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The Brehon Law
by
Michael Ragan
© 1999


Part 1; Origins

Part 2; Law texts

Part 3; Clan and
social classes

Part 4; Women's Rights

Part 5; Professionals

Part 6; Land ownership
and use

Part 7; Property

Part 8; Legal tender

Part 9; Contracts

Part 10; Distraints
and fasting

Part 11; Summation
and appendix

Part 12; Glossary

divider Here is provided the a list of the Gaelic terms used in this article. The assumed pronunciations are shown by modified International Phonetic Alphabet symbols. The Gaelic term is given emboldened, followed by IPA phonetics, with the italicized definition.
 
A
aigne / ag´n´a / advocate
aire / ar´e / freeman
aithech / ath´ech / commoner, churl
Amergin / ah´mehr´gihn / Poet of the Milesians
amuis / a´vus / attendant, bodyguard
Arae / ar´eh / charioteer
ard / ahrd´ / high ranking person
athgabál / ath´gava´l / distraint, recovery
banfili / ban´fih´lih´ / , wise woman

 
B
bérla féini / b´eh:rluh fe:nih´ / literally language of the free people. Early legal language
bó inláeg / bo´in´lah:g / pregnant cow
bo-aíre /bo´ ah´reh / free farmer
bothach / bo´thach /·cottier, one who lives in a hut
Brehon / breh´hon / see breitheamh
Breitheamh / brih´them / Arbitrator, law historian
Brithem / see breitheamh
briugu / briu´gu / hospitaller
brughaid / bru´aid·/ see briugu

  C
cáin / ka:n / Law of province or nation
céile ·/ ke:l´e / free memberss of the clan
clann / klan / members of a tribal unit descended from a common ancestor
coinmed / koN´v´ed / billelting
colpthac / kolp´hach / two year old heifer
cor bel / kor bel / verbal contract
cumal / kuval / female slave

 
D
daer-fudir / da´r fu´ir / bonded tenants without rights
dáilem / da:l´ev /·food server
daírt / daR´t / yearling heifer
dartaid / daR´tid / yearling bullock
dercaid /·derkid´/ lookut, watchman
dire / di:r´e / payment of fine
doernemed /·do´ir nev´id / lower class of the priviliged
Druí, druíh / drooy / wise one - may also be spelled Draí, Draoí, Draoí or Druíidh

 
E
éiric, éiraic / e:rik / fixed penalty

F
fáithliaig / fa:th´lee-ha / seer physician
féine / fe:n´i / free people
fénechas / fe:n´echas /; traditional law
fénnid /·fe:N´id´ / warrior
fer ·/ fer / man
fer midboth / fer·mid´bo / man of middle huts or semi-independent youth
Fíli ·/ fil´i / wise one
fine ·/ fin´e / family, near kin
Firbolg ·/ fir bolg / men of the bags, first Celtic invaders of Ireland
Flaith / flah´ / noble
forgill / for´g´el / superior testimony
fuidir / fuj´ir´ / semi-free tenant

 
G
gabhalaichean / ga´val´kin / redistribution of land
gell ·/ gel´ / a pledge to protect one's honor
giall ·/ giall´ / hostage
gobae ·/ goveh / blacksmith

 
L
Liaig ·/ Lee-aj / leech physician
lobad ·/ lovad / decay of forfeiture
log-enech ·/ lo:g eNag / honor price

 
M
mensal / ·men´sal / land dedicated to the Rí for specific purpose
Midach ·/ midach / medical doctor
midboth ·/ mid´boh´ /
Milesians · / mi´le´shyans´ / the Gaedels - last Celtic invaders of Ireland
Mogturredh / moy´too´reh / legendary site of battle

 
N
Nemedh ·/ nev´ed / privileged person

 
O
ócaire ·/ o:gar´e / loest grade of freeman
Ollam / oL´av / expert, master or chief
 
R
Rannaire ·/ RaNir´e / divider, carver (of meats)
Rí ·/ Ri: / Ruler
ruírech / rur:reh·/ ruler over more than one territory

 
S
saer / sair / wright, carpenter
saer-fuidír / sair fuj´ir / highest of the fuidir class
Samaisc / sav´ishk /· three-year-old heifer
Scepul / skrebul / ·scruple, unit of value
Senchléithe ·/ shen´ch´l´e:th´e / hereditary serf
sept / sept ´/ branch of a clan
sét / she:d / unit of value
sin ·/ shin´ / chain neck-choker

 
T
Techt ·/ techt / courier, messenger
troscud / troskud·/ legal fasting
túath / too´ah / tribe, tribal territory
Tuatha de Danann / too´aha deh da´nahn / people of the Goddess Danu
tuathe / see túath
tuíseo / too-ish´o / person of precedence

 
U
uasal / oo-ah´shal /·of noble birth
Ungae / oongeh /· ounce


 
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