Gíslar

Old Norse Dictionary - gíslar

Meaning of Old Norse word "gíslar" in English.

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

gíslar Old Norse word can mean:

gíslar: f. pl. sureties, securities; hann tók gíslar af honum ok bóndum, Eg. 589; hann tók gíslir (v. 1. gíslar, gísla) af bóndum, Fms. ix. 313, 409, passim; gísla (the persons) and gíslar (the things) are often used indiscriminately.

gíslar: II. metaph. security, guard, in the phrase, setja gíslar fyrir, to guard, secure (vide gísl II); Hjalti bað hann gæta sín, ok setja þær gíslar fyrir sem honum þætti vænst at þeim mundi duga, Sturl. iii. 7; þá var svá gíslum skipat fyrir at á Heiðmörk vóru áttján skip í Mjörs, Fms. viii. 45.

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

Abbreviations used:

f.: feminine.

l.: line.

pl.: plural.

v.: vide.

metaph.: metaphorical, metaphorically.

Works & Authors cited:

Eg.: Egils Saga. (D. II.)

Fms.: Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)

Sturl.: Sturlunga Saga. (D. 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.