Lest
Old Norse Dictionary - lestMeaning of Old Norse word "lest" in English.
As defined by the Cleasby & Vigfusson Old Norse to English dictionary:
lest Old Norse word can mean:
- lest
- 1. f. [cp. Engl. last, as in Orkneys and East Angl. ‘a last of herrings,’ and Old Engl. lastage = freight; Germ. last; Dan. læst], a last, burden, a measure of ship’s burden, reckoned at twelve ‘skippund,’ D. n. iv. 651, BS. i. 545, Gþl. 371, B, K. 20, 89, MS. 732. 16 (where wrongly ten for twelve); lest gulls, FmS. xi. 351, where = talentum (?); lest járns, harðsteins, D. n.; lest síldar, n. G. l. passim: a cargo, Jb. 386. In mod. usage the tonnage of Dan. and Norse ships is counted by læster.
- lest
- II. in Icel. sense, a caravan of loaded pack-horses, Grett. 119: plur. lestir, the market season in June and July.
- lest
- COMPDS: lestamaðr, lestatal.
- lest
- 2. f. reading, a lesson; meðan lestin verðr lesin, Stat. 299, n. G. l. i. 390.
Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark:ᛚᛁᛋᛏ
Younger Futhark runes were used from 8th to 12th centuries in Scandinavia and their overseas settlements
Abbreviations used:
- cp.
- compare.
- Dan.
- Danish.
- Engl.
- English.
- f.
- feminine.
- Germ.
- German.
- gl.
- glossary.
- l.
- line.
- L.
- Linnæus.
- m.
- masculine.
- mod.
- modern.
- n.
- neuter.
- S.
- Saga.
- v.
- vide.
- Icel.
- Iceland, Icelander, Icelanders, Icelandic.
- plur.
- plural.
Works & Authors cited:
- Bs.
- Biskupa Sögur. (D. III.)
- D. N.
- Diplomatarium Norvagicum. (J. II.)
- Fms.
- Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)
- Gþl.
- Gulaþings-lög. (B. II.)
- Jb.
- Jóns-bók. (B. III.)
- N. G. L.
- Norges Gamle Love. (B. II.)
- Grett.
- Grettis Saga. (D. II.)
Also available in related dictionaries:
This headword also appears in dictionaries of other languages descending from Old Norse.