Words of

Old Norse Old Norse, Old Nordic, or Old Scandinavian, is a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and t ...

origin have entered the

English language English is a West Germanic language of the Indo-European language family, with its earliest forms spoken by the inhabitants of early medieval England. It is named after the Angles, one of the ancient Germanic peoples that migrated to the is ...

, primarily from the contact between Old Norse and

Old English Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, Anglo ...

during colonisation of eastern and northern

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

between the mid 9th to the 11th centuries (see also

Danelaw The Danelaw (, also known as the Danelagh; ang, Dena lagu; da, Danelagen) was the part of England in which the laws of the Danes held sway and dominated those of the Anglo-Saxons. The Danelaw contrasts with the West Saxon law and the Mercian ...

). Many of these words are part of English core vocabulary, such as ''egg'' or ''knife''. There are hundreds of such words, and the list below does not aim at completeness. To be distinguished from loan words which date back to the Old English period are modern Old Norse loans originating in the context of Old Norse philology, such as ''

kenning A kenning ( Icelandic: ) is a figure of speech in the type of circumlocution, a compound that employs figurative language in place of a more concrete single-word noun. Kennings are strongly associated with Old Norse-Icelandic and Old English po ...

'' (1871), and loans from modern Icelandic (such as ''

geyser A geyser (, ) is a spring characterized by an intermittent discharge of water ejected turbulently and accompanied by steam. As a fairly rare phenomenon, the formation of geysers is due to particular hydrogeological conditions that exist only in ...

'', 1781). Yet another class comprises loans from Old Norse into Old French, which via

Anglo-Norman Anglo-Norman may refer to: *Anglo-Normans, the medieval ruling class in England following the Norman conquest of 1066 * Anglo-Norman language **Anglo-Norman literature * Anglo-Norman England, or Norman England, the period in English history from 10 ...

were then indirectly loaned into Middle English; an example is ''

flâneur () is a French noun referring to a person, literally meaning "stroller", "lounger", "saunterer", or "loafer", but with some nuanced additional meanings (including as a loanword into English). is the act of strolling, with all of its acco ...

'', via French from the Old Norse verb ''flana'' "to wander aimlessly".

A

; ado: influenced by Norse "at" ("to",

infinitive Infinitive (abbreviated ) is a linguistics term for certain verb forms existing in many languages, most often used as non-finite verbs. As with many linguistic concepts, there is not a single definition applicable to all languages. The word is deri ...

marker) which was used with English "do" in certain English dialects ;

aloft This list of ship directions provides succinct definitions for terms applying to spatial orientation in a marine environment or location on a vessel, such as ''fore'', ''aft'', ''astern'', ''aboard'', or ''topside''. Terms * Abaft (preposition ...

: * ''á'' ("=in, on, to") + ''lopt'' ("=air, atmosphere, sky, heaven, upper floor, loft") * English provenance = c 1200 AD ;

anger Anger, also known as wrath or rage, is an intense emotional state involving a strong uncomfortable and non-cooperative response to a perceived provocation, hurt or threat. A person experiencing anger will often experience physical effects, su ...

: * ''angr'' ("=trouble, affliction"); root ''ang'' (="strait, straitened, troubled") * English provenance = c 1250 AD ; are: merger of Old English (''earun'', ''earon'') and Old Norse (''er'') cognates ;

auk An auk or alcid is a bird of the family Alcidae in the order Charadriiformes. The alcid family includes the murres, guillemots, auklets, puffins, and murrelets. The word "auk" is derived from Icelandic ''álka'', from Old Norse ''alka'' (a ...

: A type of Arctic seabird. ;

awe Awe is an emotion comparable to wonder but less joyous. On Robert Plutchik's wheel of emotions awe is modeled as a combination of surprise and fear. One dictionary definition is "an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., ...

: * ''agi'' ("=terror") * English provenance = c 1205 AD (as ''aȝe'', an early form of the word resulting from the influence of Old Norse on an existing Anglo-Saxon form, ''eȝe'') ;

awkward Awkward may refer to: * Awkwardness or embarrassment, an emotional state of intense discomfort with people * ''Awkward'' (TV series), an American teen comedy series * ''Awkward'' (album), a 2001 album by Ty * ''Awkward'', a 1999 graphic novel by ...

: the first element is from Old Norse ''ǫfugr'' ("=turned-backward"), the '-ward' part is from Old English ''weard''

B

; bag: ''baggi'' ; bait: ''beita'' ;

band Band or BAND may refer to: Places *Bánd, a village in Hungary *Band, Iran, a village in Urmia County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran * Band, Mureș, a commune in Romania *Band-e Majid Khan, a village in Bukan County, West Azerbaijan Province, I ...

: ''band'' (="rope") ; bark: ''bǫrkr'' ;

bask Bask may refer to: * to bask, or to sunbathe * Bask, Gilan, Iran; a village * Kalle Bask, a Finnish sailor * Bask (horse) (1956–1979), an Arabian stallion * Bask Om, a fictional character from Zeta Gundam * Bäsk, a Swedish liquor * FK BASK (Ф� ...

: ''baðask'' reflex. of baða "bathe" (baðast, baða sig) ; berserk: ''berserkr'', lit. 'bear-shirt', (alt. berr-serkr, 'bare-shirt') frenzied warriors ; billow: ''bylgja'' ;

birth Birth is the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring, also referred to in technical contexts as parturition. In mammals, the process is initiated by hormones which cause the muscular walls of the uterus to contract, expelling the f ...

: ''byrðr'' ;

bleak Bleak may refer to: Fish * Species of the genus '' Alburnus'' * '' Alburnoides bipunctatus'', also known as the schneider Music * "Bleak", a song by Opeth from '' Blackwater Park'' * "Bleak", a song by Soulfly from '' Dark Ages'' Other uses * B ...

: ''bleikr'' (="pale") ;

blend A blend is a mixture of two or more different things or substances; e.g., a product of a mixer or blender. Blend Blend may also refer to: * Blend word, a word formed from parts of other words * ''Blend'' (album), a 1996 album by BoDeans * ...

: Possibly from Old Norse ''blanda'' (="to mix") ; blunder: ''blundra'' (="shut one's eye") ;

boast Boasting or bragging is speaking with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one's achievements, possessions, or abilities. Boasting occurs when someone feels a sense of satisfaction or when someone feels that whatever occurred proves thei ...

: Probably from a Scandinavian source via Anglo-French ;

both Both may refer to: Common English word * ''both'', a determiner or indefinite pronoun denoting two of something * ''both... and'', a correlative conjunction People * Both (surname) Music * The Both, an American musical duo consisting of ...

: ''baðir'' ;

boon Boon may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Boon (game), a trick-taking card game * ''Boon'' (novel), a 1915 satirical work by H. G. Wells * ''Boon'' (TV series), a British television series starring Michael Elphick * The Ultimate Boo ...

: ''bon'' (="a petition, prayer") ;

booth Booth may refer to: People * Booth (surname) * Booth (given name) Fictional characters * August Wayne Booth, from the television series ''Once Upon A Time'' *Cliff Booth, a supporting character of the 2019 film ''Once Upon a Time in Hollywood'' ...

: From Old Danish ''boþ'' (="temporary dwelling"), from East Norse ''*boa'' (="to dwell") ;

brunt Brunt is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Chris Brunt, Northern Irish football player *David Brunt, British meteorologist *Dominic Brunt, English actor * John Brunt, soldier in World War II who was posthumously awarded the Vic ...

: Likely from Old Norse ''brundr'' (="sexual heat") or ''bruna'' =("to advance like wildfire") ; bug: ''búkr'' (="insect within tree trunks") ;

bulk Bulk can refer to: Industry * Bulk cargo * Bulk liquids * Bulk mail * Bulk material handling * Bulk pack, packaged bulk materials/products * Bulk purchasing * Baking * Bulk fermentation, the period after mixing when dough is left alone to f ...

: ''bulki'' ;

bull A bull is an intact (i.e., not castrated) adult male of the species ''Bos taurus'' (cattle). More muscular and aggressive than the females of the same species (i.e., cows), bulls have long been an important symbol in many religions, includin ...

: ''boli'' ;

bylaw A by-law (bye-law, by(e)law, by(e) law), or as it is most commonly known in the United States bylaws, is a set of rules or law established by an organization or community so as to regulate itself, as allowed or provided for by some higher authorit ...

: ''bylög'' ('by'=village; 'lög'=law; 'village-law')

C

;

cake Cake is a flour confection made from flour, sugar, and other ingredients, and is usually baked. In their oldest forms, cakes were modifications of bread, but cakes now cover a wide range of preparations that can be simple or elaborate, ...

: ''kaka'' (="cake") ;

call Call or Calls may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Games * Call, a type of betting in poker * Call, in the game of contract bridge, a bid, pass, double, or redouble in the bidding stage Music and dance * Call (band), from Lahore, Paki ...

: ''kalla'' (="cry loudly") ;

cast Cast may refer to: Music * Cast (band), an English alternative rock band * Cast (Mexican band), a progressive Mexican rock band * The Cast, a Scottish musical duo: Mairi Campbell and Dave Francis * ''Cast'', a 2012 album by Trespassers William * ...

: ''kasta'' (="to throw") ;

clip Clip or CLIP may refer to: Fasteners * Hair clip, a device used to hold hair together or attaching materials such as caps to the hair * Binder clip, a device used for holding thicker materials (such as large volumes of paper) together ** Bulldog ...

: ''klippa'' (="to cut") ;

club Club may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Club'' (magazine) * Club, a ''Yie Ar Kung-Fu'' character * Clubs (suit), a suit of playing cards * Club music * "Club", by Kelsea Ballerini from the album ''kelsea'' Brands and enterprises ...

: ''klubba'' (="cudgel") ; cog: Probably a Scandinavian borrowing, related to Norwegian ''kugg'' ; cozy: Likely of Scandinavian origin via Scots, perhaps related to Norwegian ''kose seg'' ;

crawl Crawl, The Crawl, or crawling may refer to: Biology * Crawling (human), any of several types of human quadrupedal gait * Limbless locomotion, the movement of limbless animals over the ground * Undulatory locomotion, a type of motion characterize ...

: ''krafla'' (="to claw") ; craze: Possibly from Old Norse ''krasa'' (="shatter") via Old French ''crasir'' ; creek:''kriki'' ("corner, nook") through ME ''creke'' ("narrow inlet in a coastline") altered from ''kryk'' perhaps influenced by Anglo-Norman ''crique'' itself from a Scandinavian source via Norman-French ;

crook Crook is another name for criminal. Crook or Crooks may also refer to: Places * Crook, County Durham, England, a town * Crook, Cumbria, England, village and civil parish * Crook Hill, Derbyshire, England * Crook, Colorado, United States, a ...

: ''krokr'' (="hook-shaped instrument or weapon") ;

cur A cur was a dog breed used by cattle drovers in England. The breed is now extinct. In the United States a short-haired dog used in hunting and herding is called "cur-tailed", or "cur" for short. In modern speech, the term ''cur'' is usually u ...

: ''kurra'' (="to growl") ;

cut Cut may refer to: Common uses * The act of cutting, the separation of an object into two through acutely-directed force ** A type of wound ** Cut (archaeology), a hole dug in the past ** Cut (clothing), the style or shape of a garment ** Cut (ea ...

: Possibly from North Germanic''*kut- ''

D

;

die Die, as a verb, refers to death, the cessation of life. Die may also refer to: Games * Die, singular of dice, small throwable objects used for producing random numbers Manufacturing * Die (integrated circuit), a rectangular piece of a semicondu ...

: ''deyja'' (="pass away") ;

dirt Dirt is an unclean matter, especially when in contact with a person's clothes, skin, or possessions. In such cases, they are said to become dirty. Common types of dirt include: * Debris: scattered pieces of waste or remains * Dust: a genera ...

: ''drit'' (="feces") ; dregs: ''dregg'' (="sediment") ; dump: Possibly related to Danish ''dumpe'' (="fall hard"), Norwegian ''dumpa'' (="to fall suddenly"), and Old Norse ''dumpa'' (="to beat"). Not found in Old English.

E

;

egg An egg is an organic vessel grown by an animal to carry a possibly fertilized egg cell (a zygote) and to incubate from it an embryo within the egg until the embryo has become an animal fetus that can survive on its own, at which point the a ...

: ''egg'' (="egg") ;

eider Eiders () are large seaducks in the genus ''Somateria''. The three extant species all breed in the cooler latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. The down feathers of eider ducks, and some other ducks and geese, are used to fill pillows and quilt ...

: a type of duck. ; equip: ''skipa'' (="organize, arrange, place in order") through Middle French ''équiper'', from Old French ''esquiper'' "fit out a ship, load on board", itself from Norman-French ''esquipper, eschiper''

F

;

fellow A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

: ''félagi'' ;

fjord In physical geography, a fjord or fiord () is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created by a glacier. Fjords exist on the coasts of Alaska, Antarctica, British Columbia, Chile, Denmark, Germany, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Ice ...

: From Norwegian ''fiord'', from Old Norse ''fjörðr'' (="an inlet, estuary") ; flaneur: ''flana'' ("to wander aimlessly") + French suffix ''-eur'' through (19th cent.) French ''flâneur'', itself from Norman-French ''flaner, flanner''Elisabeth Ridel, ''Les Vikings et les mots : L'apport de l'ancien scandinave à la langue française'', éditions Errance, Paris, 2009. ;

flat Flat or flats may refer to: Architecture * Flat (housing), an apartment in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and other Commonwealth countries Arts and entertainment * Flat (music), a symbol () which denotes a lower pitch * Flat (soldier), ...

: ''flatr'' ;

fling The Struggle Front for the National Independence of Guinea ( pt, Frente de Luta pela Independência Nacional da Guiné, FLING) was a political movement in Guinea-Bissau. Founded by groups opposed to the Marxist doctrine of Amílcar Cabral and the ...

: Probably from Old Norse ''flengja'' ; flit: ''flytja'' (="cause to fit") ;

flounder Flounders are a group of flatfish species. They are demersal fish, found at the bottom of oceans around the world; some species will also enter estuaries. Taxonomy The name "flounder" is used for several only distantly related species, thou ...

: From Old Norse ''flydhra'' via Anglo-French ''floundre'' ;

fog Fog is a visible aerosol consisting of tiny water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface. Reprint from Fog can be considered a type of low-lying cloud usually resembling stratus, and is heavily influ ...

: from Old Norse ''fok'' through Danish ''fog'', meaning "spray", "shower", "snowdrift" ; fro: from Old Norse ''fra'' (="from) ;

freckle Freckles are clusters of concentrated melaninized cells which are most easily visible on people with a fair complexion. Freckles do not have an increased number of the melanin-producing cells, or melanocytes, but instead have melanocytes that ...

: ''freknur'' (="freckles")

G

; gab: ''gabbnna'' (="to mock") through Northern England dialect, Scottish or Norman-French ; gad: ''gaddr'' (="spike, nail") ;

gan The word Gan or the initials GAN may refer to: Places *Gan, a component of Hebrew placenames literally meaning "garden" China * Gan River (Jiangxi) * Gan River (Inner Mongolia), * Gan County, in Jiangxi province * Gansu, abbreviated ''Gā ...

: ''gangr'' (="act of going") ;

gang A gang is a group or society of associates, friends or members of a family with a defined leadership and internal organization that identifies with or claims control over territory in a community and engages, either individually or collectivel ...

: ''gangr'' (="a group of men") ; gap: ''gap'' (="chasm") ;

gasp Paralanguage, also known as vocalics, is a component of meta-communication that may modify meaning, give nuanced meaning, or convey emotion, by using techniques such as prosody, pitch, volume, intonation, etc. It is sometimes defined as relati ...

: ''geispa'' (="to yawn") ; gawk: from Middle English ''gawen'', from Old Norse ''ga'' (="to heed") ;

gear A gear is a rotating circular machine part having cut teeth or, in the case of a cogwheel or gearwheel, inserted teeth (called ''cogs''), which mesh with another (compatible) toothed part to transmit (convert) torque and speed. The basic pr ...

: from Old Norse ''gørvi'' (="apparel, gear") ;

geld Geld may refer to: * Gelding, equine castration * Danegeld Danegeld (; "Danish tax", literally "Dane yield" or tribute) was a tax raised to pay tribute or protection money to the Viking raiders to save a land from being ravaged. It was calle ...

: from Old Norse ''gelda'' (="to castrate") ;

gelding A gelding is a castrated male horse or other equine, such as a pony, donkey or a mule. Castration, as well as the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male equine to be calmer and better-behaved, makin ...

: from Old Norse ''geldingr'' (="wether; eunuch") ;

get Get or GET may refer to: * Get (animal), the offspring of an animal * Get (divorce document), in Jewish religious law * GET (HTTP), a type of HTTP request * "Get" (song), by the Groggers * Georgia Time, used in the Republic of Georgia * Get AS, a ...

: ''geta'', ''gat'' (got), ''gittan'' (gotten) ;

: from Icelandic ''geysir'', from Old Norse ''geysa'' (="to gush") ;

gift A gift or a present is an item given to someone without the expectation of payment or anything in return. An item is not a gift if that item is already owned by the one to whom it is given. Although gift-giving might involve an expectation ...

: ''gift'' (="dowry") ;

gill A gill () is a respiratory organ that many aquatic organisms use to extract dissolved oxygen from water and to excrete carbon dioxide. The gills of some species, such as hermit crabs, have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are ...

: Possibly related to Old Norse ''gjölnar'' ;

girth Girth may refer to: ;Mathematics * Girth (functional analysis), the length of the shortest centrally symmetric simple closed curve on the unit sphere of a Banach space * Girth (geometry), the perimeter of a parallel projection of a shape * Girth ...

: ''gjörð'' (="circumference, cinch") ; give: ''gefa'' (="to give") ;

glitter Glitter is an assortment of small, reflective particles that come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Glitter particles reflect light at different angles, causing the surface to sparkle or shimmer. Glitter is similar to confetti, sparkle ...

: ''glitra'' (="to glitter") ; gosling: ''gæslingr" (="goose") ; guest: ''gestr'' (="guest") ;

gun A gun is a ranged weapon designed to use a shooting tube (gun barrel) to launch projectiles. The projectiles are typically solid, but can also be pressurized liquid (e.g. in water guns/cannons, spray guns for painting or pressure washing, p ...

: from Old Norse ''Gunnhildr'' (female name, both elements of the name, ''gunn'' and ''hildr'', have the meaning "war, battle") ; gust: ''gustr'' (="gust")

H

; haggle: ''haggen'' (="to chop") ;

hail Hail is a form of solid precipitation. It is distinct from ice pellets (American English "sleet"), though the two are often confused. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is called a hailstone. Ice pellets generally fal ...

: ''heill'' (="health, prosperity, good luck") ; hap, happy: ''happ'' (="chance, good luck, fate") ;

harness A harness is a looped restraint or support. Specifically, it may refer to one of the following harness types: * Bondage harness * Child harness * Climbing harness * Dog harness * Pet harness * Five-point harness * Horse harness * Parrot harness * ...

: From Old Norse ''*hernest'' (="provisions for an army") via Old French ''harnois'' ;

haunt Haunt is a synonym for ghost. Haunt may also refer to: __NOTOC__ Film * ''Haunt'' (2013 film), an American supernatural horror film * ''Haunt'' (2019 film), an American slasher film Music * Haunt (band), a heavy metal band from Fresno, Califor ...

: ''heimta'' (="to bring back home") through Anglo-Norman ''haunter'' (="to reside", "to frequent"), (Old) French ''hanter'' from Norman ''hanter''. ;

hit Hit means to strike someone or something. Hit or HIT may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities * Hit, a fictional character from '' Dragon Ball Super'' * Homicide International Trust, or HIT, a fictional organization ...

: ''hitta'' (="to find") ;

how How may refer to: * How (greeting), a word used in some misrepresentations of Native American/First Nations speech * How, an interrogative word in English grammar Art and entertainment Literature * ''How'' (book), a 2007 book by Dov Seidma ...

(or

howe Howe may refer to: People and fictional characters * Howe (surname), including a list of people and fictional characters * Howe Browne, 2nd Marquess of Sligo (1788–1845), Irish peer and colonial governor Titles * Earl Howe, two titles, an ext ...

): '' haugr'' (="barrow, small hill") Usage preserved mainly in place names ;

husband A husband is a male in a marital relationship, who may also be referred to as a spouse. The rights and obligations of a husband regarding his spouse and others, and his status in the community and in law, vary between societies and cultures, ...

: ''husbondi'' (="master of the house") ;

hug A hug is a form of endearment, universal in most human communities, in which two or more people put their arms around the neck, back, or waist of one another and hold each other closely. If more than two people are involved, it may be referre ...

: Possibly from Old Norse ''hugga'' (="to comfort")

I

;

ill ILL may refer to: * '' I Love Lucy'', a landmark American television sitcom * Illorsuit Heliport (location identifier: ILL), a heliport in Illorsuit, Greenland * Institut Laue–Langevin, an internationally financed scientific facility * Interlibra ...

: ''illr'' (="bad") ; irk: ''yrkja'' (="to work")

J

;

jökulhlaup A jökulhlaup ( ) (literally "glacial run") is a type of glacial outburst flood. It is an Icelandic term that has been adopted in glaciological terminology in many languages. It originally referred to the well-known subglacial outburst flood ...

: from Icelandic ''jökulhlaup'' from Old Norse ''jǫkull'' and ''hlaup''.

K

;

keel The keel is the bottom-most longitudinal structural element on a vessel. On some sailboats, it may have a hydrodynamic and counterbalancing purpose, as well. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in the construction of a ship, in Br ...

: ''kjölr'' ;

: a descriptive phrase used in

Germanic poetry In prosody, alliterative verse is a form of verse that uses alliteration as the principal ornamental device to help indicate the underlying metrical structure, as opposed to other devices such as rhyme. The most commonly studied traditions of ...

;

kid Kid, Kids, KIDS, and K.I.D.S. may refer to: Common meanings * Colloquial term for a child or other young person ** Also for a parent's offspring regardless of age * Engage in joking * Young goats * The goat meat of young goats * Kidskin, lea ...

: ''kið'' (="young goat") ;

kilt A kilt ( gd, fèileadh ; Irish: ''féileadh'') is a garment resembling a wrap-around knee-length skirt, made of twill woven worsted wool with heavy pleats at the sides and back and traditionally a tartan pattern. Originating in the Scottish Hi ...

: From Middle English ''kilten'', from a Scandinavian source ; kindle: ''kynda'' ;

knife A knife ( : knives; from Old Norse 'knife, dirk') is a tool or weapon with a cutting edge or blade, usually attached to a handle or hilt. One of the earliest tools used by humanity, knives appeared at least 2.5 million years ago, as evidenced ...

: ''knífr''

L

; lad: ''ladd'' (="young man (unlikely)") ;

lathe A lathe () is a machine tool that rotates a workpiece about an axis of rotation to perform various operations such as cutting, sanding, knurling, drilling, deformation, facing, and turning, with tools that are applied to the workpiece to c ...

: ''hlaða'' (="to load") ;

law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...

: ''*lagu'' ;

leg A leg is a weight-bearing and locomotive anatomical structure, usually having a columnar shape. During locomotion, legs function as "extensible struts". The combination of movements at all joints can be modeled as a single, linear element ca ...

: ''leggr'' ;

lemming A lemming is a small rodent, usually found in or near the Arctic in tundra biomes. Lemmings form the subfamily Arvicolinae (also known as Microtinae) together with voles and muskrats, which form part of the superfamily Muroidea, which also include ...

: From Old Norse ''lomundr'' via Norwegian ''lemming'' ;

lift Lift or LIFT may refer to: Physical devices * Elevator, or lift, a device used for raising and lowering people or goods ** Paternoster lift, a type of lift using a continuous chain of cars which do not stop ** Patient lift, or Hoyer lift, mobil ...

: ''lypta'' (="to raise") ; likely: ''líkligr'' ; link: ''*hlenkr'' ;

litmus Litmus is a water-soluble mixture of different dyes extracted from lichens. It is often absorbed onto filter paper to produce one of the oldest forms of pH indicator, used to test materials for acidity. It is a purple dye that is extracted fro ...

: ''litmose'' (="lichen for dyeing", lita ="to stain") ;

loan In finance, a loan is the lending of money by one or more individuals, organizations, or other entities to other individuals, organizations, etc. The recipient (i.e., the borrower) incurs a debt and is usually liable to pay interest on that d ...

: ''lán'' (="to lend") ;

loft A loft is a building's upper storey or elevated area in a room directly under the roof (American usage), or just an attic: a storage space under the roof usually accessed by a ladder (primarily British usage). A loft apartment refers to large ...

: ''lopt'' (="an upper room or floor : attic, air, sky") ;

loose Loose may refer to: Places *Loose, Germany *Loose, Kent, a parish and village in southeast England People * Loose (surname) Arts, entertainment, and media Music Albums * ''Loose'' (B'z album), a 1995 album by B'z * ''Loose'' (Crazy Horse album), ...

: ''lauss'' (="loose/free") ; low: ''lagr''

M

;

meek Meekness is an attribute of human nature and behavior that has been defined as an amalgam of righteousness, inner humility, and patience. Meekness has been contrasted with humility alone insomuch as humility simply refers to an attitude towards o ...

: From a Scandinavian source such as Old Norse ''mjukr'' (='soft, pliant, gentle') ;

mire A mire, peatland, or quagmire is a wetland area dominated by living peat-forming plants. Mires arise because of incomplete decomposition of organic matter, usually litter from vegetation, due to water-logging and subsequent anoxia. All types ...

: ''myrr'' (='bog') ; mistake: ''mistaka'' (="miscarry") ;

muck Muck most often refers to: *Muck (soil), a soil made up primarily of humus from drained swampland Muck may also refer to: Places Europe * Muck, Scotland, an island * Isle of Muck, County Antrim, a small island connected by sand spit to Portmu ...

: ''myki'' (="cow dung") ;

mug A mug is a type of cup typically used for drinking hot drinks, such as coffee, hot chocolate, or tea. Mugs usually have handles and hold a larger amount of fluid than other types of cup. Typically, a mug holds approximately of liquid. A mug i ...

: ''mugge'' ; muggy: ''mugga'' (="drizzle, mist")

N

;

Norman Norman or Normans may refer to: Ethnic and cultural identity * The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 10th and 11th centuries ** People or things connected with the Norm ...

Normandy Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...

: from Old Norse through Old French, meaning "northman", due to Viking settlement in Normandy region

O

; oaf: ''alfr'' (="elf") ;

odd Odd means unpaired, occasional, strange or unusual, or a person who is viewed as eccentric. Odd may also refer to: Acronym * ODD (Text Encoding Initiative) ("One Document Does it all"), an abstracted literate-programming format for describing X ...

: ''oddi'' (="third number", "the casting vote") ;

ombudsman An ombudsman (, also ,), ombud, ombuds, ombudswoman, ombudsperson or public advocate is an official who is usually appointed by the government or by parliament (usually with a significant degree of independence) to investigate complaints and at ...

: from Old Norse ''umboðsmaðr'' through Swedish ''ombudsman'', meaning "commissary", "representative", "steward" ;

outlaw An outlaw, in its original and legal meaning, is a person declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, all legal protection was withdrawn from the criminal, so that anyone was legally empowered to persecute or kill them ...

: ''utlagi''

P

;

plough A plough or plow ( US; both ) is a farm tool for loosening or turning the soil before sowing seed or planting. Ploughs were traditionally drawn by oxen and horses, but in modern farms are drawn by tractors. A plough may have a wooden, iron or ...

plow A plough or plow ( US; both ) is a farm tool for loosening or turning the soil before sowing seed or planting. Ploughs were traditionally drawn by oxen and horses, but in modern farms are drawn by tractors. A plough may have a wooden, iron or ...

: ''plogr''

R

;

race Race, RACE or "The Race" may refer to: * Race (biology), an informal taxonomic classification within a species, generally within a sub-species * Race (human categorization), classification of humans into groups based on physical traits, and/or s ...

: ''rás'' (="to race", "to run", "to rush", "to move swift") ;

raft A raft is any flat structure for support or transportation over water. It is usually of basic design, characterized by the absence of a hull. Rafts are usually kept afloat by using any combination of buoyant materials such as wood, sealed barrel ...

: ''raptr'' (="log") ;

raise Raise may refer to: Music *''Raise!'', the name of a 1981 album by Earth, Wind, and Fire * '' Raise'' (album), the name of a 1991 album by Swervedriver Place names * Raise, Cumbria, England * Raise (Lake District), the name of the 12th highe ...

: ''reisa'' ;

ransack Looting is the act of stealing, or the taking of goods by force, typically in the midst of a military, political, or other social crisis, such as war, natural disasters (where law and civil enforcement are temporarily ineffective), or rioting. ...

: ''rannsaka'' (="to search the house") ;

reef A reef is a ridge or shoal of rock, coral or similar relatively stable material, lying beneath the surface of a natural body of water. Many reefs result from natural, abiotic processes— deposition of sand, wave erosion planing down rock out ...

: Likely from Old Norse ''rif'' (="ridge in the sea; reef in a sail") via Dutch ''riffe'' ;

regret Regret is the emotion of wishing one had made a different decision in the past, because the consequences of the decision were unfavorable. Regret is related to perceived opportunity. Its intensity varies over time after the decision, in regard ...

: ''gráta'' ("to weep, groan") + French prefix ''re-'' through Old French ''regreter'', itself from Old Norman-French ''regrater, regreter'', influenced by Old English ''grætan'' ;

reindeer Reindeer (in North American English, known as caribou if wild and ''reindeer'' if domesticated) are deer in the genus ''Rangifer''. For the last few decades, reindeer were assigned to one species, ''Rangifer tarandus'', with about 10 subspe ...

: ''hreindyri'' ;

rid RID may refer to: * Isaiah ben Mali di Trani (the Elder), an Italian Talmudist * Radial immunodiffusion, a scientific technique for measuring the quantity of an antigen * Radionuclide identification device, a hand-held instrument for the detecti ...

: Possibly from Old Norse ''ryðja'' (="to clear (land) of obstructions") ; rive: ''rífa'' (="to scratch, plow, tear") ;

root In vascular plants, the roots are the organs of a plant that are modified to provide anchorage for the plant and take in water and nutrients into the plant body, which allows plants to grow taller and faster. They are most often below the sur ...

: ''rót'' ;

rotten Rotten may refer to: * Axl Rotten, ring name of American professional wrestler Brian Knighton (1971–2016) * Bonnie Rotten, American former pornographic actress, feature dancer, fetish model, and director * Ian Rotten, ring name of American profe ...

: ''rotinn'' (="decayed") ;

rug Rug or RUG may refer to: * Rug, or carpet, a textile floor covering * Rug, slang for a toupée * Ghent University (''Rijksunversiteit Gent'', or RUG) * Really Useful Group, or RUG, a company set up by Andrew Lloyd Webber * Rugby railway station, N ...

: ''rogg'' (="shaggy tuft") ;

rugged ''Rugged'' is a 2019 Indian Kannada-language romantic action film Romance films or movies involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate ...

: ''rogg'' (="shaggy tuft") ;

rump Rump may refer to: * Rump (animal) ** Buttocks * Rump steak, slightly different cuts of meat in Britain and America * Rump kernel, software run in userspace that offers kernel functionality in NetBSD Politics *Rump cabinet * Rump legislature * Ru ...

: From a Scandinavian source related to Danish/Norwegian ''rumpe'' and Swedish ''rumpa''

S

;

saga is a series of science fantasy role-playing video games by Square Enix. The series originated on the Game Boy in 1989 as the creation of Akitoshi Kawazu at Square (video game company), Square. It has since continued across multiple platforms, ...

: ''saga'' (="story, tale") ; sale: ''sala'' ; same: ''same, samr'' (="same") ; scale: (for weighing) from ''skal'' (="bowl, drinking cup", or in plural "weighing scale" referring to the cup or pan part of a balance) in early English used to mean "cup" ; scant: ''skamt'' & ''skammr'' (="short, lacking") ; scare: ''skirra (="to frighten) ;

scarf A scarf, plural ''scarves'', is a piece of fabric worn around the neck or head for warmth, sun protection, cleanliness, fashion, religious reasons, or used to show the support for a sports club or team. They can be made in a variety of diff ...

: ''skarfr'' (="fastening joint") ("scarf" and "scarves" have possibly been reintroduced to modern Swedish in their English forms as slang, but Swedes almost always use the compound "neck-cloth" (hals-duk). ; scathe: ''skaða'' (="to hurt, injure") ; score: ''skor'' (="notch"; "twenty") ;

scrap Scrap consists of Recycling, recyclable materials, usually metals, left over from product manufacturing and consumption, such as parts of vehicles, building supplies, and surplus materials. Unlike waste, scrap Waste valorization, has monetary ...

: ''skrap'' (="scraps, trifles") from ''skrapa'' ; scrape: ''skrapa'' (="to scrape, erase") ;

scree Scree is a collection of broken rock fragments at the base of a cliff or other steep rocky mass that has accumulated through periodic rockfall. Landforms associated with these materials are often called talus deposits. Talus deposits typically ha ...

: From Old Norse ''skriða'' (="landslide") ;

seat A seat is a place to sit. The term may encompass additional features, such as back, armrest, head restraint but also headquarters in a wider sense. Types of seat The following are examples of different kinds of seat: * Armchair (furniture), ...

: ''sæti'' (="seat, position") ;

seem Seem or ''variants'' may refer to: * ''Société d'Exploitation des Etablissements Morane-Saulnier'' (''SEEMS'' or ''SEEM''), the successor company to the French aviation manufacturer '' Morane-Saulnier'' * SeeMS, a mass spectrometry viewer sof ...

: ''sœma'' (="to conform") ;

skate Skate or Skates may refer to: Fish *Skate (fish), several genera of fish belonging to the family Rajidae * Pygmy skates, several genera of fish belonging to the family Gurgesiellidae * Smooth skates or leg skates, several genera of fish belongin ...

: ''skata'' (="fish") ;

skerry A skerry is a small rocky island, or islet, usually too small for human habitation. It may simply be a rocky reef. A skerry can also be called a low sea stack. A skerry may have vegetative life such as moss and small, hardy grasses. They a ...

: From Old Norse ''sker'' ;

skill A skill is the learned ability to act with determined results with good execution often within a given amount of time, energy, or both. Skills can often be divided into domain-general and domain-specific skills. For example, in the domain of wo ...

: ''skil'' (="distinction") ;

skin Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a vertebrate animal, with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation. Other cuticle, animal coverings, such as the arthropod exoskeleton, have diffe ...

: ''skinn'' (="animal hide") ;

skip Skip or Skips may refer to: Acronyms * SKIP (Skeletal muscle and kidney enriched inositol phosphatase), a human gene * Simple Key-Management for Internet Protocol * SKIP of New York (Sick Kids need Involved People), a non-profit agency aidin ...

: ''skopa'' (="to skip, run) ; skrike: ''skríkja'' (="to scream") ;

skirt A skirt is the lower part of a dress or a separate outer garment that covers a person from the waist downwards. At its simplest, a skirt can be a draped garment made out of a single piece of fabric (such as pareos). However, most skirts are fi ...

: ''skyrta'' (="shirt") ;

skull The skull is a bone protective cavity for the brain. The skull is composed of four types of bone i.e., cranial bones, facial bones, ear ossicles and hyoid bone. However two parts are more prominent: the cranium and the mandible. In humans, the ...

: ''skulle'' (="head") ;

sky The sky is an unobstructed view upward from the surface of the Earth. It includes the atmosphere and outer space. It may also be considered a place between the ground and outer space, thus distinct from outer space. In the field of astronomy, ...

: ''ský'' (="cloud") ;

slant Slant can refer to: Bias *Bias or other non-objectivity in journalism, politics, academia or other fields Technical * Slant range, in telecommunications, the line-of-sight distance between two points which are not at the same level * Slant d ...

: ''sletta'', ''slenta'' (="to throw carelessly") ; slaughter: ''*slahtr'' (="butchering") ; slaver: ''slafra'' (="slaver") ;

sledge A sled, skid, sledge, or sleigh is a land vehicle that slides across a surface, usually of ice or snow. It is built with either a smooth underside or a separate body supported by two or more smooth, relatively narrow, longitudinal runners s ...

: ''sleggja'' (="sledgehammer") ;

sleight ''Sleight'' is a 2016 American superhero film, superhero Drama (film and television), drama film about a street magician in Los Angeles. The film is directed by J. D. Dillard, written by Dillard and Alex Theurer and stars Jacob Latimore, Seychel ...

: ''slœgð'' ;

sleuth Sleuth may refer to: * Detective *Sleuth, collective noun for a group of bears Computing * The Sleuth Kit, a collection of forensic analysis software *SLEUTH assembler language for the UNIVAC 1107 Entertainment and media *Cloo Cloo (stylized ...

: ''sloð'' (="trail") ; sling: From Old Norse ''slyngva'' ; sly: ''sloegr'' (="cunning, crafty, sly") ;

snare SNARE proteins – " SNAP REceptor" – are a large protein family consisting of at least 24 members in yeasts, more than 60 members in mammalian cells, and some numbers in plants. The primary role of SNARE proteins is to mediate vesicle fu ...

: ''snara'' (="noose, snare") ; snape: ''sneypa'' (="to outrage, dishonor, disgrace") ;

snub A snub, cut or slight is a refusal to recognise an acquaintance by ignoring them, avoiding them or pretending not to know them. For example, a failure to greet someone may be considered a snub. In Awards and Lists For awards, the term "snub" ...

: ''snubba'' (="to curse") ; snug: Perhaps from a Scandinavian source such as Old Norse ''snoggr'' (="short-haired") ; sprint: ''spretta'' (="to jump up") ;

squall A squall is a sudden, sharp increase in wind speed lasting minutes, as opposed to a wind gust, which lasts for only seconds. They are usually associated with active weather, such as rain showers, thunderstorms, or heavy snow. Squalls refer to the ...

: Probably from a Scandinavian source, such as Old Norse ''skvala'' (="to cry out") ; stagger: ''stakra'' (="to push") ;

stain A stain is a discoloration that can be clearly distinguished from the surface, material, or medium it is found upon. They are caused by the chemical or physical interaction of two dissimilar materials. Accidental staining may make materials app ...

: ''steina'' (="to paint") ;

steak A steak is a thick cut of meat generally sliced across the muscle fibers, sometimes including a bone. It is normally grilled or fried. Steak can be diced, cooked in sauce, such as in steak and kidney pie, or minced and formed into patties, ...

: ''steik'', ''steikja'' (="to fry") ; sway: ''sveigja'' (="to bend, swing, give way")

T

;

tangle Tangle may refer to: Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics *''The Tangle'' is the name of the ledger, a directed acyclic graph, used for the cryptocurrency IOTA *Tangle (mathematics), a topological object Natural sciences & medicine ...

: From a Scandinavian source, possibly related to Old Norse ''þongull'' ;

take A take is a single continuous recorded performance. The term is used in film and music to denote and track the stages of production. Film In cinematography, a take refers to each filmed "version" of a particular shot or "setup". Takes of each s ...

: ''taka'' ; tarn: ''tjǫrn'', ''tjarn'' ;

teem Teem is a brand of Lemon-lime drink, lemon-lime-flavored soft drink produced by PepsiCo, The Pepsi-Cola Company. It was introduced in 1959 as Pepsi's answer to 7 Up and Sprite (drink), Sprite. Overview In the pre-planning stages, Teem was known ...

: ''tœma'' (="to empty") ; their: ''þeirra'' ;

they In Modern English, ''they'' is a third-person pronoun relating to a grammatical subject. Morphology In Standard Modern English, ''they'' has five distinct word forms: * ''they'': the nominative (subjective) form * ''them'': the accusat ...

: ''þeir'' ; though: from Old English ''þēah'', and in part from Old Norse ''þó'' (="though") ;

thrall A thrall ( non, þræll, is, þræll, fo, trælur, no, trell, træl, da, træl, sv, träl) was a slave or serf in Scandinavian lands during the Viking Age. The corresponding term in Old English was . The status of slave (, ) contrasts with ...

: ''þræll'' ; thrift: ''þrift'' (="prosperity") ; thrive: From a Scandinavian source akin to ''þrifask'' (="to thrive", originally "grasp to oneself") ;

thrust Thrust is a reaction force described quantitatively by Newton's third law. When a system expels or accelerates mass in one direction, the accelerated mass will cause a force of equal magnitude but opposite direction to be applied to that syst ...

: ''þrysta'' (="to thrust, force") ;

thwart A thwart is a part of an undecked boat that provides seats for the crew and structural rigidity for the hull. A thwart goes from one side of the hull to the other. There might be just one thwart in a small boat, or many in a larger boat, especial ...

: ''þvert'' (="across") ; tidings: ''tíðindi'' (="news of events") ;

tight Tight may refer to: Clothing * Skin-tight garment, a garment that is held to the skin by elastic tension * Tights, a type of leg coverings fabric extending from the waist to feet * Tightlacing, the practice of wearing a tightly-laced corset * ...

: ''þéttr'' (="watertight, close in texture, solid") ;

till image:Geschiebemergel.JPG, Closeup of glacial till. Note that the larger grains (pebbles and gravel) in the till are completely surrounded by the matrix of finer material (silt and sand), and this characteristic, known as ''matrix support'', is d ...

: ''til'' (="to, until") ; toom: ''tóm'' (="vacant time, leisure") ;

troll A troll is a being in Nordic folklore, including Norse mythology. In Old Norse sources, beings described as trolls dwell in isolated areas of rocks, mountains, or caves, live together in small family units, and are rarely helpful to human bei ...

: ''troll'' (="giant, fiend, demon"; further etymology is disputed) ;

trust Trust often refers to: * Trust (social science), confidence in or dependence on a person or quality It may also refer to: Business and law * Trust law, a body of law under which one person holds property for the benefit of another * Trust (bus ...

(verb): ''traust'' (="help, confidence")

U

; ugly: ''uggligr'' (="Dreadfull, repulsive") ;

until Until may refer to Music *''Until'', a 1967 album by Robin Kenyatta *''Until'', a 2008 album by One Little Plane *"Until", a song by Wilfred Sanderson *A version of the song " Anema e core" with English lyrics * "Until..." (Sting song), a 2001 ...

: from Old Norse ''und'' (="as far as, up to") and ''til'' (="until, up to")

V

;

viking Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and se ...

: ''vikingr'' (="one who came from the fjords", vik = small and not deep fjord)

W

;

wand A wand is a thin, light-weight rod that is held with one hand, and is traditionally made of wood, but may also be made of other materials, such as metal or plastic. Long versions of wands are often styled in forms of staves or sceptres, which c ...

: ''vondr'' (="rod") ;

want The idea of want can be examined from many perspectives. In secular societies want might be considered similar to the emotion desire, which can be studied scientifically through the disciplines of psychology or sociology. Want might also be exami ...

: ''vanta'' (="to lack") ; weak: ''veikr'' (="weak, pliant") ;

whirl Whirl may refer to: Spinning * Whirling, a dance genre * Whirl (''Transformers''), a character in the ''Transformers'' franchise * Tilt-A-Whirl, a type of amusement ride * Atomic whirl, a symbol of atheism * ''Whirl'' magazine, a luxury lifesty ...

: ''hvirfla'' (="to go around") ;

whisk A whisk is a cooking utensil which can be used to blend ingredients smooth or to incorporate air into a mixture, in a process known as '' whisking'' or ''whipping''. Most whisks consist of a long, narrow handle with a series of wire loops joi ...

: ''viska'' (="to plait") ;

wicker Wicker is the oldest furniture making method known to history, dating as far back as 5,000 years ago. It was first documented in ancient Egypt using pliable plant material, but in modern times it is made from any pliable, easily woven material. ...

: From a Scandinavian source, related to Danish ''viger'' and Middle Swedish ''viker'' ;

wicket In cricket, the term wicket has several meanings: * It is one of the two sets of three stumps and two bails at either end of the pitch. The fielding team's players can hit the wicket with the ball in a number of ways to get a batsman out. ...

: ''vík'' (="bay") + French suffix ''-et'' through Anglo-Norman ''wicket'', itself from Old Norman-French ''wiket'', Norman-French ''viquet'' > French ''guichet'' ;

wight A wight (Old English: ''wiht'') is a mythical sentient being, often undead. In its original use the word ''wight'' described a living human being, but has come to be used in fictional works in the fantasy genre to describe certain immortal bein ...

: ''vigr'' (="able in battle") – the other ''wight'' meaning "man" is from Old English ; wile: ''vél'' (="trick, craft, fraud") ;

windlass The windlass is an apparatus for moving heavy weights. Typically, a windlass consists of a horizontal cylinder (barrel), which is rotated by the turn of a crank or belt. A winch is affixed to one or both ends, and a cable or rope is wound arou ...

: ''vindáss'' (= "windlass", literally "winding-pole"), through Old Norman / Anglo-Norman ''windas'', from ''vinda'' ("to wind") + áss ("pole"). ;

window A window is an opening in a wall, door, roof, or vehicle that allows the exchange of light and may also allow the passage of sound and sometimes air. Modern windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent materia ...

: ''vindauga'' (="wind-eye") – although gluggi was more commonly used in Old Norse ;

wing A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is expres ...

: ''vængr'' (="a wing") ;

wrong A wrong (from Old English – 'crooked') is an act that is illegal or immoral. Legal wrongs are usually quite clearly defined in the law of a state and/or jurisdiction. They can be divided into civil wrongs and crimes (or ''criminal offens ...

: ''rangr'' (="crooked, wry, wrong")

Notes

References

External links

Babbel.com - 139 Old Norse words that invaded the English languageEnglish-Old Norse dictionaryMerriam-Webster Online DictionaryOnline Etymology dictionaryOxford English Dictionary, 2nd Edition (1989)

Wiktionary

{{English words of foreign origin

Old Norse Anglo-Norse England

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See also

Notes

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