DR 270 in Scania, modern Sweden, is one of several runestones that were raised in commemoration of someone's félagi.
Félag (Old Norse, meaning "fellowship, partnership"[1]) was a joint financial venture between partners in Viking Age society.[2][3]
Etymology[]
The word félag is constructed by the word fé (cattle, wealth) and a verbal base denoting "lay",[4] the meaning being "to lay property together."[5]
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][5]
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 Germanic languages; Norwegian fellesskap, Danish fællesskab and Dutch vennootschap.
Runic inscriptions[]
The term félag is mentioned on a broad range of runic inscriptions,[6] most notably in the form félagi (see etymology section), in these contexts meaning "comrade", "weapon brother" or "partner". Runestones that use a form of the term félag include:
- The Södermanland Runic Inscription 292 (Sö 292) in Bröta
- Vg 112 in Ås, Vg 122 in Abrahamstorp
- The now-lost Vg 146 in Slöta
- Vg 182 in Skattegården
- U 391 in Villa Karlsro
- The now-lost U 954 in Söderby
- "The Stone of Eric," Danish Runic Inscription 1 (DR 1) in Haddeby
- Danish Runic Inscription 66 (DR 66) and DR 68 in Århus
- Danish Runic Inscription 125 (DR 125) in Dalbyover
- Danish Runic Inscription 127 (DR 127) in Hobro
- Danish Runic Inscription 262 (DR 262) in Fosie
- Danish Runic Inscription 270 (DR 270) in Skivarp
- Danish Runic Inscription 279 (DR 279) in Sjörup
- Danish Runic Inscription 316 (DR 316) in Norra Nöbbelöv
- Danish Runic Inscription 318 (DR 318) in Håstad
- Danish Runic Inscription 321 (DR 321) in Västra Karaby
- Danish Runic Inscriptions 329 and 330 (DR 329) and (DR 330) in Gårdstånga
- Danish Runic Inscription 339 (DR 339) in Stora Köpinge
- The Berezan' Runestone (X UaFv1914;47) in Berezanj, Ukraina
N 648[]
Félag is mentioned on N 648, a runekjevle (cylinder shaped piece of wood with a smooth side for the runes)[7] excavated in Bergen. The inscription dates back to the early fourteenth century. The inscription speaks of Þórir the Fair who greets his félagi Hafgrímr, and requests his partner to help him in need.[6]
See also[]
- Fe
- Felag - Wellington New Zealand based Full Contact non profit organisation. https://www.facebook.com/FelagWellington/
References[]
- ↑ "Zoëga's A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic. Available online". Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2008.
- ↑ Fritzner, Johan (1867). Ordbog over det Gamle Norske Sprog. Feilberg & Landmark. p. 139.
- ↑ Jesch, Judith (2001). Ships and Men in the Late Viking Age: The Vocabulary of Runic Inscriptions and Skaldic Verse. Woodbridge: Boydell Press. pp. 232–235. ISBN 978-0-85115-826-6.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Etymology of the word fellow at Etymonline". Retrieved 6 September 2010.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 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
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 According to Rundata 2.0.
- ↑ Schjøtt, Steinar (1909). Dansk–Norsk Ordbog. H. Aschehoug & Co. p. 677.