In this post we’re getting mixed up and confused about words for drunk and related things in Celtic languages.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Proto-Celtic | *miskos = mixture, confusion *miskati = to mix, confuse *kom-miskos = mixture, confusion *kommiskati = ? |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | mesc [mʲesk] = drunk, intoxicated mescae [ˈmʲeskɘ] = drunkenness, intoxication mescaid = to confuse mesctha = confused, intoxicated con·mesca [konˈmʲeska] = to mix together |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | mesc(c) = drunk, intoxicated, mixed, confused, muddled, confusion mescae = drunkenness, intoxication, daze, bewilderment, excitment mescaid = to mix, bewilder, confuse, confound mesctha = confused, intoxicated, mixed, variegated con-mesca = to mix together, conmingle, join, unite |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | measc [mʲasˠk] = jumble, confusion, to mix (up), blend, stir meascadh = (ad)mixture, confusion meascán = mass, lump, mixture, jumble, muddle meascthóir = mixer, stirrer meisce [ˈmʲɛʃcɪ / ˈmʲɪʃcɪ] = drunkenness, intoxication, daze, bewilderment ar meisce = drunk, intoxicated meisceoir = drunkard meisceoireacht = drunkenness, inebriety meisciúil = intoxicating, drunken, addicted to drinking cumaisc = to mix together, blend, combine, compound, cohabit |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | measg [mesg] = mix, stir, mingle am measg [ə mesg] = amongst, among measgach [mesgəx] = sociable, gregarious, promiscuous measgachadh [mesgəxəɣ] = mixing, mixure, combining measgadair = mixer measgadh [mesgəɣ] = mixing, stirring, mingling, mixture misg [miʃgʲ] = drunkenness, inebriation, insobriety air misg = drunk misgeach [miʃgʲəx] = heady, drunk, intoxicated misgear [miʃgʲər] = drunkard, tippler coimeasg [kɔiməsg] = combine, merge, blend, mix coimeasgadh [kɔməsgəɣ] = combining, combination, merging, merger, blending |
| Manx (Gaelg) | mastey = amid(st), among(st), mingled, within, mixture mestey = compound, mixture, jumble; to confuse, mix, mingle, mash, shuffle, stir mestey-vestey = concoction, melee, mix up meshtey [ˈmeʃtə] = inebriety er meshtey = drunk, inebriated, intoxicated meshtallagh = drunk(ard), boozer, inebriate meshtallaght = promiscuity, drunkenness meshtallys, meshtelllys, meshtyrys = drunkenness, inebriation, intoxication covestey = to mix, mingle, merge covestit = mixed, mingled, blended |
| Proto-Brythonic | *mɨsk = amid, amidst *mɨskad [mɨˈsˑkaːd] = to blend, mix, confuse *kɨm-mɨsk = mixed, confused (?) *kummɨskad = to mingle, confuse, mix |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | mysc = mixing, mixture, confusion, mixed, confused mysci, mysgi = turmoil, tumult cymysc, kymysc, kymmysc, kymysg = mixed, mingled, blended, compound, mixture cymyscu, kemescu, kymysgu, kymyscu = to mix, mixed, blend, compound cymysced, cymmyscedd = mixture, compound, jumble ymysg, ym mysc = among, between |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | mysg [mɨːsk / mɪsk] = mixing, mixture, confusion, mixed, confused, midst mysgaf, mysgu = to undo, untie, unpick, unravel, disentangle, loosen, mix, mingle, jumble mysgi = turmoil, tumult cymysg [ˈkʰəmɨ̞sk / ˈkʰəmɪsk] = mixed, mingled, blended, compound, mixture cymysgaf, cymysg(u) = to mix, mixed, blend, compound ymysg = among, between, in the midst of |
| Old Cornish | commisc = mixed |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | mysc, mŷsk = midst, middle cemescys, kemeskis, kemeskys = mixture cemyscy, kemyskys, cymyscys, kemyskis = to mingle, mix |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | mysk, mesk = midst myska, meska = to blend, involve, mingle myskas, myskii = mongrel kemmysk = mix kemyska = to mix, jumble, mingle kemyskans = mixture kemyskedh = hybrid kemyskell = mixer (machine) |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | mesc = mixture, chaos, disorder mescaff, meskaff = to mix, blend, stir quemesq [mɛ(z)w] = mixed, complex, confusion quemesq(a) = to mix, merge |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | mesk [mesk] = mixture, chaos, disorder meskaj [ˈmes.kaʃ] = mixure meskañ [ˈmeskã] = to mix, blend, stir meskata [ˈmeskat:a] = mixer kemmesk [mɛ(z)w] = mixed, complex, confusion kemmeskad = composite kemmeskañ = to mix, merge |
Etymology: from PIE *miḱsḱéti (to mix), from *meyḱ- (to mix) [source].
Words from the same roots include mash, meddle, medley, melee, miscellaneous, mix and promiscuous in English, mêler (to mix, meddle in, get mixed up in, shuffle) in French, mischen (to mix, shuffle) in German, and miesić (to knead) in Polish [source].
For words for drunk and related things in Brythonic languages, see the Celtiadur post Honey Wine.
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
