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Ceathairchosaigh Chrúbacha (Say WHAT Kind of Quadrupeds?) Posted by róislín on Sep 9, 2012
(le Róislín) “Crúbach” is a readily recognized word if you know “crúb” (hoof). It can mean “hoofed,” of course, but, in more technical jargon, it also means “ungulate.” Anyone recognize the Irish word related to “ungulate”? Try “ionga,” or, as you might know it, in the plural, “ingne,” seen in the well-known curse, “Tochas agus…
An tAsal ag Béiceach (nó ag Grágaíl … nó ag Búireach) Posted by róislín on Sep 6, 2012
(le Róislín) Following up on the most recent blog, about hinnies hinnying or whinnying or neighing (aka ráinigh ag seitreach), I’ve looked a little further into equine noises. “Béiceach” and “grágaíl” were mentioned last time, and here’s one more: “búireach.” All of these words have additional meanings as well, so they are not so specifically…
An Ráineach ag Seitreach (The Hinny Hinnying) Posted by róislín on Sep 3, 2012
(le Róislín) We’ve had quite a run of exploring vocabulary related to horses in recent blogs, but, believe me, the topic is far from exhausted. So today’s take is about “ráinigh” and the sound they make (seitreach). And while “Tá an ráineach ag seitreach” does have an intriguing ring to it, I have to admit…
Maidir le hAsail (agus Láracha agus Miúileanna) agus Díochlaontaí Posted by róislín on Aug 31, 2012
(le Róislín) Before we proceed further with such topics as tearmainn asal and seitreach (an fhuaim a dhéanann capaill), let’s take a look at a few more basic vocabulary words for ceathairchosaigh eachaí. And, to really revisit an ábhar from the past, let’s pick one from each declension. Remember the díochlaontaí (categories of nouns), from 1st to 5th? Our equine terms just happen to fill…
Cialla an Fhocail “Log” (hollow, place, hollow place, etc.) Posted by róislín on Aug 28, 2012
(le Róislín) In the last blog, we looked at terms for various types of horses (stail, láir, bromach, cliobóg, searrach, srl.) and at different ways to describe them, including the Irish for “sway-backed horse” (capall a bhfuil log sa droim aige / aici). The word “log” in that phrase actually has many other interesting applications…
Ón Searrach go dtí an Staigín — and my last excuse for “Slán Go Foal” Posted by róislín on Aug 25, 2012
(le Róislín) As promised in the last posting, this blog will discuss the terms for the life cycle and various types of horse. Most prominent, of course, is “capall,” but, as previous blaganna have hinted, there are téarmaí go leor to use according to comhthéacs (liteartha, srl.), aois and gnéas of the horse, and geographic…
When Is Something “Horse” Not Something “Horse” (Téarmaí mar “Raidis Fhiáin,” srl.) Posted by róislín on Aug 22, 2012
(le Róislín) In the last blog, discussing the “Horse Latitudes” (Criosanna na gCalm), we also briefly addressed the “horselessness” of the Irish term “raidis fhiáin” (horse-radish) and the inclusion of the word “horse” in the term “cnónna capaill” (horse-chestnuts). Neither the radishes nor the chestnuts really involve actual horses, even though “cnónna capaill” refers to…