canu

From Old Welsh canam (1sg. pres. conj.), from Proto-Brythonic *kėnɨd, from Proto-Celtic *kaneti, from Proto-Indo-European *keh₂n-.

• IPA^(key): /ˈkanʉ/

canu

1. to sound (cause to produce a sound)
   • 14th century, anonymous author, translated by Charlotte Guest, edited by R. L. Thomson, Pwyll Pendeuic Dyuet (Mediaeval and Modern Welsh Series; vol. I), Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, published 1980, page 1, lines 9–11:

     A chanu y gorn a dechreu dygyuor yr hela, a cherdet yn ol y cwn, ac ymgolli a’y gydymdeithon.

     And sounded the horn, and began the chase. And as he followed the dogs, he lost his companions.

• datkanu

• Welsh: canu

From Middle Welsh canu, from Old Welsh canam (1sg. pres. conj.), from Proto-Brythonic *kėnɨd, from Proto-Celtic *kaneti, from Proto-Indo-European *keh₂n-. Equivalent to cân (“song”) +‎ -u.

• (North Wales) IPA^(key): /ˈkanɨ̞/
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /ˈka(ː)ni/
• Rhymes: -anɨ

canu (first-person singular present canaf)

1. to sing
2. to intone, chant
3. to crow
4. to state, say
5. (intransitive) to play (produce musical sounds (of instrument))
6. (transitive) to play or perform (on instrument)
7. (intransitive) to ring (of telephone)
8. (transitive) to compose poetry, celebrate in song

• 1892, Daniel James (Gwyrosydd), “Calon Lân [A Pure Heart]”:

  Dim ond calon lân all ganu / Canu’r dydd a chanu’r nos.

  Only pure hearts praise God truly / Praise him all the day and night.

  (literally, “None but a pure heart may sing / Sing in the day and sing in the night.”)

• D. G. Lewis, N. Lewis, editors (2005–present), “canu”, in Gweiadur: the Welsh–English Dictionary, Gwerin
• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke, et al., editors (1950–present), “canu”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies