Definition

1. Noun:
   • A member of an ancient European people: A person belonging to a group of peoples who inhabited much of Europe, including Britain, Ireland, Gaul (modern France), and parts of Spain, prior to and during the Roman era.
   • A salmon after spawning: (In specific contexts, especially fishing) A salmon that has recently spawned and is typically in a weakened condition.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Person):
  • The museum exhibit featured artifacts used by a Kelt from the Iron Age.
  • Historians study the languages and cultures of the ancient Kelt.
• Noun (Fish):
  • The angler released the spent kelt back into the river.
  • A kelt is often thinner and darker than a salmon preparing to spawn.

Advanced Usage

• The term "Kelt" is an alternate, less common spelling of "Celt." In modern academic and general usage, "Celt" is the standard spelling when referring to the people. "Kelt" may appear in older texts or specialized contexts.
• In ichthyology (the study of fish), "kelt" is the standard term for a post-spawning salmon or sea trout.

Variants and Related Words

• Celt (n): The standard modern spelling for a member of the ancient European people.
  • The Celts had a rich oral tradition.
• Celtic (adj): Pertaining to the Celts, their languages, or cultures.
  • She studies Celtic mythology.
• Keltic (adj): An archaic variant spelling of "Celtic."

Synonyms

• Celt: (For the person) The direct synonym and more common spelling.
• Spent salmon: (For the fish) A descriptive synonym for a post-spawning salmon.

Related Phrases

• (No specific phrasal verbs are associated with this noun.)

Related Idioms

• (No common idioms are directly formed with this word.)

Noun

1. a member of a European people who once occupied Britain and Spain and Gaul prior to Roman times