mullach

Irish

Etymology

From Old Irish mullach.

Pronunciation

• (Munster) IPA^(key): /mˠəˈl̪ˠɑx/
• (Connacht) IPA^(key): /ˈmˠʊl̪ˠəx/
• (Ulster) IPA^(key): /ˈmˠʊl̪ˠa(x)/

Noun

mullach m (genitive singular mullaigh, nominative plural mullaí)

1. top
2. crown (topmost part of the head)

   Synonym: baithis

3. (geology) eminence (elevated land area or hill)
4. ridge (highest point on a roof)
5. summit (top of a mountain)

Declension

Declension of mullach

First declension

Bare forms: Case Singular Plural Nominative mullach mullaí Vocative a mhullaigh a mhullaí Genitive mullaigh mullaí Dative mullach mullaí

Forms with the definite article: Case Singular Plural Nominative an mullach na mullaí Genitive an mhullaigh na mullaí Dative leis an mullach don mhullach leis na mullaí

Derived terms

• sa mhullach ar (“on top of, upon”)
• isteach sa mhullach ar (“crowding in upon”)
• anuas sa mhullach ar (“down on, severe on”)

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Eclipsis
mullach	mhullach	not applicable
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading

• Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “mullach”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
• Dinneen, Patrick S. (1904) “mullaċ”, in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, 1st edition, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, page 502
• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “mullach”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• de Bhaldraithe, Tomás (1959) “mullach”, in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm
• “mullach”, in New English-Irish Dictionary, Foras na Gaeilge, 2013-2024

Old Irish

Etymology

DIL assumes this to be mul (“lump, heap”) +‎ -ach, but the lack of lenition on the l is unexplainable if this route is taken.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmul͈əx/

Noun

mullach m

1. top
   • c. 800–825, Diarmait, Milan Glosses on the Psalms, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1987, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. I, pp. 7–483, Ml. 58^c4

     di mulluch int slebe

     from the top of the mountain

   • c. 815-840, “The Monastery of Tallaght”, in Edward J. Gwynn, Walter J. Purton, transl., Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, volume 29, Royal Irish Academy, published 1911-1912, paragraph 72, pages 115-179:

     Iarsin trosc[ud] tanaise ro·tuit in tenid co rro·loisc hé o mulluch co talmin.

     After [Máel Ruain's] second fasting, fire came down [on the king] and burnt [the king] from head to toe.

Inflection

Masculine o-stem
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	mullach	mullachL	mullaigL
Vocative	mullaig	mullachL	mullachuH
Accusative	mullachN	mullachL	mullachuH
Genitive	mullaigL	mullach	mullachN
Dative	mulluchL	mullachaib	mullachaib
Initial mutations of a following adjective: H = triggers aspiration L = triggers lenition N = triggers nasalization

Descendants

• Irish: mullach
• Scottish Gaelic: mullach

Mutation

Old Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Nasalization
mullach also mmullach after a proclitic ending in a vowel	mullach pronounced with /β̃(ʲ)-/	unchanged
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading

• Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “mullach”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Old Irish mullach.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmul̪ˠəx/

Noun

mullach m (genitive singular mullaich, plural mullaichean)

1. top
2. crest, ridge, summit, peak
3. roof
4. ceiling
5. lid
6. crown
7. upland, height

Synonyms

• ceann
• (lid): faircill

Derived terms

• seòmar-mullaich
• uinneag mullaich