Focal an Lae #323
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: cearc (KYARK) [k′ærk]
Meaning: cearc = hen, female bird
Usage:
- Is trom cearc i bhfad. (iss TROHM KYARK uh WAHD) [is troːm k′ærk ə vad]
= A small thing long borne becomes a burden. (lit., tis heavy a hen in distance)
- Tá tinneas na circe air. (TAW CHIHN-yuhs nuh KIHR-kyuh ehr) [taː t′in′əs nə k′ir′k′ə er′]
= He has the fidgets. (lit., is sickness of-the hen on-him)
History: Middle Irish “cercc” comes from Indo-European *kerk- (chicken), from the echoic root *ker-,
the base for various words for loud noises and birds.
Cognates in English include “rook”, “cricket” and “screech”.
A cognate in Irish is “corr” (heron).
Scottish Gaelic: cearc