gersom
Middle English
Alternative forms
- garesome, garisoumme, garsum, gerssum, gersum, gersume, gersumme, gyrssyn
- gærsum, garsume (early)
Etymology
Inherited from Old English gærsum, gersum, gærsuma, from Old Norse gersemi, gørsemi (“treasure”), from gerr, gǫrr (“ready”) + -semi (“-ness”), with the ending assimilated to native -sum. Compare garisoun.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈɡarsum(ə)/, /ˈɡɛrsum(ə)/
Noun
gersom (plural gersoms)
- Riches, treasure, or a gift of such.
- (specifically) A rent paid to one's manorial lord.
Descendants
- English: gersum, grassum
- Scots: grassum (obsolete)
References
- “gersum(e, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.