cnáimhfhiach

Irish

Alternative forms

• cnáimh-fhiach (superseded)

Etymology

From cnámh (“bone”) +‎ fiach (“raven”).

Pronunciation

• (Ulster) IPA^(key): /ˈkɾˠãːvʲia(x)/

Noun

cnáimhfhiach m (genitive singular cnáimhfhiaigh, nominative plural cnáimhfhiacha)

1. A bird of some kind. Further details are uncertain. Possibilities include:
   1. sea bird
   2. rook, raven
   3. black kite

Usage notes

Different sources provide different definitions. The fact that the word is a compound of fiach (“raven”) supports Dinneen’s suggestion of “rook, raven”. Ó Dónaill’s suggestion of “black kite” probably does not refer to Milvus migrans as that bird is not found in Ireland, making it unlikely that Quiggin’s early 20th-century informants in rural County Donegal would have a native name for it.

Declension

Declension of cnáimhfhiach (first declension)

bare forms case singular plural nominative cnáimhfhiach cnáimhfhiacha vocative a chnáimhfhiaigh a chnáimhfhiacha genitive cnáimhfhiaigh cnáimhfhiach dative cnáimhfhiach cnáimhfhiacha forms with the definite article case singular plural nominative an cnáimhfhiach na cnáimhfhiacha genitive an chnáimhfhiaigh na gcnáimhfhiach dative leis an gcnáimhfhiach don chnáimhfhiach leis na cnáimhfhiacha

Mutation

Mutated forms of cnáimhfhiach

radical	lenition	eclipsis
cnáimhfhiach	chnáimhfhiach	gcnáimhfhiach

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Modern Irish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.