f., gen. bjargar [v. bjarga], help, deliverance, out of need or danger, e. g. feeding the hungry, saving one’s life; unlawful ‘björg’ is that of giving help to an outlaw, who is ‘úráðandi öllum bjargráðum,’ one on whom no help must be bestowed, neither food, shelter, nor ferry; Grág. in several passages, and there commonly used in plur. (bjargir) when in this particular sense; it was liable to a heavy punishment, and the case was to be summoned before the Fifth Court, Grág. Þ. Þ. ch. 25, Ld. 42.

β. lögmæt björg, a lawful point of defence in pleading in the Court (v. bjarga sök), Grág. i. 73.

2. means of subsistence, stores, provisions, food; fjögurra (átta) missera b., Grág. i. 197, 286.

3. a freq. pr. name of a woman, Ingibjörg, Þorbjörg, Guðbjörg, etc.; in Swed.-Dan. ‘-borg,’ as in Ingeborg, etc.

COMPDS: bjargarlauss, bjargarleysi, bjargarvist.