Foclóir Draíochta — Dictionary of Druidism
by Seán Ó Tuathail
Copyright © 1993 John Kellnhauser/Cainteanna na Luise
May be reposted as long as the above attribution and copyright notice are retained
Plurals follow nouns in ()s
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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, tagedy.
- 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.
- deochnaireacht — 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.f
- idcheall — 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 thecorrect 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.soi 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.s
- éad — 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.