Words With Old Norse Origins

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183 Words

1 Ae A small village in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
2 alf An elf-like supernatural creature in Norse folklore.
3 aloft Up in the air or sky; overhead, in a high place.
4 anger A strong feeling of displeasure or hostility, often triggered by feeling wronged or threatened.
5 awe A powerful feeling of respect mixed with wonder or fear.
6 bait Food or a lure used to attract fish or other animals so they can be caught.
7 Balder In Norse mythology, the god of light and beauty, son of Odin and Frigg.
8 bang A sudden loud noise, such as an explosion or a hard impact.
9 batten A long, narrow strip of wood or metal used to strengthen, fasten, or hold something in place, especially in co...
10 berserk Out of control with rage or excitement; wildly violent or frenzied.
11 berserker A legendary Norse warrior said to fight in an uncontrollable, trance-like fury.
12 bloat To swell up, especially with gas or fluid.
13 bloom A flower, or the state of a plant when its flowers are open.
14 boon Something helpful or beneficial; a welcome advantage.
15 Braithwaite An English surname of Old Norse origin, also the name of several villages in northern England.
16 brant A small dark-bellied wild goose that breeds in the Arctic and winters along temperate coasts.
17 Brenda A female given name, sometimes used as a nickname for Queen Elizabeth II in British satire.
18 Briscoe A surname of Old Norse origin, and the name of small communities in England and the United States.
19 bulk The overall size, volume, or mass of something, especially when large.
20 bulkhead A dividing wall inside a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle, often built to prevent flooding or contain damage.
21 bungle To perform a task badly through carelessness or lack of skill; to botch.
22 bunker A reinforced underground shelter built to withstand bombing or attack.
23 cake A sweet baked dessert made from flour, sugar, eggs, and other ingredients.
24 carl An old-fashioned word for a rough or ill-mannered man; a churl.
25 childbirth The process of giving birth to a baby.
26 club A group of people who join together for a shared interest or purpose, such as sport or recreation.
27 Cobain A surname.
28 Corey A given name, used for both men and women, derived from an old Irish or Norse surname.
29 crawl To move on hands and knees, or drag the body low along a surface.
30 Crosby A surname of Old Norse origin, and a male given name, also the name of numerous towns in England and North Ame...
31 dandruff Small white flakes of dead skin that shed from the scalp.
32 dazed Stunned, confused, or unable to think clearly, often after a shock or blow.
33 Denmark A country in Northern Europe, whose capital is Copenhagen.
34 dirt Soil, earth, or any unclean substance on a surface.
35 doze To sleep lightly for a short time; to nap.
36 droop To bend or hang downward, especially from tiredness, weakness, or lack of support.
37 droopy Tending to sag or hang down; lacking firmness.
38 drown To die, or to kill, by being unable to breathe underwater.
39 Dustin A male given name of Germanic origin, notably borne by actor Dustin Hoffman.
40 eric A male given name of Germanic and Old Norse origin, traditionally meaning something like "ever-ruler" or "sole...
41 filly A young female horse.
42 Finland A Nordic country in Northern Europe bordering Sweden, Norway, and Russia.
43 firth A narrow inlet of the sea, especially in Scotland, or a river estuary.
44 fjord A long, narrow inlet of the sea bordered by steep cliffs, typically carved by glaciers.
45 fleck A small spot, streak, or speckle.
46 foss A waterfall (used especially in place names and dialect, particularly in northern England).
47 fro Away, back — now used almost only in the fixed phrase "to and fro" (back and forth).
48 gale A very strong wind, stronger than a breeze but not as violent as a storm.
49 Gandalf A wizard character in J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings."
50 gap An empty space or opening between two things, or a break in something continuous.
51 gape To stare with your mouth open wide, usually in shock or amazement.
52 garth A small enclosed yard or garden, especially one surrounded by a cloister or attached to a house.
53 gawk To stare at something openly and stupidly, often out of surprise or rudeness.
54 geo A narrow inlet or gully cut into a sea cliff, especially in Scotland.
55 get To come to have or receive something; to obtain.
56 geyser A hot spring that periodically shoots a column of water and steam into the air.
57 girth The measurement around something; its circumference.
58 glitter Tiny, shiny decorative particles, or a sparkling light.
59 gosling A young goose.
60 got Past tense and past participle of "get" — to have received, obtained, or acquired something.
61 Greenland A large, largely ice-covered self-governing territory of Denmark, located in North America.
62 Grimsby A large town and seaport in Lincolnshire, England; also a town in Ontario, Canada named after it.
63 grovel To lie or crawl face-down on the ground, often out of fear or submission.
64 Gunn A Scottish surname derived from Old Norse.
65 gust A sudden, strong rush of wind.
66 Gustav A male given name of Germanic origin, historically a common name among Swedish royalty.
67 Haig A Scottish surname of Old Norse origin, notably borne by the British general Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig.
68 haze A thin layer of smoke, dust, or moisture in the air that slightly blurs visibility.
69 Hel In Norse mythology, the goddess who presides over the realm of those who died without dying in battle.
70 Helga A female given name of Scandinavian origin.
71 hug To wrap your arms around someone and hold them close, usually to show affection or comfort.
72 hunker To crouch or squat down close to the ground.
73 Iceland An island country in the North Atlantic, known for volcanoes, glaciers, and geothermal activity.
74 Igor A stock character depicting a hunched, loyal lab assistant to a mad scientist or vampire, popularized by horro...
75 ill Unwell or in poor health; sick.
76 Ivor A male given name of Old Norse origin.
77 jaded Tired of or unenthusiastic about something because of too much exposure to it.
78 jarl A nobleman or chieftain in medieval Scandinavia, ranking below a king.
79 keel The main structural beam running along the bottom of a ship's hull, from front to back.
80 knife A tool with a flat, usually metal blade sharpened along one edge and fixed to a handle, used for cutting.
81 Kraken A gigantic legendary sea monster, often pictured as an enormous octopus or squid capable of dragging ships und...
82 kringle A ring- or pretzel-shaped sweet pastry, often filled with fruit, nuts, or almond paste, associated with Scandi...
83 lait To search for or seek something (archaic or dialectal).
84 lemming A small rodent found in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions, known for periodic dramatic population swings.
85 lift To raise something to a higher position.
86 loan A sum of money lent to someone on the understanding that it will be paid back, often with interest.
87 Loki In Norse mythology, the trickster god associated with mischief, chaos, and shapeshifting.
88 loon A diving water bird known for its haunting, wailing call, found in North America and northern Europe.
89 loose Not firmly attached, fixed, or fitting tightly.
90 low Close to the ground or to a base level; not high.
91 Lund A surname of Scandinavian or German origin, originally referring to someone who lived near a grove or small fo...
92 Lundy A small island in the Bristol Channel off the coast of Devon, England, known for its puffin colonies.
93 mara In Germanic and Scandinavian folklore, a demon or spirit believed to sit on a sleeper's chest and cause nightm...
94 McLeod A Scottish surname from Scottish Gaelic, the anglicised form of the Gaelic Mac Leòid
95 Midgard In Norse mythology, the realm of humans — the "middle world" positioned between the realm of the gods and the...
96 mistake An action, decision, or belief that is wrong or incorrect.
97 Munster The southernmost of the four traditional provinces of Ireland.
98 nay An old-fashioned or formal way to say "no."
99 oaf A clumsy, foolish, or unrefined person.
100 odd Strange, unusual, or not what you would expect.
101 OE A small island, especially in Scandinavian place names.
102 Olaf A masculine given name of Old Norse origin.
103 Oleg A masculine given name common among Slavic-speaking peoples, derived ultimately from a Norse name meaning "hol...
104 Olga A feminine given name common in Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian, derived from a Norse word meaning "holy."
105 Osborne An English surname and given name of Germanic origin, also the name of several places including a former royal...
106 Oslo The capital and largest city of Norway, formerly called Christiania.
107 Osman A male given name, historically borne by the founder of the Ottoman Empire, Osman I.
108 Osmond A masculine given name and surname of Germanic origin, rare in modern English use.
109 prod To poke someone or something, usually with a finger or pointed object.
110 queasy Feeling sick to one's stomach, as if about to vomit.
111 raft A flat floating platform, often made of logs or planks lashed together, used to carry people or cargo on water...
112 Ragnarok In Norse mythology, the prophesied final battle in which the gods and their enemies destroy one another and th...
113 Rainey A surname of Irish origin, also used as a female given name.
114 raise To move or lift something to a higher position.
115 Randolph A male given name, and a surname, from the Germanic languages.
116 ransack To search a place thoroughly and roughly, often leaving it in disorder.
117 reef A ridge of rock, sand, or coral lying at or near the surface of the sea.
118 reindeer A large deer of Arctic and subarctic regions, known for its antlers and its role pulling sleighs.
119 Rolf To vomit (informal/slang).
120 Ronald A male given name of Germanic origin.
121 rowan A small deciduous tree with clusters of white flowers and bright orange-red berries, also called the mountain...
122 rump The hindquarters or buttocks of an animal or person.
123 rune A letter from an ancient Germanic alphabet, or more loosely, any mysterious or magical symbol.
124 Rus The medieval East Slavic state, centered around Kiev, founded by Scandinavian traders and warriors starting in...
125 sale The act of exchanging goods or services for money.
126 scales A device with two pans used to measure and compare weight.
127 scant Barely enough; in short supply.
128 Scarborough A coastal town in North Yorkshire, England.
129 scoot To move quickly, especially to leave in a hurry.
130 scrap A small leftover piece or fragment of something.
131 scuff To scrape or drag the feet while walking, or to scratch a surface by rubbing.
132 Selby A town in North Yorkshire, England.
133 Sigrid A feminine Scandinavian given name, meaning "beautiful victory."
134 ski One of a pair of long, narrow boards attached to boots for gliding over snow.
135 skid An uncontrolled sliding movement, as when a vehicle's wheels lose grip.
136 skill An ability to do something well, usually gained through learning or practice.
137 skirt A piece of clothing that hangs from the waist, covering the lower body.
138 skit A short, often comic performance, usually by amateurs.
139 sky The space above the earth where clouds, the sun, and stars appear.
140 slaughter The killing of animals for food.
141 sleight Skillful, quick trickery, especially in performing a deceptive feat with the hands.
142 sling To throw something with a swinging or arcing motion.
143 slouch To stand or sit with the shoulders and head drooping forward instead of upright.
144 sly Cleverly deceptive or secretive, often in a mischievous way.
145 smithy A blacksmith's workshop; a forge.
146 snag An unexpected problem or obstacle.
147 snipe A long-billed wading bird found in marshes and wetlands.
148 spike A large, pointed piece of metal, or anything shaped like one.
149 sprint A short race or burst of running at full speed.
150 spry Quick, nimble, and full of energy, especially for one's age.
151 squall A sudden, brief, and violent storm, often with strong winds and rain or snow.
152 stack A pile of things placed neatly one on top of another.
153 stagger To walk unsteadily, as if about to fall.
154 stain A discoloured mark left by a substance that soaks into a surface.
155 steak A thick slice of meat, especially beef, cooked by grilling or frying.
156 swag Free promotional items or merchandise handed out at events, or casually, any collection of nice possessions.
157 swain A young man courting a woman, especially in an old-fashioned or poetic, rural setting.
158 swirl To move in a twisting, circular pattern.
159 tarn A small mountain lake, especially one formed in a hollow left by a glacier.
160 their Belonging to them.
161 Thora A female given name derived from Old Norse, based on the name of the god Thor.
162 thrift Careful, economical use of money; avoiding waste.
163 thrive To grow strong and healthy, or to flourish.
164 thrust A sudden strong push or lunge forward.
165 thwart To stop someone from succeeding at a plan; to block or frustrate it.
166 trig Short for trigonometry.
167 troll In folklore, a large, often ugly supernatural creature living in caves, hills, or under bridges.
168 trust Firm belief in the reliability or honesty of someone or something.
169 trusted Regarded as reliable and honest; relied upon with confidence.
170 tyke A small child, especially a lively or mischievous one.
171 Valhalla In Norse mythology, the great hall where warriors who died bravely in battle are said to feast for eternity.
172 valkyrie In Norse mythology, one of the female figures who choose which warriors die in battle and lead them to Valhall...
173 Viking A Scandinavian seafarer of the 8th to 11th centuries, especially one who raided or traded across Europe.
174 vole A small rodent, similar to a mouse but with a rounder body and shorter tail, common in fields and hedgerows.
175 wail To cry out loudly in grief, pain, or sorrow.
176 wand A slender rod held in the hand, especially one used by a magician or as a symbol of authority.
177 want To wish for or desire something.
178 whisk A kitchen tool made of looped wires, used to beat eggs, cream, or batter.
179 window An opening in a wall, usually fitted with glass, that lets in light and air.
180 wing One of the limbs a bird, insect, or aircraft uses to fly.
181 wrong Incorrect or not true.
182 yaw The rotation of a ship, aircraft, or vehicle from side to side around its vertical axis.
183 Yggdrasil In Norse mythology, the enormous ash tree believed to connect all nine worlds of the cosmos.