Category: Old Breton

Oak (trees)

By Simon

Words for oak (Quercus) in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic *daru [d̪ˠaɾʲ] = oak
Gaulish Dervo = used in placenames
Old Irish (Goídelc) dair [d̪ˠaɾʲ] = oak
Irish (Gaeilge) dair [d̪ˠuːnˠ] = oak
doire [ˈd̪ˠɛɾʲə] = oak-wood; wood, grove, thicket
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) dair [darʲ] = oak (archaic)
darach [darəx] = oak, oaken, made of oak; ship (poetic)
Manx (Gaelg) darragh = oak, oaken, oak grove, oak wood
darrag = oak, beam, cast (fishing), snood, hairline
darree = oak
Proto-Brythonic *dar [ˈdar] = oak tree
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) dar = oak
Welsh (Cymraeg) dâr [ˈdaːr] = oak tree, foremost warrior, leader, mighty lord
derwen [ˈdɛrwɛn] = oak tree
derw = oak trees
Old Cornish dar = oak
Cornish (Kernewek) dar [daːr / dæːr] = oak
derwen = oak tree
derw = oak trees
Old Breton dar / daeru = oak
Breton (Brezhoneg) derv = oak

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *dóru (tree) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

oak

Fields, Meadows and Pastures

By Simon

There are a number of words for fields in Celtic languages. Some appear only or mainly in placenames. Here’s a selection:

Roman Camp

Old Irish (Goídelc) achad = expanse of ground; pasture, field; field of battle
Irish (Gaeilge) achadh [d̪ˠuːnˠ] = field (archaic, used mainly in placenames)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) achadh [axəɣ] = field, plain, meadow; cornfield newly cut or ready for reaping

Etymology: unknown

Proto-Celtic *gortos = fence, enclosure, pen
Old Irish (Goídelc) gort = field, orchard, crop
Irish (Gaeilge) gort [ɡɔɾˠt̪ˠ] = (cultivated) field, orchard, (standing) crop
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) gort [gɔrˠʃd] = standing corn; enclosure; small field
Proto-Brythonic *gorθ = field
Welsh (Cymraeg) garth = field, close, enclosure, fold, pen, yard; fort
Cornish (Kernewek) gorth = field
Old Breton orth = field
Breton (Brezhoneg) garz = field

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰortós (enclosure, hedge) [source], which is also the root of words yard and garden in English, via the Proto-Germanic *gardaz (enclosure, court, yard, garden) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Irish (Gaeilge) machaire = plain; stretch of level ground, links, course; field
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) machair [maxɪrʲ] = extensive low-lying fertile plain, level country; extensive beach; ow and level part of a farm
Manx (Gaelg) magher = field, fertile land, campaign, chase, machar, sphere

Etymology: unknown

Proto-Celtic *rowesyā- = (field, open ground)
Old Irish (Goídelc) róe [r͈oːi̯] = battle-field, level piece of ground, fight, battle
Irish (Gaeilge) ré [rˠeː] = stretch of ground, level ground, field
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) raon [rˠɯːn] = field, (piece of) ground; plain; zone, area; field (of expertise); ambit
Manx (Gaelg) rheam = gamut, range, field, monarchy
Old Breton runt = mound
Breton (Brezhoneg) run = mound, hill

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *Hrew(H)os (open space, field). The English words rustic and rural come from the same root, via Latin [source].

Proto-Celtic *kagyom = pen, enclosure
Gaulish cagiíun / *kagyom = enclosure
Old Irish (Goídelc) cai = field, orchard, crop
Proto-Brythonic *kaɨ = animal pen, enclosure, field
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) kay / kae = field, enclosure
Welsh (Cymraeg) cae [kaːɨ̯ / kai̯] = hedge, hedgerow, fence; field, enclosure; circle, sphere; barrier, obstruction
Cornish (Kernewek) ke = hedge, fence
Old Breton cai = hedge
Middle Breton quae = hedge
Breton (Brezhoneg) kae = hedge

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *kagʰyóm (enclosure, hedge) [source], which is also the root of word hedge in English, via the Proto-Germanic *hagjō (hedge) [source].

Proto-Celtic *magos = plain, field
Gaulish *magos = field
Old Irish (Goídelc) mag [maɣ] = plain, field
ármag, árbach, ármach = field of slaughter, battlefield
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) magh = plain
Irish (Gaeilge) má [mˠɑː / mˠæː] = plain
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) magh [mɤɣ] = level country, plain
Magh Meala = Land of (Milk and) Honey (in mythology)
Magh Meall = elysium
magh na bàire = the plain of battle
Manx (Gaelg) magh = plain
Welsh (Cymraeg) maes [maːɨ̯s / mai̯s] = field, open country
Cornish (Kernewek) mes = open country
Old Breton maes = countryside, outside
Breton (Brezhoneg) maez = countryside, open field, outside, wide

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *meǵh- (great) [source].

Proto-Celtic *klowni = meadow
Old Irish (Goídelc) clúain = meadow
Irish (Gaeilge) cluain = meadow
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) cluain [kl̪uən̪ʲ] = green field, pasture, meadow
Old Welsh clun = meadow, moor
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) clun = meadow, moor
Welsh (Cymraeg) clun [klɨːn / kliːn] = meadow, moor; brake, brushwood

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *klopni (wet).

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

World & Existence

By Simon

Words for world, existence and life in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *bitus = world
Old Irish (Goídelc) bith [bʲiθ] = world
Irish (Gaeilge) bith [bʲɪh / bʲɪ] = world, existence
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) bith [bih] = life, existence, being, living; the world
Manx (Gaelg) beays = being, existence
Proto-Brythonic *bɨd [ˈbɨːd] = world
Old Welsh bid = world
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) byd = world
Welsh (Cymraeg) byd [bɨːd / biːd] = world
Old Cornish bit, bys= world
Cornish (Kernewek) bys [bɪːz] = world
Old Breton bit, bet = world
Breton (Brezhoneg) bed = world

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Old Irish (Goídelc) saegul = lifetime, world
Irish (Gaeilge) saol [sˠeːlˠ / sˠiːlˠ] = life, lifetime; time; world
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) saoghal [sɯː.əl̪ˠ] = world, life(span), lifetime
Manx (Gaelg) seihll [seːl / sɯːl / siːl] = age, existence, life, lifetime, span; public, world

Etymology: from the Latin saeculum (race, breed; generation, lifetime; age, time; century; worldliness; the world) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

NASA Blue Marble 2007 West

Death

By Simon

Words for death in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *bāstom / bāssom = death
Old Irish (Goídelc) bás [baːs] = death
Irish (Gaeilge) bás [bˠɑːsˠ / bˠæːsˠ] = death
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) bàs [baːs] = death, decease, demise
Manx (Gaelg) baase [bɛːs] = death

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *gʷeh₂- (to go) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Teaglann.ie

Proto-Celtic *marwos = dead
Old Irish (Goídelc) marb = dead; mortified, insensible, spiritually dead; inanimate; stagnant (water)
Irish (Gaeilge) marbh [ˈmˠɑɾˠəvˠ / ˈmˠarˠuː / ˈmˠarˠu] = dead person, death, defunct
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) marbh [marav] = dead person, the dead
Manx (Gaelg) marroo = dead, lifeless, inanimate, glassy (look), muggy, dull, dud, stagnant, defunct, mortified, slaughtered, departed, deceased, killed, extinct
merriu = dead men, departed souls
Proto-Brythonic *marw = dead
Welsh (Cymraeg) marw = dead, deceased, inanimate
marwolaeth = death, decease, demise; suffering, tribulation; deadly plague or pestilence, fatal disease
Cornish (Kernewek) mernans = death
Breton (Brezhoneg) marv = death

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *mer- (to die, disappear) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Proto-Celtic *ankus = death
Old Irish (Goídelc) éc = death
Irish (Gaeilge) éag = Death, numbness, powerlessness
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) eug [eːg] = death, Death, ghost, spectre
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) angheu = death
Welsh (Cymraeg) angau = death, decease, demise, annihilation, cessation, mortal danger
Old Cornish ancou = death
Cornish (Kernewek) ankow = death
Old/Middle Breton ancou = death
Breton (Brezhoneg) ankow = death

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *nek̂- (to perish, disappear) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Teaglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Age

By Simon

Words for age in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *aiwestom = age, lifetime, era
Old Irish (Goídelc) áes [aːi̯s] = age, years; stage, period; era; lifetime
Irish (Gaeilge) aois [iːʃ] = age, length of life; old age; period, era
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) aois [ɯːʃ] = age, old age, antiquity
Manx (Gaelg) eash = eon, age, century; oldness, old age
Proto-Brythonic *oɨs = age
Old Welsh oit = time, period
Welsh (Cymraeg) oed [oːɨ̯d / ɔi̯d] = time, period, space (of time); life-span; age
oes [ˈoes] = age, long indefinite period; century; time, day(s); epoch
Old Cornish huis= age
Cornish (Kernewek) oos / ooj = age, period, epoch, era
Old Breton oit = age
Middle Breton oet = age
Breton (Brezhoneg) oad = age

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ey-w-es-to-, from *h₂ey- (age, eternity), which is also the root of the English words age and eon [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Languages and Tongues

By Simon

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

Proto-Celtic *tangʷāss, tangʷāt = tongue
Old Irish (Goídelc) tengae [ˈtʲeŋɡe] = tongue, language
Irish (Gaeilge) teanga [ˈtʲaŋə / ˈtʲaŋɡə] = tongue, language
teangach = tongued, lingual, wordy, loquacious
teangachruthach = tongue-shaped, linguiform
teangaigh = to tongue (in music)
teangaire = interpreter
teangeolaí = linguist, expert in linguistics
teangeolaíocht = linguistics
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) teanga [tʲɛŋgə] = tongue, speech, spit (of land)
teangan = tongue
teangaidh = tongue, speech
teangach = abounding in tongues, loquacious, langued (in hearldry)
teangair = linguist, interpreter, orator, philologist
Manx (Gaelg) çhengey [ˈtʃɛnʲə] = bell-clapper, clasp, feather, strap-hinge; catch (of buckle); tongue; language, speech; utterance
çhengeyr çhyndaader = interpreter
çhengeyder = linguist
çhengoaylleeaght = linguistics
çhengey ny mayrey = mother tongue
daa-hengagh = bilingual
yl-çhengagh = polyglot
Proto-Brytonic *tau̯āt, *tavọd = tongue
Old Welsh tauawt = tongue, language
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) tauaut = tongue, language
Welsh (Cymraeg) tafod [ˈtavɔd / ˈtaːvɔd] = tongue, faculty of speech, power of expression; language, speech, dialect, accent
tafod aur = pleasant or witty talk, eloquence (“gold tongue”)
tafod bach = uvula
tafod cloch = clapper (of bell)
tafodiaeth = language, vernacular or native language, dialect, pronunciation, articulation, verbal expression
tafodi = to scold, rebuke, chide, berate, cheek, abuse (verbally), tongue (in music)
tafodiad = a scolding or berating, pronunciation
tafodwr = speaker, talker
Old Cornish tauot = language, tongue
Middle Cornish tawes = language, tongue
Cornish (Kernewek) taves = language, tongue
tavosa = to scold, tell off
tavosek = talkative, verbose
tavoseth = idiom, jargon
Old Breton tavod = tongue
Middle Breton teaut, teut = tongue
Breton (Brezhoneg) teod [ˈtɛwt] = tongue
teodel = oral
teodek = talkative, gossipy
teodyezh = speech, dialect, way of speaking
teodyezhañ = to speak
teodyezher = speaker

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *dn̥ǵʰwéh₂s (tongue) [source].

Words from the same PIE root include: tongue and language in English, lingua (tongue, language) in Italian, язик [jɐˈzɪk] (tongue) in Ukrainian, and jazyk (tongue, language) in Czech and Slovak [source].

Proto-Celtic *yaxtī = language
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) icht = race, people, tribe; province, district
Proto-Brythonic *jeiθ, *i̯ekti = tongue
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) ieith, yeith = language, nation, race
Welsh (Cymraeg) iaith [jai̯θ] = language, tongue; people, nation, race, tribe
ieithiadur = grammar
ieithio = to pronounce, proclaim, express
ieithog = having language or several languages, multilingual, polyglot
ieithydd = one who has thorough knowledge or command of a language or languages, linguist, grammarian, philologist, interpreter, speark, poet
ieithyddiaeth = linguistics, philology, grammar
ieithgi = one who is interested in the study of language (rather than of literature), philologist
Cornish (Kernewek) yeth [eːθ / jeːθ] = tongue, language
yeth le-usys = minority language
yethador = grammar
yethel = linguistic
yethonieth = linguistics
yethor, yethores = linguist
Middle Breton yez = language
Breton (Brezhoneg) yezh [ˈjeːs] = language
yezhadur = grammar
yezhadurel = grammatical
yezhel = linguistic
yezher = speaker
unyezher = unilingual
divyezher = bilingual
liesyezher = polyglot

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *yek- (to utter). It is uncertain if the Middle Irish word icht is cognate with the Brythonic words [source].

Words from the same PIE root include: joke and Yule in English, jul (Yule, Christmas) in Danish and Norwegian, juego (play, game, sport) in Spanish, and joc (game, play, dance) in Romanian [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc) bélrae [ˈbʲeːl͈re] = language, speech
bélrae Féne = legal language
bélrae na filed = acrane vocabulary, poetic language
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) bérla(e) = speech, language
Irish (Gaeilge) béarla = speech (archaic)
béarlachas = Anglicism
béarlagair = jargon
béarlamhail = having command of language, fluent (archaic)
Béarla [ˈbʲeːɾˠl̪ˠə] = English (language)
Béarlóir = English speaker
Béarlóireacht = (act of) speaking English
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) Beurla [bjɤːr̪ˠl̪ˠə] = English (language)
Beurlachas = Anglicism
Beurla Leathann = Broad Scots
Manx (Gaelg) Baarle [bɛːᵈl] = English (language)
Baarlagh = of or pertaining to the English language
Baarlaghys = Anglicism
Baarleyr = English-speaker, anglophone
Baarle Albinagh = Scots, Lallans
Baarle Ghaelagh, Baarle Vanninagh = Anglo-Manx (language)
Baarle Heenagh = pidgin
Baarle chiart = the Queen’s English

Etymology: from the Old Irish bél (mouth) and -ra (collective suffix) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

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Tracks & Paths

By Simon

Words for tracks & paths in Celtic languages.

Bluebell woods / Coed Clychau'r Gog

Old Irish (Goídelc) casán / cosán = path, footpath
Irish (Gaeilge) cosán [kəˈsˠɑːn̪ˠ / ˈkɔsˠɑːnˠ / ˈkɑsˠɑnˠ] = path, footway, track; way, passage; direction
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) casan [kasan] = path, supporting beam, treadle, wattle
Manx (Gaelg) cassan = path, trajectory, passage, sidewalk, thoroughfare

Etymology: from the Old Irish cos (foot) & -án [source].

Proto-Celtic *slixtus = track, section
Old Irish (Goídelc) slicht [sʲl͈ʲixt] = path, trace, track, trail, section, offspring
Irish (Gaeilge) sliocht = mark, trace, track; offspring, line, progeny, posterity; passage, tract, extract
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) sliochd [ʃlixg] = descendants, offspring, increase, progeny, succession, lineage
Manx (Gaelg) sliught = line, issue, spawn
Welsh (Cymraeg) llywbr = path, footpath, beaten track, unmade pathway; footprints, tracks, trail; course, direction, orbit; method, manner, mode
Old Irish (Goídelc) slighe [sʲl͈ʲixt] = path, trace, track, trail, section, offspring
Irish (Gaeilge) slí = way, road, track; route, passage; course, direction; distrance, journey; means, method
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) slighe [ʃLʲi.ə] = path, track, trail, way; course, passage, route
Manx (Gaelg) sleayd (?) = trail, dredge, sledge, toboggan, trailer
Proto-Celtic *sentus = path, way
Old Irish (Goídelc) sét [sʲl͈ʲixt] = path, trace, track, trail, section, offspring
Irish (Gaeilge) séad = path, way; course, journey
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) séad = way, road
Proto-Brythonic *hɨnt [hɨnt] = path, way
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) hint, hynt = way, path, course
Welsh (Cymraeg) hynt [hɨ̞nt / hɪnt] = way, path, course, journey, march; career, expedition, campaign, venture; affair; fate, condition, state; mood, freak, whim
Middle Cornish hyns [hɪns] = course, path, road, way
Cornish (Kernewek) hens [hɛnz] = course, path, road, way
Old Breton hint = path, road
Middle Breton hent = path, road
Breton (Brezhoneg) hent [hɛ̃nd] = path, road

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *sent- (to head for, go, travel) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

Fords

By Simon

Words for ford in Celtic languages.

Ford

Proto-Celtic *yātus = ford
Old Irish (Goídelc) áth = ford
Irish (Gaeilge) áth = ford; spawning bed (in river); opening
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) àth [aːh] = ford
Manx (Gaelg) aah = ford, drift

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *yeh₂- (to ride, travel) [source].

Proto-Celtic *ɸritus = ford
Gaulish ritu = ford
Irish (Gaeilge) rith = ford
Proto-Brythonic *ritum, *rrɨd = ford
Old Welsh rit = ford
MIddle Welsh (Kymraec) ryd, ryt = ford
Welsh (Cymraeg) rhyd = ford, strait
Old Cornish rid = ford
Cornish (Kernewek) rys [rɪ:z] / res [re:z] = ford
Old Breton rit = ford
Breton (Brezhoneg) red = ford

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *pértus/*pr̥téw- (crossing) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Castles & fortresses

By Simon

Words for castles and fortresses in Celtic languages.

King John's Castle / Caisleán Luimnigh

Proto-Celtic *dūnom = stronghold
Old Irish (Goídelc) dún [duːn] = fort, fortress
Irish (Gaeilge) dún [d̪ˠuːnˠ] = fort; fortress; place of refuge, haven; residence, house; promontory fort; bluff
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) dùn [duːn] = fortress, heap
Manx (Gaelg) doon [duːn] = fort, fastness, stronghold, bastion, earth fort, dun, fortified rock
Proto-Brythonic *din [ˈdiːn] = hill, fortified hill, fort
Gaulish dunum, *dūnom = fort
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) din = fort
Welsh (Cymraeg) din [dɪn / ˈdiːn] = city, fort, fortress, fastness, stronghold
dinas [ˈdɪnas / ˈdiːnas] = city, large town; town
Cornish (Kernewek) din [di:n] = fort
dinas [‘dinas / ‘dinɐz ] = fort
Old Breton din = fort, fortress
Breton (Brezhoneg) din = fort, fortress
dinas = bastion, stronghold

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *dʰuHnom (enclosure), from *dʰewh₂- (to finish, come full circle) [source]. The English words down (a (chalk) hill, rolling grassland), dune and town come from the Proto-Celtic *dūnom [source].

Proto-Celtic *katrixs / *katrik- / *kassrik- = fortification, fort
Old Irish (Goídelc) ca(i)thir [ˈkaθərʲ] = stone enclosure, fortress, castle; dwelling; monastic settlement, enclosure; monastery, convent; fortified city, city
Irish (Gaeilge) cathair [ˈkahɪɾʲ/kaːɾʲ] = city; enclosed church establishment, monastic city; circular stone fort; dwelling (place), bed, lair
Cathair an Phápa = Vatican City
cathair chorr = round fort
cathair ghríobháin = maze, labyrinth
cathróir = citizen
cathróireacht = citizenship
ardchathair, príomhchathair = capital city, metropolis
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) cathair [kahɪrʲ] = city
cathair-bhaile = city (with city status)
cathair-stàit = city state
Manx (Gaelg) caayr = dwelling place, city

Etymology: unknown. Possibly related to the Old English hēaþor (enclosure, prison) or Serbo-Croatian kȍtar ( country, district) [source].

Proto-Celtic *kagrom = fort
Welsh (Cymraeg) caer [kaːɨ̯r / kai̯r] = fort, fortress, enclosed stronghold, castle, citadel, fortified town or city; wall, rampart, bulwark
Cornish (Kernewek) ker [kɛ:r / ke:r] = fort, fortress, hill fort, city
Breton (Brezhoneg) ker = town, village, villa

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *kagyom (pen, enclosure), from the Proto-Indo-European *kagʰyóm (enclosure, hedge) [source], which is also the root of words for hedge in Germanic languages, such as hedge in English, Hecke (hedge) in German and hæk (hedge, hurdle) in Danish [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Old Irish (Goídelc) caisel = fort, castle
Irish (Gaeilge) caiseal = (ancient) stone fort; unmortared stone wall; boundary wall (of church or cemetery); caslte (in chess); spinning top
caisleán [kəˈʃlʲɑːn̪ˠ / ˈkaʃl̠ʲɑːnˠ / ˈkaʃl̠ʲænˠ] = castle, mansion, cumulus (cloud)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) caisteal [kaʃdʲəlˠ] = castle, fort, tower, garrison; turreted mansion
Manx (Gaelg) cashtal = castle, citadel, surrounding wall, bulwark, rook
Welsh (Cymraeg) castell [ˈkʰastɛɬ / ˈkʰastɛɬ] = castle, stronghold; castellated mansion; a kind of cloud; fortified town or city; village
Cornish (Kernewek) kastel = castle, hill fort
Breton (Brezhoneg) kastell = castle, fort, fortress

Etymology: from the Latin castellum (castle, fort, citadel, fortress, stronghold), a diminutive of castrum (fort) [source], from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱes- (to cut, cut off, separate) [source], which is also the root of words for castle in most European languages.

Proto-Celtic *frāti- = fort, rampart
*rāti- = a dugout, a digging
Gaulish ratin = appears in place names
Old Irish (Goídelc) ráth [r͈aːθ] = earthen rampart surrounding a chief’s residence, fort, rath
Irish (Gaeilge) ráth [ɾˠɑː/ɾˠaːx] = earthen rampart, earthen ring-fort, rath, layer (of thatch)
ráthach = having earthen forts
ráth sneachta = snow-drift
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ràth [r̪ˠaː] = (ancient) fortress, mound, (ancient) royal seat; clearing, cleared swathe of land; fortress, barrow, village, town
Manx (Gaelg) raah = rath, ring-fort
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) bedd-rawd = cemetery
Welsh (Cymraeg) beddrod = tomb, vault, grave, cemetery
Middle Breton bez-ret = cemetery
Middle Breton bered = cemetery

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *prehzt-i- (field). Possibly cognate with the Latin prātum (meadow) [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec) kyvelchy, gyuyllchi = circular fortress
Welsh (Cymraeg) cyfylchi = a kind of circular stronghold or fortress

Etymology: from cyfwlch (complete, entire, perfect, excellent). Found only in the placenames such as Dwygyfylchi [dʊɨɡəˈvəlχi], a village in Conwy county, which was first recorded as Dwykyvelchy in 1287 [source]. There is also Gyfylchi in the Afan Valley in Neath Port Talbot county [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

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Dwellings

By Simon

Words for dwelling / settlement / town in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *trebā = dwelling
Gaulish Atrebates = name of a tribe
Old Irish (Goídelc) treb = house, farm; household; tribe
Irish (Gaeilge) treibh [ˈtʲɾʲɛv] = house, homestead, farmstead; household, family; tribe, race
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) treabh [tro] = farming village
treubh [treːv] = tribe
Proto-Brythonic *treβ [ˈtrɛːβ] = town, settlement
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) tref [ˈtrɛːβ] = town, settlement
Welsh (Cymraeg) tre(f) [treːv] = town; town centre; dwelling(-place), habitation, residence, home; house (and surrounding land), homestead, farm, estate, cluster of houses; township; tribe
Cornish (Kernewek) trev [trɛ:v /tre:v] = farmsteads (singular: treven)
Old Breton treff = town, settlement
Breton (Brezhoneg) trev = town

Meni Bridge / Porthaethwy

Etymology
From the Proto-Indo-European *treb- (dwelling, settlement) [source].

This is also the root of the archaic English word thorp(e) (a group of houses standing together in the country; a hamlet; a village), which appears in place names such as Milnthorpe and Scunthorpe.

Related words in other languages include German Dorf (hamlet, village, town), Danish torp (village), Swedish torp (farm, cottage, croft), Icelandic þorp (village, farm), and Albanian trevë (country, region, village) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau