Etymology Explorer › Scottish Gaelic

Where does “gaol” come from?

gaol (Scottish Gaelic) comes from Middle Irish gáel, from Proto-Celtic gailos, from Proto-Indo-European gʰoylos — frothing, arrogant, tempestuous, violent, wanton;...

gaol (Scottish Gaelic): love, affection

Definitions

  1. love, affection

Ancestry of “gaol”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Irishgáelrelationship, kinship; relative, kin
2Proto-Celticgailos—
3Proto-Indo-Europeangʰoylosfrothing, arrogant, tempestuous, violent, wanton;...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰoylos →