Words for trousers, socks, sites and related words in Celtic languages.
Proto-Celtic |
*ɸlātrom = flat position |
Old Irish (Goídelc) |
láthar [ˈl͈aːθar] = arrangement, disposition
láthraid [ˈl͈aːθrɨðʲ] = to arrange, to dispose |
Irish (Gaeilge) |
láthair [ˈl̪ˠɑːhəɾʲ/ˈl̪ˠæhəɾʲ] = place, spot, site, location; presence
as láthair = absent
faoi láthair = at present
i láthair = present
láithreach = ruined site, ruin, trace; imprint; present (tense)
láithreacht = presence
láithreán = piece of ground, place, site; ruined, vacated site; floor, space; set
láithreog = small site; trace, mark; small well-built girl
láithrigh = to present oneself, appear |
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) |
làthair [l̪ˠaː.ɪrʲ] = presence, venue
an làthair = present, here, in attendance; extant; in existence
neo-làthair = absent
neo-làthaireachd = absence
làthaireach = present
làthaireachd = presence; attendance; atmosphere
uile-làthaireachd = omnipresence |
Manx (Gaelg) |
laaragh = centric(al), stage, centre, venue, site
emshir-laaragh = present tense
neuaaragh, assaaragh = absent
ooilley-laaragh = ubiquitous |
Proto-Brythonic |
*lọdr = leg covering |
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) |
llauder, llahudyr, llawdyr, llodr = trousers, breeches, hose |
Welsh (Cymraeg) |
llawdr [ˈɬaːu̯dr] = trousers, breeches, hose
llawdrog, llodrog = wearing breeches, bedraggled
llawdrwisg = breeches
llawdrwr, llodrydd, llodrwr = breeches-maker
llaesu llawdr = to undo one’s trousers (to ease oneself) |
Old Cornish |
loder = sock |
Cornish (Kernewek) |
lodrik = sock |
Middle Breton |
louzr = sock |
Breton (Brezhoneg) |
loer = sock, (trouser) leg |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂- (flat) [source].
From the same PIE root we also get Celtic words for hand, from the Proto-Celtic *ɸlāmā (palm, hand) [source], which was borrowed from Old Irish into Old Norse and became lámur (flipper, paw, left hand) in Faroese [source].
Words for floor and ground in Celtic languages also come from the same PIE root, via the Proto-Celtic *ɸlārom (floor) [source].
English words from the same PIE root include floor, palm, piano, plain, plan and plane, and also Poland [source].
Irish (Gaeilge) |
bríste [ˈbʲɾʲiːʃtʲə] = trousers; breeching (of harness); roe (of pollock)
brístín = panties, knickers
fobhríste = underpants
forbhríste = overalls |
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) |
briogais [brʲigɪʃ] = trousers, breeches
briogais-ghlùine = shorts, plus fours
briogais-ghoirid, briogais-bheag = shorts
briogais-shnàimh = swimming trunks |
Manx (Gaelg) |
breeçhyn = breeches
breeçhyn glioonagh = knee breeches
breeçhyn markee = riding breeches |
Welsh (Cymraeg) |
brits(h) = breeches
britis pen-(g)lin = knee-breeches |
Breton (Brezhoneg) |
bragez = knickers, panties, breeches
bragez vihan = underpants, briefs, pants, panties |
Etymology: from the English breeches, from the Middle English brech(e), brek (breeches), from the Old English brēċ (underpants), from the Proto-Germanic *brōkiz, from *brōks (leggings, pants, trousers; rear end, rump) the Proto-Indo-European *bʰreg- (to break, crack, split) [source].
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) |
triubhas = closs-fitting shorts |
Irish (Gaeilge) |
triús = (pair of) trousers, trews |
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) |
triubhas [tru.əs] = trousers, trews |
Manx (Gaelg) |
troosyn = slacks, pants, trews, tights, trouser, knickers
troosyn çhionn = pantaloons
troosyn giarey = short trousers
troosyn markee = jodhpurs |
Welsh (Cymraeg) |
trywsus, trywser, trowsus [ˈtrou̯sɨ̞s/ˈtrou̯sɪs] = trousers, breeches, knickers, panties
trywsus bach = shorts, short trouserse, knickerbockers |
Breton (Brezhoneg) |
bragez = knickers, panties, breeches
bragez vihan = underpants, briefs, pants, panties
bragoù = trousers |
Etymology (Welsh): from the English trousers, from the Middle Irish triubhas (trousers, trews) of uncertain origin [source]. The English word trews (trousers, especially if close fitting and tartan) was borrowed from Scottish Gaelic [source].
Cornish (Kernewek) |
lavrek = trousers
lavrek byghan = briefs, underpants
lavrek jin = jeans
lavrek kott = short |
Breton (Brezhoneg) |
lavreg = trousers |
Etymology unknown
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, logainm.ie, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic