Focal an Lae #255
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: sú (SOO) [suː]
Meaning: sú = juice, sap
Usage:
- sú oráistí (SOO O-rawsh-chee) [suː oraːs′t′iː] = orange juice (lit., juice of-oranges)
- sú na heorna (SOO nuh HOHR-nuh) [suː nə hoːrnə] = whiskey (lit., juice of the barley)
- Déantar síoróip as sú mailpe. (JAYN-tuhr SEE-roh-ihp ahs SOO MAHL-pyuh) [d′eːntər s′iːroːp′ as suː mal′p′ə] = They make syrup out of maple sap.
History: Old Irish “súg” appears to have been borrowed from Latin “sucus”
(sap, juice) and its form influenced by the native verb “súigid” (sucks, absorbs).
Both “sucus” and “súigid” derive from Indo-European *seuə- (to take liquid).
Cognates in English include “succulent”, “soak” and “suck”.
Scottish Gaelic: sùgh