mether

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈmɛðɚ/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈmɛðə/

From Cumbric numerals; compare Welsh mhedwar, the nasal mutation of pedwar (“four”).

• methera (Weardale, Borrowdale)

mether

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

• mether-a-dick
• mether-a-bumfit

From Irish meadar, from Old Irish metar, from Latin metrum. Doublet of metre, meter, and metron.

• medar, meather, madder

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.

• 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

From Old Cornish maidor. By surface analysis, meth (“nourishing”) +‎ -er

mether m (plural methoryon)

1. caterer
2. victualler

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɛθɛr/

mether

1. (literary) impersonal subjunctive/imperative of methu