Etymology From Latin Celtae (singular Celta) from Ancient Greek Κελτοί (Keltoí). English Celts is from the 17th century. Until the mid 19th century, /sɛlt/ is the only recorded pronunciation. A consciously archaizing pronunciation /kɛlt/ was advocated during Irish and Welsh nationalism beginning in the 1850s.
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Synonym of Celtic.
In the thick of parties we become very Celt, disgusting the dull.1972 spring–summer, John Tripp, “Anglo-Welsh Testimony”, in Transatlantic Review, number 42/43, →ISSN, page 89:
Like Pris, he took after their mother, more Celt than English, wild and dramatic and mercurially alive.2006, Stephanie Laurens, What Price Love?, London: Piatkus, Little, Brown Book Group, published 2011, →ISBN, page 5:
2 more examples
But his bitch queen was Saxon to the bone and her legacy showed in the sons that Vortigern bred off her. Katigern Minor might be young, but he has become what his grandfather never was – more Saxon than Celt.2009, M. K. Hume, King Arthur: Dragon’s Child, London: Headline Review, →ISBN, page 340:
She answered with a smile and a nod. The woman was more Celt than Arienh had thought, and had clearly been deprived of women too long.2010, Delle Jacobs, Loki’s Daughters, Las Vegas, Nev.: Montlake Romance, →ISBN, page 159:
celt
noun
Etymology From Latin celtis (“chisel”), very probably a ghost word originating from a copyist's error in the Vulgate Bible, but taken as genuine and subsequently used in Medieval Latin.
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A prehistoric chisel-bladed tool.
The later division of the Bronze age is characterised by the appearance of swords, spears, palstaves, and socketed celts.1880, William Boyd Dawkins, Early Man in Britain and His Place in the Tertiary Period:
Celt
noun
Etymology From Latin Celtae (singular Celta) from Ancient Greek Κελτοί (Keltoí). English Celts is from the 17th century. Until the mid 19th century, /sɛlt/ is the only recorded pronunciation. A consciously archaizing pronunciation /kɛlt/ was advocated during Irish and Welsh nationalism beginning in the 1850s.
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Historical A member of one of the ancient peoples of Western Europe called Celtae by the Romans.
The holiday evolved over centuries as it was observed by different groups, from the Celts to Germans to the Pennsylvania Dutch and eventually, by those in other parts of the US.2023 February 1, Scottie Andrew, “The bizarre history of Groundhog Day”, in CNN, archived from the original on 18 Jul 2024:
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A member of any of the (modern, Celtic) peoples who speak Celtic languages.