Today we’re looking at the words for worm, maggot and related things in Celtic languages.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Proto-Celtic | *kʷrimis = worm |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | cruim [kruṽʲ] = maggot, worm crumdoma = maggot heap |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhleag) | cruim, crúim = worm, maggot crumach = full of reptiles crumdoma = dunghill cromóc = maggot |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | cruimh = maggot, larva, grub, tiny insect, worm crumhóg = maggot cruimheach = maggoty cruimheachán = venemous person |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | cnuimh [krɯ̃ĩv] = maggot, grub, worm cnuimheach [krɯ̃ĩvəx] = maggoty cnuimheag [krɯ̃ĩvag] = maggot, grub, worm cnuimhneag [krɯ̃ĩvn̪ˠʲag] = maggot, worm |
| Manx (Gaelg) | crooag = (flesh) worm, grub, maggot, worm crooagagh = maggoty, wormy |
| Proto-Brythonic | *prɨβ̃ [ˈprɨβ̃] = worm |
| Old Welsh | prem = insect, fly, larva, maggot, grub, worm |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | pryuet, pryf = insect, fly, larva, maggot, grub, worm pryuyedic = abounding in / infested with worms or maggots |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | pryf [prɨːv/priːv] = insect, fly, larva, maggot, grub, worm pryfedaf, pryfedu, pryfedo = to breed worms of maggots, to become infested with worms or maggots pryfediad = worm or maggot infestation pryfedig = wormeaten, maggoty pryfeteg = entomology pryfiedig = abounding in / infested with worms or maggots |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | pref, prêv, pryf = any small animal, a vermin, an insect, a worm, a reptile |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | pryv, prev = crawling animal, grub, insect, worm, weevil pryv del = caterpillar pryv prenn woodworm pryvladher = insecticide |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | preff, preuet, prenvv = worm |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | preñv = worm preñvedik = vermiculated preñvek = vermicular, wormlike, wormy eneppreñveg, eneppreñvek = wormable |
Etymology: from PIE *kʷŕ̥mis (worm) [source]. Words from the same root include cirmenis (maggot, grub) in Latvian, kirmis (worm) in Lithuanian, käärme (snake) in Finnish, کرم (kerm – worm) in Persian, and červ (worm, maggot) in Czech and Slovak [source].
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | dorb = worm, larva |
|---|---|
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhleag) | dorb = small insect or worm |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | doirb [kɑbʲ/kabʲ] = water beelte doirbeach = infested with water beetles |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | doirb [dɤrʲɤb] = unspecific term for a small/tiny/insignificant creature (e.g. minnow, worm, leech, small person) |
| Manx (Gaelg) | durrag = cabbage worm, larva of cabbage moth |
Etymology: unknown
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, Lexicon Cornu-britannicum: A Dictionary of the Ancient Celtic Language of Cornwall, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic
