Gljúfr

Old Norse Dictionary - gljúfr

Meaning of Old Norse word "gljúfr"

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

gljúfr
n. almost only in pl. [A. S. glôf = cliff], an abrupt descent or chasm, esp. in the bed of a river, ár-gljúfr; hvar hin litla áin féll ór gljúfrum, Eg. 134; eru gljúfr mikil upp með ánni, Fær. 62, Landn. 251, Glúm. 362, Al. 92, FmS. viii. 51, Gullþ. 8; en tveim-megin gengu at g. há ok hin brattastu björg, Stj. 452. 1. Sam. xiv. 4: sing., Grett. 142 (in a verse): so the mod. phrases,—glæfra-ferð, f. a neck-breaking, dangerous exploit (as among precipices); glæfra-göng, n. pl. straits, Broddi er kominn í g., a ditty of Pal Vídalín; glæfra-ligr, adj. dangerous, horrible,—are all derived from gljúfr.

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

Abbreviations used:

adj.
adjective.
A. S.
Anglo-Saxon.
esp.
especially.
f.
feminine.
l.
line.
m.
masculine.
mod.
modern.
n.
neuter.
pl.
plural.
S.
Saga.
sing.
singular.
v.
vide.
þ.
þáttr.

Works & Authors cited:

Al.
Alexanders Saga. (G. I.)
Eg.
Egils Saga. (D. II.)
Fms.
Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)
Fær.
Færeyinga Saga. (E. II.)
Glúm.
Víga-Glúms Saga. (D. II.)
Grett.
Grettis Saga. (D. II.)
Gullþ.
Gull-Þóris Saga. (D. II.)
Landn.
Landnáma. (D. I.)
Stj.
Stjórn. (F. I.)
➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

Back