Dvergr

Old Norse Dictionary - dvergr

Meaning of Old Norse word "dvergr" in English.

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

dvergr Old Norse word can mean:

dvergr: m. [A. S. dveorg; Engl. dwarf; Germ. (irreg.) zwerg; Swed. dverg]

dvergr: α. a dwarf; about the genesis of the dwarfs vide Vsp. 6–16, Edda 9: in mod. Icel. lore dwarfs disappear, but remain in local names, as Dverga-steinn, cp. the Dwarfy Stone in Scott’s Pirate, and in several words and phrases: from the belief that the dwarfs lived in rocks, an echo is called dverg-mál, n. (-mali, m.), dwarf-talk, Al. 35, 37, FaS. iii. 369; and dverg-mála, að, to echo: from the skill of the dwarfs in metal-working, a skilful man is called dverg-hagr, adj. (skilled as a dwarf), or dvergr, a dwarf in his art; dverga-smíði, n. dwarf’s-work, i. e. all works of rare art, such as the famous or enchanted swords of antiquity, Hervar. S. ch. 2, FaS. i. 514, ii. 463–466 (Ásmund. S.), Gísl. 80: crystal and prismatic stones are in Norway called either dwarf’s-work or ‘dwarfy-stones,’ as people believe that they are worked out by the dwarfs in the depths of the earth: botan., dverga-sóleyg, f. ranunculus glacialis, Hjalt.

dvergr: β. from its dwarfed shape, a dog without a tail is in Icel. called dvergr or dverg-hundr, m., Clar.: short pillars which support the beams and rafters in a house are called ‘dvergar;’ this sense occurs as early as Hom. (St.) 65, and is still in use in some parts of Icel.: the four dwarfs, East, West, North, South, are in the Edda the bearers of heaven, Edda 5.

dvergr: γ. ornaments in a lady’s dress worn on the shoulder are called ‘dvergar,’ Rm. 16; smokkr á bringu, dúkr á hálsi, dvergar á öxlum, prob. a kind of brooch. For COMPDS vide above.

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

Abbreviations used:

A. S.: Anglo-Saxon.

Engl.: English.

Germ.: German.

gl.: glossary.

irreg.: irregular.

l.: line.

m.: masculine.

S.: Saga.

Swed.: Swedish.

adj.: adjective.

botan.: botanically.

ch.: chapter.

cp.: compare.

f.: feminine.

Icel.: Iceland, Icelander, Icelanders, Icelandic.

i. e.: id est.

mod.: modern.

n.: neuter.

prob.: probably.

Works & Authors cited:

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

Edda: Edda. (C. I.)

Fas.: Fornaldar Sögur. (C. II.)

Gísl.: Gísla Saga. (D. II.)

Hervar. S.: Hervarar Saga. (C. II.)

Hjalt.: Hjaltalín, Icelandic Botany.

Vsp.: Völuspá. (A. I.)

Clar.: Clarus Saga. (G. II.)

Hom.: Homiliu-bók. (F. II.)

Rm.: Rígsmál. (A. II.)

➞ 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.