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ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
balgair, a fox:
balgum, mouthful, M.G. bolgama (pl.), Ir. blogam; from balg. Cf. O. Ir. bolc uisce, a bubble.
ball, a member, Ir., O. Ir. ball; Gr. φαλλός; Eng. phallus; root bhel, swell.
ball, a spot, Ir., M. Ir. ball, white-spotted on forehead (of a horse), Br. bal (do.). The Gaelic suggests a stem bal-no-, Celtic root bal, white, Gr. φαλός, shining, φάλαρος (phalāros), white-spotted (of animals); I. E. bhēl: bhale, shine; whence Eng. bale-fire. Stokes says the Irish ball seems allied to the Romance balla, a ball, Eng. bale and ball(?). Hence ballach, spotted. W. bal, spotted on forehead.
ball, a ball; from Eng.
balla, wall, Ir. balla (Four Masters), fala (Munster); from M.Eng. bailly, an outer castle wall, now in Old Bailey, from Med. Lat. ballium.
ballaire, a cormorant; from ball, spot.
ballan, a vessel, tub, Ir. ballán, E. Ir. ballan. Stokes cfs. Norse bolli, bowl, Eng. bowl, and says that the Gaelic is probably borrowed.
ballart, boasting, clamour; probably from Norse ballra, strepere, baldrast, make a clatter (Eng. balderdash), Ger. poltern.
balt, a welt: see bolt.
bàn, white, Ir., O. Ir. bán; I. E. root bhā, shine; Gr. φανός (α long), bright; Skr. bhânù, light; further away is Eng. bale (bale-fire).
ban-, bana-, she-, female-; see bean.
banabachadh, worse for wear (M'D):
banachag, dairymaid:
banachdach, vaccination:
banair, sheep fold; see rather mainnir.
banais, a wedding, wedding feast, Ir. bainfheis, wedding feast, M. Ir. banais, g. baindse; from ban+féisd?
banarach, dairymaidl from ban- and àireach.
†banbh, a pig, Ir. banbh, E. Ir. banb, W. banw, Br. banv, bano, *banvo-s. The word appears as Banba, a name for Ireland, and, in Scotland, as Banff. M'L. and D. gives the further meaning of "land unploughed for a year".
banc, a bank; from the Eng.
bànchuir, squeamishness at sea (H.S.D., which derives it from bàn and cuir).
bangadh, a binding, promise (Sh., H.S.D.), Ir. bangadh. H.S.D. suggests Lat. pango, whence it may have come.
bangaid, a banquet, christening feast; from Eng. banquet.
