Focal an Lae #174
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: muir (MWIHR) [mir′]
Meaning: muir = sea
Usage:
- ar muir is ar tír (ehr MWIHR iss ehr CHEER) [er′ mir′ is er′ t′iːr′] = on sea and on land
- ceol na mara (KYOHL nuh MAH-ruh) [k′oːl nə marə] = the music of the sea
- maighdean mhara (MIGH-juhn WAH-ruh) [maid′ən varə] = mermaid (lit., maiden of-sea)
History: Old Irish “muir”, Welsh “môr” and Breton “mor” come from Common Celtic *morim, from Indo-European *mori- (body of water).
Armorica, the old name for Brittany, is a Latinization of Gaulish “Aremorici”, meaning “those who live beside the sea”.
The elements, with their Irish cognates, areː are (ar = on) + mori (muir = sea) + ci (-igh, plural of -each, asubstantive suffix).
English cognates include “mere” (a small lake), “mermaid” and “marine” (from Latin “mare”).
Scottish Gaelic: muir