Þömb

Meaning of Old Norse word "þömb" (or þǫmb)

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

Old Norse word þömb can mean:þömb

þömb (þǫmb)

f., gen. þambar, [cp. þamba, þembi-; akin to þenja (?); cp. Lat. tum-or, tum-idus]:—the womb, guts, but with the notion of being blown-up; ok aum í vömb varð heldr til þörnb, Bjarn. (in a verse), where þömb seems to be a noun, not an adjective.

þömb (þǫmb)

2. metaph. a bow-string, being made of guts, like harp-strings; hence þambar-skelfir or -skelmir, the ‘string-shaker,’ the soubriquet of the famous archer Einar, Fms.; Þambar-vellir, -dalr, local names, Korm.

þömb (þǫmb)

II. a nickname; Jósteinn þömb, Fms. ix. 260; Þórir Þömb, Grett.

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

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