Word: beannacht (BAN-uhxt; x = the guttural sound in loch, Bach)
Meaning: beannacht = blessing, greeting
Usage: Beannacht is often seen in the complimentary close of letters:
History: Beannacht comes from Old Irish bendacht, which comes from Latin benedictio. This is one of many words relating to Christianity and book learning that were borrowed from Latin early on. The Scottish Gaelic spelling is beannachd.