Horthmen as 'mGall'

[Rick Mc Callister]

>In a message dated 8/13/99 4:16:39 AM, Brian M. Scott wrote:

><<<creach na nGall ngorm> 'plunder of the swarthy Northmen' is
>also noted.>>

>And what madness is this?  The Celts calling Northmen 'Galls?'

>A Northman (like Knut) who knew Latin could call them "Galls" right back!

>The standard explanation is that in Old Irish, etc., "Gall" meant foreigner
>because 'Gauls' were the only foreigners the Insulars knew.

[snip]

	Or because the Gauls who settled in Leinster and the Vikings were
both perceived as coastal raiders and pirates. I got the perception that
Gall meant something more like "barbarian" or "foreign marauder

Rick Mc Callister
W-1634
Mississippi University for Women
Columbus MS 39701