gaol

See also gaoł

English

The old Melbourne gaol

Etymology

From Middle English gayole, gaylle, gaille, gayle, gaile, via Old French gaiole, gayolle, gaole, from Medieval Latin gabiola, for *caveola, a diminutive of Latin cavea (“cavity, coop, cage”).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /dʒeɪl/
• Rhymes: -eɪl

Noun

Wikipedia gaol (plural gaols)

1. (UK, Ireland) alternative spelling of jail.

Usage notes

Gaol was formerly the usual spelling, and is still preferred in some proper names. Most Australian newspapers use jail rather than gaol, citing either narrower print width or the possibility of transposing letters in gaol to produce goal.

Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:jail

Verb

gaol (third-person singular simple present gaols, present participle gaoling, simple past and past participle gaoled)

1. (UK) To confine in a gaol; to imprison

Translations

imprison — see imprison

Derived terms

• engaol
• gaoler

Anagrams

• goal
• Olga

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Irish

Etymology

From Old Irish gáel (“relationship”): Proto-Celtic *gailo-; compare Lithuanian gailùs (“compassionate”); Gothic gailjan (“gladden”), German geil (“wanton”); Greek φίλιος (fílios, “friendly”).

Pronunciation

• (Munster) IPA: [ɡeːl̪ˠ]
• (Connacht, Ulster) IPA: [ɡiːl̪ˠ]

Noun

gaol m (genitive gaoil, nominative plural gaolta)

1. relationship, kinship; kindred feeling
2. relation, kin; relative
3. relation between things, connection

Declension

Declension of gaol

First declension

Bare forms: Case Singular Plural Nominative gaol gaolta Vocative a ghaoil a ghaolta Genitive gaoil gaolta Dative gaol gaolta

Forms with the definite article: Case Singular Plural Nominative an gaol na gaolta Genitive an ghaoil na ngaolta Dative leis an ngaol don ghaol leis na gaolta

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Eclipsis
gaol	ghaol	ngaol
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

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Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Old Irish gáel (“relationship”): Proto-Celtic *gailo-; compare Lithuanian gailùs (“compassionate”); Gothic gailjan (“gladden”), German geil (“wanton”); Greek φίλιος (fílios, “friendly”).

Pronunciation

• IPA: [ɡ̊ɯːɫ̪]

Noun

gaol m (genitive gaoil)

1. love, affection

   tha gaol agam ort — I love you (literally "is love at me on you")

   ghabh i trom ghaol air - she fell madly in love with him

Usage notes

The love expressed by gaol is more intimate in nature than that of gràdh.

Derived terms

• gabh gaol air
• tha gaol agam ort

References

• An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language, Alexander MacBain, Gairm Publications, 1982