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ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
OF THE
GAELIC LANGUAGE
PHINTKD BY THK NOKTliJiiKN COUNTIKS NKWSPAt'KR AND PKlNTlMd ANU PUBLISHINO
COMPANY, LIMITED, INVERNESS.
ALEX. /AACBAIN, /n A., LL.D.
^OLLECTlo-
AN
ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
OF THIC
GAELIC LANGUAGE
BY
ALEXANDER MACBAIN, LL.D.
^
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^. of Med/ae,J^
I 1 n n A nv >
/'
SIIRLING: ENEAS MACKAY
1911
FIRST EDITION 1896
2)e^lcate^
MEMORY
REV ALEXANDER CAMERON, LL-D.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
Alexander MacBain, the author of this book, was born in Glen-
feshie of Badenoch, in Inverness-shire, in the year 1855. He
spent his boyhood in his native district, and began his career
there as a pupil teacher. Later on he was for a short time with
the Ordnance Survey in Wales. In his nineteenth year he went
to Old Aberdeen Grammar School : two years later, to King's
College ; graduated in 1880 ; and, in the same year, received the
appointment of rector of Raining's School, Inverness. This post
he held until 1894, when the school was transferred to the
administration of the local Board. From that time until the close
of his life he held a position in the High School of Inverness. In
1901 he was made an LL.D. by the University of Aberdeen.
The range of his studies in the Celtic field covered mythology,
philology, history, manners and customs, and place and personal
names. His literary output, extending over only 24 years,
though not voluminous, involved much preparatory work, and is
of great value for the acumen and originality exercised in the
study and elucidation of the subjects which he took in hand.
A large number of his papers appeared in the Transactions
of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, and also in pamphlet form.
These comprise, besides others, articles on "Celtic Burial,"
"Who were the Picts?" "The Chieftainship of Clan Chattan,"
" Badenoch History, Clans, and Place Names," " Ptolemy's
Geography," " The Norse Element in Highland Place Names,"
" Personal Names," and " The Book of Deer." In collaboration
with the Rev. John Kennedy he brought out the two volumes of
" Reliquiae Celticse," containing much matter for the student of
Gaelic. He edited " Skene's Highlanders," to which he added a
short but valuable excursus. Along with Mr John Whyte,
Inverness, he prepared two useful Gaelic school-books and an
edition of MacEachan's Gaelic Dictionary.
His most important work, however, is " The Etymological
Dictionary of the Gaelic Language," issued in 1896, of which the
present volume is the second edition. Unfortunately, he was
prevented from personally superintending its publication by his
sudden demise in April, 1907, when in the town of Stirling
making arrangements with the publisher.
EDITORIAL NOTE
The present edition of Dr MacBain's Etymological Dictionary
consists of the text of the original edition, with interposed
additions, amendments, and corrections drawn from the
author's '' Further Gaelic Words and Etymologies," from the
" Addenda et Corrigenda " at the end of the first edition, and
from written jottings on interleaved copies of these books.
Nothing has been added to TDr MacBain's work except
the Supplement to The Outlines of Gaelic Etymology, the words
and letters in square brackets, and a few slight changes from the
original text, which are the work of the Rev. Dr George Henderson,
Lecturer in Celtic Languages and Literature in the University of
Glasgow, who found it necessary to abandon his intention of seeing
the Gaelic Etymological Dictionary through the press, after
reaching the sixteenth page of the " Outlines " ; and a few
suggestions in brackets followed by "Ed."
Nothing has been left out which could be deciphered, ar
applied with any measure of confidence. Even queried
suggestions have been given, in the belief that mere flashes of
thought by an expert may often point the way towards correct
findings.
CALUM MAC PHARLAIN.
CORRIGENDUM ET ADDENDUM
At the foot of page 97 restore dropped m'a.
To goireag on page 391 add ( = cock of hay; also in parts of
Suth. gbrag = large coil of hay. See coileag in Dicty.
Ed.)
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION
This is the first Etymological Dictionary that has appeared of
any modern Celtic language, and the immediate cause of its
appearance is the desire to implement the promise made at
the publication of Dr Cameron's Reliquiae Celticce, that an
etymological dictionary should be published as a third or
companion volume to that work. Some learned friends hav€
suggested that it is too early yet to publish such a work, and
that the great Irish Dictionary, which is being prepared just
now by a German savant, should be waited for ; but what I
hope is that a second edition of this present book will be called
for when the German work has appeared. Celtic scholars, if
they iind nothing else in the present Dictionary, will, at least,
iind a nearly pure vocabulary of Scottish Gaelic, purged of the
mass of Irish words that appear in our larger dictionaries ;
and, as for my countrymen in the Highlands, who are so very
fond of etymologising, the work appears none too soon, if it
will direct them in the proper philologic path to tread. With
this latter view I have prefaced the work with a brief account
of the principles of Gaelic philology.
The words discussed in this Dictionary number 6900 :
derivative words are not given, but otherwise the vocabulary
here presented is the completest of any that has yet appeared.
Of this large vocabulary, about two-thirds are native Gaelic
and Celtic words, over twenty per cent, are borrowed, and
thirteen per cent, are of doubtful origin, no etymology being
presented for them, though doubtless most of them are native.
The work is founded on the Highland Society's Gaelic
Dictionary, supplemented by M'Alpine, M'Eachan, and other
sources. I guarded especially against admitting Irish words,
^. PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.
T\itb which dictionaries like those of Shaw and Armstrong
swarm. Shaw, in 1780, plundered unscrupulously from
Lhuyd (1707) and O'Brien (1758), and subsequent dictionary-
makers accepted too many of Shaw's Irish words.. Another
trouble has been the getting of genuine Irish words, for
O'Reilly (1823) simply incorporated Shaw's Dictionary and
M'Farlane's Scotch Gaelic Vocabulary (1815) into his own.
For genuine modern Irish words I have had to trust to Lhuyd,
O'Brien, Coneys, and Foley. For early Irish, I have relied
mainly on Windisch, Ascoli, and Atkinson, supplementing
them by the numerous vocabularies added by modern editors
to the Irish texts published by them.
For the etymologies, I am especially indebted to Dr
Whitley Stokes' various works, and more particularly to his
lately published U rkeltischer Spi'achschatz. I have, however,
searched far and wide, and I trust I have not missed anything
in the way of Celtic etymology that has been done for the last
twenty or thirty years here or on the Continent. In form the
book follows the example of Mr Wharton's excellent works on
Latin and Greek philology, the Etyma Latina and the Etynia
GrcEca, and, more especially, the fuller method of Prellwitz'
Etymolgisches Worterhuch der GriechiscJien S'prache.
The vocabulary of names and surnames does not profess to
be complete. That errors have crept into the work is doubt-
less too true. I am sorry that I was unable, being so far
always from the University centres, to get learned friends to
look over my proofs and make suggestions as the work
proceeded ; and I hope the reader will, therefore, be all the
more indulgent towards such mistakes as he may meet with.
ALEXANDER MACBAIN.
Inverness, 13th January, 1896.
PREFACE TO FURTHER GAELIC WORDS
AND ETYMOLOGIES
Since the publication of my Etymological Dictionary of the
Gaelic Language in January, 1896, I have had the benefit of
criticisms of that work both publicly and privately, and the
result of these, along with what I have gleaned from my own
reading and thinking, I here give to the Gaelic Society and
the public, so as to form a sort of addenda et corrigenda to
my dictiona-ry. I have to thank the critics of that work for
their almost unanimous praise of it ; its reception was very
flattering indeed. The criticisms of most weight were from
foreign scholars, th-e best in the way of addition and suggestion
being that of Prof. Kuno Meyer in the Zeitschrift fur CeltiseJie
Fhilologie. In Scotland the Inverness Courier gave the
weightiest judgment on the general philology of the work ;
and other j^ajDers and periodicals as well added their qjiota of
fruitful criticism. Nor did the work fail to meet with critics
who acted on Goldsmith's golden rule in the '' Citizen of the
World " — to ask of any comedy why it was not a tragedy, and
of any tragedy why it was not a comedy. I was asked how I
had not given derivative words — though for that matter most
of the seven thousand words in the Dictionary are derivatives ;
^uch a question overlooked the character of the work. Mani-
fest derivatives belong to ordinary dictionaries, not to an
etymological one. This was clearly indicated in the preface ;
the work, too, followed the best models on the subject —
Prellwitz, Wharton, and Skeat. Another criticism was
unscientific in the extreme : I was found fault with for
excluding Irish words ! Why, it was the best service I could
render to Celtic philology to present a pure vocabulary of the
a;^^. preface to further Gaelic words and etymologies.
Scottish dialect of Gadelic ; the talk of the impossibility of
" redding the marches " between Irish and G-aelic may be
Celtic patriotism, but it is not science. As against this
criticism, I was especially congratulated by Prof. Windisch
for attempting to redd these same marches. A funny criticism
was passed on the style of printing adopted for the leading
words j no capitals are used at the beginning of each article.
The critic had not seen a dictionary before without such
capitals, and it offended his eye to see my work so ' ' headless ' '
as it is ! Here again acquaintance with like philological works
would have removed the '' offence " and shown the utility of
the style. In fact in Gaelic, with its accented vowels, capital
initials are troublesome and unsightly, and the philological
method is at once more scientific and more easy to work.
The following vocabulary contains (1) etymologies for
words not etymologised in my dictionary ; (2) new or corrected
etymologies for words already otherwise traced ; and (3) words
omitted. These new words have come from the public and
private criticisms and suggestions already referred to, and
from another overhauling of such dictionaries as M' Alpine
and M'Eachan.
f
ABBREVIATIONS.
1. LANGUAGE TITLES.
Ag. S.
. — Anglo-Saxon
L. . . .
— Late, as L. Lat. = Late
Arm.
— Armenian
Latin"
Br. . .
. — Breton
Lat. . .
— Latin
Bulg..
. — Bulgarian — 0. Bulg. —
Lett.. .
— Lettic
Ch. SI.
Lit. . .
— Lithuanian
Ch. SI.
. — Church Slavonic
M. . . .
— Middle, as M. Ir. = Mkld
Cor. an(
:l
Irish
Corn
— Cornish
Mod.. .
— Modern
Dan. .
. — Danish
N. . . .
— Norse
Dial. .
. — Dialectic, belonging to a
N. . .
— New, as N. Slav.=New
Dialect
Slavonic
Du. .
—Dutch
N.H. . .
— Dialects of the North
E. . .
. — Early, as E. Eng. = Early
Highlands
English
N. Sc. .
— Northern Scottish
Eng. .
. — English
0. . . .
—Old, as 0. Ir. = 01d Irish
Fr. . .
— French
0. H. G.
—Old High German
G. . .
— Gaelic
Per. . .
— Persian
Gaul.
— Gaulish
Pruss. .
— Prussian
Ger. .
— German
Sc. . . .
—Scottish
Got. .
— Gothic
Shet. . .
— Shetland
Gr. . .
—Greek
Skr. . .
— Sanskrit
H. . .
—High, as H.G. = High
SI. and
German
Slav.
— Slavonic
Heb. . .
— Dialects of the Hebrides
Slov. . .
— Slovenic
Hes. . .
— Hesychius
Span. .
— Spanish
I. E. . .
— Indo-European
Sw. . .
— Swedish
Ir. . . .
— Irish
W. . . .
—Welsh
Ital. . .
— Italian
Zd.. . .
— Zend oi- Old Bactrian
2. BOOKS AND AUTHORITIES.
A. M'D — Alexander Macdonald's Gaelic So'iigs, with vocabulaiy.
Atk — Atkinson's Dictionary to the Passions and tfomiliffi
from the Leabhar Breac, 1887.
Arm., Arms. . . — Armstrong's Gaelic Dictionaty, 1825.
B. of Deer . . . — Book of Deer, edited by Stokes in Goidelica, 1872.
Bez. Beit. . . . — Bezzenberger's Beitrcige zur Kxinde der Idg. Sprachen,
a German periodical still proceeding.
C.S. ..... — Common Speech, not yet recorded in literature.
Carm — Dr Alexander Carmichael ; see " Authors quoted."
Celt. Mag. . . . — The Celtic Magazine, 13 vols., stopped in 1888.
Con — Coneys' Irish-English Dictionary, 1849.
XtV. ABBREVIATIONS.
Corm — Cormac's Glossary, published in 1862 and 1868, edited
by Dr Whitely Stokes.
L). of L —The Dean of Lismore's Book, edited in 1862, 1892.
Four Mast. . . . — Annals of the Four Masters, published in 1848, 1851.
Fol — Foley's Etiylish- Irish Dictionary, 1855.
Hand — Dr George Henderson, Lecturer in Celtic Languages
and Literature in the University of Glasgow.
H. S. D — The Highland Society's Dictionary of the Gaelic
Language, 1828.
Inv. Gael. Soc. Tr. — Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, still
proceeding.
L. na H. ... — Lehor na h-vAdre, or the Book of the Dun Cow, an
Irish MS. of 1100.
Lh — Lhuyd's Archceologia Brittanica, 1707.
Lib. Leinster . . — Book of Leinster, an Irish MS. of 1150.
M'A — Macalpine's Gaelic Dictionary, 1832.
M'D — Alexander Macdonald's Gaelick and English Vocab-
ulary, 1 74"! .
M'E — M'Eachan's Faclair, 1862.
M'F — M'Farlane's Focalair or Gaelic Vocabulary, 1815.
M'L — M'Leod and Dewar's Dictionary of the Gaelic Lan-
guage, 1831.
Nich — Sheriff Nicliolson's Gaelic Proverbs.
O'Br — O'Brien's Irish- English Dictionary, 1768 and 1832.
O'Cl • . — O'Clery's Glossary, republished in Revue Celtique,
Vols. IV. v., date 1643.
O'R — O'Reilly's Irish-English Dictiona7'y, ]82S.
Rev. Celt. . . , — Revue Celtique, a periodical published at Paris, now in
its 17th vol.
R. D —Rob Donn, the Reay Bard ; sometimes given as (Suth.).
Rob. . . . . — Rev. Chas M. Robertson, author of pamphlets on
cei'tain dialects of the Scottish Highlands.
S. C. R — The Scottish Celtic Revieio, 1 vol., edited by Dr
Cameron 1885.
S. D — "^ean Dana, Ossianic Poems by the Rev Donald Smith.
Sh — Shaw's (faelic and English Dictionary, 1780.
St — Dr Whitley Stokes ; see " Authors quoted "
Stew .... —Vocabulary at the end of Stewart's (Taelic Collection.
Wh — John Whyte, Inverness : sometimes entered as (Arg.j.
Zeit — Kuhn's Zeitschrift f. vergl Sprachforschung, a German
periodical still proceeding.
An asterisk (*) denotes always a hypothetical word ; the sign (t) denotes-
that the word is obselete. The numeral above the line denotes the number
•of the edition or the number of the volume.
AUTHORS QUOTED.
AuAMNAN, abbot of lona, who died in 704, wrote a life of St Columba^
edited by Reeves 1857, re-issued by Skene in 1874.
AscoLi is publishing in connection with his editions of the MSS. of Milan
and St Gall a " Glossary of Ancient Irish," of which the vowels and
some consonants are already issued.
Bezzenberger edits the Bez. Beit, noted above, has contributed to it Celtic
articles, and has furnished comments or suggested etymologies in Dr
Stokes' Urlceltischer Sprachschatz.
Bradley's St^'utmaun a Middle English Dictionai'y.
BRrcMANN is the author of the " Comparative Grammar of the Indo-
Germanic Languages," a large work, where Celtic is fully treated.
Cameron : The late Dr Cameron edited the Scottish Celtic Revieio, where he
published valuable Gaelic etymologies, and left the MS. material which
forms the basis of the two volumes of his Reliquice Celticce.
Ca?,[eron : Mr John Cameron of the Gaelic Names of Plants, 1883.
Cakmichaei/s Agrestic Customs of the Hebrides, in the Napier Commission
Report.
Edmonston is the author of an Etymological Glossary of the Orkney Dialect.
Ernault, author of an Etymological Dictionary of Middle Breton, and
contributor to the Rev. Celt, of many articles on Breton.
FiC'K, compiler of the Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Germanic
Languages (not translated yeti, completed in 1876. The fourth edition
was begun in 1890 with Dr Whitley Stokes and Dr Bezzenberger as
collaborateurs : the second volume of this edition is Dr Stokes'
Urlceltischer Sprachy.hatz - Early Celtic Word -Treasure, 1894.
Jamieson, author of the Etymological Dictionani of the Scottish Language,
2 vols., 1808, Paisley edition, 5 vols., 1879-1887.
De Jubainville, editor of the Rev. Gelt., has written much on Celtic
philology in that periodical and otherwise.
Guterbock, author of a brochure on Latin Loan-words in Irish 1882.
Hennessey, who ofltered .some etymologies in his Criticism of Macpherson's
Ossiaii in the Aca lemy, August 1871.
Klugb, compiler of the latest and best Etymohg/cal Dictionary of the German
Language, 5th edition here used mostly.
Loth, author of inter alia the \'ocabidaire Vieux-Breton, 1884, the work
usually referred to under his name
jMackinnon : Prof. Mackinnon in Jnv. Gael. Soc. Tr., in Celt. Mag and in the
Scotsman.
M'Lean : Hector Maclean wi'ote many articles on (Gaelic philology in news-
papers and periodicals ; here quoted as an authority on the language.
K. Meyer, editor of Cath Finntrdga, 1884, Vision of MacConglinne, 1892,
&c., all with vocabularies.
Murray, editor of the Philological Society's Ncio English Diciiovary in
process of publication.
^Vl. AUTHORS QUOTED.
OSTHOFF : especially in Indogermanischen Forschungtn* 264-294.
Prellwitz, compiler of an Etymological Dictionary of Greek, 1892.
Rhys : Prof. Rhys is author of Lectures on Welsh Philology, 1879, Celtic
Britain, 1884, Hihbtrt Lectures, 1886, and a colophon to the Manx
Prayer Book, 2 vols., on the Phonetics of the Manx Language.
Skeat, author of the Etymological Dictionary of the English Language.
Stokes : Dr Whitley Stokes, author of books and articles too numerous to
detail here. His Urkeltischer Sprachschatz was used throughout the
work ; it is to this work his name nearly always refers.
Strachan : Prof. Strachan's paper on Compensatory Lengthening of Vowels
in Irish is the usual reference in this case.
Thurneysen, author of Kelto-romanisches, 1884, the work usually referred
to here, though use has lieen made of his articles in Zeit. and Rev.
Celtique.
Wharton, author- of Etyma Grceca, 1882, and Etyma Latina, 1890.
WiNDiscH, editor of Irische Texte mit Worterhuch, used throughout thiis
Avork, author of a Concise Irish Grammar, of Keltische Sprac/ten in the
Allgemeine Encyklopcedie, of the Celtic additions to Curtius' Greek
Etymology, etc.
Zeuss, G7'ammatica Celtica, second edition by Ebel.
ZiMMER, editor of Glossce Bihernica% 1881, author of Keltische Studicn, 1881,
1884, pursued in Zeit., of Keltische Beitriige, in which he discusses the
Norse influence on Irish, and many other articles.
OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY,
INTRODUCTION.
Gaelic belongs to the Celtic group of languages, and the Celtic is
itself a branch of the Indo-European or Aryan family of speech ;
for it has been found that the languages of Europe (with the
exception of Turkish, Hungarian, Basque, and Ugro-Finnish), and
those of Asia from the Caucasus to Ceylon,^ resemble each other
in grammar and vocabulary to such an extent that they must all
be considered as descended from one parent or original tongue.
'This parent tongue is variously called the Aryan, Indo-European,
Indo-Germanic, and even the Indo-Celtic language. It was
ispoken, it is believed, some three thousand years B.C. in ancient
Sarmatia or South Russia ; and from this as centre ^ the speakers
'of the Aryan tongue, which even then showed dialectal differ-
ences, radiated east, west, north and south to the various countries
now occupied by the descendant languages. The civilization of
the primitive Aryans appears to have been an earlier and more
nomadic form of that presented to us by the Celtic tribe of the
Helvetii in Caesar's time. Here a number of village communities,
weary of the work of agriculture, or led by the desire of better
•soil, cut their crops, pulled dow^n their lightly built houses and
huts, packed child and chattel on the waggons with their teams of
oxen, and sought their fortune in a distant land. In this way
the Celts and the Italians parted from the old Aryan home to
move up the Danube, the former settling on the Rhine and the
latter on the Gulf of Venice. The other races went their several
ways — the Indians and Iranians eastward across the steppes, the
Teutons went to the north-west, and the Hellenes to the south.
The Aryan or Indo-European languages fall into six leading
groups (leaving Albanian and Armenian oat of account), thus : —
. I. Indo-Iranian or Arian, divisible into two branches :
(a) Indian branch, including Sanskrit, now dead, but dating
in its literature to at least 1000 B.C., and the descendant
modern (dialects or) languages, such as Hindustani,
Bengali, and Mahratti,
^ - See Svpjplement io Outlines of Gaelic Etyu^ology.
A
11. OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY.
(h) Iranian l)rancli, which comprises Zend or Old Bactrian
(circ. 1000 B.C.), Old Persian and Modern Persian.
II. Greek or Hellenic, inclnsive of ancient and modern Greek
(from Homer in 800 R.c. onwards). Ancient Greek was
divided traditionally into three dialects — Ionic (with Attic or
literarj^ Greek), Doric, and ^Eolic.
III. Italic, divided in early times into two main groups — the
Latin and the Umbro-Oscan. From Latin are descended
Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Rhoeto-romanic and
Poumanian, called generally the Pomance languages.
lY. Celtic, of which anon.
Y. Teutonic, which includes three groups — (a) East Teutonic or
Gothic (fourth cent, a.d.) ; (b) North Teutonic or Scandi-
navian, inclusive of Old Norse and the modern languages
called Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish ; and (c)
AYest Teutonic, which divides again into High German
(whence modern German), the Old High German being a
language contemporary with Old Irish, and Low German^
which includes Old Saxon, Anglo-Saxon, English, Dutch, and
Frisian.
YI. Balto-Slavonic or Letto-Slavonic, which includes Lithu-
anian, dating from the seventeenth century, jet showing
remarkable traces of antiquity, Lettic, Old Prussian of the
fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, now extinct. Old Bulgarian
or Church Slavonic, into which the Bible was translated in
the ninth century, and the Slavonic modern languages of
Bussia, etc.
These six groups cannot, save probably in the case of Latin •^'•
and Celtic, be drawn closer together in a genealogical way.
Padiating as they did from a common centre, the adjacent groups
are more like one another than those further off. The Euroj)ean
languages, inclusive of Armenian, present the three primitive
vowels «, e, o intact, while the Inclo-Iranian group coalesces them
all into the sound a. Again the Asiatic languages join with the
Balto-Slavonic in changing Aryan palatal k into a sibilant sound.
Similarly two or three other groups may be found with common
peculiarities {^^.g., Greek, Latin, and Celtic with oi or i in the nom.
pi. masc. of the o- declension). Latin and Celtic, further, show
intimate relations in having in common an % in the gen. sing, of
the 0- declension (originally a locative), -tion- verbal nouns, a
future in h, and the passive in -r.
^ See Suirplcmcnt to OntHnes of Gadic Etynioloyy.
OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY.
111..
The Celtic group now comprises five living languages ; in the
18th century there were six, when Cornish still lived. These six
Celtic languages are grouped again into two branches, which may
be named the Brittonic and the Gadelic. The former includes
the Welsh, Cornish, and Breton ; the Gadelic comprises Irish,
Manx, and CScottish) Gaelic. The main difference between these
two branches of the Celtic group consists in this : the velar
guttural of the Aryan parent tongue, w^hich we represent here by
the symbol q, when labialised, that is when the sound iv or u
attaches itself to it, becomes in Brittonic a simple j^ ^^i^^ ii^
Gadelic a c (k, Ogam qu). Thus the Welsh for "five" is 2^um2),
Cornish jjymj)^ and Breton 2^6111%)^ Gaulish ^^em^e. whereas the
Gaelic is coig^ Manx queig, and Irish cilig : the corresponding
Latin form is quinque. Professor Rhys has hence called the two
branches of the Celtic the P group and the Q group (from Ogmic
(2'i* = Gaelic c). The distinction into P and Q groups existed
before the Christian era, for the Gauls of Csesar's time belonged
mainly, if not altogether, to the P group : such distinctive forms
as Gaulish petor^ four (Welsh pedwar, Gaelic ceithir), e2:>o-s, horse
(Welsh ehol^ Gaelic each), and ^?em^e, five, already noted, with
some others, prove this amply. At the beginning of the
Christian era the Celtic languages were distributed much as
follows : Gaulish, spoken in France and Spain, but fast dying
before the provincial Latin (and disappearing finally in the fifth
century of our era) ; Gallo-British or Brittonic, spoken in
Britain by the conquering Gaulish tribes ; Pictish, belonging to
the Gallo-Brittonic or P group, and spoken in Scotland and,
possibly, in northern England ; and Gadelic, spoken in Ireland
and perhaps on the West Coast of Scotland and in the Isles. The
etymology of the national names will be seen in Appendix A.
Our results may be summed in a tabular form thus : —
i Irish
j Gadelic \ Manx
Q Group < ( Gaelic
( Dialects in Spain and Gaul (^)"^
Celtic^
P Group
Gallo-Britton
ic JBri
ittonic
GaulislL — various
[Pictish-^
{Breton
Cornish
Welsh
There are no literary remains of the Gaulish language existent ;
but a vast mass of personal and place names have been handed
^ ^ See Supplement to Outlines of Gaelic Etymology.
IV. OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY.
down, and also a few words of the ordinary speech have been
recorded by the Classical writers.*^ The language of Brittany came
from Britain in the fifth and sixth centuries, and it may have
found remains in Brittany of the kindred Gaulish tongue. The
Brittonic languages— Welsh, Cornish, and Breton — appear first in
glosses as early as the eighth century. These glosses are
marginal or super-linear translations into Celtic of words or
phrases in the Latin texts contained in the MSS. so "glossed."
The period of the glosses is known as the "Old" stage of the
languages — Old Breton, Old Cornish, Old Welsh. Real literary
works do not occur till the " Middle " period of these tongues,
commencing with the twelfth century and ending w4th the six-
teenth. Thereafter we have Modern or New Breton" and Welsh
as the case may be. In this work. New Breton and New Welsh
are denoted simply by Breton and Welsh without any qualifying
word.
The Gaelic languages — Irish, ^lanx, and Scottish Gaelic —
have a much closer connection with one another than the
Brittonic languages. Till the Reformation and, indeed, for a
century or more thereafter, the Irish and Scottish Gaelic had a
common literary language, though the spoken tongues had
diverged considerably, a divergence which can be traced even in
the oldest of our Gaelic documents — the Book of Deer. In the
eighteenth century Scottish Gaelic broke completely with the
Irish and began a literary career of its own with a literary dialect
that could be understood easily all over the Highlands and Isles.
Manx is closely allied to Scottish Gaelic as it is to the Irish ; it
is, so far, a remnant of the Gaelic of the Kingdom of the Isles.
The oldest monuments of Gadelic literature are the Ogam
inscriptions, w^hich were cut on the stones marking the graves of
men of the Gaelic race. They are found in South Ireland, Wales
and Eastern Pictland as far as the Shetland Isles, and belong mostly
to the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth centuries. The alphabet,
which is formed on a proto-telegraphic system by so many strokes
for each letter above, through, or below a stem line, is as
follows'^ :—
I I Mil Mil Mill
^> 1. f. s, n ; h, d, t, c, q :
-H III IIIHIIII 1^- III MM imi
"^. g. Dg, z, r ; a, 0, u, e, i.
** '' ^ See Supplement to Outlines of Gaelic Etymology.
OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY. V.
Examples of Ogam inscriptions are :—
Sagramni maqi Cunotami
" (The stone) of Sagramnos son of Cunotamus."
Maqi Deceddas avi Toranias
" Of the son of Deces 0' Toranis."
Cunanettas m[aqi] mucoi Nettasegamonas
" Of Cunanes son of the son of Nettasegamon."
Tria maqa Mailagni
"Of the three sons of Maolan."
These examples show that the state of declensional inflection was
as high as that of contemporary Latin. The genitives in i belong
to the o declension ; the ^, as in Old Irish, is not taken yet into
the preceding syllable {maqi has not become maic). The genitives
OS and as belong to the consonantal declension, and the hesitation
between a and o is interesting, for the later language presents
the same phenomenon — the o in iniaccentecl syllables being
dulled to a. The Ogam language seems to have been a preserved
literary language ; its inflections were antique compared to the
spoken language, and Old Irish, so near it in time as almost to be
contemporary, is vastly changed and decayed compared to it.
Irish is divided into the following four leading periods :—
I. Old Irish : from about 800 to 1000 a.d. This is the period
of the glosses and marginal comments on MSS. Besides,
some scraps of poetry and prose entered on MS. margins,
there is the Book of Armagh (tenth century), which contains,
continuous Old Irish narrative.^
II. Early Irish, or Early Middle Irish : from 1000 to 1200 a.d.
— practically the period of Irish independence after the
supersession of the Danes at Clontarf and before the English
conquest. The two great MSS. of Lebor na h-iddre, the
Book of the Dun Cow, and the Book of Leinster mark thin
period. Many documents, such as Cormac's Glossary, claimed
for the earlier period, are, on account of their appearance in
later MSS., considered in this work to belong to this period.
III. Middle Irish : from 1200 to 1550 (and in the case of the
Four Masters and O'Clery even to the seventeenth century in
many instances). The chief MSS. here are the Yellow Book of
Lecan, the Book of Ballimote, the Leahar Breac or Speckled
Book, and the Book of Lismore.
IV' Modern, or New Irish, here called Irish : from 1550 to th&
present time.
^ See Sv^oplement to Oiitlines of Gaelic Etymology.
VI. OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY.
As already said, the literary language of Ireland and Scotland
remained the same till about 1700, with, however, here and there
an outburst of independence. The oldest document of Scottish
Gaelic is the Book of Deer, a MS. which contains half a dozen
entries in Gaelic of grants of land made to the monastery of Deer.
The entries belong to the eleventh and twelfth centuries, the most
important being the first — the Legend of Deer, extending to 19
lines of continuous prose. These entries form what w^e call Old
Gaelic, but the language is Early Irish of an advanced or phoneti-
cally decayed kind. The next document is the Book of the Dean
of Lismore, w^ritten about 1512 in phonetic Gaelic, so that we may
take it as representing the Scottish vernacular of the time in
inflexion and pronunciation. It differs considerably from the
contemporary late Middle Irish ; it is more phonetically decayed.
We call it here Middle Gaelic, a term which also includes the
MSS. of the M'Vurich seaiichaidhean. The Fernaig MSS.,^^ written
about 1688, is also phonetic in its spelling, and forms a valuable
link in the chain of Scottish Gaelic phonetics from the Book of
Deer till now\ The term Gaelic means Modern Gaelic.
Scottish Gaelic is written on the orthographic lines of Modern
Irish, which in its turn represents the orthography of Old Irish.
The greatest departure from ancient methods consists in the
insistence now upon the rule of " Broad to broad and small to
small." That is to say, a consonant must be flanked by vowels of
the same quality, the "broad" being a, o, n, and the "small" e
and ^. Gaelic itself has fallen much away from the inflexional
fulness of Old Irish. Practically there are only two cases — nom.
^nd gen. : the dative is confined to the singular of feminine nouns
(a-declension) and to the plural of a few words as laid down in the
grammars but not practised in speech. The rich verbal inflexion
■of the old language is extremely poorly represented by the
impersonal and unchanging forms of the two tenses^ — only two —
that remain in the indicative mood. Aspiration, which affects all
consonants now", (though unmarked for I, n, r), has come to play
the part of inflection largely ; this is especially the case with the
article, noun, and adjective. Eclipsis by u is practically un-
known ; but phonetic decay is evidenced everywhere in the loss of
inflection and the miiformising of declension and conjugation.
There are two main Dialects of Gaelic, and these again have
many sub-dialects. The two leading Dialects are known as the
Northern and Southern Dialects. The boundary between them
is described as passing up the Firth of Lorn to Loch Leven, and
then across from Ballachulish to the Grampians, and thence along
^^ See /Supplement to OutHnes of Gaelic Etyiiiolorjy.
OUTLINES OP GAELIC ETYMOLOGY. Vll.
that rciiigc. The Soutliern Dialect is more Irish than the
Northern, and it has also adhered to the inflections better (c//.,
the dual case still exists in feminine a nouns). ^^ The crucial dis-
tinction consists in the difterent way in which the Dialects deal
with e derived from compensatory lengthening ;i'-^ in the South it is
eu, in the North ia {e.g.^ feur against ^ar, breug against hriag, &c.)
The sound of ao differs materially in the two Dialects, the
Southern having the sound opener than the Northern Dialect. ^-^
The Southern Dialect is practically the literary language.
Modern Gaelic has far more borrowed words than Irish at any
:stage of its existence. The languages borrowed from have been
mainly English (Scottish) and Norse. Nearly all the loan-words
taken directly from Latin belong to the Middle or Old period of
(laelic and Irish ; and they belong to the domain of the Church
and the learned and other secular work in which the monks and
the rest of the clergy engaged. Many Latin words, too, have been
borrowed from the English, which, in its turn, borrowed them
often from French, (such as prl's, cunnta?, cicirt, spars, etc.). Latin
words borrowed directly into English and passed into Gaelic are
few, such as j^ost, plasc/, peur, ttc. From native English and from
Lowland Scots a great vocabulary has been borrowed. In regard to
Scots, many words of French origin have come into Gaelic through
it. At times it is difficult to decide whether the Teutonic word
was borrowed from Scottish (English) or from Norse. The con-
tributions from the Norse mostly belong to the sea ; in fact, most
of the Gaelic shipping terms are Norse.
I. PHONETICS.
Under the heading of Phonetics we deal with the sounds of
the language — the vowels, semi-vowels, and consonants, separately
and in their inter-action upon one another.
§ 1. Alphabet.
The Gaelic alphabet consists of eighteen letters, viz., a, h, c, d,
e, f, </, h, ?', /, 7)1, n, 0, p, r, s, t, and u. Irish, Old and New, have
the same letters as the Gaelic. As this number of letters in no
way adequately represents the sounds, signs and combinations are
necessary.
Firstly, the long vowels are denoted by a grave accent : a, t,
it, e, 0, the latter two having also the form« e, b, to denote sounds
analogous to those in English vein, hoar. Whereas a, \, it, which
have only one sound, represent corresponding Indo-European
sounds (a, I, ft), none of the long sounds of e or o represent- -
simple corresponding I.E. sound.
11 12 13 ggg S'lipph'nicnt to OiUliaea of Gaelic Etyiiiolofjij.
Vlll. OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY.
The Gaelic vowels are divided into two classes; — broad and
small. The broad vowels are a, o, u ; the small, e, i. The Gaelic
diphthongs ^'^ represent (1) simple sounds, (2) real diphthong sounds,
or (3) modification of the consonants and carrying out of the law
of "broad to broad and small to small." They are as follows : —
ai,
ao, [rt?^]"^
ai
ea,
ei, €0, en,
eh
ei, ei
ia,
to, iu, iii
\o
01,
Oi*]*
oi
UCL
, ui
id
Here ea, ei, en represent 0. Ir. e, e, and are practically simple
sounds, as certainly is ao. The forms ia, ua are genuine diph-
thongs, as are usually the long vowel combinations. The rest
may l)e diphthongs, or may be a trick of spelling, as in the
word fios (0. Ir. fis), where the o shows that the ^' has its normal
sound, and not that of E. sh, us //is would imply.
Triphthongs occur in the course of inflection, and in the case
of ao otherwise. These are — aoi, eoi, iai, iui, uai, eoi, iiii.
The consonants are classified in accordance with the position
of the organs of speech concerned in their utterance : —
I. Liquids. — The liquids are / and r, with the nasals n and m.
In writing, vi only is "aspirated," becoming to the eye mh, to the
ear a v with nasal influence on the contiguous vowels. The other
liquids, /, n, and r, are really aspirated in positions requiring
aspiration, though no h is attached to show it.^^ There is, however,
only a slight change of sound made in these letters by the aspira-
tion— a niore^*^ voiced sound l)eing given them in the aspirating
position.
II. Mutes and Explosives. — These all suffer aspiration when
intervocalic. Thev are classified as follows : — ■
Labials
Dentals...
Gutturals .
Tenues.
Mediae.
Aspirates.
2>
h
ph, hh
t
d
th, dh
c
y
ch, gh
The dentals d and t become spirants^" when in contact with, or
flanked by, the "small" vowels e and i. The other mutes are not
affected by such contact.^^ The aspirate sounds ixre—ph^f,
hh =■ V, th = Ji, dh and gh Ijcfore e, i = y, ch = German and Scotch ch.
* Dialectal, before N, nn, luh, hh, though not in the script.
14 15 iG ]•/ 18 ggg Svirplcnicnt to OiUlities of (rdelia Ktymology.
OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY. IX.
III. The Spirants. — These, outside the above spirant- nuide
mutes, are / and 5. The sound [resembling E.] .s7^ is represented
by s flanked with "small" vowels. The aspirate forms of these
are — jli ( = the Greek open breathing or nothing practically),
G. sh ( = h).
Celtic Alphahet.
The Celtic alphabet, as deduced from the Neo-Celtic dialects,
checked by Gaulish, possessed the following sounds : —
I. Vowels : —
Short — ?', u, e, o, a
Long — I ( = T, e), V, e {-el), 0 { = aii), a { = 0, «)
Diphthongs — ;?/, oi, ai, eu, ou, an
II. Liquids — r, I, m, n
III. Spirants — (A), s, j, v
IV. Explosives :— Tenue.s. Mediae.
Labials — b
Dentals t d
Gutturals Z-, l-v, {p) g, gv (6)
It has to be noted that Indo-European p initial and intervocalic
is lost in Celtic. ^^ Before another consonant, it manifests its former
presence by certain results which still remain. Thus I. E. ^eptn
is G. seachd, su2mo-s becomes suan.
Tndo-Europ)ecm Alpliahd.
By a comparison of the six Indo-European or Aryan language
groups, the sounds possessed by the parent tongue may be
inferred. The following is the form of the I. E. alphabet which is
used in the present work : —
I. Vowels : Short — 2', n, e, o, a, 9
Long — t, il, e, 0, d
Diphthongs — ei, oi, ai, eu, on, an
ei, oi, di, en, ou, du
II. Semi-vowels : i, u, represented in this work always by
J, V. See the spirants.
III. Consonant-vowels : r, /, m, y, f, J, in, 11
IV. Liquids and Nasals : r, I, m, n
V. Spirants \j, v, .<?, z
^^ See Supplement to Outlines of Gaelic EtyriioJogy.
X. OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY.
VI. Explosives'-*^ : — Tenues. Medico. Aspii-ates.
Labial. p h ph, hh
Dental t d th, dli
Palatal h g Icli^ gh
Velar q g <j]i, gli
§ 2. Vowel Modification.
Ill Gaelic the vowel or vowel combination of a syllable may
undergo "mntation" (German umlaut) in the conrse of inflection
or word-biiilding. This mntation is cansed l^y the inflnence
exerted backward by the vowel of the next syllable now or previ-
ously existent. There are three classes of mutation in Gaelic
caused either by a following (1) e or i, (2) a or o, or (3) u.
JIutatiou by "e" or "^■."
a becomes (1) ai : cat^ gen. cait, damh, g. daimh.
(2) 01 (with double liquids usually) : dall, pi. doill,
danii,, g. cloinue.
(3) ui (with liquids) : ball, pi. bitill, allt, g. tiillt.
Also where Irish shows o : balg, 0. Ir. bole,
pi, builg ; so dag, fait, gal, fuil, car.
(4) i : mac, g. mic. Dialectally ai becomes ei,
especially with liquids, and in ordinary G.
eile represents 0. Ir. aile ; so seileach, too.
o becomes (1) oi : sgoltadh, sgoilte.
(2) ui : bonn, g. buinn, post, g. p2iist.
u becomes ui : dubh, comp. duibhe.
e becomes ei : beir*iov "^bere, catch thou.
a, b, II become ai, hi, id : laimhe, oige, didn.
eo, ill, ua become triphthongs ; [the digraph ao + i forms a
diphthong.]
ea becomes (1) ei : each, g. eich.
(2) i : ctanu, g. cinii ; the usual mutation.
eu, with liquids, becomes ebi : beul, g. bebil. It sometimes
becomes ao : eudann, aodaiin.
ia is restored to ei : jiadJi, g. feidh : irregularly— ^ar, crooked,
comp. Jiaire, biadh, g. b\dh, [Dial, beidh, beid.h, bi-idh.]
io becomes i : Jionn, g. firm.
Mutation by "o" or "«."
0 becomes a, a mutation of principal syllables rare in Irish :
cas, Ir. cos, original "^coxa ; cadal for codal.
u becomes o : siuth, g. srot/ia ; nuadh, nodha.
e becomes ea : cearc from "^ce^xa.
'^ See ^'Uf^ijlctiitnt to Outlines of Gaelic Etjjiiioloyy,
OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY. XI.
i becomes ea : fear from *viro-s.
ei becomes ia : the stem feidh becomes fiadh in the nom.
C^veido-s).
I becomes to : flor from ^vtro-s.
Mutation hy "'?*."
A succeeding Vj atFects only i or e ; it is a mutation which docs
not now operate. Thus ^iodh comes from "^vidu- (0. Ir. fid) ; hior
from "^heru (0. Ir. hir) ; sliochd from slektu- ; cionu from the dat.
*cennu, from '^cenno.
§ 3. Indo-European and Gaelic Vowels.
The representation in Gaehc of the I. E. vowels is very com-
plicated owing to the principles of mutation discussed above.
I. E. ^.
(1) Gaelic i, 0. Ir. i, W. y.
bit/i, world, 0. Ir. bith, W. byd, Br. bed : ^bitu-s, root gi. So
ith, fidir, nigh, fir (gen. and pi. oi fear), as also iiid from 7iead,
etc.).
(2) G. ea, 0. Ir. e.
beatha, life, 0. Ir. bethu : *bitits, stem "^bitdt-, root gi. So
eadh, it, /e«r, geamhradh, meanbh, nead, seas, seasg, sleanihninn,
sneachd.
(3) G. 10, 0. Ir. i.
G. /zoJA, wood, 0. Ir. jid, W. gwydd, Br. //zferi : "^vidu-. So
^os, iodh-. The i'o of fionn, 0. Ir /z^^tZ is due to the liquid
and medial mute, which together always preserve the i and
even develop it from an original u or en [iib, nd, ug).
(4) G., 0. Ir. iu.
This is a mutation by u : fliuch, wet, from "^vliqu- ; tiugh,
*tigu-s.
I. E. u.
(1) G., 0. Ir. u, W. IV (o).
G., 0. Ir. sruth, stream, W. friv<i : ^srutu-s. So />2Mi, c?li(^/^,
^z(-^A, imtc, musach, slug, smug, tidach.
Here add G. id : cluinn, luibli, uisge.
(2) G., 0. Ir. 0.
6o'?M«, bottom, 0. Ir. bond, W. -^(^^i, ^bundo-s. So bothan, con,
dogs', do-, so-, do7nhan, dorus, torn, os, trod.
I. E. e.
(!) G., 0. Ir. e, W. e.
Simple e is rare in G. : leth, side, 0. Ir. leth, W. lied, *letos.
So <ei/^, hot.
Xll. OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY.
(2) G. ea, 0. Ir. e.
G. each, horse, 0. Ir. ech, AV. ehol, Lat. equus. So numerous,
words — eadh, space, bean, heart, cearc, ceart, dearc, dearg,
deas, fearg, geal, geas, meadhon, meanmna, meas, neart, reachd,
seach, f^eachd, sean, searg, teach, teas, treabh.
(3) G. ei, 0. Ir. e.
G. beir, take, 0. Ir. berim, W. adfer, Lat. fero. So beil
(meil), ceil, ceirtle, ceithir, creid, deich, dels, [Dial.] ready,
meirbh, seinn, teich, teine.
(4) G., 0. Ir. i.
G., 0. Ir. fine, tribe, root ven, 0. H. G. ivini, Ag. S. wine^
friend. So cineal, gin, ite, mil, misg, nnyisear, tigh, tighearna.
(5) G. io, 0. Ir. i.
G. hior, spit, 0. Ir. bir, W. her, Lat. veru. So iol-, sliochd,
smior, biolaire, ciomach, tioram.
(6) G. ui in ridth, rnin7i = rinn (bis), ruighinii and righinn : (Cf.
Toinn, [Dial.] did, for rinn ; ruigheachd). So trusdai7\
stuthaig.
(7) Compensatory long vowels in G. and 0. Ir. These arise from
loss of one consonant before another, one of which must be a
liquid.
a. ent becomes G. end, 0. Ir. et. G. ceud, first, 0. Ir. cet, W.
cynt. So seud, journey. Similarl}- "^enk ; G. eing, death,
0. Ir. ec ; "^brenkd, G. breug, lie, 0. Ir. brec, ; "^enkt,
G. euchd, E. Ir. echt (Cf. creuchd, ^crem-pt- .?) ; "^centso ; G.
ceus, crucif}". Parallel to these forms in ent, enk are
those in yt, nk, such as ceud, one hundred, 0. Ir. cef^
W. cant, Lat. centum (so deud, eug, geug).
b. ebl : in G. neid, cloud, 0. Ir. nel, W. niwl.
egr : in G. feur, grass, 0. Ir. fer, AY. gtvair.
egn : in G. feiin, 0. Ir. fen : ^vegnos.
etl : in (t. sgeul, 0. Ir. seel, W. chwedl.
etn : in G. eun, 0. Ir. en, W. edn.
c. G. eadar and tJiig show short vowels for original "^enter and
enk. This is clue to sentence accent in the case of eadar
and to the word accent in the case of thig or to both.
For ceum, leum, etc., see under rj.
I. E. o.
(1) G., Ir. o.
G. CO-, comh-, with, 0. Ir. co-, com-, W. cy-, cyf-, *kom- ; so ro-
^ = Lat. pro), fo ( = Gr. iVo), nochd, naked, night, ochd, mol,
hodhar, gon, gort, roth.
OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY. Xlll.
(2) G., 0. Ir. u, ui.
(r., 0. Ir. muir, sea, W. 7)idr, Br. mor, from *))iori. So druim
{"^dr OS-men), guidltc, guil, guin, sgnir, suidJie, uidhe^ uileann^
uircean, gu, to, cti-, fu-, fur- (for = "^vor).
(3^ 'i. a, 0. Ir. 0.
G. c(]^5, foot, 0. Ir. cos, W. coe.s, *coxd. So awi/^, 6a^^, ca^^, /a/^,
gart, gar, calltuinn. So, too, compounds. With con as in
zagainn, cadal, cagar, caisg, as against coguis (0. Ir. concuhus),
with its '<!t sound terminal.
■^'k ^compensatory long vowels.
G. ducd, lock of hair, *doglo-, (lot. tagl, Eng. ^az7. So hi
(^potlo-), huain, (^bog-ni- or *hongni-), cluain, ciicin, hruan,
sron, cbmh-.
I. E. a.
(1) G. a, ai, 0. Ir. a, W. a.
G., 0. Ir. can, sing, W. ca/ia, Lat. cano. So many words,
such as ahhainn, ad-, agli, air, altruni, anail, anam, cac,
damh, gad, mac, maide, marc, nathair, salann, &c.
(2) G. a before rd, rn, m.
See ard, hard, harr, cam, sgaird, cam, am, mam.
(3) G. i.
In two cases only : mac, g. mic ; site [Dial, for selle], saliva,
0. Ir. saile.
(4) G. u, ui.
This happens in contact with liquids. The prep, air becomes
ur-, uir-, urchar, uireashhuidh. So muigh from "^inagesi.
Common in oblique cases : edit, g. uillt, hail, huill, &c.
(5) G. ea, ei for e.
G. seileach, willow, E. Ir. sail, W. helyg, Lat. salix. So
ealtuinii, eile, eir- for air-, eilean, [Dial.] training, deigh, ice.
(6) G. oi.
This change of I. E. a into Gaelic oi is due mostly to a liquid
followed by a "small" vowel.
G. oil, rear, E. Ir. ailim, Lat. alo. So oir for air-, coileach,
goir, troigh, coire, loinn, &c., and goid, oide.
(7) Compensatory lengthenings in G.
a. As d, ai :
G. ddil, meeting, 0. Ir. ddl, W. dadl, where -atlo- is the
original combination, -agr- appears in ndire, sdr, ar.
XIV. OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY.
h. As eu, ao, ia :
It has been seen that ceud, hundred, corresponds to W,
cant, Lat. centum. The Celtic, in these cases, is regarded
as having been nt, nk, {^hito-n). See under qi.
An undoubted case of a landing by compensation into
eu ( = e) is deur, tear, 0. Ir. der, 0. W. dacr, I. E, dakru.
Prof. Strachan has extended this analog}^ to words like
meur, hreun, leine, sgeun, meanan. The case of denr
seems rather to be an anomaly. ^i
IE. 9.
This is the I. E. "indefinite" vowel, appearing in Celtic as a,
in the Asiatic groups as i, and generally as a in Europe (Greek
showing also e). Henry denotes it by a, a more convenient form
than Brugmann's 9. Some philologists refuse to recognise it.
G. athair, father, 0. Ir. athir, I. E. p^ter-, Gr. Trar/jp, Skr.
pitar.
It is common in unaccented syllables, as G. anail, breath,
AV. anadl, "^ans-tla, Gr. civefjios. In the case of syllables with
liquids it is difficult to decide whether we have to deal with a, 9,
or a liquid vowel ; as in G. ball, member, *bhal-no-, root IJisl,
whence Gr. ^aXAo?, Eng. bole.
I. E. Long Vowels.
I. E. ^ and il are so intimately bound with ei and eu (on)
that it is difficult to say often whether we have to deal with the
simple vowel or the diphthong as the original. For ^ see A, shi,
sqith, brigh ; for u, see cid, didl, element, dim, cliu, much, midn,
ran, iir. The W. in both cases (l, v) show simple i.
I. E. e appears in Celtic as ^, G. ^ : as in G. fior {fir), true^
0. Ir. fir, W. and Br. givir, Lat. verus. So lion, mial (miol), mios
righ, sitk, siol, slor, tir, srviomh.
I. E. o and a appear both as a in the Celtic languages —
Gadelic a, W. aw, Br. eu. For o, see blatJi, gnath, lar, dan, snath.
For a, see ban, brathair, cnaimh, car, clar, daimh, faidh, gair.
mathair, sath, tamh. But rbin, ran, nos, mom, all from a? 6 in
finals, etc., may equal u : ^svesor = 0. Ir. siur, fiur, Med. Ir. siur.
I. E. Diphthongs.
I. E. ei (e/?) appears in G. in two forms — as ci and ia. Thus — •
a. G. ei, 0. Ir. ei, W. ivij, Br. oe, oa. See feith, geill, meith,
rcidh, seid, smeid.^^
2^ " See Supplement to Outlines of Gaelic Etymology.
OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETVMOLOGV. XV.
h. G. ia^ 0. Ir. ia. This is due to the influence of a succeed-
ing broad vowel. See c^a, cm//, cliathach, criathar, Hadhy
ficmuis, (jiall, iarunn, liagh, riadh, riar, sgiath, sliahh.
Consider these — feuch, lean, gU, and, possibly, geadh.
I. E. oi ifyj^). This consistently appears in G. as ao long,
0. Ir, di, 6i, later oe, ae, {oe, de), W., Br. ti. See caomh, claon,
fixiocli, gaoth, gaol., laogh, maoin, maoth, taohh.
I. E. ai can with difficulty be differentiated from oi ; certainly
not on Celtic ground, nor, indeed, outside Greek and Latin. The
following are real cases : G. aois, caoch, saothair, taois.
I. E. eu and ou are also confused together in the modern Celtic
languages. They both appear as either G. ua or o.
a. G. ua, 0. Ir. lia, W., Br. u.
G. buaidh, yictory, 0. Ir. huaid, W. hud, Gallo-British
Boudicca, "Victoria." See also Imachaill, cluas, luath
ruadh, ruathar, truagh, tuath, uasal.
h. G. b ] as hbidheach from huaidk, trbcair from tvuagli,
lochran, cos for cuas.
I. E. au'^^ appears in G. as o or ua, much as do eu, ou. Thus — ■
G. go, a lie, 0. Ir. go, gdu, W. gati, Br. gaou. Also bigh, virgin,
from augi-, fuachd, uaigneaclt.
§ 4. I. E. Semi- Vowels and Consonant Vowels.
The semi-vowels are denoted by Brugmann as i and u, by
Henry as y and w ; and these forms are used by them "^ not nf erely
for intervocalic semi-vowels but also for the diphthongs which we
have printed as ei, oi, ai, eu, ou, au, which Henry, for instance,
prints as ey, eiv, etc. In this work Fick is followed in the forms
of the diphthongs, and also, where necessary, in his signs for the
semi-vowels, viz., y and v, withy and v as signs for the spirants.
I. E. y and j" disappear in Gadelic, but are preserved in the
Brittonic as i. Thus wc, heal, 0. Ir. iccaim, V(.jach, I. E. yakos, Gr.
oLKos, Skr. ydcas ; see deigh and og. For I. E. j, compare G. ebrna,
for eo-rna, ^jevo-, Gr. {"eta, spelt, Skr. ydva ; also eud, jealous}',
"'''jantu-, Gr. ^yj^os, zeal, Skr. yatnd.
I. E. V is thus dealt with : —
(1) Initial v : G., 0. Ir. /, W. gw, as in G. fait, hair, li\ folt, W.
gwalt ; also fdidh, Lat. vdtes, feachd, fear, Lat. mr, fiadh-,
fichead, -fine, fiodh, with succeeding consonant iiifiath {*vlati-),.
jiiuch, fraoch, fra.s, freumh, etc.
-^ -^ See Supplement to Ovtllnes of Gaelic Etynioloyy.
XVI. OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY.
{2) Intervocalic v. This disappears in G. leaving the vowels to
coalesce with varying results, thus : —
a. -ivo- produces eo, as in heo, *givo-s, Lat. viviis, or ia in
hiadh C^/nvoto-n, cf. dia), dian.
h. -evo- produces eb, as in ceo, ^skevo-, Eng. shower ; deb, W.
dyiL'D, ^devo-, Lat. fiuiuis, eorna. Stokes gives cliit as
^klevos, Thin-neysen as Moves-,
a. -ovi- gives iiuadh, *novios, -ovo- in cro {^Itovos), -ovu- in bg.
d. -avi- in ogha {*pavios) ; dath i^davio) ; -avo- in clb.
e. -eivi- in gle, -eivo- in dia. i
(3) Post-consonantal v.
a. After liquids it becomes hit. See garhli, marhh, searhh,
tarbh, deaJhh, sealhh, meanhh, hanhh.
h. After explosives it disappears save after d, (gv) : feadhhh,
widow, 0. Ir, fedb, faohk, haohh. For gv, see g below,
c. After s, it sometimes disappears, sometimes not. Thus
piuthar is for *.swsa?^, 0. Ir. slur, whereas in searhh
(*svervo-s), sohis (but follas), seinn, etc., it disappears.
The Consonant Vowels.
These are y, /, //, in ; P, /, //, //^ The regular representation
of r, I in G. is ri, li (mutated forms being rea, rei, lea, lei). See
the following regular forms : bris, britheamh, fri, lit ; also the
modified forms — bleath, bleoghainii, breitli, cleith, dreach, leamhann,
leathan (?), sreath.
The ninnerous Gaelic a forms of I. E. e roots containing
liquids fall to be noticed here. Some of them Brugmann explains
as glides before sonants, somewhat thus : G. mair, remain, 0. Ir.
maraim, would be from mrra-, root 7aer, Lat. mora ; so sgar from
sker ; garhh, marbh.
Add the following : — alt, carbad (Lat. corbis), barr, bard, cairt,
garg, mall, dall, sgaird (Lat. muscerda), tart, tar ; fras, Jiath,
fraigh, graigh, braich. With modified vowels in — coille {*caldet-),
doire, foil, goile, goirid, sgoilt.
The long vowels ? and I appear regularly as rd (I) Id. See Imi
C^pl-no-, Skr. pumas), slam, tldth, blath. Long f seems to appear
as dr in dxdr, maireach, fdireag (1).^'^
Vocalic 71 and m may be looked for in G. samhail, which
Brugmann explains as s/innlli-s, in tana, thin ; reversed in magh
and nasg.
Compensatory n plays a great part in G., appearing usually as .
£'Uf (ao). AVe have ceud, hundred, W. cant, deud, W. dant, tend,
-^ See /Supplement to Outlines of Gaelic Ftyviology.
T
OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY. XVU.
eud, eug, eudann, eiginn, g^'^Q- The negative n appears before
vowels as an, before c, t, and s, as eu, ei : eutrom, eislean, &g.
The most curious result arises from -ngm-, which ends in G. as
euni-; see ceum, W. cam, leum, W. lam, and add teum, W. tarn, from
*t/id-men.
Before the medials h, d, g, both n and m become in {ion), im
(iom), and original in retains its i (cf . fio7i7i). Thus we have im-,
iom- from mbi, Lat. amhi, also \m, ionga, imleag, ciomach.
1. E. 'W and "■ V Liquids.
Gaelic r and I represent the I. E. liquids r and I. Initially we
may select ramh, reachd, ruadh, rim, loch, laigh, lahhair, leih ;
after p lost — to, rath, lamh, Ian, lar. Medially r and I are
" aspirated," but the sounds have no separate signs — dorus, tulach,
geal, meil, eile, seileach, etc. Post-consonantal r and I appear in
sruth, srath, etc., cluinn, fliuch, slug, etc. In -br, -tr, -dr, the
combinations become -bhar, -thar, -dhar, while in -cr, -gr, -bl, -tl,
-dl, -cl, -gl the respective explosives disappear with lengthening
of the preceding vowel. For -si, see below (-//).
Ante-consonantal r and l preserve the explosives after them —
ard, bard, ceart, neart, dearg, dearc, allt, calltuinn, gilb, balg, cealg,
olc, etc.
Gaelic -rr arises from -rs ; see barr, earr, carraig ; from the
meeting of r with r, as in atharrach ; from rth, as in orra from
ortha, Lat. orationem. Again -II comes from -si, as in uaill, coll,
ciall, etc. ; especially from -In-, as in follas, ball, feall, etc. ; from
-Id-, as in call, coille, and many others.
Gaelic -rr arises from -rp ; corran, searrach (St.) ; Ir. carr,
spear, cirrim, I cut, forrach, pole. KZ. 35.
I. E. " n " and " m " JSfasals.
I. E. n and m appear normally in G. as n and m, save that I. E.
terminal m in neuter nouns, accusative cases, and genitives plural,
became in Celtic n. (1) Initial n appears in nead, Eng. nest,
neart, neul, nochd, naked, night, nathair, nuadli, nasg, na, not, etc.
(2) After an initial mute, n appears in cndimh, cneadh, cub, gnath,
etc. After s, in snath, srviomh, snuadh, snigh, sneachd. After b it
changes the b into m {mnatha for "^bnds). (3) Intervocalic n is
preserved — bean, Ian, maoin, dan, run, dim, sean, etc. (4). Pre-
consonantal n is dealt with variously :
a. Before the liquids, n is assimilated to m and I, and dis-
appears before r.
XVlll. OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY.
b. Before the labials, n becomes m in modern Gaelic. Before
t, c, the n disappears with lengthening of the previous
vowel, as in ceud, first, breug, coig. Before d and </,
it is preserved, as in ciimhang, fidaing, muing, seang^
but it assimilates d — -jionn (^vindo-s), honn, inn-, hinn.
For -ngm, see under n and g.
c. Before s, n disappears as before t and c. Compare niios^
feusag, grlos, slos.
(5) Post-consonantal n disappears after I, leaving II (see under I))
but is preserved after r, as in cam, eorna, tighearna, etc.
a. After s, that is, -sn becomes -nn ; as in dronn for
*dros-no-, donn, uinnsean, cannach, bruinne, etc.
b. The mutes, t, d, c, g, p, disappear with compensatory
lengthening of the previous vowel : -tn-, as in eun, buan,
uin ; -dn-, as in bruan, smuairi ; -en- is doubtful — cf . ton,
also sgeun, breun, lean ; -gn, as in feun, bron, nan, srbn ;
-jpn, as in suain, cluain, cuan ; -pn ? tepno = ten ;
apnio = dne (Lit. aps) ; lipn = len, follow ; but
supn = suaii ; copn = cuan (Stokes) ; en, gn, and tn initial
become r in pronouncing ; but the vowel is nasal —
gnath is grath with nasal a ; bn becomes mn, as
in mnaoi, pronounced mraoi ; even snath becomes
dialectally srath, especially in oblique cases.
c. After b, that is, bn changes into mh-n, as in domhan
{*diibno-), sleamhuinn.
The G. combination -nn arises therefore from (1) n before n,
(2) n before d, and (3) from -sn ; or (4) it is a doubling of n in an
unaccented syllable at the end of a word (tighinn, etc.), or, rarely,
of a one-syllable word like cinn, cluinn, linn. In Islay, -in
becomes -inn ; duinne is for duine ; niinne gen. of 7nin, etc. In
general, gloinne is comp. of glan.
Initial m appears in rnios, muir, mil, maide, etc. Before the
liquids r and I, the in becomes b, as in braich, brath, hrugh, blath,
bleith, bleoghainn. Intervocalic m is always aspirated — geimheal,
amhuil, like, crulmh, amh, damh, cnaiinh, iamh, caomh. In
combinations with other consonants, various results occur : —
(1)^ Pre-consonantal m.
a. Before liquids, rn is preserved in an aspirated form
{geamh-radh, etc.), but there are no certain ancient cases.
Of course, m before m results in preserved m (cf. amadan,
comas, comain).
%
OUTLIXES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY. XIX.
b. Before s, m should disappear, but no certain Celtic cases
seem to occur. In the historic language, m before s
results in m}) or p as usually pronounced, as in rompa
for rom + so, that is, "^rom-sho ; so iompaidh, wnpa.
€. Before the explosives. Original mb is now m, as in the
prefix ^m-, iom-, in imleag, torn. I. E. in before t and k
{q) became n (as in ceud, breitg), and disappeared with
compensatory lengthening. Compare also didean,
eiridmn. Prehistoric 7ng, md fail us ; in the present
language both appear aspirated (mhgh, mhdh).
{2) Post-consonantal m. After the liquids r, I, and n, the m is
preserved. Whether an intermediate s is in some cases to be
postulated is a matter of doubt (as in gairw,, from ^gar-a-
men ? W. gai^yn). See cuirm (W. civrw), gorm, seirm, deilvi,
calma, ainm, meanmna, anmoch.
After .5, m becomes in the older language mm, now m ; druim
'Comes from "^ dros-men. But 5 is very usual as an intermediate
letter between a previous consonant and m : many roots appear
with an additional s, which may originally have belonged to an -en
neuter stem. We actually see such a development in a word like
snaim, which in E. Ir. appears as snaidm (d. snaidmaimm), from a
•Celtic "^snades-inen. In any case, a word like ruaim postulates a
Pre-Celtic "^roud-s-men. See also gruaim, seaman, reim, Iom, from.
After the explosives the m is aspirated and the explosive
disappears, as in the case of freumh (vnhnd) ; but seemingly the
accented prefix ad- preserves the m : cf. amas, amail, aimsir.
Preserved G. on, intervocalic or final, may arise from (1) m or
n before on, (2) s before m (also -hsm, -tsm, -dsm, -csm, -gsm), (3)
-ngm, or -ngm, as in ceum, leurn, hewn, gemn, or -ndm as in teum,
(4) ng. becoming inh as in \m, turn, torn, e.tc, or (5) mb (-mbh),
as in ^??^-, iom-.
§ 5. Vowel Gradation or Ablaut.
The most characteristic roots of the I. E. languages are at least
triple-barrelled, so to speak : they show three grades of vowels.
The root />e^, for instance, in Greek appears as ^-^e^, 2^ot, vt
(TTCTo/xat, fly, TTorao/xat, flutter, wrepov, wing). The first grade —
e — may be called the " normal " grade, the second the " deflected "
grade, and the last — pt — the "reduced " or " weak " grade. The
reason for the reduced grade is evident ; the chief accent is on
another syllable. Why e interchanges with o is not clear. The
XX. OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY.
leading 1. E. series of vowel gradations are six in number, as
follows : —
1 . e-series
'mal.
Deflected
1. Weak.
e
0
nil
ei
01
^
e
0
9
a
0
9
6
0
9
a
d
(a)
0
0
(»)
but
2. e-series
3. a-series
4. o-series o
5. a-series
6. o-series
Corresponding to the e, o, nil series are the two " strong ""
A'owel grades e, 6, as in sed, sit, sod, sed, sod, si-zd, found in Latin
sedeo (sed), G. suidhe (sod), G. sith [properly sidh], peace (sed)^
Eng. soot (sod), Lat. sido (si-zd).
The e-series in full is as follows : —
Normal. Deflected. Weak,
e simple e o nil
ei ei oi i
eu eu ou u
er (ore/, en, em) er or r
To all these correspond "reduced" long forms — to ei belongs %, tO'
eu belongs u, and to the consonant- vowels correspond the long f, I,
11, III. We may also here add the triple ve, vo, u (vet, vot, ut, as in
G. feitheamh, iiine, uiridh ; vel, vol, ul as in fait, 0. Ir., Mod. Ir.
folt, olann).
Some Gaelic examples will now be given.
(1) The e-series. G. eadh, uidhe from "^pedo-, ^podio- ; tigh, tugha^
from ^tegos, *togio- ; geas, guidhe from ged, god ; cleachd,
cleas, cluic/i, etc. In ei we have the complete set meit, moit,
mit in meith, maoth, meata or miosa ; further cliathach, claon
from Mei, kloi ; fianuis, fios from veid, vid ; gaoth, geainhrad/t
from ghoi, ghi ; and others. The diphthongs eu, ou cannot
be differentiated, but the short form of the root occurs, as in
ruadh, roduidh from roud, rudd ; huail, buille from hhoud,
hliud ; cluas, cluinn from kleu, Mu ; nuadh, nodha (?) The
liquids show the changes also : heir, hreith from her, br, and
in the sense of speech w^e have also hrath, judgment (hftu-).
The root pel is especially rich in forms : iol (*pelu-), uile
(*polio-), lion i^pleno-, Lat. plenus, from pie), Ian (either
"^plono, plb, Eng. flood, or J'pl-no-, from ^9/-), that is," root
forms pel, pol, pi, pie, plb, pi, meaning " full." In n we have
teann, tana (^tendo- tnnavo-, according to Brugmann), and
teud ; from gen we get the long forms gne in gnwmh and gno
in gnath. In nem we have neamh, heaven, 0. Ir. nem, and
namhaid, foe, from nom (Gr. vw/xaw).
OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY. XXI.
(2) The e and other series. One of the best examples of the e
series is sne, sno (snd), spin, which gives smomh {*snemu-) and
snath, thread {*sndtio-). From se comes slol (^selo-) and,
possibly, satk, transfix (soto-). The a- series is not differ-
entiated in G. nor is the o- series ; but from a short we get,
among others, the root dg, lead, in aghaidh, etc., and dg in
agh, success, aghach, warlike. The diphthong ai has as its
" reduced " grade i. The name Aodh in Mackay represents
0. Ir. Aed, aed, fire, Gr. at^w, I burn.
§ 6. The Spirants.
The 1. E. spirants were j, v, s, and z. We have already dis-
cussed ]' and V under the heading of semi-vowels, from which it is
difficult to differentiate the consonantal j and t-'. Here we deal
with s and 2, and first with s.
(1) Initial s. Before vowels and the liquids, I. E. s remains intact
in Gadelic. In Brittonic s before vowels becomes h ; before
1, n, and m, it disappears, while before r it or its resultant
effect is preserved (see sruth, srat/i, sron).
a, I. E sv appears in Gadelic as s usually, more rarely as /
and p or t ; in W. the form is chiv. See searhh, seal, se,
sihh, seid, etc. The G. piuthar appears in Ir. as siur,
fiur, from *svesdr, while pill {^svelni-) gives fill and till ;
compare also seisd (teis).
h, I. E. sp (sph) is treated in Celtic much as sv. And spr
appears as sr ; cf. sron, straighlich, slis, sonn, sealg, sine.
I. E. st appears in Gadelic as t, as in iigh, td, tighinn, taois.
But str, stl, become sr, si, as in srath, sreotliart, sreang,
slios, slat, sloinn, slaid. Some hold that st may appear
as simple 6", which is the case in Welsh, but the instances
adduced can be otherwise explained (cf. seirc, sail,
searrach (St.), seall).
I. E. sq, sqh, appear in Gaelic as sg, 0. Ir. sc, as in sgath,
sgath, sguir, etc. The W. precedes the sg with a ^z as in
ysgivyd, Ir. sgiath, G, sgiath, shield : L E. sqv is in W.
chiv, as G. sgeul, W. chwedl, sgeith, W, chwydu.
I. E. sin appears in Gaelic as sn, as in sneadh.
(2) Intervocalic s. This becomes h and disappears ; compare tagh
{"^to-guso), do-, chi, etc.
(3) Terminal s disappears altogether ; but in closely connected
combinations of words its former existence is known from the
so-called euphonic k, as in the article genitive feminine and
XXll. OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY.
nom. plural before vowels (na h-oighean^'^'seriht-i augeu)^ alsa
0' H- of Irish ; and it may be the origin in most cases of
prothetic s.
(4) Pre-consonantal s. A prehistoric case of --^r is not forth-
coming, but eirich comes from ^ek-s-7^egd. Before I, Tii, and n
the s disappears, and the licpiid is doubled {m of Gaelic being
for older mm), as already shown under these letters. Medial
sv appears as /' in the older language (see seinn), and it is
still seen in t ibhann (^to-sven-), feabhas.
Before the explosives, s is preserved before the tenues, which
in the modern language become mediae. The combination
sp is not certain ; but -sc becomes -sg (see fasgadh, seasg,
measg, etc.), st becomes s (older ss) simply, as in seas
( = *ststn-), fois, /a.«, dos, etc. Before the medials s becomes
z, which see for results in Gaelic ; %g becomes g ; sp becomes s.
(5) Post-consonantal s. After the liquid r the s is assimilated tO'
the r, and the result is rr, as in tarr, earr, etc. From -Is-
seemingly s results, at least in the later language ; -7ns, -ns
become s with compensatory lengthening for the previous
vowel ; -ds becomes t, as in mi t-each ( = *sindos eqos) ; Thn.
adds Htir { = *vid-sar). For m-sh — mp, see under m.
The explosives combine with the s and disappear into 0. Ir. ss^
now s, as in uasal i — '^oups- or *onks-), lus, leas {^led-so-),
lios, as, out ( — eks), and many others.
Gaelic preserved s intervocalic, therefore, arises from (1) st, as
in seas ; (2) from -7ns, -ns, as in mlos ; and (3) from -p?, -ts, -cs.
Gaelic -st arises from this s by a sort of modern restoration of
previous st, only, however, x may also become modern st (as in
aiste, now aisde, out of her). Final x disappears, as in caora, se.
I. E. z.
Even in I. E. this is assured only before the medial explosives.
Thus G. nead, nest, is from I. E. nizdo-s : so maide, brod, ceady
gad, seid. Again -zg seems to have developed in G. into g ; compare
beag, biog, 7neag, g7nogag, eagal ( = ex-gal-), rag.
§ 7. The Explosives or Mutes.
The I. Yj. explosives formed a possible sixteen in number
between tenues, mediae and the double set of aspirates {ph, bh, th,
dh, hh, gh, qh, gh). The tenues aspirate were " rare and of no
importance" in the resulting languages, save only in Sanskrit and
Greek. The mediae aspirates are the predecessors of aspirates of
the modern languages. But in the Celtic languages these medi£e
OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY. XXIU.
aspirates were merged into the mediae themselves, so that h and
hk appear in Celtic as 6, d and dJt as d, g and gk as g, and g and
gli as g. The Balto-Slavonic, in this matter, shares the pecnliarity
of the Celtic.
All the explosives, when intervocalic, are " aspirated" in Gaelic
— p to ph, b to bh ( = v), t to th ( = h), d to dk (=?/), c to ch, g to
gh, {^y) ', the corresponding Welsh changes are the tenues to
mediae, and the mediae to/, dd, and nil in the case of g. Inter-
vocalic preserved explosives in Gaelic arise from a doubling of the
explosive, the cause of which in many cases is obscure. The fol-
lowing are the leading cases and causes of intervocalic G. mutes :
(1) Doubling of the explosive in the course of inflection or word-
building.
a. Inflection. The participle passive in -te preserves the t or
d of the root as t; thus \caith gives caithte,'\ bath (for badh)
gives baite, radh gives raite, etc.
/>. Word-building. The prepositional prefixes which end or
ended in a consonant preserve the succeeding explosive ;
even vowel-ending prepositions like air {*are)^ aith-
{"^ati) do the same, if the accent is on the preposition.
Thus — abair is for ad-ber, aitreahh is for ad-ireb, aidic/i
is for ad-dnm, faic for ad-ces-, agair for ad-gar. In the
way of affixes, we have ruiteach from rud-t and ruicean
from rud-c, creid from *cred-dh6 ; compare the compounds
boicionn, /aoicionn, and craicionn.
(2) After sunk n or m. Thus deud comes from d?it, and so with
ceud, teud ; ceud, first, from "^cento-, so send ; eug from nlco-,
etc.
(3) After sunk spirant z. This is assured for zd, as in brod
(^broz-do-, ^ orse broddr), cead, gad, maide, nead ; but zg
giving g is doubtful — eagai seems for ^es-gal or ^ex-gal-,
beag for gvezgo-s ( Lat. vescus), iiieag for mezgo-.
(4) Cases corresponding to double explosives in other languages :
cat and Lat. catta (borrowing ?), cac and Gr. kolkkyj. Compare
also slug.
(5) Doubtful cases. Many of these cases can be satisfactorily
explained as due to suffixes immediately affixed to consonant-
ending roots. Thus brat may be for brat-to-, trod for trud-do-,
IOC for "^yak-ko-, breac for mrg-ko-. Even suffixes in -bho- and
-go- (Eng. k in walk) are not unknown, and they might
account for reub {^reib-bo-, * reib-bho-^ Eng. reap^ rip), slug for
slug-go-, etc. Dr Whitley Stokes has given a different theory
founded on the analogy of a Teutonic phonetical law, stated
XXIV. OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETV^MOLOGY.
thus by Brugmann : " 6?i, dn, gn became hh, dd, gg before the
principal accent in primitive Teutonic, thence pp, tt, kk (by
Grimm's law), which were further treated just the same as
2)p, tt, kk, which had arisen from pn, tn, qn, and from I. E.
b/in, dkn, ghn, ghn. . . . 0. H. G. shcccho, slukko,
glutton [*sluk-no-], M. H. G. sluchen, gulp, have hiccup,
allied to Gr. Av^w, Xvyyavdoixac, I have hiccup." These last
words are allied to G. slug, which Dr Stokes refers to a
pre-Celtic ^slug-no-, the accent being on the suffix -no-. The
weakness of this hypothesis lies in the fact that uniform
results are not found from it. Thus breac, from 7nrg-n6-,
should be hreag, not breac, on the analogy of slug.
I. E. p.
Initial and intervocalic I. E. p disappears in Gaelic, as in
athair, Lat. pater, eun for *pet-no-, eadh for pedo-, iasg against Lat.
piscis, ibh against bibo (for pibo), Ian against Lat. plenus, lar and
Eng. floor, etc. For intervocalic p, see fo (^upo), for, teth,
caora, (*kaperax), saor, {*sapiros), etc.
Lat. and G. agree in the initial of the numeral five — quinrpie
and coig, though the I. E. was penqe. In feasgar the G. guttural-
ises an original vesperos without Latin countenancing it. Initial
sp appears as s ; see sealg, spleen, sonn, sliseag, sine, sir.
When p appears before the liquids and t, c, or s, it is not lost
in G. ; it leaves its influence either in a new combination or in
compensatory lengthening. Thus suain is for supno-s, and see
cluain, cuan. G. dias seems from "^steip-s-d, W. twys, and uasal
may have had an original form like vxprjXos, Eng. up. (Of. teanga
and dingua). In seachd, Lat. septem, the jo is gutturalised ; we
may add here *neachd, 0. Ir. necht, Lat. neptis, Eng. niece ;
creuchd, dreachd. Possibly leac may be for lep-kd.
G. intervocalic p is, of course, due to some combination. In
leapa, genitive of leabaidh, it arises from "^leb-tha ; and we must
explain similarly tap {^tahaidh arising from *tab-tha) ; so raip,
streap.
For t taking the place of p through an initial h compare the
derivations offered for tore, turlach, tuil, tlam, tliis for liiths.
I. E. b, bh.
These two become b in Gaelic and the other Celtic languages,
I. E. b is rare in any language ; in G. it appears in ibhim {*pib6).
treabh, doriihain and driichd {*dhreub-tu-).
(1) Initial I. E. bh, G. b. See beir, balg, ball, ban, blath, bloom,
bragh, btuthainn, buaidh.
OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY. XXV.
(2) Intervocalic I. E. hh, G. hh ( = v), 0. Ir. 6, W. /. See ahhainn
crabhach, duhh^ gohhal.
(3). Pre-consoiiantal bh or b.
a. Before r it remains — abhra, gabhar, dohhar^ Gaul, dubrum.
b. Before / it disappears with compensatory lengthening —
neul for 7ieblo-s.
c. Before n it becomes mh now — sleamhuinn is for '^'slibno-s,
Eng. dippery ; so domhain. These are I. E. b.
d. Before t, I. E. b becomes ch as in druchd.
(4) Post-consonantal b, bh. It is preserved after the liquids r and
I — carbad, cearb, earb, gilb, sgolb. After m it preserves the
771, as in im-, iom- from mbi, ambi. After s it is preserved
in eabar ; after d in abair, lebb, faob, aobrann ; perhaps after
g in leahaidh, *leg-b%iti- (1).
(5) Gaelic intervocalic b. In reuh and gob we seem to have a
suffix -bo-, "^reib-bo-, gob-bo ; also cliob from clib-bo-, root qlg,
Gr. KoXopSs, stumpy C?). Oftenest b is produced from a
previous d, especially of the prefixes — as abair, abadh, faob,
etc. (see the paragraph above).
I. E. t.
Initially this is Celtic t ; intervocalic, it is aspirated, and
otherwise it is variously modified.
(1) Initial t, G., 0. Ir., W. t. See, among many, tiugh, tar, teth,
teich, tais, tora, tlaih, tnuth, tri, treabh.
(2) Intervocalic t, G. th { = h), 0. Ir. th (d), W. d. See athair,
mathair, ith, roth, ceithir, leth, etc. Sometimes in non-
accented syllables it appears as dh, as in biadh from "^bivoto-s,
and this is always the case with the infinitives in -atu-
(glan-adh). Irregularly /«zc/A ior faith.
{3) Pre-consonantal t not initial. Before r it is preserved, as in
criathar, briathar, etc. Before I it disappears with com-
pensatory lengthening — sgeid, W. chwedl, hi, beul, etc. ; so
before n, as in eun. Before s the t disappears and the s is
preserved, as in miosa, ris, sets. Words like Jios are from
vid-s-tu-, formerly explained as from vid-tu-. Before another
t, t is preserved in the resultant i( of G., as in ite, etc. ; -td-
seems to become -dd- ; -tc- becomes 0. Ir. cc, G. c, as in
freiceadan ; -tg- becomes gg, that is g, as in freagair. '
(4) Post-consonantal t. After r and I it is preserved, as in beart,
ceart, ceirtle, alt, fait ; after n and m it sinks to d, as in ceud,
etc. As seen, -bt becomes -chd, as in druchd, while -pt is in
seachd. After c or g, the t sinks in G. to d. preserving the
XXVI. OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY.
guttural as an aspirate : ochd^ nochd, hochd, reachd. 0. Ir.
has -cht here and W. th.
(5) Gaelic intervocalic t. The t of a root is preserved when the
suffix begins in t, as [in caithte, spent,] in ite, 0 Ir. ette, *pet-tid,
lit, ^plt-tion-. The d of the affixes preserves it, as in aitreahh,
taitinn, ridteach, reif. The t of the following does not
belong to the ultimate root : ciotach, *sqvi-tto-^ Eng. skeWy
crcit, root kur, lot, root lu.
I. E. d. dh.
This is a uniform Celtic d initial ; Gaelic dh between vowels-
and W. dd.
( 1 ) Initial d, dh. See deas, dearc, deich, di^uim, dim, damh, etc.,
for d ; for dh, duhh, domhan, dearg, dorus, dall ; also dlighe.
(2) Intervocalic d, dh. See jiodh, "^vidu-, eadh, suidhe, fiadh,
guidhe, etc.
(3) Pre-consonantal d, dh non-initial. Before r, I, n, the d dis-
appears with compensatory lengthening, as in aireamh
{^ ad-rim-) aro.'t, arach, buail, i*boud-lo-), but Imille is for
*bnd-s-li()- ; smuaiii for smoud-no-. Before m it sometimes
disappears, as in freumh, *vrd-md, but with an accented
prefix the d and m become m, as in aimsir, amal, amas. With
« it coalesces into s, as in musach, or in uisge for *tid-s-qio-, or
Jios for ^vid-s-tu-. Before the explosives, with 6 it coalesces
to bb, now b, as in abair, etc. So with t, as in aitreabh ; with
d, as in aidich ; with c, as in faic ; with g, as in agair.
(4) Post-consonantal d, dh. The liquid r preserves a following dy
as in drd, bard, sgaird, ore/, etc. It assimilates with /, as in
coille, call, moll, iiinllach ; and with n, in Jionn, 0. Ir. Jind,
bonn, 0. Ir. bond, binn. For zd, see next paragraph. The
explosives before d are unusual, save t and d, for which see
next paragraph.
(5) Intervocalic G. d. There are three sources at least for this
d.~
a. The d from nt in ceud, tend, beud, etc.
b. The d arising from the spirant z before (/, as in hrody
"^brozdo-, cead, qad, maide, nead, druid.
c. From -dd- as in creid, goid, rodaidh, trod, etc. ; also aidichy
"^ad-dam-.
I, E. " k " and " ^."
These appear in G. uniformly as c ; but in the Brittonic
languages q, if labialised, becomes p as in Greek.
(1). Initial k. See chiinn, cu, ceud, hundred, cac, cridhe, caomhy
corn.
OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY. XXVIL
Initial q simple. See caraid, W. car, ceud, first, W. cynt, coilley
W. celli, cas, W. coes, coileach, W. ceiliog, etc.
Initial q labialised, that is, qv : casd, W. pcU, ciall, AV. pivylly
ceithir, W. pedwar, cea7i7i, W. pen, coire, W. /^'a/r, co, W. ^)j,
cruimJi, W. pryf.
It seems clear that G. (/ at times represents I. E. Jc, q, as W.
has the latter. Compare G. geug with W. cainc, Skr. ^auku ;.
but W. ysgainc shows the reason for the anomaly — an s
initial has been dropped, and in dropping it the G. reduced
c to g. Further compare garmainn, gioniach. Of. dias.
(2) Intervocalic k, q. The G. is ch, W. g, b. Compare a^uachy
W. critg, jichead, deich, loch ; also each, W. ebol, seach,
W. heb, etc.
(3) Pre-consonantal /', 7. Before r, I, n, the c disappears with com-
pensatory lengthening" as in deur, Lat. dacriyna, meur, dual,
muineal, ton ; and compare Prof. Strachan's derivations for
meanan, breun, cain, leana. With s, the result in G. is ,s,
0. Ir. ss, W. ch, as in uasal, W. vchel. Before explosives,
cb, cd, eg do not appear ; ct becomes chd, for which see
under t (4) ; for c-c, see paragraph (5) here.
(4) Post-consonantal h, q. After r and I, the guttural appears as
c, as in cearc, uircean, male, olc, falc, etc. After n (m), it
sinks to g, with a preceding long vow^el, as in eug, breug,
already discussed. After s, the c is preserved, but in G. it
is written as g, as in measg, 7iasg, teasg, etc. After
explosives, the t and d of the prefix or root preserves the c
following, for w^hich see under t and d pre-consonantal.
For c or g before c, see next paragraph.
(5) Intervocalic Gaelic c. It may arise from -tk, -dk, -kk, -gk.
From -ik in freiceadan {^'-frith-com-et-dn) ; -dk in faicy
acarach, ruicean, acuinn ; -kk in rtiac, *mukku8, cac,
craicionn, loc, leacainn ; from -gk in bac, boc, breac, cnoc,
gleac. The word mac, son, postulates a Gadelic makko-s as
against the Ogmic maqvi (gen.) and W. mab ; it is difficult
to account for the G. form.
I. E. g, gh ; g, gh.
These consonants all, save in one case, appear in G. as g^
aspirated to gk, and W. shows g and nil in similar circumstances.
The exception is in the case of g, which when labialised, becomes
G. and W. b. But gh, whether labialised or not, becomes g in G.
(1) Initial I. E. g : in guth, gin, gnath, geimheal, go. I. E. gh is
in geamhradh, gabh, gag, geal, white, I. E. g simple appears
in geal, leech, goir, goile, gearan, guala, gradh ; I. E. gh in
XXVlll. OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY.
gar, gHan, gaol, puidhe, geas, guin. Lal:)ialised g appears in
hean, Eng. queen, hior, bed, bo, bra, quern, braghad.
(2) Intervocalic Celtic g. See deigh, aghaidh, greigh, triiagh,
hleoghainn, tigli, bragh, etc. In the termination of words it
appears often as ch : teack i^tegos), mach, ("^magos), imlich,
(7ii\tJ{\ich, eirich, fuirich. Intervocalic g labialised does not
seem to exist in modern G.
{3) Pre-consonantal Celtic g. Here -gr, -gl, -gn, become -r, -I, -n
with vocalic lengthening, as feur, *vegro-, ar, nair, fuar, al,
fual, feun, '''vegno-, srbn, uan, tain, brdn, etc. Before m, g
is found in the combination ng-m, which results in 7)i with a
preceding long vowel, as in ceum^ leum, geum. Before s it
becomes x and modern s, W. ch, as in uasal, W. uchel, as for
ex, OS, deer, W. ych, cas, las, uiseag. Before explosives the g
is variously preserved : -gb, -gd may be passed over ; -ct, -gt
appear as chd, as in seachd, bliochd, smachd, noclid, sneachd,
etc. ; -gk ends in -M, now c, for which see post-consonantal h ;
-gg appears as g, as in slug, bog, dag, lag, slige, sraugaid.
(4) Post-consonantal Celtic g. After r and I the g is preserved
in Vj., but often in W. becomes y ; see dearg, fearg, searg,
garg, lorg, balg, cealg, dealg, tulg. After n ordinary g is pre-
served, as in cumhang, long, muing, seang, fulaing. But
labialised g became b, and then coalesced with the n into mm,
now m as in im, butter, Lat. unguentum, turn, cam, torn,
ciomarh, and in modern times cum, keep, from "^congv in
conghJiail. For ng-m see the foregoing paragraph. For i^g
see the next paragraph. After the explosives, the g is pre-
served in the combinations -tg {freagair), -dg (agair), and -gg,
which see below.
(5) Intervocalic Gaelic g. It arises from -sg firstly, which in pre-
Celtic times was -zg, as in beag, mogul, griogag, meag^ eagcd,
etc., which see under I. E. z above. From the explosive
combinations we have tg in freagair, * frith-gar-, eagna, eagar ;
dg in agair, agus. The -gg must arise from a suffix in -go-,
which was operative in early Gadelic, if we discard Dr Stokes'
view already set forth. Cf. Eng. walk, hark, lurk, skulk,
smirk. For this -gg see paragraph third above.
Intervocalic g may arise from a lost n before c, as in breug, geug,
eug, etc. The previous vowel is lengthened save in a few
cases where the word — or sentence — accent has brought about
a short syllable. Thus thig has short i, and in G. leig is
short. This is regularly the case with the results from the
prefix con, confused with cos, as in cogais, 0. Ir. concuhus,
cadal, cagar, cogadh, etc.
outlines of gaelic etymology. xxlk.
§ 8. Accent.
In Gaelic, only the stress accent exists, and it is placed always
on the first syllable. The accent of the Old Gaelic was likewise
on the first syllable, save in the case of the verb. Here in the
componnded verbs the stress accent rested on, as a rule, the
second syllable ; but the imperative placed the accent on the
first syllable, and this also took place after the negative and inter-
rogative particles and after the conjunctions gu^n and na'n {da'n).
Thus /aic, see thou, is iov f-aid-c, with accent on the preposition
at/, for it is imperative ; the future chi stands for the old present
at-ch% videt, where the accent is on the root ci. Again in cha'ii
fhaca the negative brings the accent on the prefix ad, that is,
f-ad-ca. When the accent is on the prefix, its ending consonant
and the initial consonant of the root coalesce and result in a pre-
served G. intervocalic consonant, but the root suffers truncation :
when the accent is on the root, these consonants are aspirated, and
the root is preserved. The ten irregular verbs in G. present
sufficient illustrations of this rule. The preposition con, when
accented, was always con, when unaccented it was com (comh). In
the unaccented syllables, long vow^els become short (aireavih from
"^dd-rtm, anail for 0. Ir. anal), and in many cases change com-
pletely their grade, as from small to broad {e.g. comhnadh, 0. Ir.
congnam, from gniomh, and the compounds in -radh and -lack).
II. WORD-BUILDING.
Word-building consists of two parts— composition and deriva-
tion. The first deals with the compounding of separate words ;
the second deals with the suffixes (and prefixes) that make up the
stem of a word from its root.
(I) The compound may be two stems wielded together: righ-theach,
palace, *rigo-tegos, "king's house"; righ-fhaidh, royal prophet
— " king who is a prophet" ; ceann-fhionn, white-headed,
penno-vindo-s ; ceithir-chasach, four-footed ; duhh-ghlas, dark-
blue ; crannchuT, lot, "casting the lot." These are the six
leading relationships brought out in compounds. In Celtic
the first stem is nearly always in o-, as Teuto-hodiaci, G. sean-
mhathair (but Catu-slogi, Mori-dunum, G. Muirgheal). Con-
sider the following compounds : iodhlann, miolchu, dircheard,
huarach, ceardach, clogad, hathach, eilthire, gnath-fhocal,
moirear, leth-chas, leth-trom, etc.
The following are common prefixes- : ath-, re-, ath-ghlac, re-
capture ; ban-, she, han-altrum, hantrach ; hitli-, ever-, hith-
hheb, hith-bhuan ; il-, iol-, many ; ion-, fit ; sir-, sior-, ever-,
f\r-, fior-, very, saobh-, pseudo-.
XXX. OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY.
The following suffixes belong to this branch of worcl-builcling : — -
-lack, from "^slougo-, now sluagh ; seen in teaghlach, dbrlach^
bylach, youth, etc.
-radh, from "^redn^ W. inpyd (see reidh) ; seen in reahhradh,
madraidh, dogs, oigridh, youth, macraidh, sons, righre,
kings, gniomharra, deeds.
-mhor, -or, from mor, great ; it makes adjectives from nouns,
etc. : lionmJior, etc.
-ail, like ; from ^amhail, anihail : rioghail for riogh-amhail,
king-like.
-an, diminutive masculine, 0. Ir. an, Ogmic -agnos, for "^apo-
gno-s, root gen, bear (Stokes) : as in fear an, tmaghan,
etc.
-ag, diminutive fem. in G., 0. Ir. -6c (masc. and fem.), from
be, bg, young : seen in caileag, etc.
-seach. This feminine termination has been explained by
Stokes as from 0. Ir. es, a fem. form, with the adjectival
addition "^iqd, and this es he deduces from W. es, which
comes from Lat. issa. Cf. haiseach, cldir seach, bonnsach,
ceir seach or ciarseach (Ir).
(2) The compound may be one noun governing another in the
genitive : mac-leisg, and all the personal names in mac, gille,
maol.
(3) Uninflected prefixes :
a. Negative prefixes — I. E. y, G. an before vowels, aineol,
ion-, in- before h, d, g (iongantas), eu- (ao-) before t, c, s
{aotrom for e-tro7n, "^ii-trommo-s).
To this negative add also mi-, neo-, as- (eas-), di- (der-^
di-air-).
h. Prefixes of (^[uality : do {do-char), and so- (so-char) ; and
the intensive ro-.
(4) Old adverbial forms and all prepositions. These prepositions
are often combined w4th one or two other prepositions.
ad-, Lat. ad : faic =f-ad-ci ; aireamh ( = ad-rim-).
aith-, ad-, ^ati-, re-, continually confused with the above
prep, {aith gives accented e as in epiur ; ad gives a as in
aca) : ahair (^ad-her-), agair, aithreachas {^ati-rec-), etc.
Compounded with to- in tagair, tapaidh, taitinn, taitheasg,
taisg, etc. ; with/o- in fag {fo-ad-gab).
air, ^by, on : air-leag, eir-idinn, bir-dheirc, oir-thir, urchair,
urlar. Compounded with com in comhairle ; with to- in
tairis, tairg, tearainn ; with di- in dearmad ; with imm-
in iomdr-hhaigh, iomarchiir.
OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY. XXXl.
as, out, es- : as-eirigh, as-creideamh, eas-hhuidh, el-rich. Com-
pounded with air : %dreai>blimdli ; with to-, teasairg ;
with to-for- in tuairisgeid ; with to-fo-ar in tuamsdal ;
with to-fo- in tuasgail.
eadar, between ; eadar-sgaradh.
iar, after ; in *iarfaighim, now febraich ; iarogha,
in, in ; with to- in tional and comh-thioncd. With a doiible
?^7^ in ioimsuidh.
inn-, ionn-, to, (jcaul. ande- : in fionnogha ; with i^o- in tiorin-
sgaimi, tionndadh (Zeuss). Confused with iyi, iiid, above.
im-, iom-, about : iomair, iomradh, itnich, iompaidh (^imh-sli).
Compounded with com in caochladh ; with to- in timchioll,
tiomsach, tiomnadh.
od-, ud-, out, Eng. out : ohann, ohaidh. Compounded with
aith- in lohairt ; with di- in diiisg ; with fo in fbgair ;
with ^0- in tohar, tog.
con-, comh-, co- : coimhead, comaidh, caisg, cogadh. Com-
pounded with im- in iomchorc ; with con in cogais (0. Ir.
concuhus) ; with to-aith- in teagci!>g, teagcimh.
di-, de, de : dimeas, dioghail, dlomhain, direach ; also dearh,
dean.
do-, to : this is the unaccented form of fo-.
fo, imder : in foghnadh, foglilumi, fcdach, Julaing. Com-
pounded with to- in torachd, tuisleadh (to-fo-ess-) tiiarasdcd
(to-fo-ar-as-), tuasgail (to-fo-as-).
for, far, super : in forail , forradh, fardorus, farynad, furtachd.
Compounded with to in turmach, tuaii isgeid.
fri-, ri, to, ^vrt, Lat. versus ; it appears as frith, fris : in
freagair, fritheil, freiceadan {frlth-com-).
ro-, before : in robhas, rosg, rcdjhadh, radharc. Compounded
in rug (ro-ud-).
tar, across, tairm- : in teirig, toirmisg.
Stein SufUxes.
The following are the most important suffixes used in Gaelic
for stem formation : —
1. 0-, a-, as in cid ('^'citlo-), aitreabh, cas {^coxd).
2. tro-, tlo-, trd-, tld- : crlathar, krei-tro-, email, i^ana-tld), sgeul,
cineal.
3. jo-,jd-, ijo-, ijd-: eile, suidhe, (^sod-i-on). See no-, ro-, tjo-, sqio-.
4c. V0-, vd-, UV0-, uvd-\ tarbh {*tar-vo-), each {*ek-vo-), beb, (bi-vo-).
5. no-, nd-, nno-, eno-, ono- : Idn, sldn, duan, domhan, leathan
(letano-s). It is secondary in iarunn ; cf. tighearna (^feg-
er-nio-).
XXXll. OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY.
6. ??io-, met- : trom, lorn, caomh.
7. ro-, rd^ rro-, etc. : sior, mdr, lar, ar, hodhar. Here comes the
Gaelic numeral stem -dro-n, as aonar, one person, coignear^
five persons ; it is allied to Lat. -drius, -drium, Gaelic -air^
-eir, denoting agents or doers — cldrsair, harper, etc.
8. tero-, ero- : in sinnsear, uachdar, eadar.
9. lo-, Id-, Uo-, etc. : coll {"^cos-lo-), siol, neul, ciall, giall.
10. dhro-, dro-, dhlo-, dlo- : odhar, uallach.
11. hho-, bhd- : earb, gob (^ gob-bo-).
12. to-, td-. This is the participial termination in most I. E.
languages. In G. it is used for the past passive. Also in
the adjectives nochd, bochd, gndth, etc. ; nouns dligheadh,
dearrriad, govt.
13. tjo-, tjd-: Gr. afxf^pocnos. This forms the passive participle in
G. : briste, caithte^ etc.
14. td- of abstract nouns : lobart, now \obairt.
15. to- comparative. This appears in the ordinal numerals:
deiclieanYili, 0. Ir. dechmad, for "^dehmmeto-.
16. ho-, kd-\ og, yowag, juvn-ko-.
1 7. qo-, qd-, qio-, ago- ; saileach for ^suli-qo-s ; cuimhneach,
creidmheach. Especially the adjectives and nouns in ach,
as viarcach, buadhach. Further, the form iche (-iqio-s)
denoting agent ; maraiche, etc.
18. sqo-, sqio- : as in measg, seasg, uisge.
19. go-, gd : see muing, Danish, tnanke ; cf. Eng. walk, hark, etc.
20. Stems in i- : dird, muir, maith, deigh. In ni-, tain, cluaiii,
buain ; in mz-, cruimh, cndimh ; in li-, samhail, dial ; in ti-,
fcbith, feith, breith, bleith, etc. — a form in which some
infinitives appear.
21. tdti-, that is, Celtic tat-, tus : beatha, life, ^bitds, g. ^bi-tdt-os.
22. Stems in u- : tiugh, jiiuch, dub, loch. In nu-, linn, 0. Ir. lin,
lenu- ] in tu- there are many — bith, iodh-, fios ('^vid-s-tu-),
guth, cruth \ especially reachd and its like in chd. Here
come the infinitives in adh (-dtu-).
In G. -eas, as of abstract nouns, the form arises from tu- being
added to an -es stem : aois, ^aiv-es-tu- ; so dorus, follus.
23. Stems in -n : cii, ara, vm, ionga. In -ien, there is 'Eire,
' Eireann. The stems in tio are very common ; the oblique
cases are in -tin- ; see eiridinn, faotainn, etc. : common in
infinitives. Similarly common is -men, -mon, in ainm,
cuirm, druim, leum ; and masculine in britheamh, ollamh,
talamh.
24. Stems in -r ; only the family names athair, mdthair, etc.
25. Stems in -t, -nt : nochd, night : caraid, friend — a participial
form.
OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY.
XXXllL
26. Stems in k or q : G. natkair, g. nathrack, so Idir^ lasair,
cathair, etc.
27. Neuter stems in -es : teach, leth, niagh, gleann.
28. Comparative stems in -/es, -^s-, /ds : mo, greater '''md-jds, sine,
Skr. san-yas-.
Adair in Uighadair, dialladair, figheadair, hreahadair, etc. ("?)
Two or three stems peculiar to Gaelic may be mentioned.
Adjectives in -idh, 0. Ir. -de, as diadhaidh, come from an original
-dio-. Endings like maireann, firionn have been correlated with
the Lat. gerund, itself a much disputed form. The preserved d in
words \\\iQflichead, moisture, 0. Ir. Jliuchaidatu, has been variously
referred to ^-antu- or -ato-titt ; possibly the latter is its origin.
III. SYNOPSIS OF GADELIC ACCIDENCE.
A. Declension.
1. 0- stems. Masc. o-stem hall, member.
Gaelic.
Old Irish.
Gadelic.
Sing
■. Nom.
ball
ball
hallos
Gen.
buill
baill
balll
Dat.
ball
baull
ballu (ballo j. Ji
Ace.
ball
ball n-
ballon
Voc.
bhuill
baill
balle
Dual
N., A.
da bhall
da ball
ballo
G.
da bhuill f?)
D.
da bhall
dib mballaib
ballobin
Plur
. Nom.
buill
baill
balli (balloi)
G.
ball
ball n-
ballon
D.
ballaibh
ballaib
ballobis
A.
buill
baullu
hallos (bah )ns)
V.
bhalla
baullu
hallos
Neuter z'o-stem cridhe, heart
.
S.
N., A.
cridhe
cride n-
kridion
G.
cridhe
cridi
kridii
D.
cridhe
cridiu
kridiu
V.
chridhe
cride n-
kridion
PI.
N., A.
cridheachan
cride
kridia
G.
cridheachan
cride n-
krid on
D.
cridheachan
cridib
kricliobis
V.
chridheachan chride
kridia
XXXIV.
OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY.
2. u
-stems : all feminine, cas, a
foot.
Gaelic.
Old Irish.
Gadelic.
S. Norn.
cas
coss
coxa
G.
coise
coisse
coxies
D.
cois
coiss
coxi (coxai)
A.
cas
coiss n-
coxin
V.
chas
choss
coxa
Dual A.
da chois
di choiss
coxe
G.
da chois
da choss
coxo
D.
da chois
dib cossaib
coxabin
PL N.
casan
cossa
coxas
G.
cas
coss n-
coxan
D.
casaibh
cossaib
coxabis
A.
casan
cossa
coxas
V.
chasa
chossa
coxas
3. ^
-stems. Feminine noun mil
, eye.
S. Norn.
suil
Sliil
sulis
G.
siila
siila
sulos (sulous)
D.
suil
suil
siill
A.
suil
siiil n-
siilin
V.
shuil
shuil
suli
Dual N.
da shuil
di shiiil
sulr
G.
da shuil
da siila
sulo
D.
da shuil
dib sulib
sillibin
PI. N.
suilean
suli
sideis (sulejes)
G.
suil
siile n-
sulion
D.
suilibh
siilib
sulibis
A.
suilean
siili
suleis
V.
shuilean
shuli
suleis
4. U-'
stems. Masculine nomi hithy
world.
S. Norn.
bith
bith
bitus
G.
bith
betho
bitous
D.
bith
biuth
bitu
A.
bith
bith n-
bitun
V.
bhith
betho
bitou
PI. N.
bithean
bithi
bitois, (bitoves)
G.
bith
bithe n-
bition, (bitovon)
D.
bithibh
bithaib
bitubis
A.
bithean
bithu
bitus
V.
bhithean
bithu
bitus
4
OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY.
XXXV.
5. Consonantal Stems,
(a). Stem in r ; athair, father.
Gaelic.
Old Irish.
Gadelic.
S. Nom.
athair
athir
atir
G.
athar
athar
atros
D.
athair
athir
atri
A.
athair
athir n-
atren
V.
athair
athir
ater
Dual N.
, A.
da athair
da athir
atere
G.
da athair
da athar
atro
D.
da athair
dib n-athrib
atrebin
PI
. N.
athraiche
an athir
ateres /
G.
athraichean at lire n-
atron
D.
athraichean athrib
atrebis
A.
athraiche
an athrea
at eras (aterns)
V.
athraichean athrea
ateras
(6).
Stem in men ; neut. ainm, i
lame.
S. N.
, A.
ainm
ainm n-
anmen
G.
;Lnme
anma, anme
anmens
D.
ainm
anmaimm
anmnhi
ri. N.
, A.
ainmeannan anmann
anmena
G.
ainmeannan anmann n-
anmenon
D.
ainmeannan anmann aib
anmenobis
(c). 1
Stem in guttural c ; feni. nathair^ serpent.
S. Nom.
nathair
nathir
natrix
G.
nathrach
nathrach
natracos
D.
nathair
nathraig
natraci
A.
nathair
nathraig n-
natracen {iiatrcn)
ual N., A.
da
nathair
di nathraig
uatrace
G.
da
nathair
da nathrach
natraco
D.
da nathair
dib nathrachaib
natracobin
PL N.
nathraichean
nathraig
natraces
G.
nathraichean
nathrach n-
natracon^!
D.
nathraichean
nathrachaib
natracobis
A.
nathraichean
nathracha
natracas
V.
nathraichean
nathracha
natracas
(d). Neuter stem in -es ; tigh^ house.
S. N., A. tigh teg, tech tegos
G. tighe tige tegesos
D. tigh tig tegesi
Dual N. da thigh da thech tegese
XXXVl.
OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY.
Gaelic.
Old Irish.
Gaclelic.
G.
da thigh
da thigc
tegeso
D.
da thigh
dib tigib
tegesobin
PL
N.
tighean
tige
tegesa
G.
tigh
tige n-
tegeson
D.
tighibh
tigib
tegesobis
6. Adjectives.
Adjectives belonged (1) to the o- and the a- declensions, as
■^marvos, "^marva, "^marvon, now marhh, declined like the nouns
of 0- and a- declensions ; (2) ^- declension, as maith^ *matis,
*matis, *mati, the neuter nom. being the stem ; (3) u- declension,
as "^tigus, *tigus (?), *tigu, now tmigh ; and (4) consonantal adj.,
■^tepens, te, teit, etc. Comparison was in two ways — (1) caomh :
0. Ir. coem, coemiu, coemem : *koimos, *koimj6s, "^koimimos ;
(2) luath : 0. Ir. luath, liiathither, luathem : "^loutos, ^loutiteros,
*loutimos.
The numerals may be seen in the Dictionary in their Celtic
form : *oinos, *dva, *treis, etc.
The pronouns are so phonetically gone astray that they cannot
be restored.
B. Conjugation.
Active Voice. Indicative
— Present.
Verb heir^ bear.
S. 1.
beiridh mi
berimm
berommi"*^
2.
beiridh tu
beri
beresi
3.
beiridh e
berid
bereti
Kel.
beireas
beres
beret-se
P. 1.
beiridh sinn
bermme
berommesi
2.
beiridh sibh
berthe
berete
3.
beiridh iad
berit
berenti (beronti)
Rel.
beireas
berte
berent-eis
Dependent Present.
S. 1.
blieir mi
do-biur
bcro
2.
bheir tu
do-bir
beres
3.
bheir e
do-beir
beret
P. 1.
bheir sinn
do-beram
beromos
2.
bheir sibh
do-berid
berete
3.
bheir iad
do-berat
beront
irst sine:, is
from theme-vowe
1-less rerbs :
*ber-mi. Cf. orm, tharmi
even agam, asam.
OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY.
XXXV 11.
Secondary Present or Subjunctive.
S.
S. 1.
2.
3.
P. 1.
2.
3.
S. 1.
2.
3.
P. 1.
2.
3!
Gaelic,
bheiriiin
blieireadh
bheireadh e
bheireamaid
Old Irish,
no berinn
no bertha
no bered
no bermmis
bheireadh sibh no berthe
bheireadh iad no bertis
Aorist.
do ghabh
ghabh
ghabh
ghabh
ghabh
ghabh
ro gabus
ro gabis
ro gab
ro gabsam
ro gabsid
ro gabsat
Imperative.
beiream
beir
beireadh e
beireamaid
beiribh
beireadh iad
beir
berthe
berad
beram
berid
bcrat
Gadelic.
berin (I)
berethas
hereto
berimmiss (I)
berethi
berintiss (I)
gabassu
gabassi
gabas-t
gabassomos
gabassete
gabassont
here
berethes
hereto
berete
berontd
Passive. Indicative — Present.
S. 3. beirear c berir beretor
P. 3. beirear iad bertir berentor
Secondary Present or Subjunctive,
bheirteadh e no berthe —
bheirtcadh iad no bertis —
Past Tense.
chanadh e ro chet
chanadh iad ro cheta
Imperative.
beirear e berar
beirear iad bertar
s.
3.
p.
3.
s.
3.
p.
3.
s.
3.
p.
3.
cantos, "caiitus'
cantas (n.f.)
cainte
Participle,
cete
cantjos
SUPPLEMENT TO OUTLINES.
SUPPLEMENT TO OUTLINES.
1. cf. Grierson's Linguistic Survey of India as to how far the
statement is to be limited as embracing India. Concerning Asia
the statement is to be restricted to living Aryan languages.
2. V. J. Hoop's Waldhdume und Kulturpjlanzen (Triibner,
1905), pp. 113-114, 382-384. The question is far from being
settled.
3. cf. G. Dottin : Les desinences verbules en r en Sanskrit en
italique et en celtique. He regards the passive in r in Celtic and
Italic as an independent creation, the common element r going
back to the period of Indo-European unity. Even the future in
-bo he regards as a possibly analogous formation and different in
origin and development. Compare critique in Revue Celtique, 1 8,
343, where M. D'Arbois de Jubainville takes exception to some
points. Irish, contrary to the Latin, has conserved the Indo-
European perfect. Further, see G. J. Ascoli : Osservazioni
fonologiche concernenti il celtico e il neolatino in Actes du dixieme
congres international des Orientalistes ii. erne partie, Leide Brill,
1895 ; cf. Indogerm. Forschungen Anzieger vii., i., 70. Also
Windisch in Grundriss der Rom. Philologie, where most of the
relative literature is summarized and discussed. The views of
M. D'Arbois were made accessible some years ago in a paper in the
Celtic Magazine^ ed. by Dr MacBain. cf. Giles's Manual § 449.
4. cf. Rhys's Celtae and Galli in Proceedings of the British
Academy. Dr MacBain's notices of it in the Scottish Historical
Review and in the Celtic Review are of interest, as also Sir J.
Rhys's references in his Celtic Inscriptions of France and Italy ^
reviewed by the writer in the Scottish Historical Review, July,
1908.
5. See Stokes on Pictish and Other Names in Bezzenherger' s
Beitrdge, Band 18. In the second edition of Skene's Highlanders
of Scotland, Dr MacBain clearly summarizes the whole of the
Pictish problem. Dr Zimmer's views were made accessible in a
paper treating of Matriarchy Among the Picts given in the writer's
Leabhar Nan Gleann (Edin. : N. Macleod).
6. See Old Celtic Inscriptions by Stokes in Bezzenherger' s
Beitrdge, B. xi., 112-141 ; Rhys's Celtic Inscriptions of France
and Italy, and reviews by Thurneysen in Zeitschrift filr Celtische
Philologie.
B SUPPLEMENT TO OUTLINES.
7. cf. Rhys and Jones : T'he Welsh People ; v. Henry's
Lexicon Etymol.^ p. xxiii., where he refers to the dialects of
Modern Breton. On the periods of Old Breton see Loth's
Vocabulaire Vieux- Breton, Paris, 1884, ch. i.
8. The presence of z (for vowel-flanked s) can only be explained
by assuming that the Ogmic alphabet was invented or imported
before the regular disappearance of .s between vowels — v. Bezzen-
berger's Beitrdge, xi., 144. Mr R. A. Stewart MacAlister, in his
work on The Ogmn Inscriptions ([jondon : D. Nutt), suggests a
different value in the case of 2 ; in which case, if we have /" for 3,
we require to read v for the f of this transcription of the Ogam
alphabet.
9 Add K. Meyer's old Irish treatise on the Psalter (Oxford :
Clarendon Press), his edition in the Revue Celtique of the Old
Irish version of Tochmarc Emere ; and Felire Oengusso (2nd ed.
by Stokes in Publications of Henry Bradshaw Society).
10. About one half of the contents was transliterated by the
writer in Leahhar Nan Gleann ; cf. Stern's critique in Zeitschrift
fur Celtische Philologie. One of the chief poems has since been
found in a good version in an Irish MS. from Ratisbon, of which
an account has been given by the writer in the forthcoming
volume of the Transactio7is of the Gaelic Society of Inverness.
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. cf. the writer's treatment of
The Gaelic Dialects in Zeitschrift filr Celtische Fhilologi<' ; also
Rev C. Robertson on the same subject in the Celtic Review \
M. Macfarlane's The Phonetics of Scottish Gaelic ; and Professor
Mackinnon on Scottish Gaelic Dialects in a paper in the Trans-
actions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness.
19. " A. in anlaut before a vowel seems to come from ^. So
apparently in Irish haue =irdi<s, and Heriu cognate with iriepia.
This change is regular in Armenian, see Bragmann's Grundriss,
§30" — Stokes in Bezzenberger's Beitrdge, 23, 44. In last ed. of
the Felire Stokes regards ire as the cognate of the Greek word
cited. But this does not affect the cases in which an historic h
seems to represent a vanished p ; compare the m for n in the
derivation of amharus ; and see Dr Pedersen's Vergleichende
Grammatik der fCeltischen Sprachen, as well as the second edition
of Brugmann's Grundriss der Vergl. Grammatik.
20. A great levelling, as compared with what one must infer
from the historic development of Indo-European, has taken place
in Gadelic. Dr MacBain's Indo-European Alphabet is therefore
simplified in the gutturals, although perhaps it would have been
more regular to have put in a labio-velar series apart. Osthoff
recognises three k-rows, labio-velar, velar, palatal, in the mother-
SUPPLEMENT TO OUTLINES. 0
■i
speech ; v. Indogerm. Forschungen, 4, 246 ; Wharton's Etyma
Latina recognise the three rows c, k, q ; cf. Zupitza's treatment
of the gutturals. In Gadelic the velar and the palatal series have
fallen together, but there is a distinct treatment of the labio-
velar.
21. Contamination may have been at work here. But
although the Cymric cognate is daigr^ and Old Latin shows
dacruma, 0. H. German, zahar, 0. Icelandic, tdi\ Germ., zdhre^ in
view of the Gadelic forms, we may take the pre-historic form to
have been "^diikru, which developed on the Brythonic side into a
proto-Celtic *dakru. Compare Dr Walde's Lateinisches Etymol»-
gisches Worterbuck, p. 319, also p. 5, where L. acer is given as
cognate with Irish Gadelic er, high.
22. meith should be meith, as in the Dictionary, with long
open e ; this is diphthongized in the Northern dialect as miath — a
case of diphthongization of long open e where there has been no
compensatory lengthening.
23. See Zeitschrift fur Celtische Philologie, Band 3, 264, 275,
691.
24. See Zupitza on i, j in Celtic, in Zeitschrift fiir Celtische
Philologie, 2, 189-192.
25. See Foy in Indogerm. Forschungen, 6, 337, on Celtic ar^
al = Indogerm. f, Z ; and Zupitza on _r, I in Celtic, in Kuhn's
Zeitschrift, 35, 253.
CORRIGENDA.
Page xxxiii. — In the third line from the bottom of the page,
for krid on, read kridion ; in the eleventh line from the bottom of
the page, for the word in brackets, read (ballons).
AN ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
OF
THE GAELIC LANGUAGE.
AN ETYA'IOLOGICAL i)]CTIONARY
THE G'Al-LIC LANGUAGE.
A
.a, vocative particle, Ir. a, 0. Ir. a, a ; W., Coni., Br. a ; Lat. o ;
br. CO.
a, his, lier, Ir., a, 0. Ir. a, di (accented), W. el, Br. e, Celtic exjo,
e.yds ; Skr. gen, as2/d, asyds. The gen. pi. is an, their, O. ir.
a n-, Celtic esjon (Stokes gives esau ^ Skr. fern. gen. pi. dsdta).
a, who, that (rel. pron.). In G. this is merely the verbal particle
do of past time, used also to explain the aspiration of the
future rel. sentence, which is really paratactic, as in the past
rel. sentence. Oblique cases are done by an, am (for san,
sam, 0. Ir. san, sam), the neut. of art. used as rel. (cf. Eng.
that). The rel. locative is sometimes done by the prep, an,
am : "An coire am bi na caoraich" (1776 Collection, p. 11:^).
.a, out of, ex : see as.
a, from, in the adverbs a nail, a nios, a nuas, a null ; Ir., 0. ir.
an-, as amczs, etc. ; Celtic a(p)ona, a derivative from I. K.
apo, whence Lat. ab, Gr. (xtto ; Ger, von, from, is the exact
equivalent of the Celtic. The a before sios and mas is due
to analogy with a iiios, a mias.
-a, in, to, as in a bhan, a bhos, a nis, a stigh, a steach, is the
prep, an, in, into, q.v.
a, as in a ris, ifec, and before verbs, is the pi-ep. do, q.v.
a', the, at ; see an, the, and ag, at.
ab, or ab ab, fie ! The Ir. ah ah, AI. Ir. ahh, is an interjection of
defiance, oho, of wonder ; cf. Lat. hahw, Gr. ftafSai. Hence,
doubtless AI'A.'s abab, dirt.
-aba, abbot, Ir. ah, 0. Ir. abb, W. ahad ; from Lat. abbas, abbatis,
whence also Eng. abbot. Hence abaid, abbey. M. Ir.
apdaine, abbacy, in M. G. " abbey lands," whence place-
names Appin, older Abbathania (131U), Abthein (1220),
" abbey lands."
1
Z ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
abadh, syllable, utterance ; E. Ir. apad^ proclamation : ad-ha-y
Celtic ha^ speak ; Lat. faUir, fama, Eng. fame.
abaich, ripe, Ir. ahaidh^ M. Ir. ahaid, E. Ir. apaig, "^ad-hagiy
0. Ir. apchugud^ autumnatio ; ^ad-bog-, Celtic root hug, as in
bog, q.v. ; ad-bach, root of Eng. hake \ Gr. cficoyio. The \V»
addfed is from a root met.
abaideai, colic (M'A.) :
abair, say, so Ir., 0. Ir. epiiir, Celtic dd-bero \ Lat. re-fero ; see-
root in beir.
abaisd, a brat, trilling, impiident person :
abalt, expert (M'A.) ; from Sc. apert ? See aparr.
fabar, confluence ; only in Pictish place names : 0. Gaelic (B. of
Deer) abhor, W. aher, 0. W. aper, Celtic ad-hero-, root her ;
see heir. Modern Gaelic pronounces it obair (so in 17th
cent.), which agrees with the 0. W. op)er ; this suggests.
od-hero-, "out flow%" as against the "to flo^v" of ad.-btro-.
The od is for ud, allied to Eng. out. Aporicum : "^ati-horo-ii
(Holden).
abarach, bold ; see ahair above.
abardair, dictionary (Shaw) ; from ahair, q.v.
abartach, talkative, bold ; from abair, q.v.
^bh, hand net ; from Norse hdfr, pock-net. Also tabh, q.v.
Spelt less correctly amh and abhadh.
abh, bark of dog ; an onomatopoetic w^ord.
abhainn, river, Ir. ahhann (gen. abhann, now aihhiie), 0. Ir. ahanuy
W. afon, Br. auon, Gallo-Brit. Ahona ; Lat. amnis {^ah-nis).
Root abh ; Sk. amhhas, water ; Gr. d<f)po'i (6[xf^pos, imber)
(Zim. Neu., 270).
abhacas, sport, irony ; sec the following word.
abhachd, humour, sport, Ir. adhbhachd :
abhag, terrier, Ir. ahhach ; from ahh, q.v, Cf. E. Ir. abacc,
dwarf ; W. afanc.
abhagas, nunour, false suspicion :
abhaist, custom, Manx oaysh, Ir. ahhest (O'R.), abaise (O'B.),
ad+heus? M. Tr. dhaisi (pi.). See betis, custom. Ascoli
compares the 0. Ir. -abais of duabais, teter, and suahaisy
suavis. Meyer suggests from N. avist, abode : unlikely.
abhall, an orchard, apple-tree, M. Ir. ahall, apple-tree. See iibhal.
abharr, silly jest (M'A.) :
abharsair, Satan, Ir. aidhbherseoir, E, Ir, adbirseoir ; from Lat.
adversarius (Eng. adversary). Also aibhistear.
abhcaid, a jest ; see ahhachd.
abhlan, wafer, so L*., 0. Ir. ohla, g. oblann ; from Lat. oblationem„
an oblation.
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. O
abhra, eyelid ; see fabhra.
abhras, spinning, produce of distaff, Ir., M. Ir. abhras, 0. Ir.
ahras, gestus, E. Ir. abras, handiwork, spinning, ahairsech^
needlewoman. Corm. (B) abras, who derives it from L. Lat.
abra, ancilla.
abhsadh, the slackening of a sail, hoisting sail (N. H.) ; from
Norse hdlsa, clew up sail, from hdls, neck, allied to Lat.
collum. Eng. hawser is also hence. Also allsadh.
abhsporag, a cow^s stomach, tripe (H.S.D.), allsporag, cow's
throttle (M'A.) ; borrowed evidently from a Scandinavian
compound of hcUs, neck. Cf. abhsadh above.
ablach, a mangled carcase, Ir. ablach, carcase : "^dd-bal-ac-, from
root bal, bel, die, I. E. (/el, whence Eng, quell. Irish has
abailt, death, 0. Ir. e2)eltti, atbail, perit, from the same root
and prefix ; the first of them appears in our Gaelic dictionaries
through Shaw. From Gaelic comes Scotch ablach.
abran, abran (M'A. and H.S.D.), an oar-patch on a boat's gun-
wale ; see aparan.
Abraon, April, so Ir. ; founded on Lat. Aprilis (Eng. April).
The form is due to folk-etymology, which relates it to braon.
abstol, apostle^ Ir. absdal, 0. Ir. apstal, W. apostol ; from Lat.
ap)ostolus, whence Eng. apostle.
acaid, a pain, stitch ; ^dd-conti- ; see urchoid.
acain, sigh, complaint, E. Ir. accdine, W. a.cfnvyn ; dd + caoin ; see
caoin, weep.
acair, anchor, Ir. aucaire, 0. Ir. ingor, W. angor ; from N. akkeri :
acarsaid, anchorage, from N. akkarsaeti, " anchor-seat.'^
From. Lat. ancora, whence Eng. anchor.
acair, acre, Ir. acra ; from Eng. acre ; Lat. ager.
acarach, gentle ; Ir. acarach, obliging, convenient, which shades
oft' into acartha, profit ; W. achar, affectionate ; dd-car- ; see
car, friendly. M'A. has acarra, moderate in price, indul-
gence, which belongs to acartha.
a car an, lumber :
acartha, profit, so Ir. ; see ocar, interest.
acastair, axle-tree ; borrowed word from Sc. ax-tree of like mean-
ing— Eng. axle, &c.
ach, but, Ir. achd, 0. G. (B. of Deer) act, 0. Ir. act, acht, ^ekstos,
possibly, from eks = ex ; cf . Gr. cktos, without. For the
change of vowel, cf. as, from eks. The Welsh for " but" is
eithr, from ekster ; Lat. exter-.
ach, interjection of objection and impatience ; founded on above
with leaning upon och, q.v.
achadh, a field, so Ir., 0. G. achad, 0. Ir. ached (locative 1)
campu lus (Adamnan), "^acoto- ; Lat. acies, acnua, field.
•4 ETYMOLOGICAl. DICTIONARY
achain, prayer ; dialectic for achuingi', (\.\.
acharradh, dwarf, sprite :
achd, statute, so Ir., M. Ir. acht ; from Lat. actum, Eiig. act.
achd, manner, condition, Ir. achd ; same as above. There may l)o
a native aktu- ('^ag-tu-, ^'/Kig-tn- ?) underlying some meanings
of the word, especially in Irish.
achdarr, achdartha, methodical, expert (H.S.D.) :
achlaid, chase, pursuit, so Ir., M. Ir. acclaid, fishing, E. Ir. titclaid,
fishes, hunts, pursues : ad-claidivi ; see claoidh.
achlais, arm-pit, Ir. ascall, M. Ir. oc/isal, W. cesail. The
divergence from regular philologic e(pu valence here proves
borrowing — from the Lat. axilla ; Norse oxl^ Vii'v. achsel,
Sc. oxter,
achlan, lamentation (M'L.) ; for ocli-lan 1 from och.
achmliasail, a rebuke, Ir. achmhusdn, E. Ir. cLtlichomsd)i ; cf. aithis
for root.
achuinge, supplication ; also athchuillge, so Ir., E. Ir. atJichuingid ;
ath + cuinge ; 0. Ir. cnintglm, peto, con-teh- ; Eng. tliig. See
atach.
acras, hunger, Ir. ocru^, E. Ir. accorus, occorus : ^'ad~co-resiu-,
possibly the root prea of Lat. previo : ^careo (F"^. 422).
acuinn, acfhuinn, apparatus, accoutrements, Ir. acfulnn, E. Ir.
accmaing, means, apparatus : ad-cumang, 0. Ir. cumang,
potentia ; see further under cumhachd.
ad, hat, M. Ir. ai, W. h<'t ; from Eng. hat, N. liattr.
ad-, adh-, inseparable prefix, in force and origin tlie same as Lat.
ad. It is to be separated, though witli difficulty, from the
ad- arising from aWi- or ath-, q.v.
adag, shock of corn, Ir. adag ; cf. Sc. hat, hot, hut, "to put up
grain in the field, a small stack built in the field ;" M.E.
hutte, heap,
adag", a haddock ; from the English.
adamant, adamant, so Ir. ; from the English.
adha, ae, liver, Ir. aeghe, g. ae, 0. Ir. 6a, ae, W. afu, Br. avu,
root av. Cf. adha for ae, cadha for cae.
adhan, proverb (M'A.); rather aghan, root agJi, Lat. ajo, adagio,
adage ; Skr. ah, say.
adhal, flesh hook (Sh.), so Ir., O. Ir. del, tridens : *iKwelo-, Lat.
pavire ? But cf. Eng. aivl, M. E. and Ag. S. aivel, awl, flesh-
hook,
adhaltrach, adulterous, Ir. adhaltranach, E. Ir. adaltrach; from
Lat. adulter, whence Eng. adulterous.
adharc, horn, so Ir., 0. Ir. adarc : ad-arc ; root ar</, defend, as in
teasairg, q.v. ; Lat. ayxeo, &c.
OF THE GAET.IC LANGUAGE. 5
adharcan, hipwiim', "honied bird;" irom adharc; Dial, daoireagan.
Ir. adaircin (P. O'C).
adhart, pillow, so Iv., E. Tr. adart : ad-arf ; art, stone ? See
airtelv.
adhart, aghart, "progress" (Diet.). This is a ghost-word, made
from the adverbial phrase air adhart, which in M. Ir. is
araird, forward, bring forward ; in 0. Ir. arairt, prorsum.
Hence it is air-\-ard, cpv.
adhastar, halter, Manx eistyr, Ir. ag]i(iMo>\ M. Ir. ada^tar ; cf. W.
oddest/, steed,
adhbhal, vast, awful, so Ir., 0. Ir. adfml : "^ad-hol- ; I. E. root
y)lnd, swell, as in Eng. hloom, etc. Zimmcr compares it with
Slvr. hala, strength. Stokes and ( )sthofF give root hel, hol^
strong, big, Skr, halam, strength, Gr. /SeATepos, better, Lat.
de-hllU, weak, Ch. SI. holijt, greater ; wdience bailceack
(Osthotf) and bail, buil.
adhlac, Ijurial, Ir. adhlacadh, 0. Ir. adnacid, sepulcrum : ad-nank-
otlo (^'^"ad-nagtlo-, Zim.) : root verb nanko, I bring ; Lat.
nanciscor ; further I. E. 7iPuk, enk, as in thig, cpv.
adhna, an advocate (Macd.) : H.S.D. cfs. Heb. ad/ion, sustentator.
ag, at, with inf. only ; see aig.
ag", agadh, refusal, doubt ; E. Ir. ac, refusal, 0. Ir, ace. no I
W. acorn, to deny. It is onomatopoetic ^ See next,
ag'adh, hesitancy in speech, Br. hak, Imkal ; cf. Skr. ac, speak
indistinctly. See foregoing word.
agair, plead, so Ir., (). Ir. acre (n.), from ad-gar- \ root gar, cry;
see goir.
agallamh, conversation, Ir. agcdlamh, 0. Ir. acaldam, for ad-gldd-,
0. Ir. ad-gldditr, I converse : for root, see glaodh.
agh, a hind, Ir. agh, 0. Ir. ag, W. eivig C^agtko-), Celtic agos- ;
Skr. ajcia, buck ; Lit. ozys, goat. Zend. a?:(, Arm. ezn (St.).
agh, also adh, happiness, luck, Manx aigJi, Ir. dgh, M. Ir. ada,
buada , late M. Ir. dd, luck, ccdh = sonas (P. O'C ) ; root dg-,
bring ; see next,
aghach, warlike, so Ir., E. Ir. dgach, ag, war, "^dgu- ; Skr. ajls,.
contest ; Gr. dyo)v, Eng. antagonist.
aghaib, essay (M'A.) ; see oidheirp.
aghaidh, face, so Ir., (). Ir. aged, '''agitd ; I.E. root ag, lead. It
is usually referred to the root 0(f, Lat. ociilus, etc., but the
phonetics are unsatisfactory.
aghann, pan, so Ir., 0. Ir. aigen, Celtic agind ; Skr. aga, water
jar ; Gr. ayyo?, a vessel.
agus, and, so Ir., 0. Ir. acus, ocus, B. of Deer acits, 0. W. ac, Br.
hag : allied is fagus, near, 0. Ir. ocus, W. agos, Br. hogoz :
6
ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
^aggostu-, ad-gos- ; root ges, gos, carry ; Lat. gero, aggestu-Sy
mound (Zimmer). Stokes refers it to the root angh, choke,
narrow ; Celtic aggdst-, from pre-Celtic aghnustu- (Lat.
angustus)^ with accent on syllable after the root — gn with
the accent on the following vowel being supposed, as in
Teutonic, to produce gg. The derivation from root onk, enk,
as in thig, is not tenable in view of the Welsh.
ai, sheep, swan (Carm.) :
aibheil, huge (M'E.). See adhhhal.
aibheis, sea, the deep ; Ir. aibheis, sea, abyss ; E. Ir. aibeis, sea.
This Stokes refers to a Celtic abensi-s, abhent-ti-s ; root a6A,
as in abhainn. But cf. 0. Ir. abis, from Lat. ahyssus : W.
ajfivys, bottomless pit.
aibheis, boasting ; aibhsich, exaggerate ; Ir. aibhseach, l)oasting :
J^-'^f from the foregoing 1 Another form of aibhsich is aillsich.
aibhist, an old ruin (Stew.) :
aibhistear, the Devil ; another form of abharsair^ q v.
aibhse, spectre, so Ir. : see taibhse.
aibidil, alphabet, Ir. aibghitir, O. Ir. abbgitir, from L. Lat.
abgetorium, abecedariu7u, tlie a, b, c, d, or alphabet. A
dialectic form, aibirsidh, comes from the old learning system,
beginning "A per se," a by itself = a, Eng. apersie. Analo-
gised to caibidecd (Meyer).
alee, proximity, Ir. alee ; see taic.
alee, a lobster's burrow, also faiche.
aicheadh, deny, Ir. aithcheo, contradicting, M. Ir. aithceod : *ati-
coud- (1), " go back on ;" cf. 0. Ir. afchuaid, expos ui, which
Stokes refers to the root of chaidh, went, q.v.
aicheamhail, reprisal ; cf. Ir. athghabhdil ; ath+gabhail.
taicme, race, Ir., 0. Ir. aicme, W. ach, pedigree, "^akk-, from «/i',
edge ; Lat. acies 1 Stokes cfs. Skr. anka, lap, but this would
give G. ac- (a) and a W. anc. Norse dtt, family, Ger. acht,
property.
aidheam, joyous carol :
aidich, confess, Ir. admhuighira, 0. Ir. addaimiin, W. addef:
ad-dam- ; root da^n ; Lat. doino, Eng tame.
aifrionn, mass, so Ir., E. Ir. oifrend, W. ojferen ; from Lat.
offer endum (Eng. offer).
aig, at, Ir. ag^ 0. Ir. oc ; for root, see agiis.
aigeach, young or entire horse; also oigeach ^o^ + cac/^, i\.\.
M. Ir. 6c-ech, young steed (Eriu^ 11).
aigeann, the deep, Ir. digeun, E. Ir. oician, W. eigion : from Lat.
oceanus, Eng. ocean. There is also a by-form aig'eal.
aigeannach, spirited, E. Ir. aignech y see aigneadh. Ir. aigeantOy
meditative.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 7
aig'hear, mirtli, Manx aiglier ; ^atl-gm^- ; see gairdeachas for root.
Yet Ir. aiereach, merry, aerial, from aier, air, from Lat. aer^
makes the matter doubtful. Ir. aerach (Hyde), merry, airy.
Evidently the G. is borrowed from the Lat.
ai^ilean, ear-ring, tassel ; cf. Sc. aiglet, tagged point, jewel in
one's cap ; eglie, needlework, from Fr. aiguille, needle ; Lat.
acus.
aigne, the swift, anything quick (Carm.) :
aigne, aigneadh, mind, so Ir., 0. Ir. aicned : dd-gn-eto-, root gnd,
know, Gr. ytyi/wrrKw, Eng. knoiv. Stokes refers it to the root
of aicme, as he gives it. Ascoli makes the root cen, as in
cineal. The Gaelic g is against any root with c.
ail, will ; better aill, (j.v.
ail, aileadh, ailt, a mark, impression, Ir. oil, mark (O'R.), M.
and E. Ir. aile, fence, boundary (Meyer). A t stem : oiledaih,
*al-et.
fail, rock, Ir. and 0. Ir. ail, ^aWk-, allied to Ger. feh ; see further
under mac-talla.
ailbheag, ring ; see failbhe.
ailbhinn, flint, precipice ; from ail, rock.
aile, air, scent, E. Ir. ael, ahel ; W. avel, C., Br., awel, wind ; Gr.
akXXa (St. Lee), storm ; ^avel-, root ave, ve, wind ; Lat.
■ " au-ra, Gr, a?//), Eng. air.
aileag, hiccup, Ir. fail ; cf. Lat. hfdo, breathe, Eng. in-hale.
ailean, a green : "^ag-li- 1 Cf. Lat. ager.
ailear, porch :
ailis, blemish, reproach, 0. Ir, ail, disgrace. Got. agh ?
ailis, mimicing (\Vh.) ; bad atharrais, aith-lis, (M'A.) aithris.
aill, desire, so Ir., 0. Ir. ail, W. eivyll, Br. ioid, Celtic avillo- ;
root av, desire, Lat. av^o, Eng. avidity. «//, pleasant, "^pagli,
Eng. fair (St. Bez.^o 24).
aille, beauty, E. Ir. aide, for dlnde ; see dlainn.
ailleas, ailgheas, will, desire : Ir. dilgheas, E. Ir. ailges, dilgidim,
I desire ; from ail and geafi, request, q.v.
ailleagan, root of the ear, hole of the ear ; iiiao fail lean, q.v.
ailleag'an, darling, so Ir. ; from dille, q.v.
aillean, elecampane : cf. Gr. eAevtov, Lat. inula. M. Ir. eillinn
(Rev. Celt.-' 231). inula quam alain rustici vocant (Isidor).
ailleant, shy, delicate ; M. Ir, ail (O'Cl.), shamefaced.
ailleort, high-rocked ; from aill, rock ; see mac-talla.
aillse, diminutive creature, fairy, Ir, ailUe ;
aillse, cancer, Ir. aillis, 0. Ir. ailsin, cancerem :
aillseag", caterpillar ; from above.
ailm, the letter A, elm ; Ir. ailm, palm (fir ?) tree, letter A ;
borrowed from Lat. fdviu.% Norse dlmr, Eng. elm.
O ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIOXAKV
ailt, stately, high ; Ir. ailt, Lat. alius, ailt (H.S.D.).
aim-, aimh-, privative prefix ; see am-, amh-. See its use in-
aimhleas ( = am-leas), hurt, aimhrea, aimhreidh, coufusioiL
( = am-reidh), aimbeart, distress, ete. ( = am-bert). The-
vowel in the root is " small", and hence affects the a of am..
aimheal, grief, Ir. aithmheal, repentance ; aith + meala, grief,.
E. Ir. 7ntla, sorrow, reproach ; "^mehlo-, a shorter form of 0. Ir.
Tiiehul, dedecus ; Gr. /xe//^o/xat.
aimhfheoil, ainfheoil, proud flesh ; from aimh- and/^ozY, (^.v.
aimlisg', confusion, mischief :
aimrid, barren, so Ir., M, Ir. immrit^ l)arren, E. Ir. amrit ; am-
ber-ent-, "non-producing;" root ber of beirl
aimsichte, hold (Arms.); am-meas-ichte, " un-mannerly ?" See
7)ieas.
aimsir, time, so Ir. ; 0. Ir. amsei^, W. arnser, Br. amzer, possibly a
Celtic ammesserd ; either a compound of ani, time {am7nen-
strd, from sir, long 1), or amb-meitsnra, root mens, measure,
Lat. onensus, Eng. measure. Ascoli and Stokes give the
Celtic as dd-messera, from ad-mensura.
aimsith, missing of aim, mischance : am-??iiVith, Gaelic root mis^
of eirmis, (|.v.
ain, heat (Diet.), light (H. M'Lean), 0. Ir. due, fulgor, from an,
splendidus, latter a Celtic Cino-s ; Got. fan, fire (from pan) ;;
Pruss. panno. Stokes suggests rather "^agno-s, allied to Lat.
ignis, Skr. agni, fire,
ain-, privative prefix ; see an-.
ainbhtheach, stormy, M. Ir. ainhthecli, "^an-feth-ech, Gaelic root
feth, breeze, from vet, Eng. iveather, Lat. ventus, etc. See-
anfadJi.
ainbi, ainbith, odd, unusual : an-bith, " uu-world-like." See hiUi..
aincheas, doubt, M. Ir. ainches, E. Ir. ances, dubium :
ainchis, a curse, rage, Ir. aingeis, E. Ir. aingcess, duces, curse,.
anguish ; an+geas, (|.v., or Lat. augustia ?
aineamh, flaw, so Ir., E. Ir. a7iim, AV. anaf, blemish, 0. ]>r..
anaynon, mendce ; (ir. oVo/xat, blame.
ainean, a liver, liver of fish (N.H.) ; see adha.
aineartaich, yawning [aineartaich, M'A.) ; see dinich below.
aineas, passion, fury ; aii-theas, from teas, heat,
aingeal, angel, so Ir., 0. Ir. angel, W. angel, Br. ael ; from Lat..
angelus, whence also the Eng.
aing-eal, light, fire, Manx ainle, Ir. aingeal (Lh., O'B.), M. Ir.
aingel, sparkling : "^pavgelos, Ger. funlce, M. E. funhe ; further
ong, fire, hearth ; Lit. a)iglis, coal, Skr. angdra, glowing coal ;
L E. ongli, ongol ; allied is I. E. ognis, fire, Lat. ignis. See
OF THE tJAELIC LANGUAGE 9
Fick^ 14. Skeat derives Se. ingle from the (Gaelic. Also
ainneal, a common tire,
aingealachd, uuml)iiess -. img-eal-acJi-, root ang, clioke (Lat.
ango) /
aino;ealtas, perversity, malignity ; from the following,
aingidh, wicked, Ir. aingidJie, malicions, 0. Ir. aiulgid, angid^
ne(|uam, wicked, andach, sin ; '^'an-dg-id, root deg of deagh,
good, (j.v.
ainich, panting, also aonach ; root an-, long form of an, breath
(see anail) ; Skr, dnana, month (" breather'').
ainid, vexing :
ainis, anise ; from the English. M. Ir. in aims, gloss on " anisnm
cyminnm dnlce.'"'
ainm, name, Ir. and 0. Ir. ainm, pi. anmann, B. of Deer a}iim, ^\'.
enw, Br. hanu, *anmen- ; Gr. oVo/>itt ; Brass, emmens, Ch. SI.
im»^ ; root ono, allied to no in Lat. iiomen, Eng. name.
ainmhide, a rash fool ; see oinid.
ainmhidh, beast, ])rnte, Ir. ainrnhid/ie, M. ir. aininide^'^aiiem-itio-.s,
"^aneni-, life, sonl ; Lat. aninia/, etc. Ir. is also ainmkinte,
"animans."
ainmig', rare ; an-minig, (\.\.
ainneamh, rare ; see annamli.
ainneart, force ; ain-, excess (see an-), and neart.
ainnighte, tame, from ainneadh, patience (Sh.) ; possibly from
ait-dam, root dam, tame,
ainnir, virgin, E. Ir. ander, W. anner, heifer, M. Br. annoer (do,),
^atiderd ; cf. Gr. av6i]pu<;, blooming, dOdpioi., virgins (Hes.),
^vOap-.
ainnis, ainniseach, needy: an^dlth, want?
ainstil, fnry, over-tizzing : a)i+ytea/L
air, on, npon. This prep, represents three Irish ones :
{a) air^O. Ir. ar, air, ante, propter, W. ar, er, Br. cvv ^^'^^^l* <^re~,
Celtic ari, arei, Gr. Trapd, Trapai., by, before ; Lat. ffvae ; Eng.
fo)-e, for. This prep, aspirates in Irish, and in Gaelic idioms
it still does so, (\g. air chionn.
(b) air = (J. Ir. for, "snper," O. W. and 0. Br. guor, Br. voar, oa?;
Gaul. f:er- ; Gr. vTrep ; Lat. s-uj/er ; Eng. over. This prep,
did not aspirate ; it ended originally in r in Gaelic ; as an
inseparable prefix (vero-, viro- in Gaul.) it aspirated, as in the
modern form of old names like Fergus, now Fearghui^ or
Fenr\iis (gen. case).
(c) air == ( ). Ir. iar n-, after, pre-Celtic eperon ; Skr. apardm,
afterwards, aparena, after ; Got. afar, after, Eng. af-iQv.
, Further come Gr. oTrt-, behind, eV t-, to, Lat. oh-^ op-. See iar.
10 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
This is the prep, that is used with the inf. to represent a
perfect or past participle in GaeHc — -Tha mi air hv.aladh ; " I
have struck."
airbhinneach, honourable ; air+Oeann ?
aire, distress, so Ir., 0. Ir. aircur, pressura ; cf. Lat. parens,
sparing.
^irc, the Ark, Ir. aire ; from Lat. area.
airchios, pity, clemency (Hend.) : see oireheas.
aircill, to watch, listen, Ir. aircill ; see faiy^eilL
aircleach, a cripple ; *aire-laeh, from aire, q.v.
aird, point (of the compass), Ir. dird, E. Ir. aird, ih. apSis, a
point. Hence Sc. airt.
aird, preparation, activit}^ :
airde, height, Ir. dlrde, E. Ir. arde ; see drd.
airdeil, ingenious :
aire, heed, Ir., 0. Ir. ah^e, Old. Brit. Areauos, native watchers who
gave intimation to the Romans (Anniiianus), pre-C^eltic 2^<^^jd,
2^ar, seek ; Gr. Trelpa ; trial, Lat. ex-perior, Eng. experiment.
aireach, keeper of cattle. There is confusion in Gaelic between
aireaeh and 0. Ir. aire{ch), lord ; the bo-aire, cow-lord, was
the free tenant of ancient Ireland. For 0. Ir. aire, see
airidh. G. aireach owes its long vowel to a confusion with
draieh, rear. See airidh for root.
aireamh, mmiber, so Ir., 0. Ir. dram, W. eirif, "^ad-rtm-, Celtic
rtmd, number ; Ag. S. rim, number, Eng. rhyme ; Gr.
apiBixos, number.
airean, ploughman, herdsman ; Ir. oireamh, g. oireamhan, plough-
man, the mythic Eremou, Airem(ou), '^arjamon-, Skr.
Arjaman, further Aryan (?) ; root ar, plough.
tairfid, music, harmon}^ : see oirjid.
airgiod, silver, so Ir., 0. Ir. arget, W. ariant, Br. arcliant, Gaul.
Argento-, Argento-eoxus (a Caledonian prince) : Lat. argentum ;
Gr. apyvpos. Eng. argent is from the Lat.
airidh, better airig^h, hill pasture, shciling (airghe, in Lh. for
Gaelic) ; cf. E. Ir. airge, dirge, place where cows are, dairy,
herd of cattle; E. Ir. airgech, herdswoman (of Brigit) ; Jr.
airghe, pi. dirighe (O'B.), a herd of cattle ; airgheach, one
who has many herds ; ^ar-egia ; Lat. armentum 1 But see
draich, rear. Norse or Danish erg from Gaelic equals Norse
seir (Ork. Sag.). This Norse form proves the identity of
Gaelic with P^. Ir. airge ; airge = ar-agio, "^agio, herd.
airidh, worthy, Ir. airigli (Ulster), airigh, nobleman (O'B.), 0. Ir.
aire{ch), primas, lord ; Skr. drya, good, a lord ; drya, Aryan,
dryaha, honourable man. "^parei 1
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 11
airilleach, a sleepy person ; from jaireal, bed, M. Jr. airel (O'C.) :
airleag", lend, Ir. airligwt, 0. Jr. airliciud, lending ; from leig, let,
which is allied to Eng. loan, Got. leihvan, Ger. leiJuni. See
leig.
airleas, pledge, earnest, arles ; from Sc. arles, older erhs, which,
through 0. French, comes from. Lat. *arrhnla^ dim. of arrha,
pledge. Eng. earnest, whence W. ernes, is probably from the
same origin. See earlas.
airlei^, a strait :
airmis, hit ; see firmis.
ilirne, a sloe, so Ir., M. Ir. ami, sloes, W. eiri7i, plums, Br. irinenn,
sloe, Celtic arjanio- (Stokes) ; Skr. arayi, tinder-stick
"prenma spinosa," aranka forest.
airneach, murrain in cattle :
airneis, airneis (M'L. ct D.), furniture ; Ir. dirneis, cattle, goods,
etc., M. Ir. airnis, tools, furniture. The word can hardly
be separated from the Komancc ar?iese, accoutrements,
armour, whence Eng. harness, armour for man or horse. The
word is originally of Brittonic origin (Br. harnez, armour),
from *eisaruo-, iron ; see iarunn.
airtein, a pebble, so Ir., E. Ir. arteini (pi.), 0. Ir. art ; possibly
Gaul, arto- [Arto-hriga), Artemia, name of a rock.
airtneal, airsneal, weariness :
ais, milk (Carm.), M. Ir. as (O'Dav,).
ais, wisdom (Carm.), ais (O'Cl.) See cnoc (Carm).
ais, back, backwards ; so Ir., E. Ir aiss, darciaiss, l^ackwards ; Gaelic
air ais. 'I'he forms ais, rithisd (H.s-), thairis, seem compounds
from the root sta, sfo, stand ; cf. fois, bJios, ros ; ais may be
for ati-sta- or ati-sti-. Ascoli refers ais to an unaccented
form of eis, track, which is used after tar and di {di a eis, post
eum ; see dels) for "after, post,^' hwt not for "l)ack," as is
air ais, with verbs of rest or motion.
aisead, delivery (obstetrical ), E. Ir. asaif, vb. ad-saiter, is delivered ;
'^ad-sizd- ; Lat. sJdo, assidere ; a reduplication of the root
sed, of suidhe, q.v. From ad-sem-t, root seiu as in taovi
(Stokes).
aiseag, a ferry, Ir. aiseog (Fol.) :
aiseal, axle ; it seems borrowed from Eng. axle, Norse oxnll, but
the W. echel, Br. ahel, *aksila, makes its native origin
possible, despite the absence of the word in Irish.
aiseal, jollity (Sh., Arms.) ; see aisteach.
a,isean, rib, Ir., E. Ir. asna, AV. eiseii, asen. Cor. aseu ; cf. Lat.
assula., splinter, asser, beam (Stokes). Formerly it was
referred to the same origin as Lat. os, ossis, bone, (ir. orrreov,
IZ ETYMOLOGICAl. DICTIONARY
but the root vowel and meaning- are both imfavoiiraljle tO'
this etymology,
aisearan, weanling (Argyle) ; from ais 1
aisg", a re(piest (Sh.), PI Ir. ascld ; '^'ad-skv-, root seq., as in sc/enl,
aisgeir, a ridge of high mountains, Ir. eiscir, aisgeir (Lh. for
latter) : "^ad-sker- (Ij, as in Eng. shemj, G. sgeir, q.v. Cf. W.
e^gair (Meyer),
aisig", restore, so Ir., E. 1\\ a^sec ; possibly = ^'f?.s-zV, " out-l)ring,"
ic = eyik ; see thig^ come.
aisir, aisridh, path ; see astar.
aisith, strife ; as-slth, as-, privative, and stth, q.v.
aisling", a vision, dream, so Ir., 0. Ir. aislinge ; possibly ^cr-ling-ia,
'"a jump out of one-self, ec-stasy," the root being leng of
leAtm, ([.V. Nigra suggested the root sil or sell of secdl^ see,
(].v. ; he divided the word as as-sil-inge, Stokes as ad-sell-angia
(Beitriige, Vol. VIII.).
aisneis, rehearsing, tattle, E. Ir. same, O.Ir. disndis ; aisnedim, 1
relate ; {as-ind-fiad-im, 0. Ir. in-fiadim, I relate) ; fiad^veid,
know ; see innis ; root vet, Lat. veto (Stokes), but this does-
not account for t of 0. Ir. aisndis.
aisteach, a diverting fellow, Ir. aisdeach, witty :
ait, glad, Ir., E. Ir. ait, 0. Ir. ait, euge I adverbium optantis :
aite, a place, Ir., E. Ir. ait. Possibly Celtic pod-ti, "^panti? root
p('>d, ped, Lat. oppidimi, (Ir. irkhov, groiuid, Skr. joarfa?^^, place ;
as in eadli, ([.v. Stokes has referred ait to the root that
appears in Ger. ovt, place, Norse oddr, 0. Eng. ord, point,
Teutonic aid-, I. E. aidh- ; but this in Gaelic would give nd
or od.
aiteag, a sliy girl, >^vq faiteacJi.
aiteal, breeze, ray, small portion. In the sense of "ray," cf. Gr.
(Iktl<;, ray : in the sense of " (piantulum," it may be divided
as ad-tel, 0. I>i'. attal, an equivalent, root tel^ weight, money ;.
see tuarasdal. actuo.Us ?
aiteam, a people, a tribe (Arms.) :
aiteamh, a, thaw ; ''' aith-td-m, W. toddi, melt ; Lat. tahes ; Gr.
Ti'jKU), luelt ; Eng. tJiaw. The Ir. word is tionadh (0. Ir.
tinaid, evanescit), Manx tenniie, the root of wliich is ten, Lat.
tener, Eng. thin.
aith-, " re-" ; see atlt-.
aitheamh, fathom, 0, W. atem, filum ; ^(p)etemd ; Eng. fathom ;
L E. p(^f, extend, Lat. pateo, etc.
aithinne, fire-brand, Ir., 0. Ir. aithinne : *ai'f]i.-tc'a-io- ? Root of
teine? The root and, kindle, as in 0. Ir. andud, accendere,
OF THE GAEl.lC LAX(iUA(JE. 13
aJanddd, lighting up, is also })ossiblc, *alt/i-and-i<>' ])eiiig thu
form in that case, amhailte (Glcn-nioriston).
aithis, a reproach, aftVont, so Ir., 0. Ir. af/iiss ; *ati-vi(]-ta- : (Jot.
idveit, Eng. twit ; root vid, wit, know.
aithlis, a disgrace ; cf. leas in leas-mhac.
aithne, knowledge, so Ir., 0. Ir., aithgne, W. adwaen : ati-fin-io- for
Ir. ; I. E. gen, gnd, gno, to know ; Lat. cognosco ; Gr. yiyvonrKO);
Eng. know.
aithne, command, Ir.,O.Ir. aithne, depositnm, command ; iiinndiilm,
delego, assign ; W. adiie, custody ; the root seems to he an
or an, judging from the verbal forms, though these scarcely
ao-rec with tlie noun forms. See tioiimadJi further,
aithreach, repentant, so Ir., 0. Ir. aithrech, G'orn. cdirvL\ rej)ent-
ance, Br. azrec (do.), '^ati-(^p)reko-, '^ati-[p)reJdd ; root, prek,
Ij'dt. 2)recor, (jev. fragen, ask, etc. Ascoli makes the root reg,
come (see rack).
aithris, tell, so Ir., *ati-rii(, E. Ir. r/.s, a story, * rt-ti, rat, ret,
Ger. rede, speech. Got. rathjo, speak, Lat. ratio. Cf. O. Ir.
airissim, from iss.
aitidh, damp :
aitionn, juniper, Ir. aiteayin, 0. Ir., aitenii, W. aith, eltldn, Gor.
eythinen, 0. Br. ethin (gl. rusco), "^akto-, I. E. root, ak, sharp,
Lat. acidus, Eng. acid, edge, Gr. aKpos, extreme, etc. '^^riie
nearest words are Lit. dkstinas, sting, Ch. 81. ostiuu. Also
aiteal. *at-tenn-, " sharp bush or tree" ; from root at, sharp,
E. Ir. aith, sharp, "^atti-, atto-. For -tenn, see caor^uui. Cf.
Ir. teine, furze.
aitreabh, a building, Ir. aitreihh, E. Ir. aittreh, W. adref, home-
wards, Gaul, Atrehates ; "^ad-treb-, the Celtic root treb corres-
ponding to Lat. tribus, Eng. thorpe.
al, brood, Ir , dl, W. ael, al : ^{p)aglo- ; cf. Lat. '/n-opago, Eng.
propagate. Hence alaire, brood mare. Ger. adel, nobilitv.
alach, a brood, set, bank of oars (M'E.) :
alach, nails : *al-loch, dl-, from {p)agl-, Lat. pcVus, stake : root
pag, pdg, fasten, whence Gr. irt'jyvvfii, Lat. paitgo, fix, Eng.
page.
alachag, alachuin, see ealachainn.
alainn, beautiful, Ir. dtuin, 0. Ir. dlaind \ "^ad-lainji \ see loinu.
Stokes prefers referring it to ail, pleasant, '^paqli-, Eng. fair,
root pag. But ra-laind, pleasant, "^ad-pland (Holden).
all-, over ; see thall.
allaban, wandering :
allail, noble, M. Ir. all, aill, "^al-no-s, root al, as in Lat. altns.
alladh, fame (either good or bad), Ir. alladh, excellency, fame,
E. Ir. allud ; see above.
14 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
allaidh, fierce, wild, Ir. allta^ 0. Jr. allaid ; possibly from cdl-,
over, the idea being " foreign, barbarous, fierce;" cf. W.
allaidd of like meanings, from W. a//, other. See next,
allmharach, a foreigner, foreign, fierce ; Ir. allmharach, foreigner,
transmarine ; E. Ir. allmarach. From all-^ beyond, and
wMwV, sea, " transmarine " (K. Meyer),
allsadh, a jerk, suspending, leaning to one side ; see ahhsadh.
allsmuain, a float, great buoy :
allsporag, cow's throttle (M'A.) ; see ahhsporag.
allt, a stream, Ir. alt, height, (topographically) glen-side or cliff,
0. Ir. alt, shore, cliff", 0. W. allt, clift'. Cor. ah, Br. aot, shore ;
all allied to Lat. altiis. The Gaelic form and meaning are
pos8il)ly of Pictish origin.
all-tapadh, mishap, ill-luck (Wh.) ; mischance : from all- and
tapadli.
aim, alum ; from the English.
almsadh, charity (Hend.), M. Ir. almsain.
alp, also ealp (Wh.), ingraft, join closely together: alp in tinkers'
Ir. a job of work, hill ; ealp = Sc. imper, graft.
alt, joint, Ir., E. Ir. alt, ^(p)alto-s ; root pel, whence Eng. fold,
Norse, faldr, Ger. falz, groove ; Gr. -TrAao-fo?, doubled, for
TrAartos. " air alt" = in order that (Wh.).
altach, a grace (at food), Ir. altughadh, 0. Ir. attliigud, rendering
thanks, atlnchu?' bude, I give thanks : "^ad-tlukor, root, tluq ;
Lit. tidka.% interpreter ; Lat. loquor for tloquor.
altair, altar, Ir., 0. Ir. altoir, W. allor. Cor. altor, Br. aider ; from
Lat. altare, altar, "high place."
altrum, fostering, Ir. altrom, 0. Ir. altram, AV. alltraiv, sponsor ;
root al, nourish, whence Lat. alo. Got. alan, grow, Eng. old.
am, time, Ir. am, pi. amanna, E. Ir. am, "^ammen-, from ^at-s-mien-,
root at. Got. a]:>n, year ; possibly Lat. annus (ai-s-no-).
am-, priA^ative prefix ; this is the labialised form of a7i-, q.v. ; and
being labialised, it is also aspirated into amh-. The forms
l)efore " small " vowels in the subsequent syllable are aim-,
aimh-.
amach, vulture, so Ir. :
amadan, fool, Ir. amaddn : am+ment-, " non-minded," Celtic root
//lent {dear mad, far mad, etc.), mind; Lat. mens, menti-s, Eng.
mind, etc. The shorter root men is found in meanmna.
amail, mischief ; E. Ir. ad,millim, I destroy : ad+mill, q.v.
amail, liindrance : ad-\-moll, q.v. But Norse hamla, hinder,
amal, swingle-tree; *ad-mol ; mol, a beam, especially "a mill
shaft," E, Ir. 7nol. Cf. Norse hamla, oar-loop,
amar, chaimel, mill lead ; E. Ir. ammor, ammbur, a trough,
'■''amh-or- ; Gaul, ambes, rivos, rivers, Amhris, river name ;
OF THE GAEIJC LANGUAGE. 15-
Lat. imher ; Gr. o/x/?/)o§, rain ; Skr. ambu, water. Zimmer
considers the Ir. borrowed from Ag. S. amber, amphora, Ger.
eiiner ; but the Gaelic meaning is distinctly against his
theory. A borrowing from Lat. amphora is liable to the same-
objection.
amarlaich, blustering (M'A.) :
amarlaid, blustering female ; not amarlaich.
amart, need (Hond.). Hend. now questions it, aimbeairt.
amhailte, large ember of wood (Glen-moriston).
amas, hitting, 0 Ir. ammiis, an aim : "^ad-mes- ; see eirmis.
amasguidh, aimsgith, profane, impure: *ad-mesc-id-, "mixed;"
see measg.
amh, raw, Ir. amJi, E. Ir. om, W. of ; root om, dm, whence Gr.
w/xo«j ; Got. amsa ; Skr. amsas.
amhach, neck : *om-dk-d ; Lat. humerus, shoulder (^om-es-os) ;.
Gr. (3yxo9 ; Got. amf^a ; Skr. amsas.
amhain, entanglement by the neck (M'A ) ; from above.
a mhain, only, Ir. amhdin, E. Ir. amain ; cf. 0. Ir. nammd (W.
namyn, but 1) = na-?i-wirt, " ut non sit major" (^'?). The main
root is 7nd or mo, more, with the negative, but the exact
explanation is not easy; " no more than" (?). amhdin — a-
{a[p\o) + main, *mani ; Gr. ixdvo<i, spiirlich, [jlovo^ (St. Z.).
amhainn, river ; better abhaiym, q.v.
amhaltach, vexing ; see aimheil.
amhan, a marsh, or Ion (Glen-moriston).
amharc, looking, seeing; so Ir., M. Ir., amarc, amharc = a-{apo) +
marc, Ger. merhen, perhaps Lith. merkti, wink, blink (St.).
Roots marc, marg.
amhartan, luck, Ir. amhantur, cdjJiantnr ; from Fr. aventure, Eng.
adventure
amharus, suspicion, so Ir., 0. Ir. cwiairess, infidelitas, am + iress,
the latter meaning "faith;" 0. Ir. iress = air-ess, and "^ess is
from '*sistd, standing, root std,, stand, reduplicated ; cf. Lat.
sisto, etc. The whole word, were it formed at once, would
look like '^am-{2y)are-sistd, or ^am-are-sistd.
amhas, amhusg", wild man, beast man ; Ir. amhas, a wild man,
madman ; E. Ir. amos, amsach, a mercenary soldier, servant.
Conchobar's amsaig, or mercenaries, in the E. Ir. saga of
Deirdre, appear misunderstood as our amhusgan, monsters ;
there is probably a reminiscence of the Norse " bear-sarks."
Borrowed from Gaul. Lat. ambactus ( = servus, Festus), through
^ambaxus ; Ciesar says of the Gaulish princes : " Circuni se
ambactos clientesque habent." The roots are ambi- (see mu)
and ag, go, lead (see aghaidh). Hence many words, as Eng.
IG ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIOXAIIV
amUcssador, Ger. amt, ofticial position, etc. ]r, .)., l-IJ., l.'j(),
lias amhcM in (t. force.
amhg'har, affliction, Ir. amhgar ; am- (not) -\-gar \ cf. O. ir. hujlr,
tristitia, from r/dire., risus. See gdu\ laugliter, for root.
E. Ir. so-gai\ do-gar, *xapa (St.).
amhladh, distress, dismay (Hend.). See amhluadJi.
amhlair, fool, boor, silly talker or l)ehaver (Arg.) ; ir. omJd6ii\,
0. Ir. amlahar, mute ; from am- (not) and labliair, speak,
(|.v. Cf. suilJjhi'i'.
amhlaisg", bad beer, taplash :
amhluadh, confusion, distress :
amhra, wonderful ; '^am-porios (St.), ctTreipos.
amhran, song, Ir. amkrdn, abhrdn, M. Ir. ambrdn, Manx, arram ;
see brayi. Cf. Ir. amhra, eidogy, especially in verse : amJn n,
famous (Lee. 69).
amhsan (ansan), Dial, osan, solan goose ; from Lat. ani<er ?
amhuil, like, as, Ir. amJduidh, 0. Ir. a.mail, avial, O. W. amn/,
W. mal, Br. evel ; from a Celtic savudi-, which appears in
samJiail, q.v.
amhuilt, a trick, deceit (H.S.D., M'E. amhuilt) : Cf. adh-nu'la.
amliuinn, oven, Ir. oigheann ; borrowed from Eng. oven.
amlach, curled, amlag", a curl, M. Ir. amiacli, from the pre]).
am/jf-, as in nni, (j.v.
amraidh, amraidh (M'E.), cupboard, Ir. amri (Ol'>.), \V. ahuari;
all l)orrowed from Eng. (Gaelic from Sc. aumiic /) arnhry an<1
M. E. almaru, from 0. Er. almarie, from Lat. (rnnarium,
place of tools or arms, from arma.
an, a', the, Ir. an, O. Ir. in (mas. and feuL), a n- (neut.) ; a t-
appears before vowels in the nom. masc. {an t-atJiair), and it
is part of tlie article stem ; a Celtic sendo-s (m.), sendd (f.),
s,an (n.). Sendo-s is composed of two pronominal roots,
dividing into sen-do- ; sen, judging by the neuter san, is a
fixed neuter nom. or ace. from the Celtic root se (1. ]^. sj<>,
beside so-), allied to Ag. S. se, the, seo, no^\' she. The -do- of
sendo-s has been referred by Thurneysen and Briigmann to
the pron. root to- (Eng. tha-t, Gr. to) ; it is suggested that to-
may have degenerated into do- before it was stuck to the
fi.xed form sen. Sen-to- could not, on au}^ principle otherwise,
whether of accentuation or what not, produce the historical
forms. It is best to revert to the older etymology, and
refer do- to the pronominal I'oot appearing in the Latin fixed
cases (enclitic) -dam, -dem, {qwi-dam, i-dem, etc.), the Gr, Se,
-8e (as in o-8e, this), Ch. SI. da, he. The difference, then,
between Gr. o-Se and (iaelic seii-do-s is this : the (ir inflects
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 17
the first element (6 = so) and keeps the Se fixed, whereas
Gaehc reverses the matter by fixing the sen and inflecting the
do- ; otherwise the roots are the same ultimately, and used
for almost similar purposes.
an, in, Ir. a n- (eclipsing), 0. Ir. ^, i n-, W. -i/n, Br. en ; Lat. in ;
Gr. ev ; Eng. in, etc. Generally it appears in the longer form
ann, or even as ann an ; see ann.
an, interrogative particle, Ir. an, 0. Ir. in ; Lat. a7i ; Got. an.
an-, negative prefix, Ir. an-, 0. Ir., an-, in- ; W., Cor., Br. an- ;
Celtic an, I. E. n-, Lat. in-, Gr. a-, dv-, Eng. un-, Skr. a-, an-,
etc. It appears before labials and liquids (save n) as am-,
aspirated to amh- ; with consequent " small " vowels, it
becomes ain-, aim-, aimh-. Before g, it becomes ion-, as in
iongantas. Before c, t, s, the an- becomes eu- and the t and c
become medials (as in beicd, hreug, feusag). See also next
word.
ana-, negative prefix, 0. Ir. an-, sometimes aspirating ; G.
ana-creidimh, disbelief, 0. Ir. ancretem, but ainfhior, untrue ;
M. Ir. ainfhir. This suggests a Celtic anas- for the first, and
ana- for the second, extensions of the previous an- ; cognate
are Gr. avt?, dvev, without ; Ger. ohne, Got. inu, without.
ana-, an-, ain-, prefix of excess ; Ir. an-, ain-, M. Ir. an- ; Ir.
aspirates where possible (not t, d, g), Gaelic does so rarely.
Allied are Gr. ava, up. Got. ana, Eng. on. Hence ana-barr,
excess ; ain-neart, violence ; ain-teas, excessive heat, etc.
anabas, dregs, refuse, also green, unripe stuff cut; horn, an-ahaich.
anabhiorach, centipede, whitlow :
anacail, defend, save ; Ir. anacail, protection, E. Ir. anacul (do.).
This Ascoli refers to the same origin as adnacul ; see adhla.c.
anacair, sickness, affliction, so Ir., an-shocair. Ir. Jl. 156. See
acarach.
anadas, regret (M'D.) :
anagna, irregularity, unusualness (Hend.), ana+gndth.
anail, breath, Ir. and 0. Ir. anal, W. anadl, anal. Cor. anal, Br.
alan, Celtic anatld ; root an, breathe. Got. anan, to breathe,
Skr. anila, wind. See anam also.
anainn, eaves, top of house w^all :
anam, soul, so Ir., 0. Ir. anim (d. anmin). Cor. enef, M. Br. eneff,
Br. ene, Celtic animon- (Stokes) ; Lat. animus, anima ; Gr.
dvcfxos, wind.
anamaint, lust, perversity (Hend.), ana + mein.
anart, linen, Ir., E. Ir. anairt, 0. Ir. annart "^an-arto- ; root pan,
pan ; Lat. pannus, cloth ; Gr. Trrjvos, thread on the bobbin ;
Got. fana, cloth, Ag. S. fana, small flag, Eng. vane, fane.
18 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONAKY
anart, pride :
anasta, stormy ; * an-fadh-asta ; see anfadh, storm.
ancachd, adversity (Hend.) :
an drasta, now ; for an-trdth-sa, " the time here," q.v.
tanfadh, storm ; proper G. is onfhadk, q.v.
anfhann, weak, Ir. anbhfann, M. Ir. anbfann, anband ; an^fanriy
" excessive faint." '^qq fann.
anlamh, annlamh, misfortune ; an- (not) + lamh ; see ullamh for
lamh.
ann, there, Ir., 0. Ir. and, "^anda (Stokes) ; Cyprian Gr. avSa
( = avrrj, this, she) ; Lit. andai, newly, ans, ana, ille, ilia ;
Ch. SI. onu, that ; Skr. ana, this (he).
ann, ann an, in, Ir. ann, E. Ir. ind, 0. Ir. ind-ium (in me), Celtic
endo (Stokes) ; Lat. endo, indu, into, in ; Gr. eVSov, within,
evSoOev ; Eng. into. The roots are en (see an), in, and do
(see do), to. In ann an, the two prepositions ann and an
are used. The form anns is used before the article and
relative ; the -s properly belongs to the article ; anns an,
in the, is for ann san.
tannaid, annoid, a church, M. Ir. annoit, 0. Ir. andooit, mother-
church. Stokes refers it to L. Lat. antitas, for antiquitas,
" ancient church." In Scottish place-names it appears as
Annet, Clach na h-Annaid, etc. Cf. annone, church (O'Dav.),
from Hebrew.
annaladh, era, calendar, Ir. analach, chronicle ; from Lat. annalia.
annamh, rare, M. Ir. annam, E. Ir. andam ; *an-dam-, " non-
tame"; root dam, home, etc.; Eng. domestic, tame. Hence
annas, rarity.
annlamh, vexation, etc. ; see anlamh.
annlan, condiment, E. Ir. annland, W. enllyn ; possibly an + leann.
annrach, ^nrach, wanderer, stranger ; either from *ann-reth-ach,
root reth, run (see ruith, faondradh), or from * an-rath-ach,
"unfortunate," root rath, luck, q.v.
annrath, distress, Ir. anrath; an-^-rath ', see rath, luck. The
E. Ir. andrd appears to be of a different origin.
annsa, dearer, better liked, so Ir., M. Ir. and,sa, preferable :
ao-, privative prefix ; for eu-, that is, for an- (not), before c and t.
See an-.
aobhach, joyous ; see aoibhinn.
aobhar, cause, Ir. adhbhar, 0. Ir. adbar, '^ad-bero-n ; root b&r, I.E.
bher, whence Lat. fero, Eng. bear, etc.
aobharrach, a young person or beast of good promise, hobble^
dehoy ; from aobhar, material.
aobrann, ankle, 0. Ir. odbrann, W. uffarn : *od-bronn, "^ud-brunn-y
"out-bulge;" itc?- = Eng. out, and hrunn-, see brii, belly..
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 19
Stokes (^Academy, June, 1892) makes od- to be for^90cZ, foot,
Gr. TTovs, TToS-o?, Eng. foot, etc.
aodach, clothes, Ir. eudach, 0. Ir. etach, ^ant-ac-os ; root pan, as
in anart q.v. Of. Lit. pinti, plait, twine, Ch. SI. ^?g^^, wind,
Lat. pannus, etc. Strachan cfs. Alb. ent, int, weave, Gr.
aTro[JLaL, weave.
aodann, face, Ir. eadan, 0. Ir. etan, Celtic antano- (Stokes) ; Lat..
ante ; Gr. avrt, against ; Eng. and ; Skr. dnti, opposite.
aodraman, bladder, Ir. eadtromdn ; see aotrom.
aog^, death ; see eug.
aogas, aogasg, face, appearance, M. Ir. ecosg (O'CL), 0. Ir ecosc,.
habitus, expression, *in-co$c ; see casg, check. Cf. 0. Ir.
in-cho-sig, significat.
aoghaire, shepherd, so Ir., M. Ir. aegaire, 0. Ir. augaire, "^ovi-gar- ;
for ovi-, sheep, see oisg. The -gar- is allied to Gr. dyetpo),
dyopd, meeting place, market.
aoibh, civil look, cheerful face, Ir. aoibh, pleasant, humour, E. Ir.
deb, 0. Ir. diph, beauty, appearance, *aibd (Thurneysen),
mien, look, Prov. Fr. aib, good manners. Ascoli refers it to
the root of eibheall (q.v.), a live coal, the underlying idea
being "shining, sheen." This would agree as to the original
force with taitinn, please, taitneach, pleasant.
aoibhinn, pleasant, joyful, so Ir., E. Ir. dibind, dibind. See above
word for root.
aoideag, hair-lace, fillet ; from root of aodach.
aoigh, guest, Ir. aoidhe, pi. aoidheadha, 0. Ir. oegi, pi. oegid,
'^(v)oig-it ; cf. the Teutonic *faig-i}>-, whence Norse feigr,
doomed to die, Ag. S. fdegp, doomed, Eng. fey (Schrader).
Stokes gives the Celtic as {p)oik-it, poik, whence Eng. foe
(cf. Lat. hostis, hospes) ; but the Gaelic gh of aoigh is against
this otherwise satisfactory derivation. As against Schrader's
etymology, might be put a reference to the form found in
Gr. oixoixai, go, Lit. eigd, going, further root ei, go ; the idea
being " journey- taker." Commonly misspelt aoidh.
aoigh, pleasant countenance, Ir. aoibh.
aoine, fast, Di-haoine, Friday, Ir. aoine, Friday, 0. Ir. oine, fast,
Br. iun ; from Lat. jejunium, a fast, fast-day, Eng. jejune.
Stokes suggests Gr. Tretvaco, hunger, as cognate, making it
native : *poin-io-. Unlikely.
aoineadh, a steep brae with rocks, Manx eaynee, steep place :
aoir, a satire, Ir. aor, E. Ir. der, 0. Ir. dir. *aigrd, ato-xos. Got.
aiviski : aigh (St.). Prellwitz gives Gr. and Got. and root.
Ascoli refers this word and 0. Ir. tathdir, reprehensio, to
tdir, q.v.
aoir, sheet or bolt-rope of a sail :
20 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
aoirean, airean, ploughman, herdsman, Ir. oireamh^ g. oireamhariy
ploughman, the mythic Eremon, AiremfonJ, *arjamon-, Skr.
Arjaman, further Aryan (?) ; root ar, plough.
aoirneagan. See aonagail.
aois, age, Ir. aois, 0. Ir. des, dis, dis, W. oes, ^aivestu- ; Lat.
cevum, cetas, Eng. age ; Gr. ates, aiet, always ; Eng. aye. From
*ait-tu, Lat. oiior, titor, Si-atra (Th. St. Arch. 276).
aol, lime, Ir. aol, 0. Ir. del : *aidlo-, from aidh, light, fire, Gr.
aW(i), gleam, (St.). See Mackay.
aolach, dung, Ir. aoileach, 0. Ir. ailedu, stercora, W. add-ail,
eluvies. Ascoli compares 0. Ir. ail, probrum, but this word
is probably cognate with Got. agls, aglus, difficult, shameful,
and may not be allied to aolach.
aolais, indolence :
aolmann, ointment : founded on the Eng. ointment. Cf. iarmailt,
armailt.
aom, incline. Ir. aomadh, inclining, attracting :
aon, one, Ir. aon, 0. Ir. din, den ; W., Cor., Br. un ; Lat. unus
( = oinos) ; Got. ams, Eng. one.
aonach, moor, market place, Ir. aonach, fair, assembly, 0. Ir.
oinach, denach, fair, "^oin-acos, from aon, one, the idea being
" uniting, re-union." Some have compared the Lat. agonium,
fair, but it would scarcely suit the Gaelic phonetics.
aonach, panting ; see dinich.
aonadh, ascent :
aonagail, aonairt, aoineag^an, wallowing (H.S.D.) ; see uainneart ;
uan = foam.
aonais, want ; see iimais.
aorabh, bodily or mental constitution :
aoradh, worship, Ir. adhradh, 0. Ir. adrad ; from Lat. adoratio,
Eng. adoration.
aotrom, light, Ir. eadtrom, 0. Ir. etromm; *an + trom, "non-
heavy." See trom.
ap, ape, Ir. ap, W. ab ; from Eng. ape.
aparan, apron, gunwale patch (N.H.) : from the Eng.
aparr, expert ; from Sc. apert, from 0. Fr. aparte, military skill,
from Lat. aperio, open, Eng. aperient, expert, etc.
aparsaig, knapsack ; from Eng. haversack.
ar, ar n-, our, so Ir. and 0. Ir. '^(s)aron ; this form may
have arisen from unaccented m-aron (Jub.), like Got. uns-ar
{us of Eng. and ar), Ger. unser, Eng. our (Thurneysen).
Stokes refers it to a Celtic (n)ostron, allied to Lat. nostrum.
See further at bhur.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 21
ar, seems ; ar learn, methinks, Ir., M. Ir. dar, E. Ir. indar, atar^
with la, 0. Ir. inda, ata, da ; where ta, tar is the verb tha
(thathar), is, with prep, or rel. in before it. Tha leam-sa
(Mrs Grant). See na, than.
ar, plough, E. Ir. ar, W. ar, ploughed land ; Lat. aro ; Lit. ariic ;
Got. arjan, Eng. ear, plough.
ar, battle, slaughter, Ir. and 0. Ir. dr, W. aer, *agro- ; root ag,
drive ; Gr. ay pa, chase ; see dgh.
ara, kidney, Ir. dra(nn), 0. Ir. dru, g. dran, W. aren, *nfron- ;
Lat. nefrones ; Gr. v€(f)p6s ; Ger. nieren. Stokes refers dra to
ad-ren, the ren being the same as Lat. ren.
arabhaig", strife ; cf. 0. Ir. irhdg, arhag, *air-hdg-, Norse bdgr,
strife.
arach, rearing ; see diridh, shealing. It is possible to refer this
word to "^ad-reg-, reg being the root which appears in eirich.
arachas, insurance, so Ir., E. Ir. drach, bail, contract, '''ad-rig-,
root rig, bind, which see in cuihhreach.
aradh, a ladder, Ir. aradh, E. Ir. drad :
araiceil, valiant, important, Ir. drach, strength, drachdach,
puissant, '^ad-reg-, root reg, rule, direct.
^raidh, certain, some, Ir. dirighe, M. Ir. diridhe, '^ad-rei- ; cf. W.
rhai, rhyiv, some, certain, which Rhys compares to Got.
fraiv, seed.
ar-amach, rebellion ; for '^eirigh-amach, " out-rising."
aran, bread, Ir., M. Ir., ardn; root ar, join, Gr. apapio-KO), apros.
See next.
arbhar, corn, so Ir., E. Ir. arhar ; 0. Ir. arbe, frumentum ; Lat.
arvum, field. Also Gaul, arinca, " frumenti genus Gallicum"
(Pliny), Gr. apaKos, vetch, Skr. arakas, a plant,
arbhartaich, dispossess ; "^ar-hert- ; ar for ex-ro ?
arc, fungus on decayed wood, cork, arcan, cork, a cork, stopple,
Ir. arcan, cork (Lh.) :
archuisg, experiment (Sh.) :
arcuinn, cow's udder :
ard, high, Ir., E. Ir. drd, Gaul. Ardvenna ; Lat. arduus ; Gr. 6p96<i.
ard-dorus, lintel, Ir. ardorus, fardorus ; drd- here is a piece of
folk etymology, the real word being ar, air, upon. See air
and dorus.
arfuntaich, disinherit ; *ar-fonn-. See arhhartaich.
argarrach, a claimant ; "^ air -^ gar ; see goir.
argumaid, argument, Ir. argumeint, 0. Ir. argumint ; from Lat.
argumentuTn.
arias, chimney, E. Ir. forles, roof light ; air + leus, q.v.
arm, weapon, Ir., 0. Ir. arm, W. arf; from Lat. arma, whence
Eng. arms. Stokes says unlikely from Lat.
22 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
armadh, working wool in oil, the oil for working wool. Cf.
aolmann.
armunn, a hero, Ir. armann, an officer, E. Ir. armand, from an
oblique case of Norse drmad'r (g. drmanns), harmost, steward.
aroch, hamlet, dwelling :
aros, a dwelling, Ir. drus, M. Ir. aros, W. araws, aros ; "^ad-rostu- ;
Eng. rest is allied to rostu-.
arpag, a harpy ; from Lat. harpyia, Eng. harpy.
arraban, distress : "^ar-reub- ?
arrabhalach, treacherous fellow ; see farbhalach.
arrachar, rowing, steering (Arm.) : '^ar-reg-, root reg, direct.
arrachd, spectre, Ir., E. Ir. arracht ; ^ar-rig- ; see riochd for root.
Ir. has also arrach, contour, spectre.
arrachogaidh, the first hound that gets wind of, or comes up to
the deer (Sh.) :
arraghaideach, careless (Sh.) :
arraideach, erratic : from the Eng. 1 earraid, hermit *?
arraidh, farraidh, suspicion (M'D.).
arraing, a stitch, convulsions, so Ir. ; *ar-vreng- '? Eng. ivrench, etc.
arral, foolish pride :
arronta, bold ; see farranta.
arrusg", awkwardness, indecency, arusg (M'A.) :
ars, arsa, quoth, Ir. ar, E. Ir. ar. The s of the Gaelic really belongs
to the pronoun se or s^, said he, said she, " ar se, ar si." Of.
M.G., " ar san tres ughdar glic" — said the third wise author
{san being the full art. ; now ars an). The E. Ir. forms bar
and for, inquit, point to the root sver, say, Eng. swear,
answer. Stokes refers it to the root ver, verdh, Eng. ivord,
adducing E. Ir, fordat, ordat, oldat, inquiunt, for the verdli
root. Thurneysen objects that ol ov for is a preposition, the
-dai being the verb ta on analogy with other forms indds,
olddte. The original is al, propter, " further" (see thall),
like Lat. turn ("tum ille" — then he), later or or for, and
later still ar — all prepositions, denoting " further."
^rsaidh, old, Ir. drsaidh, 0. Ir. arsid : "^ar-sta- ; sta, stand. It was
not observed that Stokes had the word ; but the same con-
clusion is reached. His stem is *{p)arostdt, from /wros,
before, and stdt, Skr. purdstdt, erst.
arsnaig", arsenic ; from the Eng.
arspag, large species of sea-gull, larus major :
artan, a stone ; see airtein.
artlaich, baffle ; see fairtlich.
^ruinn, a forest ; ^ag-ro-ni-, root ag, Gr. ay pa, the chase.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 23
as, a, out of, from, Ir. as, 0. Ir. ass, a, W. a, oc, Br. a, ag, Gaul.
ex- ; Lat. ex ; Gr. ef , etc. As- is also used as a privative
particle.
asaid, delivery ; see aisead.
asair, also fasair, the herb "asara bacca ;" borrowed from Latin
name.
asair, harness, shoemaker, Ir. asaire, shoemaker, assain, greaves,
etc., 0. Ir. assa, soccus ; Gr. vra^, sandal (Hes.), Lat. baxea ;
root pdg. fit, Gr. TryjywixL (Stokes).
asal, an ass, so Ir., M. Ir. assal, W. asyn, Cor. asen, G. and Ir.
are borrowed from Lat. assellus, the W. and Corn, from Lat.
asinus.
asbhuain, stubble ; *as-b%iain, "out-reaping," q. v.
ascaoin, unkind, wrong side of cloth (caoin is ascaoin) ; as-,
privative, and caoin, q.v.
ascart, tow, Ir. asgartac/i, M. Ir. escart, W. earth, Br. skarz,
*ex-skarto-, '^skarto-, dividing, root sker, separate ; Gr. ctkmp,
dung ; Eng. sham ; etc.
asgaidh, present, boon, E. Ir. ascad, 0. Ir. ascid (Meyer) ; for
root, see taisg.
asgailt, a retreat, shelter ; see fasgadh, sgail : "^ad-scath-, asgaid.
asgall, bosom, armpit, so Ir., Br. askle, W. asgre, bosom. The
same as achlais (q.v.) by metathesis of the s.
asg'an, a grig, merry creature, dwarf (Arm.). See aisteach.
asgnadh, ascending, so Ir. ; *ad-sqend6- ; Lat. scando, etc.
aslach, request, Ir., 0. Ir. aslach, persuasio, adslig, persuades ; for
root, see slighe, w^ay.
aslonnach, prone to tell (Arm.), E. Ir. asluindim, I request ; *ad-
sloinn, q.v.
asp, an asp, W. asp, from the Eng.
asran, a forlorn object, Ir. asrdnnach, astrannach, a stranger : from
astarl
astail, a dwelling ; see fasdail.
astail, a contemptible fellow (M'A.) :
astar, a journey, Ir. asdar, astar, E. Ir. astur ; "^ad-sod-ro-n, root
sod, sed, go ; Gr. 686s, way, Ch. SI. choditi, go ; Eng. ex-odus.
Stokes (Bez. Beit.^^ 1134) now gives its Celtic form as
*adsUro-, root sai of saothair, toil,
asuing", asuinn, asuig, apparatus, weapon ; see asair (?).
at, swell, Ir. at, 0. Ir. att, *(p)at-to-, root pat, extend, as in
aitheamh, q.v. Stokes gives Celtic as azdo- (Got. asts, twig,
etc.) ; but this would be in Gaelic ad.
tatach, request, B. of Deer attdc, E. Ir. atach, 0. Ir. ateoch, I
pray, ^ad-tek- ; Eng. thig.
24 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
atach, cast-off clothes (Uist, etc.) = ath-aodach.
ataig", atuinn, a palisade, stake :
atamach, fondling, caressing (M'A.) :
ath, next, again ; see ath-.
ath, flinch ; from ath-, back. Hence athach, modest.
ath-, aith, re-, so Ir., 0. Ir. ath-, aith-, ad-, *ati, W. ad-, Br. at-,.
az- ; Gaul, ate : Lat. at, but, at- (atavus) ; Lit. at-, ata-, back,.
Slav, otu ; Skr. ati, over. Stokes divides Celtic ati- into two,
meaning respectively "over" and "re-;" but this seems.
unnecessary.
ath, a ford, Ir., 0. Ir. dih, "^jdtu- ; Skr. yd, to go ; Lit. j6ti, ride
(Stokes). Beul-ath :
ath, a kiln, Ir. aith, W. odyn. Stokes refers this to a pre-Celtic
apati-, apatino; parallel to Eng. oven, Got. auhns, Gr. iVvos:.
Bezzenberger suggests the Zend, dtar, fire, as related,
athach, a giant, Ir. f athach, athach ; root pat, extend %
fathach, a breeze, Ir., 0. Ir. athach ; Gr. ar/xos, vapour, Eng.
atmosphere ; Ger. atem, breath ; etc.
athainne, embers, so Ir. ; *ath-teine C?). See aithinne.
athailt, a scar ; ath-ail ; see ail, mark.
athair, father, so Ir., 0. Ir. athir ; Lat. pater ; Gr. Trar^p ; Skr.
pitdr- ; Eng. father.
athair-neimh, serpent, Br. aer, azr ; for nathair-neimh, q.v.
athair-thalmhainn, yarrow, milfoil, Ir. and M. Ir. athair talman ;
" pater-telluris !" Also earr-thalmhainn, which suggests.
borrowing from Eng. yarroiv.
athais, leisure; ath-\-fois = delay, q.v.
athar, evil effect, consequence (M'A., Whyte), ^at-ro-n from ath,
"re-." See comharradh. So. aur = athailt.
athar, sky, air, Ir. aieur, air, sky, 0. Ir. aer, aier, W. awyr ; from
Lat. aer, w^hence Eng. air. See St. for aer, "^aver- % Of.
padhal, staidhir, adhal.
atharla, heifer ; possibly ath-ar-laogh, " ex-calf." Of. E. Ir.
aithirni, calf,
atharnach, second crop, ground cropped and ready for ploughing
(N. H.) ath-ebrn-ach % "^ath-ar-nach, root ar, plough,
atharrach, alteration, Ir. atharrach, 0. Ir. aitherrech, Br. adarre,
afresh, arre, *ati-ar-reg-, root reg of eirich. Stokes analyses.
it into ati-ex-rego, that is, ath-eirich.
atharrais, mocking, imitating (M'K.) ; (Dial, ailis) : ath-aithris,.
" re-say," Ir. aithris, tell, imitation. See aithris.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 25
ba ! part of a lullaby ; onomatopoetic. Cf. Eng. hahy, Ger. huhe,
etc.
ba, b^th, foolish, Fernaig MS. hah: "deadly," (talky?), root ha-^
kill (speak ?) ; see has. Cf. Lat. fatmis.
babag, tassle ; see pah.
babhd, a surmise (M'A.), a quirk ; from Fr. fattt.
babhsganta, baosg-anta, cowardly ; see hodhhh ; bahhsgadh, fright,
shock (Hend.).
babhun, bulwark, enclosure for cattle, Ir. hdhliun. whence Eng.
hawn^ M. Ir. hodhun (Annals of Loch Ce, 1199) ; from ho and
dun., q.v.
bac, hindrance, Ir. hac, M. Ir. hacaim (vb.). See next word.
bac, a crook, Ir. bac, 0. Ir. hacc, W. bach, Br. hac'h, Celtic hakko-s ;
*bag-ko-, Norse hak, Eng. back. Hence bacach, lame, E. Ir.
bacach, W. hachog, crooked.
bacag, a fall, tripping ; from hac, q.v.
bac-m6ine, turf-pit or bank (N. H.) ; from Norse bakki, a bank,
Eng. hank. Hence also place-name Back.
bacaid, ash holder, backet ; from Sc. backet, from Fr. haquet.
bacastair, baker, bacaladh, oven, Ir. hacail, baker ; all from the
Eng. bake, baxter.
bacan, stake, hinge, Ir. and E. Ir. bacdn. From bac.
bach, drvmkenness, Ir. bach ; from Lat. Bacchus.
bachall, shepherd's crook, crozier, Ir. hachul, 0. Ir. bachall, W.
bagl, crutch ; from Lat. bacidum, staff ; Gr. f^aKrripia, Eng.
bacteria. Bachull gille, slovenly fellow (M'D.).
bachar, acorn, "Molucca bean," Ir. bachar ; borrowed from or
allied to Lat. haccar, Gr. /SaKKapcs, nard.
bachlag, a shoot, a curl, Ir. bachldg ; from bachall (Thurneysen).
bachoid, the boss of a shield, Ir. hocoide, bosses of shields ; from
L. Lat. buccatus, Lat. hucca, cheek. See hucaid.
bad, a cluster, thicket ; cf. Br. hot, bod, bunch of grapes, thicket ;
common in Breton and Scotch place names ; probably a
Pictish word. Cf. Eng. bud, earlier hodde. Cf. Lat. fascis
(*fad'-scis), ^had-sk-, Norse, Eng. bast"^
badhal, a wandering, badharan ; possibly from the root ha, go,
as in hothar, q.v. H.S.D. suggests ba + dol.
b^dhan, a churchyard (Sutherland), i e. "enclosure," same as
babhun.
bMhar (H.S.D. ), badhar (Carm.), placenta of cow :
bag, a bag; from the Eng.
bagaid, a cluster, troop, W. hagad, Br. hagod ; from Lat. bacca
(Thurneysen, Ernault).
26 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
bagaire, a glutton ; from hag in the sense of " belly."
bagair, threaten, so Ir., E. Ir. bacur, a threat. The W. hygwl, a
threat, etc., is scarcely allied, for it comes from hwg, a spectre,
bogie, whence possibly the English words bogie, boggle, etc.
G. bagair may be allied with the root underlying bac ; pos-
sibly Z^a^-^/ar-, "cry-back."
bagaisde, baggage, lumber (of a person) (Wh.), from baggage.
bag'h, a bay, Ir. bddh ; from Eng. bay, Romance baja.
baghan, a stomach (baoghan, with ao short). Dial, maghan
(Sutherland) ; cf. Eng. maw, Ger. miagen, Norse magi.
baibeil, lying, given to fables ; from Eng. babble.
baideal, tower, battlement, ensign, baidealach, bannered ; from
M. Eng. battle, battlement, which is of the same origin as
battlement.
baidh, love, Ir. bdidhe, M. Ir. hdid, bade, *bddi-s (Stokes). Cf.
Gr. cfiioTLov, friendly (Hes.), for (^mOlov j root bhd : bho, whence
Gr. ^ws, man.
baidreag, a ragged garment ; see paidreag.
baidse, musician's fee ; from the Eng. batch %
baigeir, a beggar ; from Eng.
baig'ileis, loose lumber or baggage (Argyle) ; from baggage.
bail, thrift, Ir. bail, success, careful collection, M. Ir. bail, good-
ness, E. Ir. bulid : <^v\Xa ; I. E. root bhel, swell, increase.
See buil, bile. Hence baileach. Cf. adhhhal, (^kXr€.po<i.
bailbheag", a corn poppy ; also beilbheag, mealbhag", meilbheag.
bailc, a ridge, beam, W. bale, from Eng. balk.
bailc, seasonable rain, showers :
bailceach, strong, a strong man, E. Ir. bale, strong, W. balch,
superbus, Br. balcli ; Lat. fulcio, support, Eng. fulcrum
(Stokes). Likely a Celtic bal-ko-, root bal, as in bail. So
Ost. ; Skr. balam, strength [adhbhal), Gr. f^eXrepo'^ ; Wh. St.
boliji, greater ; Lat. debilis.
baile, town, township, Ir., E. Ir. baile, ^bcdio-s, a pre-Celtic
bhv-alio-, root bku-, be ; Gr, (j^ojXeos, a lair ; Norse hoi, a
"bally," further Eng. build, booth.
baileach, excessive ; see hail. Also buileach.
bailisdeir, babbler, founded on Eng. Scandinavian balderdash.
baillidh, a magistrate, bailie ; from Sc. bailzie (Eng. bailiff), Fr.
bailli.
baineasag, a ferret, Ir. baineasog ; hdn + neas, " white w^easel," q.v.
bainidh, madness, fury, Ir. bdinidhe ; Ir. mainigh (O'Br.), from
Lat. mania ; see bd.
bainisg, a little old woman, female satirist (Carm ) =ban-eisg ',
from ban, bean, q.v.
bainne, milk, Ir., M. Ir. bain7ie ; also boinne, milk (Sutherland
shire), a drop, Ir., M. Ir. bainne, milk. 0. Ir. banne, drop,
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 27
Cor., Br. hanne, gutta ; root hha ; 0. Slav, haiija, bath ; Eng.
bath, etc.
bair, a game, goal, Ir. hdire, hurling match, goal, M. Ir. bdire :
■^ hag-ro-, root hag-, strive ; see arahhaig. baireach, a ball.
baircinn, side timbers of a house (Sh.) :
baireachd, quarrelling (Carm.) ; cf. bairseag.
fbairghin, bread, cake, Ir. bairghean, E. Ir. bargen, W., Cor , and
Br. bar a, panis, * bar go- ; Lat. ferctum, oblation cake ; Ag. S.
byrgan, to taste, Norse bergja, taste.
bairich, lowing ; root of bo, cow. Cf. bidrich.
b^irig", bestow ; from Eng. ware, as also bathar.
bairleigeadh, bairneig'eadh, warning, summons ; from the Eng.
warning.
bairlinn, rolling wave, billow ; bair-linn, from fbair, wave, bor-
rowed from Norse bdra, wave, billow. For linne, see that
word.
bairneach, a limpet, Ir. bdimeach (Fob), W. brenig. Cor. brennic :
from M. Eng. bernekke, now barnacle, from Med. Lat. bernaca.
Stokes takes bdirnech from barenn, rock, as Cr. AcTrri?, limpet,
is allied to Ae-Tras, rock.
bairneachd, judgment (Sh.), Ir., W., Br. bam, root ber in brdth,
q.v.
bairseag, a scold (Sh.), Ir. bairseach, M. Ir. hairsecha, foolish
talk, bar a, wrath, W. bar, wrath. Stokes refers bar a to the
same origin as Lat. ferio, I strike, Norse berja, smite, etc.
baisceall, a wild person (Sh.) ; M. Ir. basgell (i. geltan), boiscell ;
root in bd, foolish ? + ciall.
baiseach, a heavy shower, Ir. bdisdeach, rain, bais, w^ater ; cf. 0. Ir.
baithis, baptism, which may be borrowed from Lat. baptisma
(Windisch). The root here is bad, of bath, drown. Ir.
baiseach, raining (Clare), from baisteadh, Lat. baptisma (Zim.).
baist, baptise, Ir. baisd, 0. Ir. baitsim ; from Lat. haptizo, which
is from Gr. f^airTL^o), dip.
baiteal, a battle ; from Eng. battle.
balach, clow^n, lad, Ir. balach, clown, churl ; cf. Skr. bdlakas, a
little boy, from bdla, young. But cf. W. bala, budding, root
bhel. Kathlin Ir. bachlach.
balaiste, ballast ; from the Eng.
balbh, dumb, so Ir., E. Ir. balb ; borrowed from Lat. balbus.
bale, ridge, etc. ; see bailc. Also " calf of leg" (Wh.).
bale, misdeed :
baleaeh, splay-footed (H.S.D.). Cf. Gr. <^oAko?, bandy-legged (I).
balg", belly, bag, Ir, bolg, 0. Ir. bole, W. lol, boly, belly, Cor. bol,
Gaulish bulga (Festus) sacculus ; Got. balgs, wine-skin,
Norse belgr, skin, bellows, Eng. belly.
28 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
balgair, a fox :
balgum, mouthful, M. G. bolgama (pi.), Ir. hlogam ; from halo. Of.
0. Ir. hole uisce,, a bubble,
ball, a member, Ir., 0. Ir. ball ; Gr. (jiaXXos ; Eng. phallus ; root
hhel, swell.
ball, a spot, Ir., M. Ir. hall, white-spotted on forehead (of a horse),
Br. hal (do.). The Gaelic suggests a stem hal-no-, Celtic root
hal, white, Gr. ^aAos, shining, <f>d\apo<i (phalaros), white-
spotted (of animals) ; I. E. hhel : bhale, shine ; whence Eng.
6a/e-fire. Stokes says the Irish hall seems allied to the
Romance halla, a ball, Eng. hale and hall (I). Hence ballach,
spotted. W. hal, spotted on forehead.
ball, a ball ; from Eng.
balla, wall, Ir. halla (Four Masters), fala (Munster) ; from*^
M. Eng. bailly, an outer castle wall, now in Old Bailey, from
Med. Lat. hallium.
ballaire, a cormorant ; from hall, spot.
ballan, a vessel, tub, Ir. balldn, E. Ir. hallan. Stokes cfs. Norse
holli, bowl, Eng. howl, and says that the Gaelic is probably
borrowed.
ballart, boasting, clamour; probably from Norse hallra, strepere,
baldrasf, make a clatter (Eng. halderdasli), Ger. poltern.
bait, a welt : see holt.
ban, white, Ir., 0. Ir. ban ; I. E. root hhd, shine ; Gr. <fiav6s (a
long), bright ; Skr. bhdnu, light ; further away is Eng. hale
(hale-fire).
ban-, bana-, she-, female- ; see bean.
banabachadh, worse of wear (M'D.) :
banachag", dairymaid :
banachdach, vaccination :
banair, sheep fold ; see rather mainnir.
banais, a wedding, wedding feast, Ir. bainfheis, wedding feast,.
M. Ir. banais, g. baindse ; from ban +feisd ?
banarach, dairymaid ; from ban- and direach.
tbanbh, a pig, Ir. banhh, E. Ir. banb, W. banw, Br. banv, bano,
*banvo-s. The w^ord appears as Banha, a name for Ireland,
and, in Scotland, as Banff. M'L. and D. gives the further
meaning of "land unploughed for a year."
banc, a bank ; from the Eng.
banchuir, squeamishness at sea (H.S.D., which derives it from
ban and cuir).
bangadh, a binding, promise (Sh., H.S.D.), Ir. bangadh. H.S.D..
suggests Lat. pango, whence it may have come.
bangaid, a banquet, christening feast ; from Eng. banquet.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 29
bann, a belt, band ; from Eng. hand. It also means a " hinge."
Dialectic spann.
bannag, a Christmas cake ; from the Sc. hannock. See honnach.
banna^, corn-fan ; from Lat. vannus, Eng. fan.
bannal, a troop, gang, Ir. hanna ; from Eng. band. Cf. E. Ir.
ban-ddl, assembly of ladies. Also pannail.
bansgal (Dial, banasgal), a female, a hussy, Ir. bansgal, E. Ir.
banscdl, 0. Ir. banscala, servae ; root of sgalag.
bantrach, a widow, E. Ir. bantrebthach, landlady : ban + trebthach,
farmer, from treb in treabhadh, aitreabh.
baobh, a wicked woman, witch, Ir. hadhbh, hoodie crow, a fairy, a
scold, E. Ir. badb, crow, demon, Badba, the Ir. war-goddess,
W. bod, kite, Gaul. Bodv-, Bodvo-gnatus, W. Bodnod ; Norse
bo^, g. bodvar, war, Ag. S. beadu, g. beadwe, "^badiva- (Rhys).
In Stokes' Diet, the Skr. bddhate, oppress, Lit. bddas, famine,
are alone given. Also baogh.
baodhaiste, ill usage from the weather :
baoghal, danger, so Ir., 0. Ir. baigul, baegul ; cf. Lit. bai-me, fear,
bai-gus, shy, Skr. bhayate, fear.
baoghan, , a calf, anything jolly ; from baoth.
baogram, a flighty emotion (Dialectic) ; founded on baogadh, a
dialectic form of biog, q.v.
baoileag, blaeberry ; cf. Eng. 6^7berry, Dan. bollebser.
baoireadh, foolish talk ; founded on baothaire, fool, from baoth, q.v.
tbaois, lust, so Ir., E. Ir. baes, ^baisso- (Stokes) ; compared by
Bezzenberger to Gr. ^atS/oo?, shining, and by Strachan to the
root gheidh, desire. Lit. geidii, desire, Ch. SI. zida, expetere,
Goth, gaidw, a want. Possibly allied to Lat. foedus, foul.
baois, madness, so Ir., E. Ir. bdis ; from baoth (Zim. Z^^ 229)
= bdithas. Cf. sgith, sglos.
baoisg", shine forth : see boillsg.
baoiteag, a small white maggot ; see boiteag.
baol, nearness of doing anything (M'A.) ; baoghal ? Cf. its use
in Fern. MS.
Ijaoth, foolish, so Ir., 0. Ir. bdith, baeth ; root bai, fear, as in
baoghal ; Cor. bad, Br. bad, stupidity, are not allied, nor is
Goth, bauths, dumb, as some suggest. Hence baothair, fool.
bara, a barrow, Ir. bara, E. Ir. bara ; from M. Eng. baroive, Eng.
barrow.
barail, opinion, Ir. baramhuil, M. Ir. baramail : bar + samhail ;
for bar-, see bdirneachd, brdth.
baraill, a barrel, Ir. bdirille, E. Ir. barille, W. baril ; from M. E.
harel, from 0. Fr. baril.
l)araisd, barraisd, borage ; Ir. barraist ; from the Eng. borage.
bar an, a baron ; Ir. bariin, W. barwn ; from the Eng,
30 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
barant, surety, warrant, Ir., M. Ir. hardnta, W. gwarant ; from
M. Eng. war ant, now warrant. So St.
barbair, a barber, Ir. hearrboir (Fol.), W. harfwr ; from the Eng.
barbarra, barbarous, Ir. barhartha ; from Lat. barbarus, Eng.
barbarous.
bar-bhrig^ein, silver-weed (Arm.) ; also brisgean (from brisg) :
barbrag", tangle tops, barberry ; from Eng. barberry. In Lewis,
the former is called bragaire.
b^rc, a bark, boat, Ir. bare, E. Ir. bare, W. barg., Br. bare. These
words are all ultimately from the Late Latin barca, whence
through Fr., comes Eng. bark.
bare, rush (as water), Ir. bdrcaim, break out ; cf. M. Ir. bare,
multitude ; Lat. farcio, cram, frequens, numerous.
bard, a poet, Ir. bard, E. Ir. bard, W. bardd, Br. barz, Gaul.
bardos, ^bardo-s ; Gr. <f>po-^M ((fipaS-), speak (Eng. phrase).
bard, dyke, inclosure, meadow, Ir. bard, a guard, garrison ; from
Eng. ward, enclosed pasture land (Liddell 35).
bargan, a bargain, W. bargen ; from the Eng. bargain.
barlag, a rag, tatter-demalion ; cf. Ir. barlin, sheet, for braith-lin,
q.v.
barluadh, a term in pipe music ; from Eng. 6ar + G. luath.
barnaig, a summons ; from the Eng. warning.
barpa, barrow, cairn (H.S.D., a Skye word). Cape Wrath is
Am Farph in Gaelic {An Carbh, Lewis) ; from Norse Hvarf,
a turning, rounding, Eng. wharf.
b^rr, top, Ir. bdrr, 0. Ir. barr, W., Cor. bar, Br. barr, *barso- ;;
Norse barr, pine needles, Ag. S. byrst, Eng. bristle, burr ; Lat.
fastiguim (for farstigium), top ; Skr. bhrshti, a point. Hence
barrachd, overplus, barrlach, refuse, flotsam (Wh.).
barra, a spike, bar, Ir. bdrra, W. bar, nail, etc. ; all from the Eng.
bar.
barra-gug, potato bloom, bud. See gueag. Also barr-guc.
b^rraisg", boasting, brag, barsaich, vain, prating ; see bairseag.
barramhaise, a cornice (A. M'D.) ; barr + maise. Also barr-
maisich (verb), ornament (M'A.).
barrlait, a check (Carm.) :
bas, palm of the hand, Ir., 0. Ir. bas, bass, boss, Br. boz, "^bostd ;,
Gr. dyocTTos.
bas, death, Ir., 0. Ir. bds ; Celtic root bd, ba, hit, slay, whence
Gaul. Lat. batuere (Eng. battle, etc.) ; Ag. S. beadu, war.
basaidh, a basin ; from Sc. bassie, Eng. basin.
bascaid, a basket, Ir. basgaod, W. basged ; from the Eng. basket.
basdal, noise, gaiety ; from Norse bastl, turmoil,
basdard, a bastard, so Ir. and M. Ir., W. basdardd ; all from the
Eng. bastard.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 31
basgaire, mourning, Ir. bascarrach, lamentation, clapping with
the hands, M. Ir. basgaire ; bas + gaire, "palm-noise;" for
gaire, see goir. Also basraich.
basganta, melodious :
basg-luath, vermilion; from the obsolete adj. basg, red, E. Ir.
base, and luath, ashes, q.v. Stokes cfs. base to Lat. hacca
(for bat-ca), berry.
bat, bata, a stick, Ir. bata ; from M. Eng. batte, stick, now bat,
which comes from 0. Fr. batte, from Gaul. Lat. battuere, as
under bas, q.v. The Br. baz seems borrowed from the Fr.,
though it may be native.
bata, a boat, Ir. bad, M. Ir. bat, W. bad ; all from Ag. S. bat, Eng.
boat, Norse bdtr (Stokes). K. Meyer takes Ir. and G. from
the Norse.
batail, a fight ; see baiteal.
bath, drown, Ir. bdthaim, 0. Ir. bddud (inf.), W. boddi, Br. beuzi ;
I.E. gddh, sink, Gr. f^aOvs, deep, -jSSvu), sink, Skr. gdhds, the
deep. Gl. /oG?^o (Ern.).
b^th, vain, foolish (Hend.) ; see ba. Skye.
bathaich, a byre, Ir. bothigh, W. beudy ; bo + tigh, " cow house."
bathais, forehead, Ir. baithis, pate, E. Ir. baithes, crown of the
forehead ; *bat-esti-, from bat, I.E. bhd, shine, Gr. ^acrt?,
appearance, 2:)hase. See ban further. Lat. fades, face,
appearance, may be allied, though the latest authorities
connect it with facia, make.
bathar, wares ; from the Eng. wares.
fbeabhar, beaver, Ir. beabhar (Lh.), Cor. befer, Br. bituzr, Gaul.
Bibrax ; Lat. fiber ; Eng. beaver, Ag. S. beofor. Gaelic and
Ir. are doubtful.
beach, a bee, so Ir., 0. Ir. bech, W. begegyr, drone, *biko-s ; a root
bi- appears in Eng. bee, Ag. S. beo ( = ^bija), Ger. biene
( = ^bi-nja), Lit. bitis. Stokes makes the Celtic stem beko-s,
but does not compare it with any other language.
beachd, opinion, notice, Ir. beacht, certain, E. Ir. becht, bechtaim, I
certify; Hhig-to- ; Lat. j^^o (St. Z.C.P. 71).
beadaidh, impudent, fastidious, Ir. beadaidh, beadaidh, sweet-
mouthed, scoffing ; E. Ir. bet, talking, shameless girl (Corm.) :
*beddo-, *bez-do-, root bet, get, as in beul.
beadradh, fondling, caressing, beadarrach, pampered :
beag, little, Ir. beag, 0. Ir. becc, W. bach. Cor. bechan, Br. bic'han^
bian, "^bezgo- ; Lat. vescus ( = gvesgus) 1 Some have connected
it with Gr. jxiKpog, Dor. Gr. jjukkos, and Dr Cameron suggested
Lat. vix, scarcely.
beairt, engine, loom : see beart.
beairtean, shrouds, rigging ; see bea7't.
32 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
bealach, a pass, Ir. bealach, pass, road, E. Ir. belach ; cf. Skr.
hila, gap, mouth; bilaho-n (C.RR. 174). Cf. W. hwlch, pass,
etc 1 See bile.
healaidh, broom, Ir. beallyi (Lh. Comp. Yoc.) ; cf. Br. balan,
M. Br. baiazn, 0. Fr. balain; also Fr. balai, older balain, a
broom. This might be referred to the common root bhel,
bloom (prolific as a root, like the corresponding root of broom,
as in W. balannu, to bud), but the W. for " broom" is banadl,
Cor. banathel, which M. Ernault has compared with Lat.
genista, broom (root gen, beget *?). Jub. gives Br. as banadlon
(R.C.^^ 106). The Br. might be a metathesis of W. banadl
(cf. Br. alan v. anail). It is possible that Gaelic is borrowed
from the Pictish ; the word does not appear in the Ir.
Dictionaries, save in Lh.'s Celt, part, which perhaps proves
nothing.
bealbhan-ruadh, a species of hawk (Sh., O'R.) ; for healbhan, cf.
tbealbhach, a bit, from beul, mouth ^
bealltuinn, May-day, Ir. bealteine, E. Ir. beltene, belltaine, "^belo-
te{p)nid (Stokes), " bright-fire," where belo- is allied to Eng.
hale ("bale-fire"), Ag. S. hael. Lit. baltas, white. The Gaul,
god-names Belenos and Belisama are also hence, and Shake-
speare's Cym-beline. Two needfires were lighted on Beltane
among the Gael, between which they drove their cattle for
purification and luck ; hence the proverb : " Eadar da theine
Bhealltuinn " — Between two Beltane fires.
bean, wife, so Ir., 0. Ir. ben, W. bun, benyw. Cor. benen, sponsa,
Celtic bend, g. bnds, pi. n. bnds ; Gr. yvvrj, Boeot. Gr. /Savd ;
Got. gino, Eng. queen, Sc. queyn ; Skr. gnd.
bean, touch, Ir. beanaim, beat, touch, appertain to, 0. Ir. benim,
pulso, ferio, Br. hena, to cut, M. Br. benaff, hit ; '^bina, root
bin, bi (0. Ir, ro bi, percussit, bithe, perculsus), from I.E. bhi,
bhei, hit ; Ch. SI. bija, hiti, strike ; 0. H, G. bihal, axe ; Gr.
<j)irp6s, log. Further is root bheid, split, Eng. bite. Usually
bean has been referred to I. E. ghen, ghon, hit, slay; Gr. <j>(.v-,
slay, e7r€(f)vov, slew, (fiovos, slaughter, OetvM, strike ; Skr. han,
hit ; but gh = G. b is doubtful.
beann, top, horn, peak, Ir. beann, 0. Ir. benn, pinna, W. ban,
height, peak, M. Br. ban, also benny, horn, pipe (music),
Gaul, canto-bennicus mons, "white peak" mount ; proto-Gaelic
bennd ; root, gen-, gn-, as in Eng. knoll, Sc. knowe. In Scotch
Gaelic, the oblique form beinn has usurped the place of
beann, save in the gen. pi.
beannachd, blessing, so Ir., 0. Ir. bendacht, W. bendith ; from Lat.
benedictio, whence Eng. benediction.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE.
33
beannag, a skirt, corner, coif, Ir. beannog ; from heann.
beantag, a corn-fan ; see bannag.
bearach, dog-iish (M'A.) ; 0. Ir. berach^ verutus, from bior ; cf.
Eng. " picked or horned dogfish " ; " bone-dog."
bearachd, judgment (Sh., O'R.) ; root bera, bra, as in brath, q.v.
bearbhain, vervain ; from Eng. vervain, Lat. verbena.
bearn, a breach, cleft, Ir. bearna, E. Ir. berna ; I. E. bher, cut,
bore ; Lat. forare, bore ; Gr. (fidpos, a plough, cfiapio, split ;
Arm. beran, mouth ; Ch. SI. bar, clip ; Eng. bore. Also bern,
fen in E. Ir.
bearr, shear, Ir. bearraim, 0. Ir. berraim, 0 W. byrr, short. Cor.
ber, Br. berr, short, ^berso- \ Gr. (fidpcros, any piece cut off ;
root bhera, as in bearn.
bearraideach, flighty, nimble ; from bearr 1
bearfc, a deed, Ir. bedrt, load, action, E. Ir. bei^t, bundle, birth; Gr.
cfiopros, burden ; root, bher, in beir, q.v. Also beairt, engine,
loom. It is used in many compounds in the sense of "gear,"
as in cais-bheart, foot-gear, shoes ; ceann-bheart, head-gear,
helmet, &c.
beartach, rich ; from beay-t ; W. berth; rich, berthe Ul, riches,
beatha, life, so Ir. 0. Ir. bethu, g. bethad, Celtic stem, bitdt-,
divided into bi-tdt ; see bith (i.e , bi-tu-) for rojt. It is usual
for philologists to represent the stem of beatha as bivotdt, that
is, bi-vo-tdt-, the bi-vo- part being the same as the stem bivo
of beb. While the root bi is common to both beatha and bed,
the former does not contain -vo- ; it is the 0. Ir. nom. beothu
{*bi-tus) that has set philologists wrong. Hence G. and Ir.
beathach, animal. Ir. beathadhach, dial, of beathach.
beic, a curtesy ; from Sc. beck, curtesy, a dialectic use of Eng.
beck, beckon. Hence beiceis, bobbing, etc. (M'A.).
beil, grind ; a very conmion form of meil, q.v.
beil, is ; see bheil.
beilbheag, corn-poppy ; see mealbhag. Also bailbheag'.
beileach, a muzzle, Ir. beidmhach, a bridle bit, -mhach for bach
termination from bongim, beat ; from beid.
beilleach, blubber-lipped, beileach (H.S.D.); from beul. The first
form suggests a stem bel-nac-. Cf. beilean, a prating mouth.
Also meilleach.
beilleag, outer coating of birch, rind ; also meilleag*, q.v.
beince, being (H.S.D.), a bench; from Sc. bink ; Eng. bench.
Cf. Ir. beinse, W. mainc, Br. menk.
beinn, hill, ben ; oblique form of beann (f.n.), used as a fern, nom.,
for beann sounds masculine beside ceann, etc. See beann.
34 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
beinneal, binding of a sheaf of corn, bundle ; from Sc. bindle, a
cord of straw or other for binding, Eng. bundle \ from bind.
beir, catch, bring forth, Ir. beirim, 0. Ir. berim^ W. cymmeryd^ to
take, accept, Br. kemeret ( — com-be7^-) ; I.E. b/ier, whence
Lat. fero, Gr. (pepo), Eng bear, Skr. bharami.
beirm, taairm (Hend.), barm, yeast; from Sc. 6arm (pronounced
berm), Eng. barm \ Lat. fermeiUum,
beisear, plate-rack on dresser (Kob.).
beist, a beast, Ir. biasf, pemt, 0. Ir. beist, W. bwystjii \ from Lat.
bestia (Eng. beast). Also blast.
beith, birch, so Ir., 0. Ir. bethe, W. bedw, Br. bezuenn, Celtic betvd,
Lat. betida, Fr. boule.
beithir, a serpent, any wild beast, monster, a huge skate,
Ir. beithir, wild beast, bear, E. Ir. beithir, g. bethracli. In
the sense of "bear," the word is, doubtless, borrowed; but
there seems a genuine Celtic word betrix behind the other
meanings, and the beithir or beithir beimneach is famed in
myth. Cf. Lat. bestia, for bet-tia t Norse bera, bear (fern.),
beirfjail, bearskin, Eng. bear (Zim. K.B.^ 286).
beitir, neat, clean (M'E.) :
beo, living, Ir., 0. Ir. beb, W. byw, Br. beu, *bivo-s ; Lat. vivas,
living, vita ; Gr. f^loros, a living ; Eng. quick ; Skr. jivd,
living, ; I. E. (/ei-, y.i-, live. See also beatha, bith.
beoir, beer, Ir. beor ; from Ag. S. bear, M orse bjorr (Eng. beer).
beolach, ashes with hot embers (M'A.) ; from beb + Utatkach,
" live-ashes." Another beolach, lively youth, hero, stands
for bed-iach ; for -lack, see oytach.
beuban, anything mangled :
beuc, roar, Ir. beic, 0. Ir. beccini, W. beichio, baich, "^beikldo ; Cor.
begy, Br. begiat, squeal, baeguel, bleat, "^baikio (Stokes). The
dithculty of the vowels as between G. and W. (e should give
wy) suggests comparison with creuchd, W. craith, ^crempt-
(Strachan). Thus beuc, baich suggests benk-ko-, further
giik-ko-, root gem, Lat. gemo, etc. The same result can be
derived from the root geng- of geum, q.v.
beud, mischief, hurt, Ir. bead, E. Ir. bet, "^'brnto-n ; allied to Eng.
bane
beul, mouth, so Ir., O. Ir. bel, *bet-lo-, I. E. get-, whence Eng.
([uoth, Got. qithan. The idea is the "speaker." Some
connect W. gioeji ( -^ vo-bel), but this is probably '^vo-byl, byl,
edge (Ernault).
beulaobh, front, E. Ir. ar-belaib, 0. Ir. belib ; dat. pi. of beul ; also
mixed with this is the 0. Ir. ace. pi. beulu.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 35
beum, a stroke, cut, taunt, Ir. and 0. Ir. beim, nom. pi. bemen^
blow, from the root heng, hong, which appears in buaiw, cf. ceum
from cejig-men, leum from leng-men. This agrees with Cor.
horn, blow. Some suggest Oeid-men or beids-men, root iheid,
Eng. bite, which suits G. best as to meaning. The favourite
derivation has been '^ben-s-men, root ben of bean.
beur, beurra, beurtha, sharp, pointed, clear ; gibe, jeer (Hend.) ;
cf. Ir. hearrtha, clipped, from bearr ; from berr-tio-s, with i
regressive into berr, giving beirr.
beurla, English, language, Ir. beurla, speech, language, especially
English; 0. Ir. belre; bel + re, bet, mouth, and the abstract
termination -re (as in luibhre, buidhre, etc ).
beus, conduct, habit, so Ir., 0. Ir. bes, Br. boaz, ^'beissit-, "^beid-tu-,-
root beid, I. E. hheidh, Gr. TretdiD, persuade, Lat. fides, English
faith. Others derive it from bhend, bind, givmg bhend-tu- as
the oldest stem. Windisch suggests connection with Got.
ba7ists, barn, Skr. bhdaa, cowstall. The Breton oa seems
against these derivations.
bha, bh^, was, Ir. do bhdmar, we were (bhd-), do bht, was, M. Ir.
TO bdi, was, 0. Ir., boi, bdi, hid, a perfect tense, "^boveit), for
bebove ; Skr, babhuva ; Gr. Trecfiv-ice ; I.E. root bheu, to be, as
in Lat. fui, was (an aorist form), Eng. be.
bhdn, a bh^n, down ; by eclipsis for a{n) hh-fan, " into declivity,"
iYOTCifdn, a declivity, Ir., 0. li., Jdn, proclive, W. givaen, a
plain, planities montana, "^vag-no-, root, vag, bow, etc., Lat.
vagor, wander, Ger. tvackeln, wobble. Ir. has also fan, a
wandering, which comes near the Lat. sense. In Suiher-
landshire, the adj. fan, prone, is still used.
bheil, is, Ir. fuil, bhfuil, 0. Ir , fail, fel, fil, root vel (val), wish,
prevail, Lat. voJo, valeo, Eng. ivill.
bho, 0, from Ir. 6, ua, 0. Ir., o, tla, *ava ; Lat. a?^-fero, "away "-
take ; Ch. SI. u- ; Skr. ava, from.
bhos, a bhos, on this side ; from the eclipsed form a{n) bhfos,
"in station," in rest, Ir. abhus, 0. Ir. i foss, here, 0. fr. foss,
remaining, staying, rest. See/o^.s•, rest, for root.
bhur, bhur n-, your, Ir. bhar n-, 0. Ir. bar n-, far n-, "^''svaron
(Stokes), "^s-ves-ro-n. For sves-, see sibh. Cf. for form Got.
izvara, Lat. nostrum (nos-^ero-, where -tero- is a fuller com-
parative form than Celtic -{e)ro-, -ro- of sves-ro-n, svaron).
bi, bi, be, Ir. bi, be thou, 0. Ir. biu, sum, bi, be thou, 0. W. bit,
sit, bwi/f sim, M. Br. bezaff. Proto-Celtic bhv-ijo, for O. Ir.
biu, I am ; Lat. fio ; Eng. be ; I. E. root bheu, be. See bha.
Stokes differs from other authorities in referring biu, hi, to
Celtic beio^ root bei, bi, live, as in bith, beatha, Lat. vivo, etc.
36 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
bi, bigh, doorpost, threshold (Hend.), E. Ir. di hi = two posts.
M'A. has high, post, pillar,
biadh, food, so Ir., 0. Ir. biad, *hivoto-n, whence W. bywyd, vita.
Cor. huit, cibus, Br. boed, food. Bivoto-n is a derivative from
bivo- of bed, living, q.v.
bian, a hide, Ir., E. Ir. bian, "^beino- ; root bhei-, as in Eng. bite,
Lat. findo. For force, cf. Gr. Sepfia, skin, from der, split,
Eng. tear. Cf., for root, bean, hit.
biasgach, niggardly ; from biast. In some parts biast is applied
to a niggardly person. H.S.D. refers it to biadh -\- sgathach,
catching at morsels.
biast, a beast, worthless person ; see heist. The word biast,
abuse, is a metaphoric use of biast.
biatach, a raven (Sh.) ; cf. biatach, biadhtach, a provider, farmer,
from biadh.
biatas, betony, beet, Ir. biaiuis, W. betys ; from Lat. betis, beta,
Eng. beet. Also biotals.
biathainne, earth-worm, hook-bait, biathaidh (Dialectic) ; from
biadh. Cf. Lat. esca, bait, for ed-sca, ed^eat. The word
biathadh in many places means " to entice."
biatsadh, provisions for a journey, viaticum ; formed from biadh,
with, possibly, a leaning on viaticum.
bicas, viscount (Arm.). Founded on the Eng., and badly spelt by
Armstrong : either biceas or biocas.
bicein, a single grain (Arg.). From bioc, jn'oc ? (Wh.)
biceir, a wooden dish ; from Sc. bicker, Eng. beaker. Also bigeir,
bigein.
bid, a very small portion, a nip, a chirp. In the sense of "small
portion," the word is from the Sc. bite, hit, Eng. bite, bit. In
the sense of " chirp, a small sound," O'R. has an Ir. word
bid, " song of birds." See biog. Hence bidein, diminutive
person or thing. Cf. W. hidan, of like force.
bideag, a bit, bittie ; from Sc. hittock, dim. of Eng. bit.
bidean, a fence (Stew.), bid (Sh.), Ir. bid, bided^i (O'R), W. hid,
quickset hedge, hidan, a twig ; "^bid-do-, root, hheid, split ^
bidhis, a vice, screw, so Ir. ; from Eng. vice.
bidse, a bitch ; from the English.
bigh, high, pith of wood, gum. See bith.
bil, bile, edge, lip, Ir. bil, mouth, E. Ir., bil, bile, W. byl, *hili-,
bilio-. Root bhi, bhei, split ; cf. Skr. hila, a hole, mouth of a
vessel, etc. ; vil, edge : W. also myl.
bileag, bile, a leaf, blade, Ir. billedg, bileog, *bilid, I. E. root bhela,
bhale, bhle, bhlo, as in bldth ; Lat. folium ; Gr. cfivWov, a
leaf ; further, Eng. blade.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 37
bilearach, bileanach, sea-grass, sweet-grass ; from bile.
bileid, a billet ; from the Eng.
bilistear, a mean, sorry fellow, a glutton, Ir., E. Ir. hille, mean,
paltry. In the Heb. it means, " rancid butter " (H.S.D.).
binid, also minid (Arg.), cheese, rennet, bag that holds the rennet,
stomach, Ir. binid, 0. Ir. binit, rennet ; ^bineiiti-, " biter "
root of bean .? Cf. muiruie, stomach.
binn, melodious, so Ir., 0. Ir. 6w/, *bendi, *bydi- ; 0. Br. ban?i
(St.) ; Skr. bhandate, joyful, bhand, receive loud praise,
bhanddna, shouting (Stokes, who adds Lat. fides, lyre). The
idea may, however, be "high," root of beann, peak, binneach,
high-headed. See next also.
binn, sentence, verdict ; *bendi-, *benni-, ; cf. E. Ir. atboind,
proclaims, *bon7i6, Than. Cf. Skr. bhan, speak, Eng. ban.
It is clear that Gaelic has an ablaut in e : o connected with
the root bha, speak.
binndich, curdle ; from binid, q.v.
binnein, pinnacle ; from beaym, q.v.
bioball, pioball, Bible, Ir. biobla, W. bebii ; from Lat. biblia,
Eng. bible.
biod, pointed top ; root in biodag, bidean.
biodag, a dagger, Ir. bideog (O'li.), miodog, W. bidog, 0. Br. bitat,
resicaret, "^biddo-, bid-do-, Celtic root bid, beid, I. E. bhid,
bheid, Lat. findo, Eng. bite, Skr. bhid, split. Hence Eng.
bodhin, possibly.
biog, biog, a start, Ir, biodhg, E. Ir. bedg, 0. Ir. du-bidcet,
jaculantur, "^bizgo-, root bis-, gis, root gi- of bed. Consider
biogail, lively, quick.
biog^, biog, chirp ; onomatopoetic ; cf . Lat. pipe, chirp, Eng. pipe ;
also Eng. vJieep. Also bid, q.v.
biogarra, churlish ; " cheepish," from bwg, cheep.
biolagach, melodious (JVrF,) ; from fbiol, violin ; from Eng. viol,
Fr. viole, violin.
biolaire, water-cresses, Ir. biolar, E. Ir. biror, W. berwr, Cor., Br.
beler, "^beruro-, Lat. berula (Marcellus), Fr. berle, Sp. berro.
Possibly allied to the root of Celtic bervb, seethe, 0. Ir. tipra,
well, G. tobar, Eng. burn. Cf. Ger. brunnen kresse, water-
cress, i.e., " well " cress. The dictionaries and old glossaries
(Cormac, etc.) give bir, bior, as water or well.
biolar, dainty, spruce (Sh.) ; for bior-ar, from bior, "sharp '^ 1
biolasgach, prattling, so Ir. (Lh., O'B.) ; from bil, lip.
bionn, symmetrical (Carm.) : Sc. bien.
bior, stake, spit, Ir. bior, 0. Ir. bir, W. ber. Cor., Br. ber, Celtic
heru- ; Lat. veru ; Gr. (^apve<;, trees (Hes.) ; Lit. g\re, forest.
Hence biorach, sharp.
38 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
biorach, a heifer, colt, Ir. biorach, cow-calf :
bioras, water-lily ; same origin as hiolar, q.v.
biorg, gush, twitch, tingle ; from the roots of hiolar (bior-) and
bior.
biorraid, a helmet, cap, Ir. birreud, cap ; from Eng. blretta, from
Late Lat. bwretum.
biorsadh, a keen impatience : " goading "; from bior.
biorsamaid, a balance ; from Sc. hismar, Norse bismari.
bior-snaois, bowsprit of a sailing boat (N. Lochaber), forepart of
vessel :
biota, a chnrn, vessel ; from Norse bytta, a pail, tub, Ag. S. bytt,
Latin biittis, Eng. butt.
biotailt, victuals, E Ir. hitdill, W. hitel, M. Br. bitaill ; from 0. Fr.
vitaille, from Lat. victualia. Eng. victuah is from the French,
birlinn, a galley, bark, M. Ir. beirling ; formed from the Norse
byriSingr, a ship of burthen, from byr(Sr, burden, vb. bera,
Eng. bear. The Sc. bierlingj birlinn is from the Gaelic. Cf.
febirlig —fjor^ungr.
birtich, stir up ; from bior, goad,
biseach, luck ; see piseach.
bith, the world, existence, Ir., 0. Ir. bith, W. byd, Br. bed, Gaul.
bitu-, *bitu s ; root bi, bei, live, I. E. gei, gi, whence Lat.
vivo, Eng. be, etc. Hence beatha, bed, biadh, q.v.
bith, being (inf. of bl, be), Ir., E. Ir. beith, 0. Ir. buith. The 0. Ir.
is from the root bhu (Eng. be, Lat. fui) = ^biUi-s, Gr. (f>va-i<i.
The forms bith and beith, if derived from bhu, have been
influenced by bith, world, existence ; but it is possible that
they are of the same root gi as bith. Stokes, in his treatise
on the Neo-Celtic Verb Substantive, takes bith and beith from
the root ga, go, Gr. fScurci (Eng. ba.se), a root to which he
still refers the 0. Ir. aorist bd, fui (see bti).
bith, resin, giun, birdlime, Ir. bigh, 0. Ir. bi, pix, adj. hide, *geis-,
a longer form of gis-, the root of gi^ithas, fir (Schriider).
Otherwise we must regard it as borrowed from Lat. pix, picis,
whence W. 2^1/9, Eng. pitch, against which b and i {i long)
militate.
bith, quiet(Arm.) :
bith-, prefix denoting "ever-," Ir., 0. Ir. hith-, W. byth- ; from
bith, world.
biuc, difficult utterance :
biuthaidh, foe, Ir. biodhbha, E. Ir., 0. Ir. bidbe, bidbid^ (gen.)
culprit, enemy.
biuthas, fame, biuthaidh, hero ; see jiu, fiubhaidh.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 39
blabaran, stammerer, Ir. hlabardn ; from the Eng, blabber^ speak
inarticulately. It is of onomatopoetic origin. Cf. Eng.
babble.
bladair, a wide mouth, a flatterer, Ir. bladaire, flatterer ; from
the Eng. blatterer, bletherer, blusterer, blatter, prate ; from
Lat. blaterare, prate. Also blad, a wide mouth (M'F.).
bladh, fame, Ir. blddh, E. Ir. blad ; root blad-, blat-, speak, as in
Lat. blatero, babble, Norse blad'r, nonsense, Sc. blether. See
bladair. Cf. glaodh, shout. Hence bladhair, expressive, a
boaster.
bladhail, strong, from bladh, pith, W. blawdd, active ; "^bldd- ;
root bid-, swell, bloom, as in bldth, q.v.
bladhm, a boast, etc. ; see blaotnadh.
blad-shronach, blad-spag-ach, flat-nosed, flat-footed ; blad- is from
Eng. flat.
blaisbheum, blasphemy ; from Lat. blasphemia, Eng. blasphemy.
blanndaidh, rotten, stale ; from Norse blanda, whey "blend."
blanndar, flattery, dissimulation, so Ir. ; from Lat. blandiri,
Sc. blander, Eng. blandish.
fblaodh, a shout, noise, Ir. blaodh, M. Ir. blaeded, W. bloedd.
Hence blaodhag, noisy girl, blaoghan, calf's cry, etc.
blaomadh, loud talking, Ir. blaodhmanach, noisy person ; from
"^blaid-s-men ; see blaodh.
fblaosg^, a shell, Ir. blaosc, M. Ir. blaesc, testa, W. blisg ; see
plaosg.
blar, a field, battle, peat-moss ; from bldr, spotted, the idea being
a "spot." See next word.
blar, having a white face, or white spot on the face (of an animal);
*bld-ro-s, root bid-, from I. E. bhale, shine, bhd ; Gr. (paXapos
(second a long), having a w^hite patch (on the head, as on a
dog's head). Cf. Dutch blaar, a white spot on the forehead
(whence Fr. blaireau, badger), M. Dutch, blaer, bald. See
for roots bealltuinn, ban. Welsh has blaivr, grey, iron-grey,
which seems allied. This word enters largely into Pictish
topography. It is not so used in Argyle (M'K.) nor in Ireland.
bias, taste, Ir. bias, 0. Ir. inlas, W. bids, Br. bias, "^mlasto- ; Czech
milsati, lick, be sweet-toothed, Russ. molsati, suck (Bezzen-
berger). Ultimately the root seems to be mel, as in meli-,
honey, G. 7nil, and even meil, grind. Hence Fr. blase ')
blas-bheumnaich, blaspheme (Heud.). See blaisbheum.
blath, bloom, blossom, Ir., E. Ir. bldth, W. blawd, blodau, Cor.
blodori, M. Br. bleuzenn, *bldto-n ; I. E. root bhela : hhlo
blossom forth; Lat. j^os, flower; Eng. bloom, etc.
40 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
blath, warm, kind, Ir., E. Ir. bldith, soft, smooth, nildith, ^'mldti- ;
root mela, mid, to grind. The original idea is "ground soft."
Cf. W. blawcl, meal,
blathach, buttermilk, Ir., M. Ir. hldthach ; mld-tac-, root md, mid,
as in bldth. The idea is "pounded, soured." Cf. hraich,
from mrac-, "soured," and Eng. malt, "soured," from melt.
Hence So. hladach.
bleachdair, a soothing, flattering fellow, Ir. bleachdaire, flatterer,
cow-milker; a metaphoric use of the last word, "cow-milker,"
from bliochd, milk, q.v.
bleagh, milk (vb.), Ir. blighim ; see bleoghainn.
bleaghan, a dibble for digging up shell-fish, a worthless tool ;
possibly from Norse bla&, Eng. blade.
bleid, impertinence, solicitation, Ir. bleid, cajolery, impertinence.
This seems another word formed on the word bladair, blad,
just like Eng. blatant, blate (talk, prate),
bleideir, coward ; from Norse bley<5\, cowardice, and Sc. blate (1).
bleith, grind, Ir. bleithim, E. Ir. bleith, inf. to 0. Ir. melim, I
grind, W. malu, Br. malaff ; root mel, grind, Lat. 7}iolo, Eng.
meal, etc.
bleoghainn, milking, E. Ir. blegon, inf. to bligim, mligim. ; Lat.
mulgeo ; Gr. a-/xeAyw ; Eng. milk ; Lit. melzu.
bliadhna, year, Ir, bliadhain, 0. Ir, bliadain, W. blydd, blivyddyn,
Br. bloaz, blizen, "^bleidni-, "^bleido- ; I. E. ghleidh, whence
Eng. glide: "labuntur anni " (Stokes). It is doubtful if
I. E. gh becomes Celtic b.
blialum, jargon ; from the Sc, blellam.
blian, the flank, groin, Ir. blein, E. Ir. blen, 0. Ir. rnelen, for mleen,
*mlakno- ; Gr. fxaXaKos, soft (Strachan, Stokes). The mean-
ing, if not the phonetics, is not quite satisfactory.
blian, lean, insipid, blianach, lean flesh ; cf. W. blin, tired, 0. Br.
blinion, inertes. These may be referred to *gleghno-. Lit.
gleznus, tender, weak, Gr. fSXijxpos, languid. See, however,
the derivation suggested for blian, above. For the Brittonic
words, Stokes has suggested the stem bleno- ; Skr. gldna,
tired.
bligh, milk ; see bleagh.
bliochan, yellow marsh, asphodel, Ir. bliochan ; from *blioch =
*melgos-, milk. For phonetics, cf. teach, from tegos-.
bliochd, milk, Ir. bleachd, E. Ir. blicht, W. blith, "^mlctu-, root
melg, milk. See bleoghainn.
blionadh, basking (Islands) : " softening" 1 See blian.
bliosan, artichoke (Sh., O'B., O'R.), Ir. bliosdn: ^blig-s-dn-, "milk-
curdler ?' Its florets were used for curdling.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 41
blob, blubber-lipped (Sh.) ; from Eng. blub, piifted, protruding,
blubber, etc.
blocan, a little block, blog, block (Dialectic), Ir. bloc, blocdn ; from
Eng. block.
bloigh, fragment, half, Ir. blogh, blogh, fragment, E. Ir. blog, pre-
Celtic bhlog ; J Eng. block, further away Eng. balk^ Gr.
(f^dXay^. Stokes refers it to the root of Eng. pluck. (St.
now Eng. plough, Ger. pflug).
bloin'g'ein, any plant with crisped leaves, Ir. bloinigain (O'R.) ;
G. and Ir. bloinigean garraidh is " spinage." Cameron
refers the w^ord to blonag, fat,
blomas, ostentation (Sh.). Ir. blomas ; see bladlim. Ir. blamaire,
means "boaster."
blonag, fat, Ir. blonog, blainic, blunag, M. Ir. blonac, W. bloneg, Br.
blonek, ^blon-, "^blen-, root, bhle, bhel, swell ; a very prolific
root. Rhys says W. is borrowed. [R.C.^^ 102.]
t blosg, sound a horn, Ir. blosgaidhim, resound, sound a horn,
M. Ir. blosc, voice ; W. bloedd, a shout, from *blogbo-, for
blo^go- ; cf. meag, W. maidd. [Zeit^^ 502.] Cf. Gr. ^kolo-po'i,
din ( = (jyXoor-yos), Lit. bldzgu, roar.
b6, a cow, Ir., 0. Ir. bo, W. buiv, 0. Br. bou-, *bov-s ; I. E. g_6us,
whence Lat. bos, Gr. ^ovs, Eng. cow, Skr. go.
boban, bobug, a term of affection for a boy ; cf. M. Ir boban, calf,
boban, from bo. Eng. babe, earlier, baban, of uncertain origin,
may be compared.
boban, a bobbin ; from the Eng. bobbin.
bobhstair, bolster ; from Sc. bowster, Eng. bohter.
boc, a buck, Ir. boc, he-goat, 0. Ir. hocc, W. bwch. Cor. boch, Br.
bouc'h ^bukko-s ; Skr. bukka, goat. These may be analysed
into bug-ko-, root bug, Zend, buza, buck. Arm. buc, lamb, Eng.
buck, Ger. bock.
boc, swell, Ir. hocaim ; cf. W. hoch, cheek, from Lat. hucca, puffed
cheek (Eng. debouch, rehuke).
bocan, hobgoblin, Ir. bocdn, E. Ir. boccdnach. With these are
connected W. bwg (bwci. Cor. bucca, borrowed from M. E. ?),
Eng. bug, bugbear, bogle', the relationship is not clear (Murray).
For Gadelic a stem bukko-, from bug-ko-, would do, allied
possibly to Norse puki, a Puck, Ag. S. puca, larbula. boc-
sithe, apparition, ghost (Perth : Wh.).
bochail, ' proud, ^nimble ; cf. the interjection fboch, Ir. boch,
heyday ! "0 festum diem."
bochuin, swelling, the sea (Carm.), boch-thonn (H.S.D.) :
42 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
bochd, poor, so Ir., 0. Ir. hoclit ; '^'hog-to-, a participle from the vb.
(Irish) hongaim, break, reap, Celtic bongo^ break ; Skr. hhanj^
break, Lit. hanga, breaker (wave). See huain.
bocsa, a box, so Ir., pronounced in Ir. bosca also, W. bocys ; from
Eng. box. Hence bocsaid, a thump, Eng. box.
bodach, an old man, a carle, Ir. bodach, a rustic, carle ; *hodd-aco-^
"penitus," from bod, mentula, M. G. bod (D. of Lismore
passim), M. Ir. bod,, bat,, "^^hoddo-, *hozdo- ; Gr. ttoctOi], mentula.
Stokes suggests the alternative form butto-s, Gr. f^vrros,
vulva, but the G. d is against this. He also suggests that
bodach is formed on the 0. Fr. botte, a clod.
bodlia, a rock over which waves break ; from Norse bod'i, a
breaker, over sunken rocks especially.
bodhag", a sea-lark :
bodhaig, body, corpus ; from the Sc. bouk, body, trunk, Norse
bdkr, trunk, Ger. bauch, belly. The G. word has been compared
by Fick with Eng. body, Ag. S. bodig, and Murray says it is
thence derived, but the d would scarcely disappear and leave
the soft g ending now so hard.
bodhan, ham, breech, breast : '^boud-dno, *boud, bhud- ; cf. Eng.
butt, buttock.
bodhar, deaf, so Ir., 0. Ir., bodar, W. byddar, Cor. bodhar, Br.
bouzar ; Skr. badhird.
bodhbh, bobh, a fright (Perthshire), E. Ir. bodba, dangerous,
*bodv-io-s ; from bodvo- in baobh, q.v.
bodht, swampy ground :
bog, soft, Ir. bog, 0. Ir. bocc, Br. bouk, 0. Br. bite, putris ; *buggo-,
^bug-go- ; I. E. bhug, bend, Skr. bhugna, bent. Got. liugan,
Eng. bow, from Ag. S. boga.
bogha, a bow, so Ir., M. Ir. boga ; from Ag. S. boga, Eng. bow.
For root, see under bog.
bog'us, a timber moth, bug ; from Eng. bug, Sc. bog.
boicineach, small-pox ; root in biicaid, q.v.
boicionn, a goat skin, skin; *boc-cionn, " buck-skin "; the word
fcionn is in 0. Ir. cenni, scamae, W. cen, skin, Cor. cennen,
Br. kenn-, pellis ; Eng. skinn, Norse skinn. -cionn, skin,
Norse hinna, film (Leiden) I.F. ^A 127.
bold, vow, Ir. moid, M. Ir. moit, *monti-, root mon, men, think.
A borrowing from, or leaning on, Lat. votum seems possible
in view of the Gaelic form. M. Ir. in iioit ; from Lat. votum,
as is also moid (Stokes).
boidheach, pretty; for buaidheach, "having virtues," from buaidh,
q.v.
boidheam, flattery (H.S.D.) :
boigear, pufhn, ducker ; also budhaigir, q.v.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 43'
boil, boile, madness, Ir. huile, E. Ir. haile :
boilich, tall talk, boasting ; cf. Eng. bawl, cry like cows (bd).
boillsg, gleam ; "^bolg-s-cio- \ Lat. fulgeo, shine, Eng. effulgent, Lit.
blizgii, glance, shine, Eng. blink, I.E. bhleg, "^fulgeo.
boineid, a bonnet, Ir. boineud ; from Eng. bonnet.
boinne, a drop, Ir, bai7i (d. pi. bainnibh), 0. Ir. banne. Cor., Br.
banne ; Celt, bannjd (Stokes). See bainne. Hence boinneanta,
healthy, well-built,
boirche, a buffalo (Sh., Lh.), so Ir. ; perhaps allied to \j^t. ferus,
Eng. bear.
boireal, a small auger (M'F.) ; founded on Eng. bore.
boiriche, rising ground, bank (M'D.) ; same root as Ger. berg,
mountain, Eng. ice-berg.
boirionn, female, feminine, Ir. bainionn, boinionn ; "^bani-, from
the word bean, ban, q.v. Hence biorionnach, a female, which
is masc. in gender, having been originally neuter. Cf.
doirionn for doinionn (Arg.).
bois, the palm ; see baa.
boiseag, slap in the face, palmful, Ir., M. Ir. boiseog, buffet.
boiseid, a belt, budget ; from the English.
boisg^, gleam ; see boilhg.
boiteadh, boiled food for horses (H.S.D.), Eng. bait :
boiteag, a maggot ; see botus.
boitean, a bundle of hay or straw ; for boiteal, from Sc. buttle,
Eng. bottle, bundle of hay, from 0. Fr. botte.
boitidh, the call to a pig, boit, a taste for (Dialectic) :
bol, a bowl ; from the English.
boladh, smell, so Ir., 0. Ir. bolad, *bulato- ; Lit. biCU, dusty air
(Bezzenberger). Stokes has compared Lit. bulis^, buttock,
Skr. buli, vulva.
bolanta, excellent ; root bol, as in adhbhal, q.v.
bolla, a boll ; from Sc, Eng. boll. Hence also boUa, a buoy.
bolt, a welt, Ir. balta, welt, border ; from the Lat. balteus, girdle,
Eng. belt. Cf. Eng. ivelt, W. gwald.
boma, a bomb ; from the English.
bonn, foundation, so Ir., 0. Ir. bond; Lat. fund,us ; Skr. budhnd ;
Eng. bottom.
bonn, a coin, so Ir. ; possibly from Lat. pondo.
bonnach, cake, bannock, Ir. boinneog, oaten cake. This word, like
the Sc. bannock, appears to be founded on Lat. pdnicum,
pdnis, bread.
bonnanach, a strapping fellow (Mrs M'Ph.), bonnanaich, active
young men (Skye) :
borb, fierce, so Ir., 0. Ir. borp ; allied to, or, more probably,
borrowed from, Lat. barbarus.
44 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
borbhan, a purling sound ; *horvo-^ a stem identical with hervo-,
seethe, Fr. Bourbon, Lat. ferveo, etc. Hence borbhanach,
base, deep.
b6rc, sprout, swell ; see hare.
borc-lunn, swell-wave (Hend.) :
b6rd, a table, Ir., M. Ir., hord, W. hivrdd ; from Ag. S., Norse
hord.
borlanachd, morlanachd, compulsory labour for the proprietor ;
from Eng. hordland, as under horlum. Hence M'Morland.
The cairiste, done for proprietor (M'K. and Carm.).
borlum, a strip of arable land (Hebrides) ; a frequent place name ;
from M. Eng. bordland, mensal land, especially the royal
castle lands in the Highlands.
borlum, a sudden flux or vomiting, a flux ; for bdrc-lum ; see bbrc.
fborr, knob, pride, greatness, great, Ir., E. Ir. borr, *borso-,
bhorso- ; Lat. fastus (for farstus), pride ; 0. H. G. parrunga,
superbia ; allied to barr, q.v. Hence borrach, a haughty
man, a protruding bank, a mountain grass.
bosd, a boast, Ir. bosd (O'R.), W., Cor. bost ; all from Eng. boas^t,
itself of unknown origin.
bosdan, a little box, Br. bouiU ; the G. is from early Sc. boyst,
M. Eng. boiste, from 0. Fr. boiste, Med. Lat. buxida (bossida),
which is the Gr. Trv^iSa. Heuce also Eng. box, G. bosca.
bosgaire, applause (Sh.); bas+gaire, q.v., "palm-noise."
bot, a mound, river bank ; cf. bught, botach, a reedy bog.
b6t, a boot ; from M. E. bote, Eng. boot. Also botuinn, from Sc.
booting, Fr, bottine, half-boot.
botaidh, a wooden vessel (size, half anker) ; formed from M. E.
butte, Eng. butt, Fr, hotte.
both, perturbation, a plash ; see hodhbh.
both, bothan, a hut, bothie, Ir., M. Ir. bothdn, both, W. bod,
residence. Cor. bod, bos, *buto- ; Lit. butas, house ; Eng. booth,
Norse bild', Ger. bude ; root bhu, be. Hence Eng. bothie.
bothar, a lane, street (A. M'D.), Ir. bot/iar (Con.), bothar, E. Ir.
bbihar, "^bdtro-, "^bd-tro-, root bd, go ; Gr. 'i-^i]v, went, l3aLvo),
go ; Skr. gd, go ; Eng. path.
botrumaid, a slattern, (M'F.) ; see butrais.
botul, a bottle, Ir. buideul, W. potel ; from Eng. bottle.
botunn (Lewis), deep water pool (in moors) ; Norse, botn.
botus, a belly-worm ; from M. E. bottes, pi. of bot, bott, of like
meaning ; Sc. batts. Origin unknown (Murray).
bra, br^th, a; quern, Ir. hro, g. br6n, E. Ir. bro, g. broon, mill-stone,
'''brevon-, "^hravon- ; Skr. grdvan- ; Lit. girnos ; Eng. quern.
brabhd-chasach, bow-legged :
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 45
brabhdadh, bravado, idle talk, brabhtalachd, haughtiness
(A. M'D) ; from Eng. bravado ?
brae, curve as of waves before breaking, a bellow, branch or deer-
horn (Carm.), reindeer (Carm.) :
bracach, grayish, braclach, brake : see words in broc-ach, -lack.
brachag", a pustule ; from brach, rot (vb.) ; see braich, malt.
Also brachan, pvitrefaction.
brachd, putrescence, fat, rich :
bradach, thievish, braid, theft, Ir. bradach, thievish, roguish,
E, Ir. broit, g. braite : *mraddo-, allied to brath, betray ^
Scarcely from br-ont-, root bher, carry, Lat. fur, etc.
bradan, salmon, Ir. braddn, E. Ir. bratan. Cf. Lit. bradd, water,
Ch. SI. brozda, wade through.
bradan, a ridgy tumour on the surface of the body (H.S.D.) ;
metaphorically from above word %
bradhadair, a blazing fire, kindling of a fire (Hebrides). Possibly
braghadair, from bragh, q.v. Cf. braghadaich, crackling.
brag (Lewis), a sudden creeking noise, Norse braJc.
bragaireachd, vain boasting, Ir. bragdireachd, from bragaire,
boaster ; from the Eng. brag.
bragh, an explosion, peal, 0. Ir. braigi7}i, pedo ; Lat. fra.gor, crash,
fragrare, Eng. fragrant. See bram.
braghad, neck, throat, Ir. brdighid, 0. Ir. brdge, g. brdgat, W.
breuant, 0. Br. brehant, "^brdgnt- ; Eng. craw, Ger. kragen,
collar, M. H. G. krage, neck ; Gr. f^p6yxo<^, w^indpipe, Eng.
bronchitis. Bezzenberger (Stokes' Diet.), refers it to the root
of Norse barki, weazand, Gr. (pdpvy^, Eng. 'pharynx. Brdghad
is really the gen. of brdighe.
bragsaidh, braxy ; from Sc, Eng. braxy.
braich, malt, so Ir., E. Ir. mraich, W., Cor. brag, Br. bragezi,
germinate, Gaul, brace (Plin.), genus farris : ^mraki ; Lit.
merkti, macerate, mdrka, flax-hole for steeping ; Lat. marcere,
fade, marcidus, decayed, rotten. From W. bragod, comes
Eng. bragget.
braid, theft ; see bradach.
braid, horse-collar ; see brdighdeach.
braighde, captives, pledges, Ir. brdighe, pi. brdighde, E. Ir. braga,
g. bragat, hostage, prisoner, braig, a chain ; Gr. jSpoxos,
noose ; Eng. crank, Ger. kringel ; I. E. gregh, possibly allied
to I. E. gregh, neck, as in brdghad. Hence braighdeanas,
captivity, also dialectic braigh, hostage, pledge.
braighdeach, horse-collar, M. Ir. braigdech, older brdigtech ; from
brdghad. Also braid.
46 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
braighe, upper part (of places) : this is the nom. case of hraghad,
which also appears in place names, as Bra^d-Albainn, Braid-
albane.
braile, a heavy rain (Sh.) :
braile, braighlich, a rattling noise (Perth). Sc. bruilze, Fr.
hrouille. See braodhlach.
brailis, wort of ale, Ir. braithlis, M. Ir. Jwaichlis, from hraich.
braim, bram, crepitus ventris, Ir. hroim, 0. Ir. hraigim, pedo, W.,
Cor., Br. bram, '^bragsmen-, root brag, I. E. bkrag ; Lat.
fragor, crash, fragrare, etc. Hence bramaire, a noisy fellow,
braisleach, full-formed, bulky man, M. Ir. bras, great, W. Cor.,
Br. bras, grossus, *brasso- ; Lat. grossus, Fr. gros, bulky,
braist, a brooch ; from the Eng.
braithlin, linen sheet, so Ir.: "^brath + ltn; but brathi M'E.
suggests plai-linn.
braman, misadventure, the Devil ; also dialectic broman. M. Ir.
hromdn means a " boor," bromdnach, impertinent. The root
seems to be breg, brog, brag of breun, braim,
bramasag', a clott-burr, the prickly head of a thistle (H.S.D.) :
t bran, a raven, Ir., 0. Ir. bra7i, W. bran, crow, Br. bran, crow ;
"^brand, for gvrand, with which cf. 0. Slav, gavranu, raven,
but not vrana (do.), as is usually done. The further root is
gra, gera, cry, whence Eng. crane, Gr. ye/oai/o?, crane, W. and
Cor. garan. Used much in personal and river names.
bran, bran, Ir., W. bran, Br. brenn ; C, Ir., and W. are from Eng.
bran, from 0. Fr. bren, bran, whence Br.
brang", a slip of wood in the head-stall of a horse's halter, resting
on the jaw ; horse's collar ; brangas, a pillory ; from the Sc.
branks, a head pillory (for tongue and mouth), a bridle with
two wooden side pieces, brank, to bridle ; allied to Ger.
pranger, pillory, Du. prang, fetter.
branndaidh, brandy ; from Eng, brandy, that is " brand or burnt
wine."
branndair, a gridiron ; from Sc. brander, from brand, burn, etc.
braodag, a huff (Hend), also (Perth) :
braodhlach, brawling, braoileadh, loud noise, Ir. braoilleadh,
rattling ; a borrowed word, seemingly from Sc, Eng. brawl,
confused with Sc. brulye, Eng. broil.
braoileag, a whortleberry, Ir. broileog, breiledg. Sc. brawlins,
brylocJcs, comes from the Gaelic.
braoisg, a grin, Ir. braos :
braolaid, raving, dreaming ; from breathal ?
braon, a drop, rain, so Ir., 0. Ir. broen ; cf. Eng. brine. The
attempt to connect it with Gr. (dpeXia, or with Lat. rigare,
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE.
Eng. rain, is unsatisfactory. Stokes derives it from root
ver {^QQ fearthuinn), "^vroen, but unlikely.
braonan, praonan, an earth-nut, bunium flexuosum. Perhaps
from hraon, a drop — "a bead, nut."
bras, brais, active, rash, Ir. bras, E. Ir. bras, W. brys, haste :
"^brsto-, I.E. gredh-, as in greas, q.v. ? See also bi^isg, active.
brasailt, a panegyric (M'A.) ; E. Ir. bras-scelach, panegyrical ;
from 0. Ir. bras, great, W. and Br. bras ; cf. Lat. grossus,
Eng. gross. See braishach.
brat, a mantle, Ir. brat, 0. Ir. bratt, W. brethyn, woollen cloth, Br.
broz, petticoat, "^bratto-, *brat-to-. For root brat, braiit, see
breid. Ag. S. bratt, pallium, is borrowed from the Celtic.
Hence bratach, flag.
bra tag, the furry or grass caterpillar, Ir. bratbg, " the mantled
one," from brat. Cf. caterpillar =■ " dow^ny cat," by derivation.
brath, information, betrayal, Ir. brath, E. Ir. brath, treason, and
mrath also, W. brad, treachery, Cor. bras, Br. barat, 0. Br.
hrat, *mrato- ; Gr. afiapTavo) {-fxapr-), sin, miss, -tj/JifSpoTov (past
tense). Cf. mearachd. M. Ir. raairned, treachery.
brath, judgment, gu brath, for ever (pron. gu brack) "till Judg-
ment," so Ir., 0. Ir. brath, judgment, W. braivd, M. Br. breut,
Gaul, bratu-, *brdtu- ; "^brd, *bera, judge, decide, from I. E.
bher, in the sense of " say," as in abair. The Ir. barn, judge,
and W. barri, judgment, are hence, and may be compared
to Gr. </)piv, cfipeves, soul, phrenology. Hence also breath or
breith ('^brt-), q.v. The sense " conflagration " given in the
Diet, is due to " Druidic " theorisings, and is imaginary.
brathair, brother, Ir. brdthair, 0. Ir. brdthir, W. brawd, pi. brodyr,
Cor. broder, pi. bredereth, Br. breur, breuzr, pi. breudeur,
"^brdter ; Lat. frdter ; P"ng, brother ; Skr. bhrdta ; etc.
breab, a kick, Ir. preab, M. Ir. prebach, kicking ; perhaps from the
root form of the following word.
breaban, a patch of leather, Ir preabdn, parcel, piece, patch ;
from, or allied to, 0. Fr. bribe, a piece of bread, alms, Sp.
briba, alms ; also 0. Fr. bribeur, mendicant, briberesse, female
vagabondage and harloting ; cf. Ir. preabog, a wenching jade
(O'B.). Eng. bribe is from the French.
breac, speckled, so Ir., E. Ir. brecc, W. brych, Br. breech, small-pox,
^mrhko-s, *mrg-ko-, root mrg ; Lit. mdrgas, speckled, pied ;
Gr. dfxapvcra-o), twinkle. There is an 0. Ir. mrecht, W. brith,
of like meaning and origin, viz , mrk-to, from virg-to-. Hence
breac, small-pox, W. brech, and breac, trout, W. brithyll.
breacan, plaid, Ir. breacdn, W. brecan, rug ; from breac. Rhys
regards W. as borrowed from Irish.
breac-shianain, freckles :
ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
breacag, a pancake, W. Jjrechdan, slice of bread and butter,
hrg-ko-^ brg^ as in bairghin, bread *? (Ilev. Celt. ^'^102). See
hreachdan.
breachd, seizing = heireachd.
breachdan, custard (Lb.), M. Ir. hrechtdn, a roll, W. hrithog ; from
mrg-to-, Ir. hrecht, W. brith, motley, mixed. See under breac.
br^agh, fine, Ir. bredgh, M. Ir. breagha (O'Cl.), '^breigavo-s, root
breig, brig as in brigh, q.v. 1 Ir. breagh or breaghda — Bregian^
Tir Breg. (Ir. J. No. 119).
t breall, knob, glens mentulse, D. of Lisniore breyl, Ir. breall,
hrs-lo-, root 6^rs, bors, as in G. borr, bdrr^ Eng. bristle. Hence
brilleaiiach, lewd, q.v. breall =^ bod (Glenmoriston).
breaman, tail of sbeep or goat, podex ; cf. Ir. breim, by-form of
braim, q.v.
breamas, mischief, misbap, the Devil ; an e vowel form of braman?
breanan, dunghill (Sh.) ; from breun., q.v.
breath, row, layer : *brtd, a slice, root bher of beam.
breath, judgment, so Ir., 0. Ir. byeth, "^brtd, W. bryd, Gaul, vergo-
bretus, *brto-s. For root, see brdth. Spelt also breith.
breathas, frenzy (M'A.) ; see breideacli.
breid, a kerchief, so Ir., E. Ir. breit., "^'brenti-, roots brent, brat \
Skr. granth, tie, knot, grathndii ; Ger. kranz, garland, Eng.
crants (Rhys). The Skr. being allied to Gr. ypovdos, fist,
seems against this derivation (Stokes), not to mention the
dithculty of Gr. 6 and Skr. th corresponding to Celtic t.
Possibly from root bhera, cut, Gr. (f^apos, cloth (Windisch).
Cf. W. brwyd, braid,
breisleach, confusion, delirium, nightmare, Ir. breisleach (O'R.,
Fol. ), breaghaslach (Lb.) from breith-, ^'bret, "^bhre-t ; bhre,
mind, as in Gr. ^/o^^v, mind % Cf. E. Ir, Breslech M6r
Murtheimme ; brislech, "overthrow."
breith, bearing, birth, so Ir. and E. Ir., ^brti-s ; Skr. bhrti- ; Eng.
birth ; etc. : root bher, bear ; see beir.
breitheal, confusion of mind ; from breith-, as in breisleach. Also
breathal and preathal.
breitheanas, judgment, Ir. breilheamhnus, E. Ir. brithemnas \ from
brithem, a judge, stem britheman, to which is added the
abstract termination -as ( = astu-). From britheamh, q.v
breo, breoth, rot, putrefy :
breochaid, any tender or fragile thing (M'A.) ; from breo.
breocladh, clumsy patching, breoclaid, sickly person : bre6dh +
clad ( = cail of buacAa^7). See brebite.
breoite, infirm, Ir. breoite, breodhaim, I enfeeble (Keat.), *brivod- ;
cf. W. briw, break, *brivo-, possibly allied to Lat. frivolus.
breolaid, dotage, delirium ; cf. breitheal, etc.
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 49
breug, briag, a lie, Ir. hreMg^ hreag, 0. Ir. hrec, "^hrenkd ; Skr.
bhrauica, loss, deviation.
breun, putrid, so Ir., E. Ir. hren, W. hraen, Br. hrein ; ^bregno-^
*hragno-^ foul, from root, hreg^ brag of braim. Straclian takes
it from *mrak-no- ; Lat. 7iiarcidus, rancid, as in braich, q.v.
briagail, prattling :
briathar, a word, so Ir. and 0. Ir., "^bretrd (0. Ir. is fem. ; G. is
mas., by analogy T), *bre, ablaut to bra- of brath, q.v. Bezzen-
berger would refer it to O.H.G. chweran, sigh (see gerain)
and even to 0. H. G. chrdjan, Eng. croiu.
brib, a bribe, Ir. brib ; from the Eng.
bricein-, a prefix to certain animal names ; from brcac.
fbrideach, a dwarf (Arm., Sh.), Ir. brideach (Lh., O'B.). See
brideag, little woman. Shaw also gives it the meaning of
"bride," which is due to Eng. influences.
brideag", a little woman, Ir. brideag, a figure of St. Bridget made
on the Saint's eve by maidens for divination purposes. See
Brighid in the list of Proper Names. Shaw gives brida^,
part of the jaw, which H.S.D. reproduces as brideag.
brideun, a little bird, sea-piet (M'A. for latter meaning) : seem-
ingly formed on the analogy of the two foregoing words.
brig", a heap (H.S.D , M'A.) : " brig mhoine," a pile of peats ; cf.
Norse brlk, square tablet, piece, Eng. brick.
brigh, pith, power, Ir. brigh, 0. Ir. brig, W. bri, dignity, rank,
Cor. bry, Br. bri, respect, "^'brtgd, "^brtgo- ', Gr. f3p2 = (^piap6<^,
strong, mighty, Ppifxr] (c long), strength, anger ; Skr. jri,
overpower, jrat/as, extent ; an I.E. gri-, grl-, grei-. Bezzen-
berger suggests Ger. krieg, war, striving : "^greigh 1 This
may be from the root bri above.
brilleanach, lewd, briollair, briollan, from breall, q.v.
brim, pickle (Arg.) ; from Eng. brine.
brimin bodaich, a shabby carle ; for breimein, a side form of
braman ; root breg, brag ? But cf. Norse brimill, phoca
fetida mas.
briobadh, bribing ; see brib, which also has the spelling briob.
briodal, lovers' language, caressing, flattery ; also brioiindal,
caressing, brionnal, flattery; possibly from brionn, a lie,
dream (Ir.), as in brionglaid, q.v. M. Ir. brinneall means a
beautiful young maid or a matron. Cf. briagadh. Arran
brid, whisper.
briog, thrust, Ir. priocam ; from the Eng. prick.
briogach, mean-spirited :
brioghas, fervour of passion ; cf. W. brywus, bryw, vigorous.
briogais, breeches, Ir. brigis ; from the Eng. breeks, breeclies.
50 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTTONARY
briollag, an illusion (Sh.) ; Ir. brionn, dream, reverie. The G.
seems for brion-lag. See next.
brionglaid, a confusion, dream, Ir. brionngldid, a dream ; from
brionn, a dream, a lie. In the sense of " wrangling,"
br long laid is purely a Scotch Gaelic word, from Sc, Eng.
brangle, of like force.
brionnach, pretty (M'F.), fair (Sh.), glittering, Ir. brinneall, a
beautiful young woman, a matron :
brionnach, brindled, striped ; from the Eng. brinded, now brindled,
brios, mockery (A. M'D.), half-intoxication (M'A.) :
briosaid, a girdle (Arm.), from Eng. brace?
brios^, start, jerk, so Ir. ; from brisg, active, q.v.
briosgaid, a biscuit, M. Ir. brisca (F.M.) ; founded on Eng. biscuit^
but by folk-etymology made to agree with brisg, brittle
(Gaidoz).
briosuirneach, ludicrous ; cf. brios, mockery, etc.
briot, briotal, chit-chat, Ir. ^briot, chatter, briotach, a stammerer :
^brt-to, "^br-t, root bar, ber, as in Lat. barbarus, Gr. f^apfiapos,
fSepfSepc^o), I stammer. The reference of briot to the name
Breatnaich or Britons as foreigners and stammerers is scarcely
happy.
bris, break, so Ir., 0. Ir. brissim, "^bresto, I break, root bres, bhres ;
O.H.G. brestan, break, Ag. S. berstan, Eng. burst, Fr. briser,
break. Distantly allied to ^berso-s, short, G. bearr. Brug-
mann has compared the Gaelic to QfT-irkpOoi, destroy, from
bherdho-, giving a Celtic stem brd-to-, and brd-co- for brisg.
brisg, brittle, Ir. briosg, E. Ir. brisc, Br. bresq : "^bres-co- ', root bres
of bris above.
brisg, lively, Ir. brisc, W. brysg ; all from the Eng. brisk^ of
Scandinavian origin (Johansson, Zeit. xxx.).
brisgein, cartilage ; from Norse brjosk, cartilage, bris, Sw. and
Dan. bj-usk ; Ger. brausche, a lump (from a bruise).
brisgein, brislein, white tansy ; from brisg, brittle.
britheamh, a judge, Ir. breitkeamh, 0. Ir. brithem, g. britheman;
root brt-, of breath, judgment, q.v.
broc, a badger, so Ir., E. Ir. brocc, W., Cor,, broch, Br. broc^h,
"^brokko-s : *bork-ko-, "grey one"; root bherk, bhork, bright,
Gr. (fiopKos, grey. Lit. berszti, Eng. bright ? Thurneysen cfs.
the Lat. broccus, having projecting teeth, whence Fr. broche
(from Lat. "^brocca, a spike, etc.), a spit, Eng. broach, brooch-,
he thinks the badger was named broccos from his snout, and
he instances the Fr. brochet, pike, as parallel by derivation
and analogy. If Gr. PpvKO), bite, is allied to Lat. broccus, the
underlying idea of broc may rather be the "biter," "gripper."
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 51
Bezzenberger suggests Russ. barsukil, Turk, porsuh, Magyar
borz ; or ^brokko-s, from "^bhrod-ko-s, Skr. bradhnd, dun.
brocach, greyish in the face, speckled, Ir. brocach, broc, W. broc,
grizzled, roan ; from broc.
brochan, gruel, porridge, Ir. brochdn, 0. Ir. brothchdn ; broth-chdn,
*broti-^ cookery ; root bru^ I. E. bliru^ whence Eng. broth^
Lat. defrutum, must. See bruith.
brbchlaid, trash, farrago ; root bhreu^ bhru, as in brochan ; bhreu
varies with bhrou, G. bro.
brocladh, spoiling, mangling ; see brebclaid.
brod, a lid ; from Sc, brod, side form of Eng. board..
brod, a goad, prickle, Ir, brod, E. Ir. brott, W. brath, Cor. broz, Br.
brout, ^broddos, from broz-do- ; 0. H. G. brort, edge, Norse
broddr, sting, Eng. brod, brad, Ag. S. brord, sting,
brod, the choice of anything ; from the above, in the sense of
" excess." Cf. corr.
brod, pride, brodail, proud, Ir. hod, etc. lu Arran (Sc.) we find
protail, which is a step nearer the origin. From the Eng.
proud.
fbrodan, mastiff, E. Ir. brotchu, W. brathgi ; from brod., " good."
br6d, a crowd, brood, brodach, in crowds ; from the Eng. brood 1
brog, a shoe, Ir. brog, M. Ir. brocc, E. Ir. broc, pi. broca, used in
compounds for various nether garments ; from Norse brokr,
Ag. S. broc, pi. brec, Eng. breech, breeks (Zimmer, Zeit. xxx.).
See briogais.
brog^, stimulate, an awl ; from Sc. brog, prog. Cf. W. procio,
thrust, poke, from M. E. prokien, stimulare. Thurneysen
takes Sc. and G. from Fr. broche, Lat. ^brocca (see broc).
Hence brogail, " active," "in good form."
brog'ach,'a boy, young lad, from brog ?
broidneireachd, embroidery, Ir. broidineireachd ; from the Eng.
broider, embroidery.
fbroig'heal, cormorant, Ir. broighioll :
broighleadh, bustle ; from Sc. brulye (Eng. broil), Fr. brouiller,
It. broglio. See braodhlach.
broighleag, whortleberry ; see braoileag.
broigileineach, substantial ; from broigeil, a by-form of brogail ;
see brogach.
broilein, king's hood ; pig's snout (Badenoch) : root bhru, brow 1
broilleach, a breast, Ir., E. Ir. brollach : "^bron-lach ; for "^bron,
see bruinne.
broineag, a rag, ill-clad female, bronag, a crum (Dialectic) ; pos-
sibly ^from the root of bronn, distribute. Shaw spells it
broinnag^ M'F. as above.
52 Etymological Dictionary
broinn, belly (Dialectic) ; the dat. of hru used dialectically as
nom. ; see hru.
broit, the bosom ; properly the breast covering (H.S.D,, for latter
meaning) ; cf. G. hrot, 0. Ir. broitene, palliolum. The word
appears to be from brat, mantle, with a leaning for meaning
on bruin7ie, breast.
brolaich, incoherent talk (as in sleep), brolasg, garrulity, Ir.
bi^olasgach, prattling ; cf. W. brawl, hrol, boasting, Eng.
brawl, Du. brallen, boast.
brolamas, a mess (D. C. Mc. Ph.) (Glenmoriston) ; same root as
brollach.
broluinn, brothluinn, boiling, "£estus," tide-boiling; from broth^
boiling, as in brollach, etc.
brollach, a mess ; cf. E. Ir. brothlach, the Fenian cooking pit, from
broth, as in brochan, q.v.
bromach, a colt, Ir. bromach : *brusmo-, "^brud-, "^bru, as in
Eng. Qva-bryo ?
bron, grief, Ir.. 0. Ir. bron, W. brwyn, smarting, sorrow, ^brugno-s ;
Gr. ^pv\(M (v long), gnash the teeth ; Lit. grduiiii, gnaw,
Pol. zgryzota, sorrow,
t bronn, grant, distribute, M. G. bronnagh (1408 charter), Ir.
bronnaim, E, Ir. bronnaim, brondaim, bestow, spend : "^brundo-,
"^bhrud-no-, I. E. root bhrud ; Ag, S. bryttian, deal out, Norse
bryti, a steward (cf. Gr. ra/xtas, steward, "cutter"), brytja,
chop, Eng. brittle, Teut. brut, chop ; perhaps, Lat. frustum,
bit.
brosdaich, stir up, Ir. brosduighim, E. Ir. brostugud, inciting. The
word is from the root bros- in brosdo- of brod, q.v., being here
bros-to-, w^hich becomes brosso-, and later reverts to brost,
brosd, or remains as in brosnaich. Stokes says it is founded
on Low Lat. brosdus, by^usdus, broidery, " done by a needle,"
or brosd, which is of Teutonic origin and cognate with G.
brod, already given as the root. Hence brosgadh, stimula-
tion, etc. The Ir. brosna, 0. Ir. brosne, faggot, may be hence ;
the root bhrud, discussed under bronn, has also been suggested.
brosgul, flattery, fawning (especially of a dog) ; possibly from the
root form brosi, in brosdaich, brosgadh.
brosnaich, incite ; see brosdaich. This is the best G. form ;
brosdaich is rather literary and Irish.
brot, broth ; from the Eng. broth.
brot, a veil, upper garment, 0. Ir. broitene, palliolum ; G. is a by-
form of brat.
broth, itch, Ir. broth, *bruto- ; see bruthainn for root. Also
(rarely) bruth.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 53
broth, lunar halo (Arg.), or brog^h ; cf. 0. Ir. brutli, heat, under
bruthainn. So. hroch, Ulster Ir. broth.
brothag^, the bosom, a fold of the breast clothes ; "^broso-, root
brus of bruinne, breast.
brothas, farrago, brose, Ir. brothus, from M. E. breivis, Sc. brose.
See bruthaist, the best G. form.
bru, g. bronn, belly, so Ir., 0. Ir. bru, brond, W. bru : "^briis
"^brus-nos, root brits, 1. E. bhrus, bhreus ; Teut. breust-, Norse
brjost, Eng. breast, Ger. brust. Stokes lefers it to the root
bru, to swell, Gr. /^pviD, am full, iix-fSpvov, embryo (whence
Eng. embryo), or to Skr. bhrund, embryo. See bruinne.
bruach, a bank, brink, Ir., 0. Ir. bruach : "^brou-Jco-, I. E. bkric,
brow, Gr. 6<ppvs, eyebrow, Eng. b7'ow. Lit. bruvis, 0. Ir. briiad,
(dual). Also E. Ir. bru, bank, border. Stokes suggests
either the root of bruth, bruise, or Lit. briau-na, edge.
bruachaire, a surly fellow, one that hovers about, Ir. bruach-
aireachd, hovering about ; from bruach.
bruadar, bruadal, a dream, Ir. bruadair, W. breuddwyd : "^braiid
or *brav- : fraus, fraud ?
bruaillean, bruaidlean, trouble, grief ; from bruadal above.
bruais, crush to pieces, gnash (Dialectic) : ^bhraud-&o-, Lat. fraus,
Eng. brittle.
bruan, thrust, wound ; from the root of britth.
bruan, a fragment ; *bhroud-7io-, from *bhroud, break, Ag. S.
breostan, break, Eng. brittle, etc., as under bronn. Strachan
also suggests "^bhroucno-, Lett, bruht, crumple, and Stokes the
root of bruth.
briic, seaweed cast ashore (Lewis) ; Norse bruk, dried heaps of
seaweed.
brucach, spotted in the face, smutted, Ir. brocach : "badger-like";
see broc. The Sc. broukit, brooked, is of uncertain origin
(Murray). Hence brucachadh, irregular digging, brucanaich,
the peep of dawn (M'A.), etc.
brucag, bruchag, a chink, eylet (Sh.), dim candle light (H.S.D.).
Sh. gives bruchag, H.S.D. brucag, which appears only to apply
to the "dim candle light"; from brucxich.
briichd, belch, burst out, so Ir., E. Ir. briichtaim, eructo, vomo,
W. bry their 0 (vb.), brythar (n.).
bruchlag", a hovel ; from brugh, q.v.
bruchlas, the fluttering of birds going to rest (Sh.) :
bruchorcan, stool bent, heath rush ; said to be derived from ]bru,
a hind, and corc-an, oats, "deer's oats." Also bruth-chorcan.
brudhach, a brae ; see bruthach.
brudhaist, brose ; see bruthaist.
54 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
brugh, large house, a tumulus, so Ir., E. Ir. brug, mrug^ land,
holding, mark, W. bro, country, region, land, Cy7n-mro, a
Welshman, pi. Cymmry {^com-mroges), Br. bro, country, Gaul.
Brogi- : *mrogi (for Gadelic) ; Lat. margo ; Got. marka,
border-country, Ag. S. mearc, border, Eng. mark, march.
bruich, boil, cook ; gutturalised form of bruith (cf. brath, brack).
See bruith. The Ir. bruighim appears in O'R., and has been
compared to Lat. frigo, Gr. cfipvyu), roast ; but it is evidently
a bad spelling of bruith.
bruid, captivity, Ir. bi^uid, M. Ir. "^brat, g. braite, E. Ir. ace. broit,
^braddd. For root, see bradach.
bruid, bruidich, stab, goad, Ir. bruidighim : the verb from brod,
a goad.
bruid, a brute, Ir. brtlid ; from Eng. brute.
bruidheann, bruidhinn, talk, conversation, Ir. bruighinn, scolding
speech, a brawl (also bruitheann), 0. Ir. fris-brudi, renuit, W.
cyfrau., song, 0. Br. co-brouol, verbialia, ^7nru, say ; Skr. bru,
bravati, says, Zend mru, speak. O'Grady (S. Gad. xvi.)
connects E. Ir. brudin, hospitium ; says meaning really is
"quarrel" He gives Ir. as bruidhen. Stokes E. Ir. brudin,
^brodma, Eng. board (Z. 33).
bruidlich, stir up ; see bruid, stab, goad.
bruill, bruise, thump ; a derivative from bruth, q.v.
brdillig, a person of clumsy figure and gait (H.S.D., which refers
the word to brii, belly) ; from bru ?
bruim-f heur, switch grass, so Ir. : from braim-J-heur, a term to
denote its worthlessness.
Bruinidh, the Brownie ; from Sc. Brownie, the benevolent farm-
house goblin, from Eng. brown. Cf. the Norse Svart-dlfr or
dark elves.
bruinne, breast, 0. Ir. bruinne, W. bron,, Cor. and M. Br. bronn,
^brus-no, root bhrus, bhreus ; Norse brjdst, Ger. brust, Eng.
breast. Stokes gives the root as brend, from I. E. grendh,
swell, be haughty, Gr. ppkvOvoixai, strut, bear oneself loftily,
Lat. grandis, Ch. SI. gradi, breast. Usually correlated with
Got. brunjo, breastplate, M. H. G. brilnne, N. brynja, coat of
mail, M. Eng. brynie, Sc. byrnie : a satisfactory enough deri-
vation, and ultimately from the same root as the first one
given above (I. E. bhru). Indeed vStokes says the Teut. is
borrowed from the Celtic.
bruinneadh, the front (Dialectic), 0. Ir. bruinech, prow. Cor.
brenniat, prow, ^bronjo-, to which Bez. compares Ger. grans,
prow (I. E. gk = G. b ?). From root of bruinne.
bruis, a brush, Ir. druis (vulg.) ; from the Eng. brush.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 55
bruiteach, warm ; from "^hruth, heat ; see hruihainn.
bruith, boil, cook, so Ir., E. Ir. hruith, cooking, ^broti-^ from the
root hru^ I. E. hhru ; Eng. hrotk (Tent, brojyo-. I. E. bhruto-),
and bretv (I. E. hhreu) ; Lat. defrutum, must ; Tlirac. Gr.
ppvrov, beer.
brunsgal, rumbUng noise; hronn + sgal ? From hi^u, in any case.
brusg, a crumb, particle of food, Ir. bruscdn, brusgar, broken ware,
useless fragments, brus, refuse of corn : from "^brus, short
form of "^brus in bruth.
brutach, digging, the act of digging (N. H. according to H.S.D.) :
^brutto-, "^bhrud-to-, root bhrud, break % See bronn.
bruth, bruise, pound, Ir. bruighiTii, E. Ir. bruim, ^brus, strike,
graze, pound ; Pre. Celt, bhreiis, ; Ag. S. brysan^ bruise, Eng.
bruise (influenced by Fr.); perhaps 0. Slav, brmnati, corrum-
pere, radere.
bruthach, a brae : '^brut-acos, root bru, from bhru, brow ; see
bruach. Sc. brae is of a similar origin, founded on Norse
6m, eyelid, brow (Murray).
bruthainn, sultriness, heat, Ir., 0. Ir. bruth, fervor, W. brwd, hot,
Br, brout, hot (fire), 0. Br. brot : "^brutu-. For further root
see bruith. Wider are Lat. ferveo, fervor, Eng. burn, etc.
bruthaist, brose ; from early Sc, Eng. broives, Sc. brose ; from the
Fr., but allied to Eng. broth.
bu, was, Ir. budh, 0. Ir. bu : Proto-Gaelic "^bu for a Celtic bu-t ;
Gr. ecjiv (v long), aorist tense ; Lat. fuit ; Skr. dbhut, was ;
I. E. e-bhu-t. The root is bheu, bhu ; Eng. be, etc. Both G.
and Ir. aspirate, which shows the t of the 3rd sing.
disappeared early.
buabhall, unicorn, buffalo, M. Ir. buabhall, W. buol ; from Lat.
bubalus, buffalo, gazelle, whence (bufalus) Eng. bujfalo.
buabhall, a trumpet, Ir. bubhall, buadhbhall, M. Ir. buaball, W.
bual, bugle ; cf. M. Ir. buabhall, horn, W. bual, buffalo horn,
M. Ir. corn buabhaiil ; whence the further force of "trumpet."
buachaill, a herdsman, so Ir., 0. Ir. bochaill, buachaill, W. bugail,
Cor., Br. bugel ; Gr. f^ovKoXo^, cowherd (Lat. bucolicus, Eng.
bucolic), /3ov-, cow, and -koXos, attendant, Lat. cola, at/tivate.
buachar, cow-dung, Ir. buacar, buachar (Con.), Br. beiizel ; for the
stem before the suffix -ar, cf. W. buwch {^bouJchd), though
bou-cor- or bouk-cor-, "cow-offcast," may properly be the
derivation for the Gadelic. See bo and, possibly, cuir. Cf.
Bolchar.
buadhghallan, buaghallan, ragwort, Ir. buadhghallan, M. Ir.
buathbhallan, buathfallan : " virtue bearing wort ? " More
probably it is buaf-bhallan, "toad-wort," from buaf, toad.
56 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
reptile, from Lat. hiifo. The Welsh call it " serpent's weed,"
llysiau^r nedir. Ir. haufanan is " mugwort " ; huadharlann
(Hend.).
buaic, a wick, Ir. buaic ; from Eng. wick, Ag. S. weoca ?
buaic, bleaching lees, Ir. huac ; from M. E. houken, steep in lye,
Eng. buck, Ger. hauchen ; Fr. huer, from a Lat. type *hucare.
See fucadh.
buaicneach, small-pox (Suth.) ; founded on a later form of Lat.
bucca, as in bucaid, q.v.
buaidh, victory, virtue, so Ir., 0. Ir. biiaid, W. budd, 0. Br. bud,
Gaul, boud-, in many personal names, whether as the only
root (cf. Boudicca, "Victrix") or in compounds, either initial
or as second part : *boudi- ; Norse byti, exchange, Ger. beute,
booty, Eng. booty, Fr. butin (do.).
buaidheam, fits of inconstancy ; cf, buathadh.
buail, strike, so Ir., E. Ir. bualaim : "^budlo- or '^boudlo-, ^boud,
Pre-Celt. bhoud, bheud ; Ag. S. beatan, Eng. beat, beetle, Ger.
bautel, beetle (Strachan). See bidlle. Stokes gives the form
^biiglab, root bug, bliug, as in Ger. pochen, Eng. poke.
buaile, a fold, pen, so Ir., E. Ir. buale ; Lat. bovile ; from *bov-, cow.
buaill, place for resting and milking (Lewis). Cf. Norse b6l.
buain, reap, Ir., 0. Ir. buain, inf. of bongaim, reap, break : '''bogni-
or "^bongni- ? For root, see bodid.
buair, tempt, vex, Ir. buaidhirim, E. Ir. buadraim, 0. Ir. buadartha,
tarbulentus : "^boud-ro- ; possibly from bhoud, strike, the idea
coming from a form "^boudro-, a goad, goading "? G. has
buaireadh, buair, a rage.
bual-chomhla, sluice (M'L.) (an fhamk bhual, water vole); M. Ir.
bual, flowing sluice water, E. Ir. roth-buali, water-wheel,
"^bogla, Eng. beck, Ger. bach (St.) (Zim.).
bualtrach, cow-dung, so Ir. buartlach (Dial. Ir.) ; from buar, cattle.
buamastair, a blockhead :
buan, lasting, Ir. buan, lasting, fixed, E. Ir. buan : " being,
during," from '^bu, be, I. E. bhu, be ; Lit. butinas, being,
during, from buti, be ; Norse biia, dwell, Got. bauan, etc.
Stokes gives the G. stem as buvano-s, and cfs. Skr. bhuvana,
existence. Hence buanaich, persevere,
buana, an idle person who lives on the best his neighbours can
afford (Lewis) (M'A.) :
fbuanna, a mercenary, a billeted soldier, so Ir. :
buannachd, profit ; from buain, reap, with irregularly doubled n
(see cinne, linn, seann, bann- for ban-, miann) 1 Cf. Ir.
buannacht, soldiers billeting from a tenant (Joyce).
buar, cattle, so Ir., E. Ir. bitar, cattle of the cow kind ; from bo,
cow : "^bovdro- ; cf . Lat. booHus.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 57
buarach, cow-fetter, Ir., E. Ir., buarach : for bd-drach, "cow-fetter,"
drach being for ad-rig-os, root rig of cuibhreach, q.v.
buathadh, a rushing, a mad fit :
btlb, roar, Ir. bub : onomatopoetic. Cf. Lat. baubor, bay, Gr.
fSav^d), bark, Lit. bubauti, roar,
buban, coxcomb, Ir. buhdn ; cf. Eng. booby.
bucach, a boy (dial.) : " growing one ;" founded on Lat. bucca as
in the following word,
bucaid, a pustule, Ir. bocbid, a spot, E. Ir. boccdit ; from Brittonic
Lat. buccdtus, from bucca, puffed cheek (Eng. debouch, rebuke).
bucall, a buckle, Ir. bucla, W. bwcl ; from M. Eng. bukyil, Eng.
buckle, from Fr. boucle, from Lat. bucula, cheek-strap, from
bucca, cheek,
buchd, size (Sh. buc) ; from Sc. bouk, i.e., bulk.
buchainn, melodious (A. M'D.) :
budiallach, nestling (adj.): "^buth-chal, "house tending 'J "
buchaUach (M'L. Teachd. Gaidh.) :
budach, poult (Suth.) : see put.
budagochd, snipe (M'L.), woodcock (H.S.D.). It seems a reminis-
cence of Eng. woodcock.
budhaigir, the puffin, buigire, (M'A , for St Kiida), Sc. bowger, the
coulter-neb ; somehow from Norse bugr, curve, " bent-bill % "
budhailt, a window-like recess in a wall ; from Sc. bowall, boal,
bole. Origin unknown (Murray),
budhag, a bundle of straw : root bud, which underlies Fr. botte,
bundle *? See boitean.
bugha, a green spot by a stream (Skye), bogha (Rob.),
buideal, a bottle, cask, Ir. buideul, W. potel ; from Eng. bottle.
See botul.
buidealaich, a conflagration, Ir. buite, fire, buitealach (Lh.f, O'Cl.,
O'B.), bott (O'Cl.) : * bud-do-, root bhud (Lat. fustis, bhud-tis,
Eng. beetle), giving the idea of "faggot, firewood?"
buidhe, yellow, so Ir., 0. Ir. buide ; Lat. badius, Eng. bay.
buidhe, now buidheachas, thanks, Ir. buidhe, 0. Ir. buide [W.
boddaw, please, bodd, will V\, "^budo-, I. E. bhudh, bheudh ; Gr.
TrevOojjiaL, learn by inquiry ; Ag. S. beodan, command, Eng.
ioY-bid.
buidhe, glad to, had to, 0. Ir. buithi, participle of necessity, from
the verb bi, be : "Is amlid is buithi do chach " — Thus ought
it to be with every one (9th Cent, glosses) ; G. "Is buidhe do
gach neach."
buidheann, a company, Ir. buidhean, 0. Ir. buden, W. byddiUj
0. Br. bodin, manus, *bodind ; 0. H. G. chutti, troop, band,
0. Fries, kedde, Ger. kette, covey ; I.E. g6 : go, drive ; cf. Lit.
gmtas, bird.
6
58 • ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
buidhinn, gain, win, buinnig, act of gaining, gain ; from the Eng.
win, winning.
bull, effect, use, Ir. boil, *bot, *bel : Pre-Celt. bhel, bhol ; Gr.
oc/)eAo9, advantage, oj^eAeto, help,
buileach, total, entirely ; another form of baiieadi. E. Ir. has
bulid, blooming,
buileastair, a bullace or sloe (M'D., Sh.) ; from M. E. bolaster=^
bullace-tree, from bolace, now bullace.
builionn, a loaf, Ir. builin ; from 0 Fr. "^boulange, ball-shaped
loaf C?), which Diez suggests as the basis of Fr. boulanger,
baker,
buille, a blow, so Ir., E. Ir. bidU, buille = boliia — bus-lid = bhud-s-lid;
root bMid, beat, as in buait, q.v. Stokes gives the stem as
*boldja, allied to Lit. beldzitt, belsti, give a blow, baldas, a
beetle ; Ger. -poltern.
buillsgean, centre, Ir. boilscedn, M. Ir. boUccn, middle, midriff =
bolgdn, from balg, bolg, belly,
buin, belong to, Ir. beanaim. The Ir. is from the verb bean,
touch ; the G., which has the idea of relationship or origin
{Cha bhuin e dlumih : he is not related to me), seems to
confuse bean and bun, stock.
buinne, a cataract, tide, Ir. buinne, a spout, tap, E. Ir. buinne,
wave, rush of water : G. buinneach, flux, diarrhoea, so Ir. ;
see boinne. Also puinne (Sutli. ) ( W. Ross;.
buinneag, a twig, sprout, Ir. buinnedn, E. Ir. buinne : *bus-nid ;
root bus, as in Eng. bush, bosky, Ger. busch, etc.
buinnig, winning ; see buidhinn.
fbuinnire, a footman, so Ir. ; from bomc, sole of the foot,
buir, buirich, roar, bellow (as a bull), Ir. buireadh, roaring; E. Ir.
bur aim \ *bu-ro-, I. E. root geito, gu, cry ; Gr. /3odw, shout ;
Lit. gauju, howl ; Skr. gu, cry. Strachan gives as G. stem
bucro-, root buq as in Lat. buccina, horn, Gr. fSvKrrjs, howling,
Skr. bukkdras, lion's roar, Norwg. bura, to bellow, Shet.
boorik, cow.
buirdeiseach, a free man, burgess, Ir. buirgeiseach ; from the Eng.
bu7yess.
buirleadh, language of folly and ridicule ; from the Romance
burla, to jest, etc. See burraidh.
buirseach, a deluge of rain ; a rousing fire (Heb.) :
buiseal, a bushel, Ir. buiseul ; from Eng. bushd.
buit, bashful (Badenoch) : "fugy," as a fowl ; see put.
buiteach, a threat (Suth.) : a form of bdidich .?
buitseach, a witch, so Ir. ; from Eng. tvitch ; " buidseach agus
raitseach."
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 59
bulas, pot hook ; from the So. booh, a pot hook in two parts or
"bools," M. Eng. l>ool, -i pail handle, round part of a key,
Ger. hilgel, arc : from Tent, beugan, bend, Eng. bow. Dialectic
pdlas.
bumailear, a bungler ; from Sc, hwnmeler, from bummil, bungle,
Eng. bumble ; of onomatopoetic origin (Murray), Cf. Ger.
bummler, a lounger.
bun, root, stock, bottom, Ir., E. Ir. bun, W. bon, stem, trunk,
0. W. boned ; Armen. bun ; N. Pers. bun, Zd. buna- (Bugge).
Rhys has suggested a connection with Ger, biihne, a stage,
boards. Ag. S. bune, "stalk, reed," may be allied. It cannot
be connected with bonn, for the stem there is bhudh-no-, root
bhudh. The ultimate root of bun, in any case, is simply bhu,
bhu, grow, swell, Gr. <^voj, <^v\ov, a tribe, Eng. boil (n.), Ger.
be\de, a swelling, Skr. bhumis, earth ; bhu, grow, is identical
with bhu, be.
bunach, coarse tow, refuse of flax, so Ir, ; from hu7i.
bunait, fovmdation, Ir. bundit : bun + dit., q.v.
bungaid, a hussy (Dial.) ; from Sc.bungy, pettish.
bunndaist, a bounty, grassum, Ir. bunntaiste ; from Eng, poundage.
bunnlum, steadiness, bunntam, bunntamas, solidity, shrewdness ;
from bun, foundation. Cf. Ir. buntomhas, well founded
opinion : bitn + to7nhas, q v,
bunnsach, a twig, so Ir., E. Ir. bunsack ; see buinneag.
bunnsach, a sudden rush ; from buinne.
bunntam, solidity ; see bunnlum.
buntata, potato, Ir. potdta, fataidhe ; from the English, It con-
tains a piece of folk-etymologising in the syllable bun-, root.
buntuinn, belonging ; see buin.
burach, turning up of the earth, digging ; from the Sc, bourie,
Eng. burrow. The Sc. bourach, enclosure, cluster, knoll,
heap, etc, is the Eng. bower.
burgaid, a purge, Burgadoir, Purgatory ; see purgaid, Purgadoir.
btirlam, a flood, rush of water (Arg.) ; see bbrlum.
burmaid, wormwood ; from the Eng, M, Ir. in uormoint.
btirn, water ; from Sc, burn, w^ater, spring-water, Eng, bourne,
burn, a stream, Teut, brunnon-, a spring, Norse brunnr, well,
•Ger, brunnen.
burrachdadh, raging :
burraidh, a blockhead, Ir, burraidh ; from Sc. burrio (1535), Fr.
bourrieau, Lat. burrm, nonsense, Eng. burlesque, etc.
burral, a howl, lamentation, so Ir. ; for the root, which is here
short {^bur-ro- ?), see buir. Cf. bururus, however.
burras, a caterpillar :
60 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
burr-, as in burr'caid, clumsy person, burr'ghlas, a torrent of
rage, etc., seems from borr, great, excessive, q.v. Burr'sgadh,
a burst of passion, may be from Eng. borasco, squall of wind,
burt, mockery ; from Sc. bourd, M. Eng. bourd, jest, Fr. bourde,
a lie.
bururus, infant lisping, warbling, purling ; cf. Eng. purr and purl
(Skeat). Evidently onomatopoetic.
bus, a mouth, kiss, Ir., M. Ir. bus, ^bussu- ; Pre-Celt. guss- ; Teut.
kuss, Ger. kilssen, kiss, Eng. kiss (Kluge). Bezzenberger cfs.
Lit. buczuti, kiss ; others give buc-sa, allied to Lat. bucca,
cheek,
busgadh, dressing ; from the Sc, Eng, busk.
busgaid, a bustle (M'D.) ; formed from Eng. busy ; cf. Ag. S.
bysgu, business.
bustail, puffing, blowing (Heb.) ; from bus.
butadh, a push ; see putadh.
butag, oar pin ; see putag.
btlth, a shop ; from the Eng. booth, Norse bud, shop, root bku, be.
See bothan.
buthainnich, thump, thrash, bang ; from the root bhud, beat
(Eng. beat) 1 See next.
buthuinn, long straw for thatch ; cf. sputhainn, straw not
threshed, but seedless (Arg.), which seems from spoth.
butrais, butarrais, a mess :
C
c', for CO, cia, who, what, q.v.
C^, ca, where, Ir. cd, how, where, who ; a by-form to cia, ce, q.v.
cab, a gap, indentation, mouth, Ir. cab, mouth, head, gap, cabacli,
babbling, indented. The word is borrowed from two English
words — gap and gab (M. E. gabben, chatter); G. has also gab,
directly from gab of the Sc. Hence cabach, gap-toothed.
C^bag", a cheese ; Sc. cabback, kebbock. The latter form (kebbock)
is probably from a G. ceapag, cepac, obsolete in G. in the sense
of "a cheese," but still used for the thick wooden wheel of
wheel-barrows ; it is from G. ceap. Sc. cabhack is a side form
of kebbock, and it seems to have been re-borrowed into G. as
cabag. The real G. word for "a cheese" is now mulachag.
cabaist, cabbage, Ir. gabdisde ; from the Eng.
C^ball, a cable, Ir. cabla ; from Eng. cable, which, through Fr.,
comes from Lat. capulum.
cabar, a rafter, caber, deer's horn, Ir. cabar, W. ceibr, rafters,
0. Br. cepriou, beams ; from a Med. Lat. '^caprio, a rafter,
capro, caprones (which exists as a genuine 8th century word),
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 61
Fr. chevron, rafter. Caprio is from caper, goat ; Lat. capreoli,
goat-lets, was used for two beams meeting to support some-
thing, props, stays.
cabasdar, cabstar, a bit, curb, W. cehystr, Br. kabestr ; from Lat.
capistrum, halter, "head-holder," from caput.
cabhag", hurry :
cabhlach, a fleet, Ir. cobhlach, cabhlach, E. Ir. coblach ; ^cob-lach ;
from '''Iciib, "^qug., curve, root of Lat. cymba, boat, Gr. KcfxfSrj,
boat, cup, especially Lat. cybaea, a transport {^Kvf^aia).
cabhladh, ship's tackle, Ir. cdbliliiiyhe ; cf. cabhlach, and Eng.
cable.
C^bhruich, sowens, flummery, Ir. cdthbhruith ; from cdth and
bruit h, q.v.
cabhsair, causeway, Ir. cabhsa ; from Eng. causey, causeway, from
0. Fr. caucie, from Lat. calciata (via).
cabhsanta, dry, snug ; from Sc. cosie, colsie, Eng. cosy, whose
origin is unknown.
cabhtair, an issue, drain in the body (M'D., who, as cautair,
explains it as " an issue or cauter ") ; from Eng. cauter.
cabhuil, a conical basket for catching hsh ; from M. Eng. cawell,
a fish basket, still used in Cornwall, Ag. S. cawl. Cf. Br.
kavell, bow-net, 0. Br. cauell, basket, cradle ; from Lat.
cauuella, a vat, etc. (Loth, Ernault).
C^blaid, turmoil, hindrance, trouble (Wh.) : See capraid.
cabon, capon (M'D.), Ir. cab'dn ; from Eng. capon.
cac, excrement, so Ir., E. Ir. cacc, Cor. cauyh, Br. kacli, '^kakko- ;
Lat. caco ; Gr. KaKKrj ; Skr. gdka, g. caknds.
each, the rest, others, Ir., 0. Ir. each, quivis, W. pawb, all, Br. jmp,
*qdqe \ root qb, qo, qe of co and gach, q.v.
cachdan, vexation, Ir. cacht, distress, prisoner, E. Ir. cachtaim, I
capture, W. caeth, slave, confined : *kapto-, caught ; Lat.
capio, capius ; Got. haba7i, Eng. have.
cachliadh (Arm.), cachaleith (H.S.D.), a gate: co + clialh, "co-
hurdle ;" see cliath, death, hurdle, wattle. Also cachliag,
(C.S.). It has also been explained as cadha-chliath, "hurdle-
pass." Carmichael gives alternate cliath-na-cadha.
cadadh, tartan cloth, hose tartan, Manx cadee, cotton ; Eng.
caddow (16th cent.), an Irish quilt or cloak; doubtless from
Eng. caddis, worsted, crewel work, etc., Fr. cadis, woollen
serge. See also catas.
cadal, sleep, Ir. codladh, 0. Ir. cotlud, vb. contulim : *con-tul-, root
tol ; Ch. SI. toliti, appease, placare. Lit. tilas, quiet (Persson).
The root tol, tel, appears in tlccth, gentle, Lat. toierare, Sc.
thole.
62 ETYMOLOGJCAL DICTIONARY
cadan, cotton (Sh.) ; from Eng. cotton. Properly codan, which is
the usual dialect form. See cotan. For Ir. cadds, cotton,
see catas.
cadha, a pass, narrow pass, entry; cf. Ir. caoi, way, road, E. Ir.
cdi, which Stokes, however, refers to the root ci as in Lat.
cio, move, Gr. kuo, go, a derivation which does not suit the
G. phonetically. Cae (Meyer).
cadhag", jackdaw, Ir. cahhdg, M. Ir. caog ; '^ca-6g, the ca-er or
crier of ca, caw ; of onomatopoetic origin. Cf. Eng. caw ;
also chough, from a West Teut. kdiva-.
cadhag", a wedge (M'A. for Skye) :
cadhan, wild goose, barnacle goose, so Ir. ; cf. Eng. caiv, for possibly
the name is onomatopoetic. Corm. (B) cadan.
cadh-luibh, the cud-weed (Sh. gives cad-luibh, and O'B.), Ir.
ca.dh-luibh ; from M. Eng. code, a cud. M'A. omits the word ;
it is clearly Irish. The G, is cnamh lus, which is its Lat.
name of gnaphalium in folk etymology.
cadhmus, a mould for casting bullets ; from Sc. caivmy^, calmes
(16th century), caums, Eng. calm, came.
cagailt, a hearth, Ir. cagailt, raking of the fire (O'R.) :
cagar, a whisper, Ir ccgar, M. Ir. coccur ; cechras, qui canet,
cairche, sound ; root kar, of Lat. carmen, Gr. Krjpv^, herald
(Stokes).
cagaran, darling : '^cn7i-car- ; root car, dear, as in caraid.
caglachan, something ground to pulp or dust (M'D.) :
cagnadh, chewing, Ir. cognadh, M. Ir. cocnum, 0. Ir. cocnom :
"^con-cndmh ; see C7idmh.
caibe, a spade, turf cutter, Ir. coihe, cuihe (O'R., Fob), W. caih,
0. Cor. cep.
caibeal, a chapel (M'D.) ; from Lat. capella. The G. really is
^eiyeal, q.v.
caibheis, giggling, laughing :
caibideil, caibdeil, a chapter, Ir. caihidil, E. Ir. caiptel, W.
cahidwl ; from Lat. capitulnm, whence 0. Fr. chapitre, Eng.
chapter.
caidir, cherish, so Ir. See the next word.
caidreabh, fellowship, affection, vicinity, so Ir., M. Ir. caidrebh,
Celtiberian Contrehia : "^con-treb- ; see aitreahh, treabh.
caig, conversation, claque (Arg.) ; teaze (Perth) :
caigeann, a couple (of animals), coupling : *con-cea.nn ; from
ceann, q.v.
caigeann, a winding pass through rocks and brushwood, a rough
mountain pass (Dial. = cadha-eiginn).
caigeann, scrimmage (M'D.) :
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 63
C^il, condition, vigour, appetite, anything {caileigin), Ir. cdil^ W.
cael, to have, get, enjoy, "^kapli-, *kapelo- : root qap ; Lat.
capio, Eng. have.
cailbhe, a partition wall (of wattle or clay, etc.) ; from calbJi, q.v.
cailc, chalk, Ir., E. Ir. cailc, W. calck; from Lat. calx, calcis,
whence also Eng. chalk.
caile, girl, wench, Ir. caile, hussy, E. Ir. cailf ; cf. Br. plac7i, girl ;
Gr. TraXXaK)], concubine, Lat. pellex. Usually caileag, girl.
C^ileach, husks, Ir. cdithleach : cdith-lach ; see caiJi. From cdth
comes also cailean, a husk.
caileadair, philosopher, star-gazer ; from the Eng. calender, a
mendicant dervish, from Pers. qalander.
cailidear, snot, rheum (M'F., eailidhir in 8h.). O'R. improves
this into cailideay .
cailis, chalice, Ir. cailis ; from Lat. calix, cup, Eng. chalice.
cailise, kails, ninepins (M'D.) ; from Eng. kaiU, M. Eng. cailis,
from keyle, a peg, Ger. kegel, a cane, ninepin.
cailleach, old wife, nun, so Ir., 0. Ir. caillecli, " veiled one ;" from
caille, veil, which is from the Lat. pallium, cloak, Eng. pall.
caillteanach, eunuch, so Ir. ; from caill, lose. See call.
C^imein, a mote, Ir. cdim^ a stain, blemish ; from ctmi.
caimeineacb, saving (Carm.) :
caimbleachadh, caing'leachadh, restraining (Carm,).
caimir, a fold :
caimleid, camlet; from the Eng.
C^in, a tax, a tribute, Ir. cdin, E. Ir. cdi7i, statute, law : "^kap-ni-,
root qap, as in call % Stokes refers it to the root M.s-, order,
Skr. cds (do.), Lat. cabtigare, caatus. Got. hazjan, praise.
Hence Sc. cain.
cain, w^hite : from Lat. cdnus.
C^in, scold, revile, Ir. cdin, M. Ir. cdined, scolding : ^kag-nio or
kakyiio (1) ; Gr. Kaxa^w, laugh, Kay^a^'w, Lat. cachimius ;
0. H. (7. huohon, mock ; Skr. lakhati, laugh.
cainb, hemp, Ir. cndib, M. Br. canap ; froni Lat. cannatjis, allied to
Eng. hemp.
caineal, cinnamon ; from Sc. and obsolete Eng. cannel, canel,
cinnamon, from 0. Fr. amelle, from Lat. canella, dim. of
canna, cane.
caingeann, a fine (Heb.), Ir. caingean, a rule, case, compact, etc. :
Caingis, Pentecost, Ir. cingcis, E. Ir. Cingcigais ; from the Lat.
quinquagesima (dies, 50th day from the Passover).
cainneag, a mote :
cainneag, a hamper (Skye) :
64 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
cainnt, speech, Ir. caint ; from can, say, q.v. Stokes gives the
. • stem as *kan{s)ti, root kans, Skr. casti, praise, from fams,
■ speak, Lat. censeo.
caiptean, a captain, Ir., M. Ir. caiptin ; from M. Eng. capitain,
from 0. Fr. capitaine, Lat. capitaneus, caput, head.
cair, a blaze, sea foam, etc. ; see rather caoir.
cair, the gum, Ir. cdir (cairib, Fol.) ;
cair, a peat moss, dry part of the peat moss (Dial.) ; from Eng.
carr, boggy ground, Norse kjarr, brushwood. Also cathar,
cairb, the bent ridge of a cart saddle {srathair). Shaw gives
further the meanings " plank, ship, fusee (cairb a' ghunna
(Rob), chariot "; Ir. corb, coach. The word is the primary
stem from which carbad, chariot, springs ; see carbad. As
"fusee" or "fusil," i.e., "musket," it seems a curtailed form
of cairbinn.
cairbh, a carcase, carrion ; also cairb (Dial.) ; allied to corpus ?
cairbhist, carriage, tenants' rent service ; from M. Eng. cariage^
in all senses (Cf. the charter terms — "Areage and cariage
and all due service "), now carriage.
cairbinn, a carabine ; from the Eng.
cairbinneach, a toothless person (Sh.) ; from f cairb, a jaw, gum,
Ir. cairb. See cai^b above,
cairc, flesh, person :
caird, a delay, respite, Ir. cdirde ; cf. 0. Ir. cairde, pactum. A
special legal use of a word which originally means " friend-
ship." See next,
cairdeas, friendship, so Ir., O. Ir cairdes ; from caraid, q.v.
caireag, a prating girl (Sh., who gives caireog) ; probably from
cdir, gum : " having jaw."
caireal, noise ; see coiriolL
fcairfhiadh, a hart or stag, Ir. cdirrfhiadh : ^carbh-fhiadh. For
*carbh, a deer ; cf. W. carw, hart, stag. Cor. caruu, Br. cam ;
Lat cervus ; Gr. Kcpaos, horned.
cairich, mend, Ir. coirighim, E. Ir. coraigim, arrange, from coir, q.v.
Cf. cairem, sutor, Z. 775.
cairidh, a weir, Ir. cora, M. Ir. coraidh for cora, g. corad, W.
cored, 0. W. and 0. Br. coret, from Celtic korjo, I set, put.
See cuir.
cairgein, sea moss, Ir. moss, Eng. carrageen, so named from
Carragheen (Waterford), in Ireland. This place name is a
dim. of carraig, rock.
cairis, corpse, carcase ; founded on M. Eng. cors, Sc. corrssys (pi.
in Blind Harry), now corse.
cairmeal, wild liquorice ; see carrameille.
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 65
cairnean, an egg-shell :
cairt, bark (of a tree), Ir. cairt ; Lat. cortex ; root qert, cut, Lit.
kertu^ cut, Eng, rend.
cairt, a cart, so Ir., W. cart ; from the Eng. cart.
cairt, a card, so Ir. ; G. is from Sc. carte, which is direct from
the Fr. carte. The Eng. modifies the latter form into card.
They are all from Lat. charta, paper. E. Ir. cairt meant
"parchment."
cairt, cleanse, Ir. cartaighim, E. Ir. cartaim, W. carthu, purge,
kar-to-. The root idea is a " clearing out ;" the root ker, kar,
separate, is allied to sker in ascart, and especially in sgar.
cairteal, a quarter ; from Late Lat. quartellus, Norse kvartill,
Lat. quartus, fourth,
caisbheart, cais'eart, foot gear (shoes or boots), Ir. coisbheart ;
from cas-\- heart, q.v.
caisd, listen, Ir. coisteacht, listening, E. Ir. coistim, 0. Ir. coitsea,
auscLiltet : co-etsim, co and eisd, listen, q.v. O'R. gives the
modern Ir. coisdeacht with o long, which w^ould seem the
most natural result from co-eisd.
caise, cheese, Ir., E. Ir. cdise, W. caws, Br. kaoiiz ; from Lat.
cdseus, w^hence Eng. cheese.
caiseal, bulwark, castle, Ir. caiseal, E. Ir. caisel, caissle ; from Lat.
casteilum.
caisean, anything curled, etc. ; from cas, curled, q.v.
caisg, check, stop, Ir. coisgim, 0. Ir, cose, castigare, W. cosp, *kon-
sqo-, *seq6, I say ; Lat. inseque \ Gr. cvveire, say, evi-cnre, dixit ;
Eng. say, Ger. sagen.
C^isg", Easter, Ir. Cdisg, 0. Ir. case, W. pasc ; from Lat. pascka,
Eng. paschal.
caisil-chro, a bier, bed of blood, M. Ir. cosair chrd, bed of blood —
to denote a violent death, E. Ir. cosair, bed. The expression
appears in the Ossianic Ballads, and folk-etymology is
responsible for making G. casair into caisil, bulwark. The
word cosair has been explained as co-ster-, root ster, strew,
Lat. sternere, Eng. streiv.
caisleach, a ford, footpath ; from cas-lach, rather than cas-slighe,
foot- way.
caislich, stir up, caisleachadh, shaking up, etc. ; from cas, sudden.
caismeachd, an alarm (of battle), signal, march tune. The cor-
responding Ir. is caismirt, alarm, battle, M. Ir. caismert, E. Ir.
cosmert.
caisrig', consecrate ; see coisrig.
caisteal, a castle, M. Ir. castel, E. Ir. castiall ; from Lat. casteilum,
whence Eng. castle,
7
66 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
C^iteach, a rush mat for measuring corn, Ir. cditeach, winnowing
sheet ; from caite, winnowed, from cath.
caiteag, a small bit (H.S.D.), a basket for trouts (M'A. for
Islands), basket (Sh.), a place to hold barley in (M'L.). For
the first sense, cf. W. cat, a piece, Sc. cat, a rag. In Irish
Lat. the trout was called catus (Giraldus).
caiteas, scraped linen, applied for the stoppage of wounds (M'F.) ;
from Sc. caddis, lint for wounds, M. Eng. cadas, caddis, cotton
wool, floss silk for padding, from 0. Fr. cadas. See G. catas.
caiteas = ssiw dust, scrapings (M'D.).
caitein, nap of cloth, shag, Ir. caitin, catkin of the osier, little
cat. The Eng. words caddis, catkin, and cotton seem to be
mixed up as the basis of the G. and Ir. words. Cf. W. ceden,
shaggy hair.
caith, spend, cast, Ir., 0. Ir. caithim, *katj6, I consume, castaway ;
Skr. Qatayati, sever, cast down, destroy, gdt-ana, causing to
fall, wearing out, root gat. AUied to the root of cath, war.
caithear, just, right, Ir. caithear (Lh.), caithfidh, it behoves,
M. Ir. caithfid ; from caith, doubtless (Atk.).
caithream, shout of joy, triumph, Ir. caithreim ; from cath, battle,
and reim, a shout, E. Ir. r^m. This last word Strachan
refers to the root req {*rec-m or "^rec-s-m), Ch. SI. rek(}., speak,
Lith. rekiu.
caithris, night-watching :
C^I, kail, cabbage, Ir. cdl, W. cawl. Cor. caul, Br. kaol ; from Lat.
caulis, a stalk, whence likewise Eng. cole (colewort) and Sc.
kail.
cala, caladh, a harbour, Ir. caladh, M. Ir. calad. It is usual to
correlate this with It. cala, Fr. cale, bay, cove (Diez, Thur-
neysen, Windisch), and Stokes even says the G. and Ir. words
are borrowed from a Romance "^calatum. It. calata, cala, Fr.
cale, cove. More probably the Celtic root is qel, qal, hide, as
in Eng. hollow, M. Eng. holh, hollow, cave, also Eng. hole,
possibly. The root of cladh, has also been suggested.
caladair, a calendar, Ir. calaindeir ; from M. Eng. kalendar,
through Fr. from Lat. calerdarium, an account-book, from
calendce, the Calends or first of the month.
calaman, a dove ; the common form of the literary colum.an, q.v.
calanas, spinning of wool ; seemingly founded on Lat. coins,
distafl". See cuigeal.
fcalbh, head, pate, bald, so Ir., E. Ir. calb -, from Lat. calva,
scalp, calvus, bald. H.S.D. gives as a meaning " promontory,"
and instances " Aoineadh a' Chailbh Mhuilich," which surely
must be the Calf of Mull ; and Calf is a common name for
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 67
such subsidiary isles — from Norse kdlfr^ Eng. calf. Cognate
with Lat. calva, calvaria (St. Lee).
calbh, a shoot, osier twig, Ir. colbha, plant stalk, sceptre, hazel
tree, E. Ir. colba^ wand ; see colbh.
calbh, gushing of water or blood (H.S.D.) from above 1
calbhair, greedy of food (Suth.) ; from cail ?
calc, drive, ram, caulk, Ir. calcaim ; from Lat. calco, calx, the heel,
Eng. in-culcate.
caldach, sharp, pointed (Sh., M'L.) :
calg, awn, beard of corn, bristles, Ir. calg, colg, E. Ir. colg, a
sword, O. W. colginn, aristam, W. cola, beard of corn, sting,
caly, penis, Br. calc'h (do.), *kalgo-, ^holgo- ; Gr. koXoPos,
stunted ; Got. halks, poor ; further is Lat. cellere, hit, culter,
knife ; etc. The main root is qel, qld, hit, break ; see
claidheamh, cladh. The Caledonian hero Calgacos derives
his name hence. Hence calg-dhireach, direct, " sword-
straight" to a place.
call, loss, Ir. caill, E. Ir. coll, W. coll, Cor. colled, jactura, M. Br.
coll, *koldo- ; Eng. halt, Got. halts, 0. H. G. halz, lame ; root
qel, as above in calg, q.v.
calla, callda, tame, callaidh (M'A., also Sh., who gives the
meaning "active" to the last form) ; cf. W. call, wise ; from
Lat. callidus 1
callag, calltag, the black guillemot, diver ; compare Eng. quail,
Fr. caille.
callaid, a partition, fence ; the same as tallaid, q.v. %
callaid, a wig, cap (M'F.) ; from Eng. calotte, skull-cap.
callan, a noise, Ir. calldn, calldich ; from Eng. call 1
calltuinn, hazel, Ir., E. Ir. coll, W. collen. Cor. coil-widen. M. Br.
quel-vezenn, *koslo- ; Lat. corylus ; Norse hasl, Eng. hazel,
^coll -I- tann.
Calluinn, New Year's Day, Ir. calldin. Calends, or first day of the
month, E. Ir. callaind, the Calends, particularly the first
Jan., W. calan. Calends ; from Lat. calendce (Eng. Calends).
calm, a pillar (M'A.), Ir. columhan, colbh ; from Lat. columna, etc.
calm, calma, brave, Ir., E. Ir. calma. Cf. W. celf, skill, art,
celfydd, skilled, 0. Br. celmed, efficax. The root cal is to be
compared with that in Ger. held, hero, *haleth or ^calet. The
I.E. root is qel, as in Lat. celsus, high, columna, column, Eng.
excel.
caiman, dove ; see calaman.
calmarra, the pike (Wh.) %
calpa, the calf of the leg, so Ir., E. Ir. calpda, bonus pes (Corm.),
colpa, tibia ; from the Norse kdlfi, whence also Eng. calf.
68 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
calpa, principal set to interest, Sc. calpa, death-duty payable to
the landlord, from N. kaup, stipulation, pay.
calum, hardness on the skin (H.S.D. ; cathlum in M 'D.) ; from
Lat. callum, callus. It is not the obsolete caladh, hard,
E. Ir. caiad^ W. caled, 0. Br. calat, *kaieto-^ root /a/, hard ;
Got. Iiallus, stone, Norse helle, hallr ; Skr. c^ild, stone.
cam, crooked, one-eyed, Ir. cam^ 0. Ir. ccmim, W. cam^ Br. kam^
Gaul, cainho-^ root kemh^ wind ; Gr. Koixf^o^s, a band, bond ; Lit.
kinge, door-bar. It has been referred to the root of Gr.
a-Kafxfio^i^ crooked (see ceum), and to Lat. ca7nera, whence Eng.
chamber. Hence camag, club, camas, bay.
camag-gharuidh, hollow above the eye, Ir. camog-ara^ " the bend
of the a?'a," 0. Ir. aire^ g. arach^ tempus ; Gr. Trapeid, cheek.
camart, wry-neck :
camastrang, quarrelsome disputation (M'D.) :'
camhach, talkative ; *com-ag-ach, root ag in adhan 1
camhal, a camel, Ir. ccmihall, E. Ir. caviail, W. camyll ; from Lat.
cainelus.
camhan, a hollow plain, Ir. cabhdn (County Cavan) ; from the
Lat. cavus.
camhanalch, break of day, twilight, Ir. camhaoir ; (M'A. sgamh-
anaich, " lights") :
camlag, a curl :
camp, campa, a camp, Ir., M. Ir. campa ; from the Eng. camp.
campar, vexation, grief ; from Sc. cummar, Eng. cmnber.
can, say, sing, Ir. canaim, 0. Ir. canim, W. ca7ia, sing, Br. kana \
Lat. caiio^ sing ; Gr. Kavct^w j Eng. hen.
cana, porpoise, young whale, Ir. cana (O'R), cdna (O'B.), whelp,
pup, M. Ir. cana (do.) ; from Lat. cani& ?
canach, mountain down, cotton, Ir. caiiach, 0. Ir. canach, lanugo ;
Gr. KVTJKos, thistle, Kvrjiws, yellow ; Skr. kdncanas, golden, a
plant ; ^qonak-. Stokes refers it to *casnaka, Lat. cdnus,
white (*casno-), Ag. S. hasu, grey, Eng. hare.
canain, language, Ir. cdnainhuin. Seemingly a long-vowel form
of the root qan, sing, cry. See cainnt.
canal, cinnamon ; see caineal.
canan, a cannon ; from the Eng.
cana stair, a canister ; from the Eng.
cangaruich, fret ; from Sc. canker, fret, Eng. canker,
cangluinn, trouble, vexation ; from Sc. cangte.
canna, a can, so Ir., E. Ir. cann ; from Eng. ca7i.
cannach, pretty, kind ; ^cas-no-, root, qas, Lat. cdnus, white (cas-
nus), Ag. S. hasu, grey, Eng. haze^. Or it may be allied to
Lat. candtdus, white, Skr. cand, shine.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 69
canntaireachd, articulate music, chanting, Ir. cantaireachd, sing-
ing, cdntaire, a singer ; from Lat. cantor, cano, I sing.
C^nran, wrangling, grumbling, muttering, Ir. carinrdn ; from can,
say, sing.
cantal, grief, weeping (Sh., M'L.), Ir. cantlamh :
caob, a clod, a bite, Ir. caoh, clod, M. Ir. coep, E. Ir. caip, cdep,
clot, lump, 0. Ir. caebb oo, jecur.
caoch, empty (as a nut), blind, so Ir., 0. Ir. caech, W. cony, foolish,
Cor. cuic, *kaiko-s ; Lat. caecus ; Got. haihs, one-eyed.
caoch, caothach, rage ; see cuthacli.
caochan, a streamlet ; from caoch, blind 1
caochail, change, die, caochladh, a change, Ir. caochluighim,
0. Ir. comichldiin coem-chloim : imchloiid, iinchload, inversio ;
for co-imm-cloim ; from cloim, niuto : see claoidh. The aspira-
tion of the mn of mib is unusual, but the history of the word
is also unusual, for it actually appears as claemchl6d in E. Ir.
oftener than once, and Ir. claochlddh, claochladh.
caod Chaluim-chille, St John's wort (Sh ) :
caog^, wink ; apparently from Eng. cock (the eye). Cf. Norse
kaga, keek ; Sc. keek ; Shet. coag, peep slily.
caogad, fifty, so Ir., 0. Ir. c6ica{t), *qenqekont ; Lat. quinquaginta ;
Gr. TrevriJKovTa. See coig.
caoidh, lamentation, Ir. caoi, caoid/i, E. Ir. coi, cdi, inf. to mm,
ploro, "^keio, root qei, which appears in caoin, q.v., and in
Eng. ivhine, ivJiisper, etc. Bezzenberger suggests "^keipOy and
compares Lit szeptis, grimace, Ch. SI. o-sipnati, raucescere.
A former derivation of Stokes' is repeated by Rhys {Manx.
Pray?', 26) : "^qe^^i, root qes as in Lat. questus.
caoilleaD, a twig or osier for wicker, M. Ir. coelack ; from caol,
slender.
caoimheach, a bedfellow (Sh.), Ir. caoimhthech, E. Ir. com-aithech,
neighbour ; see aitheack. Also caomhach, friend, bedfellow.
The latter seems from', or influenced by, caomh.
caoimhDeas, kindness. This word is supposed by folk etymology
to be from ct.omh, kind, whereas it is really allied to O. Ir.
coibnes, affinitas, "^co-ven-estu-, root vtn oi fine, q.v.
caoin, kind, mild, so Ir., 0. Ir. cam, kind, beautiful [W. cam %\ :
'^koini-, root koi, kei of caomh, q v. Stokes gives base as
kaini-, and Bezzenberger compares Gr. Katvva-Oai, excel, Ch.
SI. sinati, gleam forth. If the base idea were " beauty," Eng.
shine might be compared.
caoin, the exterior surface of cloth, right side, rind, sward ; from
caoin, gentle, polished 1
70 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
caom, weep, so Ir., 0 Ir. cdinim, cdinim, 0. W. cuinhaunt,
deflebunt, Br. couen, queiniff^ "^koinio ; qein, qin ; Eng. whine,
Norse hvina, whirr ; Gr. Kcvvpos, wailing. See caoidh.
caoiaich, dry, make dry (as hay by the sun), caoin, seasoned ;
from the adj. caoin 1
caoir, a blaze, stream of sparks, a coal, Ir. caor, E. Ir. cder, ^kairo,
Eng. hoar {^koiro-), Teut. root hai in N orse ^eicT, atmospheric
clearness, 0. H. G. hei, heat, Eng. heat ; Skr. ketus, light.
More near are Gr. Kipts (lamp, Hes.), Skr. kirdna, a ray,
kirikd, sparkling. The root skei of Eng. shine, Got. skeirs,
clear, has been also suggested, caoran, a peat ember.
caoirean, a plaintive song ; also caoi-ran, moaning (H.S.D.). The
root word is caoidh ; possibly ran, roar, forms the latter part.
caoirnean, a drop of sheep or goats' dung, a drop or globule ; cf.
Ir. caoirin, a little berry, little sheep, from caor, berry, caora,
sheep. The two ideas seem confused in Gaelic. In Argyle,
gaoirnean ; (Arg ao here is northern ao). From skar, sham %
caol, slender, so Ir., O. Ir. coil, W., Cor. cul, 0. Br. cuted, macies,
'''koilo- ', Lett, kails, naked ; Lat. caelebs, single 1 Gr. kolXos,
hollow ? Hence caol ; caolas, a firth or Kyle.
caolan, gut, intestine, Ir. caoldn, E. Ir. coeldn, 0. W. coilion, exta ;
from caol.
caomh, tender, kind, so Ir., E. Ir. coem, 0. Ir. coim, W. cu, O.W.
cum, Br. cuf, cun, debonnaire, *koimo-, root kei, lie ; Gr.
Kot/xao), put to rest, /cei/xat, lie ; Got. hdims, a village, Ag. S.
ham. Eng. home. The idea is "restful."
caomhach, bedfellow, friend, Ir. caomthach, friend ; see caoimheach,
and cf. Ir. caomhaighim, I protect, cherish, from caomh.
caomhain, spare, save, caomhnadh, sparing, Ir. caomhnaim,
preserve, keep, protect, caomhaighim, caomhnuigkim, preserve.
The last form seems the most original, if we refer the root to
0. Ir. anich, protegit, aingim, \ protect (a-nak), root nak and
nank, as in adhkic, thig, etc. The form 7iak is more particu-
larly allied to Skr ndgati, reach, Lit. neszii, draw. The G.
verb may have been *com-anich-. It is possible to derive it
from caomh with caomhuin as an inf. form which usurped the
place of the present stem.
caonnag, strife, tiunult, Ir. caomibg, strife, a nest of wild bees :
*kaiH-no-, root kais, kai, heat, Eng. heat, G. caoir 1
caor, berry of the rowan, a mountain berry, Ir. ca,or, 0. Ir. cder,
bacca, W. cair, berries, ceirion, berry, *kaird. It is seemingly
the same word as caoir, blaze, the idea arising probably from
the red rowan berries.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 71
caora, a sheep, Ir. caora, g. caorach, 0. Ir. cdera, "^cairax, from
*ka{p)erax, allied to Lat. caper, a goat, Gr. Ka-n-pos, a boar,
Eng. heifer. Cf. W. caerhvrch, roebuck,
caorrunn, the rowan tree, Ir. caorthann, E. Ir. caerthann, W.
cerddin, Br. kerzin, "^cairo-taiin, from caor, berry, and *tann,
tree, Br. tann, oak, Cor. glas-tannen. The connection with
0. H. G. tanna, fir, oak, M. H. G. tan, wood, Ger. tanne, fir,
Eng. tan, tanner (Gr. Odfj-vos, bush ?) is doubtful ; it would
necessitate the idea of borrowing, or that the Celtic word was
dann. Ogam Maqui Cairatini, McCaorthainn. Rhys says
W. is borrowed from Gadelic (C.F.L. 292).
capa. a cap ; from the Eng. cap.
cdpraid, drunken riotousness (Dial) ; from Lat. crdpula.
capull, a horse, mare (more commonly), so Ir., E. Ir. capall, Br.
caval ; from Lat. caballus, whence Eng. cavalry, etc., capjLe (M.
Eng. capil, from Celt.). Norse kapall, nag, seems borrowed
from Gaelic. The W. is ceffyl, with remarkable vocalisation.
Capal-coille 1
car, a turn, twist, Ir. cor, M. Ir. cor { = cuairt (O'Cl), 0. Ir. curu,
gyros, W. coT-wynt, turbo, M. Br. coruent, ^kuro- ; Lat. curvus ;
Gr. Kvpros, curved. See cruinn.
C^r, friendly, related to, Ir. cdra(d), a friend. See caraid for the
usual root.
C^radh, condition, usage ; from cdirich, mend.
caraich, move, stir, Ir. corruighim, from corrach, unsteady. The
G. confuses this with car, turn.
caraid, a friend, so Ir , 0. Ir. cara, g. carat, ^Jcarant- ; 0. Ir. verb
carim, caraim, I love, W. caraf, amo, Br. quaret, amare, Gaul.
carantus, Caractacus, etc.; Lat. cdrus, dear, Eng. charity, etc.;
Got. hors, meretrix,
Caraid, a pair, couple, Ir. c6raid, E. Ir. corait :
carainnean, refuse of threshed barley, Ir. carra, bran ; see
carthuinnich.
caraist, catechism ; from Sc. carritch, a corruption of catechise.
caramasg, contest, confusion (Arm. M'F.) : from car and measg%
caramh, beside ; see caruihh.
C^ramh, c^radh, condition, treatment :
carathaist, compulsory labour, cairiste, cairbhist, which last see.
carbad, a chariot, so Ir., 0. Ir. carpat, W. cerbyd, 0. Br. cerpit,
Gaul. Carpentoracte, Carbantia, *karbanto- ; Lat. cor bis, a
basket ; Norse hrip, pannier for peats on horse-back. Lat.
carpentum (Eng. carpenter, etc.), seems borrowed from Gaulish.
The root idea is "wicker," referring to the basket character
of the body of these chariots.
72 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
carbad, jaw, jaw-bone, so Ir., W. car yr en (car of the mouth), Br.
karvan. The idea is " mouth chariot," from the resemblance
between the lower jaw and the old wicker chariots. Loth
cfs. W. carfa7i, beam, rail, row.
carbh, engrave, carve ; from the English.
carbh, a particular kind of ship or boat (Islay) ; from Norse
karfi^ a galley for the fiords.
carbhaidh, carraway-seed ; from the English,
carbhanach, a carp, Tr. carhhdn, Manx, carroo ; from Norse karji,
Eng. carp.
carcair, a prison, sewer in a cow-house, Ir. carcar, prison, E. Ir.
carcair (do.) ; from Lat. career, prison, barrier. cacair in
Glenmoriston.
carcais, a carcase ; from the English.
C^rd, card wool, Ir. cardaighim, ; from the Eng. card.
cargo, a cargo, load ; from the English.
Carghus, Lent, torment, Ir. Corghas, M. Ir. corgus, W. garawys ;
from Lat. quadr agenma.
C^rUg, a lock of wool (Sh., H.S.D.), carla, a wool-card (Sh. Coneys
for Ir.) ; '^card-la-, from card of Eng. For phonetics, cf.
birleach.
Curias, excellence, Ir. carlamh, excellent, *co-er-lam-, erlam,
clever, *air-lam% For lam, see idlamh.
cirn, heap of stones, cairn, Ir. cam, E. Ir., W. cam, Br. karn,
'*'kar-no-, root kar, be hard ; Gr. K/)avaos, rock (Kpa-, Kap) ;
further Eng. hard, harsh. See carraig.
C^rn, a horning. The G. seems a confusion between cor?i, horn,
Eng. horn, put to the horn, and cclrn. M'F. gives ^ir ch^m
for " outlawed," c^rn-eaglais, excommunication.
C^rn, a sledge, cart, peat cart, Ir. carr, dray, waggon, E. Ir, carr,
biga, W. carr, biga, 0. Br. carr, vehiculum (gl.), Gaul.
carros, Latinised into carrus (whence, through Fr., Eng.
chariot, career, carry, cargo, charge) ; from Celt, karm- ; Lat.
currus yguors-), from qrs ; Eng. horse, hurry.
carnaid, red ; from Eng. carnation.
C^rnag, (1) a she-terrier, (2) a small fish found in stony shores at
ebb-tide. The first meaning from cam, cairn. Terriers were
used for cairn hunting.
carr, the flesh of the seal and whale (Heb. ; Carmichael); founded
on obsolete cam, flesh 1
C^rr, the itch, mange, superficial roughness, Ir. carr ; carrach,
scabby, M. Ir. carrach, "^karsdko-, from kars, be rough, hard ;
cf. Eng. harsh (^horsqs), and hard. Lit. krasta, the itch
{*kors-ta-) ; further root kar, to be hard, rough. For c^rr,
rocky shelf, Ir. carr, rock, see carraig.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 73
carrachan, n frog-fish, called " cobler," Ir. carrachdn, the rock
fish called cobler (Coneys). From carr, a rock. Also the
word means "the wild liquorice root " — carra-7neiile, q.v.
carragh, a pillar stone, Ir. carrthadh, cart/ia, E. Ir. corthe. The
root, despite the vocalic difficulty caused by the E. Ir. form,
is likely the same as in carraig ; yet cf. /^or of cuir, set.
carraid, conflict; from the root ^ars in cdi^r, " rough-work'?"
carraig, rock, so Ir., 0. Ir. earric, W. cai^'eg, 0. VV. carrecc, Br.
karrek^ ^karsekki- (so Rhys, R. C.^" 102, who thinks W.
borrowed), from root Jca7\% hard, rough ; Norwegian, herren^
hard, stiif, harren, hard, Eng. harsh, hard (root kar). See
carr.
carra-meille, wild liquorice, wood pease, Ir. carra-mhilis. The
name is explained as " knots of honey," the carr a being the
same as carr, and meille the gen. of mil. Hence Sc. carmele, etc.
carran, spurrey, spergula arvensis, Ir. carrdn, scurvy grass. From
the root kars of carr. Carran also means a "shrimp," and is
of the same origin.
carran-creige, the conger ; see carran above,
carrasan, hoarseness, wheezing, Ir. carsdn ; from the root kars, be
rough. See carr. Cf. Kopv^a, catarrh, rotz.
cart, a quart, Ir. cart ; from the Eng. quart, Lat. quartihs.
cartan, a small brown insect that eats into the flesh, Ir. cartdn, a
small brown insect that eats into the flesh, a crab. A
Gadelicised form oi partan, q.v.
carthannach, affectionate, charitable, Ir. carthannach ; from Lat.
caritas.
carthuinnich, dwell apart as in a cave, separate (M'F.). Cf.
caruinnean, refuse of threshed corn, caruinnich, winnow.
Possibly from the root kar, separate, a form of the root of
sgar, q.v.
caruibh, an caruibh, beside, near. This is the dat. pi. of car.
cas, foot, leg, Ir. cos, 0. Ir. coss, W. coes, *koksd, ; Lat. coxa, hip ;
M. H. G. hahse, bend of the knee ; Skr. kdkshas, armpit,
cas, steep, sudden, Ir. casach, an ascent, M. Ir. cass, rapid, ^kasto- ;
Eng. haste.
cas, curled, Ir., M. Ir. cas, curly, casaim, flecto ; ^qasto-, root qas ;
Norse haddr (has-da-), hair, Eng. hair ; Lit. kasa, hair-plait,
Ch. SI. kosa, hair (Kluge). Stokes compares it with Lat.
quasitlum, a basket, root quas.
cas, gnash the teeth, Ir. cais, hate, W. cas, hate, Br, cas, ^cad-s-to- ;
Eng. hate, Ger. hass. Got. hatis. Of the same ultimate origin
as ca.s, sudden (Strachan).
8'
74 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
cas, fire (as a stone) (Suth.), seemingly founded on Eng. cast.
Cf. casadh ar a cheile = TiiQt (Ir.).
Cas, a difficulty, Ir. can ; from Lat. casus (Eng. case).
casach, fishing tackle (part attached to hook) : from cas.
casad, casd, a cough, Ir. casachdach, W. pas, peswch, Br. pas,
*qasto- ; Eng. host, Ag. S. hvosta, Ger. husten ; Lit. kdsiu ;
Skr. kdsate, coughs.
casag, a cassock, Ir. casog ; from the Eng. The E. Ir. word is
casal, from Lat. casula.
casaid, a complaint, accusation, Ir. casaoid, 0. Ir. cossoit. The
word is a compound, beginning with con, and seemingly of
the same origin Sisfaosaid, q.v. Stokes thinks that the word
is borrowed from the Lat. causatio ; this is not likely, how-
ever. Root sen, W. cynhenn, quarrel.
casair, sea drift, Ir. casair, a shower, E. Ir. casair, hail, W. cesair
(do.), Br. hazercli (do.), "^kassri-, "^kad-tri- ; from root cad as
in Lat. cado, fall. The Ir. and G. (?) casair, phosphorescence,
seems to be the same word.
casan, a path, Ir. casdn ; from cas, foot.
casan, a rafter, roof-tree ; from cas %
casgair, slay, butcher, so Ir,, 0. Ir. coscar, victory, destruction ;
"^co-scar ; see sgar.
casnaid, chips of wood (Arm.); Ir. casnaidh ; *co--\-snaidh, q.v.
caspanacll, parallel (Sh.), Ir. cospanach (O'R.) ; *co-spann ; see
spann.
castan, a chestnut ; from Lat. castanea, through M. Eng. castane,
chesnut.
castaran, a measure for butter (J stone) ; from the Eng. castor.
castreag'hainn, the straw on a kiln below the grain (Arm., not
H.S.D.) :
cat, a cat, so Ir, E. Ir. catt, W. catJi, Cor. kat, Br. kaz, Gaul
Cattos ; Lat. catta, perhaps also catulus ; Eng. cat, Ger. katze,
etc. It is a word of doubtful origin ; possibly, however,
Celtic, and applied first to the wild cat, then to the tame
Egyptian cat introduced in the early centuries of the Chris-
tian era.
cata, cata, sheep-cot, pen ; from Eng. cot.
catadh, catachadh, taming, catadh (M'F.) ; cf. tataich.
catag", potato cellar (Dialectic) ; see cata.
catas, refuse at carding of \vool, Ir. cadds, cotton, scraping of
linen rags ; from Eng. caddis. See further under caiteas.
eath, battle, Ir., 0. Ir. cath, W. cn,d, 0. W. cat. Cor. cas, Gaul.
catu- ; 0. H. G. hadu-, fight, Ag. S. hea&o-, Ger. hader, con-
tention ; Skr. catrUj enemy ; Gr. kotos, wrath.
01^' THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 75
cath, chaff, husks of corn, Ir., 0. Ir. cdit/i, W. coden^ a bag, husk,
pod C?), *ki%ti-, root kdt^ kat, as in caith, spend, cast,
cathachadh, provoking, accusing, fighting, Ir. cathaighim ; from
catJi, fight.
cathadh, snow-drift, Ir. cdthadh, snow-drift, sea-drift ; cf. M. Ir.
cua, gen. ciiadh, W. cawod, 0. Cor. cowes, nimbus, Br. kaouad,
"^kavat (Stokes) ; allied to Eng. shou'er. It is possible to
refer the G. word to the root of caitk, cath,
cathair, a city, Ir., E. Ir. cathair, 0. Ir. c-ithir {^kastrex), W.
caer, Br. kaer, "^kastro-; Lat. castrum, fort (Stokes). The
root seems to be cat, cats ; the phonetics are the same as in
piuthar for the final part of the word,
cathair, a chair, Ir. cathaoir, E. Ir. cathdir, W. cadair, Br. kador ;
from Lat. cathedra, wheuce also, through Fr,, Eng. chcdr.
catlian, a wild goose with black bill (Heb.) ; see cadhan.
cathan-aodaich, a web (M'D.) :
cathar, mossy ground ; see cdir.
cathlunn, a corn (Sh. ; not in H.S D,) ; formed on Lat. callum.
See calum.
catluibh, cudwort ; see cadldvihh.
c6, C^ath, cream, M. Ir. ceo, milk ; cf. Br. koaveim., which suggests
a form keivo- (cf. gle from ylcivo-), root kei, i>kei, shade, cover,
as in Gr. o-Kia, shadow, Ger. acheviefi (do.) l The Br. koavetiu
has been referred to *co-\-hitfen, W. hufen, cream. Cf. ceo,
mist, "covering."
ce, the earth, used only in the phrase an cruinne ce, the (round)
earth, Ir., E. Ir. ce, for hith eke, on this earth. The ce is
supposed to be for "this," from the pronominal root kei, Gr.
Keivos, he, Lat. ce, cis, Eng. he. The root kei, go, move (Lat.
cio, Gr. KLOi), has also been suggested.
c6, give 1
c6, spouse (Carni.), Ir. ce :
eaba, ceibe, the iron part of a spade or other delving instrument;
see caihe.
C^abhar, a fine breeze (Heb.) :
ceabhar (Carm.), sky, (Prov.) ci'ar :
ceach, an interjection of dislike ; see the next word,
ceacharra, dirty, mean, obstreperous (Carm.), Ir. ceachair, dirt,
M. Ir. cecharda, ^kelari- ; from kek, the e form of the root
kak seen in cac, q.v.
ceachladh, digging, Ir. ceachlaim, 0. Ir. ro-cechladatar, suffoderunt,
"^ce-cladr, a reduplicated or perfect form of the root clad of G.
cladh, q.v.
cead, permission, so Ir., 0. Ir. cet, *ces-do- ; Lat. cedo, I yield (for
ces-do).
^6 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
ceadan, bunch of wool, Ir. ceadach, cloth, coarse cloth, W. cadach^
clout. Rhys regards W. as borrowed from Ir. For all, cf.
cadadh, caiteas.
ceadha, the part of the plough on which the share is fixed. Also
ceidhe. Both words are used for Eng. qua^.
ceafan, a frivolous person (Dialectic) :
ce^ird, a trade, E. Ir. cerd ; see ceard.
ceal, stupor, forgetfulness, Ir. ceal, forgetfulness ; from the root
^el of ceil, conceal. Cf. E. Ir. eel, death, ceal, end (Carm.).
fceal, same, similar hue (Carm.) :
cealaich, the fire-place of a kiln :
cealaich, eat (Kirk), Ir. cealaim ; root qel as in Lat. colo ?
cealaich, conceal :
cealair, a virago (Badenoch) :
cealg, guile, treachery, so Ir., E. Ir. celg, '''kdgd ; Arm. keXclV^,
hypocrisy. The further root is qel of ceil.
ceall, g. cille, a church, so Ir., E. Ir. cell ; from Lat. cella, a cell,
a hermit's cell especially, whence the Gadelic use. Hence
cealloir, superior of a cell, and the name Mackellar. "A
retired spot " (Hend.).
cealtar, broad-cloth, Ir. cealtair, clothes, E. Ir. cellar, celt, raiment ;
from qel, cover, as in ceil, q.v.
ceana, whither, for c'iona, c'ionadh ? Cf. Ir. cd h-io7iad. See
ionadh.
ceanalta, mild, kind, so Ir. ; from *cen, as in cion, jcean, love,
desire. See cion,
ceangal, a tie, binding, so Ir., E. Ir., cengal, W. cengl ; from Lat.
cingulum, vb. cingo, I bind, Eng, cincture.
ceann, head, so Ir., 0. Ir. cend, cenn, W., Bi. penn, Gaul, Jr'enno-,
^qettiio-. Perhaps for qen-no-, root qen (labialised), begin,
Ch. SI. koni, beginning, as in ceud, first. The difficulty is
that the other labialising languages and the Brittonic branch
otherwise show no trace of labialisation for qen. Windisch,
followed by Brugmann, suggested a stem kvindo-, I. E. root
kvi, Skr. Qvi, swell, Gr. IltvSos, Pindus Mount ; but the root
vowel is not i, even granting the possible labialisation of kvi,
which docs not really take place in Greek. Hence ceannag,
a bottle of hay, ceannaich, buy ( = " heading" or reckoning
by the head ; cf. Dial, ceann, sum up), ceannaidh, head-
wind (Hend.), ceannas, vaunting (Hend.).
ceannach, a purchasing, so Ir., E. Ir. cennaigim, I buy, 0. Ir.
cennige, lixa, caingen, negotium.
ceannairc, rebellion, turbulence, so Ii". ; "^ceawt 4- arc ; for root
arc, see adharc. For meaning cf. Eng. Aer/c7strong, W.
pen^e^i (do.).
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 77
ceannard, commander, chief, Ir. ceanndrd, arrogant, commanding,
" high-headed," from ceann and ard ; M. kinnoort, Ir. ceann-
pho7% commander, authority, head post or city: ceann-]- port.
ceannrach, ceannraig (Cam.), a bridle or horse's head-gear, Ir.
ceannrach ; from ceann + rach. For y^ach (root rig), see
cuibhreach, arachas.
ceannsaich, subdue, tame, Ir. ceannsaighhn ; from ceannas, superi-
ority, "head-ness," from ceann and the abst. termination as.
Similarly ceannsal, rule.
ceap, a block, shoemaker's last, so Ir., E. Ir. ce2)p, W. c?/J', Br. Jcef ;
from Lat. cippus.
ceap, catch, stop. This word seems borrowed from the Sc. kep, of
like meaning, a bye-form of Eng. keep. The Ir. ceap, bound,
bind, stop (I), seems from ceap above.
fceapach, a tillage plot, Ir. ceapach. This Stokes refers to a
Celtic keppo-, garden, root kep, kdp, Lat. campus, Gr. kyjitos,
garden, Ger. hube, piece of land. Satisfactory though the
meaning be, the derivation is doubtful as involving the pre-
servation of p, even though flanked by a second p (or -no-,
i.e., kep-nb-, which is still more doubtful). Perhaps from
ceap, a block, in the sense of a "holding." Hence the common
place-name Keppoch.
ceapag, a verse, an impromptu verse, carelessly sung verse, E. Ir.
cepoc, a chorus song : a rare word in Ir., and said to be Sc.
Gaelic for Ir. aidbsi, great chorus. From ceap, catch % cf.
Eng. catch, a chorus verse. Zimmer suggests that it stands
for Ce Poc, "kiss here," ("?) sung by the girls as a refrain at
gatherings !
ceapaire, bread covered with butter, etc., Ir. ceapaire ; from ceap,
a block. Cf. ceapag, a wheel-barrow wheel.
cearb, piece, article of clothing, so Ir., E. Ir. cer2:^, cutting, cerbaim;
*krbh, skrbh ; Gr. Kapcfios, twig, Eng. s/i7ub; "^{sjker, cut,
divide. Cf. W. carp, rag, cerpyn. Bezzenberger cfs. M. H. G.
herb, asper. St. now skerb, Eng. sharp.
cearc, a hen, so Ir., M. Ir. cere, ^cercd ; from I. E. qerqo, to sound,
hence " a noise-making bird " ; Gr. KepKos, a cock, Kpe^, a
fowl ; Lat. querquedula, a teal, 0. Prus. kerko, a diver ; Skr.
krka-vdkus, a cock.
cearcall, a hoop, so Ir. ; from L. Lat. circulus, circullus, a hoop,
from circulus, a circle.
ceard, a craftsman, Ir. ceard, E. Ir. cei^d, W. cerdd, art; Lat. cerdo,
craftsman ; Gr. K€p8o<s, gain.
ce^rdach, a smithy, Ir. ceardcha, 0. Ir. cerddchae ; from cerd-\-cae,
the latter word cae meaning a house in Ir., a Celtic kaio-ii,
allied to Eng. hoiiie.
78 ETYMOLOGICAL Dl6TI0NARt
ceard-dubhan, scarabseus, dung-beetle, hornet (H.S.D. for form),
ceardaman (M'A.) ; see ceamabhan. cearr-duhhan (Carm.),
" wrong-sided little black one."
cearmanta, tidy (Arm.) ; cearmrMiaick, make tidy (Perth.) :
cearn, a corner, quarter, Ir : ceam, cearna, angle, corner, E. Ir. cern;
evidently an e form of the stem found in corn, horn, q.v.
cearnabhan, a hornet, Ir. ceamabhan ; from ^cerno-. Cf. Eng.
hornet (^*krs-en-), Lat. crabro.
cearr, wrong, left (hand), E. Ir. ce7T, *kerso- ; Lat. cerritus, crazed ;
Gr. eyKapcTLO's, slantwise ; Lit. sket sas, crooked.
cearrach, a gamester, Ir. cearrbhach, a gamester, dexterous
gambler. Cf. G. cearrbhag', cearrag, the left-hand, the use
of which was considered in plays of chance as "sinister."
ceart, right, so Jr., E. Ir. cert ; Lat. certus, certain, sure, cerno,
discern ; Gr. Kpcvo), judge, kplW]s, a judge, Eng. critic.
ceasad, a complaint (M'F.), Ir. ceasacht, grumbling, M. Ir.
cexnaighim, complain, ces, sorrow, *qes-to- ; Lat. questus^
quei'or, I complain, querela, Eng. quarrel.
fceasg, floss (Carm.), animal with long flossy hair or wool, Ir.
ceaslach, long hair or wool on fleece legs. See Ceus.
ceasnaich, examine, catechise, Ir. ceasnuighim ; from Lat. qucestio,
qucestionis, Eng. question. Stokes (Bk. of Lis.) has suggested
that the Lat. and Gadelic are cognate ; though possible (qais^
qis may become by umlaut ces in G.), it is improbable from
the stem form in n persisting in the G, verb.
ceathach, mist ; this is really the old stem of ceo, mist, E. Ir.
ciach, q.v. Ir. ceathach, showery, is from cith, a shower.
ceathairne, yeomanry, the portion of a population lit for warfare ;
see ceatharn.
ceatharn, a troop, so Ir., E. Ir. ceithern, "^keternd; Lat. caterva,
troop, catena, a chain ; 0. SI. ceta, company (Stokes). It
has also been regarded as borrowed from Lat. quaternio,
which in the Vulg. means a "body of four soldiers," quater-
nion. Hence Eng. cateran, Jtern.
ceidhe, quay, coulter-place, Ir. ceigh, quay. See ceadha.
ceig, a mass of shag, clot, ceigein, a tuft, a fat man. From
Scandinavian kagge, round mass, keg, corpulent man or
animal, whence Eng. keg; Norse, kaggi, cask, Norwegian,
kagge, round mass.
cei^, a kick ; from the Eng.
ceil, conceal, Ir., ceilion, 0. Ir. celim, W. celu, I. E, qel ; Lat. celo,
Eng. con-cea^ ; Ag. S. helan, hide, Eng, Hell ; Gr. KaAvTrrw,
hide : Skr. kdla, darkness.
ceile, spouse, fellow, so Ir., 0. Ir. cele, socius, W. cilydd {y gilydd
= a cheile of G.=eguille of Br.), *keiljo-, " vvay-farer," from
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 79
kei, go (Lat. ao, move, Gr. Ktoj, go, KtVew, move, kinetics).
The idea is the same as in Ir. setig, wife, from set, way.
Strachan thinks that G. and W. demand a stem ceglio- ; and
Dr Stokes thinks that, if cele, servus, is different from ce/e,
fellow, it must come from kak-lio- (better keklio-), and be
allied to Lat. cacula, a servant. Hence ceilidh, a gossiping
visit or meeting.
ceileach, martial (H.S.D.), Ir. ceaMach, war, M. Ir. cellach, war ;
Tent. Midi-, war, Lat. per-cellere, hit.
ceileir, chirping of birds, Ir. ceileahhar, ceileahhrach, musical,
M. Ir. ceilebradh eoin, singing of birds, E. Ir. celebrad, a
celebrating or observance, a welcome of joy ; from Lat.
celebratio.
ceillidh, wise, sober, Ir. ceillidhe ; from ciall.
ceilp, kelp ; from Eng.
Cein, remote ; really the oblique form of cian, q.v.
C^ir, wax, Ir., M. Ir. ceir, W. civyr, 0. W. kuyi\ Cor. coir, Br. ccar ;
from Lat. cera, wax.
ceir, ceire, the buttock ; see peire.
ceireanaich, fondle, make much of (Perth) ; cf. ceirein, plaster.
ceirein, a plaster, a " clout," Ir., M. Ir., ceirin, a plaster ; from
ceir, wax. Eng. cerate.
ceirtle, a clew, ball of yarn, Ir. ceirsle (so G. too), ceirtlin, 0. Ir.
certle, glomus, ^kertillid ; from I. E. qert, wind, bend ; Skr.
kart, spin ; Lat. cartilago, Eng. cartilage ; Gr. KapraXos,
basket ; Eng. hurdle.
ceis, a case, hamper ; from Eng. case. Ir. ceis, basket, M. Ir. ceiss,
is a different w^ord, possibly allied to, if not borrowed from,
Lat. cista (Stokes). From Ir. ceis comes ceis-chrann, poly-
pody, given in H.S.D. from O'R. Cf. 0. Ir. cass, basket,
Lat. quasillus.
ceisd, a question, so Ir., E. Ir. ceist ; from Lat. qucestio. Hence
ceisdein, a sweetheart, founded on " ceisd mo chridhe " —
darling {i.e., question, anxiety) of my heart.
ceiseach, large, corpulent woman ; see cebs.
Ceitein, May, 0. Ir. cetam (g. cetaman), cetsoman (cetshaman) in
Cor. Gl., where it is explained as cet-sam-sin, the first weather-
motion of sam or summer. The word means the " first of
summer" — cet + sam-, the sam oi samJwadh, q.v. -The termi-
nation is possibly influenced by other time words. See
Samhainn.
ceithir, four, Ir. ceathair (n.), ceithrc (adj.), 0. Ir. cethir, W.
pedwar, Cor. peswar, Br. pevar, Gaul, petor-, ^qetveres, I. E.
qetvdr ; Lat. quatuor ; Gr. reTTa/oe? ; Got. jidvor, Eng. four ;
Lit. keturi ; Skr. catvdras.
80 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
ceo, mist, Ir. ceo, E. Ir. ceo, g. ciach, *cevox, g. *cevocos, I. E.
sqevo-, Lat. obscurus, Norse skp, cloud, Eng. sk^. The idea
is "covering."
ce6b, a dark nook, corner :
ce6ban, small drizzle; ceo + boinne or -bainne, "mist-drop." The
Ir. is ceobhrdn, for ced + braon. This last is G. ciuran, q.v.
Hence ceopach (for ceobnach 1) Also ce6pan. Ir. ciabkrdn,
drizzle, fog, M. Ir. ciahor, mist.
ceol, music, Ir., E. Ir. eedl, g. ciicil, "^kipolo-, a Gadelicised form of
*pipolo ; onomatopoetic root pip, Lat. ptpilo, chirp, pipihim,
outcry, pipo, chirp, Ag. S. pipe, Eng. pipe (hence W. pib, G.
jnob, etc ). Stokes and Rhys have given a Celtic qeqlo- for
stem, allied to W. pib, pipe. For phonetics, see febil. Stokes
now suggests alliance with Ger. heulen, hoot, howl, 0. H. G.
hiuivilon.
ce6s, the hip, podex ; see ceus, poples. Hence ceosach, broad-
skirted, bulky, clumsy.
ceosan, burr or light down of feathers ; see ceus, wool of legs, etc.
ceud, first, Ir. cead, 0. Ir. cet, W. cynt, formerly, cyntat\ first, Br.
kent, kenta (do.), Gaul. Cintii-, '^kentu- ; allied to W. cann,
with Gr, Kara, down, against ( = knta), Lat. contra. Further
allied is possibly {cmd this is the usual, derivation) I. E. qen,
begin, Lat. re-cens, Eng. recent ; Gr. Kaivos ( = Kavto?), new ;
Skr. kand, young ; Ch. SI. koni, beginning. Some again have
compared Teut. hind as in Eng. hindmost.
ceud, a hundred, so Ir., 0. Ir. cet, W. cant. Cor. cans, Br. haiit,
"^k/ito-n ; Lat. centum \ Gr. cKarov ( = se-knton) ; Got. hund,
Eng. hund-vedi ; Lit. szimtas ; Skr. catdm.
ceudfadh, sense, Ir. ceadfadh, 0. Ir. cetlaid, W. canfod, to perceive,
*cant-buti-, " with-being," from ceud, with, first, and hu, be.
ceudna, the same, so Ir., 0. Ir. cetna, "^'centinio-s; from ceud, first.
ceum, a step, Ir. ceiyn, 0. Ir. ceimm, W., Cor. cam, 0. W. cemmein,
gradibus, Br. kam, "^kngmen-, verb "^kengo, I go, Ir. cingim,
Gaul. Cingeto-rix, " king of marching men " — of warriors :
I. E. kheng, limp ; Ger, hinken, limp ; Skr. khanj, limp
ceus, ham, poples : *cencso- ; Lit. kenkle, hough, bend of the knee,
kinka, knee joint; Ag. S. hoh (^ — hanx), Eng. hough (Strachan
for Lit.). The gen. is ceois, whence ceds, etc.
ceus, the coarse part of the wool on sheep's legs (Heb.), M. Ir.
ceslach ; from ceus, ham.
ceus, crucify, Ir. ceasaim, ceusaim, 0. Ir. cessaim, suffer, "^kentso,
suffer : I. E. qentho ; Gr. irevOo's, TrdOos, suffering, Eng. pathos ;
Lit. kenczu, suffering.
ceutach, becoming ; see ciatach.
OF TI-TE OAELTC LANGUAGE. 81
cha, cha'n, not, Jr. noclia «-, 0. Tr. 7u con aspirating. The
particle no or nu is no part of this negative : only ni and con^
" non quod," co?z being the same as gu''n. Aspirating power
of it is as yet unexplained. Ulster Ir. cha.
chaidh, went, ivit, Ir. dochuaidh, 0. Ir. dochoid, he went, '^coud- ;
Skr. codati, make haste, codavati, drive, coda, a goad ; Eng. '
shoot. See deach.
chaoidh, for ever, Ir. choidhclie, E. Ir. chaidche, coidchi ; for co-
aidche, c/u oidhche, "till night."
cheana, already, Ir. cheana, E. Ir. chena, in sooth, quidem, jam,
ol chena, ar chena, 0. Ir. cene, olchene ; from cen-e, " withont
this," root in gun, without, cion, want,
chi, will see, Ir. chidhim, chim, 0. Ir. atchi, videt, *a.d-cesi6,
"^kesio ; Skr. caksh, see, for "^ca-kas ; Lat. canus ('^cas-jio- 1),
grey ; Ag. S. hasu, grey, Eng. ha7'e. See ckiinnaic, faic. The
aspiration of chl is due to the lost ad- initial, which is
confused with the verbal particle do, a.
cho, CO, as, so, Ir. comh, W. cyn ; from com, with. See comh-.
Gaelic "Cho dubh ri feannaig" = Welsh "Cyn ddued a'r fran."
chon, to ; dialectic form of git. The n belongs to the article.
Also thun ; q.v. Compare chugad, and thugad to chon and
thu7i in phonetics.
chuala, heard, Ir. do chiuda, 0. Ir. rochiiala, W. cigleu, ^kuklova ;
root kleu as in cluinn, q.v.
chugad, towards thee, so Jr., 0. Ir. chucut, *cii-cu-t, where the
prep, cii or g^i, to, is reduplicated. See gu. The t or -iit is
for Ui, q.v. So witli chuga, chuige, etc.
chum, chum, a chum, to, for, in order to, Ir. chum, do ckmn, 0. Ir.
dochuin 71-, dochom 7i- ; an idiomatic use; of com, side '? Cf.
Eng. side, beside.
chun, to, until ; see chon.
chunnaic, saw, Ir. choncada7% they saw, 0. Ir. conaca, vidi ; from
con-\-faic ; for co7i, see comh-, andsee/a?'c. The old past was
chunnairc, still used in Ir as chonnairc, from con-\-dea7X, q.v.
cia, who, what, Ir. cia, 0. Ir. cm, W. pwy. Cor. joj/if, Br. piu, *qei ;
Lat. qui (Old Lat. qiiei). See further under co.
ciabh, a lock of hair, so Ir., E. Ir. ciah : ^kes-ahu-, kes of cas ?
Ciadaoin, Di-ciadaoin, Wednesday, Ir. Ceadaoin, 0. Ir. cetdin,
first fast, " Day of the First Fast." The first weekly fast
was the latter half of Wednesday, the next was Friday —
Di-h-aome. Thursday is the day " Between two fasts " —
Diardaoin, q.v. See further under Di-.
ciagach, sly-humoured (Dialectic) :
cial, side or brim of a vessel ; see ciohliull.
9
82 ETViMOl.OGICAL DICTIONARY
ciall, sense, understanding, Ir., 0. Ir. ciall, W. pivyll^ Cor. pidl^
Br. 2')oell^ "''qeidd : 1. E. ([ci, observe, see, shine ; Gr. ttlvvto^
wise ; Skr. ci4ati, perceive, cittam, thought, cinoti, discover ;
further Ger. heiter, clear.
ciamhair, sad (Sh., Arm.), Ir. ciamhair, ciamhaire (O'Cl., O'Br.) :
cian, remote, so Jr., 0, Ir. cian, "^keino- ; from the pronominal
root kei, there, Gr. Keivog, ille, Lat. cis, citra, Eng. lie. Others
have referred it to root qei, qi, Skr. ciras, long, Got. hveild,
time, Eng. vjhile. Hence cianail, sad, lonesome, Ir. eia7i-
amhuil.
cianog", a small measure of arable land (Heb. : H.S.D.); see cionag.
ciar, dusk J, Ir., E. Ir. ciar, ^keiro-s, "shadowy"; root sqhei, Gr.
(rKL€p6<i, shady, crKid, shadow, Skr. chdyd, shadow, Ag. S.
scimo (do.). It has been compared to Eng. hoar, Norse hdrr,
but the vowels do not suit.
cias, g. ceois, border, skirt, fringe :
ciatach, ciatfach, elegant, becoming, Ir. ceadfadluich, discreet,
belonging to the senses ; from ceudfadh, q.v.
cibein, rump (of a bird, M'D.), Ir. cihin, the rump (Con.). Cf. Ir.
yiob, a tail.
cibeir, a shepherd ; from Sc, Eng. keeper.
cibhearg, a rag, a little ragged woman (Sh.) :
cidhis, a mask, vizard (M'D.), luchd cidhis, masqueraders ; from
Sc. gyis, a mask, gysars, masqueraders, M. Eng. glsen, to
dress, Eng. guise, disguise ; all from 0. Fr. guise, modus,
desguiser, disguise. The Sc. was directly borrowed in the
Stuart period.
cigil, tickle (Sh.) ; see ciogail.
cileag, a diminutive, weakly person (Arg.) :
cilean, a large codfish ; from Norse keiia, gadus longus or " long-
cod." Also cilig (Sutherland).
cill, a church ; locative case of ceall, q.v., used for the most part
in place-names.
cillein, a concealed heap, repository, Ir. cilliu, a purse or store of
hoarded cash (O'B.), dim. of ceall, cell, church, q.v.
cineal, offspring, clan, Ir. cineul, 0. Ii\ ce7iel, W. cenedl, 0. W.
cenetl, Cor. kinethel, *kenetlo-n : I. E. qen, begin ; Gr. Katvo?,
new {i<avj6s) ; Lat. re-cens, Eng. recent ; Ch. SI. koni, begin-
ning ; Skr. kand, young.
cinn, grow, increase, spring from, Ir., E. Ir. cinim, spring from,
descend of ; root qen of cineal, q.v. Also cinnich, grow,
increase.
cinneadh, cinne, tribe, clan, Ir. dneadh, cine, E. Ir. ciniud.
(g. cineda) ; from root qe7i in cineal, q.v. Hence cinnich,
gentiles, Ir. cineadhach, a gentile.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 83
cinneag, a spindle (Sutherland) :
cinnseal, need, desire (Arm.;, contact, origin (M'A.). in the first
sense, the word is from cion, want ; in the second, from cinn.
In the sense of "contact," as exemplified by M'A., the Sc.
kinches^ correspondence, etc. ("to kep kinches wi' one"), has
to be remembered, a word apparently from kin.
cinnte, certain, so Ir., 0. Ir. cinnim, definio, ecintech infinitus ;
from ceann, head, q.v.
ciob, bite, wound (Bib. Gl.) ; see caob, cibidk (Hend.).
ciob, coarse mountain grass, tow, Ir. cioh, coarse mountain grass,
scirpus ca3spitosiis. Club rush, fiaky peat (Carm.).
ciobhull, the jaw^ (M'i) , who writes " na ciobhuill "), ciobhal
(Sh.), more properly g'iall (Arm.), q.v. H.S.D. gives the
pi. as cibhlean.
cioch, a woman's breast, Jr. ciocJi, E. ir. cicJi; cf. W. cig, fiesh,
M. Br. <ptic (do.), *ktkd {kckd 1). Bcz. suggests (witli query)
connection with Bulg. cica, teat, rolish eye.
ciocras, hunger, longing, Ir. cioeras, hunger, greed, ravenousness :
ciod, what, Ir. ead, 0. Ir. cate, eote, lit. "quid est," co-\-ta, q.v.
Ir. caide (North goide), 0. Ir. eate', what is it, 0. Ir. ite, it is.
ciogail, tickle, Ir. giglim ; see diogail. In the Heb. ciogailt,
tickling, also signifies terror, a crisis of timorous determina-
tion (H.S.D.).
ciom, a comb, wool-card, Ir. cwmam, T comb (O'B., Sh.) ; from
M. Eng. kemd, to comb. H.S.D. has not the word.
ciomach, a prisoner, Ir. civiidh, 0. Ir. cimhid, ^kmhiti- (Stokes),
root kemh, wind ; Lat. cingo, surround ; Gr. KOjifSos, band,
Norwegian hempa (do.). See ceangcd, from the same I. E.
root qeng.
ciombal, bell, cymbal, so Ir. ; from Lat. eymbalum, Eng. eymhal.
ciomboll, a bundle of hay or straw^ (Heb.) ] from Norse kimhill, a
bundle, kimbla, to truss, Sc. kemple, forty bottles of hay or
straw, kimple, a piece (Banfi^shire).
cion, want ; from the root ken of gim, without.
cion, love, esteem, Ir. eion, cean, M. Ir. cen, 0. Ir. fochen, welcome ;
root qino-, qi, I. E. qei, notice, as in ciall. Further, Gr. rt/xr;,
honour, rtw, honour, tlvw, pay penalty. The sense of honour
and punishment is combined in the same word. See ciont.
cionag, a small portion of land, one-fourth of a eleitig or one-
eighth of a "farthing" land (Heb.), Ir. eionog, a small coin, a
kernel ; cf. W. cei7iiog, a penny.
cionar, music (Arm. ; Sh. has cionthar ; H.S.D. has cion'thar
from A. M'D., querulous music) :
cionn, os cionn, etc. ; this is the old dat. of ceann, head {'^qenno).
M ETYMOLOGICAL DlCTlONAEV
cionnarra, identical, idem ; Ir. cionda (dial, (xaelic cioilda), for
ceudna, by metathesis of the 7i. The G. -arra is an adjectival
form of the -ar in aoii-ar, etc.
cionnas, how, Ir. cionnus, 0. Ir. cindas = co + iudas ; see co and
ionnas.
ciont, guilt, Ir. cionnta, 0. Ir, cintadi, injustice, cm, guilt
(*cin-at-), dat. pi. cintaib ; also G. fcion ; I. E. f/in, Gr.
TtVv/xai, punish, Troivr/, punishment, Lat. poena, punishment,
Eng. pain. See cion.
ciora, a pet lamb or sheep, cireag", a petted sheep, ciridh, the
call to a sheep to come to one : all from a shorter form of
the root ka^er or kair (i.e., kir) of caora, q.v.
cioralta, cheerful, ciorbail, snug ; from Eng. cheerful. Cf. ilorail.
ciorram, hurt, damage, wounding, Ir. ciorrbhadh, E. Ir. cirriud,
cirud, ^cir-thu-, root ker, destroy, Lat. caries, decay, Gr. k/jp,
death, Skr, (^rndti, smash, ro cirrad, was mutilated,
ciosaich, subdue : " make tributar}^ ;" from cis, tribute, tax.
ciosan, a bread basket, corn-skep (M'D.), Ir. ciseaji, cis, basket,
M. Ir, ceiss, possibly allied to (if not borrowed from) Lat. cista
(Stokes). See ceis. Sc. cassie.
ciotach, left-handed, sinister, so Ir., W. chivith, *sqUtu- (Stokes),
"^sgit-tu-, and sqit is an extension of sqi, sqai in Gr. o-Katos,
Lat. scaevas (*sqai-vo-), left.
ciotag, a little plaid, shawl, 0. Ir. cetaig, ace. case (Bk. of Armagh) ;
cir, a comb, Ir. dor, 0 Ir. cir, "^keiisrd, ; cf. Gr. ktci?, g. ktci/os,
(from skenn), Ch. SI. ceslu, Lit. ka-yti, scratch (Stokes,
Strachan), root qes, shave, scratch ; cf. Gr. ^kia, ^vpor. Zimmer
refers it to the root gers, to furrow, Skr. karsha, a scratch,
etc. ; but qers would give a G. cer?'. A Celtic cera would be
the ideal form, suggesting Lat. cera, wax, " honeycomb."
cir, cud, Ir,, E. Ir, cir, Manx keeil, W, cil, Br, das-kiriat, ruminer.
Perhaps identical with the above (Windisch), cir, ciridh,
sheep (Oarm,),
cis, tribute, tax, Ir, cios, 0. Ir. cis ; from Lat. census, whence Eng.
census.
cisd, cist, a chest, Ir, cisde, M, Ir, ciste, W. cist ; from Lat. cist<i,
Ir. ci'i, piece of basket work of osiers. Cf. 0. Ir. cass, basket,
Lat. quasillus.
cisean, hamper (Islay) ; from ceis.
ciseart, a light tweed (N. Lochaber).
cistin, a kitchen ; from the Eng.
cith, a shower, Jr. vitii, cioth, g. ceathrt, E. Ir. cifh, 0. Ir. cithech,
flebilium ; ^citu- :
OF THE GAELIC LAN(}UA0E. 85
cith, rage, ardour ; "^ketu-, cf. cutkach : an cith. attuned, where
cifh seems from Eng. /v?/, mood.
Cithean, a complaiuiug ; sec caoin.
cithris-chaithris, confusion (M'L.) : "hurly-burly ;" an onomato-
poetic word.
ciubhran, ciuran, ciurach, small rain, drizzle, Ir. ceohhrdn. See
ceohan. M. Ir. ciabor, mist.
ciuchair, beautiful, dimpling (Sh., Arm. ; not H.S.D.) :
ciucharan, ciucran, a low-voiced plaint : from Norse kjdkra,
whine, kjokr, a voice stifled with tears.
ciuin, mild, Ir. cmin, *kivo-iii-, I.E., kivo-, keivo-, akin, dear ; Lat.
civis, Eng. civil ; Norse hf/rr, mild, Ag. S. heore, (Jew ge-heuer,
safe ; Ch. SI. po-civu, benignus ; Skr civd, friendly.
ciurr, hurt, Ir. ctorrbhaiffivi, I maim, wound : see ciorram. Cf.,
however, 0. Ir. dujiurrsa, adteram, du-furr, attriveris,
iurihund, t.o hurt, root org as in fuargan.
clab, an open mouth, Ir. claO ; from Eng. clap, a clap, noise, the
human tongue. Hence claban, a mill-clapper.
claban, top of the head, brain-pan (H.S.D.) ; cf. W. clopen, G.
claigionn, q.v. Possibly Pictish*?
clabar, filth, mire, clay, Ir. cldbar (whence Eng. clcthber) ; cf. Iciban.
clabar-nasg", the clasp of wooden cow collar (Arg.) :
clabog, a good bargain, great pennyworth :
clach, a scone, Ir., E. Ir. clock, W. clwg, a rock, detached rock,
clog, a rock, clogcnt, a large stone, '^klukd ; root kal, kl-, hard ;
Got. hcdlus, stone, Norse hella, flat stone, Skr. cild, a stone.
Usually correlated with Lat. calculut>, a pebble, Eng. calculate.
clachan, kirk or kirk town, Ir. clochdn, monastic stone-cells singly
or in group ; also G. and Ir. " stepping stones."
clad, comb wool, clad, a wool comb ; from Sc. claut, clauts, wool
comb, also a '' clutching hand, a hoe or scraper ;" from claw.
cladach, a shore, beach, so Ir., *claddo-, " a score, shore ;" from
clad of cladh, q.v.
cladan, a burr, a thing that sticks, Ir, claddn, burr, flake ; from
clad.
cladh. a churchyard, Ir. cladh, a bank, ditch, E. Ir. clad, a ditch,
W. cladd, claivdd, fossa, Cor. cledh (do.), Br. cleuz (do.),
*klado-, ^klddo- ; root kela, kla, break, split, hit ; Gr.
KXaSapds, easily broken ; Lat. clddes ; Russ. kladu, cut. See
further claidheamh, sword. Hence cladhaich, dig.
cladhaire, a poltroon, so Ir. ; " digger, clod-hopper," from cladh 1
clag, a bell, Ir. clog, 0. Ir. clocc, W., Cor. clock, Br. kloc'k, *klokko-,
"^kloggo- ; root, klog, Mag, sound ; Lat. clango, Eng. clang ;
Gr. K'Aa^ti), K/Vayy/y, clang ; Lit. klageti, cackle. Bez. suggests
86 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
Bill. Iducaui, hit, giving the stem of dag as "^klakko-. Hence
Eng. clock, etc.
claideag, a lock, ringlet ; sec clad, cladau.
claidheag", the last handful of corn cut on the farm, the "maiden"
(Badenoch) ; Sc. claaik-sheaf (Aberdeen, etc.), from claaick,
the harvest home ; the state of having all the corn in.
claidheamh, a sword, Ir. cl&idheaviJi, 0. Ir. claideh, W. cleddyf,
Cor. cledhe, Br. kleze, *kladebo-s ; root klad, Skr. kladga :
Gr. KA.a8o5, a twig ; Ch. SI. kladivo, a hammer. Further root
kela, kid, hit, split ; Lat. culter, 'per-cellere, etc. See cladh.
claidhean, better claidhean, the bolt of a door, Ir. claibin ; from
the same source as claidJieamJi. H.S.D. gives it in supp. as
cldiinhean.
claidreach, a damaging, shattering : *claddo- ; root clad of claidh-
eamh.
claigionn, a skull, Ir. cloiyionn, M. Ir. cloicend, W. clopen, Br.
klopenn, *cloc-ceim, from clag and ceann, " bell-head, dome-
head." Stokes considers the Ir. borrowed from the Welsh,
Cf. claban.
clais, a furrow, ditch, so Ir., E. Ir. clatis, W. dais, "^clad-s-ti- ; from
*dad of cladh. Br. kleus, pit.
claistinn, hearing, listening ; from ^clostd, ear ; see cluas.
claiteachd, gentle rain (Arran) :
clambar, wrangling, Ir. clanipar ; from Lat. clamor.
clamhan, a buzzard :
clamhradh, a scratching, so Ir. : '''clain-rad, ; see cloimh, itch.
clamhsa, an alley, close, so Ir. ; from Eng. close.
clamhuinn, sleet :
clann, children, clan, so Ir., 0. Ir. eland, W. plant, ^qlanatd : I. E.
root qel ; Gr. reAo.s, company ; G. Slav, celjadi, family. Lit.
kiltis = ljQt\j. zilts, race, stock ; Skr. kiila, race. Some have
added Lat. populun. Usually regarded as borrowed from
Lat. planta, a sprout, li^ig. plant, whence G. clannach,
comatus.
claoidh, vex, oppress, Ir. daoidhim, G. Ir. cloim, W. cluddio, over-
whelm, "^cloid ; I. E. klei, incline, as in claon, q.v. Windisch
and Stokes refer it to '''clovio, root qlov, qlav, qlu, shut in,
Lat. claudo, close, claudus, lame, Gr. kXcl^, /cAetSos, key.
claon, inclining, squint, oblique, Ir. claon, 0. Ir. cl6i7i : "^kloino- ;
Lat. cllno, acdlnis, leaning, Eng. incline ; Gr. kXIvm (i long),
incline ; Eng. lean ; Lit. s^zieti, incline ; Skr. crayati (do.).
clap, clapartaich, clap, clapping ; from the Eng. clap.
clar, a board, tablet, Ir., G. Ir. ddr, W claw, G. W. clanr. ; Gr.
Kkypo'i (for KXapos), a lot, kAuw, break; root qela, qld, break
OK THE (JAELIC T.ANGUA«E. 87
etc., as in claidheamh, coiUe,, i\.\. Hence, inter alia, clarach,
a woman of clumsy figure, " board-built."
clarsach, a harp, Ir. ddirseavJi ; from cldr. Cf. for meaning
Jiodhcheall, chess-play, " wood-intelligence."
clasp, claspa, a clasp, Ir. clasba; from the Eng.
clatar, mire (Dial.) ; from Sc dart.
clathn^ire, bashfulness (M'D., who writes clathnaire. H.S.D.
gives the form in the text) : dath + naive ; see ndire. Ciat/i
seems from the root t/el, hide, as in ceil, q.v. (H.S.D.).
cleachd, a practice, custom, Ir. cleadidadh, E. Ir. deditaim, I am
wont, *klcto-, root qel, as in Lat. colo, Eng. cultivate, Gr.
TreAo/xai, go, be, etc. Gf., however, cleas.
cleachd, a ringlet, a fillet of wool, E. Ir. dechtaim, I plait (Cam.),
W. 2^ldh ; from Lat. plecto, Eng. plait.
clearc, a curl, lock of hair :
cleas, a play, trick, feat, so Ir., E. Ir. c/e.s.s, *c/e.s.<Ji6-, *de.ru- ; root
klek, klok, as in cluich, q.v.
death, concealment, hiding ; also cleith {^kleti-a) ; inf. to ceil,
hide, q.v.
cleibe, an instrument for laying hold of hsh, or of sea-fowls, Ir.
dipe ; from Eng. dip, a gatt' or cleek, a fastener, Norse klf/pa^
to pinch, 0. H. G. chluppa, tongs.
cleir, the clergy, Ir. cleir ; from Lat. clerus. See the next word,
cl^ireach, a clerk, a cleric, 0. G. derec (Bk. of Deer), Ir. deireach,
E. Ir. clerech, Br. kloarek ; from Lat. dericus, a clerk, cleric,
from Gr. K-Ar^/atKos (do.), from Kkrjpo<i, a lot, office : " the lot
(kA7//oov) of this ministry" (Acts i. 17).
cleit, a quill, feather, down, Ir. cleite :
cleit, a rocky eminence ; from Norse klettr, rock, cliff. Common
in Northern place-names,
cleit, bar, ridge (Carm.).
cleith, a stake, w-attle, Ir. cleith, death, E. Ir. cleth, tignum, W.
clyd, sheltering, M. Br. det, warm (place) ; root qleit, glit,
0. Sax. hhltdan, cover. Got. hlei^ra, hut, Ch. SI. kleti, house.
Hence cleith, roof ; the E. Ir. clethe, roof, roof-pole, appears
to be for kleitio-, the same root in its full vocalic form
(Schrader).
cleith, concealing, 0. Ir. cleith ; see death.
cleitig,^clitig', a measure of land — an 8th of the " penny" land :
cle6c, a cloak, Ir. cloca ; from the Eng.
cleuraidh. one who neglects work (Arran) :
cli, vigour :
cli, left (hand), wrong, Ir. c/;, E. Ir. cli, de, W. dedd, 0. W. ded,
Br. klnz, ^klijo ;;^root klei, incline, Got. hleidnma, left, etc
See further under daou.
88 ETVMOl.OGICAl. niCTIONARY
cliabh, a basket, hamper, the chest (of a man), Ir. cliabh, 0. Ir.
cliab, corbis, ^cl.eibo-. Root klei as in cliath.
cliadan, a burr ; cf. dadan.
cliamhuinn, son-in-law, Ir. cliamhuiii, G. and Ir. cleamhiias,
affinity ; root Iclei, lean, Lat. aliens, Eng. client, iw-dine, lean.
cliar, a poet, hero or heroes, Ir., E. Ir. diar, society, train, clergy ;
from Lat. derus, as in deir, (|.v. Hence cliaranach, a bard,
swordsman. The Cliar Sheanachain (Senchan's Lot) was
the mythic bardic company, especially on its rounds (Gaelic
Folk Tales). Hence cliar achl, singing, feats.
cliatan, a level plot of ground : "^diath-t-an, a participial formation
from diath, harrow — "harrowed, level."
cliath, harrow, hurdle, Ir. diath, E. Ir. diath, 0. Ir. Vadum died
(Adamnan), Dublin, W. d.wyd, hurdle, Cor. duit, Br. kloned,
Gaul, ^deta, whence Fr. dai.e, hurdle, *kleitd ; root klei,
lean ; Lett, slita, wood fence, Lit. i^zlite, a rack (of a \vaggon).
cliath, tread hens, as cock :
cliathach, side, the side of the ribs, Tr. diathdn, side, breast,
^kleito-, " slope," root klei, incline ; Norse hlitS, a slope,
mountain side, Gr. kXitv'? (t long), a slope, hill-side.
clibeag, a trick, wile (H.8.D.) ; from dei.he, dip, as d\did from
deek. e
clibist, a misadventure ; see diob.
clic, a hook, gaff: see the next word.
clichd, an iron hook ; from Sc. deik, Eng. deek, dick.
clichd, a cunning trick ; from the above. Sc. deiky, ready to take
the advantage, tricky, deek, inclination to cheat : " There's a
deek in 'im " (Banffshire).
cliob, to stumble, cliobach, stumbling, awkward. Cf, Sc. dypock,
a fall. See next.
cliob, anything dangling, excrescence, cliobain, a dewdap, Ir.
diob, dilnn ; also Ir. cliobach, hairy, shaggy, diobog, a
(shaggy) colt, etc. Cf. Sc. dype, an ugly, ill-shaped fellow :
origin unknown (Murray) ; dip, a colt, Ger. kleppe^.^ palfrey.
Root qlg., stumpy, Gr. KoXof3(k.
cliopach, halt in speech (H.S.D.) : cf. Eng. dip words.
cliostar, a clyster ; from the Eng.
clip, a hook, clip, Ir. dipe, a gaff ; frouj the Eng. di}). See deibe.
clipe, deceit (H.S.D.) ; see cliheag.
clis, active, Ir., M. Ir. cliste, ready, quick. Cf. W. dys, impulse :
^cl-sto-; root, kel, as in Lat. celer, swift, etc.*? "Na fir chlis,"
the Merry Dancers. From cleas. Cf. Ir. and E. Ir. deil-dis,
staff-sling.
clisbeach, unsteady of foot, cripple ; from dis. i\lso clisneach.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 89
clisg, start, Ir. cliosg (Meath Dial., clist) ; from clis.
clisinnean, boat ribs, cltsneach, rib :
clisneach, the human body, carcase, outward appearance (Arm. ;
not H.S.D.) :
clisneach, a bar-gate (H.S.D.), a rib (Wh.) :
cliu, renown, praise, Ir., 0. Ir. clu, W. el?/w, sense of hearing, clod,
praise ; Gr. KXeo'?, fame ; Skr. ^ravds, I. E. kleu, hear. See
further under cluinn.
cliuchd, mend nets :
cliud, a slap with the fingers ; from the Sc. clout, Eng. clout, a
cuff, "clout."
cliud, a small or disabled hand ; from Sc. cloot, hoof, half-hoof %
cl6, cl6th, broad-cloth ; from Eng. cloth, clothing, etc.
cld, a print, printing press, M. G. do (Carswell), Ir. do, dodh
{clodhuighim. Coneys ; E. Ir. clod, mark V) ; cf. the next word.
Also clodh.
t clo, a nail, Ir., E. Ir. do, W. do, key, Br. Mao, tool, *klavo- ;
Lat. claims, nail, davis, key ; Gr. kAci?, key, etc. See claoidh.
cl6-chadail, slumber ; see doth.
clobha, a pair of tongs ; from Norse Idoji, a fork (of a river), a
forked mast, snuffers, klof, fork of the legs, " cloven, cleft."
The Ir. clohh{a) in Con. and FoL, and the clomh of Lh., seems
a Scottish importation, for Coneys says the vernacular is
tlobh. In fact, the Ir. w^ord is tlu, Hugh : " lifter " ; root ^Z-
as in Lat. tollo ?
clobhsa, a close, lane, farm-yard, Ir. clamhsa, W. daws ; from Eng.
close. Also, clamhsa, q.v.
clochranaich, wheezing in the throat (M'F. ; Sh. has clochar, and
clochan, respire) ; from Sc. docker, w^heezing, cloch, cough
feebly. It is an onomatopoetic word, like Eng. cluck, clock.
clod, a clod, turf ; from the Eng.
clogad, clogaid, a helmet, Ir. clogad, M. Ir. clogat, at chluic, E. Ir.
clocatt ; from ad, hat, q.v., and fclog", head, which see in
claigionn.
clogais, a wooden clog ; from Eng. clogs.
cloidhean, the pitch of the box-tree or any shrub tree (Arm. ; not
H.S.D.). Cf. glaoghan.
cloimh, scab, itch, Ir. damh, scurvy, E. Ir. clam, leprosus, W.
clafr, leprosy, claf, diseased. Cor. c/q/'(do.), M. Br. claff (do.),
Br. klanv, *klamo-, sick ; Skr. klam, weary : Gr. Kkajxapos,
weak (Hes.) ; Lat. clemens.
cloimh, wool, down of feathers, Ir. cliimh, down, feathers, E. Ir.
dum, pluma, W. plufy plumage ; from Lat. pluma (Eng.
plumage).
10
^0 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
cldimhdich, rub or scratch as itchy ; same as clamhradh in mean-
ing and root.
;cl6imhein, icicle, snot ; from clbimh.
clois, the herb "stinking marsh, horse tail,'Mr. clois, clo-uisge
(O'R.), " water nail " (Cameron).
cloitheag", a shrimp, prawn (M'D.), Ir. cloitheog. Possibly for
claidh-, *cladi-, root clad, of dadh : " a digger." M'L. has
instead cloidheag, a small shore-fish.
clomh, counteract, subdue (Carm ). See caochail.
clomhais, cloves ; from the Eng.
clos, rest, sleep, stillness ; "^clud-to-^ root Tdu^ klav ; see claoidh.
closach, a carcase ; from clos^ q.v.
closaid, a closet, Ir. doseud ; from the Eng.
cl6th, mitigate, still ; from the root lalav, of daoidh, q.v.
cluain, a green plain, pasture, Ir. and E. Ir. duain : ^^dopni- ; Lit.
szlapti, become wet, szlapina, a wet spot ; Gr. KXeTras (Hes.),
a wet muddy place (Strachan).
cluaineas, cluain, intriguing, deceit, Ir. duainearadid, duain,
"^dopni- ; Gr. kXgttto), steal; Eng. lift, cattle lifting (Strachan).
Cluain = sense (Glenmoriston).
cluaran, a thistle ; cf. W. cluro, whisk.
cluas, ear, Ir., 0. Ir. cluas, W. dust, "^kloustd, root Jdeus, klus,
kleu, hear; 0. Sax. hlust, hearing, Eng. listen, etc. See chdnn.
clud, a patch, clout, Ir. dud, W. dwt, ; from the Eng, clout, Ag. S.
dut, (Rhys, Murray),
cluich, play, Ir. duiche, a game, E. Ir., duche, a game, 0. Ir.
duichech, ludibundus : ^klokjo- ; Got. hlahjan, Eng. laugh,
Ger. lachen (Windisch, Stokes), placere ?
cluigein, a little bell, anything dangling ; from dag.
cluinn, hear, Ir., E. Ir. duinim, W. dywed hearing. Cor. clewaf,
audio, Br. klevet, audire, "^klevo, I hear ; Lat. clueo, am
reputed, mdutus?, famous ; Gr. kAi!w, hear ; Eng. loud, listen ;
Skr. cru, hear, crdvas, sound. Hence cliii, cluas, etc.
cluip, cheat : hardly *kloppi- ; Gr. KAeTrrw.
clupaid, the swollen throat in cattle :
cluthaich, cover, clothe, Ir. duthmhar, sheltered, warm. Cf. E. Ir.
clithaigim, I shelter, clitli, clothing, W. clyd, sheltering ; root
qel of ceil, q.v. Ir. cludaim, I clothe, cover, from Eng. clothe,
has possibly influenced the vowel both in G. and Ir.
cluthaich, chase, Ir. cluthaighim : '^'kluto-, "^klu ; see claoidh ?
cnab, pull, haul ; see cnap.
cnabaire, an instrument for dressing flax, Ir. cndih, hemp ; see
cainh.
cnag, a crack, Ir. cnag ; from the Eng. crask.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 91
cnag, a pin, knob, Ir. cnag ; from the Eng. knag^ a peg, Dan.
hnag^ a peg, Sw. kiiagg, a knag.
cn^id, a scoff*, Ir. cndid :
cn^imh, bone, Ir. cndimh, 0. Ir. cndim, "^kndmi-s ; Gr. kv/jimt], leg ;
Eng. ham.
cnaimhseag, a pimple, bear-berry :
cnamh, chew, digest, Ir. cnaoi, cnaoidhim, E. Ir. cndm, gnawing^
W. cnoi ; Gr. kvcoSmv, a tooth, Kvaw, scrape ; Lit. kandu, bite ;
Skr. khdd, chew. Root qne, qnd, qen. Hence cnamhuin,
gangrene.
cnamhaiche, matured person (M'D.) :
cnap, a knob, Ir. cnap, E. Ir. cnapp ; from Norse knappr, a knob,
M. Eng. knap. Hence also G. and Ir. cnap, a blow, Sc. knap^
Eng. knappe, blow.
cnapach, a youngster ; from C7^ap. But cf. Norse knapi, boy,
varlet, Eng. knave.
tcnarra, a ship, Ir. cnarra ; from Norse knorr^ g. knarrar, Ag. S.
cnear.
cnatan, a cold: ^krod-to--, Ger. rotz, catarrh; Gr. Kopv^a (do.).
Also cneatan.
cnead, a sigh, groan, so Ir., E. Ir., cnet ; from the root can of can,
say, sing.
cneadh, a wound, so Ir., E. Ir. cned, ^knidd ; Gr. Ki/tfw, sting,
kvlSt], nettle ; Ag. S. hnitan, tundere. Cf. Teut. knit, hit ;
Gr. KVi^o), stick, cut ; cneidh-ghalar, painful complaint,
cneap, a button, bead ; see cnap.
cneas, skin, waist, Ir. cneas, E. Ir. cnes ; from cen of cionn, skin ;
see hoicionn ; Corn, knes, body, W. cnaivd, human flesh.
cneasda, humane, modest, Ir. cneasda ; from cen as in cineal, kin.
cn^atag, fir cone, shinty ball :
cneisne, slender (M'D.) ; from cneas.
cniadaich, caress, stroke :
cno, a nut, Ir. end, 0. Ir. end, W. cneuen, pi. cnau. Cor. cnyfan,
Br. knaouenn, *knovd ; Norse, hnot, Ag. S. hnutu, Eng. nut,
Ger. nuss.
cnoc, a hillock, Ir, cnoc, 0. Ir. cnocc, 0. Br. cnoch, tumulus, Br.
kreac^h, krec^henn, hill, *knokko- ; from knog-ko-, Norse, hnakki,
nape of the neck, Ag. S. hnecca, neck, Eng. neck. Some
have given the stem as ^cunocco-, and referred it to the root
of Gaul, cuno-, high, W. cwn, height, root ku, be strong,
great, as in curaidh, q.v. Cf. Ag. S. hnoll, O.H.G. hnol,
vertex, head. See ceann.
cndcaid, a ycung woman's hair bound up in a fillet. Founded on
the Sc. cocker noun I/.
92 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
cnod, a knot, Ir. aiota ; from the Eng.
cnod, a patch, piece on a shoe ; cf. Sc. knoit, knot, large piece.
cnodaich, acquire, lay up, Ir. cnodach, acquiring (O'R.) ; see cnod.
cnodan, the gurnet, Ir. cnuddn (Fol.) ; cf. Sc. crooner, so-called
from the croon or noise it makes when landed. The G. seems
borrowed from Sc. crooner, mixed with Sc. crout, croak.
cnoid, a sumptuous present (Heb.) ; croid :
cnoidh, tooth-ache, severe pain ; see cnuimh.
cnomhagan, a large whelk, buckie ; cf. end, nut.
cnot, unhusk barley ; from cnotag, the block or joint of wood
hollowed out for unhusking barley. The word is the Eng.
knot ?
cnuachd, head, brow, temple, Ir. cruaic (O'R.) ; cf. W. cnuwch,
bushy head of hair, cnivch, knuckle, cnuch, joint, "^cnoucco-,
" a prominence " ; root kneu, knu ; Norse hnukr, hnjukr, knoll,
peak, ImutSr, a knob. Hence cnuachdach, shrewd : " having
a head."
cnuas, gnash, chew, crunch ; for cruas, cruais, founded on Eng.
crush, crunch ?
cnuasaich, ponder, collect, Ir. cnuasuighim, cnuas, a collection,
scraping together, G. and Ir. cnuasachd, reflection, collection,
"^knousto- ; root kmi, knevo, scrape, Gr. kvvw, scratch, Norse
hnoggr, niggard, Eng. niggard, Ag. S. hnedw, sparing. The
idea is "scraping together" : a niggard is "one who scrapes."
Stokes (Diet.) gives the root as knup, and compares Lit.
knupsyti, oppress. St. now, possibly, *knoud-to, Norse,
knutyr, ball. Cf. cruinnich, for force.
cnuimh, a worm ; wrong spelling for cruimh, q.v.
cnumhagan, a handful (Heb.) ; for crohhagan, from fcrobh, the
hand "? See crbg.
CO, CO, who, 0. Ir. co-te, now G. ciod, q.v. ; W. pa, Cor. py, pe, Br.
pe, quia, root qo-, qa-, qe; Lat. quod; Gr. tto-Ol, etc.; Eng. who.
CO, cho, as, so ; see cho.
cob, plenty (Sh.) ; from Lat. copia. Ir. coib, party, followers.
CObhair, assistance, so Ir., 0. Ir. cohir, "^cohris, co + her, root hher,
carry ; see heir ; and cf. for meaning Gr. crviK^kpa, it is of use.
Cobhan, a coffer, box, Ir. cofra ; from Eng. co'ffi7i, coffer.
CObhar, foam, Ir. cuhhar, E. Ir. cohur : co + hur ; for har, see tohar,
well.
cobhartach, spoil, booty :
cobhlach, fleet. See cahhlach.
COC, cock, to cock ; from the Eng.
cocaire, a cook, Ir. cocaire, M. Ir. cocaire, Cor. peher, pistor ; fronj
the Lat. coquo, I cook.
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 93
COChull, also coich (Carm.), husk, hood, Ir. cochal, 0. Ir. cochull^
W. cwcwll, hood, cowl ; from Lat. cucul/us, Eng. coivL
COCOntachd, smartness (A. M'D.); see coc, gog.
codaich, share, divide ; from codach, gen. of cuid.
codhail, a meeting ; see comhdhail.
COgadh, war, so Ir., 0. Ir. cocad : "^con-cath, "co-battle" ; see cath.
COgais, conscience, Ir. cogus, 0. Ir. concubus : con + cuhus', arid
0. Ir. cubus, conscience, is for con-fis, co smdjios, knowledge, q.v.
COgan, a loose husk, covering (H.S.D.), a small vessel ; see gogan
for latter force.
COgull, tares, cockle, Ir. cogal; borrowed from M. Eng. cocTcel^
cokkidj now cockle.
coibhneas, proper spelling of caoimhneas, which see.
coibhseachd, propriety, so Ir. coibhseach, becoming ; cf. M. Ir.
cuibdes, fittingness, from cubaid ; see cubhaidh.
coicheid, suspicion, doubt :
cbig", five, Ir. cuig, 0. Ir. coic^ W. pump, E. W. pimp, Cor. pymp,
Br. pemp, Gaul, pempe, "^qenqe ; Lat. quinque ; Gr. Trevre ; Lit.
penki ; Ijot. fimf ; Skr. pdnca.
COigil, spare, save, so Ir., E. Ir. coiclim, cocill (n.) ; *con-cel, root
qel, as in Lat. colo, etc. Also cagail. The E. Ir. cocell,
concern, thought, is for con-ciall ; ciall, sense.
COigreach, a stranger, Ir. coigcrigheach, coigcrioch, *co7i-crich-eck,
" provincial," E. Ir. cocrich, province, boundary. See crioch.
The meaning is, " one that comes from a neighbouring
province."
coilceadha, bed materials, fcoilce, a bed, Ir. coilce, a bed, E. Ir.
colcaid, flock bed, 0. W. cilcet, now cylched. ; from Lat.
culcita, a pillow, Eng. guilt.
coilchean, a little cock, water spouting ; from coileach, q.v.
coileach, a cock, so Ir., 0. Ir. cailech, W. ceiliog, Cor. celioc, Br.
kiliok, "^kaljdkos, the " caller " ; root qal, call ; Lat. calare,
summon, Eng. Calends ; Gr. KaAeco, call ; Lit. kalba, speech,
etc.
coileag, a cole of hay ; from the Sc. cole, a cole or coil of hay.
See gbileag. Coileag (Perth.).
coileid, a stir, noise (Heb.) ; cf. Eng. coil, of like force. The G.
seems borrowed therefrom.
coileir, a collar, Ir. coilear ; from the Eng.
COilionn, a candle ; see coinneal.
coi'lige (Dial.), race, course (Hend.) : coimhliong.
coiliobhar, a kind of gun ; see cuilbheir.
coille, coin, wood, Ir. coill, 0. Ir. caill, W. celli, Cor. kelli, ^kaldet-,
Gr. KAaSo?, a twig ; Eng. holt, Ger. holz. Further root qla,
qela, split, hit, as in cladh, claidheamh, q.v.
94 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
coilleag, a cockle (M'D.), Ir. coilUog (O'R.), Cor. cyligi :
coilleag, a rmal song, a young potato, a smart blow :
COilleag', coilei^ (accent on end syllable ; Perth.), a smart stroke :
coilpeachadh, equalizing cattle stock (Heb.) ; see colpach.
coilpein, a rope :
coimeas, comparison, co-equal, Ir. coimheas, E. Ir. coimmeas :
com + meas. See meas.
coimh-, CO- ; see comh-.
coimheach, strange, foreign, cruel, Ir. coimhtheach, coimhthigheach,
coimhightheach, strange, M. Ir. comaigthe, foreign, 0. Ir.
comaigtech, alienigena ; for comaitche (Stokes). See tathaich.
tCoimhdhe, God, Ir. Coimhdhe, God, the Trinity, 0. Ir. comdiu,
gen. comded (Bk. of Deer), Lord, *com-medi6s, " Providence,"
root medj think, as in G. 7neas^ esteem, Lat. modus, meditor,
meditate. See meas. The fanciful " Coibhi, the Celtic arch-
druid," is due to a confusion of the obsolete Coimhdhe with
the Northumbrian Coifi of Bede.
coimhead, looking, watching, Ir. coimhead, 0. Ir. com^t, ^'com-
entu-. For entu, see didean.
coimhearsnach, a neighbour, Ir. comharsa, gen. cdmharsan, E. Ir.
comarse ; from com and ursainn, a door-post (Zimmer). See
U7^sainn.
coimheart, a comparison ; *com-hert, root ber, of heir. Cf. Lat.
confero.
coimheirbse, wrangling : com ■{• far puis, q.v.
coimhirp, rivalry, striving (Arg.) ; same root as oidkirp.
coimhliong, a race, course, also coi'lig^e (Dial.) ; Ir. coimhliiig ;
from com and lingim, I leap. For root, see leitm.
COimsich, perceive, Ir. coirnsighim : com-meas ; see meas.
coimirc, mercy, quarter, so Ir. ; see comairce.
coimpire, an equal, match ; from Eng. compeer or Lat. compar.
coimrig, trouble ; from Sc, Eng. cumber, cwmbering.
coimseach, indifferent (Sh.) ; from coimeas, co-equal.
coindean, a kit (Arm. : not H.S.D.) :
coineag, a nest of wild bees (M'L.) ; from cdinneach, moss. See
caoniiag.
coinean, a rabbit, coney, Ir. coinin, W. cwning ; from M. Eng.
cunin, from 0. Fr. connin, connil, from Lat. cuniculus, whence
Eng. coney, through Fr.
coingeis, indifferent, same as, no matter ; con-geas, from geaSy
desire, etc. Cf. ailleas, from ail-ges.
coingeal, a whirlpool (H.S.D.) :
coingheall, a loan, Ir. coinghioll, obligation; con + giall, q.v.
coingir, a pair (Sh.) :
OP fHE GAELIC LANGUAGE. ^5
coinlein, a nostril ; see cuinnean.
coinn, fit of coughing ; a nostril (Hend.) :
coinne, a supper, a party to which every one brings his own pro-
visions (Heb.). Cf. E. Ir. coindem, coinmed, coigny, conveth,
quartering, "^kond, eat, as in cnamh, q.v.
coinne, woman (Hend.) ; from N. kona, kvenna (gen. pi.), woman,
Eng. queen.
coinne, coinneamh, a meeting, Ir. coinne^ E. Ir. conne, "^con-nesid ;
root nes, come, dw^ell, Gr. veo/xat, go, vatw, dwell ; Skr. nas,
join some one. Stokes seems to think that kon-de- is the
ultimate form here, de being the I. E. dhe, set, Gr. tlOtjijli, etc.
Coinneamh, when used as adverb = coinnibh, dat. plur. "?
coinneach, moss, Ir. caonach, M. Ir. cimnacli, 0. Ir. coennich,
muscosi :
COinneal, candle, so Ir., E. Ir. candel, W. canivyll, 0. W. cannuill^
Cor. cantuil ; from Lat. candela, whence Eng. candle.
COinneas, a ferret; "^con-neas, "dog-weasel'"? See neas.
coinnseas, conscience (Hend.) :
coinnlein, a stalk, Ir. coinlm, M. Ir. coinnli7i, 0. Ir. connall,
stipula, *kon7iaUo- ; Lat., carina, a reed, Gr. Kavva. Stokes
also joins W. cawn, reed, "^kdno-.
coir, just, right, Ir., 0. Ir. coir, W. cywir \ ^ko-vero-, "co-true,"
from t'ero-, now /^or, q.v. Hence coir, justice, right, share.
Also in the phrase 'n an coir, in their presence ; see comhair.
coirb, cross, vicious, Ir. corhadh, wickedness, E. Ir. corpte, wicked ;
from Lat. corruptus. Also see coiripidh,
coirceag, a bee-hive (Sh., O'R.) :
coire, fault, so Ir., 0. Ir. caire, 0. W. cared, W. cerydd, Br. carez,
"^'karjd ; Lat. carinare, blame, abuse ; Let. karindt, banter,
Ch. SI. karati, punish.
coire, a cauldron, so Ir., E. Ir. core, coire, W. pair. Cor., Br. per,
*qerjo ; Norse kverr, kettle, Ag. S. hwer \ Skr, caru ; Gr.
Kkpvo<i, a sacrificial vessel.
coireal, coral, from the Eng.
coireall, a quarry, Ir. coireul, coiler (F. M.) ; from Fr. carriere,
I with dissimilation of r's (Stokes).
coireaman, coriander, so Ir. ; founded on the Lat. coriandrum,
Gr. Kopiavvov.
coirioll, a carol ; from the Eng.
coiripidh, corruptible ; from Lat. corruptus.
coirneil, a colonel, Ir. curnel, corniel (F. M.) ; from the Eng.
coirpileir, a corporal ; from the Eng.
COiseunuich, bless (Sh.) ; con + seun or sian, q.v.^
COisich, walk, Ir. coiseachd (n) ; from cas, coise, q.v.
96 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
coisinn, win ; see cosnadh.
coisir, a festive party, chorus, Ir. coisir, feast, festive party, coisir
(O'R., O'B., and Keat.), feasting, "coshering":
coisrigeadh, consecration, 0. G. consecrad (Bk. of Deer), Ir. cois-
reagadh, 0. Ir. coUecrad ; from Lat. consecratio.
colt, a small boat, Ir. coit, E. Ir. coite. Of. Lat. cotta, species
navis, Norse kati, a small ship, Eng, cat. Stokes suggests
that the G. and Ir. are from the Low Lat. cotia, navis Indica.
Hence Eng. cot. Now from ^quontio ; Gaul, ponto, whence
Eng. punt.
coitcheann, common, public, so Ir., 0. Ir. coitchenn : ^con-tech-en ?
coiteir, a cottar, Ir. coitedir ; from the Eng. cottar.
coitich, press one to take something : ^con-tec-, root tek, ask, Eng.
thig ; see atacli.
col, an impediment, Ir. colaim ; root, qela, qld, break, split 1 See
call \ and cf. Gr. kwA7;w, hinder, which is probably from the
same root.
col, sin, Ir., E. Ir. col., W. c^^/, 0. Br. col^ *kulo- ; Lat. culpa, colpa,
fault. Stokes hesitates between referring it to the root of
Lat. culpa or to that of Lat. scelus, Got. skal, Eng. shall, Ger.
schuld, crime.
colag, a small steak or collop (Arg.) ; from Eng. collop.
colaiste, a college, Ir. colaisde ; from the Eng.
colamoir, the hake (Sh., O'B.), Ir. colamoir ; cf. Sc. coalmie,
colemie, the coal-fish.
colan, a fellow-soldier, companion ; cf. cdmhla, together. The
Ir. comhlach is for com-lach, the lack of oglach.
colann, colainn, a body, so Ir., 0. Ir. colinn, gen. colno, W. celain,
carcase, 0. W. celein, cadaver, "^colanni- (Brugmann) ; root
qela, break, the idea being "dead body'"? Cf. for meaning
Gr. veKvs, corpse, from nek, kill,
colbh, pillar, Ir , colbh, E. Ir. colha, W. celff, Br. keif', Lat, columna,
Eng. column ; root qel, high. G. colbh, plant stalk, Ir. colmh,
is allied to Lat. culmus. The Celtic words, if not borrowed
from, have been influenced by the Lat.
cole, an eider duck (Heb.) ; from Sc, Eng. colk, E. Fris. kolke, the
black diver.
colg", wrath, Ir., colg ; a metaphorical use of calg (i.e. colg), q. v.
colg", sword (ballads). See calg.
collachail, boorish (H.S.D. ; O'R. quoted as authority), Ir. collach-
a.mkuil ; from Ir. collach, boar. See cullach.
collaid, a clamour, Ir. colloid ; see coileid.
collaidh, carnal, sensual, so Ir., E. Ir. collaide ; for colnaide, from
colatm, body, flesh.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 97
coUaidin, codalan, white poppy (H.S.D. ; O'R. only quoted), Ir.
collaidin, codalan ; from colladh, codal, sleep.
collainn, a smart stroke ; also coilleag.
colman, a dove ; see caiman.
colpach, a heifer, steer, Ir. colpach, M. Ir. calpach ; apparently
founded on Norse kdlfr, a calf. Hence Sc. colpindach.
coltach, like ; for co-amhuil-t-ach. See amhuil, samhuil.
coltar, a coulter, Ir. collar^ E. Ir. cottar ; from M. Eng. cidtre,
Lat. culter.
columan, a dove, Ir. and 0. Ir. colum, W. colomen^ civlwm^ Corn.
colom^ Br. coulin ; from Lat. columbus, columba.
com, the cavity of the chest, Ir. com^ coim, chest cavity, waist,
body. The G. is allied to W. cwm, a valley, " a hollow,"
^kumho- ; Gr. Kvcfios, a hump, Lat. cumber e ; Ger. hauhe, hood ;
root kubko-, bend. The 0. Ir. coim, covering, is from the
root kemb, wind, as in cam, q.v.
coma, indifferent, so Ir., E. Ir. cuma, 0. Ir. cumme, idem, is cumma,
it is all the same ; from root me, measure : " equal measure."
comaidh, a messing, eating together, E. L-. comrnaid, ^kom-buti-s,
"co-being," from *buti-s, being. See bi, be.
COmain, obligation, Ir. comaoin, 0. Ir. commdin : "^com-moini- ; Lat.
communis. See maoin.
fcomairce, protection ; see comraich.
comanachadh, celebration of the Lord's Supper ; from comann or
comunn, society, Lat. communio, Eng. communion.
comannd, a command ; from the Eng.
fcomar, a confluence, Ir. comar, cumar, E. Ir. commar, W. cymmer,
Br. kemper, confluent, "^kom-bero- ; Lat. con-fero. Root bher,
as in beir.
comas, comus, power, Ir. cumas, E. Ir. commus, ^com-mestu-,
^mestu-, from med, as in meas (Zimmer, Brugmann).
combach, a companion ; a shortened form of companach.
combaid, company (Dial.) :
COmbaiste, compaiste, a compass, Ir. compds ; from the Eng.
COmh-, prefix denoting " with, com-, con-," Ir. comh-, 0. Ir. com-^
"^kom- ; Lat. cum, com-, con-, Eng. com-, con-, etc. It appears
as coimh-, comi- (before m and 6), con- (before d, g), etc.
COmhach, prize, prey : "^com-agos- ; root ag, drive %
comhachag, owl, W. cuan, Br. kaouen, 0. Br. couann ; L. Lat.
cavannus (from the Celtic — Ernault), Fr. chouette, 0. Fr.
ckoue. Cf. Ger. schuhu, uhu. An onomatopoetic word
originally.
CO had, a comparison (Sh.) ; comh+fada, q.v.
CO haib, contention about rights (M'A.) :
11
98 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
.comhaich, dispute, assert, contend :
comhailteachd, a convoy, Ir. comhailtim, I join ; from comhal, a
joining, so Ir., E. Ir. accomallte^ socius, 0. Ir. accomol, con-
junctio, W. cyfall, *ad-com-ol. For ol, see under tional, alt.
comhair, presence, e regione, etc., Ir. comhair, E. Ir. comair^ W.
cyfer, 0. W. aver : com -{-air, the prep, comh and air, q.v.
(Asc). Cor. kever. Cf. comhghar of ]r.
comhairc, an outcry, appeal, forewarning, Ir. cdmhairce, E. Ir.
comaircim, I ask : com -\- arc. For arc, see iomchorc.
,COmhairle, advice, Ir. cdm/mirle, 0. Ir. airle, counsel, air + le.
This le is usually referred to the root las, desire, Skr. lash,
desire, Lat. lascivus, wanton. Ascoli suggests the root Id of
0. Ir. Idaim, mittere, Gr. kXavvM.
comhal, a joining— an Ir. word ; see comhailteachd.
comhalta, a foster-brother, Ir. comhalta, E. Ir. cornalta, W. cyfaillt,
friend, "^kom-altjos, root al, rear, Lat. alo, etc. See altrum.
comharradh, a mark, Ir. comhartha, 0. Ir. comarde ; from com and
0. Ir. airde, signuni, W. arwydd, M. Br. argoez, *are-vidio- ;
root vid, as in Lat. video, here proe-video, etc.
COmhait, the bark of a dog ; from comh and art, 0. Ir. artram,
latratus, W. cyfarth, arthio, to bark, 0. Br. arton. Cf. Ir.
amhastrach, barking.
comhdach, clothing, covering, Ir. cdmhdacJi, veil, covering, defence,
E. Ir. comtuch, cumtach, covering, " shrine" : "^con-ud-tog ;
root teg, tog, as in tigh, q.v. Cf. cuintgim, peto : "^com-di-
segim.
comhdaich, allege, prove : *com-atach ; see atach 1
comhdhail, a meeting, Ir. comhdhdil, E. Ir. comddl : com + ddil;
see dail.
comhla, together, Ir. comhldmh : com-\-ldmh, "co-hand, at hand."
See Idmh.
comhla, door, door-leaf, Ir. comhla, E. Ir. comla, gen. comlad :
"^com-lci-, root {p)ld-, fold, groove (cf. Lat. sim-plu-s, O.H.G.
zwifal, two-fold) ; root pal, pel, as in alt, joint.
comhlann, a combat, Ir. comhlann, E. Ir. comlci'tui : '^' com ■\- lann ;
see lann.
COmhluadar, conversation, colloquy, Ir. comhluadar, company,
conversation ; from luaidh, speak {^com-luad-tro-). See
luaidh.
COmhnadh, help, Ir. cdugnamh, 0. Ir. congnann, inf. to congu'm, I
help : com + {g)n\, " co-doing." See nl, do, gniomh, deed.
comhnard, level, Ir. comhdrd -. com + drd, "co-high, equally high."
comhnuidh, a dwelling, Ir. comhunidlie, a tarrying, dwelling, E. Ir.
coiiftnaide, a waiting, delay, (also iniaide) : *com-naide ; root
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 99
nes, nas^ dwell ; Gr. vcum, dwell, vkoiuu, go, vaerr]^, inhabitant ;
Skr. nas, join any one.
COmhradh, conversation, Ir. coDihrddh ; com + radh ; see radh.
cdmhrag", a conflict, Ir. comhrac, E. Ir. comrac^ battle, 0. Ir.
comracc, meeting, W. cyfrang, rencounter, "^kom-ranko- ; root
renk, assemble ; Lit. rinkti, assemble, surink\mas, assembly.
COmhstadh, a borrowing, loan : *com-iasad- ; see iasad ? Cf. E. Ir.
costud, consuetudo.
COmpairt, partnership, Ir. compdrtas ; from com- and pdirt, q.v.
companach, companion, Ir. compdnach^ M. Ir. companach ; from
E. Eng. compainoun, through Fr., from L. Lat. compdnio,
" co-bread-man" from pdnis, bread. Dialectic combach.
comradh, aid, assistance :
comraich, protection, sanctuary, Ir. c6mai7'ce, comruiyhe, E. Ir.
comairche, M. Ir. comairce ; from the root arc, defend, as in
teasairg, q.v.
COmunn, society, company, Ir. cumann ; from Lat. communio, Eng.
communion.
con-, with ; see comh-.
COna, cat's tail or moss crops (Sh.) ; see canach. Cf. gonan, grass
roots.
COnablach, a carcase, so Ir. ; for con-ahlach ; see con- and ablach.
" Dog's carcase " (Atkinson).
conachag, a conch (M'A.) ; from the Eng.
conachair, a sick person who neither gets worse nor better (M'A.),
uproar (M'F.) :
cona-ghaothach, tempest, raging gale (Hend.) :
COnair, a path, way (Sh., O'B.), so Ir., 0. Ir. conar :
conaire, the herb "loose-strife," Ir. conair (O'R.) ; see conas.
COnal, love, fruitage (Carm.) :
COnalach, brandishing (Sh, ; not H.S.D.) ; cf. the name Conall,
*Cuno-valo-s, roots kuno (see curaidh) and val, as in flath, q.v.
COnaltradh, conversation, Ir. conaltra (O'R. ; Sh.) : '^con-alt-rad/i ?
For alt, see alt, joint.
conas, a wrangle, so Ir. (O'R., Sh.) ; from con-, the stem of cu,
dog : " currishness " 1
conas, conasg, furze, whins, Ir. conasg (O'R., Sh.): cf. conas above.
Manx conney, yellow furze.
condrachd, contrachd, mischance, curse, E. Ir. contracht ; from
Lat. contractus, a shrinking, contraction.
conf hadh, rage, Ir. confadh, M. Ir. confad : con +fadh ; for fadh,
see onfhadh.
c6nlan, an assembly, Ir. conldn. H.S.D. gives as authorities for
the Gaelic word " Lh. et C. S/'
100 ETYMOLOGICAIi DICTIONARY
conn, sense, so Ir., E. Ir. cond : * cos-no-, root kos, kes, as in G. cki,
see; Gr. Kovveo), understand, koct/xos, array ("what is seen"),
world. See further under chi for kes. Stokes equates cond
with Got. handngs, wise ; but this is merely the Eng. handy.
It has been suggested as an ablaut form to ceann, head. Got.
hugs, sense, has also been compared ; *cug-s-no- is possible.
connadh, fuel, so Ir,, 0. Ir. condud, W. cynnud, Cor. cunys,
^kondutu- ', root kond, hid ; Lat. candeo, incendo ; Gr.
KOLvSapos, coal.
connan, lust :
connlach, straw, stubble, so Ir., 0. Ir. connall, stipula : konnallo- ;
Lat. cannula, canna, a reed, canalis, Gr. Kavva, reed. See
coi7inlein.
connsaich, dispvite ; see under ionnsaich.
connspair, a disputant : *con-deasbair ; see deashair.
COnnspeach, a wasp, Ir. coinnspeach (Fol.) ; see speach, wasp.
COnnspoid, a dispute, Ir. conspoid; from a Lat. *consputatio, for
^condisputatio. See deashud.
connspunn, conspuU, consmunn, a hero, Ir. conspidlach, heroic
(O'R.) :
constabal, the township's bailiff (Heb.) ; from Eng. constable.
contraigh, neaptide, 0. Ir. contracht ; from Lat. contractus,
shrinking (Zeuss, Meyer). See condracht and traogh.
contran, wild angelica, Ir. contran (O'R.) :
conuiche, a hornet (H.S.D.), conuich (Arm.), conuibhe, connuibh
(M'L., M'A.) ; used by Stewart in the Bible glosses. Same
root as conas.
cop, foam, M. Ir., E. Ir. copp ; from Ag. S., M. Eng. copp, vertex,
top, Ger. kopf, head.
COpa^, docken, Ir. copog, capog ; M. Ir. copog. Founded on the
Eng. cop, head, head-dress, crest, tuft ; W. copog, tufted.
The same as cop, q.v.
copan, a boss, shield boss, cup ; from the Norse koppr, cup, bell-
shaped crown of a helmet, Eng. cup.
copar, copper, Ir. copar ; from the Eng.
cor, state, condition, Ir. cor, 0. Ir. cor, positio, "jactus," '^'koru-,
vb. "^korio, I place. See cuir.
coram, a faction, a set (M'A.) ; from the Eng, quorum.
core, a cork, so Ir. ; from the Eng.
core, a knife, gully, dirk, Ir. core : "^korko-, '^''qor-qo-, root qor, qer,
cut ; Lit. kirwis, axe ; Gr. Kepfxa, a chip, Ketpo), cut. Allied
to the root sqer of sgar, q.v.
core, oats, Ir. coirce, M. Ir. corca, W. ceirch, Br. kercli, ^korkjo-.
Bezzenberger suggests connection with Lettic kurki, small
corn. Possibly for kor-ko-, where kor, ker is the root which
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 101
appears in Lat. Ceres, Eng. cereal, Gr. Kopos, satiety, Lit.
szerti, feed. The meaning makes connection with Gr.
KopKopos, pimpernel, doubtful.
corcur, crimson, Ir. corcur, scarlet, 0. Ir. corcur, purple, W.
porphor ; from Lat. purpura (Eng. purple).
cord, a rope, Ir. corda ; from Eng. cord, Lat. corda.
cdrd, agree, Iy. cord ; from obsolete Eng. co7'd, agree, bring to an
agreement, from Lat. cord-, the stem of cor, heart, whence
Eng. cordial, etc. The Sc. has the part, as cordyt, agreed.
cordaidhe, spasms (Sh.) : "twistings," from cord.
c6rlach, bran, refuse of grain (M'D. ; O'R. has corlach), corrlach,
coarsely ground meal, over-plus. A compound of co?t,
" what is over " 1
Cdrn, a drinking horn, Ir., E. Ir. corn, W. corn, Br. Jcorn, "^korno- ;
Lat. cornu ; Eng. horn ; Gr. Kcpas, horn.
cornuil, retching, violent coughing : ^kors-no- ? For kors, see
carrasan.
COron, a crown, Ir., E. Ir. coroin, cordn, W. coron ; from Lat.
corona (Eng. crown).
COrp, a body, Ir., 0. Ir. corp, W. corff, Br. kor-f ; from Lat. corpus
(Eng. corpse, Sc. corp).
COrpag^, tiptoe (Arm.) ; seemingly founded on corr of corrag.
COrr, a crane, Ir., E. Ir. corr, W. crychydd. Cor. cherkit, 0. Br.
corcid, ardea, "^korgsd, korgjo-s ; Gr. Kepx^^, be hoarse, Kepxvrj,
a hawk, 0. SI. kraguj, sparrow-hawk. Cf. W. cregyr, heron,
" screamer," from cregu, be hoarse ; Ag. S. hrdgra, Ger.
reiher, heron, Gr. Kpi^w, KpcKe, screech.
c6rr, excess, overplus, Ir. corr ; G. corr, odd, Ir. cor, corr, odd ;
also Ir. corr, snout, corner, point, E. Ir. corr, rostrum, corner.
The E. Ir. corr, rostrum, has been referred by Zimmer and
Thurneysen to corr, crane — the name of "beaked" bird doing
duty also for " beak." The modern meanings of " excess,
odd " (cf. odd of Eng., which really means " point, end ")
makes the comparison doubtful. Refer it rather to kors-, stick
out, point, head ; Gr. Kopcrr], head ; stem keras- ; Lat. crista,
Eng. crest ; further is Gr. Kepas, horn, Lat. cerebrum, Norse
hjarsi, crown of the head ; and also corn, horn, q.v. Hence
corran, headland.
corra-biod, an attitude of readiness to start ; from corr, point,
and hiod = biog, start, corra-beaga (M'A.).
corrach, abrupt, steep, Ir., M. Ir. corrach, unsteady, wavering ;
" on a point," from corr, point, odd 1
corra-chagailt, glow-worm-like figures from raked embers, Ir.
corrchagailt ; from corr, a point, and cagailt.
102 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
corradhuil, first eftbrt of an infant to articulate. An onomato-
poetic word.
COrrag, a forefinger, finger ; from cdrr, point, etc.
COrra-ghriodhach, a heron, crane, Ir. corr-ghrian, heron ; from
cbrr^ and (E. Ir.) grith^ a cry, scream, ^grtu-^ root gar^ of
goir^ q.v.
Corran, a sickle, Ir. corrdn^ carrdn, M. Ir. corrdn, "^korso-, root
kors, kers, an extension of I. E. qero, Gr. Ketpo), etc., as in core,
q.v. Cf. I. E. qerpo^ cut, from the same root, which gives
Lat. caiyo, cull, Gr. Kap-n-os, fruit (Eng. harvest), Lit. kerpu,
cut, Skr. krpana, sword. G. may be from a korpso-, korso-.
The Gaelic has also been referred to the root hir, roimd, as
in cruinn, Ir. cor, circuit (O'CL).
corran, headland ; see corr.
corran, a spear, barbed arrow (Ossianic Poems) ; from corr, a
point, q.v.
corranach, loud weeping, " coronach," Ir. cordnach, a funeral cry,
dirge: co -\- ran-ach, "co-weeping"; see ra?z.
corrg'huil, a murmur, chirping (Heb.) ; see corradhuil.
corrlach, coarsely ground meal, overplus ; see corlaclt.
COrruich, anger, rage, Ir. corruighe, vb. corruighim, stir, shake ;
from corrach. The striking resemblance to M, Eng. couroux,
0. Fr. couroux (from Lat. corruptus), has been remarked by
Dr Cameron (Rel. Celt. II , 625).
corsa, a coast ; from the Eng. course. Cf. corsair, a cruiser.
cor-shiomain, thraw-crook ; from cor or car, q.v., and sioman, q.v.
COS, a foot, leg ; see cas.
COS, a cave, Ir. cuas, topographically Coos, Coose, M. Ir. cuas, a
cave, hollow : *cavosto-, from cavo-, hollow ; Lat. cavus. It is
possible to refer it to "^coud-to, koudh, hide, Gr. KevOo), Eng.
hide, hut. The Norse kjds, a deep or hollow place, is not
allied, but it appears in Lewis in the place-name Keose.
COSanta, industrious ; see cosnadh.
COSd, cost, Ir. cosdus (n), M. Ir. costus, W. cost ; from 0. Fr. cost,
Eng. cost.
COSgairt, slaughtering ; see casgairt.
cosgaradh, valuation of the sheep and cattle which a crofter is
entitled to ; Norse Icost-gortS, state of affairs (Lewis).
COSgus, cost ; a by-form of cost.
coslach, like, coslas, likeness, Ir., cosmhuil, like, 0. Ir. cosmail,
cosmailius (n.) : con + samha.il, q.v.
cosmhail, like ; see the above.
COSmal, rubbish, refuse of meat, etc. (M'A.) :
OF The GAELIC LANGUAGE. 103
COSnadh, earning, winning, Ir. cosnamh, defence, 0. Ir. cosnajn,
contentio, *co-sen-, root sen^ Skr. san^ win, saniyas, more
profitable, Gr. €vapa, booty. M. Ir. aisne, gain, ^ad-senia,
Skr. sanati, Gr. avv[XL.
COStag;, costmary ; from the Eng.
cot, a cottage ; from Eng. cot.
COta, a coat ; Ir. cota ; from the Eng.
cota-ban, a groat :
COtan, cotton, Ir. cotdn ; from the Eng.
COthachadh, earning support, Ir. cotkughadh, M. Ir. cothugud.,
support ; from teg, tog, as in tigh ?
COthaich, contend, strive ; from catli, battle *?
COthan, pulp, froth ; see omhan.
COthar, a coffer, Ir. cofra ; from the Eng.
cothlamadh, things of a difterent nature mixed together :
COthrom, fairplay, justice, Ir. comhthrom, equilibrium, E. Ir.
comtliroin, par : com + trom, q.v.
crabhach, devout, Ir. crdhhach, 0. Ir. crdihdecli, crabud, fides, W.
crefydd, ^krab, religion ; Skr. vi-cjatnbli, trust.
crabhat, a cravat, Ir. carabhat ; from the Eng.
cracas, conversation ; from Sc, Eng. crack.
cradh, torment, Ir. crddh, E. Ir. crdd, crdidim (vb.). Ascoli has
compared 0. Ir. tacrdth, exacerbatione, which he refers to a
stem acrcid-, derived from Lat. acritas. This will not suit the
ct of crddh. Possibly it has arisen from the root ker, cut,
hurt, (ker, krd).
cra-dhearg, blood-red, E. Ir. cro-derg ; see crb.
crag, crac, a fissure ; from the Eng. crack.
crag, knock ; from the Eng. crack.
craicionn, skin, Ir. croiceann, 0. Ir. crocenji, tergus. Cor. crohen,
Br. kroc'hen, "^krokkenno-, W, croen, "^krokno- (I). From
*krok-kenn : krok is allied to Ger. rilcken, back, Eng. ridge,
Norse hryggr ; and kenn is allied to Eng. skm. For it, see
boicionn.
craidhneach, a skeleton, a gaunt figure, craidhneag, a dried peat ;
for root, see creathach, crton, (^^krat-ni-).
craigean, a frog, from crag, crbg, q.v. : " the well-pawed one."
craimhinn, cancer, Ir. cnamhuinn: from cndmh, q v.
crain, a sow, Ir. crdin, M. Ir. crdnai (gen. case^ : *crdcnix,
"grunter," root qreq, as in Lat. crocio, croak, Lit. krokti,
grunt.
craiteag, a niggard woman ; likely from crddh.
cralad, torment ; for crddh-lot, crddh and lot, q.v.
cramaist, a crease by folding (Skye) :
104 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONAKY
cramb, a cramp-iron, Ir. crampa ; from the Eng.
crambadh, crampadh, a quarrel :
cralaidh, crawl, crawling ; from the Eng.
crann, tree, a plough, Ir. crann, a tree, lot, 0. Ir. crann^ W. and
Br. prenn : "^qrenno- ; cf. Gr. Kpdvov, cornel, Lat. cornus, Lit.
keras, tree stump, 0. Pruss. kirno, shrub (Bezzenberger).
Windisch correlated Lat. quernus, oaken, but this form,
satisfactory as it is in view of the Welsh, rather stands for
quercnuB^ from quercus, oak.
crannadh, withering, shrivelling, Ir. crannda, decrepit ; from
crann : "running to wood."
crannag", a pulpit, a wooden frame to hold the fir candles, Ir.
crannog, a hamper or basket, M. Ir. crannoc, a wooden vessel,
a wooden structure, especially the " crannogs " in Irish lakes.
From crann ; the word means many kinds of wooden
structures in Gadelic lands.
crannchur, lot, casting lots, Ir. crannchar, 0. Ir. cranchur ; from
crann and C2iir.
crannlach, the teal, red-breasted merganser ; from crann and lack,
duck, q.v.
craobh, tree, so Ir., E. Ir. croeb, crdeb, ^'croih '^ "the splittable,"
root krei, kri, separate ; as tree of Eng. and its numerous
congeners in other languages is from the root der, split ; and
some other tree words are from roots meaning violence of
rending or splitting (KXaSos, twig, e.g.). For root kri, see
criathar.
craoiseach, a spear, E. Ir. croisech ; from craobh ?
craoit, a croft ; see croit.
craos, a wide, open mouth, gluttony, so Ir., E. Ir. croes, crdes,
0. Ir. crois, gula, gluttony. Zimmer cfs. W. croesan, buffoon.
Possibly a Celtic k>"apestu-, allied to Lat. crdpula, or to Gr.
KpaLTvaXrj, headache from intoxication.
crasgach, cross-ways, crasg", an across place ; for crosg, from cros
of crois, a cross, q.v.
cras^ach, corpulent (Sh. ; H.S.D. for C. 8.) ; from obsolete eras,
body (O'Cl.)j Ir. eras, for "^'crapso-, "^krps, root krp of Lat.
corpus ?
cratach, back of person, side (Skye) : erot ?
crath, shake, Ir. erathadh, 0. Ir. crothim, "^krto- ; perhaps allied to
Lit. kresti, kratyti, shake. But it may be allied to crith, q.v.
It has been compared to Gr. KpaSdw, brandish, which may be
for cTKapSdu), root sker in crKatpw, spring, Ger. scherz, joke.
This would suit G. crith, W. cr;^d and ysgryd.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE.
105
Cr6, clay, Ir., 0. Ir, ere., g. criad, W. pridd^ Cor., Br. pry. Its
relation to Lat, creta, which Wharton explains as from cretus,
"sifted," from cerno, is doubtful. If ceimo be for "^crino, Gr.
Kpcvio, we should have the root kri, krei. separate, as in
criathar, and it is not labialised in any language (not qrei).
The Celtic phonetics are not easily explained, however.
Stokes gives the stem as qreid-, but the modern G. has the
peculiar e sound which we find in gne, ce. This points to a
stem qre-jd, root qre, which is in agreement with Lat. creta
without doing the violence of supposing cyino to give cerno,
and this again cretus. Cf. 0. Ir. c/e, left.
cr6, creubh, body ; see creubh.
cr^abag, a ball for playing, fir cone :
creach, plunder, so Ir., E. Ir. C7ech, plundering, hosting ; cf. Br.
kregi, seize, bite, catch (as fire). From the root ker, cut,'
ultimately. See core, knife, and creuchd.
creachag, a cockle, Ir. creach, scollop shell (O'll.) ; cf. W. cragen,
a shell, Cor. crogen, Br. krog.
creachan, creachann, bare summit of a hill wanting foliage, a
mountain : " bared," from creach ?
creachan, pudding made with a calf's entrails (M'L.) :
creadhonadh, a twitching, piercing pain (Heb.) ; possibly for
ciieadh-ghonadh, " wound-piercing."
creag, a rock, so Ir. ; a curtailed form of carraig. Also (Dialecti-
cally) craig". Hence Eng. crag.
creamh, garlic, Ir. creamh, earlier crem, W. craf ; Gr. Kpofivov,
onion ; Ag. S. hramse, Eng. ramsons ; Lit. kermusze, wild
garlic.
crean, crion, quake, tear up (Carm.) :
creanair, sedition (Arm. ; not H.S.D.), so Ir. (O'R.) :
creanas, whetting or hacking of sticks (M'F. ; H.S.D. considers it
Dialectic), neat-handed (M'L.) :
creapall, entangling, hindering, so Ir. ; it is an Ir. word evidently,
from Lh. ; founded on Eng, cripple.
creapall, a garter, creapailld (Skye) ; (Arm. creapull) :
creathach, (faded) underwood, firewood, Ir. creathach, hurdle,
brushwood, faggots (O'li.) : "^'krto- ; cf. crion.
creathall, cradle, from Northern M. Eng. credit, Sc. creddle, Eng.
cradle, Ag. S. cradol. Further derivation at present uncertain
(Murray).
creathall, a lamprey :
creatrach, a wilderness, so Ir. (Lh., etc.) ; M'A. gives the word,
but it is clearly Ir. Cf. creathach.
12
106 ETYMOLOGICAL DrCTrOXAllY
creic, sell, M. Ir. creicc, sale, E. Ir. creic, buying, 0. Ir. crenim^ T
buy, W. prynn, buy ; Skr. krinami (do.). There seems a
confusion in G. and E. Ir. with tlie word rei", sell, q.v,
creid, believe, Ir. creidim, 0. Ir. cretim, W. credit, Cor. cresy, Br.
cridiff, "^kreddio ; Lat. credo ; Skr. erad-dadhdnii. From
credrdo, " I give heart to."
creigeir, a grapple (M'D.) ; from some derivative of Norse hrcekja,
to hook, krcekill, a crooked stick, Eng. crook I
creim, creidhm, gnaw, chew, nibble, Ir. creimim, creidhmim, M. Ir.
creim. Ir. is also creiniya, W. cnithio, cnoi {which also means
" gnaw ") : from knet, kne7i, knO, ken, bite, scratch, as in
cnamh, q.v. The n of kn early becomes r because of the wi
or n after the first vowel,
crein, suffer for (W. H.). Allied to the 0. Ir. crenim, buy :
"You will buy for it ! " See under creic.
creis, grease ; from Sc. creische, from 0. Fr. craisse, cre.^se, from
Lat. crassa, crassus, thick. Eng. grease is of like origin,
creithleag, a gadfly, so Ir. (Fob), M. Ir. crehar, W. creyr, root
cred, scratch 1 Cf . Lett, krihindt, gnaw oft". Ir. creabhar,
horse-fly.
cre6th, wound, hurt (Dialectic), Ir. creo, a wound (O'R.); creonadh,
being pained : "^krevo- as in cro, blood.
creubh, creubhag, ere, the body ; cf. M. Ir. cri, ^kreivio-j flesh,
body ; Got. hraiva-, Norse hrae, body, (). H. G. hreo, corpse.
It is possible to refer cri, ere to *krepi-, Lat. corpus, 0. H. G.
href, Ag. S. hrif, body, Eng. mid-r^^. Stokes : C7^i, krpes.
creubh, dun, crave ; from the Eng. crave.
creubhaidh, tender in health ; seemingly from creubh.
creuchd, wound, Ir. creachd, 0. Ir. crecht, W. craith, scar, creithen,
M. Br. creizenn (do.), "^crempto- ; root kerp, ker. Lit. kerpu,
cut, Skr. krpana, sword (Strachan). Stokes gives the Celtic
as krekto-s, and Bez. cfs. Norse hrekja, worry. This neglects
the e of Gadelic.
creud, what, Ir. creud, cread, E. Ir. cret ; for ce ret. See co and
rud.
creud, creed, Ir. creidh, M. Ir. credo, W. credo ; from Lat. credo, I
believe ; the first word of the Apostles' Creed in Lat.
creutair, creature, Ir. creatur, W. creadwr ; from Lat. creatura.
criadh, clay, so Ir. Really the oblique form of ere, q.v.
criathar, a sieve, Ir., 0. Ir. criathar, 0. W. cruitr, Cor. croider,
M. Br. croezr, ^kreitro- ; Ag. S. hridder, hriddel, Eng. riddle,
Ger. reiter ; further Lat. crtbrum {*k7^i-0ro-n) ; root kri, krei,
separate, whence Gr. Kplvui, Eng. critic, etc.
criachadh, proposing to oneself ; from crioch, end. Cf. Eng.
define, from finis and end, used for "purpose."
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 107
Cridhe, heart, Ir, croidhe, 0. Ir. cride, W. craidd, Br. kreis^ middle,
*krdjo-n\ Gr. KpaSia, KapSta ; Lat. cor, cordis; Eiig. Jteart,
Ger. Jierz ; Lit. szirdis.
crilein, a small creel (M'E.), a box, small coft'er (H.S.D.), crilein
(Arm., M"L.), a box, Ir. crilin, E. Ir. criol, coifer, "^krepolo.
criol (Arraii, Perth). Stokes gives the stem as krepo-,
and Bez. adds Skr. curpa, winnowing basket (Cf. for
phonetics lion, and Skr. pilrna, full). Sc, Eng. creel, which
appears about 1 400, is usually derived hence ; but as the
G. form itself is doubtful, and, from all appearance, taken
from Lh., it is best to look elsewhere for an etymology for
creel, as, through Fr., from Lat. craticula. The G. criol
exists only in Sh., who found it in Lh. See croidhleag.
crioch, end, Ir. crioch, 0. Ir., crich, *krika, from the root krei,
separate, as in criatkar, q.v. Stokes and Bezzenberger join
W. crip, a comb, and compare Lit. kreikti, strew, and, for
sense, appeal to the Ger., Eng. strand, " the strewed,"
0. Slav, strana, side. It has also been referred to the root
of Lat. circus, circle, Gr. KpiKo^.
criom, nibble, criomag, a bit ; see creim.
crion, little, withered, Ir. crion, E. Ir. crin, W. criu, fragile, (hy,
Br. krin, ^kreiio-s ; the root kre appears to belong to root ker,
kera, destroy, Skr. r.ruCimi, break, rend, Lat. caries, decay,
Gr. aKiqparo'^, pure, untouched, Got. hairus, sword. Stokes
allies it to Skr. crdua, cooked, <p^d, cook, possibly a form of
the root kera, mix, Gr. K6yoa/xat, mix.
crion canachd, a strife, quarrelsomeness, Ir. crioncdnachd : an Ir.
word from Lh., apparently. Perhaps crion-cdn, " small
reviling."
crionna, attentive to small things, prudent, so Ir. (crlonna. Con.) ;
also dialectic crionda, which shows its connection with crion.
Cf. W. crintach, sordid.
criopag, a wrinkle, Ir. criopog ; founded on Eng. crimp, crumple.
M'A. has criopag, a clew of yarn.
cries, a belt, girdle, so Ir., 0. Ir. criss, fo-chridigedar, accingat, W.
crys, shirt, E. W. crys, belt, M. Br. crisaff, succingere, Br.
kreis, middle. Bez. suggests comparison with Lit. skritidys,
circle, knee-cap, skreiste, mantle. It has been referred also
to the root krid of cridhe, heart.
Criosdaidh, a Christian, Ir. Criosduighe, M. Ir. cristaige ; from
the G. Criosd, Ir. Criosda, Christ ; from Lat. Christus, Gr.
X/oto-T09, the Anointed One.
cricstal, a crystal, so Ir ; from the Eng.
criot, an earthen vessel (Dialect, H.S.D.), Ir. criotamhail, earthen,
made of clay (O'B.), criot, an earthen vessel (O'R.) :
108 ETYMOLOGICAT. DlCTIONAtlY
criotaich, caress ; see cniadaich.
criplich, a cripple ; from the Eng. cripple.
crith, shake, quiver, Ir., E. Ir. crith, W. cryd, 0. W. crit^ "^kritu- ;
Ag. S. hri^a^ fever, Ger. ritten, fever. See crath, to which
crith has been suggested as cognate (root h% krot, kret).
critheann, critheach, the aspen tree, Ir. crann-criiheach ; from
crith.
cro, a sheep cot, pen, Ir. cro, M. Ir. cro caerach, ovile, era na muice,
pig-stye, W. craw^ hovel, pig-stye, Br. kraou, crou, stable,
*kr€i'po-s.^ a stye, roof ; Ag. S. hrof., Eng. roq/j Norse lir6j\ a
shed (Stokes). The Norse /lto, small pen, Sc. croo.^ seem
borrowed.
cro, the eye of a needle, Ir., E. Ir. cro, W. crcm., M. Br. crdo., Br.
kraouenn.
fcro, blood, E. Ir. cro., cru, W. crau, Cor. croiv^ ^krovo-s ; Lat.
cruor, gore ; Lit. kraujas, blood ; Skr. kravis, raw flesh ; Gr.
Kpeas, flesh ; Eng. rctiv.
tcro, death, Ir., E. Ir. cro. From the same origin as cro, blood.
This is the Sc. cro, the weregild of the various individuals in
the Scoto-Celtic Kingdom, from the king downwards,
croc, beat, pound (Dialectic, H.S.D.) :
croc, a branch of a deer's horn ; cf. Norse krokr, Eng. crook.
crocan, a crools: ; from the Norse krokr, Eng. crook.
croch, hang, Ir. crochaim, croch, a cross, gallows, E. Ir. crock, cross,
W. crog ; from the Lat. crux, crucis.
croch, saflron, Ir. croch ; from Lat. crocus, from Gr. KpoKos, crocus,
and its product saffron.
crodh, cattle, Ir. crodh, a dowry, cattle, M. Ir. crod, wealth
(cattle) : *krodo-, I, E. qordh, qerdh ; Eng. herd, Ger. hei^de ;
Lit. kerdzus, herd (man), Ch. SI. creda, a herd ; Skr. cardhas^
a troop,
crodha, valiant, Ir. crodha, E. Ir. croda, valiant, cruel, ^croudavo-s,
" hardy " ; root croud of cniciidh, q.v.
crodhan, hoof, parted hoof, Ir. crohhdn, a little hoof or paw. Sec
cruUi.
crog", an earthen vessel, crog'an, a pitcher, Ir. crogdn, pitcher,
E. Ir. crocann, olla, W. crochan, "^krokko- ; Gr. Kpwa-ao^,
pitcher ("^k^wkJos) ; to which are allied, by borrowing some-
how% Eng. crock, Ag. S. crocca, Norse krukka, Ger. krug. G.
andW. phonetics (G. g = W. ch.) are unsatisfactory. Schrader
derives these words from 0. Ir. crocemi, skin — a " skin "
vessel being the original,
crog*, an aged ewe ; from the Sc. crock ; cf. Norw. krake, a sickly
beast, Fries, krakke, broken-down horse, etc.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 10§
Crog;, largo hand, hand in paw form, "^crobhag, Ir. crobJi, hand
from Nvrist to fingers, paw, hoof, 0. Ir, c/yj6, fiand. Sec crubli.
crog'aid, a beast with small horns (M'A.) ; from crog /
crog^an, a gnarled tree (Arg.) ; cf. crocaii.
crogan, thornbush (Arg), from crbg, W. crafcmc, claw.
croic, foam on spirits, rage, difficulty, cast sea-weed :
croich, gallows, Ir, croch, gallows, cross, E. Ir. crocJi, cross, A\^
croghren, gallows ; from Lat. antx^ crucis,
croid, a simiptiious present (Heb.) ; see cnoid.
croidh, pen cattle, house corn ; from cro. Dialectic for latter
meaning is crodhadh.
croidhleag", a basket, small creel : see crilein.
croilean, a little fold, a group ; from cro.
crois, a cross, so Ir., E. Ir. cros.s, W. ax>es ; from Lat. crux.
croistara, cranntara, also -tara, -tarra, the fiery cross : croin +
tara ; see crois above. As to tara, cf. the Norse tara, war
(Cam.).
croit, a hump, hillock, Ir. croit, W. crtuth, a hunch, harp, croi/i, a
protuberant part (as calf of leg), ^crotti- ; from krot, kurt,
root kur, round, as in ciidnn, emit, q.v.
croit, a croft ; from the Eng. croft. In the sense of " vulva," cf.
W. croth, Br. courz, which Stokes refers to emit, harp ; l)ut
the G. may be simply a metaphorical use of croit, croft.
crolot, wound dangerously ; cro -{-lot, q.v.
crom, bent, Ir., E. Ir. crom, 0. Ir. cromm, W. crivia, l>r. kroiii,
0. Br. crum, "^kminho- ; from the same root as cruimt ? The
Ag. S. crwnih, crooked, Eng. crumple, Ger. krumm, have been
compared, and borrowing alleged, some holding that the
Teutons borrowed from the Celts, and vice versa. Dr Stokes
holds that the Celts are the borrowers. The Teutonic and
Celtic words do not seem to be connected at all in reality.
It is an accidental coincidence, which is bound to happen
sometimes, and the wonder is it does not happen oftener.
cromadli, a measure the length of the middle finger, Ir. cruma,
croinadli ; from crom.
croman, kite, hawk, from crom.
cron, fault, harm, Ir. cronaim, 1 bewitch ; cf. M. Ir. croii, rebidving.
The idea is that of being " fore-spoken " by witchcraft. See
next.
cronaich, rebuke, Ir. croniiigliim, M. Ir. cronaigim, cron, rebuking,
E. Ir. air-chron (do.), *kmno- ; cf. Tent, hru, noise, Norse
rbmr, shouting, Ag. S. liream, a din.
cronan, a dirge, croon, purring, Ir., E, Ir. crondn. O'Curry
(Mann, and Cust. III., 246) writes the Ir. as crbndn, and
defines it as the low murmuring or chorus to each verse of
ilO ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIOKARV
the akWd or choral singing. So. croon, croyn (15th century),
corresponds to Da. kreunen^ groan, M. Uu. kronen, lament,
M. Low (j. kroutn, growl, O. H. G. chronan, M. L. G. kroenen,
chatter (Murray, who thinks the Sc. came from Low Ger.
in M. Eng. period). It seems clear that the Gadelic and
Teutonic are related to each other by borrowing ; seemingly
the Gadelic is borrowed.
cropan, deformed person (Suth.) ; from ^ovae kroppinn, deformed.
See under cruO.
crosach, crossing, thwarting, Ir. crosanta ; also G. crosan (and
crostan), a peevish man ; all from a^os, the basis of crois,
cross, q.v.
crosanachd, from crosan, poet, chorister.
crosda, perverse, irascible, so Ir. ; from the G. base cr-os of crois,
cross.
crotal, lichen, especially for dyeing, cudbear : "^'crottal ; *krot-to-,
from krot ; cf. Gr. Kponovy], an excrescence on a tree. Hence
Sc. crottle. M. Ir. crotal means " husk " (which may be G.
crotal above), "kernel, cymbal." In the last two senses the
word is from the Lat. crotalum, a rattle ; the Irish used a
small pear-shaped bell or rattle, whence the Ir. Eng. crotal
(Murray).
cruach, a pile, heap, Ir., E. Ir. cruach, W. crug. Cor. cruc, 0. Br.
cruc, *kroiikd ; Lit. krduti, to pile, kriivi, heap ; Norse hrdya,
heap. Others have compared the Norse hraukr, a small
stack, Ag. S. hredc, Eng. 7'ick.
cruachan, cruachainn, liip, upper part of the hip, E. Ir. craachait;
from cruach, heap, hump. Stokes translates the Ir. as
"chine," and considers it, like the corresponding Ger. krniz,
derived from Lat. criXcem, cross. The Gaelic meaning is
distinctly against this,
cruaidh, hard, Ir. cruaidh, 0. Ir. cruaid, *kroudi-s ; root kreva, to
be bloody, raw, whence c7-b, blood, {\.\. ; Lat. criidus, Eng.
crude. Hence cruailinn, hard, rocky.
crub, squat, crouch, Ir. cruhadli, to bend, crook ; also G. crubach,
cripple, Ir. do. ; from Norse krjupa, to creep, kneel (Eng.
creep, etc.), kroppinn, crippled, root kreup, krup^ as in Eng.
cripjple, Sc. cruppen thegether, contracted, bowed. Cf. W.
crwb, bent.
crub, bed recess (Carm.) :
cruban, the crab-fish, Ir. crdban, W. crivban. From crw6 above,
crubh, a horse's hoof, Ir. crohh, paw, hoof, E. Ir. crii, "^kruvo-,
hoof ; Zend ^rva, <;ruva, nail, horn ; further Gr. KC/oa?, horn,
and corn, q.A\ (Stokes).
crudha, horse shoe, Ir, crudli : seemingly from the above word.
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. Ill
cruidein, the king-fisher, Jr. cruidin :
cruidhean, paw (Arm.) = cridbhean.
cruimh, a worm, Ir. cnuimh, 0. Ir. cruim, W., Qov. pryf, Vtv.prenv,
*qr7ni- ; Lit. kirmis, Lett, seisms ; Skr. krmis, krimis.
cruinn, round, so L\, 0. Ir. C7'uind, W. criun, Br. krenn, "^krundi-s',
root hiro-, circle, tnrn, as in car, q.v. Cf. Lat. curvus ; Gr.
Kvpros, bent, Kopcovij, ring', Lat. corona, Eng. croivn. Bezzen-
berger cfs. the form crundi- from kur to Lat. rotundus from
7^ota..
cruisgein, a lamp, jug, Ir. crdugln ; from M. Eng. cruskyn, from
0. Fr. creusequin, from Tent. kru!<, whence Eng. cruse.
cruisle, cruidse, mausoleum, hollow vault of a church ; from
M. Eng. cruddes, vault, crypt, crowd, b^^-form of Eng. crypt.
cruit, a harp, so Ir., 0. Ir. crot, W. crwtli, fidicula, Late Lat. (600
A.D.) chrotta, "^krotta : krot-ta-, from krot, kurt, root kur, as in
G. cruinn, round, q.v., Gr. Kvpros (do.): "the curved
instrument." Stokes refers it to the root krof, strike, as in
Gr. Kporkoi, rattle, clap. Hence Eng. croivd.
cruithneachd, ciuineachd, wheat, Ir. crnitJmeachd, (). Ir. cruit h-
necht : *krt-on-, root kerf, ker, cut, " that which is cut " ; Lit.
kertu, cut ; Gr. Kecpco, Lat. curtns, etc. (Rhys). It has been
compared to the Lat. Ceres, Eng. cereal^ and Lat. crescn, creo,
as in cruth.
crulaist, a rocky hill (H.S.D., from MSS.) ; from cruaidJi ? Cf.
cruailinn.
crumag, the plant skirret ; Sc. crummock. From Gaelic cram
(Cameron).
cruman, the hip bone, Ir. crwncm, hip bone, crooked surgical
instrument ; from crom.
crun, crown, Ir. cj^ihi ; from M. Eng. crtine, from 0. Fr. coronne,
from Lat. corona.
crunnluadh, a quick measure in pipe nuisic : cruinn + luath.
crup, crouch, contract, Ir. crupaim ; founded on the M. Eng.
cruppeU cripple, a root crup, appearing in Sc. cruppeyi,
contracted. See cruhach.
crusbal, crucible (Hend.).
cruscladh, wrinkling :
cruth, form, figure, Ir., 0. Ir. cruth, W. jyryd, ^qrtu-s, root qer,
make ; Lat. cerus, creator, creo, Eng. create ; Lit. kuriii, build ;
Skr. kar, make, krtas, made.
cruthach, placenta of mare :
CU, a dog, Ir., 0. Ir. cu, g. con, W. ci, pi. civn, Cor., Br. ki, pi. Br
koun, *ku6, g. '^knnoa ; Gr. KVinv ; Lat. canis ; Eng. hound
Skr. cvd. ^. cdnas.
112 ETYMOLOGICAT. DICTIONARY
cuach, a cup, bowl, Ir. cuachog, 0. Ir. cuach : Lat. caucus^ Gr.
KavKa ; Skr. koca. It is generally held that cuach is borrowed
from the Lat., though phonetically they may be cognate.
The W. cawg is certainly borrowed,
cuach, curl, so Ir. ; from the above,
cuag", an awkward curve, kink, an excrescence on the heel ; also
guag (Dialectic) : "^kouggci, *kouk-gd ; root qeuq, bend ; Skr.
hue, bend. Lit. knil'u, liook 1
cu'ag, cubhag, cuckoo, Ir. cuach^ 0. Ir. ciiach, W. cog, of onomato-
poetic origin — from the cuckoo's cry of hiku, whence Eng.
cuckoo, Lat cuculus, Gr. kokkv^, Skr. kokilas, koka.
cuailean, the hair, a lock, curl, Ir. cuailen (Stokes). This Stokes
refers to a stem *koglenno-, and cfs. Gr. koxAos^, a spiral-
shelled shell-fish, K'oxAttts, spiral-shelled snail, Lat. cochlea.
As the Gr. may be for xo\Xo^, the derivation is uncertain.
Ir. cuailhi, a bundle, faggot, suggests that a similar derivation
from cwU was used metaphorically for a " bundle or cord Of
hair."
cuaille, a club, bludgeon, Ir., E. Ir. cuaille, *krtullio- ; Gr. KaiAos,
stalk ; Lat. caiUis, stalk ; Lit. kdula^, a bone (Stokes). It
may, however, be for ^coud-s-lio-, from qoud, Lat. cudo, strike,
CUairsg, roll, wreathe, so Ir. ; from cuairt, with the termination
-sqS. '
cuairt, circuit, so Ir., 0. Ir. cuairt. Stokes gives the stem as
kukrti-, from kw, circle, as in cruinn.
CUal, a faggot, burden of sticks, Ir. cual, M. Ir. cua.l, heap, *kuglo-,
root kug., qeug \ Eng. hea}) ; Lat. cwimUus^ ( = cuh-lus ^) ; Lit.
kugis, heap,
cuallach, herding or tending cattle :
cuallach, society, family, Ir cuallaidheachd, society, cucdlaidhe, a
companion :
cuan, the ocean, Ir., M. Ir. aian, harbour, '^copno- ; Norse kofn,
Ger. hafen, Eng. haven.
cuanal, cuantal, a company, a band of singers, flocks (Carm.),
E. Ir. cuan., host, *koupii-, Lit. kupa. heap, Eng. heaj^ iV).
cuanna, cuannar, handsome, fine, Ir. cuanna ; also cuanta, robust,
neat : ''^ kcmm-uavos, from kau7i, skaun ; Ger. .schdn.
tcuar, crooked, Ir. cua)\ E. Ir. cicar, '^kukro-, root kuc, bend ; Skr.
kucati, bend. Lit. kukTc, hook (Strachan). But cf. cuairt.
cuaradh, paining, tormenting ; cf. W. cicr, pain, care, curio, beat.
The Dictionaries refer the word to ciicrr, as a ]3ialectic form.
cuaran, a brogue, sock, Fr. ciLcirog, M. Ir. cuardn, W. curan, a
covering for the foot and leg, *kourano-, " mocassin " : "^keu-
ro- ; root keu, ku, as in Lat. cu-tis, skin, Eng. hide, Ag. S.
hf/d {*kuti-).
OF TUB (JAELIC LANGUAGE. 113
Cuartacll, a [ever (Arg.) ; from cuairt,
cuartag, ringworm (Hciid.) :
cuas, ;i cave ; sec cos.
cuat, sweetheart (Carm.) :
cub, a tumbril, box-cait ; From So. coo'p^ am/j, l)ox-cart, etc.,
probably the same as Eiig. coo}^, basket. Dialectic coba.
cub, crouch, Ir. cdbami ; founded on Lat. cubo, lie.
cubaid, pulpit ; ultimately from Lat. /»i6//)i^w7?i, a speaking plat-
form, whence Eng. 2mlj)it, Sc. poojnt. Dialectic bubaid.
cubair, a cooper ; from the Eng.
cubhag, cuckoo : see cu'ar/.
cubhaidh, fit, so Jr., 0. Ir. roUtid, fit, cubaithiu, concinnior : *co}i-
vedo-^ "suiting"; root ved, bind, as m feadhainn.
cubhraidh, fragrant, Ir. cumhra, cumhixi, M. Ir. cumra, cum.rae,
E. Ir. cumrai (i n-aballgort chumrai) ; "^com-rae :
cubhraig, cubhrainn, a coverlet ; foimdod on the Eng. cover,
coverlet. Dialectic cuibhlig.
cuchailte, a residence (Arm. ; not H.S.D.), Ir. cuclaidhe ; *con-
clcidh- ; from cladJi, q.v.
cudaig, the fish cuddy, young of the coalfish, Ir. cudog, codog,
haddock, *cod-do- ; Eng. haddock / Sc. cuddy, cudden, may
be of G. origin (Murray). Also cudainn.
Cudainn, a large bushel or tub; cf. Norse hutr^ cask, Sc. coodi^,
quiddie, small tub. M. Ir. cuidin, coithm, catinus, is
probably from a Celt, /i-otmo-, Gr. kotvX)], cup, Lat. catimtf^,
a deep vessel.
cudrom, cudthrom, weight : *con-trom-, " co-heavy " ; 0. Ir.
cutriimme, similis. See trom. Dialectic cuideam.
CUgainn, delicacy, " kitchen," E. Ir. ciiicen ; from Lat. coquina.
CUgan, food (Carm.) :
CUgar, mab, or wild cat (Carm.) :
CUgullach, precarious, unstable (Carm.) :
cuibheas, sufficiency :
cuibheasach, tolerable, middling, Ir. cuihheasach, decent, pretty
good, fairly good (in health), cuibheas, decency, cuibhe, decent.
See cubhaidh for stem. The Ir. cuihhe shows that it is
possible to derive the word from ^con-vesii-, root vesu of
feabhas.
cuibhle, cuibhill, a wheel ; from Eng. ivheel.
cuibhne, deer's horn (Arm., M'L.), deer's tibia (H.S.D.) :
cuibhreach, a bond, chain, so Ir., 0. Ir. cuimrech, vb. conriug, ligo,
W. rhwym, vinculum, Br. rum., hevre, "^kom-rigo-n ; rigo-, a
bond ; Lat. corrigia, shoe-lace ; M. H, G. ric, band, string.
13
114 ETYMOLOGICAli DICTIONARY
Stokes (rightly) now gives root as reJc, bind, Skr. racana,
cord, rope, racmi (do.).
cuibhrig, cover, coverlet ; see cubhraig.
cuibhrionn, portion, so Ir., E. Ir. cuibrend, W. cyfran : ^com-rann ;
see rami.
cuicheineach, coquetting, secretly hobnobbing (Arg ) : co-ceann.
cuid, share, part, Ir. cuid, g. coda, 0. Ir. cuit, W. peth, res, pars.
Cor. peth, Br. pez, '''qezdi-, "^qozdi- ; qen, qos, seemingly from the
pron. root qo, qe (see co). Cf. Lat. quotidie, quota, Br. ped,
how much. Bezzenberger compares Lit. kedeti, burst, SI.
c§sti, part ; root qed. Hence Eng. piece. Some have
suggested comparison with Lat costa, rib, Eng. coaat.
cuideachd, company, Ir, cuideachda, 0. Ir. cotecht, coitio, conventus :
*con-techt ; see teaclit.
cuideag, a spider (H.S.D.), Ir. cuideog (O'll.) :
cuideal, pride (Arm.), cuidealas (M'A.); from cuid ?
cuideam, weight ; see cudrom.
cuidh, cuith, inclosure (Barra) ; from Norse kvt, Orkney quoy, a
pen, Orkney and Slietland quey, quay, enclosed land.
cuidhe, wreath of snow ; see cuith.
cuidhtich, quit, requite, Ir. cuitighim ; from Eng. quit ?
cuidich, assist, Ir. cuidighim, M. Ir. cuitigim, share ; from cuid.
cuidridh, common (Sh. ; not H.S.D.), Ir. cuidri{dK), entertain-
ment, commons : "^con-treln-, as in caid7eahh 1
cuifein, the wadding of a gun ; from Sc. colfiii.
cuigeal, a distaff, so Ir., M. Ir. cuigel, W. cogail. Corn, cigel, Br.
kegel ; from M. Lat. conucula, for colucida, from cohn^. From
Lat. conucu/a comes Ger. knnke/, Fr. quenouille.
ciiil, corner, recess, Ir. ciUl, O. Ir. cuil, AV. cil, *kuli-. See cuL
cuilbheart, a wile, trick ; from cuil + heart.
cuilbheir, a gun ; from the Eng. culverln.
cuilc, reed, cane, Ir. cuilc, *kolki- ; root kol, as in Lat. culmus,
stalk, Gr. KaXafxos, reed, Eng. haulm.
cuile, an apartment where stores are kept, 0. Ir. cnile finda,
vinaria, "^'kolid ; Gr. KaXia, hut, Skr. kulaya, hut, nest
(Stokes) ; from *kol-io-, root qel of ceil.
cuileag", a fly, Ir. and E. Ir. cuil, W. cylion, flies, Cor. kelionen, Br.
quelyenen, "^kuli-s, kulidno-s ; Lat. cidex.
cuileagan, feast (in a corner) (Carm.).
cuilean, a whelp, Ir. cuiledn (O'B.), cuileann (O'R.), E. Ir. culen,
W. colwyn, Cor. coloin, catulus, Br. kolenn, young of quadru-
peds; Gr. KvX\a=(TKvXa(, whelp (Bez.). It may be from cu,
*kun, dog. Ernault, ^culenos : root of kvos ; M. Br. colen, so
D'Arbois. Rhys says W. borrowed.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 115
Cuilidh, cellar, secret place, treasury ; see cuile.
cuilionn, holly, so Jr., E. Ir. cuilenn, W. cel^?t, Cor. celin, Br.
kelenn (pi.), ^koienno- ; Eng. holly, Ag. S. holegn.
cuilm, a feast; Dialectic for cuirm, q.v.
cuimein, the plant cumin, Ir. cuiniin ; from Lat. cuDiiaam, Eng.
cuimhne, remembrance, so Ir., 0, Ir. cunuin, ctUmnech, memor, W.
cqf, Cor. cov, M. Br. couf, "^co-men ; root men, as in Lat.
memini, 1 remember, Eng. mention, mind, etc.
cuimir, brief, handsome, so Jr., E. Ir. cumhair, *com-berro- ; for
herr, see bearr.
cuimrig", trouble ; see coimrig.
cuimse, a mark, aim, moderation, Ir. cimnse ; from com + irieas ;
see i7ieas. Cf. eirmis.
cuin, wheUj E. Ir. cuin, W., Br. pan ; Lat. quum ; Eng. when ; sec
CO. The Ir. can (O'Cl.) is allied to Lat. qiiando, and more
nearly than cuin to W., Br. pan.
cuing", a yoke, Ir., E. Ir. cuing : '^con-jiuigi-, root jung, jug, as in
Lat, jungo, Eng. joke. For phonetics, see next. Stokes
since gives the stem as ko-jungi-.
cuing'e, narrowness, 0. Ir. ciunce ; see cumhang.
cuinn, coin ; from the Eng.
cuinneag, a pail, milk pail, Ir. cuinneog, M. Ir. cuindeog, W.
cunnog, cynnog ; cf. Lat. congiio^, a quart.
cuinnean, a nostril :
cuinnlein, a stalk of corn, a nostril ; for the first meaning, sec
connlach ; for the second, cuinnean above.
Cuinnse, a quince ; from the Eng.
cuinnsear, a dagger, sword ; from the Eng. whinger.
cuip, a whip ; from Eng. whi'p.
cuir, put, Ir., E. Ir. cuirim, 0 Ir. cuiriur, W. hebgor, put aside,
"^korio, I put. The root is likely ker, kor, of cruth, q.v.
For meaning cf. Lat. facia and Gr. riOrjixt. Bezzenberger
compares it to Skr. kaldyati, drive, bear, do, Lit. karta,
position, lie.
cuircinn, a particular kind of head-dress for women, Ir. cuircin,
head, crest, comb (O'R.) ; from currachd? Sc. courche, curges
(pi.), a covering for a woman's head, Eng. kerchief. E. Ir.
cuirce, bow, knot ; which makes the Sc. and Eng. comparison
doubtful.
cuireadh, an invitation, so Ir. ; from cuir, q.v.
cuireall, a kind of pack-saddle (H.S.D. from MSS.) :
cuireid, cuirein, turn, wile ; from car, q.v.
cuirinnein, the w^hite water-lily (H.S.D. , which quotes only O'll.),
Ir. cuiruihi (Oil.) :
Il6 E'TYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
cuirm, a feast, so Ir., E. Ir. coirm, cuirm, M. W. cwnvf, W. cwriv,
beer, Cor. core/, Gaul. Koupfxt, cervisia "^kurnien ; Lat. cremor,
broth (Eng. cream) ; Gr. KepdvvvfXL, mix ; Skr. era, cr, cook ;
I. E. kera, kra, mix.
cuirnean, a small heap of stones, dew-di-op, ringlet, Ir. cuiruedn,
head of a pin; brooch, ringlet. In the first sense, it is from
earn, and possibly also in the other two senses, the idea
being "cluster, heap."
cuirpidh, wicked, corrupt ; see coirbte, coirb.
Cllirt, court, Ir. ci'drt ; from the Eng.
cuirtein, a curtain, cuirteir, plaiding (Dialectic) ; formed on Eng.
curtain.
Cuis, cause, matter, Ir., E. Ir. citis, 0. Ir. cols ; from Lat. causa.
cuisdeag, the little finger (Sh., H.S.D.), Ir. cuisdeocj (O'K.) : '
cuiseag, a stalk, kind of grass, Ir. coisin, a stem, stalk, little foot ;
from cas, foot. But see next, di fetchoisig, "by piping."
cuisle, pulse, vein, pipe, Ir. cuisle, E. Ir. cuisli, g. pi. cuisleud, a
pipe for music, 0. Ir. cusle, g. cuslen, cuislemiach, a piper. It
has no connection with Lat. pulsus, and its etymology is
obscure (Stokes). Of. Eng. hose.
cuiste, a couch, Ir. ciiiste, cuiste (O'B.) ; from Eng. couch.
cuith, a wreath of snow, a pit, Ir., E. Ir. cuithe, a pit, W. pydcu) ;
from Lat. putens, Eng. p?'^.
cuithe, pen for sheep (Carm.) ; see cuidh.
cuitich, quit, requite ; see cuidktich.
cul, back, Ir., O. Ir, cdl, W. ell, Cor. chil, Br. kil, *kulo- ; Lat.
cuius. Hence cklaist, recess.
culadh, a good condition of the body, culach, fat, sleek : " well-
covered," from cul of culaidh I
culaidh, aj^parel, so Ir. ; root qel, <[ol, cover ; Ger. hidle, a
covering, Lat. occulo. See ceil.
culaidh, boat (Suth.) :
culag", tiu'f for the back of the fire, sitting behind another on
horseback, a collop ; all from cul.
culan, tresses, hair ; from cid.
culaobh, behind, the back ; E. Ir. cidaih (dat. pL), cidu (ace. pi.) ;
from cid. The dat. (and ace.) pi. of cid used locatively — for
rest (and motion). Compare beulaobh.
cularan, a cucumber, Ir. ciUa7-dn, W. et/lor, earth nuts, Br. coloreii,
earth nut. Ernault makes the Celtic word to be *carul-an-,
and compares Gr. Kapvov, nut.
cullach, a boar, Ir., E. Ir. cullach, O. Ir. eallach, eullach, caullach,
Br. kalloch, "entire," qellecq, epithet for stallions and boars,
^kallud/io-s, from *kalljo-, testicle, W. calll, testiculus, M. Br.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 117
quell ; root /•«/, hard, as in clack ^ q.v., Norse hella, Hat stone,
etc. (Bezzenberger). Cf. Lat. culleus, bag, scrotum, whence
0. Fr. couillon, Eng. cullion, testicles, Sc. culls. Hence
cullbhoc, wether-goat, Ir. culbhoc.
cullachas, impotence, cullach, eunuch ; from coll, call', see call.
culraoinidh, goal-keeper (Suth.) ; from cid and raoii ?
culuran, birth-wort, cucumber ; see c^Uaran.
cum, keep, hold, Ir. congbhaighim, inf. congnnkail, 0. Ir. congahin \
from con and gahh, take. The G. cibiri is for congv or conghh,
and the gv becomes m as in im, ciomach, turn, etc.
cuma, cumadh, shape, form, Ir. cunta, E. Ir, cumma, vb. cummaijn :
cumail, keeping, Ir. cwnail, congmhail ; inf. to cwm, i.e., cum-
gabhail.
cuman, a milking pail ; Gr. KVfifS}}, Kvixf3o'^, cup ; Ger. humpen,
bowl.
cumanta, common, Ir. ciunann ; from the Eng. cooiunon.
cumha, mourning, so Ir., E. Ir. cuma : I. E. root gem, (fom ; Eng.
hum, Ger. hwiimen.
cumha, a stipulation, Ir. cumlta, E. Ir. coma, bribe, gift, condition :
"^com-ajo-, "co-saying," 0. ir. di, a saying, Lat. ajo? See
adhan. Cf. cunnradli.
cumhachd, power, so Jr., o. Ir. cumachte, W. cyfoeth, power, riches,
"^ ko7)i-akto-, root ag, drive, carry, Lat. ago, Gr. ctyw, Eng. act,
etc. (Stokes). The O, Ir. cuviang, potestas, is doubtless a
nasalised form of the root ag { = aiig) ; it lias been referred
to the root cmg, Lat. angere, etc., as in cwmhang below, but
the meaning is unsatisfactory. The word cumhachd has also
been analysed as co-viag-tu-, where 'mag has been variously
referred to I. E. meg, great (G. /xeyas, Eng. much), or 1. E.
megh (Eng. may, Lat. niachina, machine).
cumhang^, narrow, Ir. cumihang, 0 Ir. cumaiig, W. cyjyng, '''hom-
augo-s ; root ang ; Gr. ayyta, choke, ayx^, near; Lat. ango,
angustus ; Ger. eng.
cumhlaidean, stipulations (Hend.) :
cumhnant, covenant; from M. Eng., Sc. couajid, couenaiit, Eng.
covenant, from 0. Fr, convenant, Lat. convenire. M. Br. has
comanant, W. cyfammod. Dial, plurals are cumhlaichean
and cumhlaidean.
cumraich, cumber ; from the Eng.
cunbhalach, constant, steady, Ir. cungbhailteach, firm, miserly ;
from cunghhail, keeping, Ir. inf. of cum, q.v.
cungaidh, instrument, accoutrements : '''con-gen-, root gen of
giuomli, deed. See next.
Il8 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
cungaisich, help, co-operate, Ir. cunghas^ co-operation, vb
cungnaighim, I help, cungantach, helpful, E. Ir. cungnam,
assistance : *con + gniom ; see cbmhnadli.
cunnart, danger, M. G. cunntabhart (M'V,), Ir. cuntabhaii% con-
tabhairt, danger, doubt, 0. Ir. ciimtubart, cundubart, con-
tubart, doubt, '^ con-to-bart, root ber, of beir. (\.\. (Cam.).
cunnradh, cunradh, bargain, covenant, Ir. connradh, cunnradh,
0. Ir. cundrad, cunnrath, Manx cooiirey : "^con-radh ; see radii,
say. Corni. derives from rath, surety.
cunnt, count, Ir. cunntas, cuntas, reckoning, cuntaim, I count ;
from the Eng.
cunnuil, an objection (Sh.), Ir. cuimil (Lh.) :
cup, box-cart, coup ; sec cub.
cupa, a cup, Ir. cupdn, W. cib ; from Lat. cupa, tub, Eng. cup,
coop, etc.
cupull, a couple, Ir. cupla, cupall, W. cwpl ; from M. Eng. couple.
cur, a placing, setting ; inf. to cuir, q.v.
curach, a boat, coracle, Ir., E. Ir. curach, Irish Lat. curucis, dat.
pi. (Adamnan), W. corwc, civrwg, cwrwgl, *kuruko- (Stokes) ;
Armen. kur, a boat, 0. SI. korici, a kind of vessel. The Lat.
carina has been compared, but the vowels are unsuitable.
Hence Eng. coracle.
curadh, affliction, obstacle, curabh (Lh.), obstacle. In the sense
of affliction, cf. cuaradh.
curaideach, frisky, cunning ; see caireid.
curaidh, a champion, Ir. curadh, E. Ir. cur, g. curad, caur, W.
cawr. Cor. caur, gigas, Gaul. Kai'apos (Polyb.), Cavarillus, etc.,
*kavaro-s, a hero, mighty, root keva, ku, be strong ; Skr.
c^avira, mighty, cftra, hero ; Gr. Kvpios, lord, Kvpos, might,
curaing", curainn, a coverlet (Dialectic, H.S.D.) ; founded on Eng.
covering. M'A. has curainn, plaiding (felt) ; of the same
origin,
curam, care, Ir. cdram ; from Lat. cura.
curcag, sandpiper, M. Ir. cuirrcech, plover ; from currech, a marsh
(K. Meyer). See next,
curcais, bulrush, so Ir. (O'B., etc.), E. Ir. curcas, 0. Ir. curchas,
0. W. cors, cannulos, W. coy^sen, reed, Br. corsenn, reed,
*korokasto-, korkasto ; Lat. cdrex (Stokes, Ernault). The
E. Ir. currech, a marsh, is allied, "^gr&iko-, Gaul, "^parriko-,
A. S. pearroc, Fr. pare (St.), Lat. cursiis. Perhaps Eng.
hurst (St.).
curr,, corner, pit, Ir. curr, Keat. c/i.rr, pit, corr, well, cistern ; cf.
W. cior, corner.
CUrracag", a bubble on the surface of li([uids; see currachd.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE.
119
currachd, hood, cap, night-cap, Jr. currach (O'R.), M. Ir. curracach,
cuciilatus (Stokes, Ir. Gl. 598, who suggested connection
with W. pyrchivyu, crest of a hehiiet). Sc. curch, courchie^
Eng. kerchief, seem to be the origin of the G. word.
currachdag, peat-heap (M'A.); cf. gurracag.
curradh, a crowding together (Macpherson's Ossian) :
curraidh, exhausted (H S.D.), currtha (Sh., O'B ), Ir. airrtha \ cf.
ciurr.
curran, curral, a carrot, root, radish, Ir. currdn, any kind of tap-
rooted plant (O'R., Sh.) : "^cors, head, as in corri Cf. Eng.
carrot, ultimately from Gr. Ka/otorov, carrot, from Kapa, head,
top ; *cor^ and kar of Kapa are ultimately from the same
source.
curran, curral, horse-panniers for heavy loads ; cf. Sc. carrack,
corrack (do.), Eng. crooks.
currucadh, cooing of pigeons, Ir. cumicadh (O'R.), Sc, Eng. curr,
curring. The w^ord is onomatopoetic.
currucag, the lapwing : see curcag
currusan, a milk-pail :
cursa, course, manner, Ir. ciirsa, from the Eng. course.
curta, bad (Sh. ; not H.S.D.), curtsa (O'R ) ; from Eng. curst,
cursed.
cus, sufficiency, overplus :
cusag, a wild mustard (Sh., Arm. ; not H.S.D.) :
cusp, a kibe :
CUSpair, an object, mark, Ir. cuspoir, M. Ir. cuspoir (Keat., Oss.'^
296). Dialectic cuspair, a customer (see cuspunn).
cuspunn, custom, tribute, also cusmunn ; founded on Eng. custom.
cut, hank of yarn, Ir. cuta, one-t\velfth of a hank of yarn ; from
Eng. cut.
cut, to gut (fish) ; from Eng. giit.
cutach, bobtailed, so Ir., E. Ir. clo-chotta, they cut short, W. civta.
The relationship, if any, existing between cut, cutach, and
Eng. ciU, is one of borrowing ; the history of Eng. cut is
obscure, and the Celtic words mean "short, shorten," not " to
cut" with a knife. Besides, the E. Ir. appears a century and
a half earlier than the Eng. (1139 v. 1275). Stokes has
suggested a borrowing from Fr. couteau ( = cidtellus, knife) for
the E. Ir. form. Rhys says W. is Eng. cutty, borrowed.
cuthach, caothach, rage, Ir. cuthach, "^koti-aca- ; root kot, Gr.
KOTOS, wrath. See cath. Stokes says Pict. Skr. kvdthati,
seethe, Got. hvapjan, foam*
-Je of Med/ae,^;
S^onto, 00^^^
\o
120 ETYMOLOUICAL DICTIONARY
D
da, two, Ir. cM, O. Ir. dci (m.), di (f.), da n- (i\.), W. dau (m.),
dwy{i.)^ Cor. dou, din, Br. daou, diou, (f.), "^'dvd, ^'dvdu (m.), dvei
(f.), dvahin (dat. ) ; Skr. dvau, dvd, dve (f., n.) ; (rr. 8vw ; Lat.
duo : Got. tvai, Eng. ^?t'o.
dabhach, a vat, a measure of land (either one or four plough-
gates, according to locality and land), 0. G. dabach (Bk. of
Deer), Ir. dabhach, a vat, "^dabdhd ; Gr. OairTin, bury, rac^os,
grave ; root dhabh, dhobh, deepen, dig out. Cf. Lit. dnbiu,
hollow out. Bezzenberger suggests alliance with Eng. top,
Ger. topf. Eng. tub, if allied to the Ger. zuber, is from the
root of two, "a two-eared'' vessel. Also dabhoch, and in
place-names Doch-.
dacha, more likely ; see docha.
dachaidh, home (adverb), a home, Ir. do thigh, M. Ir. dia tig,
home, E. Ir. dia thaig ; from do and tigh. In Ir. the phrase
is a prepositional adverb ; in Gaelic it ceases to be a phrase
and becomes a welded noun.
dad, anything, aught, tittle, M. G. dad, mote (in sunbeam), Ir.
dadadh, dadamh, aught, a jot, etc., "^da-z-dho-, root da, divide,
Lit. dalis, part, Gr. Sacr/xos, division 1 See f daii. Hence
dadmun, a mote, and dadum = dad.
dag, a pistol ; from M. Eng. dag, a pistol, from Fr. dague, a
dagger, whence Br. dag. The change of meaning from
"dagger" to "pistol" is one which occurs in the history of
"pistol" itself, for it originally meant "dagger." Eng.
dagger is allied.
daibhir, poor, Ir. daidhbhir, M. Ir. daidber : *do-adberi-, from do-
and adber, "^dd-bhero, Lat. adfero. See saoibhir.
daicheil, handsome, Ir. d,6igheamhuil, well appointed, decent ; see
dacha, docha, doigh.
daidein, daddy, Ir. daid'm, daid, M. Ir. datdii, foster-father, datnait,
foster-mother, W. tad. Cor. tat ; Lat. tata ; Gr. Terra ; Lit.
tetytis, Ch. SI. teta ; Skr. tatds. Eng. dad is borrowed from
the Welsh (Skeat).
daigeil, firm or well-built (of a man) — Arg. Cf. daingean.
dail, a wooden collar for cattle ; cf. W. dcd, a hold, catch, Br. dcd,
a holding; root dhe, dho, set"? Cf. Gr. 9i)Kri, repository,
Tidrjfxt, place, Lat. facto, etc. But see ddil, delay.
dail, a dale, meadow, from Norse dalr, Eng. dale.
dail, delay, credit, Ir. ddil, M. Ir. dad, gen. ddla, i-espite, '^ddli- ;
from dvol, dvel, whence Eng. divell, Noxse dvol, delay.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 121
dail, a meeting, so Ir., 0. Ir. ddl, 0. W. dutl, forum, W. dadl^
sermo, 0. Br. dadlou, curiae, Br. dael^ *datld, root dha^ dhe^
set, as in dail (Ernault). Stokes suggests connection with
0. SI. c/e-, dicere.
fdail, fdal, portion, tribe, Ir. and 0. Ir. ddil^ ddl, Bede daal =
part, Daireudini, later Ddl-riata, Dalriada, the early Scotic
kingdom of Argyle, etc : "^ddlo-, root da, divide, Gr. Sareo/xai,
divide, 8aa-/xos, division, Lit. dalis, a part, Skr. dati, cut off,
dalas, part. The verb dailich, distribute, is given in H.S.D.
as a dialectic form ; the Ir. is ddilim. Zimmer thinks dail,
meeting, and dail, part, are originally the same.
dailgneachd, prophetic vision. See tairgneachd.
daimh, relationship, Ir. ddmli, tribe, family, E. Ir. ddm : *dd7nd,
tribe, company ; Gr. S^/xo',, Dor. Sa/xo5, people, tribe, Eng.
deinocY'dcy. It is usual to compare 0. W. dauu, cliens, W.
daiv (daw/), son-in-law, M. Br deujf] Br. den (do.); but these
words may be allied to Gr. Safiap, spouse, and be from the
root dam, dom, house.
daingean, strong, firm, so Jr., 0 Ir. daingen, W. dengyn, barbarous,
*dangeno-, firm, hard, verb "^dengo, E. Ir. dingim, pi'css.
Bezzenberger compares Norse tengja, fasten, tie together,
Ag. S. tengan, press, 0. H. G. gi-zengi, conjunctus. Thurneysen
compares W. tengyn, obstinate, and Fr. tangoner, press. It
is possible to connect daingean with Norse dyngja, heap,
women's apartment, Ag. S. ding, career. Lit. dengiu, cover ;
perhaps 0. H. G. tunc, earth-house, Eng. dung.
dair, inire vaccam, Ir. ddir, M. Ir. dair, "^ddro, root dhP-, dhoro,
Gr. Opioa-KOi, spring, Oop6*i, semen viri, Skr. dhdra, stream,
seed.
dairireach, rattling noise, E. Ir. der-dretJi,ar, cries, W. ddr, noise,
daredd, tumultuous noise, root der, dher, as in Gr. 6p?]vo<^,
dirge, Skr. dkran, sound, Eng. drone. See diird and
8tairirich.
dais, a heap of hay or peats, O. Ir. dai%, a heap, W. c/as, 0. W.
das, M. Br. dastum, to mass, "^dasti- (for G. and W.) ; Ag. S.
tass (whence Fr. tas), Bezzenberger and Stokes correlate it
with Norse des, hay heap, Sc, dass.
dais, dots, a blockhead (H.S.D. ), daiseachan, insipid rhymer
(Arm). ; seemingly borrowed from the Sc. dawsie, stupid,
dase, stupefy. For root, see ddsachd. Norse dasi, lazy fellow.
dais, a musical instrument :
daithead, a diet ; from the Eng. See dlot.
dala, one of two ; see under dara.
14
122 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARV
dall, blind, Ir., E. Ir. dall^ W., Br. dall^ Cor. dal, ^dvalno-, I. E.
dhvl-no- ; Got. dvals, foolish, Eng. dull ; Lat. faUo, cheat,
{=dkaln6) ; Gr. 6oX.ep6s, turbid. Hence inter alia, dallag,
a field shrew, a mole, Ir. dallog.
dallanach, a winnowing fan ; from dall.
dalma, bold, forward, obstinate : "vigorous'?" root did in duiile.
dalta, foster-son, god-son, 0. G. dalta (Bk. of Deer), Ir. dalta,
O. Ir. dalte, "^daltaio-s, root dhe, dhel, suck ; Gr. OrjXvs,
female; Lat. felo, mic^, fevmia ; etc. (Stokes, Strachan). See
deoghail. It has been usual to refer dalta to the root at of
altrayn, the d being considered as the remains of rfe, the
prepositional prefix ('^de-altjo-s).
dam, a dam ; from the Eng.
damais, draughts, bord damais, draught board ; from the Sc.
davis, damhrod, Ger. damhrett, from Fr. dame, dame, draughts,
Lat. domina.
damh, o\, stag, so ir., 0. Ir. dam, Cor. da, dama, M. Br. dauai,
sheep, Br. danvad, sheep, detnm, roe, "^damo-s ; Lat. ddma,
damvia, deer ; Gr. Sa/xaA?;?, a stier, Sa/xaAt's, a calf ; Skr.
damya, untamed stier. Allied is Eng. tame, Lat. domare,
Eng. domestic, etc.
damhair, rutting time ; for damh-dhaiv, from damh and dair
(H.S.D.).
damhair (H.S.D.), damhair (Sh., Arms.), earnest, keen :
damhan-allaidh, spider, Ir. danikdn-alla, O. Ir. daman n-allaid
(g. pi.), " wild little deer " ; see damk and allaidh.
damnadh, cursing, condemnation, so Ir., M. Ir. damnad ; from
Lat. damnatio.
dan, fate, destiny, Ir. dan; cf. M. ir. dan, gift, W. dawn, gift,
talent, Lat. donum, root do, Gr. ^l^mixl, give, Skr. da-, give,
dan, a poem, Ir. dan, song, O. ir. ddn, g. ddno, ars^ ^dds7m-, root
das, know ; (j!r. S/jvea, plans, arts, Sayfjiov, skilful ; Ch. SI.
danhauh, wisdom ; Skr. damsdna, miracle (Stokes).
dan, l)old, Ir. ddna, O. ir. ddne, ddna, "^'ddsnavo-s, from the root
of dan above (Stokes).
danns, dance (thou), dannsa, damhsa, a dance, Ir. damhsa, W.
dawns ; from the Eng.
dao, obstinate, O. Ir. doe, g. doi, tardus, '^'dausio-s ; Ag. S. dysig,
foolish, ii^ng, dizzy, O. H. G. imtc, stultus, Ger. thor, foolish
(Stokes, VVindisch).
daobhaidh, wicked, perverse (Hel).) ; see dao.
daoch, strong dislike, horror, daochan, anger (Sh.) :
daoi, wicked, a wicked man, ir. daoi, a wicked or foolish person ;
opposite of saoi (with do-, ^'du-), which see for root.
OF THE rxABLIC LANGUAGE. 123
daoimean, a diamond ; from the Eng.
daol, daolag", a beetle, Ir. daol,, E. Ir. dael, doel, dail : "^doilo-, root
del, di, as in dian, q.v. Stokes connects with M. Ir. dael,
frightsomeness, root dvei, fright, Gr. Seo?, a fright, Skr.
dvis, hate.
daolair, a lazy man, a niggard, Ir. daol, lazy (O'R.) :
daonnan, daondan, continually, always, *d^ aon-taii (I), " from one
time." Cf. greis.
daor, enslaved, so Ir., 0. Ir doir ; opposite of saor (with negative
do-, *du-), which see for root.
daor, dear, Ir. daor, daoradli, making dear (Four Masters) ; from
M. Eng. deere, deore, dear (Stokes).
daorach, intoxication ; cf. Sc. deray, mirthful noise at a l)anquet,
M. Eng. derai, disorder, from Fr. desroi, dis-arr«y.
dar, when (conj.), Northern form for 'n iiair ; probably d^ uair =
do-uair.
dara, second, so Ir. ; M. G. dark (Oss. Ballad, Fernaig MS ),
*ind-araUe, "the other," from ind=^an, the, and 0. Ir. araile,
alius = ar + <^?'/f, air + eile, q.\., alali/jo.% Br. arall. Also an
dala, the one of two, 0. Ir. indala, from ind and aile, that
is, an and eile. Further, darna {—dala), E. Ir. indarna,
^ind-araile n-ai, the one of them (two), 0. Ir. indala n-ai,
where di, eorum, is the pi. of a, his.
darach, oak, Ir. dair, darach, E. Ir. dair, gen. darach, W., Cor.
dar, "^darik- ', Lat. lari.ic, Eng. larch] Gr. (Maced.) ^dpvXXos,
oak, S/)i)9 (do.), So/ov, spear ; Eng. tree, etc. Hence darach,
body of a boat.
darcan, the hollow of the hand (Dialectic, H.S.D.) ; cf. dedrna.
darcan, a teal :
d^rna, one of two ; see under dara.
darnaig, darn, darning ; from the Eng. darning, which is itself
from W. darn, piece, patch (root dera, split, Eng. tear).
d^sachd, rage, madness, M. G. ddsacht (M'V.), Ir. ddmclid, O. Ir.
ddsacht, insania ; Ag. S. dwdes, foolish, Sc. dawsie, Du. dwaa^i,
senseless (Strachan).
dath, colour, Ir., E. Ir. dath, *datu- ; from the root dha, dlie,
place, as in dail, etc. %
d^th, singe, Ir. doghaim, E. Ir. dothim, inf. doud, daif (n.), Br.
deuiff, to burn, ^davio, I burn ; Gr. Satoj, burn ; Skr. du,
dundti, burn, davas, a brand.
dathas, fallow deer; damhasg, dabhasg ; from dam/i-\-seasg(l).
de, of, Ir. de, 0. Ir. de, di, 0. W. di, VV. y, Cor. the, Br. di, '^de,
"^di, *de ; Lat. de ; from dve, a case-form from dvo, two.
Gaelic and Irish confuse this prep, with do, to ; a confusion
124 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
which even extends to 0. Ir. in pre-accentual de compounds.
Hence do of the past tenses : do chaidh, went, i.e., deach ; do
rinn, did, from do-g7iiu, I do, etc.
d6, what ; also gn de ; a cm-tailed form of ciod e, " what is it ";
from ciod and e, q.v. Ir. caide, Galway gode.
de, an de, yesterday, Ir. arte, (ande), 0. Ir. indhe, W. y ddoe, Br.
deac'h, M. Br. dech, *send,i-gesi, art. an and *gesi ; Lat. heri
(^z=*heu) ; Gr. x^^^ ^ Eng. yesterday. The Celtic forms are
all influenced by the word for "to-day," G. an dm, 0. Ir.
indiu, W. heddyiv, dyw ; from c/z'w, "^divo, day, q.v. Zimmer
in fact refers the word to the root of din (Zeit.'^'^ 17). "^jed,
ghjesi, heri, etc. (St.).
de : teine de, ^I. Ir. tene diait, lightning ; *deia, shine with -anti
or -aula (n.) (St.).
d^abh, drain, dry up, deabhadh (pronounced de-u), shrinking (as
the staves of a wooden vessel). Dialectic ded'; I. E. dhevo-,
run, Eng. dew, Gr. ^ew, run, Skr. dJmv, run, flow,
deacaid, l)oddice, jacket ; from Eng, jacket.
deacair, difficult, surly, Ir. deacair, 0. Ir. deccaii' ; for di-acar :
prep, de and acar, as in socair, q.v.
deach, went ; the post-particle or enclitic form of do chaidh, q.v.,
Ir, deachaidh, 0. Ir. dechnd.
deachd, dictate, so Ir., deachdadh (n.); from Lat. dicto, dictatio,
whence Eng. dictation.
deadhan, a dean ; from the Eng.
deagh, good, Ir. deagh, 0. Ir. deg-, dag-, W. da, Cor. da, bonum
(gl.), Gaul. Dago-, '''dago-, *dego-, " good, acceptable ; " Gr.
Sexecrdat, receive. Further allied to Gr. Se^to?, right, SeKOfiat,
receive ; Lat. dexte?', right, decus, doceo ; Gaelic deas, 0. Ir.
deck, best (superlative to deagh or niaith).
deaghad, living, diet, morals (Uist) ; see diot.
deaghaidh : see deidh.
deal, friendly (H.S.D., M'E.) ; see dileas.
deal, deala, a leech, Ir. deal, a blood-sucker (O'Ji.) ; from I. E.
root dhc, suck, as in deoghail, q.v. Cf. Lit. dele, leech ; also
Ir. (and G. in Diet, therefrom) deala, teat, E. Ir. del.
dealaich, separate, Ir. dealnighim, E. Ir. deligim, deil, separation ;
T. E. delo-, to split, Skr. dalitas, split, Gr. SeAro?, tablet. Lit.
da/is, part. Cf. jdail, part,
dealan, dealanach, lightning, Ir. dealdn, a spark, flaming coal,
^dilo- : root di, dei (dei), deya (Fick), shine ; Gr. SeeXos
(=5eJ-eAo9), conspicuous, SrjXos, clear ; Skr. di, shine ; further
is ^dei-vo-s, whence G. dia, etc. M. Ir. tene-gelai7i, "lightning,"
now "will o' the wisp"; tene-gelan, fireflaught.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 125
dealan-de, butterfly, Ir. daldn-de, dealdn-de. The G. also means
the phenomenon observed by whirling a stick lighted at
the end. Apparently the meaning is " God's fire." For
de, see dia.
dealan-doruis, door-bolt (Sh., O'R.) ; see deil.
dealas, zeal, dealasach, zealous ; from the Eng. zeal, zealous.
dealbh, form, so Ir., 0. Ir. ddh, W. deliv, Br. -delu, "^delvo-, root
del ; Lat. dolare^ hew, dolo, a pike ; Gr. 6ai8aAA.w, embellish,
work cunningly ; 0, H. G, zol, log ; Ch. SI. dely, vat.
dealg", a pin, skewer, so Ir., 0. Ir. delg, M. W. dala, sting, fang,
W. dal, a catch. Cor. dele, monile, *delgos ; Ag. S. telgan,
virgultum, twig, Du. telg, M. H. G. zelge, Norse tjdlgr, a
prong • Lit. dalgis, scythe (?). Bezzenberger compares Norse
ddlkr, a cloak pin ; cf. Ag. S. dale, buckle.
dealradh, brightness, so Ir., E. Ir. dellrad, jubar ; from deal-, as
in dealau, q.v.
dealt, dew, Ir. dealt, M. Br., Br. delf, moist, damp :
dealunn, loud barking (H.S.D.) ; see deileann.
deamhan, a demon, so Ir., 0. Ir. demon ; from Lat. daemon, from
Gr. Satfjioiv, Eng. demon.
deamhais, deimheis, shears, Ir. deimheas (pronounced dios), E. Ir.
demess, '^'di-mess, " two-edged "; from di of da, two, and E. Ir.
mess, edge (Cormac's GL), "cutter," from root met, mow, cut,
as in meath, meith, cut, prune, Lat. 7aeto. Cf. Gaul, mataris.
d^an, do, Ir. dean (imper.), 0. Ir. den, denim : enclitic or post-
particle form of 0. Ir. dogniu, G, 7ii, I do ; from de, of, and
gni of gniomh, q.v. Inf. deanamh {=de-gnwiu-).
deann, haste, speed ; cf. E. Ir. denmne, haste, which Corniac
explains as di-ainmne, "non-patience," from ainmne, patience ;
root men, wait (Lat. maneo, etc.).
deannag, a small pinch, a grain, deannach, mill dust, Ir. deanog,
a pinch, grain :
deannal, conflict, stir, so Ir. (O'R.) ; from deann. In the sense of
"flash" (H.S.D. ), deannal seems a metathetical form of
dealan.
deanntag, a nettle, Ir. neantog, M. Ir. nenntdg, E. Ir. nenaid,
*nenadi-, for "^ne-nadi-^ a reduplicated form ; Ag. S. netele,
Eng. nettle ; Lit. nendre, pipe, tube. The t of G. and Ir. is
due to the same phonetic law that gives teine the pi. teintean.
dearail, poor, wretched, Ir. deardil, E. Ir. derdil, feeble, 0. Ir.
de7'dil, penuria, from der-, privative prefix (see deargnaidh),
and oil, abundance, which Windisch has referred to "^pdli-, a
form of the root pi, pel, full, as in tdn.
dearbadan, dearbadan-de, butterfly (M'D., H.S.D.) :
126 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
dearbh, certain, so Ir., 0. Ir. derb, *dervo- ; I. E. drevo-, whence
Ag. S. treowe, Eng. true, Ger. to^eu.
dearc, dearcag", a berry, so Ir., 0. Ir. derc, "^derhes-, Skr. drdkshd,
grape, vine (Stoli.es) ; root derl\ see, the idea being " con-
spicuous." Cf. Gr. SpaKiov, dragon, So/jkccs, gazelle, from the
root derk, see. See dearc, behold. The 0. Ir. derucc, g.
dercon, glans, is, like Ger. eichel, glans (from eiche, oak), from
the root of dararh, oak (Zimmer),
dearc, dearc-luachrach, a lizard, Ir. earduachra, the " earc of the
rashes," M. Ir. ere, speckled, red, Ir. earc, salmon, W. erch,
fuscus, darkish, '^erko-s, for ^perko- ; Gr. TrcpKvos, dark-blue,
7r€pK7], a perch ; Skr. prgnis, speckled ; Ger. forelle, a trout,
0. H. (t. forhana. For meaning, cf. hreac, a trout, " the
speckled one." The d of G. dearc belongs to the article.
fdearc, an eye, a cave, hole, Ir. dearc (do.), 0. Ir. derc (do.); from
the Yoot derJi, behold. See verb dearc. " eye-pit " gives the
meaning " cave." Shaw has deirc for "pit" in Engl, -Gael,
section.
dearc, behold, see, Ir. dearcaim, 0. Ir. dercaim, video, derc, eye,
"^derlo, I see, perfect ^dedorha (cf. chunnairc — con-dare) ;
1. E. derk, see ; Gr. ScpKo/xai, SeSopKa, have seen ; 0. H. G.
zoraht, bright ; Skr. dare, see.
dearg, red, so Ir., 0. Ir. derg, ^'dhergo-s ; Eng. dark, Ag. S. deorc.
deargad, deargant, a flea, Ir. deargdn, drea?icuid, deargnuid, E. Ir.
dergnat : "^derg-iiat, " reddener," from dearg, red?
deargnaidh, unlearned (Arm.; M'A. says "Irish"), Ir. deargnaidh,
"^der-gnadi- ; from der-, privative prefix {di-\-air, see de and
air), and root gnd, gen, know, as in aithne.
dedrlan, brimful ; *der-ldn ; from intensive prefix der (=de + 7'o)
and I an, full.
dearmad, neglect, forgetfulness, so Ir., 0. Ir. dermet, ^der-met ;
from der-, priv. particle (see dedrgnaidh) and met, ^mento-,
mind ; root men, think ; Lat. 77iens, mentio, commentum ; Eng.
7nind ; etc.
dearmail, anxiety (M'D.), anxious (H.S.D.) :
de^rn, do, Ir. dedmaim, 0. Ir. der7iinn, facerem, *di-ro-gni-, a side
form of dea7i with infixed ro. See dean.
dearna, the palm of the hand, Ir. dearna, PI Ir. derna ; cf. Gr.
^ixipov, palm, handbreadth, Sa^ot?, the distance between the
thumb and little finger, a span (Hes.), Sapdp, the distance
between the big and little fingers (Hes.). It is further
referred to the I. E. root der, split, open (Fick, Prellwitz).
Hence de^rnagan, a small oaten or wheaten cake, a hand,
dearras, keenness, obstinacy ; see diarras.
l
6P THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 127
deirrsach, a swig of liquor (Wli.) :
de^rrsadh, radiance, effulgence, li'. deaisgaiin, dearsgnaim, I
polish, burnish, M. Ir. derscnaigiia, explain, make clear,
"^de-ro-sec-^ root sec, see, Eng. see ? Hence dearrsgnuidh,
burnished, brilliant, The word fde^rsgnaidh, excellent, is
allied to 0. Ir. dersigem, prDocellimus, dirosci, excels, doroscai,
prsestet, ^di-roscag- (Thur.), ^roscag^^ro-od-sec-, root sec, pass,
as in seach ? E. Ir, dersciagthech, splendid.
deas, right, south, Ir. deas, 0. Ir. dess, W. deheu, Gor. dyghow,
M. Br. dehou, *dekso-s, "^del'sivo-s (Stokes) ; Lat. dexter \ Gr.
Se^td? ; Got. taihsva ; Lit. deszine (n.), Ch. SI. desmu, right ;
Skr. da/csina-s.
deasbair, a disputant, deasbaireachd, disputation, Ir. deaspoiri7ii
(O'R., Sh.) ; cf. cuspair.
deasbud, a dispute ; from the Eng. dis/mte, Lat. disputo.
deasgainn, rennet, barm, deasgadh, lees, yeast, Ir. deasgadh, lees,
0. Ir. descad, faex, fermentum, leaven, *desc-dtu (Z. 803) :
*disc-atu- ; cf. Lat. faex, for ^aix. Gaelic root dik, whence
dik-sl-o, then desc-.
deasgraich, a heterogeneous mass ( — dreavisgal, H.S.D.) :
deasmaireas, curiosity, deasmas (Sh.), Ir. deismireach, detsmis,
curious (O'B., O'K.) :
deasoireach, spicy (Sh., H.S.D.) :
deat, an unshorn year-old slieep or wedder, deathaid, *det-anti-,
"sucking one"; from det, de, suck. See deoghail.
deatam, anxiety ; cf. 0. Ir. detJdtiu, dethideu, care. Foi" root, see
didean. M'A. has also deatamach, necessary, which seems
allied,
deathach, deatach, smoke, Ir., M. Ir. deatach, O. Ir. de, g. diad,
E. Ir. dethach, detfadach, smoky, W. dywy, vapour. From
1. E. root dheu, dheu, dhu, dhve, smoke, air ; Lat. fuTnus,
smoke ; Gr. Ovfudto, to smoke ; Gh. SI. dymu (n.) ; Skr.
dhimids, Ir. de is for diva, from dheu or dhev ; the gen. diad
is phonetically like the nom. biad, food (^hivoto-n). The
form deatach is probably for '^dett-acos, dett being from dhve
(cf. Gr. Beo'i, for 6eir-6s, from dhve-s-). The t (=tt) of deatacli
is difficult to account for. For phonetics cf. heatliach.
deibhleid, a feeble or awkward person, M. Ir. debUn, E. Ir. dedblen,
weakling, from dedbid, weak ; the opposite of adhbhal, q.v.
(di-adbid). Stokes allows the alternate possibility of its
being from Lat. debilis ; see diblidh.
dele (cha deic), convenient ; cf. O. Ir. tecte, becoming, anas tecte,
quod (lecet :
128 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARt
deich, ten, so Ir., 0. Ir. deicJi n-, 0. W. dec, W. deg, Cor. dek, Br.
dec, ^deka ; Lat. decern ; Gr. Scku ; Got. tavJtun, Eng. ten ;
Skr. ddgan. Deicheamh, tenth, 0. Ir. dechmad, W. decvet,
Cor. degves, Br. decvet, *deJaiimeto-H (Brug.), an extension (by
the superlative suffix -to-) of "^dekinmo-s, Lat. decimns.
deide, deideadh, toothache, Ir. deideadh. See deud.
deideag, a pebble, toy ; cf. eiteag.
deidh, desire ; a noun formed from the adverbial phrase cm dcldh,
after.
deidh, an deidh, after, Ir. a n-diaigh, 0. Ir. i n-dead, post, E. Ir.
i n-diaid, from 0. Ir. dead, tinis, W. diwedd, finis, Cor. deivetk,
Br. diuez, "^de-ved-on (Stokes) ; from the root ved, lead, as in
toiseach, q.v. (Stokes prefers ved of feadkainii). Also deidh,
deigh, the latter a bad form etymologically. The 0. Ir. had
also the form degaid (^^di-agaid), the opposite of i n-agid,
now an aghaidh, against, adversus,
deidhinn, mu dheidhinn, concerning, of ; cf. E. Ir. ddgin, daigind,
im ddgin, because of, because, ddig, deig, for the sake of,
because (prep, and conj.), 0. Ir. deg, quia. See dbigh.
deifir, haste, speed, Ir. deifir, deitJifir, M. Ir. deithbhireach (O'Cl.),
speedy, busy ; to which Stokes and Ernault compare W.
difrif, serious, M. Br. adevry, seriously.
deigh, ice, Ir. oighear, snow, leac-oighir, ice, 0. Ir. nig, g. ega,
aigred, W. ia, Cor. iey, glacies, Br. yen, cold, *jagi-, ice ;
Norse jaki, piece of ice, jokull, iceberg, Ag. S. gicel, piece of
ice, Eng. icicle (=:ls-gicel) ; Lit. izas, ice lump. The d of G.
is prothetic, arising from the art. : 0. Ir. ind-aig.
deighlean, a quire of paper (Sh., O'B.), Ir. deighledn:
deil, an axle, Ir. deil, an axle, rod, turner's lathe, 0. Ir. deil, rod,
Cor. dele, antempna, 0. Br. deleiou, antemnarum, Br. delez,
"^deli-, *deljo- ; I. E. root del, split. See deala.ich. Stokes
refers it to the root dhel, whence Ger. doUe, umbel, 0. H. G.
tola, racemus, Gr. ddXos, a short twig ; as in duileag, q.v.
deil, dil, keen, diligent (Arg.) ; formed from dealas, zealous.
deil, leech ; Dialectic for deal.
deilbh, a forming, warping (for weaving), so Ir. ; see dealbh.
deile, a plank, deal ; from the Eng. deal.
deileann, loud, sliarp barkings, E. Ir. deilvi, stem delmen, noise,
alarm :
deileas, a grvidging, eagerness ; see dealai^.
deilgneach, thorny, prickl}^, Ir. deilgneach, thorns ; from dealg.
Cadal-deilg'neach, the prickly sensation in a numbed liml).
deilig, deal with, a dealing ; from Eng. dealing.
deillseag, a slap with the open hand, deiseag :
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 129
deiltreadh, gilding, lacquering ; "^deilt-rad^ from fdeilt, separa-
tion, root del of dealaich ?
deimheis, a shears ; see deamhais.
deimhinn, certain, Ir. dehnhin, 0. Ir. demin, demnithir, certiiis,
"^demeni-, I. E. root dhe, set, fix, dheuieii-, setting, Gr.
de/ievac, set, defia, a pledge, theme, defiis, law, " something
laid down " ; Eng. doom^ deem \ etc.
deine, eagerness ; see dian.
deir, a deir, says (said), inquit, Ir. deiriin, 0. Ir. adbeir, dicit ; dei?'
is the root-accented form {^ad-hero) of abair (the preposi-
tional accented form, '^dd-bero). See abair. The a of a
deirim belongs to the ad-^ while the d of it takes the place of
b in the root {ber).
deirc, alms, so Ir., M. Ir. dearc, desheirc, 0. Ir. deayc^ deircc,
desercc, (caritas), for de-shercc ; see searc, love.
deireadh, end, so Ir., 0. Ir. dered, 0. G. derad (Bk. of Deer) :
*der-vedo-n, root ved as in deidh, q.v. 1 Ascoli suggests that
der is the basis, the opposite of er, front, from the proposition
air {'*'2yare). Hence deireas, injury.
dels, an dels, after, so Ir., 0. Ir. di eis, retro, 0. G. daneis, after
them {*di-an-eis), 0. Ir. eis, footstep, track, *in-sti, root sto,
sta, stand, Lat. instare ? Strachan gives the stem as *encsi-,
from eng, footstep, as in eang, q.v. ; Stokes takes it from
^pend-ti; root ped, as in eadh, Eng. foot.
deis-de, a sanctuary, halting place, halt (Wh.) ; dess de, " God's
right hand " (K. Meyer in " King Eochaid ").
deisciobul, a disciple, Ir. deisciobal, 0. Ir. descipiol, W. dysyybl,
Br. diskibil ; from Lat. discipulus.
deise, a suit of clothes ; from deas. Ir., M. Ir. deise, a robe ; E.
Ir. deis, entourage of chief. Cf. for meaning Eng. suit.
deiseag, a slap ; see deillseag.
deiseil, southward, sun-ward, E. Ir. dessel ; from deas and sel
(*svel), W. chwyl, versio. See deas and seal.
deismireach, curious ', see deasmaireas.
d^istinn, deisinn, disgust, Ir. ddistion, edge (set the teeth on
edge), disgust. Cf. M. Ir. deistiu, refuse of everything,
posterity, from deis ?
deithneas, deithneamhach, etc. ; from deine, from dian.
deo, breath, Ir. deo in gu deo, ever, '^dveso- ; I. E. dhves, breathe ;
W. dywy ? Lit. dvesti, breath, dvdse, spirit, breath, lluss.
dvochati ; Gr. Oeos, god ( = Oea-S^) ; M. H. G. getwds, ghost.
deoch, a drink, Ir. deoch, g. dighe, 0. Ir. deug, g. dige, ^degii-.
To degu- Bezzenberger cfs. Lit. dazyti, dip, wet, tinge. W.
15
130 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
diod, M. Br. diet^ are referred by Stokes to the root dhe^
suck, as in deoghail, or to ^de-patu (Lat. potus).
deodhas, deothas, eagerness, desire (deothas, M'F., O'K.) ; from
dhevo-, Gr. ^ew, nm, Ov[jl6s, soul, etc. See deathach.
deoghail, suck, Ir. diuilivi, deolaim, M. Ir. diul (n., dat.), *delu-j
root del as in deal, leech ; I. E. dhe, suck ; Lat. felare, suck,
femina, woman, "suck-giver"; Gr. BrjXvs, female, O-qX/], teat,
OrjXd^o), suck ; Skr. dhdyati (do.). The Breton forms show
n ; Br. c/e7^a, suck. See dionag.
deoidh, fa dheoidh, at last, finally, Ir. fd dheoidh, 0. Ir. fo diud,
postremo ; dat. case of 0. Ir. dead, end. See deidk for
derivation,
deoin, assent, Ir., E. Ir. deoin, ^degni- ; I. E. root dek, degh \ Gr.
hoKkm, seem, Soja, opinion, ScSax^J, teaching, Lat. doceo,
doctrina, etc. See deagh, good.
deoradh, an alien, Ir. deoraidh, a stranger, exile, M. Ir. deorad.
Stokes thinks the word is borrowed from Brittonic — Br.
devroet, depayse, " dis-countrified " idi-brog-, see brugh), Cor.
diures, exul. deoradh : opposite of urradh, guarantor, = di-
urradh (Jub.). air-rad (Meyer). Hence the name Deivar.
detheine, a heated boring iron : ^de-tlieine, the accent being on
the second portion teine, fire. For de, see dealan-de.
detheoda, henbane (M'D.) :
detiach, deteigheach, the gullet, weasand (M'D., Sh., etc.) :
peculiar as accented on iach, properly det-iack ; Dial, it-ioch,
epiglottis (Arg.).
deubh, shrink ; see deabh.
deubhann, a fetter for a horse :
deuchainn, diachainn, a trial, attempt, Ir. d^ fheachain, to see.
See feuch, feuchainn.
deud, a tooth, Ir. dead, 0. Ir. det, W. dant. Cor. dans, Br. dant,
diitd (Stokes); Lat. dens (dentis)', Gr. dSoi!s (g. oSoVtos); Eug.
tooth. Got. tun])us ; Lit. dantis ; Skr. dant-.
deug, diag;, -teen, e.g., coig-deug, fif-teen, Ir. deag, 0. Ir. dec,
deac, W. derig, ten (^). The exact relationship of detcg to
deich is difficult to decide. The other I. E. languages, as
a rule, make 13 to 19 by combining the unit numeral
with 10, as Ger. drei-zehn, Ag. S. (Sritene, Lat. tridecim.
^dvei-penge (St.).
deur, diar, a tear, drop, Ir. dear, debr, 0, Ir, der, W., Cor, dagr,
0. Br. dacr, M. Br. dazrou, tears, "^dakru ; Gr. SaKpv ; Lat.
lacrima, for dacrima ; Eng. tea7\ Got. tagr.
Di-, -day ; the prefix in the names of the days of the week, Ir.,
0. Ir. dia, die (0. Ir.), W. dydd, Cor. det (for dedh), Br. dez.
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 131
*dijas (^dejes- ?) ; Lat. dies ; Skr. dydiU^ day, sky ; Gr. Zevs,
Ato9, Jove. Allied to dia, god. Di-domhnuich, Sunday, Ir.
Do77ih7iach, E. Ir. domnach^ from Lat. (dies) dominica, Lord's
day — dominus, lord ; Di-luain, Monday, Ir. Dia-luain^ M. Ir.
luan, W. Dydd Llun, from Lat. dies Lunce, "day of the
moon " ; Di-mairt, Tuesday, Ir. Dia-mairt^ E. Ir. mdirt, W.
Dydd mawrth, from Lat. dies Martis, "day of Mars"; Di-
ciaduinn, Di-ciadaoin, Wednesday, Ir. Dia-ceadaoine, 0. Ir.
cetdin, cetoiri, de cetain (de = dia^hsit. die), dia cetdine, from
ceud, first, and aoine, fast, q.v., E. Ir. dine : " day of the first
fast," Friday being the second and chief day ; Diardaoin,
Thursday, Ir. Dia-dhardaoin, E. Ir. dardden=etar dd oin,
"between two fasts" — the day between the two fasts of
Wednesday and Friday ; Di-haoine, Friday, Ir. Dia-aoine,
Dia-haoine, E. Ir. dine, dia dine, 0. Ir. dia oine didine (day
of the last fast) : " day of the fast," from aoin, fast, q.v. ;
Di-sathuirn, Saturday, Ir. Dia-sathuirn, M. Ir. satharn, dia
sathairn, from Lat. dies Saturni, day of Saturn. The days
of the week were originally named (in Egypt) after the seven
planets of the ancients — Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jove,
Venus, Saturn.
di-, negative prefix, Ir. di-, dio-, 0. Ir. di-, W. di, *de ; Lat. de,
of. See de. Also dim-, diom-(dlmeas, dimhrigh, diombuaidh,
diomal).
dia, a god, so Ir., 0. Ir. dia, W. duw, 0. W. ditiu. Cor. duy, Br.
doe, Gaul, devo-, A€iovova=Divona, ^deivo-s ; Lat. divus (for
deivos), deified one, deus ; Gr. Sios, divine ; Norse tivar, gods,
Eng. Tues-day, "day of Tiw," the war-god; Lit. devas, Pruss.
deiwas ; Skr. devd. Hence diadhaidh, pious, Ir. diadha,
0. Ir. diade, divinus.
diabhol, devil, Ir. diahhal, 0. Ir. diahid, W. diawl, Br. diaoul ;
from Lat. diabolus, whence also Eng. devil.
diachadaich, especially (Heb.) :
diallaid, a saddle, so Ir., M. Ir. diallait, cloak, 0. Ir. dillat,
clothes, W. dillad, M. Br. dillat.
dialtag, a bat, Ir. ialtog. See ialtag.
diamhain, idle ; see diomhain rather.
diamhair, secret, Ir. diamhair, M. Ir., E. Ir. diamair, 0. Ir.
diamair, dimair. Root mar, remain ; di-mar, disappear 1
dian, keen, hasty, so Ir., 0. Ir. dian, ^deino-s ; root dei, di, hasten ;
Gr. SUiiai, hasten ; Skr. di, diyati, hurry, allied to the root
di, div, shine.
dianag, a two-year-old sheep ; cf. 0. Ir. dinu, lamb, from the root
dhe, suck. See deoghail. But Sc. dinmont ?
132 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
Diardaoin, Thursday ; see Di-.
diardan, anger, Ir. diaix/ain, E. Ir. diartain ; from dl-, intensive
prefix (E. Ir. di-^ as in dimSr, excessively great), from de, and
ardan, pride. Cf. aiidiaraid, wrathful.
diarras, diorras, stubbornness, vehemence, Ir. diorruisg, fierce-
ness, rashness : di-reidh ?
dias, an ear of corn, so Ir., 0. Ir. dias, W. tivys (pi.) : '^'steipsa,
root steip^ stiff, Lat. stipes, stake, stipula, Eng. stiff ? Cf.
geug and W. cang, ysgainc, for phonetics.
dibheach, an ant (H.S.D. quotes only O'R., while Arms, makes it
obsolete ; M'A. has it), Ir. dibheach : "^de-^- beach ?
dibhfhearg, vengeance, indignation, Ir. dibhfhearg, dibhfearg
(Keat.), E. Ir. diberg ; from dim and fearg ; see di- of
diardan.
dibhirceach, diligent (Sh. ; H.S.D. , which refers to C. S., but
neither in M'A. nor M'E.), Ir. dibhirceach, diligent, violent
(O'B., etc.) :
dibir, forsake ; see diobair.
dibith, dimbith, luckless, lifeless (Carm) :
diblidh, abject, vile, Ir. dibligh, 0. Ir. diblide, senium ; seemingly
from Lat. debilis, weak, feeble (Eng. debilitate, etc.). Zim.
(Zeit. 2'*) has suggested *di-adbul, "un-great," from adbul,
i.e. adhbhal, q.v.
dibrigh, dimbrigh, contempt, Ir. dimbrigli \ from dim-, di-, and
brigh, q.v.
dichioll, diligence, Ir. dithchioll : "^di-cell- ; for cell, see timchioll.
Or from ciall, sense ; " attention to " ?
Di-ciadaoin, Wednesday ; see Di-.
did, a peep ; an onomatopoetic word,
didean, protection, a fort, Ir. didean, 0. Ir. ditiu, g. diten, "^di-
jemtion- (Stokes) ; root jem, cover, protect, Lett, ju'mju, ju'mt,
cover a roof. The 0. Ir. verb is do-einim, tueor. Ascoli
makes the root em, as in Lat. emo, buy. Cf. eiridinn.
Di-d6mhnuich, Sunday ; see Di-.
difir, difference, Ir. difir, dithfir, M. Ir. dethbir ; from Lat. differo,
Eng. differ.
dig, a wall of loose stones, a dike ; from the Sc. dike, Eng. dike.
dil, eager, keen. See deil.
dil, dile, dilinn, a flood, Ir. dile, pi. dileanna, E. Ir. dili, g. dilenn,
diluvium ; from Lat. diluvium (Stokes), whence Eng. deluge.
dile, dill (M'D.) ; from the Eng.
dileab, a legacy, Ir. dilb (O'R.) :
dileag, a small drop ; from d\le, flood,
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 133
dileas, dear, faithful, Ir. dileas, 0. Ir. diles, proprius, own, "^delesto-,
del, I. E. dhelj dhe, suck, hat. Jllius, fe7ni7ia, etc. Sec deoghal.
Zeuss has suggested di + les, from leas^ advantage.
dilei^h, digest, dileaghadh, digesting, Ir. dileaghadh, from
di-leagh, root of leagh, melt,
dileum (accent on leum), a shackle ; di-{- ieum, q.v.
dilinn, leac dhilinn, a stone in situ, a rock appearing above
ground : "natural," from d\l- as in dileas.
dilleachdan, an orphan, Ir. dilleachda, 0. Ir. dilechtu, orfani :
"derelict," from di- and leig, let go (di-lec-, let go).
dimbrigh, contempt ; see dlbrigh.
dimeas, contempt, Ir. dimheas, 0. Ir. dimess ; from di-, dim-, and
meas.
dinn, press, force down, squeeze, Ir. dingim, ding, a wedge, E. Ir.
dingim, perf. dedaig, ^dengo ; Ag. S. tengan, press, Norse
tengja, fasten (Bezzenberger). See d.aingean. Brugmann
refers it to ^dhingho, Lat. Jingo, mould, feign, I. E. dheigh,
Eng. dough.
dinnein, a small heap, Ir. dinn, a hill, fortified hill, E. Ir. dinn
dind (do.), *dindu-; Norse tindr, spike, peak, Ger. zinnc,
pinnacle, Eng. tine. But cf. Gr. 6i<s, div6<i (i long), a heap,
Skr. dhanvan.
dinneir, a dinner, Ir. dinnear ; from the Eng.
dinnsear, ginger, Ir. gingsear, M. Ir. sin^isar ; from M. Eng.
ginger, Lat. zingiber.
diobair, forsake, Ir. dihirim; for di + whair, q.v. di-ud-her (St).
diobhail, loss, Ir. dioghahhail, 0. Ir. digbail, deminutio ; di- and
gabhail, q.v.
diobhargadh, persecution, diobhargach, fierce, keen, Ir. dibhear-
gach, vindictive ; see dibhfhearg.
diobhuir, vomit : ^de^beir, Lat. defero ; from de and beir.
diocail, lower, diminish (H.S.D., which quotes MSS. only) ;
di + ad-cal ; from cail ?
diochain, forgetfulness ; Dialectic for dichuimhne, that is di- and
cuimhne.
diod, diodag", a drop ; from the Eng. jet ? jot ?
diog, a syllable, Ir. digim, diugam, cluck as a hen : G. diug, the
call to hens. Onomatopoetic.
diogail, tickle, Ir. giglim, 0. Ir. fogitled (for fogicled ?). The G.
seems borrowed from the Eng. tickle, kittle ; and possibly all
are onomatopoetic, and reshaped in later times. Cf. Eng.
giggle, Lat. cachinnus.
diogair, eager, Ir. diogar (O'R.), E. Ir. digar C?) :
diogan, revenge, Ir. diogan (O'B., etc.) ; the word is Irish (not in
M'A. ; M'E. marks it doubtful) :
184 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
diOghail, diol, avenge, pay, Ir, diogludaivi^ diolaim, 0. Ir. dif/al
(ii.), W., Cor. dial, "^de-gald. See gal, valour, etc.
diog^hluim, glean, dioghluim, a gleaning, Ir. dioghluim (n.) :
*de-glumi ; for gluiiii, yee foghlum.
diol, pay, Ir. diolaiot, M. Ir. dilaim ; see diogliail.
diolan, illegitimate, M. G. diolain (M'V,), Ir. diolanlas, fornication
(O'B.) : "^dt-ldnamnas, "non conjngium "? See Idnain.
diomadh, discontent, pain, Ir. diomadh, diomdha ; see diumach.
diomarag, clover seed :
diomasach, proud, Ir. diomus, pride, M. Ir. diumus, pride, "too
great measure " : di-od-mess, root mess of coinus (Zimmer).
diombach, diombuidheach, displeased, Ir. diomhuidheach, unthank-
ful ; from diom-, dim-, un-, and huidheach, thankful, q.v.
Confused with diumach, q.v.
diombuaidh, unsuccessfulness, diombuan, transitory : negative
compounds of buaidh and buan, q.v.
diomhain, idle, Ir, dtomhaoin, 0. Ir. dimdin ; from di- and maoin,
" office-less" ; see maoi?i.
diomhair, secret ; see diamhair.
dion, protection, Ir. dio7i, E. Ir, din, g. dina, *denu- ; root dhe,
set?
diong, match, equal, pay, E. Ir. dinghain, ward off, dinghdla,
worthy : '^din-gah, " ofF-give." See gabh.
diongmhalta, perfect, Ir. diongmhalta, perfect, sure. See diong
above,
dionnal, a shot, fight ; see deannal.
diorachd, ability (H.S.D.) : Cf. Ir. dir, proper, *der.
diorras, vehemence, vehement anger ; see diarras.
diosd, a jump, kick with the heels (Dialectic) ; from Sc. jisk,
caper.
diOSg, barren, diosgadh, barrenness, not giving milk, Ir. diosc,
diosg : dl-sesc- ; see seasg. For its composition, see deirc.
diosg", a dish ; from Lat. discus, Norse diskr, Ag. S. disc, Eng. dish.
diosgan, a creaking or gnashing noise, Ir. diosgdn. See giosgan.
diot, a meal, diot mhor, dinner, M. Ir. diet, diit, E. Ir. dithait ;
from Lat. diaeta, Eng. diet ; dithit, feast during day (Meyer),
dithait (i) (Tain).
dipin, a deepening (in a net), a certain measure of a net ; from
Sc. deepin, a net, Eng. deep.
dir, ascend -, curtailed from dirich.
direach, strait, Ir. direach, 0. Ir. direch, "^de-reg, root reg, stretch ;
Lat. rego, directus, Eng. direct, etc. The root is found also
in eirigh, rach, etc. Hence dirich, straighten, ascend.
dis, susceptible to cold, Ir. dis, poor, miserable, E. Ir. diss, dis,
weak, "^de-sti- ? Root sta.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 135
&5
disleach, stormy, uncouth, straggling, Ir. disligheach, deviating
di-slighe, slighe, path, q.v. In the sense of " stormy," the
derivation is doubtful.
disne, a die, dice, Ir. disle ; from M. Eng. dys, dice.
dit, condemn, Ir. diotach, condemnatory, diotdil, an indictment ;
from the M. Eng. dtten^ indict, Sc. dite — a parallel form to
indict^ endite, from Lat. indicto, dicto, dictate, dico, say.
Further Sc. dittay.
dith, press together, dithimh, a heap (Sh.) :
dith, want, defeat, Ir. dith, 0. Ir. dith, destruction, "^deto-, from de
(as in de, of, d/t-, un-) ; Lat. letum [=^detum), death (Stokes).
dithean, daisy, darnel, blossom, M. Ir. dithen, darnel, Manx jean
dithis, a pair, two, Ir. dis, 0. Ir. dias, g. desse, dat. and ace. diis
(also dias, diis), duitas, ^'dveistd, from the feni. "^dvei, 0. Ir.
di, two. See da. 0. Ir. dias, "^dveiassa : cf. Lat. hes, bessis,
from *bejes8 (St.).
dithreabll, a desert, Ir. dithreabh, 0. Ir. dithrub ; from di- and
treb ; see treahh, aitreahh.
diu, diug'h (to)-day, an diu, to-day, Ir. andiu, aniu, 0. Ir. indiu,
W. heddyw, M. Br. hiziu, Br. hirio, "^divo- (Stokes) ; Skr.
dlvd ; Lat. diu. See Di-, day. The an (0. Ir. in) is the
article.
diu, worth while : *do-fiit ; see Jiii.
diubhaidh, diu^ha, refuse, the worst, diu (M'F., M'E.), Ir.
diogha ; opposite of rogha. See roghainn.
diubhail, mischief, loss ; see diobhoAl.
diubhrarj, difference, diubhar (Arm.) : "^divr, "^difr, from dijf'er of
Lat. differo. See difir.
diuc, the pip, a sickness of fowls :
diuc, a dulvc, Ir, diubhce, diuic (Keat.) ; from the Eng. dttke.
diucair, a ducker, a bladder for keeping nets at the proper depth
under water ; from the Eng. ducker.
diuchaidh, addled :
diudan, giddiness, diudan (Arm.) :
diug, an interjection to call hens, cluck, Ir. diugam, cluck :
onomatopoetic. See diog.
diugan, mischance (H.S.D., which marks it as Dialectic) :
diug'h, to-day ; see diu.
diuid, tender-hearted, a spiritless person, Ir. diuid, 0. Ir. diuit,
simplex :
diulanas, bravery, Ir. diohcntas, earlier diohihaineach, soldier,
mercenarius ; from dtol, pay.
136 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
ditllt, refuse, Ir. diultaim, E. Ir. diultaim, 0. Ir. diltuch, refusing,
doriltiset, negaverunt, *di-Ut (Thu.). Zimmer suggests the
root of Lat. lateo, lurk, Stokes gives "^de-laudi ("Celt. Dec"),
and Ascoli hesitates between "^di-la- (la, throw, Gv. eXavvw)
and *di-shlond. Possibly an active form of till, return.
diltud, V. n. of do-sluindi.
diumach, displeased, Ir. diomdhach, M. Ir. dUndach, dimmdach :
^dim-med-, root med, mind, as in meas.
dleas, dleasnas, duty, Ir. dUsdeanas, legality, E. Ir. dlestanas (do.),
"^dlixo-, "^dig-so-, right ; see dligheadh.
dligheadh, law, right, Ir. dligheadh, 0. Ir. dliged, W. dyled, died,
debt, '''dligeto-n, Cor. dylly, debere, Br. die, debt, "^dlgo, I
owe ; Got. dulgs, debt; Ch. SI. dlugu (do.).
dlo, a handful of corn, dlo (M'L., M'E.), Ir. dlaoigh, a lock of hair
or anything, E. Ir. dlai, a wisp ; cf. W. dylwf, wisp, and Lat.
jloccus .?
dluigheil, handy, active (Dial.), Ir. dluigh, active (O'B.), M. Ir.
dluigh, service, E. Ir. dluig, service, *dlogi- ; same root as
dligheadh .
dlilth, close, Ir. dluth, E. Ir. dluith, 0. Ir. dlutai, (pL), dluthe,
adhaerendi, "^dlilti-. Cf. Gr. ^Aaw, crush, dru ?
dluth, the warp of a web, Ir., 0. Ir. dluth, stamen, W. dylif
{*dlu-mi- ?) ; from the above root (dlu).
do, to, Ir. do, 0. Ir. do, du, Cor. dhe, 0. Br. do, Br. da ; Eng. to,
Ag. S. to, Ger. zu ; Lat. -do (endo, indu) ; Gr. -8e. Stokes
derives the prep, do from the verbal particle do, to. See the
next word.
do, a verbal particle denoting " to, ad," Ir. do, 0. Ir. do-, du-, also
to-, when it carries the accent (e.g. dobiur, I give, *do-berd,
but tabair, give, ^to-bere) ; W. du-, dy-, y. Cf. Got. du, to
prep, and prefix, for "^Jyu ?
do, thy, Ir. do, 0. Ir. do, du, W. dy, E. W. teu. Cor. dhe, Br. da,
"^tovo ; Lat. tuus ; Skr. tdva, etc. See tu.
do-, du-, prefix of negative quality, Ir. do-, dd-, 0. Ir. do-, du-,
*dus- ; Skr. dus- ; Gr. Svor- ; Got. taz-, Ger. zer-. Its opposite
is so, q.v. Following the analogy of so, it aspirates the
consonants though originally it ended in s.
dobair, a plasterer (M'D.), Ir. ddbadoir, W. dwbiwr ; from M. Eng.
dauber, Eng. daub.
dobhaidh, boisterous : "^du-vati-, root vet, as in (mfhadh, q.v.
fdobhar, water, Ir. dobhar, E. Ir. dobur, W. divfr. Cor. dofer, Br.
dour, Gaul, dubrum, *dubro-n, ^dub-ro-, root dub, deep, as in
domhain, q.v. Cf. Lit. dumblas, mire, Lett, dubli (do.) ; Lit.
duburys, a place with springs, dumburf/s ; Ger. tumpel, a deep
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 137
place in flowing or standing water. Hence dobharchu
(" water-dog ") and dobhran, the otter.
docair, grievous, hard, trouble, E. Ir. doccair, uneasiness, trouble.
See socair.
docha, preferable, is docha, prefer ; see toigh.
d6cha, more likely, Ir. docha, 0. Ir. dochu ; comparative of doigh,
0. Ir. d6ig, likely, "^dougi-, *douhi- ; Gr. SevKet, thinks,
aSevK-i^s, unseemly ; Ger. zeuge, witness ; further allied is Lat.
dUco. Connection with Gr. So/cea> has been suggested, and
Zimmer has analysed it into *do-ech, *do-sech, root sec, say
(as in casg, etc. : Cam.), citing the by-form toich (G. toigh),
which is a different word. Hence doclias, doigh.
dochair, dochar, hurt, damage, so Ir., E. Ir. docJior ; from do- and
cor-, i.e., cor, state: dochar, "bad state." See cor, sochair.
Hence dochartach, sick.
dochann, injury, hurt, M. Ir. dochond, ill-fortune, 0. Ir. conaichi,
felicior, from *cuno-, high, root hu (as in curaidh) ?
ddchas, hope, Ir. dochas, M. Ir. d6chus ; see docha.
docran, anguish (Sh., Arm. ; not H.S.D.) ; cf. docrach, hard, from
docair.
dod, a tantrum, fret, Ir. sdoid (n.), sdodach (adj.), d6iddeach,
quarrelsome (Con.). Cf. Sc. dod.
dodum, a teetotum (Dialectic) ; from the Eng.
dog, a bit ; from the Eng. dock.
dogadh, mischief (Sh.), 0. Ir. dodcad (Str.).
dogail, cynical, doganta, fierce ; from the Eng. dog.
dogan, a sort of oath (Dialectic, M'L.); Sc. daggand, Eng. doggonit,
Amer. doggond.
dogha, a burdock, Ir. meacan dogha ; Eng. dock, Ag. S. docce.
doibhear, rude, uncivil, so Ir. (Lh., which H.S.D. quotes, O'B.,
etc.) : " ill-bearing "; from do- and heir ?
doibheas, vice, Ir. ddibheus ; from do- and betes.
doicheall, churlishness, Ir. doicheall, g. doichle ; E. Ir. dochell,
grudging, inhospitality : opposed to E. Ir. sochell, meaning
"kindness," soichlech. Root is that of timchioU. Gaul.
Sucellos, a god's name.
ddid the hand, grasp, Ir. ddid, E. Ir. doit, 0. Ir. inna n-doat,
lacertorum, ^dousenti- ; Skr. dos {"^daus), doshan, fore-arm,
Zend daoska, shoulder. Strachan, who cites the meanings
'hand, wrist," suggests a stem "^doventi-, from I. E. dheva
(move violently), comparing Gr. Kapiros, wrist, from qrp, turn.
Hence doideach, muscular.
d6id, a small farm : "a holding " ; from ddid, hand, Cf,
ddideach, firmly grasping.
16
138 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
d6ideach, frizzled up, shrunk (of hair) ; from dd^th, singe.
doig^h, manner, trust, Ir. doigh. For root, see dbcha.
doilbh, difficult (H.S.D.), dark (Sh., O'B.), Ir. doilhh, dark, gloomy :
of. suilbh.
doileas, injury ; from do- and leas.
doilgheas, sorrow, so Ir. ; from doiligh, sorry, the Ir. form of
duilich, q.v.
doilleir, dark, Ir. doileir ; see soilleir.
doimeag, a slattern ; of. Ir. doim, poor, and for root, see soimeach.
doimh, bulky, gross ; see dbmhail.
doimh, doimheadach, vexing, galling : '''do-ment-, " ill-minded."
doimheal, stormy (Sh. ; not H.S.D.) :
ddineach, sorrowful, baneful (Arm., who has doineach with short
o), 0. Ir. doinmech, doinrdidh. Dr N. M'L. " fateful." dan ?
doinionn, a tempest, Ir. doineann, 0. Ir. doinenn. See soineann.
doirbeag, a minnow, tadpole, Ir. dairb, a marsh worm, murrain
caterpillar, E. Ir. duirh (ace), worm, "^dorbi- : I. E. derbho-,
wind, bend, Skr. darbh, wind, M. H. G. zirben, whirl,
doirbh, hard, difficult, so Ir., 0. Ir. doirb ; see soirbh.
doire, grove, Ir. doire, daire, 0. Ir. daire (Adamnan), Derry, W.
deri, oak grove ; see darach.
doireagan, peewit ; Dialectic form of adharcan.
doireann, doirionn (Arg.), tempestuous weather ; see doinionn.
For phonetics, cf. boirionn.
doirionta, sullen, so Ir. ; cf. the above word,
doirling, doirlinn, isthmus, beach, Ir. doirling, promontory,
beach : "*" do-air-ling- (for ling, see leum) % For meaning, see
tairbeart.
doirt, pour, Ir. doirtirn, dortadh (inf.), E. Ir. doirtim, 0. Ir.
dofortad, effunderet, dorortad, was poured out, ^fort-, root
vor, ver, pour, E. Ir. feraim, I pour, give ; Lat. urina, urine ;
Gr. ovpov ; Norse ur, drizzling rain, Ag. S. vdr, sea ; Skr. vdri,
water. To this Stokes refers braon (for vroen-, veroend ?).
doit, foul, dark (H.S.D. only) :
doit, a small coin less than a farthing ; from the Sc. doit.
dol, going, Ir. dul, 0. Ir. dul, inf. to dohiid, dolluid, ivit, from
luid, went, *lud6, from I. E. leudho, go, Gr. eAciJcro/xai, will
come, rjXvOov, came. Stokes and Brugmann refer luid to
*{p)lud6, root plu, plou of luath, q.v. .
dolach, destructive : " grievous "; from fdol, grief, Sc. dool, from
Lat. dolor.
dolaidh, harm, so Ir., E. Ir. dolod, 0. Ir. dolud, damnum, 0. G.
V dolaid, burden, charge ; its opposite is E. Ir. solod, profit :
*do-lud, " mis-go "; from lud of luid, go (Ascoli).
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 189
ddlas, grief, Ir. ddlas : formed from solas, consolation, on the
analogy of other do- and so- words. See solas.
ddlum, mean, surly, wretchedness, poverty. Cf. dolach.
dom, the gall, gall-bladder ; see domhlas.
domail, damage ; apparently founded on Lat. damnum.
domblas, gall, bile, Ir. domhlas, M. Ir. domhlas ae, i.e., "bitterness
of the liver "; from M. Ir, domblas, ill-taste ; from do-mlas.
See bias.
domhach, a savage ; see doimh.
domhail, bulky : M. Ir. derg-domla, pi., from "^domail, root of
meall : *do-fo-mell ?
domhain, deep, so Ir., 0. Ir. domain, W. divfn, Br. don, ^duhni-s,
^dubno-s ; Eng. deep, Got. diups ; Lit. dubus, deep, diimburys,
a hole in the ground filled with water, dauba, ravine, Ch. SI.
dubri, ravine : I. E. dheub. See also dobhar.
domhan, the Universe, so Ir., 0. Ir. domun, Gaul. Dubno-, Dumno-
(in many proper names, as Duhnotalus, Dumnorix, " World-
king," Gaelic Domhnall, "^ Dumno-valo-s, W. Dyfnual), Celtic
"^ dubno-, the world, the "deep"; another form of dom,hain
above. Cf. Eng. deep for the "sea." D'Arbois de Jubainville
explains Dubno- of Gaulish names as " deep," Duvinorix,
"deep king," "high king"; and he has similarly to explain
Biturix as "king for aye," not "world king": all which
seems a little forced.
Domhnach, Sunday, so Ir., E. Ir. domnach ; from Lat. dominica,
" the Lord's." See under Di-.
don, evil, defect, Ir. don ; see next word.
dona, bad, so Ir., E. Ir. donae, dona, wretched, bad ; opposite to
sona, son, happy. See sona. ■
dongaidh, moist, humid ; from the Sc. donk, Eng. dank.
donn, brown, Ir., 0. Ir. donn, W. dwn, Gaul. Donnus, Donno- ;
*donno-s, *dus-no- ; Lat. fuscus ; Eng. dusk, dust. Eng. dun
may be hence.
donnal, a howl, complaint ; *don-no-, I. E. dhven, whence Eng. din,
Skr. dhvana, sound. Meyer says: "Better donal, fem." G.
is masc.
dorbh, dorgh, a hand-line, Ir. dorubha ; also drogha, q.v.
dorc, a piece (Dialectic) : ^dorco-, xootder, split, Eng. tear; N. dorg.
dorch, dark, Ir. dorcJia, 0. Ir. dorche ; opposed to sorcha, bright,
"^do-reg-io-, root reg, see. Lit. regiu, I see. See rosg. The
root reg, colour, Gr. /oejw, colour, e/se^os, Erebus, Norse rokr,
darkness, Ragna-rokr, twilight of the gods, is allied. Ascoli
and Zimmer refer it to the Gadelic root rich, shine, 0. Ir.
richis, coal, Bret, regez, glowing embers, Skr. ric, re, shine.
140 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
dorlach, a handful, quantity : "^dorn-lach, from dorn, a fist.
d6rn, a fist, Ir. dorn, 0. Ir. dorn, W. dwrn, Cor. dorn, 0. Br. dorn,
Br. dourn, hand, Gaul. Durnacos, "^durno- ; Gr. So)pov, palm,
Sapetp, Sdpiv, a span ; Lettic dure, fist ; I. E. root de7% split.
*dver, *dur, strong.
dorra, more difficult, Ir. dorrach, harsh, M. Ir. dorr, rough,
^dorso- ; Czech drsen, rough (Stokes, Strachan).
dorran, vexation, anger, Ir. dorrdn, M. Ir. d,orr, "^dorso- ; see
above word,
doruinn, pain, anguish, Ir. doghruing. Cf. E. Ir. dogra, dogra,
lamenting, anguish, dogar, sad, from do- and gar, q.v.
dorus, a door, Ir., 0. Ir. dorus, W. drws, Cor. daras, 0. Cor. dor^
Br. dor, ^dvorestu- ; Lat. fores ; Gr. Qvpa \ Eng. door ; Lit.
dury8 ] Skr. dvdr.
dos, a bush, tuft, Ir. dos, 0. Ir. doss, *dosto-, root dus ; Lat. dumus
( = dus-mus), thicket ; Eng. tease, teasel.
dosdan, a kind of food given to horses ; from Eng. dust.
dosgadh, dosg'ainn, misfortune ; cf. Ir. dosgathach, improvident.
From do- and sgath, q.v. Ir. dosguidhtheach, morose,
extravagant,
dotarra, sulky ; see dad.
doth, a doating on one ; cf. Sc. daut, dote, M. Eng. doten.
drabach, dirty, slovenly, Ir. drahaire, drabog, slut, drah, a stain ;
from Eng. drah. See drahh. Hence drabasda, obscene.
drabh, dissolve, drabhag, dregs, drabhas, filth, E. Ir. drabar-slog,
rabble ; from Eng. draff, allied to Ger. treher, Norse draf.
Stokes thinks that the G. is allied to, not derived from, the
Eng. The Eng. word drab is allied to draff, and so is dregs.
drabh, scatter, dissolve (M'A., Arg.), not drabh (H.S.D., which,
however, has drabhach, rifted), drabhach, wide-sutured,
rifted (Arg.) :
drac, a drake ; from the Eng. See rac.
dragh, trouble, 0. Ir. g. mor-draige, roughness : ^drago-, I. E.
dregho-, Ag. S. trega, vexation, Norse tregr, dragging,
slovenly, trega, grieve ; Skr. drdgli, pain ; Gr. "^'rapaxq,
rpdx^'^ (St.).
dragh, pull, draw, Ir. dragdil ; from the Eng. drag, draw, Norse
draga.
dragon, a dragon, Ir. dragun, E. Ir, drac, g. dracon ; from Lat.
dracoin), Eng, dragon,
draichd, a slattern (Arm.) :
draighlichd, a trollop, draggle-tail (Arg.) ; from Eng. draggle-tail ?
Cf. draghlainn under draoluinn.
draillsein, a sparkling light (Sh., H.S.D.) ; see drillsean.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 141
draimheas, a foul mouth ; cf. Ir. drabhas, a wry mouth, dramhaim^
I grin. The G. seems from drabh above.
draing*, a snarl, grin ; see dranndan.
dram, dram, a dram, Ir. dram ; from the Eng.
dramaig", a foul mixture, crowdie (Sh., H.S.D.) ; from the So.
dramock.
drannd, dranndan, a hum, snarl, Jr. draint, dranntdn, M. Ir.
drantaigim, I snarl ; from a Celtic '^dran, 1. E. dhreno-,
sound, drone ; Eng. drone ; Gr. Oprjvos, dirge ; Skr. dhran,
sound, murmur.
drann, dranna, a word (M'A., Arg.) ; same as drannd.
draoch, a fretful or ghastly look, hair standing on end, Ir. driuck,
fretfulness, angry look : root dhrigk ; Gr. 9pi^, '^P^X^'^i hair.
For meaning, cf. snuadh, hue, hair.
draoi, draoidh, druidh, a magician, druid, Ir. draoi, gen. pi.
druadh, E. Ir. drai, drui, g. druad^ Gaul, druides (Eng.
druid). Its etymology is obscure. Stokes suggests relation-
ship with Eng. true, G. dearbh, q.v., or with Gr. Op^ofiaL, cry
(as in drannd, durd), or Gr. aOpkui, look sharp, Pruss. dereu,
see. Thurneysen analyses the word as dru, high, strong,
see tiuaill. Brugmann and Windisch have also suggested
the root dvu, oak, as Pliny did too, because of the Druids'
reverence for the oak tree. Ag. S. dry, magus, is borrowed
from the Celtic. dixioineach, druineach, artisan, "eident"
person (Carm.) ; draoneach, "any person that practices an
art" (Grant), agriculturist; dndnneadi, artist (Lh). Ir.
druine, art needlework ; Opova, flowers in embroidery,
drugs.
draoluinn, delay, tediousness, drawling ; from the Eng. drawling,
Sc. drawl, to be slow in action, drawlie, slow and slovenly.
Dialectic drag'hlainn, a slovenly person, a mess.
drapuinn, tape ; from the Eng. drape.
draos, trash, filth, Ir. draos. Cf. Eng. dross.
drasda, an drasda, now, Ir. drdsda, M. Ir. trasta, for an trdth sa,
this time.
drathais, drawers ; from the Eng.
dreach, aspect, Ir. dreach, E. Ir. drech, W. drycli, M, Br. derch,
^ dried, ^drkko-, root derk as in dearc, q.v.
dr^achd, dreuchd, duty, office, Ir. dreaclit, song, 0. Ir. drecht,
portio, *drempto-, root drep, Gr. 8p€7ro), pluck, cull (Strachan).
dreag, dr^ag", a meteor or portent ; from the Ag. S. dreag,
apparition, Norse draugr, ghost. Also driug.
dreall, dreoll, door-bar, dreallag, a swingle-tree : drs-lo-, root der,
split, Eng. tree ? Cf. W. dryll, ^dhruslo, Opavo).
142 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
dreallaire, an idler ; see drollaire.
dreallsach, a blazing fire ; see drillsean.
dream, a tribe, people, Ir. dream, E. Ir. dremm ; from dream,
bundle, handful, manipulas, Br. dramyn, a sheaf, "^dregamo- ;
Gr. Spdyixa, a handful, Spdcro-oixai, grasp ; Ch. SI. drazhaiti,
grasps ; Skr. dark, make fast, 1. E. dergho-, fasten. Hence
dreamsgal, a heterogeneous mass. dreg : dreng, tramp 1
Cf. drong.
dreamach, peevish, dream, snarl ; cf. Ir. dreamhnach, perverse,
E. Ir. drem7ie, fierceness, from dreamh, surly, "^dremo-, from
drem, drom, rush, Gr. Spofxos, a race. G. dreainach may be
for ^dregsmo-, root dreg as in dreangan.
dreangan, a snarler, Ir. drainceanta, snarling, drainc, a snarl, also
draint, W. drengyn, a surly chap, dreng, morose, "^drengo-,
root dreg, from dhre of dranndan.
dreas, bramble, bramble-bush, Ir. dreas ; see dris.
dreasair, a dresser (house-furniture).
dreathan-donn, wren, Ir. dreadn, drean, W. dryw, *drivo-, "^dr-vo-,
root der, dher, jump *? See dair. Cf. for sense Gr. T/aox^A-os.
Or from dhrevo, cry, Gr. Opeojjiai, G. drannd, q.v. %
dreigeas, a grin, peevish face, E. Ir. dric, wrathful ; "^dreggo-, root
dreg as in dreangan.
dreimire, a ladder, Ir. dreiiaire, E. Ir, dreimm, ascent, vb. dringim,
W. dringo, scandere, "^drengo. Bezzenberger compares the
Norse drangr, an up-standing rock (cf. clif and climb). The
root dreg of dreimire has also been compared to Ger. treppe,
staircase, Eng. tramp. See dream, people, "goers." Ir. ag
dreim, advancing.
drein, a grin : *dreg-7ii-, root dreg of dreangan.
dreochdam, the crying of the deer ; from dhrevo, dhre, cry.
dreolan, a wren, Ir. dreoldn : "^drivolo- ; see dreathan.
dreolan, a silly person, Ir. dreoldn, W. drel, a clown ; from Eng.
droll .? Thurneysen prefers to consider these words borrowed
from Eng. thrall, Norse l>rcd. The word appears as dreolan,
dreallaire, drollaire. In the sense of "loiterer," these words
are from the Norse drolla, loiter, Eng. droil.
dreos, a blaze :
dreugan, a dragon (Dialectic) ; see dragon.
driachan, plodding, obstinacy, Ir. driachaireachd : "^dreiqo- ; cf.
Eng. drive, from dhreip.
driamlach, a fishing line, Manx rimlagh, E. Ir. riamnach :
*reimmen- ; see reim.
driceachan, tricks (M'D.).
drifeag, hurry (Heb.) ; see drip.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 143
dril, a spark, sparkle, Ir. dril, drithle, pi. drithleanna, M. Ir.
drithle, dat. drithlinn, also drithre, * drith-re7in- (for -renn-,
see reannag), *drith. Hence drillsean, sparkles, from
drithlis, a spark. Drillsean. rushlight, rush used as wick.
driodar, dregs, lees, Ir. driodai\ gore, dregs : *driddo-, ^drd-do-^
root der^ Eng. tear. Cf. Sc. driddle.
driog, a drop, Ir. driog (driog, Con.), driogaire, a distiller ; seem-
ingly borrowed from Norse dregg, M. Eng. dreg, dregs.
driong'an, slowness, Ir. driongdn, a plaything, worthless pastime :
drip, hurry, confusion, Ir. drip, bustle, snare : '''drippi-, *dhrihh,
Eng. drive ? N. drepa, hit.
dris, a bramble, brier, Ir. dris, 0. Ir. driss, 0. W. drissi, W.
dryssien, Cor. dreis, Br. drezen, *dressi-. Bezzenberger
suggests a stem "^drepso-, M. H. G. trefs, Ger. trespe, darnel,
M. Eng. drauk {=^dravick of Du.), zizanium. It must be
kept separate from droighionn, 0. Ir. draigen, Celtic root
drg, though G. dris might be for ^drg-si-, for the W. would
be in ch, not d\ See droighionn.
drithlean, a rivet :
drithleann, a sparkle, Ir. drithlinn ; oblique form of dril.
driuhhlach, a cowl, so Ir. (O'R.) ; Sh. has dribhlach.
driucan, a beak, Ir. driuch. M'A. gives also the meaning, "an
incision under one of the toes." See draoch.
driuch, activity (M'A.) :
driuchan, a stripe, as in cloth (M'A.) :
driu^, a meteor, portent ; see dreag.
drobh, a drove ; from the Eng.
drobhlas, profusion, so Ir. :
droch, evil, bad, Ir. droch, 0. Ir. droch, drog, W. drwg, Cor. drog,
malum, M. Br. drouc, *drul'o-. Usually compared to Skr.
druh, injure, Ger. trug, deception. Stokes has suggested
dhruk, whence Eng. dry, and Bezzenberger compares Norse
trega, grieve, tregr, unwilling (see dragh).
drochaid, a bridge, Ir. droichiod, 0. Ir. drochet :
drog", a sea-swell at its impact on a rock (Arg.) :
drogaid, drugget, Ir. drogdid (O'R.) ; from the Eng.
drogha, a hand fishing line ; also dorg'h, dorbh, Ir. doruhha,
druhha ; Norse dorg, an angler's tackle.
droich, a dwarf, Ir. droich, *drogi-, allied to Teut. dwergo-, Ger.
zwerg, Norse dvergr, Eng. dwarf.
droigheann, bramble, thorn, Ir. droigheann, 0. Ir. draigen, W.
draen, Cor. drain, drein, Br. drean, '^'dragino- : cf. Gr. rpa\v<i,
rough, Opdcrard), confuse, Eng. dregs. Bezzenberger compares
Lit. drignes, black henbane, Gr. 8pdf3rj, a plant. Ebel referred
144 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
it to the same origin as Gr. repxvos, twig. Also droighneach,
(1) thorn, (2) lumber, "entanglement."
droinip, tackle :
drola, a pot-hook, Ir. drol, droltha, M. Ir. drol, drolam, handle,
E. Ir. drolam, knocker, ring :
droll, an animal's tail, a door bar, unwieldy stick ; cf. dreallag for
the last two meanings.
droll, drollaire, a lazy fellow ; see dreblan.
droman, the alder tree ; see troman.
drong, droing, people, tribe, Ir. drong, E. Ir. drong, 0. Br. drogn,
droq, factio, Gaul, drungus, whence Lat. drungus, a troop
(4th century), "^drungo- ; Got. driugan, serve as a soldier,
Ag. S. dryht, people, Norse droit, household, people,
drongair, a drunkard ; from the Eng.
dronn, the back, Ir. dronnog : ^dros-no-, root dros of druim, q.v.
dronng, a trunk ; from the Eng.
drothan, a breeze (M'D.) :
druabag, a small drop, druablas, muddy water, druaip, dregs,
lees. The first is from Eng. drop ; druablas is from M. Eng.
drubli, turbid, Sc. droubly ; and druaip is from Norse
d7jupa, drip, drubhag and druigean (Wh.).
drub, a wink of sleep, a mouthful of liquid ; from Norse drjupa,
drip. See the above words.
druchd, dew, Ir. druchd, E. Ir, drucht, "^drilb-tu-, root dhreub ;
Ag. S. dreapian, trickle, Eng. drip, drop, Norse drjupa, drip,
Ger. triefen.
drudh, penetrate, pierce, druidh ; see the next,
driidhadh, oozing, soaking ; cf. Skr. dru, drdva, melt, run. Got.
ufar-trusian, besprinkle. Cf. Gaul. Druentia (Gaelic Druie,
a river in Strathspey).
drugair, a drudge, Ir. drugaire ; from M. Eng. druggar, a dragger,
Eng. drudge.
druid, close, Ir. druidim, E. Ir. druit, close, firm, trustworthy :
"^druzdo-, *drus, W. drws, door. See dorus. Stokes now
refers "^druzdi- to the same source as Eng. trust.
druid, a starling, Ir. druid, E. Ir. truid, Manx truitlag, W. drudwy,
Br. dred, dret : ^struzdi ; Lat. turdus, thrush ; Lit. strdzdas
(Bohemian drazd), thrush, Eng. throstle.
druidh, a magician ; see draoi.
druidh, penetrate ; see driidh. Cf. Ir. treidhim ; treaghaim (Sh.).
druim, back, ridge, so Ir., 0. Ir. druimm, pi. dromand, W. trum,
*drosmen- ; Lat. dorsum.
drills, lust, driiiseach, druth, lecherous, Ir. druis, adultery, E. Ir.
druth, lewd, a harlot, "^druto-. Cf. M. Eng. dril^, darling,
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 145
0. Fr. drud (do.), druerie, love, whence M. Eng. druerie, Sc.
drouery^ illicit love. Mayhew refers the Fr. and Eng. to
0. H. G. driit^ dear (also trut^ drud) : a Teut. dreud' ? Of.
Ger. traut, beloved (Kluge).
druma, a drum, Ir., M. Ir. druma ; from the Eng.
druman, elder; see homan.
drumlag^an, a cramp in back, wrists, etc. (M'D.) :
dii, meet, proper, Ir., E. Ir. du. This Stokes regards as borrowed
from 0. Fr. du ( = debntus), whence Eng. due. But see
duthaich, dual.
du-, do-, prefix denoting badness of quality, Ir., 0. Ir. du-, do-,
'^dus ', Gr. 8i's- ; Got. tuz-, Norse tor- ; Skr. dus-. See do-.
duaichnidh, gloomy, ugly, Ir. duaichniughadh, to disfigure. See
suaicheantas.
duaidh, a horrid scene, a fight, Ir. duaidh, evil (O'B.) : "^du-vid?
duairc, uncivil, Ir., E. Ir. duairc : opposite of suairc, q.v.
duaireachas, a squabble, slander : du-aireachas. See eireachdail.
duairidh, dubharaidh, a dowry ; from the Eng.
duals, a reward, so Ir., E. Ir. duass, gift : "^dovestd ; Gr. Sovvai, to
give ( = dovenai) : Lit, duti (do.), dovana, a gift ; Lat. duint
( = dent). Root do, give.
dual, a lock of hair, Ir., E. Ir. dual, ^dohlo- ; Got. tagl, hair,
Ag. S. taegl, Eng. tail, Norse tagl, horse's tail.
dual, hereditary right, so Ir., M. Ir. dual, *duilo- ; see duthaich.
Stokes refers it to Fr. du, as he does du, q.v. Ir. dual, just,
proper, might come from *duglo-, root dhugh, fashion, Gr.
Tevxeiv, Got. duga.n, Eng. do.
duan, a poem, song, so Ir., E. Ir. duan, ^dugno- ; Lettic dugdt,
cry as a crane (Bez.) Stokes derives it from dhugh above
under dual.
duarman, a murmur ; cf. torman from toirm.
dubailte, double, Ir. duhdilte ; from M. Eng. duhle, 0. Fr. dohle,
Lat. duplex.
dubh, black, Ir. dubh, 0. Ir. dub, W. du, 0. W. dub, Cor. duv,
Br. du, "^dubo- ; Gr. tv(/)Ao? ( = Ov<fi-X6q), blind ; Got. daubs,
deaf, Ger. taub, Eng. deaf, also dumb. Cf. Gaul, river name
Dubis, now Doubs.
dubhach, sad, Ir. dubhach, 0. Ir. dubach ; see subhach,
dubhailc, wickedness, Ir. dubhailce ; see subhailc.
dubhailteach, sorrowful ; founded on tZw&A.
dubhairt, said ; see thubhairt.
dubhaith, a pudding :
dubhan, a hook, Ir. dubhdn, M. Ir. dubdn :
dubhchl^in, the flank (H.S.D. from MSS.) :
17
146 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
dubhdan, a smoke, straw cinders, soot ; from duhh. Cf. Ir.
duhhaddn, an inkstand.
dubhlaidh, gloomy, wintry ; cf. dubhla, a dark day, day of trial.
From duhh.
dtlbhlan, a challenge, Ir. duhhshldn ; from duhh and dan ; Ir. ddn^
defiance,
dubhliath, the spleen, 0. Ir. lue Had, lua Hath, Cor. lewilloit, W.
lleithon, milt of fish. Cf. Lat. lien.
dubhogha, the great grandson's grandson ; from duhh and ogha :
duhh is used to add a step to fionnogha, though jionn here is
really a prep., and not jionn, white. See Jionnogha.
due, ducan (Perth), a heap (Arm.) ; "^dumhacdn, E. Ir. duma,
mound, heap. Root of dun.
duchas, hereditary right ; see duthaich.
dud, a small lump (M'A) ; see tudan.
dud, a tingling in the ear, ear, Ir. dud. See next word,
dudach, a trumpet, M. G. doytichy (D. of Lis.), Ir. dudog :
onomatopoetic. Cf. Eng. toot.
dudlachd, depth of winter :
duidseag, a plump woman of low stature (Perth) ; " My old
Dutch;" duitseach (Arm.). Dutchraam, docked cock.
diiil, expectation, hope, Ir. duil, ^duli-, root du, strive, Gr. ^v/x6s
soul : Lit. dumas, thought (Stokes for Gr.)
duil, an element, Ir. duil, 0. Ir. duil, dul, ^duli- ; Skr. dhUli-,
dust; Lit. dulkes (do.); Lat. fuligo, soot. Stokes (Diet.)
refers it to *dukli-, root duk, fashion ; Ger. zeugen, engender ;
further Lat. duco. Hence dialectic Na duil, poor creatures !
Ir. duil means " creature" also. Hence also duileag, a term
of affection for a girl,
duileasg, dulse, Ir. duileasg, M. Ir. duilesc, W. dylusg, what is
drifted on shore by floods. Hence Sc. dulse. Jamieson
suggests that the G. stands for duiW uisge, " water-leaf."
duilich, difficult, sorry, Ir. doiligh, E. Ir. dolig ; cf. Lat. dolor,
grief.
duille, a leaf, Ir., M. Ir. duille, W. dalen, M. Br. del ; Gr. OvkXa,
leaves, OdXXm, I bloom ; Ger. dolde, umbel : root dhl, dhale,
bloom, sprout. Gaul. Trefnre-SovXa, " five leaved," is allied,
duillinnean, customs, taxes (M'D.) :
duin, shut, Ir. d^naim, " barricading ;" from dim, q.v.
duine, a man, Ir., 0. Ir. duine, pi. doini (= *dvdnji), W. dyn, pi.
dyneddon, Cor., Br. den, dunjd-s : " mortal ;" Gr. Oavitv, die,
OdvaTo<^, death, 6vr)T6<s, mortal ; Eng. dwine ; Skr. dhvan, fall
to pieces.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 147
duircein, the seeds of the fir, etc., duirc-daraich, acorns. See
dove. 0. Ir. derucCy glans, is referred by Windisch to the
root of darach, q.v.
duiseal, a whip ; from M. Eng. duschen^ strike, of Scandinavian
origin, now dowse.
duiseal, dusal, slumber ; from Norse dusa^ doze, Eng. doze.
duisleannan, ill-natured pretences, freaks (Dialectic, H.S.D.),
duisealan (M'E.) ; from duiseal : "dreaming?"
duisg, awake, Ir. duisgim, duisighim, 0. Ir. diusgea, expergefaciat,
*de-ud-sec-, root sec as in caisg, q.v.
dul, dula, a noose, loop, Ir. dul, dol, snare, loop, W. dol, noose,
loop, doll, form a ring or loop ; Gr. SoXos, snare ; Lat. dolus^
etc.
dula, a pin, peg, Ir. dula ; cf. Lat. dolo, a pike, M.H.G. zol, a log.
duldachd, a misty gloom ; see dudlachd.
dumhlaich, increase in bulk ; see dbmhail.
dun, a heap, a fortress, Ir., 0. Ir. dun, W. din, Gaul, dunum,
-80VVOV, ^duno-n, ^dunos- ; Ag. S. ttl7i, Eng. town, Ger. zaun,
hedge, Norse tun (do.) ; Gr, Smaa-Oat, can. Root deva, dH, to
be strong, hard, whence also diir.
dunach, dunaidh, woe ; from dona ?
dur, dull, stubborn, Ir., E. Ir. dilr, W. dir, force, Br. dir, steel,
Gaul, durum, fortress, *duro- , Lat. durus. For further
connections see dun.
durachd, duthrachd, good wish, wish, diligence, Ir. duthrachd,
0. Ir. duthracht, *devo-traktu-s-, "^trakko, press ; Ag. S.
thringan^ Ger. dringen, press forward, Eng. throng (Stokes).
Windisch has compared Skr. tark, think, which may be the
same as tark of tarkus, spindle, Lat. torqueo. Verb duraig.
ddradan, durradan, an atom, mote, Ir. durddn ; from the root
dur d^^ in diir ^^^OYe : "hard bit 1"
dure, a lumpish person :
durcaisd, turcais, pincers, nippers, tweezers ; from Sc. turkas,
from Fr. turquoise, now tricoises, " Turkish" or farrier's
pincers.
durd, a syllable, sound, humming, Ir., E. Ir. d6rd, dordaim, mugio,
W. dwrdd, sonitus, tordd, '^'dordo-s, root der, sound, I.E. dher ;
Lettic dardet, rattle. Further Gr. dprjvos, dirge, rovSpvs,
muttering, Norse drynr, roaring, Eng. drone ; root dhre.
durga, surly, sour, Ir. durganta. Cf. Ir. duranta, morose. G.
seems to be from Norse durga, sulky fellow, Eng. dwarf.
durlus, water-cress ; from dur^dohhar and lus, q.v.
durraidh, pork, a pig, durradh ! grumphy ! Cf. dorra.
durrag, a worm :
148 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
durrghail, cooing of a dove, Ir. durdail ; also currucadh, q.v.
Onomatopoetic.
durrasgach, nimble (Dial., H.S.D.) :
dursann, an unlucky accident, Ir. dursan, sorrowful, hard (O'R.) ;
from the stem of dorra.
dus, dust, duslach ; from Eng. dust.
dusal, a slumber ; from the Eng. doze. See duiseal.
duslainn, a gloomy, retired place :
dllth, hereditary ; see dii.
duthaich, a coun^try, district, Ir. duthaigh, 0. Ir. duthoig,
hereditary (M. Ir. ditthaig), G. duthchas, hereditary right :
root du as in dun ? Cf. dii.
duthaich, great gut (M'Lagan) :
duthuil, fiuxus alvi = dubh-ghalar ; from duhh and tuil.
E
e, accented 6, he, it, Ir. e, 0. Ir. e, ^ei-s : root e^, i ; 0. h'dt. eis
( = is, he, that), ea, she ( = eja) ; Got. is, Ger, er, es ; Skr.
ayam. The 0. Ir. neuter was ed, now eadh (as in seadh, ni
h-eadh).
ea-, 6a-, privative prefix ; see eu-.
eabar, mud, puddle, Ir. abar, marshy land, Adamnan's stagnum
Aporicum, Loch-aber, E. Ir. cann-ebor (see Innear), ^ex-hor,
^ad-hor, the bor of tobar, q.v.
eabon, ebony, so Ir. ; from Lat. ehenum, Eng. ebony.
eabur, ivory, so Ir. ; from Lat. ebur.
each, a horse, so Ir., 0. Ir. ech, W. ebol, colt, Br. ebetd, Gaul. Epo-,
"^elcvo-s ; Lat. equus ; Ag. S. eoh. Got. aihva- ; Skr. ac^va-s.
eachdaran, eachdra, a pen for strayed sheep ; see eachdranach
for root.
eachdraidh, a history, Ir. eachdaireackd, his>tory, eachdaire,
historifm, E. Ir. echtra, adventures ; from E. Ir. prep, ecktar,
without, *ekstero, W. eithr, extra ; Lat. extra, extemus ; from
ex (see a, as).
eachdranach, a foreigner, Ir. eachdrannach, 0. Ir. echtrann, exter ;
Lat. extraneus, Eng. strange. From echtar, as in eachdraidh.
eachrais, confusion, mess ; cf. Ir. eachrais, a fair, E. Ir. echtress,
horse-fight. See each and treas.
6ad, jealousy ; see eud.
eadar, between, Ir, eidir, 0. Ir. eter, iter, etar, W. ithr, Cor. yntr,
Br. entre, Gaul, inter, *enter, i.e., en-ter, prep, en ; Lat. inter ;
Skr. antdr, inside.
feadh, it, seadh, yes, 0. Ir. ed ; see e.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 149
eadh, space, E. Ir. fd^ root ped ; Gr. TreStov, a plain ; Lat. op-
pidum, town ; Ch. SI. pad, tread. Root pedo, go, as in Eng.
foot, Lat. pes, pedis, etc.
eadha, the letter e, an aspen tree, Ir. eadhadh :
eadhal, a brand, burning coal (Bibl. Gloss.) ; see eibheall.
eadhon, to wit, namely, viz., so Ir., 0. Ir. idon, "^id-souno-, " this
here " ; for id, see eadh, and souno- is from *sou, ^m as in so.
Of. Gr. ov-Tos. Stokes {Celt. DecL) takes id from it, is, goes,
root i, go, of Lat. eo, Gr. eifii, etc, ; he regards id as part of
the verb substantive.
eadradh, milking time, Ir. eadarthra, noon, milking time ; from
eadar + trath.
eadraig", interpose, eadragainn, interposition, Ir. eadargdn,
separation ; from eadar.
eag, a nick, notch, Ir. feag, Manx agg, W. ag, cleft, "^eggd- : peg ?
eagal, feagal, fear, Ir. eaguil, eagla, E. Ir. ecla, 0. Ir. ecal (adj.),
* ex-gal ; see gal, valour.
eagan, perhaps ; Dialectic for theagamh.
eagar, order, row, so Ir., E. Ir. ecor, '^'dith-cor ; from aith- and cuir.
eag^lais, a church, Ir. eagluis. 0. Ir. eclais, W. eglivys, Br. His ;
from Lat. ecclesia, Eng. ecclesiastic.
eag^na, wisdom, so Ir., 0. Ir. ^ne, "^aith-gen- ; see aith- and gen of
aithne. In fact aithne and eagna are the same elements
differently accented {^aith-gen-, dith-gen-).
eairlig", w^ant, poverty, airleig ; cf. airleag, lend, borrow,
eairlin, keel, bottom, end : "^air-lann ; see lann, land,
eairneis, furniture ; see airneis.
eala, a swan, so Ir., M. Ir. eUt, W. alarch, Corn, elerhc, *elaio,
*elerko-'S ; Gr. eAea, reedwarbler, ekacras, grosbeak, I Aeas, owl,
eAeto?, falcon ; Lat. olor, swan. Gr. TreAeta, wild dove, Lat.
palumba, dove, 0. Prus. poalis (do.), have been suggested.
ealach, ealachainn, a peg to hang things on, E. Ir. alchuing,
elchuing, dat. alchaing, pi. alchningi.
ealadh, learning, skill, ealaidh, knack, Ir. ealadh, E. Ir. elatha,
gen. elathan, W. el, intelligence : root el : : at (of eilcan) ?
6aladh, euladh, a creeping along (as to catch game), Ir. euloighim
steal away, E. Ir. claim, I flee, 0. Ir. elud, evasio ; Ger. eilen,
hasten, speed; root ei, i, go, Lat. i-re, etc. Hence ealaidhneach,
creeping cold. Strachan derives it from "^ex-ldjo, root Id, ela,
go, Gr. eXavvo (as in eilid, etc.). Stokes now "^ass-luim.
ealag, a block, hacking-stock ; see ealach.
ealaidh, an ode, song, music ; see ealadh.
ealamh, eathlamh, quick, expert, Ir. athlamh, E. Ir. athlom,
athlam, "^aith-lam ; Ham is allied to Idmh, hand ("handy" is
the idea). See ullamh for discussion of the root lam.
150 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
ealbh, a bit, tittle, Ir. ealbha, a multitude, a drove, W. elw^ goods,
profit, *elvo- ; cf. Gaul. Elvetios, Elvio, etc. ; '^'pel-vo-, root
pel, full '?
ealbhar, a good for nothing fellow (Suth.) ; from Norse dlfr, elf, a
vacant, silly person.
ealbhuidh, St John's wort, Ir. eala bhuidh (O'R.) :
fealg", noble, so Ir., E. Ir. elg : Innis ^a/^a = Ireland. Cf. Elgin,
Q\Qn-elg.
ealla, nothing ado ("Gabh ealla ris" — have nothing ado with him.) :
eallach, a burden, so Ir., M. Ir. ellach, trappings or load ; cf. Ir.
eallach, a drove, 0. Ir. ellach, conjunctio, *ati-slogos (Zimmer),
from sluagh. See uallach and ealt.
eallach, cattle (Arran), so Ir. : cf. 0. Ir. ellach, conjunction, *ati-
slogos (Zimmer).
eallsg, a scold, shrew :
ealt, ealta, a covey, drove, flock, Ir. ealta, E. Ir. elta : "^ell-tavo-,
from peslo-, a brute, Cor. ehal, pecus ; 0. H. G., fasal, Ag. S.
fdsl, proles (Stokes for Cor.). See al. Ascoli joins 0. Ir.
ellach, union, and Ir. eallach, a drove, cattle, with ealt. See
eallach.
ealltuinn, a razor, Ir. ealtin, 0. Ir. altan, W. ellyn, 0. Cor. elinn,
0. Br. altin, Br. aotenn, '^{p)altani ; Ger. spalten, cleave ; Skr.
pat, split ; Old. SI. vd^^-platiti, cut in two.
eaman, tail ; see feaman, q.v.
eanach, honour, praise, E. Ir. enech, honour, also face ; hence
" regard " (Ascoli) : *aneqo-, W. enep ; root oq of Lat. oc-ulus,
etc.
eanach, dandriff, scurf, down :
eanach-garraidh, endive, Ir. eanach-garraidh ; evidently a cor-
ruption of Lat. endiva (Cameron).
eanchaill, eanchainn, brains, Ir. inchinn, E. Ir. inchind, W.
ymmenydd. Cor. impinion { = in+pen-), in + ceann, "what is
in the head."
eang", foot, footstep, track, bound, Ir. eang, E. Ir. eng, track ; cf.
root ong given for theagamh.
eang, a gusset, corner ; cf. Lat. angulus, Eng. angle.
eangach, a fetter, net, Ir. eangach, a net, chain of nets. From
eang, foot.
eangarra, cross-tempered (H.S.D.) : "having angles"; from eang.
eangbhaidh, high-mettled, M. Ir., engach, valiant ; from eang,
a step.
eangladh, entanglement ; possibly from the Eng. tangle ; not
likely founded on eangach.
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 151
eanghlas, gruel, milk and water, Ir. eanghlais, E. Ir. englas (fern.
a stem), milk and water, green water (Corm.), from in and
M. Ir. glas, milk, ^'glagsa ; Gr. yXdyos, yaAa(KT09), milk,
Lat. lac ( = '^glak-t). Cormac says it is from en, water, and
glas, grey. e?i = water, "^pino (St.).
eanntag", nettles ; see deanntag.
eanraich, eanbhruith, soup, juice of boiled flesh, Ir. eanbhruithe,
E. Ir. enhruthe, from in and bruith, boil. Corm. and O'Cl.
have an obsolete broth, bruithe, flesh, and explain it as " water
of flesh." For en, water, see eanghlas. Most dialects make
it " chicken-soup," as from eun + bruith.
ear, an ear, the east, from the east, Ir. soir, eastern, anoir, from
the east, 0. Ir. an-air, ab oriente ; really "from before," the
prep, an (*apona) of a nail (see a, from), and aii^ ( = *ari),
before. The observer is supposed to face the sun. The
opposite is iar, an iar, from iar, behind, q.v.
earail, an exhortation, 0. Ir. erdil, irdil, "^air-ail ; from dill,
desire. Hence earal, provision, caution.
earar, an earar, the day after to-morrow, Ir. oirthior, eastern,
day following, day after to-morrow, 0. Ir. airther, eastern,
^aritero^, "^pareiteros (Gr. Trapocrepos), comparative of air,
before.
eararadh, a parching of corn in a pot before grinding: *air-aradh,
root ar, as in Lat. aridus, arid 1
earasaid, a square of tartan worn over the shoulders by females
and fastened by a brooch, a tartan shawl : *air-asaid ? Cf.
asair for root.
earb, a roe, so Ir., E. Ir. erb. 0. Ir. heirp, ^erbi-s, Gr. epL(f)o<?.
earb, trust (vb.), earbsa (n.), Ir. earbaim, 0. Ir. erbaim, nom-
erpimm, confido, ^erbio, let, leave ; M. H. G. erbe, bequeath,
Ger. erbe, heir, Got. arbja, heir : all allied to Lat. orbus, Eng.
orphan.
earball, a tail, so Ir., E. Ir. erball, "^ air-ball ; from air ( = "^ari)
and ball, q.v. urball in Arran and the West,
earc, heifer (Carm.), cow, Ir. earc, E. Ir. ere, cow (Corm.) :
earchall, earachall, misfortune : *air-cdll ; from air and call, q.v.
earghalt, arable land ; air + geadhail, which see.
eargnaich, inflame, enrage : "^dir-gon- ; from air and gon ? Also
feargnaich, which suggests fearg as root.
earlachadh, preparing food (Suth.) ; from old adj. erkmi, ready.
See ullamh.
earlaid, expectation, trust : "^ari-lanti-, root lam of lamh.
earlas, earnest, arles ; see airleas.
earnach, murrain, bloody flux in cattle :
152 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
earr, end, tail, Ir. earr, E. Ir. err, ^ersd ; Gr. 6ppo<s, rump ; Ag. S,
ears, Eng.
earr, a scar (Lewis) ; Norse orr, arr (do.).
earrach, spring, so Ir., 0. Ir. errech, *persdko-, irom. pers, which is
from per, as eks, ( = ex) is from ek ; per, before, Lat. per, proe,
Eng. /or, /ore, ; as in air, ( = ari). The idea is the "first of
the year." Of. Ger. frilhling, spring, of like descent. Such
is Stokes' derivation. Another view is that earrach is from
earr, end (cf. for form tos and toiseach, and earrach, lower
extremity) meaning the " end of the year," the ceitein.
May, "first of summer," being the beginning of the year.
Not allied to Lat. ver.
earradh, clothes, so Ir., E. Ir. errad, eirred, *dir-red, *ari-reido-n ;
from reid of reidh. Eng. array comes from the Gaul.
equivalent (^ad-redare^, and Eng. ready is allied. Hence
earradh, wares.
earradhubh, the wane, the wane of the moon : earr + duhh ?
earrag, a taunt (a blow, Arms.) :
earrag, a shift, refuge, attempt (H.S.D., from MSS.) :
earraghloir, vain glory : "^er-gldir ; the er is the intensive particle ;
Lat. per.
earraid, a tip-staff, tearraid, tarraid (Dial.) : from Eng. herald f
earraigh, a captain (H.S.D.) ; see urra.
earrann, a portion, Ir. earrumi, M. Ir. errand, "^dir-rann ; from
rann, portion.
earras, wealth ; see earradh.
earrlait, ground manured one year and productive next (Oarm) :
earr-thalmhuinn, yarrow ; see aihair-thalmhuinn.
eas, a waterfall, Ir. eas, g. earn., E. Ir. ess, g. esw, '^esti- '^'peMi ;
Skr. d-patti, mishap ("mis-fall") ; Lat. pessum, down, pestis,
a pest ; Slav, na-pasti, casus (Bez.).
eas-, privative, prefix, Ir. eas-, 0. Ir. es-, W. eh-, Gaul, ex-, ^'eks.
See a, as, out,
easach, thin water-gruel ; from eas.
easag, a pheasant, a squirrel (M'D.), Ir. easog, pheasant (Fob),
weasel, squirrel. For the " squirrel-weasel " force, see neas,
nios. As " pheasant," it may be founded on the M. Eng.
fesaunt, 0. Fr. faisan.
easaraich, boiling of a pool, ebullition, bustle ; from G. and Ir.
easar, a cataract, from eas. "^ess-rad- %
easar-chasain, thorough-fare ; cf. aisir.
easbalair, a trifling, handsome fellow (M'A.) :
easbaloid, absolution, Ir. eashaloid ; from Lat. absolutio.
easbhuidh, want, defect, so Ir., E. Ir. eshuid, '^'ece-buti-s, " being
out " of it ; from roots of as and bu, q.v.
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 153
easbuig", a bishop, Ir. eashog, 0. Ir. espoc, epscop, W. esgoh, Br.
eshop ; from Lat. episcopus, whence Eng. bishop.
feasg, a ditch, fen, Ir. easgaidh, quagmire, ease, water, E. Ir. esc,
water, fen-water, 0. British 'lo-Ka, the Exe, [Scotch Esks\
^isltd, water, *(p)idskd ; Gr. TrcSa^, well, ttlSvo), gush. The
W. w7/sg, stream, 0. W. uisc requires, *eiskd, from peid, pid.
easg, easgann, eel, Ir. eascu, g. eascuinne, 0. Ir. escung, " fen-
snake," i.e., esc, fen, and ung, snake, Lat. anguis. See easg,
ditch,
feasga, the moon (a name for it surviving in Braemar last
century), 0. Ir. esca, e'sce, cesca, *eid-skio- ; from root eid, id,
as in Lat. idiis, the ides, "full light," i.e., full moon (Stokes) :
^encscaio-, Skr. pnjas, light, Gr. <f>eyyo<s, light (Strachan).
easgaid, hough ; better iosgaid, q.v.
Easgaidh, ready, willing, Ir. easguidh, E. Ir. escid, W. esgud, Br.
escuit ; from eu- and sgith, q.v.
easgraich, a torrent, coarse mixture ; see easg.
easp, door latch (Lewis); Norse, hespa (do.).
easradh, ferns collected to litter cattle, E. Ir, esrad, strewing,
"^ex-sratu-, root ster, strew, Lat. sternere, etc. See casair, bed,
under caisil-chrb.
easraich, boiling of a pool, bustle ; see easaraich.
eathar, a boat, Ir. eathar, ship, boat, 0. Ir. ethar, a boat, *itro-,
"journeyer"; from ethaim, I go, "^itdo, go, root ei, i ; Lat.
eo ; Gr. It/x6 ; Lit. eimi ; Skr. e77ii.
eatorra, between them, so Ir., 0. Ir. etarro, *etr-so, *enter-sds.
For s6% see sa.
6ibh, cry ; see eigh.
eibheadh, the aspen, letter e, Ir. eadha ; also eadhadh, q.v.
eibheall, eibhleag", a live coal, spark, Ir. eihhleog, E. Ir. oihell,
spark, fire, W. ufel, fire, ^oibelos, fire, spark (Stokes).
eibhinn, joyous ; see aoihhinn.
eibhrionnach, eirionnach, a young gelded goat ; from Sc. aiver
(do.), with G. termination of jirionnach, etc. Aiver is also
aver, worthless old horse, any property, Eng. aver, property,
from Lat. habere.
eideadh, eididh, clothing, a suit ; see aodach.
eidheann, ivy, Ir. eidkean, E. Ir. edenn, W. eiddcvj, Cor. idhio,
"^(pjedenno-, root ped, fasten, hold on ; Lat. pedica, a fetter ;
Eng. fetter, etc. For sense, cf. Lat hedera, ivy, from ghed,
catch, proehendo, Eng. get.
eididh, a web ; apparently a shortened form of eideadh.
^ifeachd, effect, so Ir. ; from Lat. ejfectus.
eige, a web, eididh (on analogy of eididh), *veggid, root oifigh.
18
154 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
eigh, ice ; see deigh. Hence eighre, oighre, Ir. oidhir, E. Ir.
aigred, W. eiry, snow.
eigh, a file, Ir. oighe : "^agid ; root ag of Eng. axe, Got. aqizi.
6igh, a cry, Ir. eiglieamh, 0. Ir. egem, Celtic root eig ; Lettic igt.
Cf. also Lat. aeger (Stokes, Zim.).
eighreag, a cloudberry ; see oighreag.
6iginn, necessity, Ir. eigin, 0. Ir. ecen, W. angen, *enknd (Stokes) ;
Gr. dvdyKT] ( = dv-dyK7]). Allied by root {a7ik : enk) to thig,
etc.
eildeir, an elder ; from the Scotch, Eng. elder.
eile, other, another, Ir. eile, 0. Ir. aile, W. aill, all, Br. eil, all,
Gaul, alio-, *aljo-, *aUo- ; Lat. alius ; Gr. aAAos ; Eng. else.
eileach, mill-race, mill-dam, embankment ; from ail, stone,
" stone-work."
eilean, an Island, Ir. oilean, E. Ir. alien ; from Norse eyland, Eng.
island.
eilean, training ; see oilean.
eileir, the notch on the staves of a cask where the bottom is
fixed. (In Arg. earrach) :
eileir, a deer's walk, eileirig, where deer were driven to battue
them. Hence the common place-name Elrick. Bk. of Deer
in d-elerc "?
eileir, sequestered region, etc. ; see eilthir.
eilgheadh, levelling of a field for sowing, first ploughing ; cf. Ir.
eillgheadh, burial, to which Stokes cfs. Umbrian pelsatu, Gr.
OdTTTeLv, pelsans, sepeliundus. H. Maclean compared the
Basque elge, field.
eilid, a hind, so Ir., 0. Ir. elit, W. elain, cerva, "^elinti-s, ■*e/an^,
Gr. eAAds, fawn, e'Aa^os ( = eAv<^os), stag ; Lit. elnis, stag ;
Arm. eXn ; etc.
eilig, w411ow-herb, epilobium ; from Lat. helix.
eilitriom, a bier (H.S.D. for Heb.), Ir. eletrom, eleathrain, M. Ir.
eilitrum ; from Lat. feretrum (Stokes).
eilthir, a foreign land, eilthireach, a pilgrim, Ir. oilithreach, 0. Ir.
ailithre, pilgrimage ; from eile and tir, q.v.
eiltich, rejoice :
eineach, bounty, Ir. oineach. Cf. 0. Ir. ainech, protectio, root
nak, attain, as in tiodhlac. Hence the H.S.D. eineachlann,
protection (from Ir.).
eirbhe, dyke or wall between crop-land and hill-land (M'F.). :
eirbheirt, moving, stirring ; E. Ir. airbcrt, use, airbiur, dego,
fruor : air and heir, q.v.
eirbhir, asking indirectly : " side-say " ; air + heir ; cf. ahair.
O^ THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 155
eirbleach, slack-jointed or crippled person ; cf. Sc. kirjdock, lame
creature, hirple. The possibility of air-ahlach (cf. conahlach)
should be kept in view.
eirc-chomhla, portcullis (M'D.) :
eire, a burden, Ir. eire, E. Ir. ere, 0. Ir. aire : ^pario, root of air.
Cf. Lat. porto.
eireachd, an assembly, Ir. oireachdus, E. Ir. air edit, 0. Ir. aired,
^air-echt, echt being from the root of thig. Stokes refers it to
the same origin as W. araeth, speech, root req, as in 0. Slav.
reka, speak, Lat. raccare, cry as a lion,
eireachdail, handsome, 0. Ir. airegde, prsestans, from aireich),
primas. See airidh.
eireag", a pullet, young hen, Ir. eireog (Fol., O'R.), M. Ir. eirin, W.
iaren. Cor. ^ar, gallina, Br. iarik, *jari-, hen ; Lit. jeruhe,
heathcock, N. Slav, ^er^^^, nuthatch (Bez.).
eireallach, a monster, clumsy old carle (Dial., H.S.D) ; from
eire.
eiriceachd, heresy, so Ir., E. Ir. eres, 0. Ir. heretic, hereticus ;
from the 0. Ir. form somehow, which itself is from Lat.
hoereticus.
eirich, rise, eirigh, rising, Ir. eirighim, eirghe, E. Ir. erigim,
eirgim, inf. 0. Ir. eirge, erge, *ehs-reg6 ; Lat. erigo, erect, Eng.
erect, rego, I govern ; Gr. opkym, extend ; Eng. right ; I. E.
root reg. See rach.
eiridinn, attendance, patience, 0. Ir. airitiu, g. airiten, reception,
airema, suscipiat, *ari-em-tin-, root em, grasp, take ', Lat. emo,
buy ; Lit. imu, hold.
eirig, ransom, Ir. eiric, E. Ir. eric, eiricc : *es-recc, " buying or
selling out," from reic. Vb. as-renim, reddo, enclitic ernim,
impendo.
eirmis, hit, find out, 0. Ir. ermaissiu, attaining, irmadatar, intelli-
gunt, irmissid, intelligatis, *air-mess-, "^air-med- ; root, med,
as in meas, judgment, q.v.
eis, delay, impediment ; founded on deis ?
eisd, listen, hear, Ir. eisdim, 0. Ir. etsim. Ascoli analyses it into
^etiss, *aith-do-iss, animum instare ; the iss he doubtless
means as from the reduplicated form of the root sta (cf. 0. Ir.
air-issim, 1 stand), an-tus-, great silence ! Cf. Ir. eist do
hheal — hush ! Root of tosd.
eisg, eisgear, satirist, Ir. eigeas, pi. eigse, a learned man, E. Ir.
ecess : "^dd-gen-s-to ? See eagna.
eisimeil, dependence, obligation, M. Ir. esimol, an esimul, *ex-em-
mo-lo, root em of eiidail. Cf. Lat. exemplum.
eisiomplair, example, Ir. eidompldir, M. Ir. esimplair ; from Lat.
exemplar.
156 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
eisir, eisiridh, oyster, Ir. eidr, oisre ; from M. Eng. oistre, from
Lat. ostrea.
eisleach, the withe that ties the tail-beam to the pack-saddle,
crupper :
eislean, grief: '^an-slan ; cf. Ir, eislmn, weak, E. Ir. eslinn (do.):
^ex-slan ; see slan.
eislinn, boards on which the corpse is laid, a shroud (H.S.D., from
MSS. ; M'E.) :
eite, unhusked ear of corn (M'E.) :
eite, eiteadh, stretching, extending :
eiteach, burnt roots of heath :
eiteag*, white pebble, precious stone ; from Eng. hectic, lapis
hecticus, the white hectic stone, used as a remedy against
dysentery and diarrhoea (Martin, West. Isles, 134). See eitig.
eitean, a kernel, grain, Tr. eitne, eithne, E. Ir. eitne (n.).
eithich, false, perjured, Ir. eitheach, a lie, perjury, 0. Ir. ethech,
perjurium ; root pet, fall ? Cf. Ir. di-thech, denial on oath,
for-tach, admission on oath, di-tongar i. sentar, fortoing,
proved by oath : *tong6, swear. See freiteach for root,
eitich, refuse, Ir. eitigJmn. For root, etc., see wn&QV freiteach.
eitigh, fierce, dismal, 0. Ir. etig, turpe, adetche, abomination.
Scarcely "^an-teg-, "un-wonted, un-Ao?^se-like " (Zim.), for G.
would be eidigh. This Stokes (Bez. Beit ^^) makes "^an-tehi-s,
not fair, W. teg, fair, Gr. tlkto), produce, tgkvov, child, Eng.
thitig. Still G. should be eidigh.
eith, go (Sutherland), dh' eithinn, would go, Ir. eathaim, E. Ir.
ethaivi, ^itdo ; root ei, i ; Lat. ire, ituin ; Gr. et/xt, etc.
eitig, consumption ; from Sc. etick, from Fr. eticpie, hectique, Eng.
hectic.
eitreach, storm, sorrow : "^aith-ter- ? See tuirse.
eoisle, a charm ; a metathesis of eblas.
eol, eolas, knowledge, Ir. edl, eolas, E. Ir. eolas, 0. Ir. heuLas,
d-eulus : *ivo-lest%L ?
eorna, barley, Ir. eorna, E. Ir. eorna, "^'jevo-rnio-, *jevo- \ Gr. ^eta,
spelt ; Skr. ydva, corn, barley ; Lit. jaivai, corn,
eothanachadh, languishing (II,S.D. gives it as Dial. ; M'E.); see
feodhaich.
eu-, negative prefix, Ir. ea-, eu-, 0. Ir. e-. It stands for an- before
c, t, p, and s. See an-.
eucail, disease : an + cdil, q.v.
euchd, a feat, exploit, Ir. eachd, feat, covenant, condition ; E. Ir.
echt, murder, slaughter, from ec (St.).
euchdag, a fair maid, a charmer : "featsome one," from euchd.
eud, jealousy, zeal, Ir. ead, 0. Ir. et, W. addiant i^ = add-iant),
longing, regret, Gaul, iaiitu- in lantumarus, *jantu- ; Skr.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 157
yatnd, zeal ; Gr. ^rjreo), seek, (rjXos, zeal, Eng. zeal ; root jd,
jat, strive.
eudail, treasure, cattle, Ir. eaddil, euddil, profit, prey, E. Ir. Hail,
treasure, booty, E. Ir. et, herds, riches : *em-tdli-, root em,
hold, as in Lat. emo (see eiridinn). Also feudail. ed = dirneis
no spreidh, O'Cl.
eug, death, Ir. eug, 0. Ir. ec, W. angeu, Cor. and 0. Br. ancou,
*enku-s, "^enkevo- ; Lat. nex, death ; Gr. vckvs, corpse ; Skr.
na^, perish.
eugail, disease ; see eucail.
eugais, eu^mhais, as eugais, without, Ir. eagmhuis, want, dis-
pensation, E. Ir. ecmais : "^an-comas, " non-power " %
eug-, negative prefix, as in eugsamhuil = an-con-samuil ; see
cosmhail.
euladh, creeping away ; see ealadh.
eumhann, a pearl (H.S.D. from MSS.), 0. Ir. nem, g. nemann,
pearl, niam, sheen, niamda, bright, W. nwyf, vigour,
nwyjiant, brightness, vigour : "^neim. Cf. neamhnuid.
eun, a bird, Ir. eun, 0. Ir. en, 0. W. etn, W. edn. Cor. hethen, Br.
ezn, ^etno-s, *petno-, root pet, fly ; Gr. Trero/xai, fly, 7reT7pa,
fowls ; Lat. penna, wing ; Eng. feather ; Skr. pdtati, fly.
Hence eunlaith, birds, E. Ir. ejilaith.
eur, refuse, Ir. eura, refusal, E. Ir. era, eraim, "^ex-rajo- (n.), root
rd, give, W. rhoi, give. Cor. ry, Br. reiff, give ; Skr. rati,
give, Zend rd. See rath, luck, favour.
F
fa, under, Ir. fa, E. Ir. fa (as in distributive numbers) ; a side
form of /o, q.v., used in adverbial expressions.
ffa, was (past of is), M. G. fa (D. of Lis.), Ir. fa, fa h- (Keat.),
M. Ir. fa h-, E. Ir. ha h-, *bdt, *{e)hhv-d-t ; Lat. -bat, -hamus,
of rege-bam, etc.; root hheu, to be. See bu, the form now used.
fabhairt, fadhairt, forging, moulding (better faghairt, "tem-
pering " (Wh.), which suits the pronunciation best) ; Ir.
faghairt, tempering (Keat.) ; founded on Lat. faber, smith,
whence, through Fr., Eng. forge.
fabhar, favour, Ir. fdbhar, W. ffafr ; from Lat. favor.
fabhd, a fault ; from Sc. faut, from Fr. faute.
fabhra, fabhrad, abhra, eyelid, eyebrow, Ir, abhra, fabhra, eyelid,
E. Ir. abra, n. pi. abrait. Cor. abrans, Br. abrant, eyebrow,
Mac. Gr. dfSpovres ; further o<^/ov?, brow, Eng. broiv. There is
an E. Ir. bra, pi. brdi, dual bruad, *hruvat-. The phonetics
are not clear. Stokes has suggested Lat. frons, frontis, as
allied, *bhront- with the prep. a{p)o ( = E. Ir. -a-), ab.
158 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
fabhradh, swirl, eddy (Carm.). Cf. 0. Iv. fobar (St.).
facal, focal, word, Ir. focal, 0. Ir, focul, from Lat. vocahulum
(through *focvul, Giiterbock). Stokes and Wind, take it
from Lat. vocula.
fachach, the puffin — a water fowl (Sh.) ; root va, blow 1 Ono-
matopoetic : f-ah-ah, call of bird 1
fachail, strife (Sh. ; H.S.D. marks it Dialectic) ; cf. Ir. fachain,
striving.
fachant, puny (H.S.D. for N. High.) :
fachaint, ridicule, scoffing ; from fo-cainnt, " sub-speaking." Cf.
W. gogan, satire, Br. gogc, "^vo-can, root can, sing, say.
fad, fada, long, Ir. fada, 0. Ir. fota, longus, fot, length, *vad-dho-
or vaz-dho-, Lat. vastus, vast % Hence fadal, delay, desid-
erium, Keat. /ao?o?ai/, "long delay," from /ac? and ddil.
fadadh, fadadh, kindling, Ir. fadadh, fadaghadh, fadogh (Keat.),
Mid. Ir. fatod, E. Ir. dtud, which Zimmer analyses as
*ad-soud {soud of iompaidh), but unsatisfactorily ; E. Ir.
adsui tenid, kindles, adsuithe, kindled (Meyer). Cf. fod.
fadharsach, trifling, paltry, fag^harsach :
fadhbhag, cuttle-fish :
fafan, a breeze :
f^g, leave, Ir. fdgaim, 0. Ir. foachaim, fdchaim, *fo-ad-gah- ; root
gab of gabh, q.v.
fagus, faisg, near, Ir. fogus, E. Ir. focus, ecus, 0. Ir. accus, W.
agos, Br. hogoz, "^aggostu-. See agus.
faic, see, Ir. faic, 0. Ir. im-aci, vides-ne, *dd-ci-, see chi. The / is
prothetic.
faich, faiche, a green (by the house), Ir., E. Ir. faithche, the field
nearest the house, E. Ir. faidche^ ^ad-cdio-, "by the house,"
Celtic kaio-n, house ; see ceardacli. Ascoli refers it to 0. Ir.
aith, area (an imaginary word), and Jubainville allies it with
W. gwaen, plain, Ger. weide (see bhdn for W.).
faiche, a crab, or lobster's, burrow (M'A.) ; see aice :
faichd, hiding place, den, mole's burrow ; see aice.
faicheil, stately, showy ; cf. Ir. faicheallach, luminous :
faicill, caution, guard, E. Ir. accill, preparation, watch : *dd-ciall ;
from ciall, sense % Cf. dichioll.
faidh, a prophet, Ir. fdidh, 0. Ir. fdith, *vdti-s ; Lat. vates ; Norse
6&r, sense, song, M. Eng. wood, Sc. wud ( = mad), Ger. wuth,
rage. W. has gwawd, carmen : ^vdto-.
faidhbhile, a beech, Ir. feagha, fagh-vile (Lh., Comp. Voc), W.
ffawydden, Br. fao ; from Lat. fagus. G. adds the old word
hile, a tree, which is the same in origin as bile, leaf.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 159
faidhir, a fair, Ir. faidhrin ; founded on Eng. fair, faire (from
Lat. feria). For phonetics, cf. paidhir from pair, and
staidhir from stair.
faidseach, lumpish (Sh.) ; faidse, lump of bread (M'A.) :
faigh, get, Ir. faghaim, E. Ir. fagbaim, 0. Ir. ni fogbai, non
invenis, homfo-gabim, root gab oi gabh, q.v.
faighe, begging, etc. ; see faoighe.
faighnich, foighnich, ask : "^vo-gen-, root gen, know, as in aithne.
Cf. E. Ir. imnia foacht, asked. Windisch refers to iar-faigim,
iarfacht, I asked, = iarmifoacht, root ag, say. iarmi-fo-siag
(St. R.C.19 177).
fail, foil, corrupt, putrefy, parboil ; root vel, bubble, boil ; Norse
vella, boil, Eng. well, Ger. wallen, bubble.
fail, foil, a stye, Ir. fail, 0. Ir. foil, muccfoil, hara, iretfhoil, W.
gwdl, couch, *vali-, root vel, cover, encircle ; Gr. elXvoy,
envelop {^velu-), elXap, shelter ; Skr. vald, cave, vali, pro-
jecting thatched roof. In the sense of " encircling, rolling,"
add Lat. volvo, volurnen, Eng. volume, wallow, etc. Further
allied is G. olann, wool, Eng. wool, Lat. Idna, etc.
fail, fail, a ring, Ir. fail, 0. Ir. foil, g. falach, ^valex; Gr. eA,t^,
a twist, spire, vine-tendril; root vel, "circle," as above in fail.
Cf. for vowel Jdl, dike; Br. givalen, "bague sans chaton."
Also failbhe, Ir. failge, for failghe ; from the stem falach or
falagh condensed to falgh,
failc, bathe, lave, Ii*. folcadh, 0. Ir. folcaim, W. golchi, Br. goalc^hi,
wash, *volk6 ; Lettic ivaUJcs, damp, waHka, flowing water,
swampish place. Further allied is G. flinch, q.v. Possibly
here place Volcae, the Rhine Gauls, after whom the Teutons
named the Celts ; whence Wales, Welsh, etc.
failcin, pot-lid (Arran), failceann (Rob.) ; from/a*7, ring (Rob.).
faile, smell, savour ; see dile.
faileag, dog-brier berry ( = mucag) :
faileagan, little lawns (Carm.) : cf. dilean.
faileas, shadow, aileas (Dial.) ; from fo-leus ? or allied to ail,
mark 1
failleagan, ailleagan, faillean, root or hole of the ear, faillean,
sucker of a tree : "^al-nio-, root al, nourish 1
faillig, failnich, fail, faillinn, failing, Ir. faillighim, E. Ir. faill,
failure, W. gwall, Br. goall, ^valni- ; root val of feall, q.v.
Borrowing from Eng. fail, from Lat. fallo, is, however,
possible in the modern languages.
failm, a helm ; from the Norse hjdlm, Eng. helm.
failmean, kneepan (M'A.) ; horn fail, ring (Rob.). Seefalman.
failt, failte, welcome, hail ! Ir., 0. Ir. fdilte, ^vdletid, root vdl, vel,
glow ; W. gwawl, lumen ; Gr. dAea, warmth, sun's heat ; Got.
160 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY.
vulan, be hot, 0. H. G. walm, heat (Bez.). Of. Csesar's
Valetiacus. Borrowing from Lat. valete seems to be Zimmer's
view (Zeit. ^^ 28). Rhys suggests W. gwell ; Hend., Eng.
wealth.
fainear, under consideration, Ir. fa dedra, remark, fe ndedr, f6
ndeara (Munster). Foley gives tabhair fa d^ aire = "observe."
"Thoir fainear " = observe, consider. The above may be a
fixed fa d' aire =fa-deara, with n from the plural an, their.
fainleag, ainleag, a swallow, Ir. dinleog, 0. Ir. fannall, W.
gwennol, Cor. giiennol, Br, gwenneli, *vannello-. Cf. Fr.
vanneau, lapwing, It. vannello, Med. Lat. vannellus, which is
usually referred to Lat. vannus, fan. *vat-n-allo-s (Holden).
fainne, a ring, Ir. fdinne, dinne, 0. Ir. dnne, "^dnnid ; Lat, anus,
Eng, annular.
fair, fair, far, fetch, bring ; a curtailed form of tabhair through
thabkair or {tha)bhair ? Cf. thoir.
fair, dawn, E. Ir. fdir, W. gwawr, Br. gouere-, morning, gwereleuen,
morning-star, ^vdsri-, Lit. vasard, summer, Skr. vdsard,
early shining, morning (adj.), Lat. ver, spring, Gr. eap,
spring (Stokes).
fair, faire, ridge, sky-line ; from fair, dawn 1 Cf., however, Ir.
fairedg, hillock, und fair eag, below.
fairc, bathe ; see fatliraig.
fairc, links, lands sometimes covered by the sea (M'A., who says
that in Islay it means " hole ") ; from Eng. park ?
fairce, fairche (M'D.), a mallet, Ir. far cha, farcha, farca, M. Ir.
farca, E. Ir. forcha tened, thunderbolt ; root ark as in adharc ?
faircill, a cask or pot lid, E. Ir. farcle : "^vor-cel-, root eel, cover.
faire, watching, Ir., E. Ir. /az-Ve ; see aire.
faireag, a gland, swollen gland, Ir. fdiredg (Fob, O'R.) ; cf. W.
chwaren, gland, blotch, root sver, hurt, Ger. schwer, difficult.
The W. precludes comparison with Lat. varus, pimple, varlx,
dilated vein, Eng. varicose.
fairge, the ocean, Ir. fairrge, 0. Ir. fairgge, Ptolemy's Vergivios,
the Irish Atlantic ; from the same root as fearg. In Suther-
land/a^V(/^ means the "ocean in storm." Usually pronounced
as ii fairce. W. Mor Werydd, the Atlantic.
fairgneadh, hacking, sacking :
fairich, perceive, feel, Ir. airighim, 0. Ir. airigur, sentio ; same
root di,^ faire (Stokes, Beit. ^ 341).
fairleas, an object on the sky-line (H.S.D. from MSS.) ; "^f-air-
leus ; from leics, light.
fairmeil, noisy : allied to seirm. See foirm 1
fairsing, wide, Ir., 0. Ir. fair sing, W. eang ( = "^ex-ang, ehang),
*f-ar-ex-ang : " un-narrow," root ang, narrow (Stokes for W.)
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 161
fairtlich, fairslich, baffle ; *vor-tl-, "over-bear," root tel, tol, bear
(Lat. tolero, Eng. tolerate) %
faisg, pick off' vermin : for root see caisg
faisg", near : see fagus.
faisg", squeeze, wring, Jr. fdisg, E. Ir. faiscim, W. givasgu,
premere, 0. Br. guescim, Br. goascaff, stringere, *uakshd ; 8kr.
vdhate, press ; Eng. wedge ; further Lat. vejco. *fo-ad-sech
(Asc).
faisne, a pimple, weal (H.S.D., Dial.) :
faisneachd, faistine, prophecy, omen, Ir. fdkdineachd, fdisdine,
0. Ir. fditsine ; for fditk-sin ', where tk is deaspirated before s ;
irom fdit/i, with tiie termination -sine (sti/ie/) Zeuss^ 777.
faisneis, speaking, whispering, Iv./disneis, rehearsal, M. ir. faisneis,
E. Ir. ais7ieis, vb. ais?iedlm, narrate, ^as-in-feid-, infiadim^
root, vtid, vid, know ; see innis.
faite, a smile, Ir. faitbe (O'R.), laugh, 0. Ir. faitbim, I laugh,
^fo-aitk-tibim, tibiu, I laugh, "^stebio ; Lit stebius, astonish,
faiteach, faiteach, timorous, shy, Ir. fdittach, faiicheas, fear
(Keat,), 0. Ir. faitech, cautus : *f-ad-tech, "home-keeping"'?
faitlieain, a hem, Ir. fdithini, fathfhiiaim ; fo and faaim. See
fuaigh.
fal, turf, sods, dike, Ir. fdl, hedge, fold, 0. Ir. fdl, saepes, W.
gwawl, rampart, Pictisli jdhel^ murus, *vdlo- ; Lat. vallum,
Eng. ivall. See further under /'a^/, stye.
fal, a spade, peat spade, Manx faayl, W. pdl, Cor. pal ; from Lat.
pdla. Also "scytlie" (Wli.).
fdlacJl, a hiding, covering, Ir., E. Ir. folach, W., Br. golo, *vo-lug6^
*lug6, hide, lie ; Got. liuyan, tell a lie, Eng. lie (Stokes).
Ernault refers it to tlie root legk, logh, lie, as in G. laighe :
" under-lie," in a causative sense.
falachd, spite, malice, treachery, Ir. fala. See fdillig, Jeall for
root,
faladair, orts (M'D.) :
faladair, a scythe, really " man who works the scythe," a turfer,
from /a/ : "scythe " properly is iarunn faladair .
faladair, bare pasture (H.S.D. for Heb.) : "turf-land," from /a/.
fala-dha, a jest, irony, fun ; ^qq fealla-dhd.
falair, an interment, funeral entertainment (Stew.) —far air ?
falaire, an ambler, mare, Ir. fahitre, ambling horse ; seemingly
founded on Eng. palfr^"y. The form alaire exists, in the
sense of " brood-mare" (M'Dougall's Folk and Hero Tales),
leaning upon dl, brood, for meaning. Ir. falaradk, to amble,
falaisg", heath-burning, Ir. folosg (do.), E. Ir. foloiscim, I burn
slightly ; from fo and loisg, q.v.
39
162 etyMologfcal dictionary.
falamh, empty, Ir. folanih, M. Ir. folum, E. Ir. folom, folomm ;
cf. 0. W. guollung, M Br. goUo, Br. goullo. Windisch de-
riv^es the G. from lom, bare, but the modern aspiration of
folamh makes this derivation doubtful. Ernault refers the
Br. to the root of Lat. langueo.
falbh, go, falbhan, moving about, walking, waving, Ir. foluamhain,
bustling, running away, E. Ir. foluamain, flying ; see fo and
Luaineck. 0. Ir fulaniain, volubilis, allied to Lat. volvo, Eng.
wallow, would suit the phonetics best, but it does not appear
in the later dialects. The verb falbk is made hom. falbhan.
Hennessey referred the G. to Jalamh^ empty. Cf. E. Ir.
fahiiaigim, empty, quit (Zim.).
falbhair, the young of live stock, a follower as a calf or foal ; from
the Sc. follower, a foal, Eng. follower.
falcag", common auk, falc (Heb.) ; from Norse dlka, Eng. auk.
fallaid, dry meal put on cakes :
fallain, healthy, Ir. ftlldm, E. Iv. folldn ; for fo + sldn, q.v.
fallsa, false (M'D.), Ir., M. Ir. fallsa ; from the Lat. falsus.
falluing, a mantle, so Ir., M. Iv. fallaing, Latinised iorva pludingis
((Jeraldus), dat. pL, W. ffaling ; from Lat. palla, mantle,
pallium. Cf. 0. Fr. pallion, M. Yiwg. pallioun. M..^. f aiding,
sort of coarse cloth (Hend.).
fallus, sweat, Ir. f alius, alius, 0. Ir, alias : ^jasl, root jas, jes,
seethe, yeast, W. jas, what pervades, Br. goi'll ( = vo-jes-l),
leaven ; Eng. yeast, zeal ; Gr. ^eco, boil.
falmadair, the tiller : " helm- worker," from falm, helm, from
Norse lijdlm, helm. See fail m.
falmair, a kind of fish (H.S.D. for Heb.), falmaire, herring hake :
falman, kneepan :
fait, hair, Ir. folt, 0. Ir. folt, W. gwallt. Cor gols, caesaries, 0. Br.
guolt, "^valto-s (Stokes), root vel, cover ; Lat. vellus, fleece,
Idna, wool, Gr. Xacrios, hairy ( — vlatAos) ; Eng. ivooL ; Lit.
velti, hairs, threads. Stokes compares only Russ. volotl,
thread. Lit. waltis, yarn, Gr. Aao-tos. Same root as olann,
wool, *vel, ^vol, *ul.
faltan, a tendon, snood ; for (dtan, from alt.
famhair, a giant, Ir. fmihor, pirate, giant, E. Ir. fomor, fomorack,
a Fomorian, a mythic race of invaders of Ireland ; *fo-m6r,
" sub-magnus " (Zimmer). Stokes refers the -mor, -morach,
to the same origin as mare of nightjar*?, Ger. mahr, night-
mare. Rhys interprets the name as " sub-marini," taking
mor from the root of mui} , sea. The 6 of mor, if it is long
(for it is rarely so marked) is against these last two deriv-
ations
famhsgal, fannsgal, hurry, confusion (Arg.) :
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 163
famh-thalmhainn, fath, a mole, fadhbh (Lh.), W. gimdd, Corn.
god, Br. goz ; M. Eng. wont, talpa. Dialectic ath-thalmhain.
fan, stay, Ir. fanaim, 0. Ir. anaim ; root an, breathe, exist, as in
anam, anail : " gabhail anail " = taking rest. Stokes suggests
an = riin, root men, remain, Lat. maneo, Gr. /xej/w, a phonetic
change not yet proved for Gaelic. W. di-anod , \\i\ho\it delay.
fanaid, mockery, Ir. foiwmhad, E. Ir. fonomat : *vo-nom-anto-,
root nemfi, take, for which see namhad.
fanaigse, dog violet (H.S.D. quoting O'R.), Ir., fanaigse (O'R.) :
from pansy ?
fanas, a void space ; from Lat. vanus.
fang, a sheep-pen, fank ; from Sc. fank.
fang, a vulture, Ir. fang, raven
fann, faint, Ir. E Ir. fann, W., Br. gwan, Cor. guan, debilis,
"^vanno-s, root vd, ver:, spoil, wound ; Got. wunns, affliction,
winnan, to sufter, Eng. ivound, wan ; Gr arrj, infatuation, etc.
Others have connected it with Lat. vanus and with Eng. ivant.
Fannan-fedir, weak breeze (M'D.).
fannadh, fishing with a feathered hook (H.S.D. for Heb.) :
faob, an excrescence, knob, piece, Ir. fadhh (Lh.f), 0. Ir. odb,
obex, W. oddf, : "^ud-hhv-o-, " out-growth," root hhu, be (see
bu). Stokes gives a Celtic '^odbo-s, from e^go-i<, ozgo-s (I),
allied to Gr. oVx^/, twig 1 Lat. ober; or to Lit. ildega^ tail.
Liden equates, Lat. ojfa, a ball. Stokes now ocrcfiV'^.
faobh, booty, \y. fadhbhaim, I despoil, 0. Ir.fodb, exuvias : "^vodvo-,
from I. E. vedh, slay, thrust ; Skr. vadk, slay ; (jlr. w^eoo, push.
The root may be vedh, pledge, Gr. aeOXov, war prize, Eng.
luager.
faobhag, the common cuttle-fish (Heb.).
faobhar, edge, so Ir., E. Ir. faebur, 0. Ir., faibur, machera,
sword, *vaibro-s, Lat. vibro, vibrate, brandish. Lit. wyburti,
wag (Stokes). Cf. farther W. gwaew, pi. gweywyr, a lance.
faoch, faochag, a periwinkle, Ir. faochog, M. Ir. faechog ; cf. W.
gwichiad.
faoch, curve (Carm.) :
faochadh, a favourable crisis in sickness, relief ; see faothaich.
faochainn, entreat earnestly, strive, inf. faochnadh (M'A., Arg.) :
faochaire, knave (Carm.) :
faod, feud, may, Ir. feadaim, I can, E. Ir. fetaim, can, setar,
seitir, potest, *svent6 ; Got. swmjys, strong, Ag. S. swi:^ (do.),
Norse, svinnr, clever, Ger. geschwind, swift (Stokes).
faodail, goods found by chance or lost, waif : " foundling," E. Ir.
etaim, I find, "^pento, Eng. find. See eudail.
faodhail, a ford, a narrow channel fordable at low water, a hollow
in the sand retaining tide water : from N. vatSill, a shallow,
a place where straits can be crossed, Shet. vaadle, Eng. wade.
164 ETYMOLOGTCAl. DICTIONARY
faoghaid, faghaid, faodhailt, starting of game, hunting :
faog'har, a sound ; see TAt\\QV foghar.
faoighe, faighdhe, begging, asking of aid in corn, etc., M. Ir.
faigde, O. Ir. foigde, mendicatio, "^fo-guide ; from fo and
guidlie^ beg, q.v.
faoilidh, liberal, hospitable, Ir. faoilidh, joyful, 0. Ir. fdilidh,
blithe, *vdleti-s, allied to fdilt, welcome (Stokes). Hence
faoilte, welcome, delight. Root, *vil, Gr. tAa/)o§, gayl
faoileag", faoileann, a sea-gull, Ir. faoiledn, 0. Ir. foilenn^ W.
givylan, Br. gwelan, whence Fr. goeland and Eng. gull. For
root, Stokes compares Eng. wail.
faoilleach, faoillteach, the month extending from the middle of
January to the middle of February, Ir. faoiUidh (do.),
faoilleach (do.), holidays, Carnival. The idea is "Carnival"
or month of rejoicing ; from faoilidh. Usually referred to
faol^ wolf: "wolf-month." Gi. feill. February in Ir. = m^
na Feile Brig/ide.
faoin, vain, void, Ir. faon, M. Ir. faen, weak :
faoisg, unhusk, faoisgeag, a filbert, unhusked nut, 0. Ir. desc,
concha, aesc, classendix, Lat. aesculus "? (Stokes). Cf. W.
giveisgion, husks, giveisgioni, to husk,
faoisid, faosaid, confession, Ir. faoisidin, 0. Ir. fdisitiu, "^vo-
sestamtion- (Stokes), furoissestar, confessus : fo and seasamh,
q.v. Cf. Gr. i'<^io-Tr;/xt, submit.
t faol, faolchu, a wolf, so Ir., E. Ir. fdel, fael-chu, W. gweilgi, the
sea (" wild dog "), *vailo-s ; Arm. gail.
faolainn, a stony beach (Heb.) : " the beach," vad'linn.
faolum, learning ; see foghlum.
faomadh, fainting from closeness or excitement, falling (Lewis) ;
from aomadh.
faondradh, wandering, exposure, 0. Ir. airndretkach, errantia
( = air-ind-reth-) ; G. is for fo-ind-reth-, root ret, run, of ruith,
q.v. For ind, see ioiin-.
faotainn, getting, E. Ir. foemaim, I receive, root em, grasp, hold,
Lat. emo. G. is for "^vo-em-tin-.
faothaich, relieve, be relieved from fever, etc., Ir. faothamh,
recovery after a crisis, alleviation : '^fo-thdmh 1
far, upon, far an (amj, where, Ir. mar a n-, where ; from mar and
rel., not from /or.
far, with, far rium, with me, Ir. a bhfarradh, with (lit. " in
company of," with gen.). See farradh and mar ri.
far, freight (a ship), Iv. far aim, faraighim, farthadh ov faradh, a
freight :
far, bring ; see fair.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 16
far-, over ; see /ar, upon, and air (b). Far-ainm, nick-name ;
far-cluais, listening ; etc.
farachan, death watch beetle: "hammerer"; from fairche,
hammer, Iv . farachan, a hammer (also Gaelic, Wh.). The
possibility of its being from faire must not be overlooked.
faradh, a roost, Ir. faradh (do.), E. Ir. forud, a bench, seat, shelf :
^for-sud, root, sed, seat, as in suidke, q.v. Of. W. gor-sedd, a
seat. E Ir. forad, platform, *ver-podo-.
faraich, a cooper's wedge ; see fairce.
farail, a visit, inquiry for health ; from far or for and -ell-, -eln-,
go, root, el, as in Lat. amb-ulare, Gr. kXddv. See further
under tadhal.
faraire ; seeforair.
faraire, lykewake :
fardsda, easy, gentle, [r. farasda, forasda, solid, reasonable,
"staid" : "^for-asda; for ai^da, see fasdad/i. Farasda is con-
fused with furasda, q.v.
farbhail, a lid ; from far-hheul, " super-os," from beul, mouth,
farbhalach, a stranger ; for falbhalach, from falbh ?
farbhas, a surmise ; ^far-meas, from Tneas, judge. Of. eirmis.
farbhas, noise :
fardach, a mansion, hearth, home ; cf. dachaidh.
fardadh, alder bark for dyeing black (H.S.D., Dial.), lye, or any
colour in liquid (M'A.) ; from far and dath ?
fardal, delay, M. Ir. fordall, staying, E. Ir. fordul :
fardan, a farthing, Ir. fardin ; from the Eng.
fardorus, lintel, Ir. fdrdorus, E. Iwfordorus, porch, W. gwarddrws,
lintel ; from for, far and doru^.
farfonadh, a warning (H.S.D.) ; see root in fathunn : *vor-svon.
fargradh, a report : *vor-gar, root gar as in goir.
farlus, chimney or roof-light, E. Ir. forles ; from for and leus, q.v.
Cf. arias.
farmachan, a sand lark (H.S.D., Dial.) :
farmad, envy, Ir. formad, 0. Ir. format : "^for-mad, the mad being
for mento- i^ver-mento-, Stokes), root raen, Lat. me.ns, Eng.
mind. See dear mad.
farmail, a large pitcher (Heb.) :
farpas, refuse of straw or hay (H.S.D., M'E.) ; cf. rapas.
farpuis, strife, co-fharpuis :
mrr, off! be off!
farrach, violence, Ir. farrach, forrach ; see farran.
ffarradh, company, vicinity, M. G. na warri (D. of L.), Ir.
farradh, E. Ir. farrad, i fharrad, near, 0. Ir. in arrad ', from
ar-sod-, " by-seat," root sod, sed, sit, as in suidhe. Hence Ir.
compound, prep, a bhfarradh ; and from the same source
comes the G. mar ri, q.v.
166 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
farradh, litter in a boat :
farragan, a ledge (Arran), =faradh, dh hardened.
farraid, ask, inquire ; faghairt (Perth), which suggests fo-gar-t,
root, gar, speak Cf. iarr.
farral, farran, anger, force, Ir. farrdii, vexation, anger, forrdn,
oppression, M. Ir. forrdn, destruction, E. Ir. fuvranadt^
destructive. Hence G. far rant a, great, stout, Ir. farrdnta
(O'B.). Also farrach. The root seems to mean "superiority ;"
root vers, vors^ as vnfedrr^ q. v. %
farrusg", a peeling, inner rind ; M. Ir. forrusc ; from for and rhsg^
q.v.
farruinn, pinnacle ; from far and rinn.
farsaing, wide ; better fair sing, q.v.
farspach, farspag, arspag. a seagull :
farum, noise, Tr. fothrum, E. Ir. fothrom, fothrond, W. godornn,
tumultuous noise (Hend.) ; iov fo-thoinn, from toirin. Stokes
suggests fo-thrond, from torann. The roots are allied in
either case
fas, grow, Ir. fdsaim, 0. Ir. dsaim, fdsaim, root aux, aug, increase,
Lat. augeo, Gr. av^u), Eng. eke, luax. Stokes and Strachan
refer fds to a stem {p)dt-to-, pdt, pat, eat, feed, Gr. Trarco/xat,
eat, Eng. feed, food. Lat. pasco, pastiim.
fas, empty, waste, fasach, a desert, Ir. fds, fdsacli, 0. Ir. /<is, fdas,
vanus, fdsich, desert : *vdsto-s, a waste ; Lat. vastus, vastare ;
Eng. waste, Ger. ivihtf". Hence fasan, refuse of grain :
"waste." fdsacli, desert, is neuter, see M'A. pref. VIII.
fasair, harness, girth-saddle ; see asair.
fasan, fashion ; from the Eng.
fasdadh, hiring, binding, \r.fastogh, hiring^ see foisteadh.
fasdail, astail, a dwelling, E. Ir. fasiud, holding fast, vb. astaim,
fastaim, 0. Ir. asstai, moratur, adsaitis, residentes, ^ad-sod-,
root, sed, sod of suidhe (Thur.). W. eistedd, sitting, is for
"^ex-sod-ijo. It is possible to refer astaim to *ad-std-, root
sta, stand, Lat. sto ; the -asda of farasda, "staid," seems
from it (cf. tairis).
fasgadh, shelter, Ir. fosgadh, 0. Ir. foscad, ambra : ^fo-scdth,
" sub-umbra "; see sgdth, shade.
fasgaidh, a picking or cleansing off of vermin See faisg,
fasynadh ^
fasgnadh, winnowing, fasgaag, as^nag", corn-fan, Ir. fasgnaim, I
purge.
faspan, difficulty, embarrassment :
fath, a mole ; see famh.
fath, vista (Carm.) :
Ot' The GAELIC LANGUAGE. 107
fath, a cause, reason, Ir, fatli,fdth, E. \r.fdth, : "^'vdt-u- ; root vdt
as mfdidh / See next.
fathamas, a degree of fear, awe, a warning ; also fothamas :
"^ fo-ted-niess-^ root of meas, tomhas, etc.
fathamas, occasion, opportunity : "^fo-tad-mess-, see amas.
fathan, athan, coltsfoot, Ir. fathdn (O'R.) :
fathanach, trifling, silly :
fathraig", fothraig, bathe, Ir. fothrugaiw,, 0. Ir. fothraicim,
fothaircthe, balnearuni, fothrucud^ a bath, "^vo-tronkatu-
(Stokes), W. trocld, mergere, balneare, Br. go-zronquet ; Lit.
trinkti, wash, bathe (Bez.).
fathast, yet, M. Ir., E. Ix. fodesta, fodechUa, iov fo-fecht-sa , the d
being otiose and caused by analogy (Zim., Zeit.-^^ 21)
Atkinson suggests with a query f(ind( f h)(:'cht-sa. The root
word \^ fecht, time: "under this time, sub hoc tempus."
See/eackd, time. Hence also feasd [ = i fecht-sa).
fathunn, news, floating rumour, fabhunn (Dial ) : ^vo-svon, root
sven, sound (see tabhann), or I'oot bon, ban, Eng. ban, 0. Ir.
atboind, proclaims 1
f6, f^ath, (f^th, fiath), a calm, M. \v. feith, E. \i\ feth, 0. Ir. feth,
Gadelic root vei, *ve-jo-, root ve, ve, blow, (Jr. di]p, air, (whence
Eng. air), Ger. wehen, to blow, Eng. wind, especially weather
(root vet) for the G. sense.
feabhas, feobhas, goodness, " betterness," Ir. feabkus, 0. Ir. febas,
superiority, feib, distinction, '^vi>Acs, g. vesv-ids (Thur., Zeit.^^
149, and Brug.), from vesu- or vesv-, as in Jiu, q.v. Stokes
doubtfully compares Lat. vigeo, Eng. vigour (Bez. Beit.^'' 75).
feachd, an army, host, expedition, Ii\ fear hd, an expedition, E. Ir.
fecht {ar fecht 7 sluagad), W. gwaith, action, work. This
Zimmer refers to 0. Ir. fichim, I tight (Lat. vinco. Got. veihan,
root viq), as well as fieachd, time, Ir. feachd, E. Ir. fecht,
oenfhecht, once, W. givaUh, turn, vicem, Stokes separates
the latter (feachd, time, E. Ir. fecht, journey), giving as
stem vektd, root vegh (Lat veho, Eng, waggon) ; for fecht,
campaign, hosting, he gives the Celtic viktd, root vicq, as
Zimmer does. The words seem, as Stokes has it, from two
roots, but now they are indistinguishably mixed. Osthofl:"
regards yeac/i^, time, as allied to Lat. vices; aeejiach.
fead, a whistle, Ir. fead, M. Ir. fet-, fetdn, a flute, a whistle, W.
chwythell, a whistle, chivyth, a blast, breath, *sviddo-, "^avtzdo-,
Lat. sibilus, Eng. sibilant. See further under seid.
feadh, length, extent, so Ir. ; see eadh.
feadhainn, people, some people, troop, Ir. feadhainn, E. Ir. fedain^
company, cobeden conjugatio, W. gwedd, team, yoke, root ved,
I. E. vedh, Eng. wed, Lat. vas, vadis, surety, Skr. vi-vad/id.,
shoulder-yoke.
168 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
fealan (M'A. feallan), itch, hives ; it also means " worm " (see
Jiolan), M. Ir. filun, glandular disease, fiolun saith, anthrax,
malignant struma, all which Stokes takes from L. Lat. fello,
strum ae.
feall, treachery, Ir. feaU, E. Ir, fell {"^velno-), W. gwall, defect, Br.
goall (do.), Cor. gal, malus, malum, Br. gwall (do.), root vel,
cheat ; Lit. ap-vilti, vilioti, cheat, Lett, wildt, deceitful ;
Norse vel, a deceit, wile, Eng. wile ; Zend vareta, error.
Stokes hesitates between the above and vd from u{p)el, Got.
ubils, Eng. evil.
fealla-dha, joking, irony: */eall + dhd, "double-dealing."
feallsanach, philosopher, Ir. feallsamhnach, feallsamh, philosopher,
0. Ir. felsicb ; from Lat. philosophus.
feamach, gross, dirty (Sh., D'R.) : from feam, tail, as in feaman,
feamainn, sea-weed, Ir. feamuin, E. Ir. femnach, W. gwymon, Fr.
goemon, "^vit-s-mdni-, root, vi, vei, wind, as in feith, vein 1
Stokes gives the stem as vemmdni- {vembani- ?), which suggests
*vegvo-, root veg, as in feur.
feaman, a tail, Ir. feam, M. Ir. feam, mentula, Manx famman ;
also G. eaman, *engvo-, Lat. inguen, groin.
feann, flay :
feannadh, skinning, excessive cold ; see fionnadh. The idea of
"cold" is metaphorical. E. \v. fennaim, I skin, is referred
by Stokes to the root of Eng. wound : he gives the stem as
*venvo-.
feannag, hooded crow, Ir. feannog, fionnog : cf. fionna, pile, for
root : " piled crow" 1
feannag, a lazy-bed ; older fennoc, trench : from feoMn, flay.
fear, a man, Ir. /ear, 0. Ir. fer, W. gwr, 0. VV. gur, Corn, gur, Br.
gour, ^viro-s (Khys thinks the Celtic start was ver : cf . W.
gwr = ver, super, and G. eadh, 0. Ir. ec/ = Lat. id, etc.): Lat.
mi" ; Ag. S. ivei\ Norse I'err, Eng. werwolf ; Lit. wyras ; Skr.
vira.
fearann, land, so Ir., E. Ir. fevand, also ferenn, a girdle, garter,
root vera, enclose, look after ; Skr. varand, well, dam, vrnoti,
cover, enclose ; Gr. epva-dai, draw, keep ; Ch. SI. vreti,
claudere : further Lat. vereor, Eng. ivare.
fearg, wrath, so Ir., E. Ir. ftrg, 0. Ir. fere, ferg, *vergd ; Gr.
op-yr]\ root vergo, swell, be puffed up. Hence feargnadh,
provocation,
fearna, alder tree, Ir. feam, fearnog, E. Ir. fern, fernog, W. gwern.
Corn, gwernen, Gaul, verno-, Fr. verne, *verno- ; Gr. epvia, wild
figs (I Bez.).
fearr, better, Ir. fedrr, 0. Ir. ferr, "^vera, *ver(i)s, a comparative
in -is from the prep, ver ( = G. far, for, super) ; now com-
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 169
parative for math, but evidently once iov fern, good, *verno-s,
Lat. supernus (cf. -no- of magnns disappearing in major, and
-ro- of Celtic mdros in G. mo). Stokes refers /err to vers,
raise, ^uersos-, height, top ; Lat. verruca, steep place. Lit.
wirzm, top, Skr. varshma,n-, height, vdrshtyas, higher. Cf.
W. goreu, best ( = Lat. supremus).
fe^rsaid, a spindle, Ir fearrsaid, M. Ir. fersaid, '^'versatti- "^verttati-,
W. gwerthyd, Cor. giirthit, 0. Br. guirtilon, fusis, M. Br.
guerzit, root ^wY, turn ; Lat. vtrto, vortex ; Ger. iverden, to be,
Eng. worth, be, M.H.G. wirtel, spindle ring. Skr. vdrtate,
turn, roll, vartidd, spindle ball.
fearsaideag, thrift or sea gilly-flower ; from obs. fearsad, estuary,
sand-bank, passage across at ebb-tide, whence place-name
Fersit, and in Ireland Belfast ; for root see feart.
feart. attention, notice ; Br. gortos, to attend, root vert, vort ;
Ger. warten, attend, Eng. ward, from ware, Nor. varfSa, ward.
An extension of I'oot ver, watch, Lat. vereor, etc.
feart, a virtue, efficiency, deed, Ir. feart, 0. Ir. firt, pi. ferta, W.
gwyrth ; from Lat. virtus (Windisch, Stokes).
ffeart, a grave, Ir. feart, 0. Ir. fert, tumulus, *verto- ; root ver,
cover, enclose, which see under fearann. Cf. Skr. vrti.
enclosure, hedge,
fearthuinn, rain, Ir. fearthuinn, E. Ir. ferthain, inf. to feraim,
I pour, give, ^verao, rain : Lat. urina, urine, Gr. ovpov (do.) :
Norse ur, a drizzle, Ag. S. ivdr, sea ; Skr, vari, water, Zend,
vara, rain. See doirt.
feascradh, shrivelling, so Ir. (O'R.) :
feasd, am feasd, for ever, Ir. feasda, henceforward, E. Ir. festa,
ifesta, now, from this point forward, i fecht-sa. ; from feachd by
metathesis of the .s\ See fathast.
feasgar, evening, Ir. feascar, 0. Ir. fescor, ^vesqero-, W. ucher,
*uksero- for *usqero- ; Lat. vesper ; Gr. ea-Trepo^.
feathachan, slight breeze ; see feothachan.
f6ile, generosity, hospitality, Ir.feile, E. Ir. fele ; from fial, q.v.
tf^ile, charm, incantation, E. Ir. el^, hele, mo fhele ; from Norse
heill, auspice, omen, Eng. hale, etc. ; allied to 0. Ir. eel,
augurium, W. coel, omen, 0. W. coil (Zim., Zeit. '^-^ 147).
For G. feile, see Inv. Gaelic iSoc. 7V.^^ 243. Stokes regards
Zimmer's derivation from N. a failure, and compares W. wylo,
wail, weep, as Ir. amor, music = W. afar, J2frief, and G. ceol
=: Ger. heulen, howl. Rhys cfs. W. eli, oil, ointment.
f6ile, f^ileadh, a kilt, E. Ir., 0. Ir. fial, velum : 0. Ir. ronfeladar,
he might clothe us ; from Lat. velum, a covering, velare, Eng.
veil. In Islay, .Jura, etc., it is an t-sibhleadh. McL. and D.
20
17') KTYMOJ.OGICAL DICTIONARY.
also gives eibhlearlh. Heiid. (questions if Lat. See uanfehli
in Fled. Br. 68. Root sveil as in fill, spaoil, etc. 1
ftiill, a fair, feast, Ir. Jeil, festival, holiday, 0. Ir. /eil, W. giv^l,
festnm, Br. goel, ^veg/i- ; Lat. vigilia, Fr. veille, a watch,
vigil, Eng. vigil, wake. The Celtic words are borrowed from
Lat. (Windisch, Stokes). Hence Jeillire, an almanack.
fein, self, Ir., 0 Ir. /ein, "^sve-j-.sm, "self there," *sve-j, *sve, Pruss.
sivais, Ch. SI. svojt ; Lat. suus, se ; Gr. e, os. Zeuss explains
fein as be-shin, "quod sit hoc," be being the verb to be. This
explanatioT. is due to the divers forms of the 0. Ir. word for
" self, selves" : fe'siiie { = be-.<iin-c\ sit id hoc), /^esin, Jadesin
(= had-e-sin), /oden, etc.
F^inn, g. Feinne, the Fingalians, Ir. Feinne, Fiann, E. Ir. fiann,
*veinnd, also E. Ir. fian, a hero, *veino-.% root, vein, strive ;
Lat. venari, hunt; Skr. vcnati, go, move, desire. Zimmer
takes the word from Norse fjdndi, an enemy (Eng. jiend),
which he supposes the Irish troops called themselves after
the Norsemen.
feirm, a farm, Ir. feibn ; from M. Eng. ferme, Eng. farm.
f^isd, feis, a feast ; better feusd, q.v.
feith, wait, Iv. feitldm, ^. Ir. fethim, iui. fethem ( = G. feitheamh),
"^veto, root vH ; Lat. vetus, old, Eng. veteran ; Gr. eVo?, year ;
Eng. ivether ("yearling").
feith, a sinew, a vein, Ir., 0. Ir. feith, fibra, *veiti-s, root vei, vi,
wind, bend ; Lat. vtmen, withe, vUis, a vine ; Gr. tVea (long i),
willow ; Eng. 7mthe ; Lit. vytis, willow-wand, Ch. SI. viti,
res torta ; Skr. vayati, weave, flecto. The W. shows a stem
"^vittd, vein, W. gwythen, Br. gwazen, Cor. guid- ; cf. Lat.
vitta, fillet. Hence feith, a bog channel (Ir. feth, a marsh,
bog-stream), and feithleag, honeysuckle, M. Ir. feithlend,
woodbine, W. gwyddfld (do.).
feitheid, a bird or beast of prey (M'A.), Ir. feithide, a beast :
feochadan, corn-thistle, thistle (Arm., H.S.D.), Ir. feockadan
(O'li.), fedthcK/dn (O'B.), smd fed than. Ci. fohhannan.
feocullan, the pole-cat, 1y. feochullan (FoL, O'R. \i2^,'& feocidlan like
Sh.). Cf. Sc. fethoh, jithoive, pole-cat, M. Eng. Hcheu, now
fitchew.
feobiiaran, pith, puf!" (feo'ran) — Dial. ; feodharan, root, *vet, vetuA
feobhas, goodness ; seefeabhas.
fe6dar, pewter, Ir. peatar, W. ffeutar ; from the Eng. pewter.
feodhaich, decay, Ir. feodhaim, M. Ir. feodaigim, wither :
" senesco ; " *vetu-, root vet, as in Lat. vetus, G. feith ? 0.
Ir. feugud, W. givyiv, Lat. vielus ; '^vivagatu ?
fe6il, flesh, Ir. fenil, E. Ir. feoil, 0. Tr. fenil, '''vepoli-s; Skr.
vapd, fat, vdpu.% body, form 1
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 17 1
feoirlig", a farthing land, fedirling' ; from Ag. S. feorjyling^ Eng.
farthing.
febirne, chess, \y. feoime (Sh., O'K., Fol.) :
fedrag, a squirrel, Ir. feorog (Sh., O'R.., Fol.), W. gwiwer, Br.
giviber ; Lit. vovere, Lettic wdweris, Pruss. weware ; Lat.
viverra, ferret (Pliny).
feoraich, inquire, fiafraigh (Kintyre Dial.), Ir. Jiafruighim^ 0. Ir.
iarfaigim : *iar-fac/i, prep, iar and fach, E. Ir. faig, dixit,
*vakC)., say ; Lat. voco^ call, vox., voice ; Skr. vac, say. The r
of G. and modern Ir. has shifted to behind the t\ while a
prothetic /'is added.
feorlan, a tirlot ; hqq feoirli ig.
feothachan, feothan (Arran), a little breeze ; root vet, as in
onfhadh.
feuch, fiach, behold, see, try, Ir. feuch. feadi, Vj. Ir. fcckaiin,
fegai'm, *veiko ; (xr. ei/<oSv, image (Eng. iconoclnstic)., eo/jca,
I seem, etKa^w, conjecture ; Skr. vig, appear, arrive.
feud, may, can ; see faod.
feudail, cattle ; usual spelling of ewlail, q.v.
feudar, 's fheudar, it is necessary, M. Ir. is eidir, it is possible,
for IS ed fhetir, it is what is possible. Feudar is the pres.
pass, of feud, may. In G. the " may" has become " must."
The negative, cha 'n fheudar, is connnon in E. Ir. as ni fhetir,
?ii etir, cannot l)e.
faum, use, need, Ir. f<4dkm, pi. feldkmeanna, need, use, duty, need-
service of a vassal, E. Ir. feidm, effort, "^vedes-j/ien-, " need-
service ;" root ved, as in feadhainn. Hence feumannach, a
steward : "a servitor."
feun, a waggon, wain, 0. Ir. fen, W. cyivain, vehere, '^veguo-, root
vegh, carry ; Lat. veho, vehiculum, vehicle ; Gr. o;)(05, chariot ;
Eng. waggon, ivain ; Skr. vahati, carry.
feur, liar, grass, Iv. feur, 0. Iv.fer, W. gwair, Cor. gwyr, "^vegro-,
I.E. root veg, increase, be strong ; Lat. vegeo, quicken,
vigor, vigour, Eng. vegetation ; Ag. S. ivacan, nasci, Eng.
ivaken. Strachan and Stokes refer it to the root veg, ug, be
wet, moist, Lat. uvidus, moist, Eng. lumiour, Gr. vypos, wet,
Norse vokr, moist ; but judged by the Latin, the Celtic should
be vebro-, which would not give AV. givair.
feursa, a canker, feursann, a worm in tlie hide of cattle :
feusag, fiasag, a beard, Ir. feusdg, feasdg, E. Ir. fesdc, beard, fe.^,
hair, *vanso, 0. Pruss., wauso, first beard, Ch. SI. vasu
beard.
feusd, feusda, (feisd, feis), a feast, Ir. feis, feusda, E. Ir. feiss ;
from Lat. festia, Eng. feast.
172 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
feusgan, fiasgan, a mussel :
fhuair, found, invenit, Ir. fuair, 0. Ir. fdar, inYeniy frith, inventus
est, *vovora, root ver ; Gr. (vpov, T found, evprjKa (Strachan,
Prellwitz). The root ver is likely that found in Gr. 6pd(o, I
see, Lat. vereor, Eng. ware.
fiabhras, a fever, Ir., M. Ir. fiabhrus ; from Lat. febris.
fiacaill, a tooth, Ir., 0. Ir. fiacail. There is an E. Ir. fee for fee, a
tooth, a stem *veikkd :
fiach, value, worth ; see next.
fiach, fiachan, debt, value, Ir. fiack, 0. Ir. jiach, *veico-, Lat.
vices, change, Ger. ivechsel, exchange, Skr. vishti, changing,
in turn (Osthoff). This is the right derivation.
fiadh, a deer, Ir. faJh, E. Ir. fiad, 0. Ir. fiadach, venatio, W.
givydd, Br. guez, goez, savage, "^veido-s, wild ; O. H. G. weide,
a hunt, Ger. weide, pasturage, Norse vei&r, hunting ; further
is G. fiodh, wood, Eng. wood. Hence fiadhaich, wild.
fiadhaich, invite, welcome (Skye) :
fiadhair, lay or fallow land ; from the above root of fiadh. Cf.
Ger. weide, pasture. Also G. fiadhain, wild, Ir. fiadhdin,
wild, uncultivated.
fial, generous, Ir. fial, E. Ir. fial, modest, W. gwyl. Bez. suggests
'''veiplo-, Teutonic viba-, Ger. weib, Eng. wife. Cf. Ir. fialus,
relationship. The underlying idea is " kindness, relation-
ship."
fiamh, awe, reverence, Ir.flamh, fear, reverence, ugly, horrible,
E. Ir. Jiam, horrible :
fiamh, aspect, appearance, trace, Ir. fiamh, track, trace, chain,
fiamh (O'Cl.) =lorg, E. Ir. fiam, a chain, *veimo-, root vei,
wind, as in feith. Fiamh gh^ire, f^ath ghaire (Arg.), a
slight smile, is in Ir. fdetheadh an ghdire, appearace of a
smile, E. Ir. feth, aspect.
fianaidh, peat cart ; cam-fianaidh (Ross) ; see feun.
Fiann, the Fingalians ; see Feinn. This is the real nom. case.
fiantag, the black heath-berry ; root vein as in the above word.
fianuis, witness, a witness, Ir. Jiadhnuise, fiadhan, a witness, 0. Ir.
fiadnisse, testimony, fiadn, ace. fiadain, testem, *veid6n-, I. E.
root veid, vid, know, see, as in fios, q.v. ; Ag. S. witta, a
witness, Eng, witness, root, wit, know.
flar, crooked, Ir. fiar, E. Ir. fiar, W. gwyr, Br. gear, gwar, *veiro-;
root vei, wind as in f^ith ; Eng. wire, Ag. S. wir, wire.
fiat, fiata, wild ; a participial formation horn fiadh. Also fiadhta,
so Ir.
fiatach, quiet and sly (Skye) :
fiathail, calm ; see fe.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 173
fich, an interjection denoting "nasty !" Eng. fie^ Norse /)/, Ger.
pfui. Also Dial, fuich, fuidh, which leans on Norse fiii,
rottenness (" Cha bhi fuidh ach far am bi f^ile ").
fichead, twenty, Ir. fiche, ar fhichid, 0. Ir. fiche, g. fichet, W.
ugeint^ ugain, Cor. ugens, ugans, Br. ugent, "^mkns, *vikntos ;
Lat, viginti ; Gr. clkoo-l ; Zend vi^aiti.
fideadh, a suggestion (H.S.D.) : "^vid-dho-, root vid, wit.
fideag, a small pipe, reed, flute, Ir. fidedg ; for root, see fead.
Shaw also gives the meaning " small worm." M'L. has
fideag^.
fidean, a green islet or spit uncovered at high tide, web of sea-
clam (Isles) ; from the N. Jit, webbed foot of waterfowl,
meadow land on the banks of firths or rivers, fitja, to web,
Eng.j^^.
f idhleir, a fiddler ; from fiodhull. Ir. fidileir is Eng. jiddler
directly borrowed. Hence G. fidleireachd, restlessness ;
" fiddling " about.
fidir, know, consider, 1y. fidir, knows, 0. \y. fetar, acio, Jitir, novit,
*mddefor, "^vid-dho- (the -dho- as in creid, Windisch) ; root
vid, see, as in flos. Thurneysen explains it as ^videsar
(aorist stem vides-) becoming vid-skar, but d-sk does not
produce t or d without an n before it.
fige, figis, a fig, Ir. fige ; from Lat. ficus, Eng. Jig.
figh, weave, Ir. Jig him, E. Ir.Jigim, 0. W. gueig, testrix, W. given,
to weave. Cor. guiat, tela, Br. gwea, M. Br. gweajf, *vegid\
Ger. wickein, roll, wind, curl, wieche, wick, Eng. wick, Ag. S.
wecca (Stokes). Usually referred to the root vei, vi, wind.
file, filidh, a poet, Ir. Jile, g. Jilidh, 0. Ir. Jili, g. Jiled, "^velet-,
" seer" ; W. gwelet, to see, Br. guelet, sight, '''velo. Cf. Norse
vdlva, prophetess, sibyl. Old Germanic Veleda, a prophetess
(Tacitus).
fill, fold, Ir. Jillim, fold, return, 0. Ir. Jillim, flecto, *velv6 ; Lat.
volvo, roll, volumen, Eng. volume ; Gr. eiAt^w, envelop ; Got.
af-valvjan, roll away, Eng. wallow. Cf. W. olwyn, a wheel
(Stokes). Windisch (Curt. Et.) suggests vald as root, allied
to Norse velta, roll, Got. valtjan, Eng. welter, Ger. walze, roll,
waltz. See especially till.
fillein, a coUop : a " roll " ; from Jill.
fine, a tribe, kindred, Ir., 0. Ir., Jine, 0. Br. coguenou, indigena,
*venjd, kinship ; Norse vinr, a friend, Ag. S. ivine, 0. H. G.
wmi (do.) ; I. E. root ven, love, Lat. Venus, veneror, Eng.
venerate, Skr. van, love
f inealta, fine, elegant, Ir. finealta \ cf. M. Ir. fin- in Finscothach,
fair-flowered, Fin-shnechta, bright-snow, root sven ; Gr, rjvoxp,
bright (Stokes for M. Ir.).
174 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
finiche, jet (M'D., M'A.), finichd, black as jet (M'E.) :
finid, end ; from Lat. jinit, the colophon of so many tales when
written.
finideach, wise, so Ir. (Lh., Sh., H.S.D., which gives C. S. as
authority) :
finne, a maiden (Arm., M'A., M'M) : "fairness, beauty"; from
fionn (^vindid).
linnean, a buzzard :
tfioch, wrath, Iy. fboch, E. Lr. fich, feud, 1. K. *veiqo-, fight ; Got.
veikmi, strive, 0. H. G. vngan, fight ; Lat. vinco. Hence
fiochdha, angry.
fiodh, wood, so Ir., 0. li\ fid, W. guid, gwydd, gwydde,n (sing.),
Corn, gulden, Br. giuezenii, tree, gwez, trees, Gaul, vidu-, "^vidu-;
Eng. ivoo'l, Ag. S. ivudiL, 0. H. G. witu. Hence ffiodhcheall,
chess play, E. \y. fidchell, Yf . gwyddbivyU,, "wood-sense," from
fiodli and ciall. Also fiodha{2^, wild fig, fiodhan, cheese-vat.
fiodhradh, an impetuous rush forward (Heb ) :
fiodhull, a fiddle, E. Ir. fidil, from Low Lat. vitula, whence Fr.
viola, Eng. viol, violin. Cf. Eng. fiddle, from Med. Lat.
fidula, Lat. fidis.
fioghuir, a figure, Ir. fiogliair, M. Ir. figur ; from Lat. ftgura.
fiolagan, a field-mouse (Arran) :
fiolan, fiolar, an earwig, nesscock, W. chivil, beetle, chwiler,
maggot, Br. clioml ; Gr. (TiXcf^y), cockroach, Eng, sylph.
Cf. feallayi.
fiomhalach, a giant (Sh.) ; ivoui fiavih.
fion, wine, Ir. fion, 0. Ir. fin, W., Cor., Br. gwin ; from Lat.
vinum.
fionag, a mite, insect, a miser, Ir, fiwog, a mite in cheese, etc. :
fionn, white, Ir. fi/mn, 0. Ir. find, W. gwyn. Corn, guyn, Br.
gwenn, Gaul, vindo-, "^'vindo-, a nasalised form of root vid, veid,
see, as in fios. Cf. Servian vidny, clear.
fionn-, to, a'4'ainst, Ir. fionn-, ionn-, 0. Ir. ind- ; see ionn-.
fionna, fionnadh, hair, pile, Ir. fionnadh, E. Ir. finda, Undfad, 0.
Ir. fimKte, pilorum, ^vei^-nid, root fe-s, clothe, Lat. vestis, Eng.
vestment. Stokes has compared it to Lat. villus, hair, which
he takes from "^vin-lus, but which is usually referred to the
root vel of vellus, lana, etc. The -fad of E Ir. is for *vida,
aspect, W. guedd, root vid, see.
fioanachd, refreshment : "coolness," "^ionii- fhuaclid \ ci. fi.onnar.
fionnan-feoir, grasshopper, Ir. finyiin feoir (O'R.) :
fionnairidh, a watching: *i7id-faire ; ■^qq fionn-, to, iuidfaire.
fionnar, cool, Ir. fioimfkuar, M. Ir. indfhuar ; irom fionn- and/wa7'.
fionnas-garraidh, parsley (M'L.) :
OF THE gaei.k; i.AX(;uAnE. 175
fionndairneach, rank grass, downy beard (H.S.D.) :
tfionndruinne, (white) bronze, K. Ir. fi,n<Iruirie^ white bronze :
*fi7yd{b)ruine (Hend.) F'ng. hronie.
fionnogha, grandson's grandson, \v. fionrnm ; h<.m\ Jionn-, ad-, and
ogka.
fionns^eul, a romance, Tr. finnsgeul ; from jionn- and &geul \ ande-
aqetlon.
fior, trne, Ir. fior, 0 Ir. ftr, W. givir, 0. W. guir, Br, gvnr, "^vero-;
Lat. vervs ; Gei'. wahr. Root ver^ vor, var, see, as in Eng.
hev^are, 2rard. Before the noun the word is fir. Hence
f irean, righteous man, 0. Ir. firian, W. gwirioii, "^veridno-s.
fios, knowledge, Ir. Jio.% 0. Ir. Jiss, ^^id-tu-, root vid, veid, know ;
Lat. video, see ; Gr. etSov, ISdv, saw, oTSa, know, Got.
vitan, watch, Eng wit ; Skr. vid, know, vetti, to know. Hence
fiosrach, knowing.
fir-chlis, the northern lights ; see fear and clis.
fir-chneatain, backgammon men :
fire faire, interjection — " what a pother ;" from the Sc. iiery-fary^
bustle.
fireach, hill ground, mountain : cf. fearann, root "^ver.
firead, a ferret, Ir. firead ; from the Eng.
fireun, an eagle, Ir. fir-en : " true-bird ;" from fior and eun. So
in E. Ir. fir-iasc is the salmon. So in Reay Country (Rob.^.
firionn, male, so Ir. ; E. Ir. firend ; from fear.
fise false, interjection — noise of things breaking, talking secretly,
fitheach, a raven, Ir., 0. Ir. fiach ; this is a dissylable, "^vivo-ko-;
the phonetics being those of biadh. Stokes gives "^veijako-s
or ^veivako-s. It is still distantly allied to Ger. weihe.
fithreach, dulse, so Ir. (Lh., O'B., etc.) :
fiu, worthy, Ir. fid, 0. Ir. Uu, W. giviw, Cor. guiu, 0. Br. uuiu,
Gaul, vesu-, *vesu-, vesu-, good ; Skr. vdsu, good ; root ves, be,
Eng. 7vas. Some give ^visu {^visu-) as the stem, Gr. io-os,
like ( = visvo-s), Skr. vishu, eeque. Hence fiuhhaidh, a prince,
valiant chief, Ir. Uubhas, dignity ; also fiughanta, generous,
It. flughantach, fiuntach (Keat.), worthy,
fiug'hair, expectation, E. Ir. fiugrad, praedicere ; from Lat. figtira.
Ir. hsiii fioghair, figure, fashion, sign,
fiuran, a sapling, Ir.fiurdn (Sh., O'R., Fol.) :
fiuihaidh (fiubhaidh), an arrow ; see iuihaidh.
flaiche, a sudden gust of wind (Sh., O'R ) :
flaitheanas, heaven, glory, flaitheas, sovereignty, Ir. jiaith-
eamhrtus, 0. Ir. flaithemnas, gloria ; from ffxiithem, lord, g.
flaitheman ; see flath.
tflann, red, blood-red, so Ir., E, Ir, fiand, blood, red; vi-ando-^
root, vol of f nil, q.v.
167 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
flasg, a flask, W. fflasg ; from the Eng.
flath, a chief, prince, Ir. flaitK 0. Ir. flaith^ chief, dominion,
fiaithem{an), chief {*vlatimon-), W, givlad, region, M. W.
riulatic, rex, Corn, gulat, patria, Br. gloat, reahii, Gaul, vlatos,
*vlafo-s, *vlati-s, root vala, via, be strong ; Lat. valere, Eng.
valid ; Got. valdan, Ger. walten, rule, Eng. weild, Walter ;
Ch. SI. vlada, rule, Russ. vladiete, rule, 0. Pruss. waldnika-,
king. Also *valo-s as the final element of certain personal
names — Domhnall, "^ Dumno-valo-a (see doynhan), Conall,
* Kuno-valo-s {*kuno-s, high, root ku, as in curaidh, <\.\.,
Teutonic Hun-, Humbold, Humphrey, Hunwald, etc.), Cathal,
*Katu-valo-s (see cath), etc,
fleachdail, flowing in ringlets (H.S.D., from MSS.); from Lat.
plecto, plait.
fleadh, a feast, Ir. fleadh, 0. Ir. fled, W. gwledd, 0. W. guled,
pompae, *vldd, root vel, wish ; Gr. ctAaTrtvt;, feast, eXSofxai,
wish, eXTTts, hope ; Lat. voluptas ; Eng. zW//, i^^"//,
fleadhadh, brandishing ; Eng. wield; ^ee flath.
fleasg, a rod, wreath, Ir. fleasg, garland, wand, sheaf, 0. Ir. flesc,
rod, linea, *vleska, from ^vledska, root vld ; Ger. z^'a/t/, wood,
Eng. wold ; Gr. aAcrog, grove ; Ch. SI. vladi, hair. From the
Celtic comes the Fr. fleche, arrow, whence Kng. Fletcher,
arrow-maker. See fleisdear.
fleasgach, young man, bachelor, so Ir., M. Ir. fle><gach : " wand-
bearer." From fleasg, above. The Ir. fleasgaigh ealadhna,
itinerant medicine men, carried fleasgan to denote their pro-
fession.
fleasgairt, a barge or boat hung with festoons ; from fleasg.
fleisdear, arrow-maker ; from Sc. fledgear, M. Eng. flecchere, now
fletcher, from 0. Fr. flechier. See fleasg further.
fleodradh, floating (Heb), fleodruinn, a buoy; from ^orsefljdta,
to float, Eng. float.
fleogan, an untidy, flabby person, a flat fish (Arms.), fleoidhte,
flaccid (Sh.) :
fliodh, chickweed, a wen, Ir. ffiodh, fligh, chickweed, W. gwlydd,
chickweed, soft stems of plants, *vldu-. Same root as in fleasg.
fliuch, wet, Ir., 0. Ir., fliuch, W. gwlyh, 0. W. gulip, Corn, ylibor,
humor, Br. gloeb, wet, *vlqii-s, wet ; Lat. liquidus ( = vliquidus) ;
Lit. wa'lks, wet, wa'lka, swampy place. See failc.
fl6, hallucination (H.S.D. for N.H.) :
flod, a state of floating ; from Eng. float, Norse ffoti, a raft.
fiodach, lukewarm ; see plodadh.
flilr, pltir, flower, Ir. plur, M. Ir. pldr ; from the M. Eng. flour,
0. Fr. flour, Lat. florem, G. fltir is from the Scotch,
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 177
fo, vinder, Ir., 0. Ir. /o, W. go-^ 0. W. guo-, Cor. go-, Cor., Bret.
gou-, Ganl. vo- : "^vo, for '^u{p)o ; I. E. upo ; Gr, vtto, ; Lat.
s-ub ; Got. ?(/■ ; Skr. upa, hither,
fo, brink (Carni.) :
foijhannan (fothannan), a thistle, Ir. fdbhthdn. fothanndn, E. Ir.
omthann, *omo-tanno-, "raw or rough twig'"? See am/i and
caorrunn. Dial, fonntan (Arran).
focal, word ; see facal.
fochaid, scoffing, Ir. fochmhuid, fochiddbheadh, M. Ir. fochmaid,
E. Ir. fochuitbiud, ^fo-con-tib-, root teb, smile, 0. Ir. tibiu,
laugh ; Lit. stebius, be astonished.
fochair, presence, am fochar, coram, Ir., M. Iv. fochair : ^fo-char,
car being cor, put.
fochann, young corn in the blade, Ir. fochan, M. Ir. fochon ;
"^vo-kuno^ Root kun, ku, increase, Gaul, cuno-, high, etc.
See curaidh.
fdd, a peat, turf, Ir. fod, 0. Ir. fot : "^vonto- 1
fodar, fodder, Ir. fodar ; from the Eng. fodder.
fogair, expel, banish, Ir. fogair, command, proclaim, 0. Ir.
f6cairir)i (do.), focre, monitio : *fo-od-gar- ; root gar of goir.
ffogh, quiet, careless (Stew.) :
foghail, a hostile incursion, Ir. foghait, E. Ir. fogal ; *fo-gal : root
gal, valour, war. See gal.
foghail, fog^hail, noise, bustle, merriment ; for first sense, see
foghair, for second, see othail.
foghainteach, valorous, Ir. foghainteach, good, fit, serviceable,
Joghaint, ability : " capable" ; from foghainn, suffice. See
fbghnadk. Ir. foghaintidhe, a servant.
foghair, a sound, tone, so Ir., 0. Ir. fogur, sonus : "^fo-gar- ; root
gar of goir. Strachan makes the root part fog, and refers it
to fuaim, q.v.
fog'har, harvest, Ir. foghmhar, M. Ir. fogamur, autumn, E. Ir.
fogamur, fogomur, last month of autumn : "^fo-gawMr, the
gamur being from the root of geamhradh, winter, q.v. The
idea is " sub hiemem." Cf. W. cynauaf, harvest, 0. W.
kynnhaeaf from cyn, before, and gauaf, winter,
foghlum, learning, Ir. foghluim, 0. Ir. foglaim, vb. fogliunn :
"^vo-glendo, "^glendo, make clear ; Eng. glance, Ger. glanz,
splendour ; Ch. SI. gl§dati, show.
fdghnadh, sufficiency, service, \x. foghnamh, 0. It. fognam, service ;
from fo and griioinh, deed.
foichein, a wrapper, infant's clout :
foichlean, a sprout, young corn (Arm.), faichean (Arg.), Ir.
foichnin ; see fochann.
21
178
ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY.
f6id, a peat ; see fod.
foidheach, a beggar ; see faoighe.
foidhearach, naked (H.S.D., Dial.) :
foidhidinn, patience, Ir. foighid^ 0. Ir. foditiu, toleratio {"^vo-dam-
tin-), vb. fodamim, patior, root da7n ; Lat. domo, I tame,
subdue ; Gr. Safxaoi (do.) ; Eng. tame ; Skr. ddmyatl, tame.
foighnich, ask ; see faighnich. Also, more Dialectic, foinich.
foil, macerate, broil ; see fail. Hence foileag, a cake suddenly
and imperfectly toasted.
foil, pig-stye ; see fail.
foil, slow, stately, foill, composure, Ir. foil^ foill, softly ! a while,
M. Ir. CO foill, slowly, for a while, E. Ir. co foill, slowly :
foileadh, slow development :
foill, treachery, 0. Ir. foile, astutia. G. is for *volni-, Ir.
for '^'volid, both side-forms to feall, treachery, q.v.
foillsich, reveal, 0. Ir. foillsigim, * svolnestiJcio ; see follus.
foinich, ask ; see faighnich.
foinne, a wart, Ir. faine, faithne, W., Cor. gwennn, blister, Br.
gwennhaenn, a wart ; Eng. wen, Ag. S. wenn (Ern.).
foinneamh, foinnidh, handsome, genteel ; cf. next word, also Lat.
vinnulus, delightful, root ven, as in G. fine, etc.
foinnich, temper, Ir. foinnim, temper, knead, foinnighte, tempered,
kneaded. Cf. above word.
foir-, prefix meaning " super," same as for- : &ee far, air{b).
foir, help, Ir. foir (vb. and n.), E. Ir. foriuth, I help, 0. Ir. don-
f6ir, to help us : "^vo-ret- ; root ret of riiith, run. For force,
cf. furtachd. The W. givared, release, Br. goret, are of like
elements. Similarly foirbheart (an Ir. word really), assist-
ance, is irova foir- and beir.
foirbhillidh, acceptable (M'D.) ; from /or and bail, good %
foirceadal, foircheadal, instruction, catechism, Ir. foircheadal,
0. Ir. forcital, doctrina, vb. forchun, doceo : ^for-can- ; root
can, say, sing. See can.
foireann, foirionn, a band, crew, Ir, fuirionn, E. Ir. fairenn, 0. Ir.
foirinn, 0. W. guerin, W. giverin, people, M. Br. gueryn,
*vorend, ^vorlnni-, multitude, root ver, enclose ; Ag. S. vorn,
multitudo, caterva ; Lit. word, long row in Indian file ; Skr.
vrd, troop, company See fearann.
foirfe, perfect, Ir. foirfe, complete, old, 0 Ir. foirhthe, perfectus,
forbe, perfectio, vb. forbanar, perficitur, forfenar, consum-
matus : "^for-ben- ; root ben, ba, go (Lat. venio, Gr. ^atvw,
€p7]v, etc.), practically a verb "to be" (Stokes JSfeo-Celtic
Verb Subst.).
fdirin, assistance, E. Ir. inf. dat., foirithin ; see foir,
foirinn, border land (Cam.) :
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 179
foirm, noise ; side form of toirm 1
fdirmeil, brisk, lively (Sh., etc.) : from Eng. /brma/ (Rob.).
foirmeilich, formalists.
fdirne, a band, dwellers, Ir. foirne (O'B.) ; an oblique form of
foireann, g. foirne.
foirneadh, intruding ; see teirinn, tearnadh.
foirneis, a furnace ; see fiiirneis.
foirneata, conspicuously brave ; see niati.
fois, rest, Ir. fois, 0. Ir. foss, residence, remaining, rest, W. ar-os ;
^vosso- ; root ves, be, rest ; Gr. aa-rv, city (^vastu) ; Skr. vdstu,
place ; Lat. Vesta ; Eng. was, Ger. wesen, be. Got. visa,
remain. So all etymologists till Windiscli (1892) suggested
the root std, that is ^vo-sto-. Stokes still holds by old (1903).
Hence foisdin, taciturnity, Ir. foisdine.
foisteadh, wages, hire, Ir. foisticiJdm, I hire ; M. Ir. foss, servant,
W. givas (Eng. vassal); from the same root as/o2's. Also
fasdadh.
folach, covering, hiding ; see falach.
folach, rank grass growing on dunghills ; "^vog-lo-, root, vog, veg
of feur.
folachd, a feud, bloodiness ; see fuil.
folachdain, water-parsnip (H.S.D. quotes only O'B ), h\ folachiain :
follas, publicity, follaiseach, public, Ir. fo/lus, public, manifest,
0. Ir. foilus, clear, shining, manifest, ^'svolnestu-s ; see solus.
fonn, land, Ir. fonn, E. Ir. fond ; from Lat fundus, which, again,
is connected with G. bonn, q.v.
fonn, a tune, Ir. fonn, tune, desire, delight, M. Ir. adbonn, a
strain ; "^svonno-, root sven, sound, Lat. sonus, Eng. sound.
See seinn.
fonnsair, a trooper (M'A.) :
for-, super-, Ir., 0. Ir. for- ; prep, for, for which see far, air (/>).
forach, forch, projection into the sea (Carm.) :
forail, command, Ir. fordilim. See ear ail for formation and root,
forair, watch, Ir. foraire ; from for and aire.
forasda, sedate, so Ir. ; aee farasda, in the sense of " staid."
forbhas, ambush (Sh., H.S.D. , which quotes Lh. and C.S.), Ir.
forbkas, E. Ir. forbas, siege :
fore, a fork, Ir. /ore, E. Ir. fore {=gobul); for Lat. furca, Eng.
fork.
fore,' push (especially if legs are forked), pitch with a fork ; from
fore, fork,
forf hais, foras, information, inqviiry, Ir. fo7as, E. Ir. foras, fonts,
true knowledge : *forfiss, from fiss or fios, knowledge, q.v.
Foras feasa, " Basis of knowledge."
forgan, keenness, anger ; from a side-form forg (f'vorg) of fearg ?
180 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
forlach, a furlough ; from the Eng.
forluinn, spite, hatred (H.S.D.), Ir., M. \\\ forlonn ; from /or and
lonn^ fierce.
forman, a mould, Ir formdn ; from Lat. forma.
forradh, gam (H.S.D.), excrescence, shift (M'E.) ; from /or and
rath ? See rath.
forsair, a forester ; from the English.
fortail, strong, hardy, (an Ir. word clearly), Ir. foirteamhail^
fortail, brave, stout, E. Ir. fortail, predominant, strong ; from
Lat. fortis.
fortan, fortune, Ir. fortun ; from Lat. fortuna.
fortas, litter, refuse of cattle's food, orts ; from the Eng. oris.
Lh. has an Ir. fortas, straw.
fos, yet, still, Ir. fos, M. Ir. fos, heos, 0. Ir. hens, beius. Stokes
makes it a comparative in s form heo-, allied to Lat. bed,
gladden, be-xiQ, well,
fosg, fosgag, the lark (Carm.) :
fosgail, open, so Ir., E. Ir. oslaicim : *f-od-as-leig ; Gaelic root
leic or leig, let. See leig and cf. tuasgail.
fosg'arach, open, frank :
fosglan, porch (Carm.) :
fosradh, pounded bark (or anything) to stop leaks ; cf. Ir. fosradh,
scattering, from ^vaster-, root ster, strew.
fosradh, hand feeding of cattle (Heb.) :
fothach, the glanders in horses, Ir. fothach, fdthach :
f6tus, a flaw, refuse (M'A. says "rotten pus," and gives fot, rotten
earth) : from Sc. faut, as in fabhd.
frabhas, refuse, small potatoes (Arg.) :
frachd, freight ; from Sc. fraught, Eng. freight.
fradharc, vision, sight, Ir. rddharc, E. Ir. 9 odarc : *ro-darc ; root
derk, see, as in dearc, q.v.
fraigein, a brisk, warlike fellow ; nee frogan.
fraigh, wattled partition, E. Ir. fraig : "^vragi-, root verg ; Skr.
vraja, hurdle ; Gr. elpyo), shut in.
fraileach, sea-weed (Sh., O'R.) :
frang-alus, tansy ; lus na Fraing" (Cameron), the French herb ;
from Fining, France. Ir. lus na bhfhrancach ; M. Ir. frangcan,
tansy (St.).
fraoch, heather, Iv. fraoch, 0. \v. froech, W. grug, Cor. grig, M. Br.
groegon, "^vroiko- ; Gr. kpeUr^. Hence G. fraoch, wrath, Ir.
fraoch, E. Ir. fraech, furor,
fraochan, toe-bit of shoe ; '' heather-protector," from fraoch ?
fraoidhnidh, flourishing :
fraoidhneis, froinis, a fringe ; from the Eng.
fraoileadh, a flustering by liquor ; Dial, sraoileadh :
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE.' 181
fraon, a place of shelter in the mountains (Sh., O'R.), fraoinihh
(D. Ban.) :
fras, a shower, Ir. fras, E. Ir. frass, "^vrastd ; Gr. e'/oa-?;, dew ; Skr.
vamham, rain,
freag'air, answer, Iy. freagairirn, E. Iv.frecraim: * frith-gar-^ root
gar of goir.
freasdal, serving, attending, Ir. freasdail, 0. Ir. frestal, fresdel :
"^fris-do-el- ; for root see fritheil. Dr Cameron referred it to
fris and tal, which see in tuarastal.
freiceadan, a guard, watch : ^frith-coi7nhead-a?L ; from coimhead,
guard, look, q.v.
freiteach, a vow, interdictory resolution, E. Ir. freteck, fristoing,
repudiation, renunciation, 0, Tr. frisiossam, renuntiaverimus ;
root tong, tog, swear, Lat. tongeo, think, Eng. think. Stokes
gives the final root as tag, take, Lat. tangere. Ir. tong,
swear, is allied to W. tyngu.
freoine, fury, rage :
freothainn, bent-grass (Arg.) :
freumh, friamh, a root, Ir. freamh, E. Ir. /rem, W. givraidd,
gwreiddyn, Cor. grueiten, Br. grisienn, "^vrd-md, ^vrdjo-,
*vrdnu- : Lat radix, root ; Gr. pl^a ; Got. vaurts, Eng. ivort,
root.
fride, a tetter, ring-worm, M. Ir. frigde, flesh-worm, E. Ir. frigit,
W. givraint, M. Br. grwch, "^vrgntid, root verg ; Eng. tvriggle.
frideam, support, attention :
frighig", fry ; from the Eng. frying.
friochd, a second dram, a nip :
friochdan, a frying pan, Ir. friochtdn ; cf. Ir. f'riochtaiaini, I fry.
From fry of the Eng.
frioghan, friodhan, a bristle, pig's bristle ; M. Ir. frighan i.
guairecli muc ; root vrg as in fraigh % Cf . W. givrych, hedge,
bristles, "^vrg-ko-. Hence frioghail, sharp, keen.
frionas, fretfulness : "^friogKn-as, " bristliness ;" from frioghan.
friotach, fretful (Stew.) ; ^qq frith, sour look,
ffrith, an incantation to discover if far-away persons live (Heb.),
fate (Sh., O'R.) ; from the Norse frett, enquiry of the gods
about the future, Sc. fret, fteit.
frith, frioth, small, trifling (Sh. O'R.), which M'A. says antecedes
the noun, is the prep, frith or ri.
frith, a sour or angry look (A. M'D.), frithearachd, peevishness,
Ir. frithir, peevish : *vrti- ; root of 7'i " against" ^
frith, a forest, deer forest, Ir. frith, wild, mountainous place, W.
ffridd, forest ; from M. Eng. fri&, deer park, Ag. S. fri&.
frith-, fre-, freas-, prefix = prep, ri by force and derivation ;
which see.
182 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
fritheil, attend, Ir. friotholaim (Con. friothdlaim), E. Ir. frithailim,
root -al- (Ascoli), go ; root al, el, eln of tadhal, q.v.
frithir, earnest, eager (Stew.), Ir. frithir, earnest, peevish ; cf.
frith, sour look.
frog, a hole, fen, den, rog (Suth.) :
frogan, liveliness, a slight degree of drunkenness :
froighnighe, a dampness oozing through the wall ; from fraigh
and snighe.
froineadh, a sudden tugging, rushing at (M'D.) :
froinis, a fringe ; see fraoidhneis.
fromhaidh, hoarse, rough :
fruan, acclivity (Carm.) :
fuachd, cold, so Ir., 0. Ir. uacht, ocht, *aukto-; Lettic auksts,
cold (adj.), Lit. duszti, cold, be cold.
fuadaich, drive away, Ir. fuadaighim, drive away, snatch away,
E. Ir. fuataigm : *fo-od-tech (? ) ; see teich. Hence fuadan,
wandering.
fuadarach, hasty, in a hurry (Stew., Arm. and H.S.D.), Jr. fuadar,
haste ; from fuad- of fuadaich 1 Cf . Sc. f outre, activity.
fuagarthach, exiled ; see fbgair.
fuaidne, loose pins of warping stakes. Cf. 0. Ir. fuat.
fuaigh, stitch, fuaig'heal, sewing, so Ir., E. Ir. fuagaim, uagaim,
0. Ir. uaimm (n.) : '^ oug-s-men- ; root poug, pug, stitch,
stick; Ijnt. pungo, Eng. pzmc^. Zimmer (in 1882), referred
it to the root of high, the idea being " integrate," from
6g, uag, " integer." 0. Ir. oigthidi, sartores.
fuaim, noise, so Ir., E. Ir. f uaimm (pi. fuamand). Neither
^vog-s-m.en (Strachan ; root vog of Skr. vagnu, sound, Got.
vopjan, cry, Eng. whoop) nor *voc-s-men (Stokes ; root voq,
voice, Lat. voco) can give ua, only 6 or a.
fualthne, loom posts (Uist), Ir. uaithne, pillar, post, E. Ir. uatne,
a post (bed post). So Henderson ; fiiidne (Wh.) :
fual, urine, so Ir., 0. Ir. fual : *voglo- or *voblo- ; root vog, veg, ug,
be wet, ; Gr. vypos, wet, Eng. hygrometer ; Lat. humidus, uveo,
(for ugveo), be moist, Eng. humour ; Norse vokva, moisture.
fuar, cold, Ir. fuar, E. Ir. uar, W. oer, Cor. oir : *ogro-, root ug^
aug oi fuachd, q.v. Stokes refers it to the root veg, ug, dis-
cussed under fual^ especially Gr. vypos, wet ; a root which
would rather be vob in Celtic (cf. Lat.), and this would not
give W. oer. Strachan suggests either Ch. SI. ogni, fire (Lat.
ignis) or Gr. Trayos, frost (root pctg, fix, fit). Hence fuaradh,
windward side, fuaran, a well, fuarraidh, damp, fuarralanach
(Ir. fuardlach, chill), cold feeling, etc. ; fuar bhalla, an out-
side wall ; fuar-shlat, the rough strong hoop used to bend in
staves at the ends of casks (Wh.).
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 183
fuasgail, loose, untie, so Ir., E. \r . fuaslaicim \ see tuasgail.
fuath, hatred, so Ir., M. Ir. fuath ; cf. E. Ir. uath, awe, terror,
terrible, and see uath for root,
fuath, a spectre, so Ir., 0. Ir. fuath, figura, forma :
fucadh, fulling cloth, M. G. owlcH (D. of L.), Ir. ncaire, fuller ; cf.
pile.
fudag, a shoe-strap (H.S.D. says Dial.) :
fudaidh, mean, vile ; from Sc. footy, fouty.
fudar, powder, Ir. pudar ; from the Eng.
fudraic, smart, in good condition :
fuidh ! an interjection. Seejich.
fuidheall, remainder, Ir. fuigheall, 0. Ir. ftddell, W. gweddili ;
also G. fuidh leach, remains, E. Ir. fuidlech : ^voddo-, dU
allied to Eng. deal, dole, Ger. teil (St. with query).
fuidir, a fool (Carm.) :
fuidreadh, commixing, pulverising; iYom fudar. Dial, fudradh,
turning hay in the sunshine to dry it.
fuidsidh, craven ; from Sc. fugie, one who flies from the fight.
fuigheag, a thrum, Ir. fughog ; from a short vowel form of root
of fuaigh.
full, blood, Ir., 0. Ir. fuil, gen. fola, folo : "^voli-, root vol, vel,
well ; Eng. ivell. Stokes agrees
fuilear, cha 'n fhuilear dhomh, I need, must ; for furail, 0. Ir.
fordil, excessive injunction, infliction, same root as ear ail.
fuilig, fulling, fulaing", suffer (thou), Ir. fulangaim, E. Ir.
fulangim, 0. Ir. fuloing, sustinet, mi. fulang : "under-go",
from fo and ^long, going, root lenq, spring, go, as in leuni.,
q.v. Further allied is Ger. verlangen, desire, Eng. long, Lat.
loiigus.
fuin, bake, Ir. fuinim, I knead, bake, boil, E. Ir. fuinim, bake,
cook. Zimmer takes the word to mean "to fire, bake," from
the Norse funi, flame, fire, E. Ir. oc-fune = Norse vi^ funa,
a-roasting ; but unlikely. Possibly "^voni-, " dress," root ven,
von, Lat. Venus, Eng. venerate.
fuirbidh, a strong man, also fuirbearnach ; compounds of bi and
beir, with/o?*, super.
fuirearadh, a parching of corn ; see eararadh.
fuirich, stay, Ir. fuirighirti, E. Ir. fuirigim, noun fuirech, 0. Ir.
fuirset (s future) : "^vo-reg \ root reg, stretch, go ; Lat. porrigo,
rego. See rack.
fuirm, stools, a form, Ir. fitirm, W. ffiirf ; from Eng. form.
fuirneis, foirneis, a furnace, Ir. fumeis ; from the Eng.
fuithein, fuifein, a galling, taking off the skin by riding (M'D.) :
fo-bian 1
fulaing (vb.), fulang (n.) ; seefuUig.
184 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
fulaisg, rock ; from fo + luaisg, q.v.
fulbh, gloom (Arg.) ; see suilbh.
fulmair, a species of petrel, fulmar ; from Sc, Eng, fulmar.
fulpanachd, articulation, jointing (Sh., O'R., H.S D.) ; cf. alp.
funntainn, benumbment by cold ; see punntuinn. Sc. fundy.
furadh, parching corn (Carm.), also fur ar ad h. See fuireajxidh.
furail, incitement, command, Ir. furdil, E. Ir. urdil, furdil, 0. Ir.
irdil ; the same as earail, q.v,
furan, a welcome, Ir. fur-dn, foran (Connaught) ; root ver, as in
E. Ir. feraim fdilti, I welcome. The root means in E. Ir.
" give rain" (see fearthuinn). The root of fhuair seems
mixed with that ol fearthuinn. 't^ee fearthuinn.
furas, patience : "^f-air-asta, asta (standing, staying) being for
ad-sta-, ad and sta, stand.
furasda (furas), easy, easier, Ir. furas, furasda, E. Ir. urusa:
"^'"air-usa, from nsa, easier, q.v.
furbaidh, wrath (Sh., O'R.), furban (H.S.D., from MSS.) ; see
fuirbid/i.
furbhailt, furailt, courtesy, kindly reception; also furmailt.
For the latter Armstrong gives " ceremony" as force, which
may be from Eng. formality. The words, otherwise, seem
from f>r-fdilte.
furm, a stool ; see fuirm.
furlaich, hate, detest (Arms.), revolt against (Rob.) :
furtachd, relief, help, so Ir., 0. Ir. fortacht (gen. in -a,n) : *for-
tiacht ; for Gaelic root tiagh, tigh, see tighinn.
fusgan, a heather brush ; cf. Sc. whisker, a bunch of feathers for
sweeping, Eng. whisk.
futhar, the dog-days ; from Sc. /v^re-days.
G
gab, a tattling mouth ; from Sc. gab (do.), M. Eng. gahhen, to
chatter, mock, Norse gahh, mockery, 0. Fris. gahbia, accuse.
g'abairt, a transport vessel (Heb.) ; from Sc. gabert, a lighter,
from Fr. gabarre, storeship, lighter.
gabh, take, Ir. gahhairn, 0. Ir. gabaim, gaib, capit, inf. gabdil, W.
gafa.el, prehensio (Eng. gavelkindi), Cor. gavel : "^^'gabo, capio,
do, *gabagli ; Got. giban, give, Ger. geben, Eng. give ; Lit.
gabenti, bring.
gabhadh, danger, peril, Ir. gdbha{dh), E. Ir. gdba, gdbud : cf. E.
Ir. gdd, danger, Gr. x^C^? I'etire, xi^^'^-> want, X^P'-'^^ hsit. he-res.
gabhagan, a titlark (Sh., O'R., H.S.D.) :
gabhal, fork ; see best G, form in gobhal.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 185
gabhann, flattery (Kirk, etc. ; O'R.), gossip (Perth); from gabh :
" take in" 1
gabhar, goat ; see best G. form in gohhar.
gabhd, a crafty trick ; from Sc. gaud, a trick. Cf. M. E. gaude,
specious trick (Chaucer), from Lat. gaudium, Eng. gaud.
gabhlan, a wandering, a man devoid of care (H.S.D., which makes
it Dial. ; M'E.) :
gach, each, every, Ir. gach, 0. Ir. each, cech, omnis, quivis, W.
poh. 0. W., Cor. pop^ Br. pep, pob : "^qo-qa, '^qe-qa, root qo, qe^
of interrogative co ; Lat. quisque ; Skr. kag-ca ; etc.
gad, a withe, switch, Ir. gad, E. Ir. gat : "^gazdo- ; Got. gazds,
goad, 0. H G. gart, sting, rod, Norse, gaddr, sting, Eng.
1/ard ; Lat. hasta, spear (from ghaz-dhd 1)
g^d, gat, an iron bar ; from Sc. gad, a bar of metal, Eng. gad,
wedge of steel, M. Eng. gad, spike, bar, Norse, gaddr, as
under gad.
gadaiche, thief, Ir. gaduigh, E. Ir. gataige ; see gold.
gadair, tie the fore feet of a horse, etc. (H.S.D., Dial) ; from gad,
gadhar, gaothar, lurcher dog, Ir. gadhar, mastiff, hunting dog,
M. Ir. gadar, mastiff, E. Ir. gagar ; from Norse gagarr, dog
(K. Meyer) '? The Norse has gagg, the fox's cry, gagl, a
wild-goose ; this seems to prove that the Norse has a root
gag, howl, and is likely the original source of gagar.
gadluinne, a slender, feeble fellow, a salmon after spawning (Sh.) :
gadmunn, hair insect, nit (H.S.D., M'A.) :
gadraisg, tumult, confusion (H.S.D., Dial.) ;
gafann, henbane (Sh., O'B., H.S.D.), Ir. gafann. Cor. gahen-.
gag, a cleft, chink, Ir. gag : ^gdggd, gds-g, I. E. root ghdg, further
gho, gha ; Eng. gap, gape ; Gr. x^^^^^y yawn, x^^^* abyss, Eng.
chaos ; Lat. fauces, throat. Cf. W. gag. Skeat takes hence
Eng. jag.
gagach, stuttering (Sh., O'R.), Br. gak ; an onomatopoetic word.
Cf. Eng. gag, which Skeat queries if from G.
gagan, a cluster :
gaibhteach, a person in want, craver ; from gabh.
gailbheach, stormy, prodigious, E. Ir. gailbech, blustering ; cf.
Eng. gale, of Scandinavian origin, Dan. gal, furious, Norse
galinn (do.). Also gailbhinn, a storm at sea, a storm of
snow,
gailbhinn, a great rough hill (Sh., " gailebhein," H.S.D.) :
gaile, excitement (M'D.) :
gaill, surly look, etc, ; see goill,
22
186
ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
gailleach, gailleach, the gum, a swelling of the gum (in cattle),
seam of shoe uppers, or junction of inner and outer barks of
trees, Jr. gailleach (O'B.) :
gailleag, a blow on the cheek, Ir. gailleog ; from gaill. Cf.
sgailleag.
gaillionn, a storm ; cf Norwegian galen, wind-storm, Norse galinn,
furious, Eng. gale.
gaillseach, an earwig, so Ir. :
gaillseach, a mouth overcharged so that the cheeks swell out, a
mouthful of flesh. See goill.
gaineamh, sand, so Jr., E. Ir. ganem ; root gd of Gr yaia, earth 1
Stokes gives the stem as gasnimd, root ghas, Lat harena^
sand. But gasn- should give G. gann. Also gainmheach,
E. Ir ganmech,
gainisff, gainisgeag, sedge, a small divinity in marshes and
sedges by water, moaning for deaths to come (Carm.) :
^ainne, a dart, arrow (Sh., O'B., H.S.D., M'E), gainne, arrow-
head (Arg.), Ir. gainne : gasnid ; root gas of gad, q.v.
gainntir, a prison, Ir. gaintir (Fol.) :
gair, near ; see gar.
gair, call, crow ; see goir.
gair, a shout, outcry, Ir., E. \v.gdir, W. gawr, clamor : ^gdri-; Gr.
yrjpvs (Dor. yapv^), voice ; root gar, ger, as in goir, q.v.
g^ir, laugh, g^ire, a laugh, Ir. gdirim, gdire, E. Ir. gdire (n.) :
from root gar, as in the foregoing word. Stokes gives the
stem as "^gdsrid, and cfs. Skr. hasrd, laughing, has, laugh.
gairbh, a greedy stomach, deer's paunch :
gairbheil, gaireal, freestone, gravel, Ir. gairbheal, pron. grahheal ;
from Eng. gravel.
gairbhtheann, a species of wild grass (H.S.D.) :
g^irdeachas, rejoicing, Ir. gdirdeachas, M. Ir. gdirdechad, delight-
ing ; from gdir, laugh. K. Meyer regards this as from older
* gartiugud, shortening or whiling time, from goirid, E. Ir.
urgartiugud, while time, amuse ; with a leaning on gdir,
laugh. Cf. W. difyru, amuse, divert, from byr, short.
gairdean, gaoirdean, an arm ; from Sc. gardy, arm, gardis, yards,
same as yard.
gairgean, garlic ; from Eng, garlic and G. garg, bitter, by popular
etymology.
gairgein, stale wine, Ir. gairgin, dung ; from garg.
gaireas, ^oireas, convenience ; see goireas.
gairisinn, disgust, Ir. gairseamhuil, obscene, wanton :
gairm, a call, office, Ir. gairm, pi. garmanna, 0. Ir. gairm, W., Br.
garm, a shout : *garsmen- ; root gar of goir, q.v.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 187
gairneal, a meal chest, Ir. gaimeal, a meal magazine, garner ;
from So. garnelL, girneU, Eng. garntr, from 0. Fr. gernier,
from Lat. granarium, granary.
gairneilear, a gardener ; from the English.
gais, a torrent (H.S.D. and Ir.), surfeit ; from Eng. gush ?
gals, wisdom, lance, plenty (Carm ) :
gais, shrivel up ; from gas^ twig % For sense, cf. crannadh.
gaisde, a trap (Sh., O'B,, H.S.D.), Ir. gaisde, 0. I. goiste, noose ;
from gaoisd, horse hair "?
gaisde, a wisp of straw (H.S.D.) ; cf. gaoisd.
gaise, a daunting (M'A.) ; cf. gais, shrivel.
gaisge, valour, Ir. gaisge, bravery, E Ir. gaisced, gasced, bravery,
feats of arms, armour, weapons ; the idea seems to be *' feats"
and the root the same as in gasda, q.v.
gal, weeping, Ir. gul, E. Ir. gol, I. E. gel, pain ; Ger. qual, pain,
qudlen, torment ; Lit gelti, to smart. Cf. galar.
tgal, valour, war, E. Ir. gal, 0. Br. gal, puissance, '''gald, W. gallu,
posse, Br. galloet (do.), Cor. gallon, might : *galno- ; Lit.
galiu, I can, Ch. SI. golemu, great. Hence the national name
Galatae, Galatian, also Gallus, a Gaul (but see Gall).
galad, good girl, brave girl, fem. for laochan, used in encouraging-
address : a ghalad. Root is gal {*galnat), brave.
galan, a gallon, Ir. galun ; from the Eng.
galar, a disease, Ir , 0. Ir. galar, W. galar, grief, Br. glar, glachar
(do.) ; *galro-n. Bez. suggests as allied Norse qalli, flaw,
Umbr. holtu, Ch. SI. zulu, bad, sore. But cf. gal, weep.
gale, thicken cloth, fulling ; from the Eng. walk, ivaidk.
Gall, a Lowlander, stranger, Ir. Gall, a stranger. Englishman,
E. Ir. gall, foreigner ; from Gallus, a Gaul, the Gauls being
the first strangers to visit or be visited by the Irish in Pre-
Roman and Roman times (Zimmer). For derivation see gal,
valour. Stokes takes a different view ; lie gives as basis for
gall, stranger, *gallo-s, W. gal, enemy, foe : ^ghaslo- ? root
glias, Lat hos-tis, Eng. guest. Hence he derives Gallus, a
Gaul, so named from some Celtic dialect.
galla, a bitch ; cf. W. gast, a bitch. G. is possibly for ^gas-lid.
Pott has adduced Spanish galgo, greyhound, which, however,
is founded on Canis Gallicus. See gasradh for root.
gallan, a branch, a youth (fig.) : *gas-lo-, root gas of gas, q.v.
Cf. W. gelin, a shoot.
galluran, wood angelica, so. Ir. : gal +jiii'^an.
galuban, a band put upon the dugs of mares to prevent the foal
sucking (H.S.D., Dial.) :
gamag, a stride, Ir. gdmus, proud gait or carriage : "^gang-mo- (\) ;
Sc. gang, Ger. gang, gait. Cf. gbmag.
188 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY.
gamhainn, a year-old calf, a stirk, Ir. gamhuin, a calf, E. Tr.
gamuin, pi. g. gamiia, year-old calf ; from gam, winter :
"winter-old." For root, ^qq geamhradh. Confirmed by the
proverb : " Oidhche Shamhna, theirear gamhnaris nalaoigh"
— On Hallowe'en the calves are called stirks. Similarly and
from the same root are Norse gymhr, a year-old ewe lamb, Sc.
gimmer, G-r. xLiiapo<^, a yearling goat (Dor.). Hence
gamhnach, farrow cow.
gamhlas, malice, gannlas, ganndas (Dial.) ; from gann ?
ganail, rail, fold (Sh., O'B., H.S.D.), Ir. ganail : cf. gunwale.
gangaid, deceit (Sh., O'B., etc.), bustle, light-headed creature
(Sh.), Ir., M. Ir., gangaid, deceit, falsehood :
gann, scarce, Ir. gann, 0. Ir. gann, gand : "^gando-s ; Skr.
gandhdyate, hurt ; Lit. gendu, be injured (Stokes).
ganradh, a gander, Ir. gaytdal ; from the Eng.
ganraich, roaring noise as of billows or birds :
gaog, a lump as in yarn or cloth ; cf. goigean.
gaoid, a blemish, [r. gaoid, a stain ; cf. E. Ir. gdet, a wound :
"^gaizdo- ; Lit. zaizda, a wound.
gaoir, a noise, a cry of pain or alarm, sensation or thrill of pain
(Perth.) ; from gair, shout?
gaoisd, gaoisid, horse hair, M. Ir. goisideach, crinitus, 0. Ir. goiste,
suspendium, laqueus : *gaissinti-, ^gait-tinti ; Gr. x^^'^^)
mane, flowing hair.
gaoistean, a crafty fellow (H.S.D. from MSS.), Ir. gaistin \ cf.
gaisde, a trap.
gaoithean, a fop, empty-headed fellow ; from gaoth, wind.
gaol, love, Ir. gaol, kin, family, E. Ir. gdel, relationship : *gaUo- ;
Lit. ga.iliis, compassionate ; Got. gailjan, gladden, Ger. ge.il,
wanton ; Gr. (filXos, friendly. Stokes and Strachan agree.
gaorr, fseces, ordure in the intestines, gore, Ir. garr ; probably
from Eng. gore, Ag S. gov, dirt. Hence gaorr an, big belly,
a glutton. In Arg. pronounced with Northern ao sound ; in
North, pronounced with ao broad as in Arg. Consider skar
in sham (Sc.) ; cf. caoirnean or gaoirnean.
gaorsach, a bawd, slut : " dirty wench ;" from gaorr and the
female termination -sach 'I Cf. siursach.
gaort, giort, a saddle girth ; from the Eng.
gaoth, wind, so Ir., E. Ir. gaeth, goeth, 0. Ir. gdith : ^gaito-, from
root gai, I. E. ghai, ghei, ghi, drive, storm, as in G. geamh-
radh, q.v. Eng. ghost (I. E. ghoizdo-s) is allied. Stokes
refers it to the root of gath solely, which is ghai as above.
gar, warm, Ir. goraim, 0. Ir. gorim, Br. gov, burning, W. gwres,
heat : *gor6, I warm ; Gr. Oepos, summer heat, depi^os, warm,
Eng. tliermo-meter ; Lat. furnus, oven, furnace j Ch. SI.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 189
goreti, burn; further Eng. warm (L E. '^gh^'^ormo-, Teut.
gwarm.
gar, gair, gaire, near proximity, Ir. gar, near (adj. and adv.),
M. Ir. gar, shortly, W. ger, gar. near. See goirid for root,
gar, although (Dial.) : "^ga-ro. For ga, see ge ; ro is the verbal
particle.
garadh, garradh, a garden, Ir. gardhadh, M. Ir. garrda ; from the
Norse gar^r, a yard, M. Eng. gard, garjj, Eng. yard, garden.
garadh, garaidh, a den, copse, garan, thicket, Ir. gardn, under-
wood, thicket, garrdn, grove, root gar, bristle, be rough, I. E.
gher, stand stiff, tear, scratch ; Gr. x^P^i> ^ stake, x^P^^P^^^
ravine ; Lat. hir-sutus, hirsute, her, hedge-hog, furca, a fork ;
Lit. zeriii, scrape, etc. See garb/i.
garbh, rough, so Ir., 0. Ir. garb, W. garw, Br. garu, hard, cruel :
''"garvn- ; I. E. gher, scratchy, rough, tearing ; Gr. xhP-> hedge-
hog, Lat. her (do.), hirsutus, hirsute, Skr. hdrshati, be stiff.
See garadh farther. Some join it with Lat. gravis, but as
this is allied to Gr. (6apv<;, heavy, the G. would rather be
barbh. Lat. horreo ?
garbhag, sprat, garvie (Dial ) ; from the Sc. garvie. In Arran,
garbhanach is the sea-bream, but this is from G. garbh.
garbhan, the gills of a fish (N. H.). See giitran.
garcan, a hen's complaint ; onomatopoetic. See grdchdan.
garg, fierce, angry, bitter, Ir. garg, 0. Ir. garg, gargg : *gorgo-s ;
Gr. yop-^o'i, rough, frightsome. There is an obsolete M. Ir.
gearg, ^gergo-s.
garlach, a screaming infant, little villian, vagabond, Ir. garlach ;
from gar, cry, with the termination -lach (see bglach).
garluch, a mole (Sh., O'B., H.S.D.), Ir. garlach : "^gar-luch ; luch
and gar (*?).
garmainn, garman, a weaver's beam, Ir., E. Ir. garmain, 0. Ir.
gen. garTime, W. carfan ; from the root of cuir, put ? *ger,
*gher, spear?
garrach, a glutton, gorbelly, dirty creature, Ir. garrfhiach, a
glutton (O'B.) ; allied to Eng. gorbelly, gore, by borrowing (1).
garradh, a garden ; better spelling than garadh, q.v.
garrag, a young crow ; cf. Eng. gorcroiv, root gor of Eng. gore, as
in garrach.
garrag, a sudden yell, Ir. gartha, clamour, roaring ; from gar of
goir.
gart, surly aspect, gloom ; cf, goirt, sore, sour.
gart, standing corn, Ir. gort, cornfield, 0. Ir. gort, seges ; Gr.
XopTos, fodder. See goirtean further,
gartan, a garter ; from the Eng.
190 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
^as, twig, a stalk, Ir. gas : *gastd ; Lat. hasta (see gad). Bez.
queries if not from "^gahsd, Lit. zagarai, brushwood.
gjisaid, fray (Dial.) :
gasda, excellent, Ir. gasda, clever, ingenious, E. Ir. gasta (do.) :
"^gassavo-s, ^gas-tavo, root gad (gads) ; Gr. dyadds, Eng. goody
Lat. habilis ?
gasg, a tail : ^gad-sko- ; Zend zadhanh, podex, Gr. xH^) cacare.
gasgag, a step, stride : *gad-sko-, root gad, go, M. Ir. gaid, goes ;
Eng. gait, Ger. gasse, way.
gasradh, salacity in female dogs, W. gast, a bitch ; root gas, gat-s,
M. Br. gadales, meretrix, Fr. goiiine, 0. Ir. goithimm, futuo.
gasraidh, rabble, mercenary soldiers, Ir. gasradh, band of domestic
troops, " youths," from gas, military servant ; borrowed from
the W. gwas, whence Eng. vassal. See fasdadh.
gat, an iron bar ; see gad.
gath, a dart, sting, Ir. (jath, E. Ir. gai, gae, Gaul, gaiso-n ; Norse
geirr, spear, Ag. S. gar, Eng. ^ar-lic ; Gr. x^^^% shepherd's
crook ; Skr. heshas, missile.
ge, whoever, ge b' 6, whatever, whoever, Ir. gibe, E. Ir. ce be ; for
ge, see co, the interrogative pronoun ; be is the subj. of bl.
ge, though, Ir. gidh, 0. Ir. ce, ci, cia ; same root as above. See
also ged.
geacach, sententious, pert ; from Sc. geek, to sport, to deride, Ger.
gecken, hoax.
gead, a spot of arable land, a garden bed, a spot in a horse's fore-
head, Ir. qead :
gead, a lock of hair (H.S.D.) ; also " to clip " :
geadas, a pike, Ir. geadus ; from Norse gedda, Sc. ged, allied to
Eng. goad.
g^adh, a goose, Ir. geadh, E. Ir. ged, W. gwydd, 0. Cor. guit, auca,
Cor. goydh, goose, Br. goaz, gwaz : *gegdo-, root geg, cry like a
goose ; Norse g^gl, wild goose, M. H. G. gage, gige, cry like
a goose, gigze, produce inarticulate sound ; Lit. gagonas,
goose-like, Servian gagula, a water-fowl, Russ. gagara, silver-
diver (Stokes). It cannot be referred to the roots of Eng.
goose and gander (glians-, ghandro-).
geadhail, a ploughed field, park (Arg., M'A.) ; hence earghalt,
arable land : same root as gead, viz., ged, hold, Eng. get.
geal, a leech, E. Ir. gel, W. gel. Cor. ghel, Br. gelaonen ; Gr.
fSSeXXa, /^Aerves, leeches (Hes.) : Skr. jaluka, blood-leech ;
' I. E. root gel, devour, Lat. gula, throat, Eng. gidlet, etc.
geal, white, Ir. geal, E. Ir. gel : "^gelo-, I. E. root ghel, clear, shine,
glow ; Lit. geltas, pale-yellow ; Eng. gleam, glow ; Gr. xkiia,
be warm, x^^''^^ unmixed wine ; etc. Stokes connects it with
Lit. zila-s, grey ; the usual derivation joins it with Lat.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 191
helvus, light bay, Eng. yellow, Lit. zelti, grow green, Ch. SI.
zelenu, green. Hence gealach, the moon, so Ir. ; gealan, a
linnet.
gealbhan, a fire, little fire : "^gelvo-, I. E. ghel, glow ; Eng. glow,
glea'tn ; Gr. -)(\.'nsi, be warm. See geal.
g'ealbhonn, a sparrow, so Ir., M. Ir. gelhund, W. golf an, Cor., Br.
golvan ; from geal, white. Cf. Gr. x^Xi^i^v, swallow, Norse
gal (do.).
geall, a pledge, Ir. geall, 0. Ir. gell, pignus : ^gis-lo-, root gis, geisy
of giall, hostage, q.v. Stokes derives it thus : ^geldo-s,
^geldo-n, now ^gelno-n, gislo-n-, Got. gild, tribute, Ger. geld,
money, Eng. yield, guild ; Gr. 6<f>e\kii), owe, reA^o? (Hes.),
debt,
^eall, desire, longing, Ir. geall : in the G. phrase, an geall air,
Keating's i ngeall, in need of ; from geall above.
gealtach, cowardly, Ir. gealtach, fearful ; see geilt.
geamhradh, winter, Ir. geimhreadh, E. Ir. aemred, 0. Ir. gaimred,
0. W. gaem, W. gauaf. Cor. goyf, Br. goam, M. Br. gouaff :
"^gimo- (for Gadelic), *gaiamo-, "^gaimo- (for Brittonic, Stokes) ;
1. E. ghim, gheim, ghiem ; Skr. himd, cold, Zend zima, winter ;
Ch. SI. zima ; Gr. xeifxMv ; Lat. hiems. The 0. Ir. gam, for
gem, has its vowel influenced by the analogy of samh of
samhradh (Thur.). Thur. now suggests Celt. *giamo ; cf.
Gaul. Giamillus.
geamhta, geamhd, anything short and thick, Ir. geamhddg, a little
cake of bread (O'R.) ; for root, cf. geimheal. Cf. Ir. giohhta,
giota, a piece.
geamnaidh, chaste, Ir. geanmnuidh, E. Ir. geninnaid, 0. Ir. genas,
castitas ; from the root gen, birth, Eng. genteel, gentle. See
gin.
gean, mood, humour, good humour, Ir. gean, favour, approval,
affection ; cf. Lat. geniui>, ingenium, root gen, Eng. kin, kind.
E. Ir. gen, laugh, may be compared to Gr. yavos, joy (Bez.) ;
Stokes suggests "^gesno-, Skr. has, laugh.
geangach, crooked, thick and short ; see gingein.
geanm-chnd, chesnut, Ir. geanrnc knit : " chastity tree ;" a mistaken
translation of Lat. castanea, chesnut, as if from castus, chaste,
geannair, a hammer, wedge, Ir. geannaire ; see geinne.
gearan, a complaint, Ir. geardn, M. Ir. gerdn, root ger, cry ;
0. H. G., queran, sigh, chara, weep, Ag. S. cearu, sorrow, Eng.
care ; further allied ,is root gar, sound, as in goir. Cf. W.
gerain, cry, squeak, and Gr. Svpofiac, lament.
gearasdan, a garrison, Ir. gairision ; from the Eng.
gearnal, girnell ; see gairneal.
192 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
ge^rr, short, cut (vb.), Ir. gedrr, gedrraim, E. Ir. gerr^ gerraim :
^gerso-s. Stokes cfs. Gr. \ep€.L<j}v, x^t/owv, worse, Skr. hrasva^
short. Cf. M. Eng. garsen, gash, 0. Fr. garser.
ge^rr, a hare, Ir. geirrfhiadh : " short deer ; " from gea,rr and
fiadh, the latter word being omitted in G.
gearrach, diarrhoea, bloody flux :
gearraidh, the pasture-land between the shore-land and the moor-
land (Heb.) ; from N. ger^i, fenced field, garth. Shet.
G air die.
gearran, a gelding, Ir., M. Ir. gearrdn ; from gedrr, cut.
Gearran, the 4 weeks dating from 15th March onwards (H.S.D.).
This forms a part of the animal nomenclature given to the
several periods of Spring-time : first the Faoilleach, explained
as " Wolf-month " ; then the Feadag, or Plover, a week's
length ; then the Gearran, or Gelding, variously estimated
as to length and time ; then came the Cailleach, or Old
Woman, a week's time ; then perhaps the three days of the
Oisgean, or ewes. See Nich. pp. 412-414.
geas, spell, taboo, charm, Ir., E. Ir. geis, taboo, gessim (vb.) :
"^ gesso, '*'ged-to, root ged of guidhe, q.v.
geata, gate, so Ir., M. Ir. geta ; from Ag. S. geat, Eng. gate.
ged, although : "^ge-ta ; same as ciod.
geil, a bubble, well (Carm.) ; also boil :
g^ill, yield, submit, Ir, geillim, E. Ir, giallainij 0. Ir. geillfit,
dedentur ; from giall, hostage.
geilt, terror, fear, Ir. geilt, a distracted person, wild, M. Ir.
geltacht, flying, E. Ir. geilt, mad by fear ; Norse ver^a at
gjalti, to turn mad with terror (borrowed from Celtic, Stokes,
Thurneysen ; borrowed into Celtic, Zimmer). Stokes refers
it to a root ghel, fly, suggested by Gr. x^AtSwv, a swallow.
geimheal, a fetter, chain, Ir. geimhiol, E. Ir. geimel, gemel :
*gemelo-, root gem, fasten ; Gr. ykvTo, grasped [^yk^-ro),
ydfxos, marriage ; Lat. gemini, twins ; Ch. SI. zima, com
primere.
geimhleag, g^imhleag (Wh.), a crow-bar, lever ; from Sc. gate-
lock, a spear, javelin, Ag. S. gafeloc, spear, possibly from an
early form of W. gajiach, a dart, the root being that in
gohhal, fork.
geinn, a wedge, so Ir., E. Ir, geind, W. gaing, Br. genn, 0. Br. gen,
M. Br. guenn : *genni-, root gen, as in Lettic dfenis, the wood
wedged into the fork of the ploughshare, dfenulis, sting,
Ch. SI. z§lo (do.). N. gand, gann, a peg, stick, Lat. offendo,
^fendo, Eng. offend (Stokes and Liden). Cf. Ir. ding.
geintleach, a heathen, Ir. geinteach, M. Ir. genntlige (adj.), gennti^
gentiles ; from the Lat. gens (gentis), gentilis.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 193
geir, tallow, Ir., E. Ir. geir, W. gwer, gired, grease. Cf. Gr. xP^'^j
anoint, Scr. gharsati (do.), *ghrsj6.
geis, gestation, gestators ; milk (Carm.) :
g^isg", creaking noise ; see giosgan.
ge6b, a wrv mouth ; from the Eng. gape, Ag. S. geapian.
ge6c, geoic, a wry neck ; formed on Eng. cock ? Cf. Sc. gekk^
grimace.
geocaire, a glutton, Ir. geocaire, a glutton, stroller, parasite, M. Ir.
geocack, mimus ; formed on Lat. jocosus (Stokes).
geodh, geodha, a creek : from the Norse gjd, a chasm, whence
N. Scotch geo.
gedla, ship's boat, yawl ; from the Scandinavian — Mod. Norse
jula, Swedish juUe, Dan. joUe, Sc. yolle, Eng. yawl, jolly-hosit.
geolach, a wooden bier, the shoulder-bands of the dead ; for root,
see giiilan ?
geopraich, a torrent of idle talk ; cf. gebh above,
geolan, a fan, geulran (Sh.), Ir. gedilrean ; from the root of
giulan ?
gedtan, a spot of arable ground (H.S.D.), a driblet or trifling sum
(M'A.) :
geuban, giaban, the craw or crop of a bird ; see gebb.
geug, a branch, [r. gnig, geag, E. Ir. gee : *gukd, kukd, W. cainc,
2/sgainc ; Skr. cankii, twig, stake ; Ch. SI. sakil, surculus.
geum, a low, Ir. gei77i, a lowing, roar, E. Ir. geim, shout, gessim, I
low : ^gengmen- ; Lit. zvengiu, neigh ; Ch. SI. zvega, sound.
Cf. Eng. squeak. Cf. Ch. SI. gangnati, murmur,
geur, giar, sharp, Ir. geu?; 0. Ir. ger :
gheibh, will get, Ir. gheibhim ; root-accented form oi faigh, q.v.
giaban, gizzard ; see geuban.
giall, a jaw or cheek, jowl, Ir., M. Ir. giall, faucibus ; the G. form
ciobhall seems borrowed from Ag. S. ceafl, Eng. jowl ; perhaps
all are from the Eng.
t giall, a hostage, pledge, Ir. giall, 0. Ir. giall, W. gwystl, hostage,
Cor. guistel, obses, Br. goestl, Gaul. Co-gestlos, *geislo-,
"^geistlo- ; 0. H. G. gisal, Ger. geisel, Norse gisl, Ag. S. gisel.
giamb, giomh, a fault, blemish :
gibeach. hairy, gibeag, a rag, bundle, Ir. giobach, giobog, and
giob, tail, rag, 0. Ir. gibbne, cirrus :
gibeach, neat ; for sgibeach 1 See sgiobalt.
gibein, a piece of flesh (M'E.) ; from gib of giblion.
giblean, April :
giblion, entrails of a goose, gibean (St Kilda), grease from the
solan goose's stomach :
gibneach, cuttle-fish: *gebbi-; Ger. quappe, turbot"?
23
194 ETYMO]X)GTCAT> DICTIONARY
gidheadh, nevertheless, Ir. gidheadh : for an older cid-hed
" though it (is) " ; Lat. quid id. See co and ead/i.
gigean, geigean, master at death revels (Carm.) :
gigean, a diminutive man, little mass ; native form of ceig, q.v.
gighis, a masquerade, so Ir. ; from Sc. gpis, a mask, gi/sar, a
^ harlequin, one that disguises himself at New Year, gps, to
disguise, M. Eng. gisen, dress, prepare, from 0. Fr. {de)gviser
Eng. &h-guise.
gilb, a chisel : "^glbi- ; cf. Gr. yXd(j>(D, carve. But cf. W. gylyf,
sickle, 0 Cor. gilh, foratorium, allied to (1. guilbneach, q.v.
gille, lad, servant, Ir. giolla, E. Ir. gilla ; cf. Eng. child, Ag. S.
cild. Zimmer thinks it is borrowed from the Norse gildi%
stout, brawny, of full worth, Eng. guild, Ag. S. gild, payment
(see gealt), gilda, fellow, used in the names of Norsemen
converted to Christianity instead of inaol, slave. Gille-fo-
luinn, sea-grass (Wh.).
gilm, a buzzard :
gilmean, a fop, flatterer ; see giolam,
gimleid, a gimlet, Ir. gimlead ; from the English.
gin, beget, Ir. gcimm, M, Ir. genar, w^as born, 0. Ir. cid-gainemmar,
renascimur, gein, birth, W. geni, nasci, Br. ganet, born,
*gen6, nascor ; Lat. gigtio, genui, begat ; Gr. ycyvofiaL,
become, y€vo<s, race; Eng. kin ; Skr. j ana, race, stock, jdndtni,
beget. Hence gin, anyone.
gineal, offspring, W. genill ; Ir. ginealach, a generation, G.
ginealach, M. Ir. genelach, genealogy, from Lat. genealogia,
root gen as in gin.
gingein, a cask, barrel, thick set person (not H.S.D.) :
giobag, gibeag, fringe, rag, Ir. giobog. See gibeach.
gioball, vesture, cast clothes, Ir. global ; see gibeach.
gioball, a chap, odd fellow ; a bad fellow (Perth) ; a metaphoric
use of gioball above.
giodaman, a perky fellow :
giodar, dung, ordure (H.S.D. for C.S.), Ir. giodar (do.), geada.n,
buttock : "^geddo-, root ghed, cacare ; Gr. xK'^^ cacare, xoSavo?,
the breech ; Skr. had, cacare, Zd. zadhanh, podex.
giodhran, a barnacle (bird), Ir. giodhrdn, 0. Ir. giugrann, W.
gwyrain : '^gegurannd ; root geg as in geadh, q.v. Fick has
compared Lat. gingrum, goose. Also giuran. In Is. of
Arran, giuraing, a shell fish that bores holes in wreckage.
giog, cringe ; also " peep" (M'A.) :
giOgan, a thistle (Sh., O'R. giogim) :
giolam, gileim, tattle, Ir. giolmhaim, solicit :
tgiolc, reed, Ir. giolcach, E. Ir. gilco-cJi :
OF THE (iAICLiC LANGUAGE. 195
giolc, stoop, aim at (M'A.) :
giolcair, a tlippaut fellow :
giolcam-daobhram, animalcule (H.S.D.) :
giomach, a lobster, Ir. giomach, gliomach (?), W. ceiinwach :
giomaiiach, a hunter; from the ICng game,
g^ionach, greed, M. Ir. ginach, craving ; from tgin, mouth, 0. Ir.
gin, W. gen, gena, mentum, Cor. genau, os, Br. guen, cheek :
^genu- ; Gr. yew?, chin ; Lat gena, cheek ; Eng. chin.
giorag, panic, apprehension, noise, Ir. giorac, noise {gtorac, Con.) :
g^iort, a girth, Ir. giorta •; from the Eng.
g'iOSgan, creaking, gnashing, Ir. giosgdn ; also Ir. dkjscdu.
giseag", a fret or bit of superstition, a charm ; see gea.'<.
gith, a shower, series (H.S.D.) ; cf. E. Ir. git/i, way of motion,
Skr. hi, set in motion, impel, hiti, impelling,
githeilis, running to and fro on trifling errands, trifling, E. Ir.
gith, way, motion. See above word.
githir, giY, corn-reapers' wrist pain :
giud, a wile :
giug^as, refuse of fish left on siiore :
giuig", a drooping of the head, languor :
giulan, a carrying : "^gesu-lo-, root qes, carry, Lat. gero, gestmu.
giulla, giullan, a lad, boy, Ir. giolla, servant, footman. From
the same source as gille.
g'iullaich, prepare, manage well ; from giulla, the idea being
" serving ;" cf. Ir. giolla above, and Ir. giollas, service.
giiimsgal, flattery :
giuram, complaining, mournful noise (H.S.D.) ; cf. I. ¥j. gevo-, cry,
as in guth, (\.\.
giuran, gills of a fish, garbhan, : *goher-, root of goh %
giuran, loarnacle goose ; see giodhran.
giuthas, fir, Ir. giumhas, E. Ir. gius : ^gis-usto, root gis ; Ger.
kien, resinous wood, Iden-haum, Scotch fir, Jciefer {kien-fohre),
pine, Ag. S. cew, fir-wood, "^'kiz-n (Schriider). Cf. root gi$ of
gaison, 0. Ir. gae. Ag. S. gyr, abies.
glac, take, seize, Ir., M. Ir. glacahn, glaccad, grasping, E. Ir.
glace, hand, handful : "^glapko- (*?), Eng. clasp. See glas.
glag, noise of anything falling, noise, horse-laugh, Ir. glagaire, a
babbler, glagan, mill clapper : *glag-k<)- ; {h\ yAa^\o (^c^lagjo),
sing, noise ; Eng. clack., M. Eng. clacke, mill clack, Norse
klaka, chatter bird-like ; also Eng. clap. There is a degree
of onomato-poesy about these words Cf. clag.
gl^ib, dirty water, puddle, Ir. gldib ; cf. Idib.
glaim, complaint, howling, Ir. gldiiri, M. Ir. gldimm : "^glag-^-md- ;
Ger. klagcR, weep (Strachan, Stokes).
196
ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY.
glainne, ^laine, a glass, Tr. glome, E. Ir. gloine, glaine, W. glain,
a gem, what is pure ; from glan, clean.
glaiseach, foam (M'A), glais-sheile, water-brash, from obs. giais,
stream, E, Ir. glaiss, same root as glas.
glaisleun, lesser spear-wort (Sh.), Ir. glaishun ; from glas and
leun or lean, a swamp (Cameron).
glaistig, water imp ; from ,7 /a.s, water. SoCarm. M.diUX glashtyn,
kelpie, etc.
gl^m, devour, Ir. gldmaim, devour, gobble, gldmaire, glutton :
^glad-s-mo- ; Ch. SI. gladu, hunger. Sc. glam.
glamair, a smith's vice ; from the Norse klombr, a smith's vice,
Ger. klemmem, pinch, jam.
glamhsa, a snap as by a dog ; for form, compare Ir. glamhsan, a
murmur, which is an aspirated form of glaim, howling. The
G is similarly from gldm, devour, w4th possibly a leaning on
the idea of noise as in glaim. H.S.D. has glamhus, open
chops. Glomhas, open chasm (Wh.).
glan, clean, pure, Ir., 0 Ir. glaii, W. glain, Br. gfnn, Gaul, river
name Glana : ^glano-s, root, gle, gel, gla, shine ; Gr. yA.>/v€a,
shows, yXy]V7], eyeball, yeXdv, shine (Hes.), and yXaivol, bright
ornamentation (Hes.), from root glai, from which Eng. clean
comes (thus : gle, gla : glei, glai).
glang, a ringing noise ; see gliong.
glaodh, a cry, call, Ir. glaodh, M. Ir. gloed, a shout ; cf. 0. Ir.
adglddur, appello, Skr. hrddate, sound, Gr. yAwo-o-a, tongue
(*ykiD9ia 1), Ir. and G. would then be from an 0. Ir. *gldid,
from *glddi-. Hence glaodhar, glaoran, a noise, prating
0. Ir. gloidim, ringo.
glaodh, glue, Ir. glaodh, M. Ir. glded, E. Ir. glded ; "^gloi-do-, from
1. E gloi, glei, be sticky ; Gr. yXotd, yXta, yXivrj, glue : Lat.
gluten ; Ch. SI. glenu, mucus ; Eng. day, Ger. kle.i, slime.
W. glud and M. Br. ghd are from the Lat.
glaodhan, pith of wood ; from glaodh, the idea being " resinous or
gluey stuff."
glaomar, a foolish person (Dial.) : " noisy one ;" from glaodh.
glaoran, blossom of wood-sorrel: "^gloiro-, "bright," root glei of
glei.
glas, a lock, Ir., 0. Ir. glas : '^glapsd ; Eng. clasp.
glas, grey, Ir. glas, green, pale, E. Ir. glass, W., 0. W., Br. glas,
green : ^^^Zas^o-, green ; Ger. glast, sheen (Bez.), root glas, to
which Ger. glass, Eng. glass, are probably allied.
gl^, very, Ir. gl^, very, pure, 0. Ir. gle, bright, W. gloew, bright,
0. W. gloiif, liquidum : ^gleivo-, I. E. ghlei-, shine ; Eng.
gleam, glimmer, Ger. glimmen ; Gr. x^'^^^ x\iap6<i, warm
(Kluge). Bez. refers it to the root of Eng. clean (see glan).
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 197
gleac, a wrestle, fight, Ir., E. Ir. gleic : *glekki-, *uleg-ko-^ I. E.
gLeyho, wager ; Ag. S. 'pLtyeu, Eiig. pledge^ play ; Skr. glah,
play at dice, cast in wappenshaw.
gleadh, an onset, deed (H.S.D.) ; cf. Ir. gleo, g. gliadk^ tumult,
E. Ir. gliad, battle :
gleadh, tricks (Sh., O'B. gleddh, H.S.D.) ; Ir gleadh (O'R.) ; for
gleagh, gleg, root of gleac ?
gleadhraich, gleadhair, noise, rattling, clang of arms, Ir. gleagh-
rach, shout, noise ; cf. Norse gleMr, Christmas games, gletJr,
merriment, Eng. glad. Ir. gliadrach, loquacious. If E. Ir.
glechrach means "noisy," the stem is glegar, which also
appears {^Mart. Gorman, edited by Stokes).
gleann, a glen, so Ir., E. Ir. glenn, glend, W. glan, brink, shore,
M. Br. glenn, country, Br. glann, river bank : "^glennos (a
neuter s-stem). Stokes compares M. H. G. klinnen, Swiss
Mdnen, to climb, Norse klunna, cling to. Norse gil %
gl^idh, preserve, keep, Ir. gleithim, keep, clear up, cleanse, E. Ir.
gUim, make clear, put in order, lay by. See gle for root,
and also gleus.
gleithir, a gadfly (M'D., Sh., O'K.) : *glegh- ; cf. Sc. cleg, Norse
kleggi, gadfly.
gleb, dazzling haziness about the eyes :
gleog, a drooping, silly look ; cf. sgleogair.
g'le6id, a sloven, Ir. gleoid. See sgleoid.
gleoisg, ^leosg, a vain, silly woman, Ir. gleosg. See next word.
gleoman, a silly, stupid fellow, Ir. gleodkmdn :
gleorann, cresses, wild angelica, Ir. gleorann, wild angelica ; cf
E. Ir. glebir, sheen, M. Ir. gleordha, bright ; root is likely
that of gle {^glivo-ro-).
gleus, order, trim, tune, Ir. gleus, E. Ir. gles ; for root, see gleidh
and gle. Strachan adduces E. Ir. glese, brightness, and takes
it from "^glent-t-, allied to Ger. glanz, splendour, Eng. glance,
Cf. W. glwys, fair, pleasant. Hence gleusda, diligent,
t glib, a lock of hair, Ir. glib : *glh-bi ; cf. Eng. cli}). Hence
Eng. glib.
glib, sleet, glibshleamhuinn, slippery with sleet (Sh., who gives
glib, slippery) ; from Sc. glib, slippery, Eng. glib.
glic, wise, Ir. glic, 0. Ir. glicc : ^glkki-. Stokes compares Gr.
KaAxatvo), ponder, and takes from G. the Sc. gleg.
glidich, move, stir :
glinn, pretty, (Strathspey and Lochbroom Dialects for grinn), Ir.
glinn, bright ; Eng. glint, gleam, glance.
gliog, gliogar, a tinkling, clink, Ir. gliogar ; Eng. click, clack : an
onomatopoetic root.
198 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
gliogram, a staggering ; from gliogar^ the idea being " noise-
making " ? Cf. Ir. (jlingin^ drunkenness. Also G. gliogach,
clumsy, unstable.
gliomach, slovenly, long-limbed fellow ; cf. Ir. yliomach, a lobster,
gliong, ringing noise, Ir. glionc (O'R.) ; allied to, or from, the
Eng. clink, Teut. kling.
gliostair, a clyster ; from the Eng.
glitichd, a blubbering, crying :
gloc, the clucking of a hen, noise, loud note ; Eng. dock, cluck,
W. clwc ; Lat. glocire ; etc. Onomatopoetic.
gloc, swallow greedily, glochdan, a wide tliroat ; from the Sc.
glock, gulp, glog, swallow hastily, E. Eng. gluccheii, gulchen,
swallow greedily, Ger. glucken, gidken, klucken.
glochar, a wheezing, difficult respiration, Ir. ylocharnach ; cf. Sc.
glag, glagger, make a noise in the thi'oat as if choking,
glugger, to make a noise in the throat swallowing. Allied to
gloc, etc.
gloc-nid, a morning dram taken in bed ; from gloc and iiead.
glodhar, ravine, chasm (Kintyre) ; in Lewis names N. gljufr.
glog, a soft lump, glogair, a stupid fellow : " unstable one" ; from
glug, gluig.
glog, a sudden, hazy calm, a dozing (M'A.) :
gloic, having hanging cheeks, as in hens :
gloichd, gloidhc, gloibhc (Wh.), a senseless woman, an idiot ; from
the Sc. glaik.
gloin, gloine, glass ; see glain.
gl6ir, glory, Ir., E. Ir. gloir, Br. gloar ; from Lat. gloria, whence,
Eng. glory.
gloir, speech, Ir. glor, E. Ir. glorach. noisy ; same as glbir, glory,
gloirionn, spotted in the face (H S.D.), drab-coloured (M'A.) :
glomadh, glomainn, the gloaming ; from the Eng.
glomhar, a muzzle, an instrument put into a lamb or kid's mouth
to prevent sucking, E. Ir. glomar, bridle ; root, glom, gleiii.
Ger. klemmen, jam, M. H. G. klammer, tenaculum, Lat
glomus, a clew.
glomhas, a rock, cleft, chink :
glong, a slimy substance ; root glen, be slimy, Gr. fikkwa, slime,
snot, 0. H. G. klenan. cleave. See sglongaid.
glonn, a deed of valour, Ir. glonn, E. Ir. glond, a deed : *gl-onno-,
root of gal %
glonn, loathing, qualm, Ir. glonn, E. Ir. glonn, crime : " facinus" ;
extended use of the above word.
glothagach, frog's spawn (Sh., O'li.) :
gluais, move, Ir., E. Ir. gluaisim, 0. Ir. glua^- ; "^gl-eutiso-, from
root gel, Lat. volo-, fly, Gr. /iaAAw ? So Dr Cameron.
OF THE TtAELTC LANGUAGE. 199
glue, socket of the eye :
glug, noise of liquid iu a vessel when moved, Ir. glug (do.), glugal.
clucking of a hen ; Eng. cluck. All are onamatopoetic. See
gloc. Also g-lugach, stammering: "clucking." Cf. Sc.
glugge)\ to make a noise in the throat by swallowing any
liquid.
gluig, addled (of an egg) ; from the above word. Cf. W. clwc,
soft, addled (of an egg).
glumadh, a great mouthful of liquid, glumag, a deep pool ; allied
to glug above.
glumraidh, hungriness, devouring (as sea waves) (Hend.) :
glun, the knee, Ir., 0. Ir. ghm^ W., Br. glin : "^glunoi^. Stokes
compares Albanian gii {guri, givni), knee. Possibly by dis-
similation of the liquids for "^gnunos, from "^gnu, *gneu,
allied to Eng. kriee, Gr. yvv^, on the knee.
glupad, dropsy in throat of cattle and sheep (Carm.) :
glut, voracity, g'lutair, a glutton, W. glioth (do.), Br. glont from
Lat. gbUire, swallow, Eng. glutton ; M. Ir. glota, belly,
gn^ithseich, arable land under crop (M'A.) :
gnamhan, periwinkle (Sh., O'B., H.S.D.), Ir. gnamhan:
gn^th, custom, usual, Ir. gndth, 0. Ir. gndth, solitus, W. gnawd^
custom: ^gndto- ; Lat. {g)n6tus, known; Gr. yvcoros (do.);
Skr. jW.?!a (do.) ; root gno^ gnd, gen, know, Eng. knov), etc.
gn6, nature, kind, Ir. gne, 0. Ir, gne, gen. gnee, pi. gnethi (neuter
s-stem) : '^gneses- ; root gen, beget, Lat. genufi, Gr. yevem?
genesis, yevos, Eng. kind.
gniomh, a deed, Ir. gniomh, 0. Ir. gnim : "^gnemu- ; root gne, do,
from gen, beget, as in gin. Hence d^an, ni, rinn.
gno, gnodh, gruff (Arm.) ; cf. Ir., E. Ir. g7Ld, derision.
gnob, a bunch, tumour : from the Eng. knob.
gnog, a knock ; from Eng. knock.
gnogach, sulky (Sh., O'Pv., etc.), gnoig, a surly frown (H.S.D.) ;
cf. gnu, griiig.
gnoigean, ball of rosin put on horns of vicious cattle (Skye) :
gnoimh, visage, grin (Arm., M'D., M'A.) ; giioimh (Rob.) ; cf.
gnitis.
gnoin, shake and scold a person (MA.) :
gnomh, grunt of a pig (M'A.), for gromh, Ir. grossachd : an
onomatopoetic word, allied to Lat. grunnirc, grunt, Gr. ypv,
" ' • swine's grunt, Eng. grunt, grumph. See gndsd.
gndmhan, groaning (of an animal), grunting ; a long-vowel form
of gnomh ?
gnos, a snout (especially of a pig), Ir. gros, grosmch, having a
large snout : ^grupso- ; Gr. yp^x/y, a grifhn, " hook-nosed,"
ypv7ro<;, bent, Ger. krumm.
200 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
gnosd, g^nosad, gnusd, low noise of a cow, Ir. gnmachd ; *grum-so ;
see (jnomh, grunt, and gnbmhaii. Aran Ir. gnosacht^ grunt
of pig.
gnothach^ business, Ir. gnofhuig (pron. gnathuigh), gnb (pi.
gnothaidhe) : ^'gnavo-, active, Lat. gnavus, active, Eng. /nwtv.
See gniomh and gnatk^ for root.
gnu^ giiOj i^urly, parsimonious, gnugach, surly. See gnb and griiig.
gnuis, the face, countenance, Ir., 0. ir. gnuis, (fern, ^-declension ;
"^gnusti- : root gen, know, Eng. know, etc.
gnuth, a frowning look ; see gnu.
go, a lie, fault, Ir. go, lie, fraud, 0. Ir. go, gdo, gdu, W. gau, Br.
goii, gnou : '^'gavo-. Cf. (Ir. yavtros, crooked, yavcrdSa'i, a liar
(Ernault). Bezzenberger gives several alternatives ; Lit.
pri-gduti, deceive, or Persian ziir, false, or Gr. xa^^i'o?, spongy,
X^os, abyss.
gob, a beak, bill, Ir. gob, bill, mouth, E. Ir. gop-choel, lean-jawed ;
*gobbo, root gobh, gebh ; Gr. yaix^rjXai, ya/x^at, jaws ; Ch.
SI. zabuj tooth, zobati, eat ; Skr. jambhas, a tooth. Stokes
compares it {*gobh-n6-) to Zend zafan, mouth The relation-
ship to Eng. gobbet, gobble, Fr. gobet, 0. Fr. gober, devour, is
not clear. But cf. also Eng. gab, gabble, G. gab.
gobha, gobhainn, a smith, Ir. gobha, g. gobhann, 0. Ir. goba, g.
gobann, 0. W, gob, W. gof, pi. gojion. Cor. gof, Br. go, Gaul.
Gobann- : ^gobdn- ; root gobh, as in Gr. yo/x<^os, a bolt, Eng.
comb (Windisch), for which see gob. L'dt.faberniny, however,
be allied, and the root then be gkob. Gohha-uisge, water
ousel ; also gobha-dubh.
gobhal, a fork, Ir. gabhal, fork, gable, 0. Ir. gabul, W. gaji, Br.
gaol : ^gabalu- ; Eng. gable, Ger. gabel, fork ; Gr. K^^aXy],
head.
gobhar, a goat, Ir. gabhar, 0. Ir. gabor, W, gafr. Corn, gauar, Br.
gabr, gaffr, Gaul, gabro- : "^gabro- ; root gab of gabh, take, as
Lat. caper is allied to capio, take (Loth) '? Stokes gives the
stem as '^gam-ro, root gam of geamhradh, winter, and
gamhuinn, I. E. ghim ; but ^m of ghim could not change to
Gaul, ab in gabro-.
goc, a tap, cock ; from the Eng. cock.
gocaman, an usher, attendant, sentinel, or look-out man ; Martin's
{^Western Isles, p. 10 .5) gockmin, c<)ckinan; from Scandinavian
gok-man, look-out man (Arms. ; Mackinnon says it is Danish).
For root, cf . Ger. gucken, peep. Norse, gauksman \ gauk ma&r,
cuckoo man. Norse gaukr, cuckoo ; Sc. gowk.
g6dach, giddy, coquettish (Sh., etc.) ; cf. gabhd. Godadh nan
ceann, tossing of one's head (Wh.).
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 201
godsag, a titbit :
gog, a nod, tossing of the head, Ir. goc/ ; from Eng. cock, godadh
(Arg.).
gogaid, a giddy female, Ir. gog aide ; from Eng., Fr. coquette.
gOgail, cackling, noise of liqnor issuing from a cask, Ir. gogallach ;
Eng. cackle. The words are onomatopoetic. Also goglais.
gog'an, a wooden milk-pail, also cogan ; from Sc. cogue, cog,
apparently allied to M. Eng. cog, ship, Norse kuggi, a small
ship, Teutonic kuggon-, ship.
goic, a tossing of the head in disdain, a scoff, Ir. goic ; founded on
the Eng. cock, like gog, q.v.
gold, steal, Ir. goidira, E. Ir. gataiin : ^gad-do \ root gad, ghad,
ghed, seize ; Gr. x^^^^^^-) e'xaSov, hold, contain ; Lat. pre-
hendo, seize, praeda, booty, hedera, ivy ; Eng. get. Thur. has
compared the Lat. hasta, spear, giving a stem '^ghazdho-.
goigean, a bit of fat meat, cluster, thread tangle or kink ; cf.
gagan : *gaggo- ; cf. Gr. yayyAtov, ganglion, a " knot," Eng.
kink.
goil, boil, Ir. gailim, seethe, boil : '''gali- ; I. E. gel, well, Ger.
quellen, gush. See next.
goile, a stomach, appetite, Ir. goile, gaile, stomach, appetite,
throat, M. Ir. gaile ; also 0. Ir. gelim, I consume ; Lat. gula,
throat (Eng. gidlet), glutire, swallow (Eng. glutton) ; Skr.
gilati, swallow ; I. E. gel, allied to root of goil.
g6ileag, a haycock, cole ; from the Sc. cole, Eng. coll.
goileam, tattle, chattering, also gothlam {I = le) ; see gothlam.
goileam, fire (kindling) (Carm.) :
goill, distorted face, angry face, grin, blubber lip ; cf. Ir. gailleog,
a blow on the cheek, G. gailleag. Cf. for root Gr. x^^'-^os, lip,
■^X^crAos = Skr. ghas, eat, swallow.
goillir, a Lewis bird of the size of the swallow, which comes to
land in winter (Arms.) :
goimh, anguish, pain, Ir. goimh : ^gorni-, root gom, gem, press,
Lat. gemo, groan, Ch. SI. zimu,, compress.
goin, gointe ; see gon.
goir, call, cry, crow, Ir. goirim, E. Ir. gairim, 0. Ir. adgaur,
convenio : ^garo, speak, I. E. ger, cry ; Gr. yepavo<s, crane,
Seipiav, abuse ; Skr. jdrate, cry, crackle ; further Lat. garrio,
chatter (^gajs-) ; Eng. garrulous. Lit. garsas, noise ; also root
gar, as in Gaelic gair, Gr, yyjpvs, voice, etc.
goireas, convenience, apparatus ; from gar, near, and goirid.
goirid, short, Ir. gairid, 0. Ir. garit. For root, see gearr (Skr.
hrasva, short, etc.), from which comes the comparative giorra.
Also gar, near, q.v.
24
202 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
goirt, sore, sour, Ir. yoi7% sore, salt, E. Ir. goirt, bitter : ^gorti-,
I. E. gher, be rough, as in garbh.
goirtean, a little field of corn, croft, Ir. goirtin, gort, garden, corn-
field, 0. Ir, gort, seges, W. garth, enclosure, Br. garz (do.) :
*goTto- ; Lat. hortus ; Gr. x^P'^^'^') straw-yard ; Eng. garden,
garth, etc.
g^oisear (pi. -an), guisers, waits, singers about Christmas, etc.
(Carm.) :
gdisinn, goisne, a snare, Ir. gaisde, 0. Ir. goiste, suspendium. Cf.
gaoisid.
g'oisridh, company, people ; see gasraidh.
g'Oisdidh, gossip, godfather, M. Ir. goistibe, godfather ; from
M. Eng. godsibhe, now gossip.
golag, a budget : ^g^do- ; Gr. yi'Ato?, wallet, 0. H. G. Jciulla.
golanach, two-headed (H.S.D.) : "forked," from gohhlan?
gomag, a nip, pinch (M'L., gomag), gamag, large bite (Skye) :
gon, wound, bewitch, Ir. gonadh, wounding, E. Ir. gonim : *gond,
I wound, I. E. ghen ; Gr. cfiovos, slaughter, Oclvm, hit ; Norse,
gunnr, battle, 0. H. G. gundea (do.) ; Skr. han, strike, slay.
gonan, grass roots ; cf. cona.
gorach, silly, Ir. gorach ; Gr. yavpos, exulting, skittish, haughty ;
root gnu, be free, Lat. gaudium, Eng. joy.
gorm, blue, green, Ir., E. Ir. gorm, blue, W. gwrm, dusky : gorsmo-,
root gor, warm (" warm colour"), as in G. gar (Stokes).
gorsaid, a cuirass, gorget ; from Eng. gorget.
t gort, a field, standing corn, Ir. gort ; see gart, goirtean.
gort, goirt, famine, Ir. gorta, 0. Ir. gorte ; I. E. gher, desire,
want ; Gr. Xpko^, necessity, xpvK^^ wish ; Eng. yearn.
goth, toss the head contemptuously or giddily (M'A.); g6th, airy-
gait (Arm., gothadh, Sh., O'R.) : possibly from Eng. go. Cf.
W. got/i,, pride.
gothlam, prating noise, M. Ir. gothach, noisy ; from guth.
grab, interrupt, grabadh, hindrance, Ir. grabadh ; apparently
from Eng. grab. Cf. W. crap, prehensio, Romance graffo.
grabh, abhorrence :
grabh, grabhail, engrave, Ir. grabhdil ; from Eng. grave, engrave.
grachdan, querulous noise of hens, Ir. gragoill, clucking of a hen,
crow's crowing. See grdg.
grad, sudden, Ir. grad, grod : "^groddo-, root grod, gred, as in
greas, q.v.
grada, ugly ; usual form of granda, q.v.
gradan, snufF, corn kilned by burning its straw, the meal derived
from the foresaid corn, Ir. gradan. Cf. greadan.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 203
gradh, love, Ir. grddh, E. Ir. grdd : *grddo-, *grd-dho-, root grd ;
Lat. grdtus, Eng. grateful ; Skr. gurdhdya, praise ; Gr. yepas,
honour,
gradran, complaining noise of hens ; onomatopoetic. See grdg.
grag, croaking of crows, Ir. grdg ; Eng. croak, crake. Onomato-
poetic words. Cf. I. E. grdq, Lat. graculus, gracillare, hen's
cry, M. H. G. kragelen, cackle.
grag'air, glutton (Sh., O'B., etc.), Ir. gragaire (O'B.), grdgaire
(Con.) :
graigh, stud, flock of horses ; see greigh.
g'rain, abhorrence, disgust, Ir. grdiu, E. Ir. grdin, W. graen, grief,
rough : '^gragni- (Strachan, Stokes). Ch. SI. groga, horrible,
grailieag, a hedgehog, Ir. grdineog : the "horrent one"; from
grdin, above.
graing, disdain, a frown, Ir. grainc. Cf. sgraing.
grainne, a grain, small quantity, Ir. grdiiitie, 0. Ir. grdinne,
granulum, grdn, granum, W. graivu. Cor. gronen, Br. greun,
(pi.) : *grdno- ; Lat. grdnum {^gPno-) ; Eng. corn (Stokes).
Some hold that the Celtic is borrowed from the Latin.
grainnseach, a grange, Ir. grdinseack ; from the Eng.
grainnseag, a cracknel (M'F.), bear berry (H.S.D. for N.H.) :
grais, prosperity, blessing (N.H.) ; from /yms.
graisg, a rabble, Ir. grdug, gi-amhaisg, grainaisg :
gramaich, hold, keep fast, Jr. gramuighmi ; see greim.
gramur, refuse of grain (H.S.D.) :
gran, kiln-dried grain, Ir. gy-dn, corn, 0. Ir. grdn ; see grdinne.
granda, grada, ugly, Ir. granda, granna, E. Ir. grdnde, grdnna,
teter, dirus ; from grdin, q.v.
grapa, a graip, dung fork, Ir. grdpa ; from Sc. grai'p.
gras, grace, Ir., M. Ir. grds, W. gra& ; from Lat. gratia.
grath, terror (Dial., H.S.D.) :
grathuinn, a while ; for '*'trdthain, from trdth, influenced hj greis'i
gread, wound, whip, burn, Ir. greadaim ; cf. W. greidio, scorch :
*grtiddo- ; root ghredh ; cf. Eng. grind, Lat. frendo, "^ghrendho
(St.). Cf. also Eng. grist, Lat. hordeum. Swedish grddda,
bake, may be compared.
greadan, a considerable time with all one's might at anything
(M'A.) ; from gread.
greadan, parched corn ; from gread. Cf. gradan. Ir. greadog
means "griddle." ^ng. griddle, ^ . greidell, are allied. Cf.
grist, hordeum, Kptdq.
greadhan, gread|iuinn, a convivial party, liappy band. Ir.
greadhanach, drolling, G. greadlinach, joyful ; root gred, go,
as in greas, q.v. 1 M. Ir. gredan, exulting shouts. Root X'^P^-
204 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY.
grealach, greallach, entrails : "^gre-lach, root gr, I. E. ghr^ gut ;
Gr. x^P^Ij g^tj Eng. cord; Lat. haru-spex, diviner, "entrails-
inspector," hernia, rupture. Shaw has greathlach. Hence
greallach, dirty, Ir. greallach, day, dirty. Cf. Eng. gore.
greallag", a swingle-tree :
greann, hair, bristling of hair, surly look, also " cloth," " rough
piled clothing," Ir. greanfi, beard, fair hair, E. Ir. grend,
beard, W., Br. grann, eyelid, cilium : *grendd ; Ger. granne,
beard of corn or cat, Norse grd)i, moustache, Span. *^rma,
tangled hair, Prov. Fr. gren, 0. Fr. grenon, beard of cheek and
lip ; Albanian krmide. greanndag, rag, tatter. Hence
greannar.
greas, hasten, urge, Ir. greasuighim, M. Ir. gressim : "^gred-to- ;
I. E. ghredh, step out, go ; Lat. gradior, gradus, step ; Got.
grids, a step ; Ch. SI. gr§da, stride, come ; Skr. grdhyati, step
out. The E. Ir. grisaim, I incite, is a different word, coming
from gris, lire.
greidil, a gridiron, Ir. greidil, greideal, M. Ir. in t-slissin gretli,
Sean. Mor. gretel, W. greidel, gradell, 0. W. gratell ; from
Late Lat. graticida, from cratis, wicker-work, Eng. crate,
grate, grill, hurdle. Eng. griddle, M. Eng gredel, are the
same as the Celtic words. Skeat has suggested gread above
as the origin of the Celtic forms ; cf. Ir. greaddg, a griddle.
Hence greidlean, an instrument for turning the bannocks on
the griddle.
greidh, prepare, dress, Ir. greasaim ; see greis. Greidhear, gre'ar,
grieve (N. Gael.).
greigh, a stud of horses, Ir., M. Ir. groigh, E. Ir. graig, W. gre :
^gragi- ; Lat. grex, flock ; Gr. yapyapa, heaps ; 0. H. G.
quarter, herd.
greim, a hold, a morsel, so Ir., 0. Ir. greim, greimm, a hold,
strength, W. grym, force, strength : ^gredsmen- ; root gher,
hold, Gr. x^^P^ hand, Skr. haras, grip. Stokes separates
greim, morsel, from greim, hold, strength. Greim, morsel, he
refers to ^gresmen, a bite, Skr. grdsati, devour, Gr. ypdo),
eat, Norse krds, a dainty.
greis, prowess, onset, slaughter, a champion, E. Ir. gress, gress,
attack ; from the root of greas above (Stokes).
greis, a while, Ir. do glireas, always, 0. Ir. do gres, do gress,
semper, M. Ir. do-gres : ^gr end-to-, going on, root grend, gred,
I. E. ghredh as in greas. Strachan gives ^grencs-, and com-
pares Norse kriiigr, round, Ger. kring. See treis.
greis, greus, embroidery, needle-work, Ir. ohair-ghreis, from greas,
E. Ir. gress, any work of art or trade ; see greusaich.
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 205
greod, a crowd (Arg.) ; from Eng. crowd.
gre6s, expansion of the thighs, greosgach, grinning (H.S.D.) :
*grencs- ; Norse kringr, round, Ger. kring.
greusaich, griasaich, shoemaker, any worker in embroidery or
furniture, Ir. greasaidhe, shoemaker : "^greid-to- ; GadeUc
greid^ dress, broider, I. E. ghrei, rub ; Gr. XP^^^i XP^I^^j hide,
skin, colour, xp^^j anoint (Christus).
grian, sun, Ir., 0. Ir. grian : '^greind, ghr-eind, root gher, warm,
as in gar. Cf. Skr. ghrnis, sunshine, ghramsa, heat ; W.
greian, what gives heat, sun. See further under grios. Hence
grianan, sunny place, summer house, solarium of Lat., from
sol, sun.
griasaich, a species of aculeated fish : " cobbler " fish ; from
griasaich, shoemaker,
grid, substance, quality ; from Sc. grit, grain of stones, grit, grain,
Eng. grit Hence grideil, industrious (M'A.).
grigirean, the constellation of Charles' wain, grigleachan, a
constellation ; see grioglackan.
grileag, a grain of salt, any small matter : *gris-il-, root greis,
gravel, as in grinneal.
grimeach, grim, surly ; from Eng. grim, Norse grimmr.
grimeil, warlike (H.S.D.), Ir. grimeamhuil (Lh., O'B.), grim, war ;
from the Norse grimmr, fierce, wroth %
grinn, pretty, Ir. grinn, E. Ir. giind: *grnni-, "bright"; root
gher, as in grian, grws. Cf. glinn.
grinneal, bottom of the sea, gravel, Ir. grimiioll, channel, bed of
a river, sand of the sea, sea bottom, M. Ir. grinnell : *gris-ni-,
root, greis, gris, gravel, E. Ir. grian, gravel (*greisano-), W.
graian, gravel, greienyn, a grain of gravel. Rhys (Hib. Lect.,
571) refers these words to the root of grian, sun, the particle of
gravel being supposed to be " a shining thing." This view is
supported by grioglachan and griogag, q.v.
griob, nibble (Heb.) ; from Sc. gni]}, gnaw, eat, Eng. ni][>, nibble.
griobh, a pimple (M'A.) :
griobhag, hurry :
grioch, a decaying or lean young deer, griochan, consumption
(Dial, H.S.D.) :
griogag, griogag (Glen-Urquhart), a pebble, bead : "^grizgit-, root
gris, greis, gravel, as in griymeal.
grioglachan, Pleiades, grigleachan, a constellation, Ir. griogchdn,
constellation. For root, see griogag.
griomacach, thin-haired, griomagach, shrivelled grass (H.S.D.) :
grioman, a certain species of lichen, malt bud (H.S.D.) :
grios, entreat, pray, Ir. griosaim, encourage, incite, rake up a fire ;
from earlier gri'>s, heat, which see in griosach.
^06 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
griosach, burning embers, Ir. griosach, coals of fire, burning
embers, M. Ir. giissach, E. Ir. qris, fire, embers, Br. groez,
heat : "^grens, *grns, heat ; Skr. ghram.sa, sun, heat, sunshine ;
root ghe7- of gar, q.v. Hence gTis, inflammation ; Ir. gris,
pimple.
gris, horror ; from Sc. griae, to shudder, M. Eng. gris~f horror,
griseful, grise, horrible, Eng. grisly/.
grisionn, brindled, gris-fhionn, "gray-white," gris (Sh. grk)^
gray ; from M. Eng. gris, gray fur.
griurach, the measles, griuthach (do.), griobhach (M'A.),
griuragan, indefinitely small particle, pustules on the skin ;
root ghru, as in grothlach ; grulach (Skye) = griobhiach.
gr6b, join by indentation, serrate ; cf. M. Eng. gropin, to groove,
also groupe and grave. A borrowed G. word,
grobag, a poor shrivelled woman ; from groh.
groban, top or point of a rock, hillock :
groban, mugwort (N.H.) :
groc, croak, frown on ; from Eng. croak.
grod, rotten, E. Ir. grot, gruiten, stale butter, small curds in
whey \ a metathesis of goirt *?
groganach, wrinkled (as heather), Ir grug, a wrinkle ; cf. gruig.
groig, awkwardness, perverseness, groigean, awkward man ; see
gritig.
groiseid, a gooseberry ; from the Sc. groset, from 0. Fr. "^grosey
grosele, goose-berry, whence Eng. gooseberry for grooseherry.
gromhan, a groaning, growling ; the same as gnbmhan.
gros, snout ; correct spelling of gnos, q.v.
grot a, a groat ; from the Eng.
grt'thlach, a gravel pit, abounding in gravel (O'B., Sh., etc.), Ir.
grotlUach, W. gro, pebbles. Cor. grow, gravel, Br. grouan.
From these come Eng. gravel, 0. Fr. gravele. Cf. Norse
grjot, stones, x\g. S. greot, Eng. grit, root grut, Lit. grusti,
pound, bray, Gr. xp^^^-os gold ( = x/o^^S-o-os).
grotonach, corpulent (O'B., Sh., etc.), so Ir. : "heavy-breeched"
(Arms. ) — "^grod-tonach.
gruag, hair of the head, a wig, Ir. gruag : ^griinkd, root gru,
Eng. crumple ? Hence gruagach, a maiden, brownie.
gruaidh, cheek, brow, Ir. gruaidli, cheek, E. Ir. gruad, W. grudd^
Cor. grud, maxilla : "^groudos. Bez. suggests the root ghrud,
ghreud, as in grotJdach, above, the idea being " pounding,
mashing" (Lit. grusti, bray, pound), and the original force
"jaw" : cf. Lat. maxilla and macero, macerate. Stokes
queries if it is from the root of Eng. great. Eng. proud ?
gruaigean, a species of sea-weed (H S.D. for Heb.), birses (M'A.) ;
" little hairy one" (Carm.), from gruag. Miorcan in Lewis.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE, 207
gruaim, gloom, surly look, Tr. gruaim : ^grousmeiL- ; root greui^
<jrut^ Lat. brutus, dull, Eng. brute, Lettic (/ruts, heavy,
Stokes cfs. only Ch. SI. sil-gruatiti s§, grieve over,
grudair, a brewer, Ir. grm/aire, grdid, malt : ^gritddi- ; Aug. Sax.
grtlt, coarse meal, Ger. griltze, groats, Dan. grod ; Lit. grudas,
corn. Eng. grit, groats are allied Hence gruid, lees.
grtlig, a drooping attitude, churlishness, churlish, Ir. grug, a
grudge, anger, gruig, churlishness (O'B.), gruc^ sulky (O'Cl.) ;
cf. Eng. grudge, M. Eng. grucdien, 0. Fr. grouchier, groucier.
Also grugach, wrinkled.
gruilleamacll, prancing, leaping suddenly (H.S.D.) :
grunnaich, sound, fathom ; see grunnd.
grunn, grunnan, a handful, lot, crowd (Dial, grainnean), 0. Ir.
grinne, fascis, fasciculum, Br, gronii, a heap : "^grendio-,
"^grondo- ; Gr. ypovOo'^, closed fist, Skr. grantha, bind, etc.
(Stokes for 0. Ir.). Cf. for root breid.
grunnasg, groundsel ; formed on the Eng.
grunnd, bottom, ground, thrift ; from Sc. grund, bottom or
channel in water, Norse grunnr, bottom of sea or river, Eng.
ground. Hence grunndail, steadfast, solid, sensible.
griinsgul, a grunting ; from "^"grunn, grunt, Lat. grunnire, Eng.
grunt.
gruth, curds, Ir., M. Ir. gruth : *grutu- ; Eng. curds, M. Eng.
crud, Sc. croivdie, croods ; Gr. y/oiVet, will melt, ypvrt^ {v long),
frippery ; I.E. gru, Eng. crumb, Ger. kraue,n, Gr. ypv, morsel.
Hence gruitheam, curds and butter : gruth + im.
grilthan, gruan, liver, Ir. aev. gruan (Lh. Comp. Voc. sub "jecur"):
"^gruso- : root ghru, gritty, of grothlach.
gu, to, ad, Ir. go, gu, 0. Ir. co, cu, W. bw in bwy gilydd, to its
fellow : "^qos ; Ch. SI, ku, to ; cf. Lat. usque for "^quos-que ?
(Bez.). Used adverbially in gu math, gu h-olc. Cf. Gr. K-a?,
Kai, Skr. -cas.
guag, a giddy, whimsical fellow, Ir. giiag, guaigin, folly, silly one ;
from M. Eng. goivke, goki, a fool, Sc. gowk, Eng. gawky.
guag, a splay-foot ; see cuag.
guaigean, thick, little and round : *goug-go-, root g% bend,
guailisg, false, falsity (Carm.) :
guaillean, a coal of fire ; see gual. Cf. caoirean, a peat, cinder,
ember.
guaillich, go hand in hand : " shoulder to shoulder ;" see guala.
guaimeas, quietness ; see guamach.
guaineas, briskness, liveliness ; see guanach.
guairdean, vertigo ; cf. Ir. guairdedn, whirlwind ; from cuairt ?
guairsgeach curled, crinitus, Ir, guaire, hair of the head ; from
I.E. gu, bend, as in guala.
208 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
tguais, danger, guaiseach, dangerous, Ir. guais, 0. Ir. guassacht :
guait, leave (" Gabh no guait e" — Take or leave it) ; from Eng.
quit 1 g-uait 1
glial, coal, Ir. gual : *g(Mlo-, '''geulo- ; root geul^ gut ; Teutonic
*kola-, Norse kol, coals, Ger. kohie, Eng. coal. W. glo^ Br.
glaou, *gl6vo- (Stokes), is allied to the Eng. gloiv.
guala, gualanD, shoulder, Ir. guala^ g. gualann, E. Ir. gualu, g.
"^gualand : "^goulon-, root geii, gu, gu, bend ; Gr. yvtov, limb,
yvaXov, a hollow, ymjs, ploughtree (Lat. bura) ; Old Bactrian
= Zend, gdo, hand. Strachan and Stokes give the root gub,
bend, stem *gubl6n-, I.E. gheitbh, bend, Gr. kvcJ^os (v long),
bent, stooping ; Lettic gubt, stoop.
guamach, neat, snug, smirking ; also " plentiful " (Sh., O'R.),
careful, managing (Arran) :
guanach, light, giddy, Ir. guanach, guamnach, M. Ir. guamnacha,
active (O'Cl.) ; root guam of guamnach above.
gucag, a bubble, bell, globule, bud : *gukko-, Ger. kugel, ball,
guda, a gudgeon, Ir. guda ; formed on Eng. gudgeon, M. Eng. gojon.
gudaleum, gudarleum, a bound, wild leap (Arg.) :
guga, the solan goose, a fat, silly fellow, Ir. guga. See next word
for root.
gugail, clucking of poultry, Ir. gugailim : an onomatopoetic word.
Cf. Eng. chuck. See also gngail.
gugairneach, a fledgling :
guidh, pray, guidhe, a prayer, wish, Ir. guidhim, guidhe, 0. Ir.
guidiu, gude, guide : *godio-, root ged, god, I.E. ghedh, ask ;
Gr. TTo^ew, desire, Oea-aaa-dai, pray for ; Got. bidjan, ask,
Ag. S. biddan, Eng. bid.
guil, weep, Ir., E. Ir. guilim ; see gal.
guilbneach, the curlew : " beaked one," E. Ir. gulbnech, beaked,
0. Ir. gulban, beak, 0. W. gilbin, acumine, W. gplf, bill, beak,
gylfant, Cor. gilb, foratorium, geluin, rostrum : "^gulbano- ;
Ger. kolben, piston, knob, gun-stock. Bez. compares only
N. Slovenic golbati, gnaw. Cf. Lit. gulbe, swan.
guileag, the swan's note, warbling (Sh. has guillag, chattering of
birds, O'R. guilleog) ; root gal, cry, call, Lat. gallus, cock,
Eng. call 1
guileagan, custom of boiling eggs outside on Easter Sunday = latha
guileagan (M'D.) :
guim, cuim, conspiracy (Carm.) :
guin, a wound, 0. Ir. gum : "^goni- ; see gon.
guir, hatch, lie on eggs, gur, hatching, Ir. gur^ W. gori, to brood ;
from the root gor, gar, warm. See gar.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 209
guirean, a pimple, gur, a festering, Ir., M. Ir. guirin, pustule,
E. Ir. gur, pus, W. gor, pus, gori/n, pustula : *goru-, fester,
" heat " ; root gor, gar, warm, as in gar.
ffuisead, a gusset ; from the Eng.
guit, a corn-fan, unperforated sieve : gottid :
guitear, a gutter, kennel ; from Eng. gutter.
gulm, a gloom, forbidding look ; from the Eng. 1
g^ulmag, sea-lark (H.S.D.) :
gun, without, Ir. gan, 0. Ir. cen ; Gr. /ceveog, empty ; root, Kevo-.
So O.H.G. hina, hinweg, Ag, S. hin-.
gu'n, gu'm, that, Gr. on, Ir. go, 0. Ir. co, con. Windisch con-
siders this the prep, con^ with, and co, to ; Zim. and Thur.
regard it as from co, to (see gu). The latter explains the n
as the relative : *co-sn, a view supported by the verbal
accent being on the first syllable and by the occasional form
conn (?) See chcCn.
gun, gown, Ir. guna ; from the Eng. gown, from W. gwn {*gwun).
from Celtic *vo-ouno-, root in Lat. ex-uo, doff, ind-uo, don,
Lit. aunii, put on shoes, duti.
gunna, a gun, Ir., M. Ir. gunna ; from M. Eng. gunne, Eng. gun.
gur, that, Ir. gur : *co-ro ; see gu'n for co. Uses are : Gur
cruaidh e = 0. Ir. c>rroi> rruaid e : corrop is now Ir. gurab,
that is co-ro-bi {ba, verb "to be"). Gur = gunro, con ro-
(St.).
guraiceach, a blockhead (Sh., H.S.D.) :
guraiceach, unfeathered bird, lump (Arg.), from giir.
gurpan, crupper ; from Sc. curpon, Eng., 0. Fr. croupon,
gurracag, a blot (Arg.) :
gurrach, gurraban, crouching, crouching on the hunkers : '^'gur-
tha-, iYomgur^ brooding as in guirl Of. Sc. curr, to "hunker,"
currie, a stool, Eng. cower. The Perthshire curraidh,
hunkering, is from Scotch.
gurrach, fledgling, gurach (Arg.) :
gurt, fierceness, sternness of look ; also gart, q.v.
gus, to, Ir. gus, 0. Ir. cossin, to the, to which ; prep, gu, co, and
the article or relative, The s of the article is preserved after
the consonant of co ( = qos).
gus, anything (Arg.) :
gusair, sharp, keen, strong, Ir. gus7nhar, strong ; from gus, force,
smartness : ^gustu-, "choice," root gu, Eng. choose.
gusgan, a hearty draught :
gusgul, refuse, dirt, idle words, roaring :
guth, voice, Ir., 0. Ir. guth : *gutu- ; I.E. gu ; Gr. yoos, groan ;
Skr. hu, call, cry, havate, calls ; Ch. SI. zova, to call. This is
25
210 ETYMOLOGICAI; DICTIONARY
different from I.E. gu, Gr. /?o?i, shout, Lat. bovare, cry
(Prellwitz, Osthoff).
i, she, Tr. ^, si, 0. Ir. t, M, si, W., Br. hi : ^si ; Got. si, ea, Ger.
sie, they ; Skr. s7/d : 1. E. sjo-, sjd- (Brug.). See sa, so. sin.
iach, a yell, cry, Ir. iachdadh, 0. Ir. iachtaim : *eicto-, *eig-to-,
from ezp^ of eigh.
t iach, a salmon, E. Ir. eh, g. ?ac^, W., Br. eog, W. ehaivc. Cor.
eAo_^ : *esa.r ; Lat. esox : Basque izokin (borrowed from Celtic).
iad, they, Ir. tad, E. Ir. iat, 0. Ir. only in olseat-som, say they, W.
Invynt : confusion of roots ei, sjo with the 3rd plur. in nt. Of
E. Ir. iat, siat, Brugmann says : — " These have the ending of
the 3rd plur. of the verb ; later on iat, siat were detached,
and began an independent existence." Stokes similarly says
they are se and hwy with the nt of the verbal 3rd pi. added.
iadach, jealousy, Ir. ead ; see end.
iadh, encompass, Ir. iadhaim, join, shut, surround, E. Ir. iadaim :
*eidd6, *ei-dho-^ root ei, go *? Stokes analyses it into *e^-
ddmo, for *epi-ddm6, Skr. api-ddnd, a lock : for epi, see Gr.
€7rt under iar ; and ddmo is from dho, dhe, place, Gr. tlOt^ixl,
Lat. facio. It has also been correlated to Gr. 7rt€^o/Aat, press,
Skr. ptdayti, press {"^pisdd), from pise, stamp, press, Lat.
pistor, etc.
ial, moment, season, gleam of sunshine ; a poetic word, seemingly
a metaphoric use of iall. Galway Ir. iall, moment, iail
dfireannach dd shaoghal.
iall, a thong, Ir. iall, E. Ir. iall : *peisla ; cf. pileus, felt, etc.
t iall, a flock of birds, Ir. iall, a flock of birds, E. Ir. iall, grex ;
^eisla, Gr. tXif]. Hence eallach (St.). Cf. Ir. eilin sicini, brood
or clutch of chickens.
iallach, jaunty, lithe ; cf. uallach.
ialtag", a bat, Ir. ialtdg, E. Ir. iathlu {iatlu, O'Cl.), W. ystlum :
'^isatal- (Ascoli). Dial, dealtag anmoch ; Lat. vesper-tilio.
ian, a bird ; see eun.
iar, after, Ir. iar, 0. Ir. iar n-, post : "^efpjeron ; Skr. aparam,
afterwards ; Got. afar, post ; further Gr. oTriOev, behind, ctti,
to, on, Skr. dpi, Lit. ape, to, on, Lat. ob. See air{c).
iar, an iar, siar, west, Ir. iar, siar, 0. Ir. iar, occidens, aniar : a
special use of the prep, iar above. See ear for force.
iarbhajl, anger, ferocity ; from air and boile 1
iarbhail, a consequence, remains of a disease :
iargainn, pain, Ir. iargan, groans of a dying man (O'B.) ; from air
and gon.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 211
iargail, the west, evening twilight, Ir. iargul, remote district,
iargcdl (Con.) ; from iar and cul, bacl^ : " behind," west.
iargalta, churlish, inhospitable, surly, turbulent (M'A.), Ir.
iarculta, churlish, backward.
iargall, battle, contest, so Ir., 0. Ir. irgal: air + gal, the a*V being
a?r(a). See gal.
iarg^huil, sound, noise ; see uirghioll.
iar la, an earl, Ir. iarla, M Ir. ia,rla ; from Norse jarl, Eng. earl.
W. has larll.
iarmad, offspring, remnant, Ir. iarmat, offspring (O'B.), iarmart,
consequences of anything, iarinhar, remnant ; root mar,
remain. See mar.
iarmailt, the firmament, for "^jiarmaint, Ir. jiormaimeint, M .Ir.
Jirmeint, E. Ir. firmimenti (g.) ; from ha.t. firmamentum. Cf.
Tormailt, Norman.
iarna, a hank of yarn, Ir. ia7nia, a chain or hank of yarn ; from
Eng. yarn.
iarnaich, smooth with an iron ; from iarunn.
iarogha, great grandson, 0. Ir. iarmui, abnepotes ; from iar and
ogha : " post-nepos."
iarr ask, Ir., E. Ir. iarraim, I seek, ask, larrair, a seeking, iaralr :
*iarn-ari-, ''after-go," root (pjar, per, go, seek, bring, through,
Gr. Trdpa, experience, Lat. ex-perior, try, Eng. experience, etc.
(Stokes). See aire further for root.
iarunn, iron, Ir. iarann, M. Ir. iarund, 0. Ir. iarn, W. haiarn,
hearn. Corn, hoern, 0. Br. hoiarn, Br. houarti, Gaul, isarno-
dori, ferrei ostii : ^eisarno- ; Got. eisarn, 0. H. G isarn, Ger.
eisen, Kng. iron (all borrowed from Celtic according to Brug-
mann, Stokes, etc.). Shriider regards the eis or is of eisarno-
as only a different vowel-scale form of I. E. ayos, ayes-, metal,
whence Lat. aes, Eng. ore.
iasachd, iasad, a loan, Ir. iasachd, E. Ir. iasacht :
iasg, fish, Ir. iasg, 0. Ir. iasc, cesc, g. eisc ', *eisko-, *peisko- ; Lat,
piscis, fish ; Got. Jisks, Eng. Jlsh.
fibh, drink, M. G. ibh (M'V), Ir. ibhim (Con. ibhim), 0. Ir. ibim,
0. W. iben, bibimus. Cor. evaf, Br. eva : "^ibo, "^pibo \ Lat.
bibo ; Skr. pibamt.
ic, cure, heal, so Ir. ; see ioc.
ic, an addition, eke, frame put under a beehive (Carm.) ; Sc. eik.
idir, at all, Ir. idir, 0. Ir. itir, etir : *enteri, a locative case of
entei, the stem of the prep, eadar, q.v.
ifrinn, hell, Ir. ifrionn, E. Ir. ifern{d), 0. Ir. ifurim ; from Lat.
infernum, adj. infernus, Eng. infernal.
igh, tallow (Sh.), fat (H.S.D., which marks it as obsolete), M. Ir.
ith, g. itha, Manx eeh : root pi, pjei, Gr. iriniv, Skr. pinas, fat.
212
ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
i^h, i, a burn, a small stream with green banks (Suth.). This is
the Suth. pronunciation of uidh, a ford, etc.
ilbhinn, a craggy mountain (" Mar ilbhinn ailbhein craige," Oss.
Ballad) ; if not mere jingle, it means " many peaked " :
ioi + heann.
ileach, variegated, Ir. He, diversity ; see iol-.
im, butter, Ir. m (g. ime, Coneys), E. Ir. imh, W. ymenyn. Cor.
amenen^ Br. amann, amantn : '^emhen- or *7jiben- ; Lat. unguen,
Eng. unguent, vb. unguo, I smear : Ger. anke, butter ; Skr.
dnjas, a salve, ointment.
im-, about, also with intensive force, Ir. im-, 0. Ir. im-, imm- ; it
is the prefixive form of prep. m.u, q.v. Also iom-
imcheist, anxiety, doubt, 0. Ir. imchesti, contentiones ; from im-
and ceist.
imeachd, journeying, imich, go, Ir. imtheachd, imthighim., 0. Ir.
imthecht ; from im- and teachd, tighinn : imich, is for im-
thigh, root tig, teig of tighinn, q.v.
imisg, a sarcasm, scandal : "^im-isc ; for isc, see inisg.
imleag, navel, Ir. iyiileacan, imlinn, E. Ir. imhliu, ace. imblind,
innlec, imlecdn : "^emhilion-, "^embilenko- ; Lat. umbilicus ; Gr.
ofjLcfiaXos ; Eng. navel ; Skr. nabhi, ndbhUa ; I. E. onbhelo-,
nobhelo:
imlich, lick, Ir. imlighim, lighim ; im-lighim. " about-lick." With
lighim is cognate 0. Ir. ligim, I lick, W. llyaxo, llyad, licking,
Br. leat (do.): *leigd, "^ligo ; Lat. lingo; Gr, Aeiyw ; Eng.
lick ; Ch. SI. lizati (to lick) ; Skr. lihati.
imnidh, care, diligence, Ir. imuidhe, 0. Ir. imyied, tribulatio : "^inbi-
7)ien-et()-, root men of menmna. Ascoli analyses the 0. Ir. as
"^imb-an-eth, root an, breathe.
impidh, a prayer ; see iompaidh.
impis, imis, imminence, an impis, about to, almost, M. Ir. iinese
catha, imminence of battle, root ved of tbiseach (Stokes). .
imreasaD, controversy, Ir. imreasdn, 0. Ir. imbresan, altercatio,
imbresnaim, I strive, W. ymrymn, contention, dispute : "^imbi-
bres-, root bres of M. Ir. bressa, contentions, battles, Br., Cor-
hreaet (from bris, break) 1 Windisch suggests for Gadelic
^imm-fres-sennim (prep, ijiim or im and fris, frith), froQi 0. Ir.
sennim, I drive, "^svem-no-, allied to Eng. sivim.
imrich, remove, flit, Ir. imircim, E. Ir. immirge, journey, expedi-
tion : "^ imbi-reg-, root reg, go, stretch (as in rach). Windisch
suggests imm-eirge, from eirigh.
in-, ion-, ionn-, a prefix of like force as Lat. in-, used especially
before medials, liquids, and s {ionn- only before s), Ir. in-, ion-,
inn-, ionn- (before f), 0. Ir. in- ; it is the Gadelic prep, m,
ind, now an, anu, in (q.v.), used as a prefix.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 213
inbhe, quality, dignity, rank, Ir. inmhe, patrimony, estate, M. Ir.
indme, rank : *ind-med-^ W^V- '^'^^ {ann) and root me, med, of
meas^ Ir. inme, wealth, better indme or indbe (St.).
inbhir, a confluence of waters, Ir. innbhear, inhhear, E. Ir. indber^
inbir, inber, W. ynfer, influxus : "^eni-bero-s (Stokes), from eni
or modern an, in, and bero-, stem of beir, Lat. fero. The
combination is the same as Lat. infero, Eng. inference.
inghean, a daughter, Ir. inghean^ 0. Ir. ingen, Ogam inigena :
*eni-gend ; root gen, beget (see giii) and prep, an ; Lat.
indigena, native ; Gr. kyyoviq, a grand-daughter. Also
nighean, q.v. Lat. ingenuusi
inich, neat, tidy, lively :
inid, Shrove-tide, Ir. ijiid, E. Ir. init, W. ynyd, Br. ened ; from
Lat. initium [jejunii\ beginning of Lent.
inisg, a reproach ; cf. M. Ir. indsce, 0. Ir. insce, speech : "^eni-sqid,
root seq, say, as in sgeul, q.v. Gr. evLcnre, Lat. inseque, say,
are exactly the same as Ir. in root and prefix.
inn-, ionn-, (innt- before s), prep, prefix of like force with frith, ri,
against, to, Ir. inn-, ionn-, 0. Ir. ind- {int- before s), inn-, in- :
*nde, Gaul, ande- : *ande, from ndh, Goth, und, for, until,
0. H. G. unt-as, until ; Skr. ddhi, up to (ndhi).
inndrich, originate, incite :
inne, a bowel, entrail, gutter, sewer, kennel (M'A.), Ir. i7me,
innighe, M. Ir. innp, inde, a bowel, viscera (pi.), E. Ir. inne,
inde, 0. ir. inna, d. pi. innib, viscus, viscera : prep, m + 1
Cf. Gr. Ivrepov, a bowel, Ger. innere, Skr. antaram ; also
Dial. Eng. innards (for inwards).
inneach, woof, so Ir., E. Ir. innech : ^{p)n-niko-, root ;>a7i, thread,
Lat. pannus, cloth, Gr. Tnjvos, woof thread on the bobbin 1
See further under anart. A compound with in or ind is
possible : in-neg-, Lat. in-necto 1
inneadh, want (M'F.) :
iniieal, an instrument, arrangement, Ir. inneal, arrangement, dress,
E. Ir. indell, yoke, arrangement ; G. innil, prepare, ready, Ir.
inniollaim, arrange, E. Ir. indlim, get ready : *ind-el-, root
pel, join, fold, as in alt, q.v. Ascoli joins 0. Ir. intle, insidise,
mtledaigim, insidior, and G. innleachd, q.v. ; but gives no
root.
innean, an anvil, Ir. inneoin, E. Ir. indeoin, 0. Ir. indein, W.
einion [engion %\, Cor. ennian, Br. anneffn : ^ande-bnis, " on-
hit," from inn- and bend, hit, as in bea?i, q.v. Osthofi' gives
the stem "^endivani-, " on-hit," Zd. vaniti, hit.
innear, dung, M. Ir. indebar : *ind-ebar ; cf. E. Ir. cann-ebor
{ = cac, O'Cl.), on the analogy of which Stokes suggests that
214 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY.
ind- of indehar is for jind^ white, but G. is against this.
O'Dav. h&H Ji7td-ebor, dung; so Meyer, but not O'Dav. !
innil, prepare, ready ; see inneat.
innis, an island, Ir. inis^ 0. Ir. inis, W. ynys, Cor. enys^ Br. enez,
pi. inisi : "^inissi, from nss, Lat. ^inssa, insula, Gr. vrjcros
(Dor. vao-o?). The connection of the Celtic, Lat., and Gr.
is almost certain, though the phonetics are not clear.
Strachan suggests for Celtic ^etii-stt, "in-standing," that is,
" standing or being in the sea."
innis^ tell, Ir. inrasim, E. Ir. innlsim, indisim : "^ind-fiss-, from
Jiss, now Jios, knowledge ; root vid. Cf. adfiadim, narro
(*veldd), infiadim. vet (St.) 1
innleachd, device, mechanism, Ir. inntleachd, device, ingenuity :
*ind-dig-tu-^ root dig of slighe, way % Ascoli joins 0. Ir.
intie, insidise, intledaigim, insidior, and W. annel, a gin. Cor.
antell, ruse, Br. antell, stretch a snare or bow, and Ir. innil, a
gin, snare. The 0. Ir. intliucht, intellectus (with sliucht,
cognitio), is considered by Zimmer to be a grammatical word
from Lat. intellectus. Stokes disagrees. Hence innlich, aim,
desire.
innlinn, provender, forage : " preparation," from innil, prepare,
innsgin, mind, courage (H.S. D. from MSS.), also in A. M'D.'s
song, "4m breacan uccllach^' ; inns';/ ineach, sprightly (Sh.,
O'R.) :
inntinn, mind, Ir. inntinn : "^ind-seni- ; root sen or senn, as in
Ger. sinn, sense? Kluge, liowever, gives "^sentno- as the
earliest form of the Ger. Possibly it may be a plural from
0. Ir. inne, sensus, meaning the " senses " originally. The
Gadelic words can scarcely be from a depraved pronunciation
of Lat. ifigenium.
inntreadh, iantreachduinn, a beginning, entering ; from Eng.
entering.
iob, a raw cake, lump of dough (H.S.D. for N.H.) ; also uibe,
q.v.
ioba, pi. iobaanan, tricks, incantations (Arg.) ; see ubag.
iobairt, an offering, sacrifice, Ir. iodhbuirt, M. Ir. edpart, 0. Ir.
edpart, idpart : *dith-od-bart-, root bert, ber of beir, q.v. Cf.
W. aherth ( = ad-bert), a sacrifice.
ioblag;, a victimised or depised female, a trollop (Glenmoriston) :
ioc, pay, remedy, iocslilaint, a cure, salve, remedy, Ir. iucaim,
pay, remedy, i icshldinte, a cure, remedy, E. Ir. icaim, heal,
pay, 0. Ir. iccaim, heal, W. iachdu, to cure, iach, sound. Cor.
iach, sanus, Br. iac'h, healthy, 0. Br. iac : '''jakko-, sound ;
Gr. aKos, a cure ; Skr. yagas, grandeur. The long vowel of
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 21
the Gadelic forms is puzzling, and these have been referred
to *isacco-, from, iso-, eiso-, Gr. tao/xat, heal, Skr. isha^ati,
refresh.
iochd, clemency, humanity, Ir. iochd, clemency, confidence, M. Ir.
icht, protection, E Ir. icht, progeny, children : ^pekius, root
pek, pak, Lat. pectus, breast, paciscor, paction ; allied to uchd.
For iochd, progeny, cf. Norse dtt, family (Rhys). See aicme.
iochdar, the lower part, bottom, Ir. iochdar, 0. Ir. ichtar. It is
formed from los, U, down, on the analogy of uachdar. See
lOS.
iod, alas ! Cf. Eng. fAit. Also ud, oh dear !
iodhal, an image, Ir. iodhal, 0. Ir. idal ; from Lat. idolum, Eng.
idol.
iodhlann, a cornyard, Ir. iothlann, granary, 0. Ir. ithla, g. ithland,
area, W. ydlan, 0. W. itlann, area : *(p)itu-landd, " corn-
, land " ; 0. Ir. ith (g. etlio), corn, W., Cor. yd, Br. ed, it ; Skr.
pitu, nourishment, eating, Zend pitu, food. For further con-
nections, see ith, eat. For -lann, see lann.
iodhnadh, pangs of child-birth, Ir. iodhana, pangs, E. Ir. idu, pi.
idain \ "^(pjidon- ; Got. fitan, travail in birth,
iogan, deceit, fraud :
iog^har, ioghnadh ; see iongar, iongnadh.
iol-, prefix denoting "many," Ir. ioi-, 0. Ir. il, multus: "^elu-, "^pelu-,
many ; Got., 0. H. G. jilu, Ger. viel, many ; Gr. ttoAt^s, many ;
Skr. puru. The root is pel, pld, pie, as in G. Idn, lion, Eng.
full, etc.
iola, a fishing station, fishing rock, fishing bank (Heb. and
N.H.) ; Shet. iela.
iolach, a shout, psean, Ir. iolach, merriment, 0. Ir. ilach, psean ;
W. elwch, a shout, "^elukko, root pel, roar ; TreAayos % (St).
Cf. Ag. S. eald, oh, alas,
iolair, eagle, Ir iolar, M. Ir. ilur, for irur, "^eruro-s, W. eryr. Cor.,
Br. er ; Got. ara, 0. H. G. aro, Ger. aar, Ag. S. earn ; Lit.
erelis, Prus. are/ie ; also Gr. opvc^, a bird.
iolar, down (Perthshire), also urlar : a degraded adverbial form
of urlar 1 Or for *ior-ar, ''^air-air, " on-by "^
iolla, view, glance; gabh iolla ris, just look at it; cf. ealla.
iollagach, frolicsome ; see iullagach.
iollain, expert (H.S.D. ; Sh., O'R. iolhn); from ealaidh.
iom-, the broad-vowel form of the prefix im-, q.v.
ioma, iomadh, many, many a, Ir. ioma, iomdha, E. Ir. immad,
multitudo, 0. Ir. imbed, copia, immde, multus (*imbde),
immdugud, exuberantia : ^imbeto-, from the prep, irabi, evibi,
now ^m-, mu, about (Z.^ 64). Bez. queries if allied to Lat.
216 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
pinguis, thick, Gr. Traxi^s, but gh, ghv gives in Gadelic a
simple g (Ost. hid, For.^). Also G. iomad, many, iomaididh,
superabundance, Ir. iomad, a multitude, much. For d cf.
liuthad.
iomadan, concurrence of disasters, a mourning :
iomagain, iomaguin, anxiety : "'"imh-ad-goni-, root gon of iargain 1
iomain, a driving (of cattle, etc.), Ir. iomdin, tossing, driving,
E. Ir. immdiri, a driving {"^emhi-agai-), inf, to immagim^
circumago ; Lit. ambages, going round, windings ; root dg, ag,
drive ; Lat. ago, Gr. ayw, etc.
iomair, a ridge of land, Ir. iomaire, E. Ir. immaire, imbaire :
*e7nbi-a7'io-, root ar, plough ; see ar .
iomair, need, behove : " serve " ; Ir. timthire, servant, 0. Ir.
timmthirim, I serve. For force, cf. feu7n. The root is tir,
land 1
iomair, employ, exercise, play, noun iomairt, Ir. imirt, a game,
E. Ir. imbert, 0. Ir. vb. imJorim, infero, etc. ; for imb-berim,
root ber of beir, q.v.
iomall, a border, limit, Ir. imiol, E. Ir. imbel, W. ymyl : "^imb-el,
"circuit," root el, go, Lat. amb-ul.are, walk, which reproduces
both roots. See further under tadhal. Hence iomallach,
remote.
iomarbhaidh, a struggle, Ir. iomarbkaidh, E. Ir. immarbdg :
"^imm^-ar-bdg- ; root bag, strive, Norse bdgr, strife, 0. H. G.
bdga, vb. pagan. See arabkaig. M'A. gives iomarbhuidh,
hesitation, confusion.
iomarcach, very numerous, superfluous (Carswell's imarcach), Ir.
iomarcach^ M. Ir. imarcraid, superfluity (also " carrying,"
from immarchor, cor, place, as in iomarchur). M'A. gives
the meaning as "in many distresses, distressed," and the
root as arc of aire.
t iomarchur, a rowing, tumbling, straying, Ir. iomarchur (O'B.),
E. Ir immarchor ( = imm-ar-cor, from cor or cuir, put), carry-
ing, errand,
iomchan, carriage, behaviour :
iomchar, carriage, behaviour, Ir. iomchar, E. Ir. immchor ; from
imm- and cuir, q.v.
iomchoire, blame, a reflection ; from ?'om- and coire.
iomchorc, regards, salutation, petition, also G., Ir. iomchomharc,
0. Ir. imchomarc, interrogatio, salutatio : *imm-com-arc-,
from arc, ask, W. ar chaff, I ask, erchim, Cor. argkaf, M. Br.
arckas, will command : *{p)ark6, ask, root perk, prek, prk ;
Lat. precor, ^ng. pray, posco (=porcsco), demand; Ger. frage,
forschung, question, inquiry ; Lit. praszytij beg ; Skr. prapias,
question.
1
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 217
iomchuidh, proper, Ir. iomchubhaidh, M. Tr. immchubaid ; from
iom- and cubhaidh, q.v.
iomhaigh, an image, Ir. iomhaigh^ M. Ir. iomdlg, imagin, Cor.
auain ; from Lat. imago.
iomlag, the navel ; see imleag.
iomlaid, an exchange, Ir. iomlut ; possibly from the G. root lud,
go (see dol).
iomlan, whole, E. Ir. imshldn, quite whole.
iompaidh, a turning, conversion, Ir. iompogh^ 0. Ir. impud,
iTTiputh, W. ymod, a turn : "^'imb-shouth, 0. Ir. soiin, averto :
^sovio, root su, sou, Lat. siucula, windlass. It has also been
referred to the root sup, Lat. dissipo, Lit, supu, swing.
iomradh, fame, report, Ir. iomrddh, 0. Ir. imrnrddud, tractatio,
cogitatio ; from iom- and rddk, say.
iomrall, an error, wandering, Ir. iomrolladh, iomrulladh, E. Ir.
imroll, mistake : "^ambi-air-al, root al, el, go, as in iomalL
iomram, iomramh, rowing, Ir. iomramh, iomrdmh (O'B.), E, Ir.
immram, vb. immrdim ; from iom- and rdmh.
ion, fit, ion-, prefix denoting fitness, Ir. ion-, prefixed to passive
participles, denotes fitness (O'D., who quotes inleighis, curable,
inmheasta, believable) : a particular use of in-, in-, which see.
ion is iomlan, almost perfect (Hend.).
ion-, negative prefix an before b, d, g, Ir. ion-, 0. Ir. in- ; see an
for derivation. The primitive 7i before b, d, g, becomes in in
Gadelic.
ionad, a place, Ir. ionad, ionnad ; the E. Ir. has inad only, point-
ing to modern ionadh :
iona(dh), in c'iona, c'ionadh, whether : co and ionadh or iona,
E. Ir. inad, place. See above. The Modern Ir. is ca Monad.
ionaltair, a pasturing, pasture ; from in- and "^altair, a shorter
form of altrum.. Of. for form Ir. ingilim, I pasture, from in-
and gelim, I eat (root gel, as in G. goite). iomair ionailt,
browsing rig (Carm.).
ionann, alike, Ir. ion7ian, 0. Ir. inonn, innon, inon. Possibly for
"^sin-on, '^sin-son, "' this-that ;" see sin, and son of 0. Ir. is for
"^sou-n, *sou, hoc, Gr. ov-tos (for root, see sa). Cf. for form
Lat. idem = is-dern, Gr. o avro?.
ionbhruich, broth ; see eanraich.
ionga, g. ingne, pi. ingnean, inean, a nail, Ir. ionga, g. iongan^
0. Ir. inga, g. ingen, W. evnn. Cor. euuin, Br. ivin : *engtnd
(Stokes) ; Lat, unguis ; Gr. 6vv^, g. 6vv\o<s ; Got. nagljan,
Eng. nail ; Skr. nakhd. Fick gives the I. E. root as nogh,
ngh, with stems noghlo-, nghlo-.
26
218 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
iongantach, wonderful, so Ir., ingantach ; formed from the noun
iong^iadh, wonder,
iong^ar, ioghar, pus : *in-gor, root gor of guirean, q.v. Dr Cam.
compared Gr. iX'^p, blood of the gods (Gael, No. 548).
*ping-aro-, pi, swell 1
iongnadh, wonder, so Ir., 0. Ir. ingndd, ingndth (adj. and n.) ; for
in-gndth, " not wont " ; see ion- (neg. prefix) and gndth.
ionmhas, treasure, Ir. ionmkas, ionnmlms, E. Ir. indmass ; from
in- and -mass of tomhas, measure, q.v. Ascoli connects it
with 0. Ir. indeb, lucrum, M. Ir. indbas, wealth.
ionmhuinn, dear, Ir. ionmhuin, 0. Ir. inmain : ^eni-moni-, root
mon, men, mind, remember, for which see cuimhne. See
muinighin.
ionn-, prefix of the same force as fri, ri ; see inn- further,
ionnairidh, a watching at night ; from ionn- and aire.
ionnaltoir, a bath, Ir. ionnaltoir (O'R.), bather (Con.) ; see
ionnlad.
fionnas, condition, status, ionnas gu, insomuch that, so that,
cionnas, how, Ir. ionnus, so that, 0. Ir. indas, status : "^ind-
astu-, "in adstatu," from ad-sta, root sta, stand. Zeuss^
derives it from ind and the abstract termination -assu (-astu-),
seemingly giving it the idea of " to-ness."
ionndruinn, missing: *ind-retli-in, "wandering"; see faondra.
ionnlad, washing, Ir. ionnlat, 0. Ir. indlat, Ir. vb. innuilim, M. Ir.
indalim. There is also an E. Ir. indmat, washing of the
hands. From *ind-luUo-, *lutto from lu, lov, bathe, Lat.
lavo, etc. 1
ionnsaich, learn, E. Ir. insaigim, seek out, investigate, noun
saigid, seeking out, saigim : in- and sag, root sag, seek ; Lat.
sdgio, am keen, sagax, acute ; Gr. r^yko^ai, lead ; Got. sokjan,
seek, Eng. seek; I. E. sag, sag. The G. connsaich is from
co-in-saigim, sagim, say, dispute ; Got. sakan, dispute, Eng.
forsake, sake.
ionnsuidh, attempt, approach, Ir. ionnsuigh, E. Ir. insaigid, a visit;
from in- and saigid, seeking out, visiting. See ionnsaich.
Hence the prep, dh^ ionnsuidh.
ionn tag, a nettle ; see deanntag.
ionntlas, delight (H.S.D.) ; from in- and tlath^
ionntraich, miss (Dial.) ; see ionndruinn.
ionraic, righteous, Ir. ionnruic, 0. Ir. inricc, dignus : *ind-rucci-
(Ascoli) ; possibly "^rucci- is for "^rog-ki, root rog, reg of
reacht.
ioraltan, harmless tricks : ■^a^V + alt.
ioras, down ; from air and \os. Dial, uireas.
iorbhail, infection, taint: *air-\-bail, " on-issue."
I
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 219
iorcallach, a robust man : " Hei'culean " ; from lorcall, Hercules,
a Gaelic word formed from the Latin one.
iorghuil, fray, strife, so Ir., 0. Ir. irgal ; from air and gal, q.v.
Also iorgull.
iorrach, quiet, undisturbed :
iorram, a boat song : *air-rdm, " at oar " song. Cf. iomram for
phonetics.
t ios, down, Ir. f ios, in phrases a nios, from below, sios, to below,
so Ir. ; 0. Ir. is, iss, infra, W. is, comp isel, sup. isaf, Br. is,
iz, isel, comp. iseloch : *enso or ^endso, from en, now an, in ;
Lat. %rmis, lowest, from *ins-mus, from in. Stokes cfs. rather
Skr. adhds, under {7idhas), Eng. under, giving the prehistoric
form as '''inso ; and there is much in favour of this view for
the meaning's sake, though most philologists are on the side
of en or end, now an, being root. Lat. imus or infimus would
then follow tlie Celtic.
iosal, low, Ir. iosal, 0. Ir. isel : *endslo-s ; see los above.
iosgaid, hough, poples, Ir. ioscaid, M. Ir. iscait, E. Ir. escait :
iosop, hyssop, Ir. iosdip ; from Lat. hyssopuin, whence Eng.
iotadh, thirst, Ir. iota, 0. Ir. itu, g. itad : "^isottdt-, root is, desire,
seek ; Gr. tor^ys, wish, cixepos, desire ; Ch. SI. iskati, seek ;
Skr. ish, seek, Zend, ish, wish,
iothlann, cornyard ; see iodhlann.
ire, progress, state, degree of growth, 0. Ir. hire, ire {ire), ulterior^:
"^(pjereio-, from per^ through, over ; Gr. Trepalos, on the other
side. Stokes makes the proportional comparison of these
forms thus : — (p)ereios : irepacos = (pjarei (now air) : TvapaL
iriosal, humble : *air-iosal, q.v.
iris, hen-roost, basket or shield handle, M. Ir. iris, pi. irsi, sus-
pender, shield handle, satchel strap : *are-sti-, from air and
sta, stand. See ros, seas.
is, is, Ir., 0. Ir. is, 0. Ir. iss, 0. W. iss, ^s = Gr. ka-Tt ; Lat.'es^, is ;
Eng, is, etc.
is, and, Ir., E. Ir. is ; seemingly an idiomatic use of is, is. Con-
sider the idiom ; " Ni e sin is mise an so " — " He w411 do it
and I here"; literally: "He will do it, I am here." It is
usually regarded as a curtailment of agus, and hence spelt
variously as a's, 'us.
isbean, a sausage ; from Norse ispen, a sausage of lard and suet
( = i-spen, from speni, a teat).
isean, a chicken, young of any bird, Ir. isean, E. Ir. essine, 0. Ir.
isseniu, pullo : '^ex(p)et-nio- % Root pet, fly ; that is, "^ ex-en-,
en being eun, bird,
isneach, a rifle gun ; from oisinn, corner % Meyer suggests from
isean, young of birds, comparing " fowling-piece."
220 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
ist ! whist ! Eng. vjhist I hist I Lat. st ! Onomatopoetic.
ite, a feather, Ir. iteog^ 0. Ir. Hte : "^ettid, *pH-tid, root pet^ fly ;
Gr. TTCTo/xai, I fly ; Lat. penna^ a wing i^pet-na)., Eng, pen ;
Eng. feather, Ger. Jittich ; etc. See eun. W. aden, wing, is
near related, iteachan, a spool, weaver's bobbin.
iteodha, hemlock. Cameron (29) suggests a derivation from ite^
the idea being "feather-foliaged."
ith, eat, Jr., 0. Ir. ithim : "^ito, *pit6^ I eat ; Ch. SI. pltati, feed :
Skr. pitu, nourishment, Zend pitu, food ; further Gr. ttltvs,
pine. Also fitb, fioth, corn, as in iodhlann, q.v.
iubhar, yew, Ir. iuhluAv, E. Ir. ibar^ Gaul. Eburos \ Ger. tberesche^
service-tree C^eharisc). So Schrader. It does not seem that
Ir. eo, W. 7/w, Br. ivin, "^ivo-, Eng. 7/e>f', can be allied to
iubhar. Hence iubrach, a yew wood, stately woman, the
mythic boat of Fergus M^ Ro in the Deirdre story.
Eboracum .?
iuc, corner, slit. See niuc.
iuchair, a key, Ir. eochair^ E. Ir. eochuir, Manx ogher, W. egoriad,
key, egor, agor, opening : ^ekuri- \ root stem pecu-, fastening,
whence Lat. pecu, cattle, Eng. fee. Cf. W. ebill, key, auger.
iuchair, the roe, spawn, Ir., M. Ir. iuchair: "^jekvwi-, Lat. jecur,
liver 1
iuchar, the dog-days :
iugh, a particular posture in which the dead are placed :
iiil, guidance, Ir. iul ; cf. edlas.
iullag, a sprightly female, iullagach, sprightly :
iunais, want, E. Ir. ingudis, 0. Ir. ingnais, absence : *in-gndth,
from gndth, known, custom ; see gndth. Also aonais.
iunnrais, stormy sky :
iunntas, wealth :
iurpais, fidgeting, wrestling ; cf. farpuis.
t iursach, suspensory (Oss. Ballads), applied to the mail-coat.
From iris. H.S.D. gives the meaning as "black, dark."
iuthaidh, fiuthaidh, iuthaidh, arrow, gun, etc. :
iutharn, hell ; for *ifher7i, a side-form of ifrinn.
1^, latha, day, Ir. Id, g. laoi, 0. Ir. lathe, laithe, lae, g. lathi, d.
lau, lou, Id : ^lasio-, root las, shine ; Skr, Idsati, shines ; Gr.
Xaw, behold.
laban, lapan, mire, dirt, Ir. Idbdn ; also laib. Cf. for root
Idthach (*ldth-bo-).
labanach, a day-labourer, plebeian, Ir. labdnach (O'B., etc. ; Sh.) ;
from Lat. labor ?
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE.
221
labhair, speak, Ir. lahhraim, E. Ir. lahraim, 0. Ir. labrur, labrathar,
loquitur, W. llafar, vocalis, lleferydd, voice, Corn, lauar,
sermo, Br. lavar, Gaul, river Labarus : *labro-, speak ; Gr.
Xd/3pos, furious, Aa/^pevo/xat, talk rashly. Bez. prefers the
root of Eng. Jiaj^. Others have compared Lat. labrum, lip,
which may be allied to both Celtic and Gr. (XafSpevofiai).
Hence G. and Ir. labhar, loud, 0. Ir. labar, eloquens, W.
llafar, loud, Gr. XdfSpos.
la-bhallan, water shrew (Suth.), la-mhalan (Forbes) :
lach, a wild duck, Ir., E. Ir. lacha ; cf. the Lit. root lak, fly.
lach, reokoning, contribution per head ; from the Sc. lauck, tavern
reckoning, lawing (do.), from the root of Eng. law.
lachan, a laugh ; from the Sc, Eng. laugh.
lachduinn, dun, grey, tawny, Ir., M. Ir. lachtna, grey, dun ; cf.
Skr. rakta, coloured, reddened, ranj, dye, whence Eng. lake,
crimson.
lad, lod, a load, Ir. lad ; from the M. Eng. laden, to lade.
lad, a mill lead ; from the Eng. lead, lade. For the N.H. meaning
of " puddle," see lod.
ladar, a ladle ; from the Eng. ladle by dissimilation of the liquids.
ladarna, bold, so Ir., M. Ir. latrand, robber, W. pi. lladron,
thieves ; from Lat. latro, latronis, a thief.
ladhar, a hoof, fork, so Ir., E. Ir. ladar, toes, fork, branch :
*pla^ro-n, root pla, extend.
lag, a hollow, Ir. log, a pit, hollow : *luggo-, root lug, bend ; Gr.
Xvyl^ix), bend ; Lit. lugnas, pliant. Stokes gives the basis as
"^lonko-, root lek, lenk, bend. Lit. lanka?^, a curve, lanka, a
mead, Ch. SI. laku, bent ; but this would give a in G. ; Ger.
lilcke, gap, blank.
lag, weak, Ir. lag, E. Ir. lac, M. Ir. lidce (pi.), W. Hag, sluggish :
*laggo-s, root lag ; Lat. langueo, Eng. languid ; Gr. Aayya^co,
slacken, Aayapos, thin ; Eng. slack, also lag, from Celtic. Cf.
AttK/COS.
lagan, sowens : *latag-ko- 1 Koot lat, be wet, Gr. Aara^, drop,
Lat. latex. See lathach.
lagh, law, Ir. lagh (obsolete, says Con.) ; from the Eng. The
phrase air lagh, set in readiness for shooting (as of a bow) is
hence also.
laghach, pretty, Ir. Idghach, laghach (Donegal) ; cf. M. Ir. lig,
beauty, root leg, Lat. lectus, chosen, Eng. election 1 Cf. 0. VV.
lin, gratia. Kluge says Eng. like.
l^idir, strong, Ir., E. Ir. Ididir :
laigh, luigh, lie, Ir. luigh, E. Ir. laigim, 0. Ir. lige, bed, W. gwe-ly,
bed (Cor. gueli, Br. ^i^e/e), Gaul, lega&it ( = ^o%\x\\jf) '. "^logo.
'lOO
ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
lego, to lie, * legos, bed, I. E. root legh, lie ; Gr. Acxos, bed,
Ae^erat, sleeps (Hes.) ; Got. iigan, Ger. liegan, Eng. lie, etc.
laimhrig', landing place, harbour : from N. hlad'-hamarr, pier or
loading rock, Shet. Laamar. Also lamraig.
laimhsich, handle, Ir. laimhsighim : *ldm-ast-ico-, from *la7nas,
handling, from lamh, q.v.
lainnir, brightness, polish, E. Ir. lainderda, glittering, glancing ;
also loinnear, bright, q.v.
lainnir, a falcon (Carm.) :
laipheid, an instrument for making horn-spoons :
lair, a mare, Ir. 0. Ir. lair, g. Idrach : *ldrex. Stokes suggests
connection with Alban. 'pele, pele, mare.
lairceach, stout, short-legged, fat, lairceag", a short, fat woman :
lairig, a moor, sloping hill, a pass ; cf. M. Ir. laarg, fork, leg and
thigh, 0. Ir. loarcc, furca. Often in place names :
laisde, easy, in good circumstances ; cf. Ir. laisti, a heavy, stupid
person ; from las, loose 1
laisgeanta, fiery, fierce ; from las, q.v.
laithilt, a weighing as with scales, Ir. laithe, scales : *platio-, root
plat, plet, as in leathan.
lamban, milk curdled by rennet (Dial.) ; see slaman.
lamh, able, dare, Ir. lamhaim, E. Ir. lamaim, 0. Ir. -laimur, audeo,
W. llafasu, audere. Cor. lavas?/, Br. lafuaez : *plam6, a short-
vowel form of the root of Idmfi, hand, the idea being " manage
to, dare to V Stokes says it is probably from "^tlam, dare,
Gr. ToXfxa, daring, Sc. thole ; see tldth. Windisch has com-
pared Lit. lemiu, lemti, fix, appoint.
lamh, hand, Ir. Idmh^ 0. Ir. lam, W. llaw, Cor. lof, 0. Br. lau ',
*ldmd, "^p/awa ; Lat. palma, Eng. ^yalm ; Gr. TraAa/xr; ; Ag. S.
folm, 0. H. G. folma. Hence lamhainn, glove, E. Ir. Idmind.
lamh, axe (Ross), Idmhaidh (Suth.) ; Idmhag, a small hatchet
(Arg.), M. Ir. laime, axe; 01. Slav. lomiU, break, *lam, Eng,
lame (St.).
lamhrag, a slut, awkward woman, lamhragan, awkward handling ;
from lamh : " underhand."
Ian, full, Ir., 0 Ir. Ian, AV. llawn_, 0. AV. laun. Cor. leun, len, Br.
leun : *ldno-, *pldno-, or pl-no- (Brug.), root pi, pld, pel ;
Skr. purnds, full ; further Lat. plenus ; Gr. Tr^jprfs, ttoXvs,
many ; Eng. full, etc. See also iol, Hon, linn.
lanain, a married couple, Ir. Idnamhain, E. Ir. Idnamain, 0. Ir.
Idnamnas, conjugium : * lag-no-, root log, leg, lie, as in laighl
Stokes divides the word thus : Idn-shamain. For samhain,
assembly, see samhainn.
l^nan, rafter beam, from Idnairi.
langa, a ling ; from Norse langa, Sc. laing, Eng. ling.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 223
langadar, seaware with long leaves (Lewis) :
langaid, a fetter, fetters (especially for horses), langar, Ir. lang-
fethir (O'B. ; Lh. has f langphetir), E. Ir. langjiter (Corm. Gl.,
" English word this"), W. llyfethar^ M. W. lawhethyr ; from
Eng. lang (long) and fttter. The Sc. has langet, langelt^
which is the origin of G. langaid.
langaid, the guillemote (Heb.) ; from Sc. (Shetland) longie, Dan.
langivie (Edmonston).
langaiseachadh, pulling a boat along by a rope from the bank :
langan, lowing of the deer ; from the Sc, Eng. loiving 1
langasaid, a couch, settee ; from Sc. langseat, lang-settle, " long
seat."
lann, a blade, sword, Ir. lann, also " a scale, scale of a fish, disc "
(Arg., M'A.) : '^'lag-s-na 1 Root lag^ as in E. Ir. laigen, lance,
W. llain, blade, Lat. lanceo, Gr. Aoyx'^? lance-point. Thur.
(Zeit. 28) suggests *plad-s-na, "broad thing"; Gr. TrXaddvr],
Ger. Jiaden, fiat cake, further G. leathann, broad, etc. 0. Ir.
lann, squama, is referred by Stokes to *larana, allied to Lat.
lamina, Lamna ; which would produce rather 0. Ir. "^lamn,
Modern lamhan. Ir. lann, gridiron, is doubtless allied to
0. Ir. lann.
lann, an inclosure, land, Ir. lann, E. Ir. land, W. llan, 0. W. lann,
area, ecclesia, Br. lann : "^landd ; Teut. land, Eng. land.
See iodhlann.
lannsa, a lance, Ir. lannsa ; from the Eng.
lanntair, a lantern, Ir. laindear ; from the Eng.
laoch, a hero, Ir. laoch, a soldier, hero, E. Ir. Idech, a hero,
champion: *laicus, soldier, "non-cleric," E. Ir. Idech, laicus,
W. lleyg ; all from Lat. laicus, a layman, non-cleric.
laogh, a calf, so Ir., E. Ir. loeg, W. llo. Cor. loch, Br. leue, M. Br.
lue: *loigo-s, calf, "jumper," root leig, skip Got. laikan,
spring. Lit. Idigyti, skip, Skr. rejati, skip (see leum further).
It is possible to refer it to root leigh, lick : "the licker."
laodhan, pith of wood, heart of a tree, Ir. laodhan, laoidhean ;
also G. glaodhan, q.v.
laoighcionn, lao'cionn, tulchan calf, calf-skin ; from laogh and
^cionn, skin, which see under hoicionn. Crann-laoicionn,
wooden block covered with calf-skin (Wh.).
laoidh, a lay, so Ir., E. Ir. Ided, laid, 0. Ir. loid : *ludi-^. Alliance
with Teutonic liujp, Eng. lay, Fr. lai, Ger. lied, is possible if
the stem is ludi- ; cf. for phonetics draoidh and ancient
drilis, druidos, Druid, Gaul. Lat. druidce (Stokes).
laoineach, handsome ; cf. loinn.
laoir, drub lustily (M'A.), laoireadh, rolling in the dust (H.S.D.).
Cf. leir.
224 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
laoiscionn, thin membrane inside of sheep and cattle (Lewis) ;
N. laiiss-sMn, loose skin %
laoisg, a group, crowd (disparagingly) (Skye) :
laom, a crowd, lodge (as corn), Ir. laomdha, bent, M. Ir. /oem,
crowd, heap :
laom, a blaze, Ir. laom ; from Norse Ijomi, ray, Ag. S. leoma, So.
leme, to blaze.
laom, go to shaw (as potatoes) (Skye) :
laom-chrann, main beam of a house (Wh.) :
laosboc, a castrated goat :
laoran, a person too fond of the fire-side :
lapach, benumbed, faltering ; cf. lath, Lapanaich, bedraggle
(Perth).
lar, the ground, Ir., 0. Ir. Idr, W. llawr, 0. Cor. lor, 0. Br. laur,
solum, Br. leur : ^Idro-, ^pldro ; Eng. Jloor, Ag. S. ^6r, Norse
Jlor, Ger. flur ; root pld, broad, broaden, Lat. pldnus, Eng.
plain, etc.
larach, a site, Ir. Idithreach, 0. Ir. Idthrach ; from Idthair, q.v.
las, loose, slack, W. llaes ; from Lat. laxus, Eng. lax.
las, kindle, lasair, flame, so Ir., E. Ir. lansaim, lassa.ir, W. llachar,
giean>ing : *laksar- ; Skr. lal^shati, see, show, 0. H. G. luogen
(do.). Also by some referred to "^lapsar-, Gr. Acc/attw, shine,
Eng. la^np, Pruss. lopis, flame. See losgadh. Windisch has
compared Skr. arc, re, shine. Hence lasgaire, a youth,
young " spark " ; lastan, pride, etc.
lasgar, sudden noise :
lath, benumb, get benumbed. Cf. W. Had.
l^thach, mire, clay, Ir., E]. Ir. lathach, coenum, W. llaid, mire, Br.
leiz, moist : "^latdkd, "^latjo-, root lat, be moist ; Gr. Xdra^,
Xdrayes, drops ; Lat. latex, liquid.
lathailt, a method, a mould (Wh.) :
l^thair, presence, Ir. Idthair, O. Ir. Idthar, lathair : "^latri-, "^Idtro-,
root pldt, pld, broad ; Lettic pldt, extend thinly ; further in
G. Idr above. Asc. refers it to the root of 0. Ir. Idaim, I
send, which is allied to Gr. kXavvoy, I drive, etc. Hence
Urach.
le, by, with, Ir, le, 0. Ir. la, rarer le : "^let ; from leth, side.
16a ba^, a flounder ; see lebO. Also leobag".
leabaidh, a bed, leabadh, Ir. leaba, leabuidh, E. Ir. lepaid, lepad,
g. leptha : *lehboti-, *leg-huto- " lying-abode," from root leg,
AeX) lie, as in laigh ? W. bedd.
leabhar, a book, so Ir., 0. Ir. lebor, W. llyfr ; from Lat. liber.
leabhar, long, clumsy, M. Ir. lebur, 0. Ir. lebor, long : ^lebro-,
root leg.^ hanging, Gr. \ol36<i, a lobe ; Eng. lappet ; also Lat.
liber, book.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 225
leac, a flag, flag-stone, so Ir., E. Ir. lecc, W. llech : "^liccd, ^Ip-kd^
root lep, a shale ; Gr. AeTras, bare rock ; Lat. lapis, stone.
Stokes and Strachan refer it to the root plk, flat, Lat. plcmca,
Eng. plank, Gr. irXa^, plain,
leac, a cheek, leacainn, a hill side, Ir. leaca, cheek, g. leacan,
E. Ir. lecco, g. leccan : ^lekkoii- ; 0. Pruss. laygnan, Ch. SI.
lice, vultus. Root liq, lig, appearance, like, Gr. -XUos, Eng.
like, li/ke-wixke, Ger. leichnam body.
leadair, mangle, so Ir., E. Ir. letraim, inf. letrad, hacking :
*leddro- :
leadan, flowing hair, a lock, teasel, Ir., leaddn, M. Ir. leddn, teasel.
Root li, stick ; see liosta.
leadan, notes in music, Ir. leaddn, musical notes, litany ; from
Lat. litania, litany.
leag, throw down, Ir. leagaim, inf. leagadh : ^leggo, from leg, root
of laigh, lie (cf. Eng. lay) 1 The preserved g may be from
the analogy of leig, let ; and Ascoli refers the word to the
0. Ir. root leg, lig, destruere, sternere : foralaig, straverat,
dolega, qui destruit.
leagarra, self-satisfied, smug (Arg.) :
leagh, melt, so Ir., 0. Ir. legaim, legad, W. llaith, moist, dad
leithio, melt, Br. leiz : ^lego ; Eng. leak, Norse leka, drip,
Ger. lechzen.
leamh, foolish, insipid, importunate, Ir. leamh ; cf. E. Ir. Ie7)i,
everything warm (?) and soft (Corni. sub le7)ilacht, new milk,
W. llefrith, sweet milk, Corn, leverid, liuriz ; 0. Ir. lernnact,
sweet milk) ; consider root lem, break, as in Eng. lame, etc.
leamhan, elm, Ir. leamhann, leamh, M. Ir. lem : *lmo- ; Lat. ulmus,
Eng. elm : *elmo-. W. Ihvyf {^leimd) is diflerent, with which
is allied (by borrowing V) Eng. lime in lime-tree.
leamnacht, tormentil, Ir. iieamhain :
leamhnad, leamhragan, stye in the eye, W. llefrithen, llyfelyn :
*limo-, "ooze" ? Cf. Lat. llmus, mud, lino, smear, Eng. loam.
I6an, 16ana, a lea, swampy plain, Ir. leana (do. ) : *lekno- "? Cf .
Lit. lekns, lekna, depression, wet meadow (cf. Stokes on lag
above) ; this is Mr Strachan's derivation. The spelling
seems against referring it, as Stokes does, to the root lei, Gr.
Aet/xwv, meadow. Lit. leija, a valley ; though W. llivyn, grove,
favours this. Cf. W. lleyn, low strip of land.
lean, follow, Ir. leanaim, 0. Ir. lenim, W. can-lyn, dy-lyn, sequi :
*linami, I cling to ; Skr. lindmi, cling to ; Lat. lino, smear ;
Gr. aAtvw (do.) ; "^lipndmi. Lit. lipti, cleave to ; root It, li,
adhere. Inf. is leanmhuinn.
27
226 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
leanabh, a child, Ir. leanhh, E. Ir. lenah : Henvo- ; from lean %
Corm. gives also lelap^ which, as to termination, agrees with
G. leanaban. Cf. aXocfivpfioai.
leann, ale, see lionn.
leannan, a sweetheart, Ir. leanndn, a concubine, E. Ir. lennan,
lendan, concubine, favourite : lex-no-, root leg, lie, as in laigh 1
From lionn ; cf. black 1
lear, the sea (poetical word), Ir. lear, E. Ir. ler, W. llyr : *liro-,
root li, flow, as in lighe, flood. Stokes gives the Celtic as
ler OS, but offers no further derivation.
learag, larch ; from Sc. larick, Eng. larch, from Lat. larix {*darix,
as in darach, q.v.).
learg, leirg, plain, hillside, Ir. learg, E. Ir. lerg, a plain ; cf. Lat.
largus, Eng. large.
learg, diver bird (Carm.) :
leas, advantage, Ir. leas, 0. Ir. less, W. lies. Cor. les, Br. laz :
"^lesso-, root pled, fruit; SisiV. plodu, fruit (Stokes, Bez.).
leas-, nick-, step-, Ir. leas-, 0. Ir. less-, W. lli/s- (W. llysenw = Qf.
leas-ainm), Br. les- ; same as leas above : " additional." Cf.
Fr. use of beau, belle for step-. Stokes suggests "^lisso-, blame,
root leid, Gr. AotSopew, revile (Lat. ludere V) ; others compare
leas- to Ger. taster, vice (see lochd) ; Bez. queries connection
with Ag. S. lesve, false, Norse lasinn, half-broken.
leasg^, leisg, lazy, Ir. leasg, 0. Ir. lesc, W. llesg : "^lesko-s ; Norse
loskr, weak, idle, 0. H. G. lescan, become extinguished, Ger,
erloschen (Stokes). Brugmann and others give stem as *Zec?-
SCO-, comparing Got. latz, lazy, Eng. late, to which Norse
loshr may be referred i*laikwa-z) ; root led, lad. eAti/vvw,
rest (Zeit.34, 531).
leasraidh, loins, Ir. leasruigh, pi. of leasrach ; see lets.
leathad, declivity, hillside ; cf. Ir. leathad, breadth. See leud.
leathan, broad, so Ir., 0. Ir, lethan, W. llydan, 0. W. litan, Br.
ledan, Gaul, litano-s : ^Itano-s, Gr. TrXarvs, broad ; Skr.
prdthas, breadth ; Lat. planta, sole of the foot, sprout : root
plet, plat, extend.
leathar, leather, so Ir., E. Ir. lethar, W. lledr, M. Br. lezr, Br. ler :
*letro- ; Eng. leather, Ger. leder, Norse le^r. To prove
that the Teutons borrowed this word from the Celts, it is
asserted that the original Celtic is *(p)letro-, root pel of
Gr. TreAAa, hide, Eng. fell.
leatrom, burden, weight, leatromach, pregnant, Ir. leathtrom,
burden, pregnancy ; from iHh and trom.
leibhidh, race, generation (M^ Ithich, 1685) ; from Eng. levy'^
leibhidh, amount of stock (Carm.) :
leibid, a trifle, dirt, leibideach, trifling, Ir. libideach, dirty,
awkward :
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 227
leideach, strong, shaggy, Ir. leidmheach^ strong (O'B,), 0. Ir.
letenach, audax :
leig, let, Ir. leigim, 0. Ir. leiccim, lecim : ^leinqio ; Lat. linquo ;
Gr. AetVw : Got. leikvan, Eng. loan.
leigh, a physician, leigheas, a cure, Ir. leigheas, M. Ir. leges ; see
lighiche.
leine, a shirt, so Ir., E. Ir. lene, g. lenith, pi. lenti : ^leinet-, from
lein, lin ; Lat. linum, flax, Eng. linen^ Sc. Under ; Gr. Atra,
cloth, Xivov, flax. See Aow-. Strachan refers it, on the
analogy of deur = dakro-, to laknet-, root lak, of Lat. lacerna,
cloak, lacinia, lappet.
16ir, sight, Ir. leir, sight, clear, 0. Ir. leir, conspicuous. If
Strachan's phonetics are right, this may be for *lakri-, root
lak, see, show, W. llygat, eye. Cor. lagat, Br. lagad, eye, Skr.
lakshati, see, show, 0. H. G. luogen (do.), as in las, q.v.
leir, gu leir, altogether, Ir. leir, M. Ir. ^ezV, complete, \V. llwyr,
total, altogether : ^leiri-s :
l^ir, torment, to pain : *lakro-, root ^a^, as in Lat. lacero, lacerate 1
leirg, a plain ; see learg.
leirist, a foolish, senseless person, slut (leithrist) :
leis, thigh, Ir. leas, leis, hip, 0. Ir. less, clanis ; "^ler.a, root lek ;
Eng. leg, Gr. Aaf, kicking (St.). Nigra connects it with
leth, side. See slios.
leisdear, arrow-maker ; from the Eng. Jietcher, from Fr. fleclie,
arrow. See fleasg.
leisg, laziness, lazy, Ir. leisg (n.) ; see leasg.
leisgeul, excuse ; from leth and sgeul, "half-story."
leithid, the like, so. Ir., E. Ir. lethet \ from leth, half, side.
leithleag, leileag, print for frocks :
leitir, a hillside, slope, E. Ir. lettir, g. lettrach, W. llethr, slope :
^lettrek-. It may be from "^leth-tir, " country-side," or from
let of leathan ; cf. W. lleth, flattened, " broadened."
leob, a piece, shred, Ir. leab, a piece, leadhh, a patch of old leather,
M. Ir. ledb : "^led-ho- ; for root led, cf . leathar '? Hence leob,
a hanging lip, leobag, l^abag, a flounder. Cf, Norse leppr,
a rag (Craigie).
leobhar, long, clumsy ; see leabhar.
Ie6cach, sneaking, low :
leddag, a slut, prude, flirt :
leog, a slap in the head (M'D.) :
leogach, hanging loosely, slovenly :
leoir, enough, Ir., E. Ir. leor, I6r, 0. Ir. lour, W. llawer, many :
"^lavero-, root lav, lau, gain, Lat. lucrum, gain, Laverna, Skr.
lota, booty, Eng. loot, etc. Stokes refers W. Rawer to the
comparative stem of pie, full ; see liuth.
228 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
leom, conceit, leomais, dilly-dallying ; cf. Ir. leoghaim, I flatter,
leom, prudery.
leomann, moth, Ir. leomhan, leamhann, E. Ir. legam.
leomhann, leog^hann, lion, Ir. leomhan, 0. Ir. leoman ; from Lat.
leo, leonem.
leon, wound, Ir. leonaim, E. Ir. lenaim, wound, len, hurt ; this
Strachan refers to "^lakno-, root, lak, tear, as in Lat. lacero^
lacerate, Gr. AaKi?, a rent. But cf. leadradh, E. Ir. leod,
cutting, killing, ^ledu, root led, ledh, fell, Lat. lahi, Eng.
lapse.
leth, side, half, Ir., 0. Ir. leth, W. lied, 0. Br. let : Hetos ; Lat.
latus. Brugmann refers it to the root plet, broad, of leathan.
leth-aon, twin, leth-uan : E. Ir. enmin, twins, "^jemnos :
lethbhreac, a correlative, equal, match ; from leth and breac ("?).
lethcheann (pron. lei'chean), the side of the head, cheek ; from
leth and ceann, with possibly a leaning on the practicall}'' lost
leac, leacann, cheek.
leud, l6ad, breadth, Ir. leithead, 0. Ir. lethet ; see leathan.
leu^, a precious stone, Ir. Hag, a stone, M. Ir. leg, leg-logmar,
0. Ir. lia, g. liacc : ^levink- ; Gr. Aaty^, g. Xdcyyos, a small
stone. Acta?, stone ; Ger. lei, stone, rock, Ital. lavagna, slate,
schist.
leug, laziness, lazy, slow ; see sleig.
leugh, l^agh, read, Ir. leaghaim, M. Ir. legim, 0. Ir. legim, roleg,
legit, legend, reading ; from Lat. lego, I read, Eng. lecture, etc.
leum, a jump, Ir., 0. Ir. leim, leimm, W. Ham, Br. lam, O. Br.
lammam, salio : "^lengmen-, 0. Ir. vb. lingim, I spring, root
leg, leng \ Skr. langhati, leap, spring ; M. H. G. lingen, go
forward, Eng. light, etc. The 0. Ir. perfect tense lehlaing
has made some give the root as vleng, vleg, Skr. valg, spring,
Lat. valgus, awry, Eng, ivalk ; and some give the root as
svleng, from svelg. It is difficidt to see how the v or sv before
I was lost before I in leuDi.
leus, lias, a torch, light, Ir. leus, E. Ir. Ms, less, 0. Ir., leshoire,
lightbearer : "^plent-to-, from plend, splend, Lat. splendeo, Eng.
xplendid (Strachan). Cf. W. llwys, clear, pure.
li, colour, 0. Ir. li, Hi, W. llivf. Cor. liu, color, Br. liou, 0. Br.
liou, liu, : ^'livos- ; Lat. livor, lividus, Eng. livid.
t lia, a stone, 0. Ir. lia, g. liacc ; see leug.
liagh, a ladle, Ir., M. Ir. liach, 0. Ir. Hag, trulla, scoop, W. llwy,
spoon, spattle, Cor. loe, Br. loa : leigd, ladle, root leigh. Ugh,
lick (as in imlich, q.v.) ; Lat. ligula, spoon, ladle.
liath, gray, so Ir., E. Ir. liath, W. llwyd, canus, 0. Br. loit, M. Br.
loet : *leito-, *pleito-, for *peleito- ; Gr. TrekiTvos, livid ; Skr.
palitd, gray ; Lat. pallidus ; Eng. fallow, Ag. S. fealo, yellow.
Cf. 0. Fr. Hart, dark grey, Sc. lyart (^leucardus ?).
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 229
liathroid, a ball (M'D., liaroid) :
liatrus, blue-mould, liathlas, liatas : Hath + 1
lid, liod, a syllable, lisp, lideach, liotach, lisping, Ir. liotadh, a
lisp (Fol.) ; cf. Gr. Ait>}, prayer, Lat. lito, placate.
lidh, steep grassy slope : N. hlid'1
ligeach, sly ; from the So. sleekie, sleekit, sly, smooth, Eng. sleek.
lighe, a flood, overflow, Ir., E. Ir. Ha, 0. Ir. lie, eluvio, W. Hi,
flood, stream, lliant, fluctus, fluentum, Br. livad, inundation ;
root lij leja, flow ; Skr. riyati, let run ; Lit. leti, gush ; Gr.
Xifxyy], lake, Aeio?, smooth, Lat. levis, level, Itmus, mud ; etc.
Stokes hesitates between root li and roots pleu (Eng. Jlow)
and lev, lav, Lat. lavo, luo.
lighiche, a physician, Ir. liaigh, g. leagha, E. Ir. liaig, 0. Ir. legih,
medicis : Got. leikeis, Eng. leech.
linig, lining ; from the Eng.
linn, an age, century, offspring, Ir. linn, 0. Ir. linn, lin, pars,
numerus : "^lenu-, horn, plen, as in linn, fill (Brug.), q.v.
linne, a pool, linn, Ir. linri, E. Ir. lind, W. lli/n, M. W, lin7i. Cor.
Ii7i, Br. lenn : *linnos, root li, li, flow ; Gr. At/xvr;, lake, etc. ;
see lighe.
linnean, shoemaker's thread ; from Sc. Iinga7i, lingel, from Fr.
ligneul, Lat. ^lineolum, linea, Eng. line.
linnseag", shroud, penance shirt ; founded on the Eng. linsey.
liobarnach, slovenly, awkward, so Ir. ; founded on Eng. slippers/ 1
liobasda, slovenly, awkward, so Ir. ; see slibist.
liobh, love (Carm.) :
liod, lide, syllable ; see lid.
liomh, polish, Ir. liomhaim, liomhaim, M. Ir. limtha, polished,
sharpened, W. llifo, grind, whet, saw ; Lat. limo, polish,
whet, limatus, polished, root, li, lei, smooth, flow.
lion, flax, lint, Ir, lion, E. Ir. Vin, W. llin. Cor., Br. lln : *linu- ;
Lat. Itnum, flax ; Gr. Xlvov, flax, Atra, clotli ; Got. lein,
0. H. G. lln ', Ch. SI. linii ; root lei, li, smooth, flow.
lion, a net, Ir. lion, 0. Ir. lin ; from the above word.
lion, fill, Ir. lionaim, 0. Ir. linaim : "^leno, "^pleno ; Lat. plenum,
full ; Gr. irX'rjprj's, full ; root pie, pld, as in Ian, q.v. Hence
lionar, lionmhor, numerous.
lion, cia lion, how many ; same as linn, 0. Ir. lin.
lionn, leann, ale, so Ir., 0. Ir. lind, M. Ir. lind dub, W. llyn :
"^lennu- ; same root and form (so far) as linne, q.v. This is
proved by its secondary use in G. and Ir. for "humours,
melancholy." Stokes suggests for both connection with Gr.
irXaSapos, moist,
lionradh, gravy, juice; from lion, "fullness'"?
230 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
lios,*a garden, Ir. lios, a fort, habitation, E. Ir. liss, less, enclosure,
habitation, W. llys. aula, palatium, Br. les, court, 0. Br. lis :
*lsso-s, a dwelling enclosed by an earthen wall, root plet,
broad, Eng. place, Gr. TrAari!?, broad ; 0. H. G. Jlezzi, house
floor, Norse ^e^, a flat. For root, see leathan.
liosda, slow, tedious, importunate, so Ir., M. Ir. liosta, lisdacht,
importunity, E. Ir. lista, slow : *li-sso-, root li, smooth, Gr.
Awrcros, smooth, Aetos, as in lighe.
liosraig, smooth, press (as cloth after weaving), dress, sliosraig
(Badenoch) ; compare the above word for root and stem.
liotach, stammering, lisping. See lid.
lip, Hop, liob, a lip, Ir. Hob ; from Eng. lip.
lipinn, lipinn, a lippie, fourth of a peck ; from Sc. lippie.
lirean, a species of marine fungus (H.S.D.) :
lit, porridge, M. Ir. lite, E. Ir. littiu, g. litten, W. llith, mash :
*litti6n- (Stokes), *plt-ti6, from pelt, polt, Gr. ttoAtos, porridge,
Lat. puis, pultis, pottage.
litir, a letter, so Ir., E. Ir. liter, W. llythyr, Br. lizer ; from Lat.
liter a.
liubhar (H.S.D. liubhar), deliver ; from the Lat. libera, Eng.
liberate.
liug, a lame hand or foot, sneaking look, Ir. Hug, a sneaking or
lame gait, liugaire, cajoler, G. liug'air (do.) :
liuth, liutha, liuthad, many, many a, so many, Ir., 0. Ir. lia,
more, 0. VV. liaus, Br. liez : ^{p)lej6s, from pie, full, Gr.
TrAetwv ; Lat. plus, plures, older pleores ; Norse fleiri, more.
liuth, a lythe ; from the Sc.
liuthail, liuil, bathing, from liu, li. water (Carm.) ; M. Ir. lia,
flood (Stokes, 249).
loban, loban, lopan, a creel for drying corn, basket, wooden frame
put inside corn-stacks to keep them dry, basket peat-cart,
peat-creel ; from N. laupr, basket, timber frame of a build-
ing, Shet. loopie, Ag. S. leap.
lobanach, draggled, lobair, draggle ; from lob, puddle (Arm-
strong) : "^loth-bo-, loth of Ion, q.v. ?
lobh, putrefy, Ir. lobhaim, 0. Ir. lobat, putrescant, inf. lobad, root
lob, wither, waste ; Lat. Idbi, to fall, Idbes, ruin, Eng. lapse.
lobhar, a leper, so Ir., 0. Ir. lobur, infirmus, W. llwfr, feeble,
0. W. lobur, debile, M. Br. loffr, leprous, Br. laour, lovr, lor,
leper. For root see above word.
lobht, a loft, Manx lout, Ir. lota (Connaught) ; from Norse lopt,
Eng. loft.
locair, plane (carpenter's), Ir. locar ; from Norse lokar, Ag. S.
locer.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 231
loch, a lake, loch, Ir., E. Ir. loch : Hokii- ; Lat. lacus ; Gr.
XoLKKos, pit.
lochd, a fault, so Ir., 0. Ir. locht, crimen : "^loktu-, root lok, lak,
Gr. AttK-, Xd(TKCt), cry ; 0. H. G. lahan, blame, Ag. S. leahan,
Ger laster^ a fault, vice, Norse lostr. Eng. lack, leak, Hak %
lochdan, a little amount (of sleep), Ir. lochdaiyi, a nap, wink of
sleep (Arran and Eigg, lochd) :
lochran, a torch, light, Ir. lochrann, 0. Ir. locharn, luacharn, W.
llugorn, Cor. lugarn : "^hukarnd, root louq, leuq, light ; Lat.
lucerna, lamp, lux, light ; Gr. Acuko?, white.
lod, lodan, a puddle, Ir. lodan : "^lusdo-, *lut-s, root lut, lu, Lat.
lutum, mud, Gr. Av/xa, filth.
lod, a load, Ir. lod ; from the Eng.
lodhainn, a pack (of dogs), a number : "a leash ;" see lomhainn.
lodra^an, a clumsy old man, plump boy :
logais, log^aist, awkward, unwieldy person, loose slipper or old
shoe (Arg.) ; from Eng. log. Of. Sc. loggs. Eng. luggage^.
logar, sea swash (Lewis) :
logh, pardon, Ir. loghadh (n.), E. Ir. logaim, 0. Ir. doluigim.
Stokes refers it to the root of leagh, melt.
16ghar, excellent :
loguid, a varlet, rascal, soft fellow, M. Ir. locaim, I flinch from :
loibean, one who works in all weathers and places ; cf. Idib, under
laban.
loiceil, foolishly fond, doting, Ir. loiceamhlachd, loiceamhlachd
(O'B.), dotage :
loigear, an untidy person, ragged one :
loine, a lock of fine wool, tuft of snow : Cf. Aa^v^;
loinid, churn staff, Ir., M. Ir. loinid. Stokes takes from N.
hlunnr, O'R. has limn, churn-dasher.
16inidh, rheumatism, greim-loinidh :
loinn, good condition, charm, comeliness, joy, Ir. loinn, joy, M. Ir.
lainn, bright ; from pleiid, Lat. splendeo, Eng. splendid,.
Hence loinnear, bright. So Stokes.
loinn, glade, area ; oblique form of lann, the locative case in
place names.
loinn, a badge ; a corruption of sloinn %
loinnear, bright, elegant, E. Ir. lainderda, glittering : *lasno-,
from las flame, q.v. '? Cf. lonnrach. See loinn.
loinneas, a wavering :
loirc, wallow, loir (Perth) :
loirc, a deformed foot, lorcach, lame ; cf. lure, lore.
loireag, a beautiful, hairy cow ; a plump girl, pan-cake, water-
nymph (Carm.) ; cf. lur, lurach.
232 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
loireanach, male child just able to walk ; cf. luran.
loiseam, pomp, show :
loisneach, cunning : " foxy ; " Ir. loisi, los, a fox : "^luxo- ; Gr.
Xvy^t lynx, O. H. G. luhs, Ang. S. lox, lynx.
loistean, a lodging, tent, Ir. loisiln ; from the Eng lodging.
loithrsach, ragged (Hend.) :
lom, bare, Ir. lom^ 0. Ir. lomm, W. Uwm : "^lummo-, '^'lups-mo-,
root lup, peel, break off; Lit. iitpti, peel, Ch. SI. lupiti,
detrahere ; Skr. lumpami, cut off. Hes. has Gr. Av/xvos =
yv[jLv6^, which Stokes suggests alternately. Hence lomradh,
fleecing, 0. Ir. lommraim, tondeo, abrado, lommar^ bared,
stripped ; which last Stokes compares rather to Lat. lamherat^
scindit ac laniat.
lombair, bare ; cf. 0. Ir. lommar, bared (see lom). Possibly the h
is intrusive, as in Eng. number^ slumber.
lomchar, bare place ; from lom and cuir, cor.
lomhainn, a leash, Ir. lomna, a cord (O'Cl.), 0. Ir. loman, funis,
lorum, W. llyfan, Cor. louan, Br. loujfan, tether : *lomand.
lomhair, brilliant :
lomnochd, naked, so fr., E. Ir. lomnocht ; from lom and nochd,
naked.
lompair, a bare plain ; see lombair, which is another spelling of
this word.
lompais, niggardliness, Ir. lompais ; from "^lommas, from lom.
16n, food, Ir., M. Ir. I6n, 0. Ir. loon, adeps, commeatus, 0. Br. Ion,
adeps : '^'louno-. Strachan and Stokes cf. 0. SI. pluti, caro,
Lit. pluta, a crust, Lettic pluta, a bowel. Bez. queries if it is
allied to L. Gqv. Jiom, raw suet, 0. H. Q.Jloum. It was usual
to refer it to the same root as Gr. ttAoi^tos, wealth ; and
Ernault has suggested connection with blonag ('^vlon), which
is unlikely.
16n, marsh, mud, meadow (Arg.), water (Skye) : ^lut-no-, root lut,
muddy, 0. Ir. loth, mud, Lat. lutum ; further root lu, lou, as
in lod. It may be from *louno-, with the same root ; cf.
M. Ir. conluan, hounds' excrement.
Ion, lon-dubh, the blackbird, Ir., M. Ir., 0. Ir. Ion. Stokes refers
it to *lux-7io- (root leuq, light, Lat. lux, etc.), but this in the
G. would give lonn.
Ion, elk, M. G. Ion (D. of L.), Ir. Ion : *lono- ; cf. 0. Slav, lani^
hind, and, further, Celtic *elant, roe (see eilid).
Ion, a rope of raw hides (St Kilda) : possibly a condensation of
lomhainn.
Ion, lon-chraois, gluttony, M. Ir. Ion crdis. Kuno Meyer, ( Vision
of M^Conglinne) translates Ion separately as " demon." For
craois see craos. Ion, water (Carm.) + craos 1
OF THE ©AELIC LANGUAGE. 233
Ion, prattle, forwardness, Ir. lonaigh, a scoff, jest, W. llon^ cheer-
ful : "^luno-, root, lu, lav, enjoy, win, W. llawen, merry ; Gr.
aTToAavo), enjoy ; Got. latin, reward. See further under luach.
lan-aighear, boisterous mirth (Wh.) ?
long, a ship, Ir. long, E. Ir, long, vessel (vas), ship, W. Hong, ship :
^longd ; Norse lung, ship (Bez.) ; cf. Lat. lagena, flagon
(Stokes). Usually supposed to be borrowed from Lat. (navis)
longa, war ship. Cf. Ptolemy's River Aoyyos, the Norse
Skipafjor&r, now Loch Long, "^plugnd 1 Eng. Jly 1
longadh, a diet, so Ir., E. Ir. longad, eating ; a side form of slug^
which see for root.
longphort, harbour, camp, palace, Ir. longphort (do.) ; from long +
port. Hence luchairt, palace ; longart, lunkart, in place-
names.
lonn, timber put under a boat for launching it ; from Norse
hlunnr, a roller for launching ships.
lonn, anger, fierce, strong, Ir. lonn, 0. Ir. lond, w^ild. Stokes
{Zeit.^^, 557) doubtfully suggests connection with Skr.
randhayati, destroy, torment.
lonnrach, glittering, so Ir. ; cf. loinnir. lonrach, well fed (Hend.).
Idpan, soft, muddy place (Suth.) : see laban.
lore, shank (Carm.) :
lorg, a staff, Ir., E. Ir. lorg, Cor. lorc^h, baculus, Br, lorclien,
temo : * lor go-, Norse hirkr, a cudgel (Bez., Cam.).
lorg, track, footstep, Ir., E. Ir. lorg, 0. Ir. lore, trames, lorgarecht,
indago, W. llyr, course, duct, Cor. lergh, lerch, Br. lerc'h,
track : "^lorgo-. Bez. compares L. Ger. lurken, creep. Rhys
adds W. llwrw, direction {Manx Pray.^, 127).
los, purpose, sake, Ir., E. Ir. los, sake, behalf, part, M. Ir. las,
growth; a los, "about to" (Wh.) ; in dohhran losleathan,
beaver (otter of broad tail), Ir. los, tail, end (O'Cl.), W. Host,
Br. lost, Hosto-, lostd :
losaid, a kneading trough, Ir. losad, E. Ir. lossat : ^lossantd,
*lok-s-, root lok, lek ; Gr. XeKO's, a dish, pot ; Lit. lekmene, a
puddle ; Lat. lanx, dish.
losgadh. a burning, Ir. loscadk, E. Ir. loscud, W. llosg, urere. Cor.
lose (n.), Br. losk : "^losko, I burn, ^lopsko, root, lop, lap ; Gr,
Xdfnro), shine ; 0. Pruss. lapis, flame, Lett, lapa, pine-torch
(Stokes). See lasair, to whose root it is usually referred.
losgann, a toad, Ir. loscain, E. Ir. loseann ; from losg above, so
named from the acrid secretions of its skin.
lot, wound, so Ir., E. Ir. lot, damage, loitim, laedo : ^^ lotto, *lut-to-^
root lut, lu, cut ; Skr. lu-, cut ; Gr. Avw, loose ; Eng. loss^
lose ; Pruss. au-laut, die. Stokes refers it to a stem "^lud-nd-,
28.
234 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
root lud, Teut. root, lut, Eng. lout, little, Norse liita, to lout,
bow, Ag. S. lot, dolus, etc.
lot, share, etc., one's croft (Lewis) :
loth, a colt, Manx, Ihiy, W. llivdn, young of deer, sheep, swine,
hens, etc.. Cor. lodn (do.), M. Br. lozn, beast, Br. loen, animal :
*pluto-, ^'plutno- ; cf. Lat. pidlus, foal, Eng. filly.
loth, marsh (Suth.) 0. Ir loth, mud ; see further under Ion.
Hence Loth parish,
lothaii, the plant brook-lime, Ir. lothal (O'B.), lochal :
luach, worth, value, Ir. luach, 0. Ir. log, luach : "^lougos, root lou,
III, gain ; Lat. lucrum, gain, Laverna, the thieves' goddess ;
Got. laun, a reward, Ag. S. lean (do.) ; 0. Slav, lovu, catching,
luachair, rushes, Ir., E. Ir. luachair : "light-maker," from ^owA;,
light (Lat. lux, etc.), M. W. lieu babir, rush-light.
luadh, fulling cloth ; cf. Ir. luadh, motion, moving, root ploud
(Lit. plaudzu, wash, Eng. fieet), a side-form of the root of
luath. But compare dol.
Itiaidh, mention, speaking, Ir. luadh, 0. Ir. luad : *laudo- ; Lat.
laus, laudis, praise. Hence luaidh, beloved one: "spoken
or thought of one."
luaidh, lead, Ir., M. Ir. luaidhe : ^loudid ; Eng. lead, Ag. S. lead
C^lauda-), Ger, loth.
luaimear,'a prattler, Ir. luaimearachd, volubility ; see next word,
luaineach, restless, Ir. luaimneach, E. Ir. luainnech, volatile (as
birds), luamain, flying; root p long, fly; Eng.^y, Ger. fliegen,
Norse fljuga.
luaireag^an, a grovelling person, a fire-fond child ; from luaith,
ashes : " one in sackcloth and ashes " 1
luaisg, move, wave, luasgadh (n.), Ir. luasgaim, M. Ir. luascad,
0. Br. luscou, oscilla, Br. luskella, to rock: *lousk6, "^ploud-sko-,
root ploud or plout, plou, go, flow, move, as in luath, q.v.
Bez. queries connection with Lit. pluskdt, plukt, pluck, tear.
luan, moon, Monday, so Ir. ; M. Ir., 0. Ir. luan, moon, Monday :
"^loukno-, Lat. lux, luceo, luna, moon. The Gadelic is possibly
borrowed from Lat. Ir. go Id an Luain, till doomsday.
luaran, a dizziness, faint :
Itiath, ashes, Ir. luaith, E. Ir. luaith, W. lludw, Cor. lusu, Br. ludu :
*loutvi-. Bez. queries if it is allied to Ger. lodern, to flame,
luath, swift, Ir. luath, 0. Ir. luath : *louto-, root plout, plou, go,
flow, be swift; Eng. j^ee?!, Norse ^Joir, swift (root pleud) ; Gr.
ttAcco, 1 sail ; Lat. pluit, it rains ; Skr. plavate, swim, fly.
Itib, bend, Ir., M. Ir. lubaim, E. Ir. lupaim {ro-lupstair, they bent,
L. Leinster) : lubbo, root leub, lub ; Eng. loop, M. Eng. loupe,
noose ; Avyifw, see lag. Skeat regards the Eng. as borrowed
from the Celtic. Hence luib, a fold, creek, angle.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 235
luch, a mouse, Ir., 0. Ir. luch, g. lochat, W. llyg, llygoden^ Corn.
logoden, Br. logodenn, pi. logod : Hukot-^ "^pluko-, "gray one";
Lit. pilkas, gray, pele, mouse ; root pel, pol, gray, as under
liath. Stokes refers it to the Gadelic root luko-, dark (read
lauko- or louko-), whence E. Ir. loch (read I6ch), which he takes
from I. E. leuq, shine (Lat. lux, etc.), comparing W. llwg,
livid, blotch}^, to which add W. Hug, blotch, dawning. From
this obsolete G. word Idch, dark, comes the name of the rivers
Lbchaidh, Adamnan's Nigra Dea or Loch-dae, which we may
take as the G. form of it from another of his references.
Itichairt, a palace, castle ; see longphort.
luchd, people, Ir. luchd, 0. Ir. lucht, W. llivyth, tribe : *lukto-,
horn plug, pulg, Y^n^. folk, Ger. volk, whence 0. '^\oy. phiku,
a troop.
luchd, a burden, Ir. luchd, E. Ir. lacht, W. llyetJi, a load : lukto-.
The 0. W. tluith (or maur-dluithmim, multo vecte) has
suggested "^tlukto-, allied to Lat. tollo, raise (Stokes). Eng.
flockl.
ludag^, the little finger, Ir. lughadog, 0. Ir. luta, d it. lutain :
"^luddon-, root lud, lud, Eng. little, Ag. S. lytel, 0. H. G. luzil ;
root lu. III, Eng. loss, -less, Gr. Aiw, etc.
ludag", ludan, ludnan, a hinge, ludanan, hinges, Ir. ludrach (FoL),
ludcich, ludann (O'R.) :
ludair, a slovenly person, ludraig, bespatter with mud, luidir,
wallow, Ir. ludar (n), ludair (vb.) ; two words from lod, mud,
and luid, rag.
ludhaig, permit, allow : from the Eng. ''lowing, allowing, lughaic,
stipulate for (Hend.).
lugach, having crooked legs, lugan, a deformed person, luigean,
a weakling : ^luggo-, root leug, lug, bend, Gr. Avyt^oj, bend.
Lit. lugnas, pliant.
lugh, swear, blaspheme, 0. Ir. luige, oath, W. Ihv, Br. le : *lugio-n,
oath, "binding"; Got. liugan, wed, 0. H. G. urliugi, lawless
condition, Ag. S. orlege, war.
lugh, a joint (M'A.), luighean, a tendon, ankle, Ir. luthach, joints,
luighean, a nave, M. Ir. luithech, sinew.
lugha, less, Ir. lugha, 0. Ir. lugu, laigiu, positive, lau, lu, little,
W. llai, less, from llei, Br. lei, from lau : ^legios, from "^legu-s,
little : Lat. levis ; Gr. eAax^g, little ; Skr. laghd-s, light, Eng.
light.
luibh, an herb, Ir. luihh, 0. Ir. luib, luhgort, herb-garden, garden,
W. lluarth, garden. Cor. luvorth, Br. liorz, garden : "^luhi-,
herb ; Norse lyf, herb. Got. lubja-leisei, witchcraft, " herb-
lore," 0. H. G. luppi, poison, magic, Ag. S. lyb (do.).
236
ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
luid, luideag, a rag, a slut, Ir. luid : "^luddi, root lit, cut, lose, as
under lot.
luidhear, a vent, chimney, louvre, W. Uwfer ; from M. Eng.
louere, lover, smoke-hole, 0. Fr. lover. The Norse lj6r% a
louvre or roof-opening, is from Ijos, light.
luidse, a clumsy fellow ; from the Sc. lotch, lout, louching, louting.
luig'ean, a weak person ; see lugach.
luigh, He ; see laigh.
luighean, an ankle : cf. E. Ir. lua, foot, kick, 0. Ir. lue, heel :
luighe-siubhladh (laighe-siubhladh), child-bed, Ir. luidhsiuhhail
(FoL), M. Ir. ben siuil, parturient woman, luige seola, child-
bed. Stokes refers siuil to M. Ir. siul, bed, and compares the
Eng. phrase to be brought a-bed. The G. and Ir. seem against
this, for the idea of luighe-siubhladh would then be " bed-
lying " ; still worse is it when leabaidh-shiiiladh is used.
Consider siubhal, bearing.
luigheachd, requital, reward : '''lugi-, root lug, hug, as in luach.
luim, a shift, contrivance :
luimneach, active (Smith's .S'. D.) ; cf. luaineach.
luinneag, a ditty, Ir. luinnioc, chorus, glee, M. Ir. luindiuc,
luindig, music-making ; *lundo-, root lud, as in laoidh, Eng.
layl
luinneanach, tossing, floundering, paddling about ; see lunn, a
heaving billow.
luinnse, luinnsear, a sluggard, lazy vagrant, Ir. lunnsaire, idler^
watcher ; from Eng. litngis (obsolete), lounger.
luir, torture, drub (M'A) ; see laoir.
luireach, a coat of mail, Ir. luireach, E. Ir. Idirech, W. llurig ;
from Lat. lorica, from lorum, a thong. Hence luireach, a
patched garment, an untidy female.
luirist, an untidy person, tall and pithless :
lum, part of the oar between the handle and blade ; from N.
hlumr, handle of an oar.
luma-lan, choke-full, also lom-lan and lumha-lan (Hend.) ; from
lo7}i -^ Icm.
luman, a covering, great-coat, Ir. lumain, E. Ir. lumman (g. lumne,
M'Con.). In some dialects it also means a "beating," that is
a " dressing,"
lunasd, lunasdal, lunasdainn, Lammas, first August, Ir. lughnas,
August, E. Ir. lugnasad, Lammas-day : " festival of Lug " ;
from Lug, the sun-god of the Gael, whose name Stokes con-
nects with Ger. locken, allure, Norse loMia (do.), and also
Loki (?). E. Ir. nassad, festival (I), is referred l3y Rhys to the
same origin as Lat. nexus, and he translates lugnasad as
"Lug's wedding" {Hib. Led., 416).
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 237
lunn, a staff, oar-handle, lever ; from Norse hlunnr, launching
roller. See lonn. Dial. lund.
lunn, a heaving billow (not broken) ; also lonn. See lonn, anger,
lunndair, a sluggard; cf. Fr. lendore, an idle fellow, from M.H.G.
lenttrn, go slow, Du. lent em. Br. landar, idle, is borrowed
from the Fr.
lunndan, a smooth grassy plot (possibly " marshy spot," Rob.).
Hence place-name An Lunndan.
lunndraig, thump, beat ; from the Sc. lounder, beat, loundering, a
drubbing.
lur, delight, lurach, lovely, luran, darling, a male child ; *luru-,
root lu, lau, enjoy, as in Ion.
lure, a crease in cloth ; from Sc, lirk, a crease, M. Eng. lerke,
wrinkle,
lurcach, lame in the feet ; see loirc.
lur dan, cunning, a sly fellow ; from Sc. lurdane, worthless person,
M. Eng. lourdaine, lazy rascal, from 0. Fr. lourdein (n.), lourd,
dirty, sottish, from Lat. luridum.
lurg, lurgann, a shank, Ir., E. Ir. lurgu, g. lurgan ; W. llorp,
llorf, shank, shaft.
lus, an herb, plant, Ir. lus, E. Ir. luss, pi. lossa, W. llysiau, herbs,
Cor. les, Br. louzaouen : *htssu-, from '^'lubsu-, root lub of luibh.
luspardan, a pigmy, sprite, Martin's Lusbirdan ; from lugh, little
(see lugka), and spiorad.
lilth, strength, pith, Ir. liitk, E. Ir. luth ; cf. 0. Ir. lut/i, velocity,
motion, from the root pleu, plu of luath. Or tliUh, from tel 1
M
ma, if, Ir. ma, 0. Ir. md, ma, Cor., Br. ma (also mar) ; cf. Skr.
sma, smd, an emphatic enclitic ( = " indeed ") used after
pronouns, etc., the -sm- which appears in the I. E. pronoun
forms (Gr. dfijie = iis-sme, us).
mab, a tassel; a side-form of pab, q.v.
mab, abuse, vilify :
mabach, lisping, stammering ; cf. M. Eng. 7najten, Du. majfelen, to
stammer.
mac, a son, Ir. 7)iac, 0. Ir. mace, W. mab, 0, W. map, Cor. mab,
Br. map, mab, Ogam gen. maqvi : ^maHo-s, ^makvo-s, son,
root 7nak, rear, nutrire, W. magu, rear, nurse, Br. maguet :
I. E. mal:, ability, production ; Gr. fiaKpos, long, fxaKap,
blessed ; Zend macanh, greatness ; Lettic mdzn, can, be
able. Kluge compares Got. magaths, maid, Ag. S. magjy,
Eng. maid, further Got. magus, boy, Norse m'Ogr, which,
238 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
however, is allied to 0. Ir. mug (pi. mogi), slave. The Teut.
words also originally come from a root denoting " might,
increase," Gr. /x>jxos, means, Skr. mahas, great. Hence
macanta, mild : " filial."
macamh, a youth, generous man, Tr. macamh, macaomh, a youth,
E. Ir. maccoem : from mac and caomh.
mach, a mach, outside (motion to "out"), Ir. amach, E. Ir.
immach ; from in and magh, a field, mach being its accusative
after the prep, m, into : " into the field." Again a muigh,
outside (rest), is for E. Ir. immaig, in with the dat. of magh :
"in the field." See an, ann and magh.
machair, a plain, level, arable land, Manx magher, Ir., M. Ir.
machaire, macha ; "^makarjo-, a field ; Lat. mdceria, an
enclosure (whence W. 7nagw2/r, enclosure, Br. moger, wall).
So Stokes. Usually referred to *magh-thir, " plain-land,"
from magh and th\
machlag, matrix, uterus, Ir, viachldg (O'B., etc.), M. Ir. macloc ;
cf. Ger. magen, Eng. maw.
macnas, sport, wantonness, Ir. macnas (do.), macras, sport,
festivity ; from mac.
mactalla, macalla, echo, Ir., M. Ir. macalla ; from mac and
obsolete all, a cliff, g. aille {^allos), allied to Gr. 7reAA.a,
stone (Hes.), Norse fjall, hill, Eng. fell. See also fail,
which is allied.
madadh, a dog, mastiff, so Ir., M. Ir. madrad : E. Ir. matad
(McCon.), maddad (Eel.), W. madog, fox (cf. W. madryn,
reynard) : '^maddo-, "^mas-do-, the mas possibly being for mats,
the mat of which is then the same as math- of mathghamhuin,
q.v. Connection with Eng. mastiff, Fr. matin, 0. F. mestiff,
from *mansatinus, "house-dog," would mean borrowing.
madadh, mussel :
madog, madog, a mattock, W matog ; from M. Eng. mattok, now
mattock, Ag. S. mattuc.
madar, madder, Ir. madar the plat madder ; from the Eng.
madhanta, valiant, dexterous in arms, Ir. madhanta : " over-
throwing," from the E. Ir. verb maidim, overthrow, break,
from "^mato, Ch. SI. motyka, ligo, Polish motyka, hoe (Bez.).
maduinn, morning, Ir. maidin, 0. I. matin, mane^ maten ; from
Lat. matutina, early (day), Eng. matin.
mag, a paw, hand, lazy bed, ridge of arable land, E. Ir. mac, :
*mankd, root man, hand, Lat. Tnanus, Gr. /xa/oiy, Norse mund,
hand. Sc. maig is from Gaelic.
magadh, mocking, Ir. magadh, W. mocio ; from the Eng. mock.
magaid, a whim ; from Sc. mag gat, mag get.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 239
ma^airle(an), testicle(s), Ir. magairle, magarla, E. Ir. macraille
(pi.) : "^magar-aUie, " magar stones ; " -magar, and all of
mactalla : magar = "^maggaro-, root mag, meg, great, powerful,
increase ^ Cf., however, mogul.
m^gan, toad ; properly mial-mhaffain, " squat beast ;" from md,g
above.
magh, a plain, a field, Ir. viagh, 0. Ir. mag, W. ma, maes
{*magestu-). Cor. mes, Br. maes, Gaul, magos : *magos, *7nages-,
field, plain, " expanse," from root magh, great, Skr. mahi, the
earth, mahas, great ; G. ft^x^S means, Lat. machina, machine ;
Got. magan, be able, Eng. may.
mag^han, stomach : N. magi.
maghar, bait for fish, so Ir., E. Ir. magar (Corm.), small fry or fish :
maibean, a cluster, bunch ; see mab.
maide, a stick, wood, Ir., E. Ir., matan, a club : *viaddio-,
*mas-do-; Lat. ynalus ( = "^mddiis), mast ; Eng. mast.
m^idhean, delay, slowness :
maidse, a shapeless mass :
maidsear, a major ; from the Eng.
M^igh, May, E. Ir. Mdi ; from Lat. Mains, Eng. May.
maigean, a child beginning to walk, a fat, little man : from mag.
maighdeag, concha veneris, the shell of the escallop fish ; from
maighdean ? Cf. madadh, mussel.
maighdean, a maiden, so Ir., late M. Ir. maighden (F. M.) ; from
M. Eng. magden, m,aiden, Ag. S. moegden, now maiden.
maigheach, a hare, Ir. miol bhuidhe (for miol mhuighe), E. Ir. mil
maige, "plain beast"; from mial and m^igJi. The G. is an
adj. from magh: '^mageco-, " campestris."
maighistir, maighstir, master, Ir. maighisdir, \1. Ir. magisder,
W. meistyr. Cor. maister ; from Lat. magister, Eng. master.
m^ileid, a bag, wallet, knapsack, Ir. mdileid, mdilin ; see mala.
maille ri, with, Ir. maille re, 0. Ir. immalle, malle ; for imb-an-
leth, "by the side," mu an letk now.
maille, mail armour ; from the Eng. mail.
mainisdir, a monastery, so Ir., E. Ir. manister ; from Lat. 7nonas-
terium.
mainne, delay, Ir. mainneachdna ; cf. 0. Ir. mendat, residence,
0. G. maindaidib (dat. pi.), Skr. mandiram, lodging, habita-
tion ; Lat. mandra, a pen, Gr. fxdvSpa (do.).
mainnir, a fold, pen, goat pen, booth, Ir. mainreach, mainneir,
M. Ir. maindir, ; Lat. mandra, Gr. [xavSpa, pen, as under
mainne. K. Meyer takes it from early Fr. maneir, dwelling,
Eng. manor.
mair, last, live, Ir. mairim, 0. Ir. maraim : "^marb ; Lat. mora,
"■ delay i^mr-).
240 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
maireach, to-morrow, Ir. mdrach, E. Ir. imbdrack, to-morrow,
iainiabdrach, day after to-morrow, W. bore, boreu, morning,
y fory, to-morrow, M. W. avory, Br. beure, morning, "^bdrego-
(Stokes, Zimmer) : "^mf-ego-, root mfgh, mrgh {mrg V) ; Got.
matirgins, morning, da maurgina, to-morrow, Eng. morrow,
Ger. morgen, etc,
mairg, pity ! Ir. mairg, E, Ir. mairg, vae : "^margi- ; Gr. [xdpyo<s,
mad, Lat. morbus (I). Usually referred to ^mo-oirc, "^mo
oirg, "my destruction," from oiy, destroy, (See tuargan).
mairiste, a marriage ; from the Eng.
m^irneal, a delay, Ir. maimeulachd, tediousness, a sailing :
mairtir, a martyr, so Ir., E. Ir. martir, W. merthyr ; from Lat.
martyr, from Gr. [xaprvs, iJiapTvpo<s, a witness.
maise, beauty, so Ir., E. Ir. maisse, from mass, comely ; root mad,
med, measure, Eng. meet, Ger. mdssig, moderate ; further
Eng. mete, etc.
maistir, urine, so Ir. ; '^madstri, root mad, Lat. madeo.
maistreadh, churning, so Ir. ; root mag : Gr. fiayis, /xaa-a-w, Ch,
SI. masla, butter.
maith, math, good, Ir., 0. Ir. maith, W. mad. Cor. mas, M. Br.
mat : *mati-s, root mat, met, measure, I. E. me, measure, as
in meas, q.v. 1 Bez. suggests as an alternative Skr. upa-mdti,
afFabilis, Gr. /^art? (=/x€yas, lies.).
maith, math, pardon, Ir. maitheam (n.), E. Ir, matliem, a forgiving,
W. madden, ignoscere, root 7]iad, " be quiet about," Skr.
mddati, linger, mandas, lingering, Got. ga-motan, room ; see
mainnir, Rhys regards the W. as borrowed from Ir. ; if so,
G. is same as maith, good.
mal, rent, tax, M. Ir. mdl, W. mdl, bounty ; from Ag. S. mdl,
tribute, M. Eng. mdl, now mail (black-ma^7), Sc. mail.
m^la, a bag, budget, Ir. mdla ; from the M. Eng. male, wallet,
bag (now mail), from 0. Fr. male, from 0. H. G. malha.
mala, pi., malaichean {ruailghean in Arg., cf. duilich, duilgke),
eyebrow, Ir. mala, 0. Ir. mala, g. malach, M. Br. malvenn,
eyelash : *malax ; Lit, blakst'enai, eyelashes, blakstini, wink,
Lettic mala, border, Alban. maV, hill, border.
malairt, an exchange, so Ir,, M. Ir. malar taigim, I exchange, also
"destroy": in E. Ir. and 0. Ir. malairt means "destruction,"
which may be compared to Lat. malus, bad.
male, putrefy : ^malqo ; Lit. nu-smelkiu, decay, Servian mlaky
lukewarm (Strachan), 0. H. G. mola(h)wen, tabere (Bez.). It
has also been referred to the root mel, grind.
m^lda, gentle, Ir. mdlta ; Gr. [xaXOaKos, soft (see meall).
mall, slow, Ir., 0. Ir. mall (W. mall, want of energy, softness 1) ;
Gr. /xeAAo), linger {^melno-) ; Lat. pro-mello, litem promovere.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 241
It has also been referred to the root of Gr. /xaA6^aK09, soft
(see meall), and to that of Lat. mollis, soft, Eng. inellow.
mallachd, a curse, so Jr., 0. Ir, maldacht, W. mellith, Br. mallocli;
from Lat. maledictio, Eng. malediction.
mam, large round hill, Ir. mam, mountain, M, Ir. mamirti, breast,
pap (O'Cl.) : " breast, pap," Lat. mamma, mother, breast,
Eng. mamma, etc. Hence mam, an ulcerous swelling of the
armpit,
mam, a handful, two handfuls, Ir., M. Ir. mam, handful, W.
mawaid, two handfuls : "^mdmmd (Stokes), from "^manmd,
allied to Lat. manus, hand "? Cf., however, mag.
man, a mole on the skin, arm-pit ulcer ; side form mdm.
manach, a monk, Ir., E. Ir. manach, M. Ir. mainchine, monkshlp,
monk's duties (cf. ahdaine), W. Tnynach, Br. vianac.'h ; from
Lat. monachus, Eng. monk. Hence manachainn, a monastery.
manach, the angel fish :
manachan, the groin :
manadh, an omen, luck, E. Ir. mana, omen ; Lat. moneo, warn,
advise ; Ag. S. manian, warn, exhort.
manas, the portion of an estate farmed by the owner, a large or
level farm ; from tlie Sc. mains, Eng. manor.
mandrag, mandrake, Ir. 7nandrdc ; from the Eng. W. mandragor
is from M. Eng. ma7idragores, Ag. S. mandragora.
mang, a fawn, M. Ir. mang, E. Ir. mang (Corm.) : Celtic root mag
(mang), increase, Eng. maiden. Got. magus, boy (see mac).
mang'an, a bear ; see mathghamhain.
mannda, manntach, lisping, stammering, Ir. manntach, toothless,
stammering, E. Ir. mant, gum, 0. Ir. lyiend, dumb, etc., Ir.
meann, dumb (O'Br.), W. mant, jaw, mantach, toothless jaw :
^mandsto-, jaw ; Lat. mandere, eat, mandihula, a jaw ; further
is Eng. meat, Gr. /xatrao/xat, chew, eat, root mad.
manran, a tuneful sound, a cooing, humming, Ir. manrdn :
maodail, a paunch, stomach, ruminant's pouch, Ir. meadaii,
maodal, meadhail (Lh.), M. Ir. medhal (Ir. GL, 235), metail :
"^mand-to- 1 Root mad^ mand, eat, as under mannda 1
maoidh, grudge, reproach, Ir. maoidhim, grudge, upbraid, brag,
E. Ir. mdidim, threaten, boast, 0. Ir. moidem, gioriatio :
'^'moido- ; root moid, meid ; M. H. G. gemeit, grand, 0. H. G.
kameit, jactans, stolid us, 0. Sax. gemed, stupid. Got. gamaids,
bruised. See iniadh.
maoidhean, personal influence, interest ; from Sc. moyen (do.), Fr.
moyen, a mean, means, Eng. means, from Lat, medianus,
median, middle,
29
242 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
maoile, brow of a hill ; see maol.
maoim, terror, onset, eruption, surprise, Ir. maidhm^ a sally,
eruption, defeat, E. Ir. maidm, a breach or breaking, defeat :
"^matesmen- (Stokes), "^mato, break ; Ch. SL, Pol. motyha, a
hoe. Some give the root as allied to Skr. math, stir, twirl,
Lit. menturis, whorl.
maoili, wealth, Ir. maoin, 0. Ir. main : "^moini- ; Lat. munus,
service, duty, gift (Eng. munificence), communis, common ;
Got. ga-mains, common, Eng. mean ; Lit. mainas, exchange.
maoineas, slowness ; see maidhean.
maoirne, a bait for a fishing hook (N.H.), maoirnean, the least
quantity of anything ; cf. maghar, root mag, grow.
maois, a large basket, hamper, maois-eisg, five hundred fish, Ir.
maois, W. mwys, hamper, five score herring, Cor. muis, moys ;
Sc. mese, five hundred herring, Norse meiss, box, wicker
basket, meiss sild, barrel-herrings, 0. H. G. meisa, a basket
for the back ; Lit. maiszas, sack, Ch. SI. mechu. The relation-
ship, whether of affinity or borrowing, between Celtic and
Teutonic, is doubtful. The Brittonic might come from Lat.
mensa, a table, and the Gadelic from the Norse.
maoiseach, maoisleach, a doe, heifer : maol-sech {maol, hornless) ;
see mis.
maol, bald, Ir. maol, 0. Ir. mdd, mail, W. moel, Br. maol : "^mailo-s ;
Lit. mailus, something small, smallness, Ch. SI. m'eluku, small ;
further root mei, lessen (see maoth). The Ir. mug, servant,
has been suggested as the basis : *mag(u)lo-, servile, " short-
haired, bald"; but this, though suitable to the W., would
give in G. mdl. Cf. Ir. mdl, prince, from "^maglo-. Hence
maol, brow of a hill or rock, W. moel, a conical hill "?
maolchair, the space between the eyebrows ; from maol.
maol-sn^imheil, lazy, careless, indifferent (H.S.D.), maol-sne{imh),
maol-sniomh (Rob.), a lazy one :
maor, an officer of justice or of estates, Ir. maor, an officer, 0. G.
moer, mdir (B. of Deer), W. maer, steward ; from Lat. major,
whence Eng. mayor.
maorach, shell-fish, Ir. maorach ; cf. Gr. jxvpaiva {v long), lamprey,
a-[jivpos, eel.
maoth, soft, Ir. maoth, E. Ir, moeth, 0. Ir. mdith : "^moiti-s ; Lat.
mitis, mild ; further root mei, lessen (see mm).
mar, as, Ir., M. Ir. mar, E. Ir., 0. Ir. immar, quasi : *ambi-are,
the prepositions imon (now mu) and air ? W. mor, as, Corn.,
Br. mar, is explained by Ernault as unaccented Br. meur, G.
mdr, big.
mar ri, M. G. far ri (D. of L.) : from mar and ri.
\
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 243
marach, a big, ungainly woman (Arg.) ; from mor, with neuter
termination ach. Also m^raisg.
marag", a pudding, M. Ir. maroc, hilla, E. Ir. mar, sausage ; from
the Norse morr, dat. mdrvi, suet, blod'-morr, black pudding.
marasgal, a master, regulator, Ir., M. Ir. marascal, regulator,
marshal ; from M. Eng. and 0. Fr. 7)iarescal, now marshal.
marbh, dead, Ir. 7narbh, 0. Ir. 7narb, W. raariv^ Cor. marow^ Br.
maro, M. Br. Tnarv ; '^7narvo-s, root mr ; Lat. mo7ior, die ;
Lit. mirti, die ; Gr. fxapaLvoj, destroy ; Skr. mar, die.
marc, a horse, G. and Ir. marcach, a horseman, E. Ir. marc, horse,
W., Cor., Br. march, Gaul. jxapKa-v (ace.) : '^''7narho-s, "^markd ',
0. H. G. marah, mare, meriha, horse, Norse marr, mare,
Ag. S. 7nearh, Eng. mare and r}iarshal.
marg, a merk : from the Eng. 7nark, Sc. merk, Norse mork, g.
markar.
margadh, a market, so Ir., M. Ir. margad, 7narcad, E. Ir. 7narggad
from M. Eng. market, from Lat. mercatus.
m^rla, marl, Ir. mdrla, W. ma7l ; from Eng. 7narl. The G. has
the sense of " marble " also, where it confuses this word and
Eng. marble together.
marmor, marble, Ir. 7narmur ; from Lat. mar mor. A playing
marble is in the G. dialects marbul, a marble.
marrach, enchanted castle which kept one spell-bound, labyrinth.
thicket to catch cattle (M'A.). Root mar, 7ner, deceive, as in
mear, brath.
marrum, marruin, cream, milk, and their products (Carm.).
Cf. marag.
marsadh, marching, Ir. marsdil ; from the Eng.
mart, a cow, Ir. mart, a cow, a beef, E. Ir. 7nart, a beef ; hence
Sc. mart, a cow killed for family (winter) use and salted,
which Jamieson derives from Martinmas, the time at which
the killing took place. The idea of 7tiart is a cow for killing :
"^mao^d, from root 7nar, die, of marbh ?
Mart, March, Ir. Mdrt, E. Ir. mairt, g. marta, W. Mawrth ; from
Lat. Martins, Eng. March.
martradh, maiming, laming, Ir. mairtrighim, murder, maim,
martyrise, 0. Ir. martre, martyrdom ; from Lat. martyr, a
martyr, whence Eng
maSj the buttock, Ir. 7iid.^, E. Ir. r^idss : "^mdsto- ; Gr. /xr/Sea,
genitals, /xao-ros, /^a^os, breast, cod, /xaSaw, lose hair ; Lat.
madeo, be wet ; root mad, mad.
mas, before, ere : see mns.
m^san, delay, Ir. masaTi (O'B., etc.) :
masg, mix, infuse ; from the Sc. mask, Swed. 7ndske, to mash,
Fries, mask, draff, grains, Eng. mash.
244 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
masgul, flattery :
masladh, disgrace, Ir. masla, madadh^ despite, shame, disgrace :
math, good, Ir. TYiaih ; see maith. This is the commonest form in
G., the only Northern Dialect form,
math, forgive : see maith.
mathaich, manure land ; from math 1
mathair, mother, Ir. mdthair, 0. Ir. mdthir, W. modryb, dame,
aunt, 0 Br. niotrep, aunt : "^mdter ; Lat mater ; Gr. {x-jrijp^
Dor. fjLOLTrjp (a long) ; Norse, mod'ir, Eng. mother ; Skr. mdtdr.
mathg'hamhuin, a bear, Ir. mathghamhuin, E. Ir. mathgaman^
from math- and gamhainn ; with math, bear (?), cf. W.
madaivg^ fox, and possibly the Gaul, names Matu-genos,
Matims, Teuto-matus, etc.
meacan, a root, bulb, Ir. meacan, any top-rooted plant, 0. Ir.
meccun, mecon, Gr. pJKwv, poppy ; 0. H. G. mdgi, Ger. mohn \
Ch. SI. maku : "^mekkon-, root mek, mak of mac 'I
meachaini], mercy, an abatement, meachair, soft, tender,
meachran, hospitable person, Ir. meach, hospitality :
meadar, a wooden pail or vessel, Ir. meadar, a hollowed-out
drinking vessel, churn, M. Ir. metur ; from Lat. metrun,
measure, metre, meter.
meadar, verse, metre ; for root, etc., see above word,
meadhail, joy ; see meadhrach.
meadh-bhlath, luke-warm : " mid-warm ;" 0. Ir. mid-, mid-, root
med, medh, as in next,
meadhon, the middle, so Ir., 0. Ir. medon, irn-medon, M. W. ymeun,
W. mewn, within, Br. y meton, amidst ; cf. for form and root
Lat. medidnum, the middle, Eng. mean, further Lat. mcdius,
middle ; Gr. /xecros ; Eng. middle ; etc.
meadhrach, glad, joyous, Ir. meadhair, mirth, meadhrach, joyous,
E. Ir. medrach : ^^medro- \ Skr. 7)iad, rejoice, be joyful, mdda,
hilarity. But medu, ale *?
m^ag", whey, Ir. meadhg, E. Ir. medg, W. 7naidd {'^medjo). Cor.
maith, 0. Br. meid, Gallo-Lat. mesga, whey, whence Fr. megue :
^mezgd, whey ; 0. Slav, mozgu, succus, marrow (Thurneysen),
to which Bruginann adds 0. H. G. marg, marrow (Eng.
marrow), Lit. mazgoti, wash, Lat. mergo, merge,
meaghal, barking, mewing, alarm ; see mia.mhail.
meal, possess, enjoy, Ir. mealadh (n.), M. Ir. melaim, I. enjoy :
possiblj'^ from the root mel, mat, soft, as in mealhhag. Cf.
0. Ir, meldach, pleasant, Eng. mild.
mealasg", flattery, fawning, great rejoicing ; see miolasg.
mealbhag, corn poppy ; cf. Lat. malva, mallow, whence Eng.
mallow ; Gr. fxaXdxr}, root mal, mel, soft, " emollient," Gr.
/xaAaK09. soft, Lat. mulcere.
OF THE GAELIC lANGtJAGE. 245
mealbhan, sea bent (Suth.), sand dunes with bent (W. Ross) :
mealg, milt of fish ; for ^fealg = sealgl
meall, a himp, hill, Ir. meall, lump, knob, heap, E. Ir. ynell, Br.
mell, joint, knot, knuckle, Gaul. Mello-dunum C?), now Melun :
*mello-, from *melno- ; 0. Slav, iz-moleti, just out, protuberate
(Bez. with query) ; *mlso ; cf. Gr. /xeAos, limb, part.
meail, deceive, entice, Ir. meallaim, M. Ir. mellaif}!, deceive, E. Ir.
mell, error : melso (Stokes), root mel, mal, bad ; Lat. nialus ;
Lit. milyti, mistake, melas, lie ; Gr. jxekeos, useless ; Armen.
7neX, peccatum. 0. Ir. meld, pleasant (l), Gr. a/xaAos, root
mela, grind.
meallan, clach-mheallain, hail, Ir. mealldn (Fol., O'R.) ; from
meall, lump %
meambrana, parchments, Ir. meamrum, 0, Ir. meynhrum ; from
Lat, memibrana, skin, membrane, from membrum,.
meamhair, meomhair, memory, Ir. meamhair, 0, Ir. mebmr, W.
myfyr ; from Lat. memoria, Eng. memory.
meamna, meanmna, spirit, will, Ir. meanma (n.), meanmnack (adj.),
0. Ir. menm.e, g. menman, mens ; *menmes, g. menmenos, root
men, mind, think ; Skr. mdnman, mind, thought, manye,
think ; Lat. memini, remember, mens \ Gr. jj^efiova, think,
[ivrj[xa, monument ; Eng. mean, mind ; etc.
mean, meanbh, small, E. Ir. menbach, small particle : "^inino-,
"^niinvo-, root min ; Lat. minus, Eng. diminish, Lat. minor,
minutus, minute ; Gr. ixlvvOm, lessen ; Got. 7ni7is, less : root
mi, mei. See mi-. Stokes gives also an alternate root men,
Skr, mandh, a little, Lat. mancus, maimed. Lit. menhas, little.
meanachair, small cattle, sheep or goats (Dial.) ; for meanbh-
chrodh.
m^anail, a yawn, Ir. meanfach, E. Ir. men-scailim, I yawn,
" mouth-spread," men, mouth, menogud, hiatus ; cf. W. Tnin,
lip, edge, Cor. min, meen, Br. miin, snout. Strachan and
Stokes suggest the stem "^maknd, ^mekno-, root mah ; Ag. S.
maga, stomach, Ger. magen, Eng. maw.
meang^, g^iile? Ii*- m.eang, E. Ir. meng : ^mengd ; Gr. jjidyyavov,
engine (Eng. mangle), [layyavevio, juggle ; Lat. mango, a
dealer who imposes. Cf. N. mang, traffic, monger.
meang, whey ; Dial, for meag.
mean^an, meanglan, a twig, Ir. meangdn, beangdn : '*'mengo-,
Celtic root meg, mag, increase ', see under maighdean, mac.
Cf. M. Ir. maethain, sprouts.
meann, a kid, Ir. meanndn, meann, W. myn, Cor. min, Br. menn :
*7nendo-, kid, " suckling " ; Alban. ment, suck ; 0. H. G.
manzon, ubera ; perhaps Gr. /xafo?, breast (Stokes, Strachan)
246 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
It may be from the root min^ small (*minno-), a form which
suits the W. best.
meannd, mint ; from the Eng.
meantairig, venture ; from Eng. venturing. W. mentra.
mear, merry, Ir. mear ; of. Eng. merry ^ Ag. S. merge, myrige,
0. H. G. murg, murgi (root mrgli). The E. Ir. mer, mad, is
allied to tnearachd. 0. Ir. meraigim, prurio. Lat. rneretrix.
mearachd, error, Ir. mearaighim, I err, mearughadh, a mistaking,
erring, M. Ir. merugud, wandering, root mer, mr ; Gr.
aixapravo), miss (see hrath) \ Eng. mar, Got. marzian, cause to
stumble. Cf. E. Ir. mer, mad, meracht, mad act, 0. Ir.
7neraige, a fool, 0. Br. mergidkaam, I am silly, which Loth
joins to Gr. [xapyo^, mad.
mearcach, rash ; from the root of mear.
mearganta, brisk, lively, meargadaich, be impatient (Suth), Ir.
mearganta, brisk ; from mear.
m^arsadh, marching ; see marsadh.
mearsuinn, vigour, strength ; cf. marsainn, abiding, from 7nar,
remain.
meas, fruit, Ir. meas, fruit, especially acorns, measog, acorn, E. Ir.
mess, fruit, W. mes, acorns. Cor. mesen, glans, Br. mesenn,
acorn : ^messu-, root, med, mad, eat (see manntach), and, for
force, cf. Eng. inast, fruit of forest trees, Ag. S. maest, fruit
of oak or beech, Ger. mast.
meas, judgment, opinion, respect, Ir. meas, 0. Ir. mess, ^messu-,
root 7ned ; Lat. yrieditari, think, modus, method ; Gr. /xeSo/xat,
think of ; Got. initan, measure, Eng. mete : further root me,
measure, Eng. metre, meter, etc.
measan, a lapdog, Ir. ineasdn, E. Ir. mesan, meschu :
measair, a tub, measure ; see 7niosar.
measarra, temperate, modest, Ir. measa7^rdha, 0. Ir. mesurda :
" measured " ; probably borrowed from the Lat. mensuratus,
mensura (Stokes). But it may be from meas, judgment,
measg, am meaS2, among, Ir. 7neasg, a 7neasg, among, W. ym 7nysg,
M. Br. e 7nesg : ^77ied-skG-, root 7ned, 7nedh, as in meadhon,
middle.
measg, measgach, mix, Ir. 7neasgaim, E. Ir. mescaim, W. mysgu :
*misk6, *7nig-sk6, root, mig, mik ; Gr. /ztyvo/xt, /xio-yco ; Lat.
7nisceo ; Eng. 7nix, Ger. 7nischen ; Lit. maiszyti : Skr. miksh.
measgan, a dish to hold butter, Ir. mwsgan ; see miosgan. But
cf. E. Ir. mescan, a lump of butter, M. Ir. mesgan, massa ;
from 7neasg, mix "?
meat, meata, feeble, soft, cowardly, Ir. meata, E. Ir. meta, cowardly :
*mit-tavo- ; see jneath. W. has meth, failure. *mettaios (St.)
1
OF THE GAELEC LANGUAGE. 247
meath, fail, fade, become weak, dishearten, Ir. meathaim, fail,
droop, soften, E. Ir. meth, failure, decay : *mit6, root mit, the
short form of root meit, moit (see niaoth).
meidh, a balance, Ir. meadh^ 0. Ir. med, d. meid, W. medd^ centre
of motion : *medd, root med, mete ; Lat. modius, a peck :
Gr. /AeSt/xvo?, a measure (6 modii) ; Eng. m.ete. See meas
further. Hence meidhis, a measure, instalment (Arg., M'A).
meidhinnean, m^igean, hip-joints :
meigead, the bleating of a goat or kid, Ir. meigiodaigh ; Gr.
Ix-qKaofxai, bleat, py/ca?, she-goat, " bleater " ; Ger. meckern,
bleat ; Skr. makakas, bleating ; root mek, mek, mak, an
onomatopoetic syllable.
m^il, bleat, Ir. meidhlighim, M. Ir. meglira, I bleat, meglll, bleating ;
Ger. meckern : see meigead. G. is for "^megli- or "^mekli.
meil, beil, grind, Ir. meilim, 0. Ir. melim, W. malu, Br. malaff'.
"^melo ; Lat. molo ; Gr. /xvAAcu ; 0. H. G. malan, grind, Eng.
meal, mill ; Lit. mdlti, molo. Hence meildreach, meiltir, a
quantity of corn sent to grind, meiltear, miller.
meilcheart, chilblain (Arg.), Ir. miolchedrd (Kerry), miolchartach,
miolcartdii, milchearta (Tirconnell) ; root in meilich.
meile, the thick stick by which the quern is turned, a quern, Ir.
meile, hand-mill : " grinder " ; from meil 1
meilearach, long sea-side grass ; from Norse mdr, bent.
meilich, become chill with cold, be benumbed ; from the root mel,
crush, grind. See meil.
meiligea^, pea-pod, husk of peas, etc. :
meill, the cheek, Ir. meill ; G. meill, blubber-lip (M'L., M'E.),
meilleach, beilleach, blubber-lipped (meilleach, H.S.D.) ;
see beilleach.
meilleag", beilleag, outer rind of bark :
mMn, m^inn, ore, mine, Ir, mein, mianach, E. Ir. mianach, W.
mwyn : *mnni-, meinni-, root mei, smei, smi ; 0. SI. medi,
aes ; 0. H. G. sfnida, metal, Eng. smith (Schrader).
m^in, meinn, disposition, Ir. mem, M. Ir. mein, mind, disposition :
" metal, mettle " ; seemingly a metaphoric use of the fore-
going word. A root mem, mind, mean, appears to exist in
Eng. mean, Ger. meinen ; cf. W. Tnyn, mind. Thurneysen
compares Eng. mien.
m^ineil, flexible, sappy, substantial ; from mein, ore : " gritty" %
meirbh, spiritless, delicate, so Ir., E. Ir. meirb, W. Trierw : "^mervi- ;
0. H. G. maro, soft, mellow, Ger. milrbe, Ag. S. mearo^ Norse
merja, crush ; Gr. fxapatvo), destroy, fxdpvajxai, fight ; Lat.
7na,rtus, hammer, "crusher;" etc. See marbh from the same
root ultimately {mer, mar). Hence meirbh, digest.
248 etymologtcaIj dictionary
meirean nam magh, agrimony, Tr. meirin na magh (O'E., meirin
(Con.) :
meirg, rnst, Ir. meirg, 0. Ir. meirg, meirc, Br. mergl : ^inergi-^
"red, dark;" Eng. 7nuik, Ag. S. ynirce, Norse myrkr (cf. G.
dearg and Eng. dark). Ernault compares Gr. fxapyos, sense-
less ; and it has been joined to 0. W. mergid, debilitas, 0. Br.
mergidhehan, evanesco, root mar, vier, fade, die.
meirghe, a banner, Ir, meirge, E. Ir. mergge ; from the Norse
merki, a banner, mark, Eng. mark (Zimmer).
meirle, theft, meirleach, thief, Ir. meirleach, E. Ir. merle, theft,
merlech, thief ; root mer, mra (as in bradach) ; see mearachd.
Stokes compares G. a/xet/ooj, deprive ; but this is likely
n-fxepju), privative n or a and root 7)ier (fxepos, share).
meirneal, a kind of hawk ; from the Eng. merlin.
meiteal, metal, Ir. miotal ; from the Eng. metal, Lat. metallum.
m6ith, fat, sappy, Ir. meith, meath, 0. Ir. meth, W. unwydo, soften :
'''meito- ; the e grade of the root seen in "^moiti- (in maoth,
q.v.), the root being mit, meit, 7noit [meath, meith, miaotK).
meog, whey ; better than meag.
meoraich, meditate, remember, Ir. meamhruighim, M. Ir. mebrugud,
rehearsing, remembering ; from Lat. memoria. See
meamhair, also spelt meomhair, with the verb meomhairich
= meoraich.
meuchd, mixture (Dial.) : "^meik-tu, root 7neik, mik, as in measg.
meud, miad, size, Ir. meid, mead, W. maint. Cor. myns, Br. ment :
"^mnti-, ment, "measure," a nasalised form of the root me^,
measure, Lat. mensus, having measured, metior (vb.), Gr.
fierpov, measure ; etc. Bez. queries its alliance only with
Norse munr, importance. Usually referred to the root mag,
meg (^maganti-), great, or to that of minig, q.v.
meur, miar, a finger, Ir. meur, 0. Ir. mer. Strachan suggests the
stem "^makro-, root mak, great, mighty, Gr. /xaK/)d5, long,
Lat. macer, lean, made, good luck, Zend, mac, great. Brug-
mann has compared it to Gr. jxoKpoiva (Hes.), sharp (Lat.
mucro).
mhdin, a mhain, only, Ir. amhdin, E. Ir. amain. It has been
divided into a prefix and root form : a-mdin, the latter being
parallel to Dor. Gr. fxQtvo'i, Gr. //,ovos, alone. Cf. 0. Ir. nammd,
tantum, " ut non sit magis" {na-n-md, Zeuss).
mi, I, Ir., 0. Ir. me, W. mi, Cor. my, me, Br. 7ne : "^me, "^me ; Lat.
me ; Gr. /xe ; Eng. me ; Skr. md.
mi-, un-, mis-, Ir., 0. Ir. mi-, root mi, mei, mi, lessen ; Gr. /xetW,
less ; Lat. minus, less ; Eng. mis-, Got. inissa- (^mijyto-). See
maoth, mm. Stokes makes mi- a comparative like /xetwi/,
and rejects the Teutonic words.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 249
miadan, miadar, miad, a meadow, mead ; from the Eng. meadow.
miadh, respect, esteem, so Ir., 0. Ir. miad, fastus, dignity, 0, Br.
muoet, fastu : *meido-, fame : 0. H. G. kameit, jactans,
stolidus, M. H. G. gemeit, bold, 0. Sax. gemed, haughty (Bez.) ;
allied to Eng. meed, Gr. fxia-Oo'^, pay, Lat. miles, soldier. Cf.
Gr. Tt/xry, fame, price.
mial, louse, animal, Ir. miol, animal, whale, louse, E. Ir. mil, W.
mz7, beast. Cor., Br, mil : *7nelo-n, animal : Gr. jxyjXov, sheep ;
Norse, smali, sheep, Eng. small. Hence G. mial-chu, grey-
hound, W. milgi. Cor. mylgy.
mialladh, bad fortune (N. H.) :
mialta, pleasant (H.S.D.), 0. Ir. meld, melltach, pleasant; Eng.
mild ; G. fiaXOaKos, soft. See malda.
miamhail, mewing (of cat), Ir. tniainhaoil ; Eng. mewl, from
0. Fr., Fr miauler : an onomatopoetic word.
miann, desire, Ir. mian, 0. Ir. miari : "^meino- ; Eng. mean, Ger.
meinen, to mean ; 0. Slov. menja (do.). Cf. W. myn, desire,
Br. menna, to wish, which may be from the short form min
beside Tnein. (Otherwise Loth in Voc. Vieux-Br., 145).
mias, a dish, Ir. mias, a dish, mess, platter, E. Ir. mias ; from
L. Lat. meni, mensa, a table, whence Ag. S. mi/se, table, Got.
mes, table, dish.
mil, honey, Ir. mil, 0. Ir. mil, g. mela, W. mel. Cor., Br. mil :
"^meli- ; Lat. mel ; Gr. /xeAt, ; Got. mili]y ; Arm. meXr.
mile, meirc, sweet, sweetness (Carm.) :
milcean, solid warm white whey (Carm.) :
mile, a thousand, a mile, Ir. mile, 0. Ir. mile, a thousand, W.,
Br. mil. Cor. myl, myll ; Lat. ')nile (whence Eng. mile), mille.
The Celtic words are borrowed doubtless.
milea^, a melon ; from the Eng.
mileart, honey dew (N. H.) :
milidh, a champion, Ir. mileadh, milidh (O'B.), E. Ir. milid ; from
Lat. miles, militis, soldier.
milis, sweet, Ir., 0. Ir. milis, W. melys : '^m.elissi- ; from mil.
mill, destroy, Ir., 0. Ir. millim : *mel-7ii-, root mele, fail, miss ;
Lit. mUyti, fail ; Gr. /xeAeog, useless, wretched, dfijSXicrKio,
cause miscarriage. The root of Eng. 7nelt (*meld, Gr.
afxaX^vviii, destroy) has been suggested, the mel of which is
the same as above. It may be root mel, crush, mill,
millteaeh, mountain grass, good grass ; Norse melr, bent grass.
min, meal, Ir. min, g. mine, 0. Ir. men : "^mind, root min, lessen.
Strachan suggests two derivations; either allied to (1) Lit.
mlnti, tread, Ch. Slav. m§ti, crush, Gr. /xarew, tread on, from
root men, tread, or from (2) ^mecsn, root meq, menq, grind,
30
250 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
Ch. Slav, m^-ka, meal, Gr. jaao-o-w, knead. But mexn- would
give G. menn.
min, soft, delicate, Jr., E. Ir. min, W. mwyn, gentle, Cor. muin,
gracilis, Br. moan, fine : *mino-, meino-, root mez, lessen ; Gr.
/xetwv, less, jMivvOd), lessen ; Lat. minora less, minister. Hence
minich, explain. Stokes has apparently two derivations for
min — the one above and *meno-, allied to Gr. /xavo? (a long),
thin,
minidh, an awl, Ir. meanadh, E. Ir menad, W. mynawyd, Br.
minaoued, M. Br. menauet : *minaveto- ; Gr. cr/xLvur], mattock,
cTjjLLXr] (t long), chisel.
minicionn, kid's skin ; from meann and *cionn (see hoicionn).
minig^, minic, often, Ir. minic, 0. Ir. menicc, W. mynych, Cor.
menough : '*'menekki-s ; Got. manags, many, Ger. manch, Eng.
many.
minis, degree, portion (M'A.), root of mion.
ministear, a minister, Ir. ministir ; from Lat. minister, servant,
whence Eng. minister.
miobhadh, ill-usage, as by weather ; from mi-hhctidh.
miobhail, unmannerly (Arg.) ; mi + modhail.
miodal, flattery, Ir. miodal :
miodhoir, a churl, niggard one ; see miughair.
miog, miog (H.S.D.), a smile, sly look, Ir. miog : "^smincu-, root
smi, smile, Eng. smile, Gr. /xctSaw, Skr. smayate, laughs.
miolaran, low barking or whining of a fawning dog : see next
word,
miolasg^, flattery, fawning (as a dog), keen desire ; from the root
smi, smile ? See miog.
mion, small, so Ir. ; root min, Lat. minor, etc. Also mean,
meanbh, q.v.
mionach, bowels, so Ir., E. Ir. menach ; cf. W. monoch.
mionaid, a minute, Ir. minuit (dat.) ; from the Eng.
mionn, an oath, Ir. mionn, g. mionna, E. Ir. mind, oath, diadem ;
the mind was the " swearing reliques" of a saint, 0. Ir. mind,
a diadem, insignia, 0. W. minn, sertum : ^menni- ; cf.
0. H. G. menni, neck ornament, Ag. S. mene, neck chain, Lat.
monile. See muineal further. Stokes gives the stem as
"^mindi-, but no etymology. Windisch (Rev. Celt.^) equates
m^inn with Lat. mundus, ornament, world,
miontan, a titmouse, Ir. miontdn ; from mion, small, *minu-, Lat.
minor, etc., as under mm.
miorbhuil, a miracle, Ir. miorbhuil, E. Ir. mirbail ; from Lat.
mirabile, Eng. marvel.
miortal, myrtal, Ir. miortal (Fol.) ; from the English. W. has
myrtwydd, myrtle trees.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 251
mios, a month, Ir. mi, mios, g. miosa, 0. Ir. mi, g. mis, W. mis.
Cor. mis, Br. mis, miz : *mens, g. ^mensos ; Lat. mensis ; Gr.
lir]v : Skr. mas ; further Eng. month.
mios, miosa, worse, Ir. measa, 0. Ir. jnessa : *7niss6s ; Got.,
0. H. G. missa-, mis-, Eng. mis-, miss. See mi-.
miosach, fairy flax, purging flax, Ir. miosach : " monthly ;" from
mios, " from a medicinal virtue it was supposed to possess"
(Cameron).
miosar, a measure (as of meal), Ir. miosur, E. Ir. messar, phiala,
0. Ir. mesar, modus, W. mesur ; from the Lat. mensura, Eng.
measure.
miosgan, butter kit, Ir. miosgdn ; from mias, a dish.
miosguinn, envy, malice, Ir. mioscuis {mioscuis. Con.), E. Ir. misceri,
hate, 0. Ir. miscuis ; Gr. /xicro? ( = mltsos) ; Lat. miser,
wretched ( = mit-s-ro-s) ; root mit, mi.
miotag, a mitten, Ir. miotog, mitin, mittens ; from Eng. mitten,
0. Fr. mitaine.
mir, a bit, piece, Ir., 0. Ir. m^ir, pi. mirenn : '^mesren-, piece of
flesh ; Skr. mdmsd, flesh ; Got. mimz (do.) ; Lit. mesa, flesh
(Stokes, Thur., Brug.). Allied also is Lat. membruTn, member ;
1. E. memso-m, flesh.
mircean, kind of sea-weed ; cf. N. mdru-kjami, fucus vesiculosus
(Lewis).
mire, pastime, Ir. mire, sport, madness, M. Ir. mire, madness ; see
mear.
mirr, myrrh, Ir. miorr, E. Ir. mirr, W. 7n^r ; from Lat. myrrha,
Eng. myrrh.
mis, miseach, maoilseach, goat, doe (Carm.) =maoisleach.
misd, the worse for, Ir. misde, meisde, M. Ir. meste, E. Ir. 7nesai-
die = messa-de, "worse of ;" from mios and de, of,
misg, drunkenness, Ir. meisge, misge, E. Ir. mesce, 0. Ir. mescc,
drunk : *mesko-, *meskjd, from "^med-sko-, also E. Ir. mid, g.
TYieda, mead, W. medd, hydromel, 0. Cor. med, sicera, Br. mez,
hydromel : "^medu- ; Gr. fxedv, wine ; Eng. mead ; Ch. Slav.
medu, honey, wine ; Skr. mddhu, sweet, sweet drink, honey.
misimean-dearg, bog-mint, Ir. misimin dearg :
mislean, a mountain grass, sweet meadow grass (Cameron) ; for
milsean, from milis, sweet ; cf. Ir. milsean mara, a sort of
sea-weed ; misleach, sweetness (Hend.).
misneach, misneachd, courage, Ir. meisneach, M. Ir. mesnech :
*med-s-, root med of meas : " think, hope."
mistear, a cunning, designing person ; from misd.
mith, an obscure or humble person ; from the root mi, mei as in
mi-, 'iiiiosa.
252 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY.
mithear, weak, crazy, Ir. mithfir, weak ; see mith.
mithich, proper time, tempestivus, Ir. mithid, 0. Ir. mithich,
tempestivus : "^meti-, Lat. mdturus, Eng. mature.
mithlean, sport, playfulness :
miug'hair, niggardly ; ivoiwmi 2^,n&jia ov fiii-mhorl cf. miodhoir.
mnathan, wives, Ir., E. Ir. mnd, wivey : *bnd& ; see bean.
mo, my, 0, Ir. wio, wm, W. /^, M. W. my (from myn), Corn., Br.
ma (which aspirates) : '^mou, "^movo : formed on the analogy
of do^ du, from the pronominal root me (see mi). W. myn or
7)iy n- is allied to Zend mana^ Lith. vianie (for ine-ne), Ch.
Slav. mene.
mo, greater, Ir. mo, 0. Ir. moa, indo, 7nda, moo, mo, W. inwy^
O. W. mui, Corn, may, Br. mui : *mdj6s ; Lat. major, greater
(Eng. major) ; Got. mais, more (adv.), maiza, greater, Eng.
more : root ma of mor q.v.
mobainn, maltreating, handling roughly ; see Qnoibean.
moch, early, Ir. moch, early, O. Ir. moch, mane : "^moq- ; also 0. Ir.
Tiios, soon, W. vioch, early, ready, Corn, meugh : *7rioqsu ;
Lat, mox, soon ; Zend, moshu, Skr. makskii, soon : also Gr.
ixdif/, idly, rashly. See mus. Hence mocheirigh, early rising,
mochthrath, early morning, M. Ir. mochthrath, 0. Ir. 7iioch-
tratae, matutinus
mochd, move, yield (Oss. Ballads) ; cf. M. Ir. mocht, gentle, weak,
W. mivytho, soften, pamper, Eng. meek, Norse unjukr, soft,
meek.
mod, a court, trial, meeting ; from the Norse mot, meeting, town-
meeting, court of law, Ag. S. mot, gemot, Eng. unoot, meet.
modh, manner, Ir. modh, 0. Ir. i\wd, W. modd\ from Lat. modus.
Hence modh, respect, E. Ir. mod ; cf. Eng. manners for sense.
modhan, the sound of a bagpipe or other musical instrument
(H.S.D., also moghun) :
modhar, soft, gentle (modhar, M'A.) ; from modh.
mog, clumsy hand or foot ; see vidg, smog.
mogach, shaggy, hairy :
mogan, a footless stocking ; from the Sc. moggan, moggans.
mogan, spirits from oats (Uist) :
mogul, a husk, mesh (of a net), Ir. mogal, cluster, mesh of a net,
husk, apple of the eye, E. Ir. mocoll (do.), 0. Ir. mocot, subtel :
'^mozgu-, I. E. mozgko, knot, mesh ; Lit. mdzgas, knot, mesh ;
O. H. G., mascd, Ger. masche, Eng. mesh ; Gr. /xocrxos, sprout,
calf. Lat. macula, a mesh, is not allied. Dialect G.
mugairle, bunch of nuts (Glenmoriston).
mogur, bulky, clumsy :
moibean, moibeal, a mop, broom, Ir. muipal ; from Eng. 7nop,
OiP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 253
moibleadh, a gnawing, half-chewing : " making a mop of ;" from
above.
moid, a vow, Ir. moid, M. Ir. moit, E. Ir. moit (Corm.) : *monti-,
W. gofuno, to vow, 0. Br. guomonian, polliceri, which Bugge
and Stokes connect with W. mmi, hand (cf. Ag. S. mund,
Lat. manus). But see hoid. Stokes now says votuin.
moid, the greater, Ir. moide, more, M. Ir. moti : *mb + de. Cf.
misd.
moighre, robust, handsome :
moil, mattbd hair ; see molach {"^ml-).
moilean, a fat, plump child, a lump ; cf. Ir. moil, molan, a heap.
To this Lat. moles may be compared.
moin, moine, peat, moss, Ir. 7110171, g. mona, E. Ir. moin, pi. mointe,
W. mawn, peat, turf : "^nidn- ; Lat. rtidno, flow, Eng. emanate.
Strachan takes it from ^inokni-, root moh, mak, Ch. Slav.
mokru, wet. Lit. makone, puddle ; Stokes agrees, giving Celtic
as "^mdkni-, mokni-. It is doubtful if W. k would disappear
before n (cf. deur). W. has also a form migen, mign, a bog.
moineis, false delicacy (M'A.), moinig, vanity, boasting ; from
root man, mien, mind %
moire, a moire, certainly, hercle, Ir. iomorro, indeed, however,
0. Ir. immuj-gu, autem.
moirear, a lord, 0. G. mormar (Book of Deer), M. G. morbhaii'
(M'V.), M. Ir. mormhaer (Muireach Albanach), imunnor
(M'Firbis) ; from inioT and maor, " great steward."
moirneas, great cascade, streams (Oss. Ballads) ; from mbr and eas ?
moit, pride, sulkiness, Ir. moiteamhuil, sulky, nice, pettish (Con.,
O'R., M'F.) ; cf. E. Ir. mochtae, magnified, *mog-tio-s, root
mog, 7nag, great. 0. Ir. moidem, boasting, praise.
mol, praise, advise, Ir. molaim, 0 Ir. molid, laudat, W. moli,
Tiiawl, laus, Br. meuli : '^molo, "^mdto, " magnify ;" root mol,
met, be strong ; Gr /xaAa, very ; Lat. meiior, better ; Lit.
milns, very many, Ch. Slav, iz-moleti, eminere (Stokes).
Windisch has compared it to Ch. SI. moliti, ask. Lit. myleti,
love, Gr. />teAe, friend, /xeiAixo?, gentle.
mol, mal, a shingly beach ; from Norse mol, g. malar, pebbles,
bed of pebbles on the beach ; root me/, grind.
molach, hairy, rough, Ir. mothlach, rough, bushy (O'K.), muthaiach,
shaggy (Fob). If the Irish form is right, it cannot be allied
to I. E. m/o-s, wool, Gr. /zaAAos, wool, tuft. Lit. millas, woollen
stuft',
moll, chaff, Ir. moll (O'R.), W. mwl : "^viuldo- ; Eng. mould. Got.
7Rulda, dust, 0. H. G. molt, dust, mould ; root mel, grind.
Borrowed from Welsh 1
254 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
mollachd, a cnrse ; the Northern form of mallachd, q.v.
m611tair, a mould ; from Eng. moulter, mould.
molltair, miller's share of the grain or meal (Lq-^'i^) = multure :
monadh, a mountain range, W. mynydd, mons, Cor. menit, menethj
0. Br. -mo7iid, M. Br. menez, mountain : ^monijo-, ^menijo-^
root men, eminere, Eng eminent. Cf. Welsh Inscription
Monedorigi, " mountain-king " ; also middle G. name of St
Andrews — Rig-monatk (Chronicles). The Ir. monadh appears
only in Lh. ; O'Br. gives monadh. The G. word may have
been borrowed from the Picts along with the place-names in
which it appears : it is rare in Argyle topography,
monaid, heed :
monais, slowness, negligence ; root men, stay, Gr. /xeyw.
monar, a dimunitive person or thing, monaran, a mote ; see munar.
monasg", chaff, dross ; from the root of the above.
monmhur, mona;^har, a murmuring noise, Ir. monmhar, monbhar,
murmuring, monghair, monghar, roaring : "^mon-mur ; cf.
Lat. murmur.
mor, great, Ir. mbr, 0. Ir. mor^ mdi\ W. maior, 0. W., Cor. maur,
Br. meur, Gaul, -mdro-s ; Gr. -jjnopos, great, famed (iyx^o-c-
jjnopos, in spear-throw great ; Got. -mers, famed, merian
proclaim, 0. H. G. mdri, famed, -mar in Germanic names
Ger. mdrchen, a tale, Norse mcierr, famous ; Slav, -meru
(Vladimir, etc.) ; Lat. merus, Eng. mere. A shorter form of
the stem i^mdro-) appears in mo, greater (md-), q.v.
morbhach, land liable to sea flooding, Ir. murbhach, M. Ir.
murmhagh ; from muir and magh. Hence the locative
A' Mhor'oich, the G. name of Lovat. Aran Ir. muirbheach,
sandy soil by the seaside.
morghath, a fishing spear ; " sea-spear," from muir and gath % M.
Ir. murgai (B. of Lis.).
mornan, a small timber dish, Ir. morndn :
mort, murder, Ir. mort, M. Ir. martad, slaughtering ; from Lat.
mort- of mors, mortis, death.
mortar, mortar, Ir. mortaoil ; from the Eng.
mosach, nasty, dirty ; see musach.
mosgail, waken, arouse, Ir. musguilim, musglaim, M. Ir. romuscail,
he awoke, musclait, they wake : ^imm-od-sc-al, root sec of
diiisg.
mosradh, coarse dalliance, mosraiche, smuttiness ; from mos with
suffix radh. See musach for root.
mothaich, perceive, Ir. mothuighim, M. Ir. mothaigim, perceive,
0. Ir. mothaiqid, stupeat C?) ; root mot, met. Lit. matyti, see,
Lettic matit, perceive, Ch. Slav, motriti, spectare, Gr. /xarevw,
seek.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 255
mothan, bog violet :
mdthar, loud noise, swelling of the sea, mothar, noise as from
a cave (M'A.) :
mothar, a park, clamp of trees (Arm.), M. Ir. mothar, enclosure,
a place studded with bushes :
mu, about, Ir. um, im, 0. Ir. imh, imm-, W. am, Cor., Br. am-, em ,
Gaul, ambi : "^amhi, "^mbi ; Lat. arnbi- ; Gr. a/x^t ; Ag. S. ymb.
muc, a pig, Ir. muc, 0. Ir. mucc, W. moch, pigs, Br. moc^h, pigs :
*7nuhku- ; Lat. mucus, muccus, mucus ; Gr. ju-^'^a, phlegm,
aTrofjiva-a-o), wipe the nose, ixvKryjp, nose ; Skr. muncdti, let
loose.
muca^, a hip or hep, fruit of the dog-rose, M. Ir. mucora ; from
muc above. Cf. Gr. jjiVKrjs, a mushroom, from the same root.
much, smother, press down, Ir., 0. Ir. milchaim, also E. Ir. much,
smoke, W. mwg, smoke, Cor. mok, megi, stifle, Br. mik, suffo-
cation, miga^ be suffocated, moguet, smoke : *mitko-, root
smuk, smug (smugh, smaugh), Eng. smoke, Gr. o-[xvxw,
smoulder (v long). Stokes suggests old borrowing from the
Ag. S. Hence muchan, a vent or chimney, Ir. muchdn (O'B.).
mtldan, a covering, covering for a gun :
mugha, destruction, decay, Ir. mugha, a perishing, straying, M. Ir.
miigud, slaying, mogaim, I slay :
mu^harn, ankle, so Ir. ; cf. W. migwrn, ankle, joint, Br. migorn,
cartilage, which Stokes compares to Lat. mucro, point.
muidhe, a churn, E. Ir. muide, a vessel, buide, a churn, W. buddai,
churn. Stokes compares buide and buddai to Gr. ttlOos, jar,
Lat. fldelia, pot, which is related to Eng. body. The form
muidhe has been compared to Lat. modius, a peck, Fr. muid,
hogshead.
muidse, a mutch ; from the Sc. mutch, Ger. miltze.
muig, mu^, cloudiness, gloom, surliness, Ir. miiig : "^mwiki-, root
muk, smoke, as in miich 1 Or *muggi-, allied to Eng. muggy 1
muigh, a muigh, outside ; see mach.
muilceann, fell-wort, Ir. m^uilcheann :
muileach, dear, beloved : '^'molico-, from mol, praise '?
muileag, a cranberry :
muileann, a mill, so Ir., 0. Ir. mulenn, muilend, W., Corn., Br.
melin ; from Lat. molina, a mill, molo, grind (see rneil).
G. muillear, miller, E. Ir. ynuilledir, is for *7n,uilnedir.
muileid, a mule, Ir. muille ; from Lat. mulus.
muillean, a husk, particle of chaff; from moll.
muillean, a truss (of hay or straw) : cf. Sc. mullio (Orkney), and
see under mul, heap.
muillion, a million, Ir. milliun; from the L. Lat. millionem,
coined from mille, a thousand.
256 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
muilteag, a certain small red berry (Dial. H.S.D.). See muileag.
muime, a step-mother, nurse, Ir. bnime^ muime, a nurse, E. Ir.
TRumme, nurse, stepmother: *mu<i-s-7iijd, nurse, "suckler,"
root jnud, suck ; Lat. mulier, woman ; Gr. [xv^m, suck, /xvSos,
damp ; Lit. mdudyti, bath. It has also been paralleled to
Lat. mainma, Ger. inuhme, mother's sister, stepmother.
muin, teach, instruct, Ir. muinim, 0. Ir. munim :
muin, the back, Ir. muin, E. Ir. muin, back, neck, W. inwn, neck :
*if)%oni-, neck ; Skr. mdnyd, neck ; Lat. 7nonile, necklace ;
0. H. G. memii, neck ornaments, Ag. S. mene, neck-chain ;
Ch. Slav, monisto, necklace. See muineal, muing. Gaulish
had also aavio.Krj's, collar or torque.
muin, micturate, Ir. mun, urine, E. Ir. mun, root meu, mu, befoul ;
Skr. mutt a, urine ; possibly also Lat. muto, mutto, penis,
E. Ir. moth, ball ferda.
muineal, the neck, Ir muineul, E. Ir. muinel, W. mvmwgl :
*7nonikLo- ; from "^moni- of ynuin, back, q.v.
muineasach, depressed (Glenmoriston) :
muing, a name, Ir. muing, O. Ir. mong, W. myng (m.), M. Br. moe,
Br. moue : ^mongd, "^mongo-, root mon of muin, back, q.v.
Further is Eng. mane, Norse mon, Ger. TYidlme ; Swed. and
Dan. manke is especially close to Gaelic.
muinichill, muilichinn (Arg.), a sleeve, Ir. muinichille, muinchille,
E. Ir. munchille ; from Lat. manicula, manica, long sleeve,
from manus, hand.
muinighin, confidence, trust, so Ir., E. Ir. muinigin ; from *moni-
love, desire, Norse munr, love, 0. Sax. munilik, lovable ; root
men, think (Lat. mens, Eng. mind, etc.).
muinne, stomach (Arg.). Cf. mionach.
muinnte, munnda, beauteous ; cf. Lat. mundus.
mtiinnteachd, disposition (Dial.) ; for root see muinighin, and cf.
0. Ir. muiniur, I think,
muinntir, household, people, Ir. mninntir, 0. Ir. muinter, muntar.
This is regarded by Stokes, Zimmer, and Gilterbock as an
early borrowing from the Lat. monasterium, monastery ; the
word familia is often applied to monasteries by Irish writers,
muir, the sea, Ir. muir, 0. Ir. muir, gen. mora, W. mor, Cor.,
Br. mo?; Gaul. 7nori- : "^mori-, sea ; Lat. mare ; Eng. 7nere^
Ger. meer ; Ch. Slav, morje.
muire, leprosy ; from rniir, a countless number, q.v.
muirgheadh, a fishing spear ; see morghath.
muirichinn, children, family, Ir. muiridhin, a charge, family :
"^mori-, care, charge, root mer, smer, remember; Lat. memoria,
memory; Gr. ixkpifxva, care; Skr. smarati, think, mind,
"^mori-gen-.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 257
muirn, joy, affection, Ir. muirn, muirnin, darling (Eng. mavourneen,
my darling), M. Ir. muirn, muirn : "^morni-, root mor, mer,
8mer, as in muiricliinn above.
muiseag', a threat, muiseag (Arm,) ; from muB, of musach.
muisean, a mean, sordid fellow ; see musach for the root,
muisean, a primrose, Ir. muisean (O'B.) :
muiseal, a muzzle, Ir. muisiall ; from the Eng.
muisginn, an English pint, mutchkin ; from the Sc. mutdikin,
Dutch mutsje, an eighth part of a bottle.
mul, a conical heap, mound, Ir. mul, moil, E. Ir. mul-, eminence :
"^mulu- ; cf. Norse muli, jutting crag, "mull," Ger. maul,
snout. Cf. Fr. mulon, little heap of dried grass, mul-conain,
conical suppurating sore.
mul, axle, Ir mul, mol, E. Ir. mol, shaft ; cf. Gr. jxeXcrj, ash, spear.
mulachag, a cheese, Ir., M. Ir. mulchdn :
mulad, sadness ; root 7nu, mutter 1
mulart, dwarf elder, Ir. mulabhdrd, malahhiir, mulart (O'B.) :
mule, push, butt ; cf. Lat. m/alceo, mulco, stroke, beat.
mule, a shapeless lump, lump ; mulean, a pustule ; cf. meall :
mullach, the top, Ir., 0. Ir. mullach : *inuldako-, "^''muldo-, top,
head ; x4g. S. molda, crown of the head ; Skr. 7nurdhdn, top,
head,
mult, a wedder, Ir., 0. Ir. molt, W. mollt, Cor. mols, vervex, Br.
maout, a sheep (mas.) : "^molto-, root met, mol, crush, grind,
" mutilate ;" Russ. moliti, cut, cut up, 0. H. G. muljan,
triturate. Hence M. Lat. multo, whence Fr. mouton, a sheep,
Eng. mutton.
munar, a trifle, a trifling person, monar, diminutive person or
thing :
munganachd, bullying :
munloeh, a puddle, Ir. munloch, gen. munlocha ; from mien and loch.
mur, unless, Ir. muna (Donegal Ir. mur ; Monaghan has amur =
acht 7Runa, unless), M. Ir. mun, moni, mona, E. Ir., 0. Ir.
mani ; from 7na, if, and ni, not : "if not." The G. r for n is
possibly due to the influence of gur and of the verbal particle
ro- (in robh) ; mun-robh becoming mur-robh.
mur, a wall, bulwark, palace, Ir., E. Ir. mur, W. mur ; from Lat.
murus, a wall,
mur, countless number (as of insects), E. Ir. mur, abundance ; Gr.
fjLvpLos {v long), countless, ten thousand ; Skr. bhuri, many.
Stokes compares rather Gr. -jjivpa of 7r\y]jjLjxvpa [v long),
TrXrjfivpLs (v short or long), flood tide, flood. Mur, leprosy =
countless number,
31
258 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
muran, sea-bent, Ir. muraineach, bent grass ; from muir, the sea.
Norse has mura^ goose-grass.
murcach, sorrowful, Ir. murcach, murcach ; cf. M. Br. Tnorchet^
anxiety, now Tnorc^hed, Cor. moreth, chagrin. Eng. murhy,
Norse myrkr could only be allied by borrowing. Cf. Lat.
marceo, droop.
murla, a coat of mail :
murlach, the king-fisher :
murlag, murluinn, a kind of basket, murlach, fishing basket
(M'A.), Ir. muirleog^ a rod basket for sand eels and wilks
(Donegal). Cf. Sc. murlain, a narrow-mouthed basket of a
round form.
murlan, rough head of hair :
murrach, able, rich, murrtha^ successful, M. Ir. tnuire, muiredach^
lord, Murdoch ; Ag. S. maere, clarus, Norse maerr, famous
(Stokes), same root as mdr.
murt, murder ; see mort.
murtachd, sultry heat, wearinesss produced by heat :
mus, before, ere ; cf. 0. Ir. mos, soon, mox, used as a verbal
particle ; it is allied to moch, being from "^moqsu, Lat. mox.
musach, nasty, Ir. mosach (O'R., Sh.), W. mws, effluvia, stinking,
Br. mous, muck, mouz, crepitus ventris : *musso-, *mud-so-,
root mud, be foul or wet ; Gr. [ivcros ( = ixvS-a-os), defilement,
lxv8o<s, clamminess, decay ; Lit. mudas, dirty sea-grass : root
mu (mu), soil, befoul, G. muin, Eng. mud, etc.
musg", a musket, Ir. inusgaid, L. M. Ir. muscaed (F. M.) : from the
Eng.
musg, rheum about the eyes, gore of the eyes ; from the root m?2,
befoul, be wet, as discussed under musach, muin.
musgan, dry-rot in wood, Ir. musgan, mustiness, mouldiness ; Lat.
muscus, moss ; Eng. moss, mushroom ; Lit. musai (pi.), mould.
This word is not in H.S.D., but it is implied in Arm. and is
in M'E. ; also in common use.
mtisgan, pith of wood, porous part of a bone (H.S.D.). Armstrong
gives also the meanings attached to musgan above ; the
words are evidently the same.
musgan, the horse fish :
miisuinn, confusion, tumult, Ir. muisiun, codlata, hazy state
preceding sleep. From Eng. motion ^
mutach, short, E. Ir. mut, everything short : ^mutto-, root mut,
dock ; Lat. mutilus, maimed (Eng. mutilate), muticus, docked;
Gr. jxLTvXos, hornless.
mdtan, mutan, a muft; fingerless glove, also mutag (Arms.) ; from
miota^, with a leaning on mutach, short. Thurneysen takes
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. ^69
it from mutach without reference to miotag. Ir. has muth6g
(Con.).
muth, change, M. W. mudaw ; from Lat. muto^ I change.
N
n-, from, in a nuas, a nios, Ir., 0. Ir. an- ; see a number 5.
na, not, ne, Ir,, 0. Ir. na : used with the imperative mood solely.
It is an ablaut and independent form of the neg. prefix in
(see ^o?^-, «?i-), an ablaut of I. E. ne, Lat. we, Gr. vi]- ; shorter
form Lat. we-, Got. m, Eng. not {ne-d-wiht), etc. ; further I.E.
n-, Gr. dv-, Lat. m-, Eng. un-, Gaelic an-. See nach, which is
connected herewith as Gr. ov/c, ov ; the W. is nac, nag, with
imperative, Br. na.
na, or, vel, Ir. nd, E. Ir., 0. Ir. no, W. neu : '^nev (Stokes, who
allies it to Lat. nuo, nod, Gr. vevco, Skr. nduate, go, remove ;
but, in 1890, Bez. Beit.^^ 51, he refers it to the root 7iUy
Eng. noiv). It can hardly be separated from neo, otherwise,
q.v. Strachan agrees.
na, than, Ir. nd, M. Ir. i7id, E. Ir. inda, indds, 0. Ir. ind as, indds,
pi. ind ate (read inddte) ; from the prep, in and td, to be
(Zeuss^, 716-7, who refers to the other prepositional com-
parative conjunction oldaas, from ol, de) The use of in in
0. Ir. as the relative locative may also be compared.
na, what, that which, id quod, M. Ir. ina, ami, inna n-, E. Ir.
ana n- ; for an a, 0. Ir. rel. an (really neuter of art.) and
G. rel. a, which see. Descent from ni or ni, without any
relative, is favoured by Book of Deer, as do ni this.sad, of
what would come. Possibly from both sources.
'na, 'na-, in his, in her, in (my) ; the prep, an with the possessive
pronouns : 'nam, 'nar, 'nad (also ad, E. Ir. at, it), 'nur, 'na
'nan.
nabaidh, nabuidh, a neighbour ; from the Norse nd-bui, neighbour,
" nigh-dweller," the same in roots as Eng. neighbour.
nach, not, that not (conj.), that not = quin (rel.), nonne *? Ir., E. Ir.
nach, W. nac, nag, not, Br. na : *nako, from na, not, which
see above, and ko or k as in Gr. ovk against ov (Stokes). The
ko has been usually referred to the same pronominal origin
as -que in Lat. neque ; it does appear in neach.
nadur, nature, Ir. ndditr, W. nat%ir ; from Lat. natura»
naid, a lamprey (Sh., O'B.), Ir. naid :
naidheachd, news, Ir. nuaidheachd, W. newyddion ; from nuadh^
new.
naile, yea ! an interjection :
260 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIOJ^ARY
naird, a naird, upwards, Ir. andirde, E. Ir. i n-ard% i n-airddi ;
prep, in (now an) into, and airde, height : " into height."
This adverb is similar in construction to a hhan^ a mach, a
steach, etc., for which see a number 6.
naire, shame, Ir. ndire, E. Ir. ndre : "^nagro-, shameful, root nagh^
be sober, Gr. v^y^w (do.), Ger. nilchtem, fasting, sober,
naisneach, modest ; compare the next word,
naistinn, care, wariness ; from Norse njdsn, spying, looking out.
Got. niuhseini, visitation (iTrto-KOTr/])^ Ag. S. nedsan, search out.
naitheas, harm, mischief :
nail, from over, to this side, Ir., 0. Ir. anall ; from an (see a 5)
and all of thall, q,v.
namhaid, an enemy, Ir. ndmhaid, g. namhad, 0. Ir. ndma, g.
ndmat, pi. n. ndmait : '^'ndmant-, root nom, nem, seize, take ;
Gr. vefiea-Ls, WTath, nemesis, vw/xaw, ve/xw, distribute ; 0. H. G.
ndma, rapine, Ger. nehmen, take, Eng. nimble ; Zend, neinanh,
crime. All), name, a curse. Of. W., Corn., and Br. nam,
blame.
na'n (na'm), if (with false supposition), M. G. daw, da n-, da m-
(D. of Lis.), Ir. da, dd (for da n-, eclipsing), E. Ir. dd n-,
dia n-, 0. Ir. dian : the prep, di or de and rel. an ; Manx dy.
The G. form with n for d is puzzling, though its descent from
da n- seems undoubted.
naoi, nine, so Ir., 0. Ir. ndi n-, W., Corn, naiv, Br. nao : '''nevii ;
Lat. novem ; Gr. ev-vka ; Eng. nine, Ger. neiin ; Skr. ndvan.
naoidhean, an infant, so Ir., 0. Ir. ndidiu, gen. noiden : '^'ne-vid-,
" non-witted " 1 Cf. for force Gr. rryTrtos, infant ( = v>;-7rtos,
not-wise one), from -mfo<s, wise, ttlvvtos (do.), root qei of ciall,
q.v. So Stokes in Celt. Ph.^ ; now *?io- vidian {no = 7ie) ; cf.
naomh, holy, Ir. naomh, E. Ir. ndem, noeh, 0. Ir. noib : "^noilo-s ;
0. Pers. naiha, beautiful, Pers. ntiv (do.). Bez. suggests the
alternative of Lettic naigs, quite beautiful,
naosga, a snipe, Ir. naosga : ^snoib-sko-, root sneib, snib of Eng.
snipe 1
nar, negative particle of wishing : "^ni-air, for not ; air and nt.
nasag, an empty shell :
nasg", a band, tieband, collar, Ir., E. Ir. nasc : *nasko- ; 0. H. G.
nusca,, fibula, Norse nist, brooch : ^ndh-sho-, root ndh (Brug.).
The verb oiasg, 0. Ir. -nascim, appears in Br. as naska. The
root nedh is in Skr. nahyati. Others make the root negli of
Lat. nexus, etc., and the root snet of sndth, q.v., has been
suggested. See snaim further,
nasgaidh, gratis, free, Ir. a n-aisge, freely, aisge, a gift. See
asgaidh.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 261
natar, nitre ; from Eng. natron, nitre.
nathair, a serpent, so Ir., 0. Ir. nathir, W. 7ieidr, Corn, nader,
M. Br. azr : "^natrtx ; Lat. natrix, water snake ; Got. 7iadrs,
Norse nad'7-y Eng. adder. The Teutonic words are regarded
by Kluge as scarcely connected with Lat. natrix, whose root
is nat, swim.
-ne, emphatic participle added to the pi. of 1st pers. pron. sin-ne,
ar n-athair-ne, " our father " ; 0. Ir. ni, -ni, used indepen-
dently ( = nos) and as a sntfix. See further under dnne.
neach, anyone, Ir. neach, 0. Ir. nech, aliquis, W., Cor., Br. nep, neb,
quisquam : *neqo-, ne-qo- ; Lit. nekas, something, nekurs,
quidam, Lett, kd ne kd, anyhow. Stokes takes the ne from
the negative root ne (see na) ; the qo is the pronominal stem
of the interrogative (cf. Lat. -que, neque).
nead, a nest, Ir. nead, E. Ir. net, W. nyth. Corn, neid, Br. nez, neiz:
^nizdo-s ; Lat. nidus ; Eng. nest ; Skr. nidas. Supposed to
be from *ni-sed-, " sit down."
n^amh, heaven, Ir. neamli, 0. Ir. neiii, W., Corn, nef, M. Br. neff,
now env : *nemos ; Skr. ndmas, bowing, reverence ; Lat.
nemus, grove ; Gr. vkjxos, pasture : root nem, distribute, Gr.
vejuw (do.), Ger. nehinen, take. Gaulish has ve^nqTov or
v€fX€Tov, 0, Ir. nemed, sacellum. Often, and lately (1895) by
Prof. Rhys, referred to the root nebh, be cloudy, Gr. v€(/)o?,
cloud, Lat. nebula (see neid) ; but the Gaelic nasalized ea is
distinctly against this, as also is the Br. e7iv (Stokes).
neamhnuid, a pearl, Ir. meamhunn, M. Ir. niamnuid, pearl, E. Ir.
ne7na7ida, pearly, 0. Ir. nem, onyx (for nem V) ; root 7iem of
neam/i.
neanntag', nettle, Ir. nea7itdg, E. Ir. nenntai, nettles, nenaid. See
deanntag.
neapaicin, a napkin, Ir. naipicin ; from Eng.
n^arachd, happiness, usually mo n^arachd, lucky to, Ir. molgheanear,
happy is he (O'B.), is 7neunar duit-se, happy is it for you
(O'Growney), M. Ir. 7no ghenar duit, good luck to you (F. M.),
7no7igenar (L. B.), E. Ir. mogenar. The root seems to be mag
(I. E. magh), increase (see 7nac) ; cf. Lat. made, root, 7iiak,
great.
nearag, a daughter (Oss. Ballads) ; if a word properly handed
down, it is interesting to compare it with the root of the
following.
neart, strength, Ir. 7ieart, 0. Ir. nert, W., Corn. 7ierth, Br. 7ierz,
Gaul, nerto-, root ner ; Skr. ndr, man ; Gr. avqp (root nei-) ;
Lat. Umbr. nerus, viros. Sab. Nero, fort is ; Tent. Nerthus,
Norse JVjord'r ; Lit. noreti, to will.
262 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
neas, weazel ; see nios.
neasg, neasgaid, a boil, Ir. neascoid, E. Ir. nescoit : *ness-conti-^
from E. Ir. ness, wound {"^snit-so-, root snit, cut. Ger. schneide,
Sc. sued), and -conti- found in urchoid % Stokes regards E. Ir.
ness, wound, as from ^7iekso-, root neg.
neimh, poison, Ir. nimk, neimh, 0. Ir. nem, pi. neimi : ^nemes-,
" something given," root nem-, distribute (as in neamh) 1
n^ip, a turnip ; from the Sc. iieep, M. Eng. nepe, from Lat. ndpus.
neo, air neo, otherwise, alioquin (conj.) ; see next,
neo-, un-, Ir. neainli-^ neimh-, M. Ir. nem, 0. Ir. neh-, neph- : *ne-ho- ;
the ne is the negative seen in ?ia, ni, but the bo is doubtful.
Zimmer suggests that 6 is what remains of the subj. of bu,
be : " be not."
neoinean, neonan, the daisy, Ir. noinin : " noon-flower," from
nbin, noon. Cf. the Eng. daisy for force.
neonach, eccentric, curious : *neo-gnathach, " unwont."
neonagan, a stye in the eye (Arg.) ; cf. leamhnad. Also stebnagan ;
cf. Sc. styen.
neoni, nothing, a trifle, 0. Ir. nephni ; from neo- and ni, thing,
neul, nial, a cloud, Ir. neul, 0. Ir. nel. pi. ace. niula, W. niwl, mist :
*neblo-s ; Lat. nebula ; Gr. v€<f)€\rj ; Ger. nebel, mist ; 0. Slav.
nebo, sky ; Skr. nabhas, mist.
ni, not, Ir. ni, 0. Ir ni, ni, W. ni : '^nei ; 0. Lat. nei, Lat, ni-, ne ;
0. H. Ger. ni, Ger. nein ; 0. Slav, ni, neque ; Zend nae- ;
Gr. V7)-. Thur. says *ne-est = *nest, Celtic nist, nis, ni h-
non-aspirating.
ni, a thing, Ir. nidh, 0. Ir. ni, res, probably a curtailed form of
0. Ir. a7ii, id quod, from the art. neut. and the pronominal
suffix ei, which Zimmer compares to Got. e^, that (conj.),
sa-ei, that-ei, which is either the locative of pronominal o-
(Gr. d, I. E. ei-so, this here), or the particle seen in Gr.
ovTocr-i (t long), an instrumental of Lat. is, Gaelic e, he.
Some have regarded ni as from ^gnithe, factum, which see in
ni, will do.
ni, cattle ; this is the same as ni, thing.
ni, will do, Ir. gnim, I do, 0. Ir. dogni, facit ; see dean, gniomh.
niata, courageous, Ir. nia, gen. niadh, a champion, niadhas, valour,
M. Ir. forniaita, brave, E. Ir. nia, g. niath^ possibly Ogam
neta, netta (*neta ?) : "^'neid-, Gr. dvetSos, revile. Lit. ndids,
hatred, Skr. nind, mock, or *ni-sed-, down-setter "? Rhys
{Led.) cfs. the Teut. nan]^, venture, strive ; this would give
Gaelic preserved d.
nic, female patronymic prefix, M. Gaelic nee (D. of L.), Ir. ni,
M. Ir. ini, an abbreviation of 0. Ir. ingen, now inghean or
OF THE GAELFC LANGUAGE. 263
nighean and ui, nepotis (Stokes). The G. iiic, really " grand-
daughter," stands for inghean 7}ihic or ni mhic ; we have
recorded in 1566 Ne V^ Kenze (M'Leod Charters).
nigh, wash, Ir. nighim, E. Ir. nigim, 0. Ir. dofonuch, lavo, nesta,
laveris : ^nigo, I. E. neigo ; Gr. vtfo), vitttw ; Eng. nick, Auld
Nick, a water power, Ger. nix ; Skr. nij, clean.
cighean, a daughter; a corruption of inghean, q.v.
nimh, poison, Ir. niynh ; see neimh.
nior, not (with perfect tense), Ir, nior, E. Ir. nir = ni-ro ; rn is the
sign of past tenses.
nios, neas, a weazel, Ir. neas, eas{6g), 0. Ir. ness :
niOS, from below, up, Ir. anios, E. Ir. ants ; from an (see a number
5) and los.
nis, now, Ir. anois, M. Ir. anosa, E. Ir. innossai, 0. Ir. indossa ;
ind (now a?^) of the article and G. fois, rest. The word
appears in a bhos, q.v. The form ijidorsa, this hour ( = now),
is rejected by Ascoli as a misspelling for indossa.
ni 's, id quod, the usual classical Gaelic with the verb substantive
to denote comparative state : tha i ni's f hearr, she is better,
Ir. nios, M. Ir. ni is : "thing that is," from ni and is. The
usual and true Gaelic form na 's is not a degraded form of
Ir. ni 's. The G. na of na '.s is simply na = id quod (see na) ;
the Ir. is some mediaeval development with ni, for old ana^
id quod, was lost, the simple a (art.) being used now in its
stead, as in 0. Ir. As it was impossible to use a in the
comparative construction with clearness, recourse was had to
ni is. Thus Ir. : An tan do thogradh ni ba m6 do dheunamh
= G. An tan a thogradh e na bu mho a dheanamh. Hence
ni 's should never have been used in Sc. Gaelic,
niuc, a corner ; from the Sc. neuk, M. Eng. nok. Dial. iuc.
Skeat thinks the Eng. is the borrower.
no, or, vel, Ir. nd, E. Ir,, 0, Ir. no, W. neu ; see na.
nochd, to-night, Ir, anochd, 0. Ir. innocht, hac nocte : the art. and
nochd, night, W, henoeth. Corn, neihur, Br. neyzor, nos :
*nokti- ; Lat. nox, noctis ; Gr. vv^, vvktos ; Got. nahts, Eng.
night ; Lit. naktis ; Skr. ndkti.
nochd, naked, Ir. nochdadh, manifestation, 0. Ir. nocht, W. noeth.
Corn, noyih, Br. noaz : "^noqto- ; Got. naqajjs, 0. H. G. nacot,
Eng. naked ; further cf. Lat. nudus {^nogvidus) \ Slav, nagil ;
Skr. nagnd.
nodadh, a nod, suggestion ; from the Eng.
nodha, new ; see nuadh.
noig, the anus :
noig, old-fashioned face ; nolgeiseach, snuffy ; noigeanach (D.
B^n):
264 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
noigean, a noggin, Ir. noigin ; from the Eng. noggin. Skeat
thinks the Eng. are the borrowers ; but this is unlikely,
noin, noon, Ir. noin, g. nona, evening, noon, E. Ir. noin, nana, W.
nawn ; from the Lat. nona hora, ninth hour of the day, or 3
o'clock.
noir, the east, Ir. anoir, 0. Ir. anair, "from before," if one looks at
the morning sun ; from an (see a number 5) and air.
noli aig, Christmas, Ir. nodlog, E. Ir. 7iotlaic, W. nadolig ; from
Lat. natalicia, the Nativity.
norra, a wink of sleep (Arran), norradh (M'Rury) :
n6s^ a custom, Ir., E. Ir. nds, W. natvs, M. Br. neuz : ^nomzo-, Gr.
voixo<i, law, Lat. numerus. Thurneysen thinks the Gadelic
words are borrowed from the Welsh naws, from gnaws (see
gnath). Stokes gives ^nomso- as stem for Gadelic alone ; the
W. he regards as from gnd, as above. The ideal stem would
be *nd8to-, root ndd.
nos, a cow's first milk, E. Ir. iius ; from nua, new, and ass, milk,
notair, a notary, Ir. ndtadoir, 0. Ir. notire ; from Lat. notarius.
nothaist, a foolish person :
nuadarra, angry, surly ; see 7iuarranta.
nuadh, new, Ir. nuadh, 0. Ir. nue, 7iuide, W. newydd, 0. Br.
nouuid, Br. neuez, Gaul, novio- : *novio-s ; Lat. novus, Novius ;
Gr. veos, young, new ; Got. niujis, Eng. new ; Lit. naujas ;
Skr. navy a.
'nuair, when, "the hour that," Ir. anuair, E. Ir. innuair: the art.
and the word uair, q.v.
nuall, nuallan, a howling, cry, Ir. nuaill, E. Ir. Jiiiall : *nouslo-n ;
Skr. nu, cry, navati ; Lettic nauju, cry ; 0. H. G. niumo,
praise, rejoicing.
nuarranta, sad, surly ; cf. the Ir. interjection mo nuar, my woe,
root nu as above,
nuas, down, from above, Ir. anuas \ see a number 5 and nas.
nuig, as far as, 0. G. gonice (B. of Deer), Ir. nuige, go nuige, E. Ir.
conmci : *con-do-icci ; see thig, come.
nuimhir, number, so Ir. ; from Lat. numerus. Usually uimhir,
q.v.
'n uiridh, last year, Ir. ^nuraidh^ E. Ir. innuraid ; the art. and
0. Ir. dat. U7^id. See uiridh.
null, over, to beyond ; for nunn on the analogy of nail, and for
dissimilation of the na. See nunn, the only Argyllshire form,
nunn, over, beyond, Ir. anonn, 0. I. inunn ; from the prep, an
(see a 5) and sund, here (" from here "), W. hwnt, Br. hont :
"^suno-to-, pronominal roots sou and to ; for both cf. Gr. ovto<s
( = so-u-to-s), this. The pronominal forms beginning in so and
tOf or s and t without o, are all from the roots so and to
ultimately.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 265
o
0, the interjection " 0 ! oh ! " Ir. o ; see vocative a.
0, from, ab, Ir. o, 0. Ir. o, ua {ho, hua) : ^ava ; Skr. dva, away,
oflf ; Lat. au-, as in aufero, take away ', Ch. SI. u-, Pruss- au-.
Also bho, q.v.
0, since, when, with the rel. as 0 'n, Ir. d, 0. Ir. 6, ex quo ; it is
merely the prep, o used as a conjunction.
ob, refuse, Ir. obaim, 0. Ir. obbaim, obbad (inf.) ; referred to ud-
bad, " out-speak," the prefix ud-, out (allied to Eng. out, Skr.
nd, out, of j and ba, speak, I. E. bha, Lat. fari, Gr. ^a in
4>ri}XL. Ascoli gives the root as ben (see bean), repellere.
6b, a creek ; from Norse hop, small land-locked bay, Sc. hope,
Ag. S. hop, valley.
obaidh, a charm ; see ubag.
obair, a work, so Ir., E. Ir. opair, oper, 0, Ir. opred, operatio ; from
Lat. opus (g. operis), opera.
t obair, a confluence ; the usual pronunciation of the Aber- in
place names. See abar.
obann, sudden, Ir. obann, E. Ir. opond : '^od-bond, e vestigio, from
bonn % Stokes refers it to the root of Gr. a^vw, 0. Slav, abije,
immediately, suggesting ^ob-no-, W. buan also suggests itself.
ocar, interest on money, Ir. ocar, W. ocr ; from Norse okr, usury,
Ag. S. wocer, Got. wokrs, Ger. wucher ; root veg.
och, an interjection, alas ! Ir. och, uch, 0. Ir. uch, vae, ochfad,
sighing : "^uk ; Got. auhjon, make a noise, Norse ugla, Eng.
owl ; Let. az^^a, stormwind, Serb, uka, a cry.
ochd, eight, Ir. ochd, 0. Ir. ocht n-, W. i^'^^^ (*okti), Br. eis; : "^o^^d ;
Lat. octo ; Gr, oktm ; Got. ahtaii ; Skr. ashtau.
ochoin, alas, Ir. och on ; literally " alas this ! " From och and the
old pronoun on, discussed under eadhon.
ocras, hunger, Ir. ocrus, ocarus, E. Ir. accorus. See acras. The
Lat. careo, want, may be suggested as allied j root ker, kor.
od, yonder, yon ; see ud.
oda, tongue of land ; N. oddr,
oda, horse-race (Uist), race, race-course (Carm.) ; cf. N. at, horse-
fight.
odhar, dun, so Ir., E. Ir. odar : *odro-s, for ^odh-ro-, shady, Lat.
umbra { = *o-n-dhra), dter, dark, Umbrian adro, atra. Bez.
suggests, with query, *jodros, allied to Lit. judas, dark.
Thurneysen has referred "^odro-s to I. E. udro-, otter, hydra,
watery, the idea being " otter-like "or " water-like " (Gr. vdwp,
Eng, water).
32
266 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
ofrail, an offering, Ir. ofrdil, M. Ir. offrdil, E. Ir. oifrend ; from
Lat. offerendum.
6g, young, Ir. 6g, 0. Ir. dc, oac, W. ieuanc, Corn, iouenc, Br.
iaouank, Gaul. Jovinc-illos : *jov7iko-s^ comparative jovos ;
Lat. juvenis, juvencus ; Eng. young, Got. juggs ; Skr. yuva^d,
juvenile, yvvan, young.
Ogha, a grandchild, Ir. 6, ua, g. ui, a grandson, descendant, 0. Ir.
ua, aue, haue, g. haui : *(p)avio-s ; Gr. irats, for 7ra/ts, boy ;
further Lat. jo?ier, for pov-er ; W. z^yr ; root pu, pav, pov,
beget. Brug. {GrundP' 122) refers it to "^avio-a, an adj. from
avo-s, grandfather, etc., Lat. avus. Eng. eame.
t Oghum, the " Ogam " writing, so Ir., E. Ir. ogum, Ogma mac
Elathan (son of knowledge), the Hercules of the Gaelic gods,
Gaul. Ogmios, the Gaul. Hercules and god of eloquence :
^Ogambio-s. Cf, Gr. oy/xos {*y-iJ-os1), a furrow, line, Skr.
djmas, course, run, root ag : the comparison is very doubtful.
See oidheam.
Oglach, a youth, servant, Ir. dglach, 0. Ir. oclach ; from bg and
suffix -lack (see teaglach).
Ogluidh, gloomy, awful, bashful, Ir. ogluid.h, bashful ; from Norse
uggligr, fearful, Eng. ugly.
oich, interjection of pain, Ir., 0. Ir. uch. See och.
oide, foster-father, step-father, Ir. oide, 0. Ir. aite : *attio-s ; Gr.
arra, father ; Got. atta, father ; Ch. SI. otici, father ; Skr.
attd, mother,
oidhche, oiche, night, Ir. oidhche, 0. Ir. aidche, later oidche, also
adaig : "^ad-aqid, *ad-aq%, root aq^, dark ; Lat. aquilus, dark ;
Lit. aklas, blind ; Gr. aKapov, blind (Hes.). Skr. andhas,
darkness, with root aiidh, adh, Lat. ater, etc., have been
suggested, the ad of "^ad-aqia being made the root and not
the aq (see odhar).
t oidheadh, tragical death, so Ir., E. Ir. oided, aided ; root pad,
ped, fall, Lat. pestis (Stokes). See eas.
oidheam, a secret meaning, inference, idea (M"A., M'E.), a book
(M'F., H.S.D.). Properly oigheam, the same as ogham above
(Zeuss, T\,hjs' Rib. Led.).
oidheirp, oirpe, an attempt : '''ad-erb-, root erb of earb, q.v. %
oifig, an office, Ir. oifig, M. Ir. oifflcc ; from Lat. offi^cium (Eng.
ofice).
oigeach, a stallion, young horse ; from dg and each. Commonly
aigeach, q.v.
6igh, a virgin, Ir. oigh, E. Ir., 0. Ir. 6g, uag, integer : "^a.ugi-, root
aug, increase ; Lat. augeo ; Got. dukan, increase ; Lit. dugu,
(Brug.). Bez. (in Stokes' Urkel. Spr.) suggests CzQch pouhy^
pure, and a stem "^pougo-s.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 267
oigheam, obedience, homage ; cf. taidhe,
oighionnach, aigheannach, a thistle (Perth, according to M'A.) :
see fobhannan.
oighre, ice, Ir. oidhir, M. Ir. oigred, E. Ir. aigred, snow ; see deigh.
oig^hre, an heir, so Ir., M. Ir. oigir ; founded on Lat. heres,
possibly on M. Eng. heir rather, which is from heres.
oighreag", cloudberry ; founded on Sc. averin.
oil, vexation, offence, Ir. \oil. The E. Ir. ail has a long, and is
for agli-^ Got. agls, disgraceful (Strachan). The G. is perhaps
from the root of oillt.
oil, rear, educate, Ir. oilirn, 0. Ir. ailim ; root al as in altrum.
oilbheum, offence, stumbling-block, Ir. oilbheim, M. Ir. ailbeim :
"stone-dashing," "stone-stumbling"; from ail, rock, and
beum^ blow, q.v. (Atk.).
oilean, eilean, training, nurture, Ir. oileamhuin, nurture, M, Ir.
oiUmain, inf. to ailim, I rear ; root al, as in altrum, q.v.
oillt, horror, disgust, Ir. oilt : "^aleii-, root 'pal, strike, whence
Lat. palma, palm, palpo, palpitate, etc. "?
oineach, liberality, Ir. oineach, mercy, liberality. See eineach.
oinid, a fool, Ir. oinmhid, E. Ir. oinmit, dnmit ; from on-, foolish,
and 7n€7it, mind. See next,
oinnseach, a foolish woman, Ir. oinseach ; from oV, foolish, and
the feminine termination -seach.
oir, edge, border, Ir., E. Ir., 0. Ir. or, W. gor-or, ora superior: "^oro-.
Cf. Lat. ora, coast, from which Thur. regards it as borrowed ;
it is not allied to Ger. ufer, coast.
oir, for, 0. Ir. ar, air ; the prep, air (^are) used as a conj. The
Ir. oir, because, for, 0. Ir. ore, iiare, abl. of 0. Ir. uar, huar,
is from Lat. hora, Gaelic iiair.
oir-, prefix denoting "ad " or " on," Ir. oir-, 0. Ir. air-, ar- ; this is
the prep, air C^are). Hence oirbheart, a good deed, Ir. do.,
from beart ; oirbheas, act of charity, from beus, conduct, etc.
Sometimes confused with or-, gold, as prefix ; cf. oirdheirc.
oircheas, pity, charity, Ir. oircheasachd, need, charitableness ; cf.
0. Ir. airchissecht, gratia, indulgentia, vb. airchissim, parcit,
indulget : air + cess ; root of cead 1
oirde, a piece or lump of anything ; see ord.
oirdheirc, glorious, Ir. oirdhearc, 0. Ir. airdirc, erdirc ; from air
and dearc, see : " con-spicuous." See oir- for the oir-.
oirfeid, music, Ir. oirfid, E. Ir. air-Jitiud, playing, inf. to arbeitim,
arpeitim ; from air and peitim, M. Ir. peiteadh, music ; peit
or p)et is from svettd, whistle, pipe, G. fead, q.v.
6irleach, an inch, Ir. orlach, ordlach, M. Ir. ordlach, tri hordlaighe,
three inches ; from ordu, thumb, now G. brd-ag, q.v.
268 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
oirthir, the east, so Ir., 0. Ir. airther ; comparative of air, ante —
" in front," as one faces the sun in the morning.
oirthir, border, coast, so Ir., M. Ir. airer ; from air and tir.
oisg, a sheep, yearUng ewe, E. Ir. oisc ; for oi-shesc, 6i, sheep,
and seasg, barren, q.v. The word 6i is from "^ovi-s ; Lat.
ovis ; Gr. ots ; Lit. avis ; Skr. avis.
oisinn, a corner, Ir. isinn, the temple, fdn na hoisean, along the
temple, E. Ir, na-h-usine, the temples : "^od-stani-, " out-
standing" C?). See ursainn, tarsainn.
oisir, an oyster, Ir. oisre ; from M. Eng. oistre, from Fr. oistre,
from Lat. ostrea.
oistric, ostrich, Ir. ostrich ; from the Eng.
oit, an interjection to denote the sense of burning heat; cf. 0. Ir.
tiit mo chrob, alas for my hand !
oiteag", a breeze, pufF of wind, Ir. oiteog : *aUi-, root at, as in Gr.
oLTfxos,, vapour, Eng. atmosphere ; Ag. S. ae^m, breath ; Skr.
dtmdn, breath, soul.
oitir, a ridge or bank in the sea, a low promontory, Ir. oitir : *ad-
tir, from tir, land, " to-land."
61, drink, drinking, Ir. 61, olaim, E. Ir. 61, inf. to ibim, 0. Ir. oul,
*povolo (St.), drinking : ''"potlo-, root po, p6, drink ; Lat. poto,
Eng. potatp, etc. ; Skr. pa-, drink. Zimmer considers it
borrowed from Norse ol, Eng. ale. The root pele, pie, full,
has also been suggested ; but it is unlikely here.
ola, oil, Ir , 0. Ir. ola, W. olew, 0. W. oleu, Br. eol ', from Lat.
olemn, Eng. oH.
olach, a hospitable person : " boon-companion ;" from hi.
olann, wool, so Ir., E. Ir. aland, 0. W. gidan, W. gwlan, Corn.
gluan, Br. gloan : *vland, *vlano- ; Lat. Idna ; Gr. Aavos,
Xrjvos ; Eng. wool. Got. vidla ; Lit. wilna \ Skr. urnd ; I.E.
vlnd, vlnd.
olc, bad, Ir. olc, 0. Ir. olcc, olc ; cf. Lat. ulciscor, revenge, ulcus,
wound, Eng. ulcer ; Gr. cAkos, wound. Bez. suggests O.H.G.
ilki, hvinger. Lit. alkti, Ch. SI. alkati, hunger.
ollabhar, a great army (M'F.), Ir. ollarbhar : oU + arbhar. For
oil, see next word ; E. Ir. arbar, a host, is from her (see beir).
oUamh, a learned man, a doctor, so Ir., 0. Ir, ollam, g. ollaman ;
from Ir. oil, great (root pol, pel, pie, full, fill).
omar, amber, Ir. omra, W. amfer ; from the Eng.
omhail, attention, heed, Ir. umhail ; cf. G. umhal, obedient.
omhan, othan, froth of milk or whey, whey whisked into froth
(Carm.), Ir. uan, E. Ir. uan, froth, foam, W. ewyn, Br. eon :
"^oveno-, "^poveno- ; Lit. putd, foam, Lettic putas.
onagaid, confusion, row^ (Dial.) ; cf. aonagail.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 269
Onfhadh, a blast, storm, raging of the sea, Ir. anfadh^ E. Ir.
anfudy for an-feth, " excess-wind," feth, aura ] root ve, ven,
blow ; Skr. vdta, wind ; Gr. ai^/xi, blow, d'^p, Lat. <xer, Eng.
air ; Lit. -yej'as, wind ; further Lat. ventus and Eng. wind.
onnchon, a standard (M'F., O'B.), so Tr., also Ir. onchu, leopard,
E. Ir. onchu, banner, leopard; the idea of "leopard" is the
primary one. From Fr. onceau, once, Eng. ounce, leopard.
onoir, respect, honour, Ir. onoir, E. Ir. ondir, onoir : from Lat.
ho7ior.
6nrachd, solitude, Ir. aonarachd ; from aonar, aon.
6r, gold, Ir., 0. Ir. o'/-, W. aur, Cor. our, Br. aour ; from Lat,
aurum.
or-, prefix air, oir, confused often with the prefix or-, gold ; e.g.
6rbheart, good (golden !) deed, which is for oirhheart (see
oir-).
orag, sheaf of corn (H.S.D.), orag (M'F., Arm.) :
oragan, an organ, Ir,, M, Ir. oigdn, E. Ir. organ, W. organ ; from
Lat. organum, Eng. organ.
oraid, a speech, Ir. oraid, prayer, oration, E. Ir. orait, prayer,
orate ; from Lat. orate, pray ye, oratio, speech.
oran, a song ; this is for '''auran, from the correct and still exist-
ing form amhran, Ir. amhrdn, M. Ir. ambrdn, Manx arrane ;
from amh, i.e. inu, about, and rann % Ir. amhar, E. Ir. amor,
music. Cf. Ir. amhra, eulogy, especially in verse Cf. amra
(Cholumcille), panegyric.
orair, a porch, (orrar, M'D.) : " front," from air- or ar- and air, a
reduplication really of air, " on-before."
orais, a tumultuous noise (H.S.D. from MSS.) :
6rd, a hammer, Ir , M. Ir. ord, 0. Ir. ordd, W. gordd, 0. Cor.
ord, Br. orz, liorz, Gallo. Brit. Ordo-vices (?) : *ordo-s, *urdo-s,
root verdh, urdh, raise, increase, whence or allied are Gr.
6pQo<^, Lat. arduus, G. drd, etc. ; especially Skr. va.rdhate,
raise, increase, grow. See ordag. Thur. thinks it perhaps
possible that Romance urtare, hit, thrust, Fr. heurter, Eng.
hurt, are hence, and Ascoli that Fr. ortail, big toe {orddu =
ortu), is from ord, the basis of or dag, q.v.
ord, a mountain of rounded form (topographical only) ; from
above.
ordag, thumb, Ir. orddg, 0. Ir. orddu, g. orda7i : *ord6s, "^urdos ;
same root as ord above.
ord Ugh, order, Ir. ord, ordughadh, 0. Ir. ord, ordaad, ordination,
W. urdd, urddawd, ordaining, Br. urz \ from Lat. ordo.
organ, organ ; see oragan.
270 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY.
orra, ortha, orr', or, a charm, incantation, Ir. orrtha (prrtha,
Con.), ortha, prayer, charm (in this last sense pronounced
arrtha), E. Ir. ortha. ace. orthain, prayer (especially in verse) ;
from Lat. ordtionem, Eng. oration.
orrais, squeamishness, nausea :
OS, above, Ir. os, os, uas, 0. Ir. os, itas, W. uch, Br. a, us ; see uasal
for root.
OS, an elk, deer, Ir. os (O'B.), E. Ir. as, oss, W. uch, pi. uchen, bos,
Corn, ohan, boves, Br. oclien (do.), 0. Br. ohen, bourn : "^ukso-s
(for G.), "^uksen- (for Brittonic) ; Got. auhsa(n), Eng. ox, oxen ;
Skr. ukshdn, bull.
OS, quoth ; for ors\ from or, ar, say ; see arsa.
OS, mouth of a river, harbour bar ; from Norse 6ss, river mouth ;
Lat. ostium.
osadh, desisting, Ir. osadh, truce, E. Ir. ossad (do.) : "^ud-sta-
" stand out"; root sta, stand.
osag, a blast, breeze : *ut-sd, root, ut, vet, ve, blow, as in onfhad.h.
osaii, a hose, stocking, Ir. assan, caliga, 0. Ir. ossa, assa, soccus,
W. hosan. Cor. hos ; from Ag. S. hosa^ g. hosan, now hose,
hosen, Norse hosa.
OSCach, eminent, superior (Sh., O'B.), Ir. oscdch ; from os and cdch.
oscarach, oscarra, bold, fierce, Ir. oscar, champion ; from the
heroic name Oscar, son of Oisian (Ir. Oisin, little deer or os,
q.v.) Possibly Oscar stands for *udscaro-, "out-cutter,"
root scar oisgar, q.v. Zimmer derives it from Norse 'Asgeirr.
spear of the Anses or gods, and Oisian from the Saxon
'0 swine, friend of the Anses ; which should give respectively
' Asgar and 'Oisine, but the initial vowels are both o short in
Oscar and Oisian. Doomsday Book has Osgar.
6sd, csda, tigh osda, an inn, Ir. tigh Ssda ; from M. Eng. ooste,
host, hotel, house, hospitium, through Fr. from Lat. hospitium.
Stokes takes it direct from 0. Fr. oste.
OSnadh, a sigh, so Ir., 0. Ir. osnad, W. uchenaid, uch, Br. huanad.
Zimmer has analysed this into os, up, and an (root of anail),
breath : " up-breath " ; cf. Lat. suspirium, from sup-spirium,
*' up-breath." But consider *ok-s, from uk of och. Cf. E. Ir.
esnad, M. Ir. easnadh, song, moaning.
ospag, osmag, a gasp, sob, sigh, pang, Ir. ospog, uspdg, osmog ; cf.
osnadh. Aso uspag, q.v.
ospairn, gasping quickly, sobbing, sighing ; from os and spairn^
q.v. Cf. uspairn.
othail, odhail, confusion, hubbub, also (Dial., where pronounced
ow-il), rejoicing ; spelt also foghail, fog'hail ; root gal, as in
gal % For odhail, rejoicing, cf. M. Ir. odhach, ceolmar, also
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 271
uidheach, od, music ; root ved ; Gr. -uSeo, sing, praise, Skr.
vadati, sing, praise ; Lit. vadinu, rufe, root, ved, vad, uJ,
rufen.
Othar, ulcer, abscess, Ir. othar, sick : ^putro- ; Lat. putej% Eng.
putrid ; root pit, pu, ^ng. foul, etc.
otrach, dunghill, Ir., M. Ir. otrach, dunghill, 0. Ir. ochtrach
( = othrach 1), excrement : "^puttr-, root put, pu, Lat. puteo,
puter, as under othar. Ir. othrach, dung, *putr.
pab, shag, refuse of flax, woolly hair, and (M'A.) tassel ( = bab),
M. Ir. papp, popp, sprig, tuft, E. Ir. popp, bunch, which
Stokes refers to a Celtic *bohhu-, '^bhohh-nu-, from *hhobh,
"^hhahh, Lat. faha, bean, Gr. 7ro/x<^o9, blister, 7r€/x</)i^, bubble,
Lettic bamha, ball, I. E. bhemhho-, inflate. Eng. bob, cluster,
bunch, appears in the 14th century, and Sc. has bob, bab
correspondingly ; the Gadelic and Eng. are clearly connected,
but which borrowed it is hard to say. The meaning of pab
as "shag, flax refuse " appears in the Sc. pab,pob. Borrowing
from Lat. papula, pimple, root pap, swell, has been suggested.
pac, a pack, h'.paca', from Eng. ^ac^. Hence pacarras, amass
of confusion.
pacaid, a packet ; from the Eng.
padhadh, thirst, Manx paa ; seemingly formed by regressive
analogy from the adjective pal teach, thirsty, a side-form of
])6iteach, drinking, bibulous, from poit, Lat. potus, drunk.
M. Ir. paadh is explained by Stokes as ^'spasdtu-, root spas or
spes, Lat. spiro, breathe, W. fun, breath, from *sposnd. For
phonetics see piuthar.
padhal, ewer, Ir. padhal, ewer, pail, W. padell, pan ; from Eng.
pail ; cf . adhal, paidhir, staidhir, faidhir, rathad.
paganach, heathen, Ir. pdganach, pdgdnta, M. Ir. pagdnta ; from
Lat. paganus, villager, pagan, whence Eng. pagan.
paidhneachas, a penalty, pledge ; from pdigh, with leaning on
peanas.
paidhir, a pair ; from English pair, M. Eng. peire, Fr. paire, from
Lat. par. Cf., for phonetics, /a^c?^^V (fair) and staidhir (stair).
paidir, the Lord's prayer, so Ir., M. Ir. paiter, 0. Ir. pater, W.
pater ; from Lat. pater in Pater noster, etc., which begins the
prayer.
paidreag, a patch, clout :
paidrean, a cluster of grapes, posy, string of beads, Ir. paidirin,
rosary, necklace ; from paidir.
272 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
pai^h, paidh, pay, Ir. paidhe, payment ; from Eng. pay.
pail-chlach, pavement, Ir. pdil-chlach, stone pavement, pail,
pahhail, pavement ; formed from the Eng, pave, pavement.
pailleart, a box on the ear, a blow with the palm : "^palm-bheart,
"palm-action," from Lat. palma, palm ; cf. W. palfad, stroke
of the paw, Br. palfod, blow on the cheek.
pailliun, a tent, Ir. pailliun ; from M. Eng. pailyoun (Barbour),
pavilon, Fr. pavilion, from Lat. papilionem, a butterfly —
tents being called after the butterfly because spread out like
its wings. Stokes takes it direct from the Fr.
pailm, palm tree, Ir., M. Ir. pailm ; from Lat. palma, whence
Eng. palm.
pailt, plentiful, pail teas, plenty, Manx palchys, Cor. pals,
plenteous, M. Br. paout, numerous, Br. paot, many, much ;
the G. is in all likelihood a Pictish word — a root qalt, I.E.
qel, company, collection, as in clann, q.v.
paindeal, a panther ; founded on the Eng. panther, M. Eng.
pantere.
painneal, a panel, Ir. painexd, W. panel ; from the Eng., M. Eng.,
Fr. panel.
painnse, a paunch ; from the Sc painch, pench, Eng. paunch.
painntear, a snare, Ir. painteur, M. Ir. painnter ; from M. Eng.
pantere, snare for birds, 0. Fr. pantiere. Hence Eng. painter,
boat rope,
paipeir, paper, Ir. pdipeur, W. papyr ; from Lat. papyrus, whence
Eng. paper.
paipin, poppy, Ir. paipin, W. pahi ; from Lat. popaver, whence
Eng. poppy.
pairc, a park, Ir. pdirc, W. pare, parwg ; from M. Eng. park,
parrok, now park.
pairilis, palsy, Ir., M. Ir. pairilis, W. parly s ; from Lat. paralysis,
whence Eng. palsy.
pairt, a share, part, Ir. pdirt, E. Ir. pairt, W. partli ; from Lat.
pars, partis, a part, whence Eng. part. M. Ir. pars, point of
time less than a minute.
p^isd, a child, Ir. pdisde ; formed from M. Eng. page, boy, Sc.
page, boy, now Eng. page.
paisean, a fainting fit, Ir., M. Ir. pais, E. Ir. paiss, passio, suffer-
ing ; from Lat. passionem, patior, suffer.
paisg, wrap ; see pasgadh.
pait, a hump, lump, Ir. pait, M. Ir. pait, mass ; also Ir. paiteog,
small lump of butter ; from Eng. pat. Skeat thinks the Eng.
is from the Gaelic, but the p is fatal to the word being native
Gadelic.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 273
p^iteag, a periwinkle (H.S.D., for Heb.) :
palla, green shelf in a rock (Lewis) ; N. pallr, step, dais.
palmair, a rudder, Ir. palmaire ; see falmadair.
palas, a palace, Ir. pdlas, W. palas \ from Lat. palatium, whence
Eng. palace.
panna, a pan ; from M. Eng. panne, now pan.
pannal, pannan, a band or company, also, bannal, q.v. ; from
Eng. hand.
p^p, the pope, Ir. papa, 0. Ir. papa, W., Br. pab ; from Lat. papa,
father, pope, Eng. pope.
paracas, a rhapsody (M'A.) :
paradh, pushing, brandishing ; cf. purr.
parant, a parent ; from Eng. parent.
pardag", a pannier (Arm.) :
parlamaid, parliament, Ir. pairlimeid, M. Ir. pairlimint ; from
Eng. parliament.
parraist, a parish, Ir. parraisde ; from Eng. parish, M. Eng.
parische.
parras, paradise, Ir. parrthas, 0. Ir. pardus, W. paradwys, Br.
baradoz ; from Lat. paradisus,
partan, a crab, portan (Skye), Ir. partdn, portdn, M. Ir. partan ;
Sc. partan. E. Ir. partar, partaing, ruby 1
pasgadh, a wrapping, coverings pasg'an, a bundle, pasg, a faggot ;
cf. Ir. faisg, a pen, W. ffasg, bundle, which last is certainly
from Lat. fasces,
pasmunn, expiring pang (H.S.D.) ; from Eng. spasmi H.S.D.
gives also the meaning " cataclysm applied to the sores of a
dying person."
peabar, piobar, pepper, Ir. piobar, W. pubyr ; from Lat. piper^
Eng. pepper, Norse piparr.
peacadh, sin, so Ir., 0. Ir. peccad, g. pectho, W. pechod, ^r, pechet ;
from Lat. peccatum, pecco, Eng. peccant.
pea-chearc, pea-hen : from the Eng. pea. See peucag.
peall, skin, hide, E. Ir. pell ; from Lat. pellis, hide, allied to Eng,
fell.
peallach, shaggy, matted in the hair, from peall, mat, hairy skin ;
see peall above.
peallaid, sheepskin; from Scotch pellet, a woolless sheepskin,
Eng. pelt, from Lat. pellis through Fr.
peanas, punishment, Ir. pionus ; from Lat. poena, with possibly a
leaning on the English punish.
peann, a pen, so Ir., E. Ir. penn, W. pin ; from Lat, penna.
33
274 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
pearluinn, fine linen, muslin ; from Sc. pearlin^ lace of silk or
thread, Eng. purl, edging of lace, from Fr. pourfiier, Lat.
jilum, thread.
pearsa, a person, Ir. pearsa, g. pearsan, 0. Ir. persa, g. jjersine ;
from Lat. persona, Eng. person.
pearsail, parsley, Ir. pearsdil ; from M. Eng. persil, Eng. parsley.
peasair, pease, Ir. pis, a pea, pi. piseanna, W. pys, Br. pi. piz ;
from Lat. pisum, Eng. pease.
peasan, impudent fellow, varlet ; from Eng. peasant.
peasg", gash in skin, chapped gashes of hands, cranny, W. pisg,
blisters ; G. is possibly of Pictish origin. The Sc. pisket
shrivelled, has been compared.
peata, a pet, Ir. peata, E. Ir. petta ; Eng. pet. Both Eng. and
Gadelic are formed on some cognate of Fr. petit, little, Eng.
petty (Stokes).
peic, a peck, Ir. peic, W. pec ; from Eng. pec.
peighinn, a penny, Ir. pighin, E. Ir. pinginn ; from Ag. S. pending^
Norse penningr, now Eng. penny.
peilig", a porpoise ; from Sc. pellack.
peileasach, frivolous ; cf. Sc. pell, a soft, lazy person,
peileid, cod, husk, bag :
peileid, a slap on the head, the skull or crown of the head ; in the
last sense, cf. Sc. pallet, crown of the head, M. Eng. palet,
head-piece. In the sense of " slap," cf. Eng. pelt.
peileir, a bullet, Ir. peiieur, L. M. Ir. peler : from some French
descendant of Lat. pila, ball, and allied to Eng. pellet, 0. Fr.
pelote, ball, Sp. pelote, cannon ball,
peilisteir, a quoit, flat stone ; formed from the above stem '?
peillic, a coveting of skins or coarse cloth, Ir. peillic, a booth
whose roof is covered with skins, E. Ir. pellec, basket of
untanned hide ; from Lat. pelliceus, made of skins, from
pellis.
peinneag, a chip of stone for filling crevices in wall ; from Sc.
pinning, pinn (do.), allied to Eng, pin.
peinnteal, a snare ; another form of painntear, q.v.
peirceall, the jaw, lower part of the face, corner, Ir. peircioll,
cheekblade, corner: '^'for-ciohhull, " on-jaw'"? See ciohhull.
peirig^ill, danger, Ir. peiriacul ; from Lat. periculum.
p^ire, the buttocks, Ir. peire (O'K.) ; cf. Cor. pedren, buttock, W.
pedrain. The word peurs, lente perdere (M'A.), is doubtless
connected.
peireid, ferret (M'A.).
peiris, testiculi (H.S.D.) ; apparently from Fr. pierre.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 275
peitea^, waistcoat, short jacket ; from Sc. petycot, a sleeveless
tunic worn by men, Eng. petticoat. Manx has pettie, flannel
waistcoat, peddee, waistcoat.
peithir, a forester (pethaire, M'D.), peithire, a message boy
(M'A.) ; cf. Sc. peddir, a pedlar, Eng. pedlar.
peithir, beithir, thunderbolt; a mythic and metaphoric use of
beithir^ q.v.
peitsea^, a peach ; Ir. peitseog ; from the Eng.
peodar, pewter, Ir. peatar, W. ffeutar ; from Eng. pewter. Also
feodar, q.v.
peucag;, pea-hen, Ir. peacog, peacock (Fol.) ; from Eng. peacock.
peur, a pear, Ir. piorra, peire (O'R.), W. per an ; from Eng. pear.
peurda, flake of wool off the cards in the first carding :
peurdag", piartag^, a partridge, Ir. 'pitri&g (Fol.) ; G. is from Sc.
pertrik, a side form of Eng. partridge, Lat. perdic-em.
peursair, perchman, shore herd (Carm ) :
pian, pain, Ir. pian, 0. Ir. 'pian, poena, W. po(-iL, pain, Cor. peyn,
Br. poan ; from Lat, poena, Eng paiti.
pibhinn, lapwing ; from Sc. peevjeip, Eng. peewit. ^Ihe true G. is
adharcan, " horned one" (from adkarc, because of the appear-
ance of its head).
pic, pitch, Ir. pic, W. pyg ; from M. Eng. pik, now pitch.
pic, a pike, Ir. pice, W. pig, from the Eng.
piceal, pike, Ir. picill (Fol.) ; from the Eng
pigeadh, pigidh, earthen jar, Ir. pigin, W. picyn ; from Eng., Sc.
piggin, pig, which is a metaphoric use of Eng. pig, sow.
pighe, pig-heann, a pie, Ir. pighe ; from the Eng.
pigidh, robin redbreast (H.S.D.) ; a confused use of Eng. pigeon %
pilig, peel, peeling (Dial.) ; from the Eng. See piol.
pill, a sheet, cloth, th-e cloth or skin on which corn is winnowed ;
a particular use of the oblique form of peall, q.v. M. Ir.
pill or pell means " rug."
pill, turn, Ir. pillim, better filliiii (O'B.) ; see till for discussion
of the root.
pillean, pack-saddle, pillion, Ir. pillin, W. pilyn ; Eng. pillion is
allied, if not borrowed, according to Skeat. All are formed
on Lat. pellis (see peall). Sc. has pillions for " rags" ; Br.
pill (do.).
pinne, a pin, peg, Ir. pionn (Lh.), W. pin ; from M. Eng. pinne,
now pin.
pinnt, a pint, Ir. piunt (Fol.) ; from the Eng.
piob, a pipe, a musical instrument, Ir. piob, E. Ir. pip. pi. pipai
(Lib, Leinster), (music) pipe ; from Med. Lat. pipa, whence
Ag. S. pipe, Eng. pipe, Ger. pfeife, Norse pipa. W., Cor.,
and Br. have pib, pipe, similarly borrowed.
276 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
piobar, pepper ; see 'peahar.
piobull, the bible (Dial.) : see hiohull.
pioc, pick, Ir. piocaim ; from Eng. pick. Thur. thinks that W.
pigo is ultimately from the Romance picco (point), Fr. pique,
or allied thereto. Skeat takes the Eng. from Celtic ; but see
Bradley's Stratmann.
piocach, a saith, coalfish (Wh.) :
piocaid, pickaxe, Ir. piocoid ; from pioc, Eng. pick, a pickaxe, from
Fr. pic (do.). Whether the termination is Gadelic or the Fr.
word piquet, little pickaxe, Eng. picket, was borrowed at once,
it is hard to say.
piochan, a wheezing, Manx piaghane, hoarseness, Ir, spiochan ;
Sc. pec/i, pechin, panting, peught, asthmatic, Onomatopoetic.
Cf. Lat. pipire, chirp, pipe. W. has peuo, pant,
pioghaid, pigheid, a magpie, Ir, pioghaid (FoL), pighead (O'K.) ;
from Sc. pyat, pyet, diminutive of pie, M. Eng. pye, now
usually mag-pie.
piol, nibble, pluck ; from Eng. peel, earlier, pill, pyll, peel, pluck,
ultimately from Lat. pellis. Also spiol, q.v. W. has pilio,
peel, strip,
piollach, (1) neat, trim (M'F., H.S.D,, Arm,), (2) hairy
( = peallach, of which it is a side form, H.S.D., etc.), fretful,
curious-looking (M'A.). The second sense belongs io peallach,
the first to piol : " pilled,"
piollaiste, trouble, vexation : " plucked " state, from piol 1
pioraid, hat, cap ; see hiorraid.
piorbhuic, piorrabhuic, periwig, Ir. peireahhuic ; from the Eng.
piorr, scrape or dig (H,S,D,), stab, make a lunge at one (M'A.) ;
the first sense seems from Sc, Eng. pare ; for the second, see
purr.
piorradh, a squall, blast ; from L. M. Eng. pirry, whirlwind,
blast, Sc. pirr, gentle breeze, Norse hyrr, root hir, pir, of
onomatopoetic origin (Skeat, ■^xiSd pirouette, for Eng.).
pios, a piece, Ir. piosa ; from Eng. piece, Fr. piece. Low Lat.
pettium, from Gaulish "^pettium, allied to G. cuit, Pictish pet
(see pit).
pios, a cup, Ir. piosa ; from Lat. pyxis, box (Stokes).
piostal, a pistol, so Ir. ; from Eng.
pipheanaich, giggling (M'D.) :
piseach, prosperity, luck, Manx bishagh, Ir. hiseach, M. Ir. bisech.
Cf. Ir, piseog, witchcraft, M. Ir. pisoc, charm, Manx pishag,
charm. Cor, pystry, witchcraft, M, Br. pistri, veneiicium,
which Bugge refers to Lat, pyxis, medicine box (see pios).
piseag, a kitten, Ir. puisin ; from Eng. puss. Aran Ir. piseog,
sea bream.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 277
pit, hollow or pit (Diet, only), kv(t6o<s, M. G. pit (D. of L.), Manx
pitt, Ir. pit ; from Ag. S. ppt, pit, well, now pit, from Lat.
puteus, well. For force, of. Br. fetan, fountain, fete, kvo-Oos.
The non-existent Diet, meaning is due to the supposed force
of topographic pit discussed in the next article.
Pit-, prefix in farm and townland names in Pictland, meaning
"farm, portion"; 0. G. pet, pett, g. pette (B. of Deer), a
Pictish word allied to Y^.peth, part, Gaelic cuid. See further
under cuid and pios.
pidg, a plaintive note (H.S.D) ; cf. W. ^9mcA, sigh. Onomato-
poetic 1
piuthar, sister, Ir. siur, E. Ir. siur, fiur, g. sethar, fethar, 0. Ir.
siur, W. chwaer. Corn, huir, Br. hoar : *sves6r, g. svestros
(Stokes) ; Lat. soror ( = sosor) ; Eng. sister ; Lit. sesu ; Skr.
svdsar.
plab, soft noise as of a body falling into water ; from Sc. plope.
Dial. Eng. plop : onomatopoetic like plump. Skeat compares
Eng. blab. See plub.
placaid, a wooden dish ; through Sc. ("?) from Fr. plaquette,
plaque, a plate, whence Eng. placard, Sc. placad. M'A.
gives also the meaning "flat, broad, good-natured female,"
which is a metaphoric use.
plaibean, a lump of raw flesh, a plump boy ; founded on Sc.
plope, as in plab above. Cf. Eng. plump.
plaide, a blanket, Ir. ploid ; Eng. plaid, Sc. plaiden, coarse
woollen cloth, like flannel, but twilled : all are founded on
Lat. pellis, but whether invented by Gadelic or English is at
present doubtful. Skeat says it is Celtic, a view which, as
the case stands, has most to say for it ; cf. G. peallaid,
sheepskin. Dunbar's " Hieland Pladdis.^^
plaigh, a plague, Ir. pldigh, E. Ir. pldg, W. pla ; from Lat. pldga,
disaster, M. Eng. plage, Eng. plague.
plais, a splash ; from Sc. plash, to strike water suddenly, Eng.
plash, splash.
plam, anything curdled : cf. Br. plommein, a clot, as of blood.
See slaman. M'A. gives it the meaning of " fat blubber
cheek." Arg. has " bainne plumaichte," curdled or soured
milk,
plang, a plack — a Scots coin ; from Sc. plack, a copper coin equal
to four pennies Scots, which came with the Flemish, etc.,
and is allied to Fr. plaque, used of coin, though really a
" metal dish, etc." See placaid.
plangaid, a blanket ; Ir. plainceud (Fol.) ; from the Eng.
plannta, a plant, Ir. planda ; from Eng. plant, Lat. planta.
(ft
278 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
plaosg, a husk, shell, Manx fleaym^ Ir. plaosg, W. 'plisg (pL), Br.
fluakenn. This Ernault considers borrowed from Romance —
Fr. peluche, shag, plush, Eng. plush, from Lat. *pilucius,
hairy, pilus, hair : an unlikely derivation. Seemingly
blaosg is another form (Manx bleayst, M. Ir. hlaesc, W. hlisg) :
^bhloid-sko-, root b/doi, bhle, bhel, swell, etc. ; Gr. <^Aoios
{"^bhlovio-l), bark, shell, </)AeScov, bladder.
plasd, a plaster, Ir. plasdruighim ; from the Eng.
plat, a sort of cloth made of straw ; from Sc. plat, plait, Eng.
plait. M'A. has the meaning " thrust, clap on," from Sc.
plat, a stroke to the ground, blow with the fist, M. Eng.
platteii, strike, throw down, Ag. S. plaettan.
plath, pladh, a flash, glance, pufF of wind ; from *svl-, root svel of
solus ^
pleadhag, a dibble, paddle ; also bleaghan, spleadhan, q.v.
pleadhart, a buff'et, blow ; from pa.illeart^
pleasg", a noise, crack, Ir. pleasg {pleasg Lh.)— an Ir. word (M'A.),
Ir. pleasgan or pleascdn, noise : cf. Sc. pleesk, plesk, plash,
pleesh-plash, dabbling in water or mud.
pleasg, a string of beads :
pleat, a plait ; from Sc. plett, Eng. plait.
pleid, solicitation : see bleid.
pleigh, quarrel, fight, Ir. pleidli, debate ; Sc. pley, quarrel, debate,
all from M. Eng. pleie, plege, Ag. S. plega, game, fight, Eng.
play.
pleoisg", plodhaisg, a booby, simpleton ; cf. W. bloesg, a stam-
merer (mlaisqo-), Skr. mlecchati, talk barbarously, mleccha,
foreigner, Lat. blaesus, Gr. /:^Aatcro§.
pleodar, pewter ; from Eng. spelter, with leaning on pebdar.
pliad (H.S.D., Dial.), a plot of ground; of Scandinavian origin —
Swed. plaetti, a plot of ground, Eng. plot, plat (Dr Cameron),
pliadach, flat, as of foot (Carm.) :
pliadh, a splay foot ; from Eng. splay.
pliaram, babbling (H.S.D.) ; for ^bliarami, ; see blialum, from Sc.
blelluni.
plionas, a hypocritical smile (Wh.) :
pliotair (pliodaire M'A.), a fawner, cajoler ; cf. Ir. pleadaiU
pleading ; from Eng. plead.
pliut, a clumsy foot ; cf. Sc. p loots, the feet when bare (Shet.),
plootsacks, feet. Hence plmtach, a seal. See spliut.
ploc, a round mass, clod, block (^rare), Ir. bloc, a block, W. ploc,
block, plug, Br. block, block, mass : Gadelic and W. are from
Eng. block, from Fr. bloc, of German origin — Ger. block, clod,
lump, from the root of Eng. balk.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 279
plod, a clod ; from Sc. plod, plotid, a green sod (Aberdeen).
plod, a fleet, Manx plod; from ^or^e floti, }Lng. fleet, float, etc.
plod, a pool of standing- water, Manx, Ir, plod ; from M. Eng.
plodde, a puddle, Eng. plod, originally " to wade through
water," ploud, wade through water (Grose), Sc. plout, plouter
(do.),
plodadh, parboiling ; from Sc. plot, to scald or burn with boiling
water, plottie, a rich and pleasant hot drink made of cinnamon,
cloves, etc. Also " floating" wood down river.
ploic, the mumps ; see phdc.
plosg, palpitate, throb, Ir. plosg (O'R., Fol,), blosgadh, sounding,
E. Ir. blosc ("" TO clos blosc-beimnech a chride," the hitting
sound of his heart). See hlosg.
plub, a plump, sudden fall into water ; from Eng. plump. Of.
plah. Hence plubraich, gurgling, plunging ; etc.
plub, an unweildy mass or lump ; from the Eng. plump.
plubair, a booby, one speaking indistinctly, blubberer ; from Eng.
blubber.
pluc, a lump, pimple, Manx plucan, pimple ; seemingly a side
form of ploc. M. Ir. has plucc, club or mace. Of. Sc. plulce,
a pimple.
pluc, pluck, Manx pluck ; from the Eng,
pluc, beat, thump ; from M. Eng. pluck, a stroke,
plucas, the flux ; founded on Lat. jluxus %
pluch, squeeze, compress, Ir. pluchaim, Manx ploogli, suffocation :
pluic, cheek, blub cheek, Ir. pluc : " puff'ed cheek" : from ploc.
pluideach, club-footed ; see pliut.
pluirean, a flower, Ir. plur ; from M. Eng. Jiour (now flower),
0. Fr. flour (now fleur).
plum, plunge into water ; see plumb.
plum, one who sits stock still, dead calm :
pluma, plumtaa, a plummet, Ir. plumba ; from Eng. plumb, Fr.
plotnb, from Lat. plumbum, lead.
plumb, noise of falling into water, plunge ; from Eng plump.
plumbas, plumbais, a plum, Ir. pluma ; from M. Eng. ploume,
now plum.
plundrainn, plunder, booty ; from Eng. plundering.
plur, flour, Ir. Jiur ; from M. Eng. flour ; same as Eng. flower,
flour being for " flower of wheat."
plutadh, falling down, as of rain ; from Sc. plout, Belg. plotmn,
Ger. plotzlich, sudden, from "^plotz, " quickly falling blow."
pobull, people, Ir. pobal, 0. Ir. popul, W., Br. pobl, Cor. pobel ;
from Lat. populus, whence Eng. people.
poca, a bag ; from Sc. pock, Ag. S. poca, Norse poki, 0. Fr. poche.
280 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
p6ca, pocaid, pocket, pouch. Ir. poca, pdcait (F. M.), bag, pouch ;
from M. Eng. poke, A. S. poca, as above. Eng. pocket,
M. Eng. poket, is a dimunitive. K. Meyer takes the Ir. from
the Norse poki.
p6g, pag", a kiss, Manx paag, Ir. p6g, 0. Ir. poc, pdcnat, osculum,
W. poc, Br. pok ; fromLat. pdcem, "the kiss of peace," which
was part of the ritual for the Mass ; hence in Church Lat.
dare pacem, means "to give the kiss." The old Celtic liturgies
generally carry the rubric " Hie pax datur'' immediately
before the Communion.
poireagan, rag, rags (M'D.) :
poit, a pot, Ir. pota, W. pot, Br. pod ; from Eng. and Fr. pot, from
Lat. potare ultimately. See next.
p6it, drinking, tippling, Ir. poit : from Lat. potus, drunk (Eng.
potation, poison, etc.). See ol.
poitean, a small truss of hay or straw ; see boitean.
poll, a pool, a hole, mud, Ir., E. Ir. poll, W. pwll. Cor. pol, Br.
poull ; from Late Lat. padulus, pool, a metathesis of palus,
paludis, marsh (Gaidoz), whence It. padula, Sp. paul.
Teutonic has Ag. S. pol, Eng. pool, Du. poel, 0. H. G. pfuol,
Ger. pfuhl. Skeat considers that poll is from Low Lat.
padulis, and that the Ag. S. pol was possibly borrowed from
the British Latin or Latin remains seen in place-names having
port, street, -Chester, etc. {Principles^ 437).
poll, pollair, nostril, Ir. polldire, poll-srona ; from poll.
pollag, the fish pollock or lythe — gadus pollachius, of the cod and
whiting genus, Ir. pullog ; from poll 1 Hence the Eng.
name. The Irish Eng. pollan, Sc. powan^ is a different fish —
of the salmon genus.
pollairean, the dunlin (Heb.), polidna alpina. Mr Swainson
{Folklore of British Birds) translates its Gaelic name as
" bird of the mud pits {poll)," an exact description, he says.
ponach, boy, lad (Dial.), poinneach (W. Ross) ; cf. Manx ponniar,
a boy, a small fish basket '? In Arg. boinnean (Wh.), from
hoinne. Cf. use of proitseach. The word is for bonach.
p6naidh, a pony ; from the Sc. pownie, from 0. Fr. poulenet {I lost
as usual), little colt, now poulain, a colt, from Med. Lat.
pullanus, from Lat. pullus, foal, Eng. foal, filly.
ponair, bean or beans, Ir. ponaire, M. Ir. ponaire ; from Norse
baun, 0. H. G. pona, Ger. bohne, Eng. bean, Du. boon (Stokes'
Celt. Dec).
pong, a point, note, pongail, punctual ; see punc.
p6r, seed, spore, Ir. p6r, seed, clan, W. par, germ ; from Gr.
(TTtopos, seed, Eng. spore.
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 281
port, harbour, port, Ir. port, harbour, fort, 0. Ir. port^ W., Corn.
porth, Br. pors, porz ; from Lat. partus, Eng. port.
port, a tune, Ir. port, M. Ir. ceudport, rhyme, prelude : " carry =
catch " ; from Lat. porto, carry. Sc. port, catch, tune, is
from Gaelic. Cf. Eng. sport, from Lat. dis-porto.
p6s, marry, 0. G. pusta, wedded (B. of Deer), M. Ir. posaim ; from
Lat. sponsns, sponsa, betrothed, from spondeo, I promise (Eng.
spouse, respond, etc.).
post, post, beam, pillar, Ir. posda, posta, W. post ; from the Eng.
post, from Lat. postis. PL puist, slugs for shooting (Wh.).
prab, discompose, ravel (prab, H.S.D.), prabach, dishevelled,
ragged, blear-eyed, Ir. prabach (O'R.) : " suddenly arrayed,"
from prap *?
prabar, prabal, a rabble ; from prdh, prab, discompose. See
above word,
prac, vicarage dues, small tithes, which were paid in kind (N. H.
and Isles), pracadair, tithe collector; from Sc. procutor, Eng.
proctor, procurator.
pracas, hotch-potch ; cf. Sc, Eng. fricassee.
pracaib, idle talk ; from Eng. fracas 1
pradhainn, press of business, flurry (M'A. for Islay), Ir. praidhin,
0. Ir. brothad, a moment ; see priobadh.
prainnseag", mince collops, haggis; hom. prann, pound (M'A.), a
side form of pronn, q. v.
prais, brass, pot-metal (Arm.), pot (M'A.), prais, brass (H.S.D.,
M'L., M'E.), Manx prash, Ir. prais, prds, W. pres ; from
M. Eng. b/us, Ag. S. brces. Hence praiseach, bold woman,
concubine, meretrix.
praiseach, broth, pottage, etc., Ir. praiseach, pottage, kale, M. Ir.
braissech, W. bresych, cabbages ; from Lat. brassica, cabbage.
pramh, a slumber, slight sleep :
pr^mh, priam, heaviness ; properly " blear-eyed-ness " ; cf. Ir.
srdin, eye-rheum.
praonan, an earthnut ; see braonan.
prap, quick, sudden, Ir. prab, M. Ir. prap ; see under priobadh.
prasach, a manger, crib, frasach, (M'Rury) :
prasgan, brasgan, a group, flock ; cf. Ir. prosndn, a troop, com-
pany (O'R.) :
prat, a trick (Wh.); pratail, tricky ; see protaig.
preachan, a crow, kite, moor-bittern, Ir. preachan, crow, kite,
osprey (according to the adj. applied), M. Ir. prechaUy crow,
raven :
34
282 BTYMOLOGiCAL DICTIONARY
preachan^ a mean orator (M'A.), Ir. preachoine, crier, M. Ir.
prechoineadha, prsecones ; from the Lat. praeco{n), crier,
auctioneer.
preas, a bush, brier, W. prys, brushwood, covert : *qrst-, root qer
of cranni The G., which is borrowed, is doubtless of Pictish
origin.
preas, a press, cupboard, Manx prest ; from the Eng. press.
preas, a wrinkle, fold ; from the Eng. press.
preathal, confusion of mind, dizziness ; see hreitheal.
prighig, fry ; from the Eng. frying.
prine, a pin ; from the Sc. preen^ M. Eng. preon, Ag. S. preon,
Norse prjonji, Ger. pfrierii.
priobadh, winking, twinkling (of the eye), Ir. prap in le prap na
sul, in the twinkling of the eyes (Keating), from prap,
sudden, preaba in na hi preaba na sula muich (B of Moyra),
M. Ir. prapwl, brief space (as twinkling of the eyes). La
brafad sula, oXder friha brathad sula, where we get the series
prapud, brafad, brathad (g. brotto), 0. Ir. brothad, moment.
Stokes compares the similar Gothic phrase — in brahva augins,
where brahv might = a British "^brap, borrowed into Irish,
The form brafad could easily develop into brap ; the difficulty
is the passing of th of brothad (which gives g. brotto) into /of
brafad (but see Rev. Celt.^^ 57). The G. priobadh has its
vowel influenced by preabadh, kicking, that is, breabadh, q.v.
Zim. (Zeit.^'^ 223) cites brofte, momentary, and says brafad
is made from bro, eyebrow, falsely.
priobaid, a trifle, priobair, a worthless fellow ; from Sc. bribour,
low beggarly fellow, M. Eng. bi^ibour, rascal, thief ; from
0. Fr. bribeur, beggar, vagabond, briber, to beg, bribe, morsel
of bread, Eng. bribe. Hence priobaid is from an early
Northern form of Eng. bribe. See breaban further.
priomh, prime, chief, Ir. priomh, a principal, primh, prime, 0. Ir.
prim, W. prif ; from Lat. primus, first, Eng. prime.
prionnsa, a prince, so Ir., M. Ir. prindsa ; from M. Eng. and Fr.
prince (Stokes takes it from Fr. direct).
priosan, prison, Ir. priosun, M. Ir. prisun ; from M. Eng. prisoun,
from 0. Fr. prison (Stokes takes it from 0. Fr. prisun).
pris, price, W. pris ; from M, Eng. pris, from 0. Fr. prls, Lat.
pretiiim..
probhaid, profit ; from the Eng.
procach, a year-old stag (Rob Donn) :
proghan, dregs, lees :
proinn, a dinner, 0. G. proinn (B. of Deer), Iv.proinn, 0. Ir. proind,
praind ; from Lat. prandium.
OF THE GAEIJO LANGUAGE. 283
pr6is, pride, haughtiness ; from Sc. prossie, prowsie, nice and par-
ticular, Dut. prootsch, preutsch, proud, Eng. proud. The
Arran Dial, has prbtail for prbiseil.
proitseach, a boy, stripling ; cf. brod balaich, brodan, boy, from
brod. The termination is -seach, really a fem. one. In Arg.
propanach, a boy, from prop^ also g'eamht.
pronn, food ; see proinn.
pronn, bran, Manx pronn', see next word. Hence Sc. pron,
pronn, pound, bray, mash, Manx pronney, pounding ; see, for root
and form, hronn, distribute, from the root hhrud, break, which
thus in G. means (1) distribute, (2) break or crush. Hence
pronnag, a crumb, Sc. pronachs.
pronnasg", brimstone ; formed on Sc. brunstane, Norse brennisteinn,
Eng. briinstone. Dial, of Badenoch has the form pronnasdail.
pronndal, muttering, murmuring (Dial, brundlais) :
prop, a prop, Jr. propa ; from Eng. prop.
propanach, a ))oy (Wh.) :
prosnaich, incite ; see brosnaich.
protaig, a trick ; from Sc. prattick, trick, stratagem, Ag. S. prcett,
craft, prcetig^ tricky, Eng. pretty^ Norse preitr, a trick.
prothaisd, a provost ; from the Eng.
pubull, a tent, Ir. pupal, g. puible, 0. Ir. pupall, W. pahell, pebyll ;
from Lat. papilio, butterfly, tent, Eng. pavilion. See pailliun.
ptic, push, jostle ; from the Sc. powk, thrust, dig, M. Eng. pukken,
pouken, poken, to thrust, poke, Eng. poke, Ger. pochen, knock.
Dial. fuc.
pucaid, a pimple ; see bucaid.
pudhar, harm, injury, Ix.pudhar (O'B.), M. Iv.pudar, E. Iv.pudar,
pudar ; from Lat. pudor, shame. Usually taken as borrowed
from Lat. pHtor, rottenness, Eng, putrid.
puic, a bribe :
puicean, a veil, covering, Ir. puicin :
puidse, a pouch ; from the Eng.
puinneag, sorrel :
puinneanach, beat, thump ; from M. Eng. pounen, now pound,
Ag. S. punian.
puinse, punch, toddy ; from Eng. punch.
puinsean, pulsion, poison ; from the Eng. Manx has pyshoon.
puirleai^, a crest, tuft, Ir. puirleogach, crested, tufted (O'B., Sh.),
puirleog (O'R.) — an Irish word. See piirlag.
pulag, round stone, ball, pedestal, also bulag ; from M. Eng.
boule^ a ball or bowl, now bowl, Fr. boule.
pulaidh, turkey cock : Fr. poulet,
284 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
pulas, pot-hook (Dial.) ; see bidas.
punc, a point, note, Ir. punc^ 0. Ir. pone, W. pwnc ; from Lat.
punctum, Eng. point.
punnan, a sheaf, Manx hunney, Ir. punnann, E. Ir. punann,
pundand (Corm.) ; from Norse bundin, a sheaf, bundle, Eng.
bundle, bind.
punnd, a pound, Ir. punta, punt, M. Ir. punt ; from the Eng.
punnd, a place for securing stray cattle, a pound ; from the Eng.
pound.
punntainn, funntainn, benumbment by cold or damp ; cf. Eng.
swoon, M. Eng. swoghne, "^swog-. Cf. Sc. fundy.
purgaid, a purge, Ir. purgoid ; from Lat. purgatio, Eng. purga-
tion, purge.
purgadoir, purgatory, Ir. pur gadoir, E. Ir. purgatoir, Jir. purgator ;
from Lat. purgatorium, Eng. purgatory.
piirlag, a rag, tatter, fragment :
purp, purpais, sense, mental faculty ; from Eng. purpose.
purpaidh, purpur, purple, Jr. purpuir, M. Ir. purpuir, W.
porphor : from Lat. purpura, Eng. purple. The old Gadelic
form, borrowed through British, is cor cur.
purr, thrust, push ; from Sc. porr, thrust, stab, Du. porren, poke,
thrust. Low Ger. purren, poke about ; further Eng. pore.
pus, a cat, Ir. pus ; from the Eng.
put, the cheek (Stew., H.S.D.) ; from Eng. pout.
put, thrust, push ; from Sc. put, push, thrust, M. Eng. puten,
push, now Eng. put. Also G. but, butadh.
ptlt, young of moorfowl ; from Sc. pout (do.), Eng. poult, chicken,
from Fr. poulet, from Lat. pulla, a hen, pullus, young fowl.
put, a large buoy, usually of inflated sheepskin ; seemingly of
Scand. origin — Swedish Dial, puta, be inflated ; cf. Eng.
pudding, W. pwtyn, a short round body, Cor. pot, bag,
pudding,
putag", oarpin, also butag ; from Eng. butt. Cf. Am Buta
Leddhasach, the Butt of Lewis.
putag, a pudding, Ir. putbg ; from the Eng.
putag, a small rig of land (H.S.D.) :
putan, a button, W. botwn ; from Eng. button.
puth, puff, sound of a shot, syllable ; onomatopoetic. Cf. Eng.
p^iff, etc.
puthar, power (M'A.) ; from the Eng. power.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 285
R
r^bach, litigious, Ir. rdbach, litigious, bullying :
rabhadh, a warning, so Ir., E. Ir. robuth, forewarning : ro + Luth,
latter from *huio-^ root g.u^ cry, Gr. /^orj, shout, Skr. gu^ be
heard. W. rhyhudd is from the root qu (Stokes, Rev. Celt^^).
rabhairt, reothairt, springtide, Manx royart, Ir. romhairt,
rabharta, M. Ir. robarta, 0. Ir. robarti, malinas, (sing.
"^roharte), W. rhyferth: ro + bertio-, "pro-fero," root hher oi
heir.
rabhan, rhapsody, repetition, Ir. rahhdn, repetition : from ro and
■^6a, say, root, bhd^ Lat. fdri, speak, Eng. fame, fate.
rabhart, upbraiding, senseless talk ; from ro and ber of abair, say,
q.v.
rabhd, idle talk : *ro-bant, root ha, speak, as in rabhan.
rac, the ring keeping the yard to the mast, the "traveller" ; from
Norse rakki (do.).
r^C, a rake, Ir. rdca, W. rhacan ; from M. Eng. rahe, Eng. rake.
rac, a drake ; from the Eng., earlier Eng. eiidrake. The loss of d
is due to the article.
racadh, tearing ; see sracadh.
racadal, horse-radish (Sh., H.S.D., Arm.), racadal (M'E.), Ir.
rdcadal ; see rotacal.
racaid, noise ; cf. the Sc, Eng. racket. Skeat takes the Eng. from
the Gaelic, referring the G. to rac, to make a noise like geese
or ducks. See next word.
racail, noise of geese (H.S.D.) ; cf. Sc. rackle. See next word.
racain, noise, riot, mischief, racaireachd, croaking, Ir. racan ; cf.
Br. rakat, rakal, croak, r^aklat, cry as a hen ; Lat. raccare,
cry as a tiger, Lit. rekti, cry, root rak. The words are greatly
onomatopoetic.
racan, a bandy or crooked stick ; cf. rac.
racas, sail hoop ; see 7'ac.
rach, go, Ir. rachad, I will go, E. Ir. ragat, ibo, 0. Ir. doreg,
veniam ; root reg, stretch. See eirich for the root connections.
rachd, vexation, moan, Ir, rachd, a fit as of crying or tears : cf.
racaid.
rachd, strength (Carm.) :
rachdan, a tartan plaid worn mantle-wise :
racuis, rack, roasting apparatus, Ir. raca ; from the Eng. rack,
M. Eng. racke.
radan, a rat ; from Sc. ration, M. Eng. raton, now rat.
radh, saying, Ir. rddh, 0. Ir. rdd, rdidiu, I speak : I. E. rodh-ejo ;
Got. rodja, I speak ; Skr. rddhayati, brings about ; root redh,
re-dh, re-, of Lat. reor, think, ratio, reason.
286 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
radharc, sight, Ir. radharc, E. Ir. radarc, rodarc : ro + dare ; for
dare see deare, behold.
rag, a wrinkle, Ir. rag (O'B., etc.) ; see roc.
rag, stiff", benumbed, unwilling, Manx, rag, stiff, Ir. rag (Fol.) ;
"^razgo-, root reg, rag, Lat. rigeo, rigid, Eng. rack, N. ra^r,
straight. Lit. rezgu, knit. Hence rogaim (so Ir. in Lh., etc.),
sneeze- wort (Cam.).
rag, a rag ; from the Eng.
ragair, extortioner, villain ; from Eng. rack, as in rack-r^nt.
Dial. G. has rogair, for and from " rogue."
ragha, raghadh, choice ; see roghainn.
raghan, churchyard (Sutherland) ; cf. Ir. rath, barrow, the same
as G. rath.
raghar, radhar, an arable but untilled field (H.S.D., Dial.) :
raichd, impertinence, idle prating (M'F., etc.) :
raideil, inventive, sly, Ir. raideamhuil, cunning, sly :
raidhlich, rag, cast off clothes (Suth.) ; Lat. reliquiae.
raidse, a prating fellow ; founded on radh 1
rainig, came, Ir. rdnaig, 0. Ir. rdiiie, venit ; for r-dnic, ro-dnic ;
see thdmig.
raip, filth, foul mouth, raipeas, foul mouth, rapach, slovenly,
foul-mouthed ; M. Ir. rap, animals that draw food to them
from earth, as the pig and its like (O'Cl.), E. Ir. rap (Corm.,
rop for cows, etc.): rah-tho-, root rah, srah, Lat. sorbeol
Stokes gives the stem as *rapno-, root rap of Lat. rapio, I
seize. The Ger. raffen, seize, snatch, has also been suggested.
raisean, goat's tail :
raite, a saying, dictum ; for rddhte, a participial formation,
raiteach, covenanting, affiancing (Suth.) ; see rath, rdtkan.
raith, a quarter of a year, Ir. rdithe, M. Ir. raithe : "^ ratio-, from
ft-, Skr. rtu, season of the year, appointed time for worship,
Zend (ratu) do.),
raith, a threatening :
raith, prating largely (M'D.) :
raithneach, raineach, fern, Ir. raithneach, raith, W. rhedyn, Cor.
reden, 0. B. raten, Br. raden, Gaul, ratis : *pratis ; Lit.
papartis, Buss, paporoti ; Eng. fern.
ramachdair, a coarse fellow :
ramair, a blockhead, a romp ; cf. ramalair.
ramasg, sea tangle :
ramh, an oar, Ir. rdmha, 0. Ir. rdme,^ W. rhaw, spade. Corn, rev,
oar, Br. roenv : "^rdmo- ; root ere, re, ro ; Lat. remus, (*resmo-) ;
Gr. (peTfxos ; Eng. rudder ; Skr. aritras.
ramhlair, humorous, noisy fellow ; from Eng. rambler. Also,
Badenoch Dial., ramalair, rambler.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 28*7
r^n, roar, cry ; Skr. rd, bark, ran, sound, rdyana, crying ; Ch. SI.
raru, sonitus, Lettic rat, scold ; and cf. Lat. rdna, frog.
rangoir, a wrangler ; founded on the Eng.
rann, a division, portion, Ir., 0. Ir. rami, W. rhan, Cor. ran, later
radn, 0. Br. rannou, partimonia : ''' (p)rannd, ^pratsnd, root
par, per ; Lat. pars, partis, portio ; Gr. iropdv, supply,
7r€7rpo)TaL (perf. pass, of iropdv).
rann, a quatrain, stave, Ir. ranyi, E. Ir. rann, rand', ivom. rann
above (rann, stave, is mas. in E. Ir., the other 7'a7in is fern.).
ranndair, a murmuring, complaining (H.S.D., Dial) ; cf, ran.
rannsaich, search, scrutinize, Ir. rannsuighini ; from Norse rann-
saka, search a house, ransack, whence Eng. ransack.
ranntair, a range, extent of territory : "division," from rann.
raog", a rushing (H.S.D., Dial.) ; cf. ruaig.
raoic, raoichd, hoarse sound or cry, wild roaring, as of bull ;
raibheic (M'A.), pronounced raoi'c, roar : "^ro-heuc.
raoine, a young barren cow that had calf ; cf. Sc. rJiind, as in
rhind mart, Ger. rind, cattle, beeves. In Suth. reithneach.
raoir, an raoir, last night, Ir. a, raoir, a reir, 0 Ir. areir, "^prei-ri,
root as in riamh (Asc, St.). The Skr. rdtri, night, has been
compared, but the phonetics do not suit, and also Lat. retro.
Cf. also earar, uiridh.
raoit, indecent mirth ; from Sc. riot (do.), Eng. riot.
raon, a field, plain, road, so Ir., E. Ir. roen, road, 0. Ir. roe, roi,
plain : "^roves-no-, "^roves-jd 1 Lat. rus, ruris ; Eng. room.
Norse rein, a strip of land, suggests the possibility of a
Gadelic ^roino-.
rapach, dirty-mouthed ; see raip.
r^pach, noisy, rapal, noise, Ir. rdpal, noise, bustle ; founded on
Eng. rabble.
ras, a shrub (M'F., not M'A. or M'E.), Ir. ras (O'B., etc.) :
rasan, harsh, grating noise, loquacity, rasanach, discordant, Ir.
rdscack, clamorous, talkative ; cf ran for ultimate root,
rasdail, a rake, harrow, E. Ir. rastal ; from Lat. rastellus, rake,
hoe, rastruni, from rddo, scrape, Eng. raze, rash, etc.
rasdail, sound of frying meat ; cf. rosd.
rath, prosperity, so Ir , 0. Ir. rath, gratia, W. rhad, grace, favour :
"^rato-n, root rd, give ; Skr. rati, gift, rds, rayis, property,
Zend rata, gift ; Lat. res.
r^th, a raft, Ir. ratkannaibh, (on) rafts (F. M.) ; Lat. latis. The
root is the same as that of rdmh ( = ret, rdt here).
rath, rathan, surety, vadimonium, Ir. rath (O'B., O'Cl.), 0. Ir.
rath ; cf. 0. Br. rad, stipulationes, which Stokes equates with
Ir. rath, and says that it is from Lat. rdtum {ratum facer e =
288 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY.
"ratify"), a derivation to which Loth objects. Hibernian
Lat. has rata for surety. The Lat. and G. are ultimately
from the same root in any case (see radii),
t rath, a fortress, residence, Ir. rdtk^ E. Ir. rath, rdith, g. rdtha,
Gaul, ratin, Argento-ratum : *rdti-s, "^rdto-n ; ct ha.t. prdtum,
a mead. W. rhath, cleared spot ; borrowed from G. *? (Rhys).
rathad, a road, Ir. rdthad, rod ; from M. Eng. roade, road, Ag. S.
rdd ; cf. M. Ir. ramhad (O'CL), E. Ir. ramut (Corm.).
re, the moon, Ir., 0. Ir. re, luna : "^revi, Skr. ravi, sun.
re, time, space, Ir. re, 0. Ir. re, g. ree, space : "^revesi-, the e form
of 0. Ir. roi, ^rovesjd, discussed under 7^aon, q.v. Hence the
prep, re, during, which governs the genitive.
reabh, wile, trick, reabhair, subtle fellow, reabhradh, disporting,
as boys (Badenoch), Ir. reabh (O'CL), reabhach, mountebank,
the devil, r^eabhradh, E. Ir. rebrad, boys playing, sporting ;
root reb, play. Bez. compares M. H. G. reben, move, stir,
Swiss rdbeln, to brawl, be noisy, to which add Eng. rabble.
Cf. Zim. Stud.^ 83, 84.
reachd, law, statute, so Ir., 0. Ir. recht, W. rhaith, Br. reiz, just :
*rektu-, from the root reg ; Lat. rectum, right, rego, rule ;
Eng. right.
reachd, a loud sob, keen sorrow, Ir. rachd (also G. rachd), E. Ir.
recht ; cf. Eng. reck.
reamhar, fat, Ir. reamhar, ramhar, E. Ir. ramor (^re7)iro-), W. rhef,
thick ; root rem, to be thick ; Norse ramr, strong, stark.
Stokes gives the alternatives of M. H. G. fram, vrom, sound,
brave, 0. Sax. furm, or (Jr. Trpefivov, stem, thick end.
reang, a wrinkle in the face : " a rib ;" see reang, boat-rib.
reang, a rank, series ; from early Sc. reiik, M. E. ? eng, now rank ;
Ir. ranc, W. rheng, Br. 7^enk ; 0. Fr. renc.
reang, a boat-rib, rangan (Sutherland), reang, a bar, pole (Carm.) ;
from Norse rong, g. rangar, a ship-rib. See rong.
reang, kill, starve (M'F.), E. Ir. ringim, I tear, reangadh, to hang,
reng, piercing or tearing. See tarruing.
reannach, spotted, striped : " starred ;" see reannag.
reannag, a star, Ir. reanndn, 0. Ir. rind, constellation, signum,
sidus : '^'rendi-, root red, rd, order ; Lit. rinda, row, order,
Ch. Slav. r§du, ordo ; Gr. eprjpcSerai, fixed ; Lat. ordo (Fick,
Prellwitz).
reasach, talkative, prattling (H.S.D., Dial.), Ir. reascach, rdscach ;
see rdsan.
reasgach, stubborn, irascible, restive :
reic, sell, Ir. reic, a sale, 0. Ir. recc, a sale, reccaim (vb.), also
renim, I sell : root per, through, over (" sell over sea") ; Gr.
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE). 289
Trepan), sell, pass through, Tmrpdu-KM, Trkpviijxi, 1 bell ; Lit.
pirHi, perhh, buy. The Gadelic and Lit. show a secondary
root perk, prek, Gadelic "^[pyrek-kd, while 0. Ir. renmi and
Gr. Trepvrjixi give a stem pernd-, prend- (Ir.).
r^ic, roar, howl (HS.D.) :
reidh, plain, smooth, Ir. reidh, 0. Ir. reid, W. rhwydd, 0. W. ruid,
0. Br. roed, M. Br. roez, Br. rouez : "^reidi- ; Eng. ready, Ger.
bereit, Got. garaids, ordered. Also 0. Ir. riaclaim, I drive,
Gaul, reda, waggon, allied to Eng. ride, Ger. reiten, etc.
reilig, a burying ground, Manx 7'uitiick, Ir. reilig, roilig, E. Ir.
r-elic{c), relec{c), 0. Ir. reilic, cemeterium ; from Lat. reliquioe^
relics.
r^im, dominion, power, Ir. reim :
reim, course, order, Ir. reim^ 0. Ir. reinimi, inf. to rethim, I run :
"^reid-s-mien-, root re^(i of reidh, 0. Ir. riadaim, i drive.
Strachan suggests as alternates root rengh, spring, leap (cf.
W. rhamu, soar), Gr. ptp^cjia, quickly, Ger. ge-ring, light, Lit.
rengtls, hurry ; or root ret, run (see ruith), "^retmen, or, rather,
"^ret-s-men, which would only give remm.
reir, a reir, according to, Ir. a r'eir, do reir ; dat. of riar, q.v.
reis, a race ; from the Eng. (H.S.D.). Cf. reise, span, o. E. Ir.
r6is, a span, Ir. reise : * prendsid, from sprend. Lit. aprestt, to
measure a span, root sprend (Strachan).
reisimeid, a regiment ; from the Eng.
reit, reite, concord, conciliation, Ir. reidhteach ; from reidh, with
terminal -tio-.
reithe, reath, a ram, Ir. reithe, E. Ir. rethe : *retio- ; cf. Lat. aries
i^eriet-), Umbrian erietu (from eri-), Gr. epccfios, etc., as in
earb.
reodh, reotha, frost, Ir. red, reodhadh, E. Ir. reo, reod, 0. Ir. reud,
W. rhew, Corn, reu, gelu, Br. reo, rev. Stokes gives the stem
as *r€yu-, even suggesting that the Gadelic forms are borrowed
from the Cymric ; 0. Ir. reud he refers to *presatu-. I. E.
preus, whence Lat. pruina, Eng. freeze, has been suggested,
but the vowels do not immediately suit [preus would give
rua-, rb- or ro-^ in G.) ; yet *prevo-, a longer form (with or
without s) of preu-s, can account for the Celtic forms.
reub, riab, tear, wound, Ir. reubaim, re'abaim, E. Ir. rebaim, rep-
gaeth, rending wind : "^reibbo-, root reib, Eng. reap, ripe, and
rip C?). Stokes gives the stem as *reip-ii6-, root reip of Gr.
kpetTTdi, dash down, Lat. ripa, Eng. rive, rift, Norse rifna,
rampi, rifa, break. G. reubainn, rapine, leans for its form
and force on Lat. rapiiia. W. rheibio, seize, is from Lat.
rapio.
35
290 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
reubal, a rebel ; from the Eng.
reudan, a timber moth ; of. O. Ir. retan, recula, small thing, from
ret^ now rud, q.v.
reul, pi., reultan, star, Ir reult, g. reilte, E. Ir. retla^ g. retland,
retglu, g. retyland {^^ ret gle, bright thing," Corm.) ; perhaps
ret, thing, and "^ gland, shining, Ger. glanz (see gleus).
reumail, constant (Arms.) ; from reim, course.
reusan, reason, Ir. reuauu, M. Ir. resuri, from M. Eng. i^eisun, now
reason.
reusbaid, a beggar's brat (Arran), a rascal :
ri, to, against, Ir. re, 0. Ir. ri, fri, in composition /WY/i-, /Ws-, /re-,
W. gwrth, wrth, versus, contra, re-, Cor. orth, Br. ouz ; ^vrti,
root vert, turn ; Lat. versus, against, to, verto, turn ; Eng.
-wards, etc.
riabhach, brindled, greyish, so Ir., M. Ir. riab, a stripe : ^reibdko-,
Lit. raibas, mottled grey, Lett, raibs, motley, 0, Pruss.
roaban, striped.
riabhag, a lark, Ir. riabhog, " grey one," from riabhach.
riach, cut the surface, graze. Although there is I. E. reiko-,
notch, break (Gr. epecKw, tear, Lit. raikf/ti, draw a furrow,
etc., Ger. reihe, row, Eng. row), yet it seems most probable
that 7'iach is a variant of strioch, q.v.
riachaid, a distributing : /
riachlaid, tattered garment (Suth.) :
riadh, interest ; from an older Had, running, course (see reidh for
root). Cf. for force M. Ir. i^ith, interest : " running."
riadh, a drill (as of potatoes, Badenoch) : "course, running," as in
the case of riadh above. See riamh.
riadh, a snare : "^reigo-, root rig in cuibhreach %
riaghailt, a rule, Ir. riaghail, 0. Ir. riagul, riagol ; from Lat.
reguia, Eng. rule. Hence also riaghail, rule thou,
riaghan, a swing, swinging ; cf Ir. riagh, gallows, riaghadh,
hanging, gibbeting, 0. Ir. riag, gibbet. Cf. riadh, snare,
riamh, a drill (of potatoes, turnips, etc , M'A. for Skye) ; see
riadh. H.S.D. gives the meaning of " series, number," Ir.
riomh, 0. Ir. rim, number, W. rhif, as in direamh, q.v.
riamh, ever, before, Ir. riamh, 0. Ir. riam, antea : "^reimu-,
preimo-, I. E. pri, pri, belonging as a case to pr<>, before, and
per ; Lat. pri- (in pris cus, primus, etc.), Lith. pri. Got. fri-,
See roimh.
rian, order, mode, sobriety, Ir. rian, way or path, E. Ir. rian, way,
manner : ^rtiyio-, root rei ; Lat. ritus, Eng. rite (Strachan).
riar, will, pleasure, Ir. riar, 0. Ir. riar, voluntas : *pr%jard
(Stokes), root pri, love, please ; Eng. friend, Got. frijon^ to
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 291
love ; Ch. SI. prijati, be favourable ; ^Vv.priyate, be gratified,
pri7idti, enjoy.
riasail, tear asunder, riasladh, mangling, tearing asunder : "^reik-so-,
root reik, notch, break ; Gr. ipeiKO), tear ? Cf riastradh, riach ;
and riaghan, a swing.
riasg, dirk-grass, morass with sedge, land covered with sedge or
dirk-grass, Manx reeast, wilderness, Ir. riasg, moor or fen,
E. Ir. riasc, morass ; *reisko- ; cf. Lat. rusciim {"^roiscum 1),
butcher's broom, Eng. rush. Sc. reesk, coarse grass, marshy
land, is from G.
riasglach, a mangled carcase (H.S.D., Dial.) ; from stem of
riasail.
riaspach, riasplach, confused, disordered ; see next word,
riastradh, turbulance, confusion, wandering, E. Ir. riastrad, dis-
tortion. For root, cf. riasail. W. rhyvjstro, obstruct (Hend.).
riatach, wanton, illegitimate ; cf. Eng. riot.
rib, hair, snare, Ir. ribe, ruihe, hair, whisker. See next words,
ribeag, rag, tassel, fringe, ribean, riband, Ir. ribeog, rag, tassel,
ribleach^ a long line, anything tangled, ribin., riband ; from
M. Eng. riban, 0. Fr. riban (Br. ruhan).
ribheid, a reed, bagpipe reed, musical note, Ir. ribheid ; from
M. Eng. reod, now reed.
ribhinn, rioghann, a nymph, young lady, quean, Ir. rioghan.,
queen, E. Ir. rigan, a derivative of righ, king. Gaelic leans,
by proper etymology, on righ-bhean.
rideal, a riddle ; from the Eng.
ridhe, field, bottom of a valley (H.S.D.) ; better righe. See
ruighe.
ridir, a knight, Ir. ridire, E. Ir. ritire, W. rheidyr ; from Ag. S.
ridere, horseman, ridda(n), knight, Ger. ritter, knight, Norse
riddari, rider, knight , from the verb ride (see reidh).
righ, a king, Ir. righ, 0. Ir. ri, g. rig, W. rhi, Gaul, -rix, pi. -riges:
*reks, g. regos ; Lat. rex, regis ; Got. reiks, ruler, Eng. rich,
-ric ; Skr. raj, King, our rajah.
righ, stretch (on a death bed), Ir. righim, stretch, reach, E. Ir.
rigim, Lat, rego, etc., as under 7'ighinn.
righil, a reel, dance ; see ruithil.
righinn, tough, pliant, tenacious, Ir. righin : ^reg-eni- ; root reg,
stretch, Gr. o/aeyw, stretch, Lat. porrigo, rego, etc. See eirich.
rinn, a point, promontory, Ir. rind, 0. Ir, rinnd, rind, W. rhyn,
penrhyn, cape. It has been analysed as ro-ind, " fore-end,"
E. Ir. ind, end, Eng. end. Cf. reannag, however,
rinn, did, Ir. rinn, 0. Ir. rigni, fecit ', from ro and gni of m, will
do, q.v. See also gniomh.
292 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
riochd, appearance, form, Ir. riochd, 0. Ir. richt, W. rhith : ^riktu-,
*rktu- (I) ; for root, see that of dorch.
riodag, kind of sea-gull (Lewis) ; N. rytr, sea-gull.
rioluinn, a cloud (Smith) :
riof, the reef of a sail ; from the Eng.
riofa, brimstone (Munro's Gr.) :
riomhach, fine, costly, handsome, Ir. rimheighe^ finery, delicate-
ness : '^'rimo-, " measured " ; root rim of aireamh 1
rionnach, reannach, a mackerel : "streaked, spotted," from reann,
star, constellation. See reannag.
riopail, mangle, tear (H.S.D.) ; founded on Eng. rip.
riplis, weakness in the back (Suth.) ; Sc. ripples.
rireadh, a rireadh, really, in earnest, Ir. rireadh, da rireadh or
ririhh, revera ; from '''ro-fhir, very true 1
risteal, a surface plough, used in the Hebrides, drawn by one
horse and having a sickle-like coulter, Sc. ristle ; from the
Norse ristill, ploughshare, from rista, cut.
rithisd, rithis, ris, a rithisd, etc., again, Ir. arts, 0. Ir. aritkissi,
afrithissi, rursus. Ascoli suggests "^frith-eisse, from eis,
vestigium (see deis). Others have derived it from "^ar-Jithis,
0. Ir. Jitkissi, absidas, fithis, a circle, orbit. The a at the
beginning is for ar- : *ar-frithissi^ that is, air, by, on, q.v.
The root may well be sta, stand, reduplicated to *sistio- :
thus ^frith(s/i)issi-, " resistere, backness."
ro, very, Ir. rd, 0. Ir. ro-, W. rhj/-, Br. re, .0. Br. ?o-, ru-, Gaul.
ro- {Ro-smeyta, Ro-danos, etc.) : "^ro-, *pro-, which is both a
verbal and an intensive particle ; Lat. pro ; Gr. irpo, before ;
Eng. fore, for ; Skr. pra, before.
r6b, coarse hair ; founded on Eng. rope.
robair, a robber ; from the Eng. The Ir. has rohail for " rob."
robhas, notification, information about anything lost ; cf. robhadh
for root, the old form of rabhadh, q.v.
robhd, a runt ; Eng. rout 1
roc, a rock ; from the Eng. roc, a tempest covered rock (Heb.),
so M'K., who derives from N. rok.
roc, a wrinkle, crease, Ir. rocdn, rug ; from the Norse hrukka^
wrinkle, fold, Eng. ruck, fold (Thurneysen). See rug.
roc, a hoarse voice ; founded on the Norse ht okr, rook, croaker,
G. rocas, crow, Norse hrokr, rook. W. has rhoch, grunt,
groan, Br. roc^ha, which Stokes refers to *rokka, Gr. pkjKoi,
snore.
rocail, tear, corrugate ; in the latter sense, it is from roc, wrinkle,
and, probably, the first meaning is of the same origin. See,
however, racadh.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 293
rocas, a crow ; from Norse hrokr, rook, M. Eng. rook, Ag. S. hroc.
r6chd, a cough, retching (Dial.) ; see roc.
rod, a way, road, Ii'. rod, E. Ir. rod ; from Ag. S. rdd, M. Eng.
rode, now road.
rod, a quantity of sea-weed cast on the shore ; cf. Ir. rod, a cast,
shot (O'R.), E. Ir. rout.
r6d, a rood (of land or mason-work) ; from the Eng.
rodach, sea-weed growth on timber under water ; cf. rod, sea
weed.
rodaidh, ruddy, darkish, M. Ir. rotaide : "^rud-do-, root rud, roud
of ruadh, q.v.
rog", rogair, a rogue ; from the Eng.
roghainn, a choice, Ir. rogha, g. roghan, E. Ir. rogain, n. pi., 0. Ir.
rogu : *ro-gu, root gu, gus of taghadh, q.v. Stokes gives the
stem as *rog6n and the root as rog, which {^Bez. Beit.^^) he
correlates with Lat. rogo, ask. Bez. suggests Lit. rogduti, to
cost.
r6ib, fifth, squalid beard, filth about the mouth ; cf. ropach for
root.
r6ic, a sumptuous but unrefined feast ; seemingly founded on the
Sc. rouch as applied to a feast — "plentiful but rough and
ready."
r6ic, tear (H.S.D. ; Sh. and Arm. have roic) ; see rocail.
roid, bog myrtle, Ir. rideog (O'R.), M. Ir. raidleog, darnel, raideog,
bogmyrtle (St.) : "^raddi. Cf. ras.
roid, a race before a leap, a bounce or spring : "^raddi-, *raz-di-,
root ras, as in Eng. race 1
roilean, snout of a sow ; really the " rolled " up part of the snout,
and so possibly from Eng. roll.
roileasg, a confused joy, roille, a fawning or too cordial reception ;
cf. Ir. rothoil, exceeding pleasure, from toil, will. Also G.
roithleas.
roimh, before, Ir. roimh, 0. Ir. rem- : "^(pjrmo- (Stokes), root per,
as in ro {=pro) ; in form, nearest allied to Eng. /rom. Got.
fruma. Lit. pirm, before. In the pronominal compounds,
where s begins the pronoun, the m and s develop an inter-
mediate p coincident with the eclipse of the s : rompa = "^rom-
p-shu, where su--^sds (see sa).
roin, roineag (also roitin, roinneag"), Ir. roine, roinne, a hair,
especially a horse hair, W. rhawn, coarse long hair, Cor. ruen,
Br. reun, a hair, bristle, Skr. roman, hair, etc. : ^rdni- ; cf. Ir.
ruain, hair of tail of cow or horse, ruainne, a hair,
roinn, division, share, Ir. roinn, M. Ir. roinded, divided : "^ranni-^
an i stem from from rann, q.v.
294 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
rdisead, rosin ; from the Sc. roset, Eng. rosin.
roiseag, a small potato (M'D.) :
rciseal, surge of a wave, the impetus of a boat, an assault, boast-
ing ; from the Sc. roust, strong tide or current, Norse rost, a
stream or current in the sea. In the sense of " boast," it is
from Sc. rouse, roose, Norse rausan, boasting.
roisgeul, a romance, rhodomontade ; from ro, very, and sgeul, a
tale, q.v.
roist, roast, Ir. rdsdaim, W. rhostio ; from the Eng. roast, 0. Fr.
rostir, from 0. H. G. rost, craticula.
roithlean, a wheel, pulley, Ir. roithledn ; from roth, q.v.
rol, rola, a roll, volume, Ir. rolla ; from M. Eng. rolle, 0. Fr. roUe,
Lat. rotula ; now Eng. roll.
rolaist, a romance, exaggeration ; cf. Sc, Eng. rigmarole.
romach, hairy, rough :
romag', meal and whisky (Sutherland) :
romhan, wild talk, raving, rigmarole (Dial.) ; from Eng. row ? from
Roman % Cf. W. rhamant, romance, Ir. ramas, romance.
ron, the seal, Ir. ron, 0. Ir. rdn (before 900), W. moelron : "^rdno-;
Lettic rohns, seal (W. Meyer, Zeit.^^ 119). Stokes holds r6n
as an old borrow from Ag. S hron or hron, hrdn, whale, while
the Lit. ritinis, Lettic ronis, seal, must be from Teutonic.
Zimmer suggests Norse hreinn, reindeer, Ag. S. hrdn. Cf.
names Rondn, Ronoc, Mac Ronchon.
rong, a joining spar, rung, boat-rib, rong^as, rungas (Dial.), Ir.
rung a ; from M. Eng. ro?ige, rung of a ladder, runge, Ag. S.
hrung ; now Eng. rung ; N. rong, main rafter, pole. The
words reang and rang or rangan, " boat-rib," are from the
Norse.
rong, the vital spark, life :
rongair, a lounger ; cf. next word,
rongair, rong, a lean person ; from rong, rung : '' like a ladder."
The Sc. has rung in this sense : "an ugly, big-boned animal
or person "
ronn, a slaver, a spittle, E. Ir. ronna, running of the nose : "^runno-;
cf. Eng. run.
r6p, a rope, Ir. rdpa ; from M. Eng. rope, roop, Ag. S. rdp ; now
Eng. rope.
ropach, slovenly, squalid, Ir. rupach, a young slut : "^rouh-tho- ; cf.
Eng. rub.
roram, dealing extensively with a family in provisions, etc. ;
liberality (M'A.) :
ros, seed, ros lin, flax seed (Armstrong's only use for it), Ir. ros,
flax seed, M. Ir. ros, genealogy, E. Ir. ross lin, flax seed
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. ^95
(Corm.), ros, genealogy, to which Strachati compares (iot.
frasts, for fra-sst-s, from pro-sto (Stokes), a child. A usual
word for seed is fras, which also means a " shower," but both
are ultimately from "^verso, flow, whence Gr. e'/ocriy, epcn^, dew,
and ap<Tr)v, male. Dr. Cameron compared Gr. Trpdcrov, leek
C^prso), Eng. furze.
ros, a promontory, Tr. ros, promontory (North Ireland), wood
(South Ireland ; its usual Ir. meaning), E. Ir. ross, promon-
tory, wood; in the former sense from *pro-sto-s, "standing
out before," root sta, stand, Lat. sto, Eng. stand, etc. ;
especially Skr. prastha, plateau. In the sense of "wood," ros
is generally regarded as the same word as ros, promontory,
explained as " promontorium nemorosum," with which is
compared W. rhos, a moor, waste, coarse highland, Br. ros, a
knoll.
rds, rose, Ir, r6sa, M. Ir. ros, W, rhosyn : from the M. Eng. rose,
Ag. S. rose, from Lat. rosa. The word ros has also the meta-
phoric meaning of " erysipelas."
ros, knowledge (Carm.) :
rosad, mischance, evil spell : ^pro-stanto-, " standing before,
obstruction," root sta. Cf. f'a<>said.
rosg", an eye, eyelid, Ir. roi<g, 0. Ir. rose, oculus : "^rog-sko-, root
reg, rog, see, Ir. reii, clear {"^regli-) ; Lit. regiu, I see (Bez.
apud Stokes). See dorclt.
rosg, incitement (to battle), war ode, Ir. rosg, E. Ir. rose : ^ro-sqo-,
root seq, say, as in sgeul, cosg, q.v.
rot, a belch, bursting as of waves (H.S D., Dial.) ; from Fr. rot.
rotacal, horse radish ; from Sc. rotcolL
rotach, a rush at starting, a running :
rotach, rough weather, rotaehl {LiQwm) ; N. rota, storm.
rotach, a hand rattle to frighten cattle :
rotach, a circle of filth on one's clothes (M'A. for Islay), rotair, a
sloven :
rotadh, cutting, dividing ; from Sc. rot, lines drawn on the ground
to show the work to be done, to furrow, rut ; cf. Eng. rut.
rotal, a ship's wake ; cf. Kng. rut, route, Lat. ruptd.
roth, a wheel, Ir., 0. Ir. roth, W. rhod (f.), Br. i^od : "^roto-, root
ret, rot ; Lat. rota, w^heel ; Ger. rad ; Lat. rdtas, Lett. 7'a ts ;
Skr. rdthas, waggon. Same root as ruith, q.v. Hence
rotha, a roll (of tobacco), rothaich, roll thou, swathe.
rotha, a screw or vice :
ruadh, red, ruddy, Ir. ruadh, E. Ir. ruad, W. rhudd. Corn, rud, Br.
ruz : "^roudo- ; Lat. rufu%, richer ', Gr. epvOpos ; Got. rauj?s.
Ag. S. read, Eng. red (Sc. reid, Reid) ; Lit. raudd, red colour.
296 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
ruag", pursue, ruaig", flight, Ir. ruaig (n.), E. Ir. ruaic : *rounko-,
ronic, root rou, Lat. rtto, rush, fall.
ruaim, a flush of anger on the face, Ir. ruaim, ruamna'lh, redden-
ing : * roud-s-men, from *roud of ruadh.
ruaimhsheanta, hale and jolly though old (M'A. for Islay) :
ruaimill, rumble (M'A.) ; from the Eng.
ruaimle, a dry pool, muddy water (Sh.), Ir. ruaimle. In G. the
word means also the same as ruaivi above, whence indeed
ruaimle as " muddy pool " may also be. Of. Sc. drumblie.
ruaimneach, strong, active, M. Ir. ruamach, E. Ir. ruamna C?) :
"^rous-men- ; Lat. ruo, rush.
ruais, a rhapsody (M'A.) :
ruamhair, dig, delve, Tr. rdmhairim, roghmhar, digging, E. Ir.
Tumnor ; root rou, reu, ru, dig ; Lat ruo, dig, rata, minerals ;
Lit. rduti, dig up.
ruapais, rigmarole (M'A.; :
ruathar, violent onset, skirmish, spell, so Ir., E. Ir., riiathar, W.
rkuthr, impetus, insultus : *routro-, root rou, to rush on ;
Lat. ruo, rush,
rub, rub ; from the Eng.
rubail, a tumult, rumbling (M'A.) ; formed on Eng. rumble.
rue, rucan (H.S.D., M'A.), rue, ruean (M'E , etc.), a rick of hay ;
from Sc. ruch, Eng. rick, ruck, Norse hraukr, heap,
rueas, jostling kind of fondness :
ruehan, ruean, the throat, wheezing ; cf. Sc. roulk ( = rouk),
hoarse, Fr. rauque, hoarse, from Lat. raucus.
ruehd, a grunt, belch, rumbling noise ; from Lat. ructo, belch,
erilgere, spit out. Lit. rvgiu, belch. Cf. Sc. ruck, belch,
rud, a thing. Dial, raod (Arg., Arran), rudach (Arran raodaeh),
hospitable, Ir. rud (g. roda), raod, 0. Ir. ret, g. reto : *rentu-s ;
Skr. rdtna, property, goods ; also root rd of rath, q.v.
rudan, a knuckle, a tendon : *ruuto- :
rudha, a promontory, Ir. rubha, E. Ir. ?'ube : "^pro-bio-, " being
before : " from root bu of the verb "to be ; see bi.
rudha, a blush, E. Ir. ruidiud ; from root rud, a short form of
roud in ruadh, q.v.
rudhag", rudhag (Suth.), a crab, partan :
rudhagail, thrift (M'A.) :
rudhan, a small stack of corn (H.S.D., M'E.) ; see riithan, peat
heap, with which and with rtican this form and meaning are
made up.
rudhraeh, searching, groping, Ir. rudhrach, a darkening :
rug, wrinkle, Ir. rug ; from Norse hrukka, a wrinkle, fold, Eng.
ruck, a crease.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 297
rug, caught, Ir. rug, E. Ir. rue, rucc, tiilit, 0. Ir. rouic : "^ro + ucc-,
where ucc = "^ud-gos-a, root ges, carry, Lat. gero, gestum. See
thug.
ruga, rough cloth (M'A.) ; from Eng. rug, M. Eng. ruggi, hairy,
Swed. ruggig.
rugadh, a greedy grasping of anything ; from Sc. rook, deprive of,
rookit, cleared out.
rugaid, a long neck (H.S.D.) :
rugair, a drunkard (H.S.T). says Dial., M'A. says N.) ; from the
Eng. For phonetics, cf. rac, drake,
rugha, a blush ; see rather rudha, but rucce (Corm.) shame,
reddening (O'Cl.).
ruic, undesirable fondness (M'D.) :
ruicean, a pimple : "^rud-ki-, from rud, roud, red, as in ruadh.
ruidhil, ruidhle (Arg.;, a dance ; see ruithii
ruidhil, a yarn reel ; from M. Eng. reel, hreol, Ag. S. hreol.
ruidhleadh, rolling ; from ruith, roth.
ruidhtear, a glutton, riotous liver ; from Eng. rioter.
ruididh, merry, frisky, Ir. ruideiseach, from ruideis, a sporting
mood. Cf. ruidhtear.
ruig, half castrated ram ; from Eng. rig, ridgeling.
ruig, reach, arrive at, 0. [r. riccim, riccu ; from ro and iccim, for
which see thig. Hence gu ruig, as far as, 0. G. gonice (B. of
Deer), E. Ir. corrici.
ruighe, an arm, forearm, Ir. righ, E. Ir. rig, forearm : "^regit-, root
reg, stretch, Lat. rego, etc. See ruigheachd.
ruighe, the outstretched part or base of a mountain, shealing
ground, E. Ir. 7ige, rigid, a reach, reaches ; from the root reg,
stretch, as in the case of the foregoing words.
ruigheachd, ruighinn, reaching, arriving, Ir. righim, I reach, inf.
riachdain, rochdain, E. Ir. rigim, porrigo : ^rego ; Lat. rego,
erigo, porrigo, I stretch ; Gr. d/oeyw, stretch ; further is Eng.
right, etc. See eirich.
ruighean, wool-roll ready to spin ; from the same root as ruighe.
ruinn, a point ; see rinn.
ruinn.se, a long stick or stake, an animal's tail, rump :
ruinnse, a rinsing, rinser ; from Eng. rinse.
1 uis, a rash ; formed from the Eng. Cf . Lit. russuSj root rud.
ruiteach, ruddy, E. Ir. rutech : *rud-tiko-, from i^ud, roud of
ruadh. (Stokes Eev. Celt.^ 366) explained it as "^rudidech,
but this would give G. ruideach.
ruith, run, Ir. riothaim, 0. Ir. rethim, perf. rdith, inf. rith
(d. riuth), W. rhedu, to run, rhed^ race, Br. redek, Gaul.
36
298 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
petor-ritum, four wheeler : "^re^o ; Lit., Lett, ritu, I roll ; Lat.
rota, wheel, rotula, Eng. roll, Lat. rotundus, Eng. round.
See roth.
ruithil, a reel, dance, also righil, ruidhil : *retoli-, root ret, run,
wheel, as in ruith ; Lat. rotula, little wheel, rotulare, revolve,
Eng. roll. Hence Eng, reel (Skeat). The borrowing may be,
however, the other way, and Eng. reel, dance, be the same as
reel, a spindle or bobbin, '^roteli 1
rtrni, a room, Ir. rum, M. Ir. rum, floor (O'Gl.) ; from the Eng.
rumach, a marsh :
rumpull, the tail, rump ; from the Sc. rumple, Eng. rump.
rtin, intention, love, secret, Ir., 0. Ir. run, W. rhin : ^riines- ; Got.,
0. H. G., Norse runar, Eng. runes ; Gr. ipevvdw, seek out ;
root revo, search.
rusal, search, turn over things, scrape, rusladh, risleadh, rustling,
moving things about (Perth) ; from Eng. rustle ; for ultimate
root, see above word,
rusg, a fleece, skin, husk, bark, Ir. rusg, 0. Ir. ruse, cortex, W.
rhisg, cortex, Cor. ruse, cortex, Br. rusgenn, rusk, bark :
"^rusko- ; whence Fr. ruche, beehive (of bark), 0. Fr. rusche,
rusque, Pied, rusca, bark. Stokes thinks the Celtic is
probably an old borrow from the Teutonic — M. H. G. rusche,
rush, Eng. rush, rushes ; but unlikely. The Cor. and Br.
vowel u does not tally with Gadelic u ; this seems to imply
borrowing among the Celts themselves.
rilta, a ram, ridgling ; from Norse hrutr, ram.
rutachd, rutting : from the Eng.
mtaidh, surly (Carm.) : riit, ram (Carm.).
rutan, the horn of a roebuck :
ruth, desire (Carm.) :
rtithan (better rughan), a peat heap ( = dais) ; from the Norse
hrugi, heap,
rutharach, quarrelsome, fighting (H.S.D. marks it obsolete ;
Arms.), Ir. rutharach (O'R.) ; from ruathar.
S
-sa, -se, -san, emphatic pronominal particle attached to personal
pronouns and to nouns preceded by the possessive pronouns :
mi-se, I myself, thu-sa, sibh-se, i-se (she), e-san, iad-san ;
mo cheann-sa, a cheann-san, his head. So also modern Ir.,
save that esan is esea7i : 0. Jr. -sa, -se (1st Pers.), -su, -so, pi.
-St (2nd Pers.), -som, -sem (3rd Pers. m. and n., sing., and pi.),
-si (3rd Pers./.). All are cases of the pronominal root so-, -se ;
Gr. 6, the ( = o-o) ; Ag. S. se, the (m.), Eng. she. See so, sin.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 299
Sabaid, a brawl, fight ; see tahaid :
S^baid, Sabbath, Ir. Saboid, M. Ir. sapoit ; from Lat. sabhatum,
whence Eng. sabbath ; from Hebrew shabbdth.
sabh, sorrel, Ir. samh ; better samh, q.v.
sabh, ointment, salve ; from Sc. saw, Eng. salve.
sabh, a saw, Ir. sabh ; from the Eng.
sabhail, save, .Manx sauail, Ir. sabhailim (sdbhdlaim, O'B.) ; from
Lat. salvare, to save. Kuno Meyer says from Eng. save.
sabhal, a barn, so Ir., M. Ir. saball, Ir. Lat. zabulum ; through
Brittonic from Lat. stabulum, a stall, Eng. stable. Cf. M. Ir.
steferus = zephyr,
sabhd, a lie, fable (H.S.D., Dial.), straying, lounging; cf. saobh.
sabhs, sauce, Ir. sabhsa ; from the Eng.
sabhsair, a sausage ; founded on the English word.
sac, a sack, Ir. sac, E. Ir. sacc, W. sach ; from Ag. S. sacc, Eng.
sack, Got. sakkus, Lat. saccus.
sac, a load, burden, Ir. sacadh, pressing into a sack or bag. Low
Lat. saccare (do.) ; from Fr. .sac, pillage, the same as Eng.
sack, plunder, all borrowed from saccax, a sack or bag.
sachasan, sand-eel :
sad, dust shaken from anything by beating, a smart blow, sada !h,
dusting, beating.
sad, aught (M'D. : Cha 'n' eil sad agam, I have naught) :
sag'art, a priest, Ir. sagart, 0. Ir. sacai f, sacardd ; from Lat.
sacerdos, whence Eng. sacerdotal.
saidealta, soidealta, shy, bashful, Ir. soidtalta, rude, ignorant ;
from sodal, q.v.
saidh, an upright beam, prow of a ship, a handle or the part of a
blade in the handle :
saidh, bitch ; see saigh :
saidh, saidhean, the saith fish (Arg.) ; from N. sei&r, the gadus
virens, now sei.
saidhe, hay ; formed from the Eng. hai/ by the influence of the
article {an t-hay becoming a supposed de-eclipsed say).
saidse, Lound of a falling body, a crash, noise (Badenoch Dial.
doidse, a dint) :
saigean, a corpulent little man :
saigh, a bitch, Ir. saith (Con., Lane, etc.), sagh, saighin (O'Br.),
M. Ir. sogh, sodh, E. Ir. sod, bitch, she-wolf :
saighdear, soldier, archer, Ir. sdighdiur (do.), M. Ir. saigdeoir,
Sagittarius, W. sawdwr, soldier ; from M. Eng. soudiour,
sougeour, Sc. sodger, now soldier, confused in Gadelic with an
early borrow from Lat. Sagittarius, archer.
saighead, an arrow, so Ir., 0. Ir. saiget, W. saeth. Cor. seth, Br.
saez ; from Lat. sagitta. For root see ionnsuidh.
300 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
sail, a beam, Ir. sail : *spali-, allied to Ger. spalten, split, Eng.
spill^ split.
Siil, a heel, Ir., 0. Ir. sdl, W. sawdl, Br. seuzl : *sdtld. Ascoli
has lately revived the old derivation from "^std-tlo-, root sta,
stand ; but st initial does not in native words became s in
Gadelic.
saill, fat or fatness, Ir. saill, fat, bacon, pickle : *saldi- ; Eng.
salt, etc. ; Lit. saldiis, sweet. See salann further,
saill, salt thou, Ir., 0. Ir. sailliin, condio, "^saldio, salt : *salni- ;
see salann.
sailm, a decoction, oak-bark decoction to staunch blood, a con-
sumption pectoral ; founded on M. Eng. salfe, now salve ?
saimhe, luxury, sensuality, Ir. sdimhe, peace, luxury, E. Ir. sdim,
pleasant : '''svadini- ; Eng. sweet, Gr. tjSvs, etc. But cf.
sdmha,ch.
saimir, the trefoil clover (A. M'D.), Ir. seamar ; see seaynrag.
sainnseal, a handsel. New Year's gift ; from So. handsel, M. Eng.
hansell, i.e. hand-sellan, deliver,
saith, the back bone, joint of the neck or backbone, Ir. saith,
joint of neck or backbone (Lh , O'B., etc.) :
sal, also sail, saile, sea, Ir. sdile, E. Ir. sal, sdtle : *svdlos, root sval,
svel ; Lat. saluni, sea ; Eng. swell (Stokes, who also refers
Br. clioalen, salt). Shrader equates Gadelic with Gr. a As,
salt, the sea, and Lat. salum, root sal.
salach, dirty, Ir., so 0. Ir., salach, W. halatvg, halog, Cor. halou,
stercora, 0. Br. haloc, lugubri : '''saldko-s (adj.), root sal, to
dirty ; Eng. sallom, 0. H. G. salo, dusky, dirty, sal, filth,
is used.
salann, salt, Ir., 0. Ir. sala7in, W. halen. Cor. haloin, Br. halenn
C^salen-) : "^ salanno-s, salt ; Lat. sal ; Gr. aAs, salt, sea ; Eng.
salt, Ger. salz ; Ch. SI. soil.
salldair, a chalder ; from Sc. chalder, Eng. chalder, chaldron, from
0. Fr. chaldron, a caldron.
salm, a psalm, Ir., 0. Ir. salm, W. and Br. salm ; from Lat.
psalmus, Eng. psahn.
saltair, trample, Ir. saltairim ; from Lat. saltare, dance,
samh, the smell of the air in a close room, ill odour :
samh, sorrel, Ir. samh :
samh, a god, giant (Carm.) :
samh, a clownish person ; cf. Sc. soiv, one who makes a dirty
appearance, " a pig."
samhach, wooden haft, handle, Ir. samhthach, 0. Ir. samthach ; cf.
0. Ir. suiiKiigim, pono (which Ascoli refers to *stam, root sta,
stand). Cf. .sawi, together, of saDihuinn.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 301
sdmhach, quiet, Ir. mmhach (Coneys has samhach), still, pleasant,
from sdmh, (samh), pleasant, still, E. Ir. sdm, same, rest, quiet,
sdim, mild, quiet : ^sdmo-. Possibly allied to Eng. soft,
0. H. G. samfto, softly. Got. sfunjan, please ; and the root sain
of samhradh. Stokes suggests connection with Zend lidma,
like, Ch. SI. samu, ipse, Norse, somr, samr, Eng. same ; or
Gr. TJjjiepos, tame. Of. sdim/ie.
samhail, samhuil, likeness, like, Ir. samhail, like, samhuil, like-
ness, simile, W. hafal, similis, 0. W. amal, Corn luival, avel,
Br. haual : *samali- ; (jr. o/xaAo?, like ; Lat. similis ; Eng.
same.
samhan, savin-bush, Ir. samhdn ; from Eng. savin, M. Eng. saveine,
Ag. S. savine, Lat. sabina.
samhnan, samhnachan, a large river trout (H.S.D., Dial.) :
samhradh, summer, Ir. samhradh, samhradh, E. Ir. sam.rad, sam,
W., Corn, haf, M. Br. haf, Br. hanv : *samo- ; Skr. sdmd,
year, Zend hama, summer. Arm. am, year ; further Eng.
summer, Gr. rjfi^pa, day. The termination rad = rado-n (n.).
samhuinn, Hallow-tide, Ir. samhain, E. Ir. samuin, sainain, sam-
fhuin : usually regarded as for '''sam-fuin, " summer-end,"
from sam, summer, and fuin, end, sunset, fuinim, I end, *vo-
neso, root nes, as in comhnuidh, q.v. (Stokes). Y ox fuin, Kluge
suggests *wen, suffer ((^ot. wii>nan, suffer) ; Zimmer favours
Skr. van, hurt (Eng. wound) ; and Ascoli analyses it into
fo-in-. Dr Stokes, however, takes samain from the root som,
same (Eng. same, Gr. 6/>tos, like, Lat. simul, whence Eng.
assemble; see samhuil), and makes *samani- mean "assembly"
— the gathering at Tara on 1st November, while Cet-shamain,
our Ceitein, was the " first feast," held on 1st May.
samplair, a copy, pattern, Ir. samplair, sampla ; from Eng.
sampler^ sample.
-san, as in esan, ipse, iadsai) ; see -sa.
sanas, a whisper, secret, Manx sannish, whisper, Ir., E. Ir. sanas ;
"^sanastu-, root sven ; Lat. sonare, Eng. sound ; Skr. svdnati,
to sound.
sannt, desire, inclination, Ir., 0. Ir. sant, W. chvjant. Cor. whans,
Br. c'hoant : '^svandstd, desire, root svand, svad, desire, please:
Gr. avSdvii), please, rj8v^, sweet ; Skr. svad, relish ; further
Eng. sweet, etc.
saobh, erroneous, apt to err, dissimulation, Ir. saobh (adj.), 0. Ir.
sdib, soib, later saeb, falsus, pseudo- : ^svoibo-s, turning aside,
wavering, W. chwifio, turn, whirl ; Eng. sweep, swoop.
saobhaidh, den of a wild beast, fox's den :
302 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
saod, journey, intention, condition, good humour (Arg.), Ir. saod,
send, journey, 0. Ir. set, way, journey, W. h^nt, Br. hent,
0. Br. hint : "^sento-s ; Got sinjys, journey, way, 0. H. G.
smd, Eng send. Hence saodaich, drive cattle to pasture :
Cf. soad, drive animals slowly (Shet.), N. saeta, waylay, sat,
ambush,
saog'hal, the world, an age, life, Ir. saoghal, 0. Ir. saigul, saegul ;
from Lat. saeculum, race, age, from *sai-tlom, allied to W,
hoedl, life.
saoi, saoidh, a good, generous man, a warrior, a scholar, Ir. saoi,
a worthy man, a scholar, pi. saoithe, E. Ir. sdi, sui, a sage,
g suad '. ^su-vid-s, root vtd of Jios (Thurneysen). Stokes
(If art. Gorm.) prefers su-vet-, root vat, say (see faith). Rhys
agrees.
saoibh, foolish, perverse, Ir. saobh (do.) ; see saobh.
saoibhir, rich, Ir. Kaidkhliir, E. Ir. saidber, opposed to daidber :
^su-adber, from "^ad-beri- (Lat. adftro), root bher of beir,
bring, q.v.
saoibhneas, peevishness, dulness; from saoibh, saobh. Ir. has
saobhnds, bad manners ; but G. seems a pure derivative of
saobh.
saoidhean, young saith (Lewis) ; cf. N. seiitfr.
saoil, a mark, seal ; see seul.
saoil, think, deem, Ir. saoilim, E. Ir. sdilim ; cf. Got. saiwala,
Eng. soul, which Kluge suggests may be allied to Lat.
saeculum, root sai.
saoitear, oversman, tutor (Suth.) ; see taoitear.
saor, free, Ir. sao?'. E. Ir. sder, 0. Ir. soir, soer : "^su-viro-s, " good
man," free; from su ( = so-) and viro-s, fear, q.v.
saor, a carpenter, Ir. saor, W. saer. Cor. sair : *sairo-s, from
"^ sapii'o-s., root sap, skill, Lat. sapio, sapientia, wisdom, Ag. S.
sefa, understanding, sense (Stokes, who thinks the Brittonic
may be borrowed).
saothair, labour, toil, Ir. saothar, E. Ir. sdethar^ 0. Ir. sdithar, g.
sdithir : *sai-tro-n ; also E. Ir. sdeth, sbeth : *sai-tu- ; root
sai, trouble, pain ; Got. sair, Ag. S. sdr, Eng. sore, Ger. sehr,
*sai-ra- ; Lat, saevus, wild ; Lit. siws, sharp, rough.
sapair, sapheir, sapphire, Ir. saphir ; from Lat. sapphirus, whence
Eng. also.
sar, oppression, saraich, oppress, Ir. sdruighim, 0. Ir. sdraigim,
violo, contemno, sdr, outrage, contempt, W. sarhded, con-
tumelia : *sdro-n, *spdro-n, root sper, kick, spurn ; Lat.
sperno ; Eng. spurn \ Lit. spirti, kick ; Skr. sphur, jerk
(Stokes). The W. has the a pretonic short ; is it borrowed
from Ir. (Stokes) %
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 303
S^r, excellent, Jr., E. Tr., 0. Tr. sdr-, W. hoer, positive, stubborn,
assertion, Ogmic Netta-sagru, Sagarettos, Sagramni : "^sagro-s,
strong, root seg ; Gr. 6xvp6<i, strong, fast, e'xw, have ; Ger.
sieg, victory ; Skr. sdhas, might.
sardall, a sprat; from the Eng. sardel (Bailey), now mrdin^.
S^S, straits, restraint, hold, E. Ir. sds, a trap, fixing ; from sath^
transfix, q.v.
sasaich, satisfy, Ir. sdsaighim, 0. Ir. sdsaim ; from sdtk, q.v.
sath, plenty, satiety, Ir. sdtk, sdith, E. Ir. sdith : *sdti- ; Got. so}),
satiety, Ger. satt (adj.) ; Lit. sotis ; Lat. sat, enough, satur,
full, whence Eng. satisfy, etc.
s4th, thrust, transfix, Ir. sdtha'lh, a thrust, push, M. Ir. sdthud,
driving, thrusting, E. Ir. sddim (L. U.), 0. Ir. im-sadaim,
jacio, W. hodi, shoot ; possibly from .so, se, hurl, as in siol :
sath, saith, bad (Dial, maith na saith, math na sath), M. Ir. sath
(Lecan Glossary), saith, 0. Ir. saick {cid saich no maith) :
*saki-s, root svak, svag, weak, Ger. schwack.
Sathairn, Di-sathairn, Saturday ; see under di-.
s6, s6a, sia, six, Ir. se, 0. Ir. se, W. chvech. Cor. vjheh, Br. cliouec^h :
*sveks ; Lat. sex ; Gr. e^ ; Got, saihs, Eng. six ; Skr. shash.
seabh, stray (M'A.) : see seahhaid.
seabhach, trim, neat (H.S.D., Dial.) :
seabhag, a hawk, Ir. seahhac, E. Ir. sehac, 0. Ir. sebocc, W. hehog,
E. W. hebauc ; from Ag. S. heafoc, now hawk, Ger. hahicht,
Norse haukr, root haf, I. E. qai>, Lat. capus, hawk, allied to
capio.
seabhaid, an error, wandering, Ir. seabhdid, error, folly, wandering :
^sibo; a short form of the root of saobh '?
seac, wither, Ir. seacaim, E. Ir. seccaim, secc, siccus, W. sychu, to
dry, sych, dry. Corn, seygh, Br. sec^h, dry ; from Lat. siccus.
See further under seasg.
seach, by, past, Ir. seach, 0. Ir. sech, ultra, praeter, W. heb, with-
out. Corn, heb, Br. hep, without : *seqos ; Lat, se,cus, otherwise,
by, sequor, I follow (Eng. prosecute, etc.) : Gr. eVo/xat, I follow,
Skr. has sdcd, with, together, Zend haca, out, for. Hence G.
and Ir. seachad, past, G. and Ir. seachain, avoid.
seachd, seven, Ir. seachd, 0. Ir. secht n-, W. saith. Corn, seyth., Br.
seiz : *septn ; Lat. septem. ; Gr. eTrra ; Got., 0. H. G. siban,
Eng. seven ; Lit. septyni ; Skr. saptd.
seachduin, a week, Ir. seachdmhain, 0. Ir. sechtman, Corn, seithum,
Br. sizun ; from Lat. septimana, from septem.
seachlach, a heifer barren though of age to bear a calf ; cf. 0. Ir.
sechmall, prseteritio ( = sechm, past, and ell, go, as in tadhal),
Ir. seachluighim, lay aside. H. S. D. suggests seach-laogh,
" past calf." seach-la, surviving, still spared (Suth.).
304 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
seachran, wandering, error, Ir. fieachrdn, E. Ir. sechrdn : "^sech-reth-
an, from seach and ruit/i, run '?
seadh, yes, it is, Ir. 'seadk, for is eadh, it is ; see is and eadh, it.
seadh, sense ; usual spelling of seagh, q.v.
Seagal, rye, so Jr., M. Ir. secul ; from Lat. secale, whence also Br.
segal.
seagh, sense, esteem, Ir. seagh, regard, esteem, strength, seaghdha,
learned (O'Cl.), M. Ir. seg, strength, Gaul, sego- : ^sego-^
strength, pith ; Norse sigr, victory, Ger. sieg ; Skr. sdhas,
might ; further Gr. e'xw, have ; I. E. segh, hold,
seal, a while, space, Ir. seal, 0. Ir. sel, W. chwyl, versio, turning,
Br. hoel, " du moins, root svel, turn. Bez. (apud Stokes)
compares Lettic swalstit, move hither and thither ; to which
cf. Gr. craXevo), 1 toss.
sealbh, possession, cattle, luck, Ir. sealbh, E. Ir, sclb, 0. Ir. selbad,
W. hdw, possession, ownership : *seivd, possession, root sel,
take, E. Ir. selainn, I take, Gr. kXdv, take ; Got. saljan, offer,
Eng. sell. Windisch has compared Got. silba, Eng. self
(pronominal root sve).
sealbhag, sorrel, Ir. sealbhog ; usually regarded as for searbhag,
" bitter herb " (cf. Eng. sorrel from sour). The change of r to
/ is a difficulty, but it may be due to the analogy of wiea/^Aat/.
sealbhan, the throat, throttle : "^svel-vo-, Eng. swallow (*svel-ko-) 1
sealg, a hunt, Ir. sealg, 0. Ir. selg, W. hela, hel, to hunt, 0. W.
helghati, venare. Cor. helhia, British Selgwae, now Solway :
"^selgd, a hunt, root sel, capture (see sealbh).
sealg, milt, spleen, Ir. sealg, M. Ir. selg, Br. felcli : "^selgd, "^spelgd ;
Gr. cnrXayxva, the higher viscera, (nrX.t]v, spleen {*splqhen) ;
Lat. lien ; Skr. plihdn, spleen ; Ch. SI. slezena, Lit. bluznis ;
also Eng. lung.
seall, look, E. Ir. sellaim, sell, eye, W. syllu, to gaze, view, Br.
sellet ; cf. solus. Stokes gives the Celtic as *stilna6, I see,
comparing the Gr. a-TcXirvos, shining.
S^am, seum, forbid, enjoin :
seaman (seaman, H.S.D.), a nail, small riveted nail, a small stout
person, Ir. seaman, small riveted nail, E. Ir. semmen, W., M.
W. hemin, rivet : *seg-s-men, root seg, segh, hold, as in seagh,
seamarlan, chamberlain, M. Ir. seomuirlln ; from the Eng.
S^amh, mild, peaceful (seamh, Arms.), Ir, seamh ; see seimh, M'A.
gives its meaning as an "enchantment to make one's friends
prosper." See seamhas.
seamhas, good luck, also seanns, good chance, seamhsail,
seannsail, lucky ; from Eng. chance.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 305
seamlach, a cow that gives milk without her calf, an impudent
or silly person ; Sc. shamloch, a cow that has not calved for
two years (West Lothian) :
seamrag^, shamrock, seamair (M'A.), Ir. seamrog^ M. Ir. semrach
(adj.), E. fr. sewzmor (B.L.) :
seamsan, hesitation, quibbling, delay, sham ; from the Eng. sham,
Northern Eng. sham, a shame, trick'?
sean, old, Ir. sean, 0. Ir. sen, W., Corn., and 0. Br. hen, Gaul.
Seno- : "^seno-s, old ; Lat. i^enex, g. senis, old man ; Gr. evo?,
old ; Got. sinista, oldest, Eng. seneschal ; Lit. senas ; Skr. sdnas.
seanachas, conversation, story, Ir. seanachas, seanchus, tale,
history, genealogy, 0. Ir. senchas, vetus historia, lex, 0. W.
hencass, monimenta. Stokes refers this to ^seno-kastu-, "old
story," from *kastu-, root leans, speak (see cainnt and Stokes'
derivation of it). Regarded by others as a pure derivative of
*seno- or its longer stem "^seneko- (Lat. senex. Got. siyteigo, old,
Skr. sanakds, old), that is, *senekastu-. Hence seanachaidh,
a reciter of ancient lore, a historian, Ir. seanchuidh, a form
which favours the second derivation.
seanadh, a senate, synod, Ir. seanadh, seanaidh, E. Ir. senod, W.
senedd, Corn, sened, Br. senez ; from the Lat. sy nodus, now
Eng. synod.
seanagar, old-fashioned, knowing ; cf . Ir. senfha, W. henwr :
seanair, a grandfather, Ir. seanathair, M. Ir. senathair, literally
"old father."
seang, slender, lean, Ir. seang, E. Ir. seng : "^svengo-s ; Norse
svangr, slender, thin, Sc. swank, swack, supple, Ger. schwank,
supple, allied to Eng. swing.
seangan, an ant (S. Inverness and Perthshire snioghan), Manx
sniengan, Ir. seangdn, M. Ir. sengdn, E. Ir. segon (Corm.) ; cf.
Gr. a-Kvixlf (t long), gen. (rKVL<f)6s or crKviTros, kvlxJ/, root skene,
kene, scratch (see cndmK), Lit. skaniis, savoury (kittling),
Stokes {Bez ^^ 65) refers it to ^stingagno-, Eng. sting, Gr.
o-Tifw, prick ; K. Meyer derives it from seang, slender.
seanns, luck ; see seamhas.
S^ap, slink, sneak off, flinch, Ir. seapaim : " turn tail ;" see next
word,
seap, a tail, an animal's tail hanging down (as a dog's when cowed :
sear, eastern ; see ear.
searadoir, a towel (Sh. searhhadair) ; from Sc. serviter, servet,
napkin, from Fr. servietta, from servir, serve, Lat. servio.
searbh, bitter, Ir. searbh, 0. Ir. serh, W. chiverw, Corn, wherow, Br.
c'houero : "^svervo-s ; 0. H. G. sweran, dolere, Ger. sa%er,'^Eng.
sour ; Lit. sivariis, salty.
37
306 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
searbhant, a servant maid : from the Eng. servant.
searg, wither, Ir. seargaim, 0. Ir. sercim, serg, illness : "^sergo- ;
Lit. sergu, T am ill ; O.H.G. swercan, 0. Sax. swercan, become
gloomy.
searmon, a sermon, Ir. searmoin, M. Ir. strmon ; from Lat. sermo,
sermonis, Eng. sermon.
secirr, a sickle, saw, E. Ir. serr, 0. W. serr ; from Lat. serra.
searrach, a foal, colt, so Ir., E. Ir. serrach : "^serso- ; Gr. epa-au,
young lambs 1
searrag^, a bottle ; founded on the Eng. jar ?
sears, charge or load '(as a gun) ; from Eng. charge.
searsanach, a sheriff officer, estate overseer, seirseanach, auxiliary
(Arm., Sh., O'B.) ; Gaelic is from the Sc. sergean, sergeand, an
inferior officer in a court of justice, Eng. serjeant, from Fr.
serjant, Lat. serviens, etc. M. Ir. has sers^nach, foot soldier.
searsaigeadh, charging, citation (Suth.).
seas, stand, Ir. seasaim, E. Ir. sessim, 0. Ir. tair(sh)issim, E. Ir.
inf. sessom, G. seasamh : "^sistami, I stand, *sistamo- (n.),
root sta ; Lat. sisto, stop, sto ; Gr. ccrryixi, set ; Eng. stand ;
Skr. sthd. The W. sefi/ll, stare. Cor., Br. sevell, Br. saf, come
from *stam (Stokes).
seasg, barren, dry, Ir. seasg, E. Ir. sesc, W. hysp, Br. hesk, hesp :
*sisqo-s, from sit-s-qo-, root sit, dry ; Lat. siccus ( = sit-cus)^
dry, sitis, thirst ; Zend hisku, dry.
seasgair, one in comfortable circumstances, comfortable, Ir.
seasgair, cosy, dry and warm, quiet ; from seasg.
seasgan, a shock or truss of corn, gleaned land :
seasgann, a fenny country, marsh, Ir. seisgeann, E. Ir. sescenn ;
from '*'s€sc, sedge, Ir. seisg, sedge, W. hesg (pi.), Cor. hescen,
Br. hesk, whence Romance sescha, reed ; cf. Eng. sedge, I. E.
root seq, cut. Zimmer refers seasgann to seasg, dry, though
it denotes wet or marsh land,
seat, satiety of food (Dial.) : see seid.
seic, a skin or hide, peritoneum, brain pellicle ; see seich.
seic, meal-bag made of rushes (Lewis) ; N. sekk, sack,
seic, a rack, manger ; from Sc. heck, also hack. SeeTnext.
seiceal, a heckle (for flax) ; from Sc. and Eng. heckle. The W. is
heislan, from Eng. hatchel.
seich, seiche, a hide, skin, Ir. seithe, E. Ir. seche, g. seched : ^seket-;
Norse sigg, callus, hard skin. The root is I. E. se^, cut, Lat.
seco, etc. ; cf. for force Gr. Sepfxa, skin, from 8ei/o(o, flay, Eng.
tear, Lat. scortum and corium, from sker, Eng. shear, etc.
seid, a belly-full, flatulent swelHng, seideach, swollen by tympany,
corpulent :
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 307
seid, a truss of hay, a bed spread on the floor (especially seideag
in the latter sense) : *seddi- :
seid, blow, Ir. seidim^ E. Ir. setim, W. chwyth, a blast, M. Br.
huez, Br. c^houeza, blow. Cor. ivhythe, to blow : *sveiddo-,
"^sviddo-, from "^sveizdho-, *svizdho- ; Ch. Slav, svistati, sibilare ;
Lat. sibilus, whistling ( = sidhilus), Eng. sibilant.
seidhir, a chair, from Eng. chair.
seilcheag^, a snail, Ir. seilide, seilchide, seihnide, slimide, 0. Ir.
selige, testudo ; cf. Gr. o-ecrtAos (t long), creo-i^Aog, crecrtAtTr/s, a
snail. Stokes gives the root as sel, allied to Lit. saleti, creep,
slekas, earthworm, 0. Pruss. slayx (do.). Stokes now. Lit.
seleti, creep,
seile, placenta (Carm.) :
seileach, willow, Ir. sailedg, E. Ir. sail, g. sailech, W. helyg, willows.
Corn. helige7i, salix, Br. halek (pi.) : ^saliks ; Lat. salix ; Gr.
eXiKrj (Arcadian) ; Eng. sallow.
s^ileann, sheep-louse, tick :
Seilear, a cellar^ Ir. seileir, M. W. seler ; from Eng. cellar.
seilisdeir, yellow iris or yellow water-flag, ir. soileastar, feleastar
(O'B.), elestrom (O'B.), M. Ir. soilestar, W. elestr, fleur de lys,
iris, 0. Br. elestr. Cf. L. Lat. alestrare, humectare (Ernault,
Stokes in ^.C.^ 329).
seillean, a bee, teillean (Perth), tilleag (Suth.), W. chwil, beetle;
root svel, turn, as in seal ? W. telyn, harp "?
s6iin, a squint :
S^imh, mild, placid, Ir. seimh (O'R., FoL), seimh (Con.) :
seinn, sing, Ir. seinnim, M. Ir. sendim, 0. Ir. sennim, play an
instrument, psallo, perf. sephainn {"^ sesvanva, Stokes) ; root
sven, sound, as in Lat. sonare, sonus, Eng. sound, Skr. svdnati,
sound.
seipeal, a chapel, so Ir., M. Ir. sepel ; from M. Eng. and 0. Fr
chapele, now Eng, chapel.
seipein, a quart, choppin ; from the Eng. choppin, from Fr. chopine^
chope, a beer glass, from Ger. schoppen.
seirbhis, service, Ir. seirbhis ; from the Eng.
seirc, love, Ir. hearc, seirc, 0. Ir. sere, W. strch, Br. serc^h, concubine,
M. Br. serch : "^serkd, "^serko- ; Got. saiirga, care, Ger. sorge,
sorrow, Eng. sorrow ; Skr. surkshati, respect, reverence, take
thought about something. The favourite derivation is to ally
it to Gr. (TT€pyo}j I love, which would give a G. teirg.
seircean, burdoch (Carm.) :
seirean, a shank, leg, spindle-shanked person ; for connections see
speir.
seirm, sound, musical noise, ring as a bell, 0. Ir. sibrase, modu-
labor 'j Celtic root sver, sing, I. E. sver, sound ; Skr. svara.
308 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARt
soiind, music ; Eng, swear, answer, Got. svaran, swear ; Lat.
sermo, speech, Eng. sermon. The W. chwyrnu, hum, snort, is
also allied,
seirsealach, robust (seirsealach, H.S.D.), Ir. seinean, a strong
person (O'R.) ; cf. searsanach for origin.
seis, one's match, a friend, sufficiency, Ir. seas, ship's seat, Lewis
seis, bench, seat ; cf. Norse sessi, bench-mate, oar-mate, from
sessa, a ship's seat (I. E. root sed, sit),
seis, anything grateful to the senses, Ir. seis, pleasure, delight :
*sved-ti-, root sveda, svdd, sweet ; Gr. eSavos, sweet, t^Svs (do.) ;
Lat. suavis, sweet ; Eng. sweet,
seis, anus, the seat (Suth.) :
seisd, a siege ; formed from the Eng. siege.
seisean, session, assize, Ir. seisiun ; from Lat. sessio, sessionis, a
sitting, session.
seisreach, a plough, six-horse plough, the six horses of a plough,
Ir. seisreach, a plough of six horses, E. Ir. sesrech, plough
team ; from seiseir, six persons, a derivative of se, six.
seist, the melody of a song, a ditty, M. Ir. seis, a musical strain :
"^ sven-s-ti-, root sven, seinn.
se6c, seocan, a helmet plume, a helmet ; cf. Eng. shock.
seochlan, a feeble person ; from the Sc. shochlin, waddling, infirm,
shachlin, verb shackle, shuffle in walking, allied to Eng.
shackle, shake.
se6d, siad, a hero, a jewel, Ir. seod, a jewel ; see send, jewel,
seog, swing to and fro, dandle ; from Sc. shog, M. Eng. shoggin,
M. Du. shocken.
sedl, method, way, Ir. se6l, a method of doing a thing, sedlaim, I
direct, steer ; E. Ir. seol, course ; W. hwyl, course, condition.
From seol, sail.
seol, a sail, Ir. seol, 0. Ir. seol, seol, seol, g. siuil, W. hwyl, 0. W.
huil : usually referred to *seghlo- (root of seagh) or to
Teutonic seglo-, sail (also from ^seghlo-), borrowed into Celtic.
In either case we should expect Ir. *s^l, W. *hail, but we
have neither. Strachan suggests that se6l is formed from
gen. siuil on the analogy of cebl, etc. ; while W. hwyl may
have been effected by a borrow from Lat. velum (Cor. guil,
Br. goel).
sedmar, a chamber, Ir. se6mra, M. Ir. seomra ; from M. Eng. and
Fr. chamhre, Lat. camera.
seorsa, a sort, kind, Ir. sort ; from the Eng.
seot, a short tail or stump, the worst beast, a sprout ; from Sc.
shot, rejected sheep ("shot "from slioot), shoot, stern of a
boat, from the root of Eng. shoot. Cf. Norse skott, fox's tail,
skoita, dangle.
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 309
seotal, shuttle of trunk (M'D.) :
seth in gu seth, severally, neither (after negative) ; cf. Lat.
se-cum ; "by one-self."
seuchd, a tunic or lei7ie (Oss. Ballad of lonmhuin) :
seud, a jewel, treasure, hero, Ir. seud, 0. Ir. set, pi. seuti, pretiosa,
Med. Ir., Lat. sentis ; from *sent-, real, "being," I. E. sents,
being, participle from root es, be ; Lat. -sens, ipraesens, etc. ;
Gr. et's.
seul, seula, saoil, a seal, Ir. seula, M. Ir. sela, W. sel, 0. Br. siel ;
from Lat. sigillum, M. Eng. and Fr. seel, Ag. S. sigle.
seum, earnest entreaty ; see seam.
seun, a charm, defend by charms, Ir. seun, good luck, E. Ir. sen,
blessing, sign, luck, 0. Ir. sen, benedic, W. swyn, a charm,
magic preservative ; from Lat. signum, a sign, " sign of the
cross."
seun, refuse, shun, Ir, seunaim^ seanaim, M. Ir. senaim ; probably
from the above.
seunan, sianan in breac-sheunain, freckles :
seusar, acme or perfection (M'A. for Islay) ; from seizure, crisis ?
sgab, scab, sgabach, scabbed ; from the Eng.
sgabag, cow killed for winter provision (M'F.) :
Sgabaiste, anything pounded or bashed (H.S.D.), Ir. sgabaiste,
robbery :
Sgaball, a hood, helmet, M. G. sgahall, a hood or cape (M'V.) ; Ir.
scabal, a hood, shoulder guard, helmet, a scapular ; from Lat.
scapulae, shoulder-blades, whence Eng. scapular.
Sffabard, scabbard ; from the Eng.
Sg'abh, sawdust, Ir. sgahh (Lh.) ; Lat. scobis, sawdust, powder.
Sgad, a loss, mischance ; from the Sc. skaith, Eng. scathe, scath
(Shakespeare), Norse ska&i, scathe, Ger. schaden, hurt.
Sgadan, a herring, Ir. sgaddn, E. Ir. scatan (Corm.), W. ysgadan
(pi.) ; cf. Eng. shad, " king of herrings," Ag. S. sceadda, Prov.
Ger. schade.
Sgadartach, a set of ragamufhns (H.S.D.), anything scattered
(M'A.) ; from Eng. scatter.
Sgafair, a bold, hearty man (H.S.D., Arm., O'B.), a handsome man
(H.S.D.), a scolding man (MA.), Ir. sgafaire, a bold, hearty
man, spruce fellow, a gaffer ; from the Eng. gaffer %
Sgag", split, crack, winnow, filter, Ir. sgagaim, filter, purge ; cf., for
root, gag.
sgaipean, a ninny, dwarf :
Sgail, a shade, shadow, Ir. sgdile, scdil, M. Ir. scdil, 0. Br. esceilenn,
cortina, curtain : *skdli-, root ska of sgdth, q.v.
Sialic, a smart blow, a slap, skelp, Ir. sgailledg ; root skal, make
a noise by hitting ; Norse skella, slap, clatter (skjalla), Ger.
310 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
schallen, resound ; Lit. skali% give tongue (as a hunting dog).
Cf. So. and M. Eng. skeip. Also sgailleag.
Sgailc, a bald pate, baldness, sg'all, baldness, Ir. sgallta, bald,
bare, scallach, bald : from Norse skalti, a bald head, Swed.
skallig, bald, skala, peel, skal, husk, Eng. scale. The G.
sgailc is possibly from M. Eng. scalc^ scalp ; but Sgall is
clearly Norse.
Sgain, burst, rend, Ir. sgdinim : "^skad-no-, root skkad, sked, skha,
split, rend, cat ; Gr. a-KeSavvvfit, scatter ; Skr. skhddate, split,
Sgainneal, a scandal, Ir. scannail, M. Ir. scandal ; from the Lat.
scandalum.
sgainnir, scatter, sganradh (n), Ir. scanruighim, scatter, scare ;
cf. Eng. squander, allied to scatter.
Sg^innteach, a corroding pain, pain of fatigue ; from sgdin.
Sgaird, flux, diarrhcea, ir. sgdrdaim, I squirt, pour out : *skardo- ;
I. E. skerdo- ; Lat. sucerda, swine-dung, muscerda, mouse-dung
= mus-scerda- ; Skr. chard, vomit ; Ch. SI. skar§du, nauseating ;
Eng. sham. Another form is *skart, W. ysgarth, excrement,
Br. skoarz, skarz, void, cleanse, Gr. a-KOjp, g. cr/caros, Skr. gdkrty
dung,
Sgaireach, prodigal (Sh., etc.) , from the root skar of sgar.
Sgaireag, one year old gull, young scart ; from Norse skdri, a
young sea-mew.
Sgairn, howling of dogs, loud murmur ; see sgairt.
Sgairneach, a continuous heap of loose stones on a hill side, the
sound of such stones falling (sgairm, M'A.) ; cf. Sc. scarnoch,
crowd, tumult, noise (Ayr). See sgairn. Badenoch Dial.
sgarmach.
sgairt, a loud cry, Ir, sgairt : "^s-gar-ti-, root gar 1
Sgairt, activity, Ir. sgairteamhuil, active : root skar, skip, spring ;
Gr. a-Katpo), skip, cTKapos, a leap, run ; Zend fhar, spring.
Sgairt, midriff, intestine caul, Ir. scairt : " separater," from skar of
sgar "?
Sgait, a skate ; from the Eng, skate, Norse skata.
Sgaiteach, sharp, edged, cutting, sgait, a prickle, a little chip of
wood in one's flesh (Dial.) ; from sgath, lop.
Sgal, howl, shriek, yell, Ir, sgal, M, Ir, seal, root skal, sound, cry ;
Norse skjalla, clash, clatter, skvala, squall, squeal, Ger.
schallen ; Lit, skaliu, give tongue (as a dog) ; Gr. o-KvXa^,
whelp : I. E, root sqel, make a sound, allied to sqel, split, hit 1
Cf. W. chwalu, prate, babble, spread, root sqvel, sqval.
Sgalag, a servant, Ir. sgoldg (fern.), husbandman, rustic, M. Ir.
scoloc {=gille), E. Ir. scoloca ; from Norse skdlkr, servant,
slave. Got, skalks^ servant, Ger. schalk, knave, Eng. marsAa^,
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 311
seneschal. It could hardly be from Lat. scholasticus, as Skene
(Celt. Scot'^ 448) thinks.
Sg^lain, scales for weighing, Ir. scdla, a balance, scali (B. of Dr.) ;
from the early Eng. scale, Ag. S. scale, Norse skdl, a balance.
Sgalan, hut, scaffold, Jr., M. Ir. scdldn ; from the Norse skdli, a
hut, shed. Stokes (Bez. Beit.^^ 65) refers it to a stem *scdnlo-,
cognate with Gr. a-Krjvij (Dor. a-Kdvd), a tent, roof, skhd,
cover, shade.
Sgald, burn, scald, Ir. sgall, scald, singe ; from the Eng. scald.
Sg'all, baldness, Ir. sgallta, bald, bare ; see under sgailc.
Sgalla, an old hat (M'A.) :
Sg^lla, a large wooden dish cut out of a tree (M'A.) :
Sgallais, insult, contempt; from the Norse skoll, mockery, loud
laughter, skjal, empty talk, skjall, flattering (H.S.D. gives
" flattery" as a meaning) : allied to sgal, q.v.
Sg^amal, a scale, squama, Ir. sgamal ; from Lat. squdmula, squdma.
In G. and Ir. Bibles, Acts^ 18, " Scales fell from his eyes" —
sgamail.
Sgamal, effluvia, phlegm, Ir. sgamal : same as above,
Sgamh, dross, dust ; see sgabh.
Sgamhan, the lungs, liver, Ir. sgamhdn, lungs, M. Ir. seaman, W.
ysgyfaint, lights. Cor. skefans, Br. skevent ; from Ir. seaman,
levis, W. ysgafn, light. Cor. scaff, Br, skanv, light (cf. for
force Eng. lights, Buss, legkoe, lungs, from legkii, light) :
^skamno- ; cf. Norse skammr, short, 0, H, G. scam, short.
sgann, a multitude, drove :
Sgann, a membrane, Ir, sgann ; cf, Norse skdn, a thin membrane,
film, skaeni, film, membrane ; "^skad-no 1
Sganradh, dispersing, terror ; see sgainmr.
Sg^aog", a foolish, giddy girl ; cf. Sc, skeich, s^ez^^, , skittish, Eng.
Sgaoil, spread, scatter, let go, Ir. sgaoilim, M, Ir., E. Ir. scdilim ;
cf, W. chwaht, disperse, strew, root sqval, sqvol, allied to root
sqel, split (as in sgoilt, q.v.). Bhys says W. is borrowed,
Sgaoim, a fright, a start from fear, skittishness : for sgeum % If
so, for sceng-men, E, Ir, scingim, I start ; Gr. o-Ka^d), I limp,
cTKLfifSd^d), limp; Ger, hinken (do.)'; Skr, khanj (do.). See sgeun.
Sgaoth, a swarm (as of bees), Ir, scaoth, scaoith : ^skoiti-, from
skhfdt, separate ; Ger. scheiden, Eng. shed ; further Lat. scindo
(from root skheid, split), split.
Sgap, scatter, Ir. scapaim : ^skad-ho- (from skhad, divide, Gr.
rtLK^ o-KeSdvwixL, scatter), developing into skabb, which, as skabb-th,
^^i^^^il;- becomes sgapl , But consider Eng. scape, escape.
Sgar, sever, separate, Ir. sgaraim, 0. Ir, scaraim, W, ysgar, separ_
ate, 0, Br, scarat, di udicari : "^skarao, root sker, eparat
312 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
sunder ; Lit. skiriu, separate ; 0. H. G. sceran, Ger. scheren,
shear, cut, Eng. shear ; further Gr. Ketpd), cut, etc.
Sg^arbh^ cormorant; from the Norse skarfr, N. Sc. scar/(Shet., etc.).
Sgarlaid, scarlet, Ir. sgdrloid, M. Ir. scarloit ; from M. Eng.
scarlat, scarlet, Med. Lat. scarlatum. Stokes and K. Meyer
take it direct from Lat.
Sgat, a skate (Dial.) ; see sgait.
Sgath, lop off, Ir. sgathaiin, E. Ir. scothaim ; I.E., root skath, cut ;
Gr. d(rKr)Oii]s, unscathed, crxa^w, cut ; Eng. scathe, Ger. schaden,
hurt ; Skr. chd, lop. The root appears variously as skhe, ska,
skhei, skhe (Gr. crKeSavvu/xc). It is possible to refer sgath to
the root seq, cut, Lat. seco, Eng. section. See sgiaii.
Sgath, a shade, shadow, Ir. sgath, scdth, 0. Ir. scdth, W. ysgod.
Cor. scod, umbra, Br. skeud : *skdto-s ; Gr. a-Koros, darkness ;
Eng. shade. Got. skadus, shade, shadow, Ger. schatten ; Skr.
chdya, shadow.
Sgath (Sh., Arm., sgath, H.S.D.), a wattled door :
sgeach, sgitheag, hawthorn berry, Ir. sgeach, sweet-briar, haw,
E. Ir. see, g. sciach, also g. pi, sciad, W. yshyddad, hawthorn,
Cor. spedhes, Br. spezad, fruit, currant : ^skvijat- :
Sgeadaich, dress, adorn, Ir. sgeaduighim, adorn, mark with a white
spot, sgead, speck, white spot, sgeadach, speckled, sky-
coloured ; also gead, spot :
Sgealb, a splinter, Ir. sgealpog, splinter, fragment, sgealpaim,
smash, split, make splinters of; see ^olb. Cf. Sc. skelb,
skelf, a splinter, skelve (vb.).
Sgeallag, wild mustard, Ir. sgeallagach, M. Ir. scell, a grain,
kernel ; root sqel, separate, Eng. shell, etc. Stokes equates
Ir. scelldn, kernel, with Lat. scilla, squill, sea-onion, Gr.
0"K I A Aa.
Sgealp, a slap ; from Sc. skelp, M. Eng. skelp.
Sgeamh, yelp, Ir. sceamh, E. Ir. seem, scemdacht ; cf. next word.
Also G. sgiamh, sgiamhail, to which Ernault compares
M. Br. hueual, cry like a fox.
sgeamh, severe or cutting language, Ir. sgeamhaim, I scold,
reproach : *skemo- ; Norse skamma, to shame, to scold, Eng.
shame, sham % The word Sgeamh also means " a disgust " in
Gaelic ; also, according to M'A., "a speck on the eye,"
" membrane." Also Ir. (and G. ?) sgeamh, polypody.
Sgean, cleanliness, polish ; cf. for origin Norse skina, Eng. shine.
S^6an, sudden fright or start, a wild look of the face ; see sgtun.
Sgeanag, a kind of sea weed, so called from resembling a knife
blade (Arg.).
Sgeann, a stare, gazing upon a thing :
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 313
Sgeap, a beehive ; from the Sc. skep, M. Eng. skeppe, a skep,
carrying basket, Norse skeppa^ a measure.
Sgeig, mockery, Ir. sgige, M. Ir. scige : ^skeggio- :
Sgeigeach, having a prominent chin or a beard of strong, straight
hair (Sutherland) ; from Norse skegg, a beard, from skaga,
jut out, Eng. shaggy.
sgeilcearra, supple, active ; cf. sgiolcarra.
Sgeile, misery, pity, Ir. sceile (O'Cl., Lh. as obsolete, O'B.), sceile
(O'R.):
Sgeileid, a skillet, Ir. sgilead ; from the Eng.
Sgeileas, a beak, thin face, talkativeness (H.S.D.) ; see sgeilm.
Sgeilm, boasting, prattling (H.S.D. , Arms.), a thin-lipped mouth,
a prater's mouth (M'A.) ; also sgiolam, sgeinm. Root sM,
as in sgaL
Sgeilm, sgeinm, neatness, decency ; cf. sgean.
Sgeilmse, a surprise, sudden attack :
Sgeilp, a shelf ; from Sc. skelf, Ag. S. scylfe, now shelf.
Sg^imh, beauty, Ir. sgeimh ; see sgiamh.
Sgeimhle, a skirmish, bickering, Ir. sgeimhle :
Sg^innidh, twine, flax or hemp thread ; cf, Ir. sgainne, a skein or
clue of thread. The Sc. skiny, pack thread (pronounced
skeenyie) is apparently from G. ; Eng. skein is from M. Eng.
skeirie, 0. Fr. escaigne. Skeat derives the Eng. from Gaelic.
The G. alone might be referred to *skein, from sghein, sghoin^
rope, string, Lit. geinis, string, Lat. funis, Gr. crxoivos.
Sgeir, a rock in the sea, skerry ; from Norse sker, a rock in the
sea, whence Eng. skerry, scaur : " cut off," from root of Eng.
shear, G. sgar.
Sgeith, vomit, Ir. sceithim, E. Ir. sceim, sceithim, W. chivydu, Br.
clioueda : "^sqveti- ; cf. Gr. cnrariyr], thin excrement as in
diarrhoea (Bez.). sgeith-feith, varicose vein.
Sgeo, g. Sgiach, haze, dimness (Heb.) : see ceo.
Sgeoc, a long neck ; cf. gedc.
Sgeop, a torrent of foolish words, also Sgeog :
Sgeul, Sgial, a tale, Ir. sgeul, 0. Ir. seel, W. chwedl. Cor. ivhethl,
Br. quehezl {([ue-hezl, que — ko-) : ^sqetlo-n (sqedlo-n, Rhys),
root seq, say : Lat. inseque, die, inquam ( = in-squam V), say I ;
Gr. €vv€7roj, I tell, eVt-cTTre, dixit ; Ger. sagen, Eng, say ; Lit.
sakyti, say.
Sgeun, dread, disgust, look of fear, Ir. sgean, fright, wild look,
M. Ir. seen, affright : ^skeng-no-, from skeng, start, spring,
E. Ir. scingim, start, spring (for root see sgaoim). Strachan
refers it to *skakno-, root skak, spring. Lit. szokti, spring, Ch.
SI. skakati, Norse skaga^ jut out.
38
314
ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
Sgiab, a snatch, sudden movement, Ir. sgioh ; see sgiohag.
Sgiamh, beauty, Ir. sgiamh, 0. Ir. sciam : *skeimd ; cf. Got.
skeima, a light, Ag. S. scima, Norse skimi, a gleam of light,
further Eng. shine, shimmer.
Sgiamh, a squeal, yell, mew ; see sgeamh.
Sgian, a knife, Ir. sgian, E. Ir, sciaii, W. ysgien, slicer, scimitar,
ysgi, cutting off, Br. skeja, cut : "^skeend, vb. skeo, cut ; Skr.
chd, cut off, Gr. (T\d^(ii, cut, o-xaw ; I. E. root skhe, skha^
split, cut. Lindsay refers Gadelic to '^scend, allied to Lat.
scena, a priest's knife, whose side-form is sacena, from seco,
cut, Eng. section, saw. Others have compared Lat. scio, know,
Gr. Keioi, cut.
Sgiath, a shield, Ir. sgiath, 0. Ir. sciath, W. ysgwyd, 0. W. scuit^
0. Br, scoit, Br. skoued : *skeito- ; Ch. SI. stitu, shield ;
0. Pruss. scaytan, Norse ski^, firewood, billet of wood, tablet
(Schrader) ; to which Bez. queries if Lat. scutum {^skoito- T)
be allied.
Sgiath, a wing, Ir. sgiathdn, sgiath, E. Ir. sciath [sciath n-ete,
shoulder of the wing), 0. Ir. sciath, ala, pinna, W. ysgwydd,
shoulder, Cor. scuid, scapula, Br. skoaz : ^skeito-, "^skeidd,
shoulder-blade ; I. E. root sqid, Lat. scindo ; Gr. crxt^w, split ;
Skr. chid, cut ; further Ger. scheiden, divide (I. E, shheit),
which agrees with the Gadelic form,
Sgibeach, Sgibidh, neat ; see sgiobalta.
Sgid, a little excrement (M'A.) ; from the Eng.
Sgideil, a plash of water ; see sgiodar.
Sgil, skill ; from the Eng.
Sgil, unhusk, shell, Ir. sgiollaim, sgilc, shellings of corn, sgilice, the
operation of the mill in shelling corn : ^skdi-, I. E. sqel,
separate ; Norse skilja, separate, Eng. skill, shell, etc. See
scoilt. Cf. Sc. shillin, shelled or unhusked grain.
Sgilbheag, a chip of slate (Arg.) ; from Sc. skelve, a thin slice,
Eng. shelf.
Sgilig", shelled grain (Dial.), from Norse, whence Sc. shillin, which
see under sgil. Ir. sgilige, sgileadh, sgiolladh, shelling grain.
Sgillinn, a penny, Ir. sgillin, shilling, M. Ir. scilling, scillic, from
Ag. S. scilling, Norse skillingr, Ger. schilling.
Sgilm, a mouth expressive of scolding aptitude (M'A.); see
sgiolam.
Sgimilear, a vagrant parasite, intruder ; from Sc. skemmel. Cf.
sgiomalair.
Sginn, squeeze out, gush out, Ir. scinn, gush, start, E. Ir. scendim,
spring ; Skr. skand, leap ; Lat. scando ; Gr. crKavSaAov, Eng.
scandal. Arm. has sginichd, squeezing ; Badenoch Dial, has
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. SI 5
Sging, a squeeze, hardship. There is an E. Ir. scingim, I
spring, from skeng, discussed under sgaoim.
Sgioba, ship's crew ; from the Norse skip, a ship.
Sgiobag, a slap given in play, a hasty touch or snatch, sgiob,
Sgiab, snatch, Ir. sgiobaim, I snatch, W. ysgip, ysgipiol ; cf.
Manx skibbag, skip, hop, from Eng. skip.
Sgiohair, a skipper ; from the Sc. skippare, Eng. skipper, Norse
skipari, a mariner.
Sgiobal, Sgiobal (Suth.), a barn, Ir. sgiobdl :
Sgioball, loose folds or skirts of a garment :
Sgiobalta, clever, neat, Manx skibbylt, active, a skipping, Ir.
sgiobalta, active, spruce ; also G. sgioblaich, adjust the
dress, etc., tidy up. Cf. Norse skipulag, order, arrangement,
skipa, put in order, Eng. ship shape. The Gadelic is borrowed.
Sgiodar, a plashing through bog and mire, diarrhoea ; from Sc.
scutter, skitter.
Sgiogair, a jackanapes, Ir. sgigire, a buffoon, mocker ; see sgeig.
Sgiolam, forward talk, also sgeilm ; also giolam. See sgeilm.
sgiol (Lewis), empty talk ; N. skjal.
Sgiolc, slip in or out unperceived ; cf. Eng. skulk.
sgiolbhagan, fibs (Wh.) :
Sgiomalair, an instrument to take the suet off a pot (M'A.) ;
from Eng. skim ?
Sgionabhagan, " smithereens" (Arg.) ; from sgian ?
Sg^ionnadh, starting, eyes starting with fear ; see sginn.
Sgionn-shuil, a squint eye ; from Eng. squint, with a leaning on
G. sgionn, sginn, start, protrude.
Sgiord, squirt, purge, Ir. sgiordadh (n.), sgiurdaim (O'R.) ; either
cognate with or borrowed from Eng. squirt (Stokes' Lis.).
Sgiorr, slip, stumble, Ir. sciorrairn :
Sgiort, a skirt, edge of a garment, Ir. sgiorta ; from Eng. skirt.
O'Cl. has Ir. sguird for tunic or shirt.
Sgiot, scatter ; from Norse skjota, shoot, skyti, shooter. M'A.
says the word belongs to the North Highlands ; Arm. does
not have it. Ir. has sgiot, a dart, arrow : " something shot."
Sgire, a parish ; from Ag. S, scir, county, now shire, O.H.G. scira,
charge.
Sgirtean, a disease in cattle — black spauld or quarter-ill (H.S.D.) :
" stumbling disease," from sgiorradh 1
Sg'ith, tired, Ir. sgith, weariness, 0. Ir. scith. Corn, sqwyth, skith,
Br. skouiz, skuiz : *skUo-, *skUto- (Brittonic *skvitto-, accord-
ing to Stokes) ; root skhei beside khsei, decay, destroy, Gr.
(f>OLw, decay, <:f)dLa-L<i, phthisis, Skr. kshi, destroy, kshiids,
exhausted (Strachan, Bez. Beit.^'^ 300).
316 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
Sgithiol, a shealing hut (Carmichael) ; from Norse skyli, a shed,
sltjbl, a shelter, Dan. and Swed. skjul, shed, Eng. sheal.
Sgiiican, sgiuchan, the cackUng or plaint of a moorhen :
sgiugan, a whimper ; cf. the above word.
Sgiunach, a charm for getting all the fish about a boat or head-
land into one's own boat amidst the amazement of the
neighbours (M'A.) :
Sgiunach, a bold, shameless woman (H.S.D.) :
Sgiurdan, a squirt ; from the Eng.
Sgiurs, scourge, Ir. sgiur.-^aim^ W. ysgors ; from M. Eng. scourge,
Lat. excoriare.
sgiuthadh, a lash, stroke with a whip (H.S.D. says Dial. ; M'A.
says North) :
Sglabhart, a blow on the side of the head ; from Sc. sclafert (do.),
sclaff, a blow, Pro v. Fr. esclaff'a, to beat (Ducange), Med. Lat.
eclafa.
Sglaib, ostentation (Hend.) :
Sglaim, questionably acquired wealth, sg'laimire, usurper (M'A.) ;
see glam.
Sg'lamhadh, a seizing greedily upon anything, Ir. sclamhaim, I
seize greedily, scold ; also G. sglamadh (M'E.) ; see glam.
sglamhruinn, a scolding, abusive words ; cf. Sc. sclourie, vilify,
abuse, bedaub. Ir. sglamhadh means also "scold," and G.
sglamhadh, scold of a sudden (M'A.). Sc. has sklave, to
calumniate.
Sglamhradh, clawing one's skin for itch (M'A.) ; see damhradh.
sgleamhas, meanness, sordidness, sgleamhraidh, a stupid or mean
fellow.
gleamaic, plaster (vb.), daub filthily (M'A.), sgleamaid, snotters
(M'A.) :
Sgl^ap, ostentation, Ir. sgleip ; M'A. gives the force of " to flatter,
stare open-mouthed at one."
Sgleo, dimness of the eyes, vapour :
Sgleo, boasting, romancing, Ir. scleo, boasting, high language :
Sgleo, misery, Ir. sdeo (O'Cl.) :
sgle6bach, sluttish :
Sgleobht, a chunk (M'D.) :
Sgleog*, a snot, phlegm, a knock :
Sgleogair, a troublesome prattler, liar :
Sgleoid, a silly person, slattern, Ir. sdeoid \ also gle6id :
Sgliamach, slippery-faced (M'L.) :
Sgliat, slate, Ir. sddta ; from M. Eng. sdat, now slate.
Sglimeach, troublesome, as an unwelcome guest :
Sgliobhag, a slap (Dial.) ; cf. Sc. sdajf, sdaffert.
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE.
317
Sg^liurach (sgliurach, H.S.D.), a slut, gossip, Ir. syliurach. The
G. also means " young of the sea-gull till one year old," when
they become sgaireag^.
Sglongaid, a snot, spit ; see glong.
Sgob, snatch, bite, sting, Ir. sgohallach, a morsel, piece ; also G.
Sgobag, a small wound, a small dram. Seemingly formed
from gob, a bill, mouth (cf. 0. Fr. gobet, morsel, gober,
devour, Eng. gobble).
Sgoch, gash, make an incision ; for scoth ; see sgath.
Sgod, the corner of a sheet, the sheet of a sail, a sheet-rope, M. Ir.
scoti, sheets ; from Norse &kaut, the sheet or corner of square
cloth, the sheet rope, a hood, Got. skauts, hem, Eng. sheet.
SgOg", a fool, idler, sgogach, foolish, Ir. sgogaire (O'R.), W. ysgogyn,
fop, flatterer :
Sgoid, pride, conceit, Ir. sgoid ; G. Sgoideas, pageantry, ostenta-
tion :
Sgoid, drift-wood (Lewis) ; N. ski&a.
Sgoil, school, Ir. sgoil, E. Ir. scol, W. ysgol, Br. skol', from Lat.
schola, whence Eng. school.
Sgoileam, loquacity : see sgiolam.
Sgoilt, split, Sgoltadh, splitting, Ir., M. Ir. scoiltim, inf. scoltad,
O. [r. diuscoilt, scinde [St. Gal. Incant.), Cor. felja, Br.
faouto, split : "^sqolto, split, root sqvel ; Lit. skelto, split,
skillu, split ; Norse skiljan, separate, Ger. schale, shell, Eng.
shale, skill ; Gr. crKaAAco, hoe, o-kvXXo), tear.
Sgoim, wandering about, skittishness (Hend.) ; cf. sgaoim.
sgoinn, care, efficacy, neatness :
Sgoirm, throat, lower parts of a hill (MT. Ossian) ; for latter
force, see under sgairneach.
Sgoitich, a quack, mountebank :
Sgol, rinse, wash ; from Norse skola, wash, Swed. skolja, rinse,
wash, Dan. skylle.
Sgolb, a splinter, Ir. sgolb, M. Ir. scolb, a wattle, W. ysgolp,
splinter, Br. skolp : "^skolb-, root skel, skol, split (see sgoilt),
fuller root skel-g ; Gr. Kokof36<^, stunted, o-KoXoxp (o-koAottos),
stake ; Swed. skalks, a piece, also Got. halks, halt, Eng. shelf,
spelk (Perrson Zeit.'^^ 290 for Gr. and Teut.).
Sgonn, a block of wood, blockhead ; sgonn-balaich, lump of a
boy : "^skotsno-, " section " ; from the root of sgath.
sgonsair, an avaricious rascal (M'D.) :
Sgop, foam, froth (M'D.) :
Sgor, a mark, notch, Ir. sgor ; from Eng. score, Norse skor, mark,
notch, tally (G. is possibly direct from Norse).
318 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
Sgor, Sgorr, a sharp rock ; from Sc. scaur, Eng. scar, cliff, of
Scandinavian origin, Norse sker, skerry ; 0. H. G. scorra,
rock ; further Eng. shore, Ag. S. score. See sgeir further.
Sg6rnan, a throat, Ir. scorndn :
Sgot, a spot, blemish, small farm ; cf. Sc. shot, a spot or plot of
ground.
Sgoth, a boat, skiff, a Norway skiff; from Scandinavian — Dan.
skude, Norse skiita, a cutter, small craft.
fsgoth, a flower, Ir. sgoth ; Lat. scateo, gush (St. Zeit.^'^).
Sgrabach, rough, ragged, Ir. sgrdbach, sgrabach (Lh.) ; from Eng.
scrap, scrappy, Norse skrap, scraps.
sgrabaire, the Greenland dove ; hence Sc. scraher.
Sgragall, gold-foil, spangle (Sh., Lh., etc.; not M'A. or M'E.), Ir.
sgragall :
Sgraideag, small morsel, diminutive woman, Ir. sgraideog. M'A.
gives sgraid, a hag, old cow or mare, and H.S.D. sgraidht
(do.). Cf. Sc. scradyn, a puny, sickly child, scrat, a puny
person, Norse skratti, wizard, goblin,
sgraig, hit one a blow :
sgraill (sgraill, H.S.D. ), rail at, abuse :
Sgraing, a scowling look, niggardliness ; I. E. sqrengo-, shrink ;
Eng. shrink ; Gr. KpdfxfSos, blight.
Sgraist, a sluggard, Ir. scraiste (Lh., etc.) :
sgrait, a shred, rag :
sgral, a host, a large number of minute things (Heb.) ; cf.
sgriothaiL
Sgrath, outer skin or rind, turf (for roofing, etc.), Ir. sgraith,
green sward, sod, sgraithim, I pare off the surface, W. ysgraf,
what pares off, ysgrawen, hard crust ; cf. Norse skrd, dry
skin, scroll (^skrava), Sc. sera, a divot (Dumfries).
Sgrathail, destructive, Ir. sgraiteayiihull (O'R.) :
Sgreab, a scab, blotch, crust, Ir. sgreabdg, a crust ; from Eng.
scrape ?
Sgread, a screech, cry, Ir. sgread, M. Ir. scret : *skriddo-, W. ysgri,
root skri, skrei ; 0. H. G. scrlan, cry, Ger. schrei, Eng. scream,
screech ; Lat. sc7rd ( = screjo), a hawk.
Sgreag, dry, parch ; from the Scandinavian — Norwegian skrekka,
shrink, parch, Swed. skraka, a great dry tree, Eng. shrink^
scraggy (from Scandinavian).
Sgreamh, abhorence, disgust, Ir. screamh : "^skrimo-, root skri,
skrei ; Norse skrcema, scare awaj^, Swed. skrdma, Dan.
skrcemme.
Sgreamh, thin scum or rind, ugly skin (M'A.) ; root skr of sgar.
Sgreang", a wrinkle : ^skrengo-, I. E. sqreng^ shrink ; Eng. shrink
(Dr Cameron). See sgraing.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 319
Sgreataidh, disgusting, horrible : ^skritto-, root skri of sgreamh,
q.v. Cf. N. skrati, a monster, " Old Scratch."
Sgreubh, dry up, crack by drought, S^reath (M'A., who has
Sgreoth, parch as cloth); cf. Eng. shrivel, from a Scandinavian
source — base skriv-, 0. Northumbrian screpa, pine, Norwegian
skrypa, waste ; or Sc. scrae, dry, withered person, old withered
shoe, Norwegian skrae.
Sgreuch, sgriach, a scream, screech, Ir. sgreach, E. Ir. screch :
*skreikd, root skrei, as in sgread, q.v. Eng. screech, shriek are
from the same root (not stem). W. ysqrech seems borrowed
from the Eng.
S^reunach, shivering (Arran), boisterous (of weather, Arg.) :
*sqreng-no- ; see sgraing,
Sgriach, a score, scratch (Dial.) ; cf. strioch.
Sgribhinn, rocky side of a hill or shore (Arm., M'A.); for sgridhinn,
from the Norse skrid'a, pi. skrid'na, a landslip on a hill-side.
See sgrlodan.
Sgrid, breath, last breath of life : *skriddi-, root skri of sgread.
Sgriob, a scratch, furrow, line, Ir. scriob, E. Ir. scrih, mark, scripad,
scratching ; from Lat. scribo, write, draw lines, whence also
Norse skrifa, scratch, write, W. ysgrif, a notch.
Sgriobh, write, Ir. sgriobhaim, 0. Ir. scribaim, W. ysgrifo, Br.
skriva, skrifa ; from Lat. scribo, w^ite.
Sgriodan, a stony ravine on a mountain side, track of a mountain
torrent, a continuous run of stones on a mountain side ; from
Norse skrifa, pi. skrid'7ia, a landslip on a hill-side, skrid'a, to
glide, Ger. schreite?i, stride ; Prov. English screes, sliding
stones, Sc. scriddan (from the Gaelic).
Sgrios, destroy, Ir. scriosaim, M. Ir. scrisaim : "^skrissi- for
"^skr-sti-, root skar of sgar, q.v.
Sgriotachan, a squalling infant ; from scread.
sgrioth, gravel (Islay), sgriothail, a lot of small items (Badenoch)
(do.) as of children (Wh.) : "^skritu-, root sker ; cf. Eng. short,
I. E. skrdh, little, short.
Sgrob, scratch, Ir. scrobaim : *skrobbo-, from skrob, scratch ; Lat.
scrobis, a ditch, scrofa, a pig ("scratcher up"); Eng. scrape;
Lettic skrabt, scrape, Ch. SI. skreb, scrape.
Sgroban, a bird's crop, Ir. scrobdn ; cf. Eng. crop, Ger. kropf.
Sgrobha, a screw, so Ir. ; from the Eng.
sgrog, the head or side of the head (in ridicule), a hat or bonnet ;
vb. Sgrog, put on the bonnet firmly, scrog ; from the Sc.
scrog, scrug, Eng. shrug. In the sense of " head " compare
sgruigean.
320 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
Sj^rog, sgvoga,g, anything shrivelled, a shrivelled old woman, old
cow or ewe, Sgrog, shrivel ; from the Sc. scrog, a stunted
bush, scroggi/, stunted, Eng. scraggy, Dan. skrog, Swed. skrokk,
anything shrunken, Norse skrokkr.
Sgroill, a peeling or paring, anythin^^ torn off; from Scandinavian
— Dan. skrael, peelings or parings of apples, potatoes, Norse
shrill, a mob.
Sgrub, hesitate, sgrubail, a hesitating, Ir. scrub, hesitate, sgrub-
alach, scrupulous ; from Eng. scruple.
Sgrud, examine, search, Ir. scriidaim, C). Ir. scrutaim ; from Lat.
scrutor, Eng. scruti7iy.
Sgruigean, neck of a bottle, the neck (in ridicule), Ir. sgruigin,
neck of a bottle, short-necked person ; cf. sgrog.
Sgruit, an old shrivelled person, a thin person, Ir. sgruta, an old
man, sgrutach, lean, sgrut, a contemptible person ; cf. Norse
skrudda, a shrivelled skin, old scroll.
Sgriithan (sgrii'an), a shock of corn (Assynt) ; from Norse skruf,
hay-cock.
Sguab, a broom or besom, Ir. sguah, E. I. scuap, 0. Ir. scoptha,
scopata, W. ysgub, Bi*. skuba ; from Lat. scopa.
Sguaigeis, coquetry ; cf. guag.
Sguainseach, hussy, hoyden (Arg.) ; possibly from Sc. quean:
*s-quean-seach ; cf. siitrsach.
Sguan, slur, scandal (Carm.) :
Sguch, sprain, strain a joint : " spring " ; cf. E. Ir. scuckim, I
depart, root skak, Lit. szdkti, jump, spring (see sgeun).
Sgud, lop, snatch ; cf. W. ysgutlt, scud, whisk, Eng. scud, Sc. scoot,
squirt, etc. G. is borrowed.
Sgud, a cluster :
Sgud, a scout ; from the Eng.
Sgudal, fish-guts, offal ; cf. cut.
Sguga, coarse clumsy person, sgugach, a soft boorish fellow ; see
Sguidilear, a scullion ; from the Sc. scudler, scudle, cleanse.
Sguids, thrash, dress flax, Ir. sguitsim ; from Eng. scutch.
Sguillear, rakish person (Glenmoriston) :
Sguir, cease, stop, Ir. sguirim^ 0. Ir. scorim, desist, unyoke ;
"^skorio, root sker, skor, separate ; see sgar.
Sgiiird, sguirt, the lap, a smock, apron, Ir. sguird ; from Eng.
skirt, Norse skirta, a shirt.
Sguit, the footboard in a boat :
Sguit, a wanderer (scuite, Shaw) : Macpherson's scuta, whence he
derives Scotti — an invention of his own ^
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 321
Sgillan, a large wicker basket ; from Scandinavian — Norse shjola,
a bucket, Sc. sheil, tub, skull, shallow basket of oval form.
In Sutherland, sgulag means " a basket for holding the
linen."
Sg^ulanach, flippant, evil tongued (Carm.) :
Sgum, scum, foam ; from Norse skum, foam, M. Eng. scum, now
scum, Ger. schauTn, foam.
Sguman, a skirt, tawdry head-dress, corn rick ; from sgiim,
"skimmer'"? sguman (Arran).
Sgumrag, a fire-shovel, a Cinderella :
Sgur, scour, Ir. sguraim ; from the English.
Sgtirr, sharp hill ; Heb. for sgorr.
si, she, Ir., 0. Ir. si ; see ^.
sia, six, Ir. se ; see se.
slab, wipe, sweep along, puif away, Ir. siobadk, blowing into
drifts ; *sveibbo-, root sveib, Eng. sweep ; Norse sveipr, sweep,
Eng. sweep. Also siabh. Hence siaban, sand drift, sea-
spray,
siabh, a dish of stewed periwinkles (Heb.) :
siabhas, idle ceremony :
siabhrach, a fairy, siobhrag (Arran), siobhrag (Shaw), sibhreach
(M'A.), Ir. siabhra, E. Ir. siabrae, siabur, fairy, ghost, W.
hwyfar in Gwenhwyfar, Guinevere (V) : "^seibro- :
siabunn, siopunn, soap, Ir, siabhainn (FoL), W. sebon ; from Lat.
sapo{n), from Teut. saipo, whence Eng. soap, Ger. sei/e, Norse
sdpa.
siach, sprain, strain a joint :
siachair, a pithless wretch ; another form of siochair.
siad, a stink : ^seiddo-, blow ; see seid. Cf. Eng. shite.
siad, sloth, Ir. siadhail, sloth :
sian, a scream, soft music (Carm.), Ir. sian, voice, shout, sound,
E. Ir. sian : *sveno-, which Stokes (Zeit.^^ 59) explains as
^sesveno-, root sven, sound (see seinn).
sian, a pile of grass, beard of barley, Ir., E. Ir. sion, foxglove, W.
fion, digitalis, ffuon, foxglove, 0. W. fionou, roses, Br.
foeonnenn, privet. Stokes gives the Celtic as *s(p)edno-.
Gadelic might be allied to Lat. spina, thorn.
sian, a charm ; see seun.
sian, storm, rain, Ir. sion, weather, season, storm, 0. Ir. sin,
tempestas, W. hin, weather, M. Br. hynon, fair weather :
*se?i^ ; root se (sei) as in sm, sior ; Norse seinn, slow, late,
M. H. G. seine, slowly, Eng. sith, since,
sianan, breac-shianain, freckles; from sian, foxglove^ See
seunan,
39
322 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
siar, westward, aside, Ir. siar, 0. Ir. siar ; from s-iar, see iar^
west, and s- under suas.
siaranachadh, languishing, siarachd, melancholy (Dial.) ; from
siar, " going backwards " %
siasnadh, wasting, d wining (Suth.) :
siatag", rheumatism ; from Lat. sciatica.
sibh, you, ye, Ir. sibh, 0. Ir. sib, si, W. chivi, 0. W. hui. Cor. why,
Br. choui : "^sves, for s-ves (Brug. ; Stokes has "^sves) ; Gr.
(T(f>(OL, you two. Got. izvis {iz-vis) ; the ves is allied to Lat. vos.
The form sibh is for "^svi-svi.
sic, the prominence of the belly (H.S.D.), peritoneum (M'A.) :
sicear, particle, grain (Carm.) :
sicir, wise, steady ; from Sc. sicker, M. Eng. siker, from Lat,
securus, now Eng. sure. W. sicr is from M. Eng.
sid, weather, peaceful weather after storm, tide : ^sizdi-,
" settling," root sed, sif? Ir. has side in the sense of "blast,"
from seid. Also tid, which suggests borrowing from N. tic^^
tide, time, Eng. tide.
sil, drop, distil, Ir. silim, perf. siblais, stillavit, Br. sila, passez :
*svili6. Stokes gives the root as stil, Lat. still o, drop, Gr.
o-tlXt] (do.). Hence silt, a drop. Cf. Eng. spill; *spild,
destroy, spoil,
sile, spittle, saliva, Ir. seile, 0. Ir. saile, W. haliiv, Br. hal, halo :
* saliva (Stokes) ; Lat. saliva. Stokes says that they appear
to be borrowed from Lat., while Wharton thinks the Lat. is
borrowed from Gaulish.
siliche, a lean, pithless creature : "seedy," from siol 1
simid, a mallet, beetle, Ir. siomaide :
similear, a chimney, Ir. seimileur, simnear, simne ; from Eng., Sc.
chimley, Eng. chimney.
simleag^, a silly woman ; from the next word.
simplidh, simple, Ir. simplidhe, silly, simple ; from Lat. simplex,
whence Eng. simple, W. sym,l.
sin, that, Ir., 0. Ir. sin, 0. W. hinn, W. hyn, hwn, hon, Corn, hen,
hon (fem.), Br. hen, Gaul, sosin { = so-sin) ; from root so (sjo),
as in -sa, so, q.v,
sin, stretch, Ir., 0. Ir. sinim : "^seno-, root se, mittere, let go ; Lat.
sino, situs ; Gr. It^jxl, send. Cf. sir (from *sero-, long).
Allied is root sei, sei, si, mittere, Norse sitSr, long, seinn, slow,
Lit. seinyti, reach,
sine, a teat, Ir., E. Ir. sine, triphne, three-teated : '^svenio- for
"^spenio-, root spen of Lit. spenys, udder teat, 0. Pruss.
spenis, teat, Norse speni, teat, Du. speen, udder, Sc spain, wean
sineubhar,{gin, juniper tree (Suth.); Fr. genievre.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 323
sinn, we, us, Ir. sinn^ E. Ir. sinn, sinne, 0. Ir. ni, sni, snisni, sninni,
W. ni, nyni, Cor. ny, nyni, Br. ni : "^nes (Brug. ; Stokes gives
nes), accusative form, allied to Lat. nos, Skr. nas, Gr. vw. The
s of sni is due to analogy with the s of sihh, or else prothetic
(cf. is-se, he is).
sinnsear, ancestors, Ir. sinnsear, ancestors, an elder person, E. Ir.
sinser, elder, ancestor : *senistero-, a double comparative form
(like Lat. minister, magister) from sean, old, q.v.
Sinte, plough traces, from sin.
sinteag, a skip, pace ; from sm,
Siob, drift as snow (M'A.) ; see siah.
siobag", a blast of the mouth, puff, Ir. siobog ; cf. siab.
sioban, foam on crest of waves ; see siaban.
siobail, fish, angle (M'A.), sioblach, fishing :
siobhag", a straw, candle wick :
sioblach, a long streamer, long person (M'A.) ; from siabi
Siobhalta, civil, peaceful, Ir. sibhealta, from Ir. siothamhuil, peace-
able, E. Ir. sidainail. Borrowing from Eng. civil has been
suggested {Celt. Mag.^^ 169).
siochaint, peace, Ir. siochdin, peace, swthchdnt i, peaceful,
siodhchan, atonement, M. Ir. sidchauta, peaceful ; from sith.
Siochair, a dwarf, fairy, M. Ir. sidhcaire, fairy host, sithcuiraibh
(dat. pi.), E. Ir. sithchaire ; from sith, fairy, and cuire, host
(Ger. heer, army, Eng. herald).
Sioda, silk, Ir. sioda, E. Ir. sita, W. sidan ; from L. Lat. seta, silk,
from Lat. seta, a bristle, hair ; whence Ag. S. side, silk, Eng.
satin.
Siogach, pale, ill-coloured, Ir. siogach, streaked, ill-coloured, siog, a
streak, a shock of corn :
siog^ach, greasy (M'A.), lazy (M'F.) :
siogaid, a starveling, lean person ; from Lat. siccus 1
Siol, seed, Ir. siol, 0. Ir. sil, semen, W. hil : *selo-n, root se, sow ;
Lat. semen ; Eng. seed, Ger. saat ; Lit. pa-s'elys, a sowing.
siola, a gill ; from the Eng.
siola, a wooden collar for a plough horse ; from Scandinavian —
Swed. sela, a wooden collar, Norse seli, harness, sili, a strap,
Sc. sele, a wooden collar to tie cattle to the stalls.
siola, a syllable, Ir. siolla, E. Ir. sillab ; from Lat. syllaba, whence
Eng. syllable.
Sioladh, straining, filtering, Ir. siolthughadh, E. Ir. sithlad, W.
hidlo, hidl, a filter ; also 0. Ir. sithal = Lat. situla, a bucket ;
from Lat. situla (Stokes Lismore). G. sioladh, also means
" subsiding," and leans for its meaning, if not its origin, upon
sith, peace.
324 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
Siolag, a sand-eel :
siolc, snatch, pilfer :
siolgach, lazy, dwarfish :
sioll, a turn, rotation (M'A.), W. chwyl ; see seal. Cf. Ir. siolla,
whifF, glint, syllable ; root of seal.
siolp, slip away, sknlk (Skye) :
Siolta, a teal, small wild duck ; from Eng. teal 1
sioman, a rope of straw or hay ; from the Norse sinia, g. pi. simna,
a rope, cord, Sc. simmonds, heather ropes (Orkney), Teut.
"^stmon-, Ag. S. sima, fetter, Shet. simmen ; Gr. tjuovta (i long),
well rope ; I. E. simon-, a bond, band, seio-, bind,
siomlach ; see seamlach.
Sion, something, anything; also "weather," for sian, whence
possibly this meaning of " anything" comes.
sionadh, lord (M'Pherson's FingaV-., 341) : if genuine, the root
may be sen., old ; cf. Lat, senior., now Eng. sir.
sionn, phosphorescent, solus sionn, phosphorus, also teine-sionn-
achain. For root see next.
sionnach, valve of bellows, pipe-reed, piob-shionnaich, Irish bag-
pipe. From root spend, swing, play, Skr. spand, move
quickly. Gr. o-cfieSovr], sling, Lat. pendeo, hang, Eng.
pendulum.
sionnach, a fox, so Ir., E. Ir. sinnach, sindach, 0. Ir. sinnchenae,
vulpecula :
sionnsar, bagpipe chanter, Ir. siunsoir ; from the Eng. chanter.
siop, despise ; cuir an siop, turn tail on (Hend.) ; see seap.
siopunn, soap ; see siahunn.
sior, long, continual, Ir. sior, 0. Ir. sir, comparative sia, W. hir,
compar. hwy, Cor., Br. hir : "^sero-s ; Lat. sei^us, late, Fr. soii^,
evening, Eng. soiree; Skr. sciyd, evening. See sian, sin.
siorra (M'A., M'E.), siorraimh, siorram (H.S.D.), a sheriff,
siorrachd, siorramachd, county, Ir. sirriamh, M. Ir. sirriam ;
from M. Eng. shirr eve, now sheriff, "shire-reeve." The Sc. is
shirra usually.
siorradh, a deviation, onset : *sith-rad, from sith 1
siorruidh, eternal, Ir. siorruidhe ; from *sir-rad, eternity, sior.
sios, down, Ir. sios, 0. Ir. sis : *s4s, from .s- (see suas) and is, or
los, q.v.
siosar, a scissors, Ir. siosur ; from the Eng.
siota, a blackguard, a pet ; from Sc. shit.
sir, search, Ir. sirim (sirim. Con.), E. Ir. sirim : '^s{p)eri-, root sper,
foot it ; Norse spyrja, ask, track, Sc. spere, ask after, Ger.
spilren, trace, track, also further Eng. spur ; Lat. sperno
(Eng. spurn allied), etc. 'I he vowel of sir is short (otherwise
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 325
Stokes' Diet., Rhys Manx Pray.^ 71, who compares W.
chwilio).
siris, sirist, a cherry, Ir. siris, W. ceirios ; from M. Eng. "^cheris,
from 0. Fr. cerise, Lat. cerasus, Gr. Kepaa-o<s.
siteag", a dunghill ; from the Eng. Cf. N. saeti.
sith, a stride, onset, a dart to, Ir. sidhe, gust, M. Ir. sith, onset ;
cf. Ir. sith-, intensive prefix (O'Don. Gr. 277), ^setu-, seti-,
maybe root es, ervixos (Bez.^^ 123), E. Ir. sith, long, W. hyd,
to, as far as, 0. W. hit, longitudo, usque ad, Br. hed, length,
during : "^seti, root se, as in sior, long (Stokes). Cf . N. si&r,
long, Eng. sith ; root sit.
sith, peace, Ir. sith, sioth, E. Ir. sith, 0. Ir. sid : *sedos (neut. s
stem), root sed (sed) of suidhe, q.v. ; Lat. sedo, settle ; Lit.
seddti, sit. W. hedd, peace, is from sed.
sith, a fairy, sithich (do.), Ir. sidh, a fairy hill, sigh, a fairy,
sigheog (do.), 0. Ir. side, dei terreni, whose dwelling is called
sid ; in fact, side, the fairy powers, is the pi. (gen. s. 1) of sid,
fairy dwelling or mound, whild its gen. sing, appears in mnd
sid'', fir side : "^sedos, g. sedesos, as in the case of sUh, peace,
which is its homonym (Stokes) ; root sed, sed, Gr. eSo?, a
temple or statue, literally an " abode" or " seat ;" Lat. noven-
sides, noven-siles, the new gods imported to Rome. Thurney-
sen has compared Lat. sidus, a constellation, "dwelling of
the gods." Hence sithean, a green knoll, fairy knoll.
sithionn, venison, Ir. ndh and sidheann (O^R.), M. Ir. sieng, sideng,
deer, W. hyddgig ( = '^ stag's, flesh"), from hydd, stag, red
deer : "^sedi-, deer ; to which is to be referred M. Ir. segh
( = agh allaidh, O'Cl.), E. Ir. seg ( = oss allaidh, Corm.).
sitig, the rafter of a kiln laid across, on which the corn is dried :
sitinn, roller for a boat :
sitir, sitrich, neighing, Ir. sitreach : cf. seid, blow {^svid-tri-).
siubhal, walking, so Ir., M. Ir. siubal, for '^siumcd, W. chwyf,
motus, chivyfu, move, stir, M. Br. Jifual, now Jinval, stir ; root
svem, move ; O.H.G. Ag. S. sivimman, Eng. swirn. Cf. W.
syfiyd, move, stir.
siubhla ; see Inighe-siuhhla.
siuc, a word by which horses are called :
siucar (siucar, H.S.D.), sugar, Ir. siucra, W. sif.gr; from M. Eng.
s\igre, Fr. sucre.
siudadh, swinging ; from Sc. showd, swing, waddle, 0. Sax.
skuddian, shake, 0. Du. schudden (do.), Eng. shudder.
slug", call to drive away hens ; cf. Eng. shoo !
siunas, lovage plant ; see siotais.
siup, a tail, appendage ; cf. seap.
326 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
siursach, a whore; from the Eng., with the G. fern, termination
-seach (see binnseach).
siuthad, say away, begin, go on : *seo-tu, " here you," from so and
tu'l Cf. trobhad, thugad.
slabhag", pith of a horn : So. sluch 1
slabhagan, a kind of reddish sea-weed, sloke, Ir. slabhacdn ; from
Eng. sloke^ Sc. sloke^ dahe.
slabhcar, a slouching fellow (Suth.), a taunter ; from Norse slokr,
slouching fellow, whence Eng. slouch.
slabhraidh, a chain, Ir. slabhra^ 0. Ir. slabrad : *slab-rad, from
slab, root lag. of Gr. Aa/x/^avo), I take, catch, Eng. laich.
slachd, thrash, beat, Ir. slacairim ; root slag, sleg, or slg, E. Ir.
sligim, beat, strike, slacc, sword : *sleg6, beside I. E., slak, as
in Got. slaha, strike, Ger. schlagen (do.), Eng. slay (Stokes
for sligim) ; further Lat. lacerate, lacerate, Gr. XaKt^o), tear
(Kluge). Hence slachdan, beetle, rod.
slad, theft, Ir. slad, M. Ir. slat : *sladdo-. Stokes gives the Celtic
as "^stlatto-, allied to Lat. stldta (stlatta), pirate ship, and
Eng. steal. The modern forms point to Gadelic ^sladdo-, for
"^stl-ddo-, allied to Eng. steal 1
sladhag", a sheaf of corn ready to be thrashed (H.S.D.) :
sladhaig'eadh, a kind of custard spread over bread (M.'D.) :
slag", a hollow (Lewis) ; N. slakki, slope. North Eng. hollow.
slaib, mire ; see Idban. Skeat refers Eng. slab, slime, but it is
likely native (cf. slop, etc.).
slaid, a munificent gift :
slaightear, slaoightear, a rogue, Ir. sloitire, rogue, sloitireachd^
roguery, M. Ir. sleteoracht, theft (O'Cl.) ; from slad (Ir. sloit),
rob.
slaim, great booty, a heap : from the Sc. slam, a share or posses-
sion acquired not rightly, slam7iiach, to seize anything not
entirely by fair means, Swed. slama, heap together.
slais, lash ; from the Eng.
slam, a lock of hair or wool, Ir. sldmi, E. Ir. slamni : *slags-men,
Gr. Xdxvos, wool, Xdxvf], down (otherwise Prellwitz, who
refers Gr. to *vlk-snd, root vel of olann, q.v.).
slaman, curdled milk, Ir. slamanna, clots, flakes (O'Cl.), E. Ir.
slaimred (na fola). Cf. lommen, gulp.
slan, healthy, whole, Ir., 0. Ir. sldn : '^sl-no- (Brug.), *ssldno-s
(Stokes); Lat. salvus ( = sl-vo-, Brug.), safe, sotidus, firm,
Eng. solid ; Gr. oAos, whole ( = croAFo?) ; Eng. silly, originally
meaning "blessed," Ger. selig, blessed; Skr. sdrvas, whole,
all. W., Br. holl is referred here by Stokes, etc., more
immediately allied to Lat. sollus, whole, all.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 327
slaod, drag, trail, Ir. slaodaim, draw after, slide, slaod, a raft,
float, E. Ir. sldet, a slide : ^sloiddo-, Celtic root sleid, slid ;
W. litthro, Eng. slide, Ag. S. slidan, Ger. schlitten, slide,
sledge (n.) ; Lit. slidus, smooth, Gr. oXtcrOavo}, *slid-d-. Stokes
explains the d of slaod as for dd, from -dno- : *slaidh-nd-.
slaop, parboil, slaopach, parboiled, slovenly, Ir. slaopach, luke-
warm (O'R.) ; also slaopair, a sloven, for which see next.
slapach, slapach, slovenly, Ir. slapach, slovenly, slapar, a trail or
train ; from Scandinavian — Norse sldpr, a good-for-nothing,
slaepa, \estis promissa et laxa (Jamieson), sloppr, Eng. slop,
Sc. slmipie, slovenly, Dutch slap, slack, remiss, Ger. schlaff.
slapraich, din, noise ; from Eng. slap.
slat, a rod, twig, Ir. slat, M. Ir. slat, slatt, W. llath, yslath, Br.
laz : *slattd ; Eng. lath is from W. M. Eng. latte, Ag. S.
laetta, 0. H. G. latta, Ger. latte are also Celtic borrows, Fr.
latte (Thurneysen), but Kluge regards them as cognate.
sleabhag, mattock for digging up carrots, etc. (Carm.) ; sleidheag,
kind of ladle (Lewis) ; cf. N. sleif.
sleag^h, a spear, so Ir., E. Ir. sleg : "^slgd ; Skr. srj, hurl, sling.
sleamacair, sly person (Lewis) : cf. N. slaemr, bad.
sleamhan, stye (Carm.) :
sleamhuinn, slippery, smooth, Ir. sleamhuin, 0. Ir. slemon, W.
llyfn, smooth, 0. Br. limn (in compounds) : ^slib-no-^, root
slib, sleib ; Norse sleipr, slippery, Eng. slip, slippery ; Gr.
oXifSpos, At/3po5, slippery. See sliabh also.
sl^igeil, dilatory, sleugach, drawling, slow, sly ; also leug,
laziness ; from the Sc. sleek ?
sleisneadh, back-sliding (Heb.) : '^sleid'-s-, root of slaod and Eng.
slide ?
sleuchd, kneel, Ir. sleachdain, 0. Ir. slechtaim ; from Lat. flecto.
sliabh, a moor, mountain, Ir. sliabh^ mountain, 0. Ir. sliab :
*sleibos, root sleib, slib, glide, down, I. E. sleig.o- ; Eng. slope,
from slip, Norse sleipr, slippery ; see sleamhuijin. W. llwyf,
platform, loft, seems allied to G. sliabh.
sliachdair, spread any soft substance by trampling, daub :
"^sleikto-, sleig, Norse slikr, smooth, Eng. sleek, Ger. schlick,
grease, the original idea being " greasy," like soft mud. Cf.
E. Ir. sliachfad, smoothing, preening.
sliasaid, sliasad (sliaisd, Dial.), thigh, Ir. sliasad, 0. Ir. sliassit,
poples : a diphthongal form of the root of slis, q.v.
slibist, a sloven ; cf. Ir. sliobair, drag along ; from Eng slip,
sloven.
slige, a scale of a balance, a shell, Ir. slige, a grisset, shell, 0. Ir.
slice, lanx, ostrea : ^sleggio-, root sleg, for which cf. slachd.
328 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
slighe, a way, Ir. dighe, E. Ir. slige, g. sliged : "^deget-^ root deg of
Ir. sligim, I strike {ro sligsetar, ro selgatar rotu, they hewed
out ways). See slachd further.
slinn, a weaver's sley or reed, Ir. slinn, a sley, M. Ir. slind^ pecten,
also slige, pecten, which suggests for slinn a stem : "^sleg-s-ni-,
sleg being the same root as that of slighe and slachd. Cf.
Eng. sley alhed to slcuj, smite. Stokes refers both 0. Ir.
slind, tile and weaver's sley, to the root splid, splind, Eng.
split, splint. See slinnean and sliseag further.
slinnean, shoulder blade, shoulder, Ir. slinnean, M. Ir. slinden : cf.
0. Ir. slind, imbrex, tile, Ir. slinn, slate, tile, also E. Ir. slind-
ger, smooth-sharp, slate-polished C?), slind-glanait, whetstone-
cleaned : "^slindi-, root slid, slei<I, smooth, glide, Eng. slide,
Lit. slidiis, smooth. Stokes refers slind, imbrex, to the root
splid, splind, split, Eng. split, splint ; see sliseag.
sliob, stroke, rub, lick, Ir. sliohhaim, polish, M. Ir. slipthe,
whettened, slibad, whetting, W. yslipan, burnish ; from
Norse or Ag. S. — Norse sHpa, whet, make sleek, Ag. S.
slipan, slip, glide, M. L. Ger. slipen, sharpen, M. Du. slijpen,
polish, sharpen.
sliochd, posterity, tribe, Ir. sliochd, M. Ir. slicht, trace, track,
0. Ir. slid, vestigium : "^slektu-, root sleg of slighe and slachd.
For similar origin, cf. Ger. geschlecht, race, lineage.
sliogach, sly, Ir. sliogach, sleek, fawning, sligtheach, sly; from
Eng., Sc. sleek, Norse sUkr, smooth ; I. E. sleig, glide (see
sliahh).
sliom, sleek, slippery, slim, the buttercup (Carm.), Ir. sUomaim,
flatter^ smooth, gloss over ; from Eng. slim, sly, crafty,
slender, now " slim," Sc. slim, naughty, slim o'er, gloss over,
0. Du. slim, awry, crafty, Ger. schlimm, bad, cunning.
Hence G. sliomaire, weakling, craven.
sliop, a lip, blubber lip ; from Eng. lip.
slios, the side of a man or beast, flank, Ir. slios, 0. Ir. sliss, pi.
slessa, W. ystlis : ^stlisti-, root stel, extend, Lat. stldtus, IdtuSy
wide, Ch. SI. stelja, spread.
slis, sliseag, a chip, Ir. slis, sliseog, E. Ir. sliss : "^slissi-, from
*splid-s-ti-, root splid. Eng. split, splice, splint, Ger. spleissen,
etc. Eng. slice has been compared, Eng. slit, root slid, which
could also produce the Gadelic forms.
slisneach, a plant like the slan-lus (Carm.) :
sloe, a pit, slough, Ir. sloe : *slukko-, for ^slug-ko-, root sing,
swallow, as in slug, q.v. Skeat derives hence Ag. S. slbh.,
Eng. slough. Ger. schlucht, hollow, ravine, is referred by
Kluge to the root slup, lubricus.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 329
slod, a puddle, Ir. slod ; see lod.
sldcan, sloke ; from the Sc. or Eng. sloke.
sloinn, surname, Ir. sloinnim, I name, 0. Ir. slondim, name,
significo, slond, significatio, 0. W. istlinnit, profatur, M. W.
cy-stlwn, family and clan name, W. ystlyned, kindred, ystlcn,
sex : "^stlondo-, *stlondid, 1 speak, name.
sloisir, dash, beat against sea-like, daub ; from Sc. slaister,
bedaub, a wet liquid mass, to move clumsily through a miry
road, also slestir (Badenoch Dial, sleastair, bedaub).
sluagh, people, Ir. sluagh, 0. Ir. sluag, slog, W. llu, Corn, lu,
Gaul, slogi in Catu-slogi : *slougo-s ; cf. Slav, sluga^ a servant,
Lit. slauginti.
sluaisreadh, act of mixing (lime, etc.) with a shovel ; see next
word. Cf. Eng. slubber.
sluasaid, a shovel, Ir. sluasad, a paddle, a shovel :
slug, swallow, slugadh (inf.), Ir. slugaim, E. Ir. slucim, slocim ;
"^sluggo, root slug, lug, swallow ; Ger. schlucken^ to swallow,
M. H, G. slucken : Gr. Av^w, AvyyatVw, have the hiccup. W.
llwnc, gullet, a gulp, llyncu, to swallow, 0. Br. ro-luncas,
guturicavit, M. Br. lloncaff are allied to E. Ir. longad, now
longadh, eating, which is a nasalised form of the root slug^
lug.
smachd, authority, correction, Ir. smachd, 0. Ir. smacht, M. Ir.
smachtaigim, I enjoin, smacht, fine for breaking the law :
"^smaktu-, from s-mag, root mag, I. E. magh, be strong ; Eng.
may, Got. magan, be able ; Gr. jw-'^X^^j means (see mac).
smad, a particle, jot : " spot, stain" (see smod). From Sc. smad,
smot, a stain, Eng. smut. Ir. has smaddn, soot, smut. Cf.
also M. Ir. smot, a scrap, Ir. smotdn, a block, W. ysmot, patch,
spot,
sm^d, threaten, intimidate, boast :
sm^g, smog, a paw ; see smog.
smal, dust, spot, blemish, Ir. smdl, sm6l ; root smal, mal (smel,
met). Lit. smdlkas, dust, sm'elynas, sand field, smelalis, sand,
Lettic smells, water sand. Got. mdlma, sand, Norse melr, sand
hill, Eng. mole.
sm^l, snufF a candle, Ir. smdl, embers, snufF of candle ; cf. the
above word.
smalag, the young saith or cuddie :
smaoin, think ; see smuain.
smarach, a lad, a growing youth (Badenoch) ; root smar, from
mar, mer, Gr. jxdpa^, boy, Skr. maryakds, a mannie, mdryas,
young man, Lit. marti, bride ; also W. morwyn, girl, merch,
40
330 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
daughter, Br. merc^h. Cf. Aran Ir. marlach^ child of two to
five years, either sex.
smarag, an emerald, Ir. smaragaid ; from Lat. smaragdus, whence
through Fr. comes Eng. emerald.
smeachan, the chin, Ir. smeach, smeachan, E. Ir. smech : "^smekd ;
Lit. smakra, Lettic smakrs, chin, palate ; Skr. gmacru, mous-
tache.
smeadairneach, a slumber, light sleep :
smeallach, smealach, remains, offals, dainties :
sm^id, beckon, nod, Ir. smeidim, beckon, nod, hiss : '^^ smeiddi-^
root smeid, smile, Gr. /xetSaw, smile, Pruss. smaida, a smile,
Eng. smile. W. amneidio, beckon, nod, 0. W. enmeituou,
nutus, 0. Br. enmetiam, innuo, do not agree in vowel with
Gadelic.
smeileach, pale, ghastly, smeilean, a pale, puny person ; cf.
meileach.
smeoirn, the end of an arrow next the bowstring, smeoirne, back
end of arrow head (Wh.), Ir, smeirne, a spit, broach (Sh.,
O'R.) :
smeorach, a thrush, Ir. smolach, smdl, M. Ir. smolach; W.
mwyalch, blackbird, Corn, moelh, Br. moualch : *smugal-,
^smugl-, from mug (see much) ? Stokes derives W. mivt/alch,
blackbird, from ^meisalko-, Ger. 7}ieise, Eng. tit-mouse.
smeur, smiar, anoint, smear, Ir. smearaim, grease, smear ; from
the Eng. For root see smior.
smeur, smiar, a bramble berry, Ir, smeur^ E. Ir. smer, W. mwparen,
Br. mouar (pi.) :
smeuraich, grope ; from meur.
smid, a syllable, opening of the mouth, a word, Ir. smid : "^smiddi-,
root smid, smeid, smile, laugh, as in smeid ^
smig, the chin, Ir. S7nig, M. Ir. smeice (O'C.) : *smeggi-, for
"^smek-gi, root smek, as in smeachan 1
smigeadh, a smile, smiling, Ir. smig, smigeadh : "^smiggi, root
S7ni, smile, for which see smeid. Also miog, q.v.
smiodan, spirit ; from Sc. smeddum.
smiolamus, refuse of a feast (M'A.) ; see smolamas.
smior, smear, marrow, Ir. smior, E. Ir. smir, g. smera, W. mer :
"^smeru- ; 0. H. G. smero, grease, Ag. S. smeoru, lard, Eng.
smear, Norse smjorr, butter.
smiot, throw in the air with one hand and strike with the other ;
formed on Eng. smite.
smiotach, crop-eared, short-chinned (B.D.), Ir. smiot, ear :
smiur, smear ; from the Sc. smear, Eng. smear. See smeur.
smod, dirt, dust, also (according to M'A.) drizzling rain ; from Sc,
smot, Eng. smut. See smad.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 331
smodal, sweepings, crumbs, fragments, smattering, M. Ir. smot, a
scrap ; cf. above word.
smog, smag, a paw ; cf. Norse smjuga, creep through a hole,
Ag. S. smugan, creep, Eng. smuggle. For smag, see also
mag.
smolamas, trash, fragments of victuals : cf. strolamas, brolamas.
smuain, a thought, Ir. smuai7ieadh, M. Ir. smuained : ^smoudn-,
root smoud, moud ; Got. gamaudjan^ remind, cause to
remember ; Ch. SI. mysli-, thought (Strachan). Cf. M. Ir.
muaidnig^ thought,
smuairean, grief, dejection : "^smoudro-, root smoud of above 1
smuais, marrow, juice of the bones, Ir. smuais, marrow, E. Ir.
smuas :
smuais, smash, Ir. smuais, in shivers, in pieces ; from Eng. smash.
smuc, a snivel, a nasal sound (smuch, M'A.); for root, see smug
(*s-muc-c).
smucan, smoke, drizzle ; from Eng. smoke.
smudan, a particle of dust ; see smod.
smudan, a small block of wood, Ir. smotan, stock, block, log :
smudan, smoke ; see smiiid.
smug, snot, spittle, smugaid, spittle, Ir. smug, smujaid : "^sinwjgo-,
root smug, mug, mucus ; Lat. emungo, wipe ihe nose. The
root mug is a by-form of muq, mucus, seen in Lat. m.ucus, etc.;
for which see muc.
smuid, smoke, Ir. srriuid, E. Ir. smuit, smutgur, smutcheo :
"^smuddi-, root smud. Cf. Eng. smut, Ger. schmutz, dirt ;
which Zim. thinks the Gadelic borrowed from, though the
meaning makes this unlikely. There are three allied roots
on European ground denoting " smoke^' — smugh (Gr. o-fxuxo),
smoulder), smiig or smaug (Eng. smoke) and smud (G. smiiid).
smuig, a snout, the face (in ridicule) : from the Eng. yiiug, ugly
face.
smuilc, glumness, dejection ; M. Ir. smuilcin, a small snout :
" snoutyness.^'
smurach, dross, peat dross, smuir, dust, a particle of dust,
smuirnean, a mote ; cf. Sc. smurach, peat dross, smore, smurr,
a drizzling rain, M. Eng. smore, dense smoke, Eng. smother
( = smorther), 0. Du. smoor. O'R. has smur from Sh., and K.
Meyer translates M. Ir. smur-chimilt as "grind to dust."
smusach, extracting the juice from (Suth.) :
smut, a bill, snout, Ir. smut, a large flat nose, snout :
snag, a little audible knock, a wood pecker (snagan-daraich), Ir.
snag, hiccup ; cf. Eng. snock, a knock, and the next word. Ir.
snag, snagardarach, snaghairdara, a wood pecker, seems from
snaidh.
332 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
snagaireachd, cutting or hacking wood with a knife ; from Dial.
Eng. snagger, a tool for S7iagging or cutting off snags, that is
branches, knots, etc., Sc. snagger-snee, a large knife, snicker-
snee, sneg, snag, cut off branches.
snag^arra, active ; from the above roots ; cf. s7iasmhor.
snaidh, hew, chip, shape, Jr. snoighim, snaidhim (O'D.) E. Ir.
snaidim, snaisi, peeled, W. naddu, hew, chip, cut, 0. Cor.
nedim, ascia (W. neddyf, neddai, adze, Br. eze, neze), M. Br.
ezeff : *snad6 ; Ger. schnat, border, schnate, a young twig,
Swiss schndtzen cut. Swab, schnatte, an incision in wood or
flesh (Bez. apud Stokes). Strachan suggests the root sknad,
Gr. KvaSctAAw, scratch, kvwSwv, tooth (see cndmh). Hence
snas, regularity.
snaig, creep ; from Sc. snaik, sneak in walking, etc., snaikin,
sneaking, Eng. sneak, snake. Cf. Ir. snaighim, I creep.
snaim, a knot, ir. siiaidhm, E. Ir. snaidm, d. snaidmaimm, naidm,
bond, nexus : "^nadesmen, root ned, bind, I. E. nedh ; Skr.
nah, tie, naddha-s, tied ; Ger. nestel, lace, 0. H. G. nestila, a
band ; Lat. nodus, for noz-dos, a knot. See nasg.
snamh, swim, Ir. sndmhaim, E. Ir. sndm (inf.), ro sno, swam, W.
nawf, natatio, noflo (vb.), M. Br. neuff, Br. neunv : *sndmu,
(n.), sndo, I swim ; Lat. no, ndre ; Gr. vaw, flow ; Skr. sndti,
bathe, float.
snaodh, head, chief ; ceann-snaodh, head chief (Carm.) :
snaois, a slice, piece ; cf. E. Ir. snaisse, cut, caesus, from snaidh.
snaoisean, snuff, Ir. snaoidn, snidn ; from Eng. sneezing in sneesivg
pouder, the old name for snuff", Sc. sneeshin, sneezm.
snaomanach, a strong, robust fellow, Ir. snaomdnach, stout, jolly
fellow, hearty : "knotty," from "^snadm- of snaim "?
snaoidh, a bier, Ir. snaoi :
snap, the trigger of a gun ; from the English snap.
snas, regularity, elegance, Ir. S7ias : " good cut," from snad of
snaidh ; E. Ir. snass, a cut.
sn^th, thread, Ir. snath, 0. Ir. sndthe, W. ysnoden, lace, fillet,
noden, thread. Corn, noden, snod, vitta, Br. neudenn : "^sndtio-,
^sndto-7i, root snd, sne, wind, spin ; Skr. sndyu, sinew, bow-
string ; Gr. evvvT^ro^, well-spun ; Ger. schnur, lace, tie. See
the allied sniomh and the next word below.
snathad, a needle, Ir, sndthad, 0. Ir. sndthat, W. nodwydd, 0. Corn.
notuid, Br. nadoz, nadoez : "^ snatantd, sndteijd, from sndt of
snath above ; cf. Eng. needle, Goth. ne}>la, 0. H. G. nddala,
Ger. nadel.
sneachd, snow, so Ir., 0. Ir. snechta, pi. snechti, nives, W. nyf:
"^sniqtaio-, "^snibi- (Welsh), I. E. snigh, sneigh ; Got. snaiws^
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 333
Eng. snoWj Ger. schnee ; Lat. nix, nivis ; Gr. vL<^a (ace),
v€Lcf)eL, it snows ; Lit. sninga (vb.), snegas, snow ; Zend. ^nizh.
sneadh, a nit, Ir. sneagh, 0. Ir. sned, W. yiec/o?, nits, Corn., nedhan,
Br. nezenn : "^sknidd ; Ag. S. hnitu, Eng. tii^, Ger. wiss ; Gr.
KovtSe?, nits.
snicean, a stitch of clothing (Arg.) :
snigh, drop, fall in drops, ooze through in drops, Ir. snidhim,
E. Ir. snigim, W. di-neu, effundere, Br. di-nou, melt, thaw,
I. E. sneigho-, wet ; Skr. snih, snehati, to be humid. Allied
to sneachd.
sniomh, spin, wind, twist, Ir. sniomhaim, M. Ir. snimaire, a spindle.
sniDi, spinning: *snemu-, root, sne, ne ; Gr. v^/xa, yarn. See
sndtk further. W. has nyddu, nere, Corn, nethe, Br. nezafi.
In the sense of "sadness," there is E. Ir. snim, distress, Br.
niff, chagrin,
snod, affix a fishing hook to the line, Manx snooid ; from Sc. s7iood,
the hair line to which the hook is attached, a fillet, Ag. S.
sn6</, fillet, Eng. snood.
snodan, rapid motion of a boat :
snodha, snodha g'aire, a smile ; see snuadh.
snodhach, sap of a tree ; root .mu, flow, Ir. snuadh, a stream, Gr.
veco, swim, Eng. snot, Norse snua, turn, Got. sniwan, go.
snoigeas, testiness ; from Sc. snog, snag, snarl, flout.
snot, smell, snuff the wind, turn up the nose in smelling ; founded
on Eng. snout.
snuadh, hue, appearance, beauty, Ir. snuadh, M. Ir. snuad ; root
snu, flow, as in E. Ir. snuad, hair, head of hair, Ir. snuadh,
stream (see snodhach).
SO, here, this, Ir. so, E. Ir., 0. Ir. sea, so : *sJo- (beside *so, as in
-sa, -se), Skr. si/d, sd, the, this, Ger. sie, she, they, 0. H. G.
siu, she ( = Skr. syd, G. si).
SO-, a prefix denoting good quality, Ir. so-, 0. Ir. so-, su-, W. Ay,
Br. he- ; Skr. sur-, good, Zend. ku-.
s6bhaidh, so'aidh, turn, prevent, 0. Ir. sdim, inf. sood, root sov,
discussed under iompaidh.
sobhrach, sobhrach, (M'L.), primrose, Ir sohhrog (Fol.), somhaicin
(O^B.), sobhrach (O'B.), E. Ir. sohrach, g. sobarche :
SOC, forepart of anything, ploughshare, snout, Ir. soc, E. Ir. socc,
W. swch (f.). Cor. soch, Br. soc^h, souch (m.) : *sucro-, snout,
pig's snout, *sukku-, a pig, W. hivch. Cor. hoch, Br. hou'ch
(Ag. S. sugu, Eng. sow, Lat. siXs, etc.). So Thurneysen [Rom.,
112), who clinches his argument by E. Ir. corr being both
"crane" and "beak." Fr. soc, ploughshare, Eng. sock are
from Celtic. Stokes suggests the possibility of Celtic being
334 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
from Med. Lat. soccus, vomer, or allied to 0. H. G. seh, vomer,
Lat. secare.
SOCair, ease, easy, Ir. socair, easy, secure, M. Ir. soccair ; opposite
is deacair, 0. Ir. deccair : *di-acair, *so-acair, from *acar,
convenience, root cor, place, as in cuir. Hence acarach.
SOChair, a benefit, emolmnent, Ir. sochar, emolument, wealth,
ease, M. Ir. sochor, good contract (Sench. Mor) ; from so- and
cor, q.v.
sochar, silliness, a yielding disposition, socharach, simple, com-
pliant, Ir. socharach, obliging, easy, W. hygar, amiable, Br.
hegar, benignus ; from so- and car, dear. The Ir. is also
from sochar, ease.
sochd, silence, Ir. sochd (O'R., Sh.), M. Ir. socht : *sop-tu-, root svop
of suain (Dr Cameron).
sod, noise of boiling water, steam of water in which meat is
boiled, boiled meat, Ir. sod, boiled meat (O'B.) ; from Norse
so^, broth or water in which meat has been boiled, Eng.
sodden, seethe, sod, Sc. setter, boil slowly, sottle, noise of
boiling porridge, etc.
sod, an awkward person, a stout person ; from Sc. sod, a heavy
person, sodick, soudie, a clumsy heavy woman,
soda^, a pillion, clout ; from Sc. sodds, a saddle made of cloth,
sodal, pride, flattery, Ir, sodal, sotal, sutal, 0. Ir. sotla, pride,
insolence, sotli, animositates ; this has been adduced as the
source of Eng. sot, Fr. sot. According to Stokes "^sput-tlo-,
W. ffothyll, pustula, Lat. pusiula, Skr. phutkar, puff (Stokes),
sodan, caressing, joy, joyous reception :
sodar, trotting, a trotting horse (Sh., Lh., etc.), Ir. sodar, trotting :
SOg, sogan, mirth, good humour, tipsiness ; from *sugg, a short
form of the root of sugradh.
SOgh, luxury, riot, Ir. sogh, M. Ir. sodh, E. Ir. suaig, prosperous :
*su-ag-, root ag of aghaidh, agh.
soidealta, bashf td, ignorant ; see saidealta.
soidean, a jolly-looking or stout person ; see sod.
soighne, soighneas, pleasure, delight, Ir. soighneas : so-gne-,
root gen.
soileas, officiousness„ flattery, Ir. soilios ; from Lat. sollicitus ?
soilgheas, wind, a fair wind :
soilleir, clear, visible, Ir. soilleir : from so- and I'eir. The II is
due to the analogy of soillse.
soillse, brightness, so Ir., 0. Ir. soillse, soilse : *svelnestio- ; see
solus for connections.
soimeach, prosperous, easy, easy circumstanced, good-natured,
seems to combine 0. Ir. somme, dives, and 0. Ir. soinmech,
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 335
lucky, good, Ir. soinmhench, fortunate, happy. The former
Stokes derives from so-imbi-s, for which see iomadh ; the
latter is so-nem-ech, root nem, under neamh. M. Ir.
somenmnach, good-spirited, is from meanmna.
soin, esteem (n.), soineil, handsome ; cf. sdnraich for the root.
soinionn, soineann, fair weather, Ir. soinean, M. Ir. soinend, E.
Ir. sonend ; the opposite of soinionn is doinionn, for su-sin-
enn, du-sm-enn, from sin now sian, weather, rain (Stokes).
SOir, the east, Ir. soir, E. Ir. sair ; from .s- (see suas) and air
(^ = *are), on, q.v.
soir, sack, vessel, bottle ; cf. searrag.
soirbh, easy, gentle, soirbheas, success, wind, flatulence (Arg.),
Ir. soirbh, 0. Ir. soirb, facilis, opposed to doirb, difficilis, root
reb or rib, manare (Ascoli). But compare Gaelic reabh.
sois, snug, fond of ease (M'A.) ; from Sc. sosh, snug, social.
soise, a ball of fire in the sky, a portent (M'A.) :
SOisgeul, gospel, Ir. soisgeal, soisgeul, 0. Ir. soscele ; from so- and
sgeul.
soisinn, taste, decency, rest, stillness ; from Sc. sonsp ?
soitheach, a vessel, Ir. soitheach, M. Ir. soith^ch, saithech : *satiko- :
soitheamh, tame, docile, gentle : "^so-seimh, from seimh i So
Munro, who writes soisheamh,
sol, ere, before, Ir., E. Ir. sul ; root svel of seal.
solach, highly delighted (M'A.; sollach, jolly, Arms.); founded
on solas. Arm.^s word seems from Eng. jollf/.
solar, a provision, purveying, preparing, Ir. soldthar ; from so-
and lathair.
solas, joy, comfort, solace, Ir. solas ; from Lat. so/a^mm, Eng. solace.
sollain, a welcome, rejoicing, Ir. sollamhuin, a solemnity, feast,
rejoicing, E. fr. sollamain ; from Lat. sollennne, Eng. solemnity.
solus, light, Ir., M. Ir. solus, E. Ir. solus, bright : "^svlnestu-, root
svel ; Ag. S. svelan, glow, Eng. sultry ; Gr. o-eAas, light,
<T€X7]vr), moon, eXdvT], torch ; Skr. svar, sheen, sun.
SOmalta, bulky, large, placid ; from M. Ir. soma, abundance, with
adj. terminations -ail and ta. See soimeach further.
somh, convert, upset (Carm.) ; cf. Ir. sdm.
son, sake, cause, air son, on account of, Ir. son, ar son, M. Ir. son,
er son ; from E. Ir. son, word (root sven of seinn) 1
SOna, happy, Ir., E. Ir. sona, opposite of dona : *so-gnd-vo-s, " well-
doing" ; root gna of gniomh.
SOnn, a stout man, hero ; from sonn, club, staff, M. Ir. suinn catha,
captains, " staves of battle." Cf. N. stafn-buar, the stem
men, or picked marines on the forecastle. Cf. Tdillear dubh
na tuaighe was " ursainn chatha nan Camshronach." See sonn.
36 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
sonn, a staff, cudgel, beam, Ir., E. Ir. sonn, W. j^on, 0. W. fonn :
*spondo-, Gr. orcfievSovri, a sling, cr^eSavo?, vehement ; Skr.
spand, draw, move ; Lat. pendo, hang (Rhys). Stokes gives
the stem ^spundo, allied to Norse spj(it, a lance, 0. H. G.
spioz, spit, spear. Of. M. Lat. sponda, trabecula, repagulum.
sonraich, appoint, ordain, Ir. sonraighim, sonrach. special, E. Ir.
sunnraid, 0. Ir. sainriud, especially, sainred, proprietas, sain,
singularis, proprius, 0. W. han, alium : "^sani-, especially ;
Got. sundro, privately, Eng. sunder ; Lat. sine, without ; Skr.
sanutdr, without.
sop, a wisp, Ir. sop, E. Ir. sopp, W. sob, sopen ; from Eng. sop,
Norse soppa. Zimmer takes the Ir. from Norse svoppr,
sponge, ball ; Stokes derives it from Norse sopr, besom. The
W. sob, sopen favours an Eng. source.
s6r, hesitate, grudge, shun :
soraidh, a farewell, blessing, Ir. soraidh, happy, successful, M. Ir.
soraid, E. Ir. soreid ; from so- and reidh.
t sorcha, light, bright, Ir., E. Ir. sorcha ; opposite of dorch, q v.
sorchan, rest or support, foot-stool, light stand, peer-man ; from
sorcha.
sorn, a flue, vent, Ir. s6rn, E. Ir. sornn, W. ffwrn. Corn, forn ; from
Lat. furnus, oven, whence Eng. furnace.
SOS, a coarse mess or mixture ; from Sc. soss.
spad, kill, fell, Ir. spaidim, benumb, spaid, spad, a clod (cf. spairt),
a sluggard, eunuch ; cf. W. ysbaddu, exhaust, geld, from Lat.
spado, eunuch. Hence spadanta, benumbed.
spad-, flat, Ir. spad- ; from "^spad of spaid, spade 1
spadag, a quarter or limb of an animal cut off; from L. Lat.
spatula, a shoulder blade, spatula porcina, leg of pork, also
spadula, a shoulder, spadlaris, a quarter of a beast. Cf. W.
yspaud,, shoulder.
spadair, fop, braggart ; cf. Norse spjdtra, behave as a fop. See
spaideil.
spadal, a paddle, plough-staff, so Ir. ; from M. Eng. spaddle,
paddle, dim. of spade.
spadhadh, a strong and quick pull, the utmost extent of the out-
stretched arms, the grass cut by one scythe-stroke, spadh, .a
scythe's stroke (Bad.) ; from Lat. spatium. Meyer objects.
If Stokes' theory were right spadh could be from root spa,
pull, span. Cf. Eng. swath.
spag, a claw or paw, limb of an animal, club-foot, sp^gach, club-
footed or awkward in the legs, Ir. spdg, claw, club-foot,
clumsy leg, W. ysbach, a claw ; spciga-da-ghlid, a buffoon,
tomfool (Wh.) :
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 337
spagach, uttering words indistinctly, spag^adh, obliquity of the
mouth, spaig", a wry mouth :
spagluinn, ostentation, conceit :
spaid, a spade, Ir. spdd ; from the Eng.
Spaideil, foppish, well-dressed : " strutting," from Lat. spatior, as
in spaisdear below 1 Cf., however, spadair.
spailp, pride, conceit, spailpean, fop, Tr. spailp^ spailpin, rascal,
mean fellow, " spalpeen " :
sp^in, a spoon, Manx spain ; from Norse spdnn, sponn, spoon,
chip, M. Eng. spon^ Ag. S. spon, chip. Ir. spundg, spoon, is
from the Eng.
spairn, an effort, straggle, Ir. spdirn, sbdirn, wrestling, struggling ;
from the Norse sporna, kick with the feet, struggle, sperna,
kick, spurn, Eng. spurn. Hennessey derived it from Eng.
sparring (Atkenceum, 15/8/71).
spairiseach, foppish, spairis, having the hands in the trousers'
pockets (M'A.) ; founded on Sc. spare, opening of the fore
part of the breeches.
spairt, a turf, clod, a splash, Ir. spairt ; verb spairt, daub, plaster,
splash, brain, Ir. spairtim : cf. N. spard'a, pole-axe, whence
M. Eng. spert or spart.
spaisdear, spaidsear, a saunterer, spaisdeireachd, sauntering, Ir.
spaisdeoireachd, promenading, walking ; Norse spdzera, walk,
Dan. spadsere, Ger. spazieren, from Ital. (i3th Cent.), spaziare:
all from Lat. spatior, walk, promenade.
spal, a shuttle, Ir. spot ; from Norse spdla, a weaver's shuttle, M.
Eng. spole, now spool, Ger. spule, bobbin, spool. Hence
spdlag, pea pod.
spang, thin plate of metal, spangle ; from Norse spong, g. spangar,
a spangle, M. Eng. spang, now spangle, Ag. S. spange, a clasp,
Ger. spange, buckle.
spann, sever, divide, wean (a child) ; from Sc. spain, spane, wean,
prevent, confused with M. Eng. spannen, stretch, span.
spann, a hinge, hasp ; from the Eng. spang, a spangle, Ag. S.
spang, a hasp ; or Ag. S. spannan, to clasp, Norse spenna,
spennir, grasper, Sc. spenn, to button.
spaoill, speill, wrap, swathe : '''svil, *sveil, as in till, etc.
spardan, a roost, from spdrr.
sparr, a joist, beam, roost, Ir. sparra, wedge, spear, E. Ir. sparr,
a beam, joist , from Norse sparri, a spar, Swed., Dan. sparr e,
0. H. G. sparro, bar, balk, Ger. sperreri, a spar, Eng. spar.
Hence G. sparr, drive as a nail or wedge, thrust, Ir. sparraim ;
G. sparrag", a bridle bit, " little bar."
spathalt, a limb, a clumsy limb ; cf. spoil.
41
338 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
sparsan, the dew-lap of a beast, Ir. sparsan (Lh., O'B.) ; see
spursan.
speach, a wasp, connspeach, for conas-beach, " wrangling or dog
bee," from beach, heel The Ir. for "wasp" is eircbheach.
connspeach is referred by Stokes (Di.ct. 302) to ^spekd, Gr.
(T<j>i]^ ; for phonetics cf. padhadh, piuthar, also speir and
speal.
Speach, a blow, thrust, stitch in the side, Ir. speach, a kick :
speach, door step (Carm.).
spead, a very small foot or leg (M'A.), speadach, sheepshanked
(M'A.), kicking (Badenoch, where spead means a cow's or
sheep's kick) ; cf. M. Ir. spedudhud, a musical instrument (^),
Kuno Meyer's " King and Hermit." Root sped-do-, spend-.
speal, a scythe, Ir. speal, scythe, reaping hook, M. Ir. spel :
"^speld, Gr. xpaXk, shears, root spal, clip, pull, further Eng.
psalm (so Stokes).
speal^, a splinter ; from Sc. spelk, a splint attached to a fracture,
M. E. spelke, a splinter, Norse spjalk, spelkur, splint, Du.
spalk.
spealt, a splinter ; from Teutonic — M. Eng. spelde, now a spill,
M. H. G. spelte, a splinter, Ger. spalten.
spearrach, a cow-fetter, a fetter for wild goats ; see speireach.
speic, a spike, Ir. speice ; from Norse spik, a spike, Eng. spike,
Ger. speiche. W. has ysbig.
speil, cattle, herd, Ir. speil, herd of cattle or swine ; ^speli-, allied
to Lat. spolium (Stokes).
sp^il, slide, skate ; from Sc. speil, play, bonspel, curling game,
Ger. spielen, play,
speir, hoof or ham of cattle, claw, talon, ankle and thereabouts of
the human leg, Ir. speirr, hough, ham : *s-peri- ; compare W.
ffer, ankle, ber, leg, shank : Cor. fer, crus, E. Ir. seir, heel,
di pherid : "^speret-, Gr. acfivpov, ankle, heel ; root sper, Eng.
sp2ir, spurn, Lat. sperno, etc.
speireach, spearrach, cow-fetter, foot fetter ; from speir and
*rich, tie, for which last see buarach.
sp^iread, strength, force, courage ; founded on Lat. sptritus.
speireag, sparrow-hawk ; from M. Eng. sper-hauk, Ag. S. spear-
hafoc, Norse sparrhaukr, from sparrow and haivk.
speis, esteem, liking, Ir. speis, M. Ir. sbeis ; seemingly from M. Ir.
sbesa.ilie, special, from Lat. species, look (cf. Eng. respect).
speuc, spiac, diverge, divaricate, tear asunder, branch ; from Sc.
spaik, a spoke (in a wheel), Eng. spoke, Ag. S. spdca.
speuclair, spectacles, Ir, speucldir, a glass, spectacles ; from the
Latin,
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 339
speur, the heaven, firmament, Ir. speur, speir ; from the L. Lat.
spera, a hemisphere, circle (of each planet), celestial region,
Lat. sphaera, a sphere (whence the Eng.), from Gr. a-cfiaLpa,
globe. Cf. Sc. spere, sphere, circle, " the speir of the moon."
spid, spite, Ir. spid ; from the Eng. Hence, spideig or spideag,
a taunt.
spid, speed, haste ; from Eng. speed.
spideag, nightingale (spideag, M.F.), Ir. spideog, robin:
spideag^, a delicate or slender creature (Arms, spideag) ; from Sc.
spitj a little, hot-tempered person, spitten, a puny, mis-
chievous person, Eng. spit.
spideal, a spital, hospital, Ir, spideul, M. Ir. spidel ; from M. Eng.
spitel, from O. Fr. ospital, from Lat. hospitale.
spidean, pinnacle ; " spidean an teampuill " :
spiligean, a seedling, dwarfish person :
spioc, meanness, dastardliness, spiocach, mean :
spiocaid, a spigot, Ir. spiocaid (O'K.) ; from Eng. sources —
M. Eng. spigot, Eng. spike.
spiochan, wheezing, Ir. spiochan ; see piochan.
spiol, nibble, peel, pluck, Ir. spiolaim, spialaim, snatch, pluck.
See piol.
spiolg", mihusk, shell ; from the Sc. spilkj pilk, shell pease, etc.,
spilkinSj split pease. Cf. spealg.
spion, pluck up, pull, tear, Ir. spionaim, teaze, probe, pluck,
examine ; cf. M. Ir. spin, a thorn, from Lat. spina, thorn,
spionnadh, strength, Ir. spionnadh, spionnamhail, strong (Keat.) :
"^sphen or '^sven ; see faod.
spiontag, a currant, a particle in the throat, a maggot, a drop of
rain or flake of snow, Ir. spiond7i, a gooseberry, M. Ir. spinan ;
from Lat. spina.
spiorad, a spirit, so Ir., 0. Ir. spiurt, spirut ; from Lat. spiritus,
Eng, spirit. W. has yshryd, Corn, speris, Br. speret.
spiosradh, spice, Ir. spiosra ; from Eng. spicery, 0. Fr. espicerie,
spices, from Lat. species.
spiris, a hen-roost, hammock ; from Norse sperra, a spar, rafter,
with a leaning on G. iris, roost.
spisniche, pillar, support (Carm.) :
spitheag, a chip, spelk, small bit of wood, bite, Ir. spiothdg, a
finger stone for throwing at an object (Con,, Sh.), spitheog, a
flake of snow ; a borrowed word belonging to the Eng. group
spike, spigot, but likely taken from Norse spik, sprig, spike.
splang, a sparkle, flash, Ir. splanc :
splangaid, a snot, mucus, Ir. spleangaid (O'H.) ; a side-form of
sg long aid %
340 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
spleadh, a splay foot ; from Eng. splay.
spleadh, ostentation, romance, false flattery, Ir. spleadh ; from
M. Eng. spleien, display, from displeien, now display.
spleadhan, a sort of wooden paddle to dig up sand eels ; see
pleadhag.
spleuchd, spliachd, stare, squint, spread out by trampling :
spliuc, fluke of an anchor (M'A.) ; founded on YiUg.fluhe.
spliuchan, spliucan, tobacco pouch, Ir. spliuchdn, a pouch, bag,
leather purse ; hence Sc. spleuchan. Cf. W. bhvch, a box.
spliug, a snot, icicle, anything hanging down : ^s-cluig ? Cf.
cluigein.
spliugach, splay-footed :
spliuig*, a discontented countenance :
spliut, a lame hand or foot, splay foot ; see pliut.
spoc, a spoke ; from the Eng.
spoch, address one quickly and angrily, intimidate, aff'ront, attack,
Ir. spochaim, provoke, aff'ront, rob ; cf. spoth.
spog", spag-, a claw, paw, Manx spaag, Ir. spdg, W. ysbach :
spoil, a quarter (as of a sheep, M'A.), spold, a piece or joint of
meat, Ir. spodkla, spolla, a piece of meat ; from Sc. spaul,
limb, spald, shoulder, from old Fr. espaule, espalle, L. Lat.
spatula, shoulder, whence Eng. epaulet. Ir. spolla is also
hence. Cf. spadag, spathalt.
spolladach, sottish :
spolt, mangle, slaughter, hew down in battle, also (Dial. Badenoch)
splutter ; from the English. Cf. M. Eng. splatten, cut open,
Sc. sploit, squirt, spout, spoltadh, drops flying out of a vessel
when boiling or stirred carelessly.
spong, sponge, tinder, Ir. sponc, E. Ir. sponge, W. yshwng, sponge,
Corn, spong, Br. spone, sponenk ; from Lat. spongia, sponge,
from Gr. (nroyyia, allied to Lat. fungus.
spor, a spur, claw, talon, Ir. spor, M. Ir. sbor, a spur for a horse ;
from Norse spori, a spur, spot, foot trace, Dan. spore, Swed.
sporre, Eng. spur, Ag. S. spora ; root sper of speir, etc.
Hence sporadh, inciting, scraping the earth (as a hen), Sc.
spur.
spor, tinder, flint, gun-flint ; from Eng. spar.
sporan, a purse, Ir. spardn, spordn, sbarrdn, M. Ir. sboran, W.
ysbur : *s-burr- from *burs, from L. Lat. bursa, a purse,
whence Eng. purse, bursary, ; originally from Gr. /Svpcrrj, a
hide.
sporracan, crumbs (M'F.) :
spors, sport, Ir. sport (Fol.) ; from the Eng.
spot, a spot ; from the Eng.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 341
spoth, geld, castrate, Ir. spothaim, M. Ir. spochad (n.), W. dyshaddu,
Br. spaza ; from Lat. spado, eunuch, whence Eng. spay. The
M. Ir. spochad is thought by Stokes to be from Br. spacliein
(inf.).
spracadh, strength, sprightliness, Ir. spracadh ; from Eng. sprack.,
lively, Norse spraehr, lively, Swed. speaker ; from Norse also
comes Eng. spark — Norse sparkr.
Spraic, a severe reprimand ; see spreig.
spraidh, a loud blast, report of a gun ; of. Sc. spraich, a cry,
Norse spraki, a report.
Spreadh, burst, sound loudly while bursting, kill, Ir. spreidhim,
spread, burst {spreiyhim, O'B.), E. Ir. spredaire, brush for
sprinkling the holy water; from M. Eng. spraeden, now spread.
spreang'an, a cloven stick for closing the wound of bled cattle ;
from Eng. springe., twig, rod, snare with flexible rod.
spreidh, cattle, Ir. spre{idli), M. Ir. spre, spreid, W. praidd, flock,
booty ; from Lat. praeda, booty. Hence Sc. spreith, booty,
spreig, blame, reprove, incite, Ii'. spreagaim ; founded on M. Eng.
spraechen., now speak, Ger. sprechen.
spreig'h, scatter, burst ; see spreadh.
Spreill, blubber lip : *s-hreill, from hreall ?
spreisneach, the remains of a wreck :
spreochan, weakness, weak person ; for '^s-hrebch-, being the same
in root as breoclaid ?
spreod, spreod (H.S.D.), a projecting beam, crann spreoid, a bow-
sprit ; from M. Eng. spreot, a sprit, now sprit ; Ag. S. spreot,
M. Du. spriet. Hence spreod, incite.
sprochd, dejection, sadness, Ir. sprochd : *s-broc, M. Ir. broc,
sorrow, anxiety (also shrog). Cf. murcach for root ; or hron ?
sprogan, sprog^aill, dewlap, bird's crop, Ir. sprogaille, shrogaill,
also sgrohan, sgrogul, neck : *s-hroggo-. See hraghad.
spronnan, a crumb ; from proitn.
sprot, single stick (Lewis) : N. sproti, stick.
spruan, brushwood, firewood, Ir. sprudn : "^s-bruan, from bruan.
M'A. has sprudhan, fragments.
sprudan, fingers, sprouts ; from the Eng. sprout.
spruileach, spruidhleach, crumbs, fragments, Ir. spruiUe{ach),
crumb, fragment, spiudhaille (Lh.), M. Ir. shruileach. Cf.
spruan. M. Ir. has also spuirech, fragmentum, W. ysbwrial,
sweepings, ysborion, refuse of fodder.
spruiseil, spruce, neat, Ir. spruiseamhuil ; from the Eng. spiuce.
spruithean, claw (as of eagle) :
spuaic, crown of the head, a pinnacle, callosity, blister, Ir. spuaic,
a welt, callus, pinnacle :
342 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
spuidsear, baling ladle (N.H.) : cf. Eng. spudge.
spuill, spoil, plunder ; from Sc. spulye, lay waste, plunder, Eng.
spoils Fr. spolier, Lat. spoliare. W. has ysbail, a spoil,
spilinn, spoil, plunder, Ir. spuini7n ; another form of spuill,
borrowed directly from Lat. spoliare ?
spuirse, spurge, milkweed, Ir. spuirse ; from the Eng. spurge^
M. Eng. sporge.
spull, nail of a cat, a clutch, spullach, nailed, greedy (M'A.) :
spursan, a gizzard, Ir. spursdn ; cf. sparsan, dewlap,
sput, a spout ; from the Sc. spool, Eng. spout.
srabh, a straw ; from the Eng. :
srabh, falling water (Carm.) :
srabhard, strife (Suth. R.D.) :
srac, tear, rend, rob, Ir. sracaim ; G. has also racadh : *srakho-,
for rap-ko-, root rap of Lat. rapio ?
srad, a spark of fire, Ir. srad : *sraddd, from strad or str-d, root
ster, as in Eng. star, Gr. acrnqp. M. Ir. has srab-tine, light-
ning, from the same root.
sraid, a street, Ir. srdid, E. Ir. srdit \ from Lat, strata (via),
whence Eng. street. K. Meyer derives it from Norse straeti,
which itself comes from Lat.
sraidean, the plant shepherd's purse, Ir. sraidin {srdidin, (O'B.) ;
cf. srad.
sraigh, the cartilage of the nose, sneeze (M'A.) ; cf. root of srbn.
sramh, a jet of milk from the cow's udder, Ir. sramh (srdmh, O'R.) ;
root ster, str, strew.
srann, a snore, buzz, Ir. srann, E. Ir. srand, 0. Ir. srennim, sterto :
*stre-s-no-, root ster, pster of Lat. sterto, snore, sternno, sneeze
(see sreothart further). Stokes makes the Gadelic to be
*strenv6, like Lat. sternuo.
sraon, stumble, make a false step, rush forward violently ; cf. Ir.
sraoinim, defeat, overthrow, scatter, M. Ir. srdined, dragging
down, defeat, E. Ir. sroenim, hurl, drag, defeat : ^sroino-,
root ster, strew, scatter (Eng. strew, etc.).
sraonais, a huff, snuffiness ; M'A. has sroin, a huff : from srbn,
nosel
srath, a valley, strath, Ir., M. Ir. srath, meadow land or holm
along banks of a river or loch, often swampy (Joyce), 0. Ir.
israth, in gramine, W. ystrad, strath, E. W. strat, istrat,
planities : *stratu-, root ster, spread, scatter ; Lat. stratus,
from sterna, I strew ; Gr. ctt/owtos, spread, oTopkvwixi, scatter ;
Eng. strew, strand (J).
srathair, a pack-saddle, Ir., 0. Ir. srathar, W. ystrodyr ; from
Med. Lat. stratura, from stratum, sterno, spread.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 343
sream, rheum (M'A.), a wrinkle, sreamach, blear-eyed, Ir. srdm^
eye rheum, srdmach^ blear-eyed, sremach (F. M.). Stokes
derives this from Ag. S. stream, Eng. stream.
sreamadh, curbing or checking by the nose :
sreang, a string, Ir. S7'ang, sreang, E. Ir. sreng : *srengo-, strengo-,
Gadelic root streg ; immediately allied either to Eng. string,
Norse strengr, Ger. Strang (I. E. stregh, Gr. a-rpccjio), turn), or
to Lat. stringo, bind, draw, Ger. strick, string (I. E. streg).
The I. E. roots streg and stregh are allied ultimately, sraing,
lie, embroidery (Hend.).
sreath, a row, series, Ir. sreath, 0. Ir. sreth : *srito-, "^sr-to-, root
ser, order, join ; Lat. series, row, sors, lot.
sreathan, filmy skin covering unborn calf (H.S.D., etc.). When
dried, it was used for covering vessels :
sreothart, a sneeze, Ir. sraoth, sraothfurtach, earlier sreod, W.
trew, ystreiv, a sneeze, ystrewi (vb.), Br. strefia, strevia (vb.),
root streu, pstreu (Stokes), further ster, pster, Lat. sternuo,
sneeze, Gr. Trrapwixat (do.).
srian, a bridle, Ir. srian, E. Ir. srian, W. ffrwyn ; from Lat.
frenum (through W.).
srideag, a drop, spark, srideach, white streaked with dark :
*sriddi, root srd of srad.
sringlean, the strangles ; founded on the English.
sruit, a torrent of quick words ; founded on smth.
srobadh, a push (Sh.), small quantity of liquor (A. M'D.) ; see
sruab.
sroghall, a whip, so Ir., E. Ir. sraigell, 0. Ir. srogill (gen.), W.
ffrowyll ; from Lat. flagellum.
srol, a streamer, banner, silk, Ir. srol, satin, byssus ; from Lat.
stragulus, coverlet, pall, whence Cor. strait, tapestry, W.
ystraill, a mat. Stokes (Lismore) has suggested a form
"^frol, *Ji6r, Fr. velours, velvet, Br. jtour, velveted.
sron, a nose, Ir., 0. Ir. srdn, W. ffroen, Br. froan : ^srognd ;
*sroknd (Stokes, Gr. /oeyx^j snore, snort, peyKw), "^sprognd
(Strachan), to which Lat. spargo has been compared, W. has
also trwyn {^trugno- or trogni-). Cor. trein.
sruab, drink up with noise of the lips, pull hastily out of the
water : *srouhbo-, root sreid) 1 Cf. srub, and Lit. sriaubiu,
sup, lap up, Ch. SI. srubati, swallow, Lat. sorbeo, Eng.
absorb.
sruan, shortbread cake having five corners (M'A. for Islay) :
srub, a spout ; from the Sc. stroup, spout, M. Eng. strupe, throat,
Norse strjupi, the spouting trunk when the head is cut off,
Swed. strupe, throat. Hence sruban, a cockle.
344 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
sruth, a stream, Ir., 0. Ir. sruth, g. srotha, W. ffrwd^ Cor. frot^
alveus, -Br. froud : *8rutu-, root sreu, flow ; Gr. pva-ts, a
flowing, pevfxa, a stream, /jew, flow ; Eng. stream, Norse
straunw ; Lit. sravju, ^ow. Some have referred the Celtic
words to the root spreut, spreii, to well, Ger. spriidel, a well,
sprilhen, emit sparks, drizzle, further Eng. spurt, spout.
sruthladh, rinsing, half-washing, Ir. sruthlaighim ; from sruth.
sta, advantage, use ; from the Eng. — founded on stay 1
stabhach, wide, asunder, straddling, Ir. stahhaighim, straddle :
stabhaic, a wry neck, a sullen attitude of the head (M'A.) ; see
stidchd. Pronounced in Arg. staoi'c, staghaic.
stabull, a stable, Ir. stahla ; from Lat. stabulum, through the
English.
stac, a precipice, steep hill, M. Ir. stacc, a stack (F.M.), stacc, a
pile, piece ; from Norse stakkr, a stack (of hay), stakka, a
stump, Swed. stack, a stack, Sc. (Shetland, etc.) stack, a
columnar isolated rock, Eng. stack.
stad, a stop, Ir. stad, E. Ir. stad (Cormac) ; founded on Lat. status,
position, Stat, stands (Hennessey, Stokes). Cf. Norse stad'a, a
standing, a position. Ascoli compares 0. Ir. astaim, sisto
( --^ ad-sad-to-, root sed of suidhe).
stadh (better stagh), a stay, a certain rope in ship's rigging ; from
Norse stag (do.), Eng. stay, Dan., Ger. stag.
stadhadh, a larch, sadden bend :
staid, state, condition, Ir. staid, M. Ir. stait ; from Lat. statio (K.
Meyer). W. has ystdd, from Lat. status. Ir. staid may be
from the Eng. See next word.
staideil, stately, Ir. stdideamhail ; from Eng. state, stately.
staidhir, a stair, Ir. staighre, M. Ir. staigre ; from the Eng., and
Ag. S. stdeqer. The G. is possibly from Eng. stair, just as
paidhir iind /aid hir are from pair and fair (Dr Cameron).
stall, a bandage, strap :
sialic, stubbornness, stop, stump, Ir. stailc ; cf. tailce ; cf. N. stilkr,
stalk.
stailinn, steel ; from Norse stdl, steel, stdlin weapons (pi.), Ger.
stahl, Eng. steel.
staing, a peg, small pointed rock ; from Norse stong, g. stangar, a
pole, Sc. and Eng. stang.
staing, a well-built person or animal (M'A.), staingean, obstinate
boorish person, Ir. stainc, incivility ; from the above.
staipeal, a stopple, Ir. stapal (O'R.) ; from the Sc. stappil, Eng.
stopple.
staipeal, stapuU, a staple, bar ; from Eng. staple.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 345
stair, a path over a bog, stepping stones in a river. Dr Cameron
has suggested connection with Du. steiger, waterside stairs,
Eng. stair. For s-tar, from *^ar, cross (see thar) '?
stairirich, a rattling, a rumbhng noise ; also dairireach, q.v.
For s-dairirich.
stdirn, a particle, small quantity (Perth) ; from Sc. starn, particle,
grain, star, from star.
st^irn, noise (as the tread of horses), a violent push : ^s-tairn ;
see tairneanach for root. Cf. Ir. stathruim, clatter, din.
stiirneil, stairneanach (Suth.), conceited, ostentatious ; from
stdirn, noise : " creating a furore." Eng. stern ?
stairsneach, stairseach, a threshold, Ir. tairseack, E. Ir. tairsech :
" cross beam or stone " ; for root see tarsimm, transverse.
Stairt, a considerable distance, trip (M'A.) ; from Eng. start ?
Stait, a magistrate or great man, staitean, great men ; see stat.
stalan, a stallion, Ir. stail ; from the English.
stale, stiffen, stalcanta, firm, strong ; for s-talc ; see tailce. M'A.
gives stale as meaning " dash one's foot against (Islay),
thread a hook, thump, stare." In the meaning of "stalk,"
the word is from the Eng.
stalla, an overhanging rock, craggy steep, precipice, stall, a peat
bank ; from Norse stallr, any block or shelf on which another
thing is placed, pedestal, step of a mast, stall, stalli, an altar,
Eng. stall, Lit. stalas, table.
stallaehdaeh, stupidly deaf, heedless (Wh.) :
stalladh, dashing against, thumping (M'A.) :
stamag, a stomach ; from the Eng.
stamh, sea tangle, staf (Lewis), N. stafr, staff.
stamhnaieh, reduce to order, subject, break in, drub (M'A.),
stannadh, subject (Heb.) ; from N. stafr, a stick, stafa fyir,
rule, fyrir stafni, aim at, stafn, stem 1
stamp, stamp, trample, Ir. stampdil, a stamping, prancing ; from
Eng. stamp.
t stan, tin, Ir. stdn, W. ystaen. Cor., Br. stean ; from Lat. stannum,
tin (for ^stagnnm ; cf. Ital. stagno). See staoin.
st^n, a st^n, below, down ; Sutherland form of a bhan, on analogy
of a' s ^fhoghar, a' s ^samhradh, etc. :
Stang, a ditch, pool ; from Sc. stank, 0. Fr. estang, now etang,
from Lat. stagnum.
stang, sting, from Sc. stang, sting (as a bee), a sting, Norse
stanga, prick, goad ; further Eng. sting.
Stangarra, the fish stickleback ; from stang, sting.
42
346 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
stanna, a vat, tub, Ir. stanna, vat, barrel ; from Eng. tun, ton,
M. Eng. to7ine. See tunna.
stannart, a standard, yard, limit ; from the Eng. It also means
" affected coyness."
staoi^, a collop, steak, Ir. staoig, M. Ir. stdic ; from Norse steik,
Eng. steak (Stokes, K. Meyer),
staoin, pewter, tin ; see stan.
staoin, juniper, caoran staoin :
staoin, laziness :
staon, bent, awry, shallow (Hend.), Ir. staon :
staorum, bending of the body to a side ; for staon-um.
stapag*, a mixture of meal and cold water ; from Sc. stappack (do.),
stap, mix, hash, Norse stappa, bray in a mortar,
staplaich, loud noise, noise of the sea :
stapull, a bar, bolt, staple ; see staipeal.
starach, cunning, deceitful (Suth.) :
starachd, romping, blustering (M'A.) :
starbhanach, a strong, robust fellow :
starcach, firm ; from Norse starkr, strong, Eng., Ger. sta7''k.
Starr, shove, dash, starradh, pushing violently, dashing against,
a failing or freak, cnap-starradh, a stumbling-block, obstruc-
tion, a ball on the end of a spear ; cf. starr-{shuileach).
starr-f hiacail, a tusk or gag-tooth, Ir. stairfhiacail ; from starr
and fiacail.
starr-shuileach, having the eyes distorted, stard, a moon-eye
(M'A.) ; cf. Norse starhlindr, blind with a cataract, 0. H. G.
starahlind, Ger. starr, stiff, Eng. stare, " fixed " look, Sc. stare,
stiff, Starr, sedge, star, a speck on the eye.
st^t, pride, haughtiness, Ir. stdtamhuil, stately ; from the Eng.
state, M. Eng. stdt, from Lat. status. Cf. stdideil, stdta.
st^ta, the state or Government ; from the Eng.
steach, a steach, (to) within, into, Ir. steach, a steach, M. Ir. is
tech, E. Ir. isa tech: "^in-san-tech, "into the house;" from
teach. Cf. stigh.
steadhainn, firm, pointed or punctual in speech (M'A.) ; cf. Eng.
steady.
steafag, a little staff or stick, Ir. steafog ; from Eng. staff.
steairn, a blazing fire (Perth), " a drop in the e'e " :
steall, spout, cause to spout, pour out, Ir. steallaim, squirt,
sprinkle, steallaire, a tap ; from Lat. stillo, I drop, Eng. distill.
St ear, a pole to kill birds with (Carm.) :
stearnal, a bittern, sea-bird, an inn-keeper's sign :
st^idh, foundation ; from Norse staed'i, staeS'a, establish, Ork.
steeth, foundation, steethe, to found.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 347
steill, a peg or pin for things hung ; cf. Sc. steli, a prop,
steilleach (steilleach, M'F.), lusty, stout, ruddy ; cf. steidheil,
steady, solid, from steidh.
steinle, the itch, mange, Ir. steinle (Lh., etc.); from teine, fire*?
steoc, any person or thing standing (or sticking) upward, an
attendant (steocair also) ; from Sc. stog, stug, stook, stubble,
stumpy horns, stok, Eng. stick.
Stedrn, guide, direct, manage ; from Norse stjorna (do.), stjorn,
steering, rule, Eng. stern, steer. See stiuir.
steud, a horse, steed, Ir. stead (O'R.), M. Ir. sted ; from Ag. S.
steda,, Ag. S. steda, M. Eng. stede, now steed.
stiall, a strip, stripe, streak, Ir. stiall, E. Ir. stiall, girdle, strap,
board ; cf . W. astell, M. W. ystyll, shingle, plank, Corn, stil^
rafter, 0. Fr. esteil, pole, Lat. astella, splinter, or from
0. H. G. stihhil, pole, post.
Stic, a fault, blemish, pain ; from Sc. sticl-, a bungle or botch,
Eng. stick, stitch (older sticke).
stic, adhere, stick ; from the Eng.
stic, ghostly person, "imp" (Carm.) ; N. stygr, shy.
stid, peep, Manx steetagh, to peep ; see did.
stidean (stidean, H.S.D.), a cat, the word by which a cat is called
to one (also stididh and tididh, from Sc. cheet, ckeety, puss,
cat, Eng. chit, cub, youngster ; from cat, like kitten).
stig, a skulking or abject look or attitude ; from Norse stygr,
shy.
stigh, a stig'h, inside, Ir. ^stigh, astigh, E. Ir. isfig, istaig, isintig ;
for "^in-san-tig, "in the house," from tig/i, house.
stinleag, the hinge of a box, hasp :
stiobull, a steeple ; from the Eng.
stiocach, limping: "sticking'"? From the Eng. anyway.
stiog, a stripe in cloth (M'A.) ; from Sc. steik, Eng. stitch,
stiom, stim, a head-band, snood :
stiorap, a stirrup, Ir. stioroip ; from M. Eng. stirop, Ag. S. stigrdp.
stiorc, stretch (at death, Arg.) ; from Eng. stark ?
stiorlag", a thin, worn-out rag, an emaciated woman, stiorlan, a
thin person ; stiorlach, thin gruel (M'D.) ; stirlean, thin
gruel or watery stuff (Bad.) :
stiornach, sturgeon (M'A.), stirean ; from Lat. sturio(n), whence,
through Fr., Eng. sturgeon.
stipean, a stipend ; from the Eng.
stiubhard, a steward, Ir. stiobhard ; from the Eng.
stitlir, steer, gu.ide, Ir. sdiuirim, M. Ir. stiurad or stiurad ; from
Ag. S. steoran, steer, now steer, Norse styra. Got. stiurjan.
stiup, a long tail or train, a foolish person. In the latter sense,
the G. is from Sc. stupe, from Lat. stupidus.
348 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
stiuireag, gruel ; from the Sc. stooram, stooradrink, stourreeUj
sturoch, a warm drink, meal and water mixed, from stoor, to
stir, agitate.
stob, thrust, stab, fix (as a stake), stob, a stake, stick, stob (So.),
Ir. stobaim, stab, thrust ; from Sc. stob, a side-form of Eng.
stab. Cf, Norse stobbi, a stump, Eng. stub, M. Eng. stob.
stobh, a stove ; from the Eng.
stoc, a stock, pillar, stump, Ir. stoc ; from Eng. stock,
8t0C, a trumpet, so Jr., M. Ir. stocc, E. Ir. stoc ', cf. Sc. stock-home,
stock-and-horn, a pipe formed of a sheep's thigh-bone inserted
into the smaller end of a cut horn, with an oaten reed, from
Eng. stock. Gadelic is borrowed.
stocain, a stocking, Ir. stoca ; from the Eng.
stoim, a particle, whit, faintest glimpse of anything (Dial.) ; from
Sc. stymie.
stoirm, a storm, Ir. stoirm ; from Eng., M. Eng. storm, Norse
stormr, Ger. sturm.
stoite, prominent ; cf. stat for origin,
stol, a stool, settle, Ir. stol, W. ystol ; from Ag. S. stol, now stool,
Norse stoll, Ger. stiihl. Hence vb. stol, settle.
stop, a wooden vessel for liquor, a stoup, Ir. stopa, a " stoup " or
wooden pail ; from Sc. stoup, M. Eng. stope, now stoup, Du.
stoop, a gallon, Norse staup, a stoup.
stop, stop, close up, Ir. stopaim ; from the Eng.
Stor, a steep cliff, broken teeth ; cf. stiirr, starr. Norse stor.
storas, store, wealth, Ir. stor, storus ; from M. Eng. stor.
stoth, lop off, cut corn high :
stoth, hot steam, vapour ; see toth.
strabaid, a strumpet, Ir. strabdid ; from an early form of Eng.
strumpet, that is, "^stropet, from 0. Fr. strupe, concubinage,
stupre, from Lat. stuprum.
str^C, a stroke, ship or boat plank ; from Sc. strake, Eng. stroke ;
from Sc. straik, strait-edge for measuring corn, comes G.
strac (do.). Similarly G. strac, mower's whetstone, is from
strake ; all are from the root of Eng. stroke, strike.
stracair, troublesome fellow, gossip, wanderer ; from Norse strdkr,
a vagabond, etc.
straic, pride, swelling with anger, Ir. strdic :
straighlich, ratthng, great noise, sparkles ; root sprag, sparg,
crackle, Eng. spark, sparkle, Lit. sprayeti, crackle,
straille, carpet ; from Lat. strdgulum, coverlet,
strang'air, a lazy, quarrelsome fellow, Ir. strangaire ; cf. dreangan.
streafan, film, carpet (Carm.) :
Streap, climb, strive against obstacles, Ir. dreapaim ; cf. dreimire.
Streodag, a little liquor (Skye) :
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. . 349
streud, a row, line (Suth.) ; from Eng. street.
Streup, str^apaid, strife, quarrel ; from Lat. strepitus.
stri, strife, contention ; from Norse strid', Ag. S. strid', Ger. streit.
strianach, a badger :
strioch, a streak, line, Ir. strioc ; from Eng. streak.
Striochd, yield, Ir. striocaim, striocail (inf.), fall, be humbled,
submit :
strioghach, prodigal (Rob.) :
Striopach, a prostitute, Ir. striopach ; from 0. Fr. strupe, concu-
binage, from Lat. stuprum, dishonour, violation.
Str6dh, prodigality, Ir. stro^ strogh ; seemingly (because of pre-
served st in all cases) borrowed from, rather than allied to,
M. Eng. strawen, strew, Ag. S. streoivian, Got. straujan, I. E.
st7oic, stru. Hence G. struidheas, prodigality, squandering.
stroic (stroic, Arm.), tear asunder, a long rag, strip torn off, Ir.
stroicim, strdicim, sroic, a piece : ^srakki-, from srac, confused
with strodh *?
strolamas, mess (Glenmoriston) :
stropach, wrinkled (H.S.D.) :
struidheas, prodigality ; see strddh.
struill, a baton, cudgel, Ir. sroghall^ whip, rod, 0. Ir. sraigell ;
see sroghall.
strumpaid, a strumpet ; from the Eng.
struth, ostrich, Ir. struth ; from Lat. strutkio, whence, through
0. Fr. ostruche ( = avis struthio), Eng. ostrich.
struthan, cake made on St. Michael's eve and eaten on his day
(Carm.) :
stuadh, a wave, gable, pinnacle, scroll, Ir. stuadh^ gable, pinnacle,
scroll, stuaidh-nimhe, rainbow, M. Ir. stuag-nime (do.), stuaid-
leim, leap of the waves, E. Ir. stitag, arch : ^s-tuag, from
0. Ir. tuag, bow, belonging to the same root as tiiagk, axe.
stuaic (M'A., Arm.), stuaichd (H.S.D. ), a little hill, round
promontory, Ir. stuaic : *s-tuag-c, from stuadh above. M'A.
has the meaning " wry-neck and sullen countenance, extreme
boorishness," which is usually represented by stuic. Stokes
gives the Celtic as "^stouhki-^ Br. stuchyaff^ to feather, Lit.
stugti, set on high, Eng. steep.
stuaim, modesty, Ir. stuaim, device, mien, modesty : "^s-tuamm-,
"^tous-men, root tus, teus of tosd, silence.
stuc, stuchd, a little hill jutting out from a greater, a horn, Ir.
stucdn, a small conical hill, stucach, horned ; from Teutonic
— N. stiika, wing of a building ; Sc, Eng. stook, M. Eng.
stouke, a shock of corn (12 sheaves), stooks, small horns. Low
Ger. stitke (properly a projection), a bundle, bunch. But
cf. stuaic.
350 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
stuic, stuichd, a projecting crag, an angry or threatening aspect;
from stiic above.
stuidearra, studious, steady, glum, Ir. stuideurach, stuideur, a
study.
stuig, incite, spur on dogs ; from Eng. stick.
stuird, huffiness, pride, Ir. stuirteamhlachd (Con.) ; from M. Eng.
sturte, impetuosity, sturten, impetuous, quarrelsome, Sc. sturt,
vexation, anger, a side form of start.
stuirt, vertigo, a disease in sheep caused by water in the head,
drunkenness ; from Sc. sturdy, from 0. F. estourdi, dizzy-
headed, now etourdi, giddy-headed ; from Lat. extorpidire.
From Fr. comes Eng. sturdy.
stur, dust ; from Sc. stour, M. Eng. stour, tumult.
sturr, the rugged point of a rock or hill, sturrach, rugged :
*s-tu7T, from turr = tdrr, q.v. *? Cf. N. staurr,
Stuth, stuft', metal ; founded on the Eng. stuff.
stuthaig", dress with starch, starch (vb. and n.) ; from Sc. stiffing.,
starch, Eng. stiff. Perthshire has stifinn.
suahag, a sweeping blow (Suth. R.D.) :
suacan, a pot (M'F.), earthen furnace (Arm.), a basket hung in
the chimney containing wood to dry (Dial.), anything
wrought together awkwardly, as clay (M'A.), Ir. suachga7i
(Lh.), an earthen pot ; from suath 1
suaicean, a bundle of straw or hay twisted together, a deformed
person ; see sugan.
suaicheantas, ensign, escutcheon, Ir. suaitheantas, a streamer,
standard, escutcheon, su-aichintus, ensigns, colours (K. Meyer),
0. Ir. suaichnid, clear, demonstratio, for su-aithne, " easily
known," from aithne, knowledge.
suail, small, inconsiderable (M'F.), Ir. suaill, E. Ir. suail, a trifle :
suaimhneach, genial, secure, Ir. suaimhneach, peaceful, gentle,
peaceable : "^su-menmnach 1 See meamna.
suain, sleep, Ir. suan.^ E. Ir., 0. Ir. suan., W. liun., Br. hun :
^supno-s, developing into *sofno-, ^sovno, ^souno- ; I. E. root
svop, svep, sleep ; Lat. sopor, sleep, somnus ; Gr. i^ttvos, sleep ;
Ag. S. swefn, dream, sivefan, sleep ; Skr. svdp7ias.
suaineadh, twisting, rope-twisting anything, a line for twisting
round anything, E. Ir., 0. Ir. suanem, g. suaneman, funis :
* sognemon-, root sug, soug, Br. sug, trace, W. syg, chain,
trace ; Romance soga, rope, Ital. soga, rope, leather band, Sp.
soga, a linear measure. Port, soga, rush rope, Churwalsch
saga. Stokes finally refers suanem to a stem-root "^sogno-
beside segno- (whence E. Ir. sen, a net for catching birds, gin,
root segh, hold, Eng. sail), Lit. segh, fasten, saga, sledge.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 351
This divorces suaineadh from G. suaicean and sugan, q.v.
Of. W. hwyuT/n, hoeni/n, a hair from a horse's tail, gin.
suaip, a faint resemblance ; from So. swaup, sivap, cast or linea-
ments of the countenance, Norse svipr, likeness, look, a swoop
or flash.
suaip, exchange, swop ; from the Sc. swap, Eng. swop.
suairc, civil, meek, so Ir., E. Ir. suarc{c) ; opposed to duairc :
"^'su-arci- :
suaiteachan, wagging (tails) (Suth.) ; from suathi
suanach, a hide, skin, fleece, coarse garment, "plough rein"
(Suth.) ; cf. Ir. sunach, a kind of plaid :
Suarach, insignificant, careless, Ir. suarach : ^svogro-, root sveg,
sug, Ger. schwach, weak, siech, sick, Eng. sick. Cf. Eng.
sour, Ger. sauer, ^'sura.
Suas, up, upwards, Ir. suas, 0. Ir. siias : ^s-uas, from uas, as in
uasal, and the prefix s-, allied to the final s of Lat. abs, ex,
Gr. e^, TT/oo?, etc., and the initial s of Lat. sub, super ; possibly
for "^ens, Gr. els, from en, and meaning "into," "to" (Rhys'
M. Fray.'^ 156).
Suath, rub, mix, knead, Ir. suathaim, knead, mix, M. Ir. suathaim
(do.), E. Ir. suata, polished down, root sout, sut, mix; cf.
Eng. seethe, Norse sjod'a, cook, seethe. Got. suaths, a burnt
offering.
subailte, supple ; from the Eng.
subh, subhag (suibhea^ or sui'eag", Dial.) a raspberry, subh,
fruit generally (Arg.), Ir. suihh, a strawberry, sugliog, rasp-
berry (Fob), 0. Ir. subi, fragae, W. syji, strawberry, Br. sivi ;
a side form to root sug as in siigh. Cf. Gr. v<fi€ap, a kind of
mistletoe.
subhach, merry, so Ir., E. Ir. subach, 0. Ir. sube, joy ; opposite of
dubhach : "^so-bv-io-, " well-being," from root bit, be (see bu,
etc.).
SUbhailc, virtue, Ir. subhailce {subhailce, Con.), 0. Ir. sualig,
virtus, sualchi (pi.) : '''su-alich (Asc, Zini.^ 54), root at of
altram (Dr Cameron).
suchd, sake, account (M'A.) :
sud (Dial, sid), yon, Ir. sud, E. Ir. sut, siut, illiid, illic, W. hwnt
{h-wnt), other, yonder, Br. hont ; from the root of so ; sud =
s-ut (Rhys). Also ud.
sudh, a seam between the planks of a ship ; from Norse sud',
a suture (only used for the clinching of a ship's boards), from
syja, sow, Eng. sew, suture.
Sllg, sugradh, mirth, Ir. sugadh, sugradh, E. Ir. sucach :
sug, suck, imbibe ; from Sc. souh, sooJc, Eng. suck, Ag. S. sucan.
See sugh.
352 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
sugan, corra-shugain, the reflection of rays of light from any
moving luminous body from the roof or wall of a house :
sugan, a rope of twisted straw, Ir. sugdn, suagan, straw or hay
rope, suag, a rope (O'R.) : ^souggo-, root soug of suaineadh,
q.v. Hence suigean, a circle of straw ropes in which grain
is kept in a barn.
sugh, juice, sap, also (as vb.) drain, suck up, Ir. sugh^ sughaim,
E. Ir. sugim : ^sugo, suck, *si2go-, juice ; Lat. sugo, suck ;
Ag. S. sucan, Eng. suck, soak. W. has sug, juice, sugno, suck.
sug, such, W. sug, from Lat. sucus (Stokes).
SUgh, a wave (A. M'D.), motion of the waves (H.S.D.) ; root sup,
swing, Lit. supti, swing, Lat. dissipo, scatter 1
Siiicean, a gag for a calf ; founded on sug, Sc. sook.
suidh, sit, suidhe, a seat, sitting, Ir. suidhim, E. Ir. suidim,
sudim, 0. Ir. suidigur, suide, a seat : ^sodeio, "^sodio-n, root
sed, sod, W. seddu, sedd, Br. azeza, sit ; Lat. sedeo ; Gr.
e^o/xat, eSos, a seat ; Eng. sit, seat \ Lit. sedeti ; Skr. sddati,
sddati, sit, set.
siiil, eye, Ir., 0. Ir. suil : ^suli-s, allied to ^sdvali-s, sun, W. haul,
held, sun, Cor. heuul, Br. heaul \ Lat. sol, sun ; Gr. y]\io%,
( = sdvelios), sun; Got. sauil, sun; Lit. sdule (do.).
suilbh, cheer, hospitality, geniality : "^su-luhi-, root luhh, please,
love, Lat. libet, Eng. love. It influences the meaning of
suilbhir, originally "eloquent."
suilbhir, cheerful, so Ir., M. Ir. suilbir, 0. Ir. sulbir, eloquence,
E. W. helabar, now hylafar, eloquence : from su- or so- and
labhair, speak : " easy-spoken."
3uim, a sum, Ir. suim, W. sum, M. Eng. summe ; from Lat. summa,
sum, chief.
suim, attention, respect, Ir. suim ; a metaphoric use of suim, sum
(Dr Cameron),
suipeir, a supper, Ir. suipeir ; from the Eng.
suire, a maid, nymph, Ir. suire (O'CL), a siren (suire, O'B., Lh.,
etc., mermaids) ; from Lat. siren, with leaning on suirghe,
courtship 1 The word is doubtful Gaelic ; H.S.D. finds only
an Ossian Ballad to quote.
suiridhe, a courting, suiridheach (better suirtheach or suireach,
MA.), a wooer, so Ir., also surighim, I woo, M. Ir. suirge,
wooing, suirgech, procus : *su-reg-, root reg, direct, etc. ?
Suist, a flail, Ir. suist(e), M. Ir. sust, suiste, W. ^ust, N. thust, sust,
flail ; from Lat. fustis, club.
Stlith, soot, Ir. suithche, M. Ir. suithe, 0. Ir. suidi, fuligine, W.
huddygl (cf. hudd, dark), Br. huzel (Fr. suie) : *sodio-, root
sed, sit, settle ; Eng. soot, Ag. S. sot, Norse sot. Doubtful.
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 353
sdlair, the gannet ; from Norse ^illa, sulan, the gannet, whence
Eng. so^a?i-goose.
sulchar, cheerful, affable ; side-form of suilhhir %
suit, fat, fatness, joy, Ir. sult^ E. Ir. suit : *sultu-, root svel ; Ag. S.
swellan, Eng. swell ; Lat. salum, sea ; Gr. a-dXos. tossing.
suma^, cloth below a pack-saddle ; ultimately from L. Lat. sauma,
pack-saddle, whence Fr. sommier, mattress, Eng. sumpter.
sumaich, give the due number (as of cattle for pasture) ; from
Sc. soum.
sumaid, a billow, Ir. sumaid (O'R. and M'L., sumaid) ; seemingly
from Eng. summit. The G. also means "external senses"
(H.S.D.).
sumain, summon, a summons ; from the Eng.
sumainn, a surge, billow ; see sumaid.
sumair, the drone of a bagpipe :
Stimhail, close-packed, tidy ; opposite of ddmhail, q.v.
sunais, lovage— a plant, Ir. sunais ; also siunas :
sunnd, sunnt, good humour, cheerfulness, Ir. sonntach, merry
(O'Cl., O'B.), sonnda, bold, sitntaidh, active, E. Ir. suntich,
spirited : *sondeto-, Eng. sound 1
sunnag, an easy-chair of twisted straw :
supail, supple (M'A.) ; from the Eng.
Stird, alacrity, cheerfulness ; cf. W. ckwardd, laughter, Corn.
wherzin, ridere ; root sver, sing, speak ; Eng. swear, Lat.
susurrus, whisper, etc. M. Ir. sord, bright {"^surdo-), is
referred by Stokes to the same origin as Lat. serenus.
SUrrag, vent of a kiln ; cf. sbrn.
surram-suain, a sound sleep ; surram, snoring noise as of one
asleep :
susbaint, substance, Ir. suhstaint ; from Lat. substantia. *
susdal, a bustling, pother, affected shyness :
suth, anything (Dial.), Ir., E. Ir. suth, weather ; root su, produce,
E. Ir. suth, milk ; Gr. vet, it rains ; as in sugh, q.v. Further
allied is root su, beget, 0. Ir. suth, offspring, Eng. sun.
suthainn, eternal, Ir. suthain, 0. Ir. suthain, suthin ; from su, so-
and tan, time, q.v. ; su-tan-is (Stokes see).
T
ta, tha, is, Ir. td, E. Ir. td, is, tdim, I am, 0. Ir. tdu, to, sum, fd,
tda, est, especially attda (at the beginning of a sentence), est
( = ad-tdt, Lat. adsto) and itd, itda, "in which is": "^tdjo,
*tdjet, root std, stand ; Lat. sto, stat, stand, Fr. ete, having
been ; Ch. SI. stoja, I stand ; further Eng. stand, Gr. larT7)fxi
(for (TL-a-TdiiL), set, Lat. sisto. See seas further.
43
354 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
tabaid, fight, brawl ; Br. has tabut of like force ; see sabaid. Cf.
Sc. debate.
t^bar, a tabor, Ir. tabdr ; from the Eng.
tabh, the sea. ocean ; from Norse haf, Swed. haf, Dan. hav, the
open sea, Ag. S. haef. From Norse also comes the Sc. (Shet.)
haaf, open sea.
tabh, a spoon-net ; from Norse hdfr, a pock-net.
tabhach, a sudden eruption, a forcing, a pull, Ir. iabhach, sudden
eruption, compulsion, tobhachaim, I compel, E. Ir. tobach^
levying, distraint, from dobongaivi : for root see buain.
tabhachd, substantiality, effectiveness, Ir. tdbhachd, M. Ir.
tabhuchta (Meyer) :
tabhair, give, so Ir., E. Ir. tabraim, 0. Ir. tabur, do, post-particle
form of dobiur^ now G. bheir, q.v. : inf. tabhair t, so Ir. See
thoir.
tabhal, a sling, Ir. tabhall, E. Ir. taball, W. tafl, a cast, tajlu,
jacere. Cor. toida, Br. taol^ a cast, blow : '^'taballo-^ root tab,
to fire, sling ; cf. Eng. stab.
t^bhairn, an inn, tavern, Ir. tabhairne ; from Lat. taberna, Eng.
tavern.
t^bharnach, noisy (Suth.) :
tabhann, barking, Ir. tathfan : *to-sven-, root sven, sound (see
seinn).
tabhastal, tedious nonsense :
tac, a lease, tack ; from Sc. tack.
tacaid, a tack, tacket, Ir. taca ; from the Eng.
tacan, a while, short time ; from tac.
tacar (tacar, H.S.D.), provision, plenty, support, Ir. tacar, a
collection, gleaning, contrivance. Cf. N. taka, income,
tachair, meet, happen, Manx taghyrt, to happen, an accident, Ir.
tachair, he arrived at ; from to- and car, turn,
tacharan, a ghost, yelling of a ghost, an orphan, Ir. tachardn :
tachas, itching, scratching, Ir. tochas :
tachd, choke, Ir. tachdaim, 0. Ir. tachtad, angens. Stokes gives
the root as tak and refers to it also W. tagu (and ystagu\
choke, Cor., Br. taga. Brugmann and Ascoli analyse tachd
into to-acht, root angh, Lat. ango, choke, Gr. ayx^j Eng.
anger. Boot tak as in Lat. tacere (Prellwitz).
tachras, winding yarn, Ir. tocharais, tochardadh, M. Ir. tochartagh :
*to-cert-, root qert, wind, as in ceirtle.
tacsa, tacas (Dial.), support, substance; cf. taic.
tadh, a ledge, layer ; cf. spadh.
tadhal, frequenting, visiting, Ir. tadhall, 0. Ir. tadal, dat. tadill,
inf. of taidliMj doaidlibem, visitabimus, adall, diverticulum :
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 355
*to-ad-ell , from ^elno (Stokes), go, M. W. elwyfi, iero. Corn.
yllyf, earn, root ela, Lat. ambulare, walk, Gr. eXavvio, drive,
proceed ; likely also Fr. aller, go.
tadhal, goal, hail ; from Eng. hail.
tagair, plead, Ir. tagair (imper.), tagraim, E. Ir. tacraim, 0. Ir.
tacre, argumentum : "^to-ad-gar-, root gar^ as in goir, agair.
tagh, choose, Ir. toghaim, 0. Ir. togu, eligo, electio : *to-gusd,
root gus, choose, taste ; Lat. gusto, taste ; Gr. yeuw, taste ;
Eng. choose.
taghairm, noise, echo, a mode of divination by listening to the
noise of water cascades, Ir. toghairm, summons, petition,
0. Ir. togairm, invocatio ; from to- and gairrn.
taghan, the marten :
tagradh, ghost (Suth. R.D.) :
taibhs, taibhse, an apparition, ghost, Ir. taibhse, vision, ghost,
M. Ir. tadhbais, phantasma, 0. Ir. taidbse, demonstratio,
tadbat, demonstrat, "^tad-bat or *to-ad-bat, root bat, show, see,
speak, I. E. bhd, bhan as in ban, q.v. Gr. <jidvTao-jj.a, Eng.
phantasm and phantom are closely allied to the G.
taibid, a taunt ; see teabaid.
taibse, propriety of speech : " precision," E. Ir. tepe, cutting ; see
teabaid.
taic, support, proximity, Ir. taca, prop, surety, fastening, toice,
prop, wealth, tacamhuil, firm, aice, support, food, near, M. Ir.
aicc, a bond, E. Ir. aicce, relationship : *akki-, *pakki-, root
pak, bind ; Lat. paciscor, agree, joa^c, peace ; Eng. fang. Got.
fahan, seize : Zend pag, bind. The root is a triplet — pok,
pag, pagh (Gr. iriqyvvixL, make fast, Lat. pango, Eng. page,
etc.). Zimmer refers E. Ir. aicce to the root of agus, aig.
taidhe, attention, heed, Ir. uidh, 0. Ir. oid, did, con-oi, servat :
"^audi-, root av, watch, Lat, aveo, desire, audeo, dare, Skr. av,
favour (see dill further). The t of G. is due to the phrase
" Thoir taidhe ( = thoir do aidhe) " — Take thy heed : a phrase
to which the word is practically restricted, and which
accounts for the short vowel of the G. and Ir., the sentence
accent being on the verb.
taidheam, meaning, import ; see oidheam.
taifeid, a bow-string :
taig, attachment, custom ; cf. aig, at.
taigeis, haggis ; from Sc. haggis, 0. Fr. hachisj Eng. liash, from
hack.
taighlich, chattels (Heb.) ; a side form of teaghlach.
tail, substance, wages, taileas, wages, Ir. tdille, wages, M. Ir,
taile, salarium, W. tdl, payment, Cor., 0. Br. tal, solvit, root
356 ' ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
tal, tel, take, hold ; Gr. raXavrov, a talent, Eng. talent^ t^Xos,
toll ; Lat. tollo, lift, Eng. thole, etc.
tailce, strength, Ir. talcdnta, strong, E. Ir. talce, tailce : *t-alkid,
root alk, strong, Gr. olXk-^, strength, aAe^w, defend.
tailceas, contempt ; cf. tarcuis.
taileasg, backgammon, chess, Ir. tdibhleis, backgammon table,
back-gammon, M. Ir. taijiis, draught-board, tables, W, tawl-
fwrdd, draught-board ; from M. Eng. tables, backgammon,
from table, Norse tajl, game, chess,
tailebart, halberd ; from the Eng. The Ir., M. Ir. is halabard,
which Stokes regards as derived from the Fr. hallebard.
taileas, wages ; see tail.
tailgneachd, prophecy ; for tairgneachd, q.v.
taille, apprentice fee, premium (M'A., who has tailleabh) ; see
tail.
taille, tailleabh (M'A.), consequence, air taille, on account of ;
cf. M. Ir. a haithle, after, as a haithle sin, thereafter, 0. G.
as d dthle, thereafter (B. of Deer), aithle, remnant,
taillear, a tailor, Ir. tailiur, W. teiliwr ; from the Eng., M. Eng.
tailor, taylor, from Fr. tailleur.
tailm, a tool, sling, noose, Ir. tailmh, a sling, E. Ir. tailm (do.),
W. tebn, laqueus, Br. talm, sling : "^talksmi- (Stokes) ; Ch.
SI. tluka, strike,
tailmrich, bustle, noise ; for "^tairmrith, E. Ir. tairmrith, trans-
cursus, from tairm-, cross, trans (see tkay-), and ruith, run.
tailp, a bundle, bunch (Sh., O'R.) :
taimli, death, mortality, Ir. tdimh, E. Ir. tdm, plague : *tdmo-,
death ; cf. Skr. tdmyati, choke, Ch. SI. toniiti, vexare. Cf.,
however, tdmh, rest,
taimhlisg, traduce (Carm.) :
tain, cattle, drove, Ir. tdin, cattle, spoil, E. Ir. tdin : ^to-ag-ni^
root ag, drive, Lat. ago, etc.
taing, thanks ; from the Eng. thank.
tailineamh, thaw (Arran), Manx tennue, Ir. tionadh, 0. Ir. tinaidy
evanescit, root ten as in tana. See aiteamh.
taip, a mass, Ir. taip ; see tap.
tair, contempt, Ir. tdir, E, Ir. tdr ; for *to-shdr ; see sdr.
tair, get, obtain, come, Ir. tair, come thou, E. Ir. tair (do.), tair,
venies ; from tairicim, I arrive at, come, catch, for *to-air-ic,
root ic of thig, q.v.
tairbeart, an isthmus, peninsula : ^tar-bertd, from tar (see thar,
cross) and ber of beir : "cross-bringing, portage."
tairbhe, profit, so Ir., 0. Ir. torbe: *to-for-be, where -be comes from
'*bv-id, root bu, be (see bu).
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 357
tairbheartach, profitable, so Ir., E. Ir. tairbert, yielding, giving
up : "^to-air-ber-, from the verb beir, bring.
tairbhein, surfeit, bloody flux (Carm.) :
tairg, offer, tairg^se, an offer, Ir. tairgim^ tairgsin, E. Ir. tairgim,
tharscin (dat.) : *to-air-ges-, root ges, carry (Lat. gero), as in
agusi Ascoli compares 0. Ir, taircim, afFero, tairciud,
oblatio, tribuere, from to-ad-ro-ic, root ic of thig.
tairgneachd, tailgneachd, tairgire, prophecy, Ir. tairrgire, tair-
gire, prophecy, promise, 0. Ir. tairngire, promissio : "^to-air-
ind-gar-idf root gar as in goir.
tairiosg, a saw ; see tuireasg.
tairis, the dairymaid's cry to calm a cow : cf. 0. Ir. tairissim^ sto,
^to-air-sess, from sess as in seas, q.v.
tairis, kind, loving, Ir. tairis, loyal, E. Ir. tairisse, true, loyal :
" stable," from to-air-sess, from sess, stop, stand, as in seas, q.v.
tairisgein, peat-spade ; see toirsgian.
tairleas, turlas, cupboard or aumrie (Perth) : Sc. tirless, lattice,
wicket, Fr. trellis.
tairm, necromancy (Sh., O.R.) ; see taghairm.
tairneanach, thunder, Ir. toimeach, toirn ; see torrunn for root, etc.
tairng, tarrang, a nail, Ir., E. Ir. taimge ; from tamdng %
tais, soft, Ir. tais, E. Ir. taise, tasse, weakness : "^taxi-, soft (Gaul.
Taxi-magulus %), root tali, weak, melting, Gr. raKcpos (do.),
Ti]KO), melt ; further Lat. tabes, Eng. thaw. Bezzenberger
suggests Gr. rdyyjvov, a melting pot, saucepan.
taisbean, reveal, Ir. taisbeaiiaiiu, E, Ir. taispenim, taissfenim,
0. Ir. asfenimm, testificor, doairfenus, exploravi ; the old
Gaelic root is fen, ben, which may be cognate to Gr. cf^atvo)
(see taibhse). Zeuss regarded the s as put before the b by
metathesis, the word being of the same origin as taibhse.
taisdeal, a journey, taisdil (Cars.), journey (v. imp.) Ir. taisdiol, :
"^to-asdel, "^ad-sod-, root sod-, as in astar.
taisealan, taisealan (M'E.), saints' relics, E. Ir. taisse :
taisg, deposit, store away, tasgaidh, depository, Ir. taisgim,-K. Ir.
taiscim, doroisecht-sa, id deposui : *to-ad-sec-, root seq, follow,
beside, as in seach, past ; the idea of the verb being " put
past." (Ernault Zeit. Celt.^ 384. segh).
taisgeal, finding of anything, taisgealach, a spy, Ir. taiscealladh,
spying, betraying, M. Ir. taiscelad, 0. Ir. taiscelaid, explorator,
pi. taisceltai, do-sceulairn, experior ; from to-sce'l-, from sgeul,
story (Windisch). Hence taisgealadh, news.
taitheasg, a repartee, Ir. taitheasg, aitheasg (O'Br., etc.), 0. Ir.
taitkesc, answer, aithesc, admonitio, W. ateb, a reply : *ati-
seq, root seq, say, as in sgeul.
8 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
taitinn, pleasing, Ir. to.ithneamhach, M. Ir taitnemach, bright,
shining, E. Ir. taitnim, I shine, taitnemach, shining, 0. Ir.
taitnem, lucina, light : *taith-tennim, to-aith-tenn, root ten of
teine, fire (Windisch). Stokes {Bez. Beit}^, 112), divides
taitnem into tait- and nem, Pictish namet, albus.
tal, adze, Ir., 0. Ir. tdl : *to-aglo- (rather t-aglo- %), Got. aqisi, axe,
Eng. axe (Strachan). Stokes gives a pre-Gaelic '^tdkslo, root
tek, Ch. SI. tesla, axe, Lat. telum ( = tex-lum), weapon, Gr.
T€KTa)v, carpenter ; but tek does not appear to have a side
form tdk, and tdkslo- would produce tall (tokslo, Foy). But
cf. Lat. pdla, spade, for root, and for phonetics G. tore and
Lat. porcus.
talach, complaining, Ir. talach, dispraise, reproach :
taladh, enticing, hushing, caressing ; from Norse tdl, allurement,
bait, trap, Ag. S. tdl, calumny, root ddl, del, Lat. dolus,
guile, Sr/Aeo/xai, hurt (Dor. SaX-eofxat).
talainte, a partition or dividing wall ; from Sc. halland, hallon.
Dial. G. has also tallaid.
talamh, earth, so Ir., 0. Ir. talam, g. talman : *talmon-, for
tl-mon, root tel ; Lat. tellus, earth (for tel-us), ^tel, flat ; Gr.
T-qXta, a board ; Ag. S. thelu, board (root tel) ; Skr. talas,
level ground ; Ch. SI. tUo, pavement (root tl). Stokes joins
here Celtic talo-s, brow, Gaul. Dubno-talos, Argio-talos
(Pictish Talorga7i), W. tdl, brow. Cor. tdl, Br. tal.
talan, feats of arms, chivalry, Ir. talan (O'B., Sh., etc.) ; see
tdlanii for origin.
t^lann, a talent, Ir. tallann, 0. Ir. talla.nd ; from Lat. talentum,
Eng. talent.
talfuinn, a hoe ; from tdl and fonn.
talla, a hall, Ir. alia, M. Ir, all ; from Norse hall, holl, Eng. hall,
allied to G. ceall, q.v.
talmaich, honour (Carm.) :
tamailt, an insult, oftence, Ir. tdmailt, Br. tamall, reproach, root
stemh, abuse, I. E. stengo, stamp, Gr. crreixfSo), shake, misuse,
abuse, crro/^ew, scold, Eng. stamp (Stokes, Jubainville Eev.
Celt}% 365).
tamh, rest, Ir. tdmh, E. Ir. tdm : *tdmo-, root stdm, std, sta, stand,
Eng. stand, station, stamina ; see seas. Usually tdmh, rest,
and tdimh, death, are referred to the same root.
tamhasg, blockhead, brownie ; see amhas. For termination, cf.
uruisg, tan7iaf>g.
tamhladh, a gulping movement (M'D.) :
tamuU, a while, space of time, Ir. tamall : ^to-ad-melno-, from
melno-, linger, Gr. /xeAAw, linger (Stokes). See mall.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 359
tan, time, an tan, when, Ir. tan, an tan, 0. Ir. tan, intain, intan,
quum, quando : *tand, time ; Skr. tan, duration, tana, con-
tinually. Root tan, ten, extend, as in tana, q.v.
tana, thin, Ir,, 0. Ir. tana. Cor. tanoiv, Br. tanaw, but W. teneu :
*tanavo-, thin ; Lat. tenuis, thin, tendo, stretch ; Gr. ravao?,
raw-, long, stretched, retVo), stretch ; Eng. thin, Ger. diinn ;
Ch. SI. tmuhU ; Skr. tanu.
t^naiste, next heir, tanist, anything second, Ir. tdnaiste, lieu-
tenant, second in command, heir apparent, 0. Ir. tdnaise,
secundus, imthanu, alternation, innimthdna, talionem :
"^to-atn-, root at of ath, "re," Skr. at, also ^at-s-men, of dm,
time, q.v. (Strachan). Rhys {Celt. Br.^, 308) suggests con-
nection with W. tan, till, Lat. tenus, root ten (no root tan ?).
tancard, a tankard, Ir. tancdrd ; from Eng.
tannas, tannasg", an apparition, ghost ; from the root of tana ?
taobh, a side, Ir. taohh, E. Ir. toeb, tdih, 0. Ir. toih^ W., Cor., Br.
tu : *toibos, root steibh, sti, stiff, standing ; Lat. tibia, shin-
bone (pi.); Lit. staibis, post, shin-bone (pi.), staibus, strong;
Gr. (TTicfios, strong ; further Eng. stiff, Lat. stipes, log.
taod, a halter, cable, hair-rope, Ir. te'ad, a rope ; see tend.
taodhair, an apostate, Ir. taodhaire (Lh., O'B.) :
taodhal, frequenting ; see tadhal.
taoghas, the grave :
taoig", a fit of passion (Sh., O'R.) :
taois, dough, Ir. taos, E. Ir. toes, 0. Ir. tdis, massam, W. toes, Br.
toas : *taisto-, ^stajtsto-, root staj, concrescere ; Gr. crrai?
(g. cTTatros). dough, crreap (g. (rrcdTO^ for *stdjatos, *stdjntos) ;
Lat. stiria, a drop.
taoitear, oversman, tutor (Sutherland, etc.) ; from Lat. tutor,
Eng. tutor. See saoitear.
taom, pour out, empty (vb.), a jet, torrent (n.), taoim, bilge-water,
Ir. taomaim (taodhmaiTn), taodhm (n.), E. Ir. t6em, a jet,
taeim, sentina, 0. Ir. tuismiud, delivery, *to-fo-ess-sem : "^to-ad-
sm-men, root sem, let go, from se, Lit. semiu, draw (as water),
Lat. simpulum, ladle (Stokes). Cf. 0. Ir. teissmim, I pour
out ( = to-ess-sem-im). Borrowing from Norse tomr, empty,
Eng. toom, is not to be thought of.
taom, a fit of rage, Ir. taom (O'B., etc.), M. Ir. taem :
taosg", a pour, rush, exact full of a liquid measure, Ir. taosgaim, I
drain, pour out, E. Ir. toesca, spilling, taescaire, a baler,
pumper : *to-ad-sem-sko-, root seyn as in taom ?
taosnadh, horseplay (R. D.) :
tap, tow or wool on the distaff, forelock, "busk a hook," (Arg.),
Ir. tap, tapdn ; from M. Eng. top, tuft of hair or flax, top,
Sc. tap.
360 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
tapaidh, clever, active, so Ir., E. Ir. tapad, suddenness, alertness,
top, sudden ; from the same root as obann (Stokes).
tap-dubh, tattoo (R. D.).
taplach, a wallet, repository, Ir. taplaigh ; for tap-lach, from tap,
tow, etc.
tarachair, augur, so Ir. ; for tarathar. See tora.
taraid, truncheon or staff of authority (Hend.) :
taran, the ghost of an unbaptised infant (Sh., O'R.); for tacharan?
tarbh, a bull, Ir. tarbh, E. Ir. tarbh, W. tarw, Corn, tarow, Br.
taro, tarv, Gaul, tarvos : *tarvos ; Lat. taurus ; Gr. ravpos
(^^rdpfos); Pruss. tauris, buffalo, Ch. SI. ttiru, auroch,
Prellwitz thinks the Celtic not allied to Gr. ravpos, etc.,
which he refers to the root tau, tu (stu gives Eng. steer).
tarcuis, also talcuis, contempt. Ir., M. Ir. tarcuisne, E. Ir.
tarcusul :
targadh, ruling, governing, assembly (Lh., etc.), Ir. targadh :
targaid, a target, Ir. targdid ; from Eng.
targair, foretell, Ir. tairrghirim ; see tairgneachd.
tarladh, it happened ; see tharladh.
tarlaid, a slave, thrall ; from Eng. varlet ?
tarmachadh, producing, originating, source, dwelling, Ir. tormach,
an increasing, a growing ripe for bearing, magnifying, 0. Ir.
tdrmach, an increase : *to-for-mach, root mag, power (Eng.
may, might, etc.).
tarmachan, a ptarmigan, Ir. tarmochan ; Eng. ptarmigan is hence
(Skeat), Also tarman, from tarm, murmur (Carm.) :
tarmachan-de, white butterfly (Carm.) :
tarmus, dislike of food : "^to-air-meas ; see meas.
tarnach, thunder-clap ; see tairneanach.
tarnadair, inn-keeper ; from L. Lat. tahernator, tavern-keeper,
Lat. taberna, Eng. tavern.
tarp, a clod, lump (Sh., O'B., etc.), Ir. tarp, tarpdn ; from Norse
torf, a turf, sod, Eng. turf.
t^rr, lower part of the belly, tail, breast, Ir. tdrr, belly, lower part
of the belly, E. Ir. tarr, W. tor, Br. tor, 0. Br. tar : "^tarsd,
tarmsd ; Sc. thairm, belly, gut, Eng. tharm, Ger. darm,
bowels ; Gr. rpafxts, tail, entrail, hip joint. Stokes gives the
Celtic "^targsd, allied to Lat. tergus, back.
tarrag, a nail ; see tdirng.
tarruing, pull, draw, so Ir., E. Ir. tairrngim : *to-air-rengim, from
E. Ir. ringim, hang, tear, from reng, a nasalised form of reg,
stretch (see ruighe).
tarraid, also t^arraid, sheriff officer, tipstaff (Dial.) ; see earraid.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 361
tarsuinn, transverse, across, Ir. tarsna, tarsa, trasna, M. Ir., E. Ir.
tarsnu, across ; from tar, across (see thar), and sainn of
ursainn, q.v.
tart, thirst, Ir., 0. Ir. tart : *tar{s)to- ; Eng. thurst, Ger. durst,
Gr. rkpa-ofxai, become dry; Lat. torreo, burn, tostum {^torstum),
Eng. toast ; Skr. tarsh, thirst, Zd. taresh : I. E. ters, dry.
tartan, tartan ; from Eng., Sc. tartan, from Fr. tiretaine, linsie-
wolsie.
tartar, noise ; reduplication of root tar, tor in tbirneanach.
t^san, tedious discourse or scolding, Ir. tasanach, tedious, slow
(Lh. marks it obsolete and queries meaning) :
tasdan, a shilling ; from Sc. testan, testoon, a silver coin of the
16th century with Mary's head {teste) on it, the " inglis
testane " being worth 8 shillings Scots, Eng. tester, worth 6d ;
originally so called from the coins of Louis XI [. (1500) with
his head (teste, Fr. tete, head) on them.
tasgaidh, depository, a treasure : "A thasgaidh" — Thou treasure;
see taisg.
tataidh, attract, attach one to oneself, tadadh (inf.), taiteadh
(Perth), tame : '^tad-dam, root dam of aidich.
tdth, cement, join (M'F., Lh.), Ir. tdthaim, tdth, solder or glue,
W. todi, construct, join : *tdto-, "^stdto-, constitute, root sta,
stand %
tathaich, visit, frequent, tendency to vomit (Hend.), Ir. tathuiyhim,
M. Ir. aithigim ; formed from the prep, aith, back, rather
than a compound of tiagaimn as in imthich, our imich (that is,
"^ati-tig-, go back again). Stokes prefers root at, go, formerly
discussed under tdnaiste.
tathunn, barking ; see tabhunn.
te, a woman, female, she, Ir. an ti, she who, an te, he who
(O'Donovan says either means "he or she who " or " person
who "), 0. Ir. inti, is(qui), indi ea(quae), ani id(quod) : the
article and the enclitic particle -i, for which see n\, and cf. t\,
he who.
t6, t^a, insipid, slightly fermented ; from root of teas ; cf. tepid.
teabaid, a taunt, repartee (Dial.), teab, a flippant person's mouth
(M'A.), teibidh, smart : " cutting," E. Ir. tepe {to-aith-be,
Stokes), a cutting, 0. Ir. taipe, concisio, brevitas : '''tad-be
[ = to-ad-be), reduced root be, cut, imdibe, circumcisio, etc.,
root bi, bin, as in bean, touch, q.v.
teach,; a house, Ir. teach, 0. Ir. tech, teg, g. tige, W. ty. Cor. ti,
0. Br. teg, tig, ti, now ti : ^tegos, g. teges-os ; Gr. reyos, roof,
(rreyw, cover ; Lat. tego^ cover, tectum, house : Eng. thatch,
44
362 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
Ger. (lack ; Lit. stegiu, cover ; Skr. sthagati, cover. See tigh
for usual nom. case.
teachd, coming, arrival, Ir. teachd, 0. Ir. techt, aditus, itio, W.
taith, iter, Br. tiz, diligence, haste : "^tiktd, root stig, steig, as
in tighinn, q.v. Some derive it from thig or tig, q.v. Hence
teachdaire, messenger.
teachd, legal, lawful, M. Ir. techta, techta, 0. Ir. techte, fitting,
legalis, lex : ^tenctio-, root tenq, become, chance, produce,
Eng. thing, Lit. tenhu, chance, befall, Lat. tempus. Dial.
form dele, cha dele, q.v.
teachd, teuchd, silly boasting (Arg.).
teadalach, slow, dilatory :
teadhair, a tether ; from Sc, Eng. tether, tedder, Norse tjdd'r, tjor,
Swed. tjuder.
teagair, collect, provide, shelter, Ir. teagar, provision, shelter,
teagarach, warm, snug, teagairim, store, provide ; cf. eagar.
teagamh, doubt, suspense ; see theagamh.
teag'asg, teaching, so Ir., E. Ir. tecosc : *to-aith-co&c-, for which see
cai&g.
teaghlach, family, household, so Ir., 0. Ir. teglach, W. teulu, 0. W.
tela. Corn, teilu, familia : *tego-doxigo-, from the stems of tigh
and sluagh. The termination -lach from *slougo-s makes
abstract collective nouns, which are used for single objects or
persons ; as oglach, young man, really " youth," or " young-
people," just as " youth " is also used in Eng. as a concrete
noun — " a youth."
teallach, hearth, forge, Ir. teallach, E. Ir. tenlach, tellach : *tene-
lach, from teine, fire, and terminal -lach (see teaghlach).
teallaid, a lusty or bunchy woman (M'F.) :
teamhaidh, pleasant, Ir. teamhair, pleasant, Tara, E. Ir. temair,
delightful, omnis locus conspicuus : "^stem-ri- '?
teamhair, time (Suth.) : Lat. 1
teamhall, slight swoon or stun, Ir. teimheal, darkness, 0. Ir.
temel (do.), Skr. tdmas. Lit. tainsa, Lat. tenebrae, temere,
rashly,
teampull, temple, church, Ir. teampoll, 0. Ir. tempul, W. teml.
Corn, tempel ; from Lat. temiplum.
teanacadh, deliverance, succour, teanacas, healing : *tind-ioc,
from \oc, heal,
teanchair, pincers, smith's tongs, Ir. teanchoir, tongs, pincers,
0. Ir. tenchor, forceps : "^ten-cor, "fire-putter," from the stem
of teine, fire, and cor, seen in cuir, put.
tean^a, teangadh, a tongue, Ir. teanga, 0. Ir. tenge, gen. tengad :
"^tengot-, from stengji, sting (Eng. 8ting, Ger. stengel, stalk),
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 363
which is from zdng.h, from (1ng:h, whence Lat. dingua, Eng.
tongue ? Stokes {Academy^ Oct. '91) has compared Lat. tango
(so Windisch, Scot. Celt. Rev., 34). Rhys has considered the
probabiHties of alliance with W. tafod, Corn, tavot, Br. teod^
older teaut {"^tebato-) in Manx Pray.^, 136-7.
teann, tight, tense, near to, Ir. teann, 0. Ir. tend, W. tyn, tight,
stretched : *tendo- ; Lat. tendo, I stretch, tentus, stretched
(Stokes, Bev. Celt.^'^, 124) ; in any case from root ten of tana.
Foy gives sten ; N. stinnr, rough, hard. Cf. Gr. a-Tevo^s.
tearb, separate, Ir. tearbadh (O'CL), severance, M. Ir. terpiid, E. Ir.
terbaim, terbud : ^ter-be-, Gadelic reduced root be, cut, for
which see teabaid 2
tearc, scarce, rare, Ir. tearc, E. Ir. terc : "^ ter{s)qo-s, rare, root iers,
dry (as in tart) ; Lat. tesqua ( — tersquo-s), deserts.
tearmann, a sanctuary, protection, so Ir., M. Ir. termain, termonn^
W. terfyn ', from Lat. termo{n), terminus, end, " end of race
for life by reaching church lands" or Termoii landes (Ducange).
tearr, tar, Ir. tearr ; from M. Eng. terve, Norse tjara.
t^aruinn, save, escape, t^arnadh (inf.), Ir. teamaim, E. Ir.
ternaini, ternam, an escape, ernaim, I escape : ^es-rn-, root rri,
Eng. run ?
teas, heat, Ir. teas, 0. Ir. tess, g. t'^sa, W., Corn, tes, Br. tez : '^tesiu-,
for "^tepstu-, root tep, burn, heat ; Lat. tejjeo, be warm, Eng.
tepid ; Ch. SI. teplo, hotly ; Skr. tap, be hot, Zd. tap, burn.
See, also from tep, teine, teth. Hence teasach, fever.
teasairg, save, deliver, Ir. teasargaim, 0. Ir. tessurc, servo,
dumesurcsa, defendo me : *to-ess-arc, root ark, defend : Lat.
arceo, ward off; Gr. dpKeo) (do.). See ad/iarc.
teasd, die, Ir. teasdaighim, die, fail, M. Ir., 0. Ir. testa, deest, fails ;
"^to-ess-td, from td, I am. Cf., for force, Lat. deswn.
teasdam, I preserve, help (Carm.) :
teasg, cut, cut off, Ir. teasgaim, E. Ir. tescaim : ^to-ess-sc, root sec,
cut, Lat, seco, Eng. saw.
teibideach, irresolute : " halting, failing ;" cf. Ir. tebim, disappoint,
fail, for which see theab.
teich, flee, Ir. teithim, E. Ir. techim, 0. Ir. teichthech, vitabundus,
W. techu, skulk, M. Br. tecktt, flee : "^teko, "^tekko, flee, I. E.
root teq-, flow, run ; Ch. SI. teku, a run. Lit. tekii, flow ; Skr.
takti, runs, Zd. taka-, course.
teididh, wild, fierce (H.S.D.), wild fire (M'A.) :
teilg", a fishing line : "a cast," from tilg, cast, Ir. teilgeayi, casting"?
teilinn, musical instrument, teilig, a chord (Carm.), W. telu or
telyn, harp. Cf. seillean,
teilleach, a blub-cheeked fellow (Dial.) ; cf. meilleach.
364 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
teine, fire, Tr. teine^ 0. Ir. tene^ g. tened, pi. tenti, W. tan, Cor., Br.
tan (in proper names also tanet) : ^tenet-, *tenos, Celtic root
te, from tep, hot, as in teas, q.v. Not for '^te{p)ne-, as usually
said, which would give teine now, nor '^'tepsne-, which would
produce tenne now ; teine-siojuiachain, phosphorescence, teine-
Jionn, will o' the wisp (Suth.).
teinn, calamity, strait ; an abstract noun from teann.
teirig, fail, be spent, die, teireachduinn (inf.), Ir. teiricim (O'B.),
E. Ir. tarnic, it ended, from *tar-ic, transire {tar, across, and
ic or nic of thig, thainig). Atkinson joins it with tairicim,
arrive ( = to-air-ic-), as in tair, but the meanings scarcely suit.
teiric, hake, herring hake (Carm.) :
teirinn, t^arn, descend, Jr. tearnaim, turnaiin, E. Ir. tairnim, 0. Ir.
tairinnud, dejectio ( = to-air-innud), from '''endo, go, root end,
ed, I. E. ped, go (Eng. /oo^, Lat. pes, etc., G. uidlie, q.v).
teirisi ! the dairymaid's cry to calm a cow ; see tairis.
teirm, a term, Ir. tearma, earlier, terma(¥M.)', from M. Eng.
terme, from Lat. terminus through Fr.
tearmasg, tiormasg, a mistake, mischance ; cf. eirmis. Here te
may be for de, on the analogy of to, do.
teis, a musical air ; see seist for derivation.
teismeid, last will and testament ; from Lat. testamentum.
teis-meadhon, the exact or very middle ; teis = to- ess, as in teasairg.
teist, testimony, Ir. teisd., teist, 0. Ir. teist, W. tyst, Br. test ; from
Lat. testis, Eng. test, etc.
teo, teodh, make warm ; from teb-, q.v. The Ir. verb is teighim,
inf. teaghadh.
teo-, warm, teo-chridheach, warm-hearted ; "^tepu-, Skr. tapus,
hot, root tep as in teth. Cf. Keating's {Three ^Shafts, 282),
f teo-ghrddhuigheas, qui ardentius amat, where Atkinson con-
siders teo a comparative.
teom, a dole (Carm.) :
teoma, skilful, expert, teom, cunning (Carm.) :
teth, hot, Ir. teith, comp. teotha (G. and Ir.), M. Ir. te, comp. teou :
*teps C?), root tep, hot, as in teas. The 0. Ir. is tee, te,
fervidus, pi. teit, from "^tepents, g. *tepe7itos, Lat. tepens.
teuchd, congeal, be parched, Ir. tnichdaim, curdle, coagulate,
M. Ir. techtaige, frozen, 0, Ir. coiteichtea, concretionis :
"^tenkto-, from I. E. tenq, firm, fast; Eng. tight, Ger. dicht,
close.
teud, a string, Ir. teud, tead, 0. Ir. tet, fidis, W. tant : tntd, chord ;
Skr. tdntn, tdnti, cord : root ten, stretch, thin, as in tana.
teugmhail, battle, contest, disease, Ir. teagmhdil, a meeting,
retribution : *to-egc-co7n-dhdil, see comhdhail. In the sense of
"disease," see ew^a*7.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 365
teum, a bite, sudden snatch, wound, E. Ir. te7rim, W. tam^ a bite
Corn, tarn, pi. tyrnmyn^ Br. tamm : "^tendmen, root tend, cut ;
Lat. tondeo, shear, tinea, a worm ; Gr. revSa), gnaw ; Ch. SI.
t§ti, caedere.
th^, is ; see ta. The aspiration is due to the use of ta in relative
sentences, where the t is intervocalic.
thainig, came, Ir. thdnaic, thdinig,\Gmt, 0. Ir. tdnic, rdnic, venit,
tdnac, veni : "^ananka, I have come — a reduplicated perfect ;
Skr. dnamca, has reached ; G]'. -qveyKe, brought : root enk,
iiak (?iank), attain, bring, for which see thig. The aspiration
is due to the analogy of other perfects which follow do.
thairis, over, across, Ir. tairis, E. Ir. tairis, over it, him ; from tar
(tkar) and se or e, he, it. The aspiration is, due to a sup
pressed, or supposed suppressed, do or a.
thall, over, beyond, Ir. thall, 0. Ir. thall, tall : *t-all, 0. Ir. ol,
quam, indoll, altarach, ultra, al, ultra ; root ol, el, ol, Lat.
ille ( = olle), alius. Also eile, other, which see. The form
thallad stands for thall-ud.
thalla, come, come along, " age," thallaibh (pi.), E. Ir. tallaim,
take away, "^talno, root tel, bear (see tldt/i, tail, etc.). Also
interjection : thalla ! thalla ! well ! well !
thar, across, Ir. tar, 0. Ir. tar, dar, W. tra-, over, track, beyond,
root ter, through, past, Lat. trans, terminus ; Skr. tar-, pass ;
I. E. ter, pass through, bore. See tor a, troiynh.
tharladh, accidit, Ir. tarla, E. Ir. dorala, dorla, 0. Ir. tarla :
*to-ro-la, the la being the remains of root plu, as in dol
(Ascoli).
theab, nearly did (with inf.), Ir. do theib se, he failed (O'B.) :
" grazed " it, from "^tehb, graze, cut, as in teabaid 1
theagamh, mayhap, perhaps, 0. Ir. tecmaing, accidit, tecmang,
eventus, do-e-cm-aingiin, accido, for *to-ex-com-ang, root ang,
near, as in cumhang, q.v. Meyer takes 0. Ir. ecmaing from
ad-com-bangim, hang root of buain. It has also been referred
to root mang, mag, Eng. rtiay, etc.
theid, w411 go, Ir. teid, goes, 0. Ir. tcit, venit, it : ^to-eit, *ent6,
"^pento, go, reach, root pet, pent, go, fly, fall ; Lat. pet, seek,
" fall on " ; Gr. ttltttio, fall ; Got. fin}>an, Eng. find.
their, will say ; see deir.
thig, will come, Ir. tigim, come, E. Ir. tic, ticc, venit, 0. Ir. tic/a,
veniet : *t6-icc, from ice, *enk6, come, reach, root enk, nak,
nank, attain, bring ; Gr. ijveyKa, brought ( = G. thainig), a
reduplicated perf. from eyK ; Skr. dnamga, attained ; further
nank of adhlac and Lat. nanciscor.
366 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
thoir, give, G., Ir. tabhair, give thou, q.v. The G. is for toir, a
crushed form of tabhair, and this is aspirated on the analogy
of hheir, gheibh, and especially of thug, its past tense.
thud, an interjection of dislike or impatience : Sc. hoot, hoot-toot,
Swed. hut, whence Eng. hoot. The G. is borrowed,
thug", gave, brought, Ir. thug, thugas (1st pers.), E. Ir. tuc, tucas,
do-fuc, from uc, ucc, "^ud-ge, from s- aorist *e-ges-s-t, "^e-ges-s-m,
root ges,, carry, Lat. gero, gcssi (Zimmer, Zeit.^^ 156-7) ;
whence also W. dug, he bore, Cor. duk, Br. dongas.
thugad, thugaibh, thuige, etc., to thee, to you, to him ; for
chugad, etc., q.v. Similarly thun is for chun, gun, gu, q.v.
thun with gen. is for chum.
ti, any one, person, Ir. ti, person, an ti, an te ; see te, ni.
ti, intention, Ir., E. Ir. ti ; ar ^z = intends (Glenmassan MS.) :
tiachair, perverse, ill-disposed, sick, a dwarf, Ir. tiachair, perverse
(O'Cl., Lh., O'B.), M. Ir. tiachair, troublesome, E. Ir. tiachaire,
affliction, peevishness :
tiadhan, a little hill, small stone, Ir. tiadhan, a stone, testicle :
tiamhaidh, gloomy, lonesome, Ir. tiamdha, dark (O'CL), E. Ir.
tiamda, dark, afraid :
tiarmail, prudent ; cf. tiorail.
tibirt, fountains (Uist ; Hend.) ; see tiohart.
tide, time ; from Icel. tic^, Sc, Eng. tide, Ag. S. tid, Ger. zeit.
tigh (for taigh), a house, Ir. tigk, 0. Ir. teg, tech ; see teach.
tighearn, tighearna, lord, master, Ir. tigheama, 0. Ir. tigerne, W.
teyrn, 0. W. -tiger n, Cor. teem, 0. British tigernus : ^tegerno-s,
tegernio-s, root teg of tigh, q.v.
tighil, call when passing (M'A.) ; the t being as in tigh, the word
seems a variant of tadhal.
tighinn, coming, Ir. tighim, I come, E. Ir. tiagaim, 0. Ir. tiagu,
ttchtu itichtin), adventus : "^tigo, "^teigo, from root steigh, stigh,
go ; Gr. o-Tet'xw, walk ; Got. steigan, ascend, Ger. steigen,
Eng. stair ; Skr. stighnute, stride,
tilg, cast, cast out, vomit, Ir. teilgim, 0. Ir. teilcim : toes-leic,
"let out," from the original of G. leig, let, q.v.
till, pill, return, Ir. tillim (Keating), fillim, pillim (O'B.) (Ulster
has till) : ^svelni-, turn round, W. chwylo, turn, revolve,
chwyl, a turn, course, while (for which see G. seal). C^f. fill.
tim, time ; from the Eng.
timchioll, around, a circuit, so Ir., 0. Ir. timchell : *to-imm-cell,
from I. E. qel, move, go ; Lat. cola, tend, celer, swift ; Gr.
TT^A-o/xat, go, be, djjLcpLTroko'i, attendant ; Skr. cdrdmi, move,
o'o. See huachaill.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 367
tinn, sick, Ir. tinn^ E. Ir. tind : ^tenni-, root ten of tana, teann,
teinn. Cf. 0. Ir. tinaim, evanesco, Lat. attenuo, Eng.
attenuate.
tinne, a chain, link, piece of a column, M. Ir. tinne, flitch, E. Ir.
tinde, ring, link, bar, 0. Ir. tinne, chalybs ; from the root ten
of tana. Cf. Norse ]nnd, diaphragm.
tioba, a Jieap (Arg.) ; from Eng. h''a,p or G. iohl
ftiobartj a well, 0. G. tiprat (gen., Bk. of Deer), Ir. tiohar,
tiobrad, E. Ir. tipra, d. tiprait, *to-aith-br€vant-, Celtic verb
*berv6, seethe, boil ; Gr. <^pkap, cfipmros, a well ; Ger. hrunne7L,
Eng. burn. See tobar.
tiodhlac, a gift, Ir. tiodhlacadh, E. Ir. tidnacul, 0. Ir. tindnacul,
traditio, do-ind-naich, distribuit : to-ind-nank-, root nank,
bring, get, Lat. yianciscor, obtain ; also root enk as in thig,
q.v. Hence also tiodhlaic, bury, and adhlac, q.v.
tiolam, a short space, a snatch :
tiolp, snatch, grasp eagerly, Ir. tiolpaim :
tiom, soft, timid, G. tioma, tenderness, Ir. time, fear, E. Ir. tim,
soft, timid, timme, fear : "^temmi-, root tern, faint, Lat. timeo,
fear, Eng. timid ; Skr. taw,, to faint, Zd. tam, perish.
tiomnadh, a will or testament, Ir. tiomna, 0. Ir. timne : *to-imm-
ne, the n of ne being the remains of -an-, mandare, mittere
(Ascoli) ; cf. 0. Ir. adroni, deposuit, iminerdni, delegavit, G.
aithne, command, q.v.
tiompan, a musical instrument— a cymbal, Ir. tiompdn, tabor,
cymbal, drum, E. Ir. tiompan, a small stringed instrument ;
from Lat. tympannm^ a timbrel, drum (Windisch). The
difference of meaning between E. Ir. and Lat. has caused some
to doubt the connection ; and Stokes gives the Celtic root as
temppu-, a chord or string. Lit. tcmpiii, stretch, Ch. SI. tetiva,
chorda.
tiomsach, collecting, bringing together, Ir. tiomsughadh, E. Ir.
timmsugud : "^to-imm-sag-, root sag as in ionnsuidh, q.v.
tionail, gather, Ir. tionolaim, 0. Ir. tindlaim, tinolaim, do-in-ola,
applicat : "^to-inola-im, where ola is referred by Stokes to
*oklo-, *poklo-, joining, uniting, Ger. fiigen, to fit, filge, joint ;
Lat. paciscor, bargain, bind ; Skr. pdcax, a knot, Zd. pac, bind.
Ascoli regards it as *to-in-od-lu, root lu, plu of dol, but *od-lu-
would rather mean " go out," " go oflf." W. cynmdl, gathering.
Corn, cuntell, 0. Br. contidlet, are, according to Ernault,
borrowed from Lat. contuli.
tionnail, likeness of any person or thing : ^t-ionnail, from ionnan,
like.
tionndadh, turning, Ir. tiontodh, O, Ir. tintuith, g tintuda
tintathigh, interpretes : "^to-ifid-sout-, root su of iompaidh, q.v.
368 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
tionnsgainn, a beginning, devising, tionnsgal, ingenuity, Ir.
tionnscnadh, a beginning, device, plotting, tionsgiodal^ manag-
ing, industry, 0. Ir. tinscnaim ( = to-ind-scannaim), I begin,
tindscetal, a beginning, root sqend, start, spring, Lat. scando,
ascend, Skr, skandati, hurry, spring. The W. has cy-diwyn^
ortus {*sqen6). The form -scetal is for sqen-t- (?).
tiop, pilfer (M'A.) ; cf. tiolp.
tior, dry (as corn), kiln-dry, Ir. tiortha, kiln-dried (Con.), M. Ir.
tiradj kiln-drying, E. Ir. tir, to dry ; from the root of tioram
(0. Ir. tirim).
tiorail, warm, cosy, sheltered, Ir. tioramhuil, cosy ; W. tirion,
pleasant, a familiar object ; cf. Ir. tioramhuil, tiorthamhuil,
homely, national, from tir. Dr Cameron regarded it as
taken from the root of tioram, which is ultimately the
same as that of tir. Borrowing from Eng. cheerful is
unlikely.
tioram, dry, Ir. tirim, M. Ir. tirimm, 0. Ir. tirim, tir (vb.) :
*tersmi-, root ters, dry, as in tart, q.v. See also tir for
phonetics.
tiorc, save, deliver from peril : "^t-erc-, *to-arki-, root ark of
teasairg, q.v.
tiort, an accident :
tiosan, water-gruel ; from Eng. i^tisan, Lat. ptisana, barley water,
from Gr. irna-avri.
tiot, tiota, tiotan, a moment, while ; cf. Ir. giota, something
small, jot, appendage, from Lat. iota, whence Eng. jot.
Gaelic is t-iot.
tir, land, earth, Ir., 0. Ir. tir, W., Corn., Br. tir, tellus, la terre :
*tersos {^terses-) ; Lat. terra {*tersd), Oscan teerum, terri-
torium. The further root is ters, be dry, as in tart ; the idea
of tir, terra is '' dry land " opposed to sea.
tit, an interjection expressive of wet being perceived suddenly
(H.S.D.) : Eng. chut ?
tiugainn, come, let us go; from deaspirated thugainn, "to us,"
for chugainn, q.v.
tiugh, thick, Ir. tiugh, E. Ir. tiug, W. tew, 0. W. teu, obtuso, Corn.
tew, Br. teu : "^tegu-, thick ; Eng. thick, Norse }>ykkr, Ger.
dick ; Gr. o-reyvos, fast, tight.
tiurr, a beach out of reach of the sea ; for an t-iurr, from Norse
eyrr, a gravelly bank by a river or a promontory, Swed. or,
Dan. orr. tiur, mark of sea on shore, tear, stamp (Carm.).
tlachd, pleasure, so Ir., M. Ir. tlacht : tl-ko-, '• willing," from toil,
will, q.v. 0. Ir. todlugud, petitio, tothlaigim, I desire, is from
*tloq-, of attach.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 369
tUm, teaze (wool), handful of wool. Strachan and Stokes give
the stem as "^tlagm (read tldg-s-m-) allied to Ger. Jiocke^ flock
of wool, Eng. jlock.
tUth, mild, smooth, Ir. tlaith {tldith, O'B.), tlath, E. Ir. tlaitk, W.
tlawd: *tldti-, "long-suffering," from tel, bear, endure; Gr.
tAt^to?; xAaw, endure ; Lat. tollo^ raise, txd% Idtus (for "^tldtus),
borne ; Eng., So. thole.
tligheachd, liquid, spume : t-lighel
tlus, pity, tenderness, M. Ir. tlusach, wealthy, W. tlws, jewel
(Stokes), E. Ir. tlus (S. n. R.) ; from root tl, tel of tldth, q.v.
tnuth, envy, Ir., E. Ir. tmith ; from the root ten, stretch :
" grasping]"
to-, do-, verbal prefix = to, ad, Ir., 0. Ir. to-, do-. Stokes compares
Gothic du- to, from Jyu (\). W. has du-, dy-, y, Cor. did, Br.
do, da.
tobairt, flux, diarrhoea spasms : to-fo-od-ber-t, root her of heir.
toban, wreath of wool or flax on a distaff; from Sc. tappin.
tobar, a well, Ir. tohar, 0. Ir. topur, fons : *to-od-hur, root hhur,
bhru, to well, boil ; Gr. (jivpia, mix ; Lat. ferveo, well, Eng.
fervid ; Skr. hhur, move quickly : further see root bhru in
bruith and bhrev in tiobar. Some have referred tobar to
the root her of inbhir, abar (obair).
tobha, a rope, from Sc. toiv, rope, Eng. tow, pull, Norse tog, rope,
Lat. duco.
tobhta, tota, turf, roofless walls, knoll ; from Norse toft, topt, a
clearing, a space enclosed by roofless walls, Eng. toft, tuft,
and top.
tobhta, tota, a rower's bend ; from Norse Jjopta.
toch, hough or thigh of an animal : ^t-hoch, from the Sc. hough.
tochail, dig, Ir. tochuilim, tochlaim : "^to-cladh ; see cladh.
tochar, tochradh, dowry, Ir. tochar, M. Ir. tocra, (ace.) ; cf. 0. Ir.
tochur, placing, from cuir, put. The idea is " something
assigned to one." Hence Sc. tocher.
tdchd, toch, an unpleasant smell, tochar or tachar, dense volume
of smoke (Arg.) ; root stou, as in toth.
t6chd, a disease of the eye in cattle ; cf. Sc. hock (H.S.D).
t tochmharc, a wooing, so Ir., 0. Ir. tochmarc : "^to-com-arc ; see
for root iomchorc.
tocsaid, a hogshead ; from the Eng.
todan, small tuft of wool (Lewis) ; N. toddi, a tod of wool. So
Badenoch.
todhar, manure, a bleaching, seaweed for manure, Ir. tuar, a
bleach-green, tuarachan, a bleacher :
todhlair, mastiff, better tobhlair :
45
370 ETYMOLOGICAI. DICTIONARY
tog, raise, togail, lifting, Tr. togaim, tdghhail, E. Ir. tdchaim :
"^to-od-gab-im-, from gab, gabh, take, q.v.
togair, desire, Ir. togairim, please, choose, G. inf. togradh, Ir.
togra : '^to-od-gar, root gar of goir.
toghaidh, attention, care (H.S.D.) ; a variant of taidhe.
toghlainn, exhalation (M'A.) ; cf. toch.
toithbheum, reproach, blasphemy, Ir. toibheim, blemish, reproach,
E. Ir. toibeim : "^to-beira, from beim, that is, beum, q.v.
toic, wealth, riches, Ir. toice ; cf. taic.
toic, a swelling, a puffed up state of the face :
toiceil, purse-proud ; from toic.
toichiosdal, arrogance (Sh., O'B.) ; see tostal.
toigh, agreeable, cordi (mihi est), docha, preferable, is docha leam,
I prefer, 0. Ir. toich, acceptus, tochu, acceptior : "^to-gus-, root
gus, choose, as in tagh. It has also been analysed as *c?o-
seck, or '^'do-fech, roots seq, veq 1 Stokes derives this from
*togi-s, root tag, take, Lat. tango, etc.
toil, will, Ir. toil, 0. Ir. tol : ^told, root tel, take, lift, endure ;
Lat. tollo, tolero ; Eng. thole, tolerate, etc. See tlachd, tlath.
toill, deserve, Ir. tuillim, 0. Ir. tuilliTn, atroilli, asroille, meruit,
later do-sli, meruit, from sli (Thur., Strachan).
toimhseachan, a riddle, Ir. toimseachdn, a riddle, measure ; from
tomhas, q.v.
toimhsean, good sense, toimhseil, sensible (Suth.) ; from ^omAas.
toinisg, understanding :
toinn, twist ; from Norse tvinna, twine, twist thread, Eng. twine.
toinneamh, the miller's share of meal for grinding (S. Argyle) :
toir, torachd, pursuit, Ir., E. Ir. toir, Ir. toruigheachd, toireacht :
"^to-fo-racht, root reg of eirich. Rhys agrees. Cf. 0. Ir.
toracht, successus, processus ( = to-racht), tiarmdracht, pursuit
i^to-iarm-fo-racht). From Ir. toruighe, pursuer, comes Eng.
Tory.
toirbheart, efficiency, bounty, Ir. toirbheart, gift, munificence ;
see tairbheartach for the roots.
toirleum, a mighty leap ; cf. E. Ir. tairlingim, jump out of, jump
off, alight, turlaim (inf.) : "^ to-air-ling-, for which see leum.
Hence toirlinn, alight (M'A.).
toirm, a noise, Ir. toirm, tormdn, E. Ir. toirm, tairm : "^tors-men,
root tor of torrunn. Cf. W. twrf, tyrfan, tumult. Lit. tarm'e^
declaration. Cf. seirm, foirm.
toirmisg, forbid, so Ir., M. Ir. tairmiscim, prohibit, hinder ;
"^tarmi-sc, from tarmi, the composition form of tar, across,
and sc or sec, say, as in caisg.
toirn, toirne, a great noise, sound, Ir. tdirn ; root tor of torrunn.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 371
toirnichte, foetid, " high " (Wh.) :
toirp, a sod (M'A.) ; from Norse torf^ Eng. turf.
toirrcheas, conception (Bible) :
toirsgian, a peat-cutting spade, toirpsgian (M'A.) ; a hybrid
from Norse torf\ turf, peat, and G. sgian. Cf. Norse torf-
skeri, peat-cutter.
toirt, respect, value, taste, Ir. toirt, quantity, value :
toirt, giving ; for tahhairt. See tabhair, thoir.
toiseach, the beginning, front, Ir. tosach, 0. [r. tossach, initium.
See the next word.
toiseach, a beginning, a chief, Ir. toiseach, a captain, 0. Ir. toisech,
praestans, leader, W. tywysog, dux, princeps, Welsh Ogmic
tofisac and tovisaci (Lat.) : "^to-vessiko-s, root ved, lead, bring ;
Lit. wedit, lead, Ch. SI. veda^ duco ; Zd. vddhayeiti, bring,
lead. 0. Ir. has also do-fedim, I lead,
toisg", an occasion, opportunity, Ir. toisg, circumstances, state,
journey, business, M. Ir. toisc, business, 0. Ir. toisc, necessity :
"^to-sech, root, seq^ follow, as in seach.
toisgeal, the left, unlucky :
toisgeal, reward for finding a lost thing ; see taUgeal.
toit, smoke, fume, Ir. toit, M. Ir. tutt, smoke : '''tutto-, root tu, stu,
Eng. steami See toth.
toitean, a little heap ; from Eng. tuft. In the sense of " piece of
flesh," Ir. toitean, this is from t6it, roast, smoke (see t(,it),
scarcely to be derived from Fr. tot, hastily roasted, from Lat.
tostus.
tolg, tulg, a hollow in metal, dent, Ir. tolc, hole, crevice, E. Ir.
tolc, W. tolc. Rhys says W. is borrowed.
toll, a hole, Ir., E. Ir. toll, W. twll, Br. toull : *tukslo-, root tuk,
pierce, punch ; Gr. tvkos, hammer ; Ch. Slav, root tuk, pierce,
is-tiiknati, efFodere, tukalo, cusspis.
toll-dhubh, tollbooth, a gaol ; from the Eng.
tolm, a hilloch of round form ; from Norse holmr, a holm, islet,
"inch," Sc. holm, Eng. holm, Ag. S. holm, mound, billow,
Ger. holm, hill.
tom, a hillock, Ir. torn, M. Ir. tomm, W. torn, Br. das-turn, to heap :
'^tum.bo-, hillock ; Gr. rvfifBos, cairn, mound, Eng. tomb ; Skr.
tunga, high, height ; further Lat. tumulus. W. tom has been
regarded as from the Eng. tomb. But stom, Skr. stamba,
"busch."
tomad, tomult, bulk ; see somalta.
tomh, offer, threaten, M. Ir. tomaithim, 0. Ir. tomad, g. tomtho,
minationes : ^to-mat-, root mat, throw, Lit. metii, throw.
372 ETYitfoLOGiCAL Dictionary
tomhas, measure, so Ir., 0. Ir. tomus : ^to-mus, where mus
{^messu-) comes from root met, me, measure ; Lat. metiory
mensus, Eng. measure ; Gr. fxkrpov, a measure. Allied is G.
meas, q.v.
tomult, bulk : also tomad. Cf. somalta, large, bulky :
ton, anus, Ir., E. Ir. ton, W. tin : '^tuknd, tukno- (Welsh), root
teuk, Ag. S. peoh, Eug. thigh, Teut. *theuha- (Strachan,
Stokes) ; from root tu, swell.
tonn, a wave, Ir., E. Ir. tond, 0. Ir. tonii, W., Corn, ton, Br. tonn :
^tunnel, root tu, swell ; Lit. tvanas, a flood, tvinti, swell ;
further Lat. tumeo, swell, Eng. thumb. Stokes gives the
Celtic as ^tundd, Ag. S. J?edtan, howl, Norse Jyjota, whistle
(as the wind, etc.). Some have correlated it with Lat. tundo,
beat, root tund, tud, Skr. tud-, push.
t tonn, t toinnte, skin, Ir. tonn, hide, skin, E. Ir. tonn, skin,
surface, W. tonn, cutis, Br. tonnenn, rind, surface, hair of the
head : tunnd, skin, hide, whence possibly Low Lat. (9th cent.)
tunna, a cask, " wine-skin," now Eng. ton.
tonnag, a woman's shawl or plaid ; from Lat. tunica. Cf. M. Ir.
tonach, tunic.
tora, augur, Ir. tarachair, E. Ir. tarathar, 0. Cor. tarater, W.
taradr, Br. tarazr, tarar : *taratro- ; Gr. reperpov ; Lat.
terebra : root ter, through, as in thar.
toradh, produce, fruit, so Ir., 0. Ir. torad : *to-rad, from ^raio-,
root rat, ra, give, as in rath, q.v.
toranach, grub-worm, Ir. torain, corn maggots (O'B.), tordn
(Con., etc.) ; from tor, bore, as in toral
tore, a boar, Ir., 0. Ir. tore, W. twrch, Cor. torch, Br. tourc^h,
0. Br. turch : ^t-orko-s, from *orko-, in uircean, q.v. : I. E.,
porko-s, swine, Lat. porcus. Lit. parsza-s, Eng. farroiv. Stokes
gives Celtic as "^torko-s, Jubainville as *turco-s.
tore, a cleft, notch (Carm.) :
torean, species of bere, biforked carrot, Ir. turcan% (Carm.) :
torehar, a fall, killing, torehuir (vb.), Ir. tor chair, fell, 0. Ir.
torchar, I fell, doro-chair, cecidit, ara-chrinim, difficiscor, root
ker, Skr. car, break to pieces, crndmi, break ; see crion.
torghan, a purling sound ; from tor of torrunn.
torr, a hill of conic form, heap, castle, Ir. tor, tower, castle, crest,
E. Ir. tor, tuir, d. turid, a tower, W. twr. Cor. tur, Br. tour :
*turi-, *turet-, I. E. root tver, hold, enclose, Lat. turris, Gr.
TvpcTLs, tower. Some hold that the Celtic is borrowed from
Lat. G. torr, with rr, is possibly for torth (cf. '^turet-). It
also means "crowd" in G. and E. Ir., and "heap" also in W.
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 373
torrach, pregnant, Ir. torrach, pregnant, fruitful, E. Ir. torrach :
*torth-aco-^ from *torato-^ toradh, fruit, q.v. W. torwy big-
bellied, has been compared, from tor, belly, G. tarr,
torradh (torradh, H.S.D.), burial, funeral solemnities, Ir. torradh,
watching or waking of the dead, E. Ir. torroma, attending,
watching :
torrunn, thunder, Ir. toran, a great noise, E. Ir. torand, thunder,
W. tarann, Cor. taran, tonitruum : ^toranno-s ; Gr. ropos,
sound ; Lit. tarti, say. Gaul. Taranis, the Gaulish Jove or
Thor, and G. tairnea7iach show an a grade of the root.
tosd, silence, so Ir., 0. Ir. tost : "^tusto-, root tus, teus, whence
E. Ir. to, tua, silent ; 0. Pruss. tussise, silet, Ch. Slav, tichu,
silent ; Skr. tush, silere, tushnim, silently, tos, calm = clos
(Hend.).
tosg", a tusk ; from the Eng.
tosg, a hack, gash, dent (Wh.) :
tosg", a peat-cutter (Dial.) ; from Sc. tusk in tusk-spawd (Banff),
tuskar (Ork. and Sh.), tusk, cut peats. Of. Shet. tushker,
from N. torfskeri, turf-cutter.
tosgair, an ambassador or post, Ir. toisg, a journey, business.
See toisg.
tostal, arrogance, Ir. tosdal, toichiosdal (O'B.), 0. Ir. tochossol,
violation : ^to-con-sal, from sal, leap (see tuisleadh) % Also
toichiosdal.
tota, rower's bench, turf ; see tobhta.
toth, a foul blast of vapour, also stoth, q.v. ; see toit for root.
trabhach (trabhach, M'F.), rubbish cast ashore, the grass fiorin ;
from traigh 1 Cf., however, drabhas. traibfieanach, bedraggled
fellow (R.D.). Cf. Sc. drab.
trabhailt, mill-hopper (M'A.) ; possibly from Lat. trabula.
trachdadh, negotiating, proposal, so Ir. ; from Lat. tracto, treat.
trachladh, fatigue ; from Sc. trachle, draggle, fatiguing exertion.
tradh, a lance, fishing spear, Ir. tradh, lance, treagh, spear ; from
the root tar, tra (see thar), through, Lat. trdgula, a dart.
traigh, the shore, Ir. trdigh, E. Ir. trdig : *trdgi- ; see traogh.
trail!, a slave, Ir. traill (O'B.), M. Ir. trdill (not well known to
glossographers) ; from Norse Jyraell, Eng. thrall.
traille, the fish tusk :
trait, troidht, a poultice, cataplasm, rag, Ir. treata {treata, Con.),
plaster :
tramailt, a whim (M'A.) :
trang, busy ; from Sc. tkrang, Eng. throng.
traod, one wasting away with sickness (Hend.); cf. Ir. (Keat.
traothaim, wear out, am weary.
374 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
traogh, ebb, Ir. trdighim^ traoghaim, E. Ir. trdgivi, W. treio, ebb,
trai, ebb-tide, traeth, shore : *trdg6, from trdg, I. E. tragh,
draw, Lat. traho, etc. ; see troidh for root.
traona, the corncrake, Ir. traona ; see trean-ri-trean.
trapan, a cluster, Ir. trapdn :
trasd, across, trasdan, cross beam, crozier, 0. Ir. trost, trabs, from
tar, tra of thar. Cf. W. trawst, rafter, which Stokes and
Loth think to be borrowed from Lat. transtrum, as also 0. Ir.
trost mentioned above. Sc. has ti'-ast or trest, beam, from
early Fr. traste, Lat. transtrum.
trasg, a fast, Ir. trosgadh, 0. Ir. troscud : ^trusko, '*'trud-sk6, root
trud, distress, burden, Lat. trudo, push, Eng. threaten. See
trod, trom.
trath, time, season, Ir., E. Ir. trdth : ^trdtu-, root tra, tar, through
(see thar). Cf. W. tro, turn, time, Br. tro, occasion, round ;
Eng. turn.
tre, through, Ir. tre, tre, . E. Ir. tre, tria, tri, 0. Ir. tri, tri, tre,
0. W. troi, now trwy, Cor., Br. dre, 0. Br. tre, dre : ^trei,
"^tri, root ter, pass over, through ; Lat. trans, across ; Skr.
tirds, through, over, Zd. tar 6 (do.). See the root in thar,
tora, troimh ; also in Eng. through.
treabh, plough, till, Ir. treabhaim, E. Ir. trebaim, inhabit, cultivate,
treh, a dwelling, W. tref, homestead, 0. W., 0. Br. treb :
^trebo-, a house ; Lat. tribus, trebus, a tribe, Eng. tribe ; Eng.
thorp ; Lit. trobd, dwelling, building. Hence treabhair,
houses, treibhireach, prudent.
treabha, a thrave ; from Norse J^refi, Eng. thrave.
treachail, dig, treachladh (1) digging (2) fatiguing : *tre-clad\
for (1) see cladh and cf. tochail ; for (2) cf. Sc. trachle.
treaghaid, a darting pain, stitch, Ir. treagh{d)aim, I pierce
through, M. Ir. treghat, pangs, smart, treaglad, transpiercing ;
Ir. treagh, a spear : " piercing." See tradh.
trealaich, lumber, trash, Ir. trealamh, lumber, apparel, instru-
ments, E. Ir. trelam, weapons, furniture, apparel : '''tre-lam \
for lam, see ullamJi.
trealais, the spleen (M'F.) :
trealamh, indisposition (M'F.) :
trealbhaidh, adult, grown-up (M'A. for Islay) :
treall, treallan, a short space or time, Ir. treall, M. Ir. trell, root
ter, through, Eng. thrill, pierce.
tr6an-ri-tr6an, corn-crake, Ir. traona :
treann, cut (Carm.) :
treas, third, Ir. treas, 0. Ir. tress : "^tristo-, from tris, thrice, Gr.
T/ots, Skr. tris, root tri of tri, three. W. trydydd, third, is for
*tritijo-s.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 375
t treas, battle, skirmish, Ir. treas, E. Ir. tress. For root, cf. the
next word. W. has trm^ battle, bustle, treis, violence,
treasa, stronger, Ir, treas^ strong, treise^ stronger, 0. Ir. tressa, W.
trech, fortior, Br. trec'h : *treksj6s, fortior, root treg, streg,
sterg, strong, Eng. stark, Lit. stregti, stiffen, Pers. suturg
C^strg), strong. Stokes refers it to the root treg, trag, draw,
leap, as in troigh, traogh. See treun further ; treasa is its
comparative really.
treasdach, thorough-paced (of a horse) ; cf. Ir. trosddn, a pace,
jump ; root treg, draw, walk, as in troigh.
treasg", refuse of brewed malt, groats, Ir. treasumha, dross, copper
dross, treascach, draffy, M. Ir. tresc, refuse, ofFal : "^tre-sco ?
treibhireach (treibhdhireach, Dictionaries), prudent, upright,
0. Ir. trebar, prudent, M. Ir. trehaire, prudence ; from treh of
treabh, q.v.
tr^ig, forsake, Ir. treigim, E. Ir. trecmi, W. trancu, perish :
^tranhjo, abandon, root trak, push, press, as in durachd
(Stokes),
treis, a while, space, also greis, Ir. treihhse, dreibhse (O'B.),
treimhse (Con.) ; see greis.
treisg, treisginn, weaver's paste, trash (M'A., Arg.), Ir. treisgin
(Con., etc.), dreislinn (Monaghan) ; cf. Sc. dre.^sing.
treodhair, a smith's nail mould, Ir. treoir, treoir ; from ire, tremi,
through %
treoir, strength, Ir. treoir, conduct, strength, M. Ir. treprach,
strong, E. Ir. treoir, vigour : *treg-ri-, root treg of treasa.
tre6raich, guide, Ir. treoruighim, M. Ir. treoraigim : ^trag-ri-, root
trag of troigh %
treubh, a tribe ; from Lat. tribus, a tribe. See treabh.
treubhach, valorous, strenuous, treubhantas, bravery ; for
"^treuntas, from wdiich treubhach is deduced. M'Kinnon
(Gael. Soc. TrP, 341) refers it to treubh, tribe.
treud, flock, heard, Ir. tread, treud, E. Ir. tret : "^trento-, root trem,
Lat. turma, troop, Ag. S. Jyrurria, heap, company (Strachan,
Stokes). Windisch has compared Gr. o-T/oaros (*strntos) to
treud.
treun, brave, Ir. treun, 0. Ir. tren, fortis, W. tren, strenuous,
force : *tregno-, root treg of treasa, q.v. Stokes gives the
Celtic as ^treksno-, W'hich would produce *tresno-, modern
treann.
tri, three, Ir., 0. Ir. tri, W. tri. Cor. try, Br. tri : '^'treis \ Lat. tres
i^trei-es) ; Gr. rpeU j Got. preis, Eng. three ; Lit. trys ; Skr.
trdyas.
trlall, going, journey, Ir. triall, E. Ir. triall : "^tri-all, " go-
through," root ell of tadhal '?
376 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
trian, third part, a third, Ir., E. Ir. trian, W. traian : *treisano- ;
see treas, tri.
triath, lord, chief, E. Ir. triath : "^treito-s. Stokes compares Lat.
trttavus, stritavus, ancestor in the 6th degree.
trie, frequent, often, Ir. ti'-ic, E. Ir. trice : '^trekki-, root treg of
troigh (Stokes, Strachan).
trid, trid, through, by, Ir. trid, E. Ir. trit, per eum, id : "^trei-t,
from root trei of tre, through ; the final -t is the demon-
strative pron. to (Eng. that, Gr. to) ; a pron. *em-ti, *en-ti
(Stokes).
trid, rag, clout, stitch ; " Cha'n 'eil trid air " :
trileanta, thrilling, quavering ; cf. E. Ir. trilech, song, 0. Ir.
trirech, song of birds. Cf. Eng. trill, Ital. trillme, Sp. trinar :
an initiative word, Eng. thrill is from the root tre, ter (see
tor a), " piercing," which may also be the ultimate origin of
the G. words.
t trilis, locks of hair, Ir. trilis (obs.), E. Ir. triliss ; cf. Eng. tress,
from Lat. tricia, trica, plait, Gr. Tpi\a, in three parts, root
tri, three.
trill, sand plover (Heb., Miss Freer) :
trilleachan, trileachan (drilleachan, M'A.), the pied oyster-
catcher, sea-piet :
trillsean (drillsean, M'A.), lantern, rush-light, a glimmer, Ir.
trilisedn, torch, lantern, earlier trilsen, facula, trillsech, spark-
ling : " piercing," from tre, ter, as in trileanta ?
trinnseir, a plate, trencher, Ir. trinsiur ; from Eng. tre^icher.
triotalaid, trouble, tribulation, Ir. triobloid, E. Ir. treblait ; from
Lat. tribulatio, Eng. tribulation.
triobuail, vibrate, quiver ; from Eng. tremble %
trionaid, a trinity, Ir. trionoid, trionoid, E. Ir. trinoit, 0. Ir. trin-
dbit ; from Lat. trinitdt-, trinitas, a trinity, from tres, three.
The Gadelic is developed from *trin{i)tdti-.
triubhas, trews, trousers, Ir. trius, M. Ir. tribus, 0. Ir. trebus,
breeches, L. Lat. tubrucus (Isidore), tribuces (Du Cange),
" thigh breeches" (D' Arbois) ; from Sc. trews, Eng. trooze,
trouses, now trousers, trunkhose.
triucair, a rascal ; from Sc. truker, trukier, a deceitful person,
from 0. Fr. tricher, to trick, allied to Eng. trick.
triuchan, a stripe of distinguishing colours in tartan :
triuthach, triuth (M'F.), hooping cough, triogh (M'A.), a fit of
laughing or coughing, Ir. triuch, trioch : root pster of
sreothart 1
trobhad, come thou hither to me ; opposite of thug^ad : ^to-ro'-ad,
*to-romh-t, " to before you ?"
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 377
tr6cair, mercy, Ir., 0. Ir. frocaire, W. trugaredd, Cor. tregereth,
M. Br. trugarez, 0. W. trucarauc, merciful : ^trougo-kai^ja,
" loving of the wretched," from the roots of truagh and car,
love,
trod, a quarrel, scolding, Ir. troid, M. Ir. trot, quarrel, combat,
trottach, quarrelsome : '^truddo-, root trud, distress, bother ;
Eng. threat, Norse Jyrjota, fail, lack ; Lat. trudo, push, Eng.
obtrude ; Ch. SI. trudu, difficulty.
trog, raise, trogail, raising, Manx troggal, earlier trogell : to-ro-od-
gab, that is to say, tog with the prep, ro inserted. See tog.
Rhys [Manx PrayP-, 138) compares E. Ir. turcbdl, a rising (as
of the sun) : "^to-for-gab-.
trog, trash (Dial.), busy dealing, trog, busy dealing, from Sc.
troke, to bargain, barter, trog, old clothes, troggin, pedlar's
wares, Eng. truck, from Fr. troquer, barter, truck.
trogbhoil, grumbling (M'A.), trogbhail, quarrel (Nich., trogbhail,
Arm., Sh., O'R.) :
troich, a dwarf ; see droich.
trdidht, cataplasm, rags, shapeless worn shoe (Skye) ; see trait.
troigh, misspelt troidh, a foot, Ir. troigh, 0. Ir. traig, g. traiged,
W. traed, 0. Cor. truit, pes, M. Br. troat : ^traget- {^troget- ?),
foot, root trag, leap, draw, Gaul, vertragos, greyhound ; I. E.
tragh ; Got. }>ragjan, run, Ag. S. Jyrah, course ; Lat. traho,
draw.
troileis, any trifling thing ; founded on Eng. trifles 1
troimh, through, 0. Ir. tremi-, trans-, super- : *trimo-, from tri of
tre. For the mi or mh, cf. roimh, comh-.
trom, heavy, Ir. trom, 0. Ir. tromm, W. trwm. Cor. trom, Br.
trourti, : trud-s-mo-s, " oppressive," from trud, oppress, distress ;
Got. us-J?riutan, oppress, Eng. threat ; Lat. trudo, push. See
trod further. For other views, see Rhys' Lect.'^, 1 14, Zimmer
Zeit.^S 208.
troman, dwarf, elder, Ir. tromdn, 0. Ir. tromm, g. truimm ; also
G. droman (M'A.) :
tromb, the Jew's harp ; from Sc. trump (do.), Eng. trump, from
Fr. trompe.
trombaid, a trumpet, Ir. trompa, L. M. Ir. trompadh ; from the
Eng.
troraid, a spire, steeple (M'F.) ; founded on Eng. turret.
trosdail, dull, seriously inclined, Ir. trosdamhuil, serious, con-
fident :
trosdan, a crutch, support, Ir. trostdn, crutch, pilgrim's staff, W.
trostan, long slender pole. See trasd for root.
46
378 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
tros^, a codfish, Ir. trosg ; from Norse ]?orshr, Dan. torsh, Ger.
dorsch.
trot, trot, trotan, trotting ; from the Eng.
truacantas, compassion, Ir. truacdnta (O'B.) : *troug-can-^
" expressing pity," from truagh and can, say.
truagh, wretched, pitiful, so Ir., E. Ir. triiag, 0. Ir. trhg, W. tru.
Corn, troc, miser, Br. tru, Gaul. Trogos : "^trougo-, miser, root
streug, rub, wear ; Gr. crrpevyofjiaL, am worn out, distressed ;
Ch. SI. strugati, scratch, distress. Lit. strugaa, carving instru-
ment ; Norse strjuka, to stroke, Ger. straucheln, stumble
(Windisch, Prellwitz). Stokes refers it to the root of Norse
}>ruga, press, J?rugan, compulsion, 0. H. G. druh, compes.
From Celtic comes Eng. t7uant.
truaill, a sheath, so Ir., E. Ir. truaill : *troud-s-li-, root trend,
trud, push ; Eng. thrust, Lat. trudo. Saa further trod, trom.
truaill, pollute, violate, Ir. truaillim, E. Ir. trualnim, 0. Ir.
drudilnithe, corruptus, oellned, inquinatio, illuvies, elnithid,
violator, from eln-, 0. Ir. as-lenaimm, polluo, G. root len {len,
Ascoli), foedare (Lat. lino, smear, as in lean 1). Ascoli
analyses truaill into der-uad-len {der- intensive), while
Thurneysen refers the tru-, dm-, to the root of Lat. trux,
trucis. dru-es-len (Stokes). E. Ir. tru, wretched, Eng. throe
(Stokes).
trudair, a stammerer, a dirty or obscene person, Ir. trudaire, a
stammerer (Lh., O'B., Con.). In the first sense, the word is
Ir. ; in the second sense, it is G. only, and likely of the same
origin as trusdar. Norse Jyrjotr, knave, bad debtor, has been
adduced as its origin.
truilleach, a dirty or base person, filthy food : *trus-lic-, root trus
as in trusdar '? Or from Sc. trolie, a person of slovenly
habits, trollop^
truis, tear, snatch, truss ; from Sc. truss, to eat in a slovenly,
scattering fashion (Ork.), Icel. tros, Eng. trash. In the sense
of " truss," the G. is from Eng. truss. Hence the cry to dogs
to get out — truis !
triip, a troop ; from the Eng.
trus, truss or bundle, collect, Ir. trusdalaim, truss up, girdle, W.
trwsa, a truss ; from Eng. truss, 0. Fr. trusser, from L. Lat.
tortiare, tortus, twisted. See also triuhhas.
trusdar, a filthy fellow, filth ; cf. Ir., E. Ir. trist, curse, profligacy,
L. Lat. tristus, improbus.
trusgan, clothes, apparel, Ir. truscdn, trosgdn, clothes, furniture ;
founded on trus. Cf. Eng. trousseau from the same origin.
truthair, a traitor, villain ; from Sc. trucker, deceiver, trickster ?
Or from Eng. traitor 1 Cf. trudair.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 379
tu, thu, thou, Ir., 0. Ir. tu, W. t% Corn, ty^ te, Br. te : "^^w ; Lat.
tu ; Gr. (TV ; Eng. thou ; Priiss. tou ; Zd. tu.
tuagh, axe, so Ir., M. Ir. tuag, E. Ir. tuagach, hitting : *tougd
root teugh, tuq, hit, strike j Gr. Tev\iM, fashion, tukos,
hammer, rvKavr], flail ; Ch. SI. tukalo, cuspis. Stokes prefers
comparison with Skr. tuj, hit {*tug).
tuaicheal, dizziness, tuachioll (Sh.), winding, eddying, moving
against the sun, left-about : *to-fo-ceU (for cell, see timchioll),
Ir. tuachail, goi^ig? confused with *tuath-cell, " left (north)
going " % Of. tuaineal.
tuaileas, reproach, scandal, so Ir. (Lh., O'B., etc.) : "^to-fo-less ;
from *lisso-, blame, discussed under leas-1
tuailt, tubhailt, a towel ; Ir. tudhoille ; from the Eng.
tuainig*, unloose (Dial.) ; see tualaig.
tuaineal, dizziness, stupor, Ir. toineall, swoon, trance (Dineen) :
*to-fo-in-el, root ell of tadhal *? Or "^to-fo-neul 1
tuaiream, a guess, aim, vicinity, Ir. tuairim ; also tuairmse :
^to-for~med-, root med of meas.
tuaireap, turbulence :
tuairgneadh, confusion, sedition, Ir, iuargdn, noise, discontent :
tuairisgeul, description, report, Ir. tuarasgbhdil, M. Ir. tuarascbal,
description, 0. Ir. tuarascbaim, for to-for-as-gab-, root gab of
gabh.
tuairmeis, hit on, discover : "^do-fo-air-mes^s ; see eirmis.
tuairneag, anything round, a boss, tidy female, tuairnean, a
mallet, beetle, Ir. tuairnin, mallet ; cf. next word.
tuairnear, a turner, Ir. turnoir ; from the Eng.
tuaisd, a dolt, sloven, tuaisdeach, unseemly :
tuaitheal, wrong, left-wise, Ir. tuaithbhil, E. Ir. tuathbil ; from
tuath and seal : see deiseil for latter root and form. Ir. has
tuathal, the left hand, awkward.
tualaig, loose (Arm.), have flux, tuanlaig {n. elided, Perth),
tuainig, tuanag, loosening (Dial.) : from leig, "^to-fo-leig.
tuam, tuama, a tomb, Ir. tuama ; from Lat. tumba, Eng. tomb.
tuar, food, 0. Ir. tuare : *taurio-, root staur, place, store, Eng.
store, Skr. sthdvara, fixed : root sta.
tuar, hue, appearance ; cf. Ir., M. Ir. tuar, an omen, presage :
*to-vor-, root ver, vor, oi fhuair^.
tuarasdal, wages, so Ir., M, 1y. tuarustul, tuarastal: ^to-fo-ar as-
tal, root tal, tel, take, lift, M. Ir. taile, salarium, W. tdl, pay-
ment. Cor., Br. tal, solvit ; I. E. tel ; Gr. reXos, tax, rdXavTov,
talent ; Lat. tollo ; Eng. thole. See tail, tldth.
tuasaid, a quarrel, fight, Ir. fuasaoid, animosity, spite, E. Ir.
fuasait, " entwickelung," development : to-fo-ad-sedd-, G.
380 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
root sedd from sizd, si-sed, set, " set-to " being the idea 1
Root sed of suidhe. But cf . faosaid.
tuasg'ail, loose, untie, Ir. tuaslagadh, releasing, E. Ir. tuaslaicim :
^to-fo-as-lec-im, from lee of leig, let, q.Y.
tuath, people, tenantry, so Ir., 0. Ir. tuath, populus, W. tud,
country, nation. Cor. tus, Br. tud, Gaul. Tout-, Teuto- : *toutd,
people ; Lat. Umbr. toto, state, Oscan tilvtu, populus, Lat.
totus, all ; Got. J?iuda, people, Teutonic, Deutsch, German,
Dutch ; Lettic tduta, people, 0. Pruss. tauto, land.
tuath, north, Ir. tuath, tuaith, 0. Ir. tuath, left, north : "^toutd,
"^touto-s (adj.), left hand, left, " good," Got. ^^jm^J, good; cf.
Gr. evoivvixos, left hand, " good-omened." Rhys {Manx
Fray.^, 62) suggests that the root is su, turn (see iompaidh) :
^do-hitth i^to-su-), "turning to" ; W. asivy or aseu, left hand,
being also hence — "^ad-sou-i-.
tuba, a tub ; from the Eng.
tubaist, mischance, M. G. tubbiste (D. of L.), Arran G. tiompaiste,
Ir. tubaiste :
tuban, tuft of wool on the distaff ; see toban.
tuch, smother, become hoarse, tuchan, hoarseness : *t-uch ; cf.
W. ig, sob, hiccup.
tudan, a small heap or stack (dud, M'A.) :
tug, brought ; see thug.
tugaidean, witticisms (Dial., H.S.D.) :
tugha, thatch, covering, tugh (vb.), Ir. tuighe (n.), tuighim (vb.),
E. Ir. tuga, tvgim, W. to, a cover, thatch, toi, tegere, Cor. to,
tectum, Br. to, toenn : *togio-, '^togo-, root tog, steg, as in tigh,
teach.
tughag, a patch :
tuig, understand, Ir. tuigim, 0. Ir. tuiccim, tucci7)i : *to-od-ges-,
root ges of tug. Some have given the stem as "^to-od-cesi, root
qes of chi ; but this would give G. tuic. 0. Ir. tuicse, electus :
*to-cd-gus-, root gus, taste, Eng. gusto.
tuil, a flood, Ir., 0. Ir. tuile : "^tidid, root tu, swell; Gr. r-uAos,
knob, weal ; Skr. tfila, tuft ; Eng. thumb, tumid, etc. (See
tukich). So Stokes ZeifJ^, 235. The 0. Ir. root ol, to flood,
abound, gives tolam, a flood, imrbl, foroil, abundance, etc.
The root pol, pel has ;dso been suggested, as in iol-.
tuilis, overloading stomach (Carm.) :
tuille, tuilleadh, more (n.), Ir. tuille, tuilleadh, addition, tuilleamh,
wages, addition, E. Ir. tuilled, tuillem, addition, inf. to tuillim,
enhance, deserve, as in G. toill. Two words are mixed :
"^to-eln-, deserve, and to-oln, much, more, E. Ir. oil, great,
huilliu, plus, ^olnios, root^j'o^, pel, many, Gr. ttoAvs, Lat. plus
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 381
etc. (see iol). Stokes equates the 0. Ir. uilliu, oil, with Lat.
pollere, which is from *pol-no-, root jpol as above (Wharton).
The G. syntax of tuille shows its comparative force in tuille
na (more than) as well as tuille agus, Ir. tuilleadh agus
(addition and).
tuimhseadh, beating, thumping, tuinnse, a blow {Gael. Soc. Tr}^,
260), M. Ir, tuinsiTii, calco, tuinsem, bruising, '^to-ud-nessim
(Str. ) ; founded on Lat. tundo, beat. Stokes queries if cognate.
tuineadh, an abode, possession, Ir. tumidhe, possession (O'CL),
E. Ir. tunide ; also tuiniieadh (Ir. and G.) : "^to-nes-, root
nes as in comhnuidh, q.v.
tuinneasach, deathful, Ir. tuinneamh, tuineamh, death :
tuinnidh, firm, hard, Ir. tuinidhe (O'B., Sh.), immovable, clocha
tuinidhe ; from tuineadh, the idea being " settled, fixed."
tuir, relate, tuireadh, relating, Ir. tuirtheachda, relation, rehearsal,
E. Ir. turthiud, pi. tuirtheta, tale, from ret, run (as in riiith).
Cf, aithris. E. I. tuirem, reciting, is from ^to-rim, root rwi,
number (as in aireamh).
tuireadh, a dirge, lamentation, Ir. tuireamh, dirge, elegy ; for root
see tuirse.
tuireann, a spark of fire from an anvil, Ir. tuireann (O'B., etc.),
E. Ir. turend (I) : *t<>-rind % For rind, see reannag.
tuireasg, a saw, Ir. tuiriosg, E. Ir. turesc : "^tar-thesc, from teasg,
cut. q.v.
tuirl, tuirling", descend, Ir. tuirlingim, E. Ir. tairlingim, 0. Ir.
doarblaing, desilit * to-air-ling- ; for ling, jump, see leum.
tuirse, sadness, Ir. tuirse, M. Ir. tor, sad, E. Ir. toirsi, tord, 0. Ir.
toris, toirsech, tristis ; root tor, ter, tre, Lat. tristis, sad.
tuis, incense, Ir., M. Ir., E. Ir. tilis ; from Lat. tils, Gr. dvos.
tuisleadh, a stumbling, fall, so Ir., 0. Ir. tuisled, prolapsio, tuisel,
casus, dofuislim, labo : "^to-fo-ess-sal-im, root sal, spring ; Lat.
salio, leap, dance, Eng. insult] Gr. aXXofiat, leap; cf. Lit.
seleti, glide, creep. Ascoli analyses it into "^'to-fo-isl-, where
isl is what remains of isel or losal, low.
tuit, fall, Ir. tuitim, 0. Ir. tuitim, inf. tutimm, ace. pi. totman, also
tothimm, "^tod-tim, Gadelic root -tini-, W, codivni, a fall (cf. Ir.
cudai7n), codymu, cadere, Cor. codlia; cf. Eng. tumble,Fi\ toniher,
fall. Usually explained as *to-fo-thet-, from theid, which would
naturally be tuid in (7., even granting that the crasis of
-ojothe- simply landed in -ui-, not to mention the inf. in pre-
served m (tulteam). Root tud (Thur.) ; to-tud ^ think.
tul, entirely, Ir. tut (i.e. tuile, O'CL), increase, flood : an adverbial
use of the root form of tuil, flood 1 Cf . Ir. tola, superfluity.
tul, fire, hearth, heap (Carm.) :
382 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
tulach, a hillock, Ir., E. Ir. tulach ; root tu, swell ; Gr. rvXo%
knob, TvXr) (y long), swelling, weal ; Lat. tumor ^ tuber ^ a
swelling ; Eng. thmnh.
tulag, the fish whiting, Ir. tullog, the pollock ; cf. pollag.
tulchann, tulchainn, a gable, posterior, Ir. tulchdn, hillock ; from
tulach ?
tulchuiseach, plucky (Hend.) :
turn, dip, tumadh, dipping, so Ir., E. Ir. tummim: *tumh6 ; Lat.
tinguo, tingo, wet, Eng. tiyige, tincture ; 0. G. H. duncon, dip,
Ger. tunken, dip, steep,
tunna, a tun, ton, Ir., E. Ir. tunna ; Ag. S. tunne^ M. Eng. tonne,
Norse tunna, Ger. tonne ; all from Lat. tunna, a cask. Stokes
(^Bez. Beit}^) suggests borrowing from the Norse ; Kluge
regards the words as of Celtic origin. On this see ttonn.
tunnachadh, beating, dashing ; see tuimhseadh.
tunnag, a duck, Ir. tonnog %
tunnsgadh, upheaval (R. D.) :
tur, gu tur, entirely, Ir. tura, plenty (tura namhad, plenty of
enemies), E. Ir. tor, a crowd (dat. tur) ; see tbrr.
tur, a tower, Ir. tur ; from M. Eng. tour, tur, from 0. Fr. tur, Lat.
turris.
tur, understanding ; cf. M. Ir. tur, research, examination, 0. Ir.
tuirini, rotuiraet, scrutati sunt, for to-fo-shirim, from sir, search,
turadh, dry weather, tur, dry (without condiment), so Ir., E. Ir.
turud, terad, adj. tur, dry, tair : root tor, ter of tioram %
turag", a trifling illness (as of a child) — Arg :
turaman, rocking, nodding ; see turrahan.
turcais, tweezers (M'A.), pincers ; see durcaisd.
turguin, destruction (H.S.D. from MSS.), M. Ir. tuarcain, smiting,
E. Ir. tuarcaim (dat.), hitting : "^to-fo-argim, root org, 0. Ir.
orgun, orcun, occisio, 0. Br. orgiat, Caesar's Gaul. Orgeto-rix :
*urg-, root vrg, verg, press, Lat. urgeo. Stokes suggests
connection with Gr. ep^xOo), tear ; Bezzenberger gives Zend
areza, battle, fight ; Brugmann compares Skr. rghdyati, raves,
rages, 0. H. G. arg, what is vile or bad.
turlach, a large fire : "^t-ur-lach, from Ir. ur, ur, fire, Gr. izvp, Eng.
jire.
turlach, a bulky, squat person ; see torr, turadh. Cf. W. twrllach,
a round lump,
turlas, small cupboard (Perth) ; see tairleas.
turloch, a lake that dries in summer, Ir. turloch ; from tur and
loch.
turn, a turn, job ; from the Eng.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 383
turraban, turraman, rocking of the body, nodding, grief (turadan,
Sh.). Hence turra-chadal, a slumbering drowsiness,
" nodding sleep " :
turra^, an accident :
turradh, a surprise, taking unawares (Skye) :
turraig, air do thurraig, at stool (M'A.) :
turram, a soft sound, murmur ; onomatopoetic. But cf. toirm,
torrunn.
turtur, a turtle, so Ir., W. turtur ; from Lat. turtur.
turus, a journey, Ir., E. Ir. turtis, 0, Ir. tururas, incursus, aururas,
properatio : "^to-reth-s-tu, root, ret, run (see ruith).
tus, the beginning, Ir. tus, 0. Ir. tuus, tus, W. tywys, leading ; see
tbiseach.
tut, interjection of cold or impatience; from Eng. tut. See thud.
tut, a quiet breaking of wind, stench, Ir. tut, M. Ir. tutt, stench :
allied to toit, q.v. Cf. Keating's tutmhar, smoky.
tuthan, a slut (Arm., M'L.), Ir. tuthdn ; from the root of the
above word.
U
ua, 0, from, Ir. ua, 6, 0. Ir. ua, hua, 6 : "^ava, ab ; Skr, dva, ab,
off; Lat. an- {au-fero), away ; Ch. SI. u-, ab, away. See o.
uabairt, expulsion : "^od-bert-, prefixed by ua 1 from the root her
(in heir).
uabhar, pride, so Ir., 0. Ir. uahar, vainglory, W. ofer, waste, vain
(Ascoli) : ^ouhro-, root eug, rise, Gr. t'^/ot?, insolence (see
nasal). It has also been analysed into "^ua-her like uabairt =
" e-latio," elation.
uachdar, surface, summit, so Ir., 0. Ir. uachtar, ochtar : "^ouktero-,
root eug, veg, rise, be vigorous, as in uasal, q.v. Cf. W. uthr,
admirandus.
uadh- in uadh-bheist, monster, uadh-chrith, terror ; see uath
below.
uaigh, a grave, Ir. uaigh, M. Ir, uag, E, Ir. uag, "^augd, allied to
Got. augo, eye, Eng. eye. See for force dearc. So Stokes,
and rightly.
uaigneach, secret, lonesome, so Ir., M. Ir. uagnech : *uath-gen-,
"lonesome-kind," from uath, lonesome, single; Norse au^r,
empty. Got. aujys, waste, desert ; Lat, otium, rest.
uaill, pride, Ir. uaill, E, Ir. uaill, 0. Ir. uall : *ouhsld, root eug,
veg of uasal.
uaimh, a cave, den, Ir. uaimh, g. uamha, M. Ir. uaim, g. uama,
0. Ir. huam, specus (also hudd, specu) : *ou7nd. Bezzenberger
suggests *poumd, allied to Gr. Trw/xa, a lid ("^Trtov/xa) ; Strachan
384 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
compares Gr. evv-q, bed (Ger. ivohnen, dwell). W. ogof, cave,
den, is correlated by Ascoli.
uaine, green, Ir. uaine, uaithne, E. Ir. uane. Strachan suggests
the possibility of a Gadelic ^ugnio-, root veg, be wet, Gr.
vypos, wet (see feur).
uainneart, bustle, wallowing, Ir. tlnfuirt, wallowing, tumbling ;
also G. aonairt, aonagail :
uair, an hour, Ir. uair, 0. Ir. huar, uar, g. Iwre, W. au>7', Cor. our,
0. Br. aor, Br. eur, heur ; from Lat. hora, Eng. hour. Hence
uaireadair, a watch, tm\e-^\eee,lv.uairead6ir ('''horatorium?).
uaisle, pride, nobility, so Ir. ; from iiasal, q.v.
uallach, a burden, Ir. ualach : ^podl-; O.H.G. fazza, a bundle,
Ger. fassen, hold (Strachan). Also G. eallach, q.v.
uallach, gay, proud, so Ir. ; from itaill.
uamhag", sheep-louse :
uamharr, dreadful, Ir. uatlwihar, E. Ir. itathmar ; from uath, fear,
q.v. Used adverbially, like Eng. aivfully, to denote excess.
Dial, uarraidh.
uamhas, dread, horror, uathbhas, Ir. uathhhds, E. Ir. uathbhds :
"^uath-hds, " dread death" ; see uath and has.
uamhunn, horror, Ir. uamhan, awe, horror, E. Ir. uamun^ homan,
0. Ir. omun, homon, rarely dmun, fear, W. ofn, fear, awe.
Cor. own, Br. aoun, Gaul, -obnos, Ex-ohnus. Fearless : ^obno-s,
fear. Bez. cfs. Got. hi-abrjan, be astounded (but abrs means
" powerful "), and Gr. a^vw, suddenly.
uan, a lamb, Ir., M. Ir. uan, W. oen, pi. ivyn, Cor. oin, Br. oan :
^ogno-s ; Lat. agnus ; Gr. dfjLv6<s (for df^vos) \ Ch. SI. jagne ;
also Ag. S. eanian, to yean or lamb (^aunon).
uar, waterfall, heavy shower, confluence (Sutherland Dial.), Ir.,
E. Ir. liardn, fresh spring ; see fuaran. Arm. has uaran,
fresh water.
uarach, hourly, temporary (H.S.D), homely (M'L.) ; from uair.
uasal, noble, proud, Ir., 0. Ir. uasal, W. ucliel, Br. uhel, huel,
Gaul, uxello- : ^oukselo-, high, root eug, veg, rise, increase ;
Gr. i)j/'7yA,os, high, av^w, increase ; Lat. augeo, increase, vigeo,
be strong ; Eng. up, Ger. auf ; Lit. duksztas, high,
t uath, dread, Ir. uath, 0. Ir. uath, Cor. uth, Br. eus, heuz, horror ;
'^pouto-, root pu, foul ; Lat. putris, Eng. putrid, foul 1
ub ! ubub ! interjection of contempt or aversion, 0. Ir. upp.
ubag, utaaidh, a charm, Ir. uptha, upadh, sorcerer, 0. Ir. upta,
fascinatio, uptha, Manx obbee, sorcery : *od-ba-t-, from ba,
speak (see ob, refuse). Zimmer refers it to root ben of bean,
hurt, touch,
ubairt, rummaging among heavy articles, bustle (Dial.) ; see
ubraid.
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 385
ubh ! ubh ! interjection of diso-ust or amazement ; of. Eng. iiliexv.
ubh, an egg, Jr. uhli^ ugk, 0. Ir. og, ub (?), W. wy, pi. ivyan, Cor.
uy, oy, Br. ?<, vi : ^ogo.s ; (jv. o'y/Seov, egg, furtlier (oov, Lat.
ovum, Eng. egg. The phonetics as l)etween Celtic and the
other languages is somewhat ditticult ; but the connection
is indisputable.
ubhal, apple, Ir. ubhall, E. Ir. ahall, uhidl, O. Ir. aball, W. afal,
Cor. auallen, Br. avallen : "^abaUo-^ "^(ihallon- ; Eng apple^
Ger. apfel ; Lit. obulys. Stokes now (]ueries Ger. o6.s^, fruit,
0. H. G. obaz, Ag. S. ofef, fruit.
ubhla, a fine, penalty :
ubraid, confusion, dispute, also iiprait : *nd-hert-, from her of
beir.
ucas, ug^sa, coal-fish, stenlock :
uchd, the breast, so Ir., 0. Ir. ucht : ^poktu- ; Lat. pectus ^ Stokes
and Bezzenberger give '^puptu-, Lettic pups, woman's breast,
Lit. 'pdpas, breast (Eng. pap from Lat. pxippa). St. now
gives ^o^'i7^s, allied to pectus. See iochd.
ud, yon, yonder, Ir. ud, E. Ir. ut ; for sud [sat), q.v. For loss of
s, cf. the article.
udabac, outhouse, porch, back-house (udabac, Uist) ; from Norse
uti-bak, "out-back "^
udail, cause to shake, waver, remove, Ir. uchtihall, quick, stirring
(O'Cl.), 0. Ir. utniall, unsteady, utmaille, instability : ut of
sud-\-tamall (Rhys).
udail, inhospitable, churlish, udlaidh, gloomy , cf. Norse utlagi,
an outlaw, utlagd', outlawry.
udalan, a swivel, Ir. udaldn (Fob, O'li.) ; from udail. Cf. hidna/u.
udhar, a boil, ulcer ; also othar, q.v.
udlaiche, a stag, old hart (Arm.) :
udrathad, utraid, free egress and regress to common pasture ;
from the Norse — cf. iUrei&, an expedition, "out-roacl."
ug'an, the upper part of the breast, Ir. ugdn, craw of a fowl,
ugann, fish gill (Heb.) :
Ughdair, author, Ir. lighdar, E. Ir. ugtar, 0. Ir. augtor ; from Lat.
auctor.
Ugsa, coal-fish ; see ucas.
uibe, a mass, lump (as of dough), iob ; cf. faob : *ud-bio-, " out-
being." But cf. Lat. ojfa, ball,
uibhir, a number, quantity, Ir. uibhir, uimhir, E. Ir. numir,
number ; from Lat. numerus, Eng. number.
uidh (uidh), care, heed, Ir. uidh (obs.), 0. Ir. oid ; see taidhe.
uidh, a ford, that part of a stream leaving a lake before breaking
into a current ; also an isthmus (M'Kinnon, uidli, aoi) ; from
47
386 ETYMOLOniCAT. DICTIONARY
Norse eW, an isthmus, neck of land. Hence Eye or Ul near
Stornoway, older Ey, Huy, Eie.
uidh, uidhe, a journey, distance, Ir. uidhe, E. Ir. tide, 0. Ir. kuide,
profectio : *odio-n^ root pod^ ped, go ; Lat. pes^ pedis, foot ;
Gr. TTovs, TToSos, foot ; Eng. foot ; Skr. padyd^ footstep,
uidheam, accoutrements, apparatus, Ir. ughaim, harness, trap-
pings, 0. Ir. aidmi, armamenta, W. iau, jugum, 0. Cor. ^o?^,
Br. geo, ieo, "^yougo-, yoke ; Eng. yoke, Ger. joch ; Gr. ^vyov ;
Lat. jugum ; Lit. jungas. The Gadelic requires a form
'^ad-jung-mi-. Cf. 0. Ir. adim, instrumentum, pi. n. admi.
uig", a nook, cove ; from Norse vik, bay, creek, Eng. nick, -wich.
Hence the place-name Uig (Skye, Lewis). Hence uigean, a
fugitive, wanderer,
uig'heil, pleasant, careful ; from aoigh in the first meaning and
from iiidh in the second,
uile, all, the whole, Ir. uile, 0. Ir. uile, huile : "^polio-s, root pol,
pel, full, many, Gr. ttoAAos ( = ttoAios), much, many ; see iol-.
Stokes and most philologists refer it to *oljo-s, Eng. all, Ger.
all, Got. alls {*oln6-s, Mayhew). Some have derived it from
"^soll-, Lat. sollus, whole, Gr. oAos, whence Stokes deduces the
Brittonic words — W. oil, all. Corn, hoi, Br. hall, oil (see slcin).
uileann, elbow, Ir. uille, g. uilleann, M. Ir. uille, pi. ace. uillinn,
0. Ir. uilin (ace), W., Cor. elin, Br. ilin, elin : *olen- ; Gr.
coAt^v, iJiXevr) ; Lat. ulna ; Ag. S. eln, Eng. ell, elbow.
uilear, enough, etc. ; see fuilear.
uill (uill, H.S.D.), oil thou, uilleadh, oil (n.) ; see ola.
uilleann, honeysuckle, so Ir, (O'B.), M. Ir. feithlend, woodbine ;
see under feith.
uilm, coffer (Carm.) :
uim-, circum, Ir. mm-, 0. Ir. imm- ; a composition form of mu,
q.v. Hence uime, about him, it, Ir. uime, 0. Ir. uimhi ;
uimpe, about her ( = imb-sl or imh-shi).
tlin, tline, time, Ir. uain, time, opportunity, E. Ir. nine, 0. Ir.
uaiji, leisure, time : *ut-nio-, root ut, vet of feith, wait.
Strachan gives '^'ucn- as a reduced form, from euq, Skr. okas,
comfort, €VK7]Xos, free from care, at ease.
uinich, bustle, tumultus ; see uainneart. *
uinicionn, lambskin (Carm.) ; for uainicionn.
uinneag, a window, M. G. fuinneog, M. Ir. fuindeog, fuindeoc ;
from Norse windauga, Sc. winnock, Eng. window (^ = wind eye).
From Ag. S. windaege (Stokes, Lis.).
uinnean, an onion, Ir. uinniun, M. Ir. uinneamaifi, uindiun, W.
wymvynyn ; from Lat. unio7i-em, 0. Fr. oignon, Eng. onion,
from unus, one,
OF THE GABLIC LANGUAGE. 387
uinnean, ankle :
uinnseann, ash, Ir. uinseann^ M. Ir. fuiiidseog, ash-tree, 0. Ir.
ind-huinnkis, W. on, onen, earlier on7i, onnen, Br. ounnenn,
Cor. on7ten : *osnd, *osnestu- ; Lat. ornus {^osinos) ; Lit. ^^s,
ash, Russ. jaseni. Cf. Eng. ash.
uipear, unhandy craftsman, bungler :
uipinn, a treasure, hoard ; cf. uibe.
ilir, mould, dust, earth, Ir., M. Ir. uir, E. Ir. dr, g. dire : "^drd ;
Norse aun^, loam, wet clay, mud, Ag. S. edr, humus. Stokes
hesitates between "^urd and *ug)^d, Gr. vy/oos, wet.
uircean, a young pig, Ir. uircin, M. Ir. orcdn, porcellus, oironin
(do.), ore, porcus ; *porko-s ; Lat. porous ; Eng. farrow, porh ;
Lit. pdrszas, boar.
uiread, as much, amount, Ir. oiread, 0. Ir. erat, airet, length of
time, distance, cia uret, qiiamdiu : * are-vet-to-, root vet of
feith.
uireas, below, down ; see ioras.
uireasbhuidh, need, poverty, so Ir., M. Ir. auresbadh ; from air
and easbhuidh, q.v.
uirghioU, faculty of speech, speech, Ir. uirghiol, a command
(O'B.), uraghall, uradhall, speech (Keat.), E Ir. uirgill,
for ur-fhuigell, M. Ir. urfliolyhill :
uiridh, an uiridh, last year, Ir. annuraidh, E. Ir. inn uraid, 0. Ir.
urid : "^peruti ; Skr. parut^ last year ; Gr. Trepva-L, Dor.
Trcpvri ; root vet of feith.
uirig^h, a couch, bed : "^air-sed-, root sed of suidhe ?
uiriollach, a precipice (H.S.D. from MSS.) : ^air-ailech, from ail,
rock, q.v.
uirisg, offspring of fairy and mortal (M'F.) ; see itruisg.
uirlios, a walled garden, Ir. uirllos (O'B., etc.) ; from air and lios.
uirneis, a furnace, Ir. uirneis, fuirneis (O'B.), M. Ir. forneis ; from
Eng. and 0. Fr. fornaise, Lat. fornacem, fornax, oven,
uirneis, tools, implements, Ir. uirneis (FoL, O'R.), uirlis (Con.) ;
see airneis.
uirsgeil, a spreading (as of dung or hay to dry) ; from air and
sgaotl.
uirsgeul, a fable, romance, so Ir. ; from air and sgeul.
llis, use, utility ; from the Eng. use, Lat. usus.
uisea^, a lark, Ir. uisedg, fuiseog, W. uchedydd, Br. ecliouedet, also
W. LLcheda, to soar ; from *iix, up, as in uas, uasal ?
uis^, uisge, water, Ir. uisge, 0. Ir. uisce, usee : *ud-s-kio, root ud,
ved ; Gr. v^mp, vSo? ; Eng. water, etc. ; Skr. uddn ; further
Lat. unda, wave. Stokes suggests the possibility of uisg*
being for '^uskio-, and allied to Eng. wash.
388 ETYMOLOGICAL DIOTIONAKY
uisliginn, disturbance, fury :
uislinn, sport, diversion, Ir. usiainn (Lh., etc.) :
uist, hist ! whist ! Lat. st I Eng. hist !
ula, ulachan (pi.), beard, Ir., E. Ir. ulcJia, g. ulchain \ *uluhon-\
"^pidu-, beard ; Skr. pula, pulaka, horripilation ; Gr. TrvXcyyes,
hair of chairs (Hes.). Hence Ulaid, Ulster. It may be root
idy vel, cover (see olann).
ulag, block, pulley, "snowball" (Wh.) ; from Eng. pulley, L. Lat.
polanus i
ulag, oatmeal and water mixed :
ulaidh, a treasure, Ir. uladh, charnel-house, E. Ir. ulad, stone
tomb ; root ul, vel, cover % A Gadelic ^alveto-, allied to Lat.
alvus, a belly, alveus, chamiel, has been suggested.
uloh, you brute ! (Sutherland) ; from Norse ulfr, wolf,
ulbhacll (ul'ach), ashes, W. ulw, pi. uhvyn : ^polviko-, *p6lven- ;
Lat. pulvis, dust, pollen, pollen,
ulartaich, ulfhartaich, howling ; from "^m/, bark (Gr. vXdw, bark,
Lat. uiiUa, owl, etc.), and art of comkart, q.v.
ullachadh, preparation, preparing, ir. idlmhuighim, I prepare ;
from ullamh, ready.
ullag, a mouthful of meal (Sh.) ; cf. tday.
ullamh, ready, Ir. ullamh, for urlamJi, E. Ir. erlam, paratus ; from
air and lam, the latter being from lamh, hand : " to hand,
handy." Usually referred to root /as, desire, Lat. lascivus,
Eng. lascivious.
ultach, a lapful, armful, Ir. ulltkach (0'13.), M. Ir. utlach, lapful,
urtlach, lap : *ar-tl-ac- ; root tol, tel, lift (see toil, tldth). G.
ulathach, burden in one's arms = i*/<rtc/i (Wh.).
umaidh, dolt, blockhead ; see umpaidh.
umha, copper, brass, Ir. umka, 0. ir. humw, ume, copper, brass,
uiiiaide, humide, aeneus, W. efydd, 0. W. emid, acre ; ^u7iidjo-
(Stokes), *07)ija (Ascoli), *wn-ajo-, -aJo- = aes (Bez.).
umhail, heed, attention, Ir. wnhail, undiail (O'B., Con.) ; cf. next
word.
timhal, obedient (umhailt, Dial), Ir. umhal, E. Ir., O. Ir. umal,
VV. ufyll. Corn, kuvtl, Br. vuel ; from Lat. huyiiilis, Eng.
humble.
umlagh, a tine, unlagh (Arg.) ; from Sc. unlaw, unlach, a fine,
transgression, andaw.
umpaidh, a boor, clown, idiot (Sh., Oil.) ; see umaidh.
ung, anoint, Ir. unc/aivri, 0, Ir. ongiin ; from Lat. unguo. W. has
enenio from *o'nj-.
unnsa, an ounce, Ir. ansa, W. wns ; from Eng. The 0. Ir. is
unga, from Lat. uncia.
OP THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 389
unradh, adversity (Campbell's Tales, II. Mac-a-rusgaich) ; a form
of an-rath ?
up, push, upag, a push ; cf. W. kwp^ a push, effort. Cf. piic.
Onomatopoetic.
ur, fresh, new, Jr., E. Ir. it7\ 0. Ir. hurde^ vividarium, W. //■,
fresh, green : ^uro-s, *puro-s ; Lat. pttrus, Eng. pure.
Usually referred to ^ugro-s, Gr. vypos, wet, Lat. uvidtis,
moist, root veg.
urcag", thole pin (N. Lochaber). Cf. arcan, a cork,
urchair, a shot, cast, Ir. urchur, E. Ir. urchur, aurchor, erchor, W.
erg^r, 0. B. erco?\ ictum . "^are-koru-, a cast ; from cuir,
send, q.v.
urchall, fetters, shackles, so Ir (Lh., etc.) : "^are-col-, root, col, eel
of timchioll 2
urchasg, physic, antidote, Ir. urchosg, preservative, antidote :
*air-c/iosg, from cosg^ casg, stop, q.v.
urchoid, hurt, mischief, Ir. urchoid, 0. Ir. erchoit : * are-konti-, Cr.
K€VT€0), stick, prick, Katvw, kill. Stokes prefers ^skonti- as
stem, allied to Eng. scathe.
url?, face, hair, breast, Ir. 2irla, lock of hair, long hair of the
head, E. Ir., urla, irla : * air-la-, where la is for via, root vel
oifalt?
urlabhairt, eloquence, Ir. urlabhair, elocution, E. Ir. erlabra :
* air-labhair ; see lahhair.
urlach, stag (R.D.) :
urlaich, turn from in disgust (Arg.) :
urlaim, readiness (M'F.), Ir. drlamh, ready; see uUamh. Hence
also urlaimh, expert, 0. ir. erlam, irlam.
urlamhas, possession, Ir. urldmhus, forlamhus ; from for, super,
and Idmh, hand : " upper-handed -ness."
urlann, a staff, Ir. urlaiin, a staff, spear staff', M. Ir. urlann, staff
of a spear : '^ air-lann, from lann : also E. Ir. irlond, hinder
end of a spear or ship,
urlar, a floor, lowest part, Ir. urldr : "^ air-ldr, from Idr, floor, q.v.
urnuigh, a prayer, Ir. urnuighe, (). G. ernacde (B. of Deer), 0. Ir.
irwigde, irnichte : * are-nako, I strive for, root nak, enk, as in
tJdg ? Zimmer gives the root igh, desire, (ir. L\avav, desire,
Lit. igiju, strive after, Skr. th, long for, dividing it into *r«V-
con-ig (* air-in-ig ?). 0. % Ir. arnigim : ig — (^r. Ix'^P ', ai'n —
"^paran, Gr. Tra^oa (St. Zeit. 36).
urra, a person, infant ; cf. next word,
urradh, urrainn, authority, guarantee, author, Ir. urra{dh),
surety, author, defendant, urraiii, stay, prop, M. Ir. trrudua,
responsibility ; from vdih, rdthan, surety. XJrradlia were a
chiefs "gentlemen," paying rent or service (Sil. Gad.).
390 ETYMOLOGICAL lilCTlONARt
urrainn, power, is urrainn, ean ; Ir. urra, power, urrain^ stay.
See above word.
urrail, forward, bold, urranta, Ir. tirrdnta, bold, confident in one's
might : from urradh.
urram, honour, respect, Ir. urram, urraim, honour, deference,
submission, M. Ir. urraim, homage : * air-reim ?
urras, surety, guarantee, Ir. tirrudhas, urrus ; from urradh.
ursainn, a door-post, Ir. ursa, g. ursann, E. Ir. ursa, aursa, irsa,
d. ursaind, W. gorsin : ^ are-stan-, root sta, stand,
uruisg, a Brownie ; from uisge, air + uisg.
US, impudence (M'A.) :
usa, easier, Ir. usa, 0. Ir. assu, facilius, asse, facilis ; cf. W. haws,
from liaivdd, easy ; further Fr. aise, Eng. easy, Got. azets,
easy,
usaid, querulousness (M'A. and Wh.) :
USgar, a jewel, bell on liquor :
usga(r), holy, sacred (Carm.) :
uspag, a push, pang, Ir. uspog ; cf. ospag.
uspair, an ugly or lumpish fellow, Ir. uspdn, a shapeless lump,
chaos, clumsy fellow. See uspan.
uspairn, strife, Ir. uspaimeachd : *ud-spairn, from spdirn.
uspan, a shapeless mass, Ir. uspdn : also usp (usp) ; cf. uihe,
*uibs-1
ut ! ut ! interjection of disapprobation, Eng. tut, hoot, W. hwt, etc.
utag", utag (Arg.), strife, confusion ; also "push, jostle," ut, push.
Cf. put, putay.
utan, a knuckle (Sh., O'R.), better utan :
uth, an udder, E. Ir. uth. Stokes gives the stem as *{p)utu-. Lit.
suputima.'^, a swelling, 2~^ntliis, swollen. Lat. uber, Gr. ovOap,
Eng. udder have been compared, but the Gadelic lacks the
terminal -er, and the consonant is t rather than d or dh. Cf.
Lat. uttr, skin-bag.
uthard, above, on high, Ir. o'.s, drd. Gaelic is for *fo7--ard, "on
high ; " see air and drd.
utraid, district road (Carm.) ; see udrathad.
utrais, a confused mass of anything, a fidgeting.
OF THE OAEIJC LANOUACJE.
391
SUPT'I.EMENTAEY WORDS NOT GIVEN IN THE BODY
OF THE DICTIONARY.
I. From the Sutherland Dialect
(Per Rev. Adam Gunn).
bore, thatch, afterwards manure,
cealdair, slow-moving fellow ;
from the "r"-like instrument
used for making hanks of
yarn,
cionlas, " confound you," =
string for tying fingers of
dead,
dam, mud, gutter,
dusd, dead body,
failmisg, bold, stormy day ;
" teamhair f hailmisg, "
"stormy weather."
faoirisgeadh, sprinkling,
f ir-iasg ; muinntir an fhir eisg,
salmon fishers. See fireun
(Ed.),
g^arra-gartan, corncrake,
giorrasach, hare.
goireag", cole.
lampan, curdled milk. See
lamhan (Ed.).
leumachan, frog.
meanmainn, itch on point of
nose prognosticating news.
meireachadh, starving with
cold. See meilich (Ed.).
mills, white button ; cf. Sc.
fimylies.
murd-mhard, mumbling.
rangan, putting off time un-
necessarily.
sma^ach, toad. See Tnaaan
sn^ip, turnip. See neip (Ed.).
stiucan ; " is f hiach e stiucan
dheth," twelve times better.
t'iff, why?
tighinn-toghainn, vacillating.
II. From the Pbrthshire Dialect
(Per Rev. C. M. Robertson).
aoghaist, fishing tackle (line
and hook), ad-gaoisd ?
bata : gu bata, to abundance.
Cf. M'A. buta, surplus.
be6, §Lir : "tha am beo fas fuar,"
" the air is getting colder " ;
" beo-ghaoithe," "breath of
wind."
bleithteach, kind of gruel.
brabhd, anything bulky (especi-
ally a person).
braodag, a tantrum, huff.
buidean(-re6taidh), icicle, hod ?
bulbhag (chloiche), a boulder.
buta, young bird. See put
(Ed.),
ceabhgach = ciagach, q.v.
ciad, opinion, impression ; cf.
ceudfath.
cl6imhneag, flake of snow ;
cloimh + boinne ?
clionach, partition.
cn6adag, fir cone,
cramhuinn, a large (hearth) fire.
892
ETYMOLOCxTCAL DTHTTONRAY
curraidh, sitting on hunkers.
Sc. V. curr^ " On his coorie-
hunkers/'said of sliding on ice
in a crouching position (Ed.).
deanaich, at work,
diaghaltach, fond of.
driichdjStaUion (Arms.),drudge.
drug, illness : unnamed illness ;
cf. dreag.
dubh - reabha (-reabhgan), a
mole ; cf. Arm.'s duhh-reotha,
Shaw's idr-reothadh = duhh-
threahhadh.
faghairt, ask = farraid.
frioghlaisg, shred of skin rising
at nails,
fucadh, pushing heavily,
furlaich, revolt against. " Dh'
f hurlaich mi ris " = abhor.
futhair, the dog days. See
futhar (Ed.),
geabhag, a twist,
giolc = sgiolc.
iomaltas, hesitation.
lad, loud talk.
leatach, remote.
leiceid, a slap.
liab, a rag, tatter. See lebh
(Ed.),
lomh, a diet = longadh.
luig, desire, long,
luis, outrush of water,
luthasaich, allow. See hidhaig
(Ed.),
maoidheanach, friendly,
moislich, stir (out of sleep).
muganach, thick and damp.
murthail, grumbling; murlaich.
niannradh (clach), grinding
^,^* (stone) ; {nn elided).
niarraidh, middling (as to
health, when asked).
prio-taoil (accent on last syll.),
clatter, heavy noise of falling
things.
prois, beseech, pray, urge.
raidh {air), scolding, threaten-
ing.
raigealtach, rascal, rollicking
fellow.
ramh, pi. ramhchan, a root (of
tree).
reamalair = ramhlair.
riasgach, blustering (of wea-
ther).
riodach, kind.
ruaig, shower of rain.
saich, sick (Arms, soitliich, s.
" ill "), saoich. Cf . maith no
saith.
samht, a thud.
seanagair, a sagacious one.
See seanagar (Ed.).
sgeilceil, crackling (of wood).
sgiorlaich, crush (anything
soft and juicy).
Sgiut = sgiot.
Sglogaid = aglongaid.
siach, avoid.
siochadh, peace.
sic \air), attempt upon.
sladaig {air), working hard at.
smaiteard, youth, " young
spark."
snaoic, chunk (of food).
spacadh, wrestling.
suigeartach, merry.
toman - eallaidh, spider. See
damhaii-allaidh (Ed . ) .
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. ?}9P}
NATIONAL NAMES.
Albion, Great Britain in tlic (jreek writers, Gr. "AA^toi', AXfSLow,
Ptolemy's AXovuor, Lat. Alhioyi (Pliny), G. Alba, g. Albainn,
Scotland, Ir., E. Ir. Alba, Alban, W. Alhan : "^Albion- (Stokes),
" white-land " ; Lat. albus, white ; Gr. dA(/)o?, white leprosy,
white (Hes.) ; 0. H. G. albiz, swan.
Armoric, belonging to Brittany, Lat, (Caesar) Armoricus, Aremori-
cns (Orosins), "^'are-mori, "by the sea" (see «iV and mui?' in
Diet.), M. Br. Armors/, Brittany, arvior, land b}^ the sea, Br.
arvo7\ maritime.
Britain, (\. Breatann, Ir. Breatain, E. Ir. Bretan, n. pi. Bretain,
the Britons, W. Hrython, Briton, Corn. BrHhon, Br. B^^eiz,
Brittany, Lat. Brittania (Ceesar), Brittani, Britons, B/oerrai/ot
(Strabo). The best Gr. forms are IlpeTTai'ot, \\p€TT<xviKi],
W. Prydain, Britain, E Ir. Cruithne, a Bict, O. Ir. (Lat.)
Cruithnii (Adamnan, Cnithini Popiili) : "^Qrkoiid, root f/rt,
to which Stokes refers G. cruithneachd, wheat, thongh the
nsual reference is to G. cruth, picture, form, still retaining
the notion of "pictured" men as in the old explanations of
Pict. Stokes, Rhys, etc., regard the Lat. Brittania as a word
of different origin from the Gr. UpeTTavia^ and G. Cruithne ;
though, as a matter of fact, the Lat. seems to have been a
bad rendering of the Greek. The Cruithne or Picts thus
gave their name to Britain, as being, about .300 B.C., its then
Celtic inhabitants.
Brittany ; the Breton language ; from Britain above. Britons
poured into France in the fifth and sixth centuries.
Caledonia, northern Scotland (Tacitus), (Jr. KaAv^Soi'tot (Ptol.,
etc.), Lat. (kiledonii (Lucan, Martial, etc.), 0. G. Dun-
Callden, Dwwi-Callen, Dnn-Keld, fort of the Caledonians,
G. Dun-Chaillinn ; explained by Windisch as from *cald, the
root of G. coille, the force being "wood-landers." Stokes and
others object because of the 17 (Lat. e) in KaXr]8- ; but if the
Eng. and Gaelic modern forms are the descendants of the
word Caledonia as locally spoken, the objection cannot hold.
(yELTs, Lat. Celtw (Caesar), Gr. KeArot, KeArat, KeArtKo?, appearing
in the fifth and fourth cent. B.C. in Herodotus, Xenophon,
etc.: *Kelto-s, "the lofty," root qel, raise, go, Lat. relsus,
48
394 ETYMOLOGICAL DTCTTONARY
high, Eng. excel, Lit. keltas, raised. Rhys refers the name
to the root qel, slay, Ag. S. hild, war, Norse, hildr, Lat.
percello, hit. Lit. kalti, strike : the Celtse being "smiters."
Cornwall : Cornish, Ag. S. Comwalas, the Walas or Welsh of
the Corn or Horn, E. Ir. i tirib Bretann Cornn (Corm.), in
the lands of the Britons of the Corn. For Walas see Walesa,
Cruithne, a Pict ; see under Britain.
Cymry, the Welsh (pL), Cymraeg, the Welsh name for the Welsh
language ; the singular of Cymry is Cymro, older Cyni-mro :
'^Com-mrox, pi. Com-mroges or Comhroges (cf. Caesar's Allo-
broges, "Other-landers"), country-men, "co-landers," from
hrog, mrog of hrugh in Diet., q.v. The E. Ir. Gaelic for
Wales is found in the phrase isinc/wmreic = im Kymrischen
(Zim. Zeit.32 162).
Erin ; see Ireland.
Gaelic, Gael, the name of the language and people of the Scottish
Highlands, G. Gaidhlig", G^idheal, Ir. Gaoidhilig, Gaedhilig,
the Irish language, Gaoidheal, Irishman, E, Ir. Goedel (1100
A.D.), Gaideli (Giraldus), W. Gwyddel, Irishman : '''Gddelo-s
(for Sc. Gaelic) or "^Gdidelo-s (for Irish), root ghddh, Eng. good,
Ger. gut, etc. % The Scotch form seems the best, as its use
has been continuous, the race being only a fourth item in
Scotland. Stokes gives a proto-Gaelic ^Goidelos or "^Geidelos,
which Bez. compares to the Gaul. Geidtimni, and which
Stokes compares with Lat. hoedus, goat ("Goat-men," cf.
Oscan Hirpini) or Lit. gaidys, cock.
Galli, Gaul, now France, Lat. G alius, Galli (fourth to first cent.
B.C.), Gr. FaAaTTy?, FaAarat (third and second cent. B.C.) ;
:. from the root gal, bravery, which see in Diet., with discussion
of Galli and G. Gall, Lowlander, stranger.
Ireland, Irish ; G. 'Eireann, Ir. 'Eire, g. 'Eireann, E. Ir. 'Erin,
' Erenn, W. Ywerddon, Iwerddon, M. W. Ewyrdonic, Irish,
Ptol. 'lovfpvia 'IcpvYj (Strabo), Lat. Hibernia, Iverna (Mela),
lerne (Claudian, fourth cent, a.d.), Evernili, Irish (Adamnan) :
* Iverjon-, * Everjon-, usually referred to Piverjo-, Skr. pivari,
fat, Gr. Hiepia, the Grecian seat of the Muses, ir'nav, fat
• (Windisch, Stokes): "rich-soiled, swelling." Others refer it
to G. iar, west, or Skr. dvara (from ava, G. bho), western,
lower. No derivation can be satisfactory which does not at
the same time account for the similarly named Highland
rivers called 'Eire, 'Eireann, Eng. Earn, Findhorn.
Man, Manx ; Manx Manninagh, Manx (adj.), Gailck, Gaelk, the
Manx Gaelic, E. Ir. inis Manann, Isle of Man, a genitive from
*Mana ( = Lat. Mono), early W. Manau, Lat. Mona (Caesar),
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 395
Ptol. Moi/aotSa, Monapia (or Mona ?) The E. Ir. god-name
Mananndn Mac Lir (son of the Sea) is connected with
the Island ; Skr. Manu, the Law-giver ; Teutonic Mannus
(Tacitus), Eng. man.
PiCTS ; G. Cruithnich, for which name see under Britain. The
name Picti can scarcely be separated from the Gaul. Pictavi,
now Poitiers ; and, if this be the case, the usual derivation
from Lat. pictus, painted, must be abandoned. Windisch
adduces E. Ir. cickt, engraver, carver, for which a Brittonic
piht, pict may be claimed as a parallel {*qict) ; this again
leaves the idea of tattooing intact, and so agrees with the
historical facts.
Scotland, Scots ; E. Ir. Scott, pi. n. Scuit, d. Scottaib, Irishmen ;
Adamnan — Scotia, Ireland, Scoti, the Irish, Scoti Britanniae,
Scots of Dalriada, etc., Scoticus, Irish, Scotice, in the Gaelic
language, Lat. (fourth cent.) Scotti, ^coti, *Skotto-s. Stokes
translates the name as "masters, owners," allied to Got.
skatts, money, Ger. sckatz, treasure, stock, Ch. SI. skotu, pro-
perty, cattle. The root skat, hurt, scathe, cut, of Eng.
scathe, has been suggested, either as "cutters" or "tattooed
ones" (so Isidore of Saville). Rhys has suggested connection
with W. ysgivthr, a cutting, carving — -" tattooed or painted
men."
Wales, Welsh ; Ag. S. Weaias, Walas, the Welsh — the name of
the people in pi. being used for the country, IV //Use, Welsh,
Wylisce men, the Welsh ; sing, of Weaias is Wealh, a foreigner,
Welshman, 0. H. G. walh, foreigner, Celt, Ger. ival- in wal-
nuss, Eng. ival-nut : from the Gaul, nation of the Volcae,
bordering on the Germans, ^ Volko-s, "^ Volkd, " the bathers,"
from vole, bathe (s.ee failc in Diet.). Stokes connects the
name with Lit, wilkti, pull, referring to the restless wander-
ings of the Gauls.
396 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
PERSONAL NAMES AND SURNAMES.
Adam, G. Adhamh, Ahft (Fer. MS.), A2uzoe (D. of L.), E Ir. Adam,
0, Ir. Adim (o) ; from Hebrew Adam, red. Hence Mac-
adam, Af^Caif, and from Dial, ij 'Adaidh (a dinjinutive from
So.) JPCadie, WAd2ii&h.
Adamnan, G. Adhmhnan (pronounced Youman or Ydnan), earlier
Adhamhnan {Gghamhuan, M'V.), E. Fr. AdamudiL, Lat.
Adamnaiius (seventh cent.), St Adannian (died 704 a.d.),
"little Adam,'' a Gaelic diminutive from Adam. Hence the
personal name GHleojonan (1495), Giolla- Adhamhndin, father
of Somerled (twelfth cent.), Gilla-aijainnan (1467 MS.),
whence Skene deduces the M ar-lenimnn, q.v.
AT;Exani)eh, G. Alasdair, Alley (I), of L.), Alaxandair, (1467
MS.), M. Ir. AUududair \ from Lat. Alexander, from Or.
AXe^avSpo^, "defending- men." Hence (i. M'Alasdair, Mac-
alister ; further \lac-andie (from Sand}/).
Allan, G. Ailean, Iv fr. Ailene, Adanman's AllemiK, from al,
rock? The Norman Alan, whence Scotch Allan mostly, is
(). l)r. Alan, Alaiinnts^ Neimius Alannx, from Alpmannus, the
German tribe name "All Men." Gf. Norman, Frank,
l)u<;all, Fin^all Hence M<ic-(dlau.
Alimn, (t. Ailpein, ¥j. Ir. At pin (Dalriadic king 693) : from Pictish
or Welsh sources — M. W. ElpltlH, Eljin, whicli Stokes sug-
gests to be from {akX. ^i/lnituK, from allnuH, white (or allied
rather?). Hence (x. M'Ailpein, Mac-<dpine.
Andrew, (j. Aindrea (Anndra, Dial). Gilleanndrais, Fng. Gil-
landera, St. Andrew's //<7/e, M. (t. Aiulro (D. of L.), Ainnrias,
Gille-a.innriaa (1467 MS.), E. Ir. Andrla.^ ; from Lat. Aiidreas,
g. Andrea^, from (h-. 'AvSyoea^, a reduced double-stemmed
name now showing only av^p-, man (see nea.rl). Hence
Mac-aiidrejv, Gillan<.lers., Antferson.
An(;tts, ij. Aong'has, Fr. Aon;/hi(f<, g, Aonyhum, E. Ir. '()engui<,
0. li'. 'O'nujnii, \V., Goi'. Ungiiat : Oino-gustu-s, "unique
(choice," from aoit and giiK, choice (Eng. choose, Ijat. guHns^,
taste, as in Vj. iagh). Hence M'Aonghuis, Mae-innea ; further
M'Aina/i.
Archibald, G. Gilleasbuig, Bishop's ^^7/^^ (see easbai</ in Diet.),
M. G. Gillespik (D. of L.), Gilla-espic (1467 MS.). Hence
Gillespie. The name Arddbald^ Ag. S, Arcebald, Arcenhald
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 397
or Ercenbald, which vaguely means " right-bold" (0. H. G.
ercheu, right, real), has no apparent connection witli Gillespie
in meaning or origin (cf. similarly Ludovic and Maol-
domhnuich).
Arthur, G. Artair, M. G. Artuir, E. Ir. Artuir, Artiir, Ir. Lat.
Arturius, son of /?Jdan (Adamnan), W, Arthur, to which the
Lat. Artorius (Juvenal) has been compared and suggested as
its source (it being maintained that the Gens Artoria of
Yorkshire lasted from Roman to Domesday-Book times, where
Artor appears in the days of Edward the Confessor), If
native to Brittonic (which is probable), it is from ^arto-s,
a bear, W. arth, 0. Ir. art, whence the names Art, Artgal,
Artljran. Rhys prefers to render the ^arto- as " cultor,"
from ar, plough {Arth. Leg., 40-48), allying Arthur to the
idea of a "Culture God." Hence G. M* Artair, Mac-arthur.
Bain, from i.}. ban, white. The Bains of Tulloch appear in the
sixteenth century variously as Bayiie or Bane, with a con-
temporary near them called John Makferquhair M''(iille})ayie
(1*555). This last name is now M'llle-bhain, " Fair-(/i7/f,"
rendered into Eng. by Wiiyte ; whence also APGilvane.
Bartholomew, G. Parian, Ir. Parthalon, E. Ir. Partholon, Lat.
Partholomceus or Bartholomoius (Nennius, ninth cent.), the
name of a personage who is represented as the first invader
of Ireland after tiie Flood (27S y(>ars after I). The p proves
the name to l)e non-Gadelic ; and as the historians take
Partholon from Spain, the Spanish Bar Tolemon of legend
has been suggested as the original. Prof. Rhj^s thought it
came from the Ivernians or Pre-Celtic race in Ireland. Hence
tlie Clan Mac-farlaue, G. M'Pharlain.
Brown, G. M'A'-Bhriuthainn, M. G. M'abhriuiu (1408 Gaelic
Charter), from brithearnhain, the former (Sc. Gaelic) genitive
of britheamh, judge, q.v. Hence Mac-brayne.
Cameron, G. Camshron, Camaran, M. (x. Cdmsroin, g. (M'V,),
Cainro7iaich (D, of L,), GillacamHroiii (1467 MS.), Charter
Eng. Camroun (1472); explained as from cdm-srb7i, "wry-
nose," which is the most probable explanation (cf. caimbeid,
E. Ir. cerrbel, wry mouth). Connection with camerarius or
chamberlain (of Scotland) unlikely, or with tlie fourteenth
centiuy De Cambru?i>f or Cameron parish in Fife.
(Jamfbell, G. Caimbeul, M. G, Cambel (1467 MS.), Cambell
(1266, etc.), from cambel, wry-mouthed {cam and beul ; see
Cameron). There is no De Cambel in the numerous early
references, but De Campo-bello appears in 1320 as a Latin
398 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
form and an etymology ; this, however, should naturally be
De Bello-campo as Norman-French idiom and Latin demand —
a form we have in Beau-champ and Beecham. De Campello
or De Campellis (little plain) has been suggested ; but
unfortunately for these derivations the earliest forms show
no de : Cambell was an epithet, not a place-name.
Carmichael, G. M'Gillemhicheil, Son of the yille of St Michael,
M. G. Gillamichol (1467 MS.), O.G. Gillemicel (B. of Deer).
The name Carmichael is really Lowland — from the Parish
name of Carmichael in Lanark (Michael's caer or cathair, q.v.).
Cattanach, Chattan, G. Catanach, M. G. plural Cattanich (D. of
L.), "belonging to Clan Chattan," Clann Gillacatan (1467),
which claims descent from Giltacatain (1467 MS.), servant
of St Catan, whose name denotes "little cat" (see cat).
Charles, G. Tearlach, M. Ir. Toirrdhealbhach (Maclean Gene-
alogy), Englished as Tirlagh and Turloiigh, E. Ir. Toirdelbach,
Latinised and explained as Turri-formis, " Tower-shaped,"
but the toir in Gaelic took the phonetics of the prefix tair,
super, and hence the modern (j. form. Hence M^Kerlie.
Chisholm, G. Siosal, Siosalach, De Chesholme (thirteenth century
documents), De Chesehohne (1254), a Border name, the place-
name Chisholm being in Roxburgh : Ches-holTn (a holm, but
Ches ?).
Clark, G. Cleireach ; see cleireach in Diet. Also M' A'-Chleirich,
whence Galwegian M^Chlery.
Coll, G. Colla, M. G. Colla (M'V., 1467 MS.), E. Ir. Colla : *Co^
navo-s, from col, eel, high, as in Celtw (see above).
Colin, G. Cailean, M. G. Callane (D. of L.), Cailin (1467 MS.),
Colimts (Lat. of 1292). This is a personal name, once more
or less peculiar to the Campbells, the Chief being always in
Gaelic M^Cailein. Its relation to Eng. and Continental Colin
is doubtful. Cf. Coiledn, " whelp," and personal name ; the
G. is a dialectic form of old coiledn (see Fol.), cuileanj
whelp.
Crerar, G. Criathrar, the name of a Lochtay-side clan who
regard themselves as Mackintoshes, explaining the name as
" riddler," from criatkar (which see in Diet.) : the derivation
is right, but for the meaning compare the Eng. noun and
name Sieve{w)right. See Celt. Mag. ^, 38.
(yUMMiNG, G. Cuimein, Cuimeanach, earliest Eng. form Comyn, a
Norman family dating from the Conquest, belonging to the
Norman house of De Comines, a territorial designation.
OF THE OAETJC LANGUAGE. 389
Davud, G. Daibhidh (Classical), D^idh (C.S.) ; hence Clann Diii-lh
or the Davidsons^ a branch of the Clan Chattan. Fn C.S.,
Davidson appears as D^ibhiosdan.
Dermic, G. Diarmad, M. G. Dermit (D. of L.), Diarmada, gen.
(1467 MS.), E. Ir. Diarmait^ 0. Ir. Diarmuit, Diarmit, Ir.
Lat. Diormitius (Adamnan). Zimmer explains the name as
Dia-ermit, " God-reverencing," from dia and ermit : *are-
7nent-, "on-minding," root ment, as in dearmad, q.v.
Obwar, G. Deoir, DeMreach, documents Ddire (1487), Jore
(1428) ; from debradh, a pilgrim, q.v. Hence Macindeor.
Donald, G. Domhnall, M. G. Domnall (1467 MS.), gen. Donil
(D. of L.), 0. G. Domnall (B. of Deer), E. Ir. Domnall, Ir.
Lat. Domnallus (Adamnan), Domnail (do,, ablative), Early W.
Dumngual, later Dyfiiioal : "^ Dumnovalo-s, from duhno- of
domhan, and valo- (see flath), meaning *' world-wielder, world-
ruler," much the same in meaning as Dumnorix, world-king,
Caesar's opponent among the Aedui. See domhan, ilath.
Hence M'Dhomhnuill, Mac-donald.
Duff, M. Ir. Duhh {Clann Dubh, Clan Duff, of which was Mac-
beth, etc.), earlier Dub, King DufF in tenth century ; from
Gadelic dub, now did>h, black, q.v. As a personal name, it is
a curtailment of some longer or double-stemmed name (cf.
Fionn, Flann, red). Hence Macduff (Clen m^ Duffe, 1384),
The family nam'e Duff is merely the adjective duhh used
epithetically.
Duffy, Ir. Dubhthaigh ; see Mac-phee.
DuGALD, G. Dughall, M. G. Dowgall, g, Dowle (D, of L,), Dabgaill,
gen. (1467 MS.), thirteenth century documents give Dugald
(1289), Dufgal (1261), M. Ir. Duhgall (first recorded Dubgall
is at 912 A.D.), from Early Ir. Dubgall, a Dane, "Black
stranger," as opposed to Finngall, a Norwegian, " Fair
foreigner." See, for derivation, fionn and Gall. Hence
M'Dhughaill, Mac-dougall, Mac-dowel, etc.
Duncan, G. Donnchadh (Dial. Donnach), M. G. Duncha (D. of L.),
Donnchaid, gen. (1467 MS.), 0. G. Donchad (B, of Deer),
E. Ir. Donnchad : * Donno-catu-s, * Dunno-catu-s, " Brown
warrior," from donn and cath, q.v. The Gaulish Donno- of
personal names has been referred by De Jubainville to the
same meaning and origin as M. Ir. donn, king, judge, noble —
a word occurring in O'Davoren's glossary.
Edward, G. 'Eideard ('Eudard, Dial), Imhear, lomhar ; the first
is the Eng. Edward borrowed, the second is the Norse Ivarr
borrowed (see Mac-iver). Hence M''Eideard, M'Edward.
400 ETYMOT.OGTCAl. DTCTTONARY
EwBN, (x. Eoghann (Dial. Eog^hainn), M. G. Eogan, Eoghrm, E. Ir.,
0. Ir. Eogan: ^Avi-gono-^^ {* AvigeMon^ Stokes), ''well born,
good," from "^aw, friendly, good, Skr. dvi (do.). Got. avi-liud,
thanks, Lat. aveo, desire, possibly Gr. ev-, good (cf. here
Evyei/T^s, Eugeni/iis), W. has Eu-tigir?i, Eii-fut, 0. Br. EiL-cant,
Eu-hocm\ Gaul. Avi-cantus. Rhys [IJib. Led. 63) refers Ir.
Eoghan and W. Oive7i to "^ Esu-gen-, Gaul. Esugenns, sprung
from the god Esus. Zimmer regards Owen as borrowed from
Lat. Eugenius. Cf., however, the evo- of Ogmic Eva-cattos,
now Eochaidh. Hence Mac-ewen.
Farquhar, G. Fearchar, M. G. Feavchar, Fearchair, Ir. Fearchair
(F. M., year 848 a.d.) : ^Ver-caro-a, "super-dear one"; for
fear^ see Fei^gus, and for car see Diet, above. Hence
M'Fhearchair, Mac-erchar, Farquhar son, jiP Farquhar.
Fergus, (x. Fearghas, M. (/. Fearghm, Fergu,% E. Ir., 0. Ir.
Fergus, g. Fergusso, W. Gurgust, 0. Br. Uuorgost, Uurgont :
* Ver-gustu-s, "super-choice"; for ver- qy fear-, see in Diet. /a?^,
air (allied to Lat. super), and for gustus, see under Aonghus
above. Some regard Fer here as G. fear, man, *viro- or *vir.
FiNGAL, (x. Fionn, Macpherson's Gaelic Fionnghal, which really
should mean "Norseman," or Fair-foreigner, M. G. Fio7in-
ghall, a Norseman (M'V.), ri F'lonn-gal, king of Man and the
Isles (M'V.), Fingal {Manx Chnm.), king of Man and the
Isles from 1070 to 1077 : from fionn and Gall, q.v. Fingal
as the name of the Gaelic mythic hero is an invention of
Macpherson's, as likewise is his Gaelic Fionnghal. As a
matter of fact the name is a Gaelic form of the female name
Flora! See FionnaghaJ m the addendum to this list.
FiNLAY, G. Fionnla, Fionnlagh (misspelt Fionnladh), M. G.
Finlay (D. of L.), Finlaeic, gen. (1467 MS.), Fionnlaoich,
gen. {Buan Alhanach), E. Ir. Findkmh (Lib. Leinster), Finn-
loech and Finlaeg, gen. (Marianus Scotus). Those early
forms and the Norse Finnleikv prove that the name means
"Fair hero"f'/?omi and laock). It is a popular (10th and
11th century) rendering of Finning, "Fair attractive one,"
the older name. It has been explained as " Fair calf," which
would suit the phonetics also. Hence Finlayson, Mackinlay
(M'Fhionnlaigh).
Forbes, G. Foirbeis, Foirbeiseach, early document form Be Forbes
(thirteenth cent.), so named from the place-name Forbes in
Aberdeenshire.
Eraser, G. Friseal, Frisealach, circ. 1298 the patriot's name is
\ariously Simon Eraser, Frasel, Fresel, Frisel, in Domesday
B. Fresle, Battle Abbey Rolls {%) Frisell or Fresell ; usually
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 401
referred to 0. Fr. freze^ a strawberry, "^frezele, from Lat.
fragiUa, fragum, Fr. fraisier, strawberry plant. For sense,
cf. the name Plantagenet (broom). Strawberry leaves form
part of the Fraser armorial bearings. The word may also
mean "curled" (Eng. frizzle, frieze).
Galbraith, G. M' A'-Bhreatnaich, son of the Briton (of Strath-
clyde). The name appears in the thirteenth century in
Lennox, etc., as Galbrait (from Gall and Breat- of Breatann
above).
George, G. Se6ras, Se6rsa, Deorsa, ultimately from Gr. yeuipyo^,
a farmer, "worker of the earth" (yrj, earth, d/oyo?, Eng.
ivorlc). Hence the Border M''George.
Gilbert, G. Gilleabart, Giilebride. Gilbert is from Ag. S. Gisle-
bert, "Bright hostage" (see giall in Diet); Giilebride is St
Bridget's slave, an exceedingly common name once, but now
little used.
Gilchrist, G. Gillecriosd, M. G. Gillacrist, Ir. Gillacrist (several
in eleventh century): "servant of Christ.'' Hence M^Gil-
christ. It translates also Christopher.
Gillespie, G. Gilleasbuig ; see Archibald.
Gillies, G. Gilliosa : "servant of Jesus." From M'A-Lios
comes the "English" form Lees, M^Leish.
Glass, G. Glas, an epithet, being glas, grey. See M'Glashan.
Godfrey, G. Goraidh, M. G. Gofraig (1467 MS.), Godfrey (do.),
Ir. Gofraidh (F.M.), M. Ir. Gothfrith, Gofraig, also Gofraig
(Tigernach, 989), E. Ir. Gothfraid (Lib. Lein.), E. W. Gothrit
{Ann. Camb.). The Norse name, for it is Norse-men that are
referred to, is GocSro^r or Gudrod (also Gorod'r), but the
earlier Gaelic shows rather a name allied to the Ag. S.
Godefrid, Ger. Gottfried, "God's peace." Modern Gaelic is
more like the Norse. The Dictionaries give G. Guaidhre as
the equivalent of Godfrey; for which, however, see M^Quarrie.
Gordon, G. Gordan, Gordon, Gordonach ; from the parish name
of Gordon in Berwickshire. The De Gordons are well in
evidence in the thirteenth century. Chalmers explains the
place-name as Gor-dyn, "super-dunum " (see far and dun).
Gow, G. Gobha, a smith, now usually gobhainn, q.v. Hence
Mac-cowan, Mac-gowan, Cowan.
Grant, G. Grannd, Grant (1258), an English family which settled
about Inverness in the thirteenth century, Eng. Grant,
Grand, from Fr., Eng. grand.
Gregor, G. Griogair, Griogarach^ M. G. M'Gregar (D. of L.),
M. Ir. Grigoir, E. Ir. (Lat.) Grigorius (Gregory the Great,
died 604), from Lat. Gregorins, Gr. Tp7]y6pLo<^, a favourite
49
402 fiTYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
ecclesiastical name from the third century onward (cf. Gr.
ypTjyopeo), be watchful, Eng. care). Hence M'Griogair, Mac-
gregor, Gregory.
GuNN, G. G-uinne, Gunnach, early documents Gun (1601), Clan-
givn (1525), in Kildonan of Sutherland, originally from
Caithness ; from the Norse Gumii (twelfth century), the
name then of a son of Olaf, a Caithness chief {Orh. Saga).
This Gunni is a short or "pet" form of some longer name of
two stems, with gunn-r^ war, as the first and chief one (cf.
Gann-arr, which is an old Orkney name, Gunn-hjorn, Gunn-
laugr., Gunn-olfr^ war-wolf, Gunn-atein., Gumi-valdr).
Harold, G. Harailt, M. Ir, Aralt, from Norse Haraldr (same in
roots and origin as Eng. herald). Hence Mac-raild.
Hector, G. Eachunn (Dial. Eachainn), M. G. Eadminn, g. (M'V.),
Eachdhuin, g. (M'V.), Eachdhonn, g. Eachduinn (1467 MS.),
Ir. Eachdonn (year 1042): *Eqo-donno-s, "horse lord," like
Each-ihighearna of Mac-echern. Of course "Brown-horse" is
possible ; cf. Gr. BdvOnnros. The phonetics are against
"^ Each-duine, "horse-man," as an explanation.
Henry, G. Eanruig ; from 0. Eng. Henric, now Henry, from
Germanic Heiin-rik, " home-ruler " (Eng. home and ric in
hishop-ric, rich). Hence Mackendrick, Henderson.
Hugh, G. 'Uisdean (Huisdean), in Argyle Eoghan, M. G.
Huisduinn, which comes from Norse Eysteinn, "^^('?)-stone."
The Dictionaries also give the G. Aodh (see Mackay) as
equivalent to Hugh, which is itself from Germanic sources,
Teutonic root hug, thought.
James, G. Seumas, M. G. Semus (M'V.) ; from the Eng. James, a
modification of Hebrew Jacob.
John, G. Iain, older Eoin, in compounds Seathain, as Mac-Gille-
Sheathainn, now M'llleathainn.
Kathel, G. Cathal, M. G. Cathal (M'V.), Ir. Cathal (common
from seventh century onwards), 0. W. Catguat : ^Katu-valo-s ;
see cath, war, and val under Donald. Hence M^All, Mackail.
Kennedy, G. Ceanaideach, Ceanadaidh, Kennedy {Kenedy, John
M'-Kennedy, fourteenth century) is the family name of the
old Earls of Carrick, now represented by the Marquis of
Ailsa ; it is a famous Irish name borne by the father of Brian
Boru in the tenth century — Ir. Ceinneidigh, E, Ir, Cennetich,
gen. ; from ceann, head, and eitigh, ugly: "ugly head." Called
also M'Ualraig from Walrick Kennedy (sixteenth century),
who first settled in Lochaber : Walrick may be G. Ualgharg
confused with Teutonic JJlrick, older Uodalrich, " rich
patrimonially."
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 403
Kenneth, G. Coinneach, M. G. Coinndec\ Coinnidk, g. Coinndigh,
g. (M'V.), 0. G. Cainneck, g. Caennig (B. of Deer), E. Ir.
Cainnig, gen., Ir. Lat. Gainnechus (Adamnan) : "^Cannico-s,
"fair one," from the same stem as cannach (root qas), q.v.
The Eng. Kenneth is a different word : it is the old Scotch
king name Cinoed (E. Ir. form), 0. G. Ginathd (B. of Deer),
Ir. Cinaedh, " fire-sprung," from cin of cinn and aed of
Mackay.
Lachlan, G. Lachlann (Dial. Lachlainn), Lachunn, M. G. Loch-
linn^ g. (M'V.), Lochloinn, n. and g., Lachlan, g. (1467 MS.),
Ir. Lochlainn Mac Lochlainn (F.M., year 1060) ; probably
from Lochlann, Scandinavia, possibly commencing as Mac-
Lochlainne, a Scandinavian ("son of L."). Lochlann
evidently means " Fjord-land."
Lamond, G. M'Laomuinn, Laman, M. G. Ladmann, early docu-
ments Lawemundus (Lat. of 1292), Laumun (circ. 1230),
M. Ir. Laghmand, Lagmand ; from Norse lagania^r, logma^r,
lawman, pi. I'dgmienn, " law-men," by meaning and derivation.
Hence M^Glymont, D. of L. V'Glymont, Clyne lymyn.
Laurence, G. Labhruinn, M. G. Lahhran (1467), Ir. Laurint
(Saint), from Lat. Laurejitius, St Laurence, the ultimate stem
being that of Lat. laurus, a laurel. Hence M'Labhruinn, or
3Iac-laren.
Lewis, G. Luthais ; from Fr. Louis, from Ghlovis, the Frankish
king (fifth century), degraded from old German Ghlodwig,
now Ludiuig {^ Kluto-vigo-s, famed warrior, roots in cliit and
Eng. victory). Hence Eng. Ludovic, which is rendered in
G. by Maolddnuich, shaveling of the Church.
Livingstone, G. M'An-leigh ; see Mac-leay.
Luke, G. Lucais. Hence Mac-lucas.
Magnus, G. Manus, Manus, M. G. Magnus, Manuis, g. (1467
MS.), Ir. Maghnus, Norse Magnuss, from Lat. ma gnus, in the
name of Charlema^?ie — Carolus Magnus.
Malcolm, G. Calum, earlier Gillecalum, M. G. Mylcollum (D. of
L.), Maelcolaim, 0. G. Malcoloum, Malcolum, GilUecolaim,
Ir. Maelcoluim : from maol, bald, and calum, a dove (Lat.
columba), the particular Galum meant here being St Columba.
Hence Macccdlum,.
Malise, G. Maoliosa, E. Ir. Maeltsu, servant of Jesus. Hence
also Mellis.
Matheson, G. M'Mhathan, Mathanach, M. G. Mac-Matgamna
(1467 MS.), Macmaghan (Exchequer Rolls for 1264), the Ir.
Mac-maho7i, "son of the bear," for which see mathghamhuin.
Matheson in Perthshire and Kintyre is, as elsewhere outside
the Highlands, for Mathm-son, G. M'Mhatha.
404 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONRAY
Menzies, G. M^innear, M6inn and M6innearach locally, early
documents de Mengues (1487), de Meyners (1249); De
Meyneria would mean much the same as De Camera^ that is,
"of the household," from mesn-, masti-, giving Fr. men- (our
menage, 7nenagerie, menial), from Lat. mans- (our mansion),
from tnaneo, remain. The root anyway is man of mansion
and manor, and the name is allied to Manners and Main-
ivari^ig.
Morgan, M. G. Clann Mhorguinn (M'V.), 0. G. Morgunn, g.
Morcunt, W. Morgan, Cor. and 0. Br. Morcant : Mori-canto-s,
" sea-white," from the stem of muir and root hid, burn, as in
connadh (Lat. candeo, shine, Eng. candle). See Mackay.
Morrison, G. Moireasdan, earlier M'Gille-mhoire, Mary's servant,
M. G. Gillamure, whence Gilmour. The name Morris is for
Maurice, from the Latin saint's name Mauricius, " Moorish."
MuNRo, G. Rothach, Mac-an-Rothaich (Dial. Munro). In the
fourteenth century the name is "of Monro," which shows it
is a territorial name, explained as Bun-roe, the mouth of the
Roe, a river in County Derry, Ireland, whence the family are
represented as having come in the eleventh century.
Murdoch, G. Muireach, Murchadh ; the first is M. G. Muiredh-
aigh, gen. (M'V.), Murreich (D. of L.), Muireadhaigh, g.
(1467 MS.), Ir. Muireadhack, E. Ir. Muiredach, 0. Ir. (Lat.)
Muirethachus, Adamnan's Muiredaxhus, " lord," allied to
muiren7i and muriucdii ; Ag. S. masre, clarus ; Br. cono-
morios (?) (Stokes R. C. 1876.) The form Murchadh is in Ir.
the same, E. Ir. Murchad : "^ Mori-catu-s, sea warrior. Hence
(from the first) M'Mhuirich (in Arran, etc., becoming Ctirrie),
and from the second, Murchison, Murchie, and Ir. Murphy.
See murrach above.
Murray, G. Moirreach ; from the coimty name Moray or Murray,
early Gadelic forms being Moreb, Muref, and Norse Morhceji
(influenced by Norse haf, sea) : '^ Mor-apia, from mor of muir,
sea, and *apia, the termination of several Celtic place-names.
Andrew Morrich, Kiltearn, 1672.
Myles, G. Maolmoire, servant of Mary, an old and common name.
Myles is from the Med. Lat. Milo, with a leaning on miles,
soldier — a common name in the Middle Ages.
Mac-alister ; see Alexander.
Mac-andrew ; see Andreiv.
Mac- ARTHUR ; see A vtUur.
Mac-askill, G. M'Asgaill ; from Norse 'Askell, for "^ ' As-ketill, the
kettle (sacrificial vessel) of the Anses or gods : " a vessel of
holiness."
OP THE GAELIC LANGtJAGE. 405
Mac-aulay, G. M'Amhlaidh, Ir. Mac Amhlaoibh, M. Ir. Anilaihh,
E. Ir. Amldib, 'Alaib ; from Norse 'Oldfr, Anlaf (on coins),
" the Anses' relic " (Eng. left).
Mac-bean, G. M'Bheathain, from Beathan, Englished as Bean
(1490, Beane^ 1481) or Benjamin : *Bitdtagno-s, life's son,
from beatha, life, with the termination -agno-s, meaning
"descendant of," Eng. -ing, now used like the Eng. to form
diminutives. Also Mac-bain, Mac-vean.
Mac-beth, G. M'Bheatha (Dial. M'Bheathain and M'Bheathaig),
M. G. Macbethad, 0. G. Mac-bead (B. of Deer), M. Ir. Mac-
bethad, Macbeth 1058, 1041 a.d.) : "son of life," from beatha,
life. It is a personal name originally, not patronymic.
From Macbeth come M'Bey, M'Vey, M'Veagh.
Mac-caig, G. M'Caog, Ir. Mac Taidhg, son of Teague, E. Ir. Tadg,
possibly allied to Gaul. Tasgius, etc. Tadg explained by 0.
CI. and Dav. as " poet."
Mac-callum, G. M'Caluim ; see under Malcolm.
Mac-CODrum, G. M'Codrum ; from Norse Guttormr, GotSormr,
Ag. S. Guthrum : "good or god serpent" (orm).
Mac-coll, G. M'CoUa ; see Coll.
Mac-combie, G. M'Comaidh, M. G. M'Comie (D. of L.) : " son of
Tommie," or Thomas.
Mac-cx)nachie, G. M'Dhonnchaidh, son of Duncan, which see.
The Clan Donnachie are the Robertsons of Athole, so-named
from Duncan de Atholia in Bruce's time : the English form
of the name is from Robert, Duncan's great-grandson, who
helped in bringing the murderers of James I. to execution.
Mac-cormic, G. M'Cormaig, from Cormac (Cormag), E. Ir.
Cor mac, Adamnan's Cormacus : "^C orb-mac, charioteer, from
corb, chariot, Lat. corbis, basket. See carbad. From corb also
comes Cairbre, 0. Ir. Coirbre.
Mac-corquodale, M'Corcadail, M. G. Corgitill, g. (D. of L.), early
documents Makcorquydill ( 1 434) ; from Norse Thorketill,
Thor's kettle or holy vessel (see Mac-asMll).
Mac-crimmon, G. M'Cruimein ; from Rumun (on a Manx Rune
inscription), from Norse Hromundr (for Hrb^-m^undr, famed
protector) % Ceannfaelad Mac Rumain, Bishop, d. 820 ;
Ruman, the poet, d. 742; Ruman, the bishop, d. 919. Erig
a n-agaid Rumuind, MS. Bodl. Lib. Laud. 610, fol. 10, a, a
(0. Don's Gram.).
Mac-culloch, G. M'Cullach, early documents M'Culloch (1458),
M'Cullo, M'Cullach (1431)— in Easter Ross: "son of the
Boar " {cullach) % M''Lulach, son of Lulach (little calf '?), has
been suggested, and this appears as M^Lulich.
406 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
Mac-dermid ; see Dermid.
Mac-donald ; see Donald.
Macduff ; see Dujf.
Mac-echern, G. M'Eachairn, M. G. M'Caychim (D. of L.), early
documents Mackauchern (1499), Ir. Echthighern (Annals
846 A.D.) : " Horse-lord," from each and tighearna. Also
Englished as M^KtcJuiie (^' Mac-Echthigerna).
Mac-fadybn, G. M'Phaidein, early documents M'Fadzeane (1540);
from Paidean, Pat, a pet form of Patrick.
Mac-farlane ; see Bartholomnv.
Mac-gill ; from a G. M'Gille, used as a curtailment, especially of
Mac-millan or M'Gille-mhaoil.
Mac-gillivray, G. M'Gillebhrath, son of the Servant of Judg-
ment, from brath^ judgment, q.v,
Mac-glashan, G. M'Glaisein, a side-form of M'Ghilleghlais, the
Grey lad, M. G. M'lllezlass (D. of L.), documents M'Gille-
</lasch (1508). For the formation of this name, cf. Gille-
iiaomh (Mac-niven), Gille-maol (Mac-millan), M'Gillebane
(1555), J\'PGill.e-iddhir (M'Clure, dun lad), Gilroy, red lad.
Mac-gowan ; see under Gow.
Mac-gregor ; see Greg or.
Mac-hardy, G. M'Cardaidh :
Mac-indbor ; see Dewar.
Mac-innes ; see Angus.
Mac-intyre, G. Mac-an-t-saoir, son of the carpenter ; see saor.
Mac-iver, G. M'lamhair, M. G. M'Imhair (1467 MS.), Ir. Imhar,
E. Ir. Imair, g. ; from Norse 'Ivarr.
Mackay, G. M'Aoidh, from Aoiih, 0. G. Aed, 0. Ir. Aed, xAdam-
nan's Aldus, g. Aido : "^ Aldus, fire, E. Ir. aed, fire, Gr. aWo<^,
fire, brand, Lat. aedes, house ( = hearth), aestus, heat, 0. H. G.
eit, fire, pyre. Hence the Gaul. Aedui.
Mac-kellar, G. M'Ealair, M'Eallair, old documents Makkellar
(1518), Makalere (1476), M'Callar (1470), all "of Ardare "
in Glassary, Argyle. Ellar M^KeUar, 1595, proves the
name to be Eaiair. M. Ir. EUm\ the Gaelic form of
Lat. Hilarius borrowed.
Mac-kenzie, G. M'Coinnich ; from Coinneach, which see under
Kenneth.
Mackerchar, G. M'Fhearchair ; see Farquhar.
Mackessack, for G. M'Isaac, son of Isaac. Also Mackieson,
IPKesek., 1475 ; Kessokissone, Kessoksone, 1488 ; Makesone,
1507 ; Makysonn, 1400 (mostly in Menteith and S. Perth),
from Kessoc, Kessan, personal names circ. 1500, also St.
Kessog or Kessock.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 407
Mackillop, G. M'Fliiiib, for Philip { = Filip), where / (=ph) is
aspirated and disappears ; from Lat. Fhillipus, from Gr.
^iAiTTTTos, lover of horses (see gaol and each).
Mackinlay, G. M'Fhionnla(idh) ; from Finlay.
MACKINNON, G. M'Fhionghuin, M. G. Fionghuine, g. (M'V.), in
Macfingon (1400), 0. G. Fingun% gen. (B. of Deer), Ir.
Finghin, M. Ir. Finghin, Finnguine, E. Ir. Fingiiine : ^ Vindo-
go7iio-s, " fair-born " (fionn and girt) ; of. for force and partial
root Gr. KaA/Vtyei/i^s, and -yovos in proper names.
Mackintosh, ii. Mac-an-toisich, the Thane's son (see tbiseach),
M. G. Clan7ia-an-t6isaigh, Clans Mackintosh (M'V.), Toissich
(D. of L.), Mackintoshes, C lanu-an-toisigJi (1467 MS.), early
documents M'Toschy (1382).
Mackirdy, G. M'Urardaigh, M'Urarthie, 1632 ; M'Quiritei,
1626 ; Makmurrm'ty, 1547 ; Makwerarty, 1517 ; common in
Bute and Arran of old, from MuircJieartack^ " sea-director "
(muir and ceart) ; whence also liPMurtrie, M^Mutrie.
Mac-lachlan, G. M'Lachlainn ; see Lac/dan.
Maclagan, G. IVE'Lagain (Lathagain in its native district of
Strathtay), documentary Maklaagan (1525) : ^M^Gillaagan,
sed quid 1
Mac-laren, G. M^Labhruinn ; see Lawrence.
Mac-larty, G. M^Labhartaigh and Lathartaich, from Flaith-
bheartach, Eng. Flaherty : " dominion-bearing " or " princely-
bearing " (seejlat/i and beartach).
Mac-lean, G. M'llleathain, for Gill' Sheathain, John or Seathan's
servant, M. G. Giolla-eoin (M'V.), Gilleeoin (1467 MS.),
documents Makgilleon (1390) ; from gille and Seathain {Iain)
or Ebin, John, the latter being the classic G. for the name.
John means in Hebrew "the Lord graciously gave."
Mac-learnan, so G. ; from Gill' Frnan, St Ernan's gille. The
Latin name of this saint is Ferreolus, " Iron-one " ; from
ia^'unn.
Mac-leay, G. M'An-leigh, or earlier M'An-leibh, documents
M^Conleif (1498 in Easter Ross), Dunslephe, gen. (1306-9,
Kintyre), Dunslaf Makcorry (1505), M. G. Dv.insleibe, gen.,
Ir. Doiinsleibhe, E. Ir. Duindslebe, gen. : " Brown of the Hill,"
from donn and sliabh (not " Lord of the Hill," as other
similar names exist in dubh, e.g. Dubhsleibhe ; see Mac-phee).
Capt. Thomas regarded the M'Leays of the north-west as
descended from Ferchar Leche, F. the physician, who gets
lands in Assynt in 1386, being thus M^An-leigh, physician's
son, Manx Cleg, Legge. The Appin M'Lea clan Englished
their name as Livingstone, of whom was the celebrated
traveller.
408 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
Mac-lellan, G. M'Grillf haolain, M. G. M'Gillelan (D. of L.), Gilla-
faelan (1467 MS.), St Fillan's slave, E. Ir. Faeldn, 0. Ir.
Fdilan, horn, fail, now faol, wolf, q.v. Hence Giljillan.
Mac-lennan, G. M'lllinnein, Servant of St Finnan, Ir. Mac-
Giila-finnen (common in fourteenth and fifteenth century),
M. Ir. Finden, E. Ir. Finnian, Adamnan'8 Vinnianus = Finnio,
Finnionis — Findbarrus ; from jinn, fionn, white : the full
name, of which Finnan is a pet form, was Findbarr or "Fair-
head," Eng. Fairfax. Skene deduced Mac-lennan from M. G.
M''Gilla-agamnan, Adamnan's gille, documents Gilleganan
Macneill (1545), Gilleownan (1427).
Mac-lbod, G. M'Leoid, M. G. M'Cloyd (D. of L.), M'Leod (MS.
1540), documents Madoyde (fourteenth century), 0. G. Leot
(B. of Deer), Norse Sagas Ljdtr, earl of Orkney in tenth
century, and otherwise a common Norse name ; the word is
an adj. meaning "ugly" (!), Got. liuta, dissembler, Eng. little.
Mac-mahon, G. M'Mhathain ; see Matheson.
Mac-martin, G. M'Mhairtinn, no doubt for earlier Gillamartain^
gen. (1467 MS., an ancestor of the Cameron chiefs) : Eng.
Martin, from Lat. Martinus, the name of the famous fourth
century Gaulish saint; it means "martial."
Mac-master, G. M^Mhaighistir, son of the Master,
Mac-michael, G. M'Mhicheil, doubtless for earlier Gillamichol ;
see Carmickael.
Mac-millan, G. M'Mhaolain, M'Ghille-mhaoil, son of the Bald
gille (cf. M''Glasha7i). To Maolan must be compared the
Ogmic Mailagni.
Mac-nab, G. M* An-ataa, M. G. m' ynnab (D. of L.), J/' An Aha
(1467 MS.) : "son of the Abbot"; see aba.
Mac-nair, G. M'An-uidhir ; for Mac lain uidhir, son of dun
(odhar) John (cf. Makaneroy, 1556, now Mac-inroy, and
Makaneduy, 1526, now Mac-indoe). Such is the source of the
Gairloch branch of the name. The Perthshire sept appears
in documents as W-Inayr (1468), Macnayr (1390), which is
explained as i¥' An-oighre, son of the heir. M''Nuirs in
Cowal (1685), John Makneivar (1546, in Dunoon) ; Tho.
M'Nuyer (1681, Inverness). Prof. Mackinnon suggested
iWAn-fkuibhir, son of the smith or fa.ber ; nor should
M''An-fhuidhir, the stranger's son, be overlooked as a possible
etymology.
Mac-naughton, G. M*Neachdainn, M. G. M'Neachtain (1467),
0. G. Nectan, Pictish Naiton (Bede), from necht, pure, root
nig of nigh, wash.
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 409
Mac-nee, G. M'Righ ; D. of L. M'onee, M'Me, 1613; M'Knie,
1594; M'Kne, 1480 (Menteith and Breadalbane). From
mac-nia, champion 1
Nac-neill, G. M*Neill, documents MaJcneill (1427). See Neil.
Mac-nicol, G. M^Neacail, M. G. M'Nicail, from Lat. Nicolas, Gr.
N iKo Aas, " conquering people." Hence NichoUon.
Mac-nish, G. M'Neis ; from M'Naois, the Naois being a dialectic
form of Aong^hus or Angus.
Mac-niven, G. M'Ghille-naoimh, the saintly gille (cf. for form in
Eng. Mac-glashan). Documentary form Gilnew M'llwedy
(1506). The M. G. and Ir. Gill a Nanaemh, servant of the
saints (1467 MS.), is a different name. The Ir. M'Nevin is
for JW'Cnaimhin. Mac Nimhein {Oranaiche 520).
Mac PHAiL, G. M'Phail ; son of Paul. See Paul.
Mac-phbe, G. M'a-Phi, M. G. M'a ffeith (D. of L.), M'Duibsithi
(1467), documents Macduffie (1463), for Diib-shithe, Black of
peace (duhh and slth).
Mac-pherson, G. M'Phearsain, son of the Parson, M. G.
M''a pharsone (D. of L.), documents M^Inphersonis (1594 Acts
of Pari.). Bean Makimpersone (1490, Cawdor Papers), Mak-
f arson (1481, Kilravock Papers), Archibald M'Walter vie
Doncho vie Persoun (who in 1589 has lands in (xlassary
of Argyle) ; Tormot M''Farsane (vicar of Snizort, 1526). The
Badenoch M'Phersons are known as Clann Mhuirich ; the
Skye sept are called Cananaich (from Lat. cafionicus, canon).
Mac-quarrie, G. M'Guaire, M. G. Guaire, M'Guaire (1467 MS.),
Macquharry (1481), M'Goire of Ulva (1463, Makquhory in
1473) ; from Gadelic Guaire, "^Gaurio-s, E. Ir. c/uaire, noble ;
Gr. yav pos, proud, exulting ; further Lat. gaudeo, rejoice,
Eng. joy.
Mac-queen, G. M'Cuinn, documents Sween McQueen (1609, Clan
Chattan Bond), M''Queyn (1543. Swyne then also as a personal
name, in Huntly's Bond), Makquean (1502, personal name
Soyne also appears), M. G. ^uibne, gen, (1467 MS., Mackin-
tosh genealogy), IW'Soenith (D. of L.), documents Syffyn
(1269, the Kintyre Sweens), Ir. Suibhne (Sweeney), E. Ir.
Subne, Adamnan's Suibneus : *Subnio-s, root ben, go : " Good
going 1" The opposite Duibne (O'Duinn, etc.) appears in
Ogam as Dovvinias (gen.). Cf. dubhach, subhach. Usually
Mac-queen is referred to Norse Eng. Sweyn, Norse Sveinn,
which gives G. Jk/^Suain, now Mac-Swan, a Skye name.
Pronounced in Arg. Mac Cui'ne or Cuibhne, for M'Shuibhne,
which is the best spelling for Argyle.
Mac-rae, G. M'Rath, M. G. gen. Mecraith, documents M^Crath
(1383 in Rothiemurchus), Ir. Macraith (years 448, onwards) :
50
410 ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
" Son of Grace or Luck," from rath, q.v. A personal name
like Macbeth.
Mac-raild ; see under Harold.
Mac-ranald, G. M'Raonuill ; see Ranald.
Mac-rory, Mac-rury ; see Rory. Documents give Mahreury in
1427.
Mac-taggart, G. M'An-t-Sagairt, son of the priest.
Mac-tavish, G. M'Thaimhs, for M'Thamhais, son of Thomas or
Tammas, M. G. Cljne Tawssi (D. of L.)> documents M^Caivis
and M'Cause (1494, 1488, in Killin of Lochtay).
Mac-vicar, G. M'Bhiocair, documents Makvicar (1561, when
lands are given near Inveraray to him) : " Son of the Vicar."
Mac-vurich, G. M^Mhuirich, M. G. Mhuireadhaigh (M'V.) : the
Bardic family of M'Vurich claimed descent from the poet
Muireach Albanach (circ. 1200 a.d.). They now call them-
selves Macphersons by confusion with the Badenoch Clann
Mhuirich.
Neil, G. Niall, so Ir., E. Ir. Niall, Adamnan's Nellis, gen. :
*I^eillo-s, *Neid-s-lo- ; see niata for root, the meaning being
"champion." Hence Mac-neill. The word was borrowed
into Norse as Njdll, JVjal, and thence borrowed into Eng.,
where it appears in Domesday Bk. as Nigel, a learned spelling
of Neil, whence Nelson, etc.
Nicholson, G. M'Neacail ; see Mac-nicol.
Norman, G. Tormoid, Tormod (Dial. Tormailt, for earlier Tor-
inond), documents Tormode (David II.'s reign) ; from Norse
Thormo^r, the wrath of Thor, Eng. mood. The form
Tormund alternates with Tormod (1584, 1560) : "Thor's
protection ; " whence the Dial. Tormailt (cf. iarmailt for
phonetics). Cf. Gearmailt, Germany.
Patrick, G. Padruig, Parui^ (with pet form Para), for Gille-
phadruig, M. G. Gillapadruig, Ir. Pddraig, Giollaphdtraicc,
0, Ir. Patrice ; from Lat. Patricius, patrician. Hence Mac-
phatrick, Paterson.
Paul, G. Pol (Classic), Pal (C.S.) ; from Lat, Paulus, from paulus,
little, Eng. few.
Peter, G. Peadair ; from Lat. Petrus, from Gr. Her/oos, rock, stone.
Philip, so (j. ; see Mackillop.
Ranald, G. Raonull, M. G. Raghnall (M'V.), Ragnall, Raghnall
(1467 MS.), Ir. Ragnall {GOTCivnor^) ; from Norse Rbgnvaldr,
ruler of (from) the gods, or ruler of counsel, from rogn, regin,
the gods, Got. ragin, opinion, rule ; whence Reginald, Rey-
nold, etc. Hence M^Raonuill, Mac-ranald, Clanranald.
Robert, Raibert, Rotaart, Rob, M. G. Robert (D. of L.), Roibert
(1467 MS.) ; from Eng. Robert, Ag. S. Robert, iromhro, hfd^,
OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 411
fame, praise, and herht, bright, now bright, " bright fame."
Hence Rolertsons ( = Claim Donnchaidh), Mac-robhie.
Roderick, Rory, G. Ruairidh, M. G. Ruaidri (1467 MS.), 0. G.
Ruadri, Ir. Ruaidhri, gen. Ruadrach (Annals at 779, 814),
0. Ir. Ruadri, E, W. Rotri, Rodri ; from ruadh, red, and the
root of righ, king? The Teutonic Roderick means "Famed-
ruler" (from hro^ and rik, the same root as G. righ). The
terminal -ri, -reck (old gen.) is a reduced form of rtgh, king
(Zimmer, who, however, regards Ruadri as from N. Hrorehr,
but this in Galloway actually gives Rerik, APRerik, M'-Crerik^
1490, 1579, thus disproving Zimmer's view). M'Gririck still
exists.
Ross, G. Rosach, Ros ; from the County name Ross, so named
from ros, promontory.
Roy, G. Ruadh, red. Hence Mac-inroy , earlier Makaneroy (1555),
for M'lain Ruaidh, Red John's son.
Samuel, G. Samuel, Somhairle. The latter r3ally is Some.rled,
M. G. Somuirle (M'V.), Somairli {MQl MS.); from Norse
Sumarli^i, which means a mariner, viking, "summer sailor,"
^rora sumar and lid'i, a follower, sailor.
Shaw, G. Seaghdh, Englished as Setk ; evidently formerly Si^ach
or Se'ach, Schiach M'Keich, Weem in 1637 ( = Shaw M'Shaw),
Jo. Scheach, Inverness in 1451, Jo. and Tho. Scheoch, king's
"cursors" 1455-1462, Sythach Macmallon in Badenoch in
1224-33, Ferchar hlius Seth there in 1234, M'Sithig in B. of
Deer : "^Sithech, M. Ir. sidhach, wolf, The female name
Sitheag was common in the Highlands in the 17th century
(Shiak, Shihag). The Southern Shaws — of Ayrshire and
Greenock — are from De Schaw (1296), from Sc. and Eng.
shaw, shaws ; the southern name influenced the northern in
spelling and pronunciation. In Argyle, the Shaws are called
Clann Mhic-ghiWe-Sheathanaich.
Simon, G. Sim. This is the Lovat personal name ; hence
M'Shimidh, Simmie's son, the name by which the Lovat
family is patronymically known. Hence in Eng. Sime, Mac-
kiniTYiie, M''Kim, Simpson, etc.
SoMERLED ; see Samuel.
Sutherland, G. Suthurlanach ; from the county name.
Taggart ; see Mac-taggart.
Thomas, G. Tomas, Tamhus (M'F.), M. G. Tamas (1467 MS.).
Hence Mac-tavish, Mac-comhie.
ToHQUiL, G. Torcull (Torcall) ; from Norse Thorkell, a shorter
form of Thorketill, which see under Mac-corquodale.
White, G. M'lllebhain ; son of the fair gille. See Bain above.
412 ETYMOLOGICAL DIC'I lONARY.
William, G. Uilleam, M. G. William (1467 MS.) ; the G. is bor-
rowed from the Eng., 0. Eng. Willelm, Ger. Wilheha, ''helmet
of resohition" (from ivill and helm). Hence M ac-william.
SOME NATIVE FEMALE NAMES,
Beathag, Sophia, M. G. Bethog (M'V.), Bethoc {Chronicles of Picts
and Scots : name of King Duncan's mother), for "^Bethoc, the
fem. form of Beathan, discussed under Mac-bean.
Bride, Bridget, E. Ir., 0. Ir. Brigit, g. Brigte or Brigtae : "^Brgnti
(Stokes), an old GaeHc goddess of poetry, etc. (Corm.) ;
usually referred to the root brg, high, Celtic Brigantes, high
or noble people ; Skr. hrhatt, high (fem.) ; further Ger. ber^g,
hill, Eng. burgh. The Norse god of poetry was Bragi, whose
name may be allied to that of Brigit. The name of the Gr.
goddess AcfipoSiTr) (B/irg-ttct) and the Teutonic name Berhta
(from the same stem as Eng. bright), have been compared to
that of Bridget (Hoffman, Bez. Beit, i^, 290) ; but this deriva-
tion of Aphrodite ("foam-sprung'"?) is unusual.
Diorbhail, Diorbhorguil, Dorothy, M. G. Derbhfdil (M'V.), Ir.
Dearbhail, Dearbhforghaill, respectively translated by 0' Don-
ovan "true request" (see aill) and "true oath" (E. Ir.forgall,
0. Ir. forcell, testimony, from geall). Hence the historic
name Devorgilla.
rionnaghal, Flora, M. G. Fionnghuala (1469 MS.), documents
Finvola (1463), Fynvola (1409), Ir. Finnghuala \ "Fair-
shouldered " ; from fionn and guala.
M6r, M6rag, Sarah, M. G. Mor (M'V.), Ir. Mor (year 916) : from
mor, great, while Hebrew Sarah means "queen."
Muireall, Marion, Muriel, Ir. Muirgheal (year 852) : Mori-geld^
" sea-white " ; from muir and geal.
Oighrig, Eighrig, Euphemia, M. G. Effric (D. of L.), med.
documents Africa, Ir. Aithbhric, older Ajfraic (two abbesses
of Kildare so called in 738 and 833) ; from Africa ?
Raonaild, Raonaid, Rachel ; from Norse Raqnhildis, " God's
fight." Of. Ronald.
Sorcha, Clara, Ir. Sorcha ; from the adj. sorcha, bright, the
opposite of dorcha, q.v.
Una, Winifred, Winny, Ir. Una ; usually explained as from una
(nuna, M. Ir. =gorta), hunger, famine, whence the Ir,
proverb : " Ni bhion an teach a mbion Una la na leath gan
niina " — The house where Una is is never a day or half one
without hunger." W. newj/n, Cor. naun, Br. naon, M. Br.
naffln, *novengo-, Eng. need. Cf. E. Ir. uinchi, scarcity, Eng.
want, wane. Una, daughter of the King of Lochlan, is repre-
sented by Keating as Conn Cedcathach's mother (second
century).
OTHER WORKS by DR MACBAIN,
M.A., LLD.
HISTORY OF THE CLAN MATHESON, with
Genealogies of the Various Families. By Alex. Mackenzie,
F.S.A. Scot., Clan Historian. 2nd edition, largely re -written
and added to by Alexander MacBain, M.A., LL.D. Illus-
trated. Large Paper, 25s; Demy 8vo., 15s.
PERSONAL NAMES AND SURNAMES OF
THE TOWN OF INVERNESS. 8vo., cloth, 3s 6d.
MACEACHAN'S GAELIC DICTIONARY.
Edited and enlarged by Dr MacBain and John Whyte. 2s 6d.
HOW TO LEARN GAELIC. Orthog^paphical
Instructions, Heading Lessons, and Grammar. By Dr Mac-
Bain and John Whyte. Is 3d.
HIGHER GRADE READINGS IN GAELIC,
with Outlines of (Trammar, By Dr MacBain. Is 6d.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. Vols. xii. and
xiii. I886-I888. Demy 8vo., 3s 6d.
THE HIGHLANDERS OF SCOTLAND. By
Wm. F. Skene. New edition, edited by Dr Alexander Mac-
Bain. 10s 6d, or in 2 Vols., Buckram, 12s 6d.
OUTLINES OF GAELIC ETYMOLOGY. Is.
A CHAPTER ON PERSONAL NAMES, with
Ptolemy's Geography. Is.
THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER: in Anecdote
and Story. By Roderick Maclennan. Illustrated. 192
pages. 1905. 2s 6d.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
THE PLACE NAMES OF ELGINSHIRE. By
D. Matheson, F.E.I.S., late Headmaster, Anderson's Institu-
tion, Elgin. Eight Illustrations. 208 pages. 1905. 6s.
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
This book contains the names and etymologies of about a thousand
places in Elginshire. The etymologies given for the names may, in the
majority of cases, be accepted as correct, and some of them show research
and ingenuity in detecting the original iorm of Celtic names. — " Banffshire
Journal."
Mr Matheson considers the old records of Elginshire the most
important of all sources of information on this most interesting subject, as
embodying very approximately, if not the original form, at least the
original sound. This seems a sensible view — Mr Matheson is evidently a
philologist. — " Daily Journal."
Mr D. Matheson, lately the head of an educational institution, and
now editor of the "Isiortheru Times," is the latest recruit to the slowly
increasing authors on place-names. His work on the " Place Names of
Elginshire" is a handsome volume of over 200 pages. . . . Every one
interested in place names should have it. As a working list of names
with some historic facts, the book will do. — " Northern Chronicle."
This book is of great interest, going over the place names systemati-
cally parish by parish. The parishes are taken in their alphabetical order,
and the place names in each are dealt with in detail, a full index being
given ;at the end. The book is a notable contribution to the rapidly-
growing literature of place names, and relating, as it does, to a compara-
tively small county, it may be i^garded as exhaustive. The work is
scholarly, and oommendably free from fanciful interpretations. The gen-
eral student of place names will find in it much valuable aid to the reading
of topogTaphical nomenclature. — " Aberdeen Free Press."
Mr Matheson's views of both race and language are not in full 'accord
with those of the extreme classics. Whose delight is to revel in the glory
of mere academic excellence, but his work will be none the less
popular on that account. We heartily recommend the book as one that
will interest and instruct, . . . If Mr Matheson touches some sensitive
spots by his views on them, and on the place names of Elginshire, he will
be in the best of company; and if hostile critics " swear at large" at him.
all the more will his work be read, and the more it will be read the
more will it serve its purpose to instruct and interest his countrymen on
the subject, and to awaken still further the growing interest in the topog-
raphy and all the otheir interests that follow in its wake. — " Oban Weekly
News."
THE BATTLE OF SHERIFFMUIR. Related
from Original Sources. Illustrated by 20 Original Pen and
Ink Drawings. 64 Pages. 1898. By an F.S.A. (Scot.).
Fscap 4to., 3s 6d.
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
We have seldom seen a more dainty production than this quarto. —
" Northern Chronicle."
The anonymous author has told the story of the fight from sucii
original authorities as the despatches of Mar and Argyle and Freebaim's
ADVERTISEMEMTS.
Perth print of 1715. His unpretentious narrative is valuable chiefly as the
work of one who evidently is thoroughly acquainted with the topograpliy
of the battlefield. The plan and bird's-eye are helpful. — " GlasgoAv
Herald."
Tlie actual facts of the event and of the locality are very clearly
related and described, from originial sources. — ■" Scotsman."
THE HIGHLAND BRIGADE : Its Battles and
its Heroes. By James Cromb. New Edition, with Appendix
to end of Boer War by D. L, Cromb, Illustrated. 320
pages. 1897. 3s 6d.
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
The late James Oromb was a ready and well-informed, writer. Especi-
ally on Highland matters he had accumulated a store of interesting
information, and his skill as a writer and. ability to group and clothe
historical figures were conspicuously proved in the books he now and then
gave to the public. ... In this present volume there is as stirring a
narrative as fictionist ever penned. . . . The subjecit stirs the blood,
quickens the pulse, and strengthens the weakest in their struggle against
the might which is too often claimed as right, for the Highland Brigade
were ever noted for undaunted courage in the field. — " Oban Telegrapli."
The book concludes with a justly-merited panegyric on the men of the
Highland Brigade. . . . The volume, containing many portraits and
other illustrations, is one which ought to be in every Highland household.
— " Oban Times."
The work is produced in excellent style, and should be in the library
of every patriotic Gael. — " Highland News."
THE LIFE OF FLORA MACDONALD. By
the Rev. Alexander MacGregor, M.A. Illustrated. 152
pages. 1901. 2s 6d.
Mr MacGregor, of Inverness, knew probably more than any of his
contemporaries of the history, traditions, and folk-lore of the Outer
Hebrides and Skye, and in particular he was an authority on events of
the eighteenth century. His " Life of Flora Macdonald " is clearly the
work of a man who knew his subject thoroughly, who had studied every-
thing connected with the distinguished heroine, and who wrote in a spirit
of genuine sympathy with the Highlanders and their leaders in the
memorable part which they played in the great drama of the '45. The
book is admirably got up and illustrated ; the many visitors to the High-
lands will in especial welcome it. — " Scotsman."
The Rev. Alexander MacGregor was eminent as a Gaelic scholar, and
as a contributor to the literature of the Highlands. Probably the best of
his writings, and certainly the one which will find most readers and
admirers, is his " Life of Flora Macdonald." So long as romance throws
her brilliant plaid over the '45, so long will a corner of the garment cover
the heroic maiden whose adventure on behalf of the fugitive Prince
Charlie has been the fruitful theme of song and story. Mr MacGregor
writes with Highland fervour — as who would not with such a subject — and
his narrative is full of incident. One of the portraits is a reproduction of
Allan Ramsay's painting of the heroine. — " Glasgow Herald."
ADVERTISEMENTS.
HISTORY OF THE PROVINCE OF MORAY
Comprising the Counties of Elgin and Nairn, the greater
part of the County of Inverness, and a portion of the County
of Banff — all called the Province of Moray before there was a
division into Counties. By Lachlan Shaw. New edition, in
Three Volumes. Enlarged and brought down to present
time by J. F. S. Gordon. 408 pages, 424 pages, 479 pages,
10s 6d. 1882.
CONTENTS.
Introductions — Early Historians — Early Inhabitants of the Province —
Druids — Language — Names — Roman Invasion — Buchanan's Description —
Celts and Picts — Culdees — Religion — Houses — Dress — Geography — Parish by
Parish — Fam:ly of Grant, Gordon, Duff, Shaw, Farquharson — 'Mackintosh,
Macpherson, Innes, Moray, Duchart, Leslies, Cumming, Culbin, Brodie,
Cialder, Rose, Lovat, Macdonald, Chisholm — Natural History — Civil and
Political History — Military History — Ecclesiastical History — Primitive,
Roman, Protestant Churches, etc., etc.
THE HIGHLANDERS OF SCOTLAND By
the late William F. Skene, LL.D., F.S.A. (Scot.). Edited,
with Excursus and Notes, by Alexander Mac Bain, M A.,
LL.D. 227 pages. 1902. 10s 6d; or 2 vols. Buckram
12s 6d.
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
The beginner in Celtic history can do nothing better than start his
reading with " The Highlanders of Scotland," by Skene, edited by Mac-
Bain. — " Oban Times.''
The origin and history of the Highland Clans is interesting. Respect
is due to the views explained by Dr MacBain, the editor of the work. —
" Saturday Review."
In its present form this book will be more valuable than ever it was. —
" Dundee Advertiser."
It was a happy thought to reprint the work, and to bring it up to date
by means of notes which embody the critical labour of the seventy years
that have elapsed since its first issue. This task was confided to' Dr Alex-
ander MacBain, a high authority on Celtic matters, to whom we owe the
excellent article on the Picts in " Chambers' Encyclopcedia." This new
edition of Skene's Highlanders, with Dr MacBain's learned annotations,
well deserves a place in the library of every student of Scottish history.^ —
" Sootsmar.."
ADVERTISEMENTS.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. A Monthly
Journal devoted to the Literature, History, Antiquities, Folk
Lore, Traditions, and the Social and Material Interests of
the Celt at home and abroad. Conducted by Alexander
Mackenzie (late Secretary of the Gaelic Society of Inverness),
and the Rev. Alexander MacGregor, M.A., and Dr MacBain.
13 vols. 10s Gd, each.
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
The articles, etc., are those in which Highlanders take delight. — " John
o' Groats Journal.
No one can open its pages without finding something of pleasure,
profit, or instruction. — " American Scotsman."
The Magazine ought to find its way into the hands of every true
Highlander. — " Greenock Highlander."
THE ROMANCE OF POACHING in the
Highlands of Scotland. As illustrated in the lives of John
Farquharson and Alexander Davidson, the last of the Free-
Foresters. By W. M'Combie Smith. 190 pages. 1904.
l^ortraits and Illustrations. 3s 6d.
CONTENTS.
John Farquharson — iLanavey — Lost on the Grampians — A Lesson in
Deer-Stalking — Two Days with a Poacher of the Old School — Gamekeepers
Outwitted — How the Deer were Carried Off — Initiating a Sportsjnan —
Sportsmen and Keepers Sold — ^Seven Deer Shot in Sixty Seconds— Stalking
Stalkers — Running the Blockade — A Dream and its Fulfilment — Fox Chasing
— " Nell " — Alexander Davidson.
Reads more like a romance than a plain naiintive of facts. — " Stirling
Observer."
HECTOR MACDONALD: The Story of His
Life. By David L. Cromb. Author of "The Highland
Brigade : Its Battles and Its Heroes," etc. Nine Illustra-
tions. 158 pages. 1903. 2s 6d.
THE FEUDS OF THE CLANS By the Rev.
Alexander Macgregor, M.A. ; together with the History of
the Feuds and Conflicts among the Clans in the Northern
Parts of Scotland and in the Western Isles, from the year
Mxxxi. unto MDCXix. First published in 1764 "from a MS.
wrote in the reign of King .James VI." 176 pages. 1907.
3s 6d.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
HIGHLAND SUPERSTITIONS, connected
with the Druids, Fairies, Witchcraft, Seoond-Sight,
Hallowe'en, Sacred Wells and Lochs, with several curious
instances of Highland Customs and Beliefs. By the Rev.
Alexander MacGregor, M.A. 64 pages. 1901. 2s.
GAELIC PUBLICATIONS issued by
ENEAS MACKAY. Stirling.
BINNEAS NAM BARD (Bardic Melody).
Leabhar anns am bheil dain, orain is duanagan nan Gaidheal
Albannach air am foillseachadh maille ri'm fuinn, le Calum
Mac Pharlain. Part 1. 2s 6d.
GU N D THUG I SPEIS DO N ARMUNN. A
Gaelic Tale by John MacCormick. Paper, Is ; Cloth, Is 6d.
AN TREORAICHE, LEABHRAN-SGOIL AIR
SON NA CLOINNE. A Gaelic Primer for Children. By
Malcolm MacFarlane. Illustrated, 3d.
DAIN THAGHTE. Gaelic Poems, mainly for use in
Schools, selected and edited by Malcolm MacFarlane. 3d.
AN SMEORACH (The Mavis), md
AM BRU-DHEARG (The Robin). Two collections
of Gaelic Songs, with Sol-Fa Music. 3d each.
ELEMENTARY LESSONS IN GAELIC. By
Lachlan MacBean. Cloth, 8d.
GUIDE TO GAELIC CONVERSATION AND
PRONUNCIATION. By Lachlan MacBean. Cloth, Is 6d
ADVERTISEMENTS.
THE SONGS AND HYMNS OF THE GAEL
By Laclilan MacBean. Cloth, 3s 6d ; Paper, 28 6d.
GAELIC PSALM TUNES Laehlan Mae-
Bean. Paper, Is.
DAIN EADAR-THEANGAICHTE. A Sepies
of free Gaelic Translations by T. D. MacDonald. Cloth,
2s 6d.
RELIQUIAE CELTICAE, TEXTS, PAPERS,
AND STUDIES IN GAELIC LITERATUBE AND
PHILOLOGY. By Alexander Cameron. Edited by Alexander
MacBain, LL.D., and John Kennedy. 2 Volumes. Cloth,
20s.
MODERN GAELIC BARDS With Portraits
Compiled by M. C. MacLeod.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE Conducted by
Alexander Mackenzie. 13 Volumes. £6 6s. Odd Volumes,
10s 6d each.
THE PLACE NAMES OF ELGINSHIRE By
D. Matheson. 8vo., 6s.
THE EDINBURGH PERIODICAL PRESS,
By W. J. Couper, M.A. 2 Vols. ; Demy 8vo. 10s.
ANTIQUARIAN NOTES. By Charles Fpaser
Mackintosh. New Edition, edited by Kenneth MacDonald,
Inverness. Demy 8vo. 21s.
ANTIQUARIAN NOTES. Second Series ; op
Inverness-shire Parish by Parish. Demy 8vo. 21s ; Large
Paper 42s.
HIGHLAND SECOND SIGHT. By N, Macrae ;
Preface by llev. Wm. Morrison. j-Morocco 3s 6d; Cloth 2s Gd.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
PUBLICATIONS issued by ENEAS
MACKAY, Stirling.
THE CANADIAN BOAT SONG. Wopds
attributed to John Gait, Christopher North, etc. (Piano-
forte) Music, Chrs. Helen Macka}^ Is 6d net.
PROPHECIES OF THE BRAHAN SEER
(Coinneach Odhar Fiosaiche). By Alexander Mackenzie.
2s 6d.
HISTORY OF THE ERASERS OF LOVAT,
with Genealogies of the Principal Families of the name, also
the Families of Dunballoch and Phopachy. By Alexander
Mackenzie, F.S.A. Scot. 25s ; Large Paper 42s.
HISTORY OF THE HOUSE AND CLAN MAC-
KENZIE. By Alexander Mackenzie. Demy 8vo. 25s.
HISTORY OF THE CAMERONS, with gen-
ealogies of the Principal Families of the name. By Alex.
Mackenzie, F.S.A. Scot. 25s ; Large Paper 42s.
HISTORY OF THE MUNROS OF FOULIS,
with genealogies of the Principal Families of the name,
adding those of Lexington and New England. 25s ; Large
Paper 42s.
HISTORY OF THE CHISHOLMS, with
genealogies of the Principal Families of the name. 25s.
BIBLE BEGINNINGS. By Rev John Sinclair,
M.A. ; with a short Preface by the Rct. Professor Sayce (of
Oxford), D.D., LL.D. Crown 8vo. 5s.
ROBERT BURNS IN STIRLINGSHIRE. By
William Harvey. 3s 6d.
FOUR ORIGINAL ETCHINGS. By D. Y.
- Cameron, A.B.A. ; in Portfolio with descriptive letterpress.
£2 2s.
o
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Macbain, A.
An etymological dictionary of
the Gselic language
PB
1563
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jy^T^^iCAL institute:
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