Focal an Lae #27
The Word of the Day in Irish

Word: claíomh (KLEEV or KLY-uhv, Y as in fly)

Meaning: claíomh = sword

Usage:

History: Old Irish “claideb” comes from Common Celtic *kladibos, possibly by way of a borrowing from proto-Welsh. Modern Welsh “cleddyf” looks quite different from “claideb”, but in fact Old Irish (non-initial) “d” and Welsh “dd” are both pronounced as “th as in the” and OIr (non-initial) “b” and Welsh “f” are both pronounced “v”. Common Celtic “kladibos” comes from the Indo-European root *kel- (to strike, hack). Some form of the Celtic word was borrowed into Latin early on, becoming “gladius”, the common Roman word for sword. Thus “claymore” and “gladiator” are cognates.

Scottish Gaelic: claidheamh (KLY-uhv)

2008-06-19 CPD