Reconstruction:Proto-Celtic/druwits

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.

Traditionally taken to be from *daru (“oak”) (from from Proto-Indo-European *dóru (“tree”)) + *wid-, the root of *windeti (“to know, to see”), thus meaning ‘oak-knower’ or ‘tree-knower’. Since 1960s the first part is often derived from Proto-Indo-European *drew- (“firm, solid, hard”), thus meaning ‘one with solid knowledge, great sage’. The connection with ‘oak’ is doubtful both on phonological and historical grounds (Pliny the Elder being the only ancient author drawing the connection, and proposing a folk etymology of the Celtic word as borrowed from Ancient Greek δρῦς (drûs, “oak tree”)). The first element being an intensifying adverbial modifier of the second element also fits better with other similar compounds preserved in Old Irish: suí (“wise man, sage”) < *suwits (“good knower”), duí (“idiot, fool”) < *duwits (“bad knower”), ainb (“ignorant”) < *anwits (“not knower”).

*druwits m

1. druid

• Proto-Brythonic: *drüw
  • Old Cornish: druw
  • Middle Welsh: dryw
    • Welsh: dryw
  • → Old English: drȳ (see there for further descendants)
• Old Irish: druí, druï (disyllabic in early poetry)
  • Irish: draoi
  • ⇒ Manx: druaight (via druídecht)
  • Scottish Gaelic: draoidh
• Gaulish: *druwits, druwides (nominative plural)
  • → Ancient Greek: δρυΐδαι (druḯdai, nominative plural)
    • → Late Latin: Druidae
  • → Latin: Druidēs (nom.pl.) (see there for further descendants)