Words for heads, brains and minds in Celtic languages.
Proto-Celtic | *kʷennom = head *en-kʷennio- = brain |
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Gaulish | pennon / πεννοου = head |
Primitive Irish | ᚉᚒᚅᚐ-ᚉᚓᚅᚅᚔ (cuna-cenni) = head |
Old Irish (Goídelc) | cenn [kʲen͈] = head, end inchinn [kʲen͈] = brain |
Irish (Gaeilge) | ceann [caun̪ˠ / cɑːn̪ˠ / can̪ˠ] = head; end, extremity; one; chief, main inchinn [ˈɪɲçən̠ʲ] = brain |
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | ceann [kʲaun̪ˠ] = head; end, close, finish; lid; roof; subject, topic eachainn [ɛnɛxɪn̪ʲ] = brain, brains |
Manx (Gaelg) | kione [caun / coːn / coᵈn] = head, headland, chief, ringleader, bottom, poll, end, extreme, close, finish, top-end, top, point of argument, termination, closing, extremity, point, dyke, tribune |
Proto-Brythonic | *penn [ˈpenː] = head |
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | penn = head, chief |
Welsh (Cymraeg) | pen [əˈmɛnɨ̞ð / əˈmɛnɪð] = head, obverse (of coin); top, summit, roof, highest point; extremity, end, beginning; headland, promontory, projecting point of rock; pole ymennydd brain, brains, intellectual capacity, mind |
Old Cornish | penn = head |
Cornish (Kernewek) | penn [pɛn:] = head, end, top ympynnyon brain |
Old Breton | penn = head, chief |
Breton (Brezhoneg) | pen(n) [pɛ̃n] = head, chief, leader empenn = brain |
Etymology: unknown, possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *kap- (to hold, seize). The words for brain all mean “in head”.
Old Irish (Goídelc) | in(n)tinn [ˈin͈ʲtʲin͈ʲ] = head, end |
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Irish (Gaeilge) | intinn [ˈiːn̠ʲtʲən̠ʲ] = mind, mental state, disposition, attention, spirits, intention, accord |
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | inntinn [ĩːn̪ʲdʲɪn̪ʲ] = (human) mind; intellect, intelligence; intention, purpose |
Manx (Gaelg) | inçhyn = brain, grey matter, intellect, spirit |
Etymology: from the Latin intentiō (strain, tension, increase, exertion, charge, purpose, intention).
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek