Words for book and related things in Celtic languages:
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | lebor [ˈl͈ʲevor] = book lebrán = little book, booklet |
|---|---|
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | lebar, lebor = book, volume, treatise, charter lebarda, lebur(da) = bookish, learned, lettered, of or belonging to books lebarach = of or belonging to books, written lebrán = little book, handbook, copy, transcript lebróir = (book) peddlar, merchant |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | leabhar [l̠ʲəuɾˠ / l̠ʲoːɾˠ] = book leabharbhách = bibliophile leabharbhoth = bookstall leabhareolaí = bibliographer leabharlann = library leabharlannaí = librarian leabharach = bookish leabharagán = bookcase leabharán = booklet leabharóg = libretto |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | leabhar [l̪ʲo.ər] = book, volume, the Bible leabhar-lann = library leabhar-lannaiche = librarian leabhar-latha = diary, journal leabhar-pòcaid = pocketbook, wallet leabhar-chlàr = bibliography leabhar-d = e-book leabhar mór-eòlais = encyclopedia |
| Manx (Gaelg) | lioar = book, tome, volume, folio lioaran = booklet, brochure, pamphlet, tract lioaragh = bookish, lettered, studious, booklearned, well-read lioaraghan = bookcase lioarlagh = collection of books lioarlan(n) = library lioarlannee = librarian lioarvark = bookmark |
| Proto-Brythonic | *llɨβr = book |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | llyvir, llyther, llyuyr, llyvyr = book, volume llyvran = small book, booklet, pamphlet llyfrbry, llyvrbryv = bookworm |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | llyfr [ɬɨ̞vr / ɬɪvr] = book, volume llyfraf, llyfro, llyfru = to book, enter in a book, record, register, enrol llyfran = small book, booklet, pamphlet llyfrbryf = bookworm llyfrdy = library, study, collection of books, bookshop llyfreugar = fond of books llyfrgar = bookish, studious llyfrgell = library, study, bookshop llyfrgellydd = librarian, book collector llyfrifwr = book-keeper llyfrnod = bookmark |
| Old Cornish | liuer = book |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | levar, liver, lyvyr = book levarva = library, bookcase |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | lyver, lever = book lyver dedhyow = calendar lyver kuntel = album lyver termyn = magazine, periodical lyverji = bookshop lyverva = library lyveras, lyverades = librarian lyvrik, lyvryn = booklet |
| Old Breton | libr = book |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | leffr, leur, leufr, levvr, levr = book levr-dourn = manual, handbook |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | levr = book levr-dorn = manual, handbook levr-skrid = manuscript levraoua = to look for books levraoueg, levrdi = library levraouegour, levrdiour = librarian levraouek = full of books levraouer = bibliophile, book lover levraouerezh = bibliophilia |
Etymology: from the Latin liber (book, the inner bark of a tree), from Proto-Italic *lufros, from the Proto-Indo-European *lubʰrós, from *lewbʰ- (to peel, cut off, harm). Words from the same roots include libel, library, leaf and lobby in English, and librairie (bookshop, tobacconist’s) in French [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