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Oscar
Oscar
1. Osgar, Oscur, Osca [Ir., deer-lover (?); cf. os, fawn]. A leading warrior of Fenian narrative, ‘the Galahad of the Cycle’, the son of Oisín and the grandson of Fionn mac Cumhaill. As he does not appear in Fenian literature until the 11th century, some commentators have suggested that Oscar was originally an alternative form for Oisín. As a youth, Oscar is thought so maladroit that the other Fianna refuse to take him along on their adventures. Eventually, however, he becomes a focus for the idealization of storytellers; he is consistently the bravest, the most stalwart, the most frequently victorious. If a warrior is called for a single combat with a fearsome challenger, Oscar most readily serves. Oral-tradition texts have Oscar wrestling Goll mac Morna to establish himself as the strongest of all the Fianna. He engages in overseas adventures accompanied by Labraid Lámderg [red hand]. In Tóraighecht Dhiarmada agus Ghráinne [The Pursuit of Diarmait and Gráinne], Oscar sympathizes with the fugitive lovers against his grandfather. Étaín (3) is Oscar's usual consort, although he is a pale lover compared to Diarmait. Oscar's climactic moment in the Cycle comes in Cath Gabhra [The Battle of Gabhair/Gowra], when he mortally wounds the hated Cairbre Lifechair, whose dying act is to thrust a spear through Oscar's heart. Oscar dies with a jest on his lips, provoking Fionn to weep as he does at no other point in the Cycle. The slain hero is then buried under a great cairn at Benn Étair [Howth]. But Oscar's persona survives his death. In the Christianized story of the Fianna's escape from hell, Oscar is the critical rearguard, wielding an unbreakable thong so that his comrades can break free. Oisín tells St Patrick in Acallam na Senórach [The Colloquy of the Elders] that only God can defeat Oscar. 2. Name of a second son born to Oisín during his liaison with Niam in Tír na nÓg. 3. Character in James Macpherson's Poems of Ossian (1760–3), based on Oscar (1). Son of Ossian, grandson of Fingal, he is killed in Book I of Temora when provoked at a dinner by Cairbar's druid Olla. Malvina is his grieving widow. The popularity of Macpherson's Ossian made the name Oscar widely known in Europe. After Marshal Bernadotte of France became King Charles XIV of Sweden, he and his wife, Désirée Cleary, daughter of a Dublin merchant, named their son Oscar, who became Oscar I of Sweden and Norway (1844–59). |
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JAMES MacKILLOP. "Oscar." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES MacKILLOP. "Oscar." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-Oscar.html JAMES MacKILLOP. "Oscar." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-Oscar.html |
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Oscar
Oscar ♂ Old Irish name, which is borne in the Fenian sagas by a grandson of Finn mac Cumhaill ( Finn MacCool). It was resuscitated by the antiquarian poet James Macpherson (1736–96), author of the Ossian poems. It is now also a characteristically Scandinavian name; it was introduced to Sweden because Napoleon, an admirer of the works of Macpherson, imposed the name on his godson Oscar Bernadotte, who became King Oscar I of Sweden in 1844 (see also Malvina). In more recent times it has been associated particularly with the Irish writer and wit Oscar Wilde (1854–1900), and with the annual awards for achievement in the film industry made by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Oscar is one of a number of Celtic names that have recently come into general use and have become increasingly popular since the 1990s.
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Cite this article
PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Oscar." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Oscar." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Oscar2.html PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Oscar." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Oscar2.html |
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Oscar
Os·car1 / ˈäskər/ • n. trademark the nickname for one of the golden statuettes given as an Academy Award. ∎ (the Oscars) the annual presentation of the Academy Awards. Os·car2 • n. a code word representing the letter O, used in radio communication. |
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"Oscar." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Oscar." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-oscar.html "Oscar." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-oscar.html |
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Oscar
Oscar the nickname (a trademark in the US) for a gold statuette given as an Academy award. One of the several speculative stories of its origin claims that the statuette reminded Margaret Herrick, an executive director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, of her uncle Oscar.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Oscar." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Oscar." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Oscar.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Oscar." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Oscar.html |
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Oscar
Oscar (officially Academy Award) Prize awarded annually for services to the cinema by the US Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The gold-plated bronze statuettes stand 25cm (13.5in) high, and are reputed to have been nicknamed after the Academy librarian's uncle Oscar.
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"Oscar." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Oscar." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Oscar.html "Oscar." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Oscar.html |
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oscar
os·car / ˈäskər/ (also oscar cichlid) • n. a South American cichlid fish with velvety brown young and multicolored adults, popular in aquariums. • Astronotus ocellatus, family Cichlidae. Alternative name: velvet cichlid. |
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Cite this article
"oscar." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "oscar." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-oscar015.html "oscar." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-oscar015.html |
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Oscar
Oscar ♂ (Irish) Apparently from Irish os ‘deer’ + cara ‘friend’..
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Cite this article
PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Oscar." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Oscar." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Oscar.html PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Oscar." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Oscar.html |
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Oscar
Oscar ♂ (Irish) From Gaelic.
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Cite this article
PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Oscar." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Oscar." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Oscar1.html PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Oscar." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Oscar1.html |
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Oscar
Oscar •balalaika, biker, duiker, Formica, hiker, mica, pica, pika, piker, striker
•blocker, chocker, docker, Fokker, interlocker, knocker, locker, mocha, mocker, ocker, quokka, rocker, saltimbocca, shocker, soccer, stocker
•vodka • polka
•concha, conker, conquer, Dzongkha, plonker, stonker
•Oscar • Kotka • Knickerbocker
•footlocker
•caulker (US calker), corker, hawker, Lorca, Majorca, Minorca, orca, porker, squawker, stalker, talker, walker, yorker
•deerstalker • jaywalker • sleepwalker
•streetwalker • hillwalker
•shopwalker
•Asoka, broker, carioca, choker, coca, croaker, evoker, invoker, joker, mediocre, ochre (US ocher), poker, provoker, revoker, Rioja, smoker, soaker, soca, Stoker, tapioca
•judoka • shipbroker • stockbroker
•pawnbroker • troika
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Cite this article
"Oscar." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Oscar." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Oscar.html "Oscar." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Oscar.html |
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OSCAR
OSCAR (ˈɒskə) Orbital Satellites Carrying Amateur Radio
• Organization for Sickle Cell Anaemia Research |
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Cite this article
FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "OSCAR." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "OSCAR." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O25-OSCAR.html FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "OSCAR." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O25-OSCAR.html |
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