Category: Words

Houses and Dwellings

By Simon

Words for house, dwelling in Celtic languages.

Gleann Cholm Cille

Proto-Celtic *tegos = house, dwelling
Old Irish (Goídelc) tech [tʲex] = house
Irish (Gaeilge) teach [tʲax / tʲæːx] = house, habitation, dwelling, public building
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) taigh [tɤj] = house
Manx (Gaelg) thie = house
çhagh [tʃax] = house
Proto-Brythonic *tɨɣ = house
Old Welsh tig = house
Welsh (Cymraeg) tŷ [tɨː / tiː] = house, home, cell, chamber, place of worship
Old Cornish ti = house
Cornish (Kernewek) chi / chy [ʧi:] = house
Old Breton tig = house
Breton (Brezhoneg) ti = house

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *(s)teg- (cover, roof) [source], which is also the root of the words stegosaurus, toga, tile and thatch [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Castles & fortresses

By Simon

Words for castles and fortresses in Celtic languages.

King John's Castle / Caisleán Luimnigh

Proto-Celtic *dūnom = stronghold
Old Irish (Goídelc) dún [duːn] = fort, fortress
Irish (Gaeilge) dún [d̪ˠuːnˠ] = fort; fortress; place of refuge, haven; residence, house; promontory fort; bluff
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) dùn [duːn] = fortress, heap
Manx (Gaelg) doon [duːn] = fort, fastness, stronghold, bastion, earth fort, dun, fortified rock
Proto-Brythonic *din [ˈdiːn] = hill, fortified hill, fort
Gaulish dunum, *dūnom = fort
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) din = fort
Welsh (Cymraeg) din [dɪn / ˈdiːn] = city, fort, fortress, fastness, stronghold
dinas [ˈdɪnas / ˈdiːnas] = city, large town; town
Cornish (Kernewek) din [di:n] = fort
dinas [‘dinas / ‘dinɐz ] = fort
Old Breton din = fort, fortress
Breton (Brezhoneg) din = fort, fortress
dinas = bastion, stronghold

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *dʰuHnom (enclosure), from *dʰewh₂- (to finish, come full circle) [source]. The English words down (a (chalk) hill, rolling grassland), dune and town come from the Proto-Celtic *dūnom [source].

Proto-Celtic *katrixs / *katrik- / *kassrik- = fortification, fort
Old Irish (Goídelc) ca(i)thir [ˈkaθərʲ] = stone enclosure, fortress, castle; dwelling; monastic settlement, enclosure; monastery, convent; fortified city, city
Irish (Gaeilge) cathair [ˈkahɪɾʲ/kaːɾʲ] = city; enclosed church establishment, monastic city; circular stone fort; dwelling (place), bed, lair
Cathair an Phápa = Vatican City
cathair chorr = round fort
cathair ghríobháin = maze, labyrinth
cathróir = citizen
cathróireacht = citizenship
ardchathair, príomhchathair = capital city, metropolis
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) cathair [kahɪrʲ] = city
cathair-bhaile = city (with city status)
cathair-stàit = city state
Manx (Gaelg) caayr = dwelling place, city

Etymology: unknown. Possibly related to the Old English hēaþor (enclosure, prison) or Serbo-Croatian kȍtar ( country, district) [source].

Proto-Celtic *kagrom = fort
Welsh (Cymraeg) caer [kaːɨ̯r / kai̯r] = fort, fortress, enclosed stronghold, castle, citadel, fortified town or city; wall, rampart, bulwark
Cornish (Kernewek) ker [kɛ:r / ke:r] = fort, fortress, hill fort, city
Breton (Brezhoneg) ker = town, village, villa

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *kagyom (pen, enclosure), from the Proto-Indo-European *kagʰyóm (enclosure, hedge) [source], which is also the root of words for hedge in Germanic languages, such as hedge in English, Hecke (hedge) in German and hæk (hedge, hurdle) in Danish [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Old Irish (Goídelc) caisel = fort, castle
Irish (Gaeilge) caiseal = (ancient) stone fort; unmortared stone wall; boundary wall (of church or cemetery); caslte (in chess); spinning top
caisleán [kəˈʃlʲɑːn̪ˠ / ˈkaʃl̠ʲɑːnˠ / ˈkaʃl̠ʲænˠ] = castle, mansion, cumulus (cloud)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) caisteal [kaʃdʲəlˠ] = castle, fort, tower, garrison; turreted mansion
Manx (Gaelg) cashtal = castle, citadel, surrounding wall, bulwark, rook
Welsh (Cymraeg) castell [ˈkʰastɛɬ / ˈkʰastɛɬ] = castle, stronghold; castellated mansion; a kind of cloud; fortified town or city; village
Cornish (Kernewek) kastel = castle, hill fort
Breton (Brezhoneg) kastell = castle, fort, fortress

Etymology: from the Latin castellum (castle, fort, citadel, fortress, stronghold), a diminutive of castrum (fort) [source], from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱes- (to cut, cut off, separate) [source], which is also the root of words for castle in most European languages.

Proto-Celtic *frāti- = fort, rampart
*rāti- = a dugout, a digging
Gaulish ratin = appears in place names
Old Irish (Goídelc) ráth [r͈aːθ] = earthen rampart surrounding a chief’s residence, fort, rath
Irish (Gaeilge) ráth [ɾˠɑː/ɾˠaːx] = earthen rampart, earthen ring-fort, rath, layer (of thatch)
ráthach = having earthen forts
ráth sneachta = snow-drift
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ràth [r̪ˠaː] = (ancient) fortress, mound, (ancient) royal seat; clearing, cleared swathe of land; fortress, barrow, village, town
Manx (Gaelg) raah = rath, ring-fort
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) bedd-rawd = cemetery
Welsh (Cymraeg) beddrod = tomb, vault, grave, cemetery
Middle Breton bez-ret = cemetery
Middle Breton bered = cemetery

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *prehzt-i- (field). Possibly cognate with the Latin prātum (meadow) [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec) kyvelchy, gyuyllchi = circular fortress
Welsh (Cymraeg) cyfylchi = a kind of circular stronghold or fortress

Etymology: from cyfwlch (complete, entire, perfect, excellent). Found only in the placenames such as Dwygyfylchi [dʊɨɡəˈvəlχi], a village in Conwy county, which was first recorded as Dwykyvelchy in 1287 [source]. There is also Gyfylchi in the Afan Valley in Neath Port Talbot county [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

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Houses, Towns & Villages

By Simon

Words for house, town, village in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *baljo- (?) = house
Old Irish (Goídelc) baile [ˈbalʲe] = place, homestead, town, city
Irish (Gaeilge) baile [ˈbˠalʲə] = home, place, township
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) baile [balə] = town, township, village, hamlet, town, home, farm
Manx (Gaelg balley = town, home, farmstead, base
Welsh (Cymraeg) beili = bailey, outer court of castle, fort; (defensive) mound; enclosure, courtyard, yard, farmyard

An Clachán, Gleann Cholm Cille

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, On-line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, English-Proto-Celtic Word List

Dwellings

By Simon

Words for dwelling / settlement / town in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *trebā = dwelling
Gaulish Atrebates = name of a tribe
Old Irish (Goídelc) treb = house, farm; household; tribe
Irish (Gaeilge) treibh [ˈtʲɾʲɛv] = house, homestead, farmstead; household, family; tribe, race
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) treabh [tro] = farming village
treubh [treːv] = tribe
Proto-Brythonic *treβ [ˈtrɛːβ] = town, settlement
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) tref [ˈtrɛːβ] = town, settlement
Welsh (Cymraeg) tre(f) [treːv] = town; town centre; dwelling(-place), habitation, residence, home; house (and surrounding land), homestead, farm, estate, cluster of houses; township; tribe
Cornish (Kernewek) trev [trɛ:v /tre:v] = farmsteads (singular: treven)
Old Breton treff = town, settlement
Breton (Brezhoneg) trev = town

Meni Bridge / Porthaethwy

Etymology
From the Proto-Indo-European *treb- (dwelling, settlement) [source].

This is also the root of the archaic English word thorp(e) (a group of houses standing together in the country; a hamlet; a village), which appears in place names such as Milnthorpe and Scunthorpe.

Related words in other languages include German Dorf (hamlet, village, town), Danish torp (village), Swedish torp (farm, cottage, croft), Icelandic þorp (village, farm), and Albanian trevë (country, region, village) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Bells and Clocks

By Simon

Words for bell, clock and related things in Celtic languages:

Bells

Proto-Celtic *klokkos = bell
Old Irish (Goídelc) cloc = bell
Irish (Gaeilge) clog [klˠɔɡ] = bell, clock; blowball, (dandelion) clock
clogaire = bell-ringer, bellman
clogaireacht = bell-ringing
clogán = small bell
clogarnach = ringing, sound of bells
clogás = bell-tower, belfry
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) clag [kl̪ˠag] = bell; crash, loud noise
clagach = pertaining to or abounding in bells, bell-shaped
clagan = small bell
clag-mheur = hand (of a clock)
clag-chumach = bell-shaped
clag-pìobach = chime
clag-lann = belfry, steeple
clag-smàlaidh = curfew
Manx (Gaelg) clag = bell, clock, ball
clag aile = fire alarm
clag dooishtee = alarm clock
clag greiney = sundial
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) klych, cloch = bell
Welsh (Cymraeg) cloch [kloːχ] = bell, bell-shaped object, bubble; prize, feat; o’clock
clochaf, clochi, clocho = to bubble, gurgle, speak loudly, make a loud noise, clamour, shout
clochaidd = noisy, resonant, sounding like a bell
clochog = noisy, shrill, loud, boisterous, bubbling, boiling
clochyrrwr = bell-ringer
cloch (a)larwm = alarm-bell, warning bell
cloch (y) drws = doorbell
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) cloch = bell
Cornish (Kernewek) klogh [klɔ:x / klo:h] = bell
klogh meur = church bell
Middle Breton (brezonec) cloch, cloc’h, clec’h = bell
Breton (Brezhoneg) kloc’h = bell
kloc’hdi = church tower, steeple, bell tower
kloc’h-galv = warning bell
kloc’h-skouarn = earring
kloc’had = peal of a bell

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *klēg-/*klōg- (onomatopoeia), or from *kleg- (to cry, sound) [source]. English words from the same Proto-Celtic root include clock, cloche and cloak [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

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Doctor

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

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

Craftsman

By Simon

Words for craftsman in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *saɸiros = craftsman
Old Irish (Goídelc) sáer [saːi̯r] = craftsman
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) saer = craftsman
Irish (Gaeilge) saor [sˠeːɾˠ / sˠiːɾˠ] = artificer, craftsman, (stone)mason
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) saor [sɯːr] = joiner, carpenter
Manx (Gaelg) seyr = carpenter, wright
Welsh (Cymraeg) saer [saːɨ̯r / sai̯r] = carpenter, joiner; craftsman, skilled worker, artisan, builder
Old Cornish sair = craftsman, carpenter
Cornish (Kernewek) ser [sɛ:r / ze:r] = craftsman

fine tuning

Etymology
From the Proto-Indo-European *sapiros, from *sap- (skill) [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

Old Woman, Crone, Hag

By Simon

Words for old woman, crone, hag in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc) caillech = nun, housekeeper, elderly woman, crone, hag
Irish (Gaeilge) cailleach = nun, old woman; hag; precocious girl; spineless fellow, coward; spent, shrivelled, thing; stump; truss, bundle (of straw)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) cailleach [kaʎəx] = old lady, old woman; old biddy, hag; her indoors, the wife, the old lady; landlady
Manx (Gaelg) caillagh = witch, crone, old woman, single woman; glaucous gull

Etymology: from the Old Irish caille (veil), from the Latin pallium (cloak, coverlet) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary

Proto-Celtic *wrakkā = woman
Old Irish (Goídelc) frac = woman
Welsh (Cymraeg) gwrach = ugly old woman, crone, hag, witch, sorceress
Old Cornish gruah = old woman
Cornish (Kernewek) gwragh [gwra:x / gwræ:h] = hag, witch, wrasse (fish), woodlouse
Breton (Brezhoneg) gwrac’h = old woman, witch, fairy, mermaid

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Proto-Celtic English Word List, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

King

By Simon

Words for king in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *rīxs = king
Celtiberian reikis = king
Gaulish rix = king
Primitive Irish ᚏᚔᚌᚐᚄ (rigas) = king
Old Irish (Goídelc) rí [r͈ʲiː] = king
Irish (Gaeilge) rí [ɾˠiː] = king, sovereign, monarch
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) rìgh [rʲiː] = king, Lord (God)
Manx (Gaelg) ree = king
Proto-Brythonic *riɣ [ˈriːɣ] = king
Old Welsh ri = king
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) ri = king
Welsh (Cymraeg) rhi [r̥iː] = king, prince, lord, ruler, chieftain
Middle Cornish ruy = king, sovereign ruler
Old Breton ri = king

Brian Boru, High King of Ireland (1002-1014)
Etymology
From the Proto-Indo-European *h₃rḗǵs (king, ruler) [source], which is also the root of the German word Reich (empire, realm), and the English suffix -ric, as in bishopric (a diocese or region of a church which a bishop governs) [source].

The Gaulish word rix appears in names such as Vercingetorix, Dumnorix and Asterix.

Proto-Celtic *brigantīnos = (someone) pre-eminent, outstanding
Proto-Brythonic *brɨɣėntin [brɨɣe̝nˈtiːn] = lord, king
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) breenhin = king
Welsh (Cymraeg) brenin [ˈbrɛnɪn / ˈbreːnɪn] = king, sovereign, monarch, head of region
Middle Cornish brentyn / bryntyn = king
Old Breton brientin / brientinion = king

Etymology
From the Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ- (to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain) [source],.

Welsh (Cymraeg) mechdeyrn, mychdeyrn, machdeyrn = king, lord, monarch, emperor, God, tributary prince, viceroy
Cornish (Kernewek) metern [mə’tɛrn] / myghtern [mɪx’tɛrn] = king
Old Breton machtiern = king

Etymology
From the Welsh mach (surety, guarantor, sponsor, hostage) and teyrn (sovereign, monarch, king) [source],.

Source: Gerlyver Kernewek, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru

Middle Breton roe = king
Breton (Brezhoneg) roue = king

Etymology
From the French roi (king), which comes, via Latin, from the Proto-Indo-European *h₃rḗǵs (king, ruler) [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

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Poet, bard

By Simon

Words for poet, bard in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *bardos = poet, bard
Old Irish (Goídelc) bard [bar͈d] = poet, bard
Irish (Gaeilge) bard [bˠɑːɾˠd̪ˠ / bˠæːɾˠd̪ˠ] = poet, bard, scold
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) bàrd [b̊aːɹʃd̪̊] = rhymer, poet, versifier (traditionally ranked below the seven grades of filidh), bard
Manx (Gaelg) bard = poet, bard
Proto-Brythonic *barð [ˈbarð] = poet, bard
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) bardd = poet, bard
Welsh (Cymraeg) bardd [ˈbarð] = poet, bard, literary person, author, prophet, philosopher, priest
Old Cornish barth = poet, bard
Cornish (Kernewek) bardh [barð / bærð] = poet, bard
Middle Breton barz = poet, bard
Breton (Brezhoneg) barzh = poet, bard

Etymology
From the Proto-Indo-European *gʷerH- (to approve, praise) [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