Kisses

Words for kisses and related words in Celtic languages.

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Old Irish (Goídelc) póc [poːɡ] = kiss
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) póc = kiss
Irish (Gaeilge) póg [pˠoːɡ / pˠɔːɡ] = (to) kiss
pógagh = kissing
pógaire = kisser
flaspóg smacking kiss
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) pòg [pɔːg] = (to) kiss
pògach = pertaining to or abounding in kisses, given to kissing
pògag = little kiss
pògan, pòigean = little kiss, smack
pòg Sgalpach = French kiss
Manx (Gaelg) paag [ɡiː] = (to) kiss
paagag = peck (kiss)
paagagh = osculant, osculatory
paagey = kissing, kiss, truss, osculate, osculation
paageyr = kisser
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) pocyn, poccyn = kiss
Welsh (Cymraeg) pocyn = kiss, loud kissing noise
impoc, impogpacs
Old Cornish poccuil = kiss
Breton (Brezhoneg) pok = kiss
pokat = to kiss

Etymology: from the Latin phrases (dare) pācem (to give peace) – originally a kiss as a sign of peace during a mass, or from ōsculum pācis (kiss of peace) [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec) cussan, kussan, kusan = kiss
Welsh (Cymraeg) cusan [ˈkɨ̞san/ˈkɪsan] = kiss
cusanu = to kiss, touch lightly
cusan bwbach = sore/scab on lip or cheek (“goblin’s kiss”)
Cornish (Kernewek) kussyn = kiss

Etymology: from the Old English cyssan (to kiss) – from the Proto-Germanic *kussijaną (to kiss), probably of onomatopoeic origin [source].

Other words for kiss include sẁs [sʊs] in Welsh, amm / abm and bay in Cornish, and bouch in Breton. Sẁs is onomatopoeic, and the origin of the other words is not known.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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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