buachaill

Etymology

From Old Irish búachaill (“cowherd”), from Proto-Celtic *boukolyos, from Proto-Indo-European *gʷowkólos, from *gʷṓws (“cow”) + *kʷel- (“to revolve, turn around”). Cognates include Breton bugel (“child”), Welsh bugail (“shepherd”), and Ancient Greek βουκόλος (boukólos, “cowherd”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbˠuəxɪlʲ/

Noun

buachaill m (genitive singular buachalla, nominative plural buachaillí)

1. boy; young, unmarried man

   Synonym: garsún

2. boyfriend

   Synonym: stócach

3. herdsman
4. servant, male employee
5. lad, boyo
6. useful thing (referring to a masculine noun)

   Is é an rinse an buachaill chun na hoibre.

   The wrench is the right tool for the job.

Mutation

Further reading

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

Alternative forms

• buachaille

Etymology

From Old Irish búachaill (“cowherd”), from Proto-Celtic *boukolyos, from Proto-Indo-European *gʷowkólos, from *gʷōus (“cow”) + *kʷel (“to revolve, move around, sojourn”).

Noun

buachaill m (genitive singular buachaille, plural buachaillean)

1. cowherd
2. herdsman, shepherd
3. watch or protector of cattle of any kind
4. youth

Mutation

Further reading

• Faclair Gàidhlig Dwelly Air Loidhne, Dwelly, Edward (1911), Faclair Gàidhlig gu Beurla le Dealbhan/The Illustrated [Scottish] Gaelic-English Dictionary (10th ed.), Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited, →ISBN
• “búachaill” in Dictionary of the Irish Language, Royal Irish Academy, 1913–76.