Today we’re looking at words for magic, spells and related things in Celtic languages.
| Proto-Celtic | *brixtā = spell, magical formula, incantation |
|---|---|
| Celtiberian | *bruxtia |
| Gaulish | brixtia |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | bricht = charm, spell, incantation |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | bricht = incanation, charm, magic spell |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | briocht = charm, spell, amulet briocht sí = fairy charm briocht a chanadh = to chant a spell briocht draíochta = magic spell |
| Proto-Brythonic | *briθ [ˈbriːθ] = charm, incantation |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | lleturith, lledrith, ledryth = magic, spell, charm, enchantment llethrithawc, lledrithyawc, lleturithawc = magic, magical, enchanted |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | lledrith, lledfrith = magic, spell, charm, enchantment; apparition, spectre, phantom; illusion, delusion, fantasy, imagination lledrithaid = pretence, dissembling, deception lledrithiaf, lledrithio = to counterfeit, fake, pretend, simulate lledrithiog = magic, magical, enchanted |
| Old Breton | brith = charm, incantation (?) |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰerHǵ- (enlighten). Words that probably come from the same Proto-Celtic root, via the Celtiberian *bruxtia, include bruja (witch, crone, hag, owl) in Spanish, bruxa (witch, hex) in Galician, bruxa (witch) in Portuguese, and bruixa (witch) in Catalan [source].
| Irish (Gaeilge) | dríocht [ˈd̪ˠɾˠihaxt̪ˠə] = druidic art, druidism, witchcraft, magic, charm, enchantment draíochtach = magical, bewitching, entrancing draíochtúil = magic, magical |
|---|---|
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | draoidheachd [drɯjəxg] = magic, socery, druidism eun-draoidheachd = augury slat-draoidheachd = magic wand/td> |
| Manx (Gaelg) | druaight = charm, druid druaightagh = charmer, charming, druid, magician, occult druaightys = charming, druid, druidism, magic fo druaight = charmed |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | derwyddiaeth [dɛrˈwəðjaɨ̯θ/dɛrˈwəðjai̯θ] = druidism, the druid cult |
| Cornish (Kerneweg) | drewydhieth = druidism |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | drouizelezh / drouiziezh = druidism |
Etymology: these words come from the same roots as words for druid.
| Proto-Celtic | *soitos. *soyto- = magic |
|---|---|
| Proto-Brythonic | *hʉd = magic, charm hʉdol = charming, illusory |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | hut, hud = magic, wizardry, sorcery, witchcraft hûdadwy, hydadwy = persuasive, enticing, seducible |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | hud [hɨːd/hiːd] = magic, wizardry, sorcery, witchcraft, spell, enchantment, charm, fascination, allurement, persuasion hudadwy = persuasive, enticing, seducible hudaf, hudo = to fashion or produce by magic, conjure, cast a spell upon, enchant, charm, entice, allure, persuade, seduce, beguile hudaidd = alluring, charming, seductive hudol = charming, enchanting, enticing, alluring, illusory, deceptive, deceitful |
| Old Cornish | hudol = charming, illusory |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | huder = a deceiver, hypocritic, juggler, sorcerer hudol = sorcerer |
| Cornish (Kerneweg) | hus = charm, enchantment, illusion, magic, sorcery, spell husa = to charm, create an illusion, enchant |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | hud = magic hudek, hudel = magic, magical hudiñ = to charm, enchant, bewitch, delight hudour = magician, wizard hudouriezh = magic |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | hud = magic hudek = magic, magical hudour = magician, wizard |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-Etymology *sh₂oy-tó-s (magic), from *sh₂ey (to bind, fetter) [source]. Words from the same PIE roots include seiður (magic, witchcraft, sorcery) in Icelandic, sejd (sorcery, witchcraft, magic potion) in Swedish, and seid (magic) in Norwegian [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
