Gallaeci

See also: gallaeci

English

Alternative forms

• Callaeci

Noun

Gallaeci pl (plural only)

1. An ancient Celtic people who inhabited Gallaecia.

Derived terms

• Gallaecian

Latin

Head of a Gallaecian, wearing a torc and helmet

They lived in fortified towns and hill-forts

Alternative forms

• Callaeci

Etymology

From the endonym of a local Celtic tribe (compare Ancient Greek Καλλαϊκοί (Kallaïkoí)). Either from Proto-Celtic *kallī (“wood”) or from a descendant of Proto-Indo-European *kl̥H-ní-s (“hill”), from Proto-Indo-European *kelH- + a relational suffix *-aeco, of Lusitanian origin. Compare also Gallus, Gallia, and Portus Cale, whence Portugal. See also Gael, Galway.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ɡalˈlae̯.kiː/, [ɡälˈlʲäe̯kiː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ɡalˈle.t͡ʃi/, [ɡälˈlɛːt͡ʃi]

Proper noun

Gallaecī m pl (genitive Gallaecōrum); second declension

1. A Celtic people of Hispania Tarraconensis, who dwelt in the northwestern part of the Iberian peninsula

Declension

Second-declension noun, plural only.

	plural
nominative	Gallaecī
genitive	Gallaecōrum
dative	Gallaecīs
accusative	Gallaecōs
ablative	Gallaecīs
vocative	Gallaecī

Derived terms

• Gallaecia
• gallaecus

Descendants

• Galician: galego
• Portuguese: galego
• Spanish: gallego

References

• Gallaeci in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.