toiseach

-sich, -sichean, sm. Beginning, the beginning, origin, source. 2 Front, van. 3 Precedence, precedency. 4 Advantage. 5 Bow or prow of a ship. 6 Front of a cart. [Note tòisich v (accent), but toiseach s (no duration mark although accented in speech)]. Anns an toiseach bha am Facal, in the beginning was the Word; toiseach a' ghnothaich, the origin of the thing; toiseach an airm, the van of the army; a' dol an toiseach a' bhatailt, going in the van — McI 62, 14; fhuair e air thoiseach orra (or an toiseach orra), he got the precedence of them, before them; air thoiseach, first, foremost; toiseach is deireadh na luinge, the bow and stern of the ship; air thoiseach air, before him; an toiseach, first, in the first place; 's fheàirrde sinn an toiseach e, we are the better of it to begin with — McI 140.17; a' toirt toisich, giving precedence.

Seall an duilleag thùsail / View Original Page