Jul. 1st, 2005 01:09 pm
Free translation
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muckefuckA coworker just came to me with a name authority problem. He showed me the form:
First of all, it means "thinking".
Second, it's a verbal noun. I don't know of a single example of a Gaelic name consisting of or containing a verbal noun.
Third, the lenited initial of "Dhomhnullaidh" denotes a genitive, so you'd expect there to be something for it to stand in a genitive relationship too. Normally, this would be an element like mac "son", ó "descendent", mael "servant", or gille "boy" (e.g. Mac Giolla Phóil "son of Paul's lad"), but there's no sensible head in sight.
Fourth, Google finds no examples of "Dhomhnullaidh". "Domhnallaich" and "Domhnallaidh", yes, but nothing with "u" or initial lenition.
So I told him, "I've figured it out. The whole thing is Gaelic for 'asshat'."
Anndra Ceapadh Dhomhnullaidhpointed to the second element and asked, "Does this part mean 'mac'?" I told him it didn't, although I couldn't say what it meant or whether it was part of a two-element surname or a second forename. So I did some research.
First of all, it means "thinking".
Second, it's a verbal noun. I don't know of a single example of a Gaelic name consisting of or containing a verbal noun.
Third, the lenited initial of "Dhomhnullaidh" denotes a genitive, so you'd expect there to be something for it to stand in a genitive relationship too. Normally, this would be an element like mac "son", ó "descendent", mael "servant", or gille "boy" (e.g. Mac Giolla Phóil "son of Paul's lad"), but there's no sensible head in sight.
Fourth, Google finds no examples of "Dhomhnullaidh". "Domhnallaich" and "Domhnallaidh", yes, but nothing with "u" or initial lenition.
So I told him, "I've figured it out. The whole thing is Gaelic for 'asshat'."
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