Irish

Definition

A board game of the tables family.

Etymology

From Middle English Irish (12th c.), from Old English *Īrisċ, from Old English Īras (“Irishmen”), from Old Norse Írar, from Old Irish Ériu (modern Irish Éire (“Ireland”)), further origin heavily debated but probably from Proto-Celtic *Φīweriyū (“fat land, fertile”), from Proto-Indo-European *péyh₂wr̥ (“fat, swelling”), from *peyh₂- (“to swell; to be fat”), akin to Ancient Greek πίειρα (píeira, “fertile land”), Sanskrit पीवरी (pīvarī, “fat”).

Example Sentences

• "But her Irish was up too high to do any thing with her, and so I quit trying."
• "Whenever he got his Irish up, Clancy lowered the boom."
• "The Priest is as fierce a fighter as I am when he gets his Irish up."