Köngur-váfa

Old Norse Dictionary - köngur-váfa

Meaning of Old Norse word "köngur-váfa" (or kǫngur-váfa)

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

köngur-váfa (kǫngur-váfa)
u, f., which is the truest and oldest spelling; kongorváfa, Eluc. 23, Barl. 195, v. l.; kavngorváfa and kaungorvofva, Mar. 153; whence köngulváfa, Barl. 195; mod. könguló: [the word is derived from an obsolete köngur (a texture), which has been preserved in the Norse-Finnish kankas, kankuri; perhaps also kögurr (above) is akin, if not the same word; O. H. G. kanker; Norse kaangle]:—a spider, passim.

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

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

Abbreviations used:

f.
feminine.
l.
line.
m.
masculine.
mod.
modern.
O. H. G.
Old High German.
v.
vide.
v. l.
varia lectio.

Works & Authors cited:

Barl.
Barlaams Saga. (F. III.)
Eluc.
Elucidarium. (F. II.)
Mar.
Maríu Saga. (F. III.)
➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

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