KESCOWS NEBES MOY
CORNISH FOR EVERYDAY LIFE
Second Edition
Ian Jackson
Supplementary to Gerlyver Kescows
and continuously reviewed and expanded
SECTION 16
SHAPE, PATTERN
Last updated: 1 March 2025 (13:00)
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The purpose of Kescows Nebes Moy is to enable Cornish conversation about most non-specialist subjects without the need to switch into English. A first edition appeared in 2018. Cornish vocabulary items not found in Gerlyver Kescows were presented for the first time in classified lists that take the learner beyond elementary vocabulary, enabling conversation about more technical topics that nonetheless form part of everyday life.
The first edition was necessarily quite experimental, and was confined to just five thousand entries. Much has been learned since the first edition appeared. This second edition is being developed in more comprehensive form on-line. In particular we are considering families wishing to speak Cornish in the home, as well as the challenge of establishing potential for teaching through the medium of Cornish in primary and secondary schools.
You can search for what you want in this section, by Cornish or English word, using find on page or ctrl f.
You can browse the list of sections currently available here
Click or tap here for the Appendix ‘Word Building‘ which explains the principles of compounding, prefixation and suffixation.
We are very grateful to Professor Nicholas Williams and Michael Everson for the opportunity to coordinate these lists with drafts of their Gerlyver Brâs.
If you are supportive of revived traditional Cornish and the Kernowek Standard spelling system, please let us know in the event you find any errors or think something might be improved.
A word has a single stress accent on the penultimate syllable in the absence of any specific indication. When this accent falls elsewhere, the underlined vowel marks the syllable which is stressed. The symbol ‖ after a word indicates that, instead of a single stress accent, two syllables of the word are given prominence. In the case of a disyllabic word the prominence is usually slightly stronger on the adjectival element.
16-A SHAPE
baghgrows ‖ f baghgrowsow ‖ swastika
bolhek adj bulbous
both f bothow protuberance
clopen m knob
cowgrom ‖ adj concave
crybba v notch, indent
crybbans m notch, indentation
cûbek adj cubic
cûboyd m cûboydow cuboid
cylyndrek adj cylindrical
dewgeynek adj lenticular
dôdecahêdron m dôdecahêdronow dodecahedron
dol f dolow kink
dyfurf adj shapeless
dygemusurek adj asymmetric[al]
dysk m dyscow disc
êthcorn (êtuek, octagon) m êthkern octagon
êthcornek adj octagonal
fractal m fractalyow fractal
gednek adj wedge shaped, cuneiform
gelvynak adj aquiline
gronel f gronellow round mass
hanter-kelgh ‖ m hanter-kelhow ‖ semicircle
hanter-kelhek ‖ adj semicircular
heb form (heb roth) phr shapeless
hirbedrak adj/m hirbedrogyon rectangular; rectangle
hirgelgh ‖ m hirgelhow ‖ ellipse
hirgelhek adj elliptical
hyperbola m hyperbolas hyperbola
hyperbolek adj hyperbolic
îcosahêdron m îcosahêdronow icosahedron
igam-ogamya ‖ v zigzag
in dew dhymensyon phr two-dimensional
in try dymensyon phr three-dimensional
kelghlînen ‖ f kelghlînednow ‖ outline, silhouette
kelhek adj circular
kemusurek adj symmetrical
keslînegyn m keslînegydnow parallelogram
keynek adj convex
kilgans m kilgansow crescent
liestuek ‖ adj/m liestuegyon ‖ polygon(al)
manyfold m manifold
octahêdron m octahêdronow octahedron
oyfurv ‖ f oyfurvyow ‖ oval
oyfurvek ‖ adj ovoid
parabola m parabolas parabola
parabolek adj parabolic
pedregys adj squared
pentagram m pentagramow pentagram
peswarcorn ‖ (peswartuek ‖) m peswarkern ‖ quadrilateral
peswarcornek ‖ adj quadrilateral
polygon m polygonow polygon
polygonek adj polygonal
polyhêdron m polyhêdronow polyhedron
profîl m profîlyow profile
prysmatek adj prismatic
prysym m prysmow [geometric] prism
pykernek adj conical
pymcorn (pymtuek, pentagon) m pymkern pentagon
pymcornek adj pentagonal
pyramyd m pyramydow pyramid
rombùs m rombùsow rhombus
scor[edn]ek adj branched
seythcorn (seytuek, heptagon) m seythkern heptagon
seythcornek adj heptagonal
sfêroyd m sfêroydow spheroid
solyd Platonek m solydow Platonic solid
strêmlînya v streamline
strêmlînyans m streamlining
stubmans m curvature
tetrahêdron m tetrahêdronow tetrahedron
todnek adj wavy, curvy, sinuous, undulating
todny v undulate
tôrùs (toosknofen ‖) m tôrùsow torus
trapêsyùm m trapêsya trapezium
trielydnek (tryhornek) adj triangular
trielyn kehesek m trielydnow equilateral triangle
trielyn kestuek m trielydnow isosceles triangle
trielyn pedrak m trielydnow right triangle
trogh pykernek m trohow conic section
whêcorn (whêtuek, hexagon) m whêkern hexagon
whêcornek adj hexagonal
16-B PATTERN
Any term that is essentially a noun may also be used adjectivally.
alwheth Grêk m Greek key
arleqwyn m harlequin
ascorn hern m herringbone
basketweyth ‖ m basketweave
brâs y dharnow phr chunky
blejednek adj floral
brithen f brithednow plaid, tartan
brithweyth ‖ m inlay
brôsweyth ‖ m brocade
chînuster m chinoiserie
chynts m chintz
cletherweyth ‖ m trellis
crohen best f animal print
cryscrows ‖ adj criss-cross
damask m damask
dans ky m houndstooth
dyjyn polca m dyjydnow polka dot
flour-de-lîss m fleur-de-lis
geometrek adj geometric
gwry flàm m gwriow Florentine / flame stitch, bargello
gyngam m gingham
icat m ikat
jacard m jacquard
kemeynyk m kemeynygow mosaic
labol adj striped
lehednys adj tessellated
mabmek f mamegow matrix
medal brâs m medallion
ojyf m ogee
patron helyk m willow pattern
patron Paisly (Basylyca) m Paisley
patronya v pattern
pednfol ‖ adj ditsy
toyl m toile
16-C MISCELLANEOUS VOCABULARY
arwedhen f arwedhednow symbol
enebyk m enebygow facet
gorthenep ‖ m gorthenebow ‖ reverse (back)
lôgô m lôgôs logo
stùbba m stùbbys stub, stump
tangram m tangramow tangram