Focal an Lae #97
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: úll (OOL) [uːl]
Meaning: úll = apple
Usage:
- pióg úll (PEE-ohg OOL) [piːoːg uːl] = apple pie
- úll dorais (OOL DOR-ish) [uːl dorəs′] = door handle
- úll na scornaí (OOL nuh SKOHR-nee) [uːl nə skoːrniː] = Adam’s apple (lit., apple of the throat)
History: Old Irish “uball”, Welsh “afal”, Breton “aval” and Gaulish “aballo-” all descend from Indo-European *ebōl (apple).
Incidentally, this is the only fruit whose name has been traced back all the way to Indo-European. English “apple” is cognate.
Scottish Gaelic: ubhal