Bjalla

Old Norse Dictionary - bjalla

Meaning of Old Norse word "bjalla" in English.

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

bjalla: u, f. a bell, certainly an Engl. word imported into Icel. along with Christianity; bjöllu gætir, the keeper of the bell, is a nickname given by the heathen Icel. to a missionary, A. D. 998, Kristni S. (in a verse): hann vígði klukkur ok bjöllur, BS. i. 65, FmS. i. 233: bjalla is now esp. used of small bells, e. g. on the horns of sheep, but klukka of a church bell; cp. dynbjalla, Grett.

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

Abbreviations used:

A. D.: Anno Domini.

cp.: compare.

e. g.: exempli gratia.

Engl.: English.

esp.: especially.

f.: feminine.

gl.: glossary.

Icel.: Iceland, Icelander, Icelanders, Icelandic.

l.: line.

S.: Saga.

Works & Authors cited:

Bs.: Biskupa Sögur. (D. III.)

Fms.: Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)

Grett.: Grettis Saga. (D. II.)

Kristni S.: Kristni Saga. (D. I. III.)

➞ 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.