Focal an Lae #91
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: ball (BAWL) [baːl]
Meaning: bodily organ; part; member; spot
Usage:
- Tá sí ina ball den liosta. (TAW shee uh-nuh-BAWL duhn LIH-stuh) [taː s′iː ənə baːl dən l′istə] = She’s a member of the list.
- ball troscáin (BAWL TROS-kaw-ihn) [baːl troskaːn′] = a piece of furniture
- ball broinne (BAWL BRIH-nyuh) [baːl brin′ə] = a birthmark (lit., mark of-womb)
- ball fearga (BAWL FA-ruh-guh, A as in “cat”) [baːl færəgə] = penis (lit., male part, virile organ)
History: Old Irish “ball” comes, via earlier *balos, from the Indo-European root *bhel- (to swell).
This root is the origin of a wide range of cognates referring to round objects and also to the idea of
tumescent masculinity: ball, bale, boulder, bowl, bulk, bole, bull and phallus.
Scottish Gaelic: ball