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Bùrn is uisge

Canaidh Iain (Leòdhasach) bùrn ris an rud a thig às an tap, ach canaidh Flòraidh (Uibhisteach) uisge ris.

Canaidh Iain uisge ris an rud a thig às an adhar, mar a chanas Flòraidh. Cha chleachd Flòraidh am facal bùrn idir.

A' dol air ais linntean, agus bha Iain a' smaoineachadh gur ann air Leòdhas a-mhàin a bha seo a' bualadh, bhite, a rèir coltais, a' toirt bùrn no uisge às an tobar a-steach a h-uile latha dhan an t-seachdain, Latha na Sàbaid no Didòmhnaich cuideachd.

Tha e coltach gur e uisge a chante ris a' bhùrn a bhite a' toirt a-steach Latha na Sàbaid agus b' e bùrn a bha aca air na bhiodh iad a' toirt a-steach na làithean eile.

Cha nigheadh daoine iad fhèin Latha na Sàbaid le uisge sam bith ach an t-uisge a thigeadh a-steach Latha na Sàbaid.

Cha nigheadh iad iad fhèin, mar eisimpleir, le uisge a thigeadh a-steach Disathairne.

Dh'atharraich cùisean agus sguir daoine a dhol dhan tobar air Latha na Sàbaid ach lean am facal bùrn, a-nis air a chleachdadh gach latha dhen t-seachdain Cha chleachdte uisge ach airson an rud a thigeadh as an adhar.

A rèir an fhiosrachaidh a fhuair Martin Martin anns na h-Eileanan Flannach (mu 1695) chan fhaodadh muinntir an eilein sin am facal uisge a chleachdadh idir. B' e bùrn a-mhàin a bha iad a' cleachdadh ach cha robh an seo ach dìreach aon de na facail a bha air an toirmeasg dhaibh.

"It is absolutely unlawful to call the island of St Kilda (which lies thirty leagues southward) by its proper Irish name Hirt, but only the high country. They must not so much as once name the islands in which they are following by the ordinary name Flannan, but only the country.

"There are several other things that must not be called by their common names, e.g.Visk, which in the language of the natives signifies water, they call Bùrn; a rock which in their language is Creg, must here be called Cruey i.e. hard; Shore in their language, expressed by Claddach, must here be called Vah, i.e. a Cave; Sour in their language as expressed Gort, but must be here called Gaire i.e. Sharp; Slippery which is expressed Bog must be called Soft; and several other things to this purpose. They account it also unlawful to kill a fowl after evening prayers."

Martin Martin, A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland c1695, Birlinn Ltd, Edinburgh 1994