suigh [sˠɪɟ / sˠiː] = to sit; set, let, rent; seat, place, locate, settle, arrange, fix, establish
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
suidh [suj] = to sit down; incubate, sit on eggs
Manx (Gaelg)
soie = to sit, situate, mount, invest
Proto-Brythonic
*estied = to sit
Old Welsh
estid = to sit
Welsh (Cymraeg)
eistedd [ˈei̯sdɛð / ˈei̯sdɛð] = to sit, be seated, kneel, exercise judicial authority, sit in judgement; be in session, rest, be still; fit well; occupy, be in possession (of land), settle, remain, dwell; incubate, brood
Old Cornish
estid = to sit
Cornish (Kernewek)
esedha [ɛ’zɛða / (ə)’zɛðɐ] = to sit, take a seat
Breton (Brezhoneg)
sichañ = to sit, lie, be located; beseige, lay siege to
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *sed- (to sit) [source].
Words for tree, wood and related things in Celtic languages.
There are various words for tree in the modern Celtic languages. In each language the usual word for tree is different and comes from different roots. Only the Cornish and Breton words are cognate. The usual words for tree are: crann (Irish), craobh (Scottish Gaelic), billey (Manx), coeden (Welsh), gwedhen (Cornish) and gwezenn (Breton).
Proto-Celtic
*kʷresnom = tree, wood
Old Irish (Goídelc)
crann = tree crannchor = casting of lots crannda = wooden
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)
crann, crand = tree, wood, timber, staff, pole, plank, beam, spearshaft, mast, steering oar, lot, destiny, fate crannach, cranncha = trees, grove, wooded place crannaige, crannaigi = shaft-trimmer, spearsman crannaigid = to cast lots crannán = small spearshaft crannchor, crannchur = casting of lots crannda, cranda = wooden, made of wood, wooded cranngal, crannghal = timber, wooden structure or object, spear (shaft) crannóc, crandoc = wooden structure, wooden drinking-container; basket, wooden lake-dwelling cranntáball = sling, staff-sling
pren [prɛn] = tree, bush, shrub; timber, wood, wooden; piece of wood, wooden stick; cross, gallows, gibbet prenfol = (wooden) box, chest, coffer, case, coffin preniaf, prennaf, prenio, prennu = to bolt (a door), bar, shut (sb) out prensaer = carpenter
Old Cornish
pren = wood
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)
pren = tree, wood, timber, a piece of wood, a lot prenic = wooden, woody prenne = to fasten with a piece of wood, to bar prennyer = pieces of wood
Cornish (Kernewek)
prenn [prɛn:] = bar, beam, log, timber, (gambling) lot , wooden prenna, predna = to bar, lock prennek = wooden, woody prennlown = plywood prennweyth = woodwork
Old Breton
pren = wood
Middle Breton (Brezonec)
pren, prenn, preen = wood prennaff, prena, prenna = to close, block prennet = to lock
Breton (Brezhoneg)
prenn = wood, piece of wood, fastner prennañ = to close, fasten, shut
Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *kʷres (bush, thicket) [source]. Words from the same roots include hurst (wood, grove – used in placenames, e.g. Lyndhurst) in English, and Horst (eyrie, bush, thicket, small forest) in German [source]
Old Irish (Goídelc)
cráeb / cróeb = tree
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)
cráeb, craib = branch, bough, sprig, rod, wand, post, tree, bush cráebach, cræbacha = having branches, branchy, branches
Irish (Gaeilge)
craobh = branch, bough; tree craobhach = branches, branched, branching, flowing, spreading craobhaigh = to branch, ramify, expand, spread craobhóg = small branch, twig, sprig, spray, darling
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
craobh [krɯːv] = tree, bush craobhaich = woody, wooded, full of trees, branching, spreading craobhag [krɯːvag] = small tree craobhadair [krɯːvədɪrʲ] = arborist, tree specialist
Manx (Gaelg)
crouw = stock, bush, dwarf tree, stick, bunch, wide spreading tree, tributary of river
Etymology: unknown, possibly from Proto-Celtic krētros (sieve) [source].
Proto-Celtic
*belyom = tree
Gaulish
*bilia [ˈbi.liaː] = tall tree
Old Irish (Goídelc)
bile [ˈbʲilʲe] = tree, especially a large, ancient, sacred one
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)
bile [ˈbʲilʲe] = (large) tree (esp. an ancient and venerated one), tree trunk, mast, scion, hero bilech = abounding in trees, (well-)wooded bileóc, biléog = leaf, leaflet
Irish (Gaeilge)
bile [ˈbʲɪlʲə] = (large, sacred) tree; scion; distinguished person bileog = leaf, letter of freedom (to marry) bileogach = leafy, laminated biliúil = tree-like, stately
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
bile [bilə] = mast; plough; beam; lot (in drawing lots); tree (archaic); cluster of trees, sacred tree/grove bileach = leaf, amount of leaves, leafy tree bileag = blade (of vegetation), board, leaf, leaflet, pamphlet, ticket, label, slip (of paper) bileagach = lipped, billed, bladed, fringed, edged
Manx (Gaelg)
billey = tree, big bush billagh = tree, wooded, woody biljagh = arboreal, wooded billey
bilh, bill = a felled tree trunk, log, lumber, timber bilh-koad = chunk of wood
Breton (Brezhoneg)
bill = trunk
Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *bʰolh₃yo- (leaf), from *bʰleh₃- (blossom, flower) [source]. Words from the same Proto-Celtic root, via Gaulish, include bille (tree trunk, railway sleeper, rolling pin) and billon (a ridge in a ploughed field) in French, bilha (stem, trunk) in Provençal and possibly billa (spigot, faucet, stick) in Galician [source].
Words from the same PIE roots include folio and phyllo / fil(l)o (pastry), phyllomancy (diviniation by leaves) in English, feuille (leaf, sheet) in French, andhoja (leaf, petal, blade) in Spanish [source].
Proto-Celtic
*widus = wood, trees
Old Irish (Goídelc)
fid = tree, wood, letter in Ogham fidchell = a boardgame similar to chess fidrad = trees, a wood
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)
fid = tree, wood, timber fidach = wooded, abounding in trees, timber fidchell = a boardgame similar to chess fidrad = trees, a wood, letter (in Oghan)
gwedh, gweydh, gwydh = trees gwedhen, gwedhan = tree gwydhbol = chess
Cornish (Kernewek)
gwydh [gwɪ:ð] = trees gwedhen = tree gwedhek = woodland gwedhlan = arboretum, tree plantation
Old Breton
guid = trees
Middle Breton (Brezonec)
guez, guid, gwyd, gwydh = tree(s)
Breton (Brezhoneg)
gwez [ɡwe] = trees gwezenn = tree gwezeg = wooded gwezek = abounding in trees gwezboell = chess
Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *h₁weydʰh₁-. (tree, beam) [source]. Words from the same roots include wood in English, vid (firewood, wood) in Swedish, and ved (wood) in Danish [source].
coed [koːɨ̯d / kɔi̯d] = forest, wood, trees; shrubs; timber, pieces of wood coeden [koːɨ̯d / kɔi̯d] = tree coedaidd = silvan, arboraceous, woody, wooden coedallt = wooded slope, hillside coedfa = grove, woodland, forest coed(i)ach = shrubs, brushwood, underwood, withered branches coed(i)af), coed(i)o = to prop or timber a pit or shaft coed(i)og = woody, wooded, abounding with trees, silvan coed(i)ol = pertaining to wood or timber, silvan, rustic, wild coedlan = copse, grove, woodland, wooded glade coedwig = forest, wood argoed = trees, forest, surrounding forest
Old Cornish
cuit = wood, forest
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)
coys, coyd, coid = wood, forest
Cornish (Kernewek)
koos [ko:z / ku:z] = forest
Middle Breton (Brezonec)
coat, coet, coët = wood, forest
Breton (Brezhoneg)
koad [ˈkwɑːt] = wood, forest koadadur = afforestation, tree planting koadaj = panelling, woodwork koadeg = wooded, woody koader = to timber, panel, plant trees argoad = groove, copse, wooded
Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *kayt-/*ḱayt- (forest, wasteland, pasture) [source]. Words from the same roots include heath and heather in English, Heide (heath, heathland, woodland, forest) in German, hed (moor, waste land) in Swedish.
skriv, scrihuë = written skrivadenn = something written skrivadur = spelling, way of writing skrivagner = scribe, secretary skrivailher, skrivantour, skrivagnerez = writer skrivañ, skriviñ, skriv = to write
Breton (Brezhoneg)
skrivad = writing skrivadenn = dictation skrivagner = writer skrivañ = to write
Etymology: from Latin scrībō (I write), from Proto-Italic *skreiβō (I carve), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kreybʰ- (to scratch, to tear) [source].
Words from the same roots include scribble, scribe, script, shrift and shrive in English, and scritta (writing, notice, sign) and scrìvere (to write, spell) in Italian [source].
lavar [ˈlɑːvar] = to say, word, language lavaradenn – to tell lavarenn [laˈvɑːrɛn] = proposal lavaret = to say, promise lavariant = communicative lavariantiz = communication amlavar = dumb, mute
Etymology: possibly from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥b-ró-s, from *pleb- (to babble), which is also the root of words such as barbarian in English, pleurer (to cry) in French, and llorar (to cry, weep) in Spanish [Wiktionary].
Old Irish (Goídelc)
asbeir [asˈbʲerʲ] = to say, utter, mention, speak
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)
atbeir = to say, speak
Irish (Gaeilge)
abair [ˈabˠəɾʲ] = to say, utter, speak, express, state, allege, give opinion, suppose, assume, mean, direct, report abairt sentence, phrase abartha given to repartee
can [kan̪ˠ/kanˠ] = to chant, sing, speak, talk, call, name canadh [kan̪ˠə/ˈkanˠuː] = singing, chanting cantaire = chanter, chorister caint [kan̠ʲtʲ / kəin̠ʲtʲ] = speech, talking cainteach = talkative, chatty cainteoir = speaker, talker caintigh = to speak, address, accost
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
can [kan] = (to) say cainnt [kãĩn̠ʲdʲ] = to speak, talk, commune cainnteach [kãĩn̠ʲdʲəx] = loquacious, talkative cainnteanas [kãĩn̠ʲdʲənəs] = speech cainntear [kãĩn̠ʲdʲər] = orator, speaker cainntearachd [kãĩn̠ʲdʲərəxg] = eloquence, rhetorical expression cainnteas [kãĩn̠ʲdʲəs] = attractive speech cànan [kaːnan] = language cànanachas = linguistics cànanaiche = linguist
Manx (Gaelg)
caaynt = spoken language, spoken word, talk caayntagh = loquacious
Proto-Brythonic
*kėnɨd [ke̝ˈnɨːd] = to sing
Old Welsh
canam = to sing
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)
kan, cân = song kanu, canu = to sing kantor, kantoryeit = singer, songster, vocalist, musician, cantor kanwr, kantoryeit = singer, vocalist ynganv = to speak, talk, say
Welsh (Cymraeg)
cân [kaːn] = song canaf, canu [ˈkanɨ̞/ˈka(ː)ni] to sing; to intone, chant, to state, say, to produce musical sounds, to play (the harp, piano, etc), to compose poetry, to celebrate in song cantor, cantores = singer, vocalist, musician, cantor canwr = singer, vocalist ynganu = to speak, talk, say, tell, declare, express, pronounce
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)
can = song canas = song cane, cana = to sing (a song), to sing as birds, to crow canor, canores = singer
Cornish (Kernewek)
kan = poem, song kana [‘kana / ‘kɒnɐ] = to sing kaner, kanores = singer kanik = ditty, jingle
Middle Breton (Brezonec)
can = song canaff = to sing caner = singer
Breton (Brezhoneg)
kan [ˈkãːn] = song kanadeg = concert, cantata kanañ [ˈkãː.nã] = to sing kanaouenn [kã.ˈnɔ.wːɛn] = song kaner [ˈkãː.nɛr] = singer
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *keh₂n- (to sing) [source]. The English words accent, cant, chant, charm, enchant, hen and incantation come from the same root, as does the Breton word kentel (lesson, moral), the French word chanter (to sing), and the Spanish word cantar (to sing) [source].
Etymology: from Proto-Celtic *kom- (with) and *wepos (speech, voice), from Proto-Indo-European *wekʷ- (to speak), which is also the root of epic, vocal, voice and vowel in English [source].
Etymology: from Old Irish com- (mutual, joint, co-) and rád (speech, talk, conversation), from Proto-Celtic *kom- (with) and *rādīti, from *rādī (to talk) [source].
leuv [lœ:v / le:v] = hand leuvdosa = to massage leuvdosans = massage leuvherdhya = to hand-off leuvvedhegel = surgical leuvvedhek, leuvvedhoges = surgeon leuvwelen = baton
Old Breton
lom = hand
Middle Breton (Brezonec)
lau = hand
Breton (Brezhoneg)
lav [lav] = feathered hand
Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₂meh₂ (palm, hand). The Faroese word lámur (flipper, paw, left hand) comes from the same Proto-Celtic root, via the Old Norse lámr (hand, arm) [source].
Proto-Celtic
*bostā = palm, fist
Gaulish
*bostyā = palm, fist
Old Irish (Goídelc)
bos / bas = palm
Middle Irish (Gaoidhleag)
bas, bos, bass = palm of the hand basach = having hoofs or claws baslach = handful
bas [bas] = palm (of hand), lower end of a shinty stick, eye (of a fishing hook) bas-bhualadh = clapping of hands, applause baslachadh= clapping, cupping (in one’s hands) basgar = applause, skirl (in music) baslach = handful, palmful, baptism
Manx (Gaelg)
bass = palm, flat of hand, blade of oar, scale pan, bass bassag = backhander, clap, clout, pat, slap, smack bassey = applause, clap, clapping basslagh = double handful, enough to cover palm, palmful
Proto-Brythonic
*bos [ˈbos] = hand
Old Welsh
bos = palm
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)
bos = palm
Welsh (Cymraeg)
bos = palm (of the hand), unit of length
Middle Breton (Brezonec)
boz = hollow of the hand
Breton (Brezhoneg)
boz [ˈboːs] = hollow of the hand
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *gʷésdos (branch) [source]. The Middle Latin word bostia (small box, reliquaire was borrowed from the Gaulish *bostyā, and became bostellus (bushel), the root of the French word boisseau (bushel, hollow cylinder), and the English word bushel [source].
Old Irish (Goídelc)
rig [r͈ʲiɣ] = forearm
Middle Irish (Gaoidhleag)
rig = forearm from wrist to elbow
Irish (Gaeilge)
rí [ɾˠiː] = forearm
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
ruighe [r̪ˠujə] = plain, flat ground, (at base of a mountain), shieling area, forearm ruigheadh = laying out a body, shrouding, stretching out ruigheachas = tussle, armwrestling ruigheachdail = accessible
Manx (Gaelg)
roih = arm, forearm
Etymology: possibly from the Old Irish *reg (to stretch) [source].
braich [brai̯χ] = arm, care, assistance, support, power, might, strength, forelimb of animal, wing, headland, creek braich olwyn = spoke (of wheel) braich o’r môr, braich o fôr = arm of the sea, inlet braich ym mraich = arm-in-arm
brec’h = hand brec’had = handful brec’hata = to grasp round the waist, embrace
Etymology: from Latin bracchium (hand). Words from the same Latin root include brachium (upper arm) in English, bras (arm) in French, brazo (arm, branch, (tree) limb) in Spanish, and braccio (arm) in Italian [source].
penn [pɛnː] = head, chief, leader pennad [ˈpɛ.nːat] = piece, end, moment, chapter, article pennadur = authority pennan = main, dominant pennañ = to form a head, to stand up to pennek [ˈpɛnːɛk] = big-headed, stubborn, obstinate penntir [ˈpɛntiʁ] = promontory empenn = brain
Etymology: unknown. The words for brain all mean “in (the) head” [source]. The tal in Welsh talcen comes from tâl (end, extremity, top, side, edge, front), from Proto-Celtic *talu (front, forehead) – see the post about Foreheads, while the cen retains the c [k] from Proto-Celtic.
Old Irish (Goídelc)
in(n)tinn [ˈin͈ʲtʲin͈ʲ] = head, end
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)
in(n)tinn = mind, view, disposition, attention, intention, will, purpose, high spirits, courage dall-inntinn = dullness, stupidity, dull, stupid, heavy
Irish (Gaeilge)
intinn [ˈiːn̠ʲtʲən̠ʲ] = mind, mental state, disposition, attention, spirits, intention, accord intinneach = willing, intent(ional), strong-willed, spirited, in high spirits
Etymology: from the Latin intentiō (strain, tension, increase, exertion, charge, purpose, intention), from intendō (to stretch out, strain, turn one’s attention to, focus (on), aim, direct), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ten- (to stretch, extend) [source]. Words from the same roots include tend, tent, tense, tenure and intention in English, entendre (to hear, mean) in French, tener (to have, possess, hold) in Spanish [source].
Etymology
From Proto-Indo-European *bʰólǵʰ-os (skin bag, bolster), from *bʰelǵʰ- (to swell) [source]. English words from the same PIE root include bellows, belly, and bolster, via Old English and Proto-Germanic, billow via Old Norse and Proto-Germanic, foolish and folly via Old French and Latin [source], and bulge, budge and budget via Old French, Latin and Gaulish [source].
chiu = stout, thick, heavy, blubber, thick-set ( hedge), strong (solution), whipped (cream), intense; foggy, turbid cheeid = thickness, density, grossness chiughey = to become heavy, to clot, to concentrate, to congeal, to thicken
Proto-Brythonic
*teɣ = thick
Old Welsh
teu = thick
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)
tew, teỽ, tev = thick, strong, sturdy, deep teỽder, tewder thickness, depth, density, fatness tewet, tewhet, teỽet = thickness, depth, fat tewhau, tevhau = to make or become fat, to fatten, to thicken, to congeal
Welsh (Cymraeg)
tew [teːu̯ / tɛu̯] = thick; made of thick cloth; strong, sturdy, powerful; deep tewder thickness, depth, density, fatness, corpulence, obesity, hardness (of hearing) tewed = thickness, depth, fat tewhad = fattening, thickening, coagulation, condensation tewhau = to make or become fat, to fatten, to thicken, to congeal
Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *tégus (thick), from *teg- (to cover) [source]. Words from the same roots include thick, protect, thatch, thug and tile in English, dik (thick, fat, cool, nice) in Dutch, dick (thick, fat) in German, tjock (thick, fat) in Swedish, tykky (thick snow or rime on trees) in Finnish, and deahkki (muscle) in Northern Sami [source].
Proto-Celtic
*remros = fat, thick
Old Irish (Goídelc)
remor [ˈr͈ʲeβ̃or] = fat, stout, thick
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)
remor, reamur, remar = stout, thick, bulky, corpulent remraigid = to thicken, fatten, make stout
guirt, gwyrd, gwyrt =green, verdant, bluish green, pale (blue), grey; fresh, lively; grassy gwyrddv = to become green, sprout, make verdent gwyrd(d) velyn, gwyrddvelyn = greenish-yellow, olive, light green gwyrddlas, gwyrdlas, gwyrdd-las = sea-green, dark green, verdant, greenish gwyrdloewet = bright green
Welsh (Cymraeg)
gwyrdd [ɡwɨ̞rð / ɡwɪrð] = green, verdant, bluish green, pale (blue), grey; fresh, lively; grassy gwyrdd gwyrdd(i)af, gwrddu, gwyrddio = to become green, sprout, make verdent gwyrddaidd = greenish, leek-green gwyrddfelyn = greenish-yellow, olive, light green gwyrddlas = sea-green, dark green, verdant, greenish gwyrddloyw = bright green
Old Cornish
guirt = green
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)
guirt, gwirdh, gwêr = green, flourishing
Cornish (Kernewek)
gwyrdh [gwɪrð] = green (not of plants or the sea) gwer [gwɛ:r / gwe:r] = green gwerdhu = dark green gwerem = emerald gwerik = greenish gwerlas = blueish-green, teal
Middle Breton (Brezonec)
guerz, guezr = green
Breton (Brezhoneg)
gwer [ɡweːr/ɡɥeːr] = green (artificial) gwerin, gweriñ = to green
Etymology: from Latin viridis (green, young, fresh, lively, youthful), from vireō (to be verdant, to sprout), from Proto-Italic *wizēō, from Proto-Indo-European *weys- (to increase) [source]. Words from the same roots include verdant, verdigris and verdure in English, vert (green) in French, verde (green) in Spanish, and verdhë (yellow, pale) in Albanian [source].
Proto-Celtic
*udnios/*utnio- = green (?)
Old Irish (Goídelc)
úaine = green, greenness
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)
úaine = green, verdant, greenness
Irish (Gaeilge)
uaine [ˈuənʲə/ˈwɛnʲə] = (vivid) green, greenness, verdue uaine éadrom = pale green
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
uaine [uən̪ʲə] = green, greenness uaineach [uən̪ʲəx] = tedious Uaineach [uən̪ʲəx] = Green Party supporter, a Green uaineachadh [uən̪ʲəxəɣ] = turning green, being humbled uainead [uən̪ʲəd] = greenness uainealach [uən̪ʲəlˠ̪əx] = greenish sìor-uaine = evergreen
