Félag
Félag (Old Norse n. "fellowship, partnership"[1]) was a joint financial venture between partners in Viking Age society.[2]
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Etymology
The word félag is constructed by the word fé (cattle, wealth) and a verbal base denoting "lay",[3] the meaning being "to lay property together."[4]
The Old Norse word félagi "companion, comrade" originally meaning "one who has félag with another" has resulted in the modern English word fellow from Old English feolaga, Danish fælle from Old Danish felge, and Norwegian felle.[4][3]
The modern English word fellowship derives from the Old Norse félag stem, adding the -ship suffix as a "condition of being", cognate with Icelandic félagskap. The word also exists in other Nordic languages; Norwegian fellesskap and Danish fællesskab.[3]
Inscriptions
The term félag is mentioned on a broad range of inscriptions,[5] most notably in the form félagi (see etymology section), in these contexts meaning "comrade", "weapon brother" or "partner".
N 648
Félag is mentioned on N 648, a runekjevle (cylinder shaped piece of wood with a smooth side for the runes)[6] excavated in Bergen. The inscription dates back to the early 14th century. The inscription speaks of Þórir the Fair who greets his félagi Hafgrímr, and requests his partner to help him in need.[5]
See also
References
- ^ Zoëga's A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic. Available online: [1]
- ^ Fritzner, Johan. (1867) Ordbog over det gamle norske sprog, page 139. Feilberg & Landmark.
- ^ a b c Etymology of the word fellow at Etymonline: [2]
- ^ a b Falk, Hjalmar and Torp, Alf (1992) Etyomologisk ordbog over det danske og det norske sprog, entry fællig, fælles and fælle. Bjørn Ringstrøms Antikvariat. ISBN 82 90520 16 6
- ^ a b According to Rundata 2.0.
- ^ Schjøtt, Steinar. (1909) Dansk-norsk ordbog, page 677.
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