n, f. = aftak:

1. gener. loss, privation; a. ok missa, of a personal loss by death, Edda 37.

2. death by violent means, slaughter; til aftöku manna eðr fú upp at taka, for the cutting off of men or the confiscation of their goods, Eg. 73, 252; hann hafði verit at aftöku þorkels fústra, Fms. vii. 201, Orkn. 22 old Ed. Formerly there were no public executions in Icel., except the stoning of wizards or witches, Ld. ch. 98, Eb. ch. 20, Vd. ch. 26; and the hanging of thieves, Fbr. ch. 19, Kb. l. c. Now, however, used in the sense of public execution, and in various compds, e. g. aftöku-staðr, m. place of execution, etc.