Old Norse Dictionary Entry

Lest

Old Norse Dictionary Entry

Definitions

4 definitions

1 lest

1. f. [cp. Engl. last, as in Orkneys and East Angl. ‘a last of herrings,’ and Old Engl. lastage = freight; Germ. last; Dan. læst], a last, burden, a measure of ship’s burden, reckoned at twelve ‘skippund,’ D. N. iv. 651, Bs. i. 545, Gþl. 371, B, K. 20, 89, MS. 732. 16 (where wrongly ten for twelve); lest gulls, Fms. xi. 351, where = talentum (?); lest járns, harðsteins, D. N.; lest síldar, N. G. L. passim: a cargo, Jb. 386. In mod. usage the tonnage of Dan. and Norse ships is counted by læster.

2 lest

II. in Icel. sense, a caravan of loaded pack-horses, Grett. 119: plur. lestir, the market season in June and July.

3 lest

COMPDS: lestamaðr, lestatal.

4 lest

2. f. reading, a lesson; meðan lestin verðr lesin, Stat. 299, N. G. L. i. 390.

Similar Words

Runic Inscription

lest

Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark

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

Abbreviations Used

Common Abbreviations

cp: compare.
cp.: compare.
Dan: Danish.
Dan.: Danish.
Engl: English.
Engl.: English.
f.: feminine.
Germ: German.
Germ.: German.
gl: glossary.
gl.: glossary.
Icel: Iceland, Icelander, Icelanders, Icelandic.
Icel.: Iceland, Icelander, Icelanders, Icelandic.
l.: Linnæus.
m.: masculine.
mod: modern.
mod.: modern.
n.: neuter.
p.: page.
plur.: plural.
S.: South, Southern.
v.: vide, verb.

Works & Authors

Bs.: Biskupa Sögur. (D. III.)
D. N.: Diplomatarium Norvagicum. (J. II.)
Fms.: Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)
Grett.: Grettis Saga. (D. II.)
Gþl.: Gulaþings-lög. (B. II.)
Jb.: Jóns-bók. (B. III.)
N. G. L.: Norges Gamle Love. (B. II.)

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