Glossary of Irish Words

A

Aenach - Fair, festival

Ai - 'Of the Liver'

Aine - Delightful

Ard - High Place, Height

B

Beirigh - Boiling

Bile - A sacred tree

Bladhm - Flame

Bodach - Lout, Oaf, Churl (Bod is Irish for penis)

 

C

Cailleach - Hag / Crone

Carraig - Rock

Cath - Battle

Ceis - Piglet

Cnoc - Mountain

Crann - Tree

Curadhmhír - Champion's portion of food, largest and choicest serving of meat and best of drink went to the best champion at any feast.  It was the highest honour to receive it.

Currach - Small boat made from a hollowed out tree trunk covered in resin to make it waterproof.

 

D

Dinnsenchas/Dindsenchas - A Story based on the lore of a place-name.  An explanation of how a place was named.

Dún - Fort, Enclosed space

E
 

F

Féile - Festival

Feis - Festival

Féinnid - A warrior who holds allegiance to no one master but gathers up his own band of men/women to go hunting and fighting around the country-side.

Fidhchell - 'Wood Sense' lit. a board game somewhat like chess.

G
Geas, Geis, Geasa -  A binding spell which could not be ignored without consequences.

H

I

Iarainn - Iron

L

Lios - Ring-fort, Ring

Loin Loich - Light of Battle

M

Mag - Plain, Stretch of land cleared of trees.

Murúch - Mermaid

N

O

P

Piseog - Fairy Charm, spell, enchantment, pishogue

Púca - Hobgoblin, Pooka

R

RiastradhContortion ; Battle paroxysm of the legendary hero Cúchulainn in which his body contorts and his legs twist around to face towards his back.  One eye bulges out and the other sinks in very far in his head.?

S

Sagart -  a christian priest or cleric, pronounced Soggarth by some

Samhain - The first of November, a festival also known as All Hallow's Day.

Sidhe - Fairy Mound and the people who live within.

Síog - Fairy

Sliabh - Mountain

Soggarth - a priest or cleric

T

Timpán - A musical instrument (perhaps like a tambourine?)

U

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