Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

beltane

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.82 in modern English

Syllables: beltane
IPA

9

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

1

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

name

The first day of May (since 1752); May Day, a Scottish quarter day, sometimes associated by Christians with the nearest Church Feast, the Invention of the Cross (3 May), and Whitsunday (15 May).

name

An ancient Gaelic/Celtic May Day holiday celebration, at which large bonfires were built on the hilltops, revived by Celtic neopagans.

Example Sentences

"And quhair it be tainted that they big, and the Birdes be flowin, and the nest be funden in the Trees at Beltane the trees sal be foirfaulted to the King (bot gif they be redeemed fra him, throw them that they first perteined to) and hewin downe, and siue schillings to the King is unlaw."
"For it was approaching that uncanny time of year, the festival of Beltane, when the auld pagans were wont to sacrifice to their god Baal. In this season warlocks and carlines have a special dispensation to do evil, and Alison waited on its coming with graceless joy."

Etymology

From the Celtic *belo-tanos (“bright fire”).

Inflected Forms

Bealtine (alternative) Bealtaine (alternative) Beltaine (alternative) Beltene (alternative) Beltein (alternative) Beltin (alternative) Bealtuinn (alternative)

Frequently Paired Words

Hallowmas Candlemas Lammas Whitsunday

Questions

What does beltane mean?: The first day of May (since 1752); May Day, a Scottish quarter day, sometimes associated by Christians with the nearest Church Feast, the Invention of the Cross (3 May), and Whitsunday (15 May).
Where does beltane come from?: From the Celtic *belo-tanos (“bright fire”).

How to pronounce beltane

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “beltane”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
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