Grave Ditches

11th February 202311th February 2023 By Simon

Words for graves, ditches and related things in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic	*bodyom = grave, ditch
Celtiberian	arkato-bezom = silver mine (?)
Proto-Brythonic	*beð = grave
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	bed, bet = grave, tomb medraud, uedraut, bedraud = burial-place, grave, sepluchre, cemetery
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bedd [beːð] = grave, tomb, gravestone, tombstone, interred beddaf, beddu, beddo = to bury bedd-dorrwr = gravedigger beddfa = grave, tomb, mausoleum beddfaen = gravestone, tombstone beddrod = tomb, vault, grave, cemetery
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	bedh = grave bedhy = to bury
Cornish (Kernewek)	bedh = grave, tomb bedhros = graveyard bedhskrif = epitaph
Middle Breton	bez = tomb, tombstone
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bez = grave, tomb, sepulchre

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰedʰ- (to dig, burrow). Words from the same PIE root include fossa (ditch, trench, moat, fosse, grave) in Latin, and possibly bed in English [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	úag = grave
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	úag, úaig = grave
Irish (Gaeilge)	uaigh [uəɟ/uə] = grave
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	uaigh [uəj] = grave, tomb, sepluchre uaigh staoin = shallow grave uaigh-thrannsa = passage grave uaigheach = sepulchral, abounding in graves uaigheachd = (act of) burying, burial
Manx (Gaelg)	oaie, oaye = grave, pit, sepulchre

Etymology: unknown [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	reillic = grave
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	reilic = burial place, relics (of saints) reilcech = containg cemeteries
Irish (Gaeilge)	reilig [ˈɾˠɛlʲɪɟ/ˈɾˠɛlʲɪc/ˈɾˠɨ̞lʲɪɟ] = graveyard, burial ground; relics reiligire = sexton, grave-digger reiligireacht = caring for churchyard, grave-digging
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	réilig, réileag [r̪ˠeːlɪgʲ] = burial place, ossuary, stone chest réilig-cloiche = ossuary, stone chest réiligeach = like a churchyard, having a churchyard
Manx (Gaelg)	ruillick, rhullick = burial ground, cemetery, graveyard, necropolis, churchyard ruillick fo-halloo = catacombs ruillick ny moght = paupers’ grave

Etymology: from the Latin rēliquiae (remains, relics, remnants, survivors), from relinquō (I abandon, relinquish, forsake, leave), from the Proto-Italic *wrelinkʷō, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European *leykʷ (to leave) [source].

Words from the same PIE root include loan in English, лишать [lʲɪˈʂatʲ] (to deprive, rob, bereave) in Russian, and possibly dìleab (bequest, inheritance, legacy) in Scottish Gaelic [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

Prison

9th December 20229th December 2022 By Simon

Today we’re looking at words for prisions and related things in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	carcar [ˈkarkar] = prison, captivity
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	carcar = prison, captivity, bondage, strong-room
Irish (Gaeilge)	carcair [ˈkaɾˠkəɾʲ] = prison, place of confinement; stall, pen
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	carcair [karxgɛrʲ] = prison, coffer, sink, sewer, hermit’s cell
Manx (Gaelg)	carchyr = imprisonment, jail carchyragh = gaolbird, prisoner
Proto-Brythonic	*karxar = prison, jail
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	karchar, carchar, carcar = prison, gaol karcharaur, carcharawr = prisoner
Welsh (Cymraeg)	carchar [ˈkarχar] = prison, gaol, pen, stable, bond, fetter, band, chain, hobble, restriction, obstruction, impediment, constipation carcharbwll = dungeon, prison-pit carchardy = prison house, gaol carchardig = imprisoned, incarcerated, confined carchardigaeth = imprisonment, confinement carchargell = prison cell carchariad = imprisonment, confinement carchariad, carcharor = prisoner carcharu = to imprison, impound, confine, shackle, fetter, hobble, restrict, obstruct
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	carhar = jail, prison
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	carchar, charc’har, karc’har = prison, jail karc’hariañ = to imprison karc’hariadigezh = imprisonment
Breton (Brezhoneg)	karc’har = dungeon karc’harel = prison karc’hariañ = to imprison karc’hariadigezh = imprisonment

Etymology: from Latin carcer (prison, jail, jailbird, beginning, starting gate), from Proto-Italic *karkos (enclosure, barrier), from PIE *kr̥-kr̥- (circular), a reduplication of *(s)ker- (to turn, bend) [source].

Words from the same Latin root include incarcerate in English, carcere (jail, prison, imprisonment) in Italian, cárcere (jail, prison) in Portuguese, kerker (dungeon) in Dutch, and карцер (lockup, punishment cell, sweatbox) in Russian [source].

English words from the same PIE roots include circle, circus, corona, crisp, cross, crown and ring [source].

Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	prísún, brísún = prison prísúntacht = imprisonment
Irish (Gaeilge)	príosún [ˈpʲɾʲiːsˠuːn̪ˠ] = prison, imprisonment príosúnach = prisoner príosúnacht = imprisonment príosúnaigh = to imprison príosúnú = imprisonment
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	prìosan [prʲiːsən] = prison, jail prìosanach = prisoner prìosanachadh = imprisoning, incarcerating
Manx (Gaelg)	pryssoon = brig, gaol, glasshouse, jail, lock-up, penitentiary, prison, clink pryssoonagh = captive, detainee, internee, prisoner pryssoonaght = detention, imprisonment, incarceration pryssooneyder = gaoler imprisoner
Cornish (Kernewek)	prison = gaol, jail, prison prisonya = to imprison, incarcerate prisonyans = imprisonment
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	prizon = prison, jail prizoniad = prisoner, detained prizoniadur, prizonierezh = imprisonment prizon(i)añ = to imprison prizon(i)er = prisoner
Breton (Brezhoneg)	prizon = prison, jail prizoniad = prisoner, detained prizoniañ = to imprison

Etymology: from the Middle English prisoun (prison, jail, dungeon), from the Anglo-Norman pris(o)un (prison, jail, dungeon), from the Old French prison (prison) from the Latin prehensiō (seizing, apprehending, arresting, capturing), from prehendō (to seize). The Breton probably comes directly from Old French [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

Rawness

21st July 202221st July 2022 By Simon

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

Raw

Proto-Celtic	*omos = raw
Old Irish (Goídelc)	om [oṽ] = raw, uncooked
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	om = raw, uncooked; crude, undigested, immature; rude, unrefined, barbarous
Irish (Gaeilge)	amh [ˈavˠ / ˈaw] = raw, uncooked amhábhar = raw material, staple aimhe = rawness, crudeness amhainse = sharpness, astuteness amhainseach = sharp, astute amhchaoin = rough, uncouth amhola = crude oil
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	amh [af] = raw, uncooked; extra rare, blue (meat); uncouth, crude amhachd [avəxg] = rawness
Manx (Gaelg)	aw = crude, raw, uncooked, undressed awid = crudeness, rawness, rareness awaneagh = moron, oaf; oafish, raw, rude, uncivilsed, vain feill aw = raw meat ooill aw = crude oil
Proto-Brythonic	*oβ̃ = raw
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	of = crude, uncooked, raw
Welsh (Cymraeg)	of [braːɨ̯n / brai̯n] = crude, untreated, uncooked, raw, bitter, sharp, nauseating, sickly ofaf, ofi = to decompose, crumble, analyse

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂eh₃mós (raw, uncooked, bitter, sour), probably from *h₂eh₃- (to be hot, burn) [source].

Words for copper and bronze in Celtic languages possibly come from the same Proto-Celtic root, via the word *omiyom [source].

The Greek word ὠμός [oˈmos] (raw, uncooked, crude, brutal) comes from the same PIE root [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	cri = crude, uncooked, raw
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cri [kriː] = raw, fresh, new, crude, coarse, unfulled (cloth), unleavened bara cri = unleavened bread defnyddiau cri = raw materials teisen gri = griddle cake, Welsh cake
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	criv = rude, raw, green, newly made, unripe
Cornish (Kernewek)	kriv = crude, fresh, raw, uncooked, unripe krivder = rawness gossen griv = raw umber
Middle Breton	criz, cry = raw, crude, cruel, rough
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kriz = raw, crude, cruel, rough gopr kriz = gross salary hollad kriz = gross total obar kriz = act of barbarism

Etymology: possibly from the Latin crūdus (raw, bloody), from the Proto-Italic *krūros (bloody), from the Proto-Indo-European *kruh₂rós (bloody), from *krewh₂- (raw meat, fresh blood). The English words crude and cruel come from the same Latin root, and raw comes from the same PIE root [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	amrwt = raw, uncooked
Welsh (Cymraeg)	amrwd [ˈamrʊd] = raw, uncooked, unprocessed, undigested, crude, untreated, unrefined, rough, approximate

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *an (un-) and *brutus (boiling heat), from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰrewh₁- (to boil, brew) [source].

Other words from the Proto-Celtic root *brutus include brwd (eager, keen, passionate, zealous) and brwdfrydedd (enthusiasm) in Welsh, and bruth (heat, rash, eruption, nap, pile, surf) in Irish [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Bears

18th March 2020 By Simon

Words for bear in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*artos = bear
Noric	*𐌀𐌓𐌕𐌄(𐌁𐌖𐌈𐌆) (Arte(budz)) = bear(?)
Gaulish	*artio = bear
Old Irish (Goídelc)	art [ar͈t] = bear, hero, warrior
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	art [ar̪ˠʃd] = bear (archaic), hero
Proto-Brythonic	*arθ [arθ] = bear
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	arth [arθ] = bear
Welsh (Cymraeg)	arth [arθ] = bear, fierce or rough person
Cornish (Kernewek)	arth [ɒɹθ] = bear
Old Breton	ard / arth = bear
Breton (Brezhoneg)	arzh = bear

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ŕ̥tḱos (bear) [Source].

Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ursa [ur̪ˠsə] = bear
Cornish (Kernewek)	ors = bear
Breton (Brezhoneg)	ourz = ourz

Etymology: possibly from the Latin ursa (she-bear), from ursus (bear), from the Proto-Italic *orssos (bear), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ŕ̥tḱos (bear) [Source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	mathgamain [ˈmaθɣəṽənʲ] = bear
Irish (Gaeilge)	mathúin [ˈmˠahuːnʲ] = bear
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	mathan [ˈmahan] = bear
Manx (Gaelg)	maghouin = bear

Etymology: from the Old Irish math (good) and gamuin (calf) [Source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, MacBain’s Dictionary, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old-Irish Glossary, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Books

11th November 201927th April 2023 By Simon

Words for book and related things in Celtic languages:

Old Irish (Goídelc)	lebor [ˈl͈ʲevor] = book lebrán = little book, booklet
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	lebar, lebor = book, volume, treatise, charter lebarda, lebur(da) = bookish, learned, lettered, of or belonging to books lebarach = of or belonging to books, written lebrán = little book, handbook, copy, transcript lebróir = (book) peddlar, merchant
Irish (Gaeilge)	leabhar [l̠ʲəuɾˠ / l̠ʲoːɾˠ] = book leabharbhách = bibliophile leabharbhoth = bookstall leabhareolaí = bibliographer leabharlann = library leabharlannaí = librarian leabharach = bookish leabharagán = bookcase leabharán = booklet leabharóg = libretto
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	leabhar [l̪ʲo.ər] = book, volume, the Bible leabhar-lann = library leabhar-lannaiche = librarian leabhar-latha = diary, journal leabhar-pòcaid = pocketbook, wallet leabhar-chlàr = bibliography leabhar-d = e-book leabhar mór-eòlais = encyclopedia
Manx (Gaelg)	lioar = book, tome, volume, folio lioaran = booklet, brochure, pamphlet, tract lioaragh = bookish, lettered, studious, booklearned, well-read lioaraghan = bookcase lioarlagh = collection of books lioarlan(n) = library lioarlannee = librarian lioarvark = bookmark
Proto-Brythonic	*llɨβr = book
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	llyvir, llyther, llyuyr, llyvyr = book, volume llyvran = small book, booklet, pamphlet llyfrbry, llyvrbryv = bookworm
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llyfr [ɬɨ̞vr / ɬɪvr] = book, volume llyfraf, llyfro, llyfru = to book, enter in a book, record, register, enrol llyfran = small book, booklet, pamphlet llyfrbryf = bookworm llyfrdy = library, study, collection of books, bookshop llyfreugar = fond of books llyfrgar = bookish, studious llyfrgell = library, study, bookshop llyfrgellydd = librarian, book collector llyfrifwr = book-keeper llyfrnod = bookmark
Old Cornish	liuer = book
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	levar, liver, lyvyr = book levarva = library, bookcase
Cornish (Kernewek)	lyver, lever = book lyver dedhyow = calendar lyver kuntel = album lyver termyn = magazine, periodical lyverji = bookshop lyverva = library lyveras, lyverades = librarian lyvrik, lyvryn = booklet
Old Breton	libr = book
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	leffr, leur, leufr, levvr, levr = book levr-dourn = manual, handbook
Breton (Brezhoneg)	levr = book levr-dorn = manual, handbook levr-skrid = manuscript levraoua = to look for books levraoueg, levrdi = library levraouegour, levrdiour = librarian levraouek = full of books levraouer = bibliophile, book lover levraouerezh = bibliophilia

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). Words from the same roots include libel, library, leaf and lobby in English, and librairie (bookshop, tobacconist’s) in French [source].

Doctor

8th April 20198th April 2019 By Simon

Words for doctor in Celtic languages.

Irish (Gaeilge)	dochtúir [d̪ˠɔxˈt̪ˠuːɾʲ / ˈd̪ˠʌxt̪ˠuɾʲ] = doctor
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	dotair [dɔhdɛrʲ] = doctor, surgeon, physician
Manx (Gaelg)	doghtoor = doctor

Etymology: from the Latin doctor (teacher, instructor), from doceō (teach), from the Proto-Italic *dokeō (tell, inform, teach, instruct), from the Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- (to take) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, Dictionary of the Irish Language On-Line Manx Dictionary

Proto-Celtic	*lī(φ)agi- = doctor
Old Irish (Goídelc)	líaig = leech, doctor, physician
Irish (Gaeilge)	lia = healer, physician
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	lèigh [ʎeː] = physician, surgeon lighiche [ʎi.ɪçə] = healer, physician, surgeon
Manx (Gaelg)	(fer/ben) lhee = (male/female) doctor, physician

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European lēg(‘)- (doctor), the same root as the English word leech [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Proto-Celtic English Word List, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, Dictionary of the Irish Language On-Line Manx Dictionary

Proto=Brythonic	*meðïg = doctor
Welsh (Cymraeg)	meddyg [ˈmɛðɪɡ / ˈmeːðɪɡ] = doctor
Cornish (Kernewek)	medhek [mɛðɛk / ‘mɛðɐk] = doctor, physician
Breton (Brezhoneg)	mezeg = doctor

Etymology: from the Latin medicus (doctor), from medeor (I heal, cure, remedy), from the Proto-Italic *medēōr (to heal), from the Proto-Indo-European *med- (to measure, give advice, heal) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

To Write

11th December 201828th April 2023 By Simon

Words for writing, script and related things in Celtic languages:

Old Irish (Goídelc)	scríbaid [ˈsʲkʲrʲiːviðʲ] = to write (down), compose
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	scríbaid = to write (down), compose aithscríbaid = rewrites scríbend = the act of writing
Irish (Gaeilge)	scriobh [ʃcɾʲiːvˠ / ʃcɾʲiːw] = to write, fill in, compose; (hand)writing scriobhaí = scribe, amanuensis scríobhneóir = writer, author scríobhneóireacht = writing, penmanship, literary work scríofa = written
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	sgrìobh [sgrʲiːv] = to write, compose, inscribe sgrìobhadh [sgrʲiːvəɣ] = writing, composing, inscribing, inscription, penmanship, writings, works sgrìobhaiche = scribe, correspondent, writer sgrìobhair = writer, scribe
Manx (Gaelg)	screeu = document, writing; to inscribe, pen, scribe, write screeuee = of writing screeudeyr = scribe, secretary, secretary bird, writer scrudeyr = scribe, secretary screeudeyrys = writing screeuit, screeut, scruit = written
Proto-Brythonic	*skriβenn = writing, something written
Old Welsh	scribenn = writing
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	yscriven, ysgriuen = writing escryuennu, ysgriuennv, sgriuenv = to write
Welsh (Cymraeg)	(y)sgrifen [əsˈɡrɪvɛn / ˈsɡrɪvɛn] = writing, manuscript, inscription, handwriting, letter, document, writ, deed, certificate, bill (y)sgrifenedig = written, recorded, signed (y)sgrifenlyfr = manuscript, writing-book (y)sgrifennaf, (y)sgrifennu, sgwennu = to write, note (down), take a census (y)sgrifennydd = secretary, scribe, clerk, copyist, writer, author (y)sgrifennyddiaeth = orthography, spelling, handwriting ysgrafo = to scratch, claw
Old Cornish	scriuen = writing
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	screfa, scrife = to write screft = scripture scrife = writing scriven = writing, letter, missive scriviniat, scriuinat = writer scrivit, scriut = writing
Cornish (Kernewek)	skrif [skriːf] = document, script, writing, article skrifa = to write, script, writ, writing skrienyas, skrienyades = secretary skrifenyaseth = secretariat skrifer, skrifores = writer skrifwas = clerk
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	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].

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Proto-Italic

Grave Ditches

Prison

Rawness

Bears

Books

Doctor

To Write