Gaulish

/ˈɡɔːlɪʃ/ adjective

Definition

Relating to or characteristic of ancient Gaul, its inhabitants, or their Celtic language spoken before the Roman conquest.

Etymology

From 'Gaul' (Latin 'Gallia') + '-ish' (English suffix). Gaulish was a Celtic language distinct from Latin, spoken in what is now France until it was gradually replaced by Latin-derived Romance languages.

Kelly Says

Gaulish is a ghost language we know about mainly from Roman sources and a few inscriptions—linguists had to reconstruct it like detectives, and DNA evidence now shows that the Romans didn't replace the Gauls so much as assimilate them culturally and linguistically.

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