Sail (letter)
# Sail (letter)

Sail or Saille (ᚄ) is the Irish name of the fourth letter (Irish "letter": sing.fid, pl.feda) of the Ogham alphabet, meaning "willow". The name is related to Welsh helyg(en) and Latin salix. Its Proto-Indo-European root was *sal- meaning "dirty,grey". Its phonetic value is [s].

## Interpretation

The etymology and kennings unambiguously confirm the meaning "willow" for this letter name. The Morann mic Moín kenning is a reference to the sallow grey appearance of the bark of this tree, while the kennings referencing bees and honey are due to its being commonly pollinated by bees.

## Bríatharogaim

In the medieval kennings, called Bríatharogaim (sing. Bríatharogam) or Word Oghams the verses associated with sail are:

lí ambi: "pallor of a lifeless one" in the Bríatharogam Morann mic Moín

lúth bech: "sustenance of bees" in the Bríatharogam Mac ind Óc

tosach mela: "beginning of honey" in the Bríatharogam Con Culainn.

