Jane's Norse Talk

Jane Brunton from Fionnphort gave the artistss a great talk on the etymology of local place names and their Norse connections, followed by a walk up Tormore and the surrounding landscape, illustrated by some fantastic local tales.

vík harbour/bay 

Ardfenaig = G.Àird fionn + N.vík = Promontory of the fair harbour 

Carsaig = N.Kjara vik = brushwood bay (or possibly Kari vik = Kari's bay) 

Croig = G. crò (fold)/crodh(cattle) + N.vik = cattle/fold bay (harbour where cattle were landed) 

Dervaig = N.dyr vik = deer bay; 

Ormsaig = N.Orm's harbour 

naes promontory 

Ardchrishnish = G.Àird Crois + N.naes = Cross/crossing promontory (àird + naes mean the same in G&N) 

Ardalanish = Àird Gheal (Gaelic) Naes (Norse) = White promontory (àird + naes mean the same in G&N) 

Ardvergnish = G.Àird + N.borg + Naes = Fortress promontory (àird + naes mean the same in G&N) 

Fishnish = N.fish naes = fish point/promontory; 

Mishnish =(possibly) N. måse+naes = seagull promontory 

Mornish = N.myrr+naes = moor promontory 

Quinish = N.kvi+naes = cattlefold point 

Treshnish = N.tres+naes = promontory/cape of the trees 

skeri skerry 

Erisgeir = N.eyrr-ar+skeri = shoal skerry 

øy island 

Fladda = N.flatr+øy = flat island 

Gometra = N. gottr + madr + ey = "The good-man's island" or "God-man's island". 

or N. Go.rma.ray may also mean "warrior priest's island" 

Little Colonsay = N. koll-vangsøy = little island of koll-vangr/hill field (or Kolbein's island) 

Soa = N.sauŏr+ey = sheep island 

Staffa = N.Staf-ey = Staff/stave (pillar) island 

Ulva = Uluv/ulf øy = Olaf's/wolf island 

muli ridge 

Langamull – N.langr+muli = long ridge 

hlidh side of hill 

Lee = N. hlidh = side of hill 

Fors waterfall 

Eas Fors Waterfall = G.eas+ N. fors+waterfall – waterfall inGaelic, Norse & English 

Glen Forsa = G.gleann +N. fors = waterfall glen 

bolstadr / bólstaŏr farm, dwelling place 

Assapoll = N. àss + bólstaŏr/bol-stadhr = rocky ridge dwelling place/farm, or N. vassr+ bólstaŏr/bol-stadhr = fresh water farm 

Eorabus = N. eyrr + bólstaŏr = beach dwelling place 

Scobull = N.Sco+bolstadr = Woody rising dwelling 

Tavool = N.Hár+bolstadr = high/slope dwelling 

borgr fort 

Burg = N.borgr = fort (iron age dun over 2000 years ago, small defensive enclosure with disproportionally thick walls: internal area 8.5x7m, wall up to 4.1m thick) 

Gardr 

Calgary = Kali Gardr = Kali's garden (or possibly Kald Gardr = cold garden) 

Norse Personal Names 

Ormsaig = Orm's harbour 

Uluvalt = uluv/ulf (Norse) allt (Gaelic) = Olaf's/wolf burn