cefn

See also: Cefn

Welsh

Etymology

From Middle Welsh keuen. Related to Breton kein (back), Cornish keyn (back), Gaulish Cebenna (ridge, height) (whence French Cévennes).[1]

Pronunciation

Noun

cefn m (plural cefnau or cefnoedd or cefnydd)

  1. (anatomy) back, rear
    1. (figuratively) back, support
      Synonyms: cefnogaeth, cynorthwywr
  2. ridge
    Synonym: trum
    1. (agriculture) ridge (ploughed land between two parallel furrows)
    2. (geology) vertical furrow, fissure or fault in a rock
      Synonyms: agen, hollt
    3. garden bed
      Synonyms: gwely gardd, talwrn
    4. (biblical) furlong (unit of length equivalent to a stadion)
      Synonym: ystad
  3. middle, center
    Synonyms: canol, craidd, perfedd

Derived terms

  • ar gefn (in addition to, as a consequence of, with regard to; at the expense of; on top, upon, up to)
  • cefngoch (red-backed)
  • cefn cynhaeaf (mid-harvest; prime of life)
  • cefn dydd; cefn dydd golau (midday, broad daylight)
  • cefn dyn (successful man, man of substance)
  • cefn esgid (uppers) (of a boot)
  • cefn gefn, cefngefn (back to back, addorsed; at variance)
  • cefn gweilgi (mid-ocean)
  • cefn gwlad (mid-country, heart of the countryside)
  • cefn llaw (back of the hand; back-hander)
  • cefn lloer (full moon; crescent of the moon, half moon)
  • cefn nos, cefn y nos (midnight, dead of night)
  • cefn troed (instep)
  • cefn y drin (rearguard)
  • cefnddu (black-backed)
  • cefnog (backed, having a back; strong, stout brave)
  • cefnu (forsake, abandon, back off)
  • (rugby) cefnwr (fullback)
  • cefnwyn (white-backed)
  • cefnwyrdd (green-backed)
  • gwarcefn (nape)
  • wrth gefn (in reserve; following, in support)
  • yng nghefn (behind one's back, underhand; following, pursuing)
  • (agriculture) rhych (furrow)

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical soft nasal aspirate
cefn gefn nghefn chefn
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References

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