A Gael is a person whose language and way of life are Gaelic — most often someone from the Highlands or Islands of Scotland, though the same family of people lives in Ireland and on the Isle of Man. The word is not just 'a Scot'. Plenty of people in Scotland speak only English and would not call themselves Gaels. A Gael is tied to the Gaelic language and, often, to the idea that this old culture should keep its own path rather than melt into English-speaking Britain. People may use it with pride of themselves; from the outside it is a careful, slightly bookish label. Write it with a capital G.