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Category Archives: animals

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frocga

Posted on June 25, 2024 by Hana Videen

frocga, m.n: frog. (FRAW-ja / ˈfrɔ-dʒa)

Medieval manuscript image of three frogs swimming in the water, a fourth halfway swallowed by a large fish, with a sea serpent swimming by.
Bestiary; England, c. 1225-1250; Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, f. 54v. [digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk]
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ǣmett-hyll

Posted on June 14, 2024 by Hana Videen

ǣmett-hyll, m.n: anthill. (AM-et-HUELL / ˈæː-mɛt-ˌhyl)

Medieval manuscript image of ants crawling back and forth between grain and an anthill.
Northumberland Bestiary; England, 1250-60; J. Paul Getty Museum, Ms. 100, f. 23v. [blogs.getty.edu]

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wesle

Posted on May 31, 2024 by Hana Videen

wesle, f.n: weasel. (WEZ-luh / ˈwɛz-lə)

Medieval manuscript image of an orangey-brown weasel against a background of shiny gold leaf.
Aberdeen Bestiary; England, c. 1200; Aberdeen University Library, MS 24, f. 23v. [abdn.ac.uk]
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fear

Posted on May 21, 2024 by Hana Videen

fear, m.n: bull, ox. (FEH-ar / ˈfɛar)

Medieval manuscript image of a bull with one eye in the centre of its forehead.
Thomas of Cantimpré, Liber de natura rerum; France, c. 1290; Valenciennes, Bibliothèque municipale, ms. 320, f. 82r. [portail.biblissima.fr]
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sǣ-draca

Posted on April 23, 2024 by Hana Videen

sǣ-draca, m.n: sea-dragon. (SAE-DRAH-ka / ˈsæː-ˌdra-ka)

Medieval manuscript image of a sea dragon swimming in the water, a creature with long ears, snout, long tail, and webbed feet.
Liber de natura rerum; France (Abbaye de Saint-Amand), 13th century; Bibliothèque Municipale de Valenciennes, MS 320, f. 114r. [portail.biblissima.fr]
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fixen

Posted on April 17, 2024 by Hana Videen

fixen, f.n: vixen (female fox). (FICK-sen / ˈfɪk-sɛn)

This week’s Wordhord Wednesday post is on mark-dwellings. Read it on Patreon.

Medieval manuscript image of a fox playing dead to lure birds close enough to catch; young foxes wait for a meal in the holes below.
Aberdeen Bestiary; England, c. 1200; Aberdeen University Library, MS 24, f. 16r. [abdn.ac.uk]
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fox

Posted on April 16, 2024 by Hana Videen

fox, m.n: fox. (FAWKS / ˈfɔks)

In the margin of a medieval manuscript a fox tries to reach a bird perched in a tree.
Rothschild Canticles; Flanders or Rhineland, c. 1300; Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, MS 404, f. 116r. [collections.library.yale.edu]
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buc

Posted on April 7, 2024 by Hana Videen

buc, m.n: buck, male deer, perhaps the roe deer specifically. (BUCK / ˈbʌk)

Medieval manuscript image of a long-legged stag leaping through the forest.
De natura animalium; France (Cambrai), 1270-1275; Bibliothèque Municipale de Douai, Ms. 711, f. 9r. [arca.irht.cnrs.fr]
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ylp

Posted on April 4, 2024 by Hana Videen

ylp, m.n: elephant. (UELP / ˈylp)

Medieval manuscript written in Latin with an illustration of an elephant carrying a little castle on its back; the elephant, who looks shocked at its predicament, has a trunk so long that it drags on the ground.
Liber de natura rerum; France, 13th century; Bibliothèque Municipale de Valenciennes, MS 320, f. 59v. [portail.biblissima.fr]
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nǣdre

Posted on March 17, 2024 by Hana Videen

nǣdre, f.n: snake, serpent, adder, viper. (NADD-ruh / ˈnæː-drə)

Medieval manuscript image of an asp refusing to listen to a snake charmer’s incantations which are represented by a scroll with Latin words in the man’s hands.
Bestiary; England, 13th century; British Library, Harley MS 4751, f. 61r. [sites.nd.edu]
Posted in animals, deorhord book Leave a comment

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