Focal an Lae #211
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: líon (LEE-uhn) [l′iːn]
Meaning: líon = net, web; flax, linen
Usage:
- líon damháin alla (LEE-uhn DAH-wine AH-luh) [l′iːn davaːn′ alə] = spider’s web (lit., web of little wild ox!)
- Glan as mo líon! (GLAHN ahs muh LEE-uhn) [glan as mə l′iːn] = Get out of my way! (lit., clear out of my net)
- An Líon Domhanda (uh LEE-uhn DOWN-duh) [ə l′iːn daundə] = The Worldwide Web
History: Old Irish “lìn” (net; linen), Welsh “lliain” (cloth, towel) and Breton “lien” (cloth) all come from Indo-European *līno- (flax).
Cognates in English include “linen” and “line”, from Latin “linum” (flax; linen; line; net).
Scottish Gaelic: lìon