Focal an Lae #295
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: maighdean (MY-juhn) [maid′ən]
Meaning: maighdean = maiden, virgin
Usage:
- An Mhaighdean Mhuire (uh WY-juhn WIH-ruh) [ə vaid′ən wir′ə] = The Virgin Mary
- An Mhaighdean = Virgo
- maighdean mhara (MY-juhn WAH-ruh) [maid′ən varə] = mermaid (lit., maiden of-sea)
History: Classical Irish “maighdean” comes from Middle English “maeiden”, from Old English “maegden”,
from Indo-European *magho-ti-, from *maghu- (young person of either sex).
English “maiden” is the obvious cognate, and Irish “mac” is distantly related (see
Focal #59).
Scottish Gaelic: maighdeann