beithe ᚁ

Unicode:

Pronunciation: beth-AY [ˈbʲeθʲe]

Alternative names: beith

Translation: birch

Phonetic value: “b” as in boy


Bríatharogaim Kennings

kenning sourceold irishtranslation1
Bríatharogam Morainn mac Moínféochos foltchain“withered foot with fine hair”
Bríatharogam Maic ind Ócglaisem cnis“greyest of skin”
Bríatharogam Con Culainnmaise malach“beauty of the eyebrow”

Selected Word Lists

from In Lebor Ogaim (a.k.a. the Ogam Tract)

aspectassociation
darthogam (color ogham)white (ban)
enogram (bird ogham)pheasant (besan)
dandogram (art ogham)livelihood (bethumnacht)

Other Attributed Interpretations

beauty

birch

birth / beginnings

life giving

pale skin

pioneer / trailblazer

potential

punishment

purification

silver

vitality


The above various meanings have been suggested by several authors. I have de-emphasized arboreal symbolisms except where supported by scholarship. See discussion after the feda on this page on my reasons for this decision.

  1. Damian McManus, Irish letter-names and their kenningsÉriu 39 (1988), 127-168. ↩︎

last updated: 14 sept 2023