ráth

See also: rath, Rath, räth, -rath, and -raþ

Irish

Pronunciation

• (Munster, Connacht) IPA^(key): /ɾˠɑː/
• (Ulster) IPA^(key): /ɾˠaːx/

Etymology 1

From Old Irish ráth (“earthen rampart, fort, rath”).

Noun

ráth m (genitive singular rátha, nominative plural ráthanna)

1. earthen rampart
2. ring-fort, rath
3. layer
4. shoal (of fish)

   Synonyms: báire, scoil

5. pod (of dolphins)

Declension

Declension of ráth (third declension)

bare forms case singular plural nominative ráth ráthanna vocative a ráth a ráthanna genitive rátha ráthanna dative ráth ráthanna forms with the definite article case singular plural nominative an ráth na ráthanna genitive an rátha na ráthanna dative leis an ráth don ráth leis na ráthanna

Derived terms

• ráth sneachta
• ráthaigh

 

Further reading

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “ráth”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “2 ráth ‘earthen rampart’”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
• de Bhaldraithe, Tomás (1959) “ráth”, in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm
• “ráth”, in New English-Irish Dictionary, Foras na Gaeilge, 2013-2024

Etymology 2

From Old Irish ráth (“suretyship, guarantee, pledge”).

Noun

ráth m (genitive singular rátha, nominative plural ráthanna)

1. guarantee

   Synonym: ráthaíocht

Declension

Declension of ráth (third declension)

bare forms case singular plural nominative ráth ráthanna vocative a ráth a ráthanna genitive rátha ráthanna dative ráth ráthanna forms with the definite article case singular plural nominative an ráth na ráthanna genitive an rátha na ráthanna dative leis an ráth don ráth leis na ráthanna

Further reading

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “ráth”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “1 ráth ‘surety, guarantor’”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
• de Bhaldraithe, Tomás (1959) “ráth”, in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm
• “ráth”, in New English-Irish Dictionary, Foras na Gaeilge, 2013-2024

Old Irish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /r͈aːθ/

Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

ráth f (genitive ráithe, nominative plural rátha)

1. (law) surety, guarantor
2. (law) suretyship, guarantee, pledge

Inflection

Feminine ā-stem
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	ráthL	ráithL	ráthaH
Vocative	ráthL	ráithL	ráthaH
Accusative	ráithN	ráithL	ráthaH
Genitive	ráitheH	ráthL	ráthN
Dative	ráithL	ráthaib	ráthaib
Initial mutations of a following adjective: H = triggers aspiration L = triggers lenition N = triggers nasalization

Synonyms

• (suretyship, guarantee): ráthaigecht

Derived terms

• ráthaiges, ráthachas
• ráthaigid
• ráthus, ráithius

Descendants

• Middle Irish: ráith
  • Irish: ráth
  • ⇒ Scottish Gaelic: ràthan
  • ⇒ Manx: raane

Etymology 2

From Proto-Celtic *rātis, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂erh₃- (“to plough”).

Alternative forms

• ráith

Noun

ráth m or f

1. earthen rampart surrounding a chief's residence, fort, rath

Inflection

Feminine ā-stem
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	ráthL	ráithL	ráthaH
Vocative	ráthL	ráithL	ráthaH
Accusative	ráithN	ráithL	ráthaH
Genitive	ráitheH	ráthL	ráthN
Dative	ráithL	ráthaib	ráthaib
Initial mutations of a following adjective: H = triggers aspiration L = triggers lenition N = triggers nasalization

Derived terms

• ráthach
• ráthbuige
• ráthmogaid
• ráthmug
  • ráthmuigecht

Descendants

• Irish: ráth
• Scottish Gaelic: ràth
• Manx: raah
• → English: rath

Mutation

Mutation of ráth

radical	lenition	nasalization
ráth also rráth after a proclitic ending in a vowel	ráth pronounced with /r(ʲ)-/	unchanged

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

Further reading

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