gammr

Old Norse

Etymology

Unknown origin. Cognate with Middle High German gabilun, gampilŭn (in myth).

Perhaps from Romance, compare Spanish gavilán. Or perhaps related to már, from Proto-Germanic *maiwaz (“gull, seagull”), also of uncertain origin and possibly imitative. Connecting it to German Geier (“vulture; greedy person”) has been met with rejection.

Noun

gammr m

  1. kind of big predatory bird, or mythical creature

Descendants

  • Norwegian: gamber
  • Old Danish: gam
  • Old Icelandic: gambr, gammr
  • Old Swedish: gamber, gam

Further reading

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