cliar Sheanchain

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

cliar (“company of wandering poets”) + Senchán Torpéist

Pronunciation

• (North Uist) IPA^(key): /kʰleh ˈhɛnaxɪɲ/

Noun

cliar Sheanchain m

1. (historical) A mythical company of travelling bards circulating primarily in the western Highlands, who tested the hospitality of their hosts, refusing to leave unless their demands were met or they were bested in wit.
2. somebody who is in the way, somebody who is testing one's hospitality
3. old decrepit thing or person

Further reading

• Edward Dwelly (1911) “cliar Sheanchain”, in Faclair Gàidhlig gu Beurla le Dealbhan [The Illustrated Gaelic–English Dictionary]‎^[2], 10th edition, Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited, →ISBN
• Catriona Black, Sly Cooking: 42 Irresistible Gaelic Words.
• John Shaw, Scottish Gaelic Traditions of the Cliar Sheanchain.