þyrs

Old English

FWOTD – 14 November 2016

Alternative forms

• ðyrs — edh spelling

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *þurisaz. Cognate with Old High German duris (“demon”), Old Saxon thuris (“the rune þ”), Old Norse þurs (“giant”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /θyrs/, [θyrˠs]

Noun

þyrs m

1. monster, demon, giant
   • Exeter Book, Riddle 40, 62-63 (late 10th century):

     Ic mēsan mæg meahtelīcor / ond efnetan ealdum þyrse

     I can gorge more greedily / and eat at least as much as an old giant

   • Maxims II, 42-43 (early 11th century):

     Þyrs sceal on fenne gewunian / ana innan lande.

     The monster must live in the fen / alone in its land.

Declension

Declension of þyrs (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	þyrs	þyrsas
accusative	þyrs	þyrsas
genitive	þyrses	þyrsa
dative	þyrse	þyrsum

Descendants

• Middle English: þurs, thurse, thursse, thyrce, thurs, thirs
  • English: thurse

See also

• eoten