Magic and Spells

22nd December 202222nd December 2022 By Simon

Today we’re looking at words for magic, spells and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*brixtā = spell, magical formula, incantation
Celtiberian	*bruxtia
Gaulish	brixtia
Old Irish (Goídelc)	bricht = charm, spell, incantation
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	bricht = incanation, charm, magic spell
Irish (Gaeilge)	briocht = charm, spell, amulet briocht sí = fairy charm briocht a chanadh = to chant a spell briocht draíochta = magic spell
Proto-Brythonic	*briθ [ˈbriːθ] = charm, incantation
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	lleturith, lledrith, ledryth = magic, spell, charm, enchantment llethrithawc, lledrithyawc, lleturithawc = magic, magical, enchanted
Welsh (Cymraeg)	lledrith, lledfrith = magic, spell, charm, enchantment; apparition, spectre, phantom; illusion, delusion, fantasy, imagination lledrithaid = pretence, dissembling, deception lledrithiaf, lledrithio = to counterfeit, fake, pretend, simulate lledrithiog = magic, magical, enchanted
Old Breton	brith = charm, incantation (?)

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰerHǵ- (enlighten). Words that probably come from the same Proto-Celtic root, via the Celtiberian *bruxtia, include bruja (witch, crone, hag, owl) in Spanish, bruxa (witch, hex) in Galician, bruxa (witch) in Portuguese, and bruixa (witch) in Catalan [source].

Irish (Gaeilge)	dríocht [ˈd̪ˠɾˠihaxt̪ˠə] = druidic art, druidism, witchcraft, magic, charm, enchantment draíochtach = magical, bewitching, entrancing draíochtúil = magic, magical
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	draoidheachd [drɯjəxg] = magic, socery, druidism eun-draoidheachd = augury slat-draoidheachd = magic wand/td>
Manx (Gaelg)	druaight = charm, druid druaightagh = charmer, charming, druid, magician, occult druaightys = charming, druid, druidism, magic fo druaight = charmed
Welsh (Cymraeg)	derwyddiaeth [dɛrˈwəðjaɨ̯θ/dɛrˈwəðjai̯θ] = druidism, the druid cult
Cornish (Kerneweg)	drewydhieth = druidism
Breton (Brezhoneg)	drouizelezh / drouiziezh = druidism

Etymology: these words come from the same roots as words for druid.

Proto-Celtic	soitos. soyto- = magic
Proto-Brythonic	hʉd = magic, charm hʉdol* = charming, illusory
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	hut, hud = magic, wizardry, sorcery, witchcraft hûdadwy, hydadwy = persuasive, enticing, seducible
Welsh (Cymraeg)	hud [hɨːd/hiːd] = magic, wizardry, sorcery, witchcraft, spell, enchantment, charm, fascination, allurement, persuasion hudadwy = persuasive, enticing, seducible hudaf, hudo = to fashion or produce by magic, conjure, cast a spell upon, enchant, charm, entice, allure, persuade, seduce, beguile hudaidd = alluring, charming, seductive hudol = charming, enchanting, enticing, alluring, illusory, deceptive, deceitful
Old Cornish	hudol = charming, illusory
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	huder = a deceiver, hypocritic, juggler, sorcerer hudol = sorcerer
Cornish (Kerneweg)	hus = charm, enchantment, illusion, magic, sorcery, spell husa = to charm, create an illusion, enchant
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	hud = magic hudek, hudel = magic, magical hudiñ = to charm, enchant, bewitch, delight hudour = magician, wizard hudouriezh = magic
Breton (Brezhoneg)	hud = magic hudek = magic, magical hudour = magician, wizard

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-Etymology *sh₂oy-tó-s (magic), from *sh₂ey (to bind, fetter) [source]. Words from the same PIE roots include seiður (magic, witchcraft, sorcery) in Icelandic, sejd (sorcery, witchcraft, magic potion) in Swedish, and seid (magic) in Norwegian [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

Iron

27th May 202227th May 2022 By Simon

Today we’re looking at the words for iron and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*īsarnom = iron
Old Irish (Goídelc)	íarn [iːa̯rn] = iron
Irish (Gaeilge)	iarann [ˈiəɾˠən̪ˠ] = iron (element, appliance, golf club); iron part of a tool; brass (money) amhiarann, iarnmhian = iron ore iarann rocach = corrugated iron iaranach = irons, iron implements, fetters, ploughshare iaranaigh = to put in irons, fit, cover with iron iaranaí = (made of) iron, iron-hard iaranáil = to iron (clothes) iarnmhangaire = ironmonger iarannaois = the Iron Age iarna = hardware iarnród = railway iarnúil = iron-like, ferrous
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	iarann [iər̪ˠən̪ˠ] = iron, (metal) blade; day’s worth cutting peat (for two) iarnaidh = ferrous, iron-hard, iron-coloured, stingy iarnaigeadh, iarnachadh = (act of) ironing iarnair = ironmonger iarainn-tàthainn, iarann-sobhdraidh = soldering iron iarann-dreasaigidh = clothes iron iarann mòlltaichte = cast iron iarann preasach = corrugated iron rathad-iarainn = railway
Manx (Gaelg)	yiarn = iron; tool, scythe, blade; dough (money); tip (gratuity) yiarnagh = ferric yiarnal = iron, ironing yiarneyder = ironmonger yiarnrey = hardware yiarnaghey, yiarney = to cover with iron, to iron yiarnoil = ferrous
Proto-Brythonic	*hijarn = hard, hard metal, iron
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	heirn, hyarn, heyrn, hayarnn, haearn = iron
Welsh (Cymraeg)	haearn = iron, iron bar, hardness, strength, resoluteness, hard, strong, unyielding; sword, spear, lance; iron armour, coat of mail; fetters, shackles; branding-iron, pincers; flat-iron; spur haearnaidd = like iron, ferrous; strong, hard, callous, oppressive haearneiddio = to harden, make (one) unfeeling or callous haearnol = of iron, iron-like, hard, unfeeling, rigid, stern haearnwr = ironmonger, ironworker haearn bwrw = cast iron haearn gwaith = wrought iron haearn gwrymiog = corrugated iron
Middle Cornish	heorn, horn, hôrn = iron
Cornish (Kernewek)	horn = iron hornek = ferric, iron hornell = iron (for clothes) hornella = to iron horner = ironmonger horn margh = horseshoe hyns horn = railway
Old Breton	hoiarn = iron
Middle Breton	houarnn = iron
Breton (Brezhoneg)	houarn [ˈhuː.arn] = iron; flat iron; horseshoe houarnek = ferric houarnus = ferrous houarnaj = scrap iron houarnajer = scrap merchant houarnañ = to shoe (a horse) houarn-marc’h = horseshoe houarn da zistennañ = iron (for clothes) hent-houarn = railway

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: probably from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁ēsh₂r̥no- (bloody, red), from *h₁ésh₂r̥ (blood) [source].

Words for iron in Germanic languages come from the same Proto-Celtic root, via the Proto-Germanic *īsarną (iron), including iron in English, ijzer in Dutch, Eisen in German, and järn in Swedish [source].

Words for blood in Romance languages come from the same PIE root, via the Latin sanguīs (blood, descent, progeny, family), including sang in Catalan and French, sangue in Italian and Portuguese, and sangre in Spanish, and also the English word sanguine (blood red; warm, optimistic, confident) [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, Gerlyvyr Cernewec, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Heather

3rd May 20223rd May 2022 By Simon

Today we’re looking at the words for heather and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*wroikos = heather
Gaulish	*wroika = heather
Celtiberian	*broikios = heather
Old Irish (Goídelc)	froích, fróech = heather
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	fráech = heather
Irish (Gaeilge)	fraoch [fˠɾˠeːx / fˠɾˠiːx / fˠɾˠiːx] = heather, heath, moor fraochán = bilberry, whortleberry, ring-ouzel fraochlach = heath fraochmhá = heath fraochmhar = heathery fraoch bán = white heather fraoch coitianta = Scotch heather, ling píobaire fraoch = grasshopper
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	fraoch [frɯːx] = heather, ling fraoch-geal = white common heather (Calluna vulgaris alba fraoch-bheinn = heather-covered mountain fraochan = whortleberry, blaeberry, lingonberry, cranberry fraochach = heathy, heathery
Manx (Gaelg)	freoagh = heather, ling, heath freoagh bane = brier, white heather freoagh marrey = sea fern freoagh mooar = Scotch heather
Proto-Brythonic	*gwrʉg [ˈɡwrʉːɡ] = heather
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	gruc, gerug, gwrug = heather
Welsh (Cymraeg)	grug [ɡrɨːɡ / ɡriːɡ] = heather, ling heath grug cyffredin = heather, ling, common heath, Calluna vulgaris grugiar = (red) grouse, willow grouse, heath-hen gruglus = heath-berries gruglwyn = bush of heather, sweet broom grugnythu = to nest or nestle in the heather grugog = heath-covered, heathery, abounding in heather
Cornish (Kernwek)	grug [ɡryːɡ / ɡriːɡ] = heath, heather, ling grugyar = partridge
Middle Breton	groegan = heather
Breton (Brezhoneg)	brug = heather

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology unknown, possibly from a non-Proto-Indo-European root [source]. It’s uncertain where the Breton word brug comes from, but it’s likey that it was borrowed from the Latin *brūcus (heather).

The Spanish word brezo (heath) comes from the Vulgar Latin *broccius, from the Proto-Celtic *wroikos, as does the Galician breixo (heather) [source].

Words from the Gaulish root *wroikos (heather), via the Latin *brūcus (heather), include brugo (heather) and brughiera (heath, moor) in Italian, bruc (heather) and bruguera (heath) in Catalan, and bruyère (heather, heath, brier) in French [source].

Eilean Fraoch (Heather Isle) is a nickname for the Isle of Lewis / Eilean Leòdhais in the Western Isles / Na h-Eileanan Siar. Here’s a song about it:

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, Gerlyvyr Cernewec, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Walls

15th February 202211th May 2023 By Simon

Today we’re looking at the words for walls, weirs and related things in Celtic languages.

Irish (Gaeilge)	balla [ˈbˠal̪ˠə] = wall cúlbhalla = back wall idirbhalla = party wall uchtbhalla = parapet
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	balla [bal̪ˠə] = wall balla-tòin = back wall balla-tarsainn = partition (wall) balla-dìon = protective wall, safety barrier
Manx (Gaelg)	boalley = bulwark, dyke, wall boallee = to wall, enclose, impale boallit = walled, dyked, enclosed
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	wal/gwal = wall
Welsh (Cymraeg)	(g)wal [(ɡ)wal] = wall walio = to wall
Middle Cornish	gwal = wall

Etymology: from the Old English weall (wall, dike), from the Proto-Germanic *wallaz / *wallą (wall, rampart, entrenchment), from the Latin vallum (rampart, military wall), from vallus (stake, pallisade, point), from the Proto-Indo-European *welH-/*wel- (to turn, wind, roll) [source].

Words from the same roots include wall, wallow, well and valve in English, wal (coast, shore, earthen levee) in Dutch, Wall (rampart, parapet, earthwork, levee, embankment) in German, valla (fence, barricade, obstacle) in Spanish, and vall (moat) in Catalan [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	múr = wall
Irish (Gaeilge)	múr [mˠuːɾˠ] = wall, rampart, pile, building, dwelling, bank, mound, heap, mass, shower, profussion, abundance múrach = having walls, walled, mural múrdhathadóireacht = wall-painting múr báistí = rain-cloud, heavy fall of rain múr cathrach = city wall múr ceo = bank of fog múr tine = wall of flame, conflagration
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	mùr [muːr] = (defensive) wall, rampart, fortification
Proto-Brythonic	*mʉr = wall
Old Welsh	mur = wall
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	mur = wall
Welsh (Cymraeg)	mur [mɨːr/miːr] = wall, rampart, fortification, defender murio = to build (a wall) to wall, fortify, lay bricks or stones muriog = walled, fortified, wall-like, defensive murlen = poster, placard murlun = mural, frieze
Breton (Brezhoneg)	mur = (exterior) wall

Etymology: from the Latin mūrus (wall), from the Proto-Italic *moiros, from the Proto-Indo-European *mey- (to fix, to build fortifications or fences) [source].

Words from the same roots include mere (boundry, limit) in English, mur (wall) in French, muro (wall) in Italian, and muur (wall, barrier) in Dutch [source].

Proto-Celtic	*wraga = ?
Gaulish	*brāca = ?
Old Irish (Goídelc)	fraig = wall (interior)
Irish (Gaeilge)	fraigh = (interior of) wall, rafters, roof fraighfhliulch = damp-walled, damp from contact with a wet wall (of clothes) fraighleach = roofing, rafters
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	fraigh [frɤj] = partition, partitioning wall, border, edge, fringe, shelf fraighnidh [frɤin̪ʲɪ] = water oozing through a wall

Etymology: unknown

Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	paret, parwyt = wall
Welsh (Cymraeg)	pared = wall, surface of a wall, dividing-wall, partition
Old Cornish	poruit = wall

Etymology: from the Latin pariēs (the wall of a house or room). Words from the same roots include parete (wall, side, surface) in Italian, pared (wall) in Spanish, and paroi (inner wall, inside surface, side) in French [source].

Proto-Celtic	*koret = palisade, wall
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cora = weir
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cora = stone fence, weir
Irish (Gaeilge)	cora [ˈkɔɾˠə] = weir, rocky crossing-place in river, rocky ridge extending into sea or lake cora éisc = fish weir cloch chora = stepping-stone
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	caradh [karəɣ], cairidh [karʲɪ] = weir, mound (in a body of water) cairidh-iasgaich = fishing weir
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	kored, cored, coret = weir, dam, fishgarth
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cored = weir, dam
Old Breton	kored / gored = fish weir
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kored = fish weir

Etymology: uncertain – possibly related to the German word Hürde (hurdle) and/or the Old English word *hyrd (framework, door), which is the root of the English word hurdle.

The usual word for wall in Cornish is fos, which is cognate with words for ditch in other Celtic languages. See Ditches and Trenches.

Another word for wall in Breton is moger. See Fields, Meadows and Pastures.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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, Gerlyvyr Cernewec, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Bark and Beehives

17th November 202122nd February 2023 By Simon

Words for bark, beehives and related words in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*ruskos = bark, beehive
Gaulish	rusca / ruskā = bark, beehive
Old Irish (Goídelc)	rúsc [ruːsk] = (tree) bark, basket, covering
Irish (Gaeilge)	rúsc [ɾˠuːsˠk] = (tree) bark, vessel made of bark rúscach = bark-like; rough, wrinkled (skin) rúscán = strip of bark, vessel made of bark, kind of seaweed
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	rùsg [r̪ˠuːsg] = (tree) bark, peel, rind, husk, crust, fleece rùsg-caorach = sheep’s fleece rùsg-abhaill = apple peel rùsg na Talmhainn = crust of the Earth rùsgan [r̪ˠuːsgan] = thin (tree) bark, thin peel/rind/husk, thin crust, small fleece, bark boat rùsgach = fleecy
Manx (Gaelg)	roost [ruːst] = peel, bark, rind roostey = strip, peel, hull, rob, bare, rind, debunk, rifle, unbark, deprive, peeling, exposure
Proto-Brythonic	*rrisk = bark
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	risgl, risg, rhisg, risc = bark
Welsh (Cymraeg)	rhisg(l) [ˈr̥ɪsɡ(l)/ˈr̥ɪsɡɪ(l)] = (piece of) bark, rind, peel (of fruit) husk (of grain) rhisg(l)ach = pieces of bark rhisgen = (bark) dish or pan rhisglen = (piece of) bark, rind; hackle, flax comb rhisgl(i)af, rhisgaf, rhisgl(i)o, rhisgo = to bark, decorticate, peel (off), develop bark (on), encrust rhisg(l)aidd = having bark or rind, corticate(d), covered with bark
Old Cornish	rusc = bark
Middle Cornish	risc = bark
Cornish (Kernewek)	rusken = bark, peel ruskek = rough-barked
Middle Breton	rusquenn = beehive
Breton (Brezhoneg)	rusk = bark, peel, zest ruskek = rough, rugged, coarse ruskenn = (bee)hive, apiary ruskennad = beehive ruskenner = beehive maker

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₃rewk- (to dig up), possibly from *h₃er- (to move, stir) [source].

The French word ruche (beehive, ruffle, flounce) and the Catalan word rusc (beehive) come from the Gaulish root rusca, via the Late Latin rusca (bark), and the English word ruche (pleated fabric, ruff), and the German word Rüsche (ruffle, ruche) were borrowed from French [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, logainm.ie, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Bones

22nd November 20188th September 2022 By Simon

Words for bones and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*knāmis = bone
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cnáim [knaːṽʲ] = bone
Irish (Gaeilge)	cnámh [knɑːvʲ / knaːvʲ] = bone; strip (in ploughing); submerged reef
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cnàimh [krɛ̃ːv] = bone; unploughed area
Manx (Gaelg)	craue [kreːw] = bone, whine, wild garlic, crow
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	knaw [knau̯] = bone, skull
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cnaw [knau̯] = bone, skull

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *kónh₂m (leg) [source]. Words from the same root include ham in English and κνήμη [ˈknimi] (shin, tibia) in Greek [source].

Proto-Celtic	astū = bone astn(iy)o- = rib *astkornu = bone
Old Irish (Goídelc)	asna, esna = rib
Irish (Gaeilge)	easna [ˈɑsˠn̪ˠə] = rib, strake, timber easnach = costal, ribbed
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	asna [asn̪ˠə] = rib aisean [aʃən] = rib
Manx (Gaelg)	asney [kreːw] = fin, nerve, rib, timber
Proto-Brythonic	*assī = rib
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	eis / asseu / assen = rib
Welsh (Cymraeg)	asen = rib, breast, bosom; bar, spar, lath ais [ai̯s] = ribs, laths asennog = ribbed asgwrn = bone; mortal remains, corpse, skeleton; stone (of fruit)
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	asow, asen = rib ascorn = bone asgornec = bony
Cornish (Kernewek)	asowen = rib askorn [‘askɔrn / ‘æskɐrn] = bone askornek = skinny
Breton (Brezhoneg)	askorn [ˈla.ɡat] = bone askornek = bony

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₃ésth₁ (bone) [source]. Words from the same root include ossify (to transform into bone) and ossuary (a container/building for holding bones) in English, asht (bone) in Albanian, os (bone) in Latin and its descendents in Romance languages, such as os (bone) in Catalan, French and Romanian, and hueso (bone) in Spanish [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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, Gerlyvyr Cernewec, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Catalan (català)

Magic and Spells

Iron

Heather

Walls

Bark and Beehives

Bones