 Stroma , from the Norse Straumøy means " current island " or " island in the tidal stream " , a reference to the strong currents in the Pentland Firth . The Norse often gave animal names to islands and these have been transferred into English in for example , the Calf of Flotta and Horse of Copinsay . Brother Isle is an anglicisation of the Norse breiðareøy meaning " broad beach island " . The Norse holmr , meaning " a small islet " has become " Holm " in English and there are numerous examples of this use including Corn Holm , Thieves Holm and Little Holm . " Muckle " meaning large or big is one of few Scots words in the island names of the Nordreyar and appears in Muckle Roe and Muckle Flugga in Shetland and Muckle Green Holm and Muckle Skerry in Orkney . Many small islets and skerries have Scots or Insular Scots names such as Da Skerries o da Rokness and Da Buddle Stane in Shetland , and Kirk Rocks in Orkney . 
