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Balfour or Shaw of Gaelic etymology?
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 6:22 pm
by Thrissel
In
Kidnapped, David is introduced to Cluny as "the Laird of Shaws, Mr. David Balfour" and when he later reveals he has no Gaelic, Cluny says
"Your name has more sense than yourself, then, for it's good Gaelic." I can't figure out how he meant it - does anybody have an idea
Re: Balfour or Shaw of Gaelic etymology?
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 8:38 pm
by faoileag
From Scottish Place-names, by David Ross:
Balfour (Angus) 'pasture place'. Baile (SG) 'homestead'; pòr, 'pasture' with teh genitive form phùir, is a borrowing into Gaelic from Cumbric or Pictish, seen in modern Welsh, pawr. The same name is seen in unanglicised form in Baile Phùir (Highland)....
Shaw is (same source) apparently from OE sceaga or O Norse skógr, 'wood'.
Re: Balfour or Shaw of Gaelic etymology?
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 11:55 pm
by Thrissel
Mòran taing!
Re: Balfour or Shaw of Gaelic etymology?
Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 12:00 am
by Seonaidh
Tha mi eòlach, cuideachd, air "Balfour" mar "baile fuar". Chan eil cuimhne agam air David Balfour Khidnapped. 'S dòcha nach eil e glè chàirdeil, sin e mar [bhaile] fuar. Cuideachd, tha "seagh" (gu tric 's e "Seagha" airson "Shaw" sa Ghàidhlig) a' ciallachadh "sense" sa Bheurla. "The Laird of Senses, Mr. David Colton" => "Your name has more sense than yourself"?
Re: Balfour or Shaw of Gaelic etymology?
Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 12:46 am
by Thrissel
Feumaidh mi aideachadh gu bheil seo a' tachairt air duilleig 167 far a bheil Daibhidh fuar gu dearbh...
