Killarney

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A town in County Kerry in southwestern Ireland, known for its scenic lakes and mountains
2. A settlement located in County Kerry, Ireland, famous for its picturesque landscape and natural beauty
3. A town in southwestern Ireland situated in County Kerry, renowned for its stunning scenery and lakeside setting

Etymology: Killarney is a town in County Kerry, in the southwest of Ireland, and its name comes from the Irish "Cill Airne", which combines "cill", meaning church, with a second element usually linked to the lake district that surrounds the town. The name is therefore a place name rather than a common word, and in English it has become attached to the town, the lakes beside it, and the national park that now covers them. Because the name was borrowed directly from Irish, its spelling reflects English attempts to render Irish sounds rather than any English word-building. The "Cill" of the original became "Kill" in English usage, which is why the same prefix appears in many other Irish and Scottish place names. The transfer of the name into English was a matter of how the town was spoken and written, not of any change in meaning.