Foundations

30th September 202230th September 2022 By Simon

Words for foundation and related words in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*bonus = foundation, base, butt
Gaulish	*bona = foundation, base
Old Irish (Goídelc)	bun [bun] = base, bottom, butt, end
Irish (Gaeilge)	bun [bˠʊnˠ/bˠʌnˠ] = base, bottom; stock, stump; lower end; extremity; basis origin; basic provision; settled state; source, direction; trace bunábhar = raw material; substance, main outlines bunachar = base, foundation bunadh = origin; stock, kind; native inhabitants; fundamental, basic bunaigh = to found, establish bunoscionn = upside down bunú = foundation, establishment bunús = origin, basis, foundation, settlement, substance, essence
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bun [bun] = base, basis, bottom, foot; derivation, origin, source; butt, stub, stump; mouth (of a river) bunach = squat/sturdy person, stumps, stubble bunachar = base, foundation, root bunasach = original, basic, fundamental bunachas = base, foundation, root buntach = stocky, stout, truncated, broken off
Manx (Gaelg)	bun = author, basis, details, origin, original, prime, principle, raw material, stem, stool bunneydagh = authoritative, basic, elemental, firsthand, fundamental, fundamentalist, original, primitive bunneydys = basis, foundation, groundwork, origin, root
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	bon = bottom, base
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bôn [boːn] = base, bottom, tree trunk, stump, stem, root bondew = thick-based, fat-bottomed, broad-hipped, short and fat, fat-legged
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	ben = stem, base, trunk, butt, end
Cornish (Kernewek)	ben = trunk, base, foot
Breton (Brezhoneg)	ben = mouth of a river

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European **bʰuH- (to be, become) [source]. English words from the same PIE root include to be, moribund and possibly bunny [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

Flowers

29th September 202229th September 2022 By Simon

Words for flower, blossom and related words in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*blātus = flower, blossom
Old Irish (Goídelc)	bláth = flower, blossom, bloom
Irish (Gaeilge)	bláth [bˠl̪ˠɑː/bˠl̪ˠaː] = blossom, flower; bloom, beauty, prime; prosperity, abundance bláthach = floral, flowering bláthadóir = florist bláthadóireacht = cultivation of flowers bláthaigh = to blossom, bloom bláthóg = floret
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	blàth [bl̪ˠaː] = bloom, blossom, flower; consequence, effect; heyday blàthaich = (to) flower, flourish blàthach = flowery
Manx (Gaelg)	blaa [bleː] = bloom, blossom, flower; heyday, pride blaaghey = to bloom, blossom, bud, flourish, flower blaagheyder = florist blaaoil = floral, florid, flowery
Proto-Brythonic	*blọd = flower
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	blodeuyn, blodeun, blodeuoed = flower blodeu, blodev, bloden, blawt, blawd = flowers
Welsh (Cymraeg)	blodyn [ˈblɔdɨ̞n / ˈbloːdɪn] = flower, bloom, blossoms, florets, flowering plant, petal blodau = flowers, blooms, blossom, florets; flowering plant blodeuad = flowering, blooming, blossoming blodeua(f), blodeuo = to flower, bloom, blossom, bud; flourish, thrive, prosper; mature, gather flowers; to menstruate blodeuaidd = floral, flower-like, flowering, floriform blodeuas = bouquet blodeuddwyn = floriferous, flower-bearing
Old Cornish	blodon = flower, blossom
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	blodon, bledzhian, bledzhan = flower, blossom
Cornish (Kernewek)	bleujen [ˈblɛdʒən] = blossom, flower bleujyowa = to blossom, flower bleujyowek = flower bed
Old Breton	bloduu = blossom, flower
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	bleuzff = blossom, flower
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bleuñv [blœ̃w] = flowers, flowering; apogee; menstruation bleuãvenn = flower bleuñveg = flowerbed bleuñvell = jewel, floret bleuñvellek = flowery bleuñvin = to flower, blossom, flourish

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₃- (bloom, flower) [source]. Words from the same PIE root include bloom, blossom, blade, flower, flour and flourish [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Buying and Purchasing

22nd September 202222nd September 2022 By Simon

Words for to buy, purchase and related words in Celtic languages.

image illustrating words for to buy in Celtic languages

Proto-Celtic	*kʷrinati = to buy
Old Irish (Goídelc)	crenaid [ˈkʲrʲeniðʲθ] = to buy, purchase, sell do·aithchren = to redeem, ransom fo·cren [foˈkren] = to buy, purchase, hire in·cren = to buy
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	crenaid = buys, obtains, sells, dispenses do-cren = purchases do-aithchren = buys back, redeems fo-cren = buys, purchases, pays, hires, recompenses
Irish (Gaeilge)	crean [cɾʲanˠ] = to obtain, purchase, bestow, spend
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	crean = to consume, remove, purchase, marketplace (obsolete)
Proto-Brythonic	*prɨnad = to buy
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	prinit, prynnu = to buy
Welsh (Cymraeg)	prynu [ˈprənɨ / ˈprəni] = to buy, purchase, exchange, redeem, ransom prynu cath mewn cwd = to buy a pig in a poke prynedig = bought, purchased, redeemed prynedigaeth = redemption, buying, purchase prynedigol = redeeming, redemptive, redeemed prynwr, prynydd = buyer, purchaser, customer, redeemer prynwriaeth = comsumerism, redemption prynwriaethol = comsumerist
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	prenne = to take, buy, purchase, redeem, expiate, pay for
Cornish (Kernewek)	prena = to acquire, buy, purchase prena kath yn sagh = to buy a pig in a poke prenas = purchase prenassa = to go shopping, to shop prenasser, penassores = shopper prener = buyer, customer, purchaser
Old Breton	prenaff = to buy
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	prenaff = to buy prener, prenouréss = buyer
Breton (Brezhoneg)	prenañ = to buy dasprenañ = to redeem rakprenañ = to pre-purchase prener, prenerez = buyer prenadenn = acquisition prener = buyer

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *kʷrinéh₂ti, from *kʷreyh₂- (to buy) [source]. Words from the same PIE root include क्रीत (krīt – bought, purchased) and क्रेता (kretā – buyer, purchaser) in Hindi [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	cennach = bargin, purchase, transaction cennaigid = to buy, purchase
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cennach = bargin, transaction, compact cennaigid = buys, purchases, redeems, saves cennaigtheóir = redeemer
Irish (Gaeilge)	ceannaigh [ˈcan̪ˠəɟ/ˈcan̪ˠə/ˈcan̪ˠiː] = to buy, purchase, redeem, suborn, bribe ceannach = purchase ceannachán = purchase, purchased article ceannaí = buyer, purchaser, dealer, merchant ceannaíocht = buying, purchasing, dealing, trading ceannaitheoir = buyer, purchaser, redeemer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ceannaich [kʲan̪ʲɪç] = buy, purchase ceannach = buying, purchasing, purchase, trading, commerce, trade, reward, bribe
Manx (Gaelg)	chionnys = to buy. compel chionnaghey = to buy, purchase kionnee = to buy kionnaghey = to buy, buy in, buying, purchase, purchasing, redeem kionneeaght = buy, merchandise, purchase, traffic, redemption

Etymology: from the Old Irish cenn (head) and -aigid (suffix that turns a noun into a verb) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Hammers

15th September 202215th September 2022 By Simon

Words for hammer and related things in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic	*ordos = hammer
Gaulish	Ordo-vices = placename, tribal name
Old Irish (Goídelc)	ord = hammer
Irish (Gaeilge)	ord [əuɾˠd̪ˠ / ɔːɾˠd̪ˠ] = sledgehammer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	òrd [ɔːr̪ˠd] = hammer; cock, hammer (of a fireman): rounded but steep mountain òrd-fiodha = mallet òrd-ladhrach = claw hammer òrd-mòr = sledgehammer
Manx (Gaelg)	oard = hammer, sledgehammer oard inginagh = claw hammer gaal-oard = steam hammer
Proto-Brythonic	*orð = hammer
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	ord, orth, yrd, orð = hammer
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gordd [ɡɔrð] = hammer, mallet, sledgehammer gorddio = to hammer with a mallet, drive with a sledgehammer gordd haearn = sledgehammer gordd bren = wooden mallet
Old Breton	ord = mallet, hammer,
Middle Breton	orz, horz = mallet, hammer,
Breton (Brezhoneg)	horzh = mallet, gavel, hammer, pestle horzhig = sledgehammer horzh-fuzuilh = rifle butt

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *h₃erg-dʰh₁o-, from *h₃erg- (to perish) and *dʰeh₁- (to do) [source].

Ordovīcēs is the Latin name for a Celtic tribe who lived in what is now North Wales (where I live) and nearby parts of England. In Common Brittonic there were known as *Ordowīcī. The Ordovician geological period (c. 485 – 443 million years ago) is named after them as rocks associated with that period were first found in their former territory by Charles Lapworth in 1879 [source].

Irish (Gaeilge)	casúr [əuɾˠd̪ˠ / ɔːɾˠd̪ˠ] = hammer casúr ladhrach = claw hammer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	casar [kasər] = small hammer, gavel, knocker
Manx (Gaelg)	casoor = hammer (of a gun)

Etymology: from the Anglo-Norman cassur, from the Latin quassō (I shake, quake, wave, flourish), from quatiō (I shake, agitate), from the Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₁t- (to shake) [source].

Words from the same Latin roots include quash (to suppress, crush) in English, casser (to break) in French, and cascar (to crack, split, hit) in Spanish [source].

Proto-Brythonic	*morθul = hammer
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	morthol, morthwl, morthuyl, mwrthol, myrthwyl = hammer
Welsh (Cymraeg)	morthwyl [ˈmɔrθuɨ̯l / ˈmɔrθui̯l] = hammer, mallet morthwylio = to hammer, beat with a hammer, forge morthwylwr = hammerer morthwylfa = forge, smithy morthwyl drws = door knocker
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	morthol = hammer
Cornish (Kernewek)	morthol = hammer, beetle, maul mortholya = to hammer
Middle Breton	morzol = hammer morzol dor = door knocker
Breton (Brezhoneg)	morzhol = hammer morzholad = hammer blow morzholat = to hammer morzholer = hammerer, horthumper morzholig = hammer morzhol-dor, morzhol an nor = door knocker

Etymology: from the British Latin *mortulus, from the Latin martulus (hammer), from marculus (small hammer), possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *melh₂tlo-, from *melh₂- (to grind) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Surfaces

11th September 202214th September 2024 By Simon

Words for surface, skin and related things in Celtic languages:

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*tondā = surface, skin
Gaulish	*tondā = surface, skin
Old Irish (Goídelc)	tonn, tond = surface, skin
Irish (Gaeilge)	tonn [t̪ˠɑun̪ˠ / t̪ˠuːn̪ˠ / t̪ˠʌn̪ˠ] = surface, skin faoi mo thoinn = under my skin, within me
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	tonn [tɔun̪ˠ] = skin, hide
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	tonn, ton, ton(n)en = ley, unploughed land
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ton [tɔn] = ley, unploughed land, turf, sod, sward, green, lawn, (earth’s) surface’ skin, rind, crust, peel, appearance, look tonnen = skin, rind, crust, peel, surface, sod, sward, bog, swamp, quagmire tondir = ley, lea-land toniaraf, toniaru = to cover with planks, boards, etc
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	ton = unploughed land, meadow, lay
Cornish (Kernewek)	tonn = grass
Old Breton	tonnenn = rind, surface
Middle Breton	ton = rind, surface
Breton (Brezhoneg)	tonn = rind, surface

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *tend- (to cut off). Words from the same Gaulish / Proto-Celtic roots include tonne in English and French, tunna / tonna (tun, box) in Latin, and tona (surface, kin, bark) in Galician [source].

Proto-Celtic	*krokkeno- = skin
Old Irish (Goídelc)	croiccenn [ˈkrokʲen͈] = skin, hide, bark, husk
Irish (Gaeilge)	craiceann [ˈkɾˠacən̪ˠ / ˈkɾˠæcən̪ˠ] = skin, surface cruachraicneach = hide-bound
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	craiceann [krɛçgʲən̪ˠ] = skin, parchment craiceannaiche = skinner far-chraiceann = epidermis fo-chraiceann = hypodermic pàipear-craicinn = parchment
Manx (Gealg)	crackan [ˈkraːɣən] = skin, pelt, fur, hide, rind, peel, slough crackanagh = (of the) skin, cutaneous aachrackan = veneer fochrackanagh = hypodermic crackan screeuee = parchment
Proto-Brythonic	*krʉn = skin
Old Welsh	groen = skin
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	croen, cruyn, croyn, crwyn = skin, hide, pelt
Welsh (Cymraeg)	croen [kroːɨ̯n / krɔi̯n] = skin, hide, pelt, peel, rind, surface, crust; film; a crusty or contemptible fellow croeni, croenio = to form skin, skin over, heal up croendenau = thin-skinned, sensitive, easily hurt, touchy croendew = thick-skinned, insensible, insensitive, callous croenen = thin skin, cuticle, pellicle, film
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	crochen = skin
Cornish (Kernewek)	kroghen = hide kroghen lagas = eyelid kroghendanow = sensitive
Middle Breton	kroc’hen, krec’hen, krec’hin = skin, crust, membrane
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kroc’hen [ˈkʁoːχɛn] = skin, crust kroc’henenn = membrane

Etymology: probably loaned from a non-Indo-European substrate language [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	pell = animal skin, rug
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	pell, peall = (animal) skin, fur, rug, blanket
Irish (Gaeilge)	peall [pʲaul̪ˠ/pʲal̪ˠ] = pelt, skin, hide, rug, blanket, piece of coarse cloth peallach = hairy, matted, coarse-spun peallóg = (piece of) coarse cloth, woman dressing rough clothing
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	peall [pjaul̪ˠ] = shaggy hide/skin, mat, rough cloth/sheet, bunch of matter hair
Proto-Brythonic	*pall = (?)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	pall = cloak, curtain, covering, pall, tent, tabernacle, throne, bed of state
Welsh (Cymraeg)	pall [paɬ] = cloak, curtain, covering, pall, tent, tabernacle, throne, bed of state
Cornish (Kernewek)	pall = mantle

Etymology: from Latin palla (cloak, mantle), from pellis (skin), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *pel- (to cover, to wrap, skin, hide, cloth), or possibly a substrate loan. Words from the same roots include camouflage, film, muffle, pall and pelt in English, piel (skin, fur) in Spanish, and peau (skin, hide, fur) in French [source].

Blood

6th September 20226th September 2022 By Simon

Words for blood and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	wolis, weli- = blood
Old Irish (Goídelc)	fuil [fulʲ] = blood, wound
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	fuil [fulʲ] = blood, wound
Irish (Gaeilge)	fuil [fˠɪlʲ / fˠɨ̞lʲ] = blood fuilaistriú = blood transfusion fuilbheartach = sanguinary, bloody-minded fuilchill = blood cell fuilchíocrach = bloodthirsty fuilchoirpín = blood corpuscle fuildoirteadh = bloodshed fuiligh, cuir fola = to bleed cú fola = bloodhound
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	fuil [ful] = blood, family, tribe, kindred fuileachdach = bloody, bloodthirsty fuil-mìos = menstruation, period brùthadh-fala = blood pressure cion-fala = anæmia iomlaid fala = blood transfusion marag-fhala = black pudding ruith-fala = haemorrhage, haemorrhoids, piles
Manx (Gaelg)	fuill [fuɪlʲ] = blood, breeding, kindred fuill-vreck = bloodstained coo folley = bloodhound lhiggey fuill, roie folley = to bleed mooinjer folley = blood relation ym-roie folley = hemophilia
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	gweli, gwely, gueli = wound, cut, gash
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gweli [ˈɡwɛli] = (bleeding) wound, cut, gash, ulcer, sore gweli angheuol mortal wound gwelïaf, gwelïo = to wound, injure, hurt, exulcerate; to fester gwelïog = fulls of wounds, sores, ulcers, wounded, bruised
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	goly = wound, mark, hurt guli = wound
Cornish (Kernewek)	goli = injury, wound goli bew/byw = ulcer golia = to wound goliesiges = casualty
Middle Breton	gouli, goulyow = wound, injury
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gouli = wound, injury

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *welh₃- (to wound, strike) [source]. Words from the same root include vulnerable, valkyrie and Valhalla [source].

Proto-Celtic	krū- = blood krowos = blood *krowdi- = rude
Old Irish (Goídelc)	crú = gore, blood
Irish (Gaeilge)	cró [kɾˠoː / kɾˠɔː] = blood, gore
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	crò [krɔː] = blood, gore, blood oath crò-dhearg = crimson
Proto-Brythonic	*krow = blood
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	crev, creu = blood
Welsh (Cymraeg)	crau [kraɨ̯ /krai̯] = blood, gore, carnage, bloody creulon = bloody, cruel, fierce, brutal
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	crow = gore, blood, death
Cornish (Kernewek)	krow = bloodshed, gore

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *kréwh₂s (blood) [source]. English words from the same root include crude and raw [source].

Proto-Celtic	*wayos = blood
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	guayt, guaed, gwaet = blood. gore, juice, sap
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gwaed [ˈɡwaːɨ̯d /ˈɡwai̯d] = blood. gore, juice, sap gwaedlyf haemorrhage gwaedlyd = bloody, sanguinary gwaedlyn = lymph gwaedogen = black pudding gwaedlyn = lymph gwaedu = to bleed
Old Cornish	guit = blood
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	gois, goys, goos, gos = blood gosys = bloody
Cornish (Kernewek)	goos [ˈɡuːz] = blood, bloodline devera goos = to bleed, lose blood gwaskedh goos = blood pressure
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gwad [ˈɡwaːt] = blood, essence gwadañ = to bleed gwadegenn = black pudding, blood sausage gwadgi = bloodhound gwadorged = incest

Etymology: uncertain [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Month: September 2022

Foundations

Flowers

Buying and Purchasing

Hammers

Surfaces

Blood