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Acha or Achadh, a field, the most commou being Aiich. There 

 are over thirty places with this name in the Stewartry. These 

 being often in groups make known to us where the cultivated 

 lands of the Gael were situated, and where they have made most 

 progress in agriculture, and thereby in civilisation. Time will 

 only admit of a limited number in each case being given as 

 examples : — Auchenlairie is from the Gaelic words, Achadh-na- 

 hiolarie, and signifies, the field of the eagle, proving that eagles 

 then frequented the adjoining cliffs ; Auchenreoch, from Achadh- 

 riabhach, meaning the grey-looking field ; Auchencloy, from 

 Achadh-na-doiche, the field of the stone ; Auchlane, from Achadh- 

 liaiia, the field of the plain ; Auchengihbert, from Achadh-na- 

 t-iobairt, the field of sacrifice. This name is so clearly of heathen 

 origin that it proves its great antiquity. The prefix Dal, which 

 is from the Gaelic Dail, means also a field, but is not so common 

 as the former word ; Dalquhairn, from Dail-a-chairn, the field 

 of the cairn ; Dairy, from Dail-righ, the king's field ; it implies 

 also sometimes that the field is level, Dail-reidh meaning the 

 level or smooth field ; Dalbeattie, from Dail-beithe, the birch-tree 

 field. The birch among the ancient Gael was used as an emblem 

 of readiness to do a kindness. A young maiden presented her 

 lover with a twig of birch as a sign of her acceptance of him. 

 The Gaelic words, Magli, and Machair, both signify a plain, and 

 sometimes a field ; Machermore, from Machair-mor, the great 

 plain ; Balmae, from Baile-magh, the hamlet or home of the 

 plain ; Tannymaas, from Teine-magh, the fire field. This name 

 is evidently of heathen origin, referring to where fires had been 

 specially lighted to the pagan god, Bel. The next in order of 

 the prefixes is that of Aird, Airde, or Ard, signifying height, 

 high, lofty ; Ardoch, from Ardach, meaning the high field ; Laird- 

 mannoch, evidently a corruption of Ard-mheadhonach, the middle 

 height, which very aptly describes its position ; Airdrie, from 

 Airde-reidh, the smooth heiglit, or else from Airde-righ, the king's 

 height ; Bal and Bel, from tlie Gaelic Baile, means not only a 

 town or village, but also a farm, home, or dwelling ; Balgenan 

 comes from Baile-gearr-an, which means the town on the short 

 stream ; Baleary, from Baile-na-carragh, the house of or at 

 the pointed rocks ; Bahnaclellan and Balmaghie, the town 

 or dwelling-place of the M'Lellans and M'Ghies ; Bar and 

 Ba/rra, from the Gaelic Barr, meaning a point, extremity, 

 or upper part, occurs very frequently. There being more 



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