Irish

Noun

badhbh f ‎(genitive singular baidhbhe, nominative plural badhbha)

1. hooded crow
   • between 1583 and 1591 Tadhg Dall Ó hÚigínn, The Bardic Poems of Tadhg Dall Ó hÚigínn: "Cath Droma Lighean"

     Budh iomdha ar madoin go moch/ proinn dá caitheamh go corrach;/ laoich ag ionnráithne a n-arm ngéar,/ iolgháirthe badhbh is brainéan.

     In the morn betimes/ there will be many a meal consumed without comfort,/ warriors whetting (?) their keen weapons,/ shrieks of scaldcrows and ravens.

2. vulture or other ravenous bird
   • bef. 1639 Muircheartach Óg Ó Cíonga trans, An Bíobla Naomhtha, Lev. 11:14:

     An badhbh, préacháin na gcéarc do réir a chinnéil;

     and the vulture, and the kite after his kind;

3. a scold or curser
4. a female fairy said to be attached to certain families and to foretell death, appearing as a hooded crow
   • 1974 Béaloideas Volumes 42-47, p. 99:

     ... deirtí go bhfeictí an bhadhbh i bhfoirm mná breá dathúil, gruaig fhada de dhath an óir síos go sála uirthí, i ina suí ar an gcathaoir so agus í ag cíoradh a cinn.

     ... it was said that the badhbh was seen in the shape of a fine good-looking woman with long golden hair down to her heels sitting on this chair and she combing her hair.

Declension

Derived terms

• badhbha ‎(“martial, warlike”, adjective)

Synonyms

• (vulture): bultúr
• (female fairy): bean sí

Descendants

• English: bibe

Mutation

References

• "badhbh" in Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla, An Gúm, 1977, by Niall Ó Dónaill.
• “baḋḃ” in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, Irish Texts Society, 1927, by Patrick S. Dinneen.
• “badb” in Dictionary of the Irish Language, Royal Irish Academy, 1913–76.