Where does “gearrchaile” come from?

gearrchaile (Irish) comes from Irish gearr, from Middle Irish gerr, from Proto-Celtic gerros, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- — to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines.

gearrchaile (Irish): young girl, lass

Definitions

  1. young girl, lass

Ancestry of “gearrchaile”, step by step

gearrchaile traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Irish gearr

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Irishgearrshort; curt; deficient, inadequate
2Middle Irishgerrshort
3Proto-Celticgerros—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰer-to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines

via Irish caile

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Irishcailegirl, wench
2Old Irishcaileserving-girl, maid
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- →Every word from Proto-Celtic gerros →Every word from Middle Irish gerr →