When you hear 'spalpeen' are you hearing English or Gaelic?

'Spalpeen' is a word borrowed from Gaelic 'spailpín'. The word entered the English language some time around 1767.

spalpeen [noun] [1767]

Rascal
Meaning: rascal.

Etymology: Irish spailpin seasonal laborer; rascal.

Topics: Society:Culture.

Origin: From Gaelic to English.

note: Originates from the Irish word spailpín which means wandering landless laborer. This term referred to itinerant or seasonal farmworkers in Ireland particularly during the 17th to early 20th centuries. The word spailp itself translates to 'turn spell or bout' suggesting the temporary nature of their work.

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Did you know that 'sugan' is actually Gaelic?

'Sugan' is a word borrowed from Gaelic 'súgán'.

sugan

(details not available)

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note: The sugawn chair gets its name from the Irish word súgán which refers to a rope particularly a rope made of straw. Its etymology traces back to the Proto-Celtic souggo ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root sew- meaning to bend to cut or to drive.
Etymology: -

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The word 'smithereens' is a loan word from Gaelic 'smidirín'

'Smithereens' is a word borrowed from Gaelic 'smidirín'. The word entered the English language some time around 1829.

smithereens [noun plural] [1829]

• fragments

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Etymology: Perhaps from Irish 'smidiríní'

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Is 'cant' English, or is it actually Gaelic?

'Cant' is a word borrowed from Gaelic 'caint'. The word entered the English language some time around the 14th century.

cant [adjective] [14th century]

• lively

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note: From the Irish word caint (older spelling cainnt) speech; talk or Scottish Gaelic cainnt. It is seen to have derived amongst the itinerant groups of people in Ireland and Scotland who hailed from both Irish/Scottish Gaelic and English-speaking backgrounds ultimately developing as various creole languages.
Etymology: Middle English, probably from Middle Low German '*kant'

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Did you know that 'slogan' is actually Gaelic?

'Slogan' is a word borrowed from Gaelic 'sluagh-ghairm'. The word entered the English language some time around 1513.

slogan [noun] [1513]

• a war cry especially of a Scottish clan
• a word or phrase used to express a characteristic position or stand or a goal to be achieved
• a brief attention-getting phrase used in advertising or promotion

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Etymology: Alteration of earlier 'slogorn' from Scottish Gaelic 'sluagh-ghairm' from 'sluagh' army, host + 'gairm' cry

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The Gaelic origins of the word 'blarney'

'Blarney' is a word borrowed from Gaelic 'blarney'. The word entered the English language some time around 1784.

blarney [noun] [1784]

• skillful flattery
• blandishment
• nonsense

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Etymology: a stone in Blarney Castle, near Cork, Ireland, held to bestow skill in flattery on those who kiss it

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The word 'galore' originally came from Gaelic as 'go leor'

'Galore' is a word borrowed from Gaelic 'go leor'. The word entered the English language some time around 1628.

galore [adjective] [1628]

• abundant
• used postpositively

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Etymology: Irish 'go leor' enough

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The word 'esker' is a loan word from Gaelic 'eiscir'

'Esker' is a word borrowed from Gaelic 'eiscir'. The word entered the English language some time around 1848.

esker [noun] [1848]

A long narrow ridge or mound of sand, gravel, and boulders deposited by a stream flowing on, within, or beneath a stagn...

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Etymology: Irish 'eiscir' ridge

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The word 'keen' originally came from Gaelic as 'caoinim'

'Keen' is a word borrowed from Gaelic 'caoinim'. The word entered the English language some time around 1845.

keen [verb] [1845]

• to make a loud and long cry of sorrow
• to lament with a keen
• to make a sound suggestive of a loud cry of sorrow
• to lament, mourn, or complain loudly
• to utter with a loud wailing voice or wordless cry

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Etymology: Irish 'caoinim' I lament, weep

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Did you know that 'Shillelagh' is actually Gaelic?

'Shillelagh' is a word borrowed from Gaelic 'sail éille'. The word entered the English language some time around 1772.

Shillelagh [noun] [1772]

Cudgel

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note: A thick stick of blackthorn or oak typically used as a weapon.
Etymology: town in Ireland

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Is 'glen' English, or is it actually Gaelic?

'Glen' is a word borrowed from Gaelic 'glen'. The word entered the English language some time around the 15th century.

glen [noun] [15th century]

A secluded narrow valley

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Etymology: Middle English (Scots), valley, from Scottish Gaelic & Irish 'gleann' from Old Irish 'glenn'

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Did you know that 'whiskey' is actually Gaelic?

'Whiskey' is a word borrowed from Gaelic 'uisce beatha'. The word entered the English language some time around 1715.

whiskey [noun] [1715]

• a liquor distilled from fermented wort (as that obtained from rye, corn, or barley mash)
• a drink of whiskey

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Etymology: Irish 'uisce beatha' & Scottish Gaelic 'uisge beatha' literally, water of life

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When you hear 'claymore' are you hearing English or Gaelic?

'Claymore' is a word borrowed from Gaelic 'claidheamh mór'. The word entered the English language some time around 1527.

claymore [noun] [1527]

• a large 2-edged sword formerly used by Scottish Highlanders
• their basket-hilted broadsword

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Etymology: Scottish Gaelic 'claidheamh mór' literally, great sword

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Is 'Limerick' English, or is it actually Gaelic?

'Limerick' is a word borrowed from Gaelic 'Luimnigh'. The word entered the English language some time around 1896.

Limerick [noun] [1896]

A light or humorous verse form of five chiefly anapestic verses of which lines 1, 2, and 5 are of three feet and lines ...

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Etymology: Ireland

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How the Gaelic language influenced English with the word 'Ceilidh'

'Ceilidh' is a word borrowed from Gaelic 'céile'. The word entered the English language some time around 1875.

Ceilidh [noun] [1875]

A party with music, dancing, and often storytelling

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Etymology: Irish 'céilí' & Scottish Gaelic 'cèilidh' visit, social evening, party with music and dancing, from Old Irish 'céilide' visit, from 'céile' servant, companion, neighbor; akin to Welsh 'cilydd' companion, Old Breton 'kiled'

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How the Gaelic language influenced English with the word 'banshee'

'Banshee' is a word borrowed from Gaelic 'bean sídhe'. The word entered the English language some time around 1771.

banshee [noun] [1771]

A female spirit in Gaelic folklore whose appearance or wailing warns a family that one of them will soon die

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Etymology: Irish 'bean sídhe' & Scottish Gaelic 'bean sìth' literally, woman of fairyland

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When you say 'bard' are you speaking Gaelic?

'Bard' is a word borrowed from Gaelic 'bard'. The word entered the English language some time around the 15th century.

bard [noun] [15th century]

• a tribal poet-singer skilled in composing and reciting verses on heroes and their deeds
• a composer, singer, or declaimer of epic or heroic verse
• poet

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Etymology: Middle English, from Scottish Gaelic & Irish

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