Reconstruction:Proto-Celtic/kaɸerūxs

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.

Possibly from an extension of Proto-Indo-European *kápros (“goat”) (compare *gabros (“goat”)), and thus cognate with Latin caper and Old Norse hafr; but the -ɸr- is difficult to explain as it normally should have become -br- in Proto-Celtic.

Stifter proposes a stem-ablaut variant of Proto-Indo-European *kápros (“goat”), *kápero-, which then compounded with a zero-grade form of *h₃ekʷ- (“to see”) to form a root noun kaperoh₃kʷs. -oh₃- would regularly yield -ū- in a final syllable and -ā- elsewhere. The Brittonic forms would thus show a back-formation from the nominative singular, as a stem-final labial stop was not yielded.^[1]

*kaɸerūxs f

1. sheep

   Synonyms: *dametos, *owis

• Old Irish: cauru
  • Middle Irish: cáera
    • Irish: caora
    • Manx: keyrrey
    • Scottish Gaelic: caora
• ⇒ Middle Welsh: kaeriwrch (“roebuck”)
  • Welsh: caeriwrch (“roebuck”)