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.

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

Lamentation

27th July 202221st September 2022 By Simon

Words for lamentation and related things in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic	*kiyeti = to fall, cry
Old Irish (Goídelc)	caí = weeping, lamentation ciïd [ˈkʲi.ɨðʲ] = to lament, weep caínid [ˈkoːi̯nʲiðʲ] = to lament, mourn, keen, regret, deplore
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	caí = weeping, wailing, lamentation ciïd = to cry, weep, lament, mourn caínid = lament
Irish (Gaeilge)	caí = lament, lamentation caoin [kiːnʲ] = to keen, lament, cry, weep caoineadh = to keen, lament, crying weeping, elegy caoineachán = crying, mewling, lamentation caointeach = plaintive, mournful caointeachán = whimperer, crier caointeoir = mourner, crier caointeoireacht = lamenting, crying, lamentation
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	caoidh [kɤj] = lamenting, bewailing, lamentation, mourning, grieving caoin [kɯːn̪ʲ] = to weep, wail, deplore, howl, regret caoineach = mournful, mourning caoineadh = weeping for, mourning, crying, lamenting, wailing caoineag, caointeach = wailing women (foretells death) caoineadh cù Chaluim = crocodile tears
Manx (Gaelg)	coe = weep, mourn, weeping, woe keayney = weep. weeping, cry, crying, greet, keening, lament, lamentation, mourn, mourning, wail, wailing, deplore keaynoil = lamentable, mournful
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	kwyn, cwyn, cŵyn = complaint, greivance, lament
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cwyn [kuːɨ̯n/kʊi̯n] = complaint, greivance, lament, grief; sympathy, commiseration cwyno [ˈkʊɨ̯nɔ / ˈkʊi̯nɔ] = to complain, lament, bemoan, mourn, condole with, pity, take legal action cwynfannu = to complain, lament, moan, groan, mourn for; lamentation, groan, moan, mourning cwynfanllyd = moanful, querulous, grumbling, peevish
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	cyny, kyny = to mourn, lament, weep
Cornish (Kernewek)	kyni = to lament, moan, mourn, wail kynvan = lament, lamentation, moan, mourning
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	keinal, keinat, keiniñ = to complain
Breton (Brezoneg)	keuziañ = to deplore, bemoan keuziadenn = lament

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *gʷey- (to lament, complain) [source]. Words from the same root include ween (to weep, wail) in Scots, wenen (to cry, weep) in Dutch, weinen (to weep, cry) in German, and kveina (to wail, cry, lament) in Icelandic, via the Proto-Germanic *kwainōną (to lament) [source].

The English word keen (to mourn, utter with a loud wailing voice or wordless cry) was borrowed from the Irish caoin [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Rawness

21st July 202221st July 2022 By Simon

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

Raw

Proto-Celtic	*omos = raw
Old Irish (Goídelc)	om [oṽ] = raw, uncooked
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	om = raw, uncooked; crude, undigested, immature; rude, unrefined, barbarous
Irish (Gaeilge)	amh [ˈavˠ / ˈaw] = raw, uncooked amhábhar = raw material, staple aimhe = rawness, crudeness amhainse = sharpness, astuteness amhainseach = sharp, astute amhchaoin = rough, uncouth amhola = crude oil
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	amh [af] = raw, uncooked; extra rare, blue (meat); uncouth, crude amhachd [avəxg] = rawness
Manx (Gaelg)	aw = crude, raw, uncooked, undressed awid = crudeness, rawness, rareness awaneagh = moron, oaf; oafish, raw, rude, uncivilsed, vain feill aw = raw meat ooill aw = crude oil
Proto-Brythonic	*oβ̃ = raw
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	of = crude, uncooked, raw
Welsh (Cymraeg)	of [braːɨ̯n / brai̯n] = crude, untreated, uncooked, raw, bitter, sharp, nauseating, sickly ofaf, ofi = to decompose, crumble, analyse

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂eh₃mós (raw, uncooked, bitter, sour), probably from *h₂eh₃- (to be hot, burn) [source].

Words for copper and bronze in Celtic languages possibly come from the same Proto-Celtic root, via the word *omiyom [source].

The Greek word ὠμός [oˈmos] (raw, uncooked, crude, brutal) comes from the same PIE root [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	cri = crude, uncooked, raw
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cri [kriː] = raw, fresh, new, crude, coarse, unfulled (cloth), unleavened bara cri = unleavened bread defnyddiau cri = raw materials teisen gri = griddle cake, Welsh cake
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	criv = rude, raw, green, newly made, unripe
Cornish (Kernewek)	kriv = crude, fresh, raw, uncooked, unripe krivder = rawness gossen griv = raw umber
Middle Breton	criz, cry = raw, crude, cruel, rough
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kriz = raw, crude, cruel, rough gopr kriz = gross salary hollad kriz = gross total obar kriz = act of barbarism

Etymology: possibly from the Latin crūdus (raw, bloody), from the Proto-Italic *krūros (bloody), from the Proto-Indo-European *kruh₂rós (bloody), from *krewh₂- (raw meat, fresh blood). The English words crude and cruel come from the same Latin root, and raw comes from the same PIE root [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	amrwt = raw, uncooked
Welsh (Cymraeg)	amrwd [ˈamrʊd] = raw, uncooked, unprocessed, undigested, crude, untreated, unrefined, rough, approximate

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *an (un-) and *brutus (boiling heat), from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰrewh₁- (to boil, brew) [source].

Other words from the Proto-Celtic root *brutus include brwd (eager, keen, passionate, zealous) and brwdfrydedd (enthusiasm) in Welsh, and bruth (heat, rash, eruption, nap, pile, surf) in Irish [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Rotten Fragrance

19th July 20229th December 2023 By Simon

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

Proto-Celtic	*bragnos = rotten
Gaulish	brennos = rotten
Old Irish (Gaoidhealg)	brén [bʲrʲeːn] = foul, putrid, rotten, stinking
Irish (Gaeilge)	bréan [bʲɾʲiːa̯nˠ / bʲɾʲeːnˠ] = foul, putrid, rotten; to pollute, putrefy bréanlach = filthy place, cesspool bréanóg = refuse heap bréantachán = stinker bréantas = rottenness, stench, filth
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	breun [brʲeːn] = foetid, putrid, disgusting, filthy, nasty, stinking breunlach = sinking bog breunachd = corruption, rottenness breunan = dunghill, dirty person, dirty/smelly object, crabbit/grumpy person, grouch breunad = degree of foetidness/putridness, degree of disgustingness/filthiness/nastiness, degree of stink breuntas = stench, stink, putrefaction, putridness
Manx (Gaelg)	breinn = foetid, loathsome, malodorous, nasty, offensive, pestilential, putrid, rancid, rotten, smelly, stinking breinnaghey = to become smelly, putrefy, taint, stink
Proto-Brythonic	*braɨn = foul, stinking putrid
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	brean = rotten
Welsh (Cymraeg)	braen [braːɨ̯n / brai̯n] = rotten, putrid, corrupt, mouldy, withered, fragile; rot, putrefaction, corruption, decay braen(i)ad = rotting, decomposition, rottenness, putridness braenu = to rot, putrefy, make/become corrupt, become mouldy braenedig = rotten, putrefied, corrupt, festering, gangrenous, mouldy, wounded
Cornish (Kernewek)	breyn = putrid, rotten breyna = to decay, rot breynans = decay breynder = rot
Middle Breton	brein = rotten
Breton (Brezhoneg)	brein [ˈbrɛ̃jn] = rotten, uncultivated (land) breinadur = corruption breinañ, breiniñ = to rot, decay breinidigezh = putrefaction

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰreHg- (to smell, have a strong odour) [source]. Words from the same PIE root include flair, fragrant, and bray in English, and брезгать (to be fastidious/squeamish, to disdain) in Russian [source].

The Gaulish word brennos was borrowed into Vulgar Latin and ended up as berner (to trick, fool, hoodwink) in French, via the Old French bren (bran, filth, excrement). The English word bran comes from the same Gaulish root, via the Middle English bran(ne) / bren and the Old French bren [source].

The Galician word braña (mire, bog, marsh, moorland) and the Asturian word braña (pasture, meadowland) are thought to come from the Proto-Celtic *bragnos, possibly via Celtiberian [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

Ferns and Bracken

8th July 20228th July 2022 By Simon

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

Proto-Celtic	ɸratis, frati- = fern, bracken
Gaulish	ratis = fern, bracken
Old Irish (Goídelc)	raithnech [ˈr͈aθʲnʲex] = fern, bracken
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	raith = fern, bracken
Irish (Gaeilge)	raithneach = fern, bracken raithneachán = ferny place raithneachúil = ferny
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	raineach [r̪ˠan̪ʲəx] = fern, bracken; hashish, weed raith [r̪ˠɛ] = fern, bracken raineachail = abounding in fern, ferny, like fern
Manx (Gaelg)	renniagh = fern, bracken renniaghoil = ferny
Proto-Brythonic	*rrėdɨn = ferns, bracken
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	rhedyn = ferns, bracken retinoc, redinauc, rhydynog = ferny
Welsh (Cymraeg)	rhedyn [ˈr̥ɛdɨ̞n / ˈr̥eːdɪn] = ferns, bracken rhedynen = fern rhedyn eryraidd = bracken rhedyna = to gather ferms rhedynaidd = ferny rhedyneg = ferny ground rhedynog = ferny (land), abounding with ferns, fern-like, made of fern
Old Cornish	reden = ferns, bracken redenen = fern
Middle Cornish	reden = ferns, bracken redenen, redanen = fern
Cornish (Kernewek)	reden = ferns, bracken redenen = fern
Middle Breton	reden = ferns, bracken radenenn = fern
Breton (Brezhoneg)	raden = ferns, bracken radenenn = fern

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *p(t)erH- (fern) [source].

The English word fern comes from the same PIE root, via the Old English fearn and the Proto-West-Germanic *farn [source].

Other words from the same PIE root include paparde (fern) in Latvian, paproć (fern) in Polish, and папрат (fern) in Bulgarian [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Waterfalls

6th July 20226th July 2022 By Simon

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

Proto-Celtic	*riyatros = waterfall
Old Irish (Goídelc)	ríathor = torrent
Irish (Gaeilge)	riathar = torrent (literary)
Old Welsh	réátir = torrent
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	raeadyr, raiader, rhaiadr = cataract, waterfall
Welsh (Cymraeg)	rhaeadr [ˈr̥ʰeɨ̯.adr̩ / ˈr̥ʰei̯.adr̩] = waterfall, cataract, cascade, torrent rhaeadru = to fall or pour in a cascade or waterfall, fall steeply, gush, flow, stream rhaeadraidd = like a waterfall rhaeadriad = the act of falling or flowing like a waterfall

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₃reiH- (to flow) [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	ess = rapids, waterfall
Irish (Gaeilge)	eas = waterfall, cascade, cataract; swift current, rapid easach = having, abounding in waterfalls, cascading
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	eas [es] = waterfall, cataract, cascade easach [esəx] = abounding in waterfalls easachan [esəxan] = small waterfall easan [esan] = small waterfall; thin gruel easgraich [esgrɪç] = torrent easraich [esrɪç] = plunge pool, waterfall lake; bustle, commotion eas muilinn = mill-race con-eas = multiple waterfalls poll-easa = plunge pool
Manx (Gaelg)	eas = cascade, cataract, chute, shoot, waterfall easan = small waterfall, small cataract mwyllin roie’n eas = water mill

Etymology: unknown [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	ysgwt, ysgwd, ysgŵd = waterfall, cataract, cascade
Welsh (Cymraeg)	sgwd [skuːd] = waterfall, cataract, cascade, chute, millstream, mill-race, sluice, floodgate (South Wales)

Etymology: unknown [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	pistill = waterfall, cataract, cascade
Welsh (Cymraeg)	pistyll = waterfall, cataract, cascade, chute, millstream, mill-race, sluice, floodgate (South Wales) pistyll yr ysgyfaint = trachea
Cornish (Kernewek)	pistyl = little waterfall pistylla = to spout

Etymology: possibly from the Latin pistillum (pestle), which is also the root of the English word pestle [source].

Cornish (Kernewek)	dowrlam = waterfall
Breton (Brezhoneg)	lamm-dour = waterfall

Etymology: from dowr / dour (water) and lam / lamm (leap).

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Emptiness

1st July 20221st July 2022 By Simon

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

Proto-Celtic	*wāstos = empty
Old Irish (Goídelc)	fás = empty, vacant, deserted fásaogod to empty, despoil
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	fás = empty, vain, futile, vacant
Irish (Gaeilge)	fás [fˠɑːsˠ / fˠaːsˠ] = waste, vacant, empty, void; wild, luxuriant fásach = waste, desert; uncultivated, uninhabited region; empty, deserted place fásaigh = to lay waste, leave uncultivated
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	fàs [faːs] = empty; barren, waste, uncultivated, fallow, desolate fàsach = desert, wilderness, empty place fàsaich = to depopulate, lay waste to a place, desolate fàslach = hollow, void, cavity fàslail = desolate, lonely, solitary
Manx (Gaelg)	faase = feeble, weak; desolate, void, barren, infirm faasagh = desert, desolate, waste place, wilderness faaselagh = weakest part, poor part of lawn faasoil = desert

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁weh₂- (to leave, abandon) [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	folam = empty
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	folam, falam = empty, uninhabited, shallow, barren, destitute, vain, worthless folma = emptiness
Irish (Gaeilge)	folamh [ˈfˠɔl̪ˠəvˠ / ˈfˠaːl̪ˠə / ˈfˠɔlˠuː] = empty folmhaigh = to empty, discharge, exhaust; purge, evacuate folmhach empty, vacant, sapce, gap (between teeth)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	falamh [fal̪ˠəv] = empty, hollow, void falamhachd = emptiness, voidness, vacancy, vacuum, void falamhaich = to empty, void, evacuate falamhaichte = emptied
Manx (Gaelg)	follym = void, flat, shallow, barren, vacuous, waste, blank, empty, hollow, blank folmaghey = to empty, void, hollow, vacate, deflate

Etymology: possibly from the Old Irish lomm (bare, naked, smooth) [source].

Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cúacca = empty
Proto-Brythonic	*gwag = empty, vacant
Old Welsh	guac = empty, desolate, vacant
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	gwac, gwag = empty, desolate, vacant
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gwag [ɡwaːɡ] = empty, desolate, vacant, void, barren; meaningless, senseless, unsubstantial, frivolous, null and void, invalid gwagedd = vanity, vainglory, conceit, empitness, unreality gwagio = to empty, make empty, become empty gwagle = empty place or space, vacuum, void, gap, chasm, space
Middle Cornish	gwag = hungry, vain, void, vacant, at leisure; void, vacuum, hunger
Cornish (Kernewek)	gwag = blank, empty, hollow, hungry, unfurnished, unoccupied, vacant gwaga = to break into a cavity gwagen = blank gwagla = vacancy gwagva = vacuum gwakhe = to empty, vacate
Middle Breton	goac = soft, tender goacat = to soften
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gwak = soft, tender gwakaat = to soften gwakadur = softening

Etymology: from the Vulgar Latin *vacus, from the Latin *vacuus (empty), from vacō (I am empty, void), from the Proto-Italic *wakos (empty), from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁weh₂- (to lack, empty) [source].

A Breton word for empty is goullo or gollo, the origins of which are not known.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Soft and Tender

29th June 202220th January 2024 By Simon

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

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

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: unknown

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Proto-Indo-European

Trembing

Lamentation

Rawness

Rotten Fragrance

Sieving Riddles

Brushes and Broom

Ferns and Bracken

Waterfalls

Emptiness

Soft and Tender