Særnordiske Ord – Scandinavian-only Words

 

 

 

Updated: 9.4.2015

 

 

Abbreviations used: arch. = archaic; BM = Norwegian Bokmål; dial. = dialectal; hist. = historical; MDu = Middle Dutch; ME = Middle English; MHG = Middle High German; MLG = Middle Low German; NN = Norwegian Nynorsk; ODan. = Old Danish; OE = Old English; OFris = Old Frisian; OHG = Old High German; ON = Old Norse; ONorw. = Old Norwegian; OS = Old Saxon; OSwed. = Old Swedish.

 

**

 

This article aims to cover some of the better known or more interesting words in the Scandinavian languages which fulfill the following criteria:

 

i) Words which have no known or certain analogues or cognates in other Germanic languages, i.e. Scandinavian-only words (taking loans from Scandinavian into account!)

ii) Words which have cognate material in Germanic but which are Scandinavian neologisms

iii) Words in Scandinavian which once had direct equivalents or cognates in other Germanic languages in earlier historical times but which are now obsolete in all but Scandinavian languages

iv) Words which have surviving cognates in other Germanic languages but which have taken on uniquely Scandinavian forms or meanings

 

Based on my use of the etymological dictionaries, I have concluded the following:

 

To i) belong: aka, at, aumr, aurriði, bardagi, beiskr, brôkoter, dáligr, drengr, ekki, elska, eyma, foss, gáta, genta, gólf, grein, gríð, gríss, hánn (and hón), hefnd, herað, hitta, hjalli, hræddur, hylle (?), hægri, kasta, keyra, kjöt, kæti, logn, lundr, lyndi, lyng, lýti, lög, mjúkr, mykr, níðingr, oddi, orne, orrosta, ostr, píka, rannsaka, rán, refr, sef (?), síld, skeið, spakr, sæng, tjörn, vándr, þungr, þyngd, þyngsl.

 

To ii) belong: aldrigi, almenningr, angra, barsel, beizl, blána, bohagh, bóndi, bygð, býr, daggry, dagverðr, dofinn, dróttning (and also to iii), dylja, eigi, einsligr, ekkja, engi, fátækr, félagi, fjós (< -hûs), fóstri (?), gedda, gleyma (and also to iii), gluggr, gæða, henda, hos, hræðsla, hústrú, í mot, kensl, kerling, knörr, kráka, kvistr, leir, lúfa, lykill/nøgel, læsa, lögmaðr, mettr, nábúi, náttverðr, ok, staðna, stafkarl, steði, steik, systkin, tvilling, umboðsmaðr, vár, vitna, walmogha, þerne (?), þordyn.

 

To iii) belong: áss, bakki, barn (see note below), blygð, brúðhlaup, búa, draugr, dýrka, eldr, elfr,, fræ/frjó, fylki, galinn, gamall, geyja, gipta, gløggr, grön, haf, helvíti, hervirki, jötunn, kaupang, kona, kumbl, kveld, lágr, loðinn, læknir, myrkr, mæli, nökkurr, skegg, ský, taka, þreyttr, þræll, þúfa, þvætta, þyrnir.

 

To iv) belong: björn, byrja, dráp, drepa, fjall, forellrar, frá, fær, grautr, grýta, haugr, hestr, hlýða, hvíla, kaka, kelda, kjúklingr, knekkja, krefja, maki, máki, minni, mýrr, sannr, sem, skræma, smjör, sól, spyrja, stórr, styggr, trúa, tupp, úsæll, vargr, vatn, væzka, þjórr, örn.

 

ger(v)a, gør(v)a is difficult to assign; I could make a case for ii), iii) and iv) above.

 

I cannot determine the category for andboð.

 

 

*Note: Norse forms in the dialects of Shetland and Orkney (of which there are many) have been excluded since these are so little known as to be of trifling use except in special studies of those dialects. Many are listed by de Vries and some are mentioned in passing by Thorsen.

 

*Note: ON, Proto-Norse and Common Scandinavian forms are approximated as far as my basic font allows; not all words appear as in the etymological dictionaries.

 

 

Old Norse (or ODan., OSwed., ONorw. where noted)

meaning

Swedish

Danish

Norwegian

Icelandic

Proto-Norse or Common Scandinavian (CS) (where known)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

------

dawn, daybreak

daggryning

daggry

daggry

-------

-------

------

------

tupp "cock, rooster"

-------

tupp (dial.) "rooster"

-------

-------

----------

-----------

barnsöl “christening celebration”

barsel

“birth”

BM barsel

NN barnsøl

“christening celebration”

--------

--------

*skræma

frighten, scare

skrämma "alarm, frighten, terrify"

skræmme "alarm, frighten, terrify"

skremme "alarm, frighten, terrify"

skræma

*skrêman

aka

drive

åka

-------

ake “ride; slide”

aka

 

aldrigi

never

aldrig

aldrig

aldri

aldrei

*ni-aldrê-gi, CS *ne aldri gi

almenningr

common land

allmänning

alminding

allmenning

almenningur “general public”

CS *almenningR

andboð

tool, utensil

--------

-----------

---------

---------

CS *andboþ

angra

grieve, vex

ångra “regret”

angre “regret”

angre “regret”

angra “trouble, bother”

 

at

to (infinitive marker)

att

at

å

CS *at

aumr

miserable, unhappy, wretched

öm “sore, painful, tender; affectionate, fond”

øm “sore, painful, tender; affectionate, fond”

øm “sore, painful, tender; affectionate, fond”

aumur

*auma-

aurriði

salmon-trout

örad, öred (dial.)

ørred

ørret, aure; aurride (dial.)

urriði

CS *öurriþi

áss

beam; ridge

ås

ås

ås

ás

*âsaR

bakki

bank, ridge, hill

backe

bakke, banke

bakke

bakki

CS *bakki-, *banki-

bardagi

battle

------

------

bardage

bardagi

 

barn

child

barn

barn

barn

barn

 

beiskr

bitter, acrid

besk

besk

BM besk NN beisk

 

beiskur

*baitska-

beizl

bridle

betsel

bidsel

BM bissel, NN beisl

beisl

CS *beitsl

björn

bear

björn

bjørn

bjørn

björn

*bernu

blána

turn blue, become livid

blåna "turn blue"

blåne "turn blue"

blåne "have a bluish appearance"

blána

CS *blâna

blygð

shame

blygd

blygd (arch.) "shyness"

NN blygd "shyness"

blygð, blygðun

 

bohagh (OSwed.)

property

bohag

"household effects"

bohave "household effects"

BM bohave "household effects"

--------

CS *bo-haga

bóndi

farmer, peasant

bonde

bonde

bonde

bóndi

*bûandi

brôkoter (OSwed.)

multicoloured, varied

---------

broget "variegated"

broket

---------

*brôkuhtu-

brúðhlaup, brullaup

wedding feast, bridal

bröllop "wedding"

bryllup "wedding"

BM bryllup

NN brudlaup "wedding"

(brúðkaup)

*brûði-hlaupa

búa

live, reside

bo

bo

bo, bu

búa

 

bygð

colonisation; abode, inhabited region

bygd

bygd

bygd

byggð

*biggwiðô-

býr

farm; town

by

"village"

by

"town"

by

"town, city"

býr

*bûwia-

byrja

begin

börja

----------

NN byrje; (BM begynne)

byrja

 

dagverðr, dögurðr

breakfast

dagvard

davre

dugurd, dagverd

dögurður

CS *dagwerþR

dáligr

bad, evil; poor, wretched

dålig

dårlig

BM dårlig

NN dåleg

dáligur

*dâlîgaR, CS *dâligR

dofinn

benumbed, dead

duven "flat, stale"

doven "lazy"

doven "lazy"

dofinn

*duvina-, CS *dofinR

dráp

homicide

dråp

drab

drap

dráp

*drâpa-

draugr

dead inhabitant of a cairn, ghost

------

------

draug

"ghost, spectre"

draugur

 

drengr

bold man; attendant; fellow

dräng "hired man"

dreng "boy, lad"

dreng "hired man; lad; bold man (arch.)"

drengur "boy, lad"

*drangiR, CS *drengR

drepa

kill, slay; beat

dräpa

dræbe

drepe

drepa

 

dróttning

queen

drottning

dronning

dronning

drottning

*druhtininga, CS *drôttning

dylja

conceal; disavow

dölja "conceal, hide"

dølge "conceal, hide"

BM dølge

NN dølja "conceal, hide"

dylja

*duljan

dýna

pillow; feather-bed

dyna “cushion”

dyne

dyne “eiderdown”

dýna

CS *dýna

dýrka

worship

dyrka “worship”

dyrke “worship; cultivate”

dyrke “worship; cultivate”

dýrka

*diurikan

eigi

not

ej

ej

ei

eigi

*ne eigi

einsligr

single; private

enslig "solitary, lonely"

-------

BM enslig

NN einsleg "solitary, alone, single"

einslegur "private"

CS *einsligR

ekki, etki

not

icke

ikke

ikke, NN ikkje

ekki

*eittki

ekkja

widow

änka

enke

BM enke NN enkje, ekkje

ekkja

*aina-kjôn, CS *enkja

eldr

fire, flame

eld

ild

eld, ild

eldur

 

elfr

river, stream

älv

elv

elv

elfur

 

elska

love

älska

elske

elske

elska

 

engi

no-one

ingen

ingen

ingen

enginn

*aingi

eyma

commiserate, pity

ömma “be sore, hurt”; ömma för “feel for, sympathize with”

ømme (sig) “wince;  moan”

ømme (seg) “complain,  groan”

eyma

*aumian

get, receive

*fâhan

fátækr

poor, impoverished

fattig

fattig

fattig, NN fåtøk

fátækur

*fâwitôkia-, CS *fâtøkR

félagi

companion, partner

-------

fælle

BM felle

NN felage

félagi

*fehulagan-, CS *fêlagi

fjall

mountain

fjäll

fjeld

fjell

fjall

 

fjós

cowshed

-------

-------

fjøs

fjós

CS *fêhûs

forellrar

forefathers, ancestors

föräldrar

"parents"

forældre

"parents"

foreldre

"parents"

foreldrar “parents”

 

foss, fors

waterfall

fors

fos

foss

foss

 

fóstri

foster-father/son/brother

----------

----------

fostre

fóstri “foster father”

CS *fôstri

frá

from

från

fra

fra, NN frå

frá

*frâ, *frân

fræ/frjó

seed

frö

frø

frø

fræ/frjó

 

fylki

district or county in Norway; battalion

fylke "county"

fylke "Norwegian county"

fylke "county; tribal district" (hist.)

fylki "state"

 

fær

sheep

får

får

får

*fahaR

föðurfaðir

grandfather

---------

---------

---------

föðurfaðir

CS *föþurfaþir

galinn

enchanted, bewitched; mad, frantic

galen

gal

gal, galen

galinn "insane, daft; furious"

CS *galinR

gamall

old

gammal

gammel

gammel

gamall

 

gáta

riddle, puzzle

gåta

gåde

gåte

gáta

 

gedda

pike

gädda

gedde

gjedde

gedda

*gaiðiðôn, CS *gedda

genta

girl, lass

jänta, gänta (dial.)

-------

BM jente NN gjente

"girl; housemaid"

genta

 

ger(v)a, gør(v)a

make, do, prepare

göra

gøre

gjøre

gera, gjøra

 

geyja

bark; scoff

BM gjø NN gøy

geygja

 

gipta

give away in marriage

gifta

"marry"

gifte

"marry"

gifte

"marry"

gifta

*gebtian

gleyma

forget

glömma

glemme

BM glemme NN gløyme

gleyma

*glaumjan

gluggr

opening in a wall, window

glugg

glug

glugg, glugge

gluggi

 

gløggr

clear, distinct

glägg (dial.) "lively, keen"

-------

gløgg "quick-witted, sharp"

glöggur "quick-witted, sharp, discerning"

 

gólf

floor

golv

gulv

BM gulv NN golv

gólf

CS *golf

grautr

oatmeal, mush

gröt

grød

BM grøt, NN graut

grautur

*grautiz

grein

branch

gren

gren

gren, grein

grein

CS *greinn

gríð

intensity, vehemence; violence

(dial.) gresk, grisker "vehment, eager"

grisk, gridsk "greedy, avid"

NN gridug "dilligent, industrious", grisk "greedy"

gríð

*grîðiska-

gríss

pig, hog

gris

gris

gris

grís

*grîs, CS *grísR

grýta

pot

gryta

gryde

gryte

grýta

CS *grýta

grön

spruce, fir

gran

gran

gran

greni, grön

 

gæða

enrich, improve; increase

göda

“fatten up; fertilize”

gøde

“manure, fertilize”

gjø, NN gjøde “fatten up; fertilize”

gæða

 

haf

sea

hav

hav

hav

haf

 

haugr

hill, (grave-)mound

hög

“heap, pile, stack”

høj

“hillock, mound, barrow”

haug

“hill, mound, barrow; heap, pile”

haugur

 

hánn

he

han

han

han

hann

*hânaR

hefnd

revenge, vengeance

hämnd

hævn

BM hevn NN hemn, hemd

hevnd

*hamniþô-

helvíti

hell

helvete

helvede

helvete

helvíti

--------

henda

grip with the hand; concern; happen, occur

hända “happen, occur”

hænde “happen, occur”

hende “happen, occur”

henda

*handian

herað

district

härad

herred

herred

hjerað

*harjaraða-

hervirki

ravaging, plundering

---------

hærværk “vandalism”

hærverk “plundering; vandalism”

hervirki “destruction”

 

hestr

horse

häst

hest

hest  

hestur

*hâhistaR

hitta

hit, meet, find

hitta

hitte

hitte

hitta

*hittan

hlýða

listen to, obey

lyda "obey, listen to"

lyde "obey"

BM lye

NN lyde "listen to"

hlýða

 

hos (OSwed.), hos (ODan.)

with, at the home of, chez

hos

hos

hos

----------

-----------

hón

she

hon

hun

hun

hún

*hânu

hræddr

afraid, frightened

rädd

ræd

redd

hræddur

*hrâðiða-

hræðsla

fear, fright

rädsla

rædsel

BM redsel NN redsle

hræðsla

 

hústrú (< húsfrú)

mistress of the house; wife

hustru "wife"

hustru "wife"

hustru "wife"

hústru (arch.) "housewife"

CS *hústrú

hvíld; hvíla

bed, place of rest; rest, repose

vila "rest, repose"

hvile "rest, repose"

BM hvile "repose, rest" NN kvile "repose, rest; bed"; BM hvil NN kvil "short rest"

hvíld; hvíla

 

hylle (OSwed.)

shelf

hylla

hylde

hyll

----------

*hulþiôn, CS *hylla

hægri

right (spatial)

höger

højre

høyre

hægri

comparative of *hôqia-, CS *høgri

í mot

against; in return

emot “towards; against”

imod “towards; against”

imot “towards; against”

móti

CS *î môti

jötunn

giant

jätte

jætte

jette

jötunn

 

kaka

cake

kaka

kage

kake

kaka

CS *kaka

kasta

throw

kasta

kaste

kaste

kasta

*kasatjan

kaupang

town, trade centre

köping

købing

kaupang

kaupangur

CS *köupangR

kelda

spring, source

källa

kilde

kilde, kjelde

kelda "piping system; waterhole; marsh"

*kaldîon

kensl, kensla

recognition, knowledge; teaching

känsel, känsla "feeling, perception, sensation"

------

kjensel "recognition; feeling, touch", kjensle "feeling, sense"

kensl

 

kerling

old woman

kärring "old woman; crone"

kælling "hag, crone; old woman"

kjerring "old woman"

kerling

CS *kerling

keyra

drive, ride, hunt

köra

køre

BM kjøre

NN køyre

keyra

*kaurian

kiðlingr

kid, young goat

killing

---------

killing

kiðlingur

CS *kiþlingR

kjarr

brushwood, thicket

------------

----------

BM kjerr NN kjørr

kjarr

 

kjúklingr

chick

kyckling

kylling

kjukling, kylling

kjúklingur

*keukalinga-, CS *kjûklingR

kjöt

meat, flesh

kött

kød

kjøtt

kjöt, ket

*ketwu-

knekkja

crack, break, snap

knäcka

knække

BM knekke NN knekkje

kneikja

 

knörr

merchant ship

knarr (dial.)

knar (arch.)

knarr

knörr

*knarruR, CS *knörr

kona

woman; wife

kona "shrew; tart",

kone

kone

kona

 

kráka

crow (cf. English crake)

kråka

krage

kråke

kráka

CS *krâka

krefja

demand, claim

kräva

kræve

kreve

krefja

 

kumbl, kuml

sepulchral monument, cairn; badge, sign

kummel “cairn; barrow”

------

kumle (dial.) “lump”

kuml

 

kveld

evening

kväll

kvæld (poetic)

kveld

kvöld

 

kvistr

thin branch

kvist “twig”

kvist “twig”

kvist “twig”

kvistur

*kwistaR, CS *kvistR

kæti

joy, gladness

cf. kättja "lust", kåt "horny"

cf. kåd "playful, frisky, gay, wanton"

kjæte "gaiety; wantonness"; NN kåtleik "gaiety"

kæti "gaiety, fun"

CS *kâtR

lágr

low

låg

lav

lav, låg

lágur/lár

*lâga-

leir

clay, loam

ler "clay, loam"

ler "clay"

leir "clay"

leir

*laiRa

loðinn

hairy, shaggy

luden

lodden

lodden

loðinn

 

logn

calm, quiet, lull

lugn

lun

lugn, logn

logn

CS *lugna

lundr

grove

lund

lund

lund

lundur

*lunda-, CS *lundR

lúfa

thick, dense hair

luva "woollen cap"

lue "shaggy hat"

lue, NN luva "cap"

lúfa

*lûvô-

lykill

key

nyckel; lykil (dial.)

nøgle; løgel (jysk)

nøkkellykel (dial.)

lykill

*hnukila-; *lukila-

lyndi

disposition, character

lynne "disposition, temperament"

lynd (arch.), lynne (loan from Swed.)

BM lynne NN lynde

"disposition, temperament"

lyndi

 

lyng

heather

ljung

lyng

lyng

lyng

*lingwa-

lýti

fault, defect, disgrace

lyte "fault, defect, blemish"

lyde "fault, defect, blemish, stain"

lyte "fault, defect, blemish"

lýti

 

læknir

doctor, physician

läkare

læge

lege

læknir

 

læsa

lock

låsa

låse

BM læse

NN låse

læsa

 

lög

law

lag

lov

lov

lög

*lagu-, CS *lög

lögmaðr

lawyer; lawspeaker

lagmann "chief district judge"

lovmand (hist.) "lawman"

------

lögmaður "solicitor; barrister"

---------

maki

female mate

make "mate, match; husband, spouse"

mage "mate, match, equal; spouse"

make "mate, match, equal; spouse"

maki "spouse, equal"

 

máki (ONorw.)

seagull

måk(e) (dial.)

måge

måke

-------

*mâwakan, CS *mâki

mál

speech, language

mål “speech; dialect”

mål “dialect”

mål

mál

CS *mâl

mettr

satisfied, full, sated

mätt

mæt

mett

mettur

CS *mettR

minni

memory

minne

minde

minne

minni

 

mjúkr

soft

mjuk

myg

myk, mjuk

mjúkur

CS *miûkR

mykr

dung

---------

møg

BN møkk NN møk

mykja “cow dung”

CS *mykR

myrkr

darkness

mörker

mørke

mørke, NN myrker

myrkur

*merkwiR

mýrr

marsh, boggy heath

myr

myr (dial., literary)

myr, (dial.) myra

mýri

CS *mýrR

mæli

speech, utterance

(genmäle "reply, retort")

mæle "speech, voice, utterance"

mæle "speech, voice"

mæli "voice; reputation"

*mâlia-

nakkvarr, nökkurr

some, someone

någon

nogen

noen, NN nokon

nokkur

Contraction of *ne wait ek hwariR (lit. "I know not whom")

nábúi

neighbour

nabo

nabo

nabo

nábúi

*nâwabûan-

náttverðr, nátturðr

supper

nattvard

nadver

nattverd

náttverður

*nahtuwerþuR, CS *nattwerþR

níðingr

dastard, niggard

niding

nidding

niding

níðingur

CS *nîþingR

oddi

headland; odd number

udde

odde

odde

oddi

*uzðan-

ok

and; but; also

och “and”

og “and”

og “and”

og “also, and”

 

orne (OSwed.)

boar

orne

orne

---------

-------

Perhaps *urRn

orrosta

battle

-------

-------

-------

orrusta

CS *orrosta

ostr

cheese

ost

ost

ost

ostur

*iustaR

píka

girl, lass

piga (hist.) "serving wench, maid"

pige

pike

píka "vulva"

 

rannsaka

investigate a house

rannsaka

ransage

ransake

rannsaka

*raznasakan, CS *rannsaka

rán

robbery, plunder

rån

ran

ran

rán

CS *rân

refr

fox

räv

ræv

rev

refur

*reþa-, CS *refR

reyna

try, test

röna

-------

reyne, røyne

reyna

 

rotinn

rotten

rutten

rådden

BM råtten

NN roten

rotinn

*rutana, CS *rotinR

rotna

rot

ruttna

rådne

BM råtne

NN rotne

rotna

*rutanôn

sannr

true; proper

sann

sand

sann

sannur

*sanþa

sef

rush

säv

siv

siv, sev

sef

*síva-

sem

as; who, which, that

som

som

som

sem

 

síld

herring

sill

sild

sild

síld

*sîlðô

skegg

beard

skägg

skæg

skjegg

skegg

CS *skegg

skeið

longboat, galley

---------

---------

---------

-------

CS *skeiþ

skipti

division; shift, change

skifte "change; distribution; partition"

skifte "shift, change; admin. division"

skifte "change, shift"

skipti

 

skógr

forest, wood

skog

skov

skog

skógur

CS *skogR

ský

cloud

sky

sky

sky

ský

*skeuja

smjör, smør

butter

smör

smør

smør

smjör

 

sól

sun

sol

sol

sol

sól

 

spakr

wise; quiet, gentle

spak "docile; quiet"

spag "meek, submissive; mild"

spak "meek, submissive; mild"

spakur

CS *spakR

spyrja

ask

spörja

spørge

spørre

spyrja

 

staðna

stop, pause

stanna "halt, stop"

stadne (arch.)

stane (dial.) "halt, stop"

staðna

 

stafkarl

beggar

stackare “wretch”

stakkel “wretch”

stakkar “wretch”

stafkarl

*stavakarla-, CS *stafkarl

steði

anvil

städ

-------

ste

steðji

*staþjan

steik

steak, roast

stek

steg

steik

steik

CS *steik

stórr

large, big

stor

stor

stor

stór

 

styggr

shy; angry, abrupt

stygg “bad; ugly”

styg “bad, nasty; ugly”

stygg “bad; ugly”

styggur

*stugja

systkin

sibling

syskon

søsken

søsken, systkin

systkin

*swestrigîn, CS *systkin

sæng

bed

säng

seng

seng

sæng

*sâwinga-, CS *sêing

taka

take

ta, taga

tage

ta

taka

*tâkan

tjörn

pond, small lake

tjärn

(dial.) tjærn

tjern, tjørn

tjörn

perhaps *terhnô

trúa

believe

tro

tro

tro, tru

trúa

 

tvilling

twin

tvilling

tvilling

tvilling

------

CS *twinlingR

umboðsmaðr

commissary, steward

ombudsman "representative, ombudsman"

ombudsmand "comissioner"; "royal provost" (hist.)

BM ombudsmann, NN ombodsmann "comissioner"; "bailiff" (hist.)

umboðsmaður "representative, solicitor"

CS *umboþsmaþR

unna

love

unna "not begrudge"

unde "not begrudge, give, grant"

unna "not begrudge; wish, grant (arch.)

unna "love, adore"

 

úsæll

unhappy

usel

usel, ussel

NN ussel

ósæll

*un-sâliR, CS *ûsêlR

vanaligr

customary, usual

vanlig

vanlig

vanlig

vanalegur

*wanalîkaR, CS *wanaligR

vargr

wolf; thief, miscreant, outlaw

varg "wolf"

varg (literary) "wolf; malefactor"

varg "wolf; outlaw"

vargur "wolf; hothead"

 

vatn

water; lake

vatten

vand

vatn

vatn

 

vándr

bad, wretched; wicked

ond

ond

ond, vond

vándur

*wânda-, CS *wândR

vár

spring(time)

vår

vår

vår

vor

 

vitna

testify

vittna

vidne

vitne

vitna

From noun *witania-

væzka

fluid, liquid, moisture, water

vätska

væske

væske

-------

*wâtiskôn

walmogha (OSwed.)

poppy

vallmo

valmue

valmue

-------

 

þenna

this

denne

denne

denne

-------

*þanhi

þerna

tern

tärna

terne

terne

þerna

*þernôn, CS *þerna

þjórr

bull

tjur

tyr

NN tjor "ox"

þjór "bull, ox"  

*þeuraR

þordyn (OSwed.), thordyn (ODan.)

thunder

tordön

torden

torden

-------

*þunaradunja-

þreyttr

exhausted, worn out, tired

trött

træt

trett, trøtt

þreyttur

*þrautiðaR  related to verb *þrautjan, CS *þreyttR

 

þræll

slave, thrall

träl

træl

træl, trell

þræll

CS *þrêll

þungr

heavy

tung

tung

tung

þungur

 

þúfa

mound, knoll

tuva

tue

tuve, tue

þúfa

 

þvætta

wash, launder

tvätta

tvætte

tvette, tvætte

þvætta

*þwahtian

þyngd; þyngsl

heaviness, illness, troubles;

burden, affliction

tynd "weight, load"

 

tyngde "heaviness, weight"; tyngsel "burden, weight"

 

tyngd "heaviness, mass";

BM tyngsel NN tynglse "burden, weight"

 

þyngd "heaviness, weight; gravity"; þynglsi "burden, weight; torpor"

 

 

þyrnir

hawthorn

törne, tjörne (dial.)

tjørn

tyrner (dial.)

þyrnir

 

örn

eagle

örn

ørn

ørn

örn

*arnuR

 

 

 

The following three paragraphs follow Haugen (1984):

 

The major part of the vocabulary of Old Scandinavian belongs, not surprisingly, to the common Germanic word-stock. Some words have taken on peculiarly Scandinavian forms, e.g. those nouns formed with the addition of suffix -n in PN e.g. bernu, arnu > ON björn, örn (a side-form of ON ari "eagle" which answers to those in West Germanic which formed nouns from the same Germanic roots (beran, aran) without -n (therefore ber-, ar-)): German Bär, Dutch beer, English bear, Frisian bear; German Aar, Dutch arend, English erne (OE earn "eagle" and Frisian earn being West Germanic exceptions which took the same path as the Proto-Norse forms); ON vatn (cf. German Wasser, Dutch water, English water, Frisian wetter). Another specifically Nordic productive element was *-in, which formed nouns appearing in ON as -i, e.g. adjective glaðr > noun gleði, as well as the suffixing of *-nan to create inchoative verbs from adjectives, e.g. ON blána "turn blue", myrkna "darken", sortna "blacken" (from blár "blue", myrkr "dark, mirky", svartr "black" respectively).  The most common Germanic prefixes fell away in Common Scandinavian and one effect of this was to make some words ambiguous. These were often clarified by the use of adverbial particles, e.g. ON lúka "open, close" is qualified in lúka opp "open up" (cf. OE belûcan "close", onlûcan "open").

 

In addition to the c. 2,000 simplex words inherited from common Indo-European, it is estimated that c. 1,200 words (mostly nouns) exist in Scandinavian which have no known exact equivalents in West Germanic languages or Gothic (Peter Skautrup, Det danske sprogs historie, 4 vols. København, 1944-70, vol I, p.166). They probably arose during the Viking Age or early Middle Ages. Many can be counted as variants, derivatives or new usages of common Germanic words and a number may be explained by inadequate records from other Old Germanic dialects, but nevertheless we have to reckon with hundreds of words which are Nordic neologisms or else loanwords from sources unparalleled in other Germanic languages. Others probably existed in Common Germanic or had cognates in the oldest stages of West and East Germanic but were in these languages preferred formal variants or synonyms and hence they were outmoded. (Haugen notes that Common Scandinavian chose the -s suffix in Germanic leuhsa "light" (>CSc ljûs > ON ljós) while West Germanic preferred -t (leuta becoming English light, German Licht etc.)). This is just one example of how such seeming differences or else major variant forms could have arisen in preliterate times. 

 

The arbitrariness of how some words may come to be the standard forms in Scandinavian in contrast to West Germanic is illustrated by the example of words meaning "wood" by Haugen. In Common Scandinavian there were four such words mörk, holt, viþr and skogR. Today these mean respectively "open land" (except in Iceland where mörk still means "forest"), "grove" (cf. lund), "wood" (e.g. Danish ved) and "forest" (mainland skog, Icelandic skógur). Mörk, holt and viþr have cognates in Germanic but skogR stands in uncertain ablaut relation to OE sceaga "thicket". The West Germanic languages' standard term for forest descended from Germanic walþuz (OHG, OS wald, OE weald, German Wald, English weald) which in Common Scandinavian had already come to mean "plain" (cf. ON völlr, Icelandic völlur "plain", Norwegian voll "grassy field, meadow"). It not difficult to see how mörk could evolve in meaning from "forest" to "open land" (OE weald has partly done this to modern wold "open country") in areas where forest clearing occurred but it is much more difficult to explain why the forerunner to völlr has already in Common Scandinavian taken on the latter meaning but has never done so to any great extent in West Germanic.

 

Notes on the words in the word-list:

 

aurriði literally "the sand rider", was loaned into MLG as ôre "salmon" (de Vries).

bakki the ME word banke "slope" (> English bank) is presumably from older Danish banke; cf. OE bacca, bacce "ridge" (de Vries). Nielsen considers the form a side-form to Danish banke, with assimilation of -nk- to -kk-, a characteristic of Scandinavian (cf. drikke vs. drink).

bardagi is derived from ON berja "beat, strike" with the addition of suffix -dagi.

beiskr appears as a loan in ME as beggsk (later baiske), and survives in current northern English dialects as bask "very dry, bitter" (Thorsen); cf. Gothic baitrs "bitter".

björn cf. OE bera, OHG bero, MDu bere, German Bär, Dutch beer, Frisian bear "bear"; also OE beorn "warrior, hero, doughty man"; the name in Germanic denoted "the brown" (Nielsen, de Vries); the form in -n is unique to Scandinavian;

blána an inchoate verb formed from ON blár "blue, swarthy, black".

blygð has a relation in OE âblycgan "grow pale; make afraid" (de Vries).

bóndi - borrowed into OE as bônda, bûnda "householder, farmer, freeman" and ME bônde, bûnde "farmer".

brúðhlaup - literally denoted the conveying home of the bride. OE brýdhlôp calques this Norse compound. Related compounds are OFris brölop, OS brûdloht, MLG brûtloft, OHG brûthlauft, MHG brûtlauf (de Vries).

bygð from ON byggja, byggva "settle, inhabit, dwell", (cf. Norwegian bygge "build, dwell, settle down", Swedish bygga "build", Icelandic byggja "build, inhabit"), hence the ME verb biggen and northern dialect big "build, dwell"; cf. also OE býan "stay, dwell, live, inhabit"; byggja stands in uncertain ablaut relation to ON búa "dwell, live" (cf. Norwegian bo, bu "live, dwell") (de Vries).

byrja is etymologically related to Dutch beuren "lift", gebeuren "happen".

dagverðr, dögurðr a Scandinavian neologism (just as breakfast is unique to English), formed from ON dagr "day" and verðr "mealtime, eating" (cf. Nynorsk verd "meal") - the etymology is disputed but links have been made with Gothic wairdus, OE werd, wird, OHG wirt "host, head of the household" (the Scandinavian words identical with these, e.g. värd, værd "host, landlord, innkeeper" are loans from MLG) (de Vries, Nielsen).

dáligr derives from ON "powerlessness, trance, faint" (Icelandic "coma, unconsciousness", Norwegian Bokmål dåne "faint; fade", Nynorsk dåen "deceased") and is closely related to ON dáinn "deceased", deyja "die" (hence dáinn) the possible source of English die.

dofinn - cf. OFris dof "powerless", Dutch dof "dull, dim"; related to daufr "deaf" (de Vries).

drengr - loaned into OE as dreng "Viking warrior", appearing in ME as dreng, dring "doughty young man".

dróttning - cf. OE dryhten "lord", OS druhtin "lord", OHG truhtîn "lord"; unlike dróttning, words of this root were exclusively masculine and were never extended to denote "queen".

einsligr a compound adjective of the elements ON einn in the genitive case "alone, single" and the adjective forming suffix -ligr (cf. English -ly, -like); the compound is unique to the Nordic languages, cf. German einsam, Dutch eenzaam.

ekki is a compound of eitt (neuter of the numeral einn "one") and the element -gi sometimes added enclictically to nouns or pronouns, often forming negatives (e.g. ON aldrigi, engi, hvergi) (de Vries, Nielsen).

ekkja from the PN form denoting "the lonely, solitary" derived from an adjective corresponding to Old Danish ænkæ "singularly placed", ON einka "individual, separate" (Nielsen).

eldr once had relations in OE æled (poetic), OS êld "fire, flame" and OE âl "fire, burning", ælan "burn"; the root is Indo-European but is not now known in Germanic outside the Scandinavian languages; English dialectal elding "fuel" is a derivative of a Scandinavian loan in eld-;

elfr has relations in MLG elve "riverbed" and MHG Elbe "the Elbe River" (from Germano-Latin Albis); traditionally it is ascribed to Latin albus "white", although other etymologies have been put forward.

elska derived from elskr "beloved, dearly valued" from a Germanic stem; the etymology is uncertain but usually explained in relation to ala (from Indo-European *al- "grow; nourish") and meaning "bring up, raise, rear" > "love" (de Vries, Nielsen).

fátækr from ON fár "few" (cf. mainland Scandinavian "few", OE fea, OFris , OS faho, OHG fao) and tækr "taking" a verbal adjective formed from taka - therefore "he who takes or receives little" (Nielsen, de Vries).

félagi is a late loan into OE as fêolaga and is found in ME forms as felawe, felage; it is a formation from félag "fellowship, partnership" and compounds the elements "property, money; cattle" and lag "fellowship".

fjós is earlier fêhûs "sheep-house" (Haugen).

foss is found in ME as fors and continues in northen English dialects as force.

fylki may be the remnant of earlier compounds which had it as a second element, cf. OE gefylce "war band, host"; the related verb fylkja "array, draw up" (Danish, Norwegian fylke, Swedish fylka "array, draw up", Icelandic fylkja "muster a force, marshal") also has a parallel in OE fylcian "marshal"; the derivation ON fylking "battle array; host, legion" (Icelandic fylking "ranks, column") is found in the mainland languages in historical usage as fylking "phalanx"; the root is a formation on ON fólk "people, nation, host"; the modern Scandinavian words (except in the case of the Norwegian fylke) are probably revived from Old Norse and are mainly confined to historical usage;

fær "sheep" from Germanic *fahaz "hide", in ablaut relation to ON fax "mane" and related to older Danish faet "sheep's hide with wool on it", cf. OE f(i)eht, OFris fecht, MDu vacht "fleece, pelt"; cf. the stem form ON "livestock, goods, money" (Nynorsk fe, Swedish "cattle"; Gothic faíhu, OE fêoh (> fee), OS fehu, OHG feho (> German Vieh)) from Germanic *fehu- "clipped wooly animal, sheep, small livestock" (Nielsen, de Vries).

galinn has relations in OE and OHG galan "to sing"; galinn could also denote "enchanted" (i.e. from song or incantation), usually by malevolent supernatural forces or beings and this sense was connected to the meaning "mad, frantic".

gáta survives in northern English dialect goadick "mystery, riddle, puzzle" (Skeat); the West Germanic equivalent is *râdilsi (< Germanic râdan) (Haugen). cf. German Rätsel, Dutch raadsel "puzzle, riddle, mystery" English riddle (< OE rædels "opinion, counsel; riddle"), OFris riedsal "riddle".

genta according to de Vries is related to Icelandic ganta "tease, mock", Nynorsk gantast "trifle, jest", ON gant "flirtation, dalliance", Danish gantes "flirt"; the word is a -t suffixed formation on ON gana "yawn, gape; stare" (de Vries, Nielsen).

geyja cf. OE gôian "groan" (Haugen).

gleyma is a derivation originally implying "forgetfulness through revelry" from ON glaumr "merriment, revelry, noise", cf. OE glêam (Nielsen).

gluggr related to glögg; cf. also glygg "opening; wind, storm (poet.)", Nynorsk glygge "gap in the cloud cover", i.e. caused by the wind; in ablaut relation to ON glóa "shine, glow" (cf. OE glôwan, OS glôian, OHG gluoen "glow, shine") (Nielsen).

gløggr is related to OE glêaw "keen, wise, prudent" and OS and OHG glau "wise". It was borrowed into English, appearing in ME as gleg and is still found in northen English dialect glegg "clear-sighted, sharp" (de Vries, Thorsen).

gólf provides ME golf "heap of sheafs", modern northern dialect goaf "haystore in a barn"; the etymology is uncertain (de Vries).

grein is found loaned into ME as grayne "twig" and survives in northern dialect grain, also "twig" (Thorsen).

gríð the etymology is disputed - Alf Torp has linked it with Gothic griþs "step, stride" while Wadstein has read *ga-hríð and there a development of hríð "storm; onset"; de Vries likes neither, preferring to associate it with gráðr "greed, hunger" which is at least logical. In this Nielsen agrees, since he links the word with Danish grådig.

gríss was loaned into English, recorded in ME as grîs, now surviving in northern dialect grice (Thorsen).

grön has provided MLG gräne, Dutch green "fir tree"; de Vries considers it the same word as grön "moustache, lip" and related to greni "fir tree, spruce, pine"; the name of the tree stems from its overhang resembling the hair of the upper lip, cf. OHG grana "beard hair"; it is says Nielsen "et spec. nord. navn".

haf has cognates in poetic OE hæf "ocean" and OFris hef, MLG (from which German Haff "lagoon") and MDu haf, from Germanic *hafa- but only now meaning "sea, ocean" in Scandinavian; it is closely related to ON hafn "harbour, haven" and has ousted the simplex form inherited from Indo-European ON marr "sea" in the modern Mainland languages (Latin mare, OHG mari, German Meer, OE and modern English mere, Dutch meer etc.).

hefnd - from the related verb hefna comes the ME verb hevenen "avenge" (de Vries).

hestr has relations in OE hengest "stallion", OFris hengst, hingst and OHG hengist "gelding", German Hengst "stallion".

hitta or a parallel Scandinavian form has given ME hitten, modern English hit.

hlýða provides ME lîðen "listen" and modern dialectal lithe "listen". It is related to OE hlýdan "make a noise" and OS âhlûdian "sound", among others (de Vries) - the West Germanic equivalents denote "make a noise, sound" - cf. ON hljóða "sound", Icelandic hljóða "cry out", Norwegian lyde, ljode "sound", Swedish ljuda "sound, make a noise".

hræddur is found borrowed into ME as red, radd (cf. Norwegian redd) (de Vries).

hræðsla de Vries links the word (and the accompanying verbs hræða "frighten", hræðast "be afraid, fear, dread", cf. Bokmål reddes, Nynorsk reddast "be frightened", Swedish rädas "fear, dread") with ON hraðr "quick" (cf. Nynorsk rad "quick; direct", OE hræðe "quick", > modern rather) and thereto hræddr.

hústrú is a phonological development of older Norse húsfrú, Old Danish and Swedish hûsfrûa (with this process having gone further in the modern mainland languages), after the stress fell on the initial syllables and the long vowels were shortened. The word gradually came to loose its semantic relation to hús "house" + frú "lady, wife" and the orthographic division in the word was lost, resulting in an unknown consonant cluster -sfr- and the subsequent exchange of the offending -f- for a more natural -t- (Nielsen); the word is originally a loan into the Scandinavian languages from MLG hûsvrouwe "house-lady", whose constituents survive identically compounded in Dutch huisvrouw, German Hausfrau.

hvíla "rest, repose" has direct relations in Gothic hveila and West Germanic OE and OS hwîl, OFris hwîle, MDu wijl, German Weile "while, time" (Nielsen, de Vries).

hægri a comparative "the more convenient" from the adjective hægr "easy, convenient" (Icelandic hægur "easy, convenient, possible", Danish hynde "cushion, bolster"), in ablaut relation to hagr "state, condition" (cf. Ice hagur "circumstances"; Danish behag "pleasure, liking" from MLG) (de Vries, Nielsen).

kaka provided ME kake "flat loaf, flat cake", English cake.

kaupang is probably an early loan from West-Germanic, in the which the word no longer exists. Cf. OE cêaping "marketplace" (perhaps loaned into West Scandinavian) and MLG kôpinge "trade centre" (perhaps transmitted via East Scandinavian).

kelda or a corresponding form is the source of English dialectal kelda "spring"; Nielsen assigns it ablaut status in relation to Old Danish kaldær (ON kaldr) "cold", a belief also stated by de Vries, who discusses the word's unclear affinity to Germanic *wellôn (cf. OE wiella) and summises the North Germanic form *kalðiôn has perhaps descended from *kvalðiôn from associations with the forerunner of kaldr. cf. German Quelle "well, spring, source", from a source corresponding to Old Swedish kvild from *kvelði. (Nielsen, de Vries)

kensl a derivation of the verb kenna "know, recognise; feel" (cf. Norwegian kjenne, Swedish känna "know, recognise; feel"; Gothic kannjan "make known", OE cennan "conceive, bring forth, declare", OFris kenna, OHG kennen "recognise", MLG kennen), a causative formed from the preterite of kunna "know, understand" (cf. Norwegian kunne, Swedish kunna, Icelandic kunna "know, know how"; Gothic kunnan, OE cunnan (> Scots. ken), OS, OHG kunnan, German können "know, know how, be able to") (de Vries, Nielsen).

kerling provides modern English carling, carline "fore-and-aft beam in a vessel, used for supporting the deck" (recorded in the 1300s); cf. the cognates and root form ON karl "man", OE ceorl "freeman of the lowest class, husbandman" (> English churl), OHG karl "man, husband" (> German Kerl "chap, fellow"), MLG kerle, Dutch kerel "man, chap", Norwegian kar, Swedish karl "man, chap, fellow".

keyra or a form corresponding to it supplies ME kairen, cairen "go, return", modern dialectal cair "drive" and MLG kören, keren "travel" (de Vries).

kjúklingr - from Germanic *keuka-; West Germanic diminutive *keuk-îna gives MLG kûken, OE cýcen (> chicken) and German Küchlein (Nielsen).

kjöt is found as a loan in ME (ket) and survives in northern dialect ket "carrion" (Thorsen).

knekkja has relations in MLG knacken "bang", Dutch knakken "cleave in twain, break off, crack" (de Vries).

knörr is recorded loaned as cnearr into late OE; cf. Dutch knar "treestump" (de Vries).

kona cf. the related Gothic qinô, OE cwene ("woman, wife; harlot" (> English quean)), OS quena, MLG quene, kone, MHG quene "woman, wife" from Germanic *kwenôn; to Germanic *kwêni- are ascribed Gothic qêns "woman, wife", OS quân "wife", OE cwên "queen; consort, woman", (> English queen), Proto-Norse *kwâni-, ON kván "wife" (Nielsen); (cf. Icelandic kvendi "quean, hussy", kvenast "marry", archaic and poetic kván "woman, wife").

kráka first appears in 1300s ME as crake, identical with the modern word (an alternative derivation is the related ON krákr "raven";

kæti a derivation (just as the accompanying verb kæta "gladden") of the adjective kátr "merry, cheerful" (cf. Swedish kättja "lust", kåt "horny", Danish kåd "cheerful, playful, frisky, gay, wanton", Norwegian BM kjæte "gaiety; wantoness", kåt "frisky, boisterous; horny", NN kåtleik "gaiety") - the etymology is uncertain (de Vries).

logn or a corresponding form is the source of ME lune "calm, still, rest", northern English dialectal lown "calm, still; sheltered" (de Vries); according to Wessén the underlying meaning of the word is "gleaming spot on the water" (therefore implying the water must be reasonably calm), later coming to denote a lull or calm in the wind, something of importance to seafarers.

lundr is still found in northern English dialect lum "grove" (Thorsen).

lúfa cf. Swedish luv "fringe", Norwegian luv "shock of hair".

lykill/nøgel etc. - the exact relations are disputed but the words are related and owe their differences in form to dialect considerations and phonological change.

lykill/nøgel opinion is divided on whether ON lykill or Old Danish nykil, Old Swedish nykil represents the older form, the first may be the case since lykill is only now found at the margins of the North Germanic speaking area. Nor can agreement be found upon the precise nature of the relationship between the l- and n- forms. Nielsen derives nykil from PN *hnukila- (tool naming suffix *ila + ON hnúka "sit cowering") and therefore meaning "bowed tool". Forms with l- are also attested in Old East Scandinavian: Old Danish lykil, løgel, Old Swedish lykil (whose descendants still exist in the dialects). The proto-form here is claimed to be PN *lukila- "locking tool" formed from *lûkan "lock" (cf. OE lûcan "lock, close"). As Nielsen himself puts it "Forholdet mellom de to former er omstridt og uklart" (p.309) and the issue has not been resolved.

lyndi stands in umlaut relation to lund, which in ON meant "mind, temper" (cf. Icelandic lund "temperament", Danish lune "mood, spirits, humour", Norwegian lune "mood, humour") and supplied ME lund "nature, condition" (de Vries).

lyng is found in loaned ME ling, modern northen English dialect ling "heather".

lýti stands in umlaut relation to ON ljótr "ugly, hideous" (cf. NN ljot "ugly, hideous, disagreeable").

læsa stands in umlaut relation to ON láss "lock" from PN *lamsaR (cf. Icelansdic lás "lock", mainland Scandinavian lås "lock"). The corresponding mainland verbs Danish and Norwegian låse, Swedish låsa, have (or had) in Danish dialectal læse and Norwegian alternative form læse, older Swedish läsa, forms which more closely resemble the ON; rounding of the vowel to å is the result of analogy with lås (Old Danish and Swedish las) (de Vries, Nielsen).

lög (or rather the unattested singular *lagu) supplied OE lagu, ME laghe "law" etc. and modern law.

lögmaðr was loaned in MLG as lochman.

maki provided ME loan make "mate, match, spouse" and modern English dialectal maik; it has direct cognates in OE gemæcca "mate, equal, comrade; spouse" (> English match), OS gemako, OHG gimahho (but not a loan from OS as some have supposed), and is related to Germanic *makôn "make, do" (de Vries).

mettr and the modern forms related to it are from a Germanic adjective formed on the forebear of ON matr food, Scandinavian mat, mad (cf. English meat) "food" or formed from the past participle to Germanic *matjan (cf. Icelandic metta "satisfy, satiate", OE mettan "feed") (Nielsen).

mjúkr - gives rise by borrowing to ME mêoc, mêk "meek, mild" and to modern meek.

myrkr cf. identical adjective myrkr from Germanic *merkwia-, (Icelandic merkur "dark, gloomy, obscure", NN myrk, Danish and BM mørk, Swedish mörk "dark, gloomy, mirky" (the modern English word is a loan from Old Scandinavian)) and OE mierce, OS mirki "darkness, murk" (de Vries); the root of the word (just as in morgen "morning") supposes a development of *mer- "flicker, shimmer, glitter" (Nielsen).

mýrr - has given us ME mîre, modern mire; related are OE meos, OHG mios, German mies "lousy, rotten", ON mosi "moss; moorland", Nowegian, Danish mose "bog, marsh; moss", Swedish mossa "moss", MLG and MDu mos "moss") (de Vries); moor is essentially West Germanic (Danish mor, Norwegian mor "humus" are loaned from MLG môr < OS môr, OE môr (> moor), German Moor is a loan from Low German), however it may partly be from a word derived from ON merja "crush" and found as modern Swedish and Norwegian dialect mor "mouldered, crumbled matter", Icelandic mor "peat, mud, sediment" (Nielsen).

mæli stands in umlaut relation to ON mál "language, speech" (cf. Norwegian, Swedish mål "language; dialect", but the word also denotes "suit, action; case, affair" cf. NN mål "errand, matter", OE mæðel "council, meeting, assembly; speech", OS mathal "council, meeting,  assembly; speech", OHG madal "law assembly"); ON mæla "speak" has direct equivalents in OE mælan, maðelian "make a speech", OFris mêlia, Gothic maþljan (de Vries).

náttverðr formed from a compound of ON nátt "night" (but here denoting "evening") and verðr "mealtime, eating" (cf. Nynorsk verd "meal") - the etymology is disputed but links have been made with Gothic wairdus, OE werd, wird, OHG wirt "host, head of the household" (the Scandinavian words identical with these, e.g. värd, værd "host, landlord, innkeeper" are loans from MLG) (de Vries, Nielsen).

níðingr was borrowed into OE (nîðing), and survives in northern dialect nithing "miser".

nökkurr the -n forms in modern NN nokon, BM noen, Danish nogen and Swedish någon stem from the equivalents to the ON accusative singular nökkurn; cf. OE nâthwâ "someone" (lit. "I know not whom") and therefore identical with the Common Scandinavian *ni-veit-ek-hvárir from which the ON form and the others descend, Latin nescio quis "I know not whom" (de Vries).

oddi - English odd is the result of its meaning of "odd number" being loaned from Norse; cf. the related ON oddr "point of a weapon, spear; spur; leader".

orrosta was loaned into late OE (orreste) but did not survive long, appearing only once in ME as orrest.

ostr was loaned into English and survives in northern dialect oast "round soft cheese".

píka may be a loanword from Finnish piika "serving wench" (Nielsen, de Vries).

rannsaka provided ME ransaken, modern ransack; rann "large house" is a purely Norse form but is perhaps related to OE ærn "hall, large house" (de Vries).

rán was loaned into OE as rân "robbery, rapine".

refr is usually explained as "the red animal" the etymology has produced some wildly differing hypotheses, some linking it with Spanish, Portugeuse and Finnish words - all are guesses however; de Vries remarks, probably correctly, "das Wort ist aber nur Skand. bekannt..." (p. 436); Nielsen suggests it may be a word which in pre-literary times ousted the Scandinavian form of fox, since the latter word may have been a taboo word (p. 354); 

reyna has a known early cognate in runic Gothic raunijaR "tester"; cf. the derived noun ON raun "trial, test; experience; proof" (Icelandic raun "trial, experience; distress; truth", Swedish rön "discovery, observation; experience", NN røyna "experiment, trial", røynd "experience, reality" (< ON reynd "experience"), røynsle "experience, fact" and the verbs Swedish röna "meet with, come in for", Norwegian røyne "try, test, experience".

rotinn provided ME with roten, modern English with rotten; rotna is however not the source of English rot which stems the native OE verb rotian "rot, putrefy".

síld has been loaned to several Baltic languages and Russian. Perhaps related is Dutch zeelt "tench" (de Vries); Nielsen relates it to ON síl "sand launce" and suggests an Old Irish cognate; the etymology is disputed;  

skegg has a relation in OE sceagga "head-hair" (> modern shag "knotted tangle").

skipti - the corresponding ON verb skipta "divide; distribute; change, shift" was borrowed in the OE period as sciftan (ME skiften "change, move") and retains the Norse form today in dialectal skift "shift, move"; cognates are for example native OE sciftan "divide, arrange" (> modern shift), OFris skifta "decide, determine", MLG schiften, schichten "divide; arrange" (de Vries, Barnhart).

skógr stands in ablaut relation to OE sceaga "copse" (modern dial. shaw). The Norse word is found loaned in ME scôgh, which has given rise to northern dialect skeugh.

*skræma is inferred from ON skræmast "flee, take to flight"; cf. MLG, MDu schromen "fear, be afraid" (de Vries), MDu schremen "scream" (Barnhart); English scream may be from the ON word or from a Low Germanic loan into OE which is not extant.

sól has a forebear in Gothic sugil, while the OE word sôl is certainly influenced by the Norse form (cf. the native poetic OE sigel "sun", which is perhaps not related), note also Latin sol; as de Vries states it: "Die form mit l ist goto-nordisch, und daher nach England gelangt..." (p.529). The characterisic West Germanic form is sunna and is probably a development from the Indo-European form *sauel (de Vries);   

spakr is the origin of ME spac "sober, thoughtful" and modern northern dialect spack "wise". No relations are known in Germanic (de Vries, p. 531).

staðna is a inchoative verb formed from staðinn "stood still, stationary, stopped", the past particple of standa "stand";

stafkarl is a formation of stafr "staff, stick" and karl "fellow, chap" and this compound is obscured by the mutated modern Scandinavian forms;

stórr is the origin of ME stôr, surviving in the northern dialectal adverbs store, stoore "very, much" and has cognates in OFris stor, OS stôri, Dutch stoer "stalwart" (de Vries).

systkin is formed from systir with the Germanic suffixing element of belonging -în (Nielsen); the form systir with a -y- is a Nordic feature;

sæng has a possible Germanic derivation of *sahia-wangiR "rigid grass pillow" (de Vries);

tjörn gave ME terne, tarne and modern dialectal tarn "small lake, pond"; the etymology is disputed but it may have distant relatives with the IE languages;

tupp is a Swedish and Norwegian dialectal only word; Wessén (1985) links it to topp in the sense of "crest, tuft";

tvilling a formation with -ling to forms corresponding to ON tvennr "twofold" (Nielsen);

umboðsmaðr from ON umboð "charge, commission" (< bjóða um "commit to one's charge") and corresponding forms in Old East Norse (Nielsen); English ombudsman is a 20th century loan from Swedish;

unna has former cognates in OE unnan, OS unnan, OHG unnan "grant, bestow", MDu onnen and Dutch gunnen "grant" (de Vries);

úsæll is the origin of ME usell "wretched, miserable" and northern dialect oozly "slovenly, miserable". Related are OE unsæle "bad", OHG unsalig "unhappy, miserable", Gothic unsêls "bad, poor".

vargr has direct cognates in OE wearg "wolf; outlaw", OS warag "criminal, bandit", OHG warg, as well as the verbs Gothic gawarjan "curse", OE wiergan (through umlaut) "condemn, abuse, curse", wyrgan "strangle" (> modern worry), Dutch worgen "strangle", and a number of others in older Low Germanic languages; it is now a uniquely Nordic word to denote wolf;

vatn is a Scandinavian and Gothic ("goto-nordisch") form (from Germanic *watan-, an -n stem noun relic from an earlier syncopated case form), corresponding to Gotic watô, as opposed to the formally deviating forms of the West Germanic languages (Wasser, water etc. from Germanic variant *watar-); Danish vand was ealier ODan. watn, wadn;

vándr both de Vries and Nielsen connect the root to ON "woe, calamity" and perhaps a past participle from a verb formed from "blame"; an alternative interpretation points to ON "nook, corner" (Nielsen);

væzka is related to vátr "wet", cf. Swedish, Norwegian våt, Danish våd "damp, moist, wet" and OE wæt, OFris wêt "moist, wet".

þjórr is probably an s- lacking cognate (Germanic *þaura-) to OE stêor "steer", Gothic stuir, OHG stior, German Stier, developed from Germanic *steura- and answering to Latin taurus "bull"(de Vries, Nielsen); stjóri is found as a name for an ox in ON;

þordyn, thordyn correspond to the compounding of Old Norse elements Þórr "Thor" (but here referring to thunder) and dynr "din, noise, clattering". In ON and modern Icelandic, the standard terms for "thunder" are þryma and þruma/þruma, the latter standing in umlaut relation to þrymr "din, roar, rumble", with cognates in Latin, Old Irish (de Vries) and OE (þrymme "force, power, might" among other meanings) - Þórr < *Þunnar and dynr stem from the same source.

þreyttr is a past participle to ON þreyta "strive hard" (and corresponding verbs in Old East Norse) that has been made into a common adjective;

þræll gives rise to modern English thrall, first appearing as OE þræl. Related is OHG drigil "servant" (de Vries).

þungr has some relations in Old Slavonic and the Baltic languages but appears to be a unique form within Germanic (de Vries, Nielsen);

þvætta stands in an uncertain relation to ON þvá "wash" (Icelandic þvo, Nynorsk, Swedish två, Danish (arch., literary) to "wash", OE ðwêan, OS thwahan, MDu dwahen, OHG dwahan, MHG dwahen (de Vries). 

þyngd and þyngsl stand in umlaut relation to þungr "heavy".

örn cf. OE earn, MLG arn, MDu aern, OHG arn;

 

Addendum:

 

barn is a Germanic word with cognates in OE bearn, OFris. bern, Gothic, OHG, OSax. barn, all meaning "child"; ME barn and northern English dialect and Scots bairn are from the ON and not survivals of the OE word (de Vries).

búa stands in ablaut relation to OSax./OHG bûan “live, occupy, plant”, OE bûan “live, dwell”, German bauen “build” (Nielsen, de Vries, Katlev).

býr originally meant “dwelling”, later coming to mean “farm, village” (Nielsen).

draugr cf. OSax. gidrôg “apparition, vision, illusion”, OHG gitrog, MHG getroc “deception”, MDu. ghedrocht “deception; spectre” (de Vries).

drepa has cognates in MLG drepen, OHG treffan “hit” (German treffen “meet”), OE drepan “beat, hit; slay” (Nielsen).

dýrka has a relation in OE dîeran, dîersian “honour, praise” (de Vries).

has cognates in Gothic/OHG fâhan, MHG vâhen, OE fôn, MLG vân, OFris (Nielsen, de Vries).

fjall has a cognate in German Fels “rock, cliff” (< OHG felis) (Nielsen); modern English dialect fell “mountain, hill” is a loan from Norse (de Vries).

forellrar has cognate words in MLG voreldern, German Voreltern “forefathers” (Nielsen).

frá – appears in ME as frâ, frô and modern English to and fro (de Vries).

fræ/frjó – appears in ME fri “seed, descendant; roe”, and modern English fry “roe” (de Vries). The word had a relation in Gothic fraiw (Nielsen).

gamall has cognates in OE gamol, MLG gamel, OHG gamal- “old” and OE gamelian, MLG gamelen “grow old” (de Vries).

gedda appears in ME as gedd(e) and modern English dialect as ged (de Vries).

ger(va) from common Germanic *garwian “prepare”, cf. OE gearwian, gierwan “make ready, prepare”, OHG garawen “make ready, prepare”, Low German gerwen, German gerben “tan”, German adj. gar “done, cooked”; ON gervi “equipment” (Katlev).

gipta derived from gipt, gift “gift, good luck”; cf. OE giftian “to give a woman in marriage”, OHG giften (de Vries).

gæða has cognates in MHG güeten “make good”, OFris gêda, MDu vergoeden “recompense, replace” (Nielsen, de Vries).

hánn (and hón) de Vries reports “Das Wort is nur in Nordgerm. bezeugt.”

haugr cf. OHG houg, MHG houc “hill, mound”, German Hügel (de Vries).

helvíti is a loan from OE hellewîte, OS helliwîti “punishment in the underworld” (de Vries).

henda has relations in OE gehenden “hold”, OFris henda “catch” (de Vries).

herað – etymology is uncertain but the word is “ausschliesslich Skand.” (de Vries).

hos is an unstressed form of hus "house". The word can be considered an East Norse development (Nielsen).

jötunn – cf. OE eoten “giant”.

kasta – modern English cast is loaned from Old Norse.

krefja – cf. OE crafian “demand” (de Vries).

kumbl – cf. OE cum(b)l “standard”, OSax. kumbal, OHG kumpal “sign, mark” (de Vries).

kveld, cf. OE cwildtîd “evening”, OHG quiltiwerc “evening work”, German Kilt “nightly visit to one’s sweetheart” (de Vries, Katlev, Nilelsen).

lágr is loaned into OE as lâh, and appeared in ME as lâh, lâg, giving rise to modern English low. It had relations in OFris lêch, MLG lêge, MDu lage, laech, lege, leech (de Vries).

leir – apparently related to ON lím “lime, mortar” (de Vries).

loðinn has relations in Gothic liudan, OE lêodan, OS liodan and OHG liotan “grow” (de Vries).

læknir has etymologically related near-equivalents in Gothic lêkeis, OS lâki, OHG lâchi, OE læce “leech; doctor”, modern English leech. Leech has been replaced by doctor in English. Cf. also MHG lâchenære; related is OHG lâchin “health”, MHG lâchenîe “consultation; witchcraft”. The root is ultimately a common Germanic word meaning “conjurer, physician” (Nielsen).

máki is based on a common Germanic word, *mâwa meaning "shrieking bird", cf. Germanic *mâwan "shriek, cry". The first element is ON már "sea-mew". German Möwe and Dutch meeuw are related words, cf. OHG mâwen "cry, scream". Cf. also Swedish, and dialectal Norwegian, mås(e), which comes from the same root (Katlev, Wessén).

minni has a common Germanic (and ultimately IE) root, cf. OE gemynd “mind, memory, memorial”, modern English mind, Gothic gamunds “memory” (Katlev, Nielsen). 

mykr – English muck is a loan from Scandinavian.

nábúi shows related developments in OE neahgebûr (modern neighbour), MLG nâber, OHG nâhgibûr, except in the Nordic word the second element is Old Norse “dwelling, household”, cf. OE , German Bau, rather than “farmer” (Nielsen).

ok has relations in OS ôk, OHG ouh (German auch), OE êac “also” and OE ac “but”. It appears in ME as occ “and” (Nielsen, de Vries).

sannr, cf. OE/OSax. sôð “true” (modern English sooth), OHG sant (de Vries, Katlev, Nielsen).

sem has relations in OE same, OS sama, samo and OHG sama “as well” (de Vries).

skeið is loaned into OE as scægð, sceið (de Vries).

ský appears in ME as skîe, giving rise to modern sky. OE scêo “cloud” is related (de Vries).

smjör – cf. OSax./OHG smero “fat, tallow”, OE smeoru “fat, grease” (modern smear), German dial. Schmer “pork fat” (de Vries,  Nielsen).

spyrja cf. MLG/MDu. sporen, OHG spurian, spurren “follow a track/trace, go to see, find out”, German spüren “track; notice, perceive”, OE spyrian “track, investigate; enquire after” (Nielsen).

steði – modern English stith, stithy are descended from Norse loans (de Vries).

steik – modern English steak is a loan from Scandinavian and appears in ME as steik (de Vries).

styggr – cf. Dutch stug “stiff, obstreperous”, MDu. stugge “unfriendly, curt” (de Vries, Katlev, Nielsen).

taka – cf. MDu. tâken “grip, seize, take”, Gothic têkan “take”; ME taken, Modern English take are loaned from Norse (de Vries).

trúa – cf. Gothic trauan, OSax. trûôn, OHG trûwên, German trauen “trust”, OE trûwian “trust (in), confide” (de Vries, Nielsen).

vitna has a related word in OE gewitnian “punish” (de Vries).

þerna – modern English tern is a loanword from Scandinavian.

þúfa has relations in OE ðûf “deciduous tuft”, ðýfel “bush, brush” (de Vries).

þyrnir – cf. OE weak noun ðyrne “thornbush” (de Vries).

 

 

 

*Sources:

 

Barnhart, Robert, K.: Chambers Dictionary of English Etymology, Chambers Harrap Publishers, Edinburgh, 1999;

Barðdal, J./Jörgensen, N./Larsen, G. & Martinussen, B.: Nordiska: Våra Språk förr och nu, Studentlitteratur, Lund, 1997;
Bergman, Gösta: Kortfattad Svensk Språkhistoria, Stockholm, 1970;

Bjorvand, Harald & Lindeman, Frederik Otto: Våre Arveord. Etymologisk Ordbok. Oslo: Novus Forlag, 2000.

Böðvarsson, Árni: Íslensk Orðabók, Menningarsjóður/Mál og Menning, Reykjavík, 1996;

Clark-Hall, J.R.: A Concise Anglo-Saxon Dictionary, University of Toronto Press, London, 1991;

Collins English Dictionary (Millennium Edition), HarperCollins Publishers, Glasgow, 1998;

"Danish" by Hartmut Haberland. In: König, E. & van der Auwera, J. (eds.): The Germanic Languages. London: Routledge, 1994. pp.313-48;

Haugen, Einar: Die skandinavischen Sprachen. Eine Einführung in ihre Geschichte. Hamburg: Helmut Buske Verlag, 1984.

Haugen, Einar: The Scandinavian Languages: An Introduction to their History, Cambridge, Mass: Harvard U.P., 1976;
Haugen, Einar: Norsk-engelsk Ordbok, Oslo: Universitetsforlaget, 1993;

Heggstad, Leiv, Hødnebø, Finn & Simensen, Erik: Norrøn Ordbok, Det Norske Samlaget, Oslo, 1997;

Hutterer, Claus Jürgen: Die germanischen Sprachen: Ihre Geschichte in Grundzügen. Budapest: Akademiai Kiadó, 1975;

Karker, Allan: Politikens Sproghistorie. Udviklingslinjer før nudansk, Politikens Forlag, Århus, 1996;

Katlev, Jan: Politikens Etymologisk Ordbog, Politikens Forlag, København, 2000;

"Old and Middle Scandinavian" by Jan Terje Faarlund. In: König, E. & van der Auwera, J. (eds.): The Germanic Languages. London: Routledge, 1994. pp.38-71;

Landrø, M.I. & Wangensteen, B. (red.): Bokmålsordboka. Definisjons- og rettskrivningsordbok, Universitetsforlaget, Oslo, 1996;

Magnússon, Haraldur: Íslensk-dönsk Orðabók, Mál og Menning, Reykjavík, 1997;

Nielsen, Niels Åge: Dansk Etymologisk Ordbog, København: Gyldendal, 1989;

Norsteds stora svensk-engelska ordbok, Norstedts Förlag AB, Stockholm, 1993;

Serjeantson, M.S.: A History of Foreign Words in English, London, 1935; (ch.4 "The Scandinavian Element");

Skautrup, Peter: Det danske sprogs historie, 4 vols. København, 1944-70;

Skeat, Walter W.: English Dialects from the Eighth Century until the Present Day, Cambridge University Press, 1912;

The Oxford-Duden German Dictionary. German<>English. Oxford U.P. & Dudenverlag, 1994;

Thorsen, Per: An Inquiry into the Scandinavian Elements in the Modern English Dialects (part I of the series "Anglo-Norse Studies"), Amsterdam: N.V. Swets en Zeitlinger, 1936;
Torp, Arne: Nordisk språk i nordisk og germansk perspektiv, Oslo: Novus Forlag, 1998;

Vinterberg, H. & Bodelsen, C.A.: Dansk-engelsk ordbog, (Gyldendals store røde ordbøger), Gyldendals, København, 1990;

de Vries, Jan: Altnordisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch. Zweite verbesserte Auflage. Leiden: Brill, 2000;

Wessén, Elias: De nordiska språken, 6:e uppl. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1960;

Wessén, Elias: Våra ord, deras uttal och ursprung, Esselte Studium, Uppsala, 1985;

Zoëga, Geir T.: A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic, London: Oxford University Press, 1961.

 

© Edward Smith 2012

 

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