I wonder whether anyone can help with this?

I'm researching the Macleods of Lewis (Scotland) and have come across an old tradition saying that a father refused to give his daughter in marriage because "gun ro leum na ceann aig aird na gealaich" which seems to mean "she was crazy (lit. she had a leap in her head) because of the full moon".

This phrase 'leap in her head' makes me think of the phrase 'headstaggers' which, as far as I know, is used in Northern Ireland. Perhaps in the Republic too?

So, my question...is 'headstaggers' an anglicisation of some Gaeilge phrase - perhaps similar to the Scottish Gaelic phrase mentioned above??

Many thanks for your time!
William

I don't speak Scots Gaelic. But that doesn't look like it could be the meaning. And I've never heard the English expression. Caoimhín or Lughaidh our Gaelic experts will be around soon.

Thanks - it is old Scots Gaelic (written about 1865-1870) and so some of the spelling is archaic and/or phonetic.
As for 'headstaggers', I've heard a number of Northern Irish friends use it...you can see one usage of it here: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.p ... adstaggers

Thanks again,
William

Staggers is the name of a disease in cattle and sheep - they tremble and have trouble standing up - somebody somewhere in NI adapted its use by adding the word to - head. As far as I can see, its use is restricted to Ulster.

The answer you got at Fòram na Gàidhlig seems to make good sense, and "akerbelts" is far more knowledgeable than anyone here:

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I'm not a native (or entirely fluent) speaker, so be sure to wait for confirmations/corrections, especially for tattoos.

Thanks CaoimhínSF. I hope I haven't given the impression of ignoring akerbeltz's thoughts - they're excellent. I was just summarising my understanding which is (mostly) based on what akerbeltz wrote.

I was posting on here to find out whether 'headstaggers' might be an anglicisation of some Irish Gaelic phrase...more out of interest than to further my understanding of the original phrase.

William