Blá-maðr

Old Norse Dictionary - blá-maðr

Meaning of Old Norse word "blá-maðr" in English.

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

blá-maðr: m. a black man, negro, i. e. an Ethiopian, Al. 51, Orkn. 364 (referring to A. D. 1152), distinguished from the Saracens and Arabians; three ‘blámenn’ were sent as a present to the German emperor Frederic the Second, FmS. x. 3: in romances blámenn are mentioned as a kind of ‘berserkers,’ q. v., Finnb. ch. 16, KjalneS. S. ch. 15; cp. Scott’s Ivanhoe, note B.

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

Abbreviations used:

A. D.: Anno Domini.

ch.: chapter.

cp.: compare.

i. e.: id est.

l.: line.

m.: masculine.

n.: neuter.

q. v.: quod vide.

S.: Saga.

v.: vide.

Works & Authors cited:

Al.: Alexanders Saga. (G. I.)

Finnb.: Finnboga Saga. (D. V.)

Fms.: Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)

Orkn.: Orkneyinga Saga. (E. II.)

➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

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