HEIFER 171 



(three-year-old bull), culldali ; Dairt, dartaid (two-year-old bulled), 

 dartaid-inide (three years old at Shrovetide), dartaidh, dartoid 

 (Ir.); Eannraidh (Suthd.), earc ; Fior-agh (two-year-old breeding), 

 forgo (Ir.) ; lannraidh (Suthd.) ; Laulghauch (full grown, about 

 to calve) ; Maoiseach, maoiseag, maoisleach ; Og-mhart ; Samaisc 

 (third year till bulled, — Ir.), samhaisg, samseisce, seach-bha, seaeh- 

 bho, seachlaeh, seachlaogach, seagaid ; Urchallach, urchullach. 



Arfer, ayfer ; Burling, burra ; Cuddoch, cuddock ; Haffer, 

 halfer, harfer, heckfar, heckfor, heifker, hekfere, heiyearauld 

 (Loth.), high-year-old, hiver ; Martin (spayed) ; Quaeg (Shet.), 

 quee, quey, qwye ; Ruck (small, Somerset) ; Whee, whie (Yorksh.) ; 

 YafFer, yat (North), yeifer (Devon). 



The etymology of this word is given as from A. S. " Heah " 

 and " Fear," an ox. Old Etruscan (supposed Celtic) Burra is 

 spotted-nose heifer, lit. "Nosy." 



Atharla, ox-calf — ath-ar-laogh, along with the term aigeach, 

 a young horse, may be the root word "og," young, in both cases, 

 whence also oigh, a maiden, and ogh, ogha, grandson, may be 

 derived. 



In regard to the term " Fior-agh," there is an old saying 

 which shows the wisdom of olden times : — 



Laogh firionn fior-aighe 



Na biodh air do ghreigh ; 

 Ged a bhiodh e fhein a fas 



Bidh an t-al a' meith. 

 The male calf of a two-year-old 



Let not among your herd ; 

 For though he himself will grow, 



His progeny will decay. 



The Rev. Mr M^Rury, Snizort, Skye, Mho supplies the above, 

 says, inter alia, "the idea underlying this verse is that it is unlucky 

 to keep the male calf of a two-year-old alive. I well remember 

 seeing such calves killed." This again is said to refer to the 

 twin heifer of a bull-calf, which is called " Martin," and is supposed 

 to be incapable of breeding. Immaturity has much to do with 

 the matter however. Names of places from the term " biorach " 

 are Allt-a-bhioraich at Barvas Moor, and another at Stacashal 

 mhaol on the Carloway, island of Lewis. The following "points" 

 of a good heifer is by Alasdair mac Bharr-aois who composed 

 "An drobhaireachd," and is from that song; it is given more 

 fully in the Duanaire. There are three verses given under 

 " Cow " almost the same : — 



Dh* aithn 'inn an t-agh dubh no ruadh Fd know the heifer (coloured) red 

 Dait' air suaieheantas a bhein or black 



'S na 'n leanadh a phris a suas. By the markings of its hide, 



Churaainn fhein 'mu 'n cuairt an And were the prices ruling high, 



ceum. It's I that would keep up the stride. 



