Geifla

Old Norse Dictionary - geifla

Meaning of Old Norse word "geifla" in English.

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

geifla: að, [cp. A. S. geaflas = grinders], to mumble with the lips; gömlum kennu vér nú Goðanum at g. á saltinu, see how we teach the old Godi to mumble the salt, BS. i. 25;—it was usual to put salt into the mouth of neophytes when baptized as a symbol of the words (Matth. v. 13) ‘ye are the salt of the earth,’ vide Bingham’s Origg. iv. 39:—metaph. to mutter, þótt þú geiflir slíkt, Grett. 116 (MS.):—geifla sig, to make a wry mouth as if about to cry.

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

Abbreviations used:

A. S.: Anglo-Saxon.

cp.: compare.

metaph.: metaphorical, metaphorically.

S.: Saga.

v.: vide.

Works & Authors cited:

Bs.: Biskupa Sögur. (D. III.)

Grett.: Grettis Saga. (D. 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.