Focal an Lae #310
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: barr (BAWR) [baːr]
Meaning: barr = tip, top, summit
Usage:
- Bhí an dráma thar barr. (VEE uhn DRAW-muh hahr BAWR) [v′iː ən draːmə har baːr] = The play was excellent. (lit., ... beyond top)
- Dhearc sé mé ó bhun go barr. (YARK shay may oh WUN guh BAWR) [jærk s′eː m′eː oː vun gə baːr]
= He eyed me from head to toe. (lit., ... from base to tip)
- dá bharr sin (DAW WAWR shin) [daː vaːr s′in′] = consequently, as a result of that
History: Old Irish “barr” and Breton “barr” (summit, maximum) come from Indo-European *bhar- (projection, bristle, point).
English words that derive from the same IE root include “bristle”, “burr” and “brad”.
The word “barr” is first attested in Irish in Ogam inscriptions such as OSBBAR (deer-headed), ENABARRI (bird-headed)
and CATABAR (= Old Irish “cathbarr”, helmet, lit. “battle-top”).
: bàrr