Þæfa

Meaning of Old Norse word "þæfa"

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

Old Norse word þæfa can mean:þæfa

þæfa

i. e. þœfa, ð, [þóf, hence the mod. Dan. töve], to beat, stamp cloth; þau klæði vóru þæfð með sand ok tjöru, FaS. i. 346; and in mod. usage, þæfa sokka, vetlinga, peisu; þæfa í tunnu, to stamp in a tub, a curious custom still used in Icel. of two men lying on their backs and treading a tub open at both ends, so as to pack the cloth tightly.

þæfa

2. metaph. to do a thing in a slow or tedious manner; þæfði hón þá ofan til árinnar, she went lumbering down to the river, Grett. 140; nú bíðu vér búnir, ok þarf eigi at þæfa oss lengr í þessu, to keep us longer waiting, Sturl. i. 134; eigi mun ek þik lengi þæfa um liðs-beina, Lv. 105; förum heim, þæfum ekki Skíða, ok rannsökum bæinn, let us not belabour S. any longer, Sd. 168.

þæfa

II. reflex., skulum vér þæfask svá við, struggle and delay (cp. Dan. töve), Vápn. 16; ekki mun ek lengi þæfask til hvílunnar við þik, Gísl. 16.

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

Similar entries:

• Þæfa (I)