Words for bench and related things in Celtic languages.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | beinnse, beinse, béinse, beindsi = bench, table, the Judicial Bench |
|---|---|
| Irish (Gaeilge) | binse [ˈbʲiːnʲʃə] = bench, seat, the Bench, bank, ledge binseoir = bencher binsín = little bench, little bunch of rushes binse breithimh = judge’s bench, tribunal |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | being [beiŋʲgʲ] = bench, form being-aghaidh = front bench being-chùil = back bench being-dhùbhlain = opposition bench |
| Manx (Gaelg) | bink = bench, base bink obbree = workbench bink saaue = sawbench bink ny bingey = jury box |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | bainc, meink, meinc = bench, long seat, form, settle, stool, footstool, workbench |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | mainc, maing, bainc, baing [mai̯ŋk, mai̯ŋg, bai̯ŋk, bai̯ŋg] = bench, long seat, form, settle, stool, footstool, workbench; seat of judge or justice, court of law, bench of judges or magistrates, throne mainc flaen = front bench (in parliament) mainciau cefn = back benches (in parliament) meinciwr cefn = back-bencher meincia(i)d = benchful, bank (of oars) meincnod = bench-mark |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | benc, vync = bench |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | bynk, benk = bench, platform, workbench |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | menk [mɛɲk] = stone bench |
Etymology (Irish): from Middle English bench (bench), from Old English benċ, bænc [bentʃ] (bench), from Proto-West-Germanic *banki (bench), from Proto-Germanic *bankiz [ˈbɑŋ.kiz] (a raised surface, bulge, hillock, slope, bench) the Proto-Indo-European *bʰeg- (to bend, curve, arch) [source].
The Scottish Gaelic word comes from Scots bink (bench, bank, hob), from Middle English bench, etc. The Manx word possibly comes from the same roots [source].
The Welsh words come directly from Old English benċ [source].
Words from the same PIE root include back, bank and bench in English, banc (bench, bank, shoal) in French, bank (bench, couch, sofa) in Dutch, Bank (bench, workbench, bank) in German, and bänk (bench, workbench, desk, worktop) in Swedish [source].
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | sceimel = rampart, protective covering |
|---|---|
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | sceimel, sgeimheal = cover, protective roof covering, roof, wall, rampart |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | sceimheal = eaves, projecting rim, flange, outer, encircling wall, rampart |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | sgibheal = eaves (of a roof) |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | yscauelh, ysgavell = shelf, sill, rim, ledge, (eye)brow, cave |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | (y)sgafell = shelf, sill, rim, ledge, (eye)brow, cave |
| Old Cornish | scamell = bench, stool |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | scavel = bench, stool |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | skavel = stool skavel droos = footstool skavel gronek = mushroom, toadstool |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | scabell, scabel, scabeu = stool |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | skaoñ, skabell [ˈskoːãn / ˈskɑː.bɛl] = stool, stepladder skabeller = chair maker |
Etymology: from Latin scabellum (footstool, a kind of percussion instrument played by the foot,), from scamnum (stool, step, bench, stool, ridge), from *scabnum, from Proto-Italic *skaβnom, from Proto-Indo-European *skabʰ-no-m, from *skabʰ- (to hold up, support). [source].
Words from the same roots include sgabello (stool, footstool) in Italian, escabel (footrest, footstool) in Spanish, escabeau (step ladder) in French, shamble(s) in English, and Schemel (footstool, stool) in German [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, Dictionnaires bilingues de Francis Favereau / Edition Skol Vreizh, TermOfis
