nàmhaid

See also: namhaid and námhaid

Scottish Gaelic

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle Irish náma, from Old Irish námae, from Proto-Celtic *nāmants, traditionally said to be from Proto-Indo-European *ne (“not”) + *h₂em- (“love”) (compare Latin amō), but as that verb root is not otherwise attested in Celtic, this may be a folk etymology.[1]

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈn̪ˠãːvətʲ/
  • (South Uist, Barra, Skye) IPA(key): /ˈn̪ˠãːətʲ/

Noun

nàmhaid m (genitive singular nàmhad, plural nàimhdean)

  1. enemy
    "Bior a d’dhòrn na fàisg;/ Easbhuidheachd ri d’ nàmhaid na rùisg;/ Ri gearradh-sgian a d’ fheòl na èisd;/ Bèist nimheil ri d’ bheò na dùisg." ― "A thorn in your grasp, do not squeeze;/ Thy wants to thine enemy do not bare;/ The dagger’s point to your flesh do not hear;/ A venomous reptile do not rouse."

References
  1. Matasović, Ranko (2009) Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 9), Leiden: Brill, →ISBN, page 283
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