{"id":8444,"date":"2016-09-23T14:37:26","date_gmt":"2016-09-23T14:37:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/?p=8444"},"modified":"2016-10-03T18:49:40","modified_gmt":"2016-10-03T18:49:40","slug":"if-dandelion-comes-from-dent-de-lion-where-does-the-irish-name-caisearbhan-come-from-ainmneacha-plandai-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/if-dandelion-comes-from-dent-de-lion-where-does-the-irish-name-caisearbhan-come-from-ainmneacha-plandai-2\/","title":{"rendered":"If ‘Dandelion’ Comes from “Dent de Lion,” Where does the Irish name ‘Caisearbh\u00e1n’ come from?\u00a0 [Ainmneacha Planda\u00ed 2]"},"content":{"rendered":"

(le R\u00f3isl\u00edn)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Dr\u00facht\u00edn<\/a>

Dr\u00facht\u00edn ag ithe duilleog caisearbh\u00e1in. An s\u00edleann dr\u00facht\u00edn\u00ed go bhfuil blas searbh ar an gcaisearbh\u00e1n? N\u00f3 an cuma leo faoin mblas? Is d\u00f3cha nach bhfuil fadhb ar bith ag na dr\u00facht\u00edn\u00ed maidir le hair\u00edonna fualbhrostacha dhuilleoga an phlanda seo. N\u00ed bh\u00edonn leapacha ag dr\u00facht\u00edn\u00ed agus n\u00ed d\u00f3igh liom go mb\u00edonn m\u00fan (fual; <\/em>“urine”) acu. Fi\u00fa d\u00e1 mbeadh leapacha acu, n\u00ed d\u00f3igh liom go nd\u00e9anfadh s\u00e9 difear d\u00f3ibh an mbeadh an leaba fliuch n\u00f3 tirim mar b\u00edonn slam <\/em>(“slime”) f\u00fathu an chuid is m\u00f3 den am (an t-am ar fad, a mhoilisceolaithe?), p\u00e9 sc\u00e9al \u00e9. Mar sin is cuma leo an planda “pissabed” n\u00f3 planda le blas searbh \u00e9 an caisearbh\u00e1n. N\u00ed hionann an c\u00e1s linne (muidne, na daoine)! (grafaic: <\/em>www.public-domain-image.com\/animals\/snail-slug\/slides\/slug-eating-the-leaf-from-dandelion.html by Petr Kratochvil)<\/p><\/div>\n

Since we’ve recently been looking at luibhainmneacha<\/strong> (plant names) in Irish, I thought this would be a good time to revisit the dandelion, one of the mostly widely visible and easily recognizable plants of all, even for a “neamhluibheola<\/strong>\u00ed” like myself.\u00a0 You might remember c\u00fapla iarbhlagmh\u00edr<\/strong> on this topic (naisc th\u00edos<\/strong>), but here’s a quick review:<\/p>\n

caisearbh\u00e1n<\/strong>, dandelion, lit. bitter-footed or bitter-stemmed one<\/p>\n

The key root word here (hmmm, could I say “taproot word”?) is “searbh<\/strong>” (bitter), typically used to describe apples (\u00fall searbh<\/strong>), ale (leann searbh<\/strong>), and, more abstractly, people, laughter and the truth (duine searbh, g\u00e1ire searbh, f\u00edrinne shearbh<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

The “-\u00e1n<\/strong>” suffix is used very frequently in Irish, often to indicate a more material, physical or concrete adaptation of an abstract idea (“searbh\u00e1n<\/strong>” is a bitter thing, a physical manifestation of “seirbhe<\/strong>,” bitterness)<\/p>\n

The “cai-<\/strong>” part is interpreted either as “cos<\/strong>” (foot) or “gas<\/strong>” (stem).\u00a0 Sure, the spelling has changed some, but the “-i-” was probably added for vowel harmony and the “-s” just assimilated to the “s-” of “searbh\u00e1n<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n

“Caisearbh\u00e1n<\/strong>” and “searbh\u00e1n<\/strong>” itself can also be used to mean “a bitter person.”<\/p>\n

Before we leave dandelions as such, let me just mention that there are at least four other terms for them in Irish, which were dealt with in the previous blogs on the topic (same naisc<\/strong> as were already indicated thuas<\/strong>, which are actually listed th\u00edos<\/strong>), and there are many English folk names for the plant as well, including the blunt-as-they-can be “pissabeds” or “pissybeds,” for reasons best left to your common sense.\u00a0 Bhuel<\/strong>, OK, the key Irish word, in case it didn’t come up in your Irish 101 or Bunt\u00fas Cainte<\/em> convos (delightful as they are), is fualbhrostach<\/strong> (diuretic).<\/p>\n

Now, moving on with the word “searbh<\/strong>” itself, we see it in a variety of phrases.\u00a0 The most general usage I can find is “blas searbh<\/strong>” (a bitter taste) and there are also various plant names using “searbh<\/strong>.”\u00a0 There are at least four (count ’em!) types of bitter-cress, plants that all seem to be in the Cardamine<\/em> family (so next quest, what does “Cardamine” literally mean?).\u00a0 The general term for “bitter-cress” is “searbh-bhiolar<\/strong>” [SHAR-uv-VIL-ur] and the four specific types are:<\/p>\n

1)) searbh-bhiolar giobach<\/strong>, hairy bitter-cress (I usually think of “giobach<\/strong>” as “ragged,” but close enough!)<\/p>\n

2) searbh-bhiolar caol<\/strong>, narrow-leaved bitter-cress (there’s those duilleoga<\/strong> again, with no mention of “duilleach<\/strong>” in the Irish term!)<\/p>\n

3) searbh-bhiolar casta<\/strong>, wavy bitter-cress (“casta<\/strong>” often also means twisted or complicated)<\/p>\n

and a type of bitter-cress not literally called “searbh-bhiolar<\/strong>,” namely<\/p>\n

4) seil\u00edn cuaiche<\/strong>, large bitter-cress, lit. little spittle of a cuckoo, presumably meaning “little droplet of cuckoo spittle.”\u00a0 This plant name is similar in structure to the term “seile cuaiche<\/strong>,” cuckoo spit (regular-sized amount, I suppose), which is an insect in the “froghopper” family (Cercopidae)!\u00a0 Irish never fails to amaze me with terms like this.\u00a0 “Little spittle” vs. regular-sized spittle makes a world of difference, including actual r\u00edocht<\/strong> (kingdom), as in Animalia vs. Plantae. And how did it end up that the diminutive spittle is used for the “large” bitter-cress. \u00a0Why isn’t that one simply “searbh-bhiolar<\/strong>” with “m\u00f3r<\/strong>” to modify it?\u00a0 Diabhal a fhios ag \u00e9inne, is d\u00f3cha<\/strong>!\u00a0 Unless one of you has some inside information on the little spit\/big plant issue.<\/p>\n

Of course, “seil\u00edn cuaiche<\/strong>” could simply refer to a diminutive form of the insect “seile cuaiche<\/strong>.” \u00a0If this were the case, then the plant name would essentially mean “little froghopper.” but somehow that seems unlikely.\u00a0 Unless there’s some camouflage (duaithn\u00edocht<\/strong>) going on. Hmm!<\/p>\n

As for “biolar<\/strong>” in general, it’s an interesting word in its own right, meaning ‘cress” or “watercress” OR “garden cress”!\u00a0 And there are many types, with “biolar gr\u00e1 dearg<\/strong>” looking particularly intriguing.\u00a0 But dealing with all these cresses would be too much for one blogpost, leading us up an, errmm, garden path of terminology and, deep into the realm of, if you remember from the last blogpost, one of my new favorite coined words, “luibheola\u00edochtheangeola\u00edocht<\/strong>” [say: LIV-OHL-ee-ukh-HANG-OHL-ee-ukht]\u00a0 Hopefully you’re not too, umph, “cress-fallen” about that, but to paraphrase Scarlett O’Hara, “Tomorrow (or ar\u00fa am\u00e1rach<\/strong>) is another day.”<\/p>\n

So from dandelions, known for being “searbh<\/strong>” to bitter-cress, also “searbh<\/strong>, except when it’s spittlish, I hope you found this as interesting a round-up of plant names as I did.\u00a0 And remember, the specific terms like plant names often contain words that are more generally useful in everyday conversation.\u00a0 Today we had: cos, gas, searbh, caol, casta<\/strong>, and hey, why not, seile<\/strong> and seil\u00edn<\/strong>. Those two might be useful for translating some choice lines from Melville, Aeschylus, or more recently, Victor Kennedy in the “Love & Monsters” episode of Doctor Who<\/em>.\u00a0 And boy do I see another blogpost coming — famous “spit” quotes in life, literature and philosophy, translated into Irish!<\/p>\n

And of course there’s “cuach<\/strong>” (a cuckoo), and its tuiseal ginideach “cuaiche.”\u00a0 SGF — R\u00f3isl\u00edn\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

BTW, in case the “taproot” comment intrigued you, the Irish for “taproot” is “socfhr\u00e9amh<\/strong>” [sok-rayv, with the fh silent, as is usual in Irish, and the -mh pronounced like a v].\u00a0 “Fr\u00e9amh<\/strong>” is “root” and “soc<\/strong>” means many things, including a nozzle, a muzzle, a snout, the sock of a plough, and the tip of a tornado or of one’s nose.\u00a0 Speaking of muzzles, we also had quite a discussion of those many blogposts ago (nasc th\u00edos<\/strong>), with some interesting comments from one of our readers, screen-named “Mise\u00c1ine” — an bhfuil t\u00fa amuigh ansin f\u00f3s, a \u00c1ine<\/strong>?\u00a0 Some l\u00e9itheoir\u00ed<\/strong> out there might find a different type of “tap” to be more refreshing, the kind we might find on a “ceaig<\/strong>.”\u00a0 That would be a “sconna<\/strong>,” which also means “faucet,” or a “buacaire<\/strong>,” which also also means “faucet.”\u00a0 Hmm, never really thought I could legitimately use “also also” in that way, but it seems to work here. \u00a0In Irish that would be “freisin freisin.<\/strong>” \u00a0Would that be considered “re-freisin<\/strong>“?\u00a0 As refreshing (frise\u00e1ilte<\/strong>) as the leacht<\/strong> that’s “sa cheaig<\/strong>,” most likely “beoir<\/strong>,” but possibly “ceirtlis<\/strong>” or “leann dubh<\/strong>“?<\/p>\n

To return full circle to the “searbh<\/strong>” theme above, “soc searbh<\/strong>” means “sourpuss” in Irish!<\/p>\n

One thing “soc<\/strong>” doesn’t mean, fad m’eolais<\/strong>, is a sock that we wear on our feet.\u00a0 That would be “stoca<\/strong>,” plural “stoca\u00ed<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n

BTW2, there are several ways to say “crestfallen,” the real crestfallen that is, with your crest having fallen, including “d\u00edomach<\/strong>” (disappointed, let down) and “tromchro\u00edoch<\/strong>” (heavy-hearted).\u00a0 I suppose though, if there was a major drought, and plants were withering and drooping, the leaves of your “biolar<\/strong>” could be considered “cress-fallen.” On which note, I should probably quit while I’m marginally ahead.\u00a0 No use beating a drochimeartas focal marbh<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

Naisc: <\/strong><\/p>\n

maidir le caisearbh\u00e1in<\/strong>: Bl\u00e1th Bu\u00ed Eile \u2014 An Caisearbh\u00e1n (\u2018Dandelion\u2019 in Irish)<\/a> Posted by\u00a0r\u00f3isl\u00edn<\/a>\u00a0on May 24, 2016 in\u00a0Irish Language<\/a><\/p>\n

An Caisearbh\u00e1n (The Dandelion), Cuid 2: Other Names for \u2018Dandelion\u2019 in Irish<\/a> Posted by\u00a0r\u00f3isl\u00edn<\/a>\u00a0on May 27, 2016 in\u00a0Irish Language<\/a><\/p>\n

maidir le luibheola\u00edochtheangeola\u00edocht (focal nuachumtha):<\/strong> R\u00f3s agus c\u00fapla ainm eile air (a \u2018rose\u2019 and a couple of other names for it) [Ainmneacha Planda\u00ed i nGaeilge: 1]<\/a> Posted by\u00a0r\u00f3isl\u00edn<\/a>\u00a0on Sep 20, 2016 in\u00a0Irish Language<\/a><\/p>\n

maidir le soic (sa n\u00f3ta tr\u00e1chta): <\/strong>Cl\u00e1sail Choibhneasta Neamhdh\u00edreacha Redux: An Briathar \u201cd\u00e9an\u201d (and about 8 more briathra neamhrialta to go)<\/a> Posted by\u00a0r\u00f3isl\u00edn<\/a>\u00a0on Feb 26, 2010 in\u00a0Irish Language<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

(le R\u00f3isl\u00edn) Since we’ve recently been looking at luibhainmneacha (plant names) in Irish, I thought this would be a good time to revisit the dandelion, one of the mostly widely visible and easily recognizable plants of all, even for a “neamhluibheola\u00ed” like myself.\u00a0 You might remember c\u00fapla iarbhlagmh\u00edr on this topic (naisc th\u00edos), but here’s…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":8445,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3898],"tags":[4020,460906,460905,460353,460903,460908,16889,460354,287,460901,460904,5667,5948,460910,274839,193008,460396,460360,460907,460909,460902],"class_list":["post-8444","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-irish-language","tag-ainm","tag-biolar","tag-bitter-cress","tag-caisearbhan","tag-cress","tag-cuckoo","tag-dandelion","tag-dent-de-lion","tag-french","tag-froghopper","tag-garden-cress","tag-irish","tag-luibh","tag-luibhainm","tag-name","tag-planda","tag-searbh","tag-searbhan","tag-shearbh-bhiolar","tag-spit","tag-watercress"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8444","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/36"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8444"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8444\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8451,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8444\/revisions\/8451"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8445"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8444"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8444"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}