Höfða

Old Norse Dictionary - höfða

Meaning of Old Norse word "höfða" (or hǫfða) in English.

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

höfða Old Norse word can mean:

höfða (hǫfða): að, [höfuð], to ‘head,’ but esp. used as a law term, to sue, prosecute; h. mál, sök á hönd e-m, to bring an action against, Grág. i. 19, 81, 142, Nj. 234, Fms. vii. 133, passim.

höfða (hǫfða): II. to behead (= afhöfða;) h. fisk, Fas. i. 489: to execute, Karl. 371.

Orthography: The Cleasby & Vigfusson book used letter ö to represent the original Old Norse vowel ǫ. Therefore, höfða may be more accurately written as hǫfða.

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

Abbreviations used:

esp.: especially.

m.: masculine.

l.: line.

Works & Authors cited:

Fms.: Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)

Grág.: Grágás. (B. I.)

Nj.: Njála. (D. II.)

Fas.: Fornaldar Sögur. (C. II.)

Karl.: Karla-magnús Saga. (G. 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.