madfall

Welsh

FWOTD – 22 July 2014

Etymology

A variant of mabddall m (“person who is born blind; blindworm, slowworm; lizard; newt”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmadvaɬ/

Noun

madfall m or f (plural madfeill or madfallod or madfeillod)

1. lizard
   • 1853, Aeron Afan, sef y Cyfansoddiadau Buddugol yn Eisteddfod Iforaidd Aberafan, page 49:

     Mae cymmaint a phum tylwyth o leiaf o madfallod wedi eu darganfod yma.

     As many as five families of lizards have been discovered here.

   • 1854, Yr Eurgrawn Wesleyaidd neu Drysorfa o Wyboddaeth Ddwyfol, Iachusol a Chyffredinol, page 151:

     Fel y fadfall, newidiant eu lliw gyda phob cyflwr a sefyllfa.

     As the lizard, they change their colour with every condition and situation.

2. slowworm, blindworm
3. newt

Synonyms

• (lizard, newt): genau-goeg

Derived terms

• madfall ddŵr
• madfall gyffredin
• madfall symudliw

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
madfall	fadfall	unchanged	unchanged
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References

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