Words for eyebrow, eyelash, eyelid and related things in Celtic languages.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Proto-Celtic | *abrant- = eyelid |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | abra = eyelash |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | abra eyelash, eyelid fabra = eyelash, eyelid, fringe |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | fabhra, abhra = eyelash, (eye)brow fabhraí = fringe fabhraíoch = pertaining to eyelashes, ciliary fabhrán = cilium |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | abhra [aurə] = eyelid, eyelash abhrad [aurəd] = eyelid, eyelash fabhra [faurə] = eyelid, eyelash, fringe fabhrad [faurəd] = eyelid, eyelash, fringe |
| Manx (Gaelg) | ferroogh = eyelash, eyelid |
| Proto-Brythonic | *abrant = eyelid |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | amrant, amraỽt = eyelid, eyelash, eyebrow |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | amrant [ˈamrant] = eyelid, eyelash, eyebrow ar amrant = in the twinkling of an eye, instantly amrantaf, amrantu = to blink, wink, shut (eyes), doze, slumber sleep, fall asleep amrantiad = twinkling of an eye, instant amrantun = nap, sleep amrantyn = twinkling of an eye, moment, instant, eyelid |
| Old Cornish | abrans = eyebrow |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | abrans = eyebrow |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | abrans [ˈabrans] = eyebrow |
| Middle Breton | abrant = eyebrow abrantec = with large eyebrows |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | abrant [ˈa.brãnt] = eyebrow abranteg = finicky, pernickety, haughty, supercilious, punctilious abrantek = with large eyebrows |
Etymology: related to Proto-Celtic *brū- (brow), from PIE *h₃bʰrúHs (eyebrow) [source]. Words from the same roots include brim, brine, brow and front in English, front (forhead) in French, and bryn (brow, edge, crest, ridge) in Swedish [source].
| Proto-Celtic | *malaxs = eyelid |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | mala = eyebrow |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | mala = eyebrow |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | mala [ˈmˠɑl̪ˠə] = eyebrow, brow, slope, incline |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | mala [mal̪ˠə] = eyebrow, brow malairneach [mal̪ˠər̪ˠn̪ʲəx] = frowning malach [mal̪ˠəx] = having / pertaining to eyebrows |
| Manx (Gaelg) | mollee = brow, eyebrow |
| Middle Breton | maluen = eyelid, eyebrow maluennec = having big eyebrows |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | malvenn [ˈmal.vɛn] = eyelid, eyelash, eyebrow, canopy malvenneg = ciliated malvennek = having big eyebrows malvennin, malvenniñ = to blink |
Etymology: from PIE *ml̥Hdʰo- [source]. Words from the same roots include brim, brine, brow and front in English, front (forhead) in French, and bryn (brow, edge, crest, ridge) in Swedish [source].
| Old Welsh (Kembraec) | ail = eyebrow, eyelid, brow, forehead |
|---|---|
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | ael = eyebrow, eyelid, brow, forehead, edge, border, hem, side, summit aeldew = thick-browed |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | ael [aːɨ̯l / ai̯l] = eyebrow, eyelid, brow, forehead aeldew = thick-browed aeldrist = sad-faced aeldrwm = heavy-browed, frowning aeliad, aelio = to protrude aeliog = (big-/large-)browed, large-brimmed |
| Old Breton (Brethonoc) | guorail = eyebrow |
Etymology: unknown [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
