Focal an Lae #198
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: bocht (BOKHT) [boxt]
Meaning: bocht = poor; poor person
Usage:
- “An Béal Bocht” (uhn BAY-uhl BOKHT) [ən b′eːl boxt] = “The Poor Mouth”, title of a classic satirical novel;
the expression refers to the habit or tactic of habitually portraying oneself as worse off than one really is
- aimsir bhocht (AM-shihr WOKHT) [æm′s′ər′ voxt] = lousy weather
- Is buí le bocht an beagán. (iss BWEE luh BOKHT uh BYU-gawn) [is biː lə boxt ə b′ugaːn]
= We must be grateful for small mercies. (lit., tis gratitute with poor-man the little-bit)
History: Old Irish “bocht” (poor) appears to be an extension in meaning of “-bocht” (broken, stricken),
the preterite passive of the verb “boingid” (breaks, strikes), which derives from the Indo-European root *bhe(n)g- (to break).
English “bang” and “bungle” are cognates.
Scottish Gaelic: bochd