Ragnar the Just (Ragnar the Dane #3) (18 page)

Glossary

Argr (adj) = (of a man) to be effeminate, cowardly or womanly.

Blot (n
)=
literally ‘blood’ or sacrifice, but means feast or celebration.

Ceorls (n
)=
  freemen (but not as free as Thegns), farmers and independent landed householders.

Deorling (n
)=
darling, literally ‘deer-ling or little deer.’

Ergi (n) = an effeminate, cowardly or womanly man.

Huskarls (n
)=
the Jarl’s soldier regiment, often acting as his bodyguard. The correct plural is Huskarlr but that’s confusing.

Jarl (n
)=
the highest ranking Dane, like an Earl.

Ketta (n
)=
kitten.

Mjaldr (n
)=
white tomcat.

Quern (n
)=
a hand mill. Two stones sat one upon the other, with the top stone riding on an axle that sits astride a small piece of wood called
a 'r
ynd'. The top stone is rotated against the lower stone with a handle. The grain is placed into a hole in the centre of the top stone, and as it is ground, the flour runs out from the seam between the two stones.

Sansorthinn (n) Sansorthinnr (plural
)=
demonstrably sexually used by another man.

Scop (n
)=
Anglo Saxon story teller.

Seax (n
)=
a knife carried by warriors to defend themselves.
Many different types and sizes.

Skald (n
)=
Viking story teller.

Thegn (n
)=
Anglo Saxon landowners, in service to the local Jarl or Earl. Duties included military service, the repair of fortresses and bridges.

The Thing (n
)=
the governing assembly in Germanic societies, made up of the free people of the community and presided by law sayers.

Tregul (n
)=
amber, tree treacle.

Verrdrepa (n
)=
mankiller.