From Middle Welsh Prydein, from early Proto-Brythonic *Pritanī, a variant of *Pritenī, which survives in Prydyn (“Picts”) and as an early borrowing in Old Irish Cruthin, Irish Cruithne (“Picts”), perhaps from a Proto-Celtic *Kʷritanī, *Kʷritenī, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷer- (“to do”).
The Modern Welsh continuation of Latin Brittānia, in contrast, is Brython. Also see Britto (“a Briton”).
Prydain f
In medieval texts, the term often refers to the northernmost part of the island, beyond the Forth and Clyde. Where the island as a whole is meant, the phrase Ynys Prydain (Latin insula Britanniae, "Isle of Britain") is commonly used.
Welsh mutation | |||
---|---|---|---|
radical | soft | nasal | aspirate |
Prydain | Brydain | Mhrydain | Phrydain |
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs. |