ceilidh

Meaning

Noun

1. (Ireland, Scotland, also, attributive) An informal social gathering, especially one where traditional Irish or Scottish folk music is played, with dancing and storytelling.
2. (Ireland, Scotland, abbreviation, also, alt-of, attributive, ellipsis) Ellipsis of ceilidh dance.

Verb

1. (Ireland, Scotland, also, attributive, intransitive) To attend a ceilidh (noun sense 1).
2. (Ireland, Scotland, also, attributive, intransitive) To dance a ceilidh dance.

Synonyms

amusement

diversion

entertainment

frolic

fun

game

merriment

pastime

play

playfulness

recreation

strewing

sport

Translations

استجمام

recreació

Belustigung

Entertainment

Spaß

Unterhaltung

Vergnügen

😂

Freizeit und Erholung

διασκέδαση

ψυχαγωγία

amusement

détente

divertissement

récréation

لعب

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkeɪli/

Etymology

The noun is borrowed from Scottish Gaelic cèilidh (“a pilgrimage; a social call, visit; a sojourn; a social gathering with dancing, etc., ceilidh”) and Irish célidhe (archaic), céilí (“a social call, visit; a social gathering with dancing, etc., ceilidh”), both from Old Irish célide (“social call, visit”), from céile (“companion, fellow; neighbour”) (ultimately from Proto-Celtic *kēiliyos (“companion; servant”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ḱey- (“to settle”)) + -ide.
The plural form ceilidhean is borrowed from Scottish Gaelic cèilidhean.
The verb is derived from the noun.