One of the delightfully fun things about writing novels is getting to share all of the strange and esoteric knowledge I gain through research. Many people want to know how to pronounce Irish words and names; I get to translate some of the slang my characters use, and explain forensic details, archaeological terms, and in the case of this new book, lots of fascinating information about the making of early medieval manuscripts, including all the strange materials used to create inks and pigments.
I'm working on definitions and pronunciations for the list of words below, and would love to know if there are any other words you're dying to know about. Let me know, and I'll include them on the glossary page.
New glossary entries for THE BOOK OF KILLOWEN
An Feadán Mór
Annala Rioghachta Éireann
Annals of the Four Masters
Aosdána
arcana
armagura
ascenders
atin’ (eating)
aubergines
auripigmentum
azurite
beag
boilersuit
bratBrehon
bugallas
caput humeri, tuberculum majoris, infra spinatus, teres minor...
cashpoint
chevre
chevrette
Cill Eóghain
cinnabar
Clonmacnoise
Coarb
Colmcille
Cormach
Cosnamach
crottin
crozier
Cumdach Eóghain
descenders
Diarmuid
Dinnsenchus
dosh
Dun Aengus
Eamonn
Éile Uí Chearbhaill
Éiru
eejits
ensuite
Eóghan
epigastric
eToll
exsanguination
Gaelscoil
gall
gallotannic
Go mhéimid beo ag an am seo arís.
gombeen
Gráinne
gran
haggard
histopathologic
Imbolc
infraumbilical
interphalangeal joint
‘in ualle lacrimarum in loco quem posuit.’John O’Donovan
journos
knotwork
lamina propria
Laois
lapis
léigh
leine
liber sextus
livor mortis
luminaria
macmalachite
majescule
miniscule
Moleskine
navvy
Nisifortinus
nitrile
Ó Beigléighinn
papillae
Periphyseon
petechial
pillock
poncing, ponce
Port na Rón
purpura
red lake
rushy glen
Samhain
scurl
secondment
Senchus Mór
shower of shites
shrine
skint
slapper
slagging
slash
Smithwicks
splodges
stocious
Templemore
termon
Tir na nOg
Tom O’Bedlam
tosser
tuberosities
turbary
verdigris
virescent
vitae aeternam
woad
yellow ochre
