làir-mhaide

(CR) sf See-saw — W. of Ross. 2 An làir-mhaide (the wooden mare), an Uist game, generally played indoors, though sometimes outside also. A trapeze was made by means of two pieces of rope tied to a rafter and let down from the ceiling, with a pole tied to them at a distance of about three feet from the ground. On this pole the player had to balance himself, sitting astride. He held another pole in his hands. The object was to strike the ground on both sides with the pole without falling. Whenever one fell off, in addition to the severe shaking, one was out of the game. This game proved very beneficial exercise — “Uist Games” in Celtic Review, No. 16. Cuiridh mi air an làir-mhaide thu, (I will put you on the wooden mare), is used as a threat in Argyll, referring to the punishment of carrying a person astride on a pole resting on the shoulders of two others — (AH).

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