Böl

Old Norse Dictionary - böl

Meaning of Old Norse word "böl" (or bǫl) in English.

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

böl (bǫl)
n., dat. bölvi, gen. pl. bölva, [cp. Goth. balva-vesei and balveins = βάσανος, κόλασις; A. S. balew; Engl. bale; Hel. balu; O. H. G. balv; lost in mod. Germ. and Dan.]:—bale, misfortune; allit. phrases, böl and bót, ‘bale’ and ‘bote;’ bölva bætr, Stor. 22; þegar böl er hæst er bót næst, ‘when bale is hest, bote is nest,’ Morris, E. Engl. Spec, 100; svá skal böl bæta at bíða annat meira (a proverb), Grett. 123, Fbr. 193; böl er búskapr (a proverb).

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

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

Abbreviations used:

allit.
alliteration, alliterative.
A. S.
Anglo-Saxon.
cp.
compare.
Dan.
Danish.
dat.
dative.
Engl.
English.
gen.
genitive.
Germ.
German.
gl.
glossary.
Goth.
Gothic.
Hel.
Heliand.
l.
line.
lit.
literally.
m.
masculine.
mod.
modern.
n.
neuter.
O. H. G.
Old High German.
pl.
plural.
S.
Saga.

Works & Authors cited:

Fbr.
Fóstbræðra Saga. (D. II.)
Grett.
Grettis Saga. (D. II.)
Stor.
Sona-torrek. (A. III.)
➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

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