Reconstruction:Proto-Celtic/gelus

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

Cognacy with Sanskrit जलूका (jalūkā), via a putative *ǵelu- (“leech”), has long been speculated. However, the Sanskrit word has also been given incompatible alternative etymologies.^[1]

GPC's identification with *gʷeleti (“to graze”) (whence Old Irish gelid)^[2] is phonetically impossible, as *gʷ normally yields *gw- in Brittonic.

Noun

*gelus m

leech (parasitic animal)

Inflection

Masculine/feminine u-stem
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	*gelus	*gelū	*gelowes
vocative	*gelu	*gelū	*gelūs
accusative	*gelum	*gelū	*gelums
genitive	*gelous	*gelous	*gelowom
dative	*gelou	*gelubom	*gelubos
locative	*?	*?	*?
instrumental	*gelū	*gelubim	*gelubis

Descendants

Proto-Brythonic: *gel sg, *gelow pl
- Breton: gelaou
- Middle Welsh: gel
  - Welsh: gele, gelen, gelod, geleod
Old Irish: gil
- Middle Irish: gil

References

^ Matasović, Ranko (2009) “*gelu-”, in Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 9), Leiden: Brill, →ISBN, pages 156–157
^ R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “gelau”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies

[1] Matasović, Ranko (2009) “*gelu-”, in Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 9), Leiden: Brill, →ISBN, pages 156–157

[2] R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “gelau”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies

[1]

[2]