Celtic words for (sea)gull, seabirds of the genus Larus or of the family Laridae.
| Proto-Celtic | *wailannā = seagull |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | faílenn, foílenn = seagull |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | faoileán, faoileog = gull, seagull faoileán bán = common gull (Larus canus) faoileán ceanndubh, faoileán an chaipín = black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) faoileán droma duibh = greater black-backed gull (Larus marinus) foillan scadán = (Larus argentatus) |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | faoileann [fɯːlən̪ˠ], faoileag [fɯːlag] = gull, seagull, common gull faoileann-bheag = common gull faoileann-dubh = black-headed gull faoileann a’ chinn dhuibh = greater black-backed gull faoileann-mhór = herring gull |
| Manx (Gaelg) | foillan, foilleig, fooilleig = gull, seagull foillan bane = common gull foillan kione doo = black-headed gull foillan saggyrt = greater black-backed gull foillan skeddan = herring gull |
| Proto-Brythonic | *gwuɨlann = seagull |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | gwylan = seagull |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | gwylan [ˈɡʊɨ̯lan / ˈɡʊi̯lan] = sea-gull, sea-mew; fair maiden; glutton gwylan gyffredin = common gull gwylan goes goch / gwylan benddu = black-headed gull gwylan gefnddu = greater black-backed gull gwylan y penwaig = herring gull |
| Old Cornish | guilan = seagull |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | golan [ˈɡoːlan / ˈɡʊlɐn] = gull, seagull gwylan gemyn = common gull skraw / skrawik / scraw = black-headed gull gwylan keyn du = greater black-backed gull gwylan hern = herring gull |
| Old Breton | guilannou = seagull |
| Middle Breton | goelann = seagull |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | gouelan = seagull gouelan loue = common gull gouelanig maskl du = black-headed gull gouelan bras = greater black-backed gull gouelan gris = herring gull |
Etymology: thought to be from the Proto-Indo-European *wáy (oh! ah! woe! alas!), possibly related to *waylos (howler, wolf) [source].
The English word gull also comes from the same Proto-Celtic *wailannā, via the Middle English gulle [source].
The French word goéland (gull, herring gull) comes from the Breton gouelan [source].
Note: the types of gulls mentioned here are commonly seen in Celtic-speaking areas. Other gulls are available.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
Here’s a song I wrote in Manx and English about seagulls and their love of chips: Spollagyn son tey / Chips for tea
Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, MacBain’s Dictionary, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old-Irish Glossary, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau, TermOfis