This Gaelic war cry, correctly pronounced "kay yi-al" and usually translated as "no surrender," is the rousing conclusion of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ traditional cheer (see below). The cheer is now used almost exclusively in the chorus of "¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ College Colours," popularly known as the Oil Thigh song, but actually predates the song.
The cheer was composed in 1891 by three Gaelic-speaking students: Donald Cameron, F.A. McRae, and another called MacLean, whose first name is not known. It was incorporated into "¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ College Colours" when the song was written in 1897.
The term "Cha Gheill" is sometimes used separately, especially between older alumni at university occasions, as a jocular equivalent of "Cheers!" or as a salutation at the end of letters.
The original cheer was:
Dearg! Gor'mus! Buidthe!
Oil Thigh na Banrighinn gu Brath!
Cha Gheill! Cha Gheill! Cha Gheill!
This translates as:
Red! Blue! Yellow!
¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ forever!
No surrender!
It is pronounced:
Jarg! Gormoos! Boo-ee-ee-ee!
Oil Thigh na Banree gu Braw!
Kay Yi-al!
The words "Dearg! Gor'mus! Buidthe!" were later replaced by "¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥! ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥! ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥!"