ān-hyrne

Posted on April 26, 2022 by Hana Videen

ān-hyrne, adj: one-horned, having a single horn; (used as substantive) unicorn. (AHN-HUER-nuh / ˈaːn-ˌhyr-nə)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a king looking down upon a grey unicorn with a very long horn who faces a lion; the lion and unicorn are quite small relative to the king. — Les Grandes chroniques de France; France (Paris), 1332-1350; British Library, Royal MS 16 G VI, f. 9r. [bl.uk]

regn-wyrm

Posted on April 22, 2022 by Hana Videen

regn-wyrm, m.n: earthworm. (RAIN-WUERM / ˈrɛjn-ˌwyrm)

Medieval manuscript illustration of two fat earthworms with little faces rising up out of the soil. — Jacob van Maerlant’s Der Naturen Bloeme; Flanders, c. 1350; Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KA 16, f. 136r. [manuscripts.kb.nl]

lǣce

Posted on April 2, 2022 by Hana Videen

lǣce, m.n: doctor, physician; a leech (species of worm). (LATCH-uh / ˈlæː-tʃə)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a monkey imitating a doctor, sitting on a chair and raising a flask to examine in one hand; the other hand touches the head of an owl who stands before it. — Book of Hours; France (Arras), 1296-1311; Cambrai, Bibliothèque municipale, ms. 87, f. 138r. [bvmm.irht.cnrs.fr]

hrēre-mūs

Posted on March 19, 2022 by Hana Videen

hrēre-mūs, f.n: bat. (HRAY-ruh-MOOS / ˈhreː-rə-ˌmuːs)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a hairy brown bat with black outstretched wings and a strangely human nose. — Aberdeen Bestiary; England, c. 1200; Aberdeen University Library, Univ. Lib. MS 24, f. 51v. [abdn.ac.uk]

tiger

Posted on February 1, 2022 by Hana Videen

tiger, n: tiger. (TIH-gur / ˈtɪ-gər)

Medieval manuscript image of a speckled cat-like creature beside a tree, curled around and gazing into a circular mirror, in which it sees its reflection. — Harley Bestiary; SW England (Salisbury?), late 12th-early 13th century; British Library, Harley MS 4751, f. 3v. [bl.uk]

cū

Posted on December 4, 2021 by Hana Videen

cū, f.n: cow. (KOO / ˈkuː)

Medieval manuscript image of a woman milking a brown cow; the cow licks the back of the calf in front of her. — Bestiary; England, 13th century; Bodleian Library, MS Bodl. 764, f. 41v. [digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk]

cat

Posted on October 21, 2021 by Hana Videen

cat, m.n: cat. (KAHT / ˈkat)

Medieval manuscript with Latin writing and two black cats walking across a blue inset rectangle; the first cat’s tail extends straight up into the text, and both cats’ paws descend into the text below. — Bestiary; England, 13th century; Bodleian Library, MS. Bodl. 533, f. 13r. [digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk]

īor

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Hana Videen

īor, m.n: name of the IA/IO-rune ᛡ; possibly an eel or a fish. The īor rune is a vertical line that bisects an x. (EE-or / ˈiːɔr)

Medieval manuscript illustration of Noah extending his hands toward a dove flying toward him; he stands on a large boat with animal-headed prows, sailing on waters filled with fishes and eels, while on land a raven pecks at an animal carcass. — Psalter; England (Oxford), between 1212 and 1220; Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.43, f. 9r. [ica.themorgan.org]

gærs-swīn

Posted on September 11, 2021 by Hana Videen

gærs-swīn, n.n: ‘grass-swine’, i.e. a swine paid to a lord for the privilege of pasturing swine on his meadows or grassland. (GAERS-SWEEN / ˈgærs-ˌswiːn)

Medieval manuscript image of a mama boar crouching down in the grass, looking at her five babies who look back at her. — Livre de la chasse; France (Paris), c. 1406-7; Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.1044, f. 20v. [ica.themorgan.org]

bridd

Posted on August 10, 2021 by Hana Videen

bridd, m.n: young bird, chick. (BRID / ˈbrɪd)

Medieval manuscript image of the sun, with an angel stretching out his arms above it, surrounded by a flock of multi-coloured birds. — Silos Apocalypse; N Spain, 1091-1109; British Library, Add MS 11695, f. 197r. [bl.uk]

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