There are a number of words for fields in Celtic languages. Some appear only or mainly in placenames. Here’s a selection:
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | achad = expanse of ground; pasture, field; field of battle |
|---|---|
| Irish (Gaeilge) | achadh [d̪ˠuːnˠ] = field (archaic, used mainly in placenames) |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | achadh [axəɣ] = field, plain, meadow; cornfield newly cut or ready for reaping |
Etymology: unknown
| Proto-Celtic | *gortos = fence, enclosure, pen |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | gort = field, orchard, crop |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | gort [ɡɔɾˠt̪ˠ] = (cultivated) field, orchard, (standing) crop |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | gort [gɔrˠʃd] = standing corn; enclosure; small field |
| Proto-Brythonic | *gorθ = field |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | garth = field, close, enclosure, fold, pen, yard; fort |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | gorth = field |
| Old Breton | orth = field |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | garz = field |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰortós (enclosure, hedge) [source], which is also the root of words yard and garden in English, via the Proto-Germanic *gardaz (enclosure, court, yard, garden) [source].
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Irish (Gaeilge) | machaire = plain; stretch of level ground, links, course; field |
|---|---|
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | machair [maxɪrʲ] = extensive low-lying fertile plain, level country; extensive beach; ow and level part of a farm |
| Manx (Gaelg) | magher = field, fertile land, campaign, chase, machar, sphere |
Etymology: unknown
| Proto-Celtic | *rowesyā- = (field, open ground) |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | róe [r͈oːi̯] = battle-field, level piece of ground, fight, battle |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | ré [rˠeː] = stretch of ground, level ground, field |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | raon [rˠɯːn] = field, (piece of) ground; plain; zone, area; field (of expertise); ambit |
| Manx (Gaelg) | rheam = gamut, range, field, monarchy |
| Old Breton | runt = mound |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | run = mound, hill |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *Hrew(H)os (open space, field). The English words rustic and rural come from the same root, via Latin [source].
| Proto-Celtic | *kagyom = pen, enclosure |
|---|---|
| Gaulish | cagiíun / *kagyom = enclosure |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | cai = field, orchard, crop |
| Proto-Brythonic | *kaɨ = animal pen, enclosure, field |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | kay / kae = field, enclosure |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | cae [kaːɨ̯ / kai̯] = hedge, hedgerow, fence; field, enclosure; circle, sphere; barrier, obstruction |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | ke = hedge, fence |
| Old Breton | cai = hedge |
| Middle Breton | quae = hedge |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | kae = hedge |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *kagʰyóm (enclosure, hedge) [source], which is also the root of word hedge in English, via the Proto-Germanic *hagjō (hedge) [source].
| Proto-Celtic | *magos = plain, field |
|---|---|
| Gaulish | *magos = field |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | mag [maɣ] = plain, field ármag, árbach, ármach = field of slaughter, battlefield |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | magh = plain |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | má [mˠɑː / mˠæː] = plain |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | magh [mɤɣ] = level country, plain Magh Meala = Land of (Milk and) Honey (in mythology) Magh Meall = elysium magh na bàire = the plain of battle |
| Manx (Gaelg) | magh = plain |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | maes [maːɨ̯s / mai̯s] = field, open country |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | mes = open country |
| Old Breton | maes = countryside, outside |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | maez = countryside, open field, outside, wide |
Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *meǵh- (great) [source].
| Proto-Celtic | *klowni = meadow |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | clúain = meadow |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | cluain = meadow |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | cluain [kl̪uən̪ʲ] = green field, pasture, meadow |
| Old Welsh | clun = meadow, moor |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | clun = meadow, moor |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | clun [klɨːn / kliːn] = meadow, moor; brake, brushwood |
Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *klopni (wet).
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
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
