droigheann

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Old Irish draigen (whence also Irish draighean and Manx drine), from Proto-Celtic *dragenā (“sloetree, blackthorn, Prunus spinosa”) (compare Welsh draen), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰergʰ- (“blackbush, sloe tree”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈt̪ɾɔjən̪ˠ/

Noun

droigheann m (genitive singular droighinn, plural droighinn)

1. blackthorn
2. thorn
3. bramble; thorny plant generally

   às an dris anns an droigheann ― (idiomatic) out of the frying pan, into the fire

   am fear a thèid san droigheann dhomh, thèid mi san dris dha ― (idiomatic) you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours

Synonyms

• dris
• (thorn): stob
• (bramble): smeur
• (blackthorn): sgìtheach-dubh, àirneag

Derived terms

• droighneach