Buckets & Pails

14th May 2025 By Simon

Words for bucket, pail, pitcher and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*kelɸurnos = pail, bucket, pitcher, pot, vat, vessel
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cilorn(n) = jug, pitcher
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cilorn(n), cilarn, culorn = pitcher, vessel
Irish (Gaeilge)	ciolarn = pitcher (literary)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ciolarn, coilorn, ciolurn = milk pitcher with a handle out of its side, a hand-can
Manx (Gaelg)	curn = can, milk can curn jinnairagh = dinner can curn spreih = watering can curn tey = billy, tea caddy
Proto-Brythonic	*kelurn = pail, pitcher, bucket (?)
Old Welsh (Kembraec)	cilurnn = pail, pitcher, vessel, bucket, tub
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	kelurn, kelwrn, celwrn = pail, pitcher, vessel, bucket, tub
Welsh (Cymraeg)	celwrn [ˈkelʊrn] = pail, pitcher, vessel, bucket, tub celwrn llaeth = milk-pail
Cornish (Kernewek)	kelorn = bucket, pail kelorn-godra = milking pail
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	quelorn = bucket
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kelorn [ˈkeːlɔrn] = bucket, tub, head kelorniad [keˈlɔr.njat] = bucket (of), contents of a bucket

Etymology: unknown, probably a Wanderwort. Possibly related to Proto-Indo-European *kelp- (cauldron, jar) [source]. Words from the same roots include calpar (vessel for liquids, especially for wine, wine cask, wine picher), and Ancient Greek κάλπις (kálpis – jug urn) [source].

Middle Breton (Brezonec)	saill = bucket, cylinder
Breton (Brezhoneg)	sailh [ˈsalj/ˈsaʎ] = bucket, cylinder sailhad = (cylinder) capacity, displacement

Etymology: unknown [source].

Irish (Gaeilge)	buicéad [ˈbˠʊceːd̪ˠ / ˈbˠʌkɔdʲ] = bucket
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bucaid [buxgadʲ] = bucket, dustbin bacaid [baxgadʲ] = pimple, pustule, bucket, dustbin bucaid-theine = fire bucket bucaideach [buxgɪdʲəx] = pertaining to or abounding in buckets, booming
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	bwcket, bwcet = bucket
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bwced = bucket bwcedaf, bwcedu = to bucket bwcedaid = bucketful pwced = bucket
Cornish (Kernewek)	boket = bucket

Etymology: from English bucket or Middle English buket, boket (bucket), from Anglo-Norman buket, buquet (tub, pail), a diminutive of Old French buc (abdomen), from Vulgar Latin *būcus, from Frankish *būk (belly, stomach), from Proto-Germanic *būkaz (belly, abdomen, body), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰōw-go-s, from *bʰew- (to swell, inflate); [source].

Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	crúsca, crúisce = little jug, cruet
Irish (Gaeilge)	crúsca = jug, jar crúiscín = small jug, smal jar
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	crùisg [kruːʃgʲ] = jug crùisgean = oil-lamp, small jug, pitcher
Manx (Gaelg)	cruick = bucket, pail cruick gheayil = scuttle cruick vlieaun = milking pail lane cruick = bucketful, pailful
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	krwck = tub, pitcher, bucket, pail
Welsh (Cymraeg)	crwc = tub, pitcher, bucket, pail

Etymology: possibly from English crock (a stoneware or earthenware jar or storage container) or from Middle English crok(ke) (crock, pot, cauldron, belly, stomach), from Old English crocc(a) (crock, pot, vessel), from Proto-Germanic *krukkō (vessel), from Proto-Indo-European *growg- (vessel). Related words include krukke (jar) in Danish, kruik (jar, jug) in Dutch, cruche (pitcher, jug) in French, and krukka (pot, jar) in Icelandic [source].

Irish (Gaeilge)	pitséar = pitcher
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	pidsear = pitcher
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	pisser = pitcher, jug, can, (milk) pail piseret = a pitcherful
Welsh (Cymraeg)	pis(i)er = pitcher, jug, can, (milk) pail piseraid = a pitcherful
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	pycher = pitcher
Cornish (Kernewek)	pycher = pitcher
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	picher = pitcher
Breton (Brezhoneg)	picher = pitcher

Etymology: probably from Middle English picher, and/or from Old French pichier, pechier (small jug), from Late/Medieval Latin pīcārium, alteration of bīcārium (drinking glass) possibly from bacarium, bacar (a type of wine glass), or from Ancient Greek βῖκος (bîkos – amphora) [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, Geriafurch, TermOfis

Muddy Mires

15th February 2024 By Simon

Words for mud and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*latyos = moist
Old Irish (Goídelc)	lathach [dʲerɡ] = mud, mire
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	lathach, laithech, lathaig = mire, puddle, quagmire, morass
Irish (Gaeilge)	lathach [ˈl̪ˠɑhəx / l̪ˠaiç] = mud, slush, slime
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	lathach [l̪ˠa.əx] = mire, ooze, sludge, quicksand lathach-mhòine = peat-bog lathach sàile = saltmarsh lathachach [l̪ˠa.əxəx] = muddy, oozy, sludgy lathachail [l̪ˠa.əxal] = muddy, oozy, sludgy lathadh = besemearing, (be)numbing, heat (in cats)
Manx (Gaelg)	laagh = mire, mud laagh vog = sludge laaghagh = muddy, sludgy, slushy laaghan = muddy place, slough
Proto-Brythonic	*llėd = mud
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	llaid = mud, mire, dirt, clay, slime, ooze lleidyawc = muddy, clayey, miry, oozy, slimy
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llaid [ɬai̯d] = mud, mire, dirt, clay, slime, ooze, quagmire, quicksand, dregs lleidfa = muddy or clayey place lleidfysgaf, lleidfysgu = to, knead, work clay, bespatter with mud or dirt, bedraggle, bemire lleidiaf, lleidio = to turn into mud or clay, become sodden lleidiog = muddy, clayey, miry, oozy, slimy lleidiogaf, lleidiogi = to become muddy or miry lleidiogrwydd = muddiness, ooziness, turbidity lleidiol = full of mud, muddy, miry, clayey
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	lued, luth, lyys, lys, lŷs = mud, mire, dirt, filth luedic = miry, filthy, stinking lyys haal = salt-marsh
Cornish (Kernewek)	leys [lɛɪz] = mud, slime leysek = mire
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	lec’hid = slime, silt
Breton (Brezhoneg)	lec’hid = slime, silt lec’hidadur = siltation lec’hidan, lec’hidañ = to silt up, become gelatinous, viscous lec’hideg = mudflat lec’hidus = muddy

Etymology from Proto-Indo-European *lat- (damp, wet). Words from the same roots include latex in English, latãkas (chute, gutter, duct) in Lithuanian, and lag (to wet, moisten) in Albanian [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	láp = mud, mire, sin, vice
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	láip [l͈aːb] = mud, mire, sin, vice
Irish (Gaeilge)	láib [l̪ˠɑːbʲ/l̪ˠæːbʲ] = mud, mire; to muddy, spatter caoch láibe = mole oitir láibe = mud-bank
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	làb [l̪ˠaːb] = mire, mud, muddy puddle, day’s labour làbach [l̪ˠaːbəx] = marsh, swamp làbachas [l̪ˠaːbəxəs] = swampiness, bogginess làban [l̪ˠaːban] = mire, mud, muddy place, dirty work, drudgery, wet and muddy person làbanachadh [l̪ˠaːbanəxəɣ] = smearing, daubing, dirtying, wallowing, bedraggling, drenching làbrach [l̪ˠaːbarəx] = miry, muddy, dirty, dirty/unkempt person
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	loob = slime, sludge
Cornish (Kernewek)	loub = slime, sludge louba = to lubricate

Etymology: probably related to lathach [source].

Proto-Celtic	*kʷrīyess = clay
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cré [kʲrʲeː] = clay, earth
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cré, cre = clay, earth créda, criadta, criata, creodae = clayey, earthen, fictile (pliable, moldable)
Irish (Gaeilge)	cré = clay, earth, dust créachadh = (act of) earthing, moulding créafóg = clay, earth crécholúr = clay pigeon cré-earra = earthenware créúil = clayey, earthy
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	criadh [krʲiəɣ] = clay criadgadair [krʲia.ədɪrʲ] = potter criadhadaireachd [krʲia.ədɪrʲəxg] = pottery
Manx (Gaelg)	cray = ash, clay, pipe clay crayee = ceramic, earthen crayoil = clayey, earthy
Proto-Brythonic	*prið [ˈpriːð] = clay, mud, earth
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	prid, pridd = soil, earth, dust, ground, clay, mortar, plaster priddo = to cover with earth, bury pridell, priddell = clod, sod, dust, soil priddled, priddlyd = earthy, earthen, dirty, dusty,
Welsh (Cymraeg)	pridd [priːð] = soil, earth, dust, ground, clay, mortar, plaster priddach = soil, earth, clay, earthenware pridd(i)af, pridd(i)o = to cover with earth, bury, plaster, daub priddawr = potter pridd-dom = dirt, mud, clay priddell = clod, sod, dust, soil, grave, potsherd, brick, tile priddfaen = brick, (earthenware) tile for making bricks priddl(l)yd = earthy, earthen, dirty, dusty, uncouth priddwr = mason, plasterer, burier
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	pri, pry, prî = mould, earth, clay prian, prían = clayey ground
Cornish (Kernewek)	pri = clay, mud priek = clayey prien = clay ground priweyth = pottery priweythor, priweythores = potter priweythva = clay-works, pottery
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	pri = clay, mudt
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	pry = clay, mud
Breton (Brezhoneg)	pri [priː] = clay, mud, mortar priaj = ceramic prian, priañ = to coat with clay priasell = waste, quagmire priasellek = full of clay mud prieg = clayey, muddy

Etymology possibly from Proto-Indo-European *krey- (to siftm separate, divide). Words from the same roots include latex in English, latãkas (chute, gutter, duct) in Lithuanian, and lag (to wet, moisten) in Albanian [source].

Middle Breton (Brezonec)	fanc, fancq, fang, fank = mud, excrement
Breton (Brezhoneg)	fank [ˈfãŋk] = mud, excrement fankan, fankañ = to poop fankeg = muddy

Etymology from Norman fanque (mud) [source] from Old French fange (mud, addle, mire), from Vulgar Latin *fanga/*fangus (mud), possibly from Frankish, from Proto-Germanic *fanją (swamp, fen). The French words fange (filth, mire, debauchery) and fagne (marshland, fen), and the Catalan word fang (mud) come from the same roots [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	llaka, lacca, llacca = mud, sludge, mire, dirt, muck, puddle, filth, slome
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llaca [ɬaka] = mud, sludge, mire, dirt, muck, puddle, filth, slime llaceilyd = muddy, miry, dirty

Etymology from Middle English lake/laca (lake, stream; ditch, drain, sewer), from Old French lac (lake) or Latin lacus (lake, basin, tank), to-Italic *lakus (lake), from Proto-Indo-European *lókus (pond, pool) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*lutā = dirt, mud
Gaulish	*lutos = swamp
Celtiberian	*lutā = swamp
Old Irish (Goídelc)	loth [ˈloθ] = mire, mud, swamp, marsh
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	loth, lath = mud, mire, quagmire, marsh
Irish (Gaeilge)	lodair = to cover with mud, muddy, to wallow in mire, grovel lodán = stagnant pool, puddle lodar = miry place, slough, soft, flabby person lodartha = muddy, slushy, slobby, soft, flabby, grovelling, abject, base, vulgar lodarthacht = muddiness, slushiness, softness, flabbiness, abjectness, baseness, vulgarity
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	lod [l̪ˠɔd] = pool, pond, marsh lodagan = small pool of water lodan = puddle, small pool, small marsh

Etymology from Proto-Indo-European *lew- (dirt, mud) [source].

Lutetia, the Gallo-Roman town founded in 52 BC that became Paris, gets it’s name from the Gaulish word *lutos (swamp) [source]. It was known as Lutetia Parisiorum by the Romans.

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

Pickaxe

11th December 202311th December 2023 By Simon

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

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Middle Irish (Gaoidhleag)	píce = pole, pike pícóid = mattock, pickaxe
Irish (Gaeilge)	píce [ˈpʲiːcɪ] = pike, fork, peak píceáil = pike, fork, pitchfork, peak píceálaí = forker, pitcher píceán = peak, tip
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	pic, pìc [piːçgʲ] = pike pìceach [piːçgʲəx] = armed with pikes, abounding in pikes pìcear = pikeman
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	pig = point, spike, pike pigo = to prick, pierce, goad, peck, sting, bite pigawd = a thrusting or stabbing with a spear, a pricking
Welsh (Cymraeg)	pig [piːɡ] = point, spike, pike, lance, pick(axe), prong, beak pigach = darts pigadail = obelisk, spire, pyramid, cone pigaf, pigo = to prick, pierce, goad, peck, sting, bite pig(i)aid = as much as can be picked up or carried on a pitchfork, beakful pigau = pitchfork, hay-fork pigawd = a thrusting or stabbing with a spear, a pricking pigell = goad, prick, prickle
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	piga = to prick, prickle, sting pigol = mattock, pick, pickaxe
Cornish (Kernewek)	pig = grub axe, grubber, pick, pickaxe, pickle piga = to goad, incite, sting pigell = hoe, pick(axe), pickle pigallas = to hoe pigellik = picker
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	pig = pickaxe
Breton (Brezhoneg)	pik = piquant, point, pique pikañ = to sting, bite, pinch pikezenn = pike, spade (in cards) pigell = pickaxe

Etymology (Irish): from Old French pik(k)e, from Latin pīcca (pickace, pike), possibly from Frankish *pikkōn (to peck, strike), or from Frankish *pīk (sharp point, pike), from Proto-Germanic *pīkaz (sharp point, pike, pickaxe, peak) probably of imitative origin [source].

Etymology (Scottish Gaelic, Welsh & Cornish): probably from English pike or the Middle English pyke (pike, sharp point), which ultimately come from the same Proto-Germanic roots as pik(k)e in Old French.

Words from the same roots include peck, pick, pike, pique, pitch in English [source].

Irish (Gaeilge)	caib [kɑbʲ/kabʲ] = dibble caibeáil = to plant with an implement, dibble caibeáilaí = planter (of seed), dibbler
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	caibe [kɛbə] = space, mattock, iron part of tools caibe-sìthe = fairy spade (amulet given to sick people & cattle)
Manx (Gaelg)	kiebbey = spade, mattock
Old Welsh	cep = pickaxe, mattock, hoe, ploughshare
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	keyp, keib, caib = pickaxe, mattock, hoe, ploughshare
Welsh (Cymraeg)	caib = pickaxe, mattock, hoe, ploughshare caib garddwr = hoe caib big, caib bicys = pickaxe

Etymology: unknown

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, Lexicon Cornu-britannicum: A Dictionary of the Ancient Celtic Language of Cornwall, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Boots and Shoes

3rd December 20223rd December 2022 By Simon

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

Old Irish (Goídelc)	bróc(c) [broːɡ] = shoe, sandal, greave; (in plural) greaces, leggings, hose, breeches
Irish (Gaeilge)	bróg [bˠɾˠoːɡ/bˠɾˠɔːɡ] = boot, shoe bróg ard = boot bróg iseal = shoe bróg adhmaid/mhaide = clog brógchrann = boot-tree
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bròg [brɔːg] = shoe, boot, hoof brògair [brɔːgɪrʲ] = shoemaker, cobbler brògach [brɔxgəx] = abounding in shoes, shod, strong-hoofed, animal with “socks” bròg-fhiodha = clog, wooden shoe brògan put = football boots bròg-eich = horseshoe bròg-spéilidh = ice skate bròg na cuthaige = bluebell, wild hyacinth (“shoe of the cuckoo”) cho sona ri bròg = as happy as Larry (“as happy as a shoe”)
Manx (Gaelg)	braag = brogue, shoe braagit = shod braag lheiltys = gym shoe braag shliawin = ice skate braag vaidjagh = clog
Welsh (Cymraeg)	brog = brogue brog Gwyddelig = Irish brogue

Etymology: from the Old Norse brók (trousers, breeches) or the Old English brōc (underpants), both of which come from the Proto-Germanic *brōks (rear end, rump, leggings, pants, trousers), from the PIE *bʰreg- (to break, crack, split) [source].

The English word brogue was borrowed from Irish and refers to a type of shoe, or a strong accent, particularly a strong Irish accent when speaking English, although it originally referred to Irish spoken with a strong English accent, or a heavy shoe of untanned leather.

Brogue in the sense of accent might come from the Irish word barróg (hug, wrestling grip, brogue, impediment of speech) [source], which comes from the Old Irish barróc (fast hold, tight grip, embrace, gripe, stitch) [source],

Proto-Celtic	*fesskūtā = (leather) boot, shoe
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	eskyd, eskit, escid = boot, buskin, shoe
Welsh (Cymraeg)	esgid [ˈɛskɪd] = boot, buskin, shoe esgidiaf, esgidio = to put on one’s boots or shoes, to shoe esgidiedig / esgidiog = shod esgidiwr = shoemaker, bootmaker esgidiau blewog = fur-lined boots esgidau byclau = buckled shoes esgidiau eira = show boots/shoes esgidiau nos = slippers esgid(iau) Gwyddel(od) = brogue(s) esgid goed, esgidiau coed = wooden-soled shoes, clogs esgidiau’r gog/gwcw = Bluebell, Wild Hyacinth
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	escid, esgis, eskas = shoe
Cornish (Kernewek)	eskis = shoe eskis sport = trainer, sports shoe eskisyow kron = slingbacks

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ped-skuHto-, from *ped- (to walk, step) and *skuH-t- (skin, hide) [source].

Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cúarán = shoe, sock
Irish (Gaeilge)	cuarán = sandal
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cuaran [kuəran] = sandal, bangage, toecap, sock
Manx (Gaelg)	carrane = hide sandal, sandal, slipper
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	cuaran, kuaran, curan = boot, buskin
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cu(a)ran, cwaran = boot, buskin curanog = buskined

Etymology: the Welsh words were borrowed from Irish. The words in the other languages possibly come from the Middle Irish cúar (curved, bent, crooked) from the Proto-Celtic *kukro- (curved), from the Proto-Indo-European *kewk- (to elevate, height) [source].

Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bòtann [bɔːhdən̪ˠ] = boot (esp. rubber boot, wellington) bòtais [bɔːhdɪʃ] = boot bùtais [buːhdɪʃ] = boot
Manx (Gaelg)	bootys = boot
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	botys, botes, botas, bottas = greave(s), shackle, boot, wader
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bot(i)as, bwtias = greave(s), shackle, boot, wader botasbren = bootjack, boot-tree botasog = wearing boots or greaves botaswr = bootmaker, shoemaker
Cornish (Kernewek)	botas = boot botas palvek = flippers botas stanch = wellies
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	botez, botes, botés = shoe
Breton (Brezhoneg)	botez = shoe, clog botour = shoemaker, cobbler botaouiñ = to shoe botez-prenn = clog, wooden shoe botezioù = hoof, sole

Etymology: (via English) from the Old French bote (boot), from the Frankish *butt, from Proto-Germanic *but(t)az (cut off, short, numb, blunt), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰewt-/*bʰewd- (to strike, push, shock”) [source].

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Frankish (Frenkisk)

Buckets & Pails

Muddy Mires

Pickaxe

Boots and Shoes