Salmon

Words for salmon in the Celtic languages. The species of salmon most common found around Celtic speaking lands is the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Other species of salmon are available.

There are three words for salmon in Proto-Celtic: *esoxs / *esāk, *φenk-īnjo and *φorko. Only the first one has descendents in the modern Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *esoxs / *esāk = salmon
Gallaecian *īsis = salmon
Gaulish *esoks = salmon
Old Irish (Goídelc) eo [eːo̯] = salmon
Irish (Gaeilge) eo [oː / ɔː] = salmon; noble being, prince
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) [jɔː] = salmon (archaic)
eog = salmon
Proto-Brythonic *esāx = salmon
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) ehawc = salmon
Welsh (Cymraeg) eog [ˈɛ.ɔɡ / ˈeː.ɔɡ] = salmon, sea-trout, sewin, samlet
Old Cornish ehoc = salmon
Cornish (Kernewek) eghek = salmon
Middle Breton eheuc = salmon
Breton (Brezhoneg) eog = salmon

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *peysḱ- (fish).

Old Irish (Goídelc) bratán = salmon
Irish (Gaeilge) bradán [bˠɾˠəˈd̪ˠaːn̪ˠ / ˈbˠɾˠad̪ˠaːnˠ / ˈbˠɾˠɑd̪ˠɑnˠ] = salmon
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) braden [bradan] = salmon
Manx (Gaelg) braddan = salmon

Etymology: from the Old Irish brat (captivity, bondage, robbery) and án (diminutive suffix).

Welsh (Cymraeg) samon / samwn = salmon
Cornish (Kernewek) sowman = salmon
Breton (Brezhoneg) somon = salmon

Etymology: from the English salmon, from the Middle English samoun, samon, saumon (salmon), from the Anglo-Norman saumon (salmon), from the Old French saumon, from the Latin salmō (salmon), either from the Proto-Celtic *esoxs / *esāk, or from the Latin saliō (to leap).

Salmon Jumping Falls (NPS/D. Jacob)

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

Fish

Words for fish and related things in the Celtic languages.

Fish

Proto-Celtic *ɸēskos = fish
Old Irish (Goídelc) íasc = fish
íascach = fish, fishing
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) íasc, iasc, īesc, éisc, escc = fish
íascach, iasccach = abounding in fish
íascaire, iscaire = fisherman
íasmar, iascchmar = full of fish, productive in fish
Irish (Gaeilge) iasc [iəsˠk] = fish, to fish
iasc = fishing, fishery
iascaire = fisherman
iascaireacht = fishing, fishery
iasceolaíocht = ichthyology (scientific study of fish)
iasciteach = fish-eating, ichthyophagous
iascúil = abounding in fish, easy to fish, good at fishing
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) iasg [iəsg] = fish, Pisces
iasgach [iəsgəx] = fishing, angling, fishery
iasgachadh [iəsgəxəɣ] = (act of) fishing
iasgadair [iəsgədɪrʲ] = fisher(man)
iasgail [iəsgal] = fishy, pertaining to fish, good for fishing
iasgan [iəsgan] = small fish, mussel
Manx (Gaelg) (y)eeast = fish
eeastagh(ey) = to angle, to fish, angling, fishing
eeasteyr = fisherman
eeasteyraght = fishery, fishing
eeasteyrys = fishing
eeastoil = abounding in fish, fishy
eeast-oaylleeaght = ichthyology
Proto-Brythonic *uisk = fish
*Uɨsk = fish, river name (originally meaning “abundant in fish”)
Welsh (Cymraeg) Wysg [uːɨ̯sk / ʊi̯sk] = Usk (a river and town in south Wales)
Caerwysg = Exeter

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *pisḱ-/peysḱ- (fish) [source]. The name of the river Exe in Devon comes from the same root, as does Exmoor, where the river rises, Exmouth, where it meets the sea, and Exeter, which stands on the river. The rivers Esk (North Yorkshire, Cumbria, Dumfries and Galloway, and East Lothian) and Axe (one in Dorset, Somerset, Devon; and another in Somerset) get their names from the same root [source].

Proto-Brythonic *pɨsk [pɨsk] = fish
*pɨskọd [pɨˈsˑkɔːd] = fish (pl)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) pisscaud, psycgaut, pesgod = fish(es), Pisces
pysgodfwyd = ichthyophagous, piscivorous, fish-eating, fish-meal
pysgodlyn, pyscotlyn = fish-pool, fish-pond
peskod ha, pyscotta, pyscota = to fish, angle, fishing
pyscodwr, pyscod-wr, pyscottwr = fisherman, fisher
Welsh (Cymraeg) pysgod [ˈpəsɡɔd] = fish(es), Pisces
pysgodaidd = fishy, piscine, piscatory, piscatorial
pysgodfwyd = ichthyophagous, piscivorous, fish-eating, fish-meal
pysgodig = full of fish
pysgodlyn = fish-pool, fish-pond
pysgota = to fish, angle, fishing industry
pysgotwr = fisherman, fisher, angler, kingfisher, fishmonger
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) pisc, pysc = fish
piscadur, pysgadyr = fisherman
pisclin = fishpond
pisgetta, pysgetta = to fish
Cornish (Kernewek) pysk [pɪːsk] / pesk = fish
pyskador, peskador = fisherman
pyskadores, peskadores = fisherwoman
pyskessa, peskecha = to fish
pysklyn, pesklyn = fishpond
pyskva, peskva = aquarium
Middle Breton (Brezonec) pesq(uet) = fish
Breton (Brezhoneg) pesk(ed) [ˈpes.k(et)] = fish
pesker [ˈpeskɛʁ] = fishmonger, fisher(man)
pesketa [pɛs.ˈke.ta] = to fish
pesketaerezh [pɛs.ke.ˈtɛː.rɛs] = fishing, fisheries

Etymology: from the Latin piscātus, past participle of piscor (to fish), from piscis (fish), from Proto-Indo-European *péysks (fish) [source]. Words from the same PIE root include peshk (fish) in Albanian, pesce (fish) in Italian, poisson (fish) in French, fish, piscine (pertaining to fish), Pisces in English, and fisk (fish, Pisces) in Danish [source].

Interesting idioms related to fish:

  • Irish: Iasc as uisce i do bhéal! = Restrain your tongue! (“Fish out of water in your mouth”)
  • Irish: Ar iascadh libh? = Did you catch fish / succeed in your quest
  • Irish: Ar iascach ar dhuine = to fish information from sb
  • Scottish Gaelic: gaoth an iar, iasg is bainne = wind from the West, fish and milk
  • Welsh: pysgota mewn dŵr llwyd = to fish in troubled waters (“to fish in grey water”)

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Sources: Wiktionary, Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, Teanglann.ie, Am Faclair Beag, An etymological dictionary of the Gaelic language, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Online Manx Dictionary, Gaelg Corpus, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Lexicon cornu-britannicum : a dictionary of the ancient Celtic language of Cornwall, Gerlyver Kernewek, Devri : Le dictionaire diachronique du breton, Dictionnaires bilingues de Francis Favereau / Edition Skol Vreizh, TermOfis

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Buzzards

Words for buzzard (Buteo buteo) and related birds of prey in the Celtic languages. Some appear to be related to each other, others are not.

Irish (Gaeilge) clamhán = (common) buzzard, bald patch, dodder
clamhán lópach = rough-legged buzzard (Buteo lagopus)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) clamhan [kl̪ˠavan] / claman [kl̪ˠaman] = buzzard
stannaire = (common) buzzard
searrach-ruadh = (common) buzzard
gilm [ɡʲilʲim] = (common) buzzard
bleideir [bledʲɪrʲ] = (common) buzzard
bleideir-molach / bleideir-tònach / clamhan-molach / clamhan-tònach = rough-legged buzzard
Manx (Gaelg) shirragh / shyrragh = buzzard, falcon, kite, seeker, bird of prey
stannair = buzzard, hawk
shyrragh-ruy = (common) buzzard
shirragh mollagh / clowan liauyr-lurgagh = rough-legged buzzard
Welsh (Cymraeg) boda / bòd = buzzard, red kite, great bustard, bird of prey
boda llwyd / boda teircaill = (Common) buzzard
boda bacsiog / boda garwgoes = rough-legged buzzard
bwncath = buzzard
Cornish (Kernewek) bargos = buzzard
bargos gar arow = rough-legged buzzard
Breton (Brezhoneg) baou = buzzard
baou voutin = common buzzard
baou an toundra = rough-legged buzzard

Etymology: unknown

Old Irish (Goídelc) lon [l͈on] = blackbird
Irish (Gaeilge) lon / lon dubh = (Common / Eurasian) blackbird (Turdus merula),
lon creige ring ouzel (Turdus torquatus)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) lon [l̪ˠɔn] / lòn-dubh [l̪ˠɔnˈduh] = blackbird, ouzel
lon-monaidh = ring ouzel

Etymology: unknown

Proto-Celtic *traskl / *trozdi = thrush
Old Irish (Goídelc) truit = starling
Irish (Gaeilge) truis = thrush
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) druid [drɯdʲ] = starling, thrush
Manx (Gaelg) treshlen = song thrush
treshlen vooar = mistle thrush
Welsh (Cymraeg) tresglen = (mistle) thrush
tresglen y crawel = mistle thrush
Breton (Brezhoneg) drask(l) = thrush
drask-su = song thrush
drask-rouee = mistle thrush

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *trozdo- (thrush).

Other Welsh words for blackbird include aderyn du (“black bird”), and pigfelyn (“yellow beak”).

A song thrush in Welsh is y fronfraith (“the speckled breast”), crecer, bronfraith y grug, aderyn bronfraith or bronfraith fawr.

Buzzard

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

Blackbirds

Words for blackbirds, thrushes, ouzels and starlings in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *mesal-(s)kā / *meisalko = blackbird
Irish (Gaeilge) smólach = thrush
smólach ceoil = song thursh (Turdus philomelos)
smólach mór = mistle thrush (Turdus viscivorus)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) smèarach [smɛːrəx] / smaolach [smɯːl̪ˠəx] / smeòrach [smjɔːrəx] = thrush, mavis
smeòrach-choitcheann = song thrush
smólach mór = mistle thrush
Proto-Brythonic *miyalx- = blackbird
Welsh (Cymraeg) mwyalchen [muɨ̯ˈalχɛn / mui̯ˈalχɛn] = blackbird
mwyalchen y mynydd = ring ouzel
Cornish (Kernewek) molgh = thrush
molgh dhu = blackbird
molgh loos = song thrush
molgh glas = mistle thrush
molgh meneth = ring ouzel
Breton (Brezhoneg) moualc’h / moualc’h zu = blackbird
moualc’h-venez = ring ouzel

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ems- (black, blackbird).

Old Irish (Goídelc) lon [l͈on] = blackbird
Irish (Gaeilge) lon / lon dubh = (Common / Eurasian) blackbird (Turdus merula),
lon creige ring ouzel (Turdus torquatus)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) lon [l̪ˠɔn] / lòn-dubh [l̪ˠɔnˈduh] = blackbird, ouzel
lon-monaidh = ring ouzel
Manx (Gaelg) llondoo = blackbird
lhonnag = (immature) blackbird
lhon ny keylley = mistle thrush
lhon fainnit / lhon ny greg = ring ouzel

Etymology: unknown

Proto-Celtic *traskl / *trozdi = thrush
Old Irish (Goídelc) truit = starling
Irish (Gaeilge) truis = thrush
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) druid [drɯdʲ] = starling, thrush
Manx (Gaelg) treshlen = song thrush
treshlen vooar = mistle thrush
Welsh (Cymraeg) tresglen = (mistle) thrush
tresglen y crawel = mistle thrush
Breton (Brezhoneg) drask(l) = thrush
drask-su = song thrush
drask-rouee = mistle thrush

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *trozdo- (thrush).

Other Welsh words for blackbird include aderyn du (“black bird”), and pigfelyn (“yellow beak”).

A song thrush in Welsh is y fronfraith (“the speckled breast”), crecer, bronfraith y grug, aderyn bronfraith or bronfraith fawr.

blackbird

Here’s a tune I wrote called The Blackbird’s Tail / Cynffon yr Aderyn Du:

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