wīg-steall

Posted on September 4, 2023 by Hana Videen

wīg-steall, n.n: a defensive position, a bulwark, bastion, defence. (WEE-STEH-all / ˈwiːj-ˌstɛal)

wiþer-brōga

Posted on August 27, 2023 by Hana Videen

wiþer-brōga, m.n: terror caused to an adversary (definition uncertain). (WITH-er-BRO-ga / ˈwɪ-θɛr-ˌbroː-ga)

Medieval manuscript image of a dragon attacking an elephant, the long, striped, sinuous dragon body wrapped all around the elephant’s torso. — Bestiary; S England (Salisbury?), 13th century; British Library, Harley 4751, f. 58v. [bl.uk]

oret-mæcg

Posted on July 23, 2023 by Hana Videen

oret-mæcg, m.n: a combatant, warrior, champion. (OR-et-MADGE / ˈɔ-rɛt-ˌmædʒ)

Medieval manuscript image of a rabbit standing on its hind legs waving a giant sword in one forepaw and holding a round shield in the other. — Vincent de Beauvais’s Speculum Historiale; N France (Saint-Omer), c. 1300; Boulogne-sur-Mer, Bibliothèque municipale, 0130, t. II, f. 319v. [portail.biblissima.fr]

heoru-wǣpen

Posted on June 29, 2023 by Hana Videen

heoru-wǣpen, n.n: battle-weapon, sword. (HEH-or-uh-WAPP-en / ˈhɛɔ-rʌ-ˌwæː-pɛn)

Medieval manuscript depiction of the constellation Orion, the stars marked with red dots on a drawing of a man, whose left hand grasps a sword that extends into the Latin text on the right of the page. — Marcus Tullius Cicero’s Aratea, depiction of the constellation Orion; France (Fleury), c. 990-1000; British Library, Harley MS 2506, f. 41r. [bl.uk]

sceaþa

Posted on June 12, 2023 by Hana Videen

sceaþa, m.n: one who does harm, a criminal, wretch, miscreant, an enemy; a spoiler, robber; (with a favourable meaning) a warrior. (SHEH-ah-tha / ˈʃɛa-θa)

gūþ-gemōt

Posted on April 23, 2023 by Hana Videen

gūþ-gemōt, n.n: battle-meeting, combat. (GOOTH-yeh-MOAT / ˈguːθ-jɛ-ˌmoːt)

Medieval manuscript image of a knight, whose shield is white with a red cross, on a white horse stabbing a rather puny-looking red dragon with his spear; a young woman watches him. — St George from the Legenda aurea; France (Paris), 1382; British Library, Royal 19 B XVII, f. 109r. [bl.uk]

ofer-flītan

Posted on March 13, 2023 by Hana Videen

ofer-flītan, str.v: to overcome in a contest. (OV-er-FLEE-tahn / ˈɔ-vɛr-ˌfliː-tan)

heaþu-rōf

Posted on March 3, 2023 by Hana Videen

heaþu-rōf, adj: brave or famous in battle. (HEH-ah-thuh-ROAF / ˈhɛa-θʌ-ˌroːf)

gār

Posted on February 4, 2023 by Hana Videen

gār, m.n: dart, spear, arrow; a weapon with a pointed head. (GAR / ˈgaːr)

Medieval manuscript image of nine cone-helmeted soldiers riding horses and bearing long spears; a disembodied hand comes down from the top right corner, with the index and middle fingers pointed towards the man in front. — Old English Hexateuch; England (Canterbury), 11th-12th century; British Library, Cotton MS Claudius B IV, f. 25v. [bl.uk]

ān-wīg

Posted on January 15, 2023 by Hana Videen

ān-wīg, n.n: single combat, duel. (AHN-wee / ˈaːn-wiːj)

Medieval manuscript image of two foxes dressed as knights fighting on horseback; the sword of the one on the left pierces the chest of the one on the right. — Roman de Renart; France, 13th century; Bibliothèque nationale de France, Français 1581, f. 6v. [gallica.bnf.fr]

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