claíomh

Irish

Alternative forms

claidheamh, claidhiomh, claoidheamh, cloidheamh, cluidheamh (obsolete)^[1]
cluíomh
claidhmhe (Connacht)

Etymology

From Old Irish claideb,^[2] from Proto-Celtic *kladiwos.

Pronunciation

(Munster) IPA^(key): /kl̪ˠiəvˠ/^[3]
(Connacht) IPA^(key): /ˈklˠavʲə/^[4]^[5], /ˈklˠãvʲə/^[6]^[5], (Cois Fharraige) [ˈkl̪ˠaːvʲə]^[7] (corresponding to the form claidhmhe)
(Ulster) IPA^(key): /ˈclʲẽːjəvʲ/^[8]; /ˈklˠɛːfʲ/^[9], /ˈklˠɛ̃ːvʲə/ ~ /ˈklˠɛ̃ːfʲə/^[10]; /ˈklˠɛː(u̯)vʲ/^[11]^[12]^[13], /ˈkl̪ˠeːvʲ/^[14]

Noun

claíomh m (genitive singular claímh, nominative plural claimhte or claidhmheacha or claidhmhte)

sword

Declension

Declension of claíomh (first declension)

bare forms
	singular	plural
nominative	claíomh	claimhte
vocative	a chlaímh	a chlaimhte
genitive	claímh	claimhte
dative	claíomh	claimhte

forms with the definite article
	singular	plural
nominative	an claíomh	na claimhte
genitive	an chlaímh	na gclaimhte
dative	leis an gclaíomh don chlaíomh	leis na claimhte

Alternative plural forms: claidhmheacha, claidhmhte

Derived terms

claíomhchruthach (“xiphoid, sword-shaped”, adjective)

Mutation

Mutated forms of *claíomh*
radical	lenition	eclipsis
claíomh	chlaíomh	gclaíomh

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Modern Irish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

References

^ “claíomh”, in Historical Irish Corpus, 1600–1926, Royal Irish Academy
^ Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “claideb”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
^ “claíomh”, in Irish Pronunciation Database, Foras na Gaeilge, 2013–2025
^ Finck, F. N. (1899) Die araner mundart [The Aran Dialect] (in German), Zweiter Band: Wörterbuch [Second volume: Dictionary], Marburg: Elwert’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, page 154
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 Stockman, Gerard (1974) The Irish of Achill, Co. Mayo (Studies in Irish Language and Literature, Department of Celtic, Q.U.B.; vol. 2), Institute of Irish Studies, The Queen’s University of Belfast, 1294–95, page 291
^ Mhac an Fhailigh, Éamonn (1968) The Irish of Erris, Co. Mayo: A Phonemic Study, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, section 133, page 32
^ de Bhaldraithe, Tomás (1977) Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge: An Deilbhíocht [The Irish of Cois Fharraige: Accidence] (in Irish), 2nd edition, Institiúid Ard-Léinn Bhaile Átha Cliath [Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies], page 317
^ Quiggin, E. C. (1906) A Dialect of Donegal, Cambridge University Press, § 153, page 60
^ Wagner, Heinrich (1959) Gaeilge Theilinn: Foghraidheacht, Gramadach, Téacsanna [The Irish of Teelin: Phonetics, Grammar, Texts] (in Irish), Institiúid Ard-Léinn Bhaile Átha Cliath [Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies], section 186, page 67; reprinted 1979;
^ Sommerfelt, Alf (1922) The Dialect of Torr, County Donegal, volume I: Phonology, Christiania [Oslo]: Videnskapsselskapet i Kristiania, section 35, page 16
^ Hamilton, John Noel (1974) A Phonetic Study of the Irish of Tory Island, Co. Donegal (Studies in Irish Language and Literature, Department of Celtic, Q.U.B.; vol. 3), Institute of Irish Studies, The Queen’s University Belfast
^ Hughes, A. J. (1986) The Gaelic of Tangaveane and Commeen, County Donegal (texts, phonology, aspects of grammar and a vocabulary) (doctoral thesis), Faculty of Arts, Queen’s University of Belfast
^ Ó Searcaigh, Séamus (1925) Foghraidheacht Ghaedhilge an Tuaiscirt [Pronunciation of Northern Irish]‎^[1] (in Irish), Béal Feirste [Belfast]: Brún agus Ó Nualláin [Browne and Nolan], section 60, page 27
^ Lucas, Leslie W. (1979) Grammar of Ros Goill Irish Co. Donegal (Studies in Irish Language and Literature, Department of Celtic, Q.U.B.; vol. 5), Institute of Irish Studies, The Queen’s University of Belfast, page 244