{"id":9111,"date":"2026-02-12T17:07:49","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T17:07:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/?p=9111"},"modified":"2026-03-06T13:54:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T13:54:47","slug":"umbilification","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/2026\/02\/12\/umbilification\/","title":{"rendered":"Umbilification"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Words for <strong>navel<\/strong>, <strong>centre<\/strong>, <strong>core<\/strong> and related things in Celtic languages.<\/p>\n<p><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/jeepersmedia\/49335091146\/in\/photolist-2iazeML-2iaAkJu-2iaAkGq-2ijQ5Bh-2iawQAr-2ijRf6g-2ijReQ1-2ijMEGK-2ijRek3-2ijReSv-2ijMEhm-2ijQ5Mx-2ijQ5LL-2ijQ5He-5R3ZCN-a48k7K-9jHfaP-2nWLHZv-3FMKiR-2pQjN3L-4jnZdU-4xrq2x-9nkTXn-2qR7Zs5-2tcCqQ-3RpTd-6sareS-saF4LX-fxbHmU-a638WG-2sXdEA-oMKDS-bEE2QB-81YHF-25bEBLb-f1NH78-2jB54MW-85i9Dx-2jA8VLt-2jxDdbg-2jBzxF7-95odn-r3AJ5-k43na-2jFeTrG-2jCWvfp-2jDi98S-djr81-2jzGAwf-2jDEg8r\" title=\"Navel Oranges\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/49335091146_aacdd28c66_z.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" alt=\"Navel Oranges\"\/><\/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>Old Irish (Go\u00eddelc)<\/th>\n<td><strong>boilcs\u00e9n<\/strong> = centre, middle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>boilcs\u00e9n, boillsc\u00e9n<\/strong> = middle, centre<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Irish (Gaeilge)<\/th>\n<td><strong>boilsceann<\/strong> = bulging part (of sth), middle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Scottish Gaelic (G\u00e0idhlig)<\/th>\n<td><strong>buillsgean, boillsgean, builsgean<\/strong> [b\u026fil\u032a\u02b2\u0283g\u02b2an] = middle, centre, focus, core, navel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Welsh (Kymraec)<\/th>\n<td><strong>bogel, bogail<\/strong> = navel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Welsh (Cymraeg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>bogail, bogel<\/strong> [\u02c8b\u0254\u0261ai\u032fl \/ \u02c8bo\u02d0\u0261ai\u032fl] = navel, umbilicus, belly button, afterbirth; boss (on shielf), knob, stud, nave, hub (of wheel), middle, centre<br \/>\n<strong>bogailsyllol<\/strong> = given to navel-gazing<br \/>\n<strong>bogailsyllu<\/strong> = to contemplate one&#8217;s navel, to engage in navel-gazing or omphaloskepsis<br \/>\n<strong>bogeil(i)aidd<\/strong> = umbilical, umbilicate<br \/>\n<strong>bogeiliog<\/strong> = umbilical, umbilicate, having a navel, navel-baring, bossed<br \/>\n<strong>bogeiliol<\/strong> = umbilical, navel-gazing, self-absorbed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Cornish (Cernewec \/ Kernuak)<\/th>\n<td><strong>begel<\/strong> = navel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Cornish (Kernewek)<\/th>\n<td><strong>begel<\/strong> = navel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Old Breton (Brethonoc)<\/th>\n<td><strong>becel<\/strong> = navel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Breton (Brezonec)<\/th>\n<td><strong>begeul, begiel<\/strong> = navel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Breton (Brezhoneg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>begel<\/strong> [\u02c8be\u02d0.\u0261\u025bl] = navel, umbilical cord, walnut husk<br \/>\n<strong>begelet<\/strong> = umbilicate, umbilicated<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Etymology<\/strong>: possible related to words for belly or swelling such as <strong>bolg<\/strong> in Irish and Manx, and <strong>bol<\/strong> in Welsh, which come from Proto-Celtic <em>*bolgos<\/em> (sack, bag, stomach) from Proto-Indo-European <em>*b\u02b0\u00f3l\u01f5\u02b0-o-s<\/em> (skin bag, bolster), from <em>*b\u02b0el\u01f5\u02b0-<\/em> (to swell) [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/Reconstruction:Proto-Celtic\/bolgos\">source 1<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/lexiconcornubrit00willuoft\/page\/20\/mode\/2up\">source 2<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/fr.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/begel\">source 3<\/a>].<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Proto-Celtic<\/th>\n<td><strong>*ambelyon \/ *ambely\u016b<\/strong> = navel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Old Irish (Go\u00eddelc)<\/th>\n<td><strong>imlec\u00e1n, imliu<\/strong> = navel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>imlec\u00e1n, imblec\u00e1n, imlicen<\/strong> = navel, middle, central point<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Irish (Gaeilge)<\/th>\n<td><strong>imleac\u00e1n<\/strong> = navel, central point, centre, hub<br \/>\n<strong>imleac\u00e1nach<\/strong> = umbilical<br \/>\n<strong>sreang (an) imleac\u00e1in<\/strong> = umbilical cord<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Scottish Gaelic (G\u00e0idhlig)<\/th>\n<td><strong>imleag<\/strong> [imilag] = navel<br \/>\n<strong>putan-imleige<\/strong> = belly button, navel<br \/>\n<strong>c\u00f2rd-imleige<\/strong> = umbilical cord<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Manx (Gaelg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>imleig<\/strong> = navel, belly button, hub<br \/>\n<strong>imleigagh<\/strong> = umbilical<br \/>\n<strong>streng ny himleig, snaie ny himleig<\/strong> = umbilical cord<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Etymology<\/strong>: from Proto-Indo-European <em>*h\u2083n\u00f3b\u02b0\u014dl<\/em> (navel) [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/imbliu#Old_Irish\">source<\/a>]. Words from the same roots include <strong>navel<\/strong>, <strong>omphalos<\/strong>, <strong>umbilicus<\/strong> in English, <strong>Nabel<\/strong> (navel, belly button, centre, middle) in German, <strong>nafli<\/strong> (navel, bellybutton) in Icelandic, <strong>nombril<\/strong> (navel, belly button, middle) in French, <strong>ombligo<\/strong> (navel, belly button) in Spanish, and <strong>\u03b1\u03c6\u03b1\u03bb\u03cc\u03c2<\/strong> (afal\u00f3s &#8211; navel, hub) in Greek [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European\/h%E2%82%83n%C3%B3b%CA%B0%C5%8Dl\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.japanesepod101.com\/member\/go.php?r=759259&amp;i=b0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/images\/banners\/banner_japanesepod.jpg\" alt=\"The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com\" width=\"630\" height=\"83\"><\/a><\/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>Words for navel, centre, core and related things in Celtic languages. Words marked with a * are reconstructions. Old Irish (Go\u00eddelc) boilcs\u00e9n = centre, middle Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) boilcs\u00e9n, boillsc\u00e9n = middle, centre Irish (Gaeilge) boilsceann = bulging part (of sth), middle Scottish Gaelic (G\u00e0idhlig) buillsgean, boillsgean, builsgean [b\u026fil\u032a\u02b2\u0283g\u02b2an] = middle, centre, focus, core, navel [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,16,26,20,44,61,115,65,21,3,22,5,6,37,7,27,8,10,41,12,13,23,82,18,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adjectives","category-breton","category-kernewek-cornish","category-etymology","category-french","category-german","category-greek-","category-icelandic-islenska","category-gaeilge-irish","category-language","category-gaelg-manx","category-middle-breton","category-middle-cornish","category-middle-irish","category-middle-welsh-kymraec","category-nouns","category-old-breton","category-old-irish-goidelc","category-parts-of-the-body","category-proto-celtic","category-proto-indo-european","category-gaidhlig-scottish-gaelic","category-spanish-espanol","category-cymraeg-welsh","category-words"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9111","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=9111"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9111\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9136,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9111\/revisions\/9136"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9111"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9111"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9111"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}