ball séire

== Irish == === Alternative forms === baillséar, baillseire, baillséire, ball seire, bailséara, bailséire === Etymology === Unknown. The first part is presumably ball (“spot, mark”) in the sense of “stain, blemish”, as seen also in ball ar shliocht (“laughing stock of a family”, literally “stain on a family”). The second part is probably not séire (“meal, repast”) since this term also frequently appears with a short e. Dinneen suggests a connection with Latin fēria. === Pronunciation === (Ulster) IPA(key): /ˌbˠæl̠ʲˈʃeːɾʲə/ (corresponding to the form bail(l)séire) === Noun === ball séire m laughing stock, awkward person who gets teased or mocked ==== Derived terms ==== is ionann le chéile an ball séire is a ghiolla / is cosúil le chéile an ball séire is an giolla (“like master, like man”) === Mutation === === References === === Further reading === de Bhaldraithe, Tomás (1959), “ball séire”, in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977), “ball séire”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla [Irish–English Dictionary], Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN