Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
cefn. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
cefn, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
cefn in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
cefn you have here. The definition of the word
cefn will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
cefn, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Welsh
Etymology
From Middle Welsh keuen. Related to Breton kein (“back”), Cornish keyn (“back”), Gaulish Cebenna (“ridge, height”) (whence French Cévennes).[1]
Pronunciation
Noun
cefn m (plural cefnau or cefnoedd or cefnydd)
- (anatomy) back, rear
- (figuratively) back, support
- Synonyms: cefnogaeth, cynorthwywr
- ridge
- Synonym: trum
- (agriculture) ridge (ploughed land between two parallel furrows)
- (geology) vertical furrow, fissure or fault in a rock
- Synonyms: agen, hollt
- garden bed
- Synonyms: gwely gardd, talwrn
- (biblical) furlong (unit of length equivalent to a stadion)
- Synonym: ystad
- middle, center
- Synonyms: canol, craidd, perfedd
Derived terms
- ar gefn (“in addition to, as a consequence of, with regard to; at the expense of; on top, upon, up to”)
- cefngoch (“red-backed”)
- cefn cynhaeaf (“mid-harvest; prime of life”)
- cefn dydd; cefn dydd golau (“midday, broad daylight”)
- cefn dyn (“successful man, man of substance”)
- cefn esgid (“uppers”) (of a boot)
- cefn gefn, cefngefn (“back to back, addorsed; at variance”)
- cefn gweilgi (“mid-ocean”)
- cefn gwlad (“mid-country, heart of the countryside”)
- cefn llaw (“back of the hand; back-hander”)
- cefn lloer (“full moon; crescent of the moon, half moon”)
- cefn nos, cefn y nos (“midnight, dead of night”)
- cefn troed (“instep”)
- cefn y drin (“rearguard”)
- (horse tackle) cefndres (“backband”)
- cefnddu (“black-backed”)
- cefnog (“backed, having a back; strong, stout brave”)
- cefnu (“forsake, abandon, back off”)
- (rugby) cefnwr (“fullback”)
- cefnwyn (“white-backed”)
- cefnwyrdd (“green-backed”)
- gwarcefn (“nape”)
- tu cefn (“behind”)
- wrth gefn (“in reserve; following, in support”)
- yng nghefn (“behind one's back, underhand; following, pursuing”)
- (agriculture) rhych (“furrow”)
Mutation
Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Welsh.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.
References
- ^ R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “cefn”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies