céad mháta

Calque of English first mate.

• (Munster) IPA^(key): /ciːad̪ˠ ˈvˠɑːt̪ˠə/
• (Connacht) IPA^(key): /ceːd̪ˠ ˈwɑːt̪ˠə/
• (Ulster) IPA^(key): /ceːd̪ˠ ˈwæːt̪ˠə/

céad mháta m (genitive singular céad mháta, nominative plural céad mhátaí)

1. (nautical) first mate

   Synonym: ardmháta

   • 1919, Séamus Ó hAodha, An Branar, page 146:

     Do chur a ghníomh ana-mhisneach sa chuid eile: agus bhíodar ag teacht saor ón luing ’na nduine is ’na nduine go dtí an chéad mháta.

     His act gave great courage to the rest: and they were coming free from the ship as men and as men to the first mate.

   • 1939, Peig Sayers, “Inghean an Cheannaidhe”, in Marie-Louise Sjoestedt, Description d’un parler irlandais de Kerry (Bibliothèque de l'École des Hautes Études; 270) (overall work in French), Paris: Librairie Honoré Champion, page 194:

     Bhí an chéad mháta a bhí ar an luing anamhór leis an gcaptaen.

     The first mate who was on the ship was very friendly with the captain.

• Like the adjective céad (“first”) itself, this term always undergoes lenition after the definite article, both singular and plural, except in the dative singular where eclipsis may be found.