Scratching Scrapes

28th April 202328th April 2023 By Simon

Words for scratch, scrape and related things in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic	*skrībbāti = to scratch
Old Irish (Goídelc)	scrípaid = to scratch
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	scrípaid, scripad, scripadh = to scratch
Irish (Gaeilge)	scríob [sˠcɾʲiːbˠ / ʃcɾʲiːbˠ] = to scrape, scratch scríobach = abrasive, scraping, scratching, scratchy scríobadach = scraping, scratching, scrawl scríobadh = to scrape, scratch, scrapings scríobaire = scraper, scribing-iron, scriber scríobálaí = scraper, miser scríobán = grater scríobaitheamh = abrasion scríoblach = scrapings, scraps scríoblíne = scratch scríobóg = (little) scratch, scraping, niggardly woman
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	sgrìob [sgrʲiːb] = scrape, scratch, grate sgrìobadh [sgrʲiːbəɣ] = scratching, scraping, score, scratch, scrape, grating sgrìobag [sgrɔːbag] = slight scratch/scrape, index/pointer finger
Manx (Gaelg)	screeb = abrasion, scolding, score, scrape, scratch screebage = cockleshell, scar, scratch, flourish screebagh = abrasive, fricative, frictional, scraping, scrapy, scratchy, itchy scrabey = to abrade, chafe, claw, dress, friction, grate, graze, itch, rasp, scrape, scratch, scrawl; clawing, scraping, scratching
Welsh (Cymraeg)	(y)sgrap, sgrâp = scraper, scratch, scrape sgrapad = scratch, scrape sgrap(i)af, sgrap(i)o = to scratch, scrape (together) (y)sgraper = scraper
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	scrivinas = to scratch, claw
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	skrab = scratching skrabad = cut skrabadenn = a big scratch skrabadur = scraping skrabañ, skrabat = to hurry up, to scratch skraberezh = scratching
Breton (Brezhoneg)	skrabañ = to scratch

Etymology: possibly from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kreybʰ- (to scratch, to tear) [source]. The Welsh words come from the English scrape.

Words from the same roots include scribble, scribe, script, shrift and shrive in English, and scritta (writing, notice, sign) and scrìvere (to write, spell) in Italian [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, Gerlyvyr Cernewec, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Top Peaks

20th April 202320th April 2023 By Simon

Words for top, peaks and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*barros = top, point, peak
Gaulish	Cunobarrus = personal name
Old Irish (Goídelc)	barr = abundance, crop, crown, surplus, top, top, tree-top
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	barr = top, tip, end, crop, produce, climax, end, crown, supremacy, preeminence, transcendence
Irish (Gaeilge)	barr [bˠɑːɾˠ] = tip, point, top, summit, upper part, surface, crop, yield, result, addition, excess, superiority, extremity barrachas = predominance, surplus barradh = hindrance barraí = champion, superior person, arrogant person, bully barraicín = tip, toe (of foot, stocking), toe-cap barraíocht = excess
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bàrr [baːr̪ˠ] = apex, crest, crown, summit, tip, top, zenith, surface, crop, produce, cream, son barrachd = more, predominance, preponderance barraidheachd = more, predominance, preponderance barran = crest, hood, band(age), swaddling clothes
Manx (Gaelg)	baare = apex, cap, climax, end, point, summit, tip, top, crest (of a wave), curl, interval, ruin, bare, film on milk, surface, crown baarey = to bare, clip, dress, poll, prune, shave; trimmed
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	barr, bar [bar] = top, summit crest
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bar [bar] = head, top, summit, crest, bush, tuft, branch barbiaf, barbio = to trim, shave
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	bar = top, summit, branch
Cornish (Kernewek)	barr = summit
Old Breton	barr = branch, summit, ridge, peak
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	barr, bar = branch, summit, ridge, peak
Breton (Brezhoneg)	barr = summit, surface, access, paroxysm

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *bʰr̥s-ó-s, from *bʰers- (point, top, tip). Words from the same PIE roots include barley in English, farine (flour) in French, bara (bread) in Welsh, Cornish and Breton, bairín (loaf) in Irish, and related words in Celtic languages [source].

Words from the same Proto-Celtic roots, via Gaulish, include baràz (bramble) in Romansh, barra (garret, loft, upper platform) in Galician [source].

Roots

14th April 202314th April 2023 By Simon

Words for roots and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	wridmā, wridā = root
Old Irish (Goídelc)	frém [fʲrʲeːṽ] = root
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	frém, prém = root, source, origin, rootstock, race frémach, prémach = roots, genealogical stock, abounding roots frémaigid = intransitive, takes root frémamail = radical, primary
Irish (Gaeilge)	fréamh [fʲɾʲeːvˠ] = root, source, origin, rootstock, race, radical (in linguistics and chemistry) fréamhach = roots, having roots, rooted, established fréamhaí = derivative, radical fréamhaigh = to root, spring, descend (from), derive (from)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	freumh [frʲɪəv] = root, source, derivation freumhagach = pertaining to or abounding in small roots, fibrous freumhag = small root, rootlet, fibre freumhach = rooted, abounding in roots, steady, fundamental freumhaichte = rooted, derived freumhachadh = rooting, taking root, deriving, derivation, etymology
Manx (Gaelg)	fraue [freːw] = bulb, derivation, radical, root frauaghey = to root frauee = derivative, primitive fraueit = grafted, rooted
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	gureid, gwreid = root
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gwraidd [ɡwrai̯ð] = root, bottom, base, foundation, source, origin, ancestry gwreiddiadur = etymological dictionary gwreiddiaf, gwreiddio = to root, grow roots, take root, become ingrained or established, be rooted, be derived, ground, found, secure, establish gwreiddiog = having roots, rooted, ingrained gwreiddiol = original, primitive, innate, initial, established, hereditary gwreiddyn = root, beginning, origin, source, nucleus, essence, foundation, reason, stock, pedigree
Old Cornish	grueiten = root
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	gwredh, gwreydh, gwreidhen = root gwredhan = a single root gwrydhye = to take root, to be rooted
Cornish (Kernewek)	gwrydhen = root gwreydhek = original gwreydhyel = radical gwreydhyoleth = radicalism
Old Breton	uraed = root
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	gwrizienn, gruyzyenn, gruyzienn, grizyen = root gwriziaouiñ gwriziañ, gwriziennañ = to take root, put down roots
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gwrizienn = root, origin, base gwriziañ = to take root, put down roots, ingrained

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *wr̥h₂d-/*wréh₂ds (root). Words from the same roots include root, radish and wort (a liquid extracted from mash when making beer or malt liquor) in English, rot (root, source) in Swedish, rod (root) in Danish, wortel (carrot) in Dutch, Wurzel (root) in German, raíz (root, origin) in Spanish, raíz (root, origin) in Spanish [source].

Leaves

8th April 2023 By Simon

Words for leaves, foliage and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*dolyā = leaf
Gaulish	doula, dula = leaf
Old Irish (Goídelc)	duilne = leaf
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	duille = leaf, foliage duillebad = foilage duillebar = leafage, foilage duillech = leafy, abounding in foliage, leaf-shaped
Irish (Gaeilge)	duille [d̪ˠɪlʲə] = leaf, foliage, eyelid, glory, wealth, handout, leaflet duilleach = leafy, leaf-shaped, leaf-patterned duilleachán, duilleoigín = leaflet duilleog = leaf, page (of book), sheet (of paper) duilligh = to foliate duilliúr = leaves, foliage, greenery
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	duille [dɯl̪ʲə] = sheath, blade duille-dhoras = valve duilleach = foliage, leaf duilleag = leaf, page, sheet, lobe, sternum duilleach = leafy duilleagach = leafy, abounding in leaves
Manx (Gaelg)	duilley = leaf duillag = page, pamphlet, sheet, leaf duillaghey = foliation, infoliate, leaf
Proto-Brythonic	*döl = leaf
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	deil = leaves, leaf, foliage, herbs deilyar = with rustling leaves deilyawc = leafy, green with foliage deiloed = a tryst in a leafy bower
Welsh (Cymraeg)	dail = leaves, leaf, foliage, (medicinal) herbs, (metal) foil deiliaf, deilio = to bear/put forth leaves, to shoot or sprout (into foliage), to bear progeny deiliant = sprouting of leaves, foliage, leafage deiliar = with rustling leaves deiliedig = bearing leaves, leafy deilig = small leaf, leaflet deiliog = leafy, green with foliage, leaf-like, laminated, foliate dalen = leaf (of a book/table), sheet (of paper), plate, (metal) foil
Old Cornish	delen = leaf
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	delen = leaf deil = leaves
Cornish (Kernewek)	delen = leaf delennek = leafy
Old Breton	dol = leaf, foliage
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	deil, del = leaf
Breton (Brezhoneg)	deil, del = leaf, foliage

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *dʰelh₁- (to grow). Words from the same roots include դալար (dalar – green, verdant, young) in Armenian, dal (I exit, go out, leave) in Albanian, and θάλλω (thállō – to bloom, sprout, grow) in Ancient Greek, [source].

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Month: April 2023

Scratching Scrapes

Top Peaks

Roots

Leaves