Focal an Lae #263
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: dearg (JA-ruhg, A as in cat) [d′ærəg]
Meaning: dearg = red; make or become red; utter
Usage:
- chomh dearg le fuil (khoh JA-ruhg luh FWIHL) [xoː d′ærəg lə fil′] = as red as blood
- Dhearg sé a phíopa. (YA-ruhg shay uh FEE-puh) [jærəg s′eː ə fiːpə] = He lit (lit., reddened) his pipe.
- deargamadán (JA-ruhg-AH-muh-dawn) [d′ærəgamədaːn] = an utter fool
(“dearg” can be prefixed to nouns to add the meaning “intense, complete”: deargnáire = deep shame, deargnamhaid = implacable enemy, etc.)
History: Old Irish “derg” comes from Indo-European *dher-g-, from the root *dher- (to make muddy; darkness). English “dark” is a cognate.
Scottish Gaelic: dearg