If; often used in the sense of _although_, _while_, or some such signification, which will be best understood from the following examples:--A Dublin { 277} jarvey who got sixpence for a long drive, said in a rage:--'I'm in luck to-day; but _if I am_, 'tis blazing _bad_ luck.' 'Bill ran into the house, and if he did, the other man seized him round the waist and threw him on his back.'
If that. This is old English, but has quite disappeared from the standard language of the present day, though still not unfrequently heard in Ireland:--'If that you go I'll go with you.'
'_If_ from Sally _that_ I get free, My dear I love you most tenderlie.'
'And _if that_ you wish to go further Sure God He made Peter His own, The keys of His treasures He gave him, To govern the old Church of Rome.'
Inagh´ or in-yah´ [both strongly accented on second syll.]; a satirical expression of dissent or disbelief, like the English _forsooth_, but much stronger. A fellow boasting says:--'I could run ten miles in an hour': and another replies, 'You could _inah_': meaning 'Of course I don't believe a word of it.' A man coming back from the other world says to a woman:--'I seen your [dead] husband there too, ma'am;' to which she replies:--'My husband _inah_.' (Gerald Griffin: 'Collegians.') Irish _an eadh_, same sound and meaning.
Inch; a long strip of level grassy land along a river. Very general. Irish _inis_ [innish], of the same family as Lat. _insula_: but _inis_ is older than _insula_ which is a diminutive and consequently a derived form. 'James, go out and drive the cows down to the inch.'
Insense´; to make a person understand;--'I can't { 278} insense him into his letters.' 'I insensed him into the way the job was to be done.' [Accent on -sense´.]
In tow with; in close acquaintance with, courting. John is in tow with Jane Sullivan.
Ire, sometimes _ira_; children who go barefoot sometimes get _ire_ in the feet; i.e. the skin chapped and very sore. Also an inflamed spot on the skin rendered sore by being rubbed with some coarse seam, &c.
Irish language; influence of, on our dialect, 1, 23.
Jackeen; a nickname for a conceited Dublin citizen of the lower class.
Jap or jop; to splash with mud. (Ulster.)
Jaw; impudent talk: _jawing_; scolding, abusing:--