Reconstruction:Proto-Celtic/bistis

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

From Proto-Indo-European *gʷist- (“twig, finger”). Cognate with Old Norse kvistr (“branch”) and perhaps Albanian gisht (“finger”).

Noun

*bistis m

1. finger

Declension

Masculine/feminine i-stem
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	*bistis	*bistī	*bistīs
vocative	*bisti	*bistī	*bistīs
accusative	*bistim	*bistī	*bistims
genitive	*bisteis	*bistyow	*bistyom
dative	*bistei	*bistibom	*bistibos
locative	*bistei	*?	*?
instrumental	*bistī	*bistibim	*bistibis

Descendants

• Proto-Brythonic:
  • Breton: biz, bis
    • ⇒ Breton: bizou (“ring”)
      • → French: bijou (see there for further descendants)
  • Old Cornish: bis, bes
  • Middle Welsh: bys
• Middle Irish: bissib (dative plural)