Words for badger in Celtic languages.
| Proto-Celtic | *brokkos = badger |
|---|---|
| Gaulish | *broco / *brokkos = badger |
| Primitive Irish | ᚁᚏᚑᚉᚔ (broci) = badger (genitive) |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | brocc [brok] = badger |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | brocc, broc = badger, brock broclas = brock-holes brocnait = she-badger broic(th)enach = badger-warren, haunt of badgers |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | broc [bˠɾˠɔk / bˠɾˠʌk] = badger, dirty-faced person, short thick-set person brocach = badger’s burrow, fox’s earth brocaire = terrier brocaireacht = (act of) badger-baiting |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | broc [brɔxg] = badger, brock, grumpy/surly person brocair [brɔxgɛrʲ] = badger/fox hunter broc-lann [brɔxgl̪ˠən̪ˠ] = badger’s den/sett broclach = (badger / fox) warren, messy area, rubbish, messy person brocach [brɔxgəx] = badger-like, pertaining to or abounding in badgers, black-faced, stinking, squalid, filthy, odious brocail [brɔxgal] = badger-like, pertaining to badgers |
| Manx (Gaelg) | broc(k) = badger brockagh = badger’s den |
| Proto-Brythonic | *brox = badger |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | broch = badger, brock brochwart = badger ward, keeper of a badger |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | broch [broːχ] = badger, brock brochwart = badger ward, keeper of a badger |
| Old Cornish | broch = badger |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | broch, bróch = badger |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | brogh [bɹoːx] = badger broghki = dachsund |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | broch, broh, broc’h = badger |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | broc’h [ˈbʁoːx] = badger broc’heta = to hunt badgers |
Etymology: unknown, possibly cognate with Old High German braccho (sniffer dog). Words from the same Celtic roots include brochure, brooch and brock (male badger – northern England) in English, brock (badger) in Scott, broche (brooch, spit, spike, peg, pin) in French, brocco (thorn, stick) in Italian, and broco (having long projecting horns; bad-tempered) in Galician [Source].
| Proto-Celtic | *taskos = badger |
|---|---|
| Gaulish | *tasgos = badger |
| Galatian | τασκός (taksos) = badger |
Etymology: unknown [Source].
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | mochyn daear / daearfochyn = badger |
|---|
Etymology: from the Welsh mochyn (pig) and daear (earth, ground) [Source].
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
Here’s a tune I wrote in 2017 called The Unexpected Badger / Y Mochyn Daear Annisgwyl
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
