welsh

welsh · verb¹

Sometimes held to derive from disparaging stereotypes about the Welsh, though firm evidence of this derivation is lacking. Compare gyp (“swindle”), probably from Gypsy, and jew (“defraud”), from Jew.

welsh · adjective²

1. Old English · inherited fromwelise
2. Old English · inherited fromwelise
3. English todaywelsh

Inherited from Old English welise (“foreign”).

Welsh · adjective, noun, proper noun³

1. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*walhiskaz“Celt; later Roman”
2. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*walhisk
3. Old English · inherited fromwǣlisċ“Briton; Roman; Celt”
4. Middle English · inherited fromWalsch
5. English todayWelsh

From Middle English Walsch, Welische, from Anglian Old English wǣlisċ (“Briton; Roman; Celt”), from Proto-West Germanic *walhisk, from Proto-Germanic *walhiskaz (“Celt; later Roman”) (thus cognate with German welsch, Dutch Waals, Danish vælsk, Old Norse valskr), from *walhaz (“Celt, Roman”) (compare Old English wealh), from the name of the Gaulish tribe, the Volcae (recorded only in Latin contexts). This word was borrowed from Germanic into Slavic (compare Old Church Slavonic Влахъ (Vlaxŭ, “Vlachs, Romanians”), Medieval Greek Βλάχος (Blákhos)). Doublet of Vellish. Compare Walloon, walnut, Vlach, Walach, Gaul, Cornwall.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 11ᵗʰc. Of or pertaining to Wales.
• from 16ᵗʰc. Of or pertaining to the Celtic language of Wales.
• from 17ᵗʰc. Designating plants or animals from or associated with Wales.
• from 5ᵗʰc. Indigenously British; pertaining to the Celtic peoples who inhabited much of Britain before the Roman occupation.
• from 11th c. The people of Wales.
• from 10th c. The Welsh language.