This is merely a quickened
pronunciation of the Gaelic _uam_ (or _uamh_), a cave; and it reminds
one that, both in Gaelic and in English, the word "cave" is by no means
restricted to a _natural_ cavity. Indeed, one of the two artificial
structures under consideration is known as _Uamh Sgalabhad_, "the _cave_
of Sgalabhad." Another old Gaelic name for those underground galleries
is "_tung_ or _tunga_";[61] while another name, by which they are known
in Lewis is _tigh fo thalaimh_,[62] or "house beneath the ground."
"Martin, in his description of the Western Islands, printed in 1703,
when their use would appear to have been still remembered, speaks of
them [these underground structures] as 'little stone-houses, built under
ground, called earth-houses, which served to hide a few people and their
goods in time of war.'"[63] Dean Monro writes, "There is sundry coves
and holes in the earth, coverit with hedder above, quhilk fosters many
rebellis in the country of the North head of Ywst" [North Uist].[64]
"From O'Flaherty's description of West Connaught, written in 1684, it
appears," observes Captain Thomas,[65] but referring more strictly to
the beehive-house, "that this style of dwelling had already become
archaic.
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