teɪn, -tɪn noun
an ancient Celtic festival observed on May Day in Scotland and Ireland to mark the beginning of summer.
Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English (Scots) < Scots Gaelic bealltainn, Old Irish bel(l)taine, perhaps equivalent to *bel- an obscure element, perhaps the name of a supernatural person + tene fire
1375–1425; late Middle English (Scots) < Scots Gaelic bealltainn, Old Irish bel(l)taine, perhaps equivalent to *bel- an obscure element, perhaps the name of a supernatural person + tene fire
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To Beltane
Collins
World English Dictionary
Beltane (ˈbɛlteɪn, -tən) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| an ancient Celtic festival with a sacrificial bonfire on May Day. It is also celebrated by modern pagans | |
| [C15: from Scottish Gaelic bealltainn] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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00:10
Beltane
is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
Beltane
early 15c., from Lowland Scottish, from Gaelic bealltainn "May 1," important Celtic religious rite marking the start of summer, probably lit. "blazing fire," from PIE base *bhel- (1) "to shine, flash, burn" (see bleach) + O.Ir. ten "fire," from PIE *tepnos, related to L.
tepidus "warm." But this derivation of the second element is hotly disputed by some on philological grounds, and fires were equally important in the other Celtic holidays. Also known as "Old May Day," because after the 1752 calendar reform it continued to be reckoned according to Old Style; it was one of the quarter-days of ancient Scotland.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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