Reconstruction:Proto-Celtic/ɸaltu-

This Proto-Celtic 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-Celtic

Etymology

Usually related to Proto-Indo-European *pel- (“to fold”), but the source of the vowel *a is unclear.[1]

Noun

*ɸaltu- gender unattested

  1. joint

Inflection

When masculine:

Masculine/feminine u-stem
singular dual plural
nominative *ɸaltus *ɸaltū *ɸaltowes
vocative *ɸaltu *ɸaltū *ɸaltūs
accusative *ɸaltum *ɸaltū *ɸaltuns
genitive *ɸaltous *ɸaltous *ɸaltowom
dative *ɸaltou *ɸaltubom *ɸaltubos
locative *? *? *?
instrumental *ɸaltū *ɸaltubim *ɸaltubis

When neuter:

Neuter u-stem
singular dual plural
nominative *ɸaltu *ɸaltū *ɸaltwā
vocative *ɸaltu *ɸaltū *ɸaltwā
accusative *ɸaltu *ɸaltū *ɸaltwā
genitive *ɸaltous *ɸaltous *ɸaltowom
dative *ɸaltou *ɸaltubom *ɸaltubos
locative *? *? *?
instrumental *ɸaltū *ɸaltubim *ɸaltubis

Reconstruction

  • Matasović erroneously writes that Old Irish alt had neuter o-stem inflection; in reality, no such inflection exists (it is a u-stem).
  • The gender of this word in Old Irish is unclear; both neuter and masculine genders were used contemporarily.

Descendants

  • Proto-Brythonic: *alt
    • Old Breton: alt
    • ⇒ Proto-Brythonic: *köβ̃alt
      • Middle Breton: couffaut
      • Cornish: chefals, (Revived spelling) kevals
  • Old Irish: alt m or n (“joint”)
    • Middle Irish: alt (“joint”)

References

  1. ^ Matasović, Ranko (2009) “*falto-”, in Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 9), Leiden: Brill, →ISBN, page 121
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