{"id":6374,"date":"2022-02-02T21:26:38","date_gmt":"2022-02-02T21:26:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/?p=6374"},"modified":"2026-04-21T18:16:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T17:16:41","slug":"corners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/2022\/02\/02\/corners\/","title":{"rendered":"Corners"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Today we&#8217;re looking at the words for <strong>corners<\/strong>, <strong>backs<\/strong> and related things in Celtic languages.<\/p>\n<p><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/celinet\/2466977292\/in\/photolist-4KZUpf-6CVPQa-HQaTo-6nC7wU-Pyvv8Y-2mW9yNt-6bydht-2jstQ1p-34oXWp-iUtru1-4WahAc-b8HEUn-BtALMB-TDC2SN-4Ke2wE-61ND4f-vFaVV9-964Byv-48EeRz-2kXBbeo-2iy3qVZ-2mAycAX-2mVZemE-2mWruhm-2boR9Pp-pxTUks-2mAAdVC-MLWZqH-2mWtpHg-24CRAMh-2kRNCLf-Tw4hXJ-2mWp1oF-bkBwHf-U8fSKx-84ZU9W-Dmh6a-7cLDSg-2iJpEBN-AuexH8-e5HDZG-2g2PDU9-4eema2-oe4go-QBeBHW-4AEgW-7TBMR8-NU93jE-5veadJ-RVvvCo\" title=\"corner\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3116\/2466977292_2e0380c7c3_z.jpg\" alt=\"corner\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\"><\/a><script async=\"\" src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Words marked with a * are reconstructions.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Proto-Celtic<\/th>\n<td><strong>*k\u016blos<\/strong> = corner<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Old Irish (Go\u00eddelc)<\/th>\n<td><strong>c\u00fal<\/strong> [ku\u02d0l] = back, rear<br \/>\n<strong>iarc\u00fal<\/strong> = remote place<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Irish (Gaeilge)<\/th>\n<td><strong>c\u00fal<\/strong> [ku\u02d0l\u02e0] = back, reserve, support, rear, reverse (<em>of coin<\/em>), counter<br \/>\n<strong>c\u00fala\u00ed<\/strong> = back (<em>in rugby, etc<\/em>)<br \/>\n<strong>c\u00falaigh<\/strong> = to back, move back, reverse, retreat<br \/>\n<strong>c\u00fal\u00e1ire<\/strong> = recess, nook, back of throat<br \/>\n<strong>c\u00falaist\u00edn<\/strong> = backer, henchman<br \/>\n<strong>c\u00falsr\u00e1id<\/strong> = back street<br \/>\n<strong>iargc\u00fail<\/strong> = remote corner, backward, out-of-the-way place, isolated<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Scottish Gaelic (G\u00e0idhlig)<\/th>\n<td><strong>c\u00f9l<\/strong> [ku\u02d0l\u032a\u02e0] = back, hind part, tress, shadow<br \/>\n<strong>c\u00f9l-fraon<\/strong> = background<br \/>\n<strong>c\u00f9l-chainnt<\/strong> = backbiting, slander, defamation, calumny<br \/>\n<strong>c\u00f9l-taic<\/strong> = patron, supporter, patronage, support, (military) reserves<br \/>\n<strong>c\u00f9l-shr\u00e0id<\/strong> = back street<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Manx (Gaelg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>cooyl<\/strong> = back, behind, astern, reverse<br \/>\n<strong>cooyl-charrey<\/strong> = backer<br \/>\n<strong>cooyl-eaishtagh<\/strong> = to eavesdrop<br \/>\n<strong>cooyl-pholt(al)<\/strong> = backfire<br \/>\n<strong>cooyl-raad<\/strong> = back street<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Proto-Brythonic<\/th>\n<td><strong>*kil<\/strong> = corner, angle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Welsh (Kymraec)<\/th>\n<td><strong>kil<\/strong> = corner, angle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Welsh (Cymraeg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>cil<\/strong> [ki\u02d0l] = corner, angle, back, nape of the neck, retreat, flight, recess, covert, nook, eclipse, wane<br \/>\n<strong>cilaidd<\/strong> = retiring, elusive, furtive<br \/>\n<strong>cilio<\/strong> = to retreat, withdraw, depart, recede, retire, pass away<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Old Cornish<\/th>\n<td><strong>chil<\/strong> = back<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Cornish (Kernewek)<\/th>\n<td><strong>kil<\/strong> = back, nape of the neck, book, reverse<br \/>\n<strong>kilans<\/strong> = recession<br \/>\n<strong>kilden<\/strong> = retreat<br \/>\n<strong>kildenna \/ kildedna<\/strong> = to back off, withdraw<br \/>\n<strong>kildennans \/ kildednans<\/strong> = withdrawal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Breton (Brezhoneg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>kil<\/strong> = back, reverse, lapel, neck, heel<br \/>\n<strong>kiladenn<\/strong> = reverse<br \/>\n<strong>kila\u00f1<\/strong> = to return<br \/>\n<strong>kilober<\/strong> = feedback<br \/>\n<strong>kilseller<\/strong> = retrospective<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Etymology<\/strong>: from the Proto-Indo-European <em>*(s)kewH-lo-<\/em>, from <em>*(s)kewH-<\/em> (to cover, conceal, hide). The English words such as <strong>hide<\/strong>, <strong>hose<\/strong>, <strong>house<\/strong> and <strong>sky<\/strong> come from the same PIE root [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European\/(s)kewH-\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Proto-Celtic<\/th>\n<td><strong>*kern\u0101<\/strong> = corner, angle<br \/>\n<strong>*Kornow\u012b<\/strong> = Cornwall (&#8220;people of the horn&#8221;)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Old Irish (Go\u00eddelc)<\/th>\n<td><strong>cern<\/strong> = angle, corner<br \/>\n<strong>cernach<\/strong> = angular<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>cern<\/strong> = angle, corner, recess, swelling<br \/>\n<strong>cernach<\/strong> = angular, having corners<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Irish (Gaeilge)<\/th>\n<td><strong>cearn<\/strong> [ca\u02d0\u027e\u02e0n\u032a\u02e0] = corner, angle, (geographical) quarter<br \/>\n<strong>cearnach<\/strong> = angular, square, quadratic<br \/>\n<strong>cearnacht<\/strong> = squareness<br \/>\n<strong>cearnaigh<\/strong> = to square<br \/>\n<strong>cearn\u00f3g<\/strong> = square<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Scottish Gaelic (G\u00e0idhlig)<\/th>\n<td><strong>ce\u00e0rn<\/strong> [k\u02b2a\u02d0r\u032a\u02e0n\u032a\u02e0] = corner, area, district, part, region, quarter, square \/ rectangular container, angle<br \/>\n<strong>ce\u00e0rnach<\/strong> [k\u02b2a\u02d0r\u032a\u02e0n\u032a\u02e0\u0259x] = square<br \/>\n<strong>ce\u00e0rnagaichte<\/strong> [k\u02b2a\u02d0r\u032a\u02e0n\u032a\u02e0ag\u026a\u00e7d\u02b2\u0259] = squared<br \/>\n<strong>ce\u00e0rnaichte<\/strong> [k\u02b2a\u02d0r\u032a\u02e0n\u032a\u02b2\u026a\u00e7d\u02b2\u0259] = angled<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Proto-Brythonic<\/th>\n<td><strong>*kern<\/strong> = side, corner (?)<br \/>\n<strong>*K\u00f6rn\u0268w<\/strong> = Cornwall, Cornouaille<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Welsh (Kymraec)<\/th>\n<td><strong>cern, kern<\/strong> = side, corner<br \/>\n<strong>Kernyw<\/strong> = Cornwall<br \/>\n<strong>Kerniweg<\/strong> = Cornish (language)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Welsh (Cymraeg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>cern<\/strong> = cheek-bone, side of the head, side (of hill, mountain, etc), exposed slope, corner<br \/>\n<strong>cernio, cernu<\/strong> = to slap or smack on the cheek, to butt<br \/>\n<strong>cerniog<\/strong> = having prominent cheek-bones, whiskered<br \/>\n<strong>Cernyw<\/strong> = Cornwall<br \/>\n<strong>Cernyweg<\/strong> = Cornish (language)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Cornish (Cernewec \/ Kernuak)<\/th>\n<td><strong>corn<\/strong> = horn, trumpet, corner<br \/>\n<strong>Kernow<\/strong> = Cornwall<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Cornish (Kernewek)<\/th>\n<td><strong>korn<\/strong> = horn, corner<br \/>\n<strong>kornel<\/strong> = small corner, recess<br \/>\n<strong>kornella<\/strong> = to corner<br \/>\n<strong>kornet<\/strong> = nook<br \/>\n<strong>Kernow<\/strong> [\u02c8k\u025c\u02d0n\u0259\u028a] = Cornwall<br \/>\n<strong>Kernewek, Kernowek<\/strong> [k\u025br\u02c8n\u025bw\u025bk \/ k\u0259r\u02c8nu\u02d0\u0250k] = Cornish<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Breton (Brezonec)<\/th>\n<td><strong>quern, quernn, quern<\/strong> = peak, the top of the head<br \/>\n<strong>Querne(au)<\/strong> = Cornouaille<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Breton (Brezhoneg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>kern<\/strong> [k\u025brn] = summit, peak, point, tonsure, hopper, crest<br \/>\n<strong>Kernev(-veur)<\/strong> = Cornwall<br \/>\n<strong>Kerne(v)<\/strong> = Cornouaille (historic region in western Brittany, also known as <em>Bro-Gernev<\/em> in Breton)<br \/>\n<strong>Kernneveg<\/strong> = Cornish (language)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Etymology<\/strong>: from Proto-Indo-European <em>*\u1e31erh\u2082-<\/em> (head, top, horn) [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/Reconstruction:Proto-Celtic\/kern%C4%81\">source<\/a>]. Words from the same roots possibly include <strong>cerebral<\/strong> (relating to the brain, intellectual), <strong>hart<\/strong> (male deer) and <strong>hornet<\/strong> in English, <strong>cerebro<\/strong> (brain, nerd) in Spanish, <strong>hirvas<\/strong> (reindeer, stag) in Finnish, <strong>kr\u00e1va<\/strong> (cow) in Czech, and <strong>carn<\/strong> (hoof, handle, hilt) in Welsh [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European\/%E1%B8%B1erh%E2%82%82-\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>Words for <strong>Cornish<\/strong> in the Goidelic languages ultimately come from the same roots, but via Latin <em>corn\u016b<\/em> (horn, antler, tusk) rather than Proto-Celtic.<\/p>\n<p>Sources: <em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/\">Wiktionary<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.org\/embed\/EtymologicalDictionaryOfProtoCeltic\">Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www3.smo.uhi.ac.uk\/sengoidelc\/duil-belrai\/english.html\">In D\u00fail B\u00e9lrai English &#8211; Old Irish glossary<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/dil.ie\/\">eDIL &#8211; Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teanglann.ie\/en\/fgb\/ceann\">Teanglann.ie<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.faclair.com\/\">Am Faclair Beag<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikisource.org\/wiki\/An_Etymological_Dictionary_of_the_Gaelic_Language\">An etymological dictionary of the Gaelic language<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/dictionaryq.com\/gaelg\/\">Fockleyreen: Manx &#8211; English Dictionary<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mannin.info\/Mannin\/fockleyr\/m2e.php\">Online Manx Dictionary<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/corpus.gaelg.im\/\">Gaelg Corpus<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/geiriadur.ac.uk\/gpc\/gpc.html\">Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/lexiconcornubrit00willuoft\/page\/n5\/mode\/2up\">Lexicon cornu-britannicum : a dictionary of the ancient Celtic language of Cornwall<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cornishdictionary.org.uk\/\">Gerlyver Kernewek<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/devri.bzh\/\">Devri : Le dictionaire diachronique du breton<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/geriafurch.bzh\/fr\">Geriafurch<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.brezhoneg.bzh\/87-termofis.htm\">TermOfis<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-5001128073855040\"\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<!-- Blog horizontal --><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-5001128073855040\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"1685480124\"\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today we&#8217;re looking at the words for corners, backs and related things in Celtic languages. Words marked with a * are reconstructions. Proto-Celtic *k\u016blos = corner Old Irish (Go\u00eddelc) c\u00fal [ku\u02d0l] = back, rear iarc\u00fal = remote place Irish (Gaeilge) c\u00fal [ku\u02d0l\u02e0] = back, reserve, support, rear, reverse (of coin), counter c\u00fala\u00ed = back (in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,26,19,20,21,3,22,7,27,9,10,41,11,12,13,23,18,14],"tags":[389,387,388,52,80,386,51,145,48,47,53,49,55,50],"class_list":["post-6374","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-breton","category-kernewek-cornish","category-english","category-etymology","category-gaeilge-irish","category-language","category-gaelg-manx","category-middle-welsh-kymraec","category-nouns","category-old-cornish","category-old-irish-goidelc","category-parts-of-the-body","category-proto-brythonic","category-proto-celtic","category-proto-indo-european","category-gaidhlig-scottish-gaelic","category-cymraeg-welsh","category-words","tag-angle","tag-back","tag-behind","tag-breton","tag-celtic","tag-corner","tag-cornish","tag-etymology","tag-gaelic","tag-irish","tag-language","tag-manx","tag-scottish-gaelic","tag-welsh"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6374","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6374"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6374\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9178,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6374\/revisions\/9178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6374"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6374"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6374"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}