OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE.
395
Ptol. Mονάοιδα, Monapia (or Mona?) The E. Ir. god-name Manannán Mac Lir (son of the Sea) is connected with the Island; Skr. Manu, the Law-giver; Teutonic Mannus (Tacitus), Eng. man.
Picts; G. Cruithnich, for which name see under Britain. The name Picti can scarcely be separated from the Gaul. Pictavi, now Poitiers; and, if this be the case, the usual derivation from Lat. pictus, painted, must be abandoned. Windisch adduces E. Ir. cicht, engraver, carver, for which a Brittonic piht, pict may be claimed as a parallel (*qict); this again leaves the idea of tattooing intact, and so agrees with the historical facts.
Scotland, Scots; E. Ir. Scott, pl. n. Scuit, d. Scottaib, Irishmen; Adamnan—Scotia, Ireland, Scoti, the Irish, Scoti Britanniae, Scots of Dalriada, etc., Scoticus, Irish, Scotice, in the Gaelic language, Lat. (fourth cent.) Scotti, Scôti, *Skotto-s. Stokes translates the name as "masters, owners," allied to Got. skatts, money, Ger. schatz, treasure, stock, Ch. SI. skotŭ, property, cattle. The root skat, hurt, scathe, cut, of Eng. scathe, has been suggested, either as "cutters" or "tattooed ones" (so Isidore of Saville). Rhys has suggested connection with W. ysgwthr, a cutting, carving—"tattooed or painted men."
Wales, Welsh; Ag. S. Wealas, Walas, the Welsh—the name of the people in pl. being used for the country, Wylisc, Welsh, Wylisce men, the Welsh; sing, of Wealas is Wealh, a foreigner, Welshman, O. H. G. walh, foreigner, Celt, Ger. wal- in wal-nuss, Eng. wal-nut: from the Gaul. nation of the Volcae, bordering on the Germans, *Volko-s, *Volkâ, "the bathers," from volc, bathe (see failc in Dict.). Stokes connects the name with Lit. wìlkti, pull, referring to the restless wanderings of the Gauls.
