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

The implements are all of stone, or bone—the celt, the arrow, the spear-head, the adze, and the mallet.

From The Ethnology of the British Islands by Latham, R. G. (Robert Gordon)

A description of the parliament of Clan Thomas is given by Stern in the Zeitschr. f. celt.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 5 "Cat" to "Celt" by Various

The cutting-edge has been expanded; and the thickest part of the celt has been moved up from just above the cutting-edge to the centre.

From The Bronze Age in Ireland by Coffey, George