gwern

Breton

Etymology

From Middle Breton guern, from Old Breton guern, guaern, from Proto-Brythonic *gwern, from Proto-Celtic *wernā (compare Gaulish uerna, Old Irish fern and French vergne).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡwɛrn/

Noun

gwern ? (plural gwernioù, singulative gwernenn)

1. alders

Noun

gwern f (plural gwernioù)

1. mast
2. swamp

Cornish

Etymology

From Old Cornish guern, from Proto-Brythonic *gwern, from Proto-Celtic *wernā (compare Gaulish uerna, Old Irish fern and French vergne).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡwɛrn/

Noun

gwern m (singulative gwernen, plural gwernennow or gwernednow)

1. (collective) alder
   1. swamp, marsh, marshland
2. (in the singular) mast

Mutation

  Mutation of gwern  

Cornish consonant mutation
unmutated	soft	aspirate	hard	mixed	mixed after 'th
gwern	wern	unchanged	kwern	hwern	wern

Welsh

Etymology

From Proto-Brythonic *gwern, from Proto-Celtic *wernā (compare Old Irish fern). Cognate with Old Armenian գերան (geran) and Albanian verr (“alder”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡwɛrn/

Noun

gwern f pl (singulative gwernen, plural gwerni or gwernydd or gwernau or gwernenni or gwernennau)

1. alders (the wood of which resists decay in water); made of alder
   1. masts of ships

      Synonym: hwylbrenni

   2. (alder) sticks, staves, shafts of lances
2. alder carr, alder grove, alder marsh, swamp, quagmire; damp meadow

   Synonym: gwernllwyn

   1. (sometimes figuratively) hell

Derived terms

• boda gwerni (“marsh harrier”)
• boled gwern (“alder bolete”)
• bras gwerni (“swamp sparrow”)
• cap gwernydd (“alder cap”)
• cap llaeth gwernydd (“alder milkcap”)
• cwpan gwern (“alder goblet”)
• gwern fawr (“mainmasts”)
• gwern flaen (“foremasts”)
• gwern gwerdd (“green alders”)
• gwern ôl (“mizzenmasts”)
• gwernllwyn (“alder grove”)
• gwernog (“abounding in alders”)
• gwybedog y gwern (“alder flycatcher”)
• telor y gwerni (“marsh warbler”)
• titw'r wern (“marsh tit”)
• ysgwydd y gwern (“alder bracket”)

 

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
gwern	wern	ngwern	unchanged
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References

• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “gwern”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies