Reconstruction:Proto-Brythonic/ėrɣ

This Proto-Brythonic 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-Brythonic

Etymology

Uncertain; perhaps from Proto-Celtic *argyos (“white”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂r̥ǵ-yó-s, from *h₂erǵ- (“white”) +‎ *-yós, possible cognate with Gaulish *argyos (whence Latin personal name Argiotalus).[1] Alternatively from Proto-Celtic *ɸargyos, *ɸargos (“sprinkling, spatter”)[2], from Proto-Indo-European *spérg-o-s, from *sperg- (“to strew”) +‎ *-os, cognate with Old Irish arg (“drop”), Latin spargō (“to scatter, shower”).[3][4]

Noun

*ėrɣ m

snow

Descendants

Middle Breton: erch
- Breton: erc'h
Old Cornish: irch
- Cornish: ergh
Middle Welsh: eiry
- Welsh: eira, eiry

References

Matasović, Ranko (2009), “*argyo-”, in Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 9), Leiden: Brill, →ISBN, pages 41-42
Koch, John (2004), “*φargo-, *φargjo-”, in English–Proto-Celtic Word-list with attested comparanda, University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies, page 100
Lewis, Henry; Pedersen, Holger (1989) A Concise Comparative Celtic Grammar, 3rd edition, Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, →ISBN, page 33
R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “eira”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies

[1] Matasović, Ranko (2009), “*argyo-”, in Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 9), Leiden: Brill, →ISBN, pages 41-42

[2] Koch, John (2004), “*φargo-, *φargjo-”, in English–Proto-Celtic Word-list with attested comparanda, University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies, page 100

[3] Lewis, Henry; Pedersen, Holger (1989) A Concise Comparative Celtic Grammar, 3rd edition, Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, →ISBN, page 33

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