See also: gaule, gaulé, and Gäule

French edit

Etymology edit

Inherited from Middle French Gaule, from Old French Gaule, Waulle (Gaul), from Frankish *Walha(land) (Gaul, literally land of the Romans or foreigners), from *Walha (foreigners, Romans, Celts), from Proto-Germanic *walhaz (outlander, foreigner, Celt), probably of Celtic origin, from the same source as Latin Volcae (name of a Celtic tribe in Southern Germany, which later emigrated to Gaul). Cognate with Old High German Walh, Walah (Celt, Roman, Gaul), Old English Wealh, Walh (a non-germanic foreigner, Celt), Old Norse Valir (Gauls, Frenchmen). More at Wales, Cornwall, Walloon.

Despite their similar appearance, Latin Gallia is not the origin of French Gaule. During the evolution from Latin to French, stressed initial /ˈɡa-/ yielded /dʒa/ > /ʒa/ (cf. Latin gamba > French jambe), while unstressed final /-lia/ yielded /ʎə/ > /j/ (cf. Latin filia > French fille). Thus, the regular outcome of Latin Gallia is /ʒaj/ ⟨Jaille⟩, which is attested in several French toponyms: La Jaille-Yvon, Saint-Mars-la-Jaille, etc.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ɡol/
  • (file)

Proper noun edit

Gaule f

  1. Gaul (historical region roughly corresponding to modern France, Luxembourg, Belgium and Switzerland along with parts of Italy, the Netherlands and Germany)

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Descendants edit

  • English: Gaul

Anagrams edit

Middle French edit

Etymology edit

From Old French Gaule, Waulle, of Frankish origin.

Proper noun edit

Gaule f

  1. Gaul (former name of France)

Descendants edit

Plautdietsch edit

Noun edit

Gaule

  1. plural of Gaul