What is "mether"

Etymology 1 alt. (context dialect English) four in the old counting system of Northern England. card. (context dialect English) four in the old counting system of Northern England. Etymology 2

alt. (context historical Ireland English) 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. n. (context historical Ireland English) 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.

A Mether is a communal or 'Friendship' drinking vessel from the Celtic tradition, mainly in Ireland and originally solely for mead with old examples being made of wood although they might have silver ornamentation added at a later date. The name 'Mether' is said to be derived from 'meth' that is the old name for mead as in the Welsh for mead that is 'medd', and the word 'metheglin' derived from the compound word 'meddyglyn', 'healing liquor'. Examples of wooden methers have been recovered from Irish peat bogs. Another possibility is that the name may come from the Irish Gaelic “Mehill” meaning a 'gathering'.

The best known ancient Mether in Scotland is the Dunvegan Cup, which is a 10th-century wooden example provided with silver ornamentation in the 15th century. Probably Irish in origin but Belonging to the Clan MacLeod, the Dunvegan mether is held in the clan collection of artifacts at Dunvegan Castle.