Words for ears, hares and related things in Celtic languages.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Proto-Celtic |
*kloustā = ear, hearing |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) |
clúas [kluːa̯s] = ear, hearing |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) |
clúas, cluas = (sense of) hearing, ear
clúasach, clūasach = pleasing to the ear, having (big) ears or handles, big-eared |
| Irish (Gaeilge) |
cluas [klˠuəsˠ] = ear; ear-shaped object; lug, handle; cleat; tab; corner, margin
cluasach = having ears, long-eared
cluasachán = long-eared person or animal
cluasaí = listener, eavesdropper
cluasaíocht = eavesdropping, whispering, listening, talking in a furtive manner
cluasán = earphone, headphone
cluasánach = listless, inattentive person
cluasántacht = listlessness, inattention |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) |
cluas [kl̪ˠuəs] = ear, lug, handle
cluasach [kl̪ˠuəsəx] = pertaining to ears, aural, having (a) handle(s)
cluasachan [kl̪ˠuəsəxan] = pillow
cluasag [kl̪ˠuəsag] = pillow, bolster
cluasagach [kl̪ˠuəsagəx] = pertaining to or abounding in pillows
cluasaire [kl̪ˠuəsɪrʲə] = (person with) bigs ears
cluasan [kl̪ˠuəsan] = earphone, headset |
| Manx (Gaelg) |
cleaysh [kleːʃ] = ear, cleat, handle, lug, top corner of net, corner of sail
cleayshagh = aural, (large-)eared, lugged
cleayshtynagh = audible, listener |
| Proto-Brythonic |
*klʉst = ear |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) |
clust = ear, hearing, handle
clustueinyd, clustfeinydd = attentive or eager listener, eavesdropper
clustiog, klustioc = (large-/long-) eared, having a handle, pertaining to the ear
clustot, clustog, clustoc = cushion, pillow, bolster |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) |
clust [klɨːst / klɪst] = ear, sense of hearing, attention, willingness to listen; handle of a vessel, tag of a boot, top part of a bell; creek or inlet; auricle (of the heart)
clustfeinio = to listen closely or attentively, prick up the ears, eavesdrop
clustfeiniol = listening attentively or intently
clustfeiniwr, clustfeinydd = attentive or eager listener, eavesdropper
clustffon, clustffôn = earphone, headphone
clustiog = (large-/long-) eared, having a handle, pertaining to the ear
clustog = cushion, pillow, bolster
clustogi = to cushion, pillow, bolster up, upholster |
Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *ḱlow-steh₂, from *ḱlew- (to hear) [source]. Words from the same roots include clement, client, listen and loud in English, quaj (to call, name, value, declare) in Albanian, luid (loud, sound, assertion) in Dutch, sláva (fame, glory) in Czech, and hljóður (quiet, silent) in Icelandic [source].
Words for Hearing, Fame and Renown in Celtic languages also come from the same PIE roots.
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) |
sgiarnag, sgibearnag = hare |
| Proto-Brythonic |
*skuβarn = ear
*skuβarnọg = hare |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) |
esgyuarn, ysgyuarn, yscyfarn, yskyuarn = ear
ysgyuarnauc, yscyfarnawc, y scyuarnaỽc, ysgyuarnawc, yscyfarnoc = hare |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) |
ysgyfar(n) = ear
(y)sgyfarnog, sgwarnog = hare
ysgyfarnogaidd = harelike, leporine |
| Old Cornish |
scouarn = ear
scouarnoc = hare |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) |
scovarn, scouarn, scovern, scovorn, scoforn = ear
scovarnog, scowarnak, scowarnog = hare |
| Cornish (Kernewek) |
skovarn [‘skɔvarn / ‘skɔvɐrn] = ear, handle
skovarnek = hare |
| Old Breton |
scobarn = ear |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) |
scouarn = ear
scouarnec = having large or long ears, long-eared, having handles |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) |
skouarn [skwarn] = ear, gills, handle
skouarnad [ˈskwar.nat] = a slap (on the ear)
skouarnañ = to garnish with an ear or handle
skouarnata [skwarˈnatːa] = to slap, to rub or pull ears
skouarneg [ˈskwar.nɛk] = hare
skouarnek [ˈskwar.nɛk] = having large or long ears, long-eared, having handles |
Etymology: possibly from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewh₁- (to observe, perceive) [source]. Words from the same PIE root include cautious, caveat and show in English, schouwen (to inspect, examine) in Dutch, schauen (to look, watch, view) in German, and cauto (prudent, cautious, sly) in Italian [source].
| Irish (Gaeilge) |
giorria [ˈɟɪɾˠiə/ˈɟaɾˠiə] = hare |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) |
geàrr [gʲaːr̪ˠ] = hare
gearrach [gʲar̪ˠəx] = hare
giorrasach [gʲir̪ˠəsəx] = hare
geàrr-fhiadh = hare
gearrag [gʲar̪ˠag] = leveret, young hare |
Etymology: from Old Irish gerr (short) and fíad (deer, wild animal(s)) [source].
| Old Irish (Goídelc) |
míl maige = hare |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) |
míl maige = hare |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) |
maigheach [mɤjəx] = hare |
| Manx (Gaelg) |
mwaagh = hare
cha follan as mwaagh = brimful of health (“as healthy as a hare”) |
Etymology: from Old Irish míl (animal) and mag (plain, field) [source].
| Proto-Celtic |
*kasnī = hare |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) |
Cainnech = personal name |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) |
ceinach = hare |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) |
ceinach [ˈkei̯naχ] = hare (archaic – originally meant “(the) grey/white one”)
ceinachgi = harrier, hare-hound |
Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *ḱeh₂s- (hare). Words from the same PIE root include hare in English, haas (hare) in Dutch, Hase (hare) in German, and hase (female rabbit, hare) in French [source].
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) |
gad = hare |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) |
gat = hare |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) |
gad [ɡɑːt] = hare |
Etymology: unknown [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, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis
