wælcyrge

Old English

Alternative forms

• uualcyrġe, wælcyrġe, wælcyriġe, walcrigge, walcyrġe — Early Old English
• wælcerie, wælcyrie, wælkyrie

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *walakuzjǭ, either by descent or through Old Norse valkyrja.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈwæl.kyr.je/, [ˈwæɫ.kyrˠ.je]

Noun

wælcyrġe f

1. a malevolent female demon
   • glossing Eurynis, Allecto, Bellona, Gorgo (wælkyrian eagan =oculos gorgoneos)
2. a sorceress, a female witch
   • her syndan wiccan & wælcyrian. (Wulfstan, Sermo ad Anglos, ca. 1015)

Descendants

• Middle English: walkirie, walkyrie