KESCOWS NEBES MOY
CORNISH FOR EVERYDAY LIFE
Second Edition
Ian Jackson
Supplementary to Gerlyver Kescows
and continuously reviewed and expanded
SECTION 8
EQUIPMENT
Last updated: 15 March 2025 (19:00)
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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.
8-A GENERAL
aparell m gear, equipment
assembla v assemble, put together
dysassembla v disassemble, take apart
8-B TOOLS
alwheth know m alwhedhow spanner, wrench
anwan m anwonow anvil
bolta m boltys bolt
bùshcollan ‖ f bùshcollanow ‖ machete
byns f vice
casek f casygy hod
collel falja f kellyl cleaver
corbel m corblys bracket
foret m foretys drill bit
gedn m gednow chisel; wedge
gedna v chisel; wedge (sth)
gorthkenter (ryvet) ‖ f gorthkentrow ‖ rivet
gorthkentrewy (ryvettya) ‖ v rivet
hackhesken ‖ f hackheskednow ‖ hacksaw
hesken grèn f heskednow crèn circular saw
hesken dreus f heskednow treus cross-cut saw
hesken denon f heskednow tenon tenon saw
hornorieth f ironmongery
jack m jackow jack (lifting device)
jackya v jack [up]
kelhyn m kelhydnow washer
kestedha v weld
level gwyras m levelyow spirit level
lorgh horn m lorhow crowbar
megynow pl bellows
menowes m menowesow awl
morben (morthol predn) m morbednow mallet
neujen screw f screw thread
pib whetha f pîbow blowpipe
plain m plainys plane (carpentry)
plainya v plane
pyck m pyckys pick[axe]
pygal f pygolow hoe, mattock
pygellas v hoe
plebmyk m plemygow plumb-line
pynsor m pynsoryon pincers, pliers
screw dyben m screwys grub screw
screw gorthsedhys (gwastas) m screwys countersunk screw
screw pedn crowsys m screwys Phillips screw
screw pedn slot m screwys slotted screw
screwya v screw
slodya m slodyes sledge-hammer
soder m solder
sodra v solder
stanchyn m stanchydnow gasket
scysours pl scissors
tardar tro (fîrat) m terder brace-and-bit
8-C MACHINES, INSTRUMENTS
airbosor ‖ m airbosoryon ‖ barometer
autoclav m autoclavow autoclave
autoclavya v autoclave
camva dro f camvaow tro turnstile
corn skentyl m kern smartspeaker
cresfoesyk ‖ m cresfoesygow ‖ centrifuge
frêgel f frêgellow shredder
gwaskel f gwaskellow compressor
helerghyas m helerhysy tracking device
helerghyas gow m helerhysy lie detector, polygraph
ink polter m toner
jyn posa m jynys weighing machine
melyn dreys f melynyow treys treadmill
môtor m môtors motor
musurel Geiger f musurellow Geiger counter
musurel golow f musurellow light meter
musurel kerdhes f musurellow pedometer
musurel termyn (amserador) f musurellow chronometer
nywlgorn ‖ m nywlgern ‖ foghorn
poyntyth m poyntydhyon pointer
pyston m pystons piston
sensour olcan m sensours metal detector
styfel f styfellow sprinkler (fire, lawn)
styllel f styllellow still
theodolît m theodolîtow theodolyte
8-D PLANT, HEAVY MACHINERY
ardar ergh m erder snowplough
derryck m derrycks derrick
forghlyftyor ‖ m forghlyftyoryon ‖ forklift truck
forn lim f fornow lime kiln
fornys whetha f fornycyow blast furnace
gwyns f gwyncys winch
jyn crâna cùntell frûtys m jynys cherry-picker
jyn hâlya m jynys hoist
jyn palas m jynys digger, excavator
jyn rolya m jynys steamroller
kern f kernyow hopper
palet m palettys pallet
powerjy ‖ m powerjiow ‖ powerhouse (incl figuratively)
rôsla cramyas m caterpillar tracks
soler oyl m soleryow oil rig
sùmp m sùmpys sump
tarow dur m terewy bulldozer
tedhla (tedhva, chy tedha) m tedhleow foundry
tedhor m tedhoryon smelter (also foundryman)
tùrbîn m