Shape Shifter

ADHARCÁILÍ (“ay-er-KOH-li”) The Irish verb adharcáil means “to gore”, the derivative adharcáilí is used to refer to an animal in heat—or, figuratively, to a lustful young man.

ADUANTAS (“ah-dWON-tes”) The feeling of unease or anxiety caused by being somewhere new, or by being surrounded by people you don’t know.

AIMLIÚ (“AM-lyu”) Aimliú is the spoiling or ruining of something by exposure to bad weather.

AIRNEÁNACH (“ARR-nen-ech”) An airneánach is someone who takes part in just such an evening, but the word can also be used more loosely to refer to someone who likes working or staying up late into the night.

AITEALL (“AT-ell”) The perfect word for the spring—an aiteall is a fine spell of weather between two showers of rain.

AMAINIRIS (“ARM-an-erish”) The second day after tomorrow.

ASCLÁN (“ash-KLAWN”) As well as being the Irish word for the gusset of a pair of trousers, an asclán is the amount of something that can be carried under one arm.

BACHRAM (“BOCH-rum”) Bachram is boisterous, rambunctious behaviour, but it can also be used figuratively for a sudden or violent downpour of rain.

BACACH (“BAH-cakh”) Means “lame” or “limping” — but it can also be used as a noun to describe a misery or beggarly person, or, idiomatically, someone who outstays their welcome or who drags their heels.

BÉALÁISTE (“bay-al-ASH-tuh”) A drink or toast used to seal a deal.

BEOCHAOINEADH (“bay-oh-keen-yu”) An “elegy for the living”—in other words, a sad lament for someone who has gone away, but who has not died.

BOGÁN (“BOH-gawn”) A bogán is an egg without a shell, by extension, a spineless person.

BREACAIMSIR (“BRAH-cam-SHUR”) Describes the weather when it is neither particularly good nor particularly bad.

BUNBHRÍSTE (“bunya-VREESH-ta”) Those jeans you’ve got that are nearly worn through but are still wearable? They’re a bunbhríste—namely, a pair of worn but still usable trousers.

CLAGARNACH (“CLOY-ger-nach”) Literally meaning “clattering”, clagarnach is the sound of heavy rain on a rooftop.

CODRAISC (“COD-reeshk”) As well as referring to a riff-raff or rabble of people, a codraisc is a random collection of worthless or useless objects.

DÉLÁMHACH (“TEE-lay-wah”) Délámhach or dólámhach literally means “two-handed” in Irish, but it can be used idiomatically to mean “working all-out,” or “giving your best.”

DROCHDHEOIR (“DROCK-ywee”) Literally a “bad drop”—is a negative or unflattering character trait that a child inherits from his or her parents.

FOISEACH (“FAR-sha”) Grass that can’t easily be reached to be cut, so is often used of the longer grass around the edge of a field or lawn, or to the overgrown grass on a hillside or verge.

IOMBHÁ (“OM-wah”) Either a sinking boat half submerged in the water, or any place where there is a danger of drowning.

LADHAR (“LAY-yer”) The gap between your fingers or your toes is your ladhar. A ladhar bóthair is a fork in the road.

MAOLÓG (“MAY-loag”) When you fill something up to the brim but then keep on adding more, the same word is also used for someone who sticks out from a crowd, or for a small knoll or hill in an otherwise flat expanse of land.

PLOBAIREACHT (“PLOH-ber-acht”) When you’re crying and trying to speak at the same time but can’t make yourself clear, that’s plobaireacht.

POCLÉIMNIGH (“POH-claim-nee”) “Frolicking” or “gambolling.” It literally means “buck-jumping,” and is a one-word name for an energetic, excitable leap into the air, or a jump for joy.

RAGAIRE (“RA-gerra”) Ragaireacht means late-night wandering, or for sitting up talking long into the early hours. And a ragaire is someone who enjoys precisely that.

SABHSAÍ (“SAWH-see”) Someone who works outside no matter how bad the weather.