Fíll

Old Norse Dictionary - fíll

Meaning of Old Norse word "fíll" in English.

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

fíll Old Norse word can mean:

fíll: m. [early Swed. and Dan. fil], an elephant; this interesting word, which is still in exclusive use in Icel., was borrowed from the Persian fil, and came to Scandinavia in early times, probably by the eastern road of trade through Russia and Constantinople; it occurs in a verse of the 10th century (Fb. i. 209), the genuineness of which may be doubtful, but at all events the word is old; freq. in Al., Stj., Flóv., and romanceS. But úlfaldi, Goth. ulbandus, A. S. olfend or olvend, a corruption of the Gr. ελέφαντ-, means camel.

fíll: COMPDS: fílsbein, fílstönn.

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

Abbreviations used:

A. S.: Anglo-Saxon.

Dan.: Danish.

freq.: frequent, frequently.

Goth.: Gothic.

Gr.: Greek.

Icel.: Iceland, Icelander, Icelanders, Icelandic.

l.: line.

m.: masculine.

n.: neuter.

S.: Saga.

Swed.: Swedish.

v.: vide.

Works & Authors cited:

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

Fb.: Flateyjar-bók (E. I.)

Flóv.: Flóvents Saga. (G. II.)

Stj.: Stjórn. (F. I.)

➞ 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.