gisl

See also: gísl

Old English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *gīslaz, a loanword from Proto-Celtic *gēstlos. Cognate with Old Saxon gīsal, Middle Dutch gisel (Dutch gijzelaar), Old High German gīsal (German Geisel), Old Norse gísl.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈjiːsl̩/, [ˈjiːzl̩]

Noun

ġīsl m

  1. a hostage
    Hū lange hieltst þū ūs tō ġīslum?
    How long are you going to hold us hostage?
    • c. 900, the Old English Orosius
      Hē ġenīedde bēġen þā cyningas þæt hīe sealdon heora suna tō ġīslum.
      He forced both the kings to give their sons as hostages.

Declension
Declension of gisl (strong a-stem)
Case Singular Plural
nominative ġīsl ġīslas
accusative ġīsl ġīslas
genitive ġīsles ġīsla
dative ġīsle ġīslum

Derived terms
  • ġīslhād
  • ġīslian
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