Words for badger in Celtic languages.
| Proto-Celtic | *brokkos = badger |
|---|---|
| Gaulish | *broco / *brokkos = badger |
| Primitive Irish | ᚁᚏᚑᚉᚔ (broci) = badger (genitive) |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | brocc [brok] = badger |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | brocc, broc = badger, brock broclas = brock-holes brocnait = she-badger broic(th)enach = badger-warren, haunt of badgers |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | broc [bˠɾˠɔk / bˠɾˠʌk] = badger, dirty-faced person, short thick-set person brocach = badger’s burrow, fox’s earth brocaire = terrier brocaireacht = (act of) badger-baiting |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | broc [brɔxg] = badger, brock, grumpy/surly person brocair [brɔxgɛrʲ] = badger/fox hunter broc-lann [brɔxgl̪ˠən̪ˠ] = badger’s den/sett broclach = (badger / fox) warren, messy area, rubbish, messy person brocach [brɔxgəx] = badger-like, pertaining to or abounding in badgers, black-faced, stinking, squalid, filthy, odious brocail [brɔxgal] = badger-like, pertaining to badgers |
| Manx (Gaelg) | brock, broc = badger brockagh = badger’s den |
| Proto-Brythonic | *brox = badger |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | broch = badger, brock brochwart = badger ward, keeper of a badger |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | broch [broːχ] = badger, brock brochwart = badger ward, keeper of a badger |
| Old Cornish | broch = badger |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | broch, bróch = badger |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | brogh [bɹoːx] = badger broghki = dachsund |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | broch, broh, broc’h = badger |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | broc’h [ˈbʁoːx] = badger broc’heta = to hunt badgers |
Etymology: unknown, possibly cognate with Old High German braccho (sniffer dog). The word brock (male badger), which is used in northern England and the Scots word brock, come from the same Celtic roots, as does the Galician word broco (having long projecting horns; bad-tempered) [Source].
| Proto-Celtic | *taskos = badger |
|---|---|
| Gaulish | *tasgos = badger |
| Galatian | τασκός (taksos) = badger |
Etymology: unknown [Source].
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | mochyn daear / daearfochyn = badger |
|---|
Etymology: from the Welsh mochyn (pig) and daear (earth, ground) [Source].
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
Here’s a tune I wrote in 2017 called The Unexpected Badger / Y Mochyn Daear Annisgwyl
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
