Celtic Pathways – Barnacle Geese
In this episode we discover the Celtic roots of words like barnacle. The Proto-Celtic word *barinākos means barnacle or limpet It comes from the Proto-Celtic *barinā (rocky ground), and *-ākos (involved with, belonging to) [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic languages include: * bairneach [ˈbˠɑːɾˠn̠ʲəx] = limpet in Irish * bàirneach [baːr̪ˠn̪ʲəx] = barnacle or limpet in Scottish Gaelic * ba(a)rnagh = barnacle in Manx * brennigen = limpet in Welsh * brenigen = limpet in Cornish * brennigenn = barnacle or limpet in Breton Words from the same Proto-Celtic roots include bernache (barnacle) in French, barnacle in English, and barnacla (brent/brant goose) in Spanish [source]. The French word bernache was borrowed from Medieval Latin barnēca (limpet), from Gaulish *barinākā. The English word barnacle arrived via Middle English barnakille, and Old Northern French bernaque (barnacle), and the Spanish word barnacla was borrowed from English. More about words for Barnacles & Limpets and related things in Celtic languages. You can find more connections between Celtic languages on the Celtiadur blog. I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the Omniglot Blog. Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.