Hens & Chickens

16th June 202019th June 2023 By Simon

Words for hen, chicken and related things in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic	*kerkā = hen
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cerc [kʲerk] = hen, female bird
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cerc [kʲerk] = hen, female bird
Irish (Gaeilge)	cearc [kaɾˠk] = hen, female bird cearcach = gallinaceous (relating to, or resembling the domestic fowl)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cearc [kʲɛrxg] = hen, chicken; poultry; female crab or lobster cearc-uisge = moorhen cearc-Fhrangach = turkey cearc-fhraoich = female red grouse, moorhen cearcach = of, or belonging to a hen or hens
Manx (Gaelg)	kiark = fowl, hen, hen bird, female bird kiark

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱer- (to grow, nourish) [source]. These words are possibly related to words for heron and crane in Celtic languages.

English words from the same root include cereal, create, increase, creature, crew and crescent [source].

Proto-Celtic	*yarā = chicken
Gaulish	Iaros = personal name
Old Irish (Goídelc)	eirín = pullet, young hen
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	eréne, éirín(e) = chicken, chick, pullet
Irish (Gaeilge)	eireog = pullet, chicken; young girl, tiny woman
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	eireag [erʲag] = pullet, young chick(en) (between 8 months and 1 year old)
Manx (Gaelg)	earrag = pullet, poult
Old Welsh	iar = hen
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	yar = hen yeyr, yeir = domestic fowls, chickens yares = flock of chichens ieirdy = hen-house, hen-coop
Welsh (Cymraeg)	iâr [jaːr] = hen, hen-bird ieir = domestic fowls, chickens iarbren = perch for hens, hen-roost iardy, ieirdy = hen-house, hen-coop iares = flock of chichens iargyw = chichen, young fowl ieirwr = poulterer
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	iar, yar = hen, female bird
Cornish (Kernewek)	yar = chicken, hen yar frankres = free-range hen yar gowellys = battery hen yar Gyni = turkey bregh/brygh yar = chicken pox yarji = chichen coop, hen house
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	yar, iar = chicken, hen
Breton (Brezhoneg)	yar = chicken, hen

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

Ants

16th May 202021st March 2024 By Simon

Words for ant and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	sengán = ant
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	sengán, seangan = ant
Irish (Gaeilge)	seangán = ant seangánach = full of ants nead seangán = anthill
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	seangan [ʃɛŋgan] = ant, mean fellow seangan ‘nad bhriogais = to be fidgety, have the jtters (ants in your breeches) seangananach [ʃɛŋganəx] = pertaining to or abounding in small ants
Manx (Gaelg)	sniengan = ant snienganagh = ant-infested, formic crongan sniengan = anthill

Etymology: possibly from the Old Irish seng (thin, slender. meagre) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*morwis = ant
Old Irish (Goídelc)	moirb [morʲvʲ] = ant
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	moirb = ant
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	myr = ant myrion = ants morgrug, morcrug = ants morgrugyn, morcrugyon = ant
Welsh (Cymraeg)	mŷr, myrr [mɨːr/miːr] = ant myrion = ants myrdwyn = anthill morgrug [ˈmɔrɡrɨ̞ɡ / ˈmɔrɡrɪɡ] = ants (from mŷr [ant] and crug [hill]) morgrugyn = ant morgrugaidd, morgrugol = ant-like pertaining to ants, formic
Old Cornish	menƿionen = ant
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	menwionen, meuwionen = ant, emmet
Cornish (Kernewek)	moryonen = ant, tourists moryoner = anteater
Old Breton	moriuon = ant
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	meryen = ant
Breton (Brezhoneg)	merien [ˈmɛr.jɛn] = ants merionenn = ant merionaer = anteater merieneg [mɛ.ˈrjẽː.nɛk] = anthill

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *morwi- (ant). Words from the same roots include formic (pertaining to ants) and pismire (ant – archaic) in English, fourmi (ant) in French, mier (ant) in Dutch, maur (ant) in Icelandic and myra (ant) in Swedish [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

Mice

3rd May 202022nd May 2022 By Simon

Words for mice in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*lukoss = mouse
Old Irish (Goídelc)	luch [l͈ux] = mouse, rat
Irish (Gaeilge)	luch [l̪ˠʊx / l̪ˠɔx / l̪ˠʌx] = mouse luchóg = mouse
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	luch [l̪ˠux] = mouse
Manx (Gaelg)	lugh [ɫɔx] = mouse
Proto-Brythonic	llug = mouse llugod = mice
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	lleyc = shrew, shrewmouse, (field) mouse
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llyg = shrew, shrewmouse, (field) mouse llygod [ˈɬəɡɔd] = mice, rats, shrews, voles llygoden = mouse, rat, shrew, vole
Middle Cornish	logoden, logosan = mouse
Cornish (Kernewek)	logos = mice logosen / logojen = mouse
Old Breton	loc = mouse
Breton (Brezhoneg)	logod = mice, yarn balls, meatballs, varicose veins logodenn = mouse

Etymology: unknown, most likely from a non-Indo-European substrate language – only found in Celtic languages [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, MacBain’s Dictionary, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old-Irish Glossary, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Here’s a tune I wrote called The Field Mouse’s Delight / Llawenydd Llygoden y Coed:

Simon Ager · The Field Mouse’s Delight / Llawenydd Llygoden y Coed

Deer

7th April 20208th May 2022 By Simon

Words for deer in Celtic languages. There were several different words for deer in Proto-Celtic: *wēdus, *karwos, *ellan(t)ī-, *danī- and *yorkos, and also *sidos (stag). They may have referred to different types of deer, but it is not certain which types, apart from *yorkos, which is a roe deer.

Proto-Celtic	*wēdus [ˈweː.dus] = wild
Old Irish (Goídelc)	fíad [fʲiːa̯ð] = wild animals, game, especially deer
Irish (Gaeilge)	fia [fʲiə] = deer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	fiadh [fiəɣ] = deer
Manx (Gaelg)	feeaih = deer

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *weydʰ- (wood, wilderness) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*karwos = deer, stag
Gaulish	caruus / carvos = deer
Old Irish (Goídelc)	carbh = deer
Irish (Gaeilge)	carria / cairrfhiadh = deer, stag
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cair-fhiadh / carbh-fheadh = hart, stag
Manx (Gaelg)	çharroo = stag
Proto-Brythonic	*karw = deer, stag
Old Welsh	*caru = deer
Middle Welsh (kymraec)	caru, carv, carw = deer, hart, stag
Welsh (Cymraeg)	carw [ˈkaru / ˈkaːru] = deer, hart, stag; lord, nobleman, patron
Old Cornish	caruu = stag
Middle Cornish	carow = stag
Cornish (Kernewek)	karow = stag
Middle Breton	caro, qaro = deer
Breton (Brezhoneg)	karv = deer

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱerh₂wós, from *ḱerh₂- (horn) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*sidos = stag
Old Irish (Goídelc)	séd = deer
Welsh (Cymraeg)	hydd = stag, hart
Breton (Brezhoneg)	heizes = roe-deer, venison, intrepid boy

Etymology: uncertain

Proto-Celtic	ellan(t)ī- / agliones = deer
Old Irish (Goídelc)	ag [aɣ] = bullock, cow, ox; deer, stag
Irish (Gaeilge)	agh = cow, ox agh alla = deer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	agh [ɤɣ] = heifer, hind
Welsh (Cymraeg)	eilon/eilion = stag, hart

Etymology: possible from the same root as the English word eland (a type of antelope found in South Africa), which from the Dutch eland (elk), from the Old High German elent.

Proto-Celtic	*ou̯ījkā = ?
Gaulish	cerua = ?
Old Cornish	euhic = hind, deer
Old Welsh	eguic = hind, deer
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ewig = hind, doe, roe; graceful light-footed woman; deer, hart

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ówis (sheep) [source]

Proto-Celtic	*yorkos = roebuck, deer
Gaulish	iorkos = deer
Proto-Brythonic	*jorx = deer, stag
Welsh (Cymraeg)	iwrch [jʊrχ] = roe-deer, roebuck
Old Cornish	yorch = roe-deer
Cornish (Kernewek)	yorgh = roe-deer
Old Breton	iorch = roe-deer
Breton (Brezhoneg)	yourc’h = roe-deer, venison, intrepid boy

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *york- (antelope, gazelle) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*danī- = deer
Welsh (Cymraeg)	danas = deer, fallow deer
Breton (Brezhoneg)	demm = deer, fallow deer

Etymology: related to the French daim (hind, doe), from the Latin dāma (fallow deer, buck, doe) [source]

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Cats

24th March 202022nd May 2022 By Simon

Words for cat in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*kattā = cat
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cath = cat
Irish (Gaeilge)	cat = cat cat fireann = tomcat piscín = kitten
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cat [kahd] = cat cat fireann / moth-chat / cullach-cait = tomcat, bossy child baircne = female cat, white cat piseag [piʃag] = kitten
Manx (Gaelg)	kayt = feline, cat, puss kayt firryn = tomcat pishin / pishanagh = kitten
Proto-Brythonic	*kaθ = cat
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	cath, kath = cat
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cath [kaθ] = cat, wild cat cwrcath / gwrcath / cwrcyn = tomcat cath fenyw = queen, female cat cath fach = kitten
Old Cornish	kat = cat
Middle Cornish	cath = cat
Cornish (Kernewek)	kath [kaːθ / kæːθ] = cat kathik = kitten
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kazh [ˈkɑːs] = cat, tomcat kazheg [ˈkɑː.zes] = queen, female cat kazhig [ˈkɑː.zik] = kitten

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Roundness

22nd February 202015th August 2024 By Simon

Words for round and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*krundis = round
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cruinn = round, globular, circular
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cruinn, cruind = round, globular, circular, compact, precise cruinne, cruindae = roundness, rotundity, round mass, universe, world, thrift, hoarding cruinniucc, cruindiucc = dew-drop
Irish (Gaeilge)	cruinn [kɾˠiːnʲ / kɾˠɪn̠ʲ] = round; gathered; exact, accurate; clear, coherent; concentrated; frugal, sparing, miserly cruinne = roundness cruinneachán = dome cruinneog = round object, (small) orb, globe cruinneogach = globular cruinnteach = rotunda
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cruinn [krɯin̪ʲ] = round, circular, spherical; rotund; neat, succinct, well-formed; assembled, gathered together cruinne [krɯn̪ʲə] = roundness, globe, sphere, orb cruinneachail [krɯn̪ʲəxal] = (ac)cumulative cruinneachan [krɯn̪ʲəxan] = round heap/pile cruinneachd [krɯn̪ʲəxg] = roundness cruinnte [krɯn̪ʲdʲə] = curved, rounded
Manx (Gaelg)	cruinn = accurate, detailed, unambigous, round, spherical, circular, circumstantial, compact, consummate, exact, scrupulous, strict cruinnid = circularity, closeness, roundness, strictness, compactness cruinnaghey = assemblage, congregation, enclose, focus, gather, huddle, round
Proto-Brythonic	*krunn = round
Old Welsh (Kembraec)	crunn = round, circular, rotund
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	cronn, crwn, cron = round, circular, rotund
Welsh (Cymraeg)	crwn [krʊn] = round, circular, rotund, spherical, globular; cylindrical; fat, plump, fleshy; complete, entire; young, small crynder = roundness cân gron = round (in music); continual harping upon the same string hirgrwn = oval
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	cren = round, circular
Cornish (Kernewek)	krenn = round
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	cren, cron = round
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	crenn = round crennaat = to round off crenaff, crenna [ˈkrɛnːã] = to round up
Breton (Brezhoneg)	krenn [ˈkrɛnː] = medium, round, rounded, full krennañ [ˈkrɛnːã] = to trim, shorten, slice krennaat = to round off krennadur = rounding, trimmings krennder = roundness

Etymology: unknown, possibly borrowed from a non-Indo-European language [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

Animals

9th February 202010th November 2023 By Simon

Words for animal and related beasts in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*mīlom = animal
Old Irish (Goídelc)	míl = animal, louse, hare
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	míl, miol [mʲiːl] = animal, louse
Irish (Gaeilge)	míol [mʲiːlˠ, mʲiːl] = animal, creature, insect, louse míolach = lousy, verminous, measly, mean, full of animals míolachán = verminous person or animal míoladóir = louse-picker, scrounger míoladóireacht = picking live, scrounging míoleolaí = zoologist míoleolaíocht = zoology míolra = vermin
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	mial [miəl̪ˠ] = louse, tick, animal (archaic) mialach [miəl̪ˠəx] = lousy, abounding in live, harmless mialachd [miəl̪ˠəxg] = lousiness, harmlessness mialtag [miəl̪ˠdag] = gnat mial-bhalla = bedbug mial-eòlas = = zoology
Manx (Gaelg)	meeyl [miːl] = gnat, insect, louse, gnat meeyllagh = insectlike, lousy, verminous meeyllyn = vermin, flies meeyllaghys = lousiness
Proto-Brythonic	*mil [ˈmiːl] = animal
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	mil = animal, beast, creature
Welsh (Cymraeg)	mil [miːl] = animal, beast, creature milaidd = pertaining to animals, like an animal, bestial mildraeth, mildraith = zoology, zoography, natural history mildraethydd = zoologist, zoographer milfa = menagerie milfeddyg = verterinary, surgeon, farrier milgi = greyhound enfil = animal, beast, creature
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	mil = animal, beast milen = brutish, brutal, cruel milgy = hound, greyhound
Cornish (Kernewek)	mil = animal milonieth = zoology milus = brutal miluster = brutality milva = zoo milvedhek = vet, vetinary surgeon
Middle Breton	mil = animal
Breton (Brezhoneg)	mil [ˈmiːl] = animal euzhvil = monster morvil = whale

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *(s)meh₁l- (small animal) [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	anmandae, anmande = animal, creature
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	anmandae = living creature, animal, beast, head of cattle
Irish (Gaeilge)	ainmhí [anʲəvʲiː]= animal, brute, monster ainmhíoch = animal, brutish ainmhíocht = animal nature, brutishness
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ainmhidh [ɛnɛvɪ] = animal, beast of burden, heifer ainmhidheach [ɛnɛvɪjəx] = brutish, beastly ainmhidheachd [ɛnɛvɪjəxg] = brutality, brutishness

Etymology: from the Old Irish ainim(m) (soul, life), from the Latin anima (soul, spirt, life; breath), or from the Proto-Celtic *anaman (soul, spirit), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂enh₁mos, from *h₂enh₁- (breathe), which is also the root of the English word animal [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	aniueileit, anyueyl, anieuil = animal, beast, creature aniueileid, anifeilyeid, anifeiliaidd = animal-like, bestial
Welsh (Cymraeg)	anifail [aˈnɪvai̯l / aˈniːvai̯l] = animal, beast, creature anifeil(i)aidd = animal-like, bestial, brutish, savage, foul anifeilig = animal(-like), bestial, brutal anifeiliol = animal(-like), bestial, beastly, brutal anifeilrwydd = carnality, sensuality
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	eneval = animal enevales = female animal
Cornish (Kernewek)	eneval = animal eneval dov = pet
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	aneual, anneual = animal
Breton (Brezhoneg)	aneval [ãˈneːval] = animal

Etymology: from the Latin animal (animal, living creature), from animālis (animate, living), from anima (soul, spirt, life; breath) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*betrixs = (?)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	bethadach = animal
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	bethach, bethadach = animal, creature, beast
Irish (Gaeilge)	beithíoch [bʲɛˈhiəx / ˈbʲɛhiəx / ˈbʲɛhiə(h)] = beast, (large) animal, brute; (large) specimen of creature, bovine animal; heifer, cow, cattle, horse
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	beathach [bɛhəx] = animal, beast, head of cattle, brute beathachachadh [bɛhəxəɣ] = living, feeding, nourishing, sustaining, nourishment, nutrition beathachail [bɛhəxal] = nutritious, nutritional beathachair [bɛhəxɛrʲ] = animator beathaich [bɛhɪç] = feed, nourish, support, sustain beithir [behɪrʲ] = any wild or savage thing, beast; thunderbolt; lightning; strong gust of wind; warrior, hero
Manx (Gaelg)	baagh = animal, pet, beast beishtagh = beastly, bestial, brutish, monstrous, filthy

Etymology: from the Middle Irish betha (life), from Old Irish bethu (life), from Proto-Celtic *biwotūts (life), from *biwos (alive), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷih₃wós (alive) [source].

Words from the same roots include words for food and life in Celtic languages, quick and zoo in English, and vida (life) in Spanish [source].

Proto-Celtic	*lutno- = (young) animal
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	loth [l̪ˠɔh] = fily, foal, colt lothag [l̪ˠɔhag] = young colt / filly / foal lothaire [l̪ˠɔhɪrʲə] = gangly / spindly person lothach [l̪ˠɔhəx] = abounding in fillies / foals / colts
Manx (Gaelg)	lhiy = colt
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	lluden, llydyn, llwdyn = (young) animal, beast llwdyngar = involving (carnal) bestiality
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llwdn = the young of an animal (colt, foal, kid, etc), animal, beast, young man, youth, oaf, dolt llwdngar = involving (carnal) bestiality
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	lodn = young cow or sheep, young ox, bullock, steer, wether
Cornish (Kernewek)	lodn = bullock, young ox lodnek = bovine lodnow = cattle
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	loeznet, loezn, loznet = animal, beast loeznedus = abounding in animals
Breton (Brezhoneg)	loen [ˈlwẽːn] = animal, beast loeniñ = to brutalise, labour, punish loenedus = gamey loenegezh = bestiality loenek = animal, bestial, brutish

Etymology: from PIE *polH- (animal young), from *peh₂w- (smallness). Words from the same roots include few, filly, foal, pony and puppy in English [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, 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

Donkeys

9th February 202025th April 2023 By Simon

Words for donkey (Equus asinus) and related beasts in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	asal = ass, she-ass
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	asal, assal = ass, she-ass asan, assan = ass
Irish (Gaeilge)	asal [ˈasˠəlˠ] = ass, donkey láir asail = she-ass searrach asail = donkey foal
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	asal [asal̪ˠ]= ass, donkey aiseal [aʃəl̪ˠ] = ass, donkey asan [asan] = ass, donkey asalach = asinine asal-stiallach = zebra leth-asal = mule
Manx (Gaelg)	assyl = ass, donkey assylagh = asinine laair assyl = female donkey, jenny, she-ass sharragh assyl = donkey foal lieh-assyl, cabbyl assylagh = mule
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	asin, assyn = (male) donkey / (he-)ass assenn, assen = donkey, ass; female donkey, she-ass, jenny asennic = little/young (female) donkey
Welsh (Cymraeg)	asyn [ˈasɨ̞n / ˈasɪn] = (male) donkey / (he-)ass, an absurd or stubborn person asyneiddiwch = asininity, mulishness, stupidity, obstinacy asynnaidd = asininie, mulish, stupid, obstinate asynnyn = little/young donkey asen [ˈasɛn] = donkey, ass; female donkey, she-ass, jenny asennig = little/young (female) donkey asennyn = young/little ass
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	asen = ass, donkey
Cornish (Kernewek)	asen = ass, donkey asenik = ass foal
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	azen, asenn, asen = donkey, ignorant man azenaat = to become ignorant azenañ, asénna = to give birth, farrowing (donkey) azener = donkey-driver azenerezh = stupid/idiotic comment, stupidity azenez = she-ass azenig = baby/little donkey
Breton (Brezhoneg)	azen = donkey azenañ = to give birth, farrowing (donkey)

Etymology: the Brythonic words come from the Latin asina from asinus (donkey, ass), which is of unknown origin [source]. The Goidelic words come from the same root via the Latin asellus (young ass, donkey) [source].

The English word ass (donkey) was borrowed from an old Brythonic language, via the Middle English asse (ass, donkey) and the Old English assa and assen (she-ass) [source].

Pigs

30th January 202023rd June 2023 By Simon

Words for pig and related beasts in Celtic languages:

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	mokkus = pig mokk(w)yatis = swineherd
Old Irish (Goídelc)	mucc [muk] = pig, sow; a war engine: a shed to cover sappers muccaid [ˈmukiðʲ] = swineherd muccaidecht [ˈmukiðʲext] = herding swine
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	muc, mucc = pig, sow muc(c)ach = pertaining to swine muc(c)aid = swineherd muc(c)aidecht = herding swine muc(c)álach = a brood or litter of pigs muc(c)lach = piggery
Irish (Gaeilge)	muc [mˠʊk] = pig; heap, bank, drift; scowl; sow mucachán = (of person) pig, swine mucaire = slovenly worker mucaireacht = slovenly work mucais = pit sty; dirty, slovely person; hogback muicí = swineherd muicíocht = swine-herding
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	muc [muxɡ] = pig, sow mucag [muxgag] = little pig, piggy, (rose)hip mucaidh = swineherd mucaireachd = swineherding, herding pigs muicfheoil [muçgʲɔl] = pork muc-mhara [muxgˈvarə] = whale muc-stigean = porpoise
Manx (Gaelg)	muc = hog, swine, pig, grunter muclagh = piggery, pigsty, sty muick = swine bochilley muickey = swineherd muc hallooin = aardvark muc varrey = whale, porpoise
Proto-Brythonic	mox = pig möxjad = swineherd
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	moch = pigs, swine mochduy = pigsty mochawg = piggish, swinish meichiat, meicheit, meichad = swineherd
Welsh (Cymraeg)	moch [moːχ] = pigs, swine, hogs; greedy, dirty, lazy, drunk, or immoral persons; small pumps used underground in coal-mines to remove water mochyn [ˈmɔχɨ̞n / ˈmoːχɪn] = pig, swine, hog mocha, mochi, mochian = to behave like a pig, wallow, grunt, defile, sully mochach = contemptible or swinish people mochaidd = swinish, filthy, dirty, vile, immoral, greedy mochdra = filthiness, dirtines mochdy = pigsty mochgig = pork, ham, bacon mochog = piggish, swinish mochwr = swineherd, pig-dealer, untidy workman meich(i)ad = swineherd
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	moch, môch = pigs mochyn = pig
Cornish (Kernewek)	mogh [mɔːx / moːʰ] = pigs, swine
Old Breton	moch = pigs, swine mochiat = swineherd
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	moch = pigs, swine
Breton (Brezhoneg)	moc’h [moːχ] = pigs, swine moc’haer = swineherd

Etymology: borrowed from a non-Indo-European substrate language. Words from the same Proto-Celtic root include mocke (a slovenly woman) in Middle Dutch and moche (sow, female pig) in Middle High German [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	cullach [ˈkul͈ax] = boar, stallion muccullach = boar
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cullach, colach = boar, stallion
Irish (Gaeilge)	collach [kəˈl̪ˠɑx / ˈkɔl̪ˠəx / ˈkʌl̪ˠax] = boar (male pig); male crab; crude, fleshy, person
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cullach = mature male (unneutered) animal (such as boars, hogs, etc)
Manx (Gaelg)	collagh = boar, male, stallion collagh muc = boar (domestic)
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ceilliog = having testicles, uncastrated, entire, male
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	callouch, qalloc’h, calloc’h = entire, standard, stallion
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kalloc’h = entire

Etymology: from Proto-Celtic *kalljo- (testicle).

Proto-Celtic	*t(w)orkos = boar (pig)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	torc [tork] = (wild) boar, chieften, hero
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	torc = (wild) boar, chieftan, hero
Irish (Gaeilge)	torc [t̪ˠɔɾˠk / t̪ˠʌɾˠk] = (wild) boar, hog; portly, corpulent person, man of substance torcán = little, young boar; small corpulent person torc allta = wild boar torc-chú = boar hound torcshleá = boar-spear
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	torc = [tɔr̪ˠxg] = boar, hog torc-nimhe, torc-fiadhaich = wild boar
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	tỽrch, twrch, tyrch = hog, (wild) boar, mole
Welsh (Cymraeg)	twrch [tʊrχ] = hog, (wild) boar, mole twrch (y) coed = woodlouse twrch daear = mole, badger tyrchu, tyrchio = to burrow, dig (up), root up, nuzzle, rummage; to catch (moles) tyrchaidd = hoglike, hoggish, swinish, greedy tyrchwr, trychydd = mole-catcher, bulldozer
Old Cornish	torch = hog
Middle Cornish (Cernewc)	torch = hog
Cornish (Kernewek)	torgh = hog, boar
Old Breton	torch = boar
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	tourch = boar, ram; a debauched man
Breton (Brezhoneg)	tourc’h = boar, macho, debauched

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *twerḱ- (to cut) [source]. English words from the same PIE root include trunk, truculent and sarcasm [source].

Proto-Celtic	*sukkos = pig
Old Irish (Goídelc)	socc = pig, sow
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	suic, socc, soc = snout, ploughshare
Irish (Gaeilge)	soc [sˠɔk] = sow socach = nozzled, snouted, beaked, pointed socadán = person with pointed face, nosy person, interloper, busybody
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	soc [sɔxg] = beak, snout, sockt, ploughshare, short, chubby person socach [sɔxgəx] = snouted, beaked
Manx (Gaelg)	sock = bow, nose, snout, tow; ploughshare, nozzle
Proto-Brythonic	hux = pig sux = ploughshare
Welsh (Cymraeg)	hwch [huːχ] = sow, pig, swine, dirty creature
Old Cornish	hoch = pig, hog
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	hoch = pig, hog hochwayu = hog-spear
Cornish (Kernewek)	hogh = hog, pig, swine hogh Gyni = Guinea pig hoghwuwa = to pigstick hoghwuwans = pig sticking
Old Breton	hoch = sow
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	houch, houc’h, hoh = sow oc’hal, hoc’ha, hoc’he = to grunt, oink oc’hellât, houc’hellat = to burrow, dig hoch-goez, houch guez = wild boar oh mor, hoc’h-mor = porpoise houc’h-tourc’h = boar
Breton (Brezhoneg)	houc’h = pig (male, often neutered)

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European suH- (pig, hog, swine). The English word hog was possibly borrowed into Old English from Welsh. Other words from the same Proto-Celtic root include socket in English, and soc (ploughshare) in French [source].

Proto-Celtic	*ɸorkos = piglet
Gaulish	*orkos = pork, piglet
Old Irish (Goídelc)	orc [ork] = piglet
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	orc = young pig
Irish (Gaeilge)	arc(án) = piglet
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	orc [ɔr̪ˠxg] = young animal, offspring (esp. piglet or sheep); whale (archaic) orcan [ɔr̪ˠxgan] = piglet, young pig
Manx (Gaelg)	ark = young pig, piglet, sucking pig
Pictish	orc = piglet, young pig

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European pórḱos (piglet), which is also the root of the English word farrow (a litter of piglets), and the German word Ferkel (piglet) [source].

The name Orkney comes from the Old Norse Orkneyjar (seal islands), from orkn (seal) and ey (island). It is thought that Norwegian settlers reinterpreted the original Pictish tribal name element orc (piglet) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*banwos = pig
Gaulish	Banuus, Banuo = pig
Old Irish (Goídelc)	banb [ban͈v] = piglet, young pig
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	banb, bainb = young pig
Irish (Gaeilge)	banbh [ˈbˠanˠəvˠ] = piglet; Ace of Hearts
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	banb, bainb = young pig
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	banbh [banav] = young pig, piglet banbhan [banavan] = small piglet banbhradh [banavrəɣ] = herd of piglets
Manx (Gaelg)	bannoo = sucking pig, piglet
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	banv = (young) pig, piglet
Welsh (Cymraeg)	banw = (young) pig, piglet, weaned pig, hog; young animal
Old Cornish	baneu = sow
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	banb = sow
Cornish (Kernewek)	banow = sow
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	banv = sow, pig
Breton (Brezhoneg)	banv = mother sow

Etymology: unknown – possibly from a non-Indo-European language [source].

Proto-Brythonic	*porxell = piglet
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	porchell, parchell = (young) pig, piglet
Welsh (Cymraeg)	porchell [ˈpɔrχɛɬ] = sucking-pig, piglet, little pig, porker, pig, swine, hog
Old Cornish	porchel = young pig, piglet
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	porhel = young pig, piglet
Cornish (Kernewek)	porghel = young pig, piglet porghellik = piglet, sucking pig
Old Breton	porchill = piglet
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	porhell, porchell, porchel = piglet porchelles = sow
Breton (Brezhoneg)	porc’helleg = piglet

Etymology: from the Late Latin porcellus (piglet), from the Latin porcus (pig), from the Proto-Italic *porkos (pig) from the Proto-Indo-European pórḱos (piglet) [source]. Words from the same PIE root include varken (pig) in Dutch, pork in English, and porc (pig, pork) in French [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Goats

26th January 20208th May 2022 By Simon

Words for goats in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*gabros = goat
Gaulish	gabrus = goat
Old Irish (Goídelc)	gabor [ˈɡavor] = goat
Irish (Gaeilge)	gabhar [ɡəuɾˠ] = goat; Capricorn; scad, horse-mackerel
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	gohbar [ɡo.əɾ] = goat, Capricorn
Manx (Gaelg)	goayr = goat, stooge, scad
Proto-Brythonic	*gaβr = goat
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	gauar = goat
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gafr [ɡavr] = goat
Old Cornish	gauar = goat
Cornish (Kernewek)	gaver = goat
Old Breton	gabr = goat
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gavr = goat

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *kápros (goat) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*bukkos = goat
Gaulish	*bukkos = male goat
Old Irish (Goídelc)	boc = he-goat, billy goat
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	boc = he-goat, billy goat
Irish (Gaeilge)	boc = buck, playboy poc = buck (of deer or goat) pocán = billy goat poc gabhair = billy goat
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	boc [bɔxg] = buck (esp. of deer and goats) boc-gobhair = billy goat
Manx (Gaelg)	bock = male, he, josser, swell, buck, gelding bock goayr = billy goat
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bwch [buːχ] = buck bwch gafr = billy goat
Cornish (Kernewek)	bogh = billy goat
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bo(u)c’h = billy goat

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *bʰuǵ- (goat, buck, ram) [source], which is also the root of the English word buck.

Irish (Gaeilge)	minseach = nanny goat
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	minnseag = nanny goat
Manx (Gaelg)	mannan = nanny goat

Etymology: unknown

Proto-Celtic	*menno- = young of an animal, kid
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	menn = kid, young goat
Irish (Gaeilge)	meann = kid, young goat
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	meann [mjaun̪ˠ]= kid, young goat
Manx (Gaelg)	mannan = kid, young goat
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	myn, mỳn = kid, young goat
Welsh (Cymraeg)	myn = kid, young goat myn gafr = kid, young goat
Old Cornish	min = kid, young goat
Middle Cornish	myn = kid, young goat
Cornish (Kernewek)	min = kid goats minen = kid goat
Breton (Brezhoneg)	menn = kid goat menn-gavr = kid, young goat

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *men- (small) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Middle Cornish (Cernewec / Kernuak)

Hens & Chickens

Ants

Mice

Deer

Cats

Roundness

Animals

Donkeys

Pigs

Goats