Headlands and Promontories

Words for headlands, promontories and related things in Celtic languages.

Trá na nglór, Muckross

Proto-Celtic *ɸrossos/*frosto- = height, elevated land, (wooded) hill
Old Irish (Goídelc) ros = wood, height
Irish (Gaeilge) ros [ɾˠɔsˠ] = wood, (wooded) headland, promontory
rosach = wooded, promontoried
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ros [r̪ˠɔs] = peninsula, promontory, wood, forest
rosach = pertaining to or abounding in peninsulas/promontories; wooded, forested
ros-eilean = wooded/forested island
frith-eilean rosach = wooded islet
Manx (Gaelg) ros = wood
ros-cheyll = spinney
Proto-Brythonic *rros = moor, heath
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) ros = moor, heath
Welsh (Cymraeg) rhos [r̥oːs] = (upland) moor, heath(land), down, meadow on high land, marshland, plain, wilderness, desert
rhostir = moor(land), heath, marshland, plain, savannah, prairie, wilderness, desert
Cornish (Kernewek) ros [ˈɹoːz] = hill-spur, moor, promontory
Middle Breton ros = hillside, moor
Breton (Brezhoneg) roz = hillside, moor

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *prosth₂os (protruding), from *pro- (before) and *steh₂- (to stand) [source].

These words appear mainly in place names, such as Ros Comáin (Roscommon) and An Ros Mór (Rossmore) in Ireland, Ros an Iar (Wester Ross) in Scotland, and Penrhos in Wales and England.

Porth Penrhyn a Bae Hireal

Proto-Celtic *rendi- = point, peak
Old Irish (Goídelc) rind = point, peak
Irish (Gaeilge) rinn = point, tip; top, apex; point of land, cape, promontory; pointed weapon, sharp-pointed instrument; last word of a verse-line
rinneach = pointed, sharp, keen, biting
rinnghéar = sharp-pointed
rinnstua = pointed arch, ogive
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) rinn [r̪ˠiːn̪ʲ] = headland, promontory; acumen; apex, vortex, point
rinneach = pointed; pertaining to a headland, promontory
rinn snàthaid = point of a needle
Manx (Gaelg) rinn = hook, rinn, ridge, foreland, point of a weapon
rinn chorrylagh = coral reef
rinn ughtee = bluff
rinn yiarg = red-hot poker
Yn Rinn Vooar = Great Barrier Reef
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) rin, rynn = cape, promontory, hill, tump
Welsh (Cymraeg) rhyn = cape, promontory, hill, tump;
rigid, stiff, unyielding, steadfast, brave; turbulent, rough, fierce, threatening, terrible; cold, chilly, shivery
penrhyn = cape, promontory, headland, point, peninsula, isthmus
Cornish (Kernewek) rynn [ɹɪn] = cape, promontory, headland
pennrynn, penryn = cape, promontory, headland, point, peninsula, isthmus
Breton (Brezhoneg) rinn = cape, promontory, headland

Etymology: unknown [source]

It is not known whether the Irish word rinn (star, planet, heavenly body) comes from root.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

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