Masters

18th April 202518th April 2025 By Simon

Words for master and related things in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	maigister [ˈmaɣʲisʲtʲer] = master, teacher
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	maigister, maigistir, magistor, magister = teacher, master, lord, owner
Irish (Gaeilge)	máistir [ˈmˠɑːʃtʲəɾʲ / ˈmˠaiʃtʲəɾʲ] = master, person in control, teacher, skilled person máistreacht = mastering, mastery, office of master, mastership máistreás = mistress, wife máistrigh = to master, lord it over s.o. máistriúil = masterful, imperious, masterly
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	maighistir [majɪʃdʲɪrʲ] = master maighstir [maiʃdʲɪrʲ] = master maighstireachd [maiʃdʲɪrʲəxg] = office of a master, mastery Maighstir = Mr maighstir-lagha = magistrate maor-sìthe = constable maorsainneachd [mɯːr̪ˠsɪn̪ʲəxg] = mastership, prefecture maighstireil = masterly, lordly, domineering
Manx (Gaelg)	mains(h)tyr, mainshter = boss, master, skipper, taskmaster mainshtyragh = bossy, domineering, master
Middle Welsh (Kyrmraec)	meistyr = master, ruler, chief, lord# meistres, mastres = mistress, woman in authority, lady, madam meistrawl, meistrol = masterly, masterful meistroli = to master, overcome, defeat, conquer
Welsh (Cymraeg)	meistr, ma(e)str = master, ruler, chief, lord, landlord, employer, teacher, instructor, guide meistr(i)aeth = mastery, authority, supremacy meistres, ma(e)stres = mistress, woman in authority, lady, madam meistr(i)ol = masterly, masterful meistr(i)oli = to master, overcome, defeat, conquer
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	maister = master
Cornish (Kernewek)	mester = boss, master, mister, Mr mester cirk = ringmaster mestres = boss, mistress, Mrs, Ms Mestresik = Miss mestrieth, mestrionieth = master’s degree mestrynses = dominion
Middle Breton	maestr, mestr, mestre = master
Breton (Brezhoneg)	mestr [ˈmɛst(r)] = master, chief, champion kartemestr = quartermaster mestr-kêr = mayor mestr-skol = teacher, school master mestrañ = to dominate, to lead mestrerezh = preponderance, dominance mestrez = mistress, (female) boss

Etymology: from Latin magister (master, chief, head, superior, teacher, instructor), from Proto-Italic *magisteros (bigger, greater) from Proto-Indo-European *meh₂- (good, great), or *meǵh₂- (big, great). Words from the same roots include master, maestro (a master in some art, especially a composer or conductor), magistrate and mister in English, maestro (master, expert) in Italian, maître (master, leader, teacher) in French, and мастер (master – master, craftsman, expert, foreman, repairman) in Russian [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	ollam [ˈol͈aβ̃] = a master in a particular trade or skill, a professor, the highest rank of fili, chief poet, doctor
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	ollam, olloman = the highest grade of fili, an expert in any art or science, a professor, chief
Irish (Gaeilge)	ollamh [ˈɔl̪ˠəvˠ / ˈɔl̪ˠuː] = master poet, master, expert, learned man, professor ollúnacht = professorship ollúnta = professorial
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ollamh [ɔl̪ˠəv] = professor ollamhachd [ɔl̪ˠəvəxg] = professorship ollamhan [ɔl̪ˠəvan] = doctor (of medicine / philosophy), bard of the first order
Manx (Gaelg)	olloo = doctor, don, professor, pundit trong>ollooaght = professorship

Etymology: from Old Irish oll (great, vast and -am (occupational noun-forming suffix) [source].

Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	múintid, múntith = teacher, instructor
Irish (Gaeilge)	múinteoir [mˠuːn̠ʲˈtʲoːɾʲ / ˈmˠuːn̠ʲtʲoːɾʲ] = teacher múinteoireacht = (act of) teaching

Etymology: from Old Irish múnid (to teach, instruct, learn, show, point out), possibly from Latin moneō (to warn, advise, remind) [source], from Proto-Italic *moneō (to remind, warn), from *monejō, from Proto-Indo-European *moné-ye-ti, from the root *men- (to think). Words from the same roots include monitor in English, muñir (to arrange) in Spanish, and monieren (to criticize, complain about) in German [source].

Other words for teacher can be found on these post Scholarly Pupils and Fathers

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

Stewards & Mayors

8th April 2025 By Simon

Words for steward, agent, mayor and related things in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	maer = steward
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	maer, maor, moer = steward maeraigecht = the office of a steward, stewardship maerda, maordha, mærda = stately, of noble or imposing presence
Irish (Gaeilge)	maor [mˠiːɾˠ / mˠeːɾˠ] = steward, baliff, warden, keeper, supervisor, herdsman, (school) prefect ardmhaor = chief steward banmhaor = stewardess maorach = supervisory, prefectorial maoracht = stewardship, wardenship, superinntendence, majorship, prefecture maorga = stately, dignified, imposting, sedate, quiet maorgacht = stateliness, dignity maorathach = bureaucratic méara = mayor
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	maor [mɯːr] = factor (profession), any middle-ranked officer / official in various capacities maor-ceartais = justice of the peace (JP) maor-cladaich = coastguard maor-sàraidh = baliff maor-sìthe = constable maorsainneachd [mɯːr̪ˠsɪn̪ʲəxg] = stewardship, prefecture mèar [mɛːr] = mayor
Manx (Gaelg)	meoir = steward, supervisor, agent, baliff, curator, custodian, keeper, manager, mayor, prefect meoir shee = constable, policeman meoiryn shee = constabulary, police (force) meoiragh = mayoral, prefectorial, supervisory meoiraght = mayorality, majorship, prefecture, stewardship
Proto-Brythonic	*maɨr = steward, agent, officer, official (?)
Old Welsh (Kembraec)	mair = steward, agent, officer, official, husbandman
Middle Welsh (Kyrmraec)	maer = steward, agent, officer, official, husbandman, mayor maerty, maerdy = summer dwelling for the tending of cattle, dairy, dairy farm, farm-house
Welsh (Cymraeg)	maer [maːɨ̯r / mai̯r] = steward, agent, officer, official, husbandman, mayor maerdy = summer dwelling for the tending of cattle, dairy, dairy farm, farm-house, town hall, mansion house, official residence of the mayor maeres = farmer’s wife, steward’s wife, dairy woman, mayor’s wife, mayoress maeriaeth = husbandry, agriculture, mayoralty maerol = mayoral maeron = bailiff, dairy farmer
Old Cornish	mair = mayor, chief (?)
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	mair, maer = mayor, chief
Cornish (Kernewek)	maynor(es) = agent maynorieth = agency mer(es) = mayor(ess) merji = home of the mayor
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	mair = mayor (?)
Middle Breton	mair = mayor
Breton (Brezhoneg)	merour, merer(ez) = manager, administor, manager, steward, farmer, grower mereuri = farmhouse, farm merouriezh = management, administration, husbandry maer(ez) [mɛːr] = mayor(ess) maerded = mayor’s office maerdi = town hall

Etymology: from Latin māior (mayor; bigger, greater), from Proto-Italic magjōs (bigger, greater) from Proto-Indo-European *meǵh₂- (big, great) [source]. The Irish and Scottish Gaelic words for mayor come from the Old French maire (a senior public official), from Latin māior etc [source].

Words from the same roots include magistrate, major, majesty, majuscule and mayor, master, mister in English, maire (mayor) in French, maestro (master, expert) in Italian, and Mallorca / Majorca in Spanish [source].

Bishops

26th February 2025 By Simon

A post about words for bishop in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	epscop [ˈebskob] = bishop
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	epscop, espoc, escop = bishop, episcopus, overseer
Irish (Gaeilge)	easpag [ˈɑsˠpˠəɡ / ˈæsˠpˠəɡ / ˈɑsˠpˠək] = bishop easpagóideach = episcopal easpagóideacht = bishopric, episcopacy ardeaspag = archbishop ardeaspagóideacht = archbishopric
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	easbaig [esbɪgʲ] = bishop easbaigeach [esbɪgʲəx] = episcopal easbaigeachd [esbɪgʲəx] = episcopacy, bishop’s see, bishopric àrd-easbaig / prìomh-easbaig [aːr̪ˠd esbɪgʲ] = archbishop
Manx (Gaelg)	aspick, aspit = bishop, prelate aspickagh = bishop, diocesan, Episcopalian aspickys = bishopric, diocese, see ard-aspick = archbishop, primate fo-aspick = suffragan
Proto-Brythonic	*eskob = bishop
Old Welsh (Kembraec)	escop = bishop
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	esgob, escip, escyp, esgyb = bishop, prelate, overseer escobaeth, escopaeth = diocese, see, bishopric, episcopate esgobaut, escobot, esgobot, esgobavt = bishopric, diocese, see, episcopacy, episcopate escopty, esgobty = bishop’s residence or palace, cathedral church, bishopric, diocese archescyp, archescop, archescyb, archesgyb, archescob = archbishop
Welsh (Cymraeg)	esgob [ˈɛskɔb] = bishop esgob(i)aeth = diocese, see, bishopric, episcopate esgobaethu = to perform the duties of a bishop esgob(i)aethol = pertaining to a bishopric, diocesan, containing a cathedral, episcopal, episcopalian esgobaidd = bishop-like, episcopal esgobawd, esgobod = bishopric, diocese, see, episcopacy, episcopate esgobty = bishop’s residence or palace, cathedral church, bishopric, diocese archesgob = archbishop, primate, metropolitan
Old Cornish	escop = bishop
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	escop, epscop = bishop
Cornish (Kernewek)	epskop, epskobes = bishop epskobeth = bishopric arghepskop = archbishop
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	eskop = bishop
Breton (Brezhoneg)	eskob [ˈeskop] = bishop, plough pin eskobaj = episcopate eskobel = episcopal eskobelezh = episcopacy eskopti [esˈkop.ti] = bishopric, diocese, episcopal palace arc’heskob [arˈɣeskop] = archbishop

Etymology: from Latin episcopus (bishop, overseer), from Ancient Greek ἐπίσκοπος (epískopos – overseer), from ἐπί (epí – over) and σκοπός (skopós – watcher, lookout, guardian). Words from the same roots include episcopal in English, évêque (bishop) in French, episcopo (bishop) in Italian, epíscopo (bishop) in Portuguese, peshkop (bishop, bookworm) in Albanian, and piskopos (bishop) in Turkish [source].

The English word bishop also comes from same roots, via Middle English bischop (bishop), Old English bisċop (bishop) from Proto-West-Germanic *biskop (bishop), from Vulgar Latin (e)biscopus (bishop), from Latin episcopus (bishop, overseer), etc. [source].

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Tag: words

Masters

Stewards & Mayors

Bishops