Ceilidh Companions

Words for companion, friend, ceilidh and related things in Celtic languages.

Cèilidh at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
Ceilidh at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in the Isle of Skye / Cèilidh aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig san Eilean Sgitheanach

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic *kēlyos = companion, servant
Primitive Irish ᚉᚓᚂᚔ (celi) = follower, devotee (genitive)
Old Irish (Goídelc) céile [ˈkʲeːlʲe] = client, companion, husband, liege, servant, spouse, subject, vassal
céilide [ˈkʲeːlʲiðʲe] = visit, visiting
coicéile = companion, comrade, friend, friendship
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) céile, ceile, céli = servant, bondsman, vassal, subject, fellow, companion, husband
céileachas = adultery
céilide = visit, act of visiting
coicéile, cocéle, coceli = vassal, bondsman, companion, fellow, friend
coicéilsine, cocéilsine, cocélsine = fellowship, clientship
Irish (Gaeilge) céile [ˈceːlʲə] = companion, spouse
céileachas = companionship, cohabitation, copulation
céilí = friend call, visit, social evening, Irish dancing session
céilíoch = person fond of social visits, sociable person
céilíocht = sociableness, companionableness
céiliúil = companionable
coigéile = mate, companion
coigéilsine = fellowship, companionship
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) cèile [kʲeːlə] = fellow, partner, significant other, spouse, counterpart
cèile-còmhraige = opponent, antagonist
cèile-pòsta = married partner (husband or wife)
cèileach [kʲeːləx] = entertaining
cèileachadh [kʲeːləxəɣ] = participating/sharing in, twinning, partnering (of a city)
cèiliche [kʲeːlɪçə] = visitor
cèilidh [kʲeːlɪ] = ceilidh, visit, (act of) visiting
cèilidheach [kʲeːlɪjəx] = companionable, fond of company, sociable
Manx (Gaelg) keilley = match
dy cheilley = joined, together
e cheilley = fellow
ry-cheilley = en masse, together, with each other
kaylee = ceilidh
Proto-Brythonic *kuɨlð = servant, companion
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) cilit, cilid, kilid, kilyd = servant, companion
Welsh (Cymraeg) cilydd [ˈkɪlɨ̞ð/ˈkiːlɪð] = fellow, companion, neighbour, enemy, other
cilyddol = reciprocal, mutual
at ei gilydd = together
gyda’i gilydd = together
ei gilydd = each other
o bryd i’w gilydd = from time to time
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) cele = companion, fellow, one of two
Cornish (Kernewek) kila = companion
Old Breton kiled = friend
Middle Breton (Brezonec) kile = the other (one), friend
Breton (Brezhoneg) kile = associate, stooge, colleague, sidekick

Etymology: possibly the Proto-Celtic word originally meant ‘wayfarer’, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱey- (to settle, to be lying down) [source].

The English word ceilidh [ˈkeɪli] (an informal social gathering where traditional Irish or Scottish folk music is played, with dancing and storytelling; a ceilidh dance; to dance a ceilidh) was borrowed from Scottish Gaelic and/or from Irish [source]. Someone who attends a ceilidh is apparently a ceilidher [source].

The Welsh equivalent of a ceilidh is a twmpath, which also meanings hillock, knoll, mound, pile, gathering or assembly. It’s also a known as a twmpath dawns (folk-dance, barn dance, public dance) or noson lawen (“merry/joyful evening”). In Cornish a ceilidh is a troyll, which also means spiral or swirl, and in Breton they are known as fest-noz (“night party / ”) [source].

Proto-Celtic *karants = friend
*karantodyos = friendly
Gaulish Caranto-, Carantōna = personal names
*Carantodios = personal name
Old Irish (Goídelc) cara [ˈkarɘ] = friend, relation, relative, kinsman
cairdes = friendship, alliance, pact
cairdine = friendship, alliance
caratad = friendship, alliance
caraid = to love
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) cara, carae [ˈkarə] = friend
cairdide = friendly
caratrad = friendship, alliance
cairdech, cairdeac, cairdeach = friendly, having many friends
cairdes, cardes, cairdius = friendship, alliance, covenant, pact, relationship, kinship
cairdemail [ˈkɑːɾˠdʲuːlʲ] = friendly
caraid, carad = to love
caratrad, caratrid = friendship, alliane
Irish (Gaeilge) cara [ˈkɑɾˠə / ˈkaɾˠə] = friend, relative
anamchara = spiritual adviser, confidant, kindred spirit, soulmate
cairdeach [ˈkɑːrdʲəx] = generous, friendly
cairdeas = friendship
cairdine = friendship, pact, truce
cairdiúil [ˈkɑːɾˠdʲuːlʲ] = friendly
cairdiúlacht = friendliness
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) caraid [karɪdʲ] = friend, relation, kinsman, Quaker
càirde [kaːr̪dʲə] = friendship, entente
càirdeas [kaːr̪dʲəs] = kinship, friendship, friendliness
càirdeach [kaːr̪dʲəx] = kin, related, friendly
Manx (Gaelg) carrey = friend, well-wisher
caardys, caarjys = friendship, kin(ship), pedigree, blood relationship, allied to
caarjoil = amiable, friendly, friendliness
caarjysagh = friendly
caarjysaght = friendliness
Proto-Brythonic *kar [kar] = friend, relative
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) kar, kereint, kerenhit, car, karant = kinsman, relative, cousin, friend, companion, dear one
keredic, keradwy, karatwy = loveable, amiable, dear, beloved
caru, karu, kary = to love, woo, court
carannawc = dear, beloved
kerenhit, kerennyd, carennydd = kindred, kinship, relationship, descent, affinity, friendship, love
Welsh (Cymraeg) câr [kaːr] = kinsman, relative, cousin, friend, companion, dear one
carad = loved
caradwy, ceradwy = loveable, amiable, dear, beloved
caru = to love, woo, court
carennydd = kindred, kinship, relationship, descent, affinity, friendship, love
Old Cornish car = friend, ally, a dear neighbour, kinsman, cousin
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) car, câr, = friend, ally, a dear neighbour, kinsman, cousin, father
caradow = beloved, loving, dear
care = to love
carense, cerense = love, friendship
Cornish (Kernewek) kar = parent, relation, relative
kara = to care for, like, love
kardewder = loving-kindness
karadow = beloved, fond, loveable, loving
karder = loveliness, splender
karer = boyfriend, lover
kares = girlfriend, relation, relative, mistress (lover)
Old Breton (Brethonoc) car = agreeable, dear
Middle Breton (Brezonec) car = friend, relative
carantez = love
caret = to love, cherish, desire
Breton (Brezhoneg) kar [ˈkɑːr] = relative, friend
karadegezh = kindness
karadek [kaˈrɑːdek] = kind, nice, amiable
karantegezh = affection, love
karantek [kaˈrãntek] = affectionate, pleasant
karantez [kaˈrãn.tɛs] = love
karedig [kaˈreːdik] = lover, loving
karout [ ˈkɑː.rut] = to love, cherish, desire
karet [ˈkɑː.ret] = favourite, beloved

Etymology: from Proto-Celtic *karāti (to love, desire), from *karos (dear, beloved), from Proto-Indo-European *kh₂-ró-s, from *keh₂- (to desire) &‎ *-rós (adjectival suffix) [source]. Words from the same PIE roots include charity, cheer, and cherish in English, caro (dear, precious, expensive) in Italian, cher (dear(ly), expensive) in French, caro (dear, expensive) in Spanish, kär (in love, enamored, dear, beloved) in Swedish, and kær (dear, adorable, cute) in Danish [source].

Irish (Gaeilge) comhar [kõːɾˠ] = combined work, mutual assistance, co-operation, partnership
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) coimheart [kɔ̃jəRʃd] = companion
Manx (Gaelg) commeeys = communion, connection, league, mess, participation, partnership, relations (between people)
Proto-Brythonic *kumpar = peer, fellow, spouse, partner, companion
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) kymar = peer, fellow, spouse, partner, companion
Welsh (Cymraeg) cymar [ˈkəmar] = equal, peer, companion, mate, fellow, spouse, consort
cymar bywyd = life partner
cymhares = female partner, wife, mate, companion, equal
cymharus = well matched, well paired, corresponding, matching, appropriate, fitting
cymheiriaeth = a coupling together, partnership
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) cespar = spouse, married person, mate
Cornish (Kernewek) kespar / kespares = partner
kesplegadow = compatible

Etymology (Brythonic words): from Latin compār (fellow, partner, equal [person], spouse), from con- (used to indicate being or bringing together), from cum (with), and pār (even, equal, like; companion, comrade, mate, spouse) [source]. The Goidelic words may come from different roots.

Words from the same roots include compare, pair, par (equal value) and peer in English, paar (pair, couple, some) in Dutch, and péire (pair) in Irish [source].

Proto-Brythonic *ko-u̯ekt- = companion, comrade, friend (?)
*ko-u̯ektii̯ŏ- = company, band or gathering of companions, troop, host, retinue
Old Welsh (Kembraec) coueidid = company, band or gathering of companions, troop, host, retinue
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) kyueith, kyweith = companion, comrade, friend
kiueithad = society, company, partnership
kyweithaed = gathering, company
kyweythas, kyweithas, keuey[th]as = soceity, company, fellowship, companionship
kweithasgar = sociable, gentle, kind(ly), gracious
kyweithit, ky()eithyd, kyweithyd = company, band or gathering of companions, troop, host, retinue
Welsh (Cymraeg) cywaith = companion, comrade, friend; association, harmony
cyweithad = society, company, partnership
cyweithäed = gathering, company
cyweithas = soceity, company, fellowship, companionship, alliance, commerce; sociable, gentle, kindly
cyweithasu = to associate, civilze, treat with courtesy
cyweithasgar = sociable, gentle, kind(ly), gracious
cyweith(i)asol = social, kind, gentle courteous
cyweithydd = company, band or gathering of companions, troop, host, retinue
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) coweth, cowyth = companion, fellow, mate, comrade
cowethas = company, society
cowethe = company, sociery
cowethes = female companion, help-mate
cowetheyans = communion, fellowship
cowethys = acquainted
Cornish (Kernewek) koweth / kowethes = companion, comrade, friend, mate, peer
kowethas = association, society
kowethasek = social
kowethegeth = friendship
kowethek = friendly
kowethus = gregarious
kowethyades, kowethyas = colleague
kowethyadow = socialable
kowethyans = company, organisation

Etymology: from Proto-Brythonic *ko- (together, equal, similar) u̯ekt- (to move, go) [source].

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Sources: Wiktionary, Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, Teanglann.ie, Am Faclair Beag, An etymological dictionary of the Gaelic language, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Online Manx Dictionary, Gaelg Corpus, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Lexicon cornu-britannicum : a dictionary of the ancient Celtic language of Cornwall, Gerlyver Kernewek, Devri : Le dictionaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, TermOfis




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