What's the wordsmith's favourite word?

He’s the man behind our Dictionary of Hiberno-English, and he’s an expert in the words we Irish use. But what are Terence Dolan’s favourite words

My most and least favourite word is crack, which Irish people have adopted and adapted as craic, as if it is an Irish word. Not so. In fact it is a pure English word, with its roots in the Old English/Anglo-Saxon verb cracian, meaning to emit a funny noise to make people laugh.

I don’t like it because of its fake appearance as craic and its association with Paddywhackery. Otherwise, I have come to like it because it captures the determination of Irish People to display themselves as happy, fun-loving characters.

The only truly Irish word in universal use is galore from Irish go leor (enough, plenty), which becomes my favourite word when attached to whiskey!