Lyf

Meaning of Old Norse word "lyf"

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

lyf

f., pl. lyfjar. also spelt lif, see the references below; the word is used as neut. in BS. ii. 87, and then chiefly in pl. in BS. i. 179, FaS. iii. 11, FmS. ix. 282; [Ulf. lubja-leisi = φαρμακεία, Gal. v. 20; A. S. lib; O. H. G. lupi; Swed. luf; early Dan. löv]:—a herb, simple, esp. with the notion of healing, witchcraft or supernatural power, = Gr. φάρμακον; trúa á lyf kvenna eða görningar, Hom. 33; lækning, lyf eðr galldra, 121; góð smyrzl ok læknings-lif, FaS. iii. 174; með heilsamligum smyrslum né lækningar-lyfum, Stj. 272; lif (not líf) með lækning, Skv. 1. 17; varisk menn lif, rúnir ok galdra, n. G. l. iii. 300; töfr ok lif, rúnir ok galdra, 286; lækningar lyf, 245; kona hver er ferr með lif ok læzk kunna bæta mönnum, ef hón er sönn at því, þá er hón sek þrem mörkum, i. 390; hann tekr þá nokkur lyf af helgum dómi Jóns biskups, BS. i. 179; ek hefi þat eitt gras, er … Dagfinnr svarar, engi (= enga?) lyf eðr lækning skulu vér til þessa hafa, nema þær einar (sic), er …, FmS. ix. 282; eitr-fullt lyf, BS. ii. 87; lítil lyf kveða höfð til lýða sona, the sons of men are made of small matter (seed, cause?), FaS. iii. 11 (in a verse): adverb., ekki lyf, not a whit, Skv. 1. 9, (not as explained at p. 274, col. 1, line 1): ú-lyfjan, poison.

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