cailleach

-iche, pl. cailleachan, sf Woman, single woman, old woman. 2 Old wife. 3 Woman without offspring. 4 Nun. 5 Carlin. 6(AC) Supernatural or malign influence dwelling in dark caves, woods and corries. 7 Coward, spiritless, heartless man. 8 The last handful of standing corn on a farm. 9 Circular wisp on the top of a corn-stack. 10(AF) see cailleachag-cheann-dubh. 11 see càileach. 12(DU) Smoke cowl. Ged a bha mi air uiread caillich a dh'arbhar, though I possessed no more corn than a wisp. Great emulation was displayed by all in harvest-time so as not to be last. Upon him came the cost of maintaining the other people if a dearth set in the spring. The Cailleach was tied up with ribbons, and hung up on a nail till spring. On the first day of ploughing it was taken down and given as a handsel for luck to the horses — N.G.P.

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