leac

Alternative forms

• leag

Etymology

From Old Irish lecc, from Proto-Celtic *ɸlikkā, from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥keh₂ (“flat surface”).

Celtic cognates include Welsh llech, Breton lec'h, Cornish legh, and the Gaulish toponym Are-lica. Indo-European cognates include Ancient Greek πλάξ (pláx, “flat stone”). Ultimately connected with PIE *pleh₂- (“flat”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /l̠ʲak/
• (Cois Fharraige) IPA^(key): /l̠ʲæk/

Noun

leac f (genitive singular leice or lice, nominative plural leaca or leac(r)acha)

1. large, flat stone; slab (paving stone); flagstone
2. gravestone

   Tá leac lena cheann.

   He is dead and buried.

3. slab (flat piece of material), something slab-shaped

   leac seacláide ― a slab of chocolate

   Ghearr an long an coipeadh ina leaca.

   The ship cut the foam into slabs.

4. kitty (pool of money)

References

• Matasović, Ranko (2009), “*flikkā”, in Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 9), Leiden: Brill, →ISBN, page 134
• “lecc” in Dictionary of the Irish Language, Royal Irish Academy, 1913–76.
• “leac” in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, Irish Texts Society, 2nd ed., 1927, by Patrick S. Dinneen.
• "leac" in Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla, An Gúm, 1977, by Niall Ó Dónaill.

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *laukaz. Cognate with Old Saxon lōk (Low German Look), Dutch look, Old High German louh (German Lauch), Old Norse laukr (Danish løg, Swedish lök, Icelandic laukur).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlæːɑk/

Noun

lēac n

1. leek

Etymology

From Proto-Slavic *lěkъ, from Proto-Germanic *lēkijaz.

Noun

leac n (plural leacuri)

1. medicine, remedy, cure

Etymology

From Old Irish lecc, from Proto-Celtic *ɸlikkā, from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥keh₂ (“flat surface”).^[1]

Celtic cognates include Welsh llech, Breton lec'h, Cornish lehan (“slate, slab”), and the Gaulish toponym Are-lica. Indo-European cognates include Ancient Greek πλάξ (pláx, “flat stone”). Ultimately connected with PIE *pleh₂- (“flat”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʎɛxk/

Noun

leac f (genitive lice, dative lic, plural leacan)

1. slab (of stone)
2. ledge (of rock)
3. flagstone, paving stone
4. slate (for writing on)
5. gravestone
6. cheek

References

• “lecc” in Dictionary of the Irish Language, Royal Irish Academy, 1913–76.