Transactions. 137 
Acha or Achadh, a field, the most common being Auch. 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 :—Avuchenlairie is from the Gaelic words, Achadh-na- 
hiolurve, and signifies, the field of the eagle, proving that eagles 
then frequented the adjoining cliffs ; Awchenreoch, from Achadh- 
riabhach, meaning the grey-looking field; Awchencloy, from 
Achadh-na-cloiche, the field of the stone ; Awchlane, from Achadh- 
liana, the field of the plain; Awchengibbert, from Achadh-na- 
t-iobairt, the field of sacrifice. This name is so clearly of heathen 
origin that it proves its great antiquity. The pretix 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 ; Dalry, from Dail-righ, the king’s field ; it implies 
also sometimes that the field is level, Dazl-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, Magh 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 ; Zannymaas, 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 Azrd, 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 height, or else from Airde-righ, the king’s 
height ; Bal and Bel, from the Gaelic Baile, means not only a 
town or village, but also a farm, home, or dwelling ; Balgerran 
comes from Baile-gearr-an, which means the town on the short 
stream; Balcary, from Baile-na-carragh, the house of or at 
the pointed rocks; Salmaclellan and Balmaghie, the town 
or dwelling-place of the M‘Lellans and M‘Ghies; Bar and 
Barra, from the Gaelic Barr, meaning a point, extremity, 
or upper part, occurs very frequently. There being more 
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