In this post we’re looking at words for awkward, clumsy and related things in Celtic languages.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Proto-Celtic | *trudskos = leprous |
|---|---|
| Gaulish | Troxo, 𐌕𐌓𐌏𐌗𐌏 = (?) |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | trosc = leprosy |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | trosc = leprosy trusca(e), trousca = smallpox |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | trosc† = leper |
| Proto-Brythonic | *trusk = (?) |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | trwsgl, trosgl, trwsgwl, trwscwl = awkward, clumsy, crude, rude |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | trwsgl [ˈtrʊsɡl] = awkward, clumsy, unskilful, unpolished, crude, rude, badly proportioned, strong, gross, coarse, dense, thick trwsglaidd, trysglaidd = (quite) clumsy or awkward trwsgleiddiaf, trwsgleiddio = to make clumsy or coarse trwsgleiddiwch = clumsiness, awkwardness, carelessness, a bungling, shoddy work trwsglyn = bungler, botcher |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | trosgan = cleverness |
| Old Breton (Brethonoc) | trusci = scabs on a wound (?) |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | trousq = scabs on a wound trousquen = the scab of a wound |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | trousk [ˈtrusk] = scab on a wound, scabs, polyps trouskenn = scab on a wound, scab, scar, crust trouskennañ = to form a scab, to become encrusted, to scarify, to form a crust |
Etymology: unknown, related to Gothic 𐌸𐍂𐌿𐍄𐍃𐍆𐌹𐌻𐌻 (þrutsfill – leprosy) [source].
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | liobarnach = numb with cold |
|---|---|
| Irish (Gaeilge) | liobar [ˈl̠ʲɨbˠəɾˠ] = hanging lip, something saggy, untidy person, flabby person or thing liobairne [ˈl̪ˠɞbˠəɾˠn̠ʲə] = looseness liobarnach [ˈlʲɨbˠəɾˠn̪ˠəx] = unwieldy, clumsy, floppy, flabby, hanging loose, sloppy, tattered, slovely liopasta = untidy, ungainly, clumsy liopastacht = untidiness, clumsiness liopastán = untidy person, clumsy person |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | liobair = person with thick or hanging lips, slovenly or awkward person liobarnach slovely, awkward liobasta [l̪ʲibəsdə] = awkward, clumsy, cumbersome, unwieldy liobastach [l̪ʲibəsdəx] = awkward, clumsy, cumbersome, unwieldy libisteachd [l̪ʲibɪʃdʲəxg] = clumsiness libistear [l̪ʲibɪʃdʲər] = clumsy person |
| Manx (Gaelg) | lheibeidjagh = cumbersome, unwieldy, difficult to walk on |
Etymology: unknown, possibly related to English slippery [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
