Focal an Lae #241
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: sleamhain (SHLOW-ihn, OW as in cow) [s′l′aun′]
Meaning: sleamhain = slippery, smooth
Usage:
- chomh sleamhain le gloine (khoh SHLOW-ihn luh GLIH-nuh) [xoː s′l′aun′ lə glin′ə] = as slick as glass
- Tá an cosán sleamhain. (TAW uhn KO-sawn SHLOW-ihn) [taː ən kosaːn s′l′aun′] = The pathway is slippery.
History: Old Irish “slemon” and Welsh “llyfn” (Old Irish medial “m” and Welsh “f” are both pronounced “v”) come from
Common Celtic *sli-m-no-, from the Indo-European root *slei- (slimy).
English cognates include “slime” and “slippery”.
Irish “slim” (smooth, sleek, slim) appears to be related.
Scottish Gaelic: sleamhainn