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:
- claíomh mór (KLY-uhv MOHR) = claymore (lit., big sword)
- claíomh solais (... SO-lish) = sword of light (Luke Skywalker’s weapon, no?; also the name of an early Gaelic League newspaper)
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)