Bekkjar-gjöf

Old Norse Dictionary - bekkjar-gjöf

Meaning of Old Norse word "bekkjar-gjöf" (or bekkjar-gjǫf) in English.

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

bekkjar-gjöf (bekkjar-gjǫf): f. ‘bench-gift,’ an old custom to offer a gift to the bride whilst she sate on the bride’s bench at the wedding festival, Ld. 188, cp. Fms. ii. 133, and in many passages in Fritzner from D. N. it seems to be synonymous with línfé (lín, a veil), as the bride’s face on the wedding day was veiled; ganga und líni is a poët. phrase used of the bride on the bridal bench, yet Fms. x. 313, línfé eða b.

Orthography: The Cleasby & Vigfusson book used letter ö to represent the original Old Norse vowel ǫ. Therefore, bekkjar-gjöf may be more accurately written as bekkjar-gjǫf.

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

Abbreviations used:

cp.: compare.

f.: feminine.

poët.: poetically.

Works & Authors cited:

D. N.: Diplomatarium Norvagicum. (J. II.)

Fms.: Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)

Ld.: Laxdæla Saga. (D. II.)

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