Höfuð-bani

Old Norse Dictionary - höfuð-bani

Meaning of Old Norse word "höfuð-bani" (or hǫfuð-bani)

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

höfuð-bani (hǫfuð-bani)
a, m. (and höfuðs-bani), ‘head’s-bane,’ death, destruction; tunga er h., a saying, Hm. 72, Landn. 307, Edda 73, Nj. 68, 71, Ld. 132, 246.

Orthography: The Cleasby & Vigfusson book used letter ö to represent the original Old Norse vowel ǫ. Therefore, höfuð-bani may be more accurately written as hǫfuð-bani.

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

Abbreviations used:

m.
masculine.
n.
neuter.

Works & Authors cited:

Edda
Edda. (C. I.)
Hm.
Hává-mál. (A. I.)
Landn.
Landnáma. (D. I.)
Ld.
Laxdæla Saga. (D. II.)
Nj.
Njála. (D. II.)
➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

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