In this post we’re looking at words for binding, fastening and related things in Celtic languages.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Proto-Celtic | *rigo- = to bind *komrigā = binding, bond |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | cuimrech [ˈku.β̃ʲɾʲəx] = binding, bond, fastening, fetter, captivity |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | cuimrech, cuiṁbrech, cuibrech = act of binding, fastening, fettering, imprisoning, captivity, bond, fetter, chain |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | cuibhreach = binding, fetter, trammel cuibhrigh = bind, fetter |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | cuibhreach [kɯivrəx] = chain, trammel cuibhreachadh [kɯivrʲəxəɣ] = (act of) binding, fettering, restricting, restriction cuibhreachail [kɯivrʲəxal] = limiting, restrictive |
| Proto-Brythonic | *korrɨɣ = thong (?) |
| Old Welsh (Kembraec) | corruui = thong, lace, leather strap, rein |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | karrei = thong, lace, leather strap, rein |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | carrai [ˈkara / ˈkarɛ] = thong, lace, leather strap, rein, leash |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | kevren = bond, link, share kevrenna = to share kevrennek, kevrenoges = participant, stakeholder, participating |
| Old Breton (Brethonoc) | comreg = tie, bond, connection (?) |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | corre-enn, qévre, qevre = tie, bond, connection |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | kevre [keːvre] = tie, bond, connection, link, agreement, alliance kevread = bond, league kevreadenn = hook-up, connection, link kevreañ = to connect, to join forces kevreded = federation, association, alliance |
Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *(H)reyǵ- (to bind, reach), possibly via Latin corrigia (shoelace, tie, thong whip) [source]. Words from the same roots include correggia (leather strap or belt, thong) in Italian, courroie (strap, belt, band, strip) in French [source].
| Proto-Celtic | *gem-, *gem-eno-, *gemelo- = shackle, chain |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | gemel = chain, fetter gébend = bond, fetter, captivity |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | gemel, gemeal = fetter, chain, gyve gemlech, geimhlech = a fettered person, a prisoner, a hostage, fettered, captive gébend = bond, fetter, captivity |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | geimheal = fetter, shackle, chain geimhleach = fettered person, captive, prisoner; fettered, captive, held in bondage geimhligh = fetter, shackle, chain géibheann [ˈɟeːvʲən̪ˠ] = bond, fetter, bondage, captivity, strait, difficulty, distress, need géibheannach [ˈɟeːvʲən̪ˠəx] = person in bonds, person in fetters, captive géibheannas = bondage, sore distress |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | geamhal = fetter, shackle, gyve geimheal = fetter, shackle, gyve geimhleach [gʲevləx] = fetter, captive, slave gèibhinn = fetter |
| Manx (Gaelg) | geuley = manacle, chain, bond, shackle geulaghey = manacle, chain, shackle, bind in chains geuleydagh = bondman, chain |
| Old Welsh (Kembraec) | gebin = fetter, shackle |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | geuyn, gefyn, gevyn = fetter, shackle, gyve, manacle, chain geuynnedig = shackled, fettered gefynnu = to shackle, fetter, manacle gevynnauc = shackled, fettered |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | gefyn = fetter, shackle, gyve, manacle, chain gefynedig = shackled, fettered gefynnaf, gefynnu = to shackle, fetter, manacle, couple, link gefynnog = shackled, fettered |
Etymology: from from Proto-Indo-European
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | sibal = clasp, pin |
|---|---|
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | sibal(l) = a clasp, buckle, pin |
| Old Welsh (Kembraec) | fual = fetter, gyve, shackle, bond |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | hual = fetter, gyve, shackle, bond hualu = to fetter, manacle, shackle, chain, hobble, restrict, restrain hualawc, hualoc, hualog, hualawg = fettered, shackled, trammelled, tethered |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | hual = fetter, gyve, shackle, bond, hobble, restriction, restraint, check, trammel, hindrance, impediment hualaf, hualu = to fetter, manacle, shackle, chain, hobble, restrict, restrain hualedig = fettered or manacled, shackled, tethered hualog = fettered, shackled, trammelled, tethered |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec / Kernuak) | fual, fu, hual = fetter, shackle |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | hual = shackle hualaff = to hinder, impede, obstruct |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | hual = shackle, leg irons, anti-theft device hualañ [hyˈɑːlã] = to shackle, put in irons, subjugate, subdue hualet = hindered dishualañ [di.syˈɑː.lã] = to emancipate, deliver, liberate, unshackle |
Etymology: possibly from or related to Latin fibula (clasp, buckle, brooch) [source]. Words from the same roots include sivella (buckle) in Catalan, fibbia (buckle, clasp) in Italian, and hebilla (buckle, clasp) in Spanish [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
