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

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

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

Old Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Nasalization
ráth also rráth after a proclitic ending in a vowel	ráth pronounced with /r(ʲ)-/	unchanged
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

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