Gaule

See also: gaule, gaulé, and Gäule

French

Etymology

From Middle French Gaule, from Old French Gaule, Waulle (Gaul), from Frankish *Walhaland (Gaul, literally land of the Romans or foreigners), from *Walha (foreigners, Romans, Celts), from Proto-Germanic *walhaz (outlander, foreigner, Celt), probably of Celtic origin, from the same source as Latin Volcae (name of a Celtic tribe in Southern Germany, which later emmigrated to Gaul). Cognate with Old High German Walh, Walah (Celt, Roman, Gaul), Old English Wealh, Walh (a non-germanic foreigner, Celt), Old Norse Valir (Gauls, Frenchmen). More at Wales, Cornwall, Walloon.

Despite their similar appearance, Latin Gallia is probably not the origin of French Gaule; the similarity is purely coincidental. According to regular sound changes in the development of Old French, Latin g before a becomes j (compare gamba, whence jambe), and the i of terminal -ia transposes to the preceding syllable (compare gloire from gloria). Thus, the regular outcome of Latin Gallia is Jaille, a component still seen in several French placenames (e.g. La Jaille-Yvon, Saint-Mars-la-Jaille, etc).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɡol/

Proper noun

Gaule f

  1. Gaul, former name of France.

Anagrams


Middle French

Etymology

From Old French Gaule, Waulle, of Frankish origin.

Proper noun

Gaule f

  1. Gaul (former name of France)

Descendants


Pennsylvania German

Noun

Gaule

  1. plural of Gaul
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