Words for bridges and related words in Celtic languages.
| Proto-Celtic | *brīwā = bridge |
|---|---|
| Gaulish | briua = bridge |
| Leptonic | 𐌐𐌓𐌖𐌉𐌀𐌌 (pruiam) = funerary construction (perhaps a grave) |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰerw/*bʰrēw (wooden flooring, decking, bridge), which is also the root of the English words bridge and brig [source].
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | drochet [ˈdroxʲed] = bridge |
|---|---|
| Irish (Gaeilge) | droichead [ˈd̪ˠɾˠɛçəd̪ˠ] = bridge droichead crochta = suspension bridge droichead tógála = drawbridge droichead meáite = weigh bridge droichead veidhlín = bridge of a violin droichead sróine = bridge of the nose |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | drochaid [drɔxɪdʲ] = bridge drochaid air fleodradh = pontoon drochaid-thogalach, drochaid-thogail = drawbridge drochaid-choise = footbridge drochaid-rathaid = road bridge, viaduct drochaid-thionndain = swing bridge |
| Manx (Gaelg) | droghad = bridge, bridge of ship, arch, gantry droghad aae = viaduct droghad cassee = swing bridge droghad coshey = gangway, footbridge droghad croghit = suspension bridge droghad keesh = toll bridge droichead meihaghey = weigh bridge |
Etymology: from the Old Irish droch (wheel, circlet) and sét (path). [source].
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | pont [pɔnt] = bridge pontio = to bridge (a gap), to transition pont godi = drawbridge pont grog = suspension bridge pont trwyn = bridge of the nose pont y glaw, pont law = rainbow pont ysgwydd = collar-bone, clavicle |
|---|---|
| Cornish (Kernewek) | pons = bridge pons travalya = travelling bridge |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | pont = bridge, top of the furrow, culvert, trigger guard pont-tro = swing bridge pont hent-houarn = railway bridge pont dilestrañ = bridge, deck (of ship) pont kargañ = loading deck pont-tro = swing bridge |
Etymology: from the Latin pōns, pōntis (bridge, deck), from the Proto-Indo-European *pónteh₁s (path, road), from *pent- (path) [source].
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis
Simon, apparently the Menai is quite a famous, historical bridge. I am envious that you have so much history literally “right in your back yard” there in Wales.
I couldn’t let your article about bridges go unanswered, so here is some information about OUR famous bridge in Michigan, the Mackinac Bridge. It connects the Lower and Upper peninsulas of Michigan. It’s about 5 miles (8 km) long, and was at one time the longest suspension bridge in the world. When you drive across it, it feels like you are flying above an ocean, as Lake Michigan is on the west side of it, and Lake Huron is on the east side, and both lakes are enormous. The vistas are very dramatic and a little scary at the same time.
P.S. The name looks like MACK-IN-ACK but it’s pronounced like MACK-IN-AU (sort of). Don’t ask me why. I believe it’s a native American name for something.
Here are a couple of sites with information about our famous bridge:
https://www.mackinacbridge.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackinac_Bridge