Focal an Lae #240
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: ceird (KEHRD) [k′er′d′]
Meaning: ceird = trade, craft
Usage:
- Tá a cheird aige. (TAW uh HYEHRD EH-gyuh) [taː ə x′er′d′ eg′ə] = He knows his job. (lit., is his craft at-him, he has his craft)
- Tá chuile cheird aige. (TAW KHWIH-luh HYEHRD EH-gyuh) [taː xil′ə x′er′d′ eg′ə] = He is a jack of all trades. (lit., he has every craft)
- Is fearr lán doirn de cheird ná lán mála d’ór. = A fistful of craft is better than a sackful of gold.
History: Old Irish “cerd” (craftsman, craft) and Welsh “cerdd” (art, music, poetry)
come from Indo-European *kerd-ā, from the root *kerd- (craft).
Scottish English has borrowed the word “caird” (itinerant tinker) from Scottish Gaelic “ceàrd” (smith, tinker).
Related words in Irish include “ceardaí” (craftsman, artisan), ceardaíocht (craftwork, craftsmanship) and “ceardchumann” (trade union).
Scottish Gaelic: ceàird