sail éille
feminine
The English word shillelagh is translated into Irish as sail éille.
sail éille is a noun used to describe a wooden club that ends with a large knob.
Meaning: wooden club ending with a large knob (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
sail éille is a feminine noun.
Did you know?
- The word sail éille is actually rooted in the botanical name for the willow tree. While English speakers use the term for a weapon, the Irish word points directly to the flexible wood of the willow.
- While the English term 'shillelagh' sounds like a distinct, exotic word, it is actually a phonetic anglicization of the Irish sail éille.
- While a sail éille is now seen as a weapon, the wood from which it is made was traditionally chosen for its ability to bend without snapping, making it an ideal material for flexible walking sticks before they were carved into clubs.
Example sentences for Irish are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Conor and Niamh are looking at old tools in a museum.
- ConorSeo sail éille, a Niamh.This is a shillelagh, Niamh.
- NiamhAn bhfuil sé trom?Is it heavy?
- ConorTá, tá sé an-trom.Yes, it is very heavy.
- NiamhIs iontach é.It is wonderful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shillelagh” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sail, CC BY-SA 4.0.
