- Félag
Félag (
Old Norse n. "fellowship, partnership" [Zoëga's A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic. Available online: [http://www.northvegr.org/zoega/h134.php] ] ) was a joint financial venture between partners inViking Age society.Fritzner, Johan. (1867) "Ordbog over det gamle norske sprog", page 139. Feilberg & Landmark.]Etymology
The word "félag" is constructed by the word "" (cattle, wealth) and a verbal base denoting "lay",Etymology of the word "fellow" at Etymonline: [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=fellow] ] the meaning being "to lay property together."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 ]
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".
The modern English word "fellowship" derives from the Old Norse "félag" stem, adding the -ship suffix "condition of being", with the Icelandic cognate "félagskap". The word also exists in other Nordic languages; Norwegian "fellesskap" and Danish "fællesskab".
Inscriptions
The term "félag" is mentioned on a broad range of inscriptions,According to Rundata 2.0.] 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)Schjøtt, Steinar. (1909) "Dansk-norsk ordbog", page 677.] 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.
See also
References
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