wealh

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *walhaz, from a Celtic name also represented by Latin Volcae (southern Celtic tribe). See also Welsh, of related origin. In sense “slave”, compare semantic formation of Slav, meaning the ethnic group, but sense extended to slave due to enslavement of the group.

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /wæɑlx/

Noun

wealh m (nominative plural wēalas)

  1. Celt, Welshman; foreigner
  2. slave, serf

Derived terms

  • wealhbaso
  • wealhcynn
  • walhnutu
  • wealhmore
  • wealhstod
  • wealhwyrt

See also

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Last modified on 24 January 2013, at 07:17