An eisteddfod is a Welsh festival at which competitions are held in music, poetry, drama, and art.
eisteddfod in British English
(aɪˈstɛdfəd, Welsh aɪˈstɛðvɔd)
nounWord forms: plural-fods or -fodau (Welsh aɪˌstɛðˈvɒdaɪ)
any of a number of annual festivals in Wales, esp the Royal National Eisteddfod, in which competitions are held in music, poetry, drama, and the fine arts
Derived forms
eisteddfodic (ˌeisteddˈfodic)
adjective
Word origin
C19: from Welsh, literally: session, from eistedd to sit (from sedd seat) + -fod, from bod to be
eisteddfod in American English
(aɪsˈtɛðˌvɔd)
nounWord forms: pluraleisˈteddfods or Welsh ˌeisteddˈfodau (ˌaɪstɛðˈvɔdˌaɪ)
a yearly meeting in Wales of poets, musicians, etc., at which prizes are given for compositions and performances: 19th-cent. revival of an old Welsh custom
Word origin
Welsh, a sitting, session < *eistedd, to sit (< *eitsedd < IE *aty-en-sed-< base *sed- > L sedere, sit