different between mether vs hether

English

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?m?ð?/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?m?ð?/

Etymology 1

From Celtic numerals.

Alternative forms

• methera (Weardale, Borrowdale)

Numeral

mether

1. (dialect) Four in the old counting system of Northern England.

Derived terms

• mether-a-dick
• mether-a-bumfit

Etymology 2

Related to mead, metheglin

Alternative forms

• medar, meather, madder

Noun

mether (plural methers)

1. (historical, Ireland) A communal drinking vessel used in Gaelic times for drinking mead. It had squared sides and one drank from a corner. Also, a trophy in this shape.
   • 1912 James Henry Cousins, "The Loving Cup" I (Etain the Beloved and Other Poems, p.84) (Maunsel & Co):

     I raise to you, O Queen, this Loving Cup, this Mether,

     Filled with Mead

     Made from honey of the heather

   • 1912 "Our Lady Correspondent" "Fashions at Leopardstown" The Irish Times 27 August 1912, p.8:

     Lord Herbert and Mr. Luke White were to be seen on the roof pouring water down the chimney, while the Marchioness of Ormonde was seen carrying the Regimental Cup (the silver Irish mether to be competed for) from the scene of the fire.

Translations

References

• P. W. Joyce A Social History of Ancient Ireland (Longmans, Green, and Co; 1903) Vol.2 Chap.XX p.75
• electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language (RIA) M col.117 lin.43

Welsh

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?m???r/

Verb

mether

1. (literary) impersonal subjunctive of methu
2. (literary) impersonal imperative of methu

Mutation

English

Noun

hether (countable and uncountable, plural hethers)

1. Obsolete spelling of heather

Adverb

hether (not comparable)

1. Obsolete spelling of hither
2. Obsolete spelling of helder