Vala

Old Norse Dictionary - vala

Meaning of Old Norse word "vala" in English.

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

vala Old Norse word can mean:

vala: u, f. the rolling knuckle-bone, Lat. talus, Gr. ἀστράγαλος; in Icel. these bones are dried and used for winding clews of yarn (þráðar-vala); in the old heathen times they seem to have been used for fortune-telling, whence the compds, völu-brjótr, m. a knuckle-breaker, a nickname, Sd.: völu-spakr, adj. ‘knuckle-wise’ prophetic (?), Edda (in a verse): völu-mæltr, adj. talking thick, as if with a knuckle-bone rolling in one’s mouth: hvel-vala, a rolling pebble, Þd. (poët.)

vala: II. the name of a dog; vappaðu með mér, vala … keyrðu féð í hala, a ditty.

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

Abbreviations used:

adj.: adjective.

f.: feminine.

Gr.: Greek.

Icel.: Iceland, Icelander, Icelanders, Icelandic.

l.: line.

Lat.: Latin.

m.: masculine.

poët.: poetically.

Works & Authors cited:

Edda: Edda. (C. I.)

Sd.: Svarfdæla Saga. (D. II.)

Þd.: Þórs-drápa. (A. I.)

➞ 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.