Beiskr

Old Norse Dictionary - beiskr

Meaning of Old Norse word "beiskr"

As defined by the Cleasby & Vigfusson Old Norse to English dictionary:

beiskr
adj. [Dan. beedsk; Swed. besk; it is always spelt with s (not z) in the MSS., and cannot therefore well be traced to bíta, qs. beitskr; for the etymology see p. 728, col. 2 (letter Z); the word originally, we believe, was opp. to þjarfr, q. v.]:—bitter, sour, acrid; salt vatn ok b., Stj. 93; beiskar súrur, bitter herbs, 279. Exod. xii. 8; b. drykkr; amara, þat er b. at vóru máli, 421, 625. 70, SkS. 539: metaph. bitter, Th. 6: exasperated, grim, angry, smalamaðr sagði Hallgerði vígit; hon varð beisk við, Nj. 60, Al. 122.

Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark:ᛒᛁᛁᛋᚴᚱ
Younger Futhark runes were used from 8th to 12th centuries in Scandinavia and their overseas settlements

Abbreviations used:

adj.
adjective.
Dan.
Danish.
l.
line.
metaph.
metaphorical, metaphorically.
n.
neuter.
opp.
opposed.
qs.
quasi.
q. v.
quod vide.
S.
Saga.
Swed.
Swedish.
v.
vide.

Works & Authors cited:

Al.
Alexanders Saga. (G. I.)
Nj.
Njála. (D. II.)
Sks.
Konungs Skugg-sjá. (H. II.)
Stj.
Stjórn. (F. I.)
Th.
Theophilus. (F. III.)
➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

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