dirwy

Welsh

Etymology

From Middle Welsh diruy, dyruy, dyrwy, from Proto-Celtic *dīreiyom. Cognate to Old Irish díre.

Pronunciation

• (North Wales) IPA^(key): /ˈdɪrʊɨ̯/
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /ˈdiːrʊi̯/, /ˈdɪrʊi̯/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

dirwy m or f (plural dirwyon or dirwyau)

1. fine (fee levied as punishment for breaking the law)
2. (law, historical, specifically) a fine of twelve cows paid to a king for various offenses

   De tribus fit dirwy: scilicet, de pugna, furto, treiss.

   For three things are there dirwy: namely, for fighting, for theft, for rape. — The Laws of Hywel Dda

Derived terms

• dirwyo (“to fine”)

See also

• camlwrw

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
dirwy	ddirwy	nirwy	unchanged
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References

• A. Wade-Evans. Welsh Medieval Law.