celt

¹ American  

[selt] / sɛlt /

noun

Archaeology.

1. an ax of stone or metal without perforations or grooves, for hafting.

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Celt ² American  

[kelt, selt] / kɛlt, sɛlt /

noun

1. a member of an Indo-European people now represented chiefly by the Irish, Gaels, Welsh, and Bretons.

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Celt. ³ American  

Or Celt

abbreviation

1. Celtic.

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Celt ¹ British  

/ sɛlt, kɛlt /

noun

1. a person who speaks a Celtic language

2. a member of an Indo-European people who in pre-Roman times inhabited Britain, Gaul, Spain, and other parts of W and central Europe

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celt ² British  

/ sɛlt /

noun

1. archaeol a stone or metal axelike instrument with a bevelled edge

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Etymology

Origin of celt¹

1705–15; < Late Latin *celtis chisel, found only in the ablative case celte (Vulgate, Job XIX, 24)

Origin of Celt²

1695–1705; < Latin Celtae (plural); in Greek Keltoí (plural)

Example Sentences

On June 4, during a break from working on the structure, he held a celt - a polished, cylindrical, foot-long piece of stone used as a woodworking tool by prehistoric native Americans.

From Washington Times • Jun. 13, 2020

“A celt is a kind of battle-axe,” said Arthur, surprising the magician with this piece of information more than he had been surprised for several generations.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Socketed bronze celt, bronze fibula, bronze ring, and disk-headed Bronze-Age pin.

From The Bronze Age in Ireland by Coffey, George

Large partially polished celt of mottled volcanic tufa—½.

From Ancient art of the province of Chiriqui, Colombia Sixth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1884-1885, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1888, pages 3-188 by Holmes, William Henry

It has a border of chevrons along the edge of the side; and this is carried across the celt in the centre and at the commencement of the cutting-edge.

From The Bronze Age in Ireland by Coffey, George