Norse Words in English

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Instructions: From sky to window, discover how Old Norse shaped the English language during the Viking Age!

1.
The English word 'sky' replaced the Old English 'heofon.' Where does 'sky' come from?
A
Celtic
B
Old French
C
Latin
D
Old Norse 'sky' (meaning cloud)
2.
Which common English word meaning 'an opening in a wall' comes from the Old Norse 'vindauga' (wind eye)?
A
Window
B
Door
C
Vent
D
Skylight
3.
The word 'husband' comes from Old Norse. What did 'husbondi' originally mean?
A
A farmer
B
Male partner
C
House dweller or master of the house
D
A married man
4.
Which English word for 'an unpleasant or annoying person' comes from the Old Norse 'bugge'?
A
Bug
B
Pest
C
Bore
D
Nuisance
5.
The word 'egg' replaced the Old English 'aeg.' The Norse-derived form won out over which centuries?
A
16th-17th centuries
B
10th-11th centuries
C
8th-9th centuries
D
14th-15th centuries
6.
Which common English pronoun was borrowed from Old Norse, replacing the Old English equivalent?
A
I
B
They
C
He
D
We
7.
The word 'anger' comes from the Old Norse 'angr.' What did 'angr' originally mean?
A
Rage
B
Fury
C
Hatred
D
Grief or sorrow
8.
Which day of the week gets its name from the Norse god Thor?
A
Tuesday
B
Friday
C
Thursday
D
Wednesday
9.
The word 'slaughter' comes from the Old Norse 'slatra.' What was the Norse meaning?
A
To kill an enemy
B
To destroy a village
C
To butcher meat
D
To fight in battle
10.
Which English word meaning 'to take by force' comes from the Old Norse 'taka'?
A
Grab
B
Seize
C
Take
D
Steal
11.
The word 'law' in English comes from the Old Norse 'lagu.' What region of England was most influenced by Norse legal terms?
A
Wessex
B
Kent
C
Cornwall
D
The Danelaw (northern and eastern England)
12.
Which English word meaning 'skill or ability' comes from the Old Norse 'skil'?
A
Craft
B
Art
C
Talent
D
Skill
13.
The word 'knife' comes from Old Norse 'knifr.' During which period did Norse words most heavily enter English?
A
The Tudor period (1485-1603)
B
The Viking Age (793-1066 AD)
C
The Georgian era (1714-1837)
D
Roman Britain (43-410 AD)
14.
Which word for a navigable inlet or bay comes from the Old Norse 'fjorthr'?
A
Harbor
B
Fjord
C
Bay
D
Cove
15.
The word 'berserk' comes from Old Norse 'berserkr.' What were berserkers?
A
Viking merchants
B
Norse warriors who fought in a trance-like fury
C
Viking shipbuilders
D
Norse priests

Answer Key

Question 1

D. Old Norse 'sky' (meaning cloud)

Question 2

A. Window

Question 3

C. House dweller or master of the house

Question 4

A. Bug

Question 5

D. 14th-15th centuries

Question 6

B. They

Question 7

D. Grief or sorrow

Question 8

C. Thursday

Question 9

C. To butcher meat

Question 10

C. Take

Question 11

D. The Danelaw (northern and eastern England)

Question 12

D. Skill

Question 13

B. The Viking Age (793-1066 AD)

Question 14

B. Fjord

Question 15

B. Norse warriors who fought in a trance-like fury

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