Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

See What's Trending Now See More Trending Words

welsh

play
verb \ ˈwelsh , ˈwelch \
variants: or less commonly play \ˈwelch\

Definition of welsh

intransitive verb
1 informal, now sometimes offensive :to avoid payment —used with on
2 informal, now sometimes offensive :to break one's word :renege
—

welsher

noun, informal, now sometimes offensive

See welsh defined for English-language learners

Explore Merriam-Webster

alt-59c448f88ea38
Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'
young-plant-shoots
Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!
video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066
alt-59c4207ecf106
Let's Talk 'Tea'

Origin and Etymology of welsh

probably from Welsh, adjective

Welsh

play
noun \ ˈwelsh , ˈwelch \
variants: or less commonly Welch play \ˈwelch\

Definition of Welsh

1 :the Celtic language of the Welsh people
2 plural in construction :the natives or inhabitants of Wales
3 :welsh pony
—

Welsh

or less commonly Welch adjective

See Welsh defined for English-language learners

See Welsh defined for kids

Origin and Etymology of welsh

Middle English Walsche, Welsse, from walisch, welisch, adjective, Welsh, from Old English wælisc, welisc foreign, British, Welsh, from Old English Wealh foreigner, Briton, Welshman, of Celt origin; akin to the source of Latin Volcae, a Celtic people of southeastern Gaul

Other Language Terms

cognate, collocation, homonym

Phrases Related to WELSH

Related Phrases

WELSH Defined for English Language Learners

Welsh

play
noun

Definition of Welsh for English Language Learners

  • : the language of the Welsh people

  • the Welsh : the people of Wales

WELSH Defined for Kids

1

Welsh

play
adjective \ ˈwelsh \

Definition of Welsh for Students

:of or relating to Wales or the people of Wales
2

Welsh

noun

Definition of Welsh for Students

:the people of Wales

Learn More about welsh

  1. Spanish Central: Translation of welsh Nglish: Translation of welsh for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up welsh? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

yeasty

play

of yeast or being unsettled or frivolous

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. dotage, dotard a state or period of senile decay

  2. otherwise "in other respects"

  3. federalism Graham says bill gives power to states

  4. bodega "Don’t mess with the beloved bodega."

  5. carceral Of, relating to, or suggesting a jail or prison

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

welsh

Test Your Vocabulary

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

  • young-plant-shoots
  • Which of the following is a new sense of the word bunny?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

alt-59c4207ecf106
Let's Talk 'Tea'

Spill it, sip it: just make it hot.

image1644821030
8 Words and Phrases from Boxing and Wrestling

Common terms that come from boxing and wrestling

alt-59c2960017c94
The Ambiguity of Pushing 'Up' and 'Back'

When you push a meeting, where does it go?

image536372841
Silent Letters

When each letter can be seen but not heard

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

young-plant-shoots
Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

You're going to have to memorize the dictionary again.

Take the quiz
stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy
Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

No tricks, just difficult words.

Take the quiz
True or False
True or False?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

Take the quiz
Dictionary Devil
Dictionary Devil

The dictionary has been scrambled—can you put it back together?

Play the game