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OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE.
305
seamlach, a cow that gives milk without her calf, an impudent or silly person; Sc. shamloch, a cow that has not calved for two years (West Lothian):
seamrag, shamrock, seamair (M'A.), Ir. seamróg, M. Ir. semrach (adj.), E. Ir. semmor (B.L.):
seamsan, hesitation, quibbling, delay, sham; from the Eng. sham, Northern Eng. sham, a shame, trick?
sean, old, Ir. sean, O. Ir. sen, W., Corn., and O. Br. hen, Gaul. Seno-: *seno-s, old; Lat. senex, g. senis, old man; Gr. ἑνος, old; Got. sinista, oldest, Eng. seneschal; Lit. sénas; Skr. sánas.
seanachas, conversation, story, Ir. seanachas, seanchus, tale, history, genealogy, O. Ir. senchas, vetus historia, lex, O. W. hencass, monimenta. Stokes refers this to *seno-kastu-, "old story", from *kastu-, root kans, speak (see cainnt and Stokes' derivation of it). Regarded by others as a pure derivative of *seno- or its longer stem *seneko- (Lat. senex, Got. sineigo, old, Skr. sanakás, old), that is *senekastu-. Hence seanachaidh, a reciter of ancient lore, a historian, Ir. seanchuidh, a form which favours the second derivation.
seanadh, a senate, synod, Ir. seanadh, seanaidh, E. Ir. senod, W. senedd, Corn. sened, Br. senez; from the Lat. synodus, now Eng. synod.
seanagar, old-fashioned, knowing; cf. Ir. senfha, W. henwr:
seanair, a grandfather, Ir. seanathair, M. Ir. senathair, literally "old father".
seang, slender, lean, Ir. seang, E. Ir. seng: *svengo-s; Norse svangr, slender, thin, Sc. swank, swack, supple, Ger. schwank, supple, allied to Eng. swing.
seangan, an ant (S.Inverness and Perthshire snioghan), Manx sniengan, Ir. sangán, M. Ir. sengán, E. Ir. segon (Corm.); cf. Gr. σκνίψ (i long), g. skniofós or σκνιπός, σκίψ, root skene, kene, scratch (see cnàmh), Lit. skanùs, savoury (kittling), Stokes (Bez18 65) refers it to *stingagno-, Eng. sting, Gr. στίζω, prick; K.Meyer derives it from seang, slender.
seanns, luck; see seamhas.
sèap, slink, sneak off, flinch, Ir. seapaim: "turn tail"; see next word.
seap, a tail, an animal's tail hangin down (as a dog's when cowed):
sear, eastern; see ear.
searadoir, a towel (Sh. searbhadair); from Sc. serviter, servet, napkin, from Fr. servietta, from servir, serve, Lat. servio.
searbh, bitter, Ir. searbh, O. Ir. serv, W. chwerw, Corn. wherow, Br. c'houero: *svervo-s; O. H. G. sweran, dolere, Ger. sauer, Eng. sour; Lit. swarùs, salty.
