Category: Old Cornish

Seas

By Simon

Words for sea in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic *mori = sea
Primitive Irish *ᚋᚑᚏᚔᚅ (*morin) = sea
Old Irish (Goídelc) muir = sea
Irish (Gaeilge) muir = sea
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) muir [murʲ] = sea
Manx (Gaelg) mooir = sea
Proto-Brythonic *mor = sea
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) mor = sea
Welsh (Cymraeg) môr [moːr] = sea, ocean, the deep; plenty, abundance, copiousness
Old/Middle Cornish mor = sea
Cornish (Kernewek) mor = sea
Old/Middle Breton mor = sea
Breton (Brezhoneg) mor = sea

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European móri (sea, standing water), from *mer- (sea, lake, wetland), which is also the root for the English word mere, as in Windermere [source].

In Welsh there is another word for sea: gweilgi, which also means ocean, the deep, flood or torrent. It comes from gwae (woe, great misery, affliction, distress, anguish, trouble, adversity) and ci (dog).

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

Newquay

Shirts

By Simon

Words for shirt in Celtic languages:

Old Irish (Goídelc) léine [ˈl͈ʲeːnʲə] = linen, tunic, smock
Irish (Gaeilge) léine [ˈl̠ʲeːnʲə] = shirt, tunic
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) lèine [l̪ʲeːnə] = shirt, (sports) strip, smock, chemise, shroud
Manx (Gaelg) lheiney = shirt
Proto-Celtic *kridsus = shirt (?)
Old Irish (Goídelc) cris = girdle, belt, hoop
Welsh (Cymraeg) crys [krɨːs / kriːs] = shirt, under-garment, chemise, smock
Old Cornish kreis = shirt
Cornish (Kernewek) krys = shirt
Breton (Brezhoneg) krez = shirt, cloth

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

Books

By Simon

Words for book in Celtic languages:

Old Irish (Goídelc) lebor [ˈl͈ʲevor] = book
Irish (Gaeilge) leabhar [l̠ʲəuɾˠ / l̠ʲoːɾˠ] = book
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) leabhar [l̪ʲo.ər] = book, volume, the Bible
Manx (Gaelg) lioar = book, tome, volume, folio
Welsh (Cymraeg) llyfr [ɬɨ̞vr / ɬɪvr] = book, volume
Old Cornish liuer = book
Cornish (Kernewek) levr = book
Old Breton librou = book
Breton (Brezhoneg) levr = book

Etymology: from the Latin liber (book, the inner bark of a tree), from Proto-Italic *lufros, from the Proto-Indo-European *lubʰrós, from *lewbʰ- (to peel, cut off, harm)[source].

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

The Library, Trinity College - Dublin, Ireland

Floor / Ground

By Simon

Words for floor / ground in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic *ɸlārom = floor
Old Irish (Goídelc) lár = floor / ground
Irish (Gaeilge) lár [l̪ˠɑːɾˠ / l̪ˠæːɾˠ] = floor, ground, middle, centre
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) làr [l̪ˠaːɾ] = floor, ground, storey, middle, centre
Manx (Gaelg) laare = storey, deck, floor, bottom, flat, set, sill, level
Proto-Brythonic *lọr [ˈlɔːr] = floor
Old Welsh laur = floor
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) llawr, llaur = floor
Welsh (Cymraeg) llawr [ɬau̯r] = floor, deck, gallery, stage, platform, cellar, basement, ground, bottom (of sea)
Old Cornish lor = floor
Cornish (Kernewek) leur = floor, ground
Old Breton lor = floor
Breton (Brezhoneg) leur = floor, ground, area

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European word *pleh₂- (to be flat), which is also the root of the English word floor [source].

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

Flooring

Whistling Winds

By Simon

Words for wind and whistle in Celtic languages.

Windy

Proto-Celtic *gaytā = wind
Old Irish (Goídelc) gaíth = wind
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) gáeth [ɡaːi̯θ] = wind
Irish (Gaeilge) gaoth [ɡeːh / ɡiːh] = wind, breeze, flatulence
gaothach = windy
gaothaire = vent, ventilator
gaothraigh = to fan, flutter (in breeze)
gaothráil = fanning, waving, fluttering
gaothscáth = windscreen
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) gaoth [gɯː] = wind, breeze, flatulence
gaoth-chuairtlein = whirlwind
gaoth-mhór = gale, strong wind
gaoth-sgàth = windscreen
gaothach = windy, flatulent, pneumatic
gaothmhor = gusty, windy, blustering, blustery, flatulent
Manx (Gaelg) geay [ɡiː] = wind, flatulence
geayeeagh = windy, blowy, breezy

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ghai / *ghei / *ghi (drive, storm) [source].

Proto-Celtic *wintos = wind
Old Irish (Goídelc) fet [fʲed] = whistling, hissing, the sound of a sword cleaving the air; pipe (musical intrument)
Irish (Gaeilge) fead [fʲad̪ˠ] = whistle
feadáíl = whistling
feadaire = whistler
feadánacht = whistling, piping, wheezing
feadóg = (tin) whistle, plover, tall thin woman
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) fead [fed] = whistle, hiss
feadag = whistle
feadaire = whistler
feadalaich = whistling
Manx (Gaelg) fed [ɡiː] = toot, blast on whistle, zip, swish
feddagh = whistler
feddanagh = whistle
feddanys = whistling
Proto-Brythonic *gwɨnt [ˈɡwɨnt] = wind
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) gwynt = wind
Welsh (Cymraeg) gwynt [ɡwɨ̞nt / ɡwɪnt] = wind, blast, gale, stiff breeze, current of air, air, bellows, bombast, pride; empty talk, mere words
gwyntio = to blow, blast, breathe, sniff, snort, fart
gwynt(i)og = windy, breezy, stormy, wind-swept, wind-tossed, wind-blown, flatulent
Old Cornish guins = wind
Cornish (Kernewek) gwyns = wind
gwyns skav = breezy
gwynsek = windy
gwynsell = fan
gwynsella = to fan
melin wyns = windmill
Middle Breton guent = wind
Breton (Brezhoneg) gwent = wind (literary / archaic), gas, flatulence
gwentadur ventilation

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂wéh₁n̥ts (blowing) [source], which is also the root of words for wind in Germanic, Romance and Indo-Iranian languages.

Proto-Celtic *awelā = breeze, wind, breath
Proto-Brythonic *awel = breeze, wind
Gaulish aurarum = wind
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) avel / awel = wind, air, weather
Welsh (Cymraeg) awel = (light) wind, breeze, air, weather
awelu = to blow, flow, breathe
awelaidd = breezy, fresh (wind)
awelan = (gentle) wind
awelig (light) breeze
awelog = breezy, windy, squally, airy, flatulent
Old Cornish auhel = wind
Cornish (Kernewek) awel = gale, weather wind
awel glor = breeze
hager awel = bad weather, squall, storm, tempest
Old Breton auelou / auel = wind
Breton (Brezhoneg) avel [ˈɑːvɛl / ˈɑːwɛl] = wind

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewh₁eleh₂ from *h₂weh₁- (to blow) [source], which is also the root of English words such as fan, vent, weather and wind.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Here’s a tune I wrote a few years ago that seems approiate for this post: The Whistling Windows / Y Ffenstri Sïo

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

Blubrry podcast hosting

Ash (trees)

By Simon

Words for ash tree (fraxinus) in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic *osnistū / *osnos = ash tree
Old Irish (Goídelc) uinnius [ˈun͈ʲus] = ash (tree)
fuinnseóc = ash tree
Irish (Gaeilge) fuinseog = ash (tree), ash-handled implement
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) uinnseann [ũĩn̪ʲʃən̪ˠ] = ash (tree), ash wood
fuinnseag = European / common ash (tree)
Manx (Gaelg) unjin = ash (tree)
Welsh (Cymraeg) onn [ɔn] = ash (tree / wood), spear
Old Cornish onnen = ash (tree)
Cornish (Kernewek) onn = ash (tree)
Breton (Brezhoneg) onn = ash (tree)

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₃es-nos from *h₃es (ash tree).

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

ash tree

Alder (trees)

By Simon

Words for alder (tree) (Alnus glutinosa) in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic *wernā = alder (tree)
Gaulish uerna = alder (tree)
Old Irish (Goídelc) fern [fʲer͈n͈] = alder (tree), shield, pole, stake
fernóc = alder (tree)
Irish (Gaeilge) fearnóg = alder (tree)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) feàrna [fʲaːr͈n͈ə] = alder (tree), shield, mast
Manx (Gaelg) farney = alder (tree)
Proto-Brythonic *gwern = alder (tree)
Welsh (Cymraeg) gwern [ɡwɛrn] = alder (tree), made of alder; mast of a ship; (alder) stick, stave, shaft of lance; alder-grove, alder-marsh, swamp, quagmire; damp meadow; hell
Old Cornish guern = alder (tree)
Cornish (Kernewek) gwern [ɡwɛrn] = alder (tree), alders, mast, swamp, marshland
Old Breton guern / guaern = alder (tree)
Middle Breton guern = alder (tree)
Breton (Brezhoneg) gwern [ɡwɛrn] = alder (tree)

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

Hiking Through The Alders - Explore #315 6/23/12

Hazel (trees)

By Simon

Words for hazel (tree) (corylus avellana) in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic *koslos = hazel (tree)
Gaulish corillus = hazel (tree)
Old Irish (Goídelc) coll [kol͈] = hazel (tree)
Irish (Gaeilge) coll = hazel (tree)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) coll [kɔul̪ˠ] = hazel (tree)
calltainn [kaul̪ˠdɪn̪ʲ] = hazel tree
Manx (Gaelg) coull = hazel (tree)
Welsh (Cymraeg) coll [kɨ̞ɬ / kɪɬ] = hazel (tree), sapling, twig
Old Cornish colwiden = hazel (tree)
Cornish (Kernewek) koll = hazel (tree)
Old Breton collin = hazel (tree)
Breton (Brezhoneg) kelvez = hazel (tree)

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

IMG_5118

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

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