Parts and Pieces

8th June 20238th June 2023 By Simon

Words for part, piece and related things in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic	darnos/darnā = piece, part
Old Irish (Goídelc)	drécht [dʲrʲeːxt] = portion, part
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	drecht, drécht = part, portion, section; poem, literary composition dréchtach = numerous; skilled in song or poetry dréchtfaid = to divide up
Irish (Gaeilge)	dréacht [dʲɾʲeːxt̪ˠ]= part, portion, draft, detachment, number; (literary) piece, composition; draft dréachtach = composer, poet; skilled in/diligent at compostion dréachtaigh = to draft dréachtín = versicle, stanza dréachtóir = drafter, draughtsman (of documents)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	dreachd [drɛxg] = draft dreachd-aithisge = draft report dreachd-dhealbh = working drawing
Manx (Gaelg)	draght, dreaght = draft draghtey = to draw up dreaght feeleeaght = a piece of poetry
Proto-Brythonic	*darn = piece, fragment, part
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	darn = piece, fragment, part, portion, section, lump, patch, coin darnaw, darnio, darnu = to break or tear in pieces
Welsh (Cymraeg)	darn [darn] = piece, fragment, part, portion, section, lump, patch, coin darn yn narn = piecemeal, piece by piece darn arian = piece of silver, silver coin darn aur = gold piece, gold coin darn grot = a groat darniad = a breaking in pieces, a shattering darn(i)af, darn(i)o, darnu = to break or tear in pieces, mangle, dismember darn(i)edig = broken or torn to pieces, mangled
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	darn = a fragment, piece
Cornish (Kernewek)	darn = bit, fragment, part, piece darn papur = slip of paper darnas = portion
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	darn = piece, part, slice (of fish) darnaou = exhausted, worn-out darnaouer = one who disturbs darnaouet, darnouet, darnaöuet = torn to pieces, very tired darnaouus, darnaouüs = divisible
Breton (Brezhoneg)	darn = fragment, part, partial, darnaou = exhausted, worn-out darnamzer = part-time darnel = partial

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *der (to split, separate, tear, crack, shatter). The French word darne (thick slice of big round fish, part of the body) comes from the same Proto-Celtic root via Breton [source].

Words from the same PIE root include dermal, dermic and (to) tear in English, zehren (to live on, feed on, undermine, wear out) in German, and драть [dratʲ] (to tear to pieces) in Russian [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

Short Cuts

26th May 202326th May 2023 By Simon

Words for short, cut and related things in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic	*birros = short
Old Irish (Goídelc)	berr [bʲer͈] = short berraid = to shear, clip, shave, cut, shear, tonsure
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	berr, bearr = short berrad = to cut, clip, shave, cut, tonsure
Irish (Gaeilge)	bearr [bʲɑːɾˠ/bʲaːɾˠ] = to clip, cut, trim, cut (hair), shave, fleece (sb) bearradh = cutting bearrthóir = trimmer, shearer bearrthóireacht = trimming, cutting speech
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	beàrr = short, brief (archaic) beàrr [bjaːr̪ˠ] = to cut, shave, crop, shear, pare, prune, clip, poll, dehorn
Manx (Gaelg)	baarey = to bare, clip, cut, dress, poll, prune, shave, trimmed baareyder = barber, cutter, shaver, clipper baarys = tonsure
Gaulish	*birros = a coarse kind of thick woollen cloth; a woollen cap or hood worn over the shoulders or head<
Proto-Brythonic	*bɨrr [ˈbɨr͈] = short
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	birr, byrr = short, small, brief bŷr-brŷd = a short meal of meat uyrder, byrder = shortness, brevity
Welsh (Cymraeg)	byr [bɨ̞r/bɪr] = short, small, brief, concise, condensed, abrupt, curt, stingy, sparing, deficient, faulty byrbryd = light meal, lunch, snack byrbwyll = rash, reckless, thoughtless byrder = shortness, brevity, smallness, conciseness, scarity, deficiency byrdra = shortness, brevity, smallness, curtness
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	ber = short, diminutive, brief beranal = asthma, shortness of breath
Cornish (Kernewek)	berr [bɛɹ] = short, brief berrhe = to abbreviate, shorten berrheans = abrreviation berrskrifa = to summarise berrwelyek = short-sighted
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	berr, ber, bèr = short, brief berr-ha-berr = very short, shortly briefly berraat = to shorten, abbreivate, reduce berradenn = shortening berradur = abbreviation
Breton (Brezhoneg)	berr = short, brief berr-ha-berr = very short, shortly briefly berradenn = shortening berradur = abbreviation

Etymology: unknown

Words from the same Proto-Celtic root, via Latin and Gaulish, include beret in English, béret (beret) in French, berret (cap) in Gascon, biretta (a square cap worm by Roman Catholic priests) in English and Italian, berretto (beanie, cap) in Italian, barrete (biretta, cap) in Portuguese, birrete (biretta) in French, and βίρρος [ˈβir.ros] (a type of cloak or mantle) in Ancient Greek [source].

Proto-Celtic	gerros = short gari- = short
Old Irish (Goídelc)	gerr, gearr = short, a short time, castrated gerraid = to cut, mutilate, shorten, carve garait [ˈɡarədʲ] = short
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	gerr [ɡʲer͈] = short gairaid = to cut short, cut off, mutilate garit, garait, gairit = short (time/distance/length)
Irish (Gaeilge)	gearr [ɟɑːɾˠ/ɟaːɾˠ] = short; to cut, shorten, reduce gearrachán = cutting remark gearradh = cutting, cut, levy, rate, speed gearrán = gelding, pack-horse, small horse, nag, strong-boned woman gearróg = short bit, scrap, short drill or furrow, short stocky girl, short answer gearrthóg = cutting, snippet, trimmings, cutlet gearrthóir = cutter, chisel gairid [ˈɡaɾʲədʲ] = short, near, close
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	geàrr [gʲaːr̪ˠ] = short, thick-set, squat, dumpy, brief, concise, succinct, scanty; to cut, carve, sever, dock goirid [gɤrʲɪdʲ] = short, brief, brusque giorraich [gʲir̪ɪç] = abbreviate, abrige, shorten, curtail giorrachadh [gʲir̪ˠəxəɣ] = abbreviation, abridgement, summary
Manx (Gaelg)	giare = abbreviated, abridged, abrupt, brief, brusque, compact, concise, curt, short, summary giarey = to abbreviate, abridge, axe, carve castrate, clip, cut girraghey = to abbreviate, abridge, contract, shorten

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰer- (short). Words from the same PIE root include ह्रस्व [ˈɦɾɐs̪.ʋɐ] (short, small, dwarfish, little, low; a dwarf) in Sanskrit, and ह्रस्व [ɦɾəs̪.ʋᵊ] (a short vowel) in Hindi, and possibly girl in English [source].

Quintuple

23rd May 202323rd May 2023 By Simon

Words for five and related things in Celtic languages:

five

Proto-Celtic	kʷenkʷe = five kʷenkʷetos = fifth
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cóic [koːɡʲ] = five cóiced [ˈkoːɡʲeð] = fifth cóicer = five people, five things coíca = fifty
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cóic, cúic = five cóiced, cúced, coigid = fifth cóicer, cóicir, cuicir = five people/things cóic deac = fifteen coíca, coícad, cóic deich = fifty
Irish (Gaeilge)	cúig [kuːɟ] = five cúigiú [kuːˈɟuː/ˈkuːɟu] = fifth cúigear [ˈkuːɟəɾˠ] = five people/things cúige = one of five divisions of Ireland, province caoga = fifty cúigbhliantúil = five-yearly, quinquennial cúigchodach = fivefold, quintuple cúigréad = quintet
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	còig [koːgʲ] = five còigeamh(5ᵐʰ) fifth (4ᵗʰ)) còignear [koːgʲn̪ʲər] = five (people) còigearan [koːgʲəran] = quintuplet còig-fillte = quintuple, fivefold caogad [kɯːgəd] = fifty
Manx (Gaelg)	queig [kwɛɡ] = five queigagh, queigoo = fifth queigad = fifty queigin, queig-lhiatteean = pentagon queigane = quintuplet queig-filley = quintuple, five-fold
Proto-Brythonic	pɨmp [pɨmp] = five pɨmped [pɘmˈpɛːd] = fifth
Gaulish	pimpe, pempe = five pimpetos = fifth
Old Welsh	pimp = five petguaret = fifth pimmunt = fifty
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	pimp, pym(p), pvmp, pum(p) = five pimphet, pemhet, pimhed, pymhed, pymhet = fifth pymthec = fifteen pymwnt, pumhwnt, pemhwnt, pummwnt = fifty pvmplyc, pymplyg, pumplyg = quintuple, fivefold
Welsh (Cymraeg)	pump [pɨ̞mp/pɪmp] = five pumed [pɛdˈwɛrɨ̞ð] (5ed) = fifth pumplyg = quintuple, fivefold, folded five times pumpunt = five pounds, five-pound note, fiver pedwaraid = set of five, fivesome pumseiniol = pentatonic (music)
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	pymp, pemp = five pympes = fifth pymthec, pemdhac = fifteen
Cornish (Kernewek)	pymp = five pympes, pempes = fifth pymthek, pemdhek = fifteen pympbys, pempbes = starfish (“five finger”)
Old Breton	pemp = five
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	pemp, puemb = five pempet, peempet, pempvet = fifth pempaat = to group into five pempkement = quintuple pempkementiñ = to quintuple pempkogneg = pentagon
Breton (Brezhoneg)	pemp [pɛmp/pɛ̃mp] = five pemp(v)et = fifth pemzek = fifteen pempad = quintet pempkorneg = pentagon

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *pénkʷe (five) [source].

English words from the same roots include five, fifth, fifty, fifty, quintet, and words beginning with penta-, such as pentathlon and pentameter [source].

Fourfold

18th May 202324th June 2023 By Simon

Words for four and related things in Celtic languages:

four

Proto-Celtic	kʷetwares = four kʷetwariyos = fourth
Gaulish	petru, petuar = four petuarios = fourth
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cethair [ˈkʲeθirʲ] = four cethramad [ˈkʲeθraṽað] = fourth cethracha = forty cethrar = four people cethardúil = four elements
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cethair = four cethramad = fourth cethrar = four people cethracha = forty cetharchair = four-sided, square, rectangular cethairríad = four-wheeled chariot or carriage cethardenus = space of four days cethardóit = group of four cetharaird = the four points of the compass, the four quarters, the world, universe
Irish (Gaeilge)	ceathair [ˈcahəɾʲ/ˈcæɾʲ] = four, quadruped ceithre [ˈcɛɾʲə/ˈçɛɾʲə] = four ceathrar [ˈcahɾˠəɾˠ/cæːɾˠ] = four people ceathracha = forty ceathrú [cahˈɾˠuː] = quarter, thigh, quatrain ceathrúnach = quartermaster ceathairbhliantúil = quadrennial ceathairchodach = fourfold, quadruple ceathairchosach = fourfooted, quadruped ceathairéad = quartet ceathairfhillte = quarto, fourfold
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ceithir [kʲehɪrʲ] = four ceathramh [kʲɛrəv] (4mh) fourth (4th) ceathrar [kʲɛrər] = four (people) ceathrad [kʲɛrəd] = forty cairteal [kar̪ˠʃdʲal] = quarter; quarters, lodgings ceithir-chasach = quadruped, four-legged animal ceithir-cheàrnach = quadrilateral ceithir-fillte = quadruple, fourfold, four-ply
Manx (Gaelg)	kiare [kʲeːə(r)] = four, foursome, quartet kiarroo, (yn) chiarroo = (the) fourth kerroo = fourth, quarter, quatrain kiarad = forty kiare-fillagh, kiare-filley = fourfold, quadruple kiare-lhiatteeagh, kiare-lhiatteean = four-sided, quadrilateral kiare-chassagh = four-footed, four-legged, quadruped
Proto-Brythonic	pedwar [pɛdˈwaːr] = four pėdwėrɨð [pe̝dwe̝ˈrˑɨːð] = fourth
Old Welsh	petguar = four petguaret = fourth
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	pedwar, peduar = four (m) pedeyr, pedair, pedeir = four (f) pedweryd = fourth (m) pedwyred = fourth (m) pedwar deg, pedeir deg = fourteen pedwar/pedeir ar bymthec = nineteen pedwar ugein(t) = eighty
Welsh (Cymraeg)	pedwar [ˈpɛdwar] = four (m) pedair [ˈpɛdai̯r/ˈpeːdai̯r] = four (f) pedwerydd [pɛdˈwɛrɨ̞ð] (4ydd) = fourth (m) pedwaredd [pɛdˈwarɛð] (4edd) = fourth (f) pedwarplyg = quadruple pedwaraf, pedwaru = to divide into four, quarter pedwaraid = set of four, foursome pedwar ar ddeg = fourteen pedwar ar bymtheg = nineteen pedwar deg = forty pedwar ugain = eighty
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	peswar = four (m) pedar = four (f) peswere, pyswere = fourth peswardhec, pazawardhak = fourteen padzhar iganz = eighty padzhar iganz ha deg = ninety
Cornish (Kernewek)	peswar, pajar = four (m) peder = four (f) peswora, pajwora = fourth peswartrosek = fourfooted peswardhek = fourteen peswar ugens = eighty
Old Breton	petguar = four petguare = fourth
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	peuar, puar = four peuare, pevare = fourth peuarzec, pévarzecq, piarzeg = fourteen peuaruguent, pêver huguent, pévar uguent = eighty pevar-benveg = quartet pevarc’hartier = to cut in quarters pévar c’hemend = quadruple pevar(-)c’hementi(ñ) = to quadruple
Breton (Brezhoneg)	pevar = four (m) peder = four (f) pevare = fourth pevarved = fourth (m) pedervet = fourth (f) pevarzek = fourteen pevar-ugent = eighty pevarad = quartet pevarzuek = quadrilatéral

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *kʷetwóres (four) and *kʷetwr̥yós (fourth) [source].

English words from the same roots include four, quarter, quart, quartet, quaruple, and words beginning with tetra-, such as tetradecimal (a 14-base counting system) [source].

Threesome

15th May 202313th July 2023 By Simon

Words for three and related things in Celtic languages:

three

Proto-Celtic	trīs = three tritiyos = third (in a sequence) trisano- = third (fraction*)
Celtiberian	Tiriś = three
Gaulish	treis = three (m) tiđres = three (f)
Lusitanian	*trīs = three
Old Irish (Goídelc)	tri, trí [tʲrʲiː] = three tress = third (in a sequence) trían = third (fraction) tríar = three (people) tréide = three things trédenus = three days tréimse = three months
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	trí = three tress = third (in a sequence), one of three trímad = third (in a sequence) trían = third (fraction) tríar = three persons, trio, three things tréimse = three months, a quarter (of a year)
Irish (Gaeilge)	trí [tʲɾʲiː] = three tríú [tʲɾʲiːuː] = third (in a sequence), third part triúr [tʲɾʲuːɾˠ] = three (people) triantán = triangle triantánacht = trigonometry triantánaigh = to triangulate tríoiseach = three-dimensional
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	trì [triː] = three treas [tres] (3ˢ) third (3ʳᵈ) treasamh (3ᵐʰ) third (3ʳᵈ) triùir [truːrʲ] = three (people) trì-fillte = triple, threefold, three-ply trian [triən] = third (part) triantan [triəndan] = triangle iantanachd [iantanachd] = trigonometry
Manx (Gaelg)	tree [t̪riː] = three troor = three (people), threesome, triad, Trinity, trio, trinity treeoo, trass = third trooane, troorane = triangle
Proto-Brythonic	tri [triː] = three (m) teir = three (f) trɨdɨð [trɨˈdɨːð] = third (m) trɨdeð = third (f)
Old Welsh	tri [triː] = three (m) teir = three (f) tritid = third (in a sequence) trean = third (fraction)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	tri = three (m) teir, tair = three (f) trited, trydet, trydyd = third teir coglaỼc, trichonglaỼc, trichongloc = triangular, three-cornered trydeblyc, tridyblic = three times, threefold, triple
Welsh (Cymraeg)	tri [triː] = three (m), tair [tai̯r] = three (f) triawd = trio, threesome, triology, triple trichorn = three-horned, three-cornered, tricorn hat tric(h)onglog = triangular, three-cornered tri deg = thirty tridyblyg = three times, threefold, triple, triplicate trionglyn = triangle trydydd (3ydd) = third (m) trydedd (3edd) = third (f) teirgwaith = three times, thrice, on three occasions
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	tri, trei = three (m) teir, teyr = three (f) triddydh = the space of three days tridzha = third trihans = three hundred trindas, trinsys = Trinity triugans = three score, sixty trivorh = three-pronged
Cornish (Kernewek)	tri, trei = three (m) trei = three (f) tredhek, terdhek = thirteen tressa, tryja = third triasen = triplet trihorn = triangle tryflek = threefold, triple teyrgweyth = three times
Old Breton	tri = three
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	tri, try = three (m) teir, teyr = three (m) tri-c’hard = three quarters tri-ugent = sixty tri-chant = three hundred triad = trio, group of three tric’hogn, tricoign, tric’horn = triangle
Breton (Brezhoneg)	tri = three (m) teir [ˈte.iʁ] = three (f) trived (m) teirved (f) = third trizek = thirteen tri-ugent = sixty trifarzh = three quarters tric’horn, tric’hogn = triangle

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *tréyes (three – m) and *tisres (three – f) [source].

English words from the same roots include tertiary, three, thrice, three, triad, tripod, triple and triplex [source].

A Pair of Twos

10th May 202318th June 2023 By Simon

Words for two and related things in Celtic languages:

two

Proto-Celtic	duwo = two dwau = two (masculine) dwī = two (feminine*)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	dá [daː] = two dechenc = two people déide = two things
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	dá = two, twice dechenc = a pair of persons déide = double, consisting of two, two things, a pair
Irish (Gaeilge)	dhá [ɣɑː/ɣaː] = two dá [d̪ˠɑː/d̪ˠaː] = two (used after an (the), aon (any) and céad (first)) dó = two (used when counting, e.g. a dó) dháréag = twelve daichead = forty déidhe = two persons or things, two, pair dís = two, pair, couple
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	dà [daː] = two dà reug = twelve dà fhichead = forty dà-fhillte = double, twice over, two-way, twofold dà-chànanach = bilingual dà-chomhaireach = bidirectional dà-bheathach = amphibian dà-bheulach = duplicitous, two-faced
Manx (Gaelg)	daa [d̪eː/d̪ɛː] = two, both daa cheayrt = doubly, twice, twice over, double daa-hengagh, daa-hengoil = bilingual daa hroagh = two-way daa laare = double-decker daa lout = two-storey daa yeig = twelve daeed = forty
Proto-Brythonic	dọw = two (masculine) düi = two (feminine)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	dau, dou, deu, dev = two (masculine) dwy = two (feminine) dau dafodioc = double-tongued, two-tongued, bilingual deu dyblyc, deudeblyg, deudyblyc, deudyblic = twofold, double, duplicate deu eiryawc = deceitful, double-tongued doudec, deudec, deudeg = twelve, dozen deuckeyn, deugeint, deu vgein, deugein = forty duyweith, dwyweith, dwyweyth = twice, doubly
Welsh (Cymraeg)	dau [daɨ̯/dai̯] = two (masculine), both, pair, couple, second, twice dwy [duːɨ̯/dʊi̯] = two (feminine) daudafodiog = double-tongued, two-tongued, bilingual dauddeall = equivocal, ambiguous dauddyblaf, dauddyblu = to (re)double dauddyblyg, deuddyblyg = twofold, double, duplicate daueiriog, deueiriog = deceitful, double-tongued, prevaricating, false, equivocal deuddeg = twelve, dozen deugain = forty dwywaith = twice, doubly
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	dew = two (masculine), pair, couple dui, dyw = two (feminine) dewdhec = twelve dewugens = two score, forty deweth, dewyth = twice
Cornish (Kernewek)	dew = two (masculine) diw = two (feminine) dewdhek = dozen, twelve dew ugens = forty dewblek = double, twofold dewbries = married couple dewdhen = couple, pair dewek = binary diwweyth = twice
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	dou = two
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	daou, dou, deü = two div = two (feminine) doudec, douzec, daoudec, daouzek = twelve dou vguent, daouuguent, daou-ugent = forty daouad = duo daudroadecq, daoudriadeg, daou-droadek = biped daougementiñ = to double
Breton (Brezhoneg)	daou [dɔw] = two (masculine), double, couple div [diw] = two (feminine) daouzek = twelve daou-ugent = forty daouad = binomial, duo daouhanteriñ = to cut in two di(v) wezh = twice

Etymology: possibly from Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ (two) [source]. English words from the same roots include binary, double, duo, duplex, twig, twin and two [source].

One Alone

4th May 202327th May 2023 By Simon

Words for one and related things in Celtic languages:

One

Proto-Celtic	oinos/oyno- = one *oynānos = alone, personally
Old Irish (Goídelc)	oen [oːi̯n] = one oenar [ˈoːi̯nər] = one person, alone, by oneself oentu [ˈoːi̯n͈tu] = oneness, unity oínḟer [oːi̯nʲer] = one person
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	óen = one, the same, single, only, unique oenar = a single individual, one alone, one person oentu = oneness, unity, association, fellowship, alliance
Irish (Gaeilge)	aon [eːn̪ˠ/iːnˠ] = one, any, same, only aonad = unit aonadach = unitary aonán = individual aonar = one, lone, person, single, solitary aonarach = single, solitary, lone aonaracht = singularity, solitude aonarán = single, solitary person aontaigh = to unite aonú = first
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	aon [ɯ̃ːn] = one, same, sole, approximately, about aonachd = unity, union aonaich = to combine, coalesce, unite, intergrate aonaichte = united, integrated aonan = one item/thing/person aonar = one (person), (state of being) alone aonanag = onesie aonaranach = alone, desolate, deserted, lone, solitary aonrachd = solitude, solitariness
Manx (Gaelg)	un [eːn/ɯːn/uːn] = one unnane = one, identical, ace (in cards) nane = one unnaneagh = particular, singular, unanimous unnaneysee, unnaneysey = to unite unnaneysit = united
Proto-Brythonic	*ʉn [ʉːn] = one
Old Welsh	un = one ungueid = once
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	un, vn [ʉn] = one, single, individual unbin, vnbenn, unbyn = dictator, monarch, tyrant, despot, chief unkyrn, vncorn, ynkorn = unicorn, one-horned unweith, vn weith, vnwaith = once
Welsh (Cymraeg)	un [ɨːn/iːn] = one, single, individual, only, sole, unique, special, united, combined unaf, uno = to unite, unify, coalesce, amalgamate, combine, join, connect, agree, be reconciled unaidd = united, unary unawd = solo (music/dance) unawdr, unawdydd = soloist unben = dictator, monarch, tyrant, despot, chief unbriodas = monogamy uncorn, ungorn = unicorn, one-horned, chimney-stack unwaith = once, (on) one occasion, (at) one or any time, sometime
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	un = one, individual uncorn = unicorn unsel = only, alone unver = of one mind, unanimous, agreed unya = to make one, unite, join unwyth = once
Cornish (Kernewek)	unn, udn [ˈʏn/ˈɪᵈn] = one, only, single, sole unnik = individual, only, single, sole, unique unplek = singular unran = one-piece unsel = only unses = unit, unity untu = one-sided, unilateral unver = agreed, in agreement, unanimous unweyth = incidentally, once, only unya = to unite
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	un = one
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	un, unn, unan, vnan, en, eun, oun = one unanaat = to unify unanadur = unification unanded = uniqueness unander = singular unanelezh = unit, unity
Breton (Brezhoneg)	un, unan = one, someone, unit, unity unvanadur = unification unander = singular unvaniñ = to unify unanelezh = uniqueness

Etymology: possibly from Proto-Indo-European *(h₁)óynos (one, single) [source].

English words from the same roots include one, a, an and oenology (the study of wines and winemaking) [source].

Scratching Scrapes

28th April 202328th April 2023 By Simon

Words for scratch, scrape and related things in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic	*skrībbāti = to scratch
Old Irish (Goídelc)	scrípaid = to scratch
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	scrípaid, scripad, scripadh = to scratch
Irish (Gaeilge)	scríob [sˠcɾʲiːbˠ / ʃcɾʲiːbˠ] = to scrape, scratch scríobach = abrasive, scraping, scratching, scratchy scríobadach = scraping, scratching, scrawl scríobadh = to scrape, scratch, scrapings scríobaire = scraper, scribing-iron, scriber scríobálaí = scraper, miser scríobán = grater scríobaitheamh = abrasion scríoblach = scrapings, scraps scríoblíne = scratch scríobóg = (little) scratch, scraping, niggardly woman
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	sgrìob [sgrʲiːb] = scrape, scratch, grate sgrìobadh [sgrʲiːbəɣ] = scratching, scraping, score, scratch, scrape, grating sgrìobag [sgrɔːbag] = slight scratch/scrape, index/pointer finger
Manx (Gaelg)	screeb = abrasion, scolding, score, scrape, scratch screebage = cockleshell, scar, scratch, flourish screebagh = abrasive, fricative, frictional, scraping, scrapy, scratchy, itchy scrabey = to abrade, chafe, claw, dress, friction, grate, graze, itch, rasp, scrape, scratch, scrawl; clawing, scraping, scratching
Welsh (Cymraeg)	(y)sgrap, sgrâp = scraper, scratch, scrape sgrapad = scratch, scrape sgrap(i)af, sgrap(i)o = to scratch, scrape (together) (y)sgraper = scraper
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	scrivinas = to scratch, claw
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	skrab = scratching skrabad = cut skrabadenn = a big scratch skrabadur = scraping skrabañ, skrabat = to hurry up, to scratch skraberezh = scratching
Breton (Brezhoneg)	skrabañ = to scratch

Etymology: possibly from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kreybʰ- (to scratch, to tear) [source]. The Welsh words come from the English scrape.

Words from the same roots include scribble, scribe, script, shrift and shrive in English, and scritta (writing, notice, sign) and scrìvere (to write, spell) in Italian [source].

Top Peaks

20th April 202320th April 2023 By Simon

Words for top, peaks and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*barros = top, point, peak
Gaulish	Cunobarrus = personal name
Old Irish (Goídelc)	barr = abundance, crop, crown, surplus, top, top, tree-top
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	barr = top, tip, end, crop, produce, climax, end, crown, supremacy, preeminence, transcendence
Irish (Gaeilge)	barr [bˠɑːɾˠ] = tip, point, top, summit, upper part, surface, crop, yield, result, addition, excess, superiority, extremity barrachas = predominance, surplus barradh = hindrance barraí = champion, superior person, arrogant person, bully barraicín = tip, toe (of foot, stocking), toe-cap barraíocht = excess
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bàrr [baːr̪ˠ] = apex, crest, crown, summit, tip, top, zenith, surface, crop, produce, cream, son barrachd = more, predominance, preponderance barraidheachd = more, predominance, preponderance barran = crest, hood, band(age), swaddling clothes
Manx (Gaelg)	baare = apex, cap, climax, end, point, summit, tip, top, crest (of a wave), curl, interval, ruin, bare, film on milk, surface, crown baarey = to bare, clip, dress, poll, prune, shave; trimmed
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	barr, bar [bar] = top, summit crest
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bar [bar] = head, top, summit, crest, bush, tuft, branch barbiaf, barbio = to trim, shave
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	bar = top, summit, branch
Cornish (Kernewek)	barr = summit
Old Breton	barr = branch, summit, ridge, peak
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	barr, bar = branch, summit, ridge, peak
Breton (Brezhoneg)	barr = summit, surface, access, paroxysm

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *bʰr̥s-ó-s, from *bʰers- (point, top, tip). Words from the same PIE roots include barley in English, farine (flour) in French, bara (bread) in Welsh, Cornish and Breton, bairín (loaf) in Irish, and related words in Celtic languages [source].

Words from the same Proto-Celtic roots, via Gaulish, include baràz (bramble) in Romansh, barra (garret, loft, upper platform) in Galician [source].

Roots

14th April 202314th April 2023 By Simon

Words for roots and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	wridmā, wridā = root
Old Irish (Goídelc)	frém [fʲrʲeːṽ] = root
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	frém, prém = root, source, origin, rootstock, race frémach, prémach = roots, genealogical stock, abounding roots frémaigid = intransitive, takes root frémamail = radical, primary
Irish (Gaeilge)	fréamh [fʲɾʲeːvˠ] = root, source, origin, rootstock, race, radical (in linguistics and chemistry) fréamhach = roots, having roots, rooted, established fréamhaí = derivative, radical fréamhaigh = to root, spring, descend (from), derive (from)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	freumh [frʲɪəv] = root, source, derivation freumhagach = pertaining to or abounding in small roots, fibrous freumhag = small root, rootlet, fibre freumhach = rooted, abounding in roots, steady, fundamental freumhaichte = rooted, derived freumhachadh = rooting, taking root, deriving, derivation, etymology
Manx (Gaelg)	fraue [freːw] = bulb, derivation, radical, root frauaghey = to root frauee = derivative, primitive fraueit = grafted, rooted
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	gureid, gwreid = root
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gwraidd [ɡwrai̯ð] = root, bottom, base, foundation, source, origin, ancestry gwreiddiadur = etymological dictionary gwreiddiaf, gwreiddio = to root, grow roots, take root, become ingrained or established, be rooted, be derived, ground, found, secure, establish gwreiddiog = having roots, rooted, ingrained gwreiddiol = original, primitive, innate, initial, established, hereditary gwreiddyn = root, beginning, origin, source, nucleus, essence, foundation, reason, stock, pedigree
Old Cornish	grueiten = root
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	gwredh, gwreydh, gwreidhen = root gwredhan = a single root gwrydhye = to take root, to be rooted
Cornish (Kernewek)	gwrydhen = root gwreydhek = original gwreydhyel = radical gwreydhyoleth = radicalism
Old Breton	uraed = root
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	gwrizienn, gruyzyenn, gruyzienn, grizyen = root gwriziaouiñ gwriziañ, gwriziennañ = to take root, put down roots
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gwrizienn = root, origin, base gwriziañ = to take root, put down roots, ingrained