Boards & Planks

In this post we’re looking at words for board, plank and related things in Celtic languages.

Sunset / Machlud haul

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) tile, tiled = board, plank, stern
Irish (Gaeilge) tile = board, plank, sheets, poop (deck)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) dèile [dʲeːlə] = board, deal, plank, bier
Manx (Gaelg) deal = plank, batten

Etymology: from English deal [source] (a plank of softwood, a wooden board or blank), from Middle English dele (plank), from Middle Low German dele, from Old Saxon thili, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *þiljǭ (plank, board, plank, flooring, deck) [source].

Words from the same Diele (plank, hallway, hall, foyer) in German, tilja (floorboard, stage floor) in Swedish, and dilljá (bulkhead) in Pite Sami [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec) astell, estyll = plank, board, shelf, lath, stave, rod
Welsh (Cymraeg) astell [ˈastaɬ / ˈastɛɬ] = plank, board, shelf, lath, stave, rod, ledge (of rock)
astell gerdd = music stand
astell ddu = blackboard
astell lyfrau = bookshelf
astellaf, astellu = to board, batten
astellddal = shelf
astellog = boarded, planked
astyllen = plank, board, shelf, lath, stave, rod, tablet, toilet, privy, latrine
(y)styllen = plank, board, panel, shelf, lath, stave, mould-board
Middle Cornish (Cernewec / Kernuak) astel = board, plank
Cornish (Kernewek) astel = plank, shingle, splint
astel an oles = mantelpiece
astel grey = chalkboard
astel todnow = surfboard
astelwolyans = windsurfing
astelyer = striker
estyllen = shelf, board, plank
Breton (Brezhoneg) astel = plank, flat piece of wood, extension leaf (of a table), shelf, crêpe spatula, (medical) splint
astellad = vomiting
astellat = to vomit
astelladenn = emetic, to vomit

Etymology (Welsh & Cornish): from Latin astella (splinter), from asula / astla (splinter, shaving, chip, shiver, shingle) from assis (axel, North Pole, the heavens, board, plank), from Proto-Italic *aksis, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱs-i-s, from *h₂eḱs- (axle, axis)[source]. The Breton words come from the same Latin roots, via Old French astelle (splinter or piece of wood) [source].

Words from the same roots include axis and axle in English, Achse (axis, axle) in German, axel (shoulder, axle, axis) in Swedish, and exio (axle, axis) in Portuguese, and words for axle and axis in Celtic language [source].

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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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