In this post we’re looking into words for revenge and related things in Celtic languages.
| Proto-Celtic | *dīgalā = revenge, vengeance |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | dígal [ˈdʲiːɣal] = revenge, vengeance, punishment |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | dígal = avenging, punishing; vengeance, punishment |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | díoghail = vengeance, retribution, punishment; to avenge, punish |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | dìoghail [dʲiə.al] = revenge, vengeance dìoghailte = revenged, avenged, retaliated |
| Manx (Gaelg) | jeeyll, jeeill = damage, harmfulness, havoc, injury, prejudice, vandalism |
| Proto-Brythonic | *diɣal = (?) |
| Old Welsh | digal = vengeance, revenge, retribution, punishment |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | dial = vengeance, revenge, retribution, punishment dialaeth = vengeance, revenge, punishment |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | dial [ˈdɪ.al/ˈdiː.al] = vengeance, revenge, retribution, punishment dialaeth = vengeance, revenge, punishment dialaethaf, dialaethu = to wreak vengeance upon, punish dialaf, diala, dialu = to avenge, revenge, retaliate dialaidd = revengeful, retributive dialbren = gallows, gibbet, rack dialedd = vengeance, retribution, nemesis, pain, disease, plague dialeddwr = avenger, punisher |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | dyal, dial = revenge |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | dial = retribution, revenge |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | dial = vengeance, revenge |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | dial = vengeance, revenge, to take revenge |
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
Etymology: from *dī- (from, of) and *galā (might, ability), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ḱley- (naked, head) [source]. Words from the same PIE root include callow in English, kaal (smooth, bland, plain, bald) in Dutch, and kahl (bald, hairless, barren) in German [source].
Other words from the Proto-Celtic root *galā include gal (ardour, valour, fury) in Irish, gal (ardour, valour, fury, vapour, steam) in Scottish Gaelic, gaal/gall (vapour) in Manx, gâl (enemy, adversary) in Welsh, gal (outcast, villain) in Cornish, and gal (violent, intense, urgent) in Middle Breton [source].
The Proto-Celtic word *galnati (to be able) comes from the same root. Descendents include gallu (to be able to, to have power (to)) in Welsh, gallos (to be able to, can, ability, might, power) in Cornish, and gallout (to be able to) in Breton [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, Gerlyvyr Cernewec, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic
Simon: The IPA pronunciation of díoghail in Gaeilge appears to have been carried over from the post named ‘Baskets’ on 24th February. Also, in Gaelg, jeeyl can be spelled jeeyll or jeeill, but never jeeyal. These are minor matters: I’m really grateful for this continuing Celtiadur series, which I find fascinating.