NÁL

Old Norse Dictionary Entry

Definitions

1 NÁL

f., pl. nálar; [Goth. neþla; A. S. nædl; Old Engl. neeld; Engl. needle; O. H. G. nadal; Germ. nadel; in the Scandin. contr. Dan.-Swed. nål or naal]:—a needle, Fas. i. 393, iii. 139; nál ok skreppa, Fms. vi. 374: a kind of needle used by sailors, Edda (Gl.); nálar margar (for repairing the sails), Sks. 30; bíta úr nálinni, to bite off the thread; þú ert ekki búinn að bíta úr nálinni enn, a saying, cp. the ghost story in Maurer’s Volks. 60; skó-nál, a cobbler’s needle, Skíða R.; hey-nál, q. v.; saum-nál, a sewing needle; nálar auga, a needle’s eye; nálar oddr, a needle’s point; þræða nál, to thread a needle; Pétrs-nál, the name of an obelisk, Symb. 24, Róm. 248 (= Aculea Sti. Petri).

2 NÁL

2. metaph. the first sprouts of grass in the spring; það er komin upp svo lítil nál.

3 NÁL

II. the name of a giantess, Loki’s mother, Edda.

4 NÁL

COMPDS: nálbein, nálbugr, náldofi, nálþráðr, nálanauma, nálgrund.

Runic Inscription

ᚾᛅᛚ

Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark

Abbreviations Used

Common Abbreviations

A. S.: Anglo-Saxon.
contr.: contracted.
cp: compare.
cp.: compare.
Dan: Danish.
Dan.: Danish.
Engl: English.
Engl.: English.
f.: feminine.
Germ: German.
Germ.: German.
gl: glossary.
gl.: glossary.
Goth.: Gothic.
l.: Linnæus.
m.: masculine.
metaph.: metaphor, metaphorical.
n.: neuter.
O. H. G.: Old High German.
p.: page.
pl.: plural.
q. v.: quod vide.
R.: Rimur.
S.: South, Southern.
Scandin.: Scandinavia, Scandinavian.
Swed: Swedish.
Swed.: Swedish.
v.: vide, verb.

Works & Authors

Edda: Edda. (C. I.)
Fas.: Fornaldar Sögur. (C. II.)
Fms.: Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)
Róm.: Rómverja Saga. (E. II.)
Sks.: Konungs Skugg-sjá. (H. II.)
Symb.: Symbolae. (H. IV.)

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NÁL

NÁL