Kerling

Old Norse Dictionary - kerling

Meaning of Old Norse word "kerling" in English.

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

kerling Old Norse word can mean:

kerling: f. [answering to karl, q. v.], a woman; þessi skal kerling heita því at hón er af karlmanninum komin, Stj. 34.

kerling: II. used, like Scot. carline, almost always of an old woman, and only of a common person, not of a lady, see karl; mær heitir fyrst hver, en kerlingar er gamlar eru, Edda 108; gaman þykkir kerlingunni at, móður várri, Nj. 68, Eb. 44; kerling ein gömul, an old woman, 318; kerlingin móðir konungs, Fms. i. 76; þar sem ek ligg einn í húsi ok kerling mín, I myself and my old wife, Grett. 127; körlum ok kerlingum, Gþl. 257; karls dóttir ok kerlingar, Fas. i. 22; karla börn ok kerlinga, Hkr. i. (in a verse); karl og kerling, karl og kerling í garðs horni, see karl; kellingar gamlar, hrumar ok örvasa, Fb. i. 423: in the phrase, fleyta or flytja kerlingar, to ‘float witches,’ to play at ducks and drakes; kerlingar nef, a nickname, Fb. iii; kellinga bani, a nickname, Fms. xi.

kerling: COMPDS: kerlingareldr, kerlingareyra, kerlingasaga, kerlingabók, kerlingartönn, kerlingavilla.

kerling: II. as a pr. name, Gullþ.; cp. Carolina.

kerling: III. naut., like Engl. carling, one of the fore and aft timbers supporting the planks of the deck, Edda (Gl.)

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

Abbreviations used:

f.: feminine.

q. v.: quod vide.

v.: vide.

l.: line.

Scot.: Scottish.

cp.: compare.

pr.: proper, properly.

þ.: þáttr.

Engl.: English.

gl.: glossary.

naut.: nautical.

Works & Authors cited:

Stj.: Stjórn. (F. I.)

Eb.: Eyrbyggja Saga. (D. II.)

Edda: Edda. (C. I.)

Fas.: Fornaldar Sögur. (C. II.)

Fb.: Flateyjar-bók (E. I.)

Fms.: Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)

Grett.: Grettis Saga. (D. II.)

Gþl.: Gulaþings-lög. (B. II.)

Hkr.: Heimskringla. (E. I.)

Nj.: Njála. (D. II.)

Gullþ.: Gull-Þóris 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.