Viking words in the English language

[GA Russell]

Here's an interesting article that lists 139 Old Norse words which are the roots of common English words.

http://www.babbel.com/magazine/139-norse-words

[BillF]

We have place names in this part of the world that date back to the Viking incursions; e.g. Alkrington and Skelmersdale. Fond of harsh sounds, weren't they?

[sidewinder]

Yorkshire dialect - garth, snicket, beck, gate (i.e. lane), fettle etc. Always was another country !

Edited April 24, 2015 by sidewinder

[mjazzg]

time to bring back the Danelaw?

[sidewinder]

time to bring back the Danelaw?

Passport control on the A5 !

[Larry Kart]

Is "Nessa" a Viking word?

[Chuck Nessa]

It is a farming district in Norway. Frode Gjerstad caught that when we met.

[uli]

Häagen-Dazs?

[A Lark Ascending]

Explains the popularity of all those Nordic ECM bands in Britain. Nothing the Vikings liked more after a day of plunder and murder than chilling out to some ambient ox horn and harp sounds.

I live and work in what was the Danelaw. Surrounded by Kirkby, Skegby, Huthwaithe (not to mention Worksop); but also Sutton, Mansfield, Alfreton. If you look at the place names on a relief map you notice the Viking ones tend to be on the higher, what was marginal land. Suggesting that rather than just coming in and taking over the Vikings might have just slipped into the gaps. Wouldn't make a very exciting Kirk Douglas/Tony Curtis film!

Fascinating little place just down the road from me, near the Sherwood Forest visitors centre:

Thynghowe

Edited April 25, 2015 by A Lark Ascending

[page]

That was really interesting. Thanks for posting the link! I'd love to read about such things. Not a 'viking' myself but we have tons of English words that slipped into our dictionary. The Dutch word of the year sometimes is an English one. We also have a lot of French words that belong to our language, something to do with our time with Napoleon. I've always find it a pity that the spelling of these words got simplified. The original spelling is part of our history and that is nice to see.
Anyway, thanks again, GA!

[sidewinder]

Suggesting that rather than just coming in and taking over the Vikings might have just slipped into the gaps.

Those recent DNA survey results showing very little evidence of Viking DNA in our genepool, even in the North and Midlands, is supportive of that. Indicates that they came in small groups and settled as farmers in those small 'bys' and 'kirks' etc., leaving the Saxons to get on with things pretty well undisturbed. All very English !

Edited April 25, 2015 by sidewinder