Focal an Lae #266
The Word of the Day in Irish

Word: dún (DOON) [duːn]

Meaning: dún = fortress

Usage:

History: Old Irish “dún”, Welsh “dinas” and Gaulish “dounon, dūnum” (high place) come from Common Celtic *dūno- (hill, stronghold), from Indo-European *dhūno- (fortified place). English “town” comes from Germanic *tūnaz, which was borrowed early on from Celtic. The Irish verb “dún” (shut, close) appears to derive from the noun “dún”.

Scottish Gaelic: dùn

2008-06-19 CPD