Focal an Lae #219
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: gort (GORT) [gort]
Meaning: gort = field
Usage:
- gort féir (GORT FAYR) [gort f′eːr′] = hayfield (lit., field of-grass)
- gort gaisce (... GASH-kyuh) [... gas′k′ə] = field of valour
- Gort Féilim (...FAY-lihm) [... f′eːl′əm′] = Ireland (lit., The Field of Féilim).
This is one of a number of poetic names given the island, such as Inis Fáil, Fódla and Banba.
History: Old Irish “gort”, Welsh “garth” (enclosure, garden) and Breton “garz” (hedge)
all come from Indo-European *ghor-to- (enclosure), from the root *gher- (to grasp, enclose).
English cognates include “garden”, “yard” and “horticulture”, from Latin “hortus” (garden).
Scottish Gaelic: gart