sheela-na-gig en · NOUN
Etymology
From Irish Síle na gcíoch (“Julia of the breasts”). Attested in English from the 19th century.
Meanings
- A carving of a naked woman with an exaggerated vulva, found in old British and Irish architecture, perhaps used to ward off death and evil.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| sheela-na-gigs | Number=Plur | lexicographic |