dúshlán

Irish

Alternative forms

• dubhshlán, dubh-shlán (obsolete)

Etymology

From dú- +‎ slán.

Pronunciation

• (Ulster) IPA^(key): /ˈd̪ˠuːl̪ˠanˠ/, /ˈd̪ˠuːl̪ˠan̪ˠ/

Noun

dúshlán m (genitive singular dúshláin, nominative plural dúshláin)

1. challenge (that which encourages someone to do something they otherwise would not), dare

   dúshlán a fhreagairt ― to respond to/take up a challenge

   dúshlán a thabhairt ― to challenge, dare, brave, call out

2. defiance

   mo dhúshlán fút ― I defy you

   dúshlán Dé a thabhairt ― to fly in the face of God, to tempt providence

3. bravado

   Synonyms: gaisce, gaisciúlacht

   as dúshlán ― through bravado

Declension

Declension of dúshlán

First declension

Bare forms: Case Singular Plural Nominative dúshlán dúshláin Vocative a dhúshláin a dhúshlána Genitive dúshláin dúshlán Dative dúshlán dúshláin

Forms with the definite article: Case Singular Plural Nominative an dúshlán na dúshláin Genitive an dúshláin na ndúshlán Dative leis an dúshlán don dúshlán leis na dúshláin

Derived terms

• cuir dúshlán faoi (“to challenge, throw down the gauntlet to”)
• is é do dhúshlán é (“it is as much as one can do”)
• do dhúshlán! (“I dare you!”)

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Eclipsis
dúshlán	dhúshlán	ndúshlán
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading

• “dúshlán”, in Historical Irish Corpus, 1600–1926, Royal Irish Academy
• G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “dub”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
• Dinneen, Patrick S. (1904) “duḃṡlán”, in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, 1st edition, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, page 267
• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “dúshlán”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• Quiggin, E. C. (1906) A Dialect of Donegal, Cambridge University Press, page 79