ierlant

Middle Dutch

Etymology

Equivalent to *iere (“Irishman”) +‎ lant (“land”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /iərlant/

Noun

ierlant n

1. Ireland (an island in Europe)
   • c. 1320 CE, Arturs doet [Arthurs death]:

     Alse die Sassen gevloen waren / Quamen die van Irlant sonder sparen

     When the Saxons had fled / Those from Ireland came without mercy

   • c. 1380 CE, Van sente Brandane [About Saint Brendan]:

     Nu verneemt hoe over lanc / Een heere was in Yerlant / Die sach menich Gods teekijn.

     Now learn of how, long ago, / there was a man in Ireland / That saw many a God's miracle.

2. Ireland (a kingdom)
   • 1318 CE, Hein van Aken, Roman van Heinric en Margriete van Limborch [Novel of Heinric and Margriete of Limburg]:

     Oec quammer met in die stede / Van Cypren die coninc mede / Entie coninc van Scotlant / Entie coninc van Ierlant

     Also came with (him) to the city / The king of Cyprus / And the king of Scotland / And the king of Ireland

Inflection

Singular only:

Declension of ierlant

	Singular	Plural
nominative	ierlant	—
accusative	ierlant	—
genitive	ierlants, -des	—
dative	ierlande	—

Alternative forms

• hierlant (Flemish)
• irlant
• yerlant

Derived terms

• ierlantsch (“Irish”)

Descendants

• Dutch: Ierland
  • Afrikaans: Ierland
• Limburgish: Ierland

Further reading

• “ierlant”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• Verwijs, E., Verdam, J. (1885–1929) “ierlant”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN