Focal an Lae #104
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: capall (KAH-puhl) [kapəl]
Meaning: capall = horse; mare
Usage:
- ar mhuin capaill (ehr WIHN KAH-pwihl) [er′ vin′ kapəl′] = on horseback (lit., on back of horse)
- Déanann sé obair na gcapall. (JAY-nuhn shay O-bwihr nuh GAH-puhl) [d′eːnən s′eː obər′ nə gapəl] = He works like a horse.
(lit., he does work of the horses)
- Ní dhéanfadh an saol capall rása d’asal. (nee YAY-nuhkh uh SEE-uhl KAH-puhl RAW-suh DAH-suhl)
[n′iː jeːnəx ə siːl kapəl raːsə dasəl] = You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. (lit., the world wouldn’t make a race horse of a donkey)
History: Old Irish “capall” is related to Latin “caballus” (horse), which appears to be a borrowing from Gaulish *kaballos (work horse).
Whether the Irish word is a borrowing from Latin or is a native word is uncertain.
English cognates derived from the Latin are “cavalry” and “cavalcade”.
Scottish Gaelic: capall