frowe

Posted on February 7, 2018 by Hana Videen

frowe, f.n: a lady. [FRO-weh]

Several of you asked if sele and “cellar” were related, so I made it the subject of this week’s Wordhord Wednesday post. Read it on Patreon.

gum-þegn

Posted on February 6, 2018 by Hana Videen

gum-þegn, m.n: a man. [GUM-THAYN]

hī-gedryht

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Hana Videen

hī-gedryht, f.n: a band of household retainers. [HEE-yeh-DRIHT]

This week’s Wordhord Wednesday post is on swān-steorra, the evening star, and its peculiar name. Read it on Patreon.

līðend

Posted on November 25, 2017 by Hana Videen

līðend, m.n: a traveller, sailor. [LEE-thend]

A siren pulls a sailor from a boat by the hair, while another sailor stops his ears to avoid hearing the siren’s song, with a centaur holding a bow below. Hugh of Fouilloy’s Aviarum/Bestiary. N. France, 2nd or 3rd quarter of the 13th century. British Library, Sloane 278, f. 47r. [bl.uk]