Today we’re looking at words for fork, and related words, in Celtic languages.
| Proto-Celtic | *gablā = fork |
|---|---|
| Gaulish | gab(a)los = fork |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | gabul [ˈɡavul] = fork, branch, gallows, gibbet |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | gabhal [ɡoːəl̪ˠ] = bifurcation, fork, crotch, junction gabahlán = martin, fork gabahlóg = fork, forked stick, forked implement |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | gobahl [ɡoːəl̪ˠ] = bifurcation, fork, crotch, junction gobahl-gleusaidh = tuning fork gobahl-roinn = pair of compasses gobahl-rathaid = road junction |
| Manx (Gaelg) | goal = fork, branch, crotch, crutch, junction, perineum goal twoaie = rainbow |
| Proto-Brythonic | *gaβl [ˈɡaβl] =fork |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | gafl, gauyl = fork |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | gafl [gafl] = fork, stride, lap, inner part of the thigh, groin, angle, nook gaflach arrow, dart, lance, spear, javelin, sickle; fork, stride, hind-legs, groin gaflachaf, gaflachu = to straddle, walk with the feet wide apart gaflachog = armed with javelins or spears; astride, bandy-legged, furcated, forked gaflaw = split open, cleft, forked, in two gafliaf, gaflio = to straddle, place/sit with the legs wide apart |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | gowl = crotch, fork gowlek = forked |
| Old Breton | gabl = fork |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | gaol = fork gaoliek = forkful gaoliañ = to mount, bestride, ride (a horse or bicycle) |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *gʰeh₁bʰ- (to grab, take) [source]. The English word gable comes from the Gaulish wood gab(a)los (fork), via the Old French gable [source].
| Proto-Celtic | *awsetlo- = (flesh-)fork |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | áel [ɯːl] = trident, meatfork, flesh-fork |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | adhal = fork, trident |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | adhal [ɤ.əl̪ˠ] = flesh-hook, flesh fork |
| Manx (Gaelg) | aall = table fork, fleshhook |
Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁ólos (awl) or *ēl- (awl, prong) [source].
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | forc [fork] = fork, pronged spear |
|---|---|
| Irish (Gaeilge) | forc [fˠoɾˠk] = fork forc éisc = fish fork forc féir = hay-fork forcáil = to fork |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | forca [ˈfɔr̪ˠxgə] = fork, cramp forca-fheòir = hayfork forca-spòlaidh = carving fork |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | fforc, fforch [fɔrk/fɔrχ]= (table) fork fforc gig = carving-fork fforc diwnio = tuning-fork |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | forgh = fork yn forgh = in fork (in good order = dry and work well – uesd in mining) forghyes = forked |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | forc’h = fork forc’had = gap, spread, distance forc’hek = forked, bifurcated |
Etymology: from the English fork, from the Middle English forke (fork, gallows), from the Old English forca (fork), from the Proto-West-Germanic *furkō (fork), from the Latin furca (fork). The Breton word comes directly from Latin [source].
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, logainm.ie, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic
Brilliant photo, Simon!