Fíneamhain

Fíneamhain is an Irish language female given name.

Fíneamhain is a woman's name recorded in three instances in the 14th and 15th century Irish annals. The name is pronounced 'Fee-NAWN'.

In The Gaelic Names for Plants (Cameron) the word Fíneamhain translates as S. viminalis:[1]

Osier willow; cooper's willow. The Gaelic and Irish: fíneamhain (from fin, vine; and muin, a neck), a long twig—a name also applied to the vine. Vimen in Latin means also a pliant twig, a switch osier. One of the seven hills of Rome (Viminalis Collis) was so named from a willow copse that stood there; and Jupiter, who was worshipped among these willows, was called "Viminius;" and his priests, and those of Mars, were called Salii for the same reason. The worship was frequently of a sensual character, and thus the willow has become associated with lust, filthiness. Priapus was sarcastically called "Salacissimus Jupiter," hence salax, lustful, salacious; and in Gaelic, salach (from sal); German, sal, polluted, defiled. The osier is also called bunsag, bun, a stump, a stock. Maothan, from maoth, smooth, tender. Gall sheilcach, the foreign willow.

Bearers of the name

  • Fíneamhain Ní Eogain, died 1387.
  • Fíneamhain Ní Manchain, died 1419.
  • Fíneamhain Ní Tomais, died 1446.

See also

References

  1. Cameron, John (1883). The Gaelic Names for Plants. Edinburgh: W. Blackwood. OCLC 1045586628.
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