Reconstruction:Proto-Brythonic/kɨlx

This Proto-Brythonic 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.

The connection between this word and Old Welsh circhl (from Proto-Brythonic *kɨrxl, from Latin circulus) is unclear; perhaps there was metathesis of the r and l to *kɨlxr followed by cluster simplification to *kɨlx. The fact that both Breton and Welsh show reflexes of *kɨlx means that such a change must have happened before Proto-Brythonic broke up into its daughter languages, in which case Old Welsh circhl would reflect either an unaltered byform existing alongside the altered form or a reborrowing from the Latin.

A possibility mentioned by Morris Jones is that *kɨlx is inherited from Proto-Indo-European *kuklós (with metathesis of kl to lk > lx) and thus cognate with Ancient Greek κύκλος (kúklos), Old English hwēol and Sanskrit चक्र (cakra).

A third possibility is that *kɨlx could be borrowed (still with metathesis) from Latin cyclus, from Ancient Greek κύκλος (kúklos).

*kɨlx m

1. circle

• Breton: kelc'h
• Cornish: kylgh
• Middle Welsh: kylch
  • Welsh: cylch