madfall

Welsh

FWOTD – 22 July 2014

Madfall

Etymology

A variant of mabddall m (“person who is born blind; blindworm, slow-worm; lizard; newt”), from mab (“son”) +‎ dall (“blind”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmadvaɬ/

Noun

madfall m or f (plural madfallod or madfeill or madfeillod)

1. lizard

   Synonym: genau-goeg

   • 1853, Aeron Afan, sef y Cyfansoddiadau Buddugol yn Eisteddfod Iforaidd Aberafan‎^[1], page 49:

     Mae cymmaint a phum tylwyth o leiaf o madfallod wedi eu darganfod yma.

     As many as five families of lizards have been discovered here.

   • 1854, Yr Eurgrawn Wesleyaidd neu Drysorfa o Wyboddaeth Ddwyfol, Iachusol a Chyffredinol‎^[2], page 151:

     Fel y fadfall, newidiant eu lliw gyda phob cyflwr a sefyllfa.

     As the lizard, they change their colour with every condition and situation.

2. slow-worm, blindworm (Anguis fragilis)

   Synonyms: neidr ddefaid, pwl-dall, slorwm

3. newt (Salamandridae)

   Synonym: madfall ddŵr

Derived terms

• boda madfall (“lizard buzzard”)
• cog fadfallod (“lizard cuckoo”)
• madfall ddŵr (“newt”)
• madfall fonitor (“monitor lizard”)
• madfall gyffredin (“common lizard”)
• madfall y tywod (“sand lizard”)
• tegeirian y fadfall (“lizard orchid”)

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
madfall	fadfall	unchanged	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), “madfall”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies