orþanc-bend, m.n: a skilfully contrived band, a cunning bond. (“or-thank-bend”)
Anglo-Saxon gold finger ring (800-900), from the Victoria and Albert Museum: “In contrast to the garnet-set jewellery of the earlier Anglo-Saxon period, finger rings of the ninth century are rarely adorned with precious stones. The skills of the goldsmith are seen in this example, where the different techniques of filigree and granulation are combined to produce an elaborately decorated ring.”
gleng, f.n: adornment, ornamentation, glory; splendour (in appearance), pomp; showiness (neg); worldly/earthly splendour.
pæll, m.n: a pall, covering, cloak, costly robe; purple, a purple garment. (“pal”)
Image of Thomas Becket from Medievalists.net.
heals-brynige, f.n: a gorget (throat armour), a hauberk (long defensive shirt, usually mail). (“hey-als-brihn-ee-yeh”)
heals-mene, m.n: a necklace, chain for the neck. (“hey-als-meh-neh”)
Anglo-Saxon necklace at the British Museum. Photo by Kotomi Creations (some rights reserved).
calc, m.n: sandal, shoe.
Image from a Medievalist.net article on medieval shoes. They are leather sandals used in early medieval Egypt sometime between 400 and 600 AD.
grīma, m.n: a mask, visor, helmet; a spectre, ghost, dreadful apparition. (“gree-ma”)
Image by Wikipedia user Geni: The Sutton Hoo helmet, now at the British Museum.
tēagan, wk.v: to dress, to prepare.
I learned this one at the Finsbury Park Wordhord upon meeting a little girl named Teagan. You can see her name (partially cut off) at the bottom right…
sweor-bēah, m.n: a collar, band or chain for the neck, necklace.
Image: The Snettisham Torc, now housed in the British Museum. A torc is a large rigid or stiff neck ring in metal, made either as a single piece or from strands twisted together. Many seem designed for near-permanent wear and would have been difficult to remove.
scēo, m.n: shoe.
Image: Vikings wore soft leather shoes and boots. This particular boot is more than 1000 years old and was found in Coney Street, York. It’s rare for organic materials like leather to last for so long. You can even see the toggle fastening.
