Ömbun

Meaning of Old Norse word "ömbun" (or ǫmbun)

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

Old Norse word ömbun can mean:ömbun

ömbun (ǫmbun)

f. (i. e. öm-bun), in Norse vellums often spelt amban, in mod. usage, umbun; [this word is interesting as being undoubtedly in form and sense nearly related to ambátt; Goth. andbahts; A. S. ambeht; Germ. amt (see p. 19); accordingly the etymological sense would be wages, hire given to a servant]:—a payment for service, wages; hinn seksk ok eigi á meðför hans gripar, ef sá hafði í ömbon þann á brott hafðan, of seizing an object in order to pay oneself with it, Grág. ii. 197; þeim skal gjalda makliga ömbun, ok mikit verka-kaup, FmS. i. 215; nú skulu þér taka ömbun verka yðvarra, skortir oss nú eigi föng til at gjalda yðr starf yðvart ok góðvilja, Ld. 12; ef þeir mætti af ömbun erviðis síns slökkva sinn sára hungr, if, from the wages for their work, they might appease their hunger, FmS. i. 222.

ömbun (ǫmbun)

2. a reward; varir mik at hann þyngi mér, heldr en veita mér réttliga amban (avmbun, v. l.), FmS. vi. 342; en í eilífri ambun eru ávalt góðir sælir en íllir ávalt vesalir, Hom. 20; eptir verðleikum veitask ömbunir í himinríkis fagnaði, Stj. 378; ek bið óumbræðiligra ömbona á himni, BlaS. 44; eilífrar ömbunar, 625. 78, and passim.

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

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