Image: Robert A. Rankin, source: https://mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Rankin/
Our newsletter refers to Tòmas’ blog post on the life and work of mathematician and Gaelic scholar, Robert A. Rankin, Rob A. MacFhraing (1915-2001), a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Glasgow.
The post is currently available only in Gaelic: www.faclair.ac.uk/blog/377/gd
#gaidhlig
Dealbh: Rob A. MacFhraing (Robert A. Rankin), tùs na deilbh an seo: https://mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Rankin/
Thug a’ chuairt-litir againn iomradh air bloga Thòmais, mu bheatha is sgoilearachd Roib A. MhicFhraing a bha na Ollamh Matamataig ann an Oilthigh Ghlaschu.
Leughaibh am bloga an seo: www.faclair.ac.uk/blog/377/gd
An robh sibhse eòlach air an Ollamh inntinneach seo?
#gàidhlig #faclair #rannsachadh
Image: Great black-backed gulls nesting in Sweden. Bengt Nyman, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.
Farspag, arspag, farspach
New entry, referring to the lesser & great black-backed gull. You’ll notice there are 3 headwords. These derive from the Old Norse svart-bakr. In Scots, especially in Shetland, there are cognates ‘swabie’ and ‘swartback’.
More here: www.faclair.ac.uk/entries/70
#faclair
Farspagan a’ neadachadh san t-Suain. Le Bengt Nyman – CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49063912
Farspag, arspag, farspach
Inntreadh ùr! Thàinig seo bhon Lochlainnis ‘svart-bakr’. Gheibhear am facal co-dhàimheach ‘swabie’ (agus ‘swartback’) ann am Beurla Ghallta – gu sònraichte ann an Sealtainn.
Tuilleadh an seo: www.faclair.ac.uk/entries/70
#gàidhlig #gaidhlig #faclair #lexicography
In this month’s blog, Susan says more about bog pine.
This was called several things in Gaelic, including ‘giuthas coinnle’ (candle pine) because it gave good light.
www.faclair.ac.uk/blog/378/gd
#Gaelic #pine #bogpine #peatland
Ann am brath-bloga na mìos sa, tha Susan ag innse barrachd mu ghiuthas às a’ mhòintich.
Am measg nam faclan a bha air bha ‘giuthas coinnle’ leis gun dèanadh e deagh sholas nuair a bhite ga losgadh.
www.faclair.ac.uk/blog/378/gd
#giuthas #mòinteach #Gàidhlig
Spring 2026 newsletter
Read the latest news from the Faclair na Gàidhlig team, including new entries and blogs, an upcoming research trip, and preparations for Rannsachadh na Gàidhlig 2026!
Happy Easter!
Newsletter: sway.cloud.microsoft/VnDqvsInAjmb...
#gàidhlig #gaidhlig #faclair #lexicography
Cuairt-litir an Earraich 2026
Leugaibh na naidheachdan as ùire againn, air inntridhean is blogaichean ùra, turas rannsachaidh a dh’Èirinn agus naidheachd air Rannsachadh na Gàidhlig 2026.
Càisg shona dhuibh!
Cuairt-litir: sway.cloud.microsoft/VnDqvsInAjmb...
#gàidhlig #gaidhlig #faclair
Image with facts and figures about the DOST resource.
Our entries for Faclair na Gàidhlig often reveal semantic parallels with Scots. You can search DOST on the Dictionars o the Scots Leid (DSL) website: dsl.ac.uk
Read more about Faclair na Gàidhlig’s beginnings following the publication of DOST, here: www.faclair.ac.uk/blog/366/gd
#gaidhlig #scots
Dealbh a' mìneachadh ghoireis DOST.
Tha na h-inntridhean againn tric a’ nochdadh cheanglaichean le Albais. Nach toir sibh sùil Dictionars o the Scots Leid (DSL) agus faclair DOST?: dsl.ac.uk
Leughaibh barrachd mun dàimh eachdraidheil eadar DOST agus Faclair na Gàidhlig: www.faclair.ac.uk/blog/366/gd
#gàidhlig #faclair #scots #albais
Speuran bagarrach, no 'ealtainn' ghruamach. ‘Stormy Sky’ le Georgio fo chead CC BY 2.0. https://openverse.org/image/0b4a09a3-33a5-48d9-8bb7-f14d688c3a99?q=stormy+sky&p=14
1 EALT, EALTAINN ☁️🌧️
Inntreadh ùr! A’ ciallachadh nan speuran san eisimpleir seo:
𝘢𝟣𝟪𝟪𝟨 𝘊𝘭𝘢̀𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘯𝘢𝘮 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘯 (𝟣𝟫𝟥𝟩) 𝟣𝟨𝟧
Ach feuch! ’s glé ghann a fhuair sinn | Air falbh á sealladh Shuainneart, | Nuair chìnn an ealtainn gruamach, | ’S a’ mhuir air tuar glé fheargach!
www.faclair.ac.uk/entries/63
Oranges and lemons. "Dailyshoot 2013~ Still Life. Oranges and Lemons!" by Leshaines123 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
ORAINSEAR ~ an orange
1902 Mac-Talla XI No. 10. 78
Na balaich bheaga le’m pòcannan làn de ùbhlan no de dh’ “oraindseirean”.
[The small boys with their pockets full of apples and “oranges”.]
Orainsear is likely a loan word from Scots ‘oranger’.
www.faclair.ac.uk/entries/24
#gaidhlig #loanwords
Orainsearan is liomaidean. "Dailyshoot 2013~ Still Life. Oranges and Lemons!" le Leshaines123 le cead CC BY 2.0.
ORAINSEAR
1902 Mac-Talla XI No. 10. 78
Na balaich bheaga le’m pòcannan làn de ùbhlan no de dh’ “oraindseirean”.
Tha e coltach gur e facal-iasaid a th’ ann an orainsear, bhon Bheurla Ghallta ‘oranger’.
Tuilleadh orainsearan an seo: www.faclair.ac.uk/entries/24
#gàidhlig #faclair #gachlatha
Aspen trees. Image credit: Coconino NF Photography (CC BY-SA 2.0): https://www.flickr.com/photos/42034606@N05/3971494661
CRITHEANN ~ aspen
a1729 Sìleas na Ceapaich (1972) 72
Cha robh do dhàimh ris a’ chritheann | Na do dhligheadh ris an fheàrna.
[You had no kinship with the aspen, owed no bonds to the alder.]
Read more about the forms and senses of Critheann here:
www.faclair.ac.uk/entries/5
#gaidhlig #faclair
Craobhan crithinn. An dealbh le Coconino NF Photography (CC BY-SA 2.0): https://www.flickr.com/photos/42034606@N05/3971494661
CRITHEANN
a1729 Sìleas na Ceapaich (1972) 72
Cha robh do dhàimh ris a’ chritheann | Na do dhligheadh ris an fheàrna.
A rèir Shìleas, cha robh droch fheartan a’ chrithinn aig Alasdair Dubh Ghleanna Garadh (?–1721). Tha tuilleadh mun chritheann an seo: www.faclair.ac.uk/entries/5
#gàidhlig #faclair
Image: ‘Gamekeeper’ in the James Gardiner Collection, in public domain (CC0 1.0).
Geamair, in the song 'Guma slàn do na fearaibh' by Dòmhnall Phàil:
’N uair a théid mi do ’n mhunadh, | A mach le mo ghunna, | Cha bhi geamair no duine | ’G am chur air an ruaig.
When I go to the moor, | Out with my gun, | No gamekeeper or anyone | Will send me packing.
faclair.ac.uk/entries/38
Tuairisgeul na deilbh: ‘Geamair’ ann an Cruinneachadh James Gardiner, cead CC0 1.0.
Geamair
'S ann bho Bhàideanach a lorgar 'geamair' airson a' chiad uair ann an clò, san òran Guma slàn do na fearaibh, le Dòmhnall Phàil:
’N uair a théid mi do ’n mhunadh, | A mach le mo ghunna, | Cha bhi geamair no duine | ’G am chur air an ruaig.
Inntreadh geamair: faclair.ac.uk/entries/38
Photo of Ola Szczesnowicz, with her name, title of 'Editor' and Faclair na Gàidhlig's logo in blue.
Ola is one of our team of Editors at Faclair na Gàidhlig, with responsibility for digital systems.
“I learn something new every day, and not only about the language itself but also about history, literature, heritage and many other topics.”
#gaidhlig #faclair #team #lexicographer #linguist #team
Dealbh air Ola Szczesnowicz, le a h-ainm, tiotal 'Deasaiche' agus suaicheantas Faclair na Gàidhlig ann an dath liath.
Tha Ola na Deasaiche, le uallach siostaman didseatach. Às a’ Phòlainn, tha ùidh aice ann an cànanachas agus sa Ghàidhlig:
“Bidh mi ag ionnsachadh rudeigin ùr gach latha, agus chan ann mun chànan fhèin ach cuideachd mu eachdraidh, litreachas, dualchas agus iomadh cuspair eile.”
#sgioba #gaidhlig
Ùr air a’ bhloga! 🦉🦉✨
www.faclair.ac.uk/blog/377/gd
Tha Tòmas a’ coimhead air beatha is sgoilearachd Roib A. MhicFhraing (Robert Alexander Rankin, 1915–2001) a bha na Ollamh Matamataig ann an Oilthigh Ghlaschu. Tha an rannsachadh aige air Òran na Comhachaig air a bhith gu math feumail dhuinn.
Image: European larch (Larix decidua). Credit: Peter O’Connor / anemoneprojectors is (CC BY-SA 2.0). https://www.flickr.com/photos/58414938@N00/4571515930
LÀRAG, LEARAG
1913 Lost Pibroch 22
Bha boladh bog nan learag anns an fhàileadh agus bha Gleann Aora a’ bristeadh fo bhlàth aig brosnuchadh an Earraich.
[The soft scent of the larches was in the air and Glenaray was breaking into bloom at the encouragement of Spring.]
www.faclair.ac.uk/entries/19
Dealbh: An Làrag Eòrpach (Larix decidua). Creideas: Peter O’Connor / anemoneprojectors is (CC BY-SA 2.0). https://www.flickr.com/photos/58414938@N00/4571515930
LÀRAG, LEARAG
1913 Lost Pibroch 22
Bha boladh bog nan learag anns an fhàileadh agus bha Gleann Aora a’ bristeadh fo bhlàth aig brosnuchadh an Earraich.
Tuilleadh air craobh agus fiodh an learaig an seo:
www.faclair.ac.uk/entries/19
#SeachdainNaGaidhlig #gàidhlig #faclair #craobh #larch #Earrach
‘Birnbaum’ (= Pear tree) (1903), Gustav Klimt. In the public domain: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gustav_Klimt_-_Pear_Tree_-_BR66.4_-_Busch%E2%80%93Reisinger_Museum.jpg
PEUR ~ Pear tree
a1707 Orain Iain Luim (1964) 88
Rinn sibh buailtean d’ur bàthaibh | Ann an gàrradh nam peur.
[You made folds for your cows in the garden of the pear trees]
Read more about Peur here: www.faclair.ac.uk/entries/25
#SeachdainNaGaidhlig #WorldGaelicWeek2026 #gaidhlig #gaelicpoetry
‘Birnbaum’ (= Craobh-pheur) (1903), Gustav Klimt. San àrainn phoblaic: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gustav_Klimt_-_Pear_Tree_-_BR66.4_-_Busch%E2%80%93Reisinger_Museum.jpg
PEUR
a1707 Orain Iain Luim (1964) 88
Rinn sibh buailtean d’ur bàthaibh | Ann an gàrradh nam peur.
Bha a’ Cheapaich ainmeil airson pheuran, mar a tha an t-inntreadh againn ag innse: www.faclair.ac.uk/entries/25
#SeachdainNaGaidhlig #gàidhlig #gaidhlig #faclair #iainlom #bardachd #lexicography
‘The Starry Night’ (1889), Vincent Van Gogh. In the public domain: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Van_Gogh_-_Starry_Night_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
RIONNAGACH ~ starry
a1881 Nicolson Proverbs 68
Oidhche rionnagach, réulach, gun turadh, gun ghaoith, gun uisge.
[A starry, bespangled night, not dry, windy or wet]
Read our starry entry here: www.faclair.ac.uk/entries/51
#SeachdainNaGaidhlig #WorldGaelicWeek2026 #gaidhlig #faclair #rionnag
‘The Starry Night’ (1889), Vincent Van Gogh. San àrainn phoblaich: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Van_Gogh_-_Starry_Night_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
RIONNAGACH
a1881 Nicolson Proverbs 68
Oidhche rionnagach, réulach, gun turadh, gun ghaoith, gun uisge.
Abair sealladh brèagha! Tha tuilleadh ri fhaicinn an seo: www.faclair.ac.uk/entries/51
#SeachdainNaGaidhlig #gàidhlig #faclair #rionnag #reultan
Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus). Creideas: Meneer Zjeroen (Creative Commons CC BY 2.0). https://www.flickr.com/photos/75467759@N00/14677000256
IALTAG ~ A bat
1881 Nicolson Proverbs 364
Thàinig ialtag a steach, bidh frasan a mach air ball.
[A bat has come inside, showers will be outside soon.]
Did you know that bats were observed to predict the weather? - www.faclair.ac.uk/entries/52
#SeachdainNaGaidhlig #WorldGaelicWeek2026 #bat
Meanbh-ialtag coitcheann (Pipistrellus pipistrellus). Creideas: Meneer Zjeroen (Creative Commons CC BY 2.0). https://www.flickr.com/photos/75467759@N00/14677000256
IALTAG
1881 Nicolson Proverbs 364
Thàinig ialtag a steach, bidh frasan a mach air ball.
Sean-fhacal gu math iomchaidh airson na mìos seo! Leughaibh tuilleadh mun ialtag, dialtag, ealtag no dealtag an seo:
www.faclair.ac.uk/entries/52
#SeachdainNaGaidhlig #gàidhlig #faclair #seanfhacal #ialtag
Seachdain na Gàidhlig
Ainmean-àite ann an abairtean Gàidhlig
"Tha dà thaobh air a' Mhaoil agus seachd seallaidhean dhith"
"There are two sides of the Mull and seven different views of it"
Maol Chinn Tìre
buff.ly/Vyoyh1o
#AinmÀite #Gàidhlig #SeachdainNaGàidhlig2026 #SnG2026 #CleachdINoCaillI
A rowan tree full of berries. Credit: Jonathon Kington (Creative Commons BY-SA 2.0). https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2515052
CAORANN ~ The rowan tree
1768 MAC-AN-T-SAOIR Orain Ghaidhealach 33
Srath nan caochan ’na dhosaibh caorain.
[The srath of streamlets is a mass of rowan clumps]
Read more about the Caorann’s beauty here: www.faclair.ac.uk/entries/4
#SeachdainNaGaidhlig #WorldGaelicWeek2026 #rowan #donnchadhban