Reconstruction:Proto-Celtic/ɸaltu-

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

Usually related to Proto-Indo-European *pel- (“to fold”), but the source of the vowel *a is unclear.^[1]

Noun

*ɸaltu- gender unattested

joint

Inflection

When masculine:

Masculine/feminine u-stem
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	*ɸaltus	*ɸaltū	*ɸaltowes
vocative	*ɸaltu	*ɸaltū	*ɸaltūs
accusative	*ɸaltum	*ɸaltū	*ɸaltums
genitive	*ɸaltous	*ɸaltous	*ɸaltowom
dative	*ɸaltou	*ɸaltubom	*ɸaltubos
locative	*?	*?	*?
instrumental	*ɸaltū	*ɸaltubim	*ɸaltubis

When neuter:

Neuter u-stem
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	*ɸaltu	*ɸaltū	*ɸaltwā
vocative	*ɸaltu	*ɸaltū	*ɸaltwā
accusative	*ɸaltu	*ɸaltū	*ɸaltwā
genitive	*ɸaltous	*ɸaltous	*ɸaltowom
dative	*ɸaltou	*ɸaltubom	*ɸaltubos
locative	*?	*?	*?
instrumental	*ɸaltū	*ɸaltubim	*ɸaltubis

Reconstruction

Matasović erroneously writes that Old Irish alt had neuter o-stem inflection; in reality, no such inflection exists (it is a u-stem).
The gender of this word in Old Irish is unclear; both neuter and masculine genders were used contemporarily.

Descendants

Proto-Brythonic: *alt
- Old Breton: alt
- ⇒ Proto-Brythonic: *köβ̃alt
  - Middle Breton: couffaut
  - Cornish: chefals, (Revived spelling) kevals
Old Irish: alt m or n (“joint”)
- Middle Irish: alt (“joint”)
  - Irish: alt
  - Manx: olt
  - Scottish Gaelic: alt

References

^ Matasović, Ranko (2009) “*falto-”, in Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 9), Leiden: Brill, →ISBN, page 121

[1] Matasović, Ranko (2009) “*falto-”, in Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 9), Leiden: Brill, →ISBN, page 121

[1]

Reconstruction:Proto-Celtic/ɸaltu-

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