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)

1. 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