brim-hlæst

Posted on July 3, 2022 by Hana Videen

brim-hlæst, f.n: fish (‘sea-cargo’). (BRIM-H’LAST / ˈbrɪm-ˌhlæst)

Medieval manuscript depiction of Pisces, with two fish facing opposite directions within two circles, their mouths connected by a curving red line. — 11th century calendar, from SE England (Canterbury?); British Library, Cotton MS Julius A VI, f. 4r. [bl.uk]

heofon-colu

Posted on December 21, 2021 by Hana Videen

heofon-colu, n.n: heat of the sun, literally ‘coals of the heavens’. (HEH-oh-von-KOLL-uh / ˈhɛɔ-vɔn-ˌkɔ-lʌ)

Medieval manuscript image of a golden sun with face in a neutral expression; fifteen S-shaped rays extend from it against a blue sky. — Livre de la Vigne nostre Seigneur; France, c. 1450-70; Bodleian Library, MS Douce 134, f. 49v. [digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk]

bān-cofa

Posted on August 2, 2020 by Hana Videen

bān-cofa, m.n: bone-chamber, a kenning for the body. (BAHN-KOV-ah / ˈbaːn-ˌkɔ-va)

A man's body appears on a manuscript page. His bones are drawn on top of body. The man has a bemused expression. He is cross-eyed with a disproportionately large mouth. — Treatise on the human body. England, c.1292. Bodleian Library, MS Ashmole 399, f. 20r. [iiif.bodleian.ox.ac.uk]

swegel-candel

Posted on December 8, 2019 by Hana Videen

swegel-candel, f.n: ‘sky-candle’, the sun. (SWEH-yell-KAHN-dell / ˈswɛ-jɛl-ˌkan-dɛl)

here-draca

Posted on June 2, 2019 by Hana Videen

here-draca, m/f.n: an arrow (lit. ‘army-dragon’). (HEH-reh-DRAH-kah)

sund-hengest

Posted on February 16, 2019 by Hana Videen

sund-hengest, m.n: ‘sea-horse’, i.e. a ship. (SUND-HENG-gest / ˈsʌnd-ˌhɛŋ-gɛst)

Louis IX sailing on his second crusade in *Les Grandes chroniques de France.* France (Paris), 1332-1350. London, British Library, Royal MS 16 G VI, f. 437v. [bl.uk]

friþ-candel

Posted on October 28, 2018 by Hana Videen

friþ-candel, f.n: ‘peace-candle’, the sun. (FRITH-KAHN-dell / ˈfrɪθ-ˌkan-dɛl)

flǣsc-hord

Posted on April 27, 2018 by Hana Videen

flǣsc-hord, n.n: ‘flesh-hoard’, the body. (FLASH-HORD / ˈflæːʃ-ˌhɔrd)

Bloodletting-Zodiac Man, from a collection of astronomical, calendrical, medical and philosophical texts compiled in England (1275-1540). British Library, Harley MS 3719, ff. 158v-159r. [blogs.bl.uk]

mere-candel

Posted on April 8, 2018 by Hana Videen

mere-candel, f.n: ‘sea-candle’, the sun. (MEH-ruh-KAHN-dell / ˈmɛ-rə-ˌkan-dɛl)

ȳþ-mearh

Posted on March 21, 2018 by Hana Videen

ȳþ-mearh, m.n: a wave-steed, a ship. [UTH-MAY-arh]

This week’s Wordhord Wednesday post is on these “wave-horses”. See it on Patreon.

Miniature of a whale and a sailing boat in a bestiary. England, S. (Salisbury?), 2nd quarter of the 13th century. British Library, Harley MS 4751, f. 69r. [bl.uk]

Old English Wordhord

Old English Word of the Day

Category Archives: kennings