Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

erse

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.30 in modern English

Syllables: erse
IPA

4

Scrabble Score

4

Letters

1

Syllables

3

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Either of the Gaelic languages of Ireland and Scotland.

Dated; Offensive; Uncountable

adj

Connected with Ireland or the Highlands of Scotland, or to the Gaelic languages spoken in those places.

Dated; Offensive

Example Sentences

"Two points which appeal to the writer are that the stations of origin and of destination are printed (in Erse and English) once only and then are summarised at the foot, [...]. [...] Clar Chloinne Mhuiris is the Erse original of Claremorris, and Dublin appears as Baile Atha Cliath."
"Now he's just sung in his mother tongue, the ancient Irish Erse, and cleared the pub completely by the forty-second verse!"

Etymology

From Scots Erse (“Irish”), from earlier Ersche, Ersch, a contraction of Erisch, Erische (“Irish”), from Middle English Erische, Irische, Irisch (“Irish”). Doublet of Irish. Compare also Scots Irisch.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: Erse, Erische

Usage

Synonyms

gaelic goidelic goidelic language erse language gaelic language

Rhymes With

worse universe nurse reverse diverse verse curse purse public purse converse traverse disperse

Questions

What does erse mean?: Either of the Gaelic languages of Ireland and Scotland.
Where does erse come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce erse

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “erse”.
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