Shady Shadows

Words for shadow, shade and related things in Celtic languages.

Shady shadows

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic *skāto(m) = shadow
*ufo-skāto/u = shadow, shelter
Old Irish (Goídelc) scáth [skaːθ] = shade, shadow, shelter, protection
foscad = shade, shelter
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) scáth, scatha, sgátha [skaːθ] = shade, shadow, reflexion, image, phantom, spectre, shelter, covering, protection
scáthaig(h)the = frightened, terrified
scáthán, scathan, sgathán = mirror, looking-glass
foscad, foscud, foiscthe, foscaidh = shadow, shade, gloom, glimmer, shelter, protection
Irish (Gaeilge) scáth [sˠkɑː / ˈsˠkæː] = shade, shadow, covering, protection, screen, reflected image, phantom, fear, dread, bashfulness, timidity
scáthach = shady, sheltered
scáthaigh = to shade, darken, obscure, cover, screen, protect
scáthán = mirror, looking-glass, centre of attraction
scáthánach = reflecting, specular
scáthlán = shelter, open-ended hut or shed, screen, (lamp) shade
foscadh = (literary) shade, shadow, shadowy form, shelter
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) sgàth [sgaː] = shade, shadow, dread, apprehension
sgàthach [sgaː.əx] = shady, shadow, timid, fearful, shy, skittish
sgàthachd [sgaːhəxg] = timidity
sgàthag [sgaː.ag] = dread, fright
sgàthair [sgaː.ɛrʲ] = coward
sgàthan [sgaːhan] = looking-glass, mirror, reflector
sgàthanaichte [sgaːhanɪçdʲə] = mirrored
fasgadh [fasgəɣ] = (act of) sheltering, shelter
Manx (Gaelg) scaa = shadow, shade, screen, cover, timidity, apparition, ghost
scaagh = bashful, timid, shadowy, shady
scaaghey = to darken, overshadow, shade, shadow, shadowing
scaadooagh = shadowy, shadowing, shady
scaane = mirror
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) isscaud, isgaud, yscaỼt, ysgod, ysgaỼt = shade, shadow, darkness
gwascawt, gwasgawt, gwasgawd = shelter, shady place, shadow
kyscaut, kysgod, cyscod = shadow, reflection, shade
kyscoty, kysgodi, kyscodi = to shelter, defend, protect
yscodic, iscodic, ysgodic = retreating, fearful, skittish, sheltered
ysgodigaw = to frighten, retreat, flee, escape
Welsh (Cymraeg) ysgod = shade, shadow, darkness, night, soul, spirit, apparition, goblin, appearance, fright, disguise, mask
cysgod = shadow, reflection, shade, likeness, phantom, symbol, shelter
cysgodaf, cysgodi = to shelter, defend, protect
cysgodol = shadowing, sheltering, shady, snug
gwasgod = shelter, shady place, shadow
(y)sgodig = retreating, fearful, skittish, sheltered
ysgodigaf, ysgodigo = to frighten, retreat, flee, escape
Old Cornish scod = shade, shadow
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) schus = fear, suspicion
Cornish (Kernewek) skeus, skeuj = shadow, reflection
skeusedner, skeusenner = photographer
skeusek = shady, suspicious
skeusen = photograph
skeusenieth, skeusenweyth = photography
skeusener, skeusenores = photographer
skeusi = to elude, escape, evade capture
Old Breton (Brethonoc) scot = shadow, reflection, ghost
guascotou = shelter, shade
Middle Breton (Brezonec) squeut = shadow, reflection, ghost
goasquet = shelter, shade
Breton (Brezhoneg) skeud [skøːt] = shadow, reflection, ghost
skeudan = to shade
skeudenn [ˈskøːdɛn] = image, illustration
skeudennadur = figurine, illustration
skeudennadurezh = iconography
skeudennaouañ = to illustrate
gwasked = shelter, shade

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *sḱeh₃t- (darkness, shadow) [source]. The English words shadow and shade come from same roots, as do schaduw (shadow) in Dutch, Schatten (shadow, shade) in German, and skodde (fog, mist) in Norwegian [source].

The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com

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, Geriafurch, TermOfis




Wee Beasties

Today we’re looking at the words for flies, gnats, midges and other wee beasties in Celtic languages.

Midges

Words marked with an * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic *kulis = fly
Old Irish (Goídelc) cuil [kulʲ] = fly, flea, gnat
minchuil = midge
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) cuil, cúil = fly, flea, gnat
cuilech, cuilig = flea-ridden
cuileóc, cuileóg [ˈkulʲoːɡ] = fly
Irish (Gaeilge) cuil = fly
cuileog [kəˈlʲoːɡ / ˈkilʲoːɡ] = fly
cuil Bhealtaine = may-fly
cuil chrónáin = bluebottle
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) cuil [kul] = fly (insect)
cuileag [kulag] = fly (insect / for fishing)
cuileagach [kulagəx] = pertaining to or abounding in flies
cuileag-bheag, cuileag-mheanbh, cuileag-mhìn = Highland midge (culicoides impunctatus)
Manx (Gaelg) quill = fly, gnat, midge
quaillag = fly, housefly
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) kylyon = flies
kylyonyn = fly
Welsh (Cymraeg) cylionyn, cylionen fly, housefly, bluebottle, wasp, gnat
cylion [ˈkəljɔn] = flies, etc
cylionwr = fly-catcher
Old Cornish kelionen = fly
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) celionen = fly
Cornish (Kernewek) kelyonen = fly
kelyon = flies
Old Breton (Brethonoc) keleon = flies
Middle Breton (Brezonec) quelyenenn, quelyenen = fly
quelyen = flies
quelyenec = (a place) abounding in flies
Breton (Brezhoneg) kelien, kelion [ˈkɛ.ljɛn] = flies
kelienenn = fly
kelienek = (a place) abounding in flies

Etymology: possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ḱuH-ló- (?), which is also the root of culex (gnat, midge, mosquito) in Latin, and cúlex (mosquito) in Catalan, and kulo (gnat) in Esperanto [source].

In Welsh chwiw(i)ad is small fly or midge, and a gnat or midge is propriad or titiad. Midge or gnat is gwibesen in Cornish, and c’hwibu or mouch in Breton.

For more words for insects, etc, see the Celtiadur post Animals.

The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com

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, Geriafurch, TermOfis