Etymology
In Donald Munro's A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland Called Hybrides of 1549, North Uist, Benbecula and South Uist are described as one island of Ywst (Uist). Starting in the south of this 'island', he described the division between South Uist and Benbecula where "the end heirof the sea enters, and cuts the countrey be ebbing and flowing through it". Further north of Benbecula he described North Uist as "this countrey is called Kenehnache of Ywst, that is in Englishe, the north head of Ywst".
Some have given the etymology of Uist from Old Norse meaning "west", much like Westray in the Orkney Islands. Another speculated derivation from Old Norse is Ivist, derived from vist meaning "an abode, dwelling, domicile". "Ívist" was the name used for Uist in the Old Norse sagas. A Gaelic etymology is also possible, with I-fheirste meaning "Crossings-island" or "Fords-island", derived from I meaning "island" and fearsad meaning "estuary, sand-bank, passage across at ebb-tide". Place-names derived from fearsad include Fersit, and Belfast.
In a paper of 1988, Richard Coates compares the placename Uist with the Balearic island name Ibiza.
Read more about this topic: North Uist
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