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Arbuthnot, Sharon, “The phrase troig mná trogain in exhortative speech”, Studia Celtica Fennica 12 (2015): 5–20.

  • journal article
Citation details
Contributors
Article
“The phrase troig mná trogain in exhortative speech”
Periodical
Studia Celtica Fennica 12 (2015)
Studia Celtica Fennica 12 (2015).
Studia Celtica Fennica: <link>
Volume
12
Pages
5–20
BibTeX
Description
Abstract (cited)
The phrase troig mná trogain appears in a number of Irish narrative texts from the medieval and Early Modern periods. It is clearly a reference to an undesirable experience. In light of this, there has been a tendency to interpret the phrase as meaning 'the pangs of a woman in childbirth'. Such an understanding does not seem justified, however, by the established semantic ranges of the words listed in DIL as trog, trogan or trogain. The purpose of this article is to reinstate Kuno Meyer’s century-old suggestion that the last element of this phrase is trogan 'raven' and to refine and build upon this, arguing that ben trogain is a kenning for the Morrígain in her bird-aspect and asking whether the first element of the phrase under discussion might be the word for 'foot'. Following this line of thought, it seems possible that the phrase in question is an allusion to that defining moment in medieval Irish literature when the Morrígain alights upon the dying Cú Chulainn, setting foot upon his spilt intestines.
Subjects and topics
Headings
Early Irish Early Modern Irish Irish narrative literature
Approaches
lexicography
Language
Lexical itemSingle words, morphemes or phrases.
Irish troig mná trogain • Irish trogan
History, society and culture
Agents
Cú ChulainnCú Chulainn
Young Ulster hero and chief character of Táin bó Cuailnge and other tales of the Ulster Cycle; son of Súaltam or Lug and Deichtire (sister to Conchobor); husband of Emer (ingen Forgaill)
See more The MorríganThe Morrígan
Morrígu;Mórrígan;Moirríoghan
(time-frame ass. with Ulster Cycle, Túatha Dé Danann)
deity or supernatural figure in medieval Irish literature, frequently associated with war and destruction; she sometimes appears as part of a triad with Macha and the Badb; also associated with Nemain.
See more
web page identifiers
Contributors
C. A.
Page created
May 2020
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