Today we’re looking at the words for brush, broom and related things in Celtic languages.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | scúap [skuə̯b] = brush, broom, sheaf, bundle scúapad = act of sweeping scúapaire = sweeper |
|---|---|
| Irish (Gaeilge) | scuab [sˠkuəbˠ] = besom, broom; brush; sheaf, armful, bundle; to sweep scuabach = sweeping, flowing; gusty scuabachán = sweeping, sweepings scuabadh = to sweep, wash scuabadóir = sweeper scuabán = little besom, little brush, little sheaf, armful, bundle scuab fiacla = toothbrush scuab ghruaige = hairbrush scuab ingne = nailbrush scuab phéinte = paintbrush sreangscuab = wire brush |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | sguab [sguəb] = broom, besom, brush, sheaf sguabte = brushed, swept sguabanta = tidy, trim, clean sguabadh = brushing, sweeping sguabachan = brush sguabag = gusty, wind, whisk, sheaf (of corn) sguabadair = vacuum cleaner sguabair = sweeper sguab-aodaich = clothes brush |
| Manx (Gaelg) | skeab = besom, broom skeabey = brush, brushing, brush over, brush up, sweep, sweeping skeabit = brushed, swept skeaban daah, skeaban-slaa = paintbrush skeaban feeackle = toothbrush skeaban folt/fuilt = hairbrush |
| Proto-Brythonic | *ɨskʉb = brush, broom |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | escup, yscub, ysgub = brush, broom |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | ysgub [ˈəsɡɨ̞b / ˈəsɡɪb] = sheaf, wheatsheaf, bundle; brush, broom, besom, quiver of arrows ysgubell = brush, broom, besom, mop, bunch (of flowers) ysgubo = to brush, sweep (away), make into sheaves ysgubol = sweeping ysgubwr = sweeper, sweep ysgub blu = feather duster priodas (coes) ysgub = informal wedding in which the parties jump over a broomstick in the presence of witnesses |
| Middle Cornish | scibia = to sweep, brush sciber = barn, any large room scubilen = whip, scourge |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | skub = sweeping skubell, skubyllen = broom, brush skubellik = paintbrush skubell sugna = vacuum cleaner skubell-wolghi = mop skuber, skubores = sweeper skubus = sweeping skubya = to brush, sweep skubyllen dhes = toothbrush skubyon = refuse, sweepings |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | skub = broom, brush, blade; sweep skubell = broom, brush, blade; sweep skubell-vroust(añ) = scrubbing brush skuberez = sweeper |
Etymology: from the Latin scōpa (broom) Proto-Indo-European *skeh₂p- (to prop) [source]. Words from the same Latin root include scopa (broom) in Italian, escoba (broom) in Spanish, and shqopë (heather, heath, briar) in Albanian [source]..
| Proto-Celtic | *banatlo- = broom (shrub) |
|---|---|
| Gaulish | *balano- = broom (shrub) |
| Celtiberian | *bálago-, *bálaco- = broom (shrub) |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | bealaidh [bɛl̪ˠɪn] = broom (shrub) bealaidh-Frangach, bealaidh-Sasannach = laburnum |
| Proto-Brythonic | *banatlo- = broom (shrub) |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | banadil, banadyl, banadl = broom (shrub) |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | banadl, banal = broom (shrub) banadl Ffrainc = laburnum |
| Old Cornish | banathel = broom (shrub) |
| Middle Cornish | banal = broom (shrub) |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | banadhel = broom (shrub) |
| Middle Breton | balzazn = broom (shrub) |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | balan = broom (shrub) |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰenH-tlom (way, path) in the sense of “cleared path (in a wood)” [source].
The French word balai (broom, broomstick, brush) comes from the Gaulish *balano-, via Old French, Middle Breton and Old Breton [source]. The Spanish word bálago (straw, Spanish broom), comes from the same Gaulish root, via the Celtiberian *bálago-/*bálaco-,
The shrub known as broom in Britain and Ireland is also known as common broom or Scotch broom, or Cytisus scoparius in Latin. It is a deciduous leguminous shrub native to western and central Europe. Broom can also refer to similar plants, such as French broom and Spanish broom [source]. .
Twigs from the broom, and from other plants, can be tied to a stout stick and used to sweep things. Such implements are tradtionally known as besoms or broom besoms, and became known simply as brooms [source].
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
