Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

holmgang

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: holm-gang
IPA

15

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

In Norse and Icelandic culture, a duel to the death.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"A man could no longer be challenged for his lands or his women-folk, since the only result of holmgang which the law would allow, apart from wounds or death, was a claim for the payment of the agreed stakes."
"The influence of Christianity may have hastened the end of holmgang in Iceland, but long before the conversion of the country enlightened public opinion had come to see the absurdity of single combat as a method of settling disputes."
"Some members of the council suggested a holmgang."

Etymology

From Old Norse hólmganga; cognate with Icelandic hólmganga, Danish holmgang, Swedish holmgång.

Origin

Source language: Old Norse

Word Breakdown

Root: hólmganga

Usage

Inflected Forms

holmgangs (plural) holmganga (alternative)

Questions

What does holmgang mean?: In Norse and Icelandic culture, a duel to the death.
Where does holmgang come from?: It is traced to Old Norse.

How to pronounce holmgang

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “holmgang”.
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