Words for ducks in Celtic languages.
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | *lachu [ˈl͈axu] = duck |
|---|---|
| Irish (Gaeilge) | lacha [ˈl̪ˠaxə] = duck lacha bhreac / lacha chriosrua / seil lacha = shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) iolar mara / coirneach / mallard = mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | lach [l̪ˠax] = (wild) duck crà-ghèadh / cràighiadh / crà-eun = shelduck lach-Mhoire / lach-riabhach = mallard |
| Manx (Gaelg) | laagh = duck, wild goose laagh chryss-ruy = shelduck laagh voirrey / mallard = mallard |
Etymology: possibly from the same Proto-Indo-European root as the Lithuanian word lak (to fly).
| Irish (Gaeilge) | tonóg = duck; dumpy little woman |
|---|---|
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | tunnag [ˈtʰun̪ˠak] = duck tunnag-mhonaidh / tunnag-fhiadhaich = mallard |
| Manx (Gaelg) | thunnag = duck thunnag vreck = shelduck |
Etymology: unknown
| Proto-Celtic | *awis = bird (?) |
|---|---|
| Irish (Gaeilge) | aí / ai / aoi = swan |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | ai = swan |
| Proto-Brythonic | *(s)awyetos = duck (?) |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | hwyat / hwyeit = duck |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | hwyad(en) [ˈhʊɨ̯.ad / ˈhʊi̯.ad] = (female) duck hwyaden yr eithin / hwayaden fraith = shelduck hwyaden wyllt / meilad = mallard |
| Old Cornish | hoet = duck |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | hos = duck hos eythyn = shelduck hos gwyls / mallart = mallard |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | houad = duck tadorn toveel = shelduck houad-korz = mallard |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂éwis (bird) [source], which is also the root of such English words as avian, aviary, aviation and aviator, via the Latin avis (bird).
The species of ducks included here are found in Celtic-speaking lands. Other types of ducks are available.
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, TermOfis
The ducks in the picture are commonly seen in Michigan (a long way from Wales) and are the only kind I recall seeing around here. It must be a pretty common variety.
They are mallard, found all across the Northern Hemisphere, and introduced to many countries in the Southern Hemisphere as well