| French | Cognates | Etymology | Possible Celtic Cognates | Latin/Romance |
| aller 'to go' | FrProv alâ, allar, Friul lâ | Gaul *allu | Welsh êl 'that he may go', eled 'go!', Cornish ellev 'that I may go', Old Irish adall 'diverticulum' | Lat ambulare, *adnare |
| alose 'shad' | Occitan alausa, Prov alauso, La Rochelle alousa, Sp alosa, G Alse | Gaul alausa 'allis shad' | none | - |
| alouette 'lark' | Walloon alôye, Prov alauza, alauseta, Cat alosa, alova, OSp aloa, Sp alondra, It allodola, lodola | Old French aloe, aloue, fr Latin alauda 'crest lark', fr Gaul, perhaps from *alaio 'swan' | OIr elu 'swan', Irish/Scottish eala 'swan'; with suffix, Welsh alarch 'lark', Breton alarc'h 'swan' | borrowed into Latin |
| ambassade 'embassy' | Prov embeissado, Occ ambaissada, Port embaixada, Sp embajada | From Ital ambasciata 'charge, mission, embassy', fr Old Occ ambayassada 'embassy', from ambaissa 'service, duty' 'hostage', fr Gaul ambactus 'dependant, vassal' | OIr amos, amsach 'mercenary, servant', Ir amhas 'wild man', W amaeth 'tenant farm', C ammeth 'farming', OBr ambaith | - |
| amélanche 'shadberry, shadbush' | Occ amalenco, amalanco | Prov. amalenco, amalanco, from Gaul. aballo 'apple' and -enco, diminutive suffix from Germanic -ing | OIr aball, Ir/Sc ubhall, W afal, C aval, Br aval | unknown in Latin |
| andain 'swath, scythe slash' | - | OFr andain 'wide step', from Gallo-Latin andagnis 'big step', from Gaul. ande 'big, great' and agnis 'step', from agi 'to move' | Ir an- 'very' + OIr áin 'activity, play' | - |
| ardoise 'slate' | It ardesia | Gaul. artuas 'stelae, stone plates', plural of *artuā 'stone, pebble' | OIr art 'stone', Ir airtín, Sc airtein 'pebble' | - |
| arpent 'arpent acre' | OSp arapende, Sp arpende, Prov arpen | ML arependis, fr Latin arepennis, from Gaulish | OIr airchenn 'short mete or bound ; end, extremity', W arbenn 'chief' | system of measurement alien to Latin |
| auvent 'eaves, porch roof, penthouse roof' | Prov. ambans 'parapet', Occitan embans, French dial. arvan | MFr auvans 'sloping roof', fr OFr anvant, fr Gaul. andebanno 'overhang, forward jutting part of a roof', fr ande + banno 'horn, antler' | for banno, see below under section Patois | unknown to Mediterranean architecture |
| aven 'sinkhole, swallow hole' | Occ avèn 'abyss, whirlpool', Cat avenc, Asturian aboñón 'channel, drain', Galician abeneiro, Port. amieiro 'alder ' | OFr avenc, from Old Occ, from Gaul. abona 'river' | W afon, C avon, Br avon, aven, Sc abhainn, Ir abha, abhainn | - |
| bâche 'canvas sheet, tarpaulin' | Gasc bascojo 'hanging basket', Asturian bascayu, Port. basculho/vasculho, Béarn bascoyes, Fr bâchot, bachou | OFr baschoe 'type of hod', from Gaul. bascauda 'wicker chest, hamper', from *basca 'binding' | W basg 'plaiting', MIr basc 'neckband' | - |
| balai 'broom ' | Sp baleo 'broom ', Astur baléu | OFr balain 'broom ', from Gaul *balatno, metathesis of *banatlo | MBr balazn, Sc bealaidh, Ir beallaidh vs. W banadl, C banadhel | Lat. scobum |
| barge1 'godwit' | Liguro berta 'magpie' | Gaulish bardala, diminutive of bardos 'bard' | MW bardd 'poet', OIr bard, MBr barzh 'minstrel', OC barth 'mime, jester' | Lat. corydallus |
| barge2 'haybale, straw heap' | Sp/Port varga "thatch-roof hut, straw-roof hut", Cat/Pg/Occ/Liguro barga "wattle hut", Ital barca "haystack" | Gaul bargā | MIr barc 'fort; woodshed' | - |
| barnache, bernache 'barnacle goose' | - | OFr bernaque, fr Gaul. barenica 'limpet', fr barenos 'rock, boulder' ; for semantic development, compare Greek lépas 'rock' > lepás 'limpet' | Ir báirneach, Sc bàirneach, W brennig, C brennik, Br bernig, brennig | - |
| bassin 'basin' | Prov. bacha 'feeding trough', FrProv bachè, bacha 'large vat', Amognard bassie 'sink' | OFr bacin, from ML baccinum, from LL bacca 'wine or water jug', from Gaulish 'burden, load to bear' | Ir/Sc bac 'hindrance, heed', W baich 'load, burden', C begh 'load, burden', Br bec'h 'burden, toil' | - |
| battre 'to beat' | Cat batre, Sp. batir, Mantuan batü 'beaten, beat', Port. bater | Latin battuere, from Gaulish *battu 'I strike, hit' | W bathu 'to coin, mint ', C bathi 'to coin, mint ' | - |
| bauge 'wild boar den; cob, hut' | FrProv bache 'swamp hay', Prov bauco, balco 'rough-leafed grass, tuft of hay, swamp grass used as bedding', OProv terra bauca 'good, solid turf' | OFr balche, from Gaul balco 'strong' | OIr balc, Ir bailc, Sc bailceach, W/C balch, Br balc’h | - |
| baume 'grotto' | Prov baumo, Cat balma, Lombardo balma, Piemontese barma, Ligurian arma | Gaul *balma | Ir baile 'home; town' | - |
| bec 'beak' | Cat bec, It becco, Port. bico, Sp pico | Latin beccus 'beak', from Gaul *beccos 'beak', perhaps originally 'little' | perhaps OIr becc 'little', Ir/Sc beag, W bach; diminutives C byghan, Br bihan | Lat rostrum |
| belette 'weasel' | Lorrain belâ, blâ, Liguro bélloa, Venetian belita, Piem/Lomb. bellola, Sp dial. belida, bilidilla | From FrPov belete, from Gaul bela | MW beleu, W bele, belaod 'marten' | Lat mustella |
| benne 'handbarrow, dumpster, mine cart', banne 'awning; large wicker basket' | It benna 'dung cart', G Bann 'cart, hod', G Behner 'basket', Du ben, benne 'basket', E bin | Gaul benna | W benn 'cart', OIr buinne, Br karr-banner 'truck bed', OBr benn 'caisson ' | - |
| berle 'water parsnip' | Sp berro Ast berriu 'watercress' | Gaul. berula 'cress', diminutive of beru 'stake, spit' | W berwr, C/Br beler, OIr biror, Ir biolar, Sc biolaire; further to Ir/Sc bior, W bêr, C/Br ber | - |
| berceau 'cradle', bercer 'to rock', ber 'drydock' | Prov bressà 'to rock', brès 'cradle', Port. berço 'cradle', Sp dial. brezar 'to rock', brezo 'cradle' | OFr bers, berz 'cradle', fr Gaul. *bertu 'I rock', fr *berta 'load' | Ir beartaim 'I rock', beárt 'load, action'; further to OIr brith, breth f. 'carrying, judgment', MW bryd m. 'thought, mind, intent', C brys 'thought' | - |
| bief 'mill reach, mill race' | Genoese bëo 'ditch, channel', Asturian beyu' 'narrow gorge' and buelga 'ditch' | OFr bied, from Gaul. *bedo 'ditch; grave' | W bedd 'grave', Br bez, C bedh | - |
| bille 'log' | Prov. bilha 'stem, trunk' | Gaul. *billia 'tall tree' | W pill 'stump', Br pil, Mx billey 'tree', Ir billeóg 'leaf', bille oir 'tree trunk', Sc bileag, bile 'leaf, blade' | - |
| boisseau 'bushel' | Lyon emboto 'two handsful', Cat ambosta, almosta, Sp ambuesta | Diminutive of OFr boisse 'dry measure of grain', Gallo-Lat. *bostia 'hollow of the hand', fr Gaul. *bosta; cognates from *ambostā | Br boz, OW bos, MIr boss, bass, Ir bass; OIr imbas 'clasped hands' | - |
| bonde, bondelle 'bunghole' | OProv bonda | Gaul. bunda 'base, bottom' | OIr bunud, MIr bond, Sc bonn 'foundation', W bonedd 'base, foundation' | - |
| borne 'milestone, landmark' | - | OFr bonne, bosne, fr earlier bodne, Gallo-Lat. bodina ‘arbre frontière’, fr Gaul. bodînâ ‘troop’ | OIr buiden 'squadron', Ir/Sc buidhean/n 'regiment', W byddin 'grove', Br bodenn, bod 'thicket' | - |
| boue 'mud' | | Gaul *bawā | W baw 'filth, muck', budr 'dirty, messy', OIr búaidir 'dirty', Br baouer 'gooey stubstance ', C beudhowr 'filthy water' | - |
| bouge 'hovel, dive' | | Gaul. boutigo 'cow byre', compound of bou 'cow' and tego 'house' | Br boutig, W beudy, Ir bothigh; further to Ir bó, MW bu 'oxen' and Ir teach, g. tí, Sc taigh, Br/OC ti, C chi, W tŷ | - |
| bouillon-blanc 'mullein' | - | ML bugillō, fr Gaul., fr boccos 'soft' | Br beuk, Ir bog | Lat verbascum |
| bouleau 'birch' | Ardennais boule, Prov bes, Cat beç, bedoll, Sp abedul and biezo Ast abedugu | Diminutive of OFr boule, from Lat. betula, dim. of Gaul. betua 'birch' | Ir/Sc beith, W bedw, Br bezv, Manx beih | - |
| bourbe 'muck, mire' | Galician/Port. borba 'mud', Asturian borbolla 'bubble', Sp burbuja 'bubble' | Gaul borvon 'spring, well' | Ir bearbh 'boiling', W berw 'boiling, seething', Br berv 'broth, bubbling' | - |
| bourdaine 'alder buckthorn' | ONorm borzaine, French dial. bourg-épine, Walloon neûr-bôr, Basque burgi 'alder buckthorn', German Eberesche 'service-tree', Flemish haveres | From Western dialect, from OFr bourgène, from Gaul *eburi-gena, from eburos | W efwr 'cow parsnip', dial. ewr, Br evor 'alder buckthorn', Sc iubhar 'yew', Ir iúr, OIr ibar | - |
| brai 'pitch' | Prov brac, It brago, braco 'mud', OFr bragnier 'to plow' | Gaul *bracu | W bracu 'filth', MIr broch 'garbage' | Lat pix |
| braie 'breeches, pants' | Prov/Sp. braga, It braca, Mantuan braghi 'trousers' and braghìn 'short trousers'; Br bragoù | Lat. braca | - | - |
| braire 'to bray', brailler 'to bawl, whine' | - | Late Latin bragire, from Gaulish *bragu | MIr braigid 'it crashes, explodes', Ir/Sc braigh 'to shriek, crackle', Br breugiñ 'to bray' | - |
| bran 'filth' | Berry/Picard brin, Prov/OSp bren, It brenno | OFr bren 'bran, filth', from Gaul. brennos 'rotten' | OIr brén, Ir bréan 'smelly, rancid', Sc breun, W braen 'stench', braenu 'to rot', Br brein | Lat. caecum 'filth' |
| branche 'treelimb' | Prov/Cat branca 'paw', Port. braça 'treelimb', It brance 'claw, paw', Romansch dial. franka, Rum brânca | Late Latin branca 'paw', from Gaul. *vranca | Br brank, branc'h 'bough, antlers', Sc bràc 'branch, antler; reindeer' | - |
| brasser 'to brew' | Fr dial. brai, bray 'malt' | OFr bracer, fr brace 'malt', fr Gaul brace | OIr mraich, Sc braich, W/C brag 'malt', Br bragez 'wheat germ' | - |
| brave 'brave, daring' | Occ/Cat. brau 'tough, wild' | MFr brave, fr It bravo 'bold', fr Occ brau 'wild', fr Gaul. bragos 'show-off' | MIr breagha 'fine', Ir breá, Sc brèagh, C bray, Br braga 'to strut around' | - |
| bréhaigne 'barren ' | Pg/Galician/Astur/Salander braña, Port. brenha 'swampland, bogland, humid meadow', Sp breña 'scrubland', NW Cat braina 'field of grain whose ears have not sprouted yet', N. Ital. barena 'flood plain of a lagoon' | OFr baraign, brahain, fr Lat. brana ‘sterile mare’, fr Gaul. *branna 'land where nothing grows', fr *brenno 'rotten' | Ir branar, W braenar 'fallow', Br breinar; see bran above | - |
| breuil 'copse' | Prov brogo, Mantuan bröl 'orchard, vegetable garden', Germ. Brühl 'prairie' | OFr bruil, fr Gaul *brogilos 'thicket, hunting reserve', diminutive of brogos 'country' | W/C/Br bro 'country', Ir bruig, Sc brugh 'tumulus, large house', Mx broogh 'brae, bank' | - |
| bribe 'fragment, parcel' | Pic brife 'bit of bread' | Gaul. briba | W briw 'fragments', C bryw, Br brev 'broken', Sc breaban 'leather patch', Ir preaban 'parcel, piece, patch' | - |
| briser 'to break' | Mantuan brisa 'bit of bread', It briciola | OFr brisier, fr Gaul. brissu 'I break' | OIr brissim, Ir/Sc bris, Mx brishey | Lat frangere |
| broche 'spit, skewer' | Asturian bruecu 'pointed, sharp' | Gaul. brocca, fr broccos 'pointed', Port. broca | Sc brog 'awl; to prod', W procio 'to poke, thrust', Ir prioc; OIr brocc 'badger', Ir broc, W broch, Br broc'h | - |
| brosse 'broom, brush' | Cat brossa, Spanish, Asturian broza 'dead leaves, dead brushwood' | Gaul. bruskia, old fr bruisse 'chestnut hull, chestnut husk' | *bhreus-kyo < 'which it's broken', *bhreus-o 'break', P-Celt. *bruso 'fragile. | - |
| bruire 'to roar; rustle, murmur' | - | Gaul. bruge 'to troat' | W broch 'din, tumult', Br bruchell 'roar, bellow', Sc broiglich 'noise', broighleadh 'turmoil'; Ir brúcht 'belch' | - |
| bruyère 'heath, moor' | Prov bruguiera 'moorland', Cat bruguera; Milan brüg, Ital brugo, Prov bruga, Germ Brikane, Cat bruc; Sp brezo, beruezo, Gal breixo, Port brejo | Gallo-Lat. brucaria, fr brūcus, fr late Gaul *vroikos, fr earlier vroici, vroica | W grug, dial. gwrig, C grig, MBr groegan, Ir/Sc fraoch, Manx freoagh | - |
| bugle 'bugle, bugleweed' | Mantuan bög 'soft fruit, overripe fruit' | OFr bucle, fr LL bugula, fr Lat bugīlla, fr Gaul., diminutive of buccos 'soft' | MIr bocc 'soft', Ir/Sc bog 'soft', Br bouk 'soft, mild' | - |
| French | Cognates | Etymology | Possible Celtic Cognates | Latin/Romance |
| cabane 'cabin, cob' | OFr chavane 'small farmstead', Mantuan capanùn 'barn' | fr Prov. cabana 'cob, cottage', fr Gaul. capanna 'hut', fr cappos 'cob, tent' | W caban 'booth, hut', Br koban 'booth, awning', Ir/Sc cabán 'hut, booth, tent', Port cabana; further to W cab 'cot, tent', MIr cap 'cart, bier' | - |
| caillou 'pebble' | MFr chaillou, chail, Pic caillau, Poit. chail, SwFr/Fr-Comt chaille, Port. calhau, Prov. calado, Astur. cayuela 'pebble, chestnut' | Normand or Picard, fr Gaul. caliavo 'pebbly', fr cali 'pebble' | W caill, C kell, Br kell, kall, Ir caull 'testicle' | - |
| cervoise 'barley beer' | Port. cerveja, Span. cerveza | Gaul. cervesia | C corev 'beer,' W cwru 'beer, ale' | - |
| chainse 'linen canvas, undershirt' | - | OFr chainse 'tunic', fr L camisia 'shirt', fr Gaul. | OIr caimmse 'shirt', W obs. cams 'surplice, alb', C kams 'surplice, alb', Br kamps 'hem' | *Note: chemise 'shirt' is an early learned borrowing and not inherited |
| changer 'to change, exchange' | Sp. cambiar, Ast. cambéu 'exchange' | OFr changier, from L cambiāre 'to barter', earlier cambīre, from Gaul cambion 'exchange' | Br kemm 'exchange', OIr cimb 'ransom' | - |
| char 'wagon', charrue 'plough' | Basq ekarri 'to bring', OProv carruga 'cart' Astur. carru, Port. charrua, Mantuan car 'chariot,wagon' and carét 'cart' | L carrus 'chariot', fr Gaul. carros; L carracutium, fr Gaul. carruca 'ceremonial plough' | Ir carr 'dray, wagon', W carr 'chariot', C/Br karr 'cart' | - |
| charançon 'weevil' | - | MFr charenson, dim. of OFr *charenz, from LL *caranteus, fr Gaul. *carvantos, fr carvos 'stag' | W carw, C karow, Br karv, OIr carbh, Ir cáirrfhiadh | - |
| charpente 'framework, building frame' | Lorr charpagne 'hamper', Port cabaz 'hamper', Welche charpin ‘large osier basket’, Friul čharpint ‘cart axle’ | L carpentum, fr Gaul. carbanto 'carriage', fr carbos 'basket' | Ir carbat, Sc carbad, W cerbyd, OBr cerpit | - |
| chat-huant 'tawny, brown, or wood owl' | OPic coan, Judeo-French javan, FrProv tsavouan | MFr chouan, fr L cavannus, fr Gaul. | Ir ulchabhán, W tyllhuan, cuan, C kowann, Br kaouenn | - |
| chemin 'way, path, route' | Sp. camino, FrProv tch’mïn, Prov. camin, Astur. camín, Port. caminho | LL camminus 'step, footpath, tollspot', fr Gaul. camani, plural of camanom 'step' | Ir céim 'stride', pl. céimmenn, Sc ceum, W/C cam 'step', OW pl. cemmein 'steps', Br kam 'step' | - |
| chêne 'oak' | Prov cassanh, Gasc casse, FrProv tsâno, Port. caixigo, Astur caxigu, Aragon caixico | OFr chasne, chesne, fr LL casnus, fr Gaul. cassanos literally, 'twisted, gnarled' | Ir cas 'to twist, turn, spin', W cosgordd 'to twist' | L quercus |
| chétif 'wretched, meek, weakling' | Prov caitiu,Mantuan catif 'bad' | OFr chaitif, blend of Gaul. caxtos 'prisoner' and Lat captivus 'prisoner' | W caeth 'slave, confined', C keth 'slave', Br kaezh 'miserable, unfortunate', Ir cacht 'distress, prisoner' | - |
| cheval 'horse' | It cavallo, Sp. caballo, Port. cavalo, Rum cal; Germ Kōb 'nag', Mantuan kaval | Latin caballus 'nag', from Gaul. caballos, variant of cabillos 'work horse, nag', dim. of cabō | W ceffyl, Br kefel, Ir capall, Manx cabbyl | Lat equus |
| claie 'rack, fence post, hurdle' | Gasc cleda 'small gate', Cat. cleda 'cattle pen, sheepfold', Aragonese cleta 'wooden gate', Portuguese cheda 'wagon bed', Basq gereta | VL cleta, fr Gaul. | W clwyd 'gate, hurdle', Br kloued 'fence, harrow', C kloes 'hurdle, lattice', Ir/Sc clíath 'hurdle' | - |
| cloche 'bell' | Germ Glock, Galician choco, Port. chocalho, 'cowbell' | Gaul. clocca | Ir/Sc clog, W cloch, C klogh, Br kloc’h | Lat tintabulum |
| coche 'brood sow', cochon ‘pig’ | Wal cosset, cosson, Morvan coisson ‘piglet’, Sp. cochino ‘pig’ | Gaulish *coccā ‘hip’, akin to coxo ‘foot’ | Old Irish coch ‘hip’; further to OIr coss ‘foot’, W coes, C koes, Br koaz ‘leg’ | - |
| combe 'hollow' | Occ comba 'valley', Cat coma, Port. comba, Astur. comba | LL cumba 'dishes', fr Gaul. comba 'concave, cavity, depression' | W cwm 'hollow', C komm 'small valley, dingle', Br komm 'trough, valley, deep water', Ir com 'chest cavity', OIr comm 'vessel' | - |
| corme 'service berry' | - | LL corma, fr Gaul. curmi 'ale, beer' | OIr cuirm, coirm, gen. corma 'beer', W cwrw, cwrwf, cwrf 'ale', C/Br korev | - |
| coudrier 'hazel' | Amognes coudrette, queudre, FrProv cudra, Romansch coller; Occ còila 'hazel switches, hazel osiers' | OFr coldre, from Gallo-Latin colurus, blend of Gaul collos and Lat corulus | OIr coll, W coll, C koll, Br | Lat corulus |
| coule 'religious cowl' | - | OFr coule, goule 'cowl', fr Lat. cucullus, fr Gaul., reduplication of cullo 'covering, shelter' | OIr cuilche ‘mantel’, cuile ‘cellar’, MIr cul ‘defense, shelter’ | - |
| craindre 'to fear' | Saintangois crénre, Prov crénher | Old French creindre, from VL *cremere, from Gaul. *crenu ‘I shake’ + L tremere ‘to shake’ | W crynu, Br/C krena; W cryn 'shaking', Br kren, C crên | Lat timere |
| cravan 'brant goose' | - | Western dialect cravant 'wild goose', fr *cragu- + -ant, fr Gaul. *crago 'hoarse' | W cregu 'to be hoarse', cryg 'hoarse', C kreg 'hoarse' | - |
| crème 'cream' | FrProv cramiot 'spittle' | OFr cresme, fr Gaul crāmum ‘skim, skin’ | W cramen 'scab', C kramm, Br kramm, kremm, MIr screm 'surface, skin' | - |
| créner 'to indent, notch, carve', cran 'notch, catch' | - | Gaul. crinos 'collapsed, fallen in' | OIr ar-a-chrinim 'I collapse, crumble, shatter', crinner 'fall', crín 'withered, decayed' | - |
| creux 'hollow, pit, dip' | Fr-Prov cros 'hollow, cave', Prov. cros 'tomb', Occ. cro, Ligurian creusa, creuso | OFr crues, fr Gallo-Lat. crosus, fr Gaul. *crossos | - | - |
| daim 'roedeer' | - | Lat. damma, dammus, from Gaul dammos 'ox, stag' | OIr dam 'ox, stag', damán 'fawn', Ir damh 'ox'; W dafad, C davas, Br dañvad 'sheep' | - |
| dartre 'rash, blemish, breakout; dartars' | Poit endarde, Milan dérbeda, Valais. diervet, Prov derbi, derti, It derbi, derbga | Old French dertre, from Lat. derbita, from Gaul *derveta | Br darvoued, derbod, W tarwyden, darwyden 'scurf, dandruff', OIr deir 'herpes' | - |
| décombres 'debris, rubble', encombrer 'to encumber' | Germ Kummer 'rubble', Sp. escombro 'rubble', Port. cômoro 'mound, hillock' | OFr combre 'river barrage, dam', from ML combrus 'barricade of felled trees', from Gaul. combero 'river fork, dam' | Br kember, W cymmer, Ir comar, cumar, OIr commor, cummar | - |
| douve 'liver fluke' | Norm duve, FrCmt dôrve, Bas-Alpes endervo, Corrèze olvo | Gaul. *dolba 'grub, caterpillar', from *dolbu 'I chisel, carve' | OIr dolbaid 'he forms, shapes' | - |
| draine, drenne 'mistle thrush' | Tecino dren 'raspberry', Comasc dren 'blackberry', Milan drine 'hawthorn'; partially Pic fourdraine 'sloe' | Gaul. drageno 'thorn, briar'; semantic development 'thorn bush' > 'aggressive bird' | OIr draigen, Ir/Sc droigheann, W/Br draen, C drain/drein | - |
| drap 'cloth' | It. drappo, Sp/Pg trapo, Mantuan drap, Cat drap | Late Latin drappus 'piece of fabric', from Gaul. *drappo 'shred, torn-off piece' | W drab 'piece, shred', drabio 'to tear into pieces' | - |
| drèche 'brewing dregs' | Prov draco 'wine lees', Dauph drachi 'stamped raisin bunch', Wall drâhé | OFr drasche 'barley dregs; raisin skin', from Gaul. drasca | MIr tresc 'refuse, offal', Ir treascach 'draffy', Sc treasg 'dregs' | - |
| drille 'rag, tatter' | Lyon drouille 'tatter', Dauph. drouille 'wood chip' | OFr drille 'fabric scrap', fr Gaul. *drullo 'piece, shred' | W dryll 'fragment, small piece', MBr druill, C dral 'scrap, fragment', Sc dreall/dreoll 'door bar'; | - |
| dru 'thriving, hardy, fit, thick' | Bourb drusine 'vigor', Amognard dru 'lively', druger 'to grow, get livelier', Prov. endrudi 'to enrich', OProv drut 'lover', NItal drü 'fat, thick', Milan druto 'exuberant' | OFr dru 'lively; fat', from Gaul. drūtos | W drud 'brave, valliant, furious', OIr drúth, édruith 'lewd, extravagnt', Sc drùth 'lecherous', Br druz 'fat, fit, fertile' | - |
| érable 'maple' | FrProv iserâblo | OFr airable, from LL acerabulus, blend of abolo 'apple' and Lat. acer ‘maple’ | - | Lat acer |
| étain 'tin, pewter' | Sp. estaño,Mantuan stajgnhard', Port. estanho | Lat stagnum, var. stannum, fr Gaul. stannon | Ir stán, OSc stàn, W ystaen, C sten, Br stean | - |
| flannelle 'flannel' | Jersiais flianné 'flannel', Mantuan flanèla 'flannel' | Old Normand flanelle, fr OFr flaine 'coarse wool', fr Gaul. vlana 'wool' | W gwlân 'wool', gwlanen 'flannel', C gwlan, Br gloan, Ir olann, Manx ollan | - |
| fragon 'butcher's broom' | Walloon frigon | OFr fregon, fr Gaul. *sprigo | W ffreu 'fruit' | - |
| gaillard 'festive, hardy, merry' | - | Gaul. galia 'might', Mantuan gaiardhardy, strong' | W obsolete †gâl 'strength', gall 'energy', OBr gal, Br galloud 'power', C gallos 'ability', OIr gal, gallacht 'valor' | - |
| galet 'flat rock, skipping stone' | Fr dial. jalet 'stone projectile of cross bow' | Normand or Picard, fr Gaul. gallos 'large rock' | OIr gall 'stone pillar', gallán 'large upright stone' | - |
| galon 'galon', jalon 'marker' | Cat galleda ‘bucket’ | OFr jalon ‘liquid measure’, diminutive of jale 'porringer', fr LL galla ‘vessel, container’, fr late Gaul. *glāvo 'rain', fr earlier *glōvo | W glaw 'rain', Br glao, C glaw | - |
| garenne 'rabbit warren' | Fr dial. varaigne, Astur. varagaña 'enclosure' | Gaul. varena 'enclosed area' | Ir/Sc fearann 'land, enclosure', OIr feronn 'field', ferenn 'girdle, garter' | - |
| gerzeau 'corncockle' | OFr jargerie, jarzerie 'cockle, weed', Val d’Aosta dardillon 'pignut' | Gaul. gargos 'wild; bitter' | Ir/Sc garg 'wild; bitter' | - |
| glaise 'loam' | Normand glise | OFr gleise, gloise, fr Gallo-Lat glisomarga 'clay marl', fr Gaul. gliso 'white' | W glwys 'bright, pretty', OBr gloes 'pretty', OIr glése 'brightness', Ir/Sc gleus 'order, trim, tune' | - |
| glaive 'broad sword' | - | From *gladibu, blend of Lat gladius + Gaul. cladebos | W cleddyf, Br kleze, C cledhe, OIr claideb, Ir claíomh, Sc claidheamh | Lat ensis |
| glaner 'to glean' | OProv glenar | OFr glener, fr LL glenare, fr Gaul. glennu 'I gather, sort', fr glanos 'clear, pure' | OIr glenn- 'to choose, amass', do-glinn 'he collects, gathers', MIr digliunn 'I glean', W dichlyn 'to select, sort out' | - |
| gober 'to gobble, guzzle, devour', gobe 'morsel, gob' | - | OFr gobe, fr Gaul. gobbo | Ir gob 'mouth', Sc/Manx gob 'beak', W gwp 'bird's head/neck' | - |
| gord 'kiddle, stake net' | Prov. gòrsa 'hedge, bush', Limousin gorso 'bush', Lombard gorz 'bush' | OFr gort 'boundary hedge', from Gaulish gorto 'yard; hedge' | Ir gort 'wheatfield', W garth 'hill, enclosure', Corn gorth, OBr orth 'yard, enclosure' | - |
| gosier 'gizzard' | Wal. djwèhe, Lorr. gosse, Ardenn. gosi 'gizzard', gosillon 'Adam's apple', Friul gose, It gozzo, Rum guşă ‘maw, goiter’, Mantuan gòs | OFr geuse, josier, from VL geusiae 'gizzard edges', from Gaulish, from *geusi 'to pour' | W gewai 'glutton' | - |
| gouge 'gouge, chisel' | OProv goja, It gubba, Sp gubia, Port. goiva | Gaul. gulbia 'piercer', fr *gulbu 'beak' | OIr gulba 'sting', W gylyf 'sickle' | - |
| graisset 'green tree frog' | Occ grasan, graissan 'toad', Cat grexá 'toad', gresandu 'tadpole' | MFr gresset, from Gaul. *craxantos, from craxa 'scab, rough patch' | W crach 'crust, scab', C kragh 'scurf', Br krak 'gruff' | - |
| grève 'sandy shore, sandy beach', gravier 'gravel' | Fr groue, Prov/Cat/Astur. grava, Venit grava, Friul grave | Gallo-Lat. grava, fr Gaul. gravis | Br gro 'silt', C grow 'gravel', W gro 'gravel' | - |
| guenille 'rag, tatter' | - | Western dialect, from guener, gueniller 'to wet, dampen', fr guène, gâne 'pond, pool', fr OFr gasne 'muddy pool', fr Gaul. vāgna ‘slope; moor’ | C/Br geun 'swamp', W gwaun 'lowland, meadow', Ir fann 'slanting, sloping', fána 'downward slope, hollow' | - |
| French | Cognates | Etymology | Possible Celtic Cognates | Latin/Romance |
| if 'yew' | Prov liéu | Gaul. ivos | W yw, C ywin, Br iwin, OIr eó | Lat. taxus |
| jachère 'fallow field' | Sp gancho 'large hook' | LL gascaria 'scratch-plough', fr Gaul. gansko 'branch' | OIr gesca 'stem, branch' | LLat. vervactum |
| jaillir 'to gush, spurt' | Norm galir 'to throw' | Gaul. gali 'to boil' | Ir gailim 'to boil over', Manx gaal 'steam', Sc goil 'to boil', gèil 'to bubble, well up' | - |
| jante 'wheel rim' | Pic gante, Occ cant, Sp canto, It canto 'corner' | L canthus, cantus, fr Gaul. cantos | Br kant 'ring', W cant 'felloe, rim', MIr céte 'gathering ', Ir cétal, s. canó, OW canten, cantem | - |
| jarret 'hamstring, bend of the knee' | OProv/Sp garra 'claw', Prov garro, Fr dial. gare, jarre 'thigh' | OFr garet, diminutive of gare 'leg, thigh',Mantuan garét, diminutive of 'leg' and galùn 'thighs' from Gaul. garra 'leg' | W gar, C/Br garr, OIr gairri 'calves of the leg', Ir cara | - |
| javelle 'sheaf, fagot, bundle' | OOcc gabella, Occ gavèl, Port. gavela, gabela, Sp gavilla | LL gabella, fr Gaul. gabali 'armfull', fr gabu 'to take' | W gafeal 'to grasp, hold', C gavel 'grasp, hold', MIr gabáil | - |
| javelot 'javelin' | - | Gaul. gabalaccos, fr gabalos 'fork', Mantuan giavlòt 'javelin' | Ir gabhla, gen. gablach 'spear', W gaflach 'dart' | - |
| lance | - | L lancea, fr Gaul lankia, Mantuan lansa 'lance' and lansér 'lancer', Port. lança | MIr do-léicim 'I toss, fling, launch' | - |
| lande 'heath, moor' | Port. landa | Gaul landa | Breton lann 'heath', W llan 'village, yard', C lan 'open space, plain', lann 'enclosure', Ir/Sc lann 'enclosure' | - |
| landier 'andiron, firedog' | Basq andere 'woman', Astur. andera 'heifer' | OFr andier, fr Gaul. andero 'heifer; young woman' | W anner 'heifer', Br ounner, annouar, annoér 'heifer', Ir ainnir 'young woman' | - |
| lieue 'league ' | Prov. lègo, Cat llegua, Sp legua, Pg légua, It lega | LL leucas, fr Gaul. 'league marker' | OIr líe, gen. líac 'stone', Ir liag 'stone' | - |
| lie 'lees, wine dregs' | Sp légamo, dial. lidia, liria, OIt leda, Romansch glitta, Basq lekeda | ML liæ, fr Gaul. lĭga 'sediment' | OBr leh 'silt, deposit', Br lec'hi 'dregs', W llai 'silt, deposit' | - |
| loche 'loach' | Astur. lloca, Port. loca | VL laucca, fr Gaul. loukā 'light' | W llug 'shimmer, glint', OIr lúach 'bright' | - |
| lotte 'monkfish' | Port. lota | Gaul. lotta, literally 'flat' or 'wide' | OIr lethaid 'he extends, expands', W lledu 'to extend, expand'; OIr lethan 'wide', W llydan; W lled 'flounders', C leyth 'flounder, flat-fish' | - |
| luge 'sled, toboggan' | Béarn. leo, Prov lièio, Piém. leza, Rouerg leudo, leuzo; Romansch schliuza, schlieza | VL leudia, leudico, fr Gaul. sludio 'sled' | Ir slaod 'raft, float', Sc slaod 'drag, trail', OBr stloit 'dragging, sliding', Br stlej 'drag', W llithr 'glide' | - |
| maint 'many, much' | It mantissa, mantisa 'a little something extra', Astur manta 'quantity' | Gaul. manti | Br meñt, meñd 'multitude, greatness', W maint 'size, capacity, quantity', C myns, Ir méid, méad 'size', Sc meud, miad | - |
| manteau 'coat' | Basq mantar 'shirt, barque tarpaulin', Mantuan mantèl 'coat' | Diminutive of OFr mante, fr LL manta, fr L mantum, mantellum, fr Gaul. mantlon 'covering' | Br malan, manal, C manal 'sheaf' | - |
| marne 'marl' | Sp/OIt/Ast/Port marga, Lyon margagni 'deep mud, muck', Germ Mergel | OFr marle, fr LL margila, fr Gaul. marga | Br marg | - |
| mélèze 'larch' | OProv melseca, Prov mèlze, ODauph melese, Piedmontese malëzzo | OFr-Prov melese, fr LL melix, -icem, merger of Gaul melissos 'honey-sweet' + Latin larix 'larch' | Sc meilise 'hedge mustard'; further to W melys 'sweet', C melys, Br milis 'honey-flavored', Ir/Sc milis 'sweet' | Latin larix |
| mine 'mine' | OProv mena, Astur mena 'vein' | LL mina, fr Gaul. *mēna 'ore, mine' | W mwyn 'ore', C moen, Ir míanach 'ore' | - |
| molène 'mullein' | Romansch mélen, Sardinian mélinu 'yellow' | OFr moleine, influenced by mol 'soft', fr. LL melinus 'yellow', from Gaul. melinos | Br melen, W/C melyn 'yellow, mullein' | - |
| mouton 'sheep' | Sp mocho 'he-goat', It montone 'ram' | Gaul. *molton 'wedder' | W mollt 'ram', Br maout 'wedder', C mols 'ewe', Ir/Sc mult 'ram' | - |
| noue 'dry river bed, river flood plain' | | OFr noe 'river bed', fr LL nauda 'marshland', fr Gaul., fr Proto-Celtic snauda, fr sna- 'to swim' | MIr snúad 'river' | - |
| obier 'guelder rose, snowball tree' | NItal oppio 'guelder rose', Vegliot vaple 'maple', Astur. obleru 'thorn' | Lat. opulus, from Gaul. opolos 'maple' | Ogam Irish Oqoli, Irish MacOchaill | Latin viburnum |
| palefroi 'palfrey, saddle horse' | Germ Pferd 'horse', Du paard 'horse'; Port vereda, Sp vereda 'pathway', Galician verea 'main road' | LL paraverēdus 'pack horse, spare horse', fr Greek para + Lat. verēdus 'post horse', fr Gaul., fr ver- 'over' + redu 'running, swift' | W gorwydd 'horse, charger' | - |
| petit 'small' | Prov/Cat petit, Occ pichòn, pichòt, Rum pitì 'to shrink' | ML pittitus, akin to LL pitinnus, pitulus 'tiny', from Gaul *pitt- 'tiny' ~ pit- 'tip, point' | Br pizh ‘meticulous; frugal, stingy’, C pyth ‘tight with money, penny-pincher’; W pid 'tapering end, tip', obsolete †piden 'penis', Br pidenn 'penis' | Latin putillus |
| pièce 'piece, part' | It pezza, Prov pessa, pesa, Port peça, Astur. petisa 'hopscotch' | ML petia, petium, from Gaul petsi 'thing, part', from pet 'what' | W peth 'thing', Br pez 'thing', C peyth, Ir/Sc cuid 'part' | Latin pars |
| pinson 'finch' | Tuscan pincióne, Port pisco Cat pinsà, Sp pinzón, pinchón | Gaul. *pincio | W pinc, Br pint | Latin fingilla |
| quai 'wharf, embankment', chai 'cellar' | - | Normand quai and Poitevin chai, fr LL caium 'surrounding wall or hedges', fr Gaul. caio 'hedge' | W cae 'fence, hedge', Br kae, C ke | - |
| raie 'lynchet' | Cat. rega 'furrow', rec 'channel', Prov rega 'to furrow', Occ regon 'furrow' | OFr roie, fr Gallo-Lat. rica, fr Gaul. 'furrow' | W rhych, Br reg, Ir eitre, Sc riach | L porca |
| rebours 'against the grain' | Prov. rebous | OFr rebors, fr LL reburrus 'swollen', from Gaul., from ro- 'very' + -borros 'stout, inflated' | W bwr 'stout, sturdy, big', C borr 'fat; protuberance, paunch', OIr borr 'swollen, inflated', Ir borr 'pride, greatness' | - |
| rêche 'rough, harsh' | - | OFr resque, fr Gaul. rescos 'rough' | - | - |
| renfrogner 'to sulk, frown, grimace' | It infrigno 'frowning', Lomb frignare 'to whimper, make a wry face' | OFr enfrogne 'wry face, wrinkled nose' and froignier 'to stick one's nose up at', both from frogne, froigne 'wry face, wrinkled nose', fr late Gaul. frogna 'nostril', from earlier srogna | W ffroen 'nose', Br froen, Ir sróine, Sc sròn | - |
| ruche 'hive' | Fr-Prov reûtche 'bark', Prov. rusco 'bark' | OFr rusche, Gallo-Lat rūsca 'bark', fr. Gaul. rūsco | Br/C rusk, W rhisgl, Ir rusg, Sc rùsg | - |
| saie, sayon 'say, sagum cloak' | Sp sayo | LL sagum, saga, sagus, fr Greek ságos, fr Gaul. sagos 'coat', fr *seg- 'to hold on or together' | no direct cognates; *segno > MIr sén 'snare', W hoenyn 'snare'; *segsmen > W hemin, Ir seaman 'rivet' | - |
| sapin 'fir' | Norm/OFr sap, Romand sap, sab, sabs, Foréz sa, Occ sap, Astur. sapera 'small oak' | Savoy sapin, fr Lat. sappinus, compound of Lat. pinus 'pine' and Gaul. sappus | W sybwydd 'fir', OC sibnit 'silver fir' | - |
| séran 'heckle, hatchel', sérancer 'to ripple flax or hemp' | Fr-Prov ceran ‘hemp comb’ | OFr serans 'hemp comb', from Gaul. kērā, gen. kērans 'comb' | OIr cír 'comb', Ir cìor, Sc cìr, Manx kere, gen. kereen | - |
| sillon 'furrow' | Occ. selhan, Romansch saglia 'strip in a swath over which grass is strewn', NItal sia 'space between furrows' | OFr seillon, fr silier 'to plough, till', fr Gaul *selia 'dirt mound', fr *selu 'I take away' | OIr coisle ‘to leave’, fo-coisle ‘he takes away’, do-fochsla ‘to seize, carry off’ | - |
| soc 'ploughshare' | | Gaul. soccos 'pig; ploughshare' | Ir soc 'ploughshare, snout', suig 'pig', W swch, Br souc’h', C soch' ploughshare' / W hwch Br houc’h C hogh 'pig' | Lat vomer |
| souche 'tree stump, tree base' | Occ soca, It zoca, Montferrat soc, socca, Aragon zoque; Romansch tschücha, Norm chuque, Berry suche, Piemontese süka, Sp chueca 'stump' | OFr çoche, seuche, fr late Gaul. śokka, from earlier stokka 'part, piece' | Br soc'h, C sogh obtuse, MIr tócht 'part, piece' | - |
| soue 'pigsty' | FrProv soue, souda 'pigpen' | OFr seu, soit, fr LL sotem, sutem, fr late Gaul. *sucotegos, compound of succos 'pig' + tegos 'house' | no cognates, but similar formation to Ir bothigh 'cow byre', W dafaty 'sheepcot' | Lat suile 'pigpen' |
| suie 'soot' | Lorr seuche, Savoy suçha, Prov suja, suga, Gasc soja, Cat sutja | LL sugia, fr Gaul. sudia | OIr súide, Ir súiche, Sc súithe, B huzel, C hudhygel, W huddugl | Lat fulliginem |
| talus 'embankment, slope' | Dauph. talapan 'gable', Prov. tauvero 'field border' | OFr talu, fr LL talutium, fr Gaul. talos 'brow, steep' | W tâl, taloedd, C/Br tal 'forehead, brow', OIr tal, taul 'shield boss, protrusion, hump' | - |
| tan 'tanbark, tan ' | - | Gaul. tanno 'holm oak, live oak' | Br tann 'red oak', glastann 'holm oak', OC tannen, C glastan 'holm oak', OIr caerthann 'service tree', tinne 'holly' | - |
| tanière 'animal den, lair' | It tasso, Sp tejon badger | OFr taisniere, tesniere, fr taisse, taisson 'badger', fr VL taxo, fr Gaul. tasgō 'badger' | Sc taghan 'marten', OIr Tadhg 'badger' | - |
| taranche 'screw bar, ratchet on a basket wine press' | Prov. tarenco, Port tranco, Sp tranca ‘cudgel, club’ | Gaul. tarǐnca 'screw, nail' | OIr tairinge 'iron nail, tine', Ir tairne 'metal nail, tarrag', Sc tairnge 'nail' | - |
| tarière 'auger, gimlet' | OProv taraire, Romansch tareder, Sp taladro, Pg trado, Port trado, | OFr tarere, fr Lat. taratrum, fr Gaul. taratron | W taradr, Br tarar, C tarder, Ir tarachair | - |
| tonne 'ton', tonneau 'barrel' | Cat/Port tona | OFr tonne 'cask', fr LL tunna 'wine-skin', from Gaul. tonna 'skin, hide' | Ir tonn 'skin, hide', W ton 'skin', C ton 'surface; lawn', Br tonnen 'rind, surface, head hair' | - |
| triage 'forest canton' | Bourg. traige 'small pass between houses' | OFr triège 'track, trail', fr Gaul. tragos, gen. trageto 'foot' | W troed, Br troad, C troes, OIr traig, gen. traiged 'foot', Ir/Sc troigh | - |
| trogne 'bloated or funny face' | Piem. trugnu, Cat tronya 'brat' | Gaul. trugna 'nose, snout' | W trwyn 'nose, snout', C troen 'nose', Br stroen 'snot' | - |
| truand 'vagrant, beggar' | Prov truans, Sp truhan 'baffoon, jester', Port truhão, truante, Galician trogo "sadness, pity" | Gaul trugant, from trugos 'wretch' | W truan 'wretched', Sc truaghan 'wretch, miserable creature'; further to OIr tróg, Ir trogha, W/C/Br tru 'wretched' | - |
| truie 'sow' | Gasc/Cat troja, Occ truèja, Ligurian trœa | LL troia, fr Gaul. *trogia, from trogu 'to give birth' | W troglwyth, trollwyth 'pig litter', C godra, Br godro to milk, OIr trog 'birth, litter', Sc trog 'to raise, rear' | - |
| vandoise 'dace' | Wall vindwesse, Pic ventoise | LL vindēsia, fr Gaul. *vǐndǐsia, fr vindos 'white' | no cognates exist, but like formations do: Br gwyniad 'dace, pollan', Sc fionnag 'whiting' | - |
| vanneau 'lapwing' | It vannello | Gaul. vanello, venello 'swallow' | W gwennol, C/Br gwennel, Ir fáinle, Sc fáinleog | - |
| vassal 'vassal, serf', valet 'attendant' | - | LL vassalus, diminutive of Gaul. vassos 'youth, servant', Mantuan vasal 'vassal' and valét 'vallet' | W/C gwas 'youth, page, servant', Br gwaz 'youth, vassal', MIr foss 'servant', Sc fasdadh 'rabble army' | - |
| vautre ‘boarhound, bearhound’ | Cat guilter 'mastiff' | OFr veltre, vaultre, fr Gaul vertraha, fr vertragos, compound of ver- 'over' + tragos 'foot', ‘high-footed’, i.e. ‘fleet-footed’ | OIr traig 'foot', Ir troigh, W troed, Br troad + Ir for, Br war 'over, super', W gwor- | - |
| vélar, vellar 'hedge mustard' | - | Gaul. vela 'ring, tendril', fr. velu 'to bend' | Ir fáil 'ring', Br gwalenn 'twig, rod; ring', OIr fillid 'he bends' | - |
| verne, vergne 'alder, white alder' | OProv vernha, Fr-Prov verna, Cat vern, NItal dial. sberna, Rouchi verne ‘draft-pole; purlin’, Liégois/Namurois vièrna ‘helm’ | Gaul. vernos 'alder' | Br/W gwern, C gwernen, Ir fearn, Sc feàrna | - |
| virer to turn, swerve' | Sp virar | LL vīrāre, from Gaul *viru 'to deviate, veer off', from viros | W gwyro 'to shift, deviate', Br goara 'to curve' | - |
| virole 'ferrule ' | Friul viruele | OFr virelle, fr Lat. viriola 'bracelet', diminutive of vira, viriæ, fr Gaul. viros 'round, crooked' | Ir fiar 'bent, crooked', W gwyr, C gwarr 'nape, curve', Br goar, gwar | - |
| vouge 'French glaive, Lochaber ax' | Occ vezoig, Bearnese bedulh, Spanish bodollo | OFr vooge, fr LL vidubium 'wood-knife', fr Gaul., compound of vidu- 'wood' and -bion 'trimmer' | Ir fiodhbha 'sickle', W gwyddif, C gwydhyv 'billhook Br gouzifiad'' 'pike, boar-spear' | |
