Focal an Lae #143
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: gabhar (GOWR, rhymes with “hour”) [gaur]
Meaning: gabhar = goat
Usage:
- Tá dhá ghabhar is meannán agam. (TAW GHAW GHOWR iss MAN-ahn AH-guhm) [taː ghaː ghaur is mænaːn agəm] = I have two goats and a kid.
(line from children’s song)
- An Gabhar = Capricorn
- Mura mbeadh agat ach gabhar, bí i lár an aonaigh leis. = Don’t hide your light under a bushel.
(lit., Even if you were to have only a goat, be in the middle of the fair with it.)
History: Old Irish “gabor”, Welsh “gafr” and Gaulish *gabro- derive from Common Celtic *gabros,
which comes from Indo-European *kapro- (billygoat). English cognates from Latin include “Capricorn” and “caper”.
Scottish Gaelic: gobhar