Pictus

See also: pictus

Latin

Etymology

Superficially from Latin pictus (painted one), but probably rendering a Pictish autonym, probably related to the origin of another Celtic tribe, the Pictones (compare Poitiers); perhaps from a Proto-Celtic *Kʷritanī, *Kʷritenī, the Goidelic/Q-Celtic version of the Brittonic/P-Celtic *Pritani, whence Welsh Prydyn (Picts), Middle Irish Cruithne, Cruithen-túaith (Picts), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kʷer- (to do). Guto Rhys has noted a possible connection to Old Welsh Peithan, perhaps attesting the same element as Welsh gobaith (hope), although the etymology is uncertain, it would presumably derive from a Proto-Brythonic *pext-. More at Wikipedia.

Proper noun

Pictus m

  1. a Pict, a resident of early Scotland

Derived terms

Descendants

  • English: Pict
  • Italian: Pitto

References

  • Rhys, Guto (2015): Approaching the Pictish language: historiography, early evidence and the question of Pritenic
  • Hudson, Benjamin (2014): The Picts
  • Smith, J.R. (1864): History of the Names of Men, Nations, and Places in Their Connection with the Progress of Civilization, Volume 2