Category: Old Breton

Heads & Brains

By Simon

Words for heads, brains and minds in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *kʷennom = head
*en-kʷennio- = brain
Gaulish pennon / πεννοου = head
Primitive Irish ᚉᚒᚅᚐ-ᚉᚓᚅᚅᚔ (cuna-cenni) = head
Old Irish (Goídelc) cenn [kʲen͈] = head, end
inchinn [kʲen͈] = brain
Irish (Gaeilge) ceann [caun̪ˠ / cɑːn̪ˠ / can̪ˠ] = head; end, extremity; one; chief, main
inchinn [ˈɪɲçən̠ʲ] = brain
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ceann [kʲaun̪ˠ] = head; end, close, finish; lid; roof; subject, topic
eachainn [ɛnɛxɪn̪ʲ] = brain, brains
Manx (Gaelg) kione [caun / coːn / coᵈn] = head, headland, chief, ringleader, bottom, poll, end, extreme, close, finish, top-end, top, point of argument, termination, closing, extremity, point, dyke, tribune
Proto-Brythonic *penn [ˈpenː] = head
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) penn = head, chief
Welsh (Cymraeg) pen [əˈmɛnɨ̞ð / əˈmɛnɪð] = head, obverse (of coin); top, summit, roof, highest point; extremity, end, beginning; headland, promontory, projecting point of rock; pole
ymennydd brain, brains, intellectual capacity, mind
Old Cornish penn = head
Cornish (Kernewek) penn [pɛn:] = head, end, top
ympynnyon brain
Old Breton penn = head, chief
Breton (Brezhoneg) pen(n) [pɛ̃n] = head, chief, leader
empenn = brain

Etymology: unknown, possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *kap- (to hold, seize). The words for brain all mean “in head”.

Old Irish (Goídelc) in(n)tinn [ˈin͈ʲtʲin͈ʲ] = head, end
Irish (Gaeilge) intinn [ˈiːn̠ʲtʲən̠ʲ] = mind, mental state, disposition, attention, spirits, intention, accord
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) inntinn [ĩːn̪ʲdʲɪn̪ʲ] = (human) mind; intellect, intelligence; intention, purpose
Manx (Gaelg) inçhyn = brain, grey matter, intellect, spirit

Etymology: from the Latin intentiō (strain, tension, increase, exertion, charge, purpose, intention).

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Chile-03046 - More...

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek

Legs & Feet

By Simon

Words for legs and feet in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *koxsā = foot, leg
Old Irish (Goídelc) cos(s) [kos] = foot, leg
Irish (Gaeilge) cos [kɔsˠ] = leg, foot; handle, shaft, stem; lower end
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) cas [kas] = foot, trotter; leg; handle, shaft shank (of a fishing hook
cos [kɔs] = foot, leg, handle, shaft
Manx (Gaelg) cass [kaːs] = leg, barrel, foot, shaft, peg, bottom, outlet, mouth of river, stalk, hilt, stem of pipe, crop of whip
Proto-Brythonic *koɨs = leg, shank, stem
Welsh (Cymraeg) coes [koːɨ̯s / kɔi̯s / koːs] = leg, shank; handle, haft, stem (of pipe); stalk, stem

Etymology
From Proto-Indo-European *koḱs- (joint) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru

Proto-Celtic *tregess = foot
Gaulish treide = foot
Old Irish (Goídelc) traig [traɣʲ] = foot (part of body / measurement), step
Irish (Gaeilge) troigh [t̪ˠɾˠɪɟ / t̪ˠɾˠɔ / t̪ˠɾˠiː] = foot (part of body / measurement), step
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) troigh [trɔç] = foot (part of body / measurement), sole of foot
Manx (Gaelg) trie [strɛin] = sole, twelve inches, foot
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) troet = foot
Welsh (Cymraeg) troed [troːɨ̯d / trɔi̯d] = foot; shaft, handle; bottom, base, pedestal, foundation, extremity, end; stalk; foot-joint
Old Cornish truit = foot
Middle Cornish troys / tros = foot
Cornish (Kernewek) troos [tro:z / tru:z] = foot, on foot
Old Breton troat = foot
Middle Breton troat = foot
Breton (Brezhoneg) troad = foot, handle

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *tregʰ- (to run, walk), apparently a variant of *dʰregʰ- (to run) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Lips, Mouths & Throats

By Simon

Words for lip, mouth & throat in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *wewlos = lip
Old Irish (Goídelc) bél [bʲeːl] = lip, mouth, opening
Irish (Gaeilge) béal [bʲia̯l̪ˠ / bʲeːlˠ] = mouth, opening, entrance, lip, edge, sound, front, face, beginning
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) beul [bial̪ˠ] = mouth, beginning, opening, edge, gunwale, oral
Manx (Gaelg) beeal [ˈbiəl] = mouth, muzzle, rictus, flue, outlet, orifice, cone, crater, rim, approach, passage
Proto-Brythonic *gweβl = lip
Welsh (Cymraeg) gwefl = lip (of an animal), jaws, chaps
Cornish (Kernewek) gwevel = lip
Breton (Brezhoneg) guefl = lip

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Dictionnaire Favereau

Proto-Celtic *moniklo- = neck
Old Irish (Goídelc) muinél = neck, narrow part
Irish (Gaeilge) muineál [ˈmˠɪnɑːl] = neck
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) muineal [mun̪ʲəl̪ˠ] = neck
Manx (Gaelg) mwannal [ˈmonal] = neck
Welsh (Cymraeg) mwnwgl = neck

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru

Welsh (Cymraeg) gwddf [ɡʊðv / ˈɡuːðu] = neck, crag; throat
gwddw [ˈɡʊðʊ / ˈɡuːðu] = neck, crag; throat
gwddwg [ˈɡuːðu / ˈɡuːðuɡ] = neck, crag; throat
Old Breton guodoc = throat, neck
Breton (Brezhoneg) gouzoug = throat, neck

Sources: Wiktionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Dictionnaire Favereau

Welsh (Cymraeg) ceg [keːɡ] = throat, gullet, windpipe, neck; mouth, opening, entrance; roup, pip; thrush

Sources: Wiktionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru

Full

By Simon

Words for full in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *ɸlānos = full
Old Irish (Goídelc) lán [l͈aːn] = full
Irish (Gaeilge) lán [l̪ˠɑːnˠ / l̪ˠæːnˠ] = full, pride, arrogance
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) làn [l̪ˠaːn] = full, replete; complete; filled, sat(iat)ed, satisfied; fullness; high tide; complement, fill
Manx (Gaelg) lane [lɛdn] = full, replete, crowded, swelling, fully, total, gravid, lot, unexpurgated (edition), much, loaded, plenary, sound, full-blooded, at full strength
Proto-Brythonic *lọn [ˈlɔːn] = full
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) llawn = full
Welsh (Cymraeg) llawn [ɬau̯n] = full; covered, saturated; filled to capacity; teeming with, abounding in; charged with emotion
Cornish (Kernewek) leun [lø:n / le:n] = full, complete, thorough
Old Breton dacrlon = full
Middle Breton leun = full
Breton (Brezhoneg) leun = full, covered

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology
From Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₁nós (full) [source]

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Silver & Money

By Simon

Words for silver and money in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *argantom = silver
Gaulish arangto- / *argantom = silver
Celtiberian arkanta / arkato- = silver
Old Irish (Goídelc) argat [ˈarɡad] = silver, money
Irish (Gaeilge) airgead [ˈaɾʲɪɟəd̪ˠ / ˈæɾʲɪɟəd̪ˠ] = silver, money, sum of money
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) airgead [ɛrʲɛgʲəd] = money, silver, cash, currency
Manx (Gaelg) argid = money, silver, coinage, wages, finance, exchequer
Proto-Brythonic *arɣant [arˈɣant] = silver, money
Old Welsh argant = silver
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) ariant = silver
Welsh (Cymraeg) arian [ˈarjan] = silver, silvery; silver vessel; money, coin(s), coinage, currency, wealth
Cornish (Kernewek) arghans [‘arhans / ‘ærhɐnz] = silver, money
Old Breton argant = silver
Middle Breton archant = silver
Breton (Brezhoneg) arc’hant = silver, money

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology
From Proto-Indo-European *h₂erǵn̥tom (silver), from *h₂erǵ- (white) [source]

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Celtic Star pendant

Blue / Black / Dark

By Simon

Words for blue / dark / dun in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *gurmos = dun, dark, blue
Irish (Gaeilge) gorm [ˈɡɔɾˠəmˠ] = blue; dyeing-blue; azure; dark-blue; livid, purple
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) gorm [gɔrɔm] = blue; green, verdant; green, inexperienced, wet (behind the ears)
Manx (Gaelg) gorrym = blue, black, dark-skinned; washing blue
Proto-Brythonic *gurm = dun, dark, blue
Welsh (Cymraeg) gwrm = brown, dark-brown, reddish, greyish-brown, dark-grey, dark, dusky, black, dark-blue, blue
Cornish (Kernewek) gorm [gɔrm] = (dark) brown
Old Breton uurm = dark

Etymology: unknown

View from Sabhal Mòr Ostaig

Note: the Old Breton word is used in the expression uurm-haelon (“with dark brows”).

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek

White

By Simon

Words for white in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *windos [ˈwin.dos] = white
Old Irish (Goídelc) finn [fʲin͈] = white, bright, blessed
Irish (Gaeilge) fionn = white; fair-haired, blond, bright, clear
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) fionn [fjũːn̪ˠ] = white, fair, pale; sincere, true, certain; small; fine, pleasant; wan; lilac; resplendent, bright; prudent
Manx (Gaelg) fynn = blond(e), fair (hair, skin), pure white, sprite; cataract
Proto-Brythonic *gwinn [ˈɡwɨnː] = white (m)
*gwenn = white (f)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) gwynn = white (m)
gwen = white (f)
Welsh (Cymraeg) gwyn [ɡwɨ̞n / ɡwɪn] = white (m), greyish-white, pale; light, shining, bright; brilliant, white-hot; silver; amber-coloured; fair-haired, fair-faced, of fair complexion; holy, blessed, beatific, good, happy; splendid, excellent, beautiful, fair, pleasant; favourite, darling, white-headed
gwen = white (f)
Old Cornish guyn = white
Cornish (Kernewek) gwynn [gwɪn:] = white, fair, blessed
Old/Middle Breton guinn = white
Breton (Brezhoneg) gwenn = white, pale, pure
Proto-Celtic *banos = white
Old Irish (Goídelc) bán [baːn] = white, pure
Irish (Gaeilge) bán [bˠɑːn̪ˠ / bˠæːn̪ˠ] = white, white-headed, fair, pale, blank, empty, idle, wild crazy
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) bàn [baːn] = fair(-haired), white (haired); blank, empty, unoccupied, vacant; pallid, pale; fallow
Manx (Gaelg) bane = white, blank, fair, blond(e), pallid; fallow, unbroken (ground)
Welsh (Cymraeg) bân [baːn] = white, whitish, grey, pale

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- (to shine) [source], or from *bhā (shine) [source]

Proto-Celtic *gelos = shining, white
Gaulish *gelā
Old Irish (Goídelc) gel = bright, clear, white
Irish (Gaeilge) geal [ɟalˠ] = white, bright
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) geal [gʲal̪ˠ] = white, fine
Manx (Gaelg) gial = bright, clear, white, shining, snowy, light-coloured, fulgent
Welsh (Cymraeg) gell = bay, brown, auburn, orange, yellow, tawny-coloured
Cornish (Kernewek) gell [gɛl:] = (light) brown
Breton (Brezhoneg) gell = bay, brown

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰelh₂os, from *ǵʰelh₂- (to shine) [source]

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Free

By Simon

Words for free in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *su-wiros = free (“good man”)
Old Irish (Goídelc) sóer [soːi̯r] = free
Middle Irish saer = free
Irish (Gaeilge) saor [sˠeːɾˠ / sˠiːɾˠ] = free, enfranchised; noble; independent
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) soar [sɯːr] = free (not captive); cheap; frank
Manx (Gaelg) seyr [seːr] = free, gratuitous, gratis, complimentary, inexpensive, immune, floating, independent, disengaged, fluid, aweigh, unforced, autonomous

Etymology
From the Proto-Indo-European *h₁su- (good, well) & *wiHrós (man, husband).

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie

Proto-Celtic *ɸriyos = free
Proto-Brythonic *rɨð [ˈrɨːð] = free
Welsh (Cymraeg) rhydd [r̥ɨːð / r̥iːð] = free, nonconformist; unrestricted, unrestrained; open; liberal
Old Cornish rid = free
Cornish (Kernewek) rydh [rɪ:ð / ri:ð] = free
Old Breton rid = free

Etymology
Possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *priHós (dear, beloved, happy, free) [source], from *preyH- (like, love).

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek

Low

By Simon

Words for low in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *ɸīsselos = low
Old Irish (Goídelc) ísel [ˈiːsʲel] = low
Irish (Gaeilge) íseal [ˈiːʃəlˠ] = low, low-lying
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ìosal [iəsəl̪ˠ] = low, humble, mean lowly
ìseal [iːʃəl̪ˠ] = low, commoner
Manx (Gaelg) ishil = low
injil = low, low-necked, low-lying, low-level, low down, low-built, low-pitched, low-grade, common (vulgar), depressed, subdued, subaltern
Welsh (Cymraeg) isel [ˈɨ̞sɛl / ˈiːsɛl / ˈɪsɛl] = low, low down, low-lying, low-flying; lower than the average or usual level, running low, shallow (water, lake)
Cornish (Kernewek) isel [‘izɛl / ‘izɐl] = low, modest, vulgar
Old Breton isel = low
Breton (Brezhoneg) izel = low

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European pedsú, from *pṓds (foot) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Broad & Wide

By Simon

Words for broad & wide in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *ɸlitanos = broad, wide
Gaulish litana = broad, wide
Old Irish (Goídelc) lethan [l͈ʲeθan] = broad, wide
Irish (Gaeilge) leathan [ˈl̠ʲahənˠ] = broad, wide, extensive
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) leathann [l̪ˠʲɛhən̪ˠ] = broad, wide, extensive
Manx (Gaelg) lhean = wide, sheet, sweeping, flat of nose, extensive, broad, full (of chin)
Proto-Brythonic *lɨdan [lɨˈdan] = broad, wide
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) llydan = broad, wide
Welsh (Cymraeg) llydan [ˈɬədan] = broad, wide, long or wide (stride); sturdy, stout
Cornish (Kernewek) ledan [‘lɛdan] = broad
Old Breton litan = broad, wide
Breton (Brezhoneg) ledan = wide, broad

Etymology
From Proto-Indo-European *pl̥th₂-enos, from *pleth₂- (flat). [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau