diamant

Seems like this would be an interesting time to discuss geamchlocha, given the Iubhaile and all that.  So let’s start with the diamond, which is “an diamant” in Irish, a fairly clear-cut cognate to the English, and for that matter, to the Latin “adamas,” which can also mean “adamant,” originally a noun meaning an impenetrably hard substance, possibly diamond.   An older form of the word “diamant” in Irish was spelled “adamant,” closer both to the Latin and to the Middle English “adamaunt.”

“Diamant” is also a straightforward first-declension noun, masculine, of course (“m1” – all first-declension nouns are masculine).  Here are the forms and some samples:

an diamant, the diamond, as in various place names in Armagh (a “crosbhóthar“), in Monaghan (a “sráid“), and in Tír Eoghain (a “gráig“).  Cinn ar bith eile?

diamaint, of diamond, as in “cumasc diamaint” (diamond compound)

an diamaint, of the diamond, as in “Sútra an Diamaint,” a 9th-century Buddhist text, which is actually discussed in Irish at http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gaeilge/siamsa/greann/sutra.html

diamaint, diamonds, as in, if I may be so bold, “Luíseach sa Spéir le Diamaint” (amhrán de chuid na mBeatles).  Another popular cultural reference would be, “Diamaint ar Bhoinn a Bróg,” dá mbeadh Gaeilge ag Paul Simon.

na diamaint, the diamonds, as in “Cén luach atá ar na diamaint?” (What price is on the diamonds?)

na ndiamant, of the diamonds, as in the place name “Teach Ghleann na nDiamant” (Valley of Diamonds House, a place name in Co. Sligo, lit. the house of the valley of the diamonds)

If you’re a card player, though, be advised the word for “diamond” in cards is completely different.  It’s “muileata” (pl: muileataí), as in “an deich muileata” (the ten of diamonds).   This usage also occurs for the “diamond crossing” in a road, which is called “crosaire muileata” and a diamond-shaped design, which is a “gréas muileata.”

Ceist an Lae: Cad é an stát i Meiriceá a dtugtar “Stát an Diamaint” air (i mBéarla, an chuid is mó den am, ar ndóigh)?  Freagra thíos. 

More geamchlocha and clocha breithe coming up.  SGF, Róislín

Freagra: Cén stát?  Delaware (“The Diamond State”).  Cén fáth?  Mar dúirt Thomas Jefferson gur “jewel among states” é Delaware, mar gheall a shuíomh straitéiseach (agus a bheagmhéid).

Ar ndóigh, tá leasainmneacha eile ar Delaware chomh maith: “An Chéad Stát,” “Stát na gCearc Gorm”  (dáiríre, scéal do bhlag eile?), agus an leasainm is nuaí,”Iontas Beag.”