Focal an Lae #180
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: fead (FAD) [f′æd]
Meaning: fead = whistle
Usage:
- Lig sé fead liom. (LIHG shay FAD luhm) [l′ig′ s′eː f′æd l′um] = He whistled to me. (lit., he let a whistle with-me)
- Níl agat ach fead a ligean orm. (NEEL AH-guht AKH FAD uh LIH-guhn O-ruhm) [n′iːl′ agət ax f′æd ə l′ig′ən orəm]
= I’m at your beck and call. (lit., is-not at-you but whistle to let on-me)
- feadóg (FAD-ohg) [f′ædoːg] = a whistle (as an instrument) (lit., whistle + diminutive ending = little-whistle)
History: Old Irish “fet” and Welsh “gwynt” (wind) come from Common Celtic *wēnto-, from Indo-European *wē-n-to- (blowing),
from the root *wē- (to blow). The transformation of Common Celtic “w” to “f” in Irish is a regular feature.
Cognates in English include “wind” and “ventilate”, from Latin “ventus” (wind).
Scottish Gaelic: fead