rath

[Ir. rath.]

1. A hill or mound. [Ireland] Spenser.

2. A kind of ancient fortification found in Ireland.

Rath
Rathe a. (răth)

[AS. hræð, hræd, quick, akin to OHG. hrad, Icel. hraðr.]
Coming before others, or before the usual time; early. [Obs. or Poetic]

Bring the rathe primrose that forsaken dies.

Rath
Rathe, adv.

Early; soon; betimes. [Obs. or Poetic]

Why rise ye up so rathe?

Too rathe cut off by practice criminal.

A primitive fort in Ireland, many of which still exist today; the defensive structure includes ramparts of stone or earth as well as some rudimentary form of housing.

A circular earthen wall, usually fortified or palisaded, surrounding ancient Irish dwellings; more loosely, the fortified dwelling, presumably of an early chieftain or king, surrounded by such a wall. First element in innumerable Irish place-names, where it is sometimes translated as ‘royal seat’; virtually interchangeable with the term dún-. Thought to be the residence of fairies in Irish oral tradition. See also LISS.