Page:Alexander Macbain - An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language.djvu/293

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OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE.
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leac, a flag, flag-stone, so Ir., E. Ir. lecc, W. llech: *liccâ, *ḷp-kâ, root lep, a shale; Gr. λέπας, bare rock; Lat. lapis, stone. Stokes and Strachan refer it to the root pḷk, flat, Lat. planca, Eng. plank, Gr. πλάξ, plain.

leac, a cheek, leacainnn, a hill side, Ir. leaca, cheek, g. leacan, E. Ir. lecco, g. leccan: *lekkôn-; O.Pruss. laygnan, Ch. Sl. lice, vultus. Root liq, liꬶ, appearance, like, Gr. -λίκος, Eng. like, lyke-wake, Ger. leichnam, body.

leadair, mangle, so Ir., E. Ir. letraim, inf. letrad, hacking: *leddro-:

leadan, flowing hair, a lock, teasel, Ir. leadán, M. Ir. ledán, teasel. Root li, stick; see liosta.

leadan, notes in music, Ir. leadán, musical notes, litany; from Lat. litania, litany.

leag, throw down, Ir. leagaim, inf. leagadh *leggô, from leg, root of laigh, lie (cf. Eng. lay)? The preserved g may be from the analogy of leig, let; and Ascoli refers the word to the O. Ir. root leg, lig, destruere, sternere: foralaig, straverat, dolega, qui destruit.

leagarra, self-satisfied, smug (Arg.):

leagh, melt, so Ir., O. Ir. legaim, legad, W. llaith, moist, dad leithio, melt, Br. leiz: *legô; Eng. leak, Norse leka, drip, Ger. lechzen.

leamh, foolish, insipid, importunate, Ir. leamh; cf. E. Ir. lem, W. llefrith, sweet milk, Corn. leverid, liuriz; O. Ir. lemnact, sweet milk); consider root lem, break, as in Eng. lame, etc.

leamhan, elm, Ir. leamhann, leamh, M. Ir. lem: *ḷmo-; Lat. ulmus, Eng. elm: *elmo-. W. llwyf (*leimá) is different, with which is allied (by borrowing?) Eng. lime in lime-tree.

leamnacht, tormentil, Ir. neamhain:

leamhnad, leamhragan, stye in the eye, W. llefrithen, llyfelyn: *limo-, "ooze"? Cf. Lat. līmus, mud, lino, smear, Eng. loam.

lèan, lèana, a lea, swampy plain, Ir. léana (do.): *lekno-? Cf. Lit. lëkns, lëkna, depression, wet meadow (cf. Stokes on lag above); this is Mr Strachan's derivation. The spelling seems against referring it, as Stokes does, to the root lei, Gr. λειμών, meadow, Lit. léija, a valley; though W. llwyn, grove, favours this. Cf. W. lleyn, low strip of land.

lean, follow, Ir. leanaim, O. Ir. lenim, W. can-lyn, dy-lyn, sequi: *linami, I cling to; Skr. linâmi, cling to; Lat. lino, smear; Gr. ἀλίνω (do.); *lipnâmi, Lit. lipti, cleave to; root , li, adhere. Inf. is leanmhuinn.

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