biorach

Irish

Etymology 1

From Old Irish birach, berach (“pointed, sharp; having pointed ears, horned”); synchronically, bior (“pointed rod or shaft; spit, spike; point”) +‎ -ach (adjectival suffix).

Adjective

biorach (genitive singular masculine bioraigh, genitive singular feminine bioraí, plural bioracha, comparative bioraí)

1. pointed
2. sharp

Declension

Declension of biorach

First Declension

	Singular		Plural (m/f)
Positive	Masculine	Feminine	(strong noun)	(weak noun)
Nominative	biorach	biorach¹	bioracha³
Vocative	bioraigh¹	biorach¹	bioracha
Genitive	bioraigh¹	bioraí (obsolete) bioraighe	bioracha	biorach
Dative	biorach²	biorach¹ (archaic) bioraigh¹	bioracha³
Comparative	bioraí (obsolete) bioraighe

¹ This form is lenited after a noun if possible.
² This form is lenited if possible when the preceding noun is lenited and governed by the definite article.
³ This form is lenited if possible when the preceding noun ends in a slender consonant.

Noun

biorach m (genitive singular bioraigh, nominative plural bioraigh)

1. sharp, tricky, person
2. (card games) trick-winning card

Declension

Declension of biorach

First declension

Bare forms: Case Singular Plural Nominative biorach bioraigh Vocative a bhioraigh a bhioracha Genitive bioraigh biorach Dative biorach bioraigh

Forms with the definite article: Case Singular Plural Nominative an biorach na bioraigh Genitive an bhioraigh na mbiorach Dative leis an mbiorach don bhiorach leis na bioraigh

Derived terms

• biorach lodáin (“stickleback”)

Etymology 2

Noun 1

biorach f (genitive singular bioraí, nominative plural bioracha)

1. Alternative form of bearach (“muzzle; cone-like aperture of lobster-pot”)

Declension

Declension of biorach

Second declension

Bare forms Case Singular Plural Nominative biorach bioracha Vocative a bhiorach a bhioracha Genitive bioraí biorach Dative biorach bioracha

Forms with the definite article Case Singular Plural Nominative an bhiorach na bioracha Genitive na bioraí na mbiorach Dative leis an mbiorach don bhiorach leis na bioracha

Noun 2

biorach m (genitive singular bioraigh, nominative plural bioraigh)

1. Alternative form of bearach (“heifer, young cow”)

Declension

Declension of biorach

First declension

Bare forms: Case Singular Plural Nominative biorach bioraigh Vocative a bhioraigh a bhioracha Genitive bioraigh biorach Dative biorach bioraigh

Forms with the definite article: Case Singular Plural Nominative an biorach na bioraigh Genitive an bhioraigh na mbiorach Dative leis an mbiorach don bhiorach leis na bioraigh

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Eclipsis
biorach	bhiorach	mbiorach
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading

• "biorach" in Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla, An Gúm, 1977, by Niall Ó Dónaill.
• “berach” in Dictionary of the Irish Language, Royal Irish Academy, 1913–76.
• Entries containing “biorach” in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm, 1959, by Tomás de Bhaldraithe.
• Entries containing “biorach” in New English-Irish Dictionary by Foras na Gaeilge.

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Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Old Irish birach, berach (“pointed, sharp; having pointed ears, horned”); synchronically, bior +‎ -ach.

Adjective

biorach (comparative bioraiche)

1. sharp, pointed
2. prickly, thorny
3. barbed

Derived terms

Terms derived from biorach

• muc-bhiorach

• uèir bhiorach

Related terms

Terms related to biorach

• biorag

• bioran

Mutation

Scottish Gaelic mutation
Radical	Lenition
biorach	bhiorach
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading

• “berach” in Dictionary of the Irish Language, Royal Irish Academy, 1913–76.