Oxen

26th August 202126th August 2021 By Simon

Words for oxen and related words in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*uksōn = ox, stag
Old Irish (Goídelc)	oss = elk, deer, stag
Irish (Gaeilge)	os [ɔsˠ/ʌsˠ] = deer (literary) oiseoil [ˈɛʃˌoːlʲ/ˈɪʃˌoːlʲ] = venison oisín [əˈʃiːnʲ/ˈɔʃiːnʲ/ˈʌʃinʲ] = fawn (young deer) Oisín = name, and a character in Irish myths oisín róin = young seal osbhuí = fawn (colour)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	os [os] = deer oisfheoil [ɔʃjɔl] = venison
Proto-Brythonic	*uxī = ox
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	ych, ich = ox
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ych [ɨːχ/iːχ] = ox ych gwyllt = wild ox, bison, buffalo gwin yr ych = spring-water (“wine of the ox”)
Cornish (Kernewek)	oghen = oxen
Old Breton	ohen = ox
Breton (Brezhoneg)	och’en = ox

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *uksḗn (bull) [source].

Proto-Celtic	damos = ox, bull, domesticated animal dametos = sheep
Old Irish (Goídelc)	dam [daṽ] = ox, stag, hero, champion
Irish (Gaeilge)	damh [d̪ˠaw] = ox, stag; strong man, champion, corpulent person damh alla = stag damh comhair = one of a pair of oxen, yokefellow; equal, peer damháire = bellowing, lowing (of oxen), belling (of stag) damhán = small ox damhra = oxen, yoke of oxen; stags, herd of deer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	damh [dav] = stag (antlered, up to 4 yrs old), ox, oaf, crab missing a claw damh-féidh = hart, stag cho dall ri damh ann an ceò = as blind as a bat in daylight (“as blind as an ox in the fog”)
Manx (Gaelg)	dow = ox, hart, stag
Proto-Brythonic	*daβ̃ad = sheep
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	dauat, davad = sheep
Welsh (Cymraeg)	dafad [ˈdavad/ˈdaːvad] = sheep, ewe; one who is under the charge of a spiritual pastor defaid cymorth = sheep given to a needy person to form the nucleus of a flock dafad ddu = black sheep, prodigal son, ne’er do-well of a family defaid Dafydd Jos = waves, billows (“David Jones’ sheep”) mynd yn draed defaid = to go to ruin (“to become sheep’s feet”)
Old Cornish	dauat = sheep
Cornish (Kernewek)	davas = ewe, sheep kig davas = mutton
Breton (Brezhoneg)	dañvad [ˈdãː.vat] = sheep; overly kind, gentle person; cuckold, flock; small, fluffy clouds, foamy waves dañvadez = ewe

Etymology: the Brythonic words come from *dametos, which comes from *damos. Both these words come from the Proto-Indo-European *demh₂- (to domesticate, tame) [source]. The English words tame, (in)domitable and danger come from the same PIE root [source].

More sheep and deer related words.

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

Stable Enclosures

18th August 202121st April 2024 By Simon

Words for stable, enclosure and related words in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	kruw(y)os = enclosure krāfo- = stable, enclosure
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cró, cróe, cróa = enclosure, socket, stall, sty, horse-shoe, encirclement
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cró, cro = enclosure, fold, pen, sty, stall, hut, cell, prision, socket, box, container
Irish (Gaeilge)	cró [kɾˠoː / kɾˠɔː] = eye, socket; bore; aperture; ring; enclosure, fold, pen; (small) outhouse; mean dwelling, hovel; hollow cróicín = litte hut, hovel cróitín = small (sheep) fold, small outhouse cróbhuaile = enclosed milking-place cró beithíoch = byre, cowshed cró caorach = sheepfold, shieling cró cearc = henhouse cró coinín = rabbit hutch cró madra = (dog) kennel cró muc / muice = pigsty, piggery cró sorcais = circus ring
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	crò [krɔː] = circle, surround; enclosure, fold, pen; fishing weir; eye (of needle), socket; hay ladder crò-snàthaid = eye of a needle crò-chearc = chicken coop crò-mhuc = pigsty crò-buntàta = enclosed potato patch crò-chaorach = sheepfold
Manx (Gaelg)	croa = enclosure, compound, enclave, coop, fold, ring, corral, pen, aperture, notch croa cheyrragh = sheepcote croa chonning = rabbit hutch croa gheayil = (coal) bunker
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	creu, crau, kreu, craw = shed
Welsh (Cymraeg)	crau / craw [kraɨ̯ / krai̯] = sty, hovel, pigsty; place of defence, stockade crau = hole, eye, aperture, perforation crewyn = pile, heap, rick, clamp, load crowyn, crywyn, crewyn = shed where animals are kept, sty, coop, kennel, creel, basket; belly, paunch
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	crow = hovel, hut, sty crow môh = pigsty
Cornish (Kernewek)	krow = hut krow deves = sheep-cot krow mogh = pigsty krow prenn = chalet krow yer = chicken shed
Old Breton	crou = pigsty
Middle Breton	kraou = pigsty
Breton (Brezhoneg)	krao = eye (of a needle) krao an nadoz = eye of a needle kraou = stable kraou-deñved = sheep pen, sheepfold kraou lapined = (rabbit) hutch kraou-saout, kraou oc’hen = cowshed

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *krāwə- (to cover, heap). The English word roof comes from the same PIE root (via Proto-Germanic), as does the Dutch word roef (cabin (on a boat), coffin lid), and the French word rouf (deckhouse) [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	saball = barn
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	stábla = stable saball = barn
Irish (Gaeilge)	stábla = stable stáblachán = large unadorned house
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	stàball [sdaːbəl̪ˠ]= stable stàballach = of, or belonging to a stable, like a stable sabhal [sa.əl̪ˠ] = barn, granary
Manx (Gaelg)	stabyl = stable soalt = barn, granary
Proto-Brythonic	*ɨstavell = room
Old Welsh (Kembraec)	stebíll = room
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	estauell, ystauell, ystavell = room (e)stauellauc, ystauellawc = having a room, chambered, roomy
Welsh (Cymraeg)	(y)stafell [(ə)sˈtavɛɬ] = room, building, hall, house, chamber, cave, ventricle, stable (?) (y)stafellu = to occupy a room, place in a room, become stuck ystafellaid = roomful (y)stafellaidd = pertaining to, held in, or like, a room, chambered ystafelles = chambermaid (y)stafellog = having a room, chambered, roomy (y)stafellty = cloister, close (y)stafellydd, ystafellwr = bedroom attendant, chamberlain, eunuch
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	stevel, steuel = chamber, dining room
Cornish (Kernewek)	stevel = room stevel an klass = classroom stevel an lys = courtroom stevel-dhybri = dining room stevel-wortos = waiting room
Middle Breton	staul = room (?)

Etymology: from Middle English stable (stable) or from Anglo-Norman stable (a place for keeping animals), from Latin stab(u)la (dwellings, stables), from stabulum (dwelling, stable, hut, tavern), from stō (to stand, stay, remain) and‎ -bulum (instrumental suffix) [source].

The Brythonic words probably come directly from Vulgar Latin *(i)stabellum, from stabulum (dwelling, stable, hut, tavern) [source].

Wool

11th August 202111th August 2021 By Simon

Words for wool and related words in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	ulanā, wlanā, w(u)lāno-, w(u)lano- = wool
Gaulish	*wlanā = wool
Old Irish (Goídelc)	olann [ˈolan͈] = wool ollach = woolly
Irish (Gaeilge)	olann [ˈɔlˠən̪ˠ] = wool, woolly hair, mop of hair; woollen olanda = woolly olannacht = woolliness olanntáirgeach = wool-bearing ollach = woolly, fleecy ollacht = woolliness, fleeciness
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	olann [ˈɔl̪ˠən̪ˠ] = wool (usually while on sheep) ola = woollen, made of wool olach = woolly, fleecy
Manx (Gaelg)	ollan = wool ollanagh, olley = woolly ollanaght = woolliness
Proto-Brythonic	*gwlan [ˈɡwlaːn] = wool
Old Welsh	gulan = wool
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	gluan, gwlan = wool
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gwlân [ɡwlaːn] = wool, down, soft hair, grass, herbage; woollen, soft, made of wool gwlana = to gather wool, beg or solicit wool gwlanen = flannel, face-cloth; man of weak character, spineless person, unreliable person gwlanendra = softness, lack of backbone gwlanenêd = flannelette gwlanel = flannel gwlanennaidd, gwlanennog = flannelly, flannel-like, soft; weak-willed, without backbone, spineless (person), unreliable gwlanennu = to provide with woollen clothing gwlanennwr, gwlanennydd = flannel-maker, woollen-manufacturer, flannel-merchant, woollen-draper gwlanog = woollen
Old Cornish	gluan = wool
Middle Cornish	glan, glawn = wool
Cornish (Kernewek)	gwlan = wool gwlanek = woollen, woolly
Middle Breton	glan, gloan = wool
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gloan = wool gloanaj, gloanenn = woollen garment / material gloanegenn = cozy, soft, snug gloanell = cotten

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂wĺ̥h₁neh₂ (wool). The English word flannel comes ultimately from the Gaulish *wlanā, via Old French and Norman [source].

Hurdle Fences

4th August 202122nd February 2023 By Simon

Words for hurdles, fences and related words in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*klētā = wattled frame, palisade, hurdle
Gaulish	*cleta = hurdle
Old Irish (Goídelc)	clíath = hurdle, litter, stretcher, wattlework
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	clíath = hurdle; wattle panels of walls, doors or gates; woven fence, palisade, outwork
Irish (Gaeilge)	cliath [klʲiə] = wattled, latticed, frame, hurdle, phalanx, staff, stave (music) cliathach = ribbed frame, engagement, battle cliathobair = wattle-work, wickerwork cliathóg = (small) hurdle cliathóir = hurdler, hurdle-maker cliathrás = hurdle race cliathreathaí = hurdler cliathreathaíocht = hurdling Baile Átha Cliath Dublin (“Hurdle Ford Settlement”)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cliath [kliə] = grid, lattice, grate, grating, shoal (of fish), hurdle, harrow, stockade, stave, staff (music) cliathag = small hurdle cliath-bhogsa = crate cliath-dhuilleag = spreadsheet obair-chliath = trellis
Manx (Gaelg)	cleeah = lattice, wicker, fret, darn, stave, staff, grid, stretcher, grate, grating, criss-cross, school of fish cleea = hurdle cleeader = hurdler
Proto-Brythonic	*kluɨd = palisade, hurdle
Middle Welsh (Kymraec	cluyt, clwyt = hurdle
Welsh (Cymraeg)	clwyd [kluːɨ̯d / klʊi̯d] = movable hurdle, wattle, lattice, rack, crate, gate, door; protection, cover, defence clwydo = to wattle, weave, hurdle, tangle; roost, sleep clwydaid = a crateful, pannierful, kilnful clwydedd = door, gate clwydwaith = wickerwork, wattle clwydwr = gate-keeper, porter
Old Cornish	cluit = hurdle
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	cluit, clita = hurdle, wattle, crate, wattled gate
Cornish (Kernewek)	kloos = fence, rack
Middle Breton	klouet, cloet, kloued, klwed = hurdle
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kloued = fence, barrier, gate, railings, grating, grid klouedenn = openwork, fence, skylight, harrow, portcullis

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱléyteh₂ (leaning, sloped, inclined) from *ḱley- (to lean, incline) [source].

Words from the same Proto-Celtic root, via Gaulish and Latin, include claie (wicker rack, trellis, hurdle) in French and cheda (wattled laterals at the base of a traditional cart) in Galician [source].

Words from the same PIE root include client, climate, clinic, incline and lean in English, leunen (to lean) in Dutch, lehnen (to lean) in German, chinàre (to bend) in Italian, clemente (lenient) in Spanish [source], clé (left) and cleith (pole, cudgel, wattle) in Irish, cledd (left hand/side) in Welsh, and related words in Celtic languages [more details].

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Month: August 2021

Oxen

Stable Enclosures

Wool

Hurdle Fences