baðir
Words umboðsmaðrof Viking husbondi vindauga Origin rangr heiðinn berserkr in the skulle gæslingr English knifr tjörn Language hreindyri skaða
rannsaka bylög
Viking words in English.indd 1
A Black Arrow resource
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Viking words in English.indd 2
A Black Arrow resource
31/1/11 08:48:58
The Old Norse spoken by the Vikings was, in many ways, very similar to the Old English of the Anglo-Saxons. Both languages are from the same Germanic family and could be considered as distant but related dialects. The myth is that, rather like the Breton onion seller and the Welsh customer, an Anglo-Saxon could basically understand a Viking when the two met. This closeness of language makes the identification of Scandinavian elements in English a difficult task, but there are areas where the Vikings certainly had an impact on English. Some of these are quite surprising because they are words that we take for granted nowadays. Perhaps the best known words that often come from Old Norse are those which, like place names, begin with sk-, such as ‘sky’ and ‘skin’. Other words from Old Norse are to do with law and legal proceedings, such as ‘hustings’, ‘wrong’ and the word ‘law’ itself (Old Norse lagu, Old English æ). These types of words illustrate the influence that the Vikings had in the setting up of a legal system in the Danelaw. The way that these words gradually filtered into English shows the importance of this aspect of the Viking settlements.
A
aloft
á + lopt (=air, atmosphere, sky, heaven, upper floor, loft)
anger
angr (= trouble, affliction); root ang (= strait, straitened, troubled); related to anga, plural öngur (= straits, anguish)
bait
beita[10]
ball
bǫllr (= round object)
band
band (= rope)
bark
bǫrkr
bask
baðask reflex. of baða “bathe” (baðast, baða sig)
berserk
berserkr, lit. ‘bear-shirt’, (alt. berr-serkr, ‘bare-shirt’) frenzied warriors
awkward the first element is from Old Norse öfugr (= turnedbackward), the ‘-ward’ part is from Old English weard
billow
bylgja
birth
byrðr
bleak
bleikr (= pale)
axle
blunder
blundra (= shut one’s eye)
both
baðir
bug
búkr (= insect within tree trunks)
awe
agi (= terror)
are
merger of Old English (earun, earon) and Old Norse (er) cognates
öxl (= ox tree)
B
bag
baggi
bulk
bulki
bairn
barn (= child)
bull
boli
Viking words in modern English
Viking words in English.indd 3
31/1/11 08:48:58
bylaw
C
bylög (‘by’= village; ‘lög’=law; ‘village-law’)
cake
kaka (= cake)
call
kalla (= cry loudly)
cast
kasta (= to throw)
clip
klippa (= to cut)
club
klubba (= cudgel)
crawl
krafla (= to claw)
crook
krokr (= hook-shaped instrument or weapon)
cur
kurra (= to growl)
D
die
deyja (= pass away)
dirt
drit (= feces)
dregs
dregg (= sediment)
E
egg
egg (= egg)
F
fellow
felagi
flat
flatr
flit
flytja (= cause to fit)
fog
from Old Norse fok through Danish fog, meaning “spray”, “shower”, “snowdrift”
forcasten forkasta (= to cast away, reject) freckle
G
gad
gaddr (= rod, long stick)
gap
gap (= chasm)
garth
garðr (= garden)
gauntlet vǫttr (= armored glove)(“let” denotes “little”) gawk
from Middle English gawen, from Old Norse ga (= to heed)
get
geta, gat (> got), gittan (> gotten)
geyser
from Icelandic geysir, from Old Norse geysa (= to gush)
gift
gift (= dowry)
girth
gjörð (= circumference, cinch)
give
gefa (= to give)
glitter
glitra (= to glitter)
gosling
gæslingr (= goose)
guest
gestr (= guest)
gun
from Old Norse Gunnhildr (female name, both elements of the name, gunn and hildr, have the meaning “war, battle”)
gust
gustr (= gust)
H
haggle
haggen (= to chop)
hail
heill (= health, prosperity, good luck)
happy
happ (= chance, good luck, fate)
heathen
heiðinn (= not Christian or Jewish)
freknur (= freckles)
Viking words in English.indd 4
A Black Arrow resource
31/1/11 08:48:59
Hell
May be in part from Old Norse Hel, the daughter of Loki and ruler of the underworld in Norse mythology
hit
hitta (= to find)
how
haugr (= barrow, small hill) Usage preserved mainly in place names
husband husbondi (= master of the house) hustings husthing (= house + thing, assembly)
I
ill
illr (= bad)
irk
yrkja (= to work)
K
keel
kjóll
kid
kið (= young goat)
knife
knifr
knot
knutr
L
loft
lopt (= an upper room or floor : attic, air, sky)
loose
lauss (= loose/free)
low
lagr
M
mire
myrr (= bog)
mistake
mistaka (= miscarry)
muck
myki (= cow dung)
mug
mugge
muggy
mugga (= drizzle, mist)
O
oaf
alfr (= elf)
odd
oddi (= third number, the casting vote)
Odin
Óðinn
ombudsman from Old Norse umboðsmaðr through Swedish ombudsman, meaning “commissary”, “representative”, “steward” outlaw
lad
ladd (= young man)
lathe
hlaða (= to load)
law
lagu
leg
leggr
likely
líkligr
link
hlenkr
litmus
litmose (= lichen for dying, lita = to stain)
loan
lán (= to lend)
Viking words in modern English
Viking words in English.indd 5
utlagi
P
plough
R
plogr
race
rás (= to race, to run, to rush, “to move swift)
raft
raptr (= log )
raise
reisa
31/1/11 08:49:00
ransack
rannsaka (= to search thoroughly)
reindeer hreindyri rid
rythja (= to clear land)
rive
rífa (= to scratch, plow, tear)
root
rót
rotten
rotinn (= decayed)
rugged
rogg (= shaggy tuft)
run
renna (= to run)
S
saga
saga (= story, tale)
sale
sala
same
same, samr (= same)
scale
(for weighing) from skal (= bowl, drinking cup, or in plural “weighing scale” referring to the cup or pan part of a balance) in early English used to mean “cup”
seat
sæti (= seat, position)
seem
sœma (= to conform)
shake
skaka (= to shake)
skate
skata (= fish)
skid
probably from or related to Old Norse skið (= stick of wood) and related to ski (= stick of wood”, or in this sense “snowshoe”)
skill
skil (= distinction)
skin
skinn (= animal hide)
skip
skopa (= to skip, run)
skirt
skyrta (= shirt)
skull
skulle (= head)
sky
ský (= cloud)
slant
sletta, slenta (= to throw carelessly)
slaughter slahtr (= butchering) slaver
slafra (= slaver)
sledge
sleggja (= sledgehammer)
sleight
slœgð
sleuth
sloð (= trail)
scant
skamt & skammr (= short, lacking)
scare
skirra (= to frighten)
sly
sloegr (= cunning, crafty, sly)
scarf
skarfr (= fastening joint) (interestingly, “scarf” and “scarves” have been reintroduced to modern Swedish in their English forms)
snare
snara (= noose, snare)
snub
snubba (= to curse)
sprint
spretta (= to jump up)
stagger
stakra (= to push)
stain
steina (= to paint)
scathe
skaða (= to hurt, injure)
score
skor (= notch; twenty)
scrape
skrapa (= to scrape, erase)
scrap
skrap (= scraps, trifles) from skrapa
Viking words in English.indd 6
stammer stemma (= to hinder, damn up) steak
steik, steikja (= to fry)
sting
stinga (= to sting)
A Black Arrow resource
31/1/11 08:49:01
sway
sveigja (= to bend, swing, give way)
T
take
taka
tarn
tjörn, tjarn
their
þierra
they
þeir
thorp
þorp
though
from Old English þēah, and in part from Old Norse þó (= though)
thrall
þræll
Thursday Þorsdagr (= Thor’s day) thrift
þrift (= prosperity)
thrust
þrysta (= to thrust, force)
thwart
þvert (= across)
tidings
tíðindi (= news of events)
tight
þéttr (= watertight, close in texture, solid)
till
til (= to, until)
troll
troll (= giant, fiend, demon; further etymology is disputed)
trust
traust (= help, confidence)
U
ugly
uggligr (= dreadful)
until
from Old Norse und (= as far as, up to) and til (= until, up to)
Viking words in modern English
Viking words in English.indd 7
V
valley
vǫllr (= field)
viking
vikingr (= one who came from the fjords)
W
wale
val (= choice)
wand
vondr (= rod)
want
vanta (= to lack)
weak
veikr (= weak, pliant)
whirl
hvirfla (= to go around)
whisk
viska (= to plait)
wight
vigr (= able in battle)
wile
vél (= trick, craft, fraud)
window vindauga (= wind-eye) - although gluggi was more commonly used in Old Norse wing
vængr (= a wing)
wrong
rangr (= crooked, wry, wrong)
Y
yule
jol (A heathen feast upon the winter solstice, later appropriated by Christianity)
31/1/11 08:49:02
Viking place names in England There are four main categories of Viking place names in England. • Place names ending in -by, such as Selby or Whitby. These -by endings are generally places where the Vikings settled first. In Yorkshire there are 210 -by place names. The -by has passed into English as ‘by-law’ meaning the local law of the town or village. • Place names ending in -thorpe, such as Scunthorpe. The -thorpe names are connected with secondary settlement, where the settlements were on the margins or on poor lands. There are 155 place names ending in -thorpe in Yorkshire. • Place names as a mixture of Anglo-Saxon and Viking words. These are known as ‘Grimston hybrids’, because -ton is an Anglo-Saxon word meaning town or village, and Grim is a Viking name. The idea is that a Viking took over an Anglo-Saxon place and called it after himself. (Women’s names are very rare in place names). There are 50 ‘Grimston hybrid’ names in Yorkshire. • Changes in pronunciation. The Anglo-Saxon place name Shipton was difficult for the Vikings to say, so it became Skipton.
Viking infuenced place names Name
First Element (Meaning)
Second Element (Meaning)
Full Meaning
Allithwaite
Eilifr (Eilifr)
Thwaite (Meadow)
Eilifr’s Meadow
Annaside
Einarr (Einarr)
Side (Sheiling)
Einarr’s Sheiling
Arnabost
Arna (Arni’s)
Bost (Homestead)
Arni’s Settlement
Asgardby
Asgard (Asgar)
By (Homestead)
Asgar’s Homestead
Askam
Askum (Ash Trees)
Place of Ash Trees
Askival
Aski (Ash)
Val (Valley)
Valley of Ashes
Bagshot Heath
Bag (Animal)
Shot (Corner)
Corner for Animals
Barham
Bar (Bear)
Ham (Village)
Bear Village
Beaumont
Beau (Fine)
Mont (Hill)
Beautiful Hill
Beckingham
Becking (Becca)
Ham (Village)
Becca’s Village
Ben Loyal
Ben (Mountain)
Loyal (Law)
Lawmakers Hill
Bernisdale
Bernis (Bjorn or Bear)
Dale (Valley)
Bjorn’s or Bear’s Valley
Braedownie
Brae (Broad Neck)
Downie (Hill)
Broad and Hilly Neck of land
Brigsteer
Brig (Bridge)
Styr (Styr)
Styr’s Bridge
Busbridge
Bus (Shrub)
Bridge (Bridge)
Bridge with Shrubs
Caldbergh
Cald (Cold)
Bergh (Hill)
Cold Hill
Cantsfield
Cant (Cant)
Feld (Field)
Field nr River Cant
Carleton
Karla (Free Men)
Ton (Town)
Town of the Free Men
Cawdor
Caw (Cool or Hazel)
Dor (Valley)
Cool or Hazel Valley
Cawston
Caws (Kalf)
Ton (Town)
Kalf’s Town
Clarborough
Clar (Clover)
Borough (Town)
Town where Clover Grows
Viking words in English.indd 8
A Black Arrow resource
31/1/11 08:49:03
Name
First Element (Meaning)
Second Element (Meaning)
Claughton
Klakkr (Small Hill)
Ton (Town)
Town on a Small Hill
Clitheroe
Kliora (Song Thrush)
Haugr (Hill)
Hill of Song Thrush
Coleby
Cole (Koli)
By (Homestead)
Koli’s Homestead
Copmanthorpe
Copman (Chapman)
Thorpe (Farm)
Farm of Chapmen
Corby Glen
Corby (Kor’s Town)
Glen (Valley)
Valley near Kori’s Town
Crownthorpe
Crown (Crooked Tree)
Thorpe (Farm)
Farm near Crooked Trees
Dembleby
Demble (Ravine)
By (Homestead)
Homestead by Ravine
Dounie
Dounie (Hill)
Hill
Durham
Dun (Hill)
Holm (Island)
Island with a Hill
Faceby
Face (Fat)
By (Homestead)
At One’s” Home
Fishguard
Fiskp (Fish)
Gardr (Yard)
Yard for Fish
Formby
Forni (Forni)
By (Homestead)
Forni’s Homestead
Garrigill
Gerard (Gerard)
Gill (Valley)
Gerard’s Valley
Goathland
Goath (Goda/good)
Land (Land)
God’s Land/goodland
Grimethorpe
Grim (Grim)
Thorp (Village)
Grim’s Village
Haverigg
Hafri (Oats)
Hryggr (Ridge)
Ridge where Oats are Grown
Hawksworth
Hawks (Hafoc)
Worth (Village)
Hafoc’s Village
Hilderthorpe
Hilder (Hildiger)
Thorpe (Farm)
Hildiger’s Farm
Holdenby
Holden (Halfdan)
By (Village)
Halfdan’s Village
Immingham
Imming (Imma)
Ham (Village)
Village Of Imma’s People
Keswick
Kesewic (Cheese Farm)
Kexby
Kex (Ketil)
By (Homestead)
Ketil’s Homestead
Kilmorack
Kil (Church)
Morack (St. Morac)
Church of St.morac
Leirinmore
Leirin
More (Mountain)
Loch Brittle
Loch (Lake)
Brittle (Broad Dale)
Lake In Broad Dale
Lofthouse
Lofthus (House With Loft)
House With an Upper Storey
Luddington
Ludding (Luda)
Ton (Town)
Town Of Luda’s People
Lusby
Lus (Lut’s)
By (Village)
Lut’s Village
Malham
Maljen (Gravel)
Place with Gravel Soils
Melfort
Mel (Sandbank)
Fort (Bay)
Bay With Sandbank
Methwold
Meth (Middle)
Wold (Wood)
Middle Wood
Nateby
Nate (Nate)
By (Homestead)
Nate’s Homestead
Nethybridge
Nethy (Mixies)
Bridge (Bridge)
Bridge of Mixies
Newby
Neowa (New)
By (Homestead)
New Homestead
Norwick
Nor (Northern)
Wick (Inlet)
Northern Inlet
Oldham
Old (Old)
Holme (House)
Old House
Viking words in modern English
Viking words in English.indd 9
Full Meaning
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Name
First Element (Meaning)
Second Element (Meaning)
Ormskirk
Orm (Orm)
Kirk (Church)
Orm’s Church
Papa Stour
Papa (Priest)
Stour (Great)
Great Isle of Priest
Ravenfield
Raven (Raven or Hraefn)
Field (Field)
Raven’s/hraefn’s Field
Ravenscar
Raven (Raven)
Scar (Rock)
Raven’s Rock
Rawcliffe
Raw (Red)
Cliffe (Slopes/cliff)
Red Cliffs
Scarborough
Scar (Scarth’s)
Borough (Town)
Scarth’s Town
Scargill
Skrake (Merganser)
Gill (Valley)
Merganser Valley
Sedbergh
Set (Flat)
Berg (Hill)
Flat topped Hill
Shawbost
Shaw (Sea)
Bost (Place)
Sea Settlement
Skirlaugh
Skir (Shire)
Laugh (Glade)
Glade belonging to Shire
Skokholm
Stokkr (Channel)
Holm (Island)
Island In The Channel
Stainfield
Stain (Stony)
Field (Field)
Stony Field
Stanghow
Stang (Pole)
How (Hill)
Hill Boundary Mark
Stowbridge
Stow (Place)
Bridge (Bridge)
Place with Bridge
Susworth
Sus (Southern)
Worth (Village)
Southern Village
Swansea
Sveinn (Sveinn)
Sea (Place)
Sveinn’s Place
Sydenham
Syden (Cippa)
Ham (Town)
Cippa’s Town
Thirlby
Thirl (Serf)
By (Homestead)
Homestead of Serfs
Tholthorpe
Thol (Thorulf)
Thorpe (Farm)
Thorulf’s Farm
Thorgill
Thor (Thorald’s)
Gill (Valley)
Thorald’s Valley
Thurso
Thurso (Bull River)
Bull River
Tithby
Tith (Tith)
By (Homestead)
Tith’s Homestead
Ugadale
Uga (Owl)
Dale (Valley)
Owl’s Valley
Utterby
Utter (Outer)
By (Village)
Outer Village
Walney
Vogn (Grampus)
Eg (Island)
Grampus Island
Westerdale
Wester (Western)
Dale (Valley)
Western Valley
West Ray
West (West)
Ray (Island)
Western Island
Wetherby
Wether (Sheep)
By (Farm)
Sheep Farm
Winscales
Win (Wind)
Scali (Shelter)
Shelter against wind
Wroxham
Wrox (Wroc)
Ham (Village)
Wroc’s Village
10 Viking words in English.indd 10
Full Meaning
A Black Arrow resource
31/1/11 08:49:04
Viking words in modern English
Viking words in English.indd 11
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Viking words in English.indd 12
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