An Irish Materia Medica

Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition

An Irish Materia Medica (Author: Tadhg Ó Cuinn)

p.651

Abietis (lat. abietis), fir tree.
abrotanum, see suramunt.
absinthium (syn. centonica, pointicum, uormont; lat. absinthium, ponticum), wormwood, Artemisia absinthium Webb, also, Artemisia maritima Webb, a main source of the drug, santonin, known as ‘worm seed’. Chapter 3.
acalife, see neanntog.
acantum (syn. semen urtice, ros na neannta; lat. urtica), seed of nettle, Urtica dioica Webb, and Urtica urens Webb.
accacia, see airne.
accetum, see finegra.
accride, see meacan righ.
acedula, see samadh.
adann (syn. albagia, portulaca, pes pulli; lat. portulaca), coltsfoot, Tussilago farfara Webb. Chapter 7. It appears from Fischer, p. 279, and Alphita, p. 149, (s.v. Portulaca) that portulaca and pes pulli both stood for purslane, Portulaca oleracea CTW, a variety of which was cultivated as a pot-herb, but which was not indigenous in Britain or Ireland. From Alphita, p. 140, (s.v. Pes pulli) and Agnus Castus (Brodin, 1950), it appears that, in England pes pulli stood for coltsfoot, Tussilago farfara. The chapter headed ‘Portulaca’ in Circa Instans is the source of the Irish text; the synonym pes pulli is given by Macer Floridus,
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and this may have misled people into thinking that the Circa Instans paragraph dealt with coltsfoot; hence adhann (coltsfoot) is given in the text as the Irish for portulaca/pes pulli (purslane).
adarc, a horn.
adbar (lat. materia), matter, a substance; a cause.
adnaicid, to bury (a person).
adoghmar, producing a high temperature ([lt ] ad-daí, fadódh).
ae (lat. epar, iecur), the liver. Occurs only in nom. ae; gen. pl. na n-ae; and dat. pl., ona h-aeibh. As to the use of the plural in this term, see Sheahan (1938) s.v. aeibh.
ae aba (syn. epatica, lat. epatica), common liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha. Chapter 116. There has been some doubt (e.g. Ogden) as to whether what was intended by ‘liverwort’ was Anemone, subgenus Hepatica (perhaps Anemone hepatica L., i.e. Hepatica nobilis Mill.), but the plant that is illustrated in Livre des simples medecines is Marchantia polymorpha. Circa Instans. says
Epatica ... est autem herba quedam in aquosis locis & precipue in lapidosis locis crescens, minuta habens folia, terre & lapidibus adherentia.’’
Culpeper, p. 217, in transmitting an older tradition, indicates that it is the bryophyte which is intended:
Common Liverwort grows close, and spreads much upon the ground in moist and shady places, with many small green leaves, or rather, as it were sticking flat to one
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another, very unevenly cut in on the edges, and crumpled; from among which arise small slender stalks, an inch or two high, bearing small star-like flowers at the top. The roots are very fine and small.’’
The first element in the Irish name is clearly the liver. The second element may be Thurneysen's ‘áu áo ó’ (1946, [sect ]338), an ear or lug, which Marchantia polymorpha displays so clearly. Against that, the plant is called epatica fontis in Livre des simples medecines, though simple epatica in the Modena manuscript.
ael ur (syn. albesdon, calx uiua; lat. calx viva), quicklime, calcium oxide. Chapter 20.
aenda (lat. simplex), simple (as opposed to compound).
aentaibh, see entaib.
aer, air.
aerdha, ‘of the air’, incorporeal.
affodillus, see creamh.
agaidh, see aiged.
agailteach. (Chapter 8). A mess of earthworms (agaill). In another copy (NLI G11), the word is written egalsach.
agairg (syn. agaricus, fungus; lat. agaricus), Polyporus officinalis, a bracket fungus that grows on larch i.e. white agaric or larch agaric. Chapter 12. It was named from Agaria in Sarmatia, which is in Russia, and, although it grew well in subalpine areas in Europe, the Europeans felt that the Russian product was the best, and it was still being imported from Russia in the 19th century. The
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distinction between the masculine and feminine sorts can be traced back to Dioscorides. It is believed that the female sort was the fresh, unprocessed, fungus, while the male sort consisted of the fruit-bodies with the upper scaly crust and the lower layer of hymenial tubes removed, i.e., of the homogeneous sporophore flesh only. The terms "male" and "female" were frequently employed before the time of Linnaeus for distinguishing between allied species. The reason why Agaricus is applied to a quite different fungus in botanical terminology is that Linnaeus despised the fungi, and did not bother to study the pre-existing names with the care that he took in the case of the flowering plants. (Buller, 1914–16).
agnus castus, see meas torc allaid.
agrimonia, see marbdroigin.
aibill uisce (syn. flamula, lat. flammula) (Chapter 126), water crowfoot, Ranunculus species. Chapter 126. For the Continental, flammula was usually Clematis flammula, though it was also used of Ranunculus aquatilis and Ranunculus sceleratus. The main use that was made of it was as a caustic. Platearius describes this property of the plant:
Dicitur flammula quia incensivam habet virtutem ... Ad cauterium sine igne vel sine ferro faciendum, conteratur flammula & super locum ponatur, et dimittatur per diem; postea invenietur cutis combusta.’’
Despite the entry in Alphita (Mowat, p. 63), flammula
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was understood in England to mean Ranunculus flammula: e.g. Agnus Castus, the Grete Herball, and William Turner. Aibill uisce (‘the water flame’) does not, however, indicate Ranunculus flammula, for which the Irish is glaiser lena (see Chapter 286). It is better understood to mean water crowfoot, and to cover a number of species of Ranunculus that grow in flowing water, such as Ranunculus peltatus Webb, and Ranunculus aquatilis Webb. As to Ranunculus in general, see fearban.
aicideach, artificial or induced, as opposed to natural. Thus, ‘curtar co haicideach a ngarrgaibh e’ for ‘plantata’ (Chapter 16); ‘nadura ... aicideach’, Chapter 266, for ‘naturalem ... accidentalem.’
aigead, aigeidithi, acid, acidic, usually referring to vinegar.
aighean, oven.
aiged, aghaidh (lat. facies), the face.
ailbi (lat. albus), white.
ailginech (lat. leniter), co h-ailginech, gently.
ailim (syn. alumen, stipteria, sucarium; lat. alumen), alum. The term seems to have been used to include various astringent substances. The text, Chapter 25, says that there are three sorts of alum, rotunndum, licidum, scissum, and it is the scissum sort that ‘we’ use. Licidum appears to be an error for the humidum of Avicenna's text. The three sorts may be:

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rotundum: possibly corundum, i.e., native aluminium oxide, next to the diamond the hardest known mineral; in its amorphous form it makes both real and artificial rubies and other precious stones.
humidum: this may be ‘alum cake’, i.e., aluminium sulphate, which is soluble in water;
scissum appears to be the more common "potash alum", K2SO4. Al2(SO4)3. 24H2O, which is a white crystalline solid, and is used as a styptic.
aillium, see gairleog.
aillium agreiste, see creamh.
aillsi (lat. cancri (pl.), fagedaenica, mordax), ulceration, the process by which an ulcer spreads and which involves the death of minute portions of tissue round its edge. Fagedaenica appears to be from φαγειν and δανυμι, indicating ‘eating away’.
aimrideacht (lat. sterilitas), sterility.
aimser (lat. tempus, etc.), time, season.
aineid, dill, Peucedanum anisum (=Anethum graveolens), an Asiatic plant, occurring in Europe only casually as a garden escape. Chapter 33. The word takes its Irish form in Chapter 287 only; the other occurrences are of the Latin form, anetum.
ainis (syn. anisum, ciminum dulse; lat. anisum, ciminum dulce), anise, Pimpinella anisum. Chapter 35. An Asiatic plant, much cultivated in Eastern and Southern Europe.

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ainmeasardha, ainmeasardhacht, immoderate, immoderation.
ainmfeoil (lat. caro superflua / caro mortua), proudflesh. ‘Ainfbeoil an fabra’ (chapter 13) is ‘proudflesh of the eyelash’, i.e. a stye.
ainmighe (lat. animal), animal (both noun and adjective).
ainmidteach, co h-ainmidteach, specifically.
ainminnt, (lat. quadrupes), animal.
ainnteas (lat. calefactio, fervor, siccitas, caliditas, calor), excessive heat.
ainntetair, antitair (lat. antidotarium), a book of compound medicines.
aipidtheach (lat. maturandi), ripening.
aipighidh (lat. maturare), to ripen, or bring to maturity.
aipsint, see absinthium, for which the word is a synonym.
airedha, see oiredha.
airgead (lat. argentum), silver.
airgead beo (lat. argentum vivum), mercury, quicksilver. Chapter 39.
airgead luachra, meadowsweet, Filipendula ulmaria Webb.
airgibh, see ara, temple.
airne (‘sugh na n-airne n-an-abaidh’, syn. accacia, sucus prunellarum; lat. acacia, succus prunellorum immaturorum), sloes, the fruit of the blackthorn, Prunus spinosa Webb. Chapter 2.
airtire (lat. vena), artery.
aisling (aislingthi troma, lat. somnia terribilia et timorosa), dream; in Chapter 226, what is intended may
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be ‘visual hallucinations’.
aitheirgid, recur (of poison) (Chapter 31).
aithfegad, an aithfegad, ‘as compared with’ (Chapter 266).
aitnim liag, lodestone (i.e. magnetic iron ore which possesses polarity).
aitrige, repentance.
aixis (lat. accessio), paroxysm or crisis in a fever.
alacon, see dubcosach.
alagsandrum, see elistront.
alapin, see scilla.
alapsa, see galla.
Alaxanndria, the city of Alexandria, in Egypt.
albagia, see adann.
albedarug, see colambin.
albesdon, see ael ur.
alga (‘d'algaibh an bheoil & na teangadh’, lat. fixuras oris), thrush-sores (Chapter 104).
allapisia (lat. allopicia). The reference in Chapter 30 is ‘an luibri re n-abar allapisia’, rendering ‘lepram que dicitur allopicia’ ( Circa Instans), and, if we are to take this literally, the disease in question is lepra alopecia (see luibhri), and not the ordinary alopecia. Lepra alopecia is distinguished as follows in Lile Eg 34r ( LM Pt. 1, Ch. 22): ‘Et is iat so comurthai an leanna pecaigheas .i. da mbia o fuil deirg bidh dath na haighthi ac dul a ndeirgi dorcha & att isin aghaid
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maille re moran do ballaibh dearga creachtacha asa tic sugh nemhneach & deirgi na sul & inntogh na n-abhradh & fuil ac teacht asa sroin les gach cuis da loighed & bith baladh bren trom arin corp uile & an fual ac dul a ndeirgi & a tighi ... Maseadh, da roibh o fuil deirg aderur allapisia ria...’
However, it is likely that the disease in mind is the ordinary alopecia, described at Lile Eg 48r & v ( LM Pt. 2, Ch. 1): ‘Is eadh is allopicia and tuitim an fuilt maille re crechtaibh gan lanna gan truscar ... Signa, in tan do-chifeam in folt ac tuitim gan cuis follus facam an fuilid lanna no truscar mar bun ann, & muna fuilid, facam an fuilid crechta fa bun an finnfaidh & ma ata is allopicia hi, & da mbia in dath ac dul a ndeirgi is o fuil dearg truaillidhe ata & da mbia ac dul a mbuidheacht is o linn ruagh & da mbia ac dul a mbaine maille re sileadh no rena cosmailibh is o linn finn & da mbia ac dul a nduibhe no a nglaisi is o linn dubh.’ See maili.
allus (lat. sudor), sweat.
allusal, see cepa.
almont (syn. nux longa; lat. amygdalum), almond, Prunus amygdalus CTW (=Prunus dulcis Miller). Chapter 211. The variety Prunus dulcis it the sweet almond (na h-almonta millsi), and the variety Prunus amara is the bitter almond (na h-almonta serbha). A native of West Asia, it is widely cultivated in the countries bordering the
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Mediterranean. Almond oil (bainne almoint) is a fixed oil obtained by expression from the seeds.
aloes (syn. aloe, epaticum, cicotrinum; lat. aloes), aloes. Chapter 22. This is the solid residue obtained by evaporating the liquid which drains from the transversely cut leaves of various species of the liliaceous genus, Aloe. The juice is concentrated by boiling, and solidifies on cooling. The best species used was Aloe perryi, from the island of Socotra, off the horn of Africa for which reason the island received the attentions of Alexander the Great. As the Irish text says, epaticum refers to the colour of one sort of aloes. Cicotrinum seems to be an amalgam made up of Socotra and citrinum (=yellow), as the name of another sort. Beck (1940) p. 41 discusses the exceptionally long chapter on aloes in Circa Instans.
alphur, see fuinnseog.
alsiteis, ascites, dropsical swelling of the abdomen. Lile Eg 164r ( LM Pt. 6, Ch. 5): ‘Et is iat so comarthadha alsites .i. puls bec minic & da ngluaister an medon do-ni fodur mar buidel leath lan d'uisce, mar aderadh 'co ac co ac'.’ See idroipis.
alt (lat. articulus), a joint (of the body). d'altaibh an droma (lat. spina), the backbone.
altea, see leamhadh.
alumen, see ailim.
amarisga (lat. amarissa), see maelan muilithi.

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ambra (syn. spearma ceti, coimpert an mil mor; lat. ambra, dicitur sperma ceti), ambergris. Chapter 26. This streaky grey or brown waxy substance is found in the intestines of sperm whales, or floating in the sea where the whale has eliminated it, and lumps up to 100 lb have been found. It is thought to be the remains of the beaks of squid eaten by the whale. It is used in perfumes to give them a longer life, and, on its own, it has a fragrant odour like musk.
From the time of the first visitation of the bubonic plague in 1348, ambergris was used as protection from plague. Complicated recipes including ambergris existed for aromatic balls to be carried in the hand to neutralize the corrupt air that was believed to bring the plague, and for syrups for internal use. Rooms where the plague had visited were fumigated with it. It was, however, very expensive, and it was therefore available only to the wealthy: Riddle (1964).
The term spermaceti is now applied to a solid wax obtained from the oils derived from the head and blubber of certain whales.
ambrosiana see iubar sleibe.
amedum, see amillum.
ameid (lat. amidum), starch. See amillum. Chapter 29.
amillum (syn. amedum; lat. amidum, amilum), starch. Amedum occurs in an Irish form, ameid, q. v.
amprismorum, refers to the Aphorisms of Hippocrates.

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an-abaigh, unripe.
anabulla, see gerr an eighmhe and titimaillus.
anacardi, marking nut, species of Semecarpus, especially Semecarpus anacardium. Sometimes called cashew nut, a term that is now applied to a species cultivated in the West Indies.
anal, breath.
anam (lat. anima); in medical usage, more akin to ‘mind’ than to ‘soul’.
anastropa (elsewhere written as anastropha), gastric spasm. Lile Eg 143r ( LM Pt. 5, Ch. 13): ‘Is eadh is anastropha and ... innarbadh luath an bidh trit na ballaibh uachtaracha.’
ancula alba, see scabiosa.
andicum (lat. Indicum), Indian.
andiuia (lat. scariola), the cultivated endive, Cichorium endivia CTW.
anetum, see aineid.
anisum, see ainis.
anmainde (lat. debilitas, defectio), weakness or debility.
anmuindigidh (lat. debilitas), weakens.
anmann (lat. macilentus, debilis), weak.
anntoil, lust.
antera (syn. flos rose, blath an rosa), the anthers of the rose, i.e., the little sacks that contain the pollen. Chapter 34. Circa Instans says, s.v.‘Rosa’, ‘... detur etiam pulvis in ovo sorbili. Antera dicitur, scilicet
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flos rose, scilicet quiddam quod interius reperitur.’ Rufinus (Thorndike, 1946, 273) from Synonyma: ‘Rose semen eius anthera; eis utimur’. From Greek ανθηρς.
antrax (lat. anthrax), "a malygne pustle" (Wulff, 1929). Lile Eg 27r & v ( LM Pt. 1, Ch. 19, Rub. 1): ‘Is eadh is antrax & is carbonclus ann neascoidi beca no gorain neimnacha & bith an loscadh nisa mo a carbonclus & is uime sin bis in t-inadh dubh mar smeroid. Antrax vero, linn ruagh is mo tigernaigeas ann & is amhlaidh aitintear iat ar son co mbi moran do dhathaibh ar tus timchill an gorain a modh cercailli mar ata dath buidhe & dath dearg & dath liuidus & dath dubh ... Is uime aderar anntrax on focal so antrum .i. clais, ar son co ndenann clais mar a mbi & is uime aderar carbonclus on fhocal so carbo ar son co loiscinn mar smeroid teinntighi & co ndubhann asa haithle.’ See filun.
antribulata, see intribulata.
an-umal (lat. inobediens), ‘a problem for’.
apium, see meirsi.
apoplexia (lat. apoplexia), apoplexy. Lile Eg 75v & 76r ( LM Pt. 2, Ch. 26): ‘Is eadh is apoplexia and easlainte incinne bacus mothughadh & gluaiseacht don corp uile co luath obann maille re guth mor roimpi arna denamh o duintibh a fidhisibh & a cabhanaibh oiredha & neamh-oiredha na hincinde ... Da ngairtear tu cum othair & co faicfir gluaiseacht mar do beadh codlad trom domuin air a cosmaileas an codalta re n-abur
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subeth & ac sranfartaigh, gair ina ainm e do guth ard & tairring a fholt & fill a mer & faisc co laidir iat & goin le snathaid no le steil e & muna fregra tu ar aon cor is fer apoplexia e.’
apostolicon (lat. apostolicon), a compound medicine. See Introduction, Chapter 4 p. 52.
aqua rosasium (lat. aqua rosacea), rose water.
ara (lat. timpora), the temples (of one's head). Nom. pl. na hairgi; gen. pl., na n-airgeadh; dat. pl., arna hairgibh.
araibicum, Arabic.
Araip, Arabia.
aran (lat. panis), bread.
arasca, see tataba.
argallamh (syn. auripimentum, arsenicum; lat. auripigmentum), orpiment, the yellow mineral, arsenius trisulphide (As2s3), Chapter 37. An amphora full of this substance was found in the shipwreck at Ulu Burun, off the southern coast of Turkey in Asia, dated to the 14th century BC. One of its uses in ancient times was to give consistency and colour to the wax on a writing tablet, by mixing the wax with 25 per cent orpiment. (Bass, 1987).

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argentaria, see talamh selaithi.
argimonia, see agrimonia.
arigentum vivum, see airgid beo.
aroistoloia, see stoinsi.
aron barba, see geadhar.
arracia, see eilitreog.
arrachtus (lat. audacia), courage.
arrsaideacht, normally, (old) age (lat. vetustas); in Chapter 227, "very old" (lat. decrepitus).
arrsaigh (lat. vetus), old.
arsenicum, see argallamh.
artamesia, see buatfallan liath.
artetica (lat. arthetica), arthritis. Thomas of Cantimpré (1973 i 71):
Nota autem divisionem artetice quadruplicem; artetica proprie vocatur gutta que tenetur in articulis. Sciatica passio vocatur a scia, scie; cyragra a manibus, podagra a pedibus.’’
aru (lat. renes, nefreticus), kidneys.
asafetida (lat. assa fetida), asafoetida, an oleo-gum-resin obtained by incision from the living rhizomes and root of Ferula foetida and other species of Ferula. Chapter 40. The plant is about nine feet tall, and grows in Persia and to the north of India. The substance has a strong and unpleasant smell of garlic, and a bitter taste.

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asal (lat. asinus), donkey.
ascal (lat. subassellae), armpit.
asma (lat. asma), asthma. Lile Eg 118r ( LM Pt. 4, Ch. 8): ‘Is eadh is asma ann docamhail anala maille re foghar, mar ata disnia ina docamhail anala gan fodhar. An lucht asma, vero, bith an n-anal co luath mar do beith neach ac rith no ac saothar no amail do beith neach ac rith no ac saothar no amail do beith neach aca muchadh & an lucht ara mbi disnia bith an n-anal amail anail duine ara mbeith muchadh no amail anail lobuir foirfi & cuiridh an férsa deifir eatorra: Disnia se celat canit asma malumque reuelat, .i. celidh an disnia i fen & labhraidh an asma & foillsigidh a holc.’
asola (= esula), see eisbeorna.
asuir (lat. lazulum), azure, a sky-blue colour or pigment.
ataighidh, dwell.
athair talman (syn. mellifolium; lat. millefolium), yarrow, Achillea millefolium Webb. Chapter 192. Rufinus (Thorndike, 1946, 191): ‘Millefolium alio nomine ambrosia et supercilium Veneris el etiam centonium minus dicitur. Gambam facit aliquantulum longam; eius folia minutissima ut feniculus vel abrotanum; eius flos albus in corona rotunda ut pastinaca; foliis utimur. Nam eius flores interficiunt lumbricos propter amaritudinem quam habent. Nam aliqui flores sunt albi, alii crocei et alii violacei, et sunt omnes in coronis rotundis in sumitatibus ramusculorum
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ut semina feniculi.’
atarrach, to change.
athanasia, see lus na frannc.
athasar, see poiliol ruibel.
athgabaidh, retakes possession.
atnuaigidh, renews.
atruigidh, changes.
att (lat. tumor, inflatio), swelling.
attairrngteach (lat. attrahendi, attractivus), attractive, drawing.
attarraing, drawing.
attcomaill (lat. tumor), swelling. Att and attcomaill are both used to render tumor. Comall ([lt ]con-alla) is to fulfil, and its use in this context may contain the concept of the filling of a space (cf. DIL, 2 do-alla, 1 ellach II) (eDIL s.v. 2 do-alla or dil.ie/17179). It is suggested that att is swelling in general, and attcomaill is a swelling which is regarded as that of a distended cavity, such as a dropsical swelling of the abdomen (i.e. ascites), or a cyst. Thus, attcomaill na sul would be a Meibomian cyst of the eyelids, and attcomaill na cos & na lamh would refer to dropsy in the feet and hands.
attriplex, see eilitreog.
auansia, see macall.
auellana, see cno gaeidilach.
auena, see coirci.
auricula muris, see liathlus beag.

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auripimentum, see argallamh.
aurum, see or.
Babileoin (lat. Babilonia), Babylon.
bainne (syn. lacc; lat. lac), milk. Chapter 160. Bainne cic (lat. lac mulieris, etc.), human milk. Also used of almond oil, see almont, and of the latex of spurge, bainne gearr na heigmhe, Chapter 286. Also, a drop.
baistillerach, bachelor, i.e. one who has taken the first degree at a university.
baithid (lat. extinctum fuerit, abluatur), immerses (a [hot] metal in a liquid). Normally, drowns.
baitis, batas (lat. caput), the top of the head.
baladh (lat. odor), smell; deaghbaladh, lat. redolet; drochbaladh, lat. fetet.
balanon, see measoga daracha.
ball, (lat. membrum, pars), any part of the body; na baill spiradalta, lat. spiritualia, the respiratory organs; na baill feitheacha, lat. nervi, the ‘nerves’.
ballan, nipple.
balsamita, see cartlann.
balsamum (lat. balsamus), balm of Gilead, a substance containing resin and benzoic acid, obtained from Commiphora opobalsamum. Chapter 51.
baluart, see ualuart.
banaltra (lat. lactans), a nurse, i.e. a woman nursing a baby.

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bancia, see meacan righ.
bannda (lat. femina), feminine.
banndacht (lat. vulva, matrix, genitalia). The female reproductive system as a whole was the matrix, Irish maclac (i.e. ‘the baby's place’), but those terms were often used for specific parts of the system. Banndacht was usually reserved for the vulva.
barba filicana, see cruach padraig.
barba Iouis, see teneagal.
Barbara. ‘An tir darub ainm Barbara’, lat. ‘in barbarie regione’; this may refer to the ancient port of Barbarike, via which rhubarb was formerly shipped to Europe from Tibet.
barba siluana, see glaiser coille.
barba sina, see lus na laedh.
barbarum, see reubarbrum.
bardana, see meacan tua.
barr, top. Of herbs, lat. turio, folia. Barr bainne, cream.
bas, bos, the palm of the hand.
bás (lat. mors), death.
basilicon, see colambin.
batas = baitis, q. v.
batlach, an unsophisticated person; icslainte na mbatlach, lat. tyriaca rusticorum, ‘poor man's theriac’, a facetious name for garlic. Theriac was originally a cure for an injury inflicted by a wild animal, but came
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in time to mean a panacea.
beach, a bee.
beanaid, takes; of plants, a buain (lat. colligitur), to gather (plants); boin sudh asdu, extract the juice; ‘an ainmighi as na beantar’, ‘the animal "out of whom was not taken"’, i.e., who was not castrated.
beannaithi, blessed.
bearbaidh, boils. There is some confusion between heating, cooking, boiling and infusing. Irish terms are bruithidh and bearbaidh. Latin, calefacere, coquere, decoquere, bullire, elixus. Decoction meant boiling the plant in water for a time and macerating it for a time afterwards. Infusion meant pouring boiling water over the plant and covering it and leaving it to stand for a while. Other methods that were used to extract substances from the plant were maceration, which was to soak the plant in cold water for a time; and extraction of juices, by parboiling the fresh plant very briefly, and then subjecting it to pressure in a press. In each case, the liquid was finally strained through a finely woven cloth.
bearraid (lat. abradere), shave.
beata, life.
beiridh, carries, bears; beiridh a brigh, it retains its efficacy; beiridh a toirrceas, beiridh leanamh, she gives birth; beartar an leanamh uaithi, the baby is taken from her (in birth).

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bel: an orifice, normally a person's mouth, lat. os;
bel an gaili, strictly, the entrance or cardiac orifice of the stomach, but usually referring to the outer surface thereover (lat. furcula pectoris, os stomachi);
bel an maclaig, see maclac;
bel na n-isgad, see isgad.
bellirisi, see mirbulani.
benedicta, a compound medicine. See Introduction, Chapter 4 p. 52.
beodacht (lat. solicitudo), liveliness. In the context of Chapter 280, a lively interest.
berberis, the barberry, Berberis vulgaris Webb.
bernix, see vernix.
beta, see biatus.
bethadhach, beast.
betonica, see bitoine.
biadh (lat. cibus), food.
biadhamail, biadhamlacht (lat. glutinositas), treacly and substantial. This term is used in Lile (e.g. 181va, line 25; LM Pt. 7, Ch. 3) to render muccilago.
biatus (syn. beta, pleta, cicula; lat. sicla), beet, Beta vulgaris Webb. Chapter 58.
bibolica, see fotlact.
bidellium (lat. bdellium), bdellium, a gum resin resembling myrrh, of which several varieties are recognised. Probably from Commiphora roxburghii (from
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India) or Commiphora africana (north-east Africa).
bilar, see bilur uisce.
biliria, see fotlact.
bilonia, see coinneall mhuire.
bilur muire (syn. ipofilia), brooklime, Veronica beccabunga Webb. Chapter 159. See local.
bilur uisce, bilar (syn. nastursium; lat. nasturcium), watercress, Nasturtium officinale Webb, and Nasturtium microphyllum Webb. Chapter 205. As to the cultivated cress, see gaill bilur.
binid, rennet, i.e. a substance used to curdle milk when making cheese, usually the curdled milk found in the stomach of an unweaned calf.
bisa, see ruibh.
bismalua, see leamhadh.
bitnua (syn. fugo demonum; lat. ypericon), St. John's wort, Hypericum perforatum Webb. Chapter 138.
bitoine (syn. bitonica; lat. betonica), betony, Stachys officinalis Webb. Chapter 63.
blaesc, blaisc, plaesc (lat. testa), shell (e.g. of egg).
blanca, a compound medicine, See Introduction, Chapter 4 p. 52.
blas (lat. sapor), taste.
blath (lat. flos), flower;
blath an rosa, see antera;
blath na raibhe uisce, see raibh uisce.
blath in luaidhe (syn. cerusa; lat. cerusa, flos plumbi),
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‘flower of lead’, ceruse, i.e. white lead, basic lead carbonate. Chapter 82. See luaighe.
blath na fuinnseoigi, see fuinnseog.
blath na time (syn. epetimen; lat. epithimum), the dodder that parasitises thyme, Cuscuta epithymum Webb. Chapter 117.
bligid (lat. mulgere), milks. The references in Chapter 160 indicate that there is a point to using milk immediately on its being expressed.
blonaig (lat. assungia, axungia, adeps, pinguis), the lard or soft fat of an animal.
bo (lat. adj., vaccinus), cow.
bocaidi (lat. adj., hyrcinum), a male or puck goat.
bocan, see fuil bocain.
bog (lat. calidus, tepidus, (cera) liquefacta), warm, soft.
bogaidh: softens (lat. mollire); relaxes (lat. laxare, relaxare, lenire); in Chapter 29, ‘no go mboga an gran’ (lat. putrefactum) appears to refer to the freeing of the starch from gluten, which remains in a sticky mass, while the starch separates on standing from the milky washings.
bolg: belly; occurs only in bolga an daergalair, (lat. condilomata quasi glandule, emorroidas, thenasmon), the swellings of piles.
bolgam, a sup.
boltanugadh (lat. olfactus), smell.

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bolus Armenicus, see uir sleibi Armeinia.
bonn (lat. vole manuum et pedum), the sole of the foot.
borax (lat. borax), borax. In Chapter 61, the Irish text, following Circa Instans, states that this is the gum of a tree. However, the Irish author adds, apparently on his own account, ‘as leis daingnid na cerdada na mitaill ele re ceili’, which suggests that he was aware that borax, sodium borate, occurs as a native salt.
borraiste (lat. borago), borage, Borago officinalis CTW.
bos, see bas.
bo-samhadh, see samadh.
bracadh (lat. humiditas), a liquid substance. In Chapter 197, it refers to musk.
bracteos, see liathan locadh.
braen, a drop.
braighid (lat. collum, guttur), throat.
braitlis, unfermented worts.
bran (lat. furfur), bran.
branca ursina, see gallfotannan.
brat (‘bratt & finn na sul’, lat. pannum oculorum), a fibrous web, like a piece of cloth (i.e., = pannum). In relation to the eyes, it probably refers to trachoma, a disease due to a virus, which is characterised by pale-coloured nodules, rather like boiled sago, on the conjunctiva (mucous membrane) which lines the eyelids. The cornea becomes covered with a hazy film. The disease is chronic, persistent, and severe, and is the
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greatest single cause of loss of sight.
breid (lat. pecia), a piece of cloth.
breith, the womb.
bren (lat. fetidus), bad-smelling.
brenaidh (lat. putrescere), (of cheese) goes bad.
brenanalaighi (lat. fetor oris), badness of breath.
brentas (lat. fetor), a bad smell.
brici (‘in aigid ... a fathadh & a brici’, lat. tuberositatibus desiccatis), freckles, spots, blotches. In Lile, the term breicnighi (its present-day form is bricíní) covers a wide field, from freckles to symptoms of serious diseases. It appears that the name lentigo is from lens, apparently in reference to the (double) convex form of the seeds of lentil, and the description indicates wide, round discoloured lumps. The ‘true lentigo’ looks like the eruptions that occur at a certain stage of enteric (=typhoid) fever, but lentigo also appears to include the rash of scarlet fever and the acne associated with dyspepsia.
Lile Eg 100v-101r ( LM Pt. 3, Ch. 24): ‘Lentigines sunt infecciones cutis faciei ut plurimum’ .i. ‘is eadh is breicnighi ann salchur croicinn na haithche ni is mionca, & uair and croicinn an cuirp uile.
CAUSE: tic an salcur so uair and co hinmedonac & uair eli co foirimilleach. Go foirimilleach mar is follus in tan ticid o ro-teasaideacht greini no o aer truaillidhe cona cosmailibh. Et mas co hinmedonach
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teguit, tic sin o faothugadh, no o tosach na fola mista, no fola an daergalair, no o fostugadh na n-imarcach eli do gnathuigheadh d'fholmugadh, no o maitheas na brighi ag glanadh an cuirp ona imurcachaibh, no o mailis an leanna ac dul a foirimill.
SIGNA: da mbe o cuisibh foirimillacha no o fostoghadh na n-imurcach do cleachtadh d'innarbudh, aithintear sin o fhoillsiughadh an othair & madh o fhaethughadh bes, aithintear sin o etromugadh an othair & o scur an fhiabruis, & madh o maithes na naduir bes, beith gan gere can teinneas, & madh o mailis in adhbuir bes, bith maille re droch-aicidibh eigin do shir, mar ata tochus & teinneas & anbfhuinne tochluighthe & a cosmaile. Et da mbia salcur an croicinn o fuil deirg bith ac dul a ndeirgi, & da mbia o linn ruagh, ac dul a mbuideacht, & da mbia o linn finn, ac dul a ngile, & da mbia o linn dubh, bidh ag dul a nguirme & a nduibe, & madh o fuil truaillidhe bes, bith dath an croicinn mar fuil mairbh.
PROGNOSTICACIO: da ti brecnighi & salchur croicinn a fiabrus roim comurtaibh in dileaghtha & in la nach la faethuighthe, is ro-olc & is marbtach in comurtha & is uime sin is coir croicinn na droingi sin d'fechain co minic.
CURACIO: da mbia salcur san aghaidh & in corp linta no tighernas ac fuil deirg ann, leigtear cuisli a cefalica, & da mbia sa corp uile, leigtear a mediana & ainnsein a sophena, & is mor foghnus fuiliugadh arna
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colpadhaibh no idir na slinnenaibh no fon smeig, maseadh folmuighthir in linn fona riachtanas a les, & is ro-minic adubhradh so, maseadh dentar stufadha & tabartar opiatadha foiniar a tus an adhbuir, & adubramar moran aran adhbar so sa cet leabur. Et ar nglanadh an cuirp co imslan, dentar uinniminte & coimilta & uisceadha & a cosmaile do glanadh in croicind. Et is iat so na neithi adhburdha da ndentar sin .i.
min eorna &
min milium &
fenugrecum &
lupinorum &
almont tserbha &
raibh &
ael &
uitreolum &
nitrum &
mirr &
sal armoniacum &
porcellana &
sligen geala muirighi &
cruel & be e geal & dearg &
amidum &
caindi &
penidie &
licoris &

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bainne figidh &
arsenicum arna tairring &
airgidluim &
domblas ae en beris a cuid ar eigin &
uisce tartarum &
uisce rafanus &
gedhar &
dragontia &
lili &
blatha truim &
blatha ponaire &
fumiter &
maiorana
& co hairithi sa fuil mairbh nua, oir an tan is arrsaidh hi is eigin fuiliughadh do denumh, &
gum na ruibhe fiadhain &
croicinn citruini &
finegra finn &
sugh brain &
min risi &
bainne duille na figidh, no a barr, no na figedha, no an t-uisce ara mbearbtar;
fortachtaigidh an t-uisce ara mbearbtar figidh arna ol, oir glanaidh so salcur an croicinn, & ni headh amhain acht furtachtaidh an naduir d'innarbadh na n-imurcach a foirimill; & fedtar trosisci do denum do aen ni no do moran dib so fo riachtanas a les na neithidh rannuidhe.
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Et an tan bus ail a ngnathughadh, a cumasc le huisce blatha ponaire no re bainne & a coimilt don aghaidh san oidhche & a hinnladh sa lo arna marach le huisce brain; gidheadh, do budh maith in gach ni dib so, ar nglanadh an cuirp, an croicinn do bogadh le deathach uisce ara mbearbtar malua & bismalua & caith eorna & coirce. Et do rinnemar comraiti fada aran maisiughadh sa cet leabur & co ndingnam caibidil specialta a ndeireadh na hainntidare de & is uime sin scuirim annso de.
CLARIFICACIO: dleaghar a tuicsin da mbia an corp línta co huilidhe co ndleaghar cuisli do leigin a basilica & muna bia an línadh a comor sin & an salchur do beith isin corp uile leigtear mediana & madh isin aghaidh bes leigtear a cifalica. An .2. ni dleaghar do tuicsin .i. curob mionca & curob mo tegmus an truailliughadh so o linn dubh & is doigh da tegmadh o leannaibh eli nach lentigines co dilis iat oir bidh lentigines do shir ac dul a riabhcacht eigin & bith an salchur ballach mar lentes & mar sin bhid lethan cruinn & a ndath ac dul a riabhcacht; gidheadh bith gne do linn dubh ro-reamur & is uadha sin do-nitear gorain & scabies & mala mortuum isna ballaibh ichtaracha & an uair is nemreimhe na sin e teid cum na haidche & ni heidir a discaileadh & is uime sin do-ni lentigenes. Linn ruagh vero, is urusa a discaileadh muna bia arna remhrughadh o cumasc no o loscadh.’
brigh (lat. virtus, vis, efficacia, proprietas), virtue,
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power, effect.
brisc, brittle.
(na) brisclain (syn. tanasetum agreste), silverweed, Potentilla anserina Webb. Chapter 267.
brisidh, breaks (lat. frangere, findere); to pound with a mortar and pestle (lat. terere, conterere, contundere, fiat pulvis); of the voice, ‘gairbi in gotha noc brisis o fuaraideacht’, (lat. ‘clarificat raucam vocem’); to burst a boil (lat. rumpere); of a cracked lip, ‘an aigid brisidh an beoil’ (lat. ‘contra ragadias .i. fixuras labiorum’).
bron (lat. tristicia, capitis strictura), sorrow.
bru, gen. brond (lat. venter, alvus, stomacus), the abdomen. Chapter 282.
bruchtadh (lat. eructuatio), belching.
brughadh, bruise.
bruisingni (lat. ad ungues reparandos), decaying or flaking fingernails. This may be the pannaricium (cf. pannosus, ragged, tattered) of Lile Eg 45r ( LM Pt. 1, Ch. 28): ‘Is eadh is pannaricium and neascoid teinn teasaide bis a mbun na n-ingean, uair and maille le creacht & uair eli maille le sileadh neimhneach, & ni bhi an mer gan guasacht in tan sin ... Et da mbia creacht and leigestar hi le haloe & le tuis & le harcenicum.’ The reference to orpiment (arcenicum) tallies with the last sentence in Chapter 37 of the present text.

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bruithidh (lat. coquere, decoquere, elixare, apozima, pistare) cooks. See bearbaidh; cf. Chapter 25, ‘bruit mil & finegra & beirb noco mbia a tigi meala’; Chapter 103, ‘beirb ar fin & ar ola ... a bearbadh ina haitle noco ndeaca an fin fo bruit’ (lat. ‘usque dum reducatur ad oleum’). Bruithidh is much used in the first half of the text, but it is not used at all after Chapter 103.
bruitida (lat. impetigo, serpigo), pimples. Lile Eg 27v ( LM Pt. 1, Ch. 19, Rub. 1): ‘Impetigo serpigo formica miliaris et formica deambulatiua sunt pustule parue corrumpiens & inficientes cutim’ .i. ‘na neithe so ader is gorain beca iat truaillis & tshalchas in croicinn do-nitear o linn ruagh loisce seim nis mo & is uime sin tshiblaid & gluaisid; fasaid ar fud an cuirp no in croicinn & do-citear uair and etillac do denum doibh & uair eli cumsanadh an en inad & uair and gabhuid moran don croicinn & uair eli beagan & gairtear a coitcinne emberbes no ignis uolatilis & bit maille re teasaideacht & re tennis & re deirgi & re truailliughadh & uair and creachtnaigid & cnaidit & is uime sin fedtar a n-airemh idir eslantibh an croicinn.’ See carraighe.
bruscar (‘bith ana bruscar min’, lat. ‘facile pulverizatur’), a heap of raggedy small pieces.
bruscus, see gilcach sleibhe.
bruth (lat. excoriatio, scabies, prudor, pruritus mordax, prurigo, scrophae, ulcus, serpigo, impetigo), an itchy
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sore.
bruthadh; ‘don ball arna bruthadh’, for the sore part. See bruth.
buaid, a beneficial characteristic.
bualadh (lat. percussio), a blow, a beating.
bualtrach, cow dung.
buatfallan liath (syn. artamesia, mater herbarum; lat. arthemisia), mugwort, Artemisia vulgaris Webb. Chapter 42.
buidheacair (lat. icteritia), jaundice. Lile Eg 166v, 167r ( LM Pt. 6, Ch. 6): ‘Is eadh is buideacair ann salchar uilidhe an croicinn ... Et atait tri gneithi ar yctericia .i. citrina & uiridis & nigra ... Mad o cuisibh tinnscainteacha bes, do gabur sin o foillsiugadh an othair, & mad ona haeibh beas bith maille re truaighi in coirp uile & re truimidheacht na leithe dheis. Et madh o sparan an domblais bes, tic co hobann, & madh hi an tslighe teid cum na n-inne bes duinte, bid an feradh geal & bith dath na haidhchi buidhi & bid seirbi beil & tart ann & mad hi an tslighe teid cum in gaili beas duinte, bith an fual dathi tiugh crochdha & bith an t-ingl– dathi lés. Et mad on tsheilg bes bith cruas & truimideacht isin tsheilg & is follus comarta eli leanna duibh. Et dleaghar a tuicsin nach tic buideacair buidhi na crochda on tsheilg coidhche acht dubh do shir gidheadh fedaidh buideacair dubh teacht ona haeibh & on tseilg & is iat a
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comartaighi idirdealaca oir an buideacair tic ona haeibh ni comdubh hi & in tan bis on tsheilg & ni follus cruas na truimideacht isin tsheilg an tan sin.’
buighean (lat. vitellus), yolk (of egg).
buigi (lat. mollicia), softness.
buighi (lat. citrinus), yellow.
buighri (lat. surditas), deafness.
builing (lat. panis), a loaf (of bread).
bun, the lower part, above ground, of a plant.
bunait na feitheadh, the place of origin of the nerves. The treatment for paralysis in Chapter 152 compares with Rosa Anglica (Wulff, 1929, p. 266), and also with Lile Eg 77v, where ‘bunadhus na feithidh’ is used in the course of rendering ‘debemus considerare quod medicamina apponantur in origine neruorum’ ( LM Pt. 2, Ch. 27). From Thomas of Cantimpré (1973 i 40), the place in question appears to be the (back of the) head: ‘Nervi oriuntur a cerebro, unde omnis sensus a nervis est. Statim enim quando leditur aliquod membrum, dolor cerebrum tangit. Ex origine enim duorum principalium nervorum due tele super cerebrum contexuntur.’
burneta, see lus creidhe.
bursa pastoris, see lus an sbarain.
butirum, see im.

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Cabun, a capon, i.e., a castrated cock.
cadas (lat. bombax), cotton. Hairs on the seeds of a shrub, Gossypium herbaceum, were harvested in Egypt, where the shrub was cultivated.
caelaid, to make slender.
caer, berry;
caera na fineamhna (syn. uua; lat. uve), grapes; Chapter 279;
caera an iubair craigi, see iubar craigi.
caera (lat. ovis), a sheep.
caertann curraig (syn. fu, ualerian; lat. fu, valeriana) wild valerian, Valeriana officinalis Webb. Chapter 137.
caibidil, chapter.
cail (lat. qualitas), quality. The four qualities are teasaideacht, fuaraideacht, tirimideacht, fliuchaideacht, i.e., hotness, coldness, dryness, wetness.
caileach (lat. gallus), a cock.
cailgid, to sting.
caili, thinness; ‘cuirig an corp a caile’, lat. extenuant.
cailicin (lat. caligo), (of the eyes) mistiness.
cailimint (syn. calamentum vel calamentum maighis; lat. calamentum, nepeta), calamint, Calamintha sylvatica Webb. Chapter 68.

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cainci acuidh; Hogan (1900) gives "eyebright" for this on the authority of Cameron's Gaelic names of plants; i.e., Euphrasia species, Webb. The term occurs four times in the present text, three times in relation to the eyes: Chapters 96, 154 and 168. Euphrasia, for which the Modena manuscript gives the synonym luminella, was much used for eye troubles, as the Modena manuscript indicates. It may not be without significance that cainci coilli is also used for the eyes.
cainci coille (syn. galitr[ic]um; lat. gallitricum), the cultivated clary, Salvia sclarea. Chapter 144. The term may have been originally for Salvia horminoides Webb. See cainci acuidh.
cainel (syn. cinamomum; lat. cinamomum, canella), cinnamon, the dried middle layer of the bark of coppiced trees of Cinnamomum zeylanicum, of Sri Lanka and southern India. Chapter 85. It is thought that, prior to the thirteenth century, cinnamon was derived from Cinnamomum cassia from China, the bark of which is now known as Chinese cassia lignea.
cainndi: siucra cainndi, sugar candy. See siucra.
caiserban bec (syn. morsus demonis, greim an deamhain), devil's bit scabious, Succisa pratensis Webb. Chapter 196. Another name for the plant may be leadán curraigh (Hunt, 1986–87, p. 129 [242]).
caisi (lat. caseolus), cheese.

p.686

caith, chaff, husks.
caitidh (lat. comedere, sumere, mandere), to eat, consume.
caitine, catkin. Used to describe pepper. The inflorescence produced on the vines of Piper nigrum is a spike of about 20-30 sessile flowers, which develop into sessile fruits.
Calabria, in Italy.
calamentum, see cailimint.
calamus aromaticus, the rhizome of sweet flag, Acorus calamus Webb. Now mainly used as a source of calamus oil, employed in perfumery.
calmaigidh (lat. mollire, confortare, corroborare), to make steady.
calo, represents καλς, beautiful, fair; good.
calx viva, see ael ur.
camamilla (lat. camomilla), flowerheads of chamomile, Chamaemelum nobile Webb, collected from cultivated plants and dried. It appears that the wild chamomile, Chamomilla recutita (listed in the Census Catalogue of the Flora of Ireland) was used as a substitute for the true chamomile, oil of chamomile being distilled from the flowerheads.
Cameactis, see ualuart.
camphorata, see suramunt.
campora (lat. camphora), camphor. In the Middle Ages, this referred to Borneo camphor, obtained from Dryobalanops aromatica.

p.687

capillus veneris, see dubcosach.
carapotisi (syn. caera an eighinn), berries of ivy. Rufinus (Thorndike, 1946, 116) says:
Scissi idem edera: xilocissi, id est, lignum edere; carpocissi, id est, fructus edere; oppocissi, id est, gumi edere.’’
καρπς + κισσς.
carauaidh, caraway, Carum carvi Webb.
carbad (lat. caro gingivarum), the gums.
carbuncalus, carbuncle. For the account in Lile, see antrai.
cardiaca, cardiaca passio (lat. cardiaca, cardiaca passio): normally, this is ‘heartburn’, as the association with digestion problems e.g. in chapters 85 and 179 shows, but the frequent association of it with sincoipis in the present text shows that it may also have been applied to painful symptoms of what were true heart conditions. Even today, heart diseases can be recognised only by a trained observer.
carraighe (lat. scabies), favus, one type of tinea or ringworm (i.e. inflammatory affections of the skin produced by moulds), consisting of a hard, dry, scabby or scaly formation, occurring on the scalp, skin and nails. Lile Eg 52v ( LM Pt. 2, Ch. 8): ‘Tinea est scabies capitis cum scammis & crustis .i. is eadh is carraighi ann scabies an cinn maille re lannaibh & re crustadhaibh & re scris an finnfaidh & re dath luatha & re brentas & re fechain adhuathmar. Asiat cuisi na
p.688
heaslainti so leanna truaillidhe do berar a broinn no tegmas a ndiaigh droch-follamhnuighthe an leinbh, no ona bhuime no ona athair no ona mathair do beith carrach innus co mbi uair and maille re sileadh & re favus & re salchur & uair and ina n-egmais, acht curob mionca bis tirim na fliuch, o truailliughadh dasachtach & o loscadh na leannann.’
Lile Eg 40v and 41r ( LM Pt. 1, Ch. 24): ‘Is eadh is scabies and, salcur croicinn maille re lannaibh & re tochus uair and, & uair eli tirim & uair eli fliuch & uair eli maille re sileadh, & bis nisa mionca isna ballaibh foirimillacha & uair eli gabus moran don corp ... Gentear salcuir examhla do reir meide no loighid an truallighthe, maseadh tic allus ara mbi baladh trom ar tus and, & da meidighthear an truailliughadh do-nitear pruritus .i. tochus, & da mbia nis laidiri na sin do-nitear scabies tshalach, & da meidighthear nisa mo na sin do-nitear empetigo & serpigo mar a mbi loscadh is mo & ni bhi sileadh andsin & da mbia in truailliughadh nis mo do-nitear morphea & do-nitear lubra asa haithle ... Da mbia an scabies o fuil deirg bith an t-inadh ac dul a ndeirgi maille re fliuchaideacht & re tochus mor & re hailgis mor aca denum, gidh teinn e fa deireadh, & madh o linn finn tsaillte beas bidh lanna & sileadh ann & tochus dasachtach & ailgis aga denum, & teinneas dasachtach ina diaigh. Et madh o linn dubh bes bidh an t-inadh
p.689
ina timcill uile ac dul a nduibhi & bid na gorain & an scabies tirim maille re becan silidh & uirulencia, & mad o linn ruagh bes bith an t-inadh a dul a mbuidheacht maille re tochus mor & re tirmaideacht & re bristibh.’ See bruitida.
cart, a quart.
cartlann (syn. balsamita, mentastrom; lat. sisimbrium), watermint, Mentha aquatica Webb. Chapter 64.
caruaighe, see carauaidh.
casadh, a twisting.
casia fistula (lat. cassia fistula), cassia pods, the dried ripe fruits of a leguminous tree, Cassia fistula, indigenous to India.
casnaidheach (lat. pulvis), small chips.
castoirium, beaver oil, or castor, an odorous, oily substance, the secretion of abdominal glands of the beaver, Castor fiber.
cat, a cat.
cathair, city.
catapusia, see gran oilella.
catarrus (lat. catarrus, frigidum reuma capitis), catarrh, inflammation of any mucous membrane, especially of the air passages in the head.
cat braigid (‘an aigid scinannsia & tuitme an tsine tseaain & na cat mbraigid’, lat. vitium faucis), scrofula of the neck, disease of glands of the neck arising from a tuberculous constitution.
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Lile Eg 32r ( LM Pt. 1, Ch. 21, Rub. 1 & 2): ‘Fecham anois dona neascoidibh fuara... & in cuid bis o linn finn bith cuid dibh bog fliuch so-tadhaill & bith cuid eli daingean cruaidh & gach cruaidhe da mbid is fuairide iat... De nodis & glandulis .i. is o linn finn arna teachtadh & arna cruadhughadh & arna daingniughadh do-nitear na neascoidi so & leigestar iat o tri modhaibh. An cet modh dibh, a fascadh co laidir no gabtar platta daingean luaidhe & dluithighthear co daingen laidir ru e & ceangailtear e dibh asa haithle & dentar frichnamh da fascadh co laidir. An .2. modh o fedtar a leiges .i. le leigesaibh loiscteacha... An .3. modh ara leigestar iat .i. tairringtear an croicinn do gach leith & gearrthar air & fenntar gacha leith iad & beantar an cochall bhis ina timcill amach leo uile & leigestar ainsein iad mar na cneadhaibh eli & bid da innillus aga leiges. An cet innillus dibh gan eni d'fagbhai1 don cochall oir do fhasfadh aris da fagthai. An .2. hinnillus da mbid feithi noid sreanga a ngar doibh gan a ngortughadh... De scrofulis: is o linn finn gloinidhe & o linn dubh gentear scrofule & is annsa feoil mbuig is mo geintear iat & is uime sin imdaightear iat isin braghaid & isna hoscallaibh & is annamh do-gen scrofule 'na aonar gan a mbith moran ar en slighe gidheadh bith en scrofule reamhur mor ina enar uair and & uair eli timairctear nodi imdha cengailti re cheli & do-citear mar turpan¹⁷² an airde.
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Et is annsna macamhaibh is usa iat & isna dainibh oga is deacra.’ See 2, easbadh.
catimia, see slaidteach.
catughadh (lat. resistandi), fight against.
cauda purcina, see gurmaill.
caulis ortentis, see praiseach and coblan.
causon, ardent fever. Καων = burning. Lile Eg 15r & v ( LM Pt. 1, Ch. 3): ‘Is eadh is causon and fiabrus cointinoideach do-nitear o linn ruagh astigh dona soithibh bis a mball uasal no an inadh a foccus don croidhi... Lastar an corp co laidir o sho-lasamhnacht leanna ruaigh, & ar a beith nisa mo isan gaili & isna haeibh & isna hinadhaibh a foccus don croidhi & is mar so deifrighis se o terciana... Loscadh, curob is uime sin is annamh tegmas se dona seandainibh & da tegma is comurtha millti & is ro-minic tegmus dona dainibh oga... Is iat comurtai causoin loscadh & lasadh ro-mor isin corp uile maille re hanmhuinni & re do-fhulang & re moran d'aicidibh marbtacha mar ata frenisis & neamh-codladh & codladh domuin uair eli & duibhe & feodhacht na teangadh & sincopis & ictericia & tremor & flux brond & fostughadh uair eli & puls bec ro-luath & fual dearg seimh, gidheadh examhailtear an fual co minic... Is ro-luath crichnaightear in easlainte so & madh follus gach en deagh-comurtha ina tossach tic cum slainte sa .4. la no leth astigh de & mas iat na droch-comurthai
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bus follus and teid cum bais fan aimsir cetna & uair ann faidhightear conuig an .7. la. Et ni heidir an easlainte so d'faidiughadh oir ni fuilinginn an naduir fad na heaslainte & athmultacht na ndroch-aicideadh ... Cibe da tegemha tremor a causon & radhbuile do teacht ina cenn, leighesidh e.’
ceangal (lat. constringere, conglutinare), to bind.
ceann (lat. caput), head. ‘Gu ceann tri mbliadhain’, lat. per triennium.
ceannsughadh (lat. reprimere), overcome.
cearc (lat. gallina), a hen; en circe, (lat. pullus), a chicken.
cearrmocan (syn. eruca; lat. eruca), the great water parsnip, Sium latifolium Webb. Chapter 123. On the Continent, eruca meant Eruca sativa (= Brassica eruca), but the English Agnus Castus (Brodin, 1950) and the Grete Herball (Rydén, 1984) both understand it as skirret (i.e. water parsnip). The main Irish authority for cearbhacán being skirret is Peter O'Connell. The 15th century King's Inns MS 17, fo. 32, equates cearrmacan with peaistinica (i.e. parsnip), per King's Inns Catalogue, p. 49.
cebuli, see mirbulani.
(ar) cedlongadh (lat. in mane, mane ieiuno ore), fasting, before breakfast. See David Greene, Celtica 2 (1952) 146.
cefaili, a form of headache (cephalia); Lile Eg 56v ( LM
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Pt. 2, Ch. 10): ‘Dleaghar a fis gu tegmann tennis ger laidir sa ceann cu huilidhe da ngairtear cephalia no ouum no dolor galiatus, noch bis maille re bemnigh & re gearradh cona cosmailibh, innus nach fedann in t-othar guth ard no solus d'fhulang, & is uime sin bis mian tochta & uaignis & dorcadais aigi.’
ceim (lat. gradus), degree.
ceinnsceatrach (lat. sternutatio), ‘an emetic for the head’, usually something to cause sneezing.
ceir (lat. cera), wax, usually beeswax.
ceirin (lat. cataplasma, emplastrum, unguen, sinapisma), a plaster. The term is wide enough to include a poultice and a compress.
celedonia, selidonia (lat. celidonia), greater celandine, Chelidonium majus Webb. Chapter 79.
centauria, see dedga.
centinodia, see gluinech bec.
centonica, see absinthium.
centum capita, see creamh.
ceo, of the eyes, haze.
cepa, see uinneamhan.
cerd, npl. cerdada, a metal-worker.
cerefolium, see comann gall.
cerusa, see blath in luaidhe.
cetfaid (lat., Chapter 280, mens, sensus), senses.
ciarach (lat. cera liquefacta), melted wax.
cibapirum, see raibh.

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cic (lat. mamma, mamella), woman's breast.
ciclamin malum, see cularan.
cicorea, see rudus.
cicotrinum, see aloe.
cicula, see beta.
cimbularia, see curnan caisil.
ciminum dulse, see ainis.
cin (‘o cin leanna finn’, lat. ex abundantia flegmatis), fault.
cinamomum, see cainel.
cinis, see luaith.
cinn adhairt, pillow.
cinoglosa, see finscoth.
cintac, guilty.
cirta, combed.

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citonalens (i.e. citovalens¹⁷³), see sidubal.
citragha, for citrago, i.e., the cultivated balm, Melissa officinalis Webb. Chapter 84. Orufont in Chapter 84 is a mistake: it means horehound, Marrubium vulgare Webb, as in Chapter 183. Balm and horehound are closely related, and much alike, but they are easily distinguished from one another. See mellago.
citrinus, yellow, specifically, lemon coloured.
citruilli, see sitruilli.
claechlaid (lat. alterare, obliviscere), changes.
claired, clary, a spiced or medicated wine. Claretum was a type of preparation and not a single recipe. Other similar terms for spiced or medicated wines were pigmentum (see piement) and gariofilatum.
claman lin (syn. cuscuta; lat. cuscuta), the dodder that parasitises flax, Cuscuta epilinum CTW. Chapter 101. For another dodder, see blath na time.
clann, progeny.
clannmar, productive of progeny.
cleite (lat. penna), a feather.
cliabh (lat. pectus), the chest.
clisteri (lat. clister), clyster, enema.
clobus (syn. gariofilus; lat. gariofilus), cloves, the dried flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum, a tree 10 to 20 metres high which is indigenous to the Molucca
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Islands. (Synonyms are Eugenia caryophyllata and Caryophyllus aromaticus). Chapter 146.
cloch (lat. lapis, calculus, testa), a stone; also used of a brick.
cloch lia, a whetstone.
cluas (lat. auris), the ear.
cnaib, hemp, Cannabis sativa CTW, formerly cultivated for its fibre, for its oil, and for medical use.
cnaidid (lat. consumere, corrodere; cauterium sine igne), to corrode; to burn diseased tissue by chemical action.
cnaidteach, cnaiteach (lat. consumendi), corrosive.
cnaim, cnam (lat. os, ossis; cartillago), a bone.
cnaim craige an fiada (syn. os de corde serui; lat. os de corde cervi), ‘the bone of the stag's heart’, a concretion of some sort from the male deer. Chapter 215.
cnaimh na heilefinte (syn. spodium; lat. spodium), spodium ([lt ] σποδóω, to burn to ashes), ivory which has been reduced to a fine powder by a dry heat. Chapter 250.
cnapanach (lat. nodosa), knobby. The reference in Chapter 143 is to the rhizome of galangal.
cneadh (lat. vulnus; when festering, ulcus, fistula), a wound.
cneasaighidh (lat. consolidare, conglutinare), heals.
cno, cnu (lat. nux), nut.
cno francach (syn. nux magna; lat. nux), walnut, Juglans regia CTW. Chapter 209.

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cno Gaeidilach (syn. auellana, nux parua; lat. avellana), hazel nut, Corylus avellana Webb. Chapter 46.
cnuasach (lat. colligere), to gather (plants).
coblan, cabbage, Brassica oleracea CTW, which was, of course, cultivated. In Chapter 281, sugh praisce coblain suggests that the cultivated cabbage was known as praiseach cobhláin, echoing the Latin brassica and caulis. See praiseach.
codion, see popin.
codlad (syn. sompnus; lat. somnus, sopor), sleep. Chapter 259.
cogal (syn. gitt; lat. git) corn cockle, Agrostemma githago Webb. Chapter 149.
cognamh (lat. commasticare, masticareatterere), chew.
coididiana (lat. quotidiana, unaquaque die febrem), quotidian fever. Lile Eg 19v-20r ( LM Pt. 1, Ch. 7): ‘Is eadh is cotidiana and fiabrus do-nitear o linn finn morgaighthi & da morga se leath astigh dona soithibh do-ni cotidiana cointinoideach & madh leath amuigh dibh do-ni cotidiana interpullata ... Isi is cuis don fiabrus so uaingis & linadh urlaicteach & is uime sin as urusa les teacht a ngemhridh & a seandainibh & a macamhaibh & a ndainibh fliucha fleadhmaiticeacha & an iascaireadhaibh & a ndroing aca mbi bruchtach goirt & ac an lucht aga mbi catarrus ac tuitim cum an gaili & tic co cumair o gach ni o ngentear linn finn & mar gentear moran do gneithibh na fiabrus eli fo examlacht
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an adhbhair is mar sin isin fiabrus so. Tinnscnaidh cotidiana fire maille re fuacht bec na mball foirimillach & re puls bec foluightheach & an tan tic cum a staide ni hard a teasaideacht acht min folaightheach & bith an puls examail do sir & crichnaighthear e maille re becan alluis & bith an fual isill ina tossach.’
coilera (lat. colera), linn ruagh (q. v.), yellow bile, the choleric humour. Coilera citrina, lemon-coloured; uitilina, yolk-coloured.
coilerdha (lat. colericus), choleric.
coilica (lat. colica passio), colic, i.e., an attack of pain in the abdomen of a spasmodic nature. Lile Eg 152r ( LM Pt. 5, Ch. 18): ‘Is eadh is colica and easlainte eigin bis isin .2. hinde iochtarach da ngairtear colon, maille re deacracht innarbtha an fheraidh tar na ballaibh iochtaracha & maille re teinneas mor & re bruidernach. Dleaghar a tuicsin timcill an adhbuir si, gin co fuil and acht en inne cointinoideach, ni lughaide gabhaid anmanna examhla do reir a n-inntoigh & fillti & reamhuire & a caile, innus co ngairtear duodenum don cet inni & ieiunium don .2. hinne. An .3. inne fada caol aderur ileon ris & is annsin cuisightear ilica passio. An .4. hinne orobus. An .5. hinne gairtear colon de & is annsin cuisightear colica passio, ar bfhuil ar n-inntinn andso. An .6. hinne deighinach aderur longon ris ... Atait cuisi imdha
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ag an easlainte so ... o gach uile biadh reamhur do-dileaghtha is deacair d'innarbadh sis & tegmaidh o brisidh & o casadh & o lagadh sifac & o tuitim na n-inneadh a sparan na n-uirgidh ...’
coillidhe (lat. agrestis, silvestris), wild (as opposed to cultivated).
coillti (lat. castratus), castrated.
coimceangal (lat. constringendum, glutinosus), binding.
coimedacht, having the same size as.
coimedaidh (lat. conservare, preservere, custodire), preserve.
coimilt (lat. ungere, fricare, terere, macerare, mixta), to rub. In compounding a medicine, perhaps, to pound a substance while it is immersed in a liquid.
coimlinaigh (lat. resumere), to restore.
coimpert (lat. coitus), begetting. Also, see next.
coimpert an mil moir, see ambra.
coimpleasc (lat. complexio); I have translated this as ‘complex’ – it means a person's constitution, the mixture of ‘qualities’ (see cail) in him. Droch-coimpleasc (lat. discrasia) is distemper, or a diseased constitution.
coin adairci (lat. deformes maculas, pannum faciei); if coin is [lt ] DIL's 2 cúa, the term would mean horny flesh. Where ‘an aigid ... fathfaigh na haidhce’ occurs in Chapter 145, the copy in MS G11 has coin airci; the meaning of fathadh is not free from doubt, but it seems
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to mean wrinkles (cf. pannuceus).
coinneall, a candle.
coinneall mhuire (syn. bilonia, molena; lat. tapsus barbassus), mullein, Verbascum thapsus Webb. Chapter 59.
coinnlidhe (lat. clarus), brilliant.
coirci (syn. auena; lat. avena), the cultivated oats, Avena sativa Webb. Chapter 47.
coirci lo[ ] [This word needs to be checked with the MS] (syn. genciana; lat. gentiana), the great yellow gentian, Gentiana lutea. Chapter 147. Much used in medicine and as an aid to digestion, this plant grows wild in the mountainous areas of continental Europe and is gathered in autumn. The Irish name appears to be cuirce loca, ‘locks in an assemblage of tufts’, in reference to the appearance of the flowers, which are arranged in whorls in the upper leaf axils. It may be noted that gentiana was sometimes explained in England as baldmoney or baldemoigne, a term that was normally used of Meum athamanticum CTW. See, however, Chapter 203 and melli¹⁷⁴
coiriandrum, see coriandrum.
coirt, bark.
coirtithi, coirtitheach (lat. constringendi), constricting. The term alludes to the bark of the oak, which was used in tanning and was regarded as ‘constricting’.

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coiscidh (lat. stringere, coercere, sedare, amputare, valet contra, repellere, inhibet, compescere, restringere, siccare, extinguere, constringere, excludere, extenuare, sistere, conferre, auferre, retinere, prohibere, discutere); I have consistently translated this, admittedly rather awkwardly, as ‘stops’.
coisreactha (lat. sacra), consecrated.
colafonium, see picc greagach.
colambin (syn. albedarug, colubrina, basilicon; lat. colubrina), columbine, Aquilegia vulgaris Webb. Chapter 18. The Irish text is based on Macer Floridus' chapter on Colubrina, which refers to a species of Arum, but the Irish author took it for the columbine. Albederagi and basiliconis are both given in Alphita p. 6 as synonyms of columbine.
coll, hazel. See cno gaeidilach.
colocindida (lat. coloquintida), colocynth, the dried pulp of the fruit of Citrullus colocynthis, obtained from the eastern Mediterranean region. Chapter 88.
colon (lat. colon) the intestine, colon. See coilica.
colubrina, see colambin.
colum (lat. columba), pigeon, dove.
comann gall (syn. cerefolium; lat. cerefolium), the cultivated chervil, Anthriscus cerefolium CTW. Chapter 81.
comhaentaighidh (lat. similis est), agrees with or unites with.

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combrugad, bruising.
combuaigrid (lat. conturbare, percutere), disturb.
comdlutugad, consolidation.
comfurtachtaigidh (lat. confortare, conferre, valere, curare, utilis esse, prodesse, adiuvare, relevare), comforts, supports or strengthens.
comra, coffin.
comsuigiugadh (lat. compositio, confectio), "to place together" (cum + ponere), compound.
comtrom>, the equivalent of.
concoire, = lus na cnam mbriste, q. v.
conconidum (syn. sil in labriola; lat. laureola, coconidium), ο κνδειος κκκος, the seed of spurge laurel, Daphne laureola CTW. Chapter 74. See lauriola.
congmail, to retain.
congna an fiadha (syn. cornu serui; lat. cornu cervi), hartshorn, the horn or antler of a stag, used as a source of ammonia. Chapter 76. The Latin term is also used of a plant, buck's horn plantain, Plantago coronopus Webb.
conidium, for conconidum, q. v.
conium, see mong mher.
consolida madior, see lus na cnam mbriste.
consolida media, see easbuc beoain.
consolida minor, see noinin.
constipasion (lat. constipatio), constipation.

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contrardha (lat. contrarius), contrary.
copan, a cup; used of the cupule of the acorn, Chapter 230.
copog (syn. lapasium; lat. lapacium), dock. Chapter 177. The species of Rumex referred to in the text are:
copoc cruinn, syn. lapasium rotundum; lat. lapacium rotundum; Rumex obtusifolius Webb.
copoc corr, corrcopog, syn. lapasium aqutum; lat. lapacium acutum; Rumex crispus Webb, Chapter 163.
copoc coitceann, syn. lapasium domisdicum; lat. lapacium domesticum; Rumex alpinus CTW.
samhadh, syn. acedula, oxilapacium, rumex; lat. acidula; Rumex acetosa Webb and Rumex scutatus CTW.
(bó-samhadh, lat. acidula; Rumex acetosa Webb.)
copurrus (syn. dragantum, lat. dragantum). Chapter 109. W. T. Stearn (Opsomer, 1984, p. 152, s.v. Fragantum) says:
Name corrupted from Chalcanthum which indicates blue copper sulphate and green iron sulphate produced in Cyprus; white vitriol is zinc sulphate and yellow vitriol a pyrite; couperose or copperas is a medieval name for the sulphates of copper, iron and zinc.’’
The Erlangen copy of Circa Instans says of dragantum ‘Idem quod vitreolum vel calcantum. Sunt autem quatuor maneries. Indicum quod in India reperitur et est album, et Arabicum quod in Arabia invenitur et est
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citrinum, et Ciprinum quod in Cipro insula reperitur et est viridis coloris; et est terra francigena, sive atramentum quod in Gallia reperitur. Illud est eligendum quod est viridis coloris... ’ The substance referred to in the Irish text would appear to be the pale green crystals, ‘dath solus uaine’, ferrous sulphate heptahydrate, FeSO4 [middot] 7H2O, as evidenced by the statement at the end of the chapter that, when heated, it becomes red (i.e. ferric oxide, Fe2O3).
corallus rubius, see cruel.
corcair (lat. purpureum), purple.
coriandrum (lat. coriandrum), coriander, the dried, nearly ripe fruit of Coriandrum sativum, an umbelliferous plant about two feet high with white or pinkish flowers. It is widely cultivated. Chapter 95.
cornan caisil, curnan caisil (syn. cotilodion, cimbulairia, umbelicius ueniris; lat. contilidon, cimbalaria, umbelici veneris), wall pennywort, Umbilicus rupestris Webb. Chapter 83.
cornu serui, see congna an fiadha.
corona regia, see eachseamur.
corp (lat. corpus), the body.
corrcopog (syn. lapasium acutum; lat. lapacium, lapacium acutum), Rumex crispus Webb. Chapter 163. See copog.
cortaidi, stiffness; in Chapter 42, it appears to refer to stiffness after unaccustomed exercise.
cos (lat. pes), foot.

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cosachtach (lat. tussis), cough.
cosc, see coiscidh.
cosmaile, similar things.
cosmaileas (lat. similis), similarity.
cosmailid, is similar to.
cotilodion, see cornan caisil.
craeb, branch.
craighi (lat. cor), heart.
crann (lat. lignum, frutex, arbor), wood, shrub, tree.
crann na mbulas, the bullace or wild plum, Prunus domestica Webb. Cultivated varieties produce damsons and plums.
crann na spinan, gooseberry bush, Ribes uva-crispa Webb.
crasola, see toirpin.
creacht (lat. vulnus, ulcus, fissura, apostema), lesion; creachta na scaman, pulmonary tuberculosis.
creachtnaithe, of excoriating.
creamh (syn. affodillus, centum capita, aillium agreiste; lat. affodili, allium), wild garlic, ramsons, Allium ursinum Webb. Chapter 11. The Irish author has run the chapters (separate in Circa Instans) on Affodili and Allium together.
creatan, trembling; the reference in Chapter 162 may be to the catarrh and feverish state which sometimes follow a chill.
credicus, see milbocan.
Creidi (lat. Creta), the island of Crete.

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criadh (lat. terreus), earthen.
crich (lat. regio), district.
crimh muice fiadha (syn. scolapendria; lat. scolopendria), hart's tongue fern, Phyllitis scolopendria Webb. Chapter 255.
crin, crina (lat. siccus), old (preserved dried(plants) ).
crith (lat. paraliticus), trembling.
croch (syn. crocus; lat. crocus), saffron. Chapter 97. Crocus orientalis is the true saffron, the dried stigmas and tops of the styles of Crocus sativus, which was originally cultivated in Greece and the Middle East. During the Middle Ages, most of the saffron in Western Europe came from Southern Italy, and it is believed that cultivation of it in England began in the reign of Edward III (1527–77): Stannard (1963) 206. Crocus ortensis is safflower or dyer's saffron, Carthamus tinctorius CTW, the flowers of which were sometimes used instead of the much more expensive saffron. Stannard (1968) p. 159 considers that Circa Instans creates two different plants whereas in fact he says the "species" hortensis and orientalis are not distinct species at all; but the other authorities do not take that view.
There seems to be grounds for thinking that, for the purposes of dyeing, Reseda luteola Webb was used, rather than cultivate or import either of the aforesaid
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species. In the Ulster Journal of Archaeology 9 (1861–62) p. 149, T. H. P. states
Your correspondent ... asks if the old Irish dyed their linen with saffron. I believe that there is no doubt that ‘crocus’ in the old accounts merely implied the colour and not the dye-stuff; and that the Irish yellow was dyed with the Reseda luteola, the ‘yellow weed’, in Irish Buidhe Mór.’’
Referring to urine (known as máistir in this context) he adds ‘Another ingredient (not very euphonious to ears polite) mentioned as being used for this purpose was probably only employed to heighten or to fix the colour.’ Whatever about the use of the term ‘crocus’, his general suggestion is supported by Brodin (1950) p. 216:
It may be assumed that saffron became known to the people of Western Europe through the Arabians, especially since the word saffron is Arabic’’
; and by the fact that the first cultivation of the plant in Western Europe, by the Arabs in Spain, is dated to the tenth century.
crochdha (lat. croceus, roseus), the yellow colour of saffron.
crocaire, gallows.
crocan, a pot.
crocus, see croch.

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croicinn (lat. (of a person) cutis; (of a plant) cortex; superficies), skin.
croithidh (lat. aspergere, superaspergere, superponere), sprinkle.
crotfull, shell (of a nut).
cruach padraig (syn. barba filicana, plantago maigheor; lat. plantago), great plantain, Plantago major Webb. Chapter 52.
cruadhaighidh, hardens.
cruaidh (lat. durus), hard.
cruas (lat. duricies), hardness.
cruel, coral; cruel dearg (lat. corallus); cruel geal. Chapter 93.
cruinn (lat. rotundus), round.
cruithneacht (syn. triticum; lat. triticum), wheat, Triticum aestivum CTW. Chapter 266. Conditions for wheat are minimal in Ireland – it is understood that they had improved in the Middle Ages, but had begun to fall off again at the time of the writing of the present text. Fischer (1929) p. 250 says that the growing of wheat increased considerably in Germany between the 9th and 13th centuries; in addition, a substantial amount of spelt, Triticum spelta, and a little einkorn, Triticum monococcum, and emmer, Triticum dicoccum, were grown.
crumh (lat. vermis), a worm.

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crupan (lat. tortio), cramp.
cruthaighidh, produces, brings into being.
cubebis (lat. cubebe), cubebs, or tailed pepper, are the dried, full-grown fruits of Piper cubeba, a native of Indonesia, Borneo and Sumatra. Chapter 98.
cucain, the cupule of an acorn.
cu confaidh (lat. rabidus canis), mad dog.
cucuirbita (lat. cucurbita), the white-flowered gourd, Lagenaria siceraria. Chapter 100.
cucumeris (lat. cucumeris), cucumber, Cucumis sativus. The wild squirting cucumber, Ecballium elaterium CTW, the juice of which is a powerful cathartic, was also used, but it was usually distinguished by the addition of an epithet meaning ‘wild’.
cudrum, equal.
cudum, appears to be a form of atrophy of the hair. The DIL quotes a manuscript in which cudum is equated with asperitas. Lile. Eg 50r ( LM. Pt. 2, Ch. 3):
Asperitas est truncacio seu fissura capillorum .i. is eadh is gairbhe in fuilt ann gearradh no scoltadh an fuilt tegmus don fearaibh & dona mnaibh aca mbi coimpleasc te isin aois oig. Dleaghar a fhis co tegmann suigighthi granna don folt re n-abur a coitchinne sirones no pole no ratacio, oir do-citear iat mar do beadais arna ngearradh no arna n-ithe do lochaibh & bid uair and arna scoltadh & is ris an suigiughadh sin aderar gairbhe in fuilt, & is o linn ruagh loiscthi gearrus in
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ceo cuisightear e; & is uime sin do-citear ruaine don folt nis sia na in ruaine eli, mar do-gearrfadis lochaidh co neamh-comhtrom e, & ise is adhbur do sin oir in tan bis saigh te sa ceo cnaiidh cuid don ceo & loiscidh e, & is uime sin nach eidir a fhaidiughadh nis mo tre easbadh in adhbuir & os co heacudruma loisctear e is uime sin bis ceann an finnfaidh co heacudruma, maseadh ni hiat na cinn bis arna ngearradh acht do-citear a mbeith gearrtha o nach fasann an finnfadh nis sia. No do fedfainn a rad curob amuigh gearrtar iat on loscadh & co hairithi o mainneachtna in fuilt do fritholamh. Et scoiltear fos iat in tan bis in ceo ro-reamur loiscthi innus co ndublaighthear ina ceannaibh iat, maseadh gan fechain da snadmadh laidir & gan fecain da ceangal & da lenmuin laidir & da figur chail cruinn, gearrtar & garbtar & cnaitear & scoiltear ruaineach in fuilt oir claochlaidh linn ruagh loisci a cursa nadura.’’
cuid (lat. cibus), a meal.
cuideog (lat. vermibus inventis in pingui terra), earthworm.
cuigidheach, creeping cinquefoil, Potentilla reptans Webb. See pentafilon.
cuile (lat. culex), a fly.
cuilinn tragha, cuilinn dumac (syn. yringi, socacul), sea holly, Eryngium maritimum Webb. Chapter 287.
cuimin (lat. cuminum), cummin, the dried, ripe fruits of
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Cuminum cyminum, a small umbellifer, indigenous to Egypt, used as a spice.
cuirrceogc (lat. ‘rusticis, qui quedam ligna componunt, in quibus apes colligunt’), bee-hive.
cuirrineach (lat. ventris dolor), noisy action of the stomach, due to flatulence. The term occurs as a gloss in Lile. Eg 134r ( LM. Pt. 5, Ch. 6),
Eructuacio est uentositas fumossa ex indigestione stomaci procurata .i. is eadh is bruchtach and gaothmhaireacht deathmar arna cuisiughadh o neamhdileaghadh an gaili & arna teilgin cum rann uachtarach an beil on brigh innarbthach arna calmughadh. Dleaghar a thuicsin timcill an adhbuir so curob amhlaidh gentear an gaothmaireacht o teasaideacht anbfann discaileas in t-adbur cum na mball uachtarach no cum na mball iochtarach no a anmuin an inmedon & mas cum na mball uachtarach do-ni bruchtach & mas cum na mball iochtarach & a beith maille re fogur do-ni peditus (.i. brom) & da mbe gan fogur do-ni trulla (.i. gao) & da n-anann an inmedon & an gaethmaireacht do beith ceangailte re fliuchaideacht do-ni rugitus (.i. cuirrineach) & muna bia do-ni torsiones (.i. tornaidh) & a cosmaile do reir mar teid an gaethmaireacht trit na hinadhaibh fairsinga no cumga & mar bis reamur no semh.’’
cuis, cause.
cuisle (lat. vena), 1. vein; 2. blood-letting or phlebotomy.

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cularan (syn. ciclamin malum; lat. quassamus, panis porcinus, malum terre), pignut, Conopodium majus Webb. Chapter 69.
cumha (‘bron & cumha & toirrsi’, lat. tristiciam angustiam), the pain of loss.
cumhacht (lat. virtus, vis), power.
cumhang, narrow.
cumascaidh (lat. miscere, permiscere, conficere, commiscere, distemperare, immiscere, admiscere, iugare, ponere cum, temperare, iungere), mix.
cumga, cumgacht (cumga an cleibh, lat. constrictio pectoris; cumga na hanala, lat. asma) constriction, narrowness.
cumra (lat. dulcis), sweet-smelling.
cumscughadh, shaking.
curnan caisil, see cornan caisil.
cuscuta, see claman lin.
Dactuili (syn, dactulus; lat. dactilis), dates, the fruits of the date-palm, Phoenix dactylifera. Chapter 102.
dactulus, see Dactuili; dactilus asetosus Indicus, see tamuirindi.
daergalar (lat. emorroydes), piles; Lile Eg 155r, v ( LM Pt. 5, Ch. 21, Rub. 1): ‘Bit deich n-easlainteadha arin timtireacht ... mar ata, emoroides & neascoididha &
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fistula & cur in tsuighi amach & tochus . . . Do gabur gneithi examhla emoroide do reir examlachta an leanna pecaigheas, oir do-nitear gne dibh o fuil deirg & gairtear uuee dibh ar son co mbit a cosmaileas caoiri fineamhna, & do-nitear gne dibh o linn ruagh & gairtear morales dibh a cosmaileas smera in tan tinnscnas deargadh, gne eli da ngairtear uerucales do-nitear o linn dubh, & gne eli o linn finn, gne annamh sin, & bith mar lesaibh geala.’
daingnigid, (lat. confirmare, consolidare), to make firm or hard .
1. dair (lat. quercus), normally the Irish species, Quercus robur Webb and Quercus petraea Webb, and their hybrids. Chapter 230.
2. dair, conception (by a cow); ‘co tigid so-dair’, lat. ‘naturalem excitat calorem’, ‘they become receptive of the bull’.
dairin germander speedwell, Veronica chamaedrys Webb; the term may be based on the Latin, quercula.
damh (lat. taurinus), an ox.
daman allaid (syn. rania, lat. aranea), spider. Chapter 269.
dauntos (lat. antos) in Chapter 232, the reference is to the flower of rosemary. The gloss, ‘dan tus dentar olibanum’, seems to be a pun on anthos and an tus (incense), inspired by the aromaticity of rosemary.
dasacht virulence.

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dasachtach, violently.
dath, (lat. color), colour.
daucus see milbocan.
deaghbaladh (lat. aromaticus, redolens, suavis), pleasant smell; usually renders aromatic.
deaghcomhartha, a good sign.
deaghdath, a good colour (of the hair).
dealbh, a painting.
dealg (lat. spina).
deallraitheach (glan solus deallraitheach, lat. magis depurate), shining.
deamun (lat. demon), an evil spirit.
dearc, the eye, perhaps specifically the eyeball.
deargadh(in Chapter 175) to make red hot.
deargadas (lat. rubor, redness. See deirge.
dearglaech, i.e. derg líac. Red lichen growing on rocks. The general name for lichen growing on rocks is lus líac. The DIL, s.v. 1 lía, quotes corcair líac and corcair lossa líac, the latter name presumably referring to the purple dye made from lichen, probably Ochrolecia parella. Dye was also made from species of Umbilicaria.
deascaidh (syn. fex, tartarum; lat. fex, tartarum), this word is used both for the lees, i.e. the sediment in the bottle, and for tartar, i.e. potassium hydrogen tartrate deposited in the form of crust in wine-casks during fermentation of grape-juice. Chapters 141 and
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263.
deatach (lat. fumus, fumositas), fumes, smoke, steam.
deathmuireacht (lat. fumus), giving rise to fumes.
ded the teeth.
dedga (syn. centauria; lat. centaurea), centaury, Centaurium species; the text recognises two species, ‘gne mor & gne bec’, of which dedga dearg is common centaury, Centaurium erythraea Webb; from Threlkeld p. 37-8, the other appears to be dedga buidhe, yellow-wort, Blackstonia perfoliata Webb. Chapter 80.
deichfir (lat. discernitur), difference.
(co) deiginach, lastly.
deir (syn. serpigho), an aggravated form of ringworm on the face, for which an ointment containing mercury is recommended (Chapter 39). See the account of serpigo s.v. carraighe.
deirge (lat. rubor), redness. Deirge na sul or deargadas na sul (q. v.), the eye being red or bloodshot, usually refers to conjunctivitis, i.e. inflammation of the mucous membrane that covers the front of the eyeball.
dens leonis see serban muc.
dera (sileadh na nder, lat. fluxum lachrymarum, Chapter 240), tears. The disease involved appears to be epiphora, a condition in which tears, instead of passing from the eye down into the nose, run over on the cheek. It is due to blocking of the tear-ducts. See Stokes (1898) p. 337,
Epifora .i. sl. [?leg.
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sileadh] doilli’’
; which would mean ‘the weeping of blindness’.
dergnat, a flea.
dermad, forgetting.
diabeitis; Lile. Eg 176r ( LM. Pt. 6, Ch. 13) appears to describe diabetes mellitus:
Is eadh is diabetica passio and dortadh ainmeasardha in fhuail. Dleaghar a tuicsin co mbi ita ard a ndiabetica passio & co n-ibtear moran and & mar do gabur e do-berar les an fual, & is cosmail e ris an tochlughadh mar a ngabtar moran an bidh & innarbtar neamh-dileaghta e, mar is follus a caninus apetitus ... Atait comarthai na heaslainte so follus, oir do-berar an fual a cainndiacht moir & co minic. Comarthai na cuis vero, oir an tan bis o teasaideacht moithightear teas isna hairnibh & teinneas & bruidernach & comarthai eli teasaideachta. Et madh fuar beas an chuis, moithightear fuacht mor isna hairnib & isna ballaibh foirimillacha in tan sin, & gortuightear e o neithibh fuara & furtachtaightear o neithibh teasaide. Da mbia an easlainte so co cointinoideach ar neach & gan furtacht, truaighidhtear in corp & na luirgni & anbfhainnightear e & berid cum millti.’’
.
diadacht, godliness.
diaeringe, a compound medicine; see Introduction, Chapter 4.
diagalanga, a compound medicine; see Introduction, Chapter 4.

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dialtia, a compound medicine; see Introduction, Chapter 4.
diamargaireton, a compound medicine; see Introduction, Chapter 4.
diamoron, a compound medicine; see Introduction, Chapter 4.
diantos, a compound medicine; see Introduction, Chapter 4.
diapapaver, a compound medicine; see Introduction, Chapter 4.
diapinidi, a compound medicine; see Introduction, Chapter 4.
diaradon, a compound medicine; see Introduction, Chapter 4.
diarria, diarrhoea.
dias, an ear (of corn).
diasiminum, a compound medicine; see Introduction, Chapter 4.
diaturbid, a compound medicine; see Introduction, Chapter 4.
dicuirigh (lat. resolvere), removes or displaces.

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diegreidium, (lat. diagridium), it is thought to have been the dried compound of the juices of species of Euphorbia and scammony. Chapter 105. See gearr an eighme.
diets cainicalareis, (lat. dies caniculares), the dog days, so called after the most brilliant star in the sky, Sirius, the dog-star, in the constellation of Canis Major, the rising of which occurs about the end of July, considered in the Mediterranean area to be the hottest and most unwholesome period of the year.
diesene, a compound medicine; see Introduction, Chapter 4.
Dietis Uneuersalibus,,Ysaac Iudaeus' book, Liber dietarum universalium.
dileaghadh (lat. digestio), digestion.
dileas, the special quality of a thing.
diptannus, see litronta.
discailidh (lat. dissolvere), dissolve.
discailteach (lat. dissolvendi, resolutiva), dissolving.
disinteria (lat. dissenteria)), dysentery; Lile. Eg 144v ( LM. Pt. 5, Ch. 14):
Is eadh is disinteria and flux folmar [sanguineus] na brond maille re scris & re creachtnughadh na n-inneadh.’’
disnia, dyspnoea, difficult or laboured breathing. See asma.
disuiria (lat. dissuria)), dysuria;
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Lile. Eg 177r ( LM. Pt. 6, Ch. 16):
Minightear curob inand disuria & fostoghadh ainndeonach an fuail .i. an tan sanntaigheas neach a fhual do tabairt & nach fedann, no an tan nach fedann & nach sanntaighinn. Dleaghar a tuicsin co mbactar innarbadh an fhuail co huilidhe uair and innus nach innarbtar en red dhe & uair eli laighdightear e oir ge fostaightear co hainndeonach e re haimsir ni lughaide innarbtar e asa haitle e maille re docamhail & uair eli truailltear a indarbadh & tic co hanorduightheach mar is follus a stranguria.’’
dithsiroip, (lat. sirupus acetosus), a syrup to which vinegar has been added.
diuid, (lat. simplex), simple, or on its own.
diureticach, (lat. diureticus), diuretic, promoting the passing of urine. Chapter 107.
dleagaid (lat. necesse est), should.
dluth, dense; in Chapter 39, of mercury, it has ‘brigh tollus na ranna dluithi remra’, lat. virtutem penetrandi, ‘the ability to penetrate the dense gross parts of the body’.
dluthughadh, (lat. conglutinandum, consolidandum)), to make firm (e.g. a broken bone when being knitted).
do-baladh (lat. fetor), a bad smell.
docamail, difficulty.
do-cneasaighthe, unhealable.
dochtuir (lat. medicus), a learned authority; a medical doctor.

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do-dileaghtha (lat. ad digerendum durus), indigestible.
do-discailti, not dissolvible.
doinn-dearg (lat. subrufus), brownish red.
doirt, pour.
Doman Thoir (lat. terra remota), the East.
domblas ae (lat. fel), gall or bile, a thick, bitter, golden-brown or greenish yellow fluid, secreted by the liver and stored in the gall-bladder. Chapter 134.
dorcha (lat. subniger), dark in colour.
dorchadas (lat. nigredo; (of the eyes), caligo, pannus, debilitas, darkness.
dorcaigidh, (lat. facit evenire tenebrositatem visus, caligo), darkens.
dorn, the hand; lan duirn, (lat. fasciculus), a handfull.
1. dragantum, see copurrus.
2. dragantum, (lat. dragagantum), tragacanth, gum obtained by incision from the stems of species of Astragalus, thorny shrubs growing in mountainous districts of the Middle East. Chapter 104.
dragma, a dram, one-eighth of an ounce; in the text, the word is written out three times, and is represented by a symbol ten times. See unsa.
dreach, the face.
dris, (lat. rubus), bramble, the tri drisighi appear to be the blackberry, Rubus fruticosus aggregate Webb (see smera), raspberry, Rubus idaeus Webb (see maethan conairi), and the stone bramble, Rubus saxatilis Webb.

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droch-aer, bad air.
droch-blasta (lat. amarus), having a bad taste.
droch-coimpleasc, see coimpleasc.
droch-dath (lat. color, icterici), bad colour.
droch-feoil (lat. mala caro), bad flesh.
droch-linn (lat. malus humor), a bad humour.
drucht (lat. ros), dew.
druim, the back; ar druim + gen., over.
druis (lat. venus, libido, virtus coitus et erectio virge), sexual desire.
dubacus, melancholy.
dubadh (lat. denigrare), blacken.
duban, (lat. reneskidney.
dubcosach (syn. alacon, politricum, capillus ueniris, lat. capillus veneris). Chapter 15. The term dubcosach appears to have been used both of the maidenhair fern, Adiantum caplllus-veneris Webb (which nowadays occurs in the Aran Islands and the Burren, Co. Clare, and only very rarely elsewhere on the West coast) and the maidenhair spleenwort, Asplenium trichomanes Webb (which is common). It looks as if the Burren people did a good business in the sale of the maidenhair fern, because John Keogh (1735) tells how it was brought in sacks from the Burren to be sold in Dublin. It is of interest that the text (Chapter 225) describes ruibh cloithi, wall rue, Asplenium ruta-muraria Webb, as ‘gne don dubhcosach.’ Stearn states (Opsomer, 1984, p. 44)
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that the Greeks applied the term διαντον to three species, Adiantum capillus-veneris Webb, Asplenium adiantum-nigrum, and Asplenium trichomanes.
duille (lat. folium), leaf.
duilleabar (lat. folia, ipsa herba), foliage. This word is not written out fully at any point in the text: invariably, it is written as ‘duill-’, and it is possible that it should be read as ‘duilli’. Duillebar na fineamhna, foliage of vines, Chapter 217.
dunadh (lat. opilatio, constrictio), a block.
eabar (lat. sumere, propinare, bibere), drink.
each, a horse.
eachseamar. There are two chapters (94 and 180) on eachseamar in the text, both based on the same chapter in Circa Instans, the chapter on Mellilotus. Platearius says of this latter:
Herba est cuius semen simili nomine appellatur, corona regia etiam dicitur quia formatur ad modum semicirculi ... Semina cum ipsis [corticibus] in medicinis ponuntur quia adeo parvum est á adherens quod vix potest separari.’’
The English Agnus castus adds some detail: ‘Mellilotum is an herbe that men clepe mellito, or honysukkle or iii lewyd gres. or mel siluestre. This herbe ha[yogh]t lewys lyk to the iii lewyd gres. but the lewys of this herbe is more euene-long and therof
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of are iii specis. the ton bery[yogh]t a [yogh]elw[yogh] flour, the tother a red flour the thrydde a quyt flour ... the Rede sukkele. that ha[yogh]t a quyt cheuuron in the lef, this herbe is comoun. and it groweth in medewys and in other placis and it is hot and drye.’
The editor, Brodin (1950), identifies the three species as 1. Melilotus officinalis or Melilotus altissimus, 2. Trifolium pratense, 3. Melilotus albus. In the present text, Chapter 180 equates eachseamar with maccula trifolium, and I take it here to refer to red clover, Trifolium pratense Webb, and that this was the plant that it normally referred to. Threlkeld, p. 159, gives seamar capuil for this species. In Chapter 94, eachseamar is equated with corona regia, and I take it to refer there to Melilotus officinalis Webb. That species is very rare in Ireland, but it was cultivated in the past, as Threlkeld, p. 101, says it was in his time, and eachseamar came to be applied to it when it was. It smells of hay.
eag, death.
eanbruith (lat. brodium, iuscellum), soup, broth.
eang, ing (lat. pannus), a strip of cloth.
earrach (lat. ver), the season of spring.
1. easbadh, deficiency.
2. easbadh (lat. parotidas, glandulas que nascuntur iuxta anum, scrophas, scrofulas siccas), swollen glands, usually mumps. See the passage quoted from Lile s.v. cat braigid.
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Mumps is an infectious disease due to infection with a virus, characterised by inflammatory swelling of the parotid gland (in front and below the ear) and other salivary glands. The reference to easbudha in Chapter 52 suggests the presence of an epidemic of mumps from which one wishes to protect the child.
It appears from the Latin text of Chapter 42 that the term easbadh also includes external piles.
easbog beoain (syn. consolida media), ox-eye daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare Webb. Chapter 90. There is no doubt about the meaning of the Irish name, but on the Continent consolida media was sometimes used for bugle, Ajuga reptans Webb.
easlainte (lat. querela, vitium, causa, egritudo, morbus, passio), illness.
easlan noun, (lat. aeger), a sick person.
ebulus, see ualuart.
ecsamail, see examail.
edach (lat. pannus, plagella, spongia), cloth.
edan, etan (lat. frons), the forehead.
edera (arborea), see eiginn (na crann).
edus, a kid, young goat lat. haedus).
eigheann talman (syn. edera terrestris, ground ivy, Glechoma hederacea Webb. Chapter 112.
eiginn (na crann) (syn. edera arborea, funis pauperum; lat. edera nigra, ivy, Hedera helix Webb. Chapter 111.
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funis pauperum means the ‘poor man's twine’.
eighinn na sceithi; I take this to be traveller's joy, Clematis vitalba Webb.
eigrim (Gaedhilach) (syn. pibinella; lat. pimpinella, sorbastrella), burnet, Sanguisorba officinalis Webb. Chapter 224.
eilifint, elephant. Chapter 250.
eilifreog, eilitreog (syn. arracia, attriplex; lat. atriplex), orach, Atriplex patula Webb. Chapter 38. The term appears to have been applied also to Atriplex hortensis CTW when it came to be cultivated.
eillin (syn. elena campana; lat. enula campana), elecampane. Inula helenium Webb. Chapter 115. With reference to the mention in Chapter 115 of coughs and the respiratory organs, elecampane was traditionally used to treat consumption, and in 1885 it was shown to contain a ‘bacteriocide destructive to the tubercle bacillus’.
eipilensia (lat. epilepsia, caduci), epilepsy. Lile Eg 71v, 72r ( LM Pt. 2, Ch. 25): Is eadh is epilencia and galar oiffigeach na hinchinne bacus mothughadh & eirghi don corp uile & maille re buaidirt ro-moir an gluasachta ar son duinteadh do-nitear a cabhanaibh neamh-oireadha na hincinne. Asi cuis na heaslainte so linn no gaethmuireacht reamhur duinis fighisi neamh-foirfi na hinchinne & toirmiscus sibhal na spirad cum na mball & is uime sin coimeignightear neach cum
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tuitime ar lar a cetoir & ni moithighinn en red & ni fedann beith ina sesam ar aon modh acht is eigin do loighi muna ba hepilencia ro-bec hi ... & bith gluasacht na lamh & na cos co hudmall an-orduightheach & mar an cetna do gluasacht na hanala & is uime sin tre foireigin & tre an-ordughadh gluasachta na hanala bith cubhar do sir fon mbel.’’
eirghi, getting up.
eirisipialas, see teine diadh.
eisbeorna (syn. esula; lat. esula), spurge, Euphorbia species Webb. Chapter 118. See gerr an eighme..
eitic (lat. ethica febris), hectic fever; Lile NLS 19v, 20r ( LM Pt. 1, Ch. 9): ‘Is eadh is hectica ann fiabras cointinoideach aon-fhoirme gan cion leanna, darub subigheacht in croide & na boill daingne. Dleaghar a fhios go bfuilid da ectica ann .i. ectica maille re fiabras & hectica gan fiabrus, da ngoirtear hectica na harrsaidheachta, ina mbi tirmeacht ro-ard & in teasaideacht & an fuaraideacht cudroma no gar do cudromacht, ionnus nach bi tosgughadh ro-mhor ag ceachtur dip, & uair eli tosguidhe in fuaraideacht & in tirmeacht go mor mar is follus isna sendaoinibh & uair ann tegmuidh an eitic arsaidheachta so isna macaomhaibh & isna daoinibh oga ... Is comurtha ar fiabrus hectica teasaideacht is mo do beith isna hairtirip na isna hionadhaibh ele ina ttimchioll. Maseadh in tan bis fiabrus cudroma en-foirme gan examlacht do theacht ann
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da leith fein in cet la no in .2. la no in .3. la & an croicionn do dhul a bfeoigheacht, is comartha sin ar a dul isin cet gne, & is decair in gne sin d'aithne do reir Auicenna, & is urusa a leighis & ise a adhbhar sin oir fedaigh si beith gan tirmeacht mar foillsighios Galienus De Differentiis Febrium. Annsa .2. gne vero do gabtar in tirmeacht follus & gidh be uair do-berar biadh inte lasaidh nisa mho & luathaightear an pulsa mar is follus isin aol bheo in tan croitear uisce fair. In .3. gne vero bid na suile cabhanach an croicionn righthi & an bhru cenguilte don druim & in pulsa te folamh cruaidh mar shreing arna righeadh & bi an fual mar ola & da ndoirtir ar cloich e do-ni tairm bodhardha. Et isiad so comarthaidhe etic na harsaidheachta .i. in puls do bheith bec mall & in fual do beith tana isill.’
eitne (lat. nucleus, medulla), kernel.
elasia , see vernix.
elifansia (lat. elephantia). The reference in Chapter 134, on the face of it, suggests that this is the form of lepra called by Bernard of Gordon lepra elephantia (see luibhri). However, it is more likely to be elephantiasis, a disease that involves a gross overgrowth of the skin and subjacent textures. That disease is caused by repeated inflammation of the skin and obstruction of the lymphatic vessels, commonly by
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infection carried by mosquitoes. As regards lepra elephantia, Lile Eg 34r ( LM Pt. 1, Ch. 22), referring to lubhra: ‘Et is iat so comurthaidhe an leanna pecaigheas ... Et mad o linn dubh bes bith an aghaidh ac dul a nduibhe buaidheartha innus da mbe an t-aor ro-teasaide no da ngluaisi no da ngaba fearg e; co mbi an dath dearg buaidheartha ac dul a nduibhi & da mbe in t-aer fuar no eagla da gabail; bith an dath liuidus buaidheartha ac dul a nduibhe; & bith moran do cnapanaibh isin corp uile & bid besa melancolica aigi & bidh stupor & bodracht ann & bith an fual sem isill. Maseadh ... da mbia o linn dubh, aderar elefancia.’
elistront (syn. alagsandrum, masedonica, petrusidinum, peirsilli alastroint; lat. petrosilinum), alexanders, Smyrnium olusatrum Webb. Chapter 19. The Irish text uses both Ysaac and Platearius for Chapter 19 on this drug, and it also uses the same chapter (re Petrosilinum) of Platearius for Chapter 218 on Petrosilium, peirsille. Platearius says ‘Petrosilinum ... est autem duplex, domesticum & agreste quod sinonum dicitur’, and this may give a clue about the apparent confusion between alexanders and parsley. Petroselinum, like the English ‘parsley’, appears to have been used as a generic name for a number of Umbellifers.
elleborus, see tataba.
emagrania (lat. emigranea, from μικανα, a pain
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on half the head). Lile Eg ( LM Pt. 2, Ch. 10): ‘[53v] An .6. fodhall oireadha .i. co mbi teinneas and tachmuigideas in ceann uile & teinneas tachmuigidheas cuid de & in tan tachmuigidheas co hullidhe e aderar cephalia no ouum ris & in tan bis a cuid de da mbia 'na leath aderar emigranea ris & da mbia a cuid bus lugha na sin aderar clauus ris & aderit na tuatadha in tan sin curob cronughadh no aibhirseoireacht bis orra oir taibhrightear doibh beith aga ngoin le tairringnibh no le snathadaibh ... [56v] Is eadh is emigrania and teinneas bis a leith in cind co foirimillach no co hinmedonach & is maille re periodus is mionca bis.’
emaroighideis (lat. emorroidas), haemorrhoids.
ematites (lat. ematites), haematite, native iron oxide, F2O3, an ore of iron, red in colour. Chapter 121.
ematoica, (syn. seili fola,) (lat. haemoptysis), spitting of blood. Lile Eg 114v, 115r ( LM Pt. 4, Ch. 6): ‘Is and so labhurtar don tseli fola cuirtear tar an mbel. Do-nitear an easlainte so uair and o cuisibh foirimillacha & uair eli o cuisibh inmedonacha. O cuisibh foirimillacha vero an tan tegmas do neach uisce fuar d'ol ina mbia an peist re n-abur sanguissugha innas co leanann don carbud no don braghaid & co ndoirtinn fuil. Et tic an fuil uair eli le hingar no le sileadh cleibh in tan codlas neach fa deallradh an re & co hairithi an tan tic deallradh an re a fuinneogaibh no a pollaibh caola no cumga osa cinn. Et tic an sili fola a caitim
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imurcach na mbiadh nger mar atait uinneamhain & gairleog & cartlann, no o caithemh na mbiadh saillti no aigedach. Et tic uair o tuitim & o bualadh & o leimnigh & o eighem & o gaire ro-mor & o feirg & o fuath & o sceatrach tsaothrach & o cosachtaigh laidir. Et atait neithi cuidigheas an easlainte so do denum mar ata teasaideacht imurcach & fuacht imurcach & a cosmaile mar ata rith & saothar & coimriachtain & neamh-codladh & moran da cosmailibh. O cuisibh inmedonacha vero tic uair and on ceann & teid cum na srona & cum an carbuid & cum an ochta & tic uair eli on olmach [feólbach] & on carbud & o rannaibh eli an beoil & tic uair eli on gaile & ona haeibh & tic on tseilg & tic o fostughadh na fola mista no o emoroydes & tegmaidh an easlainte so co gnathach dona dainibh da mbeantar ball da mballaibh in tan linaid iat co himarcach & do-nitear an easlainte si uair eli o cin an ochta mar ata neascoid an ochta in tan tsilis rann da hadhbhar tar na sreabhannaibh amach & tic uair eli o creacht an scamain no an ochta & tic uair eli o oslagadh no o brisidh no o gearradh no o cnai no o geire & do-nitear an t-oslagadh sin o tennadh do-nitear o gaotmuireacht no o linadh leannaighi.’
emblici, (lat. emblici), emblic, (or amla, the Indian Gooseberry) the fruits of Phyllanthus emblica, one of the five sorts of myrobalans. Chapter 122. See mirbolani.

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ementa (lat. femininum), feminine.
emitritius (lat. emitriteum), hemitritaeus (referred to in chapters 101 and 233), a fever compounded of a continuous and an intermittent fever. The name comes from hémi ‘half’, and tritaios, ‘on the third day’. Lile NLS 19v ( LM Pt. 1, Ch. 8): ‘Hemitriteus vero fiabras comsuighighthe o fiabras cointinoideach & o fiabras interpolata e, & fedur a tabairt cum tri gnethe ara mbidh ni so-althionta. Maseadh is amhlaidh cuisighthir in cet gne don emetriteus o quotidiana cointinoideach & o tertiana interpolata, & in dara gne o tertiana cointinoideach & o quotidiana interpolata. An .3. gne cuisighthir o quartana cointinoideach & o tertiana interpolata.’.
empima (lat. vomitum sanguineum), empyema. Lile Eg 116r, v ( LM Pt. 4, Ch. 7) : ‘Gairtear empima don tseli ingair bis a cabhan an cleibh no in scamain ... Is eadh is cuis do in catarrus tuitis on ceann cum an ochta & cruinnigheas a cabhanaibh folma an cleibh & in tan nach innarbtar as sin e & nach glantar le cosachtaigh dileaghtar annsin e madh eigin & impaidtear a sileadh & is don cruinniughadh silidh sin gairtear empima & do-nitear empima ar modh eli .i. an tan bristear na neascoideadha roim geneamhain foirfi an tsilidh & uair and taireis geneamhna foirfi an tshilidh & ritheas a
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folmaigeacht an cleibh & is iat so na neascoideadha o ndentar empima .i. squinanncia & pleurisis & perpleumonia & rithidh andsin moran fola co minic a cumasc an tshilidh & cuisightear an easlainte so uair and ona leannaibh & ona dethachaibh tic on corp co huilidhe & cruinnightear a folmaigeacht an cleibh no an scamain & impaightear a sileadh iat. Et do-nitear an easlainte so uair eli o creachtaibh an cleibh & an scamain & ona cuisibh is cosmail ru & bith a fis agad, ac labairt a modh foirleathan, gach uile tshileadh cruinnigtear a folmaigeacht an cleibh gan cumdach dleaghar empima do radh ris gidheadh is and is disle empima do radh ris an tan tic on scaman. Bith a fis agad curob iat a cuisi is comartha don easlainte so gidheadh fedmuid cuid eigin da comartaibh do cur and so oir an sileadh bis andsa cliabh in tan tinnscnas in cliabh no an scaman do cnai & do creachtnugadh bith an t-othar andsin maille re fiabras ciuin & a beith nis mo san oidhche ina sa lo & maille re deirgi na ngruadh & re teasaideacht na lamh & na cos & bith lesach arna cosaibh & bith an cosachtach maille re cumsanadh fallsa & tromdacht a ndiaigh an bidh & a cosmaile.’
en, a bird; en circe (lat. pullus), a pullet, a chicken.
endiuia, indiuia (lat. endivia, scariola), the cultivated endive, Cichorium endivia. Chapter 114. There is some confusion between endivia and scariola, and at one point Circa Instans. says
endivia ... que alio nomine
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scariola dicitur.’’
However, in Chapter 91, a recipe includes ‘andiuia & scairiola’, and scairiola is separately identified s.v.
(d')entaib, aentaib, all together.
eolach; na heolaidh, the experts.
eorna (syn. lat. ordium, lat. ordeum), barley. Chapter 216. Two species were cultivated, eorna mhór, Hordeum vulgare, and eorna bheag, Hordeum distichon, both of which occur as relics of cultivation but do not persist or become naturalised. The ways in which barley was used are indicated by the terms:
min eorna (lat. farina, [once, polenta] ); Chapter 130;
plur mine eorna (lat. contrita polenta, pasta);
plur mine eorna (lat. contrita polenta, pasta);
uisce eorna (lat. aqua ordei, optime ordeum ut fiat aqua spissa sicut ptisana);
caith;
aran.
Circa Instans. (Erlangen copy, Wölfel p. 89):
Polenta fit ex farina ordei et aqua. Far autem sic fit: Ordeum mundatum in molla ponitur et conteritur mola aliquantulum sublevata, ut quasi operetur farinam. Ordeum mundatum decoquatur in aqua donec accedat ad spissitudinem et subrufum colorem et
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talis aqua optima est. Farina ordei polenta el us dicitur ... In aqua decoquatur farina et fiant inde pultes.’’
epatica , see ae aba.
epaticum, see aloes.
epitimen, see blath na time.
erbulair herbal.
errnia (lat. dolor testiculorum), hernia. Lile. Eg 183r ( LM. Pt. 7, Ch. 7):
Don maidm shicne. Atait .7. ngneithi ar eirnea an mheid ata ar lathair. An cet gne aderar uentosa .i. gaothmuireacht ria. An .2. gne aderar aquosa .i. uisceamhail ria. An .3. gne humoralis .i. leannaidhi. An .4. gne carnosa .i. feolmar. An .5. gne uaricalis. An .6. gne zirbalis. An .7. gne intestinalis oir an tan atas sparan na n-uirghidh gan neascoid gan fiabrus gan teinneas mor do-citear co mbi brisidh ruptura and an tan sin & is uime sin as eidir hernea do gairm mar ainm generaltea de oir is cosmuil re brisidh firinneach e & do-nitear an tan sin uair and o gaoith & uair eli o uiscemhlacht, uair eli o linn & uair eli fasaidh feoil let amuigh do naduir and & uair eli lintar na cuisleanna d'fhuil melancolica & do-nitear uair eli uarices reamhra a reimhe meir uair and & uair eli tuitidh zirbus .i. an meathradh bis ar muin na n-inneadh & oir atait na hinneadha arna timcilliughadh do zirbus & do sifac & do mirac & uair eli lactar na sreabhainne sin & do-nitear
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hernia inginalis in tan sin & uair ele bristear iat & tuitid na hinneadha a sparan na n-uirgidh in tan sin & isi so as hernia fhirinneach and & uair eli oslaictear dindimus & boctar & tuitidh sis. Do-nitear crepatura uair and o cuisibh foirimillacha & uair eli o cuisibh inmedonacha. O cuisibh foirimillacha mar ata saothar & coimriachtain & leimneach & gach ni cosmail ru & a ndenum deis linta ro-moir inmedonaigh oir is urusa sifac do brisidh in tan sin & bristear e fos o cosachtaigh tshaothrach & in tan fostoigtear o cuis eigin an sileadh do, bi ullamh cum a innarbtha. Madh cuis inmedonach beas and bith sin o bogadh no o linadh cona cosmaile. Madh hernia gaothmur bes and bidh cuirineacht and in tan sin & gluaistear an gaothmuireacht on taobh co celi. Madh hernia uiscemhail bes and teid co hurusa roim an tadhall & bith maille re linadh droch-leannann & tic cum na ndaoine bis ullamh cum idropisi. Humoralis vero aitintear hi ar son co mbi an corp linta & bit gan teinneas & teid roimh an tadhall & bith buigi innte inmedonach idir an ngne uisceamhail & in gne feolmur. Sa gne feolmur vero do-citear an togh testiculus arna medughadh gan teinneas gan neascoid. Uaricosa vero bith cruaidh fada a cosmailis tslaitíne. Sirbalis vero ni inntoighinn tar ais ge loigheadh neach faon. Intestinalis vero impaidh co lor a usacht da loightear faon. Ata deithfir idir an lagadh & an sineadh oir da
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mbe neach ina sesamh ara bonnaibh & a anal do dingi cum na mball iochtarach da tuitid sin co hurusa sis le dingi na hanala is brisidh ata and & muna dernait is sineadh. Maseadh an tan do-chifeam at salach blein a cosmaileas uighi, & bimaid cunntabartach an brisidh no an sineadh ata and, dleaghmaid in tan sin in t-othar do suighiughadh & in t-at do cur asteach le laimh & a dingi le & eirgidh ina seasamh ainnsein & aithnighim de cosachtach do denum no a anal do dinghi & da tuite an t-at is brisidh ata and & muna derna as sineadh. An tan vero bis dindimus arna bogadh & bis a pholl mor edluith is urusa les na hinnibh tuitim a sparan na n-uirgidh in tan sin.’’
eruca, see cearrbocan.
esula, see eisbeorna.
es ustum, see umha (loiscthe).
etan, see edan.
euforbium (lat. euforbium), officinal spurge, the imported dried latex of the North African species, Euphorbia resinfera. Chapter 119. See gerr an eighmhe.
eupatorium, see iubar sleibe.
examail, examlacht (lat. diversitas)), diverse, diversity.
examlaidhid (lat. diversus), is distinguished.
Fabra, eyelash.
fail (lat. singultus, cardiacum), hiccup. See singultus.
fairrgi (lat. marina), the sea.

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fairsingidh (lat. enlargare), expands.
faiscid, presses, squeezes.
fastidium (lat. abominatio), nausea. Lile Eg 136r ( LM Pt. 5, Ch. 8): ‘Is eadh is fastidium and aduathmaireacht in bidh & in dighi maille re hurlagadh eigin & re hailgis eigin cum sceathraighi o truailliughadh an bidh & na leannand sa gaile.’
faithne (lat. verruca), wart.
farcan (lat. fungus, spongia), a bracket fungus on a tree. See agairg. The true sponge was known and used, but certain funguses looked like sponges, and, as is indicated in Chapter 17, were used as sponges. Buller (1914–16) p. 55 says that various forms of the name "sponge" were and are applied in Italy to species of fungus, including the edible Morchella esculenta.
farina, see eorna.
fas, growth.
fascadh, vn. of faiscid, to press or squeeze. Fascadh tri edach, to press through a cloth, to strain (lat. colare).
fathadh (lat. pannum superfluum), wrinkles; cf. pannuceus.
feadan (lat. fistula, embotum), a pipe or funnel. Feadan linnidhan (lat. fistula), an ulcer, described in Lile Eg: [27v] ( LM Pt. 1, Ch. 19, Rub. 1) ‘Is eadh is fistula and crecht cabhanach domuin maille re sileadh do-nitear o linn finn morgaighthi truaillidhe loiscthi ...’ [29v] (Rub. 7) ‘Is eadh is fistula and,
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creacht cabanach salach, lethan astigh & cumang amuigh, duintear uair and & osclas uair eli, & foillsightear fistula trit na haicidibh sin.’
feadanacht, the entry into an ulcer; linnidha & feadanacht, lat. fistula, humositas. See feadan.
fearban (syn. tapsia, lat. tapsia), buttercup. The Irish text in Chapter 268 is based on Platearius' chapter on tapsia, i.e., Thapsia garganica, a plant of the Mediterranean region. Fearbán (‘that which blisters’) is the ordinary name for buttercup, because of the blistering effect of the juice that is expressed when the living or freshly gathered plant is crushed. However, it is possible that the name is applied in Chapter 268 to Thapsia, which was generally used in medicine to raise blisters and may well have been imported by the apothecaries. Alphita, p. 83, gives herba trutannorum, ‘the herb of the beggars’, as a name for tapsia, and Mowat quotes Bartholomeus to the effect that beggars are accustomed to sprinkle their faces with tapsia, so as to appear like lepers, and afterwards they wash themselves with juice of horehound and vinegar, which completely removes the blisters. Tapsia, he says, blows up the face of a person who rubs it on.
It is also possible, however, that people adapted the buttercup to the uses that were made of tapsia on the Continent, because it had similar properties, and
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the true tapsia was expensive or hard to come by. Aodh Mac Domhnaill says (Beckett, p. 130) of faraban (which, on p. 120, is equated with crowfoot):
Faraban so luibh nac ndean daoine no alleach a husacht mar is nimh losgach í ... niel sí air a glacadh an taobhstigh mar is nimh losgach i as a se a sualche ana cheirienn gur guiste a thogamh si bluingaidh no ni air bith eile da bhuil aga na doctoir acht go bpeinan si nies mo ...’’

Investigation of the blistering substance found in numerous species of the Ranunculaceae, in particular by Shearer (1938), Kroeber (1949) and Hill and Van Heyningen (1951), revealed that the plants contain a glucoside, for which the name ‘ranunculin’ was proposed. When the tissues are crushed, the glucoside is converted enzymically to protoanemonin, an oil which is volatile in steam and very soluble in water. This is the active substance which causes the blistering. After a few days, protoanemonin polymerizes to the insoluble crystalline product anemonin, which is harmless, so that the dried plants do not cause blistering.
It would appear that, in the past, of the buttercups, people took most notice of Ranunculus sceleratus. Kroeber, who goes into the history of the medical usage of the Ranunculaceae, says they are called Hahnenfuß in reference to the shape of the
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leaves of Ranunculus sceleratus which, he says, is the most poisonous species of all the Ranunculaceae. It is not unlikely that the name ‘ranunculus’ was also first suggested by this species. Kroeber says of it:
This species is, so to speak, a botanical amphibian, because not only does it grow on rubbish dumps, swampy muddy places, swampy meadows, in ditches and on the edges of ponds, but it ventures also occasionally into shallow water, and at times it even arrays itself as a veritable water-plant with big, glossy floating leaves ... The name Ranunculus is a diminutive of rana, a frog, by reason of the wetness of the places where the plant takes its stand.’’

Analysis of some of the species showed that the yield of the blistering substance as a percentage of the fresh weight of the plant was about average in Ranunculus sceleratus. However, it is likely that, since this species is much bulkier that the others, the substance is available in greater quantity from it than from the other species.
I submit, therefore, that, although fearbán in general usage was extended to as many species as the English ‘buttercup’ is, in the medical context it probably refers to Ranunculus sceleratus. This species is also referred to in Chapter 36 as imas na lathfan, ‘the celery of the frogs’, an ad hoc translation of
p.741
apium ranarum.
As to other species of Ranunculus referred to in the text, see aibill uisce, glaiser lena and meirsi.

p.742

feardacht (lat. genitalia), the male genitals.
fearthain (lat. pluvialis), rain.
feinel (syn. feniculus; lat. feniculus, marathrum), fennel, Foeniculum vulgare Webb. Chapter 131.
feinel dearg, red fennel, a variety of Foeniculum vulgare Webb. Ogden (1969, p. 89) says ‘Rede fenell may have been fennel with red or reddish seeds. Cf. fenell with the sede rouge, 67/10. Perhaps, with the looseness of medieval colour names, red fennel seeds may have been the dark, reddish-brown seeds of German, or Saxon, fennel, as distinguished from the green seeds of sweet, or Roman, fennel. On the other hand, it may have been the sub-variety described in Lyte transl. Dodoens Niewe Herball (1578), p. 269: ‘There is an other sorte of this kinde of Fenell [i.e. true Fenell], whose leaves waxe darke, with a certayne kinde of thicke or tawny redde colour, but otherwise in all things like the first.’’ According to Flora Europaea ii 341, the plant that is widely cultivated for flavouring and which has sweet-tasting fruit is the subspecies vulgare, while the subspecies piperitum, which grows in dry, rocky places in the Mediterranean region, has sharp-tasting fruit.
feinel na muc (syn. feniculus porsinas, maelan muilithi; lat. cotula fetida), stinking mayweed, Anthemis cotula,
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see Webb p. 93. See Maelan muilithi.
1. feith (lat. nervus), nerve, sinew. Per Thomas of Cantimpré, De Natura Rerum. , p. 40:
By the nerves the bones are linked with one another, as the doctors say. The nerves arise from the brain, so that it is through the nerves that all perceptions come. Whenever any part of the body is injured, immediately pain affects the brain. Out of the origin of the two principal nerves, two webs are woven over the brain. In the regions where there are bones, there is a great number of nerves. There is no blood in the nerves as there is in the veins. By their nature, it is on their length and not on their breadth that nerves split. Whereas veins join up again when they are cut, the nerves do not.
There are no nerves in the human head, but there are many in the hands and feet. The nerves that are extended in the arms are great and strong, while those in the legs are greater and stronger. Nerves which are deprived of any of the necessary humours contract, resulting in considerable pain to the patient. As Galienus says, the nerves are of a hard and flexible substance and are difficult to separate. Their function is to transport the perceptive and motive virtues from the brain to the other parts of the body, and to strengthen the whole body wherever they exist in it. On this, Pliny says
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that the nerves which originate in the heart do not join up again once they are cut and, amazingly, when the patient is in extreme pain from wounding, once the nerves are cut there is no pain.’’
2. feith; according to the DIL, this is some kind of twining plant (with tough or woody stem). It may be the hop, Humulus lupulus Webb.
feiteach (of parts of the body), containing "nerves". See 1. feith.
feitleog, feitlinn, the sinewy stem (of the ivy)..
fel, see domblas ae.
fenementum, see laibin.
feniculus, see feinel.
feniculus porsinas, see feinel na muc.
fenegrecum (syn. pis no feinel Greagach; lat. fenugrecum), fenugreek seeds, a spice that is widely cultivated, derived from the leguminous plant Trigonella foenum-grecum.
feoighi (lat. siccus withered, dried.
feoil (lat. caro), flesh.
feolmar, fleshy.
ferann, land.
ferdris, the dog rose, Rosa canina Webb.
fér magrallach possibly the marsh or floating foxtail, Alopecurus geniculatus Webb, but, more likely perhaps, Alopecurus bulbosus CTW, if imported.
ferrarium, a deposit left in water by hot iron.

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ferrdha (lat. masculus), male.
ferrugo a iron dross, see slaidteach and slaighe.
ferrum, see iarunn.
fesog (lat. barba), a beard.
fex, see deascaid.
fiabras (lat. febris), fever. See coididiana, intribulata, quartana, terciana. If malaria was a problem, as it was in the Greece of Hippocrates, the remarks of Stannard (1961) p. 617, are of interest in relation to our text:
It must not be forgotten that malaria was endemic in ancient Greece. It is, therefore, probable that a latent or chronic malarial infection colored the clinical manifestations of many disorders. The frequent references to enlarged or painful spleen and the periodical chills and fevers are ample evidence.’’
fiacal (lat. dens), tooth.
fiadh (lat. cervus), deer.
fiadain, wild.
fialtog, a bat.
ficus see fige.
fidhis, a channel.
fige (lat. ficus, caricis), fig, fruit of Ficus carica, Chapter 140.
filipindula (lat. filipendula), dropwort, Filipendula vulgaris Webb. Chapter 135.
filun, felon, an abscess. The term appears to be a
p.746
synonym of antrax, q. v.
fin (lat. usually vinum); once each, passum, merum wine. Chapter 280.
fineamhain (lat. vitis), the vine, Vitis vinifera. Chapters 217 and 273.
finegra (syn. accetum, oxiren, oxiriun; lat. acetum), vinegar. Chapter 9.
1. finn, white; linn finn, the phlegmatic humour.
2. finn (lat. macula, pannus, caligo), a disease of the eye, possibly a cataract.
finnfadh (lat. pili, capilli, discriminalia), hair, animal's fur.
finscoth (syn. cinoglosa, lat. lingua canis), ‘wine-blossom’, hound's tongue, Cynoglossum officinale Webb. Chapter 71.
fisiceacht (lat. ), physic, i.e. medicine.
fiuchadh (lat. decoctio), to boil, also, of a condition of the stomach, lat. calet.
flamula, see aibill uisce.
fleadmaticach, phlegmatic.
flidh (syn. hipia mador), chickweed, Stellaria media. Webb. Chapter 153. As Stokes pointed out (1888, p. 235) in relation to another copy of the text, the Latin headings in chapters 153 and 154 have been transposed; the usual Latin name for chickweed was Hippia minor. There was much confusion between the names for chickweed and scarlet pimpernel.

p.747

fliuch (lat. humidus), wet.
fliuchadh, fluid.
fliuchaid, (lat. humectare), to make wet.
fliuchaideacht, (lat. various cognates of humidus; aquositas, lacrymae oculorum, aque oculorum), wetness.
flos fraxini see fuinseog.
flos rose see antera.
flux (lat. flux, manans, profluvium, secessum), excessive flow.
fo-buidhe (lat. citrinus), off-yellow.
fochma (lat. pernio, mula), chilblain.
fodmur (lat. autumnus), autumn.
fognaidh, serves.
foibert (lat. colirium), collyrium, eye-lotion.
foillsigid, clarifies.
foirbtiugadh, to bring to maturity or perfection.
foireigneach, violent.
foiridh, helps.
foirimillach (lat. superficies), external.
foirtill, strong.
folcadh (lat. lavare, abluere, lotio), washes, bathes.
folmaigid (lat. purgare, educere, solvere, depellere)), purges.
folt (lat. capilli, discriminalia.
folud (lat. substantia), substance.
follamnugad, (lat. regimen).
fonn (lat. regio), land, region.

p.748

forbailteachas, (lat. leticia), joy.
forcroiceann, (lat. cortex, superficies), outer skin.
fordronn, (lat. pecten), the mons pubis.
fo-ruagh (lat. subrufus), a dull foxy red.
fostaigid, retains.
fostaiteach (lat. constringendi), constraining, retaining.
fotannan, thistle>.
fotlact (syn. bibolica, biliria), narrow-leaved water-parsnip, Berula erecta Webb. Chapter 66.
fotragadh (lat. fomentum, balneum), bath; fomentation.
fraechoc, see lus na fraechoc.
fragaria, see lus na talman.
Frainc, an, (lat. Gallia), France.
frasina, (lat. francigena)), French.
fraxinus, see fuinnseog.
frenisis (lat. freneticus), frenzy. Lile Eg 69v ( LM Pt. 2, Ch. 22): ‘Is eadh is frenisis and neascoid teasaide arna geneamhain a sicneadhaibh na hinchinne. Is iat comarthai na heaslainte so fiabrus cointinoideach bhuile & neamh-codlad & tart & duibhe na teangan & gluaiseacht an-ordaighteach na cos & na lamh & udmaille an chuirp uile & moran cainnti & aicide aduathmhara dasachtacha, & bith so uile co hisill a frenisis non vera & uair and bid a cumsanadh uile.’
fritbuailid (lat. repercussio), aborts (a boil), prevents it coming to a head.
fritbuailteach (lat. repercussivus), repercussive. Chapter 237. See fritbuailid.

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fritcathugad (lat. repugnare, resistere), counteracts.
fructus iuniperi, see iubar craigi.
fu, see caertann curraig.
fuacht, cold.
fual (lat. urina), urine.
fuar (lat. frigidus), cold.
fuaraideacht, fuardacht (lat. frigiditas), coldness. Written out only once, i.e. Chapter 40, ‘an aigid ... fuardachta na hinchinne’, otherwise always contracted as fuar, sometimes even as .f. . It may be that fuaraideacht is for coldness in general, while fuardacht is for the coldness of an object. ¹⁷⁵
fuarc: in relation to the ash tree, fuarc fuinseann (Chapter 71 )appears to be a gummy exudation that appears on the bark of the tree. Circa Instans. says, in the Modena version,
Fraxinus ... arbor est cuius cortex, semen et viscositas que ad modum fungi superexcrescint usui competunt medicine.’’
It may be that Platearius, writing in the south of Italy, was thinking in particular of Fraxinus ornus, the sugary exudation from which is harvested and sold as ‘manna’ (see Chapter 181). Possibly, too, fuarc is the basis of farcan, q. v.
fuardacht, see fuaraideacht.
fuartha, fuarthach (lat. infrigidandi), cooling.
fugo demonum, see bitnua.

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fuil (lat. sanguis), blood, fuil derg, the sanguine humour.
fuil bocain, probably a toadstool, Mycena haematopus or Mycena sanguinolenta, both of which yield a latex which is dark blood-red.
fuil dreagain (syn. saingis dragoinis, lat. sanguis draconis), dragon's blood, a bright red gum or resin. Stearn, in Opsomer ii (1984) ch. 389:
Dragon's blood, originally the red or reddish resin from Dracaena cinnabari Balf. f. of Socotra, Liliaceae (or Agavaceae), later also from Dracaena draco L., from the Canary Islands and from Daemonorops draco (Willd.) Blume, Daemonorops ruber Mart. and Daemonorops propinquus Becc. of East Indies.’’
In the case of the species of Daemonorops (family Palmae), the resin is prepared from the fruits, which are coated with it.
fuiligid (lat. scarificatio), scarifies, making shallow cuts in the skin to draw blood.
fuil mista (lat. menstrua), menstruation.
fuilngid (lat. ferre potest), endures.
fuil ruad (lat. multum sanguinem et spissum), another name for fuil derg, q. v.
fuine, to knead.
fuinnseoc, fuinnseann (syn. fraxinus; lat. fraxinus), the ash tree, Fraxinus excelsior Webb. Chapters 23 and 129. Fuinnseann is normally the genitive of fuinnse, of which fuinnseoc is a diminutive, but it is not
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always felt that way, e. g., Chapter 72, ‘luaith na fuinnsinne’.
fuit, a wasp.
fumiter (syn. fumus terra; lat. fumus terra), the fumitory, Fumaria officinalis Webb. Chapter 136.
fumus terra, see fumiter.
fungus, see agaricus.
funis pauperum, see eiginn (na crann).
furtachtalgid (lat. solvere, iuvare, conferre, confortare, levare, mitigare, valere), relieves.
Ga (lat. suppositum, suppositorium, magdaleon), suppository.
gabail, yeast.
ga copa (lat. licinium, stuellum), a surgical tent, used to dilate a narrow opening; i.e., some substance, like certain seaweeds or sponge, which shrivels up when dried, and expands powerfully when it absorbs moisture. It is introduced dry into the opening it is to dilate, and expands in the course of some hours without producing pain. See David Greene, Celtica 15, 1, and Cecile O'Rahilly, Éigse 9, 181.
Gaeidilc, the Irish language.
gaethamhlacht, gaetmuireacht (lat. ventositas, inflatio), windiness. Gaethamhlacht is used consistently in the first fifty chapters, and gaetmuireacht in the rest of the text.

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gaethmur, windy.
gag (lat. tritura), a crack in the skin.
galle (lat. stomachus, alvus), the stomach.
gailingan (syn. galanga; lat. galanga), the galangal rhizome, derived from the greater galangal, Kaempforia galanga/Alpinia galanga, a reed-like plant of the ginger family. Chapter 143.
gaill-bilar, garden cress, Lepidium sativum CTW, widely cultivated as a salad plant.
gaill-eigrim, ‘foreign burnet’, Poterium polygamum CTW, formerly grown for fodder.
gaineam, sand.
gairbhi (lat. raucedo, asperitas), roughness (of the voice), hoarseness.
gairbten (lat. asperitas, roughness.
gairi (lat. risus), laughter.
gairiofilata, see macall.
gairisma (lat. gargarisma), gargle.
gairleog (syn. aillium; lat. allium), garlic, Allium sativum CTW. An Asiatic plant, cultivated here. I understand that much of what is stated in the Irish text is supported by Dr. W. Minchin, "The germicidal and therapeutic action of garlic", The Practitioner (1918) p. 145.
gairleog cailli (lat. flos mustardi), garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolataWebb; family, Cruciferae. Mentioned in Chapter 30. The leaves smell of garlic when
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crushed. The Latin term is printed in the 1497 edition as ‘flos mus.’.
gairmid, calls, names.
galanga, see gailingan.
galar (lat. egritudo, vitium, morbus), disease.
galar buighe (lat. ictericia), jaundice. See buidheacair.
galbanum (lat. galbanum), galbanum, an oleo-gum-resin obtained from certain Asiatic species of Ferula, family Umbelliferae, mainly Ferula galbaniflua. Chapter 142.
galitricum, see cainche coille.
galla (syn. alapsa, galla pomum quersuus, lat. galla), oak galls. Chapter 17.
In the first few lines of his account of the oak galls, the Irish author simply translates the Latin text, but with two interesting points of his own. Where the Latin says they are ‘fructus quercus’, the Irish says they are ‘ubull fasas ar duilleabar na darach’, which serves to distinguish them from ‘measoga na darach’, i.e. the acorns, the true fruit of the oak. Again, where the Latin says ‘virtutem habent constringendi’, the Irish is more precise with ‘brigh fostoiteach coirtiteach’. The term ‘coirtiteach’ refers to the tanning property of the oak galls, being derived from ‘coirt’, ‘bark’ ([lt ] cortex), in reference to the use made by tanners of the bark of the oak.
Galls are growths arising on the tissue of plants, induced by plant or animal parasites, and sometimes by
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mechanical means. Many galls are produced on the native Irish oaks, the best known being the ‘oak apple’. This is induced by a wasp, known in its agamous generation as Biorrhiza aptera, which emerges from her gall on the root in January and crawls up the tree to lay her numerous eggs in suitable terminal buds. The tree responds by developing tissue forming a ‘gall’ around the larva, when it develops, being induced to do so by the irritation of the tissue by the movements of the larva. The cells of the gall are immensely greater than normal. Galls are often full of waste products, such as resins and tannic acid. At maturity, the ‘oak apple’ is a smooth sphere, about 15 mm in diameter, hard, and tinted rose colour. The sexual generation of the wasp, known as Biorrhiza pallida, emerges in July, leaving a hole in the gall where it made its way out.
The Irish text suggests, however, that the galls used in this country in medicine were those in common use in Europe generally, the Aleppo gall which Theophrastus says is the only gall of use for tanning, and the Bassorah gall, used for dyeing wool. They are both induced by species of gall-wasp on Quercus infectoria, a small oak tree that grows in the Eastern Mediterranean region, and sometimes on other species. Oak galls are still availed of as a source of tannic acid, which, in medicine, is used as an astringent and
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styptic.
gallfhothannan (syn. branca ursina; lat. branca ursina), bear's breech, Acanthus mollis CTW. Chapter 57. Some authorities understand the Latin name as hogweed, Heracleum sphondilium Webb, but the Irish name (=foreign thistle) indicates that it was applied to Acanthus mollis when that species came to be cultivated in Ireland. Stearn (Opsomer, 1984, ii 43) discusses the Latin name.

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gallunach (lat. sapo), soap. Soap, in the sense of the product obtained by the action of a base on fats, was invented by the Gauls early in the first century A.D. It was originally prepared from tallow and the ashes of the beech and yoke-elm, in two varieties, solid and liquid. In the 15th century, white soap was made from oil and tallow, with a lye made from fern ash and unslaked lime, while for black soap the lye was made from green oak boughs (Gibbs, 1939). The distinction made in Circa Instans (but not in the Irish text) between sapo Gallicus and sapo spatarensis appears to be between a soft soap and a ‘cutting soap’. The Irish word is discussed by de Bhaldraithe (1983).
Gamascum (lat. Damascus) the city of Damascus.
garban, literally, roughage; the bran or husks (of oats). The use of garban coirci in Chapter 58 to improve the digestion tallies with the present-day use of bran, which contains little or no carbohydrate, to provide roughage in certain cases of constipation,
gariofillus, see clobus.
garr, pith, pulp.
garrdha (lat. ortus), garden.
gatfann (lat. iusquiamus), henbane, Hyoscyamus niger Webb. The leaves contain alkaloids, including hyoscine, the poison that was used by Dr. Crippen.

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geadh (lat. anser), a goose.
geadhar (syn. aron barba, iarus, pes uituli; lat. iarus, barba aaron, pes vituli), cuckoo-pint, Arum maculat urn Webb. Chapter 1. The emphasis in the text on the roots and tubers reflects the fact that the plant has a tuberous rootstock rich in starch, which was formerly extracted and known as Portland arrowroot.
geal (lat. albus, albus et clarus, albus et lucidus, candidus, white.
gealan (lat. albumen [ovi], lacrymus [ovi]), the white [of an egg].
gearb ((bruth no gearba ara mbel), (lat. excoriationem que est in labiis et gingivis), scab.
gearradh (lat. incidere, vulnus, morsus animalium), a cut.
geimreadh (lat. hyemale tempus), winter.
geinidh (lat. creare, generare), produces.
geir (lat. adeps), fat.
gentiana, coirci lo[ ].
geneamhain (lat. conceptum), conception (by a female); production.
geneamhnach (lat. ad conceptum adiuvandum), conceiving (by a female).
genestula, see gilcach sleibhe.
ger (lat. acutus), sharp, acute.
geraigid (lat. acuere), sharpens; makes bitter or sour.
gere (lat. acumen), sharpness or bitterness.
gerr an eighmhe (syn. anabulla, titimaillus), lat. titimallus),
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petty spurge, Euphorbia peplus Webb. Chapter 28.
The Latin writers used the term tithimallus as a general name for the spurges. They claimed to recognise seven sorts of spurge.
The spurges ([lt ] ex-purgare) were christened ‘Euphorbia’ by Juba, who wrote a treatise on them. He was king of Mauritania and Numidia, and husband of a daughter of Antony and Cleopatra. He named them after his physician in ordinary, Euphorbus, who is said to have been the first to use the latex of Euphorbia resinifera, and other North African species, medicinally. References in the medical literature to euforbium may be taken to refer to the imported dry latex of Euphorbia resinifera and other species.
Certain compounds of the juice of foreign species, regarded sometimes as forms of spurge because of their strong purgative powers, were also imported under the names diagrydium(which appears to have been a compound of the juices of spurge and scammony) and scammonia. The pure form of the latter was derived from the root of Convolvulus scammonia (of Syria and Asia Minor.). An Arabic recipe for diagrydium was to boil scammony with quince, then mix the quince pulp with the mucilaginous seeds of Plantago psyllium.
The sorts of spurge that were used fresh were: esbeorna: This word may be an attempt at the Latin
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word euphorbia. Equated by Ó Cuinn with esula, it was probably a general name for the native species.
gearr an éighmhe: Equated by Ó Cuinn with anabulla, it appears from Threlkeld, p. 55, that it is the petty spurge, Euphorbia peplus. The Irish name ("the short thing that causes one to cry out") is not a misnomer for a plant whose latex burns the skin and, in its capacity as a purgative, is violent and needs to be used with care.
grán Oilella: This is equated by Ó Cuinn with catapucia, which is Euphorbia lathyrus. This is not native to Ireland or Britain, but it was cultivated for medical use.
lauriola: This was included amongst the spurges by some Latin writers under the name mezereum. There are chapters in Ó Cuinn's book on the plant itself (spurge laurel, Daphne laureola CTW, Chapter 167), and also on its seed, as conconidum (κνδειος κκκος) .i. síl in labriola. (Chapter 74).
giba (lat. triturae), peeling (of the skin).
gilcach slebhe (syn. genestula; lat. genestula, bruscus), broom, Cytisus scoparius Webb. Chapter 150. It is called gilcach slebhe to distinguish it from gilcach in the sense of ‘reed’, Phragmites australis Webb. There is some little confusion with the butcher's broom,
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Ruscus aculeatus CTW, for which the medieval Latin name was bruscus, quite a different species, but having a point in common with broom, in that both were used as sweeping brushes. Amhlaoibh Ó Súilleabháin (McGrath, 1936–37, i 82) appears to confirm the identification with broom: ‘Tá blath buidhe ar an giolcach.’ Elsewhere, genista was broom, while genestula, said to resemble broom, was Genista species, a plant that does not occur in Ireland: it has a white flower. Brodin (1950) p. 225 quotes the Encyclopaedia Britannica to the effect that the name Plantagenet is ‘Planta Genista’, a nickname given to the first of them, Geoffrey, because he used to wear a sprig of the broom plant in his cap.
gitt, see cogul.
glacadh, to take (a medicine).
gladiolus, see soilisdur.
glaiser coille (syn. barba siluana; lat. lingua bovis, buglossa), bugle, Ajuga reptans Webb. Chapter 54. The Irish author uses the same Latin text as his basis for his chapters on bugle (54) and bugloss, Anchusa arvensis Webb (178), i.e., Macer Floridus' chapter on Buglossa. The Latin names bugla (or bugula) and buglossa (or bugulossa), though very similar, are in fact two quite different words.
glaiser lena, lesser spearwort, Ranunculus flammula Webb. As to Ranunculus in general, see fearban.

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glan (lat., purus, mundus, epuratus), clean.
glanaid, (lat. mundare, purgare, abstergere, dealbare, depurgare, depurare, purificare, clarificare), cleans, clears; clarifies (a liquid).
glans, see measoga daracha.
glantach (lat. purgandi, mundificandi), cleansing.
glas, a shade between blue and green, with a suggestion of grey. In Chapter 109, ‘dat glas’ may refer to the particular blue shade of copper sulphate. Unfortunately, the various sorts of dragantum have different colours attributed to them in the Irish and Latin texts. See copurrus.
gloine (syn. uitrum; lat. vitrum), glass. Chapter 278.
gloiriam (syn. iris; lat. iris), stinking iris. Iris foetidissima Webb. Chapter 158. The flower is normally a dull purple. The other species of iris referred to in the text are:
gladiolus, soilisdur, yellow flag, Iris pseudacorus Webb. Chapter 145. The flower is a bright yellow; the Latin Circa Instans says that acorus is the root of this plant;
irios, the species that was cultivated for the production of Orris rhizome, Iris germanica var. florentina, which has a white or very pale blue flower. The fact that ‘ireos’ is the genitive of ‘iris’ had been long forgotten.
gluin, knee.

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gluineach bec (syn. centinodia; lat. polligonia), knotgrass, Polygonum aviculare Webb. Chapter 96.
gnathaigid (lat. mandere, potare, sumere, assuetare, vesci frequenter, uti, fiat multus usus), makes (habitual) use of.
gne (lat. species, genus, maneries, differens), a sort or species; appearance or aspect.
gobar (lat. caper), a goat.
goirt (lat. acidus), acidic.
gomoiria (lat. gomorea, dolor vulve), gonorrhoea. Lile Eg 181r ( LM Pt. 7, Ch. 3): ‘Is eadh is gonorrea and dortadh neamhtoilemail an tshilne. Bith cuis inmedonach & cuis foirimillach aigi so. Cuis foirimillach mar ata sanntugad & caomhachas amplexus, no santugad re mnai & suighi ar cloichibh fuara, & a cosmaili. Mad cuis inmedonach hi bith o soithighibh an tshilne no o ballaibh eli. Mad o ballaibh eli tic sin on inchind mar is follus an epilensia mar a ndoirter an silne gan airiugad & co hairithi in tan connaimhter an t-adbar timchill na soithighidh. Mad ona soithighibh bes do-nitear sin ar son na mball re n-abur dindimi no ona huirghibh no ona hairnibh & tic ar son na mball sin do beith ro-the no ro-fuar ar mbeith pairilisi no spasmus orra, & fedaidh mar sin teacht o cin na feithidh & na laccerti & madh o linn beas bidh sin ar son co peacaighinn a cainndidheacht ro-moir no a cail, mar ata a beith ro-te no ro-uisceamhail. Madh o
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cuisibh foirimillacha bes do-gabur sin o foillsiughadh an othair & da mbe ar son easlainte na mball eli foillsighit na heaslainteadha fein e & da mbia o pairilis na mball bith gan eirghe na slaite & indarbtar an sperma gan airiughadh, & da mbe o spasmus na feitheadh & na laccerti bith mail le re teinneas na fordronn & na loch mblen pectinis et inguinum & da mbia o teas na mball sin gortaightear iat o neithibh teasaide & furtachtaightear o neithibh fuara, & madh o imad in tshilne beas, bith teas & geire and & in tan bis an silne ag fagbail na sligheadh bith crith & rigor gan fuacht an tan sin and & tegmaidh teinneas cind & gne mania do droing and & fulang & tuitimideacht in cuirp uile, & don droing aga mbi silne ro-teasaide tegmaid na haicideadha so in tan do-nitear coimriachtain gin co bia gomorrea orra. Et da mbia an silne uisceamhail, bec salchus na hedaighidh ara tuitinn, ar son curob luath teid tritha. & Madh ona hairnibh beas, bith an silne reamur righin & tic uair and roimh an fual & uair eli ina diaigh & uair eli an enfeacht ris, & is uime sin is ro-tarbthach a this so do beith ag neach ar son na geneamhna. ... Is ro- dochraidheach in easlainte so oir teid in cinel daona ar neamhfni uaithi, & is uime sin aderur gonorrea ria, & is inann sin & flux an cineil daena, oir is mor do cuaidh d'eag do naire inniste na heaslainte so. ... Madh cuis te beas and maille re himad silne, denadh nuachar
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do chead Chriost, oir is fearr nuachar na eag. ...’
gontach na brond, soreness of the abdomen. Lile Eg 142r ( LM Pt. 5, Ch. 12): ‘Is eadh is tortura inneadh and teinneas galli maille re bruidernach & re docamhail & re hedfhualang & re mailis dasachtaigh & re haithirreach laighi, o linn ruagh & o leannaibh eli bis cludaighthi isna hinnibh. Dleaghar a tuicsin co fuil a com-aduathmhur so d'aicidibh acan easlainte so co cosmhailtear hi re cardiaca passio & re pacio ypocondriaca da ngairtear miracia da ndernadh imradh tuas a caibidil melancolia & cosmhailtear hi re hilica passio & re colica. ... Madh o teas bes bith maille re hitain & re lassadh & re bruidernach & re teinneas ro-ger gontach. ...’ This may be appendicitis, known colloquially as ‘a knot in the guts’, and ‘snaidhm ar stéig’.
goran (don brut & dona goranaibh, lat. prurigo), pimple. Lile Eg 41v ( LM Pt. 1, Ch. 25): ‘Dona goranaibh beaga ... Is eadh is pustule and lesach bec a cosmaileas grainn na figeadh bis mar shal alluis & fedtar brollia dura do radh riu a tengaidh coltcinn lochta na prouinsia so. ’
gorm, guirm (lat. livor), bruised, a bruise.
gorman, cornflower Centaurea cyanus Webb.
gorman bec, probably pansy Viola tricolor Webb.
gortaigid (lat. mordere), hurts.
grainne (lat. granum), a grain.

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gran (lat. granum, semen, frumentum), grain; fruit of cereals.
gran Oilella (syn. catapusia; lat. cataputia), caper spurge, Euphorbia lathyris C-TW. Chapter 99. See gerr an eighmhe.
granta parthais, grains of Paradise, a spice consisting of the seeds of Aframomum melegueta), a West African plant of the ginger family.
Greig, an (lat. Grecia), Greece. The word for the Greek language occurs four times, written twice as .gg. (both letters bear a macron) and twice as g*ig; probably, it should be read as ‘Greig’, but, perhaps, as ‘Greigis’.
greim (lat. morsus), a bite.
grian, the sun.
griban (lat. vermicularis), biting stonecrop, Sedum acre Webb. It appears that, normally, griban na gcloch is this stonecrop, while griban ban is white horehound, Marrubium vulgare Webb.
gruag, the hair of the head.
guasacht, guasachtach (lat. inimicus); danger, dangerous.
guirm, see gorm.
gultus, the throat.
gum, gumi (lat. gumi), gum, in the sense of a semitransparent vegetable substance, soluble in water, that exudes from certain trees and shrubs, and hardens on the surface thereof. Chapter 148.
gumamhlacht (lat. gumositas), gumminess.

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gum araibi, gum araibium (lat. gumi arabicum), gum Arabic, a dried gum obtained from the stems and branches of Acacia senegal (a tree about eighteen feet high, abundant in the Sudan and in Central and West Africa), and some other species of Acacia.
gum na Serrisdinach, gum Sarasenica (lat. gumi Sarracenicum)), another name for gum araibi, q. v.
gurmaill (syn. cauda purcina; lat. peucedanum), gromwell, Lithospermum officinale Webb. Chapter 77. The genus contains plants having hormonal activity.
guth (lat. vox), voice.
guta, gout.

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Herba sangti petri, see soibirgin.
herba ueneris, see ueruena.
hermodactuli, see tene talman.
hipia mador, see flidh.
hipia minor, see rinn ruisc.
Iara Constantini, yera pigra Constantini; a compound medicine, see Introduction, Chapter 4.
iaralogodion, yeralogodion, a compound medicine, see Introduction, Chapter 4.
iara rufini, yera ruffini, a compound medicine, see Introduction, Chapter 4.
iartar (‘d'iartar na n-ainmhinnteadh’, lat. vulva), (the animal' s) rear.
iarunn (syn. ferrum; lat. ferrum), iron. Chapter 124.
iarus, see geadhar.
iasc (lat. piscis), fish.
icaidh (lat. cohibere, curare, prodesse, sistere, iuvare, compescere, extinguere, obstare, sedare, solvere, mederi, sanare), cures.
icslainte, a remedy (with nuance of panacea); icslainte na mbatlach (lat. tyriaca rusticorum), see batlach. In Antidotarium Nicholai. ,
De Tiriaca magna Galieni: Tiriaca magna quam Galienus composuit. Tiriaca .i. domina medicinarum facit gravissimis passionibus tocius
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humani corporis remedium.’’
idroipis, igroipis (lat. ydropisis), dropsy. Lile Eg 163r ( LM Pt. 6, Ch. 5): ‘Is eadh is idropis and seachran na brighi re n-abur unitiua sa corp uile lenas claochlodh na brighi dileaghtha isna haeibh & is mar sin ata an idropis 'na seachran na brighi dileaghtha isna haeibh ... Et idirdeilightear tri gneithi aran idropis ona hinadhaibh ... iposarca no anasarca no leucafleadhmancia ... bith maille re hatt uilidhe in cuirp, & is uime sin asi an gne so is idropis firinneach ann ... & isi so gne is lugha is olc dibh uile. An .2. gne ... alsites ... & isi is measa dibh uile. An .3. gne ... timpanites ... & is ro-olc hi ... Na sreabhanna vero is foicsi dona hinnibh, gairter mirac de. Maseadh is eadh is mirac and, meithreadh sirbusamail tanaighi ar modh lin timcillis na hinne 'gan inmedon & tic ainnsein sreabhann eli is foicsi na sin don croicinn & gairter sifac di & is mar sin cludaightear an gaothmuireacht & in uisceamhlacht idir an da sreabhainn so ... Asiat so comurtadha na hidropisi ac teacht .i. an tan fostaightear leth amuigh do clechtadh re haimsir fada na himurcacha do gnathaigheadh d'innarbadh, mar ata allus & fearadh & fual & a cosmaile. An .2. comurtha .i. linadh droch-leannann co foirimillach & droch-dath na haidhche mar nar cleachtadh & uair and attaid na huirghi & uair ardaightear an tochlughadh & uair laighditear.
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Comurtha na hidropisi do beith ar lathair .i. at na cos & na sul & docamhail na hanala & cosachtach tirim & at an medhoin & ita do-baite & laighdiughadh tochlaighthe an biadh tre saint na dighi & droch-dath. Comurtha iposarca at uilidhe in cuirp & puls tonnmar & fearadh ban folmar & da faiscter an feoil le mer fagaidh poll ina diaigh & ni bi in medhon comh-atmar innti & isna gneithibh eli.’ See alsiteis and tempaniteis.
igha (teinneas an droma & an igha fuar bhis ann, lat. sciasim; don mnai bis re n-ignaibh, lat. partus), pang.
ilica (lat. yliaca, yliaca passio), ileus. Lile Eg 151r ( LM Pt. 5, Ch. 17): ‘Is eadh is ylica and easlainte na n-inneadh caol maille re constipacion na bronn & re sceathrach minic & re teinneas dasachtach mar do tollfaidhi na hinne le tarathar. Dleaghar a tuicsin timchill an adhbuir so co comaentaighinn colica & yliaca ina cuisibh & ina comurthaibh & ina taisceltaibh & ina leigesaibh, gidheadh deifirighid oir is mo an teinneas an ilica & is luaithi marbus tre moithighthi na n-inneadh. An .2. deifir oir is mo bis an teinneas sibhlach cum na leithi desi & cli an ilica. An .3. deifir curob mo bis ilica o aer pladhamhail. An .4. deifir curob mo bis ilica on imlican suas. An .5. deifir oir mar is mo furtachtaightear colica o clistiribh is mar sin is mo furtachtaightear ylica ona neithibh do-berar anuas. Et don taebh eli ata deifir eturra so & teinneas na n-arann oir is mo bis teinneas
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na n-arann saidhti comhnaightheach an aon inadh & bith timchill an lesraidh & an tsliastaigh & na mball iochtarach & is bec furtachtaightear e le clistiribh mar do-nitear colica & aithintear iat arna neithibh do citear isin fual.’
ilon, the ileum, the lower end of the small intestine. See coilica.
ilur, an eagle.
im (syn. butirum; lat. butyrum), butter. Chapter 67.
imas, see meirsi.
imcubaid (lat. competens, congruus), suitable, appropriate.
imcubuighidh (lat. competere), it is appropriate.
imdaighidh (lat. augere), increases, multiplies (transitive and intransitive).
imillach (lat. exterior), exterior (as opposed to inmedonach, interior).
imlach, lively.
imlican, navel. At first sight, [l] imlinn and [2] imlican appear to have been regarded as synonyms, and to be used indiscriminately in the following chapters to render
umbilicus, [l] 31, 88, [2] 9, 149;
pecten, [l] 31, [2] 17, 156, 190, 222, ~~222,~~ 231, 232, 276;
venter, [2] 228, 264;
alvum, [2] 42;

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exterius matrici, [1] 141.
The Latin pecten is explained by Alphita, p. 143, where it is stated that this word, basically a comb, was double-meaning. It could refer to the area around the genitals or to that toothed instrument itself. A pecten was owned by an ore-washer, a fish, a harpist and a farmer, i.e. it was a comb, a plaice, a plectrum and a harrow.
The Old Irish nominative singular of imlinn is imbliu, which, if I understand Thurneysen (1946) p. 117 correctly, developed independently from the Indo-European. I suggest that the later imlecán is a diminutive of imbliu, with the suffix -ucán, and it may have been formed consciously by analogy with umbilicus. It contains a hint of the element of endearment, in -ucán. This procedure would be similar to that followed in inventing or adapting some other words, e.g., in the present text, comhfhurtacht for confortare and toghairm for provocare. Other examples are given by McManus (1984) at p. 141.
In translating the text, I have used ‘belly’ for imlinn, taking it to be the area between and including the mons pubis and the navel, and I have used ‘navel’ for imlican. Other associated words (which see) are fordronn, the mons pubis, and loch bleine, the groin.
imlinn: the belly. See imlican.
imurcach, imurcaid, imurcraid (lat. superfluitas, nimium, multus,
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abundantia), superfluous; superfluity.
inadh (lat. locus), place, situation.
inar, a jacket (e.g. a layer of an onion). The term is used in Lile of the membranes in the eyes.
inchinn (lat. cerebrum, caput), the brain.
inde, inne (lat. intestinum), an intestine; as to the names of the sections of the intestines, see coilica.
indivia, see endivia.
ing, see eang.
ingcuba, see rudus.
ingen (lat. unguis), a nail (of the finger or toe); ingne gairleoige, lat. dens alii, a clove of garlic; see also, bruisingni.
ingoire: I have read "angoire" in Chapter 236 as ‘an ingoire’, and taken it to mean that the worms constitute parasites (lit. are undutifull).
inmedon, the interior.
inmedonach (lat. intrinsecus), internal.
innarbaidh (lat. corrodere, proiicere, eiicere, tollere, pellere, expellere, repellere, purgare, educere, abstergere), drives out.
inndi, see mirbulani.
innfuar, innfuaraidh, innfuarthach (lat. infrigidare, refrigerare), cool, cools, cooling.
Innia (lat. India), India.
innlaid (lat. fomentatio), washes.
innrum (lat. egestio), defecation.

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intaigid (lat. convertitur), converts, is converted.
intribulata, antribulata, (for interpolata), intermittent (of fever) .
iovis barba, see teineagal.
ipericon, see bitnua.
ipofilia, see bilar Muire.
ipoquisdidos, iposditos, see lus na meacan.
ircus (lat. hircus), a name for the smell of the armpit ([lt ]Latin, hircus, a he-goat).
irios (lat. yreos), Iris germanica var. florentina; see gloiriam.
iris, see gloiriam.
isgad (lat. coxa), the popliteal hollow, i.e. the hollow at the back of the knee; bel na n-isgad.
isoip (syn. isopus; lat. ysopum), the cultivated hyssop, Hyssopus officinalis CTW. Chapter 155.
isopus, see isoip.
ita (syn. sitis; lat. sitis), thirst. Chapter 260.
iubar craigi (syn. [fructus] iuniperi; lat. iuniperus), juniper, Juniperus communis Webb. Chapter 139.
iubar sleibhe (syn. ambrosiana, eupatorium, lilifagus, saidsi coilleadh, eufatoirium; lat. eupatorium, salvia agrestis), wood sage, Teucrium scorodonia Webb. Chapter 27.
Iul, the month of July.
iuniperus, see iubar craigi.

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Labriola, see lauriola.
lacc, see bainne.
lactach, lagsaidithi (lat. laxans, relaxans, purgans, molliens), laxative.
lactuca, see leiteas.
ladh (syn. ferrarium), the deposit left in water by hot iron. Chapter 125.
laedhan (lat. interior substantia), pith.
laegh (lat. vitulus), a calf.
lagaidh (lat. purgare, relaxare, movere, mollire, dissolvere, solvere, laxare), moves (the bowels).
lagsaidithi, see lactach.
laibin (syn. fenementum; lat. fermentum), leaven, yeast. Chapter 133. Per Stannard (1973) n. 60, this is brewer's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae.¹⁷⁶
laibriola, see auriolal.
Laidianta, in Latin.
Laidin, Latin.
laigh, pith.
laigdhe (tri uig laigdhe, lat. cum ovo sorbili), apparently, a liquid egg, raw egg.
laighdighid (lat. ‘inaniendo spiritus, delet appetitum, ad mamillas gracilandas’), to reduce.
laimh (lat. manus), a hand.
lair, a mare.
laitirt (lat. crapula), drunkenness, a hang-over.
langanach (lat. ventosa indigestio), the condition that causes eructation.

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lansiolata, see slanlus.
lapa, see meacan tua.
lapasium, see copog.
lapis agapidis (lat. lapis agapis, lapis iudaicus), agate; this is a precious stone, a kind of quartz with colours in stripes, clouds, etc., named from the river Achates in Sicily, where it was first found. Chapter 171.
lapis lasuili (lat. lapis lazuli), lapis lazuli; a semi-precious stone, sodium aluminium silicate, containing sulphur, and frequently including golden grains of pyrites (‘fool's gold’); of a bright blue colour; believed to be named (as also is ‘azure’) from Lajwurd, where the stone is found. Chapter 164.
lapis magnetis (lat. lapis magnetes), magnetite; this is magnetic iron oxide, Fe3O4, nicely said to be of a ‘sad blue colour’. Chapter 165.
lathfan (lat. rana), a frog. See David Greene, Celtica ii (1952) 148.
laudanum (lat. laudanum), a resinous secretion of a bush, Cistus creticus, and Cistus ladanifer. Chapter 162.
"The name laudanum was applied by Paracelsus in the 16th century to one of his compound medicines, whence is derived its present use for alcoholic tincture of opium. In classical antiquity the term ladanum (Greek λδανον) was used to describe a resin from a shrub obtained from the hair of goats feeding
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on or near it, as Pliny states in two places in his Natural History (XII, 37; XXVI, 30), and the herbalist Rufinus (who now spelled the word 'laudanum') mentions more briefly in the late 13th century. But Michael Scot seems the first to represent it as an aerial product.
[Michael Scot made the region of laudanum one of the seven regions of the air. He says: ]
The sixth region is of laudanum, noting that laudanum is a humour of the air in the Orient and is sometimes collected in parts of Greece. To be efficacious, it should fall with the dew in flowers and herbs. It is denser than manna and brown or black in colour. It should be understood that goats feeding in pasture collect it on their beards which touch the dew on flowers and herbs. When the third day has passed, the goatherds comb these beards and gather it gradually until they have enough. In Europe it is not had in good condition. Like honey, it is good for head colds and catarrh. The reason is that it is hot and dry in the first and second degree.’’
Thorndike (1965) 63-4.

Michael Scot died about 1235 AD.
lauriola, labriola (lat. laureola), spurge laurel, Daphne laureola CTW. Chapter 167. In the Middle Ages, this
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was included with the spurges — see gerr an eighmhe; in Chapter 42, laibriola is used in error to render laurus, which is the bay laurel, Laurus nobilis, a plant which does not occur naturally in Ireland or in Britain, and which may not have been known here in the 15th century. Some confusion was caused in the past by reason of the fact that Daphne was the Greek name for the bay laurel, and the myth was that she was a nymph who ran away from Apollo, and, just as he caught up with her, she appealed to Mother Earth for help. The help took the form of turning her into a shrub, the bay laurel. See also conconidum.
leabaidh (lat. lectus), a bed.
leadhaid, leaghaid (lat. resolvere), melts.
leadartha (lat. pestiferus), wounding, injurious.
leamhach (syn. altea, malbua, bismalva), marshmallow, Althaea officinalis Webb. Chapter 21.
leamhach maighe, mallow, Malva sylvestris Webb and Malva neglecta Webb; the epithet may be the genitive of ‘magh’, to distinguish the plant as growing in dry land, whereas the marshmallow (see leamhach) grows in wet land. The roots of all three species were used as demulcents.
leamhnacht (lat. lac), new milk.
leanamh (lat. infans, puer), a small child.
leathar (lat. corium), hide, skin, leather; fuil, salchar, imurcacha, ‘idir feoil & leathar’, ‘under the skin’.
leath-omh (lat. viridis), lightly boiled (of cabbage).

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leath-shroin, nostril.
leiges (lat. medicina, medicamen), the practice of medicine; a remedy.
leigesaid (lat. sanare, amputare), cures.
leimnid (lat. motus), jumping.
leiteas (written leigeas in the MS) (syn. lactuca, lacdaca; lat. lactuca), garden lettuce, Lactuca sativa CTW. Chapter 161.
leithi, grey hair.
lenticula acatica, see ros lachan.
leaon (read leomhan) (lat. tinea), a moth.
leomhan (lat. leo), a lion.
leonad, an injury.
leporina, see tulcan.
lepus, see mil muidhe.
les (lat. vesica), bladder, apparently the urinary bladder.
leucafleadhmainnsia (lat. leucoflegmantia), leucophlegmacy. In Livre des simples medicines, Opsomer ii (1984) p. 53, it is stated that leucophlegmacy is the simultaneous presence of fever and dropsy, part of the body being afflicted with a disease of hot cause and another part with a disease of cold cause. However, see the quotation from Lile s.v. idroipis, and the additional statement, Lile Eg 166v ( LM Pt. 6, Ch. 5, Clarificatio, 13): ‘Da ceangailtear an fuaraideacht le fliuchaideacht is mar sin beas
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leucafleadhmainncia and & da ceangailtear hi re teasaideacht bidh iposarca and in tan sin no anasarca, gidheadh is fearr in cet red oir is mar en gne breathnaightear iposarca & anasarca & leucafleadhmainncia.’
leuisticus, see lubhaiste.
liagh, a spoon. See unsa.
liathan locadh (syn. sauina, bracteos; lat. savina, sabina, bratheos), savin, Juniperus sabina. Chapter 262. It grows wild in the mountains of Southern Europe, and was cultivated here. It contains a volatile oil which is a powerful irritant both internally and externally, and was always well-known to cause abortion (see Chapter 262). The second element in the name may be from ‘loccaid’, ‘rejects’.
liathlus bec (syn. auricula muris; lat. auricula muris), mouse-ear hawkweed, Hieracium pilosella Webb. Chapter 48.
liatneanntog; this may be the annual nettle, Urtica urens Webb.

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liatroid, ball; the reference in Chapter 66 is to the flower-head of the thistle.
licc (lat. testa), a flag, stone flag.
licidum, see ailim.
licoiris (syn. licrisi; lat. liquiricia), liquorice, the dried unpeeled roots and stolons of Glycyrrhiza glabra. Chapter 176. It is widely cultivated, and its cultivation in England has been traced back as far as the 16th century.
licrisi, see licoiris.
lictabaire (lat. electuarium), an electuary. This is a confection made by mixing a substance with honey and syrup, sometimes for medical purposes, but also in order to make sweets and confectionary for pleasure.
lienteria (lat. lienteria), a form of diarrhoea: Lile Eg 143r ( LM Pt. 5, Ch. 13): ‘Is eadh is lienteria and flux brond ina n-innarbtar na neithi ibhtear & itear isna cainndidheachtaibh & isna cailideachtaibh ar cuiridh isin corp iat, ar son anbfhainne brighi fostaighthi an gaile & na n-inneadh uachtarach & ar son creachtnughadh na mball cetna.’
lignum aloeis, the wood of agallochum, Aquilaria agallocha, an Indian tree, the resin of which is also used. The wood is burnt as incense.
lilidh (syn. lilium; lat. lilium), the Madonna lily,
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Lilium candidum, an Asiatic species that was cultivated; also, varieties of Lilium bulbiferum. It seems likely that the term also includes lily of the valley, Convallaria majalis CTW: Best and Brightman (1973) p. 11. Chapter 173.
lilifagus, see iubar sleibhe.
lilium, see lilidh.
1. lin, the cultivated flax, Linum usitatissimum CTW, and also the linen that was made from the pericyclic fibres of the stem of the plant. Use was also made of the dried ripe seeds of the plant (see ros lin), from which an oil was expressed.
2. lin (syn. tela; lat. tela), the web (of a spider). Chapter 269.
linga auis, see teanga enain.
linga bouina, see odrad.
linga ceruina, see crim muice fiadha.
1. linn (lat. humor), a humour, or fluid. The four humours were:
fuil dearg (lat. sanguis), the sanguine humour;
linn finn (lat. flegma), the phlegmatic humour;
linn dubh (lat. melancholia), the melancholic humour;
linn ruagh (lat. colera), the choleric humour.
While the four humours were in balance and in their appropriate condition, the individual continued in health, but change in the condition or balance of the
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humours resulted in ill-health. It was bad for a humour to be in excess (imurcach, lat. abundantia, superfluitas), or not digested when it ought to be (dileaghadh, lat. digestio). A humour could become gross (reamhur, lat. grossus), thin (séimh, lat. tenuis), mucilaginous (biadhamhail, lat. glutinosus), viscous (righin, lat. viscosus), putrid (morgaithe, lat. putridus), corrupt (truaillidhe, which seemed to mean troublesome, in general), overheated (ainteas, lat. caliditas), burnt (loisce, lat. adustus), sour (gér, lat. acumen). It could be converted into vapour (gaeth, ceo, lat. ventositas). It could be unnatural (mi-nadura, lat. innaturalis). The phlegmatic humour, which was cold and white, could be salted (saillte, lat. salsus) or not (milis). A humour that was causing illness was ‘peccant’ (cintach, lat. nocuus) and had to be purged (follmhughadh, lat. purgare). The purging was done by the mouth (suas, lat. superius), by means of an emetic (sceathrach, lat. vomitum); or by the rectum (sis, lat. inferius), by means of a purge appropriate to the condition, or a laxative (leiges lactach, lat. laxativa), or by means of an enema (clisteri, lat. clyster). It could also be done by sweating (allus, lat. sudor), or bloodletting (cuisle, lat. phlebotomia). Other methods, not mentioned in this text, were cupping and the use of leeches.
2. linn, ale.

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linnidha (lat. ulcus, humiditas), pus. This is, presumably, the sileadh referred to in the passage quoted s.v. feadan.
lisium (lat. licium), lycium. A dried juice collected from the cultivated honeysuckle, Lonicera caprifolium CTW. Chapter 172. The plant contains salicyclic acid, from which aspirin is derived. Wölfel (1939), note 540, quotes from the Glossae in Antidotarium. of Matthaeus Platearius:
Licium ... fit autem sic: caprifolii primulas collectas in mense Septembris tere, per linteolum cola et succum eius in concha ad solem sicca; et illud erit licium. Eligendum est aliquantulum solidum et unius coloris cum frangitur.’’
This may be the ‘gumme of wobbynde’ referred to in the Liber de Diversis Medicinis (Ogden, 1969, 36/35). The λκιον of classical times is understood to have been obtained from a thorny tree (perhaps a species of Berberis) growing in Lycia in Asia Minor (S. W. Turkey).
litairgia (lat. litargia), a form of mental illness. Lile Eg 59r ( LM Pt. 2, Ch. 12): ‘Is eadh is litargia and neascoid bis sa rand iartarach don inchind fan cloicind ... O ainm a haicidi ainmnighthear hi, oir is uime aderur litargia on focal so letes & is inann sin obliuio .i. dermad & is mar sin, an meid ainmnighis litargia dermad, ni galar hi acht aicid galair ... Bith fiabras ciuin a coimhideacht litargia do shir & becan teinnis & dermad & buaighirt resuin, & mad o linn finn
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bes bith maille re moran menfaidhe ina tossach & re moran seillegair & re codlad domuin & bith a shuile & a bel duinti aige & da n-oscla iat dermuidid a ndunadh & dermuidid uair and a fual & a feradh d'fagbail & bith an feradh fliuch & in fual mar fual ainmhidheadh bruidemhail & bidh an puls & in anal bec cumang folaightheach ecudruma, gidheadh, da ngairtear do guth ard ina ainm fen e. Freagraidh & labraidh & da lictear do asa haithle, codlaidh a cetoir & ni codlad dileas sin acht stupor & tromdacht. Et madh adbur leanna duibh bes and, bith maille re feirg & re gluasacht & bit na suile oslaicthi & bith silleadh dichra aige, & madh neascoid comsuighighthi beas and & tighernas ac linn finn, bith an codlad co mor domuin maille re tochtanughadh & re leisce gluasachta, & madh e linn ruagh, medaightear an neamh-codlad & in gluasacht & in radhbuile, & madh cudruma iat bit na comarthai cudroma ... Da ti allus fuar don ceann foillsighidh bas & da cuirtear sanguissuga risan edan gan e do gabail greama de, is comartha bais. Et muna ba follus en comartha dibh so & co tinnscnaid na haicidi ceannsughadh & an brigh calmughadh, is comartha ternaighthi.’
Bernard's account may be compared with that of the Flemish Dominican, Thomas of Cantimpré, in his De Natura Rerum, which was written about 1250 (1973 i 18); it may be translated as follows:
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‘Litargia is a phlegmatic abscess with fever, arising in the back of the brain, with forgetfulness of the mind. It is called litargia from Lethe (λθη), which is forgetfulness. The symptoms of it are: mental forgetfulness, shutting and inflammation of the eyes, and debilitating fever. When the patient is addressed, he scarcely responds; when awakened, he soon returns to sleep. The urine is white and thick, and inclined to dark blueishness. The cure is: let the patient be put in a very well-lit place, let his face be sprinkled frequently with cold water or wine, let him be aroused, and pulled by the hair, so that he feels pain. Let someone converse with him and play games with him. Meanwhile, make use of a vinegar syrup or a vinegar and sugar mixture, with hot water, and let him be purged with a decoction of a bracket fungus, polypodium, violets, turbit and kebulus myrobalan. Shave his head and anoint it with laurel oil. Make a plaster for his head of powder of mustard and a little Indian spurge, tempering these with the juice of rue. Cause him to sneeze by injecting powder of pepper in his nostrils. Make use of the foods normal for fever patients.’
litairgirum, see slaidteach.
liti (lat. pultes), porridge.
litontra (syn. diptamnus, pulegium martis; lat. diptamum, diptamnus), dittany, Dictamnus albus. The plant is a native of central and southern Europe, growing in
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mountains and on their slopes. Fischer (1929) p. 249 says that it was grown in gardens. The Irish name may be compared with the form of the name, ditandre, which Hunt (1989) p. 216 quotes from a glossary in a MS in Cambridge as a synonym for pulegium martis.
liusach, pike, Esox lucius.
locha blene, the groin.
local, brooklime, Veronica beccabunga Webb. I submit that lochall mothair, if it be taken to be the ‘veronica of thickets/waste places’, would be better attributed to the germander speedwell, Veronica chamaedrys Webb.
loidhed, smallness.
loighdighidh (lat. reprimere), reduce.
(re) loighe, going to bed.
loinigha (lat. sciasis, femorum dolor), ‘pangs of the hip’, sciatica.
loinneardha, brilliant.
loiscid (lat. urere, and with various prefixes), burns; loscad an fuail, apparently urethritis, inflammation of the lining of the urethra; loisceach (lat. uritiua), burning: Chapter 286.
loscadh, see loiscid.
luaighe (lat. plumbum), lead. Chapter 229. See blath in luaidhe.
luaith (lat. cinis), ashes. Chapter 72.
luaithreach, ashes.
luas, speed.

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lubaitsi (syn. leuisticus; lat. levisticus, ligusticum), lovage, Levisticum officinale CTW, which was cultivated. Chapter 169.
luibh (lat. herba), herb.
luibhri (lat. lepra). There has always been confusion as to what people in the past meant by leprosy, and the Irish author is found including carraighe and moirfia under the heading, although, in the main, he has the same idea of the disease as Bernard of Gordon. Lile Eg 33v ( LM Pt. 1, Ch. 22): ‘Et fos is galar coitchinn hi an lubhra oir scailtear an cointinoideacht fa deiredh innte muna ba tusca in bas. Maseadh is maith adubhart isin tuarascbail curob eadh is lubhra and galar comcosmhail truaillis foirm & figur & comsuighiughadh na mball & scaileas an cointinoideacht fa deireadh, & tic o adhbhar melancolica arna scaileadh ar in corp co huilidhe, & tuictear fos curob eadh is lubhra and seachran ro-mor na brighi cosmhailighe isin bhfeoil ... Is iat so comurthadha do-meallta na heaslainte so .i. tuitim finnfaidh na malach & a remi & cruinniughadh na sul & lethnughadh na srona co foirimillach & a cumgughadh co hinmedonach, maille re docamhail na hanala & labairt mar do laibheoradh lena sroin & dath na haighchi ac dul a riabhcacht mairbh & silleadh aduathmhar na haidhche maille re fechain daingin & maille re caoile & re com-tarrang na n-abradh & na cluas; & ni dleaghmuid breathnughadh le hen comurtha,
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oir is minic is mealltach iat, acht dleaghmaid da comurtha no a tri no nisa mo do beith againn, gidheadh isiat so is demne dibh; & atait moran do comurtaibh eli and, mar atait, gorain & neithi imdha eli ac fas ar in corp & cnai na muscaileadh & co hairithi an muscaile bis idir an ordoig & corrmher, & bodhracht & bristi na mball foirimillach & salchur an croicinn & in tan nightear a fuil co maith bit coirp dubha talmhaighi garbha gainmheacha innte, & moran do comurthaibh eli cuirid na hughdair. Gidheadh, is lor limsa na comurthadha do gabur isin aghaidh mar foillseochar sa clarificacion & is iat sin na comurthai bis follus, & arna faicsin sin dleaghar an t-othar do dhealughadh risin popul. Et is iat so na comurthai folaigtheacha foillsigheas in lubhra do beith ina tossach .i. dath dearg arin aghaidh ac dul a nduibhe & tinnscaint claochlodh na hanala & cichanach eigin isin guth & ruaineach an fuilt ac tinnscaint caolaighthi & laighdithi & bith an t-allus & in anal ac dul a mbrentas & droch-bhesa cealgacha mar fher leanna duibh aigi & moran aislingthi adhuathmhara leanna duibh isin codladh & airgidh tromdacht mor ina corp an aimsir an codalta & bith scabies & gorain & moirfia ar fud an coirp co huilidhe a ndroing dibh & tinnscnait suighiughadh grana beith arin corp. Gidheadh, muna truaillighi an foirm & an fhighur ni hinbretnaighthi cum dealthuighthi re cach e acht co fuil bagar laidir
p.789
aca denamh air. Is iat so na comurthai foillsigheas an guasacht & beith a ngar don crich .i. cnai in maothain bis idir pollaibh na srona & a tuitim & bristi na lamh & na cos & tuitim na mer & reme an beoil & feoil mesogach ar fut an coirp uile & disnia & docamhail na hanala & guth cichanach mar guth cuilein & silleadh aduathmhar na haighthi & dath dubh & puls folaigtheach bec.’
Bernard classifies the four forms of the disease as (lepra) alopecia, leonina, tyria, and elephantia. See allapisia and elifansia.
lumbrisi (syn. peisti fada an gaile, peistidh na n-inneadh; lat. lumbrici), worms (internal parasites).
lurga (lat. stipes), stalk.
lus (syn. porrum; lat. porrum, porrus), the cultivated leek, Allium porrum CTW. Chapter 226.
lus an galloglaigh: this appears to be the small scabious, Scabiosa columbaria CTW, which is said by Rufinus (Thorndike, 1946, p. 290) and by Fischer (1929) to be called herba militum and cavaleria. In other copies of the text, in Chapter 66, lus an galloglaigh is equated with mellissa in error.
lus an sparain (syn. bursa pastoris; lat. bursa pastoris, sanguinaria), shepherd's purse, Capsella bursa-pastoris Webb. Chapter 62. Also, sraidin, q. v.
lus cnis Conculainn, lady's bedstraw, Galium verum Webb; The name as given by Threlkeld p. 67 is (standardised)
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Bealadh cnis Chon gCulainn, ‘Cuchulainn's skin lubricant’. His account of the use of the plant for washing after exertion explains the name.
lus creidhe (syn. burneta), burnet saxifrage, Pimpinella saxifraga Webb, Chapter 65.
lus na cnam mbristi (syn. consolida madior, conccoire; lat. consolida maior), comfrey, Symphytum officinale Webb. Chapter 89.
lus na fraechoc, frochan, Vaccinium myrtillus Webb. The Hiberno-English ‘frochan’ is attested as such in the early 14th century: Hunt (1986–87) p. 112 [148] and p. 119.
lus na francc (syn. athanasia, tanasetum; lat. athanasia), tansy, Tanacetum vulgare Webb. Chapter 43.
lus na laedh (syn. barba sina; lat. barba hyrcina), roseroot, Rhodiola rosea Webb. Chapter 53. Read the name, perhaps, as lus na laoighe, ‘the herb of the snow’, the habitat being where there is an Arctic-type climate, high in mountains in more temperate areas.
lus na leadan min (syn. uirga pastoris, osaragi; lat. virga pastoris), teasel, Dipsacus fullonum Webb. Chapter 277. As to osaragi, see Alphita, p. 15, n. 5.
lus na meacan (syn. ipoquisdidos; lat. ipoquistidos), hypocistis, Cytinus hypocistis FE. Chapter 156. Parasitic on the roots of members of the Cistaceae, Cistus ("rock rose", "sun rose") being rosa canina in medieval Latin, Rufinus (Thorndike, 1946, pp. 155-6,
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273) has quite a lot to say about hypocistis, including some botanical details.
lus na sum talman (syn. fragaria; lat. fragia/fragula), wild strawberry, Fragaria vesca Webb. Chapter 128.
Macall (syn. auansia, gariofilata; lat. gariofilata), avens, Geum species. Chapter 45. The text recognises two species:
macall coille, wood avens, Geum urbanum Webb;
macall uisce, water avens, Geum rivale Webb.
maccula, see eachseamuir.
maclac (lat. matrix, vulva, hystera), the womb and female genitalia; bel an macluig, lat. vulva, orificium matricis.
mac tire, a wolf.
madhneiti, see maighneis.
madra (syn. rubia maior, uarencia; lat. rubea), the cultivated madder, Rubia tinctorum CTW. Chapter 235.
madra gaithi, a mad dog.

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maelan muilithi (syn. feniculus porsinas, feinel na muc, amurisga; lat. amarissa), stinking mayweed, Anthemis cotula. Chapter 132.
Webb, p. 93, says A. cotula, ‘a weed of cultivated ground ... was formerly widespread but is now almost or quite extinct’. Chapter 132 is based on a Latin text of which Rufinus' version (Thorndike, 1946, p. 99) is given in Part III hereof, showing that the plant referred to in Chapter 132 is Anthemis cotula, for which cotula fetida was the usual medieval name. Furthermore, in the manuscript glossary printed by Stokes (1898) 335, C 69/70, ‘maelan m.’ is given as a gloss on ‘colica fetitia (read cotula fetita’. The syn. amurisga, lat. amarissa, was another name for the same plant. Feniculus porcinus normally referred to a species of Peucedanum, but there may be confusion here with doggis fenkel (explaining amarusca in the English Agnus Castus, Brodin, 1950, p. 129) and Finell ... madra (for Anthemis cotula, Threlkeld, p. 43, and K'Eogh). The Agnus Castus says there are two species of amarusca, and the editor identifies the white-flowered one as ‘Anthemis cotula (or A. arvensis?)’, and the yellow-flowered one as A. tinctoria.
That maelan muilchi was, like Anthemis cotula, a weed of cultivated land is shown by the two legal texts
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which define as defects in land (‘galar bunadh don ferann’) maelan muilche and ithloingus (Binchy, 1978, p. 740. 17) and dithan, maelan muilche and ithluingus (ib. p. 1000.34).
I understand that dithan (which may be a Gaelicisation of zizania) is considered to be darnel (as to which, see below). Ithloingus has the literal meaning ‘that which drives out the grain crop’ (cf. ‘loinges .i. indarba’, O'Davoren; this is DIL's ‘indarbad’), and it may be the black rust of wheat, caused by the fungus Puccinia graminis. This fungus exists in a great number of physiological strains, some of which parasitise rye, barley, and some grasses but not wheat, others which attack wheat, and others again oats. It will persist in land near which the barberry, Berberis vulgaris Webb (a host to the fungus), occurs, and people who were not aware of the part the barberry plays in the life cycle of the fungus must have regarded the rust as a defect in the land itself.
It appears possible that in the early period maelan muilche was the name of a grass or grain. This arises, in the main, because of an Irish gloss on certain commentaries on the writings of Vergil. In Eclogue 5 of the Bucolica, Vergil tells how Nature is mourning the death of Daphnis. The animals are not eating, and nasty weeds are growing in place of the crops and the beautiful flowers:
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Lolium is darnel (a wild grass), Lolium temulentum CTW. Coleman (1986) p. 163 says ‘auenae are here ‘wild oats’, strictly the auena agrestis which was believed to be a degenerate form of oats or barley (Plin. Nat. 18. 149). ‘infelix lolium et steriles ... auenae ’ are listed among crop-weeds in G. 1. 154. ’
The line in the Georgics to which he refers is:
It must be said, however, that Fischer gives avena agrestis as one of the medieval names for Alectorophus species (e.g. the yellow rattle, Rhinanthus minor Webb).
Iunius Philargyrius, who may have lived in the 5th century, wrote ‘explanations’ as a commentary on Vergil's verse. An Irishman of the late seventh century, who Thurneysen (1946) p. 9 says may have been Adomnán, abbot of Iona, who died in 704, entered a number of glosses in Irish on a copy of the ‘explanations’. The ‘explanations’ survived only in copies that were derived from the Irish-glossed copy.
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In the course of time, two different versions of them developed, and of the three manuscripts (of the ninth and tenth centuries, made by scribes who did not know Irish) in which the text survives, each contains a copy of both versions. The resulting six versions of the gloss which interests us here may be summarised as follows:
‘auenae .i. mailan muilchi/molchi vel cuinfec/cuintbecha .i. genus zizaniae.’
(Hagen, 1902, p. 97; Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus vol. 2, xvii, 46, 48, 361, 363). The point I would like to emphasise about this gloss is genus zizaniae, which seems to imply that zizania was understood as the name of a class of plants and not as that of a particular species.
It is necessary to acknowledge at this point that zizania was equated with lolium by a number of authors.
Ysaac (1515, p. cviii, r) says (in the Latin translation made by Constantine the African c. 1080):
‘De zizania.
Zizania nascitur inter triticum siccis corruptisque temporibus; unde vim habet acutam & venenosam; aliquando mentem turbans & inebriat.’
In his commentary on this, Petrus Hispanus says (ibidem, p. cviii, v):
‘Superius determinauit auctor de tritico vero; hic de non vero; ut de zizania vel lolio quod idem
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est ...’
Rufinus (Thorndike, 1946, p. 175) gives Ysaac's text above with some different readings. He reads:
‘Lolium alio nomine zizania. YSAAC: Nascitur inter triticum ... Item zizania calida et sicca in quarto gradu. Item est lolium silvestre quod oritur ubique et quasi nichil habet in grano.’
The following remarks by Ysaac (1515, fo. ciiii, v) must also be taken into account (there is an Irish version in NLIre MS G11, p. 92a ff.):
(‘De diversitate tritici secundum naturam terre) Macra [terra] vero naturaliter & incensa pene nunquam deinceps fructum ferens erit; si quos tunc ferat, siccissimi erunt & macerrimi & a frumenti natura degeneres; medulle nihil habebunt, & zizania dicuntur, egressi de natura cibarii & in naturam venenosam ingressi, unde & corporibus humanis nocuissimi fiunt.’
In the Livre des simples medecines (Opsomer ed.) there are separate chapters on lolium and zizania, and good illustrations of both. In each case the illustration quite clearly represents Lolium temulentum, and Stearn so identifies them. The fact that there are two separate chapters suggests that the author of the Livre may have been muddled about the question.
Despite the evidence of these authorities (which may turn out to be less persuasive than they seem when the
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Latin version of Ysaac is compared with the original Arabic), there are good grounds for the view that the equation of zizania with lolium was a late developement.
In St. Matthew's Gospel, ch. 13, 25, the story begins of the man whose enemy sowed cockle among the wheat. In the Greek text, the word is ζιζνια; in the Vulgate, zizania;, Anglo-Saxon, coccel; Luther, Unkraut; Authorised Version, tares; Douai, cockle; Bedel (1830 edition), cogal. St. Jerome, in taking over the Greek word, showed that he understood that it meant ‘weeds’, but that he did not know what species exactly. If the Greek author had a specific well-known plant in mind, there would have been a Latin name for it, which St. Jerome would have used if he had understood the Greek word precisely. If ζιζνιαhad been understood by Jerome to be darnel, he would surely have written lolium. He was, however, content to leave it at that, because the context shows sufficiently for the purposes of the parable that some unwanted weed was in mind.
Darnel was a weed that was widely known. In Italy, Vergil refers to it as lolium, and Pliny, in the first century A.D. calls it herba alba. In the Greek-speaking part of the Empire, Dioscorides, in the first century A.D., calls it αρα. Theophrastus (370-285 B.C.), who also called it αρα, believed it to be a degenerate form into which certain plants were
p.798
converted. None of these authors used the term zizania, which appears to have been borrowed from an Eastern language, perhaps from the dialect of Aramaic that was spoken in Palestine at the time. If that is the case, St. Matthew was the only source Western Europeans had for the term zizania, and whoever first equated it specifically with darnel, as distinct from regarding it as including darnel, may have been jumping to conclusions. It may have been the influence of Isidore of Seville, who, as quoted by de Vries-Edel (1982), entered ‘Zizania, quam poetae semper infelix lolium dicunt, quod sit inutile et infecundum’, that led to the later equation of zizania with lolium, by some people, at least.
As regards Coleman's note on steriles avenae, quoted above, the term ‘wild oats’ is applied nowadays to Avena fatua and Avena ludoviciana, neither of which produces useful grain. In view, however, of the medieval usage of avena agrestis, mentioned above, for a plant that is not a grain at all, it is not unreasonable to conclude that the Irish glossator of Philargyrius understood the term steriles avenae to mean whatever useless plants grow amongst the corn or in place of it. It is not necessary to assume that he understood the term to be restricted to grasses or grains. Likewise, in describing a certain plant or plants as ‘genus zizaniae’, he must have understood
p.799
zizania to be a general term for weeds of the cornfield.
As regards the gloss ‘cuinfec/cuintbecha’, if we assume syncope of the vowel of the second syllable, this is likely to be ‘coinfhiadbhach’. The DIL's 2 fíad (and 3 fíad) is a wild thing or place. The compound, ‘coinfhíad’, explained as ‘cú’ + 2 ‘fíad’, means ‘fox’, and it is used metaphorically, in ‘coinfhiadh curata’, of a warrior. I suggest that ‘coinfhiadbhach’ means ‘foxy thing’, and that it is the Irish name for Equisetum arvense Webb, which is called ‘horsetail’ in English, and which could also be compared to a fox's brush. It seems to occur in a corrupted form as cearrbacac as a gloss on cauda capallina in the glossary printed as ‘C’ by Stokes (1898). Equisetum arvense is common, and it is sometimes a serious weed of cultivated land. The name appears to become fidbach in Aislinge Meic Con Glinne (see below), by a different line of descent from coinfiadbhach than cuintbecha, and then to become feadóg in modern Irish. It is a weed, but it is not a grass or grain.
As regards feadóg as the modern Irish for horsetail, Hart (1898) in his Appendix gives ‘feadoge’ as the popular name, collected in the Killybegs area, for Equisetum limosum (=Equisetum fluviatile Webb), and he adds that ‘whistles or pipes are made out of these by boys. Hence the local name ‘pipes’. [‘Feadog’, a flute –
p.800
fead, bulrush, O'Reilly]’. The long stem, with its hollow cavity taking up four-fifths of the diameter of the stem, is very suitable for the purpose. In the Census Catalogue of the Flora of Ireland (1987) p. 2, feadóg is given for Equisetum telmateia Webb, and this species is also suitable for making whistles. Equisetum arvense is unique among horsetails in being a serious weed of cultivated land, because none of the other species of the genus infests cultivated land. The diameter of its stems is only 3–5mm, with a central hollow less than half the diameter of the stem, so the species is not suitable for making whistles. I can only suggest that when the significance of the old name, fidbach, for Equisetum arvense was forgotten, the name was highjacked in a new and newly significant form for the whistle-makers' species. Such a development would be analogous to what happened to buachallán buidhe. That name, originally *buatfal, later buathfallán, meant ‘cow-shriveller’ (Williams, 1989, p. 450), but it was translated as ‘yellow boy’ by the Irish-speakers of Donegal a hundred years ago (Hart, 1898, p. 368).
It is submitted that it is not valid to assume that, because maelan muilche glosses steriles avenae, said to be genus zizaniae, it must necessarily be a grass or grain in the modern sense. A hint in confirmation is the use of the plural, ‘bátir móeláin muilchi’, in
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Tochmarc Emire (van Hamel, 1933, p. 37), which would not be usual in the case of a grass or grain.
There is, however, another text which seems to suggest that maelan simpliciter is a grass or grain. In Aislinge Meic Con Glinne (Jackson, 1990, p. 38), the eight grains are listed, ‘Na h-ocht n-orbaind: secul, seruán, maelán, ruadán, cruithnec[h]t, eórna, fidbach, corca.’ There is no problem about the rye, wheat, barley or oats. As regards ruadán, there is no reason to doubt the translation of this as buck-wheat, Fagopyrum esculentum CTW. That is not a grain, but belongs to the same family as the dock. It was, however, long cultivated as a ‘grain crop’, the fruit, a nut, dark dull brown in colour, being milled into flour when mature (the ‘buck’ is a corruption of an old word meaning ‘beech’, because of the similarity of the fruits). It was also used as a cattle feed. The stem and tubular stipules are red in colour, and the flowers have pinkish tops. O'Davoren's explanation of ruadhan is mael-cruithnecht, presumably using cruithnecht in a generic sense, as ‘wheat’ is used in ‘Buck-wheat’, and the idea may be that, as ‘wheat’, the ruadhán is not much good.
I have, I hope, shown above that it is likely that fidbach is a weed which is not remotely botanically related to the cereal grains.
As regards seruán, apart from the reference in
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Aislinge MC, the suggestion that the word means ‘oats’ goes back to the glossary in TCD MS H. 3. 18, at page 637, printed by Binchy (1978) p. 1077, as ‘Serpan .i. cenel arbha, & ba doigh bid é in corcai.’ Bearing in mind that ‘mairg a dhéanfadh dóigh dá bharúil’, and that it is unlikely in the Aislinge MC context that seruán is synonymous with corcai, we will take up the statement ‘cenel arbha’, and pass up the speculation "corca". We can read this gloss, then, as including seruán in a class called arbar which, as we have seen, is not necessarily confined to grasses or grains in the modern sense, and may well be a weed of some other plant family.
I submit that serban is sow-thistle, Sonchus species. Sonchus arvensis Webb is the species of this genus that occurs most in cornfields. The feature of the three common species of this genus that was most noticed was the bitter latex or milky juice, like that in dandelion, which the plants produce in abundance. Serban muc (see s.v.) is Sonchus oleraceus Webb, which grows in cultivated ground and waste places. Caiserban is the close relative, the dandelion, Taraxacum (Webb prefers not to distinguish species), which is called cas-serban, perhaps in reference to the curly-haired appearance of the plant when the seeds are mature, and they form, with their crowns of hairy pappus, a light-weight ball which is dispersed by the wind.

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As regards maelan in the Aislinge MC context, it seems clear that it need not necessarily be a grass or grain.
W. K. Sullivan, in his introduction to O'Curry (1873), at p. ccclxiii, suggests that maelan may be Orobus niger (=Lathyrus niger CTW), a vetch. He also says that, in Scotland, maelan milce is Orobus tuberosus (=Lathyrus montanus Webb). However, the habitats of those two plants do not appear to include cornfields.
All the indications are that maelan muilche is, and always was, Anthemis cotula.

p.804

p.805

p.806

maeth, soft.
maethaidid, softens.
maethan, a soft substance; the term is applied to:
1. the flanks (of a person).
2. in reference to cnaim craige an fiada, its being initially a soft substance.
3. the soft tips of a plant with a woody stem, e.g. maetain na fineamhna (syn. turio uitis). Chapter 273. Modern botanists have adapted ‘turion’ to mean a young shoot rising from the ground from a subterranean bud, but traditionally turio meant a shoot, sprout, tendril or young branch of a woody plant.
maetan conaire, wild raspberry, Rubus idaeus Webb.
magarlin, another name for tulcan (orchid), q. v.
Mai (lat. estas), the month of May.
maighistir, master; applied:
1. an academic authority.
2. a mordant, i.e. a substance used to fix a dye to fabric.
maighneis (lat. lapis magnetis), magnet. See lapis magnetis.
maili (lat. alopicia), baldness. See allapisia.
mailin (lat. sacellum), a little bag.
mailis, malice; the bad effectiveness of the peccant humour.

p.807

mairigh, survives.
maisdix (lat. mastix), mastic, an oleoresin containing little oil, obtained from an evergreen dioecious shrub, Pistacia lentiscus var. chia, cultivated in the island of Chios. Chapter 185.
mala granata, see uball graineach.
mala masiana, see uball fiadain.
malbua, see leamhadh.
mandragora (lat. mandragora), mandrake. It was regarded as male and female, and it is thought that the male was Mandragora officinarum, and the female Mandragora autumnalis. Chapter 199. Per Stannard (1961) p. 502, ‘mandragora’ in the Hippocratic writings is taken to be the deadly nightshade, Atropa belladonna Webb. They belong to the same family, the Solanaceae, and the roots are similar.
mania (lat. mania, insanis), madness. Lile Eg 65r, v, 66r ( LM Pt. 2, Ch. 19): ‘Is eadh is mania & is melencolia and truailliughadh na meanman gan fiabrus... Ata cuid do comurtaibh na heaslainte so uilidhe & cuid rannaidhe & cuid folaigtheach & cuid follus & cuid coimlinta. As iat so comurtai folaigtheacha na mainia do beith ac teacht .i. an tan inntamhluigheas no smuaineas neach neithe nach dleaghann do smuaineadh na d'inntamhlughadh no do breithnughadh & in tan tsaileas ni nach fuil maith do beith maith & an ni nach socruidh do beith socruidh & in tan smuaineas neithe egcneasta mi-resunta do teacmug & bretnaigheas co holc iat an aimsir an
p.808
codulta no an neamh-codalta & bid aislingthi aduathmara aice maille ris sin mar ata deamuin no manaigh dubha d'faicsin no daine crochuighthi no marbha & a cosmaile & do ni gaire uair and & uair eli cai & bith egla air roim neithibh nach in-eglaithi & do-ni gaire fa neithibh nach in-gaire. Et is iat so a comurthai follusa .i. an tan labrus le na bel an ni smuaineas le na croidhi & bis ac comrad ris fen & bis aimhgliceas leanbaidhe ar tus aigi & labrus briatra diuidi ac nach bi ceann na erboll & ni leanann na briatra tinnscnas & ni tabuir resun inntu & is iat so comurthai coimlinta na heaslainte so .i. an tan lenus don ni oibrighthi an ni truaillighthi do smuain & do labur & tshiblaigheas co seachranach suas & sis a cosmaileas cutibuc da ndenann Avicenna imradh & is eadh is cutibuc and cinel damhain allaidh bis ac sibal ar uisceadhaibh na tobur aca mbid cosa fada & an tan tinscnas dul do leth de, sul crichnaigheas an cet gluasacht tinnscnaid gluasacht eli & is mar sin don .2. gluasacht & do gach gluasacht eli da ndenann & is gobur uisce gairtear a coitchinne don n-ainmidhidhe sin & is uime sin an tan do-chid cach nech ac denum no ac radh neitheadh ndiuid lenbuidhe aderit caper aque .i. gabur uisce ris. Maseadh an tan bis an decipienda so coimlinta bith gluasacht na cos & na lamh & na tengan & na sul seachranach gan beith ac leanmain den tshlighi na den ord. As iat so comurthai foirlethna na heaslainte so oir is do disleacht lucht
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na heaslainte so fuath na beathadh daena do beith acu & comthanas na ndaineadh do seachna & beith maille re tuirsi cointinoideach.’
manna (lat. manna), manna, a sugary exudation from the manna ash, Fraxinus ornus, collected in Sicily, and from some other woody plants, such as Tamarix mannifera. Chapter 181. The manna of the Bible was something quite different.
marbaid, kills (lat. occidere, necare); figuratively of mercury, ‘marbtar dasacht an airgid beo’ (lat. extinguitur).
marbdroighin (syn. agrimonia, argimonia; lat. agrimonia), agrimony, Agrimonia eupatoria Webb. Chapter 13. The form of the name which occurs in the marginal note in the Leabhar Breac, p. 101, printed by Stokes (1888) p. 237, n. 170, is murdraigen.
marbtach (lat. mortiferus, venenosus, letiferus), death-dealing.
margarite, see nemann.
marsiatan, a compound medicine, see Introduction, Chapter 4.
marubium, see orofunt.
mas (lat. macis), mace. Chapter 179. Between the seed-coat of the nutmeg, which is the kernel of the seed of Myristica fragrans (see nutamicc), and the outer wall of the fruit, an additional net-like investment, known as an aril, grows up after fertilisation. This aril, when
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dried, is the maceof commerce.
mascalta (lat. masculinus), masculine.
masedonica, see elistront.
mater herbarum, see buatfallan liath.
mathgamain (lat. ursus), a bear.
meacan, a substantial root (usually a tap-root) or rhizome.
meacan righ (syn. accride, bancia, pastinaca; lat. baucia), parsnip, Pastinaca sativa Webb. Chapter 10. In the wild it is referred to as ‘wild parsnip’, to distinguish it from the developed varieties of the same species that are cultivated.
meacan tua (syn. bardana, lapa; lat. bardana), great burdock, Arctium lappa Webb. Chapter 56.
meadg, whey.
meadon (lat. medium), middle.
meadonach (lat. mediocris), medium.
meall, a roundish mass. Used of:
1. the tubers on the roots of Arum maculatum (lat. tuberositas) – Chapter 1.
2. the seed capsule of the poppy (lat. capitella) – Chapter 75.
3. in describing polypus – Chapter 109.
4. in defining an oak gall – Chapter 237.
meal rosasiam (lat. mel rosaceum), rose honey. Circa Instans tells how it is made: ‘Mel autem rosaceum sic fit: mel dispumatum bene coletur; postea addantur folia
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rosarum viridium, abiectis stipitibus, & haec simul buliant ad ignem aliquantulum. Signum decoctionis est multa aromaticitas & aliquantula inspissatio & color rufus.’
meanadach. This term normally means gruel, but the three occurrences of it in the present text seem to indicate something else. In Chapter 49, ‘pudur... da meanadaib an oir’ renders pulvis cathimie , in a context which suggests an abrasive action. In Chapter 76 ‘a caitem a meanadaigh’ appears to render ‘veluti cadmia lotum’, but the relationship of the Irish text to the Latin in this passage is extremely loose. In Chapter 282, we have no direct clue as to the meaning of meanadach, but the context seems to rule out ordinary gruel. Cathimia is defined in Circa Instans (Chapter 49, Part III): ‘Aurum de vena terre fit per excoctionem & in decoctione quod superfluum ab auro separatur cathimia dicitur seu spuma auri’. It is, however, unlikely that meanadach must be taken to mean cathimia, because the term for cathimia is slaithteach, which is used extensively (including Chapter 49) in the present text. The DIL suggests that meanadach may be derived from ‘men’, and it may then, in some of the above contexts at least, be intended for filings. Possibly, the word in Chapter 49 is simply the dative plural of ‘men’.
meannan (syn. edus), a kid, or young goat.
measardha (lat. temperatus), moderate; measaracht,
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moderation.
measoga daracha (syn. balanon, glans; lat. glandes), acorns, the fruit of the oak. Chapter 50.
meas torc allaid (syn. agnus castus; lat. agnus castus), tutsan, Hypericum androsaemum Webb. Chapter 14. Morton (1981) p. 96, speaking of the history of the herbal tradition, says ‘It thus came about that local plants were sporadically added to the classical herbals; sometimes a familiar plant was substituted for an unknown mediterranean herb under the old classical name, leading to increased confusion, but in other cases the vernacular name was put in to show a genuine addition... [note] An example is found in a Middle English herbal of the fourteenth century where under the heading Agnus castus (=Vitex agnus-castus, a mediterranean central Asian shrub) there is a detailed description of Hypericum androsaemum (tutsan), which together with its vernacular name ‘park leaves’ clearly identifies it.’
medaigid (lat. augmentare, excitare, stimulare, copiam generare, incitare, augere), increases.
medulla, see smir.
meid, size.
meidideacht, quantity.
meirse. This term seems to be a borrowing from the English ‘merce’, which was used to render the Latin apium, Alphita, p. 5. In the present text, it occurs in
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relation to four plants:
an meirsi garrda (syn. apium domisdicum; lat. apium commune), celery, Apium graveolens Webb;
‘gneithi imda ar in meirsi’:
imas na lathfan (syn. aipium ranarum; lat. apium ranarum), celery-leaved crowfoot, Ranunculus sceleratus Webb;
imas an gairi (syn. aipium risus; lat. apium risus), the cultivated chervil, Anthriscus cerefolium CTW; apium risus is sometimes interpreted as referring to Ranunculus sceleratus, but the quotations from Agnus Castus below, to the effect that the herb is ‘good in savour’, are against that opinion;
aipium emaroidarum, the lesser celandine, Ranunculus ficaria Webb. In the Livre des simples medicines (Opsomer, 1984) p. 63, it is stated (as is also stated in the Irish text) that the plant is used to treat haemorrhoids. I understand that it has been a remarkably successful remedy for piles in many cases. On p. 64 it is stated ‘The plant should be gathered when the moon is waxing and is in the first part of the sign of Taurus or Scorpio, then it cures.’ I understand that this indicates early December; that would be the time of year when the tubers would be fully stored with starch and not yet required to yield
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up any of its store to feed the plant for the next season.
The English Agnus Castus (Brodin, 1950), which is contemporaneous with the present text and broadly in the same tradition, gives some details that help to identify the species referred to:
(p. 120) ‘Apium is an herbe that men clepe smalache. or Merche. this herbe ha[yogh]t lewys lyke to loueache but the lewys be no[yogh]t so stronge of sawour as the loueache, and this herbe beryth Seed lyke to perselye seed’
(p. 122) ‘Apium risus is an herbe that men clepe cerfoylle or chirefelle. this herbe hat[yogh] smale lewys lyke to the lewys of emeloke. and this herbe is good in sauour and it hat[yogh] a quyte flour and long seed lyke to otyn [oats].’
(p. 131) ‘Apium ranarum. is an herbe. that men clepe water cresse. this herbe ha[yogh]t a [yogh]elw[yogh] flour as ha[yogh]t crowys foot. and of the same schap. but it ha[yogh]t lewys mor departed than the lewys of crowysfo[yogh]t. and it ha[yogh]t a long stalke as longe as a cubyte. and this herbe growy[yogh]t in watteri placys. owt of the stalke comyn many smale braunches in the sydes.’
(p. 131) ‘Apium amoridarum is an herbe that men clepe crowesfot. this herbe ha[yogh]t lewys departed in too as it were a rammys foot and this herbe ha[yogh]t a long stalke and a [yogh]elw[yogh] flour. and summe clepe it ramfot.
p.815
and it growy[yogh]t in medewys. and in wattery grounde.’
As to Ranunculus in general, fearban.

p.816

meisce (lat. ebrietas), drunkenness. The relative passage from Lile is printed by O' Grady in the Catalogue of Irish MSS in the British Museum, p. 215 ff.
mel, see mil.
melangcolia (lat. melancolia, melancolica passio), melancholia. For the account in Lile, see mania.
mellago (syn. pimentaria; lat. mellissa), balm, Melissa officinalis Webb. Chapter 84 deals with citragha, and Chapter 188 deals with mellago .i. pimentaria. Both chapters are based on the chapter in Circa Instans on mellissa. The term mellisa occurs twice in the Irish text, but there is no separate chapter devoted to it. I take the view that all the terms, citragha, mellago, pimentaria, and mellisa are intended for the same plant, Melissa officinalis, which was widely cultivated. Threlkeld' s report (1988, p. 55) of the use of melissa as Irish for hedge mustard, Sisymbrium officinale Webb, is probably explained by Stearn's statement at Opsomer (1984) p. 254, in reference to the chapter on sisimbrium, that the plant in question there was ‘Mentha aquatica... ; Sisymbrium officinale... ; Nasturtium officinale... ; the name sisymbrium seems to have been mostly used for Mentha aquatica and sisymbrium alterum for Nasturtium officinale.’ Sisymbrion in Dioscorides and Theophrastus is
p.817
understood to have meant Mentha aquatica.
melli (lat. meu), spignel, Meum athamanticum CTW. Chapter 203.
mellicratum, a drink made of wine and honey. Chapter 189. See Alphita, p. 12, s.v. Apomel.
mellifolium, see athair talman.
mellisa, see mellago.
melones (lat. melo), melons, Cucumis melo.
menta, see minntus.
mentastrom, see cartlann.
mer (lat. digitus), a finger.
mercurial (syn. mercurialis; lat. linochites, mercurialis), good king Henry, Chenopodium bonus-henricus Webb. Chapter 191. The English Agnus Castus (Brodin, 1950, p. 177) says: ‘Mercurialis. is an herbe men clepe Mercurie or papwourt[yogh] or the more smerewourt and it ha[yogh]t lewys lyk a tungge and it bery[yogh]t seed as betys [beet] doth.’
mercurialis, see mercurial.
mesbili, see sceachoir.
meth (lat. pinguis), fat (adjective).
methradh (syn. pingedo; lat. pinguedo, adeps), (animal) fat. Chapter 227.
mi-cenel: a bad condition.
mi-cuimhni, forgetfulness.
midh, mead, made of fermented honey and water.
midhaidhi (syn. morella; lat. solatrum, strignum, morella,
p.818
maurella), black nightshade, Solanum nigrum Webb. Chapter 195. Threlkeld, p. 30, gives Mihagh Uisge and Mig buih for bittersweet, Solanum dulcamara Webb, the qualifications serving to distinguish bittersweet appropriately from Solanum nigrum.
mi-fuile, bad blood.
mil (syn. mel; lat. mel), honey. Chapter 186.
míl (lat. pediculus), a louse.
milbocan (syn. daucus asininus; lat. daucus), carrot, Daucus carota Webb. Chapter 103. The text says there are two sorts, the Irish version implying that daucus asininus (‘biadh dilis an asail’) is the norm, and that there is another sort, daucus credicus (lat. daucus creticus), grown only in Crete; this latter sort is identified by Stearn (Opsomer, 1984, chapter 145) as Athamanta cretensis.
míl goibrin, the flowers of the honeysuckle, Lonicera periclymenum Webb. This term glosses filaguo in a glossary (Stokes, 1898, A69), but it is given, as milghabhar, for honeysuckle by Hogan (1900), though without attribution, and Ó Dónaill, Foclóir, explains mill (1) as ‘pendant bud or flower’, and gives milleanna gabhair as honeysuckle flowers. Honeysuckle is associated with goats, e.g., ‘gotes leues’ in the Grete Herball (Rydén, 1984), Geissblatt in German, and caprifolium in medieval Latin.
milis (lat. dulcis), sweet. The term is used to
p.819
distinguish fresh water from salt water.
millse, millseacht (lat. dulcedo), sweetness.
millsean monadh (syn. pulicaria; lat. policaria), lousewort, Pedicularis species. Chapter 221. In an intriguing marginal note from the Leabhar Breac, p. 101, printed by Stokes (1888) p. 217, the term appears as druchtain na monad. On the Continent, policaria referred to fleabane, Pulicaria dysenterica Webb, but in England and Ireland it was used for lousewort, the two sorts referred to in the text being, presumably, Pedicularis palustris Webb (the big sort) and Pedicularis sylvatica Webb (the small sort). The English Agnus Castus (Brodin, p. 197) says:
‘Policaria ys an herbe that me clepyth policarie thys herbe hath leuys y-lech to fern and he hath a flour somdel red and sho hath a stok ful of braunches and he hath smale coddes yn the whych ys sed and hure stalke and hure leuys beth somdel reed and he groweth yn watery places... ther beth twey spycys of hure.’
This describes Pedicularis palustris very well. Another name given by Threlkeld, p. 120, for lousewort is lus an ghiolla riabhaigh, the ‘giolla riabhach’ being, presumably, either the louse or the lousy.
mil mor (lat. cetus), a whale.
mil muidhe (syn. lepus), a hare. Chapter 170.
mil rosasium, see meal rosasiam.

p.820

miltog (lat. culex), a midge.
mi-measarda, immoderate. In Chapter 15, the term represents a mis-reading of the Latin (as we have it).
1. min (syn. farina; lat. farina), meal. See eorna.
2. min (lat. subtilis, subtilissimus), fine.
mi-nadurtha (lat. innaturalis), unnatural.
mine Muire, minen Muire, annual knawel, Scleranthus annuus Webb.
minigid (lat. lenire), smoothens.
minntas (syn. menta; lat. menta), mint, Mentha species. Chapter 190. Walafrid Strabo, in the ninth century, declared that to be able to memorise the powers and species and names of the mints you would need to be able to enumerate the fish swimming in the Indian Ocean or the sparks the Lemnian Vulcan sees rising high in the air from the mighty furnaces of Mount Etna. Platearius repeats the point in more prosaic terms in the chapter on which the Irish text is based. However, the Irish text in Chapter 190 speaks of mint as if there were just the one sort, and this suggests that what the Irish author had in mind was the species that was most cultivated here at the time, i.e., spearmint, Mentha spicata Webb. Other species that are dealt with separately in the text are:
Calamintha sylvatica, see cailimint;
Nepeta cataria, see neift;
Mentha aquatica, see cartlann;

p.821
Mentha pulegium, see poiliol ruibel.
min ruis, milled flax seed.
minugad (lat. terere), makes small.
mirbolani (lat. mirobolani), myrobalans. Chapter 200. There were five sorts, all being the fruits of Indian trees. The botanical identifications are those of Stearn, Opsomer (1984) Chapter 287:
citrini (lat. citrinus), Terminalia citrina;
cebuli (lat. kebuli), Terminalia chebula; this is the commercial myrobalans of the present time. The immature fruits are black, ovoid and about 1–3cm long, and they contain tannin and a fixed oil. The mature fruits, which are used as a tanning material, are larger and yellowish-brown in colour.
inndi (lat. indi), Terminalia horrida;
emblici (lat. emblici), Phyllanthus emblica (family Euphorbiaceae); this sort is dealt with separately in Chapter 122;
bellirisi (lat. bellirici), Terminalia bellirica.
mirbuileach, (lat. mirabiliter), marvellous.
mirr (lat. mirra), myrrh, an oleo-gum-resin obtained from the stems of shrubs, of species of Commiphora, growing in North East Africa and Arabia. Chapter 194. The substance is a yellowish-white viscous fluid which hardens to reddish-brown masses.
mirra, see mirr.
mirtuis, see raidleag.

p.822

miseracio uene, the mesenteric veins, which collect blood along the length of the intestines, and which lead into the portal vein, which in turn leads into the liver.
mitall (lat. metallum, vena terre, terra), metal.
mocrach, early in the day; usually renders mane.
modoman (syn. sbaragus; lat. sparagus), asparagus, Asparagus officinalis Webb, of which it appears the subspecies prostratus occurs in this country. Chapter 257. While some authorities explain sparagus as Asparagus, there are others who take different views. For our purposes, however, the matter seems to be settled by the illustration in the Modena MS which, as between the various contenders, can only be intended to represent Asparagus:

p.823

mogall (na cno) (lat. cortex [circa nucem]), outer coat. The reference is to the aril of the nutmeg, see mas.
moirfea (lat. morphea), morphew. Lile Eg 39v–40r: i.e. Book I, Ch XXIII ‘Is eadh is morphea and truailliugad baltnaigtheach an croicinn. Dleaghar a fhis gach ni is cuis don lubra gurob cuis do morphea e & is uime sin an ni is lubra isan feoil ise is morphea isin croicinn. Maseadh dleaghar a fis co fuil cosmaileas ac morphea ris an lubra oir mar tseachranaigeas an brigh coimedtheach isan lubra do-ni a morphea, gidheadh ata deichfir eturra oir is annsa feoil bis an lubra & isan croicinn bis morphea. Et ata cosmaileas fos ac morphea re hictericia oir ata an croicinn arna salcadh innta araon, gidheadh ata deichfir eturra mar ata an truailliugad baltnaigtheach a rann don corp a morphea & a rann eli gan a beith. An ictericia vero ata truailliugad an croicinn uilidhe no a ngar do beith uilidhe. An .2. deichfir oir ni bi seachran na brighi cosmailighthi an ictericia & bidh a morphea; maseadh fagtar mar congluid curob eadh is morphea and seachran na brighi cosmailighthi isan croicinn. Et dleaghar a fis timcill an adhbair so nach cuirid na hughdair a coitchinne acht .2. gne ar morphea .i. gne geal & gne dubh... da mbia o fuil deirg & a beith isin agaidh aderur gutta rosacea & da mbia sa cuid eli don corp aderur rubores in tan sin & da mbia an salchur so o linn ruagh aderur impetigo ris... mar aderur sa .3.
p.824
leabhar De Morbo, is arna redaibh ata an ealadha leighis & ni harna briatruibh & is uime sin nach fuil mu brigh isin n-uimhir no isna hanmannaibh acht co tuictear na reda; maseadh bith 'na funndamint againn .4. gnethi do beith ar morphea .i. gne o fuil deirg loiscthi & gne o linn ruagh loiscthi & gne o linn finn tshaillti & gne eli o linn finn loiscthi. Da mbia dath an coirp dearg riabhach baltnaigtheach is o linn ruagh beas & da mbe geal baltnaigtheach is o linn finn & is oirdearc an gne so & da mbe a ndath dubh is o linn dubh tic & is ro-oirrdearc an gne so fos; maseadh na bith coinntinn fana hanmannaibh acht co tuicim na reda.’
moirtel, mortel (lat. mola), a pounding mortar. Circa Instans says (s.v. plumbum) ‘Ex plumbo fit mortarium & pistellus.’
mola matricis, a hydatidiform mole, i.e. a degenerative mass which forms in the womb following upon conception, the embryo dying in the process. LM Pt. 7, Ch. 18.
molea, see ruibh.
molena, see coinneall Mhuire.
mongach measc, sea wormwood, Artemisia maritima Webb.
In Stokes (1898) C100, this term glosses simprionica. In the relative manuscript, the latter word is written ‘Simpioniaca’: if the superscript "i" were regarded as an error for a mark of lenition, and what appears to be a punctum delens under the first "a" be ignored, the word would come out as simphoniaca.
p.825
This is explained both by Fischer (1929) and Hunt (1989) as henbane, Hyoscyamus niger Webb. The Irish name would suit this plant, because it is stickily-hairy and, having narcotic properties (‘measc’), it is used externally as an analgesic to relieve pain. The only occurrence of mongach measc in the present text is in a recipe for a plaster to relieve migraine.
Against that, however, Threlkeld p. 17 gives ‘Mongach Measga’ for mugwort, Artemisia vulgaris Webb, and he has been followed in this by various authorities.
It has to be doubted whether either of those identifications is correct, because the physicians seem to have made a point of not using more than one Irish name for the same plant, and the more common terms gatfann, for henbane, and buatfallan liath, for mugwort, are used in the present text.
As regards simphoniaca, this is a term that is not common, and the scribe of the glossary shows that he was confused by it. He may have mixed it up with centonica, which is given in the present text, as a synonym for absinthium (wormwood), and which seems to refer rather to the drug (santonin) that is produced from various species of Artemisia than to any particular species.
I submit that mongach measc is for the sea wormwood, Artemisia maritima Webb, which grows on muddy or rocky
p.826
seashores on the East and West coasts. The numerous narrow leaflets give the impression of an unruly head of hair. Culpeper p. 397 says of it
It is a very noble bitter, and succeeds in procuring an appetite, better than the common Wormwood’’
, so that it is possible it was used as a bitter in making beer, which would explain the measc.
mong mer (syn. conium; lat. cicuta), hemlock, Conium maculatum Webb. Chapter 92.
mora selsi, see smera.
morella, see midhaidhi.
morgad (lat. putridus), to corrupt.
mormont, see uormont.
morsus demonis, see caisearban bec.
mortel, see moirtel.
mosdard, musdard (syn. napeum, sinapium; lat. sinapi, napeos), black mustard, Brassica nigra Webb, and white mustard, Sinapis alba Webb. Chapter 206. Mustard seed is interesting as being a plant source of an antibiotic.
mothuigid, perceives.
muc (lat. porcinus), a pig.
mucaigid (lat. extinguere), extinguishes, quenches.
muinnterdha (lat. domesticus), (of a plant) cultivated.
muiridhi (lat. marinus), maritime.
Muir Toirrian, the Mediterranean Sea.
mulsa (lat. mulsa), mulsa, a drink made of eight parts
p.827
water and one honey.
mumia (lat. mumia), mummy. Chapter 198. Egyptian mummies were disinterred for the sake of the embalming materials which they contained. Wölfel (1939) n. 104 quotes a medieval writer who commented that the apothecaries were selling dried flesh and bones as mummy.
murgalar (lat. nausea marina), sea-sickness.
murlan (lat. caput), the bulb (of the leek).
muscata, see nutamicc.
muscus (lat. muscus), musk. Chapter 197. A strong-smelling substance of persistent fragrance secreted in a gland under the belly of the male musk-deer, Moschus moschiferus, which lives at high altitudes in China and the Himalayas. According to Stannard (1966) p. 10, the term was also applied to civet, a substance secreted by the anal glands of the civet cat, especially Viverra civetta, which was imported from Syria by the Venetians for the unguent makers. The civet cat is a cat-like animal from two to three feet long.
musdard, see mosdard.

p.828

Naduir (lat. natura), nature. Normally written as n�, the word is written out once, in Chapter 241, ‘da reir naduire’.
nadurtha (lat. naturalis, naturaliter), natural (as opposed to aicideach, lat. accidentaliter). Sometimes written as n�, other times as nadura, it may be better to expand it as nadura.
napeum, see mosdard.
nastursium, see bilur uisce.
nathair neimhe (lat. colubrina, serpens), a snake.
neamh-cunntabartach, undoubted.
neanntog (syn. acalife, urtica; lat. urtica, acalyphe), nettle, Urtica dioica Webb, and possibly Urtica urens Webb. Chapter 5. It is not unlikely that the Roman nettle, Urtica pilulifera CTW, was being cultivated and used.
neanntog Muiri, deadnettle, Lamium species. In Chapter 42 this term is used to render marubium, and, in the manuscript glossary printed by Stokes (1898) C, neandtog muiri again glosses marubium. While marubium normally means white horehound, Marrubium vulgare Webb, and is rendered by orofont in Chapter 183, it appears from Hunt (1989) that the synonym given for it in a list in a 13th century manuscript in Cambridge is ‘blinde-netle’, for which Hunt gives Lamium album. Threlkeld p. 86 gives neantóg Mhuire for each of two
p.829
species of deadnettle, the red, Lamium purpureum Webb and the white, Lamium album Webb. A modern herbal, Chiej (1984) item 168, recommends Lamium album in compresses for external piles, which, from the Latin text, appears to be the ailment in question in Chapter 42.
neartaigid, strengthens.
neascoid (lat. normally apostema, but also tumor, cancer, parotidas tumores, cicatrix). From Lile it appears that the term covered a wide variety of sores and lumps.
neift (syn. nepta; lat. nepeta), catmint, Nepeta cataria Webb. Chapter 208. See minntas.
neimh (lat. venenum, virus, nocuum medicamen), poison. Chapter 281.
neimh-dileaghadh (lat. indigestio), indigestion.
neimhneach, poisonous.
nemann (syn. margarite; lat. margarita), pearl. Chapter 187.
nenufar, see raib uisce.
nepta, see neift.
niamnat, tormentil, Potentilla erecta Webb.
nighid (lat. ungere, abluere), washes.
noinin (syn. consolida minur; lat. consolida minor), daisy, Bellis perennis Webb. Chapter 91.
nota (lat. nothus), false. Terciana nota and quartana nota were "false" forms of the fevers in question.

p.830

nutamicc (syn. nux muscata; lat. nux muscata), nutmeg, the dried kernels of the seeds of Myristica fragrans, an evergreen tree about 10-20m in height, indigenous to the Molucca or Spice Islands. Chapter 210. See mas.
nux longa, see almont.
nux magna, see cno franncach.
nux muscata, see nutamicc.
nux parva, see cno gaeidilach.
Oculus lucrisi (lat. oculus lucens or oculus lucidus), another name for licium. See lisium.
odhrad (syn. linga bouina; lat. lingua bovina, buglossa), bugloss, Anchusa arvensis Webb, and, possibly, an imported bugloss (‘alkanet’), Anchusa officinalis CTW. Chapter 178. See glaiser coille.
oibrigid (lat. operari, efficacia), functions.
oigi (lat. novitas), youth, freshness.
oilid (lat. nutrire), nourishes.
co h-oiredha (lat. principaliter), principally.
oiximel (lat. oximel), oxymel, a drink based on vinegar and honey. The Antidotarium Nicolai gives a recipe:
‘Oximell sic fit:
Recipe
mellis despumati libram unam,
aceti fortissimi libram unam et semis
in quo bulliant
radicum feniculi uncias ii

p.831
radicum raphani unciam et semis;
tantum buliat ut ad libram unam redeatur, deinde colatur, et colatura supradicto mellis addatur in stangnato vase semper agitando cum spatula tam diu lento igne ut ad consumptionem succi deveniat.
Valet ut oxizaccara. Digerit, dividit et flegma mirabiliter purgat. Datur in mane cum calida.’
oixisacra, oxysaccharum, a drink made with vinegar and sugar.
ola (lat. oleum), oil. When not qualified, the term may be taken to mean olive oil. The following oils are mentioned:
ola an popin, poppy oil, obtained by pressing the seeds; discussed in Chapter 75;
ola coitcheand (lat. oleum commune), olive oil;
ola mandragora (lat. oleum mandragoratum), mandrake oil;
ola na cno francach (lat. oleum nucis), walnut oil;
ola na roisi, ola roisidha (lat. roseo olivo, oleum rosaceum), rose oil. Circa Instans tells how it was made:
‘Quidam decoquunt rosas in oleo communi & colant & servant. Quidam autem implent vas vitreum rosis & oleo & faciunt bulire in caldario aqua pleno, & hoc oleum bonum est. Alii terunt rosas in oleo & in vase vitreo soli per .1. dies exponunt & hoc oleum similiter bonum est.’
p.832
ola violasium, ola na uiola (lat. oleum violaceum), oil of violets;
ola darub ainm sambusium (lat. oleum sambucinum), appears to be an oil of elder, Sambucus nigra Webb.
olium iuniperi, oil of juniper. Circa Instans describes how this was distilled:
‘Ex iunipero fit oleum hoc modo: in terra ponatur olla & in ore bene obturato ponitur canale eneum [cf. 'ereum' in Iolanda Ventura's edition of Tractaus de herbis, p 495] vel ferreum; postmodum ponitur super lebetem vas ereum vel ferreum; postponitur in illa olla, & in fundo illius olle ponitur alia pars canalis & circumliniatur optime creta ne aliquid possit exire. Post impleatur ex lignis iuniperi siccis & operiatur bene & ignis fiat in circuitu olle. Modicum olei effluit, sed illud efficacissimum est.’
olium laurinam, laurel oil.
olium nardinum, spikenard oil, see spica nardi.
olc: in olc na mban, ‘women's problems’.
olibanum (lat. olibanum), frankincense, an oleo-gum-resin obtained by incision from the bark of small trees in North East Africa and Arabia, species of Boswellia, including Boswellia carteri. Chapter 212. It is used in incense, and in fumigating preparations.
olium, see ola.
olund (lat. lana), wool.

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omh (lat. viridis, crudus), raw.
omur, a tub.
opium (lat. opium), opium, the dried latex obtained by incision from the unripe seed capsules of the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum Webb. Chapter 75 describes how it was processed.
opoponax (lat. oppoponacum), opopanax, a fetid gum-resin obtained from the root of Opopanax chironium, a plant like parsnip with a yellow flower. Chapter 213.
or (syn. aurum; lat. aurum), gold. Chapter 49.
orbuighi (lat. citrinus), golden yellow.
ordaigid, prescribes (a medicine).
ordeum, see eorna.
orobus, see pis enain.
orofont (syn. marubium; lat. marrubium), white horehound, Marrubium vulgare Webb. Chapter 183. The use of this term in Chapter 84 is an error.
ortomia, lat orthopnoea, orthopnoea, severe difficulty in breathing, so that the patient cannot bear to lie down, but must sit or stand up. Lile Eg 118r ( LM Pt. 4, Ch. 8): ‘Disnia se selad canit asma malumque reuelat .i. celidh an disnia i fen & labhraidh an asma & foillsighidh a holc. Et atait an da ainm so mar cinel & atait 4 gneithi fuithi. An cet gne dibh an docamhail anala nach liginn do neach an t-aer d'innarbadh ar son nach fedtar an cliabh naid na fedain do cumgughadh mar is lor innus go congaimhtear na himurcacha deathmhara inntu &
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sangisugium ainm na gne sin. An .2. gne .i. an tan nach fedtar an t-aor do tairring cum an croidhi mar is lor ar son nach fedtar in cliabh naid na fedain do lethnughadh co maith & anelosus a hainm sin. An .3. gne vero in tan tshaothruighis neach annsa modh sin .i. ac tairring & ac innarbadh an aoir & orthomia a hainm sin & is dibh sin labhruid na fersadha so:
.i. gach uile duine ara mbi an gne re n-abur anelosus leigidh an t-aer uadha co lethan & tairrngidh maille re tromdacht & a contrardha sin as sangisugium & bith tromdacht an .2. gne sin an ortomia...’
osaragi, see lus na leadan.
os de corde serui, see cnaim craige an fiadha.
oslaictheach, oscailteach (lat. aperiendi), opening.
oslaigid (lat. aperire), opens.
othur (lat. aeger), the patient.
ouua, see ugh.
oxifencia, see tamuirindi.
oxilapacium, see samadh.
oxiren, see finegra.
oxiriun, see finegra.
Paghanach (lat. paganus), pagan.
paidir, a Pater Noster, the Lord's Prayer.

p.835

pairilis (lat. paralisis), paralysis.
Lile Eg 77r ( LM Pt. 2, Ch. 27): ‘Is eadh is paralis and bogadh na feithidh maille re bacadh uilidhe an gluasachta & an moithighthe... Bith puls fir na paralisi folaightheach & bith an fual geal seim, gidheadh bith uair and ro-dathuighthe ar son nach eidir leis an naduir a dealughadh no ar son teinnis no fiabruis no galair eli bis ina coimideacht & bith an taobh easlan fuar mar do beith an oidhrigh & bith an taobh slan te mar do beith a teinidh & loighditear an tsuil uair and.’
pairitair (syn. paritaria; lat. paritaria), pellitory, Parietaria diffusa Webb. Chapter 222.
pampinus (syn. duillebar na fineamhna), the leaves of the vine, Vitis vinifera CTW.
papauer nigrum, see popin.
paritaria, see pairitair.
parsail: ‘min ponairi arna parsail’, lat. ‘farina fabe fracte cum capitello’: strictly, the Latin appears to mean ‘treated with lye’; ‘ponuire arna parsail’ is used in Lile NLS 247r to translate ‘cum sunt torrefactae’, which indicates that the word is intended for ‘parched’, a process in which corn is slightly burnt.
pastinaca, see meacan righ.
pecaigid, offends. A humour is said to be peccant when it is causing illness; to be peccant in its quality (Chapter 106) means e. g. it is so hot as to make the
p.836
person ill.
peinntiuraig (lat. pictores), painters.
peiridha (syn. pira; lat. pira), pears, the fruit of the cultivated pear, Pyrus communis CTW. Chapter 228.
peist (syn. lumbrisi, uermis; lat. lumbrici, vermes), a worm. Chapter 283.
peletra, see piletra.
pentafilon, creeping cinquefoil, Potentilla reptans Webb. See cuigidheach.
peristeron, see ueruena.
perplemonia (lat. peripneumonia), pneumonia. Lile Eg 123v ( LM Pt. 4, Ch. 10): ‘Is eadh is perplemonia and .i. neascoid teasaide an scamain, & crichnaightear an neascoid sin uair and a slighi discailti & uair eli cruinnightear hi & uair eli cuirtear a hadhbar cum na hinchinne & cuirtear uair eli cum na rann foirimillach & cuirtear uair eli cum pleurisisi, gidheadh is annamh cuirtear, & cuirtear uair eli cum na feithan & teid uair eli an empima & da n-innarbtar ris 40 la hi is inmolta & muna hinnarbtar & an brigh do beith anbhfhunn is cunntabarthach a leiges. Is cuis don easlainte so uair and pleurisis & is olc an cuis sin do sir & cuisightear co minic hi o catarrus & gentear o gach linn dona leannaibh i & mar is o linn ruagh is mo gentear pleurisis, is mar sin is o linn finn is mo gentear perplemonia. Is iat comarthadha na heaslainte so puls tonnmhar & docamhail ro-mor na hanala, innus
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curob becnach muchaightear an t-easlan, & deirgi na ngruaidhi & att na sul & teinneas idir an da slinnen. Bith a fis agad in tan do-nitear perplemonia o pleurisis co ndenann ceachtar do da ni .i. co marbann leth astigh don .7d. la & co teid a ptisis, & da ndeacha adhbar na perplemonia a slighthibh an fuail is comartha slainte. Bith a fhis agad annso do leith an adhbhair, an pleurisis do-nitear o linn ruagh curob marbtach is menca bis; da reir sin is marbtach is mo bhis gach uile pleurisis, oir is o linn ruagh is minca gentear hi, & ise is adhbar do sin .i. an pleurisis do-nitear o linn ruagh bith maille re teasaideacht ro-dasachtach o gontaigh leanna ruaigh, & ni fedann fuaraideacht an leigis bunait an adhbair d'fuaradh oir ni roithinn brigh an leigis co huilidhe conuig an adhbair, ge do berthai co hinmedonach a modh dighi e, oir is fada an tslighe uaithi & da cuirtear co foirimillach e ata in t-asnach eturra & e aca toirmisc. Is becnach inann leiges do perplemonia & do pleurisis acht amhain curob laidire na leigis dleaghar do tabhairt a perplemonia, & a cur ris an leith a mbia an teinneas, & is maille re cosachtaigh is mo dleaghmaidh a hadhbar so d'innarbadh.’
persilli (syn. petrosilium; lat. petrosilinum), parsley, Petroselinum crispum Webb. Chapter 218.
persilli alastroint, see elistront.
pes pulli, see adann.

p.838

pes vituli, see geadhar.
petrosilium, see persilli.
petrusidinum, see elistront.
pibar (lat. piper), pepper; fruits of perennial climbing plants cultivated in the Malay Archipelago. Chapter 220. The inflorescence is a spike of 20–30 flowers, and the fruits develop in the form of a spike. The sorts used were:
pibar dubh (syn. piper nigrum; lat. piper nigrum), black pepper, the dried unripe fruits of Piper nigrum;
white pepper (not referred to in the text, because it was mainly used in the East) is the fruits of the same Piper nigrum when allowed to become more completely ripe;
pibar fada (lat. piper longum), long pepper, the dried unripe fruits of Piper longum, similar to the fruits of the black pepper, but sold in the spikes, about 4cm long.
pibinella, see eigrim.
picc, pitch. The medieval processing of the oleo-resin of pine trees, Pinus species, is to some extent clarified by the Erlangen copy of Circa Instans (Wölfel, 1939, 98-9):
‘Pix alia est liquida que picula dicitur... alia navalis... Dicunt tamen quidam quod pix liquida fex sit picis navalis, quod dum excoquitur pix liquida
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quasi fex residet, qui mentiuntur. Fiunt enim ex diversis arboribus quarum frusta in diversis vasis excoquuntur, a quibus in alia vasa que sub terra posita sunt effluit liquorositas a lignis resudans.’
Pliny gives an account of the process in Book 16 of his Natural History. The products appear to have been:
picc boc (lat. pix liquida), ‘soft, or liquid, pitch’, an aqueous distillate that came over when chippings of the wood were boiled in the retort;
pix navalis (not mentioned in the Irish text), the tar that was produced in the course of the above process, so named because it was used for caulking and weatherproofing ships.
picc Greagach (syn. colafonium; lat. colofonia, pix Greca), colophony, the resin remaining when the oil was boiled off the oleo-resin extracted from the living tree. Chapter 87.

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piement (lat. pigmentum), spiced wine. In Chapter 98, the constituents recommended are cubebs, wine and honey. See claired.
pigla, see teanga enain.
piletra (syn., Chapter 244, serpillum; lat., Chapter 31, piretrum; Chapter 261, petrosellino). As an explanation of serpillum in Chapter 244, ‘piletra’ is for ‘baletri’, a synonym given in the Modena manuscript for serpillum, q.v. Piletra corresponds to Latin pyrethrum and English ‘pellitory’, and it goes back to Greek πρεθον ([lt ] πυρετος, fever) which is understood as feverfew, Tanacetum parthenium Webb. In chapters 31 and 261, from Rufinus (Thorndike, 1946, p. 239), Turner (1965) p. 188, and Fischer (1929) p. 278, it is likely that the plant intended was Peucedanum ostruthium Webb. We have no Latin to guide us for the occurrences in Chapters 85 and 285, though the context in the latter Chapter suggests that the Southern European plant, Anacyclus pyrethrum, may have been intended, at least by whatever authority the Irish author had for his material.
pillaili (lat. pillule), pills. While the standard appears to be pillidhi, the word is written fully twice, as pillule in Chapter 142, and as pillaili in Chapter 162.

p.841

pimentairia, see mellago.
pingedo, see methradh.
pinginn (lat. crispelle), literally penny, but used of small disks.
piper, see pibar.
pipinella, see eigrim.
pira, see peiridha.
pisairium (lat. pessarium), pessary.
pis enain [This word needs to be checked with the MS] (syn. orobus), vetch, Vicia sativa Webb. The word appears in the Bible, Ezek. iv 9, translating ‘fitches’, as pis fhináin (pisfhianáin in the 1830 edition), and pis inan in K'Eogh,; Aodh Mac Domhnaill (Beckett 1967), [sect ]110, uses the forms pissheana and pisshanach; Hogan (1900) gives the following forms without attribution: pis fhiadhaín, piseánach, pisíneán, pisneán, písfhianáin; the manuscript glossary printed by Stokes (1898) C gives pis enain twice, once glossing oropium, and again glossing molum agreiste (which appears to be mola, meal, because peas were used in the form of meal). See also pis síonáin, de Bhaldraithe (1990).
piseog, sorcery.
pis Greagach (syn. fenugrecum, feinel Greagach; lat. fenugrecum) ,fenugreek, Trigonella foenum graecum. Chapter 127. The seeds of the plant, of the Leguminosae, were used as a spice.

p.842

pisillium (lat. psillium), flea-bane, Plantago indica CTW.
plaig, plague.
plantago maigheor, see cruach padraig.
plata (lat. lamina), a plate.
pleta, see biatus.
pleurisis (lat. pleurisis), pleurisy. Lile Eg 119v, 120r ( LM Pt. 4, Ch. 9): ‘Is eadh is pleurisis and neascoid teasaide bis a laccertibh no a sreabannaibh no a cumdach an asnaigh co hinmedonach annsa cliabh. Bith a fis agad co fuilid da gne aran pleurisis .i. pleurisis firi & pleurisis nach fir. An pleurisis nach fir vero is a laccertibh no a sreabhannaibh no a feoil an n-asnaigh co foirimillach bis no is a timchill in asnaigh breigi ata fai an scairt cleibh co foirimillach no co hinmedonach do-nitear hi, no do-nitear hi o gaothmuireacht. An pleurisis fire vero is a cumhdach an asnaigh co hinmedonach do-nitear hi & co hairithi san inadh a ceangailtear an scairt risan n-asnach oir ata sreabhann and cumhdaighis an t-asnach co hinmedonach & sreabhann eli deallaigheas na boill spiradalta ona ballaibh oileamhnacha & diafragma is ainm don tsrebhainn sin & is ria aderur an scairt cleibh & ata sreabhann and do-ni da leth don cliabh ar fad & an cuid don scairt ata a fad on asna ni fetur neascoid do geneamhain innta acht annsa cuid ceangailtear don asnach ar son curob annsin atait cuisleanna & airtiri & rainn feolmara & leanna & is
p.843
uime sin fedtar neascoid do geneamhain and. Da reir sin asi an pleurisis firi an neascoid do-nitear a sreabhannaibh inmedonacha an asnaigh & is neascoid teasaide hi an da modhaibh .i. ara hadbar do beith teasaide no ar son an teasaideachta do geibh o morgadh & gentear pleurisis i ngach taobh .i. sa taobh deas & a taobh cli & an pleurisis gentear sa taobh cli asi as guasachtaighi dibh, gidheadh isi is luaithi crichnaightear & adeir Avicenna an pleurisis gentear sa taobh deas nach fuil si an guasachtaighi sin, gidheadh isi as moille crichnaightear... Na .4. comarthadha so foillsigheas an pleurisis fen mar adeir Galienus in De Crisi: An cet comartha dibh .i. teinneas taibh maille re gontaigh & atait .4. cuisi o ndentar an teinneas sin .i. droch-coimpleasc & scaileadh cointinoideach & in t-adbar do cuaidh a beil na cuisleann & in t-adbar ata andsna cuisleannaibh fos. An .2. comartha .i. fiabrus cointinoideach ar son an adhbair do beith arna morgadh isna hinadhibh ata co gar don cridhi. An .3. comartha .i. docamhail na hanala o gortughadh an scamain. An .4. comartha .i. co mbi cosachtach 'na coimideacht ar son an rainn cuirtear cum na fedan de. Et fedtar an .5. comartha do cur leo...’
plumbum, see luaidhe.
plur (lat. contrita polenta, mica, pasta), flour.
pobol righ, another name for popin dubh, q.v.
poiliol ruibel (syn. athasar, polem regale; lat.
p.844
pulegium), penny-royal, Mentha pulegium Webb. Chapter 44.
poilipus (lat. polipus), polypus, tumours attached by a stalk to the surface from which they spring. Although these are found in the interior of various parts of the body, the present text refers only to polypus in the nose.
poinnticeacht, poinnticdha (lat. ponticitas, ponticus), tart to the taste.
pointicum, see absinthium.
poir (lat. porus, artus), a pore.
polem regale, see poiliol ruibel.
polipodium, see scim.
politricum, see dubcosach.
poll, a hole; special uses:
a pollaib na linnighan (lat. ‘fistula ... eius loca concava’), the cavity of an ulcer – see feadan;
a pollaibh na srona (lat. naribus), the nostrils (see also leath-shroin.
pomum quersuus, see galla.
ponaire (lat. faba, lupinorum amarorum), beans, Vicia faba CTW; min ponaire, bean flour, Chapters 39 and 109. The Irish author uses bean flour instead of the lupin flour of the Latin text. It looks as if the Irish had not got around to cultivating Lupinus.
Pontos (lat. Pontus): in Chapter 233, the name is probably a clouded memory of the fact that rhubarb was brought
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to Europe at one time via the Black Sea (Pontus Euxinus).
popin (syn. codion; lat. papaver), poppy. Three sorts are referred to:
popin geal (lat. papaver album), opium poppy, Papaver somniferum Webb; Chapter 75;
popin dubh (syn. pobol righ, papauer nigrum), corn poppy, Papaver rhoeas Webb;
gne ... ara mbi blath crocha, horned poppy, Glaucium flavum Webb.
See opium and ola.
porrum, see lus.
portulaca, see adann.
potagra (lat. podagra), gout of the foot; see artetica.
potaiste, pottage; this seems to have been a thin soup, mostly of vegetables, as opposed to eanbhruith, which was a rich soup, mostly of meat.
praiseach: this is the Latin brassica, and was applied:
praiseach garrdha (syn. caulis ortentis; lat. caulis), cultivated cabbage, Brassica oleracea CTW. Chapter 78. There are many cultivated races and varieties of this species. In Chapter 78, it is stated that there are two sorts of cabbage, the big and the small, and that the better sort is that which has a red stalk; this moves away from the Latin text, and appears to state the case as it was then in Ireland;

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praiseach dearg, the sort with the red stalk referred to above;
praiseach: originally, this was the miserable cabbage soup that was the staple diet of the European poor in the Middle Ages. The cabbage was cooked all day, and anything that might give it a bit of a flavour was then added. The Regimen Sanitatis (Gillies, 1911 p. 28) tells us (of potaiste):
‘dentar é sa geimredh do cabhlán & do hocus & do saithsi & do persillidh no do cen(n)duibh geala losa arna mberbadh & arna fasgadh & a coimsuighiughadh le baindi almont.’
In the present text, the term has been extended to include other vegetables (Chapter 21), when praiseach na luibhi so [marshmallow] renders ‘decoctio radicis eius quum datur in potu cum vino’.
praiseach buidhein (syn. sdrusium; lat. strucium, cauliculus agrestis, struthion, ostrutium), charlock, Sinapis arvensis Webb. Chapter 247. In the two occurrences of the term in the Ó Leighin manuscript the second word (which is normally ‘buidhe’) is written as ‘buige’, and ‘buide’. Rufinus gives some botanical details (Thorndike, 1946, p. 77):
‘Cauliculus agrestis, alias strutium dicitur.
p.847
Assimilatur corrigiole sed latiorem habet stipitem et nodosum et in septembri vidi in sumitate eius pomum plenum seminibus rubeis. Sucus eius dicitur mabathematicon. Sunt enim quatuor species. Due faciunt florem croceum et due album; folia duorum multum crenata et alia duo non sic.’ (the reference to corrigiole does not seem to me to help).
Stearn interprets strucium in the French context of the Livre des simples medicines (Opsomer, 1984, item 399) as sea-kale, Crambe maritima Webb. Rufinus, however, may not have known that plant, as it does not grow in the Mediterranean area.
pras, brass.
premh (lat. radix), root or rhizome.
premhrusc: I have taken this to mean root-bark, but have doubts about it.
presuficacio matrisis (lat. precipitatio matricis, hysteras cadentes), displacement of the uterus. Lile Eg 187v ( LM Pt. 7, Ch. 13): ‘Teid an maclac asa inadh uair and & claonaidh cum ceachtair do da uball na lesi & gairtear precipitacio in tan sin de & uair eli tuitidh co hiochtarach & gairtear descensus no casus de in tan sin... Madh precipitacio bes and aithintear e o att do beith a ceachtar don da taobh & o teinneas & o truimideacht. Et madh casus bes and airightear
p.848
teinneas isna ballaibh iochtaracha & do-citear an maclac co follus amuigh & da mbe an easlainte co folaightheach uair and dlighidh an bean frithailthe a mer no a lamh do cur asteach & da mbe dorus an maclaic co direach as comhair an doruis follais eli ni deachaidh as a inadh ar en cor.’
priamiscus, see tulcan.
proeirb, proverb.
proinniughadh, dining.
prunella, see airne.
pudur (lat. pulvis), powder.
pulegium martis, see litronta.
pulegium muntanum, see puliol montanum.
pulicaria, see millsean monadh.
puliol montanum (syn. pulegium muntanum; lat. pulegium). Chapter 219. The description in the English Agnus Castus (Brodin, 1950, p. 198) indicates that this is the large thyme, Thymus pulegioides:
‘Pvlogium montanum is an herbe men cleputh puliole mountayn or hulwort other brotherwort. This hath litel leues lich to organe bot the leues buth nou[yogh]t so moch and he hath a flour of purpur colour and he growith in hully places and in feldes.’
Webb says (p. 145) that it ‘has often been recorded, but usually in error. It may possibly occur in Cork and Cavan.’ The Census Catalogue of 1987 reports the species from vice-counties 5-6, 30, i.e., East Cork,
p.849
Waterford, and Cavan. Cronk (1991) discounts the suggestion made by some authorities that the plant in question may be Thymus serpyllum (as to which, see serpillum).
pulitricum, see ruibh cloithi.
puls (lat. venas pulsatiles), pulse (pulsations of an artery).
punt, a pound. See unsa.
pupulion, populeon, an ointment made with pig lard and poplar buds (Populus nigra, Webb p. 172), with some herbs thrown in. There is a recipe for it in the Antidotarium Nicolai. Species of Populus provide the phenolic glycoside populin, which is still in use for rheumatic conditions and other ailments.
purgoid (lat. purgatio), a purgative.
quabson, quason = causon.
quarbunculus = carbuncalus.
quartana (lat. quartana), quartan fever. Lile NLS 13v ( LM Pt. 1, Ch. 6): ‘Is eadh is quartana ann fiabrus morgaighthe arna geinemuin o adhbhar leanna duip... Tionsgnaidh an aixis maille re fuacht thechtas & re horipilatio & re combrughadh na ccnam, & bi an puls folaightheach bec & luathaightir e asa haithle, & criochnaightir an aixis maille re hiomarcaidh alluis; oir bi an t-adhbhar an tirma isin co nach mairionn en rann detmar no loisgneach de deis na haixisi acht
p.850
indarbaidh go hiomlan, do reir Galienus De Diffirentiis Febrium, & bi an fual isil seimh ina tosach & dathuighthear é fa deoigh go mor deis na haixisi; & is cugnam cuige so na cuislionna do veith cumang & aibid an cuirp do beith tana & an aimsir 'na haimsir fogmhuir & neithe eli is cosmuil ru do teacht roimhe; & bi an aixis .24. huaire ar marthuin & bid a ccomsanadh .48. n-uaire; et bid na comurthadha so ni is isli a quartana notha & examhuiltir iad so fa examhlacht na leannonn.’
quarubughe = carauaidh.
quercus, see 1. dair.
racaidid, sells; normally recaigid.
racam, ragmann (syn. rafanos; lat. raffanus), horse-radish, Armoracia rusticana Webb. Chapter 231.
radarc (syn. uisus; lat. visus), sight. Chapter 284.
rafanos, see racam.
raibh (syn. ciba pirum, sulfur; lat. sulphur), sulphur. Chapters 86 and 248. Sulphur in the free state is found in vast quantities in Sicily and Italy.
raibh uisce (syn. nenufar; lat. nenufar), water lily, Nuphar lutea Webb (yellow), and Nymphaea alba Webb (white); blath na raibhe uisce, Chapter 207.
raidleog (syn. mirtuis; lat. mirtus, mirta), bog myrtle, Myrica gale Webb. Chapter 193.
ramadus, see reamhadas.
rann (lat. pars), a part.

p.851

rannaighe (lat. particularis), particular or partial, as opposed to uilidhe (lat. universalis), universal.
rathugad, perception; in Chapter 119, excessive sensitivity.
reamhadas, ramadus (lat. tumidus, tumor), swelling.
reamraigid (lat. impinguare, inspissare, tumescare), to make, or to become, gross, thick, or fat.
reamur (lat. grossus, glutinosus), gross or fat.
reimhe, roimhe (lat. pinguedo, grossus), thickness, fatness.
rema (lat. reuma, catarrus), rheum. Lile Eg 95r ( LM Pt. 3, Ch. 16): ‘Is eadh is reuma and flux leannann on ceann cum na mball bis fai & idirdeilightear tri gneithi ar an reuma ona hughdaraibh .i. corrisa & brancus & catarrus. Corrisa an tan teid cum na srona, Brancus in tan teid cum an geil, Catarrus an tan teid cum an ochta.’
Rementa Acutorum, Hippocrates' Regimen acutorum morborum.
repercusiua, see fritbuailteach.
replexion (lat. repletio), fullness or repletion (of the stomach).
reubarbrum, reuponticum (lat. reubarbarum, reuponticum), rhubarb. Chapter 233. The rhubarbs used in medicine were Rheum palmatum and Rheum officinale, which grew wild, and were also cultivated, high in the mountains of Tibet, and in adjoining areas of China. The lamas claimed a monopoly of the trade in rhubarb on the
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grounds that the plant contained what the Hippocratic writers called divum quid; consequently, the lands where it grew were beloved by the gods, and this made the plant the lamas' business. The part used in medicine was an aerial shoot from the rhizome. The shoot persisted in winter and was about a foot in length and four inches across. The drug was brought by trading caravans to Bokhara. It is thought that it was transported to Europe via the Black Sea (Pontus Euxinus) (hence "rha-ponticum"). It was also brought down the Indus and shipped via the ancient port of Barbarike (near Karachi) (hence "rha-barbarum"). The word "rha" is understood by some to have come from the Persian language, and by others from the old name for the Volga. In classical times, a species thought to be Rheum rhaponticum was grown east of the Black Sea, and was used in Europe, but this appears not to have continued. In the early Middle Ages, the medically used product of the Tibetan species was brought via Persia to the Levant ports. By the 15th century, it appears to have been shipped by sea via India. See Baillon's account (1873) of how the medicinal species of rhubarb were identified.

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rian, of good quality.
richt: Chapter 215, ‘a richt an cnaimhe so’, ‘represented to be this bone’.
righin: in general, this means, perhaps, ‘offering resistance’ (see do-discailti, Chapter 276). Specifically, viscous (lat. viscosus, tenax); slow (lat. tarde).
rigor (lat. rigor), shivering.
rinn ruisc (syn. hipia minor), scarlet pimpernel, Anagallis arvensis Webb. Chapter 154. The synonym given is in error for Ippia maior, as Stokes pointed out (1888, n. 146). Confusion occurred generally between Ippia maior and Ippia minor (Hunt, 1989, p. 149), and this may have been due in part to the similarity between some chickweeds and the pimpernel ( Alphita p. 196, n. 12).
ri raithneach, royal fern, Osmunda regalis Webb.
risine (lat. uve), raisins. Chapter 279.
ro-fabra, an affection of the eyelashes.
ro-ger, ro-geiri (lat. acutus,acumen), acute, acuteness.
ro-glan (lat. mundissimus), very clean.
roimhe, see reimhe.
roinn, to divide.
roisicdha (lat. rosaceus), of roses.
ros, the seeds of a plant, as distinct from the fruit
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containing them. The term is used of the seeds of the following:
nettle (lat. semen), acantum; chapter 32;
knotgrass, gluineach bec;
marshmallow (lat. semen), leamhach;
flax (lat., Modena MS, linosa), 1. lin;
hemlock (lat. semen), mong mer; chapter 92;
bog myrtle (lat. fructus), raidleog.
see also ros lachan.
rós (lat. rosa), rose. According to Alphita, p. 154, ‘Rosa duplex est, alba et rubea, sed quando simpliciter ponitur pro rubea intelligitur.’ However, the Irish text seems to consider only one rose (Chapter 234):
ros dearg (syn. rosa rubia; lat. rosa), the red rose.
Following Stearn (Opsomer, 1984, item 368), the species used was probably the apothecary's rose, Rosa gallica. See antera.
rosa rubia, see rós.
rosc, the eye.
rós dearg, see rós.
ros lachan (syn. lenticula acatica; lat. lenticula aquatica), common duckweed, Lemna minor Webb, Chapter 168.
ros marina (syn. rosmarinus; lat. rosmarinus), rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis. Chapter 232. The plant is a native of Southern Europe, and was not grown on a
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commercial scale in this country. Mary Keen (The Independent on Sunday, 29 April 1990) quotes from a French manual of 1393 how cuttings of rosemary were packed for export from France to England: ‘Wrapped in waxed cloth, sealed and smeared with honey all over and then dipped in flour’.
rostadh (lat. assatus, ustus), to roast, to toast.
ro-teasaideacht, excessive hotness.
rotundum, see ailim.
ruagh (lat. subrufus, rubeus), foxy-red. See linn.
ruagaidh (lat. depellere), puts to flight.
rubia maior, see madra.
rudus (syn. sol secium, sbonsa solis, eliotropia, sicorea, ingcuba, uerucaria; lat. sponsa solis, eliotropia, intuba, cicorea, solsequium, dionisia), pot marigold, Calendula officinalis CTW. Chapter 249.
ruel (ruidel in another copy), dove's-foot cranesbill, Geranium molle Webb. There is no syn. or lat. to guide us with this term. It appears as a gloss, ‘gallice roal’, on herba Roberti in an Anglo-Irish manuscript (Hunt, 1989). In other medical contexts, it is equated with pes columbinus: in the manuscript glossary printed by Stokes (1898) C, ruidhel glosses rostrum (which may refer to the prominent beak on the fruit of Geranium species), and ruidhel .r. glosses pes columbinus; in Gaulterus de dosibus (Sheahan, 1938, [sect ]67), ‘pes columbe .i. gne do'n ruel’ occurs. Threlkeld gives Ruhel Rih,
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Rial Cuiall and Rian Rih for herb robert, Geranium robertianum Webb, and he has been followed in this by a number of authorities. The popular name for herb robert appears to have been crobh dearg.
The following account is given in the Modena manuscript:
‘Pes columbinus herba est que alio nomine dicitur flectio, habens folia rotunda intercisa similis pede columbi et fasciculos rubeos et florem subrufum. Expanditur super terram. Nascitur in ciliaria et locis sablosis & lapidosis. Mense madio vel Junio colligitur cum floribus suis. In umbra siccatur. Per annum servatur. Cum reperitur in medicinis & maxime in Trocisci dia corallis pes columbinus, folia cum suis floribus debent poni. Contra testiculos inflatos ex flegmate lucido pes columbinus et lactucam viridem parvam simul contritis & cataplasmatis mirabile est.’
The botanical details given by that text appear to indicate Geranium molle. The Livre des simples medecines (Opsomer, 1980) illustrates merely the leaves of pes columbinus, and they appear to be the leaves of Geranium molle as one looks down on the plant from above (Geranium molle is semi-prostrate), although Stearn identifies the plant as the long-stalked crane's-bill, Geranium columbinum Webb.
Alphita, p. 140, gives:
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‘Pes columbinus uel pes columbe idem, folia habet diuisa in septem porciones et quelibet porcio habet duas diuisiones uel iii. Florem habet blaueum, [gall.] et anglice, clauerfot (read culverfot).’
On p. 65, flectidos is given as a synonym for pes columbinus, and the footnote says ‘According to Gerarde, p. 938, the plant is Dove's-foot Cranebill’.
In the Grete Herball, doues fote is given as the English for pes columbinus, and Rydén (1984) does not commit himself beyond the genus, Geranium.
The English Agnus Castus (Brodin, 1950, p. 197) states:
‘Pes columbe ys an herbe that me clepyth coluerfot or pes de columbe thys herbe hath leuys y-lyche to mawort (=Geranium robertianum per Brodin) bot the leuys beth more whyte and he hath a flowre as mawort but hure stalke ys not so red ne so tender and he beryth hure sed as doth mawort and he growyth a-pon wallys and a-pon the growndys yn feldys.’
Brodin identifies pes columbe as Geranium molle.
William Turner (ed. W. T. Stearn, 1965, p. 181) says: ‘Geranium is of two kyndes. The one kynde is called Pinke nedle or Cranes byl the other is called Pes columbinus of the commune Herbaries, and it mays be called in englishe Douefote.’
Turner deals separately with Herbe Roberte. His editors identify douefote as Geranium molle.

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Culpeper devotes separate chapters to herb robert and dove's foot. Of the latter, he says:
‘This hath divers small, round, pale green leaves cut in about the edges, much like mallows, standing upon long, reddish, hairy stalks, lying in a round compass upon the ground, among which rise up two, or three, or more reddish, jointed, slender, weak hairy stalks with such like leaves thereon, but smaller, and more cut in up to the tops, where grow many very small, bright, red flowers of five leaves a-piece; after which follow small heads with small short beaks pointed forth, as all other sorts of this herb do. It groweth in pasture grounds, and by the path-sides in many places and will also be in gardens.’
His editor identifies this as Geranium molle.
Clapham et al. (1962) give Dove's-foot Cranesbill as the English name of Geranium molle.
rufa (rufus), see ruagh.
ruibh (syn. ruta, bisa, molea; lat. ruta), rue, Ruta graveolens. Chapter 236. Kingston et al. (1878), in extolling the virtues of the garden rue as ‘an excellent preservative against the noxious influences of a moist and vapid atmosphere and the contagious miasmata of epidemical diseases’, say that in the Old Bailey tufts of rue were placed on the front of the dock, whilst others were stuck in the penholes of the inkstands about the court.

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ruibh cloithi (syn. pulitricum; lat. pollitricum), wall-rue, Asplenium ruta-muraria Webb. Chapter 225. See dubcosach.
ruibi (lat. rubeus), red.
ruidhleas, specific property.
rumei, see oxilapacium.
rusc, bark. See premhrusc.
ruta, see ruibh.

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Sabraidh (syn. saturaieia, utimbra; lat. satureia), summer savory, Satureja hortensis. Chapter 242. The generic name is said to derive from satyrus, because of the aphrodisiac effect with which the plant was credited (see Chapter 242).
sabus (lat. salsamentum), sauce.
sacer ignis, see teine diadh.
saethar, labour;
lucht an tsaethair (lat. siccientibus viantibus), people labouring (under the heat);
saethraighi, preparations (the product of labour).
saidsi (syn. saluia; lat. salvia), garden sage, Salvia officinalis. Chapter 261.
saidsi coilli, see iubar sleibhe.
sailbh, salve.
ail cniss, ‘dirt of the skin’; from Chapter 106, this would appear to refer to some condition of the head.
sail cuach (syn. uiola; lat. viola), sweet violet, Viola odorata
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Webb. Chapter 276. This was the species that was cultivated and used in medicine: Fischer (1929) 145, 203; blath sail cuach, flowers of violet, Chapters 62 and 66. Viola tricolor Webb, the pansy or heart's ease, was also used, but it appears to have been regarded as not quite a violet, and was known as goirmín or gorman bec, q. v.
saileach (syn. salisit; lat. salix), willow, Salix species. Chapter 245.
saill, fat.
saillte (lat. salsus), salted.
saingis dragoinis, see fuil dreagain.
1. sal (lat. tuberositates et mucillagines), a scum (on vinegar).
2. sal, see salann.
salach (lat. turbare, sordidus), dirty, infected.
salann (lat. sal), salt. Chapter 239.
salcur (lat. deformes maculas, sordens vulnus, torturam, maculas, frigidum reuma, humiditas, lentigines, saniem et ulcera, scrophas, sordes, lepras, ulcera), dirt, infection, exudation.
Salernetani, of Salerno.
salisit, see saileach.
saluia, see saidsi.
samadh (syn. acedula, oxilapacium, rumei; lat. acidula), sorrel, Rumex acetosa Webb. Chapter 8. Appears to include also Rumex scutatus CTW, French sorrel, which
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was once much cultivated. Also bo-samhadh. See copog. The sheep's sorrel, Rumex acetosella Webb, was distinguished as samhadh caorach.
samadh fearna, water betony, Scrophularia auriculata Webb.
sambucus, see trom.
sambusium (ola) (lat. oleum sambucinum), apparently an oil of elder, Sambucus nigra Webb.
samradh (lat. estas), summer.
sandaili (lat. sandali), sandalwood. Chapter 253. The text indicates that the wood was imported in small pieces, and that there were three varieties, ailbi (lat. albus), white; ruibi (lat. rubeus), red; and citrini (lat. citrinus), yellow. The white is the wood of Santalum album, a tree of India and the Malay Archipelago, and the red appears to be the wood of Pterocarpus santalinus. Nowadays, sandalwood oil is obtained from the heartwood of Santalum album.

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sarcacolla (lat. sarcocolla), a gum obtained from Astragalus fasciculifolius, a thorny Leguminous shrub that grows in Persia, a relative of the plants that produce tragacanth (see 2. dragantum) and liquorice (see licoiris). Chapter 240. People in Persia and India like to chew it.
Sarrisdinach (lat. Saraceni), Saracen.
satuirion, see tulcan.
saturaieia, see sabraidh.
sauina, see liathan locadh.
sbaragius, see modoman.
sbonsa solis, see rudus.
scabiosa (syn. ancula alba; lat. scabiosa), field scabious, Knautia arvensis Webb. As to the "small scabious", see lus an galloglaigh.
scaili, shade (of a tree).
scailid (lat. corrodit, tollit), dissolves.
scairiola (lat. scariola), prickly lettuce, Lactuca serriola CTW. The term appears to have included the great or wild lettuce, Lactuca virosa CTW, the latex of which, known as lactucarium or lettuce-opium, produces a similar effect to opium but without becoming addictive.
scaman (lat. pulmo), the lung.
scamonia (lat. scamonea) scammony, a gum-resin containing
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jalapin, obtained from the fleshy root of Convolvulus scammonia of the Middle East. Chapter 241.
scartadh, a compress.
sceach, hawthorn bush, Crataegus monogyna Webb.
sceachoir (syn. mesbili; lat. mespila), haw, the fruit of hawthorn (see sceach). Chapter 204.
sceallan (lat. semina, interioribus nucleis), pip.
sceathrach (syn. uomitibus; lat. vomitus, nausea), vomit; emetic. Chapter 285.
sceidhid, vomits.
scilla, see uinneaman spainneach.
scilleticum, appears to be a mixture of honey and vinegar flavoured with squills.
scim (syn. polipodium; lat. polipodium), polypody. Chapter 223. The three Irish species are distinguished only with difficulty. Polypodium vulgare Webb and Polypodium interjectum Webb both grow on rocks, walls and trees; Polypodium australe Webb grows on limestone rocks and walls.
scinannsia, quinsy. Lile Eg 104v ( LM Pt. 4, Ch. 1): ‘Is inntuicthi timchill an adhbhair so co fuilid da slighi a cois premhe na tengadh .i. slighi an bidh & slighi na hanala. Slighi na hanala vero .i. trascia arteria & epiglotum a ceand. Slighi in bidh vero is ainm di meri no ysophagus. An tslighi ata co hinmedonach idir an da slighi sin is di gairtear guttur. Et ata ni co huachtarach ar in da slighi sin adubhramur ar tus & ise is ainm do uula .i. an sine seaain & is amlaidh bis
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amail do beith mer ar fheadan. Et atait da ball feolmara eli a leanmuin do bun na tengadh re n-abar ameghdule & is ime aderar ameghdule ru oir is inand ameghdale & almont oir is a cosmaileas almont bid. Leith aithche vero an muinil re n-abar gula isi is slighi dilis don anail, leith cuil vero an muinil re n-abar ceruix is trit gabhus in tslighi re n-abar meri... Squinancia vero is and cruithightear hi a laccertibh in boill re n-abar gutur & isin da slighi sin an muinil. Et ecsamailtear gneithi squinancia fo examhlacht an inaidh sin. An cet gne do shquinancia is amhlaidh bis maille re hatt & re deirgi & rena bel do beith oscailti. An .2. gne ni faictear hi co follus muna cumgaidhtear arin tengaidh co mor. An .3. gne di ni faictear hi ar en cor oir bidh an neascoid in tan sin co folaightheach isna slighthibh sin. An .4. gne di an tan is follus in t-at co hinmedonach isin gutur & co foirimillach isin braghaid... Da roibh dearg atmar te maille re teinneas & re puls lan is o fuil deirg do-nitear & da roibh a ndath buidi maille re cnamh & re bruidernach is o linn ruagh do-nitear. Da roibh atmar geal bog maille re becan teinnis & moran selidhi isin bel is o linn finn do-nitear. Da roibh cruaidh & a beith a ndath uaine & an galar righin martanac is o linn dubh do-nitear. Et mad o ball eli tic adbar an squinancia bith an ball o tic maille re heire & re tromaidheacht do sir. Et madh ona heaslaintibh eli no
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o rem-cuisibh tic is follus sin do reir na neithe tainic roimpi & o scelaibh an othair. Ac so comarthadha an squinancia bis co folaightheach co hinmedonach nach faictear hi .i. cumgach anala & in tan ibhis uisce a beith ac impodh cum na srona maille re torainn & suile dearga & in tenga do beith teann & guth cuileinn & muinel teann. Is iat so comarthadha follusa na squinancia .i. cumgach anala & teinneas an beil oslaicthi.’
scinannti (lat. squinantus), a Middle-Eastern rush known as lemon grass or camel's hay, Cymbopogon schoenanthus.
scissum, see ailim.
scoiltid (lat. scindere), splits.
scolapendria, see crim muice fiadha.
scotomia, a defect in vision. Lile Eg 58v ( LM Pt. 2, Ch. 11): ‘Is eadh is scothomia & is uertigo and easlainteadha disle na cetfadha coitchinne. Isi is cuis a focus do uertigo & do scothomia droch-crosadh na n-imaighidh a crois nerui obtici & is ime sin is olc do-berar don cetfaidh coitcind iat & co haicideach don n-intamhlaidheacht, curob uime sin is easlainteadha don radarc co haicideach iat oir truaillid e, gidheadh leo fen & co dilis is easlainteadha don cetfaidh coitcind iat... Et deithfirighit mar so oir do-citear gach ni ac dul fa cuaird a uertigo ar son co mbi in t-adhbhar semh innte maille re gaothmuireacht ar na hiadhadh a fliuchaidheacht righin nach fedann dul amach aiste & is
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ime sin gluaistear fa cuairt hi & is ar an adhbar sin da feca fer in tedhma so neoil ac rith co luath no uisce srotha a gluasacht co hoband no roth no cairt ac sibal co luath do-citear do reir cosmailis co mbi fen ar gluasacht leo & is ime gabus tacca dona balladhaibh bis a ngar do no coimegnighthear cum suighi e. Et ni mar sin don scothomia oir bith an t-adhbhar nis remhi & nis cumsanaighthi innte & dar leis do-chi cuile no cimices & a cosmaile & is ime sin aderar scothomia ria oir is inand scothos a Greig & uidere a Laidin & is inand sin & feghadh & [is inand] mias & musca & is inand sin & cuil .i. feghadh cuileach & is o droch-leannaibh truaillidhe & o deathaighibh dorcha bis isin n-inchinn thegmas so &, co hairithi san inchinn edain, no o deathaighibh eirghis on gaile & on corp uile.’
scrisaidh (lat. rodere, removere, eradicare, excoriare, corrodere), abolishes.
scrubul (indicated in lat. by an inverted e), a scruple, nominally one twenty-fourth of an ounce. See unsa.
sdrusium, see praiseach buidhe.
sduthfa, a stupe, a medicated hot bath or fomentation. Lat. stupha, stuba, see DuCange sv stuba 'vapoarium, hypocaustum: vox germanica' and see DMLBS sv stupha.
seabac, a hawk.
seacranach (lat. erraticus), erratic. Of fever. Lile NLS 19r ( LM Pt. 1, Ch. 8): ‘Laburtar annso dona fiabhrasaibh comsuighighthe... An .2. gne, goirthir erratica di, .i. fiabrus seachranach... Erratica vero is amhlaidh cuisighthir e o lennuiph iomdha arna
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morgadh & arna losgadh an ionadhaibh examhla & in tan tegmuid an én ionadh do-nithir quartana uaithiph, do reir Ipocras, & go hairithe a ccomursnacht an fhoghmhuir & ni bhi so seachranach ionta fein acht lenuidh gach fiabhras dibh gluasacht a adhbhair fein; gidheadh, do-cithir dúinne a mbeith seachranach tre éxamlacht a n-aixiseadh & a ccosmaileas gluasachta na bplainead & leighisir an fiabhras comsuighighthe so do rer naduir na bfiabhras aonda.’
seachtmain (lat. septimana), a week.
seagal, rye, Secale cereale CTW.
sealg (lat. splen), the spleen. Lile Eg 168v ( LM Pt. 6, Ch. 7): ‘Is eadh is sealg and ball edluith cuasach fada arna suighiughadh a leith cli an coirp & arna ordughadh do glanadh na fola. Dleaghar a tuicsin in tan glanas in tsealg in fuil co maith co mbi an corp suilbir & arna deisiughadh co maith & in tan nach glanann co maith tic tuirsi an tan sin don corp & moran do droch-suighighthibh eli oir da teastaighi an tshealg in attairring gentear yctericia & da teastaighi a fostughadh deis na hattairringthi cuisighthear flux brond & a cosmaile & da teastaighi a ndileaghadh & a claochlodh cuisighthear cruas & neascoid & duinti, maseadh bith galair comcosmai1e & oifigeacha & coitcinna aran seilg mar bis arna ballaibh eli.’ See the note s. v. fiabras.
seangaidh (lat. rodere), shrinks.

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sefailia, see cefaili.
seile (lat. sputum), a spit.
seile fola (syn. ematoica; lat. emoptoica, sputum sanguinis), haemoptysis, the spitting up of blood. See ematoica.
seimh (lat. tenuis, subtilis), thin or fine.
seimhe (lat. subtilis substantia), thinness or fineness.
seimhigheacht (lat. paucitas), thinness.
seimighidh (lat. extenuare, attenuare), makes thin or fine.
seirbhi (lat. amaritudo), sourness.
selidonia, see celedonia.
semen urtice, see acantum.
semperuiua, see teneagal.
sene (lat. sene), senna, the dried leaves of the senna plant, Cassia acutifolia from tropical East Africa, and the dried ripe fruits ("pods") of the same plant, formerly exported through Alexandria. Chapter 243. The plant is a small shrub of the family Leguminosae, about 1m high. Platearius says ‘arbor est nascens in confiniis Babylonie & in Arabia cuius folia medicine usui competunt abiectis fustibus.’
serb (lat. amarus), bitter.
serban muc (syn. dens leonis), milk-thistle or sow-thistle, Sonchus oleraceus Webb. Chapter 106. There is quite a long list of Latin names which were used most confusingly for any of a number of dandelion- and
p.869
daisy-like composites, as in Chapter 249 of our text. The various Latin terms for which serban muc has been used, and the explanations of those terms offered by various authorities, are as follows:
dens leonis, used in the present text (Chapter 106), and in Stokes (1898) 332, B43; explained as Crepis tectorum – Fischer, Leontodon autumnale – Fischer, Malva alcea – Fischer, and Taraxacum officinale – Fischer, Alphita, Ogden, Turner, Hunt.
lactucella, used in Stokes (1898) 334, C48; explained as Sonchus oleraceus – Fischer, Hunt.
lactuca, used in Stokes (1898) 334, C48; normally explained as a species of Lactuca. Hunt includes Sonchus oleraceus in the list of possibles. Lactuca leporina in the Modena Tractatus de herbis, and the corresponding Laittuue a lievre in the Livre des simples medecines, are clearly identified as Sonchus oleraceus, the illustrations in both manuscripts being good. Threlkeld calls Sonchus oleraceus ‘hare's lettuce’. Fischer also gives lactuca silvestris vel agrestis for Sonchus oleraceus.
caput monachi, used in Stokes (1898) 327, A49, and 332, B43; explained as Taraxacum officinale – Alphita (probable) and Hunt, Calendula officinalis – Fischer, and Crepis tectorum – Fischer.
Hieracium maius, used by Threlkeld; explained by Nelson as Hieracium species.

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Endivia sylvestris, used in Rosa Anglica, p. 140, [sect ]30; explained as Sonchus oleraceus or Sonchus arvensis – Fischer; Hunt includes Sonchus oleraceus in the list of possibles.
rostrum porcinum, used in Rosa Anglica, p. 286, [sect ]25 (and on p. 84 for gallfotannan); explained as Taraxacum officinale – Alphita (probable), Fischer, Sheahan, and Sonchus oleraceus – Fischer, Hunt.
Sonchus asper, used by K'Eogh, who explains it as ‘prickly sow-thistle’.
The identification of serban muc as Sonchus oleraceus seems to be confirmed by Amhlaoibh Oacute; Súileabháin, i 288, ‘Chidhim searbhán na muc, se troighte air airde, agus ordlach go leith de tiubhacht na chos; ta se faoi blaith [21 vi], acht ni gabhadh a buain do mhucadh a mbliaghna, oir taid potataoi saor.’
The term serban simpliciter is discussed s. v. maelan muilithi.
serpigho (syn. deir), appears to be a form of ringworm. See bruitida, carraighe, deir.
The Crusaders brought back a skin disease which was caused by a parasite, and with it the Arabs' remedy for it, Unguentum Saracenum. This was made with mercury, latex of spurge and oil of stavesacre in a base of pig lard, which did not leave the parasites much chance of survival. A very similar ointment is described in Chapter 39, which may give a clue as to the precise meaning of serpigho.

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serpillum (syn. piletra; lat. serpillum). Chapter 244. The syn. ‘piletra’ is for baletri, a synonym given in the Modena manuscript for serpillum. See piletra. The name of the plant (ρπυλλοsfgr;) refers to its creeping nature. The Latin Circa Instans speaks of two sorts, a wild one, which is Thymus serpillum CTW, and a garden sort. The principal species cultivated, then as now, was probably Thymus vulgaris L., but some other species were also cultivated. The versions of Circa Instans all agree that ‘domesticum ramos super terram diffundit’ and the Modena version (which has separate rather similar chapters on Herpillos and Serpillum) says ‘Herpillos herba est similis serpillo sed radix eius sub terra serpit’. The latter statement may refer to the fact that the creeping stems of Thymus serpyllum root at the nodes. In general, the references in the texts to the garden thyme suggest Thymus serpyllum, and this species may have been cultivated for medical purposes. The Irish author would not have known it in the wild.
serusa, see cerusa.
sgama ferri, see tuirinn.
sian sleib, sian sleibe (syn. sticatos; lat. sticados), foxglove, Digitalis purpurea Webb. Chapter 251. The meaning of the Irish name is well attested in original sources, e.g., Threlkeld p. 48, and Aodh Mac Domhnaill (Beckett, 1967, p. 122). On the Continent, sticados meant something else, Sticados citrinum being Helichrysum
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stoechas, and sticados arabicum being French lavender, Lavandula stoechas. The Irish author, in recommending the yellow sort (Sticados citrinum) may have been thinking of Digitalis lutea, the yellow-flowered foxglove, which is said to be less dangerous to use, as its effects are not cumulative, than Digitalis purpurea. Digitalis lutea does not occur naturally in this country, but it appears that it may have been cultivated here. Fischer (1929) p. 14 says that Digitalis is mentioned in the Welsh Meddygon Myddfai in the 13th century, but is not heard of in the literature of Central Europe until the 15th century. The plant had no name in Greek or Latin until named ‘digitalis’ by Fuchs (1542), on the analogy of the German name, Fingerhut.
sibal, siubal: (toirmiscigh sibal an rema & foirigh catarrus, lat. ‘contra catarrum & fluxum humorum a capite’), the migration of the rheum.
sibhus, chives, Allium schoenoprasum Webb.
sicoreo, chicory, Cichorium intybus Webb. The term is given as a synonym for rudus in Chapter 249.
sidubal (syn. citonalens). The text, Chapter 73, states that there are two sorts. The wild sort is Valeriana officinalis – see caertann curraig, while the garden sort is Pyrenean valerian, Valeriana pyrenaica CTW. The Irish name, like the English setwall and the corresponding French word, [lt ] ‘citovalens’ (‘fast-acting!’), evolved from an eastern word that has been standardised in a Latin
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form as zedoaria. Originally, zedoaria referred to an Indian spice, the root of Curcuma zedoaria. The evolved terms became applied, however, to Valeriana pyrenaica, because the roots of that plant are also spicey.
sietica (lat. sciasis dolori), sciatica, understood as gout of the hip – see the passage quoted s. v. artetica, and LM. Pt. 7, Ch. 19).
signid, indicates.
sil (lat. semen, fructus), seed. See conconidum.
sileadh (lat. manare, fluxus, descendere), shed, drip, flow.
silne (lat. venerem), sperm. See sperma.
silteach, liquid, flowing.
simplidhe, simple.
simsoca, wood sorrel, Oxalis acetosella Webb.
sinapium, see mosdard.
sine seaain (lat. uva), the uvula. Lile Eg 106r ( LM Pt. 4, Ch. 2): ‘Don tsine seaain: atait 5 tarbachta ac uula. An cet tarbacht dibh oir ni leigind dethach na pudur cum an scamain. An .2. tarbha .i. claochlaidh an t-aeir te no fuar sul teid cum in croidhi no cum an scamain. An .3. tarba oir foghnaidh se do cruthughadh in gotha ac dunadh slighi na hanala amail do beith mer fir na seanma ar poll an fedain. An .4. tarbha dunaidh se slighi an bidh an cein bis neach ac labairt & ni leigind aer fuar cum an gaili & in tan bis neach a
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caitheamh bidh sesinn ar slighi na hanala ac toirmisc bidh no dighi do dul cum an ochta & is ime sin nach imcubaidh an biadh & an labairt ar en slighi. An .5. tarbha oir ni leigind se an t-adhbhar reumamhail co hobann cum an cleibh na cum an gaili oir anaidh se annsin sealad innus co moithightear e & co n-innarbtar maille re seili & ar an adhbhar sin an ti ac nach bi uula ni bid na .5. tarbachta so aige & is ime sin nach fuilnginn fuacht na teas na ita acht gortaighthear co hurusa e o gach uile cuis & arin adhbhar sin is a ptisis is mo do-geibhid bas; maseadh seachaintear an ball sin do gerradh oir gerraid drong dona dainibh e an aimsir na slainte cum gumadh ferrdi in guth & gan cunntabairt an lucht aca ngerrtar e ni denaid en oibriughadh le hinnstruimint an gotha o sin amach; maseadh dentar foireachrus. Et sintear an ball uair and & tuitidh sis & toirmiscidh slighi an bidh & na hanala & in uair do-nitear neascoid isin ball sin do-nitear annsa da ball ata a mbun na tengadh da ngairtear ameghdule & ni fuil ni is lugha na nis mo do cuisibh o ndentar acht mar a ndubradh a caibidil na squinancia. Et is inann comarthadha don easlainte so & do squinancia. Et adeir Ypocras ina Pronostica in t-uula dearg atmar curob eaglach a gerradh.’
singcoipis (lat. sincopis), strictly, this is heart failure (‘d'easlainte an craighi re n-abar singcoipis’, Chapter 98), but, as the term includes collapse other
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than from heart trouble, it is rendered here as swooning. Lile Eg 125r ( LM Pt. 4, Ch. 12): ‘Is eadh is sincopis and easbadh na hinntinne no is eadh is sincopis and dighbughadh an moithighthi & an gluasachta annsa corp co huilidhe, an meid is mo de o anbhfhainne an croidhi... Et bith a fis agad... co fuil da cuis co gar isin sincopis. An cet cuis dibh mar ata gach uile ni do-ni discaileadh teasaideachta on croidhi. An .2. cuis .i. gach ni do-ni cruinniughadh adhbhair teasaidhe annsa croidhi... Bidh a fis agad co fuil cuid dona comarthaibh foillsigheas an tshincopis do beith ac teacht mar ata tremor cordis no claochlodh datha na haithche a ndath mi-nadurtha & claochlodh an puls a laighdiughadh & a teirci, & fuardhacht na mball foirimillach. Item, ata cuid dona comarthaibh foillsigheas an paroxismus do beith ar lathair mar ata dighbhughadh an gluasachta & an moithighthe & an puls mar sengan & marbacht na haidhche & gach uile ni adubramar tuas annsa .2. leabhar annsan inadh a ndentar deichfir idir gneithibh na sincopisi & idir an sincopis & an bas. Item, ata cuid eli dona comarthaibh foillsigheas cuisi na sincopisi & mas ona cet cuisibh do-nitear hi do-geibhtear a haithne on lucht frithoilte da lorgurthar co maith iat & mas o easlaintibh na mball eli tic an tshincopis aithnitear arna ballaibh sin e, & da ti an tshincopis gan en cuis follus co hinmedonach na co foirimillach & a teacht co hobann foillsighidh
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sin an tshincopis do teacht o easlaintibh disle an croidhi fen & is marbhtach an tsincopis sin; & cuardaightear ranna an coirp & na bid cuisi na heaslainte a folach ort; & fech an o dluthughadh no o tercughadh no o folmughadh no o teasaideacht no o fuaraideacht do-nitear hi. Et mas o neimh do-nitear, bidh baladh adhuathmhar annsa bel & bid na cuisi eli follus.’

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singultus (lat. singultum), hiccup.
Lile Eg 135r ( LM Pt. 5, Ch. 7): ‘Is eadh is singultus ann cosmaileas spasmus an gaili arna linadh no arna folmughadh no arna cinntughadh o linn eigin, d'innarbadh na n-urcoideadh. Dleaghar a thuicsin ac labairt co firinneach nach spasmus an singultus, gidheadh aderur spasmus ris on comaontughadh ata aigi ris an spasmus oir mar do-nitear an spasmus o linadh & o folmhughadh, is mar sin don tsingultus, gidheadh ata deichfir eatorra oir is gluasacht leath amuigh do naduir do sir an spasmus & fos an tan tairringtear e ni inntaighinn & ni sininn d'innarbadh na n-imarcach & ni mar sin don tsingultus oir fedaid beith 'na gluasacht nadurtha & maille ris sin, ge do-nitear tairring and, do-nitear sineadh ina diaidh an mheid fedtar. Et ise so modh a denmhusa .i. an tan tegmas red urcoideach eigin don gaili & co hairithi an tan bis a lenmuin do uillibh & do substaint an gaili moithighidh an brigh ainmhighe moithigheach sin & duiscidh an brigh nadurtha innarbthach & tocraid maille re tulgan mor an urcoid d'innarbadh & is don gluasacht laidir tulganach sin gairtear singultus & is ar an modh cetna do-nitear an tsraoghach & in cosachtach mar scribtar sa .5. leabhar De Morbo; maseadh cuisighthear an singultus o linadh & o fholmhughadh & o neascoid & o creacht & o moran da

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cosmailibh.’

sinnach, a fox.

sinnser (syn. zinciber; lat. zinziber), ginger, Zingiber officinale, cultivated in India. Chapter 291. The dried rhizomes were used, and also the young shoots of the plant, preserved in syrup: Stannard (1963) p. 204.

Siperinum (lat. Ciprinum), Cypriot.

Sipra (lat. Cipra), Cyprus.

sireagra (lat. ciragra), cheirogra, gout in the hand; see artetica.

sirin, cherry, the fruit of the black cherry, Prunus avium Webb, and that of the dwarf cherry, Prunus cerasus Webb, and of the varieties of them that were cultivated. Used in Chapter 27 instead of peaches, lat. persiccorum. In the 17th century, black cherry water was obtained by distilling the water in which the broken cherry-stones had been steeped: Stannard (1963) p. 212.

siroip (lat. sirupus), syrup.

siropus rosatus (lat. sirupus rosatus), syrup of roses.

sis (lat. deorsum), below; the conventional way of referring to purging by the rectum.

sisan (syn. tisanum; lat. ptisana, aqua), a tisane, e.g. barley water. Barley is simmered in water, an ounce to the pint, and the liquid is flavoured (nowadays) with sugar and lemon. All the references in the text are to tisane of barley, except in Chapter 266 there is

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reference to tisane of wheat. Wulff (1929) 405 quotes a 16th century English source which recommends flavouring with liquorice, prunes and root of fennel.

sitis, see ita.

sithlaid (lat. colare), strains.

sitrina, citrina (lat. citrinus), lemon-coloured.

sitruilli, citruilli (lat. citruli), water melon, Citrullus lanatus, cultivated in Southern Europe.

siubal, see sibal.

siucra (syn. ziucra; lat. zuccarum), sugar. Chapter 292. The sugar cane, Saccharum officinarum, was cultivated in Sicily, where the sugar was manufactured, and it was exported from there to England (and thence to Ireland) via the Flanders Galleys (see Introduction, Chapter 3). The three sorts referred to in the text are:
siucra geal, white sugar, the best refined sugar;
siucra buighe (lat. zuccara mellita), brown sugar, a sort that was inferior due to faulty cooking;
siucra cainndi, sugar candy, i.e., sugar in the form of crystals rather than in loaves.
Sugar was used with roses and violets to make siucra rosasium (lat. zuccarum rosatum), and siucra uiolasium (lat. zucharum violaceum) . Platearius describes how zuccarum rosatum was made. Three or four pounds of sugar and one pound of fresh rose petals were baked a little together and pounded. Then the mixture was put in a glass or earthenware vessel and left in the sun

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for 30 days, being stirred every day. The same method was used to make zuccarum violaceum.
Abstracting from the various versions of the account in Circa Instans, it appears that the sugar cane (canna melle) was cultivated in Sicily and Spain. It was harvested in midsummer (‘about the feast of St. John the Baptist’). The canes were chopped up and pounded, releasing the juice. Then the juice and the fragments were put in a bronze cauldron in which they were boiled until the mixture became thick and froth formed on the surface. The froth was skimmed off, and, when the remaining liquor had cooled, this liquor was poured into conical moulds which were left in the sun. The liquor dried in the sun into loaves (tortellus) of hard, white sugar (presumably the whole process caused the water content of the juice to evaporate and the sugar crystals to congeal into a solid mass of the required shape and size). If the cooking was not done properly, the product was a brown sugar of poorer quality.
It appears that sugar candy was made by dissolving sugar in water and boiling off the water, leaving the sugar in the form of large crystals.
Platearius warns that people make a fake sugar from the froth that is skimmed off, and he advises that, when buying sugar, you should break the loaf and taste it: if it is the froth product, it will be porous and

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tasteless, and it will not crackle when you chew it.
It appears that the sugar loaf weighed about nine pounds (Trease, 1959, p. 52).

slaidteach, dross, the residue separated out from the ore of a metal when it is smelted. This is lead monoxide, PbO, known by the general name of lithargyrum (λθος stone + ργυρος, silver), but the residue from each metal was separately distinguished:
lead (lat. fex plumbi), also known as molybdirin; lead is melted and becomes covered with a grey powder, which is stirred into the metal in re-heating, and the whole of the metal is converted into a yellow powder (massicot); at a higher temperature, the massicot melts, and in cooling it solidifies into a reddish crystalline variety called litharge;
slaidteach an airgid (syn. litairgirum; lat. litargirum), silver dross. Chapter 175. Also known as argyritin; the ore was heated in a stream of air in a furnace, and the dross was the residue that was left in the furnace;
slaidteach an oir (syn. catimia; lat. cachimia, spuma auri), gold dross; also known as chrysitin;
slaidteach an stain (lat. fex stanni), dross of tin. See also slaighe.

slaighe (syn. ferrugo; lat. ferrugo), iron dross. Chapter 114. See slaidteach.

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slainte (lat. sanitas), health.

slan, well (in health).

slanaigid, makes sound: of a wound (lat. replet); of releasing matter or the after-birth (lat. relaxant, depellit secundas).

slanlus (syn. lansiolata; lat. lanceolata), ribwort, Plantago lanceolata Webb. Chapter 166.

slanughadh, release of the after-birth (lat. educit secundas); drying of a wound (lat. desiccare).

slat ferrdha (lat. virga), the penis.

sleamhain, smooth.

sleamnaigid (lat. dissolvere, solutio), dissolves.

Sliab Pisalani, Montpellier.

sliasad, the thigh.

slighe, passage.

sligen (lat. marine coclee), shellfish.

sluigid, swallows.

smera (syn. mora selsi; lat. mora domestica / mora silvestria), a bramble-type fruit; the text, Chapter 202, refers to two sorts:
na smera fasas arna drisibh (lat. mora silvestria), blackberry, referred to collectively as Rubus fruticosus Webb;
gne... & ar crannaib fasaid (lat. mora domestica), black mulberry, Morus nigra.

smeroid (lat. carbones, prunae), hot coal (usually charcoal).

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smir (syn. medulla; lat. medulla), marrow. Chapter 184.

snaithi, a thread; snaithidha ruagha dearga, lat. quasi quasdam venulas distinctas.

sneadh (lat. pediculus), a louse.

so-bristi (lat. frangibilis), breakable.

socacul, see cuilinn tragha.

socaidhthi, sociable.

socamlac, (=socamlach), comfortable.

soibirgin (syn. herba sangti Petri; lat. herba paralisis), cowslip, Primula veris Webb. Chapter 152.

soilisdur (syn. gladiolus; lat. gladioli), yellow flag, Iris pseudacorus Webb. Chapter 145. See gloiriam.

soillsi (lat. lucidus, albedo), brightness.

soitheach, a vessel, lat. vas, ampulla; of veins, lat. venas.

sol secium, see rudus.

solus (lat. clarus, lucidus, albus), clear.

sompnus, see codlad.

so-scailti, easily dissolved.

sparagus, see modoman.

sparan (lat. saculus), a little bag.

spasmus (lat. spasmus), spasm. Lile Eg 78r, v ( LM Pt. 2, Ch. 28): ‘Is eadh is spasmus and easlainte feithidh tairringis an fheith cum a bunadhuis maille re heasbadh an gluasachta... Na cuisi inmedonacha... & is dibh fos gaothmuireacht reamhar ac nach fuil slighi amach gidheadh bith an gaothmuireacht uair and a com bec sin

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co n-imdhinn uaithi fen co luath no le becan coimilta & is ime sin an tan tic sa colpa aderar grampa a coitcinne ria... In tan do-cifir ball arna comtarrang & arna righi & nach eidir a cur 'na suighiughadh nadurtha fen is ball ina fuil spasmus e & da tegma sin co hobann do duine slan foillsighidh sin a beith o linadh oir laighditear an feith in tan sin ar fad & meidighthear ar leithid mar is follus isin eill in aimsir an geimridh. Et da ti co min no a ndiaigh fiabruis no folmuightheadh is spasmus o folmughadh sin mara mbi gerradh na feitheadh ara fad & ara leithid mar is follus isin n-eill in aimsir in tsamhraidh. Et an tan impoidheas in spasmus co luath cum a naduir fen ni spasmus firinneach e mar is follus isin menfadhaigh & isin bhfhail & bith puls lucht an spasmus anmhfann cruaidh tonnach an-ordaightheach & bith an fual uair and dathaighthe ar son fiabhrais & uair eli isill o eirghi na ndeathaigheadh cum an chinn.’

spearmaceti, see ambra.

sperma (lat. sperma), seminal fluid. Lile Eg 185r ( LM Pt. 7, Ch. 8): ‘An .5. ni dleaghar d'fhoillsiughadh .i. co fuil sperma ac na mnaibh oir ata an .3. dileaghadh & dindimi & uirghi & boill oireadha eli acu & ma adeir Aristotle nach fuil is amlaidh adeir aca compraid cum na fer oir is amhlaidh bis sperma na fer geal graineach & sperma na mna neamh-dileaghtha uiscemail & o ata sperma na mna ro-fada on naduir sin is ime aderur nach

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fuil silne acu.’ This indicates, as do the Hippocratic writings, that the mother was regarded as making a genetic contribution to the child. In the past, there were others who believed that the father's sperm contained the complete embryo (the ‘homunculus’) and that the mother's "biological" function was purely nutritional.

spica nardi, spikenard. Chapter 246. Two species of Nardostachys, of the family Valerianaceae, appear to have been used, Nardostachys grandiflora and Nardostachys jatamansi. Spikenard ointment was prepared from the young shoots of Nardostachys jatamansi. In the Irish text it is stated that spikenard is like ears of barley and is aromatic. It is stated in Circa Instans that spica celtica is like spica nardi, but that Valeriana celtica FE was used in its place. Valeriana celtica grows in the Alps, in pastures between 1800m and 2800m above sea level. The relative passage in the Erlangen version is:
‘Spica celtica ut quidam dicunt est saliunca [= Valeriana celtica] qui mentiuntur. Est enim spica celtica similis spice nardi, sed alba est et in septentrionali plaga reperitur, sed tamen pro ea saliunca ponitur.’

(na baill) spiradalta (lat. spiritualia), the respiratory organs.

(na) spiruid (lat. spiritus), the spirits. It appears that something in the body that seemed to be ‘action at

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a distance’ was explained as due to imperceptible ‘spirits’, as distinct from the perceptible vapours (‘gaeth, ceo’). Na spiruid occurs in Chapters 14, 49, 82, 216, 280, and appears to be the pneuma, or ‘life force’, the medical concept of which was influenced by the Stoics: Stannard (1964).

spisradh (lat. species), spice.

splenetica passio (syn. galar na seilge; lat. vicium splenis), disease of the spleen.

spodium, see cnaimh na heilefinte.

spumail, to purify by skimming.

sraedach (lat. sternutatio), sneezing.

sraidin (lat. sanguinaria), shepherd's purse, Capsella bursa-pastoris Webb. It grows a lot by the wayside. Also lus an sparain.

sreabann, membrane; na sreabainn bis a timcill an toirrcisa, lat. retinacula fetus.

sream (sreama na sul, lat. superfluam carnem palpebrarum), a viscous fluid. In relation to the eyes, it indicates blepharitis, which, if not treated, may produce a red, watery condition of the eyelids, with loss of the eyelashes, known as "blear eyes", which persists throughout life. There will be swelling of the eyelids, redness, and constant formation of a crust round the roots of the eyelashes. As the Irish text says (Chapter 25), treatment includes frequent application of an astringent.

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srian, a curb.

sroin (lat. nares), nose. See poll and leath-shroin.

sruth, a stream.

stafis agria (lat. stafisagria), stavesacre, Delphinium staphisagria, cultivated for the delphinin in its seeds. Chapter 254.

stan (lat. stannum), tin.

sticatos, see sian sleibh.

stipecdha (lat. stipticus, constringendi), styptic. Chapter 256.

stipteria, see ailim.

stoinsi, snakeweed, Polygonum bistorta Webb. The term was qualified to provide names for imported plants whose roots bore a resemblance to the stout, contorted, underground rhizome of the snakeweed; Chapter 41:
stoinsi fada (syn. aroistoloia longa; lat. aristologia longa), long-rooted birthwort, Aristolochia longa;
stoinsi cruinn (syn. aroistoloia rotunda; lat. aristologia rotunda), round-rooted birthwort, Aristolochia rotunda CTW.

storax (lat. storax), storax. Chapter 258. A balsam obtained from the wounded trunk of Liquidambar orientalis, a small tree growing in the southwest of Turkey; also, the resin from Styrax officinalis. The text refers to three sorts:
storax calamita (lat. storax calamita): according to

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Circa Instans, this was a blend made by chopping the root of iris finely, mixing it with honey, and adding good quality storax; this mixture was then packed in reeds; this industry appears to have been carried on in Trieste;
storax licita (lat. storax liquida): from the text, it appears that this sort was obtained in Calabria, in the South of Italy; according to the Modena manuscript, it was not blended;
storax micor: in Circa Instans, the third sort is storax rubea, and it is said to be almost as good as storax calamita; Fischer (1929) p. 92 gives the third sort from Gart der Gesuntheit as storax sicca; it may be that this sort was dry and crumbly.

stranguiria (lat. stranguria), strangury. Lile Eg 176v ( LM Pt. 6, Ch. 14): ‘Minighthear curob inann stranguria & innarbadh an fuail ina braenaibh. Dleaghar a tuicsin co tabur an fual co neamh-toilemail, no co fostaighthear co neamh-toilemail e & laibeormuid leath a tis din don fostughadh neamh-toilemail. Et da n-innarbtar a cainndidheacht ro-mhoir e & an corp do chnai ise sin diabetica dar labhramur, & da n-innarbtar co neamh-toilemail e & a ndiaigh a celi & ina braenaibh is mar sin is stranguria e; maseadh is maith adubradh curob eadh is stranguria and innarbadh an fhuail ina braenaibh leth amuigh do thoil.’

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stupail, a stoppage, constipation.

suas (lat. sursum), above, referring to purging by the mouth.

suathaid, kneads or mixes.

sucarium, see ailim.

succus, see airne.

suficasio matrisis (lat. suffocatio matricis), convulsive hysteria. Lile Eg 185v, 186r ( LM Pt. 7, Ch. 10): ‘Is eadh is suffocacio matriscis and drem in maclaig cum na mball uachtarach conuig an scairt o deathaighaibh truaillidhe neimhneacha an maclaig, o tegmann fascadh na mball spiradalta & sincopis & easbadh moithighthe & gluasacht sa corp uile... Deichfrighthear in easlainte so o epilencia oir ni bi cubar annsa bel innte & deichfrighthear o apoplexia ar son nach bi an meidi sin do docamhail anala innte & deichfrighthear o litargia ar son nach bi fiabhras innte, & aithintear co spetcialta hi oir an ben ara mbi si bith scothomia & uertigo & teinnis cinn uirre & moithighidh deathaighe urcoideacha ag eirghi cum na mball uachtarach & connmaidh a lamha faiscthi ina medhon & gluine fillte & da ngairtidh ina hainm fen hi tuicidh co maith & ni fedann fregra & cuimhnighidh ar gach aon ni deis in paroxismus.’

sugh (lat. succus, aqua, lacrima), juice, liquid.

suighidh, sits.

suil (lat. oculus, lumina), the eye.

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suilighi (lat. oculorum), of the eyes.

sulfur, see raibh.

sumac (lat. sumac), sumac, derived from a small southern European tree, Rhus coriaria.

sum talman, see lus na sum talman.

suramunt (syn. abrotanum, camphorata; lat. abrotanum), southernwood, Artemisia abrotanum. Chapter 4.

(ag) surdallaigh, (lat. motus), leaping or skipping.

taebh (lat. lateris regio), the side.

tairngi, a nail: used of a single clove ([lt ] clavus, a nail).

tairngteach, attracting.

tairrngidh (lat. abstrahere, detrahere, extrahere, educere), draws.

taiscid (lat. servare), keeps safely.

taisis (‘foirigh tisis & taisis’, lat. phthisicos), where taisis may be from taise, weakness.

talam Sarristineach, see talam selaithi.

talam selaithi (syn. terra sigilata, terra Sarasenica, argentaria, talam Sarristineach; lat. terra sigillata, terra Saracenica vel creta & terra argentea), red earth, containing ferric oxide, from a hill in the island of Lemnos, pressed into small discs and stamped with various insignia. Chapter 264. Its interesting history is told by Thorndike (1923) p. 130–131. Earths from other places were used as a substitute, e.g., the Genoa area (Wallace, 1988, p. 155) – see also the last sentence quoted from the Latin text in Part III hereof

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re Chapter 264.

talmaigeacht (‘big .. rann talmaigeachta [innti]’, lat. ‘humiditatem simul ac viscositatem terre’), perhaps muddiness.

talmuighe (lat. terre) of the earth.

tamariscus (lat. tamariscus), tamarisk, species of Tamarix, a genus of evergreen shrubs and small trees, drought- and salt-tolerant, native to the Mediterranean area and Asia. Chapter 271.

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tamuirindi (syn. oxifencia, dactilus asetosus, [dactilus] indicus; lat. oxifenicia, finicon radi, dactilus indicus, tamarindus), tamarind, the fruits of the tall Leguminous tree, Tamarindus indica. Chapter 272. The pods are about 5–15cm long and contain 4–12 seeds. The various medieval names render ‘date of India’ and ‘acid date’.

tana (lat. subtile et non spissum), thin.

tanasetum agreste, see brisclain.

tanesetum, see lus na francc.

(co) tanaisti (lat. secundario), secondarily.

tanaitech (lat. attenuandi), which thins.

tapsia, see fearban.

tarbh (lat. taurus), a bull.

tarbach (lat. valere, prodesse), beneficial.

tarbaigid, benefits.

tart, thirst.

tartarum, see deascaidh.

tath (lat. conglutinandi), knit (of bones).

tathabha, hemlock, water dropwort, Oenanthe crocata Webb.
The literary metaphor, ‘tathabha i measc na fothlachta’, refers to the fact that the roots of this poisonous Umbellifer were sometimes eaten in mistake for those of the water parsnip (see fotlact), with tragic results (e.g. Threlkeld, 1988, p. 113). Both plants

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favour similar watery habitats.
The Irish name was adapted to two imported plants:

tathabha geal (syn. arasca, elleborus albus; lat. elleborus albus), white hellebore, Veratrum album; Chapter 6;

tathabha dubh (syn. eleborus nider; lat. elleborus niger), black hellebore, Helleborus niger; Chapter 113.

teanga (lat. lingua), tongue.

teanga enain (syn. linga auis, pigla; lat. lingua avis), stitchwort, Stellaria holostea Webb. Chapter 174. Lingua avis was sometimes used of the fruit of the ash tree, Fraxinus excelsior Webb, but it is not so used in the present text, as is indicated, e.g., by the syn. pigla.

teanga urcan (lat. lateris coxaeque), ‘the projection of the calf’, i.e., the ham, or back of the thigh.

teas (lat. calor), heat.

teasaidhe (lat. calidus), hot.

teasaideacht (lat. calor, caliditas), hotness.

teasbach (lat. calor), inflammation.

techtaid, coagulates.

teigid (lat. calefacere), makes hot.

teimheal (lat. nebulas), darkness.

teimperail, see timperail.

teine (lat. ignis), fire.

teineagul (syn. iouis barba, barba iouis, semperuiua; lat.

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semperviva, barba iovis, acidula [minor], aizon), houseleek, Sempervivum tectorum CTW. Chapters 55 and 157.

teine diadh (lat. sacer ignis, erisipilas), erysipelas. Lile Eg 27v ( LM Pt. 1, Ch. 19, Rub. 1): ‘Is eadh is heresipila and neascoid do-nitear o linn ruagh reamhur teinntighi & in tan creachtnaighis cnaiidh ina timchill do gach leith & dubhaidh & do-ni crusta & fedtar sacer ignis no ignis persicus do radh in tan sin ria.’ As ‘St. Anthony's fire’, erysipelas was confused with ergotism, which occurred from eating bread made from diseased rye, gradually producing gangrene in the extremities.

tela rania, see lin an damain allaid.

tempaniteis (lat. timpanites), tympanites. Lile Eg 164r ( LM Pt. 6, Ch. 5): ‘Timpanites vero aithintear hi ar an fual do beith nisa seime & bith an puls luath minic cruaidh & da mbuailtear in medon do-ni fogar mar timpan arna bualadh no mar buidel lan do gaoith.’

teneagal, see teineagul.

teneasmon (lat. tenasmon), tenesmus. Lile Eg 147r ( LM Pt. 5, Ch. 15); ‘Is eadh is tenasmon and ailgis & toil ro-mor maille re tarbha bic no gan en tarbha ... Dleaghar a tuicsin curob eadh is tenismon and docamhlacht an innarbtha gan tarbha.’

tene talman (syn. hermodactuli; lat. hermodactuli), autumn crocus, Colchicum autumnale Webb. Chapter 151.

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tennteach (lat. fulmen), lightning.

teotoricon anacardinum, a compound medicine, see Introduction, Chapter 4.

tercair, symptom.

terciana (lat. terciana), tertian fever. Lile Eg 16v ( LM Pt. 1, Ch. 4): ‘Is eadh is terciana and fiabhras morgaighthi arna genemhain o lasadh leanna ruaigh... Crichnaighthear terciana fire a cinn an .7. haixis no leth astigh de & is mar sin crichnaighthear sa .14. la no leth astigh dibh & bid da uair dheag ina aixis no leth astigh dibh & bith a cumsanadh .6. huair dheag ar .xx. ...’

terpintina (lat. terebentina), turpentine, strictly the resin of an Eastern Mediterranean tree, Pistacia terebinthus var. Pistacia atlantica. Chapter 270. Some hundred amphorae of this yellow resin were found in a shipwreck from the 14th century B.C. (Bass, 1987, p. 726). The turpentine of the present day is a fluid distilled from the exudations from certain conifer trees.

terra Sarrasenica, see Talam selaithi.

terra sigillata, see talam selaithi.

tighe (lat. spissitudo), thickness.

tigernaidhid, dominate.

tigernus, supremacy.

tilgin (lat. manare), shedding (of blood).

tim, taim (lat. thymus), garden thyme, Thymus vulgaris.

timperail (lat. temperare), to mix, to make mild.

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timtireacht (lat. anus), the anus.

tind, teinn (lat. dolor), painful; ceann teinn (lat. soda), headache.

tinneas (lat. dolor), pain.

tinol (lat. colligere), to collect.

tir, country.

tirim (lat. siccus), dry.

tirmach(t) (lat. siccitas), dryness.

tirmaidheacht (lat. siccitas), dryness.

tirmaighidh (lat. siccare, desiccare, exsiccare), dries.

tirmaidhtheach (lat. desiccandi), drying.

tisanum, see sisan.

tisis (lat. phthisis, ethicis & consumptis), phthisis, pulmonary tuberculosis. Lile Eg 111v, 112r ( LM Pt. 4, Ch. 5): ‘Is eadh is ptisis and sen-creacht an scamain maille re cnai [consumptio] in coirp co huilidhe... Ac so na comarthadha foillsigheas neach do beith ullamh cum ptisisi mar ata muinel caol & guailli arda & righteach aimreigh & co hairithi an lucht bis ullamh cum an rema & an lucht aca mbi ucht cumang & coirp caola & co hairithi in tan bid mar sin an aimsir foghmhair & a mbeith maille re droch-follamhnughadh & a mbeith o aeis .8. mbliadhna deag co ceann .5. mbliadhain ndeag ar .xx. oir is mall tic an easlainte so dona macamhaibh & dona dainibh arsaidhi. Et adermuid co cumgaidhinn an foghmhar an ptisis & curob andsa foghmhar is mo foillsighthear an ptisis & is

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annsa foghmhar is mo do-geibhid bas. Ac so na comarthadha foillsigheas neach do beith a ptisis .i. fiabhras min etica & curob mo a saothar & a tromdacht a haithle an bidh na roime & tromdacht cleibh & cosachtach & seli ingair & deirgi na ngruadh.’

titimaillus, see gerr an eighmhe.

tiugh (lat. spissus), thick.

tochas, irritation.

togairmid (lat. normally provocare, also movere, adiuvare, facere, suscitare), provokes, induces.

toghluasacht (lat. abortus, fetus mortuus), abortion.

toil (lat. libido), sexual desire.

toirmiscid (lat. prohibere), prevents.

toirneach, thunder.

toirpin (syn. crasola), orpine, Sedum telephium Webb. The English Agnus Castus (Brodin, 1950) p. 139: ‘Crassula maior is an herbe that men clepe or-pyn. or oruale. this herbe ha[yogh]t lewys like to penywort and it beryth floures in the crop and the flourres are no[yogh]t fully so rond as is the leef of penywort... this herbe growith in gardynggis.’

toirrceas (lat. fetus, conceptus), the unborn child.

toirrse (lat. tristicia), sadness.

tollaid (lat. penetrare), penetrates.

tolltanach (lat. penetrativus), penetrating.

toradh (lat. fructus, pomum), an (edible) fruit.

torc, a boar.

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tormach, the more developed stage (of a boil). The four stages of disease were tosach, tormach, staid and digbal (commencement, increase or development, course and issue): MacKinnon p. 71.

torman (na cluas) (lat. sonitus, tinnitus), tinnitus, a noise heard in the ear without any objective cause. Lile Eg 91v ( LM Pt. 3, Ch. 9): ‘Is eadh is torman and truailliughadh an eisteachta, mar is truailliughadh don radharc faicsin cuileadh & ruainidh & cimices, oir, mar do-nitear an t-eisteacht nadurtha an tan gluaisis an t-aer foirimillach an t-aer inmedonach cumhsanaighthi, is mar sin do-nitear an torman in tan gluaisis gaothmhuireacht no dethaighi an t-aer cetna sin co foireigneach & do-nitear truaillighthi examhla isin eisteacht do reir examlachta na ndethaighi sin oir taibhrightear uair and co mbi a cosmhaileas fhaighi cluic deis a buana & uair eli mar ferthain mhoir & uair eli mar fodhar muilind & uair eli mar trost crann aga mbrisidh & uair eli co mbi mar must ac fiuchadh ina thunna an aimsir an fhina nua; maseadh is eadh is torman and truailliughadh an eisteachta o ceo ghaothmhar gluaisis ar modh tonngaile co foireigneach an t-aer cumhsanaighthi leth astigh.’

torrach (lat. praegnans), pregnant.

tothlughadh (lat. appetitus), appetite.

traethaigh (lat. attenuare), wears away.

treas, third.

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tren (lat. fortissimus), strong.

treta (lat. emplastrum), a plaster.

triafera (Sarrasenica), lat. trifera Saracenica, a compound medicine: see Introduction, Chapter 4.

trifolium, see eachseamar.

triticum, see cruithneacht.

1. trom (syn. sambucus; lat. sambucus), elder, Sambucus nigra Webb. Chapter 238.

2. trom (lat. ponderosus), heavy.

tromlaighe (lat. somnia terribilia ac timorosa), nightmares.

truailleadh (lat. (?) pannos faciei post partum), disfigurement.

truaillidhe (lat. superfluus, maius), corrupt. See 1. linn.

truime, heaviness.

tuata, a lay person; a person lacking refinement.

tuirbit (lat. turbit), turpeth, a cathartic drug obtained from the roots of an Indian plant, Ipomoea turpethum, of the Convolvulus family. Chapter 265. It appears that Calystegia soldanella Webb was sometimes used as a substitute.

tuirinn, flakes of metal, which fly out from it when it is hammered; tuirinn an airgead, lat. argenti spumae; tuirinn (an iarainn), syn. sgama ferri, lat. squama ferri. Chapter 114.

tuis (lat. olibanum), frankincense. See olibanum.

tuisia, tutia, an oxide of zinc, obtained from the flue of a furnace in which ores were purified.

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Brass (an alloy of zinc and copper) was prepared by heating copper with tutia.

tuismidhid (lat. generare, facere), generates.

tuitim, to fall; tuitim an tsine seaain (lat. relaxio uve), elongation of the uvula – see sine seaain.

tulcan, tulchan (syn. satuirion, priamiscus, leporina; lat. satirion), orchid. Chapter 252. The term seems to be wide enough to cover all the Irish Orchidaceae having roots with two tubers.

tumaid (lat. intingere, madefacere), dips.

turio, see maethan.

uaine (lat. viridis), green.

ualerian, see caertann curraig.

ualuart (syn. ebulus, cameactis; lat. ebulus), wallwort, dwarf elder, Sambucus ebulus Webb. Chapters 70 and 110.

uamain, an oven.

uarencia, see madra.

uasal, compar. uaislide (lat. melior), of good quality.

ubull, apple. Used of
uball cumhra, ubull milis (lat. malum dulce, poma dulcia), sweet apple; most garden apples are the fruits of cultivars of Malus sylvestris var. Malus mitis CTW, (= Pyrus malus);
uball coillidhe, ubla fiadain (syn. mala masiana;

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lat. mala matiana), crab-apple, Malus sylvestris Webb; Chapter 201;
ubla figi (lat. fructus ficus), figs; see fige;
uball na darach, oak galls; see galla;
ubla grainneacha (syn. mala granata; lat. malorum granatorum), pomegranate fruits, Punica granatum, native to North Africa and West Asia. Chapter 182.

ucht, ocht (lat. pectus), the chest.

uenenum, see neimh.

uenter, see bru.

uermis, see peist.

uernix (syn. bernix, elasia; lat. bernix), varnish. Chapter 274. The substance that was used appears to be sandarac, the resin of Tetraclinis articulata (Cupressaceae), a tree which grows up to 12m in height in North Africa and Spain.

uertigo (lat. vertigo), giddiness. For the account in Lile, see scotomia.

uerucaria, see rudus.

ueruena (syn. peristeron, herba ueneris; lat. verbena), vervain, Verbena officinalis Webb. Chapter 275. References in Chapter 275 reflect the plant's long history of magical associations. The Welsh call it llysiau'r hudol, the herb of enchantment.

ugh, pl. na huidhi (syn. ouua; lat. ova), an egg. Chapter 214.

ugdar (lat. auctor), an author or authority.

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ughdaras, authority.

uilidhe (lat. universalis), universal; as against rannaighe, lat. particularis.

uinneamhan garrdha (syn. allusal, cepa; lat. cepa), onion, Allium cepa CTW. Chapter 24.

uinneamhan Spainneach (syn. alapin, cepa mairina, scilla; lat. squilla, cepa marina), squill, the dried sliced bulbs of Drimia maritima, a seashore plant of the Mediterranean region. Chapter 16. Synonyms are Scilla maritima and Urginea maritima.

uinnemint (lat. unguentum, cerotum), ointment.

uinum, see fin.

uiola, see sail cuach.

uiolasium, see siucra.

uirga pastoris, see lus na leadan.

uirge (lat. testis, testiculus), a testicle.

uirgell, uiruigell (=airfuigell), speech.

uir sleibhe Armeinia (syn. bolus armenicus; lat. bolus armenicus), Armenian bole, an astringent earth, Chapter 60.

uisce (lat. aqua, amnis, lympha), water. Chapter 289. Two processed ‘waters’ are referred to:
uisce na roisi, uisce roisicdha (lat. aqua rosacea), rose water, which was distilled from roses;
uisce na heorna (lat. aqua ordei), barley water, see sisan.

uisce beatha (aqua vite), distilled alcohol, is not

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referred to in the text, but the scribe added a separate essay about it, which is reproduced in Part II hereof, after the main text.

uisceamlacht na fola (syn. ycor), ichor, wateriness of the blood. Chapter 288.

uisus, see radarc.

(coilera) uitilina (lat. (cholera) vitellina), yolk-coloured (choler).

uitis, see fineamhain.

uitriora, see pairitair.

uitrum, see gloine.

ulach, germander speedwell, Veronica chamaedrys Webb.

ullmhaighidh (lat. inducere), conditions, makes ready for.

umha (lat. es), copper.
umha loisce (syn. es ustum; lat. es ustum), burnt copper. Chapter 120. Platearius' account of this, as translated by Stearn from the French version (Opsomer, 1984, p. 145–6) is:
‘This copper is burnt artificially until it is reduced to powder. To do this, red copper which has just been beaten is taken and placed in a new earthen pot, then this pot is placed in a very hot oven for 40 days, then it is pulverised. Through the action of the fire, the proportion of earth is increased and that of water decreased.’
The product of this operation would be cupric oxide, CuO, a black powder that has the property of attracting moisture.

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It appears from Dioscorides that an earlier tradition of ‘burnt copper’ (χαλκς κεκαυμνος) was to heat ships' nails with sulphur and salt. This would have produced cuprous sulphide, Cu2S, which is a black substance.

umbilicius ueniris, see cornan caisil.

ungula cabalina, see raib uisce.

unsa (lat. uncia), an ounce.
The apothecaries' weights may be taken to have been:
20 grains of wheat = 1 scruple,
3 scruples = 1 dragma,
8 dragmas = 1 ounce,
12 ounces = 1 pound.
For purposes other than medical, there were 15 ounces to the pound.
The English penny was standardised at 32 grains of wheat. According to NLIre Cat. p. 76 (248), a dragma leighis was equal to two and a half pence, and a spoonful (liach leighis) was a dragma and a half.
The basic standard of weight was the huskless grain of wheat, of average size, full ripe, and not too fresh or too old. The reason for this is explained, adapting an early 17th century MS (MacKinnon LX):
‘Is ó ní nádurda nach fédur do claochlódh is innill fundamint na misúr do tarraing, mar atá grán cruithneachta; ionnus, dá gclaona an comtrom do-níter do ní ealadhnach (mar atá

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luaighi nó sdán nó a gcosmaile) a loiged nó a méid tar an mód cóir, go bfedur a n-athrugadh & a gceartugud ó n-a sechrán leis an gcruithneacht.’
Thus, the metal weights that were used in pharmacy were able to be checked by the use of grains of wheat. There are, however, inconsistencies in the authorities as to the relationship of the various weights to one another.
That the above were approximately the equivalences that were applied in practice is indicated by an ordinance of Edward I (Trease, 1964, p. 64), NLIre Cat. p. 80, and Mackinnon p. 69. See dragma, liagh, punt and scrubal.

uomitibus, see sceatrach.

uormont, mormont, see absinthium.

ur (lat. viridis, recens), fresh.

urbruith (lat. fomentum, lotium, apozima, si foveantur aqua), a fomentation. Any warm application to the surface of the body in the form of a cloth. Usually the fomentation cloth is heated by being wrung out of hot water, but the term is also applied to dry applications and to hot cloths upon which various drugs are sprinkled: Black's Medical Dictionary.

urchoid (lat. laedere, vitium, morbus), harm.

urcoidighidh (lat. nocere, laedere, obesse), harms.

urdail (lat. ana), the same amount.

uritiua, see loiscid.

urlabra (lat. usum linguae), the power of speech.

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urtica, see acantum, neanntog.

usca, grease.

uth (lat. uber), teat.

utimbra, see sabraidh.

uua, see caer.

Yarapigra Galieni (lat. yera pigra Galieni), a compound medicine. Chapter 290. See Introduction, Chapter 4.

ycor, see uisceamlacht na fola.

ydor, see uisce.

yringi, see cuilinn tragha.

Zinciber, see sinnser.

ziucra, see siucra.