[2] hǫlðar ‘freeholders’: Pl. of hǫlðr m. This is an Old Norse legal term which denoted a high-ranking yeoman who by right of birth held property under the Norwegian allodial system (óðal). See Note to Anon Nkt 15/2II. According to the law of S. Óláfr, Icelanders enjoyed the right of a hǫlðr while in Norway (DI I, 65: jslendingar eigo at hava hꜹldz rétt i noregi). In Rþ 24/4, Hǫlðr is the name of one of the sons of Karl. In poetry hǫlðar means ‘men’ in general.
References
- Bibliography
- DI = Jón Sigurðsson and Jón Þorkelsson et al., eds. 1857-1976. Diplomatarium Islandicum. Íslenzkt fornbréfasafn. 16 vols. Copenhagen: Möller; Reykjavík: Félagsprentsmiðju.
- Internal references
- Kari Ellen Gade (ed.) 2009, ‘Anonymous Poems, Nóregs konungatal 15’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 771.
- Not published: do not cite ()