Focal an Lae #339
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: deirfiúr (JEH-ruh-fyoor) [d′er′əf′uːr]
Meaning: deirfiúr = sister
Usage:
- Tá deirfiúr nua ag Liam. (TAW JEH-ruh-fyoor NOO-uh ihg LEE-uhm) [taː d′er′əf′uːr nuə ig′ l′iːəm] = Liam has a new sister.
History: Old Irish “deirfiur” is a contraction of “derb” (true) and “siur” (sister).
As with “deartháir” (true-brother), the motive was to distinguish between blood sisters and religious sisters.
Old Irish “siur”, Welsh “chwaer” and Breton “c’hoar” come from Common Celtic *swesūr, from Indo-European *swesōr (sister).
Cognates in English include “sister” and “sorority”.
Scottish Gaelic: piuthar