gallus

See also Gallus

Scots

Alternative forms

• gallous

Etymology

A corruption of gallows, used attributively.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈɡæləs/

Adjective

gallus (comparative mair gallus, superlative maist gallus)

1. daring; confident; cheeky.
2. (obsolete) Fit to be hanged; wicked; mischievous.

   • 1922: ’Twas murmur we did for a gallus potion would rouse a friar, I’m thinking, and he limp from leching. — James Joyce, Ulysses

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Latin

gallus (rooster)

Etymology

From *gal-n-o, enlargement of *gl̥H-o, zero-grade of Proto-Indo-European *golH-so (compare Welsh galw (“call”), English call, Lithuanian gal̃sas (“echo”), Polish głos (“voice”), Albanian gjuhë (“voice”)). Related to glōria.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA: /ˈɡal.lus/

• Audio (Classical)

  (file)

Noun

gallus (genitive gallī); m, second declension

1. A cock, rooster

Usage notes

The term gallus is inherently masculine, and so refers to a "rooster" (male chicken). The term gallīna is used for a "hen" (female chicken). The term pullus refers to a "chicken" without specifying the gender of the animal, although it often refers to a "chick".

Inflection

Number	Singular	Plural
nominative	gallus	gallī
genitive	gallī	gallōrum
dative	gallō	gallīs
accusative	gallum	gallōs
ablative	gallō	gallīs
vocative	galle	gallī

Derived terms

gallicinium gallicrus gallīna gallīnāceus

gallīnārium gallīnārius gallīnula

gallopāvō gallulasco gallus in sterquilinio suo plurimum potest

Descendants

Albanian: gjel Catalan: gall Corsican: ghjaddu, ghjallu Galician: galo Italian: gallo Occitan: gal, jal

Old French: jal Portuguese: galo Sicilian: jaddu Spanish: gallo Translingual: Gallus

See also

• pullus

References

• gallus in Charlton T. Lewis & Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1879