Old Norse Dictionary Entry

Hirðir

Old Norse Dictionary Entry

Definitions

1 definitions

1 hirðir

m. [Ulf. hairdeis = ποιμήν; A. S. hyrde; Engl. herd; Dan. hyrde; Swed. herde; Germ. hirt]:—a herd, herdsman, shepherd, Gþl. 400, Grág. ii. 224, Barl. 35, Bs. ii. 91, Stj. 106 (hirðanna, gen. pl.); eccl., Hom., Mar., Bs., Stj. passim, as also N. T. in mod. usage; hirðir is used in a sacred and metaph. sense, smali or smala-maðr only in the proper sense; eg em góðr hirðir, John x. 14; heilagir hirðar, Stj. 9. hirðis-lauss, adj. shepherdless; sauðir h., Stj. 603. hirðis-ligr, adj. pastoral, Stj. 235. hirðis-nafn, n. a shepherd’s name, Bs. i. 280. hirðis-rismál, n. a shepherd’s rising time, a term for day-break; er sól er í miðju austri, i. e. six o’clock, Grág. ii. 224, cp. Hrafn. 20.

Similar Words

Runic Inscription

hirðir

Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark

The runic text above represents the Old Norse word "hirðir" as it might appear in runic inscriptions from the Viking Age (c. 800-1100 CE).

Abbreviations Used

Common Abbreviations

A. S.: Anglo-Saxon.
adj: adjective.
adj.: adjective.
cp: compare.
cp.: compare.
Dan: Danish.
Dan.: Danish.
eccl: ecclesiastical.
eccl.: ecclesiastical.
Engl: English.
Engl.: English.
f.: feminine.
gen.: genitive.
Germ: German.
Germ.: German.
gl: glossary.
gl.: glossary.
i. e.: id est.
l.: Linnæus.
loc: local, locally.
m.: masculine.
metaph.: metaphor, metaphorical.
mod: modern.
mod.: modern.
n.: neuter.
p.: page.
pl.: plural.
prop: properly.
S.: South, Southern.
sing: singular.
Swed: Swedish.
Swed.: Swedish.
Ulf.: Ulfilas.

Works & Authors

Barl.: Barlaams Saga. (F. III.)
Bs.: Biskupa Sögur. (D. III.)
Grág.: Grágás. (B. I.)
Gþl.: Gulaþings-lög. (B. II.)
Hom.: Homiliu-bók. (F. II.)
Hrafn.: Hrafnkels Saga. (D. II.)
Mar.: Maríu Saga. (F. III.)
N. T.: New Testament.
Stj.: Stjórn. (F. I.)

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