Monica has had quite a few requests for a glossary to help with some of the unfamiliar words that pop up occasionally in her books. Some are Gaelic and others are just peculiar to the early 17th century. A note on spelling... Spelling was not standardized and you might find some of the Gaelic words spelled differently in other places.
arisaidh: women’s plaid wrap worn over gown
aumbry/ambry: closet; cabinet in the wall
bairn: child
baldric: belt worn over shoulders to hold sword
banns: public announcement of marriage—typically called for three consecutive weeks
barmkin: courtyard; can also refuse to barmkin wall
bean sidh: fairies (banshees)
birlinn: type of boat/galley; resembles Viking longboat
bothan/bothy: small cottage or hut
Bratach shi: Fairy Flag
braw: big and strong
breacan feile: the belted plaid
calps: death duties paid to the chief
ceilidh: feast/celebration
claidheamhmór: type of sword
claret: red wine sometimes spiced
close: entry or passage
cotun: type of warcoat; could be leather or linen, stuffed with tubes of cotton, wool or other material
cuirm: strong beer or ale made from barley
destrier: war horse
dirk: dagger
Erse: word for Gaelic by non-Gaelic speakers (now considered pejorative)
farthingale: hoop skirt
fèis: feast; party; celebration
gallowglass: Scottish mercenary warriors
garderobe: bathroom
grassum: single payment of rent (usually in addition to periodic payments)
grozet: type of ale
habergeon: coat of mail; sleeveless
hagbut: long barreled firearm
jerkin: sleeveless jacket, usually leather. Could be worn over doublet.
knapscall: type of steel helmet; Highlanders sometimes wore a bonnet (hat) over it
lein croich (also just “leine”): type of shirt/tunic worn by Highlanders (and Irish) often dyed saffron
leman: mistress
luchd-taigh: guardsmen; household men: laird’s retinue
Maighdean na Tuinne: mermaids
merk: type of currency; Scottish silver coin; gave way to “merkland” a measure of land
mo gradh: my love
night raile: loose nightgown
patten: high wooden clog; often worn to protect slippers from mud
peascod: type of doublet
reive: raid; rob cattle
sark: shirt/chemise
sasine: (scots term for seisin) taking possession and title of property
seannachie: loosely bard; genealogist of clan; high ranking member of clan
solar: private room/chamber
sporran: pouch/purse worn by Highlander
stays: corset
stomacher: long triangular hard piece of fabric worn at front of gown.
tacksman: lessee of piece of land from chief; usually a close relative to chief; kind of middleman who would sublet to tenants
tanaiste: designated successor to chief
tocher: dowry
trews (triubhas): hose/leggings typically worn by Highlanders
uisge-beatha: whisky (note not “whiskey”); literally water of life
wadset: kind of mortgage
wynd: alley
