Svæla

Old Norse Dictionary - svæla

Meaning of Old Norse word "svæla" in English.

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

svæla Old Norse word can mean:

svæla: 1. u, f. [A. S. swol = heat, swælan = to burn; Engl. swelter, sultry; Germ. schwüle]:—a thick, choking smoke; reykr ok svæla, Sturl. iii. 189 C; dimri svælu, Fas, iii. 441; nú görðisk brátt S. mikil í húsunum ok reykr tók at vaxa, Þorst. Síðu H. 175; reykjar-S., a stifling smoke, freq. in mod. usage.

svæla: 2. metaph. cheating, rapacity: draga saman auð með sökum ok svælum, 623. 21; svæla eðr flærð, Sturl. i. 20.

svæla: 2. d, to smoke out, suffocate with smoke, used of a fox; S. e-n inni sem melrakka í greni, Nj. 198; leita heldr út en vera svældr inni, Sturl. iii. 189 C.

svæla: 2. metaph., svæla undir sik, to gain by fair or foul means.

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

Abbreviations used:

A. S.: Anglo-Saxon.

Engl.: English.

f.: feminine.

freq.: frequent, frequently.

Germ.: German.

gl.: glossary.

l.: line.

m.: masculine.

mod.: modern.

S.: Saga.

metaph.: metaphorical, metaphorically.

Works & Authors cited:

Sturl.: Sturlunga Saga. (D. I.)

Þorst. Síðu H.: Þorsteins Saga Síðu-Hallssonar. (D. II.)

Nj.: Njála. (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.