Pursuant to my suggestion that Irish gabha could be related to IE *kau, I
should point out that I was wrong. Gabha 'smith' is apparently derived from
*gembh-, whence English comb, cam, gomphosis (< Gk gomphos 'tooth'), chime,
gem, gemma. It has to do with teeth and pegs somehow. If one trusts
MacBain's etymological dictionary of Scottish Gaelic, which is all we have.
Michael Everson ** Everson Gunn Teoranta ** http://www.egt.ie
15 Port Chaeimhghein Íochtarach; Baile Átha Cliath 2; Éire/Ireland
Mob +353 86 807 9169 ** Fax +353 1 478 2597 ** Vox +353 1 478 2597
27 Páirc an Fhéithlinn; Baile an Bhóthair; Co. Átha Cliath; Éire
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