ON THE IRISH NAMES OF REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS
AND FISHES

BY R. F. SCHARFF, B.SC., PH.D.

LIZARD (ark).

earc (7). derc (12), airc, arc (6).

TURTLE (tur-tur.)

Turtuir (6).

AMPHIBIANS

FROG (fljuk-án).

Fluichán (used in Derry 7), cnadhán (6) losgán (6) loscán (10)
lispín (used in Sligo 7) fhrog (used in Meath 7).

TADPOLE (= young Frog) oglascán (7), dairbheog (6),
foloscain (7).

NEWT or EFT (ark-lukre)

earcluachra (10), airc luachra (6), earcluachrach (6), alp luachra (7),
dearcluachrach (6).

TOAD (búf).

buaf (6), magán (6), maigín (6), biorbhuafan (6).

FISHES.

ANGEL-FISH, FIDDLE-FISH or MONK-FISH (bra-her)
bráchair (9), Recte bráthair, Gogan), manach (6).

ANGLER, MANAFLOYD, FISHING FROG or MULLIGADOON
(ana-flod).

? anaflóid (7), ? Dealgín deamhain (2).

BASS or WOLF-FISH (dhing-en)

doingean (7).

BLENNY, SHANNY, PARROT FISH OR SHAW (snog).

? snag (7).

BREAM or BRIME.

Lake Bream (brain) — bréan, bran, bréantadh (7).

Sea Bream or Gunner (djareg-an) — deargán (2), sugach (7),
smuigheall (7), mucruadh (9), bran (3).

BRILL or BRITT (brit).

? broit (7).

BULLHEAD or COBBLER (grai-sé en fukán).

gríasaidhe and phocáin (Green) ? geabar (7) ? grealsach (6).

Armed Bullhead (sjar-óg) — ? searróg (7). This may be the
brown fish with claws on both sides of its mouth, as described
by Dinneen. (See Gunnel).

BUTTERFISH (see Gunnel)

CARP (kar-wán-ek ish-ke).

carbhánach uisge (6).

CHAR (rue vrak).

ruaidh-bhreac (7).

COALFISH, BLACK POLLACK or GLASSON (glas-án).

glasán (7), glasóg (9), mongach (9).

Young Coalfish. Holt had heard the following words: killig
(West Coast) = cileach, pluvogue (Connemara) = plubóg, bully-
goure (Antrim) = ballachuaimhe? saoidhean piocaigh (7).

COD (trusk).

trosg (1 and 2), bodach ruadh (7), féilteóg (6).

Codling or Tamlin Cod — bodach (6), saoidean truisc (7),
troiscín (7).

DAB.

Common Dab (lja-hóg ganiv-e) — leathóg gainmhe.

Lemon Dab or Slippery Dab (lja-hog karig-e) — leathóg, char-
raige (Gogan).

Rough Dab or Smeareen (smair-én) — sméirín (Gogan)

Pole Dab or White Sole (lja-hóg wán) — ? leathóg bhán (7).

DEVIL-FISH (see Weever).

DOG-FISH (ljar-wade).

lear-mhadadh (7), léarmhadadh (6), fleangach (7), gobóg (7),
? palmairc (7).

Piked Dog or Spur Dog (féogh-uk) — fíadhach (Gogan), fíogad
(1 and 7), fiogach (3).

Spotted Dog or Rough Hound (mada garv) — madadh (recte
mada, Gogan) garbh (7), madra breac (2), cailleach bhreac (2),
cailleach bhreac (7), freangach (3).

Smooth Dog or Smooth Hound (mada gurem) — madra (recte
mada, Gogan) gorm (2), madadh glas (7)? madra glas (2).

DORY
(duneke ne súl mór)

Donchad na súl mór (2), deoraidhe (7).

DRAGONET or SKULPIN (skulebén), scoilbín (Gogan) scaílpín?
(Waterford)

Earl (see Pipe-fish).

EEL.

Comon Eel (as-ku) — eascú (2 and 6), ascú (7), eascún
(W. Cork, Gogan) eascoin (9), eascon (7), easga (6), easgán (6).

Conger Eel (kar-án kreg-e) — carán creige (7), caran creige
(6), creigeog (7), eascú fairrge (7), eascon (3), creagag (6).

Young Eel — lóg (log).

FLOUNDER or FLUKE (ljá-hog fér-ishke).

leathóg fhíor uisce (7), leathóg (7), liadbhóg (7)? leatóg dhearg (7),

GOBY (brédjog).

brighdeóg (Holt), blathán (13),? snag (7)
(Compare Blenny).

GOLDSINNY (see Wrasse).

GUDGEON (gash-tjún).

gaistiún (7) from English, gaisduin guda (6) guda (10) guisdiun
(6), baotaire (10) (recté baothaire — native word) bronnag (6),
? bhronnad (7)

GUNNEL, NINE EYES, TWELVE EYES, or BUTTERFISH
(ghá-húl-djaig).
dhá shúil déag (Gogan). ? searróg (7)

GURNARD.

cruadán(7), goirnéad (7), guirnéad (6), goirn (7).

Grey Gurnard or Knowd (knúd-án) — cnúdán (2), crudán (9),
cruadán (3), cruadán glas (3).

Red Gurnard or Latchet (knúd-án djarek) — cnúdán dearg (2),
crudán dhearg (3).

HADDOCK (kad-óg).
cadóg (2), cudóg (7).

HAKE (kolem-ór).

colmóir (2), colamóir (9), galach (7 Mayo).

Halibut (skala-furt).

? scalaphort (7).

HERRING (skad-án).

scadán (7), sgadán (2), capall caimheach (a very large herring).

Rock Herring or Shad (skad-án kareg-e) — scadán cairrge (7),
scadán garbh (7), gobhar (6).

SEA LAMPREY (burek ne bwehe).
buarach na baoithe (6), naid (7), laimpre (7), bathnaid (12), beidhaidh
(6), langerilach (6).

River Lamprey (paisht an dá-húl-djaig) — péist an dá shúil
déag (7).

LING (lung-e).

longa (9), long (6), deargalear longa (2), lamhang (7).
The first Irish word seems to be derived from the Norse
“längan.”

LOACH (kal-jek-rue)
cailleach ruadh (7) ? breac bedi (6). (Compare Roach).

MACKEREL (run-ek).

ronnach (9), runnach (3), rionnach (6), ranga (7), macrael (2),
márcreil (6), mulrus (13).

Horse Mackerel, Scad or Craig Herring (bulem-an) — bolamán
(9), gabhar (2).

MINNOW (bud-er-lén).

bodairlín (7), scildaimhne (6), sceildaimhne (6), gilidín (7),
líbín (7), recte ludhbín).

MULLET.

Grey Mullet (blai-hek) — (7) bléitheach (7), lannach (9),
lánach (7), milléad (7), muilléid (6).

Red Mullet (blai-hek durok) — bléitheach dearg or bléidhteach
dearg (7).

péirse (7), creagag uisge (10), úchaire deilgneach (7), sforrach (6).

PIKE (gal-ésk).

gaill-iasg (10), gailliasg (6), gaill iasc (7), gedas (6), geadús
(7), luis (3).

PILCHARD (pil-shair).

pilséar (7), pilséir (6), séirdín (7), geilmín (7), smugairle
róin (2).

PIPE-FISH or EARL (cure-vine).
corramhine (3).

PLAICE or SPOTTED FLUKE (lja-hog vrak).

leathóg bhreac (1), leathóg (2), lithéog (2), leathóg (7), leith (9)
pláisín (7).

POLLOCK (pul-óg).

pollóg (7), pullóg (6), palóg (2), tullóg (6), crothóg (7), tullog
(7), mágach (7), mangach (7 Mayo), mongach (7), monach (3)
mulrus (7).

POLLAN (pul-án).
pollán.

RAY (lip-ruhe).
liop rotha (2), liopa rodha (7).

Numb Ray or Torpedo (cramp-esk) — craimpiasg (6), craim-
piasc (7), orc-iasc (6).

Sand Ray or Shagreen Rad (ljaib ganive) — leadhb gainmhe
(suggested by Gogan).

Thornback or Maiden Ray (ruhe) — rutha (7), leadhb dheilgneach
(suggested by Gogan).

ROACH – RUDD (tal-óg).

talóg (7), breac bedi (6), róisteach (6), róiste (6), breac (12),
breac mara (6).

ROCKLING (dunóg).

donnóg (7), donnánach (3).

RUDD (see Roach).

SAIL-FISH (See Shark).

bradán (10), bratán (12), moghna (6), maighre (7), meas (6),
eithre (7), éigne (7), toineamh (7), eo (6), ailliubhar (6), colgán (6).

Salmon fry — gilidín (7).

Salmon peal — samhnachán (7), colgán (7), samhnán (13).

Salmon grilse — maighre léan (7) liathóg.

Salmon trout — breac-gheal (6) liachóg (7), máighreleun (6).

Salmon (male spring) — gruanach (7).

Salmon (after spawning ) — gadluine (7).

(Compare Trout).

SANDEEL or SNEDDEN (gjar-án gan-ive).

gearrán gainimhe (7), sgadán gainimhe (2), corr (7), cor (9),
corr gobach (7), gobóg (7), snáthadán (7).

The Northern word “Snedden” is probably a corruption of
the last word. (Compare also Sandsmelt).

SANDSMELT (skad-an gan-ive)
? scadán gainimhe (2).

SHARK (pesk-an shol).

? peascán seoíl (2), maoil? (Holt).

Basking Shark, Sunfish or Sailfish (leb-án grain-je) — liabán
gréine (3), liomhán gréine (7), leathbíd (2), cairbhan (6).

SKATE (ruk).

ruc (9), roc (7), sornán (7 Kerry), sgat (6).
(Compare Ray).

SOLE.

Black Sole (ljaib-óg) — léabóg (7) = leadhbóg (Gogan), sóil (2),
teanga chait (9), leabóg-chearr (6).

SPEARLING, HORNEEL, NEEDLE-FISH or SWORDFISH
(lan-ésk).

lainn-iasc (7), braid iasc (7), snáthad mhara (7), seabharthóg
léasán lice (2), spiarlint (2), cor ghobhach (9), gaithleang (7),
gobach (7 Tory), ronnach Spáinneach (Holt).

SPRAT (sprit)

spruit (2), líbín (recte leidhbín, Gogan) (7), salán (7).

STICKLEBACK, PINKEEN or THORNBACK.

River Stickleback (Pink-én) — pincín probably English (Gogan),
colgán (7).

Sea-Stickleback or Horneel (big lodin) — birag-lodain (6).
? gobach, ? cor ghobach.

STURGEON (stir-ain).

stiréan (7), stirean (6), stirrin (6), bradán féorna (2).

TORSK, CAT-LING or CATFISH.

? mulrus (13).

TROUT (brak).

breac (10), brecc (12), codlatán (7), ala (7), dúileachán (6).

Brown Trout — breac donn (7), breac dearg (1), breac geal (13).

White trout — breac bán (7), gealóg (7).

Gillaroo Trout — giolla-ruadh (Gogan).

Black Trout — dubh-bhreac (6)

Lake Trout — donnachán (1), súileachán (1), bodach.

Trout Fry — gilidín (7).

Little Trout (bricín (6).

TUNNY (tinjén).

tuinnín (7).

TURBOT or TAIRBERT (lja-hóg Mwir-e)

leathóg Muire (7), teorbait (2), turbait (7).

WEEVER, CAT-FISH or DEVIL-FISH (djelg-en djawn).

? deilgin deamhain (7), ? dealgán deamhain (7), ? filibín (7).

WHITING (fwét-én).

faoitín (7), dúillachán (7), glasán (7) (7), glasóg (7), mongach (1),
feannóg (6).

WITCH, WHIFF, WHITE SOLE or LEMON SOLE (lja-hóg jal).
leathóg gheal, suggested by Gogan (compare Dab and Sole).

WOLF-FISH, CAT-FISH or PERCH (See Bass).

WRASSE or CONNER (mór-én rúe).

moírín ruadh, moírín (7), balach (2), ballach (3).