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Anglo-Saxon

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scild-burh

  • noun [ feminine ]
Dictionary links
Grammar
scild-burh, f.
a battle-array in which men stood shield to shield [cf. the account of the battle of Stamford-bridge: 'Siðan fylkti Haraldr Konungr liði sínu, lét fylkingina langa ok ekki þykka ; þá teygði hann armana aptr á bak, svá at saman tóku, var þat þá víðr hringr, ok þykkr ok jafn öllum megin útan, skjöldr við skjöld.' Saga Haralds Harðráða, c. 92. When this arrangement is abandoned, they are said 'bregða skjaldborginni,' c. 95]
Show examples

  • Wearð scyldburh tóbrocen,

      Byrht. Th. 138, 56 : By. 242.

  • Hæleþ higerófe scildburh scǽron,

      Judth. Thw. 26, 2 ; Jud. 305.
a city which affords protection, a city of refuge. v. scild,
Show examples

  • Sóðfæste men in heora fæder ríce scínaþ in sceldbyrig (

    heaven

    ),
      Cd. Th. 283, 23; Sat. 309.
  • Grimm would translate the word here by 'aula clypeis tecta,' and compares it with the description of Valhalla in the Edda, 'skjöldum þökt, lagt gyltum skjöldum, svá sem spánþak,' D. M. 662.
Etymology
[O. H. Ger. scilt-burg testudo.]
Linked entries
v.  bord-haga.
Entry information
Citation

Bosworth, Joseph. “scild-burh.” In An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary Online, edited by Thomas Northcote Toller, Christ Sean, and Ondřej Tichy. Prague: Faculty of Arts, Charles University, 2014. https://bosworthtoller.com/26775.

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  • scild-burh, n.

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