Words for swallows, swifts and martins in Celtic languages.
Proto-Celtic | *wesnālā = swallow |
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Old Irish (Goídelc) | ainnel, fannall = swallow |
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | áilleóc, fainleóc = swallow |
Irish (Gaeilge) | fáinleog, áinleóg = swallow |
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | (f)ainnleag [(f)ãĩn̪ʲl̪ʲag] = swallow, martin, storm(y) petrel |
Proto-Brythonic | *gwennọl = swallow |
Old Welsh | guennol = swallow |
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | gwennawl = swallow |
Welsh (Cymraeg) | gwennol [ˈɡwɛnɔl] = swallow, martin; weaver’s shuttle |
Cornish (Kernewek) | gwennol = swallow |
Old Breton | guennol = swallow |
Middle Breton | guennel = swallow |
Breton (Brezhoneg) | gwennel = swallow |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *wós-r̥/*wés-n̥s (spring) [source].
Irish (Gaeilge) | gabhlán = martin gabhlán-binne = house martin (delichon urbicum)) gabhlán gainimh = sand martin (riparia riparia) gabhlán gaoithe = swift (apus apus) |
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Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | gòbhlan [gɔːl̪ˠan] = swallow, martin; prong, small fork gòbhlan-gaoithe [goːl̪ˠan’gɤjə] = barn swallow (hirundo rustica) gòbhlan-gainmhich [goːl̪ˠan gɛnɛvɪç] = sand martin, bank swallow gòbhlan-dubh [goːl̪ˠan du] = (common) swift gòbhlan-mara [goːl̪ˠan marə] = storm(y) petrel (hydrobatidae) |
Manx (Gaelg) | gollan = swift, martin; fork gollan geayee = swallow gollan gheinnee = sand martin gollan mooar = swift gollan thie = house martin |
Etymology: from the Old Irish gabul (fork, forked branch), from the Proto-Celtic *gablā (fork, branch, gallows), from the Proto-Indo-European *gʰeh₁bʰ- (to grab, take) [source].
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
Here’s a tune I wrote called The Swallow / Y Wennol:
Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, MacBain’s Dictionary, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old-Irish Glossary, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau