ᛚᚨᚢᚲᚨᛉ

Proto-Norse

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *laukaz, cognate with Old English lēac, English leek.

Noun

ᛚᚨᚢᚲᚨᛉ (laukaʀ) m

1. leek
   • 5th century, DR BR6 (DR IK166) bracteate (Skrydstrup, Denmark):

     ᛚᚨᚢᚲᚨᛉ ᚨᛚᚢ

     laukaʀ alu

     leek, ale

   • 300-400, Scraper knife from Fløksand (KJ37, NIæR51[1])

     ᛚᛁᚾᚨᛚᚨᚢᚲᚨᛉᚠ

     linalaukaʀf

     /līna laukaʀ f[ehu]/

     flax, leek, f[= wealth]

Usage notes

Used as a runic charm word, probably because of its connotations with fertility.

Descendants

• Old Norse: laukr
  • Icelandic: laukur
  • Faroese: leykur
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: lauk
  • Elfdalian: lok
  • Old Swedish: lø̄ker
    • Swedish: lök
  • Old Danish: lø̄k
    • Danish: løg
      • Norwegian Bokmål: løk
        • → Norwegian Nynorsk: løk
    • Scanian: løg
  • Gutnish: lauk