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Maeshowe

Entymology of Maeshowe — discussed with experts

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PeterH P
PeterH May 2, 2005 21:44:55
Replying to hamish

As far as I understand, the term seems to be used in different ways. A Briton living in AS territory might be called "wealh" meaning slave. On the other hand, the same word was used for someone from elsewhere - a foreigner and specifically a Welshman. The term seems derogatory like the Cape Dutch "Kaffir" or American "nigger". You also get Norðwalas for North Wales and Norðwealcynn for the Welsh people.

P PeterH
PeterH May 2, 2005 21:49:05
Replying to PeterH

PS Think I'm right in saying that the Welsh didn't like being called Welsh and so developed the idea of the Cymry - the brotherhood. Same word as in Cumberland and Cumbria.

B BigSweetie
BigSweetie May 3, 2005 01:11:40
Replying to PeterH

"wealh" meaning "foreigner" was an AS word which was applied to people from the kingdom of Strathclyde (which stretched from Wales up to the Dumbarton area). it is dervied from the Germanic root "walh-" meaning "foreign". in it's adjective form "waelisc" it gives us Welsh, and in its plural "wealas" it gives us Wales, and is the origin of the name Wallace

on a bit of a tangent, it is also the origin of the walnut, "the foreign nut", appearing as "walhhnutu" in 1050

Cheers
Andy