Glossary of Gaelic origins of place names in Britain (A to B)

a’

form of definite article “the”

abhainn nfaibhne g aibhnichean pl

river

Abhainn a' Bhàigh NB2502, Abhainn Bheag NC8446

acairseid

alternative form of acarsaid

Acairseid an Rubha NG5600

acarsaid nf acarsaide g acarsaidean pl

anchorage, harbour

Acarsaid an Dùin NM0847, Acarsaid NM5872

ach 

shortened form of achadh

Ach nan Con NN1370, Ach a' Chorrain NC3761

achadh nm achaidh g achaidhean pl

field, agricultural holding

Achadh nan Each NM5245, Achadh an Droma NM4349

achlais nf achlaise g achlaisean pl

armpit, oxter

Allt na h-Achlaise NH2982, An Achlais NH2982

agh nm aighe g aighean pl

young cow, heifer

Bad nan Aighean NC1325, Breac nan Aighean NM0448

aibhne, aibhnichean

see abhainn

Port Bun Aibhne NR2068

aifrean nmfaifrinn(e) g

church-land

Allt an Aifrinn NH4845, Port na h-Aifrinne NM6980

aighe, aighean

see agh

Rubha nan Aighean NM6962

àil

see àl

Loch an Àil NF7101

àileach adj

airy, windy, breezy

Sròn Àileach NN6715

àilean nm àilein g àileinpl

green, enclosure, meadow

Càrn an Àilean NH8221, Boch-àilean ND1020

airbhe nf

dividing wall, fence

Sgeirean nan Airbhe NC1548, Allt na h-Airbhe NH2361

àird nf àirde g àirdeanpl

height, promontory

Cruach Àirde NR7363, Rubha na h-Àirde Bige NC2049

àirigh nfàirighe gàirighean, àirichean pl

shieling

Sean-Àirigh NC9458, Àirigh a' Bhealaich NB5358

aiseag nmaiseig gaiseagan pl

ferry

Eilean an Aiseig NF8646, Gob an Aiseig NB2616

aisir nf aisre g aisrean pl

passage, pass, path

Loch Aisir NC1960, Aisir a’ Chaorainn NN1843

aisridh nf

hill, path

Aisridh Màiri Bhàn NN1868, Allt Aisridh NG5721

aiteann nm aitinn g

juniper

Allt an Aitinn NO2082, Caochan Aitinn NJ1310

àl nm àil g

rock, stone

Loch an Àil NF7101

allt nmuillt g uillt pl

burn, stream

Allt a' Bhacain NJ0330, Bad an Uillt ND2044

alltan nm alltain g alltain pl

small burn, rivulet

Coire Chrion-alltain NN8495, Alltain Ruadh NG9865

am

form of definite article “the”

amar nm amair g amaran, amraichean pl

trough, channel, ditch

Allt an Amair NJ1343, Beinn an Amair NC3565

amhach nfamhaiche gamhaichean pl

neck

Loch nan Amhaichean NH4176

a-muigh adv

outer

Hèisgeir A-Muigh NL5786

an, an t-

forms of definite article “the”

annaid nfannaid(e) g

early or mother-church, land belonging to such a church

Tòrr na h-Annaid NM3621

aodann nmaodainn gaodainnean pl

face

Aodann Mhòr NC4069, Aodann Raineach NN0502

aoidh nfaoidhe gaoidhean pl

neck of land, slow moving water

Eilean Aoidhe NR9367, Caisteal Aoidhe NR9071

aoineadh nmaoinidh g

steep brae with rocks, morraine

Fionn Aoineadh NM4026, Aoineadh Beag NM6550

aon, aona num

one, on its own, same

Rubha na h-Aona Cloich NA9726

aonach nmaonaich gaonaichean pl

steep height, plateau, hill

An Dubh-aonach NM6474, Aonach Bàn NN7454

arbhar nmarbhair g

corn

Camas an Arbhair NG7381, Cnoc an Arbhair ND0556

àrd nmfàird gàrdan pl

non-standard form of àird

Druim an Àird NC7764, Àrd Caol NB2301

àrd adj

high

Sròn Àrd NB1112, Tom Àrd NB2630

ari 

anglicised form of àirigh

Arinagour NM2257, Arinabea NN2931

a-staigh adv

inner

Hèisgeir A-Staigh NL5886

àth nmàtha gàthan pl

ford

Eilean an Àtha NM7407, Loch an Àth Ruaidh NB0518

athair nm athar g athraichean pl

father

Caolas Mhic an Athar NR3686

auch, auchen 

anglicised forms of achadh

Auchencloy NX0754, Aucheninch NS2514

auchter 

anglicised form of uachdar

Auchterarder NN9412, Auchtertyre NJ1858

ault 

anglicised form of allt

Ault na Skiah NH6742, Aultbeg NJ2733

bà 

see bò

Lochan na Bà Glaise NM7188, Rubha na Bà NC2048

bac nmbaca, baic gbacan pl

pit, hollow, bog, peat bank

Am Bac Dubh NH2351, Bràigh Bac NN3088

bacach adj

hilly, rugged

Cnoc Bacach NC4551, Loch Bacach NC4551

bachall nmbachaill gbachallan pl

crozier, staff (of a cleric)

Coire a’ Bhachaill NN0630

bad nmbaid gbadan pl

tuft, grove, thicket

Bad an Òir NN5186, Càrn Bad an Daimh NH7628

bàgh nmbàigh gbàghan, bàghannan pl

bay

Bàgh a Tuath NB5532, Bàgh a' Ghlinne NG1898

baic

see bac

Allt Bhaic NN8464

baid

see bad

Allt a' Bhaid Leathain NC6320

bàigh

see bàgh

Tràigh Bad na Bàighe NC2247

baile nmbailtean pl

farm, hamlet, homestead

Baile na Cille NC0834, Baile Geamhraidh NM6255

bàird

see bàrd

Loch a' Bhàird NB3001

bal 

anglicised form of baile

Balbeg ND1553, Balcairn NJ7828

balla 

anglicised form of baile

Ballabeg NJ4103, Ballachulish NN0757

bally 

anglicised form of baile

Ballycoach NS3611, Ballygowan NR8197

bàn adj

fair, white, pale, light in colour

Eas Bàn NH0977, Eilean Bàn NF8046

bane 

anglicised form of bàn

Craigbane NX6797, Tombane NN9552

bànrigh nfbànrighe gbànrighean pl

queen

Sròn na Bàn-righ NN8788, Clach na Bàn-righ NM1858

bàrd nmbàird gbàird pl

bard, poet, dyke, fence, park

Eilean a' Bhàird NG2704, Loch a' Bhàird NB3001

barpa nmbarpannan pl

(chambered) cairn, heap of stones

Barpa Langass NF8365, Dùn Bharpa NF6701

bàrr nmbarra gbarran pl

top, summit, height, hill

Am Bàrr NM9728, Allt Bàrr Mhìn NN2532

bàta nmbàtaichean pl

boat, barge

Sloc a' Bhàta NF7100, Camas a' Bhàta NG7371

bàthaich (also in f form bàthach, bàthcha) nm bàthaich g bàthaichean pl

byre, cow shed

Bàthaich Fionndag NH9907, Mòine na Bàthaich NB4055

beag adjbhig (f), bige (m) gbeaga pl

little

Monadh Beag NN1585, Poll Beag NH8437

bealach nmbealaich gbealaich pl

pass, gorge of a mountain, glen, gap

Am Bealach NC8959, Bealach a' Chait NM9283

bealaidh nm

broom (plant)

Càrn a’ Bhealaidh NO3293, Creag a’ Bhealaidh NH3439

bean nfmnà, mnatha gmnathan pl

wife, woman

Druim na Mnà NB2332, Bean an Taighe NM6375

beanntan

see beinn

beàrn nfbèirn, beàirn gbeàrnan pl

gap, crevice

Tobar Bun na Bèirn NR1653

beathrach, beathraichean

see beithir

Beinn nam Beathrach NM7557

beg 

anglicised form of beag

Carnbeg NR4167, Corranbeg NM8004

beinn nfbeinne gbeanntan pl

mountain, peak

Beinn a' Tuath NB0923, Beinn a' Ghrianain NC2835

bèirn

see beàrn

Tobar Bun na Bèirn NR1653

bèist nfbèiste gbèistean pl

beast, monster

Cnoc na Bèiste NC5065, Clach na Bèiste NR9061

beithe nfbeithe g

birch

Camas Beithe NG8388, Cnoc Beithe NN8626

beithir nmbeathrach gbeathraichean, beithrichean pl

serpent, wild beast

Sròn a’ Bheathrach NR8266, Cleite na Beathrach NB3013

ben 

anglicised form of beinn

Ben Tirran NO3674, Ben Stack NC2742

beul nmbeòil gbeòil pl

mouth, opening

Beul a' Mhàim NN0674, Beul an Lochain NC9963

beum nmbeuma gbeuman, beumannan pl

stream, torrent, gap

Beum a' Chlaidheimh NH9330, Am Beum NH2493

bh-

A word starting bh is often a lenited form of a word starting b

bhig

see beag

Lùb Gairt Bhig NN3044

bho dheasadj

southern

Dail bho Dheas NB4861

bho thuathadj

northern

Dail bho Thuath NB4961

biast nfbèiste gbiastan pl

alternative form of bèist

Toll nam Biast NG8761, Biastan Thuilm NB4430

bidean nmbidein gbideanan pl

pinnacle, sharp, pointed hill

Am Bidean NG3441, Bidean Dubh NG9520

bige

see beag

Loch Cul Làimhe Bige NB1722

bile nfbilean pl

lip, edge, margin

Beinn na Bile NF9571, Bile Buidhe NJ0711

binnean nmbinnein gbinnein pl

high conical hill

An Binnean Crom NR3790, Binnein NN3409

biolar nfbiolair g

watercress

Biolaire NB4641, Fuaran nam Biolaire NN5139

biorach adj

sharp-pointed

Rubha Biorach NM7368, Meall Biorach NN0237

bioran nmbiorain gbiorain pl

stick

Leac nam Bioran NM9472, Bioran Beag NN6922

blair 

anglicised form of blàr

Drumblair NX2850, Dalblair NS6419

blàr nmblàir gblàran pl

cleared space

Blàr an Lochain NN2088

bò nmbà gbà pl(bò g pl)

cow

Lochan na Bà Glaise NM7188, Rubha na Bà NC2048

boc nmbuic gbuic pl

buck, he-goat

Sgeir nam Boc NC0615, Allt a' Bhuic ND0535

bodach nmbodaich gbodaich pl

old man, spectre

Sloc nam Bodach NR4298, Allt nam Bodach NL6490

bodha nmbodhachan pl

sunken rock in sea, rock over which waves break

Bodha Ruadh NG4475

bogach nmbogaich gbogaichean pl

marsh, bog

Bogach NF7102, Bogach nan Sgadan NF8068

bogha nmboghachan pl

alternative form of bodha

Bogha Beag NG7326, Bogha Crom NM4434

boglach nfboglaich gboglaichean pl

marsh, bog

Boglach nan Tarbh NR4073, Boglach Mhòr NM5623

bonn nmbuinn gbuinn, bonnan pl

heel, sole, foundation, bottom

Allt Bhuinne NN6348

borrach nmborraich g

rough hill grass

Borrach NS0226

bota nmbotaichean pl

river bank, mound

Bot na Gile NB4848, Botan Ruairidh NB3745

both nmbotha gbothan pl

cottage, hut

Both Ruadh NB0621, Allt nam Bothan NN3709

bradan nmbradain gbradain pl

salmon

Loch nam Bradan NB3525, Allt Teanga Bradan NG5122

bràigh nmbràighe, bràghad gbràigheachan pl

upper part, upland country

Allt a' Chas Bràighe NB0021, Allt Bràigh Bac NN3188

bràthair nmbràthar gbràithrean pl (also bràthairean)

brother, rock (especially pairs of rocks)

Leac nam Bràthairean NM7230, Na Bràthairean NL9538

breac adj

speckled, spotted

Caisteal Breac NH5868, Càrn Breac NH0452

breac nmbric gbric pl

trout

Eilean nam Breac NM7091, Loch nam Breac NC6958

breck 

anglicised form of breac

Carrabreck HU3680, Clachbreck NR7675

breug nfbrèige gbreugan pl

lie, falsehood

Rubha na Brèige NC0519

breun adj

foul, stinking, filthy

Breun Loch NH5568, Am Breun Chamas NN1075

bric

see breac

Loch na Bric NR8089

broc nmbruic gbruic pl

badger

Rubha nam Broc NM7769, Sròn nam Broc NJ1805

brochan nmbrochain gbrochain pl

porridge, gruel

Coille Bhrochain NN9061, Coire Bhrochain NN9599

bròg nf bròigeg brògan pl

boot

Stob na Bròige NN1952

bruach nfbruaich gbruaichean pl

bank, brink

Bruach an Fhraoich NC3940, Bruach an Iaruinn NR9023

bruic

see broc

Sròn na Bruic NR9593

bruthach nmfbruthaich gbruthaichean pl

brae, ascent

Ruadh-bruthach NF6163, Bruthach Breac NR2945

buachaill nmbuachaille gbuachaillean pl

cow-herd, shepherd

Tom nam Buachaillean NN0405, Am Buachaille NN7494

buaile nfbuailtean pl

cattle-fold

Buaile Bhuidhe NA9925, Buaile Dhubh NG8790

buic 

see boc

Allt a' Bhuic ND0535,Bàgh Buic NR9170

buidhe adj

yellow

Allt Coire Buidhe NC7144, Buidheanach Burn NN9594

buin

see bun

buinn

see bonn

Allt Bhuinne NN6348

bùirich nmf

roaring, bellowing (especially of deer)

Allt a' Bhùirich NC2401, Coire Bhùirich NN5671

bùirn

see bùrn

bun nmbuin, buna gbuin, bunan pl

base, foot, foundation

Bun a' Ghlinne NB5244, Bun an Uillt NF8219

bùrn nmbùirn g

water, not applied to salt water

Creag Àrd a' Bhùirn NH5275, Tobar Bhùirn ND2034

bùth nmbùtha gbùthan, bùithean pl

booth, hut, cottage

Camas nam Bùth NC1444, Cnoc nam Bùth NH5674