cyffylog
Welsh
Etymology
From Middle Welsh cyffylog, from Proto-Brythonic *kėfɨlọg, thought to be equivalent to ceffyl (“horse”) + -og due to the similarity between the bird's call and the snort of a horse, cf. the common snipe referred to in English as the horse gowk, or as gafr y corsydd (“the marsh goat”) in Welsh for a similar phenomenon. Cognate with Cornish kevelek and Breton kefeleg.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /kəˈfəlɔɡ/
Noun
cyffylog m (plural cyffylogod)
Derived terms
- nid wrth ei big y mae prynu cyffylog (“one doesn't buy a woodcock by looking at its beak; never judge a book by its cover”)
Mutation
| radical | soft | nasal | aspirate |
|---|---|---|---|
| cyffylog | gyffylog | nghyffylog | chyffylog |
Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Welsh.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.
References
- R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “cyffylog”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies