About this word

The word glas has numerous meanings. The following is just an overview.

Colour

When used in reference to colour, glas has subtleties. In the current context, it means green. It can always be used, in any dialect and in any context, to refer to any natural, non-vivid colour green. However:

• In Connacht, and possibly parts of other Provinces, glas is also used to refer to light grey ('an t‑asailín glas' / 'the little grey donkey') and even to light metallic silver. The sea can also be said to be glas.
• In Munster, and possibly parts of other Provinces, a distinction is made between natural, 'muted' green (glas) and artificial or natural‑but‑vivid green (uaine; pronounced, roughly, oon-yih):
  • Green traffic lights and painted walls are uaine.
  • Foliage is generally glas.
• A similar distinction is made between natural, 'muted' red (rua) and artificial or natural‑but‑vivid red (dearg):
  • Red traffic lights and painted walls are dearg.
  • Red apples, grapes and wine are dearg.
  • Blood is dearg.
  • Red beer is rua.
  • People with ginger hair are rua.
  • Foxes and red dogs are rua.
  • Somewhat exceptionally, red cows are dearg.

Lock

Glas also means lock, in the sense of a mechanism for fastening something in place:

• Faoi ghlas (locked (up)).
• Tá sé faoi ghlas agam (I'm after locking it (up)).
• Glasáilte amach (locked out).
• Glas Francach (a padlock).
• ⁊rl…

Bond

A masonery bond, as in brickwork, is called a glas:

• Glas Pléimeannach (Flemish bond).
• Glas éadanach (header bond).
• Glas ar a fhad (stretcher bond).
• ⁊rl…

Chilly weather

In Munster, glas is used to refer to dry but crisp and chilly weather. Not necessarily freezing cold but cold enough to warrant greatcoats and geansaís:

• Tá sé glas (it is chilly).
• Lá glas (a chilly day).
• ⁊rl…