List of 58 Words of Celtic Origin
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Need some examples of words that come from the various Celtic languages? Check out this handy list of words of Celtic origin. It contains a wide range of such terms.
ambassador | An official diplomatic representative of a nation. From ambactus (Latin), ambactos (Gaulish), and embassadeur (Old French). |
banshee | A female spirit that howls to warn of an impending death. From bean síth (Irish). |
bard | A poet or singer. From bard (Gaelic and Welsh) and bardos (Gaulish). |
beak | The protruding jaws of a bird. From bec (Old French), beccus (Latin), and becco (Gaulish). |
bilge | The underside of a boat's hull; nonsense. From boulge (Old French), bulga (Latin), and bulgā (Gaulish). |
bludgeon | A heavy stick used as a weapon. From blugon (Cornish). |
bog | Wet, swampy land. From bogach (Irish). |
brill | A type of fish. From brilli (Cornish). |
brogue | A sturdy outdoor boot. From bróg (Irish) |
budge (lambskin) | A lambskin fur often used as trimming. From bulge (Old French), bulga (Latin), and bulgā (Gaulish). |
budget | A plan for income and spending over a period of time. From bulga (Latin) and bulgā (Gaulish). |
YES | A swelling that sticks out from a flat surface. From bulga (Latin) and boulge (Old French). |
cairn | A mound of stones used as a landmark on a slope or ridge. From càrn (Gaelic). |
clan | A group of closely related families. From clann (Gaelic), cland (Old Irish), and planta (Latin). |
claymore | A broadsword associated with Scottish Highlanders. From claidheamh mór (Gaelic). |
clobber | To strike hard; old clothes. From clábar (Irish). |
clutter | Mess; a number of disorganized objects. From cludair (Welsh). |
Coleen, Colleen | A female name, from cailín, Irish for "girl." |
crag | A cliff or rocky outcrop. From creag (Gaelic) and craig (Welsh). |
crumpet | A thick, flat griddle cake. From crempog (Welsh) and krampoez (Breton). |
dad | Father. From dad (Welsh). |
dornick | A piece of rock. From dornóg (Irish) and doirneag (Gaelic). |
down | Toward or in a lower position. From dún (Celtic). |
drumlin | A low, elongated hill. From druim (Irish). |
embassy | The official dwelling of an ambassador; a diplomatic mission. From embassee (Middle French), ambasciata (Italian), ambactus (Latin), ambaisada (Old Provençal), and ambactos (Gaulish). |
filibeg | A kilt. From feileadh beag (Gaelic) |
flannel | A soft fabric made from wool or cotton. From gwanlen (Welsh). |
galore | In plentiful supply. From go leòr (Irish). |
glean | To collect information gradually. From glener (Old French), glennare (Late Latin), and glanos (Gaulish). |
glen | A valley or dale between mountains. From gleann (Gaelic). |
glom | To stick to; to steal. From glaum (Scots). |
gob | Mouth; to spit. From gob (Irish). |
gull | A large seabird. From gullan (Celtic), gwylan (Welsh), and gwelan (Breton). |
hubbub | A busy, crowded situation. From ubub (Gaelic) and ababú (Irish). |
keen | To cry; enthusiastic. From caoin (Irish). |
lawn | An area of regularly trimmed grass. From launde (Old French). |
leprechaun | A sprite from Irish folklore. From leipreachán (Irish). |
loch, lough | A lake, usually in a mountainous area. From loch (Gaelic and Old Irish). |
maggot | A larva, usually of a housefly. From maceiod (Welsh). |
mom | Mother. From mam (Welsh). |
penguin | A flightless Antarctic bird. From pen gwyn (Welsh). |
pet | An animal kept as a domestic companion. From peata (Irish). |
phony | A false or deceitful person. From fáinne (Irish). |
piece | A section or portion of something. From pettia (Vulgar Latin, likely Gaulish origin). |
plaid | Cloth with a checkered pattern, usually made from wool. From plaide (Gaelic). |
shamrock | A low-growing plant, similar to a clover. From seamróg (Irish). |
slew | A great number or amount. From sluagh (Irish). |
slob | A lazy person with poor personal hygiene. From slab (Irish). |
slogan | A pithy, memorable motto or phrase. From sluaghghairm (Gaelic) |
slug | A mollusc-like creature with no shell that leaves a trail of slime; a slow or lazy person. From slug (Irish). |
smashing | A colloquialism meaning "excellent." From is maith sin (Irish). |
smithereens | Tiny pieces of a broken object. From smidirīn (Irish). |
tan | A light brown color; skin darkened by sun exposure. From tann (Breton). |
tor | A rocky peak or hill. From twr (Welsh). |
town | A medium-sized urban settlement. From tūn (Old English) and dún (Old Irish). |
trousers | Pants; a garment covering the legs and waist. From triubhas (Gaelic). |
truant | An absentee. From truan (Welsh). |
whisky, whiskey | A distilled spirit made with fermented grain mash. From uisge beatha (Gaelic) and uisce beatha (Irish). |