Words for barnacle, limpet and related things in Celtic languages.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Proto-Celtic | *barinākos = barnacle, limpet |
|---|---|
| Gaulish | *barinākā = barnacle, limpet |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | *bairnech = limpet |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhleag) | bairnech, báirnech = limpet(s) |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | bairneach [ˈbˠɑːɾˠn̠ʲəx] = limpet |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | bàirneach [baːr̪ˠn̪ʲəx] = barnacle, limpet |
| Manx (Gaelg) | baarnagh, barnagh, bayrnagh = barnacle guiy bayrnag = barnacle goose |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | brennik = limpets |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | brennig = limpets brenigen = limpet |
| Middle Cornish | brennic = limpets brennigen = limpet |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | brennik = limpets brenigen, bernigen = limpet |
| Middle Breton | brennik = limpet |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | brennig [ˈbrɛ.nːik] = barnacles, limpets brennigenn = barnacle, limpet brennika = to fish for limpets brennikaer = limpet fisherman |
Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *barinā (rocky ground), and *-ākos (involved with, belonging to) [source].
Words from the same Proto-Celtic roots, via the Gaulish *barinākā and the Latin barnēca (barnacle goose, barnacle, limpet), include bernache (barnacle) in French, barnacle in English, barnacla (brent/brant goose – Branta bernicla) in Spanish [source].
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | gigrann = barnacle goose |
|---|---|
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhleag) | gigrann, giugrann = wild goose, barnacle goose |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | giúrann = barnacle, shipworm, barnacle (goose) giúrannach = encrusted with barnacles |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | giùran [gʲuːran] = barnacle |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | gwyran = barnacle goose, barnacles |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | gwyran = barnacle goose, barnacles |
| Old Breton (Brethonoc) | goirann = barnacle goose, barnacles |
Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Celtic *gezdā (goose) – probably of imitative origin [source]. For more details of words for goose in Celtic languages, this post.
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, Lexicon Cornu-britannicum: A Dictionary of the Ancient Celtic Language of Cornwall, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic
On the coast of western Bro Gerne (Cornouaille, Finistère), limpets are “birinnig” in local Breton (sometimes erroneously written “birinik” or “birinic”). The old narrow-gauge train that crossed the Bro Vigoudenn area until the 1960’s was dubbed “Train Birinik” because of its slow pace, and because of the location of its terminus sation at Penmarc’h, on a rocky portion of the Atlantic coast.