Old Norse Dictionary Entry

NÁL

Old Norse Dictionary Entry

Definitions

4 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.

Similar Words

Runic Inscription

NÁL

Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark

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

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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