English

Alternative forms

• deisal
• deasil
• deisul
• deshil

Noun

deiseal ‎(plural deiseals)

1. Motion towards the right, in the opposite direction of the hands of a clock or of the apparent motion of the sun; a turning in this direction.

Adverb

deiseal ‎(not comparable)

1. Righthandwise; clockwise; sunwise.
   • 1922 James Joyce, Ulysses 366:

     Deshil Holles Eamus.

   • 1814 Walter Scott, Waverley 24:

     The surgeon ... perambulated his couch three times, moving from east to west, according to the course of the sun ... which was called making the deasil.

Synonyms

• clockwise
• sunwise
• righthandwise

Antonyms

• widdershins
• withershins

Interjection

deiseal

1. A deprecation meaning May it go right, said to someone who sneezes or swallows something awry.
   • 1794 Statistical Account of Scotland: Perthshire 11.521:

     If a person's meat or drink were to ... come against his breath, they instantly cry out, Deisheal! which is an ejaculation praying that it may go the right way.

See also

• gesundheit
• bless you
• God bless you

Anagrams

• aediles, ædiles
• dealies

References

• J[ohn] A. Simpson and E[dward] S. C. Weiner, editors (1989) The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press, ISBN 978-0-19-861186-8.
• “dessel” in Dictionary of the Irish Language, Royal Irish Academy, 1913–76.