derc

See also: dërc

Middle Irish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dʲerk/

Etymology 1

From Old Irish derc, from Proto-Celtic *derkos, from Proto-Indo-European *derḱ- (“to see”).

Noun

derc n

1. eye

Derived terms

• dercaid
  • Irish: dearc (verb)

Further reading

• Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “2 derc”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language

Etymology 2

Noun

derc

1. mote in a sunbeam

Further reading

• Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “4 derc”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language

Mutation

Middle Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Nasalization
derc	derc pronounced with /ð(ʲ)-/, later /ɣ(ʲ)-/	nderc
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Old Irish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dʲerk/

Etymology 1

From Proto-Celtic *derkos, from Proto-Indo-European *derḱ- (“to see”).

Noun

derc n

1. eye
2. hole, aperture, cavity, hollow

Inflection

Neuter o-stem
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	dercN	dercN	dercL, derca
Vocative	dercN	dercN	dercL, derca
Accusative	dercN	dercN	dercL, derca
Genitive	deircL	derc	dercN
Dative	dercL	dercaib	dercaib
Initial mutations of a following adjective: H = triggers aspiration L = triggers lenition N = triggers nasalization

Further reading

• Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “1 derc ‘aperture’”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
• Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “2 derc ‘eye’”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language

Etymology 2

From Proto-Celtic *derkos, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰreh₂ǵ-. Stokes instead suggests that it is from the same origin as Etymology 1, in the sense of berries standing out as clearly visible.

Noun

derc n

1. berry

Inflection

Neuter s-stem
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	dercN	dercN	dercaeL
Vocative	dercN	dercN	dercaeL
Accusative	dercN	dercN	dercaeL
Genitive	dercaeL	dercae	dercaeN
Dative	deircL	dercaib	dercaib
Initial mutations of a following adjective: H = triggers aspiration L = triggers lenition N = triggers nasalization

Descendants

• Irish: dearc, dearca, deirc
• Scottish Gaelic: dearc

Further reading

• Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “3 derc ‘berry’”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language

Mutation

Old Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Nasalization
derc	derc pronounced with /ð(ʲ)-/	nderc
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.