cleas

Irish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /clʲasˠ/

Etymology 1

From Old Irish cles (“feat”). Perhaps ultimately related to cluiche (“joke, game”).

Noun

cleas m (genitive singular clis or cleasa, nominative plural cleasa or cleasanna)

1. trick
   • 27 June 2015, Alan Titley, "Caimléireacht scrúdaithe", The Irish Times

     Is é an cleas is fearr, gan amhras, ná go mbeadh an obair déanta, […]

     The best trick, of course, is that the work is done,

2. feat
3. knack
4. act

Declension

Alternative declension:

Derived terms

• cleasach (“playful, tricky”)
• cleasaí (“joker”)
• lúthchleas (“athletics”)

References

Etymology 2

From English class.

Noun

cleas m (genitive singular cleas, nominative plural cleasanna)

1. (derogatory) class (of persons), gang

Declension

Mutation

Further reading

• G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “cles”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
• Dinneen, Patrick S. (1904) “cleas”, in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, 1st edition, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, page 146
• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “cleas”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• Entries containing “cleas” in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm, 1959, by Tomás de Bhaldraithe.
• Entries containing “cleas” in New English-Irish Dictionary by Foras na Gaeilge.

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Old Irish cles (“feat”). Perhaps ultimately related to cluich (“joke, game”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kʰles/

Noun

cleas m (genitive singular cleasa, plural cleasan)

1. prank, joke
2. (dated) act, feat, exploit
3. trick, stunt, device

Derived terms

• cleasachd f (“play, playing; recreation; juggling; conjuring”)
• cleasaich (“play”, verb)

References