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.

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