Focal an Lae #165
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: tarbh (TAH-roo, TAH-ruhv) [taruː, tarəv]
Meaning: tarbh = bull
Usage:
- Bhí tarbh bán ag an rí darbh ainm Finnbheannach. (VEE TAH-ruhv BAWN ehg uh REE dahrw-AN-uhm FIHN-van-uhkh)
[v′iː tarəv baːn eg′ ə riː darv æn′əm′ f′inv′anəx] = The king had a white bull who was called White-horned.
(... and Queen Maeve did not have a bull to match him, and thus began the Táin)
- An Tarbh = Taurus (in astrology)
History: Old Irish “tarb”, Welsh “tarw” and Gaulish “tarvos” all come from Indo-European *tauro- (bull).
Latin “taurus” gives us the Spanish words “toro”, “toreador” and “torero”.
Scottish Gaelic: tarbh