The Wide World of Word Origins: English Words Derived from Gaelic

Here we present 15 words that passed through Gaelic on their way to English. Some are stereotypically Gaelic, like bog and clan, but others, like loop and curmudgeon, may surprise you. You can read more about words from the Emerald Isle in Beyond Shamrocks and Leprechauns.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. curmudgeon
    an irascible, cantankerous person full of stubborn ideas
    “Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch” is an animated adaptation of the classic holiday story, featuring the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch as the legendary Christmas curmudgeon. Washington Post (Nov 7, 2018)
    Although the etymology of this word is disputed, one theory suggests it derives from the Gaelic muigean, which means "disagreeable person".
  2. bog
    wet spongy ground of decomposing vegetation
    Carnivorous plants thrive in bogs and other marginal habitats with limited nutrients by surviving on the bodies of small animals. New York Times (Aug 13, 2019)
    From the Gaelic adjective bog, meaning "soft, moist."
  3. glen
    a narrow secluded valley (in the mountains)
    She’d never forget the stories about Oakwald Forest, legends of dark, terrible glens and deep, still pools, and caves full of light and heavenly singing. Throne of Glass
    From Gaelic gleann, "mountain valley."
  4. wraith
    a ghostly figure, especially one seen shortly before death
    They haunt the windows of derelict buildings, appearing like wraiths, disappearing as quickly. Without Refuge
    This is a Scottish word of uncertain origin, although one theory suggests it derives from Gaelic arrach, "specter, apparition."
  5. whiskey
    a liquor made from fermented mash of grain
    The street was deserted, but inside the café there were half a dozen customers drinking beer or Santa Lucia wine or whiskey. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
    From Gaelic uisge beatha, which literally means "water of life."
  6. spree
    a brief indulgence of your impulses
    Early one Friday evening, when the store was crowded, our entire family went in for a shopping spree. Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High
    Ultimately from Gaelic sprédh. "cattle, wealth," — that is, the booty that would be plundered by someone on a spree.
  7. bob
    a hair style for women and children
    I eye my mother, watching her nod eagerly, her short blond bob moving up and down at the doctor’s words. Five Feet Apart
    From Gaelic babag, "cluster".
  8. trouser
    (usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately
    The woman wore a fashionable wrap, high shiny boots, and tapered pants; the man lounged in a rumpled shirt and stained trousers, giving an air of almost deliberate vulgarity. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
    From Gaelic triubhas, "close-fitting shorts."
  9. loop
    anything with a round or oval shape
    “How much?” one of the girls pointed to a necklace with red beads in which you’d tied your special loops and knots. The Bridge Home
    From Gaelic lub, "bend."
  10. glom
    latch or seize upon; take hold of
    I hate the way it gloms on to me like some kind of parasite. An Ember in the Ashes
    From Gaelic glam, "handle awkwardly, grab voraciously, devour."
  11. forsythia
    any of various early blooming oleaceous shrubs of the genus Forsythia; native to eastern Asia and southern Europe but widely cultivated for their branches of bright yellow bell-shaped flowers
    One of the earliest shrubs that blossoms in the springtime is the forsythia. Froehlich, Hugo B.
    The flower is named for William Forsyth, who brought it back from China. His last name, from fearsithe, means "man of peace."
  12. spunky
    showing courage
    “For a little one,” he murmured, looking down into her eyes, “you’re some spunky fighter, believe me!” Gage, George W.
    From Gaelic spong, "tinder, pith, sponge."
  13. curd
    coagulated milk; used to make cheese
    Cheshire residents began by counting the number of cows in the community and estimating the number and quality of curds needed to produce the enormous cheese. Washington Post (Jul 13, 2019)
    This word was originally crud in 15th-century English, from Gaelic gruth, meaning " to press or coagulate."
  14. clan
    group of people related by blood or marriage
    Whole nomadic clans shifted their pastures deeper into the tundra, keeping their herds distant from any sign of the state. The New Yorker (Aug 15, 2019)
    From Gaelic clann "family, stock, offspring."
  15. inglenook
    a corner by a fireplace
    She was not conscious of how heavily she leaned on her father's arm, which lovingly enfolded her, leading her to the big chair in the inglenook. Taggart, Marion Ames
    The ingle part of inglenook is from a Gaelic word for "fire," aingeal.
Created on Mon Aug 18 14:49:32 EDT 2014 (updated Fri Aug 16 16:28:04 EDT 2019)

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