Tefla

Old Norse Dictionary - tefla

Meaning of Old Norse word "tefla" in English.

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

tefla Old Norse word can mean:

tefla: d, [tafl], to play at tables or draughts; tefldu í túni teitir vóru, Vsp., Hkr. iii. 320; menn skolu ok eigi t. svá at þeir leggi fé við, Grág. ii. 198; konungr sat ok teflði hnettafl, FmS. vi. 29; sumir tefldu skáktafl eða hnettafl eða kvátru, Konr.; tveir menn vóru á heystáli ok tefldu, brann þar ljós, Ísl. ii. 69; t. kvátru, Sturl. ii. 184; þá skildi á um tafl, vildi Sámr bera aptr riddara er hann hafði telft í uppnám, iii. 123: metaph. in the phrase, t. e-n upp, to take one up, beat in a game of draughts; þann veg máttú mér mest upp tefla, Ld. 42; hann hefir ykkr upp teflt um fjárreiður, Bjarn. 40; ekr hart at mönnum ok eru margir þá upp tefldir, Ísl. ii. 132; en sá er tefldr verðr til eyris, gjaldi konungi tólf aura, ok svá sá er af honum teflir, JS. 128.

tefla: 2. the word is also used of dice; the early passion of the Teutons for the dice is attested by Tacit. Germ. ch. 24, cp. the story in Magn. S. ch. 49 (Orkn. 200 referring to England), as also the Icel. phrase, um lífið er að tefla, life is on the die, metaph. of a great emergency.

tefla: II. to weave checks (= byrða borða), of ladies’ work; hón saumaði, teflði, eða vann aðrar hannyrðir, BS. i. 341.

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

Abbreviations used:

l.: line.

metaph.: metaphorical, metaphorically.

n.: neuter.

ch.: chapter.

cp.: compare.

Germ.: German.

Icel.: Iceland, Icelander, Icelanders, Icelandic.

m.: masculine.

S.: Saga.

Works & Authors cited:

Bjarn.: Bjarnar Saga. (D. II.)

Fms.: Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)

Grág.: Grágás. (B. I.)

Hkr.: Heimskringla. (E. I.)

Js.: Járnsíða. (B. III.)

Konr.: Konráðs Saga. (G. III.)

Ld.: Laxdæla Saga. (D. II.)

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

Vsp.: Völuspá. (A. I.)

Magn.: Magnús Saga jarls. (E. II.)

Orkn.: Orkneyinga Saga. (E. II.)

Bs.: Biskupa Sögur. (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.