On the Road

A basic, speculative, Ulster-Scots vocabulary on the theme of travel, towns and traffic.

roád [pronounced ROW-ADD] — direction, way, (also ‘road’, as English).

causey — route, road

gate — road, street

raa — street, terrace

deid-en — cul-de-sac

entrìe — narrow side-street

loanen — lane

loanie — laneway

avenue — private drive

rodden — minor road, back road (in the country)

pad — path

close — entry, passageway (in a town); farmyard, ‘street’ (on a farm)

yin-traiker causey — single carriageway

twa-traiker causey — dual carriageway

ganway — pathway

fitpad — pavement, footpath

cribben — kerb

cribben-stanes — kerb-stones

mottìrwey — motorway

clachan — village, hamlet, cluster of houses

toun — town

citie — city

pun — pound (for livestock markets)

diamond [pronounced DIE-MAUN] — the area bounded by a number of road junctions (often a market ‘square’)

croon o the causey — middle of the road

sindrins — fork in the road, junction

roonaboot — roundabout

(sax) roád ens — intersection of (six) roads

(sax) corners — intersection of (six) roads

turn — bend in road

car [pronounced KYAUR] — horse drawn vehicle

mottìr [pronounced MOW-THIR, or MO’ER (with glottal stop)] — car, motor-car

pushbike [‘push’ rhymes with ‘slush’] — cycle, bicycle, bike

mottìrbike — motorcycle, motorbike

tràictèr [pronounced THRAYKTHER] — tractor

truck — lorry

vaun — van

airyplane, plane — aeroplane, plane

railroád injun — railway train

dròme — airport

airfiel — airport

railroád traiks — railway lines

railroád sheddins — level crossing, railway points

staunce — station, stop, bus terminus

brig — bridge

coble — ferry

midstraik — central reservation

Ae Roád — One Way

Gate Narras — Road Narrows

Nae Waffs — No Signals

Stay — Stop

Stell — Stop

Gang — Go

Imore Lichts — Dip Lights

Nae Roád Oot — No Through Road

Fit-gangers — Pedestrians

Nae Ingaun — No Entry

Nae Pushbikes — No Cycling

Nae Richt Thraw — No Right Turn

Nae Ker Thraw — No Left Turn

Nae Owretákin — No Overtaking

Haul Ker — Keep Left

Fair Forrit — Ahead Only

T-Sindrins — T-Junction

Affset Sindrins — Staggered Junction

Twa-traiker Causey Quäts — Dual Carriageway Ends

Bäg Roád Aheid — Major Road Ahead

Gate Darg — Road Works

Bad Tùrn Cummin — Dangerous Bend Ahead

Leich Brig — Low Bridge

Lowden Raik — Reduce Speed

Hie Stent — Speed Limit

Nae Raik Stent — No Speed Limit

Huilie! — Slow! Go Slow!

Caa Cannie — Slow Down

Stye Sklent — Steep Gradient

Biggin Aheid — Construction Work Ahead

Stye Brae — Steep Hill

Mynn Skitein Stanes — Beware Loose Chippings

Pairkin — Car Park

Fair Forrits — Straight Ahead

Straucht On — Staight Ahead

Ingate Stentit — Access Limited

Gate A-biggin — Road Under Construction

Aisy — Slow

Wittins — Information

Trìppers — Tourists

Trìpper-Speirin Biroo — Tourist Information Centre

Leid Mearin — National Boundary

Muckle Waa’s — Ruined Historic Monument

Leuk-oot Hicht — Viewpoint

Haw — Large House, Mansion

Tha Mids — Centre

Lanngates — Country-bound

Til Doontoun — To Town Centre