Leprechauns
With
Saint Patrick’s Day fast approaching, why not take a look at the etymology of leprechaun?
The
word leprechaun
involves the blending of Gaelic and Latin. The earliest written English
record of the term occurred in 1604, spelled lubrican. This spelling -
and a boatload of early alternate spellings - start with lu-. the Gaelic combining
form for small. In Old Irish leprechaun
was spelled luchorpan, which allows us to see a hint of the Latin part of
this word, meaning body. This same
combining form is used in the words corpuscle, corporation, Corpus
Christi, and corporeal. So leprechaun translates simply to little body.
Irish
folklore (poo-pooed by, yet titillating to etymologists), tells us that because
leprechauns
are sprites known for making or repairing
a single shoe, the name comes from leithbragan, which marries leith,
meaning half. Brag means brogue.
While
one source bestows leprechauns with a little
lisping, attenuated falsetto voice, another Irish tale defines the leprechaun
as a pygmy sprite who always carries a
purse containing a schilling.
Despite
all this information, if you find yourself at a bar on Saint Patrick’s Day, and
someone sits at the next stool, & begins repairing a single shoe, speaking
in a lisping falsetto, &/or carrying a purse, it’s wisest to keep your
assumptions to yourself. And isn’t that always true.
Good
followers, what do you have to say about leprechauns, or about the wisdom of
keeping one’s assumptions to oneself?
OK, when someone "sits at the next stool, & begins repairing a single shoe, speaking in a lisping falsetto, &/or carrying a purse" I will not ask him where his pot of gold is. I promise. Hilarious and informative as usual, Mr. Perryess!
ReplyDeleteYou satisfied my wonderings about a small part of my heritage.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Charlie!
I love to assume things from a small body of evidence (pun intended)...then question my own assumptions, and use that to concoct a story. It's probably why I walk into walls.
ReplyDeleteGood post, Chaz
---SKFigler
I might just walk in to a bar on St. Patrick's day carrying a purse, sit down and repair a shoe while speaking with a lisp and see if anyone asks where I've hidden my gold. Thanks for the fun info!
ReplyDeleteHi Christine, Anne, Jean Ann & SK,
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping by. Christine, let me know where you're planning your bar trip & I may even leave the gravitational pull of the house to view the shenanigans.