Browse by Letter
Language
Old Norse Dictionary Entry

Svæla

Back to Letter S
Definitions

Definitions

4 definitions

1 svæla

1. u, f. [A. S. swol = heat, swælan = to burn; Engl. swelter, sultry; Germ. schwüle]:—a thick, choking smoke; reykr ok svæla, Sturl. iii. 189 C; dimri svælu, Fas, iii. 441; nú görðisk brátt s. mikil í húsunum ok reykr tók at vaxa, Þorst. Síðu H. 175; reykjar-s., a stifling smoke, freq. in mod. usage.

2 svæla

2. metaph. cheating, rapacity: draga saman auð með sökum ok svælum, 623. 21; svæla eðr flærð, Sturl. i. 20.

3 svæla

2. d, to smoke out, suffocate with smoke, used of a fox; s. e-n inni sem melrakka í greni, Nj. 198; leita heldr út en vera svældr inni, Sturl. iii. 189 C.

4 svæla

2. metaph., svæla undir sik, to gain by fair or foul means.
Similar Words

Similar Words

Runic Inscription

Runic Inscription

svæla

Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark

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

Abbreviations Used

Abbreviations Used

Common Abbreviations

A. S.
Anglo-Saxon.
ch
chapter.
Engl
English.
Engl.
English.
f.
feminine.
freq
frequent, frequently.
freq.
frequent, frequently.
Germ
German.
Germ.
German.
gl
glossary.
gl.
glossary.
l.
Linnæus.
m.
masculine.
metaph.
metaphor, metaphorical.
mod
modern.
mod.
modern.
S.
South, Southern.
suff
suffix.

Works & Authors

Nj.
Njála. (D. II.)
Sturl.
Sturlunga Saga. (D. I.)
Þorst. Síðu H.
Þorsteins Saga Síðu-Hallssonar. (D. II.)

View All Sources →