Oak (trees)

21st August 201911th September 2019 By Simon

Words for oak (Quercus) in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic	*daru [d̪ˠaɾʲ] = oak
Gaulish	Dervo = used in placenames
Old Irish (Goídelc)	dair [d̪ˠaɾʲ] = oak
Irish (Gaeilge)	dair [d̪ˠuːnˠ] = oak doire [ˈd̪ˠɛɾʲə] = oak-wood; wood, grove, thicket
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	dair [darʲ] = oak (archaic) darach [darəx] = oak, oaken, made of oak; ship (poetic)
Manx (Gaelg)	darragh = oak, oaken, oak grove, oak wood darrag = oak, beam, cast (fishing), snood, hairline darree = oak
Proto-Brythonic	*dar [ˈdar] = oak tree
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	dar = oak
Welsh (Cymraeg)	dâr [ˈdaːr] = oak tree, foremost warrior, leader, mighty lord derwen [ˈdɛrwɛn] = oak tree derw = oak trees
Old Cornish	dar = oak
Cornish (Kernewek)	dar [daːr / dæːr] = oak derwen = oak tree derw = oak trees
Old Breton	dar / daeru = oak
Breton (Brezhoneg)	derv = oak

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *dóru (tree) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Fields, Meadows and Pastures

31st July 201929th December 2023 By Simon

There are a number of words for fields, meadows and pastures in Celtic languages. Some appear only or mainly in placenames. Here’s a selection:

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	achad = expanse of ground; pasture, field; field of battle
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	achad = expanse of ground; pasture, field
Irish (Gaeilge)	achadh [ˈaxə/ˈaxuː] = field (archaic, used mainly in placenames)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	achadh [axəɣ] = field, plain, meadow; cornfield newly cut or ready for reaping achadh-feòir = hayfield achadh-guail = coalfield bàn-achadh = fallow field

Etymology: unknown, possibly related to the Latin acnua (a measure or piece of land, 120 feet square) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*gortos = fence, enclosure, pen
Old Irish (Goídelc)	gort = field, orchard, crop
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	gort = field (arable or pasture land), field of battle, land, territory, standing corn guirtine = a little garden
Irish (Gaeilge)	gort [ɡɔɾˠt̪ˠ] = (cultivated) field, orchard, (standing) crop gortbhriseadh = tilling a field, tillage gortghlan = to clear (a field) of weeds, to weed out gortghlanadh = clearance (of a field), weeding gortghlantóir = weeder
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	gort [gɔrˠʃd] = standing corn; enclosure; small field
Proto-Brythonic	*gorθ = field
Welsh (Cymraeg)	garth = field, close, enclosure, fold, pen, yard; fort garthan = entrenchment, encampment, camp, stronghold, field of battle gartheiniad = camp defender
Cornish (Kernewek)	gorth = field
Old Breton	orz = field
Breton (Brezhoneg)	garz = field

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰortós (enclosure, hedge) [source], which is also the root of words yard and garden in English, via the Proto-Germanic *gardaz (enclosure, court, yard, garden) [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	macha = milking-yard
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	macha, machad = an enclosure for milking cows, a milking-yard or field
Irish (Gaeilge)	machaire = plain; stretch of level ground, links, course; field
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	machair [maxɪrʲ] = extensive low-lying fertile plain, level country; extensive beach; ow and level part of a farm
Manx (Gaelg)	magher = field, fertile land, campaign, chase, machar, sphere

Etymology: possibly from the Latin mācĕria (wall, enclosure) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*rowesyā- = field, open ground
Old Irish (Goídelc)	róe [r͈oːi̯] = battle-field, level piece of ground, fight, battle
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	róe, roe = a level piece of grand, a battle field, battle, a rout, fight
Irish (Gaeilge)	ré [rˠeː] = stretch of ground, level ground, field
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	raon [rˠɯːn] = field, (piece of) ground; plain; zone, area; field (of expertise); ambit
Manx (Gaelg)	rheam = gamut, range, field, monarchy
Old Breton	runt = mound
Breton (Brezhoneg)	run = mound, hill

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *Hrew(H)os (open space, field). The English words rustic and rural come from the same root, via Latin [source].

Proto-Celtic	*kagyom = pen, enclosure
Gaulish	*cagiíun / kagyom** = enclosure
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cai = field, orchard, crop
Irish (Gaeilge)	cé [kʲeː] = quay
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cidhe [kʲi.ə] = quay cidhe-tìreachaidh = wharf cidhe-bathair = goods wharf
Manx (Gaelg)	keiy = jetty, quay(side), wharf
Proto-Brythonic	*kaɨ = animal pen, enclosure, field
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	kay / kae = field, enclosure
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cae [kaːɨ̯ / kai̯] = hedge, hedgerow, fence; field, enclosure; circle, sphere; barrier, obstruction caead = lid, cover, shutter, flap, shell, case, enclosure, case, wall, fence, hedge, field, buckle, clasp, fastener, valve caeadu = to bind, cover (a book), stop, close cei [kei̯] = quay
Cornish (Kernewek)	ke = hedge, fence kay = quay
Old Breton	cai = hedge
Middle Breton	quae = hedge
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kae = hedge, quay

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *kagʰyóm (enclosure, hedge) [source], which is also the root English words quay and hedge [source].

The Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Manx words for quay come from the same Proto-Celtic root, via the Anglo-Norman kay, cail (quay, wharf) and Gaulish [source]. The Welsh and Cornish words for quay also come from the same Proto-Celtic root, via Middle English, Old French and Gaulish [source].

Proto-Celtic	*magos = plain, field
Gaulish	*magos = field
Old Irish (Goídelc)	mag [maɣ] = plain, field ármag, árbach, ármach = field of slaughter, battlefield
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	mag, maig = plain, open stretch of land
Irish (Gaeilge)	má [mˠɑː / mˠæː] = plain
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	magh [mɤɣ] = level country, plain Magh Meala = Land of (Milk and) Honey (in mythology) Magh Meall = elysium magh na bàire = the plain of battle
Manx (Gaelg)	magh = plain
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	mais, maes, meys = open country, plain, field
Welsh (Cymraeg)	maes [maːɨ̯s / mai̯s] = open country, level land, plain; field; battle, victory, supremacy; out, away, off, outside, out of doors maesol = rural, agrarian maestref = suburb, country town, village, hamlet maestrefol = suburban
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	maes, mes, meas, meys = open country, plain, field
Cornish (Kernewek)	mes = open country mestrev = suburb mesya = to field
Old Breton	maes = countryside, outside
Breton (Brezhoneg)	maez = countryside, open field, outside, wide

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *meǵh- (great) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*klowni = meadow
Old Irish (Goídelc)	clúain = meadow
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	clúain, clóin = meadow, pasture-land, glade
Irish (Gaeilge)	cluain = meadow
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cluain [kl̪uən̪ʲ] = green field, pasture, meadow
Old Welsh	clun = meadow, moor
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	clun = meadow, moor
Welsh (Cymraeg)	clun [klɨːn / kliːn] = meadow, moor; brake, brushwood

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *klopni (wet).

Old Irish (Goídelc)	áirge [ˈaːrʲɣʲe] = a place for milking cows
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	áirge, arigi, airge = a place for milking cows, byre, cowshed, herd of cattle áirgech = having numerous herds, herdsman
Irish (Gaeilge)	áirí = milking-place, herd (of cows), ground manured in previous year; ground from which potatoes have been cropped
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	àirigh [arʲɪ] = hill pasture, bothy, sheiling, pastoral summer residence àirigheach [aːrʲɪjəx] = bounding in hill pastures. bothies or shielings àirigheachd [aːrʲɪjəxg] = transhumance
Manx (Gaelg)	eairee = hill pasture, shieling

Etymology: from Old Irish árach, from ad·rig (to tie, bind). The Faorese word ærgi [ˈaɹt͡ʃɪ] (a pasture for cattle to graze over the summer with a hut where the people tending them live meanwhile; a shieling, saeter) also come from the same roots [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, Lexicon Cornu-britannicum: A Dictionary of the Ancient Celtic Language of Cornwall, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

World & Existence

10th July 2019 By Simon

Words for world, existence and life in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*bitus = world
Old Irish (Goídelc)	bith [bʲiθ] = world
Irish (Gaeilge)	bith [bʲɪh / bʲɪ] = world, existence
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bith [bih] = life, existence, being, living; the world
Manx (Gaelg)	beays = being, existence
Proto-Brythonic	*bɨd [ˈbɨːd] = world
Old Welsh	bid = world
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	byd = world
Welsh (Cymraeg)	byd [bɨːd / biːd] = world
Old Cornish	bit, bys= world
Cornish (Kernewek)	bys [bɪːz] = world
Old Breton	bit, bet = world
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bed = world

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Old Irish (Goídelc)	saegul = lifetime, world
Irish (Gaeilge)	saol [sˠeːlˠ / sˠiːlˠ] = life, lifetime; time; world
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	saoghal [sɯː.əl̪ˠ] = world, life(span), lifetime
Manx (Gaelg)	seihll [seːl / sɯːl / siːl] = age, existence, life, lifetime, span; public, world

Etymology: from the Latin saeculum (race, breed; generation, lifetime; age, time; century; worldliness; the world) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Death

8th July 20199th July 2019 By Simon

Words for death in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*bāstom / bāssom = death
Old Irish (Goídelc)	bás [baːs] = death
Irish (Gaeilge)	bás [bˠɑːsˠ / bˠæːsˠ] = death
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bàs [baːs] = death, decease, demise
Manx (Gaelg)	baase [bɛːs] = death

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *gʷeh₂- (to go) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Teaglann.ie

Proto-Celtic	*marwos = dead
Old Irish (Goídelc)	marb = dead; mortified, insensible, spiritually dead; inanimate; stagnant (water)
Irish (Gaeilge)	marbh [ˈmˠɑɾˠəvˠ / ˈmˠarˠuː / ˈmˠarˠu] = dead person, death, defunct
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	marbh [marav] = dead person, the dead
Manx (Gaelg)	marroo = dead, lifeless, inanimate, glassy (look), muggy, dull, dud, stagnant, defunct, mortified, slaughtered, departed, deceased, killed, extinct merriu = dead men, departed souls
Proto-Brythonic	*marw = dead
Welsh (Cymraeg)	marw = dead, deceased, inanimate marwolaeth = death, decease, demise; suffering, tribulation; deadly plague or pestilence, fatal disease
Cornish (Kernewek)	mernans = death
Breton (Brezhoneg)	marv = death

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *mer- (to die, disappear) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Proto-Celtic	*ankus = death
Old Irish (Goídelc)	éc = death
Irish (Gaeilge)	éag = Death, numbness, powerlessness
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	eug [eːg] = death, Death, ghost, spectre
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	angheu = death
Welsh (Cymraeg)	angau = death, decease, demise, annihilation, cessation, mortal danger
Old Cornish	ancou = death
Cornish (Kernewek)	ankow = death
Old/Middle Breton	ancou = death
Breton (Brezhoneg)	ankow = death

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *nek̂- (to perish, disappear) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Teaglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Age

7th July 201928th October 2022 By Simon

Words for age and related words in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*aiwestom = age, lifetime, era
Old Irish (Goídelc)	áes [aːi̯s] = age, years, stage, period, era, lifetime áesmar [ˈaːi̯sṽər] = aged, long-lived
Irish (Gaeilge)	aois [iːʃ/ɯːʃ] = age, length of life, old age, period, era, century aosaigh = age, come of age aosánach = youth, youngster aosántacht = youthfulness aosta = aged, old aostach = old person aostacht = oldness, old age
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	aois [ɯːʃ] = age, old age, span of years aosta [ɯːsdə] = elderly, old, aged aosmhorach = aged, ancient aosmhorachd = antiquity, agedness aosmhor = elderly, aged, old, ancient co-aois = (age) peer, contemporary
Manx (Gaelg)	eash = eon, age, century, oldness, old age, seniority eashagh = oldish eashit = aged, grown-up, oldish çheer-oayllee = geographer çheer-oaylleeaght = geography çheer vooar = mainland çheer yalloo = landscape Çheer ny Aeg = (mythical) Land of Youth
Proto-Brythonic	*oɨs = age
Old Welsh	ois = age oit = time, period
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	oes = age oet = time, period
Welsh (Cymraeg)	oes [oːɨ̯s/ɔi̯s] = age, long indefinite period, century, age, time, day(s), life, lifespan, lifetime oesaf, oesi = to live, lead a life, spend a life, exist, survive oesfyr = having a short life, short-lived, ephemeral oed = time, period, space (of time), duration of life, life-span, age oed(i)af, oedi(o) = to delay, procrastinate, linger, loiter, dally, dawdle, idle oed(i)og = old, aged, ancient, long-lived, long-lasting, suspended, delayed, slow, leisurely, dilatory, adult oedolyn = adult
Old Cornish	huis = age, process of time, a period of time
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	oys, oydge, uz, oge, ooz = age, process of time, a period of time
Cornish (Kernewek)	oos / ooj = age, epoch, era, period oos an rew, oos an yey = ice age
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	oed =
Breton (Brezhoneg)	oad = age oadour = (an) adult oadourel = adult

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂eyw-es-to-, from *h₂eyu- (age, eternity), from *h₂ey- (vital force, life, age, eternity) [source].

Words from the same PIE roots include age, eon, eternal, ever, juvenile, medieval and young in English; and eeuw (century, many years, a very long time, eternity) in Dutch [source].

Languages and Tongues

5th July 20194th July 2022 By Simon

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

Proto-Celtic	*tangʷāss, tangʷāt = tongue
Old Irish (Goídelc)	tengae [ˈtʲeŋɡe] = tongue, language
Irish (Gaeilge)	teanga [ˈtʲaŋə / ˈtʲaŋɡə] = tongue, language teangach = tongued, lingual, wordy, loquacious teangachruthach = tongue-shaped, linguiform teangaigh = to tongue (in music) teangaire = interpreter teangeolaí = linguist, expert in linguistics teangeolaíocht = linguistics
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	teanga [tʲɛŋgə] = tongue, speech, spit (of land) teangan = tongue teangaidh = tongue, speech teangach = abounding in tongues, loquacious, langued (in hearldry) teangair = linguist, interpreter, orator, philologist
Manx (Gaelg)	çhengey [ˈtʃɛnʲə] = bell-clapper, clasp, feather, strap-hinge; catch (of buckle); tongue; language, speech; utterance çhengeyr çhyndaader = interpreter çhengeyder = linguist çhengoaylleeaght = linguistics çhengey ny mayrey = mother tongue daa-hengagh = bilingual yl-çhengagh = polyglot
Proto-Brytonic	tau̯āt, tavọd = tongue
Old Welsh	tauawt = tongue, language
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	tauaut = tongue, language
Welsh (Cymraeg)	tafod [ˈtavɔd / ˈtaːvɔd] = tongue, faculty of speech, power of expression; language, speech, dialect, accent tafod aur = pleasant or witty talk, eloquence (“gold tongue”) tafod bach = uvula tafod cloch = clapper (of bell) tafodiaeth = language, vernacular or native language, dialect, pronunciation, articulation, verbal expression tafodi = to scold, rebuke, chide, berate, cheek, abuse (verbally), tongue (in music) tafodiad = a scolding or berating, pronunciation tafodwr = speaker, talker
Old Cornish	tauot = language, tongue
Middle Cornish	tawes = language, tongue
Cornish (Kernewek)	taves = language, tongue tavosa = to scold, tell off tavosek = talkative, verbose tavoseth = idiom, jargon
Old Breton	tavod = tongue
Middle Breton	teaut, teut = tongue
Breton (Brezhoneg)	teod [ˈtɛwt] = tongue teodel = oral teodek = talkative, gossipy teodyezh = speech, dialect, way of speaking teodyezhañ = to speak teodyezher = speaker

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *dn̥ǵʰwéh₂s (tongue) [source].

Words from the same PIE root include: tongue and language in English, lingua (tongue, language) in Italian, язик [jɐˈzɪk] (tongue) in Ukrainian, and jazyk (tongue, language) in Czech and Slovak [source].

Proto-Celtic	*yaxtī = language
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	icht = race, people, tribe; province, district
Proto-Brythonic	jeiθ, i̯ekti = tongue
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	ieith, yeith = language, nation, race
Welsh (Cymraeg)	iaith [jai̯θ] = language, tongue; people, nation, race, tribe ieithiadur = grammar ieithio = to pronounce, proclaim, express ieithog = having language or several languages, multilingual, polyglot ieithydd = one who has thorough knowledge or command of a language or languages, linguist, grammarian, philologist, interpreter, speark, poet ieithyddiaeth = linguistics, philology, grammar ieithgi = one who is interested in the study of language (rather than of literature), philologist
Cornish (Kernewek)	yeth [eːθ / jeːθ] = tongue, language yeth le-usys = minority language yethador = grammar yethel = linguistic yethonieth = linguistics yethor, yethores = linguist
Middle Breton	yez = language
Breton (Brezhoneg)	yezh [ˈjeːs] = language yezhadur = grammar yezhadurel = grammatical yezhel = linguistic yezher = speaker unyezher = unilingual divyezher = bilingual liesyezher = polyglot

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *yek- (to utter). It is uncertain if the Middle Irish word icht is cognate with the Brythonic words [source].

Words from the same PIE root include: joke and Yule in English, jul (Yule, Christmas) in Danish and Norwegian, juego (play, game, sport) in Spanish, and joc (game, play, dance) in Romanian [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	bélrae [ˈbʲeːl͈re] = language, speech bélrae Féne = legal language bélrae na filed = acrane vocabulary, poetic language
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	bérla(e) = speech, language
Irish (Gaeilge)	béarla = speech (archaic) béarlachas = Anglicism béarlagair = jargon béarlamhail = having command of language, fluent (archaic) Béarla [ˈbʲeːɾˠl̪ˠə] = English (language) Béarlóir = English speaker Béarlóireacht = (act of) speaking English
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	Beurla [bjɤːr̪ˠl̪ˠə] = English (language) Beurlachas = Anglicism Beurla Leathann = Broad Scots
Manx (Gaelg)	Baarle [bɛːᵈl] = English (language) Baarlagh = of or pertaining to the English language Baarlaghys = Anglicism Baarleyr = English-speaker, anglophone Baarle Albinagh = Scots, Lallans Baarle Ghaelagh, Baarle Vanninagh = Anglo-Manx (language) Baarle Heenagh = pidgin Baarle chiart = the Queen’s English

Etymology: from the Old Irish bél (mouth) and -ra (collective suffix) [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

Caves

28th June 20195th February 2024 By Simon

Hre are a few words for caves, hollows and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*oumā = cave
Old Irish (Goídelc)	úam = cave
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	úam, úaim, úama = cave, den, lair, cellar, crypt, vault, grave, tomb, pit úamach = a cave-dweller
Irish (Gaeilge)	uaimh [uəvʲ] = cave, souterrain, underground chamber, cellar, crypt, vault, den of thieves, pit uaimheadóireacht = exploration of caves, potholing uaimheolaí = speleologist uaimheolaíocht = speleology uaimheolaí = speleologist uaimh ifrinn = pit of hell uaimh ladrann = den of thieves
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	uamh [ũə̃v] / uaimh = cave, den, hollow, grave, grotto uamh-thalmhainn = souterrain, underground passage
Manx (Gaelg)	oghe = cave, oven ooig = den, cavern, grotto, antar, pit, stope, hotbed, cave ooig-oaylleeaght = speleology
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	guocof, guocob, gogof = cave guocobauc, ogouawc, gogofawg = full of caves, cave-like, cavernous
Welsh (Cymraeg)	(g)ogof [ˈɔɡɔv / ˈoːɡɔv] = cave, cavern, grotto, cleft, cavity, den, lair ogofa = to explore caves, caving, pot-holing, speleology ogofaidd = cave-like, cavernous ogofaog = cave-like, cavernous, fulls of caves ogofäwr = caver, pot-holer (g)ogofog = full of caves, cave-like, cavernous ogofwr = cave-dweller, troglodyte ogof l(l)adron = den of thieves
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	ogo, ogos = cave, cavern
Cornish (Kernewek)	gogow = cave, cavity

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁ewn- (empty) [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	fochla = burrow, burrowing, den, digging
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	fochla = digging, rooting, burrowing, cavity, hole, burrow, den fochlach = hiding-place fochlaid = burrowing, undermining, uprooting, cavity, hole, pit
Irish (Gaeilge)	uachais = burrow, cavity, lair, den
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	fuathais = den (obsolete)
Proto-Brythonic	*fowyā = den, lair, cave
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	ffeu, ffau = den, lair, cave
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ffau = den, lair, burrow, set, covert, cave
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	fow = den, cave, a lurking place of wild beasts
Cornish (Kernewek)	fow = cave

Etymology: from the Latin fovea (pit, hole in the ground, snare) the Proto-Indo-European *bʰow- (pit, hole) [source].

Proto-Celtic	tullos/tullom = pierced, perforated, hole
Old Irish (Goídelc)	toll = perforated, pierced, hole tollaid = to pierce, perforate
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	toll = pierced, perforated; hollow, empty, tonsured, vain, ineffective; hole, fault; buttocks tollad = act of piercing, attacking, penetrating, impugning tollaid = piereces, penetrates tollus = perforation tretholl = piereced, hollow tuille = hollowness
Irish (Gaeilge)	toll [t̪ˠoːl̪ˠ/t̪ˠəul̪ˠ/t̪ˠʌl̪ˠ] = hole, hollow, posterior, buttocks, piereced, perforated, empty, deep (voice), to bore, pierce, perforate tolladh = borning, perforation tolladóir = borer, piercer, perforator tolladóireacht = (act of) boring tollán = tunnel tollmhór = big-bottomed, bumptious tolltach = piercing, penetrating
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	toll [tɔul̪ˠ] = hole, penetration, hole, hold (of a ship); to bore, perforate, gore toll-guail = coalpit toll-iuchrach = keyhole toll-putain = buttonhole toll-sìolaidh = plughole tolltach [tɔul̪ˠdəx] = full of holes, holed tolta [tɔul̪ˠdə] = bored, perforated, gored tollan [tɔl̪ˠan] = orifice
Manx (Gaelg)	towl = aperture, bore, cavity, crater, hole, hollow, leak, penetration, pothole, shaft, vent towl buird = pigeonhole towl conning = rabbit hole towl dhull = plughole towl doo = black hole yn towlagh = penetrable
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	tull, twll, twlh = hole, hollow, pit
Welsh (Cymraeg)	twll [tʊɬ] = hole, aperture, dimple, hollow, pit, cave, burrow, den, orifice twll agoriad, twll (y) clo = keyhole twll botwm = buttonhole twll cath = cat-flap, cat-door twll cesail. twll y gesail = armpit twll cwinngen = rabbit burrrow twll du = black hole twll (y) grisiau = stairwell
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	toll = hole, perforation tolcorn = flute, fife (“horn with holes”) tollec = full of holes, perforated, hollow tolly = to make a hole, to perforate
Cornish (Kernewek)	toll = burrow, hollow, hole, opening, orifice toll alhwedh = keyhole toll boton = button hole toll konin = rabbit burrow toll lavrek = fly (in trousers) toll y’n fos = cash dispenser (“hole in the wall”) tollek = holed, leaky, perforated
Old Breton	tull = foramen (aperture or opening produced by boring)
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	toull = pierced, leaky, deep, hollow, empty; hole toulladur = digging, excavation, piercing
Breton (Brezhoneg)	toull [ˈtulː] = holed, pierced, hole, embrasure, entrance toull du = black hole toulled = thole (pin) toullet = perforated

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *tewk- (to push, press, beat, pierce, perforate), from *(s)tew- (to push, hit) [source].

Words from the same Proto-Celtic root include tollo (hole in the ground where hunters hide, rainwater puddle) in Spanish, toll (pool, puddle) in Catalan, tol (ditch, dam) in Galician [source].

Words from the same PIE root possibly include tkát (to weave) in Czech, tkać (to weave, stick, tuck) in Polish, and тъка [tɐˈkɤ] (to spin, plait, entwine, weave) in Bulgarian [source].

Proto-Celtic	kuwo-/kawyos = hollow
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cúas = hollow, cavity, cave
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cúa, cuae, cua, cúe = hollow, empty’ bell-shaped cup, nut cuäch, cúach = cup, goblet, bowl, cauldron cúachda, cuachda = cupped, hollow cúas, cús = hollow, cavity, cave, cavern, lair, den, shelter cuithe = put, pitfall, prison, dungeon, well, pool, whirlpool
Irish (Gaeilge)	cuas = cavity, hollow, recess, cove, creek cuasach = cavernous, hollow, concave cuasacht = concavity cuasán = (small) cavity
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cuas [kuəs] = hollow, cave, cavity cuasach [kuəsəx] = cavernous cuasan [kuəsan] = small hollow/cavity, small cave
Proto-Brythonic	*kow = hollow
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	cev, keu, kau = hollow, empty, sunken
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cau = hollow, empty, sunken, false, deceitful, enclosing, shut, closed, vacuum, cavity, inwards, bowels yghau = closed, shut
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	*cew = hollow
Cornish (Kernewek)	kew = hollow, enclosed field, paddock, small enclosure
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	cau = covered
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	queu, keu, kev = hollow, concave, deep que = cavity, cave
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kev = cave, concave, hollow, cavity kevded = concavity keviadur = excavation kevian, keviañ = to excavate

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *kewh- (vault, hole) [source]. , or from *ḱowh₁ós (hollow), from *ḱewh₁- (to swell) [source]. The English words cave and cavity come from the same roots.

The Breton word kavarn (cave, cavern, den, lair) comes from the same PIE root, probably via the Latin caverna (hollow, cavity, cave, cavern), from cavus (hollow, concave), from the Proto-Italic *kawos [source].

Other words in Breton for cave are groc’h, mougev and roc’h toull. There don’t appear to be any cave-related words that are cognate with the other Celtic languages.

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

Tracks & Paths

25th May 201915th July 2021 By Simon

Words for tracks & paths in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	casán / cosán = path, footpath
Irish (Gaeilge)	cosán [kəˈsˠɑːn̪ˠ / ˈkɔsˠɑːnˠ / ˈkɑsˠɑnˠ] = path, footway, track; way, passage; direction
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	casan [kasan] = path, supporting beam, treadle, wattle
Manx (Gaelg)	cassan = path, trajectory, passage, sidewalk, thoroughfare

Etymology: from the Old Irish cos (foot) & -án [source].

Proto-Celtic	*slixtus = track, section
Old Irish (Goídelc)	slicht [sʲl͈ʲixt] = path, trace, track, trail, section, offspring
Irish (Gaeilge)	sliocht = mark, trace, track; offspring, line, progeny, posterity; passage, tract, extract
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	sliochd [ʃlixg] = descendants, offspring, increase, progeny, succession, lineage
Manx (Gaelg)	sliught = line, issue, spawn
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llywbr = path, footpath, beaten track, unmade pathway; footprints, tracks, trail; course, direction, orbit; method, manner, mode

Old Irish (Goídelc)	slighe [sʲl͈ʲixt] = path, trace, track, trail, section, offspring
Irish (Gaeilge)	slí = way, road, track; route, passage; course, direction; distrance, journey; means, method
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	slighe [ʃLʲi.ə] = path, track, trail, way; course, passage, route
Manx (Gaelg)	sleayd (?) = trail, dredge, sledge, toboggan, trailer

Proto-Celtic	*sentus = path, way
Old Irish (Goídelc)	sét [sʲl͈ʲixt] = path, trace, track, trail, section, offspring
Irish (Gaeilge)	séad = path, way; course, journey
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	séad = way, road
Proto-Brythonic	*hɨnt [hɨnt] = path, way
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	hint, hynt = way, path, course
Welsh (Cymraeg)	hynt [hɨ̞nt / hɪnt] = way, path, course, journey, march; career, expedition, campaign, venture; affair; fate, condition, state; mood, freak, whim
Middle Cornish	hyns [hɪns] = course, path, road, way
Cornish (Kernewek)	hens [hɛnz] = course, path, road, way
Old Breton	hint = path, road
Middle Breton	hent = path, road
Breton (Brezhoneg)	hent [hɛ̃nd] = path, road

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *sent- (to head for, go, travel) [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, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Fords

23rd May 201915th July 2021 By Simon

Words for ford in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*yātus = ford
Old Irish (Goídelc)	áth = ford
Irish (Gaeilge)	áth = ford; spawning bed (in river); opening
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	àth [aːh] = ford
Manx (Gaelg)	aah = ford, drift

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *yeh₂- (to ride, travel) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*ɸritus = ford
Gaulish	ritu = ford
Irish (Gaeilge)	rith = ford
Proto-Brythonic	ritum, rrɨd = ford
Old Welsh	rit = ford
MIddle Welsh (Kymraec)	ryd, ryt = ford
Welsh (Cymraeg)	rhyd = ford, strait
Old Cornish	rid = ford
Cornish (Kernewek)	rys [rɪ:z] / res [re:z] = ford
Old Breton	rit = ford
Breton (Brezhoneg)	red = ford

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *pértus/*pr̥téw- (crossing) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Mountains

21st May 201913th March 2024 By Simon

Words for mountain and related words in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*slēbos = mountain, slope
Old Irish (Goídelc)	sliab [sʲl͈ʲiːa̯v] = mountain, mountain range; moor
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	sliab = mountain, mountain range, moor, moorland
Irish (Gaeilge)	sliabh [ʃlʲiəvˠ / ʃl̠ʲiəvˠ / ʃl̠ʲiəw] = mountain, moor, moorland sliabhraon = mountain range sléibhteánach = mountain dweller sléibhteoir = mountaineer sléibhteoireacht = mountaineering sléibhtiúil = mountainous, hilly,moorish sléibhtiúlacht = hilliness
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	sliabh [ʃl̪ʲiəv] = hillside, slope, mountain sliabh-mònach = peat moor sliabhach, slèibhteach = mountainous sliabhair [ʃl̪ʲiəvɛrʲ] = mountaineer slèibhteag [ʃl̪ʲeːvdʲag] = small hillside/slope, small mountain
Manx (Gaelg)	slieau [slʲuː / ʃlʲuː] = mountain, fell, hillside, moor, berg

Etymology: possibly from PIE *sley-bʰo- from *sley- (to smear), or from PIE *slewb(ʰ)- (to slip, glide) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*moniyos = mountain
Pictish	monid = mountain
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	moned, monad = mountain
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	monadh [mɔnəɣ] = mountain (covered with moors), high-lying moorland; expanse of heather
Manx (Gaelg)	muyne = mountain
Proto-Brythonic	*mönɨð = mountain
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	minid, menyd, mynyd, mynyth [ˈmənɨð] = mountain mynyddig, mynyddic = mountainous, hilly, highland, wild, rustic
Welsh (Cymraeg)	mynydd [ˈmənɨ̞ð / ˈmənɪð] = mountain, (large) hill, large pile, great amount; common, unenclosed land, mountain land, moorland; agricultural land; plain mynydda = to climb mountains, go mountain walking, plough and harrow mynyddaidd = mountainous, like a mountain mynyddbarth = mountainous region mynyddig = mountainous, hilly, highland, wild, rustic mynyddigion = inhabitants of the mountains mynyddwr = mountain dweller, highlander, mountaineer
Old Cornish	menit = mountain
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	menedh, menydh, mynydh = mountain
Cornish (Kernewek)	menydh, menedh [‘mɛnɪð] = mountain, hill, uphill menydh rew / menydh yey = iceberg
Old Breton	monid = mountain
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	menez, = mount, mountain
Breton (Brezhoneg)	menez = mount, mountain menezeg = mountainous meneziad = mountaineer menezus = mountainous

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *men- (to tower, stand out) [source], which is also the root of English words such as mount, mountain, prominent and eminent [source].

See the post about Peaks for other mountain-related words, such as beann in Irish and Scottish Gaelic.

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

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Old Breton (Brethonoc)

Oak (trees)

Fields, Meadows and Pastures

World & Existence

Death

Age

Languages and Tongues

Caves

Tracks & Paths

Fords

Mountains