Today we’re looking at the words for to open, keys and related things in Celtic languages.
| Proto-Celtic | *koros = putting, casting *exs-koris = the opener |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | cor [kor] = putting, setting, throwing eochair = key |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | cor [kɔɾˠ] = to turn, turn, turning movement, cast, lively air, reel corach = turning, twisting coradh = to turn, bend eochair [ˈɔxəɾʲ] = key, clef |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | car [kar] = to bend, spin, turn, twist, trick, fraud, movement, job, task iuchair [ˈɔxəɾʲ] = key, clef |
| Manx (Gaelg) | cor = twirl ogher = key, peg, headstone, keystone, clef, legend |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | agory, agori, egor = open egoriad = key |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | agor [ˈaɡɔr] = to open, unlock, unfasten, undo, loosen, disclose, divulge, reveal, declare, expound, explain, interpret agored = open(ed), ajar, clear, dilated, spread, broad, wide agoredrwydd = openness agoriad = key, opening, hatch, aperture, gap, entrance agoriawdr = opener, (musical) clef agorwr / agorydd = opener, expounder, interpreter |
| Middle Cornish | ygor(i) = to open ygor = open |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | ygor(i), egor(i) = to open ygor, egor = open ygorys, egerys = opened ygeryans, egeryans = opening |
| Middle Breton | igueriff, igor = open |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | digor = open digoriñ = to open |
Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European (s)ker- (to turn, curve) [source].
From the same PIE root we get the Latin word cancer (crab, tumor, cancer, lattice, grid), and related words in other languages, such as cancer, canker and incarcerate in English, and cangrejo (crab) and cáncer (cancer) in Spanish [source].
| Proto-Brythonic | *alchwedd = key |
|---|---|
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | allwed = key |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | allwedd [ˈaɬwɛð/ˈaɬwɛð] = key, corkscrew, pedal allweddu = to key or type, keyboard allweddair = keyboard, password, buzz-word, catchword, slogan allweddog = bearing/having keys, keyed allweddol = key, critical, pivotal, crucial, strategic |
| Old Cornish | alped = key |
| Middle Cornish | alwheth = key |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | alhwedh = key alhwedha = to lock alhwedhor(es) = treasurer |
| Middle Breton | alhouez = key |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | alc’hwez [ˈal.ɣwe/ˈal.ɣwɛs] = key alc’hweziek = keyed |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *(s)kleh₂w- (hook, peg) [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, Gerlyvyr Cernewec, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic
