Hens & Chickens

Words for hen in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *kerkā = hen
Old Irish (Goídelc) cerc [kʲerk] = hen, female bird
Irish (Gaeilge) cearc [kaɾˠk] = hen, female bird
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) cearc [kʲɛrxg] = hen, chicken; poultry; female crab or lobster
Manx (Gaelg) kiark = fowl, hen, hen bird, female bird

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *kerkos [source].

Proto-Celtic *yarā = chicken
Old Irish (Goídelc) eirín = pullet, young hen
Irish (Gaeilge) eireog = pullet, chicken; young girl, tiny woman
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) eireag [erʲag] = pullet, young chick(en)
Manx (Gaelg) earrag = pullet, poult
Old Welsh iar = hen
Welsh (Cymraeg) iâr [jaːr] = hen, hen-bird
ieir = domestic fowls, chickens
Cornish (Kernewek) yar = chicken, hen
Breton (Brezhoneg) yar = chicken, hen

Etymology: unknown

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

Hens

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