cyffylog

Welsh

Cyffylog

Etymology

From Middle Welsh cyffylog, from Proto-Brythonic *kėfɨlọg, thought to be equivalent to ceffyl (“horse”) +‎ -og due to the similarity between the bird's call and the snort of a horse, cf. the common snipe referred to in English as the horse gowk, or as gafr y corsydd (“the marsh goat”) in Welsh for a similar phenomenon. Cognate with Cornish kevelek and Breton kefeleg.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /kəˈfəlɔɡ/

Noun

cyffylog m (plural cyffylogod)

woodcock

Derived terms

nid wrth ei big y mae prynu cyffylog (“one doesn't buy a woodcock by looking at its beak; never judge a book by its cover”)

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
cyffylog	gyffylog	nghyffylog	chyffylog
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), “cyffylog”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies

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