Reconstruction:Proto-Celtic/ɸaltu-

This Proto-Celtic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Celtic

Etymology

Usually related to Proto-Indo-European *pel- (“to fold”), but the source of the vowel *a is unclear.

Noun

*ɸaltu- gender unattested

1. joint

Inflection

When masculine:

Masculine/feminine u-stem
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	*ɸaltus	*ɸaltū	*ɸaltowes
vocative	*ɸaltu	*ɸaltū	*ɸaltūs
accusative	*ɸaltum	*ɸaltū	*ɸaltums
genitive	*ɸaltous	*ɸaltous	*ɸaltowom
dative	*ɸaltou	*ɸaltubom	*ɸaltubos
locative	*?	*?	*?
instrumental	*ɸaltū	*ɸaltubim	*ɸaltubis

When neuter:

Neuter u-stem
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	*ɸaltu	*ɸaltū	*ɸaltwā
vocative	*ɸaltu	*ɸaltū	*ɸaltwā
accusative	*ɸaltu	*ɸaltū	*ɸaltwā
genitive	*ɸaltous	*ɸaltous	*ɸaltowom
dative	*ɸaltou	*ɸaltubom	*ɸaltubos
locative	*?	*?	*?
instrumental	*ɸaltū	*ɸaltubim	*ɸaltubis

Reconstruction

• Matasović erroneously writes that Old Irish alt had neuter o-stem inflection; in reality, no such inflection exists (it is a u-stem).
• The gender of this word in Old Irish is unclear; both neuter and masculine genders were used contemporarily.

Descendants

• Proto-Brythonic: *alt
  • Old Breton: alt
  • ⇒ Proto-Brythonic: *köβ̃alt
    • Middle Breton: couffaut
    • Cornish: chefals, (Revived spelling) kevals
• Old Irish: alt m or n (“joint”)
  • Middle Irish: alt (“joint”)
    • Irish: alt
    • Manx: olt
    • Scottish Gaelic: alt