Gloves and Sleeves

14th October 202214th October 2022 By Simon

Words for gloves, sleeves and related things in Celtic languages:

Old Irish (Goídelc)	muinchille = sleeve
Irish (Gaeilge)	muinchille = sleeve, sleeving muinchilleach = sleeved
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	manag = glove, mitten muinchill [munuçɪl̪ʲ] = sleeve muinchill-gaoithe = windsock muinchil léine = shirt sleeve ceann-muinchill = cuff
Manx (Gaelg)	muinneel = sleeve, sleeving fent mhuinneel = cuff, shirt cuff, wristband doarn-mhuinneel = cuff
Proto-Brythonic	*maneg = glove, gauntlet
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	manec, maneg = glove, gauntlet
Welsh (Cymraeg)	maneg [kruːθ] = glove, gauntlet manegog = gloved
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	maneg = glove
Cornish (Kernewek)	manek = glove manegen = mitten manek blag = gauntlet manek lowarn = foxglove
Breton (Brezhoneg)	maneg = glove, bribe manegoù = gloves, handcuffs maneg-emwalc’hiñ = washcloth maneg-veudek = mitten maneg-houarn = gauntlet maneg-kegin = potholder

Etymology: from the Latin manica (long sleeve of a tunic, manacles, handcuffs), from manus (hand) [source].

Words from the same Latin root include manche (sleeve) in French, manica (sleeve) in Italian, manga (sleeve) in Spanish and Portuguese, and mëngë (sleeve) in Albanian [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	lámann = sleeve
Irish (Gaeilge)	lámhainn = glove lámhainneoir = glove-maker lámhainneoireacht = glove-making lámhainn iarainn = gauntlet
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	làmhainn [l̪ˠãːvɪn̪ʲ] = glove, mitten, gauntlet làmhainneach = pertaining to or abounding in gloves, gloved làmhainnear = glove-maker làmhainnearachd = art or trade of glove-making làmhainnich = to provide with gloves, put gloves on the hands
Manx (Gaelg)	lauean = glove lauean liauyr/yiarn = gauntlet

Etymology: from the Old Irish lám (hand, arm), from the Proto-Celtic *ɸlāmā (palm, hand), the the Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₂meh₂ (palm, hand) [source].

The word lámur (flipper, paw, left hand) In Icelandic and Faroese comes from the same Old Irish root, via Old Norse [source], and words for hand in Celtic languages come from the same Proto-Celtic root [more details].

Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	lámos = sleeve
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	lleuys, llawes = sleeve
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llawes = sleeve, edge, strip (of land)

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *ɸlāmā (see above).

Irish (Gaeilge)	miotóg = mitten, glove mitín = mitten
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	miotag [mihdag], meatag [mɛhdag], mògag [mɔːgag], miteag [mihdʲag] = glove, mitten miotagach [mihdagəx] = wearing mittens, having mittens, full of gloves or mittens
Welsh (Cymraeg)	miten, mitin = mitten
Breton (Brezhoneg)	miton = mitten

Etymology: from the English mitten, from the Middle English myteyne (glove, mitten), from the Old French mitaine (fingerless glove, mitten) [source]. The Breton word miton probably comes from the French miton (gauntlet).

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

Trousers, Socks and Sites

24th November 20211st December 2021 By Simon

Words for trousers, socks, sites and related words in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*ɸlātrom = flat position
Old Irish (Goídelc)	láthar [ˈl͈aːθar] = arrangement, disposition láthraid [ˈl͈aːθrɨðʲ] = to arrange, to dispose
Irish (Gaeilge)	láthair [ˈl̪ˠɑːhəɾʲ/ˈl̪ˠæhəɾʲ] = place, spot, site, location; presence as láthair = absent faoi láthair = at present i láthair = present láithreach = ruined site, ruin, trace; imprint; present (tense) láithreacht = presence láithreán = piece of ground, place, site; ruined, vacated site; floor, space; set láithreog = small site; trace, mark; small well-built girl láithrigh = to present oneself, appear
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	làthair [l̪ˠaː.ɪrʲ] = presence, venue an làthair = present, here, in attendance; extant; in existence neo-làthair = absent neo-làthaireachd = absence làthaireach = present làthaireachd = presence; attendance; atmosphere uile-làthaireachd = omnipresence
Manx (Gaelg)	laaragh = centric(al), stage, centre, venue, site emshir-laaragh = present tense neuaaragh, assaaragh = absent ooilley-laaragh = ubiquitous
Proto-Brythonic	*lọdr = leg covering
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	llauder, llahudyr, llawdyr, llodr = trousers, breeches, hose
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llawdr [ˈɬaːu̯dr] = trousers, breeches, hose llawdrog, llodrog = wearing breeches, bedraggled llawdrwisg = breeches llawdrwr, llodrydd, llodrwr = breeches-maker llaesu llawdr = to undo one’s trousers (to ease oneself)
Old Cornish	loder = sock
Cornish (Kernewek)	lodrik = sock
Middle Breton	louzr = sock
Breton (Brezhoneg)	loer = sock, (trouser) leg

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂- (flat) [source].

From the same PIE root we also get Celtic words for hand, from the Proto-Celtic *ɸlāmā (palm, hand) [source], which was borrowed from Old Irish into Old Norse and became lámur (flipper, paw, left hand) in Faroese [source].

Words for floor and ground in Celtic languages also come from the same PIE root, via the Proto-Celtic *ɸlārom (floor) [source].

English words from the same PIE root include floor, palm, piano, plain, plan and plane, and also Poland [source].

Irish (Gaeilge)	bríste [ˈbʲɾʲiːʃtʲə] = trousers; breeching (of harness); roe (of pollock) brístín = panties, knickers fobhríste = underpants forbhríste = overalls
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	briogais [brʲigɪʃ] = trousers, breeches briogais-ghlùine = shorts, plus fours briogais-ghoirid, briogais-bheag = shorts briogais-shnàimh = swimming trunks
Manx (Gaelg)	breeçhyn = breeches breeçhyn glioonagh = knee breeches breeçhyn markee = riding breeches
Welsh (Cymraeg)	brits(h) = breeches britis pen-(g)lin = knee-breeches
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bragez = knickers, panties, breeches bragez vihan = underpants, briefs, pants, panties

Etymology: from the English breeches, from the Middle English brech(e), brek (breeches), from the Old English brēċ (underpants), from the Proto-Germanic *brōkiz, from *brōks (leggings, pants, trousers; rear end, rump) the Proto-Indo-European *bʰreg- (to break, crack, split) [source].

Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	triubhas = closs-fitting shorts
Irish (Gaeilge)	triús = (pair of) trousers, trews
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	triubhas [tru.əs] = trousers, trews
Manx (Gaelg)	troosyn = slacks, pants, trews, tights, trouser, knickers troosyn çhionn = pantaloons troosyn giarey = short trousers troosyn markee = jodhpurs
Welsh (Cymraeg)	trywsus, trywser, trowsus [ˈtrou̯sɨ̞s/ˈtrou̯sɪs] = trousers, breeches, knickers, panties trywsus bach = shorts, short trouserse, knickerbockers
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bragez = knickers, panties, breeches bragez vihan = underpants, briefs, pants, panties bragoù = trousers

Etymology (Welsh): from the English trousers, from the Middle Irish triubhas (trousers, trews) of uncertain origin [source]. The English word trews (trousers, especially if close fitting and tartan) was borrowed from Scottish Gaelic [source].

Cornish (Kernewek)	lavrek = trousers lavrek byghan = briefs, underpants lavrek jin = jeans lavrek kott = short
Breton (Brezhoneg)	lavreg = trousers

Etymology unknown

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

Swans

1st August 202017th April 2023 By Simon

Words for swan (cygnus) in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*eli- = swan
Gaulish	ala = swan alauda = skylark
Old Irish (Goídelc)	elu = swan
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	ela(e) = swan
Irish (Gaeilge)	eala [ˈalˠə] = swan ealach = frequented by swans eala bhalbh = mute swan (Cygnus olor) eala ghlorach = whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	eala [jal̪ˠə] = swan eala bhàn = mute swan eala fhiadhaich = whooper swan ealag, eala-ghlas = cygnet, young swan eala-bheag = Bewick’s (tundra) swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii)
Manx (Gaelg)	olla, ollay = (mute) swan ollay chiaulee = whooper swan eean olla = cygnet
Proto-Brythonic	alarkos = swan
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	alarch = swan
Welsh (Cymraeg)	alarch [ˈalarχ/ˈaːlarχ] = swan, the constellation Cygnus alarchaidd = pertaining to a swan, swanlike alarchen = cygnet alarches = female swan alarchwedd = swanlike alarch dôf, alarch mud = mute swan alarch y gogledd, alarch chwibanol, alarch gwyllt = whooper swan
Old Cornish	elerch = swan
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	elerch = swan
Cornish (Kernewek)	alargh = (mute) swan
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	alarc’h = swan alarc’hez = female cygnet
Breton (Brezhoneg)	alarc’h = swan alarc’h roueel = mute swan alarc’h-kristilh = whooper swan

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁el- (swan, bird, waterfowl) [source].

Words from the same Proto-Celtic root include alondra (lark) in Spanish, alouette (lark) in French, and allodola (skylark) in Italian. They were probably borrowed from the Gaulish alauda (skylark), from ala (swan) [Source].

Words from the same PIE root include auk (swan) in English, alke (auk) in Danish and Norwegian, and álka (razorbill) in Faroese and Icelandic [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, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Cattle

18th January 202017th February 2023 By Simon

Words for cattle, cow, bull and calf in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	bāus = cow bow = cow
Celtiberian	boustom = stable (?)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	bó [boː] = ox, cow
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	bó = ox, cow bóaire = stock-master, stock-owner (“cow-noble”) bólacht = stock of cattle bómlacht = cow’s milk búarach = owner of cows
Irish (Gaeilge)	bó [bˠoː] = cow bó mhara = sea-cow, manatee bó shamhraidh = ladybird bó-aire = cattle lord, cattle owner bódóir = cow-doctor
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bò [boː] = cow bò b(h)ainne = dair/milk cow boineag = small cow bòthach = pertaining to or abounding in cows
Manx (Gaelg)	booa = cow booa vluight = dairy cow boin = very little cow
Proto-Brythonic	*bʉ = cow
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	buv, bu, buw = cow
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bu = cow, ox, head of cattle (as a standard of value in the Welsh laws) buach = cowherd, rustic, wretched creature biw = cow, cattle, horned cattle
Middle Cornish	biuh = cow
Cornish (Kernewek)	bu = cow
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bu = cow

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *gʷṓws (cattle). The old Galician word busto (enclosed pasture, a herd of cattle) comes from the same Proto-Celtic roots, via Celtiberian [source].

Proto-Celtic	*boukkā = cow
Proto-Brythonic	*bʉx = cow
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	buvch, buwch = cow
Welsh (Cymraeg)	buwch [bɨu̯χ / bɪu̯χ] = cow buwch y dwfr = hippopotamus buwch goch Duw = ladybird buwchaidd = cow-like, pertaining to cattle, bovine, uncivilized, stolid buwchan = small cow, young cow, heffer buwchfrechu = to vaccinate (with cowpox) buwchfrechiad = (cowpox) vaccination buwchol = bovine
Old Cornish	buch = cow
Middle Cornish	beuch, buch, beuh = cow
Cornish (Kernewek)	bugh [biʊx / bɪwh] = cow bugh godra = dairy cow bughik = little cow bughik Dhuw = ladybird bughvowes = cowgirl bughwas = cowboy
Breton (Brezhoneg)	buoc’h [ˈbɥoːχ / ˈbyːɔχ] = cow buoc’han = ladybird buoc’hken = cowhide

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *bāus (cow), the Proto-Indo-European *gʷṓws (cattle) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*tarwos = bull
Gaulish	taruos = bull
Old Irish (Goídelc)	tarb [tarv] = bull
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	tarb = bull
Irish (Gaeilge)	tarbh [ˈt̪ˠaɾˠuː / ˈt̪ˠaɾˠu] = bull tarbhadóir = toreador tarbhán = bull-calf, young bull tarbhánta = bull-like, massive, powerful tarbhántacht = bullishness tarbhghadhar = bulldog
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	tarbh [tarav] = bull, Taurus tarbh-chù = bulldog tarbh-nathrach (neimhe) = dragonfly tarbh-thonn = mighty wave tarbhach = like a bull, hefty, chunky tarbhan = small bull tarbhan-dè = butterfly
Manx (Gaelg)	tarroo = bull, Taurus taarroo oaldey = bison, buffalo tarroo-choo = bulldog tarroo-feeaih = stag
Proto-Brythonic	*tarw = bull
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	tarỼ, tarv = bull
Welsh (Cymraeg)	tarw [ˈtaru / ˈtaːru] = bull, uncastrated male ox, papal bull, Taurus (sign of the zodiac); valiant leader, fierce hero tarw dur = bulldozer tarwgi = bulldog
Old Cornish	tarow = bull
Cornish (Kernewek)	tarow = bull
Old Breton	taruu = bull
Middle Breton	taru = bull
Breton (Brezhoneg)	tarv = bull

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *táwros (wild bull, aurochs), which possibly comes from or was borrowed into Proto-Semtic as *ṯawr- (bull, ox), from which we get ثَوْر (ṯawr – bull, steer, ox, Taurus) in Arabic [Source].

The Old Irish Irish word for bull was borrowed into Old Norse as tarfr, which became tarvur (bull, Taurus, womanizer) in Faroese, and tarfur (bull) in Icelandic [Source].

Words from the same PIE root include Taurus and steer in English, taureau (bull, Taurus) in French, toro (bull) in Spanish, and touro (bull) in Portuguese [Source].

Proto-Celtic	laygos / lāɸigos = calf
Old Irish (Goídelc)	lóeg [l͈oːi̯ɣ] = calf, favourite, darling
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	lóeg = calf, favourite, darling, young deer
Irish (Gaeilge)	lao [l̪ˠeː / l̪ˠiː] = (young) calf laoidín = tiny calf laofheoil = veal
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	laogh [l̪ˠɯːɣ] = calf, kid (of deer), fawn, term of endearment for a child laoghach = pertaining to or abounding in calves laoghan = little calf
Manx (Gaelg)	lheiy [ax] = calf
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	lo, lloe, llo = calf
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llo [ɬoː] = calf, bullock, simpleton, dolt llo(e)aidd = calf-like lloeaf, lloeo, lloea = to calve
Old Cornish	loch = calf
Middle Cornish)	leauh, loch = calf
Cornish (Kernewek)	leugh [løːx / leːx / lɛwh] = calf
Breton (Brezhoneg)	leue [ˈlø.e] = calf

Etymology: a diminutuve of the Proto-Indo-European *leh₂p- (cattle) [source].

Irish (Gaeilge)	bearach = heifer, young cow
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	biorach [birəx] = a weaned but not fully mature calf or foal (up to 2 years); anti-suckling device, sucking preventer, weaner
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bustach / bustych = bullock, ox, steer (possibly related to the above words)

Etymology: from the Old Irish berach [ˈbʲerax] (pointed, sharp; having pointed ears, horned), from bir (stake, spit, point; spear, spike) & -ach (related to, having, characterised by, prone to) [source].

Proto-Brythonic	*oti̯on- = bullock
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	eydyon, eidon = ox, steer, bullock
Welsh (Cymraeg)	eidion = domestic male of the bovine family, ox, steer, bullock, neat
Old Cornish	odion = bullock
Middle Cornish	udzheon, odgan = bullock
Cornish (Kernewek)	ojyon = ox
Middle Breton	eugenn = bullock. ox
Breton (Brezhoneg)	ejon = bullock. ox

Proto-Celtic	*anderā = young woman
Gaulish	anderon = heifer
Old Irish (Goídelc)	ainder [ˈan͈ʲdʲər] = married woman; virgin, maiden
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	ander [ˈæn̠ʲəɾˠ] = girl, maiden, lass; young woman
Irish (Gaeilge)	ainnir [ˈæn̠ʲəɾˠ] = girl, maiden, lass; young woman (poetic); attractive woman
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ainnir [an̠ʲɪrʲ] = maiden, virgin; nymph; marriageable woman; young woman
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	anneir = heifer
Welsh (CymraeG)	anner [ˈanɛr] = heifer
Old Cornish	annoer = heifer
Cornish (Kernewek)	annor = heifer
Middle Breton	annoer = heifer
Breton (Brezhoneg)	annoar = heifer

Etymology: possibly related to Basque andere (lady, woman) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Faroese (føroyskt mál)

Gloves and Sleeves

Trousers, Socks and Sites

Swans

Cattle