Focal an Lae #328
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: cnaipe (KNA-puh, KRA-puh) [knap′ə, krap′ə]
Meaning: cnaipe = button
Usage:
- Brúigh an cnaipe. (BROO uh ...) [bruː ə ...] = Push the button.
- Cheangail sé cnaipí a chóta. (HYANG-guhl shay KRA-pee uh KHOH-tuh) [x′æŋgəl s′eː krap′iː ə xoːtə]
= He buttoned up his coat. (lit., fastened he buttons his of-coat)
History: Middle Irish “cnap” comes from Old Norse “knappr” (button, knob), from Germanic *kn-a-pp-,
from the Indo-European root *gen- (to compress into a ball).
English cognates include “knob” and “knoll”.
Scottish Gaelic: cnap (knob, lump, hillock)