Placenames of the Isle of Skye: | | Meaning: |
DIALLAID, DIOLLAID. | | Saddle, a ridge to the north of Sgurr nan Gobhar. |
DIANAVAIG. | | shelter, refuge bay, dion vik. |
DORUS, DORUIS, AN. | | The door, a pass between Sgurr a 'Ghreadaidh and Sgurr a'Mhadaidh said to have been used specially by the Macleods. |
DROCHAID. | | A bridge. |
DRUIM.
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A ridge, in connection with place names.
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DRUIM-EADAR-DA-CHOIRS.
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A ridge between two corries-Coire na Creiche.
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DRUIM NA RAMH, RAIMH, NAN RAMH.
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The ridge of the wood or tree roots. Rises between Coruisk and Harta Corrie.
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DRUMHAIN.
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Ridge of the hinds.
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DRYNOCH, DRYNIOCK, DRIOGHNEACH.
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Place of the thorns.
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DUIRINISH.
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Dere or deer-ness, deerpromontory. One of the four districts in the north of Skye, the others being, Minginish, Trotternish and Vaternish.
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DUNAN.
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The little hill or fort, a hillock.
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DUN.
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A stronghold. There are over fifty duns in Skye.
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DUNANS.
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The little duns. To the south of Flodigarry.
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DUNTULM, DUN-TUILM, DUNTOLM.
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The fort or castle on the round hillock or isolated hill; numerous spellings. The remains of the ancient seat of the Macdonalds now in ruins.
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DUNVEGAN.
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The variants of this name existing and found in old titles are very numerous. As might be expected, various etymologies have been found, such as, 'Dun Beagan,' the fort of the few, or little fort; 'Dun Viking,' the fort of the Viking or sea rover, etc. Dunvegan Castle is situated near the terminus of Loch Fallort, six miles from the main sea; also called Loch Dunvegan.
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EAS.
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A waterfall.
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EAS MOR.
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The great waterfall. It is on the Alit Coire na Banachdich above Glen Brittle Lodge.
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EDINBANE, EDINBAIN, EDDIN-BAIN.
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The fair face or surface, from natural features of the district which has a fine, sunny exposure.
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EILEAN, sometimes OILEAN.
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Island, isle, islet.
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ELGOL, ELGOLL, ELGALL, EALAGHOLLA, EALLAGHOLLO, ELLIGHUIL, ELLIGUIL.
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Noble dale.
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EORABUS.
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Shore farm, a narrow low tongue of land, a narrow ridge of earth and stones, a long sandy promontory, a shore or boundary.
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EYNORD, EYNORT, ENARD.
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Island sea-firth.
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EYRE, EYRAR, EYRR, ORE.
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A gravelly beach, shore or boundary.
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FAS.
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A homestead, residence, a level piece of ground suitable for resting.
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FASACH.
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The desert; also grassy headland of a ploughed field, forest, uncultivated land.
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FEADAN, AM.
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The rock-pipe, waterpipe, small cascade; opening in a wall or even a narrow glen.
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FIACAL, FIACAILL A BHASADAIR.
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The tooth, mountain edge, or peak of the Executioner.
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FIACLAN DEARG, FIACLAN FUAR.
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Red teeth, cold teeth; small boulders on the face of a cliff or precipice of Marsco; these have been named 'Marscoite'; here the estates of Macdonald, Macleod, and Mackinnon once met and converged, and the respective chiefs of these leading clans used to meet there, and drink healths, each standing on his own estate or property. |
FIDEAN, NA FIDEIN. | |
The green islets or spots uncovered at high tide.
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FIONN CHOIRE.
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White, fair, or light corry. Between Bruach na Frithe and Sgurr a'Bhasteir.
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FIREACH CLACH, CLACHACH.
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Stony moor.
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FLADA, FLADDA, FLADDER, BLADDA, PHLADDA, HADAY.
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Many other spellings. Flat island.
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FLODDA.
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Float island, or ship island.
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FLODIGARRY, FLODGERY.
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The floating enclosure or place. Very fertile and beautiful. Near Staffin. Pron. Flo-digary.
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GARADUBH, GARADH DUBH.
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Black dyke or ridge.
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GARBH BHEINN.
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The rough or wild mountain. North of Blaven.
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GARBH CHOIRE.
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Rough or wild corry, between Sgurr Dubh and Garsbheinn.
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GARRAHAN, GEARRDHAN, GEARRAIDHEAN.
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Grazing place for cattle.
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GARRIE, GARRY.
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Norse, a farm, generally in terminations.
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GARSBHEINN.
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mount. Not known. Possibly the echoing mountain. Pron. Garsven. Southern terminus of the Main Ridge of the Coolins.
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GLAIC AN DUBHAIR.
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Hollow of the shade or darkness.
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GLAIC-GLUMAGACH.
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The hollow of pools. Near Broadford.
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GLAIS BHEALACH.
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The Green Pass. At Beinn Dearg Mor.
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GLAIS-BHEINN NAM FIADH.
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The green mount of the deer. Near Loch Eynort.
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GLAMAIG, GLAMAG.
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The greedy woman or female. Conical peak opposite Sligachan.
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GLAS-BHEINN.
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Green mount, In Strath.
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GLEANN.
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A glen.
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GLEANN BREATAL, BRETILL, GLEN BRITTLE.
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Meaning not found.
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GLUMAIG.
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The deep pool.
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GNOGAN, GNOGANE, GROGAIRE, AN CNOMHAG, CNOMHAGAN, CNOMHAGAG.
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The large whelk, periwinkle, or buckie.
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GRESHERNISH, GRESHORNISH.
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Grice or pig's ness.
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HABOST, HABOIST, THABOST.
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Sloping farm or homestead, or the dwelling on the slope, high town.
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HALIBHAL, HALIVAL, HALLIVAILS, HEALAVAL, HELVELS.
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The fell with ridge of terraces. Compare Helaval.
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HARLOSH.
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Buck tail. A point on Loch Bracadale.
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HARPORT, HERPORT.
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Goat fiord.
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HARTA CORBY or COIRE THARTA, HART-O-CORBY.
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The corry of the hart, in the Cuillins.
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HESKEVAL.
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The fell of the rocky ridge.
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HELAVAL, HOLBHAM, HELVEL.
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Flagstone fell. There are two Helavals with green flat summits, familiarly known as 'Macleods Tables.'
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HOLM, HOLME, HOLMS, HOLLOW
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The holm, or small island in a bay or river, low-lying land; also an isolated hill.
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HORNISCO.
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The place of eagles.
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IASGAIR.
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The fisher.
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IDRIGAL, IDRIGIL, IORIGLE, UADRIGILL.
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Outer hill, cleft, or gully.
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INBHIR, AN IONBHAR.
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The confluence with the sea. An estuary.
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INIS, INNIs.
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An island; it is now obsolete and has been replaced by eilean.
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KILBRIDE, KILBRIDYE, KILBRY.
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Saint Bridget's cell or church.
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KILMUIR.
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St. Mary's cell or church, formerly named or called Kilmaluag.
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KINGSBURGH, KINGSBURROW, KISBURGH, etc.
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Toll-town.
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KIRKABOST, KIRKIBOST.
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Churchplace at the home farm or town.
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KYLEAKIN, KEILLAKIN.
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A Cunn's strait or kyle. (?) Hakon.
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LAGAN, LAGGAN.
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Little hollow.
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LAPLACH, LAPACH, LABACH.
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A swampy or boggy place.
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LEAC.
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A ledge of rock jutting out from the foot or base of a cliff on the foreshore and covered by the sea at flood-tide.
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LEACANN.
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The broad side of a hill, a broad slope, steep shelving ground, also a steep green surface.
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LEACACH.
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Having sheets of rock piled flat over each other.
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LEATHAD.
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A slope or declivity.
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LEITIR, LEITER, AN LETH TIR.
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A sloping hill on one side, and glen or plain, half the land cut away.
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LIAN.
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A meadow.
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LOCH, LAKE.
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Arm of the sea. According to Celtic custom the inland lochs are named after the stream that flows through or from the same, the stream being the primary cause of their existence, consequently the older.
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LOCH AN FHIR BHALLAICH, LOCHAN.
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Loch or little loch of the spotted or marked man (pock-marked)? Just below Coire Lagan.
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LOCH NA H-AIRDE.
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Little loch of the aird, height, or promontory. At Rudh'an Dunain.
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LOCH FADD, FAD, FADA, LOCHAFADA.
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The long loch or lochs. Below Storr and Quiraing.
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LOCH HASCO.
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The loch of the high place. Below Quiraing, has no outlet, and is very deep and clear.
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LOCH LANGAIG.
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Long-bay loch. Below Leac na Form.
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LOCH LEATHANN.
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The broad loch; below Storr and famed for its trout.
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LOCH SLAPIN, SLEIPPAN, SLAOPAIN.
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The sluggish, muddy loch.
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LOCH SLIGACHAN.
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Loch of the shells, or shelly land or place.
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LON.
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A wet meadow or marsh.
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LOTH COIRE.
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Loft corry. A continuation of Harta Corry.
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LUIB.
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The bend or corner or little glen.
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MAM, MAAM.
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Rounded hill.
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MACLEOD'S MAIDENS.
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The name given in English to certain upstanding rocks in the sea, south of Duirinish, near Idrigil. Macleod's Tables are to the north.
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MARSCO, MARSCOW.
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Sea-gull rock. The pyramidal mountain in Glen Sligachan.
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MEALL.
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A heap or almost shapeless hill.
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MEALL NA CUILCE.
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Hillock of the reeds, near Coruisk.
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MEALL NA SUIREANACH.
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The hillock, height, or table of the maiden or nymph.
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MINGINISH.
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There are some thirty different spellings. The great promontory.
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MOL, MOLL, MAL, MUL.
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Shingly or pebbly beach.
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PABBA, PABBAY, PAPA.
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Father (monk or priest) island.
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PORT NAN LONG.
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The port or harbour of the ships. Famous Skye tweed made here. Near Loch Harport.
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PORTREE, PORTROI, PORTRY.
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The king's port or harbour. The Metropolis of Skye.
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QUIRAING, CUIRAING.
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The round fold or pen; also given as the recess or pit of the row or range of rock pillars. Undoubtedly the most marvellous rock scenery in all Britain. Near the northern tip of Skye.
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RAASAY.
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Roe-isle or roe-ridge-isle. Opposite Portree.
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RHUDUNAN. RHUEDUNAN, RUDHAN-UNAIN.
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The point or promontory at the little hill.
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ROMASDAL, ROMASDAIL, ROMISDALE.
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Giant or giant's dale.
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RONA.
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Rough or rocky isle.
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RUADH STAC.
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Red stack; case of adjective preceding noun, and intensifying meaning, a stack of redness.
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RUAMAN, RUDH' AMAN.
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River point or promontory.
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RUDHA, RUGHA, RUTHA.
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A point or promontory.
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RUDH' AN DUNAN, DUNAIN.
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Dunan, or the little hill, point. In Soay Sound. There is a dun or fort here in ruins.
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RUDHA NA H-AIRDE.
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Point of the height.
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RUDHA NA H-AIRDE GLAISE.
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Point of the grey or green point. North of Portree.
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RUIGHE, RIGHE.
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Outstretched base of a mountain, a sheiling.
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SCALPA, SCALPAY, SGALPA, SKALPA.
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Cave island.
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SCAVAIG, SGATHVAIG, SGATHAVAIG.
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The shadowy, gloomy, or dark bay in the loch of the same name.
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SCONSAR, SCOUSAR.
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Not known.
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SCORE, SCOIR, SCOR, SGOR.
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The peak, also a township in Kilmuir.
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SCORRIBREAC, SCORRIBREAK.
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The speckled, or parti-coloured rock.
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SCOURIE.
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Place of birds.
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SGEIR.
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An isolated rock which barely disappears under water, and with no vegetation.
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SGIATH.
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Wing, piece of land jutting into the sea; also sheltered side of a mountain or district.
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SGUMAN, AN.
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The stack or stackshaped hill. Generally spelled Sgumain.
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SGURR.
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A large steep rock or precipice; numerous spellingsscoor, scor, scorr, scour, scuir, scur, sgoar, sgor, sgorr.
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SGURR, A'BHASTEIR, BHAISTEIR, BHASADAIR.
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The peak of the executioner.
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SGURR A'CHOIRE BRIG.
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Peak of the little corry. Pron. Vick.
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SGURR A'FIONN-CHOIRE.
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Peak of the white or bright corry, or cold corry.
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SGURR A'GHREADAIDH.
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Pron. greeta. Peak of torment, anxiety, thrashings, mighty winds.
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SGURR ALASDAIR.
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Alexander's peak. Highest in the Coolins and named after Alexander Nicolson who was the first to climb it in 1873.
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SGURR A'MHADAIDH.
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Pron. Vatee, the foxes' peak. Actually there are four separate tops.
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SGURRAN, AN.
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The little peak; thought may be Sgurr a'FionnChoire.
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SGURR AN FHEADAIN, SGURR NA FEADAIN.
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Pron. Aityan, peak of the water-pipe.
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SGURR COIR' AN LOCHAIN.
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Peak of the corry of the loch. Forms a lower buttress of Sgurr Thearlaich.
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SGURR DEARG.
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Pron. Jerrack, the red peak. Actual summit is the top of the Inaccessible Pinnacle. A spur of this peak on the Main Ridge is An Stac, the stack.
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SGURR DUBH AN DA-BHEINN.
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The black peak of the double mountain, perhaps the peak at the junction of two ridges. Pron. Sgurr Doo na Da Ven.
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SGURR EADAR-DA-CHOIRE.
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The peak between two corries.
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SGURR LAGAN, LAGHAIN.
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Old name for Sgurr Alasdair.
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SGURR MHIC COINNICH.
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Mackenzie's Peak; named after a famous guide to the Cuillins.
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SGURR NA BANACHDICH, A BHANACHDAICH.
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Small-pox peak; so called after the peculiar rock formation of its corry. Known locally as Sgurr na Banachaig, the dairymaids' peak.
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SGURR NA BHAIRNICH.
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Peak of the limpet.
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SGURR NA H-EIDHNE.
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Ivy peak.
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SGURR NA H'UAMHA.
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Cave peak; the northern terminus of the Main Ridge of the Coolins. Pron. Sgurr na Hoo-a.
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SGURR NAN EACH.
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Horses' peak. North of Blaven.
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SGURR NAN EAG.
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The notched or serrated peak.
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SGURR NAN GILLEAN, SGORGILLEAN.
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The lads' peak, peak of the young men, gillies, servants or gylls. The most shapely mountain in the Cuillins.
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SGURR NAN GOBHAR.
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Goats' peak.
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SGURR NA STRI, STRITH.
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Peak of the conflict or fight-opposing winds.
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SGURR SGUMAIN.
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See An Sguman.
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SGURR THEARLAICH, SGURR TEARLACH.
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Charles' Peak; named after Charles Pilkington and formerly known as northeast peak (of Alasdair).
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SGURR THORMAID.
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Norman's peak, named after the late Norman Collie.
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SGURR THUILM.
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Pron. Hulim, peak of Tulm.
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SKYE, SKY.
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An t-Eilean-Sgitheanach, 'the sky.' The familiar name, used by the natives especially, is Eilean-a-Cheo, the isle of mist, or An tEilean, the island.
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SLEAT.
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The mountain slopes, or sloping moorland. Numerous spellings.
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SLIGACHAN, SLIGICHAN, SLEIGACHAN, SLIGEACHAN, SLIGNEACHAN.
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The Shelly place.
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SNIZORT, SNISORT, SNESFURD.
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Snow fiord.
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SOAY, SOA, SOADH, SOYEA.
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The isle of swine.
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SRON NA CREITHEACH.
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The promontory of the brushwood, poplar or aspen; it is another name for Camasunary valley, Creithreach meaning a clayey place, a bog.
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SRON VOURLINN, STRONVEULIN.
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The mill point or promontory. Near Flodigarry.
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STAC, AN.
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The stack or rock. Compare Sgurr Dearg.
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STAFFIN, STAFAIN, STAFIN, STAPHAIN.
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The place of staff-like or upright pillars. The seaboard here abounds in basaltic and other columnar and pillared rocks.
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STORK, STOR.
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The steep high cliff or pinnacle.
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STRATH.
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The low-lying, level land between hills.
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STRATH NA CREITHEACH.
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The boggy valley, near Camasunary.
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STRATHAIRD, AIRD-AN-T-SRATH.
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The height of Strath.
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STRUAN, SRUTHAN.
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The streamlet.
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SUIDHE.
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A seat.
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TAIRNEILEAR.
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The thunderer. A part of Coire na Creiche.
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TALISKER, TALASCAIR, TALLASKARR, THALASGAIR.
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The house of or at the rock.
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TOBAR.
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A well.
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TOR, TORR.
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A pointed hill or tower-like rock.
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TORRAN, NA TORRAIN, TORRIN.
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The heaps, mounds or tumuli.
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TORVAIG, TORAIG.
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Hill bay.
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TROTTERNISH, TROTERNISH, TROTERNESS, TRONTERNFSS, TROUTERNESS.
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Thrond's headland or point. The most northerly district in Skye.
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TULLOCH, TULLOCH GORM.
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The hillock, the green hillock.
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TULM, TOLM AN T-HOLM.
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The stack or cliff.
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UAMH, UAMHA.
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The cave.
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UIDH.
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| The ford. |
UIG, UIGE, WIG, VIG. | | The nook, or retired place. |
VATERNISH, VADIRNES. | | The water point or promontory. A northwestern district of Skye. |