higera

Posted on March 6, 2018 by Hana Videen

higera, f.n: a magpie or a woodpecker. [HIH-yeh-ra]

A magpie from a 13th-century English bestiary. Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, f. 76r. [bodley30.bodley.ox.ac.uk]

ened

Posted on February 27, 2018 by Hana Videen

ened, m/f.n: a duck. [AY-ned]

Duck from the Bestiary of Ann Walsh. England, 15th century. Copenhagen, Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4º, fol. 46v. [bestiary.ca]

rudduc

Posted on December 16, 2017 by Hana Videen

rudduc, m.n: a robin red-breast. [RUD-duck]

Marginal robin in the Sherbourne Missal. England (Sherbourne), c. 1400. British Library, Add. MS 59874, p. 382. [bl.uk] via [kateinneswriter.com]

gāt

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Hana Videen

gāt, f.n: a she-goat. (GAHT / ˈgaːt)

Wild goats grazing. The Rochester Bestiary. South-Eastern England (Rochester?), c. 1230-14th century. British Library, Royal MS 12 F XIII, f. 20v. [bl.uk]

wyrm-sele

Posted on October 30, 2017 by Hana Videen

wyrm-sele, m.n: a serpent-hall, a place where there are serpents (hell). [WURM-SELL-eh]

Le Livre des Meditacions monseigneur saint Bernard (1474). Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des manuscrits, Français 916, f. 13r. [demonagerie.tumblr.com]

ultor

Posted on October 16, 2017 by Hana Videen

ultor, m.n: a vulture. [OOL-tor]

A vulture with an odd beak. Bartholomeus Anglicus, Livre des propriétés des choses. Paris, before 1416. Bibliothèque Municipale de Reims, MS 993, f. 160r. [bestiary.ca]

dracan blōd

Posted on October 5, 2017 by Hana Videen

dracan blōd, n.n: dragon’s blood, a pigment obtained from the dragon’s blood-tree. [DRA-kahn BLOD]

mold-wyrm

Posted on October 3, 2017 by Hana Videen

mold-wyrm, m.n: an earthworm, a worm in the grave. [MOLD-WURM]

Two worms rising out of the soil in Jacob van Maerlant’s Der Naturen Bloeme. Flanders, c. 1350. Hague, Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, f. 136r. [bestiary.ca]