Today we’re looking at words for boots, shoes and related things in Celtic languages.
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | bróc(c) [broːɡ] = shoe, sandal, greave; (in plural) greaces, leggings, hose, breeches |
|---|---|
| Irish (Gaeilge) | bróg [bˠɾˠoːɡ/bˠɾˠɔːɡ] = boot, shoe bróg ard = boot bróg iseal = shoe bróg adhmaid/mhaide = clog brógchrann = boot-tree |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | bròg [brɔːg] = shoe, boot, hoof brògair [brɔːgɪrʲ] = shoemaker, cobbler brògach [brɔxgəx] = abounding in shoes, shod, strong-hoofed, animal with “socks” bròg-fhiodha = clog, wooden shoe brògan put = football boots bròg-eich = horseshoe bròg-spéilidh = ice skate bròg na cuthaige = bluebell, wild hyacinth (“shoe of the cuckoo”) cho sona ri bròg = as happy as Larry (“as happy as a shoe”) |
| Manx (Gaelg) | braag = brogue, shoe braagit = shod braag lheiltys = gym shoe braag shliawin = ice skate braag vaidjagh = clog |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | brog = brogue brog Gwyddelig = Irish brogue |
Etymology: from the Old Norse brók (trousers, breeches) or the Old English brōc (underpants), both of which come from the Proto-Germanic *brōks (rear end, rump, leggings, pants, trousers), from the PIE *bʰreg- (to break, crack, split) [source].
The English word brogue was borrowed from Irish and refers to a type of shoe, or a strong accent, particularly a strong Irish accent when speaking English, although it originally referred to Irish spoken with a strong English accent, or a heavy shoe of untanned leather.
Brogue in the sense of accent might come from the Irish word barróg (hug, wrestling grip, brogue, impediment of speech) [source], which comes from the Old Irish barróc (fast hold, tight grip, embrace, gripe, stitch) [source],
| Proto-Celtic | *fesskūtā = (leather) boot, shoe |
|---|---|
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | eskyd, eskit, escid = boot, buskin, shoe |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | esgid [ˈɛskɪd] = boot, buskin, shoe esgidiaf, esgidio = to put on one’s boots or shoes, to shoe esgidiedig / esgidiog = shod esgidiwr = shoemaker, bootmaker esgidiau blewog = fur-lined boots esgidau byclau = buckled shoes esgidiau eira = show boots/shoes esgidiau nos = slippers esgid(iau) Gwyddel(od) = brogue(s) esgid goed, esgidiau coed = wooden-soled shoes, clogs esgidiau’r gog/gwcw = Bluebell, Wild Hyacinth |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | escid, esgis, eskas = shoe |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | eskis = shoe eskis sport = trainer, sports shoe eskisyow kron = slingbacks |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ped-skuHto-, from *ped- (to walk, step) and *skuH-t- (skin, hide) [source].
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | cúarán = shoe, sock |
|---|---|
| Irish (Gaeilge) | cuarán = sandal |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | cuaran [kuəran] = sandal, bangage, toecap, sock |
| Manx (Gaelg) | carrane = hide sandal, sandal, slipper |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | cuaran, kuaran, curan = boot, buskin |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | cu(a)ran, cwaran = boot, buskin curanog = buskined |
Etymology: the Welsh words were borrowed from Irish. The words in the other languages possibly come from the Middle Irish cúar (curved, bent, crooked) from the Proto-Celtic *kukro- (curved), from the Proto-Indo-European *kewk- (to elevate, height) [source].
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | bòtann [bɔːhdən̪ˠ] = boot (esp. rubber boot, wellington) bòtais [bɔːhdɪʃ] = boot bùtais [buːhdɪʃ] = boot |
|---|---|
| Manx (Gaelg) | bootys = boot |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | botys, botes, botas, bottas = greave(s), shackle, boot, wader |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | bot(i)as, bwtias = greave(s), shackle, boot, wader botasbren = bootjack, boot-tree botasog = wearing boots or greaves botaswr = bootmaker, shoemaker |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | botas = boot botas palvek = flippers botas stanch = wellies |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | botez, botes, botés = shoe |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | botez = shoe, clog botour = shoemaker, cobbler botaouiñ = to shoe botez-prenn = clog, wooden shoe botezioù = hoof, sole |
Etymology: (via English) from the Old French bote (boot), from the Frankish *butt, from Proto-Germanic *but(t)az (cut off, short, numb, blunt), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰewt-/*bʰewd- (to strike, push, shock”) [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
