Words for origin, basis, nobility and related things in Celtic languages.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Proto-Celtic | *bonusedom = lineage, pedigree, origin |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | bunad = basis, origin, stock |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | bunad, bonadh, búnad = origin, basis, source, stock bunadach, bunadhach = belonging to the original stock bunadas, bunus = origin, source bunatta, bunata = original, basic, permanent |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | bunadh [ˈbˠʊn̪ˠə] = origin, stock, kind, native inhabitants, original, fundamental, basic, base bunaigh = to found, establish bunaíoch = primitive bunaíocht = establishment bunús = origin, basis, substance, essence, wealth, majority |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | bunadh [bunəɣ] = origin, stock, rock, foundation |
| Manx (Gaelg) | bunneydagh = basic, elemental, fundamental, original, primitive, radical bunneydys = basis, foundation, groundwork, origin, root |
| Proto-Brythonic | *bonheð = ? |
| Old Welsh (Kembraec) | boned, bonhed = nobility, nobleness, noble, descent, lingeage, pedigree |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | boned, bonhed = nobility, nobleness, noble, descent, lingeage, pedigree bon(h)edigeid, bonhedigeit = noble, aristocratic, honourable, gracious, kind, gentle, courteous, polite bonedigeidrwyd = nobility, nobleness, aristocracy, gentility, chivalry, courtesy bonhedyc, bonhedic, bonheddig = noble, aristocratic |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | bonedd = nobility, nobleness, noble, descent, lineage, pedigree boneddigaidd = noble, aristocratic, honourable, gracious, kind, gentle, courteous, polite boneddigeiddrwydd = nobility, nobleness, aristocracy, gentility, chivalry, courtesy bonheddig = noble, aristocratic bonheddu = to ennoble, dignify bonheddes = lady, Lady bonheddwr = nobleman, gentleman, aristocrat |
Etymology: from Proto-Celtic *bonus (base) + *sedom (seat, sitting) – see also the posts Foundations and Peace and Fairies, and for other words related to nobles, princes, chiefs, etc, see the post Leader in Chief.
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | cepp = block, (tree) stump |
|---|---|
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | cepp, cip, cep = tree-stump, log, block, anvil-block genealogical stock, ancestor ceppach, cepach, cepaig = piece of ground where trees have been felled, slaughter ceppaid = to shape, form, fashion, confine, restrict ceppdae = inert |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | ceap [capˠ] = stock, block, base, (shoemaker’s) last, nave, hub, compact body, chief, protector, (flower) bed ceapadh = fashioning, composition, formation, appointment, assignation, conception ceapadóir = shaper, moulder, composer, inventor ceapadóireacht = composition ceapaire = shaped, moulded, object, shapely person, thing, sandwich |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | ceap [kʲɛhb] = block, (shoemaker’s) last, lump, cape, cap, turf, stocks, fret |
| Manx (Gaelg) | kiap = block, butt, log, pad, pillow, snag, stock, trunk |
| Proto-Brythonic | *kɨf = the most in chief |
| Old Welsh (Kembraec) | ciphillion = stock, trunk, box, ancestry, blockhead, dull-witted person |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | kyf(f), cyff = (tree) trunk, stock, stem, stump, log, trunk (of body), block, blockhead; box, coffer, chest; stocks, kinsfolk, lineage, ancestry, origin, race, source kyfyll, kiffil, cyffyll = stock, trunk, box, ancestry, blockhead, dull-witted person |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | cyff [kɨːf/kiːf] = (tree) trunk, stock, stem, stump, log, trunk (of body), block, blockhead; box, coffer, chest; stock, kinsfolk, lineage, ancestry, origin, race, source cyffyll = stock, trunk, box, ancestry, blockhead, dull-witted person |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | kyf = log |
| Old Breton (Brethonoc) | cepp = stump, stock, log, trunk |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | queff = stump, stock, log, trunk |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | kef [kefː] = trunk, log, box kefiañ = to make branches, put the irons (on) |
Etymology: from Latin cippus / cīpus (stake, post, gravestone, landmark), possibly from Proto-Italic *keipos, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱéypos (pole, stick). Words from the same roots include ceppo (stump, log, block of wood), cipo (milestone) in Spanish, and Kipfl (croissant) in German [source].
| Proto-Celtic | *akkā = ? *akkiyā = proximity, lineage |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | aicce = nearness, proximity |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | aicce, aicci = nearness, proximity, near, beside, fosterage |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | aice [ˈacɪ] = nearness, proximity in aice (na/le) = near aicearra = short-cut, abridgement aicerrach = short, near, pithy, succinct aicerracht = shortness, pithiness |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | aice [açgʲə] = proximity |
| Manx (Gaelg) | faare = adjacent, presence, proximity, near, nigh |
| Proto-Brythonic | *ax = ? |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | ach = lineage, descent, pedigree, genealogy, ancestry, family origins achwet = lingeage, descent, pedigree, kindred, family |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | ach [aːχ] = lineage, descent, pedigree, genealogy, ancestry, family origins achres(tr) = genealogical table, pedigree, lineage achwedd = lingeage, descent, pedigree, kindred, family achwr, achydd, achyddwr = genealogist, herald achwyddol = genealogical, heraldic achyddu = to genealogize achyddiaeth = genealogy, heraldry; lineage, pedigree |
| Old Cornish | ach = offspring, progeny |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | ach = offspring, progeny, stock, kindred |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | agh [æːx] = offspring, race aghel = racial aghskrif = pedigree |
| Old Breton (Brethonoc) | acom = ? |
Etymology: possibly from PIE *h₂ekkeh₂. Words from the same root include अक्का (akkā – mother) in Sanskrit, आक्का (ākkā – older sister, elderly woman) in Marathi and අක්කා (akkā – older sister) in Sinhalese [source 1, source 2].
In Cornish, origin, beginning, start, inception or opening = dalleth; noble = nobyl, pennsevik, ughelor or bryntin; lineage or race = linieth (Middle Cornish), and race or ethnicity = hil (Revived Cornish) – see the post about Seeds.
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, Dictionnaires bilingues de Francis Favereau / Edition Skol Vreizh, TermOfis
