Talk:North Uist

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Text moved from main article. No conclusive evidence at the External Link about flag. Google throws little up either.

Contents 1 Flag 2 Underwater? 3 Na Fir Bhrèige 4 Meaning of 'Uist'

[edit] Flag

All of the northern Outer Hebridean islands have the colour blue as part of their design. The flag of North Uist is quite distinct – just a simple white star on a blue background. Its origin is unclear but maybe it represents the North Star. [[1]]

[edit] Underwater?

With the exception of the south east, the island is very flat, with over half being under water.

Is this a joke, or should it read "with over half being below sea level"?

I've changed it anyway - - calum 13:29, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

Well I don't think much of the island is below sea level (unless you are including the many sea lochs), although there are some salt water lagoons. I believe that Uist, like many of the Western Isles is covered by a large number of small lakes and lochan. Take a look at the map. I suspect the original meaning was meant to be 'with over half being covered with water'. -- Solipsist 14:07, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

Should also say I wouldn't be so confident of the 'over half' pop statistic. -- Solipsist 14:10, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for the info. To be quite honest, I badly misunderstood the original statement - I thought it meant there was part of the island that was shielded from sea level by higher ground. Thankfully, it makes much more sense now! - Image:Icons-flag-scotland.png calum 22:34, 21 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Na Fir Bhrèige

"Na" is one of the Scottish Gaelic plurals of "the," so it's incorrect to say "the Na Fir Bhrèige." Picky, I know, but it's a bit like saying "The Le Monde." —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 206.116.98.248 (talk • contribs) 06:31, 2 September 2006.

Thanks - I've often wondered how many cross cultural prepositions you can get into one phrase. I believe that the Arabic prefix 'Al' also means 'the', but is generally contracted into the loan words used in English (and other European languages). So perhaps I could say that earlier this year I visited the 'La Alhambra' in Spain - that scores 3... Oh and don't worry, being picky (or at least accurate) is generally appreciated in these parts. -- Solipsist 10:50, 2 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Meaning of 'Uist'

There is a discussion about the derivation of the word at Talk:List of islands of Scotland#Derivation of 'Uist'/'Uibhist' with a related link to Talk:Old Norse. Ben MacDui (Talk) 17:02, 1 July 2007 (UTC)

Currently resolved by ignoring Haswell-Smiths apprently erroneous assertion that 'yoo-ist' is 'west' in Old Norse (see Talk:Old Norse) and instead using The Chronicle of Man. Manx Society. Vol XXII, which states "Northuist, Harris, and Southuist, were called Ivist, which means simply dwelling, habitation, intimating, perhaps, that this was the chief abode of the Norwegians in that quarter of the group."and Germanic Lexicon Project which indicates 'inni-vist' as the likely root. Ben MacDui (Talk) 20:42, 4 July 2007 (UTC)