hǣð-stapa

Posted on December 30, 2020 by Hana Videen

hǣð-stapa, m.n: a heath-stepper, an animal which wanders over heaths or uncultivated country. (HATH-STAH-pa / ˈhæːθ-ˌsta-pa)

This week’s Wordhord Wednesday post is on the heath-stepper. Read it on Patreon.

glida

Posted on December 15, 2020 by Hana Videen

glida, m.n: bird of prey, kite, glede. (GLID-ah / ˈglɪ-da)

Medieval manuscript image of a brown, hook-beaked bird extending a talon and flapping its wings in the air. — *Ter Duinen Aviary*, Hugh of Fouilloy. Flanders, c. 1190-1200. Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, f. 6r. [bestiary.ca]

hran-fisc

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Hana Videen

hran-fisc, m.n: whale. (HRAWN-FISH / ˈhɹan-ˌfɪʃ)

Medieval manuscript image of a boat carrying three men on the back of a giant fish-eating whale. — Ashmole Bestiary. England (Peterborough? Lincoln?), 1201-1225. Bodleian Library, MS Ashmole 1511, f. 86v. [digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk]

olfend

Posted on October 23, 2020 by Hana Videen

olfend, m.n: camel. (OL-vend / ˈɔl-vɛnd)

Medieval manuscript image of a brown, two-humped camel, with a couple of trees in the background. — Jacob van Maerlant’s *Der Naturen Bloeme*. Flanders/Utrecht, 15th century. The Hague, Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 76 E 4, f. 9r. [bestiary.ca]

hǣðen-styrc

Posted on October 13, 2020 by Hana Videen

hǣðen-styrc, m.n: heathen-calf, a calf used in heathen worship, the golden calf made by the Israelites. (HAETH-en-STURK / ˈhæː-θɛn-ˌstɝɹk)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a group of men praying to a calf on a pedestal, while a bearded man with horns lurks in the background. — Bible pictures by William de Brailes. England (Oxford), c. 1250. Walters Art Museum, MS W.106, f. 13r. [art.thewalters.org]

fisc-noþ

Posted on September 17, 2020 by Hana Videen

fisc-noþ, m.n: fishing; the action or practice of taking fish; the privilege or right of catching fish in certain waters. (FISH-noth / ˈfɪʃ-nɔθ)

Medieval manuscript image of two eagles flying over a body of water. One eagle has a fish in its talons. — Eagles in the Aberdeen Bestiary. England, c. 1200. Aberdeen University Library, MS 24, f. 61v. [abdn.ac.uk]

wicg-cræft

Posted on September 11, 2020 by Hana Videen

wicg-cræft, m.n: steed-craft, skill in connection with horses. (WIDG-KRAFT / ˈwɪd͡ʒ-ˌkɹæft)

Medieval manuscript illustration of an army of armoured men on horses with swords and spears, riding into battle. — Crusader Bible. France (Paris), 1240s. Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.638, f. 24r. [themorgan.org]

lāwerce

Posted on September 7, 2020 by Hana Videen

lāwerce, f.n: lark, specifically the skylark. (LAH-wehr-cheh / ˈlaː-wɛɹ-t͡ʃɛ)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a brown, speckled bird, standing amidst a vine that decorates the page’s margin. — Skylark in the Sherbourne Missal. England (Sherborne), c. 1399-c. 1407. British Library, Add MS 74236, p. 369. [access.bl.uk]

oster-hlāf

Posted on August 27, 2020 by Hana Videen

oster-hlāf, m.n: oyster-patty. (OST-er-HLAHF / ˈɔs-tɛɹ-ˌhlaːf)

Oyster in Jacob van Maerlant’s Der naturen bloeme. Netherlands (Utrecht), 14th century. The Hague, Koninklijke Bibliotheek KB KA 16, f. 108v. [commons.wikimedia.org]

gnæt

Posted on August 26, 2020 by Hana Videen

gnæt, m.n: gnat. (G’NAT / ˈgnæt)

This week’s Wordhord Wednesday post is on female joy vessels. Read it on Patreon.

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Category Archives: animals