Colbost

Ceileabost

Meaning

cold farm, or farm of the rounded tops

Settlement

Location

Inverness-shire

Highland

NG209493

English / Map Form: Colbost

Gaelic Form: Ceileabost

Location: Skye, Inner Hebrides

Post Town: ISLE OF SKYE

County: Inverness-shire

Local Authority: Highland

Nearest Main Roads: B884

English / Map Form: Colbost

Gaelic Form: Ceileabost

Language Notes

Perhaps kald-bólstaðr or kolla-bólstaðr: ON nom. sg. masc. adj. kaldr, 'cold' or gen. pl. of ON kollr, masc. 'rounded top' + ON bólstaðr, masc. 'farm' = either 'cold farm' or 'farm of the rounded tops'

Element Meaning

ON kald ~ cold, or kollr ~ rounded top; bólstaðr ~ farm

Sources

Colbust 1776 Mackenzie: North part
Colbust 1804 Heather
Colbost 1820 Thomson
COLBOST (cald bost) cold place Forbes 1923, 134
Colbost (pronounced Cyalabost) MacBain 1922, 170
[“kʲʰεlə,bost] Local source, Sgianaidean
[“kʲʰεlə,bɔst] R. Cox

Additional Information

This derivation follows that of Gammeltoft 2001, 108, who notes that the lack of early records makes the name hard to interpret: ‘ON kollr, ‘a rounded top’, should be considered’. These forms, however, would presumably give a form such as *”khaLəbɔst. The name Calbost in Lewis is discussed in this context in Oftedal 1954, no. 119.