Words for donkey (Equus asinus) and related beasts in Celtic languages.
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | asal = ass, she-ass |
|---|---|
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | asal, assal = ass, she-ass asan, assan = ass |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | asal [ˈasˠəlˠ] = ass, donkey láir asail = she-ass searrach asail = donkey foal |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | asal [asal̪ˠ]= ass, donkey aiseal [aʃəl̪ˠ] = ass, donkey asan [asan] = ass, donkey asalach = asinine asal-stiallach = zebra leth-asal = mule |
| Manx (Gaelg) | assyl = ass, donkey assylagh = asinine laair assyl = female donkey, jenny, she-ass sharragh assyl = donkey foal lieh-assyl, cabbyl assylagh = mule |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | asin, assyn = (male) donkey / (he-)ass assenn, assen = donkey, ass; female donkey, she-ass, jenny asennic = little/young (female) donkey |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | asyn [ˈasɨ̞n / ˈasɪn] = (male) donkey / (he-)ass, an absurd or stubborn person asyneiddiwch = asininity, mulishness, stupidity, obstinacy asynnaidd = asininie, mulish, stupid, obstinate asynnyn = little/young donkey asen [ˈasɛn] = donkey, ass; female donkey, she-ass, jenny asennig = little/young (female) donkey asennyn = young/little ass |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | asen = ass, donkey |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | asen = ass, donkey asenik = ass foal |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | azen, asenn, asen = donkey, ignorant man azenaat = to become ignorant azenañ, asénna = to give birth, farrowing (donkey) azener = donkey-driver azenerezh = stupid/idiotic comment, stupidity azenez = she-ass azenig = baby/little donkey |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | azen = donkey azenañ = to give birth, farrowing (donkey) |
Etymology: the Brythonic words come from the Latin asina from asinus (donkey, ass), which is of unknown origin [source]. The Goidelic words come from the same root via the Latin asellus (young ass, donkey) [source].
The English word ass (donkey) was borrowed from an old Brythonic language, via the Middle English asse (ass, donkey) and the Old English assa and assen (she-ass) [source].
