Words for circle and related words in Celtic languages.
There are three words for circle in Proto-Celtic: *kerk-injo-, *kerkinn- and *kuro-. They don’t appear to have descendents in modern Celtic languages.
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | circul = circle, orbit, zone, hoop |
|---|---|
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | circul = circle, orbit, zone, hoop |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | ciorcal [ˈkiɾˠkəlˠ] = circle ciorcalach = circular, cyclic ciorcalaigh = to encircle, circle ciorclán = circular (letter) |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | cearcall [kʲɛrxgl̪ˠ] = circle, cycle, ring (circus, etc), hoop cearclach = circular, cyclic(al) |
| Manx (Gaelg) | kiarkyl = ring, circle, rim, coterie kiarklagh = cyclic(al), rotund, circulatory kiarkylagh = circular daachiarkyl = bicycle |
| Proto-Brythonic | *kɨrxl [aˈbɛːr] = circle, ring |
| Old Welsh | circhl = circle, ring |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | kylch, kylc = circle, ring |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | cylch [kɨ̞lχ/kɪlχ] = circle, ring, compass, scope, range, circumference, environs, surroundsing, precints, zone, belt, hoop, social circle, orbit, revolution, period, cycle, halo cylchai = halo cylchaidd = circular, round(ish) cylchig = circlet, small circle cylch(i)ol = circular, orbital, surrounding, itinerant, periodic, cyclic cylchu, cylch(i)af, cylcho = to hoop, rim (a wheel) |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | kelgh, kylgh = circle, hoop, round, ring kylghek = circular kylghigow = hoop-la kylghlavar = circumlocution kylghvusur = perimeter |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | kelc’h = circle, halo kelc’hiañ = to surround, define, figure out kelc’hier = compass kelc’htreiñ = to orbit kelc’htro = orbit kelc’htroel = orbital |
Etymology: from the Latin circulus (circle), from circus (circle, ring, racecourse, circus), from the Ancient Greek κίρκος (kírkos – circle, ring) from the Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (to bend, turn) [source].
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
