Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Donegal” come from?

Donegal derives from Irish Dún na nGall, a place name meaning "fort of the foreigners" that historically designated a territory in northwestern Ireland.

Donegal (English): A type of coarse tweed made in this county; A...

Definitions

  1. A type of coarse tweed made in this county; A...

Ancestry of “Donegal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1IrishDún na nGall—
2Irishgallforeigner; Anglified Irish person; Alternative...
3Irish-ánA suffix used to derive instruments, diminutives,...
4Middle Irish-án—
5Old Irish-ándiminutive suffix
6Primitive Irish-ᚐᚌᚅᚔdiminutive suffix
7Proto-Celtic*-agnos—
Every word from Proto-Celtic *-agnos →