Karl-höfði

Old Norse Dictionary - karl-höfði

Meaning of Old Norse word "karl-höfði" (or karl-hǫfði) in English.

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

karl-höfði (karl-hǫfði): a, m. a carved man’s head, figure head; bað hann Þorgeir reisa þar upp ás, ok skera á karlhöfða á endanum, an effigy ‘in contumeliam,’ Rd. 305; cp. Fs. 56,—Jökull skar karlshöfuð á súlu-endanum ok reist á rúnar; as also Landn. 4, ch. 4: name of a ship with a man’s head carved on her prow, Ó. H.

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

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

Abbreviations used:

ch.: chapter.

cp.: compare.

m.: masculine.

n.: neuter.

Works & Authors cited:

Fs.: Forn-sögur. (D. II.)

Landn.: Landnáma. (D. I.)

Ó. H.: Ólafs Saga Helga. (E. I.)

Rd.: Reykdæla Saga. (D. II.)

➞ 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.