Lead (Metal)

14th June 202214th June 2022 By Simon

Today we’re looking at the words for lead (metal) and related things in Celtic languages.

Cwmystwyth Lead Mine, Ceredigion, Cymru

Proto-Celtic	*ɸloudom = lead (metal)
Gaulish	*laudon = lead (metal)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	lúaide = lead (metal)
Irish (Gaeilge)	luaidhe [ˈl̪ˠuːiː] = lead (metal), (sounding-) lead, plummet, (fishing) sinker luaidhiúil = lead-like, leaden luaidhnimh = lead-poisoning peann luaidhe = pencil
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	luaidhe [l̪ˠuəjə] = lead (metal), leaden luaidheach = leaden peann-luaidhe = pencil
Manx (Gaelg)	leoaie = lead (metal), leaden, sounding lead penn leoaie = pencil

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *plewd- (to fly, flow, run), from *plew- (to fly, flow, run), from the Proto-West Germanic *laud [source].

Some words from the same PIE root include fleet, float, flood and pneumonia in English, vlieten (to flow) in Dutch, fließen (to flow) in German, flyte (to float, flow) in Swedish [source].

The English word lead comes from the Middle English le(e)d (lead) from the Old English lēad (lead) from the Proto-West-Germanic *laud (lead), from the Gaulish *laudon (lead) [source], and words for lead in other Germanic language languages come from the same root [source].

Proto-Brythonic	*plum = lead (metal)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	pluum, plwm = lead (metal)
Welsh (Cymraeg)	plwm [plʊm] = lead (metal); mass or ball of lead, plumb, plummet, straight(ness), vertical(ness) plymaidd = leaden, lead-like, heavy, oppressive, worthless plymen = lead weight, plummet, sheet, of lead plymio = to sound (for depth), fathom, dive, plunge, plummet; to cover or solder with lead, line (pottery) with lead, glaze plymwr = plumber, dealer/worker in lead, plunger, diver plymliw = lead-coloured, blackish-blue, greyish blue, pale blue
Cornish (Kernewek)	plomm, plobm = lead (metal) plommer = plumber plommwedhek = vertical pyncel plomm = pencil
Breton (Brezhoneg)	plom = lead (metal) plomek = lead(en) plomer = plumber plomerezh = plumbing

Etymology: from the Latin plumbum (lead, pencil), may be borrowed from Etruscan, Iberian or some other pre-Indo-European Mediterranean substrate language [source].

Some words from the same Latin root include plumb (truly vertical, as indicated by a plumb line) in English, piombo (lead, grey, bullet) in Italian, plomb (lead, fuse, sinker) in French, and Plombe (seal, filling) in German [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, Gerlyvyr Cernewec, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Copper

7th June 20227th June 2022 By Simon

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

Proto-Celtic	*omiyom = copper, bronze
Old Irish (Goídelc)	umae, humae [ˈu.ṽe] = copper, bronze, brass
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	uma = copper, bronze, brass
Irish (Gaeilge)	umha = copper, copper alloy, bronze umhadhaite = bronze-coloured, bronzed umhaí = worker in copper or bronze cré-umha = bronze cré-umhaigh = to bronze salachar-umha = verdigris
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	umha [ũ.ə] = bronze, copper, brass umhach = coppery, brassy umha-dhathte = copper-coloured, bronze-coloured ceàrd-umha = coppersmith Linn an Umha = the Bronze Age meirg-umha = verdigris
Manx (Gaelg)	ooha = bronze cur ooha er = to bronze, bronzing Yn Eash Ooha = the Bronze Age
Proto-Brythonic	*öβ̃ɨð = bronze, copper
Old Welsh	emid, emed = bronze, copper
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	euyð, euyd = bronze, copper
Welsh (Cymraeg)	efydd [ˈɛvɨ̞ð / ˈeːvɪð] = bronze, brass, copper; made of bronze brass or copper; brazen; bronze colour, coppery efyddaf, efyddu = to cover or adorn with brass or copper, to braze efyddaid = made of bronze or brass; brazen, brazed efyddog = brassy, coppery efyddwr = brass-smith, copper-smith medal efydd = bronze medal mwyn efydd = copper ore, copper mine Oes yr Efydd = Bronze Age

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Celtic *omos (raw), from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂eh₃mós (raw, uncooked, bitter, sour) [source].

Some words from the same PIE root, via the Latin amārus (bitter, harsh, sour, dire), include amaro (bitter) in Italian, amer (bitter, sour) in French, amarillo (yellow, golden coloured) in Spanish [source], and marulă (lettuce) in Romanian [source].

Irish (Gaeilge)	copar [ˈkopˠəɾˠ] = copper gabha copair = coppersmith coparás = copperas, copper sulphate
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	copar [kɔhbər] = copper coparach = cuperous, like copper, coppery copar-dubhaidh = copperas, green vitriol (iron(II) sylphate)
Manx (Gaelg)	cobbyr, copuir = copper cobbyragh = copperish, cupric gaaue cobbyr = coppersmith plait cobbyr = copperplate
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	copyr, copr, kopyr = copper
Welsh (Cymraeg)	copr, copor, coper = copper; something of little value; red hair gof copr = copper-smith gwaith copr = copper-works, vessels made of copper mwyn copr = copper ore, copper mine
Cornish (Kernewek)	kober [stɛːn / steːn] = copper kobrek = copper (colour)
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kouevr = copper kouevrek = cupric (relating to or containing copper) kouevrus = cuprous (relating to or containing copper)

Etymology: from the Middle English coper (copper, bronze), from the Old English copor (copper), from the Proto-Germanic *kuprą (copper), from the Latin Latin cuprum (copper) from the Ancient Greek Κύπρος (Cyprus – where large reserves of copper can be found). The Breton word kouevr was borrowed from the French cuivre (copper, brass), from the same Latin root [source].

Tin

2nd June 20226th June 2022 By Simon

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

Botallack tin mine in Cornwall

Proto-Celtic	*stagnos = tin
Gaulish	*stagnom = tin
Old Irish (Goídelc)	stán [mʲeːnʲ] = tin, tin vessel
Irish (Gaeilge)	stán = tin, tin vessel stánach = tin-bearing, stannic stánadóir = tinner, tinsmith stánadóireacht = tin-work, (act of) tinkering stánaigh = to tin, to coat with tin, to pack in tin(s) stáncheárta = tinworks stánphláta = tin-plate stántáirgeach = tin-bearing stánúil = tinny, stannous feadóg stáin = tin whistle
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	staoin [sdɯːn̪ʲ] = tin, pewter stàin [sdɯːn̪ʲ] = tin stànadair = tinsmith, tinker staoinseil = tinsel fìdeag-staoin = tin whistle muileann-staoin = tin mill sgragall-staoine = tinfoil
Manx (Gaelg)	stainney = tin, can, tin-plate stainnagh = tin-bearing stainnaghey = to tin-plate stainneyder = tin-miner stainnit = tin-plated stainn-oshleyder, fosleyder stainney = tin-opener feddan (stainney) = tin whistle, flageolot gaaue stainney = tinner, tinsmith
Proto-Brythonic	*staɨn = tin
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	stain, ystain, staen, ystaen = tin, pewter
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ystaen, staen = tin, pewter ystaenaid, staenaid = tinned, tin ystaenwr, ystaeniwr = pewterer, tinsmith
Cornish (Kernewek)	sten [stɛːn / steːn] = tin stenek = tin ground, stannary stenor = tinner sten du = tin ore poll sten = tin pit
Middle Breton	sten, stean, staen = tin
Breton (Brezhoneg)	staen = tin staenañ = to tinplate staenek = stannic (of or containing tin) staenus = stannous (of or containing tin)

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: probably from the Proto-Indo-European *sth₂gʰ-nó-s (standing, firm), from *steh₂-gʰ- + *-nós, from *steh₂- (to stand) [source].

The Latin word stannum (an alloy of silver and lead; tin) was borrowed from the Gaulish *stagnom, and words for tin in Romance languages developed from this, including étain in French, stagno in Italian, and estaño in Spanish [source].

The scientific abbreviation for tin is Sn, from the Latin stannum. The old Latin name for tin was plumbum candidum (white lead) [source].

Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	tiona = tin (container, metal) á tiona = tinned, from a tin crogan-tiona = tin can/td>
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	tynn, tin, tinn = tin, tin plate
Welsh (Cymraeg)	tun, tyn = tin (metal / container), tin plate, tin can tunio, tuniaf = to tin, coat with tin, seal in a tin tun tân = blower, metal plate placed before an open fire to increase the draught tun te = tin used by workmen to carry leaf tea (and sugar) to work

Etymology: from the English tin, from the Middle English tin, tyn(e), tynne (tin), from the Old English tin (tin), from the Proto-Germanic *tiną (tin), probably from a pre-Indo-European language [source].

Words for tin in Germanic languages come from the same Proto-Germanic root, including tin in Dutch, Zinn in German, tenn in Swedish, and tinn in Norwegian, as do words for tin in some Slavic and Finno-Ugric languages [source].

Metal

30th May 202230th May 2022 By Simon

Today we’re looking at the words for metal, ore, mines and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*mēnis = ore, metal, mine
Old Irish (Goídelc)	méin, mían [mʲeːnʲ] = mineral, ore, metal
Middle Irish (Goídelc)	méin, mían [mʲeːnʲ] = mineral, ore, metal míanach = vein of ore, mine míanaige = miner
Irish (Gaeilge)	mianach = ore; stuff, material, substance, quality mianadóir = miner mianrach = mineral mianreolaí = mineralogist mianreolaíocht = mineralogy mianadóireacht = mining; burrowing, excavating, digging deep
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	mèinn [mɛːn̪ʲ] = mine, ore mèinnear, mèinneadair = miner mèinnireach = mineral mèinn-guail = coal mine, colliery mèinn-talmhainn = landmine mèinn salainn = salt mine mèinneadh = mining mèinnearach = mining mèinn-eòlas = mineralogy mèinneadh = mineralogical mèinnearach = mineralogist
Manx (Gaelg)	meain = ore, mine meainagh = ore meain-oayllys, meaineraght = metallurgy meain-oaylee, meaineraght = mineralogist meain arih = gold mine meain argid = silver mine meain chobbyr = copper mine meain gheayil = coal mine, colliery meain hollan = salt mine meain leoaie = lead mine
Proto-Brythonic	*muɨn = ore, metal, mine
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	mwyn, mŵn = mineral, ore, mine
Welsh (Cymraeg)	mwyn = mineral, ore, mine mwynwr = miner, sapper mwyn arian = silver ore, silver mine mwyn aur = gold ore, gold mine mwyn cellt = quartz mwyn coch = red lead, red ochre, haematite, other red ores mwyn copr = copper ore, copper mine mywn du = blacklead, graphite mwyn efydd = copper ore, copper mine mwyn haearn = iron ore
Cornish (Kernewek)	moon = fusible metal mineral, mineral
Middle Breton	*men = iron
Breton (Brezhoneg)	mengleuz = quarry, slate quarry, mine mengleuzer = slate quarry worker mengleuzerezh = mining industry mengleuziañ = to mine mengleuziek = mining mengleuzier = quarryman

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: probably from the Proto-Indo-European *mēy(H)nis, from *(s)mēy(H)- (to cut, hew) [source].

The English word mine (an excavation from which ore or solid minerals are taken) comes from the same Proto-Celtic root, via the Old French myne, mine, the Late Latin mina and Gaulish [source].

Middle Irish (Goídelc)	mital(l) = metal
Irish (Gaeilge)	miotal [ˈmʲɪt̪ˠəlˠ] = metal; mettle, spirit, hardihood miotalach = metallic; mettlesome, spirited; hardy, wiry miotalagrafaíocht = metallography miotalóir = metallurgist miotalóireach = metallurgic(al) miotalóireacht = metal-work, metallurgy
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	miotal, meiteal = metal = miner meatailteach = metallic obair-mheatailtean, obair-mheatailt = metalwork, metallurgy meatailt uasal = precious metal
Manx (Gaelg)	metal = metal
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	mettel = metal
Welsh (Cymraeg)	metel, metal = metal, metal weapon or armour; substance, mettle, bravery, courage metelaidd, metelig = metallic meteleg = metallurgy metelegol = metallurgical metelegwr, metelegydd = metallurgist
Cornish (Kernewek)	metol = metal metolyek = metallic
Breton (Brezhoneg)	metal = metal metalerezh = metallurgy metalour = metallurgist

Etymology (Welsh): from the Middle English metel(l), metal(l) (metal, ore), from the Old French metal (metal), from the Latin metallum (metal, precious metals, mine), from the Ancient Greek μέταλλον (métallon – metal, precious metals, mine) [source].

Etymology (Irish): from the Old French metal (metal), then as above [source].

The English word metal comes from the same roots, via Middle English, Old French, etc [source]. The word mettle (a quality of endurance and courage) was originally a variant of metal, and later came to have a figurative sense [source].

Iron

27th May 202227th May 2022 By Simon

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

Proto-Celtic	*īsarnom = iron
Old Irish (Goídelc)	íarn [iːa̯rn] = iron
Irish (Gaeilge)	iarann [ˈiəɾˠən̪ˠ] = iron (element, appliance, golf club); iron part of a tool; brass (money) amhiarann, iarnmhian = iron ore iarann rocach = corrugated iron iaranach = irons, iron implements, fetters, ploughshare iaranaigh = to put in irons, fit, cover with iron iaranaí = (made of) iron, iron-hard iaranáil = to iron (clothes) iarnmhangaire = ironmonger iarannaois = the Iron Age iarna = hardware iarnród = railway iarnúil = iron-like, ferrous
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	iarann [iər̪ˠən̪ˠ] = iron, (metal) blade; day’s worth cutting peat (for two) iarnaidh = ferrous, iron-hard, iron-coloured, stingy iarnaigeadh, iarnachadh = (act of) ironing iarnair = ironmonger iarainn-tàthainn, iarann-sobhdraidh = soldering iron iarann-dreasaigidh = clothes iron iarann mòlltaichte = cast iron iarann preasach = corrugated iron rathad-iarainn = railway
Manx (Gaelg)	yiarn = iron; tool, scythe, blade; dough (money); tip (gratuity) yiarnagh = ferric yiarnal = iron, ironing yiarneyder = ironmonger yiarnrey = hardware yiarnaghey, yiarney = to cover with iron, to iron yiarnoil = ferrous
Proto-Brythonic	*hijarn = hard, hard metal, iron
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	heirn, hyarn, heyrn, hayarnn, haearn = iron
Welsh (Cymraeg)	haearn = iron, iron bar, hardness, strength, resoluteness, hard, strong, unyielding; sword, spear, lance; iron armour, coat of mail; fetters, shackles; branding-iron, pincers; flat-iron; spur haearnaidd = like iron, ferrous; strong, hard, callous, oppressive haearneiddio = to harden, make (one) unfeeling or callous haearnol = of iron, iron-like, hard, unfeeling, rigid, stern haearnwr = ironmonger, ironworker haearn bwrw = cast iron haearn gwaith = wrought iron haearn gwrymiog = corrugated iron
Middle Cornish	heorn, horn, hôrn = iron
Cornish (Kernewek)	horn = iron hornek = ferric, iron hornell = iron (for clothes) hornella = to iron horner = ironmonger horn margh = horseshoe hyns horn = railway
Old Breton	hoiarn = iron
Middle Breton	houarnn = iron
Breton (Brezhoneg)	houarn [ˈhuː.arn] = iron; flat iron; horseshoe houarnek = ferric houarnus = ferrous houarnaj = scrap iron houarnajer = scrap merchant houarnañ = to shoe (a horse) houarn-marc’h = horseshoe houarn da zistennañ = iron (for clothes) hent-houarn = railway

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: probably from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁ēsh₂r̥no- (bloody, red), from *h₁ésh₂r̥ (blood) [source].

Words for iron in Germanic languages come from the same Proto-Celtic root, via the Proto-Germanic *īsarną (iron), including iron in English, ijzer in Dutch, Eisen in German, and järn in Swedish [source].

Words for blood in Romance languages come from the same PIE root, via the Latin sanguīs (blood, descent, progeny, family), including sang in Catalan and French, sangue in Italian and Portuguese, and sangre in Spanish, and also the English word sanguine (blood red; warm, optimistic, confident) [source].

Hard Steel

26th May 202227th May 2022 By Simon

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

Old Irish (Goídelc)	dúr = hard, hardy, resolute, rigid
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	dúr = rigid, hard, solid; difficult; hard to bear; strict, austere; hardy, resolute; unfeeling, dour, obdurate
Irish (Gaeilge)	dúr = hard, rigid, solid; dour, grim, obstinate; dense, stupid, blunt, insensitive; sluggish dúramán = dull-witted, stupid person dúramánta = dull-witted, stupid dúranta = dour, grim, morose, sullen dúrantacht = dourness, sullenness dúrapóg = surly person dúrchroí = hard heart, hardness of heart dúrchroíoch = hard hearted
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	dùr [duːr] = stubborn, intractable; obstinate, dull, stupid; persevering durganta = rigid, stiff, hardened; robust, rigorous; obstinate, dogged; sullen, morose; grim, forbidding
Manx (Gaelg)	douyr = mournful, uncomfortable, unhappy, afflicting
Proto-Brythonic	*dʉr = hard, hard metal, steel
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	dur = steel
Welsh (Cymraeg)	dur [dɨːr / diːr] = steel, steel weapon; hard, cruel duraidd = steely, hard, faithful, true durawdr = steel sword or lance dur bwrw = cast steel edau ddur = wire fel y dur = true as steel, like steel llifddur = file, rasp
Cornish (Kernewek)	dur = steel dur dinamm = stainless steel
Breton (Brezhoneg)	dir = steel dir disvergi = stainless steel kazeg-dir = bicycle (“steel mare”)

Etymology from the Latin dūrus (hard, rough, harsh), from the Proto-Indo-European *drew- (hard, fast), from *dóru (tree) [source].

Words from the same Latin root include the Scots word dour (hard, stern, severe, relentless), possibly via Middle Irish, which was also borrowed into English and means stern, harsh or forbidding; the French word dur (hard, tough, harsh), the Italian word duro (hard, tough, harsh), and the Spanish word duro (hard, form, solid) [source].

Words from the same PIE root include Celtic words for oak (tree), and the English words true, trough and trim [source].

Irish (Gaeilge)	cruach [kɾˠuəx / kɾˠɔx] = steel cruachghreanadóireacht = steel-engraving cruachobair = steelwork cruachphláta = steel-plate cruachphlátáilte = steel-plated
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cruaidh [kruəj] = steel; stone anchor; hard, rocky ground
Manx (Gaelg)	creoighey = steel

Etymology from the Irish crua (hard), from the Old Irish crúaid (hard, hardy, harsh, stern, strict), from the Proto-Celtic *kroudis (rude), possibly from *krū- (blood), from the Proto-Indo-European *krewh₂-. (blood) [source].

Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	stàilinn [sdaːl̪ʲɪn̪ʲ] = steel clòimh-stàilinn = steel wool obraiche-stàilinn = steelworker ionad-stàilinn = steelworks
Manx (Gaelg)	staillin, steillyn, steillin = steel staillinagh = steel-maker, steel obbyr staillinagh = steelwork ollan staillinagh = steel wool snaie staillinagh = steel wire towse staillinagh = steelyard

Etymology from the Old Norse stál (steel, sword), from the Proto-Germanic stahlą (steel), from the Proto-Indo-European *stek- (to be firm, stand fast) [source].

Words from the same Proto-Germanic root include steel in English, staal (steel) in Dutch, Stahl (steel) in German, and stål (steel, tool) in Danish [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Metals

Lead (Metal)

Copper

Tin

Metal

Iron

Hard Steel