ciraulu

Sicilian

Alternative forms

• ciaràulu, ciaràvulu, ciràvulu (orthographic variants)
• ciaraulu, ciaravulu, ciravulu (eye dialect)

Etymology

From Ancient Greek κεραύλης (keraúlēs, “horn-blower”), from κέρας (kéras, “horn”) + αὐλός (aulós, “any pipe-shaped instrument”) + -ης (-ēs, “adjectival suffix”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃiˈɾa.u.lu/ (Standard)
• IPA^(key): /ʃiˈɾa.vu.lu/ (Voiced labiodental fricative)
• Hyphenation: ci‧rà‧u‧lu

Noun

ciraulu m (plural ciraula)

1. (Sicilian folklore) in the religious cult of St. Paul, in Palazzolo Acreide, a healer and thaumaturge able to cure snake bites
2. (Sicilian folklore) those born in the night between 24 and 25 January, who can heal snake bites
3. charlatan, quack

Related terms

• cridenza
• culòrbia
• culòvria
• cuḍḍura
• sampaulisi
• San Paulu
• serpi

 

Descendants

• Italian: Ciraulo, Ceravolo