Glossary of Gaelic origins of place names in Britain (C)

Elements

Meaning

Examples

cabar nmcabair gcabair pl

antler, horn, pole

Glac nan Cabar NH3342, An Cabar NH4466

cabhsair nmcabhsair gcabhsairean pl

causeway

An Cabhsair NH7516, Cabhsair ND1648

cachaileith nfcachaileithe gcachaileithean pl

field gate, hurdle

Cachaileith Liath NN6916, Allt na Cachaileith NN9561

cadha nmcadhan pl

narrow pass, narrow ravine

An Cadha NC2350, Cadha Bàn NH0330

caibeal nmcaibeil gcaibealan pl

chapel

Cnoc a' Chaibeil NR8642, Coire a' Chaibeil NO0447

caigeann nmcaiginn gcaigeannan pl

rough mountain pass, pair, couple, brace

Caigeann Mòr NR6799

cailleach nfcailliche gcailleachan pl

old woman, rock

Cailleach Croigary NB3525, Cnoc nan Cailleach NN0279

càir

see càr

càirn

see càrn

Lochan Càirn Deirg NN0749

caime nfcaimean pl

circle, curve, loop

Coire na Caime NG9157, Loch na Caime NR5383

caipleach nfcaiplich g

place of horses

Loch na Caiplich NF9055, Caiplich NH5437

cairidh nfcairidhean pl

weir, fish-pound

Cnoc na Cairidh NC2232, Eilean na Cairidh NF8363

càise nmcàisean pl

cheese

Cnoc a' Chàise NC1743, Creag Chàise NB1909

caise nf

steepness, stream of water

Loch Caise ND0246, Coire na Caise NM7025

caiseal nmcaiseil gcaisealan pl

alternative form of caisteal

Tom Chaiseil NN7857, Craigcaiseal NS4499

caisteal nmcaisteil gcaistealan pl

stone wall, stone fort, castle

Na Caistealan NM6856, Allt a' Chaisteil NC7257

cait

see cat

Lochan a' Chait NN3962

cala nmcala gcalaidhean pl

alternative form of caladh

Cala na Creige NM9680

caladh nmcalaidh gcalaidhean pl

harbour, port, shore, ferry, bay

Caladh NH5754, Tom Caladh nam Freum NM9977

calaman 

alternative form of calman

Allt nan Calaman NR9734

call nmcalla g

the act of dropping, loss, damage

Bad a’ Challa NG7971, Caochan a’ Challa NH5533

calltainn nmcalltainn(e) g

hazel

Creag a' Challtainne NN9347, Sgiath Challtainne NN4108

calman nmcalmain g

dove

Meall nan Calman NH2806, Uamh nan Calman NM8029

cam adj

crooked

Allt Cam NB2209, Cam Chreag NN5838

camas nmcamais g

channel, bay, harbour

Camas a' Bhàta NG7371, An Camas Aiseig NN0164

cambus 

anglicised form of camas

Cambusbeg NN6605, Cambuscairn NX8585

canach nmfcanaich g

cotton grass, bog cotton

Lochan na Canaich NM6855, Càrn na Canaich NH0982

caochan nmcaochain gcaochanan pl

streamlet

Ruigh Caochan Dubh NN9981, Allt Caochan NG9127

caol adj

narrow

Allt Caol NC5258, Àrd Caol NB2301

caolas nmcaolais gcaolais pl

narrow, strait

Caolas a Deas NB3609, Caolas an Eilein NA9821

caora nfcaorach gcaoraich, caoirich pl

sheep

Càrn nan Caorach NH1685, Cnoc nan Caorach NB4441

caorann nfcaorainn g

rowan tree, mountain ash

Cnoc nan Caorann NR9296, Creag nan Caorann NN3020

capall nmcapaill gcapaill pl

horse, mare

Stuchdan Capaill NS0478, Uamh Capaill NS0952

càr nmcàir gcàraichean pl

alternative form of càthar

Càr Choille NC2408, Càr an Daimh NM6483

carach adj

winding

Cnoc Carach NM6547, Eilean Carach NG7614

càrn nmcàirn, cùirn gcàirn, cùirn pl

heap of stones

Càrn a' Mhàim NN9995, Càrn a' Bhainne NH4436

càrnach nmcàrnaich g

stony ground, quarry

Càrnach NH0196, Càrnach Biorach NN2000

carraig nfcarraige gcarraigean pl

rock, fishing rock, promontory, cliff

Na Carraigean NM1556, Sròn na Carraige NS0077

carrick 

anglicised form of carraig

Carrick NR9087, Carrickcorie NX1430

cas adj

steep

Allt Cas Leac NN1445, Càrn Cas nan Gabhar NH5280

cat nmcait gcait pl

cat

Allt a' Chait ND2146, Creag a' Chait NH5498

cath nmcatha gcathan, cathannan pl

battle

Achadh a' Chatha NH7704, Fèith a' Chatha NM8683

cathair  nfcathrach gcathraichean pl

seat, bench, fortified place

Cathair Mhic Dhiarmaid NM5169, Càrn na Cathrach NH3326

càthar nmcàthair g

mossy soft boggy ground

Càthar an Fhèidh NN4076, Càthar na Seilge NN1768

cathrach, cathraichean

see cathair

Loch na Cathrach Duibhe NG8990

ceann nmcinn gcinn pl

head, headland, point, top

Ceann a' Bhàigh NG2196, Ceann Buidhe NR9397

ceap nmcip gceapan, ceapannan pl

block

Ceap Liath NM6625, Allt nan Ceap NH2747

ceapach nmfceapaich gceapaich pl

tillage plot

Ceapach NN5813, A' Cheapach NH1785

cearc nfcirce gcearcan pl

hen

Bad na Circe NH7277, Rubha nan Cearc NM3125

cearcall nmcearcaill gcearcaill, cearcallan pl

circle, hoop

An Cearcall NL5987, Cearcall Dubh NG8541

ceàrd nmceàird gceàrdan pl

craftsman, smith

Bruach nan Ceàrd NR7786, Cnoc nan Ceàrd NH4031

ceàrdach nfceàrdaich gceàrdaichean pl

smithy, forge

Càrn na Ceàrdaich NC3809, Coille na Ceàrdaich NH3629

ceathach nmceathaich gceathaich pl

mist

Coire Cheathaich ND0329, Allt Cheathaich NN4034

ceathramh nmceathraimh gceathramhan pl

quarter

Cnoc a' Cheathraimh NC7608, Meall a' Cheathraimh NN5779

ch-

A word starting ch is often a lenited form of a word starting c

cìche

see cìoch

Allt na Cìche NH1216

cill nfcille gcillean, cilltean pl

church, burial place

Cille Maire NG5517, Cnoc na Cille NG1951

cinn

see ceann

Sgeir Mhaola Cinn NR8772

cìoch nfcìche gcìochan pl

nipple, pap

Cìoch Mhòr NH4486, Coire na Cìche NH4784

cip

see ceap

circe

see cearc

Bealach Coire na Circe NG4427

cìrean nmcìrein gcìreanan pl

comb, honey-comb, sheep

Cìrean Geardail NC0034, An Cìrean NC0333

ciste nf

grave, chest

Ciste Mearad NJ0104, Ciste Dhubh NH0616

clach nfcloiche gclachan pl

stone

Clach na Sròine NC2533, Clach an Rìgh NC6839

clachan nmclachain g

village

Clachan Àrd NB2246, Clachan a' Ghobha NB5141

cladach nmcladaich gcladaichean pl

shore, beach, coast

Cladach a' Ghlinne NG5116, Cladach Mòr NF7173

claddach 

anglicised form of cladach

Garry-claddach NF8161, Claddach NR1653

cladh nmclaidh, cladha gcladhan pl

burial-ground, mound, dyke

Cladh nan Sasunnach NH0066, Cladh Mhicheil NB5447

claidheamh nmclaidheimh gclaidhnean pl

sword

Sgùrr a' Chlaidheimh NG9503, Beinn a' Chlaidheimh NH0577

claigeann nmclaiginn gclaignean pl

skull, head

Claigeann Mòr NF0899

claigionn 

non-standard form of claigeann

An Claigionn NH5278, Claigionn na Sròine NN1281

clàir

see clàr

Loch a' Chlàir NL9844

clais nfclaise gclaisean pl

narrow valley or hollow, ditch

Clais Daimh NN8974, Clais Odhar NO0374

clamhan nmclamhain gclamhain pl

buzzard, kite

Creag a' Chlamhain NH3294, Bad a' Chlamhain ND1849

claon adj

sloping, awry

Claonairigh NN0504, Claon Leitir NH1100

clàr nmclàir gclàran pl

flat stretch of ground, any smooth surface

Clàr Beag NB1115, Doire nan Clàr NH2905

clèireach nmclèirich gclèirich pl

cleric

Allt a' Chlèirich NH0022, Cruach Clèirich NR9097

cleit, cleite nfcleite gcleitean, cleiteachan pl

rock, cliff

Cleit Ruadh ND1730, Cleite Loisgte NF9876

cloiche 

see clach

Fas na Cloiche NN0248

cluain nfcluaine gcluaintean, cluainean pl

meadow, lawn

Allt Cluain-àirighe NG7505, Na Cluainean NN1988

cnàmh nmcnàimh gcnàmhan pl

bone

Coire nan Cnàmh NG9705, Loch nan Cnàmh NB4027

cnap nmcnaip gcnapan pl

hillock, lump, little hill

An Cnap NG7526, Cnapan Garbh NN9886

cnoc nmcnuic gcnuic pl

round hill, hillock, knoll

Cnoc an Tairbh NB5348, Cnoc Drochaid NM6892

còig num

five

Innean Còig Cailleichean NR5912

coileach nmcoilich gcoilich pl

cock

Cnoc nan Coileach NR6999, An Coileach NG0892

coille nfcoilltean pl

wood, forest, grove

Coille NR2468, Sròn Dà Choille NN2435

coin

see cù

Allt Toll a' Choin NH1443

coinean nmcoinein gcoineanan pl

rabbit

Loch nan Coinean NC6746, Eilean nan Coinean NR7796

còinneach nfcòinnich g

moss

Còinneach Mhòr NG9460

coirce nm

oats

Druim a' Choirce NM4788, Achadh a' Choirce NC6805

coire nmcoireachan pl

corrie, hollow on the side of a hill or between hills (literally ‘cauldron’)

Coire Glas NR9047, Allt Choire Odhair NJ0526

còis

see còs

Allt a' Chòis NG7838

comar nmcomair gcomaran pl

confluence of streams

Abhainn a' Chomair NH1557, Allt a' Chomair NH2157

con 

see cù

Coire nan Con NH4386, Meall nan Con NC5829

conasg nmconaisg g

gorse

An Conasg NH4579, Cnoc a' Chonaisg NH3856

conasgach adj

covered in gorse

Creagan Conasgach NR9672, Bealach Conasgach NN5402

còrr nm

horn, corner, end

Còrr Bhàn NR6010, Còrr Bheinn NM9708

corr, corra adj

pointed

Corra-Bheinn NM5732

corra nf

heron, crane

Rubha nan Corra NM7468, Sgeir Poll nan Corra NM7107

corrach adj

steep, eminent, lofty

Corrach Bheinn NM9321, Caisteal Corrach NN6412

corran nmcorrain gcorrain pl

sickle, headland

An Corran NH5972, Corran Bàn NF7010

còs nmcòis gcòsan pl

nook

Eas a' Chòis NN1436, Sgòrr a' Chòise NN0855

crainn

see crann

Àird a' Chrainn NM4118

craisg

see crasg

Beinn a' Chraisg NC2359

crann nmcrainn, croinn gcrainn, croinn pl

tree, mast, plough

Creag a' Chroinn NL6597, Sloc a' Chroinn NR4098

crannag nfcrannaig gcrannagan pl

artificial island

Eas a' Chrannaig NS0225, Crannag NF7004

craobh nfcraoibhe gcraobhan pl

tree

Leac nan Craobh NG5720, Bac na Craoibhe NJ1013

craobhach adj

covered in wood

Creag Chraobhach NC6227

crasg nfcraisg gcrasgan pl

crossing

An Crasg NH0890, Cnoc na Craisg NH6156

creachann nmcreachainn gcreachannan pl

bare, wind-swept summit

Sgeir nan Creachann NF8854

creag nfcreige gcreagan pl

crag, rock, cliff

Creag Chàise NB1909, Coire na Creige NC1721

creagach adj

rocky

Toll Creagach NH1513, Cnoc Creagach NH4460

creamh nmcreamha g

wild garlic, gentian, leek

Allt Creamha NN4737, Creag Creamha NR7935

creige

see creag

Carn na Creige NG8832

crìoch nfcrìche gcrìochan pl

boundary

Creag na Crìche NC9151, Allt na Crìche NC9150

critheann nmcrithinn g

aspen tree

Allt Crithinn NC7522, Lùb Craobh Crithinn NN3947

crò nmcrotha, crothadh gcròitean pl

sheep pen, fold, circle

Camas na Cròtha NB0320, Cnoc na Cròtha NB3529

cròcach adj

branched, antlered

Allt Cròcach NH5388, Loch Cròcach NC6459

crodh nmcruidh g

cattle

Meall a' Chruidh NB0117, Port a' Chruidh NR9258

croich nfcroiche gcroichean pl

gallows

Rubha na Croiche NN0062, Càrn na Croiche NH6572

croinn

see crann

Rubha Croinn NM7838

crois nfcroise gcroisean pl

cross

An Crois-eilean NF7964, Allt na Croise NM9679

croit nfcroite gcroitean pl

croft, hump

Càrn na Croite NH8431, Croit Darach NR5370

cròitean

see crò

crom adj

crooked

Crom Allt NC2406, Crom Leitir NJ2610

crotha, crothadh

see crò

Allt Gleann Crotha NN5020

cruach nfcruaiche gcruachan pl

heap, stack, bold hill

Cruach NN3316, Cruach a' Chaise NS1891

crùbachnm crùbaich g

lame man

Cnoc a’ Chrùbaich Mhòir NC8716

cruidh

see crodh

Meall Cruidh NN1241

crùn nmcrùin gcrùintean pl

crown

Cnoc Crùn na Maoil NR4148, Crùn a' Bhràghad NG2856

cù nmcoin gcoin, con (g)pl

dog

Coire nan Con NH4386, Meall nan Con NC5829

cuach nfcuaich gcuachan pl

hollow of a hill, cockle

Allt a' Chuaich NJ1033, Meall Chuaich NN7187

cuan nmcuain gcuantan pl

sea, ocean, large lake

Cuan Mòr NM4157, Sgeir a' Chuain NG2158

cuidhe nfcuidhe g

fold, pen, enclosure

Cuidhe Chrom NN4324, Lochan na Cuidhe NH2831

cùil nfcùile gcùiltean pl

nook, corner, niche

Cùil a' Mhadaidh ND0448, Cùil a' Mhuic NM8091

cùil

see cùl

Rubha Cùil NM7308

cuilc nfcuilce gcuilcean pl

reed

Glac nan Cuilc NG8090, Leac na Cuilce NG7977

cuileann nmcuilinn g

holly

Torran Cuilinn NH0155, Rubha Cuilinn NM9105

cùiltean

see cùl and cùil

Na Cùiltean NR5464

cuing nfcuinge gcuingean pl

narrow strait

Creag na Cuinge ND0819, Cuing-sgeir NR3968

cùirn

see càrn

Cùirn Dearga NH0091

cuithe nfcuitheachan pl

pit, narrow glen, deep moist place, patch of snow

Cuithe Lachlainn NF7974, Loch na Cuithe Moire NF7323

cùl nmcùil gcùiltean pl

back

Port Cùl a' Mhill NM3924, Spot a' Chùil ND0526

cumha(i)ng nmcumhaing g

narrow place, defile

Cumhang a’ Ghlinne NG8640, Allt a' Chumhaing NG8039

cumhang adj

narrow

Allt Cumhang NN3533, Bealach Cumhang NG5045

cumhann adj

alternative form of cumhang

Feadan Cumhann NM6523, Rubha Cumhann NM7068

cumhann nmcumhainn g

alternative form of cumha(i)ng

Allt a' Chumhainn NN1962, Loch a' Chumhainn NM4152

curach nfcuraich gcuraichean pl

marsh, fen, bog

Gleann Curachain NH4308, Port na Curaich NM2621