Page:Alexander Macbain - An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language.djvu/259

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OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE.
191
helvus, light bay, Eng. yellow, Lit żélti, grow green, Ch. Sl. zelenŭ, green. Hence gealach, the moon, so Ir.; gealan, a linnet.

gealbhan, a fire, little fire: *gelvo-, I. E. ghel, glow; Eng. glow, gleam; Gr. χλίω, be warm. See geal.

gealbhonn, a aparrow, so Ir., M. Ir. gelbund, W. golfan, Cor., Br. golvan; from geal, white. Cf. Gr. χελιδών, swallow, Norse gal (do.).

geall, a pledge, Ir. geall, O. Ir. gell, pignus: *gis-lo-, root, gis, geis, of giall, hostage, q.v. Stokes derives it thus: *geldo-s, *geldo-n, now *gelno-n, gislo-n-, Got. gild, tribute, Ger. geld, money, Eng. yield, guild; Gr. ὀφέλλω, owe, τέλθος (Hes.), debt.

geall, desire, longing, Ir. geall: in the G. phrase, an geall air, Keating's i ngeall, in need of; from geall; from geall above.

gealtach, cowardly, Ir. gealtach, fearful; see geilt.

geamhradh, winter, Ir. geimhreadh, E. Ir. gemred, O. Ir. gaimred, O. W. gaem, W. gauaf, Cor. goyf, Br. goam, M. Br. gouaff: *gimo- (for Gadelic), *gaiamo-, *gaimo- (for Brittonic, Stokes); I. E. ghim, gheim, ghiem; Skr. himá, cold, Zend zima, winter; Ch. Sl. zima; Gr. χειμών; Lat. hiems. The O. Ir. gam, for gem, has its vowel influenced by the analogy of samh of samhradh (Thur.). Thur. now suggests Celt. *giamo; cf. Gaul. Giamillus.

geamhta, geamhd, anything short and thick, Ir. geamhdóg, a little cake of bread (O'R.); for root, cf. geimheal. Cf. Ir. giobhta, giota, a piece.

geamnaidh, chaste, Ir. geanmnuidh, E. Ir. genmnaid, O. Ir. genas, casitas; from the root gen, birth, Eng. genteel, gentle. See gin.

gean, mood, humour, good humour, Ir. gean, favour, approval, affection; cf. Lat. genius, ingenium, root gen, Eng. kin, kind. E. Ir. gen, laugh, may be compared to Gr. γάνος, joy (Bez.); Stokes suggests *gesno-, Skr. has, laugh.

geangach, crooked, thick and short; see gingein.

geanm-chnò, chestnut, Ir. geanmchnù: "chastity tree"; a mistaken translation of Lat. castanea, chestnut, as if from castus, chaste.

geannair, a hammer, wedge, Ir. geannaire; see geinne.

gearan, a complaint, Ir. gearán, M. Ir. gerán, root ger, cry; O. H. G., quëran, sigh, chara, weep, Ag. S. cearu, sorrow, Eng. care; further allied is root gar, sound, as in goir. Cf. W. gerain, cry, squeak, and Gr. δúρομαι, lament.

gearasdan, a garrison, Ir. gairision; from the Eng.

geàrnal, girnell; see gàirneal.