List of French words of Gaulish origin
Encyclopedia
The Gaulish language
, and presumably its many dialects and closely allied sister languages, left a few hundred words in French
and many more in nearby Romance languages, i.e., Franco-Provençal (SW France and E Switzerland), Occitan (Southern France), Catalan
, Romansch, Gallo-Italian (Northern Italy), and many of the extinct or nearly extinct languages of France and Belgium collectively known as langues d'oïl
(e.g., Walloon
, Normand
, Gallo, Picard, Bourgignon, Poitévin, and so on).
What follows is a list of inherited French words, past and present, along with words in neighboring or related languages, all borrowed from the Gaulish language.
Gaulish language
The Gaulish language is an extinct Celtic language that was spoken by the Gauls, a people who inhabited the region known as Gaul from the Iron Age through the Roman period...
, and presumably its many dialects and closely allied sister languages, left a few hundred words in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and many more in nearby Romance languages, i.e., Franco-Provençal (SW France and E Switzerland), Occitan (Southern France), Catalan
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
, Romansch, Gallo-Italian (Northern Italy), and many of the extinct or nearly extinct languages of France and Belgium collectively known as langues d'oïl
Langues d'oïl
The langues d'oïl or langues d'oui , in English the Oïl or Oui languages, are a dialect continuum that includes standard French and its closest autochthonous relatives spoken today in the northern half of France, southern Belgium, and the Channel Islands...
(e.g., Walloon
Walloon
Wallon may refer to:*Henri-Alexandre Wallon , a French historian and statesman*Henri Wallon , a psychologist and grandson of Henri-Alexandre Wallon...
, Normand
Normand
Normand is a surname, and may refer to:* Ernest Normand* Gilbert Normand* Louis-Philippe Normand* Mabel Normand* Wilfrid Normand, Baron Normand...
, Gallo, Picard, Bourgignon, Poitévin, and so on).
What follows is a list of inherited French words, past and present, along with words in neighboring or related languages, all borrowed from the Gaulish language.
A-B
| French | Cognates | Etymology | Celtic Cognates | Latin/Romance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aller 'to go' | FrProv alâ, allar, Friul Friulian language Friulan , is a Romance language belonging to the Rhaeto-Romance family, spoken in the Friuli region of northeastern Italy. Friulan has around 800,000 speakers, the vast majority of whom also speak Italian... lâ |
Gaul *allu | Welsh Welsh language Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa... el 'that he may go', eled 'go!', Cornish Cornish language Cornish is a Brythonic Celtic language and a recognised minority language of the United Kingdom. Along with Welsh and Breton, it is directly descended from the ancient British language spoken throughout much of Britain before the English language came to dominate... yllyf 'that I may go', Old Irish adall Scottish Gaelic a dol 'diverticulum' |
Lat ambulare, ambitare (cf. Ital Italian language Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia... ambiare, Rom Romanian language Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova... umbla; Sp Spanish language Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the... /Pg Portuguese language Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095... andar) |
|
| alose 'shad' | Occitan alausa, Prov alauso, Sp alosa, G German language German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union.... Alse |
Gaul alausa 'allis shad' | none | unknown in Latin | |
| alouette 'lark' | Walloon Walloon language Walloon is a Romance language which was spoken as a primary language in large portions of the Walloon Region of Belgium and some villages of Northern France until the middle of the 20th century. It belongs to the langue d'oïl language family, whose most prominent member is the French language... alôye, Prov alauza, alauseta, Cat alosa, alova, OSp aloa, Sp alondra, It allodola, lodola |
Old French aloe, aloue, fr Latin alauda 'crest lark', fr Gaul, from ala 'swan' | OIr elae 'swan', Irish/Scottish eala | - | |
| ambassade 'embassy' | Prov embeissado, Occ ambaissada | From Ital ambasciata 'charge, mission, embassy', fr Old Occ ambayassada 'embassy', from ambaissa 'service, duty' 'hostage', fr Gaul ambactus 'dependant, vassal' | OIr amos, amsach 'mercenary, servant', Ir amhas 'wild man', W amaeth 'tenant farm', OBr ambaith | - | |
| amélanche 'shadberry, shadbush' | - | Prov. amelanco, amalanco, from Gaul. aballo 'apple' and -anco, diminutive from Germanic -ing | OIr aball, Ir ubhall, W afal, C aval, Br avallen | unknown in Latin | |
| andain 'swath, scythe slash' | - | OFr andain 'wide step', from Gallo-Latin andagnis 'big step', from Gaul. ande 'big, great' and agnis 'step' (cf. OIr áin activity, play), from agi 'to move' | - | - | |
| ardoise 'slate' | - | From Gaul. artuas 'stelae, stone plates', plural of *artuā 'stone, pebble' | OIr art 'stone', Ir/Sc airtein 'pebble' | ? Ital. "ardesia", Rom. "ardezie" | |
| arpent 'arpent acre' | OSp arapende, Sp arpende, Prov arpen | ML arependis, fr Latin arepennis, from Gaulish | OIr airchenn 'short mete or bound (abuttal); end, extremity', W arbenn 'chief' | system of measurement alien to Latin | |
| auvent 'eaves, porch roof, penthouse roof' | Prov. ambans 'forward part on a fortification', Lengadocian embans, French dial. arvan | Gaulish andebanno 'overhang or forward jutting part of a roof', from ande 'under' and banno 'horn' | - | unknown to Mediterranean architecture | |
| aven 'sinkhole, swallow hole' | Occ avèn 'abyss, whirlpool', Asturian Asturian Asturian may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to Asturias, in Northern Spain* Asturian language* Asturian people* Asturcón, also known as an Asturian pony... aboñón 'channel, drain' |
OFr avenc, from Old Occ, from Gaulish abona 'river' | W afon, Br avon, aven, Sc abhainn, Ir abhann | - | |
| bâche 'canvas sheet, tarpaulin' | Gasc bascojo 'hanging basket', Asturian bascayu, Béarn bascoyes, Fr (dial) bâchot, bachou | OFr baschoe 'type of hod', from Gaul. bascauda 'wicker chest, hamper', from *basca 'binding' | W basg 'plaiting', MIr basc 'neckband' | - | |
| balai 'broom (sweep)' | Sp baleo 'broom (plant)', Ast baléu | OFr balain 'broom (plant)', from Gaul *balatno, metathesis of *banatlo | W banadl, C banathel vs. MBr balazn (mod. balannen), Sc bealaidh, Ir beallýi | Lat. scobum (cf. Fr dial. écouvillon) | |
| barge 'godwit' | Genoese berta 'magpie' | Gaulish bardala, diminutive of bardos 'bard' | MW bardd 'poet', OIr bardoi, MBr barz 'minstrel', OC barth 'mime, jester' | Lat. corydallus (from Greek korydallis) | |
| barnache, bernache 'barnacle goose' | - | OFr bernaque, fr Gaul. barenica 'limpet', fr barenos 'rock, boulder' (cf. OIr barenn 'boulder'); for semantic development, compare Greek lépas 'rock' > lepás 'limpet' | Ir báirneac, Sc bàirneach, W brennig, C brennic, Br bernig, brennig | - | |
| bassin 'basin' | Prov. bacha 'feeding trough', FrProv bachè, bacha 'large vat', Amognard bassie 'sink' | OFr bacin, from ML baccinum, from LL bacca 'wine or water jug', from Gaulish 'burden, load to bear' | Ir/Sc bac 'hindrance', W baich 'load, burden', Br bec'h 'burden, toil' | - | |
| battre 'to beat' | Sp. batir | Latin battuere, from Gaulish *battu 'I strike, hit' | W bathu 'to strike money, mint' | - | |
| bauge 'wild boar den; cob, hut' | FrProv (Swiss) bache 'swamp hay', Prov bauco, balco 'rough-leafed grass, tuft of hay, swamp grass used as bedding', OProv terra bauca 'good, solid turf' | OFr balche, from Gaul balco 'strong' | OIr balc, Ir bailc, Sc bailceach, W/C balch, Br balc’h | - | |
| baume 'grotto' | Prov baume, Lombardo balma, Piemontese barma | Gaul *balma | OIr baile 'place, location' | - | |
| bec 'beak' | Latin beccus 'beak', from Gaul *beccos 'beak', perhaps originally 'little' | perhaps OIr becc 'little', Ir beac, Sc beag, W bach; C byghan, Br bic’han | Lat rostrum | ||
| belette 'weasel' | Liguro bélloa, Friulian bilite, Ladin belora, Lorrain belâ, blâ, Savoyard belete | From FrPov belete, from Gaul bela | W bele, belaod (pl.) 'marten' | Lat mustella (cf. OFr moistele) | |
| benne 'handbarrow, dumpster, mine cart', banne 'awning; large wicker basket' | It benna 'dung cart', G (Swabish) Bann 'cart, hod', G Behner 'basket', Du ben, benne 'basket', E bin | Gaul benna | W benn 'cart', OIr buinne, Br karr-banner 'truck bed', OBr benn 'caisson (chariot)' | - | |
| berle 'water parsnip' | Sp berro 'watercress' | Gaul. berula 'cress', diminutive of beru 'stake, spit' | W berwr, C/Br beler, OIr biror, Ir biolar, Sc biolaire; further to Ir/Sc bior, W bêr, C/Br ber | - | |
| berceau 'cradle', bercer 'to rock', ber 'drydock' | Prov bressà 'to rock', brès 'cradle', Sp dial. brezar 'to rock', brezo 'cradle' | OFr bers 'cradle', fr Gaul. *bertu 'I rock', fr *berta 'load' | Ir bertaim 'to rock', beárt 'load, action' | - | |
| bief 'mill reach, mill race' | Genoese (Liguro) bëo 'ditch, channel' Asturian beyu 'narrow gorge' | OFr bied, from Gaul. *bedo 'ditch; grave' | W bedd 'grave', Br bez, C bedh | - | |
| bille 'log' | Prov. bilha 'stem, trunk' | Gaul. *billia 'tall tree' | W pill 'stump', Br pil, Mx billey 'tree', Ir billeóg 'leaf', bille oir 'tree trunk', Sc bileag, bile 'leaf, blade' | - | |
| boisseau 'bushel' | - | Diminutive of OFr boisse 'dry measure of grain', Gallo-Lat. *bostia 'hollow of the hand', fr Gaul. *bosta | Br boz, OW bos, MIr boss, bass, Ir bass | - | |
| bonde, bondelle 'bunghole' | OProv bonda | Gaul. bunda 'base, bottom' | OIr bunud, MIr bond 'foundation', Sc bonn 'id.', W bonedd 'base, foundation' | - | |
| borne 'milestone, landmark' | - | OFr bonne, bosne, fr earlier bodne, Gallo-Lat. bodina ‘arbre frontière’, fr Gaul. bodînâ ‘troop’ | OIr buiden 'squadron', Ir/Sc buidhean/n 'regiment', W byddin 'grove', Br boden, bod 'thicket' | - | |
| bouc | Gaul. bucco, ML buccus | ||||
| boue 'mud' | - | Gaul *bowā | W baw 'filth, muck, shit', budr 'dirty, messy', OIr búaidir 'dirty', Br (Ouessant) baouer 'gooey stubstance (from seaweed)' | - | |
| bouge 'hovel, dive' | Gaul. boutigo 'cow byre', compound of bou 'cow' and tego 'house' | Br boutig, W beudy, Ir bothigh; further to Ir bó, MW bu 'oxen' and Ir teach, g. tí, Sc taigh, Br/OC ti, C chi, W tŷ | - | ||
| bouillon-blanc 'mullein' | - | ML bugillō, fr Gaul., fr boccos 'soft' | Br beuk, Ir bog | Lat verbascum (cf. Sp varbasco) | |
| bouleau 'birch' | Ardennais boule, Prov bes(se), Cat beç, bedoll, Sp abedul | Diminutive of OFr boule, from Lat. betula, from Gaulish, from betua 'birch', from bitu 'pitch' | Ir/Sc beith, W bedw, Br bezv, Manx Manx Manx is an adjective describing things or people related to the Isle of Man:* Manx people**Manx surnames* Isle of ManIt may also refer to:-Languages:... beih |
- | |
| bourbe 'muck, mire' | Sp burbuja 'bubble', Asturian borbolla 'bubble' | Gaul borvon 'spring, well' | Ir bearbh 'boiling', W berw 'boiling, seething', Br berv 'broth, bubbling' | - | |
| bourdaine 'black alder' | ONorm borzaine, French dial. bourg-épine, Walloon neûr-bôr, Basque burgi 'black alder', German Eberesche (Aberesche, Eberbaum) 'service-tree', Du (dial. Flem) haveresch (influenced by haver 'oat') | From Western dialect, from OFr bourgène, from Gaul *eburi-gena, from eburos | W efwr 'cow parsnip', dial. (N) ewr, Br evor 'black alder', Sc iubhar 'yew', Ir iúr, OIr ibar | - | |
| brai 'pitch' | Prov brac, It brago, braco 'mud' | Gaul *bracu | W bracu 'filth' | Lat pix | |
| braie(s) 'breeches, pants' | Prov/Sp. braga, It braca | Lat. braca | - | - | |
| braire 'to bray', brailler 'to bawl, whine' | - | Late Latin bragire, from Gaulish *bragu | MIr braigid 'it crashes, explodes', Sc braigh 'to shriek, crackle', Br breugiñ 'to bray' | - | |
| bran 'filth' | Berry/Picard brin, Prov/OSp bren, It (dials) brenno | OFr bren 'bran, filth', from Gaul. brennos 'rotten' | OIr brén, Ir bréan 'smelly, rancid', Sc breun, W braen 'stench', braenu 'to rot', Br brein | Lat. caecum 'filth' (cf. Sp cieno) | |
| branche 'treelimb' | Prov branca 'paw', It brance 'claw, paw', Romansch dial. franka, Rum brǐnca | Late Latin branca 'paw', from Gaul. *vranca | Br brank, branc'h 'bough, antlers', Sc bràc 'branch, antler; reindeer' | - | |
| brasser 'to brew' | Fr dial. brai, bray 'malt' | OFr bracer, fr brace 'malt', fr Gaul brace | OIr mraich, Sc braich, W/C brag 'malt', Br bragez 'wheat germ' | - | |
| brave 'brave, daring' | Prov/Cat. brau 'wild' | MFr brave, fr It bravo 'bold', fr Prov brau 'wild', fr Gaul. bragos 'show-off' | MIr breagha 'fine', Ir breá, Sc brèagh, C bray, Br braga 'to strut around' | - | |
| bréhaigne 'barren (animal)' | Pg/Galician/Astur/Salander braña 'swampland, bogland, humid meadow', Sp breña 'scrubland', NW Cat. braina 'field of grain whose ears have not sprouted yet', N. Ital. barena 'flood plain of a lagoon' | OFr baraign, brahain, fr Lat. brana ‘sterile mare’, fr Gaul. *branna 'land where nothing grows', fr *brenno 'rotten' | Ir branar, W braenar 'fallow', Br breinar; see bran above | - | |
| breuil 'copse' | Prov brogo, Germ. Brühl 'prairie | OFr bruil, fr ML breialo (Vienna Glossary), fr Gaul *brogilos 'thicket, hunting reserve', diminutive of brogos 'country' | W/Br bro 'country', Ir bruig, Sc brugh 'tumulus, large house', Mx broogh 'brae, bank' | - | |
| bribe 'fragment, parcel' | Pic brife 'bit of bread' | Gaul. briba | W briw 'fragments', Br brev 'broken', Sc breaban 'leather patch', Ir preaban 'parcel, piece, patch' | - | |
| briser 'to break' | OFr brisier, fr Gaul. brissu 'I break' | OIr brissim, Ir/Sc bris, Mx brishey | Lat frangere (cf. OFr fraindre) | ||
| broche 'spit, skewer' | Asturian bruecu 'pointed, sharp' | Gaul. brocca, fr broccus 'pointed' | Sc brog 'awl; to prod', W procio 'to poke, thrust', Ir prioc | - | |
| bruire 'to roar; rustle, murmur' | - | Gaul. bruge 'to troat' | W broch 'din, tumult', Br bruchellein 'to roar, bellow', Sc broiglich 'noise', broighleadh 'turmoil' | - | |
| bruyère 'heath, moor' | Prov bruguiera 'moorland', Cat bruguera, Sp (Navarre) beruezo; Milan brüg, Prov bruga, Germ (dial. Mainz) Brikane, Sp brezo | Gallo-Lat. brucaria, fr brūcus, fr late Gaul *vroikos, fr earlier vroici, vroica | W grug, dial. (Pemb.) gwrig, C grig, MBr groegan, Br gwrez 'heath', Ir/Sc fraoch, Manx freoagh | - | |
| bugle 'bugle (plant), bugleweed' | - | ML bugula, fr Lat bugīlla, fr Gaul., diminutive of buccos 'soft' | MIr bocc 'soft', Ir/Sc bog 'soft', Br bouk 'soft, mild' | - | |
| burin 'graver' | - | Cat. burí, fr Gaul. berina 'gap, chasm', fr berros 'short, clipped' | MIr bern, berna 'gap, chasm', Ir bearna 'gap, chasm', Sc beàrn 'breach, cleft'; further to OW byrr 'short', C ber, Br berr, MIr berr 'short, clipped' | - |
C-G
| French | Cognates | Etymology | Celtic Cognates | Latin/Romance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cabane 'cabin, cob' | OFr chavane 'small farmstead' | fr Prov. cabana 'cob, cottage', fr Gaul. capanna 'hut', fr cappos 'cob, tent' | W caban 'booth, hut', Br koban 'booth, awning', Ir/Sc cabán 'hut, booth, tent'; further to W cab 'cot, tent', MIr cap(p) 'cart, bier' | - |
| caillou 'pebble' | chaillou, chail, Pic caillau, Poit. chail, SwFr/Fr-Comt chaille, Prov. calado, Astur. cayuela 'pebble, chestnut' > Normand or Picard, fr Gaul. caliavo 'pebbly', fr cali 'pebble' |
W caill 'testicle', Br kell, kall 'id.', Ir caull 'id.' | - | |
| cervoise 'barley beer' | Gaul. cervesia | - | ||
| chainse 'linen canvas, undershirt' | - | OFr chainse 'tunic', fr L camisia 'shirt', fr Gaul. | OIr caimmse 'shirt', OC cams 'liturgical alba vestement', Br kamps 'hem' | *Note: chemise 'shirt' is an early learned borrowing and not inherited |
| changer 'to change, exchange' | Sp. cambiar, Ast. cambéu 'exchange' | Old French changier, from Latin cambiāre 'to barter', earlier cambīre, from Gaul cambion 'exchange', from cambio 'curved', from cambo 'curve' | Br kemm 'exchange', OIr cimb 'ransom' | - |
| char 'wagon', charrue 'plough' | Basq ekarri 'to bring', OProv carruga 'cart' Astur. carru | L carrus 'chariot', fr Gaul. carros; L carracutium, fr Gaul. carruca 'ceremonial plough' | Ir carr 'dray, wagon', W carr 'chariot', Br karr 'cart' | - |
| charançon 'weevil' | MF charanton, diminutive of LL *caranteus, fr Gaul. *carvantos, fr carvos 'deer, stag' | W carw, C carow, Br carv, OIr carbh 'stag', Ir cáirrfhiadh | - | |
| charpente 'framework, building frame' | Lorr charpagne 'hamper', Welche charpin ‘large osier basket’ | L carpentum, fr Gaul. carbanto 'carriage', fr carbos 'basket' | Ir carbat, Sc carbad, W cerbyd, OBr cerpit | - |
| chat-huant 'tawny, brown, or wood owl' | OPic coan, Judeo-French javan, FrProv (Swiss) tsavouan | MFr chouan, fr L cavannus, fr Gaul. | Ir ulchabhán, W tyllhuan, cuan, Br kaouenn | - |
| chemin 'way, path, route' | Sp. camino, FrProv tch’mïn, Prov. camin, Astur. camín | LL camminus 'step, footpath, tollspot', fr Gaul. camani, plural of camanom 'step' | Ir céim 'stride', pl. céimmenn, Sc ceum, W/C cam 'step', OW pl. cemmein 'steps', Br kam 'step' | - |
| chêne 'oak' | Prov cassanh, Gasc casse, FrProv (Swiss) tsâno, Astur. caxigu, Aragonese caixico | OFr chasne, chesne, fr Gaul. cassanos literally, 'twisted, gnarled' | Ir cas 'to twist, turn, spin', W cosgordd 'to twist' | L quercus |
| chétif 'wretched, meek, weakling' | Prov caitiu | OFr chaitif, blend of Gaul. caxtos 'prisoner' and Lat captivus 'id.' | W caeth 'slave, confined', C kéth 'slave', Br kaezh 'miserable, unfortunate', Ir cacht 'distress, prisoner' | - |
| cheval 'horse' | It cavallo, Sp. caballo, Rum cal; Germ (Swabish) Kōb 'nag' (< cabō) | Latin caballus 'nag', from Gaul. caballos, variant of cabillos 'work horse, nag', dim. of cabō (> L) | W ceffyl, Br kefel, Ir capall, Manx cabbyl | Lat equus |
| claie 'rack, fence post, hurdle' | Gasc cleda 'small gate', Cat. cleda 'farmyard, cattle pen, sheepfold', Aragonese cleta 'wooden gate', Galician cheda, Basq gereta | VL cleta, fr Gaul. | W clwyd 'gate, hurdle', Br kloued 'fence, harrow', C kloez 'hurdle, lattice', Ir/Sc clíath 'hurdle' | - |
| cloche 'bell' | - | Gaul. clocca | Ir/Sc clog, W/C cloch, Br kloc’h | Lat tintabulum |
| coche 'brood sow', cochon 'pig' | - | Gaulish *coccā 'hip', akin to coxo, cocso 'foot' (for sense development, compare obsolete German †Hackshe 'brood sow' from Hachse 'hock') | Old Irish coch 'hip'; further to OIr coss 'foot', Welsh coes 'leg', Breton koaz 'id.' | - |
| combe 'hollow' | Occ comba 'valley', Cat coma, Astur. comba | LL cumba 'dishes', fr Gaul. comba 'concave, cavity, depression' | W cwm 'hollow', Br komm 'trough, valley, deep water', Ir com, coim 'chest cavity', OIr comm 'vessel' | - |
| corme 'service berry' | Friulian cirmul 'Swiss stone pine', It cembro 'Arolla pine' | LL corma, fr Gaul. curmi 'ale, beer' | OIr cuirm, coirm, gen. corma 'beer', W cwrw, cwrwf, cwrf 'ale', C coref, coruf, Br korev | - |
| coudrier 'hazel' | Amognes coudrette, queudre, FrProv cudra, Romansch coller, Occ còila 'hazel switches, hazel osiers' | OFr coldre, from Gallo-Latin colurus, blend of Gaul collos and Lat corulus | OIr coll (mod. coill), W coll, C coll-widen, Br kelvez | Lat corulus |
| coule 'religious cowl' | - | OFr coule, goule 'cowl', fr Lat. cucullus, fr Gaul., reduplication of cullo 'covering, shelter' | OIr cuilche ‘mantel’, cuile ‘cellar’, MIr cul ‘defense, shelter’ | - |
| craindre 'to fear' | Saintangois crainre | Old French craimbre, criembre (spelling presumably influenced by Lat temere), from Gaul. *crinu 'I shake' | W crynu, Br krena; W cryn 'shaking', Br kren, C crên | Lat temere (cf. Fr trembler) |
| cravan 'brant goose' | - | Western dialect cravant 'wild goose', fr LL cracatius 'species of sturgeon', fr Gaul. *crago 'hoarse'. | W cregyr 'heron', cryg 'hoarse' | - |
| crème 'cream' | FrProv (Lyon) cramiot 'spittle' | OFr cresme (influenced by LL chrisma 'ointment'), fr Gaul crāmum ‘skim, skin’ | W cramen 'scab', Br crammen, cremmen, MIr screm 'surface, skin' | - |
| créner 'to indent, notch, carve', cran 'notch, catch' | - | Gaul. crinos 'collapsed, fallen in' | OIr ar-a-chrinim 'I collapse, crumble, shatter', crinner 'fall', crín 'withered, decayed' | - |
| creux 'hollow, pit, dip' | Fr-Prov (Jurass) crosate 'hollow, cave', Prov. cros 'tomb', Occ. cro, Ital dial. (Genoese/Liguriano) creusa, creuso | OFr crues, fr Gallo-Lat. crosus, fr Gaul. *crossos | - | |
| daim 'roe deer' | - | Lat. damma, dammus, from Gaul dammos 'ox, stag' | OIr dam 'ox, deer', damán 'fawn', Ir damh 'ox', W dafad, C davas, Br dañvad 'sheep' | - |
| dartre 'rash, blemish, breakout; dartars' | Poit endarde, Milan dérbeda, Valais. diervet, Prov derbi, derti, It (dial) derbi, derbga | Old French dertre, from Lat. derbita, from Gaul *derveta | Br darvoued, derbod, W tarwyden, darwyden 'scurf, dandruff', OIr deir 'herpes' | - |
| décombres 'debris, rubble', encombrer 'to encumber' | Germ Kummer 'rubble', Sp. escombro 'rubble' | OFr combre 'river barrage, dam', from ML combrus 'barricade of felled trees', from Gaul. combero 'river fork, dam' | Br kember, W cymmer, Ir comar, cumar, OIr commor, cummar | - |
| douve 'liver fluke' | Norm duve, FrCmt dôrve, Bas-Alpes endervo, Corrèze olvo | Gaul. *dolba 'grub, caterpillar', from *dolbu 'I chisel, carve' | OIr dolbaid 'he forms, shapes' | - |
| draine, drenne 'mistle thrush' | Picard fourdraine 'sloe', Tessin dren 'raspberry', Comasc dren 'blackberry', Milan drine 'hawthorn' | Gaul. drageno 'thorn, briar'; semantic development 'thorn bush' > 'aggressive bird' | OIr draigen, Ir/Sc droigheann, W/Br draen, C drain/drein | - |
| drap 'cloth' | It. drappo, Sp/Pg trapo | Late Latin drappus 'piece of fabric', from Gaul. drappo 'shred, torn-off piece' | W drab 'piece, shred', drabio 'to tear into pieces' | - |
| drèche 'brewing dregs' | Prov draco 'wine lees', Dauph drachi 'stamped raisin bunch', Wall drâhé | OFr drasche 'barley dregs; raisin skin', from Gaul. drasca | MIr tresc 'refuse, offal', Ir treascach 'draffy', Sc treasg 'dregs' | - |
| drille 'rag, tatter' | Lyon drouille 'tatter', Dauph. drouille 'wood chip' | OFr drille 'fabric scrap', fr Gaul. *drullo 'piece, shred' | W dryll 'fragment, small piece', Sc dreall/dreoll 'door bar'; | - |
| dru 'thriving, hardy, fit, thick' | Bourb drusine 'vigor', Amognard dru 'lively', druger 'to grow, get livelier', Prov. endrudi 'to enrich', OProv drut 'lover', NItal drü 'fat, thick', Milan druto 'exuberant' | OFr dru 'lively; fat', from Gaul. drūtos | W drud 'brave, valliant, furious', OIr drúth, édruith 'lewd, extravagnt', Sc drùth 'lecherous', Br druz 'fat, fit, fertile' | - |
| érable 'maple' | FrProv iserâblo | OFr airable, from LL LL LL is an initialism which may stand for:-Companies and organizations:* Lian Li, a Taiwanese manufacturer of computer cases and accessories* Lords and Ladies, a Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett* Love Letter... acerabulus, blend of abolo 'apple' and Lat. acer ‘maple’ (akin in formation to W criafolen 'rowan', afol tindoll 'medlar', OIr fic-abull 'fig tree') |
- | Lat acer |
| étain 'tin, pewter' | Sp. estaño | Lat stagnum, var. stannum, fr Gaul. stannon (according to Pliny) | Ir stán, OSc stàn, W ystaen, C sten, Br stean | - |
| flannelle 'flannel' | Jersiais flianné 'flannel' | Old Normand flanelle, fr OFr flaine 'coarse wool', fr Gaul. vlana 'wool' | W gwlân 'wool', gwlanen 'flannel', Br gloan, C gluan, Ir olann, Manx ollan | - |
| fragon 'butcher's broom' | Walloon frigon | OFr fregon, fr Gaul. *sprigo | W ffreu 'fruit' | - |
| gaillard 'festive, hardy, merry' | - | Gaul. galia 'might' | W obsolete †gâl 'strength', gall 'energy', OBr gal, Br galloud 'power', C gallos 'ability', OIr gal, gallacht 'valor' | - |
| galet 'flat rock, skipping stone' | Fr dial. jalet 'stone projectile of cross bow' | Normand or Picard, fr Gaul. gallos 'large rock' | OIr gall 'stone pillar', gallán 'large upright stone' | - |
| galon 'galon', jalon 'marker' | Cat galleda ‘bucket’ | OFr jalon ‘liquid measure’, diminutive of jale 'porringer', fr LL galla ‘vessel, container’, fr late Gaul. *glāvo 'rain', fr earlier *glōvo | W glaw 'rain', Br glao, C glaw | - |
| garenne 'rabbit warren' | Fr dial. varaigne, Astur. varagaña 'enclosure' | Gaul. varena 'enclosed area' (cf. varonadas (nom. pl.)) | Ir/Sc fearann 'land, enclosure', OIr feronn 'field', ferenn 'girdle, garter' | - |
| gerzeau 'corncockle' | OFr jargerie, jarzerie 'cockle, weed', Val d’Aosta dardillon 'pignut' | Gaul. gargos 'wild; bitter' | Ir/Sc garg 'wild; bitter' | - |
| glaise 'loam' | Normand glise | OFr gleise, gloise, fr Gallo-Lat glisomarga 'clay marl', fr Gaul. gliso 'white' | W glwys 'bright, pretty', OBr gloes, glois, OIr glése 'brightness', Ir/Sc gleus 'order, trim, tune' | - |
| glaive 'broad sword' | - | Lat gladius, fr Gaul. cladebos | W cleddyf, Br kleze, C cledhe, OIr claideb, Ir claíomh, Sc claidheamh | Lat ensis |
| glaner 'to glean' | OProv glenar | OFr glener, fr LL glenare, fr Gaul. glennu 'I gather, sort', fr glanos 'clear, pure' | OIr glenn- 'to choose, amass', do-glinn 'he collects, gathers', MIr digliunn 'I glean', W (SW) dichlyn 'to select, sort out' | - |
| gober 'to gobble, guzzle, devour', gobe 'morsel, gob' | - | OFr gobe, fr Gaul. gobbo | Ir gob 'mouth', Sc/Manx gob 'beak', W gwp 'bird’s head/neck' | - |
| gord 'kiddle, stake net' | Prov. gòrsa 'hedge, bush', Limousin gorso 'bush', Lombard gorz 'bush' | OFr gort 'boundary hedge', from Gaulish gorto 'yard; hedge' (because of its shape) | Ir gort 'wheatfield', W garth 'hill, enclosure', Corn gorth 'yard, enclosure', OBr orth 'id.' | - |
| gosier 'gizzard' | Wal. djwèhe, Lorr. gosse, Ardenn. gosi 'gizzard', gosillon 'Adam's appple', Rum guşă ‘maw, goiter’ | OFr geuse, josier, from VL VL VL or V.L. may refer to:*VL, IATA airline designator for Air Via*Valtion Lentokonetehtaat, the Finnish State aircraft manufacturer*Ventral lateral nucleus, a component of the thalamus in the central nervous system... geusiae 'gizzard edges', from Gaulish, from *geusi- 'to pour' |
W gewai 'glutton' | - |
| gouge 'gouge, chisel' | OProv goja, It gubba, Sp gubia, Pg goiva | Gaul. gulbia 'piercer', fr *gulbu 'beak' | OIr gulba 'sting', W gylyf 'sickle' | - |
| graisset 'green tree frog' | Occ graissan 'toad', Cat grexá 'id.', gresandu 'tadpole' | MFr gresset, from Gaul. craxantos, from craxa 'crust, scab' | W crach 'crust, scab', C cragh, Br krak | - |
| grève 'sandy shore, sandy beach', gravier 'gravel' | Fr (Western dials.) groue, Prov/Cat/Astur. grava, Venit grava, Friul grave | Gallo-Lat. grava, fr Gaul. gravis | Br gro 'silt', C grow 'gravel', W gro 'gravel' | - |
| guenille 'rag, tatter' | - | Western dialect, from guener, gueniller 'to wet, dampen', fr guène, gâne 'pond, pool', fr OFr gasne 'muddy pool', fr Gaul. vāgna ‘slope; moor’ | Br geun 'swamp', W gwaun 'lowland, meadow', Ir fann 'slanting, sloping', fána 'downward slope, hollow' | - |
I-Z
| French | Cognates | Etymology | Celtic Cognates | Latin/Romance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| if 'yew' | Prov liéu | Gaul. ivos | W yw, Br ivin, OIr eó | Lat. taxus |
| jachère 'fallow field' | LL gascaria 'scratch-plough', fr Gaul. gasko 'branch' | B gozh 'branch', OIr gesca 'stem', Ir géag, geug 'branch' | - | |
| jaillir 'to gush, spurt' | Norm galir 'to throw' | Gaul. gali 'to boil' | Ir gailim 'to boil over', Manx gaal 'steam', Sc goil 'to boil', gèil 'to bubble, well up' | - |
| jante 'wheel rim' | Occ. chambotta, Gasc dial. cambeto, Ast. camba 'wheel piece' | LL cambita, fr Gaul., fr cambo 'curved' | Br kammed, W camedd 'bend, curvature'; further to W cam, Br kam 'curved, bent', Ir/Sc cam 'crooked' | - |
| jarret 'hamstring, bend of the knee' | OProv/Sp garra 'claw', Prov garro, Fr dial. gare, jarre 'thigh' | Diminutive of OFr jarre, from Gaul. garra 'leg' | W gar, C/Br garr, OIr gairri 'calves of the leg', Ir cara | - |
| javelle 'sheaf, fagot, bundle' | OProv gabella, Sp gavilla | LL gabella, fr Gaul. gabali 'armfull', fr gabu 'to take' | MW gafeal 'to grasp, hold', W cafael, C gavel, Br kavoud, kaoud, MIr gabáil | - |
| javelot 'javelin' | - | Gaul. gabalaccos, fr gabalos 'fork' | Ir gabhla, gen. gablach 'spear', W gaflach 'dart' | - |
| lance | - | L lancea, fr Gaul lankia | MIr do-léicim 'I toss, fling, launch' | - |
| lande 'heath, moor' | Gaul landa | Breton lann 'heath', W llan 'village, yard', C lan 'open space, plain', lann 'enclosure', Ir/Sc lann 'enclosure' | - | |
| landier 'andiron, firedog' | Basq andere 'woman', Astur. andera 'young cow, heifer' | OFr andier, fr Gaul. andero 'calf' | W anner 'young cow, heifer', Br (Leon/Corn) ounner, (Trég) annouar, (Vann) annoér 'young cow, heifer', Ir ainnir 'young woman' | - |
| lieue 'league (measure)' | Prov. lègo, Cat llegua, Sp legua, Pg légua, It lega | LL leucas, fr Gaul. 'league marker' | OIr líe, gen. líac 'stone', Ir liag 'id.' | - |
| lie 'lees, wine dregs' | Sp légamo, dial. lidia, liria, OIt led(g)a, Romansch glitta, Basq lekeda | ML liæ, fr Gaul. lĭga 'sediment' | OBr leh 'silt, deposit', Br lec'hit 'dregs', W llai 'silt, deposit' | - |
| loche 'loach' | Sp loja, Ast. lloca | VL laucca, fr Gaul. loukā 'light' | W llug 'shimmer, glint', OIr lúach 'bright' | - |
| lotte 'monkfish' | - | Gaul. lotta, literally 'flat(fish)' or 'wide(fish)' | OIr lethaid 'he extends, expands', W lledu 'to extend, expand'; OIr lethan 'wide', W llydan | - |
| luge 'sled, toboggan' | Béarn. leo, Piém. leza, Sav. leca, lejhèta, Romansch šliuza, šlieza, Rouerg leudo, leuzo | VL slodia, fr Gaul. stludio 'sled' | Ir slaod 'raft, float', Sc slaod 'drag, trail', OBr stloit 'traction, sliding', Br stlej 'drag', W llithr 'glide' | - |
| maint 'many, much' | It mantissa, mantisa 'a little something extra' Astur. manta 'quantity' | Gaul. manti | Br meñt, meñd 'multitude, greatness', W maint 'size, capacity, quantity', C myns, Ir méid, méad 'size', Sc meud, miad | - |
| manteau 'coat' | Basq mantar 'shirt, barque tarpaulin' | Diminutive of OFr mante, fr LL manta, fr L mantum, mantellum, fr Gaul. mantlon 'covering' | Br malan, manal 'sheaf', C manal 'id.' | - |
| marc 'dregs, residue' | - | Gaul. marcos 'rust' | Ir/Sc meirg, Br mergl | - |
| marne 'marl' | Sp/OIt/ast. marga, Lyon margagni 'deep mud, muck', Germ Mergel | OFr marle, fr LL margila (influenced by argilla 'white clay'), fr Gaul. marga | Br marg | - |
| mélèze 'larch' | OProv melseca, ODauph melese | Fr-Prov melese, fr LL melicem, fr Gaul *melissia, fr melissos 'honey-sweet', fr meli 'honey' | Sc meilise 'hedge mustard'; further to W melys 'sweet', C melys 'honey-flavored', Br milis 'id.', Ir/Sc milis 'sweet' | - |
| mine 'mine' | OProv mena, Astur mena 'vein' | LL mina, fr Gaul. *mēna 'ore, mine' | W mwynn 'ore', Ir míanach 'ore' | - |
| molène 'mullein' | - | OFr moleine, fr. Gaul. molena 'yellow' | Br melen, W/C melyn 'yellow, mullein' | - |
| mouton 'sheep' | Sp mocho 'he-goat', It montone 'ram' | Gaul. *molton 'wedder' | W mollt 'ram', Br maout 'wedder', C mols 'ewe', Ir/Sc mult 'ram' | - |
| noue 'dry river bed, river flood plain' | OFr noe 'river bed', fr LL nauda 'marshland', fr Gaul., fr Proto-Celtic snauda, fr sna- 'to swim' | MIr snúad 'river' | - | |
| obier 'water elder' | It (l)oppio 'maple', Vegliot vaple 'id.', Astur. obleru 'thorn' | Lat. (Milan) opulus (Varro), Gaul. opolos 'maple' | Ogam Irish Oqoli, Irish MacOchaill (personal names) | - |
| palefroi 'palfrey, saddle horse' | Germ Pferd, Du paard | LL paraverēdus 'pack horse, spare horse', fr Greek para + Lat. verēdus 'post horse', fr Gaul., fr ver- 'over' + redu 'running, swift' | W gorwydd 'horse, charger' | - |
| petit 'small' | Prov/Cat petit, Occ pitchòn, Rum pitì 'to shrink' Sp pito 'penis' | ML ML ml may refer to:* millilitre , a thousandth of a litre — not to be mixed up with millilambert* Malayalam language ISO 639-1 code* Mali, ISO 3166-1 country code... pettitus, akin to LL LL LL is an initialism which may stand for:-Companies and organizations:* Lian Li, a Taiwanese manufacturer of computer cases and accessories* Lords and Ladies, a Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett* Love Letter... pitinnus, pitulus 'tiny', from Gaul Gaul Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of... *pito 'tip, tapering end, point' |
W pid 'tapering end, tip', obsolete †piden 'penis', Br pidenn 'penis' | Latin putillus |
| pièce 'piece, part' | It pezza, Sp./Astur. pieza, Prov pessa, pesa, Port peça Astur. petisa 'hopscotch' (as well in Breton pezhioù 'hopscotch') | ML ML ml may refer to:* millilitre , a thousandth of a litre — not to be mixed up with millilambert* Malayalam language ISO 639-1 code* Mali, ISO 3166-1 country code... petia, petium, from Gaul Gaul Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of... petsi 'thing, part', from pet 'what' |
W peth 'thing', Br pez 'id.', Corn peyth, Ir/Sc cuid 'part' | Latin pars |
| pinson 'finch' | It pincione | Gaulish *pincio | W pink, Br pint | Latin fingilla (borrowed from Germanic) |
| quai 'wharf, embankment', chai 'cellar' | - | Normand quai and Poitevin chai, fr LL caium 'surrounding wall or hedges', fr Gaul. caio 'hedge' | W cae 'fence, hedge', Br kae, C kē | - |
| raie 'lynchet' | Cat. rega 'furrow', rec 'channel' | OFr roie, Gallo-Lat. rica, fr Gaul. 'rica 'furrow' | W rhych, Br reg, Ir eitre, Sc riach | L porca (cf. Cat pórca 'land, flower bed') |
| rebours 'against the grain' | Prov. rebous | LL reburrus 'swollen', from Gaul., from ro- 'very' + -borros 'stout, inflated' | W bwr 'stout, sturdy, big', OC bor 'rich, fertile', OIr borr 'swollen, inflated', Ir borr 'pride, greatness' | - |
| rêche 'rough, harsh' | - | OFr resque, fr Gaul. rescos 'rough' | - | - |
| renfrogner 'to sulk, frown, grimace' | It infrigno 'frowning', Lomb frignare 'to whimper, make a wry face', and perhaps Sw (dial) fryna 'make a wry face', Norw fröyna 'id.' | OFr enfrogne 'wry face, wrinkled nose' and froignier 'to stick one's nose up at', both from frogne, froigne 'wry face, wrinkled nose', fr late Gaul. frogna 'nostril', from earlier srogna | W ffroen 'nose', Br froen, Ir sróine, Sc sròn | - |
| ruche 'hive' | Fr-Prov (Jurassien) reûtche 'bark', Prov. rusco 'bark' | OFr rusche, Gallo-Lat rūsca 'bark', fr. Gaul. rūsco | Br rusk, C rusc, W rhisgl, Ir rusg, Sc rùsg | - |
| saie, sayon 'say, sagum cloak' | Sp sayo | LL sagum, saga, sagus, fr Greek ságos, fr Gaul. sagos 'coat', fr *seg- 'to hold on or together' | no direct cognates; *segno > MIr sén 'snare', W hoenyn 'id.'; *segsmen > W hemin 'rivet', Ir seaman 'id.' | - |
| sapin 'fir' | Norm/OFr sap, Romand sap, sab, sabs, Foréz sa, Occ (dial.) sap, Astur. sapera 'small oak' | Savoy sapin, fr Lat. sappinus, compound of Lat. pinus 'pine' and Gaul. sappus | Br sap 'fir', W sybwydd 'fir', C sibnit 'silver fir' | - |
| séran 'heckle, hatchel', sérancer 'to ripple flax or hemp' | Fr-Prov ceran ‘hemp comb’ | OFr serans 'hemp comb', from Gaul. kērā, gen. kērans 'comb' | OIr cír 'comb', Ir cìor, Sc cìr, Manx kere, gen. kereen | - |
| sillon 'furrow' | Occ. selhan, Romansch saglia 'strip in a swath over which grass is strewn', Upper It (Parma) sia 'space between furrows' | OFr seillon, fr silier 'to plough, till', fr Gaul *selia 'dirt mound', fr *selu 'I go or take away' | OIr coisle ‘to leave’, fo-coisle ‘he takes away’, do-fochsla ‘to seize, carry off’ | - |
| soc 'ploughshare' | LL sǒccus 'snout, forepart', fr. Gaul. soccos 'pig; ploughshare' | Ir soc 'ploughshare, snout', suig 'pig', W swch 'ploughshare'/hwch 'pig', Br souc’h/houc’h 'id.', C soch/hogh 'id.' | - | |
| souche 'tree stump, tree base' | Occ soca, It zoca, Montferrat soc, socca, Aragon zoque; Romansch tschücha, Norm chuque, Berry suche, Piemontese süka, Sp chueca 'stump' | OFr çoche, seuche, fr late Gaul. śokka, from earlier stokka 'part, piece' | Br soc'h 'obtuse', MIr tócht 'part, piece' | - |
| soue 'pigsty' | FrProv (Foréz) soue, souda 'pigpen' | OFr seu, soit, fr LL (Salic Law) sotem, sutem, fr late Gaul. *sucotegos, compound of succos 'pig' + tegos 'house' | no cognates, but similar formation to Ir bothigh 'cow byre', W dafaty 'sheepcot' | Lat suile 'pigpen' (cf. OFr soil 'pigsty; wild boar's wallow') |
| suie 'soot' | Lorr seuche, Savoy suçha, Prov suja, suga, Gasc soja | LL sugia, fr Gaul. sudia | OIr súide, Ir súiche, Sc súithe, B huzel, W huddugl | Lat fulliginem (cf. Sp hollín, Pg fuligem, It fuligine, Romansch fulin, Rum funingine) |
| talus 'embankment, slope' | Dauph. talapan 'gable', Prov. tauvero 'field border' | OFr talu, fr LL talutium, fr Gaul. talos 'brow, steep' | W tâl, taloedd, C, Br tal 'forehead', OIr tal, taul 'shield boss, protrusion, hump' | - |
| tan 'tanbark, tan (color)' | - | Gaul. tanno 'holm oak, live oak' | Br tann 'red oak', glastann 'holm oak', OC tannen, C glastan 'holm oak', OIr caerthann 'service tree', tinne 'holly' (mod. teine 'furze, gorse') | - |
| tanière 'animal den, lair' | It tasso 'badger', Sp tejon 'id.' | OFr taisniere, tesniere, fr taisse, taisson 'badger', fr Gaul. tasgō 'badger' | Sc taghan 'marten', OIr (name) Tadhg 'badger' | - |
| taranche 'screw bar, ratchet on a basket wine press' | Prov. tarenco, Sp tranca ‘cudgel, club’ | Gaul. tarǐnca 'screw, nail' | OIr tairinge 'iron nail, tine', Ir tairne 'metal nail, tarrag', Sc tairnge 'nail' | - |
| tarière 'auger, gimlet' | OProv taraire, Romansch tareder, Sp taladro, Pg trado | OFr tarere, fr Lat. taratrum, fr Gaul. taratron | W taradr, Br tarar, OC tarater, Ir tarachair | - |
| tonne 'ton', tonneau 'barrel' | Sp/Cat tona | OFr tonne 'cask', fr LL tunna 'wine-skin', from Gaul. tonna 'skin, hide' | Ir tonn 'skin, hide', W ton 'skin', C ton 'surface; lawn', Br tonnen 'rind, surface, head hair' | - |
| triage 'forest canton' | Bourg. traige 'small pass between houses' | OFr triège 'track, trail', fr Gaul. tragos, gen. trageto 'foot' | W troed, Br troad, OIr traig, gen. traiged 'foot', Ir/Sc troigh | - |
| trogne 'bloated or funny face' | Piem. trugnu, Cat tronya 'brat' | Gaul. trugna 'nose, snout' | W trwyn 'nose, snout', C troen 'nose', Br stroen 'snot' | - |
| truand 'vagrant, beggar' | Prov truans, Sp truhan 'baffoon, jester', Pg truhão | Gaul trugant, from trugos 'wretch' | W truan 'wretched', Sc truaghan 'wretch, miserable creature' | - |
| truie 'sow' | Gasc/Cat troja, Occ truèja, Ligurian trœa | LL troia, fr Gaul. *trogia, from trogu 'to give birth' | W troglwyth, trollwyth 'pig litter', Br godro 'to milk', OIr trog 'birth (delivery), litter', Sc trog 'to raise, rear' | - |
| vandoise 'dace' | LL vindēsia, fr Gaul. *vǐndǐsia, fr vindos 'white' | no cognates exist, but like formations do: Br gwyniad 'dace, pollan', Sc fionnag 'whiting' | - | |
| vanneau 'lapwing' | It vannello | Gaul. vanello, venello 'swallow' | W/C gwennol, Br gwennel, Ir fáinle, Sc fáinleog | - |
| vassal 'vassal, serf', valet 'attendant' | - | LL vassalus, diminutive of Gaul. vassos 'youth, servant' | W/C gwas 'youth, page, servant', Br gwaz 'youth, vassal', MIr foss 'servant', Sc fasdadh 'rabble army' | - |
| vélar, vellar 'hedge mustard' | - | Gaul. vela 'ring, tendril', fr. velu 'to bend' | Ir fáil 'ring', Br goalenn 'green twig', OIr fillid 'he bends' | - |
| verne, vergne 'alder, white alder' | OProv vernha, Fr-Prov verna | Gaul. vernos 'alder' | Br/W gwern, C gwernen, Ir fearn, Sc feàrna | - |
| virer to turn, swerve' | Sp virar | LL vīrāre, from Gaul *viru 'to deviate, veer off', from viros (see next) | W gwyro 'to shift, deviate', Br goara 'to curve' | - |
| virole 'ferrule (virl, verrel)' | Friul viruele | OFr virelle, fr Lat. viriola 'bracelet', diminutive of vira, viriæ, fr Gaul. viros 'round, crooked' | Ir fiar 'bent, crooked', W gwyr, Br goar, gwar | - |
| vouge 'French glaive, Lochaber ax' | Occ vezoig | OFr vooge, fr LL vidŭbium 'wood-knife', fr Gaul., compound of vidu- 'wood' and -bi(d)on 'trimmer' | Ir fiodhbha 'sickle', W gwyddif 'billhook', Br gouzifiad 'pike, boar-hunting spear' |
Old French
| Old French | Cognates | Etymology | Celtic Cognates | Latin/Romance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bièvre 'beaver' | It bevero | LL beber (gen. bebrum), fr Gaul. bebros | Sc beabhar, W/C befer, Br (dial) bieuzr, OBr beuer | Lat. fiber, later replaced by castor (from Greek) |
| bresche 'honeycomb' | Occ. brusc, brus 'hive', Prov bresco ‘waffle, honey cake’ | Gaul. *brisca, fr *briscos 'brittle' | Br bresk 'brittle, fragile', MIr brisc, Ir briosg, Sc brisg | - |
| brif 'finesse, talent, style' | Old Provençal briu 'wild' | Gaul *brigos | OIr bríg 'pith, power, strength' (mod. brí 'strength, valor'), W bri 'repute, dignity, rank', Br bri 'respect', C bry 'worth' | - |
| Bugibus, Beugibus 'demon' | - | Gaul. bugi 'ghost, hobgoblin | W bwcibo 'devil', C buccabo; further to W bwg, bwgan 'ghost, hobgoblin', bwci 'hobgoblin', bwgwl 'threat, fear' | - |
| cuter 'to hide' | - | Gaul. cudo 'hidden' | W cudd, Br kuzh | - |
| muchier 'to hide' | Norman muchi, Walloon muchî, Poitévin-Saintangois muçaè, Gallo muczae, Picard mucher | Gaul *mucciu 'I hide' | OIr formúchtha, for-múigthe 'smothered, concealed' | Lat celare |
| seuwe 'rope' | It soga 'rope, leather band', Sp soga 'linear measure', Pg soga 'rush rope', Picard soue 'well rope or chain', Basq soka | Gaul sōca 'rope, chord' | W syg 'chain', Br sug 'harness trace', Ir suag 'rope', Sc sùgan 'straw rope' | Lat corda (cf. French chorde) |
| tolon 'hill, highland' | - | Gaul tullo | OIr telach, tulach 'hill', W twlch 'hump, bump' | - |
Patois and Neighbouring Languages
| Patois | Cognates | Etymology | Celtic Cognates | Latin/Romance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ladin aidin 'silver fir' | - | Gaul. adlinos | MIr aidlen 'silver fir', C aidlen 'fir', MBr ezlen | - |
| Walloon acrauwe 'hook salmon' | OPicard ancreu 'female salmon, hook salmon', Swiss German Anke 'Lake Constance trout' | OWalloon ancrauwe, from ML ancora, from Gaul ancorago 'Rhine salmon, hook salmon', from anco 'curved, hooked' and rago 'before, in front' | akin to W anghad 'clutch, grip', craf-anc 'claw', rhag 'before', OIr écath 'fish hook' | - |
| FrProv blécher, blocher 'to milk', reblochon 'soft cheese' | Hautes-Alpes bletchar, Val d'Aosta blètsì | Gaul. blegu 'I milk' | Ir blighim 'to milk', Sc bleagh; further to Ir bleacht, Sc bliochd, W blith 'cow's milk' | Lat mulgere |
| Valtellin briánz 'wormwood, absinth' | - | Gaul. *brigantios, from briginus 'wormwood', from brigo 'strength' | - | Lat. absinthes, Med. Lat. aloxina |
| Poitevin cous 'holly' | Astur coleñu 'holly' | Gaul collis/colinnos 'holly' | Ir cuilenn, W celyn, Br kelenn, C celin, Sc cuilionn | Lat. aquifolium (cf. Franco-Provençal agrebo, Occitan agrifol) |
| crétir 'to fear' | - | Gaul *critu 'I quiver' | Welsh Welsh language Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa... cryd 'fever', ysgryd 'shiver', egryd 'quiver', Breton Breton language Breton is a Celtic language spoken in Brittany , France. Breton is a Brythonic language, descended from the Celtic British language brought from Great Britain to Armorica by migrating Britons during the Early Middle Ages. Like the other Brythonic languages, Welsh and Cornish, it is classified as... krid 'spasm', skrija 'to tremble from fear', C krys 'shaking, jostling', Irish Irish language Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of... /Scottish crith 'to tremble, quiver' |
Lat temere |
| Prov croi 'cruel' | - | Gaul. crudis 'hard' | OIr crúaid (mod. crua) 'hard', W cru 'cruel, crude', Br kriz 'hard, rough, raw' | - |
| Dauphinois curla 'squash' | - | Gaul. curlaro 'pignut' | W cylor 'truffle, pignut', Br keler/kolor 'pignut', OIr cularán 'cucumber', curar 'pignut' | Lat. cucurbita (cf. Fr courge) |
| FrProv daille 'billhook, scythe; spruce' | Prov daio 'reaper' | Gaul dalgo 'pin, skewer' | Ir/Sc dealg, MW dala 'sting, fang', W dal 'to fasten; fastener', C delc 'necklace', Br delioù 'pine needle' | - |
| droue, druive 'nettle', dragée 'fodder, rye grass' | Lomb droga | OFr droe, drave, from Gaul. dravoca 'darnel' | Br draog, dreog, W drewg | Lat. ortica (cf. Fr ortie) |
| Walloon dûhin, dûhon 'goblin' | Romansch dischöl, döschel, Basque tusuri 'devil' | Gaul dusios | Cornish Cornish language Cornish is a Brythonic Celtic language and a recognised minority language of the United Kingdom. Along with Welsh and Breton, it is directly descended from the ancient British language spoken throughout much of Britain before the English language came to dominate... dus 'devil', Breton Breton language Breton is a Celtic language spoken in Brittany , France. Breton is a Brythonic language, descended from the Celtic British language brought from Great Britain to Armorica by migrating Britons during the Early Middle Ages. Like the other Brythonic languages, Welsh and Cornish, it is classified as... Diz 'devil', Irish Irish language Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of... dásachd 'madness, rage' |
- |
| Prov gabre 'male partridge' | Fr dial. garron | Gaul. gabro 'he-goat' | W gafr, Br gavr, Ir/Sc gabhar | - |
| Prov olègue 'dwarf elder' | Lombard (Bresc) òles, úles, Lengadocien augué, êgou, Lyon ugo, Astur yeldu Sp yezgo, Germ Attich (dial. Adach, Ottich, Otsch), Dutch hadik | LL odecus, odicus, from Gaul odocos | - | Lat. ebulus (cf. Fr hièble) |
| Gascon pairòu, pairòlo 'cauldron' | Old Prov par, pairol 'boiler', Lyonnais per, Catalan perol, dial. pér, Ital paiolo 'cauldron' | Gaul pario 'cauldron' | W pair, C/Br per, Ir/Sc coire | Lat. caldera |
See also
- List of French words of Germanic origin
- History of FrenchHistory of FrenchFrench is a Romance language that evolved out of the Gallo-Romance dialects spoken in northern France....
- List of Spanish words of Celtic origin