Reconstruction:Proto-Brythonic/kɨlx

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

The connection between this word and Old Welsh circhl (from Proto-Brythonic *kɨrxl, from Latin circulus) is unclear; perhaps there was metathesis of the r and l to *kɨlxr followed by cluster simplification to *kɨlx. The fact that both Breton and Welsh show reflexes of *kɨlx means that such a change must have happened before Proto-Brythonic broke up into its daughter languages, in which case Old Welsh circhl would reflect either an unaltered byform existing alongside the altered form or a reborrowing from the Latin.

A possibility mentioned by Morris Jones is that *kɨlx is inherited from Proto-Indo-European *kuklós (with metathesis of kl to lk > lx) and thus cognate with Ancient Greek κύκλος (kúklos), Old English hwēol and Sanskrit चक्र (cakra).[1]

A third possibility is that *kɨlx could be borrowed (still with metathesis) from Latin cyclus, from Ancient Greek κύκλος (kúklos).

Noun

*kɨlx m

  1. circle

Descendants

  • Breton: kelc'h
  • Cornish: kylgh
  • Middle Welsh: kylch
  • ⇒ Cumbric: kelchyn

References

  1. ^ Morris Jones, John (1913) A Welsh Grammar, Historical and Comparative, Oxford: Clarendon Press, § 215 ii 2, page 414
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