Blauðr

Old Norse Dictionary - blauðr

Meaning of Old Norse word "blauðr"

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

Old Norse word blauðr can mean:blauðr

blauðr
adj. [A. S. bleâðe; Scot. blate = bashful, shy; Hel. blothi; Germ. blöde; cp. Goth. blauþjan = ακυρουν, and Hel. blôdan = infirmare], it properly means soft, weak, Lat. mollis, Gr. μάλακος, and is opposed to hvatr, brisk, vigorous; hence the proverb, fár er hvatr er hrörask tekr, ef í barnæsku er blauðr, Fm. 6, cp. FmS. viii. 49.
blauðr
β. metaph. blauðr means feminine, hvatr masculine, but only used of animals, dogs, cats, fishes; hvatr-lax = hæingr = salmo mas; bleyða, u, f., is a dam, and metaph. a coward; blauðr is a term of abuse, a bitch, coward; hafi hendr á (hundinum, add. p. 149) ok drepi þótt b. sé, take the dog and kill it, though it be a bitch, Gísl. 63; blauðir hundar, FmS. ii. 163, xi. 10.
blauðr
2. metaph., Hallgerðr mælti við Gunnar, jafnkomit er á með ykkr, er hvárttveggi er blauðr (a taunt addressed to the beardless Njal), Nj. 59; bíð nú ef þú ert eigi b., Nj. 205, cp. Skr. 114, 496, in the last passage used = blautr; blauðir eru vér nú orðnir, Niðrst. 6.

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

Abbreviations used:

adj.
adjective.
A. S.
Anglo-Saxon.
cp.
compare.
Germ.
German.
Goth.
Gothic.
Gr.
Greek.
Hel.
Heliand.
l.
line.
Lat.
Latin.
m.
masculine.
S.
Saga.
Scot.
Scottish.
f.
feminine.
metaph.
metaphorical, metaphorically.

Works & Authors cited:

Fm.
Fafnis-mál. (A. II.)
Fms.
Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)
Gísl.
Gísla Saga. (D. II.)
Niðrst.
Niðrstigningar Saga. (F. III.)
Nj.
Njála. (D. II.)
➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

Back