Focal an Lae #94
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: cac (KAHK) [kak]
Meaning: cac = excrement, shit; to shit
Usage:
- cac capaill (KAHK KAH-pwihly, ly as in “million”) [kak kaːpil′] = horse shit
- Chac sé ar na huibheacha. (KHAHK shay ehr nuh HIH-vuh-khuh) [xaːk s′eː er′ nə hiv′əxə] = He made a complete mess of it. (lit., he shit on the eggs)
- cac ar oineach (KAHK ehr IH-nuhkh) [kaːk er′ in′əx] = a low-down scumbag, an utter slimeball. This expression, which literally
means “shit on honour”, goes way back. Oineach, spelled “enech” in Old Irish, literally means “face”, but has the extended meaning
of “honour, reputation” and the even further extended meanings of “generosity, hospitality, protection”, those things on which a
reputation is based. In the Old Irish “Críth Gablach” we find the phrase “cacc fora enech” (lit., shit on his face), which seems
to refer to the despicable act of surrendering a refugee to his enemies after having guaranteed him protection.
History: Old Irish “cacc”, Welsh “cach”, Breton “kac’h”, Latin “caco” (defecate) and Greek “kakos” (bad) all come
from the Indo-European root *kakka- (to defecate).
English cognates include “poppycock”, “cacophony” and various words used mainly by small children.
Scottish Gaelic: cac