Blair Collection > Gaelic dictionary, in two parts

U R U
ance ; also, boldness, intrepidity, self-confidence. Dan
leis an nirasachd, bold with the conjidence. — Steiv. 2 Cor.
UiiiiASAii., a. (Urras-amluiil.) Bailable, admitting bail.
Cionta urrasail, a bailable offence.
Uruasair, s. TO. An insurer.
Ursa, s. m. A bear. Lhmjd.
UusACii, «. Bearish; fnll of bears.
Ursachh, s.y. Bcarishncss; a bearish temper.
Ursag, aii;, s. /. (/'■• ursag.) A she-bear, a little bear, a
young bear.
Ursaixn, gen. sing, of ursann.
Ursan, ain, s. vi. {Ir. id.) A defender.
Ursaxn, ainn, s. m. {Ir. ursain.) The sidepost of a door —
(Macfar. Voc.) ; a support, a prop, a pillar. Air an da
ursainn, on the two sidcposts. — Stew. Ex. N. pi. ursuin-
nean. Ursainnean do f iiiondrninn, sideposts of polished
bone. — Fingalian Poem.
Ursaxn-chatha, s. in. A support in time of war; a bul-
wark in battle; a chief, a champion; the ranks of an
army in battle order. Chi mi tri ursanna chatha, / see
three champions. — Oss. Catkula. Bristear leis ursanna
chatha, the ranks of battle shall be broken bij him. — Id.
Ursgak, air, s. m. {Ir. id.) A loud bawl.
Ursgautacii, a. Sweeping cleanly.
Ursgartadh, aidh, s. m. A sweeping cleanly ; sweepstakes.
Ursgeul, -sgeil, or -sgeoil, s. m. A tale, fable, or romance ;
a novel ; a tale of later times, a modern tale.
Ursgeulachd, s.y. A tale of modern times ; a romance.
Ursgeulaiche, s. 7ft. A romancer; one who relates tales
of modern times.
Ur-siixeachd, s. m. Fresh snow, new-laid snow. Mar ùr-
shneachd air bharraibh gheug, like new-laid s>iow on the
branches. — A rdin.
Urspeal, v. a. Cut or mow down quickly.
Urspealacii, a. Cutting or mowing down quickly.
Urspealaciid, s.f. The process of cutting or mowing
down.
Urspealaiche, s. m. One who cuts or mows down; a de-
stroyer.
Ursuixx. See Ursaxx.
\ Ursi'l, uil, s. m. {Ir. id.) A pair of tongs.
Cruisg, s. m. {perhaps urr-uisge.) A brownie, or a being
who was supposed to haunt lonely dells, moorland lakes,
and waterfalls. He seems to have had the qualities of
man and spirit curiously commingled.
Some have compared this class of imaginary beings to die satyrs
of the ancients; but without reason, since they had no disposition,
nor any point of character in common, excepting a fondness tor so-
litude, which the iiniisg possessed only at certain seasons of the year.
About the end of harvest he became more sociable, and hovered
about farm-yards, stables, and cattle-houses. He had a particular
fondness for the products of the dairj', and wa.s a fearful intruder
on milkmaids, who made regular libations of milk or cream to charm
him off, or to procure his favour. He could be seen only by those
who had the second-sight ; yet I have heard of instances where he
made himself visible to persons who were not so gifted. He is said
to have been a jolly personable being, with a broad blue bonnet,
flowing yellow hair, and a long walking-staff. Every manor-house
had its iV«;\g : and in the kitchen, close by the fire, was a seat which
was left unoccupied for him. The house of a proprietor on the
banks of the Tay is, even at this day, believed to have been haunted
by this sprite, and a particular apartment therein has been for cen-
turies called stiimar Bhriwuidh, Brownie's room. \Mien irritated
through neglect or disrespectful treatment, he would not hesitate to
become wantonly mischievous. He was, notwithstanding, rather
gainly and good-natured than formidable. Though, on the whole, a
lazy, lounging hobgoblin, he would often bestir himself in behalf of
those who understood his humours, and suited themselves thereto.
When in this mood, he was known to perform many arduous ex-
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ploits in kitchen, barn, and stable, {ncc ccrnilur ulli,) with marvel-
lous precision and rapidity. Tliese kind turns were done without
bribe, fee, or reward ; for the offer of any one of these would banish
him for ever. Kind treatment was all that he wished for ; and it
never failed to procure his favour.
In the northern parts of Scotland the vriiisg's disposition was more
mercenary. Brand, in his description of Zetland, observes, that " not
above forty or fifty years ago almost every family had a bruwnic, or
evil sjiirit so called, which served them, to which they gave a sacri-
fice for his service ; as when they churned their milk, they took a
l)art thereof, and sjirinkled every corner of the house with it for
lirowiiif's use : likewise, when they brewed, they had a stone which
they called Bntwnu's stum; wherein there was a little hole, into
which tliey jioured some wort for a sacrifice to Brownie. Tliey also
had slacks of corn which they called Broionie's stacks, which though
they were not bound with straw ropes, or any way fenced as other
stacks used to be, yet tlie greatest storm of wind was not able to
blow away straw off them."
Tlie brownies seldom discoursed with man, but they held frequent
and affectionate converse with one another. Tliey had their general
assemblies too ; and on these occasions they commonly selected for
their rendezvous the rocky recesses of some remote torrent, whence
their loud voices, mingling with the water's roar, carried to the ears
of wondering superstition detached parts of their unearthly colloquies.
In a certain district of the Highlands, Peallaidh an s/jiu>, Slochd-
AiLL a chidrt, and Bruxaidh 'n casain, were names of note at those
congresses ; and they still live in legends which continue to amuse
old age and infancy.
Uruisgeacii, a. Like a brownie; haunted by brownies.
t Us, s. m. {Ir. id.) News ; a story.
UsA, UsADii, {for fhusa), com. and sup. of furas. Easier,
easiest. Is usa radh na chur an gniomh, it is easier said
than done.
UsACiiD, s. ,/. Power; facility.
UsAiD, s.f. {Ir. id.) Use.
Usgadh, aidh, s. m. {Ir. id.) Goose-grease.
UsGAR, air, and usgarach, s. ??J. {Ir. id.) A jewel, a pearl;
an ornament, a necklace. Usgar do 'n or, an ornament of
gold. — Stew. Pro. N. pi. usgraichean. Thug e leis us-
sjraichean, he took with him ornaments. — Stew.Jud. D.pl.
usgraichibh. Le usgraichibh, ivith jewels. — Stew. Song Sol.
Usgaracii, aich, s. m. Jewellery.
UsGAR.ViciiE, s. m. A jeweller.
UsGARAiDH, s.y. Jewellery.
Usgar-bhraghad, s. m. A necklace ; a jewel for the neck.
— Macfar. Voc.
UsGAU-LAiMHE, s. m. A bracelet; a jewel for the hand or
wrist. — Macfar. Voc.
UsGAR-MiiEUR, s. m. A jewclled ring.
USGRAICHEAX. See USGAU.
USGRAIDH. See USGARAIDII.
t UsLAixx, s./. {Ir.id.)' Play, sport. — Shaw.
t UsLAiXNEACH, a. {Ir.id.) Cheerful, brisk, merry ; nim-
ble. — Shaw. Gu h-uslainneach, cheerfully.
UsPAG, aig, s./. {Ir.id.) A pang ; sudden pain. N. pi.
uspagan.
UsPAGACH, a. Causing pangs, or sudden pains.
UsPAX, ain, s. m. {Ir. id.) A huge, a shapeless lump or
heap — {Macfar. Voc.) ; in derision, a clumsy fellow.
UsPAiRX, s.f. Emulation; strife, struggle, contention. —
Macfar. Voc.
UsPAiRXEACii, n. {Ir.id.) Emulous; causing emulation ;
striving, struggling.
UsPAiKXEACHD, s./. {Ir.id.) Emulation ; the practice of
emulation ; strife, contention.
UsPAiRNicHE, s. 7«. An emulous person.
UsiiUEACHD, s.f. {Ir. id.) Usury.
Utag, aig, s.f. {Ban. utak, o reproof) A shove, a push,
a jostle; strife, confusion, uproar.
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