Focal an Lae #306
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: ga (GAH) [ga]
Meaning: ga = spear; sting; ray, beam
Usage:
- Thit ga gréine air. (HITCH GAH GRAYN-yuh ehr) [hit′ ga g′r′eːn′ə er′] = A beam of sunlight fell on him.
- Theilg sé ga orm. (HEH-lihg shay GAH o-ruhm) [hel′əg′ s′eː ga orəm] = He cast a spear at me.
- Readers of the “Táin” will be familiar with Cú Chulainn’s fearsome multi-barbed spear, called in Old Irish the “gae bolga”.
History: Old Irish “gae”, Welsh “gwayw” and Gaulish “gaesum” all come from Indo-European *ghaiso- (stick, spear).
English cognates include “gore” and “garlic”, from Old English “gār” (spear) plus “lēac” (leek).
Scottish Gaelic: gath