn. Burn of the crossing of a hill. Crasg,
crossing.
110 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Corse Craig. Shore rock. Corsa, coast; creag, rock.
Corsehill. Crossing on a hill. Crasg, crossing.
Corse of Balloch. Place where a path from Longside
to Cruden crosses a high ridge of land. Crasg, crossing;
bealaich, gen. of bealach, hill road, pass.
Corse of Garbet. Crossing of a hill at a rough place.
Crasg, crossing; garbh-aite, rough place.
Corse of Laigh. Crossing of a hill. Crasg, crossing;
laimh, gen. of lamh, hill.
Corsedardar (for Crasg an t-Ard Ar). Crossing of the
high land. Crasg, crossing; an t-, of the; ard, high; ar, land.
Corseduick. Crossing at a black mossy place. Crasg,
crossing; dubhaich, gen. of dubhach, blackness. Bh and h
had become silent and had been lost.
Corsend. End of a pass over a hill. Crasg, crossing.
Corsefield. Field at the crossing of a hill. Crasg,
crossing.
Corsegight. Windy crossing. Crasg, crossing; gao-
thach, windy.
Corseknowes. Place where the road from Huntly to
Turriff crosses a knoll. Crasg, crossing; cnapain, gen. of
cnapan, knoll. Final s had been added because cnapan ends
in an, but it is not plural.
Corsemaul. Crossing of the bare, blunt hilltop. Crasg,
crossing; maol, bald, hornless.
Corshalloch. Hill of willows. Cor, hill; seileach, gen.
plural of seileach, willow.
Corsiestone. Stone of the crossing on a hill. Clach,
stone; craisg, gen. of crasg, crossing.
Corsindae. Crossing at a church or a house. Crois,
crossing; an, of the; daimh, church, house.
Corskelly. Hill of the rock. Cor, round hill ; sgeilgain,
gen. of sgeilgan, dim. of sgeilg, rock.
Corskie. Hill of the hawthorn. Cor, round hill; sgeich,
gen. of sgeach, hawthorn.
Corsman. Crossing on a hill. Crasg, crossing; man, hill.
Cortes. Small circle. Cortan, small enclosed space,
stone circle.
Corthie Bridge. Bridge near a small stone circle.
Corthan, dim. of corth, stone circle. An had become ie.
Corthie Moss (for Bac Corthain). Moss of the little
circle. Bac, moss; corthain, gen. of corthan, dim. of corth,
circle of stones round a grave.
Corthymuir. Moor of the small circle. Corthain, gen.
of corthan, dim. of corth, circle, stone circle guarding a
grave.
Cortiebrae (for Braigh Cortain). Hill of the stone circle.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. Ill
Braigli, hill; cortain, gen. of cortan, stone circle round a
prehistoric interment.
Cortiecram. Circular enclosure at a tree. Cortan, small
circle, stone circle round a grave; crann, tree. Many people
pronounce n as m without observing that they are doing it.
Open is often made opem, Banff is pronounced bamff, pen-
fold pumphal.
Cosaiche Burn. Burn from a hollow. Cosaiche, hol-
lowness.
Cosh, Mill of. Mill of the hollow. Cois (pronounced
cosh), gen. of cos, ravine, howe.
Coshelly. Ravine of the burn. Cosh, cos with s asp.,
ravine; attain, gen. of allan, water, burn. Ain, the dim.
termination, became y in passing into Scotch.
Cossack Burn. Burn running in hollows. Cosagach,
full of hollows.
Costly Burn. Burn of the ravine of the hill. Cos,
ravine; tulaich, gen. of tulach, hill.
Cot Burn, Cotburn, (for Allt Cuit). Burn of the cattle-
fold. AM, burn; cuit, fold. See Cuid.
Cot Craigs. Large stones at a cattle-fold. Creagan,
plural of creag, stone, rock; cuit, fold.
Cot Grains. Cattle-fold between the branches of a burn.
Cuit, cattle-fold; grains, same as groin, branches of a burn.
S in grains is unnecessary.
Cot Hill, Cothtll, Cothillock, Cotehill. The first
part of these names represents en it, fold.
Cot Town, Cotetown, Cotton, Cottown. Cattle-fold
town. Baile, town (translated and put last); cuit, gen. of
cuit, cattle-fold. These names had been given to groups of
cottages at cattle-folds.
Cothal, Cothel. Cattle-fold. Cuithail, cattle-fold.
Cothiemuir. Muir of the small circle. Corthan, dim. of
corth, stone circle, enclosure.
Cotlandhillock. Hillock where there had once been a
cattle-fold. Cuit, cattle-fold; lamhain, gen. of lamhan,
hillock.
Cotter Hill, Cottertown. Cotter represents Cuit
Airidhe, fold of the shieling. Cuit, fold; airidhe, gen. of
airidh, shieling.
Cotwells (for Baile Cuit). Town at a cattle-fold. Baile,
town; cuit, cattle-fold. Baile had been asp. and transferred
to the end. Bh is equivalent to u, v, or w, and bhaile had
become first icell and afterwards ivells.
Couchercairn (for Carn Cuith Airidhe). Hill of the
cattle-fold on the shieling. Carn, hill, cairn; cuith (with th
changed to ch), cattle-fold; airidhe, gen. of airidh (idhe
silent), shieling.
112 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Coul. North side of a hill. Cul, back.
Coul Burn, Coulburn. Back burn. Cul, back, north
side of a hill.
Coul of Ledmacoy. Eetired place at Ledmacoy. Cuil,
nook, obscure place. See Ledmacoy.
Coul of Newe. Eetired, secluded place of Newe. Cuil,.
nook. See Newe.
Coulachan Burn. Burn from a deep oval hollow. Cui-
leaclian, deep wicker basket, hollow like a basket.
Coulick Hill. Hill where mossy sods were cut. Culaig,
gen. of culag, peat,' sod for a hearth.
Coulins Burn. Burn of the angle at the junction of two*
burns. Cuilan, dim. of cuil, nook. An is a dim. termination,
but in post-Gaelic time it had been regarded as a plural, and
s had been added.
Coull. Back or north side of a hill. Cul, back, corre-
sponding to Latin cuius, buttock.
Coullie. Retired place. Cuilean, dim. of cuil, nook,,
private place.
Coulliehare, Couliehair. Hill of the shieling. Coille,
hill; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling, summer pasture among
hills.
Coulnacraig. Back of the hill. Cul, back, north side;
na, of the; creige, gen. of creag, hill.
Coulter Folds. Sheep- or cattle-folds in a secluded
place. Cuilteach, retired.
Coulterfannie. Back land of the slope. Cul, back,
north-lying; tir, land; fanaidh, gen. of fanadli (Irish), gentle
slope.
Coulterna (for Cuit Airne). Fold at which a watch was-
kept by night against thieves. Cuit, fold; airne, watching
at night. In Cuternach in Cairnie the last part of the name
represents airneach, vigilant at night. L in Coulterna is
not sounded and seems to be a needless insertion.
Coulvoulin Plantation. Wood in a corner at a mill.
Cuil, corner; mhuilinn, gen. asp. of muileann, mill.
Counseltree. Hollow of the willow tree. Cobhan (pro-
nounced coivan), hollow; seilich, gen. of seileach, willow. To
seilich had been added at a late date the English word tree
to tell its meaning.
Counter Head. Head opposite an island on the other
side of a bay.
Counterford. Ford where there is a hollow place in the
valley of the Gadie. Cobhan (pronounced coicari), howe ; tire,
gen. of tir, land.
Countesswells. If Countesswells is a name of Gaelic
origin it may represent Baile Cobhan an t-Eas, town in the
howe of the burn. Baile, town; cobhan (pronounced cowan),
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 113
hollow; an t-, of the; eas, burn. Baile had been put last and
asp., and bJiailc had become first Well and afterwards Wells.
Couper's Road. Hill of the shieling road. Cop, hill;
airidhe, gen. of airidli, shieling.
Court Hill. Hill with a circular enclosure. Cuairt,
circle, perhaps a sheep- or cattle-fold.
Courtcairn (for Cam Cuairte). Hill or cairn of the
circle. Cam, hill, cairn; cuairte, gen. of cuairt, circle.
Courteston. Town at a circle. Cuairte, gen. of cuairt,
circle, sepulchral stone circle.
Courtstone. Stone of a circle round a grave. Cuairte,
gen. of cuairt, circle.
Coutens. Small cattle-fold. Guitan, dim. of cult,
cattle-fold. S had been added under the influence of an, the
dim. termination.
Cow Den. Den of the cattle-fold. Cuith (ith silent),
cattle-fold.
Cow Spout. Spring at a cattle-fold. Cuith, cattle-fold;
sput, gushing spring.
Cowbog (for Bog a' Chuith). Bog at a cattle-fold. Bog,
bog; a', of the; c[h]u\ith'\, gen. asp. of cuith, cattle-fold.
The letters within brackets had become silent and had been
lost, leaving cu, pronounced coo.
Cowbyres. Byres at a fold. Cuith, fold. Cuith had
been made cow because the byres had been used for cows.
Probably the name had originally been Bathaich Cuithain,
byre at a small fold. Bathaich, byre; cuithain, gen. of
cuithan, small fold. An had been believed to be the plural
termination, and s had been added to Byre erroneously.
Cowcraig (for Creag Cuith). Hill of the fold. Creag,
hill; cuith, fold.
Cowesmill (for Cuithan Mill). Fold of the hill. Cuithan,
dim. of cuith, fold; mill, gen. of me all, hill. An had been
made s in the mistaken belief that it was a plural termina-
tion. The name had been given very long before the intro-
duction of mills for farms.
Cowford Bridge. Bridge which took the place of a ford
at a cattle-fold. Cuith, cattle-fold.
Cowfords (for Ath an Chuith). Ford of the fold. Ath,
ford; an, of the; chuith, cuith asp., fold. An had been
annexed to ath, and athan had been supposed to be the plural
of ath . Of chuith only c and u had persisted, and cu had been
pronounced coo.
Cowgate (ow pronounced as oo). Road to a cattle-fold.
Cuith (th silent), cattle-fold. The Cowgate in Aberdeen
passed along the north-east angle of the castle, from Justice
Street to Commerce Street. It was the footpath by which
women went to a fold where cows were penned.
H
114 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Cowhill, Cowhills, Cowhillock (for Toman Cuith).
Hillock on which there was a fold. Toman, hillock; cuith,
fold. Ith had been omitted, and cu had been pronounced
coo. S of hills represents an of toman, which had errone-
ously been regarded as a plural termination. Cowhillock
is on the Links at Aberdeen.
Cowhole. Cattle-fold partly formed by a bay with steep
rocks at the sides and inner end. Cuith, cattle-fold. Cow
had been pronounced coo.
Cowie. Hill. Coille, hill. Coille is cognate with Latin
collis, hill.
Cowie Burn. Hill burn. Coille, hill.
Cowie Hillocks, Cowieshillock, (for Toman Cuithain).
Hillock on which there was a small fold. Toman, dim. of
torn, hill; cuithain, gen. of cuithan, dim. of cuith, fold. An
of toman is represented by ock, the English dim. termina-
tion; but final s is a mistake caused by regarding an as both
a dim. and a plural termination. Am of Cuithain normally
became ie ; but ies in Cowies arose from regarding ain as
both a dim. and a plural termination.
Cowiehill, Cowiehillock. Hill. Coille, hill. The
second part is a translation of the first.
Cowiemuir. Hill moor. Coille, hill; muir (Scotch),
moor.
Cowie 's Well. Well on a hill. Coille, hill. Cowie had
been regarded as a noun in the possessive, and therefore s
had been affixed to it.
Cowinch (for Innis Cuith). Enclosure of a cattle-fold.
Innis, enclosed space; cuith, cattle-fold.
Cowlair. This may mean place where cows rested at
night when on hill pasture. If of Gaelic origin it represents
Lair Cuith, land at a cattle-fold. Lair, for lar, land; cuith
(ith silent), cattle-fold.
Cowley. Cattle-fold at a grassy place. Cuith (ith
silent), cattle-fold; ley, grassy place.
Cow's Haugh (for Iochd Cuith). Haugh of the fold.
Iochd, howe, haugh; cuith, fold. When a part of a name is
translated into English it is put to the end of the name.
Cowsrieve. Cattle-fold. Cuith (ith silent), cattle-fold;
rath, enclosed space. The second part of the name is an
explanation of the first. Cu had been pronounced coo. S is
an improper insertion made after the meaning of cuith had
been lost. Th of rath had become bh, equivalent to v.
Cowstane Hirst (for Cuithan Brisde). Broken down
little fold. Cuitan, small fold; brisde, broken down, ruinous.
The name might have passed through the following forms
in succession: — Cuitan Brisde, Cuistan Bhrisde, Cuistane
Hirste, Cowstane Hirst.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 115
Cowstones. Stones at a cattle-fold. Cuith, cattle-fold.
Coyles of Muick. The hills near the Muick river.
Coillc, hill. The Coyles are three dark masses of serpentine
rock with prominent peaks.
Coynach. Cup-shaped hollow with a burn in it. Cuach,
cup; na, of the; ach, water. The Tarland burn comes from
the Howe of Coynach.
Coynachie. Meeting of waters. Coinne, meeting; acha,
water. Three burns meet at Coynachie.
Cradle Howe. Cheerful howe. Cridheil, cheerful.
Cradle Stones. Stones believed to have been concerned
with religious worship. Creadhal, worshipping, religious.
Craggan, Craggans. Little hill. Creagan, dim. of
creag, hill. In Craggans final an had erroneously been sup-
posed to be a plural termination, and had been translated by
s instead of ie.
Craggan Cottage. Cottage near a little hill. Creagan,
dim. of creag, hill.
Craggan Hill. Little hill. Creagan, little hill, dim. of
creag, hill, rock.
Craggan Eour. Little red hill. Craggan, small rocky
hill; ruadh, red.
Craib Hillock (for Toman Craoibhe). Hillock of the
tree. Toman, hillock; craoibhe, gen. of craobh, tree.
Craibadona. Bad trees. Craobhan, plural of craobh,
tree; dona, miserable, contemptible.
Craib stone (for Craibston). When Gaelic passed away
and names were required for new places they were frequently
named after their owners or occupants. About 1200 a.d.
people began to have more than one name, and the second
was frequently indicative of their parentage or of the place
where they resided. The name Craib had been given to a
person who lived at a well-known tree. Craobh, tree; ton
(English), town.
Craich. Hill. Creach, mountain, hill.
Craig. Hill. Creag, hill.
Craig an Gobhair. Hill of the goat. Creag, hill ; an, of
the; gobhair, gen. of gobhar, goat.
Craig Andrew (for Creag an Treid). Hill of the herd
of cattle. Creag, hill; an, of the; treid, gen. of trend, herd
of cattle.
Craig Brady. Summit of a steep rock. Creag, rock,
cliff; braighe, top of something high.
Craig Brock. Badger rock. Broc, badger.
Craig Castle. Castle near a hill. Creag, hill.
Craig Coillich (for Creag Coilich). Hill of the burn.
Creag, hill; coilich, gen. of coileach, burn.
116 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Craig Derry. Mountain beside Derry Burn. Craig,
rocky mountain; doire, wood, grove, thicket.
Craig Dhu. Black hill. Craig, hill; dubh, black.
Craig Doin (for Creag Dun). Hill. Creag, hill; dun,
hill. Both parts mean the same thing. Doin might be for
doinnc, gen. of doinne, brownness.
Craig Dorney. Stony hill. Creag, hill; dornach, stony.
Craig Dunie. Hill with a small high summit. Creag,
hill ; dunain, gen. of dunan, small hill.
Craig Ewen. Rock of birds. Creag, hill ; eun, gen. plural
of eun, bird.
Craig Ferrar. Hill of the grassy shieling. Creag, hill;
feuraich, gen. fern, of feurach, grassy; airidhe, gen. of airidh,
shieling.
Craig Glas. Green hill. Creag, hill; glas, green, grey
green.
Craig Gowan. Hill of the cattle-fold. Craig, hill;
gabhainn (pronounced gowain), gen. of gabhann, cattle-fold.
Craighall. Hill. Creag, hill; choill, coill asp., hill.
Craig Headock (for Creag Chuidoig). Hill of the small
fold. Creag, hill; chuidoig, gen. asp. of ciridog, small fold.
C in ch is silent and had been lost.
Craig Hill, Craighill. Hill. Creag, hill.
Craig Hitham (for Creag Chuithain). Hill of the small
fold. Creag, hill; cliuithain, gen. asp. of cuithan, small fold.
C in ch is not sounded and had been lost.
Craig Horror (for Craig Chorr Our). Cliff of the hill at
the water. Creag, cliff; chorr, corr asp., hill; our, water.
Craig Lash. Hill of the bonfire. Creag, hill; leois (pro-
nounced losh), gen. of leas, light, blaze.
Craig Leek. Rocky hillside. Craig, cliff, rock ; leac,
hillside, declivity.
Craig Meann. Hill of kids. Creag, hill; meann, gen.
plural of meann, kid.
Craig Megen (for Creag Meacan). Hill of mickens.
Creag, hill; meacan, gen. plural of meacan, Meum atha-
manticum, an aromatic root.
Craig Mo seen. Hill covered with fragments of rock.
Mosain, gen. of mosan, fragments of rock.
Craig na Bo. Hill of the cow. Creag, hill, rock; na, of
the; bo, a form of the gen. of bo, cow.
Craig na Eoin. Hill of the bird. Creag, hill ; an, of the ;
coin, gen. of eun, bird.
Craig na Gour. Hill of the goat. Craig, hill; na, of the;
gobhair, gen. of gobhar, goat.
Craig na Laoigh. Hill of the calf. Creag, hill ; na, of
the; laoigh, gen. of laogh, calf.
Craig Nordie, Craignordie, (for Creag an Ordain). Hill
Celtic Place-Navies in Aberdeenshire. IW
of the hill. Crcag, hill; an, of the; ordain, gen. of ordan,
dim. of ord, hill.
Craig of Boreland. Hill of the big hill. Creag, hill;
fcorr, great; lamhain, gen. of lamhan, dim. of lamh, hill.
M/t is silent, and d had been inserted after n.
Craig of Bunzbach. Hill with a deep howe at the
bottom. Creag, hill; bun, bottom; iochd, howe.
Craig of Coirebhruach. Hill above Coirebhruach.
Creag, hill. See Coirebhruach.
Craig of Dalfro. Hill of the heathery field. Creag,
hill; dail, field near a river; fraochach, heathery.
Craig of Inchnabobart. Mountain above Inchnabobart.
Creag, mountain; Inchnabobart, farm name; which see.
Craig of Loinmuie. Mountain beside a gloomy moss.
Creag, mountain; loin, gen. of Ion, moss; muige, gen. of
muig, gloomy, black.
Craig of Proney. Mountain of pounding. Creag, moun-
tain; pronnaidh, gen. of pronnadh, pres. part, of pronn, to
pound. See Proney.
Craig of the Knock. Hill. Both parts mean hill.
Creag, hill; cnoc, hill.
Craig of the Linn. Hill of the Linn of Muick. Creag,
hill. See Linn of Muick.
Craig of Tulloch. Hill. Creag, hill; tulaich, gen. of
tulacli, hill. Both parts mean hill.
Craig of Westertown. Hill of Westertown. Creag,
hill.
Craig Ogston. Rock from which young coal-fish may be
caught. These in Aberdeenshire are called haddocks, pod-
lies, and saiths according to their size. They are very
numerous on rocky coasts in autumn. Creag, rock; ugsan,
plural of ugsa, coal-fish.
Craig Roy. Red rock. Creag, rock; ruadh, red.
Craig Shannoch. Rocky summit. Creag, rock; sun-
nach, summit.
Craig Snow. Rock white with the dung of sea-fowl.
Creag, rock.
Craig Starcie (for Creag Stor Sith). Hill of the steep
cliff. Creag, hill; stor, steep cliff; sith, hill. Creag seems
to be a late addition made to describe Stor Sith.
Craig, The. The cliff. This is a steep face of rock in
King-Edward.
Craig Vallich. Hill of the road. Creag, hill; bhealaich,
gen. asp. of bealach, road, pass. Bh is pronounced v.
Craig Veann. Hill of the kids. Craig, hill; mheann,
gen. plural asp. of meann, kid. Creag Mheann is the proper
spelling of the name.
Craig Walgan (for Creag a' Bhalgain). Hill like a
118 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
blister. Creag, hill; a', of the (suppressed); bhalgain, gen.
asp. of balgan, small swelling, blister.
Craig Watch. Place where a watch against cattle
thieves was maintained on a hill. Creag, hill.
Craig Water (for Allt Craige). Burn of the hill. Allt,
burn (translated and transposed); craige, gen. of creag, hill.
Craig Well, Craigwell. Hill well. Creag, hill.
Craig Wood. Wood on a hill. Creag, hill.
Craigan Dide. Eocks of defence. Creagan, plural of
creag, rock; didean, defence.
Craigan Hat (for Creagan Chuit). Hillock of a cattle-
fold. Creagan, small hill; chuit, gen. asp. of cuit, cattle-
fold. After being asp. c had been lost.
Craigancash. Hill with a steep ascent. Creag, hill; an,
of the; cais, gen. of cas, ascent.
Craigangower (for Creag nan Gobhar). Hill of the
goats. Creag, hill; nan, of the; gobhar, gen. plural of
gobhar, goat.
Craigbank. Raised level ground at the foot of a hill.
Creag, hill.
Craigbeg, Craigbeg Hill. Little hill. Creag, hill; beag,
little.
Craigben. Hill. The second part is a translation of the
first. Creag, hill; beinn, hill.
Craigbrae. Brae of the hill. Craig, gen. of creag, hill.
Craigculter. Hill of retired land. Creag, hill; cuil-tire,
secluded land. Cuil, nook; tire, gen. of tir, land.
Craigdam. Hill of the oxen. Creag, hill; da-mh, gen.
plural of damli, ox, stag.
Craigdorney. Stony hill. Creag, hill; domach, stony.
Craigearn. Hill of alders. Creag, hill; fhearna, gen.
plural asp. of fearna, alder. Fh is silent in Gaelic and had
been omitted in passing into Scotch.
Craigellie. Hill of the burn. Creag, hill; allain, gen.
of allan, small stream.
Craigend (for Creagan). Small hill.
Craigendarroch. Hill of the oak grove. Craig, rocky
hill, cliff; an, of the; daraich, gen. of darach, oak, grove of
oaks.
Craigendurrit. Little hill of swine. Creagan, little hill;
durraidh, gen. plural of durraidh, sow.
Craigengell. The original form had been Chuithail,
cattle-fold. Chuithail, cuithail asp., fold, corrupted into
Whitehall and turned into Gaelic by Creagangeal (creagan,
dim. of creag, hill; geal, white).
Craigenget Cairn (for Creagan Gaothach Cam). Small
windy hill. Creagan, dim. of creag, hill; gaothach, windy;
cam, hill. Craigen and Cairn both mean hill.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 119
Craigengorie (for Creag an Goibhre). Hill of the goat.
Creag, hill; an, of the; goibhre, gen. of gobhar, goat. Bh
had become silent and had been lost.
Craigenhar. Little hill of the shieling. Creagan, little
hill; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling.
Craigenhigh (for Creag an Chuith). Hill of the fold.
Creag, hill; an, of the; chuith, gen. asp. of cuith, fold. In
chuith c had been lost after aspiration; th is silent; and hui
had been pronounced first hu-ee and afterwards hee.
Craigenscore Hill. Hill of the pointed rock. Creag,
hill; an, of the; sgoir, gen. of sgor, pointed rock.
Craigenseat (for Suidhe Creagain). Place at a little hill.
Suidhe, place; creagain, gen. of creagan, small hill.
Craigentath. Warm little hill. Creagan, little hill;
teth, warm.
Craigentrindy (for Creagan Treine). Hill of strength,
meaning a fortified hill. Creagan, hill; treine, gen. of treun,
power, strength. D had been inserted for euphony.
Craigfall (for Creag Choill), both parts of which mean
hill. Creag, hill; choill, hill. Ch had been changed to ph,
which is equivalent to /.
Craigfintray. Craig's Fintray. The half of Fintray
owned by a family named Craig. This name was given
to a barony erected after the property was acquired by John
Urquhart, commonly called The Tutor of Cromarty, who
built the Castle of Craigston.
Craigfold. Sheep-fold on a hill. Creag, hill.
Craigford. Ford at a hill. Creag, hill.
Craigforthie. Hill of the stone circle. Creag, hill ;
Chorthain, gen. asp. of corthan, small circle. Ch had been
changed to/, and ain had been translated into ic.
Craighall. Hill. Creag, hill; choill, coill asp., hill. C
in choill is silent and it had been lost. Probably coill had
not been asp. till creag was prefixed to explain it because
latterly coill came to mean wooded place.
Craigharr. Hill of the shieling. Creag, hill ; h (eu-
phonic; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling.
Craighead. Hill of the fold. Creag, hill; chuid, gen.
asp. of cuid, fold. C is silent after aspiration and liable to
be lost.
Craigheedy Hill. Hill of the cattle-fold. Creag, hill;
chuidli, gen. asp. of cuidh, cattle-fold. See Craighead.
Craighill, Craig Hill. Hill. Both parts of the name
mean hill. Creag, hill.
Craigie, Craigies. Small hill. Creagan, small rock,
hillock. In Craigies an had been made both ie as a dim.
termination and s as a plural.
120 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Craigie Beg, Craigiebeg. Little hill. Creagan, small
hill; beag, little.
Craigie Daff. Little hill of the oxen. Creagan, small
hill; damh, gen. plural of damh, ox, stag.
Craigie Dot. Burnt hillock. Creagan, small hill, rock;
doite, burnt.
Craigie Ford, Craigieford. Ford of the little hill.
Creagan, little hill.
Craigie Scar. Small hill with a pointed rock on the
summit. Creagan, small hill; sgoir, gen. of sgor, projecting
rock.
Craigie Stripe. Eivulet from a small hill. Creagan,
small hill; stripe, small burn.
Craigie Wood. Wood of the little hill. Creagan, small
hill.
Craigiebanks (originally Chuitail). Fold. Chuitail,
cuitail asp., fold, corrupted into Whitehill and turned back
into Gaelic by Creaganban (creagan, little hill; ban, white).
Creagan became Craigie ; some added k to Ban for euphony ;
others abnormally turned an into s ; and thus was produced
Craigiebanks.
Craigiebuckler. Little hill where cattle were watched.
Creagan, little hill; buachailleach, pertaining to watching
cattle.
Craigiedarg. Eed little hill. Creagan, little hill; dearg,
red.
Craigiedows. Hill of the fir-wood. Creagan, dim. of
creag, hill; giubhsaich, gen. of giublisach, fir-wood.
Craigiefold. Fold of the little hill. Creagan, little hill.
Craigiehead (for Creagan Chuid). Little hill on which
there was a fold. Creagan, dim. of creag, hill; chuid, gen.
asp. of add, fold. C, being silent, had been lost.
Craigiehill. Hill. The second part is a translation of
the first. Creagan, little hill.
Craigielea, Craigieley. Grassy place on a small hill.
Creagan, dim. of creag, hill; lea or ley, grassy level ground.
Craigiepots (for Poitean Creige). Deep pools at a hill.
Poitean, plural of poit, pot; creige, gen. of creag, rock.
Craigies. Rocks, or little rock. In Gaelic the name
had been Creagan, which might be the plural of creag, rock,
and should be translated craigs or rocks ; or it might be the
dim. of creag, a rock, and should be translated craigie or
little rock ; but when it is translated craigies it is regarded
as both a plural and a dim. word. Rocks seems to be the
more appropriate meaning.
Craigieshiels. The Gaelic form of the name had been
Creagan Sealain, little hill of the shieling. Creagan, dim.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 121
of creag, hill; sealain, gen. of sealan, shieling, summer hill
pasture.
Craigietocher. Hill near a causey. Creagan, dim. of
creag, hill; tochair, gen. of tocJiar, causey. A causey was
made in soft or wet ground by a road raised above the sur-
face, or by stems of trees laid close together across the road,
or by wickerwork.
Craigievar (for Creag a' Bharra). Hill of the point.
Creag, hill; a', of the; bharra, gen. asp. of barr, point.
Craiginches. Enclosed place near the Craiglug. Creag,
precipice; innis, enclosure. Final s is due to s of innis.
Craiglaggan Burn. Burn of the hill of the little howe.
Creag, hill; lagain, gen. of lagan, little hollow.
Craiglarach. Hill where there are ruins. Creag, hill ;
larach, site, ruins.
Craiglash. Hill of the blaze. Creag, hill; leois (pro-
nounced losh), gen. of leas, light, blaze.
Craiglea Hill. Hill on which there was a grassy place.
Creag, hill; ley, grass land.
Craigleith. Grey hill. Creag, hill; Hath, grey.
Craiglich. Both parts of the name mean hill. Creag,
hill; lamh, hill. Lamh becomes lich in Giuslich, hill of firs,
Morlich, big hill, and in several other names.
Craigloch. Hill beside Loch of Leys. Creag, hill; loch,
loch.
Craiglogie. Hill beside a little howe. Creag, hill;
lagain, gen. of lagan, little howe.
Craiglug. Projection from a cliff. Creag, cliff, rock,
hill; lug (Scotch), ear.
Cratgmad, Craigmaud. . Hill where courts were held.
Creag, hill; moid, gen. of mod, court of justice.
Craigmahandle (for Creag a' Cheann Dail). Hill of the
head of the waterside field. Creag, hill; a', of the; cheann,
ceann asp., head; dail, for dalach, gen. of dail, field.
Craigmancie. Settled hill. Creag, hill; mansaigh,
settled. Though the hill is 631 feet high it is either wooded
or under cultivation.
Craigmill (for Creag Meall). Both parts mean hill.
Creag, hill; meall, hill.
Craigmire. Marsh at a hill. Creag, hill; mire, marsh.
Craigmore. Big hill. Creag, hill; mor, big.
Cratgmuir. Hill moor. Creag, hill.
Craigmyle. Hill with a smooth top. Creaq, hill; maol,
bald.
Craignabo. Hill of the cows. Creag, hill; nan, of the;
bo, gen. plural of bo, cow.
Craignagour. Hill of the goats. Creag, hill; nan, of
the; gobhar, gen. plural of gobhar, goat.
122 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Craignarb. Hill of the roe. Craig, hill; na, of the;
earba, gen. of earb, roe.
Craignathunder. Hill of the joining of two streams.
Creag, rock, hill; na, of the; chomair, gen. asp. of comar,
meeting of burns. Ch had become th, and m had become n,
to which d had afterwards been added.
Craigneach. Hill of the ghost. Creag, hill; neach,
ghost.
Craignook. Nook of a hill. Creag, hill.
Craignordie. Both parts of the name mean hill. Creag ,
hill ; na, of the ; ordain, gen. of ordan, hill.
Craigour. Hill of goats. Creag, hill; gobhar, gen.
plural of gobhar, goat.
Craigouthorn. Hill of the fold. The oldest part is the
last, which had been Carn Chuit. hill of the fold. Ch of
chuit had been lost, and then creag, hill, had been prefixed
to explain the name, and at the same time carn had become
chuirn and had been put last, producing Creag Uit Chuirn.
First c of ch had been lost, and then the name had lapsed
into Craigouthorn.
Craigrae Beg. Little hill rising from a plain. Creag,
hill; reidhe, gen. of reidh, plain; beag, little.
Craigrannoch. Ferny hill. Creag, hill; raineach, ferny.
Craigs, The. The rocks. Creagan, rocks.
Craigs of Eden. Steep rocks on the sides of a small
stream near Eden Castle. Creagan, plural of creag, rock.
Craigs of Logie. Hills or rocky places round a small
howe. Creagan, plural of creag, hill, rock; lagain, gen. of
lagan, small howe.
Craigs of Longley. Bocks of the grassy moss.
Creagan, plural of creag, rock, hill; Ion, moss; ley, grass
land. Longleys sometimes means long grassy fields.
Craigs of Pananaich. Cliffs on Pananaich hill. Creag?
rock, cliff, steep hill. See Pananaich.
Craigs of Succoth. Bocks with projecting points.
Creagan, plural of creag, rock; socach, snouted, beaked.
Craig sglen (for Gleann Craige). Glen of the hill.
Gleann, glen; craige, gen. of creag, hill.
Craigshannoch. Bock on the summit of one of the
Bennachie hills. Creag, rock; sunnach (Irish), summit.
Craigside. Hill side. Creag, hill.
Craigsley. Grassy place at a hill. Creag, hill; ley,
grassy place. 8 is superfluous.
Craigston. Farm-town named after its owner, whose
name was Craig.
Craigston, Craigton, Craigtown. Town at a hill.
Creag, hill; ton (English), town. The insertion of s in
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
123
Craigston had been made in the belief that Craig was a
personal name, which it was not.
Craigveg Plantation. Plantation on a little hill.
Creag, hill; bhcag, little.
Craigward. Enclosed place on a hill, where live stock
could be protected against thieves and prevented from
straying.
Craigwell, Craig Well. Well on a hill. Creag, hill.
Craigwillie, Craigullie. Hill at a curve in a long
range. Creag, hill; uillne, gen. of uileann, elbow, corner.
Craik. Hill. Creach, hill.
Cramlet, The. The crooked hillside. Crom, crooked;
Icathad, side of a hill.
Crampstone. Stone of quarrel. Craimb, gen. of cramb,
quarrel. The stone might have been set up after a quarrel
about a boundary.
Cranbog. Bog at a tree. Crann, tree.
Cran Burn. Tree burn. Crann, tree.
Cranford. Ford at a tree. Crann, tree.
Cranhill. Hill of trees. Crann, gen. plural of crannr
tree.
Cranloch. Loch at a tree. Cran, tree; loch, lake.
Cranna. Wooded. Crannach, growing trees.
Crannabog. Tree of the bog. Cran, tree; na, of the;
bog, bog.
Crannach Hill. Hill growing trees. Crannach,
wooded.
Cranndail How. Tree field howe. Crann, tree; dail,
field; howe, hollow.
Cranniecatt Hill (for Cran na Cath Hill). Hill with a
tree near a road. Cran, tree; na, of the; cath, drove road.
Crannog. Site of a village on a raised mound, or on a
platform resting on piles in a loch. Crannog (Irish),
habitation.
Cransdale. Perhaps Tree field. Crann, tree; dail,
field, level piece of ground. So few trees grow at the edge
of the sea that one would have been a distinctive mark for
a place.
Cransmill. This name might mean mill of a person
named Cran. But it might be of Gaelic origin and mean
wooded hill. Meall, hill, in the gen. form, mill; crann, gen.
plural of crann, tree.
Crantlach Well. Well at a tree on a hill. Crann, tree ;
tulaich, gen. of tulach, hill.
Craskins. The crossing. Crasgan, little crossing. The
final s had been introduced under the mistaken belief that
Craskin was a plural word. Craskins is in the mouth of a
124 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
slack or hollow, where it would be convenient to cross the
hill lying to the north.
Crathes. Wooded or bushy place. Craobhan, plural of
craobh, tree. An being a plural termination had normally
become es. Asp. b had become asp. t, as in the Gaelic word
faobhar, edge, which has become feather in English.
Crathie. Wooded place. Creathach, underwood, brush-
wood.
Crathienaird (for Creathach an Aird). The bushy part
•of a hill. Creathach, underwood, bushes; an, of the; aird,
gen. of ard, hill, height.
Craw Stane. Sculptured stone with a bird resembling
a crow carved upon it.
Crawfordswell (for Baile Ath Cra). Town at the ford
where there were sheep-buchts. Baile, town; ath, ford;
era, gen. plural of cro, sheep-fold, bucht. Baile had become
Bhaile when it was put last, and this had become Well.
Craw head. Both parts of the name mean fold, and the
first had been added to explain the second. Cra, sheep-fold;
chuid, cuid asp., fold. In cliuid c had been lost after
aspiration.
Creag a' Chait. Cliff of the cat. Creag, craig, cliff,
rock; a', of the; chait, gen. asp. of cat, cat. In the Ord-
nance Survey map (No 89), a has an accent instead of an
apostrophe.
Creag a' Chlamhain. Hill of the kite. Creag, rock,
hill; a', of the; chlamhain, gen. asp. of clamhan, kite,
buzzard.
Creag a' Chleirich. Hill of the clergyman. Creag,
hill; a', of the; chleirich, gen. asp. of cleireach, clergyman.
Doubtless chleirich should be chlaraiche, bareness, making
the name mean bare hill.
Creag a' Choire Dhirich. Hill of the steep corry.
Creag, rocky hill; a', of the; choire, gen. asp. of coire, corry;
dhirich, gen. asp. of direach, steep, perpendicular.
Creag a' Ghlas-Uillt. Mountain of the green burn.
Creag, mountain; a', of the; glas, green; uillt, gen. of allt,
burn.
Creag a' Ghobhainn. Hill of the cattle-fold. Creag,
hill; a', of the; gabhainn, gen. of gabhann, cattle-fold.
Creag a' Mhadaidh. Bock of fox. Creag, rock; a',
of the; mhadaidh, gen. asp. of madadh, fox, wolf.
Creag Aighean. Hill place where heifers fed. Creag,
rock, hill; aighean, gen. plural of agh, heifer, fawn.
Craig an Airidh (for Creag na h-Airidhe). Hill of the
shiel. Creag, hill; na, of the; h (euphonic); airidhe, gen. of
airidh, shieling.
Creag an Aonaich. Hill of the hill. This tautological
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 125-
name must be post-Gaelic. Creag, hill; an, of the; aonaich,
gen. of aonach, hill. The original form may have been an
aonach, the hill.
Creag an Dail Bheag, Creag an Dail Mhor. Hill of
the little field and Hill of the big field. Creag, rocky hill;
an, of the; dail, field; blieag, fern, of beag, little; mhor, fem.
of mor, big.
Creag an Diuciid. The duke's rock. Creag, rock, hill;
an, of the; diuciid, duke.
Creag an Dubh Loch. Cliff of the black loch. Creag,
cliff; an, of the; dubh, black; loch, loch.
Creag an Eunan. The original form of this name may
have been An Innean. The hill. It is 2073 feet high, and
conspicuous. Afterwards Creag had been prefixed because
innean means both a hill and an anvil, making the name
Creag an Innean, supposed to mean hill of the anvil. As
this meaning is not appropriate an attempt to improve upon
the name had been made in the second edition of the
Ordnance Survey maps, and it is now Creag an Eunan.
This phrase contains the grammatical error of'making eunan
a genitive and no meaning can safely be suggested for it.
Creag an Fhir-shaighde. Cliff of the bowman. Creag,
cliff; an, of the; fhir-sliaighde, gen. asp. of fear-shaighde,
man of the arrow, archer, bowman, soldier.
Creag an Fhithich. Hill of the raven. Creag, hill; an,
of the; fhithich, gen. asp. of fitheach, raven.
Creag an Fhuathais. Hill of the spectre. Creag, rocky
mountain; an, of the; fhuathais, gen. asp. of fuathas,
spectre.
Craig an Gobhair. Hill of the goat. Creag, hill; an, of
the; gobhair, gen. of gobhar, goat.
Creag an Loch. Hill near Loch Callater. Creag, rocky
hill; an, of the; loch, loch.
Creag an Lochain. Mountain of the little loch. Creag,.
mountain; an, of the; lochain, gen. of lochan, small loch.
Creag an Lurachain. Hill where a kind of garlic grows.
Creag, hill; an, of the; lurachain, gen. of lurachan, ramsons,
broad-leaved garlic.
Creag an Sgor. Hill of the sharp rock on the summit.
Creag, hill, rock: an, of the; sgoir, gen. of sgor, sharp rock.
Creag an t-Seabhaig. Hill of the hawk. Creag, rockr
hill; an t-, of the; scabhaig, gen. of seabhag, hawk.
Creag an t-Sean-ruigh. Hill of the old shiel. Creag,
hill; an t-, of the; sean-ruigli, old shiel.
Creag Ba^ an Eas. Hill of the wood at the burn.
Creag, hill; bad, wood, thicket; an, of the; eas, burn,
waterfall.
Creag Bad an t-Seabhaig. Hill of the bush of the hawk^
Creag,
hill;
Creag,
hill;
Creag,
hill;
damh,
gen.
Creag,
hill;
hill; do
inne ,
126 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Creag, hill; bad, bush; an t-, of the; seabhaig, gen. of sea-
bhag, hawk. Before grouse preserving began hawks and
kites were numerous among the hills.
Creag Beinne. Hill of the hill. Creag, rock; beinne,
gen. of bcinn, hill. The second part had been added to
explain the first.
Creag Bhalg. Hill of the cattle-fold. Creag, hill;
buileag, dim, of buaile, fold.
Creag Bheag. Little hill. Creag, hill; bheag, fern, of
beag, small.
Creag Bhiorach. Sharp-pointed hill.
bhiorach, fern, of biorach, sharp-pointed.
Creag Choinnich. Hill of assembly.
choinne, gen. asp. of coinne, meeting.
Creag Clunie. Hill beside a valley.
cluaine, gen. of cluain, river valley, meadow.
Creag Damh. Hill of oxen. Creag, hill
plural of damh, ox, stag.
Creag De^arg, Creagdearg. Eed hill.
-dhearg, fern, of dearg, red.
Creag Doin. Hill of brownness. Creag,
brownness.
Creag Ghiubhais. Hill of the fir. Creag, hill; a', of
the (suppressed); ghiubhais, gen. asp. of giubhas, fir, fir
grove.
Creag Leachdach. Cliff where the rock is in flat slabs.
Creag, cliff, rock; leachdach, abounding in slabs.
Creag Ltath. Grey hill. Creag, hill; Hath, grey.
Creag Loisgte. Burned hill. Creag, hill; loisgte,
burned. In dry summers the surface of hills sometimes
burns for several months.
Creag Mheann. Hill of kids. Creag, hill; mheann,
gen. plural of rneann, kid.
Creag Mhor. Big mountain. Creag, mountain; mhor,
fern, of mor, big.
Creag Mullach (for Mullach Craige). Summit of the
hill. Mullach, summit; craige, gen. of creag, hill.
Creag na Creiche. Hill of the boundary. Creag, hill;
na, of the; criche, gen. of crioch, boundary.
Creag na Dearcaige. Mountain of the little berry.
Creag, mountain; na, of the; dearcaige, gen. of dearcag,
small berry.
Creag na Gamhna. Hill of the stirks. Creag, rocky
hill; nan, of the; gamhna, gen. plural of gamhainn, yearling
calf.
Creag na Gaoithe. Windy craig. Creag, craig, hill;
na, of the; gaoithe, gen. of gaoth, wind.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 127
Creag na Meann. Hill of the kid. Creag, hill; na, of
the ; meann, kid.
Creag na Slice. Hill of the road. Creag, hill; na, of
the ; slighe, path. A road over this hill joins the Mount Keen
road.
Creag na Slowrie. Hill of the cattle. Creag, hill; na,
of the; sliabhre (Irish), cattle, herds.
Creag na Spine. Hill of the thicket. Creag, hill; na, of
the; spine, gen. of spin, thicket, bush, thorn.
Creag na Sroine. Hill with a high projecting end.
Creag, hill; na, of the; sroine, gen. of sron, nose, point.
Creag nam Ban. Mountain of the women. Creag,
mountain; nam, of the; ban, gen. plural of bean, woman.
The name might have originated in the custom of women
going to hill pasture with cows in summer. Or, Mountain
of the fairies, ban being gen. plural also of ban, female fairy.
Creag nan Gabhar. Hill of the goats. Creag, rock,
hill; nan, of the; gabhar, gen. plural of gabhar, goat.
Creag nan Gall. Hill of the rocks. Creag, hill; nan,
of the; gall, gen. plural of gall, rock.
Creag nan Leachda. Mountain of the flat stones.
Creag, rocky mountain; nan, of the; leachda, gen. plural of
leachd, flat stone.
Creag Phadruig. Patrick's hill. Creag, steep hill;
Phadruig, gen. asp. of Padruig, Patrick.
Creag Phiobaidh. Mountain of piping. Creag, moun-
tain; phiobaidh, gen. asp. of piobadh, piping.
Creagan a' Choire Etchachan. Eocks of Corry Et-
chachan. Creagan, plural of creag, rock; a', of the; choire,
coire asp., corry; etchachan, little boisterous burn. See
Etchachan.
Creagan Kiach. Little grey hill. Creagan, little hill;
riabhach, grey.
Creagandubh. Little black rock. Creagan, little rock;
dubh, black. As there are several rocks the name should
be Creagan-dubha, black rocks. Creagan, plural of creag,
rock; dubha, plural of dubh, black.
Creaganducy. Hill of the fir. Creag, hill; an, of the;
giubhais, gen. of giubhas, fir.
Creagandummie (for Creag an Dunain). Hill with a
hump on the summit. Creag, hill; an, of the; dunain, gen.
of dunan, little hill like a hump.
Creagantoll. Hill of the hole. Creag, hill; an, of the;
tuill, gen. of toll, hole, pool, howe.
Creagenhigh (for Creag an Chuith). Hill of the cattle-
fold. Creag, hill; an, of the; chuith, gen. asp. of cuith,
cattle-fold. C and u of chuith having become silent had been
lost, and th had become gh.
J28 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Crespet. Long narrow place. Crios (pronounced cres),
belt; pet, place.
Crichie. Place where there was fine clay. Criathach
(th silent), abounding in clay. The clay at Crichie was
suitable for making domestic vessels and sepulchral urns.
Crichie. Hill-top. Creachan, summit of a hill. An
had been changed to ie in the belief that it was a dim.
termination.
Crichneyled (for Leathad Creachain). Slope of a hill.
Leathad, slope, side; creachain, gen. of creachan, moun-
tain. Ai and n of creachain had been transposed, and th of
leathad, with its vowels, had been lost.
Crimond. District which was a moor. Crioch, district;
monaidh, gen. of monadh, moor, heath. 0 in crioch is silent,
and ch had also become silent and had been lost. Cri is pro-
nounced cree.
Crimond Hill. The three parts of the name all mean
hill. Creach, hill; 'monadh, hill. Ch of creach had become
silent, and monadh had been added to explain it. Crimond
might also mean grey hill. Creach, grey; monadh, hill.
Crimondgorth. Enclosed place in Crimond; which see.
Gorth, enclosure.
Crimondmogate. Level parts of Crimond; which see.-
Maghach, consisting of plains.
Crincle Den. Den of the round head. Cruinn, round;
cill, for ceann, head. A knoll with a round head is con-
spicuous at the head of the den.
Crobhar. Sheep-fold on a projecting point. Cro, sheep-
fold; bharra, gen. asp. of barr, point.
Crockart Hill. The three parts of this name mean hill.
Cnoc (pronounced crochg in some parts), hill; ard, hill.
Crockleback Stone. A glacial boulder in the Dee at
Peterculter. The meaning of the name is not known.
Crockle may mean crooked.
Croft of Muickan. Ground growing Meum athaman-
ticum, baldmoney, Highland micken. It was used as a pot
herb, and the root was dug up and chewed on account of its
aromatic, pungent flavour. Croit, croft, small piece of
ground; meacan, a tapering fleshy root.
Croftmillan. Croft of the small hill. Croit, croft;
millain, gen. of millan, dim. of meall, hill. Millan is formed
from mill, the gen. of meall, instead of the nom.
Croich Hill. Hill of the gallows. Croich, gallows.
Crom Leitir. Crooked hillside. Crom, crooked; leitir,
hillside.
Cromarty. Crook of a hill. Cromadh, bending; ardain,
gen. of ardan, low height. Cromarty is at a turn in a long
ridge.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 129
Crombie Cairn. Crooked hill. Crom, crooked; earn,
hill.
Crombiebrae. Curved brae. Cromaidh, gen. of crom-
adh, curving, bending.
Crombie 's Well (for Tobar Cromaidh). Well at a bend.
Tobar, well; cromaidh, gen. of cromadh, turning.
Cromlabank, Cromleybank. Crooked bank on the side of
a hill. Crom, crooked; lamh, hill.
Cromlet, Cromblet. Crooked side of a hill or burn.
Crom, crooked; leth, side.
Cromwellside (for Suidhe Crom Ail). Place on a crooked
hill. Suidhe, place; crom, crooked; aill, hill.
Crook a' Peel. Curve in the Ythan at a pool. Peel in
Scotch sometimes means a fortified place, a stockade where
cattle could be guarded.
Crook o' Burn. Bend of the burn.
Crookahill (for Cnoc a' Coill). Hill. Cnoc (pronounced
crochg), hill; a', of the; choill, gen. asp. of coill, hill. Both
the first and the last parts mean hill.
Crooked Grain. Crooked little burn. Grain here means
a branch of a burn.
Crooked Hills. Hill. Crooked is a corruption of cnoc,
hill, which is often pronounced crochg in Gaelic and be-
comes crock and crook in Scotch.
Crookednook (for Cuil a' Chnuic). Nook of the hill.
Cuil, nook; a', of the; chnuic, gen. asp. of cnoc, hill.
Crookfold, Crooktree. In these names crook represents
cnoc, hill. Tree is triath {th silent), hill.
Crookmore. Big hill. Cnoc, hill; mor, big. N after c
in Gaelic is pronounced r.
Cross Stone. Stone at the summit level of a road
crossing a hill. Crasg, crossing.
Crossfields. Fields whose longest side is perpendicular
to the hollow where they end.
Crouniehillock (for Toman Cruinne). Hillock of round-
ness. Toman, hillock; cruinne, gen. of cruinne, roundness.
Crow Well. Well at a sheep-fold. Cro, circle, wattled
fold.
Crowmallie. Circle at a little hill. Cro, circle; meal-
lain, gen. of meallan, dim. of me all, hill.
Crowness (for Cro an Eas). Fold at the burn. Cro,
sheep-fold; an, of the; eas, burn.
Crownhead. Bound fold. Cruin, round; chuid, cuid
asp., fold.
Cruchie. Round conical hill. Cruachan, dim. of cruach,
round pointed hill.
Cruden, Crudie, (for Cruach Dain). Knoll of judgment.
Cruach, knoll, pile of stones; dain, gen. of dan, judgment.
i
130 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Ach of cruach had become silent, and ain of dain had be-
come ie.
Cruich. Hill like a stack. Cruach, high, steep hill.
Cruinn Choire. Bound corry. Cruinn, round; choire,
coire asp., corry.
Cryla. Fold. Croile, fold.
Cuid and Cuit. Cattle-fold, in Scotch pumphal. By
aspiration of the final letter the forms cuidli and cuith are
obtained, and the initial c may also be aspirated, producing
chuid, chuidh, chuit, chuith. The syllable ail (which
perhaps represents ail of feadail, cattle) was sometimes
annexed to some of the forms. These forms enter into more
than a hundred names of places in or near Aberdeenshire.
In many of these ch has been changed to other aspirated
letters, and c of ch has frequently been lost. The aspirated
forms ch, dh, and th have frequently become silent and
have been lost. The following names all contain cuid or
cuit in some of their forms: — Cow (sounded coo), Cowbog,
Cowgate, Cowie, Cowesmill, Cay, Caie, Caiesmill, Key, Keys,
Morkeu, Kidd, Fife, Fifehill, Fittie, Futtie, Fyvie, Fiddie,
Faddan, Fiddes, Fuddes, Coats, Cotwell, Cotton, Couttie,
Coutts, Cuttie, Craigenhigh, Duguid, Ewebrae, Outseat,
Hythie, Bedhyth, Cowhyth, Quiddie, Keith and its com-
pounds, White and its compounds, Hat, Hay, Head, Heath
and their compounds. From forms of cuid, etc., with the
termination ail added, come Quithel, Cuttle, Cothill, Cothal,
Whitehill, Whythall, Whey well, Quittle, Goodall, Kettle,
Keddle, Kittle, Wheedlemont, and Queel. Many English
names from the same roots may be found, as Kew, Kettle,
Whittlesea, Whitton, Hoo, Hythe, Hutton, Maidenhead
(middle cattle-fold), Cowden, Outhgill, and Outwell. The
name Asquith means burn at a cattle-fold. Other forms of
it are Ayscough, Ascot, Escott, Scott.
Cuidhe Crom (for Crom Cuidh). Circle of the cattle-fold.
Crom, circle; cuidh, cattle-fold. There is an old round fold
on Strone Baddoch.
Cul nan Gad. The nook of the turns of the burn. Cuil,
nook; nan, of the; gad, gen. plural of gad, twisted twig.
Cul Biabhach. Grey nook. Cuil, nook; riabhach, grey,
brindled.
Cula Burn. Burn of the back or north side of a hill.
Cula, secondary form of the gen. of cul, back.
Culag Hill. Sod hill. Culag, mossy sod for the back
of a fire.
Culardoch. Heights at the north side of a mountain.
Cul, back, north side; ardoch, abounding in heights.
Culblean (for Cuil Bleoghainn). Nook where cows on
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 131
hill pasture were milked. Cuil, nook; bleoghainn, gen. of
bleoghann, milking.
Culbyth. Nook growing birches. Cuil, nook; beath,
gen. plural of bcath, birch-tree.
Culchavie Burn. Burn of the eroded nook. Cuil,
corner; chabhaich, gen. asp. of cabach, dug out. Both c and
b in cabach have been aspirated.
Culdearg. Bed nook. Cuil, nook; dearg, red.
Culdrain (for Cuil Draighinn). Nook of the hawthorn.
Cuil, nook ; draighinn, gen. of draighionn, hawthorn.
Cdldubh. Black back. Cul, back, north slope of a hill;
■dubh, black. #
Culfork (for Cul Choirc). Nook fit for growing oats.
Cul, nook; choirc, gen. asp. of core, oats. Ch had become
ph, equivalent to /.
Culfosie, Culfossie. Nook of rest. Cuil, nook; foise,
gen. of fois, rest, leisure.
Culhay. Hill of the cattle-fold. Coill, hill; chuith,
gen. asp. of cuith, cattle-fold. C and th in chuith had become
silent and had been dropped.
Cullerlie (for Cuil Airidhe). Nook of the shieling. Cuil,
nook; airidhe, gen of airidh, shieling.
Cullonach. Marshy corner. Cuil, corner; lonach,
marshy.
Cullyblean. Hill of milking. Coille, hill; bleodhainn,
gen. of bleodJiann, milking of cows. There had been shiels
on the hill, occupied by women who milked cows.
Culmellie. Back of the little hill. Cul, back, north
side; meallain, gen. of meallan, dim. of meall, hill.
Culquhonny. Nook of the meeting. Cuil, nook, retired
place; choinne, gen. asp. of coinne, meeting.
Culquoich. Back hollow. Cul, back, north; etiach,
cup, hollow.
Culsalmond (Culsamuel, 1198). Pleasant nook on the
hill, or on the brow of a hill. Cuil, nook; samh (mh silent),
pleasant, sheltered; monaidh, gen. of monadh, hill; muile,
gen. of muil, brow of a hill.
Culsh. Ketired place. Cuilteach, retired, private.
Culsten Burn (for Allt Cuiltein). Burn of the little glen.
Allt, burn; cuiltein, gen. of cuiltean, dim. of cuil, nook, glen.
S in Culsten represents tean, erroneously supposed to be a
plural termination. Though tean had been allowed to re-
main s had been inserted before it.
Culstruphan (for Cuil Sruthain). Nook in a small
strath. Cuil, nook; sruthain, gen. of sruthan, small strath.
Sr at the beginning of Gaelic names became str in passing
into Scotch. Th had become ph. Culstruphan may be cor-
rupted into Coldstream.
132 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Culter. Back land. Cut, back, north ; tir, land.
Cultercullen (for Cul-tir Coillein). Back land of the
little hill. Cul, back; tir, land; coillein, gen. of coillean,
little hill.
Culterty. Back lands. Cul, back; tirte, plural of tir,
land.
Culthibert Burn. Shepherd's nook burn. Cuil, nook;
chibir, gen. asp. of cibeir, shepherd.
Cultorden Hill. Perhaps the name should be Cul-
lorden Hill, all the parts meaning hill. Coill, hill; ordan,
little hill. If coill had been corrupted into cull then ordan
might have been added to explain it.
Cults. Little secluded place. Cuiltean, dim. of cuilr
nook. Ean had been made s instead of ie.
Culyarney (for Cuil Fhearna). Nook of alders. Cuil,
nook; fhearna, gen. plural asp. of fearna, alder, arn (Scotch).
Cuminestown. Town founded by a Cumine of Auchry.
Cummer's Stone (for Clach Comair). Stone at the
junction of two burns. Clach, stone (translated); comair,
gen. of comar, meeting of two burns. Comar has some-
times s added to it because it represents two burns coming
together.
Cummerton. Farm-town at a place where two burns or
two roads meet. Comar, meeting, junction.
Cummingstone. Stone of remembrance. Cuimhne,
remembrance.
Cumrie. Place where two opposite slopes meet. Co7nh,
conjunction; ruigh, hill slope.
Cunnach Moss. Moss growing cotton grass. Canach,
catstail, cotton grass (Eriophorum).
Cunning Wood. Rabbit wood. Coinean, rabbit.
Cunningar. Eabbit warren. The appropriateness of this
name is not obvious, as the knoll is a hard remnant left by
a glacier. Coinicear, rabbit warren.
Cunningar Hill. Hill of the rabbit warren. Coinicear,
rabbit warren.
Cunninghare. House on a shieling. Comhnuidh, per-
manent residence; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling. The
ordinary shiels were deserted during winter.
Cunrie Craig. Rock where the dog-rose grows. Coin-
dris, dog-rose; creag, rock, hill.
Cup Stone. Boundary stone of the Freedom of the City
of Aberdeen. The city mark is usually called a saucer.
Curbay. Hill of birches. Cor, hill; beith, gen. plural of
beith, birch tree.
Curbrotack. Hill of fattening of cattle. Corr, hill;
brotachaidh, gen. of brotachadh, fattening, supplying good
pasture.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 133
Curr. Pool.
Currach. Bog, fen where shrubs grow, plain, race-
course.
Currach Pool. Pool in a marsh. Currach, fen where
shrubs grow.
Currach Well. Well in a marsh. Currach, marsh.
Currie's Haugh. Haugh of the marsh, marshy haugh.
Curraich, gen. of currach, marsh.
Curwich Burn, Curwick Burn. Burn of the pool at a
corner. Curr, pool; uige, gen. of uig, nook.
Cushieston. Farm abounding in rushes. Cuiseagach,
full of rushes. S after i sounds sh.
Cushlachie. Frosty hill. Cuisneach, frosty ; lamhan,
dim. of lamh, hill. Asp. m had become asp. c, and an had
normally become ie.
Cushnie. Frosty place. Cuisneach, frosty. In the glen
of Cushnie, 1000 feet above the sea, the grain crops are
liable to damage from frosts at night in early autumn.
Cutbeard Hill. Hill with a fold on the summit. Cuit,
fold; bearraidh, gen. of bearradh, top of a mountain.
Cuternach. Fold where cattle were watched at night.
Cuit, fold; airneach, watching at night.
Cuttacksnest. Cuckoo's nest. Cuthag, cuckoo. But
the name is a corruption of Cuitag an Eas, small fold at the
burn. Cuitag, dim. of cuit, fold; an, of the; eas, burn.
Cuttieburn, Cuttie Burn, (for Allt Cuitan). Burn of
the little cattle-fold. Alii, burn (translated); cuitain, gen.
of cuitan, dim. of cuit, cattle-fold.
Cuttieshillock. Knoll where there was a cattle-fold.
Cuitan, dim. of cuit, cattle-fold. An had been made both
ie and s. See Cuid.
Cuttleburn Burn at a cattle-fold. Cuitail, cattle-fold.
See Cuid.
Cuttlecraig, Cuttlecraigs, (for Creagan Cuitail). Hil-
lock of a cattle-fold. Creagan, dim. of creag, hill; cuitail,
cattle-fold. Final s represents an of creagan, which, how-
ever, is not a plural but a dim. termination.
Cuttlehill. Cattle-fold hill. Cuitail, cattle-fold. See
Cuid.
Cuttyhill (for Tom Cuitain). Hill of the cattle-fold.
Tom, hill (translated); cuitain, gen. of cuitan, dim. of cuit,
cattle-fold.
Dagie. Good place. Deagh, good.
Daies, Dais. Sunny place. Deas, south, sunny, on the
right hand to a person looking east.
Dail a' Bhoididh. Field of the swearing. Dail, field;
134 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
a', of the; bhoideich, gen. asp. of boideach, vow, promise,,
solemnly swearing.
Dail Damh Bhuidhe. Field of the yellow oxen. Dail,
field; damh, gen. plural of damh, ox, stag; bhuidhe, buidhe
asp., yellow.
Dairy. Milkhouse. Deye (Old English), milkmaid, farm
mistress.
Dalau. Field near a stream. Dail, field; abh (pro-
nounced au), river.
Dalbagie. Big field. Bail, field; baghach, big. Ach is-
represented by ie in Scotch names.
Dalbeattie. Birch field. Dail, field; beathach, abound-
ing in birches.
Dalbing (for Dail Binne). Field of judgment. Dail, field;
binne, gen. of binn, judgment.
Dalbraidie. Field of the hill. Dail, field, meadow;
braighe, for braghad, gen. of braighe, hill. Gh and dh, being
sounded alike, are often interchanged.
Dalchon (for Dail Chon). Field of dogs. Dail, field;
chon, gen. plural asp. of cu, dog. This name seems to be a
modern imitation of Tolquhon; which see.
Daldownie. Field of the little hill. Dail, riverside
field; dunain, gen. of dunan, small hill.
Dalebrook. Field near a brook. Dail, waterside field.
Dalfad. Long field. Dail, field; fada, long.
Dalfling (for Dail Fliuchanach). Wet field. Dail, field;
fliuchanach, wet. The asp. letters with their vowels have
been omitted.
Dalgarno's Croft (for Croit Dail Garbhanaiche). Croft
of the rugged field. Croit, croft; dail, for dalach, gen. of
dail, field; garbhanaiche, gen. fem. of garbhanach, rugged.
Dalgowan. Field of the cattle-fold. Dail, riverside
field; gabhainn, gen. of gabhann, cattle-fold. Bh is equiva-
lent to u. v, or w.
Dalgrassich. Field of the shoemaker. Dail, haugh,
flat field; griasaiche, gen. of griasaich, shoemaker.
Dalhaikie (for Dail a' Chaochain). Field of the little
burn. Dail, field; a', of the; chaochain, gen. asp. of
caochan, streamlet.
Dalhebity. Feld with a channel eroded by running
water. Dail, field; cliaobte, past part. asp. of caob, to bite,
erode.
Dalherick. Field of the sheep. Dail, field at the side
of a river; chaorach, gen. plural asp. of caora, a sheep.
Dallance Pot. Pot in the Deveron at a small field.
Dalan, dim. of dail, field by a river. An had erroneously
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 135
been regarded as a plural termination, and therefore s had
been added to dalan.
Dalliefour. Field of grass. Dalach, field; feoir, gen.
of feur, grass. Dalach, the gen. form is used instead of the
nom. daft, as is done with aird, blair, loin, and other nouns.
Dallochy. Small field. Dalachan, dim. of dail, field,
formed from the gen. dalach. An normally became y.
Dalmadilly (for Dail an Dile). Field of the whortle-
berry. Dail, field; an, of the; dile, whortleberry.
Dalmaik. See Drumoak.
Dalmochie. Early field. Dail, field; moiche, earliness.
Dalmuinzie (for Dail Moine). Feld of the moor. Dail,
field; moine, moor.
Dalnabo. Field of the cow. Dail, field; na, of the;
oo, cow.
Dalphuil (for Dail a' Phuill). Field of the pool. Dail,
field; a', of the; phuill, gen. asp. of poll, pool.
Dalraddie. Field of the little road. Dail, field; radain,
gen. of radan, dim. of rad, road.
Dalriach. Grey field. Dail, field; riabhach, grey.
Dalrossach. Place abounding in roses. Dail, level
field; rosach, growing roses.
Dalsack. Field of the willows. Dail, field; sauchs
(Scotch), willows, a translation of seileach, gen. plural of
seileach, willow.
Dalvorar, Delavorar (for Dail a' Mhoraire). Field of
the landlord. Dail, field; a', of the (suppressed); mhoraire,
gen. asp. of morair, landlord. The name would be applicable
to a haugh reserved for hay by a landlord when letting a
farm to a tenant. Mh is equivalent to u, v, or w.
Dalvorar Corrie. Corry of the field of the landlord.
Coire, corry. See Dalvorar.
Dalweary (for Dail a' Bhiora). Field of the water. Dal,
for dail, field by a river; a', of the (suppressed); bhiora, gen.
asp. of bior, water.
Dalwhing. Field of assembly. Dail, field by a river;
choinnc, gen. asp. of coinne, meeting, assembly. In other
names choinne has become honey or hind, as in Sunhoney,
Hindstones.
Damar (for Da Muir). Two seas. Da, two; mar, for
muir, sea.
Damil (perhaps for Meall Damh). Hill of the oxen.
Meall, hill; damh, gen. plural of damh. ox. Probably what
is called on the map a fort had been a cattle-fold.
Dancing Cairns. The original name had been Sithean
Dain. Mount of judgment. Sithean (th silent), mount;
dain, gen. of dan, judgment. Th with ea had been lost,
leaving sin. To explain this after its meaning had been
136 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
forgotten caman, dim. of earn, hill, had been prefixed and
the name had become Carnan Sin Dain. In Scotch caman
ought to have become cairnie, but by mistake it had been
made cairns. At this time the parts of the name had been
rearranged and dain had been put first in the nom. form dan.
Dancing Cairns had been the seat of a barony court.
Danestone (probably for Clach Dain). Stone which was
the seat of a barony court. Clach, stone; dain, gen. of dan,
judgment.
Danshillock (for Toman Dain). Hillock of judgment.
Toman, hillock (translated) ; dain, gen. of dan, judgment.
The place had been the seat of a barony court and the
residence of a baron bailie.
Danzig Shiel. Summer residence. It is said that a man
concerned in the erection of this house called it Dantzig
Shiel because Dantzig was his birthplace. Seal (pronounced
shal), house used occasionally.
Daralees (for Doire a' Lise). Thicket at the cattle-fold.
Doire, grove, thicket; a', of the; lise, gen. of lios, cattle-
fold.
Dararach, Burn of. Burn giving out rattling sounds.
Dararaich, gen. of dararach, rattling noise. It falls 250 feet
in half a mile.
Dardar (for An t-Ard Ar). The high land. An t-, the;
ard, high; ar, land. When the article an was omitted t had
been left and changed to d.
Darley. Grassy place where oak trees grew. Darach
(ach silent), gen. plural of darach, oak tree; ley (Scotch),
grassy place.
Darn Haugh. Stony haugh. Darn, small round stone.
Dam also means ford.
Darnabo. Ford for cows. Dam, ford; na, of the; bo,
for boin, gen. of bo, cow.
Darnford. Darn seems to mean ford, and the second
part may be a translation of the first.
Darnie Heuch. Steep rocky bank. Darnach and dor-
nach, rocky, stony; heuch and hvugh, very steep bank.
Darra. Wooded. Darach, abounding in oaks. Frag-
ments of oak charcoal have been found in prehistoric graves
at Darra.
Darrahill. Hill of oaks. Darach, gen. plural of darach,
oak-tree.
Darroch Learg. Side of a hill growing oaks. Darach,
oak; learg, hillside.
Dartfield. Cattle field. Dart (Irish), herd of cattle.
Dauch, Daugh, Davoch. Farm. Davoch, farm fit to
carry a large herd of cattle and to furnish ten or twelve oxen
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 137
for a plough, or oxen for two ploughs. Usually a dauch was
held jointly by three tenants.
Daugh of Aswanley (for Davoch a' Sughanach Leith).
Large farm on the wet hillside. Dabhoch, large farm; a', of
the; sughanach, watery; leith, gen. of leth, hillside.
Dauch of Cairnborrow. Large farm held jointly by
several tenants. Dabhoch, farm. Cairnborrow is composed
of two parts — cam, hill; and bruch, hill, the latter having
been added to explain the former.
Dauch of Invbrmark. Farm district at the infall of the
Markie Water into the Deveron. Dabhoch, large farm held
jointly by several tenants; inbhir, infall; Markie, river name,
derived from marc, horse, because horses were reared in the
glens of the Markie.
Daues Pot. Daues may be a corruption of gaws, dh and
gh being sounded alike. See Ga Pot.
Davah. Farm. Dabhach, portion of land.
Davan. Two waters. Da, two; abhainn, water. Da
abhainn is a dual form in which abhainn is singular. The
two waters are Loch Davan and Loch Kinord, very near
each other.
David's Howe. Howe where oxen were pastured.
Damh, gen. plural of damh, oxen.
Davidson's Cairn. Heap of stones at the spot where
the dead bodv of Davidson, a notorious poacher, was found
in 1843.
David ston. Perhaps this name had originally been
Haile Dabhoich. Town of the dauch. Baile, town (trans-
lated and transposed); dabhoich, gen. of dabhoch, large
farm held conjointly by several tenants.
Davies Hillock. Perhaps this name represents Toman
Damhan. Hillock of the oxen. Toman, hillock; damhan,
gen. plural of damh, ox. An may have been translated into
both ie and s, producing Davies. Mh is equivalent to v.
Davieshill. Hill of oxen, place where plough oxen fed.
Da7nh (mh equivalent to v), gen. plural of damh, ox. >S
had been added because davie was believed to be a man's
name.
Daviot. Howe where oxen grazed. Damh, gen. plural
of damh, ox; iochd, howe. Formerly a in Daviot was broad,
and Daviot was pronounced daw-vit.
Davniescroft (for Dabhochan with croft added to ex-
plain it). Dabhochan, dim. of dabhoch, farm. In dabhochan
bh is equivalent to v, ch is silent, and an had become nie by
transposition of a and n. S had been inserted to convert
davnie into the English possessive.
Dawache of Murriell. Farm of Murriell. Dabhoch,
large farm. Murriell (for Murean AU1). Small hill. Murean,
138 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
dim. of mur, hill; axil, hill. Ean had become ie, and aill
had been added to explain murean after it had been cor-
rupted.
Dawmoor. Moor of oxen. Damh, gen. plural of damhr
ox. Mh is equivalent to u, v, or iv.
Dead Wife's Cairn. This cairn is on a boundary. Prob-
ably an old woman had been found dead and had not been
allowed to be buried in consecrated ground. Suicides were
buried on the narrow strip between two lands, which was
regarded as no man's land.
Dee. Black river. Dubh, black. The river Dee is black
whon in flood, and before peat-mosses were exhausted it was
frequently dark coloured.
Deelat, The. Line of division. Dealachd, separating.
Deepheather (for Dubh Chuith). Black cattle-fold made
of mossy sods. Dubh, black; chuith, cuith asp., cattle-fold.
After aspiration c had been lost, and huith became heath,
of which heather is an expansion. Final er might represent
airidh, shieling, but it is not accented.
Deepstane Pot. Black stone pot. Dubh, black.
Deer. Wood. Doire, thicket, trees. Deer is the official
name of a parish. Old Deer is the village at the church of
Deer. New Deer is the name now given to the parish for-
merly called Auchreddie, which was detached from Deer.
New Deer is also the name of the village at the church of
New Deer.
Deer Hill (for Tom Doire). Hill of a grove. Tom, hill
(translated); doire, grove, wood, thicket.
Deer Eoad. Dera's road. The agent for the lands be-
longing to a religious house was called a dera. The Deer
Koad was on the margin of the lands belonging to the
cathedral, under the dera.
Deer's Den. Perhaps this was the name of a hollow into
which deer were driven, where they were killed by spears
or shot with arrows.
Deer's Grain. Grain — same as groin — the space be-
tween two branches of a stream. Anciently, deer were killed
by driving them into a place with a wide mouth, and hem-
ming them in till they could be shot with arrows or stabbed
with spears. The Deer's Grain may have been a place where
deer were killed.
Delab. Field at a river. Dail, field, alluvial ground;
abh, river.
Delachaish. Field of the howe. Dail, field; a', of the;
chois, gen. asp. of cos, hollow. Oi in Gaelic is sometimes
sounded at, and s after i is sounded sli.
Delachuper (for Dail a' Chuip Airidhe). Field of the
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 1391
hill of the shieling. Dail, field; a', of the; chuip, gen. asp.
of cop, hill; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling.
Delau Burn. Burn of the field at a stream. Dail, field;
abh (pronounced au), stream. Burn is a translation of abh.
Delavaird. Field of the meadow. Dail, field near a
river; a', of the; bhaird, gen. asp. of bard, meadow.
Delavine (for Dail a' Bheinne). Burn of the field on the
hill. Dail, field; a', of the; bheinne, gen. asp. of beinn, hill.
Delavoran Haugh (for Dail a' Mhorain Haugh). Haugh
of the field of the meadow. Dail, field near a river; a', of
the; mhorain, gen. asp. of moran, meadow. Haugh is a
translation of mhoran.
Delfrigs (for Dail Frighein). Field of the small deer
forest. Dail, field; frighein, gen. of frighean, dim. of frigh,
deer forest. An of frighean had erroneously been translated
by s in the belief that it was a plural termination.
Delgaty. Windy field. Dail, field; gaothach, windy.
Delhandy (for Dail a' Fhanain). Field of the little slope.
Dail, field; a', of the (suppressed); fhanain, gen. asp. of
fanan, small sloping place. Fhanain lost / but h remained.
Ain normally became y. D had been inserted after n for
euphony.
Delnadamph. Field of the oxen. Dail, riverside field;
nan, of the; damh, gen. plural of damh (pronounced
doic), ox.
Delnine. Field of the washing. Dail, riverside field ;
nigheachain, gen. of nigheachan, washing of linen. Only
the first two and the last two letters are usually sounded.
Delphorrie Stone. Stone in field in a corry. Dail,
riverside field; choire, coire asp., corry. Ch had been
changed to ph when Gaelic passed into Scotch.
Den Burn, Denburn, (for Allt Dein). Burn of the den.
Allt, burn (translated); dein, small valley, ravine. E has
different sounds and it requires another vowel between it
and a subsequent consonant to show its sound. Ei long is
like a in date, ei short like e in debt.
Den, Hill of. Hill of judgment. Dain, gen. of dan,
judgment. This had been the seat of a barony court.
Den of Boddam. Den of the ox-house. Dein, den; both,
house; damh, gen. plural of damh, ox.
Den of Fathie. Den of the green plain. Dein, den;
fatha, gen. of fath, green level place.
Den of Howie. Bavine at a cattle-fold. Dein, den;
chuith, gen. asp. of cuith, cattle-fold. C and th had been
lost, and hui had been pronounced at first hoo-ee, which
had lapsed into Howie.
Den of Leggart. Den in which there was a milking-
140 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
fold. Dein, den, burn valley; leigidh, gen. of leigeadh,
milking; gart, enclosure, fold.
Den of Muick. Den where mist was seen. Dein, den;
miiiche, gen. of muich, mist.
Den of Pitlurg. Kavine of a place on the side of a hill.
Dein, den; pit, place; learg, hillside.
Den Well (for Baile Dein). Town in a den. Baile, farm-
town; dein, gen. of dein, den. Baile had been asp. and put
last and had lapsed into well. Bh is equivalent to w.
Denbrae. Brae above a den. Dein, den; brae, steep
slope.
Dencallie. Den of the hill. Den, gorge; choille, gen.
.asp. of coille, hill.
Denedoch. Den of the brae. Dein, den, ravine;
uchdaich, gen. of uchdach, breast of a hill.
Denhead. Den of the fold. Dein, den; chuid, gen. asp.
oi cuid, cattle-fold. Ch lost c, and huid had been pro-
nounced at first hoo-eed, afterwards heed, and now head.
As an English name Denhead means head of a den.
Denholm. Low-lying place in a den. Holm (English),
flat land by a river.
Denmore. Big den. Dein, den, burn valley; mor, big.
Denny Duff (for Dunan Dubh). Black little hill.
Dunan, dim. of dun, hill; dubh, black. An, the Gaelic
dim. termination, had been changed to y, the Scotch dim.
termination.
Dens. Little den. Deinan, little den. There is only
one den, and an is a diminutive termination. E in deinan
is like e in debt.
Densyburn (for Allt Suidhe Dein). Burn of a place at
a den. Allt, burn (translated); suidhe, place; dein, den,
burn valley. The parts of the name had been rearranged
when allt was translated.
Den ward. Enclosed place for cattle in a den.
Deochrie, Deochry, (for Dubh Choire). Black corry.
Dubh, black; choire, coire asp., corry.
Derahouse. Residence of the dera. Dera was the title
of the factor or land steward on the property belonging to a
religious house.
Derbeth. Birch grove. Doire, grove; beith, birch.
Derbyhall. Farm-house in a birch grove. Doire,
thicket, grove; beith, birch; hall, farm-house with a large
kitchen.
Derncleugh. This is an imported name. It may mean
healthful place in the shelter of a cliff. Dern in Irish
means health, and it might have been in old Gaelic with
the same meaning. Cleugh is a Scotch word meaning steep
bank, cliff.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 14*
Derran Howe. Howe of the little burn. Der, little ;
abhainn, burn.
Derry Burn. Burn bordered by a wood. In the early
part of its course the Derry burn is called the Etchachan
burn, and it is called the Derry on reaching the low ground
because it flows through a wood of fir-trees. It joins the
Luibeg, and thereafter the united stream is called the Lui
burn. Doirean, dim. of doire, wood. On the Ordnance
Survey map the Derry is called Derr by mistake.
Derry Cairngorm. Blue hill beside Glen Derry. Doire,
grove, wood; cam, hill; gorm, blue, if applied to a distant
hill. There is a fir-wood beside the Derry burn.
Derry Dam. Dam made on Derry burn in the early part
of last century for floating trunks of trees down the burn.
Derry Lodge. Summer residence for sportsmen on the
Derry burn. See Derry Burn.
Deskie. South fold. Deas, south, sunny; cuith (th
silent), fold.
Deskry. South corry. Deas, south, on the right bank
of a stream; coirc, corry.
Deskryshiel. Summer residence for sportsmen on the
Deskry burn. Seal (pronounced shal), summer residence.
Dess Burn. Burn on the south side of a hill. Deas,
south.
Deuchrie, Dhuchrie, Duchery, Duchrie. Black corry.
Dubh, black; choire, coire asp., corry. See Deochrie.
Deveron (for Dubh Bhran). Black stream. Dubh,
black; bhran, bran asp., stream.
Devil's Den, Devil's Folly, Devil's Point, Devil's
Stone, Devil's Study. Devil's in these names means super-
human, extraordinarily great. The Devil's Point is an in-
accessible promontory of Cairn Toul, above Glen Dee. The
Devil's Study is a rock in the sea resembling a great anvil.
Devana. This name is taken from Ptolemy's " Tables
of the latitudes and longitudes of places in Scotland." The
entry in which the name occurs when it is translated into
English is : — " And farther east the Texaloi and the town
Deouana." Neither the meaning of the name nor the
situation of the place is known. The " Tables " were com-
posed before the Eomans had explored Scotland north of
the Grampians, and the names for Aberdeenshire are
fictitious.
Dewsford. Ford at a fir-tree. Giuthais, gen. of
giuthas, fir-tree. Th is silent.
Deystone. David's town. Daidh, David. Or, Dairy-
woman's town. Deye (Middle English), dairywoman.
Dhustrath. Black burn valley. Dubh, black; srath,.
river valley, strath.
142 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Dicken's Well. Drinking well. Deochan, plural of
deoch, drink. An has been retained as en, and it has also
been translated into s. See Dockenwell.
Diery Hill. Steep hill. Dire, steepness.
Dilly Hill. Hill of the whortleberry. Bile, whortle-
berry— like the blaeberry but darker in colour.
Dillybrae. Brae where the whortleberry grows. Dile,
whortleberry.
Dinnet, Dunnot (1696). Fort near a stream. Dun,
hill, fort; net, stream.
Dinaty (1656). Fort near a small stream. Dun, fort;
netain, gen. of netan, dim. of net, stream.
Dipplebrae. Black pool brae. Dubh, black; poll, pool.
Disblair. South moor. Decs, south; blar, open moor.
Dish Pot. South pot. Deas, south.
Divot Hillock. Hillock where thin oval heathery sods
were cut to be used in covering the roofs of houses. Divot,
thin oval sod.
Dockenwell (for Tobar Deochan). Well of drinks.
Tobar, well; deochan, gen. plural of deoch, drink. Or (for
Baile Deochan). Place of drinks. Baile, town; deochan,
gen. plural of deoch, drink. Baile had been put last and
asp., bhaile (pronounced waile), afterwards becoming well.
See Deacons Well, and Dicken's Well.
Dockington (for Baile Deochan). Town of drinks, ale-
house. Baile, town (translated into ton and put last);
deochan, gen. plural of deoch, drink.
Dog Daughters. Dog may represent dubh, black, and
Daughters may represent dubh tirean, black little piece of
ground. Dubh, black; tirean, dim. of tir, land. Ean of
tirean should have become ie but it had been changed into s.
Dog Hillock, Doghillock, (for Dubh Chnoc). Black
hill. Dubh, black; chnoc, cnoc asp., hill. In passing into
Scotch n became I, producing chloc, and dubh chloc lapsed
into Dog Hillock.
Doire Braghad. Grove of the hill. Doire, grove;
bhraghad, gen. asp. of braigh, hill.
Dominie's Cairn. Cairn of stones collected to the spot
where the dead body of a schoolmaster was found after a
snowstorm in 1816. Dominie is for domine, the vocative of
the Latin dominus, master, used instead of Sir in addressing
the master of a school in which Latin was taught.
Don. Brown river. Donn, brown, colour of peat-moss
water. It flows through peat-mosses in the first part of its
course.
Donald's Stone. This may be the name of a memorial
to a man named Donald. If it is of Gaelic origin it may
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 143
represent Clach Dorm Allt, stone of the brown burn. Clach,
stone; donn, brown; allt, burn.
Donans, Donnons, (for Dunan). Small hillock. Dunan,
dim. of dun, heap, hill. An had been supposed to be a
plural termination and had been changed to s and added to
■dunan, instead of being substituted for an.
Doolie Bridge. Bridge at a dark pool. Doille, dark-
ness.
Doolie Burn. Dark burn. Doille, darkness.
Doolies, The. The dark little pool. Doillean, dim. of
doille, pool. An had been translated by s instead of ie.
Dorbshill. Hill of grass. Doirbh, gen. of dorbh, grass.
S had been inserted because doirbh is in the gen.
Dorlaithers. Castle of Laithers. Torr, steep hill. See
Laithers.
Dorlethen (for Torr Leathan). Broad hill. Torr, steep
hill; leathan, broad.
Dorsell (for Doire Seileich). Willow grove. Doire,
grove; seileich, gen. of seileach, willow, saugh.
Dorsincilly. Small gorge in which there was dropping
water. Dorsan, dim. of dorus, door, gap; silidh, gen. of
sileadh, dropping.
Doubledirks Howe (for Doubledikes Howe). Howe in
a road between two dykes.
Douglas Burn. Black stream burn. Dubh, black;
glaise, stream, small burn.
Douglas Slack. Howe of the black burn. Dubh, black;
glaise, stream; slide, gen. of sloe, howe.
Douglashead, Dougalhead (local). Cattle-fold of the
black stone. Dubh, black; gall, stone; chuid, cuid asp., fold.
■C in ch had been lost, and huid had become head.
Doulich Burn (for Allt Dubh Laimh). Burn of the
black hill. Allt, burn (translated); dubh, black; laimh,
gen. of lamh, hill.
Douls Burn. Boisterous burn. Do-ailly boisterous,
raging. S is an addition made in the belief that Doul was
a personal name.
Doun of Invernochty. Hill of Invernochty. This is
a place where the cattle of the district had been folded at
night in ancient times to protect them from Highland
thieves and to prevent them from damaging crops. There
was a wall round the level area on the top, and there are
indications of a hedge of elder trees outside the wall to
shelter the cattle. Dun, hill, fort. See Invernochty.
Doune. Hill. Dun, fort, hill, heap.
Douneside. Place beside a hill. Dun, hill.
Dour, The. The water. Dobhar, water, stream. Bh
is equivalent to u, v, or w.
144 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Dourie Well (for Tobar Dobhrain). Well of the small
stream. Tobar, well; dobhrain, gen. of dobhran, small
stream. Ain had normally become ie.
Dowiestone Cave (for Clach Dubh Cave). Cave of the
black stone. Clach, stone; dubh, black.
Dowmin. Black moor. Dubh, black; moine, moor,
moss.
Downiehill, Downiehills. Little hill. Dunan, dim.
of dun, hill. An normally became ie in passing into Scotch.
In Downiehills it had also been regarded as a plural ter-
mination, and s had been added to hill.
Downie's Hole (for Dunan Choille). Hill. Both parts
mean hill. Dunan, dim. of dun, hill; choille, coille asp.,
hill, added to Downie to explain it. By dropping c choille
became hoille, which had lapsed into Hole. Then 's had
been added to Downie in the belief that it was in the
possessive.
Downie's Howe. Howe of the little hill. Dunain, gen.
of dun, hill. Ain became ie.
Downingford. Ford at a little hill. Dunan, little hill.
Downings of Buchaam. Little hill of Buchaam,
Dunan, dim. of dun, hill. Dunan is also the plural of dun,
hill, and s had been added to dunan in the belief that it was
plural.
Drakemire, Drakesmyre. Bog frequented by wild
drakes. Drac, drake. After the breeding season wild
drakes lose their wing feathers and resort to large marshes,
where they remain till they are able to fly again.
Dried Burn. This may be the name of a burn which
is sometimes dry, or which runs for some distance below
moss or disappears among gravel. Dried might represent
draigh, sloe.
Drinnies. Thicket of blackthorn bushes. Droighnean
(gh silent), blackthorn thicket. Ean had been regarded at
one time as a dim. and at another as a plural termination,
and hence both ie and s had been affixed to drinn.
Droichs Burn. Fairies' burn. Droich, dwarf, fairy.
Drostan Leack. Drostan's stone. Drostan, Celtic
saint; leac, stone, flat smooth rock.
Drostan's Church. The church of Aberdour, dedicated
to St Drostan.
Droughty Crags (for Creagan Droiche). Crags of the
fairy. Creagan, plural of creag, crag; droiche, gen. of droich,
fairy.
Drove Boad. Cattle road. Before the introduction of
steamships and railways cattle reared in Aberdeenshire had
to be driven over the Grampians to southern markets. In
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 145
many places cattle roads were not used for any other pur-
pose, hence the name.
Druidsfield. Field of the Druids. The belief that
stone circles were Druidical temples began in the end of
the reign of Charles II. This was a mere guess by an
antiquary named Aubrey.
Druidstone. Part of an ancient sepulchral stone circle,
erroneously supposed to have been erected by Druids as a
place of worship. Late interments had been made within
the circle, at which gold and silver coins had been thrown
into graves.
Druim a' Chaochain Odhair. Ridge of the yellow burn.
Druim, ridge; a', of the; chaochain, gen. asp. of caochan,
streamlet; odhair, gen. of odhar, yellow.
Druim Bhuirich. Ridge of bellowing. Druim, ridge;
bhuirich, gen. asp. of buirich, rutting, roaring.
Druim Cholzie. Ridge of the hill. Druim, ridge;
choille, gen. asp. of coille, hill.
Druim na Cuaich. Hill on which there is a cup-shaped
hollow. Druim, ridge, hill; na, of the; cuaich, gen. of
cuach, cup.
Druim na Feithe. Hill of the moss. Druim, hill, ridge;
na, of the; feithe, gen. of feith, moss, moss burn, slow
stream from a marsh.
Druim Odhar. Dun ridge. Druim, ridge; odhar, dun,
reddish yellow.
Druim nan Saobhaidh. Ridge of the foxes' dens.
Druim, ridge; nan, of the; saobhaidh, gen. plural of saobh-
aidh, fox's den.
Drum, Drum Hill. Long hill. Druim, ridge.
Drum of Cartle. Ridge of the bend of the hill. Druim,
ridge; car, turn; tulaich, gen. of tulach, hill.
Drumallachie. Hill of the little river. Druim, hill
allachain, gen. of allachan, small river.
Drumallan. Hill of the water. Druim, long hill
allain, gen. of allan, water.
Drumanettie. Ridge of the little burn. Druim, ridge
a', of the; netain, gen. of netan, dim. of net, burn.
Drumargettie. Ridge of high wind. Druim, ridge; ard-
gliaoithe, gen. of ard-ghaoth, high wind.
Drumbarton Hill. Hill of the small enclosure. Druim,
ridge, hill; bardain, gen. of bardan, dim. of bard, fort, en-
closure.
Drumblade. Milking hill. Druim, hill, ridge; bleodhann,
milking.
Drumblair. Hill of the open moor. Druim, ridge, long
hill ; blair, gen. of blar, open moor.
K
146 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Drumbulg. Hill of the small fold. Druim, hill; builcag,
dim. of buaile, fold.
Drumdaig. Hill of fires. Druim, hill; daigh, gen.
plural of daigh, fire.
Drumdelgie. Hill of the thorn, thorny hill. Druim,
ridge, hill; deilge, gen. of dealg, thorn.
Drumdollo (for Druim Doille). Dark hill. Druim,
ridge; doille, darkness.
Drumduan, Drumdhuan. Hill of the black water.
Druim, ridge, long hill; dubh, black; abhann, gen. of
abhoinn, water, river.
Drumdurno. Stony hill ridge. Druim, ridge of a long
hill; dornach, stony.
Drumel Stone. Stone on the ridge of a hill. Druim,
ridge; aill, hill.
Drumelrick (for Druim Kuigh Aill). The original form of
the name had been Euigh Aill. Slope of the hill. Rxngh,
slope; aill, hill. To this had afterwards been prefixed druim,
ridge, and at the same time Ruigh and Aill had been trans-
posed for the sake of euphony.
Drumend. Small hill. Druman, dim. of druim, ridge
of a hill.
Drumfergue. Stormy hill. Druim, ridge, hill; fergach,
stormy.
Drumpinnie. Ridge of a little hill. Druim, ridge;
finain, gen. of finan, dim. of fin, hill.
Drumfold. Hill fold. Druim, hill, ridge of a long hill.
Drumfork (for Druim Chore). Hill of oats. Druim, hill;
chore, gen. plural asp. of core, oats. Ch had become ph,
which is equivalent to /. If there is a gap in the sky-line of
the ridge Fork represents fore, gap, fork.
Drumfottie. Hill of the marsh. Druim, hill, ridge;
fotliaich, gen. of fothach, marsh, lake.
Drumfours. Hill of springs. Druim, hill; fuaran, gen.
plural of fuaran, spring. An had been translated into s.
Drumgarth. Hill of the enclosure. Druim, hill; garth,
enclosure.
Drumgoudrum (for Druim Chuith). Hill of the cattle-
fold. Druim, hill, ridge; chuith. gen. asp. of cuith, cattle-
fold. C had become g, as in Lesmahagow and Glasgow, and
ith had become silent and had been lost. After the meaning
of Druim Chuith, corrupted to Drum Gou, had been lost,
druim had been added to explain it.
Drumgowan. Hill of the cattle-fold. Druim, ridge;
gabhainn, gen. of gabhann, cattle-fold.
Drumhead (for Ceann Droma). Head of the hill. Ceann,
head (translated and put last); droma, gen. of druim, hill,
ridge.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 147
Drumhead (for Druim Chuid). Hill of the cattle-fold.
Druim, long hill; chuid, gen. asp. of cuid, cattle-fold. C
had been lost because it is not heard in pronouncing ch.
Huid had been pronounced heed at first.
Drumlasie. Eidge of the little blaze. Druim, hill,
ridge; lasain, gen. of lasan, little flame, bonfire.
Drumligair. Hill with a rough side. Druim, ridge,
hill; leith, gen. of leth, side; gairbh, gen. of garbh, rough.
Drummargettie. Eidge of the high wind. Druim, ridge ;
na, of the; ard-ghaoithe, gen. of ard-ghaoth, high wind.
Drumminor. Eidge of the moor of the shieling. Druim,
ridge; moine, moor; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling.
Drummy, Drummies, Drimmies. Little hill. Droman,
dim. of druim, ridge. In Drummy an had been made y.
In Drummies and Drimmies an had been made both ie
and s.
Drumnafunner (for Druim na Fin Airidhe). Eidge of the
hill of the shieling. Druim, hill; na, of the; fin, hill; airidhe,
gen. of airidh, shieling.
Drumnagarrow. Hill of the enclosed place. Druim,
hill; a', of the; garraidh, gen. of garradh, enclosure, garden.
Drumnagesk, Drumgesk. Eidge of the fir-wood. Druim,
ridge, hill; na, of the; giuthsaich, gen. of giuthsach, fir-wood.
In giuthsaich th and some vowels have been lost.
Drumnaheath. Hill of the fold. Druim, hill; na, of the ;
■chuith, gen. asp. of cuith, cattle-fold. C had been lost
after aspiration.
Drumnahive. Hill of the cattle-fold. Druim, hill; na,
of the; chuith, gen. asp. of cuith, fold. In chuith, c had
been silent and had been lost. Th had been turned into bh,
which is equivalent to u, v, or w.
Drumnahoy. Hill of the cattle-fold. Druim, long hill;
na, of the; chuith, gen. asp. of cuith, cattle-fold. In chuith
neither c nor th is sounded and they had been lost, leaving
hui, which had become hoy.
Drumneachie (for Drumneachan). Hill of ghosts.
Druim, hill; neachan, gen. plural of neach, ghost.
Drumoak. Hill of the oak.. Druim, hill ridge. This is
believed to be a comparatively modern form of an older
name — Dalmayok. Field of the howe. Dail, field near a
river; na, of the; iochd, howe, hollow near a stream.
Drumore. Big hill. Druim, hill; mor, big.
Drumquhill Burn (for Allt Druim Choill). Burn of the
ridge of the hill. Allt, burn (translated and transposed);
druim, ridge; choill, gen. asp. of coill, hill.
Drumriach. Grey hill. Druim, ridge; riabhach, grey.
Drumrossie. Bed hill. Druim, hill; rosach, red,
abounding: in roses.
148 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Drums. Hills. Dromannan, plural of druim, hill, long
ridge. The plural termination an is sometimes doubled.
Drums. Small hill. Droman, dim. of druim, hill. An
had been made s instead of ie.
Drum's Cairn. Cairn marking the spot where the Laird
of Drum fell at the battle of Harlaw, 1411.
Drumside. Hillside. Druim, ridge, hill.
Drumsinnie. Hill extending in length. Druim, hill;
sinidh, gen of sineadh, extending.
Drumstone. Stone where the Laird of Drum halted with
his army on his way to oppose Donald of the Isles in 1411.
There is now an inscription on the stone.
Drumtochty. High hill. Druim, ridge, hill; toghte,
raised up, high. This name had been imported from Kin-
cardineshire into Aberdeenshire.
Drumtootie. North hill. Druim, long hill; tuathach,
northern.
Drum wheels Burn (for Allt Cuilean Druim). Burn of
the little nook of the ridge. Allt, burn (translated and put
last); cuilean, dim. of cuil, nook; druim, for droma, gen. of
druim, ridge, hill. Ean had been turned into s instead of ie.
Drumwhindle. This name consists of three parts all
meaning hill. Druim, long hill; fin, hill; aill, hill.
Dry Ford. Ford in a burn dry in summer.
Drybrae, Dryburn, Dry Slack, Drystripe. Places at
which blackthorns grew. Draigh, gen. plural of draigh,
blackthorn. Draigh is pronounced dri.
Dryden's Cots (for Cuitan Dein Tiorma). Small fold in
a den of dryness. Cuitan, dim. of cuit, cattle-fold; dein,
den; tiorma, dryness. An of cuitan had become s instead of
ie. When dein tiorma was translated into English it had
been put first, as being the qualifying part. After becoming
dryden it had been thought to be a noun in the possessive,
and 's had been added to it.
Drymill. Mill from which water has been cut off.
Drymuir. Though this moor is dry the name can hardly
be said to be distinctive. It might represent Draigh Moor,
moor of thorntrees. Draigh, gen. plural of draigh, thorntree.
Dual Burn. Black hill burn. Dubh, black; aill, hill.
Dub Pot. Black pot. Dubh, black; poit, pot.
Dubbieford (for Dubh Ath). Black ford. Dubh, black;
ath, ford (translated).
Dubbystyle (for Dubh Steall). Black rush of water.
Dubh, black; steall, gushing spring, stream.
Dubford. Black ford. Dubh, black, mossy.
Dubh Alltan Beag. Black little burn. Dubh, black;
alltan, little burn; beag, little.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 149
Dubh Breac Hill. Black spotted hill. Dubh, black;
breac, spotted, dappled.
Dubh Chlais. Black gorge. Dubh, black; chlais, dais
asp., trench, gorge, ditch.
Dubh Choire. Black corry. Dubh, black; choire, coire
asp., corry. Same as Duchrie.
Dubh Ghleann. Black glen. Dubh, black; ghleann,
gleann asp., glen.
Dubh Loch. Black loch. Dubh, black; loch, loch.
Dubh Lochain. Black little lochs. Dubh, black;
lochain, plural of lochan, little loch.
Dubh Lochan. Black little loch. Dubh, black; lochan,
small loch.
Dubrach. Black hill. Dubh, black; braigh, hill.
Dubs (for Dubhan). Little black place. An had been
made s instead of ie.
Dubston, Dubstone, (for Baile Dubh). Black town.
Dubh, black; baile, town.
Duchery, Duchrie. Same as Dubh Choire; which see.
Ducklepool (for Poll Dubh Choill). Pool of the black
hill. Poll, pool; dubh, black; choill, coill asp., hill.
Dud wick. Black nook. Dubh, black; uig, nook, retired
hollow.
Duelties (for Dubh Alltan). Black little burn. Dubh,
black; alltan, small burn. An being a dim. termination
had been changed to ie, and s had afterwards been added
in the belief that it was plural.
Duff Defiance. This place was so named because a
family named Thain built there a hut in a night in defiance
of Duff, Earl of Fife.
Duiveoir Burn (for Allt Dhuibh Mheoir). Burn of the
black branch. Allt, burn (translated); dhuibh, gen. of dubh,
black; mheoir, gen. asp. of meoir, finger, branch. Dhuibh
mheoir is pronounced like duiveoir.
Duke's Chair. Rock resembling a chair, named after
the Duke of Gordon.
Duke's Pot. Black pool. Dubh, black; poit, pool.
Dukeston (for Baile Dubh). Black town. Baile, town;
dubh, black. Baile had been transposed and translated, and
dubh had become duke with s added to make it possessive.
Dukewell (for Dubh Bhaile). Black town. Dubh,
black; bhaile, baile asp., town. Bh is equivalent to u, v,
•or w, and bhaile is frequently changed to well.
Dulax (locally The Dulax). Two corries. Da, two;
lag, hollow, corry. Da, being a dual word, takes a noun in
the singular, but in post-Gaelic times s had been added to
dalag to make it plural. Afterwards gs had lapsed into x.
150 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Dulcerstone (for Dall Sear Clach). Black stone. Dall,.
black; sear (Irish), dark; clach, stone.
Dulridge (for Doille Buigh). Black hill slope. Doille,
darkness, blackness; ruigh, hill slope.
Dumbmill. Hill. Dun, hill; meall, hill. Both parts
mean the same thing.
Dumbraik, Dumbreck. Spotted hill. Dun, hill; hreac,
spotted.
Dumeath. Hill of the cattle-fold. Dun, hill; chuith,
cuith asp., cattle-fold. Ch had become silent and had been
lost.
Dummies Howe. Howe in which lived a family, some
of whom were deaf and dumb.
Dummuies (for Dun Chuithain). Hill of the small fold.
Dun, hill; chuithain, gen. asp. of cuith an, dim. of cuith,
cattle-fold. Dun had become Dum ; ch and th had become
silent and had been left out; ain had been made ie as a dim.
termination and s as a plural. This produced Dum Uiies,
which had combined and made Dummuies.
Dumpston. The original form had been Baile Dunain.
Town on a small hill. Baile, town; dunain, gen. of dunan,
dim. of dun, hill. Baile had been translated and put last
to get the accented part first in the English way. Dun had
become dum, ain had become s by mistake instead of ie, and
p had been inserted for euphony.
Dun Mount. Both parts of the name mean hill. Dun,
hill, fort, heap; monadh, mount, mountain, moor.
Dun Muir. Moor on a hill. Dun, hill, fort surrounded
by a ditch; muir (Scotch), moor.
Dun na Chiaich. Hill of the pap. Dun, hill; na, of the;
chioch, gen. asp. of ciocli, pap. The normal gen. of cioch
is ciche.
Dun na Cluaich. Hill of the battle. Dun, hill; na, of
the; cluiche, gen. of cluich, battle, sport.
Dunandhu, East and West. Black little hill. Dunan,
little hill; dubh, black.
Dunanfiew (for Dunan Chuith). Hillock of the fold.
Dunan, hillock; chuith, gen. asp. of cuith, cattle-fold. Ch
had become ph, equivalent to /; and th had become silent
and had been lost.
Dunbennan. Small hill. Dun, hill; beannan, dim. of
beann, hill. Dun had been prefixed to bennan to explain it
after its meaning had been lost.
Dunbuy. Yellow rock. Dun, hill; buidhe, yellow. Dhe
had become silent. The rock is a resort of sea-birds, whose
dung colours the rock.
Duncan Gray's Burn. Cattle-fold burn. Chuithail,
cuithail asp., fold, corrupted into Whitehill, which had been
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 151
retranslated into Gaelic by dun, hill, and can, white. Gray
is a corruption of creag, hill, which had been added to explain
dun. _ _
Duncan's Cairns, Duncan's Forest, Duncanston, Dun-
canstown. Duncans had originally been chuithail, cuithail
asp., fold. It had been corrupted into Whitehall and turned
back into Gaelic by Duncan (dun, hill; can, white).
Dundarg. Bed castle. Dun, fort, castle; dearg, red.
Dundarg Castle is built of old red sandstone.
Dundee, Little. Name given by Sir Charles Forbes to
commemorate Viscount Dundee, who passed through Aber-
deenshire in 1689.
Dundonnie. Brown hill. Dun, fort, hill; duinne, brown-
ness.
Dunecht. The fortified hill of Echt. Dun, fort, hill;
see Echt. The cattle-fold called The Barmekin was sup-
posed to be an ancient hill-fort.
Dunfeal. Hill of cattle. Dun, hill; feadail, cattle.
The d of feadail had assumed its aspirated sound and had
then been lost. ,
Dunnideer, Dunnydeer, Donidor (1195). Little hill ot
the fort. Dunan, little hill; a', of the; dur (Irish), strong
place. The strong place was the quadrangle with vitrified
walls, which had been a cattle-fold. Deer in names usually
represents doire, cluster of trees. Dor in Donidor might
represent torr, steep little hill, flat on the top.
Dunnideer Castle. Castle erected to protect the cattle-
fold of Dunnideer. It is mentioned in a charter before 1195.
See " Chartulary of the Abbey of Lindores," p. 152. The
ridiculous name Gregory's Wall is given to the castle on
the O.S. map. . .
Dunriggs, Burn of (for ALU Dun Buighem). Burn of
the hill slope. Allt, burn (translated); dun, hill; ruighein,
gen. of ruighean, dim. of ruigh, slope at the bottom of a hill.
Dunscroft. Croft on a small hill. Dunan, small hill.
An had been made s instead of ie.
Dunsdykes. Probably dykes round ancient seat of
justice. Dan, judgment.
Dunshillock. Dunan, dim of dun, hill. An, the dim.
termination, had been made s in a mistake. The second
part of the name is a translation of the first.
Duns well (for Baile Dunain). Town on a small hill.
Baile, town; dunain, gen. of dunan, small hill. When the
exact meaning of the name had been lost dunain had gone
into the nom. form dunan, and baile having been supposed
to qualifv it had been put last and asp. to show that was
a qualifying word. Then bhaile had in process of time be-
come well, bh being equivalent to w.
152 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Durie. Small stream. Dobhran (bh sounded ou), small
stream. An had normally become ie.
Durno. Stony place. Durnach, abounding in stones of
the size of the fist.
Dyce. South. Deas, south, sunny, right side of a stream
going down.
Dykehead, Dikehead. Dyke of a cattle-fold. Chuid,
gen. asp. of cuid, tub, cattle-fold. C in chuid is not sounded
and had been omitted, leaving huid, pronounced hu-eed,
which had lapsed into heed and head.
Dysart Bank (for Disert Chuit). Deserted fold. Disert
(Irish), deserted; chuit, cuit asp., fold, corrupted into white
and retranslated into Gaelic by ban, to which h had been
added for euphony.
Eag, The. The nick, notch, or gap in a mountain ridge.
Through it passed a drove road from Corgarff to Glen Avon.
Eag Dhubh. Black nick. Eag, nick, gap; dhubh, fern,
of dubh, black.
Eagle Plantation. Small wood on a brae. See Edge-
hill.
Eagles' Eock. Eock on which eagles sat that they
might be able to take flight. The wings of the Golden Eagle
are seven feet from tip to tip when expanded, and it cannot
rise from level ground.
Ealaiche Burn. Burn of abundance of swans.
Ealaiche, abundance of swans.
Ear Choire Sneachdach. East snowy corry. Ear, east ;
choire, coire asp., corry; sneachdach, snowy.
Earl of Mar's Eee. Camp of the Earl of Mar near
Harlaw in 1411. Rath, circle, fortified enclosure. Rath
became rabh (pronounced rav), and this became rieve, which
had lapsed into ree.
Earl's Hill. A mound at Ellon at which in feudal
times the Earls of Buchan were invested in the lands of
the earldom.
Earl's Seat, Earlseat, (for Suidhe Airidhe). Site of a
shiel. Suidhe, site; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shiel. The parts
of the name had been transposed after suidhe had been
translated.
Earlsfield. Field where there had anciently been a
shieling. Airidh, shieling, summer hill pasture.
Earlsford. Ford of the shieling. Airidhe, gen. of
airidh, shieling.
Early. East side. Ear, east; leth (th silent), side.
Early Brae. East side of a hill. Ear, east; leth, side;
braigh, for braghad, gen. of braigh, hill.
Earnhill. Watch hill. Airne (Irish), watching at night.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 153
Earth House. Underground chamber on a shieling.
See Introduction.
Earthworks at Logie Newton. Parts of the earthworks
still remaining indicate that an enclosure 800 yards in length
and 500 in breadth had been made for farm animals on a
high ground within a curve of the Ythan. It had contained
an area of about 80 acres.
Eas Allt a' Chlair. Burn of the burn of the level place.
Eas, burn, waterfall; allt, burn; a', of the; chlair, gen. asp.
of clar, level. Eas had been prefixed to the last part after
its meaning had been lost.
Easaiche Burn. Burn of abundance of cascades.
Easaiche, abundance of cascades.
Easg na Sliaseig (for Eas na Slioseig). Burn of the
slope of the hill. Eas, burn; na, of the; slioseig, gen. of
slioscag, gentle slope of a hill.
Easgach. Abounding in marshes. The name is not
appropriate and ought to be Easach, abounding in burns.
The place called Easgach is a mountain nearly surrounded
by burns.
Easter Kirn. East ridge. Cirean, crest, ridge. The
names Easter Kirn and Wester Kirn have been ascribed to
burns, instead of to ridges separating burns.
Ebbing Stone, Ebbing Stones. These are rocks near
Collieston and Port Erroll. Apparently they are seen only
when the tide has become low.
Ebrie Burn. Muddy burn. Eabarach, dirty, miry.
The water of the Ebrie is dark coloured.
Echt, Eych (1220), Hachtis (1220), Hyth (1226).
Cattle-fold. Chuith, cuith asp., cattle-fold. C is not
audible in ch and hence it is sometimes left out. The
English names Hyth and Hythe are of the same origin as
the Scotch Hythie, and hyth in Bedhyth, and yth in Rosyth.
These and many other names show that anciently the same
language was in use in Scotland and England.
Edderlick (for Eadar Da Leac). Between two stone
circles. Eadar, between; da, two; leac, stone, sepulchral
slab. Da takes a noun in the singular number.
Eddieston. Edward's town. Or, Town on a brae.
Aodann, brae, with ann made both ie and s.
Eddle. See Edgehill.
Eden. Steep brae on the east side of the river Deveron.
Aodann, face, brow, brae.
Edendiack. Good brae. Aodann, brae of a hill; deagh,
good.
Edgar's Grave (for Aod Garbh). Rough brae. Aod (o
silent), brae; garbh, rough. Grave is a repetition of Garbh.
Edgehill, Eddle, Eagle, Adziel. Fold. Originally the
154 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
name had been chuithail, cuithail asp., fold, corrupted into
Whitehill, which had been translated into Gaelic by Aodgeal
(aod, hill face ; geal, white). Aodgeal (o silent) had been
corrupted into Edgehill, Eddie, etc.
Edinbanchory (for Coire Chuitail). Corry of the fold.
Coire, corry; chuitail, cuitail asp., fold. Chuitail had been
corrupted into Whitehill, which had afterwards been turned
into Gaelic by Aodann Ban (aodann, brae, hill; ban, white).
Coire had then been transposed to the end and had been
aspirated.
Edindurno. Stony brae. Aodann, brae; dornach, stony.
Edingarioch. Hough hill face. Aodann, face, brow of
a hill; garbh, rough.
Edinglassie. Brae of ley land. Aodann, brae; glasaich,
gen. of glasach, ley land.
Ednib. Brae. Aodann, brae, face of a hill. A and nn
had been transposed.
Eelash Pool (for Poll Aolaise). Pool of slowness. Poll,
pool; aolaise, gen. of aolais, slowness.
Een (for Fhin). Hill. Fhin, fin asp., hill. Fh, being
silent, had been omitted.
Effedies (for Achadh Chuidain). Place of the small
cattle-fold. Achadh, place; chuidain, gen. asp. of cuidanr
dim. of cuid, fold. Ch of achadh and chuidain became fj ; adh
of achadh was lost ; ain of chuidain became ie and afterwards
s, which was added to ie. Effedies is not now a place of
residence.
Eggie Burn. Dying burn. Aogachaidh, gen. of
aogachadh, dying, withering, fading. The burn sinks when
it reaches the sand on the shore. The asp. letters with the
intermediate vowels had become silent and had been lost.
Egypt. The exact meaning of this word has not been
discovered. Probably egy represents aod (o silent), brae.
Egyptian Pot. The origin of the name is not known.
Perhaps a criminal gipsy had been drowned in it.
Einach. Junction of two streams. Aonachd, meeting,
union. Einach is at the junction of the Burn of Coire
Meacan with the Tanner burn.
Elf House. Place where fairies were supposed to enter
the ground to go to subterranean abodes. Elf (English),
fairy.
Elfin Hillock, Elphin Hillock, Elphinhillock. All
the parts of these names mean hill. The original form of the
name had been fin, hill. To this had after a time been added
aill, hill. When the English word Hillock was added the
other two parts of the name had been transposed, producing
Aill Fin, now Elfin. The name Elfin is older than the belief
in fairies.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 155
Ellanduan. Green plain of the black water. Ailean,
green plain; dubh, black; abhann, gen. of abhainn, water.
Ellen Skellyis. Island rocks. Eilean, island;
sgeilgan, plural of sgeilg (Irish), rock. An of sgeilgan had
been made both yi (for ie) and s.
Ellenburn, Ellen's Burn. Burn of the green plain.
Ailean, green, meadow. Final s in Ellen's arose from
assuming that ailean was a noun in the possessive.
Ellengowan (for Ailean Gabhainn). Level green at a
cattle-fold. Ailean, green plain; gabhainn, gen. of gabhann,
cattle-fold. This name is imported from " Guy Mannering,"
by Scott.
Ellie. Small burn. Allan, dim. of all, burn.
Elliewell. Source of a small stream. Allan, dim. of
al, stream. A had become e, and an had been changed to ie.
Ellishill. Alehouse hill.
Ellismoss. Moss in a level plain. Ailein, gen. of
ailean, plain. An had in error been changed to s.
Ellon. Islands. Eilean, plural of eilean, island. There
are several islands in the river Ythan above the bridge at
Ellon.
Elphillock. See Elfin Hillock.
Elrick, Elrig, Alrig, (for Kuigh Aill). Slope of a rocky
hill. Ruigh, slope near the base of a hill, the highest cul-
tivated ground on a hillside ; aill, rock. Rocky places are
sometimes called Elrick, though there is little slope at them.
The accent on the first syllable shows that the parts of the
name had been transposed.
Elry Knowe (for Cnap Ruigh Aill). Knoll of the slope
of the rocky hill. Cnap, knoll; ruigh, hill slope; aill, rock.
The parts of the name had been transposed when Cnap was
translated.
Elspet's Cairn. Fairy cairn. Aillse, fairy; cam,
cairn. Urns, celts, arrow-heads, and a stone cist were found
on the site of the cairn.
Emmerty Burn. Ant burn. Emmertine (Scotch), ant.
The English word emmet, ant, had probably contained r
originally for it is seen in pismire, the latter part of which
means ant. The Greek word for ant, murmex, also con-
tains r.
Endovie. Black heath. Aonach, heath; dubh, black.
Ennach Cairn. Boundary cairn. Aonach, meeting;
earn, a pile of stones. It is on the boundary line between
Aberdeen and Inverness.
Ennet Hillocks. Hilly places. Aonach, hilly. Ch had
become th and h had afterwards been dropped. Both parts
of the name refer to a hill.
Ennets. Places. Ionadan, plural of ionad, place. The
156 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
name might refer to places at a cattle-fold, a church, a pro-
prietor's residence, a barony court, or a mill. Ennets might
also represent ionadan, dim. of ionad, place, and mean small
place.
Ennochie. Junction of two rivers. Aonachadh, union.
Enzean. Hill. Innean, rock, hill.
Erd House. Earth house, Pict's house. Erd is a
fanciful name given to an underground house which had been
•occupied by women in charge of cows at pasture among hills.
From stone axes, ladles, whorls, and cup-marked stones
found in or near them, earth houses seem to have been
made in the Stone Age. They had been given up when
single holdings took the place of large joint farms. A coin
of the Eoman emperor Nerva was found in one in Strathdon.
Ernan Water. Burn on whose banks sloes grow. Allt,
burn (translated); airnean, gen. plural of airne, sloe, black-
thorn.
Ern's Criv. Place enclosed by wattles, where sheep
were watched at night. Airne, watching at night; cruive,
same as cro, sheep-fold made with wattles.
Erroll. The name of a Scotch earldom. This name
had been imported from Perthshire.
Esset. Burn of the brae. Eas, burn; end, brae.
Essie. Small stream. Easan, dim. of eas, burn, water-
fall. An had become ie. The personal name Esson had
been first given to persons resident at a place near a burn.
EssiEniLLOCK. Hillock from which the Gough burn
flows. Easan, small burn.
Esslemont (for Monadh Iseil). Hill beside a hollow.
Monadh, hill, moor; iseil, gen. of iseal, howe. The Hill of
Esslemont is 100 feet above the valley of the Bronie burn
at its base.
Etchachan, Etichan. Little boisterous burn. Eitigh,
boisterous; an, dim. termination. Ei sounds a. The
Etchachan burn issues from Loch Etchachan, near the
summit of Ben Macdhui, and after descending a steep brae
it becomes the Derry burn.
Etnach, Etnich, Ettnach, (for Aitionnach). Place
abounding in juniper bushes. Aitionn, juniper; ach, place
■of. Etnach or etnich is the Scotch name for juniper.
Etry, Slack of. Hollow of the brae on the side of a hill.
End, brae; ruigh, slope at the base of a hill. End is the
primitive of eudann, face, brae.
Ettenbreck. Spotted little place. Aitean, dim. of arte,
place; breac, dappled.
Everton (for Overton). Upper town.
Evron Hill. Hill on which the cloudberry (Rubus cha-
maemorus) grows. In Scotch it is called aivron.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 157
Ewebrae (for Braigh Chuith). Hill of the cattle-fold.
Braigh, hill; chuith, gen. asp. of cuith, fold. Ch had
become silent and had been lost.
Ewen's Croft. Croft at a small fold. Chuithan,
cuithan asp., small fold. Ch and th had been lost, leaving
Ilian, now become Ewen.
Ey. Stream name. Abh, water, cognate with Latin
aqua, water.
Eye of Gullburn (for Allt Coill Chuith). Hill burn
passing a fold. Allt, burn; coill, hill; chuith, gen. asp. of
cuith, fold. The accent on Eye and the loss of radical con-
sonants by aspiration indicate that the word which it repre-
sents had originally been last. When allt was translated
and put last the other parts of the name had been re-
arranged. Coill had become gull, and chuith had lost its
aspirated consonants.
Eye of Poiten (for Poitean Chuith). Small pot at a
fold. Poitean, dim. of poit, pot, deep hole connected with
the sea by a tunnel; chuith, gen. asp. of cuith, fold. See
Eye of Gullburn.
Eye Stone (for Clach Chuith). Cattle-fold stone. Clach,
stone (translated); chuith, gen. asp. of cuith, cattle-fold.
The consonants of chuith, being aspirated, had been lost.
Factor's Skur (for Sgor Torr Eaicinn). Rock of the hill
of watching. Sgor, rock; torr, steep abrupt hill; faicinn,
gen. of faicinn, pres. part, of faic, to watch, see.
Fae Quoich. Burn from a cup-shaped hollow. Feith,
slow-running burn, bog burn; cuaiche, gen. of cuach, cup,
hollow.
Faemewell (for Baile na Feith). Town on a moss burn,
Baile, town; na, of the; feith, moss burn. In post-Gaelic
time the parts of the name had been transposed, and it had
become Feith am Bhaile. Bhaile is pronounced waile, which
had become well. Th is silent.
Faenicreigh. Burn of the boundary. Feith, slow-
running burn; na, of the; criche, gen. of crioch, boundary.
Faddan Hill (for Coill Chuidain). Hill of the fold.
Coill, hill; chuidain, gen. asp. of cuidan, small fold. Asp.
c had become /.
Fadliedyke. Dyke of a cattle-fold. Dig, dyke; chuidailr
gen. asp. of cuidail, cattle-fold. Ch had become ph, equi-
valent to /; and ai and I had been transposed.
Fafernie (for Fath Chairneach). Green place among"
hills. Fath, green place; chairneach, belonging to hills. C
had been asp. after th of fath, and subsequently asp. c had
been changed to asp. p, which is equivalent to /.
158 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Faich Hill, Faichla, (for Lamh Faicille). Hill of a
guard. Lamh, hill; faicille, gen. of faicill, guard, watch.
Faichfields, Faichfolds. Enclosed field. Faichean,
dim. of faich, field; fold, pumphal, enclosed field of small
size. Final s represents ean, which had erroneously been
regarded as a plural termination.
Fairlea, Fairley. Grassy land on a hill. Faire, hill;
lea or ley, grassy land.
Fairney Hill. Hill where the alder-tree grows. Fear-
nach, growing alders.
Fairy Hillock, Fairyhillock. Hillock where fairies
were supposed to have entrances to underground abodes.
The knolls at which barony courts were held were frequently
called fairy hillocks.
Fallamuck Burn. Burn of the fold of the pig. Fal,
fold; a', of the; muic, gen. of rnuc, pig.
Fallow Hill. Hill of the fold. Fala, gen. of fal, fold,
circle. The normal gen. of fal is fail.
Farburn. Burn of the land. Far, cultivated land.
Farburntland. This name is the same as Farburn with
the addition of land to explain far. T is a euphonic
insertion.
Fare. Hill. Fair, hill, ridge.
Farewell (for Baile Faire). Town of the hill. Baile,
town; faire, gen. of fair, hill. By transposition and aspira-
tion of baile the name became Fair Bhaile. Bhaile is pro-
nounced waile and had lapsed into well.
Farquhar's Croft (for Croit Far Chor). Croft of land
on a hill. Croit, croft; far, land; chor, gen. asp. of cor,
round hill.
Fasheilach. Place of willows. Fath (th silent), place;
seileach, gen. plural of seileach, willow.
Fasnadarach. Uncultivated land growing oaks. Fas,
waste land; nan, of the; darach, gen. plural of darach,
oak-tree.
Fathie. Little green place. Fath an, dim. of fath,
green place.
Fatson's Loch. Loch said to have been named after a
man called Fatson or Whatson. Fatson might be a corrup-
tion of chuit sean for sean chuit, old fold (sean, old; chuit,
cuit asp., fold). Sean made son and chuit made fat would
have been transposed and made Fatson.
Fauld. Fold for cattle or sheep. Fauld is sometimes a
small enclosed field under cultivation.
Fawn Pot. This name might mean pot where there is
a gentle slope of the sea shore. Fan, gentle slope.
Fawells. Town in a plain. Baile, town; fatha, gen. of
fath, green plain. The parts of the name had been trans-
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 159
posed, and baile had been asp. and corrupted into well,
which had become wells.
Feardar Burn. Burn of the hill of oaks. Fair, hill ;
dair, gen. plural of dair, oak-tree.
Fechel, Fechil, Fichlie. Watching place. Faicill,
watch, guard.
Fedderate, Fedderat, Fedreth (for Airidh Chuid Rath).
Shieling of the fold. Airidh, pasture ground; chuid, gen. asp.
of add, fold; rath, circle, fold. Ch had become / and the
meaning of fuid having been lost rath had been added to
explain it, and the parts of the name had been rearranged.
Feindallacher, Findallacher. Hill of the field of
summer pasture. Fin or feun, hill; dalach, gen. of dail,
riverside field; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling, hill pasture,
level ground among hills.
Feith an Laoigh. Calf's burn. Feith, small rivulet
draining a bog; an, of the; laoigh, gen. of laogh, calf.
Feith Bhait. Moss of the boat used in crossing the
Don. Feith, moss, moss burn; bhait, gen. asp. of bat, boat.
Feith Mhor Bhan. Big clear moss burn. Feith, moor
burn; mhor, big; bhan, clear, white.
Feith Seileach. Bog of the willows. Feith, bog, moss
burn; seileach, gen. plural of seileach, willow.
Feith Well. Well of the moss. Feith, moss. The
well is a sulphurous spring.
Felagie. Place where there are berries of the wild rose.
Faileagan, berries or hips of wild roses.
Felasgie. Fold in a wet place. Fail, fold; easgach,
watery, full of marshes.
Fenzie Burn. Burn of the fank. Faing, gen. of fang,
fank. After g final a sound of y is also heard.
Fergach. Place at a rushing burn. Fergach, im-
petuous.
Ferintosh. Land of the chief. Far, land; an, of the;
toisich, gen. of toiseach, chief.
Ferneybrae. Brae where ferns grew.
Ferneystrype. Small burn near which alders grew.
Fearna, alder.
Fernyhowe. Hollow where alders grew. Fearna, alder.
Fernieslack. Howe in which ferns grew. Slochd,
slack, howe.
Ferrar (for Fair Airidhe). Ridge of the shieling. Fair,
hill ridge; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling, hill pasture.
Ferretfold. Grassy field. Feurach (pronounced fer-
rach), grassy; fold, enclosed field.
Ferrowie. Pasture ground. Feurach, grazing, grassy.
Ferryhill. Hill near Wellington Bridge, where there
was a ferry over the Dee.
160 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Fervey. Ridge of the cattle-fold. Fair, ridge; chuith,
gen. asp. of cuith, cattle-fold. Ch had become bh, equi-
valent to v ; and th had become silent and had been lost.
This left fair vui, which had lapsed into Fervey.
Fetach. Full of bogs. Feithach, marshy, boggy.
Fetterangus (for Fo-thir Aonaich). Land in front of a
hill. Fo, under; thir, tir asp., land; aonaich, gen. of
aonach, hill.
Fetterletter (for Fo-thir Leitire). Land in front of a
hill side. Fo, under; thir, tir asp., laud; leitire, gen. of
leitir, side of a hill.
Fetternear (for Fo-thir na Airidhe). Land in front of
the shieling hill. Fo, under; thir, tir asp., land; na, of the;
airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling.
Feugh. Burn with wooded banks. Fiodh (pronounced
feugh), wood.
Fiaclach. Having pointed projections on the sky-line.
Fiaclach, toothed.
Fiatach is a mis-spelling for Fiaclach.
Fichlie Hill (for Tulach Faicille). Hill of watching.
Txdach, hill; faicille, gen. of faicill, watch, guard.
Fichlie Peel. A peel was a fold made by planting
trunks of trees upright in the ground. Peall, skin, hide, mat.
To protect the cattle in a fold from inclement weather mats
and skins of cattle and sheep were attached to the outside
of the tree trunks. The Peel of Fichlie is a flat area on the
top of a knoll, where cattle could have been protected against
thieves.
Fichnie. No Gaelic word resembles this name. It
may, however, be traced to cuithan, small cattle-fold,
through the following forms: — Cuithan, Chuithan, Fuichan,
Fuichna, Fichnie. The aspirated forms ch and th had been
changed to ph or / and ch, and the letters in an had been
transposed.
Fiddes (for Chuidan). Small cattle-fold. Chuidan,
cuidan asp., dim. of cuid, cattle-fold. Ch had become ph,
equivalent to /; and an had been translated by mistake
into s instead of ie.
Fiddesbeg. Little Fiddes. See Fiddes. Beag, small.
Fiddie. Small fold. Chuidan, cuidan asp., small fold.
Ch had become ph, which is equivalent to /. An became ie.
Fiddler's Green. It is said that a man named Fidler
lived at this place. However, Fiddler seems to be com-
pounded of feudail, cattle, and airidh, shieling; and Green
might mean a green grassy place at a shiel.
Fielding. The accent is on field, which had been last.
The original form had perhaps been Dun Feille, hill of the
market. Dun, hill; feille, gen. of feill, market, festival.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 161
Fife Hill, Fifeshill. Cattle-fold. Chuithail, cuithail
asp., cattlefold. Ch and th had both become ph, equi-
valent to /. Hill represents ail in chuithail. S in Fifeshill
had been inserted in the belief that Fife was a personal
name in the possessive.
Findlatree (for Leitir Fine). Side of a hill. Leitir,
side; fine, gen. of fin, hill. The parts of the name had been
transposed.
Findlay Farm. Hill farm. Fin, hill; lamh, hill. The
two parts of the name mean the same thing, and the one
had been added to explain the other. They ought both to
be in the nom., but lamh being in the qualifying place had
assumed the genitive form laimh.
Findlay's Muir. Moor of the hill. Fin, hill; laimh,
gen. of lamh, hill. Both parts mean hill.
Findrack. Hill of thorn trees. Fin, hill; draigh, gen.
plural of draigh, thorn tree.
Fingask. Bushy hill. Fin, hill; gasach, bushy. Phin-
gask near Fraserburgh represents faingan, small fank, in
which an had been made both ie and «s, and the name is
pronounced feengies.
Finglenny. Hill of the glen. Fin, hill; glinne, gen. of
gleann, glen.
Finlate (for Leathad Fine). Side of a hill. Leathad,
slope; fine, gen. of fin, hill. Th and its vowels had become
silent and had been lost.
Finlets. Broad hill. Fin, hill; leathan, broad. An
had by mistake been regarded as a plural termination and
had been turned into s.
Finnarcy, Finnercy. Hill of the shieling. Fin, hill;
airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling, hill pasture. Final cy repre-
sents dhe strongly sounded.
Finnygauld (for Fin a' Gall). Hill of the rock. Fin,
hill; an, of the; gall, rock, stone set up.
Finnylost. Hill of the burning. Fin, hill; an, of the;
losgaidh, gen. of losgadh, burning. In very dry summers
hills set on fire burn slowly for months till the fire is ex-
tinguished by autumn rain.
Fintock (for Fin an-t Soc). Hill of the snout. Fin,
hill; an, of the (suppressed); t (euphonic); soc, for suic,
gen. of soc, snout, projecting rock on the top of a hill.
Fintray, Fintry (for Fionn Traigh). Pleasant side of a
stream. Fionn, pleasant; traigh, bank of a stream.
Finzean. Hill of sand. Fin, hill; gainimh (imh silent),
gen. of gaineamh, sand. Finzean is on a raised sea beach,
400 feet above sea level.
Firbog, Firbogs, Firholes. Mosses in which the stems
L
162 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
of fir-trees were found by probing. These were resinous
and were valuable for giving light when split up and burned.
Firbriggs Hill, Little and Meikle. Little and big
hills, near which were boundary stones between Towie and
Glenbucket. Fir-bhreig , false men, upright stones like men.
Fir, men; bhreig, false.
Fireach, The. The high bare ground. Fireach, ac-
clivity, top of a bare hill.
Firley Moss. Moss of the grassy place. Feur, grass;
ley, grass land.
FlSHERBRIGGS, FlSHERFORD, FlSHERIE, FlSHRIE, FoHES-
terdy (1369). In these names Fish represents feith, slow
burn; and er, erie, and rie represent airidhe, gen. of airidh,
shieling. Fohesterdy might represent fo-eas tirte, lands in
front of a burn. Fo, before; eas, burn; tirte, plural of tir,
land.
Fishfur Bridge, near Maud Junction. Grassy burn
bridge. Feith, burn; feoir, gen. of feur, grass. Th had
become sh, and oi had been sounded like u, which frequently
happened.
Fishtown (for Baile Feith). Town on a moss burn.
Baile, town (translated and transposed); feith, moss burn.
Th had been changed to sh.
Fittie, Futtie, Footdee, Footie. Small cattle-fold,
milking fold. Chuitan, cuitan asp., dim. of cuit, cattle-fold,
fold where cows were penned at mid-day and milked. The
steps from cuit to the modern forms had been: — Cuitan,
Chuitan, Fuitan, Fuitie, Futtie, Fittie, Footdee, Footie.
Footdee is a modern attempt to account for the origin of
Fittie, based on the erroneous assumption that it was on the
river Dee, whereas it was on the Den Burn. Futtie was the
form in use in 1661, and Fittie is more modern. There are in
Aberdeenshire four places named Fittie, one of which is also
called Whitehill. See Cuid and Whitehill. The way to
the fold was called the Cowgate.
Fittie Brae. Brae of the cattle-fold. Chuitan, cuitan
asp., small fold. Ch had been changed to ph, equivalent
to /; and an had become ie.
Fittie Ford. Ford at a cattle-fold. Chuithan, cuithan
asp., cattle-fold. Ch had become ph, equivalent to /; and
the aspirate h after t had been lost. See Cuid.
Flecky's Meadow. Windy meadow. Flaicheach,
windy.
Fleshiewall Cave (for Uamh a' Fhliuchaidh Bhalla).
Cave of the wet wall. Uamh, cave (translated and put last) ;
c', of the (suppressed); fhliuchaich, gen. asp. of fliuchach,
wet; bhalla, gen. asp. of balla, wall. In fhliuchach, h had
been lost, ch had become sh, and ach had become ie. In
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 163
bhalla, bh is sounded like u, v, or w, and bhalla had been
pronounced walla, which had become wall.
Fleuchat, Fleuchats. Wet places. Fliuch, wet;
achadh, place; achaidean, plural of achadh. Ean had be-
come s. Other forms with the same meaning are Flobbans
and Flobbets.
Flinder (for Fliuchan Airidhe). Wet place on a shiel-
ing. Fliuchan, wetness; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling.
The asp. consonants had become silent and had been lost,
along with their vowels. D is a euphonic insertion. At
Kettle Howe, cattle-fold howe, on Flinder Hill there is a
wet place at the source of a burn.
Flinthills (for Toman Fliuchain). Hills of wetness.
Toman, hills (translated and put last); fliuchain, gen. of
fliuchan, wetness. Fliuchain had lost ch with its flanking
vowels. Toman may be the dim. of torn, hill, and then
-final s would need to be ock.
Flobbans (for Fliuchanan). Wet places. Flhichanan,
plural of fliuchan, wetness, wet place. Ch had become bh,
and final an had become s.
Flobbets (for Fliuch Achaidhtean). Wet places.
Fliuch, wet; achaidhtean, euphonic plural of achadh, place.
In fliuch ch had become bh, and h had afterwards been
dropped. Chaidh in achaidhtean had been lost, and ean
had become s, producing fliubats, which had lapsed into
Flobbats.
Floors, Flooders, Fluthers, (for Fliuch Airidhean).
Wet pastures. Fliuch, wet; airidhean, plural of airidh,
pasture far away from a farm. Th in Fluthers represents ch
in fliuch. Final s represents ean in airidhean. Perhaps the
term Fleeds applied to wet ends of rigs is of the same origin
as Floors. A fuller form of Floors is seen in the last part of
Auchleucheries.
Flushing. Wet place. Fliuchan, wet spot.
Fochel, Feochel, Fechil. Watch. Faichill, faicill
with c asp., watch, guard. Formerly Feochel was pro-
nounced fuffel, ch having been changed to ph, equivalent to
/, and doubled.
Foggieley. Foggy grass land.
Foggyburn. Burn in a peat-moss. Foide, gen. of foid,
peat.
Foggymill. The name had originally been Muileann
Foid. Mill of sods. Muileann, mill; foid, gen. plural of
fod, a mossy sod. Foid with d asp. is pronounced foi-ye,
and so also is foigh. Thus foid might pass through these
forms: — foidh, foigh, foige, foggy.
Foggymoss (for Bac Foide). Moss of the peat. Bac,
164 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
moss; foide, gen. of foid, peat. Foide and foggy are very
nearly alike in sound.
Folla Kule. Ketired place on the slope of a hill.
Folach, concealment, cover; ruigh, slope of a hill where
cultivation begins; aill, hill, rock.
Fontainebleau, Fountainbleau. Clear fountain. Fon-
taine (French), fountain, spring; bleu, clear.
Footie, Futtie. Chuitan, small fold. Ch became phy
equivalent to /, and an became ie. See Fittie.
Forbes. The consonants suggest that the last form of
the name in Gaelic had been Chor Ban, but the aspirate
and the accent show that it had previously been Ban Chor.
This is a post-Gaelic translation of Whitehill, which is a
corruption of cliuithail, fold. In England the name has but
one syllable, and it had probably been spelled forbs at first.
In Scotland it has two syllables, which is a mistake, for an
as a plural termination becomes s. It was, however, a
mistake to regard an as a plural termination. Forbes might
represent Forbies, in which an had been made ie by some and
s by others. See Cum and Corbsmill.
Forbridge. South hill or south side of a hill. For,
front, south side; braigh, hill.
Ford a' Fowrie (for Ath a' Fuarain). Ford of the burn.
Ath, ford (translated); a', of the; fuarain, gen. of fuarant
spring, burn.
Ford of Logie. In Gaelic this name had been Ath
Lagain. Ford of the little howe. Ath, ford (translated) ;
lagain, gen. of lagan, little howe. An, the Gaelic dim. ter-
mination, becomes ie in Scotch.
Fordalehouse, Fordale House. Alehouse at a ford.
Fordie (for For-Dun). In front of a hill. For, under,
beneath, in front of; dun, hill. TJn had been regarded as
a dim. termination and had become ie.
Fordley. Grassy place at a ford, hey, grassy place.
Fordoun Burn. Burn on the front of the hill. For, in
front of; dun, hill. The front was the side next Fyvie.
Foregarrach, as distinguished from Backgarrach, seems
to mean East rough place. For, in front of, lying to the
east; garbhach, abounding in rough places.
Forehill. Hill in front of another larger hill.
Forest, The. Place reserved for deer. Forestis (Latin),
open hunting ground. Forest sometimes represents fior-
uisge, clear water, pure spring.
Forest of Bunzeach. A deer forest. See Bunzeach.
Forgue. Place in front of a hill slope. For, below, in
front of; ruigh, slope of a hill. The Howe of Forgue curves
round the base of a hill. In some old forms of the name
medial r is doubled.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 165
Forkings, The. Place where two branches of a burn
meet.
Forle Den (for Dein For-Lamh). Den under a hill.
Dein, den; for, in front of, below; lamh (mh silent), hill.
Formartine. This name may mean the land in front of
the big hill. The Formartine district seems to be limited
to the area between the Ythan on the north, and the Foud-
land and Culsalmond range and its eastern extension on the
south. Formartine may represent For Mor Dhun, before
the big hill. For, before, in front of; mor, big; dhun, dun
asp., hill. 0 often became a before r, as in gart for gort,
marcus for morcus, farthing for fourthing.
Fornet, Fornety. Land in front of a burn. For, in
front of; net, burn; netan, small burn. An of netan had
been changed to y.
Forntree (for Tir Chairn). Land of the hill. Tir, land;
chairn, gen. asp. of cam, hill. Ch had become ph, equiva-
lent to /, when the parts of the name were transposed.
Forshalloch Burn. Burn before willow-trees. For, in
front of; seileach, plural of seileach, willow.
Fort. Oval enclosure which, from its situation, was
probably a cattle-fold. Fortis (Latin), strong.
Fort on Bennachie. Enclosed space on the east summit
of Bennachie. It had been a fold for cattle pasturing on the
hill ; but afterwards it came to be regarded as a fort.
Fortree, Fortrie, Fortry. Front land, probably mean-
ing an out-lying piece of ground belonging to a farm. For,
in front of, before; tire, gen. of tir, land.
Forvie, Furvie. Grassy place at a cattle-fold. Feur,
grass; chuith, gen. asp. of cuith, cattle-fold. Ch had become
bh, equivalent to v, and th had been lost, producing vui,
which had become vie.
Foss Braes. Braes of quietness. Foise, gen. of fois,
rest, peace.
Fosse. Ditch round a fortified place. Fosse (French),
ditch, from Latin fossa, ditch. The fosse at Glenkindie was
a ditch round a fold.
Fouchie Shank (for Sithean Chuithan). Hill of the small
fold. Sithean (pronounced shan), hill; chuithan, cuithan
asp., small fold. K added to shan made it Shank ; ch became
ph or /; th became ch, both t and c being silent; and an
normally became ie. Fuichie is now Fouchie.
Foudland (perhaps for Lamhan Foid). Hill of peats or
turf. Lamhan, dim. of lamh, hill; foid, gen. plural of foid,
peat. In post-Gaelic times the order of the parts of a name
was often changed to get a word supposed to be the gen.
sing, first, in imitation of the English method of connecting
nouns. Foid is like a gen. sing, in form, and it had been put
166 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
first. Lamhan might be pronounced Ian. Land in Pent-
land probably means hill, the two parts meaning the same
thing.
Foulcausey. Causey through a pool. Phuill, gen. asp.
of poll, pool, muddy place; calceata (Latin), shod, road made
with stones and gravel through a soft wet place.
Foulertown. Town of the fowler or falconer. If the
name is ancient it must represent Baile Pholl Airidhe, town
at a pool on a shieling. Baile, town; pholl, poll asp., pool;
airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling. Dh with its vowel is silent.
Foulmire (for Lon Phuill). Marsh at a pool. Lon,
mire, marsh; phuill, gen. asp. of poll, pool. When Lon was
translated Phuill had been put first. Ph is equivalent tc /.
Foulpool. Both parts of the name mean the same
thing, the second having been added to explain the first.
Pholl, poll asp., pool. Ph is equivalent to /. 0 before 11
is usually sounded ou, hence pholl had become foul.
Foulrigs (for Buighean Phuill). Slope of the pool.
Ruighean, dim. of ruigh, slope at the base of a hill; phuill,
gen. asp. of poll, pool. The accented syllable had originally
been last. Rigs is a corruption of ruighean. Ean had been
mistaken for a plural termination and had been made s.
Foulzie. Originally the first part had been last, as is
shown by the position of the accent. The name had been
Cuith Phuill. Cattle-fold at a pool or burn. Cuith, cattle-
fold; phuill, gen. asp. of poll, pool, burn. Subsequently the
parts of the name had been transposed, and the new last
part had been aspirated, making Phuill Chuith. Ph became
/; ch became gh, now represented by z; and final th being
silent had dropped off. There remained Fuillzui, which
had lapsed into Foulzie, formerly pronounced foul-yie, now
Fowlie as a personal name.
Fourman Hill (for Monadh Feoir). Hill of grass.
Monadh, hill; feoir, gen. of feur, grass. Probably in post-
Gaelic time feoir had been supposed to be the adj. fuar,
cold, and this had led to transposition of the parts of the
name.
Foveran. Fountain. Fuaran, spring, well, burn.
Fowlershill. Hill on which sportsmen used to catch
game by means of hawks. Foivler, catcher of birds. If the
name is ancient it represents Tom Pholl Airidhe, hill of the
pool on a shieling. Tom, hill; pholl, poll asp., pool; airidhe,
gen. of airidh, shieling.
Fowlis. Burn. Pollan, dim. of poll, pool, burn. P
had become ph, equivalent to /; o had become ou before 11;
and an had been regarded first as a dim. termination and
made ie, and afterwards it had been regarded as a plural
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 167
termination and s had been added to ie, making it ies.
Afterwards e had been omitted and i is not sounded now.
Fowls' Heugh. Steep bank on the Aven, in which
birds bred. Heugh (Scotch), steep bank.
Fowmart Well (for Tobar Chuith Mart). Well of the
fold for cows. Tobar, well; chuith, cuith asp., fold; mart,
gen. plur. of mart, cow.
Fox Cairn. Cairn in which a fox had a lair.
Fraser Castle. Castle which is the residence of the
Fraser family. Castellum (Latin), small fort; Friseal,
Fraser. The coat of arms of the family shows three straw-
berry leaves because there is in French frasier, strawberry
plant, which resembles Fraser. But this does not prove
that the name is derived from the plant. Fraser, if a Gaelic
name, had originally been Airidh Chraisg, shiel where two
roads crossed. Airidh [idh silent), shiel; chraisg, gen. asp.
of crasg, crossing. In passing into Scotch ch often became
pli or /, and if chraisg is made fraisgh with final g asp. a
combination of letters is produced whose sound resembles
the first syllable of Fraser as formerly pronounced in Scot-
land. A Gaelic-speaking person often alters the arrange-
ment of the syllables of English words and of Gaelic words
whose meaning he does not understand. He makes book-
seller sell-booker, with sell first and er last. Airidh Chraisg
changed to Air Fraisgh he would readily make Fraisghair,
which would lapse into Fraser.
Freefield (for Achadh Treith). Field of the hill.
Achadh (dh silent), place, field; treith (th silent), gen. of
triath, hill. Asp. t is liable to be changed to asp. p, which
is equivalent to /.
Frendraught. The position of the accent indicates that
the parts of the name had been transposed, and therefore
probably the present first syllable had been aspirated. The
original form of the name may have been Drochaid an
Threith. Bridge at a hill. Drochaid, bridge; an, of the;
threith, gen. asp. of triath (th silent), hill. Th had become
-ph, equivalent to /.
Fridayhill. Rough hill. Friodhach, rough.
Friends' Burial Ground. Cemetery for the religious
body called Friends by themselves and Quakers by others.
They objected to being buried in consecrated ground and
hence had cemeteries for themselves. Till 1851 the Friends
did not allow gravestones in their burying-grounds.
Froghall. Cheerful place. Frogail, merry, cheerful.
Froghole Quarry. If this name is English it means a
hole in which there are many frogs. Frogs often accumulate
in great numbers in old quarries. If it is of Gaelic origin it
168 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
means large hole, marsh. Frog, hole, chink. The frog
of a horse's foot should be the groove in the sole.
Frogmore. Big hole. Frog, hole, marsh ; trior, big.
Frostynib. Point at the Dorth-west corner of Mormond,
400 feet above the sea.
Fuar Braighe. Cold hill. Fuar, cold; braighe, hill.
Fuaran Mor. Big spring. Fuaran, spring; mor, big.
Fuaran nan Aighean. Spring of the fawns. Fuaran,
spring, well; nan, of the; aighean, gen. plural of agh, hind,
fawn.
Fuie, Burn of. Burn of the cattle-fold. Chuith, cuith
asp., cattle-fold. Ch had been changed to ph, and this to
/; and th had dropped off.
Furrach Head. Head where a watch was kept.
Fair each,, watchful.
Futtie, Footie, Fittie. Cattle-fold. Chuitan, cuitan
asp., small fold. Ch had become ph, equivalent to /, and
an had become ie. See Fittie.
Futtlie Stripe. Burn at a cattle-fold. Chuitail, cattle-
fold. Ch had become ph, equivalent to /, and ai and I had
been transposed. See Cuid.
Fyvie. Small cattle-fold. Cuithan, dim. of cuit, fold.
Ch had become ph, equivalent to /, and an had become ie
in passing into Scotch. The first castle of Fyvie had been
a guard-house for protecting a cattle-fold against Highland
thieves. There was a Fyvie also in Ellon. See " Anti-
quities," III., pp. 31, 37.
Fyvie and James Croft (for Croit Chuithain and Croit
Seamhais). Croft of the small fold and Croft of prosperity.
Croit, croft; chuithain, gen. asp. of cuithan, small fold;
seamhais, gen. of seamhas (pronounced shevas), prosperity.
In chuithain, ch had become ph, equivalent to /; th had
become bh, equivalent to v ] and ain had become ie. In
seamhais s is pronounced sh, which had become j in Scotch;
and m lost the asp. The croft had borne both names, but
not at the same time.
Ga' Pot. This is a pot in the Don, called also The Daues.
Perhaps this should be The Gaws. The name implies that
there is on the margin of the river a shallow pool after a
flood. See Gow's Pot.
Gadie, Gaudie, Gaudy. Treacherous. Gabhdach,
cunning, deceitful, and hence dangerous. Bh is silent,
and ach had become ie or y. This etymology requires
that a should have its long and broad sound.
Gadle, The. The field. Geadhail, field, park.
Gadle Braes, Geddle Braes. Braes of the field.
Geadhail, field.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 169
Gaidley Cairn. Cairn of the field. Cam, cairn; geadh-
ail, field. Ai and I had been transposed.
Gairn. Bough or rushing burn. Garbh, rough ; ab hainn,
water.
Gairn Hill (old form Gardyne). Eough hill. Garbli,
rough; dun, hill.
Gairney Water. Bough burn. Garbh, rough; abhainn,
water. Ai and ann had been transposed.
Gairnieston. Dalgarno's town. The estate of Fintray
having been sold it was purchased by two persons named
Craig and Dalgarno. Their portions were called Craig-
fintray and Dalgarnofintray. These were subsequently
called Craigston and Gairnieston.
Gairnshiel. Summer residence near the Gairn for
women in charge of cows at pasture far away from a farm.
Gairn, for garbh abhainn, rough water; seal, temporary
residence among hills. See Gairn.
Gait, Rumbling. A deep narrow opening in a rocky
coast where large volumes of water rise up from the bottom.
Gait is the same as Gwight or Gight.
Gall Well. Well at a stone. Gall, rock, pillar, stone.
Well might here represent bhaile, farm-town.
Galla Hill, Gallahill, Gallow Hill, Gallows Hill,
Gallow Top. Hill on which was a gallows for hanging
criminals sentenced to death by a barony court. Galga
(Anglo-Saxon), gallows. Final s shows that provision had
been made for hanging more than one person at a time.
The Gallow Hill was near the seat of the court.
Gallaford, Gallabog, Gally Bank, Gally Hill. These
names had originally been Ath Gealach, Began Gealach,
Bruach Gealach, Coill Gealach. Gealach is a late trans-
lation into Gaelic of tvhite, a corruption of cuith, fold.
Gallon of Water. Rock. Gallan (Irish), rock.
Gallowgate. Way from the town-house of Aberdeen
to the place where criminals were hanged. It included
Broad Street. The gallows was erected at the north end,
on the east side of the Gallowgate.
Galton. The meaning of this name is not obvious.
From its situation between two burns it may come from
gabhal, fork between two burns, with English ton added.
Bh is equivalent to u, v, or iv, and it is often silent. Gallton
would represent Baile Gall, town at a stone. Baile, town
(translated and put last); gall, stone, rock, pillar, monu-
mental stone.
Gamack, Burn of. Burn of the bend in the Don at
Buchaam. Carnag, little crook.
Gamrie (for Cam Ruigh). Curving slope. Cam,
crooked; ruigh, slope of a hill. Or, for Geamrachadh, winter
170 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
feeding of cattle or sheep. The asp. consonants with the
intermediate vowel might have become silent.
Gangie's Cairn (for Cam Fhangain). Cairn of the small
fank. Cam, cairn; fhangain, gen. asp. of fangan, small
fank. Fh had become gh, and the aspirate had afterwards
been lost. Ain had become ie, to which s had afterwards
been added because Gangie had been thought to be a
personal name in the possessive.
Gannoch. Sandy place. Gainneach (Irish), sandy.
Garbet (for Garbh Bad). Rough bushy place. Garbh,
rough ; bad, thicket, grove.
Garbh Allt. Rough burn. Garbh, rough, rushing ;
allt, burn. The adjective here precedes its noun, which
intensifies its meaning.
Garbh Choire, Garchory. Rough corry. Garbh, rough;
choire, coire asp., corry.
Garbh Choire Mor. Big rough corry. Garbh, rough;
choire, coire asp., corry; mor, big.
Gardenshillock, Gardensmill. In these names Garden
represents gartan, small circle, enclosure; and s is a late
addition to make Garden possessive.
Garble. See Garpelhead.
Gardlebog. Rough field bog. Garbh, rough; dail,
field; bog, marsh.
Gardnerhill, Gardnershill. Hill of a shieling where
there was an enclosure. Gartan, dim. of gart, stone circle,
fold, fank; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling. S in Gardners-
hill is a late addition, made in the belief that Gardner was a
personal name.
Garioch, The. The rough howe. Garbh, rough; iochd,
howe. The name The Garioch has been omitted on the
O.S. maps, though it is well known. The Garioch compre-
hends the district drained by the Ury and its tributaries the
Shevock and the Gadie.
Gariochsburn, Gariochsford, Gerriesford. The first
part of these names represents garbh, rough. The insertion
of s indicates that it was thought to be a noun in the
possessive. See Garioch.
Garlet, Garlot. Rough hillside. Garbh, rough;
leathad (th silent), side of a hill.
Garleybrae. Brae on the side of a rough hill. Garbh,
rough ; leth (th silent), side of a hill without another
facing it.
Garlogie. Rough howe. Garbh, rough; lagan, howe,
little hollow.
Garmaddie. Rough little field. Garbh, rough; madhanf
little field. In Irish magh, plain, is also made madh.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 171
Garmond. Rough moor. Gurbh, rough; monadh, moor,,
hill.
Garmonend Ford. Ford of the rough hills. Garbh r
rough; monean, gen. plural of monadh, moor, hill.
Garnet Hill. Hill where garnets are seen in the rocks.
They are found in metamorphic rocks, especially in Glen-
bucket and the neighbouring part of Strathdon. If the
name is Gaelic, Garnet must represent Garbh Net. Rough
burn. Garbh, rough; net, burn.
Garpelhead, Garplabrae, Garble, Garbel. In these
names the first part is garbh, rough, and the second is prob-
ably pla, green place. In the first name Head represents
chuid, fold. C is not sounded in ch and had been lost. The
original pronunciation of Huid had been hoo-eed, which had
become first Heed and is now Head.
Garples Pot. Garples may represent Garbh Phollan.
Rough little pool. Garbh, rough; phollan, pollan asp., little
pool. An had become s instead of ie.
Garrach, Garrack. Rough place. Garbhach, rough.
Bh is equivalent to u, v, or w. Here it is silent.
Garral Burn, Garrol Burn. Rough burn. Garbh,
rough ; allt, burn.
Garran Burn. Rough water burn. Garbh, rough;
abhainn, water. Bh of garbh and of abhainn had become
silent and had been lost.
Garrieswells (for Baile Garbh Abhann). Town on a
rough burn. Baile, town; garbh, rough; abhann, gen. of
abhainn, burn. Bh and abh had become silent and had
been lost. Arm had been made both ie and s, though it is
neither a dim. nor a plural termination. Baile had been
asp. and put last. Afterwards it had lapsed into Well and
later into Wells.
Garromuir. Rough moor. Garbh, rough; muir
(Scotch), moor.
Garron, Meikle. Big nail. This name has been given
to a long tapering piece of rock on Keith Inch.
Garthdee. Place in or near the Dee surrounded by
water or by a fence. Garth, gart with t asp., enclosed place ;
Dee, river name.
Garthy. Small enclosure. Garthan, dim. of garth,.
enclosure, circle.
Gartly. Rough hill. Garbh, rough; tulach, hill.
Gartnach Hill. Hill of the circle at a mound. Gart,
circle; an, of the; acha, mound. There are tumuli on the
hill.
Garveclash Burn (for Garbh Clais Burn). Burn of the-
rough gorge. Garbh, rough; clais, trench-like gorge.
Garvel. Rough burn. Garbh, rough; allt, burn.
172 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Garvelside. Farm on the side of a rough burn. Garbh,
rough; allt, burn.
Gash of Philorth. Burn of Philorth. Gals (pro-
nounced gash), burn, hollow of a burn. See Philorth.
Gask. Point. Gasg, long narrow tail of land, as at
Balnagask. See Balnagask.
Gateside. Windy site. Gaothach, windy; sulci he, seat,
place.
Gatherdam. Dam for collecting a large supply of water
for feeding a small dam at a mill. But see Gathering
Cairn.
Gathering Cairn (for Cam Gaothar). Windy hill.
Cam, hill; gaothar, windy. The parts of the name had
been transposed.
Gauch Hill. Windy hill. Gaothach, windy. Th had
become silent.
Gaucyhillock. Bushy hillock. Gasach, bushy.
Gaul Burn. Burn formed by the junction of two
streams. Gobhal, fork between two burns. See Gouls.
Gaun's Hill. Hill of the fold. Gabhann, fold. Bh is
sounded ou. The insertion of s shows that ann had been
regarded as a plural termination, and the apostrophe had
been a later addition.
Gaval. Place where cattle were penned. Gobhal, fold.
Geal Charn, Gealaig (for Gealach) Hill. White hill.
Geal, white; gealach, white; charn, cam asp., hill. These
names had originally been Chuithail, cattle-fold, which had
been corrupted into Whitehill, and this had afterwards been
translated into Gaelic by geal, white; gealach, white; and
cam, hill.
Gearlan Burn. Burn of the sharp-pointed hillock.
Geur, sharp-pointed; lamhaln, gen. of lamhan, hillock.
Gearrach, Gearick. Short dry heather. Giorrach,
short heath.
Ged Pot. Pike pot. Geadas, pike, ged (Scotch).
Gedjack. Small portion. Cuideag, small portion.
Gedjack is in a corner between two roads.
Gelder Burn. Clear water burn. Geal, white; dobhar,
water.
Gelder Shiel. Summer residence on the Gelder Burn.
Geal, white; dobhar, water; seal (pronounced shal), shiel,
temporary residence.
Geldie Burn (for Allt Gealaidh). Burn of whiteness.
Allt, burn; gealaidh, gen. of gealadh, whiteness. White
applied to water means clear, pure.
Geldie Lodge. Temporary residence for sportsmen on
the Geldie Burn.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 17&
Gellan. Little white place. Gealan, dim. of gealt
white.
Gellie Wood. Gellie is a corruption of gealach, white.
White is itself a corruption of chuit, asp. form of cuit, cattle-
fold. Gellie Wood, therefore, means wood growing on a
place where anciently there had been a cattle-fold.
Gellybrae. White brae. Originally the name had been
Chuithail, cattle-fold. By corruption into English this be-
came Whitehill, which translated into Gaelic became Geal
Braigh (geal, white; braigh, hill). Afterwards Geal became
Gelly and Braigh became Brae, making Gellybrae.
Gexechal. A corruption of Sean Choille. Old wood.
Sean, old; choille, coille asp., wood.
German Ocean. This is a translation of the Latin term
Oceanvs Germanus. Though appropriate for the sea on the
coast of Germany it is not appropriate for the sea on the
east coast of Britain, and it is seldom used.
Gerriesford. Bough ford on the Brindy burn. Garbh,
rough. Gerrie had in recent time been supposed to be a
man's name.
Geskin Slack. Hollow in a pine wood. Giubhsachain,
gen. of giubhsachan, pine wood; slochd, long hollow.
Geusachan Burn. Burn of Glen Geusachan. Giubh-
sachan, dim. of giubhsach, pine-wood.
Gibb's Kush (for Gibeach Ruigh). Rough hillside.
Gibeacli, rough, bushy; ruigh, slope of a hill. Perhaps from
giubhas, fir tree.
Gibseat. Gilbert's place of residence. Perhaps from
giubhas, fir.
Gibson's Croft. Croft occupied by a tenant called
Gibson. Perhaps from giubhas, fir.
Gibston. Gilbert's town. Gibs might be a derivative
from giubhas, fir.
Gight. Windy place. Gaothaeh, windy.
Gight Cairns. Windy hills. Gaothaeh, windy; carnanT
plural of cam, hill, rock, cairn.
Gight Castle. Castle on a windy height. Gaothaeh t
windy.
Gight, Silver. Inlet among rocks, which had been used
as a cattlefold. Gight, same as Gait and Gwight, from
Norse gja, chasm.
Gilbert Pot. Pot at Whitehaugh. Poit, pot; geal,
white; bhaird, gen. asp. of bard, haugh. White had been a
corruption of cuith, fold, and it had been translated into
Gaelic by geal, white.
Gilcomston. Gillecalum's town. Gille, servant, fol-
lower; columan, dove, St Columba. This is the name of a
district in Aberdeen, bounded on the north and east by the
174 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
West Burn of Gilcomston and on the south by the Denburn
and a tributary — no longer visible — which rose at the west
■end of Morningfield Eoad and joined the Denburn at
Whitehall Eoad. It was called Gilcomston Burn.
Gilderoy, Cairn of. Cairn commemorating Gilderoy,
the red lad. Gille, lad; ruadh, red.
Gilgather Bush (for Bad Cinn Ghaothar). Bushy place
-on a windy height. Bad, bush; cinn, gen. of ceann, head;
ghaothair, gen. of gaothar, windy.
Gilkhorn (for Geal Charn). White hill. Geal, white;
charn, cam asp., hill. But Whitehill was a corruption of
chuithail, cattle-fold, and it had been translated back into
Gaelic by geal, white, and earn, hill.
Gill Burn. White burn. Geal, white. Originally Geal
had been Chuith, which had been corrupted to White, and
it had been translated into Gaelic by geal, white, corrupted
to Gill.
Gill Well. White well. Geal, white. See Gill Burn.
Gillahill, Gillowhill. Cattle-fold. Chuithail, cattle-
fold. Chuithail had been corrupted into Whitehill, and White
had been translated into Gealach, which had been corrupted
into Gilla and Gillow. See Geal Charn and Geallaig Hill.
Gillamount Cave. Cave used as a cattle-fold. Chuithail,
fold. This had been corrupted into Whitehill. Subse-
quently White had been turned into Gaelic by Gealach and
Hill by Monadh. Gealach Monadh had been corrupted into
Gillamount.
Gillespie's Well. Well of the servant of the bishop.
Gille, lad, servant; easpuig, bishop.
Gillha Wood (for Geal Choille Wood). Wood of White-
hill. Geal, white; choille, coille asp., hill. Whitehill is a
corruption of chuithail, cattle-fold. See Cuid.
Gillie Gae. Cattle-fold. Both parts of this name
represent chuith, fold. The first had been corrupted into
White, which had been translated into Gaelic by gealach,
white, subsequently corrupted into Gillie. The second had
been added to Gillie to explain it, but it also had been cor-
rupted. Chuith by change of ch into gh and loss of the
aspirate became Guith. Final th is silent, and Guith be-
came Gui, which had lapsed into Gae.
Gillies Point (for Rinn Gealain). Point of whiteness.
Rinn, point; gile, whiteness. 8 had been added to make
Gillie possessive.
Gillree Burn. The original form of the name Gillree
had been Chuit Rath. Cattle-fold enclosure. Chuit, cattle-
fold; rath, enclosure, circle. Chuit had been corrupted into
White, and Rath into Ree, making the name White Ree.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 175
Then White had been translated into Gaelic by geal, white,
and Geal had lapsed into Gill.
Gilmorton (originally Baile Chuit Mor). Town at the
big cattle-fold. Baile, town; chuit, cattle-fold; mor, big.
Chuit had been corrupted into White, and this had after-
wards been translated into geal, white. Baile had been
translated into Town and put to the end. These changes
produced Geal Mor Town, white big town, which became
the modern Gilmorton.
Gimpston Wood. Fir-wood. Giumhas (for giubhas), fir.
BJi and mh are both equivalent to v, hence there is a risk
of mis-spelling words containing bh or mh.
Ginashart (for Cinn Eas Ard). Head of the burn of the
hill. Cinn, head; eas, burn; ard, height.
Gingomyres (for Cinn Cuith Myres). Marsh at the head
of a cattle-fold. Cinn (for ceann), head; cuith, fold; myre
(Scotch), marsh. C in Cinn and Cuith had become g. Th
final is silent. Ginngui had lapsed into Gingo.
Ginshie Burn (for Allt Cinn Sithe). Burn on the head
of a hill. Allt, burn; cinn, gen. of ceann, head; sithe (pro-
nounced she-ae), gen. of sith, hill. Ginshie burn rises on
the top of Bennachie and is soon lost in the ground.
Gird Pot. Short pot. Poit, pot; giorraid, gen. of
giorrad, shortness.
Girdle and Bakebread. This name would be appro-
priate for two seaside rocks, one of them round and the
other square. A girdle is a round plate of iron on which
bread is fired, and a bakebread is a square board on which
■dough is kneaded.
Girnall, Girnel. Place where meal paid as rent by
farmers was stored. Gairneal, large meal chest.
Girnock. The little rushing burn. Garbh, rough;
abhainn, water; og, little. The Girnock is small compared
with the Muick and the Dee.
Glaaick Burn. Burn of the hollow. Glaic, gen. of glac,
hollow, gorge.
Glac, The. The hollow. Glac, hollow between two
hills.
Glac an Lochain. Hollow of the little loch. Glac,
hollow; an, of the; lochain, gen. of lochan, lochan, small
loch.
Glac an Lochain (for Glac nan Lochan). Hollow of the
lochans. There are two small lochs of equal size, and the
Glac is between them. Glac, hollow; nan, of the; lochan,
gen. plural of lochan, small loch, tarn, lochan.
Glac Anthon (for Glac an Chona). Glack of the cats-
tail grass. Glac, glack, hollow; an, of the; chona, gen. asp.
of cona, cotton-grass, catstail grass. Ch had become th.
176 Celtic Place-Navies in Aberdeenshire.
Glac na Far. Eavine of the hill. Glac, ravine; na, of
the; faire, gen. of fair (pronounced fa-er), hill, ridge.
Glac na Moine. Hollow of the moor. Glac, howe,
gap; na, of the; moine, moor, moss.
Glac Eiach. Grey howe. Glac, hollow between
heights; riabhach, grey.
Glack. Long hollow. Glac, gap in a hill range.
Glacks (for Glacan). Small hollow. Glacan, dim. of
glac, hollow. An had become s instead of ie.
Glackentore (for Glac an Torr). Gap of the hill. Glac,
hollow; an, of the; torr, steep abrupt hill.
Glackfolu. Cattle-fold in a hollow between two hills.
Glac, narrow valley.
Glackhead. Glack where there was a cattle-fold. Glac,
glack; chuid, gen. asp. of add, fold. C of Chuid is not
audible, and it had dropped off, leaving Huid (pronounced
hoo-ed), which had afterwards become Heed and then Head.
Glack 's Well (for Tobar Glaic). Well in a gap between
two hills. Tobar, well; glaic, gen. of glac, gap.
Glacks of Balloch. Little howe through which a road
passes. Glacan, dim. of glac ; bealaich, gen. of bealach,
road, pass. An had become s by mistake, instead of ie.
Glackshalloch. Hollow in which willows grew. Glac,
hollow in a hill range; seileach, gen. plural of seileach,
willow.
Glamlach. Gorge in a hillside. Glamhus, glack; laimh,
gen. of lamh, hill.
Glanderston. Town of the cleanser. Glanadair,
cleaner. Probably at this place wool and cloth had been
scoured.
Glas Allt. Green burn. Glas, green; allt, burn.
Glas Allt Beag, Glas Allt Mor. Little and Big green
burns. Glas, green; allt, burn; beag, small; mor, big.
Glas Allt Shiel. Summer residence near the Glas
Allt burn. Glas, green; allt, burn; seal, shiel, summer
residence among hills.
Glas Choille. Green hill. Glas, green; choille, coille
asp., hill.
Glas Choire. Green corry. Glas, grey, green; choire,
coire asp., corry.
Glas Maol. Green round hill. Glas, grey, green; maol,
blunt, round, bare hill. Perth, Forfar, and Aberdeen meet
on Glas Maol.
Glas Tiiom. Grey green hill. Glas, green; thorn, torn
asp., hill.
Glasachdhu. Black little howe. Glaiseag, little howe;
dhu, black.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 177
Glaschul, Glasschill. Green hill. Glas, green;
choille, coille asp., hill.
Glasco Forest, Glasgow Forest. Green fold in the
forest of Kintore. Glas, green; cuith (ith silent), fold. In
some cases a fold was formed by planting trunks of trees
vertically in the ground. To shelter cattle a bank of earth
growing grass had been piled up outside the ring of tree-
trunks.
Glascoego, Glasgowego. Green fold for heifers. Glas,
green; cuith (ith silent), fold; aighe, gen. plural of aighe,
heifer. See Glasco Forest.
Glash. Bay. Glas, embrace, lock. Two places called
North Glash and South Glash are bays with narrow mouths.
Glashie. Grass land. Glasach, grassy ground. Ach
becomes ie in Scotch.
Glashmore (for Clais Mor). Big trench. Clais (pro-
nounced clash), trench-like hollow; mor, big.
Glaspits. Green places. Glas, grey green; pitean,
plural of pit, place.
Glass. Grey place. Glas, grey, wan. In Irish glas
means green, and this appears to. be its meaning in Scotch
names of places.
Glassel (for Glas Allt). Green burn. Glas, green;
allt, burn.
Glasslaw. Green hill. Glas, grey green; lamh, hill.
Mh is equivalent to u, v, or w.
Glasterberry. Wet green land. Glas, green; tir,
land; biorach, wet.
Gleann an t-Slugain. Glen of the little slug. Gleann,
glen; an t-, of the; slugain, gen. of slugan, little gorge,
small gap.
Glebe. Small farm held officially by the minister of a
parish. Gleba (Latin), clod, land.
Gledsgreen. Grassy place frequented by kites, in
search of mice. Glcd, kite, buzzard.
Glen. Steep-sided river valley. Gleann, glen.
Glen Beg, Glen Beag. Small glen. Gleann, glen;
beag, small.
Glen Cat. Glen of the drove road. Gleann, glen; cat,
road, way.
Glen Clunie. Glen of the Clunie water. Gleann, glen;
cluaine, gen. of cluain, meadow, green valley.
Glen Dee. The deep valley of the Dee. Gleann, glen,
deep valley; Dee, dubh, black.
Glen Derry. Wooded glen. Gleann, glen; doireach,
woody.
Glen Dhualt. Glen of the black burn. Gleann, glen;
dubh, black; allt, burn.
178 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Glen Lui. Glen of the small water. Gleann, glen; lue,
smallness. Lue is normally formed from the adj. lu, small.
The Lui is small compared with the Dee.
Glenbardy. Glen of the meadow. Gleann, glen; bar-
dain, gen. of bardan, small meadow.
Glenbogie. Glen of the Bogie water. Gleann, glen.
See Bogie.
Glenbucket, Glenbuchat. Glen of the knoll. Gleann,
glen; buiceid, gen. of bucead, knob, boss. The glen takes
its name from a small hill in the middle. Glenbuchat, a
meaningless old spelling, has been revived for the official
name of the parish.
Glenbucket Mains. Farm at Glenbucket Castle,
originally occupied by the proprietor of the estate. See
Mains.
Glencairn. Glen of the hill. Gleann, glen; cairn, gen.
of cam, hill.
Glencarvie. Glen of roughness. Gleann, glen; gar-
bhaidh (dh silent), gen. of garbhadh, roughness.
Glencoe. Glen of the mist. Gleann, glen; ceo, mist,
fog. In frosty calm winter mornings there would be mist
in this hollow after sunrise.
Glenconrie, Glenconrea. Glen of grey dogs. Gleann,
glen; con, gen. plural of cu, dog; riabhach, grey. By grey
dogs rabbits are meant. Cu means any small quadruped,
as water-rat, squirrel, rabbit, dog, fox, wolf, and also an eel.
Glencuie. Glen of the cattle-fold. Gleann, glen;
cnith (th silent), cattle-fold.
Glendaveny. Glen of the two burns. Gleann, glen;
da, two; aibhne, gen. of abhainn, burn.
Glendronach. Glen of burn rising in a long ridge.
Gleann, glen; dronnaige, gen. of dronnag, ridge of a hill.
Glendui. Black glen. Gleann, glen; dubh, black.
Gleneilpy. Glen of the mountain. Gleann, glen; ailp,
gen. of alp, mountain.
Glenesk. Glen of the water. Gleann, glen; uisge,
water, burn.
Glenfenzie. Glen of the Fenzie burn. Gleann, glen;
faing, gen. of fang, fank.
Glengarry. Kough glen. Gleann, glen; garbh, rough.
Glengerrach (for Glen Giorra). Short glen. Gleann,
glen; giorra, gen. of giorra, shortness.
Glenhead. Glen of the fold. Gleann, glen; chuid, gen.
asp. of cuid. fold. C had been lost because silent, and huid
had been pronounced successively hoo-eed, heed, and head.
Glenhouses. Houses in a glen. If the name is old and
accented on the last part it represents Glen Chuithain, glen
of the small fold. Gleann, glen; chuithain, gen. asp. of
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 179
cuithan, small fold. C had been lost; th had become s; and
in had become s.
Glenkindie, Glenkinie (local). Glen of the little fold.
Gleann, glen; cuithan (th silent), dim. of cuith, fold. A and
n had been transposed, and a had become ie. D is a euphonic
insertion not always sounded.
Glenlaff Hill. Glenlaff is for Gleann Laimh. Glen
of the hill. Gleann, glen; laimh, gen. of lamh, hill.
Glenlogie. Glen of the little howe. Gleann, glen;
lagain, gen. of lagan, little howe.
Glenmellan, Glenmillan. Glen of the little hill.
Gleann, glen; meallain, gen. of meallan, dim. of me all, hill.
Millan is a derivative from mill, the gen. form of meall, hill.
Glenmore. Big glen. Gleann, glen; raor, big.
Glenmuick. Glen of mist. Gleann, glen; muich, mist.
See Muick.
Glennieston. Town of the little glen. Gleannan, little
glen. An had normally become ie.
Glenny. Little glen. Gleannan, dim. of gleann, glen.
An had become ie as usual.
Glenquithle. Glen of the cattle-fold. Gleann, glen;
cuithail, fold.
Glenshalg. Glen of hunting. Gleann, glen; seaZg
(pronounced shalg), hunting, fowling.
Glenshee. Quiet glen. Gleann, glen; sithe (pro-
nounced she-ae), gen. of szt/i, peace, quietness.
Glenskinnan. Glen of the little drove. Gleann, glen;
sgannain, gen. of sgannan, little drove.
Glentanner, Glentanar, Glentana House, Glen Tana
School. The narrow glen. Tana, slender, narrow. The
O.S. maps have Glentanner, but in Aberdeen the name is
made Glentanar.
Glentilt (for Gleann Tlaithe). Glen of tranquility.
Gleann, glen; tlaithe, mildness, calmness. The aspirate and
its vowel had been lost, and I and ai had been transposed,
producing Tailt, which had lapsed into Tilt.
Glen Ton. Glen of the Ton burn. Gleann, glen; ton,
bottom of a howe.
Glenton. Town in a glen. Gleann, glen.
Glentough. Glen of the hill. Gleann, glen; tulaich,
gen. of talach, hill. In Scotch I is often omitted after a long
vowel, as in maid for malt; and it may sometimes be found
after a long vowel where it ought not to be.
Glisters, The. Narrow places where rocks approach
each other. Glaiste, locked, past part, of glais, to lock,
embrace.
Gloie's Dam. Dam of preparation. Gleois, gen. of
glens, provision, readiness.
180 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Glory Well. Well making a noise like speaking.
Glorach (Irish), talkative, prattling.
Goauch Wood. Wood growing on a windy hill. Gao-
thach, windy.
Gobaneala Pot. Pot in the river Ythan, shaped like
the neck of a swan. Goban, bill, neck; ealaidh, gen. of eala,
swan.
Gobhals, Govals, Gouls. Space between two branches
of a burn or two roads. Gobhlan (for gobhalav), dim. of
gobhal, fork between meeting burns or roads. Bh is equi-
valent to v or ou, and an had become s instead of ie.
Gog, Gogan. Tub-shaped hollow. Gog, tub (primitive
of gogan); gogan, small tub.
Gonar, Gownar. Cattle-fold on a shieling. Gabhann,
fold; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling. Bh is equivalent to
v or ou, and sometimes it becomes silent.
Gonarhall. Farm-house with a public kitchen, near the
Gonar burn.
GOOKHILL, GOUKSTYLE, GoUKSWELL, GOWKSTONE, GoWK
Stane, Gowks Stone. On high ground the first part of
these names represents cnoc, hill. Gowkswell represents
Baile Chnuic, town on a hill. Baile, town; chnuic, gen.
asp. of cnoc, hill. The parts had been transposed; Baile had
been aspirated and pronounced waile, lapsing into Well; and
Chnuic had been corrupted into Gowk. On level ground
Gowk, etc., may mean cuckoo.
Goose Croft, Goosehillock. In Gaelic names Goose
and Geese represent giubhas (bh silent), fir. See White
Geese.
Gorbals Pot (for Garbh Allan Pot). Kough water pot.
Garbh, rough; allan, dim. of all, stream. An had been
made s instead of ie.
Gordon Mill, Gordon's Mills, Jeannie Gordon's
Well. In these and many other names Gordon represents
gortan, dim. of gort, enclosure, sepulchral stone circle, fold,
etc. In many cases 's has been added to Gordon to make it
possessive. Jeannie Gordon's Well represents Tobar Sine
Gortain, well of the old cattle-fold. Tobar, well (trans-
lated and put last); sine, old; gortain, gen. of gortan, fold.
Gorehead (for Cuid Gobhar). Fold for goats. Cuid,
fold; gobhar, gen. plural of gobhar, goat. Perhaps from
change in the position of the accent the parts of the name
had been transposed, and cuid had been asp., producing
Gobhar Chuid. Bh and c becoming silent had been lost, and
Goar Huid had lapsed into Gorehead.
Gorehill, Goreyhill. Hill of the goat. Gobhair, gen.
of gobhar, goat; goibhre, second form of gen. of gobhar.
Gormack Burn. Green burn. Gormach, green.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 181
Gourachie (for Corrach Achadh). Steep place. Cor-
rach, steep; achadh, field, place. G and c were frequently
interchanged in Gaelic, but g oftener became c than c
changed to g. Perhaps from giorrach, short dry heather.
Gorthfielu. Field of the enclosed place. Gorth, gort
with t asp., fold, stone circle.
Gothie. Windy. Gaothach, windy.
Goughburn. Hill burn. Cnoc, hill. Gnoc was liable
to be corrupted into other words which could be pronounced
with the vocal organs in the same position as for sounding
cnoc.
Goul Loch. Loch of the cattle-fold. Gobhal, fold. Bh
is equivalent to ou.
Gouls. See Gobhals.
Gourdas. Enclosed space beside a burn. Gort, en-
closure; eas, burn, waterfall. T and d were frequently
interchanged.
Gourdieburn (perhaps for Allt Gortain). Burn of the
small fold. Allt, burn (translated and put last); gortain,
gen. of gortan, dim. of gort, enclosed place. T had become
d, and ain had become ie.
Gourock Burn. Burn in a place where goats pastured.
Gabharach, frequented by goats. Bh is equivalent to ou
or v.
Goval. Place in the fork between two streams. Gobhal,
fork.
Govals. See Gobhals.
Gowan Hole, Gowan Lea, Gowanbrae, Gowanfold,
GoWANHILL, GoWANSTONE, GoWAN WELL, GoWNIE. In
these names Gowan represents gabhann, cattle-fold. In
Gownie a and nn had been transposed. Hole is a gwight or
gap in the rocks of the coast, which had served as a cattle-
fold. Gowan Lea must be a modern name. In Gowanfold
both parts have the same meaning. Gowanstone is for
Gowanstown. Gowanwell represents Baile Gabhainn, with
baile transposed and aspirated and afterwards corrupted
into well. The name, therefore, means town at a cattle-
fold. The Scotch name for a daisy, gowan, had been given
to the flower from its resemblance to a fold formed of tree-
trunks stuck into the ground, forming a Stocket Head;
which see.
Gowdie (for Cuidan). Small cattle-fold. Cuidan, dim.
of add, cattle-fold. C had become g, and an had be-
come ie.
Gowkor. See Gonar.
Gowrie. Place of goats. Achadh, place (understood);
goibhre, gen. of gobhar, goat. Bh is equivalent to u or v.
Gow's Pot. Pot at a fold. Cuith, fold. C had become
182 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
g, and ith had been lost, leaving gu, which had at first been
pronounced goo and afterwards gow. In Glasgow cu has
become gow, pronounced go.
Gow's Prison (Robie). The place is at the seaside
among rocks and might have been fenced in for a cattle-
fold, which, after going out of use, had been thought to be a
prison. The name might have been Eoibeach Cuith, filthy
fold. Roibeacli, filthy; cuith, fold. Roibeach might have
become robie, and cuith, after losing ith, might have become
gow. See Gow's Pot.
Grainhill, Grainhow. Sandy hill, Sandy howe.
Graine, sand. Grainhow is 400 feet above sea, at which
level there are in many places raised sea beaches.
Grains of Tanner. Branches of the Tanner Water.
Grain being the same as groin should mean the space be-
tween the branches.
Grampians. A range of mountains south of the Dee.
The name is taken from Mons Grampius, named by Tacitus
in his Life of Agricola. The episode in which it occurs
appears to be fictitious.
Grandhome, Granden (1306-1329), Grandowne (1391),
Grandown (1466), Grandome (1475), Grandoun (1504),
Grandon (1506), Grandhom (1696), Grandam (1732). The
oldest forms represent Dun Graine, hill of sand. Dun, hill;
graine, sand. The last part of the present form represents
torn, hill. Grandholm Mill was originally part of Grand-
home.
Grange. Barn, farm-house on church land. Granum
(Latin), corn.
Granney, Burn of. Sandy burn. Grainne, sand. The
burn flows across a raised sea beach, 400 feet above sea.
Grant's Hillock. Probably for Toman Graine, hillock
of sand. Toman, hillock; graine, sand.
Grassieslack. Grassy howe crossing a road. Slochd,
hollow, slack.
Graystone, Greystone. These common names repre-
sent Clach Riabhach and Clackriach. Clach, stone; riabli-
ach (bh silent), grey. Where there is solid rock Gray and
Grey represent creag, rock.
Green Brow, Greencrook, Greenhill, Greenhole,
Greenlaff, Greenland, Greenlands, Greenlaw, Green-
leaves. All these names mean green hill. Brow is for
bruch, hill; Crook for cnoc, hill; Hole for choille, hill; Laff
and Law for la?nh, hill; Land, Lands, Leaves for lamhan,
dim. of lamh, hill. D is a euphonic addition to n, and s
represents an of lamhan regarded as a plural termination.
In Lands an remains though s had been added, but in
Leaves s has been substituted for an .
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 183
Green Craig. Sandy hill. Graine, sand; creag, hill.
Green Kaims. Green sharp ridges. Kaim (Scotch),
comb of a cock, medial moraine left after a glacier made up
of two more glaciers has ceased to be formed. Kaim may
mean a lateral moraine with a steep face.
Green Lake. Green smooth ice-polished rock. Leac,
flat smooth stone.
Green Koad. Grass-grown old drove road, now out
of use.
Greenee. Sandy place. Graine, sand. Greenee is at
the same level as the 200 feet raised sea beach.
Greenheads. Small fold with a green bank outside.
Gorm Chuidan, green little fold. Gorm, green; chuidan,
cuidan asp., small fold. Guidan had been asp. because gorm
preceded it. An ought to have been made ie.
Greeninches. Green enclosed space. Innis, enclosed
place. The termination es represents s in innis, which,
however, is not plural.
Greenkirtle. Kirtle represents Car Tulaich, curve of
the knoll. Car, turn, bend; tulaich, gen. of tulach, knoll.
Green may have been gorm, green, blue; or perhaps graine,
sand. Green was put first because it was an English
adjective.
Greenness. Green burn. Eas, stream. Green might
represent graine, sand.
Greens of Harystone. Green places at a stone where
there had been a shieling. Airidh, shieling.
Greens or Savoch. Green places at Savoch; which see.
Greenshiels (for Gorm Sealan). Green shieling.
Gorm, green; sealan, shieling. An in sealan had been mis-
taken for a plural termination and had been made s. A
shiel was a hut on a shieling.
Greenstile. Green burn. Steall, gushing spring,
stream.
Greentree Lodge. This place is 400 feet above sea, the
level of a raised beach, and Green may mean sandy, and
Tree may represent triath (th silent), hill.
Greenwellheads (for Tobar Uaine Chuidain). Green
well at a little fold. Tobar, well; uaine, green; chuidain,
gen. asp. of cuidan, small fold. C of chuidan, being silent,
had dropped off. Ain had improperly been made s instead
of ie .
■ Gregory's Wall. Part of an old castle on Dunnideer,
built to protect a fold on the hill. Boece, " The Father of
Lies," asserted that a King Gregory lived and died in the
castle, and the O.S. officials have adopted this incredible
statement.
184 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Greigsford (for Ath Creige). Ford on the hill. Ath,
ford; creige, gen. of creag, hill.
Grey Ewe (for Creag Chuith). Hill of the fold. Creag,
hill; chuith, gen. asp. of cuith, fold. G of creag had been
asp. before ch of chuith and had thus been lost. Ch and th
of chuith had been lost.
Grey Mare. Hill by the sea. Creag, hill; mara, gen. of
muir, sea.
Greymore. Big hill. Creag, hill; mor, big.
Grennoch Burn. Sandy burn. Grainneach, sandy. This
burn crosses the 400 feet raised sea beach.
Gressiehill. Common hill. Gresach, common to
several persons jointly.
Grians Well (for Tobar Grianain). Well at a walk over
a hill. Tobar, well ; grianain, gen. of grianan, walk with a
sunny prospect.
Grilsay Howe. Howe where fish are caught. Greal-
sach, fish, apparently of the salmon kind.
Grilsay Nouts. Small river abounding in fish. Greal-
sach, fish; nethan, dim. of neth, stream. An had been made
s instead of ie.
Groaning Stone (for Clach Chruinn). Eound stone.
Clach, stone; chruinn, fern, of cruinn, round.
Groddie. Place near Groddie Burn.
Groddie Burn. Rapid foaming burn. Grodan, dim. of
grod, foam.
Grugaldikes. Dykes of the crooked burn. Grugach,
wrinkled ; allt, burn.
Grumack Hill. Gloomy hill. Gruamach, gloomy.
Guaves, The. The quiet place. Guaimeas, quietness,
comfort. M in guaimeas had been asp., and mh is equivalent
to v.
Guestrow. Eow of dwelling-houses with gardens, in
which distinguished visitors to Aberdeen were lodged.
Gueval. Quiet hill. Guaimh, quiet; mheall, meall asp.,
hill.
Gueval Cottage. Cottage on a quiet hill. See Gueval.
On the O.S. map this name has been made Gravel Cottage.
Guild Street. Street named in honour of Dr William
Guild, Principal of King's College, who bought the Trinity
Convent property and presented it to the Incorporated
Trades in Aberdeen.
Guise. Place where pine trees grew. Giubhas, pine tree.
Gulbyth (for Culbyth). North Byth. Cul, back, north;
beathach, growing birch-trees. Gulbyth is a mistake on the
O.S. map for Culbyth.
Gullburn (for Allt Coill). Burn of the hill. Allt, burn;
coill, hill. C had been changed to g.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 185
Gullie Burn (for Allt Coille). Burn of the hill. Allt,
burn; coille, hill.
Gully. This represents coille, hill. It seems to have
been the name of a large farm on the high ground between
the burns on the east and west of the modern village of New
Byth. It had been broken up before 1696 into three parts
mentioned in the Poll Book — Oldgully, Midgully, and New
Gulley. The last is probably that now called Gulbyth in the
O.S. map by mistake for Culbyth. Oldmill may represent
Midgully, and Oldgully was probably where the village
now is.
Gullymoss (for Coille Mosaiche). Hill of dirtiness.
Coille, hill; mosaiche, dirtiness. Mosaiche is accented on
the first syllable and might become Mossie or Moss. It may
be the original form of Moss, which seems to be hardly an
English word. In their natural state mosses are often with-
out vegetation and are exceedingly filthy.
Gummies Well (for Tobar Guameis). Well of quietness.
Tobar, well; guaimeis, gen. of guaimeas, quietness, comfort.
Gunhill (for Coill Gamhainn). Hill of the fold. Coill,
hill; gamhainn, gen. of gamhann, fold. Mh is sounded ou.
Gurge Pot. Pot at a narrow passage in a river. Gurges
(Latin), whirlpool, narrow passage.
Gushetnook. The piece of ground, tapering to a point,
left in ploughing a field whose sides are not parallel. Gousset
(French), gusset.
Gutcher Stone. Monolith marking a prehistoric grave.
Gutcher, grandfather.
Gutter. Passage for water. Guitear, water-channel.
Gutter of Neish (for Guitear an Eas). Passage for the
water. Guitear, channel; an, of the; eas, water.
Guttrie Hill (for Coill Cuit Buigh). Hill of the fold on
the slope. Coill, hill; cuit, fold; ruigh, slope at the base of
a hill where cultivation ends.
G wight. Narrow chasm in rocks into which the sea
enters. Gja (Norse), chasm, rift.
Ha' Stone (for Clach a' Choill). Stone of the hill.
Clach, stone; a', of the (suppressed); choill, gen. asp. of
coill, hill.
Habbershaw. Goats' wood. Ghabhar, gen. plural asp.
of gabhar, goat; shaw, thicket, wood.
Habbie's Howe. Bushy hollow. Roibeach, bushy.
Boibeach had been corrupted into Bobbie, which is further
corrupted to Habbie.
Hackleburnie Well (for Tobar Alltan Achadh Laimh).
Well of the burnie from the field on the hill. Tobar, well ;
186 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
alltan, little burn; achadh, field; laimh (mh silent), gen. of
lamh, hill.
Hackley Burn. Burn of the grassy place. Achadh,
place; ley, grassy level place.
Hackney Thicket (for Bad an Achaidhein). Thicket of
the small field. Bad, bush, wood; an, of the; achaidhein,
gen. of achaidhean, small field. H had been prefixed to
achaidhein for euphony; dh, being silent, had been lost
along with its preceding vowels, and ein by transposition of
ei and n had become nei. By these means was produced
liachnei, which had become hackney.
Hauagain, Haudagain (for Achadh a' Gabhainn). Field
of the cattle-fold. Achadh, field; a', of the; gabhainn, gen.
of gabhann, cattle-fold.
Haddo, Haddoch (for Baile a' Chodach). Town at the
fold. Baile, town; a', of the; chodach, gen. asp. of cuid,
cattle-fold. Baile and a', though necessary for aspirating
codach, had afterwards been suppressed. By loss of silent
c chodach became hodach, which had afterwards become
Haddo and Haddoch, but o retains locally the sound of a
as in codach. See Mount Haddoch.
Haddo House. Mansion-house at Haddo.
Haggieshall (for Achaidhean a' Choill). Small place
on the hill. Achaidhean, dim. of achadh, field; a', of the;
choill, gen. asp. of coill, hill. An became both ie and s.
Haining Well. Well at a small fold. Fhaingan, faingan
asp., dim. of fang, fank, sheep-fold, circle. F in fh is silent
and had been lost. Faingan had been formed from faing,
the gen. of fang, instead of the nom. From faing asp. comes
also henge, meaning circle of stones, in Stonehenge.
Hairyhillock (for Toman na h-Airidhe). Hillock of the
shieling. Toman, hillock; na, of the; h (euphonic); airidhe,
gen. of airidh, shieling. When toman was translated and
put last na was lost, and h coalesced with airidhe.
Hallforest. Castle of the forest of Kintore. It had
been built by a proprietor who had afterwards opposed
Eobert Bruce and had been forfeited when he became king.
It was given to Sir Robert Keith, who surrendered it to the
crown in 1324 and got a regrant. The park, in which
probably there was a herd of deer, was reserved by the king.
Hallgreen, Hallgreens. Grassy place at a castle or
mansion where horsemen dismounted.
Hallhead (for Coille a' Chuid). Hill of the fold. Coill,
hill; a', of the; chuid, cuid asp., fold. Coill became hall,
and c of ch dropped off, being silent.
Hallhill. Hall is a corruption of coill, hill.
Hallmoss. Moss where tenants cast peats for use in
the proprietor's house. Hall means the part of a house
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 187
open to all the inmates, as the great hall of a castle formerly
was.
Hanging Heugh. Heugh of the small fank. Fhangain,.
gen. asp. of fangan, dim. of fang, fold, fank.
Hanging Stone. Stone with a hole into which the
gallows was set.
Hanging Well (for Baile Fangain). Town at the small
fold. Baile, town; fhangain, gen. asp. of fangan, small fold.
Bailc had been asp. and put last. Bhaile had become ivett,
and fhangain had lost initial /. Well, however, might mean
spring.
Hannet (for Cheann na Net). Head of the burn.
Cheann, ceann asp., head; na, of the (suppressed); net,
stream.
Happyhillock. Both parts of the name have the same
meaning. Chnapan, cnapan asp., hillock. C and n have
been lost, and an has become y, both being dim. termina-
tions.
Hardbedlam. Hill of Bedlam; which see. Ard, hill.
Hardford. Hill ford. Ard, hill.
Hardgate. Koad to a hill. Ard, hill, with h, a late
addition made after the meaning of ard had been lost.
Hardgate in Aberdeen means a road made with broken stones
and gravel.
Hardhead (for Ard a' Chuid). Hill of the cattle-fold.
Ard, hill; a', of the (suppressed); chuid, gen. asp. of cuid,
cattle-fold. C of ch had been lost, being silent.
Hardhill, Hardhillock. The second part is a trans-
lation of the first. Ard, hill, hillock.
Hard Shouther. Hill of the shieling. Shouther is the
oldest part of the name and represents Sith Airidhe. Sith,
hill; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling. Sith had been sounded
sliccth, and idhe of airidhe had been lost. The name had
then been sounded sheether and its meaning had almost been
forgotten. Then ard, hill, had been put before Sith to ex-
plain it, and afterwards ard had been converted into the
English word Hard.
Hardslacks (for Slochd Ardain). Long narrow hollow
on a little hill. Slochd, gorge, wet hollow crossing a road;
ardain, gen. of ardan, knoll, small hill. Ain of ardain had
erroneously been supposed to be a plural termination, and
s had been added to Slack. H initial facilitated pronuncia-
tion. When Ard became Hard it was put first, as being an
English adjective.
Hardweird. The two parts of this name are corruptions
of the same word, ard, -height. Hard is ard with h prefixed,
and uird is the gen. of ard. It had been added in post-
Gaelic time to explain the first. The whole name means-
188 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
the hill. It is, however, now given to a row of houses at
the foot of the height on the south side of the Denburn.
Hardyards. Hill. Both parts of the name mean the
same thing, and both are derivatives from ard, hill, and
ardan, little hill, in which an has become s.
Hareetnach Burn (for Allt na h-Airidhe Aitionnaich).
Burn of the juniper shieling. Allt, burn; na, of the; h
(euphonic); airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling; aitionnaich, gen.
fern, of aitionnach, growing junipers.
Hare Cairn, Hare Cairns, Hare Creag, Hare Stone,
Hareburn, Harecraig, Harehill, Haremire, Haremoss,
Harewood, Hares Howe, Hareshillock, Harestone,
Harestones, Hares wood. In these names Hare and Hares
represent na h-airidhe, of the shieling. Na, of the; h (eu-
phonic); airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling. They had origin-
ally begun with the Gaelic words for cairn, etc., and these
had been translated and put last. Then na had been
dropped, and h had been incorporated with airidhe, in which
idhe is silent.
Harlaw (for Lamh na h-Airidhe). Hill of the
shieling. Lamh, hill; na, of the; h (euphonic); airidhe, gen.
of airidh, shieling. After the transposition of the parts of
the name na was omitted and h was incorporated with
airidhe.
Harper Brae (for Braigh na h-Airidhe). Hill of the
shieling. Braigh, hill; na, of the; h (euphonic); airidhe,
gen. of airidh, shieling. After the translation and transposi-
tion of the first part na was omitted and h became incor-
porated with airidhe. Dh had become ph and the aspirate
had afterwards been dropped.
Harper's Stone (for Clach na h-Airidhe). Stone of the
shieling. Clach, stone; na, of the; h (euphonic); airidhe,
gen. of airidh, shieling. See Harper Brae.
Harry's Cairn, Harry's Hill, Harrystone. In these
names the last part was, in Gaelic, na h-airidhe, of the
shieling. When the first part was translated and put last
na was omitted and h was incorporated with Airidhe, which
became Harry's. 8 came from sounding dhe as ghe.
Harry's Jennie (for Airidhe Sithne). Pasture on a hill.
Airidh, shieling; sithne (pronounced she-ne), genitive of
sithean, hill.
Harthill, Harthills (for Ardhill). Ard, height. The
second part of the name is a translation of the first.
Hassack's Croft (for Croit Chasaich). Croft on a brae.
Croit, croft; chasaich, gen. asp. of casach, steep brae.
Hasses, The. Dangerous rocks. Chasan, plural asp.
of casan, difficulty. C of ch had been lost, being silent, and
■an had become es.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 18£
Hassiewells (for Baile Chasain). Town at a roadside.
Baile, town; chasain, gen. asp. of casan, road. Baile had
been asp. and put last. Then bhaile (pronounced waile) had
become first well and then wells. Ch had lost c and. ain
had become ie. Hassie might represent casacli, brae.
Hassy, The. The dangerous place. Chasan, casan asp.,
difficulty. G of ch, being silent, had been lost; and an had
improperly been changed to y. The Hassy is a rock pro-
jecting into the sea near Rattray Head.
Hatterseat (for Suidhe a' Chathair). Place on boggy
ground. Suidhe, place; a', of the; chathair, gen. asp. of
cathar, wet place. C, being silent, had been lost.
Hatton. Small fold. Chuitan, ciritan asp., dim. of
cuit, fold. C of ch had been lost.
Hatton Hill. Hill of the fold. See Hatton.
Hattoncrook (for Cnoc a' Chuitain). Hill of the fold.
Cnoc, hill; a', of the (suppressed); chuitain, gen. asp. of
cuitan, dim. of cuit, fold. See Cnoc.
Hatton slap (for Sliabh a' Chuitain). Hill of the fold.
Sliabh, hill; a', of the (suppressed); chuitain, gen. asp. of
cuitan, dim. of cuit, fold.
Haw Hill. Haw represents choill, coill asp., hill, and
hill is a translation of choill.
Hawes, The. The hawse or throat, passage between
rocks in the sea.
Hawk Law, Hawkhall, Haw^khill, Hawkhillock. Hill
frequented by hawks. Before grouse-preserving began
hawks were numerous. On uncultivated hillocks they found
mice, beetles, etc., and the hillocks afforded a good outlook
for birds. Hawkhall might be compounded of choill, gen.
asp. of coill, hill, corrupted to haw, and choill added to haw
to explain it.
Haws, The. If this is an English name it means the
hawthorns. If Gaelic it represents choillean, coillean asp.,
little hill. C in ch is silent and had been lost, and hoill had
become ha. An ought to have become ie, but being
erroneously regarded as a plural termination it had been
turned into s.
Hawthornhead (for Coill Cam Chuid). Hill of the fold.
Coill, hill; cam, hill; chuid, gen. asp. of cuid, fold. These
words had passed through the following forms : — Coill, Choill,
Hoill, Holl, How, Haw; Cam, Cham, Tharn, Thorn; Cuid,
Chuid, Huid, Head. Coill is a late addition made to explain
cam after it had been corrupted. In Scotch oil usually
becomes oiv as in boll, bow; knoll, knowe; poll, pow.
Haybogs, Hayfarm, Hayfield, Hayhillock, Hayton.
In these names Hay represents chuidh, cuid asp. both at
190 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
the first and last letters. C in ch is silent and had been lost.
Dh is equivalent to y.
Hazlehead (for Cuithail Cuid). Both parts mean fold,
and the second had been added to explain the first after
it had been corrupted. Cuithail might have had the following
forms: — Cuithail, Chuithail, Huithail, Huishail, Husail,
Hazle. Cuid may have been Cuid, Chuid, Huid, Head.
Cuid had been at first in the nom. form, being in apposition
to Cuthail, but being in the qualifying place it had afterwards
been asp. to indicate that it was in a dependent relation to
Cuithail.
Headinsch. Cattle-fold enclosure. Chuid, cuid asp.,
cattle-fold; innis, enclosure.
Headiton, Headitown, (for Baile a' Chuidain). Town
of the little fold. Baile, town; a', of the; chuidain, gen.
asp. of cuidan, small fold. Baile became ton and town; a'
was lost when baile was transposed; chuidain lost c, and ain
became i for ie.
Headroom (for Druim a' Chuid). Hill of the fold.
Druim, long hill; a', of the; chuid, gen. asp. of cuid, fold.
C being silent had been dropped, leaving huid, which be-
came head and was put first, retaining the accent. A' was
lost when chuid was put first.
Headroom s (for Druman a' Chuid). Small ridge of the
fold. Druman, dim. of druim, ridge; a', of the; chuid, gen.
asp. of cuid. An had been made s instead of ie.
Heatherbrigs. If this is a Gaelic name it had originally
been Braigh Chuith Airidhe. Hill of the fold on a shieling.
Braigh (corrupted into brigs), hill; chuith, cuith asp.
(corrupted into heath by loss of c), fold; airidhe (idhe
dropped), gen. of airidh, shieling.
Heatherwick (for Uig Chuith Airidhe). Corner of the
fold on a shieling. Uig, nook, corner; chuith, cuit asp., fold;
airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling. Dh is usually silent, and it
had been lost along with the contiguous vowels.
Heatherybanks. Heathery represents Chuith Airidhe.
Fold of the shieling. Chuith, cuith asp., fold; airidhe, gen.
of airidh, shieling. Banks represents chuit, cuit asp., fold.
The second part had been added to the first aftc r it had been
corrupted and its meaning had been forgotten. Chuit be-
came White and was turned into Gaelic by ban, white.
Some added 7c for euphony, and others, regarding an as a
plural termination, changed it into s, and thus was produced
Banks.
Heatherybrae. Brae represents braigh, hill, and the
name means hill where there was a fold on a shieling. See
Heatherybanks.
Heathfield (for Achadh Chuith). Field of the cattle-
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 191
■fold. Achadh, place, field (translated and transposed);
chuith, gen. asp. of cuith, cattle-fold. C had become silent
and had been lost.
Heath-hill. Cattle-fold. Chuithail, cuithail asp.,
cattle-fold. After aspiration c had been dropped.
Heatiilaxd. Cattle-fold. Chuithail, cuithail asp., fold
for cattle. This had been corrupted to Heathhill, and hill
had been turned into Gaelic by lamhan, dim. of lamh, hill,
and Lamhan is now Land.
Hee Cross (for Crasg a' Chuith). Crossing on the top
of a hill at a cattle-fold. Crasg, crossing; a', of the; chuith,
gen. asp. of cuith, cattle-fold. C and th had become silent
and had been lost. This is the name given to the summit
of a hill in King-Edward, where it is crossed by a road.
Though locally supposed to mean high it is pronounced hee.
Helenamore Croft. Croft of the big green plain.
Ailean, green meadow; mor, big. An had been changed to
ie, corrupted to a.
Helen's Chambers (for Ailean Seamhachd). Island of
quietness, smallness. Ailean, island; seamhachd, small-
ness, peacefulness. Seamhachd, with h after m dropped,
would be pronounced shamachd. Final s in Helen's had
been added because it was thought to be a personal name.
Hell's Lum. Place at the inner end of a long sea cave
or tunnel, where the roof had fallen in. The hole thus
formed had some resemblance to the lum in a cottage, and
was therefore called Hell's Lum.
Herd's Hillock. Herd's is a corruption of airidhe, which
means both a shieling and a hut on a shieling. The O.S.
map shows at this place the site of a tumulus " or mound,
which may have been that of a fold or a hut near the fold.
Hermit Seat. Perhaps this name had originally been
Suidhe Armuigh. Seat of the buzzard. Suidlie, seat;
armuigh, buzzard. Buzzards and kites were very numerous
on hills before game-preserving began, and the rocks called
Hermit Seat had seldom been without a bird on the watch.
Hermitage. This is a fanciful name given to a summer
house on the top of a high knoll in Old Aberdeen. Eremites
(Greek), dweller in a desert.
Heron Croft (for Croit a' Chaorruinn). Plot of the
rowan tree. Croit, plot of ground; a', of the; chaomiinn,
gen. asp. of caorrunn, rowan tree.
Herrtck's Cairn (for Cam Chaorach). Sheep's Cairn.
Cam, cairn; chaorach, gen. plural of caora, sheep. The
cairn was on a boundary.
Heuch Head. Place at the top of a steep bank. Heiich
(Scotch), craig, cliff, steep place.
Heugh- Shelter under a steep bank.
192 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
High Law, High Wood, Highpield, Highlands, High-
muir, Highness. In these names High represents chuitht
cuith asp., fold. Law is for lamh, hill; Lands for lamhanr
dim. of lamh, hill; and Ness is for an eas, the burn. Chuith
had lost c, which was silent; th had also been lost because
silent; and hui had become high.
Hill Folds. Small enclosed fields on a hill, for penning
sheep in at night.
Hill of Airlie. Hill of the shieling on the side of the
hill. Airidh (idh silent), shieling; leth (th silent), side.
Hill of Dumeath. Hill of the ford. Dun, hill; an, of
the; ath, ford. There is a ford at Walla Kirk at the foot of
the hill.
Hill of Forrest. Forrest refers to the ancient forest of
Cardenauche.
Hill of John's Cairn. John's represents dun, hill, with
s added to obtain a possessive.
Hill of Macknagran. Hill of the plain of sand. Maghr
plain; na, of the; grainne, sand, gravel. The top of this hill
rises nearly to the level of an ancient sea beach.
Hill of Marcus. Hill of the big cattle-fold. Mor, big;:
chuith, cuith asp., cattle-fold.
Hillar (for Ard Lar). High land. Ard, high; lar, land.
Hillocks Burn. Eivulet. Clwileach, coileach asp.,,
rivulet. After aspiration the c had been dropped.
Hindhill, Hindhillock, Hindland, Hindrum, Hind-
stones. In all these names Hind represents choinne, coinne
asp., meeting-place. Land is lamhan, dim. of lamh, hill;
Drum is druim, long hill; and Stones may be sepulchral
stone circle, as it is in Balquhain, town of the meeting-place.
C in ch, being silent, had been lost.
Hip Slack (for Slochd Chip). Long hollow on the top of
a hill. Slochd, hollow; chip, gen. asp. of ceap, top.
Hippyhillock. Top of a small hill. Cheapan, ceapan
asp., small hill. C, being silent, had dropped off, and the
dim. termination an had become y. Ceapan is the dim. of
ceap, top of a hill.
Hirnley (for Leth Chairn). Side of the hill. Leth,
side; chairn, gen. asp. of cam, hill. C, being silent, had
been lost.
Hobshill (for Hopshill). Chop, cop asp., hill. C silent
had been dropped, and s had been inserted to make Hop
possessive.
Hoggin (for Ogan). Small place. Ogan, dim. of ogt
little.
Hoggshillock, Hogholm, Hog's Well, Hogshillock,
Hogston. In all these names Hog means "little" and
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 193
represents og, small, young. Holm is a corruption of torn,
hill; and Well may be a corruption of bhaile, baile asp.,
town.
Holadonish Burn. Burn of the devil's hill. Clwille,
coille asp., hill, wood; a', of the; donais (pronounced don-
ash), gen. of donas, devil, bad luck, mischief.
Holburn, Hol Burn. Burn of the hollow. Tholl, toll
asp., hollow. T asp. is silent and liable to be lost. It is
formed by the junction of the two Eubislaw burns at
Aberdeen.
Hole, Mill of (for Muileann a' Choill). Mill of the hill.
Muileann, mill (translated); a', of the (suppressed); choill,
gen. asp. of coill, hill. C of choill had been lost after
aspiration.
Hole an Dirkie. Hole of the cave. Toll, hole (trans-
lated); an, of the; dearcain, gen. of dearcan, little cave.
Hole of Haughton. Howe of Haughton. Tholl, toll
asp., howe. T in th is silent and liable to be lost.
Hole of Morlass. Hill of the big fold. Choill, coill
asp., hill; mor, big; Use, gen. of lios, circle, enclosure, fold.
Holemill. Mill of the howe. Tholl, toll asp., howe.
T had been lost after aspiration.
Holland Bush, Holland Hill. Holland means hill.
Choill, coill asp., hill; lamhan, small hill. C had been lost
after aspiration ; mh had become silent and had been lost ;
and d had been added to n for euphony.
Hollow Burn. Burn of the howe. Tholl, toll asp.,
howe. T in th is silent.
Hollow-dyke (for Choille Dubh, originally Dubh
Choille). Black hill. Dubh, black; choille, coille asp., hill.
Holly Linn (for Linne Thollain). Waterfall in a little
howe. Linne, waterfall; thollain, gen. asp., of tollan, small
howe. T of thollain, being silent, had dropped off.
Holm, Holm's Hill, Holm's Wood, Holmsburn,
Holmsmill. In these names Holm and Holms mean low
island in a river, or haugh land near a river. Holm is an
Early English word.
Holmhead, Homehead. Hill of the fold. Tom, hill;
chuid, gen. asp. of cuid, fold. T of torn had been asp. and
then it had been lost. C of chuid had also been lost after
aspiration.
Holy Shore. Black hill. Choille, coille asp., hill; scar
(pronounced shar), black. C in ch is silent, and it had been
lost.
Holy Well. Chalybeate spring which, having been
blessed, was visited by sick and infirm persons on the first
Sunday of May.
194 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Holylind. Hill. Choill, coill asp., hill; lamham, dim.
of lamh, hill. C had become silent and had been lost after
aspiration. Mh had been asp. and had been lost.
Holymill. Same as Holmsmill.
Home (The). Home Wood. In these names home
represents thorn, torn asp., hill. After aspiration t becomes
silent and is liable to be dropped.
Honeybarrel, Honeyneuk, Honeynook. In these names
Honey represents choinne, coinne asp., place of meeting.
Barrel is blar, open space, with I transferred to the end.
Hope Farm, Hopewell. Hope represents chop, cop
asp., hill; with c lost after aspiration. Well is bhaile, baile
asp., farm-town, with bh changed to w.
Horn Born, Horn Ford, Horndoyne, Horne's Loaning,
Horn's Well, Hornscroft, Horntowie. In these names
Horn represents cliairn or chuirn, gen. asp. of cam, hill.
Doyne is an t-abhainn, the river; and towie is tollan, dim.
of toll, howe.
Horner, Horneyfield. Horner and Horney represent
carnach, abounding in cairns or stones.
Horse Eock. Bock like a horse lying.
Horsewell (for Baile Chraisgh). Town at a crossing on
a hill. Baile, town; chraisgh, gen. of crasg, crossing, asp.
at the beginning and the end. C, being silent, had been
lost, and gh had also been lost. Then hrais had become
horse and being an English qualifying word had been put
first. Baile, being then last, had been asp., and bhaile had
become ivell, bh being equivalent to w.
Hospital Wood. Wood on an estate belonging to
Gordon's Hospital (now Gordon's College), Aberdeen.
Houff, The Howff. A disused burial ground. Hof
(Dutch), walled enclosure, princely residence, farm, inn,
place of security, mean lodging, burial ground.
Houndhillock. Hill of meeting. Choinne, gen. asp. of
coinne, assembly.
House Craigs (for Hawse Craigs). Kocks among which
there are water passages resembling necks or throats.
Hawse (Icelandic), neck; creag, rock.
Housedale. If of English origin the name might mean
Bell in which a house is situated. If of Gaelic origin it
probably represents Dail a' Chois, field of the howe. Dail,
field; a', of the; chois, gen. asp. of cos, hollow.
Housieside (for Suidhe Chuith). Site of a fold. Suidhe,
site; chuith, gen. asp. of cuith, fold. C had been lost after
aspiration, and th had become sh.
How Burn. Burn in a hollow.
How Ford, Howe Ford. Ford in a hollow.
How, Howe, Hol, Hole. At the beginning of names
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 195
these words represent tholl, toll asp., hollow. After being
aspirated t had dropped off, having become silent.
Howdman. This is a rock two or three hundred yards
from land. It may have been larger two or three thousand
years ago, and sheep or cattle might have been sent to it
to feed. The name seems to mean hill of the fold. Man,
hill; chuid, gen. asp. of cuid, fold. Man, hill, is seen in
Longmanhill, Steinmanhill, and some other names. The
order of the parts had been changed.
Howe Homach. Hollow containing knolls. Thomach,
tomach asp., abounding in knolls.
Howe Moss. Moss in a hollow.
Howe of Badifoor. Howe of a grassy wood. Badan,
grove; feoir, gen. of feur, grass. An had become ie.
Howe of Low^nie. Howe of a wet place. Fhliachain,
gen. asp. of fiiuchan, wet place. Fh was silent and had been
lost. Ain had become nai by transposition of letters.
Howe Loup (for Chuith Luib). Cattle-fold bend.
Chuith, gen. asp. of cuith, cattle-fold; luib, bend, turn in
the coast line. C and tli of chuith had become silent and
had been lost. See Den of Howie.
Howe of Mar, Howe o' Mar. Mar may represent Magh
Airidhe, plain of the shieling. Magh, plain, hollow; airidhe,
gen. of airidli, shieling. Gh and dh are often silent.
Howe of Slug. Slochd, slug, has the same meaning as
hoive.
Howff of Blair. Disused burial ground at Blair,
Bourtie; now farm name.
Howeshalloch. Hollow of the willows. Seileach,
willow.
Howets (for Chuithan). Little fold. Chuithan, dim. of
cuithan, cattle-fold. In chuithan c had become silent and
had dropped off ; and an had been made s in the belief that
it was a plural termination.
Huckster Row. Street in Aberdeen (now abolished)
in which there was an inn. Osda, inn.
Humble Cairn. Low round cairn not rising to a point.
Humble (English) and hummel (Scotch) mean without horns
or points projecting upwards.
Humlie. Bock in the river Ythan, perhaps smooth on
the surface and hence called hummel or humble.
Hummel Cow Latch. In Gaelic this name might have
been (C)hom(hdh)ail Cu(ith) Lat(hai)ch. The letters within
parentheses had been silent. Meeting-place at a cattle-fold
in a howre. Chomhdhail, comhdhail asp., meeting-place;
cuith, cattle-fold; lathaich, gen. of lathach, latch, hollow.
Hummel Craig. Flat-topped rock. Hummel (Scotch),
humble, without projecting points; creag, roek.
196 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Hummel Stone. Stone without projecting points.
Hummel (Scotch), humble, smooth -headed.
Hummock. Rock smoothed by ice passing over it, but
with upstanding humps. Thomacli (t silent), humpy.
Humpherey's Well (for Tobar Comh-Airidhe). Well of
the common shieling. Tobar, well; comh-airidhe , gen. of
comh-airidh, shieling common to more than one proprietor.
The well is now on a boundary line. Comli had been aspi-
rated, and c had become silent and had dropped off.
Hungry Hoy. The three parts of the name all mean fold
for cattle or sheep. Fang, faak, sheep-fold; rath (th silent),
circle, enclosure; chuith, gen. asp. of cuith, cattle-fold, en-
closure. C and th had become silent and had been lost.
Hunt Hill. Hill on which men assembled to hunt wild
animals with dogs. In ancient times deer were hunted by
men on horses attended by dogs. See sculptured stones.
Huntly (for Tulach Choinne). Hill of assembly.
Tulach, hill; choinne, gen. asp. of coinne, meeting. C,
having been aspirated, became silent and had been lost.
Initial h shows that this part of the name had been aspirated
and had been at the end.
Husband Hillock. Fold hillock. The name had been
originally cuit, fold, and subsequently Chuit, Huit, White,
Ban (white), Band. The first part had been prefixed to the
second to explain it after it had been corrupted and trans-
lated. It had passed through the forms Cuit, Chuith, Huith,
Huish, Huis, Hus ; and the two parts together make husband.
G in ch is silent and liable to be omitted. Th had become
sh, and the aspirating h had afterwards been lost. Ban is a
translation into Gaelic of White and must be late. D is a
euphonic addition to n.
Huxter Stone. Stone at an inn to enable riders to
mount their horses. Osda, inn.
Hythie. Fold. Chuitlian, cuithan asp., small fold.
C had been lost after aspiration, being silent ; and an had
become ie.
Iar Choire Sneachdach. West snowy corry. Iar, west;
choire, coire asp., corry; sneachdach, snowy.
Ides Burn. Burn of the little fold. Chuidan, cuidan
asp., little fold. Ch had been lost, an had improperly been
made es, and uides had become ides.
Idoch. Brae. Uchdach, brae of a hill.
Inch, Insch. Space surrounded by water, land, fence,
wall, dyke, ditch, hills; cattle-fold, sheep-fold, field, garden,
lake, island, sepulchral stone circle.
Inch Biggie. Small island. Innis, island; beagh, little.
Inch Geck. Very small island. Gig, root of gigean,
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 19?
dwarf, something insignificant. Hence English term gig,
light boat, light carriage.
Inch Haugh. Haugh surrounded by a river. Innis,
island.
Inch More. Big island. Innis, island; mor, big.
Inch Rocks. Rocks surrounded by water. Innis, island,
surrounded place.
Inchbrae. Enclosed slope. Innis, enclosure; brae
(Scotch), slope.
Inchdonald. Brown burn island. Innis, island; donn,
brown; allt, burn.
Inches. Innis, island. The Inches were alluvial sand-
banks in the estuary of the Bee, between the river and the
Benburn.
Inchgarth. Sandy island in a river. Innis, island;
garth, enclosure.
Inchgreen. Enclosed grassy place. Innis, enclosure.
Inchley. Bevel grassy enclosed place. Innis, enclosure;
ley (Scotch), level grassy place.
Inchmore. Big enclosure for sheep or cattle. Innis, en-
closure ; mor, big.
Inchnabobart (for Innis a' Botha Mhairt). Enclosure at
a cow-house. Innis, enclosed space; a', of the; botha, gen.
of both, house; mhairt, gen. asp. of mart, cow. The mean-
ing of this name is now locally unknown. This had arisen
from both, house, being confounded with bo, cow; and from
mh being changed into bh, with subsequent loss of the
aspirate h. The place seems to have been a summer shieling
with a fold where cows were penned by day to rest and be
milked, and a house for them at night.
Inglis (for An Bios). The fold. An, the; lios (pro-
nounced lees), fold. 0 is not sounded, but it serves to
prevent s from being pronounced as sh.
Inglistown (for Baile an Bise). Town of the fold.
Baile, town; an, of the; Use, gen. of lios (pronounced lees),
fold. Baile had been translated and put last, and this pro-
duced An Bise Town, now made Inglistown.
Ininteer (for Tir Innin). Band of the hill. Tir, land
innin, gen. of innean, hill.
Inkhorn (for An Cam). The hill. An, the; earn, hill.
Innes Brae, Innesbrae. Enclosed brae. Innis, en-
closure; brae (Scotch), slope.
Innes Cairn (for Cam an Innse). Hill of the fold.
Cam, hill; an, of the; innse, gen. of innis, enclosure, cattle-
fold, sheep-fold.
Innes Well (for Tobar Innse). Well of the cattle-fold.
Tobar, well (translated); innse, gen. of innis, cattle-fold.
Inneshewen (for Innis [a'] [C]hui[th]ain). Enclosure
198 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
of the small cattle-fold. Innis, enclosure; a', of the; chui-
thain, gen. asp. of cuithan, dim. of cuitli, cattle-fold. The
letters within brackets had been lost.
Inschannochie. Enclosed place between two branches
of a stream. Innis, enclosure; aonachaidh, gen. of
aonachadh, junction of streams.
Inschtammack. Enclosed place for rest. Innis, enclo-
sure; taviach, restful.
Inver. Farm at the junction of the Ton burn with the
Don. Inbhir, infall of a stream into a larger or into the sea,
ford, outflow of a lake.
Inverallochy. Infall of the little burn. Inver, infall;
allacliain, gen. of allachan, dim. of allacli, stream.
Inveramsay, Inveralumsy (1485), (for Inbhir Allain).
Infall of the small stream. Inbhir, infall; allain, gen. of
allan, small stream. The 1485 form suggests that the last
part of the name represents allan with an changed both to s
and to ay or y. The small stream is the Stratlmaterick burn.
Invercamey. Infall of the crooked burn. Inver, infall;
camaidh, gen. of camadh, crook, curve.
Invercauld. Infall of the small burn. Inbhir, infall;
caoil, gen. of caol, narrow, small.
Invercauld Arms Inn. Inn showing the coat of arms of
the Invercauld family on a signboard.
Inverchandlick. Infall of a stream from a narrow glen
into a river. Inbhir, infall; chunglaich, gen. asp. of
cunglach, defile, glen.
Inverden. Mouth of the Den of Kildrummy. Inbhir
mouth.
Inverdon. Infall of the river Don. Inbhir, infall; Don
river name.
Inverebrie. Infall of the Ebrie burn. Inbhir, infall
Ebrie, stream name.
Inverenzie. Infall of the Fenzie burn. Inbhir, infall
Fenzie, stream name ; which see. Fhenzie, Fenzie asp.
becomes Enzie by loss of fh.
Inverernan. Infall of the Ernan. Inbhir, infall
Ernan, stream name.
Inverey. Infall of the Ey burn. Inbhir, infall; Ey
stream name.
Invergelder. Infall of the Gelder burn. Inbhir, infall
Gelder, stream name.
Inverkindie. Infall of the Kindie burn. Inbhir, infall
Kindle, stream name.
Invermossat. Infall of the Mossat burn. Inbhir, infall
Mossat, stream name.
Invermarkte. Infall of the Markie water. Inbhir, infall
Markie, stream name.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 139
Invernettie. Iufall of a small stream. Inbhir, infall;
nctain, gen. of netan, dim. of net, burn.
Invernochty. Infall of the Nochty burn. Inbhir, infall;
Nochty, stream name.
Invernorth, Invernoth (1423), (for Inbhir na h-Otha).
Outlet of the broad water. Inbhir, outflow; na, of the; h
(euphonic); otha, gen. of oth, broad water. The broad water
had been the loch of Inverallochy Castle.
Inverord. Infall of the Ord burn. Inbhir, infall; Ord,
stream name meaning hill.
Inverquhomery. Infall of the Quhomery burn. Inbhir,
infall; Quhomery, burn name.
Inyerquinzie. Termination of the Pitfour Canal. In-
bhir, infall of a river; cuinge, narrow strait, channel.
Cuinge is now pronounced queenie. Queenie was also the
name of the ancient channel between Peterhead and Keith
Inch, which was described as " over the Queenie."
Inverthernie (for Inbhir Allt Charnan). Infall of the
burn of the small hills. Inbhir, infall; allt, burn (sup-
pressed); charnan, gen. plural asp. of carnan, small hill.
The burn is now the Kingsford burn, and the hills are the
Ordie and the Knaps of Thernie. Ch of charnan had become
th, and an had become ie, though an is not a dim. but a
plural termination.
Inverugie. Infall of the Ugie. Inbhir, infall; Ugie,
stream name.
Inverurie. Infall of the Urie. Inbhir, infall; Urie,
stream name.
Ixverveddie (for Inbhir Feadain). Infall of the burn.
Inbhir, infall; feadain, gen. of feadan, spring, stream. Ain
became ie.
Inverythan. Ford of the Ythan. When inver and aber
are both places on the same burn, inver means ford and abcr
means infall; but abcr also means a ford, as in Kinnaber.
Inver, infall, ford; Ythan, river name.
Inzie Head. Cape like a claw. Ionga, claw, nail.
Irie wells. Wells whose water is red with iron oxide.
Irie is a corruption of ory, containing ore, which in Aberdeen-
shire is pronounced eir.
Ireland Well. Well whose water was tinged red with
oxide of iron. Ore is corrupted into eir in Scotch.
Iron Mine (disused). This is a place where a deep
excavation was made to ascertain the depth and quality of
a vein of iron ore on the side of the Leacht Eoad. See
Geological Survey map.
Iron Stone. Stone in a sepulchral circle, which emits a
metallic sound when struck.
200 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Ironbrae, Ironfield. In these names iron represents
airnean, plural of airne, sloe.
Ironhill, Ironrieves, Ironside. Watch-hill, watched
fold, site of a watching-place. Aime, watching cattle at
night; coill, hill; rathan, dim. of rath, fold, with an made
5 instead of ie ; suidhe, site. Th in rath is silent.
Irvinestone (for Clach Airidh Bheinne). Stone of the
shieling on a hill. Clach, stone (translated); airidh, shiel-
ing; bheinne, gen. asp. of beinn, hill. Bh is equivalent to v.
Isaacstown (for Baile Easach). Farm having burns.
Baile, farm-town; easach, having burns. In Highland dis-
tricts easach means abounding in waterfalls.
Isla. Bright river. Ialach (ch silent), bright, clear.
Ittingstone (for Baile Chuithain). Town of the small
fold. Baile, town (translated); chuithain, gen. asp. of
ciiithan, dim. of cuith, cattle-fold. Ch had become silent or
had been changed to iv. Old forms of the name are Utting-
stoun, Uttestoun, Wittingstoune, which show its derivation
from chuithain.
Ivage Hill. Cattle-fold hill. Chuithail, cuitliail asp.,
fold. Chuithail had passed through the following forms in
becoming Ivage : — Chuithail, Huith-hill, Ith-hill, Ibh-hill, Iv-
aod, Ivage. Th had become bh, equivalent to v. Ail had
been corrupted into Hill, which had been turned into Gaelic
by aod (pronounced aid), hill, hill-face, brae. Aod sometimes
became Edge in names.
Ive. Cattle-fold. Chuith, cuith asp., cattle-fold. Ch
had been lost along with its vowel, and th had become bh,
equivalent to v. St Ives means hill of the fold.
Iverton (for Overton). Upper town.
Jackston, Cross of. Place where two roads crossed,
and where there was an alehouse. Deoch, drink, ale, liquor.
Deoch would have produced Jock, which had been changed
to Jack.
Jacob's Hillock. The meaning of the first part of the
name cannot be made out. It probably began with d, had
c in the middle, and it may have been Dubh Cop, black hill.
The place is a dry knoll 1000 feet above the sea. Dubh,
black ; cop, hill.
Jam. Place on a brae. Aodann, brae. D is sometimes
sounded as if it were followed by y. This produces a sound
like g or /, and aodann, by loss of ao, became jann, which
lapsed into jam.
Jane's Firs. Old fir-tree roots. Sean (pronounced
sheyi), old. The name indicates a place where a fir-wood had
been cut down and the roots had been left in the ground.
Janet Lamb's Well (for Sean Bhaile Laimh). Old farm-
Celtic Place-N antes in Aberdeenshire. 201
town on a hill. Sean, old; bhaile, baile asp., town; laimh,
gen. of lamh, hill. Bh is equivalent to w, and bhaile had
become well.
Janet's Craig. Eock at a short distance from the edge
of the sea. Sineidh (pronounced shenid), stretched out, re-
moved; creag, rock.
Janet's Skellyis (for Sineidh Sgeilgan). Projected
rocks. Sineidh, projecting, distant; sgeilgan, plural of
sgeilg, rock. The Skellyis are three rocks at a short distance
from the shore.
Janet's Well (for Sean Bhaile). Old town. Sean (pro-
nounced shen), old; bhaile, baile asp., town. Bh is equiva-
lent to u, v, or iv. Baile is aspirated because it follows its
-adjective.
Janetstown (for Sean Bhaile). Old town. Sean, old;
bhaile, baile asp., town. Bh is equivalent to u, v, or w ; and
Waile had been corrupted into Well. Sean resembles in
sound the first syllable of Seonaid, Janet.
Jeannie Gordon's Well (for Baile Sean Ghortain).
Town at an old cattle-fold. Baile, town; sean, old; gliortain,
gen. asp. of gortan, small fold. Baile had been aspirated,
becoming bhaile, pronounced tvaile, which had been cor-
rupted into well and put last. Then ghortain had lost the
aspirate and had become gortain. D and t are interchange-
able in Gaelic, and gortain became gordon.
Jeanny Wright (for Sean Airidh). Old shieling. Sean,
old; airidh, shieling.
Jellie's Hillock. Probably the original form of this
name had been Chuitail (cuitail asp.), cattle-fold. This
had been corrupted into Whitehill, afterwards made White
Hillock. White at a later time had been translated into
Gaelic by gealan, small white thing, made dim. because
hillock is the dim. of hill. An of gealan had been changed
to ie, and afterwards s had been added, making an represent
both a dim. and a plural termination. Gealies thus pro-
duced had lapsed into jellies.
Jenny Gow's Pot (for Poit Sean Cuith). Pot of the old
fold. Poit, pot; scan, old; cuith, cattle-fold. C in cuith
had become g, and th had been lost.
Jenny Eitchie's Well (for Sean Bhaile Euighe). Old
farm-town on the slope of a hill. Sean, old; bhaile, baile
asp., town ruighc, slope of a hill where cultivation begins.
Bh is equivalent to w, and bhaile had been corrupted to ircll
and put to the end.
Jenny's Well (for Sean Bhaile). Old town. Sean, old;
bhaile, baile asp., town. Bhaile had become first ivaile and
then ivell.
Jericho. Perhaps for Dubh Airidh Cuith. Black shiel
202 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
at a fold. Dubh, black; airidli, shiel; cuith, fold. All the
asp. letters had been lost. This was the name given to a
distillery. The name was afterwards changed to Bennachie.
Jetty. Something projected. Jettee (French), pier,
jetty.
Jimpack (for Giubhsach). Fir-wood. Since bh and mh
are both sounded v, m had been substituted for b, and h
had been lost, making the word Giumsach, which had lapsed
into Giumpach, finally becoming Jimpack.
Jock's Cairn. The letter j is not in the Gaelic alphabet.
Dh is often sounded as j, and perhaps Jock's Cairn repre-
sents Dhubh Charn, for Dubh Charn, black hill. Dhubh,
dubh asp., black; charn, cam asp., hill.
Jockston's Gate. Gate in this name means road or
way. If j represents d, Jockston's may have originally been
Cloch Dubh, black stone, in which Dubh had been corrupted
into Jock and Cloch had been translated into Stone.
John Forbes 's Cairn. Cairn erected to commemorate
John Forbes of Newe and Bombay.
Johnie's Kirk. The Kirk is a mass of rock. The original
name had been Dunan, little hill. An had been made both
ie and s, and dunies had been corrupted into Johnie's. To
explain this creag, rock, had been added, and it had been
corrupted into Kirk.
Jubilee Cairn. Cairn erected to commemorate the
jubilee of the accession of Queen Victoria. Jubilee (from
Hebrew), season of great joy; cam, pile of stones.
Juncan (for Dun Can). Dun, hill; can, white. But the
original form of the name had been Cuitail, cattle-fold.
From Chuitail to Juncan the steps had been Cuitail,
Chuitail, Whitehill, Dun Can, Duncan, Juncan.
Juniper Cairn. Cairn near juniper bushes. Juniper
(Latin, juvenis, young, and parere, to produce), an ever-
green shrub, named from apparently renewing its youth.
Justice Mill. Mill at a knoll where courts of justice
were held. Probably the burgh barony courts had been held
there for the lands within the freedom of Aberdeen.
Justice Street. Street from the Castlegate to the site
of the justiciary courts held in Aberdeen at the Heading
Hill.
Kailman's Burn. This burn flows down a hillside, and
the name probably means burn of the narrow valley on the
side of a hill. Caol, narrow; man, hill. Man is not in
Gaelic or Irish dictionaries, but it occurs in names and it is
evidently allied to the Latin mons, hill.
Kail Pot. Narrow pot. Caol, narrow; poit, pot.
Kaim Hill, The Kaim, Kaimhill. When two glaciers
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 203
unite they sometimes form a long, slender, steep-sided
moraine between them. After the end of the Glacial Epoch
in Scotland many such ridges were left in valleys. They
are now called Kaims, from their resemblance to the comb
of a cock. Kaim (Scotch), comb.
Kalfrush. Narrow heathery place beside a burn. Caol,
narrow; fraochach, heathery.
Karim Cottage. Cottage at Balmoral occupied by an
Indian Moonshee who taught the Hindoo language to Queen
Victoria.
Katie M'Callum's Cairn. Heap of stones marking the
place where a woman perished in a snowstorm.
Katie's Pot. This may have been a pot in which a
woman named Katie was drowned by order of a barony
court. Katie, however, might be a corruption of cuitan,
small fold. Cattle-folds were in most cases near rivers,
burns, or wells.
Katrine Grain. Branch of the Clachan burn issuing
from boggy places. Catharan, plural of catJiar, boggy place;
grain, branch of a burn. Grain is the same word as groin.
Katteburn. Burn crossing a main road. Catha, road.
Katty's Leap (for Luib Catha). Bend of the road.
Luib, bend; catha, road, hill road.
Kearn. Hill. Cam, hill.
Kebbaty. Place where a channel had been eroded by
running water. Caobte, past part, of caob, to bite, erode.
Kebbuck Knowe. Knoll yielding sods or divots.
Caobach, producing sods; cnap, knoll.
Keelinhead (for Caolan Chuid). Narrow place in a
river, where there was a fold. Caolan, narrow channel ;
cliuid , cuid asp., fold. C, being silent, had been lost.
Keello Pot. Pot in the Don at a narrow place. Caolan,
small gut or channel. An had become o instead of ie.
Keig. Cattle-fold. Cuidh, cattle-fold. Dli had become
git , and h had been lost. The Barmkyn is an ancient fold.
Keilhill, Killhill (1696). Rising ground on which
there was a kiln where oats were dried to be made into meal.
Keillenknowes (for Cnap an Cuile). Knoll at the
nook. Cnap, knoll; an, of the; cuile, gen. of cuil, nook.
The name had been turned into English as if it were Cnapan
Cuilein, knoll of the little nook, with s added to knowe be-
cause cnapan ended in on.
Keillyford (for Ath Cille). Church ford. Ath, ford;
cille, gen. of cill, church. The ford is near Barthol Chapel.
Keiloch. Hill burn. Coilcach, small stream.
Keir. Crest of a hill. Cir, comb of a cock.
Keir, Hill of. Hill with a sharp long ridge on the top.
Cir, crest, comb. There was a cattle-fold on this hill.
204 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Keirn. Crest. Cirein, crest, ridge, cock's comb.
Keiselghur Works. Place where kieselguhr is obtained
and prepared for use in explosives. Kieselguhr is a German
mineralogical name for a diatomaceous earth found in
ancient lakes now dry.
Keith Inch. Cattle-fold island. Cuith, cattle-fold;
innis, island. In nearly all names Keith means cattle-fold.
Keithan, Keithen, Keithney, Kethan. Small fold.
Cuithan, dim. of cuith, cattle-fold. In Keithney the letters
a and n had been transposed, and a became ey.
Keith-hall. Mansion-house named after Sir John
Keith, who purchased Caskieben about 1662, and changed
the name of the mansion-house and estate to Keith-hall.
Keith's Muir. Cattle-fold moor. Cuith, cattle-fold.
On the Ordnance Survey map Keith's Muir is stated to have
been the scene of a conflict between the Clans Keith and
Irvine. Neither of these names belonged to clans, and the
statement is not worthy of credit.
Kellands, The. The kail grounds. Caulis (Latin),
stalk, which in Scotch is cow.
Kelloch Stone. Long narrow sea rock. Caol, narrow.
Kellock, The. The hill burn. Coileach, hill burn,
small stream.
Kelly Burn. Hill burn. Coileach, hill burn.
Kelpie's Kist. Pool in the Ythan, supposed to be the
home of a water spirit.
Kelts Well. Well in a secluded place. Cuilteach,
secluded, private. The sound of t before each is like that
of ts.
Kemb Hills, Kembhill, Kemp's Hill. Crooked hill.
Cam, crook, with b or p added for euphony.
Kemmels of Durno. Kemmels might be a corruption of
Kembhills; which see.
Kemnay (for Caman). Little crook in the river Don.
Caman, dim. of cam, crooked. In the termination an the
two letters had been transposed.
Kendal (for Ceann Dalach). Head of the field. Ceann,
head; dail for dalach, gen. of dail, riverside field.
Kenfield. Head of a field. Ceann, head.
Kennels. Dog houses. Canis (Latin), dog, and suffix
He, place of, as in Latin bovile, place for cattle.
Kennerty (for Ceann Airde). Head of the height.
Ceann, head; airde, height.
Kennethmont (for Monadh Cinn Ath). Moor at the end
of the ford on the great north road. This meaning suits the
locality, and it is suggested by the accent being on eth.
Monadh, moor; cinn, gen. of ceann, head; ath, ford.
Keplahill. Hill head. Ceap, top; lamh, hill.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
205
Kepple Croft. Croft where there was a block of stone
resembling a horse lying on the ground. Gapull, horse.
Kepplecruick. Horse hill. Capul, horse; cnoc, hill.
See Cnoc.
Kepplestone, Capelstones. Horse stone. Several
places are called Kepplestone. Gapull, horse, mare.
Kessock Burn. Small burn. Caise, burn; og, small.
Kettle Hill, Kettle Howe. Kettle represents cm-
tail, cattle-fold.
Kettock Burn, Kettock's Mills. In these names
Kettock represents cuit og, small cattle-fold. Cuit, cattle-
fold; og, small.
Keyhead (for Cuidh Chuid). Cattle-fold. Both parts
mean fold, the second having been added to the first to
explain it after it had been corrupted. Cuidh, fold; chuid,
cuid asp., fold. In cuidh dh is equivalent to y, and in
chuid c being silent had been lost.
Khantore. Head of the round steep hill. Ceann, head;
torra, gen. of torr, steep, flat-topped hillock.
Kiddshill (for Tom Cuidain). Hill of the small fold.
Tom, hill; cuidain, gen. of cuidan, dim. of cuid, fold, tub.
Ain had been made s instead of ie. From cuid come the
personal names Kidd and Kyd. The small tubs in use on
ships for conveying food are called kids. Kid, a tub, becomes-
queed in Aberdeenshire.
Kilbirnie Burn. Burn at the head of a hollow. Ceann,
head; bearna, gap, low place in the skyline.
Kilblean. Hill of milking. Coill, hill; bleoghainn, gen.
of blcoghann, milking.
Kildow. Black nook. Cuil, nook; dubh, black.
Kildrummy. Church on a small ridge. Gill, church;
dromain, gen. of droman, small ridge. The first church may
have been that within the castle. It is apparently not
of the same age as the castle.
Kildrummy Castle. Castle at the head of a small ridge.
Ceann, head; dromain, gen. of droman, small ridge. If the
chapel within the bounds of the castle is the older of the
two buildings Kil represents cill, church.
Kilkiehill (for Ceann Coill Cuidh). Head of the hill of
the fold. Ceann, head; coill, hill (translated and put last);
cuidh, fold. Dh is equivalent to y or ie. In names cinn,
the gen. form, is used for ceann, and cinn often becomes cill.
Kill Dordy. Head of the black little hill. Ceann, head ;
dubh, black; ordain, gen. of ordan, little hill.
Killcrook (for Ceann Cnuic). Head of the hill. Ceann,
head; cnuic, gen. of cnoc, hill. Gaelic-speaking people
usually pronounce n in cnoc as r.
Killden. Narrow den. Caol, narrow; dein, den.
206 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Killeith. Grey head. Cill for ceann, head; Hath, grey.
Killiecrankie (for Ceann Chrann Cuidh). Head of
the place with a fold at a tree. Ceann, head, end; chrann,
crann asp., tree ; cuidh, fold. Dh of cuidh is equivalent to y.
The place in Aberdeenshire was named by Sir Charles Forbes
to commemorate the battle of Killiecrankie in 1689.
Killin Burn (for Allt Coillein). Burn of the little hill.
Alii, burn; coillein, gen. of coillean, dim. of coille, hill.
Killmidden (for Ceann Meadhoin). Middle head.
Ceann, head; meadhoin, gen. of meadhon, middle.
Killywharn (for Ceann a' Chairn). Head of the hill.
Ceann, head; a', of the; chairn, gen. asp. of earn, hill.
Kiln Den. Narrow den. Caol, narrow; dein, den.
Kilnary (for Cill na h- Airidhe). Head of the shieling.
Cill, for ceann, head; na, of the; h (euphonic); airidhe, gen.
of airidh, shieling.
Kinadie, Kinaldie, Kinnadie (for Ceann Alltain). Head
of the small stream. Ceann, head; alltain, gen. of alltan,
small burn.
Kinbate (for Ceann Beath). Head of the birch wood.
Ceann, head; beath, birch wood.
Kinbattoch. Head of the birch-growing place. Ceann,
head; beathaich, gen. of beathach, birch-growing.
Ivinbeam Hill (for Ceann Beinne). Head of the hill.
Ceann, head; beinne, gen. of beinn, hill.
Kinbog. Head of the bog. Ceann, head; bog, soft
place.
Kinbroon. Head of the hill. Cinn, for ceann, head;
bruighine, gen. of bruighin, fairy hill, hillock.
Kincardine (for Ceann Cathair Dain). Head of the seat
of judgment. Ceann, head; cathair (th silent), seat; dain,
gen. of dan, judgment. The place had been near the site of
a barony court.
Kincardine o' Neil. Kincardine on the Neil burn. See
Kincardine. O'Neil represents Allt an Ail, burn of the hill.
Allt, burn (suppressed); an, of the; ail, gen. of al, hill.
Kinclune. Head of the meadow valley. Ceann, head;
cluain, gen. of cluan, meadow.
Kincraig. Head of the hill. Ceann, head; craige, gen.
of creag, rock, hill.
Kincraigie. Head of the little hill. Ceann, head;
creagain, gen. of creagan, little hill.
Kindie Burn. Burn in Glenkindie; which see.
Kindrochit, Kindrought. Head of the bridge. Ceann,
head; drochaide, gen. of drochaid, bridge.
Kinellar (for Ceann Al Airidhe). Head of the hill of
the shieling. Ceann, head; al, hill; airidhe, gen. of airidh,
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 207
shieling. Dh in airidhe is silent, and it and the contiguous
vowels have been lost.
King-Edwaed ' (for Cinn Iochdar). Lower heads.
Cinn, plural of ceann, head; iochdar (och silent), lower. The
upper heads are where the railway crosses the burn of King-
Edward, and the lower are where the turnpike road crosses
it. Old forms are Kynedor (1178-1199), Kenidor (1199-
1207), Kynedwart (1273). The modern form appeared on
communion cups in 1618.
Kinghorn (for Ceann Chairn). Head of the hill. Ceann,
head; chaim, gen. asp. of earn, hill.
Kinglaser (for Ceann Lasair). Headland on which
signal fires were made. Ceann, head, promontory; lasair,
flame of fire.
Kingoodie. End of the cattle-fold. Ceann, head, end;
cuidJi, cattle-fold. The sound of y is heard when dh is slowly
pronounced.
King's College. King James IV. showed some interest
in the erection of the college, and it was often ascribed to
him.
King Seat, Kingseat, King's Crown, King's Links,
King's Hillock, King's Chair, Kingsford, Kingswells,
Kingshill. In all these names King and King's represent
ceann, head. Seat is suidhe, site, place; Crown is cruinn,
round; Chair is probably connected with charr, carr asp.,
rock; Wells is the source of the Denburn; but Wells might
represent bhaile, baile asp., town.
Kinharrachie (for Ceann a' Charrachain). Head of the
little rocky place. Ceann, head; a', of the, (suppressed);
charrachain, gen. asp. of carrachan, dim. of carrach, rock.
C of Charrachain, being silent, had been lost, and ain be-
came ie.
Kininmonth. Head of the hill. Ceann, head; an, of
the; monaidh, gen. of monadh, moor.
Kinkell. Head of the church. Ceann, head; cille, gen.
of cill, church. Final c is often lost.
Kinknockie (for Ceann Cnocain). Head of the knoll.
Ceann, head; cnocain, gen. of cnocan, little hill.
Kinloch. Head of the loch. Ceann, head; loch, lake.
Kinminity, Kinminty, Kinmonity, Kinmundy, (for Ceann
Monaidh). Head of the hill. Ceann, head; monaidh, gen.
of monadh, hill, moor. When dh is pronounced slowly the
sound of ?/ is also heard.
Kinmuck. Hill where pigs fed. Ceann, head; muc, gen.
plural of muc, pig. Muc may represent muiche, gloom,
darkness.
Kinnaird's Head. Head of the hill. Ceann, head; airde,
gen. of ard, hill. In " The Navigation of James Y." it is
208 Celtic Place-Navies in Aberdeenshire.
called Torrisness, and it is probably the place called Torfness
in the history of King Duncan.
Kinnermit, Kinarmy (1273). Head of the land where
cattle pastured. Ceann, head; airmheidh, gen. of airmheadh,
drove of cattle.
Kinnernie (for Ceann Fhearna). Head of the alders.
Ceann, head; fhearna, gen. plural asp. of fearna, alder.
Kinnoir (for Ceann an Oir). East head. Ceann, head;
an, of the ; oir, east.
Kinord. Head of a hill. Ceann, head; ord, hill.
Kinstair. Head of the road over a wet place. Ceann,
head, end; staire, gen. of stair, passage over a wet mossy or
boggy place, stepping-stones. See Kinkell.
Kintocher. Head of the causeway. Ceann, head;
tochair, gen. of tochar, causeway, dry road through a bog.
Kintore. Head of the hill. Ceann, head; torr, steep,
abrupt knoll.
Kiplaw. Head of the hill. Ceap, top; lamh, hill.
Kipp. Small piece of ground. Ceap, plot of ground.
Kipperies. Small plots of cultivated land at a shieling.
Cip, plural of ceap, plot of cultivated ground; airidhe, gen.
of airidh, shieling, summer hill pasture.
Kippet Hills. Small hills. Kippet is a dim. of ceap,
top of a hill.
Kirk Hill, Kirkhill, Kirkhtllock. The second part is
a translation of the first. Kirk is a corruption of creag, hill.
Sometimes Kirk Hill means hill near a church.
Kirk Lakes. Flat smooth rocks near St Combs Church.
Leacan, plural of leac, flat rock. The rocks had been
smoothed by the passage of an ice sheet over them. An
became s.
Kirk Style. Church gate.
Kirkney. Little hill. Creagan, dim of creag, hill. An
became na, and afterwards ney.
Kirn, The Kirns. Crest of high land. Cirean, crest.
S in Kirns arose from mistaking the dim. an for the plural
termination.
Kist Hill. Hill on which a stone-lined sepulchral cham-
ber was found. Ciste, kist, chest, grave.
Kitchenhill, Kitchiehill (local); Windkitchiehill and
Windkitiehill in Poll Book, 1696. Cattle-fold hill. Cuithan,
dim. of cuith, cattle-fold. C became k; th was strengthened
by the insertion of c; and an became ie in the local form.
Wind, prefixed to the forms in the Poll Book, shows that
Kitchie and Kitie had been believed to be corruptions of
gaothach, windy, but this is a mistake.
Kittlemannach, Kittlemanoch (for Cuitail Meannach).
Fold for kids. Cuitail, fold ; meannach, pertaining to kids.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 209
Kittling Wood. Wood growing where there was
anciently a fold. Cuitail, cattle-fold.
Kitty Loch. Opening from the sea into the land, which
had anciently served as a cattle-fold. Cuitan, dim. of cuit,
fold. An became ie. Kitty Loch is locally supposed to have
been a resort of kittywakes, but this is a mistaken idea.
Kitty Tapp's Wood. Wood on a hilltop where had
anciently been a cattle-fold. Cuitan, dim. of cuit, cattle-
fold; tap (Scotch), top. An of cuitan became ie.
KlTTYBREWrSTER, KlTTYBROUSTER WELL, KlTTYTHIRST
Well. In these names the first part represents Cuitan
Briste, broken fold. Cuitan, dim. of cuit, fold; briste,
broken. Usually, folds for cattle had water near them.
Kittybrewster was in the den now called Berryden, which
means watery den. Kitty brouster was on the boundary
between St Nicholas and Spital parishes, on the west side
of Monthooly. It is mentioned in a charter defining the
bounds of the Spital lands, in the possession of the Town
Council. Kittythirst is in Keig, and in this name, from
association with a well, briste had become thirst. Broken-
fold in Forglen is a translation of Cuitan Briste. These folds
had been made by planting trunks of trees upright in the
ground. When these decayed the folds had become ruinous.
Kittycallin. Fold of the little wet meadow. Cuitan,
small fold; callain, gen. of callan, dim. of calla, marsh,
meadow.
Kittyneedie Stone. Cattle-fold at a stone commemo-
rating a great man. Cuitan, cattle-fold; niaidh, gen. of
niadh, hero, mighty man. An became y, its equivalent in
Scotch.
Knaggan. Small knob. Cnagan, dim. of cnag, pin, pro-
jecting top.
Knaphead. Cattle-fold on a small knoll. Cnap, little
hill; cliuid, cuid asp., fold.
Kxappach Ford. Ford where there are small knolls.
Cnapach, abounding in knolls.
Knapperna (for Cnap Fhearna). Knoll of alder-trees.
Cnap, knoll; fhearna, gen. plural of fearna, alder-tree. Fh is
silent and disappears from names.
Knappert Hillock, Knapperty Hillock, Knappert
Knows. Knowes on which grows Orobus tuberosus, knap-
pert. This term may be a corruption of Knapwort, root
growing on knolls. Cnap, knoll; toort, plant, root. Large
tubercles grow on the roots of the knappert. Children bruise
them and macerate them in water and obtain a sweet liquid
called knappert wine. The knappert was once regarded as
a kind of fruit.
210 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Knappie. Little knoll. Cnapan, dim. of cnap, knoll. An
had been changed to ie.
Knappieround. Eound knoll. Cnapan, small knoll;
cruinn, round.
Knappy Park. Enclosed space containing knolls. Cnap-
ach, hilly; pairc, park.
Knaps. Knoll. Cnapan, dim. of cnap, knoll. Final s
represents an in cnapan, which is in it the dim. and not the
plural termination.
Knapsleask. The knoll of Leask. Cnapan, dim. of cnap,
hill; Leash, name of a district. See Leask. Cnapan had
been erroneously regarded as the plural of cnap.
Knaven (for Cnap Bheinne). Head of the hill. Cnap,
head, top; bheinne, gen. asp. of beinn, hill.
Knightland Burn. Hill burn. Cnoc, hill; lamhan, little
hill. Cnoc, hill, had been thought to be cniochd, knight.
Knightsmill (for Cnoc Meall). Both parts mean hill.
Cnoc, hill; meall, hill. Cnoc, hill, had been supposed to be
C7iiochd, knight. Apparently the same mistake had been
made with the name Knightsbridge in London.
Knock, The Knock, Knockhill, Knoxhill. In these
names Knock and Knox represent cnoc, hill; which see.
Knock becomes Knoll, which in Scotch is softened into
Knowe.
Knock na Hare. Hill of the shieling. Cnoc, hill; na, of
the; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling.
Knock of Lawsie. Hill of fire. Cnoc, hill; lasaidh, gen.
of lasadh, burning, shining. This hill may have been utilised
for transmitting signals by fires or blazes.
Knockandoch, Knockandhu, Knockanduie, Knockandy,
(for Cnocan Dubh). Black little hill. Cnocan, dim. of cnoc,
hill; dubh, black. Doch may represent dorch, dark. Knock -
ando in Moray has also the same meaning.
Knockargety. Hill of silver. Cnoc, hill; airgid, gen. of
airgiod, silver. Some granitic rocks contain much mica and
sparkle when the sun shines on them. For this reason a
hill on the south of Loch Morlich is called Airgiod Meall,
silver hill. The sound of d and dh at the end of Gaelic words
has a faint sound of y also.
Knockdhu (for Cnoc Dubh). Black hill. Cnoc, hill;
dubh, black.
Knockenbaird. Knoll of the meadow. Cnocan, knoll;
baird, gen. of bard, meadow.
Knockendash (for Cnocan Dais). Hillock like a rect-
angular hay mow or sow. Cnocan, hillock; dais (pronounced
dash), mow or sow of corn or hay. Dash may, however,
represent deas, south.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 211
Knockenzie. Hill of the fold. Cnoc, hill; fhangain,
gen. asp. of fangan, small fold. Fh is silent.
Knockespook. Hill of the bishop. Cnoc, hill; easpuig,
bishop.
Knockfarran. Hill of the cultivated land. Cnoc, hill;
jar an, dim. of jar, land.
Knockfullertree. Hill of the burn on the shieling.
Cnoc, hill; phuill, gen. asp. of poll, pool, burn; airidh,
shieling; triath, hill. Triath is a late addition made to
explain cnoc.
Knockhall. Both parts mean hill. Cnoc, hill; choill,
coill asp., hill. If the name is modern hall means a pro-
prietor's castle or mansion with a large public room.
Knockie. Small hill. Cnocan, dim. of cnoc, hill. Other
forms of cnocan are Knowles and Knollys, in which an had
wrongly been made s.
Knockie Branar (for Cnocan Bran Airidhe). Knoll near
a burn from a shieling. Cnocan, knoll; bran, hill burn;
airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling.
Kxockiemill. Both parts of the name mean hill. Cnocan,
small hill; mill, gen. form of meall, round-topped hill.
Knockiemore. Big hillock. Cnocan, small hill;
mor, big.
Knockieside. Side of a small hill. Cnocan, small hill.
An becomes ie in Scotch. If the name is old side represents
suidhe, place.
Knockinglew. Hill of breadth. Cnocan, hillock; leoid,
gen. of leud, breadth. D had been aspirated and afterwards
lost.
Knocklea, Knockleith. Grey hill. Cnoc, hill; Hath,
grey.
Knocklom. Bare hill. Cnoc, hill; lorn, bare.
Knockmonean. Hill of the little moor. Cnoc, hill;
moinein, gen. of moinean, little moor.
Knoceollachie. Hill beside a river. Cnoc, hill; allach-
ain, gen. of allachan, dim. of attach, stream.
Knockorthie (for Cnoc Chortain). Hill of the enclosure.
Cnoc, hill; chortain, gen. asp. of cortan, dim. of cort, circle,
sepulchral stone circle, fold. Both the first and the last
letters of cort had been aspirated. C, being silent, had been
lost, along with h.
Knockothie. Hill above a broad river. Knock, hill;
otha, gen. of oth, broad water. The hill is near the Ythan
below Ellon.
Knockquharn. Hill. Cnoc, hill; charn, cam asp., hill.
The second part is a duplicate of the first.
Knockriach. Grey hill. Cnoc, bill; riabhach, grey,
brindled.
212 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Knocksaul, Kxocksoul. Wet hill. Cnoc, hill; sughail,
wet, sappy. Gh in sughail is silent.
Knowehead, Knowhead. Head of the knoll. Know and
Knowe are softened forms of Knoll.
Knowes. Cnocan, plural of cnoc, hill. But perhaps
cnocan was meant to be the dim. of cnoc, and should there-
fore have been translated into English by Knowe.
Knowley. Grassy knoll, hey, level grassy place.
Knowsie. Little hill. Cnocan, dim. of cnoc, hill. An
had been made both s and ie.
Knoxhill, same as Knockie Hill.
Kye Hill. Hill of the fold. Cuidh, fold. Dh is equiva-
lent to y.
Kylieford. Narrow' ford. Caoile, narrowness. The
stream on which the ford was is very small.
Lach na Gualainn. Hill of the cattle-fold. Lamh, hill;
na, of the; gamldainn (pronounced gaulainn), gen. of gamh-
lann (Irish), cattle-fold.
Lachlandstrype. Burn from a hill. Lachland repre-
sents lamh, hill, and lamhan, little hill. The second part had
been added to explain the first. Mh had become ch in lamh ,
and it had become silent and had been lost in lamhan.
D is a euphonic insertion.
Lackie Head. Head where is a smooth flat rock. Leac,
flat smooth stone.
Ladder (The), Ladder Road, Ladder Hills. The
Ladder is a steep part of the Ladder Eoad, which crosses the
Ladder Hills between the Nochty and the Livet burns. In
the last half-mile to the summit level it rises 440 feet.
Leitir, slope of a hill.
Ladenhar (for Leathad na h-Airidhe). Slope of the
shieling. Leathad (th silent), side of a hill, slope ; na, of the ;
h (euphonic); airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling.
Ladie's Brig (for Lady's Brig). This mis-spelling occurs
in more than one name. The original form had been
Leathan Ath, broad ford. Leathan, broad; ath, ford.
Leathan had become Lady's by change of th into dh and by
change of an into s, in the belief that it was a plural ter-
mination. Ath had been translated into Ford, which had
become Brig when a bridge took the place of the ford. See
Ladysford.
Ladie's Moss, Ladymoss. Broad moss. Leathan,
broad. Leathan became Lady's by change of th into dh
and change of an into s. See Ladie's Brig. If more ap-
propriate to the locality the names might mean side of the
moss, coming from leathad, side. Ladie's is a mis-spelling
of Lady's.
Celtic Place-Names i)i Aberdeenshire. 213
Lady Hill. Broad hill. Leathan, broad. This is an
old name for the Broad Hill at Aberdeen.
Lady Well. Well dedicated to the Virgin Mary — " Our
Lady."
Ladybog. Bog side. Leathad (th silent), side; bog, bog.
Ladyhill. Hillside. Leathad (th silent), side of a hill.
In sounding d forcibly the sound of y is heard after it faintly.
Ladylea (for Leathad Liath). Grey hillside. Leathad
(th silent), hillside: liath, grey.
Ladyleys. Broad leys. Leathan, broad; leys, grassy
places.
Ladymire. Place beside a bog. Leathad, side.
Ladymoss. Side of the moss. Leathad, side.
Lady's Den. Broad den. Leathan, broad; dein, den.
Lady's Dowry. Small portion of land promised by a
father to his daughter as a dowry, concerning which a
fictitious story is related to the effect that he would give his
daughter all the land which she could see from a certain
place. The portion proved to be very small.
Lady's Jointure. See Lady's Dow7ry, the promise in
this case being made by the husband.
Ladysford (for Ath Leathan). Broad ford. Ath, ford
(translated) ; leathan, broad. In Leathan th became first dh
and then d; and an, though not a dim. termination, was
translated into y.
Laeca Burn. Leacach, abounding in stones. The burn
crosses a diorite area, and there are many large blocks of
dark blue rock near the course of the burn.
Lag Burn. Burn of the howe. Lag, howe.
Laggan. Little howe. Laggan, dim. of Jag, howe.
Laghlasser. Hill of flame of fire. Lamli, hill; lasair,
gen. of lasair, flame. The proper form of the genitive of
lasair is lasrach.
Laidner Pot. Pot on the edge of a shieling. Leathad
(th silent), side; na, of the; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling.
Laighmuir. The original form of the name had perhaps
been Blar Laimh, moor of the hill. Blar, moor (translated
and tx'ansposed) ; laimh, gen. of lamli, hill.
Laiks (The), Lakes (The). The smooth flat rocks.
Leacan, plural of leac, flat stone. The rocks had been pol-
ished by the passage over them of an ice sheet in the glacial
period.
Laing's Pot, Laingseat. In these names Laing might
be a personal name, but more likely it represents laimh (mh
nasal), gen. of lamli, hill. Seat is a translation of suidhe,
place, site.
Lair of Aldararie. This seems to be a corruption of
214 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Lairig Allt Darraraiche, hill sloping to the Allt Darrarie.
Lairig, hill slope. See Allt Darrarie.
Laird's Burn, Lairdswell. In these names Lairds
represents lairige, gen. of lairig, side of a hill, road on the
side of a hill, pass between two hills. Well is a corruption
of bhaile, baile asp., town; and Lairdswell means town on a
hillside.
Laird's Moss. Moss where tenants cut peats for the
proprietor of the land.
Lairig an Laoigh. Hillside where calves were sent to
feed. Lairig, hillside, road on a hillside, pass between two
hills; an, of the; laoigh, gen. of laogh, calf.
Lairig Ghru. Gloomy pass. Lairig, road on the slope
of a hill; grit, gloomy. This is a foot-road on the side of
Ben Macdhui, near the bottom of the deep ravine between it
and Braeriach.
Lairshill. Hill land. Lair, for lar, land. 8 had been
inserted in the belief that Lair was a personal name in the
possessive.
Laithers (for Leitrean). Sides of a hill. Leitrean,
plural of leitir, hill slope. An is a plural termination which
had been changed to s.
Lamahip (for Ceap Laimh). Head of the hill. Ceap,
head, top; laimh, gen. of lamh, hill. The summit of the hill
is 1325 feet above sea level.
Lamawhillis (for Lamh Choillein). Lamh, hill; choil-
lein, gen. asp. coillean; dim. of coille, hill. The second part
should have been in apposition to the first, but it has been
made to qualify the first by being aspirated. Ch has become
win, and an has become s instead of ie.
Lamb Hill, Lambhill, Lambhillock, Lambslack, Lamb-
tech, Lamb's Well. In these names Lamb represents lamh,
hill; Slack is slochd, hollow; and Tech is teach, house.
Lambslack, therefore, means hollow between two hills,
Lambtech means house on a hill, and Lamb's Well means
well on a hill.
Lambing Hillock, Lambshillock. Small hill. Lamhan,
dim. of lamh, hill. An of lamhan has become ing in the
first and s in the second as if it had been a plural and not
a dim. termination.
Lamington (for Baile Lamhain). Town on a small hill.
Baile, town, translated and put last; lamhain, gen. of
lamhan, small hill.
Lammerbogs, Lammermuir, Lammerwells. In these
names Lammer represents Lamh Airidhe, hill of the shiel-
ing. Lamh, hill; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling. Bogs is
for bogan, a bog, and should have been made Bogie;
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 215
Wells is for bhaile, baile asp., town, and the name means
town on the hill of the shieling.
Lammies Crook. Both parts mean hill. Lamhan, dim.
of lamh, hill; cnoc, hill. An of lamhan had been treated as
both a dim. and a plural termination. Crook is one of the
corruptions which represent cnoc, hill. N after c often
becomes r.
Lammylair (for Lar Lamhain). Land on a small hill.
Lair, for lar, cultivated ground; lamhain, gen. of lamhan,
small hill. Ain became ie or y in passing into Scotch.
Lanchery. Sheep-fold. Lann, enclosure; chaorach,
gen. plural of caora, sheep.
Landerberry. Little fold at a wet place. Lann, en-
closed space; der, little; bioracli, watery.
Lang Croft (for Croit Lamhain). Croft of the small
hill. Croit, croft; lamhain, gen. of lamhan, small hill. The
personal name Lang may mean a resident near a small hill.
Langderick Burn. Burn of the hill of the gentle slope.
Lamhan, dim. of lamh, hill; der, small; mdgh, slope.
Langgadlie (for Geadhail Lamhain). Field of the hill.
Gcadhail, field; lamhain, gen. of lamhan, hill.
Langleys.. Long grass fields. Ley, grassy place.
Langlittery (for Leitirtean Lamhain). Sides of a hill.
Lcitirtean, euphonic plural of leitir, side of a hill; lamhain,
gen. of lamhan, little hill. Ean of Leitirtean had become y,
and mh in Lamhain being nasal it had become Lang. Then,
Lang being thought to be an adjective, the parts of the name
had been transposed to bring the adjective before its noun
in the English way.
Laxgoline (for Lamhan Ailein). Hillock of the green
place. Lamhan, hillock; ailein, gen. of ailean, green plain.
Larachmore. Big ruin of farm buildings. Larach, site
of a farm, ruins; mor, big.
Largie. Little place on a hillside. Lcargan, dim. of
Icarg, hillside.
Largue. Hillside. Learg, slope of a hill, road on the
slope of a hill.
Lary. Farm. Larach, farm, dwelling, site.
Lasts. Burned places. Lasta, past part, of las, to burn.
Latch. Muddy hollow crossing a road. Lathach,
puddle. H with its vowel had been dropped.
Lathries (for Leitrichean). Sides of a hill. Lcitrichean,
plural of leitir, hillside. Ean had been regarded first as a
dim. and afterwards as a plural termination, and therefore
first ie and afterwards s had been added to leitrich.
Lauchintilly (for Lamhan Tulaich). Hill of the hill.
Lamhan. hill; tulaich, gen. of tulach, hill. Mh had become
216 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
ch, and thus the meaning of lamhan had been obscured,
wherefore tulaich had been added to explain it.
Lauchlansbrae (for Lamh Lamhain). Brae on a hill.
Lamh, hill; lamhain, gen. of lamhan, dim. of lamh, hill.
M/i of Lamh had become ch, in Lamhan raft, had become
silent, and an had erroneously been changed to s.
Laundry. Washing-house. Lavandus (Latin), to be
washed, from lavare, to wash.
Lavell, Lawel, (for Baile Laimh). Town on a hill.
After the meaning of the name had been lost Baile had been
put into the qualifying position and had been aspirated.
Then the name became Lamh Bhaile, hill of the town. Bh
being equivalent to u, v, or iv, bhaile became veil and well,
and lamh lost mh because it had become silent. Lawel is
now the name of a hill, and a farm on its slope is called
Lawelside.
Lavenie. Both parts of the name mean hill. Lamh,
hill; bheinne, gen. asp. of beinn, hill. Bh is equivalent to
u, v, or w.
Laverance. Same as Lawrence.
Laverockbrae. Laverock is the Scotch form of lark.
The meaning of these words is obscure. Perhaps laverock
represents lutharog (th silent), little light thing. Luthar,
light; oy, little. The distinctive thing about the lark is its
rising in the sky at daybreak in summer, with no apparent
effort. Fern, diminutives end in ag or og.
Law, Law Cairn, Law Hillock. In these names Law
represents lamh, hill. Cairn also means hill.
Lawrence Boad. Road from the north to Lawrence
Fair, once the greatest market in the Garioch for young
cattle.
Lawsie (for Lamhan). Hill. Mh had become silent and
had dropped out. An had been changed to s as being a plural
termination, and afterwards to ie as being a dim. termination.
Lawstripe. Hill burn. hamh, hill; stripe (Scotch),
small stream. Mh is pronounced v, u, or w.
Lazy Well. Sparkling well. Lasaidli, gen. of lasadh,
shining, sparkling.
Leabaidh an Daimh Bhuidhe. Bed of the yellow stag.
Leabaidh, bed; an, of the; daimh, gen. of damh, stag, ox;
bhuidhe, gen. of buidhe, yellow.
Leabra Burn. Very noisy burn. Labhrach, noisy,
making a great noise.
Leac a' Gobhainn. Hillside of the fold. Leac, flat
smooth stone, smooth bare hillside; a', of the; ghabhainn,
gen. asp. of gabhann, fold.
Leac Ghorm, Leac Gorm. Green slope on a hill. Leac,
smooth hillside; gorm, green, blue if seen from a distance.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 217
Leacht, The. Steep road from Strathdon to Tomintoul.
Leachd, declivity. The name of this road is not on the
Ordnance Survey map.
Lead, Bridge of. Bridge at a wide part of a road.
Leoid, gen. of leud, width, wide place.
Leadensider (for Leathad an Saighdeir). Hillside of the
soldier. Leathad (tha silent), hillside; an, of the; saighdeir,
gen. of saiglidear {gh silent), soldier. The g in the Scotch
form of soldier (soger) is due to the g in saighdear. The Latin
Sagittarius, arrower, soldier, also contains g.
Leadlich (for Leathad Lice). Slope of a hillside.
Leathad, slope, side; lice, gen. of leac, hill slope. Both
parts of the name mean the sloping side of a hill.
Leak Willie (for Leac Uilinn). Stone at a bend in the
coast. Leac, flat stone; uilinn, gen. of uileann, turn. Inn
had been regarded as a dim. termination and had been
changed to ie.
Leamington (for Baile Lamhain). Town on a hill.
Baile, town; lamhain, gen. of lamhan, small hill.
Leargaiche Lar (for Lar Leargaiche). Steep land, land
of steepness. Lar, land; leargaiche, steepness.
Learney. Hillside. Leargan, sloping green place. G
had been aspirated, and then the soft gh had been dropped.
The two letters of an had been transposed.
Learwick's Point. Point near a bay of the sea. Lear,
sea; uig, nook. Learwick had been thought to be a personal
name, and 's had been added.
Leask, Lasg (1436). Place. Leasg, spot of ground.
Laskgowne (1433), Laskgowunie (1435). Fold at
Leask. Leasg, place; gabhainn, gen. of gabhann, fold. Ai
and nn had been transposed, and nnai had become nie.
See Lease.
Leazach Burn. Glittering burn. Leusach, giving out
light.
Leddach (for Leth Dabhoich). Half of a farm which had
been divided. Letli, half; dabhoich, gen. of dabhoch, large
pastoral farm. See Lettoch.
Ledikin, Leathgayn (1366), Ledingham (1660). (for
Leathad a' Ghabhainn). Hillside where there was a fold.
Leathad, side, hillside; a', of the; ghabhainn, gen. asp. of
gabhann, fold. About 1800 the family name Ledingham was
colloquially made Ledikin.
Ledmacay. Side of the cup-like hollow. Leathad. side ;
na, of the; cuaiche, gen. of cuach, cup.
Leeches Burn (for Allt Leigidh). Burn at a milking-
place. Allt, burn; leigidh, gen. of leigeadh, milking.
Lees Burn. Burn near an enclosure. Lios, stone circle
round a grave, cattle-fold, enclosed place. 0 in lios serves
218 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
to indicate that s is not pronounced sh, but it is not sounded.
There are traces of an ancient enclosure.
Leet Moss. Moss allotted to tenants for casting peats
for their proprietor. Leet means allotted.
Legatesden (for Dein Garth Leigidh). Den of the fold
for milking. Dein, den; garth, fold; leigidh, gen of leigeadh,
milking.
Leggat (for Garth Leigidh). Fold for milking. Garth,
enclosure, fold; leigidh, gen. of leigeadh, milking.
Leggerdale (for Dail Leigeadh Airidhe). Field for
milking cows on a shieling. Dail, field; leigeadh, milking;
airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling.
Leggie. Milking-place. Leigidh, gen. of leigeadh,
milking-place for cows at pasture.
Leggie Burn or The Leggie. Burn of the milking-place.
Leid's Hill (for Leathad Tuim). Side of a hill.
Leathad, side; tuim, gen. of torn, hill (translated). Tli with
its vowel had dropped out, being silent, and Leid had been
supposed to be a personal name in the genitive.
Leith Hall. Mansion-house of the Leith family. Hall,
mansion-house, so called because formerly castles, being
garrisons, had a large ball to which every person belonging
to the place had access.
Leith-hall. Grey hill. Liath, grev; choille, coille asp.,
hill.
Leitir, The. The hillside. Leitir, hillside, sometimes
made ladder.
Lemnas (for Leum an Eas). Fall of the water. Leum,
fall; an, of the; eas, water, burn.
Lenabo. Cows' meadow. Lean, meadow; nam, of the;
bo, gen. plural of bo, cow.
Lenchie (for Lean a' Chuith). Plain of the fold. Lean,
plain; a', of the; chuith, gen. asp. of cuith, fold.
Lendrum. Moor of the ridge. Lon, moss, moor; droma,
gen. of druim, hill, ridge.
Lenshie. Broad hill. Leathann, broad; sith, hill. The
aspirated letters had become silent and had been lost. S
before i is pronounced sh.
Lentush. Plain before a hill. Lean, plain, corn land;
tuis (pronounced tush), gen. of tus, front.
Leochel (for Leth Choill). Side of a hill. Lcth (th
silent), side; choill, coill asp., hill.
Leochel Burn. Burn of the broad hill. See Leochel.
On O.S. Map arrows along this burn point uphill.
Leochrie (for Leoid Ruigh). Broad hillside. Leoid, gen.
of lend, breadth; ruigh, slope of a hill. The original form of
the name must have been Ruigh Leoid.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 219
Lesciiangie. Sheep-fold. Lios, enclosure, sheep-fold;
fangain, gen. of fangan, dim. of fang, fank, sheep-fold.
Lescraigie (for Lios Creagain). Circle of the little hill.
Lios, stone circle, fold. Ain had become ie.
Leslie, formerly Lesslyn. Stone circle of the level
ground. Lios (o silent), circle; lein, gen. of lean, plain.
There were formerly two stone circles in Leslie.
Lesmoir. Big circle. Lios (o silent), circle, sepulchral
circle, fold; mor, big.
Lessendrum. Enclosure of the hill. Lios, stone circle
guarding a grave, cattle-fold; an, of the; droma, gen. of
druini, hill, ridge.
Lethen. Broad place. Leaihann, broad.
Lethenty. Broad places. Lethenty seems to be a plural
form of leathan, broad, formed by adding tan instead of an,
to distinguish it from the dim. form. This would produce
Leathantan, and after the meaning had been forgotten an
would readily have become y or ie as if it had been a dim.
termination.
Lethgauel (" Collections " of Spalding Club, p. 248,
1600. Slopes of the low hill between the Urie and the
Shevock at their junction. Leathad, slope; gabhail, gen. of
gabhal, fork between two streams. This was the same place
as Ledikin ; which see.
Lettach (for Leth Dabhoich). Half of a farm which had
been divided. Leth, half; dabhoich, gen. of dabhoch, large
pastoral farm. See Leddach.
Letter. Hillside. Leitir, the sloping side of a hill. See
Ladder and Leitir.
Leuchar. Rushy. Luachar, rushes.
Leuchlands. Wet hill. Fhliuch, fliuch asp., wet;
lamhan, dim. of lamh, hill. Fh, being silent, had been
lost. Mh had become silent and had been lost, and an had
by mistake been changed to s. D is frequently inserted
after n.
Leum an Easain. Waterfall on a small burn. Leum,
leap, fall; an, of the; easain, gen. of easan, small burn.
Lewes (for Luichan). Lochs. Luichan, lochs; formed
from luich, gen. of loch, lake. An had become s. Anciently
there had probably been more than one loch at Lewes in
Fyvie. Lewes is the same as Lewis in the Hebrides, where
there are many lochs.
Lewesk. Small burn. Lu, small; uisge, water, burn.
Lewis' Well, Lewishillock, Lewistowk. In these
names Lewis represents lu, small, with s added because it
had been thought that the first part was a personal name in
the possessive.
220 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Ley, Leys, Leyton. In these names Ley means grass
land. There is no indication of wetness in the name.
Ley Water. Burn from a grassy place.
Leyhead. Fold on a grassy place. Ley, grass land;
chuid, cuid asp., fold. C, being silent, had been dropped.
Liana Burn. Burn of the level plain. Leana, corn land.
Liath Choire Mhor. Big grey corry. Liath, grey;
choire, coirc asp., corry; mhor, mor asp., big.
Lickleyhead Castle. Castle on the slope of the hillside.
Leac, declivity; leatliaid, gen. of leathad, side of a hill. The
castle is on the side of Bennachie. T asp. is silent and had
been lost.
Lidentoul (for Leathad an Tuill). Side of the hollow.
Leathad, side; an, of the; tuill, gen. of toll, howe. Th and
its adjacent vowels had become silent and had been lost.
Lied's Bank (for Leathad Chuit). Slope of the fold.
Leathad, slope; chuit, cuit asp., fold. Chuit had been cor-
rupted into white, which had been turned into ban, white,
and k had been added for euphony.
Lifting Stones. Stones in a wet place. Fliuch, wet;
tain, place, land. F had been lost and ch had become /,
leaving liuftain, now lifting.
Liggars Stane. Lying stone. Liggar (Middle English),
that which lies.
Lightna, Lightnot, (for Fhliuchan). Wet place. Fhliu-
chan, fliuchan asp., wet spot. By loss of fh and transposition
of a and n, Lightna was obtained, which had been Anglified
into Lightnot. From Moine Fliuch ach, wet moor, came
the personal name Meenlicht, now Moonlight or Macknight.
Lightwood. Wet hill. The original form of the name
had been Coillc Fhliuchaidh, hill of wetness. Coille, hill;
fJiliuchaidli, gen. asp. of fliucliadh, wetness. After being
put first [fti]li[u]ch[ai]d[h] had lost the letters within
brackets, and coille had been translated wood because this is
the common modern meaning of this word.
Likeleys Hill. Hill on which there is a flat stone at a
grassy place. Leac, flat smooth stone; leys, grassy places.
Limekiln. Structure for roasting broken limestone to be
used as manure or for building. Lime is efficacious at first,
but it ultimately impoverishes the land, and farm limekilns
are seldom used now. Culina (Latin), kitchen, roasting-
place. The Gaelic name for a limekiln is athaoil, whence the
name Athol in Udny, where limestone had been burned when
the castle was built.
Limer Shank (for Sithean Laimh Airidhe). Hill of the
hill of the shieling. Sithean (pronounced shan), hill; laimh,
gen. of lamh, hill; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling. Euphonic
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 221
7c had been added to shan, and being thus made an English
word it had been transposed to the end of the name.
Lindsay Hill, Lindsay's Burn. Lindsay may represent
Linne Saobhaidhe, pool of the den of a fox or an otter.
Linne, pool; saobhaidhe, gen. of saobhaidh, den of a wild
animal. Linne might have lost final ne, and the aspirated
letters of saobhaidhe would have become silent and have
been lost. Then the vowels would have coalesced. D is a
common intrusion after n.
Lingamend (for Lian Gamhainn). Meadow of the cattle-
fold. Linn, meadow, plain: gamhainn, gen. of gamhann,
cattle-fold.
Linganbo (for Lian nan Bo). Field of the cows. Lian,
field, wet meadow; nan, of the; bo, gen. plural of bo, cow.
Links, Lincolmwod (Reg. Mag. Sig., 1467), Lincanw-od
(1493-4), Linkis (Futty, 1529), Linx (Aberdeen, 1534),
Linkes (Aberdeen, 1638), The Queen's Links (Spalding,
1639). Level, grassy, sandy places near the sea, ancient
raised beaches. Lianan, plural of lian, plain, made liancan
by inserting euphonic c. C is preserved in the two oldest
forms, and also in the Anglo-Saxon word hlincas, in Cyne-
wulf's Phoenix (about (1000), but it is usually changed to ~k.
Linn. Waterfall. Linne, pool, lake, waterfall. Though
it seems that the radical meaning of linne is pool it fre-
quently means waterfall.
Linn of Dee. Pool of the Dee. Because there is usually
a pool below a waterfall a linn is often thought to mean a
waterfall. There is a large pool at the Linn of Dee, but not
a waterfall. Above the pool the river is narrow at the
surface and wider at the bottom. The river had run at one
time on a hard bed of rock under which is a bed of soft rock.
Stones carried down by the river eroded a narrow channel
three feet wide in the hard rock, and afterwards a wider
channel in the rock below. Linne, pool; Dee, river name,
meaning black. See Dee.
LiNNnEAD. Head of the waterfall. Linne, nool, water-
fall.
Lion's Face. This is a spot in a cliff near Braemar with
a fanciful resemblance to a lion's face.
Linshart (for Lian Ard). High plain. Lian, grassy
plain; ard, high. An of Lian had been regarded as a plural
termination, and s had been inserted though an was left.
Linshart is on a high level plain near low ground.
Linthaugh. Haugh on which lint had been spread prior
to the extinction of the hand-spinning of yarn, about 1830.
Lintmill. Mill where flax was scutched to get rid of
woodv stems.
222 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Linton (for Baile Lein). Town of the meadow. Baile,
town (translated and transposed) ; lein, gen. of lean, meadow.
Lintrigs (for Lian Kuighein). Field of the slope. Lian,
field; ruighein, gen. of ruighean, slight slope. Ein had been
made s instead of ie.
Lip's Den. Den at a bend in a road. Luibe, gen. of
luib, bend, corner. S is added because luibe is in the gen.
Litterty (for Leitirtean). Hillsides. Leitirtean, plural
of leitir, hillside. Tan or lean added to the nom. or gen. of
certain nouns produces the euphonic plural. In Scotch these
terminations become ty, dy, tie, or die. See Lethenty.
Little Clachdubh. Little black stone. Clach, stone;
dubli, black.
Little Craig. Small hill. Creag, hill.
Little Dundee. Small hill. Dunan, dim. of dun, hill.
An becomes ie in Scotch, but here it has become ee. D is a
common insertion after n. Dee does not represent dubh,
black, for in Dundee the accent is frequently placed on the
first syllable. Little Dundee is an imported name in Strath-
don, conferred in honour of James Graham, Viscount
Dundee.
Little Grain. Small branch of a burn, but properly the
space between two branches of a burn.
Little John's Length, Littlejohn's Length, Little-
john's Wood. Littlejohn had been in Gaelic Dun Beag, little
hill. Dun, hill; beag little. Dun had become John, and
beag had been translated and put first. Littlejohn's Length
on the top of Bennachie means the distance, about 200 feet,
between two rocky knolls.
Little Ord. Small hill. Ord, hill.
Little Pitscur. Pitscur represents Pit Sgoir, place of
the sharp rock. Pit, place; sgoir, gen. of sgor, sharp rock.
Little Pourin. Small stream oozing from a hill.
Pouran, small stream.
Little Pap. Small hill resembling the breast of a young
woman.
Little Tam. Small hill. Tom, hill.
Little Torry. Small steep flat-topped knoll. Torran,
dim. of torr, steep hill.
Little Water. This is a tributary of the Ythan, com-
pared with which it is small.
Littlehillie. Little hill. Hillie is a corruption of
choille, coille asp., hill. C in choille is silent.
Loangarry. Kough marshy place. Lon, moss, meadow,
marsh; garbh, rough.
Loanhead. Grassy place at a fold. Lon, meadow,
grassy place; chuid, cuid asp., fold.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 223
Loanend. End of a grassy place. Loan, grass land at
a farm steading.
Loch, Lochan, Lochie. Loch, lake, pool. Loclian,
dim. of loch, small loch. Lochie, Scotch form of lochan, an
becoming ie.
Loch Bhrotachan, Loch Vrotachan. Loch at which
cattle throve well and grew fat. Loch, loch; bhrotachaidh ,
gen. asp. of brotachadh, improving, thriving, growing fat.
Loch Builg. Loch at a small cattle-fold. Buaileag,
dim. of buaile, cattle-fold. Builg is pronounced bulig.
Loch Callater. Loch of the marshy land. Calla,
marsh; tir, land. At the upper end of the loch there is a
meadow, once a marsh.
Loch Davan (pronounced dawan). Loch of the two
waters. Loch, loch; da, two (takes noun in singular);
abhainn, water, river. Lochs Davan and Kinord are only
275 yards apart.
Loch Etchachan. The loch of the Brae burn. See
Etchachan.
Loch Goul. Loch of the fold. Gabhail, gen. of gabhal,
fold. The fold had been at Lochhead; which see.
Loch Muick. Loch in Glenmuick. See Glenmuick.
Loch nan Eun. Loch of the birds. Loch, loch; nan, of
the; eun, gen. plural of eun, bird. Some lochs are fre-
quented in the breeding season by black-headed gulls.
Loch nan Stuirteag. Loch of the sturdy sheep. Locht
loch; nan, of the; stuirdean, gen. plural of stuirdean, sturdy
sheep. Sheep take a disease of the brain called " sturdy,"
caused by swallowing with their food germs of tapeworms
voided by dogs. In ignorance of the true cause of the
disease, shepherds attribute it to the pasture on which the
sheep feed.
Loch of Bunzeach. See Bunzeach.
Loch of Monwig. Loch in a nook of a moss. Moine,
moss ; uig, nook. The parts of Monwig are not in the original
order.
Loch of the Leys. Loch of the grassy places. hey,
grassy place. The loch is now drained.
Loch Phadruig. Patrick's loch. Phadruig, gen. asp. of
Padruig, Patrick.
Loch Ullachie. Loch of preparation. Loch, loch;
ullachaidh, gen. of ullachadh, preparation. It is near the
old drove road over the Capel Mount, and at this loch cattle
might have been rested and arranged in droves suitable for
different markets.
Lochaber. Outflow of Loch Lochy into the river Lochy.
Loch, lake; aber, infall of a river into the sea or into another
224 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
river, ford, outflow of a lake. Lochaber in Aberdeenshire
must be an imported name.
Lochan a' Chreagain. The little loch at the small hill.
Lochan, small loch; a', of the; chreagain, gen. asp. of
creagan, small hill.
Lochan Dubh. Little black loch. Lochan, small loch ;
dubh, black.
Lochan Feurach. Little grassy loch. Lochan, small
loch; feurach, grassy.
Lochan na Feadaige. Small loch frequented by plovers.
Lochan, small loch; feadaige, gen. asp. of feadag, plover.
Lochan nan Eun. Small loch frequented by birds.
Lochan, small loch; nan, of the; eun, gen. plural of eun,
bird.
Lochan Oir. Little golden loch. Lochan, small loch;
oir, gen. of or, gold.
Lochan Uaine. Green little loch. Lochan, little loch;
uaine, green.
Lochander (for Loch Ceann-tire). Loch of the promon-
tory. Loch, lake; cinn-tire, gen. of ceann-tire, headland,
projecting point.
Lochandhu. Black lochan. Lochan, small loch; dubh,
black.
Lochans. Small lake. Lochan, small loch. S had been
added because an was erroneously supposed to be the plural
termination. The Gaelic plural of lochan is lochanan.
Locharmuick. Loch of the buzzard. Armuigh, buzzard.
Buzzards preyed on grouse and were abundant till grouse
preserving caused them to be killed out. The loch had been
a breeding-place.
Lochbuy. Yellow loch. Loch, lake; buidhe, yellow.
Lochcam Pot. Crooked loch pot. Cam, crooked.
Lochee Bridge. Bridge at the outlet of the lake formerly
around Inverallochie Castle. Ee (Scotch), outlet of a lake.
Lochend. House near the upper end of Loch Muick.
Locheye. Outlet of Loch Goul.
Lochhead. Loch at a cattle-fold. Chuid, cuid asp.,
cattle-fold. C had been lost after aspiration.
Lochhills. Hills near a farm-town called Loch, where
there is a pool.
Lochie o' the Glen. Small loch in the glen of Berry's,
burn. Lochan, small loch.
Lochielair. Small lake in the land. Lochan, small
loch; lair, gen. of lar, cultivated ground.
Lochlip. Loch edge.
Lochlundie. Loch of the wet place. Loch, lake; fhliu-
chain, gen. asp. of fliuchan, wetness, wet place. Fh and ch
being silent, had been dropped. Ain had been changed to
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 225
ie in passing into Scotch, and d had been inserted after n for
euphony.
Lochmanse. Loch of willows. Locli, loch; maothan,
gen. plural of maothan, willow. Th with its antecedent
vowels had become silent and had been lost. An had been
regarded as a plural termination, s had been added to
man without changing an, and e had been added to obtain
an English word.
Lochnagab. Loch of the cattle-fold. Loch, lake; na, of
the; gabhainn, gen. of gabhann, cattle-fold.
Lochnagar (for Lochan Gearr). Short lochan. Lochan,
lochan, small loch; gearr, short. The present mode of
spelling the name is modern and does not represent the
local pronunciation.
Lochnalair (for Lochan Lair). Small loch in the land.
Lochan, small loch ; lair, gen. of lar, land. Lar, being mas-
culine, cannot be preceded by na. There is a small loch
near Lochnalair.
Lochnavens (for Loch na Beinne). Loch of the hill.
Loch, loch; na, of the; beinne, gen. of beinn, hill. Beinne
had lost e, and then inn had been supposed to be a plural
termination, and s had been added to inn instead of being
substituted for it.
Lochrie (for Luachrach). Rushy place. Luachrach,
abounding in rushes.
Lochter Burn. Lochland burn. Loch, lake; tir, land.
Lofthillock. Smooth hillock. Liovihta, smoothed,
polished. Mh is equivalent to v.
Loganhill. Hill of the howe. Lagan, dim. of lag, howe.
Logie. Little howe. Lagan, dim. of lag, little howe.
Logie-Buchan. Small howe in Buchan, which anciently
extended on the south to the watershed between the Ythan
and the Don. Lagan, dim. of lag, howe. The Logie of
Buchan famed in song is a howe in the parish of Lonmay.
Logie-Coldstone (for Lagan and Clach Codhaile).
Howe, and Stone of assembly. Lagan, small howe; clach,
stone (translated); codhaile, gen. of codhail, assembly.
Logie-Coldstone is a parish embracing the older parishes of
Logie in Mar and Coldstone.
Logie Durno. Stony little howe. Lagan, small howe ;
dornach, abounding in small stones. Logie Durno was the
old name of the modern parish of Chapel of Garioch, and
when the chapel was made the church of the parish of Logie
Durno the name of the chapel became also the name of
the parish.
Logie Elphinstone. Logie belonging to the Elphin-
stone family. Lagan, little howe.
226 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Logiehall. Farm in a howe. Lagan, small howe ; hall,
farm-house.
Logiemuir. Howe on a moor. Lagan, small howe.
Logie Newton. New town in the howe. Lagan, dim.
of lag, howe.
Logierieve (for Kath Lagain). Circle of the howe.
Rath, stone circle, cattle-fold; lagain, gen. of lagan, little
howe. Th of Rath had become bh, equivalent to v, and
Eav had lapsed into Eieve.
Loin. Moss. Loin, for Ion, moss, marsh, meadow.
Loin, the gen. form, is often used for Ion, the nom., in
names of places.
Loin Burn (for Allt Loin). Burn of the moss. Allt,
burn; loin, gen. of Ion, moss, morass.
Loinahaun (for Lon na h-Abhann). Morass of the water.
Lon, morass; na, of the; h (euphonic); abhann, gen. of
abhainn, river.
Loinavoick (for Lon a' Bhuic). Meadow of the buck.
Lon, meadow, moss; a', of the; bhtiic, gen. asp. of boc,
buck, male deer.
Loingarry. Bough moss. Lon, moss, bog; garbh,
rough.
Loinherry (for Lon na h-Airidhe). Moss of the shieling.
Lon, moss; na, of the; h (euphonic); airidhe, gen. of airidh,
shieling.
Loinmuie. Gloomy moss. Lon, moss; muige, gen. of
muig, gloom.
Loinveg. Small moss. Lon, moss; bheag, beag asp.,
small.
Lonach. Place abounding in meadows. Lon, meadow;
ach, place of, abundance of.
Lone Burn. Moss burn. Lon, moss, marsh.
LoNENWrELL (for Tobar Loininn). Well of the cattle
lane. Tobar, well ; loininn, cattle lane.
Long Bank, Long Burn, Long Craig, Long Gutter,
Long Moss, Long Slouch, Long Well, Longcairn, Long-
croft, LONGDEMMING, LoNGDRUM, LONGFORD, LoNGHAUGH,
LONGHILL, LONGHORN WELL, LONGLEY, IjONGSIDE, LoNG-
steps. In some of these names Long may represent the
English word long, but it is in most cases a corruption of
the Gaelic word lon, moss, marsh, meadow. Which of the
two is the proper word in any particular case could only be
determined after examining the physical aspect of the place.
Gutter is in Gaelic gnitear, and it means a water channel
of any sort, a small ditch or a deep broad passage between
rocks in the sea. Slouch is slochd, deep gorge; Horn is
chairn or chuirn, gen. asp. of earn, hill. Longdemming
represents Lon Domhain, bog of the evil spirit. Longside
Celtic Place-Xames in Aberdeenshire. 227
is the same as Langside, edge of a moss or marsh. Well
may be a corruption of baile, town, or it may be the Eng-
lish word well. Longsteps is appropriate for a place where
there are stepping-stones through a wet place.
Lonmay. Marsh of the plain. Lon, marsh; maigh, gen.
of magh, plain.
Lonside, Hill of. Hill at the edge of a marsh. Lon,
marsh, moss, meadow. Side might represent suidhe, seat,
place.
Loon's Loup (for Luib Fhliuchain). Bend of the Craig
burn at a marshy place. Luib, bend; [fh~\l[i]u[cJi]ain, gen.
asp. of fliuchan, wet place. The aspiration of fiiuchain
shows that it had originally been last. Letters within
brackets had been omitted. Ain, though retained, had been
translated into s, producing Luains, and Luib had become
Loup. It sometimes becomes Lip or Loop.
Loop, Loup. Bend. Luib, crook, bend in the outline of
a brae. Loop is at the end of a hill. From luib comes the
name Lip or Lippe.
Lootingstone, Loutin Stane. Resting stone. Lout,
to sit down, bend the body. Stone at a roadside where
funeral parties rested when carrying a coffin. Pack mer-
chants also found them useful.
Lord Arthur's Cairn. Cairn commemorating Lord
Arthur Forbes.
Lossat Wood. Wood of the little burn. Lossan, little
burn. Same as Lossie.
Lost, perhaps for loist, whose dim., loistean, means
lodging, entertainment. The place may have been an inn.
As o in loist is long and i short, it might have been corrupted
into Lost.
Lothian, Loudon. Hill slopes. Leoidean, plural of
leathad, side of a hill.
Louping Stone. If this name is of English origin it may
mean stone where fishermen leap into boats ; but if of Gaelic
origin it must be a corruption of luib, bend.
Louper's Knowe (for Cnocan Luib Airidhean). Knoll
at a bend in a piece of hill pasture. Cnocan, knowe, knoll;
luib, bend; airidhean, gen. plural of airidhe, shieling.
Lownie Burn (for Allt Fhliuchain). Burn of the wet
place. Allt, burn; fhliuchain, gen. asp. of fliuchan, wet
place. Fh and ch had become silent and had been lost.
Ain had become nai by transposition of letters, and this
had become nie.
Lowrie. Conspicuous place. Lomhaire, comparative of
lomhar, shining, brilliant.
Low's Pot. Pot m the Ugie in a low place. Low's
228 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
seems to be the same word as Lowes in Selkirk and Lewes
in Fyvie, where it means either low place or loch.
Luath's Stone. Luath was the name of Fingal's dog,
and after 1762, when the Ossianic poems were published,
this name had been given to a nameless stone pillar on the
Green Hill, Tough. Luath, swift.
Luchray, Burn of. Burn of the rushy place. Luach-
rach, rushy.
Ludquharn (for Lod a' Chairn). Pool of the hill, Lod,
pool; a', of the; chairn, gen. asp. of earn, hill.
Lui. Small water. Lu, small. Compared with the
Dee the Lui is small.
Luibeg. Little Lui. Beag, little. The little Lui is the
west branch of the Lui.
Luib. Crook, bend, curve. From luib come Lip, Lippe,
Loop, Loup.
Lulach's Stone. Stone in Drumnahive Wood in Kil-
drummy. But Lulach, king of Scotland, 1057-8, was killed
at Essy in Strathbogy. (Skene " Celtic Scotland," I., 411.)
Lum Wood. Hill wood. Lamli, hill.
Lumbs. Little hill. Lamhan, dim. of lamh, hill. An
should have become ie, but being supposed to be a plural
termination it was changed to s.
Lump of Bonlee. Hill of Bonlee. Lamh, hill. See
Bonlee.
Lumphanan (for Lamh Finain). Hill. Lamh, hill;
finain, gen. of finan, small hill. The first part had been
corrupted into Lum, and the second had been added to
explain it.
Lumphart. Hill. Lamh, hill; ard, hill.
Lumps, The. The hills. Lamhan, hills. In several
names lamh and lamhan are now Lum and Lums. B and
p are sometimes inserted after m. An had become s instead
of ie.
Lumsden (for Dein Lamhain). Hill den. Dein, den,
gorge; lamhain, gen. of lamhan, dim. of lamh, hill. Ain
had been turned into s.
Luncart, Lunchart. Circular enclosure, fold, fort,
stone circle round a grave, semicircle at a bank to make a
place for a fire out of doors.
Luncarty. Small fold. Luncartan, dim. of luncart,
stone circle, fold.
Lunderton (for Baile Lon Airidhe). Town on the
grassy place at a summer shieling. Baile, town; lon, moss,
grassy place; airidhe, gen. of airidh, summer pasture among
hills.
Lurg. Hillside. Slope of hill.
Luther. Stream name meaning swift. Other forms of
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 229
the same word are Leuchar, Luthair, Luthor, Lughmhor,
Luthmhor. The aspirated letters in these words are silent
or faintly sounded in Gaelic, and all are pronounced in the
same way.
Lyne. Plain. Lean, meadow, level grassy place.
Lynardoch. Level places on a hill. Lean, level corn
land; ardoch, hilly.
Lynebain. White field. Lean, corn land; ban, white.
Ban is the translation into Gaelic of white., which is a cor-
ruption of chuit, cuit asp., fold.
Lynemore, Lynmore. Big plain. Lean, plain, corn
land; mor, big.
Lynturk. Field of the boar. Lean, field; tuirc, gen. of
tore, boar.
Lyons Den. Den of the meadow. Lian, meadow. An
had erroneously been regarded as a plural termination, and
s had been added to an instead of being substituted for it.
Macbeth's Cairn. Cairn in Lumphanan, under which
was found a small cist, 18 inches by 9 inches, excavated in
rock. Without any evidence it was assumed to have con-
tained the ashes of Macbeth's body.
M'Clog's Well (for Tobar Magh a' Chnuic). Well of
the level ground on the hill. Tobar, well; magh, plain,
level place; a', of the; chnuic, gen. asp. of cnoc, hill.
Chnuic being in the gen. 's had been added to it to repre-
sent the English possessive.
M'Fadyen's Well (for Tobar Magh a' Chuidain). Well
of the level ground at the small fold. Tobar, well; magh,
level ground; a', of the; chuidain, gen. asp. of cuidan, small
fold. Aspirated c had been changed to /, which is aspirated
p ; and Chuidan being in the gen. 's had been added to it
to represent the English possessive.
Machar Church. Machair, plain, meadow, ancient sea
beach. Machar Church is on high ground now, but it prob-
ably was at first on the haugh near the river, where the
dwellings of the early inhabitants had been. No evidence
has been found to show that the church was dedicated to
a beatified person named Machar.
Macharmuir. Moor of the level plain. Machair, plain,
meadow, raised sea beach.
Machar's Chapel. The Ordnance Survey maps show
sites in Strathdon and Kildrummy where it is supposed
there had been chapels dedicated to St Machar. But
Machair in Gaelic signifies a haugh near a river, or an ancient
sea beach now beyond the reach of the sea.
Machar's Haugh. Both parts of the name have the
same meaning. Machair, haugh.
230 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Machar's How. Howe beside a river. Machair, level
ground beside the sea or a river, haugh.
Mackay's Stripe. Burn of the plain. Maghain, gen. of
maghan, dim. of magh, plain. Ain having become ie in
Scotch Maghie had been Anglified into Mackay, which had
afterwards become Mackay's.
Mackie. Smooth rock. Maghan, small level place. An
had become ie.
Mackies, The. The smooth rocks. They had been
smoothened by the passage of an ice-sheet over them.
Maghan, level place. An had become both ie and s.
Mackie 's Hill. Hill of the small level place. Maghan,
s'mall plain. An had been made both ie and s, the latter
by a mistake.
Mackie's Steps (for Clacharan Maghain). Stepping-
stones across a burn in a level plain. Clacharan, stepping-
stones; maghain, gen. of maghan, small plain. Ain had
become both ie and s.
Macknagran. Level sandy place. Magh, plain; na, of
the; grainne, sand.
Macstead. Farm-town situated in a plain. Magh,
plain; suidhe, site, place, residence.
Macterry (for Magh Tire). Level piece of land. Magh,
plain; tire, gen. of tir, land.
Maggie Arnott, Maggie Haugh, Maggie's Howe,
Maggie's Trink. In these names Maggie represents
maghan, dim. of magh, level place. Arnott might represent
Airidh an Otha, shieling at the sea. Airidh, shieling; an, of
the; otha, gen. of oth, broad water. Trink, a Scotch word,
means a small channel, either wet or dry.
Mahon (for Magh Chon). Level place frequented by
dogs. Magh, plain; chon, gen. plural asp. of cu, dog, small
quadruped :— vole, rat, rabbit, squirrel, otter, badger.
Mahuncar (for Magh Luncart). Circular enclosure,
stone circle round a grave, fold. L had been dropped, as
often happened, after a long broad vowel. Final t had been
aspirated, and then, being softened, it had become silent
and had dropped off.
Maiden Causeway. Eoad on Bennachie to the cattle-
fold on the summit. The name originated in connection
with a legend regarding the Maiden Stone.
Maiden Hillock (for Toman Meadhoin). Middle hillock.
Toman, hillock; meadhoin, gen. of meadhon, middle.
Maiden Stone. Sculptured stone at the base of Ben-
nachie with the figures — among other things — of a mirror
and a comb, which led people to suppose that it commemo-
rated a maiden.
Maidencraig. A rock in the middle of the Denburn
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 231
valley between Kiugswells and Oldmill. It is a hard
remnant left when the den in which the burn flows was
excavated by a glacier. Meadhon, middle; creag, rock.
Maim, The. The breast. Maim, gen. of mam, breast.
A word, such as Cnoc, meaning hill, must be understood
before Maim. Mam is cognate with the Latin word
mamma, woman's breast.
Mains. Farm occupied by the proprietor of an estate.
Terrae Dominicales (Latin), laird's lands. Terrae, lands;
dominicales, from Latin dominus, pertaining to a laird or
landlord. From Dominicales came Domains, which became
Mains, a proprietor's farm.
Mairlenden. Den of the merlin. Hawks were
numerous before game preserving became fashionable.
Maitland's Bridge. Bridge at a wet place on a hill.
Maoth, wet; lamhan, hill. D had been added to n for
euphony.
Maldron. Bare ridge. Maol, bare; dronn, sharp-backed
ridge. The term dronn is peculiarly appropriate for a
narrow ridge between two burns which have eroded deep
channels.
Malsach Burn (for Allt Mall Samhach). Slow, quiet
burn. Allt, burn; mall, slow; samhach (mh silent), quiet.
Maling Burn (for Allt Meallain). Burn of the little hill.
Allt, burn; meallain, gen. of meallan, little hill.
Mam nan Carn. Pap of the mountains. Mam, pap,
breast-like hill; nan, of the; carn, gen. plural of carn,
mountain.
Mameulah (for Mam Neulach). Dark-coloured hill. Mam,
large round convex hill; neulach, dark, cloudy, obscure.
Mammie. Little round hill. Mamag, little round hill.
Manabattock — same as Monabattock.
Manar. An Indian name imported into Aberdeenshire.
Mannie, Burn op. Burn of the kids. Meannan, gen.
plural of meann, kid, roe. The final syllable an, though
plural, had been made ie in Scotch.
Mannofield. Middle field. Meadhonach, middle.
Manor Place. Mansion-house of the proprietor of an
estate. Manor, from Latin manere, to remain, through
manoir (Old French), nobleman's residence. Manoir is
accented on the last syllable, and this led to pronouncing
Manor occasionally in the same way.
Manse. Minister's official residence. Mansio (Latin),
dwelling-house.
Maol Charrach. Bound-topped hill with uneven sur-
face. Maol, skull-shaped hill; charracli, carrach asp.,
uneven in the surface.
Mar (perhaps for Math Airidh). Good summer hill
232 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
pasture. Math, good; airidh, summer pasture among hills.
Th is usually silent at the end of words, and dh in airidh is
never sounded. Sometimes i also is silent, as in Harlaw.
An old tract, supposed to have been written in the twelfth
century, states that " Marr and Buchen " formed one of
the four provinces of Scotia north of the Forth. In this
sense Mar comprehended all the area drained by the Dee
and the Don ; but Mar is associated more with the Dee than
the Don and more with Upper Deeside than Lower Deeside.
The etymology given would be appropriate for Deeside above
Ballater. Many names refer to pastures and live stock: —
cattle, pigs, sheep, lambs, goats and kids, and to folds for
them.
Mar Craig (for Creag Mara). Bock in the sea. Creag,
rock; mara, gen. of muir, sea.
Mar Forest. A large area of uncultivated ground in
Braemar reserved for sport. Forestis (Latin), open hunting
ground as opposed to an enclosed park where deer were
kept. Sculptured stones of the Columban age (563-1100)
show hunting scenes with men on horseback, bows and
arrows, and dogs chasing deer.
Mar Lodge. Summer residence for sportsmen in Mar
Forest.
March Burn. This burn is one of the head streams of
the Dee. It rises on the ridge between Loch Avon and the
Lairig Ghru. It flows west near the boundary between
Aberdeen and Inverness, and descending the west side of
Ben Macdhui it becomes the Allt Lairig Ghru. It feeds the
Pools of the Dee and afterwards joins the Garchory Burn,
and the two streams form the Dee. At the junction the
Allt Lairig Ghru is 2 miles 20 chains long ; but the Garchory
is 30 chains longer, and it is also larger.
Marchland, for Hill of the marsh. Lamhan, dim. of
lamli, hill; marrisch (Scotch), marsh.
Marchmar (for Lon Mor). Big marsh. Lon, bog,
marsh; mor, big. Gordon's map of Aberdeen, 1661, has
" The Marrisch " for the loch of Aberdeen, and Lon might
have been made Marrisch.
Marchmire. Bog near a boundary.
Marchmyres. March represents marsh, and Myres has
the same meaning.
Marchnear. Marsh of the shieling. Marrisch, marsh;
na, of the; airidh, shieling.
Marcus, Hill of. Hill of the great fold. Mor, big;
rhos, cos asp., fold.
Marionburg. Marion's town. See " Place Names of
West Aberdeenshire." Marion or Marian is a dim. from
Marv, as are Alison from Alice, Lilian from Lily, Julian
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 233
from Julius. Marionburg might, however, have been an
importation from Germany, where there is a town of the
same name.
Market Stance. Place for holding a market. Stance
(Scotch), standing-place, from stans (Latin), standing.
Marlin Grain. Grain of the hawk. Merlin, falcon,
hawk; grain, branch of a burn.
Marlpool. Pool where clay had been excavated. Marl
is in geology a mixture of earth and lime, but lime is not
an essential ingredient in marl.
Marnabogs. Bog of the gap. Beama, gap, hollow. B
may pass into m by the following steps : — b, bh, mh, m. Bli
and mh both sound v.
Marno. Gap. Beama, gap. Mh and bh are both equi-
valent to v, so that bh was liable to be made mh, and this,
by loss of the aspirate, became m.
Marrot Pot. Motionless pot. Marbh, dead-like,
motionless; poit, pot.
Marrott's Walk. Both parts of the name seem to refer
to the razor-billed auk. Marrot, Scotch name for the auk;
ivalk, corruption of auk.
Mar's Koad. An old road from Kildrummy to the
Garioch. It is attributed to an earl of Mar because it began
at Kildrummy Castle, the head of the earldom of Mar.
Martinsmuir. Moor on which a fair was held on St
Martin's day.
Mary Den (for Dein Mearain). Den of the small branch
of a burn. Mearain, gen. of mear, finger, branch burn. Ain
had become y in passing out of Gaelic into English.
Mary Gray. Perhaps for Murean Creag. Small hill.
Murean, dim. of mur, hill; crcag, hill. Ban becomes ie or y
in Scotch, and Creag becomes Gray.
Mary's Valley (for Baile Murean). Town on a hill.
Baile, farm town; murean, dim. of m.ur, hill. Ban had been
regarded by some as a dim. termination and made y, and
by others as a plural and made s. Then Baile had been
made Bhaile and put last. Bhaile is pronounced voile, and
this sound it still retains though it is spelled Valley.
Massiesbraes (for Braigh Masaig). Hill of the small
red berry. Braigh, hill; masaig, gen. of masag, red little
berry.
Mastrick. A dairying place. Maistreachaidh (pro-
nounced mastrachae), gen. of maistreachadh, churning of
milk. For a long time the land around Aberdeen lay un-
cultivated on account of stones in the ground and on the
surface. The pasture among them had been utilised for
dairy cows.
234 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Matnach. Abounding in osiers. Maothanach, abound-
ing in twigs or willow wands.
Matthew's Burn. Burn of bounty. Mathais, gen. of
mathas, benevolence, bounty.
Mauld Moss (for Moine Maol). Bare moor. MoineT
moor, moss; maol, bare, bald.
Mausoleum. A splendid tomb erected by Artemisia in
honour of her husband Mausolus, king of Caria. x\ chamber
containing a grave is called a mausoleum.
Maut Craig. Smooth rock. Maoth, smooth; chreag,
creag asp., rock. The rock had been ground smooth by the
passage over it of an ice-sheet charged with stones.
Maw Craig. Cliff frequented by seagulls. Crcag, rock,
cliff, hill; mew, seagull; in Scotch maw in imitation of its
cry.
Maw's Haven. Creek frequented by seagulls. Mew,
seagull.
Max Hill. Hill of the little plain. Maghain, gen. of
maghan, dim. of magh. Max represents Maghs, in which s
is an erroneous rendering of an, the dim. termination.
May's Pot. Pot in a level part of a river. Poit, pot;
maigh, gen. of magh, plain. Maigh had been regarded as a
personal name, and 's had been added to turn it into the
English possessive.
Meackie Point. Cape on the coast of Cruden where
there is a fleshy-rooted plant. Meacan, fleshy-rooted plant;
perhaps Ligusticum Scoiicum (lovage) is meant. It was
eaten.
Meadaple. Great pool. Meud, greatness; a', of the;
phuill, gen. asp. of poll, pool. Meadaple is in the valley of
the Bed Burn at a place where there is little fall on the burn
for half a mile.
Meadowhead (for Cluan a' Chuid). Meadow of the fold.
Cluan, meadow; a', of the; chuid, gen. asp. of cuid, fold.
C in chuid, being silent, had been lost.
Meagry Hill. Hill of mirth. Meaghraidh, gen. of
meaghradh, sport, festivity.
Meall Alvie. Hill of the gorge. Meall, round-topped
hill; amhaich, gen. of amhach, neck, narrow place. L is
frequently inserted before m preceded by a.
Meall an Lundain (perhaps for Meall an Lonain). Hill
of the small meadow. Meall, round topped hill; an, of the;
lonain, gen. of lonan, dim of Ion, marsh, moss, meadow.
D is often added to n.
Meall an t-Slugain. Hill of the little slug. Meall, hill;
an t-, of the; slugain, gen. of slugan, small gorge.
Meall Beag. Little hill. Meall, lump of a hill; beagt
little.
Celtic Place-Names hi Aberdeenshire. 235
Meall Coire na Saobhaidhe. Hill of Coire na Saobh-
aidhe. Meall, hill; coire, corry; na, of the; saobhaidhe, gen.
of saobhaidh, den of a wild beast such as a fox.
Meall Cula. Back or north side of a hill. Meall, round,
skull-shaped hill; cula, gen. of cul, back.
Meall Dorch. Black hill. Meall, round-topped hill;
dorch, black, dark.
Meall Dubh. Black hill. Meall, hill; dubh, black.
Meall Glasail Beag, Meall Glasail Mor. Hill of the
little green burn, and Hill of the big green burn. Meall,
hill; glas, green; allt, burn; beag, small; mor, big. Glasail
is a contraction of Glas Allt.
Meall Gorm, Meall Gorm Ghiubhais. Blue hill, and
Blue hill of the fir. Meall, hill; gorm, blue; ghiubhais, gen.
asp. of giubhas, fir.
Meall nan Caorach. Sheep hill. Meall, a round-topped
hill; nan, of the; ehaoracli, gen. plural of caora, a sheep.
Another name having the same meaning is Tillykeira.
Meall nan Uan. Hill where lambs were sent to feed.
Meall, round-topped hill; nan, of the; uan, gen. plural of
uan, lamb.
Meall Odhar. Dun hill. Meall, round-topped hill;
odhar, dun, dark cream colour.
Meall Tionail, Meall an Tionail. Hill of assembly,
and Hill of the assembly. Meall, round lump of a hill; an,
of the ; tionail, assembly, gathering.
Meaths, The. Meaths is a Scotch word which means
marks and objects by which a person recognises a place.
The Meaths apparently means marks by which fishermen
found their way into a boat haven on a rocky coast.
Meddens. Middle place. Meadhon, middle. Final s
is a needless and objectionable addition, arising from on
being regarded as a plural termination.
Meddin Mount. Hill of the middle. Meadhoin, gen. of
meadhon, the middle.
Meddons of Ewe. Middle farm of Ewebrae. Meadhon,
middle. On had been regarded as a plural termination,
hence s had been added to it.
Meet Hill, Meethillock, (for Cnapan Moid). Hillock
where courts of justice were held. Cnaipan, knoll, hillock;
moid, gen. of mod, assembly, court of justice.
Meetings. Meadow. Miadan, meadow, grass}7 plain.
Final s had been added in the belief that an was a plural
termination.
Megen Burn. Burn near which a plant called Meum
athamanticum grows. Meacan, root resembling a carrot.
The local name of the plant is micken, whose root is chewed
for its aromatic flavour.
236 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Meg's Eye, Meg's Moss, Meg's Pot. Meg's is for
maigh, gen. of magh, plain, with 's added to convert it into
the English possessive. Eye represents suidhe, place, seat,
in which dh is silent and readily lost.
Meg's Stone (for Clach Meud). Big stone. Clach,
stone; meud, gen. of meud, bigness. Meud had readily
lapsed into Meug, because d asp. and g asp. have the same
sound; and, as eu is like a long, Meug had become Meg, to
which 's had been added to convert it into the possessive
case.
Meikle Cammel Stone. Big stone of the crooked hill.
Meikle, big; cam, crooked; meall, hill.
Meikle Garron. Big nail. Garron (Scotch), nail. The
name would be suitable for a long pointed rock.
Meikle Humblie. Big glacial-rounded boulder in the
Ythan. Hummel, round-headed, without horns. The
Gaelic word for hummel is maol, bald.
Meiklemill. Big hill. Meikle (in Gaelic mor), big;
meall, round-topped hill.
Meikle Pap (for Cioch Mhor). Big breast-like hill.
Cioch, pap; mhor, fern, of mor, big.
Meldrum. Bald hill. Maol, bald, smooth-topped; druim,
ridge, hill.
Melgum. Thick hill. Meall, hill; guamach, thick, neat.
Mellan, Mellans. Little hill. Meallan, dim. of meall,
hill. S had been added to Mellan because it ended in an,
sometimes a plural termination.
Mellenside. Side of a small hill. Meallan, dim. of
meall, hill with a round top.
Mellison. Musical burn. Milis, sweet, melodious;
abhainn (bh silent), stream.
Meluncart (for Meall Luncairt). Hill of the luncart.
Meall, round-topped hill; luncairt, gen. of luncart; which
see.
Memsie. Pound heaps of stones. Maman, plural of
mam (Irish), breast, pap, heap like a woman's breast. An
had been translated both as a plural and a dim. termination.
Menie. Gap between heights. Meanan, gap. An became
ie.
Meoir Veannaich (for Meur Meannach). Branch of a
burn where kids fed. Meur, finger, burn branch; mean-
nach, suitable for kids.
Merdrum. Muiry hill. Muir (pronounced meer), Scotch
for moor; druim, hill.
Merlin Burn. Perhaps for Muirland Burn, burn of the
moor land.
Mermaid, The. Rock fancifully supposed to have some
resemblance to the representations of a mermaid.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 237
Merryhillock, Merrytop. Hillock of the standard.
Meirghe, standard, banner.
Methlick. Large stones. Meud, greatness; leac, gen.
plural of leac, stone. The stones referred to are on the
roadside near the Bridge of Methlick. Old forms of Meth-
lick have d instead of th.
Michael Muir. Muir of the dark hill. Maine, muir
(translated); ail, genitive of al, hill; muiche, darkness.
Muiche had lost u and e.
Michaelmuir. Moor where a fair was held at Michael-
mas.
Micras (for Mi-ghras). Unfavourable place. Mi, want
of; ghras, gras asp., favour, luck.
Mid Chingle Fishing. A fishing station on a rough
gravel bank between the Denburn and the Dee, abolished
by the diversion of the river. Chingle is the same as
shingle, rough gravel, asp. s being converted into asp. c.
Midgate, Stone of; Midgates, Mire of. Midgate and
Midgates seem from their situation to be half-way places
on long hill roads.
Middleplough, Midplough, Middlethird. Before 1782
a large farm, styled a plough, was usually let to three
tenants jointly, who furnished eight or ten oxen for the
common plough in proportion to their rents. After 1782
these big farms were sub-divided and let in separate parts.
Hence arose such names as Upperthird, Middlethh'd, Nether-
third, Midplough, etc.
Middlemetr. Middle part of a moor which had formerly
been a common pasture-ground for three tenants of farms.
Muir (Scotch), moor.
Middlens Park (for Pairc Meud Lein). Park of great-
ness of level ground. Pairc, park; meud, greatness of size;
lein, gen. of lean, corn land, level ground. Final s repre-
sents the termination of lean or lein, supposed to be plural.
Midmar. The meaning and etymology are uncertain.
The Barmekin of Echt and the great stone circle at Sun-
honey show that the district was populous and prosperous
in early times. The name, therefore, may be very old and
of Gaelic origin. Etymologically, Midmar might represent
Machair Meud, level ground of great extent. Machair, plain,
level ground; mend, of great size. In Machair, ch might
become silent and be omitted. Meud might be pronounced
as made, with a either long or short. Most likely Meud would
have been last till it was corrupted into Mid, and then it
would have been put first as being an English adjective.
Midshade. Middle division. Sliade, field, division, slope.
Midstrone Burn. Burn in the point of land between
two larger burns. Sron, nose, point.
238 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
MlGVIE, MlGAUETH (1153), MlGGEUTH (1172), MlGUITH
(1183), Mighaueth (1187), Migwie, Mygvethe, Mygvy,
Megwie, Megwye, Mygweth, etc. Great cattle-fold. Meud
greatness; chuith, cuith asp., cattle-fold. D becomes g at
the end of several words in Gaelic; ch becomes bh by inter-
change of aspirated letters; bh is equivalent to u, v, or tv ;
and th is generally silent. The cattle-fold had been older
than the castle, older even than the church.
Mildarroch. Hill of oaks. Meall, hill; darach, gen.
plural of darach, oak.
Milduan Hill. Hill of the two streams. Meall, hill;
da, two; abhann, gen. of abhainn, stream. Bh is silent.
Mill Maud. Hill on which courts of justice were held
by baron bailies. Meall, hill; moid, gen. of mod, court of
justice. As the court would have been far from habitations,
the reference may be to courts for settling rights of pasture
on the hill or of casting peats.
Mill of Cosh. Mill of the howe. Cois (pronounced
cosh), gen. of cos, hollow.
Mill of Coull. Mill in a nook. Cull, nook, corner.
Mill of Hole. Mill at a hill. Choille, coille asp., hill,
wood.
Mill of Lyne. Mill of the plain. Lean, level place,
corn land.
Mill of Pot. Mill at a deep still place in a stream.
Poit, pot, caldron, deep pool.
Milladen. Mill of Aden.
Millan. Dim. of meall, hill.
Millarsmyres. Mires on a hill where there was summer
pasture. Meallan, small hill; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shiel-
ing. An of Meallan having been regarded as a plural ter-
mination, s had been added to Millar.
Millereck, Millbrex, (for Meall Breac). Spotted hill.
Meall, hill; breac, dappled, of various colours.
Millbuie. Yellow hill. Meall, hill; buidhe, yellow.
Milldowrie. Hill of the water. Meall, hill; dobharain,
gen. of dobharan, water, stream.
Milleath (for Leth Mill). Side of the hill. Leth, side;
mill, gen. of meall, hill. The transposition of the parts of
the name had been made after English began to displace
Gaelic.
Millfield (probably for Achadh Mill). Farm on a hill-
side. Achadh, field (translated); mill, gen. of meall, hill.
Millfield might be a modern English name, but it is probably
very old.
Millhead. Hill of the fold. Meall, hill; chuid, gen. asp.
of cuid, fold. C had become silent after aspiration and had
been lost.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 239
Millhill. Hill. The second part is a translation of the
first. Meall, hill.
Millhockie (for Meall a' Chnocain). Hill of the small
hill. Meall, hill; a', of the; chnocain, gen. asp. of cnocan,
little hill. See Cnoc. C had been lost after being asp.
Millhuie (for Meall a' Chuidh). Hill of the fold. Meall,
hill; a', of the; chuidh, gen. asp. of cuidh, fold. Initial c
had been lost after aspiration, and dh, which is equivalent to
y, had also been lost.
Millmoss (for Meall an Uisg). Hill at the water. Meall,
hill; an, of the; uisg, water, burn. An had become am in
post-Gaelic time. In Scotch m sometimes takes the place
of n, as in opem and happem for open and happen.
Millseat (for Suidhe Mill). Place on a hill. Suidhe,
place; mill, gen. of meall, hill.
Millstone Cairn. Mountain from which millstones were
quarried. Cam, mountain.
Milltimber (for Meall Tuim Airidhe). Hill of the hill of
the shieling. Meall, hill; tuim, gen. of torn, hill; airidhe,
gen. of airidh, shieling. Usually a gen. preceding another
has the form of the nom.
Mii.lwaddoch (for Meall Bhadach). Bushy hill. Meall,
hill; bhadach, badach asp., bushy.
Millward. Hill of the ward for live stock. Meall, hill.
A ward was a small enclosed field.
Mimrikins Clump (for Bad Buighean Maim). Patch of
wood on the slope of a round-topped hill. Bad, bush, wood;
ruighean, dim. of ruigh, slope of a hill; maim, gen. of mam,
breast-like hill. S represents ean of Ruighean, erroneously
regarded as plural.
Minew. Small place. Meanbh (pronounced menuv),
small.
Minchie Burn (for Allt Moine Chuidh). Burn of the
moor of the small fold. Allt, burn; moine, moor; chuidh,
gen. asp. of cuidh, fold. See Cuid. Dh had been dropped
after becoming silent.
Minfur. Grassy moor. Moine, moor; feoir, gen. of
feur, grass.
Minmore. Big moss. Moine, moss, moor; mhor, fern,
of mor, big.
Minnes. Place for little kids. Minnean, plural of min-
nean, little kid. An had been translated into s.
Minnonie, Braes of. Braes where kids fed. Minnean-
ach, pertaining to kids.
Mintlaw (for Monadh Lamh). Both parts mean the
same thing. Monadh, hill; lamh, hill.
Miriewells (perhaps for Bogan Bhailein). Mire at a
240 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
small farm-town. Bogan, bog; bhailein, gen. asp. of baileanf
small town. Bh is equivalent to u, v, or w, and ein had
become s in a mistake for ie. This produced Wails, lapsing
into Wells.
Mirydubs Burn (for Allt Mirein Dhubh). Burn of the
black little place. Allt, burn; mirein, gen. of mirean, small
piece of ground; dhubh, gen. of dubh, black.
Mitchellhill (for Tom a' Chuithail). Hill of the fold.
Tom, hill; a', of the; chuithail, gen. asp. of cuithail, fold.
Gh had become mh, and afterwards h had been dropped. Th
had been strengthened by inserting c in the middle. This
produced Muitchail, which had become Mitchell.
Mitchelly. This is the same as Mitchell in Mitchellhill.
In Gaelic the sound of ye is faintly heard after final 11.
Mither Tap. Mother summit of Bennachie, 1698 feet
high. It was long regarded as the highest, but Oxen Craig
is 1737. It has been supposed by some that the name
should be Mither's Pap, because, viewed from the north
side of the Don above Inverurie, it is exceedingly like a
woman's breast. Names of hills, however, are usually given
by persons who see them from a distance.
Moat, Moat Hill. Mound where barony courts were
held. Mod, court of justice, meeting.
Moathead (for Mod Chuid). Seat of a court of justice
near a cattle-fold. Mod, court, meeting; chuid, gen. asp. of
add, cattle-fold.
Modley. Grassy place where a court of justice had been
held. Mod, court of justice; ley, grassy place.
Mohr Cairn. Great heap of stones. Mor, big; cam,
cairn. For collection of antiquities found when the Mohr
Cairn was removed, see "Transactions of Banffshire Field
Club."
Moine a' Chaochain Odhair. Moss of the yellow burn.
Moine, moss; a', of the; chaochain, gen. asp. of caochan,
streamlet; odhair, gen. of odhar, yellow. The colour refers
to the vegetation — Sphagnum moss — near the stream.
Moine a' Ghiubhais. Moor of the fir tree. Moine, moor;
a', of the; ghiubhais, gen. asp. of giubhais, fir tree.
Moine Allt Duisgan. Moss of the burn of misfortune.
Moine, moss; allt, burn; dosgean, gen. of dosgainn, mis-
fortune.
Moine Bad a' Chabair. Moor of the clump of trees on
a branch of the Girnock burn. Moine, moor; bad, clump of
trees; a', of the; chabair, gen. asp. of cabar, branch of a
burn.
Moine Bheag. Small moor. Moine, moor, moss; bheag,
fern, of beag, small.
Moine. Bhealaich Bhuidhe. Moor of the yellow pass.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 241
Moine, moor; bhealaich, gen. asp. of bealach, pass, road,
hill road; bhuidhe, gen. of buidlie, yellow.
Moine Bhealaidh. Moor of broom. Moine, moor;
bhealaidh, gen. asp. of bealaidh, broom. The elevation,
2800 feet, is too great for broom, and bhealaidh must be a
mistake for bhealaich, gen. of bealach, hill road, pass over
hills.
Moine Bhuidhe. Yellow moor. Moine, moor; bhuidhe,
buidhe asp., yellow.
Moine Chailleach (for Moine Chaillich). Moor of the
old woman. Perhaps the name should be Moine Choilich,
moor of the hill burn. Moine, moor; choilich, gen. asp. of
coileach, mountain burn.
Moine Cruinn. Bound moor. Moine, moor; cruinn,
round.
Moine na Cloiche. Moor of the stone. Moine, moor;
na, of the; cloiche, gen. of clach, stone.
Moineiseach Burn. Moor burn with many cascades.
Moine, moor; easach, abounding in rapids or cascades.
Molly Watt's Hill (for Coille Maol a' Bhat). Bare
round hill with a pole on the summit. Coille, hill; maol,
bare round-topped hill; a', of the; bhat, gen. asp. of bat, pole.
Bh is equivalent to v, u, or w. After Coille was translated,
its equivalent, hill, was put last.
Mona Gowan. Moor of the fold. Monadli, moor; gabh-
ainn, gen. of gabhann, fold.
Monabattock. Hill growing birches. Monadh, hill;
beathach, growing birches.
Monachur (for Moine na Churr). Moor of the reservoir.
Moine, moor; na, of the; churr, gen. asp. of curr, pit, hole
full of water, fountain.
Monadh an t-Sluichd Leith. Moor of the grey gorge.
Monadh, moor, hill; an t-, of the; sluichd, gen. of slochd,
gorge; leith, gen. of Hath, grey.
Monadh Mor. Big mountain. Monadh, mountain;
mor, big.
Monadh Slochd Chalmbeil (for Monadh Slochd Cam
Bheoil). Hill of the gorge with a crooked mouth. Monadh,
hill; slochd, gorge; cam, crooked; bheoil, gen. asp. of beul,
mouth .
Monael. Moor of the hill. Monadh, moor, mountain;
ail, gen. of at, rock, hill. Dh had become silent, and had
been lost.
Monaltrie (for Moine Allt Kuigh). Moor of the hillside
burn. Moine, moor; allt, burn; ruigh, gen. of ruigh, hill
slope.
Monandavan Burn. Burn of the moor of the two lochs.
Q
242 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Moine, moss, moor; an, of the; da, two; abhann, gen. of
abhainn, water, loch. Da takes a singular noun.
Monecht. Middle Echt. Meadhonach, middle. There
had been at one time three Echts — Upper, Middle, and
Lower. Houctireyht, Upper Echt, is mentioned in " Collec-
tions on the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff." See Echt.
Monelly. Windy moor. Moine, moor; aile, wind.
Monelpie Moss. Moss of the little hill. Moine, moss;
alpain, gen. of alpan, dim. of alp, little hill.
Monyroads (for Moine Euighein). Moor of the gentle
slope. Moine, moor; ruighein, gen. of ruighean, gentle
slope. Ein had been translated into s instead of ie.
Mony wells (for Moine Bhailein). Moor of the small
farm-town. Moine, moor; bhailein, gen. asp. of bailean, dim.
of baile, town. Bhailein had been regarded as plural. Bh
is equivalent to u, v, or w.
Moniewhitt. Moor of the fold. Moine, moor; cuit, fold.
Monk's Hill, Monkshill. Shielings for the cows of
convents. The former place had belonged to a convent in
Udny at Cloisterseat, and the latter to the Priory of Fyvie.
Monk represents monachos (Greek), dweller apart from
society.
Monlettie Burn (for Allt Leathad Mona). Burn of the
side of the moor. Allt, burn; leathad, side; mona, gen. of
moine, moor, moss. The order of the parts had been
changed after allt was translated.
Monquhitter (for Moine Chuit Airidhe). Moor of the
fold of the shieling. Moine, moor; chuit, cuit asp., fold;
airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling.
Monrae. Level mountain moor. Moine, moor; reidh,
level.
Montammo. Bushy moor. Moine, moor; tomach,
bushy, tufted.
Montbletton (for Monadh Bleoghainn). Moor of milk-
ing. Monadh, hill, moor; bleoghainn, gen. of bleoghann,
milking.
Monteach. Mossy place. Mointeach, mossy.
Montfothie. Hill abounding in turf. Monadh (th
silent), hill; foideach, abounding in peats or turf.
Montgarrie. Bough moor. Monadh, moor; garbh,
rough.
Montsolie (for Monadh Soghail). Wet moor. Monadh,
moor; soghail, wet. The asp. consonants with their vowels
have been lost.
Monthooly, Mounthooly, Monthillie. Both parts of
these names mean hill. Monadh, hill; choille, coille asp.,
hill. Several places in the county of Aberdeen have this
name. In the city it is given to the part of the road to Old
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 243
Aberdeen between Gallowgate and Canal Street, but it ought
to be given to the west side of King's Crescent.
Monwig Loch (for Loch Uig Mona). Loch of the corner
of a moor. Loch, pool, loch; uig, corner; mona, gen. of
moine, moor, moss.
Mony Burn. Moor burn. Moine, moss, moor.
Mony Gutters. Many passages for water between rocks.
Muinn, many; guitearan, plural of guitear, water channel,
gutter.
Monykebbuck. Moor in which there is a gully eroded by
running water. Moine, moor; cabaichte, eroded.
Monymusk (for Monadh am Uisg). Hill near the river.
Monadh (dh silent), hill; am (for an), of the; uisg, water. M
is sometimes used instead of n, as in comptroller for con-
troller, opem for open.
Monyruy. Moor on the slope of a hill. Moine, moor;
ruigh, slope.
Moonhaugh. Haugh in a moor. Moine, moor.
Moonlight (for Moine Fhliuchaidh). Moor of wetness,
wet moor. Moine, moor; fhliuchaidh, gen. asp. of fliuchadh,
wetness. This is an Aberdeenshire personal name which
had at first been given to a person dwelling in a wet moor.
In Scotch it becomes meenlicht.
Mooralehouse. Alehouse on a moor.
Moray Firth. Arm of the sea on the north of Aberdeen.
Banff, and Moray.
Morelass (for Mor Lios). Big enclosure. Mor, big;
lios, circle of stones round a grave, moat, fold.
Moreseat. Big place. Mor, big; suidhe, place, seat.
Morgan's Hill. Hill of the big cattle-fold. Mor, big;
gabhann (pronounced gaun), cattle-fold.
Morkeu. Big fold. Mor, big; cuith, fold. Th with its
vowel had become silent and had been lost. Kew near
London is pronounced in the same way and has the same
meaning as keu.
Morlich. Big stone. Mor, big; leac, gravestone. There
is a big stone pillar in a field near Braemorlich in Towie.
Mormond. Big hill. Mor, big; monadh, hill.
Mormondfoot. Place at the bottom of Mormond Hill.
Mormondprop. Prop on a big moor. Mor, big; monadh,
moor.
Morpiehowe. Howe of the big cattle-fold. Mor, big;
chuidh, cuidh asp., cattle-fold. Ch had become ph, and h
had afterwards been lost.
Morris Well (for Tobar a' Mor Chois). Well of the big
fold. Tobar, well; mor, big; chois, gen. asp. of cos, pit,
howe, fold. Ch had become silent and had been lost.
Morrone, Morven. Big hill. Mor, big; bheinn, beinn
244 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
asp., hill. In Morven bh had become v; in Morrone it had
been dropped.
Mortlach, Mortlich. Big hill. Mor, big; tulach, hill.
Moss Fetach. Rough wild moss. Fiata, wild, surly.
Moss Gray (perhaps for Moine Craige). Moor of the
hill. Moine, moor, moss; craige, gen. of creag, hill. Gh,
also made dh, is silent. Gray usually represents hill.
Moss Grieve. This was the name of the officer of an
estate who allotted to the tenants the places where they were
to cut peats. The Moss Grieve here is a jocular name for a
mass of rock on Bennachie.
Moss Maud. Moss at Castle Maud; which see.
Moss of Air. Moss of the shieling. Airidh, shieling.
Moss of Longmuir. The three parts in this name all
mean moss or moor. Lon, moss, moor.
Moss of Minfur. Moss of the grassy moor. Moine,
moss, moor; feoir, gen. of feur, grass.
Mossat Burn. Dirty burn. Musach, dirty.
Mossbrodie. Narrow strip of moss. Brodan, dim. of
brod, goad, something with a sharp point. An became ie.
Mosscorral. Quarry in a moss or moor. Goireall, quarry.
Mossgerrie (for Moine Garbh). Rough moss. Moine,
moor, moss; garbh, rough.
Mosshead, Moss Head, (for Moine Chuid). Moss of the
fold. Moine, moss, moor; chuid, gen. asp. of cuid, fold. C
in ch is silent and had been lost.
Mossnappy. Moss of the little knoll. Cnapain, gen. of
cnapan, dim. of cnap, knoll.
Mote Hill (for Moat Hill). Hill surrounded by a wall of
earth and a ditch or other fence. This fanciful name seems
intended to mean a seat of judgment. The Tillydron knoll
is called Mote Hill on the Ordnance Survey maps, but
nowhere else.
Mottoch Well. Well with medicinal virtues. Maoth-
ach, softening, emollient.
Moulinearn (for Muileann Airnean). Mill at sloes.
Muileann, mill; airnean, gen. plural of aime, sloe.
Mounie Castle. Castle in a moor or mossy place.
Moine, moor, moss.
Mounsie Weat (for Moinean Bheath). Little moor
growing birches. Moinean, dim. of moine, moor; bheath,
gen. plural asp. of beath, birch-tree. Ean had been made
both s and ie, bh had become w, and final h in bheath had
been lost.
Mount Battock (for Monadh Beathach). Mountain of
birches. Monadh, mountain; beathach, abounding in
birches.
Mount Jane (for Monadh Sithean). Hill of the fairies.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 245
Monadli, hill, mount; sithean, gen. plural of sithean, fairy.
S is sounded as sh and th is silent. This produced a word
sounding like Jane.
Mount Keen. Distant hill. Monadh, mountain; cian,
far distant. Mount Keen is seen from a great distance, and
its blue colour conveys the idea of distance very strongly.
Mount Meddin. Middle mountain. Meadhoin, gen. of
meadhon, middle.
Mount Haddoch. Hill of the fold. Monadh, hill, moor;
chodach, gen. asp', of cuid, fold. From the height of the
Mount (1711 feet) the name can have no connection with
hall, half, or dauch, words which are sometimes supposed
to enter into the composition of Haddo and Haddoch. The
gen. of cuid is codach.
Mountains Burn (for Branan, dim. of bran). Mountain
burn. Branan, little hill burn. An having been mistakenly
regarded as a plural termination it had been translated by
Mountains burn, intended to mean Mountain burns.
Mountfur Moss. Moss of the grassy moor. Monadh,
moor; feoir, gen. of feur, grass.
Mountheathie. Hill of the cattle-fold. Monadh, hill,
moor; chuithain, gen. asp. of cuithan, small fold. In chuith-
ain c had been lost after aspiration, and ain had become ie.
Mountjohn (for Monadh Dun). Hill. Monadh, hill,
dun, hill.
Mountjoy (for Monadh Dubh). Black moor. Monadh,
moor; dubh, black.
Mounth Koad. Boad crossing the Grampians at Mount
Keen. Monadh, mountain, moor. Monadh is variously
made Monach, Mount, Munth, Muneh. D and t are fre-
quently interchanged when aspirated. T may be the root
letter, as in Latin mons, montis, mountain. The Munth
is the local name for the Grampians.
Mountsollie. Same as Montsolie.
Mowatseat. The name seems to mean residence of a
family named Mowat. But it may come from muthadh,
killing, and suidhe, place. Th might have become w/i,
sounding u, v, or w, and dh might have lost the aspirate. If
this were correct, the name would mean that the place had
been the scene of slaughter.
Muat's Stone. Stone set up to mark the grave of a
man killed in a family feud. The stone is now underground
where it formerly stood. See Mowatseat.
Muchalls (for Mugach Allan). Dark burn. Mugach,
dark; allan, small burn. G in mugach had been asp. and
had then become silent. An of allan, having been
erroneously regarded as the plural termination, had been
translated into s.
246 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Muck, Den of (for Dein Muc). Den of swine. Deinr
den; muc, gen. plural of muc, pig. Pigs had been sent to
feed in the den in summer.
Muckle Ord. Big hill. Ord, hill.
Mudlee Bracks (for Meadhonach Braighe). Middle hilL
Meadhonach, middle; braighe, hill. Mudlee is a mis-
spelling for my die e, an old form of middle. In sounding
braighe forcibly the sound of s is heard at the end.
Muggart Haugh. Haugh where mugwort (Artemisia
vulgaris) grew. It was used to ward off midges. Or, Haugh
where swine fed. Mug art (Irish), a young swine.
Mugiemoss (for Muig am Uisge). Dark water. Muig,
darkness; am (for an), of the; uisge, water. See Millmoss,
Monymusk.
Muick. This name is given to a glen, a river, a water-
fall, and a loch. The fall being the most conspicuous
feature a suitable meaning for it must be found. In Irish
muick means mist. This is suitable for the fall, and the
other features had taken their name from it.
Muickan, Croft of. Place where Meum athamanticum ,
Highland micken, grows. Meacan, root. The root of this
plant is fleshy and tapering, like that of a parsnip. It is dug
and chewed for its aromatic flavour.
Muir (translation of moine). Uncultivated heathery
ground. Muir is the Scotch form of moor.
Muirden (for Moine Dein). Moor of the den. Moine,
moor; dein, gen. of dein, den.
Muiresk. Muir of the water. Muir, moor; uisg, water,
burn.
Muirfoundland (for Moine Fin Lamhain). Moor of the
hill. Moine, moor; fin, hill; lamhain, gen. of lamhan, hill.
The third part of the name had been added to explain the
second after it had been corrupted.
Muirhens' Well. Spring at which grouse drink. In
drinking they stand on compact, green, succulent vegetation
growing in the water. By placing snares on this the early
inhabitants of the hill country had obtained some food.
Muiries Hill. Hill on which there was the wall of a
rampart. Murean, dim. of Diur, bulwark, rampart, hill.
Ean had been made both s and ie . There had been a fold on
the hill.
Muirstone. Stone on a moor.
Muiryheadless (for Lios Chuidh Moine). Circle of a
fold on a moor. Lios, circle; chuid, cuid asp., fold; moine,
gen. of moine, moor. 0 in lios is silent, and so also is c in
chuid. Moine, originally last, had been translated and
transposed to the first place.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 247
Mullach, Mulloch. The top of an eminence. Mul-
lach, top, height.
Mullachdhu, Mullochdubh. Black hill-head. Mul-
lach, summit; dubh, black.
Mulonachie (for Mulanaiche). Abundance of hillocks.
Mummer's Beive. Memorial circle. Meomhaire, gen.
of meomhair, memory; rath, circle. By change of th to bh
rath had become rabh, pronounced rav, which had lapsed
into reive. Sometimes it had become rieve or ree.
Mummy's Well (for Tobar Maoimeach). Well throwing
out bursts of water. Tobar, well ; maoimeach , erupting water.
Mundurno, Mondurno. Stony moor. Moine, moor;
durnach, stony.
Mungo. Moor of the fold. Moine, moor; cuith, fold.
Cuith became goiv in Glasgow and Lesmahagow and go in
Gingomyres and Glasgoego.
Mungo. As the name of a granite rock in the sea this
name may represent mongach, red.
Murcar, Mure Crofte (1408), Murcur (1550). Croft on
a moor.
Murcurry (for Muir-corran). Sea rocks. Muir, sea;
corran, plural of coir, round high rock. An had been
changed to y instead of s.
Murdoch. Black hill. Mur, hill; dorch, dark, black.
Murdoch's Hillock (for Mur Dorch). Black hill. Mur,
hill, hillock; dorch, dark.
Murean. Small hill. Dim. of mur, hill.
Murley. Grassy hill. Mur, hill; ley, grassy place.
Mourning Well, Murnan Well. Wells fed by springs
whose water makes a low murmuring sound as it falls into
the wells. Murnan (Anglo-Saxon), to grieve.
Murriell. This name contains mur and al, both mean-
ing hill. Mur would be appropriate for a hill with a fort or
fold on its summit, and al for a hill with projecting rocks.
The original form may have been Murean Ail. Murean,
dim. of mur, hill; ail, gen. of al, rock. Ean would have
become ie in Scotch, and ail has usually become el, as in
Elrick.
Murtle, Murthill, (for Mur Tulach). Both words mean
hill. Mur, hill; tulach, hill. The second part had been
added to explain the first after its meaning had been for-
gotten. Mur would be appropriate for a hill with a fold or
fort upon it, and tulach for a round-topped hill of small size.
Muscle Bed. Bed where mussels are stored for con-
venient use. Muscle is a mis-spelling for mussel.
Mussel Craig, Mussel Skellyis. Bocks overgrown
with young mussels. Creag, rock; sgeilgan, plural of sgeilg,
rock.
248 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Mutton Brae. Middle brae. Meadhonach, middle;
brae, steep slope. Mutton Brae was a steep footpath rising
from the Denburn valley to Schoolhill, on the south side of
the viaduct.
Mutton Dyke. Middle dyke between two fields. Mead-
honach, middle; dyke, an earthen wall in Scotland, but a
great ditch full of water in England.
Myriedale (for Dail Bogain). Field containing a small
bog. Dail, field; bogain, gen. of bogan, wet place.
My Lord's Throat. A jocular term for a gorge near
Castle Forbes, along which a road passes. Gorge in French
means throat.
Mytice. Bountiful place. Maitheas, goodness, bounty.
Myngfield. From its situation this name must repre-
sent Achadh Meadhoin, field in the middle. Achadh, field;
meadhoin, gen. of meadhon, middle.
Naked Hill. Hill from which news was signalled.
Naigheaclid, news. A hill in Strichen is called Skirl
Naked, from sgor, point; ail, gen. of al} rock; naigheachd,
news.
Nashick Howe. Howe abounding in snipe. Naosgach
(pronounced nashgach), abounding in snipe.
Need Haven. Cup-shaped haven. Nead, nest, cup-like
hollow.
Neil Burn (for Allt an Ail). Burn of the hill. Allt, burn ;
an, of the; ail, gen. of al, hill. The burn comes from the
steep hill above Kincardine Q'Neil, that is Kincardine on the
hill burn.
Nelson's Bucht, Nelson's Cairn. Bucht on the hill,
Cairn on the hill. Buth, bucht; cam, cairn. Nelson's is for
An Ail Sithean, of the hill. An, of the; ail, gen. of al, hill;
sithean (th silent), hill. Sithean is a late addition made to
explain Ail. An Ail Sithean had been pronounced an-ail-
shan, corrupted afterwards to Nelson.
Ness Bogie (for An Eas Bogain). The water of Bogie.
An, the; eas, water; bogain, gen. of bogan, bog, burn issuing
from a bog.
Nether Deuchries (for Nether Dubh Ruighean). Lower
town on a black sloping hillside. Dubh, black; ruighean,
dim. of ruigh, slope of a hill. Final s had been added in the
belief that an was a plural termination.
Nether Maiden. Lower middle town. Meadhon, middle.
Netherbrae. Lower hill. Braigh, hill.
Netherhills. Lower farm-town on a hill. Choilleayi,
coillean asp., small hill. In translating coillean an had been
regarded as a plural instead of a dim. termination.
Nethermuir. Lower muir. The upper muir is called
Drymuir.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 9A9
Nethertiiird. Before 1782 it was the custom to let large
farms to several tenants jointly, who provided the oxen
necessary for the common plough. After 1782 the large
farms were broken up, and the parts were let separately.
Nethertiiird had been the lowest of three parts of an ancient
large farm.
Nettie Burn. The second part is a translation of the
first. Nethan, dim. of ncth, burn. The Gaelic dim. an
becomes ie in Scotch.
Nettle Craig. Cliff where nettles grow. Sheep eat
nettles and transport the seeds to places where they spend
the night. Old sheep fanks are full of nettles.
Nettlie Wellhead. This seems to be a combination of
two distinct names: — Leth Net, side of a burn, and Bhaile
Chuid, town at a fold. Leth, side; net, burn; bhaile, baile
asp., town; chuid, cuid asp., fold. Th in Leth is silent and
had been lost; bh in Bhaile is equivalent to w; and c in
Chuid is silent and had been lost.
Neuk. Nook. Neuk is allied to English knee ; Latin
genu, knee; Greek gonu, knee.
New Byth. Village on the estate of Byth in King-
Edward, built for the accommodation of flax-spinners and
weavers. Beath, birch-tree. See Byth.
New Craig. One of the parts of the sub-divided farm
called Craig. Creag, hill.
New Deer. Originally this was the name of a village at
the church of Auchreddie, which was a parish erected out of
a disjoined part of the parish of Deer. The name of the
village afterwards became the name of the parish also. See
Deer.
New Found Aisle (for Naomh Ein Al). Sacred hill.
Naomh, holy, consecrated, dedicated to a church or a saint;
fin, hill; al, hill. Naomh is pronounced nuv in Gaelic, which
in modern names has become ncic. Fin has become found
here and fund in Ord Fundlie. Al has usually assumed the
genitive form in names, but it is spelled el, as in Elrick.
New Found Aisle hill had belonged to the church of Cairnie.
New Hill. Sacred hill. Naomh, sacred. See Newe.
New Leeds. A village in Strichen named after Leeds in
Yorkshire, where spinning and weaving were carried on in
the early part of the nineteenth century.
New Machar, Newmachar. A parish formed out of a
detached part of the original parish of St Machar. Machair,
haugh.
Newark. New important building. In Scotland castles
were called warks. " This wark " occurs in an inscription
in the wall of Craigston Castle. An unfinished castle in
Pitsligo was called Newwork of Pittendrum. Perhaps large
250 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
buildings had not been named till they were finished. An
English historic castle, though now old and desolate, is still
called Newark.
Newburgh. Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan, founded
a hospital at Newburgh in 1261, and in the foundation charter
he calls Newburgh his town. Probably the town had been
recently instituted.
Newe. Sacred. Naomh (pronounced nuv), holy, be-
longing to an ecclesiastic. Mh is equivalent to u, v, or w,
and there are various ways of pronouncing Newe. The ordi-
nary local pronunciation is indicated by the spelling nyeow,
but this gives no help to the etymology, for few is by some
persons pronounced fyeow, in the same way.
Newe Arms Hotel. Hotel with a signboard showing the
arms of Forbes of Newe.
Newell, New Wall (1696), (perhaps for Naomh Al).
Sacred hill. Naomh, sacred, dedicated to a church; al, hill.
Naomh is pronounced nuv in Gaelic and new in some modern
names. Ell in Newell represents ail, the gen. form of al, hill.
Newe's Craig. Terrible rock. Neamhaise, terrible;
creag, rock, hill. Mh is equivalent to w.
Newhills (for Naomh Choillean). Sacred little hill.
Naomh, sacred; choillean, coillean asp., low hill. Naomh is
pronounced nuv in Gaelic and new in modern names. C
in ch is silent and had been omitted. Final s represents ean
in choillean, which had erroneously been regarded as a plural
termination. There had been a place of worship at Newhills
at an early date.
Newlandhill (for Naomh Lamhan Hill). Hill belonging
to the Abbey of Deer. Naomh, sacred, dedicated to a
religious house or a church; lamhan, dim. of lamh, hill.
Newton Garry, Newtongarry. New town in a rough
piece of ground. Garbh, rough. Bh is equivalent to u, v,
or w. Here it has become y.
Newtyle (for Naomh Tulach). Sacred knoll. Naomh,
belonging to a church or an ecclesiastic; tulach, round knoll.
Nibbetstone. Boundary stone. Nabuidheach, neigh-
bouring.
Nichol Hill (for Na Coill). The hill. Na, the; coill,
hill. H in Nichol is an intrusion and it is not sounded.
Nielsbrae (for An El Braighe). The hill of the hill. An,
the; el, for al, hill; braighe, gen. of braigh, hill. Braighe had
been added as an explanation to An El, which had become
Neil. Neil had been regarded as a personal name in the gen.
and 's had been added to it to convert it into the English
possessive.
Nine Maidens' Well. The well has no tradition to
account for its name. Perhaps its original form had been
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 251
Tobar Nigheachain, well of washing. Tobar, well; nigheach-
ain, gen. of nigheachan, washing. This name would be
applicable to a well whose water was free from lime. If ch
in nigheachain became silent and were omitted it would re-
semble in sound nigheann, gen. plural of nigheann, maiden,
and both words would resemble the English word nine.
Hence in post-Gaelic time the connection of the well with
washing might have been forgotten and it might have been
associated both with nine and maidens.
Nittanshead (for Netan Chuid). Burn of the fold.
Netan, small burn; chuid, cuid asp., fold. S had been added
to netan in the belief that it was a plural termination. C of
chuid had been lost after aspiration, and netans hind had
become Nittanshead. Nittanshead is applied to a district,
not to the source of a burn.
Nobs, The. The Nobs are blunt round-pointed rocks on
the edge of the sea. Cna-pan, plural of cnap, knob. An had
been made s.
Nochty. The burn of Glen Nochty. Nochda, bare. This
applies to the glen.
Norascairn (for Cam an Oir). Hill of the east. Cam,
hill; an, of the; oir, east. When nora came to be regarded
as a personal name it had been put first, with 's added to
make it the English possessive.
Norham. North town. Ham (Anglo-Saxon), village.
Norry Hill, Norry Well. Noire, gen. of noir, east.
The hill and the well lie to the east of the nearest farm-
towns.
North Allans. North burn. Allan, burn. Allan is not
plural, but as an is the usual termination of nouns in the
plural s had been erroneously affixed.
North Law. North hill. Lamh, hill.
North Linn. The northmost of two farms near a pool
or waterfall on Culter Burn. Linne, pool on a river, water-
fall.
North Nib. North point of the Green Hill in Glen
Nochty. Neb, point.
North Sea. The sea between Scotland and Denmark.
It is north in comparison with the Zuyder Zee, or South Sea,
in the north of Holland.
Noth. Watch hill. Noadh (Irish), watching, guarding.
Obelise. Tall, thin, pointed pillar. Obelos (Greek),
pointed spit.
Ogston. Small farm-town. Og, young, little; ton,
town. S had been inserted when the meaning of og had been
lost and it had come to be regarded as a personal name.
252 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Olaus's Well, St. Well at Cruden Bay dedicated to
St Olaf or Olavus, the patron of Cruden.
Oily Pig (for Pic Uilinn). Point at a turn. Pic, point;
uilinn, gen. of uileann, corner. Inn being regarded as a dim.
termination had been made y in Scotch, and uily had been
regarded as an adjective and put first.
Old Deer. Village at the church of Deer.
Old Drove Eoad. Eoad by which cattle from Aberdeen-
shire were driven across the Grampians to southern markets.
After the introduction of railways to Deeside and Donside
these roads ceased to be used and the traces of them are
hardly discernible in some places. The Gaelic forms Ca,
Cath, Catt, Catha, and Cadha all mean hill drove roads and
are pronounced ca or catt.
Old Grannie Burn. Burn of the old grain or groin.
Oldhall Burn. Oldhall represents Allt a' Choill, burn
of the hill. Allt, burn; a', of the; choill, gen. asp. of coill,
hill.
Old Hillock. High hillock. Alt (Irish), high place. It
is impossible for one hillock to be older than another, but it
may be higher. In Old Head of Kinsale old represents alt
without doubt.
Old Machar. A parish dedicated to St Machar, called
Old to distinguish it from New Machar, which was formed
from a portion of it. There is so little evidence of its con-
nection with a saint of the same or a similar name that it
should be observed that its church is very near a haugh, the
Gaelic for which is machair. Two supposed dedications of
other places in Aberdeenshire to St Machar certainly rest on
no other ground than that their sites are in haughs and the
Gaelic for haugh is machair. See Machar.
Oldcraig. A large joint farm named Craig had been
broken up after 1782, and the original site of the farm-town
had been named Oldcraig. Creag, hill.
Oldmaud (for Allt Moid). Burn of the seat of judgment.
Allt, burn; moid, gen. of mod, court of justice.
Oldmeldrum. Burn of the bare hill ridge. Allt, burn;
mhaoil, gen. of maol, bald, bare; droma, gen. of druim,
ridge, hill. The name was afterwards given to a village, now
a town.
Oldmill, Old Mill. This name is English and needs
no explanation.
Oldtown. Burn town. Allt, burn. Oldtown is on the
Scatter burn.
Oldwhat, Aul Fat, (for Old Chuit). Old fold. Chuit,
cuit asp., fold. Ch had become ph, which is equivalent to
wh or f. Ui has become a in some other derivations from cuid,
as in Haddo, Hatton, Belfatton. It has been supposed that
Celtic Place-Nam.es in Aberdeenshire. 253
old represents allt, burn, but Oldwhat is a district and not a
stream name.
Oldyleiper. (In Gaelic Alltan Labhar). Noisy little
burn. Alltan, small burn; labhar, noisy. The Burn of Birse
is near, and it falls rapidly. An t-Alltan Labhar is the name
of a burn in Applecross.
Oldyne (for Allt Duin). Burn of the hill. Allt, burn;
duin, gen. of dun, hill.
Orchardton (for Baile Urc Ard). Town at a fold on a
height. Baile, town (translated and transposed); urc, sty,
fold for pigs ; ard, height. Urcard may be the original form
of the name Urquhart, which till recently was commonly
made Orquhart in Aberdeenshire. In names beginning with
har h is a euphonic prefix, and Urc Ard would certainly have
become Urc-hard or Urc-hart in passing into Scotch.
Ord, The Ord, Ord Hill, Ordhill. In these names ord
means hill. Its genitive is uird, which becomes weird in
Hard weird.
Ord Burn. Burn of the hill. Ord, hill.
Ord More. Big hill. Ord, hill; mor, big.
Ord Fundlie (for Ord Fin Lamh). These three words
mean hill. Ord, hill; fin, hill; lamh, hill.
Ord Mor, Ordmore. Big hill. Ord, hill; mor, big.
Ordachoinachan (for Ord a' Choinne-achan). Hill of the
place of meeting. Ord, hill; a', of the; choinne, gen. asp. of
coinne, meeting; achan, terminal meaning place of.
Ordachoy. Hill of the cup-shaped hollow. Ord, hill; a ,
of the; cuaiche, gen. of cuach, cup.
Ordan, Ordens. Small hill. Ordan, dim. of ord, hill.
Ordens is ordan with a changed to e and s added because an
was mistakenly assumed to be the plural termination.
Ordes Cairn (for Carn Ordain). Cairn on a little hill.
Cam, cairn; ordain, gen. of ordan, small hill. Ain, the gen.
termination, had been made es to change it into the English
possessive.
Ordgarff. Rough hill. Ord, conical hill; garbh, rough.
Ordiallon. Little round hill at a small stream. Ordan,
small hill; allain, gen. of allan, small burn.
Ordhead (for Ord Chuid). Hill of the cattle-fold. Ord,
hill; chuid, gen. asp. of cuid, fold. After aspiration c had
become silent and had been lost.
Ordicreach. Grey hill. Ordan, dim. of ord, hill; creach,
grey.
Ordie, The. The little hill. Ordan, dim. of ord, hill.
Ordie Caber (for Cabar Ordain). Summit of the hill.
Cabar, summit: ordain, gen. of ordan, dim. of ord, hill. Ain
became ie.
Ordiefauld, Ordyfauld. Fauld on a little hill. Ordan,
:254 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
dim. of ord, hill; fauld, a small enclosed field where sheep
or calves pastured.
Ordiefore. Knoll productive of oats. Ordan, little hill;
core, gen. plural of core, oats.
Ordiesnaught. Snowy little hill. Ordan, little hill;
sneachdach, snowy.
Ordieteach. Hill house. Ordan, small hill; teach,
house.
Ordinessle, Ordynessle. Little hill of the glen. Ordan,
dim. of ord, hill; na, of the; iseil, gen. of iseal, glen, howe.
Ordiquhill. Both parts of this name mean hill. Ordan,
small hill, an becoming ie ; choill, coill asp., hill.
Ordley. Grassy hill. Ord, hill; ley, grassy place.
Ords. Small hill. Ordan, dim. of ord, hill. An had been
made s instead of ie.
Orrock (for Oir Ruigh). Eastern slope. Oir, east; ruigh,
slope of a hill. Orrock slopes to the east. In 1696 Orrock
was called Colpnaw. See Colpnaw.
Orton. This name might have been originally Ordan.
Small hill.
Oschie Hill. Prominent hill. Oscach, promnient.
Otter Bridge. Bridge of the broad water. Othan, dim.
of oth, broad water. Othan occurs as othie in Knockothie,
an Ellon name.
Otter Hole. Otter's den in the banks of the Deveron.
Otter Stone. Formerly otters were numerous and fre-
quented burns as well as rivers. They usually kept close to
the same haunts, and if one had found a stone in a river a
comfortable and convenient place of rest it would have been
often seen there.
Our. Stream. Ouran. Streamlet. Our and its dim.
ouran are not in dictionaries, but they appear in place-names.
Our is seen in Ure, Urr, Meikleour, and Altanour; and ouran
in Tornauran and with an changed to ie or y in Ury, Inver-
urie, Inverourie, and Altdourie. The Shevock at Insch was
formerly called the Ourie. See " Chartulary of the Abbey of
Lindores," Scot. Hist. Soc.
Outer Janets. Outer knoll-like rocks. Janets repre-
sents sithean, plural of sith, knoll, hillock. Si is pronounced
she, and th is silent. She-ean has some resemblance to
Seonaid, Janet, in which se is pronounced she. Final s had
been added because sithean ends in an, which is a plural
termination. The Outer Janets are a group of rocky islets
near the coast of Cruden.
Outhill. Cattle-fold. Chuithail, cuithail asp., cattle-
fold. After aspiration c had become silent and had been
omitted.
Outseats (for Suidhe Chuitain). Site of a small fold.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 255
Suidhe, seat, site; chuitain, gen. asp. of cuitan, small fold.
C had become silent and had been lost. Ain had been re-
garded as a plural termination and had been changed to s,
which had been added to seat.
Over Daugh. Upper farm. Over, upper; dabhoch,
farm.
Overbrae. Upper hill. Braigh, hill.
Overhills, Overhall, (for Uachdar Choillean). Upper
little hill. Uachdar, upper; choillean, coillean asp., small
hill. An having been mistaken for the plural termination
had been changed to s, which is preserved in Overhills.
Overside (for Uachdar Suidhe). High place. Uachdar,
upper, high (translated); suidhe, site, place. Suidhe be-
came side by dropping u and h.
Overvillans (for Uachdar Uileann). Upper corner.
Uachdar, upper; uileann, corner. Ann had been regarded as
a plural termination, and s had been added to uileann.
Oxen Craig. Rocky summit of one of the Bennachie
hills, round which oxen pasturing on the hill gathered at
night.
Oxen Well. From the situation of this well near the
summit of the Tap o' Noth, and from its proximity to another
well called Lambs Well, it is probable that oxen represents
aosda, ancient.
Oxenloan. Old lane. Aosda, ancient; lone (Anglo-
Saxon), lane, grassy road.
Oxter Burn. Alehouse burn. Osda, alehouse, inn.
Same as Huxter Burn.
Oxter Stone. Stone at an inn to help riders to mount
their horses. Osda, inn. A tall monolith called Oxter Stone
would represent aosda, ancient, and might mark the site of
a grave.
Oyne. River. Abhainn, river. Old forms are Ouyn and
Uen. Local pronunciations are ain, een, tvan.
Packet Burn. This name may mean burn where pack-
ing was done before the autumn migration from a shieling.
Pacaidh, gen. of pacadh, packing.
Padaff Pot (for Poit Dhubh). Black pot on the Deveron.
Poit, pot, pool; dhubh, fem. of dubh, black.
Paddock Ha'. Frog hall.
Paddy's Stone (for Clach Paite). Stone of the hump.
Clach, stone; paite, gen. of pait, hump. To obtain the
English possessive 's had been added to paite.
Panannich (for Beinn an Acha). Hill beside the river.
Beinn, hill; an, of the; acha, water. Beinn is pronounced
pan in the south of Scotland and occasionally also in the
north .
256 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Pap, Little. Hill resembling the breast of a young
woman.
Paradise. Pleasure park. Paradeisos (Greek), park with
trees. The word is apparently of Sanscrit origin.
Parcook, Pareot, Pariock, Pearcock, Percock. As
some of these places are in howes the original form of the
name was probably Pairc Iochcl, enclosed place in a howe.
Pairc, park, enclosed area; ioclid, howe. In names ioclid
is usually made eoch.
Pardes of Glack. Perhaps Paradise of Glack. Glack
means a howe. Glac, dell, den.
Park. An estate so named because it had at one time
been enclosed for preserving deer for the sport of kings or
nobles. Pairc, enclosure. There were also parks in connec-
tion with abbeys for keeping cows for the use of the inmates.
Park Villa. A modern name. Country-house in an
enclosed field. Pairc, park; villa (Latin), country-house.
Parkdargue. Eed park. Pairc, park; dearg, red.
Parkhead. If this name is wholly English it means
house at the top of an enclosed place. If it is of Gaelic
origin it represents Pairc Chuid. Park at a fold. Pairc,
park; chuid, gen. asp. of cuid, fold. C had become silent
and had been lost.
Parkhill. An enclosed hill.
Parkhouse. House in a park belonging to the abbey of
Deer, where cows were kept and butter and cheese were
made. Pairc, park.
Parks. Enclosed fields. Pairc, park. Before 1745
there were so few enclosed fields that if a place had enclosed
ground it was called Park. Formerly fallow deer were fre-
quently kept in parks at mansions.
Parkstile. Gate of an enclosed place. Pairc, park,
enclosed wood or grassy place with trees.
Parliament Knowe. There is nothing known to account
for conferring this name on a hilltop near Balmoral Castle.
It might be a corruption of Pairc a' Mhonaidh. Enclosed
space on a hill. Pairc, enclosed space; a', of the; mhonaidh,
gen. of monadh, hill.
Parsonspool. Pool in which a minister was drowned.
Paties Mill (for Muileann Petain). Mill on a small
farm. Muileann, mill; -petain, gen. of vetan, small place.
Pavillions. Mis-spelling for Pavilions. Papilio, but-
terfly. A pavilion is a tent or a temporary residence on a
hill or field, having the appearance from a distance of a
butterfly with its wings spread out. The house called
Pavillions has a peculiar roof.
Peat Lochies. Small lochs in holes from which, peats,
had been taken. Lochan, small loch.
Celtic Place-N ames in Aberdeenshire. 257
Peatfold. Enclosure within which peats could be
stacked and protected from cattle, which would rub their
necks upon the stacks. In the Highlands it was usual to
keep peats a year before using them.
• Peddie's Hill (for Tom Paite). Hill of the hump. Tom,
hill; paite, gen. of pait, hump. Paite had been thought to
be a personal name, and 's had been added to convert it into
the English possessive.
Peel. A peel seems to have been an enclosure protected
by stakes on which were placed mats or skins. Peall, skin,
hide, mat. An Act of the Scots Parliament, 1535, ordered
Peels to be made in the Border counties for the safe keeping
of herds and flocks from English raiders. These peels had
been places enclosed with stone walls.
Peel Bog. Bog in which there had been a cattle-fold
protected by stakes. See Peel.
Peel of Fichlie. This is a hard knoll left in a little valley
eroded by a glacier. The knoll had been converted into a
cattle-fold called a peel by a fence of stakes on which skins
or mats had been placed. See Peel.
Peeledegg. Fold made by stakes let into the ground,
to which were attached skins as a protection against wind,
rain, and snow. Peallaideach, covered with skins. See
Peel.
Peelharry (for Peall h-Airidhe). Peel on a shieling,
protected by stakes and skins. Peall, skin; h (euphonic);
airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling. See Peel.
Peire Burn. Small burn. Peire is a Shetland word
meaning small. This name is given to the Cruden burn in
an old charter.
Peirk, The. The park. Pairc, park, enclosed space.
Pen, The. The head. Geann, head. Aspirated c may
become aspirated p, and then by loss of the aspirate c may
become p. Welsh pen is equivalent to Gaelic ceann.
Pennan (for Ceannan). Small head. Ceannan, dim. of
ceann, head. See Pen. Pennan is small compared with
the head to the west of it, called Gamrie Mor.
Penninbrae Well. Well on the brae of a little hill.
Pennan, for beinnan, dim. of beinn, hill.
Pennyburn (for Allt Finain). Burn of the hill. Allt,
burn (translated and transposed); finain, gen. of finan, dim.,
of fin, hill. F is equivalent to ph, and ain in Gaelic is equiva-
lent to ie or y in Scotch, and thus finain became phiny. By
loss of the aspirate this became piny, which had lapsed into
penny.
Pennystone Green. Level grassy place, where a game
like quoits could be played with flat round stones like
pennies.
258 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Percie, Parci (1174). Row. Perhaps row of cottages.
Peirse, row.
Percyhorner (for Peirse a' Charnain). Row of houses
at a hillock of shingle. Peirse, row; a', of the (suppressed);
charnain, gen. asp. of carnan, hillock. There is a shingle
hillock at Percyhorner.
Percylieu. Eow of houses on a hill. Peirse, row; laimh,
gen. of lamh, hill. Mh is equivalent to u, v, or w.
Perdoulie (for Port Doille). Harbour of darkness, or
dark harbour. Port, harbour; doille, gen. of doille, darkness.
Fishermen change port into per at the beginning of names.
See Perthudden.
Perkhill. Enclosed hill. Pairc, enclosure, park.
Persley. Eow of houses on a grassy place. Peirse,
row; ley, grassy place.
Perthudden (for Port Chuidain). Haven of the small
fold. Port, harbour; chuidain, gen. asp. of cuidan, small
fold. It was easy to convert a narrow opening of the sea
among rocks into a fold. By the influence of t in port ch
became th. Fishermen make port at the beginning of a name
per before a consonant, as in Portlethen, Portknockie. See
Perdoulie.
Perwinnes (for Pairc Bheannain). Enclosed protected
place at a small hill. Pairc, enclosed place; bheannain, gen.
asp. of beannan, dim. of beinn, hill. Bh is equivalent to u,
v, or w. Ain though a dim. termination had been regarded
as a plural and made into s instead of ie. Perwinnes Moor
belonged to the Bishop of Aberdeen and now belongs to the
Crown. There is a small hill near the middle of the moor.
Pet, Pett, Pit, Pitt. Place. Petan, Pettan, Pitan,
Pittan. Small place. In Scotch an becomes ie or y. Some-
times by mistaking an for a plural termination s is added to
ie, producing Peties, Petties, Pities, Pitties.
Peter Hill, Peter's Hill, (for Coill Paite). Hill of the
hump. Coill, hill; paite, gen. of pait, hump. In Scotland
Patrick and Peter are often regarded as the same name, and
paite having been corrupted into Pattie, the dim. of Patrick,
it afterwards became Peter, to which in one instance 's was
added to make it possessive in English.
Peterculter. Church in the land of Culter, dedicated to
St Peter. See Culter.
Peterden. The origin of this name is not evident. If
there is a hard knoll left in the den after it had been eroded
by ice the name would mean den of the hump. Dein, den;
paite, gen. of pait, hump.
Peterhead. Peterhead means cape near a church dedi-
cated to St Peter. From the cape the name had been trans-
ferred to a fishing village near it, and from the village to the
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 259
parish in which it stood. The village afterwards became a
town, which is understood to be meant when Peterhead is
mentioned.
Petersfield. Perhaps this place had taken its name
from high ground to the west. If so the name might have
been Achadh Paite. Field of the hump. Achadh, field
(suppressed); paite, gen. of pait, hump. See Peter Hill.
Peterugie. St Peter's Church near the Ugie. This was
the name of a church, now a ruin, near Peterhead Bay, and
from the church the name was given to the parish also.
Peterugie is mentioned in 1537, in " Antiquities of the Shires
of Aberdeen and Banff," IV. 17. The modern name of the
parish is Peterhead.
Peth of Minnonie. Steep road at the Braes of Minnonie,
descending from the high ground to the river Ythan. Paith
is the Scottish form of path.
Petmathen. Middle place. Pet, place; meadhoin, gen.
of meadhon, middle. Aspirated t had taken the place of
aspirated d.
Petrie's Loup. Peter's cape. This cape is said to have
been called in old Latin charters Petri Promontorium, Peter's
head. Petrie's may represent petri with 's added to make it
an English possessive. Loup is the Gaelic word luib, bend,
turning, and hence cape. Near Petrie's Loup is Little
Petrie, a less prominent cape.
Pettens, Petties. Both these names represent pettan,
small place, and normally both should have become Pettie
or Petty. In Pettens there are two mistakes. An had been
regarded as plural and therefore s should have been substi-
tuted for an, but it had been added to it. In Petties an had
normally become ie, but it had afterwards been regarded as
a plural termination and s had been added to ie.
Petty. Small place. Pettan, dim. of pett, place. An,
the dim. termination, had, as usual, been translated into y,
the Scotch dim. termination.
Pettymarcus (for Pettan Mor Chois). Small place at
a big fold. Pettan, small place; mor, big; chois, gen. of cos,
hollow, ravine, fold.
Pettymuck (for Pettan Muc). Small place for pigs.
Pettan, small place; muc, gen. plural of muc, pig.
Phemic Pool (for Poll Feith Muige). Pool of the dark
burn. Poll, pool (translated and transposed); feith, moss
burn; muige, gen. of muig, darkness.
Philorth. Market at a stream. Feill, market; an, of
the (suppressed); otha, gen. of oth, stream.
Phingask. Small fold. Fangan, dim. of fang, fank, fold.
F is equivalent to ph. An became both ie and s, and the
name is pronounced feengies.
260 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Picardy Stone. Stone on the point of a hill. Pic, point;
ard, height, hill. The final y is produced by endeavouring to
pronounce d forcibly.
Pickerstown. Town occupied by a man bound to go to
war armed with a pike. Picear, pikeman.
Picklehead. Fold on a hill with a point. Originally
Cuid Al Pice, subsequently Pic Al Chuid, Pic Al Huid, and
Picklehead. Cuid, fold; al, rocky hill ; pice, gen. of pic, point.
Pictillum, Picktillum, Piketillum. Point of a hill.
Pic, point; tuilm, gen. of tolm, hill, round knoll.
Picts House. Underground house. There is no evidence
that there were Picts in Aberdeenshire. The underground
houses called by this name were dwelling-houses or dairies
in use when cows were on hill pasture, far from the farm to
which they belonged.
Piggerie Bog (for Bog Bige Airidhe). Bog of the small
shieling. Bog, marsh; bige, gen. fern, of beag, small;
airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling.
Pike. Point. Pic, point.
Piltochie. Marshy places. Polldachean, plural of poll-
dach, marshy place. Ean became ie.
Pinkie, Pinking, Pinkins. All these names mean fold.
Originally they had been Chuitail, fold, which had been cor-
rupted into Whitehill, and this had been turned into Gaelic by
fincan, composed of fin, hill, and can, white. F is equivalent
to ph, and by loss of the aspirate / becomes p. Thus fincan
became pinkan, k being substituted for c. An is sometimes
a dim. termination, and it became ie in the first name. In
the second it was corrupted into ing, and in the third into in,
to which was subsequently added s because an is sometimes
a plural termination. By these changes were produced
Pinkie, Pinking, and Pinkins, all having the same meaning
and form originally, though the first is now a diminutive and
the third plural.
Piper's Cairn. Cairn supposed to mark the grave of a
piper killed in an unrecorded conflict in 1411.
Piper well. Well at which grew a plant whose leaves
have the flavour of pepper. Peabar, pepper.
Pirrke. Enclosed place. Pairceach, enclosed.
Pit, The. The hole in which women sentenced to death
were drowned.
Pit Dwellings. Many ancient British houses were con-
structed by digging a circular hole in the ground and setting
up round it stems of trees converging at the top. On the
outside mossy sods were built up around the tree stems.
Pitandlich. Place in a glen. Pit, place; chunglaich,
gen. asp. of cunglach, glen. Locally Pitandlich is sounded
as pitch an dlich.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 261
Pitbee. Place of birches. Pit, place; beith, gen. plural
of beith, birch-tree.
Pitbirn. Place of the gap. Pit, place; bearna, gap. The
name is applicable to a place at which there is conspicuous
depression of the sky-line.
Pitblae. Place of warmth. Pit, place; blaithe, warmth.
Pitblain (for Pit Bleoghainn). Milking place. Pit,
place; bleoghainn (gh silent), gen. of bleoghann, milking.
Pitcaple. Place where horses were pastured. Pit, place;
capull, gen. plural of capull, horse.
Pitcow. Place of a cattle-fold. Pit, place; cuith, gen.
of cuith, cattle-fold. See Cuid.
Pitcowdens (for Pit Cuidain). Place of the small fold.
Pit, place; cuidain, gen. of cuidan, small fold. Cuidan had
become first coicdan, then cowden, and s had been added in
the belief that cuidan was plural.
Pitcullen. Place where holly grows. Pit, place; cuil-
linn, gen. of cuilleann, holly. Sheep eat holly leaves and
fatten on them, therefore it might have been planted for their
food. Cullen might represent coillean, little hill.
Pitdoulsie. Place on a black hill. Pit, place; doill, for
dall, black; sith, hill.
Pitdouries, The. Place of springs. Pit, place; dobhran,
gen. plural of dobhran, spring, water. The map shows
several springs on the hill. An had become ie instead of s,
but s had afterwards been added to ie.
Pitdrochan, Burn of. Burn of the place of fairies. Pit,
place; droichean, gen. plural of droich, fairy.
Pitellachie. Place on a stream. Pit, place; allochain,
gen. of allachan, small stream.
Pitenteach. Place near a mansion. Pit, place; an, of
the; teach, house, mansion.
Pitfancy (for Pit Fangain). Place of the small fank.
Pit, place; fangain, gen. of jangan, dim. of fang, fank, fold.
Pitfichie (for Pit Chuithain). Place of the small fold.
Pit, place; chuithain, gen. asp. of cuithan, small fold. Ch
became ph, equivalent to /; th became ch ; and ain became ie.
Pitfodels (for Pit Chuidail). Place at a fold). Pit,
place; chuidail, gen. asp. of ciudail, fold. C asp. had be-
come p asp., which is /. The Gaelic form of the name does
not warrant the addition of final s.
Pitfoskie, Pitforskie (1696), (for Pit Chrosaige). Place
of the crossing. Pit, place; chrosaige, gen. asp. of crosag,
crossing. At Pitfoskie there is an easy way over a height
between two burns. Ch very often became / in the change
from Gaelic to Scotch.
Pitfour. Place of grass. Pit, place; feoir, gen. of fenr,
grass.
262 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Pitgair. Kough place. Pit, place; garbh, rough.
Pitgaveny. Place of the cattle-fold. Pit, place; gabh-
ainn, gen. of gabhann, cattle-fold. Ai and nn had been
transposed.
Pitgersie (for Pit Dearsaidh). Place of brightness. Pit,
place; dearsaidh, gen. of dearsadh, sunshine, brightness.
Pitglassie. Place of green ley land. Pit, place ; glasach,
green, grassy.
Pitheughie (for Pit Chuidhain). Place of the fold. Pit,
place; chuidain, gen. asp. of cuidan, small fold. C became
silent after being aspirated and disappeared. Dh became gh,
and ain normally became ie.
Pitjossie (for Pit Chosain). Place of the small fold.
Pit, place; chosain, gen. asp. of cosan, dim. of cos, howe,
fold. Ch had become soft.
Pitline. Green level place. Pit, place; lein, gen. of
leana, level meadow.
Pitlurg. Place on a hillside. Pit, place; luirg, gen. of
lurg, slope of a hill. At Pitlurg there is a trace of an ancient
round cattle-fold 90 yards in diameter.
Pitmachie (for Pit Maghain). Place in a small piece of
level ground. Pit, place; maghain, gen. of maghan, small
plain. Ain became ie.
Pitmansy. Place of the female fairy. Pit, place; ban-
sith, female fairy. Since bh and mh are both equivalent to
v there was a great liability to mistakes by using the one for
the other, and hence also in using m for b after dropping h.
Pitmedden. Middle place. Pit, place; meadhoin, gen.
of meadhon, middle.
Pitmillan. Place at a small hill. Pit, place; meallain,
gen. of meallan, dim. of meall, hill.
Pitmuckston. Place where swine were kept. Pit, place;
muc, gen. plural of muc, pig. Ton being similar to pit is an
improper addition. The citizens of Aberdeen were fre-
quently interdicted by the Town Council from keeping swine
within the burgh, and they had to be sent to the suburbs.
Pitmunie. Place of residence in a moss. Pit, place,
farm; moine, gen. of moine, moss, moor.
Pitmurchie. Place of the great cattle-fold. Pit, place;
mor, big; chuith, gen. asp. of cuith, cattle-fold. Final th
had become silent and had been lost.
Pitnacalder. Place of the narrow land. Pit, place ; na,
of the; caol-tire, gen. of caol-tir, narrow land. Pitnacalder
lies between two parallel burns.
Pitoothies (for Pit Chuithain). Place of a small fold.
Pit, place; chuithain, gen. asp. of cuithan, small fold. Ch
had been lost, and ain had become ie and afterwards s,
making it both a dim. and a plural termination.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 263
Pitprone. Place of pounding. Perhaps the pounding
referred to was bruising whins for food for horses and cattle.
This was done sometimes with flails, sometimes by a large
stone like a millstone revolving on its edge over a layer of
whins. Pit, place; pronnaidh, gen. of pronnadh, pounding,
bruising.
Pitscaff. Place of a barn. Pit, place; sgaimh, gen. of
sgamh, barn for hay or straw for cattle food. Sgamh seems
to have been used for sgamhan, barns.
Pitscow (for Pitan Cuith). Place of the cattle-fold.
Pitan, dim. of pit, place; cuith (ith silent), gen. of cuith,
cattle-fold. An had been regarded as a plural termination
and had been translated into s. Cu had been pronounced at
first coo.
Pitscur. Place where there is a gap in the rocky coast.
Pit, place; sgoir, gen. of sgor, notch.
Pitscurry. Place of sharp rocks. Pit, place; sgorach,
abounding in sharp-pointed rocks.
Pitsligo. Place abounding in shells. Pit, place;
sligeach, shelly. The reference is to old beaches of shell-
sand between Rosehearty and Fraserburgh.
Pitslugarty. Place at a cattle-fold in a slug or gorge.
Pit, place; sloe, slug, gorge; gartain, gen. of gartan, en-
closure, cattle-fold.
Pitstruan (for Pitsruthain). Place near a small burn.
Pit, place; sruthain, gen. of sruthan, small stream. Sr in
Gaelic becomes str in Scotch names, and th is silent in the
middle of a word.
Pittendamph. Small place where oxen were pastured.
Pittan, small place; damh, gen. plural of danih, ox.
Pittenderick (for Pit an t-Airich). Place of the watch.
Pit, place; an t-, of the; airich, gen. of aireach, watch.
Pittexdreich, Pittexdreigh. Place of the thorn-tree.
Pit, place; na, of the; draighe, gen. of draigh, thorn-tree.
Pittendrum (for Pit an Druim). Place at a long ridge.
Pit, place; an, of the; druim, gen. of druim, long hill. The
nominative form druim had been used instead of the genitive
droma.
Pittengullies. Farm-town in the fork between two
burns. Pit, place, farm; an, of the; gobhalain, gen. of
gobhalan, dim. of gobhal, fork of a stream. Ain had been
translated into Scotch by s in the belief that it was a plural
termination.
Pittenheath. Place of the cattle-fold. Pit, place; an,
of the; chuith, gen. asp. of cuith, cattle-fold. C became
silent after aspiration and disappeared.
Pittentaggart (for Pit an t-Sagairt). Place of the priest.
264 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Pit, place; an t-, of the; sagairt, gen. of sagart, priest. After
t- s is silent.
Pittent arrow (for Pit an Tairbh). Place of the bull.
Pit, place; an, of the; tairbh, gen. of tarbh, bull.
Pittinnan (for Pitanan). Small places. Pitanan, plural
of pitan, small place.
Pittrichie. Place on a hill slope. Pitt, place; ruighe,
gen. of ruigh, slope of a hill.
Pittodrie. Place of bleaching. Pit, place; todhair,
gen. of todhar, bleaching, manure.
Pittulie (for Pit Uilinn). Place at the elbow in the coast-
line. Pit, place; uilinn, gen. of uileann, elbow, bend. Inn
had been made ie as if it had been a dim. termination.
Place Croft. Croft at the site of the mansion-house of
Oldmaud, now wholly removed. Place meant a mansion
with a courtyard.
Placemill. Mill near the mansion-house on the estate of
Frendraught. Place in Aberdeenshire means proprietor's
residence with a courtyard — the place where tenants paid
their rent and delivered meal and other produce.
Plaidy. Plot of ground. Plaide, plot of ground.
Plainwell (for Baile Pliadhain). Farm-town on a small
plot of ground. Baile, town; pliadhain, gen. of pliadan, plot
of ground. After the meaning of the word had been lost
Baile had been transferred to the end and aspirated. Bhaile,
pronounced ivaile, had lapsed into Well. In Pliadain d had
been aspirated and having become silent had been lost. Thus
had been produced Pliain Well, which is now Plainwell.
Playgreen, Playhill, Playhillock, Playlands, Pley
Fauld. Play and pley represent bliochd, milk. At these
places there had been folds where cows were milked morn-
ing and evening. Lands in Playlands represents lamhan,
small hill, which had become Land, and s had been subse-
quently added because an is sometimes a plural termination.
The battle of Harlaw, 1411, was fought on Pley Fauld.
Plodhill. Hill. Plod is a corruption of cnoc, hill;
which see.
Pluckhill. Kound-headed hill at the west end of Mor-
mond. Pluc, round hump.
Pluckrieve. Sheep-fold on a hill. Pluc, round-headed
hill; rath, fold. Th of rath became bh, equivalent to v.
Podroch (for Ruigh Fod). Slope of a hill where peats
were got. Ruigh, hill-slope; fod, gen. plural of fod, peat.
Point, The. Wedge-shaped bit of land between two roads
at Auchleven.
Poiten. Small pot. Poitean, dim. of poit, pot. A pot
on the coast of Cruden and Slains means a place where the
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 265
inner end of a tunnel communicating with the sea had
fallen in.
Poldach, Pots of. Lochs in a marshy place. Polldach,
abounding in pools, marshy.
Poldhu Chalybeate Wells. Wells impregnated with
iron. Poll, pool; dubh, black; chalybs (Greek), steel, iron.
Poldullie. Pool of blackness. Poll, pool; doille, black-
ness.
Polesbdrn. Burn from a pool. Poll, pool. The Ord-
nance Survey map has Potesburn.
Pollhollick (for Poll h-Olach). Greasy pool. Poll, pool ;
h (euphonic); olach, oily. The name would be applicable to
a pool with a scum on it due to iron in the water.
Polinar (for Poll na h-Airidhe). Pool of the shieling.
Poll, pool; na, of the; h (euphonic); airidhe, gen. of airidh,
shieling.
Poll Bhat (for Poll Bhata). Pool of the boat. Poll,
pool; bhata, gen. asp. of bata, boat.
Pollagach Burn. Burn having pools. Pollagach, full of
little pools.
Pollswalls. Marsh at a small farm-town. Poll, marsh;
bhailein, gen. asp. of bailcan, small town. Bh had become
w, and ein had wrongly been made s. This produced Poll-
wails, and by inserting s to produce the English possessive
Pollswails, now Pollswalls. Perhaps the original form had
been Bailean Phuill, small town at a marsh, and by trans-
position of the parts and change of aspirated letters the
modern form had been evolved.
Polmuir. Pool on a moor. Poll, pool; muir, moor.
Poolfonte. Pool of heroism. Poll, pool; foghaintc, gen.
of foghaint, valour. The name indicates that a brave man
rescued a person in danger of drowning in the pool.
Pools of Dee. Three pools in the course of the Lairig
Ghru Burn, one of the head waters of the Dee. They had
been excavated successively, the lowest first, by the end of
the glacier of the Dee when it had nearly become extinct.
They are fed by a burn coming down from the watershed
between the Avon and the Dee, on the east side of the Lairig
Ghru. The stream loses itself among the boulders in the
bottom of the pass and reappears below the Pools of Dee.
Poor Man. A pile of stones in the form of a man, erected
to mark a boundary or to indicate a route.
Port an Doon. Port of the hill. Port, haven; an, of
the; duin, gen. of dun, hill.
Port Elphinstone. Port at the head of the Aberdeen-
shire Canal, named after the chief of the Logie-Elphinstone
family.
Port Erroll. This is a name now given to a small town
266 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
with its harbour. Formerly it was called The Ward. Port.
harbour; Erroll, the place-name in the title of a Scotch earl.
Port Keppies (for Port Ceapan). Haven of plots of
ground. Port, haven; ceapan, gen. plural of ceap, small plot
of ground.
Port Rae. Safe harbour. Port, haven; reidh (pro-
nounced rae), safe.
Portie Shore. This name seems to mean shore where
there is a small harbour. Portan, small harbour. An had
become ie.
Portstown. Porterstown in Poll Book, 1696.
Posnett. Junction of burns. Posadh, marriage ; net,
gen. plural of net, stream.
Pot, Poit. Pot, deep pool in a river.
Pot Howie (for Poit Chuithain). Pot at a small fold.
Poit, pot; chuithain, gen. asp. of cuithan, small fold. C and
th being silent had been lost, and ain had become ie.
Pot Kello. Pot at a narrow place in the Don. Poit, pot;
caoile, narrowness.
Potarch, Poterch. Pot of difficulty. Poit, pot; airce,
gen. of aire, difficulty. Before the Bridge of Potarch was
built cattle from Aberdeenshire going over the Cairn o' Mount
had to cross the Dee by swimming at a deep pool. Some-
times men were drowned in trying to prevent cattle from
going up or down the river.
Potside. Place at a deep hole in a stream. Poit, pot.
Potterton. Place where drink was sold. Poitearachd,
drinking.
Pottie Martin. Pot where cows were watered. Poitean,
small pot ; martan, gen. plural of mart, cow.
Pouk Howe. Howe in which there was a small pool.
Pollag, small pool.
Poundash (for Pund Eas). Pound at a burn. Pund,
pound, enclosed space; eas, burn, water.
Pourin. Burn formed by the drainings from a hillside.
Pour an, small stream. Pourins is the name given to water
mixed with mealy sids when it has passed through a sieve.
The pourins become sour and are used to make sowans, a
term meaning drainings.
Pourleuchan. Wet harbour. Port, haven, harbour;
fiiuchain, gen. of fliuchan, wetness. Fliuchan had been
aspirated and then fh had been lost, being silent.
Pout Pot. The last part is a translation of the first.
Poit, pot.
Pow Ford, Powford. Ford in a slow burn. Poll, pool,
stagnant water. In Perthshire deep ditches for carrying off
water from fields are called pows.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 267
Powdagie, Powdeggie. Marshy ground. Polldach,
place abounding in pools or marshes.
Powie, Powis. Small burn. Pollan, softened to powan,
small burn. An became ie, but in Powis it had afterwards
been made s, which had been added to Powie, making first
Powies and afterwards Powis.
Powlair. Burn land. Poll, burn; lar, land.
Poynernook. A nook of land about the south-west corner
of the railway station house, where the Denburn turned east.
It was on the west and south of the burn at the place where
the rise of the tide ceased. It seems not to have belonged
to the poyners or shore porters, but it may have been a place
where they kept boats used in loading and unloading ships.
Pratt's Grave. David Prat, a servant of the Laird of
Gight, was killed by a shot from the head of Towie Castle,
May 10, 1639.— Spalding's " Memorialls," I., 182.
Prattshaugh. Perhaps for Sprothaugh. Pratt was for-
merly pronounced prott in Aberdeenshire.
Preas na Leitire. Bushes on the side of a hill. Preas,
thicket, small wood; na, of the; leitire, gen. of leitir, hillside.
Preas nam Meirleach. Bush of the thieves. Preas,
bush ; nam, of the ; meirleach, gen. plural of meirleach, thief.
Preasmor. Big group of trees. Preas, bush, small wood ;
mor, big.
Preas Whin. Bushy place on a hill. Preas, bush; fin,
hill. In Aberdeenshire / and tvh are interchangeable, and
whin represents fin, hill.
Premnay (for Pramhan). Quiet gloomy place. Pramhan,
quiet, gloom. Pramhan sounds pravan or prowan, but h had
been dropped, and a and n had been transposed, producing
pramna, now Premnay.
Prenstone. Stone which had small cups in it in which
oats were pounded into meal. Pronn, to pound. Small
slabs with only one cup are found, but usually there are
several cups in a group on a large boulder or on a smooth
place of a solid rock.
Pressendye. Black little wood. Preasan, dim. of preas,
bushy place; dubh, black.
Pricker. Meaning not found. Perhaps hill of the
shieling. Braigh, hill; airidh (idh silent), shieling.
Priest's Eig (for Preas Ruigh). Bushy hill slope.
Preas, bushy place; ruigh, slope of a hill.
Priest's Water (for Allt Preas). Burn of the bushes.
Allt, burn, water; preas, gen. plural of preas, bush.
Priest's Wood. Both parts mean wood. Preas, bush,
wood.
Proney, Prony. Place of pounding. Pronnaidh, gen.
of pronnadh, pres. part, of pronn, to pound, bruise, bray.
268 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
The reference may be to fulling cloth, bruising whins with
flails for food for cattle and horses, or pounding oats in
cup-like hollows in rocks or stones to make meal. Aite,
place of, must be understood before pronnaidh.
Pulwhite (for Poll Chuit). Pool at a fold. Poll, pool;
chuit, gen. asp. of cuit, fold.
Pumphel. See Golden Pumphel.
Pumphill Burn. Burn of the penfold for cattle. Fund,
pen; jauld, Scotch for fold.
Punch Bowl. A deep circular hollow in shape re-
sembling the bowls formerly in use when punch was made
at festive meetings.
Pundler Burn (for Pund Al Airidhe Burn). Burn of
the hill of the fold on a shieling. Pund, fold ; al, hill ; airidhe,
gen. of airidh, shieling.
Pundlercroft. Croft held in virtue of his office by the
pundler of a barony. It was his duty, among other things,
to put in a pound cattle, etc., found astray and doing damage
to growing crops.
Purse, The. A long narrow opening in the rocky coast of
Cruden, ending in a cave.
Putachie. Burn at a fold. Acha, burn; chuit, gen. asp.
of cuit, fold. The parts of the name had been transposed,
and cuit had passed through the forms chuit, phuit, puit,
put. There was a Putachie in Carnegie's Brae in Aberdeen,
and others in Turriff, Keig, and Monymusk.
Pyke. Pointed hill. Pic, point of hill or rock.
Pykes Cairn (for Cam Picein). Pointed cairn. Cam,
cairn; picein, gen. of picean, small sharp-pointed hill. Final
s ought to have been ie.
Pyot Bush. Place where a magpie made a nest in a
small clump of trees. Pyot is the same as pied, having
various colours or designs mixed. Bush usually means a
small plantation or group of trees or bushes.
Quarrian Knap (for Cnap Ciaran). Grey knoll. Cnap,
knoll ; ciaran, grey.
Quart ains (for Cuairtan). Stone circle round a grave,
fold. Cuairtan, dim. of cuairt, circle. In Scotch an should
have become ie, but by a twofold error it had been made s
and added to cuairtan.
Quartalehouse, Corthailhows, Cortailhows (1544).
Alehouse at a place where there was a circular enclosure.
Cuairt, circle, ring of stones round a grave, fold.
Quartz Cliff. A deep open crack in primary rock had
been filled in wet seasons by water containing quartz in
solution. In dry seasons the water had been absorbed and
the quartz had been left in crystals on the sides of the crack.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 269
If the rock on one side of the crack has been removed the
white crystals remaining on the other side become visible in
a cliff.
Quaynan. Strait. Cuingean, narrow passage.
Queel. Nook. Cuil, turn, nook.
Queel Burn. Burn from a nook. Cuil, nook.
Queels (for Cuilean). Small corner. Cuilean, dim. of
cuil, nook. Having been regarded as a plural termination
an had been translated into s.
Queelstone. Stone at a nook. Cuil, nook.
Queen's Ford (for Ath Cuinge). Ford of the water
channel. Ath, ford; cuinge, channel.
Queen's Links. Meeting-place on the Links. Choinne,
coinne asp., meeting.
Queenzie, Queenie. Local names for the natural chan-
nel between Peterhead and Keith Inch. It was covered
with water at high tide and dry at low tide. When Peter-
head harbours were made the channel was partially filled up,
and afterwards again opened to admit of the passage of boats
and small ships from one harbour to the other. Sometimes
the name was given to the Keith Inch. Cuinge, narrow
strait.
Queys, The. Small cattle-fold. Cuithan, dim. of cuith,
cattle-fold. Cuith had been corrupted into quey, and s had
been added for an, which, however, is the dim. and not the
plural termination here.
Quiddie's Mill. Mill at a small cattle-fold. Cuidan,
dim. of cuid, cattle-fold. An had first been translated into
ie as a dim. termination and afterwards into s as a plural.
Quillichan Burn. Little rill burn. Coileachan, dim. of
coileach, rill. Coileachan is in Alltachoyleachan, the local
name for the site of the battle of Glenlivet.
Quilquox. Place where reeds grew. Cuilceach, reedy,
fenny place growing bulrushes.
Quinach (for Coinneamh or Coinneachadh). Meeting,
assembly.
Quithel (for Cuithail). Cattle-fold. See Cuid.
Quittlehead (original form Cuitail). Cattle-fold.
Cuitail had become Quittle, and its meaning having been
lost cuid, fold, had been added and aspirated, producing
Quittlechuid. C, being silent, had been lost, leaving Quittle-
huid, which has become Quittlehead.
Quoich Water. Stream from a cup-shaped valley.
Cuach, wooden bowl, cup.
Quhomery Burn. Burn formed by the union of two burns.
Chomaran, plural asp. of comar, junction of two burns. An
is a plural termination, but it has been translated by y, a.
Scotch dim. termination.
270 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Rack Burn, Hack Moss. Back represents ruigh, slope
of a hill.
Raebuss. Level place growing bushes. Reidh, level;
buss (Scotch), bushy place, small wood. Raebuss may be
a variant of robhas, violent death. See Roebuss.
Raecloch. Circle of stones. Rath, circle; clock, gen.
plural of clock, stone.
Raedel Skellys. Perhaps Rocks at the red field.
Ruadh, red; dail, field; sgeilgan, plural of sgeilg, rock, often
a sea rock.
Raeden. Perhaps for Level den. Reidh, level; dein,
den.
Raemurrack. Great plain. Reidh, plain; morachd,
greatness.
Raich. Crooks in Glendronach burn. Raich, elbow.
Raigie Burn. Burn of the slope of a hill. Ruigh, slope
of a hillside.
Raik, The. The reach or straight part of the Dee, where
there was a salmon fishing. Raik in Scotch means to extend
in a straight line. In Henryson's " Robin and Makyne "
sheep feeding are said to " raik in raw."
Rainnieshill (for Coille Rainich). Hill of ferns. Coille,
hill; rainich, gen. of raineach, fern.
Rainy Meall. Ferny hill. Raineach, ferny; meall, hill.
Raiths. Small circle. Rathan, small circle of stones.
An had been regarded as the plural termination, and s had
been affixed to raith improperly.
Raittshill (for Coill Rathain). Hill of the small circle.
Coill, hill; rathain, gen. of rathan, small fold, stone circle
round a grave. The name had been in succession Coill
Rathain, Coill Raths, Raths Choill, Raits Hoil, Raittshill.
Ain had been changed to s instead of ie. The meaning having
been lost the parts of the name had been transposed, and
Coill had been aspirated, subsequently becoming Hoil and
Hill.
Rake Pot. Pot in a reach or straight part of a stream.
Ram Holes. Holes filled at spring tide. Raimhe, high
water of spring tide.
Ram Pot. Grey stone pot. Ram Pot is in the Don at a
grey stone which had been called Clach Riach, grey stone.
Riach had become Riamh, and by loss of the aspirate Riam,
which had subsequently become Ram. From the stone the
pot had been called Ram Pot.
Ram Stone, Ramstone. Grey stone. Originally the stone
had been called Clach Riach, which name had afterwards
assumed the forms Clach Riamh, Clach Riam, Ram Stone.
There are two places of this name in Aberdeenshire.
Ramshall (for Riabhach Choill). Grey hill. Riabhach,
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 271
grey; choill, colli asp., hill. Biabhach had become in suc-
cession Biamhach, Biamh, Eiam, Earn. Choill had lost
silent c, and had become first Hoill and then Hall. Earn had
been regarded as a personal name in the genitive, and s had
been added to convert it into the English possessive.
Banna. Place at a point. Ranna, gen. of rainn, point.
Bantreeburn. Burn of the tree with red berries.
RuadJian (dha silent), little red berry.
Baongeodha (for Baongeadha). Field of geese. Raon,
field, plain; geadha, gen. plural of geadh, goose.
Eaplin. Noises. Rapalan, plural of rapal, noise. This
is an opening of the sea with a cave at the end.
Bappla Burn, Bapplich Burn. Noisy burn. Rapalach,
noisy.
Bashenlochy. Lochan with rushes on its margin.
Rashen, Scotch for rushy; lochan, small loch.
Bashiebottom. If the nature of the place suits the name
it must be English, but as it is on a slope it may be Gaelic
and represent Bothan Buigh, hut on a hillside. Bothan,
hut; ruigh, hill slope. When Bothan became Bottom,
Euigh had been converted into the Scotch adjective Eashie
and put first.
Bashieslack. Hollow descending a hillside. Slochd
ruigh, gorge of the hillside. When Buigh became Eashie it
had been put first.
Bashiewell (for Baile Buigh). Town on the slope of a
hill. Baile, town; ruigh, slope of a hill. The name had
afterwards become Buigh Bhaile, and Bhaile (pronounced
waile) had become Well, and then Buigh had been corrupted
into Eashie.
Bashypans (for Buigh Beann). Slope of a hill. Ruigh,
slope; beann, hill. Beann has been supplanted by Beinn
in modern Gaelic. Final s had been added because Beann
ended in ann.
Bashyward. Enclosed pasture ground on the slope of a
hill for cows, calves, or sheep. The original form might have
been Lios Buigh. Lios, enclosure; ruigh, hill slope. When
Lios was translated it had been put last, and Euigh had been
converted into an English adjective. If the place is on level
ground it means enclosed place where rushes grow.
Batch-hill (for Buigh Choill). Slope of a hill. Ruigh,
lower slope on a hillside; choill, gen. asp. of coill, hill.
Bath. Circle, stones round a grave, cattle-fold, fank,
pigsty, ditch, and dyke round a farm-steading. In Ireland
Bath in names indicates a place where the dwelling-houses
and property of a hamlet are surrounded by a dyke or wall
which could be closed at night. Th is usuallv silent, and
272 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Rath may become Rae, Rait, Ray, Ree, Reive, Rieve, Rie,
Ry, Wrae, Wray.
Rathen. Small circle, fold, stones round a grave.
Rathen, dim. of rath, circle. It assumes the forms Rathen,
Raitts, Rayne.
Ratlich (for Rath Leac). Stone circle. Rath, circle;
leac, gen. plural of leac, stone.
Rattray (for Rathrath). Circle. The second part is the
oldest, and after it had become Ray, Rath had been prefixed
to explain it. Rathray is now Rattray. See Rath. The
circle had been a cattle-fold.
Raven Hill (for Ruigh Bheinne). Slope of the hill.
Ruigh, slope at the base of a hill; bheinne, gen. asp. of beinn,
hill. Ruigh Bheinne has generally become Ruthven or Rivin
in names of places.
Ravenscraig. Rock on which ravens rested. Leave to
build a castle on the rock was given by James IV. in 1491.
The castle was ruined in the civil war in the reign of
Charles I.
Rawn, The. The point. Rann, point. See Roan and
Ron.
Raws of Noth. Rows of workers' houses at the foot of
the Hill of Noth.
Raxton (for Baile Ruigh). Town on the slope of a hill.
Baile, town; ruigh, hill slope. When baile was translated
into ton, ruigh had been put first.
Rayne. Small circle. Rathan, small circle, stone circle
round a grave. Th is often silent.
Reams Hill, Reemshill. Grey hill. Riach, grey. In
passing into modern forms Riach had become successively
Riamh (pronounced ree-av), Riam, Ream, and Reem. To
these last 's had been added in the belief that they were
personal names in the possessive.
Rechaish. Level ground at the foot of a hill. Reidh,
plain; chaish, gen. asp. of cos, foot.
Red Bog, Redbog. Red here probably represents reidh,
level.
Red Burn, Redburn. Burn whose water is tinged red
in summer with iron oxide from the drainage of the ground.
Red Cairn, Red Craig, Red Creag, Red Hill, Redhill,
Redhills. All these names have the same meaning. Ruadh,
red; earn, hill; creag, hill; craig, Scotch form of creag, hill.
Red Cow's Haven. Red fold haven. Cuith (ith silent),
cattle-fold. Cu had been pronounced coo. Redness on the
rocks at the haven indicates that old red sandstone had ex-
tended along the coast eastward from Quarry Haven.
Red Lakes. Red flat rocks. Leacan, plural of leac, flat
rock. In a glacial epoch an ice-sheet charged with stones
Celtic Place-Namcs in Aberdeenshire. 273
passed over the rocks at Cairnbulg, Inverallochy, and St
Combs and ground down the surface to one uniform level.
Traces of the ice-sheet are seen in scorings on the rocks.
Red Loch. Loch of the level place. Reidh, plain, level
place.
Red Inches. Level islands. Reidh, level; innaean,
plural of innis, island. Es in Inches represents an in
innsean.
Red Moss, Redmoss. Level moss. Reidh, level.
Red Myre, Redmyres. Level marsh. Reidh, level;
mire, marsh, bog. Final s may represent an in bogan, the
Gaelic for a bog or myre.
Red Slinn. Red path. Slighean, dim. of sliglie, road,
way. Gh is silent.
Red Spout. Small gushing spring of water tinged red
with iron oxide.
Red Well, Redwell. Spring or well whose water was
tinged with red iron oxide. Red wells were visited by people
who thought chalybeate water was beneficial to their health.
Redfold. Fold in a level place. Reidh, plain.
Redford. Ford at a level place. Reidh, level.
Redheugh. Red high bank.
Redbriggs. Bridge built of red sandstone.
Redhouse. Probably a house with red tiles on the roof.
Redleas (for Lios Reidhe). Fold of the plain. Lios,
fold, enclosed space; reidhe, gen. of reidh, level ground.
When the meaning of reidhe had been lost it had been re-
garded as the English adjective red and put first, as being
the qualifying part of the name.
Redlums. Red chimneys, hum is a Scotch word mean-
ing chimney. The red lums had been built of bricks. In
Whitelums lums means hill. See Whitelums.
Ree, Earl of Mar's. Enclosed space said to have been
the camp of the Earl of Mar before the battle of Harlaw.
See Rath.
Ree Burn. Burn of the enclosure. Rath, circle, cattle-
fold, sheep-fold. See Rath.
Ree Newe. Sacred fold. Rath, circle, fold; naomh,
sacred, consecrated to a church. Ree Newe had been a fold
for the cattle belonging to the chapel at Belhandy. See
Rath and Newe.
Reedlaigh. Low level place. Reidh, level; laigh or
laicli (Scotch), low hollow.
Reed's Well (for Tobar Reidhe). Well of the plain.
Tobar, well; reidhe, gen. of reidh, level place. The parts
of the name had been transposed after reidhe was made the
qualifying word, and 's was added to convert it into an
English possessive.
s
274 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Reekie. Slope of a hill. Buigh, slope of a hill where
cultivation begins.
Reekitlane. Smoking by itself alone. After the
disastrous year 1782 many farmers in the Cabrach left their
holdings. In one place only one chimney sent out smoke,
and it was called Reekitlane.
Reem's Hill. See Ream's Hill.
Reesk, Reisque. Wet mossy ground growing tough
grass. Riasg, wet grassy ground unfit for cultivation till it
has been drained.
Reezielaw. Hill growing coarse mountain-grass. Rias-
gach, growing tough grass, riesky (Scotch); lamh, hill.
Refillan (for Allan Ruigh). Burn of the hill slope.
Allan, small stream; ruigh, gen. of ruigh, hill slope. Ruigh,
the qualifying word, had originally been last, but it is now
first.
Reidford. Same as Redford.
Reid's Burn. Burn of the plain. Reidhe, gen. of reidh,
plain. The final s in Reid's had been added because reidhe
is in the genitive.
Reid's Moss. Moss of the level plain. Reidhe, gen. of
reidh, level place. Reidhe being in the genitive, 's had been
affixed in English.
Reid's Well. See Red Well and Reid's Burn.
Reinchall. Point of the hill. Rainn, point; choill, gen.
asp. of coill, hill.
Reio Hill. Grey hill. Riach, grey.
Reive (for Rath). Fold. See Rath.
Reive of Shiels. Fold on a shieling. Rath, circle, fold;
sealain, gen. of sealan, summer hill pasture. See Rath.
Final s in Shiels represents ain of sealain, erroneously sup-
posed to be a plural termination.
Reivesley. Grassy place at a cattle-fold. Rathan, dim.
of rath, stone circle, cattle-fold; ley, grassy place. Th had
become bh, equivalent to v. S is a mistaken translation of
an in rathan.
Relaquheim. Grave by the footpath. Reidhlic, grave;
a', of the; cheim, gen. asp. of ceum, footpath.
Remicras. Plain of misfortune. Reidh, plain, level
place; migrais, gen. of migras, bad luck, uncongenial place.
Remora. Big plain. Reidh, plain; mor, big.
Renatton. Level place at a small fold. Reidh, plain;
chuitain, gen. asp. of cuitan, small fold. By loss of silent
c chuitan had in several places become hatton, and atton in
Clova.
Resthivet, Rossochetis (1257), Rostheveot (1504),
Rosseuiot (1506), Rothsyviot (1511), Ressavate (1511),
Rasevat (1534). The original form had probably been
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 275
Both a' Chuit. Hill of the cattle-fold. Roth, hill; a , of
the; chuit, gen. asp. of cuit, cattle-fold.
Resting Cairn. Cairn on Mormond where funeral
parties carrying coffins halted to rest.
Rettie (for Reidhean). Small plain. Reidhean, dim. of
reidhe, plain. An had become ie.
Rhindbuckie. Projecting point in a bend. Rinn, pro-
jecting point; bogha, bow, bend.
Rhindstock. Projecting point of land. Rinn, pro-
jecting point; stuc, small hill projecting from a greater.
Rhindstock is between two branches of a burn.
Rhynie. Small point. Rinnan, small point, promon-
tory. The Hole of Rhynie is a quarry on a hillside. Hole
may be a corruption of choill, hill, in which c is silent and
liable to be lost.
Richard Pot. Pot in the Deveron at the base of a hill
slope. RuigJi, slope of a hill where cultivation begins; ard,
hill, height.
Richarkarie (for Coire Ruigh Ard). Corry of the slope
of the hill. Coire, corry; ruigh, slope; ard, hill.
Richmond. Slope of a hill. Ruigh, slope; monaidh, gen.
of monadh, hill. This name helps to show that the ancient
language of Aberdeenshire was identical with that of Eng-
land.
Riddlehead (for Cuid Ruigh Dail). Fold on the slope of
a field. Cuid, fold; ruigh, slope of a hill; dail, field. The
name had in late time become Ruigh Dail Chuid, and after-
wards gh of Ruigh and c of Chuid had been lost.
Ridhebreac. Dappled slope. Ruighe, slope of a hill;
breac, variegated, grass mixed with patches of heather.
Riding Stone. Stone in a river by which riders could
tell whether or not it was safe to try to cross.
Riding Hill, Ridinghill (for Ruighean Choill). Slight
slope on a hill. Ruighean, dim. of ruigh, slope ; choill, gen.
asp. of coill, hill. C is silent in ch and had been lost, leaving
hoill, which had become hill.
Riegunachie Shiels (for Sealan Ruigh an Achaidh).
Shieling on the slope of the field. Sealan, shieling; ruigh,
slope ; na, of the ; chuith, cuith asp., fold. C and th of Chuith
had been lost, being silent.
Riffin. Slope of a hill. Ruigh, slope at the base of a
hill; fin, hill.
Riggin, Riggins (for Ruighean). Slopes of a hill.
Ruighean, plural of ruigh, slope of a hill. Though in, for
ean, is a plural termination this had been forgotten, and s
had been added in one case, producing Riggins.
Righorach, Hill of. Hill of summer pasture for sheep.
276 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Ruigh, summer pasture on the slopes of a hill; chaorach,.
gen. plural of caora, a sheep.
Rinabaich. Point of ground on which a cow-house stood.
Rinn, point; na, of the; baich, cow-house.
Rinalloch. Point projecting at a stream. Rinn, point;
allaich, gen. of allach, water, stream.
Rinasluick. High point near a burn howe. Rinn,
point; a', of the; sluic, gen. of sloe, gorge.
Rinavoan. Point on which there was a small house.
Rinn, point; a', of the; bhothain, gen. asp. of bothan, hut,
small house. Bh is equivalent to v, and th in the middle of
a word is silent.
Ringing Stone. Stone which emits a metallic sound
when struck.
Rinloan. Point of the meadow. Rinn, point; loin, gen.
of Ion, moss, meadow.
Rinmore. Big point. Rinn, point; mor, big.
Rinn Dearg. Red point. Roinn, point; dearg, red.
Rinnacharn Lodge. Sporting residence at a projecting
part of a hill. Rinn, point; a', of the; chairn, gen. asp. of
earn, hill.
Rinnafenach. Point of the declivity. Rinn, point; a',
of the; fanaidh, gen. of fanadh, gentle declivity.
Rinnagailloch. Point of the whiteness. Rinn, point;
na, of the; gealaich, gen. of gealach, whiteness.
Rintarsin. Cross point. Rinn, point; tarsuinn, cross.
Ripe. Rough place. Ribeach, rough.
Rippachie. Rough place. Ribeach, rough.
Risquehouse. House in a wet place growing tough herb-
age. Riasg, wet or soft mossy ground covered with coarse
grass.
Rivefold (for Ruigh Chuith). Slope of the fold. Ruighr
slope ; cuith, fold.
Rivehill (for Ruigh Choill). Slope of the hill. Ruigh,
slope; choill, gen. asp. of coill, hill. C in ch is silent and
had been lost.
Rivenpumphal Burn. Burn at a cattle-fold on a hill
slope. Riven (for ruigh bheinne), hill slope. Ruigh, lower
slope of a hill; bheinne, gen. asp. of beinn, hill. Ruigh
Bheinne is usually made Ruthven and pronounced rivven.
Rivestone (for Clach Ruigh a' Bheinne). Stone of the
slope of the hill. Clach, stone (translated and transposed);
ruigh, slope at the base of a hill; a', of the; bheinne, gen.
asp. of beinn, hill.
Road Burn (for Allt Roide). Burn of force. Allt, burn;
roide, gen. of roid, force produced by motion.
Roadside Craigie. Little hili by the roadside. Creaganr
little hill.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 277
Eoan. Point. Rann, headland.
Roanheads. Point. Rann, point. Heads is a transla-
tion of Rann, with s added because ann was supposed to be a
plural termination.
Roar Hill. Red hill. Ruadh, red.
Robbie Rossie's Wood, Robie's Brig, Robertswells,
Robie's Haven, Robie's Jetty, Robieston, Robin's Height,
Rob's Butt, Rob's Nook, Rob's Pantry, Robslaw. In
nearly every instance the first part of these names repre-
sents roibeach, rough, shaggy, bushy, filthy.
Robbie Rossie's Wood (for Bad Roibeach Rosach).
Rough wooded place where wild roses grow. Bad, wood,
bushy place; roibeach, shaggy, rough; rosach, productive of
wild roses.
Robertswells (for Baile Roibeach). Rough farm-town.
Baile, town; roibeach, rough, shaggy. When Roibeach be-
came Robert Baile was put last and aspirated and pronounced
waile, which became Well, afterwards improperly made
Wells.
Robieston (for Baile Roibeach). Rough town. Baile,
town; roibeach, rough. Roibeach became Robie, and s was
added to make it possessive. Then Baile was aspirated and
put last and translated into ton for Town. See Roberts-
wells.
Robslaw, Rubislaw, (for Lamh Roibeach). Bushy hill.
Lamh, hill; roibeach, bushy, shaggy. Mh is equivalent to
u, v, or w, and lamh had become law, but its meaning had
been lost. Then the parts of the name had been transposed
and roibeach had been put first, retaining the accent but
corrupted into rob. This being regarded as a personal name
s had been added to convert it into the English possessive
case.
Roch Ford. The ford is rough for riders and hardly pass-
able for wheeled conveyances, and the name might well
mean rough ford ; but it is on a hillside, and Roch probably
represents ruigh, slope on the side of a hill.
Rock Ernan. Rocky place near Ernan Water; which
see. Rock may represent ruigh, slope.
Rockhill. Hillside. Ruigh, slope of a hill where culti-
vation begins.
Rocking Stone. A name erroneously given to a large
block of white quartz on the top of the Hill of Auchmaliddie.
It had once formed part of a stone circle round a grave, but
it could never have been a rocking stone.
Rocks of Gleneilpy. See Gleneilpy.
Roddentree. Rowantree. Rxtadhan, little red thing,
red berry.
Roddick. Red. Rodaidh, ruddv, reddish brown.
278 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Rodger Ford. Ford of the slope of the hill. Ruighe,
hill slope. The approach is steep on the west side of the
Deveron. Here, as in Cadger for cadha, road, r had been
appended to the Gaelic word.
Rodshill (for Coill Roid). Hill of the road. Coill, hill;
roid, gen. of rod, road. Coill had been put last and trans-
lated, and roid being in the genitive s had been affixed to
change it into the English possessive.
Roebuss, Stone of the. Stone supposed to mark the
place where a person was killed. Robhais, gen. of roblias,
violent death.
Roger's Well (for Tobar Ruigh). Well of the slope of
the hill. Tobar, well; ruigh, hill slope.
Rogerseat (for Suidhe Ruighe). Place on the slope of a
hill. Suidhe, place; ruighe, gen. of ruigh, slope of a hill.
Rogie Stripe. Wrinkled little stream. Rocach,
wrinkled, crooked; stripe, very small stream.
Roinn Fad. Point of peats. Roinn, point; fad, gen.
plural of fad, peat.
Rollomire. Slavering bog. Roillc, slavering.
Roman Hill, Roman Mire. Roman (for Roth Man), hill.
Roth, hill; man, hill.
Ron, Ron a, Rawn. Point. Roinn, point.
Ronald's Pot. Pot at a point of land where a burn
joins the Ythan. Ron, point; uillt, gen. of allt, burn.
Rookfolds. Fold on the side of a hill. Ruigh, hill slope.
S is an improper addition.
Rookford Bridge. Bridge which took the place of a
ford at the slope of a hill. Ruigh, slope at the base of a hill.
Rootie Linn. Fall of a stream. Linne, pool, fall; ruitlie,
gen. of ruith, stream.
Roquharold (for Allt Ruigh Airidhe). Burn of the hill-
side shieling. Allt, burn (transposed and corrupted into
old); ruigh, slope of a hill, where cultivation begins; airidhe,
gen. of airidh, pasture among hills far away from a farm.
Rora. Red place. Ruarach, expansion of ruadh, red.
Formerly Rora was covered with heather.
Rose Cairn. Cairn of the point. Rois, gen. of ros,
point ; cam, cairn. Roads and boundaries meet at Rose
Cairn.
Roseachie. Place abounding in roses. Rosach, abound-
ing in roses.
Roseiiearty. Promontory of the shieling. Ros, point;
na, of the (suppressed); h (euphonic); airidhe, gen. of airidh,
shieling.
Roseseat. House at a point between two roads. Ros,
point, promontory; suidhe, seat, place.
Rosullah (for Ros Sughaile). Point of wetness, or wet
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 279
point. Ros, point; sughaile (gh silent), gen. of sughail,
wetness.
Rot, Eoth. Hill. Rot, hill; roth, hill.
Rotan, Rothan. Little hill. Rotan, dim. of rot, hill;
rothan, dim. of roth, hill.
Rothens (for Rathan). Small circular enclosure.
Rathan, dim. of rath, circle, stone circle, sheep fank.
Rathan had been supposed to be plural and s had been added
to it.
Rothie (for Rothan). Hill. Rotlian, dim. of rotli, a
variant of rath, hill of symmetrical rounded shape.
Rothiebrisbane. Part of Rothie given by Robert I. to
Thomas Brisbane.
Rothienorman. Part of Rothie which belonged to the
family of Norman of Leslie.
Rothmaise. Hill of a beautiful shape. Roth, hill;
maiseach, handsome. Roth is a variant of rath, which in
Irish means a mound. Rothmaise is a circular round-topped
symmetrical hill, like a large mound.
Rothney. Village near Rothney Hill; which see.
Rothney Hill (for Rothan Hill). Hill is a translation
of rothan. The letters in an had been transposed, and na
had become ney.
Rotten Holes. Little hill. Rotan, little hill; choillean,
coillean asp., little hill. Ean ought to have been made ie
and not s.
Rotten Kaim. This is the name of a narrow ridge of
rock on the coast of Cruden. If the ridge terminates sea-
ward in a round knoll Rotten represents rothan, dim. of roth,
hill.
Rotten of Brotherfield. This seems a combination of
two names having similar meanings. Rotten is rotan, dim.
of rot, hill; which see. Brotherfield is a partial translation
of Achadh Bruthaich, field of the hillside. Achadh, field,
place, farm; bruthaich, gen. of bruthach, brae, side of a hill.
Rotten Well. Well whose water has the smell of rotten
eggs. These contain sulphuretted hydrogen gas, and water
percolating long through soil containing decaying vegetation
becomes charged with this gas and acquires medicinal
virtues.
Rottenhill, Rotten Moss. Rotten is a corruption of
rotan, little hill; which see.
Rough Bank, Rough Burn, Rough Craig, Rough Grip,
Roughbush Burn. Rough, for ruigh, slope of hill; grip,
channel, same as Scotch greep.
Roughouster Quarries (for Buidhinneachan Aosda
Ruigh). Old quarries on the hillside. Buidhinneachan,
280 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
quarries (translated); aosda, old; ruigh, gen. of ruigh, slope
of a hill.
Round Lightnot (for Cruinn Fhliuchan Achaidh).
Round wet place in a field. Cruinn, round; fhliuchan (fh
silent), wet place; achaidh, gen. of achadh, field. The first
t is a euphonic insertion
Round Tore, Round Torr. Round steep abrupt hill.
Cruinn, round; torr, steep round hill, usually with a flat
summit.
Roundabout. Site of a circular cattle-fold.
Roundhill, Roundhome. The two names have the same
meaning. Both had originally been Cruinn Thorn. Round
hill. Cruinn, round; thorn, torn asp., hill.
Roundie Law (for Cruinn Lamh). Round hill. Cruinn,
round; lamh, hill. Mh is equivalent to w. Final ie repre-
sents inn of cruinn, supposed to be a dim. termination.
Rouplaw (for Ruigh Laimh). Slope of a hill. Ruigh,
slope; laimh, gen. of lamh, hill. Gh had become ph, and
then the aspirate had been lost. Mh is equivalent to w.
Rowacks (for Ruadh Achaidhean). Red little field.
Ruadh, red; achaidhean, dim. of achadh, field. Ean, a dim.
termination, had been changed to s erroneously.
Rownie's Sclate. A coast name in Cruden. Meaning
unknown.
Rowrandle. Red field. Ruadhran, expanded form of
ruadh, red; dail, field. Dh is silent.
Royhall. House with a large kitchen on a farm occupied
by a tenant named Roy. A farm kitchen was called a hall
because it was open to all connected with the farm.
Roy Moss. Level moss. Originally the name had been
Reidh Bac, level moss, and it had subsequently passed
through the following forms: — Red Moss, Ruadh Moss, Roy
Moss. Ruadh is red, but red in the name is a corruption of
reidh, level.
Royston (for Roy's town). Ruadh, red.
Ruble. Rumbling. Rubail, rumbling, tumult.
Ruidh an Loin, Burn of. Ruidh is a mistake for ruigh,
dh and gh both having the sound of ye. See Ruigh an Loin.
Ruigh an Loin. Part of a hill sloping down to a moss.
Ruigh, hill slope, the lowest slope of a hill; an, of the; loin,
gen. of Ion, moss.
Ruigh nan Clach. Stony slope at the base of a hill.
Ruigh, place sloping up to a hill; nan, of the; clach, gen.
plural of clach, stone.
Ruigh Speanan. Dividing ridge. Ruigh, slope at the
base of a hill, here the two slopes at the ridge; spannadh,
pres. part, of spann, to divide.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 281
Kuighachail. Slope of the hill. Ruigh, slope; a', of
the; choille, gen. asp. of coille, hill.
Kuighcosach. Slope of the ascent. Ruigh, slope; cas-
aich, gen. of casach, ascent.
Euin. Small slope. Ruiglican, small slope.
Rumblie Burn. Burn whose water rises up in volumes.
Rumble, to roll about.
Rumbling Gait. Chasm in which the water of the sea
seems to boil up from the bottom. Rumble, to tumble about ;
gja (Norse), chasm, gwight.
Rumbling Gutter. Creek in which water rises in volumes
from the bottom. Rumble, tumble about with noise; gutter,
water channel, place for water falling from the eaves of a
house. Latin gutta, drop.
Rumbling Pot, Rumbling Pots. A pot is a deep hole in
a river or channel in the sea, where water striking on the
bottom rises in volumes, with or without noise.
Rumfold. Fold at a marsh. Rumaielie, gen. of rumach,
quagmire, bog.
Rummicrae (for Ro-meud Rath). Very large round en-
closure, cattle-fold, sheep-fold. Ro-meud, excessive great-
ness; rath, circle. Final th is silent.
Rumplehead. Place like the head of the tail of cattle.
Rumpidl, tail, rump.
Runnygurnal (for Roinn a' Ghairnil). Point of the
girnal — that is the point of land on which it was situated.
Roinn, point; a', of the; ghairnil, gen. asp. of gairneal,
girnal, place where a proprietor stored meal rents brought
by his tenants.
Rush. Hillside. Ruigh, slope of a hill.
Rushhead (for Cuid Ruigh). Fold on a hill slope. Cuid,
fold; ruigh, lower slope of a hill. After ruigh had become
rush, the parts of the name had been transposed, and cuid
became chuid, subsequently losing c. Finally huid became
head.
Rushlach, The. The slope of a hill. Ruigh, slope at
the base of a hill; laimh, gen. of lamh, hill.
Rushmill (for Ruigh Mill). . Slope of a hill. Ruigh,
slope; mill, gen. of me all, hill.
Rushy Crook (for Ruighe Chnuic). Slope of a hill.
Ruighe, slope; chnuic, gen. asp. of cnoc, hill. Cnoc is
usually pronounced crochg by Gaelic-speaking people. The
place is over 1000 feet above sea, on Kirkney Hill.
Ruskie Moss (for Bac Ruighe). Moss of the slope of the
hill. Bac, moss (translated and put last); ruighe, hill slope.
Ruthrie Hill. Red hill. Ruadh, red, expanded into
ruadhran, with dh changed to th.
Ruthrieston. Ped town. Ruadhran, expansion of
282 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
ruadh, red, with an changed to ie and dh to th. S had been
inserted in the belief that Euthrie was a personal name in
the possessive.
Euthven (for Euigh Bheinne). Slope of a hill. Ruigh,
slope; bheinne, gen. asp. of beinn, hill. Bh is equivalent to
v, and Euigh Bheinne became Euthven, frequently pro-
nounced rivvin.
Euthven Fauld. Enclosed place for sheep on a slope.
See Euthven.
Eyall, Eyehill, Eyhill. Slope of a hill where cultiva-
tion begins. Ruigh, slope; choill, gen. asp. of coill, hill. All
represents choill with c silent and lost, and hill is a trans-
lation of choiJl.
Eyntaing. Point of the tongue. Rinn, point ; tainga,
gen. of teanga, tongue. The place is on the point of a piece
of land between two burns.
Saak. See Savoch.
Saddle Hill. Hill with a hollow between two tops.
Saggie Pot (for Poit Sacaidh). Pot where a boat could
land a cargo to be put in sacks and conveyed on horseback to
the high ground above. Poit, pot; sacaidh, gen. of sacadh,
pressing into sacks. Probably the reference is to the obsolete
practice of cutting seaweed from the rocks and conveying it
to land to be used as manure. There is a road from the sea-
shore to the high ground.
St Apolinaris Chapel. Chapel said to have been dedi-
cated to a fictitious saint named Apolinaris. See Polinar.
St Bride's Chapel. Chapel at Kildrummy dedicated to
St Bridget, an Irish saint reverenced in Scotland. Bride is a
familiar form of Bridget.
St Catherine's Chapel. Prior to 1800 there was a hill
of sand in Union Street at the entrance to Adelphi Court.
On the summit there was an oratory dedicated to St
Catherine. It is now commemorated by St Catherine's
Wynd.
Saint Cloud. Both these words mean hill. Saint repre-
sents sithean, hill, with th silent and t added for euphony ;
and Cloud is a corruption of cnoc, hill. Cnoc is pronounced
with the tip of the tongue resting on the lower teeth, and
Cloud can be pronounced with the tongue in the same
position. In cloudberry, a name for the mountain bramble
or aivron, the first part is really Cnoc, and so is Clod in
Clodhill.
St Combs. Church dedicated to St Columba. There is
now a fishing village at the site of the church.
St Congan's Church. Church of Turriff, dedicated to
St Congan, corrupted to St Cowan.
St Fergus. Church dedicated to St Fergus. The parish
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 283
in which it stands now bears the same name, and there is
also a village called St Fergus.
St Machar's Chapel (Corriehoul). The idea that there
had been at Corriehoul a chapel dedicated to St Machar
must have originated after Gaelic ceased to be understood.
Machair, alluvial plain by a river.
St Maciiar's Church (Aberdeen). Church dedicated to
St Machar. This dedication is a mere supposition. Machair,
level ground, haugh by a river.
St Mary's Chapel. King's College Chapel was dedicated
to St Mary of the Nativity.
St Mary's of the Snows. An ancient parish in Aber-
deen, dedicated to St Mary of the Snows, now suppressed.
St Nicholas Church. The ancient parish church of
Aberdeen, dedicated to St Nicholas, the patron of sailors.
St Olaus's Well. Well in Cruden dedicated to Olaf, a
Norwegian saint. A church in Lerwick dedicated to him is
called St Ola's, and a street in London named after him is
called Tooley Street, initial t being the last letter of saint.
St Peter's. An ancient parish in Aberdeen, now sup-
pressed, on Spital Hill.
St Sairs. Market stance where an annual fair is held
about July 1, St Serf's day.
St Thomas's Hospital. A hospital, dedicated to St
Thomas a Becket of Canterbury, stood between St Nicholas
Street and Correction Wynd, Aberdeen.
Sanatorium. Place where sick persons are cured. Sana-
tonus (Latin), pertaining to healing.
Sandbrigs. Sandy hill. Bruch, hill. S is a euphonic
addition. Sand may be a corruption of sithean, hill.
Salter's Mire, Satter Hill, Satyr Hills. The first
part of these names had been Tir Saith, land of plenty. Tir,
land; saith, gen. of sath, plenty, abundance of grass. The
position of the accent shows transposition of the parts of
the names. L is inserted after a to show that it is long.
Salthouse Head. Point on which a house for making
salt stood.
Satter Hill and Satyr Hills. See Salter's Mire.
Sanyne (for Sandend). Place at the south end of the
Sands of Forvie.
Saphock. Same as Savock; which see.
Saplinbrae. Brae growing young trees. Sapling, young
tree full of sap.
Satan's Howe. Howe of the droves. Sathan, gen.
plural of satli, drove, flock. Final 's had been added to
sathan to convert it into an English possessive. Satan's
Howe is on the long drove road between Towie and Tarland,
and droves had rested in it at night.
584 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Satan's Well. Well of the droves. This well is on a
hill near an old drove road from Buchan to Potarch. See
Satan's Howe.
Sauch, Saugh. Willow. Seileach, willow. Willow is in
Latin salix, salicis; in French saule; in English sallow.
Sauch Well. A dipping well with a willow tree planted
near it to show its site when covered with snow.
Sauchen. Small quiet place. Samhachan (mh silent),
dim. of samhach, quiet, pleasant.
Sauchen Stripe. Small stream bordered by willows.
Sauchenbog. Willow bog.
Sauchenbush. Thicket of willows.
Sauchend. Same as Sauchen.
Sauchenloan. Pleasant grassy place at a dwelling.
Samhachan, dim. of samhach, quiet, pleasant; loan, grassy
place before a dwelling-house.
Sauchentree. Willow tree.
Sauchenyard. Enclosed place growing willows.
Saughs. Willows.
Savey, Top of. Quiet hill top. Samhach, undisturbed,
quiet. Mh is equivalent to v.
Savoch, Savock, Saphock, Saak. Pleasant place. Sam-
hach, quiet, mild, pleasant. Mh is equivalent to v. It is
also equivalent to bh, which is similar to ph. Mh, like other
aspirated letters, is liable to become silent and to be omitted.
Scabbed Inch, Scabbit Fauld. In these names the first
part represents sguabaidh, gen. of sguabadh, broom. Innis,
island; fauld, small enclosed field of grass.
Scad Hill, Scald Craigs. Bare hill. Sgall, bald, bare.
Craigs represents creagan, dim. of creag, hill. An had been
made s instead of ie, the corresponding Scotch dim.
termination.
Scantcairn. Drove hill. Sgann, drove; cam, hill.
There is a small hill near a drove road, and there may have
been a prescriptive right to rest cattle on it.
Scar Hill, Scare Hill, Scarehill. Hill with pointed
rocky top. Sgor, sharp rock. The east end of Bennachie
is a good example of a " scar hill."
Scareleys. Grassy place where there are rocky points.
Sgorach, abounding in pointed rocks.
Scarfauld Hill. Hill on which there is an enclosure
containing some pointed rocks.
Scars, The. The pointed rocks. Sgoran, plural of sgor,
pointed rock. This name is given to sharp-pointed rocks on
hills and in the sea.
Scarsoch (for Sgor Soc). Mountain with a rocky snout
on the summit. Sgor, pointed rock; soc for suic, gen. of
soc, snout.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 235-
Scarsoch Bheag. Little Scarsoch. Bheag, beag asp.,
little.
Scarth Craig. Rock on which cormorants sit. Scart or
scarth, cormorant; creag, rock.
Scatter Burn, Scatterburn. Burn with a deep eroded
channel. Sgathta (tli silent), eroded; tir, land.
Scattertie (for Sgathta Tirte). Eroded lands. Sgathta
(tli silent), eroded; tirte, euphonic plural of tir, land.
Scattie Wood. Wood of the drove. Sgata, drove.
Scattie might represent sgathta, eroded. An became ie.
Scaur Wood; Scaurs, The. Scaur and Scaurs represent
sgoran, plural of sgor, rock. An had become s in the last
name.
Scaurfauld Hill. Hill with a fauld on it in which
there were pointed rocks.
Scavie. Hay or corn barn. Sgamhan, barn for storing
hay or straw. Mh had become v, and an had become ie.
Schivas (for Seamhas). Good fortune. Seamhas (pro-
nounced sJievas), prosperity.
Sclattie. Ford protected against erosion by stems of
trees laid down in the bed of the stream. Slatach, made
with stems of trees. See Slateford.
Scobach. Place abounding in broom. Sguabach,
broomy.
Scourgie (for Sgorach). Pointed, rocky.
Scourie Burn. Burn which had cut out a deep channel.
Sgorach, cutting, gashing.
Scout Bog (perhaps for Bogan Sgeithe). Vomiting bog.
Bogan, wet place, bog; sgeithe, gen. of sgeith, vomiting,
throwing out. This name would be appropriate for a bog
which in winter continuousl}" discharged a small stream of
thin watery clay.
Scotsbrae, Scotsmill, Scotston, Scotstown, Scott's
Pool, Scottsbank, Scottsmill, Scottiesley, Scottiestone.
Scot in these names represents Eas Cuit, burn at a fold.
Eas, burn ; cuit, fold. From the same roots come also Escott,
Ascot, Ascott, Asquith, Ayscough, Askew, Scotlandwell, etc.
Scoube. Broom. Sguab, broom.
Scrapehard. Bough hill. Sgrabach, rough, rugged;
ard, height.
Scraulac Hill from which the surface had been pared
to provide litter for a cattle-fold or to make divots for the
roofs of houses. Sgroilleach, peeling, paring.
Scroghill (for Sgor Hill). Hill with one or more
pointed rocks. Sgor, sharp-pointed rock.
Scurbank. Steep bare bank with rocky places. Sgory
scaur (Scotch), bare rock.
286 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Scurdargue. Red steep brae with bare places in it.
Scaur, bare steep brae ; dearg, red.
Seal Skelly. Seal rock. Sgeilg (Irish), rock.
Seals Busk. Eock where seals lay basking in the sun.
Sealscrook (for Cnoc Sealain). Hill of the shieling.
Cnoc, hill; sealain, gen. of sealan, summer hill pasture.
Cnoc is usually pronounced crochg. Final an had erroneously
been supposed to be a plural termination and made s.
Sean Choille or the Genechal. Site of a wood which
had been cut. Sean, old; choille, coille asp., wood. Gene-
chal is an imitation in English of the sound of Sean Choille.
Searghee Hillock. Dried up hillock. Seargaichte,
withered, dried up.
Seatiton. Farm-town at a proprietor's residence.
Suidhe, place, seat; ton, town.
Seaton. Farm-town near the sea.
Seats. Settlement. Suidhean, dim. of suidhe, seat.
The dim. termination had been mistaken for the plural.
Seedhill. Hill on which courts were held. Suidhe, seat
of a court, site, place.
Seelyhillock. Eocky knoll. Sgeilgan, dim. of sgeilg
(Irish), rocky hill. An became ie in Scotch.
Seggat. Windy situation. Suidhe, site; gaothach,
windy. The same root words transposed have given the
name Gateside.
Seggiecrook, Seggiebog, Segybog, Seggieden, Seggie-
hole. In these names the first part represents sedgy,
abounding in Iris pseudacorus, sedge, in Scotch seg.
Selbie Hill (for Tom Sealbhain). Hill of cattle. Tom,
hill; sealbhain, gen. of sealbhan, cattle. The aspirate in bh
had been lost.
Semeil. Quiet hill. Seimh, quiet; al, hill.
Seuch Burn. Draining burn. Suigh, gen. of sugh,
moisture, drainings.
Sewage Farm. Farm where sewage water is purified by
irrigating grass. Sexver, large drain, from Latin ex-succare,
to drain.
Sgor. Upstanding rock on the summit of a hill, hill with
a rocky summit. When an ice-sheet passed over the sum-
mits of mountains it swept away loose matter but sometimes
left masses of solid rock.
Sgor an Eoin. Hill of the bird. Eoin, gen. of eun, bird.
Sgor an Lochain Uaine. Hill of the green lochan.
Lochain, gen. of lochan, small loch, lochan; uaine, green.
Sgor Buidhe. Yellow hill. Buidhe, yellow.
Sgor Damh. Hill of deer. Damh, gen. plural of damh,
stag, deer, ox.
Sgor Dubh. Black hill. Dubh, black.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 287
Sgor Gorm. Blue hill. Gorm, blue.
Sgor Mor. Big hill. Mor, big.
Sgor na Cuileige. Hill of the fly. Cuileige, gen. of
cuilcag, fly. Cuileige may be a mistake for culaige, gen. of
culag, turf for the back of a fire.
Sgor na h-Iolaire. Hill of the eagle. Iolaire, gen. of
iolair, eagle. Eagles take flight from rocks because they
cannot rise from level ground.
Shackle Cairn (for Buigh Cairn). Slope of the hill.
Ruigh, slope near the base of a hill; cairn, gen. of earn, hill.
Buigh (gh silent), had been corrupted into Bye, and this had
been translated into Gaelic by Seagal (pronounced slia-gal),
rye. Seagal had subsequently been corrupted into Shackle.
It must not be presumed that Gaelic forms of names are all
•old. Some of them are absurd renderings into Gaelic of
what seemed to be English names but were really corrupt
forms of ancient Gaelic names.
Shadowside. North side of a hill.
Shaggart (for Sean Gart). Old enclosure. Scan (pro-
nounced shan), old; gart, circle, stone circle round a grave,
fold.
Shallowplough. Farm in a sheltered place. Asgall,
bosom, sheltered place. See Ashallow.
Shand's Loch, Shandscross. Shand represents sithean
(th silent), hill, with euphonic d added. After the meaning
of sean had been lost s had been added to convert it into
the English possessive.
Shank of Corlich, Shank of Fafernie. Shank is sithean
(tli silent), hill, with euphonic k added. See Corlach and
Fafernie.
Shannach Burn. Burn beside which meadowT grass was
made into hay. Siannach (pronounced shannach), place of
piles of grass. Formerly there were on farms cottars whose
chief employment was to cut grass and make hay for food
for cattle in winter.
Shannach Moss, Shannock, Shannocks. In these names
the root seems to be sunnach (Irish), summit. Shannach
Moss is a high flat circular area, and Shannocks, near Tur-
riff, is on high ground.
Shannas. Burn near which meadow hay was made.
Sian (pronounced shan), hillock of grass, coil; eas (pro-
nounced as), water, burn.
Shannel. Old burn course. Sean, old; allt, burn.
Shanquhar (for Sean Carr). Old stone monument.
Sean, old; carr, monumental pillar.
Shantlerhill. Hill not under cultivation. Seantalamh,
uncultivated land. Sean is pronounced shan.
Shants of Murdoch (for Sithean Murdorch). Hill of the
288 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
black wall. Sithean (th silent) hill, with t added for euphony
and s added because sithean ends in an, sometimes a plural
termination. See Murdoch.
Sharp Pick (for Pic Sgarbh). Pointed rock, frequented
by cormorants. Pic, pointed rock; sgarbh, gen. plural of
sgarbh, cormorant, scart. In autumn immense numbers of
young cormorants sit on rocks at the water edge in Shetland
and other places where they breed, so that they can plunge
in quickly for food or to escape danger.
Sharper (for Ar Sgarbh). Ground of the cormorants.
Ar, ground; sgarbh, gen. plural of sgarbh, scart, cormorant.
Probably The Sharper had been bigger when it got its name
than it is now.
Sharperhillock. Eough hillock. Sgrabach, rough,
rugged.
Shawhill. Wood hill. Shaw, thicket.
Shaw's Shiel. Shieling hut at a thicket. Seal, hut on
a shieling; shaw, bushy place, small wood. Final s had been
added to Shaw when its meaning had been lost, to change
it into the English possessive.
Sheal, Sheal Burn, Shealing Hillock, Sheals, Burn
of Sheals. Sheal represents seal, a temporary summer resi-
dence among hills. In English it is usually made shiel.
Shealing and Sheals represent sealan, summer pasture among
hills at some distance from a farm. An has become ing in
Shealing and s, improperly, in Sheals.
Shearer Hill. Black shiel hill. Sear, dark, black;
airidh, shiel.
Sheddockley. Grassy place where people lived in tem-
porary quarters in summer, probably when engaged in hay-
making or dairy work. Seideach, having beds of hay or grass
spread on the ground; ley (Scotch), grassy place. See
Mastrick. S before e is pronounced sh.
Sheelagreen. Green place at huts on a shieling.
Sealan, plural of seal, hut on a shieling.
Sheeling Tor (for Torr Sealain). Steep bank with flat
summit where cattle pastured in summer. Torr, steep,
abrupt height; sealain, gen. of sealan, summer pasture.
Sheldon (perhaps for Dun Seala). Hill of summer pas-
ture. Dun, hill; seala, gen. of seal, shieling.
Shelling Hillock. Hillock where corn which had been
shelled in a mill was riddled to separate the sids and the
shelled grain.
Shenalt, Easter and Wester. Old burn. Sean, old;
allt, burn. The digging of a long ditch between two burns-
gave rise to the name Shenalt applied to them.
Shenral, Shenval, Shenwall (for Sean Bhaile). Old
town. Sean (pronounced shen), old; bhaile, baile asp.,.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 289
town. Bh is equivalent to u, v, or w. Shenral is a mistake
for Shenval.
Shepherd's Cairn. See Cairns.
Sheriff Burn (for Sear Abh). Black water burn. Sear
(Irish), dark, black; abh, water. Se is pronounced she.
Shethin (for Sith Fhin). Hill. Both parts of the name
mean hill, and the second had been added to explain the
first. Sith (pronounced slieeth), hill; fhin, fin asp., hill.
Fh is silent and had been lost. The accent on the final
syllable shows that it represents a qualifying word. Perhaps
fh had become th.
Shevado (local pronunciation shevada — for Sith Bhad-
ach). Bushy hillock. Sith (pronounced she), hillock;
bhadach, badach asp., bushy. Bh is equivalent to v, and
ch had become silent and had been lost.
Sheverock, The. The hawk rock. Seabhaig, gen. of
seabhag, hawk. Several names of the rocky coast between
Boddam and Collieston indicate that hawks bred among the
rocks.
Shevock. Placid little burn. Seimh (pronounced shev),
placid; og, small. Mh is equivalent to v. In the Chartulary
of Lindores Abbey the Shevock burn is called the Ourie,
which means small stream.
Shiel, Shield Know, Shield Knowe, Shielhill, Shiels.
See Sheal. Shiels might represent either sealan, plural of
seal, or sealan, pasture ground.
Shinnach (for Sitheanach). Abounding in knolls. S is
pronounced sh before i, and th being silent had become lost,
with its vowel e.
Shiprow. Eow of houses on the north-west side of the
road from the harbour of Aberdeen to the end of Broad
Street. A row was the term for a single line of houses.
Shuen (for Sughan). Wet place. In passing into Scotch
s had been aspirated; gh became silent; and an became en.
Shunies (for Sughanan). Wet places. Sughanan, plural
of sughan, wet place. In passing into Scotch s had been
aspirated, as is done in sugar, sure, suit. Gh being silent
had been lost. An ought to have become s, but it became
both ic and s.
Sidegate (for Suidhe Gaothach). Windy place. Suidhe,
seat, place; gaothach, windy. The common form of the
name is Gateside.
Siller Hill, Silverhillock. Hill where cattle fed.
Sealbhar, cattle, wealth in cattle.
Sillerton (for Baile Sealbhar). Town of many cattle.
Bailc, town; sealbhar (bh silent and omitted), rich in cattle.
Sealar had become siller, the Scotch term for wealth.
Sillerton was long a local name for Gordon's Hospital,
290 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Aberdeen. Gordon's Hospital was built on a farm called by
this name because being near the Loch it had produced
much grass. From Aberdeen the name had been transferred
to a farm in Turriff on an estate purchased by the trustees
of the hospital.
Silver Burn, Silver Cairn, Silver Cave, Silver Coral,
Silver Gight, Silver Hillock, Silver Stone, Silver
Well, Silverfield, Silverford, Silverley Head, Silver-
moss, Silverwells. In these names Silver represents
sealbhar (pronounced sealvar), cattle. In names in which
Well or Wells forms a part there may be a reference also to
a custom of visiting sacred wells on the first Sunday of May
and drinking of the water or washing sores with it, in the
hope of deriving benefit from the water. Visitors usually
dropped small coins into the well. But the reference to
money is much later than to cattle. Cairn means hill. Cave
shows that cattle had been folded in caves. Coral is cor,
round hill, together with aill, hill. Gight is a chasm which
had been utilised as a pumphal. Stone shows that a pillar
had served as a rubbing-post for cattle. In Silverley Head
ley means grassy place, and head means a cattle-fold.
Simpson's Cairn. Cairn commemorating a person named
Simpson who was found dead on the site of the cairn.
Sinclair Hills. Hills rising from a level plain. Sithean
(th silent), plural of sith, mount, hillock; clair, gen. of clar,
level plain.
Sinnaboth. Knoll at the hut. Sithean (th silent), knoll;
a', of the; both, hut.
Sinnahard (for Suidhe na h-Ard). Place on the hill.
Suidhe, place; na, of the; h (euphonic); ard, height.
Sinsharnie (for Sithean Charnach). Stony hill. Sithean
(th silent); carnach, stony. The aspiration of carnach had
taken place at a late time.
Sittinghillock. Both parts of the name mean the same
thing. Sithean, small hill.
Skair, The. Rock on a hill. Sgeir, rock.
Skares. Bocks. Sgeirean, plural of sgeir, rock in the
sea or on a hill standing apart from others. An became s.
Skate Lakes. Flat smooth rocks on which skate were
dried. Sgat, skate; leacan, plural of leac, flat stone.
Skate Wood, Skatebrae. In these names Skate repre-
sents sgitheach, hawthorn.
Skellarts. Bocky little heights. Sgeilg, rock; ardan,
plural of ard, height. An had been translated into s.
Skellater. Extensive land. Sgaoilte, extended; th,
land.
Skellies, Skellyis. Bocks. Sgeilgan, plural of sgeilg,
rock. An had been regarded at first as a dim. termination
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 291
and changed to ic, and afterwards as a plural termination
and s had been added to ie.
Skelly Eock, Skellybogs, Skellyhill. Skelly repre-
sents sgeilgan, dim. of sgcilg, rock, or sgeilgan, plural of
sgeilg, rock.
Skelmonae, Skilmonae. Eock of the hill. Sgeilg, rock;
monaidh, gen. of monadh, hill.
Skelmuir (for Sgaoilte Muir). Extonsive moor.
Sgaoilte, extended. Muir may represent mur, hill.
Skene. Burn at a small fold. Eos, burn; cuithan, small
fold. Tha is silent.
Skene Square (for Skene's Square). A block of build-
ings at the north-west corner where Eosemount Place meets
Skene Square. See Skene.
Skene Street. Street on the road to Skene. Skene is
for [Ea]s Cui[tha]n. Burn at a small fold. Eas, burn;
■cuithan, dim. of cuith, fold. The letters within brackets had
been lost. Ea is sounded as in head, and would hardly have
been heard before s. Th medial is silent and had been lost.
Skerry. Small sea rock. Sgeirean, dim. of sgeir, sea
rock. An had become y.
Sketrie Burn. Burn whose water was purgative.
Skeugh Burn. Burn of the hawthorn bush. Sgeach,
hawthorn.
Skillymarno (for Sgeilg na Bearna). Eock of the gap.
Sgeilg, rock; na, of the; bearna, gap. Bh and mh are both
equivalent to v, and hence by loss of the aspirate b may
become m.
Skilmafilly (for Sgeilg na Fine). Eock of the hill.
Sgeilg, rock; na, of the; fine, gen. of fin, hill.
Skilmonae. See Skelmonae.
Skinna Burn, Skinner's Pot. The first part of the
names represents sgannain, gen. of sgannan, small herd or
flock.
Skipleton (for Baile Sgiobail). Town of a barn. Baile,
town (translated); sgiobail, gen. of sgiobal, barn, granary.
Skirl Naked. Eocky hill from which tidings were
signalled. Sgeir, rock, rocky hill; naigheachd, tidings.
Skirts of Foudland. Places on the borders of the Hill
of Foudland.
Skite Hole. Skate hole. Sgait, gen. of sgat, skate.
Skurrie. Sharp little rock at the mouth of the Ugie.
Sgorran, dim. of sgor, sharp rock.
Skybrae. Brae growing hawthorns. Sgeach, hawthorn
bush, hawthorn berry.
Slack. Hollow. Sloe, hollow, gorge, space between two
heights near each other.
292 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Slack Merlin. Hollow frequented by a small hawk.
Merlin, small hawk.
Slack Methland. Hollow of the wet hill. Sloe, hollow;
maoth, wet; lamhan, hill.
Slack o' Causeway. Slack along which a made road
passed. Slochd, gorge, slack; o' , of the; causeway, road
made with broken stones and gravel. See Causeway.
Slack of Etry. Hollow at a house on a hillside. Sloe,
hollow; aite, place; ruigh, slope of a hill.
Slack of Larg. Hollow of the footpath. Sloe, hollow;
learg, hillside, road on a hillside.
Slack of Menie. Hollow of the gap between two hills.
Sloe, hollow; meanain, gen. of meanan, gap. Ain had
become ie.
Slackadale. Hollow of the riverside field. Sloe, hol-
low; a', of the; dail, for dalach, riverside field.
Slackmore. Big trench-like hollow. Sloe, slack, slug,
den, gorge ; mor, big.
Slacks of Cairnbanno. Hollow crossing a road at Cairn -
banno. Slocan, dim. of sloe, gorge, hollow, low place in a
road. An had been erroneously translated into Scotch by
s instead of ie.
Slai na Gour. Mountain of the goat. Sliabh, mountain;
na, of the; gabhair, gen. of gabhar, goat.
Slampton (for Baile Sleibh). Town on a hill. Baile,.
town; sleibh, gen. of sliabh, hill. M and b are often inter-
changed because mh and bh both sound v. P is a euphonic
insertion.
Slains. Unbroken coast. Slan, whole, without opening.
Final s represents an of slan, which though translated into
s had been allowed to remain. A card term, slam, is the
equivalent of Gaelic slan, whole.
Slaskie. Sloping. Sliosach, having sloping sides.
Slateheugh. Cliff of slate rock. Heugh, overhanging
precipitous cliff.
Slatersford (for Ath Slatach). Ford laid with trunks
of trees. Ath, ford; slatach, formed of trunks of trees. The
stems of small trees were laid side by side across a stream
to give a safe footing for horses.
Slaties Pot. Pot in the Ythan near Slateheugh.
Slaughter Head (for Cuid Tir Sleibh). Fold of the land
of the hill. Cuid, fold; tir, land; sleibh, gen. of sliabh, hill.
After being corrupted and losing its meaning the name had
become Sliabh Tir Chuid, and by loss of c after aspiration
chuid had become first huid and then head.
Sleac Gorm, Sleach. Sleac and Sleach both represent
sliabh, hill. Gorm is blue.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 293
Sleek of Tarty. Soft muddy place at the mouth of the
Tarty burn. Slike (Middle English), greasy, smooth, soft
and muddy.
Sleepy Hillock. The original form of this name may
have been Cnapan Sleibh. Knoll of the mountain. Cnapan,
hillock (translated); sleibh, gen. of sliabh, extensive moun-
tain.
Sleepynook. Corner of the hill. Sleibh, gen. of sliabh,
hill.
Sleepytown. Town on a hill. Baile, town (translated);
sleibh, gen. of sliabh, hill.
Slewdrum (for Druim Sleibh). Ridge of the hill. Druim ,
ridge; sleibh, gen. of sliabh, hill.
Sliddery Brae. Brae on a road near Potarch, dangerous
to cattle and horses from ice. If Sliddery is a word of Gaelic
origin it represents sliabh airidhe, hill of the shieling.
Slidegate (for Slighe Gaothach). Windy path. Slighe,
road, path; gaothach, windy. Gh and dh are pronounced
alike, and hence they were liable to be used for one another.
Slioch. Hill. Sliabh, hill. Bh had become ch as the
result of resemblance to slochd, pass between two hills.
Sliochd Hill. Hill of the gorge. Sluichd, gen. of
slochd, slug, pass, gorge.
Sloc, Slog, Slug. Hollow. Sloe, gorge, howe.
Sloc of Dess. Gorge of the Dess burn. Sloe, hollow,
gorge; deas, south.
Slochd Mor, Slockmore. Big gorge. Slochd, gorge;
mor, big.
Slog, The. Narrow margin of the Don at Kildrummy.
Sloc, gorge, valley.
Slogs, The. Narrow burn valley. Slocan, dim. of sloc,
river valley. The Slogs is the valley of a very small stream,
and an had erroneously been translated by s instead of ie.
Slogan, Sloggan, Sloggie. Small howe. Slocan, dim.
of sloc, howe, gorge, burn valley.
Slogganbuidh Burn. Burn of the little yellow gorge.
Slocan, dim. of sloc, gorge, river valley; buidhe, yellow.
Slogwell. Well in a gorge. Sloc, gorge.
Slouch Moss, Slouch of Bath, Slouch Well. Slouch
represents slochd, howe, gorge, river valley. Bath is
beathach, producing birches.
Slough, The; Slough Well. Slough represents slochd,
gorge, stream valley, howe.
Sluie, Sluey, (for Sluigan). Little slug. G had been
aspirated and afterwards lost. An became ie.
Sluievannochie. Happy little valley. Sluigan, little
slug, valley; bheannachaidh , gen. asp. of beannachadh,
blessing, blessedness.
294 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Slydie (for Slighe). Roadside. Gh and dh are sounded
alike, hence arose mistakes of d for g in passing into Scotch.
Slydie is at the side of a road.
Small Burn, Smallburn. In Gaelic this had been
caochan, small burn. In English it is sometimes by mistake
made Blind Burn.
Smiddy Hillocks. Hillocks emitting smoke or white
vapour. In a frosty morning hillocks covered with hoar frost
seem to emit vapour when the sun shines on them. Smui-
deach, emitting smoke. The hillocks are at too great an
altitude to be smithy hillocks.
Snarleshow. Howe is the translation of ioclid. Snarles
may represent Easan Airidh Lise. Burn of the shieling at
the cattle-fold. Easan, dim. of eas, burn; airidh, shieling;
lise, gen. of lios, fold, circle.
Sneck, The. The creeping burn. Snaig, to creep.
Snowy Slack. Hollow in which snow lies long. In
Gaelic, Sloe Sneachdach. Sloe, slack, slug, gorge; sneach-
dach, snowy.
Snub, The. Short thick point of land looking as if the
sharp end had been cut off. Snub (Teutonic), to cut off the
point.
Socach, Socagh, Succoth. Hill with a projecting sum-
mit. Socach, snouted, beaked.
Socach Mor. Hill with a big snout on the summit.
Socach, snout, beak; mor, big.
Soliken. Wet hillside. Sogh, wetness; leacainn, gen.
of leacann, hillside.
Sonach. Fold for cattle made by a circle of trunks of
trees let into the ground. Sonach, palisade. Near Aber-
deen there were two folds of this kind, called Stockets.
Sometimes skins or mats were attached to the tree-trunks
to give shelter to the cattle.
Sourfold. Wet fold. Sogliar {gh silent), wet; fauld, a
small field outside the cultivated land on a farm, usually
enclosed with a dyke made of sods. Sour as applied to land
simply means wet. To sour lime means to pour water on
roasted limestone.
SOUTERFORD, SoUTERHILL, SoUTERS' HOLE, SOUTERTON.
In these names Souter represents sogh tire, wet land. Sogh,
wetness; tire, gen. of tir, land. Souterford is on the Ugie,
a slow stream which is bordered by wet land.
South Allans. See Allans.
South Fardine, or Sweet Farding, (for Suidhe Fir-dam).
Seat of the judge. Suidhe, seat; fir-dain, gen. of fear-dain,
man of judgment, judge of a barony court.
Sow, The. Large rounded stone like a sow. Smaller
stones round it are supposed to be pigs.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 295
Spa Well, Spawell. Well with medicinal virtue. Spa,
a town in Belgium, where there are springs whose water is
impregnated with carbonate of iron. Hence chalybeate
springs in Aberdeen and elsewhere were called Spa wells.
The Spa Well near Fraserburgh is said to be sulphurous.
Spar Craigs (for Spardan Creag). The second part ex-
plains the first. Spardan, small hill; creag, hill. Spardan
had erroneously been supposed to be plural, hence an had
been changed into s, added to Craig.
Sparhillock (for Spardan). Hillock. Spardan, flat-
topped hillock.
Spearrach Burn. Bum near which cows with fetters
on their feet pastured. Spearrach, fetter for feet of cows or
goats.
Spensal Brae, Spensal Mire. Spensal may represent
spinan aill, spinney on a hill. Spinan, plural of spin, thorn;
aill, hill. An had become s, normally.
Spill arsford (for Ath Speil Airidhe). Ford for cattle
on a shieling. Ath, ford; speil, drove of cattle; airidhe, gen.
of airidh, shieling.
Spingie Mire. Spingie may represent spinan, plural of
spin, thorn, and perhaps also bush.
Spital. House where entertainment is provided gratuit-
ously for sick, poor, aged, and infirm persons or for travellers
on long desolate roads. Hospitale (Latin), place pertaining
to gratuitous entertainment.
Spital in Aberdeen. Hospital for infirm priests. It was
on the east side of the street now called Spital, within St
Peter's Cemetery. Its chapel became the church of St
Peter's parish, now suppressed.
Spital Hill. Hill on which St Peter's hospital was
situated.
Spittal of Kendal. Hospital, probably for poor old
farmers, on the estate of Kendal. Hospitale (Latin), place
where kindness was shown gratuitously. See Kendal.
Spittal of Glenmuick. House in Glenmuick where
travellers unable to cross the Capel Mount found hospitality.
Springleys. Grassy places near a spring of water.
Spreader Hill. Hill of many cattle. Spreidheach,
abounding in cattle. Er may represent airidh, shieling.
Sprottienook. Nook where sprots grow. Sprots are
hollow rushes, formerly grown for use in making ropes for
thatching ricks.
Spunkie's Knowe. Knowe on which lights were re-
ported to have been seen at night. The general name for
lucifer matches for many years after they wTere introduced
was " spunks," meaning small lights. Spunkie was sup-
posed to be a ghost who carried a light.
296 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Sput Geal. White spout. Sput, gushing spring; geal,
white. Probably geal represents white not as a colour but
as a corruption of chuit, cuit asp., cattle-fold.
Spy Far. Place with a good view.
Sron a' Bhoidhche. Point of great beauty. Sron, point;
a', of the; bhoidhche, extreme beauty.
Sron a' Bhruic. Headland tenanted by badgers. Sron,
projecting point of a hill; a', of the; bhruic, gen. asp. of
broc, badger.
Sron Aonghais. Point of the hill. Aonghais is a mistake
for aonaich, gen. of aonach, hill.
Sron Bhuic. Projecting point of a hill where he-goats
pastured. Sron, nose, promontory; bhuic, gen. asp. of boc,
buck, he-goat.
Sron Dubh. Black point. Sron, point; dubh, black.
Sron Gharbh. Rough point. Sron, projecting moun-
tain; garbh, rough.
Sron na Gaoithe. Windy point. Sron, projecting moun-
tain; na, of tbe ; gaoithe, gen. of gaoth, wind.
Sron nam Fiadh. Point of the deer. Sron, point; nam,
of the; fiadh, gen. plural of fiadh, deer.
Sron nan Gabhar. Point' of the goats. Sron, projecting
point; nan, of the; gabhar, gen. plural of gabhar, goat.
Sqreuchaig, Coire na. Corry of the jackdaw. Coire,
corry ; na, of the; sgreuchaig, gen. of sgreuchag, jackdaw,
kae. Q is a mistake for g.
Sron Riach. Grey point. Sron, point; riach, grey.
Stable Stank. Ditch from the point of a hill. Stank
(Latin stagnum), standing water; stob, point; aill, gen. of
aill, hill.
Stag's Well. In Gaelic this name had been Tobar
Damh. Well of stags or Well of oxen. Till a recent date a
mature male deer was called a hart, not a stag, and prob-
ably Stag's Well should be Oxen's Well.
Stale Head. Steep rocky head. Stalla, rock, precipice.
Standing Stones. Circle of upright stones guarding a
sepulchral chamber or an urn containing incinerated bones.
Stane of Heebreem. Boundary stone. Clach, stone;
chuibhrinn, gen. asp. of cuibhrionn, partition. The Gaelic
i is pronounced ee.
Staners, The. (In Gaelic Airidhean Clachach.) Stony
pasture grounds. Airidhean, plural of airidh, pasture;
clachach, stony. B in Staners represents air of airidhean,
and s represents an, a plural termination.
Stankside. Ditch side. Stagnum (Latin), pool, stand-
ing water. Stank usually means a deep ditch with water
nearly at rest.
Stanryford. Probably ry represents ruigh, slope, and
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. £97
the original form of the name might have been Ath Ruigh
Clachaich. Ford of the stony brae. Ath, ford (translated);
ruigh, slope, brae; clachaich, gen. of clachach, stony (trans-
lated).
Star Bog, Star Hill, Starbridge, Starhill, Starna-
fin, Starnakeppie. Star means stepping-stones over a burn,
or stems of trees or wickerwork for crossing a wet place. At
Starbridge a bridge had taken the place of the stones. On
Starhill a burn was crossed by stepping-stones. Starnafin
is for Stair na Fin, stepping-stones at a hill. Stair, step-
ping-stones; na, of the; fin, hill. Starnakeppie is for Stair
na Ceapaich, stepping-stones at a plot of cultivated ground.
Stair, stepping-stones; na, of the; ceapaich, gen. of ceapach,
small piece of ground.
Starry Eed Craig (for Stairean Eeidh Creige). Stepping-
stones of level rock. Stairean, plural of stair, stepping-
stones; reidh, level, smooth; creige, gen. of crcag, rock.
Several glacially smoothed rocks off the coast of Peterhead
have some resemblance to a row of stepping-stones.
Stay Know (for Stey Knowe). Steep knoll. Stey
(Scotch), stiff; knowe, knoll.
Steenynook. Stony corner.
Stein, The. The stone. A solitary rock near the land
in Peterhead parish.
Steinmanhill. Stony hill. Stein, Scotch for stone;
man, hill. Man occurs also in Longmanhill and Fourman.
Man is represented in English names by mynd, hill.
Stells, The. The stations. The Stells were salmon
fishings on the south side of the Dee, east of Torry, where
fish were caught when the tide flowed by a net attached to
a rope. One end of the rope was fastened to a post on the
shore and the other to a boat in the river. Stells is the same
word as Stalls.
Sterin. Stepping-stones. Stairean, plural of stair,
stepping-stone.
Steven sburn (for Allt Stuib Bheinne). Burn from the
head of the hill. Allt, burn; stuib, gen. of stob, point;
bheinne, gen. asp. of beinn, hill. Final c is silent in names.
Stewart Park. Pleasure park at Woodside, named in
honour of Sir David Stewart, Provost of Aberdeen.
Stey Well (for Tobar Staibh). Well at a roadside with
an iron cup chained to it. Tobar, well: staibh (bh silent),
gen. of stabh (Irish), drinking cup.
Steybrae. Steep brae. Stey (Scotch), steep, difficult.
Stillswells. Gushing well. Steall, gushing spring.
S is needless after Still and Well.
Stirling, Stirling Craig, Stirling Hill, Stirling
Hillock. Stirling in these names seems to represent Stor
298 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Lein. Steep high rock rising from low ground. Stor, high
cliff; lein, gen. of lean, plain. G is a euphonic addition to n.
Stithivage— Ellon— (for Sith Chuithail). Hill of the
fold. Sith, hill; chuithail, cuithail asp., fold. Sith became
Stith; Chuith lost ch with its vowel, and th became bh or v ;
and Ail became Hill, which was turned into Gaelic by aod,
brae, pronounced nearly as age. This produced Stith-iv-age,
accented on a. The name is now extinct, but it was supposed
to be a corruption of Stay-the-voyage.
Stob Cors, Stob Dubh, Stob Liath, Stobhall. Stob in
these names means point. Cors may represent coran, round
little hill, with an made s. Dubh is black, and liath is grey.
Hall may be the kitchen or public place in a farm-house
situated on a point.
Stob Dubh an Eas Bhig. Black-pointed hill near the
small burn. Stob, high promontory; dtibh, black; an, of the;
eas, water, waterfall; bhig, gen. of beag, little.
Stobhall. Farm-house on a point of land. Stob, point;
hall, farm-house with a large kitchen — the public room of the
house.
Stockbridge, Stockbriggs. Trunk of a tree laid across
a burn to serve as a bridge. Ggs represents the sound of dge
with g soft.
Stocked Head, South Stocket, Stocket, (for Cuid
Stocaichte). Fold made with trunks of trees or posts planted
upright in the ground so close that cattle could not pass
between them. Cuid, fold; stocaichte, planted with posts or
stocks. Folds of this description are in common use in
Argentina at the present time. When the name had been
corrupted cuid and stocaichte were transposed and cuid was
aspirated. C being silent chuid became first huid and then
head. The Stocked Head or South Stocket was between
Oakbank School and Maryville. There was also a Stocket
Head in Gamrie.
Stockethill. Hill where there was a cattle-fold made
with stocks or trunks of trees planted in the ground. Stoc-
aichte, planted with posts. See Stocked Head. The site
of the cattle-fold had been in the angle between Cairncry
Road and Long Walk Road, perhaps in a rectangular plot
where there is a well in the line of Mastrick Road. This had
been the North Stocket.
Stockie Bridge (for Drochaid Stocach). Bridge made of
trunks of trees laid side by side on bearers. Drochaid,
bridge; stocadh, made of tree trunks.
Stodfold. Fold formed of posts set in the ground.
Stochd (ch silent), trunk, post.
Stone of Midgate. Stone half-way on a long road. See
Midgate.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 299
Stone of the Roebuss (for Clach Robhais). Stone com-
memorating a violent death and where prayers ought to be
said for the soul of the deceased. Clach, stone ; robhais, gen.
of robhas, violent death. Robhais is also the gen. of robhas,
information, notification, and the stone might have been set
up to mark a boundary or to indicate the way to a place.
Stonefolds. In Gaelic the name had been Cuidan
Clachach, small fold with a stone wall. Cuidan, dim. of
add, fold; clachach, made of stones. Cuidan had been
supposed to be the plural of cuid, hence the final s in Stone-
folds.
Stonegate. Road made with stones and gravel.
Stonebriggs (for Stonebridge). Ggs and dge are like
one another in sound.
Stonegavel. House with end built of stones and sur-
mounted by a chimney. The early houses in Scotland were
built of sods, and the fire was necessarily at some distance
from the end. The gables were round at the top, but in the
newer style they ended in a point. Gabhal, fork.
Stonehead. Stone circle. Chuid, cuid asp., circle, stone
circle round a grave, cattle-fold. See Cuid.
Stonehouse. This name indicates that it was the first
house in the locality built of stones and mortar. Old houses
were built of courses of clay, mossy sods, or alternate courses
of stones and sods. The ends of couples were supported by
legs resting on the ground.
Stonekiln. Primitive kilns for drying oats to be made
into meal were circular towers built of sods with wooden
rafters supporting a bed of straw or divots, on which the grain
was laid. Hot air from a fire outside the tower passed
through the divots and the grain. A stone kiln was such an
improvement on the ancient structures that it gave a name
to a place.
Stot Hill. Steaming hill. Stoth, steam. A hill facing
the south-east often steams on a calm frosty morning. The
sun melts the hoar-frost on it and turns the water into
vapour, which is again condensed on rising into the cold air.
Stotwell Burn. Burn of a well which steams in a cold
calm morning. Stoth, steam. A well with a supply of water
coming up from a great depth gives off invisible vapour into
the air. In a cold calm winter morning the vapour is con-
densed and the well seems to steam.
Strabathie. Burn valley growing birches. Srath, strath,
river valley; beatheach, abounding in birches.
Straggles (for Srath Glas). Green strath. Srath, strath,
flat river valley ; glas, green.
Straitinnan (for Srath Tainain). Strath of the little
300 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
burn. Srath, river valley; tainain, gen. of tainan (Irish),
small burn.
Straloch. Strath in which there was a loch. Srath, flat
river valley; loch, lake.
Stranduff (for Srondubh). Black point. Sron, nose;
dnbh, black.
Stranled (for Leathad Srathain). Side of the small
strath. Leathad, side; srathain, gen. of srathan, small river
valley.
Strath. Level place in the valley of a stream. Srath,
wide alluvial river valley.
Strath Bogie, Strathbogie. Valley of the Bogie. Srath,
alluvial flat valley; bogain, gen. of bogan, quagmire, burn
draining a quagmire.
Strath Isla. Alluvial valley of the Isla. Srath, flat-
bottomed river valley; Isla, stream name. S shows that i is
long. Isla perhaps represents All Laimh, burn of the hill.
All, burn; laimh, gen. of lamh, hill. An old form is Hilefs.
Strath Howe. The second part explains the first. See
Strath.
Strathbeg. Small strath. Srath, river valley; beag,
small.
Strathdon. Level valley of the Don. Srath, level river
valley ; donn, brown river.
Strathellie. Valley of the small burn. Srath, river
valley; attain, gen. of allan, small stream.
Strathgirnock. Broad valley of the Girnock. Srath,
broad river valley. See Girnock.
Strathgyle. White strath. Srath, strath, broad-
bottomed valley; geal, white. Geal probably represents cuit,
cattle-fold, which had been corrupted into white and after-
wards translated into Gaelic by geal.
Strath-horn. River valley between two hills. Srath,
strath; cham, gen. plural asp. of earn, hill.
Strathlunach (for Srath Fhliuchanach). Valley abound-
ing in wet places. Srath, river valley; fhliuchanach, abound-
ing in wet places. Fh, i, cha, had become silent and had
been lost.
Strathmore. Big level place through which a burn flows.
Srath, alluvial ground beside a river; mor, big.
Strathnaterick (for Srath Netan Ruigh). Strath of the
little burn from the hillside. Srath, strath, alluvial river
valley; netan, dim. of net, burn; ruigh, slope at the base of a
hill. In passing into Scotch an of netan had become ie, and
then netie lapsed into nate.
Strathray. Level haugh. Srath, strath, alluvial valley;
reidh, level.
Strathstodley. River valley where there is pasture for
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 301
cattle. Srath, strath; stuichd, gen. of stochd, cattle; leyt
grassy place.
Strath weltie. River valley in which there are farm-
towns. Srath, flat part of a valley; bhailtean, gen. plural
asp. of baile, farm-town, village. Tean, the euphonic plural
termination, becomes te by loss of an.
Strathwhapple (for Srath Chapull). Strath where horses
fed. Srath, strath, alluvial valley of a stream; chapull, gen.
plural asp. of capull, horse. Gh had become wh.
Strathy. Little strath. Srathan, dim. of srath, flat
river valley. An, the Gaelic dim. termination, became y, a
Scotch dim. termination.
Street of Monaltrie. Street is evidently a corruption
of srath, low-lying ground by a river. See Monaltrie.
Strichen. Small river valley. Srathan, small alluvial
valley.
Stripe of Netty. Netty represents netan, dim. of net,
stream. Stripe and Netty have the same meaning.
Strocherie, Straquharie (1696), Strathairy (old local).
In Gaelic Srath Airidhe. Valley of the shiel. Srath, burn
valley; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shiel, hut on a shieling.
Stroin, Stron, Strone. These are forms of the Gaelic
word sron, nose, point. Sr at the beginning of Gaelic words
became str in passing into Scotch.
Stron na Crois Araich. Promontory of the cross of the
battlefield. Sron, nose; na, of the; crois, cross, crossing,
cross-road; araich, gen. of arach, field of battle.
Stronagaich. Windy point. Sron, nose, point; na, of
the; gaothaiche, windiness.
Stronagoar. Point of the goat. Sron, promontory; a',
of the; gobhair, gen. of gobhar, goat.
Strone Baddoch. Bushy point. Sron, projecting point;
badach, bushy.
Strow Burn. Sruth, burn. The second part is a trans-
lation of the first. Th is silent.
Struach Ford. Ford in the Deveron at burns. Sruthach,
abounding in burns. Tli is silent.
Stuartfield. Village in Deer named after the proprietor
of the site.
Stuc Gharbh Bheag, Stuc Gharbh Mhor. Little rough
projecting hill, and big rough projecting hill. Stuc, pro-
jection on a hill; gharbh, fern, of garbh, rough; bheag,
fern, of beag, small; mhor, fern, of mor, great.
Studdy Stone, Study Stone. Stone like an anvil.
Studdy (Scotch), anvil.
Stuic, The. The sharp point of a hill. Stuic, for stuc,
pinnacle on a hill. Stiiic is the gen. form.
302 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Stulan. Small waterfall. Steallan, dim. of steall,
spring, spout of water.
Stulan Burn. Burn from a gushing spring. Steallain,
gen. of steallan, small spring.
Sturdy, Sturdy Hill. Sturdy is a disease in the brain
of sheep caused by swallowing with their food the embryos
of tapeworms, voided by sheep-dogs. Formerly it was sup-
posed that the disease was caused by a particular kind of
food, and the places where it was supposed to grow were
called Sturdy Hill, Sturdy Loch, etc.
Stypleton (for Baile Sgiobail). Town of the granary.
Baile, made ton and transposed; sgiobail, gen. of sgiobal,
barn, granary.
Succoth. Snouted hill. Socach, having upstanding
rocks like snouts.
Succothbeg. Little snouted hill. Socach, snouted;
beag, small.
Sughallan. Little wet place. Sughail, wet; an, dim.
termination.
Summer Craig (for Creag Sughmhor). Wet hill. Creag,
hill; sughmhor, wet. Gh is silent, and mh has lost the effect
of the aspirate.
Summerhill. Same as Summer Craig.
Suie. Watery. Sughach, watery, oozy. Gh is silent and
•ach had become ie.
Suie Cairn. Cairn on Suie hill. Cam, cairn, hill. See
Suie.
Suie Hill. Wet hill. See Suie.
Sundays wells. Well visited on the first Sunday of May
(old style) by people afflicted with diseases. Some washed
their sores with the water of the well, and 'all drank of it.
Sunhoney (for Sithean a' Choinne). Hillock of the
assembly. Sithean, hillock; a , of the; choinne, coinne asp.,
assembly. Sithean is pronounced she-a?i, which by loss of
the aspirate had become sun. Choinne had lost c, which is
silent in ch, and hoinne is now honey. There is a fine stone
circle on the knoll, which had led to its selection as a
meeting-place.
Suttie. Seat. Suidhe, site, seat, place where a house
is built.
Swailend. The end of an oozing bog. Sughail (gh
silent), wet, emitting water. Swailend may represent sugh-
ailan. See Sughallan.
Swanford (for Athan Uan). Small ford for lambs.
Athan, dim. of ath, ford; uan, gen. plural of uan, lamb. By
mistake an of athan had been turned into s instead of ie, and
the name had become first Ath Suan, and then Swanford by
translation of ath into ford.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 303
Swanny Hill. Watery hill. Suglianach, watery.
Sweetiehillock. Place at a hillock. Suidhe, place.
Swell Burn, Swellend, Swelling Well. Swell in
these names represents sughail {gh silent), wet. See Swail-
END.
Swineden (for Dein Sughain). Den of wetness. Dcin,
den; sughain, gen. of sughan, moisture. Gh had become
silent and had been lost.
Swinton (for Baile Sughain). Town of wetness. Baile,
town; sughain (gh silent), gen. of sughan, wetness. Swinton
might be an imported name. Margaret, Countess of Mar,
had for her second husband Sir John Swinton of Swinton.
She died about 1389.
Syllavethie (for Suil a' Bheithe). Well-spring at the
birch. Suil, eye, well-eye; a' of the; bheitlic, gen. asp. of
beith, birch. Bh is equivalent to v.
Syde. Site, situation, place where a court met. Suidhe,
site, place.
Syde, Mill of. Perhaps mill at a proprietor's residence
or the seat of a barony.
Taarty Burn. See Tarty.
Taciiore Pot. Pot in the Deveron well supplied with
fish. Tacar or tachdar, fish, multitude. Tacar is pronounced
tachgur.
Taitswell. Hot well. Teth, hot. S had been inserted
to convert teth into a possessive in English. The well had
sometimes seemed to emit steam as if hot.
Tallin Burn (for Allt Tollain). Burn of the little howe.
Allt, burn (translated and transposed); tollain, gen. of tollan,
little howe.
Talnamounth. Howe of the mountain. Toll, hollow;
■an, of the; monaidh, gen. of monadh, mountain.
Talpabrae. Mole brae. Talpa (Latin), mole.
Tam, Little (for Toman). Little hill. Tarn is Scotch
for Tom, and before the name assumed its present form its
meaning had been quite lost.
Tamclay. Hill of stones. Tom, hill; clach (ch silent),
gen. plural of clach, stone.
Tamduff. Black hill. Tom, hill; dubh, black.
Tamhead (for Tom Chuid). Hill of the fold. Tom, hill;
chuid, gen. asp. of cuid, fold. By loss of c chuid had become
huid and subsequently head. A few thousands of years ago
Tamhead had been large enough to be of some value as a
grazing place. It is now a small islet off the coast at Pennan.
Tamley Head (for Tom Liath Chuid). Grey hill of the
cattle-fold. Tom, hill; liath, grey; cliuid, gen. asp. of cuid,
•cattle-fold.
Tammies Burn (for Allt Tomain). Burn of the little hill.
304 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Allt, burn; tomain, gen. of toman, little hill. S had been
affixed to convert the Gaelic genitive into the English
possessive.
Tamnagorn (for Toman Guirn). Knoll . of cinders.
Toman, small hill ; guirn, gen. of gorn, ember, firebrand.
Tampie (for Tom Beith). Hill of birches. Tom, hill;
beith, gen. plural of beith, birch. Tom becomes Tarn in
Scotch, and beith becomes bae, which had lapsed into pie.
Tam's Trink (for Slochd Tomain). Gorge in a small hill.
Slochd, gorge, trench, trink in Scotch; tomain, gen. of
toman, knoll, small hill.
Tana, Tanar, Tanner. Burn of the narrow glen. Tana,
slender. Tanner is the spelling in the O.S. maps.
Tangland (for Lamhan Taine). Small hill where cattle
fed. Lamhan, small hill; taine, gen. of tain, cattle. The
parts of the name had been transposed after lamhan became
the English word land.
Tantons, perhaps for Saint Anthony's Well. By pre-
fixing t of Saint to Anthony and omitting h and y the form
Tanton is obtained. There is a personal name Tant, sup-
posed to be a derivative from Saint Anton, the short form
of Anthony.
Tap o' Mast. Summit of a hill where red berries grow.
Tap, top; o' , of the; masaig, gen. of masag, small red berry.
Tap of Noth. Vitrified wall of a cattle-fold on the top of
the hill of Noth. Tap, something rising above the head of
an object; noaidh, gen. of noadh, watching, guarding.
Tappie Crunnich. Small round knoll. Tapan, small top ;.
cruinneach, round.
Tappies (for Tapan). Small top. An had been made both
ie and s.
Tarty, Tauarty (1461), Tawartie (1461), Taaertie (1589),
Taartie (1696). Productive place. Tabhartach (bh silent),
ready to give, generous. Bh is equivalent to u, v, or w, or is
silent. Ach became ie.
Tarbothill. Hill of the hut. Torr, steep round hill ;
botha, gen. of both, hut, house. There is a house on the
summit of the hill.
Tarbuckle Hill. Hill of the cowherd. Torr, steep,
abrupt hill; buachaille, gen. of buachaille, protector of cows,
herd.
Tardight Eye (for Cuith Torr Dubh). Fold of the steep
black hill. Cuith, fold; torr, steep hill; dubh, black. Cuith-
had afterwards been made chuith and had been put last.
Subsequently ch and th had been lost and ui became eye.
Tarfat. Hill of the fold. Torr, steep hill; chuit, gen.
asp. of cuit, fold. Ch had become /, equivalent to ph, and
fuit had subsequently become fat.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 305
Tarmair (for Torr Maoir). Hill of the officer of a court of
justice. Torr, steep flat-topped bill; maoir, geu. of maor,
steward, officer of a court.
Tarmoir. Big hill. Torr, steep flat-topped hill; mor, big.
Tarland (for Torr Lamhan). Hill. Torr, steep, abrupt
hill; lamhan, dim. of lamh, hill. The second part had been
added to explain the first when it had been corrupted into
tar.
Tarness Haven. Haven at a cape on which there is a
steep, abrupt knoll. Torr, steep flat-topped knoll; ness,
promontory.
Tarntoul (for Torr an Tuill). Steep flat-topped hill in a
howe. Torr, hill; an, of the; tuill, gen. of toll, howe.
Tarsan, Burn of (for Allt Tarsuinn). Cross burn. Allt,
burn; tarsuinn, perpendicular to something else.
Tarves. Old forms are Tarueys, Taruays, Tarwas, Tar-
vas, Tarvays. The accent on the first syllable shows that it
had originally been last. The original form may have been
Bathas Torr, brow of the hill. Bath as, brow; torr, steep
abrupt hill. This is appropriate for the site of the church.
When the meaning of the parts of the name had been lost
they had become transposed, and it had become Torr
Bhathais (pronounced torvais). Hill of the brow. Torr, hill;
bhathais, gen. asp. of bathas, brow : Bh is equivalent to
u, v, or w. Th is silent.
Tarwathie (for Torr Bheathach). Birch hill. Torr, hill;
bheathach, producing birches. Bh is equivalent to u, v, or w.
Tassack. Warm place. Teasach, warm.
Tassatshill. Warm hill. Teasach, warm.
Tavelty (for Tamhach Alltan). Sluggish burn. Tamli-
ach, slow; alltan, dim. of allt, burn. Mh is equivalent to u,
v, or w ; ach had become silent and had been lost; and an
had become y, its Scotch equivalent.
Tayloch (for Taithleach — th silent). Bright pleasant,
place. Taithleach (Irish), bright, quiet, peaceful.
Techmuiry. House on a hill. Teach, house; murean,
dim. of mur, hill. Ean became y.
Teller's Well (for Tobar Toathaill Airidhe). Well of
resort on a shieling. Tobar, well; taothaill (th silent), fre-
quented; airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling. S is an addition
converting the last part into a possessive.
Temora. Big house. Tigh, house; mor, big. Temora is
an Ossianic name in which mor had been extended to mora.
Temple, Temple Burn, Temple Croft, Temple Hill,
Temple Stripe, Templand, Templeland. In these names
Temple indicates that the places were on land which once
belonged to the Knights of the Temple at Jerusalem. Many
306 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
persons bequeathed lands and rents of houses to the Knights
Templar.
Temple Feu. A feu in Turriff which had been bequeathed
to the Knights of the Temple at Jerusalem.
Templefold. Fold for cattle near an ancient stone circle,
which was for a time believed to be a Druidical temple.
Tennen Burn. Small burn. Tainan, dim. of tain (Irish),
water, burn.
Termanity Hill (for Der Man Aite Hill). Place on a
little hill. Der, little; man, hill; aite, place.
Terpersie. Little row of houses. Der, little; peirse, row.
Terpersie Castle. Castle at a little row of houses. Der,
little; peirse, row.
Terry Chapel. Chapel situated on a small plot of land.
Tirean, dim. of tir, land. An became y, its Scotch equiva-
lent.
Terryfield. Field of cultivated land. Tire, gen. of tir,
land.
Terryoron. Hill of the little burn. Tulach, hill; onrain,
gen. of ouran, small burn. Tulach usually becomes tilly or
tully, sometimes tirry, which here had become terry.
Terryvale (for Baile Tire). Town on the land. Baile,
town; tire, gen. of tir, land. Tire became Terry, and the
meaning of the name having been lost it became Terry Bhaile.
Baile had been aspirated, being in the qualifying place ; but
bh being equivalent to v Bhaile had become first Vaile and
afterwards Vale. There are two places called Terryvale —
Upper and Nether Terryvale.
Tersets. Small place. Der, small; suidhcan, dim. of
suidhe, place. He being silent disappeared, and an became,
improperly, 's instead of ie.
Tershinty (for Der Sithean Aite). Place on a little hill.
Der, small; sithean (pronounced shin), hill; aite, place.
Tertowie. Small house. Der, small; tollan, dim, of
toll, house.
Teuchan. Small dry pace. This place is on the margin
of an O.S. map.
Teuchar. Dry shieling. Teuch, dry; airidh, shieling.
Teuchitfold, Teuciiithaugh. Teuchit is the Scotch
name for a lapwing. The name doubtless represents some
Gaelic words which the bird was supposed to utter. Lap-
wings frequent heathery ground when they arrive in spring,
because they find food among the heather and safe places for
their nests. In autumn they descend to the lower ground.
Thain's Burn. Burn named after a man named Thain,
who lived near it.
Thainston, Thainestone. Seat of the Thane of Kintore.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 307
The thanes paid fixed rents for their estates but did not give
military service.
Thernie (for Charnach). Hilly place. Charnach, carnach
asp., abounding in knolls. Ch had become tli, and ach had
become ie. See Knaps of Thernie.
Thief's Craig, Thief's Kock. Places where thieves were
hanged. Craig and rock are both translations of creag, which
in names means hill and sometimes rock. Hill is the appro-
priate meaning here.
Thief's Burn, Thief's Pot, Thief's Well. Places where
thieves convicted at a barony court were drowned. At a
well a hole had been dug and filled with water from the well.
Usually men were hanged, and young lads and women were
drowned.
Thief's Eye (for Tigh-suidhe). Site of a house. Tigh,
house; suidlie (dh silent), site.
Thief's Loup. A place in a long narrow chasm near
Boddam, into which the sea enters. It is nearly 100 feet
wide, but the name implies that a thief jumped across it to
escape from pursuers.
Thief's Slack. Place in a hollow where thieves lurked
to rob travellers.
Thief's Well (^perhaps for Tigh Well). Well at a house.
There is not a house near the well now.
Thindam (for Dig Fine). Dam of the hill. Dig, dam;
fine, gen. of fin, hill. F is an aspirated letter and it had been
changed to th, another aspirated letter, when dig was trans-
lated into dam. Thus fine became thine, which was made
thin to convert it into an adjective qualifying dam. It was
also put first to be in the qualifying place in the English
manner.
Thinfords (for Ath an Fine). Ford of the hill. Ath,
ford; an, of the; fine, gen. of fin, hill. But the name had
come to be regarded as Athan Fine, fords of the hill, and
when athan was translated it was made fords instead of ford
of. F, an aspirated letter, had been changed to th, another
aspirated letter. See Thindam.
Thomastown (for Baile Tuim). Town on the hill. Bails,
town (translated and transposed); tuim, gen. of torn, hill.
Tom. had been supposed to be an English colloquial name
and had been changed to Thomas.
Thomson Burn. This must be a modern name, for the
burn appears to have been identified with one mentioned in
a modern song. But Thorn might be for torn, hill, and son
for sithean (th silent), hill.
Thorndale. Small vale growing thorn trees. In an
ancient name thorn would represent charn, cam asp., hill.
308 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Thornhill. Both parts mean hill. Cam, hill. C had
become ch, which had been changed to th.
Thornroan (for Eoinn Chairn). Point of the hill. Roinn,
point; chairn, gen. asp. of earn, hill. Ch had become th,
and the second part of the name had been put first. This is-
shown by its being aspirated and by retaining the accent.
Thornton (for Bade a' Chairn). Town on the hill.
Baile, town; a', of the; chairn, gen. asp. of earn, hill. Baile
had been translated and put last, and then a' had been
omitted.
Thornyford (for Ath a' Chairn). Ford of the hill. Atli,.
ford; a', of the; chairn, gen. asp. of cam, hill.
Thornymuick (for Ton- na Muich). Hill of the mist.
Torr, steep flat-topped hill; na, of the; muich, gen. of muc,
mist.
Thornywest Well (for Tobar Cam a' Bheiste). Well of
the hill of the beast. Tobar, well; cam, hill; a, of the;
bheiste, gen. asp. of beist, beast. The ancient Celts had a
dread of many imaginary animals. Beist is masculine here.
Threepleton. Three farms held under the same lease.
Before 1782 it was the custom to let a large farm, called a
" plough," to three tenants jointly, who were bound to
furnish each a specified number of oxen for the common
plough. After 1782 the large farms were divided. Hence the
names Upperthird, Middlethird, and Netherthird.
Threepnook (for Cuil a' Threith). Nook of the hill. Cuil,
nook; a', of the; threith, gen. asp. of triath, hill. To become
threep triath passed through the following forms :— triath,
tlireith, threiph, threip, threep. When cuil was translated
and put last a' had to be omitted because it could not qualify
cuil.
Thriepfield (for Achadh a' Threith). Field of the hill.
Achadli, field; a', of the; threith, gen. asp. of triath, hill.
See Threepnook.
Throat, The. Gorge, ravine. The use of this term for
gorges seems to have originated in throat being the English
for Latin gula, the throat, from which gullet and gully are
derived.
Throopmuir (for Moine a' Threith). Moor of the hill.
Moine, moor; a', of the; threith, gen. asp. of triath, hill. See
Threepnook.
Thunder Hole (for Toll Feun Airidhe). Howe of the hill
of the shieling. Toll, howe; feun, hill; airidhe, gen. of airidh,
shieling. Toll had been aspirated, and then initial t had been
lost. Feun is a provincial variant of fin, hill. F became th,
and d had been inserted after n, as in sound, thunder.
Thunderton (for Baile Feun Airidhe). Town of the hill
of the shieling. Baile, town; feun, hill; airidhe, gen. of
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 309
airidh, shieling. Feun is a variant of fin, hill. F had
become tli, and d had been inserted for euphony after n.
Tiberchindy. Well at a small fold. Tobar, well;
chuidan, cuidan asp., small fold. A and n had been trans-
posed, and d had been inserted for euphony.
Tiffery. House on a shieling. Tigh, house ; airidhe, gen.
of airidh, shieling. Aspirated g became aspirated p or its
equivalent /.
Tifty. House of rest. Originally the name had been
Tigh Taimh (pronounced tee tave), but the order of the parts
had been changed in post-Gaelic times to get the qualifying
word first, as in English words of two parts. Tigh, house;
taimh, gen. of tam-h, rest. Tifty is on the old main road from
Aberdeen by the old Bridge of Don, Oldmeldrum, and Fyvie
to Gamrie, and the name would have been suitable for a
roadside inn.
Tile Burn. Burn by which small vessels and boats had
access to the brick and tile works at Seaton. Tuile (French),
tile, from Latin tegula, little cover. The Tile Burn is the
lower part of the Powis Burn.
Tillakae. Hill of the fold. Tulach, hill; a , of the;
cuith, gen. of cuith, fold.
Tillathrowie (for Tulach Fraochach). Heathery hill.
Tulach, hill; fraochach, heathery. F, which is equivalent to
ph, had become th ; ch had become bh, which is equivalent
to w; and ach had become ie.
Tillenhilt. Hill of the burn. Tulach, hill; an, of the;
uillt, gen. of allt, burn.
Tillenteach (for Tulach an Teach). Hill of the house.
Tulach, hill; an, of the; teach, house, mansion.
Tillenturk. Hill of the boar. Tulach, hill; an, of the;
tuirc, gen. of tore, boar.
Tillery (for Tulach Eeigh). Hill of the gallows. Tulach,
hill ; reigh, gen. of regh, gallows, cross. In a rhyme regarding
the Church of Deer in which Tillery is named it probably
means hillock of the cross. Eigh sounds ae-yc.
Tilliescook. Hill of clumsy shape. Tulach, hill;
sgugach, clumsy.
Tillyboy. Yellow hill. Tulach, round hill; buidhe,
yellow, growing broom.
Tillioch. Hill of the howe. Tulach, hill; iochd, howe.
Tillishogle, Tillyshogle, (for Tulach Sughail). Wet
hill. Tulach, hill; sughail, wet.
Tillyangus (for Tulach Aonach). Both parts mean hill.
Tulach, small round hill; aonach., hill, heath. Probably the
place had been known by both names and after a time the
two had been combined.
310 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Tillybin. Both parts mean hill. Tulach, hill; beinnT
hill.
Tillybirloch (for Tulach Bior Laimh). Hill of the burn
of the hill. Tulach, hill; bior, burn; laimh, gen. of lamh,
hill. Lamh has sometimes become loch.
Tillybo. Hill of the cows. Tulach , hill ; ho, gen. plural of
bo, cow.
Tillybreedless. Hill of the judgment-seat enclosure.
Tulach, hill; breith, judgment; Use, gen. of lios, enclosure.
Tillybreen. Hill of filth. Tulach, hill; brein, filth.
When a hill covered with peat-moss has lost its natural coat
of heather it becomes unspeakably filthy and almost impass-
able after rain. Breen might represent braoin, gen. of braon,
hill burn.
Tillybrigg. Hill of moisture. Tulach, hill; brigh, sap.
Tillybrother (for Tulach Treith Airidhe). Hill of the
hill of the shieling. Tulach, hill; treith, gen. of triath, hill;
airidhe, gen. of airidh, shieling. Tulach is an addition pre-
fixed after the meaning of the second part had been lost.
Brother had been at first pronounced brither in the Scotch
way. T of treith had passed through the following stages : —
t, th, bh, b. Triath is an Irish word, but it is in Threepnook,
Thriepfold, Throopmuir, Troup, with the meaning hill.
Tillycairn. Both parts mean hill. The first part had
been prefixed to the second to explain it after its original
meaning had been lost. Tulach, rounded knoll; cairn, for
earn, hill.
Tillychaddy. Long hill. Tulach, hill; fada, long.
Tillychardoch (for Tulach Ardan). Both parts mean
height, the second having been added to explain the first.
Tulach, hill; ardan, dim. of ard, hill. Ardan had become
first ardie, then ardo, and lastly ardoch, as if it were an
adjective.
Tillychetly (for Tulach Chuitail). Hill of the fold for
cattle. Tulach, hill; chuitail, cuitail asp., fold.
Tillyching (for Tulach Choinne). Knoll of assembly.
Tulach, knoll; choinne, coinne asp., meeting, probably at a
barony court.
Tillycorthie. Hill of the small circle. Tulach, hill;
corthain, gen. of corthan, small circle, stone circle guarding
a grave.
Tillychrad (for Tulach a* Chradh). Hill of the wild
duck. Tulach, hill; a , of the; chradh, gen. asp. of cradh,
large wild duck, shelldrake.
Tillycroy. Both parts of the name mean hill. Tulach,
hill; cruach, steep high hill.
Tillydaff. Hill of the oxen. Tulach, hill; damh, gen.
plural of damh, ox, deer.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 311
Tillydesk. Hillside facing the south. Tulacli, hill;
deas, south.
Tillydrine. Hill of the sloe. Tulacli, hill; droighinn,
gen. of droigheann, sloe.
Tillydron. Hill of the ridge. Tulach, hill ; drown, ridge,
back.
Tillyduff. Black hill. Tulach, hill; dubh, black.
Tillyduke. Hill of darkness. Tulach, hill; duibh, gen.
of dubh, darkness, blackness. The steps of the change from
duibh. to duke had been duich, duic, duke. Not infrequently
one aspirated letter is changed into another.
Tillyeve. Hill of the fold. Tulach, hill; chuith, cuith
asp., fold. Chu had become silent and had been lost; th
had become bh, sounded v; and ibh had become eve.
Tillyfar. Hill land. Tulach, hill; far, land under
cultivation.
Tillyfaud, Tillyfauld. Hill of peats. Tulach, hill;
fad, gen. plural of fad, peat. The letters u and /. had been
intended to show that a was long.
Tillyfoddie. Hill abounding in peats. Tulach, hill;
foideach, abounding in peats.
Tillyfour. Hill of grass. Tulach, hill; feoir, gen. of
feur, grass.
Tillyfoure. Grassy hill. Tulach, hill; feurach, abound-
ing in grass.
Tillyfourie. Hill of the spring. Tulach, hill; fuarain,
gen. of fuaran, spring. Or, Hill abounding in grass. Tulach,
hill ; feurach, grassy.
Tillyfro. Hill of the wattled fold. Tulach, hill; cro,
sheep-fold.
Tillyfruskie. Hill of the crossing. Tulach, hill ; chraisg,
gen. asp. of crasg, crossing. Ch had become //(, then the
aspirate h had been dropped.
Tillyfunter Hillock. Tulach, hill, the first part of the
name, is an addition made to explain the last part whose
meaning had been lost. The original form of the last part
had been Tir Fine, land of the hill. Tir, land; fine, gen. of
fin, hill. Fin becomes fund in Ord Fundlie.
Tillygarmonth. Hill of the rough moor. Tulach, hill;
garbh, rough; monaidh, gen. of monadh, moor, hill.
Tillygreig. Both parts mean hill. Txdach, hill; creag,
hill.
Tillyhermack. Hill of the buzzard. Tulach, hill;
armuigh, buzzard. Before grouse were preserved the buz-
zard (Circus aeruginosus) was abundant among the heathery
hills. Now it is extinct. Newton (" Ency. Brit." IV.) says
it wns not destructive to game. It bred on hills and islands
312 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
in lochs. See " Gaelic Names of Beasts, Birds, etc.," by
A. E. Forbes.
Tillyhilt. Hill near a burn. Tulach, hill; uillt, gen. of
allt, burn.
Tillykerrie, Tillykirrie. Hill of sheep. Tulach, hill;
chaoracli, gen. plural of caora, sheep.
Tillylodge (for Tulach Lodach). Hill abounding in
pools. Tulach, hill; lodach, abounding in wet places.
Tillymair. Hill of the judge. Tulach, hill; maoir, gen.
of maor, officer of justice, mair. The place may have been
the seat of a court.
Tillymannoch. Middle hill. Tulach, hill; meadhonach,
middle.
Tillymaud. Hill of the seat of judgment. Tulach, hill;
moid, gen. of mod, court of justice.
Tillymauld (for Tulach Maol). Bare hill. Tulach, hill;
maol, bald.
Tillymorgan. Hill of the big cattle-fold. Tulach, hill;
mor, great; gabhainn, gen. of gabhann, cattlefold. There are
traces of a circular enclosure 260 feet in diameter on the east
brow of the hill.
Tillymuick. Hill of the swine. Tulach, hill; muc, gen.
plural of muc, pig. A swine-fold on Bennachie gives the
name to this hill. Swine were sent to hill pastures along
with dairy cows.
Tillynamolt (for Tulach nan Mult). Hill of the wed-
ders. Tulach, hill; nan, of the; molt, gen. plural of molt,
wedder.
Tillyneckle (for Tulach na Faicille). Hill of the watch.
Tulach, hill; na, of the; faicille, gen. of faicill, watch. F
being an aspirated letter, equivalent to ph, is liable to be
lost. Fh is nearly always silent and is lost.
Tillyorn (for Tulach Charn). Hill. Tulach, hill; charn,
cam asp., hill. Ch of charn had been lost under the influ-
ence of final ch in tulach.
Tillypestle. Small hill. Txdach, hill; paisdeil, dim-
inutive.
Tilphoudie. Peat hill. Tulach, hill; foidcach, abound-
ing in peats.
Tillypronie. Knoll of pounding or bruising. Tulach,
knoll; pronnaidh, gen. of pronnadh, pounding. The refer-
ence might be to a hill where whins were bruised for winter
food for cattle and horses by a large millstone revolving on
its edge. Meal was made in primitive times by pounding
dried oats in small cups made in earth-fast stones and in
small slabs.
Tillyreach. Grey hill. Tulach, hill; riach, grey,
brindled.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 313
Tillyronacii. Pointed hill. Tulach, knoll; roinneach,
having a sharp point.
TlLLYSHOGLE. See TlLLISHOGLE.
Tillyskukie. Hill of clumsy shape. Tulach, hill;
sgugach, clumsy.
Tillysnaught. Bare hill. Tulach, hill; nochd, bare,
naked. 8 is sometimes inserted before n, as in snip, to nip.
Tillysoul. Wet hill. Tulach, hill; soghail, wet. Gh
had been silent and had been lost.
Tillytarmont (for Tulach Torr Monadh). All the three
parts mean hill. The oldest had been torr, which had been
corrupted into tar and then needed additions to explain it.
Tillywater (for Tulach Uachdar). Upper hill. Tulach,
hill; uachdar (ch silent), upper.
Tilquhillie (for Tulach Choille). Both parts of the
name mean the same thing. Tulach, hill; choille, coille
asp., hill. The first part had been added to give the mean-
ing of coille after it had been forgotten.
Timberford. Ford laid with wood. The trunks of trees
were laid close to one another, up and down, to prevent the
excavation of holes in the river bed in spates.
Tippercowan. Well of the howe. Tobar, well; cobhain,
gen. of cobhan, howe.
Tipperty (for Tobairte). Wells. Tobairte, plural of
tobar, well, formed by adding te to the gen. singular. The
plural is sometimes used in names of places where there is
only one well. See St John's Wells, Fyvie.
Tippet Hill, The Tippoch. Lumpy mass of a hill.
Taipeach, lumpy, rough.
Tirebagger (for Tulach Bac Airidhe). Hill of the peat-
moss of the shieling. Tulach, hill; bac, peat-moss; airidhe,
gen. of airidh, shieling.
Tirrygowan (for Tillygowan). Hill of the cattle-fold.
Tulach, hill; gabhainn, gen. of gabhann, cattle-fold.
Titaboutie, Tabourtee (1696). Titaboutie is for Tigh a'
Buailteach, dwelling-house at the cow-byre. Tigh, house;
a', of the; buailteach, cow-byre. The cow-byre had been a
large hut accommodating all the cows on a summer shieling,
and the house had been the residence of the dairy-women.
Tabourtee represents Tamh a' Buair-teach, house of the
cow-byre. Tamh, house; a', of the; buair-teach. gen. of
buar-teach, cow-byre.
Toberairy. Well of the shiel. Tobar, well; airidhe, gen.
of airidh, shiel or summer hut for women in charge of cows
at pasture.
Tobar Fuar. Cold spring. Tobar, well; fuar, cold.
Tobar Machar. Well of the level place. Tobar, well;
314 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
machair, gen. of macliair, plain. The usual gen. of macliair
is macharach.
Tobar Ruadh. Red well. Well whose water is tinged
red with iron oxide. Tobar, well; ruadh, red.
Tocher. Casay. Tocher, casay or raised road through
a wet place, footpath made by laying down wickerwork in a
muddy place.
Tocher, Over. Farm above a place where a marsh and
a burn were crossed by a casay and stepping-stones. See
Tocher.
Tocherford. Ford at a place where there was a row
of stones across a burn. Tochar, casay, stepping-stones.
Tochy Burn. North burn. Tuathach (th silent),
northern.
Toddlehill, Toddlehills. Hills in which there are tod
holes or foxes' dens.
Toddley Hill. Grass land on a hill where there were
foxes. Tod (Scotch), fox; ley, grassy place.
Todfold, Tod's Fauld. Small enclosed field outside the
cultivated area on a farm. It was manured by keeping
cattle on it at night, and then it was cropped for a short
time. Todhar, field manured by cattle.
Todholes. Foxes' dens. In old raised marine beaches
foxes excavate long tunnels which by friction and scraping
increase greatly in diameter. Long-occupied holes are of
great size internally. There is a raised beach at 400 feet
above sea, and some of the todholes are at this level.
Todlachie (for Tod Lamhan). Tod's hill. Lamhan,
dim. of lamh, hill. Mh had become ch, and an had been
changed to the Scotch dim. ie.
Tod's Fauld. See Todfold.
Tod's Hill. Fox's hill. Tod (Scotch), fox.
Tod's Strath. Fox's howe. Tod (Scotch), fox; srath,
level valley of a river.
Tod stone. Stone of the fox. Tod (Scotch), fox.
Todswells. Warm well. Teodh, verb, to warm.
Tofthills. Uncultivated hill where a small clearance
had been made and a dwelling had been built.
Tolbooth, Toll Booth. Tent or office where toll was
levied on cattle entering a market or on provisions entering
a burgh. In connection with the toll-booth of a town there
was usually a place where offenders could be detained for a
time. Hence a toll-booth came to mean a prison.
Toldhu. Black hollow. Toll, hollow, howe: dubh,
black, dark.
Tolduquhill. Hollow of the black hill. Toll, hollow;
dubh, black; choille, gen. asp. of coille, hill.
Tolla. Hill. Tulach, hill.
Celtic Place-Navies in Aberdeenshire. 315
Tollafraick. Hill of heather. Tulach, hill; fraoich,
gen. of fraoch, heather.
Tolloiiill. Both parts mean hill, the second being a
translation of the first. Tulach, hill.
Tolly, Tollybrae. Tolly means little howe. Tollan,
dim. of toll, howe. Tollybrae, brae above a little howe.
Tolm Buirich. Hill of the rutting of deer. Tolm, hil-
lock, hill; buirich, gen. of outreach, rutting, bellowing of
deer.
Tolmaads, Tolmauds. Hollow where there was a small
hillock at which courts of justice were held. Toll, howe;
modain, gen. of modan, dim. of mod, mound where courts
were held. An had become s instead of ie.
Tolmount. Both parts mean hill. Tolm, hill; monadh,
hill, heath.
Tolophin. Hollow on the side of a hill. Toll, howe;
fine, gen. of fin, hill.
Tolquhon (for Toll Chon). Howe of dogs. Toll, howe;
chon, gen. plural asp. of cu, dog, fox, water-rat, squirrel,
badger, or any other small quadruped.
Tom. Hill, round hillock, rising ground, eminence.
Tom, The (for An Tom). The hill. An, the; torn, hill.
Tom a' Bhealaidh. Hill of the broom. Tom, hill; a',
of the; bhealaidh, gen. asp. of bealaidh, broom. The hill is
nearly 2000 feet high and it is crossed by a road. This
makes it likely that the last word should be bhealaich, the
gen. asp. of bealach, pass, road.
Tom a' Bhealuidh. Hill of the broom. Tom, hill; a',
of the; bhealuidh, gen. asp. of bealuidh, broom.
Tom a' Bhuraich (for Tom a' Bhuiridh). Hill of the
rutting of deer. Tom, hill; a', of the; bhuiridh, gen. asp.
of buireadh, rutting, roaring, bellowing.
Tom a' Ciiaisteil. Hill of the castle. Tom, hill; a', of
the; chaisteil, gen. asp. of caisteal, castle. The castle hill
had been the seat of the courts of the barony of Glenbucket,
and the place where criminals were hanged.
Tom a' Chaoruinn. Hill of the rowan-tree. Tom, hill;
a', of the; chaoruinn, gen. asp. of caorunn, rowan-tree.
Tom a' Char. Tomachar. Hill of the fen. Tom, hill;
a', of the; char, gen. asp. of car, fen, level hilly ground.
There is a pool on the top of the hill.
Tom a' Charraigh. Hill of the stone. Tom, hill; a', of
the charraige, gen. asp. of carraig, pillar, rock.
Tom a' Chatha. Hill of the path. Tom, hill; a', of
the; chatha, gen. asp. of cath, path. See Ca.
Tom a' Chuir, Tom a' Churr. Hill of the hole. Tom,
hill; chuir, gen. asp. of curr, pit, hole. The normal form of
•316 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
the gen. of curr is corra, but cuir and curr are also found in
names.
Tom a' Gharraidh. Hill of the enclosure. Tom, hill;
a', of the; gharraidh, gen. asp. of garradh, garden, fold, any
enclosed place.
Tom an Lagain. Hill of the little howe. Tom, hill; an,
of the ; lagain, gen. of lagan, little howe.
Tom an Totaich (for Toman Tothach). Vapoury knoll.
Toman, knoll; tothach, vapoury. Probably the knoll is so
named because in a calm, frosty winter morning when the
sun shines on it the hoar-frost on the ground is converted
into invisible vapour, which afterwards becomes visible
when it rises into the cold atmosphere.
Tom an Uird. The top of the high ground. Tom, hill;
an, of the; uird, gen. of ord, hill, upland.
Tom Anthon (probably for Tom an Chona). Hill of the
cotton-grass. Tom, hill; an, of the; chona, gen. asp. of
■cona, cotton-grass, cat's-tail (Eriophorum angustifolium).
Ch often became th.
Tom Bad a' Mhonaidh. Hill of the grove on the moor.
Tom, hill; bad, bush; a', of the; mhonaidh, gen. asp. of
monadh, moor, hill.
Tom Ban. White hill. Tom, hill; ban, white. See
Chuithail.
Tom Beith, Tombay. Hill of birches. Tom, hill; beith,
gen. plural of beith, birch-tree.
Tom Bheithe. Hill of the birch. Tom, hill; bheithe,
gen. asp. of beith, birch-tree.
Tom Breac, Tombreck. Hill showing patches of dif-
ferent colour from the main part. Tom, hill; breac, spotted,
dappled.
Tom Buailteach. Hill of the cow-houses. Tom, hill;
buailteach, gen. plural of buailteach, byre, cow-house occu-
pied only in summer.
Tom Buirich. Hill of rutting. Tom, hill; buirich,
rutting of deer.
Tom Cholige. Hill of the Cholige burn. Tom, hill;
choilleig, gen. asp. of coilleag, loud cheerful sound.
Tom Dubh. Black hill. Tom, hill; dubh, black.
Tom Dunan. Both parts mean hill. Tom, hill; dunan,
dim. of dun, hill. The first had been added to explain the
second.
Tom Full (for Tom a' Chuil). Hill of the bottom.
Tom, hill; a', of the (suppressed); chuil, gen. asp. of cul,
bottom. The name is given to a hillock having on the top a
hollow with a closed curved end, between two borders of
higher ground. The letter c had been aspirated and ch had
been changed to ph, which is /.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 317
Tom Garchory. Hill of the rough corry. Tom, hill;
garbh, rough; choire, gen. asp. of coire, corry.
Tom Giubhais. Fir hill. Tom, hill; giubliais, gen. of
giubhas, fir.
Tom Glady Wood. Wood of the protected hill. Tom,
hill; gleidhtc, protected, preserved, retained from general
pasturing.
Tom Harlach (for Tom Airidh Laimh). Hill of the
shieling on the hill. Tom, hill; airidh,- shieling ; laimh, gen.
asp. of lamh, hill. Tom is probably a late addition.
Tom Lair. Hill of the cultivated ground. Tom, hill;
lair, gen. of lar, ground.
Tom Liath. Grey hill. Tom, hill; Uatli, grey.
Tom Meann. Hill of the kids. Tom, hill; meann, gen.
plural of meann, kid.
Tom Mor. Big hill. Tom, hill; mor, big.
Tom na Croich, Tom na Croiche. Hill of the gallows.
Tom, hill; na, of the; croiche, gen. of croich, gallows.
Tom na Dubh Bhruaich. Hill of the black bank. Tom,
hill; na, of the; dubh, black; bhruaich, gen. asp. of bruach,
bank.
Tom na Gabhar. Hill of the goat. Tom, hill; na, of
the; gabhair, gen. of gabhar, goat.
Tom na h-Elrig. Hill of the rocky slope. Tom, hill;
na, of the; h (euphonic); ail, gen. of al, hill, rocky hill;
ruigh, slope at the base of a hill.
Tom na h-Ola. Hill of the oil. Tom, hill; na, of the;
h (euphonic); olaidh, gen. of ola, oil. Scum on water im-
pregnated with iron is supposed to be oil.
Tom na Moine. Hill of the moor. Tom, hill; na, of
the; moine, gen. of moine, moor.
Tom na Wan Wood. Wood of the hill of the lambs.
Tom, hill; nan, of the; van, gen. plural of nan, lamb.
Tom of Balnoe. Hill of new town. Tom, hill; baile,
town; nodha, new.
Tom Odhar. Dun hill. Tom, hill; odhar, dun.
Tom Tough's Well (probably originally Tobar Tulaich).
Well of the hill. Tobar, well; tulaich, gen. of tulach, hill.
When tobar was translated into well and put last, torn, hill,
had been prefixed.
Tom Ullachie. Hill of preparation. Tom, hill; ullach-
aidli, gen. of ullachadh, preparation. The name seems to
refer to sorting cattle collected at markets and arranging
them for their journey southward. See Loch Ullachie.
Tomachal. Hill of the narrow place. Tom, hill; a', of
the; chaoil, gen. asp. of caol, narrow.
Tomachallich (for Tom a' Choilich). Hill of the burn.
Tom, hill; a', of the ; choilich, gen. asp. of coileach, hill burn
•318 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Tomachon (for Tom a' Chona). Hill of cotton-grass.
Tom, hill; a', of the; chona, gen. asp. of cona, cotton-grass,
cat's-tail grass (Eriophorun angustifolium).
Tomachuirn. Hill of the hill — a tautological name.
Tom, hill; a', of the; chuim, gen. asp. of cam, hill.
Tomanchapel (for Tom an Seipeil). Hill of the chapel.
Tom, hill; an, of the; seipeil, gen. of seipeal, chapel.
Tombay. See Tom Beith.
Tombeg. Little hill. Tom, hill; beag, little.
Tombreck. See Tom Breac.
Tomcur (for Tom Curra). Hill of the bend in the
Deveron. Tom, hill; curra, gen. of curr, pit, hole, corner.
Tomdarroch. Oak hill. Tom, hill; daraich, gen. of
darach, oak tree, oak wood.
Tomdubh. See Tom Dubh.
Tomhearn. Hill of the sloes. Tom, hill; h (euphonic);
■airne, sloe.
Tomiedhu. Black hillock. Toman, hillock; dubh, black.
Tomintoul. Knoll of the hollow. Toman, knoll; tuill,
gen. of toll, howe.
Tommy's Castle. Perhaps the first part of this name had
been toman, little hill.
Tomnahay (for Tom na Chuidh). Hill of the cattle-fold.
Tom, hill; na, of the; chuidh, gen. asp. of cuidh, cattle-fold.
C had become silent after aspiration. Dh is equivalent to y,
and huidh had been at first pronounced hoo-i-y, later hey,
and finally hay.
Tomnamoine. Same as Tom na Moine.
Tomnaeiest (for Tom na Ciste). Hill of the cist. Tom,
hill; na, of the; ciste, cist, stone grave chamber.
Tomnavan. Hill of the women. Tom, hill; nam, of the;
bhan, gen. plural of ban, woman.
Tomnaverie (for Tom na Faire). Hill of the watch. Tom,
hill; na, of the; faire, guard. F is an aspirated letter, and it
had been changed to bh, equivalent to v.
Tomnvey (for Tom a' Bheithe). Hill of the birch-tree.
Tom, hill; a , of the; bheithe, gen. asp. of beith, birch-tree.
Tomnavone (for Tom a' Mhoine). Hill of the moss.
Tom, hill; a , of the; mhoine, gen. asp. of moine, moss,
moor.
Tom's Cairn, Tomscairn, Tam's Hill. Both parts of
these names mean hill. Tom, hill; earn, hill. The insertion
of 's had been made in the belief that Tom was a personal
name in the possessive.
Tom's Forest. Forest on a hill. Tom, hill. 8 is non-
significant, being an affix made in the mistaken belief that
Tom was a man's name.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 319
Ton Burn. Burn in the bottom of a hollow. Ton,
bottom.
Tonley (for Ley Tona). Grassy place in the bottom of a
valley. Ley, grass land; tona, gen. of ton, bottom.
Tonnagaoithe. Back of the wind. Ton, back, backside;
na, of the; gaoithe, gen. of gaoth, wind.
Tonrin Burn. Burn at the bottom of a promontory.
Ton, bottom; rinne, gen. of rinn, point.
Tophead. Top of the cattle-fold. Top, upper end; cliuid,
gen. asp. of add, cattle-fold. After aspiration c had become
silent.
Toppies. Small tops. But perhaps the original form had
been tapan, small top, and an had been made both ie and s,
representing an both as a dim. and a plural termination.
Tor Hill (for Torr). Hill. Torr, steep abrupt hill.
Torandarroch. Hill of the oak wood. Torr, hill; an,
of the; daraich, gen. of darach, oak, oak grove.
Torbeg. Small hill. Torr, steep hill; beag, little.
Tore Burn. Hill burn. Torr, steep abrupt hill.
Torgalter. Coward's grave. Torr, grave; gcaltaire,
gen. of gealtair, coward.
Torhendry (originally Kuigh Fhin). Slope of the hill.
Ruigli, slope; fhin (/ silent), fin asp., hill. Ruigh was put
last, and torr, hill, was prefixed to explain fhin. D is a
euphonic insertion.
Torminade. Flat-topped abrupt hillock on a moor. Torr,
hillock; monaidh, gen. of monadh, moor.
Tornabuckle. Hill of the shepherd. Torr, steep hill ;
an, of the; buachaille , shepherd, cowherd.
Tornagawn. Hill of the fold. Torr, hill; na, of the;
gabhainn, gen. of gabhann, fold.
Tornahaish. Steep hill. Torr, hill; na, of the; chais,
gen. asp. of cas, steep ascent.
Tornahatnach (for Torran Chatanach). Steep, rough
hillock. Torran, steep, abrupt hillock; chatanach, catanach
asp., rough, shaggy.
Tornamean. Hill of the kid. Torr, hill; na, of the;
minn, gen. of mean, kid.
Tornauran. Hill of the little water. Torr, steep flat-
topped hill; na, of the; ourain, gen. of ouran, small stream.
See Our.
Tornaveen (for Torr na Bheinne). Hill of the hill. Both
parts mean hill. Torr, steep, abrupt hill ; na, of the ; bheinne,
gen. asp. of beinn, bill.
Torphins (for Torr Finain). Both parts mean hill, and
the first is a late addition to explain the second. Torr, steep,
abrupt hill; finain, gen. of finan, little hill. Ain had been
changed to s in the belief that it was a plural termination.
320 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Torquhandallochy (for Torr Ceann an Allachain). Hill
at the head of the small stream. Torr, steep, abrupt hill;
ceann, head; allachain, gen. of attachan, dim. of attach, burn.
Torr Hill. The second part is a translation of the first.
Torr, steep, abrupt hillock.
Torr na Sithinn. Hill of the fairy knoll. Torr, abrupt
hill; na, of the; sithein, gen. of sithean, fairy hill.
Torr nan Sithean. Hill of the fairies. Torr, small steep-
hill ; nan, of the; sithean, gen. plural of sith, fairy.
Torr Uainean. Hill of the little lambs. Torr, steep hill;
uainean, gen. plural of uainean, little lamb.
Torra Duncan (for Torr an Dun Can). Hillock of the
white hill. Torr, hillock; an, of the; dun, hill; can, white.
Duncan is a late translation into Gaelic of Whitehill, a cor-
ruption of chuithail, cattle-fold.
Torran. Small, steep, abrupt hill. Torran is the dim.
of torr, steep, flat-topped hill.
Torran Buidhe. Yellow little hill. Torran, small, steep,
abrupt hill; buidhe, yellow.
Torran Deallaig (for Torran Deallaichte). Little steep
hill cut off from others. Torran, little hill, deallaichte,
separated.
Torran Dubh. Black knoll. Torran, knoll; dubh, black.
Torran Toll. Hillock in a howe. Torran, steep hillock
with flat top; tuill, gen. of toll, howe.
Torranbuie. Yellow little knoll. Torran, small knoll;.
buidhe, yellow.
Torrancroy. Hard little hillock. Torran, small knoll;
cruaidh, hard.
Torrandarroch. Knoll growing oaks. Torran, small
hillock; darach, producing oaks.
Torrandhu. Black little hill. Torran, small steep hill;
dubh, black.
Torrangin. Hillock of sand. Torran, small hill; gain-
imh, gen. of gaineamh, sand.
Torries. Small knoll. Torran, dim. of torr, knoll. An
had been made first ie normally, and secondly s improperly.
Torrnaflossie (for Torr na Fleosga). Hill of the crown.
Torr, hill; na, of the; fleasga, gen. of fleasg, crown. The hill
gets its name from the appearance of its summit.
Torrnagawn. Steep round hill at a cattle-fold. Torr,
abrupt, flat-topped hill; na, of the; gabhainn, gen. of
gabhann, pen-fold for cattle, sheep, goats. See Cachna-
MINNIEGAWN.
Torry. Small hill. Torran, steep, abrupt hillock. An
became y.
Torry Been (for Torran Beinn). Abrupt, steep hill.
Torran, small hill; beinn, hill. In post-Gaelic time torran
had been added to beinn to explain it.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 321
Torryburn. Burn from the little hill. Torran, dim. of
torr, steep hillock with flat top.
Torrycriex. Small steep knoll. Torran, little hill;
crion, small.
Torryhillock. Hillock. Torran, dim. of torr, steep,
abrupt hill.
Torryleith, Torrylieth. Grey hill. Torran, little hill;
Hath, grey.
Torsiiixach. Fox hill. Torr, steep, abrupt hill; sion-
naich, gen. of sionnach, fox.
Torterston (for Baile Torr Teasach). Town at a warm
hill. Baile, town (translated and transposed); torr, steep,
flat-topped hill; teasach, warm. The second r in Torterston
had been introduced under the influence of the first.
Tough. Hill. Tulach, hill. Tough, parish name, is not
entered in the six-inch O.S. map.
Tournament Hillock. This name simply means hillock.
Torr, hillock; an, of the; monaidh, gen. of monadh, hill.
Toux, Touxhill. Hill. Tulach had been corrupted to
Touch, to which s had been added in the belief that it was
a name in the possessive. Ch and s combined had made x,
as in Bruxhill, for Bruchshill.
Towanreef (for Buigh an Tuim). Slope of the hill.
Ruigh, slope; an, of the; tuim, gen. of torn, hill. When the
meaning of the name had been lost its parts had been re-
arranged and the name had become Tom an Buigh, hill of
the slope, and subsequently torn had become tomh, pro-
nounced tow. Gh of ruigh had been changed to /, which is
itself an aspirated letter equivalent to ph.
Towie, Tolly. Small howe. Tollan, dim. of toll, howe.
0 before 11 is usually sounded on.
Towie Barclay. The part of Towie belonging to the
Barclay family.
Towie Turner. The part of Towie belonging to the
Turner family.
Towmill. Mill of the hollow. Toll (o pronounced ou),
hollow.
Towleys. Grassy places in a howe. Toll (pronounced
toull), hollow; ley, grassy place.
Tramaud (for Torr Moid). Hill of the court, Torr, hill;
moid, gen. of mod, court of justice.
Trancie Hill. Hill of the trench. Treinsc (Irish),
trench.
Trefor Hill (for Tir For). Front land. Tir, land; for,
in front of a farm or house. Sometimes tir and for become
Fortrie.
Trefynie (for Tir Finain). Land of the little hill. Tir,
land: finain, gen. of finan, small hill.
v
322 Celtic Plaee-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Treeroot. Perhaps the place had got this name from
the root of an oak tree having been found there under moss.
Trinity Quay. This name is given to the part of the quay
of the harbour of Aberdeen on the east of Market Street.
The Red Friars, called also Trinitarians, had prior to 1560 a
convent in the angle between Market Street and Guild
Street, and this has given the name Trinity to a part of the
quay and a street and a lane. Trinitas (Latin), the union
of three in one.
Trochie. Rock like a dwarf. Troich or droich, dwarf.
Trotten Slack. Hollow along which droves of cattle
passed. Treudan, plural of treud, drove; slochd, slack,
slug, hollow between heights.
Truffhill, Truff Hillock, Truffhillock. Hillock
where mossy sods with short heather on them were cut for
fire-backs or for building walls. Turf, sod.
Troupsmill. Mill of the hill. Threith, gen. asp. of triath
(Irish), hill. Triath passed through the following forms in
becoming troup : — threith, threiph, threip, throop, troup.
Trumpeter Hillock. Hillock from which a trumpeter
made signals.
Truncher Craig. Rock resembling a wooden plate on
which loaves are cut into slices. Trancher (French), to cut.
In Scotland a bread-basket is also called a truncher, in ignor-
ance of its true meaning.
Truttle Stones. Nothing is known of the meaning of
this name. It has a slight resemblance to the Gaelic word
treudail, pertaining to a herd of cattle, being treud, herd,
with the terminal ail, pertaining to. Truttle stones might
mean stones set up to mark the boundary of a shieling.
Tuach Burn, Tuach Hill. North burn, North hill.
Tuach, north.
Tula, Tullich, Tullo, Tulloch, Tullos, and Tully at
the beginning of names represent tulach, a round-headed
hill.
Tula Mutton. Middle hill. Meadhonach, middle.
Tullich. Hill.
Tullich Burn. Hill burn.
Tullo. Hill.
Tulloch. Hill.
Tullocharroch. Hill of the sheep. Chaorach, gen.
plural asp. of caora, a sheep.
Tullochbeg. Little hill. Beag, little.
Tullochcoy. Hill of the cup-like hollow. Cuach, cup.
Tullochleys. Grassy places on a hill. Leys, plural of
ley, grass land.
Tullochmacarrick. Hill of the rock. Na, of the; car-
raige, gen. of carraig, rock.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 323
Tullochmuih. Muir on a hill.
Tullochpark. Enclosed place on a hill.
Tullochs. Little hill. Tulachan, dim. of tulach, hill.
An had been made s instead of ie.
Tulloch venus (for Tulach Bheannain). Hillock of the
little hill. Bheannain, gen. asp. of beannan, little hill, which
had been aspirated to show that it was a qualifying word.
Bh is equivalent to v, and bheannain had been pronounced
veannain. Ain had been regarded as a dim. termination and
had been made ie, but afterwards it had been regarded as a
plural termination and s had been added to ie, making vean-
nies, which is now venus.
Tullochwhinty (for Tulach Choinnte). Hill of meetings.
Choinnte, euphonic plural asp. of coinne, meeting.
Tulloford. Ford on a hill.
Tullos House. Mansion on a small hill. Tulachan,
dim. of tulach, hill. An had been made s instead of ie.
Tullykeira. Hill of sheep. Tulach, hill; chaorach, gen.
plural of caora, sheep.
Tullynessle (for Tulach an Iseil). Hill of the glen.
Tulach, hill; an, of the; iseil, gen. of iseal, glen, hollow.
Tully's Cairn. This is a cairn on a long hill road, serving
as a guide. The name had probably been at first Carn
Tulaich, cairn of the hill. Carn, cairn; tulaich, gen. of
tulach, hill. The order of the parts had been changed, and
tully having been supposed to be a personal name 's had been
added to convert it into the possessive.
Tumuli. Heaps. Tumulus (Latin), heap of stones or
earth. In some places heaps have been formed of stones
gathered off the ground to let more grass grow, or to facilitate
the cultivation of the ground. Many tumuli have been
found to cover urns and cists containing calcined bones or
skeletons of uncremated bodies. More modern cairns mark
the site of places where persons were killed or found dead.
Tumuli are supposed to mark the site of an engagement
between Lulach and Malcolm Canmore in 1057.
Turaraich. Dry Plain. Tur, dry; araich, plain.
Turclossie. Hill of peace. Torr, steep hill; closaidh,
gen. of closadh, quiet.
TURFCRAIG, TuRFGATE, TuRFHILL, TuRFSLACK. Turf
means peaty soil growing heather or grass, from which were
cut sods suitable for building walls or for placing at the back
of hearth fires. Craig means hill, gate is a road, and slack
is hollow between two heights.
Turk Wood (for Coille Tuirc). Hill of swine. Coille, hill,
wood; tuirc, gen. of tore, pig, hog, boar. Coille in old Gaelic
means hill, not wood.
Turlundie (for Torr Fhliuchanach). Wet hill. Torr,
324 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
hill; fJdiuchanach, fliuchanacli asp., wet. Fh being silent
had been lost; ch had also been lost, and ach had become ie,
giving Liuanie. D had been inserted after n.
Turnalief (for Toit na Laimh). Hill. Both parts mean
hill. Torr, hill; na, of the; laimh, gen. of lamh, hill.
Turner Hall. Mansion on an estate belonging about
1732 to a man named Turner.
Turnishaw Hill (for Torr na Sithe). Hill of the fairy.
Torr, steep, abrupt hill; na, of the; sithe (pronounced shee),
gen. of sith, fairy. Sith also means hill, and the second part
may have been added to explain the first. In Poll Book
(1696) Turnishaw is made Turnasse, which would represent
Torr an Eas, hill of the burn. Torr, hill; an, of the; eas
(pronounced ass), burn. In names eas is often rendered ash.
Turquschoonach. Frosty hill. Torr, hill; chuisneach,
cuisneach asp., frosty.
Turriff. Hill of the circular enclosure. Torr, steep,
flat-topped hill; rath, circle round a grave, fold. Th had
become yh, equivalent to /. Riff may represent ruigji, slope
of a hill. The accent on tur indicates transposition of the
parts, and the name may mean slope of the hill, referring
to the site of the castle and the manse.
Tuskie Braigh (for Braigh an t-Uisge). Hill of the
water. Braigh, hill; an t-, of the; uisge, water. When
braigh was put last an had been dropped as not being appro-
priate for it, but t had been left and annexed to uisge.
Tweed-dale (for Bail Tuid). Field of the haycock. Dail,
riverside field; tuid, gen. of tud, cock of hay. The name had
been given to a riverside haugh where grass was cut and
made into hay.
Tyaksnook (for Tigh na Cuile). House at a corner. Tigh,
house; na, of the; cuile, gen of cuil, nook, corner.
Tynabaich. House of the cow-byre. Tigh, house; na,
of the; bathaich, gen. of bathach (th silent), cow-byre.
Tyrie (for Tirean). Small place. Tirean, dim. of tir,
land. Ean had become ie.
Tyries. Bit of land. Tirean, small bit of land. Final an
had been translated into ie, and afterwards s had been added
in the belief that it was the plural termination.
Tyrebagger (for Tulach Bac Airidhe). Hill of the moss
of the shieling. Tulach, hill; bac, peat-moss; airidhe, gen.
of airidh, shieling. Tulach becomes tilly, and this is some-
times corrupted into tirry.
Tyronhill. Hilly places. Tirean, plural of tir, land.
Udny (for Uchdan). Brae of a slight eminence. Uchdan,
dim. of uchd, breast. The letters a and n had been trans-
posed, as in nearly all names ending in ny or nie.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 325
Ugie. River flowing with an unbroken surface. Uidh,
smooth-flowing river. The sound of dh resembles that of gh,
and in both the sound of ye is audible. The last ten miles of
the course of the river have little fall.
Ulaw (for Lamh Chuith). Hill of the fold. Lamh, hill;
chuith, gen. asp. of cuith. Lamh and Chuith had lost the
aspirated letters and had then been transposed to get the
accented syllable first. This had produced Ui La, which is
now Ulaw.
Uisge na Meann. Water of the kids. Uisge, water;
nan, of the; meann, gen. plural of meann, kid.
Uncle's Hillock. Perhaps the first part represents An
Coillean, the hillock. An, the; coillcan, hillock, with an
changed to s instead of ie.
Une. Old form of Oyne. See " Collections," p. 120.
Union Street. Street whose name commemorates the
Union of Great Britain and Ireland.
Upperthird. The uppermost of three parts into which a
large farm had been divided after 1782. See Nethertiiird
and Middlethird.
Uppertown. In Gaelic Baile Uachdar. Baile, town;
uachdar, upper.
Upper YVatererne. See Waterene.
Urie, Ury. River. Ouran, dim. of our, stream. In the
Chartulary of Lindores Abbey the Shevock is called Ourie.
The modern Urie rises on the north side of Wind's ~E*ye hill.
It is called The Glen Water and The Kellock, and it joins
the Don at Inverurie.
Valentine Burn (for Allt Bhaile Taine). Burn of the
town of wealth in cattle. Allt, burn; bhaile, baile asp.,
town; taine, gen. of tain, herd, wealth in cattle. Baile had
been aspirated because it is a qualifying word, and as bh is
equivalent to v it had become vaile, now vale.
Vat, The. In Gaelic Am Bat. The bath. Bat had been
aspirated, and as bh is equivalent to v it had been pronounced
am vat, meaning the bath.
Vennie (for Bheannan). Little hill. Bheannan, beannan
asp., little hill. Bh is equivalent to v, and an had been
translated into ie in Scotch.
Veshels, The. In Gaelic Am Bhasailan. The danger-
ous rocks. Am, the; bhasailan, basal asp., with the plural
termination an added. Then, by translating am into the
and an into s and changing bh to its equivalent v, the name
becomes The Vasails. The Veshels are rocks very near to the
coast of Cruden.
Viaduct. A road on arches crossing a hollow at a high
326 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
elevation. The name represents the Latin words via ducta,
way led over something.
Vine. Old form of Oyne. See " Collections," p. 120.
Vitrified Fort. Places called by this title are ancient
cattle-folds. Attempts had been made in the course of
erection to fuse the walls together by means of wood ashes,
salt, or dry seaweed. On Dunnideer the fusion had been
successfully effected but not on the Tap of Noth.
Waggle Hill (for Bhagach Aill Hill). Big hill. Bhag-
ach, bagacli asp., big; aill, bill. Bh is equivalent to tv. Ach
had been lost, c being silent.
Wagley (for Bhagach Lamh). Big hill. Bhagach, bag-
ach asp., big; lamh (mh silent), hill.
Walla Kirk. Kirk at a town. BJiaile, gen. asp. of
baile, town. Bh is equivalent to u, v, or w. The church is
said to have been dedicated to a fictitious fifth-century
bishop named St Volick.
Walton. Perhaps both parts mean town. Bhaile, asp.
form of baile, town, might become wal since bh is equivalent
to w.
Wakendale (for Uachdar an Dail). Upper field. JJach-
dar, upper; an, of the; dail, field.
Wakenwae (for Bhac an Bheath). Moss of the birch.
Bhac, bac asp., moss; an, of the; bheath, gen. asp. of beath,
birch. Bh is equivalent to u, v, or w.
Walker Dam. If Walker is of Gaelic origin the name
means upper dam. Uachdar, upper.
Walkerhill (for Uachdar Tulach). Upper hill. Uach-
dar, upper; tulacli, hill.
Wanton Wells. Town at a fold. Wanton was origin-
ally chuitail, cuitail asp., which was corrupted into White-
hill. This was turned into Gaelic by bhandum, white hill
(bhan, ban asp., white; dun, hill). Wells was originally
bhaile, baile asp., town. Bh is equivalent to w, and bhandun
became Wanton, and bhaile became waile, variously made
Wall, Well, Walls, Wa's, and Wells.
Ward. Enclosed place. When the cattle on a farm were
sent to distant pastures cows, calves, and work oxen were
sometimes kept at home and tethered or put into wards. A
small plot of grass that could be irrigated and protected was
also called a ward.
Ward, The. The prefix " the " indicates a public ward
to which all the cows in a district or hamlet could be sent.
The village now called Port Erroll was formerly called The
Ward.
Ward Hill, Wardend, Wardford, Wardhead, Ward-
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 327
house, Wards. These places had all taken their name from
being enclosed or in the neighbourhood of enclosed places.
Small plots reserved for cutting grass or for ha}" were called
wards.
Wardhouse. The residence provided for a person in
charge of cattle in a ward.
Wards of Faichhill. Enclosed places in which live
stock were guarded. Ward, enclosed protected place ;
faicille, gen. of faicille, guard, watching.
Wardlesend. An out-of-the-way place.
Wareland. If Scotch this name means land on which
seaweed was frequently laid down for manure.
Warey Craigs. Rocks overgrown with seaweed. Till
the middle of last century seaweed collected on beaches or
cut from rocks was used as manure for grass and grain crops.
It was also burned for the soda and potash in the ashes,
called kelp, which were used in glassworks to fuse sand.
Iodine was also extracted from the ashes. The use of sea-
weed for manure and manufacturing purposes is now nearly
obsolete.
Wark. The hill. This place is over 1000 feet above sea.
The original form had been Am Braigh, the hill. Avi, the;
braigh, hill brow. Subsequently the name had passed
through the following forms: — am bhraigh (pronounced am
icraigh), ivraich, waricli, warch, wark.
Warm Burn. Burn which steams in a calm, cold morn-
ing in winter by the condensation of vapour rising from it.
Warrackston. If this is a Gaelic name it means high
town. Bharrach, barrach asp., high up.
Warthill, Wartle. Hill on which there was a ward for
cattle.
Washing Hive. Narrow opening in the rocky coast at
Inverallochy, where people went to wash clothes. Hive,
Scotch for haven.
Watch Craig. Hill on which a watch was kept for cattle
thieves. Creag, hill.
Watch Mount. Mount on which a watch was kept.
Monadh, mount, hill.
Watchman. Translation of the Gaelic gocaman, domestic
sentinel. Meikle and Little Watchman are the names of two
hills in Rhynie.
Water. Scotch name for a large burn or a river. In
Aberdeenshire North WTater and South Water mean the Don
and the Dee.
Water of Allachy. Small burn. Allachan, little burn.
Water of Gairney. Bushing burn. Garbh, rough,
rushing; abhainn, water.
Water of the Bogie. River Bogie.
328 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Watererne, Upper. This name means upper stock of
cattle. It represents Uachdar Uachdar Airne. Uachdar,
upper; airne, stock of cattle. After the second uachdar had
been corrupted into water, the first had been prefixed and
subsequently translated into upper.
Waterfolds. Upper folds. Uachdar (ch silent), upper.
Wateridgemuir. Upperhill moor. Uachdar, upper; aod,
hill, brae; muir (Scotch), moor, heathery ground. Aod has
become edge in several names.
Waterloo. Wet meadow. A Belgian name imported
into Britain after 1815. At the battle of Waterloo the
French and the British armies were separated by a low place
which had been excavated by running water.
Waternaldy. Far up place on the Corntulloch burn.
Uachdar, upper, summit; na, of the; alltain, gen. of alltan,
little burn.
Wateryslack, Wateryslacks. Wet hollow. Sliochd,
slack, howe in which a burn runs. A single hollow is often
spoken of as The Slacks.
Watthill (perhaps for Chatt Hill). Hill of the drove
road. Chatt, catt asp., drove road, hill road.
Watt's Gwight. Boat haven. The original form of the
name might have been Gja Bhatan, gap of boats. Gja
(Norse), chasm, opening into the land; bhatan, gen. plural
asp. of bat, boat. Bh is equivalent to u, v, or w, and an, the
plural termination, is equivalent to s in Scotch, hence bhatan
might have become first ivats and then watt's, and being
regarded as a personal name it would have been put first.
Waughton (for Bhagach Dun). Big hill. Bhagach ,
bagach asp., big; dun, hill. Bh is equal to w.
Waulkmill. Mill where cloth was fulled by beating it
while wet. This made the fibres of wool creep along one
another and so thickened the cloth. Originally fulling was
done by walking on the cloth while wet. Hence came the
personal name Walker. In Gaelic fuller is luadhadair (dh
silent), which has become Lauder.
Wealthyton (for Baile Sealbhan). Town of a great herd
of cattle, which represented wealth. Baile, town; seal-
bhain, gen. of sealbhan, large number of cattle.
Weaverwells (for Baile Beath Airidhe). Town of the
birch-wood on a shieling. Baile, town; beath, birch-wood;
airidhe, gen. of airidJi, shieling. By aspiration of baile and
heath, and change of th into bh the name had become Bhaile
Bheabh Airidhe, sounded waile weav ari. Waile had been
transferred to the end and the name had then lapsed into its
present form.
Wedderhill, Wedderlairs, Wether Hill, Wether
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 329
liAius. Wedder and Wether represent uachdar (ch silent),
upper. Lairs is laran, plural of lar, ground.
Wkktingshill (for Coille Chuitain). Hill of the cattle-
fold. Coillc, hill; chuitain, gen. asp. of cuitan, dim. of cuit,
cattle-fold. Ch became wh, which afterwards lost h. Ain
became ing, and afterwards s was inserted because ain or
ing was erroneously supposed to be plural. See Cuid.
Weets. Small cattle-fold. Chuitan, curtail asp., small
fold. Ch had become bh, equivalent to w, and an, a dim.
termination, had erroneously been translated by s.
Weistern, Hill of. This name might have been origin-
ally Druim Tirean Bheithan, ridge of the lands growing
birches. Druim, long hill; tirean, plural of tir, land;
bheithan, gen. plural asp. of beith, birch-tree. Weistern Hill
is a long ridge. The accent on weis shows that this part of
the name had been last at first. Beithan would become Weis
by aspiration of b (which would make it equivalent to w) and
change of an into s. Th is normally silent in Beithan.
Well of Auchlaws. Well at a place on a little hill.
Achadh, place; lamhain, gen. of lamhan, dim. of lamh, hill.
The well is far up on the slope of a hill. Ain, the dim. ter-
mination, had been supposed to be a plural termination and
had been translated into s.
Well of Don. The source of the Don. The Don rises
on a hillside at 2000 feet above the sea, very near the
western boundary of Aberdeenshire. A small stream of clear
water spouts out between a layer of moss and a bed of clay
in the side of a small pot-shaped hole.
Well PiOBIN. Well in which long green hair-like vegeta-
tion grows. Roibein, gen. of roibean, beard-like growth.
Wellheads. Town at a small fold. Bailc, town;
ciiuidain, gen. asp. of cuidan, small fold. Baile had become
Bhaile, which had been corrupted into Well. Chuidain had
become Huids, c being lost and ain becoming s instead of ie.
Wellhow (for Howe of the town). Bhaile, baile asp.,
town. Bhaile is pronounced wally, and this had lapsed into
Well.
Wells, Hill of (for Baile an Tulaich). Town of the
hill. Baile, town; an, of the; tulaich, gen. of tulach, hill.
When tulach had been translated Hill had been put first and
baile an, made one word, had been put last. Bailean is the
plural of baile and means towns. By aspiration and change
of ean into s it had become Bhails, pronounced wails, which
is now Wells.
Wells of Dee. The sources of the river Dee. The
longest and largest branch of the Dee rises on Braeriach at
4000 feet above sea. Five springs unite and form the Allt a'
Garbh-choire. For a short distance it is lost to sight among
330 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
debris. It receives the Allt an Lochain Uaine from Lochan
Uaine, and is soon after joined by the Allt Lairig Ghru from
Ben Macdhui. At the junction the west branch is 2 miles
1100 yards long, and the east branch is 2 miles 440 yards
long. Below the junction the stream is called the Dee.
Wells of Kothie. As a large district bears this name
wells must represent bhailean, plural asp. of baile, town.
Bh is equivalent to w, and ean had become s, producing
Wails, which had become Wells. The usual plural of baile is
bailte or bailtean, euphonic forms. See Kothie.
Wester Kirn. By the O.S. map Western Kirn appears
to be the west branch of a burn; but Kirn represents cireiny
crest of a ridge or long hill.
Westhall, Vesthall (1451), Wasthall (1549). Both
Old Westhall and Westhall are in the Poll Book, 1696.
There is no place called Easthall, and it is certain that West-
hall must be a corrupted form of a Gaelic name, because it
is accented now on the first syllable. Probably the original
name had been descriptive of the site of Old Westhall, and
it may have been Coill Uisge, hill above the burn (the Gadie).
Coill, hill; uisge, water, burn. After Uisge had been cor-
rupted into West and its meaning had been forgotten the parts,
of the name had been transposed to get the qualifying word
first as in English. This had produced West Choill, coill
being now aspirated because it followed its adjective. C in
choill is silent and had been lost, the name becoming West
Hoill, which is now Westhall. See Westlewie. Gaelic
names corrupted into English forms are usually meaningless
or not appropriate.
Westlewie (for Uisge Luath). Swift water. Uisge,
water, burn; luath, swift.
Wet Fold, Wetwards. These places both mean an
enclosure in a wet place, which therefore could be used only
in dry weather. Wet may be a corruption of cuit, fold.
Wetlands. Probably this name had been originally
Fliuch Lamhan, wet little hill. Flinch, wet; lamhan, dim.
of lamh, hill. Fliuch had been translated and lamhan had
been corrupted into lands, an becoming s.
Wetness (for Chuit an Eas). Fold at the burn. Chuit,
cuit asp., fold; an, of the; cas, water.
Wharlish Burn (for Allt Char Lise). Burn of the mossy
plain on which there was a fold. Allt, burn; char, car asp.,,
mossy plain; lise, gen. of lios, fold. Ch had become ivh.
Wheedlemont (for Monadh Chuidail). Hill of the fold.
Monadh, hill; chuidail, gen. asp. of cuidail, fold.
Wheel Burn (for Allt Chuile). Burn of the nook. Allt,
burn; chuile, gen. asp. of cuil, nook. Ch had become wh.
Whigabuts (for Uig a' Bhuthain). Corner of the hut.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 331
Uig, nook; a', of the; bhuthain, gen. asp. of buthan, hut.
When the meaning of the name had been forgotten ain had
become s instead of ie, and the aspirate had been transferred
from Bhuthain to Uig. This had produced Huig a' Buths,
now Whigabuts.
Whin Burn. Hill burn. Fin, hill.
Whin Hill (Old Aberdeen). Hill where whins grow.
Whinhill (Aberdeen). As there is no indication of whins
at this place the name may be a duplicate, both parts mean-
ing hill. Fin, hill.
Whinear (for Fin Airidhe). Hill of the shieling. Fin,
hill; airidhe, gen. of airidli, shieling. Idhe had been lost, dh
being silent.
Whineye (for Fin Chuidh). Hill of the fold. Fin, hill;
chuidh, gen. asp. of cuidh, fold. Ch had become silent and
had been lost, and so also had dh. This left ui, pronounced
wee, which had become first ee and then eye.
Whinnyfold. Fold in a place where whins grew. Old
Whinny fold is on a knoll, and Whinny might represent finain,
gen. of fin, hill.
Whistlebare Hillock. Sheet of water at the top of a
knoll. Uisge, water; barr, point; tulaicli, gen. of tulach,
knoll. For euphony Barr had been put at the end of the
name.
White Cairn, White Cairns. Cairn is cam, hill, even
though there may be a cairn on the hill-top.
White Goose (for Giubhas Chuit). Fir tree at a cattle-
fold. Giubhas (bh silent), fir; chuit, gen. asp. of cuit,
cattle-fold. Giubhas had been corrupted into Goose, and
Chuit had been corrupted into White and put first as being a
qualifying word.
White Horse. The figure of a horse on Mormond,
formed with white quartzite stones. The natural coat of
heathery peat moss had been removed, and stones gathered
on the hill had been laid down in the excavation.
White Inch, Whiteinches, (for Innis Chuit). Enclosure
forming a cattle-fold. Innis, enclosure ; chuit, gen. asp. of
cuit, fold. Chuit had been corrupted into White and had
then been put first because it was thought to be an English
adjective. Final s in Whiteinches represents s in Innis.
White Lady (for Leathan Chuit). Broad fold. Leathan,
broad; chuit, cuit asp., fold. Leathan had become success-
ively Leadhan, Leadan, Leady, Lady. Chuit had. been
aspirated because its adjective preceded it. When it had
been corrupted into White it had been put first as being an
adjective in English.
White Mounth, White Mountain. Hill had been trans-
332 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
lated into monadh, hill, mountain, and it had been made
mounth and mountain when it was turned again into English.
White Rock. This name is purely English. It repre-
sents a white rock in a field.
White Well, Whitewell, (for Baile a' Chuit). Town
of the fold. Baile, town; a', of the; chuit, gen. asp. of cuit,
fold. When Chuit became White it had been put first, and
Baile had become Bhaile, pronounced waile, which had
become Well.
White Whins. Whins means small hill. It was origin-
ally finan, small hill. By aspiration of / and change of an
into s it became first fhins and then whins.
Whttebog, Whiteburn, Whitemyre, Whitestripe. In
these names white represents chuit, gen. asp. of cuit, cattle-
fold. Cattlefolds were usually near a supply of water. The
English or Scotch part of the names had originally been
Gaelic words preceding chuit.
Whitebrow. Broiv represents bruch, hill, with ch silent.
Whitecross (for Crasg Chuit). Crossing at a cattle-fold.
Crasg, crossing; cliuit, cuit asp., cattle-fold.
Whitefield, Whitefields, Whitehaugh, Whiteley,
Whiteleys, White Links, Whitelinks, Whiteside, White
Spot, Whitespot, White Stone, Whitestone, White-
stones. White in these names represents chuit, gen. asp. of
cuit, cattle-fold. It had originally been last in the names,
but having been corrupted into an English adjective it had
been put first. The second parts had been Gaelic words
descriptive of something at the folds or places around them,
and these had afterwards been turned into English, unless
they are recent additions. See Links. Side and Spot mean
site, place. Side represents suidhe, site, and Spot is a trans-
lation of suidhe. Stones were frequently set up at folds to
let the cattle rub their necks, and stone circles were some-
times made into folds.
Whitehall. From the situation of this place Hall may
be held to mean farm-house, and White is probably also
modern.
Whitehill, Whitebrow, White Cairn, Whitecairn,
White Cairns, White Hill, Whitehill s, Whitehillock,
Whitehillocks, White Knowe, Whiteknowes, Whitelam,
Whitelums, White Mounth, White Mountain, White-
rashes, Whiteshin, White Whins, Whythal. All these
names had originally been chuithail, fold for cattle, which had
been corrupted into Whitehill, an English term of similar
sound. There are more than thirty places in Aberdeenshire
called White Hill, Whitehill, Whitehills, Whitehillock, or
Whitehillocks, the slight variations from the original form
having been made in comparatively recent times ; but in a
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 333
large number of eases the name Whitehill had been turned
into Gaelic by two words, one meaning while and the other
hill or some part of a hill. These new names have no refer-
ence to folds or resemblance to chuithail, from which they
originally sprung. Geal Cham, Torbane, Melvin, Bainshole,
Pinkie, Duncan are specimens of this class. In another
large class the first part of Whitehill has remained un-
changed, but the second part has been translated into Gaelic
by words meaning hill or part of a hill. Some of these have
preserved the hybrid form of White combined with a Gaelic
word, but others have been made wholly English, either by
corruption of the second part (as in Whitebrow, Whiteshin,
Whiterashes, White Whins) or by translation again into
English (as in White Mounth, White Mountain, White
Knowe, Whitelmowes). Usually final s is a euphonic, non-
significant addition ; but it may represent final an in a Gaelic
word, as in cnapan, dim. of cnap, small hill, where an had
improperly been regarded as a plural termination and
Cnapan had become Knowes, instead of Little Knoll.
t Whiteknowes. Hill had been made cnapan because
there had been no hill but only a knowe at the place, and
Cnapan had afterwards been translated by Knowes, instead
of Knappie or Small Knoll.
Whitelam, Whitelums. Lam represents lamh, hill, h
being dropped, and Lums represents lamh an, dim. of lamh,
in which an had been made s instead of ie. The reason of
introducing the dim. form was that there was nothing fit to
be called a hill at the place.
Whiterashes. Rashes is for ruighcan, dim. of ruighe,
slope of a hill. An had become s instead of ie. Ie, however,
is used in Reekie, a farm on a slope, and in Auld Reekie, the
local familiar name for Edinburgh, meaning the town on
the high slope between the Castle and Holy rood.
Whiteshin. Shin is sithean, small hill, with th and its
vowels omitted because silent.
Whiting Craig (for Creag Chuitain). Rocky place of the
small fold. Chuitain, gen. asp. of cuitan, small fold. After
being converted into an English word the last part had been
made the first.
Whynietown (for Baile Choinne). Town where as-
semblies were held. Baile, town (translated and transposed) ;
choinne, gen. asp. of coinne, meeting, perhaps to hold a
barony court.
Whythal. Hal represents choill, coill asp., hill. C being
silent had been dropped. Whythal was the name of a cattle-
fold on the south side of the Don, half-way between the Brig
of Balgownie and the site of the new bridge.
■334 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Wicket Well (for Tobar Uige). Well of the nook.
Tobar, well; uige, gen. of uig, corner, bay, nook.
Wicketslap. Hill of the corner. Sliabh, hill; uige, gen.
of uig, nook. Very likely the original form of the name had
been Uig Sleibhe, corner of the hill.
Wicketwalls (for Baile Uige). Town of the nook.
Baile, town; uige, gen. of uig, nook. The parts of the name
had. been transposed, and Baile had become Bhaile, pro-
nounced waile, which had become first Wall and afterwards
Walls.
Widdie Hillock. There is said to be the site of a camp
on this hillock, which shows that the names means cattle-
fold hillock. The name had originally been Toman Chuidain,
hillock of the cattle-fold. Tvman, hillock (translated) ;
chuidain, gen. asp. of chuidan, small cattle-fold. Gh had
been changed to wh, and subsequently h had been dropped.
Wife's Step (for Chuidh, cuidh asp.) Fold. Wife repre-
sents chuidh with eh lost and dh made ph, equivalent to /.
Final 's had been added to convert ivife into the possessive
case. Step is the translation of the Gaelic word Uidh left
after loss of ch in Chuidh. Wife's Step is a combination of
two corruptions of Chuidh.
William's Stones, Williamston, Willie Wood's Hole,
WlLLIEHEAD, WlLLIE'S FaULD, WlLLIE'S HAVEN, WlLLIE'S
Well, Willings, Wills Forest. The first part of these
names represents uileann, corner, turning. Ie represents
ann regarded as a dim. termination, and s represents it as a
plural termination. In Willings ann became ing, and s had
been added in the belief that it was a plural termination.
Wood's and Head both represent chuid, cuid asp. fold. In
the first ch had become wh, and afterwards h had been
dropped. In the second c had been lost, being silent, and
Huid had become Head. Willings is a place where a burn
makes a turn at a right angle.
Windhill. In Gaelic Coill Gaothach. Windy hill.
Coill, hill; gaothach, windy.
Wind's Ee, Wind's Eye, Windseye, Windyside, (for
Gaothach Suidhe). Windy site. Gaothach, windy; suidhe,
-site. In some of the names s had been transferred from
Suidhe to Wind. Suidhe had lost dhe in some of the names,
but had kept it in Windyside. Suidhe by loss of s and dhe
became ui, pronounced ive, but this had become ee, supposed
to be a Scotch word and therefore changed to eye with a new
sound. In many cases Gaothach Suidhe became Gateside.
Windy Edge (for Gaothach Aod). Windy brae. Gaoth-
ach, windy; aod (o silent), brae. Ge in Edge arises from the
forcible sounding of d in Aod. The same change of Aod into
Edge is seen in Edgehill.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 335
Windyheads (for Gaothach Chuidan). Windy little fold.
Gaothach, windy; clinician, cnidan asp., dim. of mid, fold.
Cuidan had been aspirated because it follows its adjective.
Ch in Chuidan, being silent, had been lost, and an had been
regarded as a plural termination, wherefore s had been added
to Huid, and it is now Heads.
Windy Hills. In Gaelic Coillean Gaothach. Coillean,
plural of coill, hill; gaothach, windy.
Windywalls Bog. The original form of Windywalls had
been Gaothach Bhaile, windy town. Gaothach, windy;
bhaile, baile asp., town. Gaothach had been translated into
Windy and Bhaile had been corrupted into Walls. See
Baile. There had been shieling huts at Windywalls Bog at
an early time.
Wine Well (for Tobar Laimh). Well of the hill. If Tobar
had been translated into Wells and Laimh had as usual be-
come Lamb the name would have become Lamb's Well. By
translating Lamb's into uain, gen. of nan, lamb, the name
would have become Uain Well^ which would readily have
become Wine Well. There was a tendency to change Gaelic
names into somewhat similar English names, but at a later
time many of these were translated into Gaelic words quite
different in meaning from the original name.
Wineburn (for Allt Uan). Burn of lambs. Allt, burn
(translated and transposed); uan, gen. plural of uan, lamb.
The banks of the burn had been the feeding-place of lambs.
Wisdom How (for Iochd Uisge Tuim). Howe of the loch
of the hill. Iochd, howe; uisg, water; tuim, gen. of torn,
hill. There is a loch near this hill farm.
Wishach Hill. Watery hill. Uisgeach, watery.
Witches Hole. Hole in the rocks on the coast of Cruder:
supposed by fishermen to be inhabited by witches.
Witchhill (for Coill Bheith). Hill of birches. Coill, hill ;
bheith, gen. plural asp. of beith, birch-tree. Bheith had been
strengthened by the insertion of c between t and h, and bh
had been sounded like w.
Witchock Loch. Loch in a place growing birches.
Bheathach, abounding in birches. Bheathach is beathach
asp., which changes its pronunciation to wcathach, and it
had lapsed into Witchock.
Witter, The. In the first edition of the Ordnance Sur-
vey maps Witter was the name given to a survey mark. In
the second it is made a place name, but this seems a mistake.
Wogle Burn (for Allt Bhaoghail). Burn of danger. Allt,
burn; bhaoghail, gen. asp. of baoghal, danger. Bh is here
•equivalent to w. Wogle may be the same as Waggle.
Wolf Grain. Branch of a burn once haunted by a wolf.
336 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Wolf Hill. Perhaps hill of the grave. Uam/t (pro-
nounced oo-av), grave. Wolf is pronounced oof in Scotch.
The hill seems unlikely to have been the haunt of a wolf.
Wolflaw. Hill of the wolf. Lamh, hill, law.
Wolfstone, Woofstone. Perhaps these stones marked
places where graves had been made.
Womblfhill. Hill of assembly. Chomhdhala , gen. asp.
of comhdhail, meeting, assembly.
Woodhead. This is likely to be a modern name given to a
place at the upper side of a wood. In ancient names head
represents chuid, cuid asp., cattle-fold.
Woodie Knowe, Wuddy Hill. These names may be
wholly English, but they seem to represent Tom Chuidain,
hill of the small fold. Tom, hill, knowe; chuidain, gen. asp.
of cuidan, dim. of cuid, fold. Oh had become first wh and
afterwards w by losing the aspirate. Ain became ie.
Woodthorpe. Village at a wood. Dorp (Dutch), village.
Woolhillock (for Toman Uileinn). Hillock in a corner
of an estate. Toman, hillock; uileinn, gen. of uileann,
corner. Einn had been regarded as a dim. termination and
uileinn had become u-il-y, resembling woolly in sound. From
this had been developed Woolhillock.
WOOLMANHILL, WOOLLEN HlLL, WOMAN HlLL. Hill at
the corner. Uileann, corner. These three names are found
applied to the high ground beside Schoolhill Railway Station,
Aberdeen. The corner is the bend in the course of the Den-
burn, which is now covered up. The turn is at the east end
of Skene Street. See Woolhillock.
Worldsend. Out-of-the-way place.
Wormiewell. Well with drowned worms at the bottom.
Worms enter drains to get water and are swept on to a well
or burn into which the drain discharges. They breathe by
the skin and drown if long immersed in water.
Wormyhillock. Hillock growing wormwood. Bhurmaid,
barmaid asp., wormwood. Bhurmaid is pronounced wur-
maid, and the local pronunciation of wormwood is wurmit.
This plant was formerly grown to supply a decoction to be
used in curing children and domestic animals affected by
intestinal worms.
Wrae. Hill. Bhraighe, braigh asp., hill. Bh is equi-
valent to v or w, and Bhraighe is locally pronounced vrae.
The spelling wrae shows that bh had at first been sounded w ;
now w is silent.
Wraes. Small place on a hill. Bhraighean, braighean
asp. dim. of braighe, hill. An had improperly been regarded
as a plural termination and had been changed to s. Bh is.
equivalent to w, and Braighean had become Wraes.
Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire. 337
Wrangham (for Bhran Thuim). Hill burn. Bkran, bran
asp., burn; thuim, gen. asp. of torn, bill. Bh in bhran is
equivalent to u, v, or w. Th of Thuim had been lost after
being aspirated.
Wreaton (for Baile Bhraigh). Town at a hill. Baile,
town; bhraigh, gen. asp. of braigh, hill. When Bhaile was
translated the parts of the name had been transposed.
Wrightstone. Stone on a hill slope. Ruigh, slope on a
hill near the base.
Wyndford. This name may mean Ford on a country lane
or narrow road. If of Gaelic origin it represents Ath Uan,
ford of the lambs. Ath, ford; uan, gen. plural of uan, lamb.
The ford is near the Brimmond Hill, where sheep had
pastured.
Yad, Yaud. These names are probably corruptions of
gja (Norse), chasm, passage into a place.
Yearly Auld Hole (for Airidh Allt a' Choill). Shieling
of the burn of the hill. Airidh, shieling; allt, burn; a', of
the ; choill, gen. asp. of coill, hill. Dh in airidh is sounded y,
and c of choill is silent.
Yokieshill (for Tulach Iochdain). Hill of the small
howe. Tulach, round-topped hill; iochdain, gen. of iochdan,
dim. of iochd, howe. Ain had properly been changed to ie,
the Scotch dim. termination, but it had also improperly been
made s, and this letter had been added to ie.
Yarrowhillock. Hillock growing Achillea millefolium,
yarrow.
Yonder Bognie, for the farthest off of three farms called
Bognie. Bognie, for bogan, wet place, bog. The two letters
in an had been transposed. See Yonderton.
Yonderton. Farther off town. After the bad year 1782
large farms which had been held jointly by three tenants
were divided into three parts, often called Oldton, Midton,
and Yonderton, or Netherthird, Middlethird, and Upperthird.
Youlsfold (for Cuit Phollain). Fold near a small pool.
Cuit, fold; phollain, gen. asp. of pollan, small pool. Subse-
quently the name had passed through these forms: — Cuit
Fhollain, Cuit Ollain, Oils Fold, Oulsfold, Youlsfold. Ain had
improperly been changed to s instead of ie. 0 before 11
sounds ou. Y is a euphonic addition.
Yowlie Burn (for Allt Phollain). Bum of the little pool.
Allt, burn (translated and transposed); phollain, gen. asp. of
pollan, little pool . After Phollain was put first it had lost ph,
and, as o before 11 sounds ou, Phollain had become Oulain ; but
ain represents ie in Scotch, and thus the name had become
Oulie, which had lapsed into Yowlie.
338 Celtic Place-Names in Aberdeenshire.
Ythan. Broad river. Othainn, broad river.
Ythan Wells. Wells of Ythan. The parish church and
the public school are near the sources of the Ythan.
Ythan side. Bank of the river Ythan.
Ythsie (for Suidhe Chuith). Place near a fold. Suidhe,
site, place; chuith, gen. asp. of cuith, fold. By transposition
the name had become Chuith Suidhe. Ch had become silent
and had been lost with u. Suidhe had lost dh, which is often
silent. There remained Ith Suie, which is now Ythsie.
VOCABULARY OF WORDS AND MEANINGS
Bequired for the Etymology of the Names of Places
in A bcrdcenshire but not contained in Macleod
and Dewar's Gaelic Dictionary.
In working out the etymology it was found that for some
names the meanings of words given in dictionaries were
not suitable. Though many mountain names begin with
earn the nearest meaning given is a heap of stones. In
names it generally means a mountain or hill rising above
its neighbours. Creag or craig is very common in names
with the meaning of hill. In dictionaries the only meaning
is rock or cliff.
For a considerable number of names it was necessary to
postulate the existence of Gaelic words not to be found in
any dictionary. Allan, stream; fin, hill; calla, marsh; lamh,
hill, are not in dictionaries, but they are in Aberdeenshire
place-names. It became evident that the ancient language
of Scotland had been fuller than modern literary Gaelic,
and that the etymologist must to a great extent fall back
on his own resources. Cam and creag were easily made out
by studying the look of objects with these words in their
names. Calla is not found in any dictionary, but the look
of the Ordnance Survey map suggested that in Callamalish
it must mean marsh, and this guess was confirmed by the
level meadow-land at Loch Callater. Coill, according to
dictionaries, means wood ; but this meaning is not appro-
priate for Glaschoil, Collylaw, Collyhill, Coilsmore, etc.
The Latin word collis means hill, and this meaning suits
almost every place with coill in its name. Fin is the first
syllable of several names, and as it is not in any dictionary
it was supposed to be connected with fionn, fair. To an old
woman who lived on a bleak hillside at a place called Finlarig
the question was put — " Do you think Finlarig a pretty
place since its name begins with fionn, beautiful? " Her
answer was that the name began with fin, a hill. It was
w 2
340 Vocabulary of Words and Meanings.
seen at once that this would suit the place and many others
besides. Fin, hill, explains the names Findlater, Findlay,
Torphins, Blairfindy, Finnygauld, and others with fin in
them.
It had been observed that many names were composed
of two parts, both meaning the same thing. This gave a
key to the meaning of names of which only one part was
to be found in a dictionary. Lamh-bheinn is a name in
Islay. Lamh was guessed to mean hill, the same as bheinn,
beinn aspirated, hill, which proved to be true, and this gave
the root and meaning of names beginning with lam or lamb,
and of others ending in lam or law.
The Scotch word cuid, tub, suggested that from the same
root had come the names Cuidhe Crom, Quiddie, and Fiddie,
and that they must mean something like a large tub. This
was found in a cattle-fold made by letting into the ground
a circular row of the trunks of trees, as in an Argentine
corral at the present day..
There are in x\berdeenshire several places named Fittie- —
one of them in the city of Aberdeen. This was a puzzle to
the inhabitants of the place long ago, and no new light
could be got till it was remembered that one of the Fitties
is also called Whitehill. As it is neither white nor a hill it
was thought that Whitehill must be a meaningless corrup-
tion of some Gaelic word. A search for a word corruptible
into Whitehill discovered cuitail, meaning cattle-fold.
Then other names possibly from this word were found in
Whittlesea, Cuttlehill, Kettle, and Quithel. It was also
seen that Fittie might be a corruption of cuit, cattle-fold,
or some of its other forms — chvit, chuith — and that Footie,
Keith, and Hythie might come from the same root.
Old Gaelic and Old Irish were identical, and though
modern Gaelic and modern Irish have diverged from one
another it was imagined that some words which had
dropped out of Gaelic might still be found in Irish.
O'Keilly's Irish dictionary has supplied the roots of many
Gaelic names not to be found in Gaelic dictionaries.
Vocabulary of Words and Meanings.
341
The following list contains words and meanings which
it was found necessary to postulate in writing the Etymology
of the Gaelic Place-Names of Aberdeenshire: —
Ach, )
Ac/,,, f Water"
Ail( (Irish), hill.
Airbkeadh (Irish), division.
Airmheadh (Irish), herd of cattle.
Airne | (Irish), watching cattle at
Airnean ) night.
Aisir, hill.
Ai/io/iitach, growing junipers.
^4//, burn — Allamuc.
Allach, burn— Rinallach.
A llachan, dim. of allach — Inver-
allcehy.
Allan, dim. of all, burn — Inverallan.
Alt (Irish), high, cliff -Old Head of
Kinsale.
Alltan, small burn.
A/pan, small hill.
Aod, hill, brae — Aad Braes.
Aodann, dim. of aod, hill.
Acmack, high — Angus.
Aonachadh, meeting of burns —
Annachie.
Aran, hill.
Ard-ar, high land.
At/t, ford, stream.
Bac, peat moss — Backburn.
Bacan, dim. of bac, peat moss —
Backie.
Bailean, ~\
D ... > small town.
Bautean, J
Bard, meadow — Red Beard.
Bardan, dim. of bard, meadow —
Glenbardy.
Bealach, road over a hill or between
two hills — Balloch.
Beann, bill.
Beanntan, dim. of beann, hill.
Beama (Irish), gap — Bairnie.
Bearnas, gap, notch — Barns.
Beathack, growing birches — Behitch.
Beitheach (Irish), growing birches.
Biorack, watery — Berryden.
Bioraa, dim of bior, water.
Blaigh, part.
Boc, leap, fall — Bucksburn.
Bog, marsh, quagmire — Bogbuie.
Bogan, soft wet place — Bogengarrie.
Bog/iun, small bend — Buchan.
Braid (Irish), braigh, hill— The
Braids.
Braidi'ati, dim. of braid, hill.
Braighean, dim. of braigh, hill.
Braon, hill burn — Brawnsbog.
Bra/man, dim. of braon, hill burn —
Brony.
Breacack, spotted.
Breith, judgment.
Brig, cairn, pile of stones.
Brocl, point.
Brodan, small sharp point — Brodie.
Brog (Irish), house.
Brogan (Irish), dim. of brog, house.
Bruclt, hill — Brux.
Bruchach, steep ascent.
Bruchan, dim. of bruch, hill— Bruxie.
Buaileag, dim. of buaile, fold — Builg.
Buicead (Irish), knob, boss — Glen-
bucket.
Buidhneach, commanding a good
prospect.
Cabar, branch of a burn.
Cala, \
~ ,, -wet meadow — Lallater.
Valla, I
Callar,, dim. of calla, wet meadow —
Kittycallin.
Camach, crooked.
Caoch, stream, howe — Coachford.
Car, mossy plain, fen.
Cam, hill — Cairnhill.
Camach, stony, hilly— Cairnie.
Carr, sepulchral stone pillar, shelf of
rock.
< 'arrack, rocky hill.
Cos, ascent — Baldyfash.
Ca,
Cad ha,
Cath,
Catha,
Catt,
Cotton, dim. of catt, hill road — Ard-
chattan.
hill road, drove road —
Cadger Road, Glencatt.
342
Vocabulary of Words and Meanings.
Ceannan, bold-faced — Benchinnan.
Ceap, stake.
C'eap, } plot of ground — Starna-
Ceapach, ) keppie.
Ceathach (Irish), showery.
Ciomadh, combing wool.
Ciste, stone-lined grave chamber.
Claigeann, round dry hill.
Claiseag, dim. of clais, howe, trench.
Clar, open, clear.
Cleatkan, small wattled fold.
Clidk (Irish), assembly.
Clidhean, dim. of clidh, assembly.
Coill,
Goille,
Coillean, ~\
^ ,,, c dim. of coill, hill.
toitltean, J
Coire, corry — Corrybeg.
Coireall, quarry — Coral Howe.
Gonland (Irish), assembly — Conland.
Cop, hill — Coplandhill.
Cor, \
Con; J
hill — Glaschoil.
round hill — C'orehill.
<~an, "1
n-an, )
u
dim. of cor and corr, round
hill.
stone circle.
Coran,
Cor
Corl
Corth
Cortan, } dim. of cort and corth,
Corthan, ) stone circle.
Cos, fold.
Cra, sheep-cot, fold.
Crasg, crossing of a hill.
Crasgan, dim. of crasg, crossing.
Creach, mountain.
Creag, hill — Craighill.
Creagan, dim. of creag, hill — Craigie.
Croile, fold.
Crubhan, i
r, ,, \ small fold.
Crudnan, J
Cruinneach, round.
Cuid, \
Cuidh, I
Cuidail, i
Cuidhail, )
Cuidan, i dim. of cuid and cuidh
Citidhan, I fold.
Cuileachan, deep oval hollow.
Cuiltean, dim. of cuil, nook — Cults.
Cait, 1
Cuith,
Cuitail,
Cuithail
fold— Keith, Quithel.
Cuilan, ~\ dim. of cuit and cuith,
Cuithan, J fold.
Cuingach, narrow.
Damhaireachd, rutting of deer.
Darach, wooded.
Darn, ford — Darnabo.
Darnoch, \
r, , ( stony, rocky.
Dornoch, i ■" J
Dart (Irish), herd of cattle.
Bath, burn, blacken.
Deimhe, darkness.
Dei ii, den.
Deinan, dim. of dein, den.
Der (Irish), small.
Dile (Irish), whortleberry.
Dir, steep.
Disert (Irish), deserted place.
Dobhran, water, stream.
Domhan, depth.
Dorbh (Irish), grass.
Dornoch, ~| _
^ , J- stony — Durno.
Dumach, )
Dorsaii, dim. of dorus, door, gap.
Draigh, thorntree.
Drogh, drove of cattle.
Droighnean, hawthorn.
Druaip, dropping.
Dual, curve in a burn.
Dubhach, blackness, sad.
Dubhag, little black person or thing.
Dubhati, blackness.
Dm; firm, strong, strength.
Mas, burn — Asquith, Ascott, Scott.
Easan, dim. of eas, burn — Essie.
Easg, burn, ditch.
Easgach, full of marshes.
Eibhit; castrated goat — Aver Hill.
Eidil (Irish), prayer, priest — Idle-
stone.
Fan, gentle slope.
Fanach, ~\ ,. .
v ii ,t ■ v.n "declivity, slope.
tanadh (Irish), J
Fanqan, \ ,. , . „ ,
„ . /- dim. of fang, fank.
raingan, )
Far, land — Tillyfar.
Faran, \
Farran, J- dim. of far, land.
Fearan, J
Fare, oak.
Farcan (Irish), oak.
Fasgidh (Irish), sheltered.
Vocabulary of Words and Meanings.
343
(Irish), session, court.
,, , > (Irish), land, lawn.
l'atha \ v
Fathan, dim. of fath — Fathie.
Feadan, spring, burn — Inverveddie.
Fear, heap of stones — Shampher.
Fear-bogha, bowman, soldier.
Fearnach, abounding in alders.
Feit/i, moss, burn, marsh.
Feithach, boggy.
Fiacail, tooth.
Fin. \ i Findon.
Feu n, ) \ Finlarig.
Finan, dim. of fin, hill — Finnylost.
Fir-bhreig, false men, upright stones.
Flaith }
Flatha J
Fleasc -i
r,, - (Irish), land.
Fleasg J v "
Fliuchanach, watery — Lownie.
For, in front of.
For, land.
Forran, dim. of for, land — BogfoiTan,
Fosaclh (Irish), rest, staying.
Froianeach, ferns.
Gabhal,' \ fork between f Gaval.
Gobhal, i burns — I Goval.
Gabhann, ) \ Gawn.
., ,, > cattle-fold — \ ^
Gobhann, \ ( Gowan.
( ''a b/i da ch , t reacherous.
Gad/i (Irish), danger.
Gainneach (Irish), sandy.
Gall (Irish), rock, pillar.
Gallan (Irish), dim. of gall, rock —
Gallon.
Gamhann ) (Irish), fold — Loch na
Gamhlann ) Gualainn.
Garbhach, abounding in rough places.
Gar/, ) enclosure, stone circle, river
Garth, \ island.
Gartan, dim. of gar t, enclosure.
Gasg, tail, slender slip — Balnagask.
Geadan, small spot of ground.
Geadhail, field, park — Geddle Braes.
Gealach, white.
Gealadh (Irish), whiteness.
Gealan (Irish), little white thing.
Gearait, saint, clergyman.
Giuhlisachan, dim. of giubhsach, pine-
wood.
Glais, bay.
Glaise (Irish), brook, burn— Douglas.
Glamac/t, noisy.
Glamlach, chasm in a hill range.
Glas (Irish), green.
Gleitk, grazing, feeding.
< il, [tin a, small grazing.
Gliusta (Irish), slow.
Glorack (Irish), prattling.
Gog, fold.
Gogan, little fold.
Gort, gorth, same as gart, garth.
Gortan, same as gartan — Gordon.
Grainne, sand — Grant's Hillock.
Grainneach, sandy.
Grealsach (Irish), fish, grilse.
Greann, ripple.
Greannach, rippling.
Grein, green.
Gresach (Irish), common — Gressiehill.
Grod (Irish), foam, quick.
Grodan, dim. of grod, quick.
Gru. }
Grug, ] gloomv> dark-
Guaimh, quiet.
Igh, burn.
Inbhir, ford, stepping-stones.
Iochd, howe — Aucheoch.
Iochda/i, little howe.
Iseal (Irish), glen — Tullynessle.
Lairig, hillside, gap, foot-road.
Lamh, hill — Lambton.
Lamhan, dim. of lamh, hill.
Lamh-thir, hill land.
Lapach, marsh.
Lapar, ~\
Labhar, f '"
Las, flame, light.
Loilar, swamp.
Lean, level place, links.
Learg, slope.
Leasg (Irish), spot of ground.
Leitk, side, half-side.
Linne, waterfall.
Lios, circle, cattle-fold— Auchterless.
Loininn, cattle lane, loaning.
Lv. (Irish), small.
Luachar, rushy place.
Lite, smallness.
Luis (Irish), drink — Lewis Well.
Luncart, circle, fold — Auchluncart.
Luncartan, dim. of luncart, fold —
Luncarty.
344
Vocabulary of Words and Meanings.
Luth, swift.
Maghach, abounding in plains —
Crirnondmogate.
Maghan, dim. of magh, plain.
Man, hill — Longmanhill.
Mannan, Little hill.
Mansaigh (Irish), settled, tame.
Moighach (Irish), consisting of plains.
Moine, moor, moss.
Mobiean, dim. of moine, moss.
Moin.se (Irish), dim. of moine, moss.
Mongach, red.
Mosaiche, moss.
Muich (Irish), mist — Muick.
Murean, dim. of mur, hill— Tech-
muiry.
Musach, dirty, black.
Neach, ghost, apparition.
Neamhaise (Irish), terrible — Newe's
Craig.
Netan, \
Nethan, I
small burn — Nettie, Nethy.
Nita/Rf
\ small burn — Nittan.
Nitkan, J '
Noadh (Irish), watching — Noth.
Og, small — Hogshillock.
Oirchios (Irish), charity.
Omh (Irish), lonesome, deserted.
Oth, broad water.
Othainn, broad river.
Our, water — Craigour.
Ouran, dim. of our, water — Ury.
Paisdeil, small — Tillypestle.
Peirse (Irish), row — Percy.
Pet or Pit, place — Pitmachie.
Petan or Pitan, dim. of pet, place.
Picean, little pointed hill.
Pioste, divided into small pieces—
Bisset.
Plaide, plot of ground — Plaidy.
Pleata, patch, piece.
Pluc, round knoll.
Pol!, burn.
Pollan, dim. of poll, burn — Powis.
Pouran, small stream — Powrie.
Raffan, tall bog grass.
Raich (Irish), elbowT, turn in a road.
Raineach, ferny.
Rabin, ~\ , _,. _
p I-point of land — The Rawn.
Raonach, plain country.
Rath, fort, town, stone circle.
Rathan, dim. of rath, stone circle.
Regh (Irish), cross, gallows — Tillery.
Riach (Irish), grey, brindled,
Riaehan, dim. of riach, grey.
Rian (Irish), road, way.
Roibeach, shaggy, bushy.
Ron, point.
Rot, ->
t> fi Y hill — Rothmaise.
Rotan,
dim. of rot and roth.
Rothan, J
Ruadhan, red berry, rowan.
Ruarach, red.
Ruigh, slope of a hill near the
base.
Ruighean, dim. of ruigh, slope —
Riggin.
Rmt, hill— The Roost.
Sac, willow.
Samh (Irish), quiet, still.
Samhachan (Irish), quiet place —
Sauchen.
Sat, -i
&^,}drove'flock-
Sead\
Sed ) (Irish)' road'
Seal, shiel, temporary residence.
Sealan, shieling, summer pasture.
Sealbhar, herd, cattle.
Sear (Irish), dark, black — Sheriff
Burn.
Seis, pleasant.
Stisan, dim. of seis, pleasant —
Cessnie.
Sgannag, small drove.
Sgata (Irish), drove.
Sgeilg (Irish), rock, hill — Skelly.
Sgeir, rock, rocky hill.
Siiheanach, abounding in knolls.
Slaibhre (Irish), cattle herds — Slowrie.
Sloe, gorge, ravine, slug, long hollow.
Slocan, dim. of sloe, long hollow.
Soghar, wet, "sour."
Spardan, dim. of sparr, hill.
Sparr, hill.
Spin, thorn, thicket.
Spinan, dim. of spin, thicket —
Spensal.
Steall, spring, ditch full of water.
Stob, pointed hill.
Vocabulary of Words and Meanings.
345
Slue, )
... , i r stump of a tree.
Sugkan, sowans, wetness — Swineden.
Sughmohr, wet — Summer Street.
Stride, court, meeting-place.
Sunnack (Irish), summit — Craig-
.shannoch.
Tain (Irish), water, burn.
Tainan, dim. of tain, burn.
Taip (Irish), heap.
Taipeackan, small heap.
Tairtbhe (Irish), circuit.
Taithleach (Irish), quietness, pleasant
Taotkal, resort.
Teasach, warm — Tassach, Tassats.
Tench, dry — Teuchar.
Teuehan, dim. of teuch, dry.
Togte, i
Toghte, ) raised UP' hiSh-
Tochar (Irish), casay.
Tre, country, place.
Trialh (Irish), hill — Throopmuir.
Trcinse (Irish), trench.
Tur, dry.
Uidli, slow river.
Uilleach, oily.
Uisgeach, watery — Wishach.
Urc, sty.
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11