Buying and Purchasing

22nd September 202222nd September 2022 By Simon

Words for to buy, purchase and related words in Celtic languages.

image illustrating words for to buy in Celtic languages

Proto-Celtic	*kʷrinati = to buy
Old Irish (Goídelc)	crenaid [ˈkʲrʲeniðʲθ] = to buy, purchase, sell do·aithchren = to redeem, ransom fo·cren [foˈkren] = to buy, purchase, hire in·cren = to buy
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	crenaid = buys, obtains, sells, dispenses do-cren = purchases do-aithchren = buys back, redeems fo-cren = buys, purchases, pays, hires, recompenses
Irish (Gaeilge)	crean [cɾʲanˠ] = to obtain, purchase, bestow, spend
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	crean = to consume, remove, purchase, marketplace (obsolete)
Proto-Brythonic	*prɨnad = to buy
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	prinit, prynnu = to buy
Welsh (Cymraeg)	prynu [ˈprənɨ / ˈprəni] = to buy, purchase, exchange, redeem, ransom prynu cath mewn cwd = to buy a pig in a poke prynedig = bought, purchased, redeemed prynedigaeth = redemption, buying, purchase prynedigol = redeeming, redemptive, redeemed prynwr, prynydd = buyer, purchaser, customer, redeemer prynwriaeth = comsumerism, redemption prynwriaethol = comsumerist
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	prenne = to take, buy, purchase, redeem, expiate, pay for
Cornish (Kernewek)	prena = to acquire, buy, purchase prena kath yn sagh = to buy a pig in a poke prenas = purchase prenassa = to go shopping, to shop prenasser, penassores = shopper prener = buyer, customer, purchaser
Old Breton	prenaff = to buy
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	prenaff = to buy prener, prenouréss = buyer
Breton (Brezhoneg)	prenañ = to buy dasprenañ = to redeem rakprenañ = to pre-purchase prener, prenerez = buyer prenadenn = acquisition prener = buyer

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *kʷrinéh₂ti, from *kʷreyh₂- (to buy) [source]. Words from the same PIE root include क्रीत (krīt – bought, purchased) and क्रेता (kretā – buyer, purchaser) in Hindi [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	cennach = bargin, purchase, transaction cennaigid = to buy, purchase
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cennach = bargin, transaction, compact cennaigid = buys, purchases, redeems, saves cennaigtheóir = redeemer
Irish (Gaeilge)	ceannaigh [ˈcan̪ˠəɟ/ˈcan̪ˠə/ˈcan̪ˠiː] = to buy, purchase, redeem, suborn, bribe ceannach = purchase ceannachán = purchase, purchased article ceannaí = buyer, purchaser, dealer, merchant ceannaíocht = buying, purchasing, dealing, trading ceannaitheoir = buyer, purchaser, redeemer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ceannaich [kʲan̪ʲɪç] = buy, purchase ceannach = buying, purchasing, purchase, trading, commerce, trade, reward, bribe
Manx (Gaelg)	chionnys = to buy. compel chionnaghey = to buy, purchase kionnee = to buy kionnaghey = to buy, buy in, buying, purchase, purchasing, redeem kionneeaght = buy, merchandise, purchase, traffic, redemption

Etymology: from the Old Irish cenn (head) and -aigid (suffix that turns a noun into a verb) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

Hammers

15th September 202215th September 2022 By Simon

Words for hammer and related things in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic	*ordos = hammer
Gaulish	Ordo-vices = placename, tribal name
Old Irish (Goídelc)	ord = hammer
Irish (Gaeilge)	ord [əuɾˠd̪ˠ / ɔːɾˠd̪ˠ] = sledgehammer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	òrd [ɔːr̪ˠd] = hammer; cock, hammer (of a fireman): rounded but steep mountain òrd-fiodha = mallet òrd-ladhrach = claw hammer òrd-mòr = sledgehammer
Manx (Gaelg)	oard = hammer, sledgehammer oard inginagh = claw hammer gaal-oard = steam hammer
Proto-Brythonic	*orð = hammer
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	ord, orth, yrd, orð = hammer
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gordd [ɡɔrð] = hammer, mallet, sledgehammer gorddio = to hammer with a mallet, drive with a sledgehammer gordd haearn = sledgehammer gordd bren = wooden mallet
Old Breton	ord = mallet, hammer,
Middle Breton	orz, horz = mallet, hammer,
Breton (Brezhoneg)	horzh = mallet, gavel, hammer, pestle horzhig = sledgehammer horzh-fuzuilh = rifle butt

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *h₃erg-dʰh₁o-, from *h₃erg- (to perish) and *dʰeh₁- (to do) [source].

Ordovīcēs is the Latin name for a Celtic tribe who lived in what is now North Wales (where I live) and nearby parts of England. In Common Brittonic there were known as *Ordowīcī. The Ordovician geological period (c. 485 – 443 million years ago) is named after them as rocks associated with that period were first found in their former territory by Charles Lapworth in 1879 [source].

Irish (Gaeilge)	casúr [əuɾˠd̪ˠ / ɔːɾˠd̪ˠ] = hammer casúr ladhrach = claw hammer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	casar [kasər] = small hammer, gavel, knocker
Manx (Gaelg)	casoor = hammer (of a gun)

Etymology: from the Anglo-Norman cassur, from the Latin quassō (I shake, quake, wave, flourish), from quatiō (I shake, agitate), from the Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₁t- (to shake) [source].

Words from the same Latin roots include quash (to suppress, crush) in English, casser (to break) in French, and cascar (to crack, split, hit) in Spanish [source].

Proto-Brythonic	*morθul = hammer
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	morthol, morthwl, morthuyl, mwrthol, myrthwyl = hammer
Welsh (Cymraeg)	morthwyl [ˈmɔrθuɨ̯l / ˈmɔrθui̯l] = hammer, mallet morthwylio = to hammer, beat with a hammer, forge morthwylwr = hammerer morthwylfa = forge, smithy morthwyl drws = door knocker
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	morthol = hammer
Cornish (Kernewek)	morthol = hammer, beetle, maul mortholya = to hammer
Middle Breton	morzol = hammer morzol dor = door knocker
Breton (Brezhoneg)	morzhol = hammer morzholad = hammer blow morzholat = to hammer morzholer = hammerer, horthumper morzholig = hammer morzhol-dor, morzhol an nor = door knocker

Etymology: from the British Latin *mortulus, from the Latin martulus (hammer), from marculus (small hammer), possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *melh₂tlo-, from *melh₂- (to grind) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Surfaces

11th September 202214th September 2024 By Simon

Words for surface, skin and related things in Celtic languages:

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*tondā = surface, skin
Gaulish	*tondā = surface, skin
Old Irish (Goídelc)	tonn, tond = surface, skin
Irish (Gaeilge)	tonn [t̪ˠɑun̪ˠ / t̪ˠuːn̪ˠ / t̪ˠʌn̪ˠ] = surface, skin faoi mo thoinn = under my skin, within me
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	tonn [tɔun̪ˠ] = skin, hide
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	tonn, ton, ton(n)en = ley, unploughed land
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ton [tɔn] = ley, unploughed land, turf, sod, sward, green, lawn, (earth’s) surface’ skin, rind, crust, peel, appearance, look tonnen = skin, rind, crust, peel, surface, sod, sward, bog, swamp, quagmire tondir = ley, lea-land toniaraf, toniaru = to cover with planks, boards, etc
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	ton = unploughed land, meadow, lay
Cornish (Kernewek)	tonn = grass
Old Breton	tonnenn = rind, surface
Middle Breton	ton = rind, surface
Breton (Brezhoneg)	tonn = rind, surface

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *tend- (to cut off). Words from the same Gaulish / Proto-Celtic roots include tonne in English and French, tunna / tonna (tun, box) in Latin, and tona (surface, kin, bark) in Galician [source].

Proto-Celtic	*krokkeno- = skin
Old Irish (Goídelc)	croiccenn [ˈkrokʲen͈] = skin, hide, bark, husk
Irish (Gaeilge)	craiceann [ˈkɾˠacən̪ˠ / ˈkɾˠæcən̪ˠ] = skin, surface cruachraicneach = hide-bound
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	craiceann [krɛçgʲən̪ˠ] = skin, parchment craiceannaiche = skinner far-chraiceann = epidermis fo-chraiceann = hypodermic pàipear-craicinn = parchment
Manx (Gealg)	crackan [ˈkraːɣən] = skin, pelt, fur, hide, rind, peel, slough crackanagh = (of the) skin, cutaneous aachrackan = veneer fochrackanagh = hypodermic crackan screeuee = parchment
Proto-Brythonic	*krʉn = skin
Old Welsh	groen = skin
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	croen, cruyn, croyn, crwyn = skin, hide, pelt
Welsh (Cymraeg)	croen [kroːɨ̯n / krɔi̯n] = skin, hide, pelt, peel, rind, surface, crust; film; a crusty or contemptible fellow croeni, croenio = to form skin, skin over, heal up croendenau = thin-skinned, sensitive, easily hurt, touchy croendew = thick-skinned, insensible, insensitive, callous croenen = thin skin, cuticle, pellicle, film
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	crochen = skin
Cornish (Kernewek)	kroghen = hide kroghen lagas = eyelid kroghendanow = sensitive
Middle Breton	kroc’hen, krec’hen, krec’hin = skin, crust, membrane
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kroc’hen [ˈkʁoːχɛn] = skin, crust kroc’henenn = membrane

Etymology: probably loaned from a non-Indo-European substrate language [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	pell = animal skin, rug
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	pell, peall = (animal) skin, fur, rug, blanket
Irish (Gaeilge)	peall [pʲaul̪ˠ/pʲal̪ˠ] = pelt, skin, hide, rug, blanket, piece of coarse cloth peallach = hairy, matted, coarse-spun peallóg = (piece of) coarse cloth, woman dressing rough clothing
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	peall [pjaul̪ˠ] = shaggy hide/skin, mat, rough cloth/sheet, bunch of matter hair
Proto-Brythonic	*pall = (?)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	pall = cloak, curtain, covering, pall, tent, tabernacle, throne, bed of state
Welsh (Cymraeg)	pall [paɬ] = cloak, curtain, covering, pall, tent, tabernacle, throne, bed of state
Cornish (Kernewek)	pall = mantle

Etymology: from Latin palla (cloak, mantle), from pellis (skin), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *pel- (to cover, to wrap, skin, hide, cloth), or possibly a substrate loan. Words from the same roots include camouflage, film, muffle, pall and pelt in English, piel (skin, fur) in Spanish, and peau (skin, hide, fur) in French [source].

Servants

26th August 202226th August 2022 By Simon

Words for servants, ploughmen and related people in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*ambaxtos = servant
Gaulish	*ambaxtos = vassal, high-ranking servant
Old Irish (Goídelc)	amus = servant amsach = mercenary
Irish (Gaeilge)	amhas = hireling, servant, mercenary, hooligan amhsach = wild, unruly amhasóireacht = hooliganism
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	amhas [au.əs] = savage, wild person, madman amhsach = wild, uncontrollable, stupid, dull
Proto-Brythonic	*ammaɨθ [amˈmaɨ̯θ] = servant, worker, labourer
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	amaeth = ploughman, husbandman, farmer, agriculture
Welsh (Cymraeg)	amaeth [ˈameɨ̯θ / ˈamei̯θ] = ploughman, husbandman, farmer, agriculture, ploughmanship, tillage amaethadwy = farmable, cultivable amaetha(f), amaethu = to farm, husband, plough, cultivate amaethdir = arable land, land suitable for cultivation, farm land amaethdy = farmhouse amaethddyn = agriculturalist, farmer amaethedig = farmed, cultivated, cultured amaethyddiaeth = agriculture, farming
Cornish (Kernewek)	ammeth = agriculture, farming
Old Breton	ambaith = agriculture, farming

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *ambi- (around),‎ *ageti (to drive) and‎ *-os, from the Proto-Indo-European word *h₂m̥bʰi-h₂eǵ- (drive around) [source].

The English word amassador comes from the same root, via the Middle English ambassadore from the Anglo-Norman ambassadeur (ambassador), from the Old Italian ambassadore, from the Old Occitan ambaisador (ambassador), from ambaissa (service, mission, errand), from the Medieval Latin ambasiator (ambassador), from the Gothic 𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌱𐌰𐌷𐍄𐌹 (andbahti – service, function), from the Proto-Germanic *ambahtaz (servant), from the Gaulish *ambaxtos [source]. The word embassy comes from the same Gaulish word [source].

Proto-Celtic	*wastos = servant
Gaulish	*wassos = young man, squire
Old Irish (Goídelc)	foss = attendant, man-servant, servant
Proto-Brythonic	*gwass = boy, servant
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	guas, gwas = boy, lad, servant
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gwas [ɡwaːs] = boy, lad, stripling, youngster, young man; servant, attendant, employee, officer, vassal, slave gwasanaeth = service, attendance, a ministering, office, duty, employment gwasanaethu = to serve, be a servant, attend, wait upon, minister
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	guas = servant gwas = a youth, servant, one of the common people, a mean person, a fellow, rogue, rascal gwasanaeth = attendance, service, bondage, slavery
Cornish (Kernewek)	gwas = chap, fellow, guy, servant gwas hwel = workman gwas ti = housemaker
Old Breton	guos = vassal, man, husband, farmer
Middle Breton	goas = vassal, man, husband, farmer (who rents a farm)
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gwaz [ˈɡwaːs] = (young) man, vassal, valet, servant, husband, mermaid

Etymology: possibly comes from the Proto-Indo-European word *upo-sth₂-o-s (standing beneath) [source].

The English word vassal comes from the same Celtic roots, via the Old French vassal, the Medieval Latin vassallus (manservant, domestic, retainer), from the Latin vassus (servant) from the Gaulish *wassos [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	seirbísech = auxiliary, ancillary, servant, agent
Irish (Gaeilge)	seirbhíseach = servant
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	seirbheiseach [ʃerʲevɪʃəx] = servant, servitor seirbheisiche = servant
Manx (Gaelg)	shirveishagh = attendant, clergyman, minister, servant, server, vassal

Etymology: from the Old French servise (service, servitude, vasselage), from the Latin servitium (slavery, servitude, service), from servus (servant, serf, slave) [source]

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Bareness

23rd August 202214th August 2024 By Simon

Words for bare, naked and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	lomm [l͈om] = bare, naked, smooth, exact, threadbare, exact, strict, pure, unadulterated, clear (sounds), unlenited
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	lomm, lom = bare, naked, smooth, exact, threadbare, exact, strict, pure, unadulterated, clear (sounds), unlenited lomnocht, lomnacht = (stark) naked, barefaced
Irish (Gaeilge)	lom [l̪ˠɑumˠ/l̪ˠoumˠ/l̪ˠʌmˠ] = bare, thin, close; to lay bare, strip, denude, become bare lomadh = baring, shearing, stripping, denudation, improveishement, fleecing lomair = to shear, fleece, denude, despoil lomaire = shearer, fleecer, shark lomairt = shearing, clip, denudation, spoliation
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	lom [l̪ˠɔum] = bare, naked, nude, bleak, plain, unadorned, defenceless, destitute, gaunt, meagre, threadbare, leafless, net (weight) lomnochd = nakedness, nudity, bare, naked lomradh = denuding, fleecing, shearing, fleece lomadair = shearer, shaver, barber lomadh = shaving, shearing, shave, making bare, stripping moir lom = smooth / calm sea
Manx (Gaelg)	lhome = arid, bald, bare, fleshless, leafless, meagre, naked, nude, scraggy, severe, spare, unset, unvarnished, open, neat lhoamid = smoothness, nakedness lommyrt = clipping, shear, (sheep-)shearing lhomeyder = plunderer, shearer, stripper loamreyder = fleecer, shearer
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	llum, llwm, llom = wave
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llwm [ɬʊm] = bare, barren, naked, threadbare, worn, ragged; destitute, needy, poor, plain, simple, humble, empty llwmder = poverty, nakedness, bareness llwmhau = to denude, lay bare, despoil, impoverish, deprive llwmedafedd, llwm ei gotwm = threadbare y llety llwm = poor place or situation, state of starvation, destitution troednoeth = barefoot
Cornish (Kernewek)	lomm = bare, naked lommder = bareness lommas = area of unprofitable farmland lommhe = to bare, strip bare
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	lom = nude, naked
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	loum, lom = drop
Breton (Brezhoneg)	lomm [ˈlɔmː] = drop, shot (of drink), a modest, insignificant quantity, nothing lommad = drop (of) lommig [ˈlɔ̃mːik] = small drop, a modest quantity, insignificant

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *pleus- (plucking, peeling, feathers, fleece) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*noxtos = naked
Old Irish (Goídelc)	nocht [n͈oxt] = naked, bare, uncovered
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	nocht, noco = nkaed, bare, uncovered
Irish (Gaeilge)	nocht [n̪ˠɔxt̪ˠ] = naked, bare, exposed; to bare, strip, uncover nochtach = naked person nochtachas = nudity nochtadh = baring, exposure, disclosure, revelation, appearance nochtaine = nakedness
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	nochd [n̪ˠɔ̃xg] = naked person, nakedness
Proto-Brythonic	noeth = wave
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	noɨθ = naked, bare
Welsh (Cymraeg)	noeth [noːɨ̯θ/nɔi̯θ] = naked, nude, undressed, stripped, bare, ill-clad; bare, exposed, bleak, uncovered, bald, hairless, blank noethi = to bare, undress, denude, remove from, strip, uncover, expore, go bald, deprive, lay bare noethlun = a nude (in art), destitute noethlwm = naked, unclothed, ill-clad, bare, bleak, desolate noethlymunwr = nudist, naturist, stripper, streaker noethni = nakedness, nudity, barrenness, bleakness
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	noath = naked, bare noatha = nakedness noeth = bare, uncovered, void, destitute
Cornish (Kernewek)	noth = bare, naked, nude nothedh = nudity
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	noit = nude, green
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	noaz, noas = nude, green
Breton (Brezhoneg)	noazh [ˈnwɑːs] = nude, green noazhkorfer = nudist noazhkorferezh = nudism

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *nogʷtos from *negʷ- (bare, naked) [source]. Words from the same PIE root include gymnasium, naked and nude in English, naakt (nude, naked, bald) in Dutch, and nacht (naked, bare) in German [source].

Trembing

2nd August 202222nd September 2022 By Simon

Words for trembling, fever and related words in Celtic languages. I chose these words because I have a bit of a fever at the moment.

Proto-Celtic	*kritos = fever, trembling, shaking
Old Irish (Goídelc)	crith [ˈkʲr͈ʲiθ] = shaking, trembling crithnaigid = to shake, tremble
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	crith = shaking, trembling, a shake, tremble crothaid = shakes, causes to tremble, brandishes
Irish (Gaeilge)	crith [crʲɪ(h) / crʲɪç] = tremble, shiver, tremor, shudder, vibration, quiver; to tremble, shake critheagla = quaking fear, terror, timorousness crithloinnir = shimmer crithlonraigh = to shimmer creathán = to tremble, quiver creathánach = trembling, quivering, vibratory creathánaí = trembler
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	crith [krʲih] = quake, shudder, shock, shake, tremble, shiver, vibrate; quaking, shuddering, shocking, shaking, trembling, shivering critheanaich = trembling crith-cheòl = warbling, quavering, trills (in music) crith-thalmhainn = earthquake crithnich = quake, shudder, shake, tremble, shiver, vibrate
Manx (Gaelg)	crie = to shake craa = to shake
Old Welsh	crit = shivering, trembling, fever
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	crid, cryt, kryt = shivering, trembling, fever crynei, krynu, krennit = to tremble, quake, shiver, shake
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cryd [krɨːd / kriːd] = shivering, trembling, dread, fear, ague, fever, disease crydu, crydio = to shake, tremble, quake crynu = to tremble, quake, shiver, shake, brandish, vibrate, quaver, gnash, twinkle echryd = dread, terror, fright, fear, trembling, shivering, tremor; fearful, dreadful, frightful ysgryd = shiver, trembling, shudder, fright, horror, agony
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	crenne, cranna = to tremble, quake
Cornish (Kernewek)	kren = shake krena, kerna = to shake, shiver, tremble krenans = vibration Krener, Krenores = Quaker dorgrys = earthquake
Old Breton	crit = shivering, trembling
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	kren, crezn, creen, crein = trembling crenaff = to tremble crezn doüar, crein doüar = earthquake
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kren = trembling krenañ = to tremble kren-douar = earthquake krendourarel = seismic

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *krit-, from *(s)kreyt-, from *(s)ker- (twist, turn, bend) [source].

The English word scree (loose stony debris on a slope), comes from the same PIE root, via the Old Norse skriða (landscape, landslip) and the Proto-Germanic *skrīþaną (to crawl, glide, walk) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sieving Riddles

15th July 202215th July 2022 By Simon

Today we’re looking at the words for sieve and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*krētros = sieve
Old Irish (Gaoidhealg)	críathar = sieve
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	críathar = sieve, riddle críatharach = marsh, morass, boggy wasteland críathrad = act of winnowing, sifting, riddling críathraid = sifts, riddles, spreads
Irish (Gaeilge)	criathar [ˈcɾʲiəhəɾˠ / ˈcɾʲiːhəɾˠ] = sieve, riddle criathach = pitted, perforated, swampy criathrú = winnowing, sifting, honeycombing criathradóir = winnower, sifter, maker of sieves criathraigh = to sieve, winnow, riddle, sift, honeycomb criathróir = animal surefooted on boggy ground criathar meala = honeycomb criathar mín = fine sieve
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	criathar [krʲiə.ər] = riddle, sieve criathar-tomhais = bushel (measure and implement) criathar-garbh = riddle (implement) criatharair [krʲiəhərɛrʲ] = sieve-maker criathradh [krʲiarəɣ] = (act of) filtering
Manx (Gaelg)	creear = sieve, riddle creearey = sieve, pan, sift, riddle creear meein = fine sieve creear garroo = rough sieve jannoo creear = to honeycomb
Proto-Brythonic	*kruɨdr = wandering, sieve
Old Welsh	cruitr = winnowing shovel
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	cruidir, crwydr = sieve
Welsh (Cymraeg)	crwydr [ˈkrʰʊɨ̯dr̩ / ˈkrʰʊi̯dr̩] = a wandering, a roaming; misfortune, trouble, confusion, rout, dispersion; a straying, aberration, error; winnowing-fan, winnowing-shovel, sieve crwydro = to wander, roam, stroll, gad about, stray, go astray, deviate, digress crwydredig = wandering, vagrant, roving, stray crwydro = barn, granary, farm building crwydrwr = wanderer, vagrant, vagabond, rover, nomad
Old Cornish	croider = sieve, riddle
Middle Cornish	croider, crodar = sieve, riddle
Cornish (Kernewek)	kroder = coarse sieve, strainer, riddle kroder kroghen = bodhrán, hold-all
Old Breton	croitir = sieve, riddle
Middle Breton	croezr = sieve, riddle
Breton (Brezhoneg)	krouer = sieve, riddle, screen krouerañ = to sift, riddle, sieve krouer liammoù = link generator rakkroueriañ = pre-screening

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *krey-trom (sieve) from *krey- (to sift, separate, divide) [source].

Words from the same PIE root include crime, crisis, riddle and secret in English, ceart (right, correct, true) in Irish, and crynu (to tremble, shake) and ergryn (horror, dread) in Welsh [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Brushes and Broom

12th July 202227th April 2024 By Simon

Today we’re looking at the words for brush, broom and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	scúap [skuə̯b] = brush, broom, sheaf, bundle scúapad = act of sweeping scúapaire = sweeper
Irish (Gaeilge)	scuab [sˠkuəbˠ] = besom, broom; brush; sheaf, armful, bundle; to sweep scuabach = sweeping, flowing; gusty scuabachán = sweeping, sweepings scuabadh = to sweep, wash scuabadóir = sweeper scuabán = little besom, little brush, little sheaf, armful, bundle scuab fiacla = toothbrush scuab ghruaige = hairbrush scuab ingne = nailbrush scuab phéinte = paintbrush sreangscuab = wire brush
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	sguab [sguəb] = broom, besom, brush, sheaf sguabte = brushed, swept sguabanta = tidy, trim, clean sguabadh = brushing, sweeping sguabachan = brush sguabag = gusty, wind, whisk, sheaf (of corn) sguabadair = vacuum cleaner sguabair = sweeper sguab-aodaich = clothes brush
Manx (Gaelg)	skeab = besom, broom skeabey = brush, brushing, brush over, brush up, sweep, sweeping skeabit = brushed, swept skeaban daah, skeaban-slaa = paintbrush skeaban feeackle = toothbrush skeaban folt/fuilt = hairbrush
Proto-Brythonic	*ɨskʉb = brush, broom
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	escup, yscub, ysgub = brush, broom
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ysgub [ˈəsɡɨ̞b / ˈəsɡɪb] = sheaf, wheatsheaf, bundle; brush, broom, besom, quiver of arrows ysgubell = brush, broom, besom, mop, bunch (of flowers) ysgubo = to brush, sweep (away), make into sheaves ysgubol = sweeping ysgubwr = sweeper, sweep ysgub blu = feather duster priodas (coes) ysgub = informal wedding in which the parties jump over a broomstick in the presence of witnesses
Middle Cornish	scibia = to sweep, brush sciber = barn, any large room scubilen = whip, scourge
Cornish (Kernewek)	skub = sweeping skubell, skubyllen = broom, brush skubellik = paintbrush skubell sugna = vacuum cleaner skubell-wolghi = mop skuber, skubores = sweeper skubus = sweeping skubya = to brush, sweep skubyllen dhes = toothbrush skubyon = refuse, sweepings
Breton (Brezhoneg)	skub [ˈskyːp] = broom, brush, blade; sweep skubell = broom, brush, blade; sweep skubell-vroust(añ) = scrubbing brush skuberez = sweeper

Etymology: from the Latin scōpa (broom) Proto-Indo-European *skeh₂p- (to prop) [source]. Words from the same Latin root include scopa (broom) in Italian, escoba (broom) in Spanish, and shqopë (heather, heath, briar) in Albanian [source]..

Proto-Celtic	*banatlo- = broom (shrub)
Gaulish	*balano- = broom (shrub)
Celtiberian	bálago-, bálaco- = broom (shrub)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bealaidh [bɛl̪ˠɪn] = broom (shrub) bealaidh-Frangach, bealaidh-Sasannach = laburnum
Proto-Brythonic	*banatlo- = broom (shrub)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	banadil, banadyl, banadl = broom (shrub)
Welsh (Cymraeg)	banadl, banal [ˈbanadl] = broom (shrub) banadl Ffrainc = laburnum
Old Cornish	banathel = broom (shrub)
Middle Cornish	banal = broom (shrub)
Cornish (Kernewek)	banadhel = broom (shrub)
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	balan = broom (shrub)
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	balain, balazn = broom (shrub)
Breton (Brezhoneg)	balan [ˈbɑːlãn] = broom (shrub) balaneg [bã.ˈnɑː.lek] = broom grove balaenn [baˈlɑːɛn] = broom, brush

According to An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language by Alexander MacBain (1982), there is a cognate in Irish: beally/i, however it doesn’t appear in any of the Irish dictionaries I’ve checked.

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰenH-tlom (way, path) in the sense of “cleared path (in a wood)” [source].

The French word balai (broom, broomstick, brush) comes from the Gaulish *balano-, via Old French, Middle Breton and Old Breton [source]. The Spanish word bálago (straw, Spanish broom), comes from the same Gaulish root, via the Celtiberian *bálago-/*bálaco- [source].

Words same PIE roots possibly include bana (course, path, trajectory) in Swedish, baan (road, path, track, job, orbit) in Dutch, and Bahn (route, trail, railway)in German [source].

The shrub known as broom in Britain and Ireland is also known as common broom or Scotch broom, or Cytisus scoparius in Latin. It is a deciduous leguminous shrub native to western and Central Europe. Broom can also refer to similar plants, such as French broom and Spanish broom [source].

Twigs from the broom, and from other plants, can be tied to a stout stick and used to sweep things. Such implements are traditionally known as besoms or broom besoms, and became known simply as brooms [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

Soft and Tender

29th June 202229th May 2025 By Simon

Today we’re looking at the words for soft and tender and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with an * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*buggos = soft, tender
Old Irish (Goídelc)	boc = soft, gentle, tender
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	boc = soft, gentle, tender, tepid
Irish (Gaeilge)	bog [bˠɔɡ / bˠʌɡ] (noun) = soft, tender, flabby, indulgent, lenient, mellow (voice), mild (weather), loose, lukewarm bog (verb) = to soften, become soft, ease, warm, get milder, move, loosen, rock bogach = soft, boggy ground bogachar = softness, bogginess bogadh = softening, easement, movement, stir bogánta = soft, squelchy bogearraí = software an rud a fhaightear go bog caitear go bog é = easy come, easy go tóg go bog é = take it easy
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bog [boɡ] = flabby, soft, limp, pulpy; moist, marshy, boggy, slopp; foolish; damp, humid; indulgent; spiritless; flat (in music); lax (in linguistics) bogach = bog, fen, marsh, swamp, morass, quagmire bogachadh = wetting, steeping, moistening, mellowing, softening, swilling bathar-bog = software
Manx (Gaelg)	bog = soft, easy, tender, flabby, pulpy, slack, limp, moist, soft-hearted, callow boggagh = to soften, steep strong>boggaghey = to soften, relax, ease, moisten, dissolve boggyr = soft boglagh = quagmire, morass, swamp, oozy, boggy bog-roauyr = podgy bog-vroiet = soft-boiled bog- vroojit = squashy
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	buc = soft, tender
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	boug = soft, tender
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bouk [buːk] = soft, cozy, heavy, stifling (weather) boukaat [buˈkɑːt] = to soften, tenderize boukted = softness, weakness

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰewgʰ- (to bend, curve, arch) [source].

The English word bog (wet spongy ground, marsh, swamp), was borrowed from the Irish or Scottish Gaelic bog [source]. English words from the same PIE root include badge, bagel, (to) bow, buck and bow (and arrow) [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	muad = cloud, mist, fumes
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	muad, muadh = cloud, mist, fumes
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	muadh = soft, moist
Manx (Gaelg)	meeley = soft, bland, smooth, yielding, soft-spoken, moisten, delicate, fine
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	medal, meddal [kam] = soft, yielding, tender, delicate, pliable
Welsh (Cymraeg)	meddal [ˈmɛðal / ˈmeːðal] = soft, yielding, tender, delicate, pliable; mild, gentle, placid, tolerant, merciful, lax, inexperienced, foolish, weak meddalu = to soften, become soft, thaw; to lenite, cause lenition meddalaidd = soft, softish, tender, immature, foolish, weak meddalder = softness, soft spot, tenderness, sensitivity meddaledig = softened, soft, tender meddalwedd = software treiglad meddal = soft mutation
Middle Cornish	medhal, meddal = soft, mollient, tender medhalder = softness, tenderness, mildness, gentleness
Cornish (Kernewek)	medhel = soft medhelhe = to lenite, soften, absorb medhelheans = lenition medhelweyth = software
Middle Breton	mezell = malleable, mean
Breton (Brezhoneg)	mezel = malleable, mean, leprosy

Etymology: possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ml̥dus (soft, weak) [source]. Words from the same PIE root include mild in English, mild (mild, gentle, lenient) in Dutch, mladý (young) in Czech, molle (soft, flabby, weak, feeble) in Italian, mou (soft, mushy, squishy, slow, weak, comfortable) in French, and muelle (soft, mild) in Spanish [source].

Proto-Celtic	mīnis = smooth, soft, gentle meinos = tender, soft, gentle
Gaulish	*mēnos = (?)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	mín = fine, minor, petty, small, level, smooth
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	mín, min = smooth, level, calm, gentle, placid, courteous, docile, digestible, palatable, soft
Irish (Gaeilge)	mín [mʲiːnʲ] = smooth, fine míneadas = gentleness, refinement míneog = gentle, placid woman mínigh = to smooth, polish, level, reclaim, make gentle, assuage, quiet, explain, expound, interpret míníneacht = daintiness, refinement, gentleness, quietness, subtlety, preciosity, dainty, delicacy mínitheoir = smoother, polisher, leveller, reclaimer, assuager, pacifier, explainer, interpreter
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	mìn [miːn] = smooth, silky, sleek, gentle, dainty, downy, powdery, fine, bland mìneachd [miːnəxg] = smoothness, softness, delicacy, minuteness mìnealas = softness, gentleness
Manx (Gaelg)	meen = soft, sweet, meek, mild, bland, darling, dear, patient, quiet meeninagh = soft, tameable, emollient meeinid = softness, smoothness, patience, mildness, gentleness, blandness
Proto-Brythonic	*muɨn = mild, gentle
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	mwyn = tender, mild, gentle, meek mwynaidd = tender, mild, gentle, kind mwynas = good, turn, kindness, courtesy, love
Welsh (Cymraeg)	mwyn [muːɨ̯n / mʊi̯n] = tender, mild, gentle, meek, amiable, loving, kind, obliging, courteous, noble, fair, pleasant, sweet-sounding, melodious, soft, soothing mwynaidd = tender, mild, gentle, kind mwynas = good, turn, kindness, courtesy, love mwyndeb = mildness, gentleness, pleasure mwyndeg = gentle and fair, tender, genial, affable
Old Cornish	muin = gracile
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	mon, moyn = slender,
Cornish (Kernewek)	moon = slender, slim, thin
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	moin = delicate
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	moan = thin, slim, slender
Breton (Brezhoneg)	moan [mwãːn] = thin, slim, slender, fine, subtle moanaat = to get thinner, get slimmer, thin down, lose weight moanard = a thin, slender, skinny person moanded = slimming

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *meyh₁- (mild, soft). Words from the same root possible include mite (mild, moderate, balmy, mild, meek) and mezzo (half, middle, means, method) in Italian, miły (nice, pleasant, dear, gentle, soft) in Polish, and mielas (nice, sweet, cute) in Lithuanian [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, Teanglann.ie, Am Faclair Beag, An etymological dictionary of the Gaelic language, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Online Manx Dictionary, Gaelg Corpus, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Lexicon cornu-britannicum : a dictionary of the ancient Celtic language of Cornwall, Gerlyver Kernewek, Devri : Le dictionaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, TermOfis

Crooked

22nd June 202212th November 2022 By Simon

Today we’re looking at the words for crooked and twisted and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*kambos = twisted, crooked, bent
Gaulish	Cambo- = found in place names
Old Irish (Goídelc)	camm, cam [kam] = crooked, bent, curved, twisted; wavy, curly (hair)
Irish (Gaeilge)	cam [kaumˠ / kɑːmˠ / kamˠ] = bend, bent, crooked, crookedness, fraud object; to bend, crook, distort camadán = bent, crooked (person or thing) camadh = to bend camalanga = unintelligible talk camalóid = high-backed, humped (animal), tall stooped person camán = hurling-stick, hurley, bent, crooked, object, quaver camarsach = wavy, curled camas = small bay, curve; (river) bend
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cam [kaum / kaimə] = bent, crooked, awry, not straight, squinty, wry, one-eyed; bend, curve, trick cama-chasach = bow/bandy-legged cam-chòmhdhail = awkward meeting. misadventure cam-bheulach = wry-mouthed camadh = bending, curving, curve, curvature, crook, variant, variation camaghaileach [kamaɣaləx] = twisted, winding caman = club, stick, shinty stick, quaver camanachd = shinty
Manx (Gaelg)	cam = bent, crooked, deceitful, intricate, knotty, perverse, rakish, wry, wrong cam-hooilagh = cross-eyed, squinting cam-jeeragh = meandering, tortuous camlurgey = bowlegged, bandy-legged
Proto-Brythonic	*kam = crooked, bent
Old Welsh	cam = crooked, bent
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	cam = crooked, bent
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cam [kam] = crooked, bent, hunch-backed, distorted, wry, bowed, curved, looped, winding; one-eyed, squint-eyed; wrong, evil, false, unjust, deceitful; misdeed, sin, vice, injustice, injury ar gam = in error, erroneously, unjustly, falsely, astray, amiss ar y cam = in the wrong, culpable yng ngham = wrong, wrongly, unjustly, in error, faulty camgymeriad = mistake, misapprehension, misconstruction, error camni, cami = crookedness, crook, curvature, twist camog = crookedness, curvature, hump-backed person camu [ˈkamɨ / ˈkami] = to bend, stoop, curve, bow, pervert, distort, abuse
Middle Cornish	cam = crooked, wry, distorted, squint-eyed, perverse, wrong, wicked camgarrec = bandy-legged camma = to bend, curve, make crooked; trepass camnivet = rainbow camwul = to do wrong
Cornish (Kernewek)	kamm = bent, crooked, erroneous, error, wrong kamma = to curve kammas = bay, bend kammdremena = to trespass kammdreylya = to zigzag kammdybi, kammwul = to err kammgemeryans = mistake kammgonvedhes = to misunderstand kammhynsek = unjust, unrighteous, wicked
Old Breton	cam(m) = curved, curve, lame, bad, wicked camaff = to bend, limp
Middle Breton	kamm = curved, curve
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kamm = angled, bent, bend kammadur = bending, camber, cambering kammañ = to arch kammigell = zigzag, squabble, chicane kammigellañ = to zigzag

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *kh₂em- (to arch), from *(s)ḱh₂embos (crooked) [source].

The Gaulish version of the word appears in the place name Cambo-dunum, also written Kambodunon, which became Campodūnum in Latin, which was a town in the Roman province of Raetia, and is now Kempten in Bavaria in southern Germany [source].

The name Campbell comes from the Scottish Gaelic Caimbeul, from cam (crooked) and beul (mouth) [source], while Cameron comes from Camshròn, from cam (crooked) and sròn (nose) [source].

The Proto-Celtic word *kambos is the root of the Galician words camba (doorjamb of an oven, handmill), cambar (to bend), cambiar (to change) [source].

*kambos was possibly also borrowed into French as camus [ka.my] (flat-nosed, snub-nosed) [source], and this ended up in English as camous/camoys (flat, depressed, crooked nose) [source].

Other English words from the PIE root (*kh₂em-), include camera, camp, campus, champagne and champion [source].

Proto-Celtic	*wēros = crooked
Old Irish (Goídelc)	fíar = bent, crooked, curved
Irish (Gaeilge)	fiar [fʲiəɾˠ] = slant, tilt, bias, obliquity, bend, twist, crookedness, perverseness; slanting, tilted, oblique, diagonal fiaradh to slant, tilt
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	fiar [fiər] = bent, crooked, squint, wry, oblique, perverse fiaragach = slanted, twisted, touchy fiaranaich = slant fiaradh = slanting, slant, distorting, skewing, distortion fiarach = inclinning, slanting fiaras = crookedness
Proto-Brythonic	*gwuɨr = crooked, bent
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	gvir, gwyr [ɡwɨr] = crooked, bent
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gŵyr [ɡuːɨ̯r/ɡʊi̯r] = askew, slanting, oblique, aslant, cross(-eyed), squinting, crooked, curved, bent, distorted, unjust, dishonest, wrong, evil; wickedness, error, wandering, twist gwyrio = to bow, stoop, bend, lean, incline, slant, slope gwyraidd = sloping, slanting, stooping
Cornish (Kernewek)	gwarr = curve gwarak = arch, arc, bow, crescent
Middle Breton	goar = curved, curve
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gwar = curved gwared = arch

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *weh₁iros (turned, twisted), from *weh₁y- (to twist, wrap) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Old Breton (Brethonoc)

Buying and Purchasing

Hammers

Surfaces

Servants

Bareness

Trembing

Sieving Riddles

Brushes and Broom

Soft and Tender

Crooked