Focal an Lae #179
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: céim (KAYM) [k′eːm′]
Meaning: céim = step; degree; rank
Usage:
- Thug muid céim ar aghaidh. (HOOG mwihj KAYM ehr EYE) [hug mid′ k′eːm′ er′ aiː] = We took a step forward.
- seasca céim (SHAS-kuh KAYM) [s′aeskə k′eːm′] = 60 degrees
- Fuair sí céim onóracha. (FOO-uhr shee KAYM ON-ohr-uh-khuh) [fuər′ s′iː k′eːm′ onoːrəxə] = She got an honours degree.
History: Old Irish “céim”, Welsh “cam” and Breton “kammed” all meaning “step”,
derive from Common Celtic *kanks-smen, which goes back to the Indo-European *kngh-smn, from the root *ghengh- (to go, walk).
The Gaulish *kammano-, Latinized as *cammino-, is the source of Spanish “camino” and French “chemin”, both meaning “road”.
The IE root *ghengh- gives us English “gang” as in “gangway” and “gangplank”
Scottish Gaelic: ceum