speal

English

Noun

speal

1. Only used in speal-bone (“shoulder bone”)

Irish

Etymology

From Middle Irish spelaid, said by DIL to be from Middle English pelen (“peel”), though the s- remains unexplained.^[1] The noun is derived from the verb.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sˠpʲal̪ˠ/, /sˠpʲalˠ/^[2]

Verb

speal (present analytic spealann, future analytic spealfaidh, verbal noun spealadh, past participle spealta)

1. to scythe, mow

Conjugation

		singular			plural			relative	autonomous
		first	second	third	first	second	third
indicative	present	spealaim	spealann tú; spealair†	spealann sé, sí	spealaimid	spealann sibh	spealann siad; spealaid†	a spealann; a spealas	spealtar
	past	speal mé; spealas	speal tú; spealais	speal sé, sí	spealamar; speal muid	speal sibh; spealabhair	speal siad; spealadar	a speal / ar speal*	spealadh
	past habitual	spealainn	spealtá	spealadh sé, sí	spealaimis; spealadh muid	spealadh sibh	spealaidís; spealadh siad	a spealadh / a spealadh*	spealtaí
future		spealfaidh mé; spealfad	spealfaidh tú; spealfair†	spealfaidh sé, sí	spealfaimid; spealfaidh muid	spealfaidh sibh	spealfaidh siad; spealfaid†	a spealfaidh; a spealfas	spealfar
conditional		spealfainn	spealfá	spealfadh sé, sí	spealfaimis; spealfadh muid	spealfadh sibh	spealfaidís; spealfadh siad	a spealfadh / a spealfadh*	spealfaí
subjunctive	present	go speala mé; go spealad†	go speala tú; go spealair†	go speala sé, sí	go spealaimid; go speala muid	go speala sibh	go speala siad; go spealaid†	—	go spealtar
	past	dá spealainn	dá spealtá	dá spealadh sé, sí	dá spealaimis; dá spealadh muid	dá spealadh sibh	dá spealaidís; dá spealadh siad	—	dá spealtaí
imperative		spealaim	speal	spealadh sé, sí	spealaimis	spealaigí; spealaidh†	spealaidís	—	spealtar
verbal noun		spealadh
past participle		spealta

conjugation of speal (first conjugation – A)

* indirect relative
† archaic or dialect form

Noun

speal f (genitive singular speile, nominative plural speala)

1. scythe

Declension

Bare forms Case Singular Plural Nominative speal speala Vocative a speal a speala Genitive speile speal Dative speal speala

Forms with the definite article Case Singular Plural Nominative an speal na speala Genitive na speile na speal Dative leis an speal don speal leis na speala

Declension of speal

Second declension

Derived terms

• spealadóir

References

1. Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “spelaid”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
2. Quiggin, E. C. (1906) A Dialect of Donegal, Cambridge University Press, § 349, page 120

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Middle Irish spelaid, said by DIL to be from Middle English pelen (“peel”), though the s- remains unexplained.^[1] The noun is derived from the verb.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /spjal̪ˠ/

Verb

speal (past speal, future spealaidh, verbal noun spealadh, past participle spealte)

1. mow, cut down, scythe
2. use cutting words

Noun

speal f (genitive singular speala, plural spealan)

1. scythe, scythe-blade

References

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