Where does “penfeddw” come from?

penfeddw (Welsh) comes from Welsh meddw, from Proto-Celtic medwos, from Proto-Celtic medu, from Proto-Indo-European médʰu — honey; honey wine, mead.

penfeddw (Welsh): lightheaded

Definitions

  1. lightheaded

Ancestry of “penfeddw”, step by step

penfeddw traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Welsh meddw

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Welshmeddwdrunk
2Proto-Celticmedwospertaining to or associated with mead
3Proto-Celticmedumead
4Proto-Indo-Europeanmédʰuhoney; honey wine, mead

via Welsh pen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Welshpenhead; chief; top, apex
2Proto-Brythonicpennhead
3Proto-Celtickʷennomhead
Every word from Proto-Indo-European médʰu →Every word from Proto-Celtic medu →Every word from Proto-Celtic medwos →