Words for sheep and related words in Celtic languages.
| Proto-Celtic |
*kaɸrāxs = sheep |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) |
cáera, caíra [ˈkaːi̯ra] = ox, cow |
| Irish (Gaeilge) |
caora [ˈkeːɾˠə / ˈkiːɾˠə] = sheep, ewe |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) |
caora [kɯːrə] = sheep, sheepish person |
| Manx (Gaelg) |
keyrrey = sheep |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) |
kaeriwrch = roebuck |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) |
caer = sheep (archaic)
caeriwrch / cariwrch = roebuck |
Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *kápros (goat) [source].
| Proto-Celtic |
*damos = ox, bull, domesticated animal
*dametos = sheep |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) |
dam [daṽ] = ox, stag, hero, champion |
| Irish (Gaeilge) |
damh [d̪ˠaw] = ox, stag; strong man, champion, corpulent person
damh alla = stag
damh comhair = one of a pair of oxen, yokefellow; equal, peer
damháire = bellowing, lowing (of oxen), belling (of stag)
damhán = small ox
damhra = oxen, yoke of oxen; stags, herd of deer |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) |
damh [dav] = stag (antlered, up to 4 yrs old), ox, oaf, crab missing a claw
damh-féidh = hart, stag
cho dall ri damh ann an ceò = as blind as a bat in daylight (“as blind as an ox in the fog”) |
| Manx (Gaelg) |
dow = ox, hart, stag |
| Proto-Brythonic |
*daβ̃ad = sheep |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) |
dauat, davad = sheep |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) |
dafad [ˈdavad/ˈdaːvad] = sheep, ewe; one who is under the charge of a spiritual pastor
defaid cymorth = sheep given to a needy person to form the nucleus of a flock
dafad ddu = black sheep, prodigal son, ne’er do-well of a family
defaid Dafydd Jos = waves, billows (“David Jones’ sheep”)
mynd yn draed defaid = to go to ruin (“to become sheep’s feet”) |
| Old Cornish |
dauat = sheep |
| Cornish (Kernewek) |
davas = ewe, sheep
kig davas = mutton |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) |
dañvad [ˈdãː.vat] = sheep; overly kind, gentle person; cuckold, flock; small, fluffy clouds, foamy waves
dañvadez = ewe |
Etymology: the Brythonic words come from *dametos, which comes from *damos. Both these words come from the Proto-Indo-European *demh₂- (to domesticate, tame) [source]. The English words tame, (in)domitable and danger come from the same PIE root [source].
| Proto-Celtic |
*retio- = ram |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) |
reithe [r͈ʲeθʲe] = ram; boats used as fireships |
| Irish (Gaeilge) |
reithe = ram |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) |
reithe [r͈ʲe.ə] = ram, tup; Aries |
| Manx (Gaelg) |
rea = ram, tup |
Etymology: unknown [source].
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) |
hwrd, hwrt = ram |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) |
hwrdd = ram; a stupid person; battering ram; rammer, beater; Aries |
| Old Cornish |
horþ = ram |
| Middle Cornish |
hordh = ram |
| Cornish (Kernewek) |
hordh = ram |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) |
(h)ourz = ram |
Etymology: unknown.
| Proto-Celtic |
*moltos = ram, wether (castrated ram) |
| Gaulish |
*multon = sheep |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) |
molt [mol͈t] = ram, wether |
| Irish (Gaeilge) |
molt = wether, sulky, morose person |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) |
molt [mul̪ˠt̪ˠ] = wether |
| Manx (Gaelg) |
mohlt = castrated sheep, wether, mutton |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) |
mollt = castrated ram, wether, mutton |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) |
mollt [moːɬd / mɔɬt] = castrated ram, wether, mutton |
| Cornish (Kernewek) |
mols = wether, sheep |
| Middle Breton |
mout, maout = ram |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) |
maout [ˈmɔwt] = ram, mutton; champion, trophy |
Etymology: uncertain, possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *(h₂)moldus (soft, weak) [source].
The Gaulish *multon is the root of the French word mouton (sheep, mutton), via the Vulgar Latin moltō (wether), and also of the Galician word motóa (sheep), and the English word mutton [source].
| Proto-Celtic |
*ognos = lamb |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) |
úan [uːa̯n] = lamb |
| Irish (Gaeilge) |
uan = lamb |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) |
uan [uən] = lamb |
| Manx (Gaelg) |
eayn = lamb |
| Brythonic |
*oɨn = lamb |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) |
oen [oːɨ̯n / ɔi̯n] = lamb |
| Old Cornish |
oin = lamb |
| Cornish (Kernewek) |
oen = lamb |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) |
oan = lamb |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂egʷnós (lamb) [source].
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, MacBain’s Dictionary, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau
