{"id":7443,"date":"2023-07-30T14:24:23","date_gmt":"2023-07-30T13:24:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/?p=7443"},"modified":"2025-04-20T16:47:19","modified_gmt":"2025-04-20T15:47:19","slug":"wheels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/2023\/07\/30\/wheels\/","title":{"rendered":"Wheels"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Words for <strong>wheel<\/strong> and related words in Celtic languages.<\/p>\n<p><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/omniglot\/3667074575\/in\/album-72157620668950650\/\" title=\"Laxey Wheel\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/2577\/3667074575_59bae11844_z.jpg\" alt=\"Laxey Wheel\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><\/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>*rotos<\/strong> = wheel, chariot<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Gaulish<\/th>\n<td><strong>*Roto<\/strong>magos = <em>placename<\/em> [<a href=\"#rotomagos\">see below<\/a>]<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Old Irish (Go&iacute;delc)<\/th>\n<td><strong>roth<\/strong> = disc, sphere, wheel<br>\n<strong>rothmol<\/strong> = gyration<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>roth, routh<\/strong> = wheel, something circular or wheel-shaped, disc, sphere, circular brooch, wheel brooch, loop, noose<br>\n<strong>roithled<\/strong> = the act of rotating or twirling<br>\n<strong>roithl&eacute;n<\/strong> = wheel<br>\n<strong>roithreim<\/strong> = the rolling, rushing of wheels<br>\n<strong>roth&aacute;n<\/strong> = small wheel<br>\n<strong>rothmol<\/strong> = wheel of a water mill, gyration, scrimmage<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Irish (Gaeilge)<\/th>\n<td><strong>roth<\/strong> [&#638;&#736;&#596;(h)\/&#638;&#736;&#606;h] = wheel, bicycle<br>\n<strong>rothach<\/strong> = wheeled, cyclic(al)<br>\n<strong>rothad&oacute;ir<\/strong> = wheelwright<br>\n<strong>rotha&iacute;<\/strong> = cyclist<br>\n<strong>rothaigh<\/strong> = to cycle<br>\n<strong>rotha&iacute;ocht<\/strong> = cycling<br>\n<strong>roth&aacute;n<\/strong> = small wheel, loop, ring, hank<br>\n<strong>rothar<\/strong> = bicycle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Scottish Gaelic (G&agrave;idhlig)<\/th>\n<td><strong>roth<\/strong> [r&#810;&#736;&#596;h] = wheel, halo, crown (in a mill)<br>\n<strong>roth-fiaclach<\/strong> = cog<br>\n<strong>roth-gaoithe<\/strong> = ventilator<br>\n<strong>roth-uisge<\/strong> = water wheel<br>\n<strong>roth-m&oacute;r<\/strong> = millwheel, ferris wheel<br>\n<strong>rothag<\/strong> = small wheel, small circle<br>\n<strong>rothaiche<\/strong> = wheel, cyclist<br>\n<strong>rothair<\/strong> = bicycle, bike, cycle, roller, cylinder<br>\n<strong>rothaireachd<\/strong> = cycling<br>\n<strong>rothair-motair<\/strong> = motorbike, motorcycle<br>\n<strong>rothalan<\/strong> [r&#810;&#736;&#596;h&#601;l&#810;&#736;an] = person or animal running in circles<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Manx (Gaelg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>roar<\/strong> = bicycle, bike<br>\n<strong>roaragh<\/strong> = cyclist<br>\n<strong>roaraght<\/strong> = cycling<br>\n<strong>roar-bree<\/strong> = motorcycle<br>\n<strong>roar-slieau<\/strong> = mountain bike<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Proto-Brythonic<\/th>\n<td><strong>*rrod<\/strong> = wheel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Welsh (Kymraec)<\/th>\n<td><strong>rot, rod, rh&ocirc;d<\/strong> = wheel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Welsh (Cymraeg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>rhod<\/strong> [r&#805;o&#720;d] = wheel, spinning wheel, waterwheel, cogwheel, (round) shield), sphere, circle, orbit, firmament, heaven, (wheel of) fortune, fate, course, circuit, round, district, world<br>\n<strong>rhod dd&#373;r<\/strong> waterwheel<br>\n<strong>rhod wynt<\/strong> = windmill<br>\n<strong>rhodellaf, rhoedellu<\/strong> = to whirl, twirl<br>\n<strong>rhodig<\/strong> = small wheel, rowel (of spur)<br>\n<strong>deurod<\/strong> = bicycle (&ldquo;two wheel&rdquo;)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Cornish (Cernewec)<\/th>\n<td><strong>ros, r&ocirc;s<\/strong> = circle, wheel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Cornish (Kernewek)<\/th>\n<td><strong>ros<\/strong> [&#712;&#633;o&#720;z] = wheel<br>\n<strong>ros lovan<\/strong> = winch<br>\n<strong>ros melin<\/strong> = mill wheel<br>\n<strong>ros parys<\/strong> = spare wheel<br>\n<strong>ros velin<\/strong> = millwheel<br>\n<strong>ros-lewya<\/strong> = steering wheel<br>\n<strong>rosella<\/strong> = to rotate, spin<br>\n<strong>rosellans<\/strong> = rotation<br>\n<strong>rosik<\/strong> = castor<br>\n<strong>roskesya<\/strong> = roller skating<br>\n<strong>roskis<\/strong> = rollerskates<br>\n<strong>diwros<\/strong> = bicycle (&ldquo;two wheel&rdquo;)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Breton (Brezonec)<\/th>\n<td><strong>rod, rot<\/strong> = wheel, spinning wheel<br>\n<strong>rot melin, rod milin<\/strong> = millwheel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Breton (Brezhoneg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>rod<\/strong> [&#712;ro&#720;t] = wheel<br>\n<strong>rod-avel<\/strong> = wind turbine<br>\n<strong>rod-vilin<\/strong> = millwheel<br>\n<strong>rodal<\/strong> = to do a cartwheel<br>\n<strong>rodeg<\/strong> = cycle<br>\n<strong>rodell<\/strong> = loop<br>\n<strong>rodellig<\/strong> = small curl, bouclette<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Etymology<\/strong>: from PIE <em>*Hret-<\/em> (to run) [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/Reconstruction:Proto-Celtic\/rotos\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"rotomagos\"><\/a> The city of <strong>Rouen<\/strong>, the capital of Normandy in northern France, gets its name from the Latin <em>R&#333;tomagus<\/em>, which was the chief city of the Veliocasses in Gallia Lugdunensis (where Rouen is now), and was borrowed from Gaulish, from the Proto-Celtic <em>*rotos<\/em> (wheel) and <em>*magos<\/em> (field) [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/Rotomagus#Latin\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>Other words from the same roots include words for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/2019\/01\/04\/to-run\/\">to run<\/a> in Celtic languages, the Welsh name <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/Rhys#Welsh\">Rhys<\/a>, and <strong>rota<\/strong>, <strong>rotor<\/strong> and <strong>rotate<\/strong> in English [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/Category:English_terms_derived_from_the_Proto-Indo-European_root_*Hreth%E2%82%82-\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Proto-Celtic<\/th>\n<td><strong>*drokos<\/strong> = wheel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Old Irish (Go&iacute;delc)<\/th>\n<td><strong>droch<\/strong> [drox] = wheel, circlet<br>\n<strong>drochet<\/strong> [&#712;drox(&#690;)ed] = bridge &ndash; from <em>droch<\/em> (wheel) and <em>s&eacute;t<\/em> (path, way)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>droch<\/strong> = wheel, circlet<br>\n<strong>drochet, drochat, droget<\/strong> = bridge, causeway<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Irish (Gaeilge)<\/th>\n<td><strong>droichead<\/strong> = bridge<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Scottish Gaelic (G&agrave;idhlig)<\/th>\n<td><strong>droch<\/strong> [dr&#596;x] = coach wheel (<em>obselete<\/em>)<br>\n<strong>drochaid<\/strong> = bridge<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Manx (Gaelg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>droghad<\/strong> = bridge, arch, gantry<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Etymology<\/strong>: from PIE <em>*d&#688;reg&#688;-<\/em> (to run, drag, pull) [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/droch#Old_Irish\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>Words from the same PIE root include <strong>drag<\/strong>, <strong>draw<\/strong> (to pull, drag) and <strong>retract<\/strong> in English, and <strong>&#1380;&#1400;&#1410;&#1408;&#1379;<\/strong> (durg &ndash; potter&rsquo;s wheel) in Armenian [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European\/d%CA%B0reg%CA%B0-\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Proto-Celtic<\/th>\n<td><strong>*ol&#275;n&#257;<\/strong> = wheel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Old Welsh<\/th>\n<td><strong>olun, olin<\/strong> = wheel, circular, to rotate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Welsh (Kymraec)<\/th>\n<td><strong>olwyn, olvyn, &#333;lwyn<\/strong> = wheel<br>\n<strong>olwynnyawc, ol&#373;ynog, olw&#375;nog<\/strong> = wheeled, turning, revolving<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Welsh (Cymraeg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>olwyn<\/strong> [&#712;&#596;l&#650;&#616;&#815;n\/&#712;o&#720;l&#650;i&#815;n] = wheel, shaft<br>\n<strong>olwyn gocos<\/strong> cog wheel<br>\n<strong>olwyn dd&#373;r<\/strong> = waterwheel<br>\n<strong>olwyn lywio<\/strong> = streering wheel<br>\n<strong>olwyndro<\/strong> = cartwheel<br>\n<strong>olwyndroi<\/strong> = to cartwheel, spin<br>\n<strong>olwynfarch<\/strong> = bicycle<br>\n<strong>olwyn(i)af, olwyn(i)o<\/strong> = to wheel, turn, revolve, roll<br>\n<strong>olwyn(i)og<\/strong> = wheeled, turning, revolving<br>\n<strong>olwynol<\/strong> = wheel-shaped, circular, revolving<br>\n<strong>olwynur<\/strong> = bicycle<br>\n<strong>olwynwr<\/strong> = wheelwright, cyclist<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Etymology<\/strong>: from Proto-Celtic <em>*Heh&#8323;l-<\/em> (to bow, bend, elbow) [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/olwyn\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>Words from elbow in Celtic languages come from the same PIE root via the Proto-Celtic <em>*ol&#299;n&#257;<\/em> (elbow, angle) [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/2018\/11\/30\/elbows\/\">more details<\/a>], as do the English words <strong>elbow<\/strong> and <strong>ulna<\/strong> (one of the bones in the forearm, a.k.a. elbow bone) [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/Category:English_terms_derived_from_the_Proto-Indo-European_root_*Heh%E2%82%83l-\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Irish (Gaeilge)<\/th>\n<td><strong>cuidhil<\/strong> [ki&#720;l&#690;\/ki&#601;l&#690;] = spinning wheel (in Antrim)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Scottish Gaelic (G&agrave;idhlig)<\/th>\n<td><strong>cuidheall<\/strong> [kuj&#601;l&#810;&#736;] = wheel, coil<br>\n<strong>cuidheall-shn&igrave;omha<\/strong> = spinning wheel<br>\n<strong>cuibheall-iteachain<\/strong> = bobbin wheel<br>\n<strong>saor-chuidhleachan<\/strong> = wheelwright<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Manx (Gaelg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>queeyl(l)<\/strong> = wheel<br>\n<strong>queeyl chairt<\/strong> = cartwheel<br>\n<strong>queeylit<\/strong> = wheeled<br>\n<strong>queeyllagh<\/strong> = cartwheel, rotary, wheeled, wheeling<br>\n<strong>queelylley<\/strong> = rolling, wheeling whirling<br>\n<strong>daawheeyl<\/strong> = bicycle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Etymology: from Scots <em>quhe(i)l<\/em> (wheel), from Middle English <em>whel<\/em> (wheel), etc [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/queeyl\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Scottish Gaelic (G&agrave;idhlig)<\/th>\n<td><strong>cuibhle<\/strong> [kuil&#601;] = wheel, coil<br>\n<strong>cathair-cuibhle<\/strong> = wheelchair<br>\n<strong>cuibhle-shn&igrave;omha<\/strong> = ship&rsquo;s wheel, steering wheel<br>\n<strong>cuibhlearachd<\/strong> = wheeling, rolling, coiling<br>\n<strong>cuibhle<\/strong> = millwheel, ferris wheel<br>\n<strong>cuibhleas<\/strong> = wheelhouse<br>\n<strong>cuibhleag<\/strong> = small coil, small eddy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Welsh (Cymraeg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>whil, wil<\/strong> = wheel<br>\n<strong>w(h)ilaf, w(h)ilo<\/strong> = to wheel, roll<br>\n<strong>w(h)ilber<\/strong> = wheelbarrow<br>\n<strong>w(h)ilberaid<\/strong> = wheelbarrowful<br>\n<strong>w(h)ilber(i)o<\/strong> = to carry in a wheelbarrow<br>\n<strong>whilbws<\/strong> = wheelhouse<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Cornish (Cernewec)<\/th>\n<td><strong>wheyl, wheal, wh&eacute;l<\/strong> = work, wheel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Etymology<\/strong>: from English <strong>wheel<\/strong>, from Middle English <em>whel<\/em> (wheel), from Old English <em>hw&#275;ol<\/em> (wheel), from Proto-Germanic <em>*hweul&#333;<\/em> (wheels), from PIE <em>*k&#695;&eacute;k&#695;lom<\/em> (wheel) from <em>*k&#695;el-<\/em> (to turn) [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/wheel#English\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>According to MacBain&rsquo;s <em>An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language<\/em>, the Gaelic <strong>cuibhle<\/strong> was borrowed from English [<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ceantar.org\/Dicts\/MB2\/mb11.html\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-5001128073855040\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br>\n<!-- Blog horizontal --><br>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-5001128073855040\" data-ad-slot=\"1685480124\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins><br>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Sources: <em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/\">Wiktionary<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.faclair.com\/\">Am Faclair Beag<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mannin.info\/Mannin\/fockleyr\/m2e.php\">Online Manx Dictionary<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teanglann.ie\/en\/fgb\/ceann\">Teanglann.ie<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/dil.ie\/\">eDIL &ndash; Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www3.smo.uhi.ac.uk\/sengoidelc\/duil-belrai\/english.html\">In D&uacute;il B&eacute;lrai English &ndash; Old Irish glossary<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/geiriadur.ac.uk\/gpc\/gpc.html\">Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cornishdictionary.org.uk\/browse?field_word_value=penn\">Gerlyver Kernewek<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.arkaevraz.net\/dicobzh\/index.php\">Dictionaire Favereau<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.brezhoneg.bzh\/87-termofis.htm\">TermOfis<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wales.ac.uk\/Resources\/Documents\/Research\/CelticLanguages\/EnglishProtoCelticWordList.pdf\">English &ndash; ProtoCeltic WordList<\/a> (PDF), <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.org\/embed\/EtymologicalDictionaryOfProtoCeltic\">Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/create.blubrry.com\/resources\/podcast-media-hosting\/?code=omniglot\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/images\/banners\/banner_blubrry.png\" alt=\"Blubrry podcast hosting\" width=\"728\" height=\"90\"><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Words for wheel and related words in Celtic languages. Words marked with a * are reconstructions. Proto-Celtic *rotos = wheel, chariot Gaulish *Rotomagos = placename [see below] Old Irish (Go\u00eddelc) roth = disc, sphere, wheel rothmol = gyration Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) roth, routh = wheel, something circular or wheel-shaped, disc, sphere, circular brooch, wheel brooch, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,16,26,19,20,25,21,3,36,22,5,6,77,37,7,27,71,10,11,12,67,13,97,23,43,18,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adjectives","category-breton","category-kernewek-cornish","category-english","category-etymology","category-gaulish","category-gaeilge-irish","category-language","category-latin","category-gaelg-manx","category-middle-breton","category-middle-cornish","category-middle-english-englisch","category-middle-irish","category-middle-welsh-kymraec","category-nouns","category-old-english-aenglisc","category-old-irish-goidelc","category-proto-brythonic","category-proto-celtic","category-proto-germanic","category-proto-indo-european","category-scots","category-gaidhlig-scottish-gaelic","category-verbs","category-cymraeg-welsh","category-words"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7443","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=7443"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7443\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8771,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7443\/revisions\/8771"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}