Barn-fóstr

Old Norse Dictionary - barn-fóstr

Meaning of Old Norse word "barn-fóstr" in English.

As defined by the Cleasby & Vigfusson Old Norse to English dictionary:

barn-fóstr Old Norse word can mean:

barn-fóstr: n. ‘bairn-fostering,’ a kind of adoption in olden times; at bjóða e-m b., to offer b. to another man, is a standing custom in the Sagas; men of wealth, but of low birth, in order to get security for their property, offered barnfóstr to noblemen, as in Ld. ch. 16 and ch. 28, Hænsa Þór. S. (Ísl. ii. 125), Harð. S. ch. 9 (Ísl. ii. 23); or it was done as a matter of policy, it being regarded as a homage to be the foster-father of another man’s son; því at sá er mælt at sá sé útignari sem öðrum fóstrar barn, FmS. i. 16; ok er sá kallaðr æ minni maðr, er öðrum fóstrar barn, Ld. 108; thus Jon Loptsson offered b. to the young Snorri, in order to soothe the wounded pride of his father Sturla, Sturl. i. 106; Ari Frodi was fostered by Hall í Haukadal, Íb.; Njal offered to adopt as a son the young Hoskuld, in order to atone for the slaying of his father, Nj. ch. 95; cp. also the interesting story of the kings Harold and Athelstan and the young Hacon, FmS. i. l. c.: as a matter of friendship, Ld. 144, BS. i. 73, 74, Sturl. i. 223, Ld. 25, and many other instanceS.

barn-fóstr: COMPD: barnfóstrlaun.

Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark:ᛒᛅᚱᚾ-ᚠᚢᛋᛏᚱ
Younger Futhark runes were used from 8th to 12th centuries in Scandinavia and their overseas settlements

Abbreviations used:

ch.: chapter.

cp.: compare.

l.: line.

l. c.: loco citato.

n.: neuter.

S.: Saga.

Works & Authors cited:

Bs.: Biskupa Sögur. (D. III.)

Fms.: Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)

Harð. S.: Harðar Saga. (D. II.)

Íb.: Íslendinga-bók. (D. I.)

Ld.: Laxdæla Saga. (D. II.)

Nj.: Njála. (D. II.)

Sturl.: Sturlunga Saga. (D. I.)

➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

Also available in related dictionaries:

This headword also appears in dictionaries of other languages descending from Old Norse.