Saving Time

Saving Time Lexicon

Of Gaelic/Scots, French

and Spanish words, and phrases.

8 Reales / DoubloonsThe 8 Reales were the ‘pieces of eight’ that the pirates talked about. They were made to be broken off into eight pieces to make change if necessary.

“A hae nae brou o this.”None of your business. You have no dog in this fight.

A’ deanamh gràidh.Making love.

Auld-mither gaeOld grandmother.

Auld Rob MorrisA comedic song with parts about a girl not wanting to marry the man her mother wants her too. Old Rob decides the issue.

Backjaw.A lie or shading the truth.

Batards bastards.

Belle Nouvelle épouse Beautiful new spouse.

Blather fodder Rumors creating more Rumors and useless talk.

Blast the shaunny mon. Darn the unreasonable or less than logical man.

Bobtail A woman following the army, looking to gain a protector among the soldiers. A camp follower of questionable morals, but not necessarily a prostitute.

BogleGhost or spirit.

bottle-brained Empty-headed.

Brise A break, without repair.

BegruttenStained with tears.

‘Boonie hat’ A type of wide-brim sun hat commonly used by U. S. military forces in hot climates.

Blethers Empty words, with suspect reasons for being said.

Bokey curUnruly wild dog.

Bolshie Prideful to an excessive degree.

Bothy n’ bryeA cottage or small building or shed designed to house both people, and large animals like cows and horses. Also a cow shed.

Bramble Like an ivy bramble, a mess or difficult problem.

BrawLarge, strong, muscular.

“Buenos días, guapa.”Good morning, good-looking.

Buck A woman’s breast.

‘Bumfuque, Espa?a’A play on a term used originally in reference to Afghanistan as a bad assignment instead of Spain.

Ciamar a tha sibh fèin?And how are you?

Cairrie-on cannae . . .Continuing with this nonsense cannot . . .

Canker’d culmanyA great argument with too many people creating it.

CèilidhA party with music and dancing which can go on all night where anyone may sing and play an instrument.

Cannae Can not.

Cantinieres French woman in the French Army who acted as the cook and commissary for French regiments. Uniformed and had official duties including carrying water and wine to soldiers in a battle.

Cha d’ rinn an iomaguin òirleach dh’ àird’Worry does not add an inch to one’s head.

Chasseurs à Cheval de La Garde Impériale.An elite light cavalry regiment Who wore hussar uniform of red and green.

Ciamar a tha thu?How are you?

Chiens hargneux anglaiseSnarling English dogs.

Cloutie A rag. In this context, an exclamation of ‘Devil’s rag or influence as Cloot.

CountermaciousTo weave to avoid something physically or in discussion.

Couthy Cozy, pleasant, congenial.

Còmhlan A group of musicians grouped for the evening for just that party.

“Cauld kail het agane.”A tale gone stale with the telling or the story.

Daffycrazy.

DaneTo agree to do something, lower oneself to do something.

Dawdle To linger, loiter or procrastinate.

Devil’s trapA small iron door at the base of a fireplace to allow air in to feed the fire when the house is closed off from the outside cold.

“?Diga!”Hey! Stop!

“?Déjenla!”Leave!

Dia na trocairGod of mercy.

Dighted monAn unfortunate or slightly stupid man.

Dirk A long knife worn by many Scotsmen.

DiùidShy

Doitit cooA stupefied or mad cow.

Donnert Stupefied or stupid.

DoolTragedy or horrors.

Drookit Soaked to the skin.

DowieDejected, mournful, causing pain.

Dryad Earth sprite or fairy.

Duke of MarlboroughFamous British General during the War of Spanish Succession in the early 1700s.

Eejit Idiot.

EncomiumExcessive compliments which are obviously untrue or not believed by the speaker.

Ensign The lowest officer rank in the British Army.

“?Estás tú aquí sola con tres caballos?”You”re here alone with three horses?

Fa?adeA fake impression or front on a wall.

“Fran?ais?”Speak French?

FarragoA game or scheme with the intention of cheating someone.

Fidgin fainFidgeting with anticipation.

FinaglingConfusing or undecipherable.

FlummeryExcessive compliments.

Frangaich skellumFrench trash or rogues.

FriglitFrighten.

Gammon A trick or deceiving talk.

“Gammon me in such a pokey fashion.”Try fooling me in such a silly or unskilled Manner.

Gomeril Evil spirit or man with no soul, devil possessed.

GazetteThe daily newspaper which reported all things military. An Officer’s commission was announced in the Gazette along with his accomplishments as well as being mentioned in dispatches or death.

GlaikitFoolish.

Great gantLarge, awkward giant or oaf.

Guardabosques americanoAmerican Ranger in less than complementary Terms.

Gully Another word for Knife when not as long as a Dirk.

Gun tiomadh Passionless.

“?Habla usted espa?ol?”Do you speak Spanish?

“Ha gu ma?” Are you well?

HautiePrideful or haughty.

HaverPointless or unresolvable discussion or debate.

HooahBattle cry of the U.S. Army. Not to be confused with the Marines’ Hoorah.

Hooly and fairlyVery drunk after the expected amount of liquor.

HTS IVA field Intravenous drug meant to counter-act shock and blood loss.

I dinnae ken I didn’t know.

InsenséInsane one.

Jirkinet A corset which was shorter than a regular corset or stays. Allowed for easy movement at the waist and bending over.

JoLover/committed girlfriend.

Kit TorniquetA rolled up torniquet carried by most Special Operation troops in their pockets to have handy.

Kith and kinClose friends and family.

Leannan Beloved.

Leguas Spanish leagues. A length from three to six miles depending on where you were and who had done the measuring. Standards were often very provincial.

L’haut or de sociétéHigh or The Society. The top upper class.

Lowpin-on-staneUsually a stone with cut steps set outside to aid mounting a horse or wagon.

LuckieHostess of a meal or gathering.

Ly ErgA Scottish spirit which roams the roads dressed as a soldier, waylaying travelers.

Madera A sweet red wine from Portugal.

MeggsMoney, pounds sterling.

M’eudail. My pride.

MinkersDirty, disgusting pillager.

Missishness Being shy or hesitant, anxious.

Mo chridheMy heart.

Mo ghràdh My love.

Mo nighean famhairMy brown-haired giant.

Modish In fashion or popularity.

Much, mo naoidheachan, much.”Huch, my baby, don’t cry.

MuckleLarge or great as in ‘a Muckle load of hay.’

Munelicht flittinMoonlight decamping to escape creditors.

M’uan My lamb.

Nae No.

Nathair òirThe Golden Snake.

NoNot.

No mense atallNo sense at all.

N’est-ce pas?”Isn’t it so?

Och An exclamation of surprise or like ‘Oh’, ‘drat’ or ‘gosh.’

“Och, boggin ‘ing,” Oh, horrible smelling thing [like a bog].

Ochone, me puir, bonnie monOh, my poor, beautiful man.

Oh, sneck up.Buck up, take courage.

Playing least in sightA child’s game like playing hide-and-seek.

PliskieTrick or prank.

PoplollyA camp follower, prostitute, more specifically one looking for a Protector.

Prattle Talk nonsense or unimportant chatter.

Qui êtes-vous, que vous possédez de telles armes?

Who are you, that you possess such weapons?

Reddin’ Adding to the fire or argument, making it hotter.

Sassenach Scottish word for foreigners or strangers, not Scottish, particularly applied to the English.

Scunner Low life or beggar.

Seas!Don’t be silly, or that is of no consequence.

SgithTired or exhausted.

Shoogly nickum.Shaky or unsteady rogue or scamp

Soggers Another term for British enlisted men said with either a hard or soft ‘G’.

“Sortez d’ici, maintenant!”Get out of here, now!

Spreadhadh mòrA mighty explosion or/and roar.

Swarf Be sick or throw up.

Tackle Equipment.

Taen ti the fairTaken aback, fairly surprised.

Tall Tree APenis

Take the bit an’ the buffet, me boyo.Take the good with the bad, the bit of good with the buffeting or pounding.

Tannasg Low life, worthless scavengers, or wastrels.

TarryTo wait or loiter.

That gu math.I am tolerable.

Tim debatePointless or wordy argument.

TittieSister.

ToadstickerA French soldier because the French ate frogs.

TogsClothes, usually nice or fancy outfits.

“Très stupide.”Very stupid. The first French Rig learned.

Trig Turned out well, handsome clothes.

Troimh-chèileConfusion or chaos.

Uld Old. ‘auld’ means the same thing.

“Vámonos.”Come on.

Vexes To annoy or irritate.

Wee dightedSlightly mad.

“We hae ta gang.” We have to go.

Weil on soggersSoggers were veteran and worn soldiers, Weil on means ruined.

“Ya está bien, se?orita, estas segura,” It’s Okay, miss, you”re sure [or safe.]

“Ye pawkie deel!”Tricky or contrary devil.

“Ye rin fir the spurtle whan the pat’s bilin owre.”

You are too late in telling, everyone knows. Old news.