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.

fēðe-mund

Posted on August 16, 2020 by Hana Videen

fēðe-mund, f.n: a ‘foot-hand’, the fore-feet of a four-legged animal. (FAY-theh-MUND / ˈfeː-θɛ-ˌmʌnd)

Medieval manuscript image of a rabbit standing on its hind legs, holding a walking stick, and carrying a basket of puppies on its back. — Pontifical of Guillaume Durand. France, c. 1294. Paris, Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, ms. 143, f. 174r. [bvmm.irht.cnrs.fr]

ācweorna

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Hana Videen

ācweorna, m.n: squirrel (contains the word āc ‘oak’). (AH-KWEH-or-na / ˈaː-ˌkwɛɔɹ-na)

Cooking squirrel in a margin of the book of Revelation. Normandy, c. 1320-1330. British Library, Add MS 17333, f. 4v. [bl.uk]

hara

Posted on June 18, 2020 by Hana Videen

hara, m.n: a hare. (HA-ra / ˈha-ɹa)

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Category Archives: animals