Hurdle Fences

Words for hurdles, fences and related words in Celtic languages.

timeless gateway

Proto-Celtic *klētā = wattled frame, palisade, hurdle
Gaulish *cleta = hurdle
Old Irish (Goídelc) clíath = hurdle, litter, stretcher, wattlework
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) clíath = hurdle; wattle panels of walls, doors or gates; woven fence, palisade, outwork
Irish (Gaeilge) cliath [klʲiə] = wattled, latticed, frame, hurdle, phalanx, staff, stave (music)
cliathach = ribbed frame, engagement, battle
cliathobair = wattle-work, wickerwork
cliathóg = (small) hurdle
cliathóir = hurdler, hurdle-maker
cliathrás = hurdle race
cliathreathaí = hurdler
cliathreathaíocht = hurdling
Baile Átha Cliath Dublin (“Hurdle Ford Settlement”)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) cliath [kliə] = grid, lattice, grate, grating, shoal (of fish), hurdle, harrow, stockade, stave, staff (music)
cliathag = small hurdle
cliath-bhogsa = crate
cliath-dhuilleag = spreadsheet
obair-chliath = trellis
Manx (Gaelg) cleeah = lattice, wicker, fret, darn, stave, staff, grid, stretcher, grate, grating, criss-cross, school of fish
cleea = hurdle
cleeader = hurdler
Proto-Brythonic *kluɨd = palisade, hurdle
Middle Welsh (Kymraec cluyt, clwyt = hurdle
Welsh (Cymraeg) clwyd [kluːɨ̯d / klʊi̯d] = movable hurdle, wattle, lattice, rack, crate, gate, door; protection, cover, defence
clwydo = to wattle, weave, hurdle, tangle; roost, sleep
clwydaid = a crateful, pannierful, kilnful
clwydedd = door, gate
clwydwaith = wickerwork, wattle
clwydwr = gate-keeper, porter
Old Cornish cluit = hurdle
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) cluit, clita = hurdle, wattle, crate, wattled gate
Cornish (Kernewek) kloos = fence, rack
Middle Breton klouet, cloet, kloued, klwed = hurdle
Breton (Brezhoneg) kloued = fence, barrier, gate, railings, grating, grid
klouedenn = openwork, fence, skylight, harrow, portcullis

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱléyteh₂ (leaning, sloped, inclined) from *ḱley- (to lean, incline) [source].

Words from the same Proto-Celtic root, via Gaulish and Latin, include claie (wicker rack, trellis, hurdle) in French and cheda (wattled laterals at the base of a traditional cart) in Galician [source].

Words from the same PIE root include client, climate, clinic, incline and lean in English, leunen (to lean) in Dutch, lehnen (to lean) in German, chinàre (to bend) in Italian, clemente (lenient) in Spanish [source], clé (left) and cleith (pole, cudgel, wattle) in Irish, cledd (left hand/side) in Welsh, and related words in Celtic languages [more details].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

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