Síra

Old Norse Dictionary - síra

Meaning of Old Norse word "síra" in English.

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

síra: m. indecl.; though so spelt, it is by old people in Icel. sounded sera, commonly, however, and less correctly séra, [a Romance word borrowed from the French]:—sirrah (a word now only used contemptuously), sir, master; the word is in Art. S. used as an address to a knight, Síra Ivent, etc.; but this saga is a translation from the French. In Norway and Icel. the word appears at the end of the 13th century (Arna S., Hák. S. Gamla, Ann. after 1260, Laur. S.), and is then used of priests only, as it is in Icel. at the present day a recognised title of a priest, and with the Christian name only, so that a clergyman is never named without this title,—Síra Hallgrímr, Síra Þorkell; thus in the ditty, Síra Ólafr á Söndum, | sálina og vísur kvað; Síra Hallgrímr hagr | á hróðrar smíðið var; hann Síra Jón, etc.; cp. Old Engl. sir, used of priests, with the Christian name only, as Sir Hugh, etc., in Shakespeare.

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

Abbreviations used:

ch.: chapter.

cp.: compare.

decl.: declined.

Engl.: English.

etc.: et cetera.

gl.: glossary.

Icel.: Iceland, Icelander, Icelanders, Icelandic.

indecl.: indeclinable.

l.: line.

m.: masculine.

n.: neuter.

S.: Saga.

Works & Authors cited:

Ann.: Íslenzkir Annálar. (D. IV.)

Art.: Artus-kappa Sögur. (G. II.)

Hák. S.: Hákonar Saga. (E. I.)

Laur. S.: Laurentius Saga. (D. III.)

➞ 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.