Colbost
Ceileabost
Meaning
cold farm, or farm of the rounded tops
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.
