Is éard a bhí i gceist le ceithearnach (ceithern) nó saighdiúir Gaelach meánaoiseach. Tá baint ag na sloinnte Ó/Mac Ceithearnaigh leis an bhfocal seo.

Tugtar ceithearnach ar fhear fichille freisin.

Sanasaíocht

cuir in eagar

Meán-Ghaeilge: ceithern. Kern a deirtear i mBéarla.

The merciless Macdonwald--
Worthy to be a rebel, for to that
The multiplying villanies of nature
Do swarm upon him--from the western isles
Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied;
...
Mark, king of Scotland, mark:
No sooner justice had with valour arm'd
Compell'd these skipping kerns to trust their heels,
But the Norweyan lord surveying vantage,
With furbish'd arms and new supplies of men
Began a fresh assault.
...
I cannot strike at wretched kerns, whose arms
Are hired to bear their staves: either thou, Macbeth,
Or else my sword with an unbatter'd edge
I sheathe again undeeded.

[1]

  1. Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act 1 agus Act 5