hnefi

Icelandic

Etymology

From Old Norse hnefi, nefi, of unknown origin. Cognate with Faroese nevi, Danish næve, Swedish näve, Dalbian (Varmelandia) na’v.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈn̥ɛːvɪ/

  Rhymes: -ɛːvɪ

Noun

hnefi m (genitive singular hnefa, nominative plural hnefar)

1. a fist

   Allir þögnuðu þegar hún sló hnefanum í borðið.

   Everybody went silent as she struck the table with her fist.

2. a handful, a fistful, what a clenched fist can hold

Synonyms

• (fist): knefi m, kreppt hönd f
• (fistful): hnefafylli f, handfylli, hnefi, lúka

Derived terms

• hnefahögg
• hnefaleikar
• hnefatafl
• kreppa hnefann
• með hnúum og hnefum
• steyta hnefann (to make a fist)
• stýfa úr hnefa

See also

• krumla