Etymology Explorer › Scottish Gaelic

Where does “gal” come from?

gal (Scottish Gaelic) comes from Old Irish gal, from Proto-Celtic galā — might, ability.

gal (Scottish Gaelic): verbal noun of gail; crying, wailing; wail

Definitions

  1. verbal noun of gail; crying, wailing; wail

Ancestry of “gal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Irishgalvalour; valor; warlike ardour, fury
2Proto-Celticgalāmight, ability
Every word from Proto-Celtic galā →