Armenian

գայլ (gayl)

Alternative forms

• գել ‎(gel) (dialectal)

Noun

գայլ • ‎(gayl)

1. wolf

Declension

Old Armenian

Etymology 1

From Proto-Indo-European *waylos. Possibly cognate with Middle Irish fáel, from Proto-Celtic *waylos. The Armenian and Celtic words are usually explained as ‘the howler’ and derived from Proto-Indo-European *way-; compare Old Armenian վայ ‎(vay), Middle Irish fae ‎(“alas”). Replaced the usual Proto-Indo-European *wĺ̥kʷos ‎(“wolf”) due to taboo. Georgian მგელი ‎(mgeli), Laz მგერი ‎(mgeri) and Mingrelian გერი ‎(geri) are probably borrowed from Armenian.

Alternative forms

• գայղ ‎(gaył)

Noun

գայլ • ‎(gayl)

1. wolf

   գայլ մատակ‎ ― gayl matak ― she-wolf

   կորիւն գայլոյ‎ ― koriwn gayloy ― wolf's cub

   ցնկնիլ գայլոյ‎ ― cʿnknil gayloy ― whelping

   ոռնալ գայլոյ‎ ― oṙnal gayloy ― howling

Declension

Derived terms

Descendants

• Armenian: գայլ ‎(gayl)

Etymology 2

From the above sense of “wolf” on the model of Ancient Greek λύκος ‎(lúkos), meaning both “wolf” and “bit for a horse”. Compare also Latin lupus ‎(“wolf; bit with jagged teeth”).

Alternative forms

• գել ‎(gel)
• գէլ ‎(gēl)

Noun

գայլ • ‎(gayl)

1. muzzle, cover for nose and mouth, bit

   գայլ ի բերան ածել, արկանել, հարկանել‎ ― gayl i beran acel, arkanel, harkanel ― to gag

Declension

References

• Petrosean, H. Matatʿeay V. (1879), “գայլ”, in Nor Baṙagirkʿ Hay-Angliarēn [New Dictionary Armenian–English], Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
• Awetikʿean, G.; Siwrmēlean, X.; Awgerean, M. (1836–1837), “գայլ”, in Nor baṙgirkʿ haykazean lezui [New Dictionary of the Armenian Language] (in Old Armenian), Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
• Ačaṙean, Hračʿeay (1971–1979), “գայլ”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Dictionary of Armenian Root Words] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, Yerevan: University Press, published 1926–1935
• Martirosyan, Hrach (2010) Etymological Dictionary of the Armenian Inherited Lexicon (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 8), Leiden, Boston: Brill, page 196