Heather

3rd May 20226th July 2024 By Simon

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

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*wroikos = heather
Gaulish	*wroika = heather
Celtiberian	*broikios = heather
Old Irish (Goídelc)	froích, fróech = heather
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	fráech = heather
Irish (Gaeilge)	fraoch [fˠɾˠeːx / fˠɾˠiːx / fˠɾˠiːx] = heather, heath, moor fraochán = bilberry, whortleberry, ring-ouzel fraochlach = heath fraochmhá = heath fraochmhar = heathery fraoch bán = white heather fraoch coitianta = Scotch heather, ling píobaire fraoch = grasshopper
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	fraoch [frɯːx] = heather, ling fraoch-geal = white common heather (Calluna vulgaris alba fraoch-bheinn = heather-covered mountain fraochan = whortleberry, blaeberry, lingonberry, cranberry fraochach = heathy, heathery
Manx (Gaelg)	freoagh = heather, ling, heath freoagh bane = brier, white heather freoagh marrey = sea fern freoagh mooar = Scotch heather
Proto-Brythonic	*gwrʉg [ˈɡwrʉːɡ] = heather
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	gruc, gerug, gwrug = heather
Welsh (Cymraeg)	grug [ɡrɨːɡ / ɡriːɡ] = heather, ling heath grug cyffredin = heather, ling, common heath, Calluna vulgaris grugiar = (red) grouse, willow grouse, heath-hen gruglus = heath-berries gruglwyn = bush of heather, sweet broom grugnythu = to nest or nestle in the heather grugog = heath-covered, heathery, abounding in heather
Cornish (Kernwek)	grug [ɡryːɡ / ɡriːɡ] = heath, heather, ling grugyar = partridge
Middle Breton	groegan = heather
Breton (Brezhoneg)	brug [bryːk] = heather brugek [ˈbryː.ɡɛk] = (a place) abundant in heather, covered with heather

Etymology unknown, possibly from a non-Proto-Indo-European root [source].

Words from the same Proto-Celtic roots, via Gaulish *wroikos (heather), and Latin *brūcus (heather) or Vulgar Latin *broccius, include brezo (heath) in Spanish, breixo (heather) in Galician, brugo (heather) and brughiera (heath, moor) in Italian, bruc (heather) and bruguera (heath) in Catalan, and bruyère (heather, heath, brier) in French [source].

Eilean Fraoch (Heather Isle) is a nickname for the Isle of Lewis / Eilean Leòdhais in the Western Isles / Na h-Eileanan Siar. Here’s a song about it:

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

Druids

23rd February 202219th August 2022 By Simon

Today we’re looking at the words for druids in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*druwits = druid, priest
Gaulish	druwits / druwides = druid
Old Irish (Goídelc)	druí [ˈdruːi̯] = druid, sorcerer, magician
Irish (Gaeilge)	draoi [d̪ˠɾˠiː] = druid, wizard, magician, augur, diviner, trickster draíocht = druidic art, druidism, witchcraft, magic, charm, enchantment draíochtach = magicial, bewitching, entrancing draíodóir = magician draíodóireacht = magic, sly, cunning, hypocrisy, trickery, secretiveness
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	draoidh [drɯj] = druid, sorcerer, magician, wizard draoidheachd [drɯjəxg] = magic, sorcery, druidism draoidheil [drɤjal] = druidic(al), magic(al) ceò-draoidh = magic mist eun-draoidh = augur
Manx (Gaelg)	druaight = charm, druid druaightagh = smithcraft, smithery, smithywork druaightys = charming, druid, druidism, magic
Proto-Brythonic	*drüw [ˈdryu̯] = druid, seer
Welsh (Cymraeg)	dryw [drɨu̯/drɪu̯] = druid, seer derwydd [ˈdɛrwɨ̞ð / ˈdɛrwɪð] = prophet, wise man, druid derwyddaidd = druidical derwyddiaeth = druidism, the druid cult derwyddol = druidic, druidical archderwydd = archdruid
Old Cornish	druw = druid
Cornish (Kernewek)	drewydh = druid
Breton (Brezhoneg)	drouiz [ˈdruː.is] = druid drouizek / drouizel = druidic drouizelezh / drouiziezh = druidism

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *daru (oak) and *wid-/*windeti (to know, to see), from the Proto-Indo-European *dóru (tree) and *weyd (to see, know) [source].

The Gaulish words for druid were borrowed by Ancient Greek, as δρυΐδαι (druḯdai), and Latin, as Druidēs. The Latin word was borrowed into French as druide, which was borrowed into English as druid [source].

The Proto-Brythonic word *drüw was borrowed into Old English as drȳ (sorcerer, magician), which became drī(mann)/driʒ(mann) (sorcerer, magician) in Middle English [source]. A few modern druids use the word drymann, or something similiar, to refer to themselves.

Here’s a traditional Welsh tune called Y Derwydd (The Druid):

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Willow (trees)

20th September 2019 By Simon

Words for willow tree (salix) in Celtic languages:

Old Irish (Goídelc)	sail = willow (tree), plank, beam
Irish (Gaeilge)	saileach = willow (tree), sallow
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	seileach [ʃeləx] = willow (tree)
Manx (Gaelg)	shellagh = willow (tree), proliferous, sallow, salivary, withy
Welsh (Cymraeg)	helyg [ˈhɛlɪɡ / ˈheːlɪɡ] = willow (tree), osier
Cornish (Kernewek)	helygk [ˈhɛlɪk] = willow (tree)
Breton (Brezhoneg)	haleg = willow (tree)

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European salək- (willow).

Sources: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/salix#Latin, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Elm (trees)

19th September 2019 By Simon

Words for elm tree (ulmus) in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic	lēmos / limos = elm (tree)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	lem [lʲɛmˠ] = elm (tree)
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealgh)	lemán = elm (tree)
Irish (Gaeilge)	leamhán = elm (tree)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	leamhan [l̪ʲɛvan] = elm (tree)
Manx (Gaelg)	lhiouan = elm (tree)
Proto-Brythonic	*lēm- = elm (tree)
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llwyf = elm (tree), elm-bark, made of elm or elm-bark, platform, loft, lime-tree, linden
Cornish (Kernewek)	elow = elm (tree)
Breton (Brezhoneg)	evlec’h = elm (tree)

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁élem from *h₃es (mountain elm).

Sources: Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Ash (trees)

18th September 2019 By Simon

Words for ash tree (fraxinus) in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic	osnistū / osnos = ash tree
Old Irish (Goídelc)	uinnius [ˈun͈ʲus] = ash (tree) fuinnseóc = ash tree
Irish (Gaeilge)	fuinseog = ash (tree), ash-handled implement
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	uinnseann [ũĩn̪ʲʃən̪ˠ] = ash (tree), ash wood fuinnseag = European / common ash (tree)
Manx (Gaelg)	unjin = ash (tree)
Welsh (Cymraeg)	onn [ɔn] = ash (tree / wood), spear
Old Cornish	onnen = ash (tree)
Cornish (Kernewek)	onn = ash (tree)
Breton (Brezhoneg)	onn = ash (tree)

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₃es-nos from *h₃es (ash tree).

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Alder (trees)

11th September 2019 By Simon

Words for alder (tree) (Alnus glutinosa) in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic	*wernā = alder (tree)
Gaulish	uerna = alder (tree)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	fern [fʲer͈n͈] = alder (tree), shield, pole, stake fernóc = alder (tree)
Irish (Gaeilge)	fearnóg = alder (tree)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	feàrna [fʲaːr͈n͈ə] = alder (tree), shield, mast
Manx (Gaelg)	farney = alder (tree)
Proto-Brythonic	*gwern = alder (tree)
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gwern [ɡwɛrn] = alder (tree), made of alder; mast of a ship; (alder) stick, stave, shaft of lance; alder-grove, alder-marsh, swamp, quagmire; damp meadow; hell
Old Cornish	guern = alder (tree)
Cornish (Kernewek)	gwern [ɡwɛrn] = alder (tree), alders, mast, swamp, marshland
Old Breton	guern / guaern = alder (tree)
Middle Breton	guern = alder (tree)
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gwern [ɡwɛrn] = alder (tree)

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Hazel (trees)

11th September 201911th September 2019 By Simon

Words for hazel (tree) (corylus avellana) in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic	*koslos = hazel (tree)
Gaulish	corillus = hazel (tree)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	coll [kol͈] = hazel (tree)
Irish (Gaeilge)	coll = hazel (tree)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	coll [kɔul̪ˠ] = hazel (tree) calltainn [kaul̪ˠdɪn̪ʲ] = hazel tree
Manx (Gaelg)	coull = hazel (tree)
Welsh (Cymraeg)	coll [kɨ̞ɬ / kɪɬ] = hazel (tree), sapling, twig
Old Cornish	colwiden = hazel (tree)
Cornish (Kernewek)	koll = hazel (tree)
Old Breton	collin = hazel (tree)
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kelvez = hazel (tree)

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Birch (trees)

9th September 201911th September 2019 By Simon

Words for birch (tree) (Betula) in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic	betwiyos / betuyā = birch (tree)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	beithe = birch (tree)
Irish (Gaeilge)	beith = birch (tree)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	beith [beh] = birch
Manx (Gaelg)	beih = birch (tree)
Proto-Brythonic	*bedu = birch (tree)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	bedw = birch
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bedw [ˈbɛdʊ / ˈbeːdu] = birch, birch grove; maypole; birch-rod
Old Cornish	bedewen = birch
Cornish (Kernewek)	besewen = birch
Middle Breton	bezu = birch
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bezv = birch

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *gʷet- (resin, gum) [source], which is also the root of the English words cud and quid.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Yew (trees)

31st August 201931st August 2021 By Simon

Words for yew (tree) (Taxus baccata) in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic	*eburos [d̪ˠaɾʲ] = yew (tree)
Celtiberian	ebur- = yew (tree)
Gaulish	eburo- = yew (tree)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	ibar [d̪ˠaɾʲ] = yew (tree)
Irish (Gaeilge)	iúr [uːɾˠ] = yew (tree) iubhar [ˈju.əɾ] = yew (tree)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	iubhar / iùbhar [ju.ər] = yew (tree), bow
Manx (Gaelg)	euar = yew (tree)
Proto-Brythonic	*eβor = yew (tree)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	efwr, ewr, ewur, evwr = hogweed, cow parsnip
Welsh (Cymraeg)	efwr [ˈɛvʊr / ˈeːvʊr] = cow parsnip, hogweed
Cornish (Kernewek)	evor = hogweed
Old Breton	heuor / euor = yew
Breton (Brezhoneg)	evor = alder buckthorn

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁ebʰros (yew) [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

Words for yew (tree) in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic	*iwos = yew (tree)
Gaulish	*iwos = yew (tree)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	eó [eːo̯] = stem, shaft, yew, tree
Irish (Gaeilge)	eo [oː/ɔː] = yew tree (literary)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	iodh [jɤɣ] = yew tree
Proto-Brythonic	ɨwī / ɨwɨnā = yew (tree)
Welsh (Cymraeg)	yw [ɨ̞u̯ / ɪu̯] = yew (tree), yew-wood
Old Cornish	hiuin = yew (tree)
Cornish (Kernewek)	ewin = yew (tree)
Breton (Brezhoneg)	iwin / ivin = yew (tree)

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁eyHweh₂ (yew) [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

Oak (trees)

21st August 201923rd November 2024 By Simon

Words for oak (tree) and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*daru [d̪ˠaɾʲ] = oak
Gaulish	Dervo = used in placenames
Old Irish (Goídelc)	dair [d̪ˠaɾʲ] = oak
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	dair, daur = an oak, the letter D in the Ogham alphabet (ᚇ) dairbre, dairbhre = an oak, oakling, a grove of oak grees, an oak wood dairde, daurde = oaken dair-ḟid, dauruth = an oak wood
Irish (Gaeilge)	dair [d̪ˠaɾʲ] = oak, the letter D in the Ogham alphabet (ᚇ) dairbhre = oaks, oak-grove daireach = planted with / full of oaks doire [ˈd̪ˠɛɾʲə] = oak-wood; wood, grove, thicket
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	dair [darʲ] = oak (archaic), the letter D, ᚛ᚇ᚜ in Ogham dairbhre = oak, nursery or grove of oaks darach [darəx] = oak, oaken, made of oak; ship (poetic) darag [darag] = small/dwarf oak, stunted/branchy tree (which is not useable for working)
Manx (Gaelg)	darragh = oak, oaken, oak grove, oak wood darrag = oak, beam, cast (fishing), snood, hairline darree = oak
Proto-Brythonic	*dar [ˈdar] = oak tree
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	dar, dâr = oak derwd(y) = oak house, oratory, prayer house, coffin derwin, deruin = make of oak, oaken, abounding in oaks, strong, robust, oak timber
Welsh (Cymraeg)	dâr [ˈdaːr] = oak tree, foremost warrior, leader, mighty lord derw = oak trees derwen [ˈdɛrwɛn] = oak tree derwin = make of oak, oaken, abounding in oaks, strong, robust, oak timber der(w)lwyn = oak grove, oak wood
Old Cornish	dar = oak
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	dar = an oak
Cornish (Kernewek)	dar [daːr / dæːr] = oak derwen = oak tree derw = oak trees
Old Breton	daeru = oaks
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	deru = oaks
Breton (Brezhoneg)	dar [dɑːr] = oak derv [ˈdɛrw/ˈdɛː.ro] = oaks dervenneg = with oak trees dervoed [dɛʁwət] = oak grove, oak wood

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *dóru (tree) [source].

Words from the same Proto-Celtic root possibly include làrix (larch) in Catalan, lariks (larch) in Dutch learag (larch) in Scottish Gaelic, larch in English, Lärche (larch) in German, and lærk (larch) in Danish [source].

Words from the same PIE root include δόρυ (dóry – spear) in Greek, dervà (tar, resin) in Lithuanian terva (tar) in Finnish, dearbh (sure, certain) in Irish, tree, trim, and trough, true in English, and trä (wood) in Swedish [source].

Proto-Celtic	*tannos = green oak
Gaulish	*tannos = oak
Old Irish (Goídelc)	tinne = holly, elder
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	tinne = holly, elder, the letter t in the Ogham alphabet (ᚈ)
Irish (Gaeilge)	tinne = the letter t in the Ogham alphabet (ᚈ)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	teine/tinne [tʲenə] = gorse, whin, furze (archaic), the letter t (ᚈ) in Ogham
Welsh (Cymraeg)	taneru, tener(i)o = to tan (hide) tanerdy = tannery tanerwr = tanner (of hides)
Old Cornish	tannen = oak (?)
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	tonnen = bark glastanen, glastennen, glastan = (scarlet) oak
Cornish (Kernewek)	glastanen gelyn = holly/holm oak glastanen gork = cork oak
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	glastann(enn) = holm oak(s)
Breton (Brezhoneg)	tann [tānː] = sessile oaks tannañ = to tan glastann = holm oaks

Note: the Welsh words were borrowed from English tanner, which ultimately comes from Proto-Celtic *tannos, via French, Latin and Gaulish.

Etymology: from Proto-Celtic *(s)tannos, the Proto-Indo-European *(s)dʰnwos/*(s)dʰonu (fir). Words from the same Proto-Celtic roots, via Gaulish and Latin tannum (oak bark), include tan (pulped oak bark used in the tanning process of leather) in French, tano (stem, slip) in Galician, tanería (tannery), Tannenbaum (fir tree, Christmas tree) in German, θάμνος (thámnos – bush) in Greek, and tan, tannery, tannin (tannic acid) in English.

Words from the same PIE roots include thanë (cranberry bush) in Albanian, and धनु (dhanu – bow) in Sanskrit. [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, Teanglann.ie, Am Faclair Beag, An etymological dictionary of the Gaelic language, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Online Manx Dictionary, Gaelg Corpus, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Lexicon cornu-britannicum : a dictionary of the ancient Celtic language of Cornwall, Gerlyver Kernewek, Devri : Le dictionaire diachronique du breton, Dictionnaires bilingues de Francis Favereau / Edition Skol Vreizh, TermOfis

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Trees & Plants

Heather

Druids

Willow (trees)

Elm (trees)

Ash (trees)

Alder (trees)

Hazel (trees)

Birch (trees)

Yew (trees)

Oak (trees)