-- MacBain, Alexander
-- An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language
-- Gairm Publications, 1982
-- Published by Garim Publications, 29 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6BZ
-- Tel. 041-221 1971
-- Printed by Clark Constable (1982) Let, Edinburgh
-- ISBN 0 901771 68 6
-- 1st edition - 1896
-- 2nd edition (revised) - 1911
-- Photolitho Reprint of 1911 edition - 1982
--
-- Lines beginning, like this one, with two hyphens are not part of the
-- original text, but contain added documentation, page numbers, etc.
--
-- The Latin-1 character set (ISO 8859-1) is used where possible,
-- otherwise the following typographic representation in ASCII are used:-
--
-- [...] italics
-- <...> bold
-- @G[...] Greek (always italics)
-- @+[...] superscript (Seems to be used only for volume nos in journal refs)
-- / acute on preceding letter
-- \ grave on preceding letter
-- @. dot below preceding letter
-- @- macron(?) (horizontal line) above preceding letter
-- @* ring above preceding letter (always 'u')
-- @u breve(?) (tiny `u'-like mark) above preceding letter
-- @n semi-circle like inverted breve above preceding letter (Greek)
-- @' comma above preceding letter (Greek)
-- @` backward comma above prededing letter (Greek)
-- @g a curly lower case `g', distinct from an ordinary `g'
-- @? other accent (to be inserted later) on preceding letter
-- @oe "diphthong" `oe' character
-- ?? a character which cannot be identified, or appears wrong,
-- or something needing sorted out later
-- ++ dagger mark (indicates obsolete word)
--
-- Greek alphabet transliteration
-- alpha a nu n
-- beta b xi x
-- gamma g omicron o
-- delta d pi p
-- epsilon e rho r
-- zeta z sigma s
-- eta c tau t
-- theta q upsilon u
-- iota i phi f
-- kappa k chi h
-- lambda l psi y
-- mu m omega w
-- The letter j also occurs in Greek words quoted in the Dictionary.
--
-- Lines of the text are strictly adhered to, except that words split
-- across successive lines by a hyphen are recombined and inserted
-- on the first line.
-- Punctuation is moved out of quotes where the logic of parsing dictates this,
-- e.g. "sharp bush or tree"; where the book has "sharp bush or tree;".
-- If a word referred to (i.e. an italicised word) has a capital letter
-- purely because it is at the beginning of the sentence, I have changed
-- the capital letter to lower case.
-- Punctuation is corrected in the relatively small number of instances where
-- it is obviously incorrect according to the conventions used elsewhere in
-- the dictionary.
--
-- Comments added to the original text have put put on separate lines,
-- beginning with three dashes and the initials of the commentator. e.g.
-- ---KPD: More likely to be from ...
-- Initials used:
-- KPD Kevin P. Donnelly
--
-- Suggestions for future modernisations:
-- - Change "aspirate" to "lenite"
-- - Change "small" to "slender"
-- - Change the likes of "see next word" to an explicit cross-reference.
-- This is needed if the dictionary is going to be updated, or
-- supplementary words merged, or the dictionary stored in a database.
-- (Such instances have been marked with ">>" to facilitate future
-- editing.)
-- - Standardise references, which usually contain a volume number in
-- superscript (@+).
-- - Standardise the following abbreviations:
-- "Cor.", "Corn." for Cornish
-- "Sl.", "Slav." for Slavonic
-- "D.of L.", "D.of Lis." for Dean of Lismore
--
-- Air a chur air a' choimpiutair le Caoimhín Pádraig Ó Donnaíle
-- Earraid House, Biggar Road, Dùn Éideann, EH10 7DX, Alba
-- A' tòiseachadh 1990-03-14; deiseil 1990-10-10
-- 140 uairean a thìde de dh'obair.
--
-- This dictionary has only been keyed in once. Before any serious work is
-- done with it, it needs to be keyed in again to verify it and correct
-- typing mistakes.
--
-- 2000-04-08 Air a thiondadh bho ASCII gu Latin-1, cho fad 's a b'urrainn
-- 2000-04-11 Na ceann-fhaclan air an dearbhadh. Mearachdan an siud 's an seo
-- air an ceartachadh.
--
-- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
--page xiii
ABBREVIATIONS
1. LANGUAGE TITLES
Ag.S. Anglo Saxon
Arm. Armenian
Br. Breton
Bulg. Bulgarian
Ch.Sl. Church Slavonic
Cor. Cornish
Corn. Cornish
Dan. Danish
Dial. Dialectic, belonging to a dialect
Du. Dutch
E. Early, as E.Eng.= Early English
Eng. English
Fr. French
G. Gaelic
Gaul. Gaulish
Ger. German
Got. Gothic
H. High, as H.G.= High German
Heb. Dialects of the Hebridees
Hes. Hesychius
I.E. Indo-European
Ir. Irish
Ital. Italian
L. Late, as L.Lat.= Late Latin
Lat. Latin
Lett. Lettic
Lit. Lithuanian
M. Middle, as M.Ir.= Middle Irish
Mod. Modern
N. Norse
N. New, as N.Slav.= New Slavonic
N.H. Dialects of the Northern Highlands
O. Old, as O.Ir.= Old Irish
O.H.G. Old High German
Per. Persian
Pruss. Prussian
Sc. Scottish
Sl. Slavonic
Slav. Slavonic
Slov. Slovenic
Span. Spanish
Sw. Swedish
W. Welsh
Zd. Zend or Old Bactrian
2. BOOKS AND AUTHORITIES
A.M`D Alexander Macdonald's [Gaelic Songs], with vocabulary
Atk. Atkinson's Dictionary to the [Passions and Homilies
from the Leabhar Breac], 1887
Arm.,Arms. Armstrong's [Gaelic Dictionary], 1825
B.of Deer Book of Deer, edited by Stokes in [Goidelica], 1872
Bez.Beit. Bezzenberger's [Beiträge zur Kunde der Idg. Sprachen],
a German periodical still proceeding
C.S. Common Speech, not yet recorded in literature
Celt.Mag The [Celtic Magazine], 13 vols., stopped in 1888
Con. Coneys' [Irish-English Dictionary], 1849
--page xiv
Corm. Cormac's Glossary, published in 1862 and 1868, edited
by Dr Whitely Stokes
D.of L. [The Dean of Lismore's Book], edited in 1862, 1892
Four Mast. Annals of the Four Masters, published in 1848, 1851
Fol. Foley's [English-Irish Dictionary], 1855
Hend. Dr George Henderson, Lecturer in Celtic Languages
and Literature in the University of Glasgow
H.S.D. The Highland Society's [Dictionary of the Gaelic
Language], 1828
Inv.Gael.Soc.Tr Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, still
proceeding
L.na H. [Lebor na h-uidre], or the Book of the Dun Cow, an
Irish MS of 1100
Lh. Lhuyd's [Archaeologia Brittanica], 1707
Lib.Leinster Book of Leinster, an Irish MS of 1150
M`A. Macalpine's [Gaelic Dictionary], 1832
M`D. Alexander Macdonald's [Gaelick and English Vocabulary],
1741
M`E. M`Eachan's [Faclair], 1862
M`F. M`Farlane's [Focalair] or Gaelic Vocabulary, 1815
M`L. M`Leod and Dewar's [Dictionary of the Gaelic Language],
1831
Nich. Sheriff Nicholson's Gaelic Proverbs
O'Br. O'Brien's [Irish-English Dictionary], 1768 and 1832
O'Cl. O'Clery's Glossary, republished in [Revue Celtique],
Vols. IV, V, date 1643
O'R. O'Reilly's [Irish English Dictionary], 1823
Rev.Celt. [Revue Celtique], a periodical published at Paris, now in
its 17th vol.
R.D. Rob Donn, the Reay Bard; sometimes given as (Suth.)
Rob. Rev. Chas M. Robertson, author of pamphlets on
certain dialects of the Scottish Highlands
S.C.R. The [Scottish Celtic Review], 1 vol., edited by Dr
Cameron, 1885
S.D. [Sean Dana], Ossianic Poems by the Rev Donald Smith
Sh. Shaw's [Gaelic and English Dictionary], 1780
St. Dr Whitley Stokes; see "Authors quoted"
Stew. Vocabulary at the end of Stewart's Gaelic Collection
Wh. John Whyte, Inverness; sometimes entered as (Arg.)
Zeit. Kuhn's [Zeitschrift f. vergl. Sprachforschung], a German
periodical still proceeding
An asterisk (*) denotes always a hypothetical word; the sign (++) denotes
that the word is obsolete. The numeral above the line denotes the number
of the edition or the number of the volume.
--page 1
, vocative particle, Ir. [a], O.Ir. [á],[a]; W., Corn., Br. [a]; Lat. [o];
Gr. @G[w@]?
, his, her, Ir., [a], O.Ir. [á], [ái] (accented), W. [ei], Br. [e], Celtic [esjo],
[esjâs]; Skr. gen. [asyá], [asyâs]. The gen. pl. is , their, O.Ir.
[a n-], Celtic [esjon] (Stokes gives [esan]=Skr. gem. gen. pl. [âsâm]).
, who, that (rel. pron.). In G. this is merely the verbal particle
[do] of past time, used also to explain the aspiration of the
future rel. sentence. Oblique cases are done by [an], [am] (for [san],
[sam], O.Ir. [san], [sam]), the neut. of art. used as rel. (cf. Eng.
[that]). The rel. locative is sometimes done by the prep. [an],
[am]: "An coire am bi na caoraich" (1776 Collection, p112).
, out of, ex: see .
, from, in the adverbs , , , ; Ir., O.Ir.
[an-], as [anuas], etc.; Celtic [a(p)ona], a derivative from I.E.
[apo], whence Lat. [ab], Gr. @G[a@'pó]; Ger. [von], from, is the exact
equivalent of the Celtic. The before [sìos] and [suas] is due
to analogy with [a nìos], [a nuas].
, in to, as in , , , , , is the
prep. , in, into, q.v.
, as in , &c., and before verbs, is the prep. , q.v.
, the, at; see [an], the, and [ag], at.
, or , fie! The Ir. [ab ab], M.Ir. [abb] is an interjection of
defiance, [obo], of wonder; cf. Lat. [babæ], Gr. @G[babaí]. Hence
doubtless M`A.'s [abab], dirt.
, abbot, Ir. [ab], O.Ir. [abb], W. [abad]; from Lat. [abbas], [abbatis],
whence also Eng. [abbot]. Hence [abaid], abbey. M.Ir.
[apdaine], abbacy, in M.G. "abbey lands", whence placenames
Appin, older Abbathania (1310), Abthein (1220), "abbey lands".
--page 2
, syllable, utterance; E.Ir. [apad], proclamation: [ad-ba-],
Celtic [ba], speak; Lat. [fatur], [fama], Eng. fame.
, ripe, Ir. [abaidh], M.Ir. [abaid], E.Ir. [apaig], [*ad-bagi],
O.Ir. [apchugud], autumnatio; [*ad-bog-], Celtic root [bug], as in
[bog], q.v.; [ad-bach], root of Eng. [bake]; Gr. @G[fw/gw]. The W.
[addfed] is from a root [met].
, colic (M`A.):
, say, so Ir., O.Ir. [epiur], Celtic [ád-berô]; Lat. [re-fero];
see root in [beir].
, a brat, trifling, impudent person:
, expert (M`A.); from Sc. [apert]? See [aparr].
, confluence; only in Pictish place names: O.Gaelic (B.of
Deer) [abbor]; W. [aber], O.W. [aper], Celtic [ad-bero-], root [ber];
see [beir]. Modern Gaelic pronounces it (so in 17th
cent.), which agrees with the O.W. [oper]; this suggests
[od-bero-], "out flow", as against the "to flow" of [ad-bero-].
The [od] is for [ud], allied to Eng. [out]. Aporicum: [*ati-boro-n]
(Holden).
, bold; see [abair] above.
, dictionary (Shaw); from [abair], q.v.
, talkative, bold; from [abair] q.v.
<àbh>, hand net; from Norse [háfr], pock-net. Also , q.v.
Spelt less correctly <àmh> and <àbhadh>.
, bark of dog; an onomatopaetic word.
, river, Ir. [abhann] (gen. [abhann], now [aibhne]), O.Ir. [abann],
W. [afon], Br. [auon], Gallo-Brit. [Abona]; Lat. [amnis] ([*ab-nis]).
Root [abh]; Sk. [ambhas], water; Gr. @G[a@'fros] (@G[o@'/mbros], imber)
(Zim. Neu., 270).
<àbhacas>, sport, irony; see the following word.>>
<àbhachd>, humour, sport, Ir. [adhbhachd]:
, terrier, Ir. [abhach]; from [abh], q.v. Cf. E.Ir. [abacc],
dwarf; W. [afanc].
, rumour, false suspicion:
<àbhaist>, custom, Manx [oaysh], Ir. [abhest] (O'R.), [abaise] (O'B.),
[ad-beus]? M.Ir. [ábaisi] (pl.). See [beus], custom. Ascoli
compares the O.Ir. [-abais] of [duabais], teter, and [suabais],
suavis. Meyer suggests from N. [avist], abode : unlikely.
, an orchard, apple-tree, M.Ir. [aball], apple-tree. See [ubhal].
, silly jest (M`A.):
, Satan, Ir. [aidhbherseóir], E.Ir. [adbirseoir]; from Lat.
[adversarius] (Eng. [adversary]). Also .
, a jest; [àbhachd].
, wafer, so Ir., O.Ir. [obla], g. [oblann]; from Lat. [oblationem],
an oblation.
--page 3
, eyelid; see [fabhra].
, spinning, produce of distaff, Ir., M.Ir. [abhras], O.Ir.
[abras], gestus, E.Ir. [abras], handiwork, spinning, [abairsech],
needlewoman. Corm. (B) [abras], who derives it from L.Lat.
[abra], ancilla.
, the slackening of a sail, hoisting sail (N.H.); from
Norse [hálsa], clew up sail, from [hâls], neck, allied to Lat.
[collum]. Eng. [hawser] is also hence. Also .
, a cow's stomach, tripe (H.S.D.), , cow's
throttle (M`A.); borrowed evidently from a Scandinavian
compound of [háls], neck. Cf. [abhsadh] above.
, a mangled carcase, Ir. [ablach], carcase: [*ád-bal-ac-], from
root [bal], [bel], die, I.E. [gel], whence Eng, [quell]. Irish has
[abailt], death, O.Ir. [epeltu], [atbail], perit, from the same root
and prefix; the first of them appears in our Gaelic dictionaries
through Shaw. From Gaelic comes Scotch [ablach].
<àbran>, (M`A. and H.S.D.), an oar-patch on a boat's gunwale;
see [aparan].
, April, so Ir.; founded on Lat. [Aprilis] (Eng. [April]).
The form is due to folk-etymology, which relates it to [braon].
, apostle, Ir. [absdal], O.Ir. [apstal], W. [apostol]; from Lat.
[apostolus], whence Eng. [apostle].
, a pain, stitch; [*ád-conti-]; see [urchoid].
, sigh, complaint, E.Ir. [accáine], W. [achwyn]; [ád+caoin]; see
[caoin], weep.
, anchor, Ir. [ancaire], O.Ir. [ingor]; from N. [akkeri]:
, anchorage, from N. [akkarsaeti], "anchor-seat".
From Lat. [ancora], whence Eng. [anchor].
, acre, Ir. [acra]; from Eng. [acre]; Lat. [ager].
, gentle; Ir. [acarach], obliging, convenient, which shades
off into [acartha], profit; W. [achar], affectionate; [ád-car-]; see
[càr], friendly. M`A. has , moderate in price, indulgence,
which belongs to .
, lumber.
, profit, so Ir.; see [ocar], interest.
, axle-tree; borrowed word from Sc. [ax-tree] of like meaning
- Eng. [axle], &c.
, but, Ir. [achd], O.G. (B.of Deer) [act], O.Ir. [act], [acht], [*ekstos],
possibly, from [eks]=[ex]; cf. Gr. @G[e@'któs], without. For the
change of vowel, cf. [as], from [eks]. The Welsh for "but" is
[eithr], from [ekster]; Lat. [exter-].
, interjection of objection and impatience; founded on above
with leaning upon [och], q.v.>>
, a field, so Ir., O.G. [achad], O.Ir. [ached] (locative?)
campu lus (Adamnan), [*acoto-]; Lat. [acies], [acnua], field.
--page 4
, prayer; dialect for [achuinge], q.v.
, dwarf, sprite.
, statute, so Ir., M.Ir. [acht]; from Lat. [actum], Eng. [act].
, manner, condition, Ir., [achd]; same as above>>. There may be
a native [aktu-] ([*ag-tu], [*pag-tu]?) underlying some meanings
of the word, especially in Irish.
, , methodical, expert (H.S.D.):
, chase, pursuit, so Ir., M.Ir. [acclaid], fishing, E.Ir. [atclaid],
fishes, hunts, pursues: [ad-claidim]; see [claoidh].
, arm-pit, Ir. [ascall], M.Ir. [ochsal], W. [cesail]. The
divergence from regular philologic equivalence here proves
borrowing - from the Lat. [axilla]; Norse [öxl], Ger. [achsel],
Sc. [oxter].
, lamentation (M`L.); for [och-lan]? from [och].
, a rebuke, Ir. [achmhusán], E.Ir. [athchomsán]; cf. [aithis]
for root.
, supplication; also , so Ir., E.Ir. [athchuingid];
[ath+cuinge]; O.Ir. [cuintgim], peto, [con-tek-]; Eng. [thig]. See
[atach].
, hunger, Ir. [ocrus], E.Ir. [accorus], [occorus]: [*ad-co-restu-],
possibly the root [pres] of Lat. [premo]: [*careo] (F@+[4]. 422).
, , apparatus, accoutrements, Ir. [acfuinn], E.Ir.
[accmaing], means, apparatus: [ad-cumang], O.Ir. [cumang],
potentia; see further under [cumhachd].
, hat, M.Ir. [at], W. [het]; from Eng. [hat], N. [hattr].
, , inseparable prefix, in force and origin the same as Lat.
[ad]. It is to be separated, though with difficulty, from the
[ad-] arising from [aith-] or [ath-], q.v.
, shock of corn, Ir. [adag]; cf. Sc. [hat], [hot], [hut], "to put up
grain in the field, a small stack built in the field"; M.E.
[hutte], heap.
, a haddock; from the English.
, adamant, so Ir.; from the English.
, , liver, Ir. [aeghe], g. [ae], O.Ir. [óa], [ae], W. [afu], Br. [avu],
root [av]. Cf. [adha] for [ae], [cadha] for [cae].
, proverb (M`A.); rather , root [agh], Lat. [ajo], [adagio],
adage; Skr. [ah], say.
, flesh hook (Sh.), so Ir., O.Ir. [áel], tridens: [*pavelo-], Lat.
[pavire]? But cf. Eng. [awl], M.E. and Ag.S. [awel], awl, flesh-hook.
, adulterous, Ir. [adhaltranach], E.Ir. [adaltrach]; from
Lat. [adulter], whence Eng. [adulterous].
, horn, so Ir., O.Ir. [adarc: [ad-arc]; root [arq], defend, as in
[teasairg], q.v.; Lat. [areceo], &c.
--page 5
, lapwing, "horned bird"; from [adharc]; Dial. .
Ir. [adaircín] (P.O'C).
, pillow, so Ir., E.Ir. [adart]: [ad-art]; [art], stone? See
[airtein].
, , "progress" (Dict.). This is a ghost-word, made
from the adverbial phrase [air adhart], which in M.Ir. is
[araird], forward, bring forward; in O.Ir. [arairt], prorsum.
Hence it is [air+àrd], q.v.
, halter, Manx [eistyr], Ir. [aghastor], M.Ir. [adastar]; cf. W.
[eddestl], steed.
, vast, awful, so Ir., O.Ir. [adbul]: [*ad-bol-]; I.E. root
[bhel], swell, as in Eng. [bloom], etc. Zimmer compares it with
Skr. [bala], strength. Stokes and Osthoff give root [bel], [bol],
strong, big, Skr. [balam], strength, Gr. @G[bélteros], better, Lat.
[de-bilis], weak, Ch.Sl. [boliji@u], greater; whence
(Osthoff) and , .
, burial, Ir. [adhlacadh], O.Ir. [adnacul], sepulcrum: [ad-nank-otlo]
([*ad-nagtlo-], Zim.): root verb [nankô], I bring; Lat.
[nanciscor]; further I.E. [nenk], [enk], as in [thig], q.v.
, an advocate (Macd.): H.S.D. cfs. Heb. [adhon], sustentator.
, at, with inf. only; see [aig].
, , refusal, doubt; E.Ir. [ac], refusal, O.Ir. [acc], no!
W. [acom], to deny. It is onomatopoetic? See next.>>
, hesitancy in speech, Br. [hak],[hakal]; cf. Skr. [ac], speak
indistinctly. See foregoing word.>>
, plead, so Ir., O.Ir. [acre] (n.), from [ad-gar-]; root [gar], cry;
see [goir].
, conversation, Ir. [agallamh], O.Ir. [acaldam], for [ad-glád-],
O.Ir. [ad-gládur], I converse: for root, see [glaodh].
, a hind, Ir. [agh], O.Ir. [ag], W. [ewig] ([*agîko-]), Celtic [agos-];
Skr. [ajás], buck; Lit. [oz@?ýs], goat. Zend. [azi], Arm. [ezn] (St.).
<àgh>, also <àdh>, happiness, luck, Manx [aigh], Ir. [ágh], M.Ir. [ada],
[buada], late M.Ir. [ád], luck, [ádh]=sonas (P.O'C); root [a@-g-],
bring; see next.>>
<àghach>, warlike, so Ir., E.Ir. [ágach], [ág], war, [*a@-gu-]; Skr. [a@-jís],
contest; Gr. @G[a@'gw/v], Eng. [antagonist].
, essay (M`A); see [oidheirp].
, face, so Ir., O.Ir. [aged], [*agitâ]; I.E. roog [ag], lead. It
is usually referred to the root [oq], Lat. [oculus], etc., but the
phonetics are unsatisfactory.
, pan, so Ir., O.Ir., [aigen], Celtic [aginâ]; Skr. [aga], water
jar; Gr. @G[a@'/ggos], a vessel.
, and so Ir., O.Ir. [acus], [ocus], B.of Deer [acus], O.W. [ac], Br.
[hag]; allied is [fagus], near, O.Ir. [ocus], W. [agos], Br. [hogoz]:
--page 6
[*aggostu-], [ad-gos-]; root [ges], [gos], carry; Lat. [gero], [aggestu-s],
mound (Zimmer). Stokes refers it to the root [angh], choke,
narrow; Celtic [aggúst-], from pre-Celtic [aghnústu-] (Lat.
[angustus]), with accent on syllable after the root - [gn] with
the accent on the following vowel being supposed, as in
Teutonic, to produce [gg]. The derivation from root [onk], [enk],
as in [thig], is not tenable in view of the Welsh.
, sheep, swan (Carm.):
, huge (M`E.). See [adhbhal].
, sea, the deep; Ir. [aibheis], sea, abyss; E.Ir. [aibéis], sea.
This Stokes refers to a Celtic [abensi-s], [abhent-ti-s]; root [abh],
as in [abhainn]. But cf. O.Ir. [abis], from Lat. [abyssus]: W.
[affwys], bottomless pit.
, boasting; , esaggerate; Ir. [aibhseach], boasting:
from the foregoing?>> Another form of [aibhsich] is .
, an old ruin (Stew.):
, the Devil; another form of [abharsair], q.v.
, spectre, so Ir.: see [taibhse].
, alphabet, Ir. [aibghitir], O.Ir. [abbgitir], from L.Lat.
[abgetorium], [abecedarium], the [a], [b], [c], [d], ar alphabet. A
dialectic form, , comes from the old learning system,
beginning "A per se", [a] by itself=[a], Eng. [apersie]. Analogised
to [caibideal] (Meyer).
, proximity, Ir. [aice]; see [taic].
, a lobster's burrow, also [faiche].
<àicheadh>, deny, Ir. [aithcheo], contradicting, M.Ir. [aithceód]: [*ati-ceud-](?),
"go back on"; cf. O.Ir. [atchuaid], exposui, which
Stokes refers to the root of [chaidh], went, q.v.
, reprisal; cf. Ir. [athghabháil]; [ath+gabhail].
++, race, Ir., O.Ir. [aicme], W. [ach], pedigree, [*akk-], from [ak],
edge; Lat. [acies]? Stokes cfs. Skr. [anka], lap, but this would
give G. [àk-] (a@-) and a W. [anc]. Norse [átt], family, Ger. [acht],
property.
, joyous carol:
, confess, Ir. [admhuighim], O.Ir. [addaimim], W. [addef]:
[ad-dam-]; root [dam]; Lat. [domo], Eng. [tame].
, mass, so Ir., E.Ir. [oifrend], W. [offeren]; from Lat.
[offerendum] (Eng. [offer]).
, at, Ir. [ag], O.Ir. [oc]; for root, see [agus].
<àigeach>, young or entire horse; also <òigeach>=[òg+each], q.v.
M.Ir. [óc-ech], young steed (Eriu@+[2] 11).
, the deep, Ir. <àigeun>, E.Ir. [oician], W. [eigion]: from Lat.
[oceanus], Eng. [ocean]. There is also a by-form .
, spirited, E.Ir. [aignech]; see [aigneadh]. Ir. [aigeanta],
meditative.
--page 7
, mirth, Manx [aigher]; [*ati-gar-]; see [gàirdeachas] for root.
Yet Ir. [aiereach], merry, aerial, from [aier], air, from Lat. [aer],
makes the matter doubtful. Ir. [aerach] (Hyde), merry, airy.
Evidently the G. is borrowed from the Lat.
, ear-ring, tassel; cf. Sc. [aiglet], tagged point, jewel in
one's cap; [eglie], needlework, from Fr. [aiguille], needle; Lat.
[acus].
, the swift, anything quick (Carm.):
, , mind, so Ir., O.Ir., [aicned]: [ád-gn-eto-], root [gna@-],
know, Gr. @G[gignw/skw], Eng. [know]. Stokes refers it to the root
of [aicme], as he gives it. Ascoli makes the root [cen], as in
[cineal]. The Gaelic [g] is against any root with [c].
<àil>, will; better <àill>, q.v.
, , , a mark, impression, Ir. [oil], mark (O'R), M.
and E.Ir. [aile], fence, boundary (Meyer). A [t] stem: [oiledaib],
[*al-et].
++, rock, Ir. and O.Ir. [ail], [*alek-], allied to Ger. [fels]; see further
under [mac-talla].
, ring; see [failbhe].
, flint, precipice; from [ail], rock.
<àile>, air, scent, E.Ir. [aél], [ahél]; W. [avel], C., Br., [awel], wind; Gr.
@G[a@'élla] (St. Lec.), storm; [*avel-], root [ave], [ve], wind; Lat.
[au-ra], Gr. @G[a@'c/r], Eng. [air].
, hiccup, Ir. [fail]; cf. Lat. [ha@-lo], breathe, Eng. in-[hale].
<àilean>, a green: [*ag-li-]? Cf. Lat. [ager].
<àilear>, porch:
, blemish, reproach, O.Ir. [ail], disgrace, Got. [agls]?
, mimicing (Wh.); bad [atharrais], [aith-lis], (M`A.) [aithris].
<àill>, desire, so Ir., O.Ir. [áil], W. [ewyll], Br. [ioul], Celtic [avillo-];
root [av], desire, Lat. [aveo], Eng. [avidity]. [áil], pleasant, [*pagli],
Eng. [fair] (St. Bez.@+[20] 24).
<àille>, beauty, E.Ir. [álde], for [álnde]; see [álainn].
<àilleas>, <àilgheas>, will, desire; Ir. [áilgheas], E.Ir. [ailges], [áilgidim],
I desire; from [áil] and [geas], request, q.v.
, root of the ear, hole of the ear; also [faillean], q.v.
<àilleagan>, darling, so Ir.; from [àille], q.v.
, elecampane: cf. Gr. @G[e`leníon], Lat. [inula]. M.Ir. [eillinn]
(Rev.Celt.@+[9] 231). inula quam [alain] rustici vocant (Isidor).
, shy, delicate; M.Ir. [ail] (O'Cl.), shamefaced.
, high-rocked; from [aill], rock; see [mac-talla].
, diminutive creature, fairy, Ir. [aillse];
, cancer, Ir. [aillis], O.Ir. [ailsin], cancerem:
, caterpillar; from above.>>
, the letter A, elm; Ir. [ailm], palm (fir?) tree, letter A;
borrowed from Lat. [ulmus], Norse [álmr], Eng. [elm].
--page 8
, stately, high; Ir. [ailt], Lat. [altus], [àilt] (H.S.D.).
, , privative prefix; see [am-], [amh-]. See its use in
(=[am-leas]), hurt, , , confusion
(=[am-réidh]), , distress, etc. (= [am-bert]). The
vowel in the root is "small", and hence affects the [a] of [am].
, grief, Ir. [aithmhéal], repentance; [aith+méala], grief,
E.Ir. [méla], sorrow, reproach; [*meblo-], a shorter form of O.Ir.
[mebul], dedecus; Gr. @G[mémfomai]
, , proud flesh; from [aimh-] and [feòil], q.v.
, confusion, mischief:
, barren, so Ir., M.Ir. [immrit], barren, E.Ir. [amrit]; [am-ber-ent-],
"non-producing"; root [ber] of [beir]?
, bold (Arms.); [am-meas-ichte], "un-mannerly"? See
[meas].
, time, so Ir.; O.Ir. [amser], W. [amser], Br. [amzer], possibly a
Celtic [ammesserâ]; either a compound of [am], time ([ammensîrâ],
from [sîr], long?), or [amb-mensura], root [mens], measure,
Lat. [mensus], Eng. [measure]. Ascoli and Stokes give the
Celtic as [ád-messera], from [ad-mensura].
, missing of aim, mischance: [am-mis-ith], Gaelic root [mis]
of [eirmis], q.v.
<àin>, heat (Dict.), light (H.M`Lean), O.Ir. [áne], fulgor, from [án],
splendidus, latter a Celtic [a@-no-s]; Got. [fôn], fire (from [pân]);
Pruss. [panno]. Stokes suggests rather [*agno-s], allied to Lat.
[ignis], Skr. [agní], fire.
, privative prefix; see [an-].
, stormy, M.Ir. [ainbthech], [*an-feth-ech], Gaelic rott
[feth], breeze, from [vet], Eng. [weather], Lat. [ventus], etc. See
[anfadh].
, , odd, unusual: [an-bith], "un-world-like". See [bith].
, doubt, M.Ir. [ainches], E.Ir. [ances], dubium.
, a curse, rage, Ir. [aingeis], E.Ir. [aingcess], [ánces], curse,
anguish; [an+geas], q.v., or Lat. [angustia]?
, flaw, so Ir., E.Ir. [anim], W. [anaf], blemish, O.Br.
[anamon], mendæ; Gr. @G[o@'/vonai], blame
<àinean>, a liver, liver of fish (N.H.); see [adha].
<àineartaich>, yawning ([aineartaich], M`A.); see [àinich] below.
, passion, fury; [an-theas], from [teas], heat.
, angel, so Ir., O.Ir. [angel], W. [angel], Br. [ael]; from Lat.
[angelus], whence also the Eng.
, light, fire, Manx [ainle], Ir. [aingeal] (Lh., O'B.), M.Ir.
[aingel], sparkling: [*pangelos], Ger. [funke], M.E. [funke]; further
[ong], fire, hearth; LIt [anglis], coal, Skr. [añgâra], glowing coal;
I.E. [ongli], [ongôl]; allied is I.E. [ognis], fire, Lat. [ignis]. See
--page 9
Fick@+[4] 14. Skeat derives Sc. [ingle] from the Gaelic. Also
, a common fire.
, numbness: [ang-eal-ach-], root [ang], choke (Lat.
[ango])?
, perversity, malignity; from the following.>>
, wicked, Ir. [aingidhe], malicious, O.Ir. [andgid], [angid],
nequam, wicked, [andach], sin; [*an-dg-id], root [deg] of [deagh],
good, q.v.
<àinich>, panting, also ; root [a@-n-], long form of [an], breath
(see [anail]); Skr. [ânana], mouth ("breather").
, vexing.
, anise; from the English. M.Ir. [in ainis], gloss on "[anisum
cyminum dulce]".
, name, Ir. and O.Ir. [ainm], pl. [anmann], B.of Deer [anim], W.
[enw], Br. [hanv], [*anmen-]; Gr. @G[o@'/noma]; Pruss. [emmens], Ch.Sl.
[ime@?]; root [ono], allied to [no@-] in Lat. [nomen], Eng. [name].
, a rash fool; see [òinid].
, beast, brute, Ir. [ainmhidhe], M.Ir. [ainmide], [*anem-itio-s],
[*anem-], life, soul; Lat. [animal], etc. Ir. is also [ainmhinte],
"animans".
, rare; [an-minig], q.v.
, rare; see [annamh].
, force; [ain-], excess (see [an-]), and [neart].
, tame, from [ainneadh], patience (Sh.); possibly from
[an-dam], root [dam], tame.
, virgin, E.Ir. [ander], W. [anner], heifer, M.Br. [annoer] (do.),
[*anderâ]; cf. Gr. @G[anqcrós], blooming, [a@'qárioi], virgins (Hes.),
@G[*nqar-].
, , needy: [an+dìth], want?
, fury, over-fizzing: [an+steall].
, on, upon. This prep. represents three Irish ones:
(a) =O.Ir. [ar], [air], ante, propter, W. [ar], [er], Br. [er], Gaul [are-],
Celtic [ari], [arei], Gr. @G[pará], @G[paraí], by, before; Lat. [prae]; Eng.
[fore], [for]. This prep. aspirates in Irish, and in Gaelic idioms
it still does so, e.g. [air chionn].
(b) =O.Ir. [for], "super", O.W. and O.Br. [guor], Br. [voar], [oar],
Gaul. [ver-]; Gr. @G[u@`pér]; Lat. [s-uper]; Eng. [over]. This prep.
did not aspirate; it ended originally in [r] in Gaelic; as an
inseperable prefix ([vero-], [viro-] in Gaul.) it aspirated, as in the
modern form of old names like [Fergus], now [Fearghuis] or
[Fear'uis] (gen. case).
(c) =O.Ir. [iar n-], after, pre-Celtic [epron]; Skr. [aparám],
afterwards, [aparena], after; Got. [afar], after, Eng. [af-ter].
Further come Gr. @G[o@'pi-], behind, [e@'pí-], to, Lat. [ob-], [op-]. See [iar].
--page 10
This is the prep. that is used with the inf. to represent a
perfect or past participle in Gaelic - [Tha mi air bualadh]; "I
have struck".
, honourable; [air+beann]?
, distress, so Ir., O.Ir. [aircur], pressure; cf. Lat. [parcus],
sparing.
<àirc>, the Ark, Ir. [airc]; from Lat. [arca].
, pity, clemency (Hend.): see [oircheas].
, to watch, listen, Ir. [aircill]; see [faircill].
, a cripple; [*airc-lach], from [airc], q.v.
<àird>, point (of the compass), Ir. [áird], E.Ir. [aird], Gr. @G[a@'/rdis], a
point. Hence Sc. [airt].
<àird>, preparation, activity.
<àirde>, height, Ir. [áirde], E.Ir. [arde]; see [árd].
<àirdeil>, ingenious:
, heed, Ir., O.Ir. [aire], Old.Brit. [Areanos], native watchers who
gave intimation to the Romans (Ammianus), pre-Celtic [parjâ],
[par], seek; Gr. @G[peîra], trial; Lat. [ex-perior], Eng. [experiment].
<àireach>, keeper of cattle. There is confusion in Gaelc between
[àireach] and O.Ir. [aire(ch)], lord; the [bó-aire], cow-lord, was
the free tenant of ancient Ireland. For O.Ir. [aire], see
[airidh]. G. [àireach] owes its long vowel to a confusion with
[àraich], rear. See [àiridh] for root.
<àireamh>, number, so Ir., O.Ir. [áram], W. [eirif], [*ad-rîm-], Celtic
[rîmâ], number; Ag.S. [rîm], number, Eng. [rhyme]; Gr.
@G[a@'riqmós], number.
, ploughman, herdsman; Ir. [oireamh], g. [oiramhan], ploughman,
the mythic [Eremon], [Airem(on)], [*arjamon-], Skr.
[Arjaman], further [Aryan](?); root [ar], plough.
++, music, harmony; [oirfid].
, silver, so Ir., O.Ir. [arget], W. [ariant], Br. [arc'hant], Gail.
[Argento-], [Argento-coxus] (a Caledonian prince): Lat. [argentum];
Gr. @G[a@'/rguros]. Eng. [argent] is from the Lat.
<àiridh>, better <àirigh>, hill pasture, sheiling (, in Lh. for
Gaelic); cf. E.Ir. [airge], [áirge], place where cows are, dairy,
herd of cattle; E.Ir. [airgech], herdswoman [of Brigit]; Ir.
[airghe], pl. [áiríghe] (O'B.), a herd of cattle; [airgheach], one
who has many herds; [*ar-egia]; Lat. [armentum]? But see
[àraich], rear. Norse or Danish [erg] from Gaelic equals Norse
[setr] (Ork. Sag.). This Norse form proves the identity of
Gaelic with E.Ir. [airge]; [airge]=[ar-agio], [*agio], herd.
, worthy, Ir. [airigh] (Ulster), [airigh], nobleman (O'B.), O.Ir.
[aire(ch)], primas, lard; Skr. [árya], good, a lord; [ârya], Aryan,
[âryaka], honourable man. [*parei]?
--page 11
, a sleepy person; from ++[aireal], bed, M.Ir. [aired] (O'C.):
, leng, Ir. [airligim], O.Ir. [airliciud], lending; from [leig], let,
which is allied to Eng. [loan], Got. [leihvan], Ger. [leihen]. See
[leig].
, pledge, earnest, arles; from Sc. [arles], older [erles], which,
through O. French, comes from Lat. [*arrhula], dim. of [arrha],
pledge. Eng. [earnest], whence W. [ernes], is probably from the
same origin. See [eàrlas].
, a strait:
, hit; see [eirmis].
<àirne>, a sloe, so Ir., M.Ir. [arni], sloes, W. [eirin], plums, Br. [irinenn],
sloe, Celtic [arjanio-] (Stokes); Skr. [aran@.i], tinder-stick
"premna spinosa", [aran@.ka], forest.
<àirneach>, murrain in cattle:
, <àirneis> (M`L. & D.), furniture; Ir. [áirneis], cattle, goods,
etc., M.Ir. [airnis], tools, furniture. The word can hardly
be separated from the Romance [arnese], accotrements,
armour, whence Eng. [harness], armour for man or horse. The
word is originally of Brittonic origin (Br. [harnez], armour),
from [*eisarno-], iron; see [iarunn].
, a pebble, so Ir., E.Ir. [arteini] (pl.), O.Ir. [art]; possibly
Gaul. [arto-] ([Arto-briga]), [Artemia], name of a rock.
, , weariness:
<àis>, milk (Carm.), M.Ir. [as] (O'Dav.).
<àis>, wisdom (Carm.), [ais] (O'Cl.) See [cnoc] (Carm.).
, back, backwards; so Ir., E.Ir. [aiss], [daraaiss], backwards; Gaelic
. The forms [ais], [rithisd] (rìs], [thairis], seem compounds
from the root [sta], [sto], stand; cf. [fois], [bhos], [ros]; may be
for [ati-sta-], or [ati-sti-]. Ascoli refers [ais] to an unaccented
form of [éis], track, which is used after [tar] and [di] ([di a éis], post
eum; see [déis]) for "after, [post]", but not for "back", as is
[air ais], with verbs of rest or motion.
, delivery (obstetrical), E.Ir. [asait], vb. [ad-saiter], is delivered;
[*ad-sizd-]; Lat. [si@-do], [assi@-dere], a reduplication of the root
[sed], of [suidhe], q.v. From [ad-sem-t], root [sem] as in [taom]
(Stokes).
, a ferry, Ir. [aiseog] (Fol.):
, axle; it seems borrowed from Eng. [axle], Norse [öxull], but
the W. [echel], Br. [ahel], [*aksila], makes its native origin
possible, despite the absence of the word in Irish.
, jollity (Sh., Arms.); see [aisteach].
, rib, Ir., E.Ir. [asna], W. [eisen], [asen], Cor. [asen]; cf. Lat.
[assula], splinter, [asser], beam (Stokes). Formerly it was
referred to the same origin as Lat. [os], [ossis], bone, Gr. @G[o@'stéon],
--page 12
but the root vowel and meaning are both unfavourable to
this etymology.
, weanling (Argyle); from [ais]?
, a request (Sh.), E.Ir. [ascid]; [*ad-skv-], root [seq]., as in [sgeul],
q.v.
, a ridge of high mountains, Ir. [eiscir], [aisgeir] (Lh. for
latter); [*ad-sker-](?), as in Eng. [skerry], G. [sgeir], q.v. Cf. W.
[esgair] (Meyer).
, restore, so Ir., E.Ir. [assec]; possibly=[*as-ic], "out-bring",
[ic]=[enl]; see [thig], come.
, , path; see [astar].
, strife; [as-sìth], [as-], privative, and [sìth], q.v.
, a vision, dream, so Ir., O.Ir. [aislinge]; possibly [*ex-líng-ia],
"a jump out of one-self, ec-stasy", the root being [leng] of
[leum], q.v. Nigra suggested the root [sil], or [sell] of [seall], see,
q.v.; he divided the word as [as-sil-inge], Stokes as [ad-sell-angia]
(Beiträge, Vol. VIII)
, rehearsing, tattle, E.Ir. same, O.Ir. [áisndís]l [aisnédim], I
relate; ([as-ind-fiad-im], O.Ir. [in-fiadim], I relate); [fiad]=[veid],
know; see [innis]; root [vet], Lat. [veto] (Stokes), but this does
not account for [í] of O.Ir. [aisndís].
, a diverting fellow, Ir. [aisdeach], witty:
, glad, Ir., E.Ir. [ait], O.Ir. [ait], euge! adverbium optantis:
<àite>, a place, Ir., E.Ir. [áit]. Possibly Celtic [po@-d-ti], [*panti]? root
[po@-d], [ped], Lat. [oppidum], Gr. @G[pédon], ground, Skr. [padám], place;
as in [eadh], q.v. Stokes has referred [áit] to the root that
appears in Ger. [ort, place, Norse [oddr], O.Eng. [ord], point,
Teutonic [uzd-], I.E. [uzdh-]; but this in Gaelic would give [ud]
or [od].
<àiteag>, a shy girl, see [faiteach].
, breeze, ray, small portion. In the sense of "ray", cf. Gr.
@G[a@'ktís], ray; in the sense of "quantulum", it may be divided
as [ad-tel], O.Br. [attal], an equivalent, root [tel], weight, money;
see [tuarasdal]. [actualis]?
, a people, a tribe (Arms.):
, a thaw; [*aith-ta@--m, W. [toddi], melt; Lat. [tabes]; Gr.
@G[tc/kw], melt; Eng. [thaw]. The Ir. word is [tionadh] (O.Ir.
[tinaid], evanescit), Manx [tennue], the root of which is [ten], Lat.
[tener], Eng. [thin].
, "re-"; see [ath-].
, fathom, O.W. [atem], filum; [*(p)etemâ]; Eng. [fathom];
I.E. [pet], extend, Lat. [pateo], etc.
, fire-brand, Ir., O.Ir. [aithinne]: [*aith-tén-io-]? Root of
[teine]? The root [and], kindle, as in O.Ir. [andud], accendere,
--page 13
[adandad], lighting up, is also possible, [*aith-and-io-] being the
form in that case. [amhailte] (Glen-moriston).
, a reproach, affront, so Ir., O.Ir. [athiss]; [*ati-vid-tu-]; Got.
[idveit], Eng. [twit]; root [vid], wit, know.
, a disgrace; cf. [leas] in [leas-mhac].
, knowledge, so Ir., O.Ir., [aithgne], W. [adwaen]: [ati-gn-io-] for
Ir.; I.E. [gen], [gna@-], [gno@-], to know; Lat. [cognosco]; Gr. @G[gignw/skw];
Eng. [know].
<àithne>, command, Ir., O.Ir. [aithne], depositum, command; [immánim],
delego, assign; W. [adne], custody; the root seems to be [a@-n]
or [an], judging from verbal forms, though these scarcely
agree with the noun forms. See [tiomnadh] further.
, repentant, so Ir., O.Ir. [aithrech], Corn. [edreck], repentance,
Br. [azrec] (do.), [*ati-(p)reko-], [*ati-(p)rekiâ]; root, [prek],
Lat. [precor], Ger. [fragen], ask, etc. Ascoli makes the root [reg],
come (see [rach]).
, tell so Ir. [*ati-ris], E.Ir. [ris], a story, [*rt-ti], [rat], [re@-t],
Ger. [rede], speech, Got. [rathjo], speak, Lat. [ratio]. Cf. O.Ir.
[airissim], from [iss].
<àitidh>, damp:
, juniper, Ir. [aiteann], O.Ir. [aitenn], W. [aith], [eithin], Cor.
[eythinen], O.Br. [ethin] (gl. rusco), [*akto-], I.E. root [ak], sharp,
Lat. [acidus], Eng. [acid], [edge], Gr. [a@'/kros], extreme, etc. The
nearest words are Lit. [ákstinas], sting, Ch.Sl. [ostinu]. Also
. [*at-tenn-], "sharp bush or tree"; from root [at], sharp,
E.Ir. [aith], sharp, [*atti-], [atto-]. For [-tenn], see [caorunn]. Cf.
Ir. [teine], furze.
, a building, Ir. , E.Ir. [aittreb], W. [adref], homewards,
Gaul. [Atrebates]; [*ad-treb-], the Celtic root [treb] corresponding
to Lat. [tribus], Eng. [thorpe].
<àl>, brood, Ir. [ál], W. [ael], [al]: [*(p)aglo-; cf. Lat. [propâgo], Eng.
[propogate]. Hence <àlaire>, brood mare. Ger. [adel], nobility.
<àlach>, a brood, set, bank of oars (M`E.):
<àlach>, nails: [*a@-l-lach], [a@-l-], from [(p)agl-], Lat. [pa@-lus], stake; root
[pag], [pa@-g], fasten, whence Gr. @G[pc/gnumi], Lat. [pango], fix, Eng.
[page].