Focal an Lae #62
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: clúmh (KLOO, KOOV)
Meaning: clúmh = feathers, down; fur; body hair
Usage:
- Tá clúmh álainn ar an gcoileach. (taw KLOO AW-leen ehr uh GWEH-luhx) = The rooster has beautiful plumage.
(lit., is feathers beautiful on the rooster)
- Dónall an chlúimh (DOH-nuhl uh XLOOV) = a wooly-bear caterpillar (lit., Donald of the fur)
- clúmh liath (KLOO LEE-uh) = caonach liath = mildew, mould (lit., grey fur)
History: Old Irish “clúm” was borrowed from Latin “pluma” at an early period before Irish had the sound/letter “p”.
At this stage, a borrowed “p” was converted into the native “q” (= kw), which later became simply “c” (= k).
Latin “pluma” may come from an Indo-European root *pleus- (to pluck). English cognates are “plumage” and possibly “fleece”.
Scottish Gaelic: clòimh, with the primary meaning of “wool”