Where does “Celtic” come from?

Celtic derives from Latin celticus, formed with the Latin suffix -icus, ultimately from Ancient Greek Κελτοί, a people whose name may derive from Proto-Indo-European kelh₂-.

Celtic (English): Of the Celts; Of the style of the Celts

Definitions

  1. Of the Celts; Of the style of the Celts

Ancestry of “Celtic”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1FrenchceltiqueCeltic
2LatinCelticusCeltic; the Celtic language
3LatinCeltaa Celt
4LatinCeltaethe Celts
5Ancient GreekΚελτοίthe Celts
6Proto-Celtickel-to—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱelh₂-to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab

Words derived from “Celtic”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- →Every word from Proto-Celtic kel-to →Every word from Ancient Greek Κελτοί →
Celtic — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer