Words for honey in Celtic languages.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Proto-Celtic | *meli(t) = honey |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | mil = honey |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | mil, mel = honey criathar mela = honeycomb |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | mil [mʲɪlʲ] = honey militeach = honey-eating miliúil = honey-like, honeyed beach mheala = honey bee blas meala = taste of honey, delicious taste briathra meala = honeyed words broc meala = honey badger ceo meala = honey dew cíor mheala = honeycomb lá meala = delightful day mí na meala = honeymoon chomh milis le míl = as sweet as honey |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | mil [mil] = honey mil an fhraoich = heather honey mil-dheoch = mead mil air do bheul! = that’s wonderful/excellent news! (“honey on your mouth”) teillean-meala = honey bee cho milis ris an t-siùcar / cho milis ris a’ mhil = as sweet as honey |
| Manx (Gaelg) | mil [mɪl] = honey mill freoaie = heather honey mill kerey = comb honey mill freoaie = heather honey cha millish as mill = as sweet as honey |
| Proto-Brythonic | mel = honey |
| Old Welsh (Kembraec) | mel = honey |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | mel, mêl = honey meledic = sweetened with honey |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | mêl [meːl] = honey, nectar mêl ar ei frechdan/fara = source of pleasure (“honey on his sandwich/bread”) mêl ar ei fysedd = schadenfreude (“honey on his fingers”) mêl grug = heather honey mêl gwyllt = wild honey dil mêl = honeycomb gwenynen mêl = honey bee mis mêl, melfis = honeymoon melaf, mela, melu = to gather nectar to make honey, to sweeten (with honey) melaidd = sweet, honey-like meledig = sweetened with honey |
| Old Cornish | mel = honey |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | mel, mêl = honey melder = sweetness |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | mel = honey melder = darling, sweetness, love |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | mel, mèl, meel, mil = honey |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | mel [meːl] = honey, compliments mela = to look for honey, honeydew meladour = honey merchant melek = honeyed meler = honey maker |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *mélid (honey), which is also the root of the English words mildew and mulch [source].
Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic
