Today we’re looking at the words for corners, backs and related things in Celtic languages.
| Proto-Celtic | *kūlos = corner |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | cúl [kuːl] = back, rear iarcúl = remote place |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | cúl [kuːlˠ] = back, reserve, support, rear, reverse (of coin), counter cúlaí = back (in rugby, etc) cúlaigh = to back, move back, reverse, retreat cúláire = recess, nook, back of throat cúlaistín = backer, henchman cúlsráid = back street iargcúil = remote corner, backward, out-of-the-way place, isolated |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | cùl [kuːl̪ˠ] = back, hind part, tress, shadow cùl-fraon = background cùl-chainnt = backbiting, slander, defamation, calumny cùl-taic = patron, supporter, patronage, support, (military) reserves cùl-shràid = back street |
| Manx (Gaelg) | cooyl = back, behind, astern, reverse cooyl-charrey = backer cooyl-eaishtagh = to eavesdrop cooyl-pholt(al) = backfire cooyl-raad = back street |
| Proto-Brythonic | *kil = corner, angle |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | kil = corner, angle |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | cil [kiːl] = corner, angle, back, nape of the neck, retreat, flight, recess, covert, nook, eclipse, wane cilaidd = retiring, elusive, furtive cilio = to retreat, withdraw, depart, recede, retire, pass away |
| Old Cornish | chil = back |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | kil = back, nape of the neck, book, reverse kilans = recession kilden = retreat kildenna / kildedna = to back off, withdraw kildennans / kildednans = withdrawal |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | kil = back, reverse, lapel, neck, heel kiladenn = reverse kilañ = to return kilober = feedback kilseller = retrospective |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewH-lo-, from *(s)kewH- (to cover, conceal, hide). The English words such as hide, hose, house and sky come from the same PIE root [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, Gerlyvyr Cernewec, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic
