Focal an Lae #131
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: bia (BEE-uh) [b′iə]
Meaning: bia = food
Usage:
- bia farraige (BEE-uh FAH-rihg-yuh) [b′iə farəg′ə] = seafood
- bia trá (... TRAW) [...traː] = shellfish and edible seaweed (lit., food of shore)
- bia agus leaba = bed and breakfast (lit., food and bed)
- Ná tabhair bia agus doicheall do dhuine. = Don’t begrudge your generosity. (lit., don’t give food and reluctance to a person)
History: Old Irish “biad”, Welsh “bwyd” and Breton “boued” all come from Common Celtic *biveto-m, from Indo-European *gwei-to-,
from the root *gwei- (to live). The etymological link of “bia” to “life” is underscored by its cognates in Irish: “bith” (existence, world),
“beatha” (life, livelihood) and “beo” (alive, living).
English cognates included “viand” and “victual”, both from Latin “vivere” (to live).
Scottish Gaelic: biadh