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Does "sord" mean "pure"?

  • 20-08-2014 6:13pm
    #1
    Irish Stones
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,308 ✭✭✭


    Hello everybody,
    While I was reading a page on the history of Swords (co. Dublin) I found that its Irish name, Sord, would mean "pure, clear" in English, but when I check my two Irish-English dictionaries I cannot find any "sord" in the Irish section, and "pure" in Irish is "glan" according to my dictionaries.
    So, does the word "sord" exist and mean something?
    Thanks so much!


Comments

  • #2
    gaiscioch
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭gaiscioch


    Irish Stones wrote: »
    Hello everybody,
    While I was reading a page on the history of Swords (co. Dublin) I found that its Irish name, Sord, would mean "pure, clear" in English, but when I check my two Irish-English dictionaries I cannot find any "sord" in the Irish section, and "pure" in Irish is "glan" according to my dictionaries.
    So, does the word "sord" exist and mean something?
    Thanks so much!

    For all placename-related queries, www.logainm.ie is the place to go. Here are the supporting documents for the entry Sord/Swords and 'pure' is indeed given as one of the meanings in the impressive 15 pages of historical documentation behind the placename.


  • #3
    Irish Stones
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,308 ✭✭✭Irish Stones


    Didn't know that website, it's amazing!
    Thanks so much for the precious tip and info!


  • #4
    An gal gréine
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 941 ✭✭✭An gal gréine


    Pure it is but just to add that in Middle-Irish 'sord' meant bright.


  • #5
    pandoraj09
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 353 ✭✭pandoraj09


    I think the "proper" Irish translation of Swords is sord na rí...


  • #6
    Irish Stones
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,308 ✭✭✭Irish Stones


    pandoraj09 wrote: »
    I think the "proper" Irish translation of Swords is sord na rí...

    Could I ask you, please, more about this?


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  • #7
    gaiscioch
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭gaiscioch


    Irish Stones wrote: »
    Could I ask you, please, more about this?

    Read the 15 pages of historical documentation on the logainm link and you'll find all the known history from the Placenames Database of the origin of the name. Scroll down this page and click on where it says 'taifid scanáilte (15)'. That will bring you to 15 very interesting pages of scanned records concerning the history of the placename - including page 8 where a discussion of Sord Cholmcille, referring to a pure holy well reputedly blessed by Colmcille, is recorded. The only thing appearing similar to 'Sord na Rí" is a record of 'Sordraige' on page 12. All of the discussions are referenced so you can consult the referenced work for more. And, in that, you'll know more about the name than most residents of Sord.


  • #8
    An gal gréine
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 941 ✭✭✭An gal gréine


    pandoraj09 wrote: »
    I think the "proper" Irish translation of Swords is sord na rí...

    Would you be mixing it up with Nás na Rí, the proper name for Naas?
    They have simplified it to An Nás in recent decades!


  • #9
    Irish Stones
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,308 ✭✭✭Irish Stones


    gaiscioch wrote: »
    The only thing appearing similar to 'Sord na Rí" is a record of 'Sordraige' on page 12. All of the discussions are referenced so you can consult the referenced work for more. And, in that, you'll know more about the name than most residents of Sord.

    The "-raige" part of that name seems to be meaning something to do with an animal, it says something about a ram.
    How is it possible to get to the referenced work from those scanned pages?


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