madfall

Welsh
FWOTD – 22 July 2014
Madfall

Etymology

A variant of mabddall m (“person who is born blind; blindworm, slowworm; lizard; newt”), from mab (“son”) +‎ dall (“blind”).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈmadvaɬ/

Noun

madfall m or f (plural madfallod or madfeill or madfeillod)

  1. lizard
    • 1853, Aeron Afan, sef y Cyfansoddiadau Buddugol yn Eisteddfod Iforaidd Aberafan‎, page 49:
      Mae cymmaint a phum tylwyth o leiaf o madfallod wedi eu darganfod yma.
      As many as five families of lizards have been discovered here.
    • 1854, Yr Eurgrawn Wesleyaidd neu Drysorfa o Wyboddaeth Ddwyfol, Iachusol a Chyffredinol‎, page 151:
      Fel y fadfall, newidiant eu lliw gyda phob cyflwr a sefyllfa.
      As the lizard, they change their colour with every condition and situation.
    Synonym: genau-goeg
  2. slowworm, blindworm
    Synonym: neidr ddefaid
  3. newt
    Synonym: madfall ddŵr

Derived terms
  • boda madfall (“lizard buzzard”)
  • cog fadfallod (“lizard cuckoo”)
  • madfall ddŵr (“newt”)
  • madfall fonitor (“monitor lizard”)
  • madfall gyffredin (“common lizard”)
  • madfall y tywod (“sand lizard”)
  • tegeirian y fadfall (“lizard orchid”)

Mutation
Welsh mutation
radicalsoftnasalaspirate
madfall fadfall unchanged unchanged
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), “madfall”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies
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