(

Old Norse Old Norse, also referred to as Old Nordic or Old Scandinavian, was 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 ...

, meaning "fellowship, partnership") was a joint financial venture between partners in

Viking Age The Viking Age (about ) was the period during the Middle Ages when Norsemen known as Vikings undertook large-scale raiding, colonising, conquest, and trading throughout Europe and reached North America. The Viking Age applies not only to their ...

society.Fritzner, Johan (1867).
Ordbog over det Gamle Norske Sprog
'. Feilberg & Landmark. p. 139.

Etymology

The word ' is constructed by the word ' (cattle, wealth) and a verbal base denoting "lay", the meaning being "to lay property together."Falk, Hjalmar and Torp, Alf (1992) ''Etyomologisk Ordbog over det Danske og det Norske Sprog'', entry ''fællig'', ''fælles'' and ''fælle''. Bjørn Ringstrøms Antikvariat. The Old Norse word ' "companion, comrade" originally meaning "one who has with another" has resulted in the modern English word ''fellow'' from Old English ', Danish ' from Old Danish ''felge'', and Norwegian '. The modern English word ''fellowship'' derives from the Old Norse ' stem, adding the -ship suffix as a "condition of being", cognate with Icelandic '. The word also exists in other Germanic languages; Norwegian ', and Danish '.

Runic inscriptions

The term ' is mentioned on a broad range of runic inscriptions,According to Rundata 2.0. most notably in the form ' (see etymology section), in these contexts meaning "comrade", "weapon brother" or "partner".

Runestone A runestone is typically a raised stone with a runic alphabet, runic inscription, but the term can also be applied to inscriptions on boulders and on bedrock. The tradition of erecting runestones as a memorial to dead men began in the 4th centur ...

s that use a form of the term ' include Sö 292 in Bröta, Vg 112 in Ås, Vg 122 in Abrahamstorp, the now-lost Vg 146 in Slöta, Vg 182 in Skattegården, U 391 in Villa Karlsro, the now-lost U 954 in Söderby, DR 1 in Haddeby, DR 66 and DR 68 in Århus, DR 125 in Dalbyover, DR 127 in Hobro, DR 262 in Fosie, DR 270 in Skivarp, DR 279 in Sjörup, DR 316 in Norra Nöbbelöv, DR 318 in Håstad, DR 321 in Västra Karaby, DR 329 and DR 330 in Gårdstånga, DR 339 in Stora Köpinge, and X UaFv1914;47 in Berezanj, Ukraina.

N 648

' is mentioned on N 648, a ' (cylinder shaped piece of wood with a smooth side for the runes)Schjøtt, Steinar (1909). ''Dansk–Norsk Ordbog''. H. Aschehoug & Co. p. 677. excavated in

Bergen Bergen (, ) is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Vestland county on the Western Norway, west coast of Norway. Bergen is the list of towns and cities in Norway, second-largest city in Norway after the capital Oslo. By May 20 ...

. The inscription dates back to the early fourteenth century. The inscription speaks of Þórir the Fair who greets his ' Hafgrímr, and requests his partner to help him in need.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Felag Viking practices Early Germanic law Viking Age economy

Etymology

Runic inscriptions

N 648

See also

References