The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #134274 Message #3642151
Posted By: MartinRyan
14-Jul-14 - 05:28 PM
Thread Name: Origins: The Rambling Siuler
Subject: RE: Origins: The Rambling Siuler
OK. The Irish etymologist Diarmuid O Muirithe (who, coincidentally, died a few days ago) discusses the word in one of his books. He quotes several English/Scottish references from OED - with the earliest from 1736. He says that Oxford mentions the possible connection to Irish "siúl" - but that it remains unconvinced. He, on the other hand, is quite happy that it is indeed of Irish origin. And he's usually right ...