Cormac

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A traditional masculine given name of Irish origin, borne by several figures from Irish legend and history
2. An Irish male first name of Gaelic origin, famously associated with early legendary kings and modern writers
3. A masculine personal name of Gaelic Irish origin used for people in Ireland and other English-speaking countries

Etymology: Cormac is a name whose meaning has been argued over for centuries, and the most-cited explanation links it to Old Irish words for "son" and "chariot" or "charioteer." The Irish form "Cormac" is the one English borrowed, and it carries a long roll call of legendary and historical bearers, from Cormac mac Airt, a third-century high king of Ireland said to have been wise and just, to Cormac mac Cuilennáin, a tenth-century king-bishop of Cashel and author of a famous glossary. Its path into English is a plain borrowing. The name passed directly from Irish into English usage, so it reached readers as a foreign personal name rather than through the Latin or Norman routes that shaped so many other English names. Its spelling and sound have stayed close to the Irish original, which is why it still looks unfamiliar to many English speakers.