Welsh

Welsh
Welsh O.E. Wilisc, Wylisc (W.Saxon), Welisc, Wælisc (Anglian and Kentish), from Wealh, Walh "Celt, Briton, Welshman, non-Germanic foreigner;" in Tolkien's definition, "common Gmc. name for a man of what we should call Celtic speech," but also applied to speakers of Latin, hence O.H.G. Walh, Walah "Celt, Roman, Gaulish," and O.N. Valir "Gauls, Frenchmen" (Dan. vælsk "Italian, French, southern"); from P.Gmc. *Walkhiskaz, from a Celtic name represented by L. Volcæ (Caesar) "ancient Celtic tribe in southern Gaul." The word survives in Wales, Cornwall, Walloon, walnut, and in surnames Walsh and Wallace. Borrowed in O.C.S. as vlachu, and applied to Romanians, hence Wallachia. Among the English, Welsh was used disparagingly of inferior or substitute things, hence Welsh rabbit (1725), also perverted by folk-etymology as Welsh rarebit (1785).

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • welsh — welsh; welsh·er; welsh·man; welsh·ness; welsh·ry; welsh·ery; …   English syllables

  • welsh´er — welsh «wehlsh, wehlch», intransitive verb. Slang. 1. to cheat by failing to pay a bet. 2. to evade the fulfillment of an obligation: »to welsh on a promise, to welsh on a business deal. Also, welch. ╂[origin uncertain] –welsh´er, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • Welsh — Welsh, n. [1913 Webster] 1. The language of Wales, or of the Welsh people. [1913 Webster] 2. pl. The natives or inhabitants of Wales. [1913 Webster] Note: The Welsh call themselves Cymry, in the plural, and a Welshman Cymro, and their country… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • welsh — [welsh] vi. [19th c. slang, prob. < WELSH, with reference to alleged character traits of the Welsh] Slang 1. to cheat or swindle by failing to pay a bet or other debt 2. to evade (an obligation): Often with on welsher n …   English World dictionary

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