Focal an Lae #218
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: fiar (FEE-uhr) [f′iːər]
Meaning: fiar = bias, bend, slant; to slant, tilt; tilted, perverse
Usage:
- Tá fiar san adhmad. (TAW FEE-uhr suhn EYE-muhd) [taː f′iːər sən aiməd] = There is a warp in the wood.
- D’fhiar siad an fhírinne. (JEE-uhr shee-uhd uhn YEER-ihn-yuh) [d′iːər s′iːəd ə n′iːr′ən′ə] = They perverted the truth.
- Gearr ar fiar é. (GYAHR ehr FEE-uhr ay) [g′aːr er′ f′iːar eː] = Cut it diagonally, on the bias.
History: Old Irish “fíar”, Welsh “gwyro” (to deviate, incline) and Breton “gwar” (curved)
come from Indo-European *weiro-, a suffixed form of the root *wei- (to turn, twist).
Cognates in English include “wire” and probably “veer”.
Scottish Gaelic: fiar