Surfaces

11th September 202214th September 2024 By Simon

Words for surface, skin and related things in Celtic languages:

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*tondā = surface, skin
Gaulish	*tondā = surface, skin
Old Irish (Goídelc)	tonn, tond = surface, skin
Irish (Gaeilge)	tonn [t̪ˠɑun̪ˠ / t̪ˠuːn̪ˠ / t̪ˠʌn̪ˠ] = surface, skin faoi mo thoinn = under my skin, within me
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	tonn [tɔun̪ˠ] = skin, hide
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	tonn, ton, ton(n)en = ley, unploughed land
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ton [tɔn] = ley, unploughed land, turf, sod, sward, green, lawn, (earth’s) surface’ skin, rind, crust, peel, appearance, look tonnen = skin, rind, crust, peel, surface, sod, sward, bog, swamp, quagmire tondir = ley, lea-land toniaraf, toniaru = to cover with planks, boards, etc
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	ton = unploughed land, meadow, lay
Cornish (Kernewek)	tonn = grass
Old Breton	tonnenn = rind, surface
Middle Breton	ton = rind, surface
Breton (Brezhoneg)	tonn = rind, surface

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *tend- (to cut off). Words from the same Gaulish / Proto-Celtic roots include tonne in English and French, tunna / tonna (tun, box) in Latin, and tona (surface, kin, bark) in Galician [source].

Proto-Celtic	*krokkeno- = skin
Old Irish (Goídelc)	croiccenn [ˈkrokʲen͈] = skin, hide, bark, husk
Irish (Gaeilge)	craiceann [ˈkɾˠacən̪ˠ / ˈkɾˠæcən̪ˠ] = skin, surface cruachraicneach = hide-bound
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	craiceann [krɛçgʲən̪ˠ] = skin, parchment craiceannaiche = skinner far-chraiceann = epidermis fo-chraiceann = hypodermic pàipear-craicinn = parchment
Manx (Gealg)	crackan [ˈkraːɣən] = skin, pelt, fur, hide, rind, peel, slough crackanagh = (of the) skin, cutaneous aachrackan = veneer fochrackanagh = hypodermic crackan screeuee = parchment
Proto-Brythonic	*krʉn = skin
Old Welsh	groen = skin
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	croen, cruyn, croyn, crwyn = skin, hide, pelt
Welsh (Cymraeg)	croen [kroːɨ̯n / krɔi̯n] = skin, hide, pelt, peel, rind, surface, crust; film; a crusty or contemptible fellow croeni, croenio = to form skin, skin over, heal up croendenau = thin-skinned, sensitive, easily hurt, touchy croendew = thick-skinned, insensible, insensitive, callous croenen = thin skin, cuticle, pellicle, film
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	crochen = skin
Cornish (Kernewek)	kroghen = hide kroghen lagas = eyelid kroghendanow = sensitive
Middle Breton	kroc’hen, krec’hen, krec’hin = skin, crust, membrane
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kroc’hen [ˈkʁoːχɛn] = skin, crust kroc’henenn = membrane

Etymology: probably loaned from a non-Indo-European substrate language [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	pell = animal skin, rug
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	pell, peall = (animal) skin, fur, rug, blanket
Irish (Gaeilge)	peall [pʲaul̪ˠ/pʲal̪ˠ] = pelt, skin, hide, rug, blanket, piece of coarse cloth peallach = hairy, matted, coarse-spun peallóg = (piece of) coarse cloth, woman dressing rough clothing
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	peall [pjaul̪ˠ] = shaggy hide/skin, mat, rough cloth/sheet, bunch of matter hair
Proto-Brythonic	*pall = (?)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	pall = cloak, curtain, covering, pall, tent, tabernacle, throne, bed of state
Welsh (Cymraeg)	pall [paɬ] = cloak, curtain, covering, pall, tent, tabernacle, throne, bed of state
Cornish (Kernewek)	pall = mantle

Etymology: from Latin palla (cloak, mantle), from pellis (skin), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *pel- (to cover, to wrap, skin, hide, cloth), or possibly a substrate loan. Words from the same roots include camouflage, film, muffle, pall and pelt in English, piel (skin, fur) in Spanish, and peau (skin, hide, fur) in French [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

Servants

26th August 202226th August 2022 By Simon

Words for servants, ploughmen and related people in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*ambaxtos = servant
Gaulish	*ambaxtos = vassal, high-ranking servant
Old Irish (Goídelc)	amus = servant amsach = mercenary
Irish (Gaeilge)	amhas = hireling, servant, mercenary, hooligan amhsach = wild, unruly amhasóireacht = hooliganism
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	amhas [au.əs] = savage, wild person, madman amhsach = wild, uncontrollable, stupid, dull
Proto-Brythonic	*ammaɨθ [amˈmaɨ̯θ] = servant, worker, labourer
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	amaeth = ploughman, husbandman, farmer, agriculture
Welsh (Cymraeg)	amaeth [ˈameɨ̯θ / ˈamei̯θ] = ploughman, husbandman, farmer, agriculture, ploughmanship, tillage amaethadwy = farmable, cultivable amaetha(f), amaethu = to farm, husband, plough, cultivate amaethdir = arable land, land suitable for cultivation, farm land amaethdy = farmhouse amaethddyn = agriculturalist, farmer amaethedig = farmed, cultivated, cultured amaethyddiaeth = agriculture, farming
Cornish (Kernewek)	ammeth = agriculture, farming
Old Breton	ambaith = agriculture, farming

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *ambi- (around),‎ *ageti (to drive) and‎ *-os, from the Proto-Indo-European word *h₂m̥bʰi-h₂eǵ- (drive around) [source].

The English word amassador comes from the same root, via the Middle English ambassadore from the Anglo-Norman ambassadeur (ambassador), from the Old Italian ambassadore, from the Old Occitan ambaisador (ambassador), from ambaissa (service, mission, errand), from the Medieval Latin ambasiator (ambassador), from the Gothic 𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌱𐌰𐌷𐍄𐌹 (andbahti – service, function), from the Proto-Germanic *ambahtaz (servant), from the Gaulish *ambaxtos [source]. The word embassy comes from the same Gaulish word [source].

Proto-Celtic	*wastos = servant
Gaulish	*wassos = young man, squire
Old Irish (Goídelc)	foss = attendant, man-servant, servant
Proto-Brythonic	*gwass = boy, servant
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	guas, gwas = boy, lad, servant
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gwas [ɡwaːs] = boy, lad, stripling, youngster, young man; servant, attendant, employee, officer, vassal, slave gwasanaeth = service, attendance, a ministering, office, duty, employment gwasanaethu = to serve, be a servant, attend, wait upon, minister
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	guas = servant gwas = a youth, servant, one of the common people, a mean person, a fellow, rogue, rascal gwasanaeth = attendance, service, bondage, slavery
Cornish (Kernewek)	gwas = chap, fellow, guy, servant gwas hwel = workman gwas ti = housemaker
Old Breton	guos = vassal, man, husband, farmer
Middle Breton	goas = vassal, man, husband, farmer (who rents a farm)
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gwaz [ˈɡwaːs] = (young) man, vassal, valet, servant, husband, mermaid

Etymology: possibly comes from the Proto-Indo-European word *upo-sth₂-o-s (standing beneath) [source].

The English word vassal comes from the same Celtic roots, via the Old French vassal, the Medieval Latin vassallus (manservant, domestic, retainer), from the Latin vassus (servant) from the Gaulish *wassos [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	seirbísech = auxiliary, ancillary, servant, agent
Irish (Gaeilge)	seirbhíseach = servant
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	seirbheiseach [ʃerʲevɪʃəx] = servant, servitor seirbheisiche = servant
Manx (Gaelg)	shirveishagh = attendant, clergyman, minister, servant, server, vassal

Etymology: from the Old French servise (service, servitude, vasselage), from the Latin servitium (slavery, servitude, service), from servus (servant, serf, slave) [source]

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Waves

18th August 202218th August 2022 By Simon

Words for wave and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*tundā = wave, billow
Old Irish (Goídelc)	tonn [ton͈] = wave, outpouring, sea, abundance, bog, swamp
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	tonn = wave, outpouring, sea, abundance, bog, swamp
Irish (Gaeilge)	tonn [t̪ˠɑun̪ˠ/t̪ˠuːn̪ˠ/t̪ˠʌn̪ˠ] = wave tonn tuile = tidal wave tonn teasa = heat-wave tonn turrainge = shock wave tonnach = wavy, billowy tonnadh = to wave, surge tonnáil = waving, rippling, undulation tonná = wavelet, ripple tonnúil = wavy, undulating
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	tonn [tɔun̪ˠ] = wave, tilde, quantity of liquid, pile, heap tonn-fuaime = soundwave tonn-taomaidh, tonn-tuile = tidal wave tonn-crithe = shockwave tonnadh = undulating, undulation, vomiting tonnan, tonnag = small wave tonnach = waved, wavy tonnachd = waviness
Manx (Gaelg)	tonn = wave, billow tonn hiass = heat-wave tonn hidee = tidal wave tonn inçhyn = brainwave tonnagh = undulating, billowy, wavy tonnaghey to undulate, surge, bilow, undulation tonnaght = undulation, waviness
Proto-Brythonic	*tonn = wave
Old Welsh	tonnou = wave
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	tonn, ton = wave
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ton [tɔn] = wave, the sea; wavelength ton lanw = tidal wave ton radio = radio wave tonfedd = wavelength tonffurf = waveform toniad = undulation, oscillation, frequency, modulation, intonation tonial = surge or swell (of waves) tonniant = fluctuation tonni = to undulate, ripple, oscillate, surge tonnog = wavy, billowy, rough, choppy, roling, undulating tonyddol = melodious, intoning, tonic, intonational
Middle Cornish (Cernewec / Kernuak)	ton = wave
Cornish (Kernewek)	tonn = wave tonnek = wavy tonnhes, tonnhys = wavelength
Middle Breton)	tonn = wave
Breton (Brezhoneg)	tonn = wave

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *(s)tewd- (to hit, beat), or from the Proto-Celtic *tondā (surface, skin), or from the PIE *temh₁- (to cut) [source].

The PIE root *(s)tewd- (to hit, beat) is the origin of the Irish tit (to fall, collapse, descend), the Scottish Gaelic tuit (to fall, happen, slip), and the Manx tuitt (to fall, happen, slip) [source]. English words from the same root include study, studio, student and obtuse [source].

The the Proto-Celtic *tondā (surface, skin) is the root of the Gaulish *tondā, from which we get tonn (surface, skin) in Irish, tonn (skin, hide) in Scottish Gaelic, ton (turf, sod, sward, surface) in Welsh, ton (unploughed land, meadow) in Cornish, and tonn (rind, dermis, surface) in Breton.

It was borrowed into Latin as tunna / tonna (tun [a large cask], box), which became tonne (tonne, ton) in French, which was borrowed into English as tonne (a unit of mass equal to 1000kg; a score of 100 in darts) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sailing

10th August 202210th August 2022 By Simon

Words for sail and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*siglom = sail, course, run
Old Irish (Goídelc)	séol [sʲeːu̯l] = sail
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	séol = sail séolaid = to sail
Irish (Gaeilge)	seol [ʃoːl̪ˠ/ʃɔːlˠ] = sail; covering, canopy; drift, tend, course, direction, flow, motion seoladh = to sail, sailing; course, direction, guidance, dispatch seoladóir = shipper seoladóireacht = shipping seolchrann = mast seoltóir = sailor, sender, remitter, drover, (electrical) conductor seoltóireacht = sailing long seol = sailing ship
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	seòl [ʃɔːl̪ˠ] = sail; navigate, direct, guide, govern, regulate seòlaid = shipping route, passage, sway(ing), nervous movement seòl-mara = tide seòladair = sailor seòladaireach = nautical
Manx (Gaelg)	shiauill = sail, navigate, shiauilley = to sail, navigate, sailing shiauilteyr = ferryman, sailor, seafarer, seaman shiaulteyragh = nautical
Proto-Brythonic	*hɨɣl = sail, course, run
Old Welsh	huil = sail
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	hwyl, hvyl, huyl = sail
Welsh (Cymraeg)	hwyl [huːɨ̯l/hʊi̯l] = sail, sheet, covering, pall; journey, progress, revolution, orbit, course, route, career, rush, assault; hilarity, jollity, mirth, amusement, fun, humour hwylbawl, hwylbolyn = boom, bowspirt hwylbren = mast, flagstaff hwyldroaf, hwyldroi = to tack, change course, veer hwylfa = way, narrow road or street, lane, path, alley, voyage hwylfwrdd = sailboard, windsurfer hwylfyrddio = to sailboard, windsurf hwylio = to sail, embark, set out on a voyage or journey, navigate hwyliwr = navigator, mariner, sailor, leader, organizer
Old Cornish	guio = sail
Middle Cornish (Cernewec / Kernuak)	gol, goyl, guil = sail (of a ship) gwelan gôl = sail yard
Cornish (Kernewek)	gool = sail golya = to sail skath-wolya = sailing boat gorhel golyow = sailing ship
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gouel = sail gouelier = to sail gouelierezh = sailmaker

Etymology: uncertain. Possibly from the Old English seġ(e)l (sail), from the Proto-Germanic *segl (sail), from *seglą (sheet, sail), the origins of which are uncertain. Possibly cognate with the Latin sagum (coarse woolen coat), from the Gaulish *sagos (wool cloak). Related words include sail in English, zeil (sail, tarpaulin) in Dutch, Segel (sail) in German, and sejl (sail) in Danish [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Here’s Leis an Lurgainn, a song in Scottish Gaelic about sailing:

Rawness

21st July 202221st July 2022 By Simon

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

Raw

Proto-Celtic	*omos = raw
Old Irish (Goídelc)	om [oṽ] = raw, uncooked
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	om = raw, uncooked; crude, undigested, immature; rude, unrefined, barbarous
Irish (Gaeilge)	amh [ˈavˠ / ˈaw] = raw, uncooked amhábhar = raw material, staple aimhe = rawness, crudeness amhainse = sharpness, astuteness amhainseach = sharp, astute amhchaoin = rough, uncouth amhola = crude oil
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	amh [af] = raw, uncooked; extra rare, blue (meat); uncouth, crude amhachd [avəxg] = rawness
Manx (Gaelg)	aw = crude, raw, uncooked, undressed awid = crudeness, rawness, rareness awaneagh = moron, oaf; oafish, raw, rude, uncivilsed, vain feill aw = raw meat ooill aw = crude oil
Proto-Brythonic	*oβ̃ = raw
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	of = crude, uncooked, raw
Welsh (Cymraeg)	of [braːɨ̯n / brai̯n] = crude, untreated, uncooked, raw, bitter, sharp, nauseating, sickly ofaf, ofi = to decompose, crumble, analyse

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂eh₃mós (raw, uncooked, bitter, sour), probably from *h₂eh₃- (to be hot, burn) [source].

Words for copper and bronze in Celtic languages possibly come from the same Proto-Celtic root, via the word *omiyom [source].

The Greek word ὠμός [oˈmos] (raw, uncooked, crude, brutal) comes from the same PIE root [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	cri = crude, uncooked, raw
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cri [kriː] = raw, fresh, new, crude, coarse, unfulled (cloth), unleavened bara cri = unleavened bread defnyddiau cri = raw materials teisen gri = griddle cake, Welsh cake
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	criv = rude, raw, green, newly made, unripe
Cornish (Kernewek)	kriv = crude, fresh, raw, uncooked, unripe krivder = rawness gossen griv = raw umber
Middle Breton	criz, cry = raw, crude, cruel, rough
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kriz = raw, crude, cruel, rough gopr kriz = gross salary hollad kriz = gross total obar kriz = act of barbarism

Etymology: possibly from the Latin crūdus (raw, bloody), from the Proto-Italic *krūros (bloody), from the Proto-Indo-European *kruh₂rós (bloody), from *krewh₂- (raw meat, fresh blood). The English words crude and cruel come from the same Latin root, and raw comes from the same PIE root [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	amrwt = raw, uncooked
Welsh (Cymraeg)	amrwd [ˈamrʊd] = raw, uncooked, unprocessed, undigested, crude, untreated, unrefined, rough, approximate

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *an (un-) and *brutus (boiling heat), from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰrewh₁- (to boil, brew) [source].

Other words from the Proto-Celtic root *brutus include brwd (eager, keen, passionate, zealous) and brwdfrydedd (enthusiasm) in Welsh, and bruth (heat, rash, eruption, nap, pile, surf) in Irish [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sieving Riddles

15th July 20228th April 2026 By Simon

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

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*krētros = sieve
Old Irish (Gaoidhealg)	críathar = sieve
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	críathar = sieve, riddle críatharach = marsh, morass, boggy wasteland críathrad = act of winnowing, sifting, riddling críathraid = sifts, riddles, spreads
Irish (Gaeilge)	criathar [ˈcɾʲiəhəɾˠ / ˈcɾʲiːhəɾˠ] = sieve, riddle criathach = pitted, perforated, swampy criathrú = winnowing, sifting, honeycombing criathradóir = winnower, sifter, maker of sieves criathraigh = to sieve, winnow, riddle, sift, honeycomb criathróir = animal surefooted on boggy ground criathar meala = honeycomb criathar mín = fine sieve
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	criathar [krʲiə.ər] = riddle, sieve criathar-tomhais = bushel (measure and implement) criathar-garbh = riddle (implement) criatharair [krʲiəhərɛrʲ] = sieve-maker criathradh [krʲiarəɣ] = (act of) filtering
Manx (Gaelg)	creear = sieve, riddle creearey = sieve, pan, sift, riddle creear meein = fine sieve creear garroo = rough sieve jannoo creear = to honeycomb
Proto-Brythonic	*kruɨdr = wandering, sieve
Old Welsh	cruitr = winnowing shovel
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	cruidir, crwydr = sieve
Welsh (Cymraeg)	crwydr [ˈkrʰʊɨ̯dr̩ / ˈkrʰʊi̯dr̩] = a wandering, a roaming; misfortune, trouble, confusion, rout, dispersion; a straying, aberration, error; winnowing-fan, winnowing-shovel, sieve crwydro = to wander, roam, stroll, gad about, stray, go astray, deviate, digress crwydredig = wandering, vagrant, roving, stray crwydro = barn, granary, farm building crwydrwr = wanderer, vagrant, vagabond, rover, nomad
Old Cornish	croider = sieve, riddle
Middle Cornish	croider, crodar = sieve, riddle
Cornish (Kernewek)	kroder = coarse sieve, strainer, riddle kroder kroghen = bodhrán, hold-all
Old Breton	croitir = sieve, riddle
Middle Breton	croezr = sieve, riddle
Breton (Brezhoneg)	krouer = sieve, riddle, screen krouerañ = to sift, riddle, sieve krouer liammoù = link generator rakkroueriañ = pre-screening

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *krey-trom (sieve) from *krey- (to sift, separate, divide) [source]. Words from the same PIE root include crime, crisis, riddle and secret in English, ceart (right, correct, true) in Irish, and crynu (to tremble, shake) and ergryn (horror, dread) in Welsh [source].

Proto-Celtic	*sītlā = vase
Old Irish (Goídelc)	síthal = bucket síthlaid = to filter, sift, strain soithech = container, vessel
Middle Irish	síthal, sitheal = a vessel for drawing water, a bucket síthlaid, síthlaigid, síthóilid = to strain, filter, sift, scour, sweep across, flow away, melt soithech, soitheach = vessel, container (for liquids), blood vessel, boat
Irish (Gaeilge)	síothal [ʃiː(h)ˈl̪ˠɑːn̪ˠ] = vessel for drawing water, pail, bucket (literary) síothlaigh = to strain, filter, drain away, subside, settle, expire, die síothlán = strainer, filter, colander síothlóir = (of person) strainer, filterer (person), weakly, dying person síothlú = filtration, percolation, subsidence, abatement, expiry, death
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	sìol [ʃiəl̪ˠ] = compose, settle, filter, strain sìol(t)achan [ʃiəl̪ˠ(d)əxan] = filter, strainer sìoltag [ʃiəl̪ˠdag] = strainer, filter, sieve sìol(t)an [ʃiəl̪ˠ(d)an] = filter, strainer, sieve sìoltachair [ʃiəl̪ˠdəxɛrʲ] = filter feeder sìoltachadh [ʃiəl̪ˠdəxəɣ] = (act of) filter feeding
Manx (Gaelg)	sheeley = to flow, run, drip, trickle, dribble, seep, oose, filter, strain, drain sheelaghey = to strain off, to filter, to refine, clarification, sober
Proto-Brythonic	sidl, hidl = filter, sieve (?)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	hidl, hidyl, hityl = filter, strainer, sieve hitler, hidlir, hidlaw = to strain, filter, purify, cleanse, percolate, pour, sprinkle, scatter, sift hidleit, hidlaid = strained, clarified, clear, flowing
Welsh (Cymraeg)	hidl, hiddl = filter, sieve, strainer hidl(i)ad = straining, filtration, percolation hidlai = strainer, filter hidlaid = strained, clarified, clear, flowing hidlo = to strain, filter, purify, cleanse, percolate, pour, sprinkle, scatter, sift hidlwr, hidlydd = strainer, filter
Cornish (Kernewek)	sidhel [ˈɹɔːz] = filter, strainer, colander sidhla = to filter, strain, sift, sieve, percolate, purify, cleanse
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	sizl = filter, strainer sila, sizla = to filter
Breton (Brezhoneg)	sil [siːl] = filter, strainer silad = filtrate, grout siladenn = filtering siladur = filtering, filtration silañ = to filter silerezh = filtering, percolation

Etymology: possibly from Proto-Indo-European *seh₁- (to impress, insert, sow, plant), and influenced by Latin situla (a vessel used to hold water, a voting urn, basin, jar) [source]. Words from the same PIE root include siets (sieve, sifter) in Latvian, sito (sieve, filter) in Polish, (to) sow, season, seminar and seed in English, zaaian (to sow, plant seed, spread) in Dutch, sold (sieve) in Danish [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	scacaid = to filter, sift, strain
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	scacaid, scacad, sgacadh = to strain, filter, sift, purify
Irish (Gaeilge)	scag = to strain, filter, drain off, refine, sift, screen, derive, spring (from a source) scagach = permeable, porour, thin, flimsy, sparse scagachán = filtration scagacht = porosity scagadh = filtration, refinement, assortment, critical examination scagaire = filter, screen, filterer, sifter, refiner scagaireacht = (act of) filtering, sifting, refining
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	sgag [sgag] = split, crack, chap

Etymology: possibly from Old Norse [source].

Proto-Celtic	*wokro- = (?)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	goger, gogr, gogyr = sieve, riddle, screen, strainer
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gogr [ˈɡɔɡɔr / ˈɡoːɡɔr] = sieve, riddle, screen, strainer gogrwr, gogrydd = sieve-maker, sifter gogru [ˈɡɔɡrɨ̞ / ˈɡɔɡri] = to sieve, sift

Etymology: from PIE *sker- (to separate, cut off) [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

Brushes and Broom

12th July 202227th April 2024 By Simon

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

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	scúap [skuə̯b] = brush, broom, sheaf, bundle scúapad = act of sweeping scúapaire = sweeper
Irish (Gaeilge)	scuab [sˠkuəbˠ] = besom, broom; brush; sheaf, armful, bundle; to sweep scuabach = sweeping, flowing; gusty scuabachán = sweeping, sweepings scuabadh = to sweep, wash scuabadóir = sweeper scuabán = little besom, little brush, little sheaf, armful, bundle scuab fiacla = toothbrush scuab ghruaige = hairbrush scuab ingne = nailbrush scuab phéinte = paintbrush sreangscuab = wire brush
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	sguab [sguəb] = broom, besom, brush, sheaf sguabte = brushed, swept sguabanta = tidy, trim, clean sguabadh = brushing, sweeping sguabachan = brush sguabag = gusty, wind, whisk, sheaf (of corn) sguabadair = vacuum cleaner sguabair = sweeper sguab-aodaich = clothes brush
Manx (Gaelg)	skeab = besom, broom skeabey = brush, brushing, brush over, brush up, sweep, sweeping skeabit = brushed, swept skeaban daah, skeaban-slaa = paintbrush skeaban feeackle = toothbrush skeaban folt/fuilt = hairbrush
Proto-Brythonic	*ɨskʉb = brush, broom
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	escup, yscub, ysgub = brush, broom
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ysgub [ˈəsɡɨ̞b / ˈəsɡɪb] = sheaf, wheatsheaf, bundle; brush, broom, besom, quiver of arrows ysgubell = brush, broom, besom, mop, bunch (of flowers) ysgubo = to brush, sweep (away), make into sheaves ysgubol = sweeping ysgubwr = sweeper, sweep ysgub blu = feather duster priodas (coes) ysgub = informal wedding in which the parties jump over a broomstick in the presence of witnesses
Middle Cornish	scibia = to sweep, brush sciber = barn, any large room scubilen = whip, scourge
Cornish (Kernewek)	skub = sweeping skubell, skubyllen = broom, brush skubellik = paintbrush skubell sugna = vacuum cleaner skubell-wolghi = mop skuber, skubores = sweeper skubus = sweeping skubya = to brush, sweep skubyllen dhes = toothbrush skubyon = refuse, sweepings
Breton (Brezhoneg)	skub [ˈskyːp] = broom, brush, blade; sweep skubell = broom, brush, blade; sweep skubell-vroust(añ) = scrubbing brush skuberez = sweeper

Etymology: from the Latin scōpa (broom) Proto-Indo-European *skeh₂p- (to prop) [source]. Words from the same Latin root include scopa (broom) in Italian, escoba (broom) in Spanish, and shqopë (heather, heath, briar) in Albanian [source]..

Proto-Celtic	*banatlo- = broom (shrub)
Gaulish	*balano- = broom (shrub)
Celtiberian	bálago-, bálaco- = broom (shrub)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bealaidh [bɛl̪ˠɪn] = broom (shrub) bealaidh-Frangach, bealaidh-Sasannach = laburnum
Proto-Brythonic	*banatlo- = broom (shrub)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	banadil, banadyl, banadl = broom (shrub)
Welsh (Cymraeg)	banadl, banal [ˈbanadl] = broom (shrub) banadl Ffrainc = laburnum
Old Cornish	banathel = broom (shrub)
Middle Cornish	banal = broom (shrub)
Cornish (Kernewek)	banadhel = broom (shrub)
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	balan = broom (shrub)
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	balain, balazn = broom (shrub)
Breton (Brezhoneg)	balan [ˈbɑːlãn] = broom (shrub) balaneg [bã.ˈnɑː.lek] = broom grove balaenn [baˈlɑːɛn] = broom, brush

According to An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language by Alexander MacBain (1982), there is a cognate in Irish: beally/i, however it doesn’t appear in any of the Irish dictionaries I’ve checked.

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰenH-tlom (way, path) in the sense of “cleared path (in a wood)” [source].

The French word balai (broom, broomstick, brush) comes from the Gaulish *balano-, via Old French, Middle Breton and Old Breton [source]. The Spanish word bálago (straw, Spanish broom), comes from the same Gaulish root, via the Celtiberian *bálago-/*bálaco- [source].

Words same PIE roots possibly include bana (course, path, trajectory) in Swedish, baan (road, path, track, job, orbit) in Dutch, and Bahn (route, trail, railway)in German [source].

The shrub known as broom in Britain and Ireland is also known as common broom or Scotch broom, or Cytisus scoparius in Latin. It is a deciduous leguminous shrub native to western and Central Europe. Broom can also refer to similar plants, such as French broom and Spanish broom [source].

Twigs from the broom, and from other plants, can be tied to a stout stick and used to sweep things. Such implements are traditionally known as besoms or broom besoms, and became known simply as brooms [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

Emptiness

1st July 20221st July 2022 By Simon

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

Proto-Celtic	*wāstos = empty
Old Irish (Goídelc)	fás = empty, vacant, deserted fásaogod to empty, despoil
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	fás = empty, vain, futile, vacant
Irish (Gaeilge)	fás [fˠɑːsˠ / fˠaːsˠ] = waste, vacant, empty, void; wild, luxuriant fásach = waste, desert; uncultivated, uninhabited region; empty, deserted place fásaigh = to lay waste, leave uncultivated
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	fàs [faːs] = empty; barren, waste, uncultivated, fallow, desolate fàsach = desert, wilderness, empty place fàsaich = to depopulate, lay waste to a place, desolate fàslach = hollow, void, cavity fàslail = desolate, lonely, solitary
Manx (Gaelg)	faase = feeble, weak; desolate, void, barren, infirm faasagh = desert, desolate, waste place, wilderness faaselagh = weakest part, poor part of lawn faasoil = desert

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁weh₂- (to leave, abandon) [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	folam = empty
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	folam, falam = empty, uninhabited, shallow, barren, destitute, vain, worthless folma = emptiness
Irish (Gaeilge)	folamh [ˈfˠɔl̪ˠəvˠ / ˈfˠaːl̪ˠə / ˈfˠɔlˠuː] = empty folmhaigh = to empty, discharge, exhaust; purge, evacuate folmhach empty, vacant, sapce, gap (between teeth)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	falamh [fal̪ˠəv] = empty, hollow, void falamhachd = emptiness, voidness, vacancy, vacuum, void falamhaich = to empty, void, evacuate falamhaichte = emptied
Manx (Gaelg)	follym = void, flat, shallow, barren, vacuous, waste, blank, empty, hollow, blank folmaghey = to empty, void, hollow, vacate, deflate

Etymology: possibly from the Old Irish lomm (bare, naked, smooth) [source].

Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cúacca = empty
Proto-Brythonic	*gwag = empty, vacant
Old Welsh	guac = empty, desolate, vacant
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	gwac, gwag = empty, desolate, vacant
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gwag [ɡwaːɡ] = empty, desolate, vacant, void, barren; meaningless, senseless, unsubstantial, frivolous, null and void, invalid gwagedd = vanity, vainglory, conceit, empitness, unreality gwagio = to empty, make empty, become empty gwagle = empty place or space, vacuum, void, gap, chasm, space
Middle Cornish	gwag = hungry, vain, void, vacant, at leisure; void, vacuum, hunger
Cornish (Kernewek)	gwag = blank, empty, hollow, hungry, unfurnished, unoccupied, vacant gwaga = to break into a cavity gwagen = blank gwagla = vacancy gwagva = vacuum gwakhe = to empty, vacate
Middle Breton	goac = soft, tender goacat = to soften
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gwak = soft, tender gwakaat = to soften gwakadur = softening

Etymology: from the Vulgar Latin *vacus, from the Latin *vacuus (empty), from vacō (I am empty, void), from the Proto-Italic *wakos (empty), from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁weh₂- (to lack, empty) [source].

A Breton word for empty is goullo or gollo, the origins of which are not known.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Crooked

22nd June 202212th November 2022 By Simon

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

Proto-Celtic	*kambos = twisted, crooked, bent
Gaulish	Cambo- = found in place names
Old Irish (Goídelc)	camm, cam [kam] = crooked, bent, curved, twisted; wavy, curly (hair)
Irish (Gaeilge)	cam [kaumˠ / kɑːmˠ / kamˠ] = bend, bent, crooked, crookedness, fraud object; to bend, crook, distort camadán = bent, crooked (person or thing) camadh = to bend camalanga = unintelligible talk camalóid = high-backed, humped (animal), tall stooped person camán = hurling-stick, hurley, bent, crooked, object, quaver camarsach = wavy, curled camas = small bay, curve; (river) bend
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cam [kaum / kaimə] = bent, crooked, awry, not straight, squinty, wry, one-eyed; bend, curve, trick cama-chasach = bow/bandy-legged cam-chòmhdhail = awkward meeting. misadventure cam-bheulach = wry-mouthed camadh = bending, curving, curve, curvature, crook, variant, variation camaghaileach [kamaɣaləx] = twisted, winding caman = club, stick, shinty stick, quaver camanachd = shinty
Manx (Gaelg)	cam = bent, crooked, deceitful, intricate, knotty, perverse, rakish, wry, wrong cam-hooilagh = cross-eyed, squinting cam-jeeragh = meandering, tortuous camlurgey = bowlegged, bandy-legged
Proto-Brythonic	*kam = crooked, bent
Old Welsh	cam = crooked, bent
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	cam = crooked, bent
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cam [kam] = crooked, bent, hunch-backed, distorted, wry, bowed, curved, looped, winding; one-eyed, squint-eyed; wrong, evil, false, unjust, deceitful; misdeed, sin, vice, injustice, injury ar gam = in error, erroneously, unjustly, falsely, astray, amiss ar y cam = in the wrong, culpable yng ngham = wrong, wrongly, unjustly, in error, faulty camgymeriad = mistake, misapprehension, misconstruction, error camni, cami = crookedness, crook, curvature, twist camog = crookedness, curvature, hump-backed person camu [ˈkamɨ / ˈkami] = to bend, stoop, curve, bow, pervert, distort, abuse
Middle Cornish	cam = crooked, wry, distorted, squint-eyed, perverse, wrong, wicked camgarrec = bandy-legged camma = to bend, curve, make crooked; trepass camnivet = rainbow camwul = to do wrong
Cornish (Kernewek)	kamm = bent, crooked, erroneous, error, wrong kamma = to curve kammas = bay, bend kammdremena = to trespass kammdreylya = to zigzag kammdybi, kammwul = to err kammgemeryans = mistake kammgonvedhes = to misunderstand kammhynsek = unjust, unrighteous, wicked
Old Breton	cam(m) = curved, curve, lame, bad, wicked camaff = to bend, limp
Middle Breton	kamm = curved, curve
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kamm = angled, bent, bend kammadur = bending, camber, cambering kammañ = to arch kammigell = zigzag, squabble, chicane kammigellañ = to zigzag

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *kh₂em- (to arch), from *(s)ḱh₂embos (crooked) [source].

The Gaulish version of the word appears in the place name Cambo-dunum, also written Kambodunon, which became Campodūnum in Latin, which was a town in the Roman province of Raetia, and is now Kempten in Bavaria in southern Germany [source].

The name Campbell comes from the Scottish Gaelic Caimbeul, from cam (crooked) and beul (mouth) [source], while Cameron comes from Camshròn, from cam (crooked) and sròn (nose) [source].

The Proto-Celtic word *kambos is the root of the Galician words camba (doorjamb of an oven, handmill), cambar (to bend), cambiar (to change) [source].

*kambos was possibly also borrowed into French as camus [ka.my] (flat-nosed, snub-nosed) [source], and this ended up in English as camous/camoys (flat, depressed, crooked nose) [source].

Other English words from the PIE root (*kh₂em-), include camera, camp, campus, champagne and champion [source].

Proto-Celtic	*wēros = crooked
Old Irish (Goídelc)	fíar = bent, crooked, curved
Irish (Gaeilge)	fiar [fʲiəɾˠ] = slant, tilt, bias, obliquity, bend, twist, crookedness, perverseness; slanting, tilted, oblique, diagonal fiaradh to slant, tilt
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	fiar [fiər] = bent, crooked, squint, wry, oblique, perverse fiaragach = slanted, twisted, touchy fiaranaich = slant fiaradh = slanting, slant, distorting, skewing, distortion fiarach = inclinning, slanting fiaras = crookedness
Proto-Brythonic	*gwuɨr = crooked, bent
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	gvir, gwyr [ɡwɨr] = crooked, bent
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gŵyr [ɡuːɨ̯r/ɡʊi̯r] = askew, slanting, oblique, aslant, cross(-eyed), squinting, crooked, curved, bent, distorted, unjust, dishonest, wrong, evil; wickedness, error, wandering, twist gwyrio = to bow, stoop, bend, lean, incline, slant, slope gwyraidd = sloping, slanting, stooping
Cornish (Kernewek)	gwarr = curve gwarak = arch, arc, bow, crescent
Middle Breton	goar = curved, curve
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gwar = curved gwared = arch

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *weh₁iros (turned, twisted), from *weh₁y- (to twist, wrap) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Lead (Metal)

14th June 202214th June 2022 By Simon

Today we’re looking at the words for lead (metal) and related things in Celtic languages.

Cwmystwyth Lead Mine, Ceredigion, Cymru

Proto-Celtic	*ɸloudom = lead (metal)
Gaulish	*laudon = lead (metal)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	lúaide = lead (metal)
Irish (Gaeilge)	luaidhe [ˈl̪ˠuːiː] = lead (metal), (sounding-) lead, plummet, (fishing) sinker luaidhiúil = lead-like, leaden luaidhnimh = lead-poisoning peann luaidhe = pencil
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	luaidhe [l̪ˠuəjə] = lead (metal), leaden luaidheach = leaden peann-luaidhe = pencil
Manx (Gaelg)	leoaie = lead (metal), leaden, sounding lead penn leoaie = pencil

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *plewd- (to fly, flow, run), from *plew- (to fly, flow, run), from the Proto-West Germanic *laud [source].

Some words from the same PIE root include fleet, float, flood and pneumonia in English, vlieten (to flow) in Dutch, fließen (to flow) in German, flyte (to float, flow) in Swedish [source].

The English word lead comes from the Middle English le(e)d (lead) from the Old English lēad (lead) from the Proto-West-Germanic *laud (lead), from the Gaulish *laudon (lead) [source], and words for lead in other Germanic language languages come from the same root [source].

Proto-Brythonic	*plum = lead (metal)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	pluum, plwm = lead (metal)
Welsh (Cymraeg)	plwm [plʊm] = lead (metal); mass or ball of lead, plumb, plummet, straight(ness), vertical(ness) plymaidd = leaden, lead-like, heavy, oppressive, worthless plymen = lead weight, plummet, sheet, of lead plymio = to sound (for depth), fathom, dive, plunge, plummet; to cover or solder with lead, line (pottery) with lead, glaze plymwr = plumber, dealer/worker in lead, plunger, diver plymliw = lead-coloured, blackish-blue, greyish blue, pale blue
Cornish (Kernewek)	plomm, plobm = lead (metal) plommer = plumber plommwedhek = vertical pyncel plomm = pencil
Breton (Brezhoneg)	plom = lead (metal) plomek = lead(en) plomer = plumber plomerezh = plumbing

Etymology: from the Latin plumbum (lead, pencil), may be borrowed from Etruscan, Iberian or some other pre-Indo-European Mediterranean substrate language [source].

Some words from the same Latin root include plumb (truly vertical, as indicated by a plumb line) in English, piombo (lead, grey, bullet) in Italian, plomb (lead, fuse, sinker) in French, and Plombe (seal, filling) in German [source].

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Latin (lingua latīna)

Surfaces

Servants

Waves

Sailing

Rawness

Sieving Riddles

Brushes and Broom

Emptiness

Crooked

Lead (Metal)