J. F. Campbell Collection > Gaelic dictionary, in two parts

U R U
U T A
ance ; also, boldness, intrepidity, self-confidence. Dan
leis an urrasachd, bold ivith the confidence. — Stew. 2 Cor.
Urrasail, a. (Urras-amhuil.) Bailable, admitting bail.
Cionta urrasail, a bailable offence.
Urras.air, s. wi. An insurer.
Ursa, s. m. A bear. Lhuyd.
Ursach, o. Bearish ; full of bears.
Ursachd, s.f. Bearishness; a bearish temper.
Ursag, aig-, s.f. {Ir. ursag.) A she-bear, a little bear, a
young bear,
Ursaixn", gen. sing, of ursann.
Ursan', ain, s. m. (Ir. id.) A defender.
■ Ursaxx, 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 sideposts. — Stew. Ex. N. pi. ursain."
nean. Ursainnean do f hiondruinn, sideposts of polished
bone. — Fingalian Poem.
Ursaxx-chatha, s. m. A support in time of Avar; a bul-
wark in battle ; a chief, a champion ; the ranks of an
array in battle order. Chi mi tri ursanna chatha, / see
three champions. — Oss. Cathula. Bristear leis ursanna
chatha, the ranks of battle shall be broken by him. — Id.
Ursgar, air, s. m. {Ir. id.) A loud bawl.
Ursgartach, a. Sweeping cleanly.
iUrsgartadh, aidh, s. 771. A sweeping cleanly ; sweepstakes.
Ursgeul. -sgeil, or -sgeoil, s. 7«. A tale, fable, or romance ;
a novel ; a tale of later times, a modern tale.
■ IUrsgeulachd, s.f. A tale of modern times; a romance.
- 'Ursgevlaiche, s. >n. A romancer; one who relates tales
' of modern times.
Ur-shxeachd, s. 7n. Frosh snow, new-laid snow. Mar iir-
shneachd air bharraibh gheug, like new-laid snow on the
branches. — Ardin.
Urspeal, v. a. Cut or mow down quickly.
TJrspealach, a. Cutting or mowing down quickly.
Urspealachd, s.f. The process of cutting or mowing
down.
.Urspealaiche, s. m. One who cuts or mows down; a de-
I stroyer.
Ursuixx. See Ursaxx.
t Ursul, uil, s. m. {Ir. id.) A pair of tongs.
I-RUISG, s.m. {perhaps mr-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 the satyrs
ofthe ancients ; but witliout reason, since they had no disposition,
nor any point of character in common, excepting a fondness for so-
htude, «hicli the iiruixg 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 was a fearful intruder
on milkmaids, who made regular libations of radk or cream to charm
him off, or to procure his fevour. lie 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 ffifted. He is said
I to have been a jolly personable being, with a broad blue bonnet,
f i flowing yellow hair, and a long walking-staff. Ever}- manor-house
had its iiruisg : and in the kitchen, close by the fire, was a seat which
was left unoccupied for him. The house of a proprietor on tiie
banks of the Tay is, even at this day, believed to have been haunted
byOiis sprite, and a particular apartment therein has been for cen-
turies called scimmr B/iriinaidh, Brownie's room. When irritated
through neglect or disrespectful treatment, he would not hesitate to
become w,-»titonly mischievous. He was, notwithstanding, rather
pinly and good-natured than formidable. Though, on the whole, a
la2y, lounging hobgoblin, he would often bestir himself in behalf of
\\?* ^^° ""^^'■**°°'l ^^ humours, and suited themselves thereto
^' nen in this mood, he was known to perform many arduous ex-
585
ploits in kitchen, bam, and stable, {nee cemitur ulli,) with marvel-
lous precision and rapidity. These kind turns were done without
bribe, fee, or reward ; for the ofl'er of any one of these would banish
him forever. Kind treatment was all that he wished for; and it
never failed to procure his favour.
In the northern parts of Scotland the ùruisg's disposition was more
mercenary. Brand, in Ins description of Zetland, observes, that " not
above forty or fifty years ago almost ever)' family had a broicnie, or
evil spirit so called, which sen-ed them, to which they gave a sacri-
fice for his service ; a.s when they churned their milk, they took a
part thereof, and sprinkled every corner of the house with it for
Brownie's use : likewise, when they brewed, they had a stone which
tliey called Broivnin's stane, wherein there was a little hole, into
which they poured some wort for a sacrifice to Brownie. They also
had stacks of corn which they called Brownie's stacks, which though
they were not bound with straw ropes, or any way fenced as other
stacks used to be, yet the greatest storm of wind was not able to
blow away straw ofl'them."
The broivnies seldom discoursed with man, but they held frequent
and affectionate converse with one another. They 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 ofthe Highlands, Peallaidu an spfiit, Slochd-
aill a chiiirt, and Brvxaidh '« easain, were names of note at those
congresses ; and they still live in legends which continue to amuse
old age and infancy.
UnuiSGEACH, 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.y. Power; facility.
UsAiD, s.f. {Ir. id.) Use.
UsGADu, aidh, s. m. {Ir. id.) Goose-grease.
UsGAR, air, and usgarach, s. m. {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-
graichean, he took with him ornaments. — Steic.Jtid. D.pl.
usgraichibh. Le usgraichibh, ivith jewels. — Steiu. Song Sol.
UsGARACii, aich, s. m. Jewellery.
UsGARAicHE, s. m. A jeweller.
UsGARAiDii, s.f. Jewellery.
UsG.^R-BHRAGiiAD, s. w. A necklace ; a jewel for the neck.
— Macfar. Voc.
Usgar-laimhe, s. m. A bracelet; a jewel for the hand or
wrist. — Macfar. Voc.
UsGAR-iiHEUR, s. vi. A jewelled ring.
UsGRAicHEAX. See Usgar.
UsGRAIDII. See UsGAKAIDII.
t UsLAixx, s.f. {Ir. id.) Play, sport. — Shaw.
t UsLAixxEACH, a. {Ir.id.) Cheerful, brisk, merry ; nim-
ble. — Shaiv. Gu h-uslainneach, cheerfully.
UsPAG, aig, s.f. {Ir. id.) A pang ; sudden pain. N. pi.
uspagan.
UsPAGACii, a. Causing pangs, or sudden pains.
UsPAN, ain, s. m. {Ir. id.) A huge, a shapeless lump or
heap — {Macfar. Voc); in derision, a clumsy fellov/.
UsPAiRX, s.f. Emulation; strife, struggle, contention. — ■
Macfar. Voc.
UsPAiRXE.vCH, a. {Ir.id.) Emulous; causing emulation ;
striving, straggling.
Usp.-iiRXEACHD, s.y. {Ir.id.) Emulation; the practice of
emulation; strife, contention.
UsPAiRxicHE, s. m. An emulous person.
UsuiREACUD, s.f. {Ir. id.) Usury.
Utag, aig, s.f. {Dan. utak, a reproof.) A shove, a push,
a jostle ; strife, confusion, uproar.
4 F