Þæfa

Old Norse Dictionary - þæfa

Meaning of Old Norse word "þæfa" in English.

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

þæfa Old Norse word can mean:

þæfa
i. e. þœfa, ð, [þóf, hence the mod. Dan. töve], to beat, stamp cloth; þau klæði vóru þæfð með sand ok tjöru, FaS. i. 346; and in mod. usage, þæfa sokka, vetlinga, peisu; þæfa í tunnu, to stamp in a tub, a curious custom still used in Icel. of two men lying on their backs and treading a tub open at both ends, so as to pack the cloth tightly.
þæfa
2. metaph. to do a thing in a slow or tedious manner; þæfði hón þá ofan til árinnar, she went lumbering down to the river, Grett. 140; nú bíðu vér búnir, ok þarf eigi at þæfa oss lengr í þessu, to keep us longer waiting, Sturl. i. 134; eigi mun ek þik lengi þæfa um liðs-beina, Lv. 105; förum heim, þæfum ekki Skíða, ok rannsökum bæinn, let us not belabour S. any longer, Sd. 168.
þæfa
II. reflex., skulum vér þæfask svá við, struggle and delay (cp. Dan. töve), Vápn. 16; ekki mun ek lengi þæfask til hvílunnar við þik, Gísl. 16.

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

Similar entries:

Abbreviations used:

Dan.
Danish.
Icel.
Iceland, Icelander, Icelanders, Icelandic.
i. e.
id est.
l.
line.
mod.
modern.
n.
neuter.
metaph.
metaphorical, metaphorically.
S.
Saga.
v.
vide.
cp.
compare.
reflex.
retlexive.

Works & Authors cited:

Fas.
Fornaldar Sögur. (C. II.)
Grett.
Grettis Saga. (D. II.)
Lv.
Ljósvetninga Saga. (D. II.)
Sd.
Svarfdæla Saga. (D. II.)
Sturl.
Sturlunga Saga. (D. I.)
Gísl.
Gísla Saga. (D. II.)
Vápn.
Vápnfirðinga Saga. (D. II.)
➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

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