Words for sword and related things in Celtic languages.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Proto-Celtic | *kladiwos = sword |
|---|---|
| Gaulish | *kladyos = sword |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | claideb = sword |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | claideb, claidem, claidhmhe, cloideb = (slashing) sword |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | claíomh [kl̪ˠiːvˠ/kl̪ˠiːw] = sword claíomhchruthach = sword-shaped, xiphoid claíomhóir = swordsman claíomhóireacht = swordsmanship |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | claidheamh [kl̪ˠajəv] = sword claidheamhach [kl̪ˠajəvəx] = pertaining to or abounding in swords claidheamhair [kl̪ˠajəvɛrʲ] = swordsman claidheamhaireachd [kl̪ˠajəvɛrʲəxg] = fencing, sword-fighting, swordsmanship, sparring claidheamhan [kl̪ˠajəvan] = little sword, icicle, snot, door-bolt, latch |
| Manx (Gaelg) | cliwe = sword cliweagh = sword-like, ensiform cliweaght = swordplay cliweder = swordsman cliwederahgt = fencing cliwederys = swordmanship cliwedeyr = fencer cliwenys = swordsmithing, sword-making |
| Proto-Brythonic | *klėðɨβ̃ = sword |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | clety(u)w, cled(d)yf = sword cledyual, cledyf(u)al = sword-stroke or thrust cletifhir, cledyfhir = having a long sword cledyfawt, cleddyfawd = sword-stroke or thrust, gash, wound cletyuawc, cledyfawc = armed with sword(s), swords, sharp, cruel |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | cleddyf [ˈklɛðɨ̞v/ˈkleːðɪv] = sword, blade, brace (on a door or wall) cleddyfaeth = swordsmanship, fencing cleddyfu, cleddyfa(f) = to slay with the sword, to put to the sword cleddyfal = sword-stroke or thrust cleddyfan = dagger, poniard, hanger cleddyfod = sword-stroke cleddyfwr = swordsman cleddyfydd = sword-cutler, sword-smith, swordsman cleddyfyddiaeth = swordsmanship, art of fencing |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | cledhe, cledhé, cledha = sword |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | kledha = sword kledhya = fencing |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | clezef(f), cleze = sword |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | kleze [ˈkleː.ze] = sword, glaive klezen/klezeñ = sword klezeiad = ironworker, gladiator klezeniata = ironworker klezenour = swordsman |
Etymology: from Proto-Celtic *kladeti (to stab, dig), from Proto-Indo-European *kl̥h₂dʰ-é-ti, from *kelh₂- (to beat, strike) [source].
Words from the same Proto-Celtic roots, via Gaulish *kladyos, possibly include gladius (sword, murder, death, a gladiatorial contest, swordfish) in Latin, gladiator, gladiolus and glaive (a light lance with a long, sharp-pointed head) in English, esglai (fright) in Catalan, ghiado (sword, dagger, knife, frost, cold) in Italian, gládio (sword, power, strength) in Portuguese, and gladio (bulrush, cattail) in Spanish [source].
Words from the same PIE roots include calamity, clade, clergy, cleric, clerk, coup, and glaive in English, clava (club) in Spanish, колоть (to split, cleave, break, stab) in Russian, and words for to dig and bury and related things in Celtic languages [source].
| Proto-Celtic | *kolgā = a stabbing weapon, like a dagger |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | colg = sword, pointed thing |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | colg, calg, cailg = anything pointed, piercing instrument, sword, rapier, sting, stabe, thrust, awn of barley or wheat colgach = fierce, bristling colgad = act of piercing colgdae = pointed, fierce |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | colg [ˈkɔl̪ˠəɡ] = sword (literary), blade, point (of sword), beard, awn, bristle, dorsal fin colgach = bearded, bristling, angry colgaí = prickliness, irritability colgán = sharp point, prickle, bristle, sword-fish |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | colg [kɔl̪ˠɔg] = pig bristle, beard of barley, needle (of conifer), prickle colgach [kɔl̪ˠɔgəx] = bristly, prickly colgachd [kɔl̪ˠɔgəxg] = prickliness |
| Manx (Gaelg) | caulg = barb, bristle, prickle, ruffle caulgagh = barbed, bearded, bristly, prickly caulgid = bristliness, prickliness; snappish, snappishness |
| Proto-Brythonic | *kolɣ = (?) |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | col, coly, kola = awn, beard of corn, husks, chaff, spike, prickles, sting, hinge |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | col, coly, cola [kɔl] = awn, beard of corn, husks, chaff, spike, prickles, sting, hinge |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | col, culu, culhu = any projecting body or pointed hill, a peak, promintory, awn, beard of corn |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | kolgh = spike |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | colch = awn, beards of cereal |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | kolc’h = awn, beards of cereal |
Etymology: possibly from Proto-Indo-European *kelh₂- (to beat, break) – see above [source].
Awn [ɔːn] = the bristle or beard of barley, oats, grasses, etc. or any similar bristlelike appendage – see below [source].
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
