Category: Old Breton (Brethonoc)

Swallows

By Simon

Words for swallows, swifts and martins in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *wesnālā = swallow
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)
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.

Flying swallow

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

Herons

By Simon

Words for heron in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *korxsā / *korxsiyos = heron
Celtiberian *cárcia = heron
Old Irish (Goídelc) corr = crane, heron, stork, crane
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) corr = (grey) heron, stork, crane, leg-necked person
Irish (Gaeilge) corr [kəuɾˠ] = (grey) heron, stork, crane, leg-necked person
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) corra [kɔr̪ˠə] = heron, stork, crane
Manx (Gaelg) coar = heron, stork, crane
Proto-Brythonic *krɨxɨð = heron
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) crychyd, krechydd, crechydd = heron
Welsh (Cymraeg) crychydd [ˈkrəχɨ̞ð / ˈkrəχɪð] = heron
Old Cornish cherhit = heron
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) cerhidh = heron
Cornish (Kernewek) kerghydh = heron
Old Breton corcid = heron
Middle Breton (Brezonec) quercheiz, querch-eïz, querc’heiz, qarc’hleyz kerc’heiz = heron
Breton (Brezhoneg) kerc’heiz = heron

Etymology: possibly immitative in origin. Words for heron in Spanish (garza) and Portuguese (garça) come from the Celtiberian root [source].

Proto-Brythonic *krexVr = heron
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) crehyr = heron
Welsh (Cymraeg) crëyr [ˈkrɛ.ɨ̞r / kreː.ɪr] = heron

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱrey- (to scream, screech) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Heron

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

Foxes

By Simon

Words for fox in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc) sinnach / sindach = fox
Irish (Gaeilge) sionnach [ˈʃɪn̪ˠəx / ʃɪˈn̪ˠɑx / ˈʃɪn̪ˠax] = fox
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) sionnach [ˈʃun̪ˠəx] / seannach [ˈʃan̪ˠəx] = fox, bagpipe reed
Manx (Gaelg) shynnagh = fox

Etymology: unknown

Irish (Gaeilge) madra rua [madəɣ ‘r̪ˠuəɣ] = fox, red fox
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) madadh-ruadh [madəɣ ‘r̪ˠuəɣ] = fox, red fox

Etymology: from the Old Irish madrad (dog) and the rúad (red) [source].

Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) balgair [bal̪ˠagɛrʲ] = fox

Etymology: unknown.

Proto-Celtic *loɸernos = fox
Gaulish *louernos = fox
Old Irish (Goídelc) loarn = fox
Proto-Brythonic llowern = fox
Old Welsh louern = fox
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) llewyrn = fox
Welsh (Cymraeg) llewyrn = foxes
Old Cornish louuern = fox
Cornish (Kernewek) lowarn = fox
Old Breton louuern = fox
Middle Breton louarn = fox
Breton (Brezhoneg) louarn [ˈluː.aʁn] / luhern = fox

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *h₂wlop- (fox) [source].

Welsh (Cymraeg) llwynog [ˈɬʊɨ̯nɔɡ] = fox, a cunning, craft or willy person, bundle
llwynoges = vixen, female fox
llwynogyn = little fox

Etymology: from llwyn (bush, shrub, brake, thicket, copse, grove, arbour, woods, forest) and the suffix -og, from Latin lignum (firewood, tree), Proto-Indo-European *leǵ-no- (that which is collected) [source].

Welsh (Cymraeg) cadno [ˈkadnɔ] = fox; craft person, foxy, deceptive day; bundle of straw used for constructing an air passage in a stack of corn not well-seasoned; skid, scotch, trigger
cadnawes = vixen, female fox

Etymology: probably from the personal name Cadno, from cad (battle), from the Proto-Celtic *katus (battle), from the Proto-Indo-European *kéh₃tus (fight); and the suffix -no, from the Proto-Celtic *gnāw- (knowing) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

Fox

Ants

By Simon

Words for ant and related things in Celtic languages.

Formica cf. rufibarbis

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Old Irish (Goídelc) sengán = ant
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) sengán, seangan = ant
Irish (Gaeilge) seangán = ant
seangánach = full of ants
nead seangán = anthill
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) seangan [ʃɛŋgan] = ant, mean fellow
seangan ‘nad bhriogais = to be fidgety, have the jtters (ants in your breeches)
seangananach [ʃɛŋganəx] = pertaining to or abounding in small ants
Manx (Gaelg) sniengan = ant
snienganagh = ant-infested, formic
crongan sniengan = anthill

Etymology: possibly from the Old Irish seng (thin, slender. meagre) [source].

Proto-Celtic *morwis = ant
Old Irish (Goídelc) moirb [morʲvʲ] = ant
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) moirb = ant
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) myr = ant
myrion = ants
morgrug, morcrug = ants
morgrugyn, morcrugyon = ant
Welsh (Cymraeg) mŷr, myrr [mɨːr/miːr] = ant
myrion = ants
myrdwyn = anthill
morgrug [ˈmɔrɡrɨ̞ɡ / ˈmɔrɡrɪɡ] = ants (from mŷr [ant] and crug [hill])
morgrugyn = ant
morgrugaidd, morgrugol = ant-like pertaining to ants, formic
Old Cornish menƿionen = ant
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) menwionen, meuwionen = ant, emmet
Cornish (Kernewek) moryonen = ant, tourists
moryoner = anteater
Old Breton moriuon = ant
Middle Breton (Brezonec) meryen = ant
Breton (Brezhoneg) merien [ˈmɛr.jɛn] = ants
merionenn = ant
merionaer = anteater
merieneg [mɛ.ˈrjẽː.nɛk] = anthill

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *morwi- (ant). Words from the same roots include formic (pertaining to ants) and pismire (ant – archaic) in English, fourmi (ant) in French, mier (ant) in Dutch, maur (ant) in Icelandic and myra (ant) in Swedish [source].

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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

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Snakes

By Simon

Words for snake in Celtic languages.

Adder

Proto-Celtic *natrixs = snake
Old Irish (Goídelc) nathir [ˈnaθirʲ] = snake
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) nathir = snake
Irish (Gaeilge) nathair [ˈn̪ˠæhəɾʲ] = snake
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) nathair [n̪ˠahɪrʲ] = snake, serpent, viper, adder
Manx (Gaelg) aarnieu / ardnieu = adder, serpent, snake, viper
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) nadret, nadred, neidyr = snake, serpent
Welsh (Cymraeg) neidr [nei̯dr / ˈnei̯dɪr] = snake, serpent
Old Cornish nadar = snake
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) nader = snake, viper, adder
Cornish (Kernewek) nader = adder
Old Breton natrolion = snakes
Middle Breton nazr, azr, aër, aer = snake
Breton (Brezhoneg) naer = snake

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *(s)neh₁tr- (adder), or from *(s)neh₂- (to swim) [source].

The English word snake comes from a different root: the Old English snaca (snake, serpent, reptile), from the Proto-Germanic *snakô (snake), from *snakaną (to crawl), from the Proto-Indo-European *sneg- (to crawl; a creeping thing) [source].

Welsh (Cymraeg) gwiber = viper, adder, poisonous snake, water-snake, mythical flying serpent, the devil, scoundrel, scold, venomous woman
colwiber snake, serpent, viper
Breton (Brezhoneg) wiber = viper

Etymology: from the Latin vīpera (viper), possibly from vivus-pario (one that gives live young) [source].

Welsh (Cymraeg) sarff = serpent, snake, scorpion; hero, warrior, leader, chieftain
Cornish (Kernewek) serpont = snake, serpent
sarf = serpent
Breton (Brezhoneg) sarpant = snake, dragon, kite

Etymology: from the Latin serpēns (snake), from serpō (I creep, crawl), from the Proto-Indo-European *serp- (to creep, crawl) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

Deer

By Simon

Words for deer in Celtic languages. There were several different words for deer in Proto-Celtic: *wēdus, *karwos, *ellan(t)ī-, *danī- and *yorkos, and also *sidos (stag). They may have referred to different types of deer, but it is not certain which types, apart from *yorkos, which is a roe deer.

Deer

Proto-Celtic *wēdus [ˈweː.dus] = wild
Old Irish (Goídelc) fíad [fʲiːa̯ð] = wild animals, game, especially deer
Irish (Gaeilge) fia [fʲiə] = deer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) fiadh [fiəɣ] = deer
Manx (Gaelg) feeaih = deer

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *weydʰ- (wood, wilderness) [source].

Proto-Celtic *karwos = deer, stag
Gaulish caruus / carvos = deer
Old Irish (Goídelc) carbh = deer
Irish (Gaeilge) carria / cairrfhiadh = deer, stag
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) cair-fhiadh / carbh-fheadh = hart, stag
Manx (Gaelg) çharroo = stag
Proto-Brythonic *karw = deer, stag
Old Welsh *caru = deer
Middle Welsh (kymraec) caru, carv, carw = deer, hart, stag
Welsh (Cymraeg) carw [ˈkaru / ˈkaːru] = deer, hart, stag; lord, nobleman, patron
Old Cornish caruu = stag
Middle Cornish carow = stag
Cornish (Kernewek) karow = stag
Middle Breton caro, qaro = deer
Breton (Brezhoneg) karv = deer

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱerh₂wós, from *ḱerh₂- (horn) [source].

Proto-Celtic *sidos = stag
Old Irish (Goídelc) séd = deer
Welsh (Cymraeg) hydd = stag, hart
Breton (Brezhoneg) heizes = roe-deer, venison, intrepid boy

Etymology: uncertain

Proto-Celtic *ellan(t)ī- / *agliones = deer
Old Irish (Goídelc) ag [aɣ] = bullock, cow, ox; deer, stag
Irish (Gaeilge) agh = cow, ox
agh alla = deer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) agh [ɤɣ] = heifer, hind
Welsh (Cymraeg) eilon/eilion = stag, hart

Etymology: possible from the same root as the English word eland (a type of antelope found in South Africa), which from the Dutch eland (elk), from the Old High German elent.

Proto-Celtic *ou̯ījkā = ?
Gaulish cerua = ?
Old Cornish euhic = hind, deer
Old Welsh eguic = hind, deer
Welsh (Cymraeg) ewig = hind, doe, roe; graceful light-footed woman; deer, hart

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ówis (sheep) [source]

Proto-Celtic *yorkos = roebuck, deer
Gaulish iorkos = deer
Proto-Brythonic *jorx = deer, stag
Welsh (Cymraeg) iwrch [jʊrχ] = roe-deer, roebuck
Old Cornish yorch = roe-deer
Cornish (Kernewek) yorgh = roe-deer
Old Breton iorch = roe-deer
Breton (Brezhoneg) yourc’h = roe-deer, venison, intrepid boy

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *york- (antelope, gazelle) [source].

Proto-Celtic *danī- = deer
Welsh (Cymraeg) danas = deer, fallow deer
Breton (Brezhoneg) demm = deer, fallow deer

Etymology: related to the French daim (hind, doe), from the Latin dāma (fallow deer, buck, doe) [source]

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

Bears

By Simon

Words for bear in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *artos = bear
Noric *𐌀𐌓𐌕𐌄(𐌁𐌖𐌈𐌆) (Arte(budz)) = bear(?)
Gaulish *artio = bear
Old Irish (Goídelc) art [ar͈t] = bear, hero, warrior
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) art [ar̪ˠʃd] = bear (archaic), hero
Proto-Brythonic *arθ [arθ] = bear
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) arth [arθ] = bear
Welsh (Cymraeg) arth [arθ] = bear, fierce or rough person
Cornish (Kernewek) arth [ɒɹθ] = bear
Old Breton ard / arth = bear
Breton (Brezhoneg) arzh = bear

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ŕ̥tḱos (bear) [Source].

Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ursa [ur̪ˠsə] = bear
Cornish (Kernewek) ors = bear
Breton (Brezhoneg) ourz = ourz

Etymology: possibly from the Latin ursa (she-bear), from ursus (bear), from the Proto-Italic *orssos (bear), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ŕ̥tḱos (bear) [Source].

Old Irish (Goídelc) mathgamain [ˈmaθɣəṽənʲ] = bear
Irish (Gaeilge) mathúin [ˈmˠahuːnʲ] = bear
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) mathan [ˈmahan] = bear
Manx (Gaelg) maghouin = bear

Etymology: from the Old Irish math (good) and gamuin (calf) [Source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

bears

Eating

By Simon

Words for to eat in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *essi = to eat
Old Irish (Goídelc) ithid [ˈiθʲiðʲ] = to eat
Irish (Gaeilge) ith [ɪ / ɪh] = to eat, feed, graze, bite, corrode, erode, consume, destroy, abuse, scold, revile, chew
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ith [iç] = to eat, gnaw, chew, devour, corrode, consume
Manx (Gaelg) ee [i] = to eat, devour, feed, erode, kill off, dispose; consumption, eating, depletion
Welsh (Cymraeg) ysu [ˈəsɨ / ˈəsi] = to consume, eat, devour, destroy, ruin, corrode, erode, wear away, torment, itch
Old Cornish esat = to eat, eating

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁édti (to eat) [Source].

Welsh (Cymraeg) bwyta [ˈbʊɨ̯ta / ˈbʊi̯ta] = to eat, consume, devour, ravage, waste, wear away, corrode, rust

Etymology: bwyd (food) +‎ –ha (denominative suffix) [Source].

Cornish (Kernewek) dybri / debry = to eat
Old Breton diprim = to eat
Breton (Brezhoneg) debriñ [ˈde.bʁɪ̃] = to eat

Etymology: uncertain

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

Clean & Pure

By Simon

Words for clean in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *glanos = clean, clear
Old Irish (Goídelc) glan [ɡlan] = clear, pure, clear
Irish (Gaeilge) glan [ɡlˠanˠ] = clean, clear, pure, bright, well-made, distinct; complete, extact
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) glan [gl̪ˠan] = clean, pure, bright, sheer, downright, great, grand, grovy
Manx (Gaelg) glen = clean, fair, fresh-coloured, clear, pure, chaste, hygienic, sheer, emphatic, downright, peremptory, flat (refusal), cloudless, undefiled, clearcut, unclouded
Proto-Brythonic *glan [ˈɡlan] = clean, clear
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) glan = clean, clear
Welsh (Cymraeg) glân [glan] = clean, cleansed, neat; clear of sin, pure, good, virtuous, uncorrupted, undefiled, fair, honest, sincere; holy; fair of countenance, beautiful, handsome; complete, clean, utter, entire
Cornish (Kernewek) glan = clear, clean, pure
Old Breton glan = pure
Middle Breton glan = pure
Breton (Brezhoneg) glan = pure

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰl̥h₃-nó-s, *ǵʰelh₃- (green, yellow) [Source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

Gentle treasure

By Simon

Words for gift, treasure, benefit in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *moinis = treasure, precious object
Old Irish (Goídelc) moín = gift, benefit
Irish (Gaeilge) maoin [mˠiːnʲ] = gift, benefit, property, wealth, treasure (term of endearment)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) maoin [mɯːn̪ʲ] = asset, wealth, fund, gear, goods
Manx (Gaelg) mayn = property, good order
Proto-Brythonic *muɨn = beautiful
Old Welsh muin = worth, value
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) mwyn = worth, value
Welsh (Cymraeg) mwyn [muːɨ̯n / mʊi̯n] = tender, mild, gentle, meek, amiable, loving, kind, obliging, courteous, noble, fair, pleasant, sweet-sounding, melodious, soft, soothing
Old Cornish muin = gracile
Old Breton moin = delicate
Middle Breton moen = thin
Breton (Brezhoneg) moan [ˈmwãːn] = thin, slender

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European moynis [Source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

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