Karfi

Old Norse Dictionary - karfi

Meaning of Old Norse word "karfi" in English.

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

karfi
a, m. [Byzant. Gr. κάραβος; mid. Lat. carabus; Russ. korabl]:a kind of galley, or swift-going ship, with six, twelve, or sixteen rowers on each side, esp. used on lakes or inlets, Grett. 95, 97; k. fimtán-sessa, Ó. H. 42, 62 (to be used on the lake Mjörs); þeir höfðu karfa þann er réru á borð tólf menn eðr sextán, Eg. 171; Rögnvaldr konungs son átti karfa einn, réru sex (sextán?) menn á borð, 371, 386; karfar þeir sem til landvarnar eru skipaðir, Rétt. 42, Fms. ix. 408, Fb. i. 194; síðan tók hann karfa nokkurn ok lét draga út um eyjarnar þverar, Fms, viii. 377, 424; eikju-karfi, q. v.; they were long, narrow, and light so as to be easily carried over land, valtr karfi, a crank, unsteady karfi, Sighvat; whence the phrase, karfa-fótr, of reeling, tottering steps, Ó. H. 72.

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

Similar entries:

Abbreviations used:

esp.
especially.
Gr.
Greek.
id.
idem, referring to the passage quoted or to the translation
Lat.
Latin.
m.
masculine.
mid. Lat.
middle Latin.
q. v.
quod vide.
v.
vide.

Works & Authors cited:

Eg.
Egils Saga. (D. II.)
Fb.
Flateyjar-bók (E. I.)
Fms.
Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)
Grett.
Grettis Saga. (D. II.)
Ó. H.
Ólafs Saga Helga. (E. I.)
Rétt.
Réttarbætr. (B. II.)
➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

Back