Category: Proto-Indo-European

Sheep

By Simon

Words for sheep and related words in Celtic languages.

Sheep in Gleann Cholm Cille

Proto-Celtic *kaɸrāxs = sheep
Old Irish (Goídelc) cáera, caíra [ˈkaːi̯ra] = ox, cow
Irish (Gaeilge) caora [ˈkeːɾˠə / ˈkiːɾˠə] = sheep, ewe
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) caora [kɯːrə] = sheep, sheepish person
Manx (Gaelg) keyrrey = sheep
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) kaeriwrch = roebuck
Welsh (Cymraeg) caer = sheep (archaic)
caeriwrch / cariwrch = roebuck

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

Proto-Celtic *damos = ox, bull, domesticated animal
*dametos = sheep
Old Irish (Goídelc) dam [daṽ] = ox, stag, hero, champion
Irish (Gaeilge) damh [d̪ˠaw] = ox, stag; strong man, champion, corpulent person
damh alla = stag
damh comhair = one of a pair of oxen, yokefellow; equal, peer
damháire = bellowing, lowing (of oxen), belling (of stag)
damhán = small ox
damhra = oxen, yoke of oxen; stags, herd of deer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) damh [dav] = stag (antlered, up to 4 yrs old), ox, oaf, crab missing a claw
damh-féidh = hart, stag
cho dall ri damh ann an ceò = as blind as a bat in daylight (“as blind as an ox in the fog”)
Manx (Gaelg) dow = ox, hart, stag
Proto-Brythonic *daβ̃ad = sheep
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) dauat, davad = sheep
Welsh (Cymraeg) dafad [ˈdavad/ˈdaːvad] = sheep, ewe; one who is under the charge of a spiritual pastor
defaid cymorth = sheep given to a needy person to form the nucleus of a flock
dafad ddu = black sheep, prodigal son, ne’er do-well of a family
defaid Dafydd Jos = waves, billows (“David Jones’ sheep”)
mynd yn draed defaid = to go to ruin (“to become sheep’s feet”)
Old Cornish dauat = sheep
Cornish (Kernewek) davas = ewe, sheep
kig davas = mutton
Breton (Brezhoneg) dañvad [ˈdãː.vat] = sheep; overly kind, gentle person; cuckold, flock; small, fluffy clouds, foamy waves
dañvadez = ewe

Etymology: the Brythonic words come from *dametos, which comes from *damos. Both these words come from the Proto-Indo-European *demh₂- (to domesticate, tame) [source]. The English words tame, (in)domitable and danger come from the same PIE root [source].

Proto-Celtic *retio- = ram
Old Irish (Goídelc) reithe [r͈ʲeθʲe] = ram; boats used as fireships
Irish (Gaeilge) reithe = ram
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) reithe [r͈ʲe.ə] = ram, tup; Aries
Manx (Gaelg) rea = ram, tup

Etymology: unknown [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec) hwrd, hwrt = ram
Welsh (Cymraeg) hwrdd = ram; a stupid person; battering ram; rammer, beater; Aries
Old Cornish horþ = ram
Middle Cornish hordh = ram
Cornish (Kernewek) hordh = ram
Breton (Brezhoneg) (h)ourz = ram

Etymology: unknown.

Proto-Celtic *moltos = ram, wether (castrated ram)
Gaulish *multon = sheep
Old Irish (Goídelc) molt [mol͈t] = ram, wether
Irish (Gaeilge) molt = wether, sulky, morose person
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) molt [mul̪ˠt̪ˠ] = wether
Manx (Gaelg) mohlt = castrated sheep, wether, mutton
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) mollt = castrated ram, wether, mutton
Welsh (Cymraeg) mollt [moːɬd / mɔɬt] = castrated ram, wether, mutton
Cornish (Kernewek) mols = wether, sheep
Middle Breton mout, maout = ram
Breton (Brezhoneg) maout [ˈmɔwt] = ram, mutton; champion, trophy

Etymology: uncertain, possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *(h₂)moldus (soft, weak) [source].

The Gaulish *multon is the root of the French word mouton (sheep, mutton), via the Vulgar Latin moltō (wether), and also of the Galician word motóa (sheep), and the English word mutton [source].

Proto-Celtic *ognos = lamb
Old Irish (Goídelc) úan [uːa̯n] = lamb
Irish (Gaeilge) uan = lamb
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) uan [uən] = lamb
Manx (Gaelg) eayn = lamb
Brythonic *oɨn = lamb
Welsh (Cymraeg) oen [oːɨ̯n / ɔi̯n] = lamb
Old Cornish oin = lamb
Cornish (Kernewek) oen = lamb
Breton (Brezhoneg) oan = lamb

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂egʷnós (lamb) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

Cattle

By Simon

Words for cattle, cow, bull and calf in Celtic languages.

Highland cows

Proto-Celtic *bāus = cow
Old Irish (Goídelc) bó [boː] = ox, cow
Irish (Gaeilge) bó [bˠoː] = cow
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) bò [boː] = cow
Manx (Gaelg) booa = cow
Proto-Brythonic *bʉ = cow
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) bu(w) = cow
Welsh (Cymraeg) bu, buw, buyn = cow, bullock, head of cattle
biw = cow, cattle, horned cattle
Cornish (Kernewek) bu = cow
Breton (Brezhoneg) bu = cow

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *gʷṓws (cattle) [source].

Proto-Celtic *boukkā = cow
Proto-Brythonic *bʉx = cow
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) buch = cow
Welsh (Cymraeg) buwch [bɨu̯χ / bɪu̯χ] = cow
Old Cornish buch = cow
Middle Cornish bugh, biuh = cow
Cornish (Kernewek) bugh, buwgh [biʊx / bɪwh] = cow
Breton (Brezhoneg) buoc’h [ˈbɥoːχ / ˈbyːɔχ] = cow

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *bāus (cow), the Proto-Indo-European *gʷṓws (cattle) [source].

Proto-Celtic *tarwos = bull
Gaulish taruos = bull
Old Irish (Goídelc) tarb [tarv] = bull
Irish (Gaeilge) tarbh [ˈt̪ˠaɾˠuː / ˈt̪ˠaɾˠu] =bull
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) tarbh [tarav] = bull, Taurus
Manx (Gaelg) tarroo = bull
Proto-Brythonic *tarw = bull
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) tarw = bull
Welsh (Cymraeg) tarw [ˈtaru / ˈtaːru] = bull, uncastrated male ox, papal bull, Taurus (sign of the zodiac)
Old Cornish tarow = bull
Cornish (Kernewek) tarow = bull
Old Breton taruu = bull
Middle Breton taru = bull
Breton (Brezhoneg) tarv = bull

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *táwros (wild bull, aurochs) [source].

Proto-Celtic *laygos / *lāɸigos = calf
Old Irish (Goídelc) lóeg [l͈oːi̯ɣ] = calf, favourite, darling
Irish (Gaeilge) lao [l̪ˠeː / l̪ˠiː] = (young) calf
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) laogh [l̪ˠɯːɣ] = calf, kid (of deer), fawn, term of endearment for a child
Manx (Gaelg) lheiy [ax] = calf
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) lloe, lloi = calf
Welsh (Cymraeg) llo [ɬoː] = calf, bullock, simpleton, dolt
Old Cornish loch = calf
Middle Cornish) lugh = calf
Cornish (Kernewek) leugh [løːx / leːx / lɛwh] = calf
Breton (Brezhoneg) leue [ˈlø.e] = calf

Etymology: a diminutuve of the Proto-Indo-European *leh₂p- (cattle) [source].

Irish (Gaeilge) bearach = heifer, young cow
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) biorach [birəx] = a weaned but not fully mature calf or foal (up to 2 years); anti-suckling device, sucking preventer, weaner
Welsh (Cymraeg) bustach / bustych = bullock, ox, steer (possibly related to the above words)

Etymology: from the Old Irish berach [ˈbʲerax] (pointed, sharp; having pointed ears, horned), from bir (stake, spit, point; spear, spike) & -ach (related to, having, characterised by, prone to) [source].

Proto-Brythonic *oti̯on- = bullock
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) eydyon, eidon = ox, steer, bullock
Welsh (Cymraeg) eidion = domestic male of the bovine family, ox, steer, bullock, neat
Old Cornish odion = bullock
Middle Cornish udzheon, odgan = bullock
Cornish (Kernewek) ojyon = ox
Middle Breton eugenn = bullock. ox
Breton (Brezhoneg) ejon = bullock. ox
Proto-Celtic *anderā = young woman
Gaulish anderon = heifer
Old Irish (Goídelc) ainder [ˈan͈ʲdʲər] = married woman; virgin, maiden
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) ander [ˈæn̠ʲəɾˠ] = girl, maiden, lass; young woman
Irish (Gaeilge) ainnir [ˈæn̠ʲəɾˠ] = girl, maiden, lass; young woman (poetic); attractive woman
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ainnir [an̠ʲɪrʲ] = maiden, virgin; nymph; marriageable woman; young woman
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) anneir = heifer
Welsh (CymraeG) anner [ˈanɛr] = heifer
Old Cornish annoer = heifer
Cornish (Kernewek) annor = heifer
Middle Breton annoer = heifer
Breton (Brezhoneg) annoar = heifer

Etymology: possibly related to Basque andere (lady, woman) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

Horses

By Simon

Words for horse, stallion, mare and foal in Celtic languages.

Ceffylau / Horses

Proto-Celtic *kapallos = horse
Gaulish *caballos = horse
Old Irish (Goídelc) capall [ˈkapal͈] = horse
Irish (Gaeilge) capall [ˈkapˠəl̪ˠ] = horse, mare
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) capall [kahbəl̪ˠ] = mare, colt, horse, small horse
Manx (Gaelg) cabbyl = horse
Proto-Brythonic *kappilos = horse
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) keffyl, ceffyl = horse
Welsh (Cymraeg) ceffyl [ˈkɛfɨ̞l / ˈkɛfɪl] = horse, nag, hobby
Middle Cornish cevil, kevil = horse
Breton (Brezhoneg) kefel = horse

Etymology: uncertain – related to the Late Latin caballus (horse, nag), which is thought to come from the Gaulish caballos [source].

Proto-Celtic *markos = horse
Galatian *μάρκαν (márkan) = horse
Gaulish *markos = horse
Old Irish (Goídelc) marc [mark] = horse
Irish (Gaeilge) marc [mˠaɾˠk] = horse (literary / archaic)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) marc [marxk] = charger (warhorse – literary)
Manx (Gaelg) mark-sleih = horseman
Proto-Brythonic *marx = horse
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) march = horse
Welsh (Cymraeg) march [marχ] = horse, stallion, war-horse, steed
Old Cornish march = horse
Middle Cornish march = horse
Cornish (Kernewek) margh [ˈmaɾx] = horse
Old Breton marh = horse
Middle Breton march = horse
Breton (Brezhoneg) marc’h [ˈmaʁχ] = horse, easel

Etymology: thought to be from the Proto-Indo-European *márkos, which is also the root of the English words mare and marshal, the French word maréchal (marshal), and related words in other languages [source].

Related words

Irish (Gaeilge) marcach = horseman, rider, jockey; cavalryman, Cavalier
marcachas = horsemanship
marchaigh = to ride
marcaíocht = riding, horsemanship, ride drive lift
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) marc-shluagh = horsemen, riders, cavalry
marchach = equestrian, mounted; riding
Welsh (Cymraeg) marchaidd = pertaining to a horse, horsy, horselike, equine
marchallu = horsepower
marchasyn = jackass, male donkey
marchdy = stable
marchfeddyg = horse doctor, farrier
marchfilwr = dragoon, cavalryman, cavalier, trooper
marchog = horseman, rider, jockey, mounted warrior, knight
Cornish (Kernewek) marghek = knight, rider
margh-leska = rocking horse
marghnerth = horsepower
marghogeth = to ride (a horse)
marghti = stable
horn margh = horseshoe
Breton (Brezhoneg) marc’heg = knight
Proto-Celtic *ekʷos [ˈe.kʷos] = horse
Celtiberian ekua- = horse
Gaulish epos = horse
Primitive Irish *ᚓᚊᚐᚄ (*eqas) [exʷah] = horse
Old Irish (Goídelc) ech [ex] = horse
Irish (Gaeilge) each [ax] = horse (archaic)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) each [ɛx] = horse
Manx (Gaelg) agh [ax] = steed, riding horse
Proto-Brythonic *eb [ɛːb] = horse
Old Welsh eb = horse
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) ep, ebawl = colt, foal
Welsh (Cymraeg) ebol [ˈɛbɔl / ˈeːbɔl] = colt, foal, sucker
cyfeb = mare in foal
Middle Cornish ebol, ebel = foal, colt
Cornish (Kernewek) ebel = horse
Old Breton eb = horse
Breton (Brezhoneg) ebeul [ˈe.bøl] = foal
keneb = mare in foal

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁éḱwos, which is also the root of the Latin word for horse, equus, and the English word equine [source]. The horse goddess, Epona, may be related as well.

Proto-Celtic *uɸorēdos = horse
Gaulish *werēdos = horse
Proto-Brythonic *gworuɨð = horse
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) gorwydd = steed, horse
Welsh (Cymraeg) gorwydd = steed, horse

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *uɸo- (under) and *rēdo- (to ride; riding, chariot), from Proto-Indo-European *(H)reydʰ- (to ride) [source].

Proto-Celtic *(φ?)lārek- = mare
Old Irish (Goídelc) láir = mare
Irish (Gaeilge) láír [l̪ˠɑːɾʲ] = mare
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) làir [l̪ˠaːrʲ] = mare
Manx (Gaelg) laair = mare

Etymology: unknown [source].

Proto-Celtic *kankstikaā = mare
Welsh (Cymraeg) caseg [ˈkasɛg] = mare
Old Cornish cassec = mare
Cornish (Kernewek) kasek = mare
Breton (Brezhoneg) kazeg = mare

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱanḱest-/*kankest- (horse) [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc) serrach = colt, faol
Irish (Gaeilge) searrach = colt, faol
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) searrach [ʃɛr̪ˠəx] = colt, faol, filly
Manx (Gaelg) sharragh = faol

Etymology: unknown [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

Wolves & Sea Monsters

By Simon

Words for wolf in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *waylos = wolf
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) fáel [faːi̯l] = wolf, howler
Irish (Gaeilge) foal [fˠeːlˠ / fˠiːlˠ] = wolf
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) foal [fɯːlˠ] = wolf, wild dog
Manx (Gaelg) filliu = wolf

Etymology
From the Proto-Indo-European *waylos (wolf, howler) – this was apparently used instead of the usual PIE word for wolf, *wĺ̥kʷos, due to taboos [source].

Note: faol is an archaic and literary word for wolf in Irish and Scottish Gaelic. It does appear in the word faolchú (wild dog) though. More common words for wolf in Irish include mac tíre (“son of the land”) and madra alla (“wild dog”). In Scottish Gaelic a wolf is madadh-allaidh (“wild dog”), mac-tìre (“son of the land”) or faol-chù (“wild dog”).

Proto-Celtic *bledyos = wolf
Old Irish (Goídelc) bled = sea monster
Irish (Gaeilge) bleidmhíol = monster, whale
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) bleidh-mhial [ble viəlˠ] = sea monster (esp. whale – archaic)
Proto-Brythonic *blėð = wolf
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) bleidd = wolf
Welsh (Cymraeg) blaidd [blai̯ð] = wolf
Old Cornish bleit = wolf
Cornish (Kernewek) bleydh [blɛɪð / bləɪð] = wolf
Old Breton bleid = wolf
Breton (Brezhoneg) bleiz [ˈblɛjs] = wolf

Etymology: unknown – probably borrowed from a non-Indo-European language [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

Wolf

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

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

Willow (trees)

By Simon

Words for willow tree (salix) in Celtic languages:

Old Irish (Goídelc) sail = willow (tree), plank, beam
Irish (Gaeilge) saileach = willow (tree), sallow
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) seileach [ʃeləx] = willow (tree)
Manx (Gaelg) shellagh = willow (tree), proliferous, sallow, salivary, withy
Welsh (Cymraeg) helyg [ˈhɛlɪɡ / ˈheːlɪɡ] = willow (tree), osier
Cornish (Kernewek) helygk [ˈhɛlɪk] = willow (tree)
Breton (Brezhoneg) haleg = willow (tree)

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European salək- (willow).

Sources: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/salix#Latin, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Willow Tree Reflection

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