Manx etymology and lexicology: Four case studies

The present contribution examines four Manx words whose history, as far as I am aware, has not previously been explained, as well as providing a brief introduction to the topic of Manx etymology and lexicology. Each of the case studies illustrates semantic and phonological developments which are likely to be of comparative interest to scholars of Gaelic language and literature, including the apparent survival of high-register terminology originally connected with kinship law (croiaght = croaigecht; ingan = ingen [ar méraib]) and satire (oltooan = ail tsuthain).