Cromlech is a Brythonic word (Breton/Cornish/Welsh) used to describe prehistoric megalithic structures, where crom means "bent" or "curved" and llech means "slab" or "flagstone". The term is now virtually obsolete in archaeology, but remains in use as a colloquial term for two different types of megalithic monument.
In English it usually refers to dolmens, the remains of prehistoric stone chamber tombs. However, it is widely used in French and Spanish to describe stone circles. Confusingly, some English-speaking archaeologists, such as Aubrey Burl, use this second meaning for cromlech in English too.
- John Cleland (1768). Specimen of an etymological vocabulary, or Essay by means of the analitic method to retrieve the ancient celtic. pp. 133–134. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- Anatoly Liberman (21 December 2009). A Bibliography of English Etymology: Sources and Word List. U of Minnesota Press. ISBN 978-0-8166-6772-7. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- Aubrey Burl (28 February 2006). A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany: Second Edition. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-11406-5. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- Brian Haughton (19 March 2009). Haunted Spaces, Sacred Places: A Field Guide to Stone Circles, Crop Circles, Ancient Tombs, and Supernatural Landscapes: Easyread Super Large 20pt Edition. ReadHowYouWant.com. ISBN 978-1-4429-7123-3. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
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