{"id":9179,"date":"2026-04-24T21:49:06","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T20:49:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/?p=9179"},"modified":"2026-04-24T21:50:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T20:50:44","slug":"brittle-fragility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/2026\/04\/24\/brittle-fragility\/","title":{"rendered":"Brittle Fragility"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Today we&#8217;re looking at the words for <strong>brittle<\/strong>, <strong>fragile<\/strong> and related things in Celtic languages.<\/p>\n<p><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/stevewall\/188024983\/in\/photolist-hBFh4-qbUCXM-o9JuYK-2jugUdd-pSi4v-aqUmn9-P9WTc-8vLdwR-4a113L-qtZZq1-MdFnv7-2nwLVFe-8NYp7Z-4jptgr-a4J1D6-iKiCF-6BqtUQ-4HXfHL-cBGsV-aPSpsM-9dWXhx-Ri6fQf-2ouahgP-2qFWDUF-s3reMD-pc4UcN-cL7rkU-2fxUA3V-f7SrLs-2htvQ8u-ahgMP2-2c7XU6k-a7bWAf-2iYjkd4-2kEhjaz-XcDsAC-r1n4sV-2fxQrcg-95nRKz-k6uf7o-4N1Rug-2hi98ww-7i3iM5-2hjozMN-2h1sGG3-2kddYFS-28e1DAJ-4Zci7e-7DSotE-4vV9Lu\" title=\"fragile universe\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/77\/188024983_b76a3399f6_z.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"436\" alt=\"fragile universe\"\/><\/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>*briskos<\/strong> = brittle, fragile<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Old Irish (Go\u00eddelc)<\/th>\n<td><strong>brisc<\/strong> = brittle, fragile<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>brisc<\/strong> = brittle, fragile, easily broken<br \/>\n<strong>brisce<\/strong> = brittleness, brittle matter<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Irish (Gaeilge)<\/th>\n<td><strong>briosc<\/strong> [b\u02b2\u027e\u02b2is\u02e0k] = brittle, crisp, brisk, lively, ready, good-natured<br \/>\n<strong>briosca<\/strong> = biscuit<br \/>\n<strong>brioscaigh<\/strong> = to crisp<br \/>\n<strong>briosc\u00e1n<\/strong> = crisp (potato chip)<br \/>\n<strong>brioscarnach<\/strong> =  crunching, crackling, crunch, crackle<br \/>\n<strong>brioslach<\/strong> = brittle thing(s)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Scottish Gaelic (G\u00e0idhlig)<\/th>\n<td><strong>brisg<\/strong> [br\u02b2i\u0283g\u02b2] = crisp, brittle, fragile, frangible, brisk, lively<br \/>\n<strong>brisge(achd)<\/strong> [br\u02b2i\u0283g\u02b2\u0259(xg)] = brittleness, fragility<br \/>\n<strong>brisgean<\/strong> [br\u02b2i\u0283g\u02b2an] = gristle<br \/>\n<strong>brisgeanan<\/strong> = crisps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Manx (Gaelg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>brishlagh<\/strong> = frangible, fragile, crips, brittle, breakable, easily broken<br \/>\n<strong>brishtagh<\/strong> = bankrupt, brittle<br \/>\n<strong>brishlid<\/strong> = crispness, brittleness, fragility, fatigue<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Proto-Brythonic<\/th>\n<td><strong>*br\u0268sk<\/strong> = brittle, fragile (?)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Breton (Brezonec)<\/th>\n<td><strong>bresq<\/strong> = brittle, fragile<br \/>\n<strong>brechder<\/strong> = fragility<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Breton (Brezhoneg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>bresk<\/strong> [bresk] = brittle, fragile, weak<br \/>\n<strong>breskaat<\/strong> = to weaken<br \/>\n<strong>breskadurezh<\/strong> = fragility<br \/>\n<strong>breskted<\/strong> [\u02c8bresk.tet] = fragility, precariousness<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Etymology<\/strong>: uncertain [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/Reconstruction:Proto-Celtic\/briskos\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Proto-Celtic<\/th>\n<td><strong>*bruso-<\/strong> = fragile<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Welsh (Kymraec)<\/th>\n<td><strong>breu, brau<\/strong> = brittle, fragile, weak, frail<br \/>\n<strong>breulyt, breu-lyd<\/strong> = brittle, fragile, weak, frail, rotting<br \/>\n<strong>breua\u1efdl, breuawl<\/strong> = brittle, fragile, weak, frail, broken, fleeting, transient, rotting, crumbly<br \/>\n<strong>breuolaeth, breuolyaeth<\/strong> = brittleness, fragility, frailty, weakness<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Welsh (Cymraeg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>brau<\/strong> [bra\u0268\u032f \/ brai\u032f] = brittle, fragile, weak, frail, withered, perishable (goods), tender (meat), short (pastry), loose (soil); generous, free, kindly, unsparing, easy; ready, swift, quick; fine, refined, elegant<br \/>\n<strong>breuedig<\/strong> = brittle, fragile<br \/>\n<strong>breuhau<\/strong> = to make or become brittle or fragile, to crumble, rot, perish, tenderize<br \/>\n<strong>breul(l)yd<\/strong> = brittle, fragile, weak, frail, rotting<br \/>\n<strong>breuol<\/strong> = brittle, fragile, weak, frail, broken, fleeting, transient, rotting, crumbly<br \/>\n<strong>breuol(i)aeth<\/strong> = brittleness, fragility, frailty, weakness, precariousness, mortality, death<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Cornish (Cernewec \/ Kernuak)<\/th>\n<td><strong>brau<\/strong> = brittle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Etymology<\/strong>: from Proto-Indo-European <em>*b\u02b0rus-<\/em> (to break (apart), to shred) [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/brau#Welsh\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Cornish (Kernewek)<\/th>\n<td><strong>hedor<\/strong> = fragile<br \/>\n<strong>hedoreth<\/strong> = fragilility<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Breton (Brezhoneg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>hedorr<\/strong> [\u02c8he\u02d0.d\u0254r] = fragile, breakable<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Etymology<\/strong> (Breton): from <strong>torr<\/strong> (broken) in Breton. Related to <strong>torri<\/strong> (to break, cut) in Welsh [<a href=\"https:\/\/fr.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/hedorr\">source<\/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>Today we&#8217;re looking at the words for brittle, fragile and related things in Celtic languages. Words marked with a * are reconstructions. Proto-Celtic *briskos = brittle, fragile Old Irish (Go\u00eddelc) brisc = brittle, fragile Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) brisc = brittle, fragile, easily broken brisce = brittleness, brittle matter Irish (Gaeilge) briosc [b\u02b2\u027e\u02b2is\u02e0k] = brittle, crisp, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,26,21,3,22,5,6,37,7,10,11,12,13,23,18,14],"tags":[52,390,80,51,145,391,48,47,53,49,55,50],"class_list":["post-9179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-breton","category-kernewek-cornish","category-gaeilge-irish","category-language","category-gaelg-manx","category-middle-breton","category-middle-cornish","category-middle-irish","category-middle-welsh-kymraec","category-old-irish-goidelc","category-proto-brythonic","category-proto-celtic","category-proto-indo-european","category-gaidhlig-scottish-gaelic","category-cymraeg-welsh","category-words","tag-breton","tag-brittle","tag-celtic","tag-cornish","tag-etymology","tag-fragile","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\/9179","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=9179"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9179\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9181,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9179\/revisions\/9181"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9179"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9179"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}