Glossary
Here are some brief definitions to help you navigate the medieval world of the Clan MacRune series.
auldjin: Scottish slang for old man
auspex: another word for augur, can be translated to “one who looks at birds”
banjaxes: British slang for breaks or ruins
banntraich: Scots Gaelic for widow
Bastardo: Italian for bastard
Beinn: Scots Gaelic for “a mountain”
birthing fever: an archaic term for fevers caused by postpartum infections
black crowdie: an old Scottish dry curd cheese that is rolled in black pepper
bràmair:Scots Gaelic for boyfriend
Brekkie: British slang for breakfas t
Bricking it: British slang for scared
brose: an ancient Scottish dish consisting of oatmeal mixed with boiling water and stock and allowed to stand for a short time.
Buenos dias: Spanish for good morning
café con leche: Spanish for coffee with milk
cailleach: Scots Gaelic for old woman
Caoineag: a Highland banshee who would foretell the death of Scottish clan members by crying during the night, normally at a nearby natural feature, such as a loch or waterfall.
cara: Italian endearment for a girl or woman, means “dear”
Che cos’è: Italian for What is it?
cheesed off: British slang for angry
Chinotto: a carbonated drink made from the fruit of the myrtle-leaved orange tree
chucklehead: Boston slang for a stupid person
chuffed: British slang for pleased
cloots: strips of fabric tied around trees that grow near a sacred well or spring in Scotland as part of a healing ritual
Crìosdaidheachd: Scots Gaelic for Christianity
croquetas de jamón: Spanish for ham croquettes
daft: British slang for stupid
dafty: Scottish slang for a stupid person
deep brain stim: a therapy in which a device implanted in the brain delivers electrical current to different parts of the brain to help with many conditions, including pain
Dìomhair: Scots Gaelic for secret
do the washing: British slang for doing the laundry
doocot: Scottish slang for a dovecote
dottled: Scottish slang for confused
dotty: British slang for crazy
dullahan: a creature from Irish mythology commonly depicted as a headless horseman
Dun Maor: Scots Gaelic name for Clan MacAlen’s stronghold, the words mean fort (Dun) and warden (Maor)
eejit: Scottish slang for idiot
effing and blinding: British slang for using bad language
En espanol: Spanish for in Spanish
Está volao: Spanish for you’re amazing
eun dearg: Scots Gaelic for “red bird”
farriery: the art of the farrier, who trims horses’ hooves and fits them with horseshoes
feardie: Scottish slang for a coward
Ferntickles: old Scottish term for freckles
Figlio di puttana: Italian for “son of a whore”
gallus: Scottish slang for cheeky
gannet: a mostly white seabird indigenous to Scotlan d
Gealladh: Scots Gaelic for “promise:
gèidh: Scots Gaelic for someone who is attracted solely or primarily to members of the same sex; homosexual
ghaist: Scottish slang for “ghost”
gommy: Scottish slang for idiot
gowk: Scottish slang for idiot
grandgore: medieval Scottish term for syphilis
ha’: Scottish slang for hall
hell’s bells: a British slang exclamation used to express anger or surprise
hemeralopia: the inability to see clearly in light
Hispania: medieval name for Spain
hygge: a Danish cultural concept, used to describe a cozy and contented mood invoked by surrounding warmth and comfort
jab: British slang for injection or vaccination
jeekehs: Boston slang pronunciation of “jeepers”
knob, knobhead: British slang terms for a stupid person
la mia bambina: Italian for “my little girl”
lavellan: a rat-like water creature in Scottish mythology
leannan fireann: Scots Gaelic for “male lover”
leine: a long, tunic-like man’s shirt worn in medieval times
leister: a five-pronged iron spear for fishin g
Loch Caillte: Scots Gaelic for Lost Lake
maighdeann-sìthe: Scots Gaelic for “fairy maiden”
maister: medieval Scottish form of “master”
manciple: old term for a provisions buyer
manky: British slang for filthy
marag: Scots Gaelic for pudding, used for a blood-based sausage made in Scotland
màthair: Scots Gaelic for mother
minger: Scottish slang for an ugly person
minted: British slang for rich
mirror therapy: a physical therapy in which a mirror is used to create a reflective illusion to deceive the brain into thinking movement has occurred without pain.
mo ban-dia: Scots Gaelic for “my goddess”
mo bhana-bhuidseach òir: Scots Gaelic for “my golden witch”
Mór Bheinn: A rugged hill in the north of the Scottish highlands
mumpin: Scottish slang for complaining
oorlich: Scottish slang for damp and cold
over the moon: British slang for delighted
paselitos de queso: Spanish for cheese pastries
patatina: Italian endearment for a girl child, means “little potato”
pear-shaped: British slang for a bad situation
plank: British slang for idio t
plonker: British slang for a stupid person
quittance: a release or discharge from a debt or obligation
rook: Scottish slang for ruckus
sapsy: Scottish slang for a soft, weak-willed person
sgarfa: Scots Gaelic for “scarf”
shag: British slang for sex or have sex with
shambles: British slang for a mess
sherricking: Scottish term meaning to rabble or raise a riot about (a person), to incite a mob against (someone) by publicly reviling and denouncing him
shite: Scottish slang for feces
sidhe: another term for the Fae
skeerie: Scots slang pronunciation of scary
sloc: Scots Gaelic for pit
smashing: British slang for excellent, wonderful
sperviter: the medieval term for a keeper of birds
spot of bother: British slang for trouble
spot on: British slang for “yes” or ‘sure”
sprag: Scottish slang for an arrogant person
sprog: British slang for baby or young child
storied:celebrated
Taezali: a primitive tribe of people who dwelled in the low and fertile lands of ancient eastern Scotland
tàladh: Scots Gaelic for “attraction”
TENS: An acronym for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, which uses low-voltage electrical currents to relieve pain.
tosser: British slang for an annoying person
trow: A Scottish mythological creature much like a troll
tuck in: British slang for eat
Viteliu: An archaic name for Italy
Wahine: slang for a female surfer
wallydrag: Scottish slang for a useless person
well in it: British slang for being in trouble
whinge: British slang for whine
white plague: a medieval term for tuberculosis
yeukin: Scottish slang for itching