Where does “Taoiseach” come from?
Taoiseach derives from Old Irish toísech, from Primitive Irish ᚈᚑᚃᚔᚄᚐᚉᚔ, from Proto-Celtic towissākos, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European weyd-.
Taoiseach (English): The head of the government of Ireland, comparable to a prime minister of a Commonwealth of Nations country
Definitions
- The head of the government of Ireland, comparable to a prime minister of a Commonwealth of Nations country
Ancestry of “Taoiseach”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Irish | Taoiseach | Head of the Irish government, comparable to a UK... |
| 2 | Old Irish | toísech | leader, chief; first-mentioned thing or person;... |
| 3 | Primitive Irish | ᚈᚑᚃᚔᚄᚐᚉᚔ | — |
| 4 | Proto-Celtic | towissākos | chief, primary, first |
| 5 | Proto-Celtic | *towissus | act of leading, beginning |
| 6 | Proto-Celtic | wissus | act of discovering, finding out; knowledge |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wéydtus | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | weyd- | to see |