Fatty Lard

29th March 202329th March 2023 By Simon

Words for fat, lard and related things in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	blonac = fat, lard
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	blonac, blonoc = fat, lard, grease
Irish (Gaeilge)	blonag = soft fat, lard, blubber, paunch, spare tyre blonag an mhíl mhóir = (whale) blubber blonagach = fat, greasy, flabby blonagán = goose-foot
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	blonag [bl̪ˠɔnag] = visceral fat, suet, lard, tallow blonag-mhuice = lard
Manx (Gaelg)	blonnag = lard blennick = fat, fatty tissue, lard, blubber blennick vuickey = lard
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	blonec, blonnec = fat, lard, grease
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bloneg = fat, lard, grease; belly, abdomen, lap, body fat; sap magu bloneg = to become fat meinwe floneg = adipose tissue blonegaf, blonegu, blonega = to grow fat, to make fat, to grease with far or lard blonegaidd = fatty, lardaceous, greasy
Old Cornish	blonec = fat
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	blonec = fat, lard, grease
Cornish (Kernewek)	blonek = fat, lard, grease blonegek = greasy
Old Breton	blonecou = lard, fat
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	bloneg, blouhec, blounhec, blonec, bloanec = pork belly, fat blonegenn = fat bread, lard bread blonegenn-mor = jellyfish
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bloneg = addomen, lard, fat bloneg-mor = jellyfish blonegenn = fat bread, lard bread

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: unknown

Proto-Celtic	gʷeress/gʷered- = animal fat, tallow
Old Irish (Goídelc)	geir = fat, lard, suet, tallow fogeir = to heat, warm, inflame, chafe, irritate, temper
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	geir = animal fat, tallow, suet, lard fo-geir = to heat, inflame, chafe, irritate, excite, temper
Irish (Gaeilge)	geir [ɟɛɾʲ] = fat, suet, tallow geir rósta = dripping geireach = fatty, sebaceous
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	geir [gʲerʲ] = fat, lard, tallow geir-mhuc = lard geireach = fatty, greasy, full of suet geireadh = anointing, smearing with grease
Manx (Gaelg)	geirr = dripping, fat, suet, tallow geirr vill = beeswax
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	guer, gwer = animal fat, tallow, suet, grease
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gwêr = animal fat, tallow, suet, grease gwêr (yr) aren = suet gweraidd = tallowy, tallowish gwerennaf, gwerennu = to congeal or coagulate into suet fat gwerennog = fat, suety, lardy, greasy

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰer- (heat) or *ǵʰwer- (wild animal) [source].

Words from the same PIE roots include furnace, gore, thermal and warm in English [source], gor (to hatch, incubate, warm, heat, burn) in Irish [source]., and words for warmth and heat in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	sall, saill = bacon, salt-meat sallid = to salt, cure
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	saill = salted meat (esp. bacon)
Irish (Gaeilge)	saill = salted meat, fat meat, fat; to salt, cure, season sailleach = fatty, adipose sailleadh = salting, curing sailleacht = saltiness (of meat, etc.) saillteoir = salter, curer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	saill [sail̪ʲ/sal̪ʲə] = to pickle, season; blubber, fat, suet saill-shùighte = saturated fat saill neo-shùighte = unsaturated fat saill nan dubhagan = suet saill bèicearachd = shortening saill muice-mara = blubber sailleadair = salter, fish-curer sailleadh = (act of) salting saillte = salted, salty saillear = (salt-)cellar
Manx (Gaelg)	sahll = adioise tissue, blubber, fat, grease sahllagh = adipose, blubbery, fatty

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Celtic *salanos (salt) , from Proto-Indo-European *séh₂ls (salt) [source]. Words for salt in Celtic and many other Indo-European languages come from the same roots [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, Gerlyvyr Cernewec, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Flour

6th October 20226th October 2022 By Simon

In this post we’re looking into words for flour and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*mlātos = flour
Gaulish	*blatos = flour
Proto-Brythonic	*blọd = flour
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	blawd, blaỼt = flour
Welsh (Cymraeg)	blawd = flour, meal, powder blawdaidd = mealy, floury, friable blodiaf, blawdiaf, blawdio = to grind into meal, produce flour, become powdery, turn to dust, sprinkle (with) flour blodiwr, blawdiwr = flour or meal merchant
Old Cornish	blot = flour, meal
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	blot, blês = flour, meal
Cornish (Kernewek)	bleus = flour bleus hesken = sawdust bleus leun = wholemeal bleusa = to flour
Old Breton	blot = flour
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bleud = flour, powder bleudañ = to flour bleudek = floury bleud brazed = wholemeal flour bleud goellet = self-raising flour bleud gwinizh = wheat flour

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ml̥h₂-tó-s, from *melh₂- (to crush, grind) [source]. Words from the same root include melancholy and melanin in English, and μελανός (melanós – black, dark, blue, bruised) in Greek [source].

Old Irish (Góidelc)	men = flour
Irish (Gaeilge)	min [ˈmʲɪnʲ/ˈmʲɨ̞nʲ] = meal; powedered matter min choirce = oatmeal min chruithneachta = wheatmeal min sáibh = sawdust
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	min [min] = flour, meal, grounds, filings min-fhlùir = flour min-eòrna = barley flour/meal min-sheagail = rye flour min-chruithneachd = wheat flour muileann-mine = flour mill
Manx (Gaelg)	meinn = meal meinn chorkey = oatmeal meinn churnaght = wheatmeal flour meinn hoggyl = rye meal meinn oarn = barley meal meinn saaue = sawdust

Etymology: unknown

Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	peyllyeyt, peillit = flour
Welsh (Cymraeg)	paill = pollen, flour peill(i)aid = flour, fine flour, wheat flour, white flour, powder peilliaid gwenith = (fine) wheat flour peilliaid haidd = barley flour peilliaid rhyg = rye flour

Etymology: from the Latin pollen (fine flower, powder, dust), from the Proto-Indo-European *pel- (flour, dust) [source].

Words from the same roots, via the Latin pulvis (dust, powder, ashes), include polve (dust, ashes) in Italian, polvo (dust, powder) in Spanish, poussière (dust) in French, and pulverise (to render into dust or powder) in English [source].

Irish (Gaeilge)	plúr [pˠlˠuːɾˠ] = flour, flower plúr geal = white flour plúr cruithneachta = wheaten flour plúrach = floury, farinaceous; flower-like, pretty plúraigh = to effloresce plúróg = pretty girl plúrscoth = choicest flower, pick, choice plúrú = efflorescence
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	flùr [fl̪ˠuːr] = flour flùr lom = plain flour flùr-éirigh = self-raising flour
Manx (Gaelg)	flooyr = flour flooyr churnaght = wheaten flour grine-flooyr = cornflour
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	fflwr = flour
Welsh (Cymraeg)	fflŵr [fluːr], fflowr = flour (in South Wales) fflŵr can = wheat flour

Etymology: from the Anglo-Norman flur (flower), from the Old French flor (flower), from the Latin flōrem (flower), from flōs (flower, blossom), from Proto-Italic *flōs (flower, blossom), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₃- (flower, blossom) [source].

The English words flour, flower, flora, blossom and bloom come from the same roots, as does the French word fleur (flower) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Dough

9th April 20229th April 2022 By Simon

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

Proto-Celtic	taistos, taysto- = dough
Old Irish (Goídelc)	taís, taés [ˈtai̯s] = dough
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	tóes, táes = dough
Irish (Gaeilge)	taos [t̪ˠeːsˠ/t̪ˠiːsˠ/t̪ˠiːsˠ] = dough, paste taosach = doughy, pasty taosaigh = to paste taosrán = pastry taoschnó = doughnut taos fiacla = toothpaste taos géar = sourdough
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	taois [tɯːʃ] = dough, paste taoiseach = doughy, pasty taoiseag = doughnut taois-uighe = (egg) batter taois-chailce = putty taois gheur = sourdough
Manx (Gaelg)	teayst = dough, pastry, paste teaystag = dumpling teaystagh = doughy, ill-baked, pasty, under-cooked teaystyn, teaystnee = to knead
Proto-Brythonic	*toɨs = dough
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	toes = (lump of) dough or pastry
Welsh (Cymraeg)	toes [toːɨ̯s/tɔi̯s] = (lump of) dough or pastry, paste, sticky mass toesaidd = doughy, doughlike toesen = lump of dough, doughnut toesi = to make into dough, become a dough, knead, soften toeslud = putty toeslyd = doughy, doughlike, badly baked, soft, pasty, sticky, clammy, stodgy, heavy surdoes = leaven, sourdough, ferment
Cornish (Kernewek)	toos = dough know toos = doughnuts toos alamandys = marzipan toos gwari = playdough
Middle Breton	toas = dough, batter
Breton (Brezhoneg)	toaz = dough, batter toazadur = thickening, pastiness toazenn = noodle toazenner = pasta machine toazennoù = pasta toazennek = pasted, thickened

Etymology possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *teh₂ys-t- (dough), from *teh₂- (to knead, melt, flow) [source].

Words from the same PIE root include desem (sourdough, leaven, yeast) in Dutch, těsto (dough) in Czech, ciasto (dough, batter, cake, pie) in Polish, тесто [ˈtʲestə] (dough, paste, batter) in Russian, and тісто [ˈtʲistɔ] (dough) in Ukrainian [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Salt

22nd March 202222nd March 2022 By Simon

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

Proto-Celtic	*salanos = salt
Old Irish (Goídelc)	salann [ˈsalan͈] = salt
Irish (Gaeilge)	salann [ˈsˠɑl̪ˠən̪ˠ / ˈsˠalˠən̪ˠ / ˈsˠɔlˠən̪ˠ] = salt saill = to salt, cure, season sailleadh = salting, curing saillteacht = saltiness saillteoir = salter, curer sáiltéar = salt-cellar
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	salann [sal̪ˠən̪ˠ] = salt salainneach [sal̪ˠɪn̪ʲəx] = salty salainneachadh [sal̪ˠɪn̪ʲəxəɣ] = (act of) salting, (act of) curing with salt, salinisation
Manx (Gaelg)	sollan [ˈsolan] = salt sailjey = brackish, briny, corned, pickled, saline, salt, salty
Proto-Brythonic	*haluɨn = salt
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	halaen, halen = salt
Welsh (Cymraeg)	halen [ˈhalɛn / ˈhalan] = salt, sodium chloride; brine; moral élite, the excellent of the earth, wit, eloquence halenu = to salt, become salt halenaidd = saline, salty, brackish halenydd = salt, saline, brackish halenog = salt, saliferous, saline, salty halenwr = salt dealer, salt maker hâl = salt, alkali, salty, saline, alkaline hallt = salt, salty, briny, brackish, sharp, preserved in salt, pickled; bitter, sharp, harsh, severe; sea, the brine, the briny halltog = salt, salty
Old Cornish	haloin = salt
Middle Cornish	halan, halen = salt
Cornish (Kernewek)	holan = salt holanen = grain of salt
Middle Breton	halon = salt
Breton (Brezhoneg)	holen = salt holener = salt cellar holenañ = salt dealer/seller

Etymology from the Proto-Indo-European *séh₂ls (salt) [source].

The English words salt, salary, salad, sauce and salsa come from the same PIE root [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Ale and Beer

12th October 202123rd September 2022 By Simon

Words for ale, beer and related words in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*lindo- = drink
Gaulish	linda = drink
Old Irish (Goídelc)	linn [ˈl͈ʲin͈ʲ] = drink, liquid, brew, ale, beer, intoxicating drink lind = liquid, drink, ale
Irish (Gaeilge)	leann = (pale) ale, beer; liquid, fluid lionn = humour (of the body) lionndubhach = melancholy, depressed leannadóir = ale-merchant leannlus = hop leann bó = milk leann donn = brown ale leann dubh = stout leann piorra = perry leann sinséir = ginger ale leann úll = cider iarleann = small, weak beer seomra leanna = tap-room teach leanna = ale-house
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	leann [l̪ʲãũn̪ˠ] / lionn [l̪ʲũːn̪ˠ]= ale, beer; humour (of the body); fluid, liquid lionn-dubh = dejection, melancholy lionn searbh = bitter (ale) lionn-ubhal = cider
Manx (Gaelg)	lhune = ale, beer lhune doo = stout, porter lhune freillagh = lager lhune jinshar = ginger beer lhune ooyl = cider lhune peear = perry lhune sharroo = bitter (beer/ale) shamyr lhionney = bar room, lounge bar, tap room thie lhionney = ale house, pub
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	llynn = drink
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llyn [ɬɨ̞n/ɬɪn] = drink, beverage, intoxicating liquor, cordial, juice; liquid, humour llyn afalau = cider, apple juice llyn y bustl = bile llyn gellyg = perry
Old Cornish	lin = fluid, liquid, lotion
Cornish (Kernewek)	lin = fluid, liquid, lotion lin-golghi = washing detergent lin leur = floor cleaner lin sebon = detergent, washing-up liquid
Old Breton	linnou = drink
Breton (Brezhoneg)	liñvenn = liquid

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *liH-nd-o- [source].

Proto-Celtic	kormi, kurman = beer
Gaulish	curmi, curmím, κόρμα (kórma), κούρμι (koúrmi) = beer
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cuirm = ale, beer
Irish (Gaeilge)	coirm, cuirm [kɞɾʲəmʲ] = ale, drinking-party, feast, banquet coirmeach = ale-drinking, festive coirmtheach = ale-house coirm cheoil, ceolchoirm = concert
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cuirm [kurʲum] = feast, banquet, entertainment; ale, beer (archaic) co(i)rm = ale, beer cuirm-chiùil = concert cuirm-chnuic = picnic
Manx (Gaelg)	cuirrey = banquet, feast cuirrey kiaull = concert
Proto-Brythonic	kuruβ ̃, kurβ̃ = beer, ale
Old Welsh	curum = beer, ale
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	kuref, kwryf, kwrwf, cwrwf, cyryw = beer, ale
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cwrw [ˈkʊru / ˈkuːru] = beer, ale cwrw Adda = Adam’s ale, water cwrw casgen = draught beer cwrw coch = brown ale cwrw cychwyn = a drink of beer on setting out on a journey, one for the road coesau cwrw = a drunken gait (“beer legs”)
Old Cornish	coref, coruf = ale, beer
Middle Cornish (CerneweC)	cor = ale, beer coref = ale, beer
Cornish (Kernewek)	korev, kor = ale, beer
Breton (Brezhoneg)	korev = ale, beer

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-Eurpean *kremH- (to burn) [source], or *ḱr̥h₃-m- (porridge, soup), or *ḱh₁erh₂- (to mix) [source].

The Latin word cervēs(i)a (beer) comes from the same Proto-Celtic root, as do words for beer in several Romance languages, including Spanish (cerveza), Portuguese (cerveja), Galician (cervexa) and Catalan (cervesa) [source].

More about words for beer in European languages.

Irish (Gaeilge)	beoir [bʲoːɾʲ] = beer, a woman (rare, colloquial) beoir bhairille = draught beer beoir shinséir = ginger beer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	beòir [bjɔːrʲ] = beer beòir chaol = small beer roipean beòir = beer moustache
Manx (Gaelg)	beer = beer
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	ber, berr, berre = beer, ale
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bir = beer, ale
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bier = ale, beer

Etymology (Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Manx): from the Old Norse bjórr, from the Proto-Germanic *beuzą (beer), from the Proto-Indo-Eurpean *bʰews- (dross, sediment) [source].

Etymology (Welsh): from the English beer, from the Middle English bere (beer), from the Old English bēor (beer), from the Proto-West Germanic *beuʀ (beer), from the Proto-Germanic *beuzą (beer) [source].

Etymology (Breton): from the French bière (beer), from the Old French biere (beer), from the Middle Dutch bier/bēr (beer), from the Frankish *bior (beer), from Proto-Germanic *beuzą (beer) [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, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Apples

9th June 20219th June 2021 By Simon

Words for apples and related words, in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	abalom = apple abalnā = apple tree
Gaulish	abalon, aballon = apple, apple tree
Old Irish (Goídelc)	ubull, uball [ˈu.vul͈/ˈu.val͈] = apple aball = apple tree
Irish (Gaeilge)	úll [uːl̪ˠ] = apple; ball-and-socket joint; globular object, ball úllach = bearing apples, abounding in apples úllachán = little apple, little ball (of thread, etc) úlllgharraí, úllghort, úllord = orchard úllghlas = apple-green úll óir = golden apple, precious thing abhaill = apple tree fia-úll = crab-apple
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ubhal [u.əl̪ˠ] = apple ubhal-chrann, abhaill = apple tree ubhal-cridhe = tomato ubhal-fiadhain, fiadh-ubhal, searbh-ubhal = crab/wild apple (malus sylvestris) ubhal-ghort = apple orchard dearc-ubhal = oak apple lionn-ubhal = (apple) cider òr-ubhal = orange
Manx (Gaelg)	ooyl = apple, pommel ooylagh = orchard billey ooyl = apple tree ooyl feie = crab-apple ooyl ghraih = tomato ooyl ghraney, ooyl ghrineagh = pomegranate
Proto-Brythonic	aβal = apple aβaln = apple tree
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	aual, aval, afal = apple auallen, avallen, yfallen = apple tree
Welsh (Cymraeg)	afal [ˈaval/ˈaːval] = apple afallen = apple tree afal cariad = tomato, love-apple afal cwins = quince afal drain = haw, hawthorn berry afal gwlanog = peach afal sur (bach) = crab apple
Cornish (Kernewek)	aval [ˈaval/ˈævɐl] = apple avalen = apple tree aval briansen = larynx aval dor = potato aval gwlanek = peach aval kerenja/kerensa = tomato aval lagas = eyeball aval paradhis = grapefruit aval saben = pine cone
Old Breton	abal = apple
Middle Breton	aval [ˈɑː.val] = apple
Breton (Brezhoneg)	aval = apple avalwez = apple tree aouraval = orange greunaval = pomegranate aval-douar = potato

Etmology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ébōl (apple), which is also the root of words for apple in Baltic, Slavic, Celtic, Germanic and Italic languages [source].

Avalon, the legendary island in the west to which King Arthur was taken after the Battle of Camlann, probably comes from the same root, via the Latin Insula Avallonis – the name used by Geoffrey of Monmonth in his Historia Regum Britanniae (c. 1136). Avalon may have been the Isle of Man, or the Isle of Arran, which were known as Emain Ablach in Old Irish poems [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, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF)

Blackberries

26th May 202128th May 2021 By Simon

Words for blackberries and related words, in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*smiyoros = berry, berries
Old Irish (Goídelc)	smér = blackberry
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	smér = blackberry
Irish (Gaeilge)	sméar [sˠmʲiaɾˠ/sˠmʲeːɾˠ] = berry, blackberry sméarach = abounding in blackberries sméardhris = blackberry bush, bramble sméara dubha = blackberries púca na sméar = fruit-destroying pooka, herald of winter
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	smeur [smiar] = bramble, blackberry, mulberry smeur-dhubh = blackberry smeur-craoibhe = mulberry smeur-loganach = loganberry smeur-Artaigeach = nagoonberry, Arctic bramble/raspberry (Rubus arcticus) craobh nan smeur = mulberry tree (Morus)
Manx (Gaelg)	smeyr = blackberry, berry smeyr ghoo = blackberry smeyr churree = cranberry smeyr fannag = crowberry smeyr loaganagh = cloudberry crouw smeyr = mulberry
Proto-Brythonic	*muɨar = blackberries, berries
Welsh (Cymraeg)	mwyar(en) [ˈmʊɨ̯.ar/ˈmʊi̯.ar] = blackberries, dewberries, brambles, briers, berries mwyara = to gather blackberries; to be idle mwyarbren = mulberry bush, blackberry bush, bramble mwyar Berwyn/ mwyar Doewan = wild raspberries, (Rubus idæus), cloudberries, (Rubus chamæmorus) mwyar y brain = bilberries, whimberries, whortleberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) mwyar y ddaear = dewberries (Rubus cæsius), cloudberries mwyar du(on) = blackberries (Rubus fruticosus) mwyar Ffrengig = mulberries, blackberries mwyar glas = dewberries mwyar Mair = mulberries, dewberries
Old Cornish	moyr(bren) = berries
Cornish (Kernewek)	mor(en) = berries mora = to gather blackberries mor du = blackberries
Old Breton	moiaroc = berries
Breton (Brezhoneg)	mouar(enn) = blackberries, berries; bramble, mulberry tree mouar du / mouar gouez = blackberries, dewberries mouar gwenn = mulberries mouar ruz = red mulberries

Etmology: unknown

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, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF)

Plums

19th May 202119th May 2021 By Simon

Words for plums, damsons and sloes, and related words, in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	agrinyom/agrinyā = sloe, small plum, berry
Irish (Gaeilge)	airne [ˈɑːɾˠn̠ʲə / ˈæːɾˠn̠ʲə] = sloe, gland airneog = sloe tree, blackthorn biotáille airní = sloe gin
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	àirne [aːr̪n̪ʲə] = blackthorn, sloe (berry), wild plum (prunus domestica), damson (prunus domestica insititia) àirneag = sloe bush
Manx (Gaelg)	airn = sloe, bullace airnagh = sloe-covered soo airney = sloe jam drine airn = blackthorn, sloe tree (Prunus spinosa)
Welsh (Cymraeg)	eirin(en) [ˈei̯rɪn] = plum(s), damson(s), sloe(s), bullace, berries, testicle(s) eirina = to collect sloes or bullace eirin bwlas = bullace, wild plums (Prunus insititia), damsons eirin damasg/Damasgus = damson eirin Ffrainc/Ffrengig = prunes eirin gwlanog = peaches, apricots eirin gwynion = greengages eirin Mair = gooseberries eirin y moch = haws, hawthorn berries eirin morwydd = mulberries eirin peatus = nectarines eirin ysgaw = elderberries eirin y gors = crowberries
Old Cornish	yryn = sloes
Cornish (Kernewek)	eyrin(en) = sloe(s)
Breton (Brezhoneg)	irin(enn) = sloe(s), sloe gin; pupil, eye

Etmology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ógeh₂ (berry) [source]. The English word acorn comes from the same root, via the Proto-Germanic *h₂ógeh₂ [source]

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Irish (Gaeilge)	pluma [ˈpˠlˠʊmˠə] = plum daimsín [ˈpˠlˠʊmˠə] = damson
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	plumais / plùmbais [pl̪ˠumɪʃ / pl̪ˠuːmbɪʃ] = plum daimsin [dãĩmʃɪn] = damson
Manx (Gaelg)	plumbis = plum damsyl = damson
Welsh (Cymraeg)	plemys(en) = plum(s)
Cornish (Kernewek)	ploum(en) = plum(s) ploum(en) sygh = prune(s)
Breton (Brezhoneg)	prun(enn) = plum(s)

Etmology (plum): from the Middle English ploume/plomme (plum) from the Old English plūme/plume (plum), from the Proto-West Germanic *plūmā (plum), from the Latin prūnum (plum), from the Ancient Greek προῦμνον (proûmnon – plum). Prune comes from the same root [source]

Etmology (damson): from the Middle English damascene/damasyn/damacene (damson), from the Latin prūnum damascēnum (Damascene plum, plum of Damascus), from the Ancient Greek προῦμνον (proûmnon – plum) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF)

Milk

13th May 202113th May 2021 By Simon

Words for milk, and related words, in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*laxto- = milk
Old Irish (Goídelc)	lacht [l͈axt] = milk
Irish (Gaeilge)	lacht [l̪ˠɑxt̪ˠ / l̪ˠaxt̪ˠ] = milk, yield of milk; tears lachtadh = lacation; flooding (of eyes) lachaí = nursling lachtach = lactic, milky; tearful lachtbhán = milkwhite lachtmhar = lactiferous, milky, abounding in milk
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	lac, lachd = sweet milk
Manx (Gaelg)	laghtveih = milk gauge, milk tester
Proto-Brythonic	*llaɨθ = milk
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	llaeth = milk
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llaeth [ɬaːɨ̯θ / ɬai̯θ] = milk; milk-like substance, latex; milt, soft roe llaetha(f), llaethu = to yield milk, lactate, feed with milk, turn to milk llaetheiddrwydd = milkiness, lactescence llaethiad = lactation llaethlyd = milk-like, milky llaethog = milky, abounding in milk llaethogrwydd, llaethedd = milkiness llaethwraig = milkmaid, dairymaid, good milker llaethyddol = dairy, dairying y Llwybr Llaethog the Milky Way
Old Cornish	lait = milk
Middle Cornish	leth, leyth = milk
Cornish (Kernewek)	leth = milk
Breton (Brezhoneg)	laezh [ˈlɛːs] = milk

Etmology: from the Vulgar Latin *lacte (milk), from the Latin *lac (milk), from the Proto-Indo-European *ǵlákt [source].

Proto-Celtic	*mlixtus = milk
Old Irish (Goídelc)	mlicht [mʲlʲixt] = milch, in milk (of cattle)
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	blicht = milk
Irish (Gaeilge)	bleacht [bʲlʲaxt̪ˠ] = milk, milk yield
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bliochd [blixg] = milkiness, milk bliochdmhor [blixg(v)ər] = milky, full of milk bliochdach = milky, like milk, lacteous
Manx (Gaelg)	bluight = lactiferous, lacteal, galactic bluightagh, ollagh vluight = milking cows
Proto-Brythonic	*bliθ = milk
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	blyth = milk lleurith = milk
Welsh (Cymraeg)	blith [bliːθ] = milch, lactating (of cow, etc), full of milk, in calf, in lamb, pregant, fruitful, productive, nourising; milk, dairy produce, lactation, dairying; profit, gain, advantage blithog, blithiog = milch, giving milk, full of milk, fruitful, productive, bearing offspring llefrith [ˈɬɛvrɪθ] = milk, new milk, sweet milk, fresh milk
Old Cornish	leuerid = milk
Breton (Brezhoneg)	livrizh = milk

Etmology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ml̥ǵtus, from *h₂melǵ- (milk, to milk) [source].

The Welsh word llefrith, which is used in North Wales, comes from llef (weak) and blith (milk) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*bandyo- = drop
Old Irish (Goídelc)	bannae = drop
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	bainne = milk
Irish (Gaeilge)	bainne [ˈbˠɑɲə / ˈbˠɑnʲə / ˈbˠan̠ʲə] = milk bainniúil = milky, milk-yielding bainniúlacht = milkiness
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bainne [ban̪ʲə] = milk, milky fluid, sap bainneach [ban̪ʲəx] = milk, like milk, lacteous
Manx (Gaelg)	bainney = milk bainnagh = lactic, milk producing, milky, galactic bainnaght = milkiness yn Raad Mooar Bainnagh the Milky Way
Middle Cornish	banne = drop
Cornish (Kernewek)	banna = drop
Breton (Brezhoneg)	banne = drop, droplet, glass

Etmology: possibly from the Proto-Slavic *baňa (bath), from the Ancient Greek *βαλανεῖον (balaneîon, bath) [source], which is the root of words for bath(room) in many European languages, including bain in French, baño in Spanish and bagno in Italian [source].

Other words for milk in Proto-Celtic include: *glaxtā-, *melgos-, *mlig-e/o-, *seigi- and *sutu-.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Juice

5th May 20215th May 2021 By Simon

Words for juice and related words in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*sūgos = juice
Old Irish (Goídelc)	súg = juice, sap; vigour, energy, strength; essence, inner nature
Irish (Gaeilge)	sú [sˠuː] = juice; sap, vigor, energy; soup, broth sú caoireola = mutton broth sú circe = chicken broth sú crainn = (tree) sap sú na fíniúna = wine sú na heorna = whiskey (“juice of barley”) sú oráistí = orange juice sú tobac = nicotine
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	sùgh [suː] = juice, sap, jus, stock, soup, broth sùgh an eòrna = barley water, whisky (poetic) sùgh an daimh = venison broth sùgh circe = chicken stock sùgh fheanntagan = nettle soup sùgh feòla = gravy sùgh glasraich = vegetable stock sùgh-measa = fruit juice sùgh meirbheach = gastic juices sùigh-pheuran = perry (pear wine) sùgh-ubhail = apple juice
Manx (Gaelg)	soo = sap, juice soolagh = juicy, pithy; sauce, juice soo foalley = meat essence, beef extract, gravy soo-mess = fruit juice soo ny braghey = malt whisky soo ny hoarn = ale soo-ny-hooyl = cider soo y ghailley = bile
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	svg / suc / sug = juice. sap
Welsh (Cymraeg)	sug = juice, sap, bodily fluid, liquid, moisture, gray sudd [sɨːð/siːð] = juice, sap, bodily fluid, liquid, moisture, sauce, gray, ketchup, syrup sudd afal = apple juice sudd ffrwyth(au) = fruit juice sudd oren = orange juice sudd y cylla / sudd cyllaol = gastric juices sudd yr heli = stock expression for something worthless sudd treulio / suddau traul = digestive juices
Cornish (Kernewek)	sugen = juice, sap, essence sugen aval = apple juice sugen frooth = fruit juice sugen kig = gravy sugen owraval = orange juice
Breton (Brezhoneg)	chug = juice chug-frouezh = fruit juice soubenn = soup soubenneg, soubennouer = (soup) tureen soubenn al laezh = quick-tempered (person) soubenn al lard = bacon soup soubenn an ognon = onion soup soubenn ar c’haol = cabbage soup

Etymology: from the from Proto-Indo-European *sug-/*suk-. The Latin word sūcus (juice, sap, moisture, strength, vitality) comes from the same root, as do related words in Romance languages, such as suc (juice) in French, sugo (tomato juice, sauce) and succo (juice, gist, pith, essence) in Italian, and jugo (juice, substance) in Spanish [source].

The English word succulent (juicy, lush, luscious), comes from the same Latin root, via the French succulent (succulent, juicy), and the Latin sūculentus (sappy, succulent) from sūcus (juice) and‎ -ulentus (full of, abounding in) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Food & Drink

Fatty Lard

Flour

Dough

Salt

Ale and Beer

Apples

Blackberries

Plums

Milk

Juice