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cuigeal n.f./m.

[eDIL cuicél; cf. FGB coigeal]

forms

singular

nominative

genitive:

dative:

vocative:

plural

genitive

dative

senses

    • A.I.1. A distaff.  

      • 1700
        Edward Lhuyd in the Scottish Highlands (1963) 187
        A Distaff. Kwigial, A[rgyll].
      • 1741
        Nuadhfhocloir Gaoidheilg & Beurla 90
        Cuigel A Destaff or Rock.
      • 1776
        Comh-chruinneachidh Orannaigh Gaidhealach 294
        Tharing te ghuidh cuigeal dhìrach, | ’Stabann mìne gheal marachan, | ’S nach bu caolidh na sitigh, | Sea gu libha ballchruinn.
      • 1801
        Leabhraiche an t-Seann Tiomnaidh Gnath-fhocail 31:19
        Cuiridh i a làmhan air an dealgan, agus gabhaidh glacan a làmh greim don chuigeil.
      • 1829
        An Teachdaire Gaelach I 152
        Is cuimhne leamsa nach rachadh bean do ’n bhuailidh, le cnò bhainn’ air a druim, gun a chuigeal ’s an fhearsaid a bhi aice; agus nach neo-shunndach tigh gun bhi ri sniomh.
      • 1872
        An Gaidheal I 147
        Dh’ fhalbh e so air feadh Sgìre ma cheallaig, agus chaidh e steach do thaigh ann, agus cha robh duine a steach ach triùir bhan ’s iad a’ sníomh air còig Cuigeilean.
      • 1889
        Waifs and Strays I 66
        Rinn iad an sin diùras ris a’ chuigeil: “’Chuigeal ullamh, ealamh, Fosgal an dorus dhuinn.” “’S mise gu’n deanadh,” ors’ a’chuigeal, “mar biodh car annam.”
      • 1893
        Mac-Talla I No. 40. 3
        Ruith i agus chuir i a’ Chuigeal tarsuinn air beul na h-uaghach (oir chual i nach b’ urrainn do’n spiorad dol air ais a steach do’n uaigh, cho fhad ’s a bhiodh a’ chuigeal tarsuinn oirre).
      • 1900
        Mac-Talla IX No. 9. 70
        Nach eil agam mar mhnaoi, an aon bhoirionnach a’s feàrr ’s a’s gaolaiche a chuir riamh làmh ri cuigeal no cas air creathall.
      • 1911
        Aig Tigh na Beinne 241
        Taobh a teallaich, ris an lòchran, | Ghabh i ’chuigeal ghleusd’ ’s an dòrnaig, | Thoinn i ’n lìon ri fonn a chrònain— | O, bu gheal a làmhan mìn!
      • 1955
        Folksongs and Folklore of South Uist 202
        Cuigeal na maighdin, | Stocain air bhiorain, | An t-snighe ’ga froighneadh.
      • 1997
        Gairm 178 120
        Bha cuibhle ann gu snìomh, càrdan gu cìreadh, cuigeal gu toinneamh, crois-iarna agus spal-ladhair gu fighe.

    • A.I.2. A distaff as a symbol of female power used as a weapon in rebellion against or in emasculation of men. Also figurative. Cf. a1899 Carmina Gadelica VI (1971) 55: ‘Distaff […] It is banned to strike a boy or male beast with it [because this deprived them of their potency]’.  

    • A.II. As a modifier.

    • A.II.1. With sorchan n.: the stand of a distaff.  

    • A.III. With a modifier.

    • A.III.1. With losgann n.: the early purple orchid or heath spotted-orchid.  

      • 1883
        Gaelic Names of Plants 75
        The name, cuigeal an losgain, the frog’s spindle, is applied to many of the orchis; and frequently the various names are given to both maculata and mascula.

    • A.III.2. With ban-sìthe n.: the common bulrush.  

    • A.III.3. With òr n.: a golden distaff.  

      • 1976
        Odusseia Homair 59
        Feadh ’s bha esan a’ tionndadh na smuain sin ’na inntinn ’s ’na chridhe, | mach as seòmar tùiseach an àrd-mhullaich thàinig an uair sin | Eilidh, ’s i coltach ri baindia na h-òr-chuigeil, Artemis.
      • 1976
        Odusseia Homair 59
        Mach orra rithis | thug a bhean d’Eilidh gibhtean bu ghrinn; chuir i òr-chuigeal leatha | ’s craidhleag rothach, te airgid is snasachadh òir oirr’ mu h-oirean.
    • B. In sense A.I. above in set phrases or proverbial use.
    • B.I. With literal reference to the use a woman makes of a distaff.

    • B.I.1. Cas air creatha(i)ll ’s làmh an(n an) cuigeil comharra air deagh bhean-taighe literally ‘A foot on a cradle and hand on a distaff: the mark of a good housewife’.  

    • B.I.2. Cuigeal don-s(h)nìomhaich(e) literally ‘A bad spinner’s distaff’.  

      • 1881
        Nicolson Proverbs 157
        Cuigeal don-snìomhaich. Bad spinning distaff. Said of an unthrifty or untidy woman.

    • B.I.3. Is tric a bha bean saoir gun chuigeil, ’s bean greusaiche gun bhròig literally ‘A carpenter’s wife is often without a distaff, and a shoemaker’s wife is often without shoes’.  

      • 1881
        Nicolson Proverbs 290
        Is tric a bha bean saoir gun chuigeil, ’s bean griasaiche gun bhròig. A carpenter’s wife has often wanted a distaff, and a shoemaker’s wife shoes.

    • B.I.4. Tapan gòraig air cuigeil crìontaig literally ‘The foolish woman’s tuft of wool on the industrious woman’s distaff’. Also, ‘the industrious woman’s tuft of wool on the foolish woman’s distaff’.  

    • B.II. In metaphorical use, applying to persons or situations more generally.
    • B.II.1. With air prep.

    • B.II.1.a. Cha b’ e an tlam/duan a bha air a chuigeil literally ‘It was not the lock of wool on his distaff’, it was not his, etc. concern.  

      • 1881
        Nicolson Proverbs 81
        Cha b’e an tlàm a bh’ air a chuigeil. That was not the stuff on his distaff. I hae ither tow on my rock.—Scot. She hath other tow on her distaff.—Eng.
      • a1927
        Meek Campbell Proverbs (1978) 174
        Chan e sin duan a tha air mo chuigeil.

    • B.II.1.b. Air a’ chuigeil literally ‘on the distaff’, in mind, in consideration.  

      • 1957
        Gairm 19 260
        Leis a’ bheagan so air a’ chuigeil shnìomh Coinneach naidheachd ghrinn air manach na h-I, a’ cantail nan salm leis fhéin, agus, le caoin na mara ’na ghuth, a’ teagasg an t-sluaigh mun cuairt da, eadar bheag agus mhór.

    • B.II.1.c. Air cuigeil literally ‘on a distaff’, in store, in the future, to come.  

      • 1913
        An t-Ogha Mór 16
        Cha robh cuilbheart an fhortain air cuigeil cho cruaidh, na’n deachaidh an cùmhnant a dheanamh aig làraich eile.
      • 1913
        An t-Ogha Mór 177
        “Dheanadh i sin, fhein,” chum e roimhe. “Oir rinn i farchluais air Mungan Tuathal a’ cur chuilbheirtean air cuigeil, greiseag mu’n tainig an oidhche.”

    • B.II.2. Biodh do chuigeal deas, cuiridh Dia an duan literally ‘Have your distaff ready, God will provide the tow’; used in reference to having faith.  

    • B.II.3. Cuigeal an dàin literally ‘the distaff of destiny’, destiny, fortune.  

      • 1913
        An t-Ogha Mór 148
        Le so ’san amharc, có esan cho coma ’na dhòigh, ’s a bheiridh an saoghal, easgaidh fo cheann, na’n robh cuigeal an dàin air a deanamh soilleir roimh làimh dha?

    • B.II.4. Is mairg a thachair dhan tìr thalmhanta, far nach snìomh cailbhe cuigeal literally ‘Pity the one who comes to the earthly land, where a partition won’t spin a distaff’’ Based on a story in folklore and said of those who expect their work to be done for them.  

      • 1881
        Nicolson Proverbs 268
        Is mairg a thachair dh’ an tìr thalmhanta, far nach snìomh cailbh’ cuigeal. Pity the one who comes to the land where a partition won’t spin a distaff.

    • B.II.5. Suas leis a’ chuigeil bharraich! Is iomadh latha fada gu Bealltainn literally ‘Up with the loaded distaff! There are many long days until May Day’. Used in reference to procrastination.  

      • 1881
        Nicolson Proverbs 350
        Suas leis a’ chuigeil bharraich! ’s ioma là fada gu Bealltainn. Up with the loaded distaff! there’s many a long day till May-day. Supposed to be the language of procrastination.