Scyld

See also: scyld

Old English

Etymology

sċield (“shield”). Cognate with Old Norse Skjǫldr.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃyld/, [ʃyɫd]

Proper noun

Sċyld m

1. Scyld, the legendary ancestor of the Danish royal lineage known as the Scyldings.
   • c. 975–1025, Beowulf (Cotton MS Vitellius A XV)‎^[1], published 4th quarter 10th century–2nd half 16th century, page 132r, lines 4–6:

     oꝼꞇ ꞅcẏlꝺ ꞅceꝼınᵹ ꞅceaþen[a] þꞃeaꞇum moneᵹū mæᵹþum meoꝺo ꞅeꞇla oꝼ ꞇeah eᵹꞅoꝺe eoꞃl sẏððan æꞃeꞅꞇ ƿeaꞃð ꝼea ꞅceaꝼꞇ ꝼunꝺen

     oft scyld scefing sceaþen[a] þreatum monegum mægþum meodo setla of teah egsode eorl syððan ærest wearð fea sceaft funden

     Oft did Scyld the son of Scéf tear the mead-thrones away from the hosts of his foes, from many tribes; the earl terrified them, after he first was found an out-cast.

     (translation from “A Translation of the Anglo-Saxon Poem of Beowulf With a Copious Glossary Preface and Philological Notes” by John M. Kemble, 1837, London: William Pickering, “Beowulf.”, page 1)

Derived terms

• Sċylding