Celticism

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A feature or word borrowed from the languages, culture, or traditions of the Celtic peoples; an expression characteristic of Celtic origin used in speech or writing; an influence traceable to Celtic linguistic or cultural heritage
2. A characteristic element derived from Celtic languages or culture, including vocabulary, idioms, or customs integrated into another language; a borrowing rooted in the Celtic linguistic tradition; a cultural trait linked to Celtic ancestry or history
3. A linguistic or cultural trait taken from Celtic sources and incorporated into another system, such as a language or literature; a Celtic-inspired term or phrase; a practice or concept originating from Celtic peoples that appears in other contexts

Etymology: "Celticism" is a plain formation: the noun "Celt" (the name for the peoples of ancient Europe who spoke Celtic languages) with the suffix "-ism," which turns a people or group into a term for a characteristic, practice or idiom associated with them. The pattern is the same as in "Gallicism" (a French idiom borrowed into another language) or "Hellenism" (Greek influence or character), and the word follows that model closely. The sense has broadened over time. A Celticism began as a feature of the Celtic languages themselves, and the term now covers any trait taken from Celtic sources and placed in another system. An English writer who borrows a Gaelic or Welsh turn of phrase, or a literary motif drawn from Celtic legend, is producing a Celticism in this sense. The suffix carries the idea of borrowing outward from a source, so the word describes the traffic between cultures as much as the source culture itself.

Synonyms: Celticism, Celtic expression, Celtic word