laghairt

Irish

Etymology

Ultimately from Latin lacerta, though the intermediate steps are uncertain. Possibly borrowed from Scottish Gaelic laghairt as the word appears in Scottish Gaelic dictionaries earlier than in Irish ones: it appears in Edward Dwelly's 1911 Illustrated Gaelic–English Dictionary, but not in the Dictionary of the Irish Language or the 1904 or 1927 editions of Dinneen's Irish–English Dictionary.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /l̪ˠəiɾˠtʲ/

Noun

laghairt f (genitive singular laghairte, nominative plural laghairteanna)

1. lizard

Declension

Declension of laghairt (second declension)

bare forms case singular plural nominative laghairt laghairteanna vocative a laghairt a laghairteanna genitive laghairte laghairteanna dative laghairt laghairteanna forms with the definite article case singular plural nominative an laghairt na laghairteanna genitive na laghairte na laghairteanna dative leis an laghairt don laghairt leis na laghairteanna

Synonyms

• earc

Further reading

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “laghairt”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

Ultimately from Latin lacerta, though change of c to gh is obscure; perhaps altered by association with ladhar (“toe, claw”).

Noun

laghairt m or f (genitive singular laghairt or laghairte, plural laghairtean)

1. lizard

Synonyms

• dearc-luachrach

Descendants

• →? Irish: laghairt

Further reading

• Edward Dwelly (1911) “laghairt”, in Faclair Gàidhlig gu Beurla le Dealbhan [The Illustrated Gaelic–English Dictionary]‎^[1], 10th edition, Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited, →ISBN