364 PISH— GOBY 



Tha iasg 's a chuain cho math 's chaidh a ghlacadh fhathasd. 



There's as good fish in the sea as has been caught yet. 

 Tha 'n t-iasg 's a chuain mar tha 'n sluagh air tir. 



The fish in the sea like us mortals be. Nicolson says, 

 somewhat cynically, easily taken with bait, and generally 

 going in shoals. This proverb has been thought to 

 mean as regards numbers and changes, etc. 



FLOUNDEK.— Anbac-car (Ir.); Fleogan ; Garbag, garbling 

 (rough) ; Leabag, leathag, leathag-dearg or fior-uisge, leitheach, 

 leitheag, leobag, liabag, liadhbhog, libeag. 



Bannack or bannock-fluke, bannet, bare-back, bastard turbot 

 (brill), black-back, black hairy fluke, bonnet-fluke, borhame, brett, 

 brill, brit (brill), butt ; Common flounder, craig-fluke ; Dab, deb- 

 flook ; Flat, fleuk, fleuke, floe, floke (A. S.), flook, floundab, fluke, 

 fluttock ; Gunner ; Kite ; Lantern, long-fluke, lug-a-leaf (brill) ; 

 Mayock-fleuke or flook, miller's topknot, mud-flounder ; IVarl, 

 pearl-flook or fluke, podloche, podlock, pole-dab or fleuke ; Rannok- 

 flook ; San' or sand-fleuk, sandsucker (long, rough), salmon 

 flounder (fresh water), saltie, salt-water fleuke, sea-bague, siller- 

 fluke (brill), skatt, smear-dab, sble-flook ; Turbot, turbot-flook. 



The word "fluke," etc., is from the Icelandic "floki," a kind of 

 halibut. "Liabag," etc., is from "li," Old Celtic for sea; Anpac- 

 car is not so easily analysed. Car means fish, lit., am pac or am 

 pacach car or perha})S cearr. 



Some of the names given to flounders are also found in use for 

 turbot and halibut. A saying, by way of reprisals, is " Bithidh 

 leapagan aig Bhuille fhathasd," but we have no explanation. 



According to a vulgar but widespread belief, the flounder is 

 supposed to have got its crooked mouth from " making faces " up 

 at the rock cod. Also said to have been caused by Saint Columba 

 in retaliation (which saints were not above indulging in), for being 

 called " Cama-chasach," or crooked-legs, which was a gross 

 misnomer, the saint having been a noble and perfect specimen of 

 physical humanity. 



Cuir do lamh 's a chliabh 's thoir do rogha liabaig as. 



Put your hand into the creel and take your choice of flounders. 

 Thought to refer to the chances of matrimony, flounders 

 not being esteemed so much as most other fish. 



GOBY (see also Angler). — Buidhleis, buillis ; Greusaiche ; 

 Lon-chraois. 



Angler ; Baggaty, battle-head, berguilt, bergwylt (black) ; bib, 

 black devil or goby, bluid, bubby or bullhead or knob (armed). 



