Hamalt
Old Norse Dictionary - hamaltMeaning of Old Norse word "hamalt" in English.
As defined by the Cleasby & Vigfusson Old Norse to English dictionary:
- hamalt
- n. adj., only in the old phrase, fylkja hamalt, synonymous with svínfylkja, to draw up a wedge-shaped column in the form of a hog’s snout; thus defined, hann hefir svínfylkt her sínum—Hverr man Hringi hafa kennt hamalt at fylkja? (who has taught king Ring to draw up the phalanx of hamalt?) … Hringr hafði svínfylkt öllu liði sínu, þá þótti þó svá þykk fylkingin yfir at sjá, at rani var í brjósti, Ring had drawn all his troops up in a hog-shaped column, so that the ranks looked all the deeper for the snout-formed shape of the front, FaS. i. 380; hildingr fylkti hamalt, a paraphrase from hann fylkti liði sínu svá, at rani var framan á fylkingar-brjóstinu, FmS. xi. 304: used of a column of ships in a sea-fight, vi. 314 (in a verse), cp. also Skv. 2. 23, FaS. ii. 40 (in a verse); a description of the cuneiform column is given in SkS. 384; in Skjöld. S. its invention is attributed to Odin himself, and it was a favourite battle array with the men of old.
Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark:ᚼᛅᛘᛅᛚᛏ
Younger Futhark runes were used from 8th to 12th centuries in Scandinavia and their overseas settlements
Abbreviations used:
- adj.
- adjective.
- cp.
- compare.
- n.
- neuter.
- S.
- Saga.
- v.
- vide.
Works & Authors cited:
- Fas.
- Fornaldar Sögur. (C. II.)
- Fms.
- Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)
- Skjöld.
- Skjöldunga Saga. (C. II.)
- Sks.
- Konungs Skugg-sjá. (H. II.)
- Skv.
- Sigurðar-kviða. (A. II.)
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This headword also appears in dictionaries of other languages descending from Old Norse.