coracle

Where does the word "coracle" come from? It comes from Welsh corwgl, and was adopted directly into English (1540s).

Coracle’s story begins in Welsh: corwgl meant “round boat.” A round boat of wicker covered with hide (later tarred cloth); coracle-men still fish the River Teifi at Cenarth. It reached English by 1540s as coracle. An ancient craft: Julius Caesar's Civil War describes him copying British-style boats of wicker and hide in Spain in 49 BC. Today, coracle means a small round boat of wickerwork covered with watertight material.

1. Stage 1 · Welsh · medieval corwgl "round boat", a round boat of wicker covered with hide (later tarred cloth); coracle-men still fish the River Teifi at Cenarth.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1540s coracle "small round boat", an ancient craft: Julius Caesar's Civil War describes him copying British-style boats of wicker and hide in Spain in 49 BC.