Focal an Lae #294
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: feamainn (FA-mwihn) [f′æmən′]
Meaning: feamainn = seaweed
Usage:
- Leasaíonn siad an talamh le feamainn. (LYA-see-uhn SHEE-uhd uhn TAH-luhv luh FA-mwihn) [l′æsiːən s′iːəd ən taləv l′ə f′æmən′]
= They fertilize the ground with seaweed.
- Is féidir feamainn a ithe. (ISS FAY-jihr FA-mwihn uh IH-huh) [is f′eːd′ər′ f′æmən′ ə ihə] = Seaweed can be eaten.
(lit., tis possible seaweed for eating)
History: Old Irish “femmain” and Welsh “gwymon” come from Indo-European *wimb-,
the nasalized zero-grade of the root *weip- (to turn, vacillate, tremble).
English words derived from that root include “wipe”, “whip” and “vibrate”.
Scottish Gaelic: feamainn