Reconstruction:Proto-Brythonic/kuwann

This Proto-Brythonic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Brythonic

Etymology

From Proto-Celtic *kuwannos.

The descendants reflect dissimilation of pretonic *-uw- in differing ways. In West Brythonic this was fronted to *-ʉw-, giving Middle Welsh -u-, while in Southwest Brythonic this was lowered to *-ọw-. The latter has merged with the reflexes of Proto-Brythonic *-ow- in most dialects of Breton, but a distinction is maintained in Vannetais.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kuˈwanː/

Noun

*kuwann f

1. owl

Descendants

• Old Breton: couann, couhann
  • Middle Breton: couhenn, caouënn
    • Breton: kaouenn
      • → Cornish: cowan
  • Early Vannetais Breton: cohan [1732 CE]
    • Vannetais Breton: kohann
• Middle Welsh: cuan

References

Zair, Nicholas (2012) “Schrijver’s rules for British and Proto-Celtic *-ou̯- and *-uu̯- before a vowel”, in Laws and Rules in Indo-European‎^[2], pages 147-158

Schrijver, Peter C. H. (1995) Studies in British Celtic historical phonology (Leiden studies in Indo-European; 5), Amsterdam, Atlanta: Rodopi, page 335

R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “cuan”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies