Svipan

Old Norse Dictionary - svipan

Meaning of Old Norse word "svipan"

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

Old Norse word svipan can mean:svipan

svipan
f. a ‘swoop,’ suddenness; þessi atburðr varð með svá skjótri svipan, at …, Nj. 144; kasta með harðri svipan, quickly, Fas. i. 67; sverða s., the’swoop of swords’ poët., Skv. 2. 19: a fight, þar varð hörð s., Fms. v.ii. 317; varð hörð s. um hríð, ix. 257, 311; svipan þeirra frá ek snarpa, Nj. (in a verse).
svipan
II. the nick of time, critical moment, in battle; í þeirri s. féll Þorgils, Eg. 92, Fms. v.. 78, v. l.; féllu menn hans í þessi s., Fms. ii. 313; í þessi s., Ld. 244, Fb. ii. 355 (ský-svipan, Fms. v. 80, l. c.), Fms. x. 365 (in all these instances of a battle); varla vitum ver hver s. í er, Njarð. 378.

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

Abbreviations used:

f.
feminine.
poët.
poetically.
v.
vide.
l.
line.
l. c.
loco citato.
s. v.
sub voce.
v. l.
varia lectio.

Works & Authors cited:

Fas.
Fornaldar Sögur. (C. II.)
Fms.
Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)
Nj.
Njála. (D. II.)
Skv.
Sigurðar-kviða. (A. II.)
Eg.
Egils Saga. (D. II.)
Fb.
Flateyjar-bók (E. I.)
Ld.
Laxdæla Saga. (D. II.)
Njarð.
Njarðvíkinga Saga. (D. II.)
➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

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