Etymology Explorer › Scottish Gaelic

Where does “àrd-mhàthair” come from?

àrd-mhàthair (Scottish Gaelic) comes from Scottish Gaelic àrd, from Old Irish ard, from Proto-Celtic ardwos, from Proto-Indo-European h₃erdʰwós, from Proto-Indo-European h₃erdʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European -wós — Creates adjectives from verb stems.

àrd-mhàthair (Scottish Gaelic): matriarch

Definitions

  1. matriarch

Ancestry of “àrd-mhàthair”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Scottish Gaelicàrdhigh; chief, eminent person
2Old Irishardhigh; height
3Proto-Celticardwoshigh
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃erdʰwós—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃erdʰ-to increase, grow; upright, high
6Proto-Indo-European-wósCreates adjectives from verb stems
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -wós →