The Celtic Encyclopedia

 

By Harry Mountain

 

 

Section V

 

 

Chapters 32-36

 

 

Maps/Kings Lists/Blood Lines/Language/Glossary/Bibliography

 

 

 

 

 

 

Llyn - A Brythonic Welsh name for a lake.

 

Loch - A Scottish term for a lake or inlet of the sea.  In

  Irish Gaelic it is a lake only.

 

Lough - An Irish term for an inlet of the sea.

 

Lunula - A crescent-shaped chest ornament made from gold,

  found mostly in Ireland and Cornwall.

 

Mac / macc / maq / maqq / maqi / maqos - Gaelic words meaning

   "descendant of" (male/female).

 

Magh Mell (Field of Happiness) -  The place where the Danann

  buried their dead after the battle of Taillcenn with the

  Goidels.

 

Magh Tuireadh {Moy Too-ra} (Plain of Towers) - The First

   Battle of Magh Tuireadh was fought between the Danann and

   the Firbolg in southern county Mayo (South Moytura).  The

   Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh was fought between the

   Danann and the Fomorii in northern county Sligo.

 

Magic - The harnessing of supernatural force to produce a

  desired effect.  The term derives from the Persian magus.

 

Mantle - A loose sleeveless hooded cloak that covers the head

  and shoulders only.

 

Marrow Bath - The bath was made from the bone marrow of

  cattle.  A badly-wounded warrior would sometimes soak in it

  for a day.

 

Matriarchal - A clan, tribe or social organization in which

  the position of head of the family is passed on through the

  females. (see also Patriarchal)

 

Matron - The first wife in a Gallic marriage.

 

Maypole - A large tree that was ritually killed and cleaned

  of its limbs and bark.  Any rough parts were smoothed and

  eight ropes were attached to the top of the pole.  It was

  the focus of fertility rites associated with the sun.

       The pole was also used in initiation rites where the

  participants dressed in costumes of feathers and attached

  themselves to the ropes which they wound up on the pole

  then simulated the flight of birds as the ropes unwound.

 

 

 

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