36
ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
bi, bigh, doorpost, threshold (Hend.), E. Ir. di bí = two posts. M'A. has bìgh, post, pillar.
biadh, food, so Ir., O. Ir., O. Ir. biad, *bivoto-n, whence W. bywyd, vita, Cor. buit, cibus, Br. boed, food. bivoto-n is a derivative from bivo- of beò, living, q.v.
bian, a hide, Ir., E. Ir. bían, *beino-; root bhei-, as in Eng. bite, Lat. findo. For force, cf. Gr. δέρμα, skin, from der, split, Eng. tear. Cf., for root, bean, hit.
biasgach, niggardly; from biast. In some parts biast is applied to a niggardly person. H.S.D. refers it to biadh+sgathach, catching at morsels.
biast, a beast, worthless person; see béist. The word biast, abuse, is a metaphoric use of biast.
biatach, a raven (Sh.); cf. biatach, biadhtach, a provider, farmer, from biadh.
biatas, betony, beet, Ir. biatuis, W. betys; from Lat. bētis, bēta, Eng. beet. Also biotais.
biathainne, earth-worm, hook-bait, biathaidh (Dialectic); from biadh. Cf. Lat. esca, bait, for ed-sca, ed=eat. The word biathadh in many places means "to entice".
biatsadh, provisions for a journey, viaticum; formed from biadh, with, possibly, a leaning on viaticum.
bicas, viscount (Arm.). Founded on the Eng., and badly spelt by Armstrong: either biceas or biocas.
bicein, a single grain (Arg.). From bioc, pioc? (Wh.)
biceir, a wooden dish; from Sc. bicker, Eng. beaker. Also bigeir, bigein.
bìd, a very small portion, a nip, a chirp. In the sense of "small portion", the word is from the Sc. bite, bit, Eng. bite, bit. In the sense of "chirp, a small sound", O'R. has an Ir. word bíd, "song of birds". See bìog. Hence bìdein, diminutive person or thing. Cf. W. bidan, of like force.
bìdeag, a bit, bittie; from Sc. bittock, dim. of Eng. bit.
bidean, a fence (Stew.), bid (Sh.), Ir. bíd, bídeán (O'R.), W. bid, quickset hedge, bidan, a twig; *bid-do-, root bheid, split?
bidhis, a vice, screw, so Ir.; from Eng. vice.
bidse, a bitch; from the English.
bìgh, bigh, pith of wood, gum. See bith.
bil, bile, edge, lip, Ir. bil, mouth, E. Ir., bil, bile, W. byl, *bili-, bilio-. Root bhi, bhei, split; cf. Skr. bíla, a hole, mouth of a vessel, etc.; vil, edge : W. also myl.
