Translation help

**Azrobert** · 3rd July 11, 12:45 PM

My wife purchased a tile from a booth at a Highland Festival. Problem is, she doesn't know what it says. It has CRONE painted on it. We assume this is Gaelic, as the other tiles had Gaelic sayings.
Can anyone tell us what this means? Thanks

**Nick the DSM** · 3rd July 11, 01:03 PM

An old woman.

**bigdad1** · 3rd July 11, 02:17 PM

Might have been easier to ask the seller so you got a true answer.

**beloitpiper** · 3rd July 11, 04:24 PM

In Irish it means "Crone".

**EagleJCS** · 3rd July 11, 08:25 PM

The online dictionaries I checked (and I checked 2-3 each) indicate there is no such word in either Scots Gaelic nor Irish Gaelic. I suggest it is indeed the English word meaning 'old woman' or 'hag'. Sorry.

**tripleblessed** · 3rd July 11, 08:31 PM

The maiden, the priestess, the crone (older, wise woman/elder/priestess) - the trilogy of the manifesting of the Mother aspect of Creation. In many paths, particularly The Old Path. And yes, the trilogy is one of the older elements of religions, thousands of years old, borrowed forward.

When visiting standing stone sites, look around the perimeter in the edge of the grass and weeds. You'll still find grass bent and tied as remembrance of The Mother - of Bride (two syllables), or Brigid, or St. Brigid, or Mary, or Modron, or Rhiannon, or Danu, etc.; the Mother has no shortage of names, and only the maker of the offering knows which is most meaningful to her/him.

**Jock Scot** · 3rd July 11, 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by EagleJCS

The online dictionaries I checked (and I checked 2-3 each) indicate there is no such word in either Scots Gaelic nor Irish Gaelic. I suggest it is indeed the English word meaning 'old woman' or 'hag'. Sorry.

That is how I would use the word and is quite old fashioned and rarely used these days-----think W. Shakespeare's "Macbeth" and is mildly uncomplimentary.

**Bugbear** · 3rd July 11, 10:35 PM

Crone is an archetypal figure, as discussed above, now commonly used in modern New Age/Wicca/Neo-Pagan mythology. I would guess this was the intent if it was a festival vender.

"And she's buying a stairway to heaven..."

**Azrobert** · 4th July 11, 07:24 AM

My gratitude to all of you that took time to try and find a translation. Now I have an authority to quote to my wife. Many Thanks

**Riverkilt** · 4th July 11, 07:56 AM

Had the privledge of meeting some Crones at Red Sands Beach on Maui. About 15 of these lovely wise ladies "got natural" and swam out into the lagoon. Then they joined hands in a circle as they treaded water in the ocean and cackled out loud with great enthusiasm and spirit. A truely lovely experience.

Have the highest respect for today's Crones and what they stand for. Hang that tile with pride....and look about for Crones - they are amidst us.