by Seán ÓTuathail
ADF rituals often include a few Irish phrases, so the following guide to Irish for Druids is copied on our site for easy reference.
Plurals follow nouns in ()s
A
A ( aw ) ............................................. v áirne.
abhainn - river.
ábhar (ábhair) - student, subject, potential quality, fair
portion.
abú - interjection following proper name, loosely "hail forever".
achar feadha's feadh achair - (untranslatable: "duration/area
of distance /duration and/is extent of extent" etc) - premise
that 1) "time" is a "field" like space, not a "flow"; 2) distance
and duration interact; 3) both time and space are "subjective".
ádh - "good luck" as either good dán or as indicated by líth.
adhann - coltsfoot (v sponc).
ádhmharaighe - lit. "lucky injury", paradoxical serendepity,
i.e. the wrong thing at the right time, something wherein an
error produces a result better than planned, 7rl.
áer - v aoir.
aerach - gay (in both "happy" and "homosexual" senses).
aes dána - poets, harpers, artists as a social privileged class.
ag tosú - at (the) beginning.
Agallamh - 1) dialogue; 2) v Acallam na Seanórach, a seanchas.
agus araile (written "7rl") - et cetera.
aided - death tale, a major type of seanchas (v oidhe).
aigne - nind, basic dispositions, emotional outlook, basic
inclinations (cf aireachtail. ciall, cuihmne, dúil, éirim,
inchinn, intinn, meabhair, meanma, meon, mothú, smaoineamh, toil).
ail anscuichthe - "immovable (large) stone", validating
testimony from a non-plant/animal/person.
áilgeis - poet's right of (esp. derogatory or egotistical)
demand (which must be granted as the force of geis).
aill - cliff.
ailt - cliff bordered ravine.
aimhleas - harmful path in life.
aíocht - hospitality as a duty.
airbhe - an encircling "hedge" which protects those inside
and may be crossed but with il-effect on whom does so.
aircheadal - set-piece poetry or chant.
aireachtail - perception, sense (both physical and 6th), cf aigne 7rl.
áireán - being nocturnal, night vigil, vsiting at night.
airgead - 1) silver; 2) modern word for money.
airmert - 1) preparation, equipment; 2) effort; 3) prohibative
bríocht (not as strong as geis.
áirne - blackthorn, fiodh for letter A, associated with,
among other things, quarrel, vigil.
aisling (-í) - dream/trance vision much stronger more lucid
than taibhreamh.
aiteacht - sensation of thing or place being "not quite
right" but not being able to tell why.
aiteann - horse.
Aithirne - Ulster druid known for áilgeasa.
aithriocht - shape-shifting, actual not mealladh (v athdholb).
aitire - hostage surety.
Albu - 1) ársa: all of Britain; 2) modcern [Alba]: Scotland.
Almu - dún of the fianna in n. Co. Kildare (cf Dún Aillinne).
altramas - fosterage between generations more important tnan
blood-ties.
amadán - fool (esp. one with briotais of getting others in
trouble).
amhailt - 1) threatening phantom; 2) fomothú, etc., of threat.
amhainseacht - paleo-shamanism, seizure trance.
Amhairghin Glúingeal - first and greatest mortal poet-druid
who challenged the Tuatha Dé Danann and called forth Ireland
from behind the mists of invisibility; his name means: "Birth of
Song, of the Bright Knees [= Generations]"; variant spellings
include Aimhirgin, usually rendered in english as "Amergin" (v Duan
Amhairghine).
Amhairghin mac Eicet - Ulster poet-druid.
amhlaidh - thus, used as "go raibh amhlaaidh", "so be it",
but not as a wish for something to occur but that the
requirements have already been met and said conditions should
continue as they are now (as mallacht it means "may you be
stuck with this forever").
amhra - wonder, marvel, nobility, charm.
amhrán - song.
amú - 1) wasted, in vain; 2) astrray (as from Sídhe).
anáil - 1) breath; 2) strength; 3) (esp. verbal) influence.
anam - soul (probably a loan-word, v bradán, brí).
anamimirce - transmigration of soul.
anfa - tempest, storm (used of magic instead of the borrowed "stoirm").
ánradh - 6th (from bottom up) rank poet.
ánruth v ánradh.
aoir - bríocht satire, usually mallacht.
aonarán - hermit, recluse (cf díthreabach).
aor - v aoir.
aosán - neach Sídhe of il-intent.
árach - 1) bond, security, linkage; 2) opening advantage,
favorable opportunity; 3) "offer", solicitation to act a certain
way to gain bua, v caoi.
ard - high (often prefixed).
ard-draoi - arch-druid (a social position).
ardartha - salute to only extremely high authority, fists to forehead.
ardfhile - high-poet, a social position.
ardrí - high-king.
ardtiarna - high lord, one of the ranking leaders, master
adepts, etc., of the Tuatha Dé Danann or any neach
Sídhe of equivelent nature (never used for any mortal).
arracht (-aí) - spectre, monster, 7rl (loose term, real or illusion).
ársa - ancient, archaic.
ársachumadh - deliberate anacharicism or archaicization in seanchais.
asarlaí - occultist, ritual magician.
asarlaíocht - occultism, hermetics, ritual magic (cf piseogacht).
ascalt - 1) lack of food; 2) lower level of bua than required
for a specific working.
astaidhbhreacht - "reading" (in the clairoyant sense of an object).
athair thalún - yarrow.
athdholb - shape-shifted form.
athgabháil - allowable reprisal.
athionchollú - reincarnation (not a regular feature of
draíocht).
athmhothú - (act of switching) alternative states of consciousness.
athshocrú - alternate arrangement (during smhoill, etc.)
audacht - (text) of learned reportage and advice (modern
Irish "uacht" is "will, testament").
B
B ( bay ) ............................................ v beith.
badbh - 1) carrion-crow; 2) neach Sídhe of battle.
bagair - threathen, beckon toward, chase away, threaten.
bail - prosperity, validity.
bain - extract, release, agitate, win, evoke, gain, begin,
induce, remove, obtain, deprive, interfer with, stay, appease,
control, relate.
baint - v bain.
baisleac - wisewoman, female folk-wizard, woman upthóg.
bán - white, associated with emptiness, weakness (cf geal).
Banda - an alternate name for Ireland.
bándhraíocht - "white druidism", i.e. fake druidism drained
dry of genuine elements, or diluted of difficulty to be popular.
bard (baird) -low class [non-druid] songster.
bás - death (considered part of dán).
Beag mac Deadh - druid of Diarmaid mac Cearbhaill (qv).
béalaíocht - oral tradition (in general).
béalaithris - oral tradition, oral account.
Bealtaine - quarter day beginning sunset 30th April, day of
arrival of both mortals and TDD in Ireland.
beannacht (-aí) - 1) with ar (beannacht ort): blessing; 2)
with do (beannacht duit): greetings; (the word is, based on the
double-n, not a Latin loan, but from "beann", "antler").
Beannú na déithe's n'aindhéithe ort - "The
blessings of the gods and the non-gods upon you".
béarla - 1) english language (cf sasanaigh); 2) jargon, cant.
beathnua - St John's wort.
beirbhéine - vervain.
beith - birch, fiodh for the letter B, associated with, among
other things, beginning, cleansing.
beo - person's life, physical incarnation.
beo fada is bás in Éirinn - "Long life and may you die
in Ireland!"
biáidh - blessing.
bile (bilí) - any large, isolated sacred tree.
bís - spiral.
bliáin is lá - "a year and a day", a full 364-day solar cycle,
Samhain, not part of the year proper, being the extra day.
bó - cow, asssocaited with prosperity and female beauty.
bobcheist - trick question.
bochtóg - neach Sídhe associated with sea.
bodhrán - 1) deaf person; 2) native Irish tambourine-like drum.
bolg gréine - "sun bubble", magical growth on plants
conferring insight when eaten.
bolg is buinní - "bag and pipes" (píb uilleann, "Uillean
pipes" is a modern borrowing, as is the instrument, but this
term exists from pre-christian sourses, indicating an earlier form).
bonn (boinn) - sole (of foot), foothold, standing (in rank),
foundation, footprint, spoor, coin, token, metal.
bradán - 1) salmon (v eo fis); 2) life principle of individual.
bran - raven.
branán - raven.
brandubh - board game, apparently simpler than fidcheall
and/or involving lots.
brat (brait) - cloak, for a druid always without hood, multi-coloured.
breac - speckled, symbolizing magical power (either brí or bua).
breachsholas - twilight, the time of most powerful brí.
breachtraíocht - (general term) magic (esp. folk-, herbal.
breactradh - (general term) magic, charms, 7rl.
breitheamh - brehon.
breithiúnais - Brehon Laws.
brí - inherent/intrensic personal power set by dán (lit.
essence, vigour, significance), cannot be won or gained, only
developed or allowed to atrope; cf bua.
briathar - verb, word.
bríathar - word, adage.
briatharchath - egotistical laochas-like boast-speech before battle.
brigh - v brí.
bríocht (-aí) - spell, largely or fully verbal (the
modern form of the word is spelt, and pronounced, with a short
"i", briocht).
briocht - v bríocht.
brionglóid - dream (general term).
briotais - inherent talent (in a specific thing).
brosna (-í) - withered branch ordead wood gathered by hand
(i.e. not requiring permission of the tree or ritual).
brú - hostel, Sídhe-hill, esp. the latter (cf bruíon).
Brú na Bhóinne - Newgrange.
bruane - fire-seed, embers from which other fires are lit.
brugh - v brú.
bruidhean - v bruíon.
bruigh - v brú.
bruíon - hostel, Sídhe-hill, esp. the former (cf brú).
brúthaoscadh - to drain pressure, loosen tightenness, psychically.
bua - 1) gained or attained personal power, esp. in a given
area (cf brí); 2) [usually as plural buatha:] actions which win
or maintain bua v tairbhe); (lit. victory, merit, talent).
buachaitheamh - to "flare power", neutral samhlchaitheamh.
buachloch - power-object.
búad - v bua.
buannaíocht - 1) boldness, presumption; 2) having or using briotais.
buas - 1) spring (water); 2) wealth (specifically one's
"store" of bua, but also of gold, property, etc).
buí - yellow, associated with thanksgiving and praise.
bunchur - "let this happen" part of bríocht.
C
C ( kay ) ............................................ v coll.
caerthann - v caorthann.
cailleach - 1) hag (esp. as aithriocht of neach Sídhe); 2)
precocious young girl.
cáin - offical law, tax to rulers (as opposed to tradition or
éiric).
caint (-eanna) - speech, avility to talk, discourse.
cáinte - (esp. unjust) satirist.
caitheamh - cast(ing) fiodhrádhm coins, etc. (lit. wear, use,
consumption, 7rl).
cana - 1) cub, 2) 4th (from bottom up) rank poet.
caoi - 1) way, path, manner; 2) opportunity; 3) proper
condition; 4) thing solicited by árach.
caoilíth - omen that what has been said or done is correct
(cf líth, iúl, taispeáadh).
caoimneadh - keen, lament for dead.
caor (-a) - berry, associated with health.
caorthann - common name for luis.
caorthann curraigh - valerian.
cas - turn, wind, sing, return, reproach, attempt, meet.
cath - battle.
cathais - vigil.
Cathbhadh - ard-draoi of Ulster, responsible for the curse on
Emhain Macha, bound whern he was lied to by the king.
céadfa (-í) - bodily sense (or one of normal 5), normal
perception/conception.
céalmhaire - omen.
cearc - hen.
ceard - craft, skill, art.
ceart tar críoch (also cert tar crích) - right of poets to
cross all political borders with safety.
ceas - 1) surfeit, excess; 2) woe, grief, debility, esp.
long-lasting or repetititve, esp. as result of mallacht.
céile - companion, spouse.
céim - 1) step, rank; 2) pass (in mountains), ravine.
ceo - 1) fog, mist; 2) anything, nothing.
ceobhrán - haze, light mist.
ceol - music.
Cesair - v Lebor Gabála.
ciall - sense. sanity, normal or habitual state of mind,
faculty of logic, meaning; (cf aigne 7rl).
ciapóg - (magically induced) confusion or delusion.
cinnbheart - head-dress, esp. feathered.
cinniúint - 1) fate (general term, cf dán); 2)
misfortune, tragedy.
cinnte - certainly, surely.
cion - 1) share, amount; 2) love, esteem; 3) offence, crime, blame.
Cithruad - ard-draoi ríogaí of king Cormac who lost to
Mogh Roith (qv).
ciúta (-í) - 1) quip; 2) flourish; 3) trick; 4) "extra
decoration", stylistic addition in bríocht with no bua itself
but used to help make it unique.
claenmhíl - family totem.
nascmhíl - animal to which a person's life is linked.
beirmhíl - personal totem involving taking of name and geis
against killing (additional) memebers of species.
Claíomh Solais - Sword of Light.
cláirseach - large (modern) harp, not a druid harp.
clann - children, family, race, followers.
clárú - 1) tablulation, listing (of kings, attributes,
7rl); 2) to beat, flatten, 7rl; 3) slang: fuck; 4) modern: to
programme a computer.
clé - left (hand).
cleachtadh (-aí) - 1) lesson; practice; 2) habitual wont; 3)
practical experience.
cleas - feat of prowess, "trick" (but not with the idea of
skill, not cheating).
cleathainsí (pl.) - paraphernalia, odds and ends, personal
belongings, (esp. minor) props and aids to magic.
clí - 5th (from bottom up) rank poet.
cliatha fis - "wattles of knowledge", wicker (esp. rowan)
lattice sleeping-bag used for divination.
cloch - stone (general term).
cloch iompaithe - turning stone. used esp. for mallacht.
clog - 1) bell; 2) clock; 3) skin-blister.
clós - henge, enclosure.
clú - honour, fame (informal, cf eineach).
clúmh - feathers, down, body-hair, fur.
cnáib - hemp, cannabis.
cnó (-nna) - nut, associated with wisdom.
cnoc (cnoic) - hill.
cnúdánaí - 1) purring cat; 2) wheedler, pleasant
hoaxer; 3) wannabe (person who likes druidism superficially but
wants easy lessons).
cochall - cowl, cloak with hood, a non-druid cloak.
coill - woods, forest.
Coire Dagdae - Ever-full cauldron of plenty.
coire éirme - cauldron of warming, loweest of 3 coirí
filíochta (qv).
coire fhís - cauldron of knowledge, highest of 3 coirí
filíochta (qv).
coire goir - cauldron of motion, middle of 3 coirí
filíochta (qv).
coirí filíochta (pl) - 3 "cauldrons of poetry" within the
poet/person, similar but not identical to kundalini chakras;
each has 3 attitudes, giving 9 situational elements (qv naoi) and
7 states of the poet (qv seacht).
cóiriú - arranging (esp. the details), used of tuning a harp
or "fiddling" with a bríocht with or without somhoill.
coisc - v cosc.
coitiantacht - 1) [without qualifying adjective:] the
consensus commonality view of the world; 2) [with adjective]
(esp, agreed upon or experienced in common) way of life and view of
the world.
coll - Hazel, fiodh of the letter C (always pronounced as
"k"), associated with, among other things, poetry and the wilds;
explicited stated as tree most favoured by Tuatha Dé Danann.
Colmchille - druid-trained greatest native Irish christian saint.
comhaltas - joint fosterage (modern word has many meanings).
comhartha - symbol, signal, gesture, token, sign, symptom.
comhartha beann - sign of horns made with hand as protective gesture.
comhfhearann - common ownership of land.
cómhla (esp. cómhla breac) - gate (esp. to Otherworld).
comhnasc - joint linkage, binding two or more things equally
together, with or without sárlán.
comhtharlú - coincidence, esp. simultaneous (cf comhtheangmhas).
comhtheaghmas (rud) - conjuncture of things, entities in
relationships.
comhtheagmhas - coincidence, serial, across time/space (cf
comhtharlú).
comóradh - assembly, celebration, accompaniment.
cóngar - 1) proximity, vicinity; 2) convenient equipment,
means/tools ready to hand (cf garmheas).
Conmaince Réin - mountain in Connacht, arrival site of Tuatha
Dé Danann, identity uncertain, possibly Maol Réidh.
Connacht - Connacht.
contúirt - 1) doubt, danger; 2) place or interval of time
(e.g. Samhain) of possible, not fated, danger; 3) a dangerous
technique.
cor - turn, whirlwind, spinning-in-place, reel, pledge,
exhausion, agreement.
corr - point, edge, hollow, pit, crane (bird), eel, odd (i.e.
not even), curve.
corrbolg - "crane bag", magical treasure bag.
corrguineacht - "crane magic", bríocht, esp. mallacht, on one
foot, one eye closed, one hand in belt.
cosc - defence, protection, prevention, restrain.
cráin - sow.
crainnchaint - communicating with live trees.
crann (crainn) - 1) tree ( v bile); the three most important
trees are luis, iúr, and coll (qv); 2) pole, shaft, wooden
frame, penis, full growth, best part, misfortune, attitude,
important person, fate, tune, offer, 7rl.
crannchur - 1) ársa: casting of lots, not limited to
fiodhrádh; 2) modern: lottery, sweepstake.
crannóg - artifical island dwelling.
cré-umha - bronze.
creadair - relic, power object.
creideamh - (esp. non-druid) belief, faith.
crios (-anna) - 1) (Irish woven) belt; 2) zone around a
person, thing, place, under its influence; 3) encircling
protective ward.
Cromm Croich - god of non-druid pagan religious cult in
ancient Ireland.
Cromm Dubh - v Cromm Croich.
crot - v cruit.
Crúachán Aí - pagan socio-political capital of Connacht.
Cruachán Aigle - former pagan name of Cruach Pádraig.
cruit - the smaller, druidily proper, form of harp (whether
the original druid cruit was harp- or lyre-like is disputed, but
the basic three-wood body and that Uaithne (qv) is also an old word
for "pillar" would argue for a harp-like instrument.
cruitire - harper, i.e. a music-wizard, druid.
cruitt - v cruitire.
cruthú - to create and prove true, cf fíorú.
cú - hound.
Cú Roí (Cú Rói) - druid-king of Munster
(only king of a province to be also a druid) whose totem was a
salmon.
cuaifeach - whirlwind.
cuairt coimhgí - circle of safe-keepings.
cúig - five, number of general total, fullness, or completion
(cf naoi).
cúige - lit. "fifth", province.
cuileann - common name of tinne.
cuir - bind, sow, bury, set, put, seek, consider, send,
engage, take, give, provide, deprive, 7rl.
cumang - v cumhacht.
cumha - nostalgia, home-sickness, esp. for ideal, what one
never knew one had until after one lost it.
cumhacht - power, authority, influence, 7rl.
cur - v cuir.
curadmhír - v laochmhír.
D
D ( day ) ............................................ v dair.
dáimh - kindered affection, affinity.
dair - "robur"-Oak (only), fiodh for the letter D, associated
with, among other things, hospitality, inheritance, habitation,
fertility.
dalta (-í) - 1) foster-child; 2) student; 3) ex-student; 4) pet.
dámh - retinue (esp. of poets, druids, brehons, 7rl).
damh - stag (the modern word also means "ox").
damhna - 1) substance, material; 2) cause of; 3) promising novice.
dán - poetry, gift-talent-vocation, fate-destiny ("a man
can't drown whose dán's to be hanged", 7rl) as a unitary
concept.
dásacht - 1) fit of raging madness; 2) possession by spirit;
3) sudden panic.
dáthabha - monkshood, wolfbane.
dealg - 1) thorn; 2) brooch.
dearg - red, associated with warriors and kingship.
deas - southward, right (hand), near-by.
deasghnáth (-a) - lit. "right-hand custom", ritual.
deilín - sing-song chant.
deiseal - clockwise, to open, harvest, welcome, release,
spread, invoke outward (cf tuathal).
déithe - "gods" (actually a superior elder race, which while
far more wise and powerful than mortals are likewise bound by
the basic laws of the universe; it is never used in the singular for
an individual).
déithe is dual dom, na - the gods who are rightfully mine (v dual).
deoch dearmaid - drink of forgetfulness.
deochnair[eacht - divination by dregs or swirling patterns in liquids.
diach - unpleasant aspect of dán, "punishment" for violating geis.
diamhair - thing or place (not person) with magical
qualities, esp. difficult to grasp, hidden, potentially
threatening, 7rl.
Diarmaid mac Cearbhaill - 6th century king who attempted to
re-introduce druidism to Teamhair, which resulted the great
curse of desolation upon the site (Pádraig curse on only
the "druidry" of Teamhair was apparently over-thrown by
Diarmaid's druids, but the great curse was upon the site itself,
bound by Ruadán leading a christian-hermetic conclave of
13 saints (not mere priests).
díbearg - 1) outlawry, state of renouncing dominant society's
values, used loosely for roving bands of reveallers; 2) slang:
(irresponsible) sexual promiscuity.
díbirt - excorism.
díchaell - best endeavour, one's utmost best, neglect (ironic).
dícheadal - incantation.
dícheadal di cheannaibh - mantra-like incantation using
munda-like repeditive motion, which is unusual in allowably
containing rudach).
díchealtair - magical disquise, esp. concealnent.
díleas (dílis) - special personal attributes (of person,
fiodh, 7rl.).
dílmain drong - lit. "restraint of crowds"; conformity to
common social mind-set.
dinnsheanchas (-ais) - seanchas of place.
díonghabháil - "thatch-yoke", tag at end of
bríocht asking it please the gods.
díth - 1) loss, destrcution, derivation, lack, requirement;
2) missing element of bríocht.
díthreabh - wilderness, hermitage, isolated place of safety
away from other humans.
díthreabhach - hermit who lives, or wanders in, wilderness;
cf aonarán.
dlaoi fulla - lit. "whisp of delusion", originally a twisted
whisp of grass or twig magically enpowered and thrown at a
person to induce madness, but generally any "bad luck" charm
targetted at a specific individual which must be in their
possession to work.
dleacht - legal due, lawful right, duty (cf dyalgas).
dlí (-the) - binding principle, (cosmic) law.
dlínse - jurisdiction.
dluma dirche - nuclei of darkness.
dlús - 1) compactness; 2) fullness, abundance.
dlúth - 1) warp; 2) nearness; 3) intensity; 4) inner essential.
Do cheann im chrios - "Your head in my belt", fach.
doilbh - v dolb.
doiléire - indistinct image, obscure affair, imprecise
fomhothuú, etc.
doilfeacht - stage "magic", slight-of-hand.
doineann - wild cold weather.
doire - (esp. oak but also other type of) grove.
dolb - bit of (usually, not always, transforming) magic,
often but not always mealladh (may be actual shape-shift).
Domhan-so, an - 1) the mundane common world; 2) the daily
born-to world (as opposed to an Saol Eile and Tír na Marbh).
dord - 1) hum, buzz, murmur; 2) (esp. deep bass) chant.
dos - 3rd (from bottom up) rank poet.
draighean - common name of áirne.
draíocht - druidism (modern word used loosely for magic).
draíodóir - fake druid.
draoi (draoithe) - druid.
draoi (draoithe) allta - "wild" druid, fíordhraoi"
(true-druid), druid not assocaited with court (the adjective
refers to wilderness and not "crazy, violent" and connotates
amazement).
draoi (draoithe) ríogaí - court druids, toadies, (pun on
"royalist" and "most spasmodic").
dréacht (-aí) - 1) portion, part; 2) draft composition; 3)
verse to entertain or at social functions (i.e. not filíocht as
bríocht), or a scéal that is not a seanchas.
dreanaireacht - divination by the flight of birds.
dreoilín - wren.
drinnrosc - 1) a request, boon (not neccessarily by a
poet/druid, cf áilgeis); 2) an incitement to quarrel.
druí - older spelling of, but prunounced identitically to draoi.
drúide - baffoonery (v drúth).
druídheacht - v draíocht.
drúth - jester, baffoon.
duais - 1) gift, bounty, reward; 2) gloom, distress, sorrow.
dual - 1) spiral, wisp, lock (of hair, 7rl), twist,
interlace; 2) native, natural, proper.
dualaíocht - knotwork (in art, 7rl).
dualgas - inherent rights, duty, obligation, reward as a
single idea (cf dleacht).
duan - song, poem.
Duan Amhairghine - Amhairghin's (qv) challenge to the Tuatha
Dé Danann by proclamation of superior poet-hood, the first
mortal poem actually on the soil of Ireland (i.e. Amhairghin's
Summoning of Ireland from beyond the magic mists was proclaimed from
his ship).
dúchas - heretitary claim, ancestorial estate.
dúil - desire, will, expectation (cf aigne 7rl).
duille - leaf, foliage, eye-lid, glory, wealth (v duilleog,
duilliúr).
duilleog - leaf.
duilliúr - foliage.
dúlra - nature (the elenents, 7rl).
dumha - (esp. samll burial) mound.
dún - fort, esp. of stone.
Dún Aillinne - capital of pagan Leinster in s.e. Co. Kildare
(cf Almu); note: not the "Hill of Allen" in english; an
alternative site is Dinn Ríg in Co.Carlow.
dúnchur (-a) - a closing of the entrance to a power site.
dúshlán - challenge.
E
E ( ay ) ............................................. v eabhadh.
eabhadh - aspen, fiodh for the letter E, associated with,
among other things, indecision, change.
each - horse, stead.
eachtra - adventure, saga, unexpected event, wonderful surprise.
eagna - wisdom, understanding (cf eolas).
eala - swan.
éalang - flaw, weak spot, debilitating trait (cf fabht, locht).
éalúdach - absconder from justice, used loosely for someone
attempting to escape his/her dán (which is impossible).
éan (éin) - bird.
eangaill - cliff notch, a small narrow ledge beneath the lip
of a high (usually sea-) cliff which is thw point of hightest
brí and which (dangerously) allows one to stand ON the wall at,
not AT the top of the cliff itself.
éaraid - magical interferance or hinderance.
eas - 1) waterfall; 2) weasel.
easáin - (unlawful) refusal of hospitality.
éasca - 1) moon; 2) fluent, nimble, free, swift.
easca - quicksand, used generally for any area of potential danger.
eascaine - curse (general not neccessaroly bríocht).
éicse - poetic "nuts and bolts" knowledge (cf iomas).
éifeacht - depersonalized power (general theoretical abstract).
éigse v éicse.
éigsín - 1) poetry student; 2) fake file.
eineach - honour (as a formal rank, cf clú).
eineaclann - honour price paid for offence.
Éire - v Ériu.
éireannachas - Irish characteristics.
éiric - fine or penality, esp. for violation of eineach.
éirim - intellect, appitude.
eisinreach - excommunication from social group.
éislinn - blemish caused by aoir.
eiteach - refusal, denial (of aíocht, 7rl).
Emhain Macha - capital of pagan Ulster.
eo - 1) salmon; 2) prince; 3) yew.
eo fis - Salmon of Knowledge.
eolas - knowledge, information (cf eagna).
éraic - v éiric.
erbe - v airbe.
Ériu - Ireland.
F
F ( ehf ) ............................................ v fearn.
fabht - (esp. hidden) defect, basic flaw, unsoundness at core
(cf éalang, locht).
fach - challenge, declaration of foe-ship.
fáidh - 1) divinator; 2) wiseman.
fail - ring, bracelet, enclosure (v fál).
fáilte - welcome, happiness.
fáinne - (finger) ring, v mionnfháinne.
faire (-í) - 1) ward to guard against; 2) funeral wake.
faisnéis - eye-witness testimony.
fáistine - divination.
fáith - prophet.
fál - 1) hedge, fence, barrier (of protection, 7rl - v
airbe); 2) Ireland.
farc (-a) - ward to restrain, including to bar entrance.
Farraige, talamh, is spéir. - Sea, earth, and sky (variants
include "muir" for "farraige" and "neamh" for "spéir", v
Thríbhís Mhór).
fásach - 1) maxim, precedent; 2) wilderness.
fáthlia - herbal doctor.
feá - common name of páigh.
fealmas (-a) - slight-of-hand, placebo.
fearb - blemish caused by aoir.
fearn - alder, fiodh for the letter F, associated with, among
other things, shields, hearth, luxury.
fearnóg - common name for fearn.
fearr fear a chineadh - "a man is better than his birth",
maxim that anyone may rise as his skill allows.
méarsmeach (-anna) - "finger-flick" used as warding.
feart - 1) miracle, wonderous event; 2) (esp passage) tomb.
féath fíadha - magical mists of invisibility.
feathal - 1) emblem, distinquishing feature; 2) mask.
féige - roof-tree, lintel (touched during blessing on all
within when entering a dwelling).
feilmhleas - clairoyant charm (general term).
féineas - selfhood.
feis - 1) festival; 2) sexual intercourse.
feoras - common name of meol.
fia - deer.
fiach dubh - raven, lit. "dark hunting".
fiadhrádh - (a pun on/for fiodhrádh meaning "esteemed
utterance").
fianna (plural) - band of warrior allowable-outlaws sworn to
protect society but independent of it.
Fiannaíocht - seanchais of Fionn, Oisín, and the Fianna.
fidcheall - lit. "wooden sense", 1) ársa: a non-chess
non-lots board game; 2) modern: chess.
file (filí) - poet. i.e. word-wizard, druid.
filideacht - v filíocht.
filíocht - poetry, i.e. verbal magic.
fine - (often greatly) extended family group.
fiodh (-aí) - a single element of the fiodhrádh.
fiodhlann (-a) - a fiodh-piece used in casting.
fiodhrádh - lit. "wooden utterance", the druidic system of
divination by means of tree-letter-names.
Fionn Éiceas - druid who taught Fionn mac Cumhaill.
Fionn mac Cumhaill (there are variant spellings) - leader of
fianna with some druid training.
fiontar - adventure, risk, jeopardy, enterprise.
fíor - 1) figure, shape, image, symbol; 2) truth, pledge; cf
fírinne.
fíorainm (-ainmneacha or ársa: -anmann) - "true name",
binding name.
Fíorcheann - "True-Head", Malen Head, the norther-nmost point
of Ireland.
fíordhraoi - v draoi allta.
fíorú - to symbolize and verify, cf cruthú.
fiosaíocht - parapsychics (modern tern).
fiothnais - feat of harmful magic.
Fir Bolg - earlier sibling race of Tuatha Dé Danann (qv).
fir fer - combat code requiring, among other things, due
notice and equalisation of weapons.
fírinne - truth(fulness), more abstract or impersonal than
fíor (qv).
fiurt - feat of magic, esp. showy or beneficial.
flaith - 1) sovereignty; 2) prince.
fleá - feast (cf feis).
flead - v fleá.
fleasc - wand (esp. of coll).
focail bána - 1) "white words", words empty of truth and/or
bua; 2) Latin.
focal (focail) - word, pledge.
fochlac - 1) sapling; 2) 1st (lowest) rank poet.
foclóir - dictionary.
Fódla - Ireland.
fógairt (-gartha) - 1) proclamation; 2) ward to compel, esp expell.
fogla dílsi - allowable plunder.
fóidín mearaí - lit. "little sod of confusion",
place where directions are false, deliberate pit-fall, intentional
misinformation (may be actual physical place - cf
frithbhuachán, or more general).
foirteagal - binding by names or words of power.
foladh (folaí) - essence, meaning, wealth, benefit, "claim to fame".
Fomoirí - foreign enemies of Tuatha Dé Danann.
forchoiméad - ward (esp. to preserve, maintain, etc.)
formhothú - lit."over-sensation"; extension of (esp. bodily)
perception beyond limits of body-skin, with/without iarrairdeall
(qv).
fortach - oath or bríocht that overrides or supersedes another.
foscéal - 1) minor seanchas, or aside-seanchas within longer
one; 2) by extention of above: minor matter or event.
frithbheart - imcompatable element, contradiction.
frithbhuachán - a place or thing which drains bua or assaults
brí, may or may not be individually specific (cf dlaoi fulla).
frithchosúlacht - paradox.
fuath - 1) phantom; 2) hatred; 3) shape, form; 4) nightshade.
fuinseog - common name of nion.
G
G ( gay ) ............................................ v giúis.
gá - need, requirement;cf gáu.
gabhlairdeall - "forked attention", division of
consciousness, esp. during somhoill.
gad - marker attached to object as evidence of claim.
gaeilge - the Irish language the correct english is "Irish";
while "Gaelic" includes Scots and Manx).
gaeilgeoireacht - (act or study of) speaking Irish.
gáeth - v gaoth.
gall (gaill) - person of foreign affinity.
gallán - standing stone.
gaol (-ta) - person of kindred affinity.
gaoth - 1) wind; 2) estuary; 3) wise.
garmheas - convenient judgement, approximate opinion,
pragmatic (but not exact) estimation, temperary "make-do"
technique (cf cóngar).
garrán - grove.
gáu - 1) injustice; 2) falsehood.
geal - bright, pure.
gealach - moon.
geantraí - harp strain to (magically) induce laughter.
geasán - mini-geas, esp. self-imposed, to perform only once.
geilt (-e) - madman living in wilds, shunning others, with
shaman-like magical powers (cf díthreabhach).
geis (geasa) - magically bound injuncture or duty, individual
and contextual, having force of dán, explicitedly not a taboo
since many geasa required the person bound to perform, not avoid,
the required activity.
giorria - hare.
giúis - pine, fiodh for the letter G, associated with, among
other things, social-responsibity, valour.
glám díceann - short exhibitionistic (magical) satire.
gléas - arrangement, means, facilities, instrument, tool,
dress, preparation.
gnách - mundane, common.
gnáth - customary thing or action.
go gcumhdaí is dtreoraí na déithe thú -
"May the gods guard and guide you".
goirmín - woad.
goltraí - harp strain to (magically) induce weeping.
gorm - blue, associated with protection and magic.
Greallach Dallaid - Mire of Blindness, hidden sanctuary.
gréasán - 1) web, network; 2) tangle, complicatiom; 3) (esp.
single) knotwork or spiral motif.
grian - sun.
grianchloch - "sun-stone" (quartz).
grinnaitint - lit."discerning recognition": 1) recognition of
thing's or event's truth nature; 2) directed perception to
(attempt to) obtain the first.
grinnthoil - lit. "lucid intent"; directed consciousness to
influence event, thing, or person, with or without communication
of data.
gruagach - "hairy-head", magical being in (esp. human)
disquise, used sarcastically of would-be wizard.
gruaim - despond, dejection, self-pity.
gúbreatha - false judgement, v gáu.
H
H ( haych) ............................................ v uath.
I
I ( ee ) ............................................. v iúr.
iallach (-aigh) - bríocht of restraint or compulsion.
iarlais - changling.
iarrairdeall - lit. "solicitous attention"; blank-mind receptiveness.
idircheo - area of overlapping liminality between an
Domhan-so and an Saol Eile. (lit. between-mist).
idirchian - far distant time or place (lit. between-length).
idirchrios - transitional area (lit. between-belt).
ilchiallú - pun, doubled entrendre, i.e. in bríocht a
"sea-horse" is valid as a "horse".
ildathach - multicoloured, breac.
iloireadas - non-concurrentness of geography and time between
the worlds.
ilsaoltactaíocht - (practice of) multiplicity of realities.
imbas - v iombhas.
Imbolg - high day that begins sunset 31st January.
immram - wonder voyage (late borrowing).
Inbhear Scéine - Kenmare estuary, place of mortal's first
arrival in Ireland.
inchinn - brain (cf aigne 7rl).
intinn - nind, intent, purpose, will, "bent" as basic mental
characteristics (cf aigne 7rl).
íocluibh - healing herb (general term).
iodh - (esp. neck) ring (not open over throat, cf torc).
iomarbhá - contention (usually used for róe [qv] of
poets, 7rl).
iomarta - magical influence, not direct bríocht.
iomartas (-ais) - magical influence.
iomas - poetic intuition or inspiration (cf éicse; poc,
síúlacht, túras).
iombhas - poetic knowledge won or attained.
iombhas forosna - a much disputed technique of trance using
or gaining iombhas with which to prophesize.
iompóchur - bríocht to reverse, reflect, "boomerang" ward.
iris - 1) credo; 2) journal; 3) tryst; 4) contract; 5) texts.
iúl - 1) knowledge, expression; 2) guidance, direction; 3)
attention; 4) an (esp. seemingly minor) event that solicits a
responce or indicates a course of action (v scruth bhua, cf
caoilíth, taispeánadh).
iúr - Yew, fiodh of letter I, associated with, among other
things, death and immortality, primordiality, adytum; tree from
which all others sprouted.
L
L ( ehl ) ............................................ v luis.
lád - watercourse.
Laighean - Leinster.
laochas - valour, pride, heroism, boastfulness, bravado.
láthair - 1) site, loction; 2) presence (of person, 7rl),
present place and/or time.
láthar - strength, vigour.
leabhar (-air) - 1) book (a Latin loan-word); 2) a collection
of seanchais, among the most important of which include: Leabhar
Buí Leacáin, L. Laighneach, L. Leasca Mhóir,
and L. na hUidhre.
leac - (esp. door, flat or horizontal) stone.
leacht - 1) grave; 2) cairn.
leannán - 1) lover (human, but specific term for of Sídhe);
2) chronic affliction, failing (character weakness).
leapaidh lánlaidhí - lit. "harbourage of complete
attentions"; (esp. secure or powerful) mind-set (to do bríocht
or in meditation).
léargas - insight, non- (or very light) trance vision,
psychic sight.
léaspáin - dancing coloured lights (mealladh, cf
méarnáil).
leathdhraíocht - "half-a-druidism" with some genuine, but
many foreign elements.
Lebor Gabála, an - "The Book of Invasions", seanchas (not an
actual "leabhar" of the invasions of Ireland; the first three
invasions (i.e. Cesair, Partholón, Nemed) of which are
interpolations added by later christian scribes to bring it in
line with church and Classical references.
leid - hint, clue, pointer.
leigheas - healing.
léim thar - v ling thar.
léine - long shirt, tunic, vest.
léirmheas (eannna) - review (of books), critical complete assement.
lia - 1) standing stone; 2) physician.
Lia Fáil - stone that sang when the true king stood on it
(definitely not the one so-called now).
liag - (esp. ornamented standing) stone.
liathlus - mugwort.
ling thar tine cnámh - leap over the bonfire, to be "cooked",
i.e. reaffirm social membership (cf níghe).
líonadh - 1) flood tide; 2) waxing moon.
lionn iomhais - drink granting magical insight.
lios - 1) enclosed space); 2) cnoc Sídhe; 3) halo around moon.
líth (líotha) - good omen indicating the day upon which it
occurs is beneficial (cf caoilíth).
loachmhír - hero's portion at a feast.
Lochcrú and Lucetmael - draoithe ríogaí Teamhrach at the
coming of Pádraig, the first Pádraig, the latter
lost a magical battle to him by being ineptly inable to perform
feats which other druids handled with ease.
locht - flaw, limiting defect, slip-up (cf éalang, fabht).
lodairne - badly spun yarn, scraggy weaving (poorly composed
bríocht).
Lúachrán (also Lúachair) - pagan capital of
Munster, exact location unknown, somewhere in Co. Kerry or
s.w. Co. Limertick.
lúan láith - halo-like radiance around head of person in
ríastrad.
Lucetmail - v Lochrú.
Lugbrann - 6th century (i.e. christian times) druid.
Lughnasa - quarter day beginning sunset 31 July.
luibh (-eanna) - herb.
luibhlia - herbalist.
luis - the magical name of Rowan, the fiodh for letter L,
associated with, among other things, protection, investiture,
and rejuvination; most important tree of (human) druids; (the
American mountain-ash does not qualify as a true Rowan, which
must have a hairy bud-head).
lus (-anna) - herb.
lusca - man-made cave, crypt.
M
M ( ehm ) ............................................ v meol.
mac fuirmhidh - 2nd (from bottom up) rank poet.
macgnímrada - youthful deeds; a major type of seanchas.
machnamh - meditation, contemplation.
mael - term for possible druid tonsure, contended by some to
be shorn ear to ear with tuft in front.
Mag Sleacht - the centre of the Cromm Croich (qv) cult.
Maigh Tuireadh - 1) First Battle of, Co. Galway between
Tuatha Dé Danann and Firbolg; 2) Second Battle of, Co. Sligo
between TTD and Fomoire; (Tuatha Dé Danann victorious in both).
mála cruite - harp-bag, for a master harper (only), of 3
lawyers: otter-skin, white-speckled kid-goat-skin, (around only
the strings:) white linen.
mála éithigh - "bag of false witness", bag from which
lots are drawn.
mallacht (-aí) - curse.
mana - omen.
marana - contemplation (esp. verbal).
Marbán - a swineherd who rose to ardfhile of Ireland (qv fearr fear).
Marcaigh Móra Géala - "Great Bright Riders", Slua Sídhe.
meá - 1) mead; 2) balance-scales, weight, measure; 3)
fishing-ground; (to avoid confusion, v miodh).
meabhair - intellect(ual consciousness), rational sense,
memory, conscious awareness of ideas (cf aigne 7rl).
mealladh (mealtaí) - glamour, magically-induced illusion.
meanma - thought, attention, orientation of thought, morale (cf aigne).
méarnáil - phosphorescent light of (usually lesser)
Sídhe.
mearú - hallucination, bewilderment, insanity, insane craving.
méirín púca - foxglove (one of many names).
meol - spindle, fiodh for the letter M, associated with,
among other things, industry, ostentation.
meon - temperment, character, whims and fancies (cf aigne 7rl).
Mí - v Mídhe.
Mídhe - Meath.
Míl - first human inhabitants of Ireland (usually fir Mhíle).
millteoracht - magical attack.
miodh - mead (older form, v meá).
seinm - playing (music), proclamation.
mionaire - lit. fine(small) attention; perception inwhich
data are distinct, events staccato, time contracted (cf nascaire).
mionn (-a) - 1) regalia; 2) oath; 3) relic.
mionnfháinne - finger-ring as "badge of office", a king's
worn on the right thumb; a druid's on either middle-finger.
Mogh Ruith - "wild" one-eyed poet-druid (v draoi allta),
greatest druid after Amhairghin (qv), who with a few apprentices
battled the combined forces of the arch-druid and all the court
druids of Ireland and their Sídhe allies, and won.
móideacht - votive offering.
molaim thú - "I praise you" given to trees, leser Sídhe, 7rl
(i.e. not generally to average humans).
moltaí - praises.
mórchúis - false self-importance.
mothú - sentience, sensory awareness, self-awareness,
consciousness (cf aigne 7rl).
mothú amhra méadú meabhraithe - very roughly , "a
feeling for marvels is an expansion of awareness".
muir - v farraige 7rl.
Mumhan - Munster.
Mumu - v Mumahn.
N
N ( ehn ) ............................................ v nion.
namhaid (naimhde) - enemy
naofa - sacred (adj.).
naoi - nine, number of gestalten, inherent completion and return.
naomh - lit. "ninefold-one", sacred (person or thing).
naomhaidhe - ninefold of days, esp. the period afterwhich
danger has passed.
naonúr - a ninefold of persons.
Naoú Tonn, an - The Ninth Wave (of Eternal Return).
nasc - binding (one thing to another), link.
nascaire - lit. "link-attention"; state of perception inwhich
data are patterned, events flow, time expands (cf mionaire).
nath (-a) - cant-word, (as plural) skill in adages.
nathair (nathracha) - snake.
neach - being, person, irregardless of sex, used as "neach Sídhe".
néaladóireacht - 1) divination by clouds; 2) furtively spying.
néallta fola - "Clouds of Blood", invocation of slaughter.
neamh - v farraige 7rl.
neamhshaolta - "otherworldly", magically intrusive into the
mundane, used only as adjective/adverb, generally with or
without explicitly intending an Saol Eile.
neart - power, strength, both physically and magically.
Neart inár lámha, fírinne ar ár dteanga,
glaine inár gcroí. - "strength in our arms, truth
on our tongue, clarity in our heart", definition of fianna honour
(several minor variants exist).
Néide - youth who contested in iomarbhá to claim the
supremacy of poet-druids of Ulster (qv Immacallam).
neidín - "little nest", a power-spot of rest or general safety.
neimheadh - 1) outdoor sanctuary; 2) more loosely, any
person, thing inviolable as sacred.
Nemed - v Lebor Gabála.
ní hanasa - "Not difficult", a standard beginning to
answering a question requiring expert knowledge.
ní heisce gan ríga gúasacht báis - maxim
that a king (or any political leader) must always occupy the
position of greatest danger in any battle inwhich his people take
part.
níghe - washing, ritually done already regalia'd, not as
cleansing, but as "crossing" into ritual space (cf ling thar
tine cnámh).
nion - ash-tree, fiodh for the letter N, associated with,
among other things, battle, asceticism, prudence.
nuáil - (generally acceptable) innovation.
O
O ( oh ) ............................................. v omhna.
ócaire (-í) - lowest grade of freeman without major skills,
layman.
óenach - (esp. quarter year) assembly.
ogham - a Latin based rune-like alphabet of foreign origin.
Oíche Samhna - Samhain (qv) Night.
oidhe - doom, violent death (of an individual).
Oisín - poet, last of fianna.
ollamh - master, 7th rank (top) poet.
omhna - sessile-Oak (only), fiodh for the letter O,
associated with, among other things, law, duty, honesty.
ór - gold.
ortha (-í) - charm, physical not verbal, or cliché verbal.
orthrus (usual form of complete folog n-orthrusa) -
sick-maintenance, right of everyone to medical care (the longer
term refers more specifically to long-term care).
P
P ( pay ) ............................................ v páigh.
Pádraig - Welsh evangelist.
páigh - beech, fiodh for letter P, associated with, among
other things, potency, thanksgiving.
Partholón - v Lebor Gabála.
péist - 1) modern: worm, vermin; 2) ársa: monster, often but
not always in the form of an eel (not a snake).
píb uilleann - v bolg is buinní.
piseog - witch (in the general sense, but in tradition and association
suitable to include followers of Wicca). piseogacht - general
earth (not hermetic) pagan magic, witchcraft (cf
asarlaíocht). poc - 1) fairy stroke, sudden seizure,
faint; 2) sudden disquieting intuition (cf
síúlacht, túras); 3) buck (deer, goat.
7rl).
pocmhothú - sudden non-premeditated athmhothú (qv).
púca - neach Sídhe of wildwood (the horse-creature is likely
a Norse borrowing/extension).
R
R ( ehr ) ............................................ v ruis.
rá (ráite) - saying, utterance, adage.
rabhadh - forewarning (of battle, 7rl).
racht - paroxym.
ráithe (-í) - quarter-year.
rann - stanza, poem.
ráth - 1) earthen ring-fort; 2) surety.
rath - bounty, abundance, riches.
ré - moon (-cycle).
Réalta na bhFile - "Star of the Poets", the throne-room of
Teamhair (note, named after the poets who proclaimed there, and
not for the king).
réamhfhuireach - bríocht set beforehand which awaits
scorán to activate.
rí (-the) - king.
ríastrad - physical and mental distortion-transformation (not
shape-shifting) of esp. warrior similar to Norse berserkir.
rig - v rí.
ríoghain - queen.
ríon - v ríoghain.
róe - duel, single combat (usually used for armed combat, cf
iomarbhá).
rófhis - lit. "excessive/most knowledge" does not apply to
omniscience, but to "as much as you'd want or need", almost
always applied to Tuatha Dé Danann and not humans.
rosc (-anna) 1) eye; 2) a druid rhetoric, i.e. magical
incantation; not a set formula but an each use unique (or at
least slightly varied) extemporaneous utterance esp. incorporating
ilchiallú.
rudach - monotomy in a bríocht or filíocht (generally
unacceptable in bríocht but allowable in dícheatal di
cheannaibh, qv).
ruis - elder, fiodh for the letter R, associated with, among
other things, hosting, secret pathways, healing.
rún - secret (this word has a long ancestry and would appear
to be Indo-European and not a Norse borrowing).
rúraíocht - the Ulster cycle.
S
S ( ehs ) ............................................ v sail.
sáebmhillteacht - illusionary destruction.
sagart - (christian or non-druid) priest.
saigheán - sudden blast of wind or flash of light.
sail - willow, fiodh for the letter S, associated with, among
other things, separation, proxy.
saileach - common name for sail, willow (as a herb).
sainaicme - demonination, caste, sect.
samhail - 1) semblence, likeness, metaphor; 2) model; 3)
spectre (esp. mealladh).
Samhain (gen. Samhna) - year turning, extra night-and-day
beginning sunset 31 October (the setting of the actual date esp.
due to calendar change reflects that this is a psycho-ritual and
not an astronomical date.
samhlchaiteamh - image-wearing/throwing to solicit response.
saoi - sage (person).
saoithoúlacht - 1) wisdom, intellectual accomplishment; 2)
humour, mirth; 3) oddness.
saol - world, life, existance in time and space, state of
affairs, sphere of influence, totality of conditions, 7rl.
Saol Eile, an - the Otherworld (used loosely in modern Irish
to indicate death or Heaven/Hell).
saoltacht - reality, manner of the world.
sárlán - "exceeding full", gestalt.
sasanaigh - english (people, cf béarla).
sauntraí - harp strain to (magically) induce sleep.
scáil - shadow, reflection, darkness, gleam, brillance.
scál - 1) phantom; 2) hero, (cf scáil).
scalach - sudden violent gust of wind or chop of waves.
scáth - shadow, covering, protection, phanthom.
Scáthach - woman warrior-druid living in Albu.
sceach - common name of uath.
scéal (-ta) - story, not neccessarily seanchas.
sciath - shield.
sciotán - sudden drastic unexpected change.
scorán - "toggle/tally", trigger of a réamhfhuireach.
scrothaíocht - limits of ad lib improvisation within a
bríocht which cannot be exceeded.
seabhac - hawk.
seachrán - going astray, error, delusion, distraction.
seacht - seven, number of ordered hierachies.
séad - 1) journey, pathway; 2) gem, jewel, treasure.
seaghdhaí sheanfhocail - the excellence of ancient word.
séan (-a) - omen of good luck; 2) good luck charm; 3)
treasured person or thing.
sean-nós (-anna) - traditional custom, ancient way.
seanchaí - teller of seanchais.
seanchas (-ais) - ancient lore-tale (only a few of the most
important are listed by title in this foclóir).
seandálaíocht - archaeology.
seanfhocal - proverb.
seanghaeilge - Old Irish.
séansaí - double, sending, apparition of person physically
elsewhere.
serglige - wasting sickness caused by magic.
sí - v Sídhe.
Sí an Bhrú - v Brú na Bhóinne.
siabhradh - being (esp. minorly) effected by the Sídhe.
siabhrán - minor delusion or confusion caused by the Sídhe.
sián - cnoc Sídhe.
sian - whistle, indistinct scream or voice (esp. of the Sídhe).
Sídhe - 1) magical beings (general term as collective plural,
v neach); 2) "fairy-hill", place of permanent overlap of worlds.
síofa - (esp. minor) neach Sídhe.
síofróg - (esp. female minor) neach Sídhe.
síofrógacht - magical dealings with (usually the lesser)
Sídhe.
sióg - neach Sídhe.
síogaí - (esp. minor) neach Sídhe.
síon - (esp. sudden change to) stormy weather.
síor- - prefix: eternal.
Sithcheann - one of few smiths to also be a druid.
síúlacht - 1) feeling of being magically influenced, not
necessarily by bríocht; 2) spontaneously magic insight
(esp. given by procceeding (cf iomas, poc, túras); 3)
state of being fey.
sláinte - health, welfare.
slaitín - wand.
slán - health, wholeness, security.
slat - staff.
Sleá Bua - Spear of Victory.
slí - way, path in life, passage, journey, road, room to
proceed, correct course of action, means, method, manner,
appropriateness, direction, space allowed for, 7rl.
slógad - v slua.
Slua Sídhe - hosting (mobile assembly) of Sídhe.
smaoineamh - thought, consideration, thinking-about (cf aigne 7rl).
snag breac - magpie.
sochastacht - "happy intricacy', love of complexity as
symbolic of energy, the flux and flow of the worlds intertwined.
soeis - turn, transformation, winning.
soilsiú - illumination, brightening, enlightment (as in Zen 7rl).
soineann - calm fair weather.
soiscéal - gospel, gossip, sermon. propaganda.
somhoill - suspension of bríocht in stasis to adjust details
requiring gabhlairdeall.
sonraí - details.
spéir - v farraige 7rl.
sponc - coltsfoot (v adhann).
sruth bhua - current or flow of bua (v iúl).
T
T ( tay ) ............................................ v tinne.
tagairtí - references.
taibhreamh - dream (esp. clairoyant; cf ailsing).
taibhse - ghost.
Tailltiú - hill n.e. of Teamhair site of last decisive battle
between mortals and Tuatha Dé Danann.
táin (tána) - cattle raid; a major type of seanchas.
tairbhe - 1) benefit, profit, usefulness, concern; 2) place,
activity, or object that is condictive to gaining bua or
developing brí, may or may not be individually specific.
tairbhfeis - divination to choose new king.
taircheadal - (esp. verbal) prophesy
tairngire - 1) prophet (person); 2) promise (thing) 3)
precocious child.
tairngreacht - prophecy.
taise - 1) wraith, spirit-double; 2) relic; 3) ruins (esp. of
sacred place); 4) sudden swoon, faint.
taispeánadh - 1) apparition (person or thing); 2)
demonstration, revelation (esp. as a major iúl) cf
caoilíth.
talamh - v Farraige 7rl.
Tálcheann - "Adze-head", a druid epithet for Saint Patrick.
támas - indistinct trance vision.
támhnéal - trance in general.
taoiseach - 1) petty (cattle) lord, much lower than tiarna;
2) modern usage for the Prime Minister of Ireland.
tarbh - bull.
teachtaire - herald, messenger.
téagar - 1) substance, solidness, robustness, stoutness; 2)
shelter, warmth, comfort, beloved.
teagasc (-a) - 1) instruction; 2) doctrine, texts; 3) rote
bríocht [only last use is derogatory].
Teamhair (Teamhair Mhór, T. na Rí, T. Bhreac, 7r; gen.
Teamhrach) - "Tara", most important socio-political sacred site
of pagan Ireland under both mortals and the Tuatha Dé
Danann, n.e. of Dublin.
Teamhair Lúachra - v Lúachrán.
teanga - 1) tongue; 2) language.
teannáil - beacon fire.
teannfhocal - emphatic statement, assertion (esp. of disputed matter).
tearmann - 1) sanctuary; 2) protection (of one person over another).
teine - v tine.
teinm laída - divination by chewing on raw meat.
teir (-eanna) - bad omen.
Thríbhís Mhór, an - The Great Triscele (Sea,
Earth, and Sky), whose binding (which is indivisble and may never
be broken down to three separate parts) insures the integrity of
the cosmos; as an individual binding it ensures slán, and
as the penalty for breaking of a geis acts as a whole (the sea
rise to drown you, the earth open to swallow you, the sky fall to
crush you - v tríbhás).
Tí na n-óg - v Saol Eile.
tiarna (-í) - lord (esp. a major neach Sídhe; generally
inappropriate for a mortal, execpt perhaps Amhairghin).
timpán - v tiompan.
tine - fire (v ling thar tine cnámh).
tine chnámh - bonfire.
tinne - holly, fiodh for the letter T, associated with, among
other things, conjolery, trickery, brazenness.
tiompán - 1) modern term: drum; 2) ársa: stringed
instrument like lyre or harp; 3) tambourine.
tiontú - 1) turning (of tide, sid, 7rl); 2) annulment (of
law, 7rl); 3) (re-)conversion (in religion, politics, 7rl); 4)
translation (of words).
Tír Ildáthach - "Many-Coloured Land", an Saol Eile.
Tír na Marbh - Land of the Dead.
Tlachtga - hill n.w. of Teamhair, site of the bruane Samhna.
tobar - well (water).
toghairm (-í) - summoning invocation.
togharmach - conjurer, spiritist.
toil - will, consent, intent, mental preference (cf aigne 7rl).
toinéal - trance (esp. immobile without outside originating
visions).
toit - smoke.
toitriú - 1) fumigation; 2) using enpowered smoke-mixtures.
Tongu fona déibh (Tuingim fom dhéibh, Toingim dom
déibh, 7rl) - "I swear by (the/my) gods".
tonn - wave.
tonnchaint - communicating with (esp sea) waves (usually from shore).
torann - a sudden loud noise (such as thunder, 7rl).
torc - 1) neck ring open over throat (cf iodh); 2) wild boar.
toríocht - pursuit, hunt; a major type of senachas.
tórramh - 1) funeral wake; 2) harvest-home, crop-gathering.
trághadh - 1) ebb tide; 2) waning moon.
tré (-anna) - triad, three-fold (except of persons).
treá - trident, threefold bunchur.
tréadhacht - threefold sárlán.
tréadhanas - threefold of days.
tréan - "thrice richness", 1) champion(ship); 2) strength,
intensity; 3) ability; 4) plenty, abundance.
trí - three, number of binding.
tríbhás - triple death, death by three simultaneous means.
tríbhís - triscele.
tríchos - triscele.
tríchur - "three times (by three times)".
trífháth - three causes why something happens (v
tríbhás), or
reasons to do something.
triúr - threefold of persons.
Troid ar an bhFarraige, an - The Battle Against The Sea,
symbolic that magnificent failure is perferable to prosaic
success, and that the means take priority over the end.
trom - common name of ruis.
troscadh - fasting, not as austerity but as protest.
trú - person fated to die soon.
tuar (-tha) - omen, good or bad.
tuath - 1) tribe; 2) countryside.
Tuatha Dé Danann - the "gods" (actually elder magical race)
of Ireland; the name probably does NOT refer to Danu but to
dán.
tuathal - 1) pagan (the native Irish term, several other
Latin loan words are in modern usage); 2) counter-clockwise, to
bind, return to sourse, secure, close, invoke inward (cf deiseal);
modernly under christianity the word means "wrong way".
túis - incense.
túras (-a) - precognitive or clairoyant intuition (cf poc,
síúlacht, iomas).
turas - pilgramage.
U
U ( oo ) ............................................. v úll.
uacht - v audacht.
uaimh - cave, crypt.
Uaithne - Harp of the Dagda (v cruit).
uarán - spring (water).
uasal - noble (person of either gender).
uath - 1) hawthorn, fiodh for the letter H, associated with,
among other things, trial, quest; 2) as prefex: spontaneous.
uathrosc - spontaneous rosc.
údarás - (esp. self-assumed or unoffically acknowledged,
but valid) authority.
Uisneach - hill s.w. of Teamhair, ceremonial meeting of the
five provinces.
Uladh - Ulster.
úll - apple, fiodh for the letter U, associated with, among
other things, happiness, love.
upa - folk-charm (physical object).
upthaireacht - folk magic.
upthóg - folk magic practicitioner.
urchar (-air) - "fairy dart", a sudden physical pain or
disfunction sent by the Sídhe.
urnaidhm - 1) harp string-pin; 2) pledge.
Copyright © 1993 John Kellnhauser/Cainteanna na Luise. May be reposted as long as the above attribution and copyright notice are retained.
