Höfða
Old Norse Dictionary - höfða
Meaning of Old Norse word "höfða" (or hǫfða)
As defined by the Cleasby & Vigfusson Old Norse to English dictionary:
Old Norse word höfða can mean:höfða
- höfða (hǫfða)
- að, [höfuð], to ‘head,’ but esp. used as a law term, to sue, prosecute; h. mál, sök á hönd e-m, to bring an action against, Grág. i. 19, 81, 142, Nj. 234, Fms. vii. 133, passim.
- höfða (hǫfða)
- II. to behead (= afhöfða;) h. fisk, Fas. i. 489: to execute, Karl. 371.
Orthography: The Cleasby & Vigfusson book used letter ö to represent the original Old Norse vowel ǫ. Therefore, höfða may be more accurately written as hǫfða.
Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark:ᚼᚢᚠᚦᛅ
Younger Futhark runes were used from 8th to 12th centuries in Scandinavia and their overseas settlements
Abbreviations used:
- esp.
- especially.
- m.
- masculine.
- l.
- line.
Works & Authors cited:
- Fms.
- Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)
- Grág.
- Grágás. (B. I.)
- Nj.
- Njála. (D. II.)
- Fas.
- Fornaldar Sögur. (C. II.)
- Karl.
- Karla-magnús Saga. (G. I.)