Language Notes

Sources

Dargevell 1747-55 Roy

Probably for doire gabhail (now gobhail), ‘copse of the fork’: Watson 1926, 201

There are several instances of ScG n.m/f. gabhail ‘lease’, or possibly ‘reserved for grazing; appropriated’ (DIL, under gabál), some exhibiting an intrusive ‑l‑ in anglicised form. ScG n.m. gobhal ‘fork’ is usually anglicised with go‑, but occasionally appears on record as gal(l), gawl, goil(l) or gyle. In most cases the fork is identifiable as being formed by water courses. The fork is not necessarily a conjoining of river branches, but rather refers to a narrow strip between two “prongs” which run almost parallel into a body of water.: Morgan 2013

Alternative Forms