Focal an Lae #157
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: im (IHM, EEM) [im′, iːm′]
Meaning: im = butter
Usage:
- im úr (IHM OOR) [im′ uːr] = fresh, unsalted, butter
- Cuir im ar an arán. (KWIHR IHM ehr uhn UH-rawn) [kir′ im′ er′ ən əraːn] = Butter the bread. (lit., put butter on the bread)
- Tá an t-im tríd an mbrachín agat! = You’ve really screwed things up! (lit., the butter is throughout the porridge at-you, by-your-doing)
History: Old Irish “imb”, Welsh “ymenyn” and Breton “amann” all come from Insular Celtic *amb-en, from Indo-European *ngw-en,
from the root *ongw- (to salve, anoint). Latin “unguere” (to anoint) gives us the cognates “unguent” and “unction”.
Scottish Gaelic: ìm