Words for part, piece and related things in Celtic languages:
| Proto-Celtic | *darnos/*darnā = piece, part |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | drécht [dʲrʲeːxt] = portion, part |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | drecht, drécht = part, portion, section; poem, literary composition dréchtach = numerous; skilled in song or poetry dréchtfaid = to divide up |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | dréacht [dʲɾʲeːxt̪ˠ]= part, portion, draft, detachment, number; (literary) piece, composition; draft dréachtach = composer, poet; skilled in/diligent at compostion dréachtaigh = to draft dréachtín = versicle, stanza dréachtóir = drafter, draughtsman (of documents) |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | dreachd [drɛxg] = draft dreachd-aithisge = draft report dreachd-dhealbh = working drawing |
| Manx (Gaelg) | draght, dreaght = draft draghtey = to draw up dreaght feeleeaght = a piece of poetry |
| Proto-Brythonic | *darn = piece, fragment, part |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | darn = piece, fragment, part, portion, section, lump, patch, coin darnaw, darnio, darnu = to break or tear in pieces |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | darn [darn] = piece, fragment, part, portion, section, lump, patch, coin darn yn narn = piecemeal, piece by piece darn arian = piece of silver, silver coin darn aur = gold piece, gold coin darn grot = a groat darniad = a breaking in pieces, a shattering darn(i)af, darn(i)o, darnu = to break or tear in pieces, mangle, dismember darn(i)edig = broken or torn to pieces, mangled |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | darn = a fragment, piece |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | darn = bit, fragment, part, piece darn papur = slip of paper darnas = portion |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | darn = piece, part, slice (of fish) darnaou = exhausted, worn-out darnaouer = one who disturbs darnaouet, darnouet, darnaöuet = torn to pieces, very tired darnaouus, darnaouüs = divisible |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | darn = fragment, part, partial, darnaou = exhausted, worn-out darnamzer = part-time darnel = partial |
Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *der (to split, separate, tear, crack, shatter). The French word darne (thick slice of big round fish, part of the body) comes from the same Proto-Celtic root via Breton [source].
Words from the same PIE root include dermal, dermic and (to) tear in English, zehren (to live on, feed on, undermine, wear out) in German, and драть [dratʲ] (to tear to pieces) in Russian [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