scian

See also: Scian, scían, ścian, and sćiãn

Irish

Alternative forms

scion (Ulster)
sgian (obsolete)

Etymology

From Old Irish scían, from Proto-Celtic *skiyenā, from Proto-Indo-European *skey- (“to split”).

Pronunciation

(Munster) IPA^(key): /sˠciən̪ˠ/, /ʃciən̪ˠ/
(Cois Fharraige) IPA^(key): /ʃciːn̪ˠ/
(Ulster) IPA^(key): /ʃcɨ̞nˠ/^[1], /ʃcɨ̞n̪ˠ/ (corresponding to the form scion)

Noun

scian f (genitive singular scine, nominative plural sceana)

knife; knife-edged instrument; cleaver, chopper
edge, side

Declension

Declension of scian (second declension)

bare forms
	singular	plural
nominative	scian	sceana
vocative	a scian	a sceana
genitive	scine	sceana
dative	scian scin (archaic, dialectal)	sceana

forms with the definite article
	singular	plural
nominative	an scian	na sceana
genitive	na scine	na sceana
dative	leis an scian leis an scin (archaic, dialectal) don scian don scin (archaic, dialectal)	leis na sceana

Derived terms

altán scine
cur faoi scian
d'anam don scian! (“The devil take you!; Upon my soul!”)
dul ar do scian (“to keel over”)
dul faoi scian (dochtúra) (“to undergo an operation”)
luí ar do scian (“to lie on one's side”)
scian airm Eilvéiseach (“Swiss army knife”)
scian aitinn (“furze-chopper”)
scian aráin (“bread-knife”)
scian bhearrtha (“(open) razor; pruning-knife”)
scian bhoird (“table-knife”)
scian bhúistéara (“butcher's cleaver”)
scian cháis (“sheath-knife”)
scian cham (“paring-knife”)
scian chiumhaise (“plough”)
scian chlaspa
scian chorr (“implement for digging out sand-eels”)
scian chorráin (“slashing-knife converted from (old) reaping-hook”)
scian coise duibhe (“black-handled knife with magic properties”)
scian dhruidte (“clasp-knife, jack-knife”)
scian dochtúra (“surgical knife”)
scian féir (“hay-chopper”)
scian feola (“carving-knife”)
scian fola (“lancet”)
scian fonsa (“drawing-knife”)
scian mháinliachta
scian mhara
scian nódaithe (“grafting-knife”)
scian oisrí (“oyster-knife”)
scian pháipéir (“paper-knife”)
scian phóca
scian phuití (“putty-knife”)
scian scláitéara (“sax”)
scian sealgaire (“hunting-knife”)
scian spólta (“carving-knife”)
scian tarraingthe (“drawing-knife”)
scianbhreallach
scianchlár (“knife-board”)
sciantaca (“knife-rest”)

Related terms

scean

References

^ Quiggin, E. C. (1906) A Dialect of Donegal, Cambridge University Press, page 41

Further reading

Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “scian”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “scían”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
Dinneen, Patrick S. (1904) “scian”, in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, 1st edition, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, page 608
de Bhaldraithe, Tomás (1959) “scian”, in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm
“scian”, in New English-Irish Dictionary, Foras na Gaeilge, 2013–2025

Old English

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈʃiː.ɑn/

Noun

sċīan

inflection of sċīa:
1. nominative plural
2. accusative singular/plural
3. genitive/dative singular