Vala

Old Norse Dictionary - vala

Meaning of Old Norse word "vala"

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

Old Norse word vala can mean:vala

vala
u, f. the rolling knuckle-bone, Lat. talus, Gr. ἀστράγαλος; in Icel. these bones are dried and used for winding clews of yarn (þráðar-vala); in the old heathen times they seem to have been used for fortune-telling, whence the compds, völu-brjótr, m. a knuckle-breaker, a nickname, Sd.: völu-spakr, adj. ‘knuckle-wise’ prophetic (?), Edda (in a verse): völu-mæltr, adj. talking thick, as if with a knuckle-bone rolling in one’s mouth: hvel-vala, a rolling pebble, Þd. (poët.)
vala
II. the name of a dog; vappaðu með mér, vala … keyrðu féð í hala, a ditty.

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

Abbreviations used:

adj.
adjective.
f.
feminine.
Gr.
Greek.
Icel.
Iceland, Icelander, Icelanders, Icelandic.
l.
line.
Lat.
Latin.
m.
masculine.
poët.
poetically.

Works & Authors cited:

Edda
Edda. (C. I.)
Sd.
Svarfdæla Saga. (D. II.)
Þd.
Þórs-drápa. (A. I.)
➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

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