Refr

Old Norse Dictionary - refr

Meaning of Old Norse word "refr" in English.

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

refr Old Norse word can mean:

refr
m., pl. refar, mod. refir, [Dan. ræv; the root word may be Lat. repere, serpere, Gr. ἔρπειν]:—a fox, Þorst. Siðu H. 180, Stj. 412, 413, Grág. ii. 122: mostly in sayings, þar sá refr rakka, en rakki hafði ekki, Sturl. iii. 116, Þjal. JónS. 41; sem kona hræðir barn sitt, þegi þú, barn, segir hón, ek læt refinn at þér ef þú þegir ekki, Hom. 144; slægr sem refr, BS. i. 750, Fb. ii. 330; þú ert mestr í máli sem refarnir í hölunum, Háv. 41; putt, putt, skömm hunda, skitu refar í brunn karls, FmS. vii. 21; hafa skal ráð þó ór refs belg komi, Gullþ. 28: metaph. a tricky person, sly fox, hann er mesti refr, bragða-refr; þeir skyldi ekki láta þann gamla refinn sleppa, Safn i. 74; er Sigvaldi átti, refr, S. that fox, FmS. xi. 106.
refr
II. Refr, a pr. name, Landn., also as a nickname, Jb. ref-skeggr, a nickname, Landn.: Refs-staðir, a local name, Landn.: refa-urð, f. a fox’s den, Stj. 413: ref-skinn, n. a fox’s skin, n. G. l. iii. 119.

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

Abbreviations used:

Dan.
Danish.
Gr.
Greek.
l.
line.
Lat.
Latin.
m.
masculine.
metaph.
metaphorical, metaphorically.
mod.
modern.
n.
neuter.
pl.
plural.
S.
Saga.
v.
vide.
þ.
þáttr.
f.
feminine.
L.
Linnæus.
pr.
proper, properly.

Works & Authors cited:

Bs.
Biskupa Sögur. (D. III.)
Fb.
Flateyjar-bók (E. I.)
Fms.
Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)
Grág.
Grágás. (B. I.)
Gullþ.
Gull-Þóris Saga. (D. II.)
Háv.
Hávarðar Saga. (D. II.)
Hom.
Homiliu-bók. (F. II.)
Safn
Safn til Sögu Islands.
Stj.
Stjórn. (F. I.)
Sturl.
Sturlunga Saga. (D. I.)
Þjal.
Þjalar-Jóns Saga. (G. III.)
Jb.
Jóns-bók. (B. III.)
Landn.
Landnáma. (D. I.)
N. G. L.
Norges Gamle Love. (B. 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.

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