Hurdle Fences

4th August 202122nd February 2023 By Simon

Words for hurdles, fences and related words in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*klētā = wattled frame, palisade, hurdle
Gaulish	*cleta = hurdle
Old Irish (Goídelc)	clíath = hurdle, litter, stretcher, wattlework
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	clíath = hurdle; wattle panels of walls, doors or gates; woven fence, palisade, outwork
Irish (Gaeilge)	cliath [klʲiə] = wattled, latticed, frame, hurdle, phalanx, staff, stave (music) cliathach = ribbed frame, engagement, battle cliathobair = wattle-work, wickerwork cliathóg = (small) hurdle cliathóir = hurdler, hurdle-maker cliathrás = hurdle race cliathreathaí = hurdler cliathreathaíocht = hurdling Baile Átha Cliath Dublin (“Hurdle Ford Settlement”)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cliath [kliə] = grid, lattice, grate, grating, shoal (of fish), hurdle, harrow, stockade, stave, staff (music) cliathag = small hurdle cliath-bhogsa = crate cliath-dhuilleag = spreadsheet obair-chliath = trellis
Manx (Gaelg)	cleeah = lattice, wicker, fret, darn, stave, staff, grid, stretcher, grate, grating, criss-cross, school of fish cleea = hurdle cleeader = hurdler
Proto-Brythonic	*kluɨd = palisade, hurdle
Middle Welsh (Kymraec	cluyt, clwyt = hurdle
Welsh (Cymraeg)	clwyd [kluːɨ̯d / klʊi̯d] = movable hurdle, wattle, lattice, rack, crate, gate, door; protection, cover, defence clwydo = to wattle, weave, hurdle, tangle; roost, sleep clwydaid = a crateful, pannierful, kilnful clwydedd = door, gate clwydwaith = wickerwork, wattle clwydwr = gate-keeper, porter
Old Cornish	cluit = hurdle
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	cluit, clita = hurdle, wattle, crate, wattled gate
Cornish (Kernewek)	kloos = fence, rack
Middle Breton	klouet, cloet, kloued, klwed = hurdle
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kloued = fence, barrier, gate, railings, grating, grid klouedenn = openwork, fence, skylight, harrow, portcullis

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱléyteh₂ (leaning, sloped, inclined) from *ḱley- (to lean, incline) [source].

Words from the same Proto-Celtic root, via Gaulish and Latin, include claie (wicker rack, trellis, hurdle) in French and cheda (wattled laterals at the base of a traditional cart) in Galician [source].

Words from the same PIE root include client, climate, clinic, incline and lean in English, leunen (to lean) in Dutch, lehnen (to lean) in German, chinàre (to bend) in Italian, clemente (lenient) in Spanish [source], clé (left) and cleith (pole, cudgel, wattle) in Irish, cledd (left hand/side) in Welsh, and related words in Celtic languages [more details].

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

Kitchens

30th July 20215th January 2024 By Simon

Words for kitchens and related words in Celtic languages.

Middle Irish (Goídelc)	cisten = kitchen
Irish (Gaeilge)	cistin [ˈcɪʃtʲənʲ] = kitchen, cook-house cistineach = culinary cistin phoiblí = soup kitchen cistin taistil = travelling kitchen cúlchistin = back-kitchen, scullery sorn cistine = cooker
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cidsin/citsin [kʲidʲɪn/kʲiʃdʲɪn] = kitchen cidsin-dubh = scullery cidsineach/citsineach = culinary, pertaining to or abounding in kitchens
Manx (Gaelg)	kishteen = cookhouse kishteen cooyl = back kitchen sorn kishteen = cooking range, cooker

Etymology: from Middle English kychyn (kitchen, cooking, cuisine), from Old English cyċene [ˈky.t͡ʃe.ne] (kitchen), from Proto-West-Germanic *kukinā (kitchen), from Late Latin cocīna (kitchen), from coquīna (cooking, cookery, kitchen). from Latin coquō (to cook, prepare food, ripen, roast), ultimately from PIE *pekʷ- (to cook, become ripe) [source].

English words from the same roots include kitchen, cook, cuisine, biscuit and kiln [source].

Proto-Brythonic	*kėgin = kitchen
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	kegyn, kecyn = kitchen
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cegin [ˈkɛɡɪn/ˈkeːɡɪn] = kitchen cegin(i)af, cegin(i)o = to cook, prepare food ceginaidd = culinary, commonplace cegindy = eating-house, cook-shop ceginfa = galley ceginiaeth = cookery, the culinary art, cuisine ceginol = culinary ceginwaith = kitchen work, cookery ceginwas = scullion, kitchen-knave ceginwr / ceginwraig = cook cegin gefn/fach = back kitchen cegin groes = scullery cegin orau = parlour, sitting-room
Old Cornish	keghin = kitchen
Cornish (Kernewek)	kegin [ˈkɛɡɪn] = kitchen kegina = to cook keginer / keginores = chef keginieth = cookery
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kegin = kitchen keginañ = to cook, culinary keginer = cook, chef cooker keginerezh = cooking, cuisine keginouriezh = art of cooking, culinary art, cuisine

Etymology: from the Vulgar Latin cucīna (cooking, kitchen), from the Latin coquō (to cook), from the Proto-Indo-European *pekʷ- (to cook, become ripe) [source].

Manx (Gaelg)	shamyr aarlagh / shamyr aarlee = kitchen, galley, caboose shamyreen aarlee = kitchenette sorn aarlee = kitchen range greieyn aarlee = kitchen utensils

Etymology: from shamyr (room) and aarlee (to cook, prepare, train) [source].

Incidentally, one of the rivers near Bangor is called Afon Cegin (see below), which I’ve always thought meant ‘Kitchen River’, and wondered what it had to do with kitchens. However, cegin also means green woodpecker or jay, and is cognate with the Breton kegin (jay). Or it can mean ridge or hog’s back. The River of the Green Woodpecker / Jay, sounds more poetic and likely than the Kitchen River.

River Mouths

8th July 202122nd June 2025 By Simon

Words for estuary / mouth (of a river) in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*adberos = mouth, confluence (of a river)
Pictish	*ᚐᚁᚓᚏ (aber) = mouth, confluence (of a river)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	abar [ˈfʲilʲi] = confluence, river mouth
Irish (Gaeilge)	abar [ˈabˠəɾˠ] = boggy ground, morass abarach = boggy, muddy, sloughy abracht = boggy place
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	abar / obar = confluence, place where two or more streams meet; marsh, bog, fen
Manx (Gaelg)	aber = range, pasturage, river mouth, bunker, run
Proto-Brythonic	*aber [aˈbɛːr] = mouth, confluence (of a river)
Old Welsh)	oper, aper = estuary, mouth of a river
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	aber = estuary, mouth of a river
Welsh (Cymraeg)	aber [ˈabɛr/ˈaːbɛr] = river mouth, estuary, confluence, bay, harbour, port, anchorage
Old Cornish	aber = estuary, mouth of a river
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	aber = confluence of waters, the junction of rivers
Cornish (Kernewek)	aber = river mouth
Old Breton	aperou = estuary, mouth of a river
Breton (Brezhoneg)	aber = estuary, mouth of a river, confluence, creek

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *ad- (to(wards), at) and *beros (bearer, flow) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*eni-berom = carrying in
Old Irish (Goídelc)	*in(d)ber = river mouth
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	inber, indber, inbir = rivermouth
Irish (Gaeilge)	inbhear / inbhir [ˈabˠəɾˠ] = river mouth, estuary, firth inbhearach = having many estuaries
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	inbhir [in̪ʲɪrʲ] = estuary, river mouth, (internet) feed
Manx (Gaelg)	inver = estuary, river mouth

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *eni- (in) and *beros (bearer, flow), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- (to bear, carry) [source].

Notes
These words appear mainly in placenames such as Aberaeron, Abererch, Aberffraw, Abergavenny (Y Fenni), Abergynolwyn, Aberystwyth, Abergwaun (Fishguard), Aberhonddu (Brecon), Aberteifi (Cardigan), Aberdaugleddau (Milford Haven), Aberpennar (Mountain Ash) and Abertawe (Swansea) in Wales.

Aberdeen (Obar Dheathain) , Aberfeldy (Obar Pheallaidh), Aberfoyle (Obar Phuill), Abernethy (Obar Neithich), Arbroath (Aber Brothaig), Invergowrie (Inbhir Ghobharaidh), Inverkeithing (Inbhir Chèitinn), Inverness (Inbhir Nis), Inbhir Nàrann (Nairn), Inbhir Pheofharain (Dingwall), Inbhir Ùige (Wick) in Scotland.

Aber/Obar appear in Scottish placenames of Pictish origin, and may have been borrowed from Pictish. Inbhir/Inver appear in other placenames [source].

More details of placenames featuring Aber and Inver.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	gáeth = the sea, a stream, an estuary
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	gáeth, gáoth, gaoth = the sea, a stream, an estuary gáethlach = marsh, swamp
Irish (Gaeilge)	gaoth [ɡeːh / ɡiːh] = inlet of sea, estuary Gaoth Dobhair [ɡiːˈd̪ˠoːɾʲ] = Gweedore (a parish in County Donegal)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	geodha [gʲɔ.ə] = inlet, cove, gully (by the sea), indent(ation)
Manx (Gaelg)	giau = creek, inlet, cove Giau Vooar ny Pershey = Persian Gulf

Etymology: possibly from the Old Norse gjá (chasm, rift, crack) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Blackberries

26th May 202128th May 2021 By Simon

Words for blackberries and related words, in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*smiyoros = berry, berries
Old Irish (Goídelc)	smér = blackberry
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	smér = blackberry
Irish (Gaeilge)	sméar [sˠmʲiaɾˠ/sˠmʲeːɾˠ] = berry, blackberry sméarach = abounding in blackberries sméardhris = blackberry bush, bramble sméara dubha = blackberries púca na sméar = fruit-destroying pooka, herald of winter
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	smeur [smiar] = bramble, blackberry, mulberry smeur-dhubh = blackberry smeur-craoibhe = mulberry smeur-loganach = loganberry smeur-Artaigeach = nagoonberry, Arctic bramble/raspberry (Rubus arcticus) craobh nan smeur = mulberry tree (Morus)
Manx (Gaelg)	smeyr = blackberry, berry smeyr ghoo = blackberry smeyr churree = cranberry smeyr fannag = crowberry smeyr loaganagh = cloudberry crouw smeyr = mulberry
Proto-Brythonic	*muɨar = blackberries, berries
Welsh (Cymraeg)	mwyar(en) [ˈmʊɨ̯.ar/ˈmʊi̯.ar] = blackberries, dewberries, brambles, briers, berries mwyara = to gather blackberries; to be idle mwyarbren = mulberry bush, blackberry bush, bramble mwyar Berwyn/ mwyar Doewan = wild raspberries, (Rubus idæus), cloudberries, (Rubus chamæmorus) mwyar y brain = bilberries, whimberries, whortleberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) mwyar y ddaear = dewberries (Rubus cæsius), cloudberries mwyar du(on) = blackberries (Rubus fruticosus) mwyar Ffrengig = mulberries, blackberries mwyar glas = dewberries mwyar Mair = mulberries, dewberries
Old Cornish	moyr(bren) = berries
Cornish (Kernewek)	mor(en) = berries mora = to gather blackberries mor du = blackberries
Old Breton	moiaroc = berries
Breton (Brezhoneg)	mouar(enn) = blackberries, berries; bramble, mulberry tree mouar du / mouar gouez = blackberries, dewberries mouar gwenn = mulberries mouar ruz = red mulberries

Etmology: unknown

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Plums

19th May 202113th June 2024 By Simon

Words for plums, damsons, sloes, and related words, in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	agrinyom/agrinyā = sloe, small plum, berry
Old Irish (Goídelc)	áirne = sloe
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	áirne, airnne = sloe, kernel áirnech = abounding in sloes áirnechán = little sloe
Irish (Gaeilge)	airne [ˈɑːɾˠn̠ʲə / ˈæːɾˠn̠ʲə] = sloe, gland airneog = sloe tree, blackthorn biotáille airní = sloe gin
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	àirne [aːr̪n̪ʲə] = blackthorn, sloe (berry), wild plum (prunus domestica), damson (prunus domestica insititia) àirneag = sloe bush
Manx (Gaelg)	airn = sloe, bullace airnagh = sloe-covered soo airney = sloe jam drine airn = blackthorn, sloe tree (Prunus spinosa)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	eirin(en) = plum(s), damson(s), sloe(s) eirinha = to collect sloes or bullace eirinwyd = plum trees, sloe trees, blackthorn
Welsh (Cymraeg)	eirin(en) [ˈei̯rɪn] = plum(s), damson(s), sloe(s), bullace, berries, testicle(s) eirina = to collect sloes or bullace eirinog = bearing plums or sloes eirinwydd = plum trees, sloe trees, blackthorn eirin bwlas = bullace, wild plums (Prunus insititia), damsons eirin damasg/Damasgus = damson eirin Ffrainc/Ffrengig = prunes eirin gwlanog = peaches, apricots eirin gwynion = greengages eirin Mair = gooseberries eirin y moch = haws, hawthorn berries eirin morwydd = mulberries eirin peatus = nectarines eirin ysgaw = elderberries eirin y gors = crowberries
Old Cornish	yryn = sloes
Cornish (Kernewek)	eyrin(en) = sloe(s)
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	<hirin, irin = sloes yrinenn = blackthorn
Breton (Brezhoneg)	irin(enn) [ˈiː.rĩn(n)] = sloe(s), sloe gin; pupil, eye irina = to look for sloes irineg = a place with sloes irinenn = blackthorn

Etmology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ógeh₂ (berry) [source]. The English word acorn comes from the same root, via the Proto-Germanic *h₂ógeh₂ [source]

Irish (Gaeilge)	pluma [ˈpˠlˠʊmˠə] = plum daimsín [ˈpˠlˠʊmˠə] = damson
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	plumais / plùmbais [pl̪ˠumɪʃ / pl̪ˠuːmbɪʃ] = plum daimsin [dãĩmʃɪn] = damson
Manx (Gaelg)	plumbis = plum damsyl = damson
Welsh (Cymraeg)	plemys(en) = plum(s)
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	pluman = plum plumbren = plum tree
Cornish (Kernewek)	ploum(en) = plum(s) ploum(en) sygh = prune(s)
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	prun(enn), prun(en) = plum(s), testicule(s) prunec = sloe grove prunenn, prunen = plum tree
Breton (Brezhoneg)	prun(enn) = plum(s), testicule(s) pruneg, prunek = plum grove prunenn = plum tree

Etmology (plum): from the Middle English ploume/plomme (plum) from the Old English plūme/plume (plum), from the Proto-West Germanic *plūmā (plum), from the Latin prūnum (plum), from the Ancient Greek προῦμνον (proûmnon – plum). Prune comes from the same root [source]

Etmology (damson): from the Middle English damascene/damasyn/damacene (damson), from the Latin prūnum damascēnum (Damascene plum, plum of Damascus), from the Ancient Greek προῦμνον (proûmnon – plum) [source].

Milk

13th May 202130th October 2024 By Simon

Words for milk, and related words, in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*laxto- = milk
Old Irish (Goídelc)	lacht [l͈axt] = milk
Irish (Gaeilge)	lacht [l̪ˠɑxt̪ˠ / l̪ˠaxt̪ˠ] = milk, yield of milk; tears lachtadh = lacation; flooding (of eyes) lachaí = nursling lachtach = lactic, milky; tearful lachtbhán = milkwhite lachtmhar = lactiferous, milky, abounding in milk
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	lac, lachd = sweet milk
Manx (Gaelg)	laghtveih = milk gauge, milk tester
Proto-Brythonic	*llaɨθ = milk
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	llaeth = milk
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llaeth [ɬaːɨ̯θ / ɬai̯θ] = milk; milk-like substance, latex; milt, soft roe llaetha(f), llaethu = to yield milk, lactate, feed with milk, turn to milk llaetheiddrwydd = milkiness, lactescence llaethiad = lactation llaethlyd = milk-like, milky llaethog = milky, abounding in milk llaethogrwydd, llaethedd = milkiness llaethwraig = milkmaid, dairymaid, good milker llaethyddol = dairy, dairying y Llwybr Llaethog the Milky Way
Old Cornish	lait = milk
Middle Cornish	leth, leyth = milk
Cornish (Kernewek)	leth = milk
Breton (Brezhoneg)	laezh [ˈlɛːs] = milk

Etmology: from the Vulgar Latin *lacte (milk), from the Latin *lac (milk), from the Proto-Indo-European *ǵlákt [source].

Proto-Celtic	*mlixtus = milk
Old Irish (Goídelc)	mlicht [mʲlʲixt] = milch, in milk (of cattle)
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	blicht = milk
Irish (Gaeilge)	bleacht [bʲlʲaxt̪ˠ] = milk, milk yield
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bliochd [blixg] = milkiness, milk bliochdmhor [blixg(v)ər] = milky, full of milk bliochdach = milky, like milk, lacteous
Manx (Gaelg)	bluight = lactiferous, lacteal, galactic bluightagh, ollagh vluight = milking cows
Proto-Brythonic	*bliθ = milk
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	blyth = milk lleurith = milk
Welsh (Cymraeg)	blith [bliːθ] = milch, lactating (of cow, etc), full of milk, in calf, in lamb, pregant, fruitful, productive, nourising; milk, dairy produce, lactation, dairying; profit, gain, advantage blithog, blithiog = milch, giving milk, full of milk, fruitful, productive, bearing offspring llefrith [ˈɬɛvrɪθ] = milk, new milk, sweet milk, fresh milk
Old Cornish	leuerid = milk
Breton (Brezhoneg)	livrizh = milk

Etmology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ml̥ǵtus, from *h₂melǵ- (milk, to milk) [source].

The Welsh word llefrith, which is used in North Wales, comes from llef (weak) and blith (milk) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*bandyo- = drop
Old Irish (Goídelc)	banne = drop, pustule bannán = small drop, droplet
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	bannae, bainne, banne = drop, pustule, milk
Irish (Gaeilge)	bainne [ˈbˠaɲə / ˈbˠan̠ʲə] = milk bainniúil = milky, milk-yielding bainniúilacht = milkiness
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bainne = milk boinne [bɔn̪ʲə] = drop, small quantity, liquid measure boinneag [bɔn̪ʲag] = droplet, little/small drop, (alcoholic) drink boinnean [bɔn̪ʲan] = droplet, wee drop
Manx (Gaelg)	bainney [banʲə] = milk
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	ban = drop (?)
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	ban, banna, banné = drop, a jot, the smallest portion of anything
Cornish (Kernewek)	banna = bit, drop
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	banne, bannhe, bannech = drop, droplet
Breton (Brezhoneg)	banne [ˈbã.nːe] = drop, droplet, glass banneata = to drink shots

Etymology: uncertain. Possibly related to French bain (bath) in French, baño (bath, bathroom, toilet), bagno (bath, to swin, bathe, bathroom) in Italian, and bania (jug, can, container, churn) in Polish [source].

Other words for milk in Proto-Celtic include: *glaxtā-, *melgos-, *mlig-e/o-, *seigi- and *sutu-.

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, Dictionnaires bilingues de Francis Favereau / Edition Skol Vreizh, TermOfis

Bread

24th April 202125th April 2021 By Simon

Words for bread and related words in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*ar(-akno)- = bread
Old Irish (Goídelc)	arán [ˈaraːn] = bread, loaf of bread
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	arán [ˈaraːn] = bread
Irish (Gaeilge)	arán [əˈɾˠɑːn̪ˠ / ˈaɾˠanˠ] = bread arán baile = home-baked bread arán bán = white bread, baker’s bread arán coirce = oatbread, oatcake arán donn, arán rua = brown bread arán prátaí = potato cake
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	aran [aɾan] = bread, loaf; livelihood, sustenance aran-coircearan-donn, aran ruadharan-eòrnaaran milisaran-seagail
Manx (Gaelg)	arran = bread arran Albinagh = shortbread arran bainney = bread roll arran bane = white bread arran dhone, arran ruy = brown bread arran greddan(it) = toast arran shoggyl = rye bread

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *arankā- (grain) [source].

Proto-Celtic	bargo / baragenā / *barginā = cake, bread
Old Irish (Goídelc)	barigen [ˈˈbarʲ.ɣʲən] = bread, loaf of bread
Irish (Gaeilge)	bairín = loaf bairín breac = barmbreac
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bairghin = bread, cake
Manx (Gaelg)	berreen = cake
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bara [ˈbara / ˈbaːra] = bread, loaf, slice; food, meal, sustenance, livelihood bara barlys = barley bread bara beunyddiol = daily bread bara brith = currant bread bara byr = buscuit bara ceirch = oat bread, oatcake bara coch = brown bread, barley bread bara drwg = bad bread, bad state, difficulties bara gwyn = white bread bara lawr = laverbread (made with edible seaweed) bara poeth = gingerbread, hot bread
Old Cornish	bara = bread
Cornish (Kernewek)	bara = bread bara byghan/bian = roll bara gwaneth = wheaten bread bara leun = wholemeal bread bara sugal = rye bread
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bara [ˈbɑː.ra] = bread bara bis = brown bread bara brazed = wholemeal bread bara brizh = currant bread bara gwenn = white bread bara kras = toast

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰars- (spike, prickle). Words from the same root include the English barley, the Scots bere/beir (barley), the Swedish barr (pine/fir needle), the Icelandic barr (pine needle), the Old Norse barr (corn, grain, barley), and the Latin far (spelt, coarse meal, grits), and words for flour in Romance languages, such as farine in French [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

You can find the origins of the English words bread and loaf on Radio Omniglot.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis

Hillsides

26th March 20212nd November 2021 By Simon

Words for hillsides, cliffs and related words in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*altos = height, cliff
Old Irish (Goídelc)	alt, allt = height, cliff, valley, abyss
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	als = hillock
Irish (Gaeilge)	ailt = steep-sided glen, ravine, height, cliff ailteán = small ravine alt = steep-sided ravine, hillock altach = undulating (road), wavy (hair) altán = streamlet, ravine, hillock
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	alt [al̪ˠd] = rugged/steep bank, precipice allt [aul̪ˠd] = brook, burn, stream, brook, rill, river with precipitous banks alltan = brook, little stream, streamlet
Manx (Gaelg)	alt = mountain stream, glen in mountains, high place, altitude, alto
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	alt, allt = hill(side)
Welsh (Cymraeg)	allt [aːɬt / aɬt] = hill(side), (steep) gradient or slope, steep road or path, (steep) ascent, cliff, woods, wooded slope allt (o) goed = wood, grove allt (y) môr, allt fôr = sea-cliff yr allt bren = staircase, facet (“the wooden hill”)
Old Cornish	als = cliff
Cornish (Kernewek)	als [ɒlz / ælz] = cliff
Middle Breton	a(o)ut = coast, shore, bank
Breton (Brezhoneg)	aod = coast, shore aod bili = pebble beach aod vev = foreshore

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂eltós, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- (to grow, nourish) [source].

English words such as altitude, adult and old come from the same PIE root, as do alt (old, ancient, elderly) in German, oud (old) in Dutch, haut (high, tall) in French and alto (high, tall, deep, loud) in Italian [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Bridges

16th March 202117th April 2024 By Simon

Words for bridges and related words in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	drochet [ˈdroxʲed] = bridge
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	drochet, drochat, droichet = bridge, causeway drochetech, drochetóir = bridge-maker
Irish (Gaeilge)	droichead [ˈd̪ˠɾˠɛçəd̪ˠ] = bridge droichead crochta = suspension bridge droichead tógála = drawbridge droichead meáite = weigh bridge droichead veidhlín = bridge of a violin droichead sróine = bridge of the nose
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	drochaid [drɔxɪdʲ] = bridge drochaid air fleodradh = pontoon drochaid-thogalach, drochaid-thogail = drawbridge drochaid-choise = footbridge drochaid-rathaid = road bridge, viaduct drochaid-thionndain = swing bridge
Manx (Gaelg)	droghad = bridge, bridge of ship, arch, gantry droghad aae = viaduct droghad cassee = swing bridge droghad coshey = gangway, footbridge droghad croghit = suspension bridge droghad keesh = toll bridge droichead meihaghey = weigh bridge

Etymology: from Old Irish droch (wheel, circlet) and sét (path) [source].

Gaulish	ponto = bridge
Proto-Brythonic	*pont = bridge
Cumbric	*pont = bridge
Old Welsh (Kembraec)	pont = bridge
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	pont, pynt = bridge, drawbridge
Welsh (Cymraeg)	pont [pɔnt] = bridge, drawbridge, viaduct, aqueduct pontio = to bridge (a gap), to transition pont godi = drawbridge pont grog = suspension bridge pont trwyn = bridge of the nose pont y glaw, pont law = rainbow pont ysgwydd = collar-bone, clavicle pontio = to bridge, span, arch pont(i)og = like a bridge, arched of the nature of a bridge pont(i)wr, pontydd = a bridge-builder pontyddiaeth = bridge-building
Old Cornish (Cernewec)	pons = bridge
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	pons = bridge
Cornish (Kernewek)	pons = bridge ponsfordh = viaduct pons travalya = travelling bridge
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	pont = bridge
Breton (Brezhoneg)	pont [pɔ̃nt] = bridge, top of the furrow, culvert, trigger guard pontan, pontañ = to bridge, lay flat stones (on a ditch or stream) pont-tro = swing bridge pont hent-houarn = railway bridge pont dilestrañ = bridge, deck (of ship) pont kargañ = loading deck pont-tro = swing bridge

Etymology: from Latin pōns (bridge, deck), from Proto-Indo-European *pónteh₁s (path, road), from *pent- (path). Words from the same roots include pont (bridge) in French, puente (bridge) in Spanish, път [pɤt] (road, way, path, journey, way) in Bulgarian source].

Proto-Celtic	*brīwā = bridge
Gaulish	briua = bridge
Leptonic	𐌐𐌓𐌖𐌉𐌀𐌌 (pruiam) = funerary construction (perhaps a grave)

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerw/*bʰrēw (wooden flooring, decking, bridge), which is also the root of the English words bridge and brig, and Brücke (bridge) in German [source].

Peaks

11th March 202114th March 2024 By Simon

Words for peaks and tops and related words in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	bandā = top, peak; horn benno- = peak, top
Gaulish	*benn/bannā** = peak
Old Irish (Goídelc)	benn [bʲen͈] = mountain, crag, peak, point, crest, summit, pinnacle, spire; gable, corner, horn (of animal), drinking horn, prong, crest bennán = horned animal, cow, calf; horned or peaked object
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	benn = mountain, crag, peak, point, crest, summit, pinnacle, spire, gable, corner, prong, crest bennacán = little horned one, calf bennach = pointed, peaked, horned bennán = a horned animal, calf bennchopor = steeple, tower
Irish (Gaeilge)	beann = horn, antler; drinking horn; prong (of fork) beannach = horned, antlered, pronged, peaked, gabled, angular beannógach = peaked,angular binn = peak; gable; cliff; corner, edge, margin; lap; side, portion
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	beann [bjaun̪ˠ] = horn, peak, top, corner, skirt beannach = [bjan̪ˠəx] = pointed, horned beinn [bein̪ʲ] = mountain, mount, high hill beinn-theine = volcano eigh-bheinn = iceberg
Manx (Gaelg)	beinn = mountain, ben, summit, pinnacle, apex, tine of deer beinn rioee = iceberg
Proto-Brythonic	*bann = top, peak
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	bann, = top, tip, peak, summit
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ban [ban] = top, tip, peak, summit, crest, peak, beacon, height, pinnacle, turret, hill, mountain, bare hill; chief; drinking horn, horn (of animal); arm, branch, beam, point (of cross) bannau’r byd = corners, quarters or regions of the world, the ends of the earth ban caer, ban y gaer = rampart of a fort; top or height of a fortess ban lleuad = quarters of the moon, new moon
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	ban = that which is high, a height, mountain, summit
Cornish (Kernewek)	ban = prominence
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bann = rising, uphill, upright, post, column

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *bn̥dʰéh₂ from *bendʰ- (pin, point). The Scots word ben (mountain, hill) comes from the Scottish Gaelic beinn. From Gaulish we get the Catalan words banya (horn) and banyut (horned, unfaithful), and the Occitan bana (horn), and the English word pin comes from the same PIE root [source].

See the post about Mountains for other mountain-related words, such as sliabh in Irish and Scottish Gaelic, and mynydd in Welsh.

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)

Hurdle Fences

Kitchens

River Mouths

Blackberries

Plums

Milk

Bread

Hillsides

Bridges

Peaks