Words for dog in Celtic languages.
| Proto-Celtic | *kū = dog, wolf |
|---|---|
| Gaulish | cuna = dog |
| Primitive Irish | ᚉᚒᚅᚐ (cuna) = hound, wolf |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | cú [kuː] = dog |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | cú [kuː] = dog, hound, greyhound; wolf; hero, champion |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | cù [kuː] = dog, canine |
| Manx (Gaelg) | coo [kuː] = dog, cur, hound, wolf-dog |
| Proto-Brythonic | ki [kiː] = dog |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | ci / ki = dog |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | ci [kiː] = dog, hound, cur |
| Old Cornish | ci = dog |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | ki [kiː] = dog |
| Middle Breton | ci / qui = dog |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | ki [kiː] = dog |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱwṓ (dog), which is also the root of the English words hound and canine [source].
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | madrad, matrad = dog |
|---|---|
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | matad = common dog, cur |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | madra [ˈmˠad̪ˠɾˠə] / madadh [ˈmˠad̪ˠə / ˈmˠad̪ˠu] = dog, cur |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | madadh [madəɣ] = dog, mastiff |
| Manx (Gaelg) | moddey [ˈmɔːðə] = dog, tyke |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | madyn / madog = fox |
Etymology: unknown
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | gagar [ɡaɣər] = beagle, hunting dog |
|---|---|
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | gadar = beagle, hunting dog |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | gadhar [ɡəiɾˠ] = (hunting) dog, harrier, beagle, cur |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | gadhar [gɤ.ər] = lurcher, mastiff, greyhound |
Etymology: from the Old Norse gagarr [source].
| Proto-Celtic | *kulēnos = whelp |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | cuilén [ˈkulʲeːn] = puppy, cub, kitten |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | coiléan [kɪˈlʲaːn̪ˠ] = pup, cub, whelp; youth, scion; trickster |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | cuilean [kulan] = puppy, whelp; cub; seal pup; darling, dear; short/small bone |
| Manx (Gaelg) | quallian = puppy |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | colwyn [kiː] = whelp, puppy, cub; lap-dog; spaniel |
| Old Cornish | coloin = puppy |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | kolen [ˈkɔlɪn] = puppy, cub |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | kolen = puppy, fawn, rabbit |
Etymology: unknown
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | cana [ˈkana] = cub, puppy |
|---|---|
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | cana [ˈkana] = cub, puppy |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | cana [ˈkanˠə] = cub, whelp; bardic poet of fourth order |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | cana [kanə] = puppy, whelp |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | cenau / cenaw = cub, whelp, puppy, kitten; son, descendant, scion, young warrior; knave, imp, rascal; catkin, cat’s tail |
Etymology: possibly from the Latin canis (dog), from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱwṓ (dog) [source], or from the Proto-Celtic *kanawo (young animal).
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
I wonder where the Welsh word ‘bytheiad’ (hound, hunting dog) fits in to this? No etymology is show in the GPC.