Focal an Lae #176
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: clú (KLOO) [kluː]
Meaning: clú = reputation, fame, honour
Usage:
- Tharraing sé clú air féin. (HAH-ring shay KLOO ehr HAYN) [hariŋ′ s′eː kluː er′ heːn′] = He brought honour on himself.
- Bhris siad a chlú. (VRISH SHEE-uhd uh KHLOO) [v′r′is′ s′iəd ə xluː] = They destroyed (lit., broke) his reputation.
- Is fuar an rud clú gan chara. = Fame without friendship is a hard road. (lit., tis cold the thing fame without a friend)
History: Old Irish “clú” comes from the Indo-European root *kleu- (to hear), fame being what other people hear about one.
Cognates in Irish include “cluas” (= ear,
Focal #75) and “cluin” (= hear,
Focal #130).
An English cognate is “loud”, from Old English “hlūd”.
Scottish Gaelic: cliù