Focal an Lae #150
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: fraoch (FREEKH) [friːx]
Meaning: fraoch = heather
Usage:
- fraoch bán (FREEKH BAWN) [friːx baːn] = white heather
- cearc fhraoigh (KYARK REE) [k′ærk riː] = grouse (lit., hen of heather)
History: Old Irish “fróech”, Welsh “grug” and Gaulish *brūko- come from Indo-European *wroik-, the o-grade of *wreik- (to turn).
An English cognate is “briar”, which comes from French “bruyère” (heath), from Late Latin “brucus” (heather), apparently borrowed from the Gaulish.
Scottish Gaelic: fraoch