ōga

Posted on October 31, 2020 by Hana Videen

ōga, m.n: the feeling which is excited in a person, terror, dread, horror, great fear; an object which excites fear, a terrible, horrible thing. (OH-ga / ˈoː-ga)

Medieval manuscript image of a four-faced devil pushing men in a flaming wheelbarrow. — Taymouth Hours. England (London?), 2nd quarter of 14th century. British Library, Yates Thompson 13, f. 139v. [bl.uk]

nīþ-draca

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Hana Videen

nīþ-draca, m.n: a hostile, malicious dragon. (NEETH-DRAH-ka / ˈniːθ-ˌdɹa-ka)

St George in a Book of Hours. Netherlands (Bruges), c. 1390-1400. British Library, Sloane 2683, f. 14v. [bl.uk]

mere-menen

Posted on March 27, 2020 by Hana Videen

mere-menen, f.n: a siren. (MEH-reh-MEN-en)

Northumberland Bestiary. England, c. 1250-1260. The J. Paul Getty Museum, MS. 100, f. 14r. [blogs.getty.edu]

aldor-bana

Posted on February 8, 2020 by Hana Videen

aldor-bana, m.n: a destroyer of life. (AL-dor-BA-na)

A manticore in a bestiary. England, c. 1226-1250. Bodleian Library, MS. Bodl. 764, f. 25r. [discardingimages.tumblr.com]

niht-genga

Posted on October 31, 2019 by Hana Videen

niht-genga, m.n: a creature that goes at night, a goblin, evil spirit. (NI-h’t-YEN-ga)

Bedford Hours. France (Paris), c. 1410-1430. British Library, Add MS 18850, f. 19r. [bl.uk]

ellen-gǣst

Posted on October 30, 2019 by Hana Videen

ellen-gǣst, m.n: a bold or powerful spirit or demon. (EL-len-GAST)

This week’s Wordhord Wednesday post is on the ellen-gǣst. Read/hear it on Patreon.

Stockholm, Kungliga Biblioteket (National Library of Sweden), Codex Gigas, f. 290r. Bohemia (Podlažice), early 13th century. [kb.se]

gāst-genīþla

Posted on February 27, 2019 by Hana Videen

gāst-genīþla, m.n: a persecutor or foe of souls, the devil. (GAHST-yeh-NEETH-la)

This week’s Wordhord Wednesday post is on Old English professions and surnames. Read it on Patreon.

nīþ-gæst

Posted on October 31, 2018 by Hana Videen

nīþ-gæst, m.n: a malicious, malignant demon / stranger / guest / foe). [NEETH-gast]

This week’s Wordhord Wednesday post is about peace-candles. Read it on Patreon.

The Virgin Mary beats up a devil; an angel carrying a rescued soul observes. The Taymouth Hours. England (London?), 14th century. British Library, Yates Thompson 13, f. 155v. [bl.uk]