speal

English

Noun

speal

1. Only used in speal-bone (“shoulder bone”)

Irish

Etymology

From Middle Irish spelaid, said by DIL to be from Middle English pelen (“peel”), though the s- remains unexplained. The noun is derived from the verb.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sˠpʲalˠ/

Verb

speal (present analytic spealann, future analytic spealfaidh, verbal noun spealadh, past participle spealta)

1. to scythe, mow

Conjugation

Conjugation of speal (first conjugation – A)

indicative	singular			plural			direct relative	autonomous
	first	second	third	first	second	third
present	spealaim	spealann tú; spealair†	spealann sé, sí	spealaimid; spealann muid	spealann sibh	spealann siad; spealaid†	a spealann; a spealas	spealtar
past	speal mé; spealas	speal tú; spealais	speal sé, sí	spealamar; speal muid	speal sibh; spealabhair	speal siad; spealadar	a speal	spealadh
past habitual	spealainn	spealtá	spealadh sé, sí	spealaimis; spealadh muid	spealadh sibh	spealaidís; spealadh siad	a spealadh	spealtaí
	singular			plural			direct relative	autonomous
	first	second	third	first	second	third
future	spealfaidh mé; spealfad	spealfaidh tú; spealfair†	spealfaidh sé, sí	spealfaimid; spealfaidh muid	spealfaidh sibh	spealfaidh siad; spealfaid†	a spealfaidh; a spealfas	spealfar
conditional	spealfainn	spealfá	spealfadh sé, sí	spealfaimis; spealfadh muid	spealfadh sibh	spealfaidís; spealfadh siad	a spealfadh	spealfaí
subjunctive	singular			plural			direct relative	autonomous
	first	second	third	first	second	third
present	go speala mé; go spealad†	go speala tú; go spealair†	go speala sé, sí	go spealaimid; go speala muid	go speala sibh	go speala siad; go spealaid†	—	go spealtar
past	dá spealainn	dá spealtá	dá spealadh sé, sí	dá spealaimis; dá spealadh muid	dá spealadh sibh	dá spealaidís; dá spealadh siad	—	dá spealtaí
imperative	singular			plural			direct relative	autonomous
	first	second	third	first	second	third
—	spealaim	speal	spealadh sé, sí	spealaimis	spealaigí; spealaidh†	spealaidís	—	spealtar
past participle	spealta
verbal noun	spealadh

^† archaic or dialect form
^‡ dependent form

Derived terms

• spealadóir

Noun

speal f (genitive singular speile, nominative plural speala)

1. scythe

Declension

Declension of speal (second declension)

bare forms singular plural nominative speal speala vocative a speal a speala genitive speile speal dative speal speala forms with the definite article singular plural nominative an speal na speala genitive na speile na speal dative leis an speal don speal leis na speala

Further reading

• Dinneen, Patrick S. (1927), “speal; spealaim”, in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, 2nd edition, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, page 1095; reprinted with additions 1996, →ISBN
• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977), “speal”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Middle Irish spelaid, said by DIL to be from Middle English pelen (“peel”), though the s- remains unexplained. The noun is derived from the verb.

Pronunciation

• (Lewis) IPA^(key): /spjal̪ˠ/
• (Uist) IPA^(key): /spɛl̪ˠ/
• (Barra, Skye) IPA^(key): /spæl̪ˠ/, [spʲe̯al̪ˠ]

Verb

speal (past speal, future spealaidh, verbal noun spealadh, past participle spealte)

1. mow, cut down, scythe
2. use cutting words

Noun

speal f (genitive singular speala, plural spealan)

1. scythe, scythe-blade