Words for wool and related words in Celtic languages.
| Proto-Celtic | *ulanā, *wlanā, *w(u)lāno-, *w(u)lano- = wool |
|---|---|
| Gaulish | *wlanā = wool |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | olann [ˈolan͈] = wool ollach = woolly |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | olann [ˈɔlˠən̪ˠ] = wool, woolly hair, mop of hair; woollen olanda = woolly olannacht = woolliness olanntáirgeach = wool-bearing ollach = woolly, fleecy ollacht = woolliness, fleeciness |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | olann [ˈɔl̪ˠən̪ˠ] = wool (usually while on sheep) ola = woollen, made of wool olach = woolly, fleecy |
| Manx (Gaelg) | ollan = wool ollanagh, olley = woolly ollanaght = woolliness |
| Proto-Brythonic | *gwlan [ˈɡwlaːn] = wool |
| Old Welsh | gulan = wool |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | gluan, gwlan = wool |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | gwlân [ɡwlaːn] = wool, down, soft hair, grass, herbage; woollen, soft, made of wool gwlana = to gather wool, beg or solicit wool gwlanen = flannel, face-cloth; man of weak character, spineless person, unreliable person gwlanendra = softness, lack of backbone gwlanenêd = flannelette gwlanel = flannel gwlanennaidd, gwlanennog = flannelly, flannel-like, soft; weak-willed, without backbone, spineless (person), unreliable gwlanennu = to provide with woollen clothing gwlanennwr, gwlanennydd = flannel-maker, woollen-manufacturer, flannel-merchant, woollen-draper gwlanog = woollen |
| Old Cornish | gluan = wool |
| Middle Cornish | glan, glawn = wool |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | gwlan = wool gwlanek = woollen, woolly |
| Middle Breton | glan, gloan = wool |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | gloan = wool gloanaj, gloanenn = woollen garment / material gloanegenn = cozy, soft, snug gloanell = cotten |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂wĺ̥h₁neh₂ (wool). The English word flannel comes ultimately from the Gaulish *wlanā, via Old French and Norman [source].
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
For a somewhat famous and funny poem about woolen socks, see “The Shrinking Song” by Ogden Nash. Here is one link to it:
https://habetrot.typepad.com/habetrot/2007/07/the-shrinking-s.html