Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
LOCHIEL, prop. n. Also Locheil. The name of a sea-loch in w.Inverness-shire in the territory of the Clan Cameron, whose head is freq. styled Lochiel. Phr. Lochiel's lantern, the moon, the light of which guided the Highland freebooters on their cattle-raids. Cf. Macfarlane, prop. n., 1. [lɔx′i:l]Sc. 1860 W. G. Stewart Lectures on the Mountains I. 28:
By the light of the moon (sometimes called Lochiel's lantern) … the great Creich or Raid of the Mearns left a very salutary impression on the minds of the. sons of the Avon.Sc. 1924 I. F. Grant Old Highl. Farm 14:
The moon was known as “Lochiel's Lantern,” and there was a saving that “Highland lairds counted their daughters' tochers by the light of the Martinmas moon”.
