Book 15 — APPENDIX A IRISH TERMS USED IN THE VERSE

Aely [Éli, L.U. 78ᵃ, margin]. A spell or incantation.

An-dord´ [Andord, L.L. 261ᵃ31]. Apparently a kind of tenor singing. Dord means the bass in music. An here is probably a negative, not an intensive, prefix; for O’Curry (M. & C. iii. 379) says that the short strings of the harp were called andord, “not bass.”

Bălt´-thănă [Beltene. Mod. I. Bealtaine]. The first of May. This was one of the chief points of division in the year. See Corm., Belltaine.

Ban´-a-nah [Bânanach]. A kind of airy spirit.

Barnbrogues [Bernbróic]. Probably a long, close-fitting covering for the legs, breeches and hose combined. See Zimmer, K.S. 6, pp. 81-88.

Bive [Badb]. The raven, hooded-crow, carrion-crow, or other rapacious bird. Often used as a name for the More-reega, the goddess of war, who was wont to appear in the form of a carrion-bird.

Boc´-a-nah [Bócanach]. A kind of airy spirit.

Boo´-an-bac [Buanbach, buanfach]. A game, probably of the nature of chess or draughts. See Zimmer, K.S. 6, p. 78.

Baw´-ee Brashee [Bái brassi]. One of Cucullin’s feats. Brasse means “quickness,” “readiness” (see Fél. Index). But it seems impossible to determine the nature of the feat.

Bran´-duv [Brandub; Mod. Ir. brannamh]. Chess. Dr. Joyce (Soc. Hist. ii. 480, 1) says that nothing has been discovered to show the exact nature of this game. But in Keating’s Trí Bior-ghaoithe an Bháis (“Three Shafts of Death”), p. 25, there is a passage in which the fate of men is compared to the fate of the troop in a game of brandubh. It is pointed out that just as in the game of brandubh, so long as the game is being played, each man has his own rank, the King being in the most honoured place on the board, and the Queen in the second place, and so on,—similarly in the brandubh of life each man has his own place. And just as, when the game is over, the men of the brandubh are poured into the bag all mingled together without any respect to their rank,—similarly, when Death comes to men he pays no more honour to one than to another.

This passage shows that in Keating’s time, at all events, brandubh meant “chess,” not “backgammon” or “draughts.”

Bratt [Bratt]. An outer covering, cloak, or mantle.

Bressla More [Breslech mór]. The great breaking or slaughter. The name Breslech mór seems afterwards to have been given to the spot where the slaughter took place. See L.L. 75ᵇ49.

Brewy [Bríuga]. “A lord of land,” as (following Dr. Kuno Meyer) I render it in Book vii; a wealthy farmer; a hospitaller.

Broo [Brúgh]. A mansion; a fairy palace. “The Broo of Angus Ōg” was probably the great tumulus of New Grange on the Boyne. Angus Ōg was the son of the great Dagda and of Boand (“Boyne”), whose name was given to the river. See Aislinge Oengusso, Rev. Celt. iii. 344.

Călăd-colg [Calad colg]. The name of the sword of Fergus. Apparently from calad, “hard,” and colg, “a straight sword,” “a dagger.” But from its being compared to a rainbow, I judge that the Calad colg was curved, and I have treated it so. It is sometimes called the calad bolg.

The two Cann-bracks´ [na da chend bricc]. The two dappled-heads: Conor’s two steeds.

Cantred [Tricha cét]. Following the usual custom, I render the Irish term, tricha cét, “thirty hundred,” by the Welsh word “cantred.” A tricha cét (defined in the Laws, vol. v, 50, 3, as “one tuath”) was a territory containing thirty ballys or townlands. It corresponded roughly to the modern barony. When tricha cét is used to denote a division in an army, it seems uncertain whether it means literally 3000 men, or simply the complement of fighting men which a cantred of land was able to furnish forth.

Cass-awn´ [Cassán]. A brooch or pin.

Cathbarr [Cath barr]. A helmet, a head-piece.

Cloth-nell´ [Cloth nell, L.L. 261ᵃ29]. I am not sure whether I have been right in interpreting this as the name of the song. It may be merely a cheville, a stop-gap, such as often occur in Irish poetry. In any case, I do not understand what it means.

Cōla [Coblach, L.L. 261ᵃ30]. Apparently the voice or a mode of singing between bass (dord) and tenor (andord). O’Curry (M. & C. iii. 252, 379) says that the middle strings of the harp were called the cobhlaighe.

Con´-gan-ess [Congan-chness]. Horn-skin; the name of Faerdeeah’s armour. It may have been a close-fitting dress of leather, sewn all over with little plates of horn.

Cooal [Cual, L.L. 102ᵃ37]. The word seems to refer to the bristling mass of swords and spears with which each of these battle-castles was surrounded. See the description of them: Windisch, Táin, pp. 809-821. Compare L.L. 115ᵇ19, where cual gai seems to mean a cheval-de-frise of spears.

Crann-dord´ [Crandord]. The musical lowing made by the Donn of Cooley. Crann means “a tune,” “a melody.” Dord means “a humming,” also “the bass in music.” O’Brien has crann dordáin, “a kind of music made by putting the hand to the mouth.”

Crann-towl´ [crantaball]. A sling-staff, or perhaps a kind of crossbow, for shooting stones.

Creev Roe [Cráebrúad]. “The Red Branch”: the name of Conor’s great banqueting-house at Avvin Maha.

Croo´-a-deen [Cruadín]. The name of Cucullin’s sword; formed from cruaidh, “hard.” Cruaidh is the modern word for “steel.”

Crooan [Cruan]. Probably a kind of red enamel. Very beautiful examples of early Irish enamel-work may be seen in the collection of the R.I.A. in Dublin.

Curragh [Currach]. A coracle: a light boat made of a wooden framework, which in ancient times used to be covered with hides, and in modern times is covered with tarred canvas.

Dael [Dáel]. Some kind of black chafer or beetle.

Dael-clish [Deil chliss; deil chniss]. Of somewhat uncertain meaning. In the passage in Book xi., where it occurs (see L.L. 77ᵇ5; L.U. 79ᵇ9), the context seems to suggest that it was a dart greater and more important than the eight little darts; but it may have been some kind of bow or sling for shooting the little darts. In Book v. I have rendered the word vaguely, “dael-feat”; it may mean a sling-staff with which the ball was to be cast. Del or deil meant “a rod,” or “switch.”

Dael-feat. See Dael-clish.

Doon [Dún]. A fortress; a fortified residence.

The Enga [an Engach]. The name of Conall Carna’s ship, as given in the Foghlaimh Chonchulainn.

Eric [Eric]. “A fine or penalty exacted from an offender, according to the assessment of established custom, or the determination of the Brehons.” Laws vi., p. 311.

The Eura [An Iubrach, in Ibhrach]. The name of the boat belonging to Fergus. It seems to be connected with ibar (Mod. Ir., iubhar), “a yew-tree.”

Faen-feat [Foenchless]. One of Cucullin’s feats. From foen, “supine,” “flat.” A passage in the “Destruction of Da Derga’s Hostel” shows that this feat was performed with the shield. See L.U. 97ᵇ20, 21, where Mac Cecht performs the faen-feat with his shield, and the edge-feat with his sword.

Faer-dord´ [Ferdord L.U. 78ᵃ23, 24]. Fer (Mod. Ir., fear) is “a man.” Dord means “a humming,” also “the bass in music.” Thus ferdord was probably some kind of deep bass crooning with the intent of inducing sleep.

Feea [Fiach]. A debt.

Feehill [Fidchell, fithchioll]. Often translated “chess.” But fidchell and brandubh seem to have been distinct games. In the Agallamh (I. T. Vierte Serie, 1 Heft. p. 196) we are told that on a certain occasion a fidchell was given to every six men, a brannabh to every five men, and so on. As brandubh seems certainly to have been chess, perhaps fidchell may have been a game like draughts. Dr. Stokes and Dr. Meyer translate it “draughts.” At the same time, a line occurring in a poem in “The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne,” idir triath agus laoch, “both chief and soldier,” seems to show that in fidchell there were pieces of more than one value. See Oss. iii. 154.

Fertas [Fertas]. A distaff; a spindle; the pole of a chariot. Hence, probably in place-names, a sandy bar across the mouth of a river. Was the modern fersad, which has all these meanings, formed by metathesis from fertas? See Windisch, Táin, line 5650, where ferrsat is used for fertas.

Fin-drin´-ny [Findruine]. Often translated “white bronze.” It seems to have been some kind of white alloy.

Fooan [Fúan]. This seems to have been a kind of very ample wrap or mantle.

Fooavrōg [Fuathbróc]. A covering for the lower part of the body, probably short breeches. See Zimmer, K.S. 6, pp. 81-88.

Gae Bulg. The name of Cucullin’s famous spear. Gae means “a spear,” “a dart.” In the L.L. text of the Táin we have the forms gai bulgga, gae bulgae, gae bulga. Perhaps I ought to have adopted the form gae bulga. But in the Foghlaimh Chonchulainn we have cles an gadh builg. In the curious poem translated by O’Curry, M. & C. ii. 311, we twice have the form Gae Bolg. This poem says that the spear was made from the bones of a sea-monster by Bolg mac Buain a famed champion of the east, and that after passing through various other hands it came to Scawtha.

The Gantree [Gentraide]. A kind of music. From gen (Mod. Ir. gean), “laughter,” “a smile.” See L.L. 249ᵃ; also M. & C.

Gass, pl. gassa [Geis, pl. gesa. Mod. Ir. geas, pl. geasa]. A prohibition or injunction, magically imposed and involving magical penalties if disregarded. Often translated “taboo.”

Gillie [Gilla, Mod. Ir. Giolla]. “A lad,” “a youth,” generally “a servant-lad.”

The Goltree [Goltraide]. A kind of music; from gol, “the act of weeping or crying.” See L.L. 249ᵃ.

Greeanawn [Gríanán]. A sunny apartment; from grian, the sun.

Guipney [Gipne]. A fillet passed round the forehead.

The Iarngool [Ind ierngúali, L.U. 121ᵇ8]. “The Iron-coal,” the name of the wonderful vat or cask in the Creev Roe. It would appear to be the same as the ól-nguala, the mighty dabach or vat of brass, which Conor took as loot from the fortress of Gerg. See L.L. 258ᵇ14-19; L.L. 107ᵇ11.

Imbas Forosnai [Imbas Forosnai]. A method of divination. It is said to have been prohibited by St. Patrick. See Corm., Imbas Forosnai.

Imda [Imda, imdae]. A small sleeping compartment or cubicle contained within the great dwelling-house or hall. See the excellent account given by Joyce, Soc. Hist. ii. 45-54.

Imlee of Glendomna [Imslige glennamnach, L.L. 78ᵃ52; Imsligi gleanndomnach, Y.B.L. 43ᵃ25]. Imslige means “mutual slaughter.” The name seems afterwards to have been given to the spot where this slaughter took place (see L.L. 92ᵃ24); but I cannot identify it.

Innar [Inar]. This would seem to have been a kind of short, close-fitting body-coat or tunic.

Inver [Inber, Mod. Ir. Inbhear]. The mouth of a river.

Kenn´caem [Cend-chaem]. “Handsome head,” the name of Conor’s playing-board for feehill.

Kesh [Cess]. Suffering, torture. The cess (more fully, cess noinden) was the name of the peculiar suffering into which the Ultonian warriors were thrown as the result of the curse of Maha.

Layna [léne, léine], A shirt or smock; a linen garment worn next the skin.

Liss [Lis, Mod. Ir. lios]. A dwelling or space protected by a circular mound.

Mĭnd [Mind]. A crown, a diadem.

Neev [Nóeb, nóem]. Holy. “Neev Kieran” means “Saint Kieran.”

Nomad [Nomad]. A period of nine days.

The Nowin [ind Neamain]. At L.L. 76ᵃ14 this name is glossed in badb, “the Bive,” and it evidently refers either to the More-reega or to a sister-goddess.

Ogam [Ogum, Mod. Ir. ogham]. A kind of writing, the letters of which were formed by combinations of points and short lines set at both sides of a stem or middle-line. In the Book of Ballymote, p. 308, there is an ancient treatise on ogam, with fascinating diagrams. Readers interested in the subject may consult ¹ Brash: The Ogam inscribed Monuments of the Gaedhil in the British Islands. ² Macalister: Irish Epigraphy.

The Ō-hawn´ [in n-ócháin]. The name of Conor’s great shield. This shield had four ears of gold. Ó means “an ear”; and Dr. Windisch (Táin, p. 864) thinks that this element is contained in the name.

Ollav [Ollam, Mod. Ir. ollamh]. A doctor of learning; a chief professor; a man in the highest rank of learned poets.

Partar [Partar]. This is the form of the word that occurs L.L. 259ᵇ36 and 40. At L.L. 55ᵇ41 we have the form partaing. According to Dr. Windisch (Táin, p. 28), it was the name of the Purpureae Parthicae, “the Parthian purple.”

Rath [Ráith, raith]. A fort, usually a circular earthen fort; a dwelling or collection of dwellings enclosed by an earthen rampart.

The Reeastartha [in ríastarde]. “The Contorted,” a name sometimes given to Cucullin, owing to the contortion to which he was subject when overcome by rage. A description of this contortion occurs in Book xi.

Shee or Shee-mound [Síd]. A hill or mound which was believed to be the dwelling of supernatural beings, gods or fairies.

Shee [Síde, Mod. Ir. sídh]. The supernatural inhabitants of a Shee-mound.

Shessra [Seisrech, L.L. 78ᵃ50]. This is evidently derived from sesser, six (persons), which in its genitive form occurs two lines previously. I have rendered it “the six-fold slaughter.”

Sooantree [Suantraide]. A kind of music, from suan, “sleep.” See L.L. 249ᵃ.

Sowin [Samain]. The first of November, now Hallowe’en. This was one of the chief points of division in the year. It was believed that evil spirits and also people of the Shee were specially wont to appear on that night. See the wild, weird tale of the Adventures of Nera, edited by Dr. Kuno Meyer, Rev. Celt. x. 212. There can be no doubt that many Hallowe’en customs of the present day, both in Ireland and Scotland, have come down to us from pagan times.

Srōl [sról]. This was some kind of silken material of delicate texture. An old Connaught native speaker tells me that in her youth sról was the name of a kind of very beautiful tabbinet made of a mixture of silk and wool.

Stooag [Stuag]. Something arched or curved or peaked; a hook.

Táin [Táin]. A cattle-raid, a cattle-driving.

Tal´-kend [Tal-cend, tail-cend]. See Lib. Hym. i. 100. “Adze-head,” a name given to St. Patrick in allusion to his tonsure. It was evidently meant to express derision. I hope I do not err in using it as a term of honour! But compare Battle of Magh Rath, p. 182, line 17, “Tricha Tailgenn togaide,” on which O’Donovan remarks: “Here the word ‘Tailgenn’ is used to denote a distinguished saint or ecclesiastic.”

Timpan [Timpan]. Derived form the Latin Tympanum; yet it was certainly a stringed instrument. See O’Curry’s discussion of the whole subject, M. &. C. vol. iii. lecture xxxii.

Turlough [Taurloch, L.L. 59, 31]. A lake which dries up in summer.

Yō [Eó]. A brooch; probably a brooch of the familiar Irish type, having a long spike or stave. Eó was an old word for “tree.” See L.L. 200ᵃ12, Dair dano eo Mugna, “Now the tree of Mugna is an oak.” “Spike” or “stave” was probably a derivative meaning.