Words for mice in Celtic languages.
| Proto-Celtic | *lukoss = mouse |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | luch [l͈ux] = mouse, rat |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | luch [l̪ˠʊx / l̪ˠɔx / l̪ˠʌx] = mouse luchóg = mouse |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | luch [l̪ˠux] = mouse |
| Manx (Gaelg) | lugh [ɫɔx] = mouse |
| Proto-Brythonic | *llug = mouse *llugod = mice |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | lleyc = shrew, shrewmouse, (field) mouse |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | llyg = shrew, shrewmouse, (field) mouse llygod [ˈɬəɡɔd] = mice, rats, shrews, voles llygoden = mouse, rat, shrew, vole |
| Middle Cornish | logoden, logosan = mouse |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | logos = mice logosen / logojen = mouse |
| Old Breton | loc = mouse |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | logod = mice, yarn balls, meatballs, varicose veins logodenn = mouse |
Etymology: unknown, most likely from a non-Indo-European substrate language – only found in Celtic languages [source].
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, MacBain’s Dictionary, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old-Irish Glossary, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau
Here’s a tune I wrote called The Field Mouse’s Delight / Llawenydd Llygoden y Coed:
