The word 'thrall' is a loan word from Scandinavian 'thraell'

'Thrall' is a word borrowed from Scandinavian 'thraell'. The word entered the English language some time before the 12th century.

thrall [noun] [before 12th century]

• a servant slave
• bondman
• serf
• a person in moral or mental servitude
• a state of servitude or submission

Meaning: a servant slave : bondman; serf; a person in moral or mental servitude.

Etymology: Middle English thral; from Old English thrl; from Old Norse thrll.

Topics: Society:Culture.

Origin: From Scandinavian to English.

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The word 'scoot' originally came from Scandinavian as 'skjóta'

'Scoot' is a word borrowed from Scandinavian 'skjóta'. The word entered the English language some time around 1758.

scoot [verb] [1758]

• to move swiftly
• to slide especially while seated

Meaning: to move swiftly; to slide especially while seated scoot over and let me sit down.

Etymology: perhaps alteration of earlier scout; of unknown origin.

Topics: Maritime:Nautical.

Origin: From Scandinavian to English.

note: The word scoot likely emerged in the mid-18th century possibly as nautical slang with uncertain origins but potential links to Scandinavian words like Old Norse skjóta (to shoot/dart) or related dialectal terms for quick movement and in Scots it also meant to gush out. It's also thought to be connected to Middle English scottlynge (scampering/scuttling) and some sources suggest Dutch/Italian roots (like scampare to decamp) though Scandinavian influence is strong and it was perhaps reintroduced to British English from America.

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The Scandinavian origins of the word 'crooked'

'Crooked' is a word borrowed from Scandinavian 'krāka'. The word entered the English language some time around the 13th century.

crooked [adjective] [13th century]

• not straight
• dishonest

Meaning: Bent or curved; figuratively dishonest.

Etymology: From crook plus -ed; crook is related to Old Norse krok hook.

Topics: Society:Culture.

Origin: From Norse to English.

note: The word crooked comes from Middle English croked the past participle of the verb croken (to bend) ultimately stemming from Old Norse krāka (hook) or Proto-Germanic krokaz meaning a bend or hook. Evolved from an even older Proto-Indo-European root for bending. It literally meant bent or curved with figurative senses of dishonesty or bad temper developing by the 13th century.

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Did you know that 'fog' is actually Scandinavian?

'Fog' is a word borrowed from Scandinavian 'fogg'. The word entered the English language some time around 1544.

fog [noun] [1544]

• vapor condensed to fine particles of water suspended in the lower atmosphere that differs from cloud only in being near...
• a fine spray or a foam for firefighting
• a murky condition of the atmosphere or a substance causing it
• a state of confusion or bewilderment

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note: Late Middle English: origin uncertain; perhaps related to Norwegian fogg long scattered grass on damp ground.
Etymology: Probably back-formation from 'foggy'

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Is 'reindeer' English, or is it actually Scandinavian?

'Reindeer' is a word borrowed from Scandinavian 'hreindýri'. The word entered the English language some time around the 14th century.

reindeer [noun] [14th century]

• caribou
• used especially for one of the Old World

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Etymology: Middle English 'reindere' from Old Norse 'hreinn' reindeer + Middle English 'deer' animal, deer

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The Scandinavian roots of the word 'smorgasbord'

'Smorgasbord' is a word borrowed from Scandinavian 'smorgasbord'. The word entered the English language some time around 1879.

smorgasbord [noun] [1879]

• a luncheon or supper buffet offering a variety of foods and dishes (as hors d'oeuvres, hot and cold meats, smoked and p...
• an often large heterogeneous mixture
• mélange

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Etymology: Swedish 'smörgåsbord' from 'smörgås' open sandwich + 'bord' table

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Do you speak a little Scandinavian when you say 'spry'?

'Spry' is a word borrowed from Scandinavian 'sprækr'. The word entered the English language some time around 1746.

spry [adjective] [1746]

• nimble

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note: From British dialectal sprey from Old Norse sprækr (“nimble lively”) from Proto-Germanic *sprēkiz (“lively”) from Proto-Indo-European *(s)preg- (“to strew jerk sprinkle scatter”).
Etymology: origin unknown

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The Scandinavian roots of the word 'walleyed'

'Walleyed' is a word borrowed from Scandinavian 'vagl-eygr'. The word entered the English language some time around the 15th century.

walleyed [adjective] [15th century]

• having or affected with
• marked by a wild irrational staring of the eyes

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Etymology: By folk etymology from Middle English 'wawil-eghed' part translation of Old Norse 'vagl-eygr' walleyed, from 'vagl' beam (akin to Greek 'ochleus' bar, Old English 'wegan' to move, carry) + 'eygr' eyed

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The word 'gnash' originally came from Scandinavian as 'gnastan'

'Gnash' is a word borrowed from Scandinavian 'gnastan'. The word entered the English language some time around the 15th century.

gnash [verb] [15th century]

To strike or grind (as the teeth) together

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note: Old Norse gnastan gnashing of teeth
Etymology: Alteration of Middle English 'gnasten'

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When you hear 'lam' are you hearing English or Scandinavian?

'Lam' is a word borrowed from Scandinavian 'lamme'. The word entered the English language some time around 1595.

lam [verb] [1595]

• to beat soundly
• thrash
• strike
• to flee hastily
• scram

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Etymology: Perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse 'lemja' to thrash; akin to Old English 'lama' lame

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When you hear 'skerry' are you hearing English or Scandinavian?

'Skerry' is a word borrowed from Scandinavian 'sker'. The word entered the English language some time around 1612.

skerry [noun] [1612]

A rocky isle - reef

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Etymology: Scots (Shetland and Orkney islands), ultimately from Old Norse 'skerj-, sker' rocky islet

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The word 'gruesome' is a loan word from Scandinavian 'grue'

'Gruesome' is a word borrowed from Scandinavian 'grue'. The word entered the English language some time around 1700.

gruesome [adjective] [circa 1700]

Inspiring horror or repulsion - grisly

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Etymology: Alteration of earlier 'growsome' from English dialect 'grow, grue' to shiver, from Middle English 'gruen' probably from Middle Dutch 'grūwen;' akin to Old High German in'grūēn' to shiver

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Did you know that 'brae' is actually Scandinavian?

'Brae' is a word borrowed from Scandinavian 'brá'. The word entered the English language some time around the 13th century.

brae [noun] [13th century]

A hillside especially along a river

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note: Consider Brae in Scotland and also Bray of Ireland and Brí an old Irish word meaning 'hill'.
Etymology: Middle English 'bra' from Old Norse 'brā' eyelid; akin to Old English 'brǣw' eyebrow, and probably to Old English 'bregdan' to move quickly

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The Scandinavian roots of the word 'mire'

'Mire' is a word borrowed from Scandinavian 'myrr'. The word entered the English language some time around the 14th century.

mire [noun] [14th century]

• wet spongy earth (as of a bog or marsh)
• heavy often deep mud or slush
• a troublesome or intractable situation

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Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse 'mȳrr;' akin to Old English 'mōs' marsh

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The Scandinavian roots of the word 'husband'

'Husband' is a word borrowed from Scandinavian 'husbandi'. The word entered the English language some time around the 13th century.

husband [noun] [13th century]

• a male partner in a marriage
• manager
• a frugal manager

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Etymology: Middle English 'husbonde' from Old English 'hūsbonda' master of a house, from Old Norse 'hūsbōndi' from 'hūs' house + 'bōndi' householder; akin to Old Norse 'būa' to inhabit; akin to Old English 'būan' to dwell

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Is 'ferry' English, or is it actually Scandinavian?

'Ferry' is a word borrowed from Scandinavian 'ferja'. The word entered the English language some time before the 12th century.

ferry [verb] [before 12th century]

• to carry by boat over a body of water
• to cross by a ferry
• to convey (as by aircraft or motor vehicle) from one place to another
• transport
• to fly (an airplane) from the factory or other shipping point to a designated delivery point or from one base to anothe...

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Etymology: Middle English 'ferien' from Old English 'ferian' to carry, convey; akin to Old English 'faran' to go

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Scandinavian 'jól' in the English language

'Yule' is a word borrowed from Scandinavian 'jól'. The word entered the English language some time before the 12th century.

yule [noun] [before 12th century]

The feast of the nativity of Jesus Christ - christmas

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Etymology: Middle English 'yol' from Old English 'geōl;' akin to Old Norse 'jōl' a pagan midwinter festival

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Do you speak a little Scandinavian when you say 'tarn'?

'Tarn' is a word borrowed from Scandinavian 'tarn'. The word entered the English language some time around the 14th century.

tarn [noun] [14th century]

A small steep-banked mountain lake or pool

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Etymology: Middle English 'terne, tarne' of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse 'tjǫrn' small lake

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The Scandinavian origins of the word 'glad'

'Glad' is a word borrowed from Scandinavian 'glathr'. The word entered the English language some time before the 12th century.

glad [adjective] [before 12th century]

• having a cheerful or happy disposition by nature
• experiencing pleasure, joy, or delight
• made happy
• made pleased, satisfied, or grateful
• often used with 'of'
• very willing

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note: Related to Old Norse glathr ‘bright joyous’
Etymology: Middle English, shining, glad, from Old English 'glæd;' akin to Old High German 'glat' shining, smooth, Latin 'glaber' smooth, bald

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The word 'berserk' is originally from Scandinavian 'berserkr'

'Berserk' is a word borrowed from Scandinavian 'berserkr'. The word entered the English language some time around 1818.

berserk [noun] [1818]

• an ancient Scandinavian warrior frenzied in battle and held to be invulnerable
• one whose actions are recklessly defiant

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Etymology: Old Norse 'berserkr' probably from 'ber-' bear + 'serkr' shirt

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