Words for finger, toe and related things in Celtic languages.
| Proto-Celtic |
*makro = finger |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) |
mér [mʲeːr] = finger, digit, toe |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) |
mér, mer, meóir, meúir = finger, digit, toe |
| Irish (Gaeilge) |
méar [mʲeːɾˠ] = finger, digit, toe, leg (of crustaceans, mollusks, etc), arm (of a cuttle fish)
an mhéar thosaigh/cholbha = the forefinger, index finger
an mhéar fhada/láir/mheáin = (the) middle finger
méar an fháinne = ring finger
an mhéar bheag / lúidín / lúideog = (the) little finger
méar coise = toe |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) |
meur [miar] = finger, digit, branch (of an organisation/family), key (in music), point (of an antler), knot (in wood)
meur-meomhair = forefinger, index finger
meur-meadhain / (am) meur fada / (am) meur meadhanach = middle finger
màthair na lùdaige / mac an aba / am madadh fada = ring finger
meur beag an airgid / plaoisgeag = little finger |
| Manx (Gaelg) |
mair = finger, digit, prong, ray, (piano) key, hand (of clock), tributary (of river)
corrag / corvair = the forefinger, index finger
mair vooar = the middle finger
mair ny fainey = ring finger
mair veg = the little finger
mair chass / mair choshey = toe
mair choshey veg / mair veg ny coshey = little toe |
Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *mh₂ḱros (lean, meager), which is also the root of the English word meagre/meager, the French word maigre (meagre, skinny, lean, thin), and the Spanish word magro (lean)[source].
| Proto-Celtic |
*bissī / *bistis = finger |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) |
biss = icicle |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) |
biss, byss, bys = finger, toe, latch |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) |
bys [bɨːs / biːs] = finger (of hand/glove), toe; medium, agency; hand (of clock); latch
bys bawd = thumb
bys blaen = forefinger, index finger
bys y cogwrn = middle finger (“knuckle finger”)
bys y gyfaredd = ring finger
bys bach = little finger, ear-finger; minute-hand
bys(i)aid = as much as can be held on or taken up by the finger, a pinch
byseddaf, byseddu, bysedda = to finger, thumb, use the fingers
byseddog = having fingers, fingered
byseg = thimble
bysfedd = finger’s breadth, digit
byson = ring for the finger |
| Old Cornish |
bis/bes = finger |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) |
bis, bes = finger
bis truit = toe
bisou, besaw = ring |
| Cornish (Kernewek) |
bys, bes = finger, digit
bys bras = thumb
bys rag = index finger
bys kres = middle finger
bys bysow = ring finger
bys byghan / bes bian = little finger
byskon = thimble
bysow, besow = ring |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) |
bes, bys, bis = finger
besou, bisou = ring |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) |
biz [biːs] = finger, hand (of clock), tooth (of tool), leg (of anchor), tentacle, tendril
biz-meud = thumb
biz-yod = index finger
biz bras = middle finger
biz-gwalenn / biz bizou = ring finger
biz bihan / skouarnel = little finger
bizou, bizoù [ˈbiːzu] = ring, jewel
bizouier = jeweller
bizour = jewel |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *gʷist- (twig, finger). The French word bijou (a piece of jewellry), comes from the same root, via the Breton bizoù (ring), from biz (finger) [source].
| Proto-Celtic |
*māto = finger |
| Old Welsh (Kymraec) |
máut = finger, toe, latch |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) |
mawd, baut, bawd = finger, toe, latch |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) |
bawd = thumb, big toe; claw (of crab), hoof
bawd troed = big toe
bawdheglaf, bawdheglu = to hitch-hike |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) |
meut = thumb |
| Cornish (Kernewek) |
meus = thumb
meusva = inch
meusya = to hitchhike |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) |
meut = thumb |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) |
meud [ˈmøːt] = thumb, pincer, claw
meud-troad = big toe, toe
meudadenn = grip (of the thumb)
meudata = to knead with one’s thumb |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *mē- [source].
| Old Irish (Goídelc) |
ordu = thumb, big toe |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) |
ordu, órdu = thumb, big toe |
| Irish (Gaeilge) |
ordóg [ˈəuɾˠd̪ˠoːɡ] = thumb, big toe, claw, pincers, bit, piece, fragment
ordóg coise = big toe |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) |
òrdag [ɔːr̪ˠdag] = thumb, big toe
òrdag-coise / òrdag-mhór = big toe
òrdag-làimhe = thumb
òrdag bheag an airgid = little toe, little finger |
| Manx (Gaelg) |
ordaag = thumb
ordaag chass / ordaag choshey / ordaag vooar = big toe |
Etymology: possibly from the Old Irish ord/ordd (hammer, piece, fragment, stub), from the Proto-Celtic *ordos (hammer) [source].
| Old Irish (Goídelc) |
ladar = grasp, grip |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) |
ladar, ladair = fork or space between the fingers or between the thumb and the rest of the hand; grip, grasp; space between the toes |
| Irish (Gaeilge) |
ladhar [lˠaiɾˠ] = space between toes or fingers, toe, claw, prong, (clawed) hand
ladhar mhór = big toe
ladhar bheag = little toe
laidhricín = little toe, little finger
lúidín / lúideog = little finger, little toe
lúidín coise = little toe |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) |
ladhar [l̪ˠɤ.ər] = hoof, prong, toe, claw (of lobster)
ladhrag [l̪ˠɤːrag] = toe, prong, hoof
an ladhar mór = big toe
lùdag / lùdag bheag / lùdag dhubh na catha [l̪ˠuːdag] = little finger, hinge |
Etymology: unknown [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, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic
