Words for cowherd, boy, child and related people in Celtic languages.
Proto-Celtic | *boukolyos = cowherd |
---|---|
Old Irish (Goídelc) | búachaill [ˈbuːa̯xil͈ʲ] = cowherd, herder, herdsman |
Irish (Gaeilge) | buachaill [ˈbˠuəxɪlʲ] = boy, young unmarried; herdboy, herdsman; man-servant, male employee; lad buachailleacht = herding (cattle) |
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | buachaille, buachaill [buəçɪl̪ʲ(ə)] = herder, herdsman, cowherd, shepherd, youth buachailleachd [buəxɪl̪ʲəxg] = herding, watching cattle, invigilation buachailleadh [buəxɪl̪ʲəɣ] = to herd, watch cattle buachailleach [buəxɪl̪ʲəx] = pastoral |
Manx (Gaelg) | bochilley = shepherd, herdsman bochillagh = herd, pastoral bochillaghey = to herd bochillaght = drove, herd, look after, shepherd, pastoral |
Proto-Brythonic | *bʉgöl [bʉˈɡøːl] = herdsman |
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | blucelid, bukeyl, bugeil = herdsman, shepherd |
Welsh (Cymraeg) | bugail [ˈbɪɡai̯l / ˈbiːɡai̯l] = herdsman, shepherd, guardian, keeper, leader, defender; bishop, priest, pastor, minister bugeil(i)aeth = pastoral care, shepherd’s watch, pastorate, ministry bugeilio = to shepherd, tend cattle, watch, keep guard, act as a pastor, minister bugeil(i)aidd = pastoral, pertaining to a shepherd, shepherdly, ministerial |
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | bugel, begel, bigel, bygel = herdsman, shepherd, pastor |
Cornish (Kernewek) | bugel = pastor, shepherd bugeles = pastor, shepherd(ess) bugelya = to herd |
Middle Breton | bugel, buguel, bugale = child, shepherd bugelek = childlike, childish bugelel = infantile bugelez = shepherdess, herdswoman bugeliañ = to keep, guard (animals) |
Breton (Brezhoneg) | bugel = child |
Etymology
From the Proto-Indo-European gʷowkólos, from *gʷṓws (cow) and *kʷel- (to revolve, move around, sojourn) [source]. English words from the same roots include beef, bovine, bucolic, buffalo, butter and cow [source].
Here’s the Irish song Buachaill On Eirne (Boy from the Erne):
Here’s the Irish folk song Na Buachaillí Álainn (The Beautiful Lads):
Both songs are sung by Clannad, whose name comes from the same roots as the words below, and who get me interested in learn Irish songs and language.
Old Irish (Goídelc) | cland [klan͈d] = children, family, offspring, plant clannmar [ˈklan͈ṽar] = prolific |
---|---|
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | clann = plant, planting, off-shoot, produce, children, family, offspring, descendents, race, clan clannach = having many children, prolific, fruitful, productive, abundant |
Irish (Gaeilge) | clann [kl̪ˠɑun̪ˠ/kl̪ˠɑːn̪ˠ/kl̪ˠan̪ˠ] = children, offspring, race, descendents, clan, followers, plant, lock (of hair) clannach = having many children, prolific, luxuriant clannaigh = to plant, procreate, luxuriate clannú = procreation planda [pl̪ˠaun̪ˠd̪ˠə] = plant, scion plandaigh = to plant plandáil = plantation plandóg = shapely, comely woman; young plant |
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | clann [kl̪ˠaun̪ˠ] = children, offspring, progeny, clan, lock of hair, curl clannail [kl̪ˠan̪ˠal] = fruitful, prolific, abounding in locks, curls, curly, shining, sleek, luxurious clanmhor [kl̪ˠãũn̪ˠvər] = fruitful, prolific plannt [pl̪ˠãũn̪ˠd] = plant |
Manx (Gaelg) | cloan [klɔːn] = children, descendent, family circle plant = plant plantal = to plant |
Old Welsh | plant = children, young people, offspring |
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | plant = children, young people, offspring |
Welsh (Cymraeg) | plant [plant] = children, young people, offspring, progeny, descendents, followers, disciples, servants plentyn = child, young person, etc panta(f) = to beget or bear (children), procreate, breed plantaidd = childlike, innocent |
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | plans = plant plansa = to plant |
Cornish (Kernewek) | plans = plant plansa = to plant, stick |
Middle Breton | plantenn, planten, plantenn = plant, beautiful woman plantenniñ = to take root, to layer planter = planter planterez = planting |
Breton (Brezhoneg) | plantenn = plant |
Etymology: from the Latin planta (vegetable, sprout, shoot, twig, shrub), possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂- (flat) [source]. English words from the same roots include clan (via Irish and/or Scottish Gaelic) and plant (via Middle and Old English) [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