Page:Alexander Macbain - An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language.djvu/476

408 Mac-lellan, G. M'Gillf haolain, M. G. M'Gillelan (D. of L.), Gilla- faelan (1467 MS.), St Fillan's slave, E. Ir. Faeldn, 0. Ir. Fdilan, from fdil, now faol, wolf, q.v. Hence Giljillan.

Mac-lennan, G. M'lllinnein, Servant of St Finnan, Ir. Mac- Gilla-finnen (common in fourteenth and fifteenth century), M. Ir. Finden, E. Ir. Finnian, Adamnan's Vinnianus = Finnio, Finnionis = Findbarrus ; from Jinn, jionn, white : the full name, of which Finnan is a pet form, was Findbarr or "Fair- head," Eng. Fairfax. Skene deduced Mac-lennan from M. G. M'Gilla-agamnan, Adamnan's gille, documents Gilleganan Macneill (1545), Gilleownan (1427).

Mac-leod, G. M'Ledid, M. G. M'Cloyd (D. of L.), M'Leod (MS. 1540), documents Macloyde (fourteenth century), 0. G. Le'ot (B. of Deer), Norse Sagas Ljdtr, earl of Orkney in tenth century, and otherwise a common Norse name ; the word is an adj. meaning "ugly" (!), Got. liuta, dissembler, Eng. little.

Mac-mahon, G. M'Mhathain ; see Matheson.

Mac-martin, G. M'Mhairtinn, no doubt for earlier Gillamartain, gen. (1467 MS., an ancestor of the Cameron chiefs) : Eng. Martin, from Lat. Martinus, the name of the famous fourth century Gaulish saint; it means "martial."

Mac-master, G. M'Mhaighistir, son of the Master.

Mac-michael, G. M'Mhicheil, doubtless for earlier Gillamichol ; see Carmichael.

Mac-millan, G. M'Mhaolain, M'Grhille-mhaoil, son of the Bald gille (cf. M'Glashan). To Maolan must be compared the Ogmic Mailagni.

Mac-nab, G. M' An-aba, M. G. m< ynnab (D. of L.), M l An Aba (1467 MS.) : "son of the Abbot" j see aba.

Mac-nair, G. M'An-uidhir ; for Mac lain uidhir, son of dun (odhar) John (cf. Makaneroy, 1556, now Mac-inroy, and Makaneduy, 1526, now Mac-indoe). Such is the source of the Gairloch branch of the name. The Perthshire sept appears in documents as W'lnayr (1468), Macnayr (1390), which is explained as M l An-oighre, son of the heir. MNuirs in Cowal (1685), John Maknewar (1546, in Dunoon) ; Tho. M'Nuyer (1681, Inverness). Prof. Mackinnon suggested M l An-fhuibhir, son of the smith or faber ; nor should M l An-fhuidhir, the stranger's son, be overlooked as a possible etymology.

Mac-naughton, G. M'Neachdainn, M. G. M'Neachtain (1467), O. G. Nectan, Pictish Nation (Bede), from necht, pure, root nig of nigh, wash.