Gaule

Inherited from Middle French Gaule, from Old French Gaule, Waulle (“Gaul”), from Frankish *Walhaland (“Gaul”, literally “land of the Romans or foreigners”).

Cognate with Old High German Walh, Walah (“Celt, Roman, Gaul”), Old English wealh, walh (“a non-germanic foreigner, Celt”), Old Norse Valir (“Gauls, Frenchmen”). More at Wales, Cornwall, Walloon.

Despite their similar appearance, Latin Gallia is not the origin of French Gaule. During the evolution from Latin to French, stressed initial /ˈɡa-/ yielded /dʒa/ > /ʒa/ (cf. Latin gamba > French jambe), while unstressed final /-lia/ yielded /ʎə/ > /j/ (cf. Latin filia > French fille). Thus, the regular outcome of Latin Gallia is /ʒaj/ ⟨Jaille⟩, which is attested in several French toponyms: La Jaille-Yvon, Saint-Mars-la-Jaille, etc.

• IPA^(key): /ɡol/

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Gaule f

1. (chiefly historical) Gaul (a historical region of Western Europe referring to areas occupied by Celts during Roman times, roughly corresponding to modern France, Luxembourg, Belgium, most of Switzerland, and parts of Northern Italy (Lombardy), the Netherlands, and Germany west of the Rhine)

• gaulois
• Gaulois

• → English: Gaul

• algue
• légua
• lugea

From Old French Gaule, Waulle, of Frankish origin, from *Walhaland.

Gaule f

1. Gaul (a historical region of Western Europe referring to areas occupied by Celts during Roman times, roughly corresponding to modern France, Luxembourg, Belgium, most of Switzerland, and parts of Northern Italy (Lombardy), the Netherlands, and Germany west of the Rhine)
2. Gaul (former name of France)

• French: Gaule

Gaule

1. plural of Gaul