Words for yellow and gold and related things in Celtic languages.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Proto-Celtic | *bodyos = yellow |
|---|---|
| Gaulish | *Bayos = proper name *Bodyokasses = Baiocasses (a Celtic tribe of Gallia Lugdunensis) |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | buide [ˈbuðʲe] = yellow, yellowness, buttercup, honey, pollen |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | buide = yellow, yellowness, yellow hue buidecán, buigheacan = (egg) yolk buidecht = yellowness buidid = to become yellow buidigid = to make yellow |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | buí [bˠiː] = yellow, sallow, tan buíbhallach = spotted with yellow buíbhán = light yellow, cream-coloured buíbreac = speckled with yellow buígh = yellow, tan buíochan = yellowing buíochán = jaundice buíochánach = jaundiced buíocht = yellowness, sallowness |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | buidhe [bujə] = yellow, golden buidhe-dhonn, buidhe-ruadh = auburn buidhe-shoilleir = amber buidheagan [bujagan] = (egg) yolk buidhich [bujɪç] = ripen (of cereals) |
| Manx (Gaelg) | buigh, bwee = yellow, jaundiced, tan, sallow, fair headed buighaghey = to yellow, jaundice buighaghey = yellowing, jaundice |
Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *bodyos (yellow) [source]. Related to the English word bay (tree, leaf) ( [source].
| Proto-Celtic | *melinos = yellow |
|---|---|
| Proto-Brythonic | *melino- = yellow |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | melen, melin, melyn = yellow, golden, gold; yellow-haired, blond melynu = to be or become yellow or golden melynoc, mylynog = yellowhammer, yellow bunting, goldfinch, linnet melyn wy, melyn wi = yolk |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | melyn [ˈmɛlɨ̞n / ˈmɛlɪn] = yellow, golden, (made of) gold; yellow-haired, blond; light-bay (horse); yellow, sallow, livid, or brown (skin); brown (sugar); deadly, implacable, unpleasant melynaf, melynu = to be or become yellow or golden melynaidd = yellowish, golden, sallow melynddu = yellowish-brown, dark yellow, tawny, russet, roan, swarthy, dusky melynog = yellowhammer, yellow bunting, goldfinch, linnet, canary melynwy = yolk |
| Old Cornish | milin = yellow |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | melyn, melen, milin = yellow, the colour of honey melynoy = egg yolk |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | melyn [‘mɛlɪn / ‘mɛlən ] = yellow, fair, blonde melyn oy = egg yolk melynrudh = orange, yellowish orange |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | melen = yellow, blonde melen vy = egg yolk |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | melen = yellow, blonde melen-vi = egg yolk melenaat = to become / make yellow, to turn blond melenadur = yellowing melenard = a person with a yellow complexion melenin, meleniñ = to yellow |
Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *mélit (honey) [source], words from the same PIE root include mulch and melleous (pertaining to honey) in English, and words for honey in Celtic and other European languages [source].
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | ór = gold ordae = golden |
|---|---|
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | ór = gold órda, órdae = made of gold, golden, resembling gold |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | òr [oːɾˠ] = gold óraigh = to gild órbhuí = golden (colour) órbhuille = gold leaf órghréas = (gold) filigree órphlátáilte = gold-plated |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | òr [ɔːr] = gold òir-cheàrd = goldsmith òr-bhuidhe = gold-coloured, auburn òr-ubhal = orange (fruit) òradh [ɔːrəɣ] = gilding, gilt, gold digging òrail / òra [ɔːral/ɔːrə] = gold(en), gilded |
| Manx (Gaelg) | airh = gold, bullion, gilt oar = gold airhey = to gild; gilt, gilt-edged, golden airh ghlen = pure gold airhoil = auriferous, aurous, looking like gold |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | eur, aur = gold(en) eurir, eurha, euraw = to gild, adorn with gold, make golden eureyt, eureit, euraid = golden, brilliant, splendid, glorious, precious |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | aur [aɨ̯r/ai̯r] = gold, gold money or coin(s), wealth; gold (colour); gold(en) euraf, euro = to gild, adorn with gold, make golden euraid = golden, brilliant, splendid, glorious, precious euraidd = golden, precious, illustrious, refined, virtuous |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | our = gold ourlyn = silk |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | owr [ɔʊr] = gold, red-gold owraval = orange owrbesk, owrbysk = goldfish owrek = golden owrlin = silk |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | aour = gold aourek = (deposit of) gold aourfebrer = goldsmith aourin, aouriñ = to brown aourra = to look for gold aourraer = gold panning |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | aour = gold aourek = (deposit of) gold aourfebrer = goldsmith aourin, aouriñ = to brown aourra = to look for gold aourraer = gold panning |
Etymology: from Latin aureus (gold, golden, gilded), from aurum (gold), from Proto-Italic *auzom (gold), from PIE *h₂é-h₂us-óm (gold), from *h₂ews- (to dawn, become light, become red). Words from the same PIE roots include air, aura, auriferous (gold-bearing), aurora, Australia, and east in English [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
