1 á-hald
n., prop. laying hand on:
2 á-hald
1. used esp. in pl. áhöld = brawl, fight, Eb. 152, Fas. i. 92; verða á. með mönnum, they came toa tussle, Sturl. iii. 262, Bs. 1. 635: the phrase, hafa eingi úhöld við e-m, to have no power of resistance, to have so great odds against one that there is no chance, Eg. 261: hence comes probably the popular phrase, áhöld eru um e-t, when matters are pretty nearly equal.
3 á-hald
2. sing. very rare, to keep back; veita e-m á., Niðrst. 3.
4 á-hald
β. veita, göra á. um e-t, to claim the right of holding; hann görði á. um Halland, be claimed H., Fms. x. 70, v. l.; honum þótti leikdómrinn meira á. hafa á kirkjum en klerkdómrinn, … had a stronger claim or title, Bs. i. 750, 696, Fms. x. 393.