Erse
/ɜːrs/noun
An archaic English term for the Gaelic language of Scotland, formerly also used for Irish Gaelic.
Did you know?Erse is historically a form of “Irish,” reflecting the medieval belief that Scottish Gaelic was an Irish-derived language; today, the term is usually considered archaic and may be offensive.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*Īwer-
“A reconstructed ancestral form associated with the ancient name of Ireland; its deeper origin is uncertain.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Iérnē
“A Greek name for Ireland, recorded by ancient geographers.”
Latin
Latin
Iouernia / Hibernia
“Classical Latin names for Ireland, derived through ancient forms related to the island’s name.”
Old English
Old English
Īrasċ / īrisc
“Irish; relating to the Irish people or their language.”
Middle English
Middle English
Irishe / Erische
“Irish, especially the Irish language; sound changes and regional usage produced forms resembling Erse.”
16th–17th Century
Scots and English
Erse
“A name applied especially to Scottish Gaelic, often treating it as an Irish or foreign language.”
Modern English
English
Erse
“An archaic term for Scottish Gaelic, now generally avoided in respectful modern usage.”